Gender Autobiography - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1494 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/03/13 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Autobiography Essay Did you like this example? From the moment I was born, the doctor exclaimed, Es ist eine Maedchen! This is German for, Its a girl and I had zero input on that statement. Although, society treated me according to my gender, I have always identified as feminine. Even though this is how I identify, I was never discouraged from doing anything that was considered masculine or not considered typical girl behavior. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Gender Autobiography" essay for you Create order I believe that gender identity was always a non-issue in my life. I lived my life without perceiving any kind of judgment from my family or close community. I dont remember ever feeling societal pressure growing up either. I had hoped and thought that everyone could live that way. I wouldnt say I was nave but I just didnt understand why anyone would have to conform to a way of life that wasnt a true representation of oneself. I read this assignment and brainstormed for a few days before realizing that I wouldnt have anything substantial to write about because I was always encouraged to play, behave and feel however I perceived when it comes to gender roles. Before I get into my own personal story, I would like to define both the terms; gender and sex. Throughout the rest of the paper, I will elaborate on my childhood experiences, share a story about a moment with a friend who felt societal and family pressure on his gender identity and how my experiences influenced how I am raising my own child. According to Newman, gender as ones psychological identity, feminine and masculine, while sex is a biological assignment associated with chromosomes and genitals (Newman, 2018). I have always identified with both my gender and sex. I was born and raised in Heidelberg, Germany and I was very fortunate to live a life where no one cared if kids under the age of 12 ran around naked at the lake or little boys wore fleece tights in the winter to keep them nice and warm. So what if a little girl was playing with boy toys or a little boy was playing with baby dolls and a baby stroller? Looking back, I feel like no one, especially in my little world, felt that we, the children, were supposed to play or be a certain way. I was encouraged to have the best childhood. I realize as an adult now that many other people arent that fortunate or privileged. It wasnt until freshman year in college where I realized that some people were not able to live life as their truest self or identify differently than the social norm. It made me sad that they had to conform to societys or their familys idea of gender identity. When I started college in 2007, I temporarily moved to the middle of nowhere in Missouri. After a less than two years I ended up moving back to Germany to be with my family. During my brief time in the United States, specifically, Missouri, I met a guy who was openly gay when he was with his friends, but had to live a separate life when he went home. He invited me to his parents house one weekend when the dorms closed for the holiday weekend and during the entire 1.5-hour drive he briefed me on how I could never mention anything about him being gay. He even mentioned that he told his parents I was an ex-girlfriend that theyd never met so it would be more believable. I was so incredibly sad that in 2007 he wasnt able to be himself 100%. In fact, as I am writing this paper, I decided to search for him on Facebook and found out that he no longer is in contact with his family but he did share with them that he is gay. Hes married to a man hed always hoped hed end up with and has two dogs. After I permanently moved to the United States in 2013, I still didnt quite understand the extreme influence society has on gender identity was until the very next year. In 2014, I fell into the pink and blue vortex when I found out I was pregnant. I did a bit of browsing for baby things early on and became ridiculously overwhelmed with how divided everything was. There was either pink or blue and maybe 1% was neutral. I was adamant about not wanting to find out the gender, because its truly one of the few surprises in life people have left. Another reason I felt strongly about this is because the other side of the family would put a very pink or blue mold filled with expectations and behaviors around my baby before it was even born. I have a history of miscarriages and had a scare in my second trimester and decided that if anything were to happen that I would want to know the gender. I found out I was having a little boy. Due to my womanly reproductive issues, I could honestly say 100% I didnt have a preference, I just was so excited to be a mother. Ive known friends that have been utterly disappointed when they were hoping for one sex and got the other and never understood why, especially because becoming a parent in the first place is the most amazing experience, at least to me. Anyways, sure enough, my instinct was right, the other side of the family gifted us with sports gear and name brand athletic wear, along with lots of blue everything and a dash of green. I was so scared that this was it, my son wouldnt have a choice in any other shades except for boy, dude and bro. I distinctly remember my mom purchasing a two-piece outfit with khaki shorts and a polo shirt. It was the cutest outfit and the best part about it was the polo shirt was pale pink. When it finally fit my son, I paraded him around in it because the shade of pink really made his blue eyes pop and his strawberry blonde hair stand out. The cool pink and purples definitely complemented his skin and hair color just like his momma. I remember hearing a comment from the other side of the family saying that pink shirts are not for boys. I let the comment roll off my back because my little one was still an infant and he did not understand their ignorance. Another incident was during a visitation from his bio dad. I wasnt around but my mom mentioned it because she had to correct the statement and behavior. My son absolutely loves dramatic play. He loves to dress up as different people or animals and pretend play. Its been the best moment of toddlerhood so far and we (my family and I) totally encourage it. During the supervised visitation with my parents, my son decided to put on my sisters floral kimono, grab her purse and pretend to be her, his aunt. My mom heard a comment, no, no, thats for a girl, Max, yuck boys dont wear that. She chimed in and let Max know it was okay to play with it and let bio dad know in her counseling voice that we encourage dramatic play as it enhances brain development and if he had a question about Maxs behavior or fashion choice to ask before making a statement like that. Fortunately, that side of the family is no longer in the picture, so Max has the freedom to do whatever he chooses with full support and no pushback. I hope that he continues to live life the way he does now as fluid as he chooses. Just yesterday he put on my leopard print pumps and tried walking and then asked me to put them on and I did and pretended to be bad at walking in heels. We had a laugh and moved on to another game where we played in the mud and catching cicada bugs. I feel very fortunate the way I grew up and only hope that I can create a similar environment for my own son. However, being exposed to the struggle that some people encounter opened my eyes to the difficulties some people have to face just to be accepted. I just never understood why families or society doesnt accept people who just wanted to live life as their truest self. Society often times wants to put people into boxes and even if you do happen to fit into one of the boxes, life can be difficult. I do believe that within the last century there has been much more acceptance toward sexuality and race. In my opinion people who live life in their truest form without having to pretend or hide who they are, will be able help perpetuate tolerance and acceptance and create a better, more accepting society for the future. References Newman, T. (2018, February 07). Sex and gender: Meanings, definition, identity, and expression. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232363.php

