Arizona Immigration Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arizona Immigration Law - Essay Example â€Å"Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the nation’s toughest bill on illegal immigration into law in April 2010. Its aim is to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants† (Archibold). Even though, the above bill got some support in Arizona and some other parts of America, many of the prominent political leaders including President Obama and scholars slammed Arizona’s decision to implement such a bill in its territory. Many others expressed their doubts about the legal validity of such a bill considering the fact that America is a federal republic. I strongly believe that Arizona immigration bill is totally against the constitution of America and this paper argues against it. America is currently facing huge manpower shortage in almost the entire segments of the professional world or employment segments. In fact President Obama is trying hard to regulate or prohibit outsourcing jobs. He knows very well that American organizations outsource its jobs to chea p labor markets in order to reduce their expenses. In America, availability of skilled labor is extremely low and therefore it is highly expensive. In fact, illegal immigrants are ready to work on cheaper rates, which is a blessing to the American organizations, especially to the small and medium scale industries. California is one state in which small and medium scale industry is completely dependent on illegal immigrants who are ready to work on cheaper rates. Because of that California is able to compete effectively in the market by reducing the price of their products and services. Arizona is going to suffer heavily because of the crackdown of illegal immigrants and subsequent underdevelopment in small and medium scale industries. Small and medium scale industries are actually controlling the economy of a state and any problems created in this sector may adversely affect the state in the long run. In short, Arizona is going to lose millions of dollars in its revenue as a result of this controversial immigration law. This law creates a suspect class, based in part on ethnicity, considered guilty until they prove themselves innocent. It makes it harder for illegal immigrants to live without scrutiny -- but it also makes it harder for some American citizens to live without suspicion and humiliation. Americans are not accustomed to the command 'Your papers, please,' however politely delivered (Arizona's Hard Line on Immigration: Pros and Cons) One of the surprising things about this controversial bill is the decision of American Supreme Court. â€Å"The Supreme Court gave a big boost to proponents of stricter state laws against illegal immigration by upholding Arizona's "business death penalty" for employers who repeatedly hire undocumented workers† (Savage). In other words, Supreme Court upheld the decision of Arizona to punish the employers who employ illegal immigrants. Even though three of the total eight members in the jury gave their verdict again st the law, majority of the jury supported the law and allowed Arizona to implement it without any reconsideration. â€Å"The court's majority opinion, written by its chief justice, John Roberts, rejected arguments by business and civil rights groups and the Obama administration that the Arizona law conflicted with federal immigration law and must be struck down† (Arizona immigration law upheld by supreme court). Supreme Court also upheld the right of a state in passing such a controversial law. In my opinion, Supreme Court failed to

Heritage Valley Medical Center Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Heritage Valley Medical Center - Assignment Example In the past, Heritage Valley Medical Center was a very successful medical facility, serving all its patients with dignity and equality to an extent that both the community and the staff of the facility were completely satisfied with the services. However, this has changed over time, with the introduction of a change in the medical policy that allowed more minority population to access the services offered by the facility. This change saw the community patient ratios change from the initial 80% Caucasian, 15% African American, and 5% Hispanic, to a new ratio of 50% Caucasian, 40% African, and 10% Hispanic. With this change, the financial capacity of the medical center has gown down, since the increase in the minority community patients means a reduction in private pay patients and thus money paid for the medical services (Buchbinder & Thompson, 2010). However, the ethnic composition of the health medical center staff did not change, having the facilities team dominated by the Caucasian medical professionals, while the African Americans dominated the support and the administrative staff segment of the facility. The Hispanic community was barely represented, having just one manager in the entire team. The whole executive team was dominated by Caucasians who made a 100% of the team members. There was a good cooperation between the staff of the facilities, until a report regarding the satisfaction of the communities with the facility services was discussed at a meeting. During the meeting, it became apparent that the minorities were not satisfied with the services. ... This indicates that the facility staff composition has not put gender balance policy in place (Buchbinder & Thompson, 2010). Another issue identifiable in this case is the lack of diversity in the staff composition under some segments. While the executive and the medical professional segments are represented by the Caucasian predominantly, the administrative and support staff segment is represented by the African Americans. The Hispanics do not seem to have any representation in the staff team. This is a clear indication that there lacks diversity in the staff team (Buchbinder & Thompson, 2010). Cultural value disrespect is yet another issue that is apparent in this case. The Caucasian staffs do not seem to value the cultures of other communities, especially the minority communities. They regard the language of other communities as intolerable, while perceiving the accompanying of minority patients by their family members into the facility as uncivilized. The African Americans on the other hand do not seem to be proud of their culture, and they disregard the cultures of the Hispanics and the Asians, arguing they need to learn how to speak in English. Language barrier is yet another issue observable in the case, where the patients and the staffs do not seem to understand each other when they are communicating (Buchbinder & Thompson, 2010). The nurses argue that they cannot understand the language spoken by the Asians and the Africans, and as such, they may not be able to serve their needs appropriately. Nepotism is yet another issue identified in the case, where the Caucasian community patients seems satisfied with the services offered by the medical center, while the other

Negative Effects of the Industrial Revolution

Negative Effects of the Industrial Revolution 1834 in Lowell, Massachusetts; chants of Union is Power could be heard as the young girls of Lowell Mills took to the streets to protest a wage cut of 15-20% to their already meager salaries. Banded together as one, with a common sense of companionship and unity bred from long hours of working side by side; the girls attempted to keep their earnings. An attempt that only ended in defeat, and the firing , of many. This is only a small example of the many indecencies done to society during the Industrial Revolution of America. From 1824 to 1840 the Jacksonian Era raged in America, a period in time in which the common man became the focal point of politics and the Industrial Revolution reared its head; changing the country economically as well as socially. In this time period The United States of America went from a mainly agricultural based economy to one that relied heavily on textiles and manufacturing. Several factors contributed to this occurrence: new technology, new fuel sources, advancements in transportation, a rise in immigration, and the creation of the telegraph which led to faster communication not only in America but also across the sea. Technological advancements were accompanied by a drastic rise in the population, not only had the average birth rate risen, immigration had added hundreds of thousands new residences in a relatively small period of time, mostly coming from Ireland and Germany. In the mid-1840s Ireland was faced with the Potato Famine, an extreme drought that left more than two million dead. In an attempt to escape this condition, and find a country that could not only support them but in which they could also make a living, many Irish immigrated to America. Unfortunately, many of these immigrants reached the land of plenty with insufficient means and were forced to stay in the cities being unable to afford expanding westward into new territory, or even owning any land at all. Due to their financial situations, many Irish immigrants were taken advantage of by the natives. Boston was a good example of the abuse that occurred to the Irish. Landlords were known to divide former single family dwellings into inexpensive housing charging a single Irish family living in a nine by eleven foot room with poor ventilation, no water, unsanitary conditions, and no daylight for around $1.50 a week. The demand for housing was astronomical and the cramped, overpopulated conditions that steamed from this need became a breeding place for diseases; especially cholera. Of all the Irish children born in Boston during this period, sixty percent did not live to see their sixth birthday, and the adult Irish lived an average of only six years after stepping off the boat into America. Most of this death and disease was simply caused by poor housing. A Boston Committee of International Health described an Irish slum as, a perfect hive of human beings, without comforts and mostly without common necessities; in many cases huddled together like brutes, without regard for to age or sex or sense of decency. Under such circumstances, self-respect, forethought, all the high noble virtues soon die out, and sullen indifference and despair or disorder, intemperance and utter degradation reign supreme. Not only were the new Irish immigrants faced with horrible living conditions, they were also discriminated against heavily by the native Americans. The Protestant population that could trace their origins all the way back to the earliest English settlers did not take very kindly to the newcomers. Not only were they stealing scarce jobs that were in high demand in their eyes, but they were also Catholics. Protestants were extremely against any religion that wasnt theirs, especially Catholics who were rumored to be cannibals among other things. It was this resentment that helped fund a strong nativist/ anti-Immigration movement and helped to later form the Know-Nothing Party. This discrimination along with the fear that the Irish immigrants would take much needed jobs led to the placement of NINA signs on many factories, or No Irish Need Apply . Germans, the other major European nationality emigrating to America at this time, faired slightly better due to the fact that they arrived in North America in much better financial standings. However, they were still forced to deal with discrimination and were still forced down to the bottom of the social ladder. Many ended up pushing westward and keeping to themselves, forming German communities. Women were another group that was greatly affected by the Industrial Revolution. Before the Industrial Revolution farm women and girls made a living for their families; spinning yarn, weaving cloth, and making candles, soap, butter, and cheese. However, with the new technology in manufacturing goods, these women were displaced by factories that could produce the same products at a much quicker pace and at greater quantities. While these factories took away one part of their livelihood, they attempted to make up for it by offering employment to them, promising a new economic independence and the ability to afford all of the manufactured products of the time. This promise was misleading; the reality of the matter was that these factory girls typically worked long, grueling thirteen hour days, six days a week. They earned a meager salary, much below the male workers of those days, for limb-numbing, mind-draining, dangerous work in which the machinery could seriously or even fatally injure a girl of she made a mistake. On top of that, they were made to live in a small boarding house owned by their employers, carefully watched and held at a very strict time schedule that ran their lives leaving these young women with no free time. Their lives were lived from whistle to whistle, its blowing signaling when to wake up, eat breakfast, go to work, and every other aspect of their lives including going to church every Sunday. The factories also claimed that they would provide education for their young workers. However, this was generally meant to be done on the ladies own time that of which there was little. A young woman who worked in the Lowell M ills of Massachusetts in 1845 wrote about her living conditions, Crowded into a small room, which contains three beds and six females, all possessing the without end tongue of women, what chance is there for studying?Despite the constant restriction these women were set in a new environment far from home with no mother-like figure to guide them. These boarding houses provided plenty of temptations and the lack of guidance was surely an equation for trouble. Another problem that arose with women in the workplace was the rearing of the next generation. Long hours in the factories, year after year, led to a physically and emotional premature breakdown of these women. When it came time to raise their own children who were to be the next generation, many times they had to continue working or were ill after the added stress that child birth put on them. A young Lowell Mill girl simply known as Julianna commented that, It has been remarked by some writer that the mother educates the man. Now, if this be a truth, as we believe it is, to a very great extent, what, we would ask, are we to expect, the same labor prevailing, will be the mental and intellectual character of the future generations of New England? The Industrial Revolution which led to the employment of women completely disrupted the cult of domesticity that was in place at this time. Despite the fact that this cult of domesticity was almost necessary to the bringing up of children at this time, it was also something that most women wanted. They looked forward to raising their children at home; this was a society that was still predominantly family orientated. A new way of looking at life was becoming prominent with the Industrial Revolution. The strive to make money in order to survive and obtain the luxuries now available to the general population through the new manufacturing technologies brought about the idea that money equaled happiness. That, To get, and to have the reputation of possessing, is the ruling passion ( Bellows, Henry W. The Influence of the Trading Spirit ,1845) is the new American ideal. According to Henry W. Bellows , this new drive for material possessions and money was creating an anxiety in the people of America, making them fundamentally unhappy. The basic moralities that used to drive the nation were no longer, and the new need for material conquests had taken over creating an every man for himself environment. In other countries in the world, happiness is as easy as maintaining a family business and making enough financially to support a family, but not so in America. Where work had driven American families ti b e gone from the home for most of the day and to neglect the family. This bread an unfortunate consequence of unhappiness during the Jacksonian period. All of these factors can add up to and attribute to one of the most influential social changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution; a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. Through the new market enterprise, those in charge continuously took advantage of the less fortunate, gaining wealth without fail. Whereas those who were poor only continued to become more so. This widening of the social gap was beneficial to none but the highest of classes leaving the majority to despair and strive to survive. The Industrial Revolution from 1824 to 1840 was a time of drastic change. An influx of new immigrants, over population, new social roles for women, a new American ideal, and a widening gap between social classes were all unfortunate repercussions of this movement that drastically changed the way society ran for the worse. Creating a negative impact that categorizes this era and provides a building block for unrest in the Civil War. Sources Cited: 1834 Lowell Mill Girls Turnout to Protest Wage Cuts. Massachusets AFL-CIO. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. . Bellows, Henry W. The Influence of the Trading Spirit. 1845. Print Robinson, Harriet H. Memories of a Factory Girl. 1898. Print. A Young Woman Writes of the Evils of Factory Life in 1845. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. 146-47. Print. A New England Woman Describes the Responsibilities of American Women in 1847. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. 148-49. Print. A Young Woman Writes of the Evils of Factory Life in 1845. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle RIver: Pearson Education, 2007. 146-47. Print. A New England Factory Issues Regulations for Workers. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. 146-47. Print.

