Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Construction law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Construction law - Essay Example Therefore, Anglo Synergy Solution is committed at conscripting conceptualize ideal procurement process that will be incomparable and acceptable to all. In the Mzansi Rail Shuttle project, the major stakeholders are Sandline Ventures with which has committed an investment of USD 120 billion, South African government and AUM Ventures. Sandline Ventures, the South African government and AUM Ventures expect a return on their investments. Hence, they must obtain the best procurement deal that will guarantee them high returns. Anglo Synergy Solution recommends that the Mzansi Rail Shuttle project should be procured by first ensuring that the authentic and fair competitions exist in responded to Prior Information Notice (PIN). Section 26(4A) of the railway Act, 1993, stipulate that advertisement should be made in both in the country and in the international journal, trade newspapers and other publication as this will eliminate political biases hence uplifting competency to handle the project (Crocker et al., 2010). It is very important to open-up communal procurement market as this will promote: Equal treatment- contracting authority must handle both potential and authentic tenderers fairly without prejudice. Contracting authority when stipulating requirement must avoid brand names which would eliminate particular providers, services and products. Transparency- advertising Prior Information Notice is central in establishing and encouraging transparency (LÃ ¦dre et al., 2006). It creates awareness of the condition for participation, selection criteria and the reason why some individuals were companies were not selected. Anglo Synergy Solution recommends AUM and Sandaline companies sponsoring the project to adjust the time restriction as time is an essential factor. Railway construction law does not specify duration for the accomplishment of the work by the contractors. The provision of services by contract is guided by

Monday, October 28, 2019

Using Data Wrangling and Gemms for Metadata Management

Using Data Wrangling and Gemms for Metadata Management Sharan Narke , Dr. Simon Caton AbstractData lakes are gestated as to be a unified data repository for an enterprise to store data without subjecting that data to any of the constraints while it is being dumped in to the repository. The main idea of this paper is to explain about the different processes involving curating of data in the data lake which facilitates and helps wide range of people other than IT staffs in an enterprise or organization Keywords- Data Lake ; Data Wrangling ; GEMMS I. INTRODUCTION In the current scenario, data is seen as a valuable asset for an enterprise or organization. Many of the organizations are now planning to provide with personalized or individual services to its customers and this strategy can achieved with the help of data lakes. Data wrangling refers to the process which starts right from data creation till its storage into the lakes. James Dixon, the originator of terminology explains the difference between data mart, datawarehouse and data lakes as, If data lake is assumed to be a large water body, where in the water can be used for any purpose then data mart is a store which has bottled drinking water and datawarehouse is marked as a single bottle of water (OLeary,2014). Even though data warehouses, data marts,databases are used for storing data, but data lakes provides with some additional features and even data lakes can work in accordance with all of the above ones. Data lakes address the daunting challenge : how to make an easy use of highly diverse data and provide knowledge? Huge quantity of data is available,but most of the times data is stored in information silos with or without connections between these data. If any clear insight is to be derived then data in t he silos is to be integrated.(Hai , et al. 2016) Instead of performing the traditional methods of data warehousing for data management likewise transforming ,cleaning and then storing into repository, here in the data is stored in original format and as required the data is processed in data lake. By implementing in such approach data integrity is achieved (Quix, et al.2016) As per the present situation in the big data world, evaluating large data sets with their quality cleaning them which are of various types has become a challenging task and data lakes can help in achieving them (Farid, et al. 2016) II. LITERATURE REVIEW For easing the process of data curating there are two methodologies namely Data wrangling and GEMMS which helps in achieving the curation process. A. Data Wrangling B. GEMMS A. Data Wrangling Data Curation is in use to mainly specify the required necessary steps in order to maintain and utilize data during its life cycle for future and current users Digital curation involves following steps The data is selected and appraised by archivists and creators of that data Evolving the provisions of intellectual access, storage which are redundant, transformation of data and then committing the specific data for long term usage Developing digital repositories which are trustworthy and durable Usage standard file formats and data encoding concepts Giving knowledge regarding the repositories to the individuals who are working with those repositories in order to make curation efforts successful(Terrizzano, et al.2015) Figure 1: Data Wrangling Process Overview(Terrizzano, et al.2015) In the above figure it represents a number of challenges inherent in creating, filling, maintaining, and governing a curated data lake, a set of processes that collectively define the actions of data wrangling Different steps involved in the data wrangling process are:   Ã‚   1. Procuring Data: It the first step of data wrangling process, Herein the required metadata and data is gathered so as it can be included into the data lakes(Terrizzano, et al.2015) 2. Vetting data for licensing and legal use: After the data procurement is done, then the terms and conditions are determined so as the data can be licensed (Terrizzano, et al.2015) 3. Obtaining and Describing Data: Once the licensing relating to the selected data is agreed upon, the next task is loading the data from source to data lake and the presence of data alone cannot serve the needs, data scientist working on that data should find out that data to be useful so that it can be used to derive useful information out of it. (Terrizzano, et al.2015) 4. Grooming and Provisioning Data: Data obtained in its raw form is often not suitable for direct use by analytics. We use the term data grooming to describe the step-by-step process through which raw data is made consumable by analytic applications. During Data Provisioning, we now focus on getting data into the data lake. We now turn to the means and policies by which consumers take data out of the data lake, a process we refer to as data provisioning (Terrizzano, et al.2015) 5. Preserving Data: This is the final step of the data curation process isManaging a data lake which requires attention to maintenance issues such as staleness, expiration, decommissions and renewals, as well as the logistical issues of the supporting technologies (assuring uptime access to data, sufficient storage space, etc.). (Terrizzano, et al.2015) B. GEMMS(Generic and Extensible Metadata Management System) Generic and Extensible Metadata Management System (GEMMS) which(i) extracts data and metadata from heterogeneous sources,(ii)stores the metadata in an extensible metamodel, (iii)enables the annotation of the metadata with semantic information, and (iv)provides basic querying support (Quix, et al.2016) We divide the functionalities of GEMMS into three parts: (i)metadata extraction,(ii) transformation of the metadata to the metadata model and (iii) metadata storage in a data store Figure 2: Overview of GEMMS system architecture (Quix, et al.2016) (i). The Metadata Manager invokes the functions of the other modules and controls the whole ingestion process. It is usually invoked at the arrival of new files, either explicitly by a user using the command-line interface or by a regularly scheduled job (ii). With the assistance of the Media Type Detector and the Parser Component, the Extractor Component extracts the metadata from files. Given an input file, the Media Type Detector detects its format, returns the information to the Extractor Component, which instantiates a corresponding Parser Component. (iii). The media type detector is based to a large degree on Apache Tika, a framework for the detection of file types and extraction of metadata and data for a large number of file types. Media type detection will first investigate the file extension, but as this might be too generic (iv). When the type of input file is known, the Parser Component can read the inner structure of the file and extract all the needed metadata (v). The Persistence Component accesses the data storage available for GEMMS. The Serialization Component performs the transformation between models and storage formats (Quix, et al.2016). Evaluation of GEMMS System: The goal of evaluation had two parts and GEMMS satisfies these to a major extent (i). GEMMS as a framework is actually useful, extensible, and flexible and that it reduces the effort for metadata management in data lakes (ii). GEMMS system can be applied to a system having large number of files (Quix, et al.2016) II. CONCLUSIONS Data lakes is getting hotter in enterprise IT architecture. However, the company should decide what kind of data lakes  they need based on the current data process systems. Data lakes have its own assumptions and maturity growing framework. The IT leader in large organization should pay attention to the data lakes and figure out their own way for implementing these new IT technologies in their organization (Fang,2015) In this paper, we discussed about Data wrangling , which helps in design, implementation and maintaining the data. Along side the metadata management aspects using GEMMS, which efficiently eases the process and giving the evaluation how GEMMS stays on top in the meta data management in the  data lakes which helps large organisation in managing the data if that organisation is implementing Data Lakes REFERENCES OLeary, D.E., 2014. Embedding AI and crowdsourcing in the big data lake. IEEE Intelligent Systems, 29(5), pp.70-73. Hai, R., Geisler, S. and Quix, C., 2016, June. Constance: An intelligent data lake system. In Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Management of Data (pp. 2097-2100). ACM. Quix, C., Hai, R. and Vatov, I., 2016. Gemms: A generic and extensible metadata management system for data lakes. In CAiSE forum. Farid, M., Roatis, A., Ilyas, I.F., Hoffmann, H.F. and Chu, X., 2016, June. CLAMS: bringing quality to data lakes. In Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Management of Data (pp. 2089-2092). ACM. Terrizzano, I., Schwarz, P.M., Roth, M. and Colino, J.E., 2015. Data Wrangling: The Challenging Yourney from the Wild to the Lake. In CIDR.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Success and Failure in Two Kinds by Amy Tan Essay -- Two Kinds by Amy

