History Quiz Essay

Religion plays a big role in the life of man. It gives us hope, faith and makes us believe that there is a Supreme Being out there that makes things possible for us. Religion has played a big part in our cultural, social, moral and even political history and is still continuing today. There are several religions being practiced all over the world today. Christianity ranks first having 2. 1 billion believers and followers, Islam is next having around 1. 5 billion Muslims and the third worlds largest is Hinduism. Majority of those who practice Hinduism come from India, as this is because Hinduism originated from this country. Hinduism is more of a way of life, as it has been incorporated in the Indian’s way of living and not just as a religion. The primary text of the Hindus are the collection of Vedas which contain hymns, incantations, and rituals, namely the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and the Atharva Veda (Hinduism). There are several beliefs that encompass all forms of Hinduism. First is their respect for the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmans. The Brahmans are the source of all things and is found in all things hence like a Supreme Being (Hindu beliefs). They also believe in reincarnation and karma. For them, when a person dies, its soul is transferred to another being. This being may or may not be human in form; it may be an animal or an insect, depending on your behavior from your previous life. If you were able to be good and do things the Hindu way, you will have good karma, and your soul maybe transferred to a body of a human with high place in society. If you have bad karma, your soul might become trapped inside an animal or an insect or in the body of a slave. Hindus are also expected to pass through the four stages of their life successfully. First is to pass the brahmacharga, then the grashta, the vanaprastha and finally the sanngasu. In the first stage the individual is supposed to acquire knowledge and develop character and is usually experienced during the school age. The second stage, the grastha, focuses the middle years of your life on finding pleasures such as getting married and having a family and establishing a career. The vanaprastha is the stage to increase time in focusing on spiritual things and finally the sanngasu, the last years of one’s life offered for contemplation (Hindu Rituals and Practices). Buddhism ranks fourth, after Hinduism with 324 million followers. Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, the enlightened one. Gautama Buddha, after having several years of privileged living as a prince, he decided to live a solitary life of a hermit in the woods. There he dedicated his life to meditation, which is at the heart of Buddhism (What is Buddhism). Like the Hindus, the Buddhists also believe in reincarnation. The soul will be â€Å"recycled† and after some time, if the soul releases itself from worldly desires it can now achieve Nirvana, a state of freedom from liberation and suffering. Buddhism includes the three trainings or practices, the four noble truths, the five precepts and the eightfold path among its teachings. The three trainings or practices consist of the Sila, the Samadhi and the Prajna. Sila is the morality which is based on two principles, the principle of equality and reciprocity. Samadhi is the mental development which controls and strengthens the mind. And finally the Prajna, which is wisdom. Buddha’s four noble truths are as follows, the Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha and the Magga. The Dukkha tells us that there is suffering; the Samudaya says that there is a cause, the Nirodha, that there is an end to the suffering and the Magga, to end the suffering the eightfold path should be followed. Just like the Christian’s Ten Commandments, the Buddhists have 5 precepts, and these are: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not misuse sex and do not consume alcohol or drugs. Finally, the eightfold path consists of the right understanding of the Four Noble Truths, right thinking, right speech, right conduct by following the Five Precepts, right livelihood, right Effort, right Mindfulness and right concentration, which is meditation (Buddhism based on the). Judaism ranks sixth with 14 million followers around the world. Majority of the Jews live in Israel, in the United States and in France. One of the oldest religions in the world, the Jews believe in an all-knowing divinity and that all things within that world were designed to have meaning and purpose as part of a divine order. The Jew’s sacred text is the Torah, and they are preached by a Rabbi. Their symbol is the Star of David and they do not allow the name or the spelling of their deity in full. They that the Ten Commandments are the most important teachings from the Torah: 1. I am the Lord your God 2. You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence 3. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain 4. Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy 5. Honor your father and your mother 6. You shall not murder 7. You shall not commit adultery 8. You shall not steal 9. Do not give false testimony against your neighbor 10. You shall not covet your fellow’s possessions The Jews do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. For them, the Messiah will be a human being from King David’s family. The most widely-accepted list of Jewish beliefs is Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon’s thirteen principles of faith. He says that God exists, is one and unique, incorporeal and is eternal. Also, that prayer is to be directed to God alone, the words of the prophets are true, and that Moses was the greatest prophet, and his prophecies are true. The Torah was given to Moses and that there will be no other Torah. In addition to those, he says that God knows the thoughts and deeds of men, God will reward the good and punish the wicked, the Messiah will come, and that the dead will be resurrected (Basic beliefs of Judaism). Indeed, we have come to realize life’s emptiness without having faith. We may not entirely believe in a religion, but it still holds true that as human beings, our lives need direction and guidance. References About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. (2007). Basic Beliefs of Judaism. Retrieved January 01, 2007, from http://judaism. about. com/od/abcsofjudaism/a/beliefsbasic. htm About Buddhism. (2007). What is Buddhism. Retrieved January 01, 2007, from http://www. aboutbuddhism. org/what-is-buddhism. htm/ Adherents. (1998). Top 10 Organized Religions in the World. Retrieved January 01, 2007, from http://www. adherents. com/misc/rel_by_adh_CSM. html Religion Facts. (2004-2007). Hindu Beliefs. Retrieved January 01, 2007, from http://www.religionfacts. com/hinduism/beliefs. htm Religion Facts. (2004-2007). HinduRituals and Practices. Retrieved January 01, 2007, from http://www. religionfacts. com/hinduism/practices. htm Religious Tolerance. (2005-AUG-26). Hinduism A General Introduction. Retrieved January 01, 2007, from http://www. religioustolerance. org/hinduism2. htm Religious Tolerance. (2005-AUG-26). Buddhism based on the teachings of Siddharta Gautama. Retrieved January 01, 20 07, from http://www. religioustolerance. org/buddhism. htm

You’re Not Important. You’re Not Anything

You’re not important. You’re not anything. † Granger is talking about how utterly insignificant Montag, and all human beings for that matter, are in the long scheme of time. He continues by saying: â€Å"But even when we had the books on hand, a long time ago, we didn't use what we got out of them. We went right on insulting the dead. We went right on spitting in the graves of all the poor ones who died before us. † Quite evidently, Granger is remarking on how important it is to relish the little moment your life consists of, to continually try throughout your life to make a withstanding impact.More importantly, he draws on how, in recent times, the members of society have become conceited and complacent, assuming there is nothing more to life than what surrounds them, life’s true meaning belittled by the anti-intellectual vision of the government. It is through this manifest that Granger divulges the major themes of the novel, showing not only that life is a constant cyclic process, rather, how important it is that we recognize the position of literature in our social development. As we will explore, Granger acts as the hallmark for part three, and ultimately the underlying messages of the book.Moreover, much like Bradbury seeks to impart on the reader, Granger (‘Modern Day Moses’), hopes to guide his group of literary disciples toward a promised land of free thought, alleviating the Dark Age and creating a new spark of intellectualism. This can be extended further, one could indeed say that Granger, remarking on how insignificant Montag is in the grand scheme of time and evolutionary expanse, is also saying that: on his own Montag isn’t much, but with the collective power of the group, the impact could be tremendous, a message quite similar to Bradbury’s.Throughout the novel we see Clarisse, then Montag, and then Faber, all try to create a humanistic spark within society, to change the minds of thos e who cannot see. However, despite their attempts, it is only when there is collective movement, that we see change. Bradbury is not saying that the individual is utterly useless when it comes to societal change, more so, if we want to avoid potential calamity within the social advancement of society, we too, must act collectively.Granger introduces cyclically regenerated mythological creature, the Phoenix, which becomes an enormously important literary tool for one of the underling messages of the novel. Bradbury uses the Phoenix to describe how its regenerative cycle is eerily similar to the ’swinging cycles’ of society. Just as the Phoenix destroys itself, so does mankind. From destruction to peace, despair to rejoice, society inevitably falls into a pendulum like cycle. Our ruinous actions consistently, much like the Phoenix; result in the destruction of our societal being.Then, the cycle swings back and new life is found, at least until our destructive habits once again reign. Bradbury, through the voice of Granger is invariably trying to warn us of this very cycle, armed with this knowledge mankind has the ability to prevent future calamity, to stop the cycle at its highest point. We differ from the Phoenix: â€Å"We know the damn silly thing we just did. † At this stage of the book, Montag is yet to realise the importance, position of influence, and subsequent responsibility he holds, or, the books hold.Granger acts as the flame for Montag, showing him his importance, showing him how, in the pendulum of time, he is insignificant. More importantly, that it is he who can freeze such a motion, and help society, mankind and all, prevent self-destruction. Granger sets the final tone for the novel, being one of the final voices; he ultimately decides how the reader comes away from their reading. Through his remarks on society’s cycle of self-destruction, and one’s duty to make an imprint on future generations, Granger provid es a summarised segment of the themes and motifs of the entire novel.Perhaps one of these segments one not often recognised; the mirror factory metaphor. Toward the end of the novel Granger remarks, â€Å"Come on now, we're going to go build a mirror factory first and put out nothing but mirrors for the next year and take a long look in them. † To be able to change the complacency and destructive attitudes of society, they need a reflection of what they have done, to recognise who they have become. In stark contrast to the parlour walls , where one sees a human they want to be, instead of one they already are, the mirror will show society what they are, allowing them to decide for themselves.It consolidates the process for self-reflection, helping society to rebuild, by first recognising their mistakes. Further, to an extent he also sets the tone for Bradbury’s final message: how are we to feel about the future, Hopeful? Depressed? Confused? It is Granger who acts as t he cohesion for the themes and underlying messages of Bradbury and that of the entire novel. His outlook, hopeful: â€Å"The wonderful thing about man†¦ [Is]†¦he never gets so discouraged†¦that he gives up†¦He knows very well it is mportant and worth the doing. † Withal, through his remark â€Å"You’re not important. You’re not anything†, Granger not only poses a message to Montag, showing him how to relight society by creating a collective power to combat past destruction. Additionally, through the continuation of his speech, including his Phoenix motif, comments on the cyclical process of society and metaphorical use of mirrors, helps to solidify the underlying themes of the novel, and to a greater extent, Bradbury’s personal manifestation.

