Thes Equations Of The Universe - 1749 Words

Isaac Newton, famous for his equations of the forces of the universe, has been put to the test by Einstein himself. Although Newton has found the numbers and equations to describe gravity and the way nature is, he has not figured out how it really works. Einstein noticed this, and learned that space, gravity, and time work together like a Spiral Wishing Well. He says that space is flat with no matter, but when there is matter, like the earth, the fabric of space warps and curves. One must imagine the hole of the Spiral Wishing Well as the earth and the penny rotating around it is like the moon to see how space warps and how the medium that affects gravity is space itself. With this in mind, many other theorists and physicists began to use Einsteins theory to promote their own. On October 9th, 1885, a man named Theodor Kaluza was born in Poland. Brought up by two professor as parents, Kaluza gained much interest in education and science from a young age. His ultimate goal was t o find one theory that describes all of nature s forces in one unified equation. In light of this and years of research and partnering with Einstein, he came up with a very bold and bizarre idea that affects the way present day physicists and mathematicians view of the world around them. Kaluza believed that if Einstein could describe the force of gravity with warps and curves, then he could do the same thing with another force. At the time, the only other force was electromagnetic force,

Unusual Facts About Practice Samples of Formative Essay Writing Revealed by Industry Leaders

Unusual Facts About Practice Samples of Formative Essay Writing Revealed by Industry Leaders The Pain of Practice Samples of Formative Essay Writing The first thing you've got to do is think of a topic that you need to right about. Okay, now you have the fundamentals about how to select an informative essay topic, let's dig into some amazing ideas! So as to write a great informative essay, the author must comprehend the topic, his audience, format, and technique involved in that special essay. The conclusion of essay, that is the previous part, should become your opportunity to produce your readers understand the entire point of your topic. The aim of your conclusion must be to eloquently summarize the content of your essay, but you need to aim to do so in a way in which the reader is very likely to remember. It is crucial to understand that the conclusion doesn't bring in any new info but smartly summarizes the whole essay into a few words to make it appear complete. What You Should Do to Find Out About Practice Samples of Formative Essay Writing Before You're Left Behind Writing an informative essay is just one of the numerous assignments that you should tackle. Thus, there are numerous ways an essay can be written. In your introduction, you might have laid out what would be addressed in the essay. After all the necessa ry considerations, you can commence writing your essay now. When you compose a brief essay, you should remember that there aren't any elements to be sacrificed. `Informative essays are available in many forms,' she explained. It might be logistically not possible to present detailed descriptive feedback for each student in a massive class. Let's find more information regarding different kinds of formative assessments and talk about the perfect way to plan a productive assessment strategy for students. Therefore it's the duty of the tutor to make sure the session is accessible to the requirements of all learners without anyone being singled out. Inclusive teaching is going to have been prepared in a way that's accessible for all learners, so far as possible. The aim of formative assessment is to monitor student learning to supply continuing feedback which can be employed by instructors to enhance their teaching and by students to enhance their learning. The target of whole-class discussion is to create critical and creative thinking abilities. It isn't important whether you're a high school or college student if you've got zero idea how to finish a particular informative essay, make an order at the official site of the top online essay writing company in the USA! Do not be concerned, EssayPro is here in order to teach our students everything they will need to learn about crafting an informative essay! To answer, students do not have to yet have a cogent and total argument. Te achers also have a significant function in shaping up the character and personality of a kid. A greater level question that asks children to apply knowledge in the identical way as they've practiced before becomes a reduce level question really quickly. In reality, learning social abilities and values in the business of others of the very same age is simpler. As soon as you are aware of what the students are expected to understand by the conclusion of a unit, the next step in the planning procedure is to compose the summative assessment. Inside my opinion, both parents and teachers have an important part in raising good children. Within the reach of formative evaluation approaches, there are four chief goals for formative evaluation, every one of which may be more or less emphasized based on the program requirements. Much research was carried to learn more about the response of a learner working collaboratively with a partner or in little groups. Evaluation of projects and studies to pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses together with ensuring effectiveness and efficiency is vital. Several stakeholders participate in the formative evaluation procedure, and the critical ones are the project managers and policy makers. Whatever They Told You About Practice Samples of Formative Essay Writing Is Dead Wrong...And Here's Why If at all possible, have another person read your essay and supply their suggestions for improvement. Before you sit down before your computer screen and begin typing away, there are a few crucial things to do to make and items to prepare before hand. There are two primary points to th ink about while writing the body. When you decided on this issue, now is the time to sit down and spend a few hours or more based on the assignment's volume on the informative essay outline.

