Assessing non-parametric or t tests Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Assessing non-parametric or t tests - Essay Example Also the variance of the population is unknown and to be tested from the sample. Under study consists of small samples and meets other conditions which are suitable to be tested with the t-test (Siegle. D, 2014). In addition to it, if the quality of the product is to be checked and for example the product is a car; ability of cars to absorb accident, then it will be very difficult and costly to handle large sample data. Therefore t-test is the best option to test such type of parameters. Adding further, if any statistics follows t-distribution, t-test has to be applied. If there is a need to determine that is there any significant difference between the means of two groups, then t-test is used. Now-a-days the development in both the field of computer i.e. in the hardware and software is tremendously going upward (RO, 2014). In fact, there are many computer softwares available in the market which calculates the test statistics which also provide probability of parameters in which anybody is interested. Going through the inference statistics, one assumes that all the dependent variables fit in a normal distribution. Also probability of a particular outcome can be identifying if there is an existence of normal distribution. Basically the research article under study focused on the relationship marketing among the income level and the banks which were preferred by the customer. The research makes use of the f-test and the t- test. The use of t-test is made in order to find out the noteworthy difference among the demographic variables. Also in the study the customer awareness regarding relationship marketing, occupation, age, religion, gender of the customer has also been taken to find out the significant mean difference. It means that weather the person working in government organization, male or female, Muslim or Christian, young or aged customers, businessman or private sector customer have same level

Economic analysis construction Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economic analysis construction - Assignment Example Realizing that this increase in the available financial resources is not a sustainable growth strategy in the long-term, the UAE government has made several public commitments to reform its regulatory environment, strengthen the country’s macroeconomic foundations, sustain the rapid growth in the non-oil sector, and invest in human capital (World Economic Forum, 2). On the macro-economic level, economic recovery after the recent financial crisis is on a sustained track. UAE’s economic recovery has continued to gather momentum in the recent past, driven by sturdy expansion in trade, tourism, manufacturing and transport. Additionally, the construction and real estate sectors have also bounced back from the slump experienced during the recession. On the back of a notable rebound of consumer confidence, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2013 stood at 4.0%, following a 4.4% growth in 2012, according to the estimates provided by the International Monetary Fund (Bank Audi, 1). The GDP growth and the rebound in consumer confidence is a good development within the market the construction company intends to penetrate. This is because it will create opportunities that will drive demand in the construction sector for commercial and residential real estate. The Abu Dhabi Government committed to finance an additional AED 330 billion in early 2013 for major developments over the coming five years. The government’s commitment focuses on social development, specifically in the education, healthcare, housing, and selective strategic transport projects (Kerr, Ryburn, McLaren, & OrDentons 1). The UAE’s real estate sector continues to be characterized by unique patterns in two major cities. While Abu Dhabi’s market remains subdued, Dubai’s market has been experiencing renewed development activities, an increase in prices, and growing concerns about a bubble comeback

