My Simple Autobiography - 7283 Words

Running Head: Autobiography Part A Life is tough, yes it is. It makes you bleed, lick your wounds, and also gives you strength to get up and move on with whatever you have. Life is also surprising. It has the most amazing and sometimes, the scariest lessons in stores for us. No, I am not being melodramatic. I have had a perfect normal, healthy life so far like any other typical American but its just that, this age is depressing. With too much going on around us, every American is just too confused. Politics, racism, illuminati, college life, pressure of having a normal career; and the list goes on and on and on. However, like any other average American, I also had a loving family, helpful friends, caring boyfriend/ girlfriend. They all had expectations out of me but they all managed to accept me for who I am. And, it is their acceptance of me as a person that has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for me so far. Beginning of My life My life has been quite simple. Like any other typical American kid, it began with stepping out of my baby cot. My mother still has pictures of me taking my first step. Although, I was a cute little chubby kid who was loved by everyone but the dilemma of my childhood was the arrival of a younger baby in the house. Yes, my younger sister. For about three years, I was loved by everyone. I was the centre of everyones attention. No vacations were complete without me and all of a sudden, there was a direct competition. Then, theShow MoreRelated Helen Keller Essay1419 Words   |  6 Pagesstarted to learn she says, â€Å"I began my studies with eagerness. Before me I saw a new world opening in beauty and light, and I felt within me the capacity to know all things.† (Keller, pg. 72) She had a positive persona that enabled her to learn. She wrote simple but effectively in order to appeal to ordinary people, like she saw herself. Keller used simple sentences to convey her thoughts. â€Å"I felt approaching footsteps†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Keller, pg. 15) she writes simple to easily explain her situations. Read MoreAnalysis Of Benjamin Franklin s God Helps Those Who Helps Themselves ``940 Words   |  4 PagesAutobiography Essay on Benjamin Franklin â€Å"God helps those who helps themselves† is a famous quote by Benjamin Franklin. He exemplifies this in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. In this book, Franklin gives an account of his personal life to show others how he improved throughout his life. He first started writing the autobiography for his son, but eventually turn it into a story for others to imitate. He describes his life, virtues, and public service to others. The Autobiography opens withRead MoreEnglish 101 Made Me a Better Writer761 Words   |  3 Pagesattempt to improve to obtain their goal by studying the subject their goal is in. In my English class, English 101 this quarter I was astonished by how much I had progressed as a writer sharpening my writing skills and also learned a lot about writing that I hadn’t learned before. In my writing portfolio for this quarter I had to write an autobiography essay, a research essay, and this reflection essay to develop my writing skills better. The writing assignments were fun to do because it challengedRead MoreThe Use Of Engines Powered By Gasoline1592 Words   |  7 Pagesearly 1800s, practical electric cars were built in France and England by the middle of the century. In comparison, while the earliest design of combustion engines can be dated back to 1680, no practical designs were actually built by 1858. In his autobiography, Henry Ford himself makes accounts of the hesitance with which the advent of combustion engines were met, in favor of steam and electric engines. On the subject of the emergence of gas engines, he recalls that â€Å"They were received with interestRead MoreFrederick Douglass, An American Slave1114 Words   |  5 Pagesautobiographical works include: Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: My Bondage And My Freedom: and Life And Times Of Frederick Douglass. These three books are about the same person, and share a similar message, but are written by Frederick at different times of his life, looking at the past in different ways. In Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, Douglass used a simple, yet educated way to show how he felt as a slave growing up in Maryland. He describes inRead MoreDaughter of Han, on Confucian Values1616 Words   |  7 Pagestime staying true to Confucian gender rules to the letter. Lower class women in many cases could not stay in the inner quarters out of sight of men, for most had to work outside those quarters to support their family. In A Daughter of Han: The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Women, one finally gets a first-hand look at the life of a lower class woman in late-Imperial China. Through analysis Ning Lao T ai-t ai s life, I ve come be believe that despite the unavoidability of women working outsideRead MoreWhy I Chose This Picture1187 Words   |  5 Pagessurface of the deep problems of discrimination. The reason why I chose this picture is to show the deep implications in which I am trying to portray through my essay. In the picture, I am running my first relay race in high school. The racial discrepancy shown in the photo shows the environment in which I had to blend in with. Although my teammates showed their integrity during matches, off the field was different. The stereotypes I had to face is typical of what any immigrant has to during theirRead MoreEssay Frederick Douglass and Slavery1448 Words   |  6 Pagesautobiographical works include: Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: My Bondage And My Freedom: and Life And Times Of Frederick Douglass. These three books are about the same person, and share a similar message, but are written by Frederick at different times of his life, looking at the past in different ways. In Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, Douglass used a simple, yet educated way to show how he felt as a slave growing up in Maryland. He describes in theRead MoreThe Workings Of Greatness. Benjamin Franklin Started Writing1464 Words   |  6 PagesThe Workings of Greatness Benjamin Franklin started writing â€Å"The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin† at age 65 in the year 1771. Benjamin Franklin was the fifteenth out of seventeen children his father had (having married two different women). He was the youngest son, having only two sisters under him. In this book â€Å"The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin†, Franklin, because of the time by which he lived and wrote the book, uses very formal diction. Furthermore, it appears he has a sense of humorRead MoreAnalysis Of H Is For Hawk By Helen Macdonald1053 Words   |  5 Pageslecture, not advice, and I didn’t understand the point of what he was trying to say.†(MacDonald, 2014) She then starts the next paragraph with a simple phrase â€Å"you learn† and goes on to discuss how the situation in the present is different now because she is older. The past and present fit together seamlessly in the text. I attempted to convey this in my piece, however the transitions are more abrupt. I did this in order to emphasis the researched sections of the texts. It is important for those parts

Decision Making Case Study Essay - 1483 Words

Decision Making Case Study HCS/514 Managing in Todays Health Care Organizations Instructor: Darlene Cantu Camille F. Fuller Decision Making Case Study Health care is one of the largest growing industries in the country. Technology and medical advancements attribute to the constant changes in the health care industry. The economy also continues to change, and with the changing economy health care cost continue to rise. Companies across the nation have either closed or moved to other countries. El Paso County Clinic is struggling to keep the doors open. Buduget cuts have affected the clinic tremendously. The El Paso County Clinic’s budget has been cut by 15%. The population affected by the budget cuts are Medicaid recepients.†¦show more content†¦Can the clinic operate under shorter office hours? Step 2, after framing the questions is finding sources of information. After carefully examining the information concerning the budget cuts, the team will make a list of avenues to investigate to gather necessary information. Each question asked should have evidence based information from creditable sources. The information can come from employees, patients, suppliers, and the surrounding community. â€Å"The focus of the Informed Decisions Toolbox is on finding research evidence. Colloquial evidence can be obtained from the experience and judgment of colleagues, friends,customers, suppliers, and others. Information provided in organizational reports, trade journals,strategic planning sessions, offsite retreats, office meetings, and other settings may provideuseful colloquial evidence† (Rundall, 2007 pg 335). Step3-5 consist of evaluating the evidence found to support the questions to support the informed decision. The accuracy of the information gives the team a base for making a good decision. The information should be applicable to the questions asked by the team. Information that is not applicable is not relevent, therefore hinders the informed decision. The information gathered by the team should be able to be put into action. The actionable information should be able to give the team projected outcomes within set timelines. When the team evaluates the information the team should also assess eachShow MoreRelatedDecision Making Case Study1281 Words   |  6 PagesDecision-Making Case Study HCS/514 Decision-Making Case Study The current state of the economy has had a significant impact on health care across the country. Recipients of Medicaid services have especially been hit hard in the health care arena with budget cuts and reduced services. The Maricopa County Clinic is not different when it comes to budget cuts. The department providing outpatient services to Medicaid clients has received a 15% budget cut. The current budget constraintRead MoreDecision Making Case Study Essay1189 Words   |  5 PagesDecision Making Case Study Nadine Ranger Week 3 HCS/514 August 23, 2010 Sara Brown Decision-Making Case Study Effective decision-making is a major component in managing an organization, resources, and staff members.    Managers make important decisions daily that affect the operations, quality, and success of their organization.   Instituting evidence informed decision-making is a growing concept among health care organizations, but managers faceRead MoreDecision Making Case Study Essay893 Words   |  4 PagesDecision Making Case Study Stefanie Parker HCS/514 June 24, 2011 Kendra Slatton Decision Making Case Study The standard definition of decision making is; the process of mapping the likely consequences of decisions, working out the importance of individual factors and choosing the best course of action to take (Definition of decision,). In this case study effective decision making tools will be used to choose the best course of action to take in the scenario. The scenario is; as aRead MoreGroup Decision Making : A Case Study1032 Words   |  5 Pages Group Decision Making: A case study Kashyap Pd. Marahatta BUS 540 Organizational Behavior Professor: Shirley Chuo Westcliff University 11/10/2016 â€Æ' Abstract This paper will be analysing the case of ‘the outstanding faculty award’, which is adapted from a case by David J. Cherrington of Brigham Young University. It will try to show what problems in team likely cause the team in taking a wrong or ineffective decision taking the case of Brigham Young University as a base. This paper would also tryRead MoreCase Study : Ethical Decision Making2110 Words   |  9 Pages Module 1 Assignment 3: Case Study: Ethical Decision Making April Culberson Argosy University Module 1 Assignment 3 Summarized the behavior you consider unethical and unprofessional in the case study. Substantiated the analysis with reasons After reading the case study, it becomes apparent the many questionable behaviors Joe commits while counseling Jill. First is his reaction towards Jill’s confession concerning sexual confusion about being attracted to other women. Joe’s expression (shockedRead MoreManagement: Decision Making and Case Study3581 Words   |  15 PagesFaculty of Business, Economics Accounting Department of Business Studies HELP Bachelor of Business Year 1 (HONS) – HUBBU CASE STUDIES Semester 1, 2011 Subject: MGT 101 Principles of Management Subject Lecturer/ Tutor(s): Puan Norzan Abdullah ANALYZING A CASE STUDY STAGE 1: QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE GENERAL SCENARIO PRESENTED TO GAIN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION. ï‚ · Underline/highlight information which may indicate problems exist STAGE 2: EXAMINE THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY ï‚ · Read theRead MoreEthical Decision-Making: Case Studies648 Words   |  3 PagesDecision point: What would you do? In Scenario 1, I would return the iPod to the schools lost and found or post a notice advertising a found iPod in the school newspaper (it would be easy enough to identify the legitimate owner, as I would merely ask the respondent to identify the songs on the playlist). The fact that I liked some of the songs and that no one saw me find the iPod is no relevance. On a deontological moral level, it is wrong to take something valuable I know is not mine, and ifRead MoreCase Study : Contingency Behavior : Decision Making1095 Words   |  5 PagesWeekly paper 7: Contingency-behavior: Decision Making: Viren Kheni Decision-making is the study of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values and preferences of the decision maker. 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The essay would evaluate allRead MoreCase Study : Ethical Decision Making Process Essay2104 Words   |  9 PagesSection 4- Ethical decision making process: 1. Explain the ethical decision making process: To make an ethical decision, it is necessary to perceive and eliminate immoral options and select the best and ethical alternative. It is a process of choosing the best ethical option among the alternatives. For moral decision making process, some requirements should be followed: Commitment: Make commitment to do the right thing regardless any cost. Consciousness: Awareness about the action takes place

