Free Essays on Aspirations To Get Ahead

The American Dream is based on independence the â€Å"Declaration of Independence†. We believe that all people are born with these rights, freedom to achieve the American Dream. In â€Å"The Death of a Salesman†, by Arthur Miller and â€Å"A Doll’s House†, by Henrik Ibsen both portray two people who realized their independence when they were at the end of their rope. Most of Miller’s play is directly or indirectly about the American Dream, because, ultimately this dream wasn’t going to succeed as lots of people wished. Death of a Salesman is a moving destruction of the whole myth. To be hard working, honest and have ambition were the ways of the American Dream. This will only lead to success, wealth and in due time – power. But the dream for everyone developed and encouraged greed, selfish behavior, pride and rivalry between one another. Willie Loman, in â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, has lived his life in pursuit of the American dream. Traditionally the American dream meant opportunity and freedom for all, and Willie believed that. However, hard work could not earn him everything that he wanted or thought he deserved. In order to obtain the American Dream and himself he had to accumulate wealth and objects. The consumer oriented society in which Willy’s life will not allow him to live the American Dream. In â€Å"A Doll’s House† Nora’s husband treats her like a child. And in turn she acts somewhat like a child, innocent and naà ¯ve. She’s has three children, but they are not being raised by her. No one really takes her seriously, because she walks around as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. All this changes once Krogstad threatens to tell Nora’s husband her secret she becomes fearful and fears her whole peaceful life is about to come to end. Drastically she thinks of ways to resolve the problem. She contemplated leaving her husband, children or committing suicide, but she could never kill herself. ... Free Essays on Aspirations To Get Ahead Free Essays on Aspirations To Get Ahead The American Dream is based on independence the â€Å"Declaration of Independence†. We believe that all people are born with these rights, freedom to achieve the American Dream. In â€Å"The Death of a Salesman†, by Arthur Miller and â€Å"A Doll’s House†, by Henrik Ibsen both portray two people who realized their independence when they were at the end of their rope. Most of Miller’s play is directly or indirectly about the American Dream, because, ultimately this dream wasn’t going to succeed as lots of people wished. Death of a Salesman is a moving destruction of the whole myth. To be hard working, honest and have ambition were the ways of the American Dream. This will only lead to success, wealth and in due time – power. But the dream for everyone developed and encouraged greed, selfish behavior, pride and rivalry between one another. Willie Loman, in â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, has lived his life in pursuit of the American dream. Traditionally the American dream meant opportunity and freedom for all, and Willie believed that. However, hard work could not earn him everything that he wanted or thought he deserved. In order to obtain the American Dream and himself he had to accumulate wealth and objects. The consumer oriented society in which Willy’s life will not allow him to live the American Dream. In â€Å"A Doll’s House† Nora’s husband treats her like a child. And in turn she acts somewhat like a child, innocent and naà ¯ve. She’s has three children, but they are not being raised by her. No one really takes her seriously, because she walks around as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. All this changes once Krogstad threatens to tell Nora’s husband her secret she becomes fearful and fears her whole peaceful life is about to come to end. Drastically she thinks of ways to resolve the problem. She contemplated leaving her husband, children or committing suicide, but she could never kill herself. ...

My Building-Block Approach to Writing a Novel

My Building-Block Approach to Writing a Novel My Building-Block Approach to Writing a Novel Dan Burns is the author of A Fine Line and Recalled to Life. He is also an award-winning writer for the screen and stage. In this article, Dan talks about overcoming the â€Å"where do I start?† question that plagues many writers at the onset of their career. His advice for overcoming that doubt? Start small, and see where your story takes you. Stop asking, â€Å"Where do I start?† and just startMany people talk about being a writer but have difficulty actually getting started. Writing is hard, and often the ideas are there but the approach is elusive. Where do I start?  I get that: it’s scary to put yourself out there and not see your ideas pan out the way you want them to. That’s why I recommend starting small and building on an idea over time. This approach helps me maintain my status as a working writer and overcome roadblocks. If putting your ideas out there scares you, start small and build your story slowly. As for Sebastian Drake, he continues to bug me to write as his story still has so much room for growth. I can only imagine where he’ll take me next.A Fine Line  is available in hard cover  and on  Amazon Kindle.For more information, visit Dan Burns' website.Please  share your thoughts, experiences, or any questions for Dan Burns, in the comments below!

