In the Dream of the Man that was Dreaming, the Dreamt Man Woke Essay

By traditional definition, perception is anything that can be known through the five senses. However, this quote adds another dimension to the idea about perception. It implies that perception is not dictated by the five senses, but by the brain. If a man perceives something, he has either seen it, heard it, felt it, smelt it, tasted it, or any combination of those. A man knows that a car has crashed because he saw the collision and heard the loud noise. He knows that he likes steak through enjoying its pleasant smell and satisfying taste. In addition, he knows that fire is hot because the nervous system allows him to feel its warmth. However, one usually forgets that it is impossible to use these senses without the brain, which controls each of these perceptions. The quote serves as a supporting reminder of this idea. Arguably, the dreaming man is able to perceive a dreamt man waking up. Yet, he does not necessarily see the man with his own eyes, because his eyelids are shut. He does not hear the dreamt man with his ears; he does not feel the man with his hands, and he certainly doesn’t taste or smell the man. So how is he able to perceive him? He is able to perceive him because his brain still functions, creating the image of the dreamt man waking. Now, the reason why the brain creates the image of the dreamt man is for another paper, about dream interpreting. The quote simply implies that we perceive only what our brain wants us to, and that our brain may even make us perceive what is not reality. It may be possible that we do not always know what is reality even if it is right in front of us. For example, today might feel like a cold day, yet it is still about 50-60 degrees F. However, in the winter months of January and February, a 60 degree day may not feel so cold. In fact, it would even feel warm compared to the usual freezing temperature. This is because the brain interprets what messages are sent through the nervous system, and it tells the body to feel warm because it is used to a colder temperature. Recently, due to the sniper shootings, America’s Most Wanted conducted a study which proved that the brain can affect what a witness may have seen with his or her own eyes. This is a major cause of the inconsistent eyewitness accounts of the shootings. These are just a few examples that prove that perception is under the complete control of the brain. Perception is much more than what the body is able to sense; it is how the brain interprets the information it receives through those senses. Even while the body is in slumber, the brain continues to interpret and create perceptions. Does the brain have a mind of its own?

Education on Health Promotion Essay

â€Å"During an 18 month period, the researcher will design, implement and evaluate an HIV/AIDS health promotion program for inpatients in a non-profit hospital located in Los Angeles California. † The appropriateness of the applied research methodology is essential for the success of the research itself. In this section, we are going to review the characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and formulate its application in the research subject. In the book of Creswell (2003 entitled, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches, Quantitative research approach deals on the systematic inclusion, observation and assessment of various events associated with numerical relationships. The researcher may compare groups on an independent variable to see it effect on dependent variable. Alternatively, the investigator may relate one or more independent variables to a dependent variable (p. 109). Qualitative procedures utilize various knowledge claims, strategies of inquiries and interventions of data collection and analysis. This approach relies on textual and imaginary data, and has unique systematic phases in data analysis and draw on diverse strategies of inquiry (p. 179). The above procedures are essentially appropriate in the whole study of the research. Numerical assessment is included especially in monitoring records, reading laboratory analysis as well as laboratory values that are obtained from the HIV/AIDS patient. The qualitative approach gathers textual data such as subjective and objective, which serves as one of the frameworks in health promotion planning. These data acts as the skeleton of the whole promotion plan.

RESEARCH METHODS (AT LEAST THREE AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES) CONCEPT PAPER Coursework

RESEARCH METHODS (AT LEAST THREE AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES) CONCEPT PAPER - Coursework Example According to Wiles (2007), organizations must incorporate MOT in their organizational structure to survive the stiff competition currently prevailing in the American corporate sector. Technology is an imperative asset that can help organizations outperform their competitors and gain a significant market share. However, the challenge faced by technology specialists and decision makers is gaining an all-inclusive understanding of MOT that normally incorporate understanding of technology development, auxiliary intelligence and relevant processes and activities in the product value chain (Malhotra, 2004). As an important management discipline, MOT explores the potential of technology and how that potential can be harnessed for the advantage of organizations. However, as Van (2008) reiterates, the field and professions it obliges remains ambiguous due to absence of established task sheets and books that would nature the attention of students and practitioners. Additionally, an immense confusion surrounds MOT concepts and its relevance in solving management problems is disregarded by American managers (Christiansen,  2000). Deliberations on MOT reveal divergent viewpoints about nature, history, origin, role and etymology of technological terms. Van (2008) further reveals that the copious definitions of technological concepts have caused a disagreement that is yet to subside. However, the revival of MOT in recent years has created a pompous structure for systematic consideration of technology and its organization leading to introduction of teaching programmes in university and establishment of professional societies such as IAMOT (international association for the management of technology) (Wiles,  2007). The mesmerizing quest for students and practitioners is to have a fundamental structure that will aid in edification of technological related knowledge thus easing management related tasks through effective and efficient

Personal Exploration of Knowledge Paper-epistemological analysis Assignment

Personal Exploration of Knowledge Paper-epistemological analysis - Assignment Example This paper discusses various types of knowledge such as knowledge how, for instance how to drive; knowledge that, which is also known as propositional knowledge, such as knowing that P is P and knowledge by acquaintance, which is knowing a person or a place. Epistemology is mainly concerned with propositional knowledge. When trying to analyze knowledge, epistemologists often distinguish between a priori and a posteriori forms of knowledge. A priori form of knowledge that is independently known that is it does not come from ones experience or senses. This type of knowledge is acquired from sources outside experience such as reason and is usually arrived at beforehand. On the other hand, a posteriori knowledge refers to the type of knowledge that is acquired from experience. It is also known as empirical knowledge and is not known before hand from ones previous experiences. Most of the scientific knowledge is empirical in nature as it is based on previous experiences. Here are various sources of knowledge identified by philosophers. According to Feldman, a renowned philosopher, there are five major types of knowledge, which include perception, memory, expert testimony, introspection, and reasoning. (Feldman, 2003). Perception refers to the type of knowledge derived from one’s senses. It is based on ones sensual perceptions and on the view that the primary source of knowledge is one’s experience. Perception is also referred to as empiricism. Reason is the other source of knowledge. His type of knowledge is acquired a priori, that is outside the realm of senses. This source of knowledge is based on pure reason where truths are deduced based on existing knowledge, for instance mathematical truths. The opinion that reason is the primary source of knowledge is often referred to as rationalism. Introspection has also been widely acknowledged as a major source of knowledge among philosophers. This type of knowledge is acquired through personal internal sel f evaluation (Feldman, 2003). Through introspection, one can know that they are tired of hungry for instance. Some philosophers recognize the similarities between introspection and perception but have widely accepted it as an independent source of knowledge. The other source of knowledge is memory. This refers to knowledge acquired from information stored in one’s brain based on knowledge previously learnt either from current information of past events. Testimony on the other hand is a source of knowledge acquired through communication we get from others (Cooper, 1999). Some philosophers have raised concern about testimony as a source of credible knowledge and have proposed that knowledge derived this way must be verifiable in order for it to be trusted and believed as knowledge. All these sources of knowledge have gained support throughout epistemology and philosophy in general. However some

Article Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article Review - Essay Example Mr. Cowell admitted to Prosecutor Sean Berkowitz that he illegally manipulated the reported income of the company. Lay and Skilling stated that there is no fraudulent activities in the company after they were being contend by the prosecutor, regarding their knowledge of illegal accounting scheme to support the unstable condition of the company, months before it landed to bankruptcy. Further, Mr. Cowell testified for the half million dollars he paid to the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to resolve civil accusation pertaining to the illegal accounting of the company's income. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Cowell was also involved in other plans such as increasing the book value of one oil and gas company to appear that target quarterly earning was being achieved, and the hiding of million of dollars losses through the company's trading activities. Similarly, beyond expected trading profits were set aside, to be reported in the coming quarters and give the company an image of success. In view of the above article, the following questions may be raised, how much confidence do investors need to place in their trusted business How can they ensure that company reports like balance sheet reflects the true financial condition of the business, and not one of those balance cheat Financial scandals, breach of integrity and system deregulations are not new in the business world, however they

Dissertation conclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dissertation conclusion - Essay Example It is also expected that more babies will be born at home and this could endanger the health of infants and their mothers. The respondents also perceive that the downgrading and closure proposals will be disruptive to a feeling of community. Residents of Ealing will have to leave their community for the purpose of obtaining medical health care in a number of cases. This renders the community fragmented. The reality is, Ealing Hospital is a part of the Ealing community and will not serve the greater population of Ealing. In the meantime, the campaigns have served to bring the community together, if only for a temporary and limited purpose (See Figures 1 and 2). One respondent, a community member, felt that the proposed downgrading of the A&E ward was a necessity and served the greater good of the local community. In particular, the respondent noted that things could not continue as they were. For example between 50% and 60% of patients reporting for A&E services were not casualties an d therefore overtaxed an already overburdened health care system operating on a limited budget. Downgrading would reduce the budgetary demands and would redirect services elsewhere. If things continued as they were, the trusts in the area would eventually close altogether and everyone would lose access to much-needed health care services. Cuts were therefore not only necessary to avoid closure, but also to ensure that those who need health care services the most would be able to access it. As for the impact of downgrading and in particular the proposed closure of the maternity ward, the respondent did acknowledge that there were protests within the community. However, the respondent felt that whenever there are changes to a system, there will always be disappointment. This disappointment did not equate to evidence of negative outcomes. In fact, the respondent stated that there was no evidence of a negative impact on the local community. This respondent’s impressions were quit e different from the remaining respondents. The remaining respondents were far more pessimistic about the future trajectory of Ealing Hospital and the community impact. For example, a respondent member of the Trans Union participating in the Save Our Hospital campaign predicted that the hospital changes â€Å"will be a disaster†. This prediction was based on the medical needs of residents in Ealing and in particular the large population of disadvantaged residents with medical needs. One respondent who is a medical doctor, felt that the downgrading was due to budgetary constraints, debts, and the move toward privatisation which was a persistent trend in government services. Even so, the doctor did not think that downgrading was the solution to the problem. If anything, services in the Ealing hospital should be expanded. This is particularly so for the elderly, the uneducated, migrants and ethnic minorities service users. These categories of service users typically use public t ransport and in doing so will now have to make the journey farther away to access services

