Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. Biography

Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. Biography Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr., one of the first black astronauts, entered the corps in June 1967. He had a bright future ahead of him but never made it into space. He began his training and was putting his experience as a pilot and chemist to work as he also trained on  support aircraft. Several months after he began his astronaut training, Lawrence was a passenger on a training flight aboard an F104 Starfighter jet when it made a too-low approach and hit the ground. Lawrence died instantly during the December 8 mishap. It was a tragic loss to the country, and to his wife and young son. He was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously for his service to his country.   The Life and Times of Astronaut Lawrence Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. was born October 2, 1935, in Chicago. He received an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Bradley University in 1956 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant into the U.S.  Air Force upon graduation at age 20. He took his flight training at Malden Air Force Base, and eventually ended up providing flight training. He logged more than 2,500 hours of flight time throughout his time in the Air Force and was instrumental in compiling flight maneuver data that was eventually used in the development of the space shuttles. Lawrence later earned a PhD. in physical chemistry in 1965 from Ohio State University. His interests ranged from nuclear chemistry to photochemistry, advanced inorganic chemistry, and thermodynamics. His instructors called him one of the most intelligent and hard-working students theyd ever seen. Once in the Air Force, Lawrence  distinguished himself as an exceptional test pilot and was among the first to be named to the USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program. That mission was a precursor to todays successful NASA space shuttle program. It was part of the manned spaceflight program the Air Force was developing. MOL was planned as an orbiting platform where astronauts could train and work for longer missions. The program was canceled in 1969 and declassified later on. Some of the astronauts assigned to MOL, such as Robert L. Crippen and Richard Truly, went on to join NASA and fly other missions. Although he applied twice to NASA and didnt make into the corps, after his experience with the MOL, Lawrence may well have made it in on a third try, had he not been killed in the flight accident in 1967. Memorial In 1997, thirty years after his  death, and after much lobbying by space historians and others, Lawrences name was the 17th added to the Astronauts Memorial Foundation Space Mirror. This memorial was dedicated in 1991 to honor all U.S. astronauts who lost their lives on space missions or in training for missions. Its located at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation at the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida and is open to the public. The African-American  Members of the Astronaut Corps Dr. Lawrence was part of a vanguard of black Americans to join the space program. He came along early in the programs history and hoped to make a lasting contribution to the countrys space efforts. He was preceded by Ed Dwight, who selected as the first African-American astronaut in 1961. Unfortunately, he resigned due to government pressure.   The honor of being the first black  to actually fly in space was Guion Blufords. He flew four missions from 1983 to 1992. Others were Ronald McNair (killed in the space shuttle Challenger accident), Frederick D. Gregory, Charles F. Bolden, Jr. (who has served as NASA administrator), Mae Jemison (first African-American woman in space), Bernard Harris, Winston Scott, Robert Curbeam, Michael P. Anderson, Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, B. Alvin Drew, Leland Melvin, and Robert Satcher.   Several others have served in the astronaut corps, but have not flown in space.   As the astronaut corps has grown, it has grown more diverse, including more women and astronauts with a wide range of ethnic backgrounds.

