Economics - Entrepreneur Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Economics - Entrepreneur Case study - Essay Example This position has further been corroborated by the fact that Peter Druker described innovation as the specific function of entrepreneurship thus the first sign of the fact that Sid is an entrepreneur is the fact that he is an innovator- a person who invented something to enhance the flexibility of working within roofing industry. The so called Rail is typical example of the fact that entrepreneurs are always technically savvy persons. Creating capital is often considered as the most important activity performed by the entrepreneur (Thompson, 1999) and the fact that the assumptions made by Sid to capture 1% of the market is indicating towards the fact that he is going to start the creation of capital which would further increase his business as well as employing other persons to create further employment opportunities. However, what is most important to note here is the fact that just innovation may not be sufficient until and unless it is not backed up by the certain characteristics as well as motivations of the entrepreneur. Creativity is considered as one of the biggest motivators for the entrepreneurs to continue to carry on activities which are not only creative in nature but also have the potential to be economically successful. (Mosakowski, 1998). The so called ladder rail of Mr. Sid is an example of how creativity has been the chief source behind the fact that he continued to work on his creative ideas despite a negative response from his company. Thus from this perspective, it is also clear and evident that Mr. Sid is an entrepreneur. Finally, perseverance is the key in entrepreneurship. It helps entrepreneurs to keep going even in the fact of difficulties. This allows them to have the necessary motivational drive to keep pursuing their dreams as once an entrepreneur decide taking a chance than it become difficult to retract from the position and that is what Mr. Sid showed. Despite reduction in the sales prices offered by the major buyers, the

Killology Essay Example for Free

Killology Essay Do violence in the media and interactive entertainment, such as video games and movies, influence children to have the will to kill? According to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, an expert on the psychology of killing, both play a big role in child murders. There are several methods to this madness by which people can actually motivate themselves to take another human life, such as, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, brutalization, and role models. These practices are used in the military to train soldiers to kill, just as the media is doing to our children. Monday, December 1st, 1997 began like any other day for the students of Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Student Michael Carneal rode to school with his sister, carrying with him, what he claimed to be, an art project. As his fellow classmates gathered that morning in the lobby of the school, holding a prayer group, he fired eight rounds from a . 22 caliber pistol. Out of those eight rounds he landed five head shots and three upper torso shots, killing three teenagers. Not only did he land all eight shots, but the shots were so precise that elite military and law enforcement agencies were stunned by his expertise. The fact that he had never fired a real gun in his life was something that disturbed authorities even more. Nowhere in the records of military or law enforcement history could the â€Å"equivalent† achievement be found. So what was it that made this young man so violent and deadly at such a young age? (The shooting, 2010, para. 1) It’s one of the methods used by the military to train their soldiers called operant conditioning, a powerful procedure of stimulus-response training techniques that attempt to influence behavior by manipulating reinforcers. They learn to fire at realistic figures that pop up in the field. The stimulus is the target, and the response is, shooting to kill. This procedure is repeated over and over, hundreds of times, until their natural response when someone pops up on the battlefield is to kill. Research has suggested that violent video games played a big role in the choice Michael made that day. He was trained through operant conditioning just as the soldiers are, except his was through violent video games. Following the shooting there was a $130-million law suit filed against the video game manufacturers in that case. This case is said to be working its way through the appeals system of the courts. (Metcalf, Stubblefield, Ettinger, 2011, p. 152) Violent video games train our children to kill, glorify violence, desensitize them to suffering, and trivialize violence. Every time a child plays an interactive video game, he or she is learning the exact same conditioned reflex skills as a soldier or police officer in training. Kids are playing more and more violent video games that are rated for a mature audience. So, ask yourself this question; how do fourteen year old teenagers obtain video games that are rated â€Å"Mature? † Better yet, why are they allowed by their parents to play the evil, sadistic games? Parents should replace the violent video games with non-violent, stimulating, and educational games; those which enhance knowledge, creativity and imagination. The violent crime rate is at a phenomenally high level, not just in America, but worldwide. According to Interpol, the per capita assault rate increased nearly fivefold in Norway and Greece between the years of 1977 and 1993. In Mexico and Brazil, the numbers are skyrocketing, and in Japan juvenile crime went up by thirty percent in 1997 alone. (Metcalf, Stubblefield, Ettinger, 2011, p. 150). The virus of violent crime is occurring worldwide, and the explanation for it has to be some new factor that is occurring in all of these countries. There are many factors involved in the action of violent crime, and we must never downplay any of them. There is only one new variable present in each of these nations, and it is that media violence is now being presented as a viable entertainment option for children. Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 150) Another method used by the Japanese, in World War II, which we also see done with the media, is classical conditioning. This technique is best remembered as Pavlovian conditioning, associating a stimulus with a response according to a specific reinforcement schedule, such as violence linked to pleasure. As Pavlov did with the dog, by associating the bell with food and eventually the dog could not hear the bell without salivating, the media does with the children. How often do we watch the news and learn of something good that has happened in the world? They are always focusing on all of the violence that is going on in the world. Our children see this as well, and they learn to associate death with pleasure. To better understand the role that violence and the media inherit, in the entertainment complex, plays in the increase of murders among the young and impressionable. We must first look at the methods by which killers can be made. Though such a difficult subject cannot be completely explained by these factors alone, it is important to note the contribution each one makes. Throughout the course of human history, it is thought that healthy members of most species have a natural resistance to killing their own kind. However, when human beings are overwhelmed with anger and fear, thought processes become primitive. We slam head-on into that hardwired resistance against killing. One of the methods that shift this natural resistance is what is commonly known as brutalization. Quite similar to a military boot camp, brutalization is a forced shift in values. The subject is made to conform to a new set of rules, abandoning all sense of individuality. They are trained relentlessly in a total immersion environment and the end result is a person who not only embraces the violence and the discipline, but accepts them as normal and an essential survival skill in a new and increasingly brutal world. (Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 151) A very similar thing is happening to our children through violence in the media. At eighteen months old, a child can begin to understand and mimic what they see on television, and up until the ages of six or seven they are physically, developmentally, and psychologically unable to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality. When they see an instance of rape, murder or degradation on the television or in the media, to them it is real. Some of them welcome the violence and accept it as a normal and vital survival skill in a cruel, new world. In nations, regions and cities where television is a constant source of entertainment, there is an immediate eruption of playground violence, and within fifteen years, there is a doubling of the murder rate, but why fifteen years? That’s how long it takes for a desensitized toddler to reach their â€Å"prime crime† years. Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 151) By the time the brutalized toddlers have reached their teenage years, they have developed role models. Today, violence in the media is providing our children with role models. When the images of young killers are broadcast on television, they become role models. The media has every right and responsibility to tell the story, but they have no right to glorify the killers by presenting their images on television. (Grossman, 2000, p. ) The ultimate achievement for our children is to get their picture on television, and with such vulnerable, young minds they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that. I say it is time for the world to stop televising such violence and let law enforcement deal with it. If they know who the killer is then why does it have to be broadcast for our children to see? I truly believe that the media is highly responsible for a lot of killings in this world, along with the violent video games, and I pray that one day there will be something done to stop it.

Graduation Speech: The Beginning of Your Life :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Parents, teachers, families and friends, welcome and thank you for joining us tonight at the County High School graduation ceremony for the Class of 2012! Graduation is a time to look fondly upon memories which have been made over the past three years. I am sure all of us have our own memories which we hold close to our hearts and make us grin when we think of them. Events which become very vivid in my mind are football and basketball games, dances, pep assemblies, at least the ones from our sophomore and junior years, and especially time spent with a group of friends just doing whatever. It hurts to think of all these memories and then realize this time period in our lives is coming to an end. From the lyrics of Dave Mathews, "So why would you care, to get out of this place, you and me and all our friends, such a happy human race ... As we all go our separate ways ... I will remember." Graduation is also time to look at what the future has in store for each of us. It is a very serious time, a time to take a look at what path our lives are going to take once the caps and gowns are taken off and we are thrust into a world which is not so well known to most of us. Will you be successful? Will you be unsuccessful? This success I am speaking of has nothing to do with monetary gains but is measured solely by happiness. Are you truly happy? Will you be five or ten years down the road? Begin planning for your future tonight, set goals. Figure out ways to achieve these goals and fulfill your dreams. If you do not like the path your life has taken thus far, if it does not make you happy, re-