Personal Response to Cold Comfort Farm Free Essays

Cold Comfort Farm By Stella Gibbons What was a main theme in the novel and how can it be applied to my lifestyle? Cold Comfort Farm is a novel centred around recently orphaned Flora Poste who goes to stay with her cousins living on a farm. I thought that a reoccurring theme in the novel was shown in the way in which Flora got people to look beyond their horizons and imagine a more realistic lifestyle. Thanks to Flora’s encouragement and manipulation the characters living at Cold Comfort Farm look beyond their horizons and become much more interesting people. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Response to Cold Comfort Farm or any similar topic only for you Order Now Like Aunt Ada Doom, I have come to realise that I lead a very routine lifestyle only occasionally leaving Karori and barely ever venturing outside of Wellington. I can admit right here that I am not a enthralling person but I am not living a lifestyle which requires as dramatic a change as flying to Paris and living the High Life like Aunt Ada Doom does after reading an issue of Vogue. So really this theme didn’t provoke any reaction in me at all other than how I hope I don’t see anything too nasty in the woodshed that would make me live in a bedroom for the rest of my life. How did I identify with the protagonist, Flora Poste? Throughout the novel I found myself comparing my attitudes to Flora’s as she is a practical and sensible young woman completely ready to take on any medieval, melodramatic family that she feel the need to â€Å"tidy up. † Flora is like a catalyst; she is the baking soda of the hokey-pokey, Flora shakes up delayed reactions and causes unusual emotions. I typically find this happening whenever I walk into a room as I normally end up saying something embarrassing that causes total controversy and many shocked expressions. Flora does the same thing by suggesting that Adam, a farm hand, uses a scrubbing brush to clean the breakfast dishes rather than a twig. Adam said: â€Å"’I don’t want a liddle mop wi’ a handle. I’ve used a thorn twig these fifty years and more, and what was good enough then is good enough now. ’† Seeing the logical and practical side is something I have in common with Flora however I do not consider myself quite as cunning or manipulative as Flora proves herself to be throughout the novel. â€Å"’But,’ suggested the cunning Flora†¦Ã¢â‚¬ If you had a little mop and could wash the dishes more quickly, you ould have more time in the cowshed with the dumb beasts. ’ Adam stopped his work. This had evidently struck home. † While getting changed after Ballet two weeks ago a girl I dance with stated how she ‘didn’t read. ’ I was disgusted and replied ‘I can see it is cool to be illiterate t hese days’ the response ‘What does illiterate mean’ could only result in an astonished silence from me. I then took it upon myself to help her with her homework every Tuesday before ballet. I think that Flora and I are both modern for our times and have little tolerance for unnecessary ignorance. What was a device used by Gibbons to hold my attention throughout the novel? Stella Gibbons was a poet before she became a novelist with her first publication being a book of poems The Mountain Beast, and her melodramatic insertions of landscape descriptions are proof of this. â€Å"**Dawn crept over the downs like a sinister white animal followed by the snarling cries of a wind eating its way between the black boughs of the thorns. The wind was the furious voice of this sluggish animal light that was baring the dormers and mullions and scullions of Cold Comfort Farm. Gibbons warns us whenever she starts this by placing a couple of asterixes in front of the paragraph. The reader is then snatched from this world and back into the sensible yet cynical views of the young protagonist, Flora Poste. I thought this made the book ahead of its times as it was only written in the 1930s when it just wasn’t the done thing for women to write comedy. However, sometimes this would confuse m e and I would have to go back and read the paragraph again as a beautiful description of rugged landscape would switch to how Graceless the cow’s leg fell off. Bizarre occurrences like these made me do something that can only be described as a double take to make sure I had read the passage correctly. I couldn’t leave the cow-leg incident alone and spent my lying-in-bed-pondering-before-sleep-time speculating over how a cow’s leg simply falls off. Did I find the novel relevant or interesting to me as a reader? I was highly recommended to read this book by my parents, knowing I like a laugh, they told me it was hilarious and then proved how little they know about my sense of humour. Despite having interesting characters, poetic techniques and a solid theme I found the novel as a whole: disappointing. I didn’t learn anything of great epiphany significance, and no valuable life lessons, there was no exciting climax but the most disappointing thing was the lack of humour. The only thing I really laughed at being Aunt Ada Doom unable to get past how she ‘Saw something nasty in the woodshed when she was a little girl,’ and then spending the rest of her life sulking about it in her bedroom. Maybe I didn’t understand the humour so much because I am only fifteen and have not experienced enough of the world and its literature to understand the adult humour within the story but I did not react to the novel at all, in fact I thought that the setting was rather dull, and reminded me of a rainy day on a farm only more bleak, the events in the story were unrealistically rushed and happened much too quickly and the perfect solutions to each problem that arose were idealistic and cliche, however I am sure it is a classic for a reason and maybe I need to live a little before I revisit it in a few years time. How to cite Personal Response to Cold Comfort Farm, Essay examples

