Comparing Four Countries essays

Comparing Four Countries essays An established democracy has two main parts. They need to have free and fair elections and they should also have equal voting rights. When free and fair elections occur it means the absence of barriers to the full participation of all citizens, without any form of discrimination; the absence of any form of intimidation (What is a free and fair election). The term equal voting rights means to be able to have equal access to the voting process. Based on free and fair elections and equal voting rights, the following nations are ranked; one being the best and four being the worst; Germany, South Africa, Colombia and Saudi Arabia. Germany is an established democracy because they have elections every for years for the person they want to run the country. But at the same time the citizens also have to vote for the party they want to run the region. To be able vote in Germany that person has to eighteen years old and they have to at least live in Germany for three months (German Culture). Germany also is an established democracy because they show traits of equal voting rights. For example, when someone is done voting they put their ballot in an envelope and put it in the box (Voting in Germany). This means that there is not someone with a gun, threatening you to vote for someone they do not want to. Another example of how Germany shows equal voting rights is if that person cannot vote on their day then they would vote by proxy. If a citizen is an absentee voter, they have to have the following problems: professional reasons, illness or advanced age or disability or other physical condition which would prevent t he voter from getting to the polling station, or if a person moves out of the area immediately prior to the election and there is not enough time to re-register on the electoral roll at the new voting office (Voting in Germany). South Africa is another example of an established democracy because as like Germany they ho...

All About Chinese Wedding Flowers

All About Chinese Wedding Flowers Chinese wedding flowers are used mostly as a decoration on tables at Chinese weddings and large bouquets of colorful flowers (typically pink and red) are often given to the bride and groom as gifts. These elaborate bouquets usually line the hall leading to the wedding reception. Some brides opt to carry a small bouquet though this is usually just for wedding photos. Lilies are popular Chinese wedding flowers because the word lily (ç™ ¾Ã¥ Ë†, bÇŽi hà ©) sounds like the ç™ ¾Ã¥ Ë† ( bÇŽi hà ©) part of the proverb ç™ ¾Ã¥ ¹ ´Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¥ Ë† (BÇŽinin hÇŽo hà ©, happy union for one hundred years). The flower also represents bringer of sons. Orchids are another popular Chinese wedding flower. Orchids symbolize love and a married couple. Orchids also represent wealth and fortune. The lotus is also a popular Chinese wedding flower. A lotus bloom with a leaf and bud symbolizes a complete union. Two lotus blooms or a lotus and a blossom on one stem represent a wish for shared heart and harmony because è  · (hà ©) means union.

MRI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

MRI - Essay Example Slice thickness, is one important parameter, which divides the body part being examined into sections of varying width or thickness. The result of examination depends on the slice thickness. If it happens to be a minute problem, then the slice thickness will be small, because a larger slice thickness might result in erasing small lesions or pathologies. MRI is mainly used to look into the brain and the nervous system of human body to figure out the inconsistencies using the functional magnetic resonance imaging, as these parts happen to be the most delicate parts of human body. Prasad (2005, 292) states that the 'MR images are in effect computer generated visual reconfigurations of physical data such as the relaxation times of hydrogen atoms that are found abundantly in the body.' More than two third of our body is made up of hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen exists in different forms in our body. For example water (H2O), consisting of two H atoms and one O, makes up about 70 percent of human body. In addition Hydrogen atoms are also present in the tissues and fat present in human body. When magnetic energy is sent into our body using radio frequencies, the hydrogen atoms absorb the magnetic rays and send out the same magnetic energy, depending upon the extent of magnetisation. As the nuclei of the hydrogen atoms happen to be in the form of small magnets, so when the magnetic fields change in their surroundings, they respond accordingly. This movement is recorded by the MRI equipment which in turn is analysed by the healthcare professionals to decipher the exact composition. As the experiments started off with an emphasis on nucleus, in early days MRI was known as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Since the process itself is stated to involve very small amount of energy, the normal biochemistry of human body is not affected. The key requirements for performing an MRI include; A strong magnetic field through the primary magnet, emanating out of the a magnetic which could be a permanent, resistive or a superconductive Gradient magnets for fine tuning the magnetic fields The scanning table on which the patient is allowed to lie Attached computers and film for taking the printout of the scan The individual who is to undergo MR imaging is allowed to comfortably lie on a sliding table. The table is then slid into a cylindrical structure which is surrounded by the magnets. Once everything is in position, the magnetic field is turned on; this creates a 2-dimensional image of the particular body part of the person on the computer screens. A coil is placed around the body part/ object which is under observation for MRI, exclusively to pick up the signals for the image. Well, just to make things easier a talk-back system is also in put in place so that after the start of clinging sound the patient doesn't feel uncomfortable, and if required he can communicate with the radiologist. The procedure may last for about 25-50 minutes depending upon the requirements and the complexity of the patient condition. There are in general two to six imaging sequences, each lasting for about 10-15 minutes. Since the process involves magnetic fields, it is therefore advised that anybody having m etallic implants in their bodies must inform the radiologist beforehand, so that adequate

GE's Two Decade Transformation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