10 Pros and Cons of Being a School Principal

10 Pros and Cons of Being a School Principal There are many pros and cons that come with being a principal. It can be a rewarding job, and it can also be an extremely stressful job. Not everyone is cut out to be a principal. There are certain defining characteristics that a good principal will possess. If you are thinking of becoming a principal, it is crucial that you weigh all the pros and cons that come with the job. Take all factors of both sides into consideration before making your final decision. If you do not feel you can handle the cons, stay away from this profession. If you believe that the cons are only roadblocks, and the pros are well worth it, then go for it. Being a principal can be a terrific career option for the right person. Pros of Being a School Principal Salary. The median expected annual salary of a principal is over $100,000, while the median expected annual salary for a teacher is under $60,000. That is a significant increase in salary and can have a substantial impact on your family’s financial status, as well as on your retirement. That increase in salary is well-earned, as you will see when we look at the cons. There is no denying that a significant increase in salary makes it appealing to a lot of people to make that jump from teacher to principal. However, it is essential that you do not make that decision based on salary alone. Variety. Redundancy is never an issue when you are a school principal. No two days are ever alike. Each day brings new challenges, new problems, and new adventures. This can be exciting and keeps things fresh. You can go into a day with a solid plan of things to do and fail to accomplish a single thing that you expected. You never know what will await you on any particular day. Being a principal is never boring. As a teacher, you establish a routine and mostly teach the same concepts each year. As a principal, there is never an established routine. Each day has its own unique routine that dictates itself as time passes. Control. As the school leader, you will have more control over virtually every aspect of your building. You will often be the lead decision-maker. You will typically have at least some control over key decisions, such as hiring a new teacher, changing curriculum and programs, and scheduling. This control allows you to put your stamp on what your building does. It provides you with the opportunity to implement the vision that you have for your school. You will also have total control over daily decisions, including student discipline, teacher evaluations, professional development, and so on. Success. As the building principal, you will also get credit when credit is due. When an individual student, teacher, coach, or team succeeds, you also succeed. You get to celebrate in those successes because a decision you made somewhere along the line likely helped lead to that success. When someone associated with the school is recognized for outstanding achievement in some area, it typically means that the right decisions have been made. This can often be traced back to a principal’s leadership. It may be as straightforward as hiring the right teacher or coach, implementing and supporting a new program, or offering a particular student the right motivation. Impact. As a teacher, you often only have an impact on the students you teach. Make no mistake that this impact is significant and direct. As a principal, you can have a larger, indirect impact on students, teachers, and support personnel. The decisions you make can affect everyone. For example, working closely with a young teacher who needs some direction and guidance has a tremendous impact on both the teacher and every student they will ever teach. As a principal, your impact is not limited to a single classroom. A single decision can be transcendent throughout the entire school. School Principal Cons Time. Effective teachers spend a lot of extra time in their classrooms and at home. However, principals spend a much greater amount of time doing their jobs. Principals are often the first one to school and the last one to leave. In general, they are on a 12-month contract, getting only two to four weeks of vacation time during the summer. They also have several conferences and professional development duties they are required to attend. Principals are usually expected to attend almost every extra-curricular event. In many cases, this can mean attending events three to four nights a week during the school year. Principals spend a lot of time away from their homes and their families throughout the school year. Responsibility. Principals have a greater workload than teachers do. They are no longer responsible for only a few subjects with a handful of students. Instead, a principal is responsible for every student, every teacher/coach, every supporting member, and every program in their building. A principal’s responsibility footprint is enormous. You have your hand in everything, and this can be overwhelming. You have to be organized, self-aware, and confident to keep up with all of those responsibilities. Student discipline issues arise every day. Teachers require assistance on a daily basis. Parents request meetings to voice concerns regularly. You are the one responsible for handling each of these, as well as a plethora of other issues that occur within your school every day. Negativity. As a principal, you deal with many more negatives than you will positives. The only time you typically deal with students face-to-face is because of a discipline issue. Each case is different, but they are all negative. You also get to handle teachers complaining about students, parents, and other teachers. When parents request a meeting, it is almost always because they want to complain about a teacher or another student. These constant dealings with all things negative can become overwhelming. There will be times you will need to shut your office door or go observe an extraordinary teacher’s classroom just to escape all the negativity for a few minutes. However, handling all of these negative complaints and issues is a substantial part of your job. You must effectively address each issue, or you will not be a principal for long. Failures. As discussed earlier, you will receive credit for successes. It is also crucial to note that you will also be responsible for failures. This is especially true if your building is a low-performing school based on standardized test performance. As the leader of the building, it is your responsibility to have programs in place to assist in maximizing student performance. When your school fails, someone has to be the scapegoat, and that could fall on your shoulders. There are many other ways to fail as a principal that could jeopardize your job. Some of those include making a series of damaging hires, failing to protect a student who has been bullied, and keeping a teacher who is known to be ineffective. Many of these failures are avoidable with hard work and dedication. However, some failures will occur no matter what you do, and you will be linked to them because of your position in the building. Politics. Unfortunately, there is a political component to being a principal. You have to be diplomatic in your approach with students, teachers, and parents. You cannot always say what you want to say. You have to remain professional at all times. There are also occasions where you may be pressured into making a decision that makes you uncomfortable. This pressure may come from a prominent community member, school board member, or your district superintendent. This political game could be as straightforward as two parents wanting their children to be in the same class. It may also become complicated in a situation where a school board member approaches you to request that a football player who is failing a class is allowed to play. There are times like this when you must make an ethical stand even if you know it may cost you. The political game can be hard to play. However, when you are in a position of leadership, you can bet that there will be some politics involved. Sources Public School Teacher  Salary in the United States. Salary.com, 2019.   School Principal  Salary in the United States. Salary.com, 2019.

Video Games and Behavioral Violence among Youths Research Paper

Video Games and Behavioral Violence among Youths - Research Paper Example This essay describes the modern reality in which advancements in science and technology brought many goods and evils to the life of human. The life styles of the people are changing drastically as a result of the developments in science and technology. The entry of computers and internet revolutionized the human life in many ways, both positively and negatively. The life styles of all the people, especially that of the children and youths changed a lot over the last few decades because of the evolution of new methods of enjoyment like video gaming. The interactive nature of video gaming made it one of the hottest hobbies of the current youths and children. Many of the physical activities or hobbies like sports and games forced to give way for video games or other technology oriented games. To conclude this research on video games the researcher states that videogame playing promotes, better education, problems solving skills, strategic thinking, language learning, personality develop ment etc among youths rather than generating violent behaviors. The positives of videogames should not be forgotten. The current generation has better intellectual abilities and problem solving skills because of the development of better environment. We are living in an electronic or digital world at present. It is difficult or impossible for us to keep the children away from this digital world. Instead of asking the teenagers to stop playing videogames, it is better to educate them in how to use it effectively or positively.