The Meeting Technologies In the Copenhagen Accord Essay

The Meeting Technologies In the Copenhagen Accord - Essay Example The primary objective of the accord is to minimize greenhouse gas emitted by human activities that is already affecting climate change. While no specific action plans were agreed to in that session, it has set the stage for a series of conferences and treaties to implement its primary objective. The most recent of conferences related to this global initiative was held last December 2009 at Copenhagen, Denmark (United Nations). It was attended by 15,000 delegates from government and non-government institutions of various countries. Assembling such a huge number of participants to meet and exchange opinions entail technology that will facilitate such meeting into a successful agreement. While there are already 15,000 delegates on site to attend the conference, some countries need more participation. Individuals are able to participate in the conference without travelling to the site by viewing a webcast. A webcast is broadcasting over the internet. It is a medium of distributing a media file, say a digitally recorded video of the proceedings of a conference or the actual live video of the conference, over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers (Webcast). A webcast is such a powerful tool to use to capture a wider audience at virtually anywhere in the globe where the Internet is accessible. Having access to the conference from the home country will help delegates even be effective contributors to the conference by getting essential feedback from their country almost instantaneously while the conference is going on. And how do delegates attending the live conference obtain such feedback from their host countries, which could be thousands of miles from where they are sitting That is the power of the Internet. Today, having connectivity to the Internet is as essential as having a pen and paper in attending a meeting. Of course connectivity is only a piece of the set-up: a personal computer and software is required to effectively be connected. When connected to the Internet, the delegate has access to a wide variety of information: both public and private to the conference. Conference-exclusive information may include documents that are being shared and discussed in the conference will not need to be printed out, instead is shared over the Internet for exclusive viewing of the delegates. The delegates may have access to a chat tool where one can privately contact a co-delegate via short messages while the meeting is going-on (like small chats, but not voicing out but writing) or chat with a small g roup, say delegates from the same region or continent who most-likely share the same concerns. Public information is accessible through search engines that help find articles in the public Internet related to any topic being searched (Search Engine). Lastly, there is the e-mail, short for electronic mail, which instantaneously sends a message to anywhere in the world to elicit an immediate reply into one's message (E-mail). Such electronic connectivity save money in printing and communication costs vs. traditional means. Conclusion With the use of these vital technologies in such a global

Artistic and Livelihood Rights versus Morality Issues in Anti-Lap Assignment

Artistic and Livelihood Rights versus Morality Issues in Anti-Lap Dancing Ordinance - Assignment Example With a diminishing tax base, the city direly needs new livelihood sources. City council members and residents are divided on whether the emerging businesses of strip bars and pornographic moviemakers can save the city’s economy. They also believed that said ordinance was the first step to killing this industry. Mary Macy, 40, a former city council member said: â€Å"Adult entertainment businesses are a blight to any neighborhood. They attract a variety of criminal activity, including prostitution and drug use.† Council member Tonis Zaslow, 35, believed that they are not against new businesses, but opposed to the negative effects of the sex industry on their culture and health. Zaslow said: â€Å"This is just good government. We need to protect citizens from the transmission of sexual diseases, litter and condoms in our streets, drugs sold to children.† What several saw as depraved, others perceived as fun and legitimate livelihoods. George Rappaport, dressed in a business suit, thought that the ordinance was a killjoy: â€Å"I love lap dances. Who doesn’t? I say you’re banning this because you’ve never had one. You guys and gals should get one before you vote.† Bambi Newman, 27, is an actress, a stripper, and a single mom with a daughter. She argued that lap dancing is her right to artistic expression and a source of legitimate livelihood.

HEALTH LAW AND ETHICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 14

HEALTH LAW AND ETHICS - Essay Example issue but at the same time, warns them that false reporting and exaggeration can incur them loss, so that a dual-action is developed to make them honest in their reporting of the way things are going in the workplace. Hospitals can outsource the services when tough ethical decisions about resource allocation have to be made. Outsourcing is suitable particularly in the cases of ethical dilemma e.g. when there are two patients needing immediate attention of the doctor simultaneously. Another way is to always keep certain resources ready for employment on immediate basis. For example, one of the off-duty nurses can be called upon work because of shortage of nurses at a certain time but the nurse must be compensated for the unscheduled call of duty. When these options are not available, then the hospital should assess which of the subjects is in a greater need of resource allocation, and the resources must be allocated

The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

The Epic of Gilgamesh - Essay Example When he finds this immortal man, Gilgamesh is given two chances at immortality but fails in both quests noticing in his return to Uruk that mortal men have found their own means of immortality through works of art and civilization. As the summary proves, Tablet's XI main theme is human concern on mortality and immortality. Human search of immortality, a theme that has impregnated thousands literary works, is shown in the Tablet through its imagery. As for example, the exhaustive description of Uruk's wall. In this description of Uruk's walls, Gilgamesh shows his audience the strength of the same by pointing the quality materials used to make it. He also focus on its age by referring to ancient characters like the Seven Sages, an idea further emphasized by the repetitions found in this excerpt, which also appears word by word in Tablet I. This strong wall symbolizes man's victory over time and death thus leading mortal people to a kind of immortality achieved through their surviving works (art and civilization). The secondary theme, survival, is closely related with immortality, as men fight against nature/gods (symbolized by the storm) to prevent their own death. This is easily seen in the imagery of the storm described in Utanapishtim flashback story of the Flood. In spite of the fury of gods' storm (or nature in other cases), Utanapishtim and his men manage to survive thus breaking their fate of mortality. For having won their fight against the Flood, those men are rewarded with immortality, only preserved to gods or heroes. Finally, also related with the main theme of immortality by opposition, appears the theme of death. Death, personified, is an evil character that prevents Gilgamesh to fulfil his destiny; death prosecutes him and is always with him, as is shown in this hyperbole. "The Snatcher has taken hold of my flesh, in my bedroom Death wells, and wherever I set foot there too is Death!" (257-59, Tablet XI, The Epic of Gilgamesh) Death is shown as an evil character who is not easily deceived as it happens with Gilgamesh that fails his both chances at immortality, first by falling asleep and second by losing the opportunity to become young again. So in the case of Gilgamesh, death wins the battle as he finally succumbs to its clutches. But he and his people will be always remembered by the strong wall that have constructed around the city. However, the literary devices are not only used in relation with the themes but also with other purposes such as memorization,

Human Resources Information Systems Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resources Information Systems - Assignment Example oll tax laws in the context of fast changing federal policies relating to payroll taxation (Payroll tax law is really cumbersome task when the payroll system is managed internally) Decreased accessibility – When the payroll system is managed by an external outsourcing provider, the firm’s payroll services information are stored on a server outside the organization. Hence, the company finds difficulty accessing payroll figures and other employee data as and when required In case of a mistake in payroll tax deductions, retirement plan deductions, sick leave compensation, or employee benefits, it is not possible to correct the mistake fast. This issue may lead to employee dissatisfaction Employee resistance to change may be the most important risk associated with integrating a new payroll system. Employees would worry about the efficiency of a new system as it relates to their salaries, compensation, and other benefits. Hence they are not likely to accept the change. In the words of Lambert (2005, pp.1165-1167), even a well developed payroll system may fail to perform flawlessly if it is not integrated properly. Undoubtedly, such a situation will certainly result in employee dissatisfaction, which in turn may hurt overall organizational productivity. Sometimes the company’s staff may not be informed of all features of the new payroll system, and therefore they would not be able to manage the system in an effective way. However, the project management team can minimize those risks to a great extent by implementing proper change management policies prior to the actual integration of the new payroll system. The project management team should closely work with the HR team to coordinate their activities and to ensure shared efforts to convince employees regarding the necessity of the change planned. In addition, the project management team must ensure that there are skilled and experienced personnel to handle the newly integrated system efficiently. A Gantt

Discuss the rationale behind letters of credit with emphasis on the Essay

Discuss the rationale behind letters of credit with emphasis on the fundamental principles underlying these instruments. Critica - Essay Example Credit letters are used in cross border business transactions to make sure that payment will be received. The adoption of letters of credit has become extremely essential in cross border trade due to the nature of international dealings such as varying laws and difficulty in knowing each trade party personally. Additionally, the bank acts on buyer’s behalf by making sure that a seller will not receive payment pending the bank’s verification that goods have been dispatched. The parties to a letter of credit comprise of three or more persons. These are; the account party (importer/ applicant/ buyer), the issuing bank (the applicant bank) and the beneficiary (exporter/seller) (Gilles & Moens, 1998, p 395; DiMatteo, 2009, p 100). There exist contractual associations while using letters of credit in global business among the most essential parties, that is the issuing bank (one making payment of the applicant’s behalf), to the beneficiary, and the paying bank (in situ ations where there is a correspondent), the advising bank, as well as the confirming bank. Ideally, they are same bank but given different terms. As such, several contractual relationships are distinguishable. One is the contract between the applicant and the beneficiary. Two is the relationship between the applicant and the issuing bank. ... This is usually a letter drafted and signed by bank acting on the applicant’s behalf, addressed to the beneficiary. The applicant bank will agree to drafts under credit simply if the beneficially adheres to conditions set forth in the credit letter. The beneficiary is also requested to hand in certain deeds like commercial invoices and insurance papers in addition to the draft and other documents that may be specifically needed. The issuing banks acts on behalf of the buyer (applicant) in paying the beneficiary provided that all terms stipulated in the letter are adhered to (Ramlogan & Persadie, 2004, p 14). Source: Michigan law review, p 406 Documentary credit letters can be classified into: Transferable or non-transferable A beneficiary in the credit letter often maintains on an express term in the contract clarifying that the credit is â€Å"transferable†. The main upshot of a transferable letter of credit is that the seller (beneficiary) may request the designated b ank to transfer credit to the beneficiary’s supplier. However, the designated bank is under no legal obligation to transfer credit. The UCP affirms that a credit letter is transferable only if the contacts states so, the absence of which the beneficiary cannot insist that the designated bank to transfer credit (Moens & Jones, 2008, p 39). Revocable and irrevocable A revocable letter can be rescinded by the bank responsible for issuing at any time without preceding notice to the seller. The contract has to specifically state that a credit letter is revocable; otherwise it will be considered unalterable. A beneficiary seller in cross border transaction needs payment security, apparently not prepared to accept revocable letter of credit, since this would result

Personal Statement of Interest for Graduate Admission at the University of Baltimore Essay Example for Free