Njoyable Workouts Essay Example For Students

Njoyable Workouts Essay Nicole SharacHealth Fitness2-10-00Enjoyable Fitness WorkoutsIn a recent article found in Womens Sports Fitness, there was alengthy display of outdoor and indoor fitness exercises nation wide that wereactually enjoyable. The first of these energizing activities is called Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga uses the technique of heat to maximize its effects. Taking place ina 107-degree studio the participants work on their yoga postures (the tree toname one), along with trying out many types of tension-relieving stretches toenhance flexibility. Such strong levels of heat are used because the hotter oneis, the more pliable their muscles will become.Another type of excerciseincluded is called the Denver winter Sports Conditioning. This includes theparticipants wearing/carrying weights and bands as they make their ways up themountain.This technique is good for those who enjoy the act of mountainclimbing and to improve their strength and mobility for future more difficultclimbs. In Chicago there is the Athletic Total Conditioning group. This is a teamtaught group that is packed with military-style drills including things like runningin small squares, throwing medicine balls and jumping over low hurdles. Theclass cultivates coordination, endurance, and strength.On the other side of thecountry there is the New York Urban Rebounding group. This class is for thosesick of the usual workout scene. This class includes doing jumping lacks, kicksand tuck jumps on the trampoline, which all do wonders for the quads, calves,and abs. Rebounding is working against gravity and helps to detox the body byflushing out the wastes. In Washington, D.C. boxing is used to not only work out the body, but tode-stress also. These 90-minute are broken down into sections. The firstsection is devoted to the basic things like throwing punches, ducking imaginaryblows, and doing some fancy footwork. Then 30-minutes on the punching bagwith a partner, and finally ab work outs on the floor.In Atlanta there is a groupcalled the Atlanta Trekkers. This group goes through an hour long treadmillclass. Its focus is on intense hill-training where the treadmills are elevated to a15 percent incline. This group is good for those interested in prepping forspringtime hiking. Finally, for a workout a little closer to home there is theBoston Kickboxing group. This high intensity hour is a great way to vent youranger as well as improve your fitness. This workout consists of jumping rope,fast sit-ups, pushups, lunges, and squats. Then it moves over to punching andkicking your partner (with the gloves on). I believe this article to be very helpful for pretty much anyone who isready and willing to find a source of exercise. There is so much variety involvedthat pretty much anybody could find a fitting workout. I think that the broadrange of intensity levels as well as the number of possible participants makesthese excursuses very easy to approach by most women, along with some men. But seeing that the mag azine the article came from was a womens magazinethan I guess the workouts are all suitable. When looking deeper into the article and the sources it listed for theactivities, I found that most all of them were pretty high in cost. There were afew inexpensive ones that you could do alone without equipment like yoga, andmountain climbing, but such activities as mountain climbing should be done witha few experienced people rather than alone or trying it out with a friend.I felt that some of the workouts were a bit more realistic and than othersand could see myself attempting to do abut three-quarters of the ones that Ihave listed. The Bikram yoga, which takes place in a sweltering 107- degreearea, seems to be a little to uncomfortable for me to adjust to on a weekly basis. The military-style training that has been offered in Chicago seems to be a little tostrenuous for me as well. I could maybe do something like this one or two timesa month but thats about it. I could see myself partic ipating in the Urban rebounding group that getsits workout by doing jumping jacks and tuck jumps on a trampoline. This seemslike a fun exercise that can lift spirits as well as attempt to help increase fitnessabilities. I also liked the idea of the 90 minute boxing classes that includes abworkouts with it. I know boxing is a stress relieving sport and the training and abworkout are good for the physical body.Another activity that I could partake inis the treadmill workout. It sounds easy to do and it also sounds like a greatworkout for your legs. And finally the mountain climbing segment is one thatgives a great feeling of inner and outer fitness. I know that I enjoy mountainclimbing for all the aspects its has to give. Along with the physical aspect, itgives one a sense of peace and accomplishment. There is something about theway you feel after hiking a mountain and being able to look down and see howfar you have come. I think that the article was a very insightful one and gave man y differenttypes of women (and men as well) alternatives to the typical workout situation ofrunning, or just being in the gym.I think that more attention should be put onhow to get more eventful ways to exercise in this country and perhaps that would lead us to a happier as well as healthier country. 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Hydroelectricity Essays - Energy, Sustainable Technologies

Hydroelectricity It's a form of energy a renewable resource. Hydropower provides about 96 percent of the renewable energy in the United States. Other renewable resources include geothermal, wave power, tidal power, wind power, and solar power. Hydroelectric powerplants do not use up resources to create electricity nor do they pollute the air, land, or water, as other power plants may. Hydroelectric power has played an important part in the development of this Nation's electric power industry. Both small and large hydroelectric power developments were instrumental in the early expansion of the electric power industry. Hydroelectric power comes from flowing water winter and spring runoff from mountain streams and clear lakes. Water, when it is falling by the force of gravity, can be used to turn turbines and generators that produce electricity. Hydropower has been used since ancient times to grind flour and perform other tasks. In the mid-1770s, French engineer Bernard Forest de Belidor published Architecture Hydraulique which described vertical- and horizontal-axis hydraulic machines. By the late 19th century, the electrical generator was developed and could now be coupled with hydraulics. The growing demand for the Industrial Revolution would drive development as well. In 1878 the world's first hydroelectric power scheme was developed at Cragside in Northumberland, England by William George Armstrong. It was used to power a single arc lamp in his art gallery. The old Schoelkopf Power Station No. 1 near Niagara Falls in the U.S. side began to produce electricity in 1881. The first Edison hydroelectric power station, the Vulcan Street Plant, began operating September 30, 1882, in Appleton, Wisconsin, with an output of about 12.5 kilowatts. By 1886 there were 45 hydroelectric power stations in the U.S. and Canada. By 1889 th ere were 200 in the U.S. alone. At the beginning of the 20th century, many small hydroelectric power stations were being constructed by commercial companies in mountains near metropolitan areas. Grenoble, France held the International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism with over one million visitors. By 1920 as 40% of the power produced in the United States was hydroelectric, the Federal Power Act was enacted into law. The Act created the Federal Power Commission to regulate hydroelectric power stations on federal land and water. As the power stations became larger, their associated dams developed additional purposes to include flood control, irrigation and navigation. Federal funding became necessary for large-scale development and federally owned corporations, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority (1933) and the Bonneville Power Administration (1937) were created.Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation which had begun a series of western U.S. -784860000 -546735207200500246570556769000

The Multiple Meanings of Hail

The Multiple Meanings of Hail The Multiple Meanings of Hail The Multiple Meanings of Hail By Mark Nichol When listing hail as one of the words used to describe precipitation recently, I thought about the other definitions of the word. Hail is also used as an interjection to acclaim (â€Å"Hail to the chief!†) or salute (â€Å"Hail, fellow well met!†) someone, though it’s an archaic usage rarely applied anymore. This meaning stems from the Old Norse word heill, used for the same purpose but derived from that word’s original meaning, â€Å"healthy.† The homophone hale, rarely used outside of the expression â€Å"hale and hearty,† carries a connotation of good health persisting into old age. (The archaic salutation wassail, with a second syllable sharing the same etymology, stems from an Old Norse exhortation to be well; modern usage refers to a hot alcoholic drink served from a bowl at a Christmas celebration, or to revelry in general.) The verb hail means not only â€Å"acclaim† but also â€Å"greet† or â€Å"summon.† It’s rarely used in the sense of greeting, but the expression â€Å"hail a taxi† (or â€Å"cab†), referring to summoning a vehicle for hire, is common. (The rare verb hale, meaning â€Å"drag† or â€Å"pull† in the sense of drawing a horse’s reins or a weapon, or to haul a net or an anchor, is cognate with haul and is distantly related to hail in the sense of â€Å"call.†) Meanwhile, the Catholic devotional salutation â€Å"Hail, Mary† inspired the colorful expression â€Å"Hail Mary pass† or â€Å"Hail Mary play† to describe a desperate gambit in football. One who hails is a hailer, though this term is all but unknown except in the British English term loud-hailer, the name of a device also known as a megaphone or a bullhorn. In maritime usage, sailors are said to hail one another as their vessels pass each other, identifying themselves and passing news; in earlier times, they would be said to speak each other. Also, to stay within hail or within hailing distance is to remain close enough to be heard. A related usage from the nautical sense is to say that someone hails from somewhere, meaning that the person is a native or a resident of a place. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food†English Grammar 101: Verb MoodPreposition Mistakes #3: Two Idioms

Cover Letter Content on STAR Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cover Letter Content on STAR - Assignment Example I also cited my sources properly using the MLA system. A weakness that I picked out in my assignment was that I could not find a lot of statistics to support my claim and even if I did I could not find a suitable way to put them in. I also had difficulty keeping my composition less wordy The limitation of copying the claim word to word put me in the difficulty of having only a small choice of revisions of paragraphs. I also had to spend a lot of time to verify and find examples. A future strategy that can help me improve my work is to be more efficient with the sort of examples I come in and put in a more focused search method. The claim is â€Å"Unfortunately, because of all the advancements, the internet seems to favor the technologically elite.† The writer uses the topic sentence to open a window into the claim where he/she is trying to establish that despite the improvements computer technology and internet is bringing, it remains restricted to only a set group of people, which is of those who are mentally and financially equipped with using it. The claim appears to be very weak. Firstly, it is backed by a personal example that runs the risk of being subjective and therefore not strong enough. Secondly, a more relevant and typical example would have been to point out someone who dealt with technology on a daily basis but could not keep pace due to rapid advancements. Also, the story of an eighty-four-year-old is too anomalous an example. Thirdly, there is no way to establish that the evidence given is true or not and is not supported by any further explanation than the vague one given. Fourthly, the relevance is very low and redundancy occurs when discussing her favorite newspaper and recliner. Many broad generalizations are used at the one pointing to the retirees. Computer technology has made breakthroughs and continues to grow rapidly.  Ã‚  

Fire Protection Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Fire Protection Strategy - Essay Example Safety engineering is much needed in fire safety because engineering involves careful planning. Incorporating safety measures in structures and buildings is a must under the Building Regulations 2000 (Health and Safety Executive, 2007) and other significant legislations on fire safety and prevention. It should occupy careful study by engineers and architects. The principles in the code must enable the engineer to properly plan the fire safety framework. Experience tells us that many causes of fire are due to poor building design, inadequate emergency procedures, and other necessary measures not being implemented, or not adhering to proper regulations. Furthermore, interior furnishings exacerbate the growth of fires, or they could be the primary cause of fire. Engineers and architects should not neglect installing the necessary fire protective devices in buildings and structures. In public buildings, such as the JB Firth Building, owners should be extra careful in installing furnishings or linings which can be said as â€Å"fuel load† to possible fires. Our report will cover the fire safety strategy, including conclusions and recommendations from our study with respect to the fire safety measures as incorporated in the plan. This will also evaluate whether these are in accordance with the Building Regulations 2000 on Fire Safety and other important legislations on fire safety and prevention. Also included in the report are the application methods of fire risk assessment. We will also examine the materials used in furnishings, structures and linings which should have the strength to withstand fire or heat. We will provide our assessment and summary of the building, and the provisions of the Building Regulations, whether these are being implemented and executed with respect to the detection and warning systems; the means of escape should there be a fire; the internal fire spread linings; the internal