Bible - Role Of Abraham Essay - 1579 Words

Hebrew Bible Paper - Abraham nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Abraham stands as one of the most important figures in the Hebrew Bible, and is central to the understanding of Godamp;#8217;s solution to the problem of mankind. Man, the mysterious creature that God wraught as a semi-experiment, is constantly prone to believe he is self-sufficient and capable of survival without God, the central problem God must deal with in the Hebrew Bible. To solve this problem, God decides to strike fear in the heart of man and to revolutionise his lifestyle by creating laws and empowering a chosen group of people, who will spread the word of God by example. These people are the Hebrews, and Abraham is the father of their race, the man from whom all†¦show more content†¦Abram leaves his home and family, and departs into the quot;strange landquot; of Canaan, showing an extreme obedience to God and understanding of his duty to father this great race. Throughout Genesis, Abraham builds altars to God and sacrifices animals. In Gene sis 22:2, God tells Abraham, quot;Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountainsquot;. The next day, Abraham sets off for Moriah quot;and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.quot; After God stops the sacrifice, he tells Abraham, quot;Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.quot; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Abrahamamp;#8217;s continual obedience to God is central to his character and the desired character of the Hebrew people. God, in his great plan, wishes to remove the human tendency to believe only in his judgment, the pride of thinking he knows better than God. Thus, God wishes to promote the qualities of obedience and humility, to birth a nation of men who fear God and follow orders. Only in this way can people be expected to follow a moral code and adhere to laws; they must understand that there are powers beyond them that they do not always understand, but must perpetually follow.Show MoreRelatedBible - Role of Abraham1638 Words   |  7 PagesHebrew Bible Paper - Abraham Abraham stands as one of the most important figures in the Hebrew Bible, and is central to the understanding of God#8217;s solution to the problem of mankind. Man, the mysterious creature that God wraught as a semi-experiment, is constantly prone to believe he is self-sufficient and capable of survival without God, the central problem God must deal with in the Hebrew Bible. To solve this problem, God decides to strike fear in the heart of man and to revolutioniseRead MoreGenesis 18 Essay1371 Words   |  6 PagesGenesis 18 is the story of Abraham and his three mysterious visitors. This one of the many complicated text in the Bible. Many faiths and researchers have different interpretations of this passage. However, the question, which we must ask, is; what are the scriptures in Genesis 18 trying to say? It is not as clear as other literature text that are read today there are many questions that arise from this passage such as who were there three men? Where was Sarah? How did A braham know they were messengersRead MoreEssay on Bible vs. Quran1630 Words   |  7 Pagestable displays a large white book with gold-tipped pages. On the cover, prominent gold letters display the words The Holy Bible. This extravagant Christian place of worship, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, shows the importance of religious establishments as additional resources used in teaching religion. Two of the world’s largest religions use faith-powered books, The Holy Bible and The Holy Quran, to educate members. The scriptures in these books have provided direction, spiritual guidance, andRead MoreSimilarities Between Christianity And Islam1316 Words   |  6 PagesCommon Word between Us and You Both religions make up around half of the population around the world. Islam and Christianity are collectively known as Abrahamic religions because they trace their history to the covenant God made with Abraham in the Hebrew Bible. Christianity and Islam are two of the fastest growing religions, and they both have a lot in common ideas but yet have major differences in their beliefs and practices. First of all, both of Christianity and Islam religions have a quietRead MoreThe Book Of Genesis : A Historical Narrative1334 Words   |  6 Pagesnarratives serve two main purposes: (1) to chart the ongoing progress of salvation history, and (2) to provide illustrations of God’s nature and purpose and the appropriate responses of the people to God’s purpose (Fee and Stuart, How to read the Bible for all its worth, 2014) There a few main things to remember when reading Old Testament narratives; as the reader need to recognize the levels at which narratives function, keep the focus on God and his purpose for the world, we need to avoid moralizingRead MoreAbrahamic Faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam1302 Words   |  5 Pagesis based on the original covenant made between Abraham and god when he was told to leave his home in Ur and travel to Cannan, a land which god promised to give to his descendants. The second covenant was made four hundred fifty years later when Moses led the Jews out of slavery back to Cannan. At Mount Sinai, god gave the Jewish people the Ten Commandments to live by. These are found in their holy book, the Torah, or the first five books of the Bible. Rabbis interpret this book and present the meaningRead MoreReligious Texts- Examining the Content of the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran1621 Words   |  7 Pagesdown her shoulders interlocking with her robe below. To the righ t of the infant, a table displays a large white book with gold-tipped pages. On the cover, prominent gold letters display the words The Holy Bible. Two of the world’s largest religions use faith-powered books such as the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran, to educate their members. Scriptures in these books have provided religious history, given spiritual guidance, and established moral theologies passed down from one generation to anotherRead MoreThe View Of The Beautiful City Jerusalem1683 Words   |  7 Pagesalso known for its history of David and Abraham, two important figures in Judaism, and includes the western wall, making it the reason why it is a great focus in Judaism. Lastly, Islam’s believe it is where their prophet, Muhammed, travelled to during his night journey and where he ascended into heaven. In commemoration of Muhammed the Dome of Rock and the al-Asque mosque were built in Jerusalem. All in all, Jerusalem contains stories of Jesus, David, Abraham, Muhammed, as well as famous places ofRead MoreThe Books of the Three Major Religions in Southwest Asia691 Words   |  3 Pagesnamed Abraham is the one that started this religion. God promised Abraham to be the father of many people and to give Abraham the holy land which is now Israel. The symbol is the Star of David. It is a relatively new symbol in the church. The book that is called the Bible in Christianity is called the Torah in Judaism. In Judaism women are equal to men, but they are separate. They have different roles and responsibilities than men have. 37% of Jews live in Israel, the land promised to Abraham by GodRead MoreBiblical Names In Toni Morrisons Song Of Solomon1574 Words   |  7 Pagesthat he or she may carry on the name of a beloved family member. Many names that are popular today are names from the Bible, since most of the biblical characters possess characteristics that parents would want their child to have. Names like Noah, Jacob, David, and Miriam, are names currently in the top 1000 child names in the world, and they are all biblical names. Names from the Bible are also found in many works of literature , like Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, a coming of age story about a young

Case Study Airbnb & The Sharing Economy- MyAssignmenthelp.com

Questions: Case study Airbnb and the sharing economy David Fleischman, University of the Sunshine Coast Do you enjoy the experience of travelling? What is it about travel experiences that makes them unique and exciting? Is it the people you meet, or the places you stay? Airbnb is one service that claims to cater for the type of traveller that seeks experiences giving travellers an authentic feel for a place. Airbnb was founded in 2008, and was valued at over $2 billion dollars after only five years of existence.It is a website that provides a marketplace service where travellers can connect with local hosts of a destination who are offering a unique accommodation experience. Listings range from tree houses to castles, private islands, teepees and even water towers. There are also normal houses and apartments available for bookings. In total, Airbnb listings offer accommodation in over 33 000 cities and 192 countries around the world. On a typical night, approximately 150 000 Airbnb guests connect and stay with different hosts all over the world. New York City boasts 23 000 accommodation listings, and Paris a staggering 24 000. In Australia, Sydney and Melbourne both offer around 1800 listings. To put that into perspective, the Hilton hotel chain offers approximately 600 000 rooms in total worldwide. It is obvious that Airbnb has unlocked a market gap that was previously untapped within t he travel service industry. Several factors have influenced the success of Airbnb. The growth of middle-class income in countries such as China, Brazil and India has fuelled an increase of travellers worldwide. Sociocultural trends in travel have also changed. Many consumers are now seeking more personal and intimate experiences when they travel. In addition, the poor economic climate, as a result of the global financial crisis in 2008, has driven people to seek income from alternative sources. Hence, we have seen the rise in popularity of innovative peer-to-peer (P2P) business models like Airbnb, which provide users with an opportunity to generate extra personal income. The culmination of these factors has been a catalyst for the emergence and growth of the sharing economy. In a sharing economy, the trust in the value behind services like travel accommodation has shifted from the corporate supplier to P2P transactions. Instead of corporate suppliers fully controlling value propositions and exchange, organisati ons such as Airbnb simply facilitate value propositions and exchange between users. The business models utilised by Airbnb and other organisations benefiting from the emerging sharing economy have not been met with acceptance from all. Traditional suppliers of services like accommodation and car rentals are threatened by the potential of the sharing economy, and have been lobbying against P2P sharing services. In the case of Airbnb, opposing parties contend that Airbnbs P2P sharing services are unregulated and unsafe for consumers, as they are not required to uphold the same legal standards and regulations as traditional accommodation suppliers. (Elliott 424) Elliott, Greg, Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, David Waller. Marketing including iStudy, 3rd Edition. John Wiley Sons Australia,, 2014-07-01. VitalBook file. New York, in particular, has come under scrutiny for violating the states occupancy code. In May 2013, a man was found guilty of violating New Yorks illegal hotel law by renting out his apartment on Airbnb.Despite these contentions, Airbnb has continued its growth (with the potential of an additional $100 million in venture capital injections projected in the near future), and provides a number of measures to ensure the protection of its guests and hosts, as well as the quality of its services. As trust is the catalyst for P2P service organisations, high standards of consistent security and protection for users are paramount. In most countries, Airbnb host listings are insured for damages of up to $1 million for every booking. Hosts are also encouraged to adhere to local laws and regulations, as they may be required to obtain a permit or legal permission for their accommodation offering. Extensive and easily comprehendible information and tips are clearly outlined on the Airbnb website for all hosts and guests. All personal information is kept confidential and is verified via electronic security systems through Airbnbs website. Airbnb also provides a secure platform for all financial transactions between hosts and guests, along with an efficient 24/7 help service. In addition to the safety and security initiatives of Airbnb, the high level of service quality also helps create a novel accommodation experience and consumer trust. Airbnb aims to create a social experience rather than just a search site for travel accommodation. This is what separates it from 425 other similar P2P services where travel accommodation may be sought (e.g. Couch Surfing or Gumtree). As the excitement of the travel experience begins with a search of destinations, flights, activities and accommodation, Airbnb provides features that stimulate consumers while sifting through this information. From the moment the website is accessed, the consumer receives a feel for their chosen destination via photographs of the various types of accommodation that can be discovered. If they are travelling to one of the most popular destinations (e.g. Rio de Janeiro, London or New York City), users can browse accommodation using neighbourhood guides. These guides provide more detailed accommodation information based on attributes such as trendy, quiet or nightlife in distinct areas within a city. Consumers can also create wish lists. The wish list feature provides an avenue for consumers to formulate a list and then compare their dream places to stay and visit. This can be shared with friends and used to create collaborative trips. Airbnb also creates themed wish lists for consumers seeking diverse experiences. For instance, consumers can view wish lists that centre on bespoke style architecture accommodation, romantic accommodation for couples or green accommodation for eco-enthusiasts. Moreover, wish lists provide another channel for Airbnb to engage and create relationships with their users. Essentially, consumers may visit the site just to update or explore wish lists, and not necessarily to search and book accommodation ensuring repeat visits to the site. Beyond some of the latter features is the notion of communicating P2P with another human being and establishing a genuine social connection. These social connections are what provide the authentic travel experiences that many consumers desire. And to think, all of these connections are built off a single common denominator trust. Put simply, Airbnb and other similar sharing services have prospered by making users the regulators of trust. Guests and hosts have the transparent opportunity to rate each other, which helps instil integrity and confidence in the quality of service provided. The service experience that Airbnb offers for travel accommodation is unique. While there will always be a segment of consumers who desire travel accommodation via conventional suppliers, the market of consumers seeking an inimitable travel accommodation experience will continue to grow. While there are still many unknowns about service organisations that centre on business models fuelled by the sharing economy, it is hard to contend with the future potential of organisations like Airbnb. Questions What makes Airbnb different from other service organisations in the travel accommodation sector? Using examples, explain what features of Airbnbs service fulfil the five dimensions of service quality. How do the features contribute to creating and maintaining long-term customer relationships? How does Airbnb overcome issues that can emerge, given the unique characteristics of services (tangibility, inseparability, heterogeneity and perishability)? Provide examples. What current and potential future challenges does Airbnb face as a service that centres on the emerging sharing economy? Describe some innovative solutions and/or strategies that service organisations using P2P sharing business models can implement by understanding the extended services marketing mix. Answers: SWOT analysis of Airbnb Strengths of Airbnb Reliability is one of the greatest strengths of Airbnb as the customers know that they can trust the company for the results that they have produced till date.The professionals at Airbnb are very responsive and hence, they can expect a revert for any customer query in 24 business hours.The customers are rest assured that they can get great quality stay if they opt for Airbnb Weaknesses of Airbnb Airbnb doesnt have a special process wherein they can check about the value that the hosts can provide. The quality of the service is decided by the service that company receives from the customer.Lack of tangibility is one of the biggest problems as the customers cannot touch and feel the service that is provided by the hosts at the tourist location. Opportunities for Airbnb The company should undertake lot of marketing so that all the customers are aware of the existence of the business.A method to check the quality of service provided by the hosts, should be implemented. Threats of Airbnb There are possibilities that the responsiveness of the hosts will be less and the management of Airbnb may not be even aware of this.Lack of empathy is of the biggest threats. It is merely impossible for Airbnb to understand the requirements of customers as there is lack of personal interaction. References Wikinut, 2010, The 5 Service Quality Dimensions, Viewed on January 28, 2015, https://business.wikinut.com/The-5-Service-Quality-Dimensions/.d-m.4b./ UWSuper, The RATAR Model Service quality dimension, Viewed on January 28, 2015, https://www.uwsuper.edu/cipt/exsite/upload/RATER_Model_table.pdf Sachdev, S, Relative importance of service quality Dimensions: A multisectoral study, Viewed on January 28, 2015, https://jsr-iimt.in/freesample/Relative.pdf