GE's Two Decade Transformation - Case Study Example 2. What is Welch’s purpose in the series of initiatives he launched in the late 1980s and early 1990s? What is he trying to achieve in the round of changes he put in motion in that period? Is there a logic or rationale supporting the change process? Welch’s main purpose in the series of initiatives he launched was to ensure that in the next decade, GE would be a number one or number two competitor in the industry (Bartlett 1). This would make GE a unique, highly spirited, and an entrepreneurial enterprise in addition to being profitable, diverse, and with quality leadership and products of their own kind in the world. In the round of changes he puts in motion in that period, he wanted to achieve a productive business with individuals who were focused in implementing change for the success in the business. Ideally, making such a change is logical considering the situation in which the business environment was in. Welch realized that the business had so many who never added value to the business and therefore, went for the restructuring process have a lean and efficient workforce. In order to grow profitably, it is essential that one reduce the expenses or production costs. It is by the same perspective that Welch uses to grow GE profitably despite the critics. He did this through downsizing, destaffing, and delayering to have a lean and effective employee base (Bartlett 3). Indeed the initiatives employed by Welch added substantive value to the business as the business was able to grow its operation profits from $1.6 billion to $2.4 billion and revenues from $27.1 billion to $29.2 billion within four years (1981-1985) (Bartlett 3). Considering Welch’s approach to leading change, I believe it is one of the most efficient approaches as he is able to reduce costs of production and increasing the revenue and profit