New Public Management In Ghana

New Public Management In Ghana ABSTRACT Ghana local government has undergone several dynamic changes during the course of the 1990s (Charles Polidano, 1999:13). As agent of the central government, it has been forced to endure greater demand for social services despite the budgetary constraints as well as meeting requirements for IMF loans strict conditions In response, there is an attempt by the local government to maintain the quality and quantity of public services by applying business-like principles to governance (Borins, 1995), adopting market mechanisms (Walsh, 1995), and utilizing alternative service delivery (Glover Burton ,1998). These strategies have been championed by proponents of the New Right (Pierson, 1991), public choice (Self, 1993), and the new public management (Borins, 1995) all of whom advocate reduced government intervention into the workings of the market economy. Now as always, the generals of administrative reform prefer to march into action behind a protective advance guard of rhetoric and this rhetoric draws on whatever ideas are globally fashionable. But has the NPM gone beyond rhetoric in local government? The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to review the state of NPM reforms in Ghana local government and to identify the challenges that they present to local governance. In particular, the paper will focus and follow on the NPM selected applications in Ghana local government. III Project contribution The project will allow scholars to understand how the theories of NPM can be transcribed into practicable reforms in local governance. In this manner, the scientific objective of this second degree project is to contribute to the research fields of NPM studies and public sector studies with novel observations and theory. The connection between NPM and civil service has been theoretically explored in depth, and furthermore this project will be a novel scientific contribution to management studies because it extends and elaborates a case study design approach IV My background From 2007 to 2008, I had held a position as a Project Manager and coordinator in charge of National Disaster Management and World Food Program (WFP) respectively of Wa East District Assembly, a wing of local government in Ghana. The aim of these programs is to educate people on natural disasters and sound environmental practices, and also to assess and assist victims of natural disasters. At that level, I have been awarded a scholarship by the Chinese government to enable me further my education in order to contribute efficiently towards the development of local governance and other relevant sectors. This is part of my motivation for suggesting this project topic. V. Methodology Methodologically the project will be anchored in qualitative case-based theory building (Yin 1994; Eisenhardt and Graebner 2007; Corbin and Strauss 2008). The process consists of defining a pertinent research question and then using within-case analysis and replication logic to develop new insights (Eisenhardt 1989; Carlile 2004). The design of the case work will follow Yins approach for using case studies as a research strategy (Yin 1994). In addition, building theory from cases allows for a flexible study where the research design can be altered when new insights or themes emerge. The method employs both qualitative and quantitative data of secondary source. The specific case study design takes its point of departure in a matched pair design; where the basic idea is to review cases to discover insights through comparing similarities and differences. Eisenhardt describes how using pairs of cases to investigate similarities and differences and other cross-case searching tactics of organizational performance, allow investigators to capture novel findings and can lead to accurate and reliable theory (Eisenhardt 1989: 541). The data collection will consist of secondary data; background research and information/data collection from both Ghana local government office(s) and other sources (internet) covering Ghana local government performance from 2001 to date. The data analysis will consist of within-case analysis, data analysis tools such bar chart, histogram, cause-effect diagrams will be utilized as well as outsourcing the application of balance scorecard in needed situations. This analysis will ensure that the conclusions and results are applicable both within the Ghana local government and across the public sector 1. Introduction By the commencement of the 1990s, a new model of public sector management had emerged in most advanced countries and many developing ones. Initially, the new model had several names, including: managerialism (Pollitt, 1993); new public management (Hood, 1991); market-based public administration (Lan and Rosenbloom, 1992); the post-bureaucratic paradigm (Barzelay, 1992) or entrepreneurial government (Osborne and Gaebler, 1992). Despite the differing names, they all essentially describe the same phenomenon. The literature has more or less settled on new public management, often abbreviated to NPM, a term coined by Hood (1991), a persistent critic. Various authors also include privatization, decentralization and downsizing as part of the package (Ingraham 1996; Minogue 1998). This has been a product of a number of factors, including the economic and fiscal crises of the state that called the post-war consensus on the active role of the state in the economy into serious question. In developed economies such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, the crisis in the Keynesian welfare state led to the search for alternative ways of organizing and managing public services and redefining the role of the state to give more prominence to markets and competition, and to the private and voluntary sectors. On the contrast, the economic and fiscal crisis that engulfed most developing countries in the 1970s and 1980s led to a rethinking of state-led development which had increased the size, functions and power of the state and its bureaucracy (George A Larbi 1999:112). A survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development concluded that new management techniques and practices involving market-type mechanisms associated with the private for-profit sector are being used to bring about changes in the management of public services in countries that have widely varying governance, economic and institutional environments (OECD, 1993a). These practices and techniques have conventionally been labelled the new public management (NPM) or the new managerialism (Hood, 1991; Dunleavy and Hood, 1994; Pollitt, 1993; Ferlie et al., 1996). The components of NPM have evolved over the years. However, as Moore et al. (1994:13) point out; the central feature of NPM is the attempt to introduce or simulate, within those sections of the public service that are not privatized, the performance incentives and the disciplines that exist in a market environment. The assumption is that there are benefits in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in exposing public sector activities to market pressures and in using markets to serve public purposes, and that government can learn from the private sector despite contextual differences (Metcalfe and Richards, 1990:155). Some observers have argued that there are convergent trends (Kickert and Beck Jà ¸rgensen, 1995:501) or diffusion of reforms. (Halligan, 1997) or a globalization of public sector management (Flynn, 1997) as an increasing number of crisis and non-crisis states in Africa, Asia and Latin America are also embracing elements of the new public management approach. A noticeable trend in public sector reforms, in the context of economic crisis and structural adjustment, is that a wider range of administrative functions and the delivery of public services are being subjected to the approach (Bienefeld, 1990; Mukandala, 1992). Interestingly, there has been a long-drawn-out, ideologically charged debate about the merits and demerits of the new public management, or NPM as it is commonly known. The debate tends to focus on the desirability or otherwise of NPM reforms in principle. Advocates and critics alike often accept the assumption that the new public management is universal, notwithstanding that this is disputed by a growing body of work with respect to different countries as well as institutions. The universality assumption is encouraged by the undoubted fact that NPM catch-phrases feature prominently in the vocabulary of civil service reform all around the world (Thomas 1996). Recently, the generals of administrative reform prefer to march into action behind a protective advance guard of rhetoric. Furthermore, that rhetoric draws on whatever ideas that are internationally fashionable. But has the NPM gone beyond rhetoric in public institutions which are the lead implementers? This paper looks at precisely this question in relation to local government. To what extent can the new public management genuinely be called a dominant paradigm of public service reform in the local government? We are almost bound to conclude that the new public management is a dominant paradigm if all we do is look for evidence of NPM-style reforms. But NPM initiatives may be little more than a minor strand of reform, the froth at the top of the glass (Polidana 1999:13). Other reforms, unrelated or even contrary to the tenets of the new public management, may outweigh it in importance. So to be more certain of reaching a balanced conclusion, we must ask four questions in all. First, are public institutions such as local government and others committing themselves to NPM-style reforms? Second, are such reforms being undertaken as part of the worldwide quest towards greater efficiency and cost savings which is said to be the driving force of the new public management (see Minogue 1998)? Third, are the reforms actually being implemented, or are we being misled by the rhetoric of political leaders (and senior bureaucrats)? As I have already mentioned, the rhetoric of reform tends to outpace the reality in any country or institution. Fourth, are reforms simultaneously being undertaken that are unrelated to the new public management or indeed run counter to its principles? This question helps us put any evidence of NPM-style initiatives in its proper perspective. I shall deal with each of these questions in turn. The evidence gathered in this paper also sheds light on the vexed issue of the appropriateness of NPM reforms in local governance. This represents a fifth question which I shall take up towards the end of the paper. Can the new public management work in the local government? As we will see, localized contingency factors-ones that vary from sector to sector and situation to situation within the same country-play a predominant role in determining the outcome of individual reform initiatives. Different situations can call for radically different responses. 2.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 2.1.0 Principles and Practices of NPM At the end of the 20th century, a post bureaucratic paradigm of public management was firmly embedded in many countries reflecting the outcome of the suite of reforms intended to enact a break from the traditional model of public administration underpinned by Webers (1946) bureaucracy, Wilsons (1887) policy-administration divide, and Taylors (1911) scientific management model of work organization. A survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) concluded that new management techniques and practices involving market-type mechanisms associated with the private for-profit sector are being used to bring about changes in the management of public services in countries that have widely varying governance, economic and institutional environments (OECD, 1993a). These practices and techniques have conventionally been labelled the new public management (NPM) or the new managerialism (Hood, 1991; Dunleavy and Hood, 1994; Pollitt, 1993; Ferlie et al., 1996). In part at least, NPM was a reaction to perceived weaknesses of the traditional bureaucratic paradigm of public administration (OFlynn 2005a; Stoker 2006), and it encompassed a critique of monopolistic forms of service provision and an argument for a wider range of service providers and a more market-oriented approach to management (Stoker 2006:45). In articulating this NPM paradigm in the early 1990s, Hood set out its key doctrinal components (1991:4-5): 1. Hands-on professional management; 2. Explicit standards and measures of performance; 3. Greater emphasis on output controls; 4. Disaggregation of units in the public sector; 5. Greater competition in the public sector; 6. Private sector styles of management practice; and 7. Greater discipline and parsimony in resource use. Within this new paradigm, the doctrinal components sat alongside four reinforcing megatrends: slowing down or reversing government growth; privatization and quasi-privatization; automation in the production and distribution of public services; and, an international agenda in public sector reforms (Hood 1991:3-4). Fifteen years after Hood (1991), Hughes (2006) in his paper on the new pragmatism articulated four grand themes which characterized NPM: management (i.e. results and managerial responsibility) is a higher order function than administration (i.e. following instructions); economic principles (i.e. drawn from public choice theory, principal-agent theory, contracting, competition, and the theory of the firm) can assist public management; modern management theory and practices (i.e. flexibility in staffing and organization ) can improve public management; and service delivery is important to citizens. As Stoker (2006:46) noted, NPM sought . . . to dismantle the bureaucratic pillar of the Weberian model of traditional public administration. Out with the large, multipurpose hierarchical bureaucracies, [NPM] proclaims, and in with the lean, flat, autonomous organizations drawn from the public and private spheres and steered by a tight central leadership corps. Performance contracts are used across a number of sectors including utilities, transport, telecommunications and agriculture (e.g., in Ghana, Bolivia, Senegal and India). Contracting out is increasingly being adopted in the delivery of public services including urban services (e.g., solid waste management), ancillary health services such as cleaning, laundry and catering (e.g., in Zimbabwe), and road maintenance. Such characterizations provide a good starting point for considering the NPM paradigm, however, there has been a tendency toward conflating shorter reform phases into a NPM catchall. In the Australian context, for example, there were two quite clear phases in the move away from traditional administration, based on distinct theoretical and philosophical underpinnings (Considine and Painter 1997). In the Australian experience, the 1980s was characterised by a post-bureaucratic model of NPM and this was heavily focused on internal reforms and corporate management (Alford 1998;Yeatman 1997). Commonly adopted practices included: corporate planning based on central goals; comprehensive program budgeting; management improvement programs; contract employment for managers; central auditing; and performance monitoring of individuals. The key aims were to empower public servants and increase managerial quality. Following on from this, Australia experienced a marketisation phase in the 1990s which emerged alongside the dominance of economic rationalist discourse (Pusey 1991). This marketisation phase represented an overt challenge to the efficacy of the traditional approach with its monopoly over the production and delivery of public services as it was focused on developing market solutions to government failure. By the time of the marketisation phase it was clear that a new paradigm of public management was becoming dominant and it was during this time that NPM came into its own. In the Australian experience, the marketisation phase rested on the creation of markets in the public sector and the use of contracts to define and govern relationships. For some, such moves signaled the emergence of a new contractualism (Hughes 2003), while for others contracts and competition became the basis for changing the fundamental nature of the public sector (Walsh 1995). Chalmers and Davis argued that, contracting has been established as a standard form of policy delivery indeed as an instrument with few limits, preferable in most circumstances to traditional public bureaucracy (2001:76). Such beliefs were also acknowledged by Deakin and Michie: If there is a single strand that runs through the changes wrought by the neoliberal revolution . . . it is the revival of contract as the foremost organizing mechanism of economic activity (1997:1). During this era, where notions of competition and contracts were so important, the NPM paradigm became dominant As we know, this did not occur without resistance and NPM has been subject to ongoing and fierce debate in the academic literature because it challenged conventional thinking and brought together a range of practices, policies and theories rather than proposing some coherent theory. Notwithstanding this point there has been some agreement on critical theoretical perspectives informing policy makers and underpinning thinking in the NPM paradigm including: public choice theory, principal-agent theory, transaction cost economics and competition theory (Kaboolian 1998; OFlynn 2005a). Public choice theory was extremely influential with Boyne arguing, . . . seldom has the major practical implication of an abstract model of bureaucracy been so widely implemented (1998a:474). NPM encompassed the public choice belief that governments were unresponsive, inefficient, monopolistic, and unable to reach formal goals. In the main this reflected the inherent failures of government: politicians are captured by interest groups and will act in their own self-interest rather than the public interest; the bureaucracy does not necessarily carry out political directions because of the self-interest of bureaucrats and bureaucrats act in pursuit of self-interest rather than efficiency (Walsh 1995). Following this line of argument, bureaucracy leads to resource wastage and budget maximisation in the pursuit of power, status, income, ideology, patronage, discretionary power and ease of management, producing allocative inefficiency and oversupply (Boyne 1998a; Niskanen 1971; Rowley 1995; Walsh 1995). The aim of public choice advocates then was to persuade policy-makers to adopt policies and practices which would import incentive structures based on principal agent theory and property rights in order to increase efficiency and downsize the state (de Laine 1997; Mascarenhas 1993). Despite sustained critique (see for example Boyne 1998a, 1998b; Boyne et al. 2003; Tregillis 1990;Walsh 1995), public choice theory has been critical in underpinning key features of NPM including: separation and fragmentation (Boyne et al. 2003; Self 1993; Streeton and Orchard 1994); competitive markets for public services (Boyne et al. 2003); and preference for private sector provision governed by contracts (Hodge 2000). Principal-agent theory focuses on the relationship between principals and agents and the issues that arise when we assume their interests diverge (Walsh 1995). It provides a means of conceptualising both human behaviour in the agency relationship and the development of organisational forms based on assumptions of self-interest, opportunism, incomplete information, and goal divergence (Althaus 1997). These assumptions predict the emergence of agency issues when contracts are formed and where the actions of the agent have implications for the welfare of both parties (Petersen 1995a). The critical challenge for the principal becomes how to choose an agent and construct incentive structures to align goals in an environment of uncertainty, information asymmetry, and high cost monitoring; and where incentives exist for agents to shirk (Foss 1995). Such structures, which aim to produce optimal outcomes and combat adverse selection and moral hazard, are termed agency costs (Althaus 1997). Hence, at the core of this perspective is the notion that contracts formally setting out requirements, monitoring, reward and incentive systems provide the legitimate connection between principal and the agent (de Laine 1997; Muetzelfeldt 1994). Principal-agent theory played an important part in the NPM paradigm and it underpinned many practical reforms including the structural separation of purchasers and providers to establish contractual and quasi-contractual relationships (OFlynn 2005a). In total, this laid the foundation for a process whereby it was expected that,. . . the government manager clearly articulates the policy, sets the performance standards, and chooses in a competitive market an agent who will faithfully act in the governments behalf to deliver the goods and services so that the outcome sought will be attained (Kelly 1998:205). There has been a continued critique of the appropriateness of agency theory in the public sector. Doubts have been raised, for example, about the ability of purchasers and providers to separate, the efficacy of decoupling policy from delivery, and the ability of purchasers to clearly articulate their preferences in a competitive environment (OFlynn and Alford 2005; Stewart 1996). Regardless of such critiques, however, key characteristics of NPM were built around ideas from principal-agent theory. Transaction cost economics has also played an important role in the NPM era. Coase (1937) set out the crucial role of transaction costs, hypothesizing that an assessment of these costs determined whether transactions were internalized or not.4 Coases (1937) theory of the firm and the associated make-buy decisions is translated as the public sector procurement decision whether public agencies produce themselves (i.e. make) or contract out (i.e. buy) (Williamson 1999). Williamson (1979) extended Coases (1937) ideas through the development of a schema setting out his propositions for the most efficient matching of transactions and governance structures. This ranged from market governance based on classical contracting and formally prescribed relationships and remedies to unified governance (i.e. hierarchy) whereby relationship norms and customs govern behaviour rather than formally written contracts. The most efficient structure is that which best matches specific transaction characteristics (i.e. the levels of frequency and asset specificity) with governance structures allowing for economising on the costs associated with bounded rationality, opportunism, and asset specificity; and an overall reduction in the cost of transacting. Transaction cost economics was important to NPM as it set out options for governments including markets, hybrids, and hierarchy (Petersen 1995b). However, it might be argued that the dominance of public choice theory resulted in a blinkered view of this approach as governments tended toward market governance models. Practice also tended to ignore key writers in the field including Williamson who argued that, [r]ecourse to public bureaucracy for those transactions for which it is comparatively wellsuited is properly regarded as an efficient result (1999:24). In the literature there has been some critique of the application of traditional contracting notions to the public sector, and the underlying assumptions about human behavior encompassed in such theories (Vincent-Jones 1997; Walsh et al. 1997). The doctrine of competition has been central to the development of NPM. While perfect competition rarely exists in reality, governments have sought to pursue activity to stimulate competition rather than replicate pure markets (Townsend 1995). Public choice advocates have been vocal in calling for the discipline of competition to be imposed on public sector operations as a means of improving efficiency: One of the most fundamental determinants of the efficiency of any arrangement is competition; that is, the degree of competition that an arrangement permits will, to a significant degree, determine how efficiently that arrangement will supply a service . . . market . . . [and] contract . . . systems are most conducive to fostering competition and thereby achieving economic efficiency (Savas 1982:80-1). Competitive tendering, in particular, has been a popular instrument used by government. The adoption of such practices carries the belief that planners remain the ultimate arbiters of resource allocation but that gains in productive efficiency can be achieved by some degree of competitive regulation (Hensher and Beesley 1989:236). Competition between bidders is intended to spur efficiency gains and cost savings for purchasers, as market forces can drive out marginal producers (Cubbin, Domberger and Meadowcroft 1987; Domberger, Hall and Li 1995; Rimmer 1994). Interestingly, it has been argued that the mere threat of competition can generate efficiency gains and cost savings within the public sector as internal providers seek to protect themselves from unemployment (Rimmer 1994;Walsh and OFlynn 2000). The applicability of the competition doctrine to the public sector has been questioned in the literature for several reasons including the existence of both demand and supply side imperfections (Kelly 1998), and the absence of conditions required to generate efficiency gains (Wilkinson 1995). Despite such critiques, competition theory has clearly played a critical role in the development of the NPM paradigm. The NPM paradigm encompassed specific assumptions about human behaviour centred on individualism, instrumentality and individual rationality and from here came new performance motivated administration and institutional arrangements, new structural forms, and new managerial doctrines (Kelly 1998; Lynn 1998). Flowing from these perspectives were a set of core principles that sustained NPM: (i) economic markets should be the model for relationships in the public sector; (ii) policy, implementation and delivery functions should be separated and constructed as a series of contracts; and (iii) a range of new administrative technologies should be introduced including performance-based contracting, competition, market incentives, and deregulation (Kaboolian 1998). Within the NPM paradigm, the way in which government was viewed, constructed and arranged was firmly rooted within an economic frame and, from here, policy rhetoric focused on the notion that small government was superior and that government failure must be addressed in order to maximise efficiency. This often resulted in prescriptions built around competition and contracts, with the result being a firmly embedded post-bureaucratic model, not only in Ghana but also in many countries across the world. The practical application of NPM, like its bureaucratic predecessor, suffered from a range of weaknesses which reflected both implementation challenges and fundamental tensions (OFlynn and Alford 2005). For example, competitive regimes have been commonly adopted, but evidence shows that they are usually costly to implement and rarely deliver genuine competition (Entwistle and Martin 2005). Further, there is evidence that such approaches have resulted in increased transaction costs due to the high costs of contract preparation, monitoring and enforcement (Entwistle and Martin 2005; OFlynn and Alford 2005). Minogue (2000) argues that the extensive literature on privatisation, contracting, and the use of markets lacks evidence of any real efficiency gains and that the restructuring and downsizing of civil services (especially in Britain) has produced a decline in accountability. OFlynn and Alford (2005) have argued that competitive government models also lead to fragmentation of relationships which may spur destructive behaviour. A comprehensive list of problems is presented by Lawton (1998 cited in Minogue 2000) who claims the fundamental values of public service organisations have been undermined by competition and the NPM, by limited resources, conflicts between individual demands and public interest, the erosion of accountability and responsibility due to fragmentation, and increased risk-taking. Even the OECD, long a NPM advocate, acknowledged in a 2003 report that the reforms produced some unexpected negative results (OECD 2003:2), echoing March and Olsens statement that reform rarely satisfies the prior intention of those who initiate it (1989:65). Partly this reflected the wholesale application of private sector models and the failure to pay heed to the interconnected and interdependent nature of the public sector. Perhaps more fundamentally the competitive government model failed to understand that public management arrangements not only deliver public services, but also enshrine deeper governance values (OECD 2003:3). The NPM paradigm rested on economic foundations which defined government activity, policy-making and service delivery. Despite a range of weaknesses that have emerged following almost two decades of experimentation and, consequently, Since the 1980s, developed and developing countries have been embarking on public sector management reforms. The following section discusses the public sector reforms which forms the basis for potential paradigmatic change. 2.1.1 Non-NPM reforms An essential concomitant to the development of results-based accountability is the removal or at least relaxation of procedural controls over line management. The idea is, in NPM-speak, to move from accountability for inputs (obeying the rules on spending and staffing) to accountability for outputs (performance). As we have already seen, however, governments have been reluctant to give line managers greater discretion over staff promotions and pay. Some countries have gone further than this: they have tightened up existing central controls within the civil service and introduced new ones. This has often happened in response to the need to bring staff numbers down. Notwithstanding its proclaimed goal of introducing results-oriented management, Uganda actually recentralised the recruitment of temporary and non-pensionable staff because this had been open to wide abuse (Wangolo 1995: 150) when it was in the hands of departments themselves. Until then the government simply had no idea how many people were employed in the civil service. In an effort to control recruitment, other countries have required departmental heads to gain central clearance not only to create new positions, but also to fill vacancies in the already approved complement. More generally speaking, a major thrust of public sector reform throughout Africa and Latin America has been to strengthen and rationalise functions such as budgeting, financial control, staff classification and complement control. Proper execution of these functions is taken for granted in most industrialised countries, which are devolving some of them to line agencies. But these functions remain weak in many developing countries. The World Bank regularly encounters problems such as poor expenditure control and inadequate accounting systems in its client countries (Beschel 1995: 21); while Holmes (1992: 474) notes that many middle-income countries see standardization in the wage and salary area à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ as a prerequisite to improvin