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Quoting & Paraphrasing (dp4) - Essay Example One should always explain the quotes after using them. A proper analysis of the quotes should always be given in the text. In relation to the above, one should avoid using the quotes as padding. Whenever one omits unnecessary words in a quote, it is important that he or she uses ellipsis in the text. This use of ellipsis should be followed by a space before starting another word. Other than the above, the material has successfully shed light on how to set up a quotation as well as follow up the same quotation. This involves providing contexts for each quotation as well as attributing each and every quotation to their sources. Another way to set up and follow such quotations involves elucidating the importance of such quotations as well as citing those quotations. The material has also exhaustively suggested ways to embed quotations in sentences. These involve attributing the quote to the speaker. This can take the form of either introduction or conclusion. This should be followed by the use of grammatically correct words within the sentence quoted. The material has also dwelt exhaustively on how to combine quotation marks with other punctuation marks. The second material talks about the issue of paraphrasing. This comprises of some of the ways to paraphrase as well as what needs to be considered in order to avoid plagiarism when paraphrasing. According to the material, some of the ways or methods of paraphrasing involves writing whatever one has understood after reading a source. This involves identifying the key ideas or kernel sentences. These should be effectively combined into new sentences without losing the meaning of the original source. These two documents have exhaustively concentrated on the field of paraphrasing as well as the use of quotation marks. The contents within these two materials are very good. They have good information that contributes a great deal towards informing the readers of some of the