Cruise Ship Vacation vs. Land Based Resort Vacation

Instead of taking an ordinary family vacation this year, consider the rewards of a cruise vacation. As opposed to just staying at the resort you are visiting, you could be visiting a different country almost every day. Even with time restrictions while in ports of call, cruiseship vacations are fun and educational because you can visit four countries in seven days. From weekend getaways to world cruises, there is a cruise available that will fit within your vacation schedule. Although the three and four day â€Å"getaway cruises† are very popular, the average cruise is seven days. You can book a romantic getaway cruise to the Bahamas or Mexico from ports such as Port Canaveral, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Miami, Florida, Mobile, Alabama, New Orleans, Louisiana, Galveston, Texas, San Diego, California, or Los Angeles, California. If you desire to visit the Virgin Islands of the Eastern Caribbean or a couple of the Central American countries in the Western Caribbean, seven to 10 day cruises are also available out of these same ports. When shopping around for a cruiseline, you will find that most cruiselines are very competitive with their rates, Carnival is usually the cheapest and Disney tends to be the most expensive. All cruiselines offer optional travel insurance at very low cost. I highly recommend purchasing this insurance. It covers a wide variety of situations ranging from canceling your vacation because of illness or family emergency, to becoming ill while onboard, to having to be airlifted off the ship because of medical emergency. On one cruise, I became ill the day before the cruise and was very ill by the time everyone was ready for supper that evening. I had to spend the night in the ships’ hospital where I incurred a bill of $995. The travel insurance I purchased paid the bill 100%. While I have been on a total of eight cruises between Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess, it is difficult to say which cruiseline is my favorite because each has individual perks that are unique to that particular company. Another factor that will affect the price of your cruise is the type of stateroom you will stay in. You have a choice of an interior room, an ocean view room, a balcony room, or a suite. The interior, ocean view, and balcony are all approximately 165 square feet each. The interior has no windows, the ocean view has one medium-sized window, and the balcony room has a private balcony (usually about 35 sq ft). My wife and I prefer the balcony room because it is so romantic to eat breakfast on the balcony every morning. The suites come in about four or five different sizes. Rooms also vary in price according to which deck you are on. The higher the deck your room is on, the higher the price will be. Taking a traditional land-based vacation to a resort allows you to spend your entire vacation in one locale where you may wish to venture away from the resort and do some sightseeing. Most resorts also have a variety of rooms to choose from. Whether you want to have your vacation on land or at sea, the first thing you need to do is decide where you want to go, then choose your accommodations for your stay. As the countdown begins toward your cruise, there are several items that must be taken care of. Probably the most important document each passenger must possess is a passport. This is required for all International Travel. A passport costs approximately $90 and is valid for 10 years. If you do not already have a passport, it will take approximately six weeks to receive one by standard mail. If your vacation is at a resort located within the 48 contiguous states, a passport is not required; however, one will be needed if you travel to Alaska or Hawaii no matter what method of transportation you choose. You will also need your driver’s license. Your driver’s license will be used for identification purposes when you board the ship after visiting a foreign country. Don’t forget to put your cruise tickets somewhere where you will not forget to take them. You would not be the first person to arrive at the cruise terminal only to realize that you left your tickets at home. Pack clothing suitable for the climate of the country you will be visiting. Alaskan cruises tend to be a little chilly even in the summer months. If you are traveling to the Caribbean, light, airy clothing will be the order of the day. Don’t forget to take a couple of formal outfits. Three to five day cruises have one formal night and seven day cruises have two formal nights. These are nights you dress up and act like royalty. Starting with your second cruise on the same cruiseline, you will also find yourself invited to the Captain’s Cocktail Party or Welcome Back Party! All medication that you will need on your trip should be packed in your luggage in its’ original container from the pharmacy. Any medication that you will need on the day you set sail should be on your person as you will not receive all your luggage until approximately eight p. m. If you are flying to the city of departure, make sure to check with the cruiseline for transfers from the airport to the cruise pier and also back to the airport after the cruise. These are available for a nominal fee and are usually cheaper than the local taxi’s. If you decide to drive to the cruise pier, you can expect to pay approximately $15 per day for a parking fee. Early preparation is the key to a relaxing vacation. If your travel documents are in order, pack your suitcases about a week in advance and avoid the last minute rush of throwing everything together, and possibly forgetting something. On the day you are to set sail, I suggest arriving at the cruise terminal around 10 a. m. This will allow you to beat most of the traffic, avoid standing in long lines, and you can be one of the first to board the ship, thus allowing you to be at the front of the line to eat lunch and sit at a table by a window. Approximately one hour before the ship sets sail, all guests and crew must be at their assigned lifeboat station for a mandatory U. S. Coastguard lifeboat drill. This drill usually only takes about 20 minutes. Next is the sail away party on the top deck with live music, dancing, and waving goodbye to the people standing along the shoreline. As soon as the ship is in International waters, the casino and onboard duty free shops will be open. Now it is time to prepare for dinner. You have a choice every night for dinner. You can eat in the main dining room (proper attire required) or you can eat on the top deck in a more casual atmosphere at the buffet. After dinner, why not take in a Broadway show in the ships main theater which is usually two to three decks high. A wide variety of bars and dance clubs will also be open to allow you to dance the night away. After a good night’s sleep, a full day of possibilities awaits you. Your first full day of vacation will either find you at your first port of call or spending a relaxing day at sea enroute to your first port. If you are in a port, please pay particular attention to what time the ship leaves and allow yourself plenty of time to return to the ship from your shore excursion. The ship is on a very strict schedule and cannot wait for people who do not make it back on time. If this is a day at sea, here is a list of some of the activities that are available onboard. Fitness center opens about six a. m. , trivia contests, scavenger hunts, men’s belly lop competition, champagne art auction, bingo, slot machine contest, ping pong tournament, karaoke, after dinner Broadway style show, spa, library, Internet lounge, shuffleboard, mini golf, yoga classes, rock climbing wall, and there are about a dozen bars to choose from including poolside bars, sports bars, themed bars, and several dance clubs to choose from also. You can also choose to do nothing and just lay by the pool and soak up some sun. The most hectic part of your vacation is over once you have made it through the traffic and waited in line to be processed as a passenger. Once you walk across the gangway and board the ship, you can leave all the stress and worries behind you. When you and your family sit down and try to decide where to go on vacation this year, think about how rewarding it will be to combine a world of fun with a learning experience the whole family will enjoy. Do you want to spend a week in a hotel with limited sightseeing available or would you prefer to spend a week visiting several countries with endless possibilities, and you only have to unpack your suitcase once. COM/155 Week Nine Final Draft

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

5th November 2007A visit to Columbia University and the chaotic aftermathAfter being allowed to address the Columbia University, Iranian president Mohamed Ahmadnijan showed a rare character and a high level of social hardness. He blasted the American society and saying there was no gays in Iran. The eccentric leader of the republic of Iran is seen as a controversial and as an inspiration in the extremist movement. His position and virtues that aim at drawing out need to wipe Israel out of the map and to destabilise the West through all aspects of concerted violence and extremist principles, obviously resonate as great and are indicative of what the extremism followers should look up at in a leader. He has funded terrorist organizations and helped the insurgency in Iraqi with a purpose of frustrating the West and the effort of the international community to stabilise Iraqi.Insults to the UN and the USThe Iranian leader dismissed the United Nations and ridiculed its authenticity and le gitimacy. What he implied was the inability of policy within the structures of the UN and projected the US as the sole decision maker at the body. This view is myopic and absurd. He launched a scathing attack on the US at Columbia University.Controversial character and intentionsHis visit to Columbia University on 17th September 2007 has further transformed the leader to a major threat to the West’s relationship with the Middle East and other Muslim countries. Mohamed received a hostile reception at the University. His visit within a literally approach was designated to be a symbolic truce with the West’s culture and system but due to a rigid perspective on him and the commonplace attitude and general perception, Ahmednijad’s aims and objectives were not understood.He realised within his faculties, the hatred and fear the American nation regarded him with. Subsequently he saw how ready the West was to ‘at any chance to get rid of him. Diplomacy came to a d ead end with the senate at Columbia coming under criticism for allowing him to address the University gathering. Ahemdnijan was branded a ‘holocaust denier and a perpetrator of terrorism. The Columbia University president termed him as an intellectual mind set and an un-educated leader. This is the hatred Ahmednijad saw and felt in the United States Columbia University. His behaviour and character as seen in context before this was not focussed on neither intonation nor abhorrent ethos towards America but symbolic and reaching out moves which in the same context were not seen nor recognized by the American society.What sparks this controversial and hate towards the Iranian leader is the fanatical and anti West fanaticism in him, also his strategic positioning of Iran as a pillar of Islamic extremism, consistent attacks on American foreign policy and blasting of diplomatic efforts to end the nuclear standoff which has invoked sanctions on Iran.  In reciprocation to this animo sity Ahmednijan sought to commence his fall back position through diplomacy. He replied in a principled perspective.He confronted within the same schematic approach the Americans had done. He questioned the integrity of the Columbia University president Mr Bollinger and subsequently claimed the rights of Iran to own nuclear weapons just as the West owned. According to Anthony F and Robin W., (2007)   Ã¢â‚¬ËœAhmadinejad, who in the past has argued that Israel should be â€Å"wiped off the map,† repeated his assertions that the Holocaust should be researched â€Å"from different perspectives† and said Palestinians should not be â€Å"paying the price for an event they had nothing to do with.† The Iranian leader also blasted U.S. sanctions against his country, insisted on Iran's right to nuclear development and declared his willingness to â€Å"dialogue† with U.S. leaders’. His behaviour by then was characterized with apt criticism of the West hypoc risy and desire to see that they managed the greater global policies. He repeated that the holocaust needed to e researched. The aftermath was an onslaught on his sanity and audacity as a leader.  Diplomacy and amnestyAhmednijad might have opted to appease Americans through diplomacy. There are many issues within the history of the West problem with Iran. Both view each other as a threat to the others interest only that the West is autonomous, militarily stronger and more strategic economically and politically. Iran is only a minnow with more strategic position within religious lines and political-religious positions.This aspect has spared it the possible military strike by Americans. Although the United States has been more cautious with Iran, the debut of France in the anti Iran sentiment and the promise of military action as an eventuality add panache to the West desire to stop Iran’s strategic position growth. Ahmednijad wants to prove he is the key to the Middle East p roblem since he represents the radical ness and the extremist policies the Islamic community.The Iranian leader acted in speed to show his stand and diplomatic aspects as a leader. He advised his government to release a Californian businessman Ali Shekri who had been jailed in Iran. He morally was seeking retribution and sought to justify desire to establish peace and cohesiveness. But due to the abrasiveness and blindness of the American lawmakers and leaders, the Iranian leader saw no relenting. Subsequently his general issued a statement that insinuated that Iran was more militarily steady and ready. There was also the launch of two air force aircrafts which symbolised the industrialised and military power of Iran. This was an act of provoking the international community especially the United States.His character complexity and moral perspectivesHowever his character is seen as more re-proactive and meant to seek the elasticity of the Americans hate and military options against I ran. The Iranian leader was ready to visit the ground –zero. This would have been a symbolic and a significant gesture. He was to lay a wreath and probably make a speech. However the tensions after the Columbia University incident would render the entire visit for him dangerous.There were emotions and protests were all over. University students and civilians were on the streets chanting anti him. This was enough reason to refuse him the chance to go to the Ground-zero. But contextually, what was the motive of his intentions? Why would such an anti American leader wish to make a symbolic visit to a place where people from his religion and community killed thousands of innocent lives? This makes the Iranian leader controversial. In the event of a visit, no wonder Ahmednijads comments and sentiments would be more controversial than his remarks about the Jewish holocaust. He mght have justified jihad and the death of these people. He might have projected the Palestinian deaths wi thin this situation as what the Americans paid with the September 11.Further within this issue, Ahmednijan could not be a target of American extremists, obviously they don’t exist, and hence, he was not amused that, it was only a matter of distaste and the hate American legislators felt for him. It might be obvious he knew he could never get a chance to visit ground zero but confirming it through seeking the permission to is outward and provocative. This as seen within an academic perspective is a character that is seeking to find leeway’s and fissures in the American society and government so as to achieve personal goals. These goals are two-way-traffic. The Iranian leader might be seeking to make peace and embrace American foreign policy and become part of the international community, or is acting with impunity as an agent of the large extremist world to learn and find weakness in the American system.Worry and pessimism in Iranian leaderThough exuding confidence, the Iranian leader projected fear and desperacy to avert a war crisis. His intentions in the United States depict this character. The leaders is troubled and more in a quagmire than in good stead. Most probably he is worried by the French Foreign minister Bernard Kouchner remarks that France should prepare for war if Iran makes nuclear weapons, a sentiment shared by the United States. Ahmednijan might have weighed his options And saw he could not counter such brute force militarily. He knows the strength of Maericans through the Iraqi conflict but knows nothing of the French.Through visiting such a prestigious government funded Columbia University. David J (2007) argues that the Iranian president has been in a cage, he wants out but what he does every time he leaps up is to hang on in even when his foot is outside. He escalates in his justification of his country having nuclear power; Ahmednijan asserts in his Columbia interviews that â€Å"Making nuclear, chemical and biological bomb s and weapons of mass destruction is yet another result of the misuse of science and research by the big powers. [†¦] What can a perpetual nuclear umbrella threat achieve for the sake of humanity? If nuclear war wages between nuclear powers, what human catastrophe will take place?So we're quite clear on what we need. If [the US has] created the fifth generation of atomic bombs and are testing them already, what position are you in to question the peaceful purposes of other people who want nuclear power? We do not believe in nuclear weapons, period. It goes against the whole grain of humanity. [†¦] I think the politicians who are after atomic bombs, or testing them, making them, politically they are backward, retarded.†This seems a strategy to appease the American public on the Iranian nuclear intentions so as to pre-empt the French threat and be left with the US animosity and military intervention plans. Ahmednijad shows fear and strategic shift of his policy on nucl ear weapons. This way the public debate transforms from the context of his violating the proliferation faculties and embracing religious backed extremes.Going to Columbia is an insignia of his acknowledgement of American education and federal system.He is trying to be identified with the community and seeks to tone down his strong desire to be vocal against these institutions and instead be seen as a moderator of policies. He wants to prove his actions and statements are basically intended to mend and project positive perspectives in the interest of the Iran and the Middle East.His character raises the storms at home where his popularity is waning drastically. He is seen as an Islamic leader rather than a president of a republic. He is not dwelling on domestic issues but constantly criticizing the West and the Israeli’s. His actions do not represent the majority of his supporters and political cronies as more pressure mounts on Iran making military strikes inevitable. Though his approach to popularity is myopic, he is a symbol of Islamic rise against Western imperialism. Noor, M., (2006)SourcesNoor Mohamed 2006 : Ahmednijads falling popularity in the domestic front. Daily Nation Kenya

