Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Atlantic Cod Information and Facts
Atlantic Cod Information and Facts The Atlantic cod was called by author Mark Kurlansky, the fish that changed the world. Certainly, no other fish was as formative in the settlement of the eastern coast of North America, and in forming the booming fishing towns of New England and Canada. Learn more about the biology and history of this fish below. Atlantic Cod Descriptive Features Cod are greenish-brown to gray on their sides and back, with a lighter underside. They have a light line that runs along their side, called the lateral line. They have an obvious barbel, or whisker-like projection, from their chin, giving them a catfish-like appearance. They have three dorsal fins and two anal fins, all of which are prominent. There have been reports of cod that were as long as 6 1/2 feet and as heavy as 211 pounds, although the cod typically caught by fishermen today are much smaller. Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ActinopterygiiOrder: GadiformesFamily: GadidaeGenus: GadusSpecies: morhua Cod are related to haddock and Pollock, which also belong to the family Gadidae. According to FishBase, the Gadidae family contains 22 species. Habitat and Distribution The Atlantic cod ranges from Greenland to North Carolina. Atlantic cod prefer waters close to the ocean bottom. They are most commonly found relatively shallow waters less than 500 feet deep. Feeding Cod feed on fish and invertebrates. They are top predators and used to dominate the ecosystem of the North Atlantic Ocean. But overfishing has caused huge changes in this ecosystem, resulting in an expansion of cod prey such as urchins (which have since been overfished), lobsters and shrimp, leading to a system out of balance. Reproduction Female cod are sexually mature at 2-3 years, and spawn in winter and spring, releasing 3-9 million eggs along the ocean bottom. With this reproductive potential, it may seem that cod should be abundant forever, but the eggs are vulnerable to wind, waves and often become prey to other marine species. Cod may live to over 20 years. Temperature dictates a young cods rate of growth, with cod growing more quickly in warmer water. Because of the cods dependence on a certain range of water temperature for spawning and growth, studies on cod have focused on how cod will respond to global warming. History Cod attracted Europeans to North America for short-term fishing trips and eventually enticed them to stay as fishermen profited from this fish that had flaky white flesh, a high protein content and low fat content. As Europeans explored North America looking for passage to Asia, they discovered an abundance of huge cod and started fishing along the coast of what is now New England, using temporary fishing camps. Along the rocks of the New England coast, settlers perfected the technique of preserving cod through drying and salting so it could be transported back to Europe and fuel trade and business for the new colonies. As put by Kurlansky, cod had lifted New England from a distant colony of starving settlers to an international commercial power. Fishing for Cod Traditionally, cod was caught using handlines, with larger vessels sailing out to fishing grounds and then sending men in small dories to drop a line in the water and pull in cod. Eventually, more sophisticated and effective methods, such as gill nets and draggers were used. Fish processing techniques also expanded. Freezing techniques and filleting machinery eventually led to the development of fish sticks, marketed as a healthy convenience food. Factory ships started catching fish and freezing it out at sea. Overfishing caused cod stocks to collapse in many areas. Status Atlantic cod are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Despite overfishing, cod are still fished commercially and recreationally. Some stocks, such as the Gulf of Maine stock, are no longer considered overfished. Sources Kurlansky, Mark. Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World. Walker and Company, 1997, New York.Gadus morhua, Atlantic Cod. MarineBio, 2009.NMFS. Atlantic Cod. FishWatch - U.S. Seafood Facts, 2009.Brief History of the Groundfishing Industry of New England. Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Will SAT Prep Help Me in Other Subjects
Will SAT Prep Help Me in Other Subjects SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips A lot of students wonder: does SAT prep help with anything else in life? In this article, a real SAT instructor gives her view on the topic. Most people look at education like a textbook: you read information, you absorb it, you move it around and you solve problems with it. But the best, most dynamic education is interdisciplinaryit combines multiple subjects that overlap or intersect, because that’s how the real world is. You can’t do science without math, and you can’t write a history paper without English. Along those same lines, you can’t get better at taking the SAT without learning something about the skills it tests and why it tests them. And yes, that can help you in the rest of your schoolworkif you prep the right way. The SAT loves to test alternate meanings of wordsthe less-common second meaning of the adjective â€Å"fair,†for example, which means pleasant (weather, for example, can be fair). SAT prep is a great way to learn these second meaningsnot just for the test, but so you’ll know what people mean when they say â€Å"fair-weather friend.†For example, let’s say you are prepping with the following Reading Comprehension question: The widow, searching for a craft store, passed dozens of storefronts as she walked. She had a very complicated and specific project in mind for her daughter, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to realize it without a special accessory for her sewing machine. In the passage above, â€Å"realize†most nearly means {A} understand {B} discover {C} accomplish {D} determine {E} earn If this question were on the SAT, you’d have very little chance of learning from itthe stress is too great. But in prep, you have a moment to think about it. Does the widow need to â€Å"understand†her project? No, that doesn’t make any sense, she thought of it. For her to â€Å"discover†the project makes even less sense. Does she need to â€Å"accomplish†the project? Yesdon’t eliminate {C}. To â€Å"determine†a project doesn’t make sense, nor does â€Å"earn.†So if you didn’t know that realize can mean accomplishliterally, to make realyour SAT prep has just given you a little boost in your understanding of the English language. Here at PrepScholar, we’ve constantly workingyes, right this minuteto improve the real-life applicability of our materials, both for the student’s benefit and for the advantage it gives the learning process itself. When ideas are more connected to other ideas, we remember them more readily. Thus, SAT prep that’s connected to the real world and other subjects is both more effective and more fun. Stay tuned to PrepScholar’s ongoing pedagogy innovations by subscribing to the blog! And if you found this interesting or helpful, sign up to the right to stay updated on the topics we think SAT preppers and their parents might find useful. Next Up: What the New SAT Means for You Or, get our FREE Ebook below: Get Your Free Resource Here Get a Free Guide Here
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Strategic Market, The Southwest Airline Model Research Paper - 1