Entrepreneurship for Several Principles - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theEntrepreneurship for Several Principles of Teaching. Answer: Entrepreneurial thinking involves getting into the stories of certain individuals and realizes how they find the reason of specific problems to transform an idea into specific firm. The entrepreneurial thinking lets an individual to talk to others and solve decision problems for building a company based on the same product idea. Thorough analysis of gathered information leads to several principles of teaching. When this set of principles is put together based on logic to distinguish the rational form which can be recognized as entrepreneurial. The reasons that become clear in such a way can be termed as entrepreneurial reasoning. Entrepreneurial thinking is different from causal thinking as the latter one is a set of pre- decided goal with given series of means to find out the suitable, fastest, cheapest and the most effective way to achieve the target goal. Causal reasoning involves make vs. buy decision in production or selection of the target market. Causal reasoning is also involves the making of extra alternatives for attaining the target goal. Entrepreneurial thinking does not start with a fixed target goal unlike causal thinking. Rather, it allows the goals to emerge gradually from imagination and aspiration (Sarasvathy 2001, p. 2). To be able to think like an expert entrepreneur is the best option for an individual. The experts choose entrepreneurial reasoning over causal reasoning because it is effective in the beginning of a new venture as most of the entrepreneurs do not do well with the growing of the company which needs causal reasoning. It is essential for an entrepreneur to be creative so to think like an expert entrepreneur is very relevant to the major field of study. It is mentioned in the study that both causal and entrepreneurial reasoning requires skills and training for the specific domain but entrepreneurial thinking demands more spontaneity, imagination, innovation, improvisation along with salesmanship and risk taking. The relevance lies in the field of study because the entrepreneurs begin the process of entrepreneurship with their own identity, abilities, likes and what is their knowledge base along with the knowledge of their acquaintances. These ways are used by the entrepreneurs to think a nd imply the feasible effects. This is because they start with a meager means which are instantly available at a close distance and move towards their target without much planning and plotting. Causal reasoning involves proper planning and execution but entrepreneurial thinking involves only execution. (399 words) About entrepreneurial mindset, the author has mentioned that uncertainty can be used for the benefit of an individual to create a way of thinking about the business which grabs the advantages of uncertainty. It is important to note in this book that if the entrepreneurial nature becomes secondary then it will be easy to recognize the uncertain and potential opportunities in the market which can be exploited with total confidence and speed. The author stated that at this particular point, uncertainty gets the support of the individual instead of negligence. The points mentioned in this book by McGrath and MacMillan (2000, p. 2) can be argued that as the success of entrepreneurship is action- oriented therefore the contents of this book are intended to give insights that can be put instantly to work even in uncertain situations. Again, it can be argued that the concepts are made in such a way that they are easy and simple to describe. With rapid movement, only confusion and delay is caused because of complexity. A role of an entrepreneur is to solve complexity such that the colleagues can retain their self- confidence. The major field of study is entrepreneurial mindset which grabs the individual when he begins to think and act as the unusual people who are known as habitual entrepreneurs. These individuals start their careers by making business, working in a business or starting independent ventures. This book focuses on the observation carried out by these entrepreneurs, their thinking, behavior and what is their actual ability. They mainly look into the factor of uncertainty to create simplicity in those areas which are found complex by others and they also engage in adopting learning taken from calculated risks. They are able to determine the passing opportunities which can be expensive to be slow rather than be wrong. (299 words) Reference McGrath, R.G. and MacMillan, I.C., 2000.The entrepreneurial mindset: Strategies for continuously creating opportunity in an age of uncertainty(Vol. 284). Harvard Business Press. Sarasvathy, S.D., 2001. What makes entrepreneurs entrepreneurial?.

Benedict Arnold Essays (1108 words) - Benedict Arnold, John Andr

Benedict Arnold annon No other American is remembered quite the same as Benedict Arnold. He was a brave soldier, a patriot- and a traitor. Benedict was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on January 14, 1741. When he was 14 years old, Benedict ran away from home to fight in the French and Indian War, but he was brought back by his mother, who apparently was driven insane later in her life. If I had a son like Benedict, I might have gone insane too! After his mother insisted that he return home, he ran away for a second time. After he was finished playing boy hero for awhile, he learned the apothecary (pharmacy) trade and then in 1762, he opened a book and drug store in New Haven. Benedict was also involved with trade in the West Indies. By 1774, he was one of the wealthiest citizens in New Haven. It's a good thing that he had money, because he was one of those people who like to ride around in their Mercedes and wear expensive clothes, even if he couldn't afford them. Benedict then got hooked up with the sheriff's daughter Margaret Mansfield, and they hit it off. They decided to get married in 1774. But this marriage was short lived because the next year Margaret caught a disease and died. When the Revolutionary War began that year Arnold was already an experienced soldier. He had helped Ethan Allen capture Fort Ticonderoga. Then Benedict came up with a great idea to capture Quebec. This idea failed, but Benedict had already proven his bravery. He was then commissioned as a colonel in the patriot forces. He was one of General George Washington's most trusted officers. Benedict led his troops to the siege of Boston and Valcour Island and proved once again to be a bold and skilled officer. At the battle of Valcour Island he was wounded severely in his leg. His bravery won him the respect of many people. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Arnold felt that his services were not properly rewarded. In 1777, Congress promoted five officers, who were junior to Benedict, to major general. Only a personal plea from General George Washington kept him from resigning. He did receive a delayed promotion to major general, but he was still angered that he was not promoted to a rank above the junior officers promoted earlier. Then to top things off, a fellow officer charged Arnold with misconduct, but Congress found the charges groundless and dismissed them. In late 1777, Benedict fought at Saratoga. Before the final battle Arnold quarreled with his superior, General Horatio Gates, and was relieved of his command. Despite his relief of command, Benedict led his troops into battle. He charged from place to place, rallying Americans and was again wounded in the leg. He received much of the credit for this American victory. In 1778 Benedict married Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a wealthy Loyalist when he was assigned to military commander of Philadelphia. Life in Philadelphia was pleasant but very costly. Before he knew it, Arnold was deeply in debt. In 1779 he was charged with using his position for personal profit and charged with using the soldiers in his command as personal servants. A court martial cleared him of most of the charges, but had General Washington reprimand him. Washington issued the reprimand, but softened it with the promise of a high promotion in the future. But Arnold had already sold his services to the British. Since May of 1779 he had been supplying them with valuable military information. He did this because he was still upset with the Continental Congress for not giving him the promotions that he thought he deserved. He was also very desperate for money because of his extravagant lifestyle. In 1780 Benedict was given command of the fort at West Point in New York. He decided that he would give this strategic post to the British. In return he was to be made brigadier general in the British Army. He was also promised money. On September 21, Benedict met with Major John Andre of the British army to discuss and arrange the details. Two days later, Andre was captured when he attempted to return to the British lines. Some American soldiers stopped and searched him and found incriminating papers hidden in his stockings and the plot was revealed. Andre was executed as a spy. Arnold learned this news in time for him to escape. He fled to a British ship that took him down the Hudson River