Strategically Innovating Growth and Success ALIBABA

Question: Describe the strategically innovating growth and success at ALIBABA. Answer: Arthur Young has defined innovation as Ideas Implemented Successfully which means that profitability of an organization could only be achieved when the generated ideas are successfully implemented by the entrepreneurial team and at the same time the organization works in collaboration to impede the internal and external issues in a creative and energized manner (Shearman Lajoie, 2016). When a true innovation system is critically analyzed, then it unveils some notable facts which define Strategic Innovation as an element which is incorporated by an organization to capture and interpret the articulated and unarticulated needs of the present and potential customers. The process adopted by this crucial element tends to fabricate an organizational culture that encourages generation and implementation of new ideas and simultaneously fosters collaborations among the working staff members. Strategic innovation, when applied on a practical level in an organization, readily covers all the fac ets of an organization, ranging from customers and delivery channels to partner networks and market segments. When innovation is applied at this level, then it has a sure tendency to create potential barriers to the competitors and hence keep an organization ahead in the dynamic business world. The following essay has been written to critically analyze the seven dimensions within a strategic innovation framework to produce a portfolio of outcomes that are responsible to drive growth in the Alibaba group (Broad, 2014). Alibaba, being the worlds largest online commerce company, have hundreds of millions of users and simultaneously hosts millions of merchants and businesses. In the worlds booming e-commerce market, this company has been declared as the most popular destination for shopping. At present the group is having its three leading sites, namely Taobao, Alibaba.com and Tmall. On an average, in a single year there are around $248 billion transactions made on all the three sites in totality. The major working strategy of the company highly relies on its huge customer bases and the tactics that cover maximum of the market segments. This could be regarded as the pivotal reason behind the enormous amount of efficient business that flows over its leading three sites. The company operates a leading business in the UK to find a manufacturer in China and have a production and shipping of a wide range of goods. The group also runs an online payment system named alipay.com which is quite similar to PayPa l in its operation (Hattendorf, 2014). Apart from being a leader in the e-commerce market, the company also offers online marketing, cloud computing and logistics operation to all of its consumers globally. There is a precise framework for strategic innovation and within this framework there are seven different branches which are collaboratively involved in producing innovative measures that drives growth in a company. Alibaba, following the same line has adopted this framework to produce lucrative outcomes that directly and indirectly have a great impact on the companys sales and revenues. The innovative ideas, involved in the framework, are designed to aid the company in reaching all its primary and secondary goals. The innovation also helps in the development and implementation of new products and services which are quite crucial for the survival of the company in the dynamically changing world of business. The survival of the company in the competitive world of business could also be strengthened by making sure that this leader of e-commerce effectively includes reformations in the adopted innovations so as to be in alignment with the changing needs and demands of the market and its current and potential consumers (Afuah, 2009). The seven dimensions are illustrated and described below: Managed innovation Process: A managed innovation process is regarded as the creative core of strategic innovation. Searching and devising an innovative idea could be comparatively easier than managing it. A well managed innovative process helps the company to look beyond the obvious conditions. Alibaba, being the leading e-commerce company has employed a number of ways to conventional and new approaches to its business strategies and hence made it possible to influence and inspire the company employees to search and execute myriads of pathways and possibilities. Another crucial method, the company has adopted to keep its position intact, is by keeping an efficient interplay between external perspectives and internal capabilities of the organization (Mackinnon, 2007). The diverse array of new imagination often leads to inspire corporate imagination and this makes the company to have a competitive advantage over all the others e-commerce companies in the global market. Strategic Alignment: This element of the framework is effectively incorporated to create a shared vision for the company. It is precisely defined as a process in which the senior leadership team is engaged along with the broad cross section of the organization and the crucial external stakeholders. The company is constantly this element effectively in inventing the innovation rather than copying and implementing the thinking of other leading competitors. The innovative ideas, developed inside the company, is often not influence by the individuals with loud voices, people in senior positions and other people with a great political background. The company has also promoted an active participation of the cross functional portion of the organization. If the alignment process is strategically devised then there are fair chances of creation of ownership, enthusiasm and commitment and also in building a strong foundation for successful implementation of the innovation process. Industry foresight: Consideration and evaluation of the future trends have become quite crucial to an organization if it has to survive in the current competitive business world. Alibaba, being a quite good forecaster of the future trends, has used this element efficiently to help the members of the company to understand the need for change and its possible consequences whether they are good or bad for the company (kataria, 2013). The identification of the trends, that are quite new to the business world, is often an important task to be performed by the company. Such identification is quite necessary for the evaluation of the current business strategies and the possible reformations that could be made in them to suit the changing aspects of business and requirements of the people. The company has also precisely followed a strategy that helps it to think outside the box to adopt and implement new trending technologies along with their conventional working strategies. This process als o aids the company to adopt a top to down approach that is precisely designed to understand the complex forces that are responsible to drive the change process. The emerging and converging trends, if well analyzed, prior to the introduction of any innovation in a company, tend to accelerate the innovation process and its implementation to the major working spheres of the company. Consumer / Customer Insight: This bottom up perspective of the seven dimensions is adopted by a company to evaluate the articulated, the explicitly stated and unarticulated, the latent or hidden needs and demands of the current and potential consumers. The company has always placed its consumers above all its elements and have devised a number of measures to attract and retain them. The customer satisfaction leads to consumer loyalty towards a company which ultimately leads the company to have better shares in the potential market segments. The company been selected here has a deep knowledge of the behavior, perceptions and the needs of the consumers and has been continuously working on employing a number of measures to improve their relations with them. The innovation process, being carried out in the company, has developed a number of areas where the customer participation is a must (Fairholm, 2009). This has not only worked in the direction of the strengthening the relationships, but also increasing the customers say in the crucial influential decisions of the firm. This dimension of strategic innovation process uses the conventional consumer forums in a more creative way without losing the true essence of traditional working methodologies. Core Technologies and Competencies: This dimension of strategic innovation process consists of a set of internal capabilities and organizational competencies that are constantly being improved to suit the needs of the consumers. The pivotal aim of this element is to deliver value to the customer that can either be in the form of technologies and intellectual property or could also include brand equity and strategic relationships. Just having a deep knowledge of the customers needs is not enough to survive in this competitive business world. The future trending technologies also play an integral role in determining the success rate of the company. Alibaba, being a large organization, comprises of a number of different types of business units which have a tendency to develop their own operational processes and valuable competencies to share with other operating units of the enterprise (Mahmood, et al., 2013). For better results, the internal capabilities of the organization could be ex tracted and can be put to better use to deliver ultimate satisfaction to the consumers. With a great knowledge of both of these elements, an organization can transform the imaginative ideas into practical investment worthy opportunities for the company. Organizational Readiness: The company being evaluated here, has a competitive advantage over the other e-commerce leaders in a form that during the implementation of any big or small change process, the company has shown a character of Organizational Readiness which directly and indirectly aids it in adapting to the changes in an effective manner. With this trait, there has been a development of potentialities that has eventually led this company to implement new ideas and strategies in compliance to its prevailing working methodologies and has also helped it to strategically manage the operational, political, fiscal and cultural demands of the current and future target market segments. Even if the organization has adopted the most innovative ideas in its working strategies, they will be proved to be non-workable if the organization has not prepared its employees to adapt to the changes (Johnson Kanglong, 2014). This element also encourages an organization to take the crucial initia l decisions about the changes being implemented and also sets the required expectations about how effectively the innovative process is implemented without any delay. Disciplined Implementation: Disciplined implementation of innovative ideas and strategies has always been integral in deciding the success rate of the Change Process. The effectiveness of the change implementation plan is highly dependent on the way how disciplined a company has been throughout the designing and implementation of the process. The production of creative, strategic thinking and its effective implementation, both are equally challenging in to create a meaningful business results (STRAT 9 Team, 2015). The implementation process is not that easy when practically executed and comprises of a number of broad set of activities that cannot be implemented without the collaborative and disciplined efforts of all the sections of the organization. The chosen organization, however, has succeeded in implementing discipline across all its working units and hence has developed it as the main competitive advantage against all its existing as well as the emerging competitors in the e-co mmerce markets. While adopting discipline-oriented services, the innovation process adopted undergoes a crucial transition from an ambiguous and exploratory form to a more concrete and operational form which could be readily implemented at the operational level (Kornik, 2013). Alibaba, being the giant leader in the e-commerce market, has effectively covered the entire seven dimensions in the strategic innovation framework to drive growth in all its working units. This differential growth collectively has collaborated a lot in changing the profit and sales of the company and creating and retaining its position until now. The Strategic Innovation techniques are well implemented by this group not only to drive growth but also to understand the organizational priorities and comply it with the changing behavior, perceptions and needs of the existing and potential consumers. A strong internal structure of the company has also helped the company to become more innovative and move further along the path toward a sustainable and strategic innovation (Rudd, 2007). Bibliography Afuah, A., 2009. Strategic innovation, s.l.: Routledge. Broad, M., 2014. Alibaba: What exactly does it do?. Alibaba, 14 September. Fairholm, M. R., 2009. Leadership and Organizational Strategy. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal, 14(01), pp. 1-16. Hattendorf, H., 2014. Seven Steps to Creating a Successful Innovation Framework. Successful Innovation Framework, 27 January. Johnson, W. Kanglong, L., 2014. Strategic Innovation and Sustainability. Journal of Strategic Innovation and Sustainability, Volume 09, pp. 1-86. kataria, S., 2013. STRATEGIC INNOVATION:, s.l.: s.n. Kornik, J., 2013. The Strategic Innovation Framework Methodology. The Strategic Innovation Framework Methodology, 03 November. Mackinnon, D. L. A. K., 2007. The 7 Dimensions of Innovation. Innovation, 27 May. Mahmood, Z., Amir, A., Javied, S. Zafar, F., 2013. Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation. Global Journal of Management and Business Research Administration and Management, 13(12), pp. 1-9. Rudd, J., 2007. Seven Dimensions of Strategic Innovation. Innovation Management. Shearman, N. Lajoie, M., 2016. Defining Alibaba. What is Alibaba. STRAT 9 Team, 2015. How you do change an engine mid-flight?. A Journal for Strategy innovation, 27 September.

Is Social Media Dangerous_ Essays - Articles, Digital Media

Tiffany Roberts Mr. D'Ambrosio CP ELA 12, Period 3 May 2, 2019 With the invention of the internet, a new tool for endless person and social advancement came with it. It is easy to see how the invention of the internet has advanced society in terms of math and science, personal development and made day to day life simpler and easier. It is also possible that over usage of this tool can lead to negative effects. The internet allows for online classes and universities for advancing education, helping to find jobs faster and easier, buying any product that comes to mind and having it delivered in days or minutes and connecting to those around and around the world. Many scientific advancements came about with computer programs with internet based servers to connect with others have contributed to projects such as the Orion test flights, the testing stages of human exploration to Mars, and the Google Lens, a product that monitors glucose levels in diabetics. (Larsen). Before social media and the internet became mainstream, the way to commu nicate with penpals around the world was through letters. Prior to children being taught to use the internet, pen pal projects were frequent and used letters, and then emails, as the internet became more accessible to schools. Email is an early form of social media, along with blogs, Six Degrees, and Friendster. (History Cooperative) Blogs have been replaced with vlogs, video blogs that serve the same purpose blogs have and still do. Six Degrees and Friendster are two forms of social media that are no longer used. For the purpose of this paper, social media will be defined as online communication. Social media also depends on user-generated content. This is why typical websites and blogs do not get included in the world of social media. There are only certain people that can post to these sites, and there are significant restrictions on the types of content that get uploaded. The typical social media that comes to mind such as Snapchat and Instagram have no restrictions, excluding pornographic and violent content. These forms of social media are user friendly and allow anyone who wishes to create an account to post. Social media's origin is considered to be Samuel Morse's first telegraph, which he sent in 1844 between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, as it was the first wireless connection to communicate. (History Cooperative) However, this origin does not meet the definition of social media mentioned previously. With the definition created before, the origin of social media would be in the 1970s, when the internet first came to the public, however most computers were much too expensive for the average household. (History Cooperative) It was not until the 1980s and 1990s that the internet became more mainstream. (History Cooperative) Six Degrees is created as the first social media outlet in 1997, and coming out of use in 2001. (History Cooperative) Friendster came about as competitor to Six Degrees in 2002, and remade itself in 2011 as a gaming site. (History Cooperative) These sites paved the way for other sites, such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many others. With these sites and apps, there are also dangers that come with it, such as identity theft, data misuse, oversharing, and malicious links. (Banerjee) As long as you have common sense while using the internet, it is a tool for recreation, work and other activities. Some social media and overall internet common sense is to avoid spam profiles, such as not adding account of people that are not personally known, not oversharing on social media profiles, and identifying fake apps, malware and suspicious links. (Banerjee) The overall lesson to be learned for social media is that if you don't know, don't completely trust it, or feel in any way suspicious to avoid it, not click on it, and move along. As for oversharing on a social media profile, this can contribute to avoiding a robbery, avoiding being hacked, and protecting personal information. (Internet Safety 101) Many young people and those who are new to the internet and social media feel the need to share every little detai l, however this can help aid hackers in guessing a password and security questions.