Knights Templar, the Famous Crusading Order

Knights Templar, the Famous Crusading Order The Knights Templar were also known as Templars, Templar Knights, Poor Knights of Solomons Temple, Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon,  and Knights of the Temple. Their motto was Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name be the Glory, from Psalm 115. The Origin of the Templars The route traveled by pilgrims from Europe to the Holy Land was in need of policing. In 1118 or 1119, not long after the success of the First Crusade, Hugh de Payns and eight other knights offered their services to the patriarch of Jerusalem for just this purpose. They took vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, followed the Augustinian rule, and patrolled the pilgrim route to aid and defend pious travelers. King Baldwin II of Jerusalem gave the knights quarters in a wing of the royal palace that had been part of the Jewish Temple; from this they got the names Templar and Knights of the Temple. The Official Establishment of the Knights Templar For the first decade of their existence, the Knights Templar were few in number. Not many fighting men were willing to take the Templar vows. Then, thanks largely to the efforts of Cistercian monk Bernard of Clairvaux, the fledgling order was given papal recognition at the Council of Troyes in 1128. They also received a specific rule for their order (one clearly influenced by the Cistercians). Templar Expansion Bernard of Clairvaux wrote an extensive treatise, In Praise of the New Knighthood, that raised awareness of the order, and the Templars grew in popularity. In 1139 Pope Innocent II placed the Templars directly under papal authority, and they were no longer subject to any bishop in whose diocese they might hold property. As a result they were able to establish themselves in numerous locations. At the height of their power they had about 20,000 members, and they garrisoned every town of any considerable size in the Holy Land. Templar Organization The Templars were led by a Grand Master; his deputy was the Seneschal. Next came the Marshal, who was responsible for individual commanders, horses, arms, equipment, and ordering supplies. He usually carried the standard, or specifically directed a specially-appointed standard-bearer. The Commander of the Kingdom of Jerusalem was the treasurer and shared a certain authority with the Grand Master, balancing his power; other cities also had Commanders with specific regional responsibilities. The Draper issued clothes and bed linen and monitored the brothers appearance to keep them living simply. Other ranks formed to supplement the above, depending on the region. The bulk of the fighting force was made up of knights and sergeants. Knights were the most prestigious; they wore the white mantle and red cross, carried knightly weapons, rode horses and had the services of a squire. They usually came from the nobility. Sergeants filled other roles as well as engaging in battle, such as blacksmith or mason. There were also squires, who were originally hired out but later allowed to join the order; they performed the essential job of caring for the horses. Money and the Templars Though individual members took vows of poverty, and their personal possessions were limited to the essentials, the order itself received donations of money, land and other valuables from the pious and the grateful. The Templar organization grew very wealthy. In addition, the military strength of the Templars made it possible to collect, store, and transport bullion to and from Europe and the Holy Land with a measure of safety. Kings, noblemen, and pilgrims used the organization as a kind of bank. The concepts of safe deposit and travelers checks originated in these activities. The Downfall of the Templars In 1291, Acre, the last remaining Crusader stronghold in the Holy Land, fell to the Muslims, and the Templars no longer had a purpose there. Then, in 1304, rumors of irreligious practices and blasphemies committed during secret Templar initiation rites began to circulate. Very likely false, they nevertheless gave King Philip IV of France grounds to arrest every Templar in France on Oct. 13, 1307. He had many tortured to make them confess to charges of heresy and immorality. It is generally believed that Philip did this simply to take their vast wealth, though he may also have feared their growing power. Philip had previously been instrumental in getting a Frenchman elected pope, but it still took some maneuvering to convince Clement V to order all Templars in all countries arrested. Eventually, in 1312, Clement suppressed the order; numerous Templars were executed or imprisoned, and the Templar property that wasnt confiscated was transferred to the Hospitallers. In 1314 Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Templar Knights, was burned at the stake.

Some Animals Can Adapt or Mutate for Survival

Some Animals Can Adapt or Mutate for Survival An adaptation is a physical or behavioral characteristic that has developed to allow an organism to better survive in its environment. Adaptations are the result of evolution  and may occur when a gene mutates or changes by accident. That mutation causes the organism to better survive and reproduce, and it passes on that trait to its offspring. It can take many generations to develop an adaptation. Examples of Physical Adaptations One physical adaptation used in the intertidal zone is a crabs hard shell, which protects it from predators, drying out, and being crushed by waves. One example of behavioral adaptation in the oceans is the use of loud, low-frequency calls by fin whales to communicate with other whales over great distances. Other physical adaptations that have been structurally modified may include webbed feet, sharp  claws and large beaks. Other changes made to a part of the body could be wings/flying, feathers, fur, or scales. Ways Behavioral Changes Occur Behavioral adaptations include an animals actions, which typically are in response to an external stimulus. Several of these may include what an animal is capable of eating, how they move, or the way they protect themselves. Take squirrels as an example of a behavioral adaptation. Squirrels, woodchucks, and chipmunks are able to hibernate for up to 12 months, often consuming plenty of food in preparation for winter. In this scenario, these small animals have found a way to evolve in a season to protect themselves from harsh weather conditions, preserving food, and their environment. Interesting Animal Adaptations The maned wolf (pictured above) is part of the canid family but is only a distant relative. The theory says their legs evolved to survive the tall grasslands of South America.The gerenuk can stand taller above the rest of the antelope species, which offers them a special feeding opportunity. There are over ninety-one species of antelope, creating plenty of competition amongst them.The tufted deer from China has fangs hanging from their mouths that are typically used in mating fights between males. Most deer do not possess this unique adaptation. A True Advantage The ability for mammals to adapt throughout the planet is part of why we have so many diverse animals existing today in our lands, seas, and skies.  Animals can protect themselves from predators and adapt to new environments through adaptations and mutations, unlike human beings. For example, animals that are camouflaged often have colorations or patterns that can assist them in blending in with their surroundings. This will benefit them in the long run, quite literally, when it comes to predators. Mutations may also take place through a change in DNA. What a living mammal is born with may change how it grows and what it can do over time.  Through these possibilities can animals have a larger opportunity to survive their dangerous environments and continue the circle of life by having offspring. This is the process known as natural selection.