Amy Tan, a child of Chinese immigrants, wrote the story â€Å"Two Kinds†, telling the tale of a Jing-Mei’s rebellion against her mother’s desire to change her into a prodigy. As Jing-Mei’s mother continually tells her she does not try hard enough to succeed, the conflict between Jing-Mei and her mother escalates. Jing-Mei grows more stubborn, making every effort to resist her mother, and the relationship devolves into a standoff where mother and daughter both refuse to budge from their position. â€Å"Two Kinds† shows the irony in Jing-Mei’s relationship with her mother; while her mother believes Jing-Mei does not try hard enough to succeed, Jing-Mei succeeds in her struggle for identity by refusing to become the person her mother wants. The story opens with a brief synopsis of Jing-Mei’s mother’s past. As a Chinese immigrant fleeing from war, her mother leaves behind everything: â€Å"her mother and father, her family home, her first husband, and two daughters, twin baby girls.† (Tan 206) As a resident in America, Jing-Mei’s mother does not wallow in misery but instead looks forward to a life with limitless boundaries, honestly believing that â€Å"[y]ou could become instantly famous.† (Tan 206) Brent tells us that Chinese immigrants view America as a true land of opportunity and that tradition demands a daughter’s obedience to her mother (1). With a history steeped in traditional Chinese culture and a spirit of adventure, her mother decides Jing-Mei will fulfill this dream and become a child prodigy. At first, the anticipation of riches and fame propel Jing-Mei into cooperating with her mother, persuading Jing-Mei in the belief she can attain perfection. She imagines herself in several wonderful images, each colorful and immensely sati... ...elf. In a broader context, Tan says our tendencies to mold our children into our ideal image of success often works against the universal struggle to find one’s identity. Television, powerful advertising, clever marketing, and the myriad opinions of everyone we know swirl around us in a cacophony of conflicting messages, often drowning our pleas for time and space to get to know ourselves and find contentment in being what we are and not what someone else wants us to be. Works Cited Tan, Amy. â€Å"Two Kinds†. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Longman. Boston. 10th ed. Brent, Liz. "Overview of 'Two Kinds'." Short Stories for Students. Ed. Ira Mark Milne. Vol. 9. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1420031606&v=2.1&u=tel_a_tbr&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Argumentative Essay Format

Title: ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY FORMAT Intro: PURPOSE: To set up and state one’s claim OPTIONAL ELEMENTS Make your introductory paragraph interesting. How can you draw your readers in? What background information, if any, do we need to know in order to understand your claim? If you don’t follow this paragraph with a background information paragraph, please insert that info here. REQUIRED ELEMENTS ? If you’re arguing about a literary work—state author + title ? If you’re arguing about an issue or theory – provide brief explanation or your of issue/theory. If you’re arguing about a film—state director, year + title ? STATE your claim at the end of your introductory paragraph BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH o 1-2 paragraphs tops; Optional (can omit for some papers). Also, sometimes this info is incorporated into the introduction paragraph (see above). o PURPOSE: Lays the foundation for proving your argument. o Will often include: ? Summary of work s being discussed ? Definition of key terms ? Explanation of key theories SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #1 o PURPOSE: To prove your argument. Usually is one paragraph but it can be longer. Topic Sentence: What is one item, fact, detail, or example you can tell your readers that will help them better understand your claim/paper topic? Your answer should be the topic sentence for this paragraph. o Explain Topic Sentence: Do you need to explain your topic sentence? If so, do so here. o Introduce Evidence: Introduce your evidence either in a few words (As Dr. Brown states ? †¦? ) or in a full sentence (? To understand this issue we first need to look at statistics). o State Evidence: What supporting evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) can you include to prove/support/explain your topic sentence? Explain Evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing us? How does this evidence prove the point you are trying to make in this par agraph? Can be opinion based and is often at least 1-3 sentences. o Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts how the topic sentence of this paragraph helps up better understand and/or prove your paper’s overall claim. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #2, 3, 4 etc. o Repeat above ? COUNTERARGUMENT PARAGRAPH o PURPOSE: To anticipate your reader’s objections; make yourself sound more objective and reasonable. Optional; usually 1-2 paragraphs tops o What possible argument might your reader pose against your argument and/or some aspect of your reasoning? Insert one or more of those arguments here and refute them. o End paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your paper’s claim as a whole. ? CONCLUSION PART 1: SUM UP PARAGRAPH o PURPOSE: Remind readers of your argument and supporting evidence o Conclusion you were most likely taught to write in High School CONCLUSION PART 2: YOUR â€Å"SO WHAT† PARAGRAPH o PURPO SE: To illustrate to your instructor that you have thought critically and analytically about this issue. Your conclusion should not simply restate your intro paragraph. If your conclusion says almost the exact same thing as your introduction, it may indicate that you have not done enough critical thinking during the course of your essay (since you ended up right where you started). o Your conclusion should tell us why we should care about your paper. What is the significance of your claim? Why is it important to you as the writer or to me as the reader? What information should you or I take away from this? o Your conclusion should create a sense of movement to a more complex understanding of the subject of your paper.By the end of your essay, you should have worked through your ideas enough so that your reader understands what you have argued and is ready to hear the larger point (i. e. the â€Å"so what†) you want to make about your topic. o Your conclusion should serve as t he climax of your paper. So, save your strongest analytical points for the end of your essay, and use them to drive your conclusion o Vivid, concrete language is as important in a conclusion as it is elsewhere–perhaps more essential, since the conclusion determines the reader's final impression of your essay.Do not leave them with the impression that your argument was vague or unsure. o WARNING: It's fine to introduce new information or quotations in your conclusions, as long as the new points grow from your argument. New points might be more general, answering the â€Å"so what† question; they might be quite specific. Just avoid making new claims that need lots of additional support. OUTLINE WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #1 SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #2 SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #3 COUNTERARGUMENT SUM UP CONCLUSION ? Sum up claim + supporting evidence statements SO WHAT CONCLUSION Argumentative Essay Format Title: ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY FORMAT Intro: PURPOSE: To set up and state one’s claim OPTIONAL ELEMENTS Make your introductory paragraph interesting. How can you draw your readers in? What background information, if any, do we need to know in order to understand your claim? If you don’t follow this paragraph with a background information paragraph, please insert that info here. REQUIRED ELEMENTS ? If you’re arguing about a literary work—state author + title ? If you’re arguing about an issue or theory – provide brief explanation or your of issue/theory. If you’re arguing about a film—state director, year + title ? STATE your claim at the end of your introductory paragraph BACKGROUND PARAGRAPH o 1-2 paragraphs tops; Optional (can omit for some papers). Also, sometimes this info is incorporated into the introduction paragraph (see above). o PURPOSE: Lays the foundation for proving your argument. o Will often include: ? Summary of work s being discussed ? Definition of key terms ? Explanation of key theories SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #1 o PURPOSE: To prove your argument. Usually is one paragraph but it can be longer. Topic Sentence: What is one item, fact, detail, or example you can tell your readers that will help them better understand your claim/paper topic? Your answer should be the topic sentence for this paragraph. o Explain Topic Sentence: Do you need to explain your topic sentence? If so, do so here. o Introduce Evidence: Introduce your evidence either in a few words (As Dr. Brown states ? †¦? ) or in a full sentence (? To understand this issue we first need to look at statistics). o State Evidence: What supporting evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) can you include to prove/support/explain your topic sentence? Explain Evidence: How should we read or interpret the evidence you are providing us? How does this evidence prove the point you are trying to make in this par agraph? Can be opinion based and is often at least 1-3 sentences. o Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts how the topic sentence of this paragraph helps up better understand and/or prove your paper’s overall claim. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #2, 3, 4 etc. o Repeat above ? COUNTERARGUMENT PARAGRAPH o PURPOSE: To anticipate your reader’s objections; make yourself sound more objective and reasonable. Optional; usually 1-2 paragraphs tops o What possible argument might your reader pose against your argument and/or some aspect of your reasoning? Insert one or more of those arguments here and refute them. o End paragraph with a concluding sentence that reasserts your paper’s claim as a whole. ? CONCLUSION PART 1: SUM UP PARAGRAPH o PURPOSE: Remind readers of your argument and supporting evidence o Conclusion you were most likely taught to write in High School CONCLUSION PART 2: YOUR â€Å"SO WHAT† PARAGRAPH o PURPO SE: To illustrate to your instructor that you have thought critically and analytically about this issue. Your conclusion should not simply restate your intro paragraph. If your conclusion says almost the exact same thing as your introduction, it may indicate that you have not done enough critical thinking during the course of your essay (since you ended up right where you started). o Your conclusion should tell us why we should care about your paper. What is the significance of your claim? Why is it important to you as the writer or to me as the reader? What information should you or I take away from this? o Your conclusion should create a sense of movement to a more complex understanding of the subject of your paper.By the end of your essay, you should have worked through your ideas enough so that your reader understands what you have argued and is ready to hear the larger point (i. e. the â€Å"so what†) you want to make about your topic. o Your conclusion should serve as t he climax of your paper. So, save your strongest analytical points for the end of your essay, and use them to drive your conclusion o Vivid, concrete language is as important in a conclusion as it is elsewhere–perhaps more essential, since the conclusion determines the reader's final impression of your essay.Do not leave them with the impression that your argument was vague or unsure. o WARNING: It's fine to introduce new information or quotations in your conclusions, as long as the new points grow from your argument. New points might be more general, answering the â€Å"so what† question; they might be quite specific. Just avoid making new claims that need lots of additional support. OUTLINE WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #1 SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #2 SUPPORTING EVIDENCE #3 COUNTERARGUMENT SUM UP CONCLUSION ? Sum up claim + supporting evidence statements SO WHAT CONCLUSION