New Belgium Brewing Company †Marketing Strategy Resesarch Outline (300 Level Course)

New Belgium Brewing Company – Marketing Strategy Resesarch Outline (300 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers New Belgium Brewing Company Marketing Strategy Resesarch Outline (300 Level Course) Problem Statement o The lack of constant marketing that reinforces the award winning taste of the New Belgium Brewing Company. Key drivers of change in the industry o Customer loyalty. o The strength of batches of beer made. o The ability to maintain inventory such as the special yeast and barley. Competition Strength Assessment o Competes in the Craft/Micro brew segment of the beer industry regionally and nationally. Major competition is Guinness, O’Dells, Pete’Wicked Ale, Pyaramid Pale ALy, Flying Dog Ales, and Sierra Nevada. o Their major competition is the national market. Their lack of national presence is a weakness. Key Factors for Competitive Success in the Industry o Awards from Business Ethics magazine and Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for their socially responsible business. o Commitment to the environment, society and personal relationship with consumers. o Consumers believe in and feel good about this product. o Loyal beer drinking consumers. o Their core values and beliefs are to be environmentally concerned and socially responsible brewers. o The employee loyalty programs are unmatched by any other craft/micro-breweries. o Their commitment to the environment and social concerns. o The pricing of a 6-pack of beer is competitive. Recommended Strategy and Justification o New Belgium Brewing Company does a great job on running an environmental, ethical and socially responsible business. However the lack of an active marketing campaign could lead the micro brewery out of the consumers mind. They do have a lot of positive public relations with their socially responsible events in the community and employee relationships. The brewery needs to do some print ads in socially responsible magazines that their customers read. SWOT o Strengths ? Stable sales force ? Well treated employees who enjoy their job. ? Comprehensive product lines of different beers. ? Technical expertise with different beers has been very successful in customer response. ? Strong brand name among consumers. ? Privately owned company that has abundant financial resources. ? Well known brand name in the micro-brewery category. ? Respected company with a strong brand name that means environmentally, socially and ethically responsible. ? Employees are committed to their job because of the treatment they receive. o Weaknesses ? Management does not use traditional marketing to push the beer. ? Deals only with small accounts and misses the larger stores to carry their product. ? Vulnerable to technological changes. ? Rapid growth leads to many social programs and not a focus on the business of making beer. ? Limited distribution of products in national markets. ? Higher costs than direct competitors. ? Does not have a wide variety with many price points on beer lines o Opportunities ? Rapid market growth in untapped markets. ? Rival firms are complacent and not attacking new markets. ? Opening of foreign markets (new) ? New technology for the brewing of beer to be more environmentally friendly. ? Sales decline for competitors and New Belgium Brewing Beer becomes the substitute for their competition’s products. o Threats ? Entry of new micro brewery in their markets. ? If they ignore marketing and reach the decline stage of the product life cycle. ? Changes in federal and state policies on the environmental and social responsibilities of a beer company. ? Demographic shifts in their loyal customer following. ? New CEO does not have the same values the company does. Research Papers on New Belgium Brewing Company - Marketing Strategy Resesarch Outline (300 Level Course)Analysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesTwilight of the UAWOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPETSTEL analysis of IndiaRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Job Search Success Story †This Could Be You!

Job Search Success Story – This Could Be You! In my last blog post, Job Seeker Success Survey Results Are Out!, I reviewed some of the most and least effective thoughts and actions taken by job seekers. As promised in last weeks article, heres a story from a client who turned his thinking around from negative to positive and took actions that quickly led to a highly desired job offer. You can create a similar success! Here is his story, as he relates it: Commitment, Investment, Learning My job search began in May 2012, and kicked into high gear in July 2012 as my MBA degree was imminent. As the search began, my thoughts wandered at my current position, admittedly at the expense of my work production; I knew the end was near and this was NOT the company I wanted to build a career with. I had waited patiently for almost 4 years for my opportunity to jump into something I love. I was not going to find a quick fix and take anybody who would have me. I was willing to wait and find the perfect job with the perfect company. I began to devour any and all reading material regarding job searching. I happened upon How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile and read it on the plane to my wedding in Florida. I enlisted the help of The Essay Expert and things got really serious. Not only did I feel I had responsibility to myself, my family, and my new bride, but now I was even more heavily invested, emotionally and financially, in finding that new beginning. I received a LinkedIn makeover, resume makeover and two cover letters that were easily customized to any job I was applying for. Challenges Arise and Some Disempowering Self-Talk I figured Id be hired in no time with the perfect company. Nobody had a better LinkedIn profile, nobody had a better resume, nobody had written a more perfect cover letter. I do sales for a living, so thought interviews would be a BREEZE for a charismatic guy like myself. I was wrong. Those perfect jobs I found? I received rejection emails without even an interview. I complained, Dont they know how hard Ive worked and all the years Ive put in to making myself the perfect candidate? Empowering Self-Talk After suffering for a few weeks, I wrote to Brenda Bernstein, The Essay Expert, who suggested I hire a career coach. She connected me with Kristin Johnson. At this point I had a choice: continue to invest in myself or do it on my own and get the mediocre results I was already getting. I decided to invest in myself because in this job search process you begin to really doubt yourself. With Kristins help, I began to figure out who I am and what my brand is. I had heard the term branding before and thought it was a junk statement made by airheads in Hollywood. Then I came to a realization: I dont know how to express who I am! I could sell anybody on anything but I couldnt sell myself. I again began to devour literature on interviewing. Working with Kristin I learned how to sell myself to achieve my goals. Empowering Action I put my nose to the grindstone. I gained 20 pounds, refusing to go to the gym in the effort to squeeze out more job searching time [Editors note: I do not necessarily recommend this strategy! Many people succeed because they DO go to the gym!]. I emailed, called and met with anybody I could to get connected with a potential job. I was always looking for an angle to make a connection. I poured more hours into my job search, and what were once great cover letters became one-page works of art that took hours for me to construct. Miraculously, doors began to open. I started getting calls for phone and in-person interviews. By trial and error I began to learn how to navigate these encounters. With every interview I felt myself improving and gaining confidence. I dedicated myself to reading self-help books, mostly from Dale Carnegie, and took this knowledge to interviews. Doors began to open widercompanies were offering me jobs! I went from praying for an interview to turning down positions because they just didnt fulfill all my needs. I was being looked at by one of the most luxurious and iconic hotels in New York City. A leader in the online travel agency was flying me out to their headquarters to meet with a panel of interviewers. A company I had turned down for a lower position offered me a management position. A complete 180 occurred! Winning the Game The search finally concluded in November 2012, after 6 months of relentless searching and networking. I accepted a position at a hospitality organization that is worthy of my talents and skills. A tremendous amount of time and effort was poured into this process and I got by with a little help from my new friends. Do you have a successful job search story to share? Please leave a comment below! Category:Job SearchBy Brenda BernsteinApril 23, 2013

Law Practice Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Law Practice Management - Essay Example It entails targeting a specific market or community that is easily identifiable. The decision that was unanimously arrived at is that we should carve out our niche in Computer law. This area of law, deals with securing information that is stored and/or transmitted through computers. There is a horde of reasons for choosing this specific area of specialization. To begin with, our existing clientele mainly draws out from this area, and they have a capacity to sustain our entity in the short run and help us to breakeven within the first year of operation. Secondly, we have the necessary educational background, and passion for this specific niche, individually and collectively. In addition, this is a developing area, with a greatly promising future. Internet has had a profound impact on the society in the past few years and the nature of its dynamic changes creates a lot of emerging legal uncertainty. In addition, there is an increase in the number of legislations enacted in the recent past, such as Computer Security Act of 1987 and Health Information Technology of 2009. To add, it touches basically on every other sphere of law from, e-commerce, Intellectual Property (IP), privacy to online money payment systems. Moreover, it is cross cutting and is not limited in terms of boundaries, and it, in essence, makes boundaries more and more meaningless. More importantly, it has an untapped potential, and growth rate is exponential, given that the number of Americans using internet or having access to internet grows day by day. In addition, most organizations have automated their mode of operation and it is basically possible to complete all manner of transactions online. This market has few practitioners as compared to the potential market, and the existing market is highly untapped. The entity we have chosen to adopt and register is in the form of a professional association, registered as an S corporation under the laws

TED speech reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

TED speech reflection - Essay Example It is a useful tool that is for planning in the health service sector especially in Maternal and Child Health (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Maternal and Child Health quality should be continuously. The mortality rate in developing countries was very high in the past although major steps have already been taken thus reducing the number significantly. It is very paramount for health ministry’s to invest in the sector since children are the future generation of the universe. There an enabling environment should be provided for them to discover their talents, achieve their needs and desires and grow in all aspects. Hence, the need for strategic Maternal and Child Health Planning arises (Fraser, 2013). The following variables are, therefore, the drivers that affect efforts made towards achieving the Maternal and Child Health. They include time, the environment and equity. In order to improve MCH, time is a very imperative aspect. Children should be treated in time to eliminate the number of deaths that arises as a result of late treatments. In addition, environment forces influence the steps made towards achieving bet ter service provision. Countries, which have low living standards, have numerous challenges in achieving the LCT in MCH. Finally, the service is not provided uniformly; some people can obtain their preferred treatment during the process of accessing health services (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. (2010). Rethinking MCH: The life course model as an organizing framework. Concept Paper, Version 1.1. Retrieved from