Strategic Market, The Southwest Airline Model - Research Paper Example The employees at the company are trained to help customers and serve them genuinely with care in order to make customers happy; thus the company philosophy is translated into stockholder and customer happiness. The business model of the corporation is to eradicate the unnecessary frills provided by competitors; hence reducing the cost to clients. The industry reduces the cost by focusing on a lesser number of routes and only flying one type of plane; hence it has created a niche market in the aviation industry. Therefore, by choosing only to employ one type of aircraft, it was a very strategic choice that could enable the company to sustain their business in the global competitive business world. The Southwest airline industry have made significant efforts of employing effective strategic management policies and business model that can enable them to meet the demanding needs of customers in the targeted market. Michael Porter has attempted to reveal unique and valuable strategic position of an industry based on a tailored set of activities that can enable the company to achieve competitive advantage (Hill and Jones, 2009). Many industries have made considerable efforts of employing Porter’s five forces of competitive advantage in order to sustain their business in the global competitive market. The company manager of Southwest airline industry wanted to create a low cost aviation solution that can offer quality service to customers; hence enabling the company to sustain a competitive advantage. Therefore, the use of non-conventional models for low-cost and controlled solid growth for the airline has been among the major aspects for achieving competitiveness in the air line industry (Gross and Schroder, 2007). The industry also segments targeted market in varied ways including travelling short distances, frequent schedules, low cost fares, as well as, cost and value conscious customers. The other consists of
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Cultural Relativism and Improving the Lives of Women Essay
Cultural Relativism and Improving the Lives of Women - Essay Example However, as demonstrated by the overwhelming number of reservations to CEDAW there is an underlying reluctance to part with social and cultural traditions.4 This study assesses the problem of cultural relativism as a barrier to improving the lives of women by reference to the weakness of the implementation and enforcement mechanisms of CEDAW. Cultural relativism takes the position that there is no universally accepted standard for judging all cultures. This is especially unfair to feminists who attempt to draw attention to all forms of gender discrimination and oppression among diverse cultures.5 Cultural relativism is characterized as a â€Å"doctrine†that recognizes that there are some moral codes and social institutions are different and are â€Å"exempt from legitimate criticism by outsiders†and such a doctrine is â€Å"supported by notions of communal autonomy and self-determination†.6 There are two diametrically opposed views on cultural relativism. One view is referred to as radical cultural relativism and this view holds that culture provides the only validity for proffering a moral rule. The other view is radical universalism which takes the position that culture is not relevant for validating moral rules because they are â€Å"universally valid†.7 †¦people are categorized and identified by social identity, especially as it is expressed in religious, ethnic, or tribal terms. These group-based identities often help determine our position in the social and political hierarchy of a society and also condition people’s attitudes and perceptions toward us as we go about our daily business.8 For a number of women, they derive their respective identities from their experiences within specific settings that are dominated by males. Even so, the way that they perceive themselves emanates from how women are treated and quite often they confront levels of discriminatory treatment within their social settings.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Tax Returns Essay Example for Free
Tax Returns Essay Consider an accountant who prepares tax returns. Suppose a form 1040EZ requires $12 in computer resources to process and 22 minutes of the accountant’s time. Assume a form 1040A takes $25 in computer resources and needs 48 minutes of the accountant’s time. If the accountant can spend $630 on computer resources and has 1194 minutes available, how many forms of 1040EZ and 1040A can the accountant process? Solution: Let      x be the number of form 1040EZ that the accountant can process y be the number of form 1040A that the accountant can process The system of equation required for this problem is 12x + 25y ≠¤ 630 22x + 48y ≠¤ 1194 In augmented matrix form: The reduced form gives us the following set of equations:            x + 2. 5y ≠¤ 52.5          x + 2.5(4.3) ≠¤ 52.5                x ≠¤ 41.7                      y ≠¤ 4.3 Answer: The accountant can process at most 41.7 ( or 41) 1040EZ forms and at most 4.3 (or 4) 1040A forms. You are given the following system of linear equations: x – y + 2z = 13 2x + y – z = -6 -x + 3y + z = -7 a. Provide a coefficient matrix corresponding to the system of linear equations. What is the inverse of this matrix? What is the transpose of this matrix? d. Find the determinant for this matrix. det(A) = (1)(1)(1) + (-1)(-1)(-1) + (2)(2)(3) – (2)(1)(-1) – (-1)(2)(1) – (1)(-1)(3) det(A) = 19 Calculate the following for a. A * B b. -4A c. AT Solve the following linear system using Gaussian elimination. Show work. 3x + y – z = -5 -4x + y = 6 6x – 2y + 3z = 2 Solution: Backward substitution: 19/7 z = 76/7             z = 4 y – 4/7 z = -2/7          y = 2 x+1/3 y – 1/3 z = -5/3            x = -1 Solve the following linear system for x using Cramer’s rule. Show work. x + 2y – 3z = -22 2x – 6y + 8z = 74 -x – 2y + 4z = 29 Solution: The coefficient matrix corresponding to the given system is and the answer column is det(A) = (1)(-6)(4) + (2)(8)(-1) + (-3)(2)(-2) – (-3)(-6)(-1) – (2)(2)(4) – (1)(8)(-2)            = -10 Plug-in the answer column to x column and get the determinant det(X) = (-22)(-6)(4) + (2)(8)(29) + (-3)(74)(-2) – (-3)(-6)(29) – (2)(74)(4) – (-22)(8)(-2)            = -30 Plug-in the answer column to y column and get the determinant det(Y) = (1)(74)(4) + (-22)(8)(-1) + (-3)(2)(29) – (-3)(74)(-1) – (-22)(2)(4) – (1)(8)(29)            = 20 Plug-in the answer column to z column and get the determinant det(Z) = (1)(-6)(29) + (2)(74)(-1) + (-22)(2)(-2) – (-22)(-6)(-1) – (2)(2)(29) – (1)(74)(-2)            = -70 By Cramer’s rule, the solution to the system is x = -30 / -10 = 3 y = 20 / -10 = -2 z = -70 / -10 = 7
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Reciprocal love in John Donnes Holy Sonnets Essay -- John Donne Holy
Reciprocal love in John Donne's Holy Sonnets Holy Sonnet XV deals with the question of reciprocal love that runs throughout Donne’s religious poetry. The Sonnet is an address of the speaker’s mind to the speaker’s soul; it is a meditation on the Trinity and man’s relationship to God. The poem’s form and the multi-layered conflation throughout expound upon the nature of the Trinity. The theme of humility in reciprocal religious love or receiving and understanding God’s glory (as Donne understood it) runs throughout the poem. This allows the speaker’s soul to understand his own need for humility in order to love god fully. Donne uses the Sonnet form cunningly in this poem; the formal divisions of the Sonnet reflect the trinity, with three four-line sections, while the inner workings of the poem expound upon God’s love for mankind and the need for humility. The poem’s rhyme scheme is abba/abba/cddc/ee. This formally divides the poem into three four part sections that m ove from the spiritual to the physical downward through the Trinity, increasing tangibility with regard to the physical and allowing the speaker to achieve a closer relationship with God through Christ. Each four-line section expounds upon one aspect of the Trinity- God the Spirit/God the Father/God the Son. Donne continually juxtaposes the explication of aspects of the Trinity with explication of man’s relationship to God, resulting in a high degree of conflation throughout. The first line opens with a simultaneous statement of doubt and faith, â€Å"Wilt thou love God, as He thee?