Analyse Hills Like Elephants and Everyday use Essay - 1

Analyse Hills Like Elephants and Everyday use - Essay Example The stories take different paths to achieve the delivery of the main message, as is mentioned above. Hemmingways tale relies heavily upon inference from the reader to account for brevity, but the short length is also a benefit as it helps to intensify the quick process of tension development to deliver the maximum impact. Walker has more time to establish and support the conflict, and utilizes it quite effectively though there is a noticeable drag at moments that weakens the sense of urgency. Luckily the loss of immediacy is countered by the benefits that time presents for character investment. Readers may find it easier to connect to the characters in Walkers story given the extra development time, but this is a necessary measure to account for the relatively benign symbol of focus. This is an observation and not a judgement. Quilts are great, symbolism is great, but the extra thought that can be associated with the technique can sometimes prove to be a distraction. There are two nameless characters in Hemmingways brief story, making it easy to feel cold toward them, but empathy is almost guaranteed to materialize as soon as the conversational topic becomes apparent to the reader. Overall, both approaches to character development provide a suitable vehicle for delivery of the main theme. Two cultural divides are explored within these stories. In Walkers story, the issue is an African American woman losing touch with her slavery-connected roots. Not only does she reject her heritage, she eventually returns to unwittingly mock it by disrespecting the quilt after adopting the culture of the modern (at the time) African American activist. Hemmingways two subjects can be interpreted as discussing a pending abortion, and the conflict lies not in the decision to abort, but in the males inability to connect with the females cultural perspective. He cannot seem to comprehend the biological, social, and psychological implications of the experience or to

Occupy Wall Street Movement Essay Example for Free

Occupy Wall Street Movement Essay The Occupy Wall Street Movement began on Sept. 17, 2011, when a diffuse group of activists began a loosely organized protest called Occupy Wall Street, camping out in Zuccotti Park, a privately owned park in New York’s financial district. The protest was to stand against corporate and government greed, social inequality and the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process. The idea was to camp out for weeks or even months to replicate the kind, if not the scale, of protests that had erupted earlier in 2011 in Tunisia and Egypt. There were many that protested for this trying to make a change. Many people fought for their rights asking for help for certain situations such as foreclosing in homes and also asking for better jobs to support their families which I feel was the hugest part regarding this Movement. The Movement was very important for these people to stand up for their rights and announce the help that they needed and they feel that other people deserved when stuck in situations. There was a main slogan for these protesters. We are 99 percent was a huge part of this. It refers to income differential, a main issue for OWS. It derives from a We are 99 percent flyer calling for Occupy Wall Streets second General Assembly in August 2011. The variation We are the 99% originated from a page of the same name. Vietnam War era, and that the majority of Democrats, independents and Republicans see the income gap as causing social friction. The slogan was boosted by statistics which were from the Congressional Budget report released in October 2011. I feel that Occupy Wall Street Movement did have great point. I think what they were hoping to do was great for people. Others did not understand that they were trying to distribute more of a even income for all people with better jobs. They were even trying to create more of a number of jobs for all people. A big part of this was to relieve much debt from people that had this. I think the effort for this had great morals and should have been remember and supported. This is a issues that I believe still comes from time and time and there still hasn’t been much done about these issues presented. Many people do not understand how hard today’s world is. There would be so much relief is there was a program that could help people out so much. I think people are fighting for their rights for so many things. People are looking for other’s to listen to their opinions. These people in the Movement wanted to make a change not just for themselves, but for the world and future. They were trying to make the public understand what they are not agreeing with and get them to understand that there are many other factors that need to be considered. Utilitarianism I feel plays a huge part in this. This represents good over bad for almost all situations. I feel that people in this Movement could feel that they would involve themselves with this. One of the big points with Utilitarianism is that one must understand happiness before they can get happiness. I feel that for what the people in this movement were fighting for was their happiness and they have already understood unhappiness. People can understand Utilitarianism that believes in this protest. Many people have gone through these six stages that were fighting for their rights. These people were looking for happiness and to maximize it as long as possible. It was very important for these people to get out of their tough situations and fight for a better life for everyone. People were not disregarding their problems; they were simply acknowledging them and trying to move on. It was just asking for help. Kant’s ethics I feel is the opposite of this movement. Kant felt that acting out in feelings and self interest meant you had no moral worth. He felt people that made mistakes just shall be punished. Many people are fighting to not feel this way. They were fighting for the right to get better no matter their situation. Just because a mistake is made does not mean you did not have any morals or any self worth. People everyday have made mistake that should not be held against them for their whole lives. Many people have made decisions which may have been wrong. We all should have the right to move on and go forward. There is not morally wrong about sticking up for what you believe in and fighting for it. Kant was very by the book and believed that everything should go a certain way. I don’t think he considered to fight for rights for humans and that some things that come along aren’t always morally correct. Another thing that was fought in this Movement was income equality. Income inequality is increasing nationwide and new data from the Census Bureau shows which states have it worst. Maine, West Virginia and California all count among states where the wealth gap is expanding fastest. The gap between the richest and poorest residents of twenty states increased last year, while remaining about the same for the remaining 30, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. No states saw significant decreases in their levels of income inequality. There is a huge different in the income equality. Many people don’t make barely anything to others. This has gotten worse over the years. It has even gotten worse then the 1700’s. There is way too far of a difference between the minimum wages and taxes that are taken from people. It would only be fair to up the minimum wage to make things more fair to people that do not have as good as others. This is something that people in the Movement were fighting for also. I feel that people in this movement would have been satisfied by just being acknowledged for the change they were trying to make. It is important for people trying to make a change in many important ways to at least feel like they are getting somewhere. I think a great outcome would be for people to consider what they are saying and work on fixing the problems. I think that many things that are being fought for are morally correct. If we all take a chance and realize the things we need to work on like provding help for people that need it, that would be great. For example, now in 2012 we have Obama care that helps many people that are in need of insurance that cannot afford it. Romney now is trying to get rid of this saying the government is paying too much to help low income people. This is the same thing. Many low income people are in need of this help and this should not be taken away from them. I think that a great ending would be for all people to be financially good. But everyone must work to get this help. I think we should all be financially stable no matter what income we make. Money is most of today’s problem especially with this economy today, if we could somehow get past this moment and look outside of this I think we could make it as a country by helping each other out. I believe this movement stood for great things. I think it will continue more movements in the future. Many people feel strongly about this subject. Some people use government help and abuse, but there are many people out there that need the help. I feel there should be a limited time to get assistance until you get on your feet. I believe there will be many people who want to fight over an argument about that. I hope there will be more positive movements such as this one in the future so people can stand up for what they believe in and what they hope for. People are looking for better jobs to make more money for their family. I feel that all people should fight to get to the best. That issue will never fade away. Some people had said about the movement that people were only asking for money which was not true. The goal of this movement was to get help for different things. These people in my opinion were not trying to over grow capitalism or start a riot. People were hoping for help when foreclosing on their homes which was a big issue. These are things that are happening to people who lose their jobs or getting a pay cut at work. These people were hoping for programs to get back on their feet. There are so many programs out there to help people; some money from the government should be able to go towards helping out people in these situations. I feel that this movement was very important and that people will continue to ask for this help until they are heard or a change is made. References: http://occupywallst.org/ http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/o/occupy_wall_street/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/16/us/ny-occupy-anniversary/index.html