Close Adoption vs Open Adoption Essay Example for Free

Close Adoption vs Open Adoption Essay The concept of adoption was not legally recognized in the United States until the 1850’s, with the inception of the first adoption laws. While transfers of children to substitute parents or now known as â€Å"adoptive parents† had occurred informally since American colonial times, adoption laws legitimized the informal adoptive arrangements which previously existed. There are now two different forms of adopting a child: open or closed adoptions. Although there are two options for adoption, all adoptions should be considered closed until an adoptee is 21. The adoption process for closed adoptions differs from the open adoption process and has more benefits. The open adoption process, is in which the adoptive parents actually meet and usually stay in touch with the birthparents. Birthparents voice in choosing their childs adoptive parents. Both open adoption and closed adoption use agencies or a lawyer, but in open adoption the agency gives the birthparents biographies of prospective adoptive parents, and the birthparents pick the family they are most comfortable with or â€Å"click† (Winerip 1). Compared to closed adoption, the prospective adoptive family would put their name on a list, and wait for the social worker to make a match. This doesn’t involve the need of personalities between families to match, just the potential factor of a good child support system which is the most important aspect. â€Å"Conversely, if they want a closed adoption, they shouldn’t be pressured into an open adoption because adopters may find it harder to fulfill their side of the agreement such as: sending the birthmother photos or visiting† (â€Å"Family Education† 2). Also, in open adoption the birthparents and adoptive parents meet, and might be in touch frequently during the pregnancy while closed adoption the adoptive parents didnt know where the child came from, or who his or her birthparents were which gives them more of sense that the child belongs to them and deserves all their love as if it was given birth by the adoptive mother. Many times the adoptive parents in an open adoption are able to witness their childs birth and some of these families stay in touch through their adoption agency, especially on birthdays and holidays. Others become friends or create somewhat of an â€Å"extended family†. During closed adoption however, there is no contact between birth and adoptive families. This gives both families a sense of closure. Through the closed adoption process no identifying information is provided, giving a type of curiosity back to the adoptive parents on what their child may look like instead of seeing the birth mother and assuming that that child will look like her. They are only given non-identifying information (e. g. , height in the birth family, potential hair color, medical history, ect. is provided through the third party such as the agency or attorney. When adoptions are closed, the files are usually physically sealed until the age of 21 to the adoptee and the adoptive parents giving everyone a sense of closure (Thompson 1). Closed adoption and open adoption have a key difference including the involvement of the birthparents from their point of view that is more beneficial when the adoption is closed. Open adoption birth parents experience a sense of less guilt as a benefit (Gray 27) of the adoption but what benefit does the child rear? Adoption should be more for the child and less for the birth parents emotional ground. But closed adoption does give the birth parents privacy because â€Å"placing a child for adoption is an extremely sensitive and vulnerable choice. Having a closed adoption creates an opportunity for a stronger sense of privacy,† (â€Å"N. A. I. C. H. † 1) and it can also reduce fear because â€Å"some birth mothers are concerned about explaining their choice, and a closed adoption serves as a way to prevent them from a confrontation with a child placed for adoption† (â€Å"N. A. I. C. H. † 1). Closed adoption rids the birth parents of the responsibility they were not ready for in the first place and gives the child a chance at a better life with more responsible individuals. In some cases, closed adoption kills two birds with one stone by riding a birth parent of the embarrassment of not being prepared or financially stable for a child while giving the adoptive child a chance for a better life with an adoptive family that is looking for a child to give love and a good life too. Closed adoption is more beneficial from the Adoptive parents’ viewpoint rather than open adoption. Open adoption gives the birth parents the option to demand wants of the adoptive parents and those demands may cross boundaries. In a sense, an adoptive family may get the feeling of â€Å"affirmation- As an adoptive family, you may experience a sense of empowerment or encouragement knowing that you were chosen as the adoptive family† (â€Å"N. A. I. C. H. † 2) but birth parents may still want to be in the adoptee’s life as extended family but two mom’s and two dad’s? Would that not confuse a small child? With closed adoption, the adoptive parents have full responsibility and there is no answering to birth parents or any fuzzy oundaries of rules and expectations for a child such as â€Å"birth parent interference or co-parenting concerns† (â€Å"N. A. I. C. H. † 1). The adoptive family is given the full privilege of raising their adoptive child how they would like to and â€Å"family freedom- if the birth families are not involved, the adoptive family is free to have their family time without restraints of visitations and on-going communication† (â€Å"N. A. I. C. H. † 1). It is even up to the adoptive family to decide to tell child that he/she is adopted. Closed adoption is safer for the adoptive child rather than open adoption and has more benefits. Open adoptions give the child his/her identity and suppose that by chance the birth parents are properly functioning human beings, which would give the adopted child an extended family that was healthy (â€Å"American Pregnancy Association† 1). On the other hand though, what if the child doesn’t wish to know their birth parents because he/she was adopted or their birth parents have issues or mental problems that are not healthy for the child to be around or interact with? Closed adoption eliminates these possibilities. Unless the adoptive child specifically asks who they really are, the child could be completely fine without knowing they’re adopted and have a normal family with one mom and one dad. More often than none, the adoptee’s birth parents give them up for adoption for a reason. This includes the possibilities of an unplanned pregnancy, lacking financially, or just simply aren’t ready for the responsibility. The purpose of adoption is to give the adoptee a better life than it would’ve originally had. In the end, the child still has the option of finding their birth parents records when they are of the age to legally obtain that information.

Ralph Lauren Essay -- essays research papers

Ralph Lauren is American's leading designer in the classic tradition, who has stayed true to his own point of view, despite the seasonal vagaries of fashion. Mr. Lauren has always believed that fashion is function of lifestyle. He believes that clothed should be natural, comfortable and elegant, for the way people live today. His clothes have timeless grace and become more personal and special age. For Mr. Lauren, the starting point is always his concern for quality and attention to detail, while the creative drama comes from his own romantic sense of elegance and reverence for authencity. Always true to his own purely American vision of fashion, his products are nearly as diverse as the country that inspires them. He designs a wide range of products, including menswear, womenswear, boyswear, girlswear, home furnishing, eyewear, scarves, shoes, hosiery, fragrances, handbag, luggage and leather goods. And the stores that carry his products are located across the United States and around the world.   MENSWEAR : POLO BY RALPH LAUREN In 1967, the New York born bred Ralph Lauren started the Polo division of Beau Brummel neckties. Ties at that time were in an Ivy League phase-dark, narrow and undistinguished. But, for several years, Mr. Lauren had harbored the nation that the time was right for a new look. And so, he pioneered the wide tie-a four-inch tie made from opulent materials and fabrications that were unheard of in the business. Polo ties soon became the status tie. And Ralph Lauren became the menswear design to watch, as his ties revolutionized the industry. Mr.Lauren had more dreams to fulfill. He chose the name Polo for his line of ties because the sport repsented to him a lifestyle of athletic grace and discreet elegance, an image of men who wore well-tailored, classic clothes and wore them with style. With that image in mind, Mr Lauren established Polo as a separate menswear company in 1968, producing a complete line of men's clothes. Using only the finest fabrications, Mr. Lares's menswear was distinctive, innovative, but always classic and refined. His suits blended the American Ivy League natural shoulder silhouette with the fitted shape and expensive fabrics of the best European custom tailored clothing. His shirts were all cotton, richly patterned and expertly made. This same care was, and still is, applied to every element of... ... Mr. Lauren took a leading position in raising funds to build new exhibit space and a headquarter building for the museum. In 1989, Mr. Lauren united the fashion industry to support Brest cancer research. Through a personal contribution and fundraising, Mr. Lauren successfully launched the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at the Lombardi Cancer Research Center at Georgetown University's medical complex in Washington, D.C. The Center is Named for Nina Hyde, the fashion editor of The Washington Post, in recognition to her contributions to cancer research. Mr. Lauren also takes time out to accept a few design project, including costuming all the male Actors in "The Great Gatsby "(1973 and Woody Allen and Dianne Keaton in "AnnieHall"(1971). In 1978, Mr. Lauren designed a uniform program for Trans World Airlines(TWA) that is still in use today. PERSONAL INFORMATION With Demanding work schedules, Ralph Lauren prefers to lead, personal life with his family - his wife Ricky and their three children. They enjoy jogging around the Central Park reservoir near their upper Fifth Avenue apartment in New York City and active weekends at their Colorado ranch.

Birmingham Airport Essay

Question 1: List some of the micro operations to be found at Birmingham International Airport. i) Baggage handling operation ii) Ground cress loading and unloading operation iii) Airline ticketing operation iv) Information dispensing operation v) Cleaning operation vi) Customer services operation vii) Technical maintenance operation viii) Fire alert operation Each of these micro operations played a significant role at Birmingham International Airport to improve their business operations. a) Identify the main transforming and transformed resources. Operations management can defined as a set of components that can related into a set of input become desired output. Furthermore, this conversion is called the transformation process that is view as the technical core. Basically, the main transforming and transformed resources are baggage handling operation, give some information desk, checking passport control and security checks.Hence, the objective is to produce outputs that important for the customers. This process generates the internal information as a part of feedback process. Furthermore, this significant part is to aim serve with every customer well and keep it to running the process safely on time. b) State which is the predominant transformed resources, i.e., customers, materials, or information.   Each state of micro operations has different role that are based on customers, materials or information. There are three micro operations are based on customers at Birmingham International Airport. First, micro operation based on customers is baggage handling operations that do the sorting, checking and dispatching bags to the many departing aircrafts. Second, micro operation based on customers is airline-ticketing operation that deals with lines of passengers, each of who may have different final destination. Third, micro operation based on customers is customer services operations that give passengers information from information desk which is  always fully manned, dealing with many queries that people want to know if their plane is on time, location and how to work out to get a faster road to their final destination. There are three micro operations are based on materials at Birmingham International Airport. First, micro operation based on material is ground cress loading and unloading operation, such as aircraft or putting meals on board. Second, micro operation based on material is cleaning operation that does the cleaning of aircraft during their brief spell at the air bridge. The only micro operation based on information is information dispensing operation. Its task is to give the passengers who needed of information, who need information about the airline, transportation, lodging, and etc. c) Describe the output of each micro operation and say who you think its customers are. The output and customer of micro operation for baggage handling operation is the sending baggages to the cargo and inspected baggages. Therefore, customers are from each departing aircraft that carries their respective baggage. Conversely, the output for the next micro operation, which is loading and unloading from aircraft, is the service to load and unload from the aircraft. Furthermore, customer for loading and unloading on aircraft is the serviced aircraft. Output for micro operation of airline ticketing operation is to provide tickets for passengers with different final destination and the customer for this operation is the airline passenger. The next output for information-dispensing operation is to provide information for people that needed to be helped. Beside that, customer for information dispensing operation is the people needing the information regarding the airline and its services. Output of micro operation of cleaning operation is to provide a cleaned place with the purpose to give passengers the proper basic services and good image on the airliner. So, the customer for cleaning operation is all the cleaned places. Output for good stocking operation is the checked and stocked goods. The customer is the sufficiently stocked store in Birmingham International Airport. The output of micro operation of technical maintenance operation is the maintained and  repaired airline facility and vehicles at Birmingham International Airport. The customer is the airline facilities and vehicles that required constant maintenance and services. The output for fire alert operation is the fully trained fire crew so that they are alert of any fire accident all the time. Its customer is the airline customers and Birmingham International Airport, of which they are the one benefited from the help of fire crews in case of any mishaps happened. Question 2: What would you say are the main problems in designing, planning, controlling and improving an airport? The main problem in designing is each part of the airport has to be carefully designed to fulfill the job today. The main problems in planning are each part of the operation has to be planned so that it has enough staff, enough stock, enough space, the appropriate passengers, the correct baggage, the right planes, the proper equipment, in the right place at the right time. The staffs involved from the airport, airlines and associated organizations have to undertake all the tasks they have been given so that the operations work smoothly. The manager has to ensure that an airport has the right quantity and quality of employees doing the right things in the right place at the right time and at right cost to the airport. The manager has to make sure that everything goes smoothly all the time according with his or her planned. The main problem in controlling is managers must control these operations to ensure that all goes to plan and meets the needs of the present customers and upcoming customers. The manager has to monitoring and regulating performance to ensure that it conforms to the plans and goals of the Birmingham International Airport. In controlling, the manager also has to taking the appropriate corrective action to ensure that what is actually happening is in accordance with the expectations of the planning process that does not necessarily involve cracking down on staff who are not performing to the expected standards, but it may also mean reviewing the plans and implementing them where it can be demonstrated that they were defective in same way or that conditions have changed. The main problems in improving are managers have to look to improving what they do and how they  do it in order to keep up with the track in this rapidly changing world.