Personal Statement of Interest for Graduate Admission at the University of Baltimore Essay Life always takes me to a new and exciting experience each day. I believe everything that happened to me made me a person better than I am yesterday. It is a roller coasters experience since I meet every ups and down in life I always look forward in the future with much anticipation. I have a heart full of hope and a determined mind to succeed in everything I do. This is why I decided to apply on Baltimore’s graduate program on the field of Public Administration. I have the right mindset and I possess the necessary skills needed for the said program. I am looking forward to a future full of hope. I believe I can make all my dreams a reality come true. My name is (insert your name here) and I am currently studying at the University of Baltimore where I am taking up Bachelors Degree in Business Administration specializing in Human Resource Management. I will be graduating on January 11, 2009. I really cherish this educational institution because it honed me to be the best student that I can be in this field. I believe that the educational experience I had is still not enough that is why I continue to quest for knowledge and pursue another degree this coming Spring Semester of 2009. I wish to pursue another degree which majors in Public Administration specializing in Public Policy and Administration. I consider education as the most important factor geared towards success; and in order to achieve such, hard work and dedication should be exemplified in school. I am determined to succeed in life and continue the said degree until the end. I gained my degree in Applied Science in Business Administration last June 12, 2006 from Monroe College in New Rochelle, NY. I made it on the President and Dean’s List each semester and gained a 3. 5 GPA upon graduation. I treasure every achievement that I receive and impart it to my family and the institution where I am studying. I believe that it is always right to bring back the glory to the ones who assisted you towards success. Gaining recognitions is my way of paying tribute to my mentors and friends. Currently, I am part of the Helen P. Denit Honors Program where I am proud to say that I possess a GPA of 3. 4. I am also an active member of the Caribbean Students Association and Human Resources Society. I am happy being part of the aforementioned affiliations because it adds up meaningful experiences and lessons to my being. I also meet diverse people from different walks of life that made me more prepared for my future profession. Being one of the Dean’s Lister of the University of Baltimore boosted my pride and ego even more. Having a master’s degree in Public Administration will make me a more complete professional. I will be more aware of the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in life. It will be an additional spice to the previous education that I had. The University of Baltimore is equipped of the professors and educational resources that will make me an expert in this field. Studying on the same university where I graduated is like a home away from home. I already feel the warmth and friendliness of future professors and colleagues. Another reason for attending University of Baltimore is the reputation that it possesses when it comes to catering transfer students. When I transferred there from Monroe College, I experience its strong reputation and I felt a smooth transition because of its accessible course schedules. It offers a wide array of information and facilities that helps in cultivating the knowledge to promising students like me. I believe that it is important to stay in this university as a sign of loyalty and integrity. In addition I have learned so much from my professors and classmates especially when it comes to confidence and moral boost. It opened up gates of opportunity for me to stand up and be known for what I am knowledgeable. The educational experiences at University of Baltimore were all priceless. After completing my master’s degree, I am planning to go back to the United States Virgin Islands. I wanted to receive a master’s degree in Public Administration because of my willingness to relocate back home. I believe that it is one of the best things that I can carry with me because it will contribute to my society. Back in the Virgin Islands a degree in Public Administration goes a long way because everything there is centralized around the government. I believe that I will be given the chance to move up easily in an organization because it is a small island working in a private industry where a person’s ability is very limited. I would be able to move around and cross-train in the different fields and departments because I have a degree in Public Administration. Success has been attributed to the lessons learned in the years ahead. These are the little things that help us become prepared for the difficulties that life has to offer Through my hard work and patient, I believe that I will be able to gain a great deal of experience on how to make it big in this field of interest. Furthermore, I realized that rendering my services I Public Administration would bridge gaps between people. In this light, I had to improve and level up my skills in this degree for me to practice the profession. Being an Employee Development Specialist is one of my foremost ambitions. Being on the said career will make way for me to be a pride in the government of the United States Virgin Islands. I know that this is very suitable for my persona because it involves both my undergraduate degree in Human Resource and future degree in Public Administration. Aside from this, I also intend to work out an overall career goal and that is to work and move up in the different careers in the Human Resource Field. There are skills and virtues needed for one to be successful in life. These are not simply found inside our house or outside the classroom. It needs to be gained earned the hard way. Sharing an insight by using my experience to one of my favorite sports will give you a clearer meaning of this. Playing (insert name of favorite sport here) is indeed my cup of tea. But at first I was really hesitant to play because I’m afraid I don’t have any knowledge at all or the right skills to play it good. But as time goes by I was able to grasp all the necessary requirements to meet the goal. Achieving it was never easy. Rather, it involves the presence of mind and the ability to cooperate with everyone in the team. For this I have learned the importance of coordination and team work. I believe that those are the most difficult tasks to achieve. We solely rely on ourselves for everything, and in so doing, there are certain things in life that need to be shared. Heroic acts may seem simple, but these are the things that cause much confusion on the side of people. I believe that just like playing my favorite sport, the filed of Public Administration is a big challenge. It is a long and winding road to take but I will never loose courage to meet the goal. I wish to work on future public policies and administering it all the best that I can. Tantamount learning will compensate the things that I gained from school and this will make me stand out among the rest. As a token of appreciation from my Alma matter, the recognitions I will receive in the future for this field will be dedicated to Baltimore. Education may seem difficult to achieve, but it is the best solution to a better life. There will be tough times but I believe that I can surpass it all. I will learn that through time, I can hone myself and be successful in my chosen path. Regardless of how others try to pull me down, there is no way for them to steal the knowledge that I have acquired over the years. Although it may seem like a dream, I want to be known as someone who has contributed much to my society. Although this may sound off, I believe that anyone can be successful, as long as he puts his heart and soul into it. Hard work and dedication are needed in order to become the striking individual that I want to be. Public Administration covers many areas that gave me challenges and opportunities. Becoming a professional in this field is a life long dream for me that will meet both of my philosophy and career goals. I am more than ready to take courage and travel the journey towards my ambition of being a successful professional of Public Administration in the future and help people the best that I can. All my personal qualities and experiences made me a clearer understanding of this profession as it made me realize the importance of choosing this career. I am a very passionate individual and I use this as one of the driving key to strive hard and be excellent in Public administration. I want to give service to the people and give dedicate to them the best of my capacity and at the same time build a personal relationship with them. Personal experiences gave me learning and responsibilities that molded me to be what I am now. My endeavors in life that I wished to happen at the right time come with great purpose. I believe that I have the capabilities and I am highly motivated to succeed in this career that I choose to take. I want to illustrate the qualities that I have that will help me succeed in pursuing my degree in Public Administration. I see my personal and academic experiences as stages of growth that have helped me to understand my own potential and the road that I wish to take in life. While vast opportunities are before me, I feel that my true calling lies in the fascinating and challenging world of Public Administration. I take one step at a time to manage my skills in a way that will lead to further enhancement and development. Life is a roller coaster and there are certain events where my abilities are put into test which later on taught me how strong I should be. I firmly believe that this is a course that would help me shine as an individual. I thought about my future and what I really wanted to do with my life. I plan to further enhance my craft through this degree and eventually be successful in this field. Highly motivated I believe that having Public Administration as a degree will surely ease the path towards reaching my goals. I look forward to my future with great anticipation. I know that the time has finally come for me to realize my dreams and make them come true. From everything that has been said, I believe that the education and training that University of Baltimore would provide me with, would be of great help in my quest for further studies. My goals and aspirations in life would become one step closer at a time. I would be regarded as the man who lives for tomorrow.

Code of Ethics Essay Example for Free

Code of Ethics Essay A) Create a business of open and honest communication- Everyone should feel comfortable to speak his or hers mind. No one should be afraid to ask questions or speak up when they think something is wrong. B) Health and Safety- Having a healthy and safe business will make everyone feel comfortable. We should always maintain a healthy environment. Treat the office as if it was you home. C) Gift, Gratuities, and Business Courtesies- We are not allowed to accept money or any gifts over . 00. We are here to help and provide for our clients. Every clients should be treated the same. Certain gifts we can accept like calendars, pens, mugs, and key chains. D) Meals, Refreshments, and Entertainments- We may accept meals, refreshments and entertainment from vendors or clients as long as they are not inappropriately lavish or excessive. E) Accountability- Each person will be responsible for knowing and adhering to the values and standards set forth is this code and for raising questions if we are uncertain about company policy. F) Be Loyal (Confidential and Proprietary information)- Everything in our business will stay in our business. No one should give out personal information on our clients or any of our employees. Confidential and proprietary information includes such things as pricing and financial data, customer names/addresses or nonpublic information about other companies, including current or potential supplier and vendors.