Education and Class Essay -- Social Class

Class theorists argue that class provides the basic structure of society and is also the chief cause of the inequality of modern societies. The hierarchy of the Australia class system consists of a "ruling" upper class, a "white-collar" middle class, and a "laboring" working class. There is enormous inequality between the class groups and especially between the upper- and middle-classes and the working-class. What class you belong to plays a determining role in what sort of life you lead. Those at the top of the class structure typically seem to have more power, more wealth, more opportunities, and more control over their lives than those at the bottom. They also have a greater impact on society and use this advantage to manipulate society to serve their values and suit their needs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is no where more evident than in the social institution of education. Education is one of the great dividers amongst classes. The school you go to often determines what sort of qualifications you obtain, what job you get and, thus, how much money you earn and what class you move into. Education is a means in which individuals seek social mobility. Parents realized this long ago and some struggle to send their children to private schools to give them a better chance of succeeding in the class hierarchy. Other children, typically from working-class backgrounds, are victims of low expectations, both from their parents and internally, and leave school as soon as they can, moving into low-pa... Education and Class Essay -- Social Class Class theorists argue that class provides the basic structure of society and is also the chief cause of the inequality of modern societies. The hierarchy of the Australia class system consists of a "ruling" upper class, a "white-collar" middle class, and a "laboring" working class. There is enormous inequality between the class groups and especially between the upper- and middle-classes and the working-class. What class you belong to plays a determining role in what sort of life you lead. Those at the top of the class structure typically seem to have more power, more wealth, more opportunities, and more control over their lives than those at the bottom. They also have a greater impact on society and use this advantage to manipulate society to serve their values and suit their needs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is no where more evident than in the social institution of education. Education is one of the great dividers amongst classes. The school you go to often determines what sort of qualifications you obtain, what job you get and, thus, how much money you earn and what class you move into. Education is a means in which individuals seek social mobility. Parents realized this long ago and some struggle to send their children to private schools to give them a better chance of succeeding in the class hierarchy. Other children, typically from working-class backgrounds, are victims of low expectations, both from their parents and internally, and leave school as soon as they can, moving into low-pa...