“Interpreting The Day the Earth Stood Still for Contemporary Film Audiences” Review Essay

In the article â€Å"Interpreting The Day the Earth Stood Still for Contemporary Film Audiences† written in 2008, the Author, Joshua Pardon, writes about the messages that were sent to the American film audience of 1951 through the film The Day the Earth Stood Still, based on a short story by Harry Bates written in 1940. These messages ranged from topics like the societal costs of atomic technology and both a negative and positive view of militarism, to criticism of the mass media. He also writes about how, unlike TV shows, and stories by the baby boom generation portrayed the 1950’s as a time when everything was wonderful for every citizen all the time, the argument can be made that it was a â€Å"strange and weird† time full of uncertainty, fear, and paranoia; and this film portrays these feelings, with strong messages that Pardon suggest could be applied to current world events. To make you better understand his article, he added a very well written summery of the movie followed by interpretations of the film’s scenes that could be applied to what was happening in America in 1951 and events happening in 2008. He compares the Cold War’s potential to lead to atomic catastrophe to the current war on terrorism; the public’s confusion on whether to trust scientist to the current debate of stem cell research, climate change and the scientific basis of evolution; and the media’s need to sensationalize current events take away from the real issues both in 1951 and today. I would have to say that Pardon’s article is very convincing and well written; the amount of information given by the author is very satisfactory. There is plenty of background information on what were the current events in the 1950s on every interpretation on the not so hidden messages of the movie that allow you to see the similarity of today’s issues and clearly see how the movie can be relatable today. Also, it goes into details of every important character, and even compares characters to specific iconic people from that era, such as Albert Einstein; and even the character Tom Stevens, a co mpany man with selfish intentions as a negative portrayal of a greedy American business culture. Such great details of interpretation make this article a very good and fulfilling read. In my opinion, the weakest part of this article is that, although the information given allows you to paint a clear picture of what the author is trying to communicate, it often added too much information of what almost felt like irrelevant information. Additionally, I felt that the author jumped from one subject to the next,  just to bring it back up later in the article, and even though it wasn’t confusing and the information was always different, it made the subject feel redundant. To sum up, Pardon’s article on the interpretation of the film The Day the Earth Stood Still, was a very informative and eye opening article that clearly shows all the political messages in the film. His words were able to paint a very good picture of what was happening in 1951, when the movie was made, so that you can better understand the messages that were being sent by the film that allowed us to b etter see how, even though it had been over 60 decades since this article was written, the film is still relevant today.

Test Your Knowledge on the Gettysburg Address

Test Your Knowledge on the Gettysburg Address Characterized as both a prose poem and a prayer, Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address is a concise rhetorical masterwork. After reading the speech, take this short quiz, and then compare your responses with the answers below. Lincolns short speech begins, famously, with the words Four score and seven years ago. (The word score comes from an Old Norwegian word meaning twenty.) What famous document does Lincoln allude to in the first sentence of his speech?(A) The Declaration of Independence(B) The Articles of Confederation(C) Constitution of the Confederate States of America(D) The United States Constitution(E) Emancipation ProclamationIn the second sentence of his address, Lincoln repeats the verb conceived. What is the literal meaning of conceive?(A) to bring to an end, close(B) to overcome the distrust or animosity of; to appease(C) to be of interest or importance to(D) to become pregnant (with offspring)(E) to keep from being seen, found, or discoveredIn the second sentence of his address, Lincoln refers to that nation. Which nation is he talking about?(A) the Confederate States of America(B) the Northern States of America(C) the United States of America(D) Great Britain(E) Union States of America We are met, Lincoln says in line three, on a great battlefield of that war. What is the name of that battlefield?(A) Antietam(B) Harpers Ferry(C) Manassas(D) Chickamauga(E) GettysburgA tricolon is a series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses. In which of the following lines does Lincoln employ a tricolon?(A) We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. (B) Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.(C) This we may, in all propriety do.(D) The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.(E) But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow, this ground.This ground, Lincoln says, has been consecrated by the men . . . who struggled here. What is the meaning of consecrated?(A) empty, containing a deep space(B) soaked in blood(C ) made sacred(D) desecrated, violated(E) greeted in a warm and friendly manner Parallelism is a rhetorical term meaning similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses. In which of the following sentences does Lincoln use parallelism?(A) This we may, in all propriety do.(B) The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.(C) We are met on a great battlefield of that war.(D) But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow, this ground.(E) Both B and DLincoln repeats several key words in his short address. Which one of the following words does not appear more than once?(A) dedicated(B) nation(C) freedom(D) dead(E) livingThe phrase birth of freedom in the final line of Lincolns address calls to mind which similar phrase in the first sentence of the speech?(A) all men are created equal(B) conceived in liberty(C) Four score and seven years ago(D) dedicated to the proposition(E) upon this continentEpiphora (also known as epistrophe) is a rh etorical term meaning the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several clauses. In what portion of the long final sentence of The Gettysburg Address does Lincoln use epiphora?(A) It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here(B) this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom(C) that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause(D) we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain(E) government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish Answers to the  Reading Quiz on the Gettysburg Address (A)  The Declaration of Independence(D) to become pregnant (with offspring)(C) the United States of America(E) Gettysburg(E) But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow, this ground.(C) made sacred(E) Both B and D(C) freedom(B) conceived in liberty(E) government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish

Words Ending in -ance and -ence

Words Ending in -ance and -ence Words Ending in -ance and -ence Words Ending in -ance and -ence By Maeve Maddox A reader asked if there were some easy-to-remember spelling tip for dealing with words ending in -ence and -ance. Both endings derive from Latin nouns. Words from Latin nouns ending in -entia affluence from affluentia, â€Å"abundance† audience from audientia, â€Å"a hearing† benevolence from benevolentia, â€Å"good will† continence from continentia, â€Å"self-control† diligence from diligentia, â€Å"accuracy† Words from Latin nouns ending in -antia elegance from elegantia, â€Å"neatness† petulance from petulantia, â€Å"forward conduct† significance from significantia, â€Å"an indication, a sign† vigilance from vigilantia, â€Å"watchfulness† tolerance from tolerantia, â€Å"enduring† Here are some of the most common English words with these endings. The only way to spell them correctlyapart from using a spell checkeris to memorize them. Words ending in -ence: absence affluence audience coherence conference confidence conscience consequence consistence correspondence dependence diligence evidence existence influence obedience occurrence patience persistence preference reference Words ending in -ance: acquaintance allowance ambulance annoyance appearance appliance arrogance disturbance dominance extravagance grievance guidance ignorance instance nuisance relevance remittance resistance significance substance tolerance Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should Know20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word FormsDrama vs. Melodrama

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

Dubai ECONOMIC SECURITY - Research Paper Example Over the last three years, Dubai has shown an upward growth in the economy owing to the increase in the international oil prices and the growth of the tourism industry. However, the government still wails in debt and there are signs that the city has not yet achieved economic independence. This is a big threat and promises an economic crisis in future unless the government takes control of its spending and focuses on economic generation rather than spending, which will pose danger on its economic security. Dubai experiences one of the most tremendous population expansions in the world. Between 2005 and 2013, the population of the Dubai Emirate grew from 1.2 million to 2.1 million, which is close to double within a period of only 8 years. The population density of the emirate is about 409 per square kilometer, which is more than 8 times that of the entire country. Just like many other countries in the world, the population of females in Dubai is slightly higher than that of the males. Dubai has a poverty rate of about 10% which is much lower than 19.5% poverty rate in the United Arab Emirates. The crude death rate in Dubai is at 1.4 while the infant mortality rate ranges at about 7 deaths per one thousand infants (Middle East Monitor, 2014). These low figures indicate that Dubai is one of the rapidly developing economies in the world, and much better than other countries in the United Arab Emirates. Economic indicators are important points of evaluating the economic development within a region. The low poverty level in Dubai is another indicator of the fact that the city’s population majorly lies within the middle class (Alajoutsijà ¤rvi, Juusola, & Lamberg, 2014). On this note, Dubai enjoys a good economic status and has a challenge to maintain this by finding ways which they can guarantee economic wellbeing in the long term. The Dubai’s economy is dependent majorly on the oil industry. Economic