Barriers to Entrepreneurship Development in Tajikistan

Barriers to Entrepreneurship Development in Tajikistan Introduction The development of the entrepreneurship as an essential component of the economy of Tajikistan is taking place for the past 19 years, in spite of its certain downturn during the civil war in the country in 1991-1997. Within the given period, the legal framework for the regulation of business activities was developed and amendments to the particular conditions of the governmental policy related to the entrepreneurship support were made. The stage of the entrepreneurship establishment required the improvement of its sectoral structure and enhancement of the economic efficiency. It is obvious that the prospects of its development are directly related to the alleviation of particular barriers which business people currently encounter. At the same time the inception of economical growth should initiate the positive influence on the entrepreneurship promotion. The essay will exclusively focus on the analysis of entrepreneurship establishment and development in Tajikistan with the reference to SME sector including the importance of entrepreneurship for the socio-economic development. In addition, the essay will describe main barriers to entrepreneurship development and possible ways to alleviate the difficulties related to its promotion. The rationale for the decision to write about this specific issue is based on following particular reasons: there are very few research works describing problems of entrepreneurship development in Tajikistan. Although, some scholars described these issues in the former Soviet Union countries, in most of their works Tajikistan is only slightly mentioned among the other countries. The objective of this given paper is to define the entrepreneurship situation in Tajikistan, the importance of its development as well as to identify the difficulties for entrepreneurship development and to provide recommendation for the solution of the existing problems. In order to reach the stated objective, the following research questions were raised. First of all it is important to understand, what are the main barriers to entrepreneurship development in Tajikistan? Secondly, what are the possible ways to promote entrepreneurship development? The theoretical and empirical grounds for the given paper are the analytical works of Tajik and foreign scholars, statistical data, as well as surveys and reports of various international institutions. Due to the analysis of both foreign and Tajik experts assessments the reader will be enabled to find the dual opinion on the described issue. Chapter One The role and importance of entrepreneurship in Tajikistan 1.1 Tajikistan at a glance: background information In order to explain the entrepreneurship situation in Tajikistan, it is worth to describe the background information about the country. Being a landlocked country, Tajikistan is located far from the main Eurasian highways. Infrastructure is poorly developed due to the fact that 93% of the all territory is mountains. In fact there are a number of scientific works describing the linkages between the infrastructure and the country development, including development of the entrepreneurship. However, in the framework of present essay the impact of poor infrastructure to the entrepreneurship development will not be discussed. During 1929 1991 Tajikistan was a member of the Soviet Union. After the breakdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, the country gained independence and started the transition to the market economy. After gaining its independence, the country was immediately faced with the economic problems caused by the collapse of the centrally-planned Soviet economy: such as, disruption of guaranteed markets, withdrawal of subsidies and instability of exchange (Middleton, 2007). Due to these facts, economical as well as political transformations of Tajikistan were difficult, primarily due to the holdover of various centrally planned command and control approaches to the national development (Suhir, 2003). According to Johnes, Tajikistan can be considered as the poorest of the countries of the former Soviet Union. At the beginning of its independence the position of the country was undermined by a civil war which lasted from 1991 until 1997. During that time the economy suffered significantly. In addition, the war has seriously disrupted the entire infrastructure of the country and contributed to the emigration of almost one million people, this number was equaled to a sixth of the total population. After the end of the civil war, the government undertook an aggressive program of reforms. As a consequence, by the beginning of 2000, the majority of small sized enterprises had been privatized, and most of the large enterprises were transformed into joint stock companies. Moreover, almost half of all cropland belonged to private people. In addition, being a neighbor of Afghanistan, the country has fallen victim of the drug trade and has been directly affected by drug-related criminal infi ltration (Johnes, 2002). Despite its growth, Tajik economy is not still fully recovered from the effects of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the civil war. The gross domestic product in 2007 was still only 72% of the 1991 level in real terms, which is visually represented in the Chart 1. Chart 1: Real GDP continues to recover but has not reached the level of 1991 Source: Business Environment in Tajikistan as seen by Small and Medium Enterprises, IFC, 2009 1.2 Definition and types of entrepreneurship in Tajikistan The process of society democratization and the implementation of market relations which are taking places in Tajikistan nowadays caused a variety of positive effects. Entrepreneurship which influences all economical spheres can be considered as such effect. In developed countries the role and the importance of entrepreneurship are being evaluated quite high. Our country, which has chosen the path of market economy, is considering the issues of entrepreneurship and strengthening of its role as a matter of paramount importance (Rahmon, 2001, own translation). According to the State program of Protection and support of entrepreneurship in the Republic of Tajikistan for the years 2002-2005, entrepreneurship is described as an activity which independently carried out by the persons registered in an order established by the law; this activity is directed to the earning of profit from use of property, sale of goods, manufacture, performance of works and rendering of services. Entrepreneurship development is one of the priority directions of financial and economic policy in the conditions of market economy and it is directed on increase in production and rendering of services as well as provision of new workplaces (Soliev, 2004). It is quite possible that the reason of such simplified definition of entrepreneurship was to motivate as much as possible people to become entrepreneurs. Tajik scholar Juraboev described entrepreneurship as a search for new spheres of rationalization and a profitable investment of recourses, performance of new combinations in manufacture, movement to the new markets, and creation of new products. It is aimed at making a profit above the average level (Juraboev, 2003, own translation). The tendency of entrepreneurship development in Tajikistan started from the period of 1993 1994. At that time the quantity of enterprises which performed entrepreneurial activity and had a status of legal entity was equaled to 3304 enterprises for the year of 1993 and 3988 enterprises in 1994 (Statistical yearbook , 2006). The entrepreneurship area was dominated by the cooperatives, farmers, private and individual enterprises. However, the crisis in the economy caused by the severance of economic relations between the former Soviet Union countries which had common free market zone before, and the post-war factors with corresponding decrease of nation welfare became the reasons of reduction in the quantity of private enterprises, especially SMEs. Nevertheless, in later years the entrepreneurship in Tajikistan, which for the purposes of this essay is described by the SME sector, started to recover from the consequences of Soviet Union breakup The obvious development of SME sector can be proved by the available data that shows that in October 2006 the amount of small and medium enterprises in Tajikistan was equaled to 12167, including 7578 active enterprises. The structure of the SME sector can be described as follows: the highest amount of 38.4 % is commercial enterprises, the share of trade and catering 17.2%, construction 13.3 %, industry 12.3%. The part of other economic activities is equals to 20% (Nazarov, 2006). In addition to the information provided above it is important to identify the SME sector in Tajikistan. In compliance with the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan ÂÂ «On State Protection and Support of Entrepreneurship in the Republic of TajikistanÂÂ » passed in 2005, the SME sector is composed of three typologies of businesses. The first group is individual entrepreneurs, who is involved in a business activity without forming a legal entity and operate it at their own risk. The second group is dehkah farms enterprises involved in the production and sale of agricultural products. Dehkan farmers operate as individual entrepreneurs according to the State Registration Certificate. Third group includes small and medium sized companies (Law On State Protection and Support of Entrepreneurship, 2005, own translation). Moreover, the special SMEs criteria are also being significant. As consistent with the Tax Code of Tajikistan, small enterprises are individual entrepreneurs and legal entities which perform business activity and their gross revenue (before taxes) is not exceed 150 000 USD. The average quantity of employees should not exceed 50 for agricultural sector and 30 for other sectors. Respectively, medium enterprises are individual entrepreneurs and legal entities whose gross revenue is more than 150 000 USD but does not exceed 3.7 million USD. The average quantity of employees can vary from 50 to 200 for agricultural sector and from 30 to 100 for other sectors (Tax Code, 2009, own translation). In fact the Micro-enterprises are not defined in the Tax Code. 1.3 The importance of the entrepreneurship in the socio-economic development of the country Nowadays private enterprises are functioning almost in all fields and spheres of the economy of Tajikistan. With the presence of necessary support, the entrepreneurship plays an important role: it contributes to the state budget, creates new employment and stimulates the social and economic development of the regions. Furthermore, entrepreneurs play a significant role in the social and political life of society. According to the statistics, in the year of 2007 approximately 1.7% or 19 thousand people of all population working in the private sector belonged to the SMEs. Over the last years, the quantity of employees of small and medium enterprises has increased by 14.5%, while the amount of enterprises has risen by 35%. However, the most interesting fact is that the total quantity of employees in the SME sector in 2007 was lower compare to the 1998 (Statistical Yearbook, 2008). Visually this information is presented in the Chart 2. Chart 2: Dynamics of the quantity of employees in SMEs (in thousands) Source: Tajikistan: 15 Years of Independence. Statistical yearbook, Dushanbe, 2006 It can be assumed that the relatively low quantity of employees in the SME sector is resulted from the tax burden of the employers. In fact, the amount of social tax which the employers have to pay equals to 25% out of the total payroll fund. Moreover, in contrast to the other countries, the existing taxation system in Tajikistan does not have the tax remissions in connection with the increase of the quantity of workers (Nazarov, 2006). Furthermore, the role of entrepreneurship in the market economy is very significant in terms of solving a number of socio-economic problems as well as in the poverty alleviation. Small and medium enterprises create the most favorable opportunities for the entrepreneurship especially at its initial stage. The presence of the substantial amount of SMEs on the market promotes the competition. And by promoting the competition, small and medium enterprises stimulate the increase of production efficiency as well as production growth which in its turn may cause the real growth of the economy. As a short summary of the given section about the importance of entrepreneurship in general and SMEs in particular, it can be stated that it is both the aim and the tool for the development of market economy. The dual role of entrepreneurship is confirmed by the analysis of the functions of SMEs which were classified into two groups. These groups are objective functions and tool functions. The objective functions promote the development of small and medium entrepreneurship and being considered as one of the governmental tasks. These functions include the impact on the unemployment reduction, the acceleration of the technological progress by means of innovations and ensuring the social and political stability in the society. According to the tool functions, small and medium entrepreneurship is being used in order to limit the tendencies of monopolized economy, to support formation of a middle class and to fill the particular market niches which are not attractive for the large enterpr ises (Chapek, 2004. own translation). 1.4 Characteristics of entrepreneurship development in Tajikistan The establishment of entrepreneurship in Tajikistan started at the time when the legislative foundations were absent. The Law On entrepreneurship activity was passed only in December 1991 and up to day it has completely changed. This law had a lot of disadvantages which negatively affected the process of entrepreneurship establishment in the country. Other economic laws which could support and secure the entrepreneurial activity in Tajikistan were passed later. For instance, The law on property (1996), The law on privatization of state property (1997) as well as laws related to taxation, customs and currency circulation (Nazarov, 2006). The formation of the entrepreneurship took place at the period of destabilization of finances and significant level of unemployment, which were caused by the collapse of the centralized control system. Another unique feature of entrepreneurship formation and development in Tajikistan is the limitation of strategic behavior. There are two reasons explaining it. First of all, during the first years of the market economy establishment, the formation of entrepreneurship was influenced by the substantial advantages of short-term transactions in the sphere of circulation and in the financial market. This circumstance created an appropriate attitude, stereotypes of thinking and behaving. Secondly, there is a significant gap between the profitability of long-term investments in manufacture and short-term financial transactions. The conditions for the implementation of long-term investments projects in the production sphere are such that invested funds will be paid off only in 3-5 years; howe ver, in conditions of the transition economy this process may take even longer. Therefore such areas of entrepreneurship as trade and catering remain the most attractive for the entrepreneurs (Soliev, 2004). According to the statistics, at the beginning of 2008 there were 55,8 thousands of enterprises registered in Tajikistan; in fact, 60% of them are private enterprises including both SMEs and large enterprises (Statistical Yearbook, 2008). There is a trend toward positive increase of total amount of enterprises in general as well as private enterprises in particular, as it is demonstrated in the Chart 3. Chart 3: Dynamics of total amount of enterprises, including private enterprises (in thousands) Source: Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, 2008 The dynamic development of SME sector is caused by several specific advantages of the latter. According to the Kamarov, the most important fact is that SMEs are able to get their own market share, although they have much less funds for implementation of important strategic researches compare to large enterprises. In addition, small and medium businesses are quite flexible and mobile, which allow them to react fast for the market demand as well as to adapt for the changing conditions. Small entrepreneurship can be characterized as an originative type of economic behavior which at the same time being described as special entrepreneurial spirit and creative action (Kamarov, 2009). Another important fact is that on every 1000 of economically active population in Tajikistan there is in average only one SME; in contrast, in Russia there are 3 enterprises on every 1000 of economically active population (Davgyalo, 2007). Chapter Two Barriers to entrepreneurship development 2.1 General overview of difficulties related to the entrepreneurship development in Tajikistan As it is demonstrated by the world experience, the more opportunities for the widening of the activity by the entrepreneurs, the higher growth rate can be seen for the country. Under the given circumstances, the creation of the favorable conditions for the entrepreneurship development is a crucial factor. The entrepreneurship of Tajikistan faces particular barriers, among the others they are: instability and imperfection of the legislative system related to entrepreneurship, high level of taxes, complexity of tax collection, insufficiency of the start-up capital and current capital, difficulties with the access to bank loans, corruption, shortage of the qualified staff, difficulties with the rent of the production space as and others. In most cases there is no proper social and personal security for owners and employees of the private enterprises (Soliev, 2004). The current institutional mechanism of entrepreneurship promotion demonstrates that although the entrepreneur is secured by the laws and governmental instruments, the level of entrepreneurship development is not correspond to the high taxation level and crediting rates. (Asrorov et al., 2004). Therefore the entrepreneurs are acting in the environment of legal and economical limitation. The barriers faced by entrepreneurs impede the inflow of billions of dollars of potential profit for the country each year and threaten to derail the political and economic transition. These losses take place due to the ill-designed, complicated laws and regulations that unnecessarily raise the cost of doing business in the formal sector. As a result of high costs of doing business, entrepreneurs are using in their operations limited funds in order to survive with presence of low income and consequently they are losing the economic potential. In addition, the costly business regulations encourage potential investors to invest in the more favorable business environments and therefore country faces the lack of the needed investments (Suhir, 2003). The experience of entrepreneurship establishment and development in Tajikistan demonstrates that the majority of business owners are not aimed at the further growth. Their main goal is to ensure the stable existence, to preserve their capital and market position (Urdashev, 2005). The given situation can be explained by two reasons. First of all, there is no effective system for the stimulation of entrepreneurial activity. Secondly, entrepreneurs are experiencing the certain pressure from the tax, custom and law-enforcement authorities. 2.2 Main barriers faced by entrepreneurship in Tajikistan In this section of the paper the main barriers to the entrepreneurship development will be described in details. These barriers are: difficulties related to licensing, access to finance, imperfection of taxation system, poor infrastructure, corruption and lack of sufficient knowledge by entrepreneurs. Licensing IFC defined license as a special permit issued by a state body authorizing a business to carry out a certain activity under specific terms and conditions. When a business is subject to licensing requirements, it must obtain the specific license before starting its activities. Thus licensing happens after business registration, but before a company is allowed to start operations in the activity to be licensed (IFC, 2009). The barriers related to the licensing can be classified as the continuation of the Soviet system of permissions whereby one must obtain approval from the authorities in order to perform even the smallest tasks. The present permissive entrepreneurial climate which characterized by abundant regulation, continues to inflict losses on entrepreneurial activity in all sectors of the economy (Suhir, 2003). According to the world practice, the low-risk activities and those which do not involve any limited resources should not be subject to licensing. In fact, Tajikistan licenses some activities that are not licensed in many other countries; for instance, real estate valuation and tourism (IFC, 2009). The Chart 4 illustrates that in spite of the recent reforms, the number of activities licensed in Tajikistan is still relatively high compare to some other countries. Chart 4 Number of economic activities subject to licensing in selected countries Source: Business Environment in Tajikistan as seen by Small and Medium Enterprises, IFC, 2009 For instance, IFC reports that eight of the 65 licensed economic activities are related to the transport. However, the implementing regulations of the Licensing Laws divide these eight economic activities into 22 sub-activities, each of that in its turn requires a separate license. In addition, the period of validity of licenses as well as their cost still remains a problem. The law foresees that the minimum period of validity for the license is 3 years; however, on practice the licenses are being issued for the period which in average is less than one year (IFC, 2009). The short periods of licenses validity impede the investments and long-term development as well as create the grounds for the extortion by the officials. Access to finance One of the main conditions of the entrepreneurship development is the existence of proper financial infrastructure. In general the Tajik financial system was growing rapidly over the past years, although it still remains small. Recent data shows, that there are twelve commercial banks (including one state-owned bank), seven credit societies, one non-bank financial institution and eighty eight microfinance institutions operating in Tajikistan (IFC, 2009). The banking systems in Central Asia in general and in Tajikistan in particular can be considered as insufficient since they impose impossible demands on entrepreneurs due to the unreasonable time-frames and terms of credit repayments, it is difficult to provide collateral and to find a guarantor for securing a loan (Suhir, 2003). Thus in order to get a loan from some commercial banks the entrepreneur should provide the collateral which values up to 3 times more compare to the actual amount of requested loan. The survey performed by the IFC demonstrates that more than half of rejected loan applications in 2007 were due to the insufficient loan collateral (IFC, 2009). In addition, the process to formalization and registration of the collateral is complicated and expensive at the present time. Besides that, the loans themselves became not very attractive because of the interest rate. Additional factor of distrust to the banking area is the lack of reliable mechanism for the protection of the borrowers interests. In this respect the majority of entrepreneurs actually not able to use services of commercial banks. The Chart 5 demonstrates what kind of problems entrepreneurs encounter in terms of access to the finance. And it is quite clear that the most important issue is high interest rates. Chart 5: Main obstacles as identified by the potential borrowers (in %) Source: Business Environment in Tajikistan as seen by Small and Medium Enterprises, IFC, 2009 In general, in compliance with the Doing business report, Tajikistan is ranked as 167th overall in terms of easiness to getting credit (World Bank, 2010). And firms consistently rate access to credit as among the greatest barriers to their operation and growth. Taxation system The modern tendency for the entrepreneurship development can be described as the one with the lack of unity of economic aims between entrepreneurship and government. On the one hand, the governmental regulations related to the entrepreneurial activity are grounded on the creation of the favorable conditions for the entrepreneurship development; however, on the other hand, they are directed on provision the maximum tax revenues to the state budget. At present there are 18 different taxes in Tajikistan. According to the statistics, forty-eight percent of countrys tax revenues in 2008 came from the value-added tax. Tax code states that the value-added tax is equal to 18%, income tax 30% and social tax 25% (Tax Code, 2009). Such level of taxation does not correspond with the taxation systems used in developed countries. As a rule, developed countries increase tax rates in order to restrain the overproduction (Davgyalo, 2007). In fact there is no problem of overproduction in Tajikistan. On the whole the tax regime in Tajikistan is characterized by high complexity and instability. The Tajik Tax Code, which went into effect in 2004, has been amended 9 times since that time. Unfortunately given amendments neither caused the simplification of tax obligations nor improved tax administration. The World Bank Groups Doing Business 2009 report demonstrates evidence that taxes impose a heavy burden on business taxpayers in the country. This report ranks Tajikistan as 159th out of 181 countries in terms of ease of complying with the tax obligations (World Bank, 2009). Besides, the procedure of preparation the tax forms is complicated, the average Dehkan farmer or individual entrepreneur has spent almost 5 working days on the filing and on payment of taxes in 2007. While the average SME spent more than three weeks on this process. Moreover, there is a lack of effective communication infrastructure for the acceptance of the tax reports by mail. Although the Tax Code states that it is possible for taxpayers to submit their tax declarations in three ways: by certified mail, in person, or electronically; in practice, entrepreneurs submit tax reports in person. In addition, the survey performed by IFC shows that that submission of tax declarations involves a significant period of time spent waiting in lines at the tax office in order to get the appropriate signatures (IFC, 2009). Corruption The harmful nature of corruption between government and business enterprises is a classic conflict of the political economy, which goes back to Adam Smiths The Wealth of Nations. In the socialist period, bribery was widely practiced as a sort of necessary evil among citizens in Soviet Union Countries. It operated as a special social mechanism used to overcome obstacles established by bureaucratic systems as well as chronic shortages of supply which could affect business operations and everyday activities. In contrast, in the transition period, the corruption between entrepreneurs and bureaucrats started to take place more for self-interest rather than as a socially necessary evil like it was in Soviet Union time (Ichiro Iwasaki, 2007). Interesting explanation of the existence of corruption was provided by Clark and Naito in their article. According to them, corruption is endemic in all countries of Central Asia. However, the additional factor which contributes to the level of corruption results from the existing barriers with respect to the cooperation between various Ministries. In fact, nowadays the level of cooperation is relatively small and as a consequence there is a shortage of transparency in the system. The lack of transparency in its turn allows corruption to flourish as there are no checks and bounds on the system (Clark, Naito, 1998). The number of surveys performed by the World Bank confirms the fact that corruption remains a main constraint for entrepreneurship in Tajikistan. This demonstrated by the high frequency of informal gifts requested from enterprises by the government officials, so called Graft Index. The Graft Index shows the proportion of instances in which enterprises were either requested or expected to pay an informal payment for licenses, permits or public services (IFC, 2009). Visually the situation with corruption in Tajikistan in comparison with some other countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia is presented at the Chart 6. Chart 6: Tajikistan has the highest graft index in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) ECA Regional Average Source: Business Environment in Tajikistan as seen by Small and Medium Enterprises, IFC, 2009 However, the survey performed by IFC in 2007 demonstrates that the situation related to the informal payments in Tajikistan has improved over the last years. According to the survey responses, entrepreneurs were asked for or expected to pay bribes or give informal gifts in 2007 fewer compare to previous years. Although this is a positive development, it is too early to conclude that corruption is no longer a problem. Data demonstrate that 21% of enterprises have defined the informal payments as a main obstacle for their business activity. In fact, only high tax rates were defined as a major obstacle more often than corruption (IFC, 2009). Lack of the sufficient knowledge by entrepreneurs Johnes stated that the main resource which is available to Tajikistan is its people. Generally the level of education in the country is high, with a literacy rate about 98% (Johnes, 2002). However, one of the obstacles which may be additionally observed in Tajikistan nowadays is the lack of the sufficient knowledge in the area of entrepreneurship. This fact can be explained by taking a look at the history. In the Soviet era entrepreneurship was considered as a speculation. The Great Soviet Encyclopedia defines speculation as a process of buying up the goods on closed markets and resale those goods on open and deficiency markets in conditions of constraining the freedom of trade, for example, during the war (Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 1978, own translation). This activity was punishable either by high fines or imprisonment and due to this reason was considered as a part of the shadow economy. Based on the above mentioned information, the following conclusion can be drawn the entrepreneurship as an activity as well as entrepreneurs are still being considered as unacceptable or even discreditable activity by the people of older generation. It is obvious that problems related to managerial issues are really crucial for the private entrepreneur due to the reason that the manager should be a specialist with a broad knowledge in the area of management, finance, accounting and marketing. In fact, nowadays the universities of the country are not preparing such versatile managers for the private sector (Urdashev, 2005). The current situation in Tajikistan is such that the majority of entrepreneurs have problems due to the lack of proper knowledge. Thus according to the IFC survey, more than one-third of individual entrepreneurs did not keep any financial or tax records in 2007 (IFC, 2009), despite the existing requirements. The responses presented in the Chart 7 demonstrate the reasons for the absence of necessary records. It is clear that the lack of knowledge is a very significant issue in this respect. Chart 7: Reasons f

Pollution and Environment Essay - Modest Proposal for Methanol and Etha

A Modest Proposal for Methanol and Ethanol Powered Cars      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "We need more stringent regulations on car emissions... Let's add MTBE to the fuel- that will reduce pollution... If people would just stop driving so much, pollution wouldn't be so bad..." People have long recognized the problems with the gasoline we used now.   We have tried everything from putting regulations on emissions, to putting additives in the gasoline (only to discover later that MTBE got into the groundwater), to campaigns to get people off the road.   However, more and more cars are on the roads as the population increases, and people are not going to stop driving.   Additives are as likely to cause problems as they are to prevent them.   Just changing the regulations is not going to fix the environment.    The United States can decrease its dependence on oil-producing nations and improve the environment without robbing every citizen's pocketbook. The gasoline used in most cars today produces pollution, endangers people's health, forces us to be dependent on OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Companies) or other oil production organizations, and contributes to global warming.   The main reason people have not converted to cleaner, healthier fuel is that hybrid and electric cars are more expensive than the cars and gasoline we are using now.   However, we could implement a program for selling cleaner fuel at a lower cost than it is now offered.   If this program were   organized correctly, the increased costs would be minimal in the long run and the benefits would be enormous.   After considering several possibilities, I concluded that alcohol-burning cars are more practical than other environmentally friendly options because electric and h... .... 8 Nov 2001 <http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/cleanair01_alt.html>. Swim, David W. "Alcohol-fueled Cars Lose Their Fizz in Brazil." Online posting.   3 April 1998.   Latin American Trade Council of Oregon Discussion List. 8 Nov 2001 <http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/bioconversion-arc/msg00125.html>. "Spirits low as Brazil alcohol car in trouble anew." 22 Nov 1999. Climate Ark. 8 Nov 2001. <http://www.climateark.org/articles/1999/alcocaro.htm>. "Hydrogen: The Petroleum of the Future?" 12 Oct 2001. ECOWorld. 13 Nov 2001. <http://www.ecoworld.com/Home/articles2.cfm?TID=317> Pictures:   Art Today. 2001. 1 Nov 2001. <http://www.arttoday.com/Main/tour/search_results?q=cars&s=61&a=c>. Background: AAA Backgrounds. 2000. 1 Nov 2001. <http://www.aaa-backgrounds.com/cgi-bin/texdisplay.cgi?marble,1>.   