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

A Good Life essay

The Good Life Denise West April 14, 2013 Siena Heights University Gail Ryder Introduction A good life is what everyone desires. But what is actually a good life? Many people have their own interpretation of what a good life is. Society today has a different outlook on what is an acceptable lifestyle. Many people are influenced with the perception of how an individual should live their life. Some often find themselves trying to fulfill their happiness through America’s perception on how they should live. Instead they become disappointed with the disapproval of others and often forget what happiness really means to them.A good life consists of maximizing happiness. Many believe wealth, power, and respect brings happiness. I happen to disagree. I believe wealth and power bring sorrow and problems. The philosopher Socrates did not approve happiness was result of affluence and material consumption. He believed a rich and active mind is happier than a consumer of finer foods and exp ansive clothing (De Botton, 2000). Whether it is positive or negative, as long is the individual accepts and is happy of his or her own life, then they are living a good life.My life revolves around a combination of these six themes: education, work, ethics, relationships, spirituality, and success. In my essay, I will give my expertise of a good life. I will share thoughts of my life and give examples of each theme of why live the way I do. Education I believe education is a lifelong process that consists of both formal and informal experiences that lead to the individual learning something. The setting could be a home, a school, a workplace, a volunteer position, or an internship learning experience.Education is an ongoing mix of experiences; I think an educated person is a one who has made the most of each experience and learned from it. One should possess the general knowledge needed for making informed rational decisions and inferences on familiar and novel situations in person al and intellectual life. An educated person should also master of the general thinking abilities required for making informed intelligent decisions, estimates, assessments, and inferences. Philosopher Montaigne was an educated man with great wisdom. He spent most of his spear time in a circular library reading books (De Botton, 2000).I was raised by a family who is very educated. My mother and father have master degrees. My sister is a graduate student at Kansas State University. My father pushed my sister and I our entire lives of the importance of education. I receive a tremendous amount of support from my parents, family and friends. They continuously motivate me to be successful in completing and continuing my education. My plans for education are to continue to graduate school. Later in life, I am interested in teaching secondary education. I have a lot of inspiration and support from others and I am determined to succeed.I instill the importance of intelligence to my children . I agree with Montaigne’s two categories of knowledge: learning and wisdom. â€Å"In the learning category his placed logic, etymology, grammar, Latin and Greek. And in the wisdom category he places a far broader, more valuable kind of knowledge, everything that could help a person to live well† Montaigne’s intentions were to assist people† live happily and morally â€Å"(De Botton, p 153, 2000). These are two categories that keep me hungry for more. I often find myself harder on my son, because the graduation rate has dropped tremendously and it continues to decline.Depending on what aspiration a person has, having an education qualifies for great employment. Work The will power, motivation, and education are a good start in performing the ideal job in the workplace. The ambition and excitement of commuting to work daily is great feeling. A good work environment improves satisfaction and productivity. When a person is unhappy in the workplace, it is a d rag waking up each day to return to that place of business. Philosopher Epicurus believed the tension starts to show at home and we often point the finger at work (De Botton, 2000).It is important to be able to balance work and home to manage a positive work environment. Having a stress free job as well having fun and believe in your work is part of the good life. A good working environment is important for employee morale. It builds strong relationships between associates and among the biggest motivating factors in the workplace. I enjoy the work I do on a daily basis. It is a challenging job that requires an outgoing personality, sales drive, and patience. The down fall of my workplace is the associates and environment. We lack communication and the ability to coach each other to improve the workplace.The location in an urban area limits the opportunity of sales growth, variety customer base, as well as deepening relationships. At times, I felt the same pain as Epicurus. We both s tarted to wonder if were on the correct career path. One thing I lack in the workplace is empathy. I meet a lot of people each day. Many customers have personal problems they choose to share with me. Many times I can’t relate, because I have not experienced it. I represent my employer, and I am branded by them. I have to maintain a certain image and give great impressions. My supervisor has coached me on empathizing with my customers.We role play each week, and he has given me different conversation tools to better assist my customers. I want to give my customers a great experience each time they visit. To minimize tension, and misinterpretation, I will start utilizing 360 coaching. This is a tool recommended by my employer. Associates coach each including management. We give positive feedback to each other on how we could improve. This should help my team with any disagreements one may have with another associate. After opening up with one another and sharing each other diff erences, the company is great place work.Communication is the key to every success. With our recent suggestions and improvement, I believe everything will work out great. Ethics Ethics is a concept of morality principles. It defines the standard behavior which tells us the most common way of society: good, bad, right and wrong. The book Affluenza written by authors Graff, Wann, and Naylor have great information on living a good life daily minimizing consumption. â€Å"Affluenza is a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, deft, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more† (Degraff, Wann, Naylor, p. , 2001). Afflenza respects those perfectly human desires, and seeks to create ways to make comfort, elegance, and enjoyment more genuine and durables than purchasable, perishable commodities (Degraff, Wann, Naylor, 2001). Unfortunately, I struggle with Affuenza. My finance and I live a certain lifestyle. Our lifestyles boil down to become e xpansive. We often find ourselves caught up in what we feel we have to have or need, such as hair, nails, brand name clothing, jewelry, and restaurants. We also have plenty of unnecessary bills only because they are available resources to us.We are not utilizing the product or service for what it is worth. We have more stuff, less time, and our quality of life seems to be deteriorating (Degraff, Wann, Naylor, 2001). As we move forward in our lives, I try to educate my finance of Affluenza and suggested a variety of ways will can save time and money. I plan to start tracking our daily spending habits more closely. If we cut back on luxury habits we could save thousands a year. We are coming to together and taking it one day at time. It is difficult to change some things you are accustomed to.Overcoming this disease is important to us, because we are embarking on a higher level in our relationship. We are currently testing our new ideas to happiness in our lives. Hopefully the results give us some leeway to plan what matters most to us, and how we will cherish our years to come. Relationships One of my biggest challenges of my life is my relationship. There is nothing more important than the quality of my relationship. My relationship influences the major decisions I make and is a large part of my happiness. Relationships can be very stressful at times. They require at lot of listening, effort, and compromising.Both parties have to be willing to sacrifice in order to move forward. A fundamental to a strong relationship is commitment. Commitment to making a relationship strong and healthy is the basis on which it will mature. Relationships take plenty work and effort. Compared to life itself, relationships are aggressive and intense because we are forever changing. A durable relationship need continuous nurturing and that takes commitment from both parties. Our commitment to the relationship is unconditional caring about maintaining and improving our relationship , even during times of anger or disappointment.There may be times when I am not even sure I like him, but I am committed. My strong commitment reminds me of Epicurus views of friendship. At first he thought pleasure brought him happiness. He eventually had a change of heart and found that the loyalty of friendship is what matters most (De Botton, 2000). I will spend the effort to sustain relationship during tough times. The motivation of keeping our family together saved us. We put our differences aside and our children first. Their security is most important. Our determination led us to our engagement. We are set to wed next summer. Spirituality One doesn’t need either the bible to instruct one in prudence; nor the fear of divine retribution to provide the incentive† (De Bottom, 2000). Epicurus shows us how morality can be founded upon prudent self-interest. I was raised a Christian. Philosopher Nietzsche called Christianity â€Å"the religion of comfortableness† (De Bottom, p. 238, 2000). Until my grandmother died in 1993, my family and I attended church regularly. As an adult, continue to believe in the Christian Religion; however I do not practice it. I currently do not the bible for a number of reasons. I do not want to be put in a category as a hypocrite.I am uncomfortable in committing to a religion if I am not ready to live righteously. I don’t want to find myself going back and forth and continuously repenting to the Lord for sins I have committed. The second reason I do not practice Christianity is because I do have a church home. I have not find a church where I felt comfortable worshiping. In the past, I found myself visiting a variety of churches and none felt right to me. I started to wonder, I am looking in the right religion? Maybe there’s another religion that makes more sense to me and has a place where I could worship and feel comfortable.The significance of any religion lies simply in the answer to the ques tion: why do I exist, and what is my relationship to the infinite universe that surrounds me? â€Å"It is impossible for there to be a person with no religion as it is for there to be a person without a heart. He may not know that he has a religion, just as a person may not know that he has a heart, but it is no more possible for a person to exist without a religion than without a hear â€Å"(Leo Tolstoy, 1879). As I read this statement from Tolstoy Confession, I thought about my current situation.Tolstoy was a philosopher who came to believe that he had â€Å"accomplished nothing and his life was meaningless† (Patterson, p. 5, 1983). The third reason I do not practice Christianity is because my finance study’s another religion. I have taken in to consideration to research his religion and to a common ground and decide which religion is best for me. Either way, we both have to agree on the same religion. It is important we raise our children with the same values to l ive a good and happy life. Success The meaning of Success comes in many forms, and a variety of meanings.It defines what you are searching for in life. It is within the perception of the individual. A large portion of one’s life is spent working to become successful. People are told during the upbringing to work hard so they earn make lots of money. People have a variety of interpretations of what success means to them. Socrates says, â€Å"One who understands the limits of the good life knows that what eliminates the pains brought on by need and what makes the whole of life perfect is easily obtained, so that there is no need for enterprises that entail the struggle for success† (De Botton, 2000).Success is often measured by social status and wealth. I determined success by the amount of happiness one feels. I live my life by planning. This is task that I put in place to organization my life. Time management is important to me. I currently have a blue print for my lif e. It is sectioned in four categories which are three weeks, three months, one year, and three years. This is a tool used to set goals and manage my life. Each year I review my blue print to ensure each goal is accomplished. My goals are similar to the six themes I have discussed.I consider myself to be a successful person. I have managed to complete every major task I have set forth. I have an outstanding family with two beautiful children. I am scheduled to graduate in December 2010, and I have an awesome job. I am in process of simplifying consumption, and we are working toward spirituality. These are important goals that I and my family discuss on a regular basis. I continue to stay open for suggestions and constructive criticism. I am willing to explore whatever is necessary to work toward a wonderful and happy life. This year is a successful year.Conclusion We think happiness is good, therefore we seek it. The search for happiness can be endless if you do not know what you are searching for. Individuals find themselves never accomplishing their goals. We can choose to enjoy the adventure and explore as much as possible. Try to make a conscious resolution to be content. By having a peace of mind and satisfaction means you are happy with what you have and what you are. I received my results of a good life with a history of effectiveness and success. I have a general sense of what I feel are the best ways to get things done.I set of process and principles that has worked well for me over many years. I am a detailed person who manages time, plans for the future, and a fan of great strategy. I choose to ignore the setbacks and I look at the big picture in order to guide myself and my organization to maximum results. A good life is a combination of many things. Everyone has their own interpretation of what a good life is. It starts with self development within individual. Many philosophers such as Epicurus and Socrates believe pleasure brings forth happiness ( De Botton, 2000). I happen to agree.Nothing matter to me more than my happiness. It is up to the individual to decide what pleasures them most. My life has had its many shares of a rollercoaster. I have made and learned from my mistakes. There is not anything that I regret nor wished didn’t happen during the years of my life. Without my mistakes, I would not have the opportunity to learn and grow. As a whole, I cherish my life I believe it is great. I am thankful for awaking each morning and for blessing me each day I have no reason to complain. I have experienced more than I ever dreamed of.Most importantly, I am blessed in being a mother. My family is extremely important to me. They complete each and every accomplishment. In combination of each principle, task, and theme they all relate and evolve around one specific goal which is my family. What a great life! References De Botton, A. (2000). The Consolations of Philosophy. New York: Pantheon Books. Graaf, J. , Naylor, T. , & Wann, D. (2001). Affluenza. San Francisco: Brerrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. Tolstoy, L. (1993). Confession. Translated by David Patterson. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Botoms Weave essays