†While the speaker is convinced of God’s love, he doubts his ability to reciprocate. This is in contrast to many of Donne’s other Holy Sonnets in which the speaker continuously implores ... ...al in lines one and two with enjambment between the words â€Å"digest†and â€Å"my soul.†He even goes so far as to conflate God the Father with depraved man through enjambent and the phrase â€Å"robbed man†in line 9. In fact, this line seems to actually serve as a kind of â€Å"volta†due to the ultimate extreme of conflation, thus following the traditional Italian sonnet form. This emphasizes the purity of the form as representative of the Trinity in this sonnet. Donne’s use of the form of the poem itself as an embodiment of the Trinity seems to further emphasize the perceived interrelatedness of all things, and therefore supports the mutual statement of love that opens the poem. So, the conflation rises to yet another level, where the poem itself is a resonation of God’s love as a manifestation of the trinity, and Donne takes the role of creator, thus acting in the image of God.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Labor Relations
In this paper, unions and labor relations will be defined and their impact on organizations will be elaborated. Also, the impact of changes in employee relations strategies, policies, and practices on organizational performance will be examined. After this, the question â€Å"Are unions still relevant in the U.S.?†will be answered. Furthermore, the campaign, the election, contract negotiations, grievance handling, arbitrations, labor relations, and strikes will be addressed. Labor unions and labor relations Labor unions, which are the watchdogs and negotiators for the American workforce, are a way of collectively bargaining with employers for fair working conditions and fair wages. The craft unions or skilled laborers and industrial unions or laborers in the same industry, regardless of skill are the two types of labor unions that are organized. In the U.S. Groups of highly-trained carpenters, tailors, printers, and weavers in the colonial age, the seed of modern labor unions were the guilds. Guilds, which are economic and social in nature, are associations of persons who are involved in the same craft or business. The workers who members of guilds are banded together so that the quality standards would be maintained and the employers’ hiring of skilled laborers from home would be ensured. In the mid-19th century, there was an increase in the number of new industrial unions which were created for the assertion of workers’ rights. This change in the personality of the American workforce was due to the invention of the steam engine and other industrial advancements. The Knights of Labor, which inaugurated the Labor Day holiday in 1882, was one of the most important industrial unions. In the 1890s, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed. It is composed of the craft unions which include both skilled and unskilled laborers. The federation was formed because its member craft unions were opposed to the composition of the Knights of Labor’s membership. The United Mine Workers and the Danburry Hatters case in 1902 were ones of the early conflicts and strikes included in this period. In the 1930s, when the Great Depression took place, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was formed. Many of the members of CIO were the dissidents of the AFL who favors industrial unionism. Workers in the steel, rubber, auto, maritime, glass, and meat packing industries were some of the major constituents of the CIO. In spite of the conflicts during the 30s and 40s, a powerful body known as the AFL-CIO was formed from the merging of the two national organizations in 1955. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent agency of the U.S. government. It was created under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 or the Wagner Act and was amended by the acts of 1947 or the Taft-Harley Labor Act and 1949 or the Landrum-Griffin Act. The board affirmed the rights of the labor to organize and bargain collectively through representatives they chose or to refrain from such activities. The board which is composed of five members is assisted by 33 regional directors. The members are appointed by the U.S. President with the approval of the Senate for five-year terms. The proper bargaining units are determined, the elections for union representation are conducted, and the charges of unfair labor practices by employers are investigated by the board. Coercion, interference, or restraint in labor’s self-organizational rights is included in the unfair practices (Villanueva Siasoco). A research study revealed that the collaboration of an organization (such as community organizations) and a labor union is an impetus for change. For example, the labor unions and community organizations in Greater Boston, which have worked together in recent years, have achieved remarkable successes. Some of their victories include the passing of a Boston living wage ordinance, an increase in the minimum wage in Massachusetts, improvement in union contracts and in workplace conditions, an earned income tax credit on state income taxes, $6 million state job training program for 1, 500 workers, and a number of progressive tax policies which includes a new tax on capital gains. These significant achievements in Boston are reverberated throughout the country. This is manifested by the continuous formation of alliances by community organizations with the organized labor. Again, these alliances are formed for the purpose of tackling problems that affect the lives of the low-wage workers. The Service Employees International Union, which is known for its successful Justice for Janitors campaigns, is one of the unions that organize low-wage workers. The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Union is also a low wage-workers union. These unions are included in the most vibrant and fastest growing organizations in the country. The collaboration of labor unions and community organizations is really needed for the achievement of long-term goals of economic and social justice. The need for the collaboration is being intensified by the changes in the national economy over the last few decades. One the changes that forces for a collaboration of labor unions and community organizations is the shifting of the economy from higher-paying manufacturing jobs to lower-paying jobs in the service sector. Similarly, the public policy efforts for the promotion of the welfare of working families in general are being broadened by the labor movement. The national AFL-CIO, under the new leadership since 1995, has devoted increased resources to advocate policies. These policies include the universal health care coverage which is intended to benefit all American who are working (not only those who are members of unions) and the raising of the federal minimum wage. One of the impacts of labor unions in policies is the announcement of support of amnesty for undocumented immigrants by the AFL-CIO in February, 2000. In addition, the AFl-CIO also played a major role in organizing, planning, and supporting the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride of 2003. This ride is a nationwide effort which aims to raise the visibility of the issues of the immigrant workers (Ranghelli 4). On the other hand, the impact of changes on employees is the decrease in the purchase of labor by employers because of the higher wages won by unions. The success in asserting for higher wages and better working conditions also reduced the number of jobs available (Reynolds). Are unions still relevant in the U.S.? The question â€Å"Are unions still relevant in the U.S.?