Becoming a U.S. Soldier

The United State Army was founded to defend our country, the United States of America, two hundred and thirty-three years ago. The U. S. soldiers had been in different battles; from the Revolutionary War to the global effort to combat terrorism, they have remained Army Strong, drawing their commitment to their values and beliefs.The U. S. Army has achieved and is continuing to achieve excellence both here and abroad. They have shown willingness to make sacrifices in order to build a better future for our country (â€Å"The 233rd United States Army Birthday†). The U.S. Army’s mission is to provide prompt and sustained land dominance over a full range of military operations in order to fight and win our country’s wars. They operate across a spectrum of conflict, supporting combatant commanders. Title 10 and Title 32 of the United States Code direct the U. S. Army to equip, organize and train forces in order to conduct sustained and prompt combat operations on land. The U. S. Army is tasked to accomplish missions that are assigned by the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders.(â€Å"Mission†) A key component of the U. S. Armed Forces, the army is made up of the most dedicated, most respected, and best-trained soldiers in the world. They protect America’s freedom both home and abroad, secure our homeland, and defend democracy worldwide (â€Å"About the Army: Overview†). The army is one of the three components of the U. S. military. The other two are the navy and the air force. These three report to the Department of Defense. The U. S. Army has two major components of equal importance. They are the Active Duty and the Army Reserve (â€Å"Organization†).Those who work in the two distinct components of the army, the active and the reserve components, are enlisted soldiers, warrant officers, commissioned officers, and non-commissioned officers (â€Å"About the Army: Personnelà ¢â‚¬ ). In either component, the army conducts both institutional and operational missions. The operational army is consisted of numbered armies, divisions, corps, brigades and battalions, which conduct extensive operations around the world. On the other hand, the institutional army provides support for the operational army.They provide the necessary infrastructure to train, raise, deploy, equip, and ensure the readiness of the army forces. Military skills, as well as professional education, are provided by the training base to every soldier, together with members of allied forces. The institutional component of the army also allows the army to expand in a rapid manner during time of war. The army is provided with world-class logistics and equipment by the industrial base. Power-projection platforms are provided by the army installations.These are required to position land forces readily to provide support to combatant commanders. Once the forces are positioned, they are provided w ith needed logistics by the institutional army (â€Å"Organization†). The army is composed of a large number of soldiers. There is a necessity to organize the army into units because of its large number. Each unit has its own leader and reporting structure. Each unit was created in order to respond to any mission, regardless of complexity or size (â€Å"About the Army: Personnel†).According to the Soldiers Almanac, soldiers are grouped into units, each with specified numbers. A squad is composed of 9 to 10 soldiers; a platoon consists of 16 to 44 soldiers; a company has 62 to 190 soldiers, a battalion is composed of 300 to 1,000 soldiers; a brigade has 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers, a division consists of 10,000 to 15,000 soldier; and the corps is consisted of 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers (â€Å"About the Army: Personnel†). Becoming a soldier is both a challenging and a rewarding life. There are three primary steps on how to become a soldier. The first one is to work wit h a recruiter.The next step is to attend the Basic Combat Training after you have signed up and sworn in. After that the Basic Combat Training, a soldier will learn valuable skills by attending the Advanced Individual Training (â€Å"Soldier Life: Becoming a Soldier†). Basic Combat Training (BCT) is a training course that transforms civilians into Soldiers. Over the course of nine weeks these recruits learn about the Seven Core Army Values, how to work together as a team and what it takes to succeed as a Soldier in the U. S. Army. A civilian is transformed into a soldier by attending the Basic Combat Training.This is a nine-week training course where recruits are taught of the Seven Core Army Values, working together in a team, and succeeding in the U. S. Army (â€Å"Soldier Life: Basic Combat Training†). After soldiers complete the Basic Combat Training, they will attend the Advanced Individual Training to learn the necessary skills to perform their army job. They rec eive hands-on training, as well as field instructions, to make them experts in a specific career field. In this training, they gain discipline and work ethic (â€Å"Soldier Life: Advanced Individual Training).When the Congress passes the Defense Authorization Act each year, they indicate how many soldiers can be on active duty during that year. Congress also places a limit on what percentage of the whole active duty force can serve as warrant officers, how much percentage of the total active duty force can be posted as enlisted officers for the positions of sergeant and above. However, there are no statutory limits on positions of private, private first class, and corporals (Powers, n. d. ) For the positions of sergeant and above, there must be a vacancy in the next level in order for them to get promoted.However, soldier ranking private first class, and corporal are promoted through decentralized promotions. Decentralized promotion means that the unit is in-charge of promotions; h ence they are the promotion authority. The commander decides who should get promoted based on the promotion criteria set by the U. S. Army to preserve the promotion flow (Powers, n. d. ) There are 146,000 American troops in Iraq, including service and support personnel. The soldiers stationed in Iraq play various roles. Some of them are stationed as combat troops.Combat soldiers, according to the military, â€Å"those whose primary mission is to engage the enemy with lethal force. † However, these combat troops are scheduled to leave Iraq by June 30, 2009. This is in accordance with the agreement between Iraq and the United States, as stated in status-of-forces agreement (Bumiller, 2008). In spite of the agreement that combat troops will leave Iraqi cities, many military men are will be left behind as advisers and trainers. This new set of troops will be tasked to train and offer support to the Iraqi people so as not to risk the â€Å"fragile and relative Iraqi stabilityâ₠¬  (Bumiller, 2008).Truly, the United States Army have played and continuously playing a vital role in our society. They have assured us of our liberties and made an effort to assure the liberties as well of those who are offshore. The soldiers in the U. S. Army have dedicated themselves in the service of the American nation and there is no reason available for us not to be proud of them. References: â€Å"About the Army: Overview. † Army Strong. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. goarmy. com/about/index. jsp. â€Å"About the Army: Personnel. † Army Strong. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. goarmy. com/about/personnel. jsp.Bumiller, E. (2008). â€Å"Trying to redefine role of U. S. military in Iraq. † International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. iht. com/articles/2008/12/22/america/22combat. php. â€Å"Mission. † The Official Homepage of the United States Army. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www . army. mil/info/organization/. â€Å"Organization. † The Official Homepage of the United States Army. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. army. mil/info/organization/. Powers, R. â€Å"Army Enlisted Promotion System. † Enlisted promotions made simple. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from file:///D:/httpusmilitary. about.com-cs-armypromotions-a-armypromotions. htm. â€Å"Soldier Life: Advanced Individual Training. † Army Strong. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. goarmy. com/life/advanced_individual_training. jsp. â€Å"Soldier Life: Basic Combat Training. † Army Strong. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. goarmy. com/life/basic/index. jsp. â€Å"Soldier Life: Becoming a Soldier. † Army Strong. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. goarmy. com/life/becoming_a_soldier. jsp. â€Å"The 233rd United States Army Birthday. † The Official Homepage of the United States Army. Retrieved 21 February 2009, from http://www. army. mil/birthday/233/.

How to Use phpMyAdmin for Your Database

How to Use phpMyAdmin for Your Database Abhilash writes I am using phpMyAdmin†¦ so how can I interact with the database? Hi Abhilash! phpMyAdmin is a great way to interact with your database. It allows you the flexibility of using the interface, or simply using SQL commands directly. Lets take a closer look at how to use it! First navigate to your phpMyAdmin login page. Enter your username and password to access your database. Now that you have logged in, you will see a screen that has all of your databases basic information. From here there are several things you can do. Lets say you want to run a bit of SQL script. On the left hand side of the screen, there are some small buttons. The first button is a home button, then an exit button, and the third is a button that reads SQL. Click on this button. This should prompt a popup window. Now, if you wish to run your code you have two options. Option one is to type or paste in the SQL code directly. The second option is to choose the Import Files tab. From here you can import files full of SQL code. Often when you download software they will include files like this to help you install it. Another thing you can do in phpMyAdmin is browse your database. Click on the database name in the left hand column. It should expand to show you a list of tables within your database. You can then click on any of the tables it contains. There are several tabs of options on the top of the right page now. The first option is Browse. If you select browse, you can view all of the entries in that table of the database. You can edit, or delete entries from this area of phpMyAdmin. It is best not to change data here if you arent exactly sure what its doing. Only edit what you understand because once deleted it is irreversible. The next tab is the Structure tab. From this table you can view all of the fields within the database table. You can remove or edit the fields from this area too. You can also change the data types here. The third table is the SQL tab. This is similar to the pop up SQL window that we discussed earlier in this article. The difference is that when you access it from this tab, it already has some SQL pre-filled in the box pertaining to the table from which you accessed it. The forth tab is the Search tab. As its name implies this is used to search your database, or more particularly the table form which you accessed the tab. If you access the search feature from the main phpMyAdmin screen you can search all of the tables and entries for your entire database. This is a very useful feature, that could be completed using only SQL but for many programmers as well as non-programmers its nice to have the simple to use interface. The next tab is Insert which allows you to add information to your database. It is followed by the Import and Export buttons. As they imply they are used to import or export data from your database. The Export option is particularly useful, as it allows you to make a backup of your database from which you can restore if you ever have an issue. It is a good idea to backup data often! Empty and Drop are both potentially dangerous tabs, so please use them with caution. Many a novice has clicked through these tabs only to have their database disappear into the great unknown. Never delete unless you are absolutely sure it wont break things! Hopefully that gives you some basic ideas of how you can use phpMyAdmin to work with the database on your website.