Pricing Strategy For Retail Leather Business

Pricing Strategy For Retail Leather Business 1. Executive Summary Pricing strategy is play very important role in any business and pricing is always based on the consumers perception .This research is based on the Pricing strategy of Leather Retail Business in Singapore this is my first step for having retail leather shop in Singapore. In this research the important to know what price range will make customer to buy leather products and to see gap or space in existing leather market. This paper investigates about the consumer preferred pricing for leather products- Handbags, Wallets, Jackets, Computer Bags, Mobile case , Shoes and belts and what price range they found product is Expensive and At what price range consumer think that product is cheap? These factors are very important to know about consumer pricing acceptance. Finally we have got consumer preferred price, expensive and cheap price also Research paper also investigates all the factors which are influencing consumer buying decision they are Price, Quantity, Brand and Country of Origin. We got that price is top most important factor for consumer in buying decision and Competitors Price offerings analysis shows that Store type Biz from home and Retail Leather store is much similar but store type Shopping Mall store is having high end products with high price. For this research, SPSS, Perceptual and excel is used to know about the difference between Consumer preferred price. Perceptual is used to know preferred leather product according to the consumer age and gender. SPSS for knowing the cluster of leather product so that can be used for offering packages on demand. Overall, Price is very important factor and there is gap between consumer preferred price and competitors offerings and there new store can enter in market for selling leather products in consumer preferred price. 1. Introduction An entrepreneurial venture I am going to practice is to step in, in the leather retail business. This dissertation is based on the Pricing strategy of Leather Retail Business in Singapore this start will help me to stand up on my own feet. Singapore is small place but It is known as shopping paradise for Singaporean and tourists also. All leather products are fashion symbol for teenager and youth generation in the world Singapore youths are also fond of leather products. In 2008-2009, each and every business was facing decline due to the global crisis and in that period Singapore recession started because of that people started buying only necessary things for them and they were less concerned about the fashion and style but From first Q1 of 2010 the shadow of global crisis started fading off and base on this I think Its right time to start Leather retail business .Leather products could never die although it might face difficulties, which is the part of business. Leather products will be purchased from wholesale leather industries, Dharavi, Mumbai. Dharavi is famous for selling all genuine leather products at cheap price. In order to move ahead with my plan, I have to make certain assumptions and get a fair idea of the market. For this, the group will be conducted a primary research on the local people on their desire to buy leather and their expectation from the leather product The details of overseas buyers/delegates who visited India during the three Indian International Leather Fairs in the last three years is given below: In which Singapore has entered in 2006-2008 It is taken from http://www.leatherindia.org/annexure Year Country Number of overseas Buyers 2005-06 Spain, Portugal, UK, Singapore, Oman Italy 14 2006-07 Italy, Romania, Turkey, Argentina, Mexico, UK, USA, Portugal, Philippines, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Vietnam, Mexico, Sri Lanka and South AfricaÂÂ   69 2007-08 Spain, Belgium, USA, Brazil, Brunei, Spain, Czech Rep, Netherlands, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Namibia, UK, Romania, Poland, Finland, Colombia, Canada, South Africa, Turkey, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Uzbekistan Turkmenistan 116 In Singapore seems to be a considerable potential for the entry or expansion of specialized retail chains for leather retail business. Singapore is very small country and here market of any service or product gets saturated very rapidly but during my initial research shows that total 98 retail leather shops are available in the market but in 98 retail leather shops. 25 to 30 retail shops sell Branded leather like Gucci, Bulgary. 1.2 Singapore retail leather Market In Singapore seems to be a considerable potential for the entry or expansion of specialized retail chains for leather retail business. Singapore is very small country and here market of any service or product gets saturated very rapidly but during my initial research shows that total 98 retail leather shops are available in the market but in 98 retail leather shops. 40 retail shops sells Branded leather like Gucci, The Indian durable goods sector has seen the entry of a large number of foreign companies during the post liberalization period. A greater variety of consumer electronic items and household appliances became available to the Indian customer. Intense competition among companies to sell their brands provided a strong impetus to the growth for retailers doing business in this sector. Increasing household incomes due to better economic opportunities have encouraged consumer expenditure on leisure and personal goods in the country. B2B meetings between India exporters and over seas buyers. Changes in consumer needs, attitudes and behavior: The growth of modern leather retail is linked to consumer needs, attitudes and behavior. Rising income levels, education and global exposure have contributed to the evolution of the Singaporean middle class. As a result, purchasing and shopping habits have been inculcated and are increasing day by day. Historically, Singaporeans have been the ones to splurge on luxury items. Today, people are willing to try new things and look different, which has increased spending on fashion and beauty products apart from apparels, food and grocery items. 1.3 Competitors of Retail leather stores In Singapore many competitors are available but leather market is not saturated. Pls see below the list of Company Name who runs retails leather business in Singapore http://www.singaporebusinessguide.com/category/Leather_Goods.htm Here almost all retail leather shops are concentrating Leather wallets, Hand bags, key case, leather jackets and card holders and in the list few of company are selling all these above products but rest of them concentrating few product items and some of them concentrating on one product like only men belts and some only hand bags. I have visited retail store of Artisan where they sell all leather products. Pls see the below Pricing for some demanding products. In in leather industry Pricing is good factor in retail business and importantly if you are selling the product which you got in low price where Product has a high value so seller willingly sale product in good profit margin. Business strategy of selling product in low price which can be adopted , if you have enter in existing market where competitors are already gaining good profit margin so there differentiation can be made by selling product with low profit margin and make profit from selling large quantity. 1.4 Target Customer People who stays in Singapore Locals, PR or EP holders anyone who stays in Singapore and like to buy product with good quality in reasonable price. After recession hit in 2008 -people who were keen to buy branded products from showroom and malls are moving into this customer segment Customers are segregated according to their Monthly family Income and their buying behavior. Other factors will be their preference for any particular leather product and availability of the product 1.5 Literature Review (Pricing Strategy) 1.5.1 How Competitive Forces change strategy Price is big factor for buyers and sellers both in retail business. Typically in Singapore It is very much observed that People are more likely buy products where they get products in low price. And there is opportunity in retail leather market to have leather retail business with low business strategy. Michael E Porter Business strategy professor from Harvard Business School has written in his article How Competitive Forces change strategy The buyers are likely to shop for a favorable price and purchase their products 1.5.2 Empirical Analysis of Determinants of Retailer Pricing Strategy Author Venkatesh Shanker and Ruth N Boltan has given their point of view for An Empirical Analysis of Determinants of Retailer Pricing Strategy where they investigated the other determinants of pricing strategy for retail business and how price coordination and relative price and chain factors in retailer pricing . And these outputs are derived from a simultaneous equation model and how it is underlying dimensions of retailers pricing strategies and that are influenced by some pricing dimensions and following are the These four pricing dimensions are statistically related First Competitors price and deal frequency), Second Storability and necessity ,Third Chain positioning and size , Fourth Store size and assortment ,Fifth Brand preference and advertising and Sixth Price and deal elasticity These findings are very useful to retailers profiling alternative pricing strategies. Author Scott Alen has put some light on the point that How much should product and service be charged? How product positioning should be placed and is pricing going to be key part of that positioning? The product positioning has to be consistent with positioning because people really want to get in return same or above what they pay for. Pricing is also aferct demand because of that you have to do basic research so need to make simple questionnaire and asking them At what price they would like to buy that product and service ? even this sole practitioner will give basic curve that says that at X price, Y percentage people will buy. Author Deloitte has emphasized main challenge of retail business is setting up an accurate base price for a product. Price is important to draw the customer and generate the sale margin Market basket analysis should be done and we can identify an optimal base price using measurement tool like Price elasticity. This can be done by doing compare a series of price points and determining a price which generates the good gross sales margin. The past data of the product should be assessed to come up with the best base price for the market. Retailers will be prevented stock shortages and minimized unplanned clearance markdowns by selecting the optimal price This method or strategy will ensure price image remains fix and consistent to the customer and it will enable retailers to increase sales and inventory turns. Existing leather 1.6 Area of concern: It is necessary to set Price of Product while entering existing market. First step will be decide the price and look into the availability of leather products in different mediums. According to my analysis of counting Leather shops from different categories. Currently 26 retail local leather shops which is different from Branded leather shops, 63 branded shops and approximately local online shops are 15. Singapore is very small country so market of any product gets saturated and there are direct competitors who are selling all types of leather products It will be challenge for new entrant to enter in existing market, stay in the market and plan for growth of the business. 1.8 Research Problem: This market research is the function which connects the consumer and customer in the public. Market research result is used to get an idea of identity and information is used to identify and decide opportunities and problems in the market for evaluating and refining marketing situation also observing market behavior and performance. This will improve the understanding of the marketing in and out Market Research emphasis the data collection process and analyze the results and after that collected findings should be used for their implications. It is related with problem solving methods and the technique for getting idea to how to solve the problems. To understand the unpredictable consumer buying behavior and analyze this problem and make attempt to offset this. People sometimes have perception high quality means high price. Require to segregate the pricing strategy to avoid the product price perception. Product selection is required according to the demand of Singaporeans like Mens Accessories, Women Accessories, Shoes and Leather Jackets etc and according to the demand of Singapore people. To understand the Competitors Pricing strategy analysis for their products and then different products with different price range. This research should be niche to find the competitors pricing strategy 1.7 Objective of the Study: Price of any product or service is always play very important role and this need to explore the opportunities for entering new retail store in existing leather market of Singapore by applying pricing strategy. Research of the competitors products price and how pricing impact on Consumer buying decision. To determine demographic segment of the existing leather products consumers and how each segment behave differently Verify the preferred pricing for all leather products according to consumer point of view Identifying the price of leather products where consumer think that products are expensive and cheap Verify competitors price offerings 2. Methodology 2.1 Data Collection: The primary data has been collected from the 81 people who have contributed in Survey questionnaire form created for doing analysis on my research topic. Data collection is done with gender wise and according to the monthly income range and age to get a better idea from different view of consumer by knowing their demographic angle. Competitors data collection based on the price offering of competitors to the consumer and the type of stores like, Shopping Mall, Retail shop or business from home . Sample size was 81 for survey questionnaire of consumer and Competitors data collection sample size is 24 2.2 Data Analysis: Perceptual Analysis is used to see leather product Handbags, Wallets, Jackets, Computer bag, Mobile case, shoes and belts preference according to the gender wise. Female preference for leather products and Male preference for leather products. SPSS tool has been used for performing for cluster analysis to know the combination of leather products and frequency analysis to get details of frequency of using leather products. Excel is also used for getting difference between expensive price compare to preferred price and getting the details of variation of Expensive, preferred and cheap price. 2.2.1 Demographic analysis Demographic analysis has been used to segregate data with different available basic parameters of consumers. Age, Gender, Monthly Income, Nationality, Using leather products and frequency of purchasing leather products 2.2.2 Perceptual Analysis Perceptual analysis has been used to see the different variables position. There are 7 types of leather products Handbags, Wallets, Jackets, Computer bag, Mobile case, Shoes and belts. Analysis is based on according to different age group and gender. 2.2.3 Frequency Analysis Frequency analysis has been used to see frequency of preferred variable and differentiate variables preference. This analysis has helped to find out buying influenced factors Price, Quality, Brand and country of origin. 2.2.4 Cluster Analysis Cluster Analysis has been used to see possible cluster from available all leather products. Available products for this analysis Handbags, Wallets, Jackets, Computer bags , Mobile case, shoes and belts. 2.2.5 Price Segmentation analysis Price Segmentation analysis has been used to see variance among acceptance category given in primary data by consumer. There are 3 categories available Expensive, Preferred and Cheap. After this check the difference between Expensive to preferred to see which price will be suitable for consumer 3. Results and Interpretation 3.1. Demographic Analysis Result 3.1.1 Age Result Finding and Interpretation: There are 5 categories of age range Sample size is 81, 55% from 81 response is from age range 25-35 and second highest is from age range 35-45 3.1.2 Nationality Result findings and Interpretation First analysis of Nationality of all 81 responses shows that there are 4 categories in which first highest one is Indian having 51.9% and second one is Singaporean 35.8% , 8.6% Malay and 3.7% of others. This research according to this findings is more based on Indian and Singaporean. 1.3 Gender Result findings and Interpretation This demographic analysis is showing that in 81 responses Male are having 61.7 % and female are having 38.3% that means preference of leather products of male is more prominent research compare to female 3.1.4 Income Range- Singapore Dollar Result findings and Interpretation This demographic analysis is very important to know the monthly income range of taken 81 responses for this research as it is based on pricing. 27% is 10001 to 12500 and second one is 12501 to 15000 and 3.1.5 At present Using in Leather Products Result findings and interpretations This analysis is showing that 88.9% is already using leather products means they are already associated with their choice of leather goods and their price so following analysis is useful to get impact of their products choice of purchased leather product and what exactly they are looking for it. 11.1% are not using leather product and the following analysis will tell us about their preference which makes them to buy leather product 3.1.6 Leather Product Purchasing Frequency Result findings One time in a year is captured first place 22.22% from 81 responses and second place there are two categories one is 2 times in year and another is 1 time in a year . I interpret that Yearly frequency has captured more % then monthly because leather product are not essential product. Interpretations 3.1.7 Preferred Store type for Leather products shopping Result findings This analysis is saying that 51.9% from 81 responses prefer to buy from Retail local shop in compare to Mall or online. I interpret that people like to buy from retail shop compare to Mall Branded shop or online shopping. 3.2 Clustering of leather products Result findings. There are 7 clusters for leather products shoes, belts, wallets, Computer bags, Mobile case, Handbags and Jackets. Belts and shoes is one good cluster and another one is computer bag and Mobile case. Interpretations: Belts and shoes are having very good relation in buyers point of view if anyone likes shoes so in same manner he will like belts also . Seller can sell them as a package and same for the Computer bags and Mobile case 3.3 Perceptual Analysis 3.3.1 .Male Preference of Products with different Age Range Result findings This analysis is based on leather products preference according to their age group Male only. There are 6 categories Teen : 45yrs and 1- handbags, 2- wallets, 3- Jackets, 4- Computer bags, 5- Mobile Case, 6- Shoes and 7- Belts Interpretations: Male Adults and Male Teen they both like 4 Computer bags more and Male Young Adult prefer more shoes then other products and Aged like Wallets and Mid Aged male like Jackets and mobile case 3.3.2 Female Preference of Products with different Age Range Result findings This analysis is based on leather products preference according to their age group Male only. There are 6 categories Teen : 45yrs and 1- handbags, 2- wallets, 3- Jackets, 4- Computer bags, 5- Mobile Case, 6- Shoes and 7- Belts Interpretations Female teens like no 2 Wallets, female young Adults like belts compare to other leather products and female aged like Jackets, mid aged adult and adult like Handbags and shoes but Female mid aged adult like more Handbags and shoes compare to Adult female 3.4 Leather products preferred price 3.4.1 Handbags preferred/expensive/cheap Difference between Expensive and preferred price range Result findings and interpretaion In the above 2 charts X axis is Number of response and Y axis is the mean of selected Price range. This analysis is done to check the variation of 81 people responses regarding their preferred price for Handbags, expensive price according to people and cheap price and difference between the people preferred and expensive pricing. People preferred price range are bit low or sometime as same as expensive price and from this we can interpretate that people will like to buy handbags if it is bit expensive 3.4.2 Wallets preferred/expensive/cheap Difference Between Expensive and Prefered Result findings and interpretation In the above 2 charts X axis is Number of response and Y axis is the mean of selected Price range. This analysis is done to check the variation of 81 people responses regarding their preferred price for Wallets, expensive price according to people and cheap price and difference between the people preferred and expensive pricing. According to this analysis output People preferred price range are low from expensive price so we can interpret that people will like to buy Wallets in their preferred price and do not like to pay more 3.4.3 Jacket preferred/expensive/cheap Difference Result findings and interpretations In the above 2 charts X axis is Number of response and Y axis is the mean of selected Price range. This analysis is done to check the variation of 81 people responses regarding their preferred price for Jackets, expensive price according to people and cheap price and difference between the people preferred and expensive pricing. According to this analysis output People preferred price range are low from expensive price so we can interpret that people will like to buy Jackets in their preferred price and do not like to pay more 3.4.4 Computer Bag preferred/expensive/cheap Difference Result findings and interpretation In the above 2 charts X axis is Number of response and Y axis is the mean of selected Price range. This analysis is done to check the variation of 81 people responses regarding their preferred price for Computer bags , expensive price according to people and cheap price and difference between the people preferred and expensive pricing. People preferred price range are bit low or sometime as same as expensive price and from this we can interpret that people will like to buy Computer bags if it is bit expensive but still they are very few in compare to all 81 responses. 3.4.5 Mobile Case preferred/expensive/cheap Difference Result findings and interpretation In the above 2 charts X axis is Number of response and Y axis is the mean of selected Price range. This analysis is done to check the variation of 81 people responses regarding their preferred price for Mobile case, expensive price according to people and cheap price and difference between the people preferred and expensive pricing. People preferred price range are visibly low compare to expensive price and from this we can interpret that people will like to buy Mobile case if it is provided in their preferred price range 3.4.6 Shoes preferred/expensive/cheap Difference Result findings and interpretation In the above 2 charts X axis is Number of response and Y axis is the mean of selected Price range. This analysis is done to check the variation of 81 people responses regarding their preferred price for Shoes, expensive price according to people and cheap price and difference between the people preferred and expensive pricing. According to this analysis output People preferred price range are low from expensive price so we can interpret that people will like to buy Shoes in their preferred price and do not like to pay more 3.4.7 Belts preferred/expensive/cheap Difference Result findings and interpretation In the above 2 charts X axis is Number of response and Y axis is the mean of selected Price range. This analysis is done to check the variation of 81 people responses regarding their preferred price for Belts, expensive price according to people and cheap price and difference between the people preferred and expensive pricing. People preferred price range are bit low or sometime as same as expensive price and from this we can interpret that people will like to buy Belts if it is given in their preferred price range 3.5 Influence factors of Buying 3.5.1 Price-Buying Influence Factor Result findings Result findings are 55.6% responses is said that Price is Most important factor for them for buying leather product and 21% is said that price is very important factor and for 9.9% it is less important, 6.2% it is very less important and 7.4 it not at all important factor for buying and leather products Interpretations More than 50% of responses are saying that Price is Most important factor for them to buy any leather product and 21% are saying Price is very important factor so cumulative 72% out of 100% is saying Price is important factor 3.5.2 Quality-Buying Influence Factor Result findings Result findings are 44.4% responses is said that Quality is Most important factor for them for buying leather product and 25.9 % is said that Quality is very important factor and for 3.7% it is less important, 11.1% it is very less important and 14.4% it not at all important factor for buying and leather products Interpretations More than 44.4% of responses are saying that Quality is Most important factor for them to buy any leather product and 25.9% are saying Quality is very important factor so cumulative 70% out of 100% is saying Quality is important factor 3.5.3 Brand-Buying Influence Factor Result findings Result findings are 3.7% responses is said that Brand is Most important factor for them for buying leather product and 29.6% is said that Brand is very important factor and for 48.1% it is less important, 11.1% it is very less important and 7.4 it not at all important factor for buying and leather products Interpretations More than 48.1 % of responses are saying that Brand is less important factor for them to buy any leather product, 11.1% are saying Brand is very less important factor and 7.4% is saying it is not at all important so cumulative 67% out of 100% is saying Brand is not much important factor for them for buying leather products 5.4 Country Origin-Buying Influence Factor Result findings Result findings are 11.1% responses is said that Country of origin is Most important factor for them for buying leather product and 18.52% is said that Country of origin is very important factor and for 18.52% it is less important, 25.93% it is very less important and 25.93% it not at all important factor for buying and leather products Interpretations More than 18.52 % of responses are saying that Country of origin is less important factor for them to buy any leather product, 25.93% are saying Country of origin is very less important factor and 25.93% is saying it is not at all important so cumulative 70% out of 100% is saying Country of origin is not much important factor for them for buying leather products 6.Competitive Analysis 6.1 Types of Stores Research Findings and Interpretations Sample size is 24 stores and 45.8% from 24 is Retail shop and 37.5 from shopping mall and 16.7% Biz from home . Analysis is for all these 3 store types is to know about the pricing offering for leather products 6.2 Handbags Price Range Handbags- Biz from Home Handbags- Shopping Mall Handbags- Retail Store Result findings and Interpretation Store Type Biz from home 27% selling handbags at $1 to $150 price range and 73% at $151 to $300 and Store type Shopping Mall 70% selling handbags at $151 to $300 and 30% $301 to $450 and Store Type Retail 45% selling handbags at $1 to $150 price range and 55% at $151 to $300. According to these findings I interpret that retail store are selling balance price range products and Shopping mall starting range is bit high compare to retail store and biz from home 6.3 Wallets Price Range Wallets-Biz from Home Wallets- Shopping Mall Wallets- Retail Store Result findings and Interpretation Store Type Biz from home 75% selling Wallets at $1 to $100 price range and 25% at $101 to $200 and Store type Shopping Mall 70% selling wallets at $201 to $300 and 30% $301 and above and Store Type Retail 35% selling wallets at $1 to $100 price range and 65% at $101 to $200. According to these findings I interpret that retail store biz from home are selling at low price range products and Shopping mall starting range is bit high compare to retail store and biz from home 6.3 Jackets Price Range Jackets-Biz from Home Jackets- Shopping Mall Jackets- Retail Store Result findings and Interpretation Store Type Biz from home 50% selling Jackets at $1 to $150 price range and 50% at $151 to $300 and Store type Shopping Mall 55% selling Jackets at $151 to $300 and 45% $301 to $450 and Store Type Retail 20% selling Jackets at $1 to $150 price range and 80% at $151 to $300. According to these findings I interpret that Biz from home store type are selling balance price range products 6.4 Computer bags Price Range Computer Bag-Biz from Home Computer bags- Shopping Mall Compbags- Retail Store Result findings and Interpretation Store Type Biz from home 75% selling Computer bags at $1 to $200 price range and 25% at $201 to $400 and Store type Shopping Mall 30% selling Computer bags at $201 to $400 and 70% $401 to $600 and Store Type Retail 25% selling Computer bags at $1 to $200 price range and 75% at $201 to $400. According to these findings I interpret that retail store are selling balance price range products and Shopping mall starting range is bit high compare to