Thomas Coram in the Enlightenment period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Thomas Coram in the Enlightenment period - Essay Example Key to the drivers of enlightenment were the ability to use and celebrate the ability to reason, and the power by which human beings could understand the universe and improve the conditions under which they lived. They worked towards the achievement of rational humanity goals which they considered to freedom, knowledge, and freedom. To achieve this, different people played different roles the best way they knew how. Philosophers were at their best speaking out their philosophical ideas, artists trying their best to pass different messages through their works of art, and other great thinkers as well. One Thomas Coram was a philanthropic captain, and he played a big role in shaping the young children who were suffering from abject poverty and their parents could not maintain them. He started a charitable foundation whose storyline is inspirational as to how big his heart was, and a how big a dream he had.During the eighteenth century, London was full of dualism. It comprised of a hedon istic and gullible crowd that always collided with men who were keen on doing good and constructive work. At that time, one of the greatest social problems ailing was the mind-boggling number of children that had been abandoned by their parents for good, and those who had been left at the mercies of the parish.It had always happened that illegitimate children would be taken to the parish to take care of them. These included children whose parents were too poor to support them or others who had become negligent enough not to care for them.

Top Dollar Enterprises Essay Example for Free

Top Dollar Enterprises Essay Business Development through the Next Decade of Gaming Transition Cycles I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been. Wayne Gretzky (www.timelessquotes.com 4/10/06) This quote identifies the most critical strategic consideration for Top Dollar Enterprises’ expansion into the eCommerce marketplace. By producing the most comprehensive on-line presence in the business, an eCommerce solution will propel this company profitably through the next transition of the gaming industry and beyond. While the plan for design, development, implementation and marketing of a high-end web site might seem difficult or even unrealistic at the outset; proper planning, project management and a graduated implementation scale will produce a result which will meet the ongoing goals and objectives of this organization. Unrelenting support from all company assets will secure the competitive edge Top Dollar Enterprises will require to be a peer among industry leaders. There are several well established models we can compare in assessing the requirements of this project: On-line giant Amazon, discount outlets such as Target and WalMart as well as specialty sites including GameSpot. Niche competitors like GameSpot have some (but not all) of the features in common that we will discuss. Popular examples include: Forums, where users discuss games, play, design and other subjects of interest; Blogs, (an internet exclusive term) where industry professionals discuss current topics between themselves and the users; Cheats, special codes or tokens imbedded in the game program which give the avatar, etc. added abilities, advance the play beyond the current level or may allow the user access to formerly unknown and unadvertised levels of play; Links, to other areas and websites of interest, in addition to the various gaming consoles and software.   These extra features are not found at Amazon, WalMart or Target Stores on-line. The proposal set before you is unique in its scope. Five major objectives are outlined. Advanced Products Pro Active Liability Minimization Security Scalability Broader Functionality Advanced Products In the effort to keep up with the vast array of changes in the technology sector we must be ready to deliver the product that our customers will need. These are predictions which take into account current trends in the Gaming Industry from one of the leading sources: Overall hardware unit sales are predicted to grow 30% from 2006 to 2011. Most of that growth will be in handheld hardware, which has been tipped to grow 45% over the next cycle. Software growth is predicted to go from $7.0 billion in 2005 to $10.0 billion in 2008. The analysts say that the sector as a whole should outperform broader market indices. The introduction of PS3 and Revolution in the U.S. is pegged to be late 2006 with Sony introducing the rumored HD equipped PSP (presumably to tap into the iPod market)  in mid-2006.   (Piper Jaffray; http://www.next-gen.biz 09/30/05) The next consumer product in software for gaming consoles will be downloads. Advancements in technology, micro memory storage and hard drive units, as well as the widespread use of broadband by consumers have overcome the obstacles to â€Å"on demand† software publishing. Existing sites selling cartridges or disks cannot easily expand to include this class of functionality. In addition to downloading the programs, there will be a need for either an eBook or separate document download with instructions for each program. As is usual with this sort of product, there will also be a need for broader Technical Support services. Pro Active Liability Minimization There are two problems facing the Video Game industry that should be examined here: The first is unauthorized copy and distribution of proprietary software. Copy Right infringement is a serious problem for all media concerns worldwide. Top Dollar Enterprises should be informed and ready to implement any new technology that becomes available. In the interim, Registration Keys are common software theft deterrent devices. Use of a Registration Key is not foolproof, but is used industry wide and should be adequate for this purpose. A â€Å"timed† Registration Key