Hersheys Chocolate Essay Example for Free

Hersheys Chocolate Essay Hershey’s company originated with candy-manufacturer Milton Hershey’s decision in 1894 to produce sweet chocolate as a coating for his caramels. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the new enterprise was named the Hershey Chocolate Company. In 1900, the company began producing milk chocolate in bars, wafers and other shapes. With mass production, Hershey was able to lower the per-unit cost and make milk chocolate, once a luxury item for the wealthy, affordable to all. A company on the move. The immediate success of Hershey’s low-cost, high-quality milk chocolate soon caused the company’s owner to consider increasing his production facilities. He decided to build a new chocolate factory amid the gently rolling farmland of south-central Pennsylvania in Derry Township, where he had been born. Close to the ports of New York and Philadelphia that supplied the imported sugar and cocoa beans needed, surrounded by dairy farms that provided the milk required, and the location was perfect. By the summer of 1905, the new factory was turning out delicious milk chocolate. New products, hard times. Throughout the next two decades, even more products were added to the company’s offerings. These included MR. GOODBAR Candy Bar (1925), HERSHEY’S Syrup (1926), HERSHEYS chocolate chips (1928) and the KRACKEL bar (1938). Despite the Great Depression of the 1930s, these products helped the newly incorporated Hershey Chocolate Corporation maintain its profitability and avoid any worker layoffs. HERSHEY’S chocolate goes to war. With the outbreak of World War II, the Hershey Chocolate Corp. (which had provided milk chocolate bars to American doughboys in the first war) was already geared up to start producing a survival ration bar for military use. By the end of the war, more than a billion Ration D bars had been produced and the company had earned no less than five Army-Navy â€Å"E† Production Awards for its exceptional contributions to the war effort. In fact, the company’s machine shop even turned out parts for the Navy’s antiaircraft guns. A family friend becomes a family member. The postwar period saw the introduction of a host of new products and the acquisition of an old one. Since 1928, H.B. â€Å"Harry† Reese’s Candy Company, also located in Hershey, had been making chocolate-covered peanut butter cups. Given that Hershey Chocolate Company supplied the coating for REESE’S â€Å"penny cups, (the wrapper said, â€Å"Made in Chocolate Town, So They Must Be Good†), it was not surprising that the two companies had a good relationship. As a result, seven years after Reese’s death in 1956, the H.B. Reese Candy Company was sold to Hershey Chocolate Corp. Growing up and branching out. The following decades would see the company renamed Hershey Foods Corporation in 1968 expanding its confectionery product lines, acquiring related companies and even diversifying into other food products. Among the many acquisitions were San Giorgio Macaroni and Delmonico Foods (1966); manufacturing and marketing rights to English candy company Rowntree MacKintosh’s products (1970); YS Candies, makers of TWIZZLERS licorice (1977); Dietrich Corp.’s confectionery operations (1986); Peter Paul/Cadbury’s U.S. confectionery operations (1988); and Ronzoni Foods (1990). The Hershey Company enters a new century. Today, The Hershey Company is the leading North American manufacturer of chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and grocery products. As the new millennium begins, The Hershey Company continues to introduce new products frequently and take advantage of growth opportunities through acquisitions. HERSHEY’S products are known and enjoyed all over the world. In fact, the company exports to over 90 countries. The Hershey Company remains committed to the vision and values of the man who started it all so many years ago. A New Company: 1894 In the beginning, the Hershey Chocolate Company was simply a wholly owned subsidiary of Milton Hershey’s Lancaster Caramel Company. Using chocolate-making equipment purchased at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the company produced baking chocolate, cocoa and sweet chocolate coatings for the parent company’s caramels. But things changed with the hiring of William Murrie to sell the excess product to other confectioners. Murrie was so successful a salesman that the Hershey Chocolate Company quickly turned into a viable concern on its own. Milton Hershey became even more convinced that his future in the candy business lay in chocolate, not caramels. Sweet Chocolate Novelties: 1895 – 1909 By 1895, the Hershey Chocolate Company was manufacturing 114 different items in all sorts of sizes and shapes. Many were flavored with vanilla and given luxurious-sounding names like LeRoi de Chocolate, Petit Bouquets and Chocolate Croquettes. Chocolate â€Å"segars† and cigarettes were also quite popular. Some chocolate cigarettes and cigars, such as Vassar Gems and Smart Set Cigarettes, were purposely marketed to women as an alternative to the tobacco variety. Chocolate was also touted as a source of quick energy for athletes. The Baby in the Bean: 1898 On August 1, 1898, the company adopted a very distinctive symbol for its trademark. The small child in a cocoa bean pod appeared on cans of HERSHEY’S COCOA up until 1936, when it was finally replaced by the block lettering familiar today. The â€Å"Baby in the Bean† went through many incarnations, sometimes holding a cup of cocoa, sometimes a chocolate bar. Even the child’s hair and facial expression underwent changes over the years. The logo symbol was finally retired in 1968, when the company was reorganized as Hershey Foods Corporation. Finding the Formula: 1895 – 1904 While his company was successful enough selling sweet chocolate products, Milton Hershey was certain the real market lay in milk chocolate. The problem was in developing a formula for manufacturing it cheaply and efficiently, while still maintaining a high level of quality. Hershey built a milk-processing plant on the family farm in Derry Township in 1896 and spent the next several years developing a viable formulation for milk chocolate. Hershey worked day and night, going back and forth between the condensing room and the creamery, rarely even stopping for meals. Finally, in 1899, he cracked the recipe and became the first American to manufacture milk chocolate. Hershey Goes to Cuba: 1916 With the onset of World War I, the European beet sugar, which Hershey had been using to make his milk chocolate, became increasingly scarce. So, searching for a more dependable source, Milton Hershey started acquiring cane sugar plantations and constructing refineries in Cuba. Typically, he also established a planned community for the workers, called Central Hershey, based on the Pennsylvania model. Hershey’s Cuban holdings eventually included 60,000 acres of land, five mills, a 251-mile railroad and, not surprisingly, a school for orphaned children. By the end of World War II, the company found it no longer needed its Cuban sources, and its sugar and railway interests were sold to the Cuban-Atlantic Sugar Company. Expanding and Innovating. Stepping Stones Many Hershey products that are familiar today were originally produced for the confectionary trade and were later reformulated for consumers. HERSHEY’S powdered cocoa, for example, has been manufactured continuously since 1894. Also, Hershey was the first to sell chocolate syrup for home use beginning in 1926. Not all products under the HERSHEY brand were so successful in the marketplace. HERSHEY’S mint-flavored chewing gum, introduced in 1915, enjoyed only brief popularity. And a creation named the Not-So-Sweet bar was introduced in 1934, only to be discontinued in 1937. A Kiss and Tell Story Of course, the very first addition to the HERSHEY’S product line of milk chocolate confections was HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates way back in 1907. Originally, each one was hand-wrapped in a square of silver foil, but in 1921 machine wrapping was introduced, along with the addition of the unique â€Å"plume† which marked it as a genuine HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolate. The chocolates were not produced at all from 1942 through 1949 due to the rationing of silver foil during and immediately after World War II. HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates were wrapped in colors other than silver for the first time in 1962. HERSHEY’S KISSES with almonds were introduced in 1990 and the first successful HERSHEY’S product using white chocolate, HERSHEY’S HUGS, in 1993. Sweet Inventions Two of the most successful products launched during ‘20s were the MR. GOODBAR and KRACKEL bars. MR. GOODBAR, combining milk chocolate and peanuts, was introduced in November of 1925. According to popular legend, Milton Hershey himself named the new product. Upon tasting it, he is said to have exclaimed, â€Å"Now, that’s a good bar!† The KRACKEL bar was introduced on September 14, 1938. During its first few years, the formula for the confection changed several times, with almonds, and then peanuts, being included along with crisped rice in milk chocolate. Finally, the nuts were eliminated altogether in 1943, leaving the crispy milk chocolate recipe enjoyed by millions ever since. Mr. Reese and his Cups In 1923, a former Hershey employee named H.B. Reese decided to start his own candy company out of the basement of his home. He made several different kinds of candy, but it wasn’t until five years later that he hit upon his greatest idea: a confection of peanut butter covered by milk chocolate (purchased, incidentally, from the Hershey Chocolate Company). During World War II, he discontinued his other product lines and concentrated on producing only REESE’S peanut butter cups. Despite its dependence on only a single product, Reese’s company prospered, and in 1963 the H.B. Reese Candy Company was purchased by the Hershey Chocolate Corporation. Since then, the REESE’S product line has grown to include REESE’S PIECES candies, the NUTRAGEOUS candy bar and REESESTICKS. Going to War The Ration D Bar The U.S. Army’s requirements were quite specific. For troops engaged in a global war, they needed a ration bar that weighed about four ounces, would not melt at high temperatures, was high in food energy value, and did not taste so good that soldiers would be tempted to eat it except in an emergency. This last objective in particular was certainly a new one for the Hershey Chocolate Corporation. Nevertheless, its chocolate technologists came up with something that passed all tests. Named â€Å"Field Ration D,† it was so successful that by the end of 1945, approximately 24 million bars were being produced every week. More successful still was HERSHEY’S Tropical Chocolate Bar, a heat resistant bar with an improved flavor developed in 1943. In 1971, this bar even went to the moon with Apollo 15. Growing Global Advertising to the Nation Except for a TV and billboard campaign in Canada in 1964, the company had never really done advertising on a national scale. In 1968, the newly renamed and reorganized Hershey Foods Corporation announced plans for a nationwide consumer advertising campaign spearheaded by the famous Ogilvy Mather ad agency. Starting with a Sunday newspaper supplement in July, 1970, followed two months later by television and radio commercials, the campaign was an immediate success. Sales of REESE’S peanut butter cups and HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates, in particular, rose dramatically. But while the company today continues to advertise in all media, the quality of our products is still our best form of advertising. Milton Hershey would have liked that. E.T. Makes a Good Choice In the early 1980s, Hershey executive Jack Dowd met with Hollywood producer Steven Spielberg and struck a deal to include REESES’S PIECES candy in Spielberg’s upcoming film, E.T.: The Extraterrestrial. When Hershey Chocolate Company President Earl Spangler first saw the movie’s promotional materials, he told Dowd, â€Å"That’s the ugliest creature I’ve ever seen.†After its successful premiere, the movie was screened by the company’s managers and top brass. When the film ended, there was first silence, then wild applause. Like many others, Spangler emerged from the theater with moist eyes. â€Å"Is he still ugly, Earl?† Dowd asked. Replied the company president, â€Å"He’s beautiful!† Both the lovable alien and his candy of choice became instant hits nationwide. Hershey Goes International In addition to being the leading producer of chocolate and non-chocolate confectionary and other grocery products in North America, The Hershey Company also carries on a significant international presence with operations in more than 90 different countries. Hersheys International division exports HERSHEY’S chocolate and grocery products worldwide and maintains licensing agreements with partners in nations such as South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. We don’t believe Milton Hershey would have been at all surprised to learn that his HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates are especially popular in Japan. Top of the Charts Through unceasing technological modernization, strategically astute acquisitions and continued new product development, The Hershey Company grew spectacularly in the last 30 years of the 20th century. From $334 million in 1969, the company’s net sales soared to $4.4 billion in 2004. The Hershey Company is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products. The company also is a leader in the gum and mint category.