Forensic Entomology research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Forensic Entomology - Research Paper Example It was not until 1668 that Francesco Redi disproved this by observing how these creatures developed into flies, and much later, in 1894 that Megnin developed a method to link this process with a method for calculating the age of a dead body (Byrd and Castner, p. 41). Throughout the twentieth century scientific methods of analysis have improved greatly, with the result that at the present time forensic entomology is a well-established discipline within forensic science, complete with rigorous protocols and extensive underpinning research which help to ensure that it provides relevant, accurate and reliable evidence for crime investigation and prosecution purposes. Forensic entomology is therefore a dual discipline combining elements of natural science in the methods of collection and analysis of samples, and elements of criminology, in the interpretation and application of results, and in the preservation of evidence which is reliable enough to stand up to scrutiny in the criminal jus tice system. Although these two areas have a different focus, they are closely aligned in crime investigation procedures, requiring collaboration across disciplines according to clear scientific principles. This paper explores the contribution that forensic entomology makes to crime investigation and prosecution by examining three of its major areas of application: 1. Determining the post mortem interval (PMI); 2. Providing human DNA linkages and 3. Providing toxicology information. A number of limitations as well as legal and procedural issues are covered also in section 4. 1.Determining the Post Mortem Interval (PMI) through forensic entomology. 1.1 Species involved. Corpses provide a very specialized ephemeral environment which is colonized by particular communities of arthropods in a predictable manner, with one species following on after another in a process known as â€Å"succession† (Horswell, 2004, p. 347). The main species The first species to arrive, often within mi nutes of death, are blowflies. Blowflies from the Calliphoridae family are generally the first stage invaders, and then after these others follow Sarcophagids which constitute a second stage, often overlapping with the first stage somewhat. After this follow the third stage Muscids and Piophilids (Horswell, 2004, p. 348). 1.2 Types of information obtainable. Scientists are able to obtain good information from a corpse soon after death, by taking photographs, measuring temperature, observing rigor mortis and any wounds, and conducting various other tests on the tissue. With increasing passage of time, however, the tissue degenerates, and it is more difficult to obtain reliable data. Because the life cycle of insects is known, and the effects of temperature and weather can be factored in to the equation, careful collection of insects at the scene can provide useful estimate of the PMI. Empirical work in the laboratory has established standard growth times for many of the most common c arrion feeding species, and this means that the determination of PMI has become the most used application of forensic entomology in modern crime scenes (Nabity et al. 2006, p. 1276). Another useful piece of information that can be obtained from examination of species present in a corpse is the whether or not the body has been moved.

Reflections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflections - Essay Example A good place to begin in this regard is with Carter's Three Step Integrity Model. To begin with step one: discerning what is right and what is wrong is not an innate behavior or characteristic; it is learned. Education is key to building up this moral faculty. This faculty is built up through experience and through principles. In a country as politically complicated and as diverse as the United States, this takes a lot of work. We can't shirk from hard work; we must embrace it. Step two: Sometimes integrity means acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost. In our society, one would call a person who discerns and acts on what they have witnessed or experienced a "snitch". Many times in the justice arena a person who has witnessed a crime or an altercation, definitely could inform at personal cost-whether jeopardizing their lives or the lives of loved ones. An example a little closer to home would be, to discern something about a colleague or family member. This would definitely put one in an awkward position, especially if they have to confront the issue or if the issue jeopardizes the integrity of a company or violates a family member(s) trust; all at personal cost to that person. This more than likely would cause animosity, fear, loss of friendship and even, cost them their job or division in the family. The choice is a hard one; turning to faith is the best way to find an answer. Step three involves saying openly that you are acting on your understanding of right from wrong. Even if it costs you personally, it is important to be honest. You have to act on what you understand to be right and be honest with what knowledge you have. This too is part of integrity. 2. Interpersonal relations class. This class reminded me of a personal situation. When I was around 16 years old, the teacher in my class assigned all of us pen pals for the year. The pen pals were to be from the island of Malta, which is a small country in the Mediterranean near Sicily. I had never had a pen pal before. In fact I rarely wrote letters. It could be said that I was a shy child and did not have many friends. So I was a little bit nervous about having a pen pal as I didn't know how I felt about telling a stranger all about my life. My pen pal's name was Flavia and we soon began exchanging letters. While I might have been nervous at first, I soon began to really enjoy the experience. What I enjoyed most was getting to know another person in the way that I got to know Flavia. She was the same age as I was and with a lot of the same family background-the same amount of brother and sisters, for example-and from a similar socio-economic background. At first our letters simply introduced basic facts about our lives to one another. After a few letters doing this we began to talk about our routines-the sports we played, the kind of friends we had, the computer games we enjoyed. The more letters we exchanged, the closer I felt the two of us becoming. Soon we had graduated to begin to talk about what we thought about our lives, our societies, and cultures. We began to share personal details; this led to a bond that was built on trust. We both perceived each other as more fully formed people and began to understand what sort of stimuli influenced one another's perceptions and experiences of the world. Another important thing that made us feel closer together was the fact that over the months that

Macro economics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Macro economics - Assignment Example High rates of inflation affect the output of the economy and influence the growth of the economy. A permanent or long lasting inflation shock affects the economy on a larger note. On the other hand, the continuous rate of deflation leads to a persistent decline of prices and affects the economy at large1;2. With this regard, the assignment elaborates the present issue of euro zone with respect to the below target inflation rate. The different consequences that may arise due to deflation have been elaborated in the paper. Furthermore, the different macroeconomic tools that are available to avoid such side effects have been detailed. Inflation rates that are prevalent within a country help in determining the different monetary policies important within an economy. Inflation rates help in determining various conceptions predominant for determining monetary policies of a nation. The monetary policies guide in developing different economic frameworks to be determined within an economy. The below target of inflation affects the economy on a whole and has a major impact on the output of a nation. The long run inflation targets are one of the major issues that help in determining the different economic operations of a nation. Inflation rates that are operating in a nation determine the interest rates and the value of money at large. Inflation rates can never be zero, as this would be highly unrealistic and would lead to a larger fall in the value of money within the economy. Both continuous rise and fall in the rate of inflation has adverse effects on overall economy of a nation. Below target inflation, for a continuo us rate may lead to a steep fall in GDP and even lead to a fall in the value of money3;4. With the above mentioned concepts, the below target inflation rate in the Eurozone has been lower than the estimated rate of inflation for a given tenure. This is even noted that the specific monetary as well as fiscal policies that are