Coffee And The Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coffee And The Environment - Essay Example Pros of Coffee To the farmers, large-scale production of coffee resulted to fear trade. In Brazil, investments in coffee production began in 1970.Coffee production dramatically changed the lives of the thousands of small-scale farmers in Brazil. Production of coffee leads to deregulation, privatization and liberalization of agricultural production process in growing of coffee. Therefore, it leads to high production of coffee in the country (Cleland, P. 11). Value of Pros According to Masood Sadiq, and Tauseef Sultan coffee is one of the greatest sources of antioxidant. The Authors have also stated that black coffee, without milk or cream, has a low-calorie count (364).The calorie count of black coffee is two calories. However, only two cups of black coffee would be beneficial and taking more than two would be introducing a high level of caffeine in the body. In addition, other health benefits that are associated with drinking coffee are it protects against type II diabetes, liver cancer, and Parkinson disease. Cons of Coffee Coffee farming has several cons to the environment. The first problem associated with coffee farming is soil erosion. According to the author, countries like in Brazil have faced a significant challenge in coffee farming because of soil erosion. Most of the farms in Brazil and the crops were grown along the slope. It maximizes soil erosion has the water quickly moves down the slope carrying way the top soil. The soiled water also pollutes the available water bodies.

Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 21

Report - Essay Example The data for the analysis of the situation was collected through interviews and administration of questionnaires. The criteria for decision making was based on a comprehensive comparison of the information given by the various participants in the study. However, the entire process for the investigations was not that smooth. For instance, some interviewees were unwilling to respond to questions presented, and some confessed that they were afraid of giving information due to the repercussions that might follow. This report focuses on evaluating the problem of drug abuse among the company’s employees and provide the way forward in solving the problem. Apparently, the report seeks to survey the addiction challenge among the company’s employees. The illegal use of drugs has resulted in dwindling performance of the company’s employees. As a result, the profits have reduced significantly following a reduction in the quality of output. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the causes of the increased cases of illegal and institute policies that will facilitate the formulation of effective policies that can counter the issue of illegal use of drugs. Most employs of the company have been reported to engage in the illegal use of drugs. In essence, a recent survey revealed that the performance of individual employees has fallen below average. Most employees advocate for drug testing for joining the company’s workforce. However, a substantial number to the survey participants advocated for drug testing once an employ is suspected to be under the influence of drug abuse. An analysis of the company’s workforce situation reveals that the failure by the management to establish effective policies for monitoring employees’ behavior while within the company’s premises (Fernando, et al.  7). In essence, the established