Why Some Small Businesses Fail Essay -- Economics Business Management

Why Some Small Businesses Fail It is hard to measure the size of a business. According to The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), an SME can be described as a business that employs between 0-49 people. However a company such as a Chemical Plant may employ less than 49 people but have a turnover of  £20 million. So according to the number of employees, the DTI would class it as a small business. However, according to the level of turnover it could be classed as a large business. The size of the firm is generally measured by the amount employed1. The amount of SME’s is forever increasing. There are many reasons for the increase, such as; improved technology, ability to sub-contract part of business and public sector being encouraged to become smaller. There is also Push and Pull factors that help people come to the decision to be self-employed. â€Å"Push factors† include people who are unemployed or made redundant decide to venture on their own. This may be simply starting their own window cleaning service. Another â€Å"push factor† is the â€Å"Pratt factor† this is when an employee finds himself working for someone else less talented and wonders ‘why am I working for you?’ so decides to start up on his own. The amount of SME’s is forever increasing. There are many reasons for the increase, such as; improved technology, ability to sub-contract part of business and public sector being encouraged to become smaller. There is also Push and Pull factors that help people come to the decision to be self-employed. â€Å"Push factors† include people who are unemployed or made redundant decide to venture on their own. This may be simply starting their own window cleaning service. Another â€Å"push factor† is the â€Å"Pratt factor† this is when an employee finds himself working for someone else less talented and wonders ‘why am I working for you?’ so decides to start up on his own. â€Å"Pull factors† include peoples increasing desires to exploit an opportunity, turning their hobby into a business, the motivation to work independently and when people become older they sometimes inherit money; they sometimes put this money into a business venture they perhaps previously couldn’t afford. The failure rate for small businesses is very high. The probability that your new business will make it past the third year is less than 25%. In other words, over three-... ...elves in a whole too deep to dig themselves out of. It was now too late for them to ask for advice and the shop closed down. My advice to my friend was to learn by his mistakes and try again. It is inevitable that small businesses will carry on failing. Sometimes the reason behind the failure cant be helped. However from reading this essay you should gather that the majority of the times, failure could have been prevented. In fact 82% of the time when businesses fail, the owners really could have done something differently to stop it from happening. REFERENCES 1 Business Studies by Dave Hall, Rob Jones, Carlo Raffo. Edited by Ian Chambers.(1996) 2 www.compulink.co.uk 3 www.bcentral.com 4 The Business Environment (second edition) by Ian Worthington and Chris Britton. Published 1997 by pitman publishings JOURNALS USED  ¹ Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol 9, Issue 1.Learning the hard way: the lessons of owner-managers who have closed their businesses. By David Stokes and Robert Blackburn.  ² Journal of Management Development, Vol 13, Issue 7. Managerial Competences in Small Firms. By Graham Martin and Harry Staines.