The Importance Of Positive Interactions Children And Young People Essay

The Importance Of Positive Interactions Children And Young People Essay It may be hard to establish a positive relationship with a child at first, the early years practitioners need to really get to know the children in their care in order to respond to them adequately. They need to know their interests, what frightens them or worries them, what makes them happy and sad and what annoys them. They need to be aware at what triggers their moods and they need to work out how to get each individual child to respond to them, trust them and open up to them and this is not very easy. Getting to know a child can be very difficult because they may be shy and may not like being around strangers and they also might be experiencing separation anxiety from their parents and may also be very wary of the setting they are in early years practitioners need to be aware that toys and games are no substitute for a warm and trusting relationship with an adult, who is actually interested in the child. Adults are a childs best resource and role model and by giving a child your complete attention are better than any toy or gadget. Most children long to be accepted in their surroundings and feel the need to belong and that their beliefs and opinions are respected and valued. By positively interacting with a child you will get to know that child really well, you will begin to understand what they like and dislike and once you know this you can plan appropriate activities for them to develop. A positive interaction with the child should start as soon as they come in in the morning by making sure the way you greet them is an extremely positive one as this is the most upsetting time for the child when their parents leave them. As the children get involved in activities you should be able to focus on what the child is saying and try and become a part of the conversation this lets the child think they are in the lead and you are taking direction from them and not the opposite way around, but there also maybe times when the child does not want or need input from a n adult and by knowing the child you should know when to step back and quietly observe instead. All this comes from experience and how well you know the child, as you grow practitioner you will instinctively know when to intervene or simply just stand back and let the child explore. With all children they are all completely different and some children will open up to you very easily as some children thrive on adult attention .however some children will not be so keen to open up and it will be extremely hard to build a positive relationship. They may find it difficult for a number of reasons for example they may be shy ,they may be experiencing problems outside the setting, they maybe unwell or just tired whatever the reason if the child has been in the setting for some time you should instantly tell why the child is being quiet or withdrawn and t maybe a good idea to have a word with the childs parents but if the child is new to the setting and are finding it difficult to settle in , it maybe that they are not interacting or communicating with anyone in the setting . Its down to the early years practitioners to try and find a way to get to know them better this might be a lot easier if you talk to the parents and find out the childs interests, try and spend quality time with the child on a one to one basis so you can gradually build up their trust. a child shouldnt be forced into mixing with others till they are ready to do so they may just like to watch and adjust to their new setting .books can be extremely good by getting the child to interact, find out what their favourite story is and offer to read it to them this may encourage the child to talk about the story. It is very important that your child as a positive relationship with their practitioner as the child may spend 5-7 hours a day with them. Interacting positively with the child from an early age is the basis for a good relationship which benefits the children immensely by positively interacting wit h the child they get one on one time with the practitioner and produce a positive relationship between them. By having a positive relationship it helps develop the childs cognitive skills , social emotional and language skills ; children not only obtain language and social skills but they also develop sensitivity , the ability to talk out their problems, encouragement and the ability to ask questions . teacher child interactions are most developmentally appropriate when the teacher responds quickly , directly and warmly to the children this provides a variety of opportunities to engage in 2 way conversations and identifies and elaborates on the feelings , interests and activities of the children teachers which react in a sensitive and positive way are more likely to develop positive and nurturing relationships which is a key to a childs security , increasing the likelihood that the child will explore their environment giving them more opportunity to learn . 3.2. Describe why it is necessary to listen to children and effective ways of doing this. Children need to talk excessively and constantly and whilst we hear what they are saying do we really listen to them? If you ask children about adults who they like to be with, time and time again they will tell you, someone who they can talk to. Listening is an integral part of working effectively with children of all ages. It needs to begin when children are babies; babies need to see responses to their early vocalisation. Adults working with babies may smile, pick up a baby and reply by expanding the vocalisation. Later as children become more fluent speakers, the need to learn the skills of listening. Contrary to popular belief, this is not learnt by keeping them still and quiet, listening is actually an active skill and children need to learn to respond appropriately. they can do this if adults are actively listening to them . Active listening is more than just hearing: it involves thinking about what the other person (in this case a child) is trying to convey. Active listening also means giving a child your full attention, this can be hard in busy settings, but need to be prioritised. In most settings opportunities for active listening are linked to layout and routines. Preparing the fruit for snack time and wiping tables are examples of tasks can be done with a child chatting alongside. The key is to make sure children feel relaxed and they know that you are not in a rush or likely to be distracted. By listening closely to children we can identify their needs and capabilities and interests and also helps them build on their confidence and self esteem. we can use this knowledge to plan activities and decide how to extend these activities in order to promote the childs learning in all areas of learning and development , some children take a while before they really get round to talking . This is one reason why it is important to create situations where you are not rushed. A child may simply begin by just wanting to be with you and gradually begin to want t o talk. Some children also need visual props and cues to help them. This is particular important in younger children. As well as children whom the language of the setting is not their own language. A child who cannot tell you cannot tell you what they want is likely to grab what they need by behaving badly. To listen to what a childs saying you need to give the child your full attention and make sure you know that you have done so face them, look them in the eye, lean in towards them and respond to what they are saying, do not deny or reject what they are saying. It is also important to remember that when we talk about listening to children we do not simply mean taking into account what they are saying through there spoken word. There are many ways in which a child can communicate or even very young babies or children with a developmental delay or disability can communicate in a number of ways. These children must also be listened to and their feelings taken into account. Early year s practitioners need to learn how to identify the right moment when to intervene in a childs conversation without taking control or finishing sentences for them you can do this by trying to expand on what they are saying through asking appropriate questions or giving relevant opinions. If a child begins to feel like what they have to say is of no consequence and you are not likely to take into account their opinions they will cease to voice them, speaking and listening are fundamental to everything we do everyday. A childs communication skills need to be targeted daily. Their ability to talk and express themselves need to be nurtured and the best way this can be done is for early years practitioners to listen intently to what they have to say. We may not always agree with them and it may not always be possible to let them have what they request. However it is possible for us to listen to them and respond to them in an adequate and effective manner. 3.3 summarise the importance of spontaneous play and how this can be achieved in early years settings. Given the opportunity children play spontaneously which means they provide their own motivation to play and act without intervention of an adult .the time and type of play is totally decided by the child and activities can be stopped and taken up at will. Playing to the child is just spontaneous and may not have any goal or conclusion. Spontaneous play can be extremely effective and practitioners should make use of unexpected opportunities. It is essential that all early years workers understand and value spontaneous play in order to become sensitive facilitators. While most children embark on spontaneous play willingly, adults need to make the right provisions. It is important to remember that every child is an individual with their own needs and during development these needs change. facilitating spontaneous play requires careful planning , anticipating the next stage and adapting resources to fulfil the need of the child.in providing play , space ,resources , time and friends nee d to be considered. Appropriate space should be set aside for play. It should be big enough for free ranging activities for a child in relation to the childs developmental changes, play space should be safe and should have opportunities for exploration and investigation by the child. Provide stimulating resources that are appropriate for the specific child, resources should be easily obtainable and representable of a multi-cultural society and they all should be checked for safety. Spontaneous play depends on the child being given the opportunity to engage in activities without interruption. They should be given enough time to do the specific play activity. At all stages of development children need playmates it is important for them to interact with children. Enthusiasm and encouragement from adults should be available when the children need it.

The Break That Teaches :: Personal Narrative Writing

The Break That Teaches "So, does this mean that we are finished now?" "I guess so." In three terrifying words that I dreaded hearing, everything was finished. Nine months of my life melted away from me and seemed to become meaningless as my girlfriend broke up with me, and I had no idea how I would cope with it. I had been "released" from relationships before by other girls, but this time was unlike any other. Sarah and I had a special bond. I had taken this relationship for granted, and the event that took place in our church's office was one of the biggest lessons of my life. The day began at a very quick pace. I was working at my college in the morning, and knew that I was going to be in a hurry in order to make it on time to my friend's wedding. My girlfriend was invited to attend the wedding with me, but I doubted that she would come. We were having problems at the time, which created some awkwardness between us. In fact, almost a week earlier, I thought that we were going to break up, but much to my pleasure, we had lasted another six days. I was inconceivably surprised when I saw her speeding into our driveway in her flashy red Sunbird convertible. When I came downstairs and met her in the kitchen, I was intimidated. She looked astonishing in her white dress, but the frown on her face expressed frustration, tiredness, and anger. I was not sure at all what to expect during the wedding and for the rest of the day. The short drive in my car to the wedding was awkward. I attempted conversation. â€Å"So, how was the party last night?† I asked, simply so I could hear more than the tires of the car against the hot asphalt. â€Å"Good,† she replied. â€Å"Were there lots of people there?† I wondered. â€Å"I guess so,† she curtly answered. Since there was not much response from Sarah at all, I felt as if I was talking with myself. My mind was wandering everywhere it could at a rapid pace.

How to Do Business Like the Mafia: the Italian and American Mafia’s Role in Businesses Essay

Since the Mafia’s appearance in the 1800’s, these Italian criminal societies have infiltrated the economic and social realms of Italy and now play a large role in many countries throughout the world. Today the Mafia is considered one of the most notorious and widespread criminal organizations that has ever existed. The most prominent parts of the world that the Mafia exists are in Italy and America where they play a large role in these countries economies, most notably through their control of small and large businesses. Just like the origin of the word mafia, the history of Sicily, which is considered the birthplace of the Mafia, and its relationship with this organization, is very unique. Because of its geographic location, Sicily has always been a desirable location for trade and colonization. Generally speaking, the mafia is thought of as an Italian secret crime society, but the origins of the Mafia start way before the introduction and use of automatic weapons and illegal drugs. It was born long before it was given its name, through a long historical process in which the administration of justice was extremely fragmented and corrupt, guaranteeing impunity to the criminals. In a time of hardship and poverty, the Mafia began as a way of life: a way to protect one’s family and loved ones from the injustice of the government. Sicily’s violent and oppressive government history and its numerous corrupt and inconsistent rulers, especially regarding their justice system, fostered an atmosphere of self-reliance and cooperation among the Italian people. Through fear, inspired by threats and violence and supported by an organization of family and friends, the Mafia was able to gain and maintain this reliance and respect. It is important to acknowledge the origin of the Mafia because it is through these institutions and social structures that the Mafia was able to gain an immense amount of power and thus control businesses around the world today. In 241 BC the Romans gained control over Sicily in the first Punic War. The Romans introduced the economic and social system called the Latifundia, which created a hierarchy of people and a system of taxation that would be central to Sicily’s economy until Italian unification in 1861. Although the Roman’s actions in Sicily have no direct influence in the creation of the Mafia, they did set up the social structure of hierarchy from which the Mafia would emerge and eventually control areas of land and inadvertently control a large part of the Italian economy. In 826 the Roman Empire fell to the Arabs who brought an important aspect of life to the Sicilian people that would eventually become part of the Mafia culture; internal justice. Instead of having a system of authorities to deal with crime and misconduct, they used personal and internal justice to avenge crimes and set records straight in order to keep their businesses under their own control. The Normans were the next group to annex Sicily in the 11th century and they greatly magnified the feudal structure established by the Romans. The Spanish conquered Sicily in 1500 and they are considered the longest and most important foreign presence in Sicily. The Sicilian people were not represented by the government and eventually organized into guilds that acted as a judicial system. These guilds were unlike other European guilds and took care of their problems internally and did not include state or local authority. Internal justice led by these guilds was another step towards the formation of the Mafia (Servadio). In the late 1500’s and the early 1600’s Sicily’s feudal system went through some administrative changes. In the early 1600’s large landholders in Sicily lived in Palermo, handing over the command of their estates to estate managers called gabelloti. Appointed by the landlord, these men who were usually already prominent and respected within their region could use their power to control the people who inhabited the land. The use of the gabelloti continued through a succession of leaders and became the principle method of rule. The gabelloti, using the power given to them by the landlord, began to create entourages consisting of uomo di fiducia. The uomo di fiducia served as tax ollectors, and they had direct contact with the people. They were accompanied by campieri who were armed forces that kept the peace through fear. The emergence of these new groups also marks the creation of the middle class in Sicily, and from the middle class emerged the Mafia. All members of the Sicilian middle class used dissident tactics to gain power and money. Middlemen exploited peasants for money, artists kept people out of guilds to perpetuate their own success, and magistrates and attorneys delayed cases in an already twisted legal system. During the late 1700’s and early 1800’s these separate but powerful groups started to make contacts with each other. In addition to befriending each other, they also befriended local and regional magistrates. It is clear that as these groups began to unite themselves with the government to become a stronger and more formidable force in Sicily’s justice system, they were also gaining political ties that would allow them to carry out their business without interaction from the authorities (Servadio). Sicily’s long history with multiple judicially inept governments led to the creation and necessity of the Mafia. The Mafia was able to give people the business and protection that they not only wanted, but needed. These corrupt government institutions fostered an environment where those who were clever enough could manipulate the system to their advantage creating wealth, power and prestige through the exploitation of land, peasants and political officials in Italy as well as America. The Mafia was never just a group of gangsters, even from the beginning. There were those who carried out the dirty work, but the leaders, known as the godfathers, were often more political and business thinkers than gangsters. The Mafia used their power, gained through fear, to not only exploit the landowners and peasants but also used their political ties to carry on illegal activities without problems from local or state authorities. As the Mafia gained power and influence over the various regions and government officials, these illegal activities would expand greatly, inadvertently increasing their overall control as an organization. By the 1900’s the Mafia had become a very powerful and widespread organization throughout Italy despite an extensive amount unemployment and overty that permeated not only Sicily, but the rest of Europe as well. This is still true to this day when many countries around the world are suffering economically, the Mafia manages to stay afloat and even increase their success. Many underprivileged Italians began to immigrate to America to find better jobs to support their families. This is also when the Mafia formally entered America and began to set up small organizations throughout the country. By 1922 Mussolini and Fascism had taken a firm grip on Italy and began to crack down on the Mafia, either sending them to prison or assassinating them. Mussolini assigned Cesare Mori prefect of Italy in order for him to defeat the Mafia. Prefect Mori wanted to bring Sicily under control of the state so he suspended their rights, humiliated and arrested them and took women and children hostage in order to force the Mafia to surrender. Mussolini’s wrath pushed more and more Mafiosi out of Italy and into America (Servadio). The Mafiosi originally settled in large cities, like Chicago and New York, where industry was predominant and there were opportunities for crime, fraud and racketeering everywhere. Initially the American Mafia gangs focused primarily on â€Å"protection rackets†, but with the coming of Prohibition they began to expand to gambling, bootlegging and prostitution. It is in these fields that the American Mafia became enormously wealthy and powerful. One of the main reasons the Mafia in Italy, as well as America, has been so successful is due to its influence and heavy involvement in businesses around the world. These businesses allowed the Mafia to maintain a powerful presence in various regions by exploiting landowners, construction companies and other lucrative industries, such as drug trafficking, through fear. Despite the global recession that hit Europe in 2009, the Mafia was the one business that continued to thrive during this lean economic time. The Italian Mafia’s revenue for 2008 jumped 40 percent and sales increased to 130 billion Euros, or $167 billion, up from 90 billion Euros in 2007 according to figures supplied by Eurispes and SOS impresa (Harwood). Over the past 50 years, the main source of revenue for the Mafia has been drug trafficking, which brings in around 59 billion Euros a year (Harwood). â€Å"Studies show the criminal market never suffers during a crisis,† says Roberto Saviano, author of the best-selling book Gomorrah, the story of the Camorra crime bosses. â€Å"I’m convinced that this crisis is bringing huge advantages to criminal syndicates† (Harwood). The Italian mafia also relies on its â€Å"tried and true profit generating scheme: the protection racket† (Harwood). It is estimated that the mafia takes away over 6 percent of Italy’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, through extortion. That’s 92 billion Euros a year, 250 million Euros a day, and 10 million Euros an hour (Harwood). Crime organizations have never been more powerful or more profitable. A small-business association called Confesercenti estimates that the Mafia collected revenues of â‚ ¬90 billion, $128 billion, in 2006, a sum equivalent to 7 percent of Italy’s GDP indicating that the Mafia’s influence as well as success continues to increase (Harwood). The Mafia does not only focus on exploiting businesses and trafficking drugs in Italy but has also extended its power to the UK; British cities are key locations in the Mafia’s vital money-laundering operations (Kington). In December of 2009, a British gambling company known as Paradise Bet Ltd was suspended when Italian police froze its assets. This action was an attempt by the Italian police to break up a Mafia clan who was in control of this company; members were accused of drug smuggling, money laundering and attempted murder. In an operation code-named â€Å"Domino†, police raids seized 227 properties, 680 bank accounts, 61 luxury cars, nine stables, 71 horses and 35 businesses said to be worth ? 200 million (Kington). Members of the Secondigliano Alliance, which is a group within the Camorra, are suspected of owning shops in London that turn out fake designer goods and act as hideouts for fugitives and fronts for drug trafficking. These are two prime examples of the Mafia’s control and dominance over businesses, land and other profitable assets. In 2000 it was reported that the Mafia controlled one in five business in Italy. Their profits were being invested in real estate, clinics, retirement homes, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants. The fortunes made by the mafia through these exploitations would be enough to pay off the public debt (BBC News) By obtaining power over these types of businesses the Mafia eventually gains authority over entire areas and even regions. The Mafia is notorious for gaining control of institutions by using a mixture of bribery and fear, and then murdering those that cross them. Control over businesses is the main reason why the Mafia is able to maintain its income as well as overall power. The Mafia uses discreet tactics to acquire land and businesses so they do not attract attention from authorities. By owning a group of small companies or even a restaurant, the Mafia is able to exploit money from them without being obvious, adding to the reasons why the inner workings of the Mafia are so secretive. Francesco Forgione, Italy’s leading expert in organized crime describes how the Nadrangheta’s Fazzari clan has two suspected members that are buying up property in London’s Wed End district. They have yet to kill but are instead investing in property and other companies to gain control over various areas in this region (Kington). Another example of the Mafia’s role in business is Antonio La Torre, a Camorra boss, who was arrested in 2005 for setting up a small commercial empire as a money-laundering operation in Aberdeen. This business included an olive oil and prosciutto-importing company and restaurant that offered jobs to Neapolitans (Harwood). It is here that you can see that the Mafia does not always resort to drug trafficking but is able to gain the same amount of power and money through what seem like legitimate businesses in order to cover up their corrupt actions. Recently, the Italian Mafia has also begun to infiltrate the wind farm business. Known in parts of Italy as â€Å"Lords of the Wind† the Mafia now owns many wind farms in Sicilian mob strongholds like Corleone (Schwartz). The reasoning behind this sudden takeover is quite simple; the power from wind farms is sold at a high rate because of generous government subsidies intended to expand the renewable energy sector. With 30 wind farms already built in Sicily and another 60 on the way, it is suspected that the Mafia will eventually control many of them. Not all 30 wind farms are owned by the Mafia but many are and locals are afraid to do anything to combat this issue, thus exemplifying the Mafia’s ability to maintain their influence and control over businesses through fear. Green energy could be the next big company that becomes a casualty of the Mafia’s criminal activity (Schwartz). Once the Mafia began to arrive in American in the 1920’s, it became clear that their initial business ventures were different from that of their homeland. Many who fled here in the early 1920’s helped establish what is known today as La Cosa Nostra or the American Mafia. Learning from their organizations back in Italy, the traditions of the Sicilian â€Å"honored society,† which absolutely forbade involvement in either narcotics or prostitution, the Mafia left the eroin business to the powerful Jewish gangsters who dominated organized crime in the 1920’s (Servadio). The Mafia was content with the substantial profits to be gained from controlling the bootleg liquor industry. By the 1920’s The United States and the provinces within Canada had adopted prohibition. It was during that era that North America gave birth to some of the largest crime syndicates, most vicious criminals, and mafia leaders. For the Mafia, prohibition meant employment, easy money and control over businesses and the people. The tainted money, prostitution, extortion and other criminal rackets did not make nearly as much money in comparison to the intake from bootlegging. Prohibition created an atmosphere that allowed crime to flourish; an atmosphere, which the mafia exploited and used to gain control over the people, businesses and subsequent regions of the United States. Prohibition was the first step that allowed the American Mafia to gain control over one of the most lucrative business America had ever seen. The leader of this Mafioso movement was Salvatore C. Luciana, known to the world as Charles â€Å"Lucky† Luciano. Lucky pioneered organizational techniques that are still the basis of organized crime today and forged an alliance between the Mafia and prominent Jewish gangs that has survived for almost 40 years. With the end of Prohibition in sight, Luciano made the decision to take the Mafia into the profitable prostitution and heroin rackets. This decision was determined more by financial considerations than anything else. The dominance of the Mafia over its Jewish and Irish rivals was built on its success in illegal distilling and rum running. Its continued supremacy, which Luciano hoped to maintain through superior organization and business, could only be sustained by developing new sources of income; drug trafficking (Servadio). Heroin was an attractive substitute to illegal distilling because it had recently become illegal. This in turn left a large market that could be easily exploited and expanded. Although heroin addicts in no way compared with drinkers in numbers, heroin profits could be just as significant: heroin’s light weight made it less expensive to smuggle than liquor, and its limited number of sources made it more easy to monopolize. Although illegal, this was a smart business venture for the American Mafia and enabled them to control a significant part of the liquor and drug trafficking business. Heroin, moreover, complemented Luciano’s and subsequently the Cosa Nostra’s other new business venture: the organization of a prostitution ring. Luciano found that addicting his prostitutes to heroin kept them quiet, steady workers, with a habit that could only be funded by this occupation. This also forced many small-time pimps out of business. By 1935 Luciano controlled 200 New York City brothels with twelve hundred prostitutes, providing him with an estimated income of more than $10 million a year (Servadio). Supplemented by growing profits from gambling and the labor movement, The Cosa Nostra was once again on a secure financial footing due to their influence and involvement with profitable and productive business ventures such as alcohol and drug trafficking as well as prostitution; they acknowledges what the people wanted and provided them with a service they would be unable to find anywhere else thus monopolizing that specific industry. It is clear that the Mafia has not only infiltrated the business of Italy but America as well and through these institution it has remained a dominant part of these societies. Although illegal in many aspects, the business ventures that Mafia undertake are incredibly lucrative and give them the opportunity to expand their organization on a large scale. Although governments are taking significant action in combating the Mafia, they continue to grow and dominate the economies of many societies to this day.