Botom's Weave essays The play A Midsummer Nights Dream presents a wonderful contrast between reality and fantasy. A Midsummer Nights Dream gives us insight into mans conflict with rational versus emotional characteristics of human behavior. The City of Athens represents the logical side, with its flourishing government and society. The woods represent the wilder, irrational side where nothing seems to follow a normal path. The character of Bottom the weaver directly reflects these two worlds. He brings the rational and irrational elements of the play together in many ways. Bottom is definitely one of the most memorable characters in A Midsummer Nights Dream. First introduced to us in the casting of Pyramus and Thisbe (I.ii). Ready to take one anything that comes his way, Bottom tries to play every part in the play which is easily displayed when Bottom says: An I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too. Ill speak in a monstrous little voice: Thisne Thisne!- Ah Pyramus, my lover dear, thy Thisbe dear and lady dear (I.ii). After demonstrating his spectacular ability to play Thisbe he moves on to the Lion as he bellows: Let me play the lion too. I will roar that I will do any mans hear good to hear me. I will roar that I will make the Duke say Let him roar again; let him roar again (I.ii.). No doubt about it, Bottom has complete confidence in his ability to go from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. Perhaps he feels that playing only one role in the play will restrict him and he does not want to limit his talent to one specific part. This characteristic separates him from all the other characters. He does not want to feel restricted by anything or anyone. Here he gives us insight into his own personality and almost seems to mock those in love when he says: That will ask some tears in the true performing of it. I ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Parebtal Alcoholism

I chose to do my web writing assignment on the website http.//www.health.org/nongovpubs/coafacts/. This website shows the effects of parental alcoholism on children. It shows the mental and physical abuse children take throughout their lives. Alcoholism effects people and the families of those people, both directly and indirectly. The Effects of Parental Alcoholism on Children Until rather recently, the impact of alcoholism was measured by its effect on the alcoholic, by days lost from work and highway fatalities. New research, however, has tended to concentrate on the impact of alcoholism on the family, especially the children of alcoholics. Numerous studies have reported on the familial transmission of alcoholism. It has been shown that alcoholics have more biological relatives with an alcohol problem than do nonalcoholic. Furthermore, these people have a higher probability for developing alcoholism earlier in their lives; and experiencing more severe effects of alcoholism. There are in the vicinity of twenty million children under eighteen years of age whom are growing up in households where one or both parents are alcoholic, in the United States alone. These children are the unwilling victims of a disease which generally is the center of their childhood existence, and therefore shapes their personality and behavior as adults. Because of the familial nature of alcoholism children have been identified to be of high risk for developing this illness. Unless something is done to break the patterns initiated during childhood, a significant percentage of those who don’t become alcoholics themselves will marry an alcoholic upon reaching maturity continuing the cycle of abuse and depression. Studies of the development of drinking behavior recognize the formation of socially appropriate rules about the use of alcohol and the role of the parent behaviors and attitudes in determining drinking patterns. In addition, clustering of depre... Free Essays on Parebtal Alcoholism Free Essays on Parebtal Alcoholism I chose to do my web writing assignment on the website http.//www.health.org/nongovpubs/coafacts/. This website shows the effects of parental alcoholism on children. It shows the mental and physical abuse children take throughout their lives. Alcoholism effects people and the families of those people, both directly and indirectly. The Effects of Parental Alcoholism on Children Until rather recently, the impact of alcoholism was measured by its effect on the alcoholic, by days lost from work and highway fatalities. New research, however, has tended to concentrate on the impact of alcoholism on the family, especially the children of alcoholics. Numerous studies have reported on the familial transmission of alcoholism. It has been shown that alcoholics have more biological relatives with an alcohol problem than do nonalcoholic. Furthermore, these people have a higher probability for developing alcoholism earlier in their lives; and experiencing more severe effects of alcoholism. There are in the vicinity of twenty million children under eighteen years of age whom are growing up in households where one or both parents are alcoholic, in the United States alone. These children are the unwilling victims of a disease which generally is the center of their childhood existence, and therefore shapes their personality and behavior as adults. Because of the familial nature of alcoholism children have been identified to be of high risk for developing this illness. Unless something is done to break the patterns initiated during childhood, a significant percentage of those who don’t become alcoholics themselves will marry an alcoholic upon reaching maturity continuing the cycle of abuse and depression. Studies of the development of drinking behavior recognize the formation of socially appropriate rules about the use of alcohol and the role of the parent behaviors and attitudes in determining drinking patterns. In addition, clustering of depre...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Pacific Island Hopping in World War II

