IPad's Security Breach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IPad's Security Breach - Essay Example Subsequent to this breach of AT&T’s security, a lot of security issues have since arisen for the firm and other computer security firms. In addition, many interested parties have questioned the justification of hacking activities as well as the role of ethical statements and policies of computer security firms, which promote activities such as website hacking. This paper explores the subjects of the possibility of the justification of hacking, computer security firms’ ethics that promote hacking, and the social responsibilities of media firms such as Gawkers Media LLC. Justification of Hacking into Websites Most hackers state that they hack into websites not as criminals but as interested parties seeking to identify flaws in computer systems or reveal certain information. By hacking, they claim, it becomes possible for computer security firms to prevent or rectify any damaging security leaks. However, due to the side effects of hacking and the damages it causes to compu ter firms’ images and business, questions have a risen on the issue of justification for hacking and activities. While others insist that hacking can never be justifiable, others believe it is a justifiable practice, depending on the reasons for which it is done (Harper’s Forum, 1999). ... peoples’ data worldwide, hackers believe they compel these companies to ensure that they have tamperproof systems that keep their clients’ data confidential. Therefore, hackers are watchdog for the public on the security weaknesses of technology firms. Hacking is thus justifiable since it addresses the vulnerabilities inherent in technology products that expose clients’ confidential information (Harper’s Forum, 1999). Hacking could also be justifiable if its exposes illegal political activities by discredited groups. In addition, hacking may be justified if it reveals certain publicly important information, which the public is denied by governments, organizations, or politicians. Importantly, hackers reveal malpractices and criminal activities that may be happening without the knowledge of the public and the law enforcement agencies. That is, when a hacker discovers the criminal operations of certain individuals or organizations and such reports are sent t o law enforcers, that hacking is certainly justified since it benefits the society and does not harm the public or any private person in any way (Harper’s Forum, 1999). Various factors have been found to promote hacking activities. Among these factors are the various ethical statements by computer security firms. Corporate Ethics Statement That Promote Hacking The ethical issue regarding the freedom to access information is perhaps the number one motivator of hackers to indulge in their activities. In fact, the ethic on which hackers justify their actions is that they investigate issues, allowing every individual in the society to gain information and knowledge on the various hidden issues affecting their lives (Ermann, 1997). Once a corporate computer firm issues ethical statements that emphasize the

An Analysis Of Environmental Toxicology Environmental Sciences Essay

An Analysis Of Environmental Toxicology Environmental Sciences Essay Environmental Toxicology is a rapidly developing field concerned with the research how natural and man-made pollutants impact the health of humans, wildlife, and whole ecosystems. It involves application of a variety of techniques to study the impact of toxic agents on living organisms and provides powerful tools for assessing the risks associated with the presence of these agents. It draws on a variety of scientific disciplines to describe, measure, explain and predict the severity and frequency of adverse effects on living organisms due to environmental toxicant exposure. Pollution, depletion of resources and disintegration of ecological functions are of global, regional and local concerns. Environmental toxicology presents many practical applications to these problems. The findings are used by government agencies to set new pollution control standards and to analyze the severity of damage in an ecosystem and develop the smartest ways to go about cleaning it up. Land development co mpanies may also work with environmental toxicologists to make sure that clearing and construction efforts are as environmentally-friendly as possible. It involves testing soil, water, and air samples to look for the source pollution, and use their findings to better understand health impacts on native species. Pakistan, as developing country, is facing challenges with a number of serious environmental issues such as degeneration of natural resources, industrial and vehicular pollution, pollution of coastal environment, deterioration of human health. Summarizing in financial terms, the annual cost of environmental derogation in the country is about 4.3 % of GDP (US $ 4.3 billion). This workshop is about the growing amount of pollution in Pakistan. Examines findings of different studies proving that health is being adversely affected by a variety of environmental contaminants. The above situation has arisen due to a number of factors including high population growth rate, prevailing poverty, unplanned urban and industrial expansion, insufficient emphasis on environmental protection in the government policies, lack of public awareness and education and lack of institutional capacity and resources for effective environmental management. To prevent continued environmental degradation and the decline of human environmental health, interactions between human, other living organisms and the environment have to be in harmony. This is achievable through an integrated, holistic approach encompassing education and research activities in natural sciences, socio-economic and political factors with technological, economic and socio-cultural interventions. Increasing awareness of environmental degradation is resulting in proliferation of environmental legislation throughout the world. This drive towards greater environmental protection has created a demand for scientists skilled in assessing environmental resources and more importantly the problems associated with their exp loitation. Environmental assessment may be required to evaluate the biological, physical or hydrological resources of any environment, and to place these resources within a wider geographical context. This workshop is an effort to provide a broad foundation of scientific based skills to evolve, equipping environmental professions, particularly in areas relating to environmental protection and management. Furthermore, the national and international requirements have been under concern for better environmental management understanding the inter-relationship between sustainable economic development and environmental protection. Opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman department of pharmacology and toxicology/the Director Research UVAS, were followed by that of Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nawaz, Vice chancellor UVAS, and Prof. Dr. Mrs. Kausar Jamal Cheema, Dean Faculty of Natural Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, all of whom emphasized the importance to utilize the collective wisdom in provision of improved methods for toxicity assessment and rational means for estimating health risk in order to promote public health and to provide a better and safer environment to prevent health problems before they occur. They added further it is our mission to train new environmental toxicologists and address pertinent environmental toxicology questions through education and research in areas such as chemical fate, bioavailability, biological effect, toxicokinetics, and mechanisms of action. A focus on interdisciplinary approaches and scientific skills is fundamental to our education and research acti vities. Dr. Sohail Ejaz (co-author of this report), PhD, University of Cambridge, UK co-ordinator and workshop organizer presented on the innovative assessment techniques for evaluating impact of Air Pollution upon Neuroinflammatory diseases of Central nervous system and how these studies could be implemented in our laboratories. New dimensions have been added to the array of outcome measures. Medical outcomes research now recognizes that patient well-being should be broadly conceptualized and measured rigorously, in addition to considering the biological process of the disease itself. As a result, health-related quality of life, the perception of well-being, is now considered a necessary component of outcomes research. Toxicologic studies have also gained in sophistication through incorporation of more sensitive indicators of effect and the careful tracing of the relationship between exposure and biologically relevant doses to target sites, which may now be considered at a molecular level. He also gave an overview of all his research activities conducted at Department of Clinical Neuroscience and how to work upon such techniques in our country with scarced resources and what targets to be achieved further to overcome environmental pollution issues in Pakistan. Dr. Sohail Ejaz bring to a close to develop and support research programs, outreach and other services that address critical issues in environmental health and toxicology. An international speaker Prof. Dr. Gerry Amor Camer, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine from University of Eastern Philippines, broad casted through video conferencing facility. He shared his remarkable research work on tissue toxicology and presented a talk on Understanding the pathology of tissues exposed to various toxins and pollutants. Assessment of the environmental effects of chemicals is complicated as it depends on the organisms tested and involves not only the toxicity of individual chemicals, but also their interactive effects, genotoxicity, mutagenecity and immunotoxicity testing. He further elaborated that a number of stressors affect the environment and sometimes when showing synergistic effects they become difficult to quantify or predict their individual effects. Thus, there is a need to understand the toxicant effects at molecular levels to predict their effects and existing techniques to be constantly modified to provide better means of their quantification. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, Department of wildlife and ecology, UVAS, presented on Sources and Health effects of different Air pollutants. The mechanisms for modeling and understanding the fate of air pollutants through atmospheric transport, deposition into water and soil, bioaccumulation, and ultimate uptake to receptor organs and systems in the human body are complex. These require more experimental and theoretical developments in order to produce approaches for characterization and appropriate strategies and assays for screening in order to detect the harmful agents and prevent them from reaching sensitive endpoints. This seminar and workshop provided researchers from all over Pakistan a comprehensive platform where all facets of environmental pollution as it exists in our country to be fully explored and a forum to these professionals and researchers to discuss and present latest research trends and results in the field of Toxicology. Such initiatives help to support the study, analysis, and solution of environmental problems which are ultimately affecting the health of human beings, animals, plants, soils and over all eco-system integrity. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf highlighted different research activities rendered by the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the recent years at his institution. He discussed the establishment of new laboratories at the department an effort to open doorways to many new dimensions thus promoting the advancement and application of scientific research related to the contaminants. This included the establishment of Angiogenesis Toxicology lab (ATRL) and a Ne uropharmacology lab in the faculty a progressive step for Applied Neuropharmacology Cancer research. He elaborated further that our research aims to determine how environmental pollutants interact with cellular functions and give rise to long-lasting adverse health effects in vertebrates including humans. We are particularly interested in toxic effects that target the hormone system, the reproductive system and the early brain development and other systems in vertebrates. Enzyme-catalysed activation in target cells and tissues and receptor-mediated responses are important areas of research. With an introduction of these laboratories, it is also an effort in attracting very high quality students across Pakistan and foreign qualified and relevant faculty members to take lead on viable research projects needed to address our country-specific problems. Speakers from various universities and Govt. departments presented their research projects and research papers. Mr. Khaleeq Anwar, PhD Scholar, presented his work on Impact of Automobile rickshaw on Public health. He presented evidence that Automobile rickshaws are among one of the major sources of air pollution in Pakistan, contaminants released from them include the major pollutants Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Hydrocarbons (HC) and Particulate Matter (PM) expressing their devastating effects in deteriorating public health. To have a control over contaminants realized by these two-or three stroke conventional rickshaws CNG rickshaws were introduced. Mr. Rizwan Ahmad, Assistant Director, Vehicular Pollution Control, Govt. of Punjab, further extended the talk by presenting on Advantages of CNG over other fuels. He presented his study on the nature of the toxicants effluent by burning natural gas as fuel and a comparative analysis was made between the nature of the con taminants released by both conventional automobile rickshaw and CNG rickshaw. Statistically significant data was evidenced that emphasized the use of CNG rickshaw to be preferred over the conventional two-or three stroke rickshaws. Lubna Shakir, PhD Scholar, discussed the public health problems aroused due to discharge of tannery effluent wastewater directly into the ground in the city of Kasur. The environment is under increasing pressure from solid and liquid wastes emanating from the leather industry. These are inevitable by-products of the leather manufacturing process and cause significant pollution unless treated in some way prior to discharge. The effect of excessive pollutant levels commonly found in tannery effluents can be severe. Water is so contaminated that potable water has high levels of chromium and other toxicants have been reported in appreciable amounts unfit to be used by public. She presented a comprehensive lecture entitled, Chemical, microbiological and toxicological screening of tannery effluent wastewater. In her work she quantified the various toxicants and studied their deleterious effects using laboratory animals by using various dilutions of this tannery waterwaste. She further elab orated her talk that assessment of the environmental effects of chemicals is complicated as it depends on the organisms tested and involves not only the toxicity of individual chemicals, but multiple factors are involved in relation to health behaviors, which may often result in adverse health outcomes. Zahida Umer, a young researcher, outlined the data showing the Measurement of pollution levels in different areas of Lahore by using carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide meters, and other available contaminant measurement meters and impacter for particulate matter in different areas of Lahore and provided a comparative analysis of these toxicants at different areas. She further lucubrated her talk by explaining different methodologies for air pollution measurement. Air pollution can be directly measured as it is emitted by a source in mass/volume of emission (e.g., grams/m3) or mass/process parameter (e.g., grams/Kg fuel consumed or grams/second). Air pollution can also be measured in the atmosphere as a concentration (e.g., micrograms/m3). Ambient air monitoring data is used to determine air quality, establish the extent of air pollution problems, assess whether established standards are being met, and characterize the potential human health risk in an area. Alternatively, air pollution concentrations can be simulated using computer models, and then validated using data collected from direct measurements at selected monitors or sources. Air pollution data and models are used together to examine the impacts of control strategies on the ambient air. Kanwal Zahra, Government College University, presented on Effects of industrial effluent on the thyroid glands of human population. The human body is immensely complex, and our knowledge and awareness of its complexity continues to grow. One of the most disquieting discoveries in recent years concerns the possible roles of environmental chemicals on endocrine systems. Among the hormones (chemical messengers) operating within the endocrine system are estrogen (a female sex hormone produced by the ovaries); thyroid hormone (influencing the function of virtually every cell in the body); and ACTH (produced by the pituitary gland to influence the release of adrenalin from the adrenal gland). Endocrine systems can be affected by these pollutants by interfering with the normal communication between the messenger and the cell receptors, the chemical message is misinterpreted, generating abnormal response(s) in the body. As thyroid glands releasing hormones influencing the total metabolic rat e of the body, in her study she evidenced the various pathological outcomes of thyroid intoxication by these industrial wastes and could be the possible damaging effects resulted. Prof. Dr. Sharif Mughal, Government College University, discussed the impact of various toxicants on marine environment. Petroleum hydrocarbons are found in sea surface film throughout the world. The oceans have served as a repository for a multitude of wastes and receive effluent from rivers, streams, and groundwater. Atmospheric deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other hydrocarbons adds to the burden of pollutants in the marine environment. Industrial smokestacks, incinerators, outfall pipes, automobiles, lawn chemicals, agricultural chemicals, homes, businesses, commercial ships, and motorized pleasure craft are all sources of contaminants. Many of these chemicals are fat-soluble and come to reside in the fatty tissues of marine animals. Some of these chemicals have been characterized as endocrine disrupters; some are believed to reduce reproductive success, to interfere with developmental processes, and/or to suppress immune function. Other chemicals, such as PAHs, do not bioaccumulate in marine mammals but may have adverse impacts on the health of marine animals through repeated exposure and metabolic response. He evidenced the above scenario by presenting his study on the Serological and histological changes in the liver of Labeo Rohita dur due to fluoride intoxication. An effort to characterize the types of lesions produced by these chemical contaminants found in, the metabolic response to such contaminants, and the extent of tissue damage caused by exposure to these contaminants. He further elaborated his talk that animals are exposed to natural toxicants in their native environments as well as to synthetic chemicals and drugs. Factors that affect the toxicity include; those related to the toxicants , which influence how it  ­Ã‚ ­enter and ultimately influence the factors related to the host animals that change its ability to detoxify or adapt to the toxicant. The final Lecture of the workshop was presented on the topic, Characterization of Environmental pathologies by immunohistochemistry by Dr. Sohail Ejaz, PhD, University of Cambridge, England. He flesh out his talk that Environmental toxicity encompasses the study of the toxic properties of not only synthetic chemicals but natural also, including their effects on humans and animals as well as their movement and fate in the environment. It is a need to develop research techniques for the assessments of effects of these pollutants and monitoring their lethal effects not on human health only but affecting every living being and our eco-system. Thus putting our joint efforts to provide a better and safer environment to prevent health problems before they occur. Conclusion: This was a variegate workshop to support and promote the study, analysis, and solution of environmental problems which ultimately affecting the health of human beings, animals, plants, soils, damage buildings and other property and uplift of awareness level at National and International level through research and development. We can live a healthy life in a clean environment and it can only be achieved by realizing and understanding the importance of clean environment. Therefore to provide awareness about the effects of all possible environmental pollutants and the corresponding measures to be taken to decrease contaminants exposure. Also to encourage research techniques for the assessment of effects of these pollutants and monitoring their lethal effects on human health and conserving and protecting our environment. Disclosures and Supplementary Information: This workshop was organized at Department of Pharmacology Toxicology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore in collaboration with the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK This meeting was funded by Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Dress Codes and School Uniforms Essay -- Education Clothing Essays