Managing Information Systems In Organizations Essay -- Database Manage

Managing Information Systems In Organizations INTRODUCTION In recent years, there has been an abundance of new technologies in the information systems field. These new technologies have altered the very development process itself. Information systems have gone from being a series of one level databases to three dimensional reality, virtual reality, and multimedia systems. In the early days of information systems, the demands were for data, with no real function of artificial intelligence. However, as the 21st century approaches, business has taken on an entirely different function, and the need for individual information systems has grown immensely. This demand for information technology is in all areas of business: corporations, law, medicine, science and even small business. In addition, the worldwide web and the Internet have added an additional factor of communications. Most information systems in use today require at the very least, a measure of Internet capability. In order to understand the changes in these development processes, the history of databases should be analyzed. BACKGROUND Database Management Systems actually began in the 1950s, with what is known as the first generation, also known as file systems on tape. The major task of any computer in those days was to process data under the control of a program. This primarily meant calculating, counting and simple tasks. Second generation databases, file systems on disk, allowed use of computers in dialogue mode as well as batch mode. The development of magnetic disks allowed for more sophisticated file systems, making multiple access possible. These first two generations of DBMS were characterized by the availability of file systems only; strictly speaking these were the forerunners of database systems, the foundations. An important component of these database systems were the static association of certain data sets (files) with individual programs that would concentrate on these. There were high redundancy problems between files; inconsistencies when one program made changes that are not made in all programs; inflexibility against changes in applications; low productivity by programmers since program maintenance was expensive; and the problem of adopting and maintaining standards for coding and data formats. The third generation, pre-relational databases, started in the 1960s a... ... rapid development in this area, not only in technology but also in functionality. Information Systems will rapidly emerge into a wealth of applications until it eventually becomes an extension of the person (maybe in a literal sense some day). That, I believe, is the future. Works Cited: Cattell, R.G.G., â€Å"Object Data Management: Object-oriented and Extended Relational Database Systems† Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1991. Gagnon, Gabrielle, â€Å"Data Warehousing: An Overview† PC Magazine, March 9, 1999. Hammond, Mark, â€Å"DRDA Standard Could Finally Get Rival Databases Talking†, PC Week, December 7, 1998. Mayor, Tracy, â€Å"Look Ma, No Hands† PC Week, July 1, 1996. Coskun, Samli A., â€Å"Information-Driven Marketing Decisions: Development of Strategic Information Systems† Quorum Books, 1996. Schindler, Esther, â€Å"The Computer Speech Book† Academic Press, Inc., 1996. Sichel, Daniel E., â€Å"The Computer Revolution - An Economic Perspective† The Brookings Institution, 1997. Vossen, Gottfried, â€Å"Data Models, Database languages and Database Management Systems† Wokingham, 1991. Watterson, Karen, â€Å"Blueprint For A Database† Data Based Advisor, June, 1990.

Nordstrom Essay

The economic crisis that started in 2007 affected the business of upscale department stores countrywide. Upscale department stores understand that the items they sell are considered discretionary items, so when there is an economic downturn, they are one of the first industries to be hit. When looking over the Nordstrom Annual Reports from the last few years, there are two things evident: this company has a lasting strategy and they work hard to continuously evolve this strategy. Their strategy includes constantly evaluating risks in the market such as economic conditions, competitive market forces, availability of merchandise, and growth. With an incredible sense to stay ahead of the trends, minimize turnover time, and serve their customers with an uncanny ability, they have easily become one of the top department stores in the country. Nordstrom’s core strength revolves around their customer-first attitude, customer loyalty and their aptitude for merchandising. Going forward we want to be more than just customer focused. Instead, we’re working to become a truly customer-driven organization. †[1] One way Nordstrom is working to become more customer-driven is by building upon their multi-channel system. This multi-channel network, known as Nordstrom Direct, is made up of their online site, and catalog. Over the past three years, Nordstrom has made great strides to ensure that they are fulfilling the needs and desires of all customers. â€Å"We believe online and ecommerce represent our next big opportunities. Within two years more customers will access the Internet via their phone than their computers. We’re responding†[2] All of the effort put into the improvement of the system is showing clear results in the financials. The economic recession was felt all over the U. S. including Nordstrom, however they were able to experience an 8. 4% increase in Nordstrom Direct sales during the 2008 fiscal year. [3] Along with improving Nordstrom Direct, an immense amount of effort is being devoted to both the full-line stores and the Nordstrom Rack. Not only has the number of stores expanded over the last few years with a growth of sixteen new stores in 2009 and twenty in 2010, they are capitalizing on their merchandising. Nordstrom takes immense pride in their buyers and the work that these buyers have done over the last few years at the core of the company. They ensure that they are maximizing merchandise flexibility to maintain trends and to evolve with the customers and their ever-changing wants. Merchandise is now as current as it’s ever been, and there is a steady, fresh flow of fashion in and out of the store with a quick turnover system that has been set in place. Customer loyalty is one of the top ways Nordstrom keeps their customers coming back. The relationship with a Nordstrom employee and the customer is a two-way street. The company makes their priorities known and their customers are loyal to them because of it, responding in a very positive way to the services provided. Employees pride themselves on their relationships with customers and ability to provide them with an enjoyable shopping experience. Nordstrom was fortunate to maintain themselves as a company through the 2008 crisis, with a maximum decline of 12. % in sales and a quick rebound. By 2010 they had increased in-store sales by 8. 1% and set a record-breaking sales number at $9. 31 billion. The right strategy and actions performed in the right circumstances will produce growth, and this is what Nordstrom continues to experience with their customer service strategies. â€Å"We plan to keep a steady focus on our customers. We follow, first and foremost, a customer strategy at Nordstrom — not a price, brand, technology or any other corporate strategy. †