Popularity of Soccer Essay Example for Free

Popularity of Soccer Essay When the United States national soccer team defeated the Spanish national team in the semifinals of the 2009 Confederations Cup, many sportswriters and fans called the U. S team’s win one of the biggest upsets in modern soccer. Although the United States is known for having dominant sports teams, many refuse to admit that the United States has a good soccer team, let alone believe that Americans know about the sport soccer. In all fairness, even people in the United States do not believe that Americans know a lot about the sport and think it is a unpopular sport in the U. Â  S. Long has been the misconception that soccer is not popular in the United States and that many Americans do not even know the rules of the game. In an episode of Family Guy, Chris Griffin is playing in a soccer game. The bleachers are almost empty with the exception of a handful amount of people. When a ball is kicked towards Chris, he catches the ball. The referee, dressed like an American football official, awards Chris’s opponents a penalty kick with a tone and style of his speech as that of a football official. A parent of Chris’s teammate yells out in anger because Chris’s mistake awards the other team an immense advantage. This scene exemplifies the common misconception about soccer in the United States. The small number of audience in the crowd suggests that soccer is not a popular sport in America. Chris’s lack of knowledge of the sport and the inaccurate uniform of the referee imply that many Americans do not know the rules of soccer and are not familiar with the sport because not many Americans play the sport. Furthermore, Chris lacks enthusiasm in his game; this lack of enthusiasm illustrates the hypervisiblity of the popularity of soccer in the United States. Soccer was virtually unknown to Americans until 1967 when the first professional soccer league was set up in the United States. The league was named the North American Soccer League (NASL). The league attracted some of the most famous soccer players in the world such as the Brazilian Pele, arguably the best soccer player of all time, and the German Franz Beckenbauer, regarded as the best German player of all time. Although the league attracted some of the greatest players, soccer overall remained a less popular sports like baseball and football in the United States. Perhaps Americans’ reluctance to follow the rules set by the British is the reason for soccer’s initially low popularity. Baseball and football, undoubtedly the two most popular sports in the United States, has its roots in the United Kingdom. An early form of baseball has been played in England in the mid-eighteenth century(The history of baseball). American football was originated from rugby football, which originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century(American football history). However, the rules of baseball and American football have been adapted by Americans from their origins to become American sports. Perhaps because Americans put in place their own laws of these sports, baseball and football had been successfully integrated into the American culture and had been immensely popular since their beginnings. Soccer on the other hand, was nowhere near as popular as baseball and football when first introduced in the United States. Soccer’s laws were set forth by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) which consists of the four United Kingdom countries’ associations- England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland(The International FA Board). The fact that the rules of soccer were not created by Americans and the fact that the sport’s rules were created by the United States’s competitive rivals may contribute to soccer’s originally low popularity. Whatever the reason, soccer was clearly not a popular sport in the United States even though it was by far the most popular sport in the world. Certainly, the North American Soccer League (NASL) was not a widely watched league when it was established in 1967. Its low popularity did not improve as the NASL eventually failed in 1984. Although the much improved Major League Soccer (MLS) was founded in 1996(About MLS) to replace the NASL, the MLS was and is still not a very successful league in terms of salary. The average salary of a player in the MLS in 2010 is $138,169 compared to MLB’s $3,297,828 (2010) (MLB Salaries), and NFL’s $990,000 (2009) (NFL Player Salaries). In fact, the MLB’s and the NFL’s minimum salaries are far greater than the average MLS salary. MLB’s minimum salary in 2009 was $400,000(MLBPA Info), while NFL’s minimum salary in 2009 was $310,000. Based solely on salaries of professional athletes in the United States, one can get an idea of the low popularity of soccer compared to sports like baseball and football in the U. S. These stats may seem to support the hypervisibility of soccer’s popularity in the United States, but in reality they do not reflect the growing adoration and acknowledgement of the sport. Soccer’s popularity in America has been growing since the inauguration of the NASL and the MLS. The MLS may seem unpopular based on the salaries of the players in the league, but spectator attendance suggests otherwise. The MLS averages 18,452 people per game, higher than National Basketball League’s 17,110, and NHL’s 17,004. In fact, the MLS’s average attendance is even higher than the Scottish Premier League’s average attendance(Avoiding the Drop). The amount of soccer players in America further emphasizes the tremendous popularity of the sport. In the U. S. , there are a total of 24,472,778 players. This number is far larger than some of the powerhouses in world soccer such as England which has 4,164,110 players, Brazil which has 13,197,733 players, and Spain which has 2,834,190 players(FIFA. com). Lastly, the 2010 World Cup had an average of 24. 3 million viewers in the United States. The World Series and the NBA Finals, on the other hand, only averaged 19. 4 viewers and 18 million viewers respectively(deseretnews. com). The United States was not even in the final of the World Cup and still managed to attract more viewers than the World Series and the NBA finals. Had the U. S. National Team been in the final, the number of viewers of the World Cup final could have been significantly larger. The high number of attendance at MLS games, soccer players in the United States, and viewers of the World Cup final testifies against the hypervisibility that asserts that soccer is an unpopular sport in the United States. However, facts surrounding the attention of soccer in the United States firmly affirms that soccer has now established itself as one of the most popular sports in America.

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Information Technology Essay