Pet peeves

Pet peeves, everyone has them. Some people make their peeves known; others Just grit their teeth and keep their annoyance to themselves. My pet peeves Include my husband talking loudly In public on the phone, people using their phones In public, and the way people care for their kids. These are just a few of my pet peeves that I want to talk about. My husband is one of the worst about talking to loud on his phone in public. One day in particular comes to mind. We were going to walk into a restaurant, and his phone rang.He answered it and began to talk. I started to walk slower, hoping he would do the same. He did not even realize that he was almost yelling. As we were walking into the restaurant he continued to talk and people turn their heads to see who was talking so loudly. I was trying to get him to hurry up, but that was not happening. I could Just see other people around us looking at him wishing he would hang up his phone. He finally finished his call and hung up his phone. Th is does not happen often, but whenIt does I try to remind him that he has many pet peeves and his loud talking Is one of mine. It Is possibly my biggest pet peeve. Furthermore, phone etiquette in general is one of my pet peeves. Don't get me wrong, cell phones are great; I just really wish that someone would write a book on the proper way to use a cell phone. If there ever was such a book the author would be a millionaire instantly. Cell phones exploded on to the scene so fast and furious that many people did not have time to think. It is understandable for people not to understand proper phone etiquette.The ability to talk wirelessly to anyone, and everyone from almost anywhere in the world has been around now for many years. People should know that there is a proper time and place to use a cell phone. I can understand If a call comes Into a person's phone that Is an emergency. However It Is not an emergency If a friend has Just broke up with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If one I s In a walling room of a doctor's office, or a public place people do not need to hear about y personal life problems.Be courteous to the ones around and, get up and walk outside to finish the call. I can promise that no one else wants to hear a one-sided conversation. Parents drive me crazy when they allow their children to scream and cry in a public place. I can understand some children have special needs and there is Just no way for a parent to soothe the child. The parent should still get up and take the screaming child outside or to the bathroom. My husband and I were at a restaurant the other day and there was a child crying and screaming at the top f his lungs.The mother just sat there and did nothing to try and soothe the child. We quickly finished our meal and left the restaurant. Parents should try and consider that not everyone cares to hear their child screaming and crying In public places. In conclusion I normally do not say a whole lot about the different things that g et on my nerves. I am typically the kind of person that Just goes with the flow. The loud talking on the cell phone, the lack of phone etiquette, and children crying and Pet peeves Pet peeves, everyone has them. Some people make their peeves known; others Just grit their teeth and keep their annoyance to themselves. My pet peeves Include my husband talking loudly In public on the phone, people using their phones In public, and the way people care for their kids. These are just a few of my pet peeves that I want to talk about. My husband is one of the worst about talking to loud on his phone in public. One day in particular comes to mind. We were going to walk into a restaurant, and his phone rang.He answered it and began to talk. I started to walk slower, hoping he would do the same. He did not even realize that he was almost yelling. As we were walking into the restaurant he continued to talk and people turn their heads to see who was talking so loudly. I was trying to get him to hurry up, but that was not happening. I could Just see other people around us looking at him wishing he would hang up his phone. He finally finished his call and hung up his phone. Th is does not happen often, but whenIt does I try to remind him that he has many pet peeves and his loud talking Is one of mine. It Is possibly my biggest pet peeve. Furthermore, phone etiquette in general is one of my pet peeves. Don't get me wrong, cell phones are great; I just really wish that someone would write a book on the proper way to use a cell phone. If there ever was such a book the author would be a millionaire instantly. Cell phones exploded on to the scene so fast and furious that many people did not have time to think. It is understandable for people not to understand proper phone etiquette.The ability to talk wirelessly to anyone, and everyone from almost anywhere in the world has been around now for many years. People should know that there is a proper time and place to use a cell phone. I can understand If a call comes Into a person's phone that Is an emergency. However It Is not an emergency If a friend has Just broke up with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If one I s In a walling room of a doctor's office, or a public place people do not need to hear about y personal life problems.Be courteous to the ones around and, get up and walk outside to finish the call. I can promise that no one else wants to hear a one-sided conversation. Parents drive me crazy when they allow their children to scream and cry in a public place. I can understand some children have special needs and there is Just no way for a parent to soothe the child. The parent should still get up and take the screaming child outside or to the bathroom. My husband and I were at a restaurant the other day and there was a child crying and screaming at the top f his lungs.The mother just sat there and did nothing to try and soothe the child. We quickly finished our meal and left the restaurant. Parents should try and consider that not everyone cares to hear their child screaming and crying In public places. In conclusion I normally do not say a whole lot about the different things that g et on my nerves. I am typically the kind of person that Just goes with the flow. The loud talking on the cell phone, the lack of phone etiquette, and children crying and

Gautama Buddha Essay

The celebration of Wesak which is the annual ritual celebrating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death (parinirvana), provides an opportunity for adherents to reflect on the Buddha’s life and teaching. The Wesak festival is extremely important to the Buddhist adherent and the Buddhist community. The Wesak festival or Buddha’s Day celebrates the birthday of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who was to become Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The Wesak festival is a time for devotion and remembering the important aspects of the teachings of Buddhism. Wesak is a holy day for Buddhists in many countries such as Tibet, Cambodia, Malaysia Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Bhutan. Wesak, Buddha day or Buddha’s birthday is the most sacred holy day for those apart of Theravada Buddhism and also important for the insight meditation movement. Wesak is the celebration of the three days significant to the Buddha’s life first was his birth, the second his enlightenment (nirvana) and the third his death (Parinirvana). The date of Wesak varies and is very important and significant as it relies on the lunar calendar, it is usually falls on a full moon of the 5th or 6th lunar month. Wesak on the Gregorian calendar usually falls in April or May. Prince Siddhartha was born on the 8th day of the fourth lunar month or on the day of the full moon in 623 B. C. in Lumbini, Rupandehi District, West Terai, Nepal. Wesak celebrates the Three Jewels. Wesak is important to the adherents to reflect on Buddha’s life and teachings as is acknowledging the ongoing living religious tradition that remains strongly for followers. The main objective of Buddhism is to one day reach enlightenment and this is exactly what Wesak celebrates and reinforces the ultimate goal of Buddhism that Buddha was a human who became enlightened. This is important as it reinstates the fact that it is possible for humans to reach enlightenment. To reach closer to Nirvana and the chance of a better life in the cycle of samara you must perform good acts to receive good karma, through the act of washing and cleaning the hands of Buddhists and monks this symbolises the karma of certain actions. The festival of Wesak, with its emphasis on accepting the responsibilities of the ethical life, is also a celebration of the human spirit. ’ An important part of Wesak to the adherents is Sangha. And a part of this acknowledgement of the Sangha is listening to the wisdom and the teaching of the Dharma from the members of their community. As karma is a central belief of Buddhism there is a strong will for adherents are to donate and show generosity to the less fortunate at this time. â€Å"First of all, Buddhism is neither pessimistic nor optimistic. If anything at all, it is realistic, for it takes a realistic view of life and the world. It looks at things objectively (yathabhutam). It does not falsely lull you into living in a fool’s paradise, nor does it frighten and agonize you with all kinds of imaginary fears and sins. † The middle path what Buddha had preached is important to Wesak as it gives the adherents a time to reflect on his preaching’s of in a world full of suffering there is place for celebration. On the day of Wesak devout Buddhists are to come together in temples before dawn before they have ceremonial hoisting of the Buddhist Flag and do their mantras in praise of the three jewels; Dharma, Sangha, Buddha. Those who attend the festivals may bring flowers and candles as offerings to lay at the feet of their teachers. The symbolism of these offerings are that beautiful flowers eventually wither away, and candles once bright burn out, such as what life it is subject to. The adherents that attend receive good karma for themselves and for their communities. Although there is some parts of Wesak that involve acknowledging then destroying the wrong doings and bad karma of the previous year the Wesak festival is a time of celebrations and coming together. The community play games, listen to music, attend drama performances. Decorations are put up around houses and villages and their neighbours are encouraged to join in on the festivities. An important ritual that happens during the Wesak festival is the bathing of the Buddha. The bathing of the Buddha in fragrant water has been important since the legend of the Buddha’s birth has been told. It is a symbol of inner purification, the ritual is said to help get rid of sins. This ritual highlights the universal message that â€Å"it is simple to wash away physical dirt but it is much more difficult to cleanse one’s inner dirt of greed, anger and ignorance. †