is also available for subscription based services in addition to the other products we are able to make available to the consumer. The second problem relates to the availability of mature and adult rated content to underage users. Several states and private litigants have, thus far, unsuccessfully tried to hold the game makers liable in these cases, but a new proposal has been put before the United States Senate: Family Entertainment and Protection Act (FEPA) Under the terms of FEPA, the federal government would enforce penalties of up to $5,000 against retailers convicted of selling Mature or Adults Only-rated games to minors; it also calls for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) to find out whether they’ve been properly rating games. What’s alarming about this, in the eyes of video game activists and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) itself, is that this isn’t a state bill. This is a federal bill that’s being considered in the United States Senate. If it’s passed, it would impose regulations across all 50 states. (Peter Cohen; Macworld Game Room Weblog; http://www.macworld.com; March 15, 2006) We can and must address this issue from the outset! The model proposed is one used successfully by both on-line casinos and adult pay sites. Adult pay sites require a validated credit card number, 3 digit code, expiration date and email address before they will send a password to access the site. Casinos use a similar, but more advanced system which is recommended here. In partnership with on-line banking establishments such as NeTeller and FirePay, the user sets up an online account which can be used at hundreds of merchant sites all over the world. A unique feature of on-line banking security measures is a timed verification questionnaire which is practically impossible to answer correctly unless you are the account holder. In addition, a verbal verification with the account holder is conducted by phone (phone number and records matched), thus virtually eliminating the issues associated with stolen Credit Cards as well as under age use. This function will also allow concerned parents to set up a sub-account with funds and ratings limits, giving younger users a safe and appropriate gaming experience without direct parental supervision. Using these functions, the site can be designed from the outset with a â€Å"teen and under† section as well as password protected sectors for both â€Å"mature† and â€Å"adult† users. Security In addition to the models listed in the earlier segment there are additional security measures available such as Authenticity Certificates, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology and 128 bit encryption. These once obscure protocols have enjoyed such success that eCommerce has been â€Å"branded† as a â€Å"safe† way to do business. Absolutely the best platforms and solutions will be used to insure a secure customer and product database as well as appropriate infrastructure and firewall protection. Scalability   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The ability to implement this plan in stages as well as flexibility in an ever changing technology sector make the scalability of this venture crucial to it’s success. More detail will be discussed under the Implementation heading of this report. Broader Functionality In summation, this web site would be better described as a â€Å"mega† site! Purchases of both cassette or disk software and downloads will be available with a click of the mouse. A separate download section for mobile devices can exponentially increase the available products to be purchased. The latest news, features and commentary will be available in the â€Å"Blog† section; users with questions or comments will be able to freely participate in the moderated Forum; an easy to use â€Å"Cheats† and â€Å"Codes† database will allow users to experience their game to it’s fullest value and a subscription service will be available for those who do not wish to purchase a permanent copy of the game. Other sections of the website will be devoted to â€Å"free trials† of available software; interactive story lines; promotions and other marketing collateral. There are currently no eCommerce Gaming or Video distribution sites using the available solutions to eliminate underage users’ access to mature and adult content.   This function alone would make Top Dollar Enterprises the preferred supplier of games and content among concerned parents, educators and special interest groups. As the industry changes, the product will too. Instead of having to rebuild or redesign to accommodate the market, Top Dollar Enterprises will simply apply the latest technology and user products to it’s existing portal, preserving time, money and most importantly: Market Share. Design   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Top Dollar Enterprises’ game design and marketing teams should be used extensively for this project. The website must incorporate a design which makes using most aspects of the site feel like playing their favorite game. Use of story boards will facilitate the communication process between designers and developers. Development There are several outstanding web development companies available. The consultation, proposal and bid process should be undertaken immediately. Globalization Expansion of the existing market and distribution network and facilities is highly recommended. Two examples which express the need as well as the challenges of expansion follow. Video game maker EA announced the opening of a game localization center in Singapore for serving the Asian market. This was not a huge surprise as the company announced in its 2005 annual report: We believe that in order to increase our sales in Asia, we will need to devote significant resources to hire local development talent and expand our infrastructure, most notably, the expansion and creation of studio facilities to develop content locally