Management Policy & Strategy Essay

Management Policy and Strategies course was very interesting and at the same time important for my career goal. I really wasn’t sure what I was going into when I signed up for this course, however I was able to learn much from it, thanks to Professor Dennis Strouble and all of my wonderful classmates. The position that I hold currently at my place of employment is Program Coordinator, however the duties that I am responsible for fall under a manager’s position, therefore I am able to bring information that I have learned in this class to my work place. SWOT analysis section of this course was also very interesting. Even though I had heard of the SWOT analysis before, I really didn’t pay too much mind to it, but now that I took this course I am more knowledgeable about it. Because I can implement SWOT analysis into not only at my workplace but in my personal life, as well, therefore I consider it very important to know. SWOT stands for: Strengths, Weaknesses, Oppo rtunities, and Threats. Knowing this information and the meaning to it will make me able to input analysis into what I currently do now and in the future. Performing internal and external analysis is an important factor to when managing a business or even a department. Since job plays a manager role, I will be able to perform duties and really look at the department policies and tasks processes and analyze the internal and external areas within the program organization. I deal with low-income families, monthly and quarterly reporting, day-to-day administration, finance, etc. and learning everything I learned in this course will make a positive input to the program, to the organization and most importantly to the federal fund institution that is funding our program. Understanding implementation is an important key to my job. Implementing new ideas and processes is part of my job daily. Therefore, with all the information that I learned which I have not mentioned all, these are some i mportant factors that I will be able to utilize in the business that I am currently in moving forward. Having a professor that actually cares and enjoys teaching (and does a great job at it) really helped me understand the material. I do appreciate the time and effort that you have provided for my classmates and me.

Miscommunications in the Workplace Essay

Recently we have had two of our retailers contact us with problems regarding shipments they have received or have failed to receive. I know this is not the first time this has happened but I would like to minimize the possibilities of it happening again. It seems the root of our problem is miscommunication in the workplace. As a shipping manager that has seen this kind of issue before in past work experiences and I believe I know what we can do to solve our breakdown in communication between the various departments, retailers, and co-workers. As CFO I know you will see this proposal can benefit the company both financially and operationally. First, I propose that the company implement a required form of communication. I believe hand written notes are a thing of the past and that we should upgrade our communication requirements to electronic mail. If we had an e-mail only policy we could have record of all communication on file without the risk of losing a post-it note. E-mail also includes the option of a read receipt, which allows the user to know when the receiver has opened and read the message or if they have not seen the message yet and another form of  communication, such as a phone call, might be required to meet a deadline. The policy might also include that all e-mails must receive a reply no matter how simple the message. I can head a short meeting at the end of the day to cover the implementation of this plan. The idea here is to eliminate hand written notes as well as informal communication such as instant messengers and social network communications. We will need to upgrade a few of the employee’s company cell phones and instruct them on how to use e-mail on these devices. Even though e-mails are good for keeping a history of communications, public relations expert Lisa Elias states, â€Å"When delivering delicate information, pick up the phone. A gentle tone of voice can soften bad news or express warmth and caring, whereas an email or text can easily be misconstrued,† (Kouremetis 2013). Although e-mail can help eliminate the outside forms of communication, another possible resolution would be to implement task management software into the office. This alone may solve the issue. There are many different task management programs available but one that has caught my eye is AtTask, which is used by corporations such as HBO, Samsung, and Adobe. AtTask will allow us to run a free trial of the software prior to purchasing and claims the product will allow us to see what is going on with our projects, if we are on time, and when it will be done (â€Å"Services†, 2012). You will even have access to the task manager to see what is going on in our shipping bay. AtTask even has an integrated communications technology that allows for instant messaging between co-workers and a notes system for the client list. That way, if one person speaks with a client of ours and they request a change to their order he can enter the message in the client’s message folder and we can all receive the notification straight to our smart phones and computers. Even though, task management software will ultimately benefit company wide communication, another area that lacks focus is education on the subject matter of the workplace. A few of these men have worked here for over ten years and they know every part number by memory, but communication technology is outgrowing these few at a rapid pace. On the other end of the  spectrum, these younger men have keen senses of current technological advancements, but they could use some more time in learning the step-by-step processes we face on a daily basis. I propose that we run a workshop meeting once every two weeks for a total of eight weeks to teach the young ones about the process of shipping from us, the supplier, to the consumer/retailer. This workshop could possibly be run during hours if the time comes available, but will most likely need to take place on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. The instructors will be chosen from 3 of our most experienced workers who will earn overtime from these extra hours. A separate workshop on communication technology for the employees that have been here should happen once a week for an hour, probably on Wednesday evenings after work. The employees will be eligible for overtime with this extra hour on the job. I believe that being educated on the subject matter of the workplace is vital to our success. In addition to knowledge of the workplace being significant, another part of the communication process that has lacked in certain areas is feedback. Feedback is one of the four major communication functions (Belch 2012). It is the key to knowing your communication was successful. We need to emphasize in the training process that it is okay to ask questions. I have seen it happen before where someone is afraid to ask a question for fear of disapproval only to have to go back re-work what has been done. Asking the right questions can help us to do it right the first time (D.I.R.T.Fi.T.). I feel the previously mentioned workshops would be a great time to re-emphasize the importance of asking questions. Also, as mentioned in the first proposal, all e-mails must receive a reply or they will be followed up with a phone call. We must remember that sometimes in order to receive feedback it must be asked for. After explaining a work order or process it is vital to ask, â€Å"Do you understand?† or â€Å"Do you have any questions for me?† Another way of obtaining feedback would be through face-to-face technology. With our smartphones and office computers we can send a more personal message with FTF video conferencing. Google Hangouts are part of the Google suite of applications that support multi-party video chat as well as other Google applications including Sketch-UP, Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations, and screen sharing and these types of technologies are being recommended as  teaching formats to doctors and professors around the globe (Roseth, 2013). In conclusion, I do believe there is work to be done in regards to the communication process in the workplace. I have proposed four strategies to minimize the possibility of future communication breakdowns. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. You may decide to choose one or to integrate all four, the choice is yours, but I do ask that you please take your time in considering the possibilities and I do trust you will choose what is best for the company. References Belch, G. E., & Belch, M. A. (2012). Advertising and Promotion: An Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective, 9th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Kouremetis, D. (2013). Choosing Communication Methods Wisely for Your Small Business. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/denakouremetis/2013/01/28/choosing-communication-methods-wisely-for-your-small-business/ Roseth, C. (2013). Blending Synchronous Face-to-face and Computer-Supported Cooperative Learning in a Hybrid Doctoral Seminar. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 57(3), 54-59. â€Å"Services†. (2012). AtTask software services retrieved from http://www.attask.com/services