Gender and Sexulaity Essays

Gender and Sexulaity Essays Gender and Sexulaity Paper Gender and Sexulaity Paper Jackie Pappas Professor Winchock ENWR 106-AN March 5, 2013 Paper #2 – Middle Draft Gender Sexuality Our everyday lives are greatly affected by ones gender and sexuality. They shape who we are and define our identities. Society expects a certain gender to behave in a specific way and if this does not happen, one is seen as shameful and wrong, leaving the individual to feel defeated and out of place. In society only a few decades ago, women were meant to be silent and restricted. Men were the superior ones who had a voice. They freely got to do whatever they pleased. In Julia Avarez’ â€Å"Daughter of Invention and Judith Ortiz Cofer’s poem â€Å"The Changeling,† women were restricted of their true identities and their voices were silenced by the Ppallogocentric order. As a female in society, one was not permitted to speak freely of her opinions because of men. She must remain silent. It is evident that the narrator, often referred to as Cukita, in â€Å"Daughter of Invention† cannot speak what she wants. She reads poems from a book her father bought her written by Walt Whitman. She reads his free words; words he can openly speak. These are words of â€Å"a flesh and blood man† (Alvarez 14). : Because Walt Whitman was a man, he could speak and write what he so choose. However, when Cukita â€Å"plagiarizes† his words, because she was a woman, she was not â€Å"permitted† to read her work at the assembly for which she was writing. When she read her speech to her mother, her mother beamed with pride. It was quite the opposite when she read this speech to her father. He was shocked that his wife would let their daughter read the speech she wrote. â€Å"You will permit her to read that? † (Alvarez 15) Cukita’s father said as if she needed permission to speak what she believes. As your father, I forbid you to say that eh-speech! † (Alvarez 15). Since he was a man, he had the final say in what his daughter said. He could say whatever he liked but his daughter, because she was a woman, could not. Women were expected to be silent and could only speak in the male voice. We see the silence of a girl in Cofer’s â€Å"The Changeling. † I n this poem, the speaker recalls a memory of when she was a young girl. She dressed in her brother’s military clothes which â€Å"[molded her] into boy shape† (Cofer 725). Her father found it very amusing. He would listen with a smile† (Cofer 725). She loved dressing up as a boy and pleasing her father because it was the only time he noticed her. The speaker pretended to tell stories of her times in the war as a man and this was the time that her father would pay attention to her. The only time he would listen to her words was when she was speaking in his voice in a man’s voice. All other times, her words were not important to her father; they did not matter to him because she was not his son, she was his daughter. Females were restricted in what they could say and do. Women were not allowed to do as they pleased. They were limited not only in what they said but what they could do. In â€Å"Daughter of Invention,† Cukita’s mother liked to work on her inventions. â€Å"She always invented at night, after settling her house down† (Alvarez 10). The mother could only work on her projects after she had completed her obligations as a woman. It was a woman’s responsibility to take care of the house and keep her husband and family happy; putting her wants and wishes aside until these are taken care of first. Even her inventions were restricted. She would not invent things that would help the world as a whole but come up with ideas that would only help with your everyday life, particularly for the typical American woman. When discussing her inventions and why they did not help the greater good, â€Å"she would have said that was for men to do† (Alvarez 10). This shows that she was not allowed to create what she really wanted to invent. American women were not the only women who were restricted. It was common for women to be restricted all over the world. The narrator, Cukita, talked about the fact that her mother did not want to return home. She did not want to go back to the old country where she was only a wife and a mother† (Alvarez 14). In the Dominican Republic under Trujillo’s rule, women were only expected to be two things: a wife and a mother. They were restricted to being anything but. They did not have permission to explore their interests such as inventing. Women were expected to take care of t he house and the family and if they did anything else, saying they’d be in trouble is an understatement. Women were not allowed to be free to be who they are. Women were expected to only take care of the family and the house even if they wanted to do something else. It is still joked about today all over the Internet that women belong in the kitchen. While it is meant as a harmless joke, it is a reality for others. For example, it was a reality for the speaker in â€Å"The Changeling. † While her father was very amused with his daughter dressing as a man, her mother was not. When it was time for the family to sit down for dinner, the mother â€Å"[forbad her] from sitting down with them as a man† (Cofer 725). The mother felt that when her daughter dressed in her brother’s clothes, it was distracting her from being a girl. She is forced to go back into the closet to change back into her expected outfit. The speaker, who once saw a closet full of adventure, then saw the same closet as a dark space (Cofer 725). When she emerged from the closet, back into reality, she walked back into â€Å"the real world of her [mother’s] kitchen† (Cofer 725). For the speaker, a woman belonging in the kitchen was no laughing matter; it was her reality. She longed to be able to do the things a man did but she could not because she was a restricted woman. She wished to have the same power that a man did. After explaining about how powerless a woman was, it is clear that men were the superior ones. In â€Å"Daughter of Invention† after the father disapproved of his daughter’s speech, the mother and daughter felt the need to â€Å"rebel† and â€Å"join forces† (Alvarez 16) against the father. They knew that he was the man in charge. They could not simply tell him what he was doing was wrong and they certainly could not do it alone. It took two women to stand up to one man and they still lost, the father tearing his daughter’s speech to shreds, tearing her to shreds in turn. As the father, he had the final say on what happened. After calling her father the hated nickname of their former dictator Trujillo, the narrator ran to her room. Her father â€Å"ordered [her] on his authority as [her] father to open that door† (Alvarez 16). Because he was a man, he held the power in the house. He got free reign to tell his daughters and wife what to do and they must obey. In Dominican Republic, men were so superior that giving birth to a daughter was not as great as giving birth to a son. A mother was seen as a failure if she did not give birth to a son. When Cukita and her mother went into the father’s room, â€Å"his face rightened as if at long last his wife had delivered a son† (Alvarez 15). Fathers were happier when their wives bore them a son. There were fathers who did not pay attention to their children if they were not a boy. In â€Å"The Changeling,† the speaker must â€Å"[vie] for [her] father’s attention† (Cofer 725). Because she was not a man, the only way she co uld get her father to notice her was to dress, speak, and act like the son he always wanted her to be. After he mother made her change back into the girl she was supposed to be, she â€Å"return[ed] invisible† (Cofer 725). Since she was no longer dressed as the superior man her father so wanted her to be, he did not pay any mind to her and she felt as if she was no one; as if she was invisible. It is because of her gender that she did not fit into society. Gender plays a major role in our everyday lives. Men and women were expected to act in a specific manner or otherwise they end up defeated. Women were meant to keep their thoughts and opinions silent. They were also not allowed to act as freely as they would like. Women were restricted in what they said and did. Because women were so repressed, it was evident that men were the superior ones. In modern society, women have earned the right to be treated as equally and as fairly as men. However, there are still some areas in society where women are more oppressed than men are. Alvarez, Julia. â€Å"Daughter of Invention. † Approaching Literature. Eds. Peter Schakel and Jack Ridl. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. 10-19. Cofer, Judith Ortiz. â€Å"The Changeling. † Approaching Literature. Eds. Peter Schakel and Jack Ridl. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. 725.

Chrome vs. Chromium - Chemistry FAQ

Chrome vs. Chromium - Chemistry FAQ Have you ever wondered what the difference is between chrome and chromium? Chromium is an element. It is a hard, corrosion-resistant transition metal. Chrome, which you may see as decorative trim on cars and motorcycles or to harden tools used for industrial processes, is an electroplated layer of chromium over another metal. Either hexavalent chromium or trivalent chromium may be used to produce chrome. The electroplating chemicals for both processes are toxic and regulated in many countries. Hexavalent chromium is extremely toxic, so trivalent chrome or tri-chrome tends to be more popular for modern applications. In 2007 hexa-chrome was banned for use on automobiles in Europe. Some chrome for industrial uses remains hexa-chrome because the corrosion resistance of hexa-chrome plating tends to exceed that of tri-chrome plating. Its interesting to note that prior to the 1920s the decorating plating on automobiles was nickel and not chrome. Key Takeaways: Chrome vs Chromium Chrome and chromium are not the same substances, although they are related to each other.Chromium is element number 24 on the periodic table. It is a transition metal.Chrome is the name given to chromium when it is electroplated over another metal. It often contains chromium oxide, which protects the underlying metal from corrosion.

A Critique of The Zoo Story, a One-Act by Edward Albee

A Critique of The Zoo Story, a One-Act by Edward Albee Social Commentary Essay on Drama: The Zoo Story and Alienation Albee’s â€Å"The Zoo Story† portrays a fairly decent example of alienation of the absolute lower class versus the upper-middle and middle class. The two obviously have completely different backgrounds, which have brought them to their current points in life. Although they are both roughly the same age, Peter is displayed as an average man with average characteristics and mannerisms by describing him as â€Å"neither handsome or homely† and â€Å"†¦ wears tweeds, smokes a piepe, and carries horn-rimmed glasses† . He was likely the definition of middle class for his era. Jerry, on the other hand, seemed complacent about his looks and characteristics with a description of â€Å"†¦ not poorly dressed, but carelessly† . The play exemplifies the division of social status and class through Peter’s reaction to Jerry’s mostly incoherent speech, or his random sharing of his life story. The play starts by introducing and describing Peter and Jerry, the two main characters. It then starts with Jerry trying to create dialogue between the two, but Peter trying to avoid conversation with the stage direction of â€Å"[anxious to get back to his reading]† . This very start, along with their disagreement about smoking, shows the difference in the norms for their social statuses. Jerry continues on trying to force the conversation by asking about the direction he travelled from and the potential cancer from smoking. Eventually, he asks Peter if he would like to talk, but Peter responds slightly disinterested until Jerry forces his hand. The middle of the play is pretty much Jerry asking questions, Peter answering the questions, and then Jerry monologuing. The question and answer phase of Jerry and Peters shows the distance between the two of them, and, by essence, exemplifies the difference between social classes. For instance, Jerry keeps getting more personal as a specific conversation goes in, such as when he asks if Peter’s wife is the reason they can’t have any more children. Interestingly, the fact that Jerry keeps saying that he’ll tell Peter about the zoo but never actually tells Peter can be seen as the false promises between the classes. Jerry keeps asking Jerry personal questions and then eventually peer pressures him into answering. Jerry then goes into phases of monologuing about his life and thinks that Peter is patronizing him. Throughout the last portion of the middle of the play, Jerry goes on an extremely long story about a dog, how he tried to poison the dog, and how he keep s failing. At the end of the story, Jerry randomly tries to take the whole bench from Peter by force. However, Peter was being stubborn about his spot. The sudden change of character can easily be foreshadowed by his story of trying to poison a dog. However, Peter wasn’t going to let it slide Peter tells Jerry â€Å"You can’t have everything you want.† Eventually, Jerry gets heated and pulls out a knife. Peter instantly misunderstands the action, as anyone would but his misunderstanding is also a show of the misunderstanding between social classes. Strangely enough, Jerry gives Peter the knife. Peter tries to get Jerry to leave him alone, but Jerry ends up killing himself on the knife that Peter was holding defensively. I’m not sure I comprehend this part of the play, but Jerry thanks Peter and says that Peter comforted him. Perhaps, Jerry was confused and wanted a way out of life after holding a conversation. Either way, as he ends up dying, he tells Peter to get aw ay from the scene. In conclusion, Peter’s confusion throughout the play and Jerry’s constant monologuing shows misunderstandings throughout the whole play. With that being said, Jerry, or the lower classes, keeps putting Peter into awkward situations. Peter, or the upper-middle/upper class tries to keep to himself but Jerry keeps bringing him back in. Jerry tells Peter his life story, similar to how the lower class tries to convince the aforementioned classes to change. However, the less well off class (it’s not necessarily always the lower class that is less well off, but more than likely it is) in any civilization tends to end up creating conflict. That conflict ends in the death of the foolish actions of Jerry.