Can Technology Make Us More Human? Essay

INTRODUCTION Humanity is the human race, which includes everyone on Earth. It’s also a word for the qualities that make us human, such as the ability to love and have compassion, be creative, and not be a robot or alien. While in the other hand, technology is a word with Greek origins defined as the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area. Besides, technology is a word used to collectively describe or portray the advancements, abilities, creations undertakings, views, and knowledge of a singular group of persons which is us, the humankind. When we speak about relationships between technology and humanity, it is evident that we have to deal with the interrelations between some very complex phenomena of technology, science society or systems of society and systems of rights of a universal nature. The discovery and development of a large number of powerful energy source-coal, petroleum and electricity have enabled humanity to conquer the barriers of nature. All of t his has facilities growth of fast modes of transport, which in turn has transformed the world into a global village. It has shaped our civilization from scrap. Every invention escalated human hunger to know more. Every time it has pushed human potential to a new level. Back in The Stone Age, when humans were still in a jungle, an invention like sharp stone helped them to hunt better and fire helped them to taste food better. Wheels helped them to explore new boundaries, and domestication of animals made life more secure. An invention of currency eased the transaction and barter system was let go. The colonial era began as the invention of advanced weaponry and transportation such as ships which changed the phase of history. More advanced inventions came like the birth of steam engines, the invention of corporations, and mass transportation gained momentum. Then, along came diesel engines, which personalized machine transportation even more. And the Wright brothers forever changed the way of travel by air transportation, like inventing aircraft. As for communication, transistors was the well-known invention, which changed the way we compute, including land phones which also a big part of the communication changes. Personal computers and workstations which reduced paper consumption in offices and mobile phones which permanently changed the world of communication. Then, the best invention of all is the Internet. It localized the whole world as it changed the way we look at the world. And created tons of entrepreneurs and innovators some of the best creation such as e-commerce, which changed the way we access our daily needs, social media which changed the way we communicate with other people, e-banking, which you don’t have to travel all the way, and stand in line just to transfer any amount you want. The e-wallets, which we do not have to stand in line to pay our electricity bills and phone bills. You also have the access to quality education from across the globe. While walking this path we have screwed up the following such as overpopulating the earth. The invention of medicine eradicated the deadly diseases thus reducing death rates. Within a century, we have increased 5 fold of population. We messed up the natural resources and permanently killing almost 30% of species of the Earth and 20% more are critically endangered species which may soon get extinct. Though we take a lot of pride in our invention and development, what we forgot is we share this planet with other species and if we don’t realize it soon, well the planet itself has its own way of controlling things.

Free Essays on Ivy League Education

Is there any cost too high for success? According to David Brooks, the author of â€Å"The Organization Kid†, America’s youth are hard at work striving to achieve. These leaders of tomorrow progess step-by-step towards their ambitious goals; but they do so in a society that has molded achievers, with the cost of character. In his article, Brooks brings to light the question of whether morals are sacrificed as a result of increased emphasis on achievement and success. Growing up during a period of relative political, economical, and cultural stability in America, Brooks maintains that the elite have acquired a changed values system. Rather than being taught to be individuals, they have learned to be conformists. Rather than challenging authority, they accept it without question. This generation of achievers has been programmed to please since early childhood when activities were planned specifically for enrichment and development. Brooks sheds some light on the direction in which the country is going: â€Å"The Romantics- and the neo-Romantics of the 1960s and 1970s- thought that children were†¦natural beings, as yet uncontaminated by the soul-crushing conventions of adult society. Hence they should be left free to explore, to develop their own creative tendencies, to learn at their own pace. Now, in contrast, children are to be stimulated and honed.†(Brooks). Brooks implies that the country is moving in a direction which sacrif ices moral character for accomplishment. This viewis supported when he states, â€Å"The most striking difference between and this one is that its members were relatively unconcerned with academic achievement, but went to enormous lengths to achieve character. We, on the other hand, place enormous emphasis on achievement, but are tongue-tied and hesitant when it comes to what makes for a virtuous life.†(Brooks). The American youth work from point â€Å"a† to point â€Å"b† for the sake of reaching ... Free Essays on Ivy League Education Free Essays on Ivy League Education Is there any cost too high for success? According to David Brooks, the author of â€Å"The Organization Kid†, America’s youth are hard at work striving to achieve. These leaders of tomorrow progess step-by-step towards their ambitious goals; but they do so in a society that has molded achievers, with the cost of character. In his article, Brooks brings to light the question of whether morals are sacrificed as a result of increased emphasis on achievement and success. Growing up during a period of relative political, economical, and cultural stability in America, Brooks maintains that the elite have acquired a changed values system. Rather than being taught to be individuals, they have learned to be conformists. Rather than challenging authority, they accept it without question. This generation of achievers has been programmed to please since early childhood when activities were planned specifically for enrichment and development. Brooks sheds some light on the direction in which the country is going: â€Å"The Romantics- and the neo-Romantics of the 1960s and 1970s- thought that children were†¦natural beings, as yet uncontaminated by the soul-crushing conventions of adult society. Hence they should be left free to explore, to develop their own creative tendencies, to learn at their own pace. Now, in contrast, children are to be stimulated and honed.†(Brooks). Brooks implies that the country is moving in a direction which sacrif ices moral character for accomplishment. This viewis supported when he states, â€Å"The most striking difference between and this one is that its members were relatively unconcerned with academic achievement, but went to enormous lengths to achieve character. We, on the other hand, place enormous emphasis on achievement, but are tongue-tied and hesitant when it comes to what makes for a virtuous life.†(Brooks). The American youth work from point â€Å"a† to point â€Å"b† for the sake of reaching ...

Free Essays on Reality Therapy

Reality Therapy: An Ongoing Process. â€Å"Regardless of what has happened in our lives, or what we have done in the past, we can choose behaviors that will help us meet our needs more effectively in the future.† (Glasser, 2003). William Glasser developed a program based on this statement. The therapy is called Reality therapy. Glasser, an American psychologist, developed reality therapy in the mid sixties and it still continues to evolve by his hand today. Reality therapy is just one of several counseling methods which teaches people how to direct their own lives, make better choices, and develop coping mechanisms to better handle stress. The difference in reality therapy is the idea that â€Å"regardless of what has happened in our lives, or what has been done in the past, we can choose behaviors that will help us meet our needs more effectively in the future†(Glasser 2003). The practice, the appeal and the payoff of the program are essential keys to fully understanding this method of counseling. The practice of reality therapy is an ongoing process made up of two major components. One, the counselor must have a trusting relationship with the patient so that they can feel safe. The counselor must secondly; use techniques, which help a person to the realization of what they really want. The patient must then reflect on their current situation, and create a new plan for fulfilling their wants in the future. The Appeal of this method is that it’s both very efficient and straightforward. The program puts the responsibility of fixing the problem on the patient. It is said to be self-empowering and doesn’t dig into the patients past failures but instead takes a positive forward approach. The procedure leading to the change has 8 steps not to be followed in any certain order. The goal upon completion of the steps is that â€Å"people can live their lives more successfully when they acknowledge and accept responsibility for their ... Free Essays on Reality Therapy Free Essays on Reality Therapy Reality Therapy: An Ongoing Process. â€Å"Regardless of what has happened in our lives, or what we have done in the past, we can choose behaviors that will help us meet our needs more effectively in the future.† (Glasser, 2003). William Glasser developed a program based on this statement. The therapy is called Reality therapy. Glasser, an American psychologist, developed reality therapy in the mid sixties and it still continues to evolve by his hand today. Reality therapy is just one of several counseling methods which teaches people how to direct their own lives, make better choices, and develop coping mechanisms to better handle stress. The difference in reality therapy is the idea that â€Å"regardless of what has happened in our lives, or what has been done in the past, we can choose behaviors that will help us meet our needs more effectively in the future†(Glasser 2003). The practice, the appeal and the payoff of the program are essential keys to fully understanding this method of counseling. The practice of reality therapy is an ongoing process made up of two major components. One, the counselor must have a trusting relationship with the patient so that they can feel safe. The counselor must secondly; use techniques, which help a person to the realization of what they really want. The patient must then reflect on their current situation, and create a new plan for fulfilling their wants in the future. The Appeal of this method is that it’s both very efficient and straightforward. The program puts the responsibility of fixing the problem on the patient. It is said to be self-empowering and doesn’t dig into the patients past failures but instead takes a positive forward approach. The procedure leading to the change has 8 steps not to be followed in any certain order. The goal upon completion of the steps is that â€Å"people can live their lives more successfully when they acknowledge and accept responsibility for their ... Free Essays on Reality Therapy Reality Therapy Reality Therapy is the method of counseling that Dr. Glasser has been teaching since 1962. He published a book named Reality Therapy the same year. It is now firmly based on Choice Theory and its successful application is dependent on the counselor’s familiarity with, and the knowledge of, that theory. In fact, teaching choice theory to counselees is now part of Reality Therapy. Reality Therapy, though catchy, is easily misunderstood to do with giving people â€Å"a dose of reality.† In fact, the approach is far more people- friendly and people- centered than that. Reality therapy is a very powerful tool for personal growth, accomplishing goals, and measuring progress. Almost all approaches to psychology assume that people have certain basic needs and, indeed, there is broad agreement on what these needs are. In Reality therapy, they are classified under five headings: Power, Love & Belonging, Freedom, Fun, and Survival. One of the core principles of Reality Th erapy is that, whether we are aware of it or not, we are all the time acting to meet these needs. The goal of Reality Therapy is to help people reconnect. This reconnection usually starts with counselor first connecting with the individual and then using this connection as a model for how the disconnected person can begin to connect with the people he or she needs. To create the relationship vital to Reality Therapy, the counselor will focus on the present and avoid discussing the past because all human problems are caused by unsatifasfying present relationships. Avoid discussing symptoms and complaints as much as possible, since these are the ways that counselees choose to deal with unsatisfying relationships. Understand the concept of total behavior, which means focus on what counselees can do directly-act and think. Spend less time on what they cannot do directly; that is, change their feelings and physiology. Feelings and physiology can ... Free Essays on Reality Therapy Reality Therapy Abstract: Reality Therapy is the method of counseling that Dr. Glasser has been teaching since 1962. He published a book named Reality Therapy the same year. Reality Therapy, though catchy, is easily misunderstood to do with giving people â€Å"a dose of reality.† In fact, the approach is far more people- friendly and people- centered than that. Reality therapy is a very powerful tool for personal growth, accomplishing goals, and measuring progress. Almost all approaches to psychology assume that people have certain basic needs and, indeed, there is broad agreement on what these needs are. In Reality therapy, they are classified under five headings: Power, Love & Belonging, Freedom, Fun, and Survival. The goal of Reality Therapy is to help people reconnect. To create the relationship vital to Reality Therapy, the counselor will focus on the present and avoid discussing the past because all human problems are caused by unsatifasfying present relationships. Avoid criticizing, bla ming and complaining and help counselees to do the same. By doing this, they will learn to avoid the extremely harmful external control behaviors that destroy relationships. If the choice of behaviors is not getting people closer, then the counselor works to help them to find new behaviors that lead to a better connection. Focus on specifics. Help them make specific, workable plans to reconnect with people they need, and then follow through on what was planned by helping them evaluate their progress. Help them to understand, through teaching them choice theory and encouraging them to read the book, Choice Theory: a New Psychology of Personal Freedom, that whatever their complaint, reconnecting is the best possible solution to their problem. Reality therapy employs some key questions that help us with self-examination. The first question in reality therapy centers on the main goal, target, or objective. Doing is placed at the hear...