US company expanding to Italy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

US company expanding to Italy - Research Paper Example Mostly, foreign businesses are exploited through regulations, practices and laws that are usually protective of the local businesses. These are the challenges that a U.S. firm expanding to Italy will face as it tries to gain grounds and remain competitive in foreign environment. U.S. business regulations do not discriminate against small or large corporations as they are all subject to the same regulations. The country has a host of laws that govern business in the country and must be adhered to by any business. Employment and labor laws are stringent in how they regulate treatment of employees by businesses. These laws cover every aspect of employees’ relations. Further, the laws keep on changing as the government and labor bodies continue to protect employees more. The first labor law is Minimum Wage Law which sets the least possible wage for workers of every category. Other laws include Fair Labor Standards Act, Equal Opportunity Employment, Employee Retirement Income Security Act and many other laws that regulate employees’ welfare. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) seeks to make sure that every employee receives retirement benefits according to her own choice (Cihon & Castagneria, 2013). The Immigration and Nationality Act prevents any business from discriminating against any U.S. citizens. Advertising and marketing laws are also stringent on businesses activities. The Federal Trade Commission ensures that business comply with these laws. The laws are intended to safeguard consumers’ interests, while protecting them from scrupulous business who cheat through advertising and marketing. Businesses are required to give the truth in adverts, to enable Americans make purchasing decisions well. Failure to comply with these laws attracts lawsuits and heavy fines. The advertisements must not be unfair to competitors. Privacy law is another major business law that affect running of

Shells international business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Shells international business - Research Paper Example Even though there are many energy sources, oil seems to be the most popular energy source in the world even now. It is often said that the economic growth of a country depends on its ability to produce or import oil resources at the cheaper rate. This is because of the fact that the majority of the industrial equipment and automobiles in the world are using oil as the fuel. Global economic growth is linked to oil prices. Any fluctuations in oil prices may create immense economic changes as well as changes in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, unemployment and inflation rates in the world. For example, the 1973 -1975 oil price hike has shocked the world economy. The growth rate fell to 2.1% in 1974 and to 1.45 in 1975. The worldwide trade growth rate also dropped heavily from 12% in 1973 to -5.4% in 1974 and -7.3 in 1975. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has dropped from 40% in 1973 to half of it in 1974 (Oil prices and the global economy, n. d). According to a study by IMF Research Department (2000), â€Å"there will be a transfer of income from oil consumers to oil producers; there will be a rise in the cost of production of goods and services in the economy†. In short, oil seems to be an essential commodity required for global economic growth. In the oil business, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies needs no introduction in the global market. They are one of the largest global group of energy and petrochemicals companies with around 92000 employees in more than 70 countries and territories.