Back to Basics at Westbank Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Back to Basics at Westbank - Essay Example In other words, Ms. Jones must have a serious meeting with members of the board and make sure that the company is heading in the right direction, and that everyone in the company is ‘on the same page,’ as it were. If the company does not have a common goal (or goals), now is the time to do it, since the departure of Mr. Smith definitely heralds a new and exciting time in WestBank’s history. Now the company can start afresh, knowing that it has had some failures in the past with securing student overdrafts as did HSBC, but now it is flailing amidst the sundry musings of a—most likely—underpaid and underinformed work force. Therefore, it is up to Ms. Jones to set the company aright, although, truth be told, she cannot do this alone—she needs help. Most definitely, one of the key elements to her success is how the board meeting goes. She must find the unity of the company’s mindset, generally, in order to know how to proceed and take the d irection of the company. II. WestBank’s Former Reputation (325 words) Obviously, WestBank got into a lot of trouble by backing a bunch of unsecured debts, and that is basically where it ran into troubles. Let’s hope that WestBank doesn’t eventually do what happened to HSBC’s original parent company. â€Å"[Britain’s Midland Bank] was the biggest in the world in 1934, and then went into a slow decline, eventually being taken over by HSBC in 1992, changing its name to HSBC Bank plc in 1999† (Siklos, Bohl, & Wohar, 2010, pp. 168). In order to maintain the WestBank brand, it is of premier importance that all of WestBank’s dealings be transparent with Premier, the parent company. That was not the case at HSBC. â€Å"At HSBC, the bank was 'happy to discuss some of the finer detail in private meetings, but prefer[red] to restrict circulation of the internal policies themselves'† (De Neve, 2008, pp. 249). Another bank, Santander, was e stablished by having replaced various UK banks that had formerly been well-known. â€Å"[Banco Santander] is headquartered at the Ciudad Financeria Santander (Santander Financial City) in Madrid and employs around 130,000 people worldwide. The history of BSCH began in 1857 when Banco Santander was established by royal decree†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wankel, 2009, pp. 106). It still holds significant appeal for the UK in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). â€Å"In January 2000 Santander's holding in RBS peaked at about 10 percent. Later, Santander's support was critical to the success of RBS's bid for National Westminster, completed in March 2000† (Guillen, 2005, pp. 109). One of the mistakes that WestBank must learn from in its past is to not make the same mistakes in the future. In the next section it will be discussed what is currently the state of this particular bank and what it has to do to overcome its obstacles—and what Ms. Jones is going to have to do to make WestBank a winning brand once again. Obviously, there are steps which must be taken now to ensure success. III. WestBank’s Current Dilemma (300 words) WestBank’s current dilemma is very similar to that of what HSBC went thorugh. Right now, HSBC is going through a difficult time. â€Å"[For HSBC, t]he first-quarter reading was in line with the long-run series average of 54.9. Still, the

What impact does globalisation have on the environment Essay

What impact does globalisation have on the environment - Essay Example tinational enterprises (MNEs) can profit substantially from the consequent cross-country variations in environmental regulations by transferring the capacity of production to those nations most agreeable to make use of loose environmental policies as an encouragement for investment. Confronted with the possibility of an industrial flight, the debate goes on, countries are compelled to join a ‘race to the bottom’ and develop into ‘pollution havens’ or compromise high incidences of unemployment and the attrition of their tax base.2 In a sense then, globalisation weakens the ability of the government to safeguard the environment through corporate behaviour regulation. Conversely, advocates of globalisation argue that lower trade barriers and FDI motivate corporations to move environmental technologies as well as management systems from nation-states with more stringent environmental policies to developing nations, which cannot manage to acquire environmental technologies and capacities. The failure of the government to safeguard the environment, it is proposed in this assumption, could also be improved through self-regulation of firms’ environmental conduct in developing nations.3 Self-regulation â€Å"refers to a firm’s adoption of environmental performance standards or environmental management systems (EMS) beyond the requirements of governmental regulations.†4 Globalisation has the capability to boost pressures in self-regulation in various ways. Primarily, globalisation raises the investment of MNEs in developing nations wherein their subsidiaries can self-regulate their own environmental conduct more than that of the capacity of local firms.5 Moreover, MNEs can move their more sophisticated environmental technologies as well as their management systems designed to adjust to the stricter regulations in developed nations to their subsidiaries. Also, MNEs confront demands from interest groups to perk up their international environmental

Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment Term Paper

Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment - Term Paper Example The most astonishing fact has been that the Ignatian spirituality has quite a few similarities with much practiced religions like that of Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. Ignatian spirituality basically deals with the spirituality of the daily life. It focuses on the fact that God is active in our regular lives and ‘his’ presence can always be felt in the world. Ignatian spirituality was formed by Ignatius Loyola, who was a war - wound. Ignatius was also the founder of the Jesuits. Jesuit Gerard Manley Hopkins noted Ignatian spirituality as â€Å"insistence that God is at work everywhere in work, relationships, culture, the arts, the intellectual life, creation itself†. According to the words of Ignatius, the things in the world are presented to us â€Å"so that we can know God more easily and make a return of love more readily†. The Ignatian spirituality focuses upon discerning the presence of God in the everyday activities of our lives (Ignatian Spirituality, n.d.) Discernment has been always a key issue in the Ignatian spirituality. In fact, the main thought of the spiritualism in this segment depends upon the realization and judgment of God in our daily life. Discernment, according to David Lonsdale, a veteran of Ignatian spirituality, â€Å"involves us in a process of sifting our daily experiences by noting and reflecting regularly on our affective responses to God and to life and its events. It means noting, for example, situations and events in which we experience joy or sorrow, peace or turmoil, attractions or revulsions, an opening out to others or a narrowing in on ourselves, a sense of Gods presence or absence, creativity or destructiveness. The purpose of observing and reflecting on these patterns of responses is that they deepen our sense of ourselves and they can show us where, for each of us, our Christian path lies, where the Spirit of God is

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Research Paper Example It will help in the employment of most effective treatments for rehabilitation of drug abusers. Keywords: Drugs, drug addiction, drug abusers, stress, relapse, reward. Drug Addiction The word â€Å"addiction† is derived from the â€Å"addicere† (a Latin verb), to bind or give an individual to one thing or another. It is generally employed in the field of drug to refer to compulsive, uncontrollable, or chronic drug use, to the level that an individual (an addict) may continue the drug forever. It typically implies a strong physical and psychological dependence that results in a withdrawal syndrome on ceasing the drug administration. Drug addiction entails instinctive search to utilize a substance, in spite of the latent negative psychological, physical and social consequences (Brown, 2003). The drug intake generates satisfaction and an intuitive drive that necessitates continuous or periodic drug to avoid the anxiety and distress and provide pleasure (Moal and Koob, 2007 ). Types of Drug use Recent analyses have focused on the following three kinds of drug use (1) Controlled, occasional, or social use. (2) Abusive or harmful use, and (3) Drug addiction. Clinically, the irregular but controlled exposure to a sedative drug is different from excessive drug use, lacking control over restraining drug intake, and the appearance of chronic obsessive drug-seeking that portrays addiction. One of the fundamental objectives of recent neurobiological research on addiction is to comprehend the neuroadaptive and neuropharmacological mechanisms within particular neurocircuits that arbitrates the transition in between controlled, occasional drug use and the failure to control behavior of drug-seeking and drug-taking that classifies chronic addiction (Moal and Koob, 2007). It is assumed that this transition corresponds to the channel from a normal to an allostatic state and consequently to a pathological one, i.e., a persistent and relapsing ailment. The critical na ture of the dissimilarity between harmful abuse and addiction is illuminated by epidemiological studies that show that a very limited percentage of the users will become dependent or addict. Stages of Addiction Drug-taking commences with collective drug-taking and severe reinforcement and occasionally, for a few individuals, then progresses in a pattern of growing compulsive use and lastly to withdrawal, dependence, and protracted abstinence. Since relapse is possible to occur, thus the cycle repeats (Robinson & Berridge, 2003). Characteristics of Drug Addiction Drug addiction, also termed as substance dependence is a persistent relapsing disorder usually characterized by (1) Urge to search for and take the drug (2) Loss of ability to control on limiting the drug administration (3) Development of negative emotions (e.g., anxiety, dysphoria, irritability) when drugs are avoided (Moal and Koob, 2007). Who are drug abusers? Drug abusers may be defined as individuals who are obsessive i n the drug administration behavior that they undermine other important aspects of life, like relationships, parenting, performing normal life activities, moral values etc. (Butler, 2009,). Reasons behind drug abuse Like various psychological disorders, substance dependence or drug addiction depends on numerous things. However two main factors are: Genes: Once the drug use has been initiated, the hereditary factors like genes