for each market. In addition, we may establish online game marketing, publishing and distribution functions in China. EA generated 47% of revenues from outside the US and I expect well see that number surpass 50% by 2007, depending on the success of this center. Game localization is not as simple as localizing a Web site. Many of the violent products that sell well in the US wont make it past the censors in Asian and European markets. Which means the product itself must be changed. (http://goingglobal.corante.com/archives/; Video Game Globalization; John Yunker; 12/06/05) For Microsofts video game Halo 2 to become a global success story, the game needed to be localized for the world. Easier said than done. JBL Localization issued a press release announcing their role in creating a Latin American Spanish version of Halo 2. The release sheds light on just how complex video game localization can be. Heres an excerpt: According to JBI Localization President Eliane Barth, the Halo 2 project involved more than 80,000 words of script, including a promotional trailer, and the recording of more than 30 actors reading the lines of the various characters. In one instance, Barth said, a last minute script change required that 14 actors be rounded up for a next-day recording session. The actors arrived at the studio on schedule and the work was completed that day. Altogether, JBI delivered more than 16,000 audio files, including processing. (JohnYunker; Video Game Globalization; http://goingglobal.corante.com/archives/; 12/06/05)   Consultation with a field expert commensurate with the first phase of eCommerce development should be a priority. The time allotted for development and implementation of the website should be used to â€Å"ramp up† production of localized deliverables, warehousing and shipping to ensure fast, efficient service once the site is launched. Implementation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Initial implementation should be undertaken by the same company which designs and develops the site. Once the site has been launched, another independent service provider would likely be better suited to take over day-to-day operations. Some â€Å"crossover† activities such as technical support will be needed during this phase. It is recommended that operations be outsourced for a period of at least one year, giving Top Dollar Enterprises time to plan, execute and staff a corporate division to support all aspects of eCommerce operations. Technical expertise, hardware and hosting are aspects of this enterprise which should also be outsourced. Eventually, Top Dollar Enterprises may find it cost effective to physically manage and house the technical aspects of the operation; however, taking into consideration hardware obsolescence and product improvements in this area of technology, permanent outsourcing is recommended. Many implementation issues will arise as all of the separate aspects of the project come together. Marketing Marketing opportunities abound. Traditional strategies will be implemented in all available media as a complement to the ongoing strategy. In the interest of brevity, we will examine non-traditional and industry specific marketing opportunities. In Game Advertising and Partnerships One of the newer and more controversial revenue streams is from in game advertising. The following is an excerpt from a trade journal publication: †¦ Top video game maker Electronic Arts announced that the online version of its mega-hit The Sims will allow players to open McDonalds franchises and sell burgers to earn points in the game. The Sims Online, which is set to debut on the World Wide Web later this year, will also prominently feature Intel products. Both deals are reportedly worth millions of dollars. Real life product brands have been featured in video games increasingly since Pole Position, but this is being hailed as the first time a company has paid to have its products placed in a game. Its also being hailed as the latest step the video game market has made towards the lucrative product-placement schemes that are common in the Hollywood film industry. For McDonalds and Intel, they couldnt have chosen a better time to make the leap into the digital world. The Sims computer game – where players control every aspect in the daily life of their character, from careers to relationships to taking a leak – was the best-selling of all time, and the online version is one of the most anticipated in history. Its also one of the few video games to ever appeal to women in large numbers – Electronic Arts says as many as half its players are women, an unprecedented figure. (Tom Babin; Meet the McSim family; http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2002/1003/; TECHNOLOGY) Other non-typical avenues for advertising are movies, music and PDA/mobile devices. PDA and Mobile devices are the next generation of interactive hardware, which also makes them the next generation platform for advertising. Partnerships with mobile telephone and PDA application developers could allow us to place â€Å"demo† games on their devices. Similar games could be downloaded from our site for a fee. Music from our top selling games can be downloaded as â€Å"ringtones† and the list is only limited by our imaginations. Marketing of proprietary images, music and game clips can be promoted from a â€Å"Happy Meal† box, an answering machine, a television commercial, a soda can, a â€Å"Slurpee† cup, ad nausium. The sky and the budget are our limits! In summation: Top Dollar Enterprises must make a crucial decision about the direction of the company for the next decade. If we wish to remain a mid-sized company vying for a piece of market share revenue, we can simply continue on our present course. However, if this company has the vision and the backing to not only take the next step, but take the next leap, Top Dollar Enterprises can become a viable competitor at the top levels if the industry.