The Warrior Maiden Essay Example for Free

The Warrior Maiden Essay The Oneida tribe is a Native American people that belong to the Iroquois Confederacy, which settled originally in upstate New York. The name that the people give themselves is derived from Onayotekaono, meaning the People of the Upright Stone. The story of the Warrior Maiden is not necessarily specific to the Oneida tribe, but it is actually a rather common legend among the Native American peoples. However, the story is to be found in different versions that are, for their most part, dissimilar and adapted to the particular tradition of each tribe. The Southern tribes, such as the Hopi people who are based in Mexico, have an almost entirely different version of the Warrior Maiden story. The Oneida version of this legend offers a memorable and very beautiful example of a true heroine: the young maiden, named Aliquipiso saves the Oneidas from their rival tribe, the Mingos, through unsurpassed courage and self-sacrifice. The legend has a great significance for the history and the culture of the Iroquois and of the Oneida people especially. Thus, first of all, the story gives an example of a perfect heroine of the people, a maiden that was respected not only by those that knew her and saw her brave heart and her pure spirit, but also by all the following generations that remembered her name. Aliquipiso literally saves her people from dying of hunger, during a war with their most dangerous enemies, the Mingos. The legend is set evidently to a time before the arrival of the white colonizers. As the story has it, after a devastating invasion, the Oneida people found refuge from their enemies in the depths of the forests, in caves and desolate mountains where they were indeed protected but where they could die of hunger because of the lack of provisions. The only option for the tribe seemed to be either to perish in their hiding places by starving or to go out and get killed by their invaders. During the council, the young maiden named Aliquipiso came forward and told them that she herself is willing to sacrifice her life i n order to lure the Mingos up to where the Oneida people were hiding, and thus get them all killed and deliver her people. The warrior maiden acts according to her plan, and, in order to enhance her credibility in the eyes of the enemies, she even takes the fire torture that the latter submit her too, pretending to surrender in the end because of the unbearable pain. Her valor and her willingness to be  sacrificed for the safety of her people are so great that she lets herself be killed in the attack along with the enemy tribe, as it was inevitable. Thus, the warrior maiden stands out as an example of wisdom, courage, purity (as the fact that she was a maiden indicates), moral integrity and self-sacrifice in the name of her people. The young woman fits therefore a pattern common to most of the Native American legends: she represents strength combined with purity, as the title that is given to her also indicates. She is a maiden, therefore she is morally and spiritually intact, but at the same time, her modesty is combined with the absolute strength given by her limitless courage. These two essential qualities obviously hint at the heroic ideal according to the Oneida culture and tradition. Also, the warrior maiden is a model for her people and she represents national pride. Besides the notion of heroic ideal, the legend of the Warrior Maiden contains a very significant allusion to the very foundations of the Oneida culture. Thus, the very name of the tribe is derived, as already indicated, from the phrase People of the Upright Stone. The plot of the story becomes thus very symbolic: the enemies are destroyed with the help of the maiden that lures them to the secret and inaccessible hidings of the Oneidas, by crushing them with giant rocks fell from the mountain top. This particular means of destruction can be interpreted as a hint to the title that the tribe gives itself: the phrase upright stone has multiple interpretations, ranging from the idea of uprightness, justice and correctness, to that of unbeatable and crushing strength given by the moral force and purity of the members of the tribe: We are hiding on top of a high, sheer cliff. Above us, the mountain is covered with boulders and heavy sharp rocks. You warriors wait and watch here. I will go t o the Mingos and lead them to the spot at the foot of the cliff where they all can be crushed and destroyed.(Erdoes and Ortiz, 253)A third and even more significant connection between the legend of the Warrior Maiden and the traditional culture of the tribe is the fact that the Iroquois societies were, for their most part, matriarchies. Thus, for example, the council of the tribe was chosen by the clan mothers or matriarchs, the female leaders of the people. Moreover, the gendered division of the labors and attributions of each tribe member also hint at the strong tradition of the Oneida that gave a favored  place to women in society: Iroquois societies were strongly matrilineal: women controlled agricultural lands, the election of leaders and, to some extent, warfare [†¦] The gender-based division of labor made women responsible for agricultural work and housekeeping, while men hunted, fished, and traded, although there were also women traders. Government and warfare [†¦] were also male activities although the clan mothers heavily influenced decision-making. It is essential to note therefore that in the Iroquois society women had very important roles: besides the fact that they were wives, mothers and housekeepers they also controlled agricultural work, and to some extent, warfare. Women thus played an active part in society, as influential leaders. In this context, the legend is easier to interpret: the Oneida, as a people that honors women will be expected to give them a special place in their mythology. Thus, the warrior maiden takes here the place of a true leader of the people and a commander that orders the attack on the Mingos and thus, in a way, she plays the part of a man also: The Mingos crowded together in a dense mass with the girl in the center. Then Aliquipiso uttered a piercing cry: Oneidas! The enemies are here! Destroy them!(Erdoes and Ortiz, 253) The warrior maiden becomes a symbol of the brave women, as the story tells us: The Great Mystery changed Aliquipisos hair into woodbine, which the Oneidas call running hairs and which is a good medicine. From her body sprang honeysuckle, which to this day is known among her people as the blood of brave women.'(Erdoes and Ortiz, 253) The warrior maiden hair and body transform into woodbine and honeysuc kle respectively, both of which are considered to be medicinal plants that have a great healing power. As it is widely known, for most of the Native American cultures, the plants play a very important role in medicine but also in various types of religious rituals and invocations of the spirits. Moreover, the metamorphosis of the maiden into these plants is in concordance with the strong agricultural tradition of the Iroquois. The transformation of the maiden into these two plants also signals the status that the warrior maiden has inside the Oneida culture: she is much more than a heroine; she is a mythological figure, symbolizing the purity and the strength of the female. The maiden is also, like most of the legendary heroes, an embodiment of the divinity, the Great Spirit in this case, which speaks and acts through her as the members of the clan acknowledge: The  Great Spirit has blessed you, Aliquipiso, with courage and wisdom, he said. We, your people, will always remember you.(Erdoes and Ortiz, 253) The legendary figure of the maiden is thus a symbol, something for the future generations to remember with honor and to set as an example: The story of the girls courage and self-sacrifice was told and retold wherever Oneidas sat around their campfires, and will be handed down from grandparent to grandchild as long as there are Oneidas on this earth.(Erdoes and Ortiz, 253) She is at once the pure maiden, the matron, the chosen heroine inspired by the Great Spirit, and a courageous warrior. The fact that it is a woman who saves the whole people from perishing in the hands of the enemy tribe is very significant. Although women were not associated with physical strength or with skills on the battlefield, they are praised and honored for their spiritual qualities and their purity. This combination between purity and strength demonstrates that one of the most important characteristics of the Oneida culture is the belief that physical or mere heroic strength is not the greatest virtue. Perfection comes thus from the spirit or wisdom, paired with honor and courage and the devotion to noble causes. Thus, the warrior maiden is a symbol for many different virtues that put together form the perfect heroine. The legend itself tells very significant things about the Native Indian cultures in general and the Oneida culture in particular. The story offers at once hints to the heroic ideal of the Iroquois, to the cult of the female gender specific to some Native American peoples and to the metaphoric significance of the tribes name. The most important conclusion to be derived from the analysis of the story is therefore the fact that there is a tight connection between the legend and the values and ideals specific to the Oneidas. Other versions of the Warrior Maiden legend, such as the variant told by the Hopi tribe, also render the image of feminine modesty combined with spiritual strength. In the Hopi tradition, the maiden actually fights against the enemies of her people, because she is left alone at home with her mother, who at the time of the attack was just combing her hair. Once more, this feminine detail emphasizes the delicacy of the maiden, as well as her hidden strength. Thus, although the details of the plot differ, the main contention of both the Oneida and the Hopi versions of the legend is that strength can come from the spirit,  as well as from the body. The legend thus demonstrates the importance of the female cult for the Native Americans, to the extent that these people have created a mythology to explain female braveness. Works Cited: Erdoes, Richard and Alfonso Ortiz. American Indian Myths and Legends. New York: Pantheon Fairy Tales and Folklore Library, 1984. Oneida Culture. Indian Country Wisconsin. http://www.mpm.edu/wirp/ICW-57.htmlOneida Culture and Language. http://www.native-languages.org/oneida.htm