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Information Technology Essay Rudolph Technologies Inc. (RTEC) is a global leader engaged in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance process control defect inspection, metrology, and process control software systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. The company provides a complete yield management solution to chip makers through a mix of hardware, software, and services. The three main lines of business comprise metrology, inspection and data analysis, and review. The metrology system evaluates composition, thickness, and other properties of transparent and opaque films to ensure that the material does not get too thick or too thin. The inspection system looks for defects such as tiny scratches or gouges in the surface of a silicon wafer, while the process control software offerings turn raw data collected during the production process into useful information. The company generated revenues of $78.7 million in 2009, with inspection systems sales contributing nearly 50%. The company s ells products to over 90 customers comprising of logic, memory, data storage, and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) device manufacturers located in 20 countries; among them Intel Corp accounts for around 14% of total sales. The company generates nearly three-quarters of sales outside the US, primarily in Asia. Rudolph has extensive world-wide network of direct sales, customer service and application support offices, while its manufacturing facility is situated in Bloomington, Minnesota. In highly competitive semiconductor capital equipment market, the company competes with several established companies, principal among them are KLA-Tencor and Camtek. Flanders, New Jersey headquartered Rudolph employs around 497 personnel. The companys common shares trade on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RTEC. Company Background Rudolph Technologies was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey in 1958, and reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. The companys origins can be traced back to 1940, when Otto Curt Rudolph formed O.C. Rudolph Sons to import microscopes and scientific instruments, which was later renamed as Rudolph Research Corp. In 1977, the company launched the industrys first production-oriented ellipsometer for thin-transparent film measurements. Since then, through its engineering expertise and continuous investment in research and development, the company has broadened its portfolio with several new innovative products covering metrology, inspection and analysis solutions. In June 1996, Riverside Partners and Liberty Partners made major investments in the company to support its expansion in the semiconductor metrology market. To reflect the companys new strategic focus and plans for metrology, its name was changed to Rudolph Technologies. Three years later, in November 1999, Rudolph went public with its initial public offering 4.8 million common shares. The acquisition of ISOA Inc. in July 2002 added inspection and classification systems to the companys product portfolio, while the companys merger with August Technology Corp. in February 2006 further strengthened its position in macro defect detection and analysis markets. To be a complete supplier of back-end equipment and software, the company acquired the semiconductor business of Applied Precision LLC in December 2007, and the wafer scanner product line from RVSI Inspection LLC in January 2008. These acquisitions expanded the companys product offerings to precision wafer probe card metrology systems, wafer probe process management systems, and 2D/3D macro defect inspection. In august 2009, Rudolph became second largest supplier of process control software solutions with the acquisition of Adventa Control Technologies Inc. The acquisition of Adventa widened its software presence with a wide range of technologies including tool automation, run-to-run control, and fault detection and classification. Inorganic growth being an important part of the companys strategic growth plan, the management intends increase revenue and earnings with additional purchases during upcoming quarters. Table 1: RTECs subsidiaries Products and Services Rudolph is engaged in the engaged in the production and sales of macro-defect inspection, metrology and process control software systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. These process diagnostics and control equipments provide solutions for both front-end and back-end semiconductor manufacturing processes. Over the years, the company has reduced its dependence on front-end metrology market by adding defect inspection system, and process control software to its portfolio. At present, the company derives majority of revenue through the sales of inspection systems, followed by metrology and software systems. Source: Company Filing, RODM Research Inspection Systems The companys inspection equipment looks for defects not visible to the human eye, such as tiny scratches or gouges on the surface of a silicon wafer. The company is believed to be a market leader in both front-end wafer processing and final manufacturing inspection systems. The company entered into the macro-defect inspection market in September 2002 with the acquisition of ISOA Inc., a Texas-based OEM of defect inspection tools for lithography and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processes. Since that, the share of inspection system sales in total revenue has increased significantly to reach 48% in FY2009. The company offers a wide range of macro-defect (defects greater than 0.5 micron) inspection systems for detection of front side, edge and backside defects during both front-end wafer processing and back-end IC manufacturing. AXi 940 Module B30 Module Explorer Inspection Cluster NSX Series PrecisionWoRx VX4 System WaferWoRx 300 System Inspection Test Systems Introduced Functionality Type of Fab Front-end Back-end AXi  Module 2003 Advanced detection of defects >0.5 micron Inspection of patterned and unpatterned wafers In line, high-speed, 100% inspection Full color review and waferless recipe creation à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ E30  Module 2003 2D defect detection of the wafers edge Metrology of edge feature Incorporated into the Explorer Cluster à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ B30  Module 2003 2D defect detection of the wafers backside Darkfield, brightfield and color imaging Incorporated into the Explorer Cluster à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Explorer  Inspection Cluster 2009 A family of multi surface inspection tools, using one or more inspection modules Automated handling platform Intelligent wafer scheduling à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ NSX  Series 1997 Fully automated defect detection >0.5 micron 2D wafer, die bump inspection In line, high-speed, 100% inspection à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Wafer Scanner Series 1999 2D/3D bump dimensional inspection 2D bump/surface defect inspection In line, high-speed, 100% inspection à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ PrecisionWoRx 2008 Probe card test analysis Configurable channels High load forces à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ ProbeWoRx 2003 Probe card production metrology 3D Optical Comparative Metrology High-speed test times Automated, one-touch measurements à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ WaferWoRx 2006 Probing process analysis 3D probe tip analysis Proprietary, advanced software à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ PrecisionPoint 2002 Probe card analyzer Tests devices simultaneously Upgradable à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Metrology System Metrology equipment monitors layers of conducting and insulating materials on silicon wafers to ensure that the material doesnt get too thick or too thin. Rudolph introduced the industrys first production-oriented microprocessor-controlled ellipsometer for thin transparent film measurements in 1977. The company currently offers a wide range of metrology systems that measures both transparent and opaque thin-films during front-end fabrication process. The percentage share of metrology systems in total revenue has come down from 63% in FY2005 to 11% in FY2009 as the company has diversified into other higher-margin products including inspection system. MetaPULSE Series The companys MetaPULSE series of metrology systems uses picosecond ultrasonic laser sonar (PULSE) technology for opaque film measurement. The companys patented optical acoustic metal film metrology technology simultaneously measures the thickness and other properties of up to six metal or other opaque film layers in a non-contact manner on product wafers. PULSE Technology uses an ultra-fast laser to generate sound waves that pass down through a stack of opaque films and sends back an echo to the surface that indicates film thickness, density, and other process critical parameters. The company has sold nearly 200 MetaPULSE systems worldwide; the majority of them have been deployed for copper applications as this technology is ideal for characterizing copper interconnect structures. Introduced in 1997, the MetaPULSE was the first, and remains the market dominant, non-contact production metrology system for thin opaque films, currently used by all of the ten largest semiconductor produc ers. The average selling price ranges from $1.0 to $2.0 million per system. S3000 Series MetaPULSE-III System MetaPULSE System MetaPULSE-IIIa System S3000 CD System S3000S SystemIntroduced in 2006, the companys S3000 series of metrology equipments incorporates ellipsometry technology for transparent film measurement. Ellipsometry is a non-contact, non-destructive optical technique that measures the thickness and properties of transparent thin films applied to wafers during the device formation process. The companys patented ellipsometry technique uses four lasers simultaneously for multiple-angle of incidence and multiple wavelength ellipsometry, providing strong analysis and measurement capabilities for newly introduced thinner films and newer materials for future generations of semiconductor devices. Compared to the white-light sources used in spectroscopic ellipsometers, the laser light sources increase the level of accuracy and speed of the companys transparent film systems. Some of the systems combine ellipsometry with reflectometry tool to analyze films that require a broader spectral coverage. The companys transparent film measurement sys tems are available in a price range about $250 k to $1.0 million per system. Process Control Software Along with inspection and metrology systems, Rudolph also offers a suit of yield management and process control software, making it a complete yield management solution provider to semiconductor manufacturers. The company offers a comprehensive range of software for front-end fabs, back-end packaging facilities and photovoltaic market. The software collects the vast amount of data through automated inspection of fab process, which can be analyzed to determine trends that eventually improve yield. The type of software offered includes equipment automation software, tool-monitoring and fault detection software, equipment control software, yield and defect management software, and defect analysis and data management software. The acquisition of Adventa Control Technologies in August 2009 added several software systems to the companys portfolio, making it the second largest supplier of process control software solutions for chip makers, as per Gartner Dataquest. The company now supplies a broad range of Advanced Process Control technologies specifically for tool automation, run-to-run control and fault detection and classification, all designed to enable chip makers to increase capacity and yield and to reduce rework and scrap. Advanced Process Control utilizes software to automatically detect or predict tool failure and calculate recipe settings for a process that will drive the process output to target regardless of variations in the incoming material and disturbances within the process equipment. In FY2009, software licensing generated revenue of $6.7 million, accounting for 8.5% of total revenue. Industry Analysis Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Rudolphs business is primarily driven by the annual spending patterns of semiconductor companies on capital equipments which, in turn, is dependent on other drivers such as the sales of PCs, mobiles and other electronic devices. Worldwide, capital equipment spending has been on a decline during the past 3 years due to the continued strong DRAM investments in 2007, when the market was experiencing oversupply, slower NAND spending growth, and disappearance of foundry capital spending. Subsequently, capital equipment spending eroded nearly 64% to $16.3 billion in 2009 from the 2007 levels, according to Gartner. However, equipment spending is expected to increase 56% to $25.4 billion in 2010 following the broad recovery in the semiconductor industry revenues, and related investment in the foundry and memory markets. In addition, the advancement of new technology nodes will drive the future spending. Gartner estimates an average 20% annual growth in capital equipment spending between 2009 and 2013. Wafer fab equipment spending, which accounts for almost three-fourths of total capital equipment expend is currently driven by advancements in memory technologies and related upgrades. The overall capacity utilization rates continue to run at 80-90% levels, while leading edge utilization rates will hit 90-95% by the end of 2010, which will power strong capacity additions by 2011. Process control equipment market Process control equipments are primarily used to measure the accuracy of the features of a wafer throughout the process flow, and inspect for any defects during the wafer fabrication process. Semiconductor manufacturing costs continue to rise as chip design is becoming smaller and more complex, leading to more time consumption and higher defects Complex chip designing not only increases the cost of buidling a fab, but the higher costs, in turn, increase production with imrpoved yeilds for superior profits and ROI. And this can be achieved by process control equipment which we believe is very critical to increase production yield, and minimize defects. In line with the downturn in semiconductor capital spending, the process control equipment spending declined 44% to $1.75 billion in 2009 from the 2008 levels, which had plunged 32% from $4.6 billion in 2007. However, as a percentage of total semiconductor equipment spending, the expend on process control equipment has increased magrinally from 10% in 2004 to 10.7% in 2009, indicating that this market conitnues to outpace overall semicondicutor capital spending. According to Gartners estimates, process control equipment spending is expected to grow >50% to reach $4.5 billion by 2012. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research In terms of overall market share, KLA-Tencor dominates with ~50% market share followed by Hitachi and Applied Materials with 15% and 11%, respectively. Although a market leader in several segments, Rudolph is a tier-2 player holding an 2% share. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research As a leading supplier of process control equipment for the semiconductor industry, Rudolph serves the macro defect inspection (both front-end and back-end), thin film metrology, and data analysis segments of the process control market. Macro Defect Inspection Macro defect inspection is one of the oldest metrology processes involved in the identification of defects of 0.5 microns and greater. Earlier, inexpensive manual techniques such as microscopes and cameras were the mainstay for identifying scratches, residual material, wafer edge irregularities, and several inspectors were employed at each process level. This compounded the cost of production and compelled production managers to resort to sampling where ~20% of the wafers in-line was inspected. Again, the limitations of this sample strategy restricted the ability to reduce errors leading to increasing number of misprocessed wafers to be scrapped. In response, automated macro defect equipments were introduced which made inspection (100%) both technically and economically feasible. The adoption of automated macro defect equipments has transformed this market into one of fastest growing sub-segments in the entire semiconductor capital equipment industry. Presently, the adoption of automated defect inspection is driven by the industry shifting to 300 mm wafers; where the wafers have more than 2X of the size and number of die compared to 200 mm. With larger wafers size, more chips are produced per wafer and, therefore, automated inspection improves the frequency of detecting defective chips, necessitating the use of automated defect inspection. An automated tool has a throughput of 120 wafers per hour compared, nearly double the manual inspection. We believe that as more devices continue to manufacture on 300mm wafers, the demand for automated macro defect inspection tools will enhance in the future. Macro defect inspection is classified into two sub-segments: 1) front-end inspection in wafer manufacturing; and 2) back-end inspection in packaging and assembly. Front-end macro inspection: The front-end inspection takes place at the front-end of manufacturing stages such as lithography, deposition, post-etches, post-clean, and CMP. Front-end macro inspection technique includes a) front-side inspection b) back-side inspection c) edge inspection; and d) surface inspection. Back-end macro inspection: The back-end inspection takes place in the assembly and final test phase of the manufacturing process which includes probe mark and bump inspection. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research The front-end macro defect inspection market declined 44% to $50 million in 2009, in line with the decline in the overall semiconductor equipment spending. Gartner estimate this market to reach $215 million by 2012, growing at >100% annually between 2009 and 2012. In terms of market share, Rudolph is the market leader with a ~50% market (enhanced after August Technology acquisition in 2006) followed by KLA-Tencor and Nikon with a market share of xx% and xx%, respectively in 2009. The back=end macro defect inspection participates in the $20 billion Outsourced Assembly and Test (OSAT) market, where Rudolph is the number one provider of inspection solutions, where all of it is from August Technology acquisition. Rudolph has a 34% market share in the back-end market, follwed by Camtek and Hitachi with 23% and 13%, respectively. Thin Film Metrology Metrology tools are used to measure and examine characteristics such as thickness and electrical properties of a wafer to maintain uniformity across the manufacturing process. These tools can be classified into metal film metrology and transparent film metrology. Metal film metrology is used to measure the thickness of each individual metal layer on a wafer; while transparent film metrology uses a process called ellipsometry to measure the thin films properties. Rudolph has pioneered in transparent thin film market launching the industrys first ellipsometer based thin film metrology equipment. The thin film metrology market stood at $169 million in 2009, down 43% compared to 2008, in line with downturn in the overall semiconductor equipment market. In terms of market share, Rudolph dominates the metal metrology market with a 90-95% share. KLA-Tencor is the market leader in the transparent film metrology market with a 70% share and Rudolph followed with 8% in 2009. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research The metrology market is currently driven by the transition of copper interconnect metallization into both DRAM and NAND memory market. Essentially, the fundamental shift to copper as a conductor material from aluminum is because an increasing number of semiconductor devices are being designed with more interconnect layers, since aluminum interconnects limit the overall chip speed. Whereas, copper interconnects handle geometries as small as 45 nm with more than 10 layers of interconnect circuitry and with higher speeds. Industry majors such as Samsung and Toshiba are progressing in the transition, indicating a substantial market opportunity. We believe Rudolph will be among the beneficiaries when memory suppliers transition to copper in the manufacturing process. The migration from 65nm to 45nm will require high-end metrology tools to measure the thickness of the copper layers. Being a market and technology leader, Rudolphs MetaPULSE solutions will experience gargantuan demand in the market, which has been very successful with leading memory suppliers such as Intel and AMD. Company Analysis A one-stop shop solution provider for yield improvement Rudolph Technologies presence across the value chain in the semiconductor manufacturing process is strengthened by its diversified product portfolio of metrology, macro inspection and software solutions. The transition from being a pure metrology company to a more diversified process control equipment and software provider has consolidated its presence in both wafer processing (front-end manufacturing), and packaging and testing (back-end manufacturing) with revenues from the former accounting for 60% ($47.19 MM) and the latter with 40% ($31.46 MM). Revenues from the metrology stream stood at $19.66 MM or 25% of the total revenue during 2009; while the inspection and software segments generated $47.2 MM and $11.8 MM, contributing 60% and 15%, respectively toward total revenues. The semiconductor device formation is referred to as front-end manufacturing wherein the raw wafer is subject ot various processes such as oxidation, lithography, diffusion processing, ion implanting etching, photo resist coating, washing, and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) to develop into a silicon wafer that contains multiple copies of integrated circuit devices. After the device formation stage, the back-end processing (usually outsourced to contract manufacturers) starts to fabricate the finished product or integrated circuit for the customer. The back-end processing starts with parametric testing and functional testing following by the packaging process which includes polishing, back grinding, die attaching, wire bonding, and hermetic sealing. Diversified product portfolio (present across the value chain) Source: Company Presentation The companys presence in the entire value chain of semiconductor manufacturing process not only diminishes the risk of exposure to the dynamics of single market, it also weathers the cyclicality inherent in the semiconductor industry. The successful transition from front-end metrology to a total solution provider has resulted in a much more balanced mix of product portfolio with exposure to both front-end and back-end process. This helps the company to overcome the industry cycles that always do not move in sync (refer chart book-to-bill ratio).Front-end manufacturing is driven by technology changes, while back-end manufacturing is driven by unit volume growth (market demand). The difference in the demand drivers for the front-end and back-end manufacturing equipments can also be validated by analyzing the book-to-bill ratio over the past two years, which clearly indicates the cyclicality. Book-to-bill ratio Source: Company Presentation Financial Performance Over the years, Rudolph has transformed from being a front-end metrology system producer to a total solution provider to semiconductor device manufacturers through a mix of proprietary hardware, software, and service offerings. During 2008 and 2009, semiconductor equipment market experienced a downturn as semiconductor device makers reduced their capital spending due to the global economic crisis. In line with the industry, Rudolphs revenue also declined, although at a rate slower than that of the industry. When the downside in the global semiconductor equipment market was approximately 46.0% year-over-year in 2009, as per a Gartners study, Rudolphs revenue was down 40.0% compared to the prior year. The companys revenue in FY2009 stood at $78.7 million compared to $131.0 million past year, while the gross profit was $28.9 million over $43.7 million a year ago. Consequently, the company incurred a higher adjusted net loss of $14.1 million or $0.46 per share as against a loss of $2.4 m illion or $0.08 per share. A majority of the revenue is derived from macro-defect inspection system sales, which represented 48.3% of the total earnings in FY2009. Rudolphs strategy for continued technological and market leadership is largely on its diversified revenue sources from just the front-end metrology system in 1999 to include higher margin macro-defect inspection system and software licensing in its portfolio, thus circumventing the risk of depending on a single market. The share of inspection system and software sales has increased from 14.0% and 1.5% in FY2005 to 48.3% and 8.5%, respectively in FY2009, whereas that of the metrology system dropped from 63.4% to 11.3% during the same period. The company also generates revenue from spare parts sales and services including maintenance service contracts, system upgrades, as well as time and material billable service calls. Revenue from the sale of spare parts and services accounted for 19.6% and 12.2% of total revenue in FY2009, respectively. Rudolph derives a significant portion of its revenue from customers outside of the US, specifically from Asia. In 2009, it derived 72.4% of its revenue from outside of the US, of which 60.8% was generated in Asia, and 11.6% was derived from Europe. Going ahead, we believe that the revenue generated from Asia will be a substantial percentage of the total earnings, as a Garner estimate forecasts the semiconductor capital equipment market in the Asia-Pacific region to outpace other regions over the next five years. The rebound in the global economic and capital spending in the semiconductor industry, surged the companys revenue for 1Q FY10 more than three-fold to $40.6 million from $11.1 million in the earlier year quarter. Capacity additions by major foundries in Taiwan and elsewhere, and increase in capital spending by memory manufacturers supported the revenue growth. The inspection business represented 68% of revenue, while metrology and software businesses accounted for nearly 23% and 9%, respectively. However, the share of metrology business in overall revenue is likely to enhance based on the current capacity addition plans of tier-1 memory manufacturers and the anticipated increase in metrology spending by the foundry sector. We believe that the company is well positioned to benefit from improving business conditions in foundry, memory, and logic markets with its strategic balance of front-end and back-end business. Along with revenue, the companys margins also improved to 49.9% from 20 .6% in the comparable quarter of last year, supported by an increase in higher-margin inspection system sales. Although the expected higher contribution of metrology systems sales in overall revenue could impart a slightly negative impact on the companys gross margin during the upcoming quarters, it is likely to be offset by improved manufacturing efficiencies as the companys newly introduced products mature. The adjusted operating margin also returned to historical levels, which improved to 13.2% in 1Q FY10 from -78.0% a year ago. Finally, the company swung to a non-GAAP net income of $3.3 million or $0.11 per share from a non-GAAP net loss of $6.7 million or $0.22 per share during the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Rudolph usually invests the cash generated by operating activities into marketable securities, acquisition of businesses and capital assets. Inorganic growth has always be a key factor in the strategic growth plan. The company has acquired five businesses since 2002, the payment in all the cases was made through cash, either partly or the entire purchase price, thereby, minimizing stock dilutions. In 1Q FY10, the company generated operating cash flows of $6.8 million compared to an outflow of $4.0 million a year earlier. The company had cash and marketable securities of $67.1 million as of March 2010 which, we believe, is sufficient for the future capital expenditure, and supports the company to pursue its inorganic growth strategy. The balance sheet validates Rudolphs strong liquidity level as well as its debt-free position. The current ratio of 5.4 as of March 2010 affirms the companys ability to meet short-term payment obligations. The absence of debt will preclude financial risks during a downturn, and provide adequate flexibility in its operations. Although the accounts receivable at the end of 1Q FY10 surged 175.2% year-over-year to $40.8 million, it increased at a much lower rate than the revenue, which grew 267.3% during the same period. Days sales outstanding during 1Q FY10 reduced to 94 from 130 a year ago, and inventory days dropped to 311 from 336, thereby, improving cash generation. The cash conversion cycle has declined to 327 days from 377 days over the prior year quarter.