Writing a Synthesis Essay :: Synthesis Essay

A synthesis essay should be organized so that others can understand the sources and evaluate your comprehension of them and their presentation of specific data, themes, etc. The following format works well: The introduction (usually one paragraph) 1. Contains a one-sentence statement that sums up the focus of your synthesis. 2. Also introduces the texts to be synthesized: (i) Gives the title of each source (following the citation guidelines of whatever style sheet you are using); (ii) Provides the name of each author; (ii) Sometimes also provides pertinent background information about the authors, about the texts to be summarized, or about the general topic from which the texts are drawn. The body of a synthesis essay: This should be organized by theme, point, similarity, or aspect of the topic. Your organization will be determined by the assignment or by the patterns you see in the material you are synthesizing. The organization is the most important part of a synthesis, so try out more than one format. Be sure that each paragraph: 1. Begins with a sentence or phrase that informs readers of the topic of the paragraph; 2. Includes information from more than one source; 3. Clearly indicates which material comes from which source using lead in phrases and in-text citations. [Beware of plagiarism: Accidental plagiarism most often occurs when students are synthesizing sources and do not indicate where the synthesis ends and their own comments begin or vice verse.] 4. Shows the similarities or differences between the different sources in ways that make the paper as informative as possible; 5. Represents the texts fairly--even if that seems to weaken the paper! Look upon yourself as a synthesizing machine; you are simply repeating what the source says, in fewer words and in your own words. But the fact that you are using your own words does not mean that you are in anyway changing what the source says. Conclusion. When you have finished your paper, write a conclusion reminding readers of the most significant themes you have found and the ways they connect to the overall topic.

Future Direction in Organization Development Essay

The field of OD is evolving, but so too is the context within which OD is applied. As summarized in figure 25-2. Several interrelated trends are affecting the context within which OD will be applied in the near future. They concern various aspects of the economy, the workforce, technology, and organizations. In some cases, the trends will directly affert OD practice. Technology trends, such as Internet portals, voice over the internet, and wireless network, will no doubt influence how OD practitioners communicate with organization members, facilitate teams, and manage change. Other trends, such as the increasing concentration of wealth, represent important contextual forces that will indirectly affect OD through their interactions with other trends. The Economy Researchers and futurist have described a variety of economic scenarios, and there is subtantial agreement that the world’s economy is in the midst of a transition from the industrial age that characterized much of the twentieth century. Although these scenarios ditier in their particulars, they all fit under the rubric of globalization, and many of the same trends are identified as drivers, including technology, workforce, and organization, which will be discussed separately. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the and of apartheid, the breakup of the former Soviet Union, the creation of the European Union, terrorist attacks in many different countries, and the emergence of the chinese and indian economies are key events in the transition to a global economy. Organizations from arround the world are increasingly able to shift their manufacturing from high-to low- labor- cost countries. Execute international mergers and acquisitions, and build worldwide services businesses. The emergence of global economy is well under way, but the promise and rationalization of that process is far from complete. The initial steps toward globalization have fueled real price decrease in many consumers products, provided employment for people in less-developed nations, and driven revenue growth in a variety of industries. However , the transition to a global economy is for the most part un managed, and there is increasing concern over its social and ecological consequences. This raises trouble-some questions about three key issues: cultural diversity, income distribution, and ecological sustainability. First, transitioning to a global economy is a complex and daunting process that involves organizations, technology, people, and governments. Yhe role and function of national governments and the importance of cultural diversity in the process is not well understood. There are few generally accepted guidelines. On the one hand, some economists argue that globalization is good for countries and cultures. The cite numerous example of how music, art, political thought, technology, and other artifacts of culture have crossed boundaries and enriched people’s experiences. Other argue that governments must face the difficult choice of preserving or sacrificing their culture. Seconds, globalization of the economy is closely related to an increasing concentration of wealth in relatively few individuals, corporations, and nations. Third, there are increasingly clear warnings that the ecosystem can no longer be treated as a factor of production, and that success cannot be defined as the accumulations of wealth and material goods at the expense of the environment. The conclusions from the intergovernmental panel on climate change suggest that industrialization is not a controversial but a probable cause of global warming. Seceral traditional organizations are reserving long held opinions about their contribution to environmental decay by setting agressive goals to reduce greenhouse gases. The Workforce The workforce is becoming more diverse, educated, and contingent. Chapter 18 documented the diversity trend and suggested that organizations, whatever they operate primarily in their home country or abroad, will need to develop policies and operating styles that embrace the changing cultural, ethnic, gender, and age diversity of the workforce. Technology By almost any measure, information technology is a significant and increasingly common fact of life. An estimated 150. 9 million worldwide internet users in 1998 grew to 605. 6 million in 2002. In 2007, according to an internet world stats estimate, more than 1,24 billion people were on the internet, and of those, 37% were in asia. The internet is the backbone of a global economy, and although the technology sector of suffered financial setbacks, few people doubt its future importance. At the core of information technology is E-commerce, an economy that knows no boundaries. E-commerce involves using automated teller machines, buying games, on your cell phone, buying ang selling products and services over the internet, and selling advertising space. This range of activities makes estimating the size of the E-commerce market difficult. Two type of E-commerce seem particularly relevant to OD’s future: business-to-consumer and business-to-business. Business to consumer market garners much attention and awareness because it is how the public participates in E-commerce. This attention and awareness because it is how the public participates in E-commerce. This market, which includes E-tailers such us Amazon. com, eBay. com. in these businesses, OD must help to create and implement novel business models. The organizational issues in the business to business market are even more complex. A good example of the implications and potential of this market is the global automobile industry’s creation of an online store. In addition to providing the infrastructure for E-commerce, technology is also changing and enabling a variety of organizational processes. New technologies, such as SAP or PeopleSoft, drive changes in how information and work information and work processes are coordinated and managed: they also require modification in the way productivity is measured.

