A House on Fire Essay

Fire is a good servant, helping us with the cooking and providing warmth during those chilly winter nights, but it can also be a bad master when we underestimate its destructive power. It’s for this reason that fire needs to be handled with care. Playing with it can be dangerous, and at times can also prove fatal to those unfortunate enough to find themselves in its path. Our next-door neighbours were lucky in that nobody was injured, but the same thing cannot be said about their beloved house. Although it’s been ten years now, I can still remember the whole thing as if it were yesterday, and each time, the thought of that terrifying episode makes my blood run cold. It was a hot stuffy summer night when it all took place. Back then air-conditioners were not a common sight, so everyone had no choice but to resort to leaving the windows wide open at night to let the breeze in. Not that one could have used the air-conditioner that night anyway – there was a power cut, which in turn also explains the cause of the fire. From accounts following the incident, it seems that it all started because of an oil lamp that had been left on a cupboard in the sitting room downstairs. A strong gust of wind must have come in through the window, knocking the oil lamp over onto the curtain, which burst into flames in no time. The fresh breeze from the open windows kept feeding the hungry flames, which continued eating away at the walls and furniture. The fire spread quickly and soon the sofa, carpets and furniture were ablaze. It was the acrid smell of burning that woke up the occupants of the house from their dreams, to an even worse nightmare. They jumped out of their beds, ran downstairs, and made a dash for the door, but they were stopped in their tracks when part of the ceiling came crushing down in front of them, blocking their only way of escape. It was then that their heart missed a beat, realising for the first time that they were trapped. They remained frozen still, shocked at the sight of that burning inferno. The pungent smoke filled their nostrils and lungs, making them choke and cough. The heat was like a solid wall. Going forward was pointless! Fear rose in their throat at the thought of dying, and they wanted to cry, but they fought down their panic and tried to think clearly of a good plan instead. Spurred by their terror and the will to survive, they ran back upstairs, swift as a  cat, and sprang into the bathroom. While trying to regain lost breath, their father immediately soaked them from head to toe with water. He also got towels, put them under the running water, and placed some of them on their heads. The remaining wet towels were placed under the door to stop the smoke coming in. Then their father opened the window and they all started to scream and yell at the top of their voices. It was that blood curdling sound of screaming which startled me from my sleep. I was not prepared for what I was about to see however. Peering out of my bedroom window I came face to face with our neighbour’s house, completely engulfed by the fire. I rushed to my parents’ room to tell dad, who immediately went to call the fire brigade and the hospital to send a rescue team. In a matter of minutes we heard the shrill noise of the sirens and soon after the fire-engine could be seen speeding down the street, followed by an ambulance and a police car, and coming to a sudden halt just in front of the house. The firemen immediately jumped down from their truck, unrolled the water hosepipes and placed a long ladder against the wall. A brave fireman climbed the ladder to reach the trapped family, while the rest of the team, with hosepipes in hand, fought hard to control the terrible flames. In those frightful moments that followed, it was as if time stood still. The firemen kept directing powerful streams of water into the burning building, but the flames showed no sign of wanting to die. Finally, after what seemed like ages, the trapped neighbours were brought down to safety, to the joy and clapping of all the people who had come on the scene. They had been saved in the nick of time! The paramedics, who until then were on stand-by, lowered each one of them onto the waiting stretchers, and rushed them to hospital. Although they weren’t injured, they were suffering from a terrible shock and had inhaled lots of toxic fumes. The firemen stayed behind until the flames had been completely extinguished. What remained of the house were the blackened walls; the inside was collapsing. That night I couldn’t catch any sleep because of all the commotion. I felt agitated, and the crackling sound of the spent flames and the crashing stones kept me awake all through the night.

Sample Interview Paper

A lot of student's can't afford to move away from their families. What are the common roles within the family system? Wife- domestic responsibilities as well as caring for the family Husband- work during the day-go out at night (on the town-drinking) Children-Help around house, work as soon as they are able (usually beginning around age 12), If lucky they are able to attend school What are the gender roles? Both in the home and in general)? Men have a much higher status. They are the leader of the household and make all of the ‘family' decisions Women are granted very little respect. They usually do not work outside the home and their pollens are usually not validated. What are the main religions? Roman Catholicism – occasional practices of tribal religions What holidays are celebrated and how? New Years- dress as famous people; blow up scarecrow filled with fireworks 10th of August; Independence- drinking and partying What is a typical day like?Men get up early and go t o work (generally labor Job) Women get up early to prepare breakfast, get children ready and begin chores Children (if lucky get to go to school) get up and go to work (chores/labor) Long lunch break (1-3) Family eats together and takes a nap or ‘siesta' goes until about 7 late dinner (around 8 dock) with families What types of foods are common? Work/school Several Course meal (wealthier families)- begin with coffee/appetizer Rice, potatoes, meats-?loom Finn (similar to steak)-?often times grown by the family One course meals for poorer families How do people handle conflict?Very expressive; late at night the men are drinking, leads to more violence Taught to be very vocal-discuss heavily What are the education systems like? Not everyone gets to go to school – some have to help family Show more respect towards teachers- don't want to get into trouble, see school as a privilege and don't want to lose it Not as many restrictions on discipline (hitting or ‘striking') -doesn't mean it happens the time Is anyone given more respect than others? Elders and males How is America viewed?The Projects view them very positive because they understand that Americans come to help them Very envious, everything Americans do is great- view Americans as ‘better than they are' -mimic our actions and lifestyles Of America – don't understand that we also have our own problems-not everyone is rich Of Equator (hot)-?rarely gets over 75 degrees -â€Å"third world†- poor families that need financial help What do people enjoy doing in their free time? Men drink Soccer and Volleyball- Play and watch the World Cup and Ecuador professional team Play outside- kids do not have T.V and very rarely a radio Is there anything else that you would like to tell me about the culture? Country- inside the borders you have mountains, Jungle, and beaches all within hours weather is generally nice throughout the entire year People- They are very friendly Quite a few A mericans either living or visiting there Cultural Inferences A collectivist culture, such as Ecuador, can be defined as a culture that places â€Å"emphasis on the group's wants, needs, and desires. People of Ecuadorian culture are defined by their relationships and are connected to others† (Staten).Although the men are given distinct individual privileges and do not always consider the opinions of others, the whole culture of Ecuador embraces more of a collective approach. One specific example is that the children often times do not go to school so that they can help out the family either by working around the house and in the yard, or by getting a Job to provide a little extra income. This may seem as more of an economic issue, but it is the belief system associated with the situation that illustrates a collectivist approach.Children understand that it is an honor to attend school and would love to do so, but they are ultimately concerned with the benefits of the entire fam ily, not just themselves. Therefore, knowing that it will help the family makes it relatively easy to give up the opportunity to further their education. While collectivist values are very apparent in Ecuador, there are also illustrators of a very individualistic view. As mentioned above, the males in Ecuador are a prime example of individualism. As defined, individualistic values place â€Å"emphasis on the individual's wants, needs and desires.A person is defined by their personality and is separate from others† (Staten). Men in Ecuador are given, and grow to expect a much greater deal of respect. They do not have to check in with anyone, and are free to make decisions based on their individual feelings and beliefs (even if the decision affects a number of people besides themselves). When the men come home from work they do not help out with the family or around the home either. It is not unusual to find men out late at night â€Å"unwinding† after a long day, illust rating how they deliberately take care of themselves first. Ales. Not only is this applied to men, but also to elders. They make decisions without consulting others and no one questions their authority. One specific example of vertical power can be found in the fact that women are legally obligated to practice total obedience towards their husbands. If respect is not given to a certain individual, domestic violence is a common response and is not considered a criminal code (Guidance). Also illustrating vertical values, students view the school system and their education as an opportunity not to be taken advantage of.Therefore, they give up-most respect to their teachers and do not misbehave in class (talking out of turn, Ewing late or disrespectful, rough-housing etc). The premium is placed on memorization and lecture with very large class sizes. This means that students are not given one on one attention, and instead have a ‘nodding acquaintance' with their teacher. The prima ry goal of secondary education is the development of economic and social mobility so youth are prepared and able to assume positions of leadership in society (showing importance of rank).Also, in order to qualify for one of the nine institutions students need to score high on the admissions test, thus ranking dents with their peers and promoting a competitive atmosphere (Wilson). Specifically looking at the classroom conduct that children are taught to obey, it is also easy to detect a restrained cultural value. As seen in the classroom and also in the definition of restraint, â€Å"people are expected to learn to control their emotions, which is a sign of maturity' (Staten). Speaking up against the teacher is absolutely unheard of and results in very careful use of language and analysis by the students.The students are not the only ones who practice restraint though. The teachers liver a class session full of facts, theories, and reflections, leaving little to no time for discussi ons or most forms of expression. The classroom is calm and controlled, leaving little room for the unexpected, or unwanted. Restraint does not stop in the school system, but extends to various aspects of life. For example, if a woman chooses an occupation in the business field she must take extra precaution and find an appropriate balance between appearing ‘pushy and professional.During the initial greeting, both men and women will refrain from contact and will reserve kissing (once on each check) for the elderly and the young. Typically, men will greet with a firm handshake and women will greet with a soft hand-touch (once again showing that women must refrain from a ‘powerful' appearance). Also, when having a discussion with someone, it is common knowledge to refrain from talking about politics (specifically the government and possible difficulties with their neighboring countries).These practices show that people are expected to hold off on emotional expression and in stead show self-control to appear ‘professional' (Foster). As discussed above, there is an obvious cultural value in the area of gender differences. An emphasis is placed on unambiguous sex-roles and women/men are viewed different physically, psychologically, and socially. Men work outside the home and are the initial providers for the family, contributing the main income and making the family decisions.Women very rarely work outside of the home and are expected to be capable of working in areas such as weaving, cooking, cleaning, child care and yard work (preparation and harvest). Even children are raised with specific gender-based chores and early occupations. While young, little boys will often complete their duties souse with the cooking, sewing, and cleaning. For extracurricular activities boys are allowed to learn music and play instruments while girls are only allowed to sing and dance along with the provided music.As they grow older, boys will often find a Job around a ge 12 (usually labor based) to help support the family financially, while girls will often enter the sexual union (have children and take care of their husband) by age 12-13 (Brine). The cultural values of Ecuador do display a degree of structure between individuals of varying ‘status,' but values of flexibility are also very prevalent n day to day life. During casual or leisure time the notion of time' is not always viewed as a necessity. Lunch dates and evening get-together are set around flexible times and it is not considered ‘rude' to show up late (15-20 minutes).Lateness in Ecuador however, has become such a problem that the government has been forced to get involved. In a recent interview with President Lucia Guttering he stated â€Å"We have to be on time for the sake of God, the country, our people and our consciences! † (â€Å"Don't Be Late.. â€Å"). This ‘problem' is being dealt with, but remains as a prime example of their flexible lifestyle. Flexibility is a value that is also tied directly to family life. Families and individuals need to remain flexible when determining how to earn their income. Many families are not extensively wealthy and live off of their crops or products sold at the market.However, there is always the chance that the crops will not turn out, or the products will not be sold and so families are often times willing and open to finding additional sources of income. The children understand and are accustomed to these situations, and therefore remain very flexible with any of their future plans. While helping around the house they may not have set chores, but instead help out with whatever is necessary at that moment. As they grow, some might have the opportunity to attend school, while others may have to stay at home.Even if they are granted the chance to go to school, children understand that they need to be flexible in case their family needs them at home, resulting in withdraw from their classes. C learly, the idea of flexibility is taught from an early age and carried out though adulthood. Intercultural Comparison: Matt was a key person to interview. Not only did he grow up in Ecuador and embrace the culture and values, but he has also experienced a considerable amount of his life in America. Through the interview he gave very qualified information about the people, customs and traditions of Ecuador.Then, following the interview we discussed some of the similarities and differences that are apparent between Ecuadorian culture and American culture. It seems through resources and Mat's personal experience that both Ecuadorian and American cultures have a wide variety of situational communication â€Å"dos and don't. † Both cultures have casual and professional styles of communication, both appropriate for different events. The greatest differences between the two cultures and their forms of communication are the use of expressive communication (greetings in particular) a nd the expectations based on status differences.In American culture, people rely a great deal on the use of expression, specifically person (someone they have previously met) without the use of their body or exaggerated facial features, it would most likely be very difficult or nearly impossible. In America we often times greet others with a hug, a large smile, and possibly a ‘handshake' specific to our relationship. The American culture values expression within our communication from beginning to end, an aspect that differs with that of the Ecuadorian culture. In Ecuador, people are fairly restrained with the use of actions and expressions, producing a more subtle greeting.Even people who are very excited and happy to see one another will be more formal and calm, most often extending Just a friendly handshake. In Ecuador it has been clearly stated that there is a strong vertical structure throughout not only the home but through the community. This differs greatly from Americ a, the ‘land of equality. If a woman in Ecuador was to be told she can't do something because of her gender (especially if told from her husband) she would most likely accept this as an understandable explanation.However, if an American woman was told that something was being withheld from her simply because of her gender she would most likely sue the company or individual for discrimination. This difference is also very apparent in the school systems. Children in America give a degree of respect towards their teachers, but as they advance the respect seems to dwindle until student/teacher relationships become so casual that they are implementing their own ‘handshake' upon greeting, and comparing plans for the upcoming weekend. In Ecuador, respect is expected – even more so as you advance.Students give total reverence to their teachers and would not even consider crossing any questionable behavioral or communication boundaries. Clearly, Ecuador and America have so me clear cultural differences, but those differences are what make each country unique. The differences between the two cultures do not have to serve as a boundary, but rather a bridge if researched and dealt with properly. All human beings are alike. As Matt explained, one of the greatest misunderstandings is the quality of life (materially) in both countries.Both countries have people who are rich, and people who are poor. In both countries people relate to their families, work to support themselves and loved ones, and most importantly, people in both countries all need some source of communication to survive. The key is broadening our knowledge base about what communication is– not only in our own culture, but around the world. Coming to understand and appreciate the various values found in other cultures will not disconnect us from one another, but will make world-wide communication stronger and more effective.