†does not need anymore time to think about. Unions are absolutely relevant in the U.S. Considering the economic situation today, wherein the trend is to shift from higher-paying jobs to lower-paying jobs, to use more machines than labor force, and to employ contractualization, the exploitation of the labor sector becomes more intense. Thus, unions play a vital role in achieving economic and social justice. Considering the opinions raised by Reynolds, it is very shallow to say that the labor unions are the anticompetitive force in the labor markets. It is very inhumane to think of workers as simply inputs that are needed to be purchased in order for a process such as production or manufacturing to materialize. It is in this thinking where the exploitation of the laborers’ rights arises. Regarding campaigns and elections, union officers are elected based on the standards established by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). Officers in the local unions are elected through secret balloting. On the other hand, officers of the national and international unions are elected either by secret balloting of the members or by delegates who are chosen by the secret ballot. The election of the officers of the national and international unions is held at least every five years. For the intermediate bodies, the election of officers is held at least every four years and for the local unions, election of officers is held at least every three years. The funds of a union may be used in conducting an election. Also, it is an option for the employers and unions to use their funds in promoting the candidacy of any candidate (http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/unions-elections.htm). Collective bargaining refers to the negotiations between an employer and a group of employees. Negotiations are done so that the conditions of employment would be determined. The result of the procedures of the collective bargaining is called collective agreement. Union or other labor organizations represent the employees in bargaining. Federal and state statutory laws, judicial decisions, and administrative agency regulations govern collective bargaining. Arbitration refers to the method of dispute resolution. This method is used as an alternative to litigation. Arbitration is usually used to resolve disputes between employers and employees during a collective bargaining (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Collective_bargaining#collective_bargaining_and_labor_arbitration:_an_overview). Usually, strike is the last resort taken by workers in addressing their grievances. Holding mass pickets is the most effective way to involve all strikers. Although strikes may mean decrease in wages or dismissal from work, success in such solidarity actions is effectively achieved through picketing the workplaces of the workers (http://libcom.org/organise/guide-to-taking-strike-action). The aforementioned concepts support the answer that unions are still relevant in the U.S. For example, the funds of unions are very vital during an election because may be used to promote the candidacy of a certain candidate who, when elected, must address the concerns not only of the workers but the families in general. Also, it is very significant in addressing the welfare of the people because what labor unions fight for is not just their interests but the interests of the masses. Again, labor union should not be viewed as a hindrance for the economic development. It is not enough to say that a country is developed based on a high gross national product which is achieved through lower cost of production that includes lower wages for the laborers. Higher gross national product which is achieved through exploitations of workers does not mean economic and social justice. Reference Collective bargaining and labor arbitration: an overview. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from            http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Collective_bargaining#collective_bargaini           ng_and_labor_arbitration:_an_overview John. (November 11, 2006). Guide to taking strike action. Retrieved November 18, 2006,         from http://libcom.org/organise/guide-to-taking-strike-action National Labor Relations Board. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from            http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/bus/A0834954.html Ranghelli. (March 2005). Joining Forces Community Organizations and Labor Unions Form     New Collaborations. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from Unions and Union Members: Union Elections. Retrieved November 18, 2006, from            http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/unions-elections.htm Villanueva Siasoco, Ricco. Hard Labor. How unions fought to honor the American worker.      Retrieved November18, 2006, from http://www.factmonster.com/spot/labor1.html   Labor Relations Labor relation entails policies and daily practices that are concerned with the regulation and management of individual and team relationships within the organization. Essentially, employee relations are centered on the ability to resolve and prevent conflicts that involve either an individual or the teams in the organization which directly affect work situations and performance. Efficient communication ensures that information is passed to the employees in order to allow them understand better the company’s goals and objectives. Most employee relations managers uphold the responsibility of handling grievances, individual code of conduct while in the office, evaluation of employee performance and counseling programs. Sound employee relations are based on participation and effective communication for both the management and the employees. There are various management styles that cover the way employee relations must be conducted in order to achieve the best from the employees. (Selid, 1995) Trade unions are organized groups of employees officially recognized by both the government and their employer that have come together to promote their common interests. Trade unions have a responsibility of ensuring get the value of what they work for. They are directed to provide a communication channel between the employer and the employees. In some cases, In the United States, trade unions are registered by the specific State that it operates from and they are ratified by the federal government. The United States have a national advisory board referred to as Employee Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) that is concerned with formulating national policies which must be adhered to by individual Employee Relations Advisory Organization (ERAO) which every institution including airline companies must have. At least one representative of ERAO is elected to sit at the Employee Relations Advisory Board. In an airline setting for example, their union is responsible for providing the company’s management with suggestions on how to solicit and disseminate information on plans and programs that are designed for employees who will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace. (Employee Relations Advisory Organization, 2004) There are impact of changes in employee relations strategies, policies, and practices on organizational performance. For example if employees within an organization are represented by a trade union fully recognized by the same organization e.g. the airline company and the government, cooperation between the employer that is airline company and its employees will be enhanced the workplace. Good and sound formulated strategies and policies that relates to labor relations in organization particularly the airline companies will