Letter to President Coolidge :: essays research papers

President Coolidge:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although some people believe that we, as a country, don’t have enough room for all these hard working immigrants, there comes a time when we need to realize the real basis of this country. We are all immigrants, in our own way, some of us may have been born here, but we do not all come from here. We all have ancestors that come from somewhere in Europe, or somewhere else. No one is a natural citizen except perhaps the Native Americans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To not grant someone entrance into our great nation is not only unethical, and immoral, but also unconstitutional. Everyone deserves his or her fair chance. The real questions when talking about the Immigration Act is, do we take the risk, do we let these people into our country and let them become free, or do we just shoot them down and tell them that they have to live there lives with religious persecution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If we do not let theses people in the America, the great nation, than we are in a way not letting people become free. We are preventing people from living the lives they want to live. Most of all we are feeding communism, and foreign army’s with people that want to live in the Americas but we wont let them. Think of all the people that would come and live in America, the United States of America, The Land of The Free, and join our Army, our Air Force, our Navy, and our Marine Core. Talk about one great nation. Think of all the farm hands, all the people striving to make a living by helping in anyway they can.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When it comes time to make a decision, I hope that you consider these factors. And see how great of a nation we may become with these immigrants that just want a chance.

Proposing Taxation of Products to Preserve Wildlife and the Environment

Proposing Taxation of Products to Preserve Wildlife and the Environment â€Å"Only after the last tree has been cut down,   Ã‚   Only after the last river has been poisoned,   Ã‚   Only after the last fish has been caught,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ---The Cree People    Wildlife is declining more rapidly each day with innumerable species already on the endangered species list and hundreds more waiting to be put on. Although great efforts are being made by organizations and individuals to save these endangered animals there are still many things needed to be done. We need to install a tax on all products directly related to the environment, backpacks, hiking gear, fishing tackle, etc., the money gathered by this tax would fund conservation efforts around the country. With this effort and new tax regulation we may be able to reverse the damages we have done to the environment and to all wildlife. Background Information    Although many things need to change pertaining to our outlook on conservation of wildlife there are organizations out there already raising money and dedicating their lives to save the wildlife we have left. The most popular organization is known universal for its panda logo. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is dedicated to protecting the world’s wildlife and wild lands (World Wildlife Fund, 1). It is undoubtedly the largest privately supported conservation organization in the world. It has one million members in the United States alone. The World Wildlife Fund has been a leader in protecting and supporting our nations’ ecosystem for more than 36 years. This organization does a lot in protecting our wildlife and also does a lot of fundraising eve... ...olves.† Associated Press. 17 November 1998. http://www.abcnews.com/sections/science/DailyNews/wolves981117.html (24 November 1998). â€Å"Don’t be Fooled.† Anarchy for Anybody. 3 November 1998. http://www.radio4all.org/anarchy/fakes.html (3 November 1998). â€Å"The Environmental Movement: What Shall we do with it?† Agriculture and Natural Resource Development. 29 October 1998. http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/v1i5/envrmv.htm (29 October 1998). â€Å"Federal Duck Stamp Home Page.† U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 17 November 1998. http://www.fws.gov/r9dso/   (17 November 1998). Harrison, W. (1970). Wildlife: Riches of the Earth. New York: Julian Messner. â€Å"Introduction.† Greenpeace. 17 September 1998. http://www.greenpeace.org/ (17 September 1998). â€Å"What We Do.† World Wildlife Fund. 17 September 1998. http://www.worldwildlife.org/   (17 September 1998).      