Evaluation of a Business Code of Ethics

First Energy and the Business Code of Ethics PHL/323 March 7, 2011 First Energy and the Business Code of Ethics First Energy prides itself on the ethical standards it has created. These standards are the basis that builds upon the trust between customers, shareholders, employees, and the surrounding communities. First Energy encompasses more than five states and supplies millions of customers. As a service company, First Energy expects its employees to adhere to a workplace free of harassment, unethical or unlawful business activities, and discrimination.Each employee must conduct him or herself accordingly with high ethical standards while conversing with customers, other employees, and First Energy suppliers. These standards contribute to First Energy’s mission statement. First Energy’s mission statement will strive to provide high-quality products, competitively priced, and exceptional services in four areas. These areas include; Energy sales and services, power supp ly, energy delivery, non-regulated, and regulated supplemental services related to the core business (First Energy Corp, 2007).The following paragraph will delve deeper into the ethical make-up of First Energy. First Energy seems to portray a utilitarianism type of ethical system. Utilitarianism strives to obtain the highest positive effects, which include morals and financial maximization, and minimize any negative outcomes (Reference for Business, 2011). This ethical system portrays itself best from the company’s website. First Energy’s vision is to become the best in their field and recognized as such. Striving for excellence in operations, safety commitment, and top rated customer service is essential.First Energy will focus on long-term growth, commitment to its employees, and maximum financial stability with focus on the highest morals (First Energy Corp, 2010). The key pulled from the previous statement attempts to substantiate the ethical system with maximum st ability portraying the highest morals. Utilitarianism explains that correct actions are actions that provide the highest balance of happiness over sadness. Every person’s happiness is of equal importance (Lasley & Pickett, 1992). The following paragraphs will provide more information into the utilitarianism system between management, employees, and the board of directors.Utilitarianism and First Energy’s employees strive to maximize the happiness of all employees. From firsthand experience the company accomplishes this by providing education assistance programs, discrimination guidelines to ensure all employees comply with and treat his or her coworkers with respect, and various outlets to ensure all employees questions and concerns are addressed. Along with the union First Energy also provides for excellent health coverage, paid holidays, maximum sick days, personal days, generous vacation day allotments, and grievance outlets to ensure employees concerns are brought to light.The next section relates this ethical system to management. Supervisors and management are held much more responsible for his or her actions than the employees. Although management is held to higher standards, he or she obtains substantial benefits from the company to achieve the utilitarianism maximum happiness. Management is also provided comparable benefits to the employees. Management obtains the same excellent health coverage, paid holidays, comparable sick days, and vacation time. Rule utilitarianism seems to portray itself prominently.Rule utilitarianism strays away from assessing acts of individuals and leans strongly toward the utility of a rule for action. What this means to management is this: if management enforces a rule for everyone to follow the opinion of tolerability should be at a maximum (Nuigal Way, 2005). Utilitarianism is not without its problems, and this issue will appear in a later paragraph. The last group explored is the board of directors. The pu rpose of the board of directors is providing the highest profitability for its shareholders while addressing any ethical concerns.It is not possible to predict and address every situation that may rear its head so it becomes a challenge to maximize happiness with ethical concerns. An excellent example of utilitarianism in this case is this: concerning child labor and business overseas, it would not maximize total happiness if every business overseas were to employ children to increase profits for the shareholders (Nuigal Way). Utilitarianism has its flaws and criticisms. This ethical system by itself, whereas formed in good intentions, is not efficient enough to run a business properly.The following paragraph attempts to suggest alternatives to First Energy’s current code of ethics. Opponents of utilitarianism explain that happiness and pain of certain tasks cannot be generalized to determine the maximum pleasure of all individuals. An individual cannot assume that one person will feel the same degree of pain or pleasure from the same act (Griffin, 2000). Management may need to stay away from general rules as they may not capture the desired effect of employee happiness when compared with workload and ethics.Rules are put into place to protect the employee, and to a lesser extent, to protect the company image. An example of this that enacted recently by First Energy was banning personal cell phones. This general rule states that personal phones are not allowed on company property at any time. Although this rule portrays good intentions, it fails to address other personal issues. Family emergencies occur from time to time. If an employee must wait for messages from his or her supervisor or manager, a catastrophic family event may occur that may not present itself to the employee in time.A differing point of view is suggested in the next section. The existing code of ethics is very solid. As Chief Executive Officer few problems rise to the forefront, and may not require change. One situation witnessed recently could warrant a change. During completing an associate program paid for by First Energy and working on a-hands-on task with a fellow student, the instructor became enraged and started screaming at and belittling the other student. The instructor already had two previous cases. The case made its way to human resources and eventually was swept under the rug.Although paid for by First Energy and involved in company tasks, students are not represented as employees. Certainly it seems anyone in this situation should have the same benefits as employees. Consequently it is unethical to ignore a recurring problem with an employee simply because he or she is an instructor for non-employees. The code of ethics is there to protect everyone as can be seen in the next section. The code of ethics presents itself very clearly and all employees and management adhere strictly to the outline.Employees treat each other with respect and adhere to ethical values. Wider acceptance is adopted when concerning human interaction and differing ethical values. This acceptance stems from years of education, governmental programs, and company policies. The constant influx of company provided classes and weekly meetings provide for this acceptance in a greater capacity. In conclusion and like any other system, the underlying purpose of this philosophical ethics code strives to provide for the greatest happiness with the least amount of displeasure.Many procedures and rules must be analyzed to provide for the maximum positive effect not only for the employees but also for the stakeholders. Taking important aspects of the utilitarianism code and striving to remove the negative aspects of this system will provide for a smooth running machine. The bottom line is this: despite its numerous inadequacies, utilitarianism does contain a solid moral foundation. No one can deny the intrinsic benevolence in promoting the greatest good for the gre atest number.Utilitarianism must also be applauded for existing as a self-contained philosophy and the key to making utilitarianism work lies in refining the way that proponents practice this system (Griffin). References First Energy Corp. (2007, July 5). Vision and Mission. Retrieved from http://www. firstenergycorp. com/career_center/why_firstenergy/vision_and_mission First Energy Corp. (2010, January 11). First Energy Code of Conduct Introduction. Retrieved from http://www. firstenergycorp. com/investor/files/Code%20of%20Conduct_Rev%2001_11_10. pdf Griffin, A. 2000, October 31). Utilitarianism. Retrieved from http://anton_eclipse. tripod. com/utilitarianism. htm Lasley, J. , & Pickett, I. (1992). INTRODUCTION TO TYPES OF ETHICAL SYSTEMS. Retrieved from http://www. woodrow. org/teachers/bi/1992/ethical_systems. html Nuigal Way. (2005, September 30). BUSINESS ETHICS :: Utilitarianism. Retrieved from http://www2. it. nuigalway. ie/staff/h_melvin/prof_skill/L2_handout. pdf Reference for Business. (2011). Utilitarianism. Retrieved from http://http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/encyclopedia/Thir-Val/Utilitarianism. html Related article: Disadvantages of Ethics in the Workplace

Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis Paper - Essay Example In the summer of 1990, adventurer Christopher Johnson McCandless left for an unknown destination. The Story of Chris McCandless as narrated by Jon Krakauer reflects a personal journey whose justifications may never be known. He had donated all his savings, spent his cash and deserted his car to re-invent a new life for himself. In 1992, his decayed body was located in the Alaskan mountains. Donner insinuates that the experiences and journey of McCandless compare largely with the experiences of the Prophet Muhammad in his early life (22). This is because both characters underwent similar experiences of inner motivations that led them to engage in audacious acts that were challenging and extraordinary in their respective societies. I believe that McCandless and Muhammad focused on attaining knowledge, lived in precarious environments, and valued the need to study societal processes. Similarities John Krakauer believes that inner obsession and youthful desires led McCandless to undertak e that journey (1). He reconstructs a clear prism through which he brings together the unsettling facts of Christopher McClandess’ life. By digging deeply, Krakauer unfolds the secrets that the life of McCandless depicts. He integrates the reflective pull of the American jungle on the reader’s imagination as well as the fascination of the high-risk activities in the wilderness performed by young people. ... With that, he liberated himself to indulge in nature freely with new experiences. The surprise of the story is that McCandless had grown in the wealthy neighbourhood of Washington, D. C., and had graduated with an honours degree from Emory University. Nonetheless, these factors did not fulfil him. His ultimate desire was to undertake an Alaskan odyssey in the wild for a whole summer. He was probably harrowing with the desire to make an extraordinary step in his life. McCandless shocked the world by leaving a nearly perfect life. Interestingly, he had left a full trail of travails documents, photos and diaries. In his diaries, he depicts a journey of a hunger experience driven by a kind of immortal grandeur. He contemplated in the emptiness of the material world. He had planned to attend law school in the future. Supertramp (1) disagrees that McCandless was still naive and experimental. He traversed the country using meagre means. In few times he sought employment and in hard times re fused help from strangers. He can be defined as an idealist whose life was cut down before he could realise its full benefits. He had made an impact on nearly all the people he had met along his journey. His journey was quickly prepared without plans. He did not have a rifle, an axe, a compass, or a map. This was an arrogant decision because the environment that he was going to face was harsh and dangerous. The life of Prophet Muhammad closely relates to the experiences of McCandless. Mohammad grew up in a society that was blemished by violence, hunger and warfare. However, he had received a normal upbringing even following the loss of his parents at a young age. His father passed before he was born, while the mother passed when he was six years old. His

Strategic Development and Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Strategic Development and Management - Essay Example According to the paper findings strategy is that function of an organisation where decisions and plans are made, which reflect the long-term objectives of the organisation, and is independent from decisions made on a daily level. Other definitions include, â€Å"the pursuit of superior performance by using a plan that ensures a better or stronger matching of corporate strengths to customer needs than is provided by competitors†. It can be argued that the above definitions may be interdependent because attaining competitive advantage may sometimes be seen as a long-term objective by organisations, depending upon the market environment they operate in. As the essay stresses the definitions also show that there are internal and external implications to strategy, where the internal factors may include the structure of the organisation, the kind of corporate governance (leadership) that exists within the organisation, and the function of Human Resources Management. The external factors may include the Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Environmental, and Legal issues associated within a given market environment where the organisation operates. There are other methods of internal and external analyses that influence strategy like the SWOT analysis and Porter’s five forces, which are all helpful for the organisation to make strategic decisions in order to attain competitive advantage. These methods will be discussed in detail in later stages of the study.... To delve further into the study it is important to establish the definition for the terms ‘strategic management’. David (2009) defines strategic management as the â€Å"art and science of formulating, implementing, and evaluating cross-functional decisions that enable an organisation to achieve its objectives† (p. 36). As the definition suggests, there are different functions within an organisation like management, marketing, finance/accounting, production/operations, research and development, and computer information systems (David, 2009; Johnson et al, 2008), but not necessarily restricted to these, and the job of strategic management is to integrate all these functions towards the common goal of achieving organisational success. Stages of Strategic Management: The strategy formulation stage normally involves assessing the organisation’s resources and determining what market(s) to enter and which ones to abandon. This is also the stage where visions and m issions of the company are developed and long-term objectives are established. Top managers take up the responsibilities to assess the advantages of expansion or reduction, and/or entering international markets, resource allocation, product diversification, mergers/ takeovers etc. This is also where companies assess the opportunities and threats in particular markets and internal strengths and weaknesses in order to create contingent strategies (SWOT). Analysis is also done on what markets to invest in and what political, economical, socio-cultural, technological, environmental and legal (PESTEL) issues may arise in said market. Decisions made during this stage commit an organisation to specific products, resources, markets and technologies for

White Privilege (Compare and Contrast) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

White Privilege (Compare and Contrast) - Essay Example The concept of white privilege has remained a contentious subject of academic discourse within critical race theory and the focus of this paper is to compare and contrast the different perspectives pertaining to the concept of white privilege with specific reference to Tim Wise’s â€Å"This is Your Nation on White Privilege†, Blanche Curry’s â€Å"Whiteness and Feminism†; Joy James’ â€Å"maintaining and Kicking White Supremacy†; Peggy McIntosh’s â€Å"White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack†, and Tiffany Joseph’s â€Å"Why don’t you get somebody new to do it† Race and cultural taxation in the academy. It is submitted at the outset that the underlying common thread between these academic commentaries is the acknowledgement of the theoretical concept of white privilege as a symbol of inequality between the opportunities and advantages accorded to white people in contrast to non-whites within the Ame rican social construct. For example, whilst using different narrative perspectives, both Wise and McIntosh highlight what they appear to believe is the undisputed reality of white privilege in America. McIntosh uses subjective experience to refer to the distinct advantages she has in the workplace in comparison to her African American counterparts: â€Å"39. I can be late to a meeting without having the lateness reflect on my race... 43. I can have low credibility as a leader I can be sure that my race is not the problem† (McIntosh 4). Similarly, Wise refers to the distinction in racial perceptions being directly attributable to the concept of â€Å"white privilege† by using a listing technique for emphasis similar to McIntosh. For example, Wise comments that â€Å"white privilege is when you can call yourself a â€Å"fuckin’ redneck... talk about how you like to â€Å"shoot shit† for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible all American boy....rather than a thug† (Wise). However, whilst these commentaries seek to highlight the concept of white privilege and its impact on the perception and stereotypes within the American social paradigm; some of the commentaries seek to go beyond pre-existing assumptions regarding white privilege within critical race theory by evaluating the white privilege paradigm through a contextual approach. This is particularly evident with Curry and Joseph’s contextual analysis of the overriding influence of white perspectives in seminal aspects of academic discourse. For example, on the one hand Wise’s somewhat sarcastic take on the concept of white privilege highlights the fact that racial inequality permeates social assumptions and preconceptions in American society in particular (Wise). On the other hand, Curry’s discussion of white privilege undertakes a contextual approach with specific reference to developments in feminism and feminist theory to highlight how the dominanc e of the white perspective in feminist theory ignores important female perspectives which are imperative to a comprehensive and representative model of feminist theory (Curry 243). Moreover, Curry argues that the concept of feminism is intrinsically linked to the subjective experience and as such, the cultural experience is important in the continuous development of feminist theory. Curry suggests that the dominance of white privilege within America’s social history means that the pre-existing discourse on feminism and feminist theory has developed with a white bias that ignores other cultures (Curry 244). For example, Curry highlights the point that whilst there is a â€Å"known and populist version of feminism†, she suggests that the dominance of accepted feminism theory being white has led to â€Å"deja-vu† marginalisation, which in turn undermines the weight accorded to