lead to attainment of organizations goals and pursuing the company’s mission statement in the direct path. There are various management styles that cover the way employee relations must be conducted in order to achieve the best from the employees. These management styles are intended to teach employees the following; applicable regulations and policies, bargaining agreements, grievance and appeal rights, and discrimination and protection of whistleblowers. The impact of changes in employee relations has broadened its definition from the initial industrial relations to such aspects as employer-employee relations, personal contracts, workplace environmental safety, and socio-emotional factors. In developed countries like in the U.S and mostly in airline industries, there is a growing trend of harmonization in almost all levels of government mainly because of the government commitment to enhance employee relations programs. (Sparrow and Hilltop, 1994) Trade unions plays a very major role in trying to protect the rights of employees who form there membership and research indicates that they still relevant in the U.S. administration because they have the task of ensuring that employees rights regarding to the workplace are protected. However, due to corruption and other malpractices the effectiveness of these trade unions has been compromised over the last few years. Research indicates that the employers in the U.S. for example employers in the airline industry are reported to be harassing there employees in the pretext that they are giving out instructions to be obeyed in order to achieve the stated organizational goals, a development which does not auger well with trade unions in the U.S. (Delaney and Huselid, 1996) In general, these trade unions has the following roles, labor climate assessment, positive employee relation programs, union campaigns and election objectives, unfair labor practices such as poor wages and unfounded dismissals, dealing with workplace harassment, coordinating and implementing cooperate relations programs, and handling complaint/issue resolution processes in the respective organizations among others. The only problem that normally cause misunderstanding between the trade unions and the companies or government is that the trade unions can organize go slows, strikes, destructions etc when round table solutions to issues fails. This is very hard for a company to control but with negotiations, it can reach an agreement. Trade unions officials are responsible to their members and they are usually elected to office mainly through secret ballots. This implies those vying for any seats have to campaign for votes from the union members. Sometimes some officials use unfair campaign strategies that do not foster fairness and equality among the contenders. Also these trade union officials play a significant role in any country’s general election because they can influence their members on what directions to vote e.g. advising the members to vote out the present government because of some dissatisfaction that they have with it. Trade unions plays an important role contract negotiations; almost everything can be bargained these days and therefore with employee relations through trade unions such issues as awarding contracts, compensations, benefits, and work schedules can be sorted out by discussing them until a solution is achieved. The bargaining approach settles conflicts that arise as a result of contract matters. It also outlines the rules with which the basis of handling specific work agreements is sorted out. Normally, if this approach is well utilized, employee relations are greatly improved. Grievance handling in any organization is very crucial to all organizations and at least every company has some way of dealing with their grievances. In fact, it is considered that a few individuals in a company are so arrogant that they are font of harassing their workmates leading to poor productivity. Companies need to develop a grievance handling procedure that will ensure that conflicts are eliminated in the organization. Without proper handling grievances of the employees well trade unions may call for strikes to force the government to implement their desired changes. In the recent past strikes and go-slows have become common methods which employees use them to pass their grievances to their employers. (Brewster, 1995) It is therefore prudent for management of any organization to adopt employee recognition strategies. This is another factor that the employers put into consideration for the organization to improve its employee relations; this is basically a communication instrument, which strengthens and compensates the most significant production that the employees have created for the organization. The recognition structure is always made simple, instant, and effectively supportive to the employees’ relations and the organization at large. (Chevrier, 2003) Reference: Brewster. C (1995): Towards a European Model of Human Resource Management- Journal of International Business. Vol 26 Pp 45-67 Chevrier, S. (2003): Cross-cultural management in multinational project groups Journal of World Business. Vol.38. Pp 77-89 Delaney. J and Huselid. M (1996):- The impact of human resource management practices on perceptions of performance in for-profit and non-profit organizations. Academy of Management Journal. Vol 39. Pp 34-56 Employee Relations Advisory Organization, (2004): Labor Relations Washington D.C, Article 2. Pp 5-29 Murray, A. (1989): Top management group heterogeneity and firm performance. Strategic Management Journal Vol. 10, Special issue. Pp 13-34 Selid, M. (1995):- The impact of human resource management practices on turnover, productivity, and corporate financial performance- Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 38. Pp 54-76 Sparrow, P. and Hilltop, J. (1994): European Human Resource Management in Transition. Prentice Hall, New York. Pp 23-45     Â
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Run Lola Run
Tom Tykwer has visually represented distinctive ideas in the film, Run Lola Run. Discuss how visual language is used to illustrate these distinctive ideas in Run Lola Run and one related text of your own choosing. Visual language is consistently used to illustrate the visually distinctive ideas in both the films Run Lola Run directed by Tom Tykwer and The Butterfly Effect directed by Eric Bress. Both these films explore how perceptions of relationships with others and the world are shaped through the use of various techniques. The two main concepts explored in these movies is the strong them of love and life being a game. The theme of love is strongly displayed in both Run Lola Run and The Butterfly Effect which is shown through the use of many visual techniques. In Run Lola Run, Tykwer is able to explore Lola and Manni’s love through capturing their passion and love with the use of the red camera tinge. The ominous red becomes a repeating motif throughout the film for Lola and Manni’s relationship. The red tinge is in contrast with the dull city making Lola’s love and passion a main feature of the love story. Tykwer is also able to use the medium POV shot, showing Lola and Manni in each other’s arms possibly just after a moment of romance, this shot also suggests that love lends purpose and strength within our lives. Further uses of techniques to emphasise the importance of love throughout the film are shown through the scattered use of close up’s on both Lola and Manni’s face, provides the insight as to how they bring both comfort and a sense of security to each other. But at the same time the thought of losing one another strikes fear and hurt within the character’s eyes. Similarly to Run Lola Run, Eric Bress film The Butterfly Effect also strongly display through the use of visual techniques the theme