Free Essays on Borges

The task of fiction is to construct a reality that mimics our notions of the real. For some authors, the notion of the real is itself a fiction. Jorge Luis Borges, considered a master of the short story form, constructed stories that parodied the power of fiction to penetrate and alter reality. His works are riddles which attempt to subvert our very notions of the real. He combined a peculiarly literary imagination, with a variety of obsessions, incorporating probing metaphysical interrogations, as well as elements of the fantastic, driven by a narrative logic which coheres on a supernatural plane . Because of the striking originality of his works, the adjective Borgesian has entered into the literary lexicon for stories and situations that connote some deeper, perplexing situation that is impenetrable to the human mind. Borges was born in 1899 in Argentina, and although he was steeped in the Spanish culture of his day, he actually spoke English as a first language. He grew up engrossed in the works of such authors as Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson. Although he initially gained his reputation as a poet and essayist, it was not until the groundbreaking collection of stories, Ficciones, that he gained international renown. The initial stories of this book were written after a near fatal accident Borges had, when he slipped down a flight of stairs and fell headfirst on a rusty nail. After his stay in the hospital, he feared he had lost his talent, and began writing the story, Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote, as an attempt to prove to himself that he still possessed literary talent. This story, narrated in the form of book review, details the attempt of Pierre Menard, a modern author, to rewrite Cervantes’ epic Don Quixote, by reliving the experiences of Cervantes himself. It is comically absurd and contains all the essential elements of a trademark Borgesian narrative. After ficciones, he continued with a series of... Free Essays on Borges Free Essays on Borges The task of fiction is to construct a reality that mimics our notions of the real. For some authors, the notion of the real is itself a fiction. Jorge Luis Borges, considered a master of the short story form, constructed stories that parodied the power of fiction to penetrate and alter reality. His works are riddles which attempt to subvert our very notions of the real. He combined a peculiarly literary imagination, with a variety of obsessions, incorporating probing metaphysical interrogations, as well as elements of the fantastic, driven by a narrative logic which coheres on a supernatural plane . Because of the striking originality of his works, the adjective Borgesian has entered into the literary lexicon for stories and situations that connote some deeper, perplexing situation that is impenetrable to the human mind. Borges was born in 1899 in Argentina, and although he was steeped in the Spanish culture of his day, he actually spoke English as a first language. He grew up engrossed in the works of such authors as Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson. Although he initially gained his reputation as a poet and essayist, it was not until the groundbreaking collection of stories, Ficciones, that he gained international renown. The initial stories of this book were written after a near fatal accident Borges had, when he slipped down a flight of stairs and fell headfirst on a rusty nail. After his stay in the hospital, he feared he had lost his talent, and began writing the story, Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote, as an attempt to prove to himself that he still possessed literary talent. This story, narrated in the form of book review, details the attempt of Pierre Menard, a modern author, to rewrite Cervantes’ epic Don Quixote, by reliving the experiences of Cervantes himself. It is comically absurd and contains all the essential elements of a trademark Borgesian narrative. After ficciones, he continued with a series of...

Balance Answer Essay Example

Balance Answer Essay Example Balance Answer Paper Balance Answer Paper A company provides its advertising agency with a statement about a new product to use In designing an advertising campaign, and this statement Includes a description of the target market, the product type, the primary benefits of using the reduce, and how this product Is different from, and better than, competitive products. What type of statement Is this? A. Qualifying B. Positioning C. Determining D. Clustering Answer B Materials on the concept: Product Management and New-product Development 3. The sales analysis of a product revealed that profits were highest when it was initially introduced into the market with a high selling price. However, the price was gradually reduced as it started facing competition as substitutes entered the market. This is an example of a(n) A. Introductory price dealing B. Emperors price cut policy C. Skimming price policy D. Penetration price policy Answer C Promotion?illumination to Integrated Marketing Communications Top of Form 4. Blending the firms promotion efforts to convey a complete and consistent message Is the goal of A. Ales management communications B. Sales promotion communications C. Integrated promotional marketing D. Integrated marketing communications organizational structure Ethical Marketing in a Consumer-oriented World: Appraisal and Challenges Top of Form 5. According to the concept of social responsibility, a firm has a duty to A. Monomaniac regularly with the public B. Place profit above all other considerations C. Place c ustomer satisfaction above all other considerations D. Conduct business in a way that is good for society as a whole, both now and for the future Answer D Firms and the Financial Market 6. All things equal, this will lower the firms cost of capital. D. This will only affect the cost of capital if the firm uses CAMP to compute the cost of equity. Answer C 10. Buying and selling in more than one market to make a reckless profit is called A. Profit minimization B. Arbitrage C. International trading D. This cannot be determined from the above information. Using Supply and Demand 11 . The United States imposes substantial taxes on cigarettes but not on loose tobacco. When the tax on cigarettes went into effect, the demand for home cigarette rolling machines most likely A. Creased, causing the price of cigarette rolling machines to fall and the quantity of machines purchased to fall B. Decreased, causing the price of cigarette rolling machines to rise and the quantity of machines purchased to fall C. Increased, causing the price of cigarette rolling machines to rise and the quantity of machines purchased to rise D. Increased, causing the price of cigarette rolling machines t o rise and the quantity of machines purchased to fall The Short-Run Keynesian Policy Model: Demand-Side Policies Based on this information, we can best conclude that A. The law of demand is invalid B. Despite the increase in price, quantity demanded rose due to some other factor changing C. This situation has nothing to do with the law of demand D. The demand for a college education is positively sloped 17. Economic efficiency is achieved at a particular output level if A. Marginal cost is as low as possible B. Average fixed cost is as low as possible C. Average total cost is as low as possible D. Average variable cost is as low as possible 18. A perfectly competitive firm will be profitable if price at the profit-maximizing quantity is above A. MAC C. TACT D. AFC Comparative Advantage, Exchange Rates, and Globalization 19. How are goods manufactured in other countries creating Jobs in the United States? A. People whose Jobs were outsourced are now discouraged workers. B. U. S. Firms are specializing in managing the trade of these goods. C. Foreign countries are importing U. S. Natural resources D. People who have lost Jobs have more time to shop and therefore increase demand for goods. Answer B

CS sorting analysis essays

CS sorting analysis essays For this lab I tested ten different sorting methods by comparing the time it took to sort ordered, reverse ordered, and random ordered arrays of Integer objects of different sizes. I had to write a Timer class that started the timer before the sorting method was called and stopped the timer when the method was finished sorting the array. The elapsed time was calculated by another method in the Timer class so that the actual run time could be printed once the method completed. My test program contained methods to run all of the sorting methods given the size, type of array (ordered, reverse or random), and the number times to run the sorting method (all entered by the user) before the timer was stopped. For my timing experiment I carried out tests on an array of size 1,000 run 100 times through the method before printing the time (since it would be relatively fast for one iteration), an array of size 10,000 run 10 times, an array of size 25,000 run 1 time, and an array of 50,000 run 1 time. For the arrays of 1,000, 10,000, and 25,000 I did five trials for ordered, reverse, and random arrays to get a good average of the time it took since each run varied slightly. Since the array of 50,000 took a long time to run I conducted only two trials for each size on the three different types of arrays and found the average. The run times are included at the end of this report. I then calculated the time it would take to do one iteration through each of the different sizes for the different types of arrays (i.e I divided the average time it took to run the ordered array of 1,000 100 times by 100 to get the average time it would take to run it once). This data is also available at the en d of this report. The outcome of the experiments proved to be very similar to what was expected. As seen in the many graphs provided one can see that there may or may not be a best case or worse case for each of the sorts. Below are brief descript...

