Religion’s Effect on American Policies

America is a country that is characterized as being a nation with multiple cultures, multiple ethnicities, and multiple religions. Plurality in all aspects of American society’s classifications is something that is espoused by most Americans. Numerous individuals with different backgrounds come together on American soil to form and make up the nation that is established on equality and democracy. Inclusion of all the diverse backgrounds present within this democratic society is the main goal of most American social institutions. Religion is one of the main aspects of an individual’s background that influences his or her behavior and analysis about life. Religion in America goes beyond an individual’s everyday life. (Minkenberg, 2) In fact, religion even affects the numerous American policies conceptualized by the government. Religion is such a potent force that its effect on American policies is not even dependent on the rate of citizens that attend churches for the different religions present in the United States. Minkenberg, 2) This means that religion is able to affect change in US government policies despite possible increases or decreases in religious Americans over given periods of time. The effects on American policies are not a result of the country becoming more religious as a whole but rather on the strength of religion itself as an entity enforcing change in political systems. (Minkenber, 5) There are many who emphasize their disagreement with religion’s effect on American pol icy. These individuals believe that religion should not be allowed to affect government policies so strongly or at all. However, it is this paper’s argument that religion should is not a necessary aspect of policy-making and that religion affecting American foreign policy should not be acceptable or encouraged. A presentation of the valid arguments with regard to this thesis will be made. Counter arguments will also be presented and refuted in order to provide a clear view into the fact that religion is indeed one of the crucial factors to be considered by America’s policy-making bodies. Before establishing why religion is not an important aspect of American policies, it should first be established that religion is in fact affecting the said policies.A Study on Religion and the Role of It on People and Media†¦. One clear example is given by the policies made during the administration of President George W. Bush. Despite the fact that America is experiencing a decrease in church-goers, it is measured to be more religious than equivalent Western countries in Europe. This is evidenced by its housing of more than 200 television channels for evangelism. (God and American diplomacy, 33) Religion is seen to take a role in the government’s policy-making decisions through the highly religious character of the President, himself. The United States’ stand on Israel is a clear case of Christianity becoming the driving force behind foreign policies. Instead of considering the interests of America, as a whole, the drive is largely to expand Christianity and to establish its hold on a nation like Israel. (God and American diplomacy, 33) Sam Harris in his book The End of Faith stresses that religion, specifically Christianity, has affected America in terms of sex and drug policies. Policies such as those against abortion are clear examples of the effects of religion on American policies. Harris goes on to critique such policies as being the main factors behind America’s moving towards a formation of a theocratic society, a society believing that its course is determined by a divine being. Religions role in America must not be equated to its role in a theocratic society. (God and American diplomacy, 33) This is a clear inability to separate church from state, one of the most essential aspects of American society. This is also a clear argument against religion’s evident role in American policy-making. Another clear argument against religion affecting American policies is based on the fact that America is a multi-cultural nation. It houses numerous different religions. Not all religions have the same positions and beliefs regarding policies. (God and American diplomacy, 33) As a result, when religion is allowed to affect US national and international policies, only a few of the total number of religions in the country are represented. It is only those religions with the loudest voices in America or those with members in the upper echelons of power that are able to affect changes in policies. This is no longer democracy or equality at work. However, there are those who posit that religion is in fact necessary in the development and implementation of American policies. One of the arguments for religion to be considered in policy-making lies on the fact that America’s relationship with other nations may be based on such religious foundations. A number of the international conflicts occurring today are largely religious in nature or are motivated by religious traditions. (Minkenberg, 4) One clear example is the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11. Miles, 23) Although there are many reasons behind the said attack, there is no doubt that religion played a role. Miles (35-37), indicates that a strengthening of American foreign policy towards a confirmation of US religious freedom would show countries, such as those the September 11 terrorists were associated to, that America does not pose a religious threat on anyone. Protection of the country through a portr ayal of its acceptance of all religions with equal regard via the mechanisms of American policies is said to be very much a necessity in a world that is largely classified by religious traditions and belief system. However, espousal of religious freedom does not equate to allowing religion to dominate American policies. Also, this logic assumes that if other nations are shown that religion is widely accepted in America, other points of conflict will be foregone. Religion may be one of the motivations behind international conflicts but it is not a primary factor behind the said conflicts. Addressing economic and political factors would be more prudent as opposed to simply allowing religion to take free reign. Also, religion is shown to only be useful to policies when taken at this angle: America has numerous religions. We accept them all. This is not the true form of religion’s effects on American policy and does not even begin to address the numerous global implications of the weightier religion-based policies of America such as those made regarding Israel. Another argument states that religion is actually a very potent source of adaptive social change. Patrick Fagan states some of the social benefits that are derived from religion in his article Why religion matters even more: the impact of religious practice on social stability. He indicates that through religion, marital happiness and stability are increased, parent-child relationships are strengthened, educational aspirations and achievement are increased, physical health is improved, well-being and happiness are increased, crime rates are lowered, and community-cohesion is strengthened. In Why religion matters even more: the impact of religious practice on social stability, Fagan indicates that the separation of church and state simply meant that a single state-approved church could not be allowed to exist. He imposes his ideas that the government, especially Congress, should educate themselves with regards to the benefits to be derived from religion and its practice. He also stresses that policies should be made with religion in mind and that data on religion’s potency should be included and considered in debates and discussions regarding American policy. Because religion is effective in creating social change in empirical studies conducted in the community-level, it should thus be considered for policies whose implementation will involve an entire nation’s population. The main problem with Fagan’s account of religion and then his recommendations for its use in policy-making is that the success of religion’s success on marginal issues will not equate to its success in essential issues. (God and American diplomacy, 33) Just because religion was shown to have a high value in practices and regulations set for smaller populations doesn’t mean that it will be able to give an equal value for policies and rules set for the entire nation of America. Read also Analyze the Ways in Which British Imperial Policies Also, because it was able to generate positive feedback for areas such as marriage, crime, and community cohesion, it does not mean that religion will be able to generate adaptive ideas for the more complex issues of the same area. These issues may include homosexual marriages, death penalty imposition, and community governance. For more complex matters as the latter, religion is no longer relevant and allowing it to become a factor in such policies would not only be foolhardy but would even be dangerous in the long run. Also, religion’s application on a small scale with individuals practicing only one type of religion does not indicate that it will have equal applicability in a nation that has numerous different religions. The separation of church and state does include that no specific state-ordained church must exist. However, the reasons and thinking behind such a separation are deeper than simply allowing for religious freedom. Considerations such as oppression of the minority and inability to account for all the beliefs and principles of the collection of religions in America were also made. It is clear that religion is indeed affecting American policies. This change is not warranted and should not be condoned. Policy-makers should take an active stand for the separation of church and state. Policies with religion as one of its factors will, in the end, prove to be biased and geared towards the betterment of only one part of American society. Government decisions should be based on more economic, political, and democratic norms. America is a country that is characterized as being a nation with multiple cultures, multiple ethnicities, and multiple religions. Plurality in all aspects of American society’s classifications is something that is espoused by most Americans. Numerous individuals with different backgrounds come together on American soil to form and make up the nation that is established on equality and democracy. Inclusion of all the diverse backgrounds present within this democratic society is the main goal of most American social institutions. Religion is one of the main aspects of an individual’s background that influences his or her behavior and analysis about life. Religion in America goes beyond an individual’s everyday life. (Minkenberg, 2) In fact, religion even affects the numerous American policies conceptualized by the government. Religion is such a potent force that its effect on American policies is not even dependent on the rate of citizens that attend churches for the different religions present in the United States. (Minkenberg, 2) This means that religion is able to affect change in US government policies despite possible increases or decreases in religious Americans over given periods of time. The effects on American policies are not a result of the country becoming more religious as a whole but rather on the strength of religion itself as an entity enforcing change in political systems. (Minkenber, 5) There are many who emphasize their disagreement with religion’s effect on American policy. These individuals believe that religion should not be allowed to affect government policies so strongly or at all. However, it is this paper’s argument that religion should is not a necessary aspect of policy-making and that religion affecting American foreign policy should not be acceptable or encouraged. A presentation of the valid arguments with regard to this thesis will be made. Counter arguments will also be presented and refuted in order to provide a clear view into the fact that religion is indeed one of the crucial factors to be considered by America’s policy-making bodies. Before establishing why religion is not an important aspect of American policies, it should first be established that religion is in fact affecting the said policies. One clear example is given by the policies made during the administration of President George W. Bush. Despite the fact that America is experiencing a decrease in church-goers, it is measured to be more religious than equivalent Western countries in Europe. This is evidenced by its housing of more than 200 television channels for evangelism. (God and American diplomacy, 33) Religion is seen to take a role in the government’s policy-making decisions through the highly religious character of the President, himself. The United States’ stand on Israel is a clear case of Christianity becoming the driving force behind foreign policies. Instead of considering the interests of America, as a whole, the drive is largely to expand Christianity and to establish its hold on a nation like Israel. (God and American diplo macy, 33) Sam Harris in his book The End of Faith stresses that religion, specifically Christianity, has affected America in terms of sex and drug policies. Policies such as those against abortion are clear examples of the effects of religion on American policies. Harris goes on to critique such policies as being the main factors behind America’s moving towards a formation of a theocratic society, a society believing that its course is determined by a divine being. Religions role in America must not be equated to its role in a theocratic society. (God and American diplomacy, 33) This is a clear inability to separate church from state, one of the most essential aspects of American society. This is also a clear argument against religion’s evident role in American policy-making. Another clear argument against religion affecting American policies is based on the fact that America is a multi-cultural nation. It houses numerous different religions. Not all religions have the same positions and beliefs regarding policies. (God and American diplomacy, 33) As a result, when religion is allowed to affect US national and international policies, only a few of the total number of religions in the country are represented. It is only those religions with the loudest voices in America or those with members in the upper echelons of power that are able to affect changes in policies. This is no longer democracy or equality at work. However, there are those who posit that religion is in fact necessary in the development and implementation of American policies. One of the arguments for religion to be considered in policy-making lies on the fact that America’s relationship with other nations may be based on such religious foundations. A number of the international conflicts occurring today are largely religious in nature or are motivated by religious traditions. (Minkenberg, 4) One clear example is the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11. (Miles, 23) Although there are many reasons behind the said attack, there is no doubt that religion played a role. Miles (35-37), indicates that a strengthening of American foreign policy towards a confirmation of US religious freedom would show countries, such as those the September 11 terrorists were associated to, that America does not pose a religious threat on anyone. Protection of the country through a portrayal of its acceptance of all religions with equ al regard via the mechanisms of American policies is said to be very much a necessity in a world that is largely classified by religious traditions and belief system. However, espousal of religious freedom does not equate to allowing religion to dominate American policies. Also, this logic assumes that if other nations are shown that religion is widely accepted in America, other points of conflict will be foregone. Religion may be one of the motivations behind international conflicts but it is not a primary factor behind the said conflicts. Addressing economic and political factors would be more prudent as opposed to simply allowing religion to take free reign. Also, religion is shown to only be useful to policies when taken at this angle: America has numerous religions. We accept them all. This is not the true form of religion’s effects on American policy and does not even begin to address the numerous global implications of the weightier religion-based policies of America such as those made regarding Israel. Another argument states that religion is actually a very potent source of adaptive social change. Patrick Fagan states some of the social benefits that are derived from religion in his article Why religion matters even more: the impact of religious practice on social stability. He indicates that through religion, marital happiness and stability are increased, parent-child relationships are strengthened, educational aspirations and achievement are increased, physical health is improved, well-being and happiness are increased, crime rates are lowered, and community-cohesion is strengthened. In Why religion matters even more: the impact of religious practice on social stability, Fagan indicates that the separation of church and state simply meant that a single state-approved church could not be allowed to exist. He imposes his ideas that the government, especially Congress, should educate themselves with regards to the benefits to be derived from religion and its practice. He also stresses that policies should be made with religion in mind and that data on religion’s potency should be included and considered in debates and discussions regarding American policy. Because religion is effective in creating social change in empirical studies conducted in the community-level, it should thus be considered for policies whose implementation will involve an entire nation’s population. The main problem with Fagan’s account of religion and then his recommendations for its use in policy-making is that the success of religion’s success on marginal issues will not equate to its success in essential issues. (God and American diplomacy, 33) Just because religion was shown to have a high value in practices and regulations set for smaller populations doesn’t mean that it will be able to give an equal value for policies and rules set for the entire nation of America. Also, because it was able to generate positive feedback for areas such as marriage, crime, and community cohesion, it does not mean that religion will be able to generate adaptive ideas for the more complex issues of the same area. These issues may include homosexual marriages, death penalty imposition, and community governance. For more complex matters as the latter, religion is no longer relevant and allowing it to become a factor in such policies would not only be foolhardy but would eve n be dangerous in the long run. Also, religion’s application on a small scale with individuals practicing only one type of religion does not indicate that it will have equal applicability in a nation that has numerous different religions. The separation of church and state does include that no specific state-ordained church must exist. However, the reasons and thinking behind such a separation are deeper than simply allowing for religious freedom. Considerations such as oppression of the minority and inability to account for all the beliefs and principles of the collection of religions in America were also made. It is clear that religion is indeed affecting American policies. This change is not warranted and should not be condoned. Policy-makers should take an active stand for the separation of church and state. Policies with religion as one of its factors will, in the end, prove to be biased and geared towards the betterment of only one part of American society. Government decisions should be based on more economic, political, and democratic norms. References Anonymous. â€Å"God and American diplomacy.† Economist, 366(2003): 33 Business Source Premier. EBSCO. 18 April 2008 Fagan, Patrick F. â€Å"Why religion matters even more: the impact of religious practice on social stability.† 18 December 2006 Heritage Foundation. 18 April 2008 Harris, Sam. The End of Faith. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005. Miles, Jack. â€Å"Religion and American foreign policy.† Survival, 46(2004): 23-37 Minkenberg, Michael. â€Å"Religious effects on immigration policies.† Paper presented at the ECPR 32nd Joint Session of Workshops, Uppsala, March 2004.