Free ESL Resources for Online Learning - Paperell.com

Free ESL Resources for Online Learning ESL Resources for Online Learning Table of ContentsGrammar and PunctuationSpelling and PronunciationVocabularyWritingReadingListening and PodcastsYouTube ChannelsQuizzes and GamesIt can be challenging and tricky to learn English. If you are struggling with it, just  breathe you are not alone. There are more than billion people learning  English around the globe, and  most of them are struggling with the same things. Luckily, there are a lot of different ways to help you make this process easier. Today you don’t even need to be in the classroom to improve your language skills. In fact,  there are plenty of online learning tools to help you master a new language faster. We have compiled a list of 55 ESL resources that will help you learn English easier.Grammar and PunctuationSome students think that correct grammar and punctuation matter only to their teachers, but it is certainly not true. Without good grammar and punctuation, clear communication is impossible.To understand it more clearly, follow thes e ESL sites:EnglishGrammar: It is a very useful website for students. You can find the answer toany question you may have about grammar and punctuation.English Grammar Secrets: If there is something you couldn’t find on the previous website, then you will definitelyfind it here. Also, there are a lot of exercises here that follow every topic.UsingEnglish.com:This website is just a goldmine for every student. You can find therelots of printable grammar lessons and test your knowledge of grammar.British Council: This website is one of the most popular among students, andthere is a reason for that. It explains grammar in a clearand simple way.Perfect English Grammar: It’s time to learn how to use ‘a little’,‘little’,‘few’ and ‘a few’!English Grammar Exercise: It is a complete guide to grammar!English Teacher Melanie: Melanie will help you understand natural spoken English.Grammarly: It is so easy to understand all the gr ammar rules with this website!Learn American English Online: You can listen to an experienced ESL teacher talking about grammar. This website also contains links for learning American expressions.Anglo-Link: Improve your grammar skills inno time!English with Jennifer: It is one of the best websites for students. It has lots of instructional videos with grammar explanations.GrammarBank.com:This ESL website contains grammar explanations and lots of exercises.Grammar Girl: ‘Can I?’ or ‘May I?’ ‘Gray’ or ‘grey’? This website gives answers tosuch questions and more!Education First: Find the answer for any grammar and punctuation question that you have.English Grammar 101: It is another great resource for students to learn about grammar.Spelling and PronunciationThese websites will help you learn how to say and spell different words.BBC Spelling: How to spell the ‘shun’ sound and what are silent letters? It is all here.Catch the Spelling: Practice your spelling while having fun!The Spelling Blog: cheap, chip, sheep, ship – remember the spelling!American Accent: Learn how to pronounce the American R, T, andL.Fonetics.org: You can find here pronunciation samples prepared by over 40 native speakers!VocabularyLearning vocabulary is one of the basic parts of learning a new language. 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These websites will help you boost your writing skills.Purdue Online Writing Lab: You can find different tutorials for the writing process and explanations about various types of writing.Dave’s ESL Cafà ©: It is another great resource for developing your writing skill.Writing Forward: This website provides different materials for improving your writing skills. It can also help you develop as a writer.ESL Galaxy: Learn how to write through writing exercises!ThoughtCo.: This site helps ESL students improve their writing skills and gives them examples ofbusiness letters.ESL Writing Wizard: Learn how to write easily!ReadingThe websites below will help you improve your reading skill.  My English Pages: This site will help you develop reading skill in a short time.5 Minute English: Improve your reading skills quickly.English fo r Everybody Library: This ESL website is perfect if you are a bookworm.Iteslj.org: This website contains a collection of links to different essays and texts. It is a perfect ESL resource.Listening and PodcastsSometimes you are too bored to learn English, so try to relax and have fun while listening to different podcasts! You can listen to them anywhere – while running in the park or on your way to school.English Listening: This ESL website offers a very easy way to learn English.ESL Cyber Listening Lab: Listen to everyday conversations.English Test Store: This ESL Listening website offers 66 tests for listening.Talk English: This website provides listening lessons for any level. You can find therehundreds of dialogues!ESLpod: Improve your listening skill and speak it well.Culips: This ESL website amazes with a great audio library.News in Levels: Listen to easy English news and improve your listening skill quickly.YouTube ChannelsYouTube can be your best friend when learning a new language. There are thousands of lessons on YouTube to help improve your English skills.BBC Learning English: Learn how to speak English with the BBC.Oxford Online English: This YouTube channel offers premium-quality lessons.EF podEnglish: These are 5-minutelessons that are perfect for any level.ETJ English: Elliot will help you speak clearly and confidently.English with Lucy: Learn beautiful British English!mmmEnglish: Study with Emma and begin to speak confidently.JenniferESL: Become more effective incommunicating in English with Jennifer.Quizzes and GamesLearning English can be fun! ESL quizzes and games will help you test your knowledge and improve your skills.a4esl.org: Quizzes, tests, andpuzzles to help you study.ArmoredPenguin: This website contains different crosswords, puzzles and more.Vocabulary: This vocabulary website has the best online word games!Games to learn English: It is a place to practice English in a fun way.

Correspondence packet Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Correspondence packet - Assignment Example This has been witnessed for the first time since the company initiated this program. However, the company is committed to its mandates and responsibility, doing all it can to ensure that things return to normalcy. Due to this inconvenience, the human resource department has decided to award an extra week to cater for leaves of the employees on top of the annually awarded days. In addition, the when the time comes for awarding the bonus, an extra 20% of the bonus will be awarded to each individual. The management has noted the curiosity that has taken toll among most company employees as a result of recent dismissal of one of the staff members. The company wishes to inform the affected individuals that it was due to unavoidable circumstances that are in line with company policy that led to the dismissal of Craig Wilson. Wilson was legally expelled from his position after support personnel discovered illegally downloaded content on his computer during system upgrade. The company has a strong feeling that the use of company assets in this manner violates the company policy in a way. It is also a reminder to the employees that use of office computers for personal and/or illegal reasons that are stated in the company’s ICT code of conduct is against the company policy and may result into termination. The mangers will perform randomized searches it every computers to ensure that such instances do not occur at all cost. Any person that may feel that his or her rights are infringed in a way may be in a wrong place. In case one has a burning issue to do with this, please feel free to seek assistance. I am writing this e-mail in response to the recent e-mail addressed to Warren Enterprise regarding a onetime fee of $2,000 to have a metal sign with the company’s logo and contact information hung on the fence that enclose the local baseball stadium. Due to nature of its sensitivity and company policy that must be adhered

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example For long-term benefits to the organization, CSR should be made a part of the firm's strategic perspective and operations. This paper proposes to discuss Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), taking into account various factors including consumer rights, the significance of ethical consumerism, fair trade consumerism, ecological sustainability, and the cause commerce approach which promote the implementation of CSR. It has been recognized that the activities of an organization influence the external environment, hence it is important that the organization should be accountable to not only its stakeholders, but also to a wider community. This concept initially took root in the 1970s, and grew as a concern for the company as a member of society, with a wider view of company performance including its social performance (Crowther & Rayman-Bacchus, 2004: 3). Though community accountability was acknowledged as essential, the focus of big business on financial results was observed to be an impediment to social responsiveness, especially in the early years of the accountability concept taking shape. There is now an increasing move towards accountability of companies towards all participants, and this recent phenomenon of corporate social responsibility is becoming the norm with all organizations (McDonald & Puxty, 1979: 53).Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company including in its deci sion making and operations, ethical values, employee relations, compliance with legal requirements, transparency, and overall respect for the communities in which they operate. CSR is more than occassional community service action, it is a corporate philosophy that is the driving force behind strategic decision making, selection of partners or collaborators, hiring practices and ultimately brand development (Werther & Chandler, 2006: 8). CSR includes how businesses and organizations manage the impact that they have on the environment and society: particularly how organizations interact with their employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which they operate. Also significant is the extent to which they attempt to protect the environment, and solve new corporate problems such as the exploitation of child labour which may be occurring thousands of miles away as part of the corporate activity (Crowther & Green, 2004: 174)."Corporate social responsibility encompasses the ra nge of economic, legal, ethical and discretionary actions that affect the economic performance of the firm" (Werther & Chandler, 2006: 10). This includes legal or regulatory requirements faced in day-to-day operations. Being socially responsible and adhering to the law is an important aspect of any ethical organization. However, legal compliance is only a basic condition of CSR; strategic CSR gives priority to the ethical and discretionary concerns that are less precisely defined and for which there is often no clear or collective consensus from the part of society. Corporate social contract is related to the social responsibility that companies have towards the consumers and to the society at large. Thomas Hobbes' concept of social contract regards corporate activity as morally good if it maximises human welfare, in which collective welfare would be considered above