of love and the assumption that love remains central to our existence. It is Evan’s love for Kayley which becomes the catalyst for his attempts to travel through time to alter his past and in a similar way it is Lola’s love for Manni and the importance for preservation of his life that drives Lola through time to save Manni’s life. Like Tom Tykwer, Eric Bress uses similar techniques to express the importance of love in one’s life. Bress uses the similar camera angle of the medium side shot, again showing the comfort and security both characters bring to one another as well as giving the scene context through the use of the bed and no clothes, also implying a moment of romance. The scene also uses the scattered close up shots of both the characters face, just like the scene in Run Lola Run, suggesting the focus on their individual feelings and reactions to the situation. The theme of life as a game is consistently shown throughout Run Lola Run; Tykwer is able to make the audience feel as if the movie is a game developing this as a central theme. The concept of the film being a game is done through the film structure, as when Lola fails/ looses, she is able to restart and try again, as one would do in a game. She is then able to change the result to one that better suits her and Manni. It is in the scene in which Lola is in the casino which develops the best sense of life being a game as it is possibly both Lola and Manni’s life being determined on the result of the casino game. The great importance of the outcome in the casino is portrayed to the audience through the close up of Lola's face, highlighting her facial expression, engaging the audience through the importance of the situation to Lola. Also by using the casino scene it shows to the audience that Lola's choices were won through a game of chance, and it was this chance that payed off and enabled her to win this game. It is at the start of this scene, where Lola stops and thinks about her previous mistakes, and assesses the situation, allowing her to finally ‘beat this level'. This is shown through the camera angle of first the 360, expressing Lola's thoughts becoming out of control, and then the close up of Lola's stare at the casino, where Lola has discovered her answer. It is in this third scenario where Lola is seen to have grown as a person and has not only won the casino game, but won the other games going on in her own life. This idea can be considered as a metaphor for our own lives, about gaining the skills to master the games within our everyday lives. The concept of life being a game and most importantly the concept of manipulation of time is also shown in The Butterfly Effect where Evan has the ability to travel back in time through his blackouts to his old self and change his past to effectively change his present self and life, this makes the audience question his ability to manipulate time. Likewise Lola discovers she is also able to manipulate time and travel backwards and fix the mistakes she previously made in order to save her lovers life. Just like Evan, Lola plays with time and uses it to her ability. Both Bress and Tykwer use editing to generate this feeling of control of time, using tools such as slow and fast motion to alter the true timing of the situations and gather the character’s control of the situation, mixed with 360 moving camera to create that sense of being out of control, which is very similar to the use of spirals that Tykwer uses in Run Lola Run.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Salmonella Essays - Waterborne Diseases, Free Essays, Term Papers
Salmonella Essays - Waterborne Diseases, Free Essays, Term Papers Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause food-borne infection called Salmonellosis. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Salmonella, the name of a group of bacteria, is one of the most common causes of food poisoning, symptoms last 4-7 days and most people get better without treatment. But, Salmonella can cause more serious illness in older adults, infants, and persons with chronic diseases. Salmonella is killed by cooking and pasteurization. Salmonella is a bacteria that makes people sick. It was discovered by an American scientist named Dr. Salmon, and has been known to cause illness for over 125 years.Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps between 12 and 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most individuals recover without treatment. In some cases, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites. In these cases, Salmonella can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness ################################################################################### The above green and blue one is same choose either one cause I feel 2nd one is better but longer thats why leave both. ############################################################### Outbreaks have been caused by inadequately cooked poultry and poultry products, uncooked or lightly cooked foods containing egg and egg products, raw milk and dairy products including dried milk. Foods have been contaminated with feces from infected food handlers. Salmonella infections have been caused by foods such as meat and poultry products processed or prepared with contaminated utensils or on contaminated work surfaces. Salmonella outbreaks have also been linked to raw fruits and vegetables (including sprouts) and unpasteurized milk and milk products such as raw milk cheese. Contaminated water supplies can also cause salmonella infections. Fecal-oral transmission may be the cause when diarrhea is present in infants. Out of the thousands of types of Salmonella bacteria, only about twelve make people ill, usually with gastroenteritis. A smaller number cause typhoid fever, which can be a very serious and potentially fatal disease, especially in developing countries. A sign is something the doctor can see or touch, such as a rash, while a symptom is something the patient feels, such as dizziness or headache. Salmonella-induced Gastroenteritis signs and symptoms: Stomach cramps, Bloody stools, Chills, Diarrhea, Fever, Headache, Muscle pains, Nausea, Vomiting Salmonella-induced Typhoid fever signs and symptoms: People who live in developed countries most commonly become infected when they travel abroad. The incubation period - time between becoming infected and symptoms appearing - is usually between 7 to 14 days. If Typhoid fever is left untreated symptoms develop over a course of four weeks, with additional symptoms appearing each week. The vast majority of patients respond rapidly to treatment and should not experience all the symptoms below if they receive treatment: Typhoid symptoms during week 1 A dull headache in the front of the head. A skin rash of pink spots. Abdominal pain. A progressive feeling of not being well. Constipation or diarrhea (constipation more likely with adults, diarrhea more likely with children). Mental confusion (delirium). Dry cough. A fever which usually rises to about 39-40c (103-104f) and settles there. Vomiting (more common in children). Additional typhoid symptoms during week 2 if left untreated: Swelling of the abdomen. Heart beat slows down. Additional typhoid symptoms during week 3 if left untreated: Weight loss. Loss of appetite. Exhaustion. Yellow-green watery diarrhea, which usually has a foul smell. Swelling of abdomen continues and becomes severe. Panting. Severe confusion, apathy, in some cases psychosis. 10%-15% of patients go on to develop the following life-threatening complications Internal bleeding. Rupturing or splitting of the bowel. Myocarditis (inflammation of the myocardium, the heart muscle). Multiple organ failure as the bacteria start releasing toxins. Persistent typhoid symptoms during and after week 4 If the patient receives treatment and the complications responded to treatment, he/she has a good chance of making a recovery. However, weight loss and exhaustion may persist for some months. ############################################################### The highlighted one take if you want ############################################################### Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling poultry. Wash utensils, cutting boards, dishes, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to prepare