Reaction Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Reaction Paper - Essay Example An astounding thing about the film and the exposition itself was the scale that was present. Normally, a fair or event like that would have small exhibits which would be dwarfed by the crowds. For the Chicago exposition, this was far from the case. Instead the exposition hosted complex structures, many of which were at large scales. I imagine that it must have been dazzling, like visiting another world. Everything that was being showcased was beautiful, exciting and compelling. It seemed like it would have been an amazing place to visit and that there would have been so many things that were interesting to see and to do. The impact that the exposition had on the city itself was amazing. Through the use of white building materials, the exposition really was a white city, standing out from the environment around it. This must have been amazing to see, and transported visitors away from their day-to-day life and routines to a world that was entirely different. The size of the exposition and the amount that there was to see must have kept people busy for days. Another aspect of the film that was fascinating was the way that the technology was showcased. One aspect of this was the focus on electricity, which provided an indication to visitors that electricity was a safe and reliable form of energy. A key presenter for this section of the exposition was Nikola Tesla, who is renowned today for his role in the invention of the alternating current. This aspect of the exposition was amazing, because the exhibits that were being shown to the people at the fair were new and astounding, yet many of them would become technological standards for later life. Many people today cannot imagine living without electricity, yet for the people going to the exposition it was brand new. I felt that this contrast was amazing, and longed to go back to the time where progress had this kind of wonder associated with it. Although there were

First-hand experience of developing a market entry and a product Assignment

First-hand experience of developing a market entry and a product launch strategy for an international market - Assignment Example Launching a new effective pharmaceutical drug will take much time due to a long process of clinical trials. Moreover, for any Mexican company it will be difficult to enter the competition with other Latin American and North American pharmaceutical companies on equal positions. So it is possible to concentrate on cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals, the sectors of pharmaceuticals, which have not been universally recognized yet but are extremely promising. Cosmeceuticals incorporates cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and produces cosmetic products (lotions, creams) with biologically active ingredients, such as anti-oxidants, peptides, enzymes, that can be medically beneficial to humans. There also exist pharmaceutical technology companies, which have special subdivisions specializing in cosmeceuticals. Nutraceuticals is a blend of nutrition and pharmaceutical implying products which give certain therapeutic effect and can potentially aid in diseases treatment or prevention (Kalra 1). Such pr oducts as dietary supplements and functional food are usually referred to nutraceuticals. In Latin America the market of â€Å"healthy ingredients† is developed on the retailer levels. Plants, leaves, roots, seeds are popular among locals as they are perceived as ethnic and natural. Local home-made oils, powders, and extracts from these valuable plants are also demanded due to their easy access and low price (Lajolo 2). The products that would be optimal to launch can be dietary supplements received from local Latin American plants, such as asai, guava, camu-camu and others, which are not recognized in the world but are well-known to the regional consumers (Lajolo 3). All these plants are not examined thoroughly but even preliminary research suggests that they have huge potential. Certain subdivision of pharmaceutical company can arrange scientific research and manufacture of these products. Among the variety of dietary supplements I would advise to dwell on

Customer Loyalty at Ritz Carlton Hotel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Customer Loyalty at Ritz Carlton Hotel - Essay Example In his study, customer loyalty is associated will the kind of treated and services they receive. Customer loyalty is therefore seen with respect to how a customer responds to the products and services presented by the company (Lawfer 11). In Ritz Carlton industry, customer loyalty means the creation of customer satisfaction through creation of culture where customer needs is given priority through provision of high quality of products and services and good personal services by the employees of the company. He does this by making sure that the customer is made to feel valued by the company. However, as Andreassen and Lindestad state, customer loyalty is dependent on corporate image and the disconfirmation of expectations. Therefore, a company with good corporate image which puts the interests of its customers first is likely to win customer loyalty. In Ritz Carlton, a loyal customer has a lifetime worth of $ 1 million. According to Carflton, a loyal customer will try to sell a company to other customers luring them to it and that is why they are priced highly as opposed to a disloyal customer who will try to paint your company in a negative way. In Ritz Carlton`s hotel, customer satisfaction if given priority as the employees are empowered to use huge amounts of money as long as their motive is to satisfy their customers and make them happy. When a customer realizes that all her needs have been catered for in the hotel, their desire to come back for more service is boosted. The management also hires only those employees who are able and knowledgeable in meeting customer demand. Customer needs are given priority through customer orientation as they are made to feel valued. The company retains its customers through provision of high quality products and services. Ritz Carlton hotel builds customer relationships by ensuring that well trained and reputable employees are hired. The employees are trained to be customer focused and are required to

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Case Study Essay

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Case Study - Essay Example Customer relationship management (CRM) is an approach to managing a company's interaction with current and potential future customers. It tries to analyze data about customers' history with a company and to improve business relationships with customers, specifically focusing on customer retention and ultimately driving sales growth. This essay approves that overly can link a branch’s revenues with the level of successful CRM achieved by the use of Oracle CRM technology, which can, in turn, be assessed from the customer satisfaction assessment surveys. In this strategy, the branch that has the most satisfied customers gains a larger share in the profit as compared to others. This would motivate the leaders to take the necessary steps to incorporate the Oracle CRM technology in the organizational work setup. No change is effective without a carefully designed change management plan in place. This paper makes a conclusion that the branch managers should conduct meetings with their staff to make them aware of the need and significance of incorporating the Oracle CRM technology in the work setup so that the subordinates understand them and do the needful to make the plan useful and effective. In addition to that, Overly needs to provide the staff at all branches with the training and education required to operate the portal. Providing the staff with an opportunity of maximizing their earnings and gaining training and education for free are some of the most effective ways of quick development of an enterprise-wide CRM mechanism.

Adoption Social Work Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Adoption Social Work Law - Essay Example he National Minimum Standards for Voluntary Adoption Agencies and Local Authority Adoption Service Act of 2003 and the National Minimum Standards for Adoption Support Agencies Act of 2005 in England. Ball (2005) reflects that the series of legislation is indicative of the growing interest and concern for adoption. She points out that adoption is not anymore a last recourse for families who are unable to conceive children but has become a matter of personal choice, if not an expression of social opinion. The 2002 Adoption and Children Act follows closely the provisions set forth by the Children Act 1989 particularly in its emphasis on welfare protection. One of the most critical provisions is the requirement for local authorities to establish a local adoption service pursuant to primarily to the Minimum Standards for Voluntary Adoption Agencies and Local Authority Adoption Service Act of 2003 as well as to national regulatory statutes. The local adoption agencies will be tasked to accomplish assessment of adopting parties, develop and institute support services and implement regulatory measures as needed. For adoption support agencies and other services, national standards for operations and performance were established. In effect, independent adoption agencies were required to subscribe to a uniform system of accessing information, delivering services and developing a database of information for retrieval for minors who were adopted when they reach maturity. The Act also provides for the regulation of inter-country adoption which has significantly increased to the due to international advocacies for the placement of displaced children due to war or wide-scale poverty (Parker & Bradley, 2007) In the 2002 provisions, there is greater sensitivity to changes in social constructions of â€Å"family†. The provisions provided opportunities for adoption for single individuals as well as unmarried couples. The legislation also responded to concerns regarding

Success of the Communist Movement of the 1960's in Cuba and Not Research Paper

Success of the Communist Movement of the 1960's in Cuba and Not Bolivia - Research Paper Example Research demonstrates that Cuba was the third most developed country in the continent of America. Some aspects of development recorded in Cuba in 1950s surpassed European countries, such as Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. Cuba was not among the nations, which suffered from severe economic problems and reported lowest living standards of the citizens (Dolgoff). In contrast, Cuba was among the American countries that had the highest living standards before the revolution took off. Although Cuba was not a well developed nation economically and there was poverty in the country, Cuba did not face hunger as well as economic crises in the years prior to the revolution. Prior to the 1959, Cuba was reported to be relatively developed country. It was compared on economic standards of development to capitalist countries, such as Costa Rica besides Taiwan (Dolgoff). According to Eckistein (1982), at the time of revolution, Bolivia reported one of the poorest and least developed economies on the co ntinent. The GNP per capita of the country was the second lowest in South American region. The country was ruled by a small kin and land-based oligarchy. The majority of the citizens in Bolivia operated as tenant farmers as well as sharecroppers. In contrast, the Cuban economy was much developed and superior to the Bolivian economy. Cuba was one of the countries with a developed agricultural economy. Nonetheless, the heavily capitalized economy of the country was significantly dominated by foreign companies. Prior to the Cuban revolution, the agricultural economy of Cuba is reported to have been the most integrated economy in the global economy. The agricultural economy in Cuba increasingly used wage labor in the country. According to the Latin American... The Cuban revolution staged in 1959 by Fidel Castro was meant to liberate peasants and low class citizens from low standards of living and improve the economy of the country. The communist structures together with the overwhelming support of peasants from rural and urban regions ensured that the revolution was a success. Seven years later, Guevara Che, who actively participated in the Cuban revolution, set out to Bolivia to stage a revolt in the country that had similar economic problems to Cuba’s and enjoyed massive support of communism. However, 11 months later, he was captured, and killed and the revolution did not succeed as planned. There is a general misconception that poverty leads to communist uprisings and that accumulation of wealth do not contribute toward communism. This notion is misleading as demonstrated by the revolutions in Cuba and Bolivia in 1960s. Poverty does not lead to communism neither does wealth accumulation result in non-communism. Empirical data from various research materials will be reviewed to present the economic statistics and arguments indicating that before the Cuban revolution took place, Bolivia was more underdeveloped economically, yet communism did not thrive in the country as it did in Cuba, which was more developed. Subsequently, after the revolutions of which Cuba increasingly practiced communism but struggled with economic problems whereas Bolivia, which deviated toward non-communism progressively developed economically than Cuba. The political spheres, structure and organization of the communist parties in various countries, and the support of anticommunist nations contributed to the success or failure of the revolutions.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Case Study Essay

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Case Study - Essay Example Customer relationship management (CRM) is an approach to managing a company's interaction with current and potential future customers. It tries to analyze data about customers' history with a company and to improve business relationships with customers, specifically focusing on customer retention and ultimately driving sales growth. This essay approves that overly can link a branch’s revenues with the level of successful CRM achieved by the use of Oracle CRM technology, which can, in turn, be assessed from the customer satisfaction assessment surveys. In this strategy, the branch that has the most satisfied customers gains a larger share in the profit as compared to others. This would motivate the leaders to take the necessary steps to incorporate the Oracle CRM technology in the organizational work setup. No change is effective without a carefully designed change management plan in place. This paper makes a conclusion that the branch managers should conduct meetings with their staff to make them aware of the need and significance of incorporating the Oracle CRM technology in the work setup so that the subordinates understand them and do the needful to make the plan useful and effective. In addition to that, Overly needs to provide the staff at all branches with the training and education required to operate the portal. Providing the staff with an opportunity of maximizing their earnings and gaining training and education for free are some of the most effective ways of quick development of an enterprise-wide CRM mechanism.