Magnesium Facts (Mg or Atomic Number 12)

Magnesium Facts (Mg or Atomic Number 12) Magnesium is an element that is essential for human nutrition. This alkaline earth metal has atomic number 12 and element symbol Mg. The pure element is a silver-colored metal, but it tarnishes in air to give it a dull appearance. Crystals of pure magnesium metal. Lester V. Bergman / Getty Images Magnesium  Basic Facts Atomic Number: 12 Symbol: Mg Atomic Weight: 24.305 Discovery: Recognized as an element by Black 1775; Isolated by Sir Humphrey Davy 1808 (England). Magnesium first came into use as magnesium sulfate or Epsom salt. The story goes that in 1618 a farmer in Epsom, England could not get his cattle to drink from a well with bitter-tasting water, yet the water seemed to heal skin conditions. The substance in the water (magnesium sulfate) came to be known as Epsom salts. Electron Configuration: [Ne] 3s2 Word Origin: Magnesia, a district in Thessaly, Greece (Davy initially suggested the name magnium.) Properties: Magnesium has a melting point of 648.8 °C, boiling point of 1090 °C, specific gravity of 1.738 (20 °C), and valence of 2. Magnesium metal is light (one-third lighter than aluminum), silvery-white, and relatively tough. The metal tarnishes slightly in air. Finely divided magnesium ignites upon heating in air, burning with a bright white flame. Uses: Magnesium is used in pyrotechnic and incendiary devices. It is alloyed with other metals to make them lighter and more easily welded, with applications in the aerospace industry. Magnesium is added to many propellents. It is used as a reducing agent in the preparation of uranium and other metals that are purified from their salts. Magnesite is used in refactories. Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia), sulfate (Epsom salts), chloride, and citrate are used in medicine. Organic magnesium compounds have many uses. Magnesium is essential for plant and animal nutrition. Chlorophyll is a magnesium-centered porphyrin. Biological Role: All known living cells require magnesium for nucleic acid chemistry. In humans, over 300 enzymes use magnesium as a catalyst. Foods rich in magnesium include nuts, cereals, cocoa beans, green leafy vegetables, and some spices. The average adult human body contains 22 to 26 grams of magnesium, mostly in the skeleton and skeletal muscles. Magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia) is common and occurs in 2.5 to 15% of the population. Causes include low calcium consumption, antacid therapy, and loss from the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract. Chronic magnesium deficiency is associated with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrom. Sources: Magnesium is the 8th most abundant element in the earths crust. While it is not found free it nature, it is available in minerals including magnesite and dolomite. The metal may be obtained by electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride derived from brines and seawater. Atomic Weight: 24.305 Element Classification: Alkaline Earth Metal Isotopes: Magnesium has 21 known isotopes ranging from Mg-20 to Mg-40. Magnesium has 3 stable isotopes: Mg-24, Mg-25 and Mg-26. Magnesium Physical Data Density (g/cc): 1.738 Appearance: lightweight, malleable, silvery-white metal Atomic Radius (pm): 160 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 14.0 Covalent Radius (pm): 136 Ionic Radius: 66 (2e) Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 1.025 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 9.20 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 131.8 Debye Temperature (K): 318.00 Pauling Negativity Number: 1.31 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 737.3 Oxidation States: 2 Lattice Structure: Hexagonal Lattice Constant (Ã…): 3.210 Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.624 CAS Registry Number: 7439-95-4 Magnesium Trivia: Magnesium was originally named magnium by Humphrey Davy after isolating the element from magnesia, known now as magnesium oxide.The 1915 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Richard Willsttter for his work with the chlorophyll and identifying magnesium was the central atom in its structure.Epsom salt is a magnesium compound, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4).Magnesium is the 10th most abundant element in the human body.Magnesium will burn in pure nitrogen gas and pure carbon dioxide gas.Magnesium is the fifth most common element found in seawater. Sources Emsley, John (2011).  Natures building blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-960563-7.Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997).  Chemistry of the Elements  (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.Hammond, C. R. (2004). The Elements, in  Handbook of Chemistry and Physics  (81st ed.). CRC press. ISBN 978-0-8493-0485-9.Rumble, John R., ed. (2018). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (99th ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-1385-6163-2.Weast, Robert (1984).  CRC, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Boca Raton, Florida: Chemical Rubber Company Publishing. ISBN 0-8493-0464-4. Return to the Periodic Table

Strategic Marketing Management 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic Marketing Management 2 - Assignment Example The target market comprise of early adopters and technophiles. The marketing mix for Prius shows that it is a great product with superior technology. It has used great promotions and effective distribution channel in order to promote Prius. The internal resources of the company namely the production system, corporate culture, distribution channels and financial resources are the key factors which have helped Toyota attain market leadership. The report then analyzes the external situation in terms of competition and macro environment. There is intense rivalry among the major players namely GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Nissan. Honda was the first company to launch hybrid cars after Toyota. The macro environmental factors include strict emission norms by the US government, efforts to save the domestic industry and so on. The report concludes with the SWOT analysis of the company and with strategic recommendations. Toyota first entered US in 1957. Today Toyota is the market leader in the global automobile market. The production system of Toyota is accepted worldwide and every company is trying to implement the production system of Toyota. Realizing the need for economical cars, Toyota was the first company in the world to come out with hybrid technology cars. It came out with the Prius in 2000. The share of hybrid vehicles in US is 2.5% which is the highest in the world. The report tries to analyze the internal and external situation that is affecting Toyota Prius. It tries to find out the market situation, target market, marketing mix, supplier situation and the internal resources and capabilities of Toyota. It then analyzes the external environment in the context of industry rivalry and the macro environment. The automobile industry in US was the largest in the world till 2009. It was the most attractive destination for all car manufacturers. However due to recession which has affected US the most, the sales has declined considerably. The sales of automobile

Ethnic Diversity of Counseling Clients Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethnic Diversity of Counseling Clients - Essay Example California has been one of the leading states of the United States of America in terms of diversified ethnicity. The state has wide range of population which includes major proportion of African – Americans, Hispanics and Asians along with the white populace. The need of counseling is observed more in to the lower strata of the society especially among those who have immigrated from the lesser developed nations. The fight for the survival often takes toll of those struggling minds. It is observed that they often need counseling because of drug over dose, alcoholism and other social curses that they become part of. In the broader perspective, the need of the counseling is felt in two ways namely voluntary counseling and that mandated by the judicial system. The voluntary counseling is such counseling, the need of which, the recipient himself can understand. On the other hand, the judicially mandated counseling is that which the court of law orders the recipient to receive (the treatment of counseling) as it deems fit. The diversifying need of the mental health treatment in the state of California is high among the Africans – Americans, Hispanics and Asians. A report of the year 2001 suggested that 16.3% of the entire population of the state needed mental health treatment which was a hopping figure of 4 million adults (Lund, 2005). Another important report in the mental health care segment, which is also directly related with counseling, depicts those more than 600,000 persons to receive health care treatments in the state of California itself in between 2004 to 2005 (Jew-Lochman, 2008). Mental counseling has been one of the fastest upcoming sectors in the health industry. It has been observed that almost every day the number of affected person increases. The requirement of well trained professionals is on the rise. The other important aspect of the counseling is that sometimes the client himself can feel the need of counseling while many