What Shirk Means in Islam Essays

What Shirk Means in Islam Essays What Shirk Means in Islam Paper What Shirk Means in Islam Paper Tawheed in Islam is very important as it means that believing in one lord and no one else. It is attributing oneness to Allah and describing him as being one and unique as he has no partner in his essence and attributes. However if one doesnt believe in this then he is going against Tawheed and will be classed as not a true Muslim. Believing that Allah is one with no partner or associate in his lordship is known as Tawheed ruboobiyyah. If any disagrees with this statement then they are going against Allahs word which are written in the Quran as he states Say he is Allah, the One and only. This verse clearly shows that Allah is one as he has written it him in the Quran for Muslims, no one should join partners with him nor should they believe in anyone besides him, this is known as shirk. Shirk in linguistic meaning is associating partnership, sharing with someone or associating something with someone however in Islam it refers to associating partners with Allah. There are two type of shirk which are: Shirk Akbar Major Shirk Shirk Asgar Minor Shirk Major shirk in Islam means when an individual ascribe partners with Allah such as saying that he has a son or a family. This can be with his Lordship, divinity or his names and attribute. Allah has told the Muslims in the Quran that he does not forgive anyone who ascribes partners with him in any way, as he states Verily! Allah forgives not setting up partners with Him, but He forgives whom He wills sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. (2:48). Shirk is classed as worst sin in Islam. Shirk can be also loving someone as they should be loving Allah, and fearing as they should be fearing Allah, or relying upon him, calling upon him, dreading him, hoping in him and having awe of him, trusting in him, or obeying him in disobedience to Allah, or following him in what displeases Allah etc. This type of shirk may sometimes believe that someone else apart from Allah created this universe, maybe gives life and death or having a belief that someone else should be worshipped besides Allah. Whoever believes that then his final abode will be in hellfire as it is stated clearly in the Quran by Allahs words, Verily, whosoever sets up partners with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. (5: 72). Even the Prophet of Allah mentioned in a Hadith that Shirk is never forgiven as he says The greatest sins are polytheism etc (Muslim). The second type of Shirk in Islam is the minor shirk which is everything that will lead an individual to major shirk such as adorning something or believing in fortune telling. Minor shirk has been described by Prophet Muhammad as Shirk in the Muslim nation is more inconspicuous than the creeping of the black ant on a black rock in the pitch darkness of the night. This saying of Prophet explains to the Muslims in a metaphorical way that minor shirk is what will lead the Muslims to major shirk unknowingly. Prophet also said that he feared minor shirk more then any sin as it was the cause of everything. Whoever swears to someone else other then Allah also commits the act of shirk and Kufr (disbelief). Minor shirk can also take the form of actions such as believing in fortune telling and wearing amulets. We as Muslims know this because Prophet said whoever goes towards fortune-teller and believes in his story, his prays will not be accepted for forty days. Tawheed is very important in Islam because it is the pillar which Islam is built upon, as it is the first thing invited to and preached to for thirteen years. say, none has the right to be worshipped when an individual believes in Tawheed they have to believe in the three aspects of tawheed which are Ruboobiyah- in his lordship, Uloohiyyah- in his worship and finally Asma was sifaat believing in his Names and Attributes. Tawheed is a condition for an action to be accepted, because for a deed to be accepted it requires two conditions. Which is the intention which is purely for Allah and in accordance with the shareeah of Prophet Muhammad. The three categories of Tawheed in Islam that are very important to abide by which are Tawheed Ruboobeeyah which means maintaining the oneness of Lordship that is, affirming that Allah is one, without partners in his power, as Allah states in the Quran And no calamity strikes except by Allahs permission. This means that without Allahs permission no one can do anything. Second one is Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat which means maintaining the unity of Allahs Names and Attributes that is, affirming that they are incomparable and unique as Allah says in the Quran for Muslims that There is nothing like him. This means that Allahs attributes are different to his mankind. And lastly its Tawheed Uloohiyyah which is affirming that Allah is alone in his right to be worshipped, as it says in the Quran I did not create the jinn and mankind except for my worship. Surah Ikhlas is a one of the important chapter from the holy Quran as it declares the oneness of Allah and absolute nature of divine essences. This concept is presented in the first verse it says He is Allah, the One and Only moreover the second verse that Allah is Eternal, i.e., He is beyond the bounds of time and space which is Allah, the Eternal, Absolute The third verse describes that Allah does not give birth or was given birth to as it says He begetteth not nor is He begotten and the last verse declares that Allah is beyond comparison which is And there is none like unto Him. Surah Ikhlas directly supports the first declaration shahadah of Islam: There is no god but Allah. In this context, Islam is based on belief in one God which is monotheism. There are many Muslims that still depend on pious people that they believe have similar qualities to God. They put their whole trust in them and act upon what they tell them to do rather then following the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. They might start to wear amulets as they might believe that these things will protect them from harm and guide them the right path. However all this is wrong as we know that from the words of the Prophet, as he says wearing amulets is an act of Shirk (polytheism). Other Muslims put the Prophet on a higher level than Allah and see him as their God rather than Allah; they give excessive praise to the Prophet. Shirk is the major sin in Islam because it involves associating others along with Allah in worship, his lordship or in his attributes. Being thankful to other than Allah for all the good which he has given us, or to say that He has an equal or one who is similar to him, shirk can also involve rejecting the Messengers of Allah since the Messengers of Allah call against shirk and whoever associates partners with Allah will never enter paradise as Allah says in the Quran Indeed they do blaspheme those who say that Allah is Jesus, the son of Mary, but Jesus said O children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him heaven and the fire will be his abode. (5:72) There are many dangers of Shirk such as it wipes away an individuals good deeds, Muslims know this because it says in the Quran But if they were to join others with Allah in worship, all that they used to do would be of no benefit to them. (6:88) It also leads to eternal punishment in the hellfire and takes a person out of the fold of Islam as it says Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him heaven and the fire will be his abode. When someone commits Shirk they are going against the belief in Tawheed which is the foundation of ones faith. Islam has 7 articles of faith among others the most important one is believe in Allah as the only one God. The principle of oneness in Allah was planted since Adam and Eve continued to Nuh, Abraham and up to the final Prophet Muhammad.