Dress Codes and School Uniforms The ringing of the alarm clock that is placed conveniently beside your bed wakes you. The sound startles your brain into getting out of your warm, cozy bed. It is time to go to school. You must wake up now in order to make it on time. If you are late again, your teacher will probably give you that nasty look of dismissal. What are you going to wear? Is this a dilemma you face each morning? Do you have trouble wanting to get out of your bed, and then you are faced with the troubling question of what cool, clean, unwrinkled outfit you should wear that day? Do you think your life would be easier if you could just throw on a uniform? This way you might not have to think so hard in the morning, right after that bellowing alarm clock frightens you into facing the world. Or do you like being able to express your individuality? This is an important question to think about. The first amendment gives each person in this nation the right to free expression. You should be able to dress as you wish and not feel pressured to dress in a uniform manner, with the rest of you student body. Right? I agree with this latter statement. "Currently 20% of the nation's school districts use uniforms, most of them voluntarily" (Portner, 2001). The states included in this percentage are: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. Long Beach, California was the first to enforce voluntary school uniform policies into their schools. There are 60 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, and one high school in Long Beach that have introduced this policy. There are over 72,000 students wearing school uniforms in Long Beach, California. Of these 72,000 students, on... ... In case you missed it: Some thoughts about school unfiroms. (26 April 2001). WWW: http://www.middleweb.com/INCASEUniforms.html Judge says school's dress code is legal. (1 September 1999). WWW: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/99/09/st090125.html Marchant, V. (13 September 1999). Time Magazine: Dress for success. WWW: http://www.time.com/magazine/articles/0,3266,30497.00.html Portner, J. (26 April 2001). Schools ratchet up the rules on student clothing. WWW: http://www.edweek.org/ew/vol-8/35teens.h18 School Uniforms: Where they are and why they work. (26 April 2001). WWW: http://www.edgov/updates/uniforms.html Seigel, L. (1 March 1996). In Congress: Point of view: School uniforms. WWW: http://www.alcu.org/congress/uniform.html Those disgusting school uniforms. (1 October 1998). WWW: http://www.optionality.net/mag/oct98a.html

How can ICT Help Special Needs Children Integrate Themselves in Society?