Letter - Support Statment Veteran Claim Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Letter - Support Statment Veteran Claim - Essay Example These risks include disease contamination, assassinations or even death. Therefore, in order to protect them against these risks, the US through the Department of Veterans has initiated programs through which the veterans are forced to subscribe to for temporary immortality. The claim is for service connection for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH/ NAFLD), initially characterized as fatty liver and claimed as liver failure/ liver disease, as caused by medication from in-service (US Army) incurrence and/or aggravation of disease or injury due to the prescribed medications taken on a daily basis for an extended period of time for service-connected disabilities. I, _____________ (â€Å"The Veteran†) served on active duty with due diligence from 2003 to 2004 and during this period, I was treated with high doses of Ibuprofen 800mg and other medications for pain relief and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. VA Doctors restricted me from taking medication or adjusting to new medication due to NASH (for example: Ibuprofen was discontinued by Doctor Olesen Miami Hospital, Cymbalta was discontinued by Doctor Racha Washington DC, etc.) and this has been considered as a threat to my general well being. Over the years, I have been unable to perform and live to my expectations due to the medications that I took during the in-service. The side-effects to these medications are visible and their damage is imminent. As indicated earlier on, I have lost weight, my diet has been restructured and my budget has been strained due to the adoption of a new life. My NASH / LIVER Disease was established and recognized by the VA Hospitals in Miami, FL and Washington, DC and my doctors have recommended that my condition is worsening. In regards to risk factors that have affected progressively my liver disease, I have three that include my BMI 31.23 ( > 28 kg/m2), presence of fibrosis in my liver biopsy in 2010, and my current elevated AST

English Language Learner do not Need to Become Perfect Speakers Essay

English Language Learner do not Need to Become Perfect Speakers - Essay Example One of the popular perceptions is that English learners needs to be perfect in the learning and should acquire the capability to speak flawless English. This is not a true scenario and it is just a general perception which could be disproved. It is not that the world comprises only of those people who know to read, write and speak English (Carrasquillo, A 1994). This paper will deal with the popular perceptions that are generally associated with language and its uses. Through a thorough, analysis and discussion, the paper will open up through facts that a person who is learning English need not have a great command over it in order to attain success in all of his dealings. It will also bring a clear picture that not all are good at English and there is no necessity to be afraid of being singled out in the learning process. Learning the basics of English is necessary for an effective communication and if one can put across the information confidently in an understandable manner, then the purpose is served well. There are different versions of English language available in the global scenario and this stands evidence that the language does not have a particular form. It adapts and evolves according to the place where the language is spoken. Thus, the essential part here remains the ability to communicate to the other party so that they can understand what is being said. Many people across the world give preference in learning their native language and take up English only as their second language. Except few English speaking countries, a vast majority of countries have only second language English speakers. This stands evident to the fact that a person who is learning the language need not be too specific about speaking perfect, flawless English as the person may often get to interact with other second language speakers of English rather than perfect English speakers (Mukherjee, J & Hundt, M 2011). Business English is fast evolving as the perfect medium of commun ication when it comes to trade and commerce. Business English learning is taken by non-native people who want to learn English as a second language. The learning form helps the people to communicate effectively in the world business forum and they were able to turn out great results using the communication. In this particular form of English learning, the rules as to strict grammar and sentences are not used; rather, the language is used for communicating effectively so that the other party can get to understand the conveyed message immediately. All the aspects of business communications like presentations, meetings and negotiations can be delivered with greater efficiency (Goudswaard, G 2006) If we take the case of International English, it is not something that is too perfect if the rules of English are concerned but it is the widely used form of communication. The world is composed of people speaking different languages and thus, it is not a necessity that the perfect English spe aker tag need to be carried around. Ultimately, we need to deal with more number of second languages English speakers than the native English speakers. All that the second language English speaker needs to do is to master the art of putting across the information in an understandable manner and there is no necessity to make rigid. In fact, many people would prefer a casual business discussion where only the subject matter of discussion is given utmost importance rather

Critiqueexhibition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critiqueexhibition - Essay Example Overall, the exhibition proved to be a pleasant display: very pleasing to the eyes and deserving of the audience's awe. The "Stylized Sculpture" exhibition does not use plaques or other writings to describe the works of art displayed. Rather, they have carefully placed black and white photographs of the fashions to show the true art form found within the garments; then mannequins are used to display the fashions near the photos. The surrounding walls are blank from text, colors, or other pictures. In their stead, the audience is given a brochure to explain each piece of art and fashion. These brochures include information about the fashion - such as the designer - as well as a detailed description of the accompanying work of art. The fashions appear in order of their design, from 1983 to 2007. The use of lighting on the mannequins helps emphasize the lines and forms of the fashions as displayed by Sugimoto's photographs. This brilliant use of lighting and lack of distracting materials made this exhibit unique and attention grabbing. My attention was drawn to exactly what the artist wished me to see: the form and sculptural essence apparent in Japanese fashions. The lighting used for this exhibition was carefully placed both to make the photographs easy to view and to enhance the shadows and forms of the fashions on the mannequins.

What Is So-Called Asian Business Model How Well Does The Indian Essay

What Is So-Called Asian Business Model How Well Does The Indian Business System Fit That Model - Essay Example The business model of Asia is also quite dissimilar from other western nations. The Asian business model has progressed through several periods of transformations. Several aspects such as globalization, improvement in information and communication technology, and deregulation along with evolving competition have influenced the business model of Asia (Crown, â€Å"Challenges in Asia†). Thesis Statement The discussion is based on analyzing the different aspects of the Asian business model. The objective of the discussion is to observe how the Indian business system or organizations fit in the Asian business model and to describe one other Asian system which fits the Asian business model either better or worse than India’s business system. What Is So-Called Asian Business Model? Asian business paradigm has developed through three major phases of improvement. In the first phase, i.e. during 1970s to 1980s, Asia used to pursue the features of ‘Japanese Model’ of business. According to that model, organizations tended to follow quality products and operational superiority in business. The Japanese model focused more on business growth rather than earning profit. Lifetime employment was a vital part for that Asian business model. At that period of time, the central elements of this Asian business model were huge investment, large savings and financial growth. These elements were described as success-deriving factors for organizations by the professionals. However, in the third phase, i.e. from 1990s to present day, professionals have highlighted certain systematic deficiencies of the Asian business model, which had resulted in Asian financial crisis in the year 1997. The Asian business model had also resulted in the collapse of several Asian organizations (Delios and Singh 1-20). At this point of time, it is vital to outline the major differences between the Asian business model and the US business model. During the period of 1950s to early 1990s, the Asia business model was associated with the so-called ‘crony capitalism’. Crony capitalism is usually related with strong government participation in business. Thus, it can be observed that close association existed between the government and the organizations in this kind of business model. Such close association was directed through discussion board which was used to organize investment plans. Government assistance to organizations was related with strict performance standards about exports and technical values. In Asian business model, the relationship between business and financial system comprised long-term association between organizations and banks. This aspect had empowered Asian organizations to consider long-run vision in the investment decisions. Thus, organizations were not constrained by the threat of aggressive take-overs. Asian organizations pursued internal business practices which were different from those of Western organizations. For instan ce, Asia business model is related with maintaining loyal association between management and employees. Conducting business in this model is based on interpersonal relationships

Critiqueexhibition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critiqueexhibition - Essay Example Overall, the exhibition proved to be a pleasant display: very pleasing to the eyes and deserving of the audience's awe. The "Stylized Sculpture" exhibition does not use plaques or other writings to describe the works of art displayed. Rather, they have carefully placed black and white photographs of the fashions to show the true art form found within the garments; then mannequins are used to display the fashions near the photos. The surrounding walls are blank from text, colors, or other pictures. In their stead, the audience is given a brochure to explain each piece of art and fashion. These brochures include information about the fashion - such as the designer - as well as a detailed description of the accompanying work of art. The fashions appear in order of their design, from 1983 to 2007. The use of lighting on the mannequins helps emphasize the lines and forms of the fashions as displayed by Sugimoto's photographs. This brilliant use of lighting and lack of distracting materials made this exhibit unique and attention grabbing. My attention was drawn to exactly what the artist wished me to see: the form and sculptural essence apparent in Japanese fashions. The lighting used for this exhibition was carefully placed both to make the photographs easy to view and to enhance the shadows and forms of the fashions on the mannequins.