Buddhism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Buddhism - Research Paper Example Gautama Buddha also introduced the concept of Nirvana, which stated that after doing all the good deeds possible, a person would achieve the highest level of eternal happiness. Buddhism can be categorized into Theravada and Mahayana and is spread over the countries including Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Japan and other eastern nations in the Asian continent. The branch of Vajrayana is mainly practiced in Tibet and Mongolia, making Buddhism the most practiced religion in the region of Asia. â€Å"Estimates of Buddhists worldwide vary significantly depending on the way Buddhist adherence is defined. Lower estimates are between 350–500 million† (Lopez). The fundamentals of Buddhist customs, cultures and practices are ritually based on the Three Gems, the Buddha, the teachings and the society. â€Å"Taking refuge  in the triple gem has traditionally been a declaration and commitment to being on the Buddhist path and in general distinguishes a Buddhist from a non-Buddhistà ¢â‚¬  (Padmasambhava, Kontrul and Kunsang). There are other different practices in the religion of Buddhism too. These particularly include moral principles, support of society and the community, putting aside the luxurious manner of life and adapting to the type of the life that Gautama Buddha lived. It also promotes the personal development through the development of the mind and meditating whenever required. Furthermore, there is preferment of achieving a higher level of wisdom and intelligence by gaining of the worldly and the divine knowledge, especially, the teachings of Gautama Buddha, conducting a thorough study of the manuscripts and devoting one’s self to the cause of the welfare of others. With these Gautama Buddha had aspired for an ideal society, for he believed that practicing his beliefs would not only lead to a peaceful and a harmonious society, but also ensure that there are no violations of human rights. If the history of the religion of Buddhism is brought under philosophical analysis, it would become evident that Buddhism had its roots embedded in the religious status quo of India, at that time, which is believed to be a few years before the birth of Christ. During this period, the Indian regions as well as other countries of Asia were mired by the social differences. There also existed tumult on the end of the religion, since India was divided into the caste system, which was a major result of social divide in the country.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It was challenged by numerous new  ascetic  religious and philosophical groups and teachings that broke with the Brahmanic tradition and rejected the authority of the  Vedasand the  Brahmans† (Warder).   Looking at the inspiration from where the religion of Buddhism commenced, it is obvious that Gautama Buddha too gave up his life in order to achieve the aforementioned eternal peace and happiness, which he termed as Nirvana. After seeing the cruelty and injustice in the society, â€Å"G autama was determined to complete his spiritual quest. At the age of 35, he famously sat inmeditation  under a  sacred fig  tree — known as the  Bodhi tree  Ã¢â‚¬â€ in the town of  Bodh Gaya, India, and vowed not to rise before achieving  enlightenment. After many days, he finally destroyed the  fetters  of his mind, thereby  liberating himself  from the  cycle of suffering and rebirth, and arose as a  fully enlightened being. Soon thereafter, he attracted a band of followers and instituted a  monastic order. Now, as the Buddha, he spent the rest of his life teaching

Franchising of SMEs in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Franchising of SMEs in China - Essay Example Franchising in China proposes great opportunities for local businesses and international small and medium-size enterprises to expand their activities and enter new markets. Following Welsh et al (2006): "franchising is seen as a means of obtaining scarce capital, as the franchise is generally required to make a substantial investment in the business. Franchisees share risk with the franchiser. Franchising is also identified as a way of addressing the agency problem, specifically, the issue of monitoring managers" (2006, p. 130). In China, key to the success of the organization is the mutually dependent relationship between the two companies-the franchisors and the franchise. Miller and Grossman (1986) described franchising as an organizational form structured by a long-term contract whereby the franchisor (usual owner) of a product and service grants the non-exclusive rights to a franchise for the local (in this case Chinese) distribution of the particular product or service. The franchise has to pay a fee and ongoing royalties and agrees to follow to quality standards. Also, a franchise can be defined as "an incentive distribution system for organizing individual firms pursuing their own rewards" (Abbott 1998, p. 76). Taking this perspective into account, researchers determine the phenomenon as an inter-organizational form. A possible, roughly natural rate of SME density also has limited implications for policies designed to promote 'entrepreneurship'. The logic is as follows: Let's assume that heading a small firm is an important mark of entrepreneurship, since the founder of a firm that quickly disappears may be less entrepreneurial than the leader of an SME that exists and survives, whether or not the leader was the original founder. In this analysis, the number of SMEs then becomes a proxy for the number of 'entrepreneurs': Entrepreneurs are the independent leaders of SMEs (Abbott 1998). Once economists accept that this assumption is one logical proxy of entrepreneurial activity (although by no means the only one), we can then say that a roughly natural rate of SME density implies there is little that can help, or hinder, ent repreneurship at the national level in a broadly liberal trading environment (Ambler & Witzel 2003). Ratios of 'entrepreneurs' (leaders of SMEs) are somewhat constant across European national populations. If one measures entrepreneurial activity by the rates of start-ups, then the analysis would change; but it is not clear that high start-up rates on a national scale really correlate with economic success either. The lowest start-up rates in Europe are in rich Sweden, the highest are in southern Europe, where unemployment is high and GDP per capita is lower. Definitions of entrepreneurship should encompass success measured by economic production and profits, and not just frenetic activities, primarily in the low-tech service sector (Justis & Judd 1999). In China, the majority of franchising companies operate as SMEs. In emerging markets like China, "retail franchising can sometimes supplant traditional and local cultural elements, which over time can lead to homogenization and westernization of preferences, especially among the youth. The older generations and the political establishments often resist such cultural shifts" (Welsh et al 2006, p. 132).

Leadership Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Leadership Theories - Essay Example (i) They must have extensive expression, which they exercise to cover the thought of possessing a proof of triumph, whereby the person in question will have the ability to organize and lead others in a more organized manner, also being with the power to take and handle project. (iii) Sincerity and reliability, the leader has the behavior of taking an honest depiction of himself or herself, so that the people they lead can value and obey them. These will make the organization to be effective in performance as the duties will be done with less supervision. (Ajzen 1991). (v) Understanding of the industry is important for reliability, hence when a leader posses such characters in him or her, the organization will move forward in the right direction as the leadership of the organization will be reliable to the people and the environment. (vii) Hospitability, where leaders will have the skill to search for satisfying communal associations, hence they will be harmless, thoughtful and sensitive. The attribute of headship focuses on the head, but not the people he or she leads. The head shows a definite set of attributes to be an influential and successful manager. The leader – member hypotheses can be viewed using Meta – Assessment. The connection linking the leader-member exchange theory is investigated, as are matters associates to the theory. (Gernstner, 1997). Reports recommend that important connection between the hypotheses and work presentation, fulfillment with administration, general fulfillment, obligation, duty divergence, duty clearness, and capability of the people involved, therefore as an executive, he or she is required to undertake the above named attributes to fulfill the potential of the organization. The Leader – Member Exchange hypotheses tries to explain on how the heads and managers build up connections with their subordinate staff; and it clarifies how those linkages can lead to escalation

The an overview at unethical behavior in the workplace a study of Nike Dissertation

The an overview at unethical behavior in the workplace a study of Nike - Dissertation Example SUMMARY 36 5.2.CONCLUSION 39 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.0. INTRODUCTION The significant role of employees in attaining the goals and objectives of the organisation has been recognised both by practitioners and scholars (Floyd & Wooldridge, 1997; Li, Guohai & Eppler, 2008; Fox, Donohue & Wu, 2007). The change in the appreciation of the role of employees in organisation has been precipitated by several factors, but one of the most important elements which have influenced the change is globalisation. Globalisation is a contemporary phenomenon (Soros, 2002). It has influenced almost all facets of contemporary life (Morgan, 2003). As such, it has been defined in several ways (Suarez-Orozco & Qin-Hilliard, 2004). However, the common understanding of globalisation is that it concerns economic changes adopted by nation-states as they enter the global market (Soros, 2002). Globalisation is generally understood as the removal of economic barriers to trade among nations, thereby, allowing the fre er movements of goods, services, products, capital, knowledge, foreign investments and people (Soros, 2002; Balakrishnan, 2003; Fischer, 2003). It has been noted, that as globalisation drives economic changes, changes in the economic policies and fundamental principles underlying nation-states economic trading relations with other countries are also undertaken(Peet, 2003). In this regard, through globalisation, the global market economy has been opened, thus, making the world accessible and smaller at the same time. Since, â€Å"Through globalisation national borders are constantly losing their significance as limitations for human interaction in general and economic collaboration in particular. This means that for all economic actors their natural spheres of activity are expanding from national into multinational or even global.†(Supporting the Internalisation of SMEs, 2007:6). In this regard, the presence of transnational corporations (TNCs) and multinational companies (MNC s) has become one concrete witness testifying not only to the reality of the global market economy, but also to the actuality of a smaller world. Multinational corporations (MNCs) is generally understood as a company that has its headquarter in one country (which is the home country), and which operates in at least one foreign (host) country (Wilkins, 1991, p 53). MNCs, just like any other corporations, seek to increase profit via conducting business in another country as it aims to expand its market, acquire resources, to diversify sources of sales and supplies and to minimise competitive risk (Wilkins, 1991). In this sense, it can be claimed, corporations and MNCs are similar in pursuit of profits, market, and sales, while at the same time, they are different in view of the fact that MNCs are not limited by national boundaries in doing business. In the context of globalisation and MNCs, the significant role of workers and their plight become an important gradient in understanding the global market economy. As success stories of both corporations and workers plight in the global market is told, stories of workers’ abuses are also conveyed, even if it is stifled (Boji & Khan, 2009). This research has conducted a study pertaining to the unethical behaviour committed in the workplace with focus on the controversies surrounding Nike. Nike’s controversies pertaining to unethical behaviour in the workplace depicts the workers’