Personal or Narrative Essay: My Environmental Practices Essay

Now it’s your turn to write a personal or narrative essay. For this kind of personal writing, you are using the first person perspective. Keep your writing informal. You can make connections to your readings, referring to specific relevant details from the â€Å"Ten Things† article, or anything else you have read on how to reduce your negative impact on the environment. In your composition, feel free to share how you feel now about your own environmental practices, any insights you have gained, and ideas you have for the future. Write a five paragraph personal essay or narrative about the connection between your lifestyle choices and how they impact the broader environment. There are three steps to this assignment: Step A: In the first hour after waking up in the morning, make note of everything you use, and the country where it was made. Makes notes also on your connection to these places, and the people in these places, through the things you use. Step B: Make notes on what your best environmental practice might look like, related to the use of these items. In your opinion, is what you are doing right now enough? How might you do more? What is stopping you? For ideas on what else you could be doing to improve your own environmental practices, refer to your answers from Lesson A: Activity 1: â€Å"Ten Things You Can Do. † Step C: Choose to write either a personal essay, or a narrative. Note that personal essays almost always involve some form of narrative, while narrative essays, often written in first person, tell a story from beginning to end; though this does not mean they merely entertain—they explain something to the reader as well. Recall the following characteristics of the narrative and personal essay: Narrative Essay: A narrative essay is a story that describes a sequence of events, in this case, nonfiction. Remember the following elements of narrative essays: makes a point, introduced in the first paragraph has a beginning, middle, and end events are chosen to support the essay’s point includes the devices of story: plot, character, setting, climax, and ending has a consistent point of view (the authors’ –i. e. yours! ) includes feelings about events starts as close to the inciting incident (the event that begins the story) as possible includes only what is necessary to advance the action Personal Essay: The personal essay constitutes a struggle for emotional and intellectual honesty. In writing a personal essay, you show a vulnerability and the courage to admit self-contradictions in the search for truth. Remember the following elements of the personal essay: almost always written in first person makes a point, introduced in the first paragraph, expressed in a thesis statement almost always some autobiographical content or component constructed of personal opinions, hopes, beliefs, doubts, confusions intimate, personal tone—admit the reader into your inner thoughts, musings—as if your reader is â€Å"eavesdropping on a mind in solitude† voice is conversational in style and tone, as though you are addressing a small audience approach is contemplative, but can be humourous, not of very strong emotions, such as rage or bitterness returns to the point in the concluding paragraph with a new perspective Personal/Narrative Essay Checklist: 1. Have you chosen a topic you can be sincere about? Manufactured sincerity doesn’t fly in a personal essay or first person narrative. 2. Have you included some autobiographical component? 3. Are you seeking out a truth in your essay?

Tim O.Briens, the Things They Carried Critical Essay

Dan Gaumer Gaumer 1 Prof Montgomery English 104 10/22/12 Hard Times of Norman Bowker Have you ever found yourself carrying something heavy for a long period of time? Do you remember feeling pain, or wanting to drop the object because it was too much to bear? Tim O’brien’s novel, The Things They Carried, is about men in the middle of the Vietnam War just trying to survive. These men, like all soldiers, carried many things ranging from the physical items of war to the emotional and mental weight that comes along with the horrors of war. They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried. †(O’brien,7) I believe in this novel, O’brien gives many great and detailed examples of PTSD, even in his own life. This novel is more than just about the Vietnam War. It is about what a solider goes through on and off the battlefield. It’s about the art of a real war story. Most importantly it’s about what soldiers carried, physically, ment ally, and emotionally; during, before, and after the war.The soldiers that made it back home suffered from many mental issues, mainly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Many people who go through traumatic events have difficulty adjusting and coping for a while. But with time and taking care of yourself, Gaumer 2 such traumatic reactions usually get better.In some cases, though, the symptoms can get worse or last for months or even years. (Staff, Mayo Clinic,†Definition†) Thoughts of sorrow and loss overwhelm the Vietnam veterans upon their return back home. Crushed from the horror of war, they come back to even bigger disappointments and sadness. Instead of the mellow lives they lead before they left for war and the presence of warm and caring ever yday life, most of them encounter empty beds, cold family ambiance and overall loss.Already physically and emotionally defeated, they can’t seem to pick up their lives where they left off. Even in instances of supportive partners, the inevitable horrors of the war haunt them in sleep or come back to them in daydreaming. They all came back with multiple disorders, PTSD with the common symptoms. â€Å"The war was over and there was no place in particular to go† (131). Various examples of this disorder are found in a few chapters such as â€Å"Speaking of Courage† and â€Å"The Man I Killed. † For Vietnam veterans, nothing could replenish the zest for life they had before the war.According to O'Brien's text, upon their arrival home the veterans imagine, even hallucinate, what things would have been like if they had not suffered through the war. Examples of such occurrences exist in the stories â€Å"Speaking of Courage† and â€Å"The Man I Killed. â €  Norman Bowker in â€Å"Speaking of Courage† daydreams of talking to his ex-girlfriend, now married to another guy, and of his dead childhood friend, Max Arnold. He lives out over and over his unfulfilled dream of having his Sally beside him and of having manly conversations with Max.He cannot stop day dreaming and dwelling in the past. Gaumer 3 Unemployed and overwhelmed by inferiority and disappointment, Bowker lacks a motivating force for life. Emotionally stricken, he only finds satisfaction in driving slowly and repeatedly in circles around his old neighborhood in his father's big Chevy, â€Å"feeling safe,† and remembering how things used to be when there wasn’t a war. These recurring events also spring memories of the beautiful lake where Norman used to spend a lot of time with his now married ex-girlfriend Sally Kramer and his high school friends.The lake invokes nostalgic and sentimental memories both of his girlfriend and his long gone – dr owned – best friend, Max Arnold. However, now for Norman the past seems an idea, or like Max would say, that everything exists as a â€Å"possible†¦ idea, even necessary as an idea, a final cause in the whole structure of causation† (133). Thus, his ex girlfriend, his friends, the lake, the gatherings, his father and all the rest exist as ideas in Norman's head now that all of his past exists only as flickering thoughts in a big jumbled chaos in his head.All of this has symptoms of PDST all over it. He only possesses the solitary capability of bragging about the medals he won or he should have won. Even that does not bring him comfort since he imagines talking to Sally: † ‘How's it being married? ‘ he might ask, and he'd nod at whatever she answered with, and he would not say a word about how he'd almost won the Silver Star for valor† (134). Nothing fulfills Norman Bowker anymore. Instead, a terrible confusion has taken over his mind in the form of blur and chaos. He desperately needs someone to talk to: â€Å"If Sally had not beenGaumer 4 married, or if his father were not such a baseball fan, it would have been a good time to talk† (134). Unfortunately, he keeps questioning and answering himself in order to justify and compensate the loss and to make some sort of sense out of the entire situation. He loans to impress Sally with some dumb tricks of telling the exact time without even looking at a watch, just as much as he wishes for a father-son conversation. So that he can make his father proud, if nothing else, that his son won seven medals during the war.He does not have anybody to comfort him in moments of self-blame, for example when he cannot forgive himself for not winning the Silver Star because he â€Å"couldn't take the goddamn awful smell† (136). He evokes the â€Å"shit experience† from his war days. He goes on to comfort himself, by pretending what considerate thoughts his father mig ht have: â€Å"If you don't want to say anymore -,† to which immediately Norman answers himself: â€Å"I do want to†(136). He tries to maintain calm and balance-minded while thinking of being camped in the shit field.He cannot stop thinking of the cruel war incidents that he witnessed, and therefore, he cannot forget the death of his friend Kiowa, who died in an explosion in the shit field: â€Å"There was a knee. There was an arm†¦ There were bubbles where Kiowa's head should've been†¦ He was folded in with the war; he was part of the waste† (142,143, 147). Not only can Norman not stop thinking about the cruelties, but he also cannot forgive himself for letting go of Kiowa because he blames himself for not being able to save his Gaumer 5 friend's life, of which as a consequence Norman did not win the Silver Star.It seems like Norman carries the shit experience with him for life. Other characteristics of PTSD in this story are Norman's inhibited social skills. Instead of placing a fast-food order through the drive-through intercom he honks at the waitress and once he gets his order, he does not move away until after he eats his hamburger and then presses the intercom again to inform the waiters that he finished his hamburger. From this novel I’ve come to figure out the realism of the true things soldiers carry during and after the war.There is the weight of the physical items, than there are the weight of the mental issues that come along with fighting in war. Issues like PTSD, which the story of Norman Bowker gives various good examples of. And the proving the very real pain that goes along with it by him eventually committing suicide. In my opinion, in this novel, O’brien gives many examples of PTSD, even in his own life. The results of the trauma suffered in the war together with the emotional baggage: grief, terror, love, and longing, proves how PTSD can affect a soldier.