Negotiation Situation Essay Example for Free

Negotiation Situation Essay In the negotiation of a mortgage refinance, you can run into many different types of situations that you have to be prepared for. How we interact during a negotiation can make or break an agreement. Successful use of communication tools and preparing yourself to handle personalities will contribute to the outcome. Analyzing the Roles of Communication In this situation the initial state of the negotiation was not moving forward in a positive direction. The bank was dealing with many customers with mortgages that were months behind due to the economic crash at the time. We were one of those affected; the construction boom took a turn for the worse and work slowed down. Although we kept in contact with our bank regarding our situation, they were not willing to negotiate new terms to our agreement. As a home owner you never want to get behind on your payments, so we continued to make partial payments. The bank continued to accept the partial payments, yet didn’t want to work with us to reassess our situation. â€Å"Discussion does not mean fighting and shouting, instead it is simply the exchange of one’s ideas, thoughts and opinions with each other. One needs to have excellent communication skills for a healthy and an effective discussion. (Role of Communication in Negotiation, 2012)† The bank acted with diplomacy and tactfulness. After speaking with realtors and obtaining consultations from acquaintances, we realized for the bank to take action, we had no choice but to stop paying the mortgage. We knew at that moment that it became a game of the bank vs. the homeowners. The way you communicate varies according the formality of the situation. (Key Aspects of Communication in Negotiation) By making partial payments, the bank was content with us. We were getting further behind, and incurring penalties towards our mortgage. Taking action did get the attention of the other party. The impact of the communication, made the bank realize they needed to have more meaningful conversations with us. We finally were able to alter their perceptions and expectations concerning the situation, relationship and outcome. Through many discussions with the bank, we came to an agreement to attempt to sell the house this way to avoid foreclosure and or a short-sale. The mortgage payments were frozen during this period. We knew we were treading water, since the housing market was at a virtual standstill. After exhausting conversations with the bank, we were at the point where we were going to have to walk away from the house. Our emotions at this point, were wearing thin. This process was taking months, and also taking its toll on our patience with the bank. We wanted to be responsible for our decisions, but we were being forced to make a decision that would hurt our credibility for the future. Our sincerity was our most important personality traits exhibited in this negotiation. We had to show our sincerity for an effective negotiation. We never took the situation casually. In the eleventh hour of negotiations, the bank was willing to refinance with a co-signer. Luckily, our relatives were willing to assist, and were kind enough to co-sign. The bank was very cooperative and we were moving forward in a positive way. Analyzing Personality Failures and distortions in perception, cognition, and communication are the paramount contributors to breakdowns and failures in negotiation (Lewicki−Saunders−Barry, 2005). Negotiators use information to challenge the other party’s position or desired outcomes or to undermine the effectiveness of the other’s negotiating arguments. Even in the simplest negotiation, the parties take a position and then present arguments and facts to support that position. As the homeowners, we argued to gain terms that were within our reach to be able to afford the home and avoid a foreclosure. The bank had a different set of terms, that would stretch our ability to make ends meet, and we had to stand firm with our decision to adhere to our end goal. For us, our personality in this situation varied. At times we were very cooperative, as was the bank. But at times, the bank exhibited an aggressive behavior, and made us think we only had one option to explore. The bank exhibited a power position, to intimidate and instill fear. As homeowners, we were emotionally attached to the home. We knew that we had to remove our emotions, and treat this as a business deal. That was difficult. We were able to neutralize our emotions, and handle the situation in the most professional way. Personalities in such a high-stake situation can get intense. We viewed the bank as goliath and us as David. The bank was responsive, but we found when we got upset and put them under pressure, the bank became uncomfortable and worried about damaging the relationship with us as the customer. Contributions of those Roles to the Outcome Our ability to stand our ground and be vigilant with our information upfront, aided our ability to work with the bank to come to an agreement. To reach this agreement a third party did have to enter the discussions. This third party assisted both sides in reaching a final agreement. The process was a roller coaster; it was also a learning experience for both sides. In the end, we were happy with the final terms. The bank did make some small mistakes throughout the whole process, and due to their mistakes being presenting in writing, had to honor those terms in the paperwork. We were able to avoid a 5-year ARM agreement, and were able to secure a 30 year fixed mortgage at a very low rate, due to their mismanagement of information. The point is to never quit with a bank. As long as they keep coming back with counter offers, you do the same. At some point, youll make a deal, and it might be better than you ever expected. Looking back, it is very important to remove your personal emotions from the negotiations. Emotions need to be under control on both sides to achieve a successful end. If you have ever felt like you were stuck in a burning high rise with only one way out at times, we know that if you work with the right people, your chances of success increase with every option you have. Bibliography Key Aspects of Communication in Negotiation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/comm440-540/commfactors.htm (2005). How to Improve Communication in Negotiation. In Lewicki−Saunders−Barry, Negotiation, Fifth Edition (p. 175). The McGraw−Hill. Role of Communication in Negotiation. (2012). Retrieved January 19, 2013, from Management Study Guide: Pave your way to Success: http://www.managementstudyguide.com/role-of-communication-in-negotiation.htm

Monash Carbon Footprint report

Monash Carbon Footprint report This report presents interpreted data after Monash university conducted a carbon footprint assessment between 2005 till 2014.   Introduction Today we can see for ourselves the damage we have caused to our home planet. overshoot is known as the consumers demands for earths resources are going beyond the level which the earth can regenerate. According to dahl(2008), improving global governance and our ability to manage the earths resources is thus a key part of any solution. Preventing overshoot and collapse is a challenge of our time. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Monash university has assessed their carbon footprint from 2005 to 2014. Monash university consists of the Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, Parkville, and Peninsula campuses within all of Australia, Carbon dioxide(co2) is emitted daily when we account for the burning of fossil fuels to supply heat and to cool rooms, to run appliances, transportation, and the management of water and waste products. According to the united states environmental protection agency, co2 is then trapped within our earths atmosphere and are termed as greenhouse gases as co2 is a direct threat to our ozone layer and is also a major contributor to global warming. There are three scopes consisting of either direct or indirect. Monash universitys gross total emissions started out with 168,838 tonnes of co2-e/year after being recorded in 2005 and at the end of 2014, Monash universitys gross total emissions were calculated at 190,874 tonnes of c02-e/year. Characterizing the scopes Scope 1: this is a direct method of emitting greenhouse gases (GHG) by Monash universitys use of natural gas at all sites, the types of fuel used for transportation, the types of fuel used for other purposes, use of appliances such as refrigerants, methane emissions, and commercial c02. Scope 2: this is an indirect consequence by monash university of GHG emissions released for their use of electricity which is purchased from another party. Scope 3: this is also an indirect way of GHG emissions being released into the earths atmosphere which generally accounts for electricity, natural gas, paper/cardboard waste, food waste, recyclables, transport fuel, water waste, air travel, taxi cabs, fire extinguishers, and public transport. GHG emissions from scope 1 according to marty mccarthy (2015), scientists gathered a national study was taken where over a 1000 cows were tested and the method of measuring the ghg emissions under the factor of livestock methane is by putting the livestock animal in chamber which can be used to measure methane. Then the next step is to monitor the air in and out and then calculate the concentration in that of the air mixture. It can be observed that the emissions have tripled over the course of 9 years. A reason to this might be the amount of food that is been fed to the livestock animal, or à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. upon checking the ghg emissions within all of the sites of monash university, it is most important to check the fuels used for transport purposes and to separate the types of fuel since different fuels produce different emiisions. according to the national greenhouse account factors (2014), there is a formula which calculates the ghg emisiions released by different fuel types. there is a trend to be seen and it could be seen that the ghg emissions are slowing declining after each year. A reason to this might be the adaptation of hybrids and electric carsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the ghg emissions can be measure by the equation given below, scope 1 Refrigerants When we use refrigerants, we never account for the harmful emissions that are released into our atmosphere. Beck in the day, ghg emissions like chlourofluoro carbons(CFC), halons, and hydrochlorofluro carbons (HCFC) went unnoticed for a very long time. To combat CFCs , halons, HCFCs, substitues such as hydroflouro carbons (HFC) and perfluoro carbons (PFC) have been used to regulate the substances that deplete the ozone layer. This occurance was due to the amendment of the montreal protocol in 1990 which is known to be widely successful due to the universal ratification of fighting ozone depleting substances (ODS). Emissions from regrigerators and ari conditioners can be a resulted from the manufacturing process of the product, from leakages, or from poor service of the operation life of the products. Any reduction of the ODSs can have huge potential benefits since ODSs pose a threat greater than 1000 times that of co2. during the period of assessing monsh univeritisys carbon footprin t, it can be see that there is a linear trend where ghg emissions are increasing over time. This can be a result of opening up new builings within the campuses and the addition of commercial unitary air contioning units to have comfortable room temperatures in the given buildings, or it can be from the transport of refrigerated goods, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Scope 2 electricity The ghg emissions from the comsumption of purchased electricity from the grid has a physically toll on our environment but this is not a direct result from monash university as aforementioned. The burning and processing of coal, natural gas, or the refinement and transport of crude oil(petroleum) can have the direct response of ghg emission released into our environment. Emissions from electricity (scope 2) can be meure by the equation below, According to scope 2 guidance by GHG protocol, there are two methods to determine for the emission associated with electricity consumption. The first metheod is the location-based method, where it can be applied to every grid, and it focues on the connection between collective comsumer demand for electricity and how much emisiions re leased from the local electricity generated. The other method which is market-based method, focuses on hoiw much electricity is consumed by the choices of the consumer. Observing Monash Univeristys scope 2 emissions, is can be seen in the graph that the lowest reading of GHG emissions occurred in 2005, and throughout the years of recording scope 2 emissions, it can be seen the number fluctuates each year till the period of 2009 till 2014 where the number have a staggering amount where the ghg emissions ranges around 120, 000 tonnes of CO2-e per year, but during 2014, the ghg emissions have sort of been regulated. A reason for the increase of ghg emission s might be negotiating with a company whose primary source of energy might be from coal, and a way to reduce this would be to switch to a low carbon electricity supplier, or to purchase certifictaes from low carbon energy generation. Scope 3 https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/briefs/fung_01/ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-14/impact-of-cattle-on-methane-emissions-downgraded/7027088 http://www.chlorinated-solvents.eu/index.php/regulatory-compliance/ods-regulation http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/montreal-protocol http://ghgprotocol.org/files/ghgp/Scope%202%20Guidance_Final.pdf http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/NGER/About-the-National-Greenhouse-and-Energy-Reporting-scheme/Greenhouse-gases-and-energy http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/DocumentAssets/Documents/NGER%20Energy%20production%20and%20consumption.pdf http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-measurement/publications/national-greenhouse-accounts-factors-dec-2014 https://www.monash.edu/environmental-sustainability/get-involved/staff/green-program https://www.monash.edu/environmental-sustainability/get-involved/students/do-one-thing https://www.monash.edu/environmental-sustainability/campus-initiative/energy/renewable-energy http://www.greenpower.gov.au/About-Us/ https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/01/health/antarctic-ozone-layer-healing/ http://sciencing.com/co2-deplete-ozone-layer-4828.html http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/NGER/About-the-National-Greenhouse-and-Energy-Reporting-scheme/Greenhouse-gases-and-energy http://www.ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools/faq http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-measurement/publications/nger-technical-guidelines-2014 http://www.ghgonline.org/othershfcs.htm https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/alternatives_en https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout http://www.energyaction.com.au/energy-procurement/electricity-procurement http://www.ghgprotocol.org/scope_2_guidance http://www.treasury.gov.au/PublicationsAndMedia/Publications/2015/2015-Intergenerational-Report http://www.treasury.gov.au/~/media/Treasury/Publications%20and%20Media/Publications/2015/2015%20Intergenerational%20Report/Downloads/PDF/2015_IGR.ashx https://www.mla.com.au/Research-and-development/Environment-sustainability/National-livestock-methane-program https://www.monash.edu/environmental-sustainability/our-commitment/environmental-sustainability-policy https://www.monash.edu/policy-bank/management/facilities-services/enviro-procedures http://iefworld.org/ddahl08d.htm https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/783617/Environmental-Sustainability-Policy-Australia-only.pdf https://phys.org/news/2007-11-atmosphere-carbon.html http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-measurement/tracking-emissions http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/da7bde5c-1be2-43f7-97d7-d7d85bb9ad6c/files/nger-technical-guidelines-2014.pdf http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/5e11ecad-6d23-4e4b-bf9d-d4630a4e523b/files/nger-technical-guidelines-2012.pdf https://carbonneutral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Carbon-Offsetting-and-Carbon-Neutralilty-Explained.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/fugitiveemissions.pdf http://www.treasury.gov.au/~/media/Treasury/Publications%20and%20Media/Publications/2015/2015%20Intergenerational%20Report/Downloads/PDF/2015_IGR.ashx