Short Answers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Short Answers - Essay Example (Mulvey, 1989) The growing theory of the spectacle is old to be remarkably striking in old English, and making important classifications of the theory itself. This is attained powerfully by the changing scenerior of an inspirational moment, powerfully explored by the situationsits approach, known by its distinct approach to environmental challenges. The concept is derived from the growing list of the societal understanding of built intellectualism. The shocks that were historical identified explore remarkable moments, which are fascinating and are unique especially when important derivatives remarkably involving good moments and good political landscapes. Particular words are uniquely important and their meanings are hugely significant to the cultures that explore them. Writings as explained by various philosophers are based on changing linguistic trends, and which are meaningfully explored through generations and through periods of change. Denotative and connotative meaning provides various angle derivatives that are best known for semiotics or in other instances semiology. Semiotics is old linguistics that is defined in today’s language as the core concept within which concepts of language are established. The finger derivative in a signifier provides a lasting solution to word changes, making visual derivatives at various points. Denotative is defined by a signifier and which identify an obvious meaning of a specific sign. For example in accordance with a camouflaged statement, the obvious theory is to provide a conventionally agreeable statement that is also referred to as the first order signification. On the other hand, connotative meaning offers the socio-cultural as well as the personal associations relative to emotional, ideological levels of the given sign. The theories defining the visual culture are defined by

Issues related to developing nations Essay Example for Free

Issues related to developing nations Essay News reports suggest that economic giants from third world Asia namely China and India are expected to grow at the rate of 9. 7 and 6. 5 percent respectively. The GDP growth rate of these nations is much higher than that of any developed nation and hence are the two fastest growing economy of the world. China has now become the factory of the world with large multinational companies infusing lots of money in establishing manufacturing units and India is now one of the major destinations for back office jobs and is the leading service sector economy. As a complete entity, the globalization started showing results right from the early eighties in South East Asia. The process which has got its roots right from the beginning of 20th century with the beginning of economic cooperation between Europe and the United States later became synonymous with the word development in Far East Asian Countries including the ASEAN (The World Bank Group, 2000). But still this globalization has yet to make this world a better place to live. The concern related to the globalization process is the growth which is visible is actually more of mathematical in nature than the real cumulative growth. It might be taking place at the cost those who are less privileged (Kumar, 2007). The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects on developing nations especially ASEAN which are said to the most benefited one when one of the components of globalization, i. e. , foreign direct investment (FDI). The paper gives brief explanation of globalization and its different phases and theoretical aspects of some of its components. While presenting theoretical arguments, the main focus of the paper is an exploration of different aspects of FDI while keeping in view of its impact on the growth of economy in terms of growth in GDP. The paper looks in detail towards the contribution of FDI in the growth of developing nations and the role played by multinational firms in the fire-sale purchases. It has examined World Bank Development Indicators Website and this statistical investigation has been made to look into the above mentioned impact of FDI on GDP. The countries which have been chosen for this statistical analysis are ASEAN and various other South East Asian economies (The World Bank Group, 2000). The outcome of the paper has concentrated around the conclusion that the component of globalization which promotes ‘Direct investment’ as is termed as Foreign Direct Investment has actually brought changes in most of the developing nations but at the same time have induced many negatives like the fire-sale incidents (Loungani Razin, 2001) and excessive leverage can led to financial transactions causing reversal of FDI with money being transferred back to the foreign company (Gallaghar Zarsky, 2006). In addition to the above mentioned conclusions, the benefits of the FDI have appeared to decline with more integration of market. Thus while studying the impact of FDI on countries, the other factors like domestic regulatory and market structures and the extent up to which the market has been liberalized are equally responsible and require to be considered and are equally necessary for the success and benefits of the FDI (Gallaghar Zarsky, 2006). 2. Advantage: Developing nations Globalization and its spread across the world is very much a successful understanding of theory of competitive advantage there by making the theory of comparative advantage as the most important concepts in international trade and a major reasons behind the existence of WTO and its world wide success. The theory in the context of international trade explains the benefits of trade between two countries without any barrier even if one is more efficient at producing goods or services needed and produced by the other. (Bromley, Mackintosh, Brown and Wuyts, 2004, p. 47). On close analysis this globalization can be understood as a combination of four major trends. The four trends in a globalize world are the expansion of international trade, financial flows where FDI is a major entity, global communications which includes transportation and finally the immigration i. e. , transnational movements of people. The point of discussion and research has now moved from the causes and determinants of the globalization to its various components and interaction between them. These four trends have worked quite differently while implementing the globalization process among different nations. If we talk about FDI only, then it has been observed that the same FDI has given different result sin different nations. The South East nations gained status of being an economic powerhouse with greater export especially of electronic items and before 1990s these nations depended on foreign money inform of investment in securities with government of these nations investing a bulk of that in exportable products like automobile and electronic items (Panelver, 2002). 3. Trade Flows and Foreign Direct Investment The developing countries have shown substantial progress if the economy is looked upon with trade perspective. The last decade of 20th century shown great results with share of trade rising i. e. , the sum of import and export as percentage of GDP rising from 34. 6 percent in 1990 to 51. 6 percent in 2000. If compared with the results of developed countries where the share of trade in GDP showed marginal improvement from 32 percent to 37. 1 percent in the same period, the level of trade as well as its growth in developing nations has shown better results. The most remarkable aspect of this trade is that even the least developed countries have seen very high growth rate in the total percentage of GDP, this trade flow occupies. The percentage of trade in GDP has increased from 26. 7 percent to 41. 3 percent in the above considered period of ten years (Loungani Razin, 2001). The Foreign Direct Investment in these developing countries in the period of above mentioned ten years has also seen upward trend with this FDI occupying 3. 5 percent of total GDP in 2000 but here this is much lesser if the same is compared to that of developed nations. In developed countries the FDI was found to be around ten percent of GDP in the year 2000. The FDI normally come under two categories. (Panelver, 2002). 4. Foreign Direct Investment and development The foreign direct investment (FDI) has been reason behind which the developing nations started making rounds of economic reforms to attract foreign investment with a sole purpose of giving the economy a much needed boost for sustainable economic growth. The FDI inflows in many countries surged to higher levels with large multinationals called as multinational corporations (MNCs) bringing capital in form of superior technology oiled with ultimate management skill. The transfer of cleaner technology would also bring better environmental performance. With MNCs’ better management of inventory and technology, the developing nations would get infused with standards normally prevailed in western world (Blomstrom and Kokko, 1996). The investment had been expected to bring more employment and higher per capita income and will make ways for cleaner consumer goods. The countries observed two basic practices. First to attract more FDI and for that the policy to get more was made central character in every national development strategies. The second one is to have investment agreements which can have global, regional or bilateral scope (Malampally Karl, 1999). The reforms of 1990s caused massive inflow of FDI in developing nations and in the last decade of the century was around 4 percent of global GDP. This miniscule amount of money formed a major portion of the GDP of some of the developing nations; 26 percent of GDP in Thailand and as a whole, the share of FDI in the total GDP got raised to 3. 5 percent by the end of 2000 (Gallaghar Zarsky, 2006). These developing nations saw a chain of privatizations. Many government companies in those nations were acquired by MNCs despite wide spread criticism and resistance especially when companies being privatized were meant providing basic utilities like water. FDI based privatization also changed the way it has been utilized. Service sector got a big boost with the money coming into the nations in form of FDI and this sector accounted for almost 200 percent growth in the total FDI inflows in the period ranging from 1988 to 1999 (Gallaghar Zarsky, 2006). 5. FDI and the crisis Multi National Companies or the MNCs are often regarded as smart investors and great profiteers. These companies are expected to have a great feel of opportunities and upcoming market possibilities. Now the same companies put their money in FDI channel and invest in developing countries with a word of bringing technological and managerial efficiency. They often buy controlling stakes in domestic firms and then reenergize the whole structure of the firm to make it more profitable and competitive. But still even a layman would believe in putting money in those areas or economy where the market if not growing at some astronomical rate but at least have a sluggish but positive growth (Krugman, 1998). The crisis of late 1990s in East Asia showed a very different business approach of MNCs. The companies were found to be putting great amount of money through FDI channel in Korea and other South East Asian countries. But this time the company went into large scale buying of local firms. These local firms were found to be facing financial crisis causing great fall in the total value of the firm with equities available at throw away prices. The Foreign Institutional Investors and investors in government’s securities taking their money out of the country but the same financial crisis created an investment opportunity for MNCs. A number of companies changed hands with a number of MNCs from US and Europe buying controlling stakes in different South Asian firms. This sort of FDI investment pattern is more of crisis driven rather than opportunity driven. Even the governments were found to shell out its stake in PSUs to foreign investors to get over the ongoing financial crisis. The fall in the value of currency and big debts diminishes the market cap of the domestic firms and then they are for sale on a platter at a throw away price to foreign players. The sudden fall in the value of the assets attracts the investors to buy those sick firms with a belief that once the crisis gets over these firms under the new management will turn out to be a golden goose (Aguiar Gopinath, 2004). 6. Conclusion If we look into what every major financial organization like the IMF; the World Bank; and any of the OECD states, the most common thing is that all of them have suggested that this FDI is very much similar to a doctor’s prescription which is for the improvement of ailing industrial sectors. The transfer of cleaner technology and better management as well as socially responsible corporate policies helps in improving environmental and social conditions by enormous amount (Gallaghar Zarsky, 2006). The presence of foreign firms have given positive results in the productivity of domestic firms has been true up to some extent but that’s the case of developed nation only (Lim,2001). Though the technology transfer can be made possible through foreign players but it’s the domestic operators who are better in controlling and firm operation. The MNCs have often been found to put money in form of FDI in the state of financial crisis. The domestic firms in a state of cash crisis are made available for purchase at a price which has been much lesser than the asset of the firm. The final conclusion out of these investments by MNCs give a clear indication that its not the efficiency that gives them the edge it’s the better cash position which drives the flow of FDI. Through the simulation of domestic investment and improved technology, the over all productivity and efficiency of the industry gets a boost. So the FDI cause â€Å"crowding in† effect on investment. Even the simple assembling firm can make a very profitable growth with rising consumer demand. The higher consumer demand can make the industry with more players can make good returns through better technology and efficient managing (Gallaghar Zarsky, 2006). But the negatives associated with the globalization are also there. MNCs have been found as causing more distortion to the local traditional business structure rather than the maintaining its sanctity. Even applying the management policy of a different nation model to the workers of the new region is not going to help and will cause more harm to efficiency rather then improving it. Business and work ethics are very much dependent on local culture and traditions. Anything that will undermine the importance of these issues harms the work culture of the nation (Gallaghar Zarsky, 2006). 7. Bibliography Aguiar, M. Gopinath, G. 2004, ‘Fire-Sale FDI and Liquidity Crisis’, The Review of Economics Statistics, Vol. 87, No. 3, Pages 439-452 Bromley, S, Mackintosh, M. , Brown, W. Wuyts, M. (2004). Making the International: Economic Interdependence and political Order. Pluto Press Gallagher, K. V. , Zarsky, L. 2006, ‘Rethinking Foreign Investment for Development’, Boston University and Businesses for Social Responsibility, USA Krugman, P 1998, ‘Firesale FDI’, Working Paper, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Kokko, Ari 1994, ‘Technology, Market Characteristics, and Spillovers’, Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 43, pp. 279-293. Kokko, A. and M. Blomstrom 1995,. ’Policies to Encourage Inflows of Technology Through Foreign Multinationals’, World Development, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 459- 68. Kumar, A. 2007, ‘Does Foreign Direct Investment Help Emerging Economies? ’ Insights from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, vol. 2, no. 1 Lim, Ewe-Ghee 2001, ‘Determinants of and the Relation between Foreign Direct Investment and Growth: A Summary of the Recent Literature’, Working Paper 01/75, IMF. Loungani, P Razin, A. 2001, ‘How beneficial is foreign direct investment for developing countries? ’ Finance development Malampally, P. Karl, P. S. 1999,. ’Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries’, Finance and Development 36 (1) OECD 2002. ‘Foreign Direct Investment for Development, Maximizing Benefits, Minimizing Costs’, Paris: OECD