Isbens A Dolls House Essay -- essays research papers

Nora Helmer as a Doll In Isben's, A Dolls House Nora, the protagonist is treated like a doll - the property of Torvald Helmer. In Act I, there are many clues that hint at the kind of marriage Nora and Torvald have. It seems that Nora is a doll controlled by Torvald. She relies on him for everything, from movements to thoughts, much like a puppet that is dependent on its puppet master for all of its actions. The most obvious example of Torvald's physical control over Nora is his re-teaching her the tarantella. Nora pretends that she needs Torvald to teach her every move in order to relearn the dance. This act shows her submissiveness to Torvald. After he teaches her the dance, he proclaims "When I saw you dance the tarantella, like a huntress, a temptress, my blood grew hot, I could...

Free College Essays - Use of Imagery in Shakespeares Othello :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Othello

Use of Imagery in Othello  Ã‚   In William Shakespeare's Othello, the use of imagery and metaphors is significant in conveying meaning as it helps to establish the dramatic atmosphere of the play and reinforce the main themes. Through this, the audience is able to grasp a better understanding of the play. Throughout Othello, images relating to poison frequently occur. These references are predominantly made by Iago. This seems appropriate for Iago who exhibits the characteristics of poison; they being fatal and deadly. There are several possible explanations to what motivates Iago: being overlooked for the lieutenancy, the belief that Othello and Cassio had committed adultery with his wife, though this is never really proved; class differences present in the society that made him feel inferior, and racial differences. This desire for revenge is so great it "doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw [his] inwards." Iago's use of language is a primary weapon in manipulating Othello. By "pour[ing] this pestilence into his ear", Iago contaminates his thoughts. Once Othello starts to doubt Desdemona's fidelity, he is so incredibly driven by jealousy that it leads him to murder her, ironically with poison. Many references are made to animals in the play. Iago uses beast imagery to express his contempt and to downgrade those he despises. Early in Act 1, he rouses Brabantio's anger by using crude images of animals fornicating to inform him that his "daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs." Such a metaphor is designed to evoke a strong emotional response. In a soliloquy at the conclusion of Act One, Iago says "It is engendered. Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light." Shakespeare uses the image of a monster being born as a metaphor for the start of Iago's evil scheming. It also becomes evident that Othello's mind has been corrupted by Iago's evil handiwork when he too starts to use the same sort of animal imagery in his speech. In one scene, convinced of his wife's infidelity, Othello loses all self-control crying out "goats and monkeys," animals traditionally considered lascivious. There is also a wealth of heaven and hell imagery in Othello. Iago, who is Machiavellian in nature and revels in tormenting others, can be perceived as the devil personified. Even he himself acknowledges this when he says "devils will the blackest sins put on...suggest at first with heavenly shows / As I do now.