Qualitative Research Definition and Methods

Qualitative Research Definition and Methods Qualitative research is a type of social science research that collects and works with non-numerical data and that seeks to interpret meaning from these data that help us understand social life through the study of targeted populations or places. People often frame it in opposition to quantitative research, which uses numerical data to identify large-scale trends and employs statistical operations to determine causal and correlative relationships between variables. Within sociology, qualitative research is typically focused on the micro-level of social interaction that composes everyday life, whereas quantitative research typically focuses on macro-level trends and phenomena. Methods of qualitative research include  observation and immersion, interviews, open-ended surveys, focus groups, content analysis of visual and textual materials, and oral history.   The Purpose of Qualitative Research Qualitative research has a long history in sociology and has been used within it for as long as the field itself has existed. This type of research has long appealed to social scientists because it allows the research to investigate the meanings that people attribute to their behavior, actions, and interactions with others. While quantitative research is useful for identifying relationships between variables, like, for example, the connection between poverty and racial hate, it is qualitative research that can illuminate why this connection exists by going directly to the source the people themselves. Qualitative research is designed to reveal the meaning that informs the action or outcomes that are typically measured by quantitative research. So, qualitative researchers investigate  meanings, interpretations, symbols, and the  processes and relations of social life. What this type of research produces is descriptive data that the researcher must then interpret using rigorous and systematic methods of transcribing, coding, and analysis of trends and themes. Because its focus is everyday life and peoples experiences, qualitative research lends itself well to creating new theories using the inductive method, which can then be tested with further research. Methods of Qualitative Research Qualitative researchers  use their own eyes, ears, and intelligence to collect in-depth perceptions and descriptions of targeted populations, places, and events. Their findings are collected through a variety of methods, and often, a researcher will use at least two or several of the following while conducting a qualitative study. Direct observation:  With direct observation, a researcher studies people as they go about their daily lives without participating or interfering. This type of research is often unknown to those under study, and as such, must be conducted in public settings where people do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. For example, a researcher might observe the ways in which strangers interact in public as they gather to watch a street performer.Open-ended surveys: While many surveys are designed to generate quantitative data, many are also designed with open-ended questions that allow for the generation and analysis of qualitative data. For example, a survey might be used to investigate not just which political candidates voters chose, but why they chose them, in their own words.Focus group: In a focus group, a researcher engages a small group of participants in a conversation designed to generate data relevant to the research question. Focus groups can contain anywhere from 5 to 15 participants. Social scientists often use them  in studies that examine an event or trend that occurs within a specific community. They are common in market research too. In-depth interviews: Researchers conduct in-depth interviews by speaking with participants in a one-on-one setting. Sometimes a researcher approaches the interview with a predetermined list of questions or topics for discussion but allows the conversation to evolve based on how the participant responds. Other times, the researcher has identified certain topics of interest but does not have a formal guide for the conversation, but allows the participant to guide it.Oral history: The oral history method is used to create a historical account of an event, group, or community, and typically involves a series of in-depth interviews conducted with one or multiple participants over an extended period of time.Participant observation:  This method is similar to observation, however with this one, the researcher also participates in the action or events in order to not only observe others but to gain the first-hand experience in the setting.Ethnographic observation:  Ethnographic observati on is the most intensive and in-depth observational method. Originating in anthropology, with this method, a researcher fully immerses herself into the research setting and lives among the participants as one of them for anywhere from months to years.  By doing this, the researcher attempts to experience day-to-day existence from the viewpoints of those studied in order to develop in-depth and long-term accounts of the community, events, or trends under observation. Content analysis:  This method is used by sociologists to analyze social life by interpreting words and images from documents, film, art, music, and other cultural products and media. The researchers look at how the words and images are used, and the context in which they are used to draw inferences about the underlying culture. In the last decade, content analysis of digital material, especially that generated by social media users, has become a popular technique within the social sciences. While much of the data generated by qualitative research is coded and analyzed using just the researchers eyes and brain, the use of computer software to do these processes is increasingly popular within the social sciences. Pros and Cons of Qualitative Research Qualitative research has both benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, it creates an in-depth understanding of the attitudes, behaviors, interactions, events, and social processes that comprise everyday life. In doing so, it helps social scientists understand how everyday life is influenced by society-wide things like social structure, social order, and all kinds of social forces. This set of methods also has the benefit of being flexible and easily adaptable to changes in the research environment and can be conducted with minimal cost in many cases. The downsides of qualitative research are that its scope is fairly limited so its findings are not always widely generalizable. Researchers also have to use caution with these methods to ensure that they themselves do not influence the data in ways that significantly change it and that they do not bring undue personal bias to their interpretation of the findings. Fortunately, qualitative researchers receive rigorous training designed to eliminate or reduce these types of research bias.

Marketing for a Newspaper Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing for a Newspaper Company - Case Study Example From being only a UK based newspaper on its inception, the TIMES has evolved from a period when marketing was unheard to a period when marketing reigns supreme. During all this time, the TIMES has maintained its reputation and has always been a step ahead of its competition. When we see the overall marketing strategy of the TIMES, we see a dynamic force at nature. Over the years, the TIMES has evolved its marketing into many dimensions. When observed closely, the marketing strategy of the TIMES has been focused on the following basic dimensions: The TIMES has in the recent time implemented a strategy that calls for a brand development. Firstly, the paper made it clear through activities like adding its paper on the internet, and launching it in many countries, that it doesn't want to restrain itself to only one particular country. The used the same quality values of their English version, i.e. accurate and reliable news, but they were careful to decentralize their marketing activities specific for each region. They used different names, specifically like New York Times, Times of India etc that showed them devoted to one region. Also the news was selected according to the demographics of the readers. The TIMES a The TIMES also generated a strategy for a global brand name. With the advent of the internet, this task became easy as now it displayed newspapers for many regions but under the specific brand name of the TIMES. In this way each paper maintained individuality as well as common global values. The TIMES has also embarked upon a marketing strategy to make its customers feel more attached with the newspaper. Today TIMES does not stand for only news, but for much more. It has interesting aspects for all the household, like cooking recipes and clothes designs for the women, gadgets and sports paper for the young, comics for the children, business news for the job-related people, and not only local news but world wide as well. The marketing of TIMES has used it as a catch for the paper to be declared as one for the entire household. One of the major challenges for the marketing strategy developers for the TIMES has been to change the perception of the youth about the newspaper. The TIMES has always been seen by the youth as the newspaper for the more serious and elderly people. Even though it contains many interesting aspects for the youth, but the general perception remains the same. For this the TIMES has to create a new image for itself. The newspaper has been employing towards this goal through many aspects. Firstly, by driving more items and captions for the youth, like sports page, jobs page, gadgets page etc. Second, by using the internet to give a whole new look to the paper, making it more animated and interactive for the youth. Lastly, the marketing strategy most into play these days is to make the paper more accessible and glamorous to the readers. Many interactive sections have been added. Like

Briefly outline the causes and effects of famine in developing Essay - 1

Briefly outline the causes and effects of famine in developing countries - Essay Example It provides equal opportunities to all to live their lives to the fullest extent, but at the same time natural disasters and other vagaries of nature try to snuff out the very same life. In this essay we shall confine ourselves to how famines affect human civilization, what are the reasons of famine and how could we control them. The occurrence of famines in the developing countries of this world and the reasons thereof will be studied with analysis of the current research available on the topic. Man has harnessed the resources available on Earth to fulfil his basic needs by the use of science and technology. The foremost basic need is that of food and water without which life is impossible. Historically man was a nomadic animal who travelled from place to place in search of palatable food until his ingenuity led him to the practice of growing food which ultimately resulted in the modern practice of agriculture. However primitive agriculture was not sufficient to meet the needs of all mankind. Social peculiarities, cultural influences and the topography of the land masses influenced the practice of agriculture and it was not until the twentieth century that modern and scientific agriculture became a reality. This development was however only in the prosperous and developed countries of the world while the other regions are still struggling to meet their food requirements. Famines or acute shortage of food has therefore occurred with alarming regularity in the underdeveloped and the developing countries of the world. Cox G.W. (1981) defines famine as â€Å"the regional failure of food production or distribution systems leading to sharply increased mortality due to starvation and associated diseases.† Food production in most of the world is dependent on the availability of fertile land mostly near the major rivers as water is an integral necessity for good agriculture. Other regions depend on rainfall to meet their irrigation

Reflection to ANMC Codes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection to ANMC Codes - Assignment Example Thus the use of reflective nursing practice has been associated with the positive improvement in the practice and attitude of the nurses’ hence better care is provided (James and Freshwater, 2005). Professional practice Nursing students are trained through apprenticeship as they are taught the skills in a classroom setup before they are shown how to use them in care giving. The practice of the nursing knowledge and skills is done in a hospital setup under the guidance of an instructor. The clinical setup has often been a source of reflective ideas towards improvement of individual student in their bid for professionalism (James and Freshwater, 2005). A student during a post-clinical briefing and counseling session disclosed the following event that she finds to have helped him develop professionally. That one day during the normal daily activities a client was admitted into the ward he was. He develop a concern in the reason for the patients admission hence went in to learn mo re from the history documented about the patient. The history he found was poorly taken hence decided to take his own history from the patient. The patient had been stabilized and was under monitoring. The patient was on infusion antibiotics (penicillin) yet he was developing fever which was spiking. The student found out from the history he got that the patient was allergic to penicillin and hence he could link the spiking fever to a hypersensitivity reaction. He quickly went to the instructors and informed them of his findings hence a corrective action was taken thus the patient was safe and recuperated well (James and Freshwater, 2005). While reflecting on that day’s events, he noted that his concern for the patient and incorporation of his knowledge in the clinical practice helped identify the cause of poor response to medication and hence salvaged the situation. This event helped the student realize the importance of history taking in health care provision and hence a bo ot towards his professional practices (James and Freshwater, 2005). Critical thinking and analysis Critical thinking and analysis is core to the nursing practice. Critical thinking is the ability to identify a need and develop a solution within the shortest time.it involves analysis of the possible solutions available and picking on the best option at for the good of the patient. A nurse has to continually think critically while handling the different patients with different needs hence analysis skills are very important for the nurse.in medical practice, the analysis and prioritizing criteria employed is referred to as triage. The triaging process involves critical thinking and analysis of the different conditions the patients are presenting with in order to classify them in order of their need for care and their mortality (James and Freshwater, 2005). A student in the casualty is often faced with psychological trauma when they are expected to identify the patients in order of thei r needs for consultation. It is difficult to side-line a patient who feels they need urgent care and that their lives are in danger. The triaging process was introduced in the hospitals to provide for a criterion through which the patients may be assessed to determine their urgency for care.This initiative was met with a lot of