The Competent Teacher

The Competent Teacher The purpose of this article is to evaluate how teachers need to prepare to be competent for the 21st century. Researchers and teachers are becoming aware that the 21st century classroom is changing dramatically. A team of teacher educators from NIE sat down and asked themselves these questions. : What are the roles of the teacher in the 21st century? What are the competencies teachers need to fulfill these roles? What can our teacher education programs provide to help them with this task? Some of the roles they identified included: nurturing the whole child, providing quality learning, working with others, and developing a strong set of personal values. They then made a list of core competencies that every trained teacher should have. The core competencies were classified into 3 broad performance dimensions. These dimensions are, professional practice, leadership and management, and personal effectiveness. Professional practice, is the idea that the teacher takes every opportunity to encourage learning, and believe that all students can learn. And learning isn't limited to the classroom. The teacher takes every opportunity to improve on his or her own professional practice, in order to provide quality learning. Leadership and management is the idea that a competent teacher is a leader who wins the hearts and minds of the students and sees value in working with parents, colleagues, and other professionals at any and all given times. Personal effectiveness is the idea that teachers have to hold themselves to the highest moral and ethical standards both in and out of the classroom. The thinking behind this idea is summed up best as â€Å"you must believe in yourself before others will believe in you†. I think that for a teacher to be competent in the classroom today they must evaluate themselves on a yearly basis. Every class, and student is different and teaching material changes over time. Technology is also a key element in the classroom. A teacher must stay up to date and be proficient on the various aspects of the technology world. I believe a teacher should be able to adapt to different classroom settings, students and situations as they are presented. Becoming a teacher is a job where one must expect the unexpected and be able to deal with it on a professional level. (Citation: singteach. nie. edu. sg Issue 23- march/april 2010)

Lego Branding Community Essay

Online communities are becoming â€Å"places† of belonging, information, and emotional support that people cannot do without. These social groups have a real existence for their participants, and thus have consequential effects on many aspects of behaviour. This article examines collective value creation and empowerment in an online brand community. It presents the main features of an online brand community, the process of value co-creation, and motivators for participating in online brand communities. These key factors jointly characterize collective value creation and empowerment. This netnographic study focuses on an online brand community called BrickBuilders, which is a meeting place for LEGO builders in Finland. BrickBuilders’ members feel a sense of belonging, they share similar motivations, and they create value together. Introduction A brand community can be formed by any group of people who share a common interest in a specific brand and who create a parallel social universe rife with its own myths, values, rituals, vocabulary, and hierarchy (Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001; Cova and Pace, 2006). Brand communities become more than a place. They become a common understanding of a shared identity, which can be found in both face-to-face interactions and in cyberspace (Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001). Analysts no longer question whether the concept of community should have a place in the domain of marketing (Cova and Pace, 2006). However, the concepts of brand community and online brand community are relatively new and have yet to find their place in the academic world. Traditionally, companies produced products relatively independently. Today, consumers and other stakeholders can create value more collectively. The purpose of this article is to describe and analyze collective value creation and empowerment in an online brand community. Main Features of Online Brand Communities Muniz and O’Guinn (2001) used three constructs to identify the distinguishing features of brand communities. First, a sense of belonging is a connection that members feel toward one another and the collective sense of difference from others outside of the community. The second feature is the presence of shared rituals and traditions that surround the brand. Rituals and traditions perpetuate the community’s shared history, culture, and consciousness. Traditions include certain behavioural norms and values. The third feature is a sense of moral responsibility, which is a felt sense of duty or obligation to the community. The sense of moral responsibility is what produces collective action. Heinonen and Halonen (2007) have identified motivators for online brand community activities. Members want to belong to something, build and strengthen their identities, get feedback from others, and create something new. The Process of Collective Value Creation Schau and colleagues (2009) have identified the process of value co-creation in online brand communities. The process consists of four thematic practices, which are social networking, impression management, community engagement, and brand use. Social networking is a practice that focuses on creating, enhancing, and sustaining ties among brand community members. These include welcoming, empathizing, and governing. These practices operate primarily in the intangible domain of the emotions and reinforce the social or moral bonds within the community. Impression management includes evangelizing and justifying. Online brand community members act as altruistic emissaries and ambassadors of good will. Members devote time and effort to the brand, share the news of the brand, and inspire others to participate in the community. Community-engagement practices are those that reinforce members’ escalating engagement with the brand community. These include staking, milestoning, badging, and documenting. Staking, milestoning, and badging mean that community members bring out brand experiences and proclaim openly that they are fans of a particular brand. Documenting occurs when brand community members construct a narrative of their brand experiences. Brand-use practices are specifically related to improved or enhanced use of the focal brand. These include grooming, customizing, and commoditizing. Grooming means that members share, for example, homemade tools and advice. Customizing means modifying existing ideas and discovering new ideas, which result in customized products. Commoditizing means that members rant or chastise some products, but at the same time, they have new ideas on how those products could be developed. Synthesis of the Theoretical Framework The main features of online brand communities, value co-creation, and motivators for participating in online brand communities (Heinonen and Halonen, 2007; Kozinets, 2010; Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001; Schau et al., 2009) are the key factors that jointly – realized in various combinations – characterize collective value creation and empowerment in an online brand community. The collective value creation and empowerment in the online brand community may occur when its members have a sense of belonging, they create value together, and they have similar motives. The collective value creation and empowerment of the online brand community allows mutual interaction between the online brand community and the company as well as other stakeholders. Companies have an opportunity to communicate with consumers and influence their opinions (Kozinets, 2010) and vice-versa. We have moved away from one-way transactions to a relationship-based interaction model that emphasizes consumers’ and other stakeholders’ roles in networks and communities.

Primary and Secondary Sources

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES What is Primary Sources? * Primary sources  are original  materials. Generally, primary sources are not accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. * Information for which the writer has no personal knowledge is not primary, although it may be used by historians in the absence of a primary source. * Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. They are created by witnesses or recorders who experienced the events or conditions being documented. Often these sources are created at the time when the events or conditions are occurring. Examples of Primary Sources: * archives and manuscript material * photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, films * journals, letters and diaries * speeches * scrapbooks * published books, newspapers and magazine clippings published at the time * government publications * oral histories * records of organizations * autobiographies and memoi rs * printed ephemera * artifacts, e. g. clothing, costumes, furniture * research data, e. g. public opinion polls What is Secondary Sources? * Offer an interpretation or analysis  of the primary source materials. * Second hand accounts of historical events. Secondary sources are works of synthesis and interpretation based upon primary sources and the work of other authors. They may take a variety of forms. The authors of secondary sources develop their interpretations and narratives of events based on primary sources, that is, documents and other evidence created by participants or eyewitnesses.  ¦ Examples of Secondary Sources: * articles, * biographies, * books, * textbooks, * Reports on events, etc. THINGS TO ASK WHEN EVALUATING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES: * How does the author know these details (names, dates, and times)? Was the author present at the event or soon on the scene? * Where this information does came from? Eyewitness accounts? Reports written by the others? * Are the author’s conclusion based on a single piece of evidence, or have many sources been taken into account? SOME TECHNIQUES FOR TESTING THE AUTHENTICITY OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES: * Check the currency of secondary sources. * Make certain primary sources are housed in a reputable archive and/or have been indexed or catalogue by experts in the source’s discipline. * Research the authority and credentials of journal article author. Cross check to see if others researches agree with your critique. HOW CAN I TELL IF SOMETHING IS A SECONDARY SOURCE? As with any research, examine the document or article carefully for accuracy and credibility. Use the following questions to help you determine whether or not you are using a credible secondary source. AUTHORS: * How does the author know what he/she knows? * Does his/her knowledge stem from personal experience or having read about and analyzed an event? * Does the author cite several other (published) reports? CONTENT : Why is the information being provided or the article written? * Are there references to other writings on this topic? * Is the author interpreting previous events? * Does the information come from personal experience or other’s accounts? CURRENCY: * Is the date of publication evident? * Is the date of publication close to the event described or was it written much later? Sources: * http://www. yale. edu/collections_collaborative/primarysources/primarysources. html * http://www. mitchellteachers. org * http://www. slideshare. net/stellacomans/primary-and-secondary-sources-7878126

Port Sunlight and Letchworth Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Port Sunlight and Letchworth - Case Study Example They all had a common ending; they died and were named conservation areas. The two towns seem to have been built for the primary purpose of industries and improving the lives of the employees and their families. These industries created jobs for the people around it together with their families. Eventually there was a growth in population thus an increase in demand for housing, schools, hospitals and any other social amenities. One distinct thing about these two towns is that the pioneers had great ideas but all had to consult and involve architectures who would put the design on the ground in an even better way than the former. A William Hesketh Lever built the town for his employees who worked in his soap factory. He bought a land big enough to hold the factory and a garden village to house his employees. Though he participated a lot in designing and planning of the village, he hired architects to give put their best towards a beautiful village. Living houses were built together with other public buildings. Apart from the buildings and good living conditions for his workers, he went a step further to introduce schemes for his employees. They included welfare schemes and educational schemes. His main aim was to create an environment of coexistence and brotherhood. The architectures at Port Sunlight integrated a broad variety of features in their planning, borrowed from Europe and Britain a combination that came to be referred to as the Old English. The villages at Port Sunlight consisted of tremendous blocks of housing of low concentration and a number of public buildings such as gymnasiums, theatres and libraries that were surrounded by gardens and open green spaces. The village layout was designed in such a manner that it restricted any open view of the factory and of the inside. The houses were so uniquely built that their backs could not be visible. The factory was purposely built a one storey structure. This was primarily to provide aeration, enough light and a healthier environment for the workers and also to reduce its corporal impact on the village. In Letchworth, the situation was rather different. The planning was more impressive than that of Port Sunlight. The designing and planning of the town is owed a lot to a construction company, by then known as Garden city Company, who also remained the consultants for a long time. For many years the development of the town was controlled by this company. The streets were made beautiful with trees and beds of roses along them. There were a number of factories, unlike in Port Sunlight where factories grew much later. Therefore, in the planning the factories had to be placed in the correct relation to one another. The factories were placed into estates called industrial estates. Currently it is a very common idea but back then it was a world-shattering idea. But at the same time it was not easy for the town to attract other industries. This was because, the public buildings that had been put in the plan to surface around the town, did not really materialize for a long time. For this reas on the growth of the town was retarded. The shopping places were placed in the town centre and were served by wide enough pavements and ample parking sites. This gave the shoppers a