Americas First Serial Killer :: essays research papers

In a later time, Minnie R. Williams would have been called a â€Å"Dallas girl.† She grew up in Big D, received a quality education at Boston’s Conservatory of Elocution and she had money. The money came following the death of the kindly rich uncle who had taken her in as an orphan. Minnie inherited his estate, including some real estate in Fort Worth appraised at nearly $50,000. After her out-of-state schooling, Minnie lived in Dallas with her sister Nannie (who had been raised by another uncle) before deciding to return to Boston for additional studies. While there, she met a good looking fellow named Harry Gordon. In addition to being handsome, he was smart. And, like Minnie, he had money – or at least said he did. Smitten from the start, Minnie soon signed letters to her sister as Mrs. Harry Gordon. The newlyweds moved to Chicago in March 1893. Later that spring, Minnie wrote Nannie and asked her to come to Chicago to see the world’s fair then under way. The sister arrived in June. In early July, Nannie wrote her aunt that she, Minnie and her new brother-in-law planned to visit Europe. That letter, written July 4, 1893, was the last time anyone ever heard from either of the two sisters. Later that summer, their relatives engaged the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency to find the two young women. Meanwhile, an affable Midwesterner got off the train in Fort Worth to handle a little financial business. At the Tarrant County Clerk’s office he filed a deed signed over to him by his wife, Minnie Williams Gordon, preparatory to making improvements to the property. Gordon soon hired a contractor to build an expensive three-story stone and frame building on the lot. With construction still under way, Gordon borrowed $20,000, using his real estate and the planned improvements as collateral. But Gordon seemed to have trouble making the loan payments. Before long, he borrowed something else – someone’s horse – and â€Å"consolidated† his debt by riding that horse out of state with most of the bank’s $20,000 in his pocket. The Pinkerton men on the case succeeded in unraveling it, tracing Gordon to Boston. When Bean Town police arrested him on Nov. 17, 1894, he confessed to scamming folks in Texas. But he did not confess all at first. When he lived in Chicago, he said, â€Å"I fell in with a typewriter girl [Minnie] and furnished a house on the outskirts of the city, where we lived together.