REPEATED MEASURES Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

REPEATED MEASURES - Assignment Example The reason for the increased power of the repeated-measures design is the elimination of between-subjects variability and thus the reduction of our error term. In our repeated-measures design, we would employ one group of subjects (randomly selected from the male population) who would each rate pictures of men with moustaches and men without moustaches on a scale ranging from very mean to very nice. A seven-point Likert scale may be appropriate for this task, but there are several scaling options. Stimuli would be presented in blocks and randomized to eliminate ordering effects. The data would be analyzed using a repeated-measures (dependent samples) t-test. This statistic will provide a number that can be compared to standardized critical values in order to determine if there is a significant difference between the ratings of mustachioed men and the ratings of men without moustaches. This analysis will be performed with an alpha of .05, giving the test 95% power (probability of correctly rejecting the null hypothesis). No post-hoc comparisons will be required for this

A Secure Internet Banking Information System in Distributed and Research Paper

A Secure Internet Banking Information System in Distributed and Heterogeneous Computing Environment - Research Paper Example It will provide information regarding the investigation approach, method of data collection and analytical approach to be used in the study. In today's volatile environment banking and financial institutions are implementing information systems in order to achieve growth and increased market share. The implementation of Information Technology provides the benefits of increased reliability and accuracy by reducing the chances of failures in the business system. The interdependencies in the business can be managed better through the implementation of an information system. With the provision of economies of scale, implementation of Information Systems in a banking organization also leads to several other problems, which should be addressed for the maximization of benefits attached. It is important to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of security issues related to the implementation of secure online banking information system in a distributed and heterogeneous computing environment. Previous research in the field provides a recognized conceptualization regarding the information system as an important source of competitive advantage for service organizations. The organizations should take necessary steps in order to save the technology from being copied by other organizations (Barney, 1991). The open nature of information technology and the ability of competitors to gain access to the same technology do not allow the hard aspect of e-commerce to become a source of competitive advantage. The implementation of an information system in a bank leads to customer benefit by reducing the transaction costs and providing the customers with increased bargaining power. With the increasing awareness in the industry players regarding the information technology, it has become inevitable for the firms to find a competitive advantage in the soft aspect of information management (Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 2000). Even if hard elements are easily accessible, two possible sources of comp etitive advantage remain effective utilization of these hard technologies within the wider organization of the firm, and unique combinations of the soft organizational and hard systemic aspects of the e-commerce revolution. Organizations need to change to make optimal use of new technologies (Penrose, 1959).  Ã‚  

Process Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Process Principles - Essay Example Mancala's Pizzas throughput time is 16.4 minutes. The company currently has excess capacity because demand averages at only 20 pizzas her hour (Appendix 2).However, it is estimated that the company's demand will double if delivery services are offered. This alternative is aimed at eliminating the bottleneck in Mancala's Pizza's production process. This will be done by assigning the tosser to mold the pizza shells prior to their use. It should be noted that as such, the assembly of ingredient and the tossing and molding of pizza will be eliminated in the new production process (Appendix 3). This will lessen the throughput time to 14 minutes per pizza. It will also allow the company to produce a maximum of 36 pizzas per hour which is based on the maximum capacity of its six ovens (Appendix 4). The main disadvantage of this alternative is the fact that the Mancala's Pizzas might encounter hesitance in the part of the tosser. It should be noted that in this new production process, the tosser is eliminated in the actual production process and will be coming before office hours. The company will also need to negotiate with the assembler as he needs to assemble the ingredients before it can be toss and molded by the tosser. Thus, he will also be assigned to come prior to operation hours and will still be there to assist in the operations to assemble the pizza. In this new process, Mancala's Pizza faces the risk of lowering the quality of its pizza. The freshness of the product might be adversely affected. Also, as pizza shells are dependent on the preference of the customers, the company needs to have an accurate estimate of demand per pizza shell in order for the assembler and tosser to produce the right ones. The company might either encounter wastage or shortage of inventory if the proper shells are not produced. 2. Mancala's Pizza will increase demand by delivering pizzas directly to customer. The delivery of Pizza is expected to double the demand for the company's products. This will be beneficial for Mancala's as it will generate more revenue and profits for its operations. It will also enable the business organization to fully utilize its resources and use its excess capacity. However, it should be noted that the current resources are not adequate to support a demand of 40 pizzas an hour. Assuming that alternative 1 is already in place, the company is limited to the production of 36 pizzas only which is determined by the capacity of its ovens (Appendix 4). Recommendation and Conclusion It is recommended that Mancala's Pizza push through with the two alternatives. Eliminating the bottleneck in production will allow the business orga

A Secure Internet Banking Information System in Distributed and Research Paper

A Secure Internet Banking Information System in Distributed and Heterogeneous Computing Environment - Research Paper Example It will provide information regarding the investigation approach, method of data collection and analytical approach to be used in the study. In today's volatile environment banking and financial institutions are implementing information systems in order to achieve growth and increased market share. The implementation of Information Technology provides the benefits of increased reliability and accuracy by reducing the chances of failures in the business system. The interdependencies in the business can be managed better through the implementation of an information system. With the provision of economies of scale, implementation of Information Systems in a banking organization also leads to several other problems, which should be addressed for the maximization of benefits attached. It is important to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of security issues related to the implementation of secure online banking information system in a distributed and heterogeneous computing environment. Previous research in the field provides a recognized conceptualization regarding the information system as an important source of competitive advantage for service organizations. The organizations should take necessary steps in order to save the technology from being copied by other organizations (Barney, 1991). The open nature of information technology and the ability of competitors to gain access to the same technology do not allow the hard aspect of e-commerce to become a source of competitive advantage. The implementation of an information system in a bank leads to customer benefit by reducing the transaction costs and providing the customers with increased bargaining power. With the increasing awareness in the industry players regarding the information technology, it has become inevitable for the firms to find a competitive advantage in the soft aspect of information management (Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 2000). Even if hard elements are easily accessible, two possible sources of comp etitive advantage remain effective utilization of these hard technologies within the wider organization of the firm, and unique combinations of the soft organizational and hard systemic aspects of the e-commerce revolution. Organizations need to change to make optimal use of new technologies (Penrose, 1959).  Ã‚  

Climate Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Climate Change - Essay Example The milankovitch theory implies that over time three cyclic events vary the amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth and eventually it causes climate change. According to Burroughs (2007) eccentricity is a cyclical variation that determines the shape of the earth’s orbit around the sun. The more elliptical the earth’s orbit is, the greater the the greater the variation in solar energy that is received at the top of the atmosphere between the earth’s perihelion and aphelion. As the earth rotates on its axis, it wobbles hence changing the timing of the solstices, and equinoxes a process known as the procession of the equinox. Volcanic eruptions eject large amounts of sulphur dioxide gas which reacts water vapor found in the stratosphere to form a dense layer that reduces atmospheric transmission of sun’s incoming radiation. Sun spots, which are caused by the sun’s magnetic field are dark, planet sized regions that appear on the sun’s su rface. These regions are colder than with an average temperature of 4,000K. Climate change can be explained by these factors although they are only some of those which cause climate change. Since 1979, the summer polar ice cap’s size has shrunk more than 20% and this has not only affected the natives but the globe as a whole. The contraction of the arctic ice cap accelerates global warming since the protective, cooling layer over the arctic is melting and hence the earth absorbs more sunlight (Kininmonth 2004). If the arctic is warmer, this will affect weather patterns since the rest of the world will also warm up and eventually food production will decrease. In contrast, most of the world depends on melted glaciers for fresh water supply through lakes and rivers hence their melting will cause short supply of the same. It will also cause shortage of electricity since a great percentage of the world’s population depends on melting glaciers for hydro electric power. Animals, birds and fish will lose their