True Love in The Merchant of Venice Essay -- Merchant of Venice Essays

True Love in The Merchant of Venice      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Among the various themes presented in the Merchant of Venice the most important is the nature of true love.   The casket plot helps illustrate the theme.   Through a variety of suitors the descriptions of the caskets, Shakespeare shows the reader how different people view true love. He also shows what is most important to the suitors and in some cases it is not true love, but material things and outward appearance.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first suitor who tries to win Portia's hand is the Prince of Morocco.   When he first arrives in Belmont, the reader can see how arrogant the prince is, He says, "The best regarded virgins of our clilme/ hath loved it too..." (2.1, 10-11).   He is referring to the color of his ski n that is black.   He is telling Portia that his complexion has won him many women and he is dressed in all white.   The fact that he is, suggests that he is only concerned with outward appearance, and not with more important things such as true love.   The Prince of Morocco's superficial nature shines through even more clearly when it comes time to choose the casket. He does not want to risk anything, and therefore; he does not choose the lead casket whose inscription tells the suitor he must give up everything. The Prince, after looking at the inscription of the gold casket, which read "'who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire'" (2.7, 37), decides that what he desires most is the Portia's hand so the gold must be the correct casket.   He insists that the gold casket is the one holding Portia's picture because she is so much worthier than the lead casket.   The Prince believes t... ...ove, however, is for Bassanio and she wants to marry him.   Bassanio, by choosing to risk everything he has, shows the effects that true love can have on someone.   True love can conquer any fears or apprehensions you may have. He was willing to risk everything he had in order to show his love for Portia.   In the play, Bassanio shows what true love really means and how one can not mistake outward appearances for true love.   Put succinctly, one can do nothing but agree with the adage love conquers all.    Works Cited and Consulted    Barnet Sylvan.   "Introduction." The Merchant of Venice Ed. Sylvan Barnet.   New   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jersey : Prentice-Hall Inc., 1970.   1-10.    Granville-Barker, Harley.   "The Merchant of Venice.   " Shakespeare Ed. Leonard F. Dean.   Princeton : Princeton University Press, 1947.   37-71.   

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: Sir Gawain Green Knight Essays

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a Middle English romance poem written by an anonymous West Midlands poet also credited with a lot of other poems written during that time. The protagonist, Sir Gawain, survives two tests: a challenge, which he alone without the assistance of King Arthur's knights accepts, to behead the fearsome Green Knight and to let him retaliate a year later at the distant Green Chapel; and the temptation to commit adultery with the wife of Lord Bercilak--in reality the Green Knight--in whose castle he stays in en route to the chapel. This story is emblematic of life; how it issues tests and challenges and the consequences rendered as a result of failing or succeeding these challenges. Sir Gawain is a very symbolic character; symbolic in the sense that he represents innocence in life. He was not afraid to accept a challenge because it meant saving the kingdom from the affects of anarchy as a result of not having a king. Sir Gawain accepting the challenge from the Green Knight instantly represented one of the things that knighthood represented, fearlessness. People accept those kind of challenges everyday. This could possibly be where the term "sticking your neck out" could have come from. When people accept challenges, most do not want to accept the consequences as a result of being unsuccessful. Gawain was not like this. When the year passed he gallantly mounted his horse and set off for the Green Chapel. This showed that Gawain was brave. This was preceded by the warning "Beware, Gawain, that you not end a betrayer of your bargain through fear." Along this journey Gawain faces peril and self-reluctance in the form of the elements and the never-ending search for the chapel respectively. These feeling can be characterized as the inner turmoil suffered as a result of dealing with one's conscience. The journey also tested his faith in the sense that he was constantly in prayer during his journey, and not once did he curse or renounce the name of God. It seems as if the prayers were what kept Gawain sane and focused on the purpose of his journey. Gawain's prayers were answered when he rode along and finally came upon a place that he could petition for possible rest.

Five forces for Zappos Essay

The threat of new entrants into the online shoe/apparel market is relatively small due to the fact that Zappos is such an established brand and has specialized their business model. It would be far too expensive for a new company to copy the characteristics of Zappos including their next day delivery and large overhead. The fact that Zappos was losing money initially illustrates this difficulty. Another issue that would create a high barrier to entry is Zappos commitment to the consumer through overnight shipping. Zappos stated that the overnight shipping caused them to leave their warehouses open for the entire day. Any other company would be at a competitive disadvantage if they didn’t match this business practice. In all the way Zappos does business creates too high a barrier to entry for threats of new entry to be high; for that reason we would rate it 2 OF 5. _Substitutes_ We would rate substitutes at 3 OF 5, being that the threat is somewhat average. With the uniqueness of Zappos, not many stores can match such a shopping experience service as Zappos. The reason we ranked the threat of substitutes at 3 of 5 is because there are Brick and Mortar Stores that may be used as substitutes of Zappos. These specialty stores are not up to Zappos standards, but at the same time their specialization with certain products make them a threat to Zappos. The whole person-to-person contact can have a big advantage in terms of customer service. Zappos answers by extraordinary customer service, which really makes the average consumer feel as if they are special and are in contact with a real person. _Rivalry_ The rivalry with existing firms for Zappos is fair, we gave it a rating of 3.5 OF 5. A main competitor for online retail is Amazon; however Amazon recently bought out Zappos. Since their largest competitor is now a sister company, the main competition Zappos faces are highly specialized online retailers – such as Karmaloop and EastBay. These competitors pose a threat to some of Zappos’ sections such as athletic shoes, sporting goods, accessories, and apparel. Both of these sites offer free shipping as well, so that takes away one of Zappos’ main competitive advantages. Zappos still has the premier customer service. Currently their biggest rival is eBay, eBay offers everything that Zappos does, and sometimes at a lower price. However since eBay is an auction site, it cannot guarantee a set price or free shipping like Zappos can. Customer service is where Zappos sets itself apart from its competition, offering a 365 day return policy and 24/7 call center hours based in the US. _Suppliers_ We rated the bargaining power of suppliers at a 5 OF 5 because Zappos has a lot of leverage. A reason behind this is Zappos couldn’t function effectively without a cooperative supplier since they are a distribution company. If the supplier decided that they wanted more money per shipment then Zappos most likely comply. Taking the resources to find new supplies can be very costly. Also, they may not be able to find a supplier that can offer them the same variety of brands and styles that the current supplier does. Another way the supplier has bargaining power is that there are other companies like Amazon or Overstock.com that they could choose to do business with if Zappos isn’t satisfying their needs. The supplier is possibly the most crucial link in the value chain for Zappos and for this reason they have a lot of bargaining power with Zappos. _Customers_ There are two aspects we can look at the bargaining power of customers. (1) Zappos is customer service based and the customers know that. If the  customers lose their power, Zappos may lose customers. (2) Customer’s do not have many direct substitutes. Shoes are a necessity and here are few options like Zappos for buying shoes online. In essence they lose a bit of their power by this fact. Chances are if the customer does not like brick and mortar stores (physical shopping) they will still need to purchase from Zappos but it opens up gap then of which a new entrant may try to take advantage. Keeping both those aspects in mind, the bargaining power of customers can be considered intermediate; thus a rating of 3 OF 5. CONCLUSION Zappos has created a very structural attractive company. There is a lot of room for growth with the recent purchase by Amazon. ‘ZAPPOS FIVE FORCES AND SWOT ANALYSIS’ First prepare a Five Force Analysis of how Zappos operates using Michael Porter’s framework. Provide a short, direct and to the point analysis of each of the five forces as well as a CONCLUSION about the overall structural attractiveness of the industry in which your company operates. Substantiate your analysis with DATA. Secondly, present an overall SWOT analysis of Zappos, discuss the implications of the analysis for future strategic options the company might address. You may use a narrative style or diagram for each of the industry  forces and your SWOT analysis. In all cases you must PROVIDE A SCALE of how you rate each force in terms of its effect on the industry’s competitiveness now and in the future, e.g. High/Medium/Low and Increasing/Decreasing/ Staying the Same. The objective of this case is for you to understand how the choices a company makes about its resources and capabilities will affect its strategic viability.