How can ICT Help Special Needs Children Integrate Themselves in Society? â€Å"We are seen as ‘abnormal' because we are different, we are problem people, lacking the equipment for social integration.† (Brisenden, 1986) Not so long ago, society was to blame for secluding and cutting off special needs people, from complete partaking in society and as a result, these impaired people ended up demoralized and feeling inferior to others. Today we know that special needs people, try their best to learn to communicate with the rest of society. The problem is not whether they succeed or not, the problem is; Are we, as part of society, doing enough effort to help them in their lifetime struggle? The International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) has recently initiated learning environments which integrates Computer Technology and Good teaching in order to increase the motivation and self-esteem of special needs students. Researchers following closely the program have stated that Computer technology enhances these children's ability to solve problems and make decisions, they build a positive self-image, they are excited about learning and thus they become better citizens. One major reason for using ICT was to reduce the large rate of dropouts. Researchers have concluded that Children with Literacy Problems (mostly dyslexics), often lack behind the rest of their class, give up on learning and end-up as school dropouts, feeling unable to fit in a society. ISTE has created a learning program called Video Disk Spaced System. This proved to be highly successful as it was not only a support for these children, in order to keep up with the rest of the class but it also managed to promote that positive self-image concept. Computer technology motivated these kids and they in turn appreciated the potential of ICT in a learning environment. Results have shown that ICT did help these special needs children as the dropout rate decreased to three times lower than the natural average. ICT can also help physically impaired children by fulfilling their dreams. In example Sharita a physically disabled child dreams to become a writer but unfortunately she cannot move her fingers. Computer technology has helped her fulfil her dream by devising a long extended stick in the form or a finger with which she can press the letters on a computer keyboard. Another concrete example regarded Megan who is unable to speak and write because she has Cerebral Palsy, however through ICT she was awarded as the Top English Student in her class. A Light Talker was devised, which is basically a matrix of letters and phrases. Through the use of a head switch (because Megan can only control the movement of her head), she can stop vertical movements of light at the desired row and stop the horizontal movement of light at the desired letter or phrase. Through ICT Megan is thus able to communicate with tremendous effort. However one has to keep in mind that without this device Megan can neither develop her intellectual potential, nor can she express herself as a part of society. Through the examples discussed above one can realise that by Integrating Computer Technology with learning, these special needs children are becoming more eager to learn, they are being provided with new ways to manipulate their environment in order to communicate better with the rest of society, barriers are being blown away and a variety of new worlds opened up, all by the use of Computer Technology. Apart from all this, ICT has provided them with what any individual wants that is their independence. Illegal Copying of Intellectual Property Alert!! You may be Unaware of Committing Computer Crimes†¦ * What is Illegal Copying? A widely used term which means the same as illegal copying is Copyright Theft or Copyright Infringement. Copyright theft occurs when making use of protected work such as: software programs; another writer's text; movies; sounds; and images, without actually paying the required fee for authorisation. * Illegal Copying and the Use of Computers: The use of Computers has made the act of copying far easier and handier than in the past. Burton (1996) argued that the Internet is one big copying machine that is basically ridiculing copyright laws. * What is considered as Copyright Violation? Software Piracy – Software copying such as copying a program from one diskette to another. Network Piracy – Distributing unauthorised copyright materials in digitized form ex: record companies have protested against sending unauthorized copies of digital recordings over the internet. Plagiarism – Illegal Copying of Academic Property: such as another writer's text, journals etc. Interpreting and presenting them as one's own. Ownership of media – Altering images, movies and sounds. * Plagiarism: Illegal Copying of Academic Property: You as a student may think it is harmless making one copy of an Academic Software program while the teacher is looking away, but you need to keep in mind that if all students should think the same as you think, then one single act of software piracy, will be then multiplied thousands of times. In addition to this if you are caught copying illegally Scholar property, you may end up sued by the school itself. Interpreting other writers' texts (found while researching for assignments) and presenting them as your own is also considered as a criminal offence and one can end up permanently suspended from school. * The Results of Getting Caught : If you are caught using pirated academic software, you could: Face civil fines (which you don't afford and your parents may want to kill you) Endure humiliating publicity End up with a criminal record (which affects you future) * A Word of Advice: It is not ethical to illegally copy any intellectual property nor is it worth risk taking because there is a high percentage of getting a computer virus and worse the risk of getting caught!

Robin lane fox

It is an immense task to relate the story of the world’s most successful conqueror in 553 pages but Robin Lane Fox manages to narrate the tale of Alexander the Great in a way no other author ever has.A story that has been repeated over and over again, and every account of the life of Alexander the Great has many versions which is somewhat shrouded in mystery, with elements of ambiguity.Main Body:  Fox manages to find a completely new angle on the intriguing account of the history’s most enigmatic leader, putting aside mundane details and stiff diction used by historians and instead using the evidence and facts and enveloping them with all the energy, passion and vigor which the incredible account of Alexander’s life deserves.Born in 336 BC Alexander became the king of Macedonia at the age of 20, from there on he established an empire far greater then any other conqueror could ever even think of, he was the only military leader who was never defeated in any batt le. The book has all the dramatic and tragic elements to make it seem like a work of fiction but the historically accurate details and facts used by the author makes this book a reliable source for historical information.Fox really made a reader see what Alexander’s times was like and how the people belonging to his times were like, he plunges into the depths of this man’s desires in a desperate need to narrate to the reader what motivated this young King to conquer the world.The account of Cleitus’s murder by Alexander is an exceptionally well written part; Mr. Fox writes that â€Å"the gist of the taunts that resulted in his murder can still be recovered today†. The description in the book about various aspects of the surroundings whether it be nature or interiors is superb the author really wants the reader to experience the times and events of Alexander the Great.Every chapter narrates the famous battles and conquests making them even more interesting with myths and legends related to them. Fox not only gives the report of the events happening at that time but also comments on how they affected the later civilizations. He writes about the various events that took place during Alexander’s life and what changes his conquests brought about in the world.  However there are shortcomings in the book as well for instance the author does not analyze the militarily tactics, all historians agree that military tactics show the true brilliance of Alexander the great, also the battle of Granicus is described very briefly and the description accepted by most historians is rejected by Fox where he says that it never took place as is told, but Alexander and his army fought in an open ground on the other side of the river.Conclusion:Many readers may find this book lacking in insight to the military life of this great leader. Fox perhaps wanted to give the reader an insight into what kind of a person Alexander the Great was instead of wh at he accomplished, since he often got distracted from narrating the story and goes on to making his own assumptions.The book is not an easy read but it does present Alexander the Great in a completely new light.WORKS CITEDBook Rags â€Å"Alexander the Great by Robin Lane fox†, Accessed October 9, 2006, from:http://www.bookrags.com/

Discover the Ancient Chinese Gods and Goddesses

Discover the Ancient Chinese Gods and Goddesses Chinese gods and goddesses have changed over the millennia-long period we recognize as the history of China today. Scholars recognize four different types of Chinese gods, but the categories have a considerable overlap: Mythological or heavenly deitiesNature spirits, such as gods of rain, wind, trees, water bodies, mountainsDeified humans both legendary and historicalDeities specific to the three religions: Confucianism, institutional or clerical Buddhism and institutional or philosophical Taoism Additionally, some of the best-known gods have changed over time, or are shared with other groups in China or in other countries. Its not clear that god has the same meaning in western minds as it does in China since the word English speakers translate as god is shen which means closer to soul or spirit. The Eight Immortals Ba Xian or the Eight Immortals is a group of eight deities who were partly historical figures and partly legendary, and their names and attributes are figured in lucky charms. They are often depicted in vernacular novels and plays as lascivious drunkards, holy fools, and saints in disguise. Their individual names are Cao Guo-jiu, Han Xiang-zi, He Xian-gu, Lan Cai-he, Li Tie-guai, LÃ ¼ Dong-bin, Zhang Guo- lao, and Zhong-li Quan. One of the Ba Xian is LÃ ¼ Dong-bin, a historical figure who lived during the Tang Dynasty. In life, he was an itinerant religious specialist and now that he is immortal, he takes a wide variety of different shapes and forms. He is a patron god of several tradespeople from ink makers to prostitutes. Mother Goddesses Bixie Yuanjun is a Chinese goddess of childbirth, the dawn, and destiny. She is known as the First Princess of Purple and Azure Clouds, Mount Tai Mother, or Jade Maiden, and she is significantly potent in matters of pregnancy and childbirth. The Bodhisattva Guanyin or Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara or Bodhisattva Kuan-yin is a Buddhist mother goddess, who sometimes appears in a male guise. Bodhisattva is the term used in the Buddhist religion for someone who could be a Buddha and stop having to be reincarnated but has decided to stay until the rest of us are enlightened enough to make the trip. Bodhisattva Guanyin is shared by Buddhists in Japan and India. When she was incarnated as the Princess Miaoshan, she refused to be wed despite her fathers explicit order, defying a Confucian ethos. She is by far the most popular Chinese deity, worshipped by those wanting children and a patron of merchants. Heavenly Bureaucrats The Stove God (Zaojun) is a heavenly bureaucrat who watches people and is perceived as a voyeur who enjoys watching women unrobe in front of the stove, and in one story was once a gossipy old woman. In some tales, he is thought to represent foreign soldiers stationed among Chinese homes as spies. On New Years Eve, the Stove God ascends to heaven to report on the behavior of the families he oversees to the Jade Emperor, the chief god among some Chinese societies who can inflict a threat of apocalyptic violence. General Yin Chiao (or Tai Sui), is a historical hero and a Taoist god with a number of associated legends appearing as a mythical being in Chinese folklore. He is a deity most often connected with the planet Jupiter. If one plans to move, build, or disturb the ground, the fierce Tai Sui must be placated and worshipped to avert potential calamities. Historical and Legendary Figures Fa Chu Kung or the Controlling Duke was probably a historical person but now appears as legendary. He is able to stop and start rain at will, cure any illness, and can transform himself into anyone or anything. His goodwill and agreement are necessary before any petition or prayers are submitted to any other god except the Jade Emperor. He is readily identifiable with his shiny black face and body, unkempt hair and protruding eyes. He carries an unsheathed sword at his right and a red snake curls over his neck. Cheng Ho was an explorer in the 15th century CE and a eunuch from the imperial palace. Also known as San Po Kung or the Three Jewelled Eunuch, his last expedition was in 1420 and he is a patron god for Chinese sailors and junk crews.