Creation of suspense is a characteristic feature of narrative in the gothic tradition Essay

‘Creation of suspense is a characteristic feature of narrative in the gothic tradition. Discuss the uses and effectiveness of this device in The Woman in Black and compare them with those that you have noted in one other gothic text. Susan Hill’s ‘The Woman in Black’ is the ultimate ghost story which relies on the use of suspense, intensity, atmosphere and drama, interwoven in a plot full of intrigue which keeps the reader eager with anticipation. Susan Hill has created a chilling novel which translates into a magnificently eerie and genuinely distressing read. Although everpresent, suspense is cleverly built slowly throughout to create a mounting atmosphere. Furthermore, atmosphere is built through place, strong narrative and dialogue. Hill’s calculated timing of events is also crucial in creating the mood of anxiety. The first hint of atmosphere building up was when Mr Kidd meets Mr Bentley for the job of sorting out Mrs Drablow’s papers. From the start of the dialogue between Arthur Kidd and Mr Bentley it is obvious that the latter is intent on seeing how much Mr Kidd knows about Eel Marsh House. There are many short questions, avoiding the reader’s attention. Then Mr. Kidd asks â€Å"Children?†, this demonstrates how Susan Hill spans the question out to draw the reader’s attention, and it is clear Mr Bentley most probably knows the answer but is reluctant to tell it. This hints that there might be something wrong or odd here. This withheld information is almost characteristic of the whole foundations of Dracula as character fail to share vital information with eachother which lead to fatal consequences. This technique is very powerful in stirring up emotions as the reader begins to almost urge the characters to share the information which they withold. In the passage from ‘Across The Causeway’, Kipps sees the Woman in Black for the second time however this time, she has a look of pure malevolence and evil on her face. Kipps begins to question whether the hatred is directed at himslef however he is soon afraid and eventually angry. Susan Hill builds up tension and suspense in this extract by controlling the pace, this gives the extract the required tension since events seem to go by slowly and gradually build to their climax. This can be linked back to Dracula as events surrounding Lucy and her dramatic death are steadily explained and her death comes a long time after her first encounter with Dracula. General events in Dracula can also be linked back to Susan Hill’s slow paced build up as Mina tries to put together the pieces of the puzzle throughout while characters often are shown to be naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve in there thinking and do not come to obvious conclusions so as to be able to sustain the tension of the novel. Even after Kipps has emotionally broken and he is being comforted by Spider, Kipps can still hear the wailing child across the marshes, This gives the reader an image of unrelenting pain and haunting which only succeeds in adding to the suspense and tension. This can also be clearly seen within Bram Stoker’s Dracula as Dracula’s attack on the individuals does not result in a sudden death or transformation but rather begins the cycle which is only completed later in the novel as Lucy is attacked multiple times until she is beyond the point of saving. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, is indeed a successful ghost story, but what makes it so, is not violence, gore, or even bloodshed; It is the underlying, psychological fear of the unknown, which almost every person possess. From right at the beginning when Arthur Kipps strangely shows his anger in a sudden occurrence which is not made clear as to the reasons why, the reader is asked to try and anticipate consequently creating suspense. Such a theme can be seen Bram Stoker’s Dracula frequently particularly during the early stages of the novel as Harker visits the count. During these stages it is not made clear the full extent of the count’s objectives and the reader is only given slight hints through the characters viewpoint so that they are just as helpless as Harker. In Conclusion, Susan Hill has used a number of various techniques to invoke a sense of suspense into her novel. With these techniques she has created an immense atmosphere which is the foundation towards her chilling novel.

Postmodern Culture essays

Postmodern Culture essays One cannot begin to discuss postmodern culture without first looking at what is known as the Modern movement. Modernism was a shift in thought with regards to the arts. This movement, which includes music, literature, the visual arts, and drama, rejected the old Victorian standards of art. How each form was made was at the basis of the Modern movement. This included how poetry was written, how paintings were created. Modernism tended to emphasize a random collage of ideas and materials, instead of narrow, clear-cut points of view. Perhaps one of the most recognizable figures of the Modern movement is Pablo Picasso. In late 1906, Picasso started to paint in a truly revolutionary manner. Picasso began to express his art in strongly geometrical terms. These painting are the beginnings of Cubism. In the initial stage, known as Analytical Cubism, objects were deconstructed into their components. In some cases, this was a means to depict different viewpoints simultaneously; in other works, it was used more as a method of visually laying out the FACTS of the object, rather than providing a limited mimetic representation. The aim of Analytical Cubism was to produce a conceptual image of an object, as opposed to a perceptual one. At its height, Analytical Cubism reached levels of expression that threatened to pass beyond the comprehension of the viewer. (Artchive.com 2001). Another pioneer of the Modern movement was William Faulkner. In his writings, Faulkner moved boldly away from rigidly constructed third-person narratives and wrote stories, which were narrated with multiple points of view. Faulkner, a Nobel Prize winner, is considered by many critics as one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. Faulkner is best known for his meandering, typically southern mode of narration, with a modernist sense of rupture, scrambled chronology. ...