Local Taxidermy Essay

What is taxidermy? Well should I say what is stuffing? Taxidermy is really a big thing in this small world. Taxidermy has been around for a very long time, it takes many difficult steps to becoming a good taxidermist, all the different types of taxidermy, therefore it will take carefulness, time and patience for me to mount a deer head for my product. When taxidermy first came around it was used by the Indians for clothing and even used for shelter. In this research paper you will find that taxidermy is very important to the human life, because even today people still wear clothing that is made from animal skin. Taxidermy is a general term showing the many methods of reproducing a life-like three dimensional representation of an animal for permanent display. The actual skin from an animal (including the fur, feathers or scales) is took and mounted over an artificial armature. In other cases, the specimen is completely done with man made materials. Taxidermy is derived from two ancient Greek words: taxis, Meaning movement, and derma, meaning skin. Therefore translated, taxidermy means the movement of skin. Taxidermy can be done on all species of animals including humans. A brief history of Taxidermy, Thousands of years ago when man first hunted for his food, he found that the skins of his prey, when treated with certain substances, could be preserved and used for clothing and shelter. The first taxidermists were primitive hunter-gatherers who crudely formed animal skins over mud and rock for use in their hunting rituals. Over the years, as methods increased these skins improved and the need for tanned skins increased, the tanner became one of the most important members of the tribe. Without him there would be no clothing. As the demand for quality leather and skins increased, the methods became more and more sophisticated. By the 1700s almost every town had a tannery business. In the 1800s, hunters began bringing their trophies to upholstery shops, where the upholster would sew up the animal skins and stuff them with rags and cotton. That’s where the term â€Å"stuffing† or a â€Å"stuffed animal† evolved from this crude form of taxidermy. This practice produced some terrible looking mounts and gave taxidermy a bad reputation which still haunts the industry to this day. Professional taxidermists still shudder and take offense at the term stuffing, the perfered word is mounting. In the early 20th century, taxidermy began to evolve into its modern form under the leadership of great artists such as Carl E. Akeley, William T. Horneday, Coloman Jonas and Leon Pray. These and other talented pioneers developed anatomically accurate mounts which incorporated every detail right down to each muscle and tendon of the animal. In artistically pleasing poses. They invented new techniques for mounting that allowed them to portray animals with lifelike accuracy. They created mounts in realistic settings and poses that were more appropriate for the species. This was quite a change from the crude, snarling caricatures that were popularly offered as hunting trophies. To actual trophies that show exactly the realistic look of the animal. Taxidermy in the latter part of the twentieth century has developed into a full-fledged form of wildlife art, and the successful taxidermists of today must also be considered as very fine artists in their own right. There are many different methods used today for producing mounts of different species. The taxidermist today can take pride in their works as their work is just as nice as the paintings that hang on house holds. To becoming a non forgettable taxidermists it takes practice. The modern practice of taxidermy incorporates many crafts, such as carpentry, woodworking, tanning, molding and casting. It also contains artist talent, so it takes someone that will put their time into something that they won’t except till it reaches their high explatations. In a deer head mount, the only natural parts of the animal are the antlers and the skin, the teeth can be used if they are in good dental shape, but most are artificial. The other organs are shaped by the taxidermists materials. The eyes are made from glass, the eyelids are sculpted from clay, the nose and mouth are made from epoxy or wax. The form is made from polyurethane foam. To practice taxidermy one must be extremely familiar with anatomy, dissection, sculpture, and painting as well as tanning. Today most of the parts used are not even from the real parts of the animal at all. They are completely recreated from man made materials. This is for those who that believe in the catch and release. This is usually done on fish, the only thing they are required to do is take a picture and take some measurements of the fish. Then take the picture and the measurements to a local taxidermy, the taxidermy will then take the materials and sculpture a real life like mount of the fish, Some even say that if you take the artificial fish and set it beside a real one and you wont even tell the difference. But the good thing is the hunter or fisherman can feel good about what he has done because the fish that he caught is still living plus he has a trophy on his wall that reminds him of what he caught. A taxidermy will first take the trophy and freeze it until it is time to be mounted. The taxidermist the removes the skin, to be tanned and treated for later use. The remaining muscle fibers and bones are measured and posed. The carcass is then molded and plaster. The carcass is then removed and the mold is used to produce a cast of the animal called a mannequin. Mannequins can also be made by sculpting the animal first clay. There are many companies that produce stock forms in many sizes that can be used. Glass eyes are then usually added to the display, and possibly also artificial teeth, depending on the subject’s original dental condition. An increasingly popular trend is to freeze dry the animal. This can be done with reptiles, birds, and small mammals such as cats, large mice and some types of dogs. Freeze drying is expensive and time consuming. The equipment is expensive and requires much upkeep. Large specimens can be required to spend as long as six months in the freeze dryer, although is the preferred technique for pets. There are many different types of taxidermy, for instant a Rogue taxidermy is the creation of stuffed animals which do not have real, live counterparts, be of the taxidermists’s imagination, or be endangered or extinct species. They can be made from the parts of mythical animals or they may be artificially created. Rogue taxidermy is often seen in side shows and dime museums among genuine freak animals. The other type of taxidermy is known as Anthropomorphic taxidermy its where stuffed animals are dressed as people or displayed as if engaged in human activities. This style was popular in Victorian and Edwardian times but can still be found today. The style was popularized by Human Plouequet, taxidermist in Stuttgart. Germany, when he exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851. Just where can you see taxidermy at? Well taxidermy is everywhere they are displayed in museums, educational institutions, businesses, restaurants, and homes. Therefore to become a taxidermist you must need some experience, you can gain this experience threw schooling. From there you will learn the basics of taxidermy, like how to measure the different parts of the animal, how to be accurate at ordering the right size form for the species. You will also learn how to tan a hide and learn the steps to putting the cape on the form. This is all important because you want to make sure that the specie looks very life like. Which if you like to rush threw things and be able to finish them without the hassle of waiting then taxidermy is not for you. Taxidermy takes patience and time, it can take a taxidermist up to six months to finish a trophy. Of course a taxidermist could do it a lot faster if they didn’t care what it looks like at the end but no they want their work to look as life like as possible. Because anyone that is a hunter or fisherman knows that having something to remind them of there trophy is a memory that will always stick with them. So when they pay a very large amount of money to get their trophy done they would expect it to look life like and give them that memory of the day it was taken or caught.

Are Wars Necessary?

Are Wars Necessary? I think, there are quite few people who actually believe that the war is something good, wholesome and useful. It is and has always been one of the worst and most disgusting, destructive events that can happen. But it is to the same degree wrong to accuse it of all the deadly sins existing in the world. Although war is always evil, sometimes it is the lesser evil, in some cases it is inevitable.I, of course, don’t support the idea that the war is necessary in socio-economical sense – there is such a point of view, stating that the war is the motive power of progress and effective method of keeping demographic situation stable. Of course, some inventions were first applied in military, but also because this research has always been better supplied. And, although a lot of people die in the course of wars, it is not enough to really influence demographics, especially nowadays.I am speaking about the war as the conflict of interests and state that yes, i n certain situations war is necessary and even turns out into a thing to be proud of. War may be offensive and defensive and, just like in the case of self-defense, in the event of armed attack from another country any kind of violence used in retaliation is acceptable, because any other course of action will mean suicide.Looking at the same analogy, there is no much difference between a country attacking another country from a mugger on the street. The fact that the offenders are numerous, wear uniforms and deliver speeches makes absolutely no difference. Read more: http://www. paperwritings. com/free-examples/essay-about-war. html#ixzz2DxD5bCkQ

Providian Trust Essay

Business Context/Key Business Drivers Providian Trust delivers financial and fiduciary services to clients across 216 branches. In an industry built on servicing clients, many of Providian Trust’s trust officers had 20-30 years of experience with the company and managed clients at a personal level. The trust officers had total control over what was sent to the client, including generation of financial statements. Control of the financial statements often resulted in a 2-3 month lag in statement delivery, a slower turnaround time compared to competitors. Additionally, trust officers often discounted or waived client fees for late or inaccurate statements, costing the company an estimated $2 – $5 million dollars per year. The institutional custody business was becoming technology intensive, and from the client’s perspective, Providian Trust had outdated reporting systems. In response to client demand, Providian Trust embarked on an initiative to upgrade their systems and change the way they serviced th eir clients. Initiative Objectives/Benefits To better serve their clients, Providian Trust started a large information technology project within the trust division. The objective of the project was to convert their outdated information system into a more efficient, trust and custody management system. Initiative leader, Michael LeBlanc, also wanted to address issues between the back office and front office, issues Providian Trust experienced for years. He convinced the Providian Trust board that the new software (Access Plus) would support a redesign of business processes. After board approval, the project scope included a system implementation and business process redesign. Providian Trust expected annual savings of approximately $9.2 million from this project. In addition to the estimated annual savings, the initiative expected the following benefits: Initiative Challenges Leadership * Inadequate member selection for Steering committee * A key leader of the field was not selected, intensifying political tension within the group * Impact: Â  * Ineffective executive sponsorship and lack of leadership guidance for the project * Implementation Committee (made up of junior people) took on Steering Committee responsibility. Implementation Committee was unaware of their role and responsibilities associated with it (e.g. are they responsible for the success of the project?). Unrealistic Timeline * Project timeline to deliver technology infrastructure and train employees was not sufficient * Many employees did not have the proper computer skills to operate a PC. PC skills were a pre-requisite for the success of Access Plus. * Clients were expecting changes as a result of the software implementation, but the field did not even have PCs or PC skills to operate the new technology * Impact: * User audience not prepared for implementation training, adoption is at risk * Risk of not meeting client expectations Project Team Selection * Proper resources were not identified for the project team * The project team was mostly made up of individuals from the Operations department that only represented a portion of the processes the initiative would impact. * The IT group selected to implement the technological changes did not have experience implementing an information technology initiative of this magnitude * Impact: * Lack of implementation experience puts technology implementation at risk * Lack of user group representation affects accuracy of business processes being changed * Employees are not fully supportive of the project since they were not represented Risk Management * Risks not handled appropriately * In multiple instances, the project team was notified of risks by senior management. Project Team did not address risks directly. Instead, they handled the topics one-off. * Project team did not handle risk of insufficient testing * Impact: * Risks not addressed impact success of project * Sufficient testing is not conducted. It is unknown whether the system can handle the information volume Results I do not expect this initiative to be successful. Inadequate planning, poor resource selection and an undefined vision put the project at risk for failure. From the beginning, there was a lack of due diligence across many levels of the project. The employees involved in the project were not selected appropriately. Junior employees who lacked experience were making project decisions, decisions that would have a significant impact on the company and the way they do business. Additionally, user representation on the project team was low, impacting the accuracy of business processes and also impacting user support and adoption of the initiative. It was evident that Providian Trust lacked strong executive leadership on the project which did not send a good message to the field. Lack of executive support will impact the adoption of new business processes. At the end of the day, if the users do not adopt the system or the new business processes, it will impact clients and clients are the central focus in this service-focused industry. Relevance and Analysis In my experience, if the project vision is not defined and the project team selection is not right, the foundation for the project is unstable. Providian Trust was operating with an inexperienced project team that lacked executive sponsorship. Executive sponsorship is a key support component to a project team, especially if the team is inexperienced. Executive support and guidance would have impacted the decisions being made and made this initiative more successful. Providian Trust underestimated the amount of training that was needed for this initiative. Success of the project was highly dependent on user adoption, something that was not addressed adequately. Providian Trust decided to take a Train the Trainer approach for this initiative. Trainers were trained 8 months before the implementation. A lot can change with 8 months remaining in a project and it is likely that training topics covered would have changed in the 8 months left of the project. Further, many employees did not have PCs and others did not have PCs for enough time to learn basic computer skills that would serve as a foundation to learn Access Plus. From a financial perspective, only 3% of the net investment was dedicated to training. In an initiative that introduces so much change into an organization that is historically resistant to change, user training needs to be a top priority. In my experience, Train the Trainer approaches are effective when trainers are sufficiently trained and there is strong leadership support. Both of these elements were missing at Providian Trust. This case reminded me of the importance of a defined project vision, leadership support and proper resource allocation.