Clean, Well-Lighted Place tone and style

Hemingway has a distinct writing style in a sense that he chooses his words carefully. He is economic in his word choice, so readers must take into consideration the adjectives and adverbs he uses, as he deploys them rarely. His style is simple and laconic, yet effective. Through his use of simple words and short sentences, he delivers the message powerfully and point on rather than employing descriptive, flowery language (as what his Victorian predecessors used).He is also said to be the aster of dialogue, using this mode to characterize and narrate most of the story, as was evident in â€Å"A Clean Well-Lighted Place†. Aside from the style and dialogue, another thing to take note about the story is that his tone is dispassionate and unemotional. The writer himself does not even comment on or Judge his characters at all. In the line â€Å"†You should have killed yourself last week,† he [the waiter] said to the deaf man. Hemingway did not add any additional adject ives or adverbs for momentary like for example instead of writing, â€Å"he said harshly' or â€Å"he said cruelly he Just used a simple â€Å"he said†. The tone also adds to the theme of facing nothingness with dignity. The narrator is talking about oblivion in a detached, apathetic way which gives the reader the Impression that the nothingness affects the waiter enough for him to mention it, but his tone suggests he is bold enough to face the issue in dignified, dismissive way; I. E. After all, he said to himself, It's probably only insomnia.

Reading Response to Devil in a Blue Dress

I enjoyed the manner with which Moslem used these two themes In particular to discuss some societal Issues. Starting with a brief summary of the novel, I intend to expatiate on these two themes in subsequent paragraphs. The Plot Set in Los Angels in 1948, the Devil in a Blue Dress is centered on the character of Ezekiel ‘Easy† Railings a black man who had fought in World War II and who has Just lost his Job at an aircraft company and desperate to find a means of earning an income to meet his financial needs especially his mortgage payment.Ease's aspiration leads him to accepting a Job from Dewitt Albright to find a young white lady Daphne Monet. Although Dewitt Albright had a questionable personality, Easy accepted the job after assurance from Albright that the task does not portend any significant problem with the law. Moreover, it was an opportunity to earn some money and considering his financial situation he had to accept the Job. As the story progresses, Easy comes t o realize that things are far more complicated than he could have thought. He Is accused of murder, at risk of being hurt by Albright henchmen Easy is expected to track down is not who they say she is.Easy along with Mouse have to find their way out of the predicament they find themselves while avoiding being dragged in by the nets of the law. The plot of the novel is typical of what to expect from a top-notch detective fiction novel, lots of deaths and intrigues and a proper dose of suspense. Moslem ensured that the chapters were brief yet; almost each of the chapters carried a new twist to the overall plot. Although the overriding theme is that or race and racism and the influence of money on the inhabitants of society, one can identify other inconspicuous issues raised in the novel such as sexual perversity, independence and war.Theme: Race and Racism A major theme in the novel is that of race and racism, the setting of 1948 is obviously a time when the United States of America h ad very visible racial segregation lines and it was refreshing to read a novel that captured this issue as it were back then. Moslem sought to highlight how racial inclinations dictated how the different characters relate with each other and/or how it affects the manner in which they respond to events. Even from Ease's first encounter with Albright- a white man, it was clear that their different racial backgrounds indicated problems ahead.Having fought alongside white men during the war, Easy must have been very disappointed to return only to see that segregation lines are still very visible. In a way, I think Ease's bewilderment was captured in his explanations of his wartime relationship with white men. Stating how he ate and slept with them, and even killed some blue-eyed young men during the war. For Easy, it was refreshing to know that white people were Just as afraid to die as he was (Moslem, 1990) the theme of racism was also inked to authority and how those who believe they are racially superior exerted it.This was evident in the way Albright consistently called Easy â€Å"boy' to send a clear message as to be racial superiority. Moreover, it was quite fascinating to see how Moslem used the novel to highlight and dispel insinuations that the issue of race and racism is well defined. For instance, Moslem showed that race and racism are not that clearly defined; for someone like Daphne Monet who feels lost not being able to clearly establish which side of the divide she belongs. Another case is that of Benny, Ease's former boss.Benny is of mixed racial background and despite Ease's description of him as being darker than most mixed-race blacks around, Benny considers himself racially superior to Easy. Furthermore, Moslem tries to show us how undefined race and racism is with the information that Daphne Monet is not white but black. Ease's response to this revelation is that of disbelief and rightly so. As far as Easy is concerned, Daphne Monet is white. â€Å"l looked at her to see the truth. But it wasn't there. Her nose, cheeks, and her skin color – they were white. Daphne was a white woman† (Moslem, 1990).Moreover, it is not all about the dark for race and racism in the Moslems work. The author in my view sought to highlight how people from different racial backgrounds can along well with each other. Ease's reasonable relationship with Primp as well as his statement about the Negro and Mexican being the same lays credence to this as both blacks and Mexicans are both at the receiving end of racial discrimination from the whites (Moslem, 1990). Theme: Money The theme of money and how it directs the actions of the various characters in the novel Just like race and racism is a recurring issue in the novel.Throughout the plot, pushes some of the characters to the extreme. In fact, so evident is the theme of money in the plot of this novel that most of the deaths that occurred can be traced to the influence of money. Ea se's financial constraint and his acceptance of Albright offer sets the tone for the theme of money and from then we start to see how each character's financial gain influences their actions. Moreover, I found it interesting that Moslem sought to separate Easy from the rest of the pack. From the beginning, Moslem tried to show what was behind Ease's quest to achieve financial stability and reducibility.We are made to see Easy as a man that was so passionate of keeping his most priced assets, which is his house. Easy speaks dearly of his house as the only thing he has got and the only thing worth fighting for and this influences his decision to accept the Job from Albright with a view to earning some money to make his mortgage payment. This is in stark contrast to other characters in the novel whose aim to achieve some level of financial freedom stem from greed. Violence and War I believe a reader response on the Devil in a Blue Dress will not be complete without brief commentary on the theme of violence and war.Although in my opinion, nothing in particular stands out on these two issues in the novel, one cannot ignore the recurring nature of physical violence and war in the novel. Moslem did not disappoint in the area of physical violence as will be expected from a detective fiction novel, there are lots of deaths to evoke the air of mystery and to build up suspense. As for the theme of war, Easy could not shake off his experience of fighting in the Second World War and this is understandable considering the abundance of events hat sees him reminiscing and relating happenings in his environment to memories of the way.It is refreshing to see how his experience of war helps him to develop a balanced approach to things. Ease's war experience also helps him to see other ways of solving problems rather than resorting to violence like most other characters in the novel. To this, we have to acknowledge the influence of â€Å"the Voice† in helping Easy make the right choices and it worthy of note that â€Å"the Voice† was created in Ease's war days. Reference Moslem, W. (1990). Devil in a blue dress. Washington Square Press: New York