Lockheed U-2 Spy Plane

Lockheed U-2 Spy Plane In the years immediately after World War II the US military relied on a variety of converted bombers and similar aircraft to collect strategic reconnaissance. With the rise of the Cold War, it was recognized that these aircraft were extremely vulnerable to Soviet air defense assets and as a result would be of limited use in determining Warsaw Pact intentions. As a result, it was determined that an aircraft capable of flying at 70,000 feet was needed as existing Soviet fighters and surface-to-air missiles were incapable to reaching that altitude. Proceeding under the codename Aquatone, the US Air Force issued contracts to Bell Aircraft, Fairchild, and Martin Aircraft to design a new reconnaissance aircraft capable of meeting their requirements. Learning of this, Lockheed turned to star engineer Clarence Kelly Johnson and asked his team to create a design of their own. Working in their own unit, known as the Skunk Works, Johnsons team produced a design known as the CL-282. This essentially married the fuselage of an earlier design, the F-104 Starfighter, with a large set of sailplane-like wings. Presenting the CL-282 to the USAF, Johnsons design was rejected. Despite this initial failure, the design soon received a reprieve from President Dwight D. Eisenhowers Technological Capabilities Panel. Overseen by James Killian of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and including Edwin Land from Polaroid, this committee was tasked with exploring new intelligence weapons to protect the US from attack. While they initially concluded that satellites were the ideal approach for gathering intelligence, the necessary technology was still several years away. As a result, they decided that new spy plane was needed for the near future. Enlisting the aid of Robert Amory from the Central Intelligence Agency, they visited Lockheed to discuss the design of such an aircraft. Upon meeting with Johnson they were told that such design already existed and had been rejected by the USAF. Shown the CL-282, the group was impressed and recommended to CIA head Allen Dulles that the agency should fund the aircraft. After consulting with Eisenhower, the project moved forward and Lockheed was issued a $22.5 million contract for the aircraft. Design of the U-2 As the project moved forward, the design was re-designated U-2 with the U standing for the deliberately vague utility. Powered by the Pratt Whitney J57 turbojet engine, the U-2 was designed to achieve high altitude flight with a long range. As a result, the airframe was created to be extremely light. This, along with its glider-like characteristics, makes the U-2 a difficult aircraft to fly and one with a high stall speed relative to its maximum speed. Due these issues, the U-2 is difficult to land and requires chase car with another U-2 pilot to help talk the aircraft down. In effort to save weight, Johnson originally designed the U-2 to take off from a dolly and land on a skid. This approach was later dropped in favor of landing gear in a bicycle configuration with wheels located behind the cockpit and engine. To maintain balance during takeoff, auxiliary wheels known as pogos are installed under each wing. These drop away as the aircraft leaves the runway. Due to the U-2s operational altitude, pilots wear the equivalent of a spacesuit to maintain proper oxygen and pressure levels. Early U-2s carried a variety of sensors in the nose as well as cameras in a bay aft of the cockpit. U-2: Operation History The U-2 first flew on August 1, 1955 with Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier at the controls. Testing continued and by spring 1956 the aircraft was ready for service. Reserving authorization for overflights of the Soviet Union, Eisenhower worked to reach an agreement with Nikita Khrushchev regarding aerial inspections. When this failed, he authorized the first U-2 missions that summer. Largely flying from Adana Air Base (renamed Incirlik AB on 28 February 1958) in Turkey, U-2s flown by CIA pilots entered Soviet airspace and collected invaluable intelligence. Though Soviet radar was able to track the overflights, neither their interceptors nor missiles could reach the U-2 at 70,000 ft. The success of the U-2 led the CIA and US military to press the White House for additional missions. Though Khrushchev protested the flights, he was unable to prove that the aircraft were American. Proceeding in complete secrecy, flights continued from Incirlik and forward bases in Pakistan for the next four years. On May 1, 1960, the U-2 was thrust into the public spotlight when one flown by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Sverdlovsk by a surface-to-air missile. Captured, Powers became the center of the resulting U-2 Incident which embarrassed Eisenhower and effectively ended a summit meeting in Paris. The incident led to an acceleration of spy satellite technology. Remaining a key strategic asset, U-2 overflights of Cuba in 1962 provided the photographic evidence that precipitated the Cuban Missile Crisis. During the crisis, a U-2 flown by Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. was shot down by Cuban air defenses. As surface-to-air missile technology improved, efforts were made to improve the aircraft and reduce its radar cross-section. This proved unsuccessful and work began on a new aircraft for conducting overflights of the Soviet Union. In the early 1960s, engineers also worked to develop aircraft carrier-capable variants (U-2G) to extend its range and flexibility. During the Vietnam War, U-2s were used for high-altitude reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam and flew from bases in South Vietnam and Thailand. In 1967, the aircraft was dramatically improved with the introduction of the U-2R. Approximately 40% larger than the original, the U-2R featured underwing pods and an improved range. This was joined in 1981 by a tactical reconnaissance version designated TR-1A. The introduction of this model re-started production of the aircraft to meet the USAFs needs. In the early 1990s, the U-2R fleet was upgraded to the U-2S standard which included improved engines. The U-2 has also seen service in a non-military role with NASA as the ER-2 research aircraft. Despite its advanced age, the U-2 remains in service due to its ability to perform direct flights to reconnaissance targets on short notice. Though there were efforts to retire the aircraft in 2006, it avoided this fate due to the lack of an aircraft with similar capabilities. In 2009, the USAF announced that it intended to retain the U-2 through 2014 while working to develop the unmanned RQ-4 Global Hawk as a replacement. Lockheed U-2S General Specifications Length:  63 ft.Wingspan:  103 ft.Height:  16 ft.Wing Area:  1,000 sq. ft.Empty Weight:  14,300 lbs.Loaded Weight:  40,000 lbs.Crew:  1 Lockheed U-2S Performance Specifications Power Plant:  1 Ãâ€" General Electric F118-101 turbofanRange:  6,405 milesMax Speed:  500 mphCeiling:  70,000 ft. Selected Sources FAS: U-2The CIA the U-2 Program: 1954-1974

Three Level Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Three Level Architecture - Essay Example In this section I will present some of major objectives of the three levels of the database architecture. The DBA is able to transform the structure of database, for example without altering the software program for example external schema. Every user is able to access the data as of his/her necessities. Users are sovereign of the storage issues similar to indexing limitations etc of the database. The conceptual architecture of the database has no influence because of the transform of the physical storage systems.The External LevelThe external level is one near to users. That is the one associate with the mode in which the data is observed through particular users. At the external level the DBMS outlines every user by means of a shared or particular view or representation of the data. There are numerous views of the information and data at this phase, as well as every view is an illustration of fraction of the whole database. A view permits a client access to their part of the databa se, as well as shields the remaining database from them. Every external view is described through means of an external representation, that composed of fundamentally of descriptions of all of variety of kinds of outer record discovered that external view. In external level, the diverse views can have diverse illustrations of the similar data. For instance one user can view date in the structure as day, month, year as another may analysis as year, month, day.The external level or view of DBMS is basically associated.

Definition of The Bermuda Triangle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Definition of The Bermuda Triangle - Essay Example What actually makes this specific region of the Atlantic Ocean primarily fascinating and the reason why this region has amassed such immense worldwide attention over time is based on the fact that word of mouth has played a significant role in this issue which is discussed in this essay. People have rushed to associate supernatural explanations with the Bermuda Triangle due to which this region gained a mysterious aura in a short span of time. Along with contemplating the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle historically, some majorly important characteristics related to it are also discussed and explained in the essay. Beginning with the important accidents that occurred in the Bermuda Triangle due to which it attracted massive attention, the disappearance of an entire troop of bombers and planes without leaving behind a single trace are worth mentioning. Unexplained disasters led people to believe in the myths that there ought to be something deadly, monstrous, and heinous in the ocean due to which people, planes, and ships disappear to never get recovered. After the big incident of plane crashes in the Bermuda Triangle, the gateway to disasters opened up and myriad other disappearances began to be reported due to which this specific area became a highly talked about, riveting, and enthralling topic around the globe and research began on a large scale with no concrete facts revealed and ambiguity, confusion, and mystery ensued. Over time, headlights continued cropping up about more flights and ships along with hundreds of innocent people vanished in the deep waters and no explanation was ever presented publicly other than the dark doubtful statements which led people to speculate that there had to be some supernatural phenomenon in action in that specific area of the Atlantic Ocean, never once stopping to consider the probable role played by natural calamities or human errors. One stark similarity among all the casualties which played a major role in spreading bla ck doubts among the public was that the ships, planes, and aircraft which vanished in the ocean never showed up after some months as wreckage. Now wreckage forms important indicators of where actually the accident took place in case of sea crashes and as for the reported cases of aircraft, if they ever actually did happen, never any oil slicks were found in the ocean by the trackers which put a blind end to the search for authentic facts. It is not like the reasons for all the disasters which occurred in the Bermuda Triangle in the past were left uncovered, rather natural calamities and technical errors accounted for some accidents but, a large proportion of people still remained intent on relying on the supernatural explanations. UFOs and natural reasons form the widely speculated reasons for the disappearances occurring in the Bermuda Triangle of the Atlantic Ocean since the beginning. UFOs are unexplained anomalies which many people have claimed to witness though there is no conc rete fact which can be associated with it.