An Exploratory Study of Myanmar Culture

Hofstede originally identified four dimensions of culture: power distance, individualism, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance. Power distance represents the degree of a culture’s acceptance of inequality among its members. Individualism and collectivism represent a culture’s main focus, being either the importance of the individual or the group. Masculinity and femininity represents the stereotypical characteristics of men and women as being the dominant cultural values. Uncertainty avoidance is essentially a collective tolerance for ambiguity for a culture. Later research with Michael Bond (Hofstede & Bond 1988) added a fifth dimension called long-term Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn. com/abstract=1114625 orientation. This dimension, originally called Confucian Dynamism, measures the preferences of a culture for a long-term and traditional view of time. Hofstede’s work has attracted a number of critics. Some have expressed concerns about the generalizability of the sample, the level of analysis, the comparison of political boundaries (countries) to culture, and the validity of the instrument (Mc Sweeney 2002; Smith 2002). Others have challenged the assumption of the homogeneity of each studied culture (Sivakumar & Nakata 2001). The additional dimension of long-term orientation (LTO) has been challenged on the grounds of conceptual validity (Fang 2003). While many of the concerns raised by his critics can be considered to have some validity, Hofstede’s research, nevertheless, represents the most comprehensive analysis of cultural values to date. This paper provides a preliminary look into the cultural assessment of a country not included in the Hofstede data set. Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia, bordering Thailand, China, India, and Laos. The country, formerly called Burma, gained its independence from Britain at the end of World War II, after a hard fought struggle with the colonial power and the Japanese invaders. Burmese nationalist and national hero, Aung San fought for his country’s independence and for democratic rule (Khng 2000). His daughter, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi continues the struggle today inside Myanmar, even as she lives under house arrest. While Myanmar interacts with its ASEAN neighbors, a number of Western countries have placed economic sanctions on the country for its lack of democracy. These sanctions have limited foreign investment and other forms of economic exchange. A military junta has ruled the country for the past 17 years and the country has operated in various states of isolation from the world over those years. As a result of its isolation, very little research has been conducted on its culture or values orientation.

Manila Museum

Manila Museums Manila's history has seen it exposed to a variety of international influences and this has certainly played a major role in contributing to the cultural venues and museums that it now has to offer. The National Museum of the Philippines is arguably the highlight of this cultural scene in Manila and the one place not to miss, especially if you are at all interested in the events of the past in the city itself and other parts of the country too. Also very popular in Manila is the Children's Museum (Museo Pambata), which always makes for a very enjoyable afternoon out for families.NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES Address: Padre Burgos Street, Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 527 1215 This cultural attraction dates back to 1901 when it was founded as the Insular Museum of Ethnology, Natural History and Commerce. The museum is home to an extensive collection of artefacts related to the history of the city of Manila and the Philippines as a whole. Highlights include the skull of ‘Tabon Man' – the oldest skeletal human remains found anywhere in the archipelago. Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 09:00 to 17:00 Admission: freeCASA MANILA MUSEUM Address: Luna Street, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 527 4084 Housed in a replica of a traditional 19th century city home, the Casa Manila Museum features a collection of displays and exhibits that illustrate how the city's affluent residents lived in its period under Spanish control. The house's interior has been recreated to look exactly as it might have in the colonial era. Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 09:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 18:00 Admission: charge MUSEUM OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST)Address: Espana Calle, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 781 1815 The Museum of Arts and Sciences boasts an extraordinary history, since although it was not officially established until the 1870s, it does actually date back to the latter part of the 17th century, when the University of Santo Tomas first began its collection. Many preserved specimens of local flora and fauna from throughout the Philippines can be found here, some of which are now actually extinct. Open hours: Tuesday to Friday – 09:00 to 16:30 Admission: charge, discounts for students MUSEO PAMBATA (CHILDREN'S MUSEUM)Address: Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 523 1797 Within this popular ‘edutainment' centre are eight separate rooms, each with its own theme and unique collection of interactive displays and exhibits focusing on topics such as science, history and art. The Museo Pambata also features an extensive calendar of events, with regular storytelling sessions for its younger visitors. Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 08:00 to 17:00 Admission: charge PHILIPPINE ARMY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY Address: McArthur Drive, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 815 2899On offer at this relati vely new addition to the city's museum collection are displays and exhibits detailing the history of the country's armed forces. Visitors spending time exploring the Philippine Army Museum and Library can view a wide variety of artefacts, including antique weaponry, photographs of Filipino war heroes and items from WWII. Open hours: Monday to Saturday – 08:00 to 17:00 Admission: charge PHILIPPINE SCIENCE CENTRUM Address: Riverbanks Centre, 84A Bonifacio Avenue, Barangka, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 942 5136Housed in a building belonging to the University of the Philippines, this museum is home to some 15 galleries and more than 200 interactive displays, covering topics such as electricity, anatomy and the environment. Children visiting the Philippine Science Centrum will especially love the Earth Science gallery and its section on animal sounds. Open hours: Monday to Saturday – 09:00 to 16:00 Admission: free METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MANILA Address: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 521 1517Located close by and within Pasay City, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila is home to a wealth of historical collections of ceramics and gold artefacts. In particular, there is a ‘Gold Gallery', where many priceless golden treasures are displayed, dating as far back as the 10th century. Even older are the pieces within the ‘Pottery Gallery', where some ceramic remains are more than 2,000 years old. Other highlights include temporary exhibitions, a library, a cafe and gift shops. Open hours: Monday to Saturday – 09:00 to 18:00 Admission: charge, discounts for seniors Manila Museum Manila Museums Manila's history has seen it exposed to a variety of international influences and this has certainly played a major role in contributing to the cultural venues and museums that it now has to offer. The National Museum of the Philippines is arguably the highlight of this cultural scene in Manila and the one place not to miss, especially if you are at all interested in the events of the past in the city itself and other parts of the country too. Also very popular in Manila is the Children's Museum (Museo Pambata), which always makes for a very enjoyable afternoon out for families.NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES Address: Padre Burgos Street, Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 527 1215 This cultural attraction dates back to 1901 when it was founded as the Insular Museum of Ethnology, Natural History and Commerce. The museum is home to an extensive collection of artefacts related to the history of the city of Manila and the Philippines as a whole. Highlights include the skull of ‘Tabon Man' – the oldest skeletal human remains found anywhere in the archipelago. Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 09:00 to 17:00 Admission: freeCASA MANILA MUSEUM Address: Luna Street, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 527 4084 Housed in a replica of a traditional 19th century city home, the Casa Manila Museum features a collection of displays and exhibits that illustrate how the city's affluent residents lived in its period under Spanish control. The house's interior has been recreated to look exactly as it might have in the colonial era. Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 09:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 18:00 Admission: charge MUSEUM OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST)Address: Espana Calle, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 781 1815 The Museum of Arts and Sciences boasts an extraordinary history, since although it was not officially established until the 1870s, it does actually date back to the latter part of the 17th century, when the University of Santo Tomas first began its collection. Many preserved specimens of local flora and fauna from throughout the Philippines can be found here, some of which are now actually extinct. Open hours: Tuesday to Friday – 09:00 to 16:30 Admission: charge, discounts for students MUSEO PAMBATA (CHILDREN'S MUSEUM)Address: Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 523 1797 Within this popular ‘edutainment' centre are eight separate rooms, each with its own theme and unique collection of interactive displays and exhibits focusing on topics such as science, history and art. The Museo Pambata also features an extensive calendar of events, with regular storytelling sessions for its younger visitors. Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 08:00 to 17:00 Admission: charge PHILIPPINE ARMY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY Address: McArthur Drive, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 815 2899On offer at this relati vely new addition to the city's museum collection are displays and exhibits detailing the history of the country's armed forces. Visitors spending time exploring the Philippine Army Museum and Library can view a wide variety of artefacts, including antique weaponry, photographs of Filipino war heroes and items from WWII. Open hours: Monday to Saturday – 08:00 to 17:00 Admission: charge PHILIPPINE SCIENCE CENTRUM Address: Riverbanks Centre, 84A Bonifacio Avenue, Barangka, Manila, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 942 5136Housed in a building belonging to the University of the Philippines, this museum is home to some 15 galleries and more than 200 interactive displays, covering topics such as electricity, anatomy and the environment. Children visiting the Philippine Science Centrum will especially love the Earth Science gallery and its section on animal sounds. Open hours: Monday to Saturday – 09:00 to 16:00 Admission: free METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MANILA Address: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines, PH Tel: +63 02 521 1517Located close by and within Pasay City, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila is home to a wealth of historical collections of ceramics and gold artefacts. In particular, there is a ‘Gold Gallery', where many priceless golden treasures are displayed, dating as far back as the 10th century. Even older are the pieces within the ‘Pottery Gallery', where some ceramic remains are more than 2,000 years old. Other highlights include temporary exhibitions, a library, a cafe and gift shops. Open hours: Monday to Saturday – 09:00 to 18:00 Admission: charge, discounts for seniors