Jordan Baker

Not all houses can be the centre of attending where everyone wants to party at that place on Saterday darks. The houses that can make this are ever filled up people and are ever throwing partys that keep the bangs traveling non halt. The house described exists in a topographic point known merely as West Egg. The one throwing all these astonishing partys is Jay Gatsby, besides known as the great gatsby.How he got his luck is unknown but everyone excepts the fact that he is really rich.the house described above is found in the exciting authoritative novel, The Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway is the 1 that tells this narrative. He tells the narrative in a really unagitated and understanding manner. Nick lives across the manner from Gatsby and is related to Daisy. Theres many different important parts to the narrative. One that many people dont relize are the minor characters, there of import because they make the major character seem more realistic. The minor characters can state parts of t he narrative that the major characters could ne'er make. They complete the book and do all the events that take topographic point seem more realistic. The minor characters of this narrative show sides of the major characters that you would ne'er see with out at that place aid. Fitzgerald, the writer of The Great Gatsby, made many of import minor characters that bring the narrative to life such as Jordan Baker, Myrtle, and George Wilson. these minor character further finish the secret plan. Jordan Baker was normally seen throughout the book. She is Daisy ‘s friend and she represents the new adult females of the 1920s. Nick said â€Å" She was incurably dishonest. She was n't able to digest being at a disadvantage † ( Fitzgerald 60 ) . Nick and Jordan so ended up in a relationship. Fitzgerald included Jordan Baker because she makes Nick more of a character instead than a storyteller. Since she is friends with Daisy, she has information that Nick could non acquire which helps the narrative be told. She told Nick the narrative behind Gatsby and how his wealth came to be. She besides told Nick about Daisy ‘s matrimony, and how Daisy decided she did n't desire to get married Tom on the nuptials dark, but she did anyhow. Jordan said â€Å"Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be merely across the bay† ( Fitzgerald 80 ) . She connected Nick and Gatsby and besides connected all of the chief characters. The relationship between Nick and Jordan wa s non as strong. It was there to be contrasted with the relationship of Gatsby and Daisy. Jordan was an of import minor character because she connected the chief characters together. Myrtle Wilson foremost appeared in the narrative when Tom introduced here to Nick. Myrtle is merryed to George but is rip offing on him with Tom who is besides married. Myrtle is reasonably much a homewrecker and she is merely being used by Tom as more female company. During the party that happens in chapter 2 Myrtal repetitions Toms married woman name one time to many times and in a tantrum of fury Tom punches her in the face. This shows Toms disrespect for adult females and that he wanted nil to make with Myrtal than to utilize her. Myrtle making what she did shows that Tom is non merely a nice loving cat. Tom is shown as a 2 timer when he inquiries Daisy and Gatsby ‘s relationship even though he himself was holding an matter. Myrtle believes she is in a higher category or people than her hubby George Wilson. You can see this when she recieves a complament on something she was have oning and answer â€Å" It ‘s merely a brainsick old thing, I merely steal it on sometim es when I do n't care what I look like † . ( Fitzgerald 37 ) . She trys to conceal the white rubbish she truely is by moving snobby all because she is with Tom. In her head money is all person needs to hold felicity in life. Myrtle shows the reader that no 1 should move like something they ‘re non. George Wilson is besides another minor character in the novel. He is a mechanic and is Myrtle Wilson ‘s hubby. Tom Buchanan dainties George in a atrocious mode. He still talks to George easy, even though he is holding an matter with his married woman. When Tom went to present Nick to Myrtle, George asks Tom when is he selling him his auto. Tom replied following hebdomad, but so says â€Å" And if you feel that manner about it, possibly I ‘d better sell it someplace else after all † ( Fitzgerald 25 ) . The manner Tom negotiations to George, feels as if Tom acts superior. But George proved that incorrect because he is a sincere adult male. He really, genuinely loved Myrtle, unlike Tom. Tom practically plays both Daisy and Myrtle. When Myrtle was killed, Tom decided to state George that Gatsby killed her. He despised the relationship that Gatsby and Daisy had. He told George that, because he knew George would revenge Myrtle and so Gatsby would be out of his manner. Ge orge killed Gatsby all because of words from Tom. Tom is a barbarous adult male that merely uses George as a tool. The Great Gatsby is a great American, authoritative novel. It tells a great narrative of love and complications. It ‘s a review of the American dream. But all of it could n't hold been accomplished without the usage of minor characters. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald included minor characters functions such as Myrtle Wilson, Jordan Baker and George Wilson to sophisticate the narrative, with important actions. For illustration, Myrtle Wilson reflected the harsh and hypocrite side of Tom Buchanan. He uses her and does n't desire to go forth Daisy for her. Jordan Baker linked the chief characters together. She gave information to the storyteller that he would n't hold been able to have realistically. Her relationship with Nick made him more of a existent individual, and less of a storyteller. George Wilson ‘s character shows how Tom merely uses people for his benefits. The minor characters played of import functions in the novel. They reveal or unlock secrets about major ch aracters. The writer sends messages through minor characters that he could non through major characters. They make the major characters dynamic, and their actions causes the secret plan to alter. The narrative would n't be so great in-depth without minor characters.