Salutary Neglect Overview

Salutary Neglect Overview The term salutary neglect stems from the colonial era. Even though England believed in a system of mercantilism where the colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country, Sir Robert Walpole decided to try something different to stimulate commerce. A View of Salutary Neglect Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, espoused a view of salutary neglect whereby the actual enforcement of external trade relations was lax. In other words, the British did not strictly enforce commerce laws with the colonies. As Walpole said, If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish. This unofficial British policy was in effect from 1607 to 1763. The Navigation Act and Trading Companies, merchants and independent corporations went about their business in these colonies on their own without a lot of overlook from the British government.  The beginning of trade regulation started with the Navigation Act in 1651. This allowed goods to be transported to the American colonies on English ships and prevented other colonists from trading with anyone other than England. Passed but Not Heavily Enforced While there were several renditions of these acts, the policy was expanded to include certain products that were only allowed to be transported on English ships, such as indigo, sugar and tobacco products.  Unfortunately, the act was often not enforced due to difficulties with finding enough customs officials to handle the management.  Because of this, goods were often snuck in with other countries including the Dutch and the French West Indies.  This was the very beginning of the triangular trade between the North American colonies, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. The Triangular Trade Britain had the upper hand when it came to the illegal triangular trade. Despite it going against the Navigation Acts, here are a few ways Britain benefited: The trade allowed New England merchants to get wealthy. In turn, merchants bought manufactured goods from the British.Despite Walpole attempting to solve this issue by offering positions of government, these officials granted had often taken bribes from merchants.The colonies were supplied with slaves on top of being given a market for raw goods.The colonies received finished European products that they were unable to make themselves. Calls for Independence The salutary neglect period ended as a consequence of the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, from years 1755 to 1763. This caused a large war debt that the British needed to pay off, and thus the policy was destroyed in the colonies. Many believe that the French and Indian War affected the relationship between the British and the colonists by leading to the revolution. This is because the colonists were not worried about France if breaking away from Britain. Once the British government became stricter in their enforcement of commerce laws after 1763, protests and eventually calls for independence became more pronounced amongst the colonists. This would, of course, lead to the American Revolution.

I will tell you later Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

I will tell you later - Essay Example Concrete understanding of historical perspective is imperative to have concise idea about the development and radical changes in the environment.1 The happening of various events has led to the transformation of environment. The continuing worldly developments have positive and negative aspects too- destruction of environment is one of it.2 The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the reasons of environmental changes over time. Exemplify core problems, desertification, exploitation of fossil fuel and environmental relationship between past centuries and now days. The ideas of historians and scholars of the respective field have been gathered to argue on this important topic. Critical analysis has been also done for precise understanding. Bottom line remains to explore the crux of changes happened in the environment over time. Core Reasons There are several pragmatic constituents that accumulate to become the core reasons of the environmental changes. It includes desertification, s olar variation, volcanism, resource depletion, deforestation, waste disposal, changes in Earth’s orbit around sun and the exploitation of fossil fuels. ... The damages in ozone layers can lead to disastrous circumstances because it makes sure that only pure light and rays enter into the world.4 According to the American Society of Environment History, the changes brought in the environment by the time are not positive. Mostly negative relationship is determined. This is mainly due to the association of humans with the natural settings. The discussion on the reasons of environment changes is extravagant as it argues about various aspects and issues. For instance the issue of deforesting is on the table of discussion for years. Environment will not remain suitable for human beings living if deforestation takes place gradually. Adequate measures need to be taken to stop this notion. The core reason of harming natural environment is generally due to the soiled acts of human beings. People have damaged earth in various dimensions for personal benefits. International world protection organizations have taken several steps to reduce these issu es but few individuals continue illegitimate acts that have damaged different dimensions of the environment. Implementing strict laws is imperative and need of time now. 5 Environmental Problems There are several environmental problems that need to be addressed. Industrial agriculture and waste disposal is one of the primary ones. It has been observed that in developing or under developed countries; there is no proper mechanism of waste disposal. Due to the absence of waste disposal system problems occur for the environment. The impacts calculated from this mechanism are majorly of two types. At first different diseases surface ground because the waste has been disposed off at various locations. Secondly natural soil and the surroundings are affected. Problems in the