The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela

The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela Free Online Research Papers The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela: Radical Democracy or Just another Authoritarian Regime? Everyone loves to, or at least dreams of living the great American dream one day. Owning a big house, a nice car, have a stable job with a decent amount of income to look after the whole family and of course the man’s best friend of the house, is something to talk out, to the big lawn. Of course, before one can get to the American dream, steps are involved; working an eight hour shift at a gigantic corporate retail environment, and as years pass along, the success of accomplishments are moved up by the ladder, from part time employee to General Manager, yet again even as a General manager, they are still working for someone bigger. All of this involves, capitalism, imperialism, globalization. There is nothing wrong of any sort to have all these incorporated into society in the western culture; it’s something society strives for, no matter where in the western hemisphere. How about in the developing world? Is it the same dream and the same process? Specifically speaking; in Latin America, where authoritarians, military dictatorships and everything else that the United States if fighting with? Why have not societies down south on the American Continent not achieved any technological advancement as much as the societies in the North have? Maybe that is what authoritarianism, or even â€Å"left-wing politics† does to a state, where the elites live well while the poor get worse in the name of equality and social justice. One man, who even made it to the, â€Å"100 most influential People in the World† slot, is seen as a threat to democracy as the United States would love to describe it, is one prime example of wonders done in the political arena, both domestically in Venezuela and internationally, with his Authoritarian regime. Hugo Chavez, is indeed an authoritarian. Who is Hugo Chavez? Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias was born on July 28th, 1954 in the town of Sabaneta, Barinas in Venezuela. He was the second son of two poor schoolteachers, H ugo de los Reyes Chavez and Elena Frias de Chavez, who lived in the rural section of Sabaneta. Hugo and Elena Chavez had always wished for their children to lead a better life than them, hoping that one day they could live in the prosperous cities, escaping the poverty they found themselves in. As schoolteachers, it was only natural for them to view education as the best means of escaping their current situation, so young Hugo and his older brother Adan were urged to take advantage of the education offered to them, and it was a request Hugo fulfilled. However, despite their family’s problems with the political system and the fact that Hugo’s great-grandfather was a renowned rebel leader, Hugo’s parents did not wish him to be a politician, but Hugo Chavez had other plans in life, following the footsteps of his grand father and using his leader and hero; Simà ³n Bolà ­var, as a prime influence in his political life. As it has been mentioned above, Hugo Chavez is indeed running an authoritarian regime. One case of signs that an authoritarian is in power, is when there is an involvement of a single party state. Typically speaking, countries; Canada, United States and other western European countries have elections not only to determine which party or whom is going to run the Nation or State till the next term, but also to have citizens exercise their rights and powers in the electoral systems, which is what makes democracy in full form. Venezuela, under the regime of Hugo Chavez’s authoritarian government, there is neither opportunity nor chances of the citizens to change the government’s system or the country if there is just Hugo Chavez running for elections, with no opposition in place to have chances on winning. Yes, the country does have electoral systems, but in what regards are they placed when it is just going to him winning. â€Å"Recent elections- including the constitutional referendum overturning term limits- suggest that Venezuela is shifting toward competitive authoritarianism. In this type of regime, democratic principles are violated widely and systematically enough to make the prospect of an opposition victory highly unlikely.† Manuel Hidalgo, states the same, in his article; Hugo Chavez’s â€Å"Petro-Socialism†. In fact as he mention above, when the opposition in power has victories that are highly unlikely, how that can be seen democratic, when it contradicts the purpose of democracy. It is a definite form of a variation of authoritarian regime, when democratic policies are violated when it is one party winning in almost every election leaving no choices for the citizens of the state to vote on. Based on the type of regime Hugo Chavez runs, the term that has been coined well after him is, â€Å"Chavismo†. It is the name of a left-wing political ideology, based on Hugo Chavezs ideas, programs and government style. Since the term â€Å"left-wing† has been brought up, it would be better to explain what it is, to have a better understanding of the points being made. In terms of the economy, left wing politics have the theory have John Keynes, who advocated for state intervention; having the central government intervening in the process of production in the economy, industrial democracy; which involves workers making decisions, sharing responsibility and authority in the workplace. Left-wing politics in terms of social consensus, it advocates for more of an egalitarian society; where there is no economic distinction among the citizens or workers in a society. They are all equal, and have all the same political, economic, social and civil rights. Even though, Hu go Chavez and his ideologies are on the left side of the political spectrum, the ideologies that make up the left side are not quite exercised through him. In fact it can be described that, â€Å"Chavismo†, is the on the â€Å"wrong left†. He is seen as a pivotal figure in promoting a sharp leftward shift in Latin American politics and has been criticized for his authoritarian tendencies. In the words of Jorge Castaà ±eda, â€Å"Chavismo† is the â€Å"wrong left† for Latin America. In other words, if something is not being exercised through power, the way how it should be done, it clearly has the wrong approach towards it. Hugo Chavez has done that mistake towards the left wing of his ideologies based on the quote above, for his authoritarian tendencies. The reason being, authoritarian tendencies are never accepted nor appreciated. â€Å"When that failed, he won power at the ballot box and is now approaching a decade in office. In that time, he has concentrated power, harassed opponents, punished reporters, persecuted civic organizations, and increased state control of the economy.† Sure, the leader gets what he wants yet there are no room for compromises, or expression of opinions or speech. If citizens cannot be stating their opinions or speeches, feel what they want to express, that very well undermines their rights. When such rights are undermined, for sure it is not a democracy yet it is very tyranny. If the citizen gets an opportunity to state how he or she feels about he state in public, having society to hear their thoughts, especially the media, the next step would be harassed and punished reporters, who did not talk in favour of their leader and not have anything nice to say about their leader, regardless of if he or she was a bad leader. In such case, the citizens is seen nothing higher than an animal, which does not talk to begin with. Furthermore, Chavismo is leaning towards the left. Socialism, Communism and Anarchism are often associated, which incorporates radical individualism. Such instances are often and associated with tyranny regimes. Where authoritarians and dictators use power in the wrong way and abuse such ideologies, and when theories like communism is supposedly meant for the greater good for individuals and societies alike, misuse is what often crops up. For an instance, extreme cases of misuse in power like in North Korea are a perfect example that goes hand in hand with the type of â€Å"left- wing ideology† that is being described. Its government is considered to be a Stalinist dictatorship, which is communism inspired, by Josef Stalin himself, who once ruled the Soviet Union with the socialist approach. Again, with a left-wing approach for the better of the individuals and society as a whole, democracy has no room to be measured, as to how much of it is actually used in the government, which leads to North Korea being one of the most authoritarian governments in the world. With North Korea having below the index of Democracy among the 167 nations across the world, Venezuela is not very far from i ts actions towards the people and immigrants of Venezuela. Report on Global Anti-Semitism. The report documents how openly anti-Semitic the Venezuelan government now is. Besides the raid on the Jewish school, it noted that President Chvez cautioned citizens against following the lead of Jewish citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. Anti-Semitic leaflets also were available to the public in an Interior and Justice Ministry office waiting room. It looks like authoritarianism has a way with Jewish immigrants. Hitler felt they were a threat to his Third Reich, and the nation as a whole and started extermination camps to have them wept off the face of the earth. Hugo Chavez is on the same page as Hitler was; except Chavez was less determined as Hitler was, towards his goals. Nonetheless, if the Venezuelan government has led to the bullying of its Jewish populations, how far are they going to go? Discrimination is where it all starts, and that is what started to the much later and traumatizing Holocaust the Jews had went through under Hitler’s authoritarian regime. As the quote above mentions, Anti-Semitic leaflets are available to the public, spreading the word, or word of mouth is very key to have ones’ perception on something to change into something else and Hugo Chavez’s government is very well aware of that to back up their actions and discriminations against the Jews. To an extent, having an authoritarian government doesn’t mean it’s always going to bad or hell for the citizens that resides in the such state. If the leader or the authoritarian is a real character of having to implement social and economic structure for the good of his or her nation, why would it be bad? After all, the leader is making full use of his or her power, where what he or she says is the law, not having to pass legislations through their cabinets, not having to wait on votes for motions to pass though, or if worse comes to worse, the opposition rejecting such good laws and have the good intentions go down the drain. What they say, is what happens, and in such cases hoping the best for one’s nation is never wrong. Having a left-wing ideology to change the nation is a bonus for the nation. Socialism and lastly communism, is what leaders like Hugo Chavez yearn for, having a nation where there are neither rich nor poor, everyone is equal. Of course such t heory will always sound good, but also, sound too good to be true. Hugo Chavez, with his Chavismo ideology, wants the Venezuelans to all be protagonists of each of their own lives. Have them to prosper, have them to be equal from one another, have them to be the subjects and not objects; not always having to work for themselves in a hard labour environment, with wage labour especially. â€Å"The Chavez governments pledge to advance the revolutionary process through radical democratic means can be explained by its resolve to construct a society that allows Venezuelans to become protagonists or subjects and not just objects of the transformation. It is recognized that Venezuelans will develop the capacities and attitudes necessary for socialism only through practice.† Sure, there is no democratic practice, where the citizens of the state do not have to choose who they would to elect to lead and prosper their state, but why should they need to have rights to vote when the leader himself will take good care of the people, especially through an ideology of Chavismo, where Chavez only wants the best for his nation and his people as a whole. When the word authoritarian arises, one word that might arise simultaneously would be corruption. So what is corruption? In this context, politically speaking, corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. With the greed of power, and misuse of power, comes corruption. â€Å"The executive branch also acquired control over the National Electoral Council (CNE), the body that governs electoral affairs. For the first time in Venezuelas democratic history, doubts began to arise concerning the fairness of electoral rule.† It was mentioned and asked upon earlier, what is the point of having elections and trick the citizens of the state in having them to exercise their democratic rights, or so they think, when the opposition is highly unlikely going to win when the same man is repeatedly in power. Well, the quote above can best be described in such case, brought up earlier and now. If the executive branch of the state has acquired control of the National Electoral Council, why would or how could the opposition or anyone opposing to win against him or her in power presently. To make things worse yet, at the same time to have some sort of light shed on the issue, were all the elections fair and square then? After all, political competition is the reason why the people are voting. It is based on how well the politician has grasped the citizens attentions, how well the leader has achieved his or her goals is what determines if they are ready to be accepted in power again and again. It must be the power of c orruption, to have control over the electoral bodies and win all the time, so that personal gains can be achieved by having themselves placed in office. Hence, there is no point of having society to believe in democracy or have them to believe they have rights in choosing who their leader is. Another prime example, of how well corruption can determine one’s entrance into power is through selling out the votes. If votes are sold, why worry about losing in a political election battle. Of course, the people would want better lives in Venezuela, better or even higher standard of living than what they have with Hugo Chavez at the present time, yet Chavez, being an authoritarian he is, having the greed and hunger for power over and over again in office, can make the people happy through his way of corruption. â€Å"State spending is born from democratic pressures (heightened political competition), but beyond a certain threshold of irregularity, it begins to undermine democratic institutions, creating a playing field that is far from level. Spending has given the Venezuelan government an advantage in competing for votes: The opposition campaigns with words; the state, with words plus money.† All the opposition can do really is, getting the word out. What is their agenda, how they plan to change the nation and make it different from Hugo Chavez’s regime and what they planning on changing it to, if someone like Hugo Chavez have been in power for many years, yet with an authoritarian approach. Whereas, the state, in this Hugo Chavez himself, running for presidency again and to make sure he secures a good majority of the votes that paves his arrival back into the office, one opportunity is to acquire control of the electoral council and two have money talk. Pay the voters and make sure his votes are secured. Hugo Chavez must have life pretty easy as he wants it to, by having to win the elections with almost no opposition, getting what he desires based on his political agenda of his authoritarian regime, oppressing freedom of speech and freedom of press in that sense, can pretty much take Venezuela to wherever he wants on the map, with his â€Å"left-wing†, or his Chavismo ideology. Claiming to have Bolivarian Socialism , as the 21st century socialism, a definition of socialism to help the poor, in which he has succeeded, as the supporters and fans of his are mostly the poor and the les cared in the streets of Venezuela. Sure he’s got schools for the less fortunate kids, and less fortunate mothers making money as single mothers and house wives as their primary job. It is definiatly not a radical democracy; what other rights does his nation have? It is another authoritarian regime headed by a powerful man, Hugo Chavez. With the way things have gone, and going Venezuela is no where near the real left wing political ideology, of Socialism. Bibliography Venezuelas Participatory Socialism Burbach, Roger; Pineiro, Camila Socialism and Democracy, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 181-200, Nov 2007 informaworld.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/smpp/section?content=a783592192fulltext=713240928 Populism and Foreign Policy in Venezuela and Iran Dodson, Michael; Dorraj, Manochehr The Whitehead Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 71-87, Winter-Spring 2008 ciaonet.org.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/journals/shjdir/v9i1/f_0016623_14365.pdf Chavezs Venezuela Gonson, Paul Current History, vol. 105, no. 688, pp. 58-63, February 2006 http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/pqdlink?Ver=1Exp=12-03-2014FMT=7DID=986385851RQT=309clientId=5220- Hurricane Hugo: Venezuelas Hugo Chavez is a threat to more than just his own people Author Halvorssen, Thor Source Weekly Standard, vol. 10, no. 44, pp. 25-27, August 8 2005 http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/pqdlink?Ver=1Exp=12-03-2014FMT=7DID=879517301RQT=309clientId=5220 Hugo Boss Corrales, Javier Foreign Policy, no. 152, pp. 32-40, January/February 2006 http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/pqdlink?vinst=PRODfmt=3startpage=-1ver=1clientid=5220vname=PQDRQT=309did=960626551exp=12-05-2014scaling=FULLvtype=PQDrqt=309TS=1260152182clientId=5220 Research Papers on The 'Bolivarian Revolution' in VenezuelaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraBringing Democracy to AfricaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NicePETSTEL analysis of IndiaWhere Wild and West MeetThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationQuebec and CanadaTwilight of the UAWRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