Pacific Island Hopping in World War II In mid-1943, the Allied command in the Pacific began Operation Cartwheel, which was designed to isolate the Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. The key elements of Cartwheel involved Allied forces under General Douglas MacArthur pushing across northeastern New Guinea, while naval forces secured the Solomon Islands to the east. Rather than engage sizable Japanese garrisons, these operations were designed to cut them off and let them wither on the vine. This approach of bypassing Japanese strong points, such as Truk, was applied on a large scale as the Allies devised their strategy for moving across the central Pacific. Known as island hopping, U.S. forces moved from island to island, using each as a base for capturing the next. As the island-hopping campaign began, MacArthur continued his push in New Guinea while other Allied troops were engaged in clearing the Japanese from the Aleutians. Battle of Tarawa The initial move of the island-hopping campaign came in the Gilbert Islands when U.S. forces struck Tarawa Atoll. The capture of the island was necessary as it would allow the Allies to move on to the Marshall Islands and then the Marianas. Understanding its importance, Admiral Keiji Shibazaki, Tarawas commander, and his 4,800-men garrison heavily fortified the island. On November 20, 1943, Allied warships opened fire on Tarawa, and carrier aircraft began striking targets across the atoll. Around 9:00 a.m., the 2nd Marine Division began coming ashore. Their landings were hampered by a reef 500 yards offshore that prevented many landing craft from reaching the beach. After overcoming these difficulties, the Marines were able to push inland, though the advance was slow. Around noon, the Marines were finally able to penetrate the first line of Japanese defenses with the assistance of several tanks that had come ashore. Over the next three days, US forces succeeded in taking the island after brutal fighting and fanatical resistance from the Japanese. In the battle, U.S. forces lost 1,001 killed and 2,296 wounded. Of the Japanese garrison, only seventeen Japanese soldiers remained alive at the end of the fighting along with 129 Korean laborers. Kwajalein Eniwetok Using the lessons learned at Tarawa, U.S. forces advanced into the Marshall Islands. The first target in the chain was Kwajalein. Beginning on January 31, 1944, the islands of the atoll were pummeled by naval and aerial bombardments. Additionally, efforts were made to secure adjacent small islands for use as artillery firebases to support the main Allied effort. These were followed by landings carried out by the 4th Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division. These attacks easily overran the Japanese defenses, and the atoll was secured by February 3. As at Tarawa, the Japanese garrison fought to nearly the last man, with only 105 of nearly 8,000 defenders surviving. As US amphibious forces sailed northwest to attack Eniwetok, the American aircraft carriers were moving to strike the Japanese anchorage at Truk Atoll. A principal Japanese base, US planes struck the airfields and ships at Truk on February 17 and 18, sinking three light cruisers, six destroyers, over twenty-five merchantmen, and destroying 270 aircraft. As Truk was burning, Allied troops began landing at Eniwetok. Focusing on three of the atolls islands, the effort saw the Japanese mount a tenacious resistance and utilize a variety of concealed positions. Despite this, the islands of the atoll were captured on February 23 after a brief but sharp battle. With the Gilberts and Marshalls secure, U.S. commanders began planning for the invasion of the Marianas. Saipan the Battle of the Philippine Sea Comprised primarily of the islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, the Marianas were coveted  by the Allies as airfields that would place the home islands of Japan within range of bombers such as the B-29 Superfortress. At 7:00 a.m. on June 15, 1944, U.S. forces led by Marine Lieutenant General Holland Smiths V Amphibious Corps began landing on Saipan after a heavy naval bombardment. The naval component of the invasion force was overseen by Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner. To cover Turner and Smiths forces, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, dispatched Admiral Raymond Spruances 5th US Fleet along with the carriers of Vice Admiral Marc Mitschers Task Force 58. Fighting their way ashore, Smiths men met determined resistance from 31,000 defenders commanded by Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito. Understanding the importance of the islands, Admiral Soemu Toyoda, commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, dispatched Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa to the area with five carriers to engage the U.S. fleet. The result of Ozawas arrival was the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which pitted his fleet against seven American carriers led by Spruance and Mitscher. Fought June 19 and 20, American aircraft sank the carrier Hiyo, while the submarines USS Albacore and USS Cavalla sank the carriers Taiho and Shokaku. In the air, American aircraft downed over 600 Japanese aircraft while only losing 123 of their own. The aerial battle proved so one-sided that US pilots referred to it as The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. With only two carriers and 35 aircraft remaining, Ozawa retreated west, leaving the Americans in firm control of the skies and waters around the Marianas. On Saipan, the Japanese fought tenaciously and slowly retreated into the islands mountains and caves. U.S. troops gradually forced the Japanese out by employing a mix of flamethrowers and explosives. As the Americans advanced, the islands civilians, who had been convinced that the Allies were barbarians, began a mass suicide, jumping from the islands cliffs. Lacking supplies, Saito organized a final banzai attack for July 7. Beginning at dawn, it lasted over fifteen hours and overran two American battalions before it was contained and defeated. Two days later, Saipan was declared secure. The battle was the costliest to date for American forces with 14,111 casualties. Almost the entire Japanese garrison of 31,000 was killed, including Saito, who took his own life.   Guam Tinian With Saipan taken, U.S. forces moved down the chain, coming ashore on Guam on July 21. Landing with 36,000 men, the 3rd Marine Division and 77th Infantry Division drove the 18,500 Japanese defenders north until the island was secured on August 8. As on Saipan, the Japanese largely fought to the death, and only 485 prisoners were taken. As the fighting was occurring on Guam, American troops landed on Tinian. Coming ashore on July 24, the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions took the island after six days of combat. Though the island was declared secure, several hundred Japanese held out in the Tinians jungles for months. With the Marianas taken, construction began on massive airbases from which raids against Japan would be launched. Competing Strategies   Peleliu With the Marianas secured, competing strategies for moving forward arose from the two principal U.S. leaders in the Pacific.  Admiral Chester Nimitz  advocated bypassing the Philippines in favor of capturing Formosa and Okinawa. These would then be used as bases for attacking the Japanese home islands. This plan was countered by General Douglas MacArthur, who wished to fulfill his promise to return to the Philippines as well as land on Okinawa. After a lengthy debate involving President Roosevelt, MacArthurs plan was chosen. The first step in liberating the Philippines was the capture of Peleliu in the Palau Islands. Planning for invading the island had already begun as its capture was required in both Nimitz and MacArthurs plans. On September 15, the 1st Marine Division stormed ashore. They were later reinforced by the 81st Infantry Division, which had captured the nearby island of Anguar. While planners had originally thought that the operation would take several days, it ultimately took over two months to secure the island as its 11,000 defenders retreated into the jungle and mountains. Utilizing a system of interconnected bunkers, strong points, and caves,  Colonel Kunio Nakagawas garrison exacted a heavy toll on the attackers, and the Allied effort soon became a bloody grinding affair. On November 27, 1944, after weeks of brutal fighting that killed 2,336 Americans and 10,695 Japanese, Peleliu was declared secure. Battle of Leyte Gulf After extensive planning, Allied forces arrived off the island of Leyte in the eastern Philippines on October 20, 1944. That day, Lieutenant General Walter Kruegers U.S. Sixth Army began moving ashore. To counter the landings, the Japanese threw their remaining naval strength against the Allied fleet. To accomplish their goal, Toyoda dispatched Ozawa with four carriers (Northern Force) to lure  Admiral William Bull Halseys U.S. Third Fleet away from the landings on Leyte. This would allow three separate forces (Center Force and two units comprising Southern Force) to approach from the west to attack and destroy the U.S. landings at Leyte. The Japanese would be opposed by Halseys Third Fleet and  Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaids Seventh Fleet. The battle that ensued, known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf, was the largest naval battle in history and consisted of four primary engagements. In the first engagement on October 23-24, the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, Vice Admiral Takeo Kuritas Center Force was attacked by American submarines and aircraft losing a battleship,  Ã‚  Musashi, and two cruisers along with several others damaged. Kurita retreated out of range of U.S.  aircraft but returned to his original course that evening. In the battle, the escort carrier  USS  Princeton  (CVL-23) was sunk by land-based bombers. On the night of the 24th, part of the Southern Force led by Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura entered the Surigao Straight where they were attacked by 28 Allied destroyers and 39 PT boats. These light forces attacked relentlessly and inflicted torpedo hits on two Japanese battleships and sank four destroyers. As the Japanese pushed north through the straight, they encountered the six battleships (many of the  Pearl Harbor  veterans) and eight cruisers of the 7th Fleet Support Force led by  Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf. Crossing the Japanese T, Oldendorfs ships opened fired at 3:16 AM and immediately began scoring hits on the enemy. Utilizing radar fire control systems, Oldendorfs line inflicted heavy damage on the Japanese and sank two battleships and a heavy cruiser. The accurate American gunfire then forced the remainder of Nishimuras squadron to withdraw. At 4:40 PM on the 24th, Halseys scouts located Ozawas Northern Force. Believing that Kurita was retreating, Halsey signaled Admiral Kinkaid that he was moving north to pursue the Japanese carriers. By doing so, Halsey was leaving the landings unprotected. Kinkaid was not aware of this as he believed Halsey had left one carrier group to cover the San Bernardino Straight. On the 25th, U.S. aircraft began pummeling Ozawas force in the Battle of Cape Engaà ±o. While Ozawa did launch a strike of around 75 aircraft against Halsey, this force was largely destroyed and inflicted no damage. By the end of the day, all four of Ozawas carriers had been sunk. As the battle was concluding, Halsey was informed that the situation off Leyte was critical.  Soemus  plan had worked. By Ozawa drawing away Halseys carriers, the path through the San Bernardino Strait was left open for Kuritas Center Force to pass through to attack the landings. Breaking off his attacks, Halsey began steaming south at full speed. Off Samar (just north of Leyte), Kuritas force encountered the 7th Fleets escort carriers and destroyers. Launching their planes, the escort carriers began to flee, while the destroyers valiantly attacked Kuritas much superior force. As the melee was turning in favor of the Japanese, Kurita broke off after realizing that he was not attacking Halseys carriers and that the longer he lingered, the more likely he was to be attacked by American aircraft. Kuritas retreat effectively ended the battle. The Battle of Leyte Gulf marked the last time the Imperial Japanese Navy would conduct large-scale operations during the war. Return to the Philippines With the Japanese defeated at sea, MacArthurs forces pushed east across Leyte, supported by the Fifth Air Force. Fighting through rough terrain and wet weather, they then moved north onto the neighboring island of Samar. On December 15, Allied troops landed on Mindoro and met little resistance. After consolidating their position on Mindoro, the island was used as a staging area for the invasion of Luzon. This took place on January 9, 1945, when Allied forces landed at Lingayen Gulf on the islands northwest coast. Within a few days, over 175,000 men came ashore, and soon MacArthur was advancing on Manila. Moving quickly, Clark Field, Bataan, and Corregidor were retaken, and pincers closed around Manila. After heavy fighting, the capital was liberated on March 3. On April 17, the Eighth Army landed on Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines. Fighting would continue on Luzon and Mindanao until the end of the war. Battle of Iwo Jima Located on the route from the Marianas to Japan, Iwo Jima provided the Japanese with airfields and an early warning station for detecting American bombing raids. Considered one of the home islands, Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi prepared his defenses in-depth, constructing a vast array of interlocking fortified positions connected by a large network of underground tunnels. For the Allies, Iwo Jima was desirable as an intermediate airbase, as well as a staging area for the invasion of Japan. At 2:00 a.m. on February 19, 1945, U.S. ships opened fire on the island, and aerial attacks began. Due to the nature of the Japanese defenses, these attacks proved largely ineffective. The next morning, at 8:59 a.m., the first landings began as the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions came ashore. Early resistance was light as Kuribayashi wished to hold his fire until the beaches were full of men and equipment. Over the next several days, American forces advanced slowly, often under heavy  machine-gun  and artillery fire, and captured Mount Suribachi. Able to shift troops through the tunnel network, the Japanese frequently appeared in areas that the Americans believed to be secure. Fighting on Iwo Jima proved extremely brutal as American troops gradually pushed the Japanese back. Following a final Japanese assault on March 25 and 26, the island was secured. In the battle, 6,821 Americans and 20,703 (out of 21,000) Japanese died.   Okinawa The final island to be taken before the proposed invasion of Japan was Okinawa. U.S. troops began landing on April 1, 1945, and initially met light resistance as Tenth Army swept across the south-central parts of the island, capturing two airfields. This early success led Lt. General Simon B. Buckner, Jr. to order the 6th Marine Division to clear the northern part of the island. This was accomplished after heavy fighting around Yae-Take. While land forces were fighting ashore, the US fleet, supported by the British Pacific Fleet, defeated the last Japanese threat at sea. Named  Operation Ten-Go, the Japanese plan called for the super battleship  Yamato  and the light cruiser  Yahagi  to steam south on a suicide mission. The ships were to attack the U.S. fleet and then beach themselves near Okinawa and continue the fight as shore batteries. On April 7, the ships were sighted by American scouts, and  Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher  launched over 400 aircraft to intercept them. As the Japanese ships lacked air cover, the American aircraft attacked at will, sinking both. While the Japanese naval threat was removed, an aerial one remained: kamikazes. These suicide planes relentlessly attacked the Allied fleet around Okinawa, sinking numerous ships and inflicting heavy casualties. Ashore, the Allied advance was slowed by rough terrain, and stiff resistance from the Japanese fortified at the southern end of the island. Fighting raged through April and May as two Japanese counteroffensives were defeated, and it was not until June 21 that resistance ended. The largest land battle of the Pacific war, Okinawa cost the Americans 12,513 killed, while the Japanese saw 66,000 soldiers die. Ending the War With Okinawa secured and American bombers regularly bombing and firebombing Japanese cities, planning moved forward for the invasion of Japan. Codenamed Operation Downfall, the plan called for the invasion of southern Kyushu (Operation Olympic) followed by seizing the Kanto Plain near Tokyo (Operation Coronet). Due to the geography of Japan, the Japanese high command had ascertained Allied intentions and planned their defenses accordingly. As planning moved forward, casualty estimates of 1.7 to 4 million for the invasion were presented to Secretary of War Henry Stimson. With this in mind, President Harry S. Truman authorized the use of the  new atom bomb  to bring a swift end to the war. Flying from Tinian, the B-29  Enola Gay  dropped the  first atom bomb  on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, destroying the city. A second B-29,  Bockscar, dropped a second on Nagasaki three days later. On August 8, following the Hiroshima bombing, the Soviet Union renounced its nonaggression pact with Japan and attacked into Manchuria. Facing these new threats, Japan unconditionally surrendered on August 15. On September 2, aboard the battleship  USS  Missouri  in Tokyo Bay, the Japanese delegation formally signed the instrument of surrender ending World War II.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Acquisition Team Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Acquisition Team - Research Paper Example primarily, acquisition constitutes a process that functions and bears results based on interdependence and cooperation of various aspects in the contracting process (Engelbeck, 2002). Furthermore, acquisition team is what makes the process of acquisition succeed, based on the set goals. Moreover, formation of the team should reflect aspects of integration, interrelation, cooperation, and collaboration with enhanced communication networks. Business Opportunity Opportunity Title: Z-Full Seepage Blanket Extension, Bolivar Dam, Ohio Solicitation Number: W91237-11-B-0006 Agency: Department of the Army Office: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office Location: USACE District, Huntington URL: https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c88569da75a9388b1203f6f44e4a9fc7&tab=core&_cview=0. This is one of the projects owned by the Department of Army, and solicitation for the project awaits posting of notice for contractors. The project largely involves contractors initiating an action-plan of pl acing fill material on the downstream side of the Bolivar Dam in Bolivar, Ohio State. Included in the work to be performed are base contract plus two options. On the part of Base Contract, construction of a portion will take place at downstream seepage blanket, a terrace filter blanket extension, 450’ of storm sewer, and tree and brush clearing around the left abutment of the dam (FedBizOpps, N.d). On the part of two options, option (1) will involve construction of remainder of the downstream seepage blanket and 530’ of storm sewer. Option (2) will involve construction of the right abutment seepage blanket (FedBizOpps, N.d). The process of constructing seepage blankets will largely involve borrow material from an on-site borrow area, whereby, the portion of material will be purchased by the contractor from commercial source (FedBizOpps, N.d). Construction to be done will take place on government owned-land, which will be the same thing happening for borrow and spoil ar eas. Research has indicated that there will be need for roads (Haul roads) connecting borrow and spoil areas and subsequently linking them to seepage blankets. The whole project is estimated to cost between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 (FedBizOpps, N.d). The delivery (completion) of the project is estimated will take 635 calendar days after the initial date when authorization of the project commencement notice is received. Sections of FAR Act will guide some of the operations of the project such that, 25% of total contract performance incurred for personnel should be expended for employees of the prime contractor. Acquisition Team Engelbeck (2002) observes that Acquisition needs to be perceived as the process that connects the needs of customers and overall satisfaction derived by the customers. Further, Acquisition is a process of steps and activities involving identifying requirements (needs), acquisition planning, preparation of the solicitation, source selection, negotiation, and contract award, performance and closeout (Engelbeck, 2002). Success of acquisition process has been attached to ability to institute acquisition team that is multi-organizational as well as cross-functional in nature. Therefore, given the nature of the above project, the following experts are deemed critical to the success of the acquisition process. Program Manager (PM) The acquisition process only succeeds or fails from efforts, skills, and knowledge of the PM. This is a professional whose shoulders hold the entire work-process of acquisition, and the direction the PM takes will greatly define the success, failure or progress of the project