Success of the Communist Movement of the 1960's in Cuba and Not Research Paper

Success of the Communist Movement of the 1960's in Cuba and Not Bolivia - Research Paper Example Research demonstrates that Cuba was the third most developed country in the continent of America. Some aspects of development recorded in Cuba in 1950s surpassed European countries, such as Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. Cuba was not among the nations, which suffered from severe economic problems and reported lowest living standards of the citizens (Dolgoff). In contrast, Cuba was among the American countries that had the highest living standards before the revolution took off. Although Cuba was not a well developed nation economically and there was poverty in the country, Cuba did not face hunger as well as economic crises in the years prior to the revolution. Prior to the 1959, Cuba was reported to be relatively developed country. It was compared on economic standards of development to capitalist countries, such as Costa Rica besides Taiwan (Dolgoff). According to Eckistein (1982), at the time of revolution, Bolivia reported one of the poorest and least developed economies on the co ntinent. The GNP per capita of the country was the second lowest in South American region. The country was ruled by a small kin and land-based oligarchy. The majority of the citizens in Bolivia operated as tenant farmers as well as sharecroppers. In contrast, the Cuban economy was much developed and superior to the Bolivian economy. Cuba was one of the countries with a developed agricultural economy. Nonetheless, the heavily capitalized economy of the country was significantly dominated by foreign companies. Prior to the Cuban revolution, the agricultural economy of Cuba is reported to have been the most integrated economy in the global economy. The agricultural economy in Cuba increasingly used wage labor in the country. According to the Latin American... The Cuban revolution staged in 1959 by Fidel Castro was meant to liberate peasants and low class citizens from low standards of living and improve the economy of the country. The communist structures together with the overwhelming support of peasants from rural and urban regions ensured that the revolution was a success. Seven years later, Guevara Che, who actively participated in the Cuban revolution, set out to Bolivia to stage a revolt in the country that had similar economic problems to Cuba’s and enjoyed massive support of communism. However, 11 months later, he was captured, and killed and the revolution did not succeed as planned. There is a general misconception that poverty leads to communist uprisings and that accumulation of wealth do not contribute toward communism. This notion is misleading as demonstrated by the revolutions in Cuba and Bolivia in 1960s. Poverty does not lead to communism neither does wealth accumulation result in non-communism. Empirical data from various research materials will be reviewed to present the economic statistics and arguments indicating that before the Cuban revolution took place, Bolivia was more underdeveloped economically, yet communism did not thrive in the country as it did in Cuba, which was more developed. Subsequently, after the revolutions of which Cuba increasingly practiced communism but struggled with economic problems whereas Bolivia, which deviated toward non-communism progressively developed economically than Cuba. The political spheres, structure and organization of the communist parties in various countries, and the support of anticommunist nations contributed to the success or failure of the revolutions.

Creativity, Critical Thinking and Change Essay Example for Free

Creativity, Critical Thinking and Change Essay 1.1. Throughout this century, a famous painting entitled The Man with the Golden Helmet was believed to be the work of the Dutch master Rembrandt. Some years ago it was proved to have been painted by someone else. Some people would say that the truth about this painting changed. Do you agree? Explain. The book tells us that truth is the accurate representation of objective reality, and that our assumptions, and wishes do not affect the reality of the facts. With that being said; I would say yes the truth about the painting changed. Since there is hard evidence that proves it was not the work of Rembrandt then, the truth has changed. 1.2. Examine each of the following cases in light of what you’ve learned about truth in this chapter. State your view and explain why you hold it. a. Ira is a journalist. Will the belief that he can create his own truth make him more or less likely to value accuracy in his reporting? If Will believes he can make his own truth it will make him less likely to value accuracy in his reporting. The news is one thing and opinions are another. By creating his own truth he is interjecting his opinions, and ignoring the facts of the news. b. Bruce is prejudiced against minorities and women. Which of the following beliefs would be more helpful in overcoming his prejudice; the belief that truth is subjective and created; or the belief that truth is objective and discovered? Explain your reasoning. I would say that belief that truth is objective and discovered would help Bruce in overcoming his prejudice in minorities and women. This way of thinking about truth relies on facts, and historical truth; where Bruce could look back at history and find instances where women and minorities have excelled. If Bruce continues to believe that he can create his own truth, it is likely he will continue to not look at the facts and continue to judge people based on race and gender. c. Most students can use additional motivation to learn. Will the belief that they can create their own truth help or hinder their motivation? Explain. The book tells us that this belief can stifle success because it leads one to believe that just the belief – not talent or hard work will guarantee success. This will hinder motivation because belief in oneself is just part of the equation for success. If they believe that truth is discovered this will help motivate them to study hard and be successful. 1.3. Classify each of the following exchanges as (a) an actual contradiction or (b) a near contradiction. Briefly explain each choice. MAVIS: Big time college sports are corrupt. Near contradiction. The statement can be both true and false in the same way at the same time. Not all big time college sports or corrupt, but some are. CORA: You’re absolutely wrong, Mavis. Â  Actual contradiction. The statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time. Mavis is wrong or right. KAREN: There are very few real heroes today. Â  Near contradiction. This is an opinion so it can both be true and false in the same way at the same time. HANNA: I think there are more today than there have ever been. Actual contradiction. This statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time. BRAD: Look at that new Lincoln across the street. Actual contradiction. This statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time. CLARA: That isn’t a Lincoln – it’s a Mercury. Â  Actual contradiction. This statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time.

Study On The Student Athlete English Language Essay

Study On The Student Athlete English Language Essay Being a student athlete is one of the hardest things there is to do. You find yourself having to make to make two full time commitments, one to your professors who expects you to fully commit yourself to the classroom and one to your coach who expects you to fully commit yourself to your sport. There is no remorse in the life of a student athlete, neither professor nor coach cares if youre too tired trying to balance the two in your life. If you spent all night studying for a class your coach is not going to let you sleep in and if you spent all day working on your sport your professor wont give you any slack. Aside from being a tough life to live there are many benefits to being a college students athlete as well. Sports teach lifelong skills that have extreme value and cannot be learned outside of sports. Also being a student athlete forces you to be so busy that you dont have time to get in trouble like other college students may. Being a student athlete means much more than what its shown to be, you learn critical life lessons through your sport, you learn to deal with stress on a different level and you become bonded to your team like a family. A college team is always changing; especially at the community college level you only see a big part of the team for only a year before they move on to a four year. At the beginning of the season you look to most of these players as just a group of guys of even your competition for your position. But as you progress through the off season your look upon these men changes, instead of your competition you see a team all striving for the same goal. Eventually this team isnt just as team but becomes a family. When your teammate is out of the field and youre not you clinch your teeth for them to make the play instead of fail which could give you a chance to play. At practice you push youre hardest to force the only players to do the same. When a whole team achieves this it creates something special, a team destine for greatness. Being a student athlete can bring a lot of stress causing them to lose concentration in both school and their sport. Stress can be a major problem that can eventually cause a student to not only quit in their sport, but also drop out of school all together. Being a student athlete causes more stress than typically any other reasoning for a college student to be stressed. For example when an athlete has a game coming up and a big project due the same night it will cause a lot stress. The one way that a student athlete can avoid having this type of stress is finishing their school work ahead of time, so they can relax after the game. This strain can also cause an athlete to stop doing a sport completely for a little while and entirely focus on their school. Theres nothing wrong with doing that, but stopping a sport for any time period will interrupt the growth of an athletes skill in their sport. Having good time management could be a determining factor of winning a State Championship or not for the team. Its granted that no athlete wants to be the one that ruins winning a State Championship just because they dont plan in advance. If a student athlete is in a sport that is individual such as tennis or golf this can cause even more stress due to the amount of pressure the sport causes alone. The goal to being a good student athlete is to have time management and not be a procrastinator. An athlete must also have good valued characteristics because in most case they are looked upon as role models. When a student goes to college they will develop into the adult they want to be in the future. Being in a sport while in college can give that student some of the respectable characteristics that they will need in the future. Bob Richards once said One of the great lessons Ive learned in athletics is that youve got to discipline your life. No matter how good you may be, youve got to be willing to cut out of your life those things that keep you from going to the top. Being an athlete means you must know what will help you move forward and what will take you back and remove what will take you back. Being an athlete also gives you leadership qualities that cant be learned elsewhere because you are placed into situations where quick decisions must be made. Athletes also have good respect towards others otherwise they would get punished in their sports for having disrespect. Being an athlete or not everybody probably agrees that having to run for being disrespectful is unquestionably not worth it. Student athletes are usually respected by others because they understand how the athletes have to work hard and are always strong-minded to succeed. Most people believe the idea that college is the time for messing around and discovering yourself, especially in the life of student athletes. The college athlete has been given this reputation of jocks only playing and partying. This is very untrue, the student athlete must strive for excellence of the field and still manage to do all their homework and school work. Regardless of how tough all the school work is, I believe everyone deserves to have a college experience outside the classroom. Some believe that student Athletes lead a different college experience than a normal student. As a college student athlete myself, I have come to learn that I am going to need to work twice as hard to be able to receive good grades while earning my degree along with balancing my time consuming baseball career. While I am trying to balance all of these things I am also going to try to be adjusting to the living circumstances and other situations the college life decided to throw at me. All college students tolerate and encounter some of the same situations. The college life is a huge change from life in high school. In college students usually move away from the comfort of their homes and no longer live under the protection of their parents. Most student athletes like myself have always been juggling their school work and sports as long as they can remember. Because Ive always had a sport to go along with school Ive never had the chance to be as full time student. In high school I was always playing a sport or dedicating my time to become better in one. It gives a student an unfair advantage over student athletes because they can spend this time becoming a better student. Although, there are many issues college students and college student athletes share, there are also a lot of problems they do not. Life can be stressful at times for every college student, but your normal college students have additional time to deal with whatever problems that occur. From witness ing college students around me, I have come to the assumption that all college students will sleep as much as they can. In most cases this would mean sleeping until you have to attend class, which most likely starts around nine for most students. Your standard course load for a typical college student is around fifteen units, which averages around ten to twelve hours a week. Once a college student attends all of his or her classes for the day they are usually free to do whatever they desire. With this extra free time the student has, it is mostly devoted to their social life. Since there normally is a good amount of extra time on the college students life they can usually have a pretty decent social life outside of school. The life of a college student athlete is structured closely to a normal students life but has much more added on top. Although, your typical class normally starts around nine or eight, most athletes are required to have to be up much earlier for study hall and/or practice depending on the sport. Not being able to sleep in very much in the mornings, I celebrate when I have a class at ten and I can go home after study hall or lifting and sleep for that extra hour. After school is over for the day, a college student athlete is rarely free to do what they wish; the majority of the time, there is either practice or games to be attended too. After a long day of class and practice you get to finally go home and do homework and study. With all of their time dedicated to the sport they play, the majority of college student athletes dont have much of a social life separate from their teammates. While most of an athletes close friends are their teammates, it feels more as if a family than just simply friends. Throughout the chaotic schedules of athletes, they can still find some spare time to socialize with other friends. The difference is that every student athlete has a target on their back and constantly has eyes watching them so they must be very cautious of what they do outside of school. Being a student athlete is hard but college can still be fun. Nothing helps clear a writers block more than going outside and throwing a baseball to clear my head. It is still unsure if student athletes or regular college students party and get in trouble more. But what I am sure of is that a student athlete will run a whole lot quick when the police come because of the fear of having to face the consequences from their coaches. The truth of the matter is college is no breeze for anyone student; college as a whole is a lot of hard work and commitment. The majority of student athletes have respect, are good leaders, and are very passionate about their school work and their sport. I personally believe the life of a student athlete can be more difficult in some parts than it is for college students but the life lessons you learn from being an athlete can never be learned anywhere else. Writers Narrative Although my essay strides away from the main topic of the assignment I felt that writing this essay would help me develop as a student. I did extensive research of the benefits and withdraws of being a student athlete and wanted to argue the point that people make that student athletes care less about their school work. Work Cited 1. Academic and Athletic Reform. American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, Victor Bondi, Richard Layman, Tandy McConnell, and Vincent Tompkins.  Vol. 9: 1980-1989.   Detroit: Gale, 2001.  Ã‚  Word Count: 550. 2 College Athletics. BRADLEY JAMES BATES, JOHN R. THELIN, JASON R. EDWARDS, ROBERT E. STAMMER, Jr., RACHEL M. MADSEN, THOMAS PASKUS,, et al. Encyclopedia of Education. Ed. James W. Guthrie.  Vol. 1.  2nd  ed.   New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003.  p344-371.  Word Count: 15416. 3. College and High School Sports. Sports in America: Recreation, Business, Education and Controversy. Robert Jacobson. 2006  ed.   Detroit: Information Plus, 2006.  p69-94.  Word Count: 8791.