How to Use a Visual Dictionary

How to Use a Visual Dictionary Its important to know how to use a visual dictionary as an English learner. In fact, Id say that along with a collocation dictionary, a visual dictionary can be a secret weapon when it comes to learning new vocabulary. Of course, youll always need a standard learners dictionary, but using these other types will really help you expand your vocabulary quickly.   Whats the difference between a Visual Dictionary and a Normal Dictionary? A visual dictionary teaches through pictures. It shows you the meaning, rather than telling you the meaning of a word. It shows a picture, photograph, diagram or other image that explains a word. Of course, this means that visual dictionaries generally teach nouns. Nouns are objects in our world and are easily shown in pictures. However, when explaining more abstract terms such as freedom or justice, theres little a visual dictionary can show you to help. This is true for emotions, action verbs, etc.   Visual Dictionary Differences Dictionary Structure Using a standard dictionary requires you to look up a word alphabetically. While this is very helpful, it doesnt connect words to situations. When learning any language context is important. Visual dictionaries are arranged by topic. This allows you to see an object in its context and make stronger associations with other words. This in turn, improves your understanding, as well as quickly expanding knowledge of vocabulary for specific situations. Some visual dictionaries provide explanations of key vocabulary related to a topic providing further context and related vocabulary.   Synonyms and Antonyms One negative aspect of visual dictionaries is that they do not provide words that are in similar (or opposite) in meaning. Traditional dictionaries allow learners to explore language through reading definitions. Through explanations, dictionaries help you learn new vocabulary. This is not the case with visual dictionaries. Pronunciation Many visual dictionaries do not provide pronunciation for individual words. Most dictionaries provide phonetic spellings of words to show pronunciation. Visual dictionaries, with the exception of some online visual dictionaries, do not provide pronunciation help.   How Should I Use a Visual Dictionary? Use a visual dictionary when you need to understand a specific situation or topic. For example, if youd like to learn the names of various parts of a machine, a visual dictionary is the perfect solution. You can learn the names of the parts, discover how they relate to each other, and see examples of common actions related to using a machine.    Visual dictionaries are especially useful for those who want to learn English for a profession. By choosing topics related to your chosen profession, youll be able to quickly learn specific vocabulary. For engineers and other science related professions, this is extremely helpful.   The best use of visual dictionaries is to explore the physical world. Just looking at the diagrams will not only teach you new English vocabulary, but also help you expand your understanding of how the world works. Seeing and learning new vocabulary by topic helps you understand systems by learning to name objects in that system. For example, a visual dictionary might show a cross-image of a volcano. Explanations of each related term will not only teach you new words, but also what makes a volcano explode! When Should I use a Normal Dictionary? Use a standard dictionary when you are reading a book and its important to know the precise meaning of a word. Of course, its always better to try to understand a word through context. If you cant understand the situation without understanding a specific word, the dictionary is your best friend.   What about a Thesaurus? Im glad you asked. A thesaurus provides synonyms and antonyms for words and is especially important if you need to write essays, business letters, or other formal documents in English. Visual Dictionary Resources on Site There are a number of visual dictionaries on this site including a visual sports dictionary, a professions dictionary, as well as a visual guide to verb tenses.

Porters Force for Competitive Advantage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words - 7

Porters Force for Competitive Advantage - Essay Example A comparative analysis of the systems followed by businesses of various economies to gain edge is evaluated from Porter’s competitive advantage view. Â  The model’s approach to identify the cluster of small industries where their competence has a direct correlation with the performance of other businesses in the same economy, along with other factors, adds value chain to the process. The advantages can be from consumer-business relationship or local market context, giving it an edge over similar businesses in offshore markets. The various elements of the model is as in the figure below, that shows the business elements and suggests the underlying factors boosting the affectivity of the competence. Further, Rugman and Verbeke (1993) suggested that the factors affecting the competence are related with each other and existing market environment. The four distinct determinants of the model have great influence on the strengths of the business located therein. The vertical relationships of buyers’ intelligence and suppliers are correlated horizontally with technology, skills, distribution challenge etc. The use of the model in the process gives the overview of the industry in terms of competition in the industry. Pressman (1991) observed that the respective Government identifies these clusters to support and promote them as a source of economic growth. Factor Conditions: The position of a business as production capacity, skill manpower availability, infrastructure, legal frameworks etc aided by the government agencies determines the factor conditions. The conditions would determine the performance and ease of doing business in a particular economy.