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
#FreelancerFriday #7 - Yari Leon Suarez, Translator
#FreelancerFriday #7 - Yari Leon Suarez, Translator #FreelancerFriday #7 - Yari Leon Suarez, Translator Yari Leon Suarez offers translation services between English and Spanish. Yari has worked in a variety of genres ranging from technical translations to translating poetry and literary fiction. Yari is also a fan of Charles Bukowski, which is maybe the best quality any person could possibly have that makes you think â€Å"I want to know more about this person.†Enjoy!–REEDSYWhat’s the biggest difference in moving from technical translation to literary translation?YARI LEON SUAREZ You work longer! *laughs* When you translate a creative piece, it takes longer because you have to work closely with the author, more than you would with a corporation. I find that with technical translation you’re working with terminology. It narrows things down, and when you have a question you can just go to a database. With literary translation it becomes more tricky - you’re working with an author’s thoughts, feelings. I think for literary translation you need that communication.REEDSY Why is contact with the author important?YARI LEON SUAREZ I find that the key for literary translation is to connect with the writer as a writer. I’ve translated for friends before, but I knew them as friends, not as writers. When I talk with them about the work, I need to talk about what they were trying to say, and focus as specifically on the piece of work as possible. We don’t talk that much about the process of getting there. Working with friends can be easier, but at the same time it’s not - I have to *forget* that they’re my friends, and look at them as a professional - look at them as a writer, not the person I go for coffee with. It’s tricky but the key is to focus on the piece of work and the writer’s voice. There’s a skill of talking with authors that came from technical translation because I have to ask companies about how they want something translated as well. It teaches you to be precise and how to know what questions to ask. You have to be focussed.REEDSY Is the focus on being accurate, on being good for the reader, on doing right by the author?YARI LEON SUAREZ It’s about doing the best work possible for the author. As a translator you’re really not entitled to change anything for a piece of work. It’s the editor’s job to advise the author on changes if there’s something wrong. For the translator it’s more a communication *with* an author, trying to keep the author’s voice as it is, but in a different language. When I started working with friends and I fell in love with a piece of work, it was hard - I had to stop myself adding to the work. To be a translator you have to be passionate about what you’re translating, but at the same time have a lot of respect for the work. You have to try to write *exactly* as the author wrote, but in a different language.REEDSY How do you practice that? Does reading help?YARI LEON SUAREZ Once, I grabbed a book I like and actually tried to translate a part. It was just a personal exercise, basically. I tried to translate pieces of ‘Women’ by Charles Bukowski. Just as an exercise in how you would translate a book by an established author in an established market, to see how you would handle it. I just kept it to myself.Reading a lot is always going to help - it helps you understand structure. Understanding structure is important because when you’re translating a text you have to understand the form. At the same time I think that right now the most important thing is to be up to date on technology. With technology it makes it so much easier to be in communication with the author, and there are tools that make the work easier. You need the right tools for writing, and translating in particular.There’s specific software that helps you when you’re translating. Nowadays the world of translation is tied to a digital format. For technical tra nslation translators can use software to connect with other translators for feedback. Like Robert Faclo said, Evernote is also fantastic for translators. And it’s necessary, because it speeds up the process of translation.REEDSY Do you do a lot of research?YARI LEON SUAREZ Oh yes, you have to. As a translator you have to be a researcher. You can’t just be happy with your own translation, you need to share your work with other translators and keep communicating with other writers - it’s a collaborative process. Translators these days don’t just sit with a book and translate it into a new language - you have to have a wider knowledge about literature today, you could say, of how the publishing industry is working. You translate in an active, engaged way. Depending on the book you’re translating, you need to know the author, you need to know where this is coming from, you need to know who’s going to be the reader of this translation to make a work that’s accurate.REEDSY What do you need to know from authors, when you’re getting ready to work with them on a project?YARI LEON SUAREZ The first thing is to know the 'motive’ of the novel, how you feel about it, if I can borrow it and read it of course! Later on I would ask the author why they want to share the novel with a different market, how they want it to impact the reader in a different language. I’d ask what the author knows about Spanish, the Spanish market, if anything, if they’re familiar with their new audience.REEDSY What’s are the first steps in the process for you?YARI LEON SUAREZ I’ll read the manuscript and ask questions about the writing, the story, anything that comes up in it about the characters. I’ll ask how you feel about the main character, how the secondary characters are influencing the story, that kind of thing. If I have any doubts, if there’s something I don’t understand, I’ll clear that up. Then I’ll go through the translation work itself, and new questions will arise. In terms of the structure, for example, more specific questions about structure, about sentences where I’m not quite sure about the tone or the intent, that only comes out when you’re doing the work.REEDSY Should authors work with Spanish editors as well, after they’ve translated with you?YARI I†¦ would recommend it. It’s not my field. I can always try and I can suggest, but I would’t consider myself an editor.REEDSY When you’re translating poetry, how does that work? What are you keeping?YARI LEON SUAREZ To translate poetry you’re dealing with a different literary structure, depending on the type of poem. If it’s free-rhyming, that’s one thing, but if there’s a specific structure you’re facing a piece that will take longer. That’s in the sense that it’s not just the vocabulary you need to worry about, but also about the structure and the differences between languages. For example, English and Spanish are completely different languages in the way you structure sentences in them. A sentence in Spanish can be longer in a sentence than English, and that can break the structure of the poem. So I have to spend a lot of time just trying to do the work because I have to make sure the same amount of syllables of the original poem are in the translation.And then also, keep in mind that it’s not a literal translation but a poetic translation as well, so you have to use the right kind of language, with the right