Radio-Frequency Identification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Radio-Frequency Identification - Essay Example Radio waves found to be useful in many other fields and identification and tracking of objects is one among them. The technology used for the identification or tracking of objects with the help of radio waves is called Radio frequency identification or RFID. More precisely, radio frequency identification (RFID) describes a â€Å"system that transmits the identity of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves† (What is RFID?, n. d). This paper briefly analyses history and various features of RFID. History and Evolution of RFID During the middle half of twentieth century, barcode technology has evolved to identify objects using some printed lines. During the same period itself, researches to develop RFID tags were started and â€Å"the first active form of RFID was developed by British scientist, Watson-Watt and his team during this period (Roberti, 2011). Commercial use of barcodes started in the 1960’s. In the 1970’s universal grocery product identificati on codes and universal product codes were introduced. In the early part of 1990’s IBM developed an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID system. This technology contributed heavily to the development of electronic product coding (EPD) technology. The present Universal Product Code and bar code technologies were evolved from EPD. Between 1999 and 2003, EPD technology developed a lot and the current form of bar codes to identify products evolved out of it (Roberti, 2011). RFID tags and barcodes appear to be similar in its functioning. Both are used for identifying objects. At the same time there are certain differences in the functioning of barcodes and RFID tags. While bar codes need printed lines for identification, RFID tags needs nothing like that. RFID tags can be used to identify even distant objects whereas barcodes have limitations in doing so. Moreover RFID tags work much faster than barcodes. In short, bar codes and RFID tags have different uses and both are used for differ ent purposes. Components of RFID Tags/transponders, Readers/Antennas/transceivers, Middleware etc are the major components of RFID. Tags are the major part or heart of any RFID system. It stores information about the object being tracked in its memory. RFID readers read this information from the tag memory to identify the objects. Data transfer between tag and memory is taking place with the help of radio waves of suitable frequency. Readers and antennas are used for the transmission and reception of radio waves between tags and Middleware software. â€Å"Middleware software is responsible for data retrieving from readers, data filtering, monitoring of tags, storing tracking histories etc† (Overview of RFID Components, 2006, p.1-2). Tags or transponders consist of an integrated electronic circuit in which a capacitor is enclosed to send and receive signals from the object. The electronic circuit of the tag could be read only and in some cases it could be used to read or write information. Antennas are usually powered by batteries or usual power supply. These antennas will be connected to a laptop using wireless technologies so that the computer can send and receive instructions to it (Basic RFID Components, 2003). RFID tags are usually enclosed in a plastic container in order to avoid any damages to different climatic conditions. It is capable of reading signals from any objects irrespective of whether the objects are dirty or covered with paints or grease. The memory capacity of RFID tag can be even up to one

Analyse and discuss how the introduction of internet technologies has Essay

Analyse and discuss how the introduction of internet technologies has and is changing retailing. Give examples to illustrate your answer - Essay Example Over the years, the advancements on the internet have led to many companies adapting to the use of online. Online retailing or e-retailing resulted in the development of the e-tail ware (software tools that help in creating online catalogue and at the same managing those businesses connected with the e-tailing). The introduction of internet technologies has been and is still changing retailing; companies have adapted the system of online retailing, as it is fast and cheaper that of "physical" retailing (Doherty & Ellis-Chadwick, F, 2010). Its emergence brought about some benefits that included the ability to offer unusual, unique products and services, improve the economic gains, and made distribution of these products more efficient. The e-retailing also results to an assortment of complementary products. Examples of these businesses that adapt to the concept of online retailing include the Netflix and the Amazon. These companies usually dispense with the staffing and the costs requirements and exist only on the internet. The introduction of the e-retailing (internet technologies) concept greatly influences the way businesses handle their customers; however even with the many benefits resulting from the concept they also have several disadvantages. These disadvantages include security issues, in that the sharing of data may not be secure and may face threats suck as ‘hacking. Another disadvantage is that the use of the concept includes the lack of proper payment system, slow internet connections at times, and there may be limited access to the customer/consumers. The impact has impacts on retailing (the impacts of e-retailing), for the positive impacts of using online retailing is the cost. Use of online retailing reduces the costs of marketing, for example, the cost of referencing and storing a product in e-retail website is less that the cost of referencing and storing a product in a "physical" store. With the

CaseStudy Paper Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CaseStudy Paper - Case Study Example Effective supply chain management strategies are essential for providing any organization a competitive edge over its peers. Excellence in the supply chain can be achieved if the organizational leaders attend to the particular details in the market infrastructure that make their organization more efficient and the transactions in the market fluid effective. Taking into account the complexity of supply chains more so those with global and regional scope, one must recognize that the magnitude of complexity in the task is immense (Jacobs and Chase & Chase, 2011). Therefore, it takes highly qualified and experienced managers to identify the correct issues to be prioritized and addressed as well as mark out new strategies and opportunities. In the long term, effective supply chain management is bound to deliver considerable benefits to any firm that recognizes and respects its necessity. To extrapolate on the importance of effective supply chain management this paper will dwell on several case studies in different industries where supply chains have been successfully or otherwise managed. The fashion industry is one where competition is ubiquitous despite the fact that most of the customers have very unique needs. However, given the low entry barriers, the stiffness in competition is understandable since many of the new entrants will offer customers and specialized products for customers forcing the firms already in the market to be constantly on their toes (Masson, MacKerron & Fernie, 2007). In this section, Zara, Adidas HM and Luis Vuitton and other firms are examined in respect to their specific supply chain management strategies. H&M has listed among its objective the intentions to be the price leader in the fashion industry, to this end they have restricted their supply chain such that it primarily targets the street trends which

Lily's Perpective on racisim Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Lily's Perpective on racisim - Research Paper Example hin the protagonists life, this brief analysis will focus upon these compliments as a means of seeking to determine an underlying truth to the way in which the storyline an individual experience of Lilly came to be differentiated. Even though the Lilly did not suffer from abject levels of rule and spiteful racism, within the instances indicated from the film, she was impacted by it at each and every level and this tacit degree of racism ultimately restricted the perspective, hopes, dreams, and realities that she was able to engage for her own life. Firstly, Lilly’s perspective is fist indicated to be formed with regards to the fact that she is forced into a state of exile and must leave her home, leave her friends, and leave all that she knows due to the fact that pervasive levels of racism during this time to find the way in which life could be experienced and the certainty of living in one location guaranteed (Riley 10). However, more specifically, the pervasive elements of racism within society are indicated throughout the film and not only restricted to the interpersonal relationships that Lilly and/or any other individual have. For instance, the impact that racism has can be felt with regards to the fact that both the Lilly and her caretaker feel like they have somehow found the promised land when they spot a jar of honey that instead of having a white person’s face upon the emblem that decorates it, instead has a black Madonna. This tacit level of acceptance with regards to the fact that society is unfair a nd unavailable to African-Americans fundamentally shift the way in which the viewer comes to integrate with the plot. Rather than merely seeing this as a tale of an individual who moves from one place to another and begins a new life that is no longer constrained by racial politics and racism, the film itself points to the fact that the fundamental corresponding theme between all of the locations within this particular movie is the fact that pervasive