Organizational Context For Distant Learning System. (ABC Mobiles Essay

Organizational Context For Distant Learning System. (ABC Mobiles context analysis) - Essay Example ABC Mobiles has recently ordered a detailed consultancy report to assess the needs and requirements of their organization for a distant learning system. ABC Mobiles is a renowned supplier of mobile telephones in the region and has a vast network of it regional offices, contractors and franchise partners all around the country. Moreover, the company also exports mobile telephones to many countries around the globe. The company has introduced a vast range of products in the market and has to introduce new products periodically to all partners, stakeholders and customers in order to seize new customers and capture new markets. However, the help and support of all previous products pose a serious challenge to the management and because new products are very frequent, these challenges are a common feature of corporate operations. In order to support all these products support operations the company has to held seminars and workshops to give orientation to the customer and retailers. Besid e the product help and support operations the company launches programs at regular intervals for the training of sales, marketing and technical staff. The company has to incur a lot of expense to conduct these training programs in order to keep its work force vibrant and updated on various developments and advancement being introduced in their respective fields of expertise. Keeping your workforce at educated and updated is the most important requirement in today’s rapidly changing world. Dam (2005) has stressed the same need, when he states, â€Å"The adoption of new technologies, the rapid obsolescence of knowledge, the need for just-in-time learning and the search for cost-effective ways to meet the learning needs of a global workforce have redefined the processes that underlie the design, development and delivery of training and education.† Therefore, learning is an indispensible exercise that ABC Mobiles will have to undertake to keep pace with the changing global learning requirements. A major aspect of modern learning modals is their cost-effective mode of conduct. Organizations despite being aware of the important role of trainings, workshops and courses, tend to cut costs over the training because a major portion of this training expense is drained in transportation, accommodation and other miscellaneous daily expenses of the distant participants of the course or training workshop. Organizations are now moving towards the online trainings, courses, workshops and seminars in order to control the surplus expenses that were not truly educational in nature. â€Å"Online training is growing in popularity and can reach the audiences in a very cost effective manner. Online training allows for customization of location, language, employee function and subject matter.† (Biegelman & Daniel, 2008, p. 192). This changed learning modal is extensively applicable in ABC Mobiles. The ABC Mobiles can exploit flexibility and ease of use that online learning systems can offer. This flexibility can be especially beneficial in organizations like ABC Mobiles that operates round the clock in various time zones and it is usually difficult to schedule a course or training using video conferencing. Online learning systems can deliver these training and courses within selected time slots or at a user request. ABC Mobiles constantly allocates considerable financial and human resources to keep these traditional learning programs running but yet the company is falling far behind in meeting the

Organizational Context For Distant Learning System. (ABC Mobiles Essay

Organizational Context For Distant Learning System. (ABC Mobiles context analysis) - Essay Example ABC Mobiles has recently ordered a detailed consultancy report to assess the needs and requirements of their organization for a distant learning system. ABC Mobiles is a renowned supplier of mobile telephones in the region and has a vast network of it regional offices, contractors and franchise partners all around the country. Moreover, the company also exports mobile telephones to many countries around the globe. The company has introduced a vast range of products in the market and has to introduce new products periodically to all partners, stakeholders and customers in order to seize new customers and capture new markets. However, the help and support of all previous products pose a serious challenge to the management and because new products are very frequent, these challenges are a common feature of corporate operations. In order to support all these products support operations the company has to held seminars and workshops to give orientation to the customer and retailers. Besid e the product help and support operations the company launches programs at regular intervals for the training of sales, marketing and technical staff. The company has to incur a lot of expense to conduct these training programs in order to keep its work force vibrant and updated on various developments and advancement being introduced in their respective fields of expertise. Keeping your workforce at educated and updated is the most important requirement in today’s rapidly changing world. Dam (2005) has stressed the same need, when he states, â€Å"The adoption of new technologies, the rapid obsolescence of knowledge, the need for just-in-time learning and the search for cost-effective ways to meet the learning needs of a global workforce have redefined the processes that underlie the design, development and delivery of training and education.† Therefore, learning is an indispensible exercise that ABC Mobiles will have to undertake to keep pace with the changing global learning requirements. A major aspect of modern learning modals is their cost-effective mode of conduct. Organizations despite being aware of the important role of trainings, workshops and courses, tend to cut costs over the training because a major portion of this training expense is drained in transportation, accommodation and other miscellaneous daily expenses of the distant participants of the course or training workshop. Organizations are now moving towards the online trainings, courses, workshops and seminars in order to control the surplus expenses that were not truly educational in nature. â€Å"Online training is growing in popularity and can reach the audiences in a very cost effective manner. Online training allows for customization of location, language, employee function and subject matter.† (Biegelman & Daniel, 2008, p. 192). This changed learning modal is extensively applicable in ABC Mobiles. The ABC Mobiles can exploit flexibility and ease of use that online learning systems can offer. This flexibility can be especially beneficial in organizations like ABC Mobiles that operates round the clock in various time zones and it is usually difficult to schedule a course or training using video conferencing. Online learning systems can deliver these training and courses within selected time slots or at a user request. ABC Mobiles constantly allocates considerable financial and human resources to keep these traditional learning programs running but yet the company is falling far behind in meeting the

Management accounting and control Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Management accounting and control - Coursework Example This approach was developed by Kaplan and Norton through the development of a set of measures otherwise called by them as â€Å"a balance scorecard.† The approach has the ability of giving the managers of organization a fast and quick view of the organization in terms of measures and management of performance information which includes both process and results measures (Swain, Krumwiede and Eaton 1999). The balanced scorecard is compared to the dials and the indicators in an airplane cockpit due to its ability to give comprehensive information simultaneously about the current and the predicted environment needed by managers for effective and efficient management. Information from this approach is ought to be gathered using the four model approach as follows:- in the customers perspectives, the managers are required to know if they are able to satisfy their customers’ needs hence the need for them to respond to the question as to how the customers see them. Secondly, the model will allow the managers to focus on the critical internal operation which enables the organization satisfy the customer needs, this is known as the internal business perspective. Thirdly, the approach gives the innovation and learning perspective which shows the ability of the organization to innovate, improve and learn. ... Therefore, the balanced scorecard is an organizational framework used in the implementation and management strategy at all the levels of the organization. It does this by linking objectives, initiatives and measures to an organization’s strategy. Hence, the approach can be termed as a strategic management system as opposed to only a measurement system due to its ability to function in both ways (Lipe and Salterio 2000). In addition, the tool enables the organization to be able to clarify their vision and strategy while translating them into action. The full use of the balanced scorecard enables an organization to transform their strategic planning to merely an academic exercise into the nerve center of the organization and its operations through the provision of the overall performance of the organization. This is done through the integration of all the financial measures like ROI, RI and EPS with the other key performance indicators of the organization which are found around the customer’s perspective, internal business processes, organizational growth as well as learning and innovation (Swain, Krumwiede and Eaton 1999). As opposed to Kaplan and Norton, Robert Simons in the explanation of the levers of control and how they can be used in understanding the scope and practice of management control argues that management control systems are formal, information based routines and procedures that are used by managers to maintain and alter patterns in organizational activities (Swain, Krumwiede and Eaton 1999). Hence as compared to the four perspectives in the balanced scorecards, this approach gives us the four levers of control which can be summarized as the control framework used by managers for the

Research Design to Determine the Future of New Orleans Levee Board Essay

Research Design to Determine the Future of New Orleans Levee Board - Essay Example Generally, the failed sections of earthen levee around St. Bernard and east Orleans Parishes do not appear to have included sheetpiling or other core construction. In a very few instances, evidence of a sheetpile core is now exposed and in general, these occurrences tend to be present where older pre-existing canals and natural waterways cut across the levee's intended location, probably due to recognition that otherwise seepage and percolation would be more of a problem at these locations. As a result of its elevation near sea level, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin is quite vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes. Hurricanes are categorized by their windspeed in miles per hour (mph). Hurricanes have affected the Louisiana coastline with a frequency that peaks in September. Hurricanes with significant monetary or human loss are memorialized by retiring their name. In addition to its separation from the coast, the topography of the land in the city of New Orleans is adverse. The city is surrounded by a river levee system 25 feet high along its southern boundary, and by hurricane protection levees about 15 feet high along the remaining boundaries. Most of the land in the city is below sea level, with much of the northern half of the city more than 5 feet below sea level. About one half of the population of the city can't and won't evacuate during a hurricane. Many people, about 200,000, do not have automobiles or access to an automobile. There are an additional 20,000 special needs people that cannot be easily moved. Finally, there several hundred thousand people that will not evacuate because of the difficulty of actually evacuating and finding suitable shelters. The hurricane protection levees surrounding the city are designed to protect the city from a category slow 2 or fast category 3 hurricane. Thus for any slow category 3, or category 4 or 5 hurricanes, the possibility exists for flooding the metropolitan area of New Orleans. The city of New Orleans averages 1.8 m (6 ft) below sea level, resembling a shallow depression surrounded by levees and water. The levee system in New Orleans is one of the most extensive in the world. Levees are earthen structures, made of clay (sedimentary particles smaller in diameter than sand and silt), in cross section forming a truncated triangle. The base is commonly 10 times as wide as the height. Floodwalls are concrete and steel walls, built atop a levee, or in place of a levee, often where space is insufficient for a levee's broad base. Orleans Levee District, a quasi-governmental body, is resposponsible for 129 miles of earthen levees, floodwalls, 190 floodgates, 2 flood control structures, and 100 valves. The governor appoints six of the board's eight members,