Barack Obama - Knox College Commencement Address

Barack Obama Commencement Address at Knox College delivered 4 June 2005, Galesburg, Illinois You know, it has been about six months now since you sent me to Washington as your United States Senator. I recognize that not all of you voted for me, so for those of you muttering under your breath I didn’t send you anywhere, thats ok too. Maybe we’ll hold What do you call it? a little Pumphandle after the ceremony. Change your mind for the next time. It has been a fascinating journey thus far. Each time I walk onto the Senate floor, Im reminded of the history, for good and for ill, that has been made there. But there have been a few surreal moments. For example, I remember the day before I was sworn in, myself and my staff, we decided to hold a press conference in our office. Now, keep in mind that I am ranked 99th in seniority. I was proud that I wasn’t ranked dead last until I found out that it’s just because Illinois is bigger than Colorado. So I’m 99th in seniority, and all the reporters are crammed into the tiny transition office that I have, which is right next to the janitor’s closet in the basement of the Dirksen Office Building. It’s my first day in the building, I have not taken a single vote, I have not introduced one bill, had not even sat down in my desk, and this very earnest reporter raises his hand and says: â€Å"Senator Obama, what is your place in history?† I did what you just did, which is laugh out loud. I said, place in history? I thought he was kidding. At that point, I wasn’t even sure the other Senators would save a place for me at the cool kids’ table. But as I was thinking about the words to share with this class, about what’s next, about what’s possible, and what opportunities lay ahead, I actually think it’s not a bad question for you, the class of 2005, to ask yourselves: What will be your place in history? In other eras, across distant lands, this question could be answered with relative ease and certainty. As a servant in Rome, you knew you’d spend your life forced to build somebody else’s Empire. As a peasant in 11th Century China, you knew that no matter how hard you worked, the local warlord might come and take everything you had and you also knew that famine might come knocking at the door. As a subject of King George, you knew that your freedom of worship and your freedom to speak and to build your own life would be ultimately limited by the throne. And then America happened. A place where destiny was not a destination, but a journey to be shared and shaped and remade by people who had the gall, the temerity to believe that, against all odds, they could form â€Å"a more perfect union† on this new frontier. And as people around the world began to hear the tale of the lowly colonists who overthrew an empire for the sake of an idea, they started to come. Across oceans and the ages, they settled in Boston and Charleston, Chicago and St. Louis, Kalamazoo and Galesburg, to try and build their own American Dream. This collective dream moved forward imperfectly it was scarred by our treatment of native peoples, betrayed by slavery, clouded by the subjugation of women, shaken by war and depression. And yet, brick by brick, rail by rail, calloused hand by calloused hand, people kept dreaming, and building, and working, and marching, and petitioning their government, until they made America a land where the question of our place in history is not answered for us. It’s answered by us. Have we failed at times? Absolutely. Will you occasionally fail when you embark on your own American journey? You surely will. But the test is not perfection. The true test of the American ideal is whether we’re able to recognize our failings and then rise together to meet the challenges of our time. Whether we allow ourselves to be shaped by events and history, or whether we act to shape them. Whether chance of birth or circumstance decides life’s big winners and losers, or whether we build a community where, at the very least, everyone has a chance to work hard, get ahead, and reach their dreams. We have faced this choice before. At the end of the Civil War, when farmers and their families began moving into the cities to work in the big factories that were sprouting up all across America, we had to decide: Do we do nothing and allow captains of industry and robber barons to run roughshod over the economy and workers by competing to see who can pay the lowest wages at the worst working conditions? Or do we try to make the system work by setting up basic rules for the market, instituting the first public schools, busting up monopolies, letting workers organize into unions? We chose to act, and we rose together. When the irrational exuberance of the Roaring Twenties came crashing down with the stock market, we had to decide: do we follow the call of leaders who would do nothing, or the call of a leader who, perhaps because of his physical paralysis, refused to accept political paralysis? We chose to act regulating the market, putting people back to work, expanding bargaining rights to include health care and a secure retirement and together we rose. When World War II required the most massive home front mobilization in history and we needed every single American to lend a hand, we had to decide: Do we listen to skeptics who told us it wasn’t possible to produce that many tanks and planes? Or, did we build Roosevelt’s Arsenal for Democracy and grow our economy even further by providing our returning heroes with a chance to go to college and own their own home? Again, we chose to act, and again, we rose together. Today, at the beginning of this young century, we have to decide again. But this time, it is your turn to choose. Here in Galesburg, you know what this new challenge is. You’ve seen it. All of you, your first year in college saw what happened at 9/11. It’s already been noted, the degree to which your lives will be intertwined with the war on terrorism that currently is taking place. But what you’ve also seen, perhaps not as spectacularly, is the fact that when you drive by the old Maytag plant around lunchtime, no one walks out anymore. I saw it during the campaign when I met union guys who worked at the plant for 20, 30 years and now wonder what they’re gonna do at the age of 55 without a pension or health care; when I met the man who’s son needed a new liver but because he’d been laid off, didn’t know if he could afford to provide his child the care that he needed. It’s as if someone changed the rules in the middle of the game and no wonder no one bothered to tell these folks. And, in reality, the rules have changed. It started with technology and automation that rendered entire occupations obsolete. When was the last time anybody here stood in line for the bank teller instead of going to the ATM, or talked to a switchboard operator? Then it continued when companies like Maytag were able to pick up and move their factories to some under developed country where workers were a lot cheaper than they are in the United States. As Tom Friedman points out in his new book, The World Is Flat, over the last decade or so, these forces technology and globalization have combined like never before. So that while most of us have been paying attention to how much easier technology has made our own lives sending e-mails back and forth on our blackberries, surfing the Web on our cell phones, instant messaging with friends across the world a quiet revolution has been breaking down barriers and connecting the world’s economies. Now business not only has the ability to move jobs wherever there’s a factory, but wherever there’s an internet connection. Countries like India and China realized this. They understand that they no longer need to be just a source of cheap labor or cheap exports. They can compete with us on a global scale. The one resource they needed were skilled, educated workers. So they started schooling their kids earlier, longer, with a greater emphasis on math and science and technology, until their most talented students realized they don’t have to come to America to have a decent life they can stay right where they are. The result? China is graduating four times the number of engineers that the United States is graduating. Not only are those Maytag employees competing with Chinese and Indian and Indonesian and Mexican workers, you are too. Today, accounting firms are e-mailing your tax returns to workers in India who will figure them out and send them back to you as fast as any worker in Illinois or Indiana could. When you lose your luggage in Boston at an airport, tracking it down may involve a call to an agent in Bangalore, who will find it by making a phone call to Baltimore. Even the Associated Press has outsourced some of their jobs to writers all over the world who can send in a story at a click of a mouse. As Prime Minister Tony Blair has said, in this new economy, Talent is the 21st century wealth. If youve got the skills, youve got the education, and you have the opportunity to upgrade and improve both, you’ll be able to compete and win anywhere. If not, the fall will be further and harder than it ever was before. So what do we do about this? How does America find its way in this new, global economy? What will our place in history be? Like so much of the American story, once again, we face a choice. Once again, there are those who believe that there isn’t much we can do about this as a nation. That the best idea is to give everyone one big refund on their government divvy it up by individual portions, in the form of tax breaks, hand it out, and encourage everyone to use their share to go buy their own health care, their own retirement plan, their own child care, their own education, and so on. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society. But in our past there has been another term for it Social Darwinism every man or woman for him or herself. It’s a tempting idea, because it doesn’t require much thought or ingenuity. It allows us to say that those whose health care or tuition may rise faster than they can afford tough luck. It allows us to say to the Maytag workers who have lost their job life isn’t fair. It let’s us say to the child who was born into poverty pull yourself up by your bootstraps. And it is especially tempting because each of us believes we will always be the winner in life’s lottery, that we’re the one who will be the next Donald Trump, or at least we won’t be the chump who Donald Trump says: â€Å"You’re fired!† But there is a problem. It won’t work. It ignores our history. It ignores the fact that it’s been government research and investment that made the railways possible and the internet possible. It’s been the creation of a massive middle class, through decent wages and benefits and public schools that allowed us all to prosper. Our economic dependence depended on individual initiative. It depended on a belief in the free market; but it has also depended on our sense of mutual regard for each other, the idea that everybody has a stake in the country, that we’re all in it together and everybody’s got a shot at opportunity. That’s what’s produced our unrivaled political stability. And so if we do nothing in the face of globalization, more people will continue to lose their health care. Fewer kids will be able to afford the diploma you’re about to receive. More companies like United Airlines won’t be able to provide pensions for their employees. And those Maytag workers will be joined in the unemployment line by any worker whose skills can be bought and sold on the global market. So today I’m here to tell you what most of you already know. This is not us the option that I just mentioned. Doing nothing. It’s not how our story ends not in this country. America is a land of big dreamers and big hopes. It is this hope that has sustained us through revolution and civil war, depression and world war, a struggle for civil and social rights and the brink of nuclear crisis. And it is because our dreamers dreamed that we have emerged from each challenge more united, more prosperous, and more admired than before. So let’s dream. Instead of doing nothing or simply defending 20th century solutions, let’s imagine together what we could do to give every American a fighting chance in the 21st century. What if we prepared every child in America with the education and skills they need to compete in the new economy? If we made sure that college was affordable for everyone who wanted to go? If we walked up to those Maytag workers and we said â€Å"Your old job is not coming back, but a new job will be there because we’re going to seriously retrain you and there’s life-long education that’s waiting for you the sorts of opportunities that Knox has created with the Strong Futures scholarship program. What if no matter where you worked or how many times you switched jobs, you had health care and a pension that stayed with you always, so you all had the flexibility to move to a better job or start a new business? What if instead of cutting budgets for research and development and science, we fueled the genius and the innovation that will lead to the new jobs and new industries of the future? Right now, all across America, there are amazing discoveries being made. If we supported these discoveries on a national level, if we committed ourselves to investing in these possibilities, just imagine what it could do for a town like Galesburg. Ten or twenty years down the road, that old Maytag plant could re-open its doors as an Ethanol refinery that turned corn into fuel. Down the street, a biotechnology research lab could open up on the cusp of discovering a cure for cancer. And across the way, a new auto company could be busy churning out electric cars. The new jobs created would be filled by American workers trained with new skills and a world-class education. All of that is possible but none of it will come easy. Every one of us is going to have to work more, read more, train more, think more. We will have to slough off some bad habits like driving gas guzzlers that weaken our economy and feed our enemies abroad. Our children will have to turn off the TV set once in a while and put away the video games and start hitting the books. We’ll have to reform institutions, like our public schools, that were designed for an earlier time. Republicans will have to recognize our collective responsibilities, even as Democrats recognize that we have to do more than just defend old programs. It won’t be easy, but it can be done. It can be our future. We have the talent and the resources and brainpower. But now we need the political will. We need a national commitment. And we need each of you. Now, no one can force you to meet these challenges. If you want, it will be pretty easy for you to leave here today and not give another thought to towns like Galesburg and the challenges they face. There is no community service requirement in the real world; no one is forcing you to care. You can take your diploma, walk off this stage, and go chasing after the big house, and the nice suits, and all the other things that our money culture says that you should want, that you should aspire to, that you can buy. But I hope you don’t walk away from the challenge. Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. You need to take up the challenges that we face as a nation and make them your own. Not because you have a debt to those who helped you get here, although you do have that debt. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate than you, although I do think you do have that obligation. It’s primarily because you have an obligation to yourself. Because individual salvation has always depended on collective salvation. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. And I know that all of you are wondering how you’ll do this, the challenges seem so big. They seem so difficult for one person to make a difference. But we know it can be done. Because where you’re sitting, in this very place, in this town, it’s happened before. Nearly two centuries ago, before civil rights, before voting rights, before Abraham Lincoln, before the Civil War, before all of that, America was stained by the sin of slavery. In the sweltering heat of southern plantations, men and women who looked like me could not escape the life of pain and servitude in which they were sold. And yet, year after year, as this moral cancer ate away at the American ideals of liberty and equality, the nation was silent. But its people didn’t stay silent for long. One by one, abolitionists emerged to tell their fellow Americans that this would not be our place in history that this was not the America that had captured the imagination of the world. This resistance that they met was fierce, and some paid with their lives. But they would not be deterred, and they soon spread out across the country to fight for their cause. One man from New York went west, all the way to the prairies of Illinois to start a colony. And here in Galesburg, freedom found a home. Here in Galesburg, the main depot for the Underground Railroad in Illinois, escaped slaves could roam freely on the streets and take shelter in people’s homes. And when their masters or the police would come for them, the people of this town would help them escape north, some literally carrying them in their arms to freedom. Think about the risks that involved. If they were caught abetting a fugitive, you could’ve been jailed or lynched. It would have been simple for these townspeople to turn the other way; to go live their lives in a private peace. And yet, they didn’t do that. Why? Because they knew that we were all Americans; that we were all brothers and sisters; the same reason that a century later, young men and women your age would take Freedom Rides down south, to work for the Civil Rights movement. The same reason that black women would walk instead of ride a bus after a long day of doing somebody else’s laundry and cleaning somebody else’s kitchen. Because they were marching for freedom. Today, on this day of possibility, we stand in the shadow of a lanky, raw-boned man with little formal education who once took the stage at Old Main and told the nation that if anyone did not believe the American principles of freedom and equality, that those principles were timeless and all-inclusive, they should go rip that page out of the Declaration of Independence. My hope for all of you is that as you leave here today, you decide to keep these principles alive in your own life and in the life of this country. You will be tested. You won’t always succeed. But know that you have it within your power to try. That generations who have come before you faced these same fears and uncertainties in their own time. And that through our collective labor, and through God’s providence, and our willingness to shoulder each other’s burdens, America will continue on its precious journey towards that distant horizon, and a better day. Thank you so much class of 2005, and congratulations on your graduation. Thank you. Good morning President Taylor, Board of Trustees, faculty, parents, family, friends, the community of Galesburg, the class of 1955 which I understand was out partying last night, and yet still showed up here on time and most of all, the Class of 2005. Congratulations on your graduation, and thank you thank you for the honor of allowing me to be a part of it. Thank you also, Mr. President, for this honorary degree. It was only a couple of years ago that I stopped paying my student loans in law school. Had I known it was this easy, I would have ran [sic] for the United States Senate earlier.