Business Economics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Economics - Assignment Example B) Can lower average total cost if the advertising increases the quantity sold by a large enough amount. C) Cannot lower average total cost because when a firm advertises it increases its costs. D) Always lower average total cost because whenever a firm advertises, it increases the quantity sold. E) Lower total cost if the advertising increases the quantity sold by a large enough amount. 3) A monopoly arises for two key reasons, which are ________. A) Franchises and barriers to entry B) Natural and legal C) Barriers to entry and close substitutes D) Close substitutes and no barriers to entry E) Barriers to entry and no close substitutes 4) Dole Co. operates in a monopolistically competitive market. Which of the following characterizes Dole Co.'s market? A) Dole Co. faced no barrier to entry when it decided to enter its market. B) Dole Co. supplies a small portion of the market's output. C) Dole Co. is unable to collude with other firms in the market. D) Dole Co.'s product is slightly different from its competitors. E) All of the above describe Dole Co.'s market. 5)A market in which firms can enter and leave so easily that firms in the market face competition from potential entrants is called a A) Contestable market. B) Natural oligopoly C) Limit pricing market. D) Monopolistic competition market. E) Cartel. 6) If the demand for its good or service is inelastic, a monopoly's A) Total revenue increases when the firm lowers its price. B) Marginal revenue is positive. C) Total revenue is unchanged when the firm lowers its price. D) Marginal revenue is negative. E) Marginal revenue is equal to zero. 7) In monopolistic competition, firms compete on the basis of A) Quality and marketing, but not price. B) Price, quality, and marketing. C) Price only. D) Quality only. E) Marketing only. 8) Rent seeking is best defined as attempts A) By individuals to avoid paying taxes. B) By owners of a monopoly to sell the firm. C) To achieve monopoly power and the resulting economic profit. D) By landlords to get tenants. E) None of the above. 9) In the long-run, a firm in monopolistic competition produces at an output level where A) P = ATC and MR > MC. B) P = ATC and MR = MC. C) P > ATC and MR > MC. D) P > ATC and MR = MC. E) P > ATC and MC > ATC. 10) Some unemployment is unavoidable because ________. A) Many part-time workers would like to have full-time work B) There is always some cyclical unemployment C) Often people become discouraged workers D) Many people in the working-age population attend school and are unemployed E) People are making transitions through the stages of life and businesses are making transitions 11) Approximately, the real interest rate ________ the inflation rate ________ the nominal interest rate. A) Equals; minus B) Plus; equals C) Times; divided by 100 equals D) Minus; equals E) Equals; plus 12) Which of the following exchange rate policies uses a target exchange rate, but allows the target to change? A) Crawling peg B) Fixed exc hange rate C) Moving target D) Flexible exchange rate E) None of the above 13) An increase in the tax on capital income ________ the supply of loan able funds and ________ investment. A) Decreases; increases B) Decreases the demand for loanable funds; decreases or increases C) Decreases; decreases D) Increases;

The Scientific Study of Ecology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Scientific Study of Ecology - Essay Example By addressing and discussing these three specific issues, not only will we be able to gain valuable information on these particular matters but on the subject of ecology as a whole. This is what will be dissertated in the following. In ecology terms, the carrying capacity of a population refers to the supportable population of an organism, and this is taking into consideration the vital factors such as food, habitat, water, and so on. There is strict mathematics involved with the carrying capacity issue, and depending on the particular situation, the impact of famine, for instance, could be quite moderate or extreme. In terms of what the possibilities are for the continued growth of a population once it has approached its carrying capacity, this really depends on the particular population being discussed, but it is very important either way here to understand that â€Å"Algorithms for estimating the carrying capacity of areas provide wildlife managers with important information for understanding and managing populations†¦The energy-based carrying capacity of an area varies with the energy required by a wildlife population and the energy available in foods in the area.† (29). In response to the issue of what process would be necessary in order to allow a population to be established and thrive in an ecological community, basically, there are several different factors that need to be taken into consideration here. In all reality, the most classical explanation is that all species are able to coexist, as long as they are â€Å"sufficiently different in their ‘niches’, the particular habitats or conditions in which they thrive or in the resources they exploit, and have corresponding weaknesses in other areas, so that no one species is able to out-compete the others.† (67).  

Dc Motor Principle of Operation Essay Example for Free

Dc Motor Principle of Operation Essay Principles of operation In any electric motor, operation is based on simple electromagnetism. A current-carrying conductor generates a magnetic field; when this is then placed in an external magnetic field, it will experience a force proportional to the current in the conductor, and to the strength of the external magnetic field. As you are well aware of from playing with magnets as a kid, opposite (North and South) polarities attract, while like polarities (North and North, South and South) repel. The internal configuration of a DC motor is designed to harness the magnetic interaction between a current-carrying conductor and an external magnetic field to generate rotational motion. Lets start by looking at a simple 2-pole DC electric motor (here red represents a magnet or winding with a North polarization, while green represents a magnet or winding with a South polarization). Every DC motor has six basic parts axle, rotor (a. k. a. , armature), stator, commutator, field magnet(s), and brushes. In most common DC motors (and all that BEAMers will see), the external magnetic field is produced by high-strength permanent magnets1. The stator is the stationary part of the motor this includes the motor casing, as well as two or more permanent magnet pole pieces. The rotor (together with the axle and attached commutator) rotate with respect to the stator. The rotor consists of windings (generally on a core), the windings being electrically connected to the commutator. The above diagram shows a common motor layout with the rotor inside the stator (field) magnets. The geometry of the brushes, commutator contacts, and rotor windings are such that when power is applied, the polarities of the energized winding and the stator magnet(s) are misaligned, and the rotor will rotate until it is almost aligned with the stators field magnets. As the rotor reaches alignment, the brushes move to the next commutator contacts, and energize the next winding. Given our example two-pole motor, the rotation reverses the direction of current through the rotor winding, leading to a flip of the rotors magnetic field, driving it to continue rotating. In real life, though, DC motors will always have more than two poles (three is a very common number). In particular, this avoids dead spots in the commutator. You can imagine how with our example two-pole motor, if the rotor is exactly at the middle of its rotation (perfectly aligned with the field magnets), it will get stuck there. Meanwhile, with a two-pole motor, there is a moment where the commutator shorts out the power supply (i. e. , both brushes touch both commutator contacts simultaneously). This would be bad for the power supply, waste energy, and damage motor components as well. Yet another disadvantage of such a simple motor is that it would exhibit a high amount of torque ripple (the amount of torque it could produce is cyclic with the position of the rotor). So since most small DC motors are of a three-pole design, lets tinker with the workings of one via an interactive animation (JavaScript required): Youll notice a few things from this namely, one pole is fully energized at a time (but two others are partially energized). As each brush transitions from one commutator contact to the next, one coils field will rapidly collapse, as the next coils field will rapidly charge up (this occurs within a few microsecond). Well see more about the effects of this later, but in the meantime you can see that this is a direct result of the coil windings series wiring: Theres probably no better way to see how an average DC motor is put together, than by just opening one up. Unfortunately this is tedious work, as well as requiring the destruction of a perfectly good motor. Luckily for you, Ive gone ahead and done this in your stead. The guts of a disassembled Mabuchi FF-030-PN motor (the same model that Solarbotics sells) are available for you to see here (on 10 lines / cm graph paper). This is a basic 3-pole DC motor, with 2 brushes and three commutator contacts. The use of an iron core armature (as in the Mabuchi, above) is quite common, and has a number of advantages2. First off, the iron core provides a strong, rigid support for the windings a particularly important consideration for high-torque motors. The core also conducts heat away from the rotor windings, allowing the motor to be driven harder than might otherwise be the case. Iron core construction is also relatively inexpensive compared with other construction types. But iron core construction also has several disadvantages. The iron armature has a relatively high inertia which limits motor acceleration. This construction also results in high winding inductances which limit brush and commutator life. In small motors, an alternative design is often used which features a coreless armature winding. This design depends upon the coil wire itself for structural integrity. As a result, the armature is hollow, and the permanent magnet can be mounted inside the rotor coil. Coreless DC motors have much lower armature inductance than iron-core motors of comparable size, extending brush and commutator life. Diagram courtesy of MicroMo The coreless design also allows manufacturers to build smaller motors; meanwhile, due to the lack of iron in their rotors, coreless motors are somewhat prone to overheating. As a result, this design is generally used just in small, low-power motors. BEAMers will most often see coreless DC motors in the form of pager motors. Again, disassembling a coreless motor can be instructive in this case, my hapless victim was a cheap pager vibrator motor. The guts of this disassembled motor are available for you to see here (on 10 lines / cm graph paper). This is (or more accurately, was) a 3-pole coreless DC motor. I disembowel em so you dont have to

Synthesis and Characterization of Nylon-6,6 Polymer

Synthesis and Characterization of Nylon-6,6 Polymer Abstract Synthesis and characterization of nylon-6,6 polymer was performed in this experiment. Nylon-6,6, was obtained from adipoyl chloride and 1,6-hexanediamine monomers, dissolved in cyclohexane and water. Employing interfacial polymerization technique, thin film of nylon product was formed and collected. The final product were white peaces of small fragile strings with a total mass of 0.0694 g and 4 cm in length. Infrared spectroscopy then characterized the final product and confirmed successeful synthesis of nylon-6,6 polymer due to the appearance of N-H stretching, C=O stretching, and N-H bending from the secondary amide group and from the nylon polymer. Introduction Polymers are macromolecules consisting of smaller subunits, called monomers.4 There are two main types of synthetic polymers, according to the mechanism by which they are synthetically made: step- growth and chain-growth polymers.4 One of the most popular synthetic polymers is nylon-6,6 due to low cost and ease of synthesis. There is no human activity where plastics are not used on a daily basis. Nylon in particular is widely used, due to variety of properties such as: elasticity, flexibility, lightweight and strength.5 Clothing, electronics, packaging, cars, airplanes, medical supplies, cookware, ropes all examples of nylon fabrics.5 In this experiment nylon is made by step- growth polymerization and condensation reaction. The monomers involved in this polymerization reaction are adipoyl chloride and 1,6-hexanediamine dissolved in cyclohexane, respectively. The chloride from the acid and the hydrogen proton from the amine group form a hydrochloric acid.4 The rest of the adipoyl chloride and hexanediamine will link together to form a larger polymer molecule. In each end of this polymer is a primary amine group in one end or an acid chloride group in the other end.4 These groups can act in a similar way with other acid/amine groups from the adipoyl chloride and hexanediamine. If many steps of this process are repeated, nylon-6,6 polymer will be formed.4 Hydrochloric acid is generated as a byproduct upon nylon formation, therefore a strong base must be added to neutralize the acidity of HCl, and maintain the pH of the solution. In this experiment sodium hydroxide was used as base. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy will be applied as method of characterization. It will provide information regarding   functional groups present in a molecule because the location of the absorption peaks observed have been associated with specific types of chemical bonds.6 It could be determine which functional groups from the starting monomers, are present in the nylon spectrum. Results Table 1: Nylon-6,6 Polymer Mass of nylon-6,6 0.0694 g Length 4 cm Appearance White fragile strings Table 2: IR spectrum of adipoyl chloride Functional Group Molecular Motion Observed Wavenumber (cm-1) Literature Value Range(cm-1) Peak Intensity Peak Shape   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Alkane C-H Stretch 2952.44 3000-2850 Weak Broad Acyl chloride C=O Stretch 1779.80 1820-1780 Weak Sharp Alkane C-H in plane bend 1404.56 1480-1350 Medium Sharp Acyl chloride C-Cl Stretch 681.43 800-600 Strong Sharp Table 3: IR spectrum of 1,6- hexanediamine Functional Group Molecular Motion Observed Wavenumber (cm-1) Literature Value Range(cm-1) Peak Intensity Peak Shape 1 ° amine N-H Stretch 3323.78 3300-3250 Medium Sharp Alkane C-H Assym. Stretch 2921.17 3000-2850 Strong Sharp Alkane C-H Sym. Stretch 2846.91 3000-2850 Strong Sharp 1 ° amine N-H Bend 1603.91 1640-1530 Medium Sharp Table 4: IR spectrum of nylon-6,6 polymer Functional Group Molecular Motion Observed Wavenumber (cm-1) Literature Value Range(cm-1) Peak Intensity Peak Shape 2 ° amide N-H Stretch 3299.0 3300-3250 Strong Sharp Alkane C-H Assym. Stretch 2932.0 3000-2850 Medium Sharp Alkane C-H Sym. Stretch 2859.0 3000-2850 Medium Sharp 2 ° amide C=O Stretch 1636.0 1680-1640   Ã‚   Strong Sharp 2 ° amide N-H   Bend 1538.0 1560-1530 Medium Sharp Discussion In this experiment, sythesis of nylon-6,6 was carried out. The final product had an appearance of white pieces of small fragile strings with a total mass of 0.0694 g and 4 cm in length. A way of improving the yield could be: different molar ratios of water to solvent; changing the solvent. No theorytical yield could be calculated for this reaction because all the polymer chains will have   variety of different lengths.1 The ability of nylon-6,6 to undergo hydrogen bonding results in high molecular order and high degree of interchain interaction as shown below2 (Figure 1). Each single chain of nylon fiber will interact with the adjacent one, forming a hydrogen bond between the nitrogen proton of the secondary amide and the lone pairs of the oxygen on the carbonyl, thus making the nylon polymers strong, difficult to separate and resistant to outside reaction.2 The signals for the IR spectrum of adipoyl chloride, are presented in Table 2. The spectrum shows the characteristic weak and narrow alkane peak, C-H stretch at 2952.44 cm-1. This value was within the range 3000-2850 cm-1 for the secondary alkane functional groups.   The weak and sharp C=O stretch appeared at 1779.80 cm-1 thus correlating with the literature value 1820-1780 cm-1. A C-H bend for alkanes should appear at 1480-1350 cm-1, which did appear at 1404.56 cm-1 as a medium and sharp peak. A C-Cl stretch was observed at 681.43 cm-1, within the expected range of 800-600 cm-1. This peak appeared weak to strong and sharp. The IR spectrum for 1,6-hexanediamine exhibits the following stretches: N-H stretch; N-H bend; alkane C-H asymmetric stretch; and an alkane C-H symmetric stretch. The primary amine is causing the N-H stretch. The literature value for this stretch is from 3300 to 3250 cm-1, which corresponds to the experimental value of 3323.78 cm-1. The peak intensity is medium and the shape is sharp. There is another sharp peak with medium intensity caused by the primary amine as well, which appear to be a N-H bend. The experimental value of 1603.91 cm-1 correlates well with the literature value range of 1640-1530 cm-1. There is C-H asymmetric stretch observed at 2921.17 cm-1 and it corresponds to the literature value range of 3000-2850 cm-1, caused by the alkane. It exhibited strong intensity. The C-H symmetric stretch falls in the appropriate range of literature values 3000-2850 cm-1 and it is caused by the alkane as well (See table 3). Analysis of IR spectrum of nylon-6,6 polymer showed successful synthesis. There were five distinct peaks associated with this compound include the following: N-H stretch; C=O stretch; C-H symmetric stretch; C-H antisymmetric stretch; and N-H bend. The N-H stretch had an observed peak value of 3300.81 cm-1 and its caused by the secondary amine. It correlates well with the literature values of 3300-3250 cm-1 and with the N-H stretch of 1,6-hexadiamine at 3323.78 cm-1. The two peaks have the same shapes, just slightly different intensities. Nylon-6,6 has strong intensity whereas the 1,6- hexanediamine, medium one. The C=O stretch had an observed peak value of 1634.04 cm-1. It falls within the expected literature values for this peak 1300-1100 cm-1. It appears at lower wavelength, compared to the adipoyl chloride. The proximity of the carbonyl to the nitrogen, lowers the energy of that stretch, due to interchain molecular interactions3. The alkane C-H assymetric and symmetric stretches e vident at 2932 cm-1 and 2832 cm-1 are nearly identical with the C-H stretches of 1,6- hexanediamine (See Tables 2 and 3). Differing only in their intensities- medium for the nylon and strong for the 1,6- hexanediamine.   All of the observed values fall within their literature range. The N-H bend at 1538 cm-1 with medium intensity and sharp peak, is caused by the secondary amide. It is in the accepted literature data of 1560-1530 cm-1. The major peak not present in the nylon-6,6 spectrum and evident in the starting material spectra for adipoyl chloride is the C-Cl stretch. The acyl chloride stretch is missing because there is no chlorine in the nylon composition, thus explaining why there are no observed stretches below 1000 cm-1. The other major difference is the N-H stretch observed at 3323.78 cm-1 in the hexanediamine spectrum, which appears at lower wavelength and becoming one peak for a secondary amide in the nylon spectrum. Conclusion This experiment demonstrated successful synthesis of nylon-6,6 polymer. It was accomplished using infrared spectroscopy technique. The IR analysis revealed the appearance of N-H stretching, C=O stretching and N-H bending from a secondary amide group and from the nylon polymer. It showed that there is no C-Cl stretch explaining the absence of chlorine in the nylon polymer as well as the N-H observed on the hexanediamine spectrum, appears on a lower wavelength as a secondary amide in the nylon spectrum. The final product had an appearance of white pieces of small fragile strings with a total mass of 0.0694 g and 4 cm. However, this experiments allows for multiple errors; such as improper pipetting technique; improper washing technique; incorrect rate of taking out the nylon product from the reaction beaker.   A chemical error could be not adding enough sodium hydroxide to neutralize the acidity of HCl, not allowing the reaction to be pushed towards the product.

Free Essay on The Catcher in the Rye :: Catcher Rye Essays

Free Essay on The Catcher in the Rye      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The catcher in the rye is a work of fiction and a   tragic-comedy. I came to choose it because I heard it is about a boy who is around my age.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this book, the main character, Holden Caulfield, tells us a story about what happened during his Christmas vacation. Holden is a sixteen-year-old boy who has flunked out of a private prep school. Because he is afraid that his parents would find out this fact, he goes to a hotel in New York City instead of going home after he leaves school for Christmas vacation. In New York, many things happen to him within a few days. For example, he goes to the hotel bar and meets three women after he first arrives there. The women go away soon after he fails to talk with them, and Holden feels lonely and depressed. He goes to another bar to find someone to spend some time with, but he fails to find anyone to talk to and comes back to the hotel feeling more depressed. In the hotel, he meets a prostitute, but he sends her back without having sex because he feels depressed and sorry for her. He was further disappointed   when she tries to rob him of his money even though he tries to be nice to her. In the next morning, he has a date with an old girl friend, and asks her to flee from this corrupt world and live in the woods with him. However, she tells him he is crazy and then leaves him. Holden meets some more people later, but they also cannot solve his problems, and he feels more and more depressed and lonely. He finally decides to run away and live as a deaf-mute who will not need to communicate with anyone. Before leaving, he goes to say good-bye to his little sister, Pheobe, who he admires the most. While talking and playing with her, Holden changes his mind and decides to rejoin his family and because he realizes there are many things that he cannot solve by himself.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The theme of this novel is how innocence is corrupted by society. Holden thinks everybody who is grown up is a phony because their behavior and advice are all false. The title of

Essay --

The days of a fair complex-ion being the â€Å"in-style† are long gone. Nowadays the way to appear more attrac-tive is to lie in a bed of artificial ultraviolet rays and get a fake tan. Today, 2.3 teenage girls tan annu-ally in an indoor bed (Komis 34). This isn’t to say that boys never tan and are innocent; it’s just that the majority of tanners under the age of 18 are girls. So why do girls feel that it is necessary to do this to their bodies, when there are so many reasons not to, the biggest being a greater chance of skin can-cer later in life? Let’s first start off by explaining just exactly what indoor tanning is. Most would agree that in-door tanning is going to a salon where there are sev-eral tanning beds where us-ers can choose to lie down or stand and then are ex-posed to very high intensi-ties of ultraviolet, or UV, rays in periods of twenty minutes or less (Loh 1). Because these UV rays are twice as intense as the natural sunlight, there have been rules and regula-tions to keep everything in tact. Some of these rules include: 1) only being able to use a bed from that sa-lon...