The functional organisation of the visual system

The functional organisation of the visual system The aim of this essay is to describe the organisation of the visual system in relation to its specific functions. In order to perform essential functions, the visual system is faced with many computational problems needing to be solved in order to maintain effective visual perception. This essay aims to describe one such computational problem the visual system must solve; colour constancy. If light coming down from the sky changes colour, the perceived colour of objects should also change, however this is not the case. The nervous system is highly involved in the process of maintaining effective colour constancy and this essay aims to look into how colour constancy is achieved in the nervous system. The first part of this essay will outline the functional organisation of the visual system, focusing on the general anatomical organisation, the retina, lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), organisation of the cortex and parallel and hierarchal processing. Focus will then be on the chosen co mputational problem of colour constancy and the importance of the visual system maintaining successful constancy of colour. The next issue will be to assess how colour constancy is achieved within the human nervous system, focusing on the functional specialisation of the cortex, cone receptors and retinal involvement in attempt to understand how colour constancy is maintained in the nervous system. The visual system is part of the central nervous system and includes the eyes, connecting pathways to the visual cortex and different parts of the brain that collectively allow for sight. The visual system must convert patterns of light that fall onto the retina into perception. Initial visual processing takes place within the retina, with the preliminary aim to convert information about luminance into information about contrast (Kuffler, 1953). All in all the visual system works by the rule of relative qualities, i.e the luminance of an object in relation the luminance of its surrounds. These relative qualities and comparisons take place within the retina. The retina contains two kinds of photoreceptors (rods and cones) that absorb light and send signals to bipolar cells, which are connected to ganglion cells that send information to the LGN. The LGN has six layers; four parvo-cellular layers and two magno-cellular layers. Ventral to each of these layers is a thin kinocellular layer. Parvo-cellular cells and kinocellular cells play a role in colour vision. Therefore, initial colour vision takes place within the retina, with cone photoreceptors being specialised for colour processing. It has been found that there are three types of cone receptors within the retina which are sensitive to different wavelengths of light; short wave length light (blue light), medium wavelength light (green light) and long wavelength light (red light). Colour detection is perceived largely by the relative activation of the short, medium and long wavelength cones. The trichromatic theory of colour vision proposed by Young-Helmholtz (1800/1867) is a predominan t theory into colour perception. Cone cell receptors contain light-sensitive photo pigments which allow them to respond to light and create colour vision. Young-Helmholtz theory proposed that we have one cone type most sensitive to short wavelength light (blue), one most sensitive to medium wavelength light (yellow/green) and finally one most sensitive to long wavelength light (red). It is the relative activation of each cone type that results in the perception of colour. Another dominant theory into colour processing has come from Herings (1878) opponent processing theory. Hering argued that there are three types of opponent processes within the visual system that account for colour perception. One opponent process results in the perception of red at one extreme and green at the other extreme. Another type results in perception of yellow at one extreme and blue at the other. The final opponent process results in perception of black at one extreme and white at the other. Hering argu ed that it is the ratio of activation along these opponent processes that accounts for colour perception. Opponent cells have been found within the LGN, which provides functional evidence for the involvement of the LGN in colour vision. There are red/green colour coded cells and yellow/blue colour coded cells within the LGN which are essential for colour processing and colour constancy. However in essence the function of the LGN is to pass signals from the retina to the cortex rather than to process them. Another important functional part of the visual system is the visual cortex, which contains cells that respond to wavelengths coming from an object in relation or comparison to wavelengths coming from surrounding objects. This comparison is essential in the analysis of colour. The visual cortex contains many layers of cells, with colour, form, movement and disparity being dealt with by separate groups of cells. It is divided into sub-layers; IVA, IVB, IVCÃŽÂ ± and IVCÃŽÂ ². Cells in the parvo-cellular layers of the LGN, dealing with colour, project to layers IVCÃŽÂ ² and IVA, thus showing the functional organisation of the cortex. In the secondary visual cortex (V2), cells dealing with colour, form and disparity are also kept separate. V2 processes properties such as colour and brightness. V4 deals particularly with colour and form. The visual cortex is organised into a columnar form. The similar properties of the cells within the cortical column are most likely due to the arrangement of anatomical connections. There have been found to be columns dominant for colour and orientation of edges. According to Zeki (1977) within area V4 there are separate columns for red, green and blue perception. Thus showing the visual cortex is organised on the basis of functions. One factor that has been made clear is that different features of a visual stimulus are dealt with in parallel processes within the visual system. The features of colour are kept separate through at least three levels of processing; V1, V2 and V4. However it has been found that within these parallel processes, hierarchal processing occurs. Dew (1984), has provided clear evidence for a hierarchy of cells types within the colour system. Photoreceptors join onto opponent colour cells which respond to some wavelengths and not to others. The visual system is functionally organised to overcome many computational problems, one of which is colour constancy. Colour constancy is a tendency for a surface or object to appear to have the same colour when there is a change in wavelength contained in the illuminant. (Eysenk, 5th edition). The phenomenon of colour constancy indicates that colour vision does not depend only on the wave length of reflected light. The problem involved in colour constancy is to assign colour to a scene in the ambient light (spectral reflectance) (Maloney, 1985). Spectral reflectance is the percentage of light at each wavelength a specific surface reflects. As the illuminant power varies, the light reaching the eye also varies. However the percentage of light a surface reflects (due to its physical properties) does not change. The function of colour constancy is to discount the illuminant and recover information about surface spectral reflectance. Marr (1982) claimed that there must be an extra leve l of perception and processing. Light is reflected off objects with a fixed percentage of energy at each wavelength (surface spectral reflectance) and some of it enters the eye of the observer where is it selectively absorbed by cone receptors. The maintenance of colour constancy is achieved in the nervous system in various ways. The functional specialisation of the cortex is one way in which colour constancy is achieved. Zeki (1992, 1993) argued that different parts of the cortex have different and specialised functions. V1 and V2 have been found to have inputs in early stages of visual perception. Both cortical areas contain specialised cells responsive to colour and form which process these properties and relay signals to specialised visual areas, (Zeki, 1992, p47). V3 and V3A have been found to be responsive to form and shape but have no input in colour processing. V4 however has been found to be responsive to colour and combines connections from temporal and parietal cortex, (Baizer, Underleider and Desimone, 1991). Zekis critical assumption was that colour and motion are processed in anatomically distinct parts of the visual cortex. Lueck et al (1989) have provided supporting experimental evidence of the anatomically distinct processing of colour. They presented coloured or grey squares to observers. PET scans showed 13% more blood flow within area V4 when presented with coloured stimuli, other areas were found to be unaffected. On the other hand Wade, Bewer, Rieger and Wandell (2002) used FMRI and found areas V1 and V2 were also actively involved in colour perception. Zeki (1983) has provided evidence for the involvement of V4 in promoting colour constancy. Zeki found that within monkeys, certain cells in area V4 responded strongly to a red patch in a multicoloured display illuminated predominantly by red light. These cells did not respond when the red patch was replaced by green, white or blue patches, even though the dominant reflected wavelength was red. Therefore these cells respond to the actual colour rather than the wavelength reflected from it and has a role in the process of colour constancy. Lesions in area V4 have been found to impair colour constancy while other aspects of colour vi sion are unaffected, (Heywood and Cowey 1999). The cortical area of V4 has argued to be able to distinguish differences between surface colour and colour of the illuminant thus being important in achieving colour constancy. Land (1977) retinex theory argues that both the retina and the cortex are involved in visual processing. The basic assumption of this theory is that we decide the colour of a surface by comparing its ability to reflect short, medium and long wavelengths against adjacent surfaces. When comparisons cannot be made, colour constancy does not occur. The three types of photoreceptors in the retina absorb light; each level of activation within each cone receptor is compared to that of others. Kraft and Brainard (1999) conducted a visual experiment in a box which included a tube wrapped in tin foil, a pyramid and a cube as well as a Mondrian stimulus. When all objects were visible, colour constancy was high (83%), even with changes in illumination. Progressively removing the cues decreased colour constancy. The most important factor in maintaining colour constancy was local contrast, involving the comparison of retinal cone responses from the target surface with that of the immediate backgro und. Colour constancy dropped to 53% when local contrast information was not available. Also global contrast was important; the retinal cone responses from the target surface are compared to the cone responses of the whole visual scene. When observers could not use global contrast colour constancy dropped from 53% to 39%. This therefore indicates that we need to know about lots of different stimuli in the visual scene if we are to calculate what the illuminant is like, discount it and achieve colour constancy. Photoreceptors have therefore been shown to be heavily involved in colour constancy which provides evidence for the involvement of the nervous system. Young-Helmholtz (1800/1867) trichromatic theory of colour vision and Herings (1878) opponent process theory outlined previously in this essay provide evidence that photoreceptor cone cells within the retina are heavily involved in colour perception and constancy. Shepard (1990) stated that the trichromacy of human colour vision is a reflection of the three phases of natural light/illumination; light-dark light, red-green light (low sun) and yellow-blue light (poor illumination and sky light). To achieve colour constancy on the basis of their surface reflectances, the visual system must discount perceptually for the three types of variation in illumination. Shepard (1990) and Maloney and Wandell (1986) argued that trichromacy of the visual system allows for colour constancy. In conclusion it has been shown that the visual system is highly organised on a functional basis. The visual system is faced with many computational problems which it must solve. Evidence that functional specialisation of cortical areas, cone receptors and the retina are methods for which the nervous system uses to overcome the problem of colour constancy. Word Count: 1992. Baizer, Ungerkeider and Desimone, (1991). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, (pp.38). Psychology Press. Carlson, (7th edition). Physiology of Behaviour. pp184-186. Pearson Education Company. Daw, (1984). The psychology and physiology of colour vision. Trends in Neurosciences. Pp 330-336. E. Thompson (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. (pp80-105). New York: Routledge Eysenck M. Keane M (2005). Cognitive Psychology, 5th edition p.33-54. Psychology Press. Eysenck M. And Keane M. Cognitive Psychology, 5th edition p.49. Psychology Press. Gross, R, (2005) Psychology the science of mind and behaviour, (5th edition) p.89-91.Hodder Arnold. Hering (1878). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology. pp 50. Psychology Press. Hering (1878). In Gross, R, Psychology the science of mind and behaviour, 5th edition p.89 Heywood and Cowey, (1999). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, pp.53. Psychology Press. Kraft and Brainard, (1999). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, (pp.53). Psychology Press. Kuffler, S. W. (1953). Discharge patterns and functional organisation of mammalian retina. Journal of Neuropsychology, 16, pp37-68. Land (1977). In Thompson. E, (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. (pp81-90). New York: Routledge. Land, (1977, 1982). In E. Thompson (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. (pp81-86). New York: Routledge. Land (1977). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, (pp.52-53). Psychology Press. Luek et al. (1989). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, (pp 39). Psychology Press. Maloney, (1985). In E. Thompson (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. pp43. New York: Routledge. Maloney, (1985). In Thompson. E, (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. pp81. New York: Routledge. Maloney and Wandell (1986), In Thompson. E, (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. pp194-195. New York: Routledge. Marr, (1982). In E. Thompson (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. (pp42) New York: Routledge. Shepard, (1990). In Thompson. E, (first edition). Colour Vision. A study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception. (pp190-195). New York: Routledge. Snowden, Thompson and Troscianko, (2006). Basic Vision, an introduction to visual perception. (pp159-163). Oxford: University Press. Wade, Brewer, Rieger and Wandell, (2002). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, (pp 39). Psychology Press. West, G. (1979). Colour Perception and Limits of Colour Constancy. Journal of Mathematical Biology. 8, 47-53. Young-Helmholtz (1800/1867). In Gross, R, (2005). Psychology the science of mind and behaviour, 5th edition p.90. Hodder Arnold. Zeki (1992, 1993). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, pp.37-42. Psychology Press. Zeki (1983). In Eysenck M. And Keane M (5th edition). Cognitive Psychology, pp.53. Psychology Press. Zeki, (1977). Colour Coding in the Superior temporal sulcus of the rhesus monkey visual cortex. Proceeding of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences. Pp195-223.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Multimedia Elements Computer Science Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Multimedia Elements Computer Science Essay Text is one of the multimedia elements used in the website. Normally we can found it from Internet. Human are using text to communicate with other people. From Internet we can use E-mail to send text message to other people, we also can use share status or share anything you want to share to give your friend or family know what is on your mind. We also can share or give information in forum. There are some examples of Text elements. Source: http://www.friendster.com (share status) Source: http://www.hotmail.com (E-mail) Source: http://forum.lowyat.net (Forum) Audio Audio is one of the multimedia elements. Audio is sound within the acoustic range available to humans. Commonly we can hear many audio from Internet, Radio, MP3, Computer and so more. Now, we can listen music or download music from website, some people were make song and upload to Internet share to everyone, we also can embed favorite music to blog or website. Some of users use voice call to communicate with friend or family. There are some examples of Audio elements. Source: http://www.deezer.com/en (listen and download music) Source: https://www.blogger.com (embed to blog) Source: http://www.skype.com (voice call website) Video Video is one of the multimedia elements. Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing and transmitting of images that show scenes in motion. We can find many video from Internet. Some people make a flash video and upload to website to share with others. We also can use video conference to communicate with friend or family. We can watch movie from online or download the movie. There are some examples of Video elements. Source: http://www.youtube.com (watch video) Source: http://www.moviesdatacenter.com (watch movie) Source: Windows Live Messenger (video conference) Graphic Graphic is one of the multimedia elements. Graphic is a visual representation such as a photo, illustration, 3D or diagram. In the computer, a graphic is a file such as JPEG or GIF, there is graphic formats. Graphic is a picture image in the computer. We can use computer graphic to design a picture, flash or game. We can make more effect in the picture, make a flash video or make a game by using graphic software. Inside the Facebook, we also can see the graphic elements when we play the games. There are some examples of Graphic elements. Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended (make effect in the picture) Macromedia Flash MX (make flash video) Example of game has 3D graphic elements. Animation Animation is one of the multimedia elements. Animation is a visual technique that provides the illusion of motion by displaying a collection of images in rapid sequence. Each image contains a small change. When the images are viewed rapidly, your eye fills in the details and the illusion of movement is complete. We can make images become Animation by using software. The purpose of Animation is make entertainment to everyone. There are some examples of Animation elements. Example of pictures has Animation elements. QUESTION 2 Advantage and Disadvantage of Text Text is silent communications. One of example in our real life is text messaging, it can send message to each other without other people being able to hear what is being said. It is privacy to exchange messages with each other without fear of other people knowing what you are talking about. The advantage of Text is text messaging is the ability to be able to send a message to someone to ask them to call you later regarding something important. At the same time, it doesnt interrupt them with a phone call. It allows them to respond back to you when it is most convenient to them. The disadvantage of Text is sometimes you dont receive all incoming messages from people. Often a personà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s text messaging box will get so full with incoming and sent text messages. If the inbox gets too full then the person canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t receive anymore messages unless he or she deletes some of them. Advantage and Disadvantage of Audio Audio is sound within the acoustic range available to human. One of example in our real life is Audio Conference. It can communicate with other people. We can use mobile phone or use Internet to use the audio conference. The advantage of Audio is can combine with other media for example video, computer, MP3. When we are using audio conference, it cans potential for large number of lines on call. The disadvantage is noise can distract participants as well as cut out speaker. Audio is only the sound, it also limited visual stimulation. Advantage and Disadvantage of Video Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion. One of example in our real life is Video Conference. You can see the people face by video conference. The advantage of Video is when using video conference, it can see anyone you want to see, no matter what time of day it may be for anyone involved. Time differences between states and countries can be overlooked without anyone traveling long distances for the conference. The disadvantages are technical difficulties resulting from one or more of the following: software, hardware and network failure. Although advance testing could often identify technical trouble, the unexpected, spontaneous problem sometimes still arose minutes before or even during a videoconference. Advantage and Disadvantage of Graphic Graphic is a visual representation such as a photo, illustration or diagram. A graphic may contain text, but text by itself is not considered a graphic unless it is done in a stylized fashion. One of example in our real life is Advertisement. Because when we want to do advertise, we need do more creative in the poster. It uses a lot of graphic. The advantage of Graphic is quick way for the audience to visualize what you are saying, some of people more interest in the graphic than talk. The disadvantage of Graphic is it takes a lot of time to make. The cost also expensive, depending on the medium used. Advantage and Disadvantage of Animation Animation is a visual technique that provides the illusion of motion by displaying a collection of images in rapid sequence. One of example in our real life is Flash Video. It uses a lot of animation to make a flash video. Mostly animation is use for entertain people. The advantage of Animation is it more creative and mostly used the images like cartoon; it can make people attract it. The disadvantage of Animation is when makes a flash video and upload to Internet or blogger, when other people want to see this flash video, it take a lot of time to load or buffer.