US Policy to Achieve Internal and External Balance Essay Example for Free

US Policy to Achieve Internal and External Balance Essay The United States has been suffering recently from recessionary pressures which have decreased economic activity in the country while increasing concern amongst the population about the lack of supportive economic policies that can support the country to survive through the recession times. In the recent months the country has seen its mortgage and housing market fail dramatically due to bad management and selling of mortgages to the sub prime market. Similarly in early 2009 the country also saw the major banks go bankrupt which sent a major blow to the capital and financial markets further weakening the economy of the United States. As a result the nation now required an economic policy enables an internal and external balance while providing more control on the economy. US Economic Policy The economy normally behaves in a cyclical fashion with booms and expansions depicted by high GDP growth, higher level of disposable incomes for the people, low levels of unemployment, low levels of poverty and increased spending by the consumer. The recessions and contractions in the economy on the other hand are characterized by the low or stunted GDP growth, low levels of disposable income for the people, high levels of unemployment, as well as decreased consumer spending which is brought on by the lower disposable incomes available to the public. The US economy currently is in the recessionary phase as the disposable incomes for the public have significantly increased while there is an increased level of unemployment in the country. Similarly the growth in the economy has also slowed down considerably which is adding to the snowball effect leading to low levels of consumer spending and therefore economic growth. The current balance of payments position of the United States is such that the country is facing both ups and downs. In the short term however the United States is reporting a deficit based position in its balance of payments. â€Å"This deficit was above 57 billion dollars in February 2007 which scaled up to 63. 9 billion dollars in March07 which has again decreased to $58. 5 billion in April2007. Trade deficit increases when import exceeds export and vice versa. † (‘American Economy Recent Trends’, 2008) Similarly when it comes to international institutions and international relations, the country is facing high level of competition form countries like India and China that are depicting high levels of economic growth despite the global recessionary environment. US Economic Policy Propositions The internal and external balance is are managed through the Keynesian model which incorporates consumption as a function of the disposable income and the current account is associated with the real exchange rate (Reinert et al. , 2009). The internal balance and equilibrium in the product market is achieved when the economy is facing full employment levels and stable prices in the market. However shifts in the internal balance can occur when the unemployment occurs or inflation occurs in the market with increasing prices indices. In the money market internal equilibrium is achieved the internal balance can be adjusted through interest rates and the supply of money in the market. As a result the in order to improve the internal balance, the United States economic policy needs to focus on improving the consumption in the nation which needs to be supported by increased disposable income and opportunities for employment for the public. The increased employment will result in higher disposable income available to the public which can in turn be used in consumer spending to generate more economic activity and positive GDP results. The external equilibrium in an economy can be achieved when the balance of payments position is in equilibrium in the economy. A positive relationship is required between the government expenditure and interest rate for an external balance position in the equilibrium. The US economic policy should focus on improving the current account balance in order to have positive effects on the external balance. The current account balance for the United States can be improved through increasing the exports of the nation, particularly those of the much needed commodities like wheat and copper, introducing protectionist measures for trade, as well as constantly accessing and revaluating the exchange rate for a beneficial balance of payments position. Similarly the capital account balance also needs to be supported through inflows particularly in the form of investment in the regional businesses by international institutions. Expenditure switching policy is used to attain a positive balance between domestic expenditure and foreign expenditure, particularly in terms of the balance of payments of a country. This is a macroeconomic policy which can help an economy attain its internal and external balances. More over â€Å"nominal exchange rate changes can lead to expenditure switching when they change relative international prices† (Engel, 2002). The US economy can improve its internal and external balance position by manipulating the demand for the domestic and the foreign products through changes in the exchange rate of the country. In order to achieve both the internal balance as well as the external balance positions simultaneously through policy moves, the US government can value the dollar at a real exchange rate that reflects the real demand of the domestic products and the demand that exists for the imports in the region. This can be favorable for the balance of payments position for the United States. The expenditure changing policy is also one of the economic policies that are used to attain an internal and the external balance for an economy. The expenditure changing policy involves fiscal and monetary policies which have the aim of making the domestic expenditure equal to the production level in the economy. The policy for the US economy that can be employed to support the aim in the present times can be to improve the level of investment in the job market to increase the level of employment which can increase economic activity and production in the economy. Similarly the increase in the employment also results in increased disposable income which therefore increases the consumer expenditure in the market. However in order to retain this expenditure for the domestic market only, regional businesses need to be promoted to increase domestic trade. The current account position for the United States can also be improved by implementing measures that focus ion the transaction in the current account. Direct controls can be employed on the transactions and elements in the current account (Bergsten, 1996). The domestic expenditures need to be improved for the economy by reducing them while the direct controls in terms of import surcharges, and taxes on imports can improve the revenue level in the current account through foreign trade. Subsidies provided to local businesses and sectors with high demand of export for their products and services can also take the form of direct controls which improve the current account statistics for the United States. The international institutions that are being faced by the United States in the recent years pertain to other economies like those of China, India, Singapore and those of countries in Latin America. These countries have large levels of population, which combined with the developing nature of the economy and the increased economic activity are showing increasing levels of GDP growth. These international institutions are therefore stabilizing their external balance and balance of payments positions which can be seen form their developing positive exchange rate. Moreover other countries are also observing growth and developmental opportunities in these economies and therefore are investing in operations in the above mentioned countries to support their own economic activity. The United States can develop international relations with these economies too enable an exchange and flow of ideas, trade, business and human resource that can support the local economic activity and growth of the United States by bringing new businesses, products and services as well as revenue form exports into the region. Conclusion The United States can improve its current economic status by attaining a positive position for its internal and external balances. Strategies and policies that impact the balance of payments position for the country can be employed which can take the form of expenditure switching policies, the expenditure changing policies and direct controls. These policies are highlighted in terms of how they can improve reduce domestic expenditure while also increasing the exports of the US and increasing the revenue and economic inflow from the imports of the country. References (2008), American Economy Recent Trends, Economy Watch, retrieved July 6, 2009 from http://www. economywatch. com/us-economy. html Bergsten, C.F. , (1996), Dilemmas of the dollar: the economics and politics of United States international monetary policy, 2nd Ed. , M. E. Sharpe Bergsten, C. F. , (2005), The United States and the World Economy: Foreign Economic Policy for the Next Decade Engel, C. M. , (2002), Expenditure Switching and Exchange Rate Policy, NBER Working Paper No. W9016, retrieved July 6, 2009 from http://papers. ssrn. com/sol3/papers. cfm? abstract_id=316795 Reinert, K. A. , Rajan, R. S. , Glass, A. J. , Davis, L. S. , (2009), The Princeton Encyclopedia of the World Economy, Princeton University Press