Brains, Blood, Sweat, and Tears :: essays papers

Brains, Blood, Sweat, and Tears â€Å"You can accomplish anything with thought and hard work† – Justin Craig-Kuhn To overcome obstacles is human. When something stands in our way, it’s â€Å"Give me liberty or give me death!† in many cases. No matter how difficult a project may seem, hard work and determination will pull us through (or at least, that’s what we tell ourselves). In many cases, it turns out that we do pull through, beating the odds, feeling a great sense of accomplishment in the process. A case and point of this would be the technological and architectural marvels modern humanity has created. Indeed, this is exactly what is represented in these two works. Memorial Bridge seems to capture the essence of human effort. This nearly impressionistic piece depicts a scene in which workers are constructing a bridge in the foreground. Receding into the horizon is what looks to be a highly industrialized city (for 1932) , with smoke rising into the air from factory smokestacks. The fact that parts of this piece seem to be painted in an impasto fashion, coupled with the rather bland colors that make up the piece, leads to the idea of â€Å"slow but steady† movement. Indeed, when I look at this piece, I feel as though I am included in this group of workers, helping them to overcome the obstacle of constructing this bridge. If the background goes to show what this city has already accomplished, the foreground tells me that the work is still in progress. In fact, I am led to the idea that our work is â€Å"never done†; we continually strive for bigger and bigger challenges. Only our blood, sweat, and tears stand in the way of g reat material accomplishments. The second painting, by Peters, also represents the idea of human effort. The technique used to paint this picture seems to be very calculated, but simple, hinting that this tectonic painting is about the mind. The huge suspension bridge that is shown seems to disappear into the vastness of the blue sky, reminding me of the old saying â€Å"The sky’s the limit†, even though this no longer holds true (the picture’s point exactly!). This directly leads to the conclusion that this piece is about the abilities of the human mind to overcome problems. The suspension bridge was a rather new invention at the time this piece was painted, leading me to believe that Peters probably looked on this architectural giant as we would look at a space shuttle today (i.

A short back ground history of Ibn Battuta Essay

At a time when most men traveled by animal, the ability to travel 75,000 miles over a span of 30 years during the 14th century remains a remarkable achievement. When asked to name the historic individual who covered such a great distance, most will first mention Marco Polo, the legendary traveler who recorded his exploits in The Adventures. There was, however, another person who traveled longer distances far earlier than Marco Polo. In fact, he traveled 75,000 miles and visited 44 different countries and, due to the strict westernized recording of history, Ibn Battuta’s travels have been all but forgotten. Even Battuta’s visit to China is virtually unknown while Polo’s journey to China remained historically revered despite the fact that even to this day there remain lingering, unresolved questions as to whether or not Marco Polo truly visited China. However, if the myth sounds interesting enough, it will eventually be reported as fact. Marco Polo’s status as a mythical folk hero eliminates much criticism and scrutiny regarding his travels. Yet, Marco Polo’s travels remain famous regardless of the controversy that surrounds his journeys and the equally lengthy debate among scholars. It is not uncommon for influential non-western people to be seemingly erased from historical accounts. In the United States, history is chronicled from a western perspective with Western Europe being presented as the epicenter of the world. As such, individuals from other cultures are often viewed in a peripheral manner and not provided with the same depth of historical coverage. Marco Polo was a hero whose birth origins are in the Western World; because of this, his feats are given great credibility. In the case of Battuta, a Moroccan by descent, his achievements are glossed over despite spending 17 years in China. It will be the goal of this essay to shift scholarly and historical attention from Marco Polo to Ibn Battuta by examining his travels in China in comparison to Marco polo’s. Additionally, this essay will prove that two travelers definitely visited China. A short back ground history of Ibn Battuta Muhammed ibn Abdullah ibn Battuta or Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier, Morocco to a Muslim family in 1304. He started his travels when he was around 20 years old and continued to travel for almost 30 years. (Dunn 14). Battuta, according to Francis, belonged to the religious upper class of the Mohammedan community and received a traditional religious and scholastic education from theologians (Francis 2). His travels commenced in 1325 when Ibn went on a pilgrimage to Mecca that continued on until he had crisscrossed 75,000 miles of the world (Kegan 1). He stopped in most Muslim cities along his route and paid homage to holy sites in Damascus, Syria, Hebron, Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the face of many obstacles he met along the way (Monteil 30). A short back ground history of Marco Polo Marco Polo was a famous Silk Road traveler in 1254-1324 has surpassed the fame of all other world travelers because of his well regarded writings claimed he reached beyond Mongolia and China (Polo, 1854: B). Marco Polo was born of a family of nobles and was a Venetian by origin with a high degree of education that included a basic knowledge of theology derived from Latin principles. At the young age of 18, Marco Polo also set forth in his journey to China with his father Nicolo and uncle Matteo. They continued on their journey until they reached the dwelling of Kublai near the present day Peking in 1275 where the Mongol Great Khan Qubilai or Kublai was delighted to see them (Jackson 82). Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo’s travel in China Both travelers recorded their personal observations of the various societies they discovered in the Far East. These observations display their fond interest in the salient issues concerning the society, religion, treatment of women, and cultural habits and practices. Acquiring the experiences for these observations were not without problems, however, as both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta encountered many adversities on the way to their respective destinations. For example, Ibn dealt with a number of obstacles and this prompted the redirection travels and circumvented his original plans to remain in the Middle East region of the Maldives (Spectrum 26). This ultimately led to his traveling to China and, it must be noted, that his travel to China was far from an easy journey. Specifically, Battuta’s journey to China was difficult, lengthy and arduous, but he ultimately succeeded and reached Sumatra and Vietnam before finally arriving in the Fujian Province in China sometime between1345-1346 (Francis 235). According to Wolfe, the rulers of China during the period were the descendants of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Dynasty (Wolfe 68). Jackson also supported Marco Polo’s verifiable account that the descendant of Genghis Khan, Kublai or Qubilai Khan was the head of the Mongol empire during this timeframe (Jackson 85). Muslims and other foreigners were welcomed into China during that time where an â€Å"open door† policy was exercised (Dunn 260). As such, Battuta recorded the fact that Chinese cities like Quanzhou and Guangzhou in the southern coast and sea ports welcomed him (Donkin 135). Other ports along the Malay Peninsula were also open to Muslim travelers and traders and Malay rulers encouraged these Muslim traders to settle in their ports and bring the advantages of a strong trading economy with them (Wolfe 68).

Eating disorders and healthy eating Essay

Men make up 10 to 15 percent of the population with anorexia and bulimia, but are the least likely to seek help due to the gender stereotypes surrounding the disorders. a. Almost half of people in the United States personally know someone with an eating disorder, that half of the people in the class room know someone that has an eating disorder. b. Packing lunch , choosing restaurants wisely and keeping nutritious snacks on hand are just a few of the ways you can still manage to eat something and stay healthy at the same time. c. I would like to tell you more about healthy eating and what eating disorders and the effects are , how you can find out if some one you know has them and recognizing the symptoms d. What are the three types of eating disorders A. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa and over eating Anorexia is a pathological fear of gaining weight leading to bad eating patterns, malnutrition, and u sually excessive weight loss and refusal to maintain a healthy weight. 1. When the person sees them self in the mirror they see extremely fat person, and to everyone else extremely skiny Bulimia is repeated binge eating followed by behaviors followed by purging to avoid weight gain 2. Taking laxative is also one the behaviors that people will take on to be able to lose the weight and be skinny Over eating is constantly eating without boundaries and past the appropriate amour of food or eating past the point of fullness 3. Some reasons are Boredom , anxiety and stress or even to please someone. B. Effects of eating disorders Treatments of eating disorders 1. Weight loss, fatigue, fainting, thin hair and nails Dehydration, menstrual irregularly, heart problems, took damge The worst one of all death Some therapy to talk about why the eating disorders is present and help the patient though it. 1. Most of the times eating disorders are issues that have gone untreated; and a way for people to feel like they have control over their lives. Medication that increases hunger for some and suppresses hunger for others