Friday, October 18, 2019

Industry and Labor Relations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Industry and Labor Relations - Assignment Example Moreover in Virginia which traditionally had been dominated by agriculture and commodities had had an economy that was less likely to be dominated by unionized workers. Q#2- The challenges and opportunities that are faced when dealing with labor practice are varied between different professions and economic entities insofar as all organizations conduct different initiatives to help improve their competitiveness. In the American context one could argue that one challenge would be better integration of professionals from different fields (Metalworkers and carpenters for example) to better integrate their practices to ensure a better building project. However the challenge associated with this would be that different stakeholders have different needs tan the accommodation of these needs may be challenging for human resource professionals. Q#3- Globalization is the integration of different economies, societies, countries etc. through improved communication techniques, trade and less expe nsive transportation. The way in which globalization has had an impact on labor practices is that it has in effect made labor practices more transparent.

Respond to professor-parenting Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Respond to professor-parenting - Article Example Therefore, they are more dependent on their parents. This leads to limited personal growth. Therefore, overreliance on parental care and attention can render children incapable of growth (Aulette, 2010). Single parent-headed households are increasing rapidly. Children from single parent families are more independent compared to those from two-parent families. Single mothers for instance, are more likely to be poor. The children mature early and seek ways of earning income due to the many financial needs in their households (Aulette, 2010). Most single parents rarely spend time with their children. The parents worry more about work and other activities that bring in income. The children learn to be responsible in the absence of their parent. Therefore, the children will mature faster psychologically than children from two parent families. On the other hand, this could be a problem since some of them could engage themselves in drug addiction and crime (Aulette,

The Nurses Role in Wound Care in the Community Essay

The Nurses Role in Wound Care in the Community - Essay Example Community-based leg ulcer clinics have shown to be very effective; however, there is a need to adopt a well-organised leg ulcer aftercare delivery to reduce the recurrence of leg ulceration and improve the quality of life. Research also revealed that there are significant lacunae with respect to nurse’s knowledge of the principles and practice of wound care. The strategies to improve nurse’s knowledge and future developments in wound care are discussed. The dissertation concludes with recommendations that more high quality clinical research trials be conducted in the future to assess the efficacy of various dressings and adopting the NICE guidelines and the TELER system. Recommendations are also made to conduct a comprehensive education program for nurses at all levels of training and practice. A wound care certification program and an online distance-learning package for acute and chronic wounds for nurses are also recommended. Over the past few decades, the protocols in wound management has changed and evolved rapidly. There has been a shift from dry to moist healing and an increasing trend in the use of modern dressings. Wound management alone leads to a massive drain on health care resources. Diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure sores are frequently encountered clinical conditions and many of these conditions are chronic, leading to repeat visits. There has therefore, been an emphasis on proper wound care and the search for an ideal dressing continues to this day. The aim of this dissertation is to review the literature related to wound care regarding the principles and practice of wound care, methods of wound evaluation and the role that nurses play in wound care management in the community. Both electronic database search and manual search was made for literature related to wound care. Electronic database search included PUBMED and MEDLINE searches. The keywords used included â€Å"wound care,† â€Å"wound

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Roles of Industrial Engineers and Supply Chain Managers of Hospitals Essay

Roles of Industrial Engineers and Supply Chain Managers of Hospitals - Essay Example This role is also performed by hospital supply managers. The supply managers also have a particularly significant role in the purchasing of the hospital inventories and manage the inventory of the hospitals. Supply managers are of immense help to hospitals since they can be able to minimize running costs of the hospitals. They also are able to give the hospitals noteworthy inventory management. They help in the stocking of hospitals and all the machinery that is used in therein. They also help in supply of the medicines, the food that the patients use in hospitals, and all the equipment and materials that are used in hospitals. In short, the supply manager is responsible for all the running operations in the hospital. Purpose statement (Thesis) Industrial engineering deals with optimization of the most complex processes and systems in the world today. This industrial engineering is concerned with the job of development, improvement, and implementation. It is also associated with the evaluation of the integrated systems of people, knowledge, the information, the equipment, the energy, the materials, the analysis and synthesis. The concept of industrial engineering overlaps different business oriented departments like the operation management in hospitals; the industrial engineering department takes the emphasis of the mathematical proficiency and the use of the quantitative methods in order to ascertain that the running of operations is done in a good manner (Schlick, 2009). Many hospitals are able to maintain the inventories of thousands of their supplies which range from bandages, syringes, drugs, surgical equipment, medical gadgets, and all forms of medical facilities and equipment. It is crucial when a hospital is well s tocked because from this, noteworthy services are offered to customers, and when this is done, patients become satisfied with the services offered. In average, a hospital will require seven thousand stock keeping units in the in-house inventory every day. The supply costs run up to more than forty percent of the costs that are used to run the hospitals. The supplies expense becomes second after the labor expense in the operation of the hospitals. Industrial engineering is also known as systems engineering or operations management or even manufacturing engineering. These terms are used depending on the motives of the people who use the services of these engineers. In the health care department, industrial engineers are commonly referred to as health management engineers or health systems engineers. On the other hand, the supply chain management is just known by the name of the supplies that they bring to the table. For a hospital to be able to run efficiently and at a remarkably low cost, the hospital management has to look for methods to improve the services of the hospital. Moreover, the hospital management needs to try to keep the costs of offering these services at a remarkably low cost. The hospital management employs the services of the health care systems engineers or the industrial engine