Ebay website analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ebay website analysis - Essay Example It is not just a pioneer of the market but it can also be considered as a model of e-business. Together with he payment system Paypal, it has revolutionized commerce and has paved the way for other business, particularly retail and trading. However, together with the success that Ebay has been able to achieve is the realization that it needs to stay competitive and anticipate developments. In the last few years, there has been an abundance of other similar services on the internet, some even being sponsored by industry leaders such as MSN and Yahoo!. To be able to accomplish this, Ebay must be able to offer not only quality services but develop new ones based on the needs of its patrons. The purpose of this paper is to study Ebay and the current features and functionality of its auction website to learn its competencies and deficiencies. In doing so, the paper will be able to present ways to improve services or features that can enhance the experience of website users. The features recommended will be assessed considering their requirements for operation and the possible partners that the company can have to provide the services. Businesses on the web it is important that there is a thorough understanding of how buyers are motivated to buy. eBay's competitors such as those Figure 1 all have their specializations. Overstock, based in Cottonwood Heights, Utah that sells surpluses; uBid is a identical service with eBay selling directly by companies and those sold by pre-approved Certified Merchants; Oztion is an Australian version of eBay; and eBid is a online auction that has its own payment service called PPPay which is similar to eBay's PayPal. Consumers will consider status, security, comfort and quality to be the essential requirements of selecting a product or service and their perception of this is influenced by factors such as culture, politics, technology and economy. Buying decisions are motivated on maximizing profitability, reducing costs and enhancing productivity (Johansson, 2001). Business should offer products and services concentrate on marketing programs and materials that offer target markets what they need to be able to achieve their individual objectives. It is important to understand what motivates, perceptions and emotions of your buyers and in the case of eBay this entails providing them services and products they most want and need. eBay can accomplish this by developing materials that build awareness, convenience, and service. Goals of Ebay Ebay, Inc., owner of the eBay online auction website Marketplace and services states that their goal is "to pioneer new communities around the world built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity". The company's eBay Marketplace serves to fulfill this objective by providing the a marketplace for the all internet users. Furthermore, they say that the eBay Marketplace "exists as an online trading platform that enables a global community of buyers and sellers to interact and trade" where the company has the objective to "create, maintain, and expand the functionality, safety, ease-of-use, and reliability of our trading platform while, at the same time, supporting the growth and success of our community of users". Content The company's

U03a1 Project Current Environment Analysis Essay

U03a1 Project Current Environment Analysis - Essay Example Various tools are used in strategic management planning process including SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, Scenario Planning, Competitive Analysis, and Chain Analysis. Firstly, it would be better to deploy SWOT analysis method to analyze the health care organization’s current environment. The organization has long years’ working experience and it seems to be the most potential competitive advantage of the BAMC (Murgo, Westerhof, Giolma, and Altobelli). This health care organization started its operations in 1879 as a small medical dispensary. Presently, it is the only Level I trauma center in the MEDCOM. Under BRAC 2005, the BAMC has decided to expand its inpatient services with intent to improve the health care quality. In addition, the organization offers nuclear medicine service, PET/CT, SPECT/CT, and molecular imaging and other therapy services; these distinctive services add to the BAMC’s potential strengths. In the opinion of Treasure, Rainer, and Sadler, medi cal readiness and training weaknesses are the most obvious limitations of the Brooke Army Medical Center. Since the medical readiness and training are the crucial elements in determining the degree of efficacy of a health care organization, those issues may adversely affect the growth of BAMC. The BAMC began the construction of its Consolidated Tower (CoTo) in 2009; this facility would meet the infrastructure requirements of administrative department, outpatient pediatric clinic, SICU, CCU, expanded Emergency and Trauma department, psychiatric nursing units, and USAISR Burn Unit (â€Å"US Army†). Hence, this addition would be a potential opportunity for the BAMC to get closer to its expansional objectives. However, it seems that staffing shortage especially; nurse shortage has been challenging the long term sustainability of the organization. Currently, the US president Barack Obama is planning

Reflections on The Biblical Model for Discipleship Research Paper

Reflections on The Biblical Model for Discipleship - Research Paper Example For people to grasp and stay in the word of God, all three aspects related with gospel spreading have to be employed. These three humanity aspects include full involvement in God’s work using the soul, heart and mind. According to Paul, there is an importance in developing education in relation to Christianity as it is founded in the bible teachings. However, it is important to have the Christian teachers develop and find their strength and power from the Lord. According to Malphurs, leaders driven by value have the impression that they are not in errand of being followed, but all their actions can be used and aid the congregation with the hope that they get pleased. In his argument, he provides examples stating that having leadership in the church does not assurance one to happen to a excellent leader. This is because, a good leader is that one who has the best will and tirelessly works towards realizing the best of his leadership abilities. He emphasizes on the need to have humility, which results to respect and coordination. Christian Leader With reference to Malphurs writing on Christian leaders, serving and pleasing God is the main emphasis. He used recent research and scriptures to define biblical leadership while explaining different aspects related to Christian leaders1. Christian leaders are recognized as servants the capabilities and abilities of influencing people in contexts that can direct them into God’s ways. For this reason, Christian leadership entails a process that has servants using their abilities to woo people into the word of God. Marphurs in his argument uses Paul to show and teach about Christian leaders. Paul begins by greeting all Christian saints in Philippi who comprise of deacons and overseers. This takes us to some two popular Greek word in the New Testament; episkopos and presbuterous, which mean ‘bishop’ and ‘elder’ respectively. This renders the universal role in practice in the early chu rch as one that was centered at developing a large number of church leaders. This is in the perspective that leadership should only have exaltation directed at Jesus Christ. This is because leadership by one man would result into the exaltation of that particular icon, of which the latter should be accorded to Jesus according to the bible. Since Jesus is the sole head of the church, Paul gives a leadership example in Christianity that fosters on accrediting only Jesus. Therefore Paul never settles on greeting either the overseer or the pastor but addresses the overseers in plural. This was a sign of discouragements on one-man exaltations which contradict with the one pastor phenomena in most churches today. Paul gives another notion by clearly referring to the Philippi faithful as a people ‘along with’ their leaders rather than, a people under their consequent bishops and deacons. This gives the impression of ever Christian as a minister; every Christian has a role in t he ministry. This calls for the eradication of the general perception that there exists a unique minister responsible for overlooking on others. Some ministers may dedicate more time and energy when compared to others but the basement line calls harmonious degrees in all Christians in a ministry. Every Christian is a leader to them with only Jesus as the sole icon that deserves exaltation regardless of the roles played in the entire ministry. There exists no intermediary between the church and God in the perspective

Panasonic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Panasonic - Essay Example In 1920, Hoichi Kai was formed after WWI to ensure that all the employees, who had grown in number with the passage of time, worked together in healthy collaboration. The company had grown into a big business by 1922. It was in May 2003 that the officials decided that â€Å"Panasonic† would be the global brand name for all products of the company, with brand slogan as â€Å"Panasonic ideas for life† (Panasonic, 2013c). Panasonic was already the brand name for the companies’ loud speakers back in 1955, and that is why it was named â€Å"pan† and â€Å"sonic†. Panasonic became the national brand name in the last decade, and all outdoor signs were also altered correspondingly. Now, Panasonic has become a corporate brand that offers a wide variety of spectacular products and services. With hard work, dedication and innovation as the founding principles of the company, Panasonic has become one of the giant companies that offer a myriad of products that a re present in the households of common people all around the world. This paper sheds light on important aspects of this extravagant brand name while focusing on important branding theories. What makes Panasonic Successful? With its head office located in Osaka, Japan, and under current presidency of Kazuhiro Tsuga, Panasonic has been able to outshine many of its competitors with constant struggle, hard work and innovation as its base message. ... s saving energy and resources, planting trees, conducting cleanup activities and providing eco-based promotion and education.† It is one of the basic management principles of Panasonic’s to care for and synchronize with the ecosystem; and, that is why, Panasonic products can be termed as green products, since they help save energy while maintaining the vitality of the environment. Panasonic products are energy efficient, and are manufactured in sites under environment friendly conditions, like reduction of emission of CO2 and other toxic gases. Eco-friendly behavior of Panasonic has made it popular among people all over the globe. Panasonic works in collaboration with consumers, suppliers, vendors, and experts to make green innovations possible on a worldwide level. Supply chain and logistic partners have made it possible for Panasonic to reduce environmental impacts during the manufacture process. Panasonic also believes in maintaining and highlighting biodiversity in a reas where Panasonic sites are located. Since ecosystem-friendliness or greenness of Panasonic products is what makes Panasonic successful, we shall probe further into the same idea. Panasonic aims to become the leading Green Innovation Company on its 100th anniversary in 2018 (Panasonic Corporation of North America, 2013b). Green Innovation Company will have two main goals: Green Life Innovation, and Green Business Innovation. Green Life Innovation will make people’s lives eco-friendly by introducing more energy-efficient products; and, Green Business Innovation will improve organizational performance through modernization. Panasonic works under the principle that manufacturing impacts should be minimized in the manufacturing process. For example, products are manufactured with lead-free