Reversible Photochromism: Effects and Applications

Reversible Photochromism: Effects and Applications 1. Introduction In this report I will be looking at the smart material property known as Reversible Photochromism. This property contains a range of chemicals that react to UV light. This report will explore a range of the effects of the compound, which will include a review of the applications of this property and the process that make them possible, by exploring the, Ring Process, method. This report will also include looking at general applications where Reversible Photochromism technology is being used and any future concepts, such as, smart materials/technology involving textiles, dyes and inks. Including existing products, such as, transition lenses, and how that technology can be used for greater achievements. 2. What is Photochromism? Photochromism is the reversible alteration of a chemical variety between two forms by the absorption of electromagnetic radiation, where the two forms have different absorption spectrum. This can be described as a reversible change of colour upon exposure to light. Where the current substance transforms into a different colour once exposed to UV light. Once the UV light is removed, the substance under goes a transformation into its original state. Interest in Photochromism was constant but limited until the 1940-1960 periods, which saw an increase of studies, particularly in the research groups of Hirshberg and Fischer in Israel. In 1950, Hirshberg suggested the term photochromism [from the Greek words: phos (light) and chroma (colour)] to describe the phenomenon. This is the name used today. The mechanism for Photochromism in plastic crystalline materials is shown below. (Closed Form) (Open Form) Photochromic colours/dyes are plastisol-based inks, which are off-white when not exposed to UV radiation. It gains colour when exposed to Sun light / UV light. The colour change is reversible, i.e., the colour will fade again and appear colour less or clear upon removal from UV light / sun light exposure. These inks are available in various colours; ranging from dark tones to bright pink. 3. How  are Photochromic Lenses Made? There is a vast range of different states Photochromism can be manipulated into. All of these states have extra compounds and particles. The most common Photochromic state is glass lenses. Photochromic lenses are lenses that darken on exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Once the UV is removed, for example by walking indoors, the lenses will slowly return to their clear state. Photochromic lenses may be made of glass, polycarbonate, or another plastic. The glass version of this type of lenses was first developed by Corning in the 1960s. More recently, plastic versions of these lenses have been commercialised. The first of these was the Photolite lens sold in the early 1980s. But the first commercially successful plastic Photochromic lens was introduced by Transitions Optical in 1991. The glass version of these lenses achieve their Photochromic properties through the embedding of microcrystalline silver halides (usually silver chloride), or molecules in a glass substrate. Plastic Photochromic lenses rely on organic Photochromic molecules to achieve the reversible darkening effect. The reason these lenses darken in sunlight but not indoors under artificial light, is that room light does not contain the UV found in sunlight. Transport windows also block UV so these lenses would darken less in a car. Lenses that darken in response to visible (rather than UV) light would avoid these issues, but they are not feasible for most applications. In order to respond to light, it is necessary to absorb it, thus the glass could not be made to be clear in its low-light state. This correctly implies Photochromic lenses are not entirely transparent; specifically they filter out UV light. This does not represent a problem, because the human eye does not see in the UV spectrum. With the Photochromic material dispersed in the glass substrate, the degree of darkening depends on the thickness of glass, which poses problems with variable-thickness lenses in prescription glasses. With plastic lenses, the material is normally embedded into the surface layer of the plastic. Typically, Photochromic lenses darken substantially in response to UV light in less than one minute, and then continue to darken very slightly. This can take 15 minutes. The lenses fade back to clear along a similar pattern. The lenses will begin to clear as soon as they are away from UV light, and will be noticeably lighter much quicker than the darkening process. However, it can take up to more than 20 minutes for the lenses to completely fade to their non-exposed state. Because Photochromic compounds fade back to their clear state by a thermal process, the higher the temperature, the less dark Photochromic lenses will be. This thermal effect is called temperature dependency and prevents these devices from achieving true sunglass darkness in very hot weather. In contrast, Photochromic lenses will get very dark in cold weather conditions; which makes them more suitable for snow skiers than sun worshippers while outside. Once inside, away from the triggering UV light, the cold lenses take longer to regain their clear colour than warm lenses. 4. The Chemical Compounds of Reversible Photochromism Photochromism can be manipulated into different states, liquids; gels, dyes and water like substance, and solids; thin plastic like films and pigment powders. The most common form of Photochromism is liquid dye. This dye is a clear substance that can be penetrated and manipulated into different forms. Dyes reversibly alter their colour upon exposure to ultraviolet sources. These chameleon-like dyes respond to natural solar irradiation as well as artificial sources such as 365 nanometer black light. When sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) radiation is applied, the Photochromic dye becomes excited and the molecular structure is changed allowing a colour to appear. When the stimulus (sunlight/UV radiation) is removed, the dye will return to a state of rest, which is its colourless form. Photochromic molecules are not reactive in their crystalline state and need to be dissolved in a solvent or polymer to function. A common feature of the Photochromic is a colourless isomer that contains a carbon-oxygen bond which dissociates with UV activation. The colourless isomer contains two localized pi systems that absorb only in the UV part of the spectrum. Hence, the molecule appears colourless. After the carbon-oxygen bond dissociates, the two pi systems change into a single delocalised pi system which absorbs in the visible part of the spectrum, causing colour formulation. The life of Photochromic material depends on the amount of Photochromic compound used, the stabilisers used and the material in which it is used. Generally, it is suggested that 0.1 gram per square foot be used to provide an adequate reservoir of Photochromic compound. The use of ultraviolet absorbers will also extend the life of the Photochromic, but will reduce the colour intensity. There are effectively two changes occurring simultaneously; a chemical change arises when the molecule is exposed to UV light that enables conjugation to take place throughout the molecule; a structural change also occurs to enable the overlap of molecules. Therefore, spatially, the molecules must be able to flatten out to allow this conjugation to take place. It is a fully reversible reaction so that when the light source is removed, the molecule returns to its uncoloured state. Heat can also help drive the reaction back to the uncoloured form, so in very hot conditions, there is always competition between light and heat to determine the given colour observed. In general, a colour change is still observed, albeit weaker than at room temperature. Similarly, in cold conditions in the presence of sunlight, an intense colour is observed as there is little or no competition from the back reaction. Such dyes incorporated within a sol-gel matrix can have several practical applications, such as optical switches (if the reversal is very fast) and optical storage for computer memory (if the reverse colour change is not possible at room temperature). Sol-gel Materials mixed with Photochromic dyes have also been investigated as fibre optic delay generators (Meer 1990), fibre optic shutters, and in Photomasking and Photoresist materials (Hawker 1993). Sol-gel based coatings may also be used for ophthalmic lenses such as scratch resistant coatings on sunglasses. The colouring changing process is described as the, ring opening/ring-closing process (Brown 1971) This is where the molecules lie flat in there closed form before UV radiation. In this state the substance is colourless. Once UV light is exposed to the substance, the molecules react by twisting, creating an open form. This open form causes the Photochromic dye to turn into a colour. Once the UV light is removed, the molecules twist back to their flat state, reversing back to the colourless substance. Depending on the intensity of the UV light and heat, the speed of which the reverse effect may vary. This process can be repeated many times; however the colour will become less and eventually dim. New Photochromic dyes are now being introduced to slow the fading effect and eventually stop it. Scientists can create different colours of Photochromic dyes by mixing Photochromic pigment powder. In their pure state, Photochromic dyes are powdered crystals that must be dissolved in the inks to which they are added. Some manufacturers microencapsulate the Photochromic dye in their own system, as with leucodye microcapsules. Microencapsulating Photochromic systems enables them to be used in inks that cannot dissolve them, such as water-based systems. Even on cloudy days, Photochromic dyes exhibit bright colour changes when taken outdoors. (Just as with lenses) The colour you see may differ slightly on very hot days or if a UV lamp, rather than sunlight, is used to excite the materials. 5. Organic Photochromism Fritzsche reported in 1867 the bleaching of an orange-coloured solution of tetracene in the daylight and the regeneration of the colour in the dark. Later, Meer found a change of colour of the potassium salt of dinitroethane in the solid state (yellow in the dark; red in the daylight). Another early example was published by Phipson, who noted that a painted gate post appeared black all day and white all night (due to a zinc pigment). Research and experiments into organic photochromism has enabled the photochromic process to be used on plastic and other materials. However, organic photochromism is controversial, as this goes beyond the domain of variable optical transmission and includes a number of reversible physical phenomena such as optical memories and switches, variable electrical current, ion transport through membranes, variable wet ability, etc. For this purpose, organic photochromic compounds are often incorporated in polymers and liquid crystalline materials. 6. The Chemical Process of Organic Photochromism Organic Photochromic materials consist of a polymer matrix of optical quality having a refractive state and at least one dye that imparts Photochromic properties to the matrix. A dye must be selected from a group consisting of spiropyrans and chromenes. This compound is then put under intense radiation to form Organic Photochromism. This then can be placed in specialist lenses and materials. 7. Organic Photochromism in Cosmetics In general cosmetic materials, Organic Photochromism is being used in cosmetic and related formulations. Colouration has been employed as a cosmetic device for many centuries (Farrer-Halls, 2007) Materials and methods for achieving predictable and safe cosmetic colouration are being continually explored and improved as evidenced by the large and expanding worldwide cosmetic business. Materials which change colour under the influence of light, i.e. photochromics, can be designed on the molecular level to interact with light to maintain, or even evolve a particular colouration. These materials can be designed to maintain a particular cosmetic look as the ambient lighting changes or as the user moves from place to place. It may be advantageous for the Photochromic response to be reversible. The influence of water can be anticipated and pH balance must be incorporated into the overall system design. It would be advantageous to design a class of materials for which ambient office light, or highly directed light such as in a tanning booth, or even laser light, could be utilised, each creating and imparting a particular predictable cosmetic look. There are, of course, many organic Photochromic materials. However, by necessity, to have a strong absorption feature in the visible part of the spectrum which could be the basis for an effective cosmetic colouration system, the molecular structure often contains a delocalised pi electron system (Farrer-Halls, 2007) Molecules having bonding features associated with such electronic structure, e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, coal tar products, azo dyes, quinoline, and like molecules with or without fused heterocycles, are often carcinogenic and so less desirable or unacceptable as candidates for use as cosmetics as Gill Farrer-Halls (2007, pg2) claims in her book, Naturals and Organics in Cosmetics Many types of organic molecules penetrate the skin barrier and so pose increased toxicity risk. This is a major problem because it would require more complicated testing and evaluation to establish the risk of such materials. Inorganic materials are well known which, because of their insolubility in water and their relatively large particle size, do not penetrate the stratum comeum to any major extent. For example, rouge, being iron oxide, and titanium-dioxide are two widely used oxides with well established safety history (Farrer-Halls, 2007) In fact, most metal oxides, with the possible exception of those used close to the eyes, are more likely ingested, and therefore dangerous if the particles are breathed. There is, therefore, a negligible risk if the oxides are immobilised in a cosmetic formulation. The objective of the design is to identify metal oxides, metal bronzes, and protein based Photochromic systems (materials) which combine novel cosmetic properties with sun blocking. (Farrer-Halls, 2007 pg5) Organic Photochromic systems have novel applications in cosmetics because the colouration they supply can be accented and softened and otherwise manipulated by the application of light, allowing greater control and range of effect than for a single colour application. Conventional colouration, i.e. rouge, can only be manipulated by mechanical means, i.e. rubbing and spreading. In addition to using these materials for their pleasing colouration effects, they can also be used as an actinometer/dosimeter that a person can use to gauge his/her exposure to bright sunlight or in other tanning/burning settings. The concept is based upon the use of the intrinsic Photochromic properties of certain solid transition metal oxides for cosmetic and sun blocking effects. The solid metal oxides suitable for use in this invention are those which undergo Photo induced and thermo enhanced loss of gas phase O2 to produce mixed valence oxides and include WO3, V2 O5, TiO2 and MoO3 (Farrer-Halls, 2007) A particular oxide can be operationally established for any possible choice of oxide by exposing a possible candidate oxide to blue-green or shorter wavelength light under vacuum and observing whether a colour change occurs. In some cases, the oxide is doped with an alkali metal ion or proton to enhance the colour change. As described above, tungsten and molybdenum oxide, and oxides of other metals, and bronzes derived from such oxides, constitute a broad class of materials having potential application as Organic Photochromic sun block/cosmetics. These materials are well known in the context of Photochromic optical data storage media and they offer an excellent match with the very properties needed for cosmetic applications. This relates to the adaptation of the class of tungsten and molybdenum oxide-photochromics to sun blocking/dosimetry, energy storage, and cosmetic colouration (Farrer-Halls, 2007) 8. Photochromic Textiles Photochromism in textiles seems to be a long and complicated process. However it is rather a simple method to produce dyes and inks that can be transformed into fibre to create textiles that react to UV light. Generally the colour-change inducing light has a wavelength in the visible or near visible range. Other factors which may affect the colour of these pigments have been cited by Glyn Phillips (1997 pg 4) include, temperature, moisture, electricity, and gases. Photochromic pigments have previously been applied to textiles by coating processes. Such coated textiles have aesthetic qualities associated with the Photochromic pigments. However, these textiles are not sufficiently colour-fast and their aesthetic qualities are easily destroyed by soiling. Mentioned previously, each time the colour changes due to the reaction of UV light, the colour intensity drops to eventually no apparent change will take place. It has now been discovered that Photochromic pigments can be blended into resinous fibers, yarns or non-woven textiles without substantial loss of Photochromic properties. The dye used can be introduced into this process from a master pigment batch obtained by mixing chromogenic pigments with a low melting polymer. (Phillips, 1997 pg. 5) In the process, the dye is blended with resin (the primary resin) and the mixture is processed into textiles by spinning and drawing or by the spin-bond process. The textiles manufactured by this process are advantageous over the prior method coated products in that the resultant Photochromic pigment-containing textiles are more durable (e.g., more colour-fast), more brightly pigmented, easily laundered after staining (e.g., by soil, solvents or oil) and readily woven directly into the desired fashion. Generally, conventional methods of blending polymers and dyes and of extruding synthetic fibers or non-woven textiles are used in this process. Blending can be done in a fusion type metric mixer, a volumetric type mixer or a weight type mixer. (Phillips, 1997 pg 7) The processes that may be used to manufacture the fibers or non-woven textiles include spinning and drawing processes, continuous spin-draw processes and spun-bond processes for the manufacture of non-woven textiles. However, these processes are modified in accordance with the concept/product such that the Photochromic dye is not subjected to a temperature in excess of about 250 ° C. Preferably, the Photochromic dye is introduced into the polymer mixing process in a master batch of polymer-encapsulated dye pellets. Such Photochromic dye pellets have been described, Generally, the amount of pigment in the masterbatch is from 1 to 10%, preferably from about 2 to 7%. (Phillips, 1997 pg 8) The use of dye pellets in place of directly adding dye facilitates uniform mixing and enhances the the overall process. For use in the production of synthetic fibers or non-woven textiles containing Photochromic pigments, the master batch is mixed with a primary resin, which may or may not be the same as the carrier resin in the master batch. The amount of masterbatch blended with the primary resin ranges from 1:2 to 1:100. The resins used as the primary resin are those with a melting point between about 105 ° C. and about 215 ° C. (Phillips 1997 pg 8) Useful resins include, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefins copolymers and terpolymers. Additional fillers and pigments, such as talc, silica, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and conventional organic pigments, may be added either to the master batch or during the final fiber or non-woven textile manufacture process. 9. General Applications General applications of Photochromism can be divided into two categories: a) Those directly related to the change in absorption or emission spectra such as variable transmission optical materials, optical information storage, cosmetics, authentication systems, and flow field visualisation. b) Those related to other physical or chemical property changes such as refractive index, electric conductivity, phase transitions, solubility, viscosity, and surface wet ability. Photochromic can now be used in many areas of design. As photochromism has a wide range of solid states, from textiles to glass, (but only one function) most products which use this process are novel. Here are some examples; On garments to create novel products and promotional items like T-shirts On fabric/garment to print company logo / brand name to prevent duplication On garment which are used for party wear Thermometers and temperature indicators Security printing Food industry to indicate temperature of packaged food Photochromic substances can be found in inks, paints, papers and textiles. This property is a boon for scientists doing research on intelligent textiles and smart materials where they are making use of this property to store data on the surface of textile fabrics and polymer sheets. (Whereas the same property of some reactive dyes; is a bane for textile processors. The change in shade after dyeing creates unwanted problems in dyeing) An optical recording medium contains, on a base, one or more dyes and a polymer which forms liquid-crystalline phases. The information is written into the equally oriented liquid-crystalline polymer layer, for example by means of a laser. During this procedure, the polymer heats up locally to above a phase transition temperature. By cooling, the resulting change is frozen in the glass state. The information can be erased by applying an electric field and/or heating. The recording material permits high-contrast storage and possesses high sensitivity, good resolution and excellent stability. There are other chromatic properties called electrochromatism and thermochromatism of dyes that are affected by electric field and heat respectively. 10. Future Products The first Photochromic eye lens is being developed by scientists in Singapore, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the worlds first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute. This lens is another world first. The IBN has developed a Photochromic contact lens that will darken upon exposure to sunlight to protect the eyes against harmful ultraviolet radiation and glare. The lenses will conveniently adapt to changes in light and provide optimal indoor and outdoor vision. The IBN scientists also claim that this will help treat eye diseases by incorporating medication into the lens which can deliver medication effectively rather than eye drops. Another future product is Photochromic windows at home and workplaces. These windows will change colour when exposed to UV light from the sun, which will in return make home/workplace cooler and a more comfortable place to be in. Reversible Photochromic textiles have been around for 20 years, (mainly on novel garments) designers and scientists are trying to convert this technology into safety equipment and garments. The only drawback to this concept is that to make the product work during the night, when these safety garments are more needed. Photochromic relies on UV light to work effectively. Unless car head-lights radiate UV, this wont work, and car head-lights giving off UV light is a whole and completely different matter. As mentioned above in general applications, scientist can record and store data using Photochromic dyes. This data can be stored onto any material surface, but at the moment only being used on textiles. This technology has a huge amount of potential. Imagine the data on a personal USB device being stored onto a piece of fabric that the user can roll up into a pocket. The technology can be manipulated to give data back to the user through many objects. The user could watch/read the news on the users glasses; receive emails and correspondence and perhaps even text messages. The only drawback is responding to them. 11. Conclusion Photochromic technology has an immense amount of potential to create new products and in some cases a whole new lifestyle. Scientists can now manipulate Photochromic technology into most applications. Controlling the colour result of Reversible Photochromic is in itself a great achievement. Instead of a dull tone of grey, the colour can be anything from bright green to pink. Making Photochromic available in different materials, from glass to liquid, including textiles, makes this technology unique. Experimentation in novel-products, such as, T -Shirts that change colour when exposed to sun light, has enabled scientists to understand the chemical compounds and how to manipulate them to suit a concept. Now Photochromic technology is being used in more sophisticated ways, such as, the eye contact lens and storing data. This beak through in new technology can have fantastic results for future generations. It will affect the way people work and learn.