Developing coaching and mentoring within organisations Essay - 1

Developing coaching and mentoring within organisations - Essay Example To achieve the above objective the report follows the chartered institute of personnel and development (CIPD) assessment activity. Five different models of coaching and mentoring were evaluated. Models assessed include; Boyatzis, iceberg, 5Rsdiagram, RAM model, and wheels of good practices. Richard Boyatzis’ model is based on a formula that he had developed that involved the intention to change stage to a long lasting behavioural change. According to Boyatzis (2008) an individual can achieve sustainable change only if he envisions the ideal self. In fact, the Boyatzis Model necessitates an honest assessment of oneself if it is to prove effective within the organization. This model transforms the behaviour of the individual The above model by Boyatzis has many strengths such as giving individuals a sense of direction and responsibility, developing their skills, abilities and capabilities, helps them conceptualize things and become more proactive and self – confident about their work. The weaknesses, though few, depends upon the individuals themselves. These include, the background they come from, the language they speak, their ability to converse and move with other individuals of different backgrounds, their beliefs and customs etc. Sigmund Freud’s ‘Iceberg Model’ depicts three levels of human consciousness, where the unconscious mind is the biggest part, but it is repressed. According to Freud, this repressed or hidden part, it is most influential. The second part is the mid section that is influenced to a certain extent by the brain. The third part is the conscious portion that we make use of o a daily basis and this is the portion responsible for all our thoughts and actions. In Freud’s opinion, all our thoughts and actions are influenced by the hidden unconscious mind. Freud’s Iceberg Model can be made use of within an organization to

Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment Term Paper

Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment - Term Paper Example The most astonishing fact has been that the Ignatian spirituality has quite a few similarities with much practiced religions like that of Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. Ignatian spirituality basically deals with the spirituality of the daily life. It focuses on the fact that God is active in our regular lives and ‘his’ presence can always be felt in the world. Ignatian spirituality was formed by Ignatius Loyola, who was a war - wound. Ignatius was also the founder of the Jesuits. Jesuit Gerard Manley Hopkins noted Ignatian spirituality as â€Å"insistence that God is at work everywhere in work, relationships, culture, the arts, the intellectual life, creation itself†. According to the words of Ignatius, the things in the world are presented to us â€Å"so that we can know God more easily and make a return of love more readily†. The Ignatian spirituality focuses upon discerning the presence of God in the everyday activities of our lives (Ignatian Spirituality, n.d.) Discernment has been always a key issue in the Ignatian spirituality. In fact, the main thought of the spiritualism in this segment depends upon the realization and judgment of God in our daily life. Discernment, according to David Lonsdale, a veteran of Ignatian spirituality, â€Å"involves us in a process of sifting our daily experiences by noting and reflecting regularly on our affective responses to God and to life and its events. It means noting, for example, situations and events in which we experience joy or sorrow, peace or turmoil, attractions or revulsions, an opening out to others or a narrowing in on ourselves, a sense of Gods presence or absence, creativity or destructiveness. The purpose of observing and reflecting on these patterns of responses is that they deepen our sense of ourselves and they can show us where, for each of us, our Christian path lies, where the Spirit of God is

Developing coaching and mentoring within organisations Essay - 1

Developing coaching and mentoring within organisations - Essay Example To achieve the above objective the report follows the chartered institute of personnel and development (CIPD) assessment activity. Five different models of coaching and mentoring were evaluated. Models assessed include; Boyatzis, iceberg, 5Rsdiagram, RAM model, and wheels of good practices. Richard Boyatzis’ model is based on a formula that he had developed that involved the intention to change stage to a long lasting behavioural change. According to Boyatzis (2008) an individual can achieve sustainable change only if he envisions the ideal self. In fact, the Boyatzis Model necessitates an honest assessment of oneself if it is to prove effective within the organization. This model transforms the behaviour of the individual The above model by Boyatzis has many strengths such as giving individuals a sense of direction and responsibility, developing their skills, abilities and capabilities, helps them conceptualize things and become more proactive and self – confident about their work. The weaknesses, though few, depends upon the individuals themselves. These include, the background they come from, the language they speak, their ability to converse and move with other individuals of different backgrounds, their beliefs and customs etc. Sigmund Freud’s ‘Iceberg Model’ depicts three levels of human consciousness, where the unconscious mind is the biggest part, but it is repressed. According to Freud, this repressed or hidden part, it is most influential. The second part is the mid section that is influenced to a certain extent by the brain. The third part is the conscious portion that we make use of o a daily basis and this is the portion responsible for all our thoughts and actions. In Freud’s opinion, all our thoughts and actions are influenced by the hidden unconscious mind. Freud’s Iceberg Model can be made use of within an organization to

A Rose for Emily Essay Example for Free

A Rose for Emily Essay Beyond these two similarities the stories differ greatly. One of the most notable differences between the two stories is the tense with which they are written. Poe takes us into the mind of the main character using the first person. In this way we learn about the insults perpetrated against the main character along with the intimate reasoning he uses to justify his act of murder. On the contrary, Faulkner writes his story in the third-person omniscient voice and defines the main character through a myriad of supporting characters and dynamic imagery. This use of tense functions well and reinforces the writers plot design. The two writers create very different environments in which the action takes place. Faulkner opens his short story setting up a gloomy, dark stage by describing a derelict Victorian home in a denigrated neighborhood. In the case of Poe’s short story the first clear description of the environment comes later in the story and describes the tunnels leading to the cask of Amontillado. This cramped setting appears to reinforce the cramped space in which Fortunato is ultimately entombed. These settings work well to create a mysterious and tense plot. Faulkner uses many characters in his story where Poe restricts himself to just two. In Faulkner’s story the protagonist is defined through the eyes of many characters thus creating an air of mystery that surrounds the main character, Miss Emily. Miss Emily is known only through the minds others. Conversely, Poe restricts his story to include only the aggressor and victim. This minimal cast, combined with the first person tense, keeps the reader focused exactly where Poe intended. This diverse use of characters adds greatly to the tension prevalent in these two dynamic stories. The creative use of tense, environment and characters make these two stories stand out. The first person tense takes you deep into the mind of a killer in one story and 2 in the other a portrait is painted by a diverse group of characters. Two very different settings reinforce an air of mystery. The dynamic use of these techniques makes these two short stories stand out as industry standards. 3