Business Planning and Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Business Planning and Development - Essay Example The market that we were targeting is broader one. We served the customers with the uniqueness and quality rather than offering them with lower price (Business Dictionary, 2011). The company offered quality and features that were acceptable and valued by the customers. The advantage that the company encountered due to differentiation strategy is the uniqueness among other available products. Now a days people prefer uniqueness even if they have to pay a little extra for it. For this strategy we trained the production team and sales department for creating innovative products and properly market the products. The difficulties that the company faced were that the rivals copied the style and design and offered it at a lower price. This affected our market position and resulted in lesser customers and market share. The other difficulties that our company faced were due to the sales and production teams (Murray, 1988). The differentiation strategy highly depends on these two departments. I f these are strong and reliable the company will flourish. That is why the company hired consultant and increased its production units. The company also got facilitated by the advertising strategy. This helped the company in having greater sales and profit. The company overcame this difficulty by offering quality and services that were worth buying. The biggest challenge for our company was to provide unique services to the customer and to satisfy maximum number of customers (Strategic Management, 2010). In achieving this target, we have competed with the rivals and reflected our decided strategy with our actions and products. The future prospects of the company are to enhance its targeted market and to provide the customers with larger variety and styles. The customers are concerned with the styles and prices of the product. We want to work on it to further collaborate with the customers in providing them products of their choices (Porter, 1997). For achieving this goal, the compan y would have to increase its production and manufacturing units. The company will need the services of more distributors and consultants. For the sake of sales and production enhancements, the company has to bring in more assets and operating resources. As discussed earlier, to achieve these goals the company has applied for loan to expand the finances and resources. The more the company has opportunities for increasing the production units and sales, the more the company can earn profit and efficiency. The target for setting up this system is to increase the sales and profitability. The biggest trade off in this policy is the low cost versus high cost. The benefit that the company may get due to the expansion of production units is the profit and sales. When the company offers a product with extra features at a higher price, only limited number of customers by it. In contrast to this, the people buy products which are cheaper in rate and are imitated products. The company should ha ve enough resources that if the company does not achieve more than it has estimated, the company can recover the loss. The companies offering lower prices can b difficult to tackle but if the customers are loyal the company can gain profit and credibility. For the establishment of this business, I have sacrificed a lot. On a personal note, the commitments that I had to make include the sacrifices of one’s own needs. We have to fully commit and surrender our lives for the establishme

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Roles of Industrial Engineers and Supply Chain Managers of Hospitals Essay

Roles of Industrial Engineers and Supply Chain Managers of Hospitals - Essay Example This role is also performed by hospital supply managers. The supply managers also have a particularly significant role in the purchasing of the hospital inventories and manage the inventory of the hospitals. Supply managers are of immense help to hospitals since they can be able to minimize running costs of the hospitals. They also are able to give the hospitals noteworthy inventory management. They help in the stocking of hospitals and all the machinery that is used in therein. They also help in supply of the medicines, the food that the patients use in hospitals, and all the equipment and materials that are used in hospitals. In short, the supply manager is responsible for all the running operations in the hospital. Purpose statement (Thesis) Industrial engineering deals with optimization of the most complex processes and systems in the world today. This industrial engineering is concerned with the job of development, improvement, and implementation. It is also associated with the evaluation of the integrated systems of people, knowledge, the information, the equipment, the energy, the materials, the analysis and synthesis. The concept of industrial engineering overlaps different business oriented departments like the operation management in hospitals; the industrial engineering department takes the emphasis of the mathematical proficiency and the use of the quantitative methods in order to ascertain that the running of operations is done in a good manner (Schlick, 2009). Many hospitals are able to maintain the inventories of thousands of their supplies which range from bandages, syringes, drugs, surgical equipment, medical gadgets, and all forms of medical facilities and equipment. It is crucial when a hospital is well s tocked because from this, noteworthy services are offered to customers, and when this is done, patients become satisfied with the services offered. In average, a hospital will require seven thousand stock keeping units in the in-house inventory every day. The supply costs run up to more than forty percent of the costs that are used to run the hospitals. The supplies expense becomes second after the labor expense in the operation of the hospitals. Industrial engineering is also known as systems engineering or operations management or even manufacturing engineering. These terms are used depending on the motives of the people who use the services of these engineers. In the health care department, industrial engineers are commonly referred to as health management engineers or health systems engineers. On the other hand, the supply chain management is just known by the name of the supplies that they bring to the table. For a hospital to be able to run efficiently and at a remarkably low cost, the hospital management has to look for methods to improve the services of the hospital. Moreover, the hospital management needs to try to keep the costs of offering these services at a remarkably low cost. The hospital management employs the services of the health care systems engineers or the industrial engine

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Cover letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cover letter - Essay Example accountant is extensive, with reputation of effectiveness, efficiency, an immediate positive connection to the clients, and minimal supervision but within the team environment. As a member of your company’s accounting team, I will provide reliability, efficiency, accuracy with figures, honesty, maturity, knowledge of legal and general office practices, and opportunism for tackling challenges. I find working under intense pressure with a dedicated financial team very satisfying. I have attached my resume for your perusal and review, and I hope that if you find any questions that require my clarifications you will contact me at the telephone numbers above. Mr. Fredrick, my aim is to establish a convenient timeframe that we can meet and discuss how my professionalism, enthusiasm, and talent may add value to your company’s operations. Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am looking forward to speaking with

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Concept of Satisfaction in Higher Education