Music :: essays research papers

The Justice Department has intensified its antitrust investigation of the music industry's licensing practices, demanding that industry organizations and online companies submit a slew of documents related to Internet music services. The department recently began sending out "civil investigative demand" letters, hunting for evidence of collusion by record companies and affiliates to impede competition. The recipients of the letters include the Recording Industry Assn. of America, at least two Internet companies and MusicNet, an online music distributor jointly owned by three major labels and RealNetworks Inc. A copy of one letter obtained by The Times indicates that antitrust investigators are looking at all the terms proposed by the record companies and music publishers for their licenses, as well as the lawsuits they threatened, brought or settled over online music. Another issue being explored is the contentious negotiations over online radio services. The major labels control the copyrights to most of the recordings that consumers buy, while the publishers control the songwriters' copyrights. That control gives the labels and publishers the power to dictate which companies can offer interactive or on-demand music services online, as well as influencing their prices and terms of use. The growing demand for online music services has led the conglomerates that own the major record companies to create their own channels for distribution. AOL Time Warner, Bertelsmann and EMI Group formed MusicNet, and Universal Music Group and Sony Corp. created Pressplay. The inquiry appears to revolve around two questions: Why are MusicNet and Pressplay the only ventures to receive licenses for a significant amount of major-label music? And what, if anything, did the labels do to inflate their royalties from online radio services? The record companies' defenders say the labels have been cautious in licensing, but they haven't colluded to limit competition. "I don't see it, and I haven't experienced it," said Robin D. Richards, chairman and chief executive of MP3.com, a maverick online music company that was acquired in August by Vivendi Universal and has a distribution deal with Pressplay. But executives at several online companies say they have had mixed experiences with the labels and that some act fairly and some don't. The result, they say, is that the labels' online ventures--MusicNet and Pressplay--are launching this year without any real competition. The industry's licensing practices also have drawn criticism from some influential lawmakers, including leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees. In addition, the federal judge presiding over the industry's copyright-infringement lawsuit against Napster Inc.

Philippine Art Movement Essay

Sabel and the Dreamer Mark Justani created an oil painting entitled Abot Tanaw last 1997. In this painting, there’s a flying white kite and a floating person trying to reach for some sort of star in the night sky. The first thing that I noticed was the star the subject was trying to reach. It was quite noticeable because of the use of very bright colors on top of a dark night sky as background. The night sky was painted dark with highlights on the clouds. The subject was painted using bright colors as well. Shapes and lines were not very evident, though. There were no visible outlines on the subject. The only apparent shape was the diamond-shaped kite while the only evident lines were the stripes on the subject’s shirt. The dominant textures in the painting were soft ones, seen on the clouds, clothes and the skin of the subject. These elements of art give the feeling of being in a dream-like state. In the year 2002, Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, also known as Ben Cab, painted Homage to Sabel using acrylic paint on canvas. The name speaks of the subject, Sabel, a woman living in the streets. In this painting, she wears some sort of plastic material covering her body. Her face and hair was painted with brown and black colors respectively and white and grey for the covering on her body. I did not notice any shapes on the painting, yet I saw lines which were the apparent brushstrokes in every part of the subject. She smiles in the painting, drawing my eyes to her face. It was probably day time when this was rendered for the plastic seemed to be reflecting a lot of light. With the bright plastic and bright smile, the painting seemed to impart a warm, happy feeling. The colors used in the painting, Abot Tanaw, were well blended, making it look soft, giving the impression of a vague dream. Using bright colors on the subject made it stand out from the dark background. The absence of strong outlines and the use of light and shadow made the painting look 3 dimensional or realistic. The shadows show the contours of the body parts of the subject, adding to the realism of the subject. The presence of the flying kite on the night sky gives the impression of ironic events that usually happens in dreams since people don’t usually fly kites during the night. Meanwhile, Ben Cab used apparent brushstrokes for his painting of Sable, making it look rough, adding to the character of Sabel, a woman living in the streets. Sabel’s face was painted dark on top of a light background, also lifting it from the background, such as the subject of Abot Tanaw. Her plastic covering had a very apparent reflective texture because of the contrast between the shadows and lit areas, showing some bulkier areas. The covering also had stiff and flowing areas, like folded plastic, shown by both rigid brush lines and curved brush lines. The white plastic stands out from the red background as well. Abot Tanaw whispers â€Å"Dream.† I think what Mark Justani was trying to say that dreaming is the first and biggest step to achieving our goals, hence the nearness of the boy’s hand to the star. Without dreams, we cannot think of the possibilities we want to create for our lives. And to achieve our goals, we must believe in ourselves, as the subject believes that he can float and reach the star. The artwork speaks to me, telling me to believe in myself that I can be as great of an artist as Mark Justani is. I constantly bring myself down when I make mistakes or create a â€Å"bad† artwork because others bring me down as well. They constantly criticize my artworks: â€Å"where’s the other foot,† â€Å"she’s too fat,† and countless more. But, it is because of these critiques that I pursued to become better. The star is our goal, and the floating boy is each and every one of us. Mark Justani made this for us to see that he has reached hi s goal. He wants us to reach for ours too by believing in ourselves. Ben Cab oversteps the boundaries of classical or romantic art, whose subjects are usually beautiful women. He chose a very different muse, a woman living in the streets, using plastic or scraps of waste for clothes. Yet he was able to paint Sabel as real as she can be. Muses don’t have to be beautiful, nude ladies or women of high status. Society always dictates what is right or wrong, beautiful or ugly. I have found myself following these dictations, in art and in myself. I am used to following classical teachings regarding art. My subjects are usually people and animals, and I perfect them according to their anatomy, according to what I see with my eyes. I also dress myself according to what recent fashion magazines tell what is in. I perfect my artwork and myself according to what others see as beautiful. One thing that captivated me was Sabel’s smile. She smiles even though she has nothing. The painting imparts that we can be whoever we are and still be beautiful an d happy, paint whatever we want, see it beautiful and be happy about it. The boy in Mark Justani’s artwork looks a bit unappealing to me because, as I have mentioned, I grew up appreciating classical and romantic artworks. The face in not â€Å"ideal,† as classicists would say, yet I was able to appreciate its very Filipino rendering for it conveys an important message for us Filipinos that we can dream and try to reach for the stars. Sabel’s beauty portrayed by Ben Cab also changed my perception of beauty and happiness. Though I have the feeling that most people would not understand the portrait the way I have seen it, and think of it only as a portrait, it does not lack anything. Even though the subject is a repulsive person in real life, she is still meaningful. Society cannot tell us what we should dream of, how to be beautiful or how to be happy.