Why Arguments Against Free Trade Are Flawed

Why Arguments Against Free Trade Are Flawed Economists conclude, under some simple assumptions, that allowing free trade in an economy improves welfare for society overall. If free trade opens up a market to imports, then consumers benefit from the low-priced imports more than producers are hurt by them. If free trade opens up a market for exports, then producers benefit from the new place to sell more than consumers are hurt by higher prices. Nonetheless, there are a number of common arguments made against the principle of free trade. Lets go through each of them in turn and discuss their validity and applicability. The Jobs Argument One of the main arguments against free trade is that, when trade introduces lower cost international competitors, it puts domestic producers out of business. While this argument isnt technically incorrect, it is short-sighted. When looking at the free trade issue more broadly, on the other hand, it becomes clear that there are two other important considerations. First, the loss of domestic jobs is coupled with reductions in prices of goods that consumers buy, and these benefits shouldnt be ignored when weighing the tradeoffs involved in protecting domestic production versus free trade. Second, free trade not only reduces jobs in some industries, but it also creates jobs in other industries. This dynamic occurs both because there are usually industries where the domestic producers end up being exporters (which increases employment) and because the increased income held by foreigners who benefited from free trade is at least partly used to buy domestic goods, which also increases employment. The National Security Argument Another common argument against free trade is that it is risky to depend on potentially hostile countries for vital goods and services. Under this argument, certain industries should be protected in the interests of national security. While this argument is also not technically incorrect, it is often applied much more broadly than it should be in order to preserve the interests of producers and special interests at the expense of consumers. The Infant-Industry Argument In some industries, pretty significant learning curves exist such that production efficiency increases rapidly as a company stays in business longer and gets better at what it is doing. In these cases, companies often lobby for temporary protection from international competition so that they can have a chance to catch up and be competitive. Theoretically, these companies should be willing to incur short-term losses if the long-term gains are substantial enough, and thus shouldnt need assistance from the government. In some cases, however, companies are liquidity constrained enough that it cant weather the short-term losses, but, in those cases, it makes more sense for governments to provide liquidity via loans than to provide trade protection. The Strategic-Protection Argument Some proponents of trade restrictions argue that the threat of  tariffs, quotas, and the like can be used as a bargaining chip in international negotiations. In reality, this is often a risky and unproductive strategy, largely because threatening to take action that is not in a nations best interest is often viewed as a non-credible threat. The Unfair-Competition Argument People often like to point out that its not fair to allow competition from other nations because other countries dont necessarily play by the same rules, have the same costs of production, and so on. These people are correct in that its not fair, but what they dont realize is that the lack of fairness actually helps them rather than hurts them. Logically, if another country is taking actions to keep its prices low, domestic consumers benefit from the existence of low-priced imports. Granted, this competition can put some domestic producers out of business, but its important to remember that consumers benefit more than producers lose in exactly the same way as when other countries are playing fair but happen to be able to produce at lower cost anyway. In summary, the typical arguments made against free trade are generally not convincing enough to outweigh the benefits of free trade except in very particular circumstances.

By using ''The Three Ecologies'' by Felix Guattari and '' Essay

By using ''The Three Ecologies'' by Felix Guattari and '' Frankenstein'' to use evidence. find a subject in which the Three ecol - Essay Example As a result, the global world will experience increasing homogenization from the sponsorship of control forces, which he names Integrated World Capitalism. It is under the three relation types (subjective, social and environmental), which constitute the three ecologies under the Guattari’s book title (Ricke, 2012). This article will discuss the environmental impacts of a meat industry. In addition, the essay will focus on the measures that people can take to reduce the environmental disasters and why people fail to act as a group. Guattari indicates that people should think in unison about the three crucial ecologies based on a worldwide scale under the ethico-political point of view as he labels it ecosophy (p. 28). According to Guattari, it is unheard of for people to separate the three ecologies especially because he argues that the divide in culture/nature has fallen down due to technical developments (Ricke, 2012). Extending the meaning of ecology in order to take into co nsideration the human subjectivity, environmental concerns and social relations, â€Å"The Three Ecologies† indicates that all the ecological Earth crisis threatening the planet originates from capitalism's expansion. Therefore, Guattari suggests that people should develop new ecosophical strategies that will respect the distinctions between a living system and another. On this note, it is essential to discuss the environmental impacts of meat production and consumption. Environmental impacts of meat industries By March 2010, the global production of meat tripled, and the trend had been so for three continuous decades. Consequently, by 2020, the meat productions all over the world will double the amount currently (Dosse, 2011). The increasing livestock evolution exerts several impacts not only to the environment, but also to the social life such as environmental destruction, worldwide economy, and impacts on human health. Brief Background Statistics show a shocking aspect by indicating that when a person consumes one pound in meat form, it is equal as leveling fifty-five square feet in terms of rainforest. The production of meat is the leading contributing aspect causing environmental issues in the world such as water crisis, pollution, climate change, rainforest destruction and the diminishing arable farmland (Miller & Spoolman, 2008). In as much as people might gather health advantages of consuming meat, the same not only puts their health at risk, but also indicates a significant danger to the environment in the future. More so, it is crucial to outline some of the key results in the report. Over 1.7 billion livestock in the world constitutes the livestock production, which occupy over a quarter of the entire land on Earth. The production and distribution of animal staple feed takes around a third of the entire arable land. At least forty percent of the worldwide agricultural product from the domestic sources comes from livestock production (Guattari , 2005). The sector of livestock production inclusive of transport and feed production emits at least eighteen percent of the entire greenhouse air pollution through gas emissions in the world (Ricke, 2012). Around 800 million citizens in the US could consume the entire grain that livestock feed. The industries feed their farm animals using at least 70 percent of the grain. Industries consume over a half of the total water consumption in the US for livestock product

Narrative Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Narrative Speech - Essay Example She was an advocate of the post Cold War neoconservative agenda and helped to shape many of the anti-terror policies of the GW Bush administration. Paraphrase: Our freedom is not protected by a strong national defense alone. It requires the support of the intellectuals and academics that define and promote freedom in a way that makes its significance understandable to all men. Only when we understand the meaning of freedom are we able to promote it around the world as a treasure worth fighting for. Narrative: I can still remember that calm summer morning as I sat on the couch and watched a second airplane explode into the side of the Twin Towers. A confused Brian Gumble was reporting live and it was clear by his loss of words that the incident confused him. I instinctively knew that the US was under attack from some foreign enemy, and though as my anger welled up inside me the onrush of thoughts prevented my mouth from speaking. I knew what I wanted to say, but did not know how to say it. Months later as the missiles hit Baghdad I sat in a state of awe of the military might, again I was lost for words, thinking only that revenge was finally on its way. As the war ground on, I felt the smugness of victory and the glory of a position that I still was unable to articulate. When Jeane Kirkpatrick died in 2006, I was reminded of her quote that said, "No government, no foreign policy, is more important to the defense of freedom than are the writers, teachers, communication specialists, researchers - whose responsibility it is to document, illustrate, and explain the human consequence of freedom and unfreedom". I was reminded of all my previous teachers, the average people from average places, who had for years encouraged me to express my self. I suddenly felt driven to "document, illustrate, and explain the human consequence". As I attend school the need to communicate has become a central focus of my college

Reflections of a Pencil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Reflections of a Pencil - Essay Example Teaching is likened to a pencil†¦. funny though, the thought of me being stick thin with a rubber head!...but seriously, like a pencil, everything I do leaves a mark†¦an impression that can be read and emulated by my students. It is important for me to build their trust in me as establish a relationship with them more than just being their teacher. Engaging them in conversations outside the academic subject matter we share during class time and focusing on their own interests would make them feel that I am truly interested in them as persons and not just in the school performance they can give out as students. One example is attending their extra-curricular events. Reaching out to their parents would definitely be beneficial not only to them but also to me. I would get a peep into their home lives and a more holistic view of my students, so I could more appropriately customize my teaching to them. Maintaining good and regular communication with parents gives me a lifeline of support in understanding my students better. Being a good role model not only to the students I teach but to everyone else is a tall order for a fallible creature like me, but that is what is called for as a teacher. Especially to my students, I am to embody what is true and good, a wellspring of values virtues wherefrom the youth can drink to sustain them in the building a good character. Thinking about such a noble task, makes me realize just how far I am from that ideal. Like everyone else, I am still a work in progress and very prone to commit mistakes. I lose my cool, I tend to favor some students over the others, and I don’t do a thorough lesson plan. These mistakes I could correct and rectify just like the pencil as I have become when my trusty rubber head comes in to erase my failures to provide me with a clean slate that can help me start a-fresh.