Is Wind Power Really Green Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Is Wind Power Really Green - Essay Example Search for sustainable alternative sources of energy for development on a commercial scale has thrown up several options like the wind power, solar power, geothermal, tidal wave etc. and among these, wind power (and solar power) is coming to the forefront in view of its long history of development and scalability. However, there are distracters, mainly from the traditional fuel suppliers, who find fault with the environmental credentials of windmills. These misgivings are ill-founded and it is quite clear from its growing popularity and rapid technological strides of the industry, that wind power is a sustainable and commercially viable option, which has minimal adverse impact on the environment in comparison with nuclear or fossil fuel power. The current total global energy demand per year, put at 400 x 1015 British Thermal Units (400 quadrillion BTU or approximately 117.2 million GWh), of which 41%, 24% and 22% are the respective shares of oil, coal and natural gas; the share of hydropower and other non-conventional energy sources is just about 13% (US Department of Energy, as quoted by McLamb, 2010). According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity production has risen by about 250% over a 30 year period and this growth has far outstripped the growth of production of coal and natural gas, and was facilitated by vast investments in nuclear power plants, especially in the 1970s and 1980s (World Energy Statistics Manual, IEA, 2005, p.46). IEA points out that during this period, the ‘share of oil decreased from 25 to 8% while the share of nuclear increased from 3 to 17%’ (ibid). Thus while the total energy demand has been rapidly rising and would continue to do so in the foreseeable future, dependence on nuclear power is also increasing. The reasons for increased dependence on nuclear power are not far to seek – firstly, a realization that fossil fuels are not an inexhaustible

The Basic Building Blocks Of Quantitative Research Psychology Essay

The Basic Building Blocks Of Quantitative Research Psychology Essay Qualitative Research Methodology is gaining wide spread acceptance among Researchers in Social Sciences Circle but finds less acceptance among Basic Scientists and Engineers who prefer to use Quantitative (Statistical) Methods of Research. Statistics can be defined as collecting, summarizing, and analyzing of data. Selection of a statistical analysis that is appropriate depends on whether the data for the variable under study are qualitative or quantitative. Quantitative data consists of numerical information and a methodology when applying statistical/mathematical tools for analysis of such type of data is known as Quantitative Research Methodology. In contrast, Qualitative data consists of non-numerical information (such as text, images, and sounds) and a methodology of analysis of such kind of data when not relying on statistical/ mathematical tools is known as Qualitative Research Methodology [1]. The main difference that describes whether qualitative research is superior or quantitative research is how they are able to contribute to bodies of knowledge. Qualitative research mainly focuses on the behaviors, cultures and defining characteristics of events, human nature, interactions and experience. Data is not trans formed to numerical data. Qualitative research methods emphasis on interpretation and by providing the analysts with complete views, environmental immersions and a depth of understanding of concepts. Qualitative methods of research provide a depth of understanding of issues/problems which is not possible through the use of quantitative methods (statistically-based investigations). The knowledge gained through qualitative research methods is more informative, richer and offers enhanced understandings in comparison to that obtained through quantitative research methods. Quantitative research is typically considered to be the more scientific approach that is concerned with number, or numerical descriptions of things and their relationships [2]. The basic building blocks of quantitative research are variables. Important types of variables used in quantitative research are: categorical variable, quantitative variable, dependent variable and independent variable. Three major types of quantitative research are: experimental, non-experimental research and survey. The purpose of experimental research is to study relationship of cause and effect. It is only type of research where active manipulation of an independent variable is present. Random assignment to create equivalent groups is used in the strongest experimental research designs [3]. Experimental research includes testing a hypothesis in a controlled environment while non-experimental research involves examining the already existing scenario in the world and trying to draw conclusions from the situation by using usually a cause-effect relationship. Social sciences, particularly history, archaeology, and political science, focus the non-experimental research methods. Owing to the complexity of the situation there is no way to form a meaningful experiment for the majority of these fields. Though psychology and anthropology are much more inclined to experimental research for determining patterns [4]. Testing of the hypothesis is done by either of the three tests: z-test, t-test and p-value test [5]. Quantitative analysis also includes descriptive and inferential statistics. Basic difference between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (or inductive statistics) is that descriptive statistics which aims to summarize a sample, rather than using the data to learn about the population that the sample of data is thought to represent. They are not developed on the basis of probability theory [6]. Descriptive Statistics are the tabular, graphical, and numerical methods used to summarize data. Statistical inference is the process of using data obtained from the sample and to make estimates and test hypotheses about the characteristics of the populat ion [7]. Summarizing of quantitative data includes [8]: Frequency Distribution Relative Frequency and Percent Frequency Distributions Dot Plot Histogram Cumulative Distributions Numerical methods used to summarize the quantitative data are [9]: Mean Median Mode Variance Standard Deviation CAQDAS: Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) is the use of computer software for qualitative research. It helps in transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis and discourse analysis etc. It is used in psychology, marketing research, ethnography, and other social sciences. A CAQDAS program should have: Content searching tools, Coding tools, Linking tools, Mapping or networking tools, Query tools, Writing and annotation tools. The advantages of using this software include: avoiding from manual and clerical tasks, time saving, managing huge amounts of qualitative data, increased flexibility, improved validity and auditability of qualitative research. Disadvantages include: increasingly deterministic and rigid processes, privileging of coding, and retrieval methods; reification of data, increased pressure on researchers to focus on volume and breadth rather than on depth and meaning, time and energy spent learning to use computer packages [10]. CAQDAS (Computer assisted qualitative data analysis software) is the good one technique in qualitative which helps us to find the true forecast and acceptable results in a specific topic [11]. A unique aspect of using CAQDAS vs. hand-coding/analysis is the ability of the program to create visual representations of data-charts, graphs, trees-that help in analysis and potentially can help readers to more deeply understand the interpretations [12]. CAQDAS potentially mak es qualitative inquiry more logical, transparent and trustworthy. CAQDAS such as NVivo can help in all the six steps of qualitative data analysis which are [13]: Choosing a topic literature review Development of theoretical and conceptual foundations and research questions Research design, Sample, context and negotiating access Data collection and preparation Data analysis and Discussion and final write-up All the CAQDAS packages provide these following features that make qualitative data analysis much easier: structure of work, closeness to data and interactivity, explore the data, code and retrieve functionality, project management and data organization, searching and interrogating the database, writing tools and standard selection of output reports [14]. Do I agree? I agree with the view that qualitative research methodology is gaining wide spread acceptance among researchers in social sciences circle but finds less acceptance among basic scientists and Engineers who prefer to use quantitative (statistical) methods of research. In my opinion neither school of research is superior. Both when carried out correctly provide good research results. The superiority of qualitative or quantitative research depends on the data under study and the fruitful additions to the knowledge made by either of the methods. The qualitative descriptive study is the method of choice when straight descriptions of phenomena are desired. Such study is especially useful for researchers wanting to know the who, what, and where of events [15]. Qualitative research covers a broad area of philosophical positions. Interest in qualitative re-search is increasing in health department [16]. The purpose of qualitative analysis is to achieve greater understanding and to attain a hig her level of conceptual or theoretical background than it can be achieved in any individual empirical study [17, 18]. Quantitative research is described by some as a quick fix, it involves very little or no contact with the field or people [19, 20]. Method which I will use: Being an engineer I shall use quantitative research method in my research project because it will be carried out in a controlled environment i.e. it will be experimental. Based upon the test results I will validate my hypothesis and further statistical analysis will be conducted. (Insha Allah) Refrences: [1] Haegeman, K., et al. (2013). Quantitative and qualitative approaches in Future-oriented Technology Analysis (FTA): From combination to integration? Technological Forecasting and Social Change 80(3): 386-397. [2] Richard Tewksbury (2009). Qualitative versus Quantitative Methods: Understanding Why Qualitative Methods are Superior for Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology, Vol 1 (1). [3] McMillan, J. H., Schumacher, S. (2009). Research in education Pearson Education. [4] Neuman, W. L. (2005). Social research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches Allyn and Bacon. [5] http://statistics.about.com/od/HelpandTutorials/a/How-To-Conduct-A-Hypothesis-Test.htm [6] Berenson, M. L. (1998). Basic business statistics: Concepts and applications Prentice Hall PTR. [7] Bryman, A., Cramer, D. (2005). Quantitative data analysis with SPSS 12 and 13: A guide for social scientist. Routledge. [8] De Veaux, R. D., Velleman, P. F., Bock, D. E. (2009). Stats Pearson, Addison-Wesley. [9] Teddlie, C., Tashakkori, A. (2008). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. SAGE Publications, Incorporated. [10] Ann Lewins and Cristina Silver (2009). QUIC-Qualitative innovations in CAQDUS 6th edition [11] Rudolf. R. S, Eva. A. A (2012). Facilitating the interaction between theory and data in qualitative research using CAQDAS Sage Publications, 109-131 [12] Linnea L. Rademaker, Elizabeth J. Grace, and Stephen K. Curda (2012). Using Computer- assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) to Re-examine Traditionally Analyzed Data: Expanding our Understanding of the Data and of Ourselves as Scholars The Qualitative Report 2012 Volume 17, Article 43, 1-11 [13] Sinkovics, Rudolf R. and Eva A. Alfoldi (2012), Facilitating the interaction between theory and data in qualitative research using CAQDAS, in Qualitative organizational research: Core methods and current challenges, Gillian Symon and Catherine Cassell (Eds.). London: Sage Publications, 109-131. [14] Garcà ­aà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Horta, J. B., Guerraà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ramos, M. T. (2009). The use of CAQDAS in educational research: some advantages, limitations and potential risks. International Journal of Research Method in Education, 32(2), 151-165. [15] Margarete Sandelowski (2000). Focus on Research Methods Whatever Happened to Qualitative Description? Research in Nursing Health, 2000, 23, 334-340 [16] Denis Walsh, Soo Downe (2005). Appraising the quality of qualitative research Midwifery (2006) 22, 108-119. [17] Rona Campbell, et al. (2003). Evaluating meta-ethnography: a synthesis of qualitative research on lay experiences of diabetes and diabetes care Social Science Medicine 56, 671-684. [18] Winter, G. (2000). A comparative discussion of the notion of validity in qualitative and quantitative research. The Qualitative Report 4(3): 4. [19] Williams, F., Monge, P. R. (2001). Reasoning with statistics: How to read quantitative research (pp. 127-141). London: Harcourt College Publishers. [20] Bryman, A. (2006). Integrating quantitative and qualitative research: how is it done? Qualitative research, 6(1), 97-113.