Symbols and Analysis within Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne provides historical, societal, religious, scientific and biographical contexts. The story is set in the period of the Salem Witch Trials in Puritan New England. The story describes Brown's journey into the depths of the forest, where he believes that he sees many of the members of his community, including his wife Faith, attending a satanic ceremony. The narrator implies that Brown may be sleeping, but either way the experience was real. It affected Brown very much. The story is often read as Hawthorne's condemnation of Puritan ideology, as it proposes that Puritan doctrine could strain so much doubt that believers were doomed to see evil-whether or not it truly existed-in themselves and especially in others. Within the short story of Young Goodman Brown, one can find evidence that collectiveness in communal life would be considered moral and that individualism would be considered unmoral in society. Eventually it becomes clear that a commun alist life style is a necessary evil. Through Goodman Brown’s discovery of the corruptibility that results from Puritan society’s emphasis on public morality, one can piece together the idea that man is a social being and must be included in some type of community; whether the community itself is moral or unmoral. When Brown is approached by another traveler with a large staff that looks like a snake; the devil’s staff was encircled by a carved serpent. This comes from the biblical symbol of the serpent as an evil demon. In the Book of Genesis, the serpent tempts Eve into eating the forbidden fruit from the forbidden tree; which defied God’s will. When the devil tells Brown to use the staff travel quicker, Brown takes his advice, just as Eve, he is ... ...and he is upset when the devil tells him that this was not the case. He himself is ashamed to be seen walking in the forest and hides when Goody Cloyse, the minister, and Deacon Gookin pass. The forest is characterized as devilish, frightening, and dark, and Goodman Brown is comfortable in it only after he has given in to evil. Works Cited Folsom, James K. â€Å"Man’s Accidents and God’s Purposes†. Multiplicity in Hawthorne’s Fiction. New Haven: College and University Press 1963. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown.† Literature: A Pocket Anthology. Ed. Gwynn, R.S.. Third Edition. New York: Longman Publishers 2007. 198-209. Paey, Stephanie. â€Å"Symbolism and Human Nature in Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown†. Yahoo! Contributor Network. Apr 8, 2006. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/27166/symbolism_and_human_nature_in_nathaniel.html

Psychoneuroimmunology and Natural Healing by the Brain :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Psychoneuroimmunology and Natural Healing by the Brain After having studied the placebo effect for our last paper, I was greatly intrigued by its' importance in understanding health and implications for the connection of mind and body. As I acknowledged in my previous paper, the placebo effect is often documented in a scientific study, yet is considered to be something not completely understood and therefore deemed unreliable by the medical community. However, what I found from my research was that there does seem to be an inherent reliability and could thus be a cornerstone for the concept for mind-body healing. As most of us have experienced in our lives, especially in college, when we are most stressed out we all of a sudden seem to get sick easier and react to pain in more extreme ways. In this case, our psychological state seems to have much control over the functioning of our bodies (and immune system). For another example, consider the case of Mr. Wright as reported by Dr. Bruno Klopfer: Mr. Wright had a generalized far advanced malignancy involving the lymph nodes, lymphosarcoma. The patient had tried every available form of medicine and his condition had hopelessly deteriorated to the point where he was bedridden and gasping for air. [The doctors] agreed that he had only a few days to live. Then the man heard about an experimental drug called Krebiozen, which was in the process of being tested. He insisted on being included in the experimental trials. His doctors, feeling he had nothing to lose and would soon be dead anyway, out of compassion greed to give him the experimental drug. To their amazement, the man's tumors soon began to shrink dramatically and he was discharged from the hospital. Two months later, the man read news accounts of the research on Krebiozen that reported serious doubts with the drug. Within a matter of days, the man's tumors had returned and were again threatening his life. His doctor cleverly convinced him that a new and more potent shipme nt had been received and proceeded to give him injections of plain water. His tumors once again began to shrink dramatically. He remained healthy for seven more months until another news report declared 'Nationwide AMA Tests Show Krebiozen to Be Worthless as a Cancer Treatment.' The man died within two days (4). One can see that the connection between the nervous system and the immune system is quite important, especially in the way that attitudes and emotions are processed by and can at the same time affect physiological or biochemical change.

Childcare Diploma

Oral interview SHC 31 2. 2 Describe the factors to consider when promoting effective communication: ? The method of communication ? Environment (it depends with whom we are having the conversation) ? Proximity, orientation and posture (distance that we allow and take in consideration the cultural differences) SHC 31 3. 1 Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communications method in different ways ? Different culture ? Different way of saying things ? Different body language ? Different home environment ? Different routine ? Different meaningsSHC 31 3. 2 Identify barriers to effective communication ? Information-Language difficulties of expression ? Encoding -Inappropriate method of communication ? Transfer – Lost information, post missing, e-mail not received, written messages sent trough a child ? Reception – hearing difficulties, visual impairment, sign were not meant for them ? Decoding – not understanding the correct message – due to language difficulties, not enough time to understand the message, past experience influence the meaning of the message, stressed or distracted and the information is not absorbed ?Feedback – no facial expression, incorrect interpreting of the reaction, ? Response message not been received or misunderstood, negative response due to inappropriate style of communication SHC 31 3. 5 Explain how to access extra support or services to enable individuals to communicate effectively ? To try and find different way and methods to make someone understand: translating and interpreting services ? Speech and language services ( speech therapist or picture exchange, makaton – sign language) ?Advocacy services centres where they children can be consulted about matters important to them SHC32 2. 3 Describe how own values, belief systems and experience might affect the working practice ? You own values and you belief system can affect your work place sometimes because yo u may use only what you think is correct for the children ? By having other experiences and listening to other people advice might give you a different idea of how to do things better to meet children’s need