Primary Causes of Problems at Amazon.Com and their Remedies Case Study

Primary Causes of Problems at Amazon.Com and their Remedies - Case Study Example Question 4 If Amazon buys products from other firms and simply ships them to customers, why does it need so many of its own distribution centers Amazon.com needs many distribution centers of its own because doing so enables it to make product deliveries to customers quickly and also helps the company to save on costs. In addition, the distribution centers were already in operation and therefore just had to be used by Amazon.com in the partnership deals with other companies ("Amazon.com"). Question 5 Will other retailers buy or lease the Web software and services from Amazon Can Amazon make enough money from selling these services Other retailers will buy or lease software services from Amazon.com because the company has immense infrastructure. Although Amazon.com has been making losses for many years due to the high initial costs and intensive promotion activities, it can still make enough money from selling the services it deals in. This evidenced by the fact that the company's financial position has improved somehow since the year 2000 (Post & Anderson, 2006). Customers' confidence in the company put it in a position to make profit. Question 6 Write a report to management that describes the primary cause of the problems, a detailed plan to solve them, and show how the plan solves the problems and describe any other benefits it will provide. Running Head: PRIMARY CAUSES OF PROBLEMS AT AMAZON.COM Primary Causes of Problems at Amazon.Com and their Remedies Abstract This report evaluates the problems faced by Amazon.com since its inception in 1994 and its current status. A detailed plan to solve the problems is given together with an account of how the... In the year 2000, Amazon.com on overhauled its entire system in order to give it a more customer-appealing look.The company spent $200 million on new systems such as software from Epiphany, logistics from Manugistics Company and a new database management system (DBMS) from Oracle. Furthermore, the company signed more contracts with companies such as SAS for data withdrawal and appraisal. All these services of course came with additional costs to the company. In spite of the additional costs, the biggest and perhaps most expensive deal was between Amazon.com and Excelon as a form of business-to business (B2B) integration. In the same year, Amazon.com linked with HP in a deal that would see the company offer information technology services to Amazon’s customers. Despite, Amazon’s desire to expand and dominate the online market, the company was criticized over its activities in 2000. For instance, that year the company conducted a price experiment by quoting different prices on DVDs to different customers. However, customers who logged in to Amazon.com web site at different times discovered that different prices were being offered at different times. Although Amazon.com later confirmed that it was offering random discounts of between 20 to 40 per cent, this never augured well with some of its customers. Among the customers’ sentiments were that they were being charged more when they shopped more and that the exercise was awfully sneaky and unscrupulous. Other customers referred to Amazon.com as a shyster.

Films and Their Reflection of the Mid-Seventies Era Essay

Films and Their Reflection of the Mid-Seventies Era - Essay Example Films are at times influential and determinants of societal behavior. Film, therefore, is believed to be progressive forces in any society and is a reflection of that society. Analysis of â€Å"Rafaelson Five Easy Pieces† shows the effects of the film and the reflection of the mid-seventies era. The film reflected the social attitudes and values in the mid-seventies era. Even though, there are numerous aspects of the film that are progressive and â€Å"influential for the mid-seventies era, the film is a reflection of the social context of the 1970’s America†. A brief comparison of the film and other contemporary issues of the 1970’s era geys also made.  Films are at times influential and determinants of societal behavior. Film, therefore, is believed to be progressive forces in any society and is a reflection of that society. Analysis of â€Å"Rafaelson Five Easy Pieces† shows the effects of the film and the reflection of the mid-seventies era. T he film reflected the social attitudes and values in the mid-seventies era. Even though, there are numerous aspects of the film that are progressive and â€Å"influential for the mid-seventies era, the film is a reflection of the social context of the 1970’s America†. A brief comparison of the film and other contemporary issues of the 1970’s era geys also made.   Five Easy Pieces directed by Bob Rafaelson is among the greatest films of the Hollywood 1970’s golden era. In the film, the character of Bobby Dupea is the archetype of numerous heroes from that period.

Primary Causes of Problems at Amazon.Com and their Remedies Case Study

Primary Causes of Problems at Amazon.Com and their Remedies - Case Study Example Question 4 If Amazon buys products from other firms and simply ships them to customers, why does it need so many of its own distribution centers Amazon.com needs many distribution centers of its own because doing so enables it to make product deliveries to customers quickly and also helps the company to save on costs. In addition, the distribution centers were already in operation and therefore just had to be used by Amazon.com in the partnership deals with other companies ("Amazon.com"). Question 5 Will other retailers buy or lease the Web software and services from Amazon Can Amazon make enough money from selling these services Other retailers will buy or lease software services from Amazon.com because the company has immense infrastructure. Although Amazon.com has been making losses for many years due to the high initial costs and intensive promotion activities, it can still make enough money from selling the services it deals in. This evidenced by the fact that the company's financial position has improved somehow since the year 2000 (Post & Anderson, 2006). Customers' confidence in the company put it in a position to make profit. Question 6 Write a report to management that describes the primary cause of the problems, a detailed plan to solve them, and show how the plan solves the problems and describe any other benefits it will provide. Running Head: PRIMARY CAUSES OF PROBLEMS AT AMAZON.COM Primary Causes of Problems at Amazon.Com and their Remedies Abstract This report evaluates the problems faced by Amazon.com since its inception in 1994 and its current status. A detailed plan to solve the problems is given together with an account of how the... In the year 2000, Amazon.com on overhauled its entire system in order to give it a more customer-appealing look.The company spent $200 million on new systems such as software from Epiphany, logistics from Manugistics Company and a new database management system (DBMS) from Oracle. Furthermore, the company signed more contracts with companies such as SAS for data withdrawal and appraisal. All these services of course came with additional costs to the company. In spite of the additional costs, the biggest and perhaps most expensive deal was between Amazon.com and Excelon as a form of business-to business (B2B) integration. In the same year, Amazon.com linked with HP in a deal that would see the company offer information technology services to Amazon’s customers. Despite, Amazon’s desire to expand and dominate the online market, the company was criticized over its activities in 2000. For instance, that year the company conducted a price experiment by quoting different prices on DVDs to different customers. However, customers who logged in to Amazon.com web site at different times discovered that different prices were being offered at different times. Although Amazon.com later confirmed that it was offering random discounts of between 20 to 40 per cent, this never augured well with some of its customers. Among the customers’ sentiments were that they were being charged more when they shopped more and that the exercise was awfully sneaky and unscrupulous. Other customers referred to Amazon.com as a shyster.

Comparative Study of US Dollar and Euro Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Comparative Study of US Dollar and Euro - Essay Example Apart from its superior position in markets around the world US Dollar seems as more prepared, compared to other currencies, to face long term economic pressures. Reference is made in particular to Euro, a currency that has challenged the hegemony of US Dollar in global market. Current paper provides a comparative analysis of the two currencies. Emphasis is also given on the factors which have mostly affected the performance of these currencies, especially in regard to 2009 onwards. The financial recession of 2008 and the Euro zone debt crisis, that followed, are used as key events for the evaluation of the potentials of the two currencies in the future. In general, the US Dollar is proved to be stronger both in case of unexpected turbulences and in case of long term economic downturns. 2. US Dollar v Euro – Comparative analysis 2.1 Value of US Dollar compared to Euro The value of US Dollar towards Euro has faced important fluctuations. The turbulences in the global financial market, as related to the Euro Debt Crisis, have led to the decrease of the value of Euro, compared to US Dollar. Indeed, In January 2012 the value of Euro reached the $1.274 (Index Mundi 2012), which is rather low compared to the currency’s value in the past. For example, in January of 2011 the value of Euro was estimated at $1.3371 (Index Mundi 2012). Up to July 2012, the value of Euro towards that of US Dollar was significantly decreased a fact that was related to the continuous deterioration of the Euro Debt Crisis. In July 20 of 2012 the value of Euro reached the $1.2176 (Index Mundi 2012), a quite low level. This fact has caused severe concerns to the leaders of EU. The threat of a potential collapse of the Euro zone had appeared. In order to understand the position of Euro towards the US Dollar it would be necessary to refer to the fluctuations in the value of these currencies for the last four years, i.e. from 2009 up to 2012. In this way, it would be made clear wheth er the power of the two currencies in the global market is equal or whether one of them is at an advantageous position. During 2009 the value of Euro was decreased at a level of 20%, compared to 2008. The global financial crisis of that period has been probably the key reason for the above phenomenon. At the end of the above year the value of Euro was estimated to $1.43 (Index Mundi 2012). The year that followed, 2010, the value of Euro was further decreased; by the end of 2010 the value of Euro was fell to $1.32 (Index Mundi 2012). Again, the Euro Debt crisis, which has appeared to be more intensive in Greece, has been related to the further limitation of the value of Euro towards that of US Dollar (Index Mundi 2012). During 2011 the distance between the two currencies was further decreased. In the beginning of 2011 the Euro seemed as able to increase its power as a global currency. Indeed, the introduction of effective measures in regard to the Greece debt crisis has caused pressu res on US dollar; during the first months of 2011 the US dollar lost a 10% of its value (Index Mundi 2012). At the same time, Euro was strengthened reaching the $1.4675 by July 2011 (Index Mundi 2012). It seems that investors were, still, afraid of investing on US Dollar due to the US Debt crisis of 2008, especially since the above crisis resulted to a global recession. Moreover, it was in that period that the interest rate in the EU was increased to 1.5%, a fact that highly favored the Euro towards the