Chemicals Together in an Effort to be Greener Essay

Alhamdulillah, first of all, I would like to thank Allah as I could finish my chemistry assignment with the title of Chemistry in your daily life. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those that help me, contribute their suggestion and opinion in doing this assignment from the beginning until finish because, without their help, I might have little problem in this research. Even though a few problems occurred when doing the assignment but luckily it can be settled down. With a lot of effort, finally, this task can be sent to our lecturer before the submission date as well. Furthermore, a special thanks to my lecturer chemistry, Dr. Musfiroh bt Jani that deliver this assignment and explain clearly how to do this assignment with the concept of chemistry and how to applied it in daily life to make sure we can score chemistry and understand the true meaning of chemistry. We can do this without her as she guides and fix our mistakes from starting of this assignment and want to improve the new one so this assignment can be completely finished and get a better result. Next, big thanks go to other Chemistry lecturers that teach me and guide me as long as I was a student and will make sure I can understand properly what is chemistry, why we need to learn chemistry and the important thing is we learn this to understand the knowledge to apply in real life, not because the exam. They also teach me how to produce a good assignment and report. Moreover, many thanks to my parents that support me from for with their contribution especially by providing money to me as I need to find references and they also help me in give an idea to make sure I can finish my assignment. Last but not least, thanks to my friends that always support and stick with me when hard and happy in this life and for those who are directly and indirectly support and help me with the assignment. Have you ever wondered why ice melts a water evaporates? Why do leaves turn colors in the fall, and how does a battery generate electricity? Why does keeping foods cold slow their spoilage, and how do our bodies use food to maintain life? There are a lot of nature and phenomena life that happens around us that involved chemistry. Have you wondered what is chemistry? And what chemistry can do in our life? How chemistry can be important and relates to our life? All the question can be answered in Chemistry as chemistry provides really important understanding and how it can be applying in our daily life as a human. That is the reason why we need to study chemistry. By studying chemistry, we can learn to use powerful language and ideas to describe what happened because chemistry is universal science that covered all the process around us include matter and also the process of humans. Chemistry? What crossed in your mine about chemistry? Either about chemistry with friends, chemistry in doing the same things, chemistry in a relationship for couples or anything else. Yes, that’s all true but in science actually, chemistry is a study of matter, properties, and its behavior. Chemistry also provides an understanding background of matter which it can be divided by atoms, molecules, gas. Atoms are smallest particles of elements that exist surrounding us. It is made of three tiny particles that called subatomic particles which is protons, neutrons, and electrons. The center of the atom, called nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons. Every single thing in this world is made up of matter include our bodies. Chemistry is relating to everything in life and it is a large branch that needed by everyone. Not only doctor, but the dentist, pharmacist, nurse, geologist, and others need chemistry too. Chemistry can be divided into five main branches which are very wide in the application of life. The first is analytical chemistry which discusses uses qualitative and quantitative observation to identify and measure the physical and chemical properties of substances. In fact, all chemistry is analytical chemistry. Secondly is physical chemistry. As we know, physical chemistry is discussed physics combine with chemistry. It’s about how matter can interact with energy. The important things in this topics are thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. The third branch of chemistry is organic chemistry which studies in compounds that contains carbon element. Carbon has many unique properties that allow it to form complex chemical bonds and very large molecules. Inorganic chemistry studies a materials such gases and metals that do not contain carbon as part of their make up. Last but not least is biochemistry is study of chemical processes that occur between organisms. Try to imagine the world without chemistry.

Changes in family life since the 1970s Essay

Outline some of the major changes that have taken place in family life since the 1970s and discuss the concerns arising from these changes. In the past many families were similar, as traditional nuclear families were the excepted norm of society. Since the 1970’s a number of major changes have taken place in family life. The traditional nuclear family is no longer seen as the norm as many other types of specialist families have developed to best suit the needs of the people within them. Family life is very complex and in recent years sociologists have sort to find new ways to understand it. However with these changes there have also been a number of concerns, which may suggest that not all changes have improved family life. One way in which the family unit has changed since the 1970’s is the change in marriage rates. While marriage in the UK is still the majority among families, there has been a decline in the number of marriages, the age in which people are choosing to marry and the duration of marriages. In 1971 1% of all marriages in the UK ended after two years. In 1996 this figure increased to 9%. (Mark Kirby, 2000, p. 58). This suggests that marriage less important than it once was. There are a number for reasons as to why there is a change in marriage. It is argued that because women now have more freedom of choice than they did in the past, they may be choosing simply not to marry. Others suggest that women are now choosing to put off marriage till a later date so that they can focus on their careers and education. Another reason for the change in marriage could be due to the undermining of the need to marry, now that it has become socially acceptable to cohabit or be single, many people choose not to marry. As well as this women are no longer dependant on men to be a ‘bread winner’ and provide for them. Lorraine Harding (1996) argues that the main decline in marriage occurred around the 1970’s due to greater levels of unemployment. Strain may have been put on the ‘breadwinner’ to support the family causing the breakdown of the marriage. ‘On this basis it could be argued that it is not the decline of the conventional family since 1970 that should need explaining, but rather its unusual popularity between 1945 and 1970’. (Mark Kirby, 2000, pp. 69-70) Another major change that has taken place in family life since the 1970’s is the increase in the number of divorces. In 1970 80,000 couples got divorced in the UK, that figure has risen to 125,000 in 2003. (Scott, 2007, p. 466) It is argued that this increase is due to the 1969 Divorce Reform Act which made getting a divorce much easier. Women had more opportunity to work and therefor they were less dependent on men. State benefits gave women greater chance of leaving a marriage. (Scott, 2007, pp. 467-469). However with divorce there are a number of concerns that can arise in family life. It is believed that divorce is the main contributor to lone parent families who are considered to be at higher risk of poverty. This is considered an unhealthy environment to bring up children as they may feel unsettled. Children may lose touch with the other parent and gain step parents. This in extension can effect socialisation, education and their family life in the future. Some sociologists also argue that children whose parents have had a divorce are more likely to get a divorce when they are older. Giddens found that two-fifths of all marriages in the UK now end in divorce. The number of marriages has fallen while the number of divorces has risen. (Giddens, 2009, pp. 350-351) Cohabitation has increased sharply in recent years. It is seen as a prelude to marriage or an alternative and in some cases it replace marriage altogether. ‘In 1986 11 per cent of non-married men under the age of 60 were in cohabiting relationships, but by 2004 this figure had risen to 24 per cent. The comparable figures for women were 13 per cent in 1986 and 25 per cent in 2004’ (Social Trends, 2006) This goes to show that cohabitation is one alternative to the traditional nuclear family that people are choosing to take. In the UK today 73 per cent of women say they live with a man before they are married. However with cohabitation there have been a number of concerns suggested by sociologists. Some sociologists argue that because there is less commitment within a cohabiting relationship then they are less stable and more likely to break down. This could lead to poverty for the women and children involved. As well as this a cohabiting couple are more likely to seek stat e benefits and put a strain on the economy. Antony Giddens argues the idea of a pure relationship. He believes that  couples in Modern society choose now not to marry for love and intimacy but to cohabit and have a relationship that best suits them. He believes that in the past couples were bound by the contract of love and it would often be difficult to get and divorce and end a relationship. Giddens argues that divorce is increasing due to people having much more choice in their lives. If a relationship no longer continues to suit the interests of the people within it then it is easy to simply leave. Giddens says: ‘What holds the pure relationship together is the acceptance on the part of each partner, â€Å"until further notice†, that each gains a significant benefit from the relationship to make its continuance worthwhile.’ (Holborn, 2004) The love within the relationship is governed by the amount of venerability the other is prepared to show. Giddens also saw that in the past families would have been headed by a single male breadwinner who provided for the whole family while the wife stayed at home. This has now changed and men and women have become more equal within contemporary society. This therefor suggests that men and women have also become equal within relationships. Pure relationships are quickly becoming more popular as our self-centred society develops. Within contemporary society we have more choice; this has now adapted the way we look at traditional ’till-death-us-do-part’ marriages and traditional nuclear families. (Elliott, 2008) ‘Living apart together’ is a term that is used for a family where one of the partners may live away for work or simply to maintain their independence. This follows on from the idea of a pure relationship as it is more causal for the people involved and it meets everyone needs. A problem that may arise from ‘LAT’ families is that it could be disruptive for children as they would not have a single home. It also shows a lack of commitment from the couple to move in together and get married. Although ‘LAT’ families are becoming increasingly common, they may still often be not seen as the best way to live as a family. Lone parent’s families are becoming increasing common within the UK today. There have been significant increases in lone parent families since the 1970’s. This could be due to higher rates of divorce and cohabitation break down. Lone parents also have a reduced likelihood for marriage in the future  with lone parent working class men having the lowest chance to marry. In 2004 73 per cent of lone mothers and 50 per cent lone fathers had dependent children. (Giddens, 2009, p. 355) This creates a concern with lone parents as it is believed that lone parents are more likely to be in poverty and dependant on state benefits. It is argued that the child from a lone parent household is less likely to do well in education and is more likely to become a lone parent in the future. With less time to get an education it is also common for a lone parent to have low or no qualifications and poor pay. Lone parents can get caught in a poverty trap as they do not have the time to earn good money and improve their education. Some lone parents may wait until their children have grown up, and go into higher education at a later date. With the increasing number of divorces and remarriages there has also be an increase in reconstituted families. Reconstituted families often bring two families together that have divorced parents. These types of family can generate some concerns as in many cases it is difficult for the children of the family to accept new relationships. In extension to this within reconstituted families there is a higher rate of child abuse. This could be due to the sometimes overwhelming environment of two families living together. They are also more likely to face economic hardship. Divorce rates in reconstituted families are higher than that of first marriages. Same sex partnerships have received a lot of media attention in recent years. This is due to the very idea of sexuality being a topic of interest within society. It is only since December 2005 that gay and lesbian couples could get a civil partnership. If they wish to have children then they have to choose from adoption, artificial insemination, fostering or if they had a child from a past heterosexual relationship. This can be good for the child as they may choose to counteract patriarchy. However on the other hand there are many aspects of a same sex partnership that could raise some concerns. For example the very nature of such a relationship challenges strongly held values and norms within society. This could therefor create conflict with other members of society. If there is a child involved this may not be the best environment to bring them up. In 2009 Elton John and his partner David  Furnish were looking to adopt a child from the Ukraine. They faced problems when EveryChild, an international children’s charity, said _†it was concerned by the singer’s announcement that he and partner David Furnish wanted to adopt a 14-month-old boy called Lev. The organization said that while it praised John’s help in raising awareness about children affected by HIV in Ukraine, it said the answer did not lie in international adoption, arguing that more children might be left in children’s homes as a result of another celebrity adoption†._ (Press Association, 2009) As well as this many people believe that it is inappropriate to bring a child up with same sex parents. It is believed that this will have an effect on their sexuality without giving them a fair choice. With society becoming more multicultural some people from other religions may condemn the idea of same sex couples. This could leave them marginalised on the edge of society. In some extreme cases there have been ‘Honour Killings’ from some families in order to protect their image. With an increase in same sex couples there has also been more of a demand for fertility and reproductive technology. These men and women are looking to artificial insemination to help them to have a child. On the other hand however heterosexual men and women, may also require such technology if they have a problem with conception. This has helped women whom have put off parenthood in order to focus on their careers and education. As women get older their fertility rate falls, 1 in 5 women will reach the end of their fertile life childless. This new technology can help families to have children whereas in the past they may not have been able. There has also been an increase in younger women becoming surrogate mothers for older women who can no longer have children. Another technology that has had a large effect on family life is contraception. In the past, families often had many more children than in contemporary society. This was so their children could go to work and provide for the family, but also because they didn’t have the technology. Contraception has become increasing important over recent years with youth  culture of today ‘Drugs, Sex, Rock and Roll’. In contrast to this idea, there has been an increase in teen parents over recent years, suggesting that more could be done to stop such families. Other generations within the family are increasingly having a greater influence. In the past due to poor healthcare many children would never have met their grandparents as they would have died at a younger age. In modern society grandparents and great grandparents are now increasingly part of the family. This can create tensions between caring for the older members of the family and the younger ones. It can also have a structural issue as the older generations of the family may become a burden if there is a break down in the relationship or a divorce. In conclusion there are a number of changes that have taken place in the family since the 1970’s. Not all of these changes have had positive effects. There have also been a number of negatives. With such a large change within society concerns will arise, it is how these concerns are dealt with that will determine the future of the family unit. There are some sociologists that believe that the family is still just as strong as it has always been even with the loss of traditional families. _†Family living also offers an opportunity for intimacy, a word with Latin roots meaning ‘sharing fears’. That is, as a result of sharing a wide range of activities over a long period of time, members of families forge emotional bonds. Of course, the fact that parents act as authority figures often inhabits their communication with young children. But as young people reach adulthood, kinship ties typically ‘open up’ as family members recognise that they share concern for one another’s welfare†_ (Plummer, 2002, p. 441) This suggests that it does not matter what shape or size a family is, but if it teaches the people within it to become good adults and care for others then it will have fulfilled its purpose. With the ever changing and diverse nature of the society in which we live families have simply become more specialised, and the people within them are no longer bound by what is  socially acceptable.