Proposal: West Parking

Contents Introduction2 Problem2 Objectives3 Solution4 Doing Nothing4 Installing extra traffic lights4 Hiring an extra parking staff to coordinate traffic congestion5 Improving North and West Parking5 Methods6 Cost8 Benefits9 Conclusion10 References10 Introduction We propose to expand the West and North parking lots of the UAA main campus to greatly reduce traffic congestion, to save time for students and staff, and to help decrease automobile accidents. Problem The UAA main campus is a commuter to more than 15, 000 students (Common data from UAA).The countless number of vehicles commuting to and from campus creates traffic congestions and is desperately in need of more parking spaces. Lack of adequate parking space for students and staff have negative impacts: * Road rage. The survey given in 2008 to UAA students reported that frustration due to congested traffic resulted in unsafe driving practices. Much could have been prevented if there were enough parking spaces for the vehicles that enter campus parking. * Tardiness.Delays due to finding parking space are direct consequence of students and staff being late for classes. Estimated time to find parking space may take up to 20 minutes (2008-UAA student’s survey). People usually experience high stress level due to frustration of finding parking space. Tardiness may have a direct effect on students’ performance in classes (University of Washington MDJ). * Unauthorized use of parking. UAA students admitted to have used Providence Hospital, and Goose Lake parking due to lack of adequate parking spots on campus.This unauthorized use of parking is taking away the spots reserved for the hospital’s patient, and those reserved for recreational use in the park. * Outrageous Parking Fees. The unanimous survey in 2008 for students showed concern over increased parking fees every semester, yet still not enough parking available. This is a â€Å"hot† topic next to book prices and spiking tuition. Student’s complaints are justified that if UAA is going to charge more for parking, then more parking spaces will also be required from the university. * ER access.Traffic created by students and staff vehicles at the main campus has negative impact for hospital emergencies vehicles. UAA main campus is located across the Providence Hospital, and interfering with littering the Providence Drive with students and staff vehicles may be critical of saving someone’s life where minutes or even seconds are critical to one’s well being. * Road safety. Students have reported and are concern about the pedestrian safety once they park the vehicles (2008 survey). There is no pedestrian pathway from the North and West Parking to campus buildings; walking is on the road.Concerns are mostly in wintertime, (fall and spring semesters) where icy and snowy roads, and poor visibility is a road hazard to moving vehicles and pedestrians. * Vehicle accidents. Department of Transportat ions (DOT) ranks the Providence Drive in top five of hazardous locations. The proximity of UAA and Hospital at Providence Drive and congested traffic at this area is responsible for high amount of automobile accidents (according to US. DOT –Federal Highway Administration). Objectives To create a solution for improved parking at UAA and traffic congestion problems issues must: 1.Include a solid development plan that would benefit students, staff, and the UAA. The students and staff would greatly appreciate adequate parking spaces for their vehicle. UAA would positively gain revenue from parking fees. 2. Ensure that parking construction is developed on time and that students attending the following semester are not interrupted with constructions issues. 3. Ensure that pedestrians’ pathways are easily accessible from parking, thus greatly reducing chance of someone being hit by a vehicle. 4. Avoid new traffic congestions on Providence Drive due to parking construction.Sol ution There are several potential solutions to the problems outlined earlier in the proposal. These solutions are: * Doing nothing * Installing extra traffic lights * Hiring an extra parking staff to coordinate traffic congestion * Improving North and West Parking Doing Nothing This is the least effective solution to the existing problem. By doing nothing, we cannot improve parking issues desperately sought by many students and staffs. The use of unauthorized parking in the property of Providence Hospital and Goose Lake will likely continue.Road rage will likely occur as it has. Issues of tardiness will continue if we do not take appropriate steps to solve it. By doing nothing we will not help to solve automobile accidents, impact road safety, or help with ER access (2008 survey, DOT). Installing extra traffic lights This next possible solution is to install extra traffic lights. This measure of safety and coordination of traffic would add benefit t a more regulated traffic flow, an d improve the safety of the pedestrian’s crosswalks. According to Municipality of Anchorage (M. O.A), Traffic Department, Lance Wilber, said that the cost of installing traffic lights may be well over $700,000 per cross-section, depending on the location and construction plans involved. This solution seems ineffective because it does not solve the pedestrians’ safety concerns over the crossing from the parking area to the campus buildings, nor solve the lack of available parking space. This solution contributes to solving some traffic congestion at campus, but better solution is needed. In addition, M. O. A advised against installation of new traffic lights since there are already five in place at the Providence Drive.Hiring an extra parking staff to coordinate traffic congestion Hiring an extra parking staff could be a reasonable solution for traffic congestion at campus. This solution requires hiring of twelve individuals for North and West Parking, for coordinating traffic at the busiest time: mornings and late afternoon. The vehicles entering campus would be guided to available parking and pedestrians’ safety could be looked after. According to Parking Services, estimated cost for an extra staff and equipment on annual basis would amount to over half a million dollars.However, this would not help eliminate vehicle traffic at Providence Drive; in fact, traffic congestion would likely be worse than it is now. Parking Services, advised against hiring an extra staff to help coordinate traffic due to lack of budget. Improving North and West Parking The best solution to the problems outlined earlier in the proposal is to improve the largest parking on main campus, which is the North, and West Parking. These hold the largest accommodation of parking lots, and are easily accessible from: Providence Drive, Lake Otis Parkway, and UAA Drive-Mallard Lane.For its convenience of being accessible to the main campus and having close proximity to 13-UA A buildings, and short walking distance to other facilities, the North and West Parking is the best candidate and that needs improvement. The advantage to this solution is that it would double the available parking spaces. By creating more space, vehicles would move faster to and from campus creating less congestion on busy Providence Drive. Improvement to existing parking would add walkways to help cross over going to the campus, thus greatly improving road safety for both: the vehicles and pedestrians.Vehicle accidents, road rage, and ER access would be improved since the congestion on Providence Drive would be minimized. This solution would favorably affect the issues with tardiness and positively solve the unauthorized use of parking at Providence Hospital and Goose Lake. The cost of this project is approximately set at 2 million dollars per parking, according to Chris Nowak at Affordable Construction, and Stan Vanover-UAA Project Manager. While this may seem expensive at first glance, it is the best solution for improvement.A solution with traffic lights and hiring extra staff to control traffic congestion does not adequately address solving the problems. The only cheaper solution to improving parking is to do nothing. However, this solution though saves money does not solve the students and staff issues, or traffic congestion, and will actually create more problems and complications in the future. The benefit for UAA for this project is that it would recover accumulated expenses from parking fees over 5-7 years (Parking Services), at the same time will solve the outlined problems.This solution is the answer to the described problems, and is reasonably cost effective. Methods Description of Project This project requires adding one more level to existing floor plan, example: airport-parking style, without roof, with ramp access to another level. Second level would have connecting stairs and or elevator to first floor. The pedestrians’ pathways would be implemented between diagonal parked vehicles for safe crossing. Easily accessible ramps would be used by snow removing vehicles during wintertime; the first floor would be snow free.This project will ensure improvement in parking—double the available space, pedestrians and vehicles safety, and would reduce traffic congestion at Providence Drive due to faster rotation of moving vehicles. Pictures of North and West Parking. Note the hazardous road condition and lack of pedestrians’ walkways | | | PARTIAL UAA CAMPUS MAP(arrows point to proposed project area)| Sample pictures of 2-story parking garage with access ramps. | Cost The cost for this project has been estimated at 2 million for the North Parking, and 2, 2 million for the West Parking according to Affordable Construction.These costs include planning, materials, and labor. The planning include the cost of design, surveying, and appropriate permits for the city of Anchorage building code. The materials and labor include the cost of all construction materials and labor needed to complete the project (including 4 elevators if needed). This estimate may change due to prices fluctuation for material or labor cost. Estimate is fairly set as of November 27, 2009. The estimator predicted the low of 4 million dollars to as high as 5, 2 million dollars for this project.Significant amount of money could be saved for material if ordered early in the year from lower 48, and shipped directly. Table 1. Cost Analysis Project| Cost| Total amount| North Parking| Planning $48000Materials $1280000Labor $672000| $ 2,000. 000| West Parking| Planning $ 51000Materials $1410000Labor $739000| $ 2,200. 000| Contingency Fund| | $ 1,000. 000| | Grand total| $ 5,200. 000| Contingency Fund is set to a million dollars for the high end of the project. Ensuring early material ordering will significantly reduce this expense.Time required and Schedule for Project Completion Planning of project can begin early January 2010. The actual construction should start early May— at the end of spring semester—to ensure completion by the end of August, right on time when the fall semester begins. Construction project should take 110-120 days, ensuring as little as possible interruption with students vehicle traffic. The impact on the construction and students should be minimal as fewer students attending UAA during summer. To better illustrate time allotted for the construction, please refer to Table 2.Information for the time and construction was provided by Stan Vanover, Sr. Project Manager, for Construction at UAA. Table 2. Construction & Planning Project| Task| Time allotted in days| Schedule| North & West Parking Improvement| Planning beginsContractors BidsConstruction begins| 4045110| 01/4/201002/20/201005/10/2010| | Project Completion| | 08/30/2010| Benefits Reasonable cost, attracting revenues * Cost for this project is fairly priced according to UAA Project Manager. UAA will collect for pa rking fees and multiply revenues. Traffic congestion alleviated * Improved parking will double available space.This would mean less traffic at the Providence Drive, and smoother vehicle transition to and from campus. Pedestrians and vehicle safety improved * Walkways for pedestrians inside the campus will increase safety. Road hazards, such as the snow and ice would be eliminated on the first floor of parking, thus enhancing pedestrians and motorists safety. Conclusion Despite our economic downturn, colleges in the United States reporting increase in attendance and ever-rising tuition fees. UAA is a home to more than 15 000 students annually; in 2009 UAA reported over 1000 students more than previous year in attendance.We believe that proposed solution to parking improvement is an excellent way to reduce traffic congestion, pedestrians, and motorists’ safety, and provide adequate parking spaces. We look forward to making UAA a safer, well-developed campus. If there are any qu estions you may have, please contact us at your convenience. References 2008 survey, Campus Commuters Statistics can be found at: http://www. uaa. alaska. edu/opra/upload/Common-Data-Set-2008 Department of Transportation, vehicle accidents statistics can be found at: http://safety. fhwa. dot. gov/hsip/fivepercent/2008/08ak. htmUAA Parking Services comments can be found at: http://www. uaa. alaska. edu/parking/, 907. 786. 1119 Lance Wilber, Municipality of Anchorage, information on traffic lights can be found at: http://www. muni. org/Departments/traffic/engineering/Pages/Signals. aspx Information on cost analysis, construction, and planning for the project can be found from: Stan Vanover, Senior Project Manager UAA, Department of Facilities, Planning, and Construction Information on project cost estimate can be found from: Affordable Construction, Chris Nowak, 907. 245. 5722, 20907 Turnagain St, Anchorage