Acid Rain in Europe :: Papers

Acid Rain in Europe Introduction ============ The atmosphere is like a film of gases, which makes the planet habitable. If this layer was not present there would be no life on earth. It is a fact that the health of plants, animals and humans depends upon a very important factor 'pollution'. Although, all kinds of poisonous waste is continuing to be put into the atmosphere. These poisonous gases are being produced when fossil fuels are burnt, as a result of this acid rain forms which further more results in numerous problems damaging forests, lakes, rivers, land, plants and animals. The main culprits of burning fossil fuels are MEDC's, which insist on maintaining their high standards of living. What is acid rain? Rain is naturally acidic but the term 'acid rain' is usually referred to as rain, which has been made more acidic than it should be due to the atmosphere absorbing the gasses emitted from the burning of fossil fuels. The gases are oxides of nitrogen and sulphur. Nitrogen oxide is usually given Nox as there are many of them, sulphur oxide SO2 and water H2O When these mix together they form acids such as sulphurous acid (H2SO3). Acid rain can be deposited in three ways: * Wet deposition - The deposition of pollutants in rain and snow mainly affects upland areas. * Dry deposition - The deposition of gases and particles directly onto terrestrial surfaces. * Cloud deposition - The capture of cloud droplets that contain concentrated pollutants. We can measure how acidic the rain actually is by the pH scale, 7 is neutral, below that is acidic above that is alkaline. A 'log scale' can be used for example pH 6 is ten times more acidic than pH 7, so pH 5 is one hundred times more acidic than pH7. Case study: An investigation to show how acid rain is affecting Europe. What are the causes of acid rain? Acid rain was first found in Scandinavia in the late 1950's and at

Data Preprocessing Essay

Data Preprocessing 3 Today’s real-world databases are highly susceptible to noisy, missing, and inconsistent data due to their typically huge size (often several gigabytes or more) and their likely origin from multiple, heterogenous sources. Low-quality data will lead to low-quality mining results. â€Å"How can the data be preprocessed in order to help improve the quality of the data and, consequently, of the mining results? How can the data be preprocessed so as to improve the ef? ciency and ease of the mining process? † There are several data preprocessing techniques. Data cleaning can be applied to remove noise and correct inconsistencies in data. Data integration merges data from multiple sources into a coherent data store such as a data warehouse. Data reduction can reduce data size by, for instance, aggregating, eliminating redundant features, or clustering. Data transformations (e. g. , normalization) may be applied, where data are scaled to fall within a smaller range like 0. 0 to 1. 0. This can improve the accuracy and ef? ciency of mining algorithms involving distance measurements. These techniques are not mutually exclusive; they may work together. For example, data cleaning can involve transformations to correct wrong data, such as by transforming all entries for a date ? eld to a common format. In Chapter 2, we learned about the different attribute types and how to use basic statistical descriptions to study data characteristics. These can help identify erroneous values and outliers, which will be useful in the data cleaning and integration steps. Data processing techniques, when applied before mining, can substantially improve the overall quality of the patterns mined and/or the time required for the actual mining.

Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies

Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies Introduction Oil and gas companies face a variety of risks in the process of their operations. Many occurrences that happen outside a company may have an effect on the firm and the financial decisions that it makes. Changes in interest rates, prices of oil, and exchange rates among others are likely to alter the financial decisions of a firm. It is therefore imperative for firms to ensure that no potential economic changes pose a threat to their business.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Taylor and Kathleen (2013, p. 80), corporate financial managers are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that any past, current, and future fluctuations will not affect the economic standing of the firm. McShane and Anil (2011, p. 641) affirm that companies use various risk management tools known as derivatives to manage risks. The tool used should caution the firm from negative impacts of various risks that may happen in its environment. According to Smistad and Igor (2012, p. 46), in western Canada, oil companies apply future derivatives to buy certain goods or services at a price that is agreed upon today. Chanmeka et al. (2012, p. 259) argue that some companies make use of options where a firm gains the right to sell or buy certain goods or services at a certain price in the future. McShane and Anil (2011, 641) confirm that risk information is crucial to investors and the entrepreneurs themselves. The oil and gas industry is likely to face various risks. For example, political risks, geological risks, price risks, supply and demand risks, and cost risks amongst others. This paper will discuss risk management in various gas and oil companies presenting a detailed literature review of risks in general followed by a detailed discussion of the in the oil and gas firms. Risks The subject of risks is quite pivotal w hen it comes to the running of various organisations. Companies need to be aware of the possible or rather potential risks that they are likely to encounter in a bid to develop mechanisms of mitigating them in real time once they occur to ensure continued operation rather than untimely closure of such firms due to their failure to take the necessary precautionary measures. Various risks are likely to affect different investments. Such risks include political risks, price fluctuations, and changes in supply and demand, natural calamities, geological risks, economic recessions, and government control risks amongst others. Entrepreneurship is a risky undertaking and every entrepreneur has to risk some of these factors and get into business.Advertising Looking for dissertation on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Taylor and Kathleen (2013, p. 83), in the world of business, general risks af fect literary every company in business though at varying intensities. Risks have various implications on business depending on the level of their impacts and predisposition of a particular business on them. In some instances, risks may lead to complete loss of business. For example, if a business is exposed to fire and explosives risks, it can be completely wiped out in case of an accident. However, McShane and Anil (2011, p. 641) affirm that some of the risks affect all businesses in their every day affairs, for example supply and demand risk, price risks, and government regulations. Businesses have little or no control on some risks such as natural calamity risks, for instance earthquakes and floods. Nevertheless, it is important for a business to devise ways and methods of detecting, assessing, and mitigating the risks. Oil and Gas Companies Oil and gas companies provide a working illustration of the subject of risks that is under scrutiny based on the various risks they encount er in their everyday business affairs. From the point of extracting oil and gas, processing it into finished products to transportation, warehousing, and retailing, the whole business is a risk. These companies encounter various types of risks in their line of business. Chanmeka et al. (2012, p. 259) assert that risks affect almost every firm in business and are likely to affect the oil and gas industry more than any other firm. According to Helman (2013, p. 62), the oil and gas industry faces tight regulations on how to conduct its business. Such regulations include rules on how oil and gas are extracted from the source, regulations on where they can be extracted and where extraction cannot be done, and regulations of the period in which extraction of oil and gas can be done. The government has the upper hand in such regulations since oil business is lucrative. In fact, the political wrangles that affect most countries that have oil and gas resources revolve around the control of o il wells by the government. Countries such as Sudan and Southern Sudan have been in conflict due to control of oil wells.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such political wrangles have also been witnessed in Kuwait and Nigeria. Whenever there are political wrangles in the control of oil and gas, the companies that invest in such nations face higher economic and political risks. Haselip and Martà ­nez (2011, p. 1) argue that politics of regionalism, equitable distribution of national resources, and resource distribution also affect oil and gas regulation. In some cases, the laws governing extraction, processing, and distribution of oil and gases in different states may vary. Antonsen, Kari, and Jarl (2012, 2001) reveal that it is more risky to carryout oil and gas business in dependence on foreign deposits without standardisation. In the o il and gas industry, some companies that show interest are likely to invest in any part of the world where the oil and gas field has a sheer disregard of the political climate of the country. According to Helman (2013, p. 63), if the host country nationalises the industry, foreign investors are likely to suffer loss. Politics of that kind of nation may also change to favour certain investors or category of investors where the foreign investor may not be considered. Antonsen, Kari, and Jarl (2012, p. 2001) argue that some economies will attract investors to begin the process of extraction. Nevertheless, once the process of extraction is complete and the oil and business industry becomes lucrative, politicians, activists, and government officials enact laws to enable the government to leap more from the industry. An investor who puts his or her resources in such an industry is therefore likely to suffer loss. Political risk in oil industry is a major threat to the stability of the sec tor. It is even more risky to invest in the oil and gas industry in some developing countries. In some of the developing countries with plenty of oil and gas such as Libya and Sudan in Africa, the countries are under poor political leadership thus posing a great risk to investors in the industry. Whenever there is a political turmoil in various nations, oil tankers are targeted due to the high flammability of oil. In addition, Dumaine (2013, p. 102) affirms that oil and gas industries demand tight security and surveillance even in small quantities such as in China. It would therefore mean that, when there is political instability in a county, the rate of insecurity goes down. Consequently, the risk on the industry goes up.Advertising Looking for dissertation on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wilkinson and Roland (2013, p. 118) assert that the process of gas and oil exploitation has also become very risky especially with the current dynamics. For instance, drilling of oil is happening in very dangerous environments such as oceans. Extraction in such areas increases the risks that oil and gas industries have to incur in the process of extraction, refining, distribution, and marketing. Smistad and Igor (2011, p. 91) affirm that there has also been an increase in the level of unconventional methods of oil and gas extraction. Out of such unconventional methods of mining, some potential oil and gas mines have been poorly exploited or destroyed. In fact, some of these procedures have been used to extract oil and gas in places where it would have proved impracticable. According to Smistad and Igor (2012, p. 46), gas and oil extraction companies involve themselves in great risks by investing a lot of finances and other resources in extraction. Some companies have incurred much c ost in the process of extracting gas and oil only to find minimal deposits than they had estimated. It is therefore risky ventures for a company to be sure that geologists and rock experts have enough evidence of the presence of oil or gas in a certain area. According to Smistad and Igor (2011, p. 91), it is also risky for the extraction company to hire specialists such as geologists in oil in the process of investigating the presence oil or gas in a certain field and then fail to realise the targeted amount of oil or gas. Oil and gas extraction, processing, marketing, and distribution constitute a business that aims at obtaining profits. The prices in the oil and gas markets must therefore be able to sustain the industry in a profitable way. Fluctuation in oil and market prices is a risk factor to the industry. No one can predict what the prices of oil or gas will be when the process of extraction will be completed. Mehemed, Kamal, Kieran, and Kong (2012, p. 201) argue that compani es in this industry therefore undertake a risk in extracting and purifying the gas without clear future market prices for their products. In several instances, oil and gas extraction companies have undergone the whole process of geological tests and drilling despite their ending up without the projected product. In such cases, unless the gas and oil extraction company is insured, it suffers a big loss. The nature of oil and gas market has been fluctuating over the years. According to Chen and Jevons (1993, p. 667), fluctuation of oil and gas prices poses a great risk to the stakeholders in the industry. Supply and demand issue is a limitation to the oil and gas industry. Venturing into oil and gas industry involves investing huge capital. The operations involved in extracting oil and gas are very expensive and extraction companies have to invest in the process. However, such companies may not be aware of the trend that prices of gas and oil will take in the future. Wood (2011, p. 11 3) affirms that demand and supply keep on changing. When the supply of gas in the world market goes high, the prices go down thus increasing the risk of incurring heavy losses. Oil and gas industry also experiences imbalances when prices of oil go up. In most cases, when the prices of oil and gases hike, large warehouses hoard the commodities. Okeefe and Doris (2013, p. 158) argue that hoarding increases the risk of loss of customers on retailers and local wholesalers since the commodity does not reach the target consumer. Such suppliers are also at the risk of being compromised of inconsistency by their customers. Mohanty and Mohan (2011, p. 165) argue that it is also very hard to predict the production rates of gas and oil in various states especially with a nation with many states such as the U.S. Kendrick (2012, p. 61) affirms that unpredictability of productivity increases the risk of price fluctuation in the oil and gas industry. In addition, Andersson, Sudhir, and Zafar (2009 , p. 440) reveal that, whenever there is a financial crisis in a country or a region, for example, the American crisis or the European crisis of 2007, supply and demand of oil and gas also change. Financial crisis increases the risk of reduced purchasing power. Hence, the affected country experiences low demand for oil and gases. Wood (2011, p. 113) point out that the economic crisis increases the risk of low supply and demand due to its ability to reduce the capital base of a nation. When a country has a low capital base, it is limited in its operations. Donaldson and Schoemaker (2013, p. 24) argue that the macroeconomic position of the industry can also increase the risk of demand and supply. Macroeconomic power of every industry dictates the success of business under it. The oil and gas industry experiences huge operational costs. Okeefe and Doris (2013, p. 158) argue that all the other risk factors involved in the oil and gas industry drain into operational costs. Mohanty and Mo han (2011, p. 165) argue that, when the regulations set by political leaders and governments of a particular nation are very tight, the operation cost goes up. Tight regulations make the process of extracting, processing, and distributing gas and oil more extensive and hence expensive. Wilkinson and Roland (2013, p. 118) posit that the operations that are involved in the process of oil mining and gas harvesting determine the level of operations risks that a firm is likely to incur. The operations involved in drilling are also extensive and expensive. Mehemed, Kamal, Kieran, and Kong, (2012, p. 201) establish that the process of drilling is coupled with many limitations, for instance, bad weather, poor soils and other geological factors, inaccessibility, and technological problems. Such problems increase the operations cost. When the operations cost hikes, the industry becomes disfranchised. Different producers set their own market prices to overcome their cost of production. Accordi ng to Donaldson and Schoemaker (2013, p. 24), variation in the cost of production makes it difficult for nations of the world to set standard oil and gas prices. In fact, some industries incur a double or triple cost of production compared to others. It is out of such variations that oil and gas prices have become very competitive in the market. According to Robb (2012, p. 756), industries that have been in the line of production for many years incur lesser risks than new industries. Managing Risks- Risk Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control The oil and gas industry is a risk-prone industry. Various uncertainties go along these risks such as the risk of exploration, demand and supply risk, crude price uncertainty, and product line risk. According to Robb (2012, p. 756), the oil and gas industry is one of the risky ventures. Hence, to prevent the danger that the industry poses, there should be the need to manage it. Sarkar (2012, p. 28) affirms that management of risks al so ensures that the small industries and the upcoming ones become commercially viable. In addition, there are technological risks such as â€Å"cyber threats of Stuxnet virus, which also target lucrative oil and gas industry† (Sudhir, and Zafar 2009, p. 440). These and many other risks in oil and gas industry necessitate the need for risk management. Consequently, various methods of risk management have been put in place to mitigate risks in this industry. Risk Identification Oil and gas companies have invested in information access control and management. Such risk management strategies involve identifying and accessing the right information at all time when it is very necessary. Information management has been a great source of risk in the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas companies have therefore put in place mechanisms to harvest policy information, process it, and use it gainfully. According to Andersson, Sudhir, and Zafar (2009, p. 440), information harvesting, processi ng, and management reduce the risk of operations. When companies access the right information before investment, they are able to reduce compliance risks. The company can use future derivative to organise how it will acquire various goods and services in the future at a certain price. Sarkar (2012, p. 28) affirms that speedy exchange of information across the industry enables investors to make the right information. Classified information and access to the information systems of oil and gas companies has also been highly controlled. Risk Assessment Modern technology aids in the reduction of variation in governance-risk-compliance. Technology is also an efficient tool in the reduction of operational risk. According to Akhibi (2012, p. 6), the use of real time monitoring technology enables the oil and gas companies to improve the availability of the commodity to customers, reduce operational costs, avoid conflicts with the society and the regulatory authorities, and reduce the risk of demand and supply. Dumaine (2013, p. 102), affirms that oil and gas companies are adopting condition-based monitoring in risk management, which involves positioning various sensors to measure and record the prevailing environmental conditions such as vibration and temperatures (Pinheiro 2011, p. 34). Such sensors enable the oil and gas companies to detect equipment failure in real time. In fact, Srivastava and Gupta (2010, p. 407) assert that the devices are sophisticated to ensure that alert devices either sound the alarm or give work orders to the operations department. Wimalasiri et al. (2010, p. 49) affirm that sensors have enabled many oil companies to avoid the risk of losing billions of money in spillage and leakages. Some oil and gas companies have set up strategic teams to manage any eventuality such as equipment failure and fire outbreaks. Schroeder and Jan (2007, p. 0.1) point out that fire departments are also connected to sensors in order to enable quick response to ev entualities and occurrences. Wimalasiri et al. (2010, 49) argue that predictive maintenance enables the industry to realise when there is the need to purchase certain equipments before the actual damage is done. Various modern technology devices are put in place to detect wear-and-tear and obsoleteness of equipments in the oil industry. Qian, Yulin, and Gonzalez (2012, p. 859) observe that, whenever the devices sense that a gas tank or an oil tank is not up to the set standards, the necessary alert message is sent to the maintenance department for replacement. Srivastava and Gupta (2010, p. 407) affirm that the sensor is also able to compare and analyse the level of functionality of every device in the firm and or give the right report on each. Pinheiro (2011, p. 34) observes that such quick reactions enable the firm to avoid health risks. Risks Control Oil and gas companies have to deal with the increased compliance and regulations facing the industry today. For example, according to Molokwu, Barreria, and Boris (2013, p. 2), in South Africa, tight requirements of reporting on all operations and events of minor accidents and incidents have been an expensive venture for the industry. There are also tight regulations on drilling operations. Oil and gas companies have therefore put in place mechanisms to ensure that the checklist for all regulations is complied with as the government of the area dictates (Chan 2011, p. 341). Such compliance includes registration of the company, authorisation for drilling, construction of the industry, reliability in maintenance of structures such as oil wells, and the ability to remain in the market as a competitive industry (Khan 2010, p. 157). According to Haselip and Martà ­nez (2011, p. 1), politics in a certain nation or state can play a role in the oil and gas industry. The major role that political forces play in the oil and gas industry is to regulate prices. Politicians are opinion leaders who largely become policy mak ers. Oil and gas industries have therefore put in place mechanisms to work with government in price regulations and policy control. The gas and oil companies have to deal with various environmental and health risk compliance processes. The oil and gas industry also faces the risk of geological inadequacy. In most of the nations and states, the reserve of oil and gas is already tapped out. The risk has also spread in nations that have been exploiting their reserves since they are also in the process of being fully exploited. According to Andersen and Aamnes (2012, p. 2010), companies have therefore put in place methods of ensuring that they comply with the health regulations in their area of investment. Oil is a pollutant to the environment in a double way especially when not well handled. According to Perunović and Jelena (2012, p. 130), the risk of oil spillage in water, for example, during mining or transportation in the sea has been greatly reduced through modern technology. Sophisticated mining methods have been employed to ensure no oil spillage during mining. In fact, Perunović and Jelena (2012, p. 130) affirm that modern water vessels have also been adopted in transporting oil through the sea. Khan (2010, p. 157) posits that employees’ health and safety have also been a risk issue in the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas prices are another risk that investors in this industry face. Chen and Jevons (1993, p. 667) argue that prices dictate whether a venture into extracting oil or gas is to be feasible or not. When geological limitations are high, the price risk of extracting oil or gas goes high. Oil and gas companies have therefore ensured high safety standards to employees through education and trainings. According to Molokwu, Barreria, and Boris (2013, p. 2), employees are taught how to protect themselves, how to behave while in the extraction site or in the storage and distribution site, and even how to manage eventualities such as fire outbreaks. Chan (2011, p. 341) reveal that oil and gas companies have also ensured that the community living near the mines and storage areas are also informed on management of fire and spillage. According to Hayes and Hopkins (2012, p. 145), oil and gas companies have also made use of resource centres that are set within the industries. Various minds gather in the resource centres to exchange ideas on the problems facing the industry. Schroeder and Jan (2007, p. 0.1) affirm that, unlike in the past when orders came from managers, engineers in today’s industry meet and exchange knowledge on various problems that their firms face. Hayes and Hopkins (2012, p. 145) assert that, with the meeting of engineering experts from various departments, the right solutions are likely to be realised to eliminate various risks facing oil and gas industries for example the geological and price fluctuation risks. The experts will come up with recommendations on the right measures that the ind ustry should take to avoid risks. Such decisions and recommendations majorly include modification, technological adaptations, planning, and maintenance. With the modern advancement in information technology, cyber crime and information system hacking has posed another risk to the oil and gas industry. According to Akhibi (2012, p. 6), in Nigeria, oil and gas companies have therefore put in place cyber security designs and technologies to mitigate the risk. In oil and gas industries, information system security has been highly integrated with people, processes, data, and systems. Such ventures secure the system to ensure accountability on the side of the operators. Qian, Yulin, and Gonzalez (2012, p. 859) argue that information security also ensures continuous surveillance of the internet protocol openings and filtration of information before it gains access to the main information system of the company. Importance of Managing Risks specifically in Oil and Gas Companies Based on the information already presented concerning risks and their repercussions if not mitigated, it becomes clear on the need to manage risks by all organisations, leave alone the oil and gas companies. Such risks reduce the ability of the firm to predict the course of business. The oil and gas industry faces various difficulties and tight monitoring by many authorities. Investing in the oil industry is also a very risky venture. In this light of probability of loss in the oil and gas industries, this paper highlights various importance of risk mitigation. Every derivative that oil and gas industries put in place should aim at risk mitigation. The derivatives that a firm takes should be aimed at cautioning the industry from the past, current, and future risks. Kendrick (2012, p. 61) asserts that risk management in oil and gas industries ensures that there is proper compliance with the regulations of the authorities in their place of business. Insuring the business against various risks also enables the company to have confidence and security in trade. Such regulations should also be adhered to avoid the risk of regulations and compliance. According to Andersen and Aamnes (2012, p. 2010), managing risks in the oil and gas industry enables the companies to have clear visibility of the current position and the future of the firm. Such a goal can be attained by venturing into future derivatives. The industry should sign for future trading ventures at certain prices with certain companies. Conclusion In conclusion, every business venture is exposed to various risks. Consequently, every business has to put in place various mechanisms to identify, monitor, assess, and control risks. Private enterprise is generally a risky venture. However, as discussed, the oil and gas company is bound to face more risks than any other business. The major risks that affect oil and gas companies include geological risks, political risks, government regulations, and compliance risks, price flu ctuation, demand and supply, and natural calamities risk. Oil and gas companies have therefore invested heavily in various risk mitigation measures. Such measures include risk identification, risk assessment, and risk monitoring and control. It is important to manage risks in every business venture. Risks can result in complete loss of business. They can lead to conflicts with the authorities and the communities in the business environment. 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Nevada State Legislature essays