translation of the word, whi le keeping the tone of the author. It’s a big, big challenge that requires a lot of work. With prose, you can follow a different structure and just keep in mind the genre of the work. It’s still difficult, because translation has to be based on the work, it’s not your work.REEDSY Do you see any big differences between the English and Spanish markets?YARI LEON SUAREZ In the US, specifically, they seem to be getting more into drama†¦ You know, I’m thinking. They’re not too different. They both definitely prefer prose to poetry. The majority of authors are doing novels or a series of novels following the same character - like a saga, let’s say. In that sense, the markets are similar. In Spain they love the novel that’s elaborate in a historical way. They love a novel that has historical research behind it, but is still dramatic, is not too much of a psychological novel. They follow a mystery plot, that kind of thing.The differences aren’t so big - we’re talking about literature that doesn’t require a lot of psychological analysis of the character, that isn’t a heavy topic - it’s easy reading, especially in the United States. â€Å"A read that flows,†basically; that doesn’t take a lot of time to understand, especially that’s not metaphysical. In Latin America I think they like literature with secondary meanings hidden in the prose, but here in Spain and the United States it’s more about the flow of the prose.REEDSY Thanks for your time Yari.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Operations Management Principles - The operational Management Essay
Operations Management Principles - The operational Management Challenge at the Inditex Group - Essay Example This report highlights the operational management challenges at Inditex, as well as successes in providing fast fashion merchandise to many different target markets, to determine how Inditex remains a clothing manufacturing leader among many different competitive entities internationally and within the European environment. Operational objectives and competitive advantages The goal of Inditex is to provide fast fashion merchandise, meaning that there is a rapid turnaround of existing inventory to ensure that the majority of clothing products do not have to be held in inventory, thereby reducing costs in inventory management. Inditex understands that fashion merchandise, especially with the younger markets most attracted to Inditex fashions, maintain a very short life cycle. In Zara, as one example, virtually every piece of merchandise is on display, with Zara holding only a few key pieces of the same piece of fashion products, thereby creating an image of exclusivity for discriminati ng customers (Ferdows, Lewis and Machuca 2003). Having an understanding of the industry and product lifestyles are absolutely critical as it provides the knowledge necessary to develop worthwhile future operational strategies (Ha-Brookshire and Lee 2010). The majority of Inditex’s fashion stores are still in the growth stage along the industry life cycle, an environment in which the global supply chain for fashion merchandise has increased the total volume of available smaller and larger production entities and where strategic alliances along the supply chain are becoming more well-developed. Therefore, the supply environment in the aforementioned growth stage provides Inditex with unique opportunities to procure raw materials that give Inditex the ability to have a rapid turnaround of fashion merchandise. What is unique about Inditex is that the company is able to move from the design phase to tangible, in-store delivery of finished fashion merchandise much more rapidly than its many other competitors. This is what provides Inditex with the significant competitive advantage. For instance, Zara maintains an in-house staff of approximately 300 designers who consistently upgrade current season fashions and work toward designing the next supply of fast fashion, unique merchandise (Ferdows, et al. 2003). The ability to procure enough raw materials to begin production within a 4-6 week lead time is unparalleled in the industry, supported by Inditex’s ability to produce 50 percent of its total fashion volume within its many self-owned production facilities (Ferdows, et al.). Hence, whilst Inditex is busy designing merchandise along its operational model, in-house production experts and a variety of outsourced garment producers (especially sewing capabilities) are working consistently on producing new and innovative fashions along the short lead time. Other competition in the industry have lead times that can be up to six months, thereby giving Zara con siderable competitive advantages over the majority of its fashion competitors. The aforesaid is the operational objective of Zara: to align its operational strategies and production capabilities to meet the strategic objective of exclusive fashion merchandising and production. The organisation,
Friday, November 1, 2019
The UK public sector Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
The UK public sector - Case Study Example In doing so, there was a definite movement towards policies that would influence the industrial relations and the trade union movement. (Driver et al, 1998) This was followed by changing political ideals and approaches towards the public sectors in the following decades. In recent times however, it has been seen that there is significant unrest and discontent within the trade union regarding perspectives on the public sector in terms of pay and industrial relations. This paper will discuss the causes and extent of such discontent through the context of theories, events and various facts related to the civil services in general. It is imperative to first define the public sector in UK. A country's public sector generally defines the horizon on which the various developments towards progression and growth of infrastructure take place. It is also the regulating force that underscores the activities within the market and that of the private sector as well. It is no different for UK's public sector which consists of basic amenity providing bodies like the postal service, the fire department, education, health and prison service, to name a few. Any country or organisation's basic and most important resource lies with its human element. The working force behind the industrial sector is in fact the work force, popularly known as the human resources. In giving the trade unions a large and important role to play as far as industrial relations were concerned, the UK government was trying to achieve the following results: Make optimum utilisation of its workforce. Create enough scope though accelerated production for economic growth which would in turn compensate the ravages of the two world wars Keep maximum resources and service provision bodies in the public sector through a demonstration of high capacity and capability. (Driver et al, 1998) With the identification of such goals, came the emergence of the trade unions which realised that it could exploit the public sector to a greater advantage. To make use of human resources for the achievement of such goals, the UK government gave into the demands of the employees. Thus, it can be seen that the public sector was governed closely by a set of standards set forth by the trade unions in context of pay and conditions of work. The trade union was thus a body that regulated the operational sphere of the public sector as it had important roles to play in various processes like decision making and centralisation of collective bargaining methods. This was not to last though. With the advent of the Thatcher government, there was a steady change in the equation enjoyed by the trade union within the public sector. (Driver et al, 1
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