The Concept of Satisfaction in Higher Education Introduction and frame of the study This literature review aims at investigating the importance of satisfaction of the students in higher education form a marketing point of view. As such, we understand the meaning of words, expression, and concepts we only have a limited relation to Operational field of study (that would understand HEIs as a Business entity). The study will be constructed as follow, we shall first understand the definition of satisfaction within the boundaries of the subject earlier mentioned before investing its particular meaning for students and its place and importance in Service Quality. We would like to warn the reader that we have a limitation in term of references. To overcome this later one, we chose to focus on fairly recent articles. Our aim is certainly not to diminish the utter significance of early literature but they will be often quoted here as part of our chosen references. While sourcing for articles, we noticed that service quality is an avant-gardiste and ever growing field of study that branchs out worldwile to every industries, Education makes no exeption. The assumption we made from the coursework statement is that we certainely will be assessed on both the core chosen subject and our technical skills for conducting a literature review. Therefore, we shall try our best and limit our volume of reference without compromising the integrity of the subject. The concept of Satisfaction The concept of satisfaction plays a key role in any marketing strategy (Churchill and Suprenant, 1982), and it is even considered the king of marketing research (Oliver, 1999). Creating a sustainable advantage in todays competitive market depends, to a large extent, on the ability to deliver high-quality service that translates into satisfied customers (Shemwell, Yavas and Bilgin, 1998). Customer satisfaction is a central concept in marketing research (Luo and Homburg, 2007). In fact, Machleit and Mantel (2000) consider satisfaction as the core of all marketing activities. In the beginning, research in the area of customer satisfaction focused only on end consumers. It was therefore commonly referred to as consumer satisfaction (Bearden and Teel 1983, Cadotte et al., 1987, Anderson, 1993). Customer satisfaction is the result of experiencing a service and comparing that experience with the expected service quality (Oliver, 1980), in relation to both intangible and tangible goods; it can be defined on two different levels: as a simple transaction, or as the overall accumulation of the relationship (Jones and Suh, 2000). While there is some academic agreement that the process of contradiction is a precedent of satisfaction, empirical support for this relationship has not been complete (Yi, 1990). There is a wide discussion as to whether it is expectations that directly affect satisfaction, or whether its main antecedent is perceived quality (Churchill and Surprenant, 1982, Bahia et al., 2000). Hereby, the evaluation of client satisfaction (Bahia et al., 2000) can provide a more realistic and dynamic representation of the clients satisfaction (Bahia et al., 2000). Various definitions of satisfaction have been established within the scope of service marketing. Oliver (1980) defines this as a finite-duration experience that relates directly to the experience of a product or service, serving to maintain or improve the previous attitude that the client had about the product or service in question. Kotler (1999, 2000) considers it as the mood of a person that results from comparing the perceived performance of a product or service with their initial expectations, having a close relationship with the perceived value. This global customer satisfaction is an important indicator of the perceived past, present and future results of a company or any other entity offering products or services (Anderson, Fornell and Lehmann, 1994). Mano and Oliver (1993) define satisfaction as a hedonistic evaluative attitude or judgment centered on the product, and that it could be evaluated after consumption. Fornell (1992) defines satisfaction as a general assessment, based on the evaluation of the perceived product after the purchase, which has to be compared with the expectations before the purchase. On the other hand, Halstead et al. (1994) consider that satisfaction is an affective response, in the centre of which is the comparison of the result of the product before the purchase, and during or after its consumption. Rust and Oliver (1994) suggest that the level of satisfaction reflects the degree to which a consumer believes that the possession or use of a service generates positive feelings. As noted by Chang et al. (2009), when satisfaction is considered as an emotional response, it is defined as satisfaction of transaction, whereas when the service depends on many factors, in which repeated transactions occur, satisfaction is given as a cumulative result, or overall satisfaction (Shankar et al., 2003). To a great extent, this view of repeated transactions corresponds to the service provided by universities, since it depends on many factors over a long period of time. In addition, students do not have the opportunity to easily switch providers, causing opportune dissatisfaction. Various researchers have defined satisfaction as a positive orthe net value of services received from a provider (Schmidt and Allscheid, 1995; Woodruff, 1997; Douglas et al., 2004). The table below shows a selection of definitions about this concept. Therefore, the concept of customer satisfaction has been extensively debated in the literature, and numerous definitions have been proposed without a consensus being reached. After having thoroughly examined the main definitions that have been proposed, Giese and Cote (2000) identify three basic distinctive components that make up satisfaction: 1. The type of response, (i.e. whether it is a cognitive, affective or conative), as well as the intensity of the response. 2. The focus or object of this response, which may be based on an evaluation of the rules related to the product, the experiences of consumption of the product, or the attributes related to the purchase, such as, for example, the sales staff. 3. The time or moment at which the evaluation is performed, which can be expressed before or after making the choice, after consumption, after accumulated experiences, or at any other time. In this study, for example, the evaluation is performed after the consumption of the service and gathers experiences accumulated from the perspective of the graduate. Achieving consumer or customer satisfaction is one of the main goals for greater competitiveness (Seymour, 1993). Knowing the satisfaction of different audiences gives rise to different benefits (Anderson, 1993): For clients this means that organizations understand the variables that improve the satisfaction of the public, which leads to improvements in products and services and improvements in life standards; For companies this means improvement of the customer portfolio (forecast for the future), improvements in the distribution of resources, competitive information; For countries this means an increase in competitiveness within national strategies, improvements in state economies, aid for decision making in the businesses (national and foreign), and a better understanding of the differences between countries. Understanding of satisfaction with the organizations gives rise to synergies that, generally, tend to favor the competitiveness of a country. Satisfaction for university students A university, as a public institution, should try to create a positive image for its different audiences. It must know each one of them deeply to satisfy them adequately and to know what all those variables that influence a positive assessment of the university are. In the case of students, it is important to analyze all those variables that influence both: their university experience, as well as their pre- and post-experiences. Therefore, universities progressively create, maintain and consolidate relationships with their different audiences, especially with their students (Hasan, Ilias, Rahman and Razak, 2008). It is only with the satisfied students that the success and permanence of the students, and, above all, the formation of a positive word of mouth can be achieved in the institution (Alves and Raposo, 2004). In the context of higher education, Elliot and Healy (2001) affirm that student satisfaction is a short-term attitude derived from the evaluation of their educational experience. On the other hand, Elliott and Shin (2002) define student satisfaction as the subjective evaluation of the different students outcomes (employment, social, etc.) as well as of their experiences of education and life on campus and their initial expectations. The reasons that motivated students to decide on their career and on the university play a fundamental role in such expectations (Elliot and Shin, 2002). A university students satisfaction is a multidimensional concept that depends on students own implication and goals, as well as on the quality and service provided by the university (Hartman and Schmidt, 1995). As a rule, student satisfaction was assessed throughout the literature with the help of questionnaires that evaluate the quality of teaching and the content of subjects or specific services, such as libraries. But a lesser degree of questionnaires are sent to students after finishing the university stage, so that they can evaluate the institution. In addition, it is important to analyse the psychological and pre-university aspects that influence the academic evolution of the student. Students participating in the learning process are the main stakeholders of the university, and therefore, the focus on student satisfaction goes hand in hand with the development of a culture of continuous improvement of the university (Harvey, 1995). Biggs (2003) reviews the studies that have addressed university satisfaction, concluding that achieving high student satisfaction allows for different benefits to be obtained in the learning process: Teachers show higher productivity and enthusiasm when the appreciation of their services is evaluated; In the case of higher education, an institution is more willing to adopt changes; for example, to assume new teaching / learning styles; It is assumed that students performs their university studies and have fun at the same time; Students perception and experience are evaluated so that the university is aware of the aspects to be improved based on the students opinion. There have been numerous researches, who focused on the concept of university satisfaction, via studying which components or determinants make up such satisfaction (Aitken, 1982; Bean Bradley, 1986; Pike, 1991; Hartman Schmidt, 1995; Webb Jagun, 1997; Browne et al., 1998; Aldridge Rowley, 1998; Browne et al., 1999; Elliot Healy, 2001; Wiers-Jenssen, Stensaker Grogaard, 2002; Elliot Shin, 2002; DeShields, Kara Kaynak, 2005; Marzo et al., 2005; Arambewela Hall, 2006; Alves Raposo, 2007; Nasser, Khoury Abouchedid, 2008; Husain et al., 2009; Alves Raposo, 2010; Pike Larkin, 2010; Duque Weeks, 2010; Kheiry et al., 2012; Duarte, Alves Raposo, 2012; Moosmayer Siems, 2012; Blà ¡zquez et al., 2013). Table 3.11 lists papers whose main objective is to analyze the components and processes of satisfaction in the context of higher education. The performed work has measured the satisfaction of current students, that is, during their university experience. Among these studies, Aitken (1982) established that satisfaction depended on academic factors and accommodation services, whereas financial and personal factors, and involvement determined student retention. Later, Bean and Bradley (1986) concluded that the academic results do not affect the perception of the quality of aspects such as the service received or the physical aspects and satisfaction. More recently, Elliot and Healy (2001) concluded that attributes related to the environment, learning and student welfare are the main sources of satisfaction. Wiers-Jenssen et al. (2002) determined that university environment, as well as infrastructures and quality of service (as a specific dimension) are the main factors. While Husain et al. (2009) evidenced empirically that the sources of greatest satisfaction are the physical environment, interaction and received support, feedback, evaluation, and management. Finally, within the factors considered, Blà ¡zquez et al. (2013) concluded that sports activities and international programs are the social aspects that have the greatest impact on student satisfaction. In their study they included aspects related to facilities and resources (libraries, leisure resources, etc.), academic factors (teaching, workload, etc.) and social aspects (sports, housing, environment, etc.). Thereby, most of the authors have examined the satisfaction from the perspective of the current students, that is to say, that they were at the moment of carrying out their studies. Therefore, they have not been based on the recommendations of Westbrook and Oliver (1991) and Mano and Oliver (1993) who affirm that satisfaction is a state that must be evaluated after product consumption or service experience. However, Hartman and Schmidt (1995) took the perspective of the graduate (hence, after consumption) concluding that satisfaction depends largely on whether academic and work expectations have been met in addition to a favorable assessment of the services received during the experience. In this regard, the work of Duarte et al. (2012) compared the satisfaction of 150 students at two stages: halfway through their university career and after completing their studies. The results indicated that satisfaction is maintained at similar levels both when studying and at the end of the course; in fact, certain aspects, such as quality, were valued more once the graduates had had work experience. This contrasts with the results of Pike and Larkin (2010), and although they did not measure satisfaction by means of the graduate, they compared the evaluation of postgraduate students satisfaction at the beginning, middle and end of their course, revealing that satisfaction was greater during the initial stage of their studies, followed by higher levels of dissatisfaction later because their expectations have not been met. Nasser et al. (2008) reached the same conclusion, where he determined that the newcomers in the institution are those that present a higher degree of satisfaction . Apart from these studies, it is also worth mentioning the studies of graduates in Spain where they measure the satisfaction of the graduates with respect to the training and the service received that were analyzed in chapter 1 (for example, the UGR). With respect to other researchers, only Webb and Jagun (1997) took into account the employees of the university, and Browne et al. (1999) analyzed parental satisfaction compared to that of their own children, concluding that there is practically no difference in satisfaction among them, although it is slightly higher among the parents. Another aspect resulting from the observation of the table is that satisfaction has been a subject of research in many different countries, but the research done in the United States has been put in the forefront (Aitken, 1982; Bean and Bradley, 1986; Pike, 1991; Schmidt 1995, Browne et al., 1998, Browne et al., 1999, Elliot and Healy, 2001, Elliot and Shin, 2002, DeShields, Kara and Kaynak, 2005); there the majority of studies have focused on understanding the satisfaction attributes and development of a methodology or definition of a special measure for the university sector. Taking into account the Spanish context, Marzo et al. (2005) analyzed the influence of teaching components as factors of satisfaction. More recently, Blà ¡zquez et al. (2013) considered a greater number of aspects of university quality such as offered services or visual elements. It is noteworthy that in the study carried out by Duque and Weeks (2010) among both Spanish and American students, it was concluded that the implication is relevant in mediating the positive or negative assessment of the university service. Mention that studies have emphasized the importance of the relationship between quality and satisfaction (as was already possible in the section on quality) and will be analyzed later. Academic achievement has also been the subject of study as the basis for satisfaction with intellectual expectations (Bean and Bradley, 1986; Pike, 1991). Finally, taking into account the methodologies used to measure satisfaction, statistical techniques of regression analysis and structural equations stand out. Qualitative methods have been used to a lesser extent in relation to other variables such as image or quality, with certain exceptions (Webb and Jagun, 1997; Aldridge and Rowley, 1998).

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Titan:The Uprising :: essays research papers

CHAPTER 1 From the Darkness The cool, dense air boasted over the horizon at dusk. I stand there†¦Face to the boundless horizon of the terrain before me. Blood, Bullets, Bodies lie cold†¦still on the ground, each containing a past. I stood there with my AR in hand, I stepped forward, knocking all pebbles around my feet, leading my few men towards what seemed to be certain death. We all were a bit edgy now. After a week of fighting and adrenaline, the body seemed due to failure. No one could predict what had happened in the past few days. Of course, command stuck me with Ten young and inexperienced recruit’s, mind you that’s all there was left. All veterans were wiped out. Our people have been fighting for freedom from the dreaded Collective for years. It seemed as if it was a lost cause. Maybe it still is. Who knows what’s ahead for my men and I. My men and I have grown weary, all our suites were battered, most of the armor missing, or gone entirely. Faces were cut and bruised, some of them considered serious. No time for that now. Ammunition was in short supply. We finished all the remaining rations we had. We were hungry, cold at night, and without Enhanced Sensors. We were blind to what was coming†¦ â€Å"Setup camp here for the night!† I said with a stern voice. The recruit’s looked for their spots for the night. I however would not. Someone has to guard these kids. I sure as hell wasn’t going to let them guard me. A couple hours passed, it was now dark. The air grew ever more cold. I knew by the cold temperatures someone wasn’t going to make it through the night. They all seemed to stare at me, with a scared look in their eyes. Wishing that they were home, before they were all destroyed. All remaining people are now nomads. Cast into the wind, Seeking shelter wherever possible. The few fighting for our world, I included, only go where the enemy lie. You could say we’re the last hope for this planet, this planet seemed so destined to be Collective property. It was pitch black, I had been crouching on my knees for awhile now. All I could hear is deep shivering breaths from my men. The silence soon left. Out of my eyesight I heard footsteps. As I reached for my AR nervously, The steps grew closer and so close it seem like they should have passed already.