Nevada State Legislature essays Regular sessions of the Legislature begin the first Monday in February of odd-numbered years. Nevada is one of only six states that have true biennial sessions. From 1961 through 1997, the length of the legislature sessions in Nevada depended upon the time required to process propsed legislation, review the spending proposals of state agencies, and adopt a biennial state budget. At the 1998 General Election, Nevada voters approved a constitutional amendment limiting future regular biennial sessions to 120 days. The amendment also requires the governor to submit the executive budget to the Legislature two weeks before the start of the session. Both the 1999 and 2001 regular sessions ran for the full 120 days. A special session of the Legislature may also be called by the governor. In 2001 a 1-day special session was only the 17th special session in the past 138 years. The Legislative Counsel Bureau is the legislature's ongoing staff agency. It provide support for the Legislature and is comprised of the Fiscal, Legal, and Research Divisions. It also includes the Audit Division whose job consists of auditing the accounts of state agencies, and an Administrative Division, which provides accounting, security and vrious "housekeeping" functions. The Legislative Commission is a body of 12 legislators, six from each house and supervises over the Legislative Counsel Bureau.When the full Legislature is not in session, the commission takes actions on behalf of the legislative branch of government. They provide guidance to staff of the Legislative Counsel Bureau and deals with other interim matters. This body meets every few months between sessions. The Interim Finance Committte endeavors to maintain an adequate fund balance to meet unforeseen financial emergencies. It is composed of the members of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Assembly Committee on Ways an ...