The actual experiment Essay Example for Free

The actual experiment Essay Substances, which allow an electric current to flow through them, are called conductors because of their structure. Copper is a good conductor and is used for connecting wires. Nichrome has more resistance and is used in heating elements of electric fires. Some conductors are better than others. Copper is a better conductor than iron. When electrons are moving through the metal structure they bump into the metal ions and this causes resistance to the electron flow or current. In different conductors the ease of the flow of electrons is different and so the conductors have different resistance. Effect of cross sectional area: For a particular conductor the resistance will depend on its length and cross sectional area. The longer the conductor, the further the electrons have to travel, the more likely they are to have collisions with the metal ions and so the greater the resistance. Resistance is proportional to length. The greater the cross sectional area of the conductor, the more electrons available to carry the charge along the conductors length and so lower the resistance is. Resistance is also inversely proportional to the cross sectional area. As cross sectional area increases the resistance decreases. Two wires in series are one long wire, because the electrons have to travel twice as far. Two wires in a parallel are like one thick wire so the electrons have more routes to travel along in the same distance. The amount of current flowing through a circuit can be controlled by, changing the resistance of the circuit. This can be done with a variable resistor or rheostat. Adjusting the rheostat changes the length of the wire the current has to flow through. Variable resistors are commonly used in electrical equipment for example in the speed controls on radios and hi-fi systems. Symbol for a variable resistor (rheostat) Effect of temperature If the resistance of a conductor remains constant then a graph showing voltage plotted against current will give a straight line. The gradient of the line will be the resistance of the conductor. However, the resistance of most conductors changes if the temperature of the conductor changes. This can be explained using a simple model of a conductor. As the temperature increases the metal ions vibrate more therefore provide a greater resistance to the flow of the electrons. The resistance of a filament lamp becomes greater as the voltage is increased and the lamp gets hotter. Planning Aim: To investigate how the length of a wire affects the resistance. Equipment: The longer the wire, the higher the resistance. This is because the longer the wire, the more times the free electrons will collide with other free electrons, the particles making up the metal, and any impurities in the metal. Therefore, more energy is going to be lost in these collisions (as heat). Furthermore, doubling the length of the wire will result in double the resistance. This is because by doubling the length of the wire one is also doubling the collisions that will occur, thus doubling the amount of energy lost in these collisions. Method: The following circuit will be constructed to carry out the investigation. Firstly I will set up the equipment as a shown in the diagram. I will then set the voltage on the power pack to 3v. Then the first crocodile clip is clipped to the wire at the 0cm position on the metre rule. The second crocodile clip is clipped to the relevant position depending on the required length of wire. This length for this experiment will be a 10cm increment each time along the metre ruler, which starts from 0cm to 100cm. We decided to use 10cm intervals then testing each increment to get a more reliable set of results and to have more results to compare. The power supply is turned on. The voltage is then read off the voltmeter, and recorded. The power supply is then turned off and the second crocodile clip is moved to the next position. The above steps will be repeated five times for each length for accuracy Safety: In order to perform a safe experiment, a low voltage of 3V was chosen so that overheating will be kept minimal as much as possible. Furthermore, lengths lower than 10cm were not tried, which also helped to avoid overheating, which will lead to anomalous results. Evaluation I think my investigation did not go as expected because, I discovered many anomalies when I drew up graph. These were at 70, 80, 90, 100cm. They were circled because they did not increase steadily as expected. The reasons these problems may have occurred are as follows: The power pack may have been left off over a long period of time which allows the Nichrome wire the to cool down causing the wire to have less resistance and therefore leading to anomaly results. Perhaps it could have been that the crocodile clips that were attached to the wire may have slipped and become lose therefore not increases the voltage as much as it should be. The length that was measured for that particular distance was incorrect. It is possible that the length was shorter, causing a lower resistance and at a majority of the lengths it is possible that it was causing a higher resistance also leading to anomalous results. We also encountered many difficulties whilst carrying out the experiment such as placing the wire in the 5v hole and then reading the voltage off the line that went up to 15v instead of 5v. So we had to repeat the experiment in order to keep it a fair test. To avoid these errors in the future I would make sure the power pack would stay on for the same amount off time for each length I would do this by timing it. An alternative way of doing the investigation would be to use a data logging system which involves digital voltmeter and ammeter and use wire with a larger diameter therefore the clips will not come off easily. I think this would have gave me a more reliable set of results and it would also be a more efficient way of doing the experiment because more time would be saved. Vivian Okrah Candidate: 9428 Resistance of a wire Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Electricity and Magnetism section.

Saint Augustine Essay -- Biography Biographies Augustine Essays

Saint Augustine Saint Augustine (354-430 AD), also known as Augustine of Hippo created an image of himself through his writings and teachings. He was born in Tagaste, a town in North Africa, on November 13, 354 AD. He was born into a middle class family. Patricius, his father, was a pagan, but later converted to Christianity because of his wife, Monica, was a devout Christian. Augustine’s mother, who was devoted to the Roman Catholic church, constantly tried for her son's conversion. Augustine was educated as a lecturer in the former North African cities of Tagaste, Madaura, and Carthage. The philosophical works of Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman speaker and politician, inspired Augustine to become a seeker after truth. Augustine engaged restlessly in philosophical studies, and passed from one phase of thought to another, unable to find satisfaction. From 373 until 382, in Carthage, he conformed to Manichaeism, a dualistic philosophy dealing with the conflict between good and evil. This seemed to be the answer to the confusion in his own heart. It solved the mysteries that confused him in his own experience. After realizing that this philosophy wouldn’t make a great ethical system, he abandoned this philosophy. After being educated throughout North Africa, he left Carthage and in 384 found himself in Milan where he would pursue his career of a professor in rhetoric. Also, in Milan he met and was influenced by the bishop, Ambrose. With this, Augustine was at tracted again to Christianity and was baptized by Ambrose in 387. Augustine was also influenced by Platonism. He than returned to North Africa where he became the bishop of Hippo in 391, a title he held until he died. This great â€Å"Father of the Church,† wrote a handbook on the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and love. The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love was written in the year 420. It is a brief handbook on the proper mode of serving God, through faith, hope, and love. It is easy to say what one ought to believe, what to hope for, and what to love. But to defend our doctrines against the slander of those who think differently is a more difficult and detailed task. If one is to have this wisdom, it is not enough just to put an enchiridion in the hand. It is also necessary that a great eagerness be in the heart. Saint Augustine says that God created all things good. In Chapter XI, ... ...t evil is but the absence of good. I feel that God did make everything good, and it is the absence of good that causes evil. People choose the road they feel like taking throughout life. I think of it this way; God started us off on this world all consisting of good and it is we who choose to become evil. This follows through with Augustine’s next idea, which I also agree with, in that there can be no evil where there is no good. This holds true because everybody consists of good, and evil is the absence of good, so that just concludes that in order for evil there must be good. Augustine also says that good and evil can exist at the same time, but evil cannot exist without good, however, good can exist without evil. I feel that one can embody good and evil, there are many humans like that now. It’s true that evil cannot exist without good because we are only evil when we aren’t good, but one can be good without being evil. I hope I have made it clear that there are some points that I agree with and there are some ideas of Augustine that I don’t agree with. As for the way to serve God, I believe that as long as you live your life to the best of your ability, you will succeed.

Emotion and Culture in Secret Life of Bees :: Secret Life of Bees Essays

Heart break, joy, love, happiness, The Book The Secret Life of Bees has it all! The book is about a young girls that accidentally shot her mother. After spending nine years with her abusive, and emotionally absent father, she decides to run away. So, she breaks her beloved nanny out of prison, and Lily escapes to Tiburon South Carolina, a town she links to her mother through the writing on one of her old possessions. While in Tiburon, Lily finds the calendar sisters three very different, very helpful sisters. The family agrees to take Lilly in, despite the fact that almost every white person in town frowns upon the very idea of this white girl staying in an African American household. While staying with the sisters, August, May, and June, Lily learns lots of things, ranging from bee keeping, to why and how her mother first left her. She falls in love, explores her past, and finds it within herself to forgive her mother for leaving her, and herself, for shooting her mom. This book is rich in both emotion, and culture. Although the main character in the book was white, the author, Sue Kidd, does a great job of depicting the African American culture during the time. Whether it was Rosaleen getting beat up in jail, or Zach dreaming of being a lawyer, this book showed you what it was like being a minority during a time when rights where still being fought for. One of the smaller conflicts in the story was a man verses man conflict, when Lily and Zach started to like each other. Though they knew that a colored man, and a white girl could never be together, they both were attracted to each other. Were they not from different cultures, people would have been fine with them dating, but because Zach was black, it couldn?t work out. Another internal conflict is how Lilly feels responsible for her mother?s death. When she was four, she accidentally shot her mom, and wasn?t able to forgive herself. The reason she runs away in the first place is because her dad tells her that her mom left her, which is both an internal, and man versus man conflict. She?s mad at her dad for saying it, but can?t fully convince herself that it isn?t true. There?s a man versus society conflict when men beat up Rossaleen because of her color, and another internal conflict when May is so overcome with grief that she cant stop crying.