Free Essays on Whartons Ethan Frome: Responsibilities :: Ethan Frome Essays

Ethan Frome - Responsibilities    Ethan Frome is the main character of Edith Wharton’s tragic novel. Ethan lives the bitterness of his youth’s lost opportunities, and dissatisfaction with his joyless life and empty marriage. Throughout the story Ethan is trapped by social limits and obligations to his wife. He lives an unhappy life with many responsibilities and little freedom. Ethan Frome studied science in college for a year and probably would have succeeded as an engineer or physicist had he not been summoned home to run the family farm and mill. Ethan quickly ended his schooling and went to run the family farm and mill because he feels it is his responsibility. He marries Zeena after the death of his mother, in an unsuccessful attempt to escape silence, isolation, and loneliness. Ethan also feels the responsibility to marry Zeena as a way to compensate her for giving up part of her life to nurse his mother. After marring Zeena he forgets his hope of every continuing his education and he is now force d to remain married to someone he does not truly love. Several Years after their marriage, cousin Mattie Silver is asked to relieve Zeena, who is constantly ill, of her house hold duties. Ethan finds himself falling in love with Mattie, drawn to her youthful energy, as, â€Å" The pure air, and the long summer hours in the open, gave life and elasticity to Mattie.† Ethan is attracted to Mattie because she is the opposite of Zeena, while Mattie is young, happy, healthy, and beautiful like the summer, Zeena is seven years older than Ethan, bitter, ugly and sickly cold like the winter. Zeena’s strong dominating personality undermines Ethan, while Mattie’s feminine, lively youth makes Ethan fell like a â€Å"real man.† Ethan and Mattie finally express their feeling for each other while Zeena is visiting the doctor, and are forced to face the painful reality that their dreams of being together can not come true. The return to reality was as painful as the return to consciousness after taking and anaesthetic. His body and brain ached with indescribable weariness, and he could not think of nothing to say or do that would arrest the mad flight of the moments He desperately wanted to run away with Mattie, but he could not leave because his practical sense told him it was not suitable to do so partly because of his responsibility to take care of Zeena.

Social Networking: Privacy Issues Essay -- Facebook, Twitter, Internet

Is it an invasion of privacy, if we place our private thoughts and photos on social websites and other people besides out friends and family view it? Who really reads the terms of use and conditions in a privacy statement online? We just click the checkbox and keep on going. If we had to read each and every single line, no one would ever sign up on a social networking site. How do users protect themselves through the forest of privacy options so they can get the most out of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter with the least amount of risk? The more information a user gives to the social network the greater risk that someone could misuse or steal information. Most users do not understand how to protect themselves and go through the necessary steps for protection on cyberspace. There are several problems with adding contact information in your profile. If you do not lock out this information to the friends you want to have such information, anyone that views your page can get you contact information such as cell phone, IM screen name, address, city and email address. According to the Web site geek system, Cryptome, a whistleblower site got their hands on Microsoft’s â€Å"Global Criminal Compliance Handbook,† a comprehensive 22 page guide running down surveillance services Microsoft perform for law enforcement agencies on its various online platforms, which includes detailed instructions from IP address extraction (Quigley, 2010). This article published electronic surveillance guides for Facebook, AOL and Skype (Quigley, 2010). According to Facebook search warrant guidelines data retrieval is based upon a Facebook user ID or group id (Facebook, 2008). When the Facebook ID is not available they can locate a user by using their email a... ... top 50 U.S. web properties for June 2010, Retrieved August 08, 2010 from: http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/7/comScore_Media_Metrix_Ranks_Top_50_U.S._Web_Properties_for_June_2010/%28language%29/eng-US comScore (2010b, June 2). Social networking ranks fastest growing mobile content category, Fastest growing content catergories via browser access 3 month avg. Retrieved August 8, 2010 from: http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/Social_Networking_Ranks_as_Fastest-Growing_Mobile_Content_Category/%28language%29/eng-US comScore. (2010c, July 28). Social networking sites reach a higher percentage of women than men worldwide. Reston, VA: Retrieved on August 4, 2010 from: http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/7/Social_Networking_Sites_Reach_a_Higher_Percentage_of_Women_than_Men_Worldwide/%28language%29/eng-US

The Practical Ways of Spending Money

What is better? To spend money Saving and investing your money for the future is one of the most practical things you can do. This is solid advice, but when you do decide to spend your hard earned money it should be spent on something practical, useful, and meaningful to the wellbeing of your existence. So many people either save their money or blow it on worthless crap. Here are some practical ways to spend your money on something useful: 1.Travel to See the Significant People in Your Life – There may be no better way to spend your money than to use it to nurture and rekindle personal relationships with the most significant people in your life. As time quickly passes, we sometimes forget how essential strong personal relationships are to our mental wellbeing. The older we get the more we need true friends and family to be regular parts of our lives. 2. Hire a Personal Trainer – Your health is your life. Without it, all the success and affluence in the world is meaningl ess.Committing yourself to a regular exercise routine is one of the best ways to maintain the health of your body and mind. Sometimes it’s hard to tackle this endeavor on your own. Spending money on a knowledgeable personal trainer who can set you on the right course creates priceless results. Make sure you stick with the trainer until you are committed to exercising on your own. 3. Fix What Is Broken – Have you been ignoring your screeching brakes? What about the excessively loud hum from your AC compressor?Or the scratching noise coming from your computer system? Sooner or later these small annoyances will wear down the reliability of the product and you will be left with a completely broken product instead of just a halfway broken one. Use your money wisely to fix and maintain your belongings. 4. Educate Yourself – Use your money to purchase educational courses or books pertaining to your career, or to a miscellaneous topic that interests and intrigues you. R emember, knowledge is power and your brain is the container of that knowledge.There are few options for spending money on something more practical than the development and facility of your brain. 5. Add Value to Your Home – Your home should be your sanctuary, the place on this planet where you feel the most comfortable. Adding value to your home , be it personal value or increased monetary value, is always a practical choice for spending your money. If the additions you make increase your level of comfort for years to come, you win. If they increase the value of the home to a third party someday when you sell, you win. If both occur, you win big.

Havoc During Rainy Season

A few days after ceaseless rain lashed the regions in Thane and stranded some localities, the risk of infectious diseases stares large at the residents. With a massive dumping ground right in front of the railways station at Vithalwadi and a sewer flowing in the rear, it seems like an open invitation to the various diseases, which increases manifold during monsoon. Khadegolwadi, which saw knee- deep waters on Friday could not unclog, though the water receded by a few centimetres.As it is a fully grown residential area, people spent their entire day cleaning their homes. Chocked drains, sewers and dumping grounds caused problems in the area. â€Å"Each time it rains, garbage along with diseases come to our house,† said Aarti Bhagwat, a resident. Her neighbour Preeti Pandey added,† We all know what sewers and dumping grounds in the vicinity means, malaria, dengue and other water borne diseases.†It may be noted that the Thane Municipal Corporation suspended an officer and recommended departmental enquiry against the other finding them a prima facia guilty of the problem. Complaining over that, another resident Sarita Kolhapure said,† suspending officials is of no use to us, it does not solve our problem. These past few days were pathetic for us, what will happen if such rain continues for next couple of months. † Similar problems persisted in different localities around the dumping site.â€Å"Garbage that flew with the rain got scattered all around as the potholed road was filled with dirty water,† said Karishma Tiwari, a housewife. City-based doctors warned against the risk of diseases in the rainy season. â€Å"People with a weak immune system fall prey to microbes that roam freely in the air during monsoon,† said Dr Kishor Gandecha. He added that garbage heaps rot more than usual in rains, which catalyses growth of disease causing virus and bacteria.â€Å"The best way to avoid disease is to wash hands with soap and drink boiled water,† he said. Suggesting other ways to keep diseases at bay, the doctors said, â€Å"People should avoid intake of stale or cut food, don't let water stagnate inside or near the homes and stay away from public places if one is suffering with viral fever of disease. They also enumerated signs of disease which include body ache, vomiting, pain in abdomen and loose motions are the first signs of the monsoon maladies. But, there are a number of measures that people can resort to†.