Budgeting is a key component in management short and long term Essay

Budgeting is a key component in management short and long term planning - Essay Example Budgeting helps in figuring out the issues that are faced by the organization and the stakeholders of the organization (RICH, 2012, p.970). This done by finding the difference between the actual outcomes and the budgeted outcomes, if the actual outcomes are not consistent with the budgeted outcomes, the organization is said to have been experiencing issues that need to be resolved. Budgeting is a means through which alternatives are identified and analyze this is done to find the best alternative which will end up in providing fruitful results to the organization. Budgeting is an essential element in the planning role played by the management of an organization. It plays a key role in creating plans that are short and long term in nature. Both the short and long term goals of the organization are of great importance. The achievement of the long term goals is entirely dependent on the successful achievement of the short term goals of the organization. Short Term Planning A manager is involved in the process of making both short and long term planning. The plans that are created for a shorter period of time are created while keeping a deadline of one year or as long as two years in mind (SPEARMAN, 2007, p.194). The plans are created while analyzing expectations of earnings, cash inflow and outflow and expenditures conducted to obtain resources. The plans may be created for as long as one single month or even for as low as one single week. Short term plans created within the organization are heavily dependant on information obtained within the organization and these plans consists of detailed information of tactical objectives that an organization aims at achieving. The short term plans are well structured and hardly experience change with changes in environment, the outcomes of these plans are easily determinable and the outcomes can be analyzed quite frequently (NIEUWENHUIZEN, 2007, p.61). The plans of revenue earning and profit making that are short term in nat ure are devised in accordance to the current products offered by the organization and the current market in which the organization is operating. Short term profitability programs should be developed in accordance to different responsibilities and areas. Plans that are short term in nature are dependent on departments and all departments create their own short term plans. Once short term plans for each department is created, all the short term plans are viewed and reviewed together as all functions/departments are dependent on each other for their success. For the creation of short term plans, involvement of lower level managers is quite significant. Line manager is one of the lower level managers who play the most important role in defining the short term objectives and short term plans should be finally devised with the ultimate aim of achieving long term targets of the organization. Long Term Planning The nature of the long-term planning is quite strategic and it covers a broad ra nge of purposes. This kind of plan is scheduled to be completed within five to ten years of operations and it is formed in accordance to the future operations of the organization. These plans are not only based on the conditions of the internal environment of the organization, they are created while giving importance to the external environment which includes the

Research ethics and nature of practitioner research Literature review

Research ethics and nature of practitioner research - Literature review Example Even so, it has only been until recent that, in education, teachers began benefitting from the practice. Practitioner research has been employed as a means of bridging the gap between practices and theory. There have been the urges for teachers to cultivate action research as a way of improving education, as well as reconstructing knowledge (Berker 103). Other areas of practice have also not been left behind, all targeting to add to existing information, as well as bridging the gap between theory and practice. Various debates pertaining to practitioner research have emerged. As such, there have been deliberations pertaining to the real nature of practitioner research, as well as its values, qualities and the underlying activities. This paper explores the nature of practitioner research. Besides, ethical codes of conduct have been one of the areas that can not be overlooked as far as the efficacy of practitioner research is concerned. Putting this into consideration, this paper explor es various issues pertaining to ethics, in relation to practitioner research. Ethics and practitioner Research Ethics are about actions people or members of certain community should undertake. There is a close relationship between ethics and morality. Thus, a practitioner who behaves in a manner that is moral can be said to uphold ethics For instance, journalists who tell the truth would be said to be ethical. In the same way, soldiers ought to be courageous and a research practitioner should stick to ethics of research (Pewro 56). Ethics are also a set of desirable feature that an organization needs its members to uphold. Despite the fact that fact that ethics have often been associated with mannerism or etiquette, the two terms are not the same. In this regard, codes of ethics should not incline on areas such as a mode of dressing, as well as politeness of the research practitioners. Additionally, there is no association between aesthetics and ethics. Parallels can only be drawn b etween morality and ethics. Thus, ethical codes of conduct are based on principles of morality. Nevertheless, it also encompasses what is desirable. For instance, a mechanical engineer may insist on certain wheels because he is concerned about upholding safety. Research practitioners may insist on certain approaches because of reliability. Clearly, such may be beyond the stipulations of moral principles, as well as the law (Ayres and Braithwaite 23). Sanctions should only be applied in relation to minimum standards (morality), rather than the expected ideals (ethics). The perception that ethical codes of conduct are rules that delineate actions that are supposed to be carried out is not comprehensive. More often than not, ethics allude to virtues, such as those pertaining to integrity, and condemn vices such as those associated with dishonesty. In addition, codes of conduct ought to touch on attitudes such as empathy and sympathy (Bless 34). In all these cases, ethos and the culture of organization, society or community are what influence the ethical code of conduct. Culture can be viewed as attitudes of people towards certain subjects, people or actions. The subject of ethic is often inclined on culture; thus, any approach pertaining to ethics and ethical code of conduct should put into consideration various cultural aspects. In this regard, the ethical codes of

Financial Services Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Services Industries - Essay Example This destabilization asks questions about the various organizational practices and balance sheet structures that these two types of financial institutions utilize. Furthermore, the regulatory agencies involved in the monitoring of securities firms play a vital role in protecting consumers and investors, and the solvency of the bank system is a vital component of social stability not only in the U.S. economy but globally speaking. This paper will briefly examine some of the differences in structure and operation of depository institutions as well as examine the regulatory processes involved in supervising the securities firms. As an illustration of the crumbling barrier between banking and commerce consider that during the 1970s there were predictions that there was a decline in banking as balance sheets for commercial banks had fallen to their lowest levels in years (Federal Reserve Bank, 1998). In response a number of deregulation initiatives were instituted to spur growth for depository institutions. To manage the acknowledged increased risk that deregulation would entail the FDIC systematically raised the minimum level of the capital-to-asset ratio. However, because of deregulation and the FDIC response this encouraged depository institutions to move business off their balance sheets, for example, by packaging and selling various product lines in the form of securities. This â€Å"securitization† of assets, such as mortgages, auto loans, and credit-card loans- shifts loans to permanent investors, leaving the depository institutions to service the loans for a fee. "Origination, distribution, and servicing capabilities have therefore become increasingly significant elements of the banking business, while building up the balance sheet, once perceived as a measure of an institutions eminence, has diminished in importance" (Federal Reserve Bank, 1998, p. 61). The operational practices and balance sheet structure are in fact markedly different