Methods to Evaluate Non Tariff Measures on Trade

Methods to Evaluate Non Tariff Measures on Trade Non-tariff measures are difficult to quantify as Tariff levels are published in tariff schedules, and these can be large, cumbersome and difficult to read. Non-tariff measures are politically sensitive and this may arise from the lobby activity of vested interests. Measures that are difficult to compute may also be less transparent, which helps to prevent public discussion. Several techniques may be used to evaluate the effect of non tariff measures for example ; data sources; Information about the effects on NTM’s can be gathered through different databases such as the ; 2013 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers which is organized each year by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to surveys important foreign barriers to U.S. exports, the European Unions Market Access Database, World Trade Organizations (WTO) Trade Policy Reviews and the World Integrated Trade Solutions (WITS) software developed by the World Bank which is described as Vald manole as a user friendly way . price gap measures; Non-tariff measuresincrease thepricepaidby consumers. The basic strategy method involves a comparison of prices before an dafter the NTM mark up where the difference is expressed as a Tariff equivalent. For example, the price of a product includes the cost of transport and insurance while wholesale of retail prices include the cost of transport. These factors must be removed from the observed price difference before the markup can be attributed to non-tariff measures. (Ferrantino,2006). Econometrics model The notable advantage of econometric analysis, relative to the â€Å"price gap†method, is that it can be used to study the trade effects of multiple non-tariff measures across multiple industries and countries simultaneously. They forecast that the price of trade between any two countries will be positively linked to the size of their economies and inversely connected to the distance (and other measures of trade costs)between them. Measures taken by the government to alleviate the impact of Non Tariff barriers Mauritius has effectively diversified its economic activities from a monocrop economy depending on sugar to an economy based on textile, tourism and financial services. Mauritius is regarded as a middle income country and ranks according the recent â€Å"Human Development Index† for 173 countries, Mauritius was ranked second in Africa. (Wikipedia) However, Non tariff measures are affecting Mauritian Trade. A workshop was organized on the 24 January 2013 by the International Trade Center (ITC) with the collaboration of the Mauritian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the core results about non-tariff measures (NTMs) affecting Mauritian exporters were discussed, along with solutions and potential policy options. The ICT’s NTM Program Manager Poonam Mayhem claimed that â€Å"Though Mauritian companies enjoy preferential access in the EU market, they complained about the technical and conformity assessment requirements which they find cumbersome in these markets. Labelling, namely the need for labelling in various languages, was also considered to be an important non-tariff barrier† (Anon 2013). Moreover, a report claimed that 29% of burdensome NTMs were encountered within COMESA in which Mauritius is a member . Thus ,in order to alleviate this problem, the government has decided to take concrete measures to eliminate Non Tariff Barriers that are unjustified. The measures were announced by the Dr. the Hon. A. Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade at the opening of the Workshop on NTBs in September 2013.The measures are as follows : To eliminate some 26 trade measures considered as NTB’s after a study carried out by Strataconsult which identified those non tariff measures that hold no justification and had to be either streamlined or eliminated., relating mainly to import and export procedures in 2012. The launching of the Mauritius Trade Portal to empower businesses by granting with all the relevant information concerning the import and export procedures. â€Å"A more ambitious project currently being developed is the single window that will link all Government agencies concerned with trade procedures – the objective being for traders to complete all trade procedures on line†(Anon 2013). This system will help to meaningfully eliminate the quasi totality of Non Tariff Barriers in Mauritius. The Government is also collaborating with the International Trade Centre to carry out a survey with organizations to examine the factors affecting trade. Dwell time for the release of goods at the port and airport have been significantly improved since the construction of a one stop center by housing Customs and other agencies under one roof. The Ministry with the collaboration of the World Bank has codified all existing NTB’s so as to facilitate their streamlining or elimination. Some people from the World Bank was in Mauritius recently to help us in setting the permanent data collection tool on NTMs, modelled on a new classification method that is more user friendly. Other measures taken by the government COMESA-EAC-SADC Training Workshop In addition , the COMESA-EAC-SADC Training Workshop was also organized and targeted at enabling trade on Non-Tariff Barriers. Mauritius is ranked first in Sub-Saharan Africa in the â€Å"Ease of Doing Business index of the World Bank†. Mauritius is rated 20th globally in the â€Å"Ease of Doing Business index of the World Bank†, 2nd among SIDS economies and is in the top 10 worldwide for the ease of starting a business. We need to eliminate all weaknesses and difficulties to trade so as to gain more markets since no markets will be at risk if the needs of consumers are satisfied . The World Bank Database on ‘Non Tariff Measures’ Moreover, The World Bank Database on ‘Non Tariff Measures’ (NTMs), including a catalogue of some 6 000 tariff lines, was given to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dr. Arvin Boolell, by the Ag Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Constantine Chikosi, recently. The Database will allow Mauritius to carry out a regular study of the effects of NTMs on trade and competitiveness.It also facilitates exports by improving information on NTMs in export markets. It offers the government with necessary data to implement the right policies that improve the investment climate in competitiveness of Mauritian businesses. Measures taken in other countries are as follows: Elimination of NTM’S in the EU The elimination of NTM’s in the EU is based on three principles : â€Å"(i) non discrimination; (ii) mutual recognition; (iii) Community legislation to the functioning of the common market†(Carrà ¨re Jaime 2011). These values protect â€Å"the movement for goods, persons, services and capital and is the result of the abolition of customs duties, QRs, and measures having equivalent effect to customs duties†(Malouche et al. 2012). In addition, according to the European Commission, On 25 March 2013, the EU and Japan officially launched the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, which calls for the removal of EU duties and non-tariff barriers in Japan to merge together. They also enable the EU side to interrupt negotiations after one year if Japan does full fill its commitments to remove non-tariff barriers. Elimination of NTM’s in India India signed a framework contract for setting a free trade area with Thailand in October 2003. The agreementis similar toIndia-ASEANfree trade agreement. It also says that FTA should cover: (i)Non-tariff barriers (NTBs)imposed onany products covered in this Agreement,including, butnot limited toquantitative restrictions or prohibition on the importation of any product or on the export or sale for export of any products.(ii)Safeguards based on the GATT/WTO principles; (iii) Disciplines on subsidies and countervailing measures and anti-dumping measures based on the existing GATT discipline. The Government Oof India has also taken some internal measures like the instance, import restrictions levied certain products under Article XX. References Anon, 2014. â€Å"European Commission†. [online] Available From : http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/japan/ [Accessed 27June 2014] Anon,2013. â€Å"Non-tariff measures affecting Mauritian Trade†. [online] Available From : http://www.intracen.org/Non-tariff-measures-affecting-Mauritian-trade/ [Accessed 27 June 2014] Carrà ¨re.,C and Jaime; (March 2011):†Non-Tariff Measures What Do We Know, What Might Be Done?†. MeloSource: Journal of Economic Integration, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 169-196 Published by: Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University Stable Malouche, M.,Cadot,O., Saez,S., 2012. â€Å"Streamlining Non-Tariff Measures†. [online] Available From : http://www.scribd.com/doc/93203908/Streamlining-Non-Tariff-Measures [Accessed 27 june 2014] Anon 2014. â€Å"EU and Japan exchange offer to open markets†.[online] Available From: http://www.euinjapan.jp/en/media/news/news2014/20140404/200044/ [Accessed 26 june 2014] Bacchetta et al ,2012. â€Å" World Trade Report Trade and Public Policies :A Closer Look at Non -Tariff Measures in the 21st Century† [online] Tomacinschi, L., Available From : http://www.scribd.com/doc/169205870/World-Trade-Report [Accessed 3rd July 2014] Anon â€Å"Origins Of The Wto And Its Transformation From Gatt International Law Essay† [online], Available From : http://www.ukessays.com/essays/law/origins-of-the-wto-and-its-transformation- from-gatt-international-law-essay.php [Accessed 14 July 2014] TheWorld Bank 2014 .,â€Å"Economy Rankings† [online], Available From :http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings [Accessed 14 July 2014] Bose., A (2013) â€Å"Outsourcing to africa A Relative Ranking of 15 Country Locations† [online], Available From: http://www.slideshare.net/arindambos/outsourcing-to-africa-full-report-arindam-bose[Accessed 4 August 2014]

Music Today: Entertainment or Influence to Murder? Essay -- essays res

Music Today: Entertainment or Influence to Murder? Teen violence, murder, suicide; they seem to be becoming more and more rampant everyday. The media, as well as concerned, angry parents, look everywhere to find someone to blame for these tragedies. Their fingers are pointed in the direction of many music entertainers. Artists and performers are being badgered everyday for their lyrics and image they create for their fans. Can music really influence someone to acts of violence? Maybe, to the mentally unstable or uneducated. Is music at fault for these acts of violence? Absolutely not. It cannot be blamed for the crimes of obvious psychotic adolescents. The music business, mainly â€Å"death† metal, has been said to be at fault for major tragedies, for example the Columbine High School Shootings. In fact, one media spokesperson even related the two killers to Marilyn Manson because they were apparently dressed like him. This constant distraction of pointing the blame on someone else just strays our focus on the real causes. Mus ic can directly express the personality of many individuals. The way the dress, the way they talk. Overall it expresses the way a person feels. However, can music be blamed for the actions some of it’s listeners my take? Over the past ten years or so, music has been the scapegoat to many murders, acts of violence, and sexual abuse for many years now. Many cases have now opened with the introduction of Death Metal to music world. Since many murders are now rampant within young children and teenagers, there must be someone to blame for them. One example is in 1995 the Death Metal band Slayer was blamed for encouraging Royce Casery, Joseph Fiorella, and Jacob Delashmutt to torture and kill Elyse Pahler, 15-years-old. The parents of Pahler blame the disgusting lyrics of Slayer to the crime. The three boys, all fans of Slayer and bands of their stature, were all found guilty and are still serving time in jail. The Pahler’s tried suing both the band, and the record companies for making these albums available to young teens. However, the courts threw out all the accusations against Slayer and the record companies, with right cause. The music didn’t kill their daughter, the three boys did and a re now serving their time (Horn, 1). Another case noted, 17-year-old Jay Fieldon Howell was arrested for stabbing a girl in the neck. The girl survived, but ... ...r what he does with it? Or if he’s a teenager, should someone else be blamed because he isn’t as enlightened as an eighteen-year-old (Manson, 4)?† There should be no praise for death in this world, whether it be in war or just cold blooded murder. So is entertainment to blame for all these acts of violence, murder, and sexual abuse? The media commentators should ask themselves this question because their coverage of these events were some of the most gruesome entertainment any of us have ever seen. Works Cited Horn, John. "Heavy Metal: Music to Murder By?" Newsweek 4 Nov. 2000: pp. 46. Manson, Marilyn. "Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?" Rolling Stone 28 May 1999: pp. 1-5. Miller, Alec. "Rockin' in the Free World?" The Washington Post 3 Feb. 2001: pp. A20. Morgan, Fiona. Mother's Who Think. 17 Jan. 2001 www.salon.com/mwt/hot/1998/12/15hot.html. Temple, Johnny. "Noise From the Underground." The Nation 18 Oct. 1999: pp. 17-18, 20. Waxman, Sharon. "Did 'Death Metal' Music Incite Murder?; Lawsuit Against Band, Distributors Could Overcome First Amendment Hurdle." The Washington Post 23 Jan. 2001: pp. E1. (Sources from www.elibrary.com)

The Roswell Incident :: essays papers

The Roswell Incident The Roswell Incident, which enlightened our minds to the capacity of excepting all, has remained one of the most controversial issues today. In Roswell, New Mexico, 1947, a strange occurrence arises. An alien craft from outer space crashed in an open field. The issue lay still for almost thirty years, until the thought of a government cover-up arose. SocietyÆs opinions have changed over the years. Previous to the 1990Æs, people have despised the thought of sharing the universe with other intelligent life forms. Now people are interested in this mysterious phenomenon. People think it is the blame of the movies and television. By watching this, people are at a level at which they understand. Not only do these movies entertain, they inform people about the little information we obtained from the government. The thought of government cover-ups have been long discussed. The government has always, in the past, tried to keep any sign of aliens, whether it be pictures from space, to crashes on earth, to a low or nonexistent level. Just recently has the government been harassed to the point where they actually gave us clues to alien existence. It has in some ways been believed that the government has worked in partnership with popular movie directors, to produce alien movies to ease the thought that we may not be alone. Such movies as à ´The Arrivalà ¶ and the ever popular à ´Independence Dayà ¶ are very good examples of well convincing alien movies. If this is true, they did a good job, because statistics state that 75% of people today believe that there is some kind of intelligent life forms besides ourselves in the universe. That is very convincing compared to the 20% whom believed 25 years ago. à ´ New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but b ecause they are not already common.à ¶ (MacGowan 261) A local New Mexico rancher, MacBrazel, while riding out in the morning to check his sheep after a long night of thunderstorms, discovered a considerable amount of debris. It created a gouge several hundred feet long and was scattered over a large area. Some of the debris had strange physical properties. He took some debris to show his neighbors then his son. Soon after that he notified the sheriff. The sheriff then contacted the authorities at Roswell Army Air Field Base. The are was closed off and the debris was eventually flown by B-29 and C-54 aircraft to Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio.