Secrets Essays - Secrets, , Term Papers, Research Papers

Secrets Title: Secrets Author: Danielle Steele Number of pages: 442 Date of publication: 1985 Summary Everyone has secrets no matter who they are. The book I read is called Secrets and,of course, there are many secrets that people have in this book. A man named Melvin Wechsler is a fabulous director that everyone loves. He has a series called Manhattan that he is going to direct, and it is the best T.V. series of all time. He gets the best actors and actresses for his series and he knows it will be a hit. When he decided on all of the people he had chosen for the series, he didn't know that all of them had dark secrets. The main actress, Sabina Quarles, started to have a love affair with Melvin, and he suspected that she was cheating on him. What she was really doing was going to see her very ill son in San Francisco that no one knew about. Jane, another actress, had an abusive husband that didn't care about her. he turned her own children away from her, and raped her whenever he got a chance. She split up with him and started to fall in love with one of the actors on the series, Zac k.Zack, Jane's lover, had a secret too. When he was young he was molested by his father. He was a homosexual for a long time before he met Jane. Jane completely changed his life and they got married.Gabrielle came from a rich family and she didn't want anyone to know about it. She thought that other actors or actresses would just think that she got acting jobs because of her money. She fell in love with Bill, another actor in the series, and she felt truly happy, and she didn't need money to make her happy.Bill had so many secrets. He was married to an actress before the series, but they had to keep their marriage a secret because of their careers. His wife became a drug addict and he finally left her. He always worried about her and wished that she would straighten up. One night he came home to find her dead on the floor. He was arrested and charged with her murder. He was acquitted of all the charges after several months, because of the lack of evidence. Him and Gabrielle fell in love and he finally had something happen to him that didn't have to be kept a secret. I really enjoyed this novel, because it had a lot of reality in it. It told me that these things really do happen and it takes strong people like these to handle all their secrets. Evaluation This novel was one of the best that I have ever read. It was full of love, mystery, sadness, deception, and of course, secrets. The things that I will be evaluating are the author's word choices, the development of suspense, and the book's title. The author's word choices were very good. She made it so I could understand everything that was going on without having to go and look in a dictionary. Danielle Steele writes with smoothness and every word fits together just right with the next. The development of suspense was so good it made me practically sit on the edge of my seat while I was reading this book. She made it so I wanted to keep reading it and never stop until the end. There was one surprise after another and it made the book a lot more interesting. The title of the book was exactly the title it should have. There were so many secrets in this book that the title fit perfectly. When I thought that all of the secrets were out they just kept revealing more and more secrets. I thought this was the perfect title for this book. In conclusion, I really liked this book and the way Danielle Steele wrote it. Her novels that I have read have always been good and never boring. Remember, everyone has secrets, and it takes the strong and willing to reveal them. Book Reports

Ceriodaphnia essays

Ceriodaphnia essays Ceriodaphnia Ceriodaphnia has six pairs of lobed legs which bear numerous hairs. Their head is bent downwards and is set from the body by a cervical sinus. The head also has two large secondary antennas that are positioned laterally near the posterior margin. (Pennak, 1989) The Ceriodaphnias mouth is located near the junction of the head and body. The Ceriodaphnias body is covered by a carapace which allows protrusion of only the head and abdomen. One of the Ceriodaphnias most noticeable features is its large compound eye. Reproduction: The Ceriodaphnia reproduces parthenogenetically, which means the Ceriodaphnia can reproduce without fertilization of the egg. The egg undergoes a single maturation division in the ovary and a number are released at a time by the oviducts. (Pennak, 1989) Usually 10-20 eggs Ecological Niche: Ceriodaphnia are very diverse as they can live in either oxygen rich or oxygen poor environments due to their ability to synthesize hemoglobin. Ceriodaphnia live in all regions of lakes and ponds whether it is on the surface or near the bottom soil. Ceriodaphnia serves as the main food source for the Hydra in an ecosystem. Notes of Interest: Ceriodaphnia feed on green algae. They also have thoracic appendages that are modified phyllopodia that has bristles for food collecting and respiratory functions. (Prescott, ...

Week 3 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Week 3 - Research Paper Example Managers can distinguish motivational problem from other factors by measuring the level of employee motivation and commitment. Managers can measure employee motivation and commitment only by analyzing employees’ productivity. If the current graph of employees’ productivity is low as compared to earlier graphs, it means that employees are less motivated than before. In such situations, managers need to investigate the reasons that affected the graph of employee motivation. Upon knowing the reasons, managers can work towards resolving such issues that caused a downturn in the employee motivation graph. Some of the main reasons that affect employee motivation include poor service structure, no incentive program, ineffective leadership, less influence of managers, and less chances of job promotion. All of the above-mentioned reasons have a close association with employee motivation. Neglecting any of those factors adversely affects overall employee performance. For example, if a company does not offer an attractive incentive plan to its employees, employees of that company become less enthusiastic with the passage of time and eventually drop their level of performance. Similarly, in such companies where managers have less influence on employees or where leaders are not able to inject passion and enthusiasm in employees, managers often observe poor job performances because there is no one there to motivate and encourage employees for the achievement of goals. Summing it up, we can say that managers can distinguish motivational problems from other factors that affect an individual’s performance by measuring the level of employee motivation and commitment. Managers need to investigate all such issues that have a direct association with employee motivation in order to improve employee motivation and employees’ performances. Role of managers and clinical leaders is critical in improving

International Business & Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Business & Strategy - Essay Example This has been made possible through employing an effective international business strategy, which helps the company to direct their business in the global market effectively with an aim of maximising profits. Carrefour is one of the businesses that employ international business strategy to enable them to achieve a competitive advantage and increase profits in the global market. The company was established in 1958 and it grew into a vast chain after the first sales. Carrefour operates currently over 9,994 stores in thirty-three countries; therefore, expanding the business into the new markets in Botswana will enable the company to increase their profits because the political stability of this country has catapulted the economy into emerging and one of the fastest growing economies. The Potential Target Market for Carrefour’s Future International Expansion Strategy Botswana will be one of the prospective target markets for expanding the business in the future using international growth strategy. Many companies have made significant attempts to expand their business across the globe. This is through employing internalisation or global strategies that will enable them to expand their business and also reach their targeted customers effectively. Mun (2010, p. 42) argues that employing an effective strategy in the global business environment is vital because it will enable an organisation to increase profits. The globalisation is set to continue and this will contribute to new opportunities and challenges for the future generations of entrepreneurs who are seeking to prosper in an increasingly interdependent world. Therefore, Carrefour can use this strategy to expand their business in the future to untapped developing countries such as Botswana. Global retailers have continued to expand their business into untapped markets due to increased technology advancement and increased consumption across the globe. Many international companies such as Carrefour have rea lised the significance of expanding their business into the new market, especially the emerging market; thus, there is a need to also target in the future many developing countries. This is because many global companies operating in developing countries have increased and tapped revenues 2.5 times faster than in their home markets (Doh, Lawton & Rajwani, 2012, p. 23). The research study reveals a wider range of possibilities for vendors seeking to capture an instant impact and a growth advantage in third world countries (Brown & Gutterman, 2003, p. 27). Possibilities do not only flourish in the largest markets in the industrialised nations but also in smaller markets in third world nations; however, third world developing nations have been ranked among the leading nations for retail investment; thus, Carrefour Group should expand their international strategy by expanding their markets to a potential target market in Botswana. Macro-Environmental Characteristics of the Market Organis ations are constantly scanning not only their internal environment but also the external environmental factors that may impact their business performance in the global market. Macro-environment characteristics take into consideration the external factors that may be favourable or unfavourable to business performance. The macro-environment is external forces that result from a

Wind Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wind Power - Essay Example History of Wind Power The term windmill came from the invention of early machines used by farmers for milling grain. Wind was the main source of power for the machines hence the name windmill. These machines were first used in Persia and China around 500 AD according to Ollholf (6). Windmills were also used in Netherlands for pumping water from the ground. The United States in 1870’s had its farmers using the power of the wind through windmills in pumping water. In the 1980’s electricity could be generated through the use of windmills. The first individual to use wind turbine in the generation of electricity was Charles Brush according to Sharman (10). However the invention of the power grid which used fossil fuels overcame the use of windmills in generating electricity. In 1931, the first commercial power plant using the wind turbines in generation of electricity was established in Russia. In the 1970’s with the rise in the price of oil, wind turbines which were stronger and lighter were invented as a source of power. The largest wind power farm established in the United States was built at Altamont pass, California. The Use of Wind Power Today With the many challenges facing the use of fossil fuels such as increased globalization, wind power is regaining its importance as source of energy. Wind power today is regarded as the most rapidly growing source of renewable energy. The wind power produces about one percent of the United States energy with Europe producing and using more than this. Wind power in Denmark produces around twenty percent of the countries electricity. More developed windmills have been established which are made up of three parts; the tower, blades and the box. These windmills have equipment used for converting wind motion into electricity according to Ollholf (8). The modern wind power through wind pumps is used in different ways. For instance it is used in pumping underground water which used for various purposes such as drinking, watering crops, and cooking. The windmills are still used today in grinding grains into flour. The use of wind power today has improved the lives of people living in dry and hot areas as it ensures water is pumped from underground to the surface or places of need. Small wind turbines which are capable of running generators help create electricity for powering televisions, lights and radios in areas where there in rural areas. The wind turbines sometimes form part of a hybrid system for generating power together with solar energy which is reliable and affordable for villagers not connected to the national grid. Floating wind turbines have been established today which are more economical in shipping and installation activities. Wind power turbines which possess contra-rotating rotors have been used today in aircrafts, marines for improving propulsion. The contra-rotating rotor is also used in offsetting of system reactive torques. How Wind Power can be used To Impact the Society As the use of wind power as source of energy continues to grow, more developed and newer applications are appearing in the society. Wind turbines which are able to ride offshore have been envisioned. The use of wind powered electric cars has also been envisioned to apply in the future as suggested by Gipe (390). With the increased global warming due to the use of fossil fuels, a future where communities are powered by the use of wind turbines has been envisioned. Another development that could improve the use of wind power in future is integration of the current windmill with installation. This will involve selling and installing of windmills in the homes like any other appliance used in the house. The enhancements of wind power machines will make

Environment Of The Events And Exhibitions Industry

Environment Of The Events And Exhibitions Industry This report will focus on the environment in which GL events is currently operating. GL events started as a small company based in Lyon in 1978 providing furniture and stands for exhibitors. Through mergers and acquisitions, they have progressively evolved to become an important player in todays exhibiting and event world with 34 venues around the world, an event and exhibition full-organising service and a portfolio of 250 trade-shows in various industries (food beverage, sport leisure, health, etc.). Influencing all trends and being influenced by all trends, the exhibition and events industry is in the centre of it all. No company can succeed without being aware of the environment it is evolving in. In the exhibition and events industry, companies need to pay particular attention to details impacting not only its industry directly but also every other sector of activity as it would soon have repercussions on future events, exhibitions, product launches, etc. For this reason, a good PESTEL analysis for the industry needs to cover a broad range of issues and analyse many trends which may not influence events yet but could soon be a threat if companies do not react and stay in the times. This report will focus on a PESTEL analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technology, Environment, Legal) of the exhibition and events industry conclude by establishing which factors GL events should most take into account going forward as they could be potential threats or areas of opportunities in the years to come. Political: There are two main political factors influencing the industry today. One is the increasing political pressures to make regulations and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will see in the environmental section that this trend started with consumer awareness but it is no longer just something the clients want to know more about, it has become an obligation. This has greatly impacted the transport industry, in particular airlines which found their image hit as people all around the world pointed to airplanes being a major source of pollution. This impacts the event and exhibition industry, especially at a time when various green technologies are evolving to permit meetings, conferences and even exhibitions to take place online (Long, 2009). This will be developed further in Environmental and Technology sections. The second is the increased globalisation and liberalisation of trade and deregulation (Dwyer, L and Edwards, D 2009). This is very important in terms of number of potential competitors and number of potential clients. Companies need to learn to evolve in a globalised economy, taking advantage of it by going to find new markets, possibly entering into partnerships with similar companies to widen market share and visibility. With this liberalisation of trade comes political pressure to have global higher standards of living. If you do not see your neighbours yard, you do not know that it is greener, when you break the fence, you find that it is. It is this situation that developing countries are finding themselves in today. Citizens all around the world can use internet to gain knowledge about how others are living and become envious. Because of this, countries want to attract foreign investment to boost local economies and gain wealth and higher standards of living. This creates oppo rtunities for countries not only to establish new and cheaper production lines but also to display their products in emerging markets. Last week for example, Apple launched the Iphone4 in China (AFP, 2010). Economy This last point brings us to analysing the economic trends and pressures impacting on the exhibition and events industry. Although the UNWTO 2002 forecasted world tourism to grow at a rate of 4.1% annually until 2020 (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009) due to rising wealth internationally, the exhibition and event industry has seen a slow in growth since 2005 but a rise in exhibition and event attendance (Biba E, 2008). This puts the industry in a rather awkward position. There are people coming to exhibitions but exhibitors have switched their approach towards events and exhibition. Indeed, especially with the recent crisis, the first expenses cut by organisations worldwide were advertising and travel. Exhibitions and events being in the centre of this, the industry was hit and forced to react. The expectations from exhibitors will be looked into more fully when we look at the social aspects of the trend but the main ideas are that companies are looking to maximise their ROI (return on investment) (Kovaleski D, 2009) and minimise the perception of frivolous spending (trips, events, etc.) (Events Managers, 2010). In order to do this, companies are squeezing suppliers to get more value for money and investigating the return on investment of their events much more closely and looking at alternatives more then they did before. Companies are not so much cutting their exhibition and event spending so much as allocating it more carefully and with conditions of an assured return (Biba E, 2007). This has changed to job of the event organiser who needs to think of more in novative ways that the company can use to introduce their product. A leaflet handout at the exhibition is no longer sufficient, people want to be amused, entertained, really involved in the product (Furness V., 2007). Because of this, the industry is moving away from major events in favour of smaller, more intimate events where companies can really interact with potential clients (Biba E, 2007). Another aspect companies are putting under the microscope is how to measure ROI generated from social networking and e-marketing. Indeed, if an event is posted on Facebook, LinkedIn, various industry blogs and online magazines this all takes resources in terms of man-hours put into promoting the event on these new channels but how can a company measure that this was efficient? How can the event planner know that the Facebook invitation attracted the client and not some Email they receive every year which pushed them to look for a Facebook event? (Terrero R, 2009). Today, there is little way of knowing exactly what path a client took and what really convinced them to attend your particular event. Social Indeed, the main goals of events and exhibitions are brand awareness, brand preference and networking. Although brand awareness can be achieved through various communication mediums (advertising online, billboards, TV, etc.), it is not the way to create brand preference. Brand preference is achieved through interaction, experience of the brand with the client (Kovaleski D, 2009) and leads to better ROI for the company. This means that exhibition halls and event organisers are not expected to provide a massive attendance so much as a good promotional space and real, targeted potential buyers (Biba E, 2007). From the buyers perspective, they want to experience and know the brand as a whole. With globalisation came increased competition and consumers now have the possibility to buy from anyone anywhere around the world. The quality and price are no longer the only issues, people and therefore companies look at the triple bottom line. Its no longer just about economics but also the socia l and environmental benefits of a product or company. Clients dont want a coupon or a price comparison when they come to a product launch, they want to feel and experience the product for themselves (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009 and Furness V., 2007). There needs to be a real interaction between companies and clients. Companies want to build a rapport with their clients, want to become part of their lives. This has forced exhibition halls and event managers to re-think space use and create sections that are dedicated to sitting down in a relaxing atmosphere with a drink to discuss business more casually. The bottom line is still to get the client but the approach is much friendlier then boxed up in a meeting room (Kovaleski D, 2009). This also has an impact on stand design. Exhibitors are encouraged to pay more attention to details such as carpet colour as it has been shown that if the carpet colour of the stand is different from that of the exhibition hall, it may create a barrier and deter clients from approaching (Kovaleski D, 2009). Technology With the development of various technologies, companies have the opportunity to have a virtual event run along-side of the live event. This allows them more time to prepare the client for the interaction and pursue the relationship after the event (Furness V., 2007 and Kovaleski D, 2009). This phenomenon of virtual event is not only to accompany live events, there are now events using only virtual platforms, simulating a physical event on the online world. Platforms such as Second Life are being used by companies to reach potential clients without having to create an event in one physical place. This has the advantage, if not necessarily of price reduction, but to be able to reach clients who may not be prepared to travel to meet you. You can meet them where they are all at once (Biba E, 2008). Using 3D technologies, your virtual exhibition can be as simple as visitors being able to look around at the different stands and as complex as re-creating the event in a completely online wor ld (web chatter, 2010). This is not to say that virtual events will completely replace live events because, as we have seen, people still want to interact and know who they are dealing with but it certainly does replace certain live events already (Biba E, 2007). Another important aspect of the new technologies that the exhibition and event industry should be aware of is the democratization of the internet. This means two things. First, even small firms can bring competition to the large, well-established event organizers if they have good SEO (search engine optimization) and general web-marketing skills as they have equal visibility (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009). Second, through UGC (user generated content) anyone can post their feedback about their experience with a certain organizer and make it available to the world (Papathanassis A, Buhalis D, 2007). This is good news for companies who have good relations with their clients and suppliers but will be difficult for companies who were focusing on one-shot clients and therefore not paying much attention to details. The final aspect of technology refers to the traditional definition of technology, ie: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry (Oxford Compact dictionary). Here we are referring to how to build ecologically friendly stands? What technologies can we use to handle the new products that now need to be used in order to create a green stand? Environmental We are now obviously diverging to the environmental issues around the exhibition and event industry. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to be perceived as environmentally aware (Biba E, 2008). This presents a good opportunity in term of cost reductions as decisions such as travelling less can be explained as an environmentally gesture rather then cost-cutting in a bad economy (Events Managers, 2010). However, it presents a challenge for events and exhibition companies who now need to develop green stands made with ecologically friendly materials and production techniques and purchased from local suppliers to avoid pollution from transport (Biba E, 2008). Another aspect the exhibition and event industry will need to look at closely is the impact that global warming will have on their choice of venue and the viability of these choices with respect to client attendance and attractiveness (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009). Indeed, sunny destinations which are very pleasant to hold events at may be changed for the worse in the next 30-50 years while new destinations will establish themselves as more favourable climate-wise. Legal The final point we will view is the legal aspects that the industry needs to pay attention to. The policies regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the liberalisation of trade have lead way to many legal documents and laws by countries around the world which need to be followed by event and exhibition organisers and by venues to make sure they are acting within the limits and scope of the law. However, an important legal issue is the terms and conditions put forward by events and exhibition planners and venues. First, with regards to particular cancellation fees, they need to protect themselves without being outrageously unfair to the potential client which is looking at cancellation fees and possibilities more closely since the crisis. Second, with respect to the inflexibility of minimum numbers, if venues hope to attract client, they need to consider the advantage of having one definite client with a contract who may not bring exactly 1000 participants versus one potential client who is still shopping around and may never sign (Event Manager, 2010). From this PESTEL analysis, we can draw several conclusions for GL events next step. First, it is clear that the new technologies, though they will not fully replace live events, are certainly complementing them and they are here to stay. GL events could take advantage of this by creating a network with all its venues. When one event is organised in Nice for example, they could offer the possibility of extending it via 3D conferencing tools to other of their venues around the world. This would increase the potential number of attendees who would not have to sit in front of a computer to enjoy the virtual event but would benefit also from meeting with others who are also in their geographical areas and enjoying the event virtually. People in China could enjoy the conference of the event taking place in Nice and have the opportunity to network with other people afterwards via video-conferencing and face-to-face with people who were also unable to attend the meeting. A second opportunity GL events could take advantage of is the growing importance of the perception of being environmentally friendly which pushes companies to invest in Green stands. Through their event organising service, GL events should try to develop the competencies to offer this possibility to their clients, if possible at a similar cost, to make sure they are in keeping (and even a little ahead) of their times. In these fast changing times, the opportunities are still up for grabs but will soon become threats if venues and organisers do not react quickly.

The History of the American Bottom :: American History

Two of the nations largest rivers meet in the American Bottom. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers served as channels of change to the area, bringing outside influences of many different peoples to an Indian-inhabited land. Like the constant flow of the rivers, there was a constant change in the American Bottom. The progress eventually developed the area into a center of economic activity and gateway to the west, but also excluded native and long-time residents. The Illinois Indians long dominated the American Bottom. They were a unique and special tribe, who were complex politically, religiously, and socially. They were also an independent people until French colonizers came to settle in the area. The French Creoles became the dominant population in the region, effecting trade and implementing French Creole culture in the region. The French would not be the last group trying to develop and profit from the American Bottom. When the United States gained control of the territory, it ch anged even further and eventually Americanized into an U.S. State. The importance of the region increased as the U.S. continued to grow westward. The American Bottoms location between the two great rivers made it the ideal location for a center of economic growth. Prior to the contact period, or the time when the Illinois first came into contact with Europeans, the Illinois were a great and influential tribe. They were a very interesting tribe who had a culture all their own. They were also a very autonomous bunch never having to rely on anyone but themselves for survival. This was all to change with the introduction of European missionaries and traders. The Illinois were dwelling in territory that was in heavy demand by those who wished to exploit these Indians and their land in order to turn over a dollar. The frontier was moving farther west and the Illinois eventually fell into the chaos that followed. War, disease, alcohol, and new ways of life eventually exterminated the Illinois. Although the Illinois were not to make it through the development of the American Bottom, they played a crucial and fascinating role in its history. The land the Illinois lived was not only beautiful but also abundant with resources. The resources in the area amazed the French missionaries and explorers. Father Claude Allois, a Jesuit missionary, describes an interesting spectacle on a journey south. â€Å"The next day, we saw a rock seven or eight feet out of the water and two or three brasses in circumference, named ‘the pitch rock.

Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings, opinions, beliefs and needs directly

â€Å"Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings, opinions, beliefs and needs directly, openly and honestly, while not violating the personal rights of others.†(Holland and Ward 1990) Corollary to which, being assertive entails knowing its limit because the right of a person ends where the right of another person begins.   Being assertive is an expression and protection of one’s right up to such an extent where one protects and respects the rights of others.â€Å"There's a kind of integrity that goes along with assertiveness — meaning what you say, when you say it, in the way that you say it.† (Davidson, J. 1997).   Thus, it is ultimately aimed at generation a resolution to problems that is amenable and beneficial to all, essential to maintain fairness and mutuality, which are the basic tenets of any form of human relationships.RightsIn legal parlance, a right is the legal entitlement to do or avoid doing something which is sanctioned by law or the provisions of a contract. However, everyone has rights that are inherently conferred to us by virtue of being humans, which is called human rights. (Gewirth, 1998) Human rights are universal, every person is entitled to it; equal, every person has the same rights; and entail a correlative duty, the bearer of which under international law is the state or the government to which a person had pledged allegiance to.(Clapham, 1993) Perhaps the most basic of these human rights which Immanuel Kant himself declared is freedom –nobody owns one’s life except oneself.   From which the following rights can be derived: the right to decide for oneself in terms of behavior, idea and emotion; the right to change the same, the right to be independent in the conduct of one’s life, to join and not to join, to act or not to act or the right to have a choice.However, in the exercise of these rights, people are prone to commit mistakes.     The right to commit mistakes therefore is in essence part of a person’s right to make decisions and to have choices.   In as much as a person has the right to commit mistakes, he/ she also has the responsibility for the consequences of his/ her choices and decisions.Assertiveness is the balance between two extreme behaviors: passiveness and aggressiveness.   Passiveness or being non assertive is the renunciation of one’s rights which involves turning down one’s opinions, allowing others to decide for one’s own fate, or not exercising one’s right because of guilt or anger.Aggressiveness or being too assertive is the abusive exercise of one’s rights which involves intimidating other people, coercing or manipulating others (lying) thereby not allowing them to decide for themselves or, exercising one’s right to an extent of exploiting other people’s rights.   (Lloyd, 2001)In other words, â€Å"people have a fundamental right as human beings to express t hemselves so long as doing so will not trample on the rights of others.† (Davidson, J. 1997) Such assertion becomes am aggressionBarriers to AssertivenessA big barrier to assertiveness is the over watchfulness or worrisome of people to be misinterpreted as being aggressive and offensive.   It may anger others or hurt their feelings and consequently engender a feeling of hatred, a perception of arrogance or selfishness or even stupidity against the assertive person.These misled conclusions are basically drawn from misconceptions about assertiveness which involved legitimate rights, a sense of concern towards others and a sense of responsibility for the consequences of one’ s decisions. (Paterson and Paterson, 2000)

Vergil essays

Vergil essays The subject matter presented in Eclogue 1 tells much about the time in which it was written. Eclogue 1, in essence, is about the land confiscations after the battle of Philippi. Modern historians have their own ideas about why the poem was written, which it turn would explain the time in which Eclogue 1 was written. Some of these ideas include Tityrus' being Vergil, protest against land confiscations, or a eulogy to Octavian. It may be possible that all three of these themes were apart of Eclogue 1. Exploring all three themes would certainly give a more in depth peer into the time of Vergil. The question of whether or not Vergil wrote to tell a story or wrote to give information on the age in which he lived is raised. Perhaps Vergil has made an attempt at both. In reading Eclogue 1, we know that Meliboeus and Tityrus are fictional characters; however, the reader knows that the land confiscations is factual information about the time. Eclogue 1 is a poem dedicated to providin g entertainment without sacrificing historical information. This poem gives much insight on the time it was written. Analysis of these ideas would explain to a reader what happened during the events that were taking place during the time Eclogue 1 was written. The characters, Tityrus and Meliboeus, provide different elements in the poem. Tityrus provides humor with is light-heartedness and naive nature. Meliboeus brings the reader back to reality and makes him grievous (Verg., Ecl. 1 intro; pg.29, Lee, tr.). History explains that after the Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C., the veterans were given land in Italy, confiscated from the supporters of the losing side, once Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius. Vergil supposedly began writing The Eclogues after 44 B.C. Historians agree that Vergil had lived in the area where the land confiscations were happening. This would help to prove that Eclogue 1 may have been somewhat autobiographical inf...

Allowances Available to Members of US Congress

Allowances Available to Members of US Congress If they choose to accept them, all members of the United States Congress are given various allowances intended to cover personal expenses related carrying out their duties. The allowances are provided in addition to the members’ salaries, benefits and allowed outside income. The salary for most senators, representatives, delegates, and the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico is $174,000. The Speaker of the House receives a salary of $223,500. The president pro tempore of the Senate and the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate receive $193,400. The pay of members of Congress has long been a subject of debate, confusion, and misinformation. Members are paid a salary only during the terms for which they are elected. They do not, as has been widely claimed in social media, receive â€Å"their full salaries for life.† In addition, members do not get additional pay for service on committees, and they are not eligible for housing or per diem allowances for expenses incurred in Washington, DC. Lastly, neither the members of Congress nor their families are exempt from having to pay off their student loans. The salaries of members of Congress have not changed since 2009. Article I, Section 6, of the U.S. Constitution, authorizes compensation for members of Congress â€Å"ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.† Adjustments are governed by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 and the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report,  Congressional Salaries and Allowances, the allowances are provided to cover official office expenses, including staff, mail, travel between a Members district or state and Washington, D.C., and other goods and services. Outside Earned Income Representatives and senators are allowed to accept up to 15% of their base salary in permitted â€Å"outside earned income.† Since 2016, the limit on outside income has been $27,495. Since 1991, representatives and senators have been prohibited from accepting honoraria- payment for professional services that are usually rendered free of charge. In the House of Representatives The Members Representational Allowance (MRA) In the  House of Representatives, the Members Representational Allowance (MRA) is made available to help members defray expenses resulting from three specific components of their representational duties: the personal expenses component, the office expenses component, and the mailing expenses component. Use of the MRA allowance is subject to a number of restrictions. For example, members may not use MRA funds to pay or help pay any personal or campaign-related expenses. Members are also prohibited (unless authorized by the House Ethics Committee) from using campaign funds or committee funds to pay for expenses related to official congressional duties; maintaining an unofficial office account; accepting funds or assistance from a private source for an official activity; or using personal funds to pay for franked mail. In addition, each member is responsible for paying any expenses that are in excess of the authorized MRA level or that are not reimbursable under regulations of the Committee on House Administration. Each member receives the same amount of MRA funds for personal expenses. Allowances for office expenses vary from member to member based on the distance between the members home district and Washington, D.C., and the average rent for office space in the members home district. Allowances for mailing vary based on the number of residential mailing addresses in the members home district as reported by the  U.S. Census Bureau. The House sets the funding levels for the MRA annually as part of the  federal budget process. According to the CRS report, the House-passed fiscal year 2017 legislative branch appropriations bill set this funding at $562.6 million. In 2016, each member’s MRA increased by 1% from the 2015 level, and the  MRAs range from $1,207,510 to $1,383,709, with an average of $1,268,520. Most of each members annual MRA allowance is used to pay their office personnel. In 2016, for example, the office personnel allowance for each member was $944,671. Each member is allowed to use their MRA to employ up to  18 full-time, permanent employees. Some primary responsibilities of the congressional staffs in both the House and Senate include analysis and preparation of proposed legislation, legal research, government policy analysis, scheduling, constituent correspondence, and  speech writing. All members are required to provide a quarterly report detailing exactly how they spent their MRA allowances. All House MRA expenditures are reported in the quarterly  Statement of Disbursements of the House. In the Senate The Senators Official Personnel and Office Expense Account In the  U.S. Senate, the Senators Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA) is made up three separate allowances: the administrative and clerical assistance allowance, the legislative assistance allowance, and the official office expense allowance. All senators receive the same amount for the legislative assistance allowance. The size of the administrative and clerical assistance allowance and the office expense allowance vary based on the population of the state the senators represent, the distance between their Washington, D.C.  office  and their home states, and limits authorized by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The combined total of the three SOPOEA allowances can be used at the discretion of each Senator to pay for any type of official expenses they incur,  including travel, office personnel or office supplies. However, expenses for mailing are currently limited to $50,000 per fiscal year. The size of the SOPOEA allowances is adjusted and authorized within the Contingent Expenses of the Senate account in the annual legislative branch  appropriations bills  enacted as part of the annual federal budget process. The allowance is provided for the fiscal year. The preliminary list of SOPOEA levels contained in the Senate report accompanying the fiscal year 2017 legislative branch appropriations bill shows a range of $3,043,454 to $4,815,203. The average allowance is $3,306,570. Senators are prohibited from using any portion of their SOPOEA allowance for any personal or political purposes, including campaigning. Payment of any amount spent in excess of a senators SOPOEA allowance must be paid by the senator. Unlike in the House, the size of senators administrative and clerical assistance staff is not specified. Instead, senators are free to structure their staffs as they choose, as long as they do not spend more than provided to them in the administrative and clerical assistance component of their SOPOEA allowance. By law, all SOPOEA expenditures of each senator are published in the  Semiannual Report of the Secretary of the Senate,

Professional & legal issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Professional & legal issues - Essay Example But in the given condition, it is only me who is available to sort out these problems. Since the problem is very critical, it may cause loss of life if not sorted early. Now since I am well qualified and is aware of the technique involving the creation of the problem, it is my moral as well legal responsibility to make an attempt to solve it. Currently there are two parties involved. First one is the hospital and the next one is me. Any death caused due to the above mentioned problem will be regarded as a matter of negligence with responsibility being shared by the hospital and the person responsible for maintenance. The hospital has failed in obtaining an emergency kit which can be used in case of any technical problem. No electronic device can be considered for life time and must not be expected to perform throughout without any problem related to hardware as well as software (Ackers, 2005). Despite knowing the utility and need of the IT officers, the hospital has also failed in maintaining the proper number of the same so that whole functioning of the equipments can be achieved without a glitch. So the hospital can charged for going for cost cutt ing through less hiring of the people required for maintaining necessary elements so that proper functioning of the emergency services like the ICU can be maintained. ... charged on the ground of lapses which may finally risk the patient's life and any casualty will be considered as a consequence of negligence on the side of hospital. And since currently only I am available, so it's going to be me who will finally be penalized by the hospital and there is a possibility of getting accused in the case. Being an IT professional, I will try my best to sort out the problem in the quickest possible time. But at the same time, I will suggest the authorities to hire more professionals so that any situation like the one mentioned here can be averted. Since most of the programs are meant for live saving equipments so there should be at a group of developers for developing, maintaining and handling of the system and at least one of them must be available at any given time (Bott, 2005). In the given case study there is just one person who was involved in the development process and he was not present when the problem raised its ugly head. The development of software is generally done in different phases with proper documentation each of the phases must be done and properly stored. The development of each of the phase should be followed with a very precise software testing techniques. The same process should again be repeated once the whole software has been developed. But still none of us c an say the software developed is error free. There is a possibility of it not performing according to expected outcomes because of hardware delay or any other complexity. So the complete set of hardware with the software must be tested live with output being properly monitored. The hospital must have at least a pair of each of the device with one being maintained for emergent conditions. Moving on to software development processes, the software must be developed

Australian Latest Mining Boom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Australian Latest Mining Boom - Essay Example Both quantitative and secondary research is done to reach at a conclusion. Contents Topic Page Number 1) Introduction 3-4 2) Main Body a) Fiscal policy challenges emerging out 4-5 of the recent mining boom in Australia b) Resource Rent Taxation and Negative externality 5 c) Economic Framework of Non-Renewable 6 Resource Taxation d) Economic Costs and Benefits of Mining Super 6-8 Profit Tax e) Conclusion 9 f) Recommendations 9 g) Appendix 11 Introduction Mining boom in Australia is an outcome of huge demands for these resources in the global market, mainly Asia because of its growing need for these minerals. In all parts of Australia, mining companies are increasing their present operations, shuttered mines are being re-opened and all this is taking place at a never before pace. Moreover, this latest boom in this mining sector can also be attributed to the expansion in demand for Australian commodities by the foreign nations. This, coupled with decreasing import prices has resulted in an amazing enhancement in their terms of trade. (Banks, 2011, p. 1) At first it was perceived by most of the Australians that the boom in their mining sector had bought unequivocal benefits to their nation’s economy by creating more jobs, generating higher revenues from exports, taxation and higher incomes for most of the people. But studies have revealed that some of these increased profits from the mining companies are at the cost of profits from the non mining institutes (Richardson, 2009, p. 2). Australia is known to be an inherently resource rich nation and one of the leading countries in the world from the point of view of production of minerals. Australia, as already said, is a major exporter of mineral resources, exporting huge amounts to Asia and the Pacific regions. The Australian economy, during 2007 had grown at a rate of 3.9% owing to the increasing global demand for mineral commodities. Since, higher prices in world market for mineral commodities were expected in future as well, the Australian economy kept on expanding. As a result of an increase in the domestic demand for more workers and thinning labor market, in 2007, the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 4.2% (Australia Mineral and Mining Sector Investment and Business Guide, 2006, p. 45). With this boom came the need to review the ongoing tax system in the country. Under the Henry tax reviews the mining super profit tax was introduced which was instantly subjected to a lot of opposition from the mining community as well as the media. Here, in this report, the economic costs and benefits arising out of the mining super profit tax are analyzed and the discussion also includes some reasons as to why this tax is a good/bad policy measure. In this paper, both quantitative and qualitative research has been done. In order to analyze the costs and benefits of the super profit tax, vast literature in the form of journals, articles, books etc. have been reviewed. The proposals made by the gov ernment regarding the use of the revenues that would be generating out of this tax led to the cost-benefit analysis part. Quantitative analysis has been performed to see the amount of revenue that would have generated out of this tax, had it been implemented. Fiscal policy challenges emerging out of the recent mining boom in Australia In the upcoming years, with the increase in value of Australia’