Best Practice Coaching in Modern Sporting

Best Practice Coaching in Modern Sporting Contents (Jump to) Introduction Principles and best practice in coaching The effectiveness of different styles of coaching in different contexts How models of coaching can help practitioners Conclusion References Introduction Sport, as a physical education concept, is governed exclusively by principles, rules and regulations. More than any other form of education, ethics dominate the culture of sport. Indeed, in an era dominated by the breakdown of rules and regulations and the increasing emphasis upon the needs of the individual over the collective, sport can in some ways be seen as the last bastion of the team ethic, helping to infuse in people a sense of belonging and of togetherness. For this reason, the ideal of best practice is a highly important contemporary topic one whose measure can be meted out in the fact tat the business community in the twenty first century is looking with increasing respect at the achievement of high‑achieving sports coaches such as Sir Alec Ferguson in order to create a model for success within their own corporate teams. The following essay seeks to look at the ways in which these principles pertaining to best practice can best be applied in a variety of modern spor ting contexts. Principles and best practice in coaching The ideal of sport has changed markedly in the past fifteen to twenty years (Polley, 1998)[1]. What was once seen as leisure and/or a recreational activity is now viewed primarily as a vehicle through which one can instigate deep-seated cultural and societal change. This is especially true in the UK which has a particularly insipid connection to sport with a variety of games considered endemic in British society; indeed, many of the most popular sports in the world were played first in Britain and their governing bodies still reside within British state borders. As a result, as Dawn Penney (2000:59) declares, sport, society and equity are interlinked to a degree that has only very recently been acknowledged by academic, specifically sociological, study. â€Å"Physical education and sport are part of our social and cultural worlds. The relationship is dynamic, with the policies and practices of physical education reflecting, but also clearly shaping (reproducing and/or challenging), the values and interests of broader society.†[2] It is for this reason that the concept of ‘best practice’ has attained a new level of significance in recent years relating specifically to the adoption of the finest possible academic, psychological and ethical procedures especially with regards to children and young people so as to prepare them mentally and physically for the multiple demands of adult life whether this be in a sporting or non‑sporting context. ‘Best practice’ utilises research conducted primarily between the years 1950 to 1980 with the implementation of these strategies taking place over the past thirty years. It is a wholly recent phenomenon and, as such, is lacking in some areas of research compared to other fields of sociological study. However, in the twenty first century the amount of attention devoted to the subject is likely to increase with the dual spectre of globalisation and commercialisation making sports a highly lucrative hub of activity. The principles governing the concept of ‘best practice’ are centred upon the twin aims of forging a common sense of unity and teamwork within a group of players and at the same time to nurture individual skill and flair on a one-to-one basis so that the more gifted players’ skills are honed without neglecting the primacy of the team as the over-riding ethos of ‘best practice’. This essential dualism which resides at the epicentre of ‘best practice’ coaching concepts is inherently affected by the evolution of sports players as they grow up. For instance, young players (aged six to ten years old) are much more inclined to gravitate towards the individual element of sports and competition with the group dynamic coming at a later age (developing primarily between the ages of twelve and sixteen). For this reason, there is no ‘best way’ to ‘best practice’; no right or wrong. Rather, there is a great exchange of fluidit y between concepts, principles and practices that should be implemented on an individual basis. This is as true of coaching adults (clients) as it is of coaching youngsters where Jennifer Rogers (2007:7-10)[3] has outlined six core principles that ‘define’ the role of the coach in the modern era. These are: The client is resourceful (the coach’s sole aim is to work with the client to achieve all of their potential – as defined by the client). The coach’s role is to spring loose the client’s resourcefulness. Coaching addressing the whole person: past, present and future. The client sets the agenda. The coach and the client are equals. Coaching is about change and action. The common denominator outlined by Rogers is that coaching is always triggered by change – be it a change in age, in circumstance, in style or technique. Furthermore, because change is the currency in which the coach does business, there is bound to be wildly fluctuating styles of coaching that fit wildly different social and cultural contexts and it is towards these different styles and contexts that attention must now be turned. The effectiveness of different styles of coaching in different contexts It has been shown that the evolution of young people greatly affects the implementation of coaching methods pertaining to the precarious balance between coaching the individual and the group dynamic. This is necessarily dependent on the kind of sport being coached: team sports such as football require a dedication to the team ethic while sports such as tennis and golf stress the individual element of competition. Sports such as cricket combine the team ethic with a heavy emphasis upon individual ability, certainly with regards to batting, which is a very solitary skill that requires intensive levels of concentration and individualism (Palmer, 1999)[4]. Thus, in the first instance, effective coaching requires the practitioner to tailor his or her coaching style to the sport in question and then to further tailor these coaching techniques to the age group of the team or individual being coached. This inherent diversity in coaching styles is also true of the economic context of coaching adults. Certain sports require greater levels of economic participation than others. Golf, for example, is an expensive sport that demands that the participant is well funded so as to purchase the necessary equipment such as clubs, bags, clothing and, most importantly, membership to a golf club. The same can be said of tennis and cricket where the equipment is a vital part of the ultimate success or failure of the technique of the client in question. Economic context is also important with regards to the psychological element of coaching with the social, cultural and political problems of urban poverty playing an important part in the types of coaching techniques which are likely to yield the best results from any given demographic. There can be no doubt that a coaching style employed for a group of middle class practitioners with free access to capital, time and resources is going to be marke dly different from the kind of coaching style deployed for children and adults who do not have access to the same luxuries and who therefore are going to respond to different coaching techniques. Economic context, demographic context and age context are further compounded by the increasingly common problem of multiculturalism and, specifically, globalisation, which has obvious consequences for teachers, mentors and coaches operating at all levels of society throughout the UK. When one thinks, for instance, of the impact of language upon coaching (relaying tactics, pointing out areas of strength and weakness, and, most significantly, attempting to instil a team ethic) one can see the extent to which the role of the coach is inexorably intertwined with the fate of mass movement of peoples across the planet in the twenty first century. As Jones (1997:27) declares, â€Å"there is no more important task within the wider coaching process than that of communication.†[5] Bains and Patel (1994) have long pointed out the blatant under‑representation of Asians playing professional football in England despite some areas in the Midlands and the North-West of England having u rban areas with a higher than 50% ratio of ethnic communities. â€Å"Recent Sport England national statistics confirmed that people of South Asian origin have markedly lower participation rates than other minorities or the indigenous population.† (Collins, 2003:75)[6] This anomaly with regards to the high numbers of Asians living in modern Britain and the disproportionately small number of Asians playing football, it has been argued, is due to coaches indulging in outmoded stereotyping when it comes to coaching players from the Asian community. Asians are still seen as primarily academic achievers over sports players and where they are perceived as sports players they are still pigeon‑holed in typical Asian images of cricket players; rarely are they ever seen as potential professional footballers. Likewise black players are still seen as primarily quick, powerful players; rarely, the tactical brains or the spiritual heartbeat of the side. This cultural element to sports coaching is exacerbated by the historical gender divide between males and females in a sporting context. Here, just as with ethnic people, stereotypes remain the dominant coaching paradigm. Girls and women are expected to play traditionally female sports such as netball, hockey, lacrosse, swimming and tennis. This, however, is in direct opposition to the growing numbers of women playing traditionally male‑dominated sports such as rugby, cricket and football with the latter in particular experiencing a veritable boom in female interest since the beginning of the 1990s. â€Å"A generation ago, sport was a core, patriarchal institution in a larger, contested gender order. Now, with the dramatic growth of girls’ and women’s athletics participation, sport no longer simply or unambiguously plays this reactionary role in gender relations. Sport is now more internally contested.† (2002 introduction xxii)[7] It is, in the final analysis, up to the sports coach to take each of these mitigating factors and contexts into account so that the practitioner is able to coach skills and techniques that are relevant to the contemporary era as opposed to perpetuating anachronistic stereotypes that do little to advance civilised society in both a sporting and non‑sporting context. How models of coaching can help practitioners Studying different models of coaching represents the scientific element of sports mentoring whereby the student and practitioner can attempt to explain the essence and purpose of coaching via the development of models (Fairs, 1987:17-19)[8]. It can be separated into two distinct camps: the ‘of’ coaching camp and the ‘for’ coaching camp. Models ‘of’ coaching are based upon empirical research investigating best practice while the ‘for’ coaching models are idealistic representations that arise from attempts to identify a concrete set of assumptions about the coaching process. The majority of practitioners tend to employ a symbiosis of the two models incorporating an ‘of’ and ‘for’ model of best practice. In this way, empirical data can be used in a realistic setting that takes into account the age, skills and other contexts that affect the coaching process. However, these two models of coaching underline the e xtent to which academia and intellectual analysis has come to dominate the empirical study of sports performance when in fact the first hand experience of established practitioners ought to form the basis of all models of coaching sports. The difference, essentially, comes down to one of theory and practice with the concept of ‘expertise’ necessarily clouded by the arguments of the academics and the professionals respectively. Once again, though, the individual element of the coaching process must be highlighted so as to reflect the inherent complexity that takes place within the field of sports with vastly differing levels of skill and ability being matched by the vastly different psychological reactions to slumps in form and technique. It is, ultimately, up to the national governing sports bodies to ensure that the primacy of holistic coaching practice does not become relegated at the expense of literature, theory and academia (Lyle, 1999:1-24).[9] For this reason, organisations such as Sport England have been established by the central government in a bid to impose a centralise model for sports development on regionalised sports bodies so as to directly influence and aid practitioners. The primary model deployed by Sport England is the â€Å"traditional sports development continuum† – a pyramid which locates foundation as the core, base value followed in hierarchical terms by participation, performance and, finally, excellence (Bramhan et al, 1999:3). This generic model is dovetailed by more advanced models for practitioners to use with athletes at a professional or elite stage in their sports. As is so often the case it is the Australians who represent the pinnacle of academic research into the coaching process with the revolutionary ‘Old Way, New Way’ technique correction model offering an intensive ‘one session’ approach to the problem of proven performers suffering seemingly inexplicable dips in form and technique with the case of Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie standing tall as the most prominent example of therapeutic success achieved via sports practitioners embracing new means of solving old problems. ‘Old Way, New Way’ is consequently a manifestation of the much sought after collaboration between academic researchers and sports practitioners which works on a psychological as well as a physical level in a bid to continue the sportsperson’s quest for skill development and continuous technical improvement. Conclusion There has never been so much research dedicated towards the practice of sports, sports psychology and best practice in sports coaching the likes of which has been witnessed in the past decade. This has served to help to transport sport from a marginalised recreational activity to a mainstream study of human behaviour and psychical endurance. Furthermore, bearing in mind the increased proliferation of televised sports across the global media apparatus, the vastly increased participation of women in sports in the contemporary era and the shift in focus at a governmental level towards much improved health and physical exercise resources, this level of research is only likely to be elevated in the years and decades to come. Thus, ultimately, the models, contexts and best practices outlined herein require constant updating so as to keep up with the unprecedented rate of change taking place within the global sports coaching community. References Bramhan, P., Hylton, K., Jackson, D. and Nesti, M. (1999) Introduction, in, Bramhan, P., Hylton, K., Jackson, D. and Nesti, M (Eds.) Sport Development: Policy, Process and Practice London and New York: Routledge Collins, M.F. (2003), Social Exclusion from Sport and Leisure, quoted in, Houlihan, B. (Ed.) Sport and Society: a Student Introduction London: SAGE Fairs, J. (1987) The Coaching Process: The Essence of Coaching, in, Sports Coach Journal, Volume 11, Number 1 Jones, R.L. (1997) Effective Instructional Coaching Behaviour: A Review of Literature, in, International Journal of Physical Education, Volume, 24, Number 1 Lyle, J.W.B. (1999) The Coaching Process: Principles and Practice, in, Cross, N. and Lyle, J.W.B. (Eds.) The Coaching Process: Principles and Practice for Sport Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Messner, M.A. (2002), Taking the Field: Women, Men and Sports Minneapolis and  London: University of Minnesota Press Palmer, G.V. (1999) Cricket Coachmaster: Batting Mechanics London: Gary Palmer Penney, D. (2000) Physical Education: In what and who’s Interests? , in, Jones, R.L. and Armour, K.M. (Eds.) Sociology of Sport: Theory and Practice London and New York: Longman Polley, M. (1998) Moving the Goalposts: A History of Sport and Society since 1945 London and New York: Routledge Rogers, J. (2007) Coaching Skills Buckingham: Open University Press 1 Footnotes [1] Polley, M. (1998) Moving the Goalposts: A History of Sport and Society since 1945 London and New York: Routledge [2] Penney, D. (2000) Physical Education: In what and who’s Interests? , in, Jones, R.L. and Armour, K.M. (Eds.) Sociology of Sport: Theory and Practice London and New York: Longman [3] Rogers, J. (2007) Coaching Skills Buckingham: Open University Press [4] Palmer, G.V. (1999) Cricket Coachmaster: Batting Mechanics London: Gary Palmer [5] Jones, R.L. (1997) Effective Instructional Coaching Behaviour: A Review of Literature, in, International Journal of Physical Education, Volume, 24, Number 1 [6] Collins, M.F. (2003), Social Exclusion from Sport and Leisure, quoted in, Houlihan, B. (Ed.) Sport and Society: a Student Introduction London: SAGE [7] Messner, M.A. (2002), Taking the Field: Women, Men and Sports Minneapolis and  London: University of Minnesota Press [8] Fairs, J. (1987) The Coaching Process: The Essence of Coaching, in, Sports Coach Journal, Volume 11, Number 1 [9] Lyle, J.W.B. (1999) The Coaching Process: Principles and Practice, in, Cross, N. and Lyle, J.W.B. (Eds.) The Coaching Process: Principles and Practice for Sport Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann

The Roommate Debate :: Personal Narrative College Essays

The Roommate Debate College is a life altering experience. It is a place where you leave anything and everything you have ever known, to come to a place where nothing is familiar. The summer before your freshman year of college can be a nerve racking experience. You anxiously wait for the day when the mailman will bring you that envelope that holds your fate. Enclosed in this envelope is the name of your roommate. Your roommate can have the biggest influence on your freshmen year. They can turn into your best friend or your worst enemy. You anticipate the day when you actually get to meet the person you will be living with for the whole year. At Penn State there are no guarantees that you will have anything in common with your roommate at all, and that is a scary thing. As the Housing Administration of Penn State, I ask you to put yourself in the shoes of the incoming freshmen. As a freshman, you hope for a roommate you can relate to and spend your time with. But at Penn State the chances of you getting along with your roommate are slim to none. I know so many people who cannot stand living with their roommates. Two of my friends actually switched at the semester because they could not deal with their living situation. At Penn State we are placed together by major. Two people with the same major are not guaranteed to have any of the same habits, interests, or goals. I feel that this is not an effective way of matching people up. I researched other colleges to see how roommates were paired. The colleges I researched were: Albright, Bucknell, Virginia Tech, Saint Joseph’s University, Millersville, and University of Pittsburgh. At Albright, Bucknell, and University of Pittsburgh the housing administration requires incoming freshmen to fill out a survey that asks about their sleep patterns (early bird/ night owl), taste in music, if they smoke, their qualities of an ideal roommate, pet peeves, and major. This enables the housing administration to effectively match up freshmen that would be compatible with each other. My friend Maureen, who attends Bucknell, said, â€Å"My roommate and I have become best friends and I am so thankful that we were matched together. I think that all colleges should use surveys to match up freshmen. The summer before my freshmen year, I was less nervous about meeting my roommate, because I knew that even if we were not the best of friends, I knew we would be compatible enough to live together. The Roommate Debate :: Personal Narrative College Essays The Roommate Debate College is a life altering experience. It is a place where you leave anything and everything you have ever known, to come to a place where nothing is familiar. The summer before your freshman year of college can be a nerve racking experience. You anxiously wait for the day when the mailman will bring you that envelope that holds your fate. Enclosed in this envelope is the name of your roommate. Your roommate can have the biggest influence on your freshmen year. They can turn into your best friend or your worst enemy. You anticipate the day when you actually get to meet the person you will be living with for the whole year. At Penn State there are no guarantees that you will have anything in common with your roommate at all, and that is a scary thing. As the Housing Administration of Penn State, I ask you to put yourself in the shoes of the incoming freshmen. As a freshman, you hope for a roommate you can relate to and spend your time with. But at Penn State the chances of you getting along with your roommate are slim to none. I know so many people who cannot stand living with their roommates. Two of my friends actually switched at the semester because they could not deal with their living situation. At Penn State we are placed together by major. Two people with the same major are not guaranteed to have any of the same habits, interests, or goals. I feel that this is not an effective way of matching people up. I researched other colleges to see how roommates were paired. The colleges I researched were: Albright, Bucknell, Virginia Tech, Saint Joseph’s University, Millersville, and University of Pittsburgh. At Albright, Bucknell, and University of Pittsburgh the housing administration requires incoming freshmen to fill out a survey that asks about their sleep patterns (early bird/ night owl), taste in music, if they smoke, their qualities of an ideal roommate, pet peeves, and major. This enables the housing administration to effectively match up freshmen that would be compatible with each other. My friend Maureen, who attends Bucknell, said, â€Å"My roommate and I have become best friends and I am so thankful that we were matched together. I think that all colleges should use surveys to match up freshmen. The summer before my freshmen year, I was less nervous about meeting my roommate, because I knew that even if we were not the best of friends, I knew we would be compatible enough to live together.

Hierarchical Databases Essay

There are four structural types of database management systems: hierarchical, network, relational, and object-oriented. Hierarchical Databases (DBMS), commonly used on mainframe computers, have been around for a long time. It is one of the oldest methods of organizing and storing data, and it is still used by some organizations for making travel reservations. Related fields or records are grouped together so that there are higher-level records and lower-level records, just like the parents in a family tree sit above the subordinated children. Based on this analogy, the parent record at the top of the pyramid is called the root record. A child record always has only one parent record to which it is linked, just like in a normal family tree. In contrast, a parent record may have more than one child record linked to it. Hierarchical databases work by moving from the top down. A record search is conducted by starting at the top of the pyramid and working down through the tree from parent to child until the appropriate child record is found. Furthermore, each child can also be a parent with children underneath it. The advantage of hierarchical databases is that they can be accessed and updated rapidly because the tree-like structure and the relationships between records are defined in advance. Hierarchical databases are so rigid in their design that adding a new field or record requires that the entire database be redefined. Types of DBMS: Network Databases Network databases are similar to hierarchical databases by also having a hierarchical structure. There are a few key differences, however. Instead of looking like an upside-down tree, a network database looks more like a cobweb or interconnected network of records. In network databases, children are called membersand parents are called owners. The most important difference is that each child or member can have more than one parent (or owner). two limitations must be considered when using this kind of database. Similar to hierarchical databases, network databases must be defined in advance. There is also a limit to the number of connections that can be made between records. Types of DBMS: Relational Databases In relational databases, the relationship between data files is relational, not hierarchical Relational databases connect data in different files by using common data elements or a key field. Data in relational databases is stored in different tables, each having a key field that uniquely identifies each row. Relational databases are more flexible than either the hierarchical or network database structures. Types of DBMS: Object-oriented Databases (OODBMS) Able to handle many new data types, including graphics, photographs, audio, and video, object-oriented databases represent a significant advance over their other database cousins. an object-oriented database can be used to store data from a variety of media sources, such as photographs and text, and produce work, as output, in a multimedia format. Object-oriented databases have two disadvantages. First, they are more costly to develop. Second, most organizations are reluctant to abandon or convert from those databases that they have already invested money in developing and implementing. COMPUTING TYPES: CLUSTER COMPUTING: clustering means linking together two or more systems to handle variable workloads or to provide continued operation in the event one fails. Each computer may be a multiprocessor system itself. For example, a cluster of four computers, each with two CPUs, would provide a total of eight CPUs processing simultaneously. When clustered, these computers behave like a single computer and are used for load balancing, fault tolerance, and parallel processing. Two or more servers that have been configured in a cluster use a heartbeat mechanism to continuously monitor each other’s health. Each server sends the other an I am OK message at regular intervals. If several messages or heartbeats are missed, it is assumed that a server has failed and the surviving server begins the failover operation. That is, the surviving server assumes the identity of the failed server in addition to its identity and recovers and restores the network interfaces, storage connections, and applications. Clients are then reconnected to their applications on the surviving server. The minimum requirements for a server cluster are (a) two servers connected by a network, (b) a method for each server to access the other’s disk data, and (c) special cluster software like Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS). The special software provides services such as failure detection, recovery, and the ability to manage the service as a single system. Benefits of Clustering Technology Availability, scalability and to a lesser extent, investment protection and simplified administration are all touted as benefits from clustering technology. Availability translates into decreased downtime, scalability translates into flexible growth, and investment protection and simplified administration translate into lowered cost of ownership. Clustered systems bring fault-tolerance and support for rolling upgrades. The most common uses of clustering technique are mission-critical database management, file/intranet data sharing, messaging, and general business applications. PARALLEL COMPUTING: The Message Passing Interface (MPI) standard provides a common Application Programming Interface (API) for the development of parallel applications regardless of the type of multiprocessor system used. In the recent past, the Java programming language has made significant inroads as the programming language of choice for the development of a variety of applications in diverse domains. IPV4/IPV6: What is Internet Protocol? Internet Protocol is a set of technical rules that defines how computers communicate over a network. There are currently two versions: IP version 4 (IPv4) and IP version 6 (IPv6). What is IPv4? IPv4 was the first version of Internet Protocol to be widely used, and accounts for most of today’s Internet traffic. There are just over 4 billion IPv4 addresses. While that is a lot of IP addresses, it is not enough to last forever. What is IPv6? IPv6 is a newer numbering system that provides a much larger address pool than IPv4. It was deployed in 1999 and should meet the world’s IP addressing needs well into the future. PROTOCOLS: File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host or to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is an application protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems.[1] HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. Hypertext is a multi-linear set of objects, building a network by using logical links (the so-called hyperlinks) between the nodes (e.g. text or words). HTTP is the protocol to exchange or transfer hypertext. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet. SSL encrypt the segments of network connections at the Application Layer for theTransport Layer, using asymmetric cryptography for key exchange, symmetric encryption for confidentiality, and message authentication codes for message integrity. In computing, the Post Office Protocol (POP) is an application-layer Internet standard protocol used by local e-mail clients to retrieve e-mail from a remote server over a TCP/IPconnection.[1] POP and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) are the two most prevalent Internet standard protocols for e-mail retrieval.[2] Virtually all modern e-mail clients and servers support both. The POP protocol has been developed through several versions, with version 3 (POP3) being the current standard. Most webmail service providers such as Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! Mail also provide IMAP and POP3 service. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is an Internet standard for electronic mail (e-mail) transmission across Internet Protocol (IP) networks. While electronic mail servers and other mail transfer agents use SMTP to send and receive mail messages, user-level client mail applications typically only use SMTP for sending messages to a mail server for relaying. The User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is one of the core members of the Internet protocol suite, the set of network protocols used for the Internet. With UDP, computer applications can send messages, in this case referred to as datagrams, to other hosts on an Internet Protocol (IP) network without prior communications to set up special transmission channels or data paths. UDP is suitable for purposes where error checking and correction is either not necessary or performed in the application, avoiding the overhead of such processing at the network interface level.