Web – Based Library System

Overview of the Current State of Technology 1. 2. Local Literature De La Salle University Library System Migration: A Strategic Decision Library automation at DLSU-Manila had undergone a gradual but steady development. It started in 1985 when it implemented the MINISIS software/Hewlett Packard 3000 hardware package. The system was able to create 11,000 bibliographic records for Filipiniana and Reference collections. The massive hardware maintenance problem led to a management decision to phase out the system in 1988. At the later part of the same year MINISIS was replaced by its micro version known as CDS-ISIS.The software with one stand-alone XT computer facility automated the indexing of articles from more than 100 locally published periodicals including newspapers, magazines, and journals. Additional databases were created as the number of computers increased. The index became searchable simultaneously by several users when the computer facilities were networked in 1992. In the sa me year the CD-ROM technology was introduced for information retrieval of selected indexes and abstracts.Perla T. Garcia, Director of DLSU Library (2004) states the reasons for changes: * Technical Development and Vendor Stability Networking * Expansion of Databases â€Å"Despite the struggle the DLSU Library encountered in running the system during the first two years the circulation module was successfully implemented in February 1997. Toward the end of the decade the system was upgraded incorporating the suggestions made by the participating libraries. The new version was renamed T-Series which enhanced the loan process and improved the other information management functions of the earlier edition. † [1] The upgraded version of the system has become an inevitable feature at DLSU Library.However, when it was established that the vendor of the system has closed shop and has merged with another company, the University Library started to work on the future of the library syste m that can be considered to replace T-Series. These reasons are provided for the new system that will replace the T-series. Ateneo De Manila University Professional Library Information System The Library Information System uses a Local Area Network (LAN) for data retrieval handled by five file servers housed in the Intermediate Distribution Function Room (IDFR).Its resources can be accessed thru 24 client stations strategically distributed within the Library and other stations located in different offices in APS such as AHRC, CLE and the Dean of the Law School. In-house databases and commercial databases on CD-ROMs can be accessed by pressing the key letter guide displayed alongside each menu. In the Reference Services, the reference librarian also provides reference assistance to library clients in the most effective use of the library resources and services, aside from conducting guidance to legal bibliography for law students.To provide a plentiful supply of good and useful books in support of its academic curricula is the main goal of the library. Teresita C. Moran, APS Chief Librarian (2004) states the APS Library system features: Online Public Access Catalog This is a catalog where library books, theses, computer files, law materials housed at the Teehankee Library inclusive of uncatalogued but accessioned materials such as serials, law and business periodicals, cases decided by the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Philippine laws. Features: Search limits to format (any,books, maps, computer files, etc. ) – Search limits to field (any title,author, subject, etc. ) – Use both simple and complex algorithm using Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT, etc. ) -It provides user-controlled sort (by title,author,publisher, etc. ) – Work in conjunction with other modules – Provide safe environment to deal with potentially malicious users – Easily update for users convenience and accommodate their library needs – It provides sel ection and print options – Browse matches found in brief and full detail OPAC users are able to benefit greatly from up-to-date information – Patron can see actual Circulation status whether the item is on shelf, on loan, etc. – Password protected [2] WebPAC The Web Public Access Catalog is a guide to all the information sources to all the information sources of the library: books, compact discs, educational video tapes, theses, journals/serials, laws, legal cases and journal articles through simple search by author, title and subject.Features: – It enables the user to search any author, subject, title and publisher – Specify year from-to Get current information from the library’s local database – Includes matches found in your query – Full MARC record display – Applies to any standard internet browser (e. g. Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer) [3] The APS Library operates in an open stack set up. It adapted two ma jor systems of classifying book collections: first is the Library of Congress (LC) Classification system. This system is applied to Business and Information Technology holdings; second is the Los Angeles County Law Library Classifications (LACCLLC) scheme, which applies to the law holdings.Business and law journals are not classified as such but simply arranged alphabetically by title. The â€Å"The† code is the general classification used for both business and law theses. University of the Philippines iLib (Integrated Library System) â€Å"Technically, iLib is implemented in client-server architecture. In this configuration, all application programs run in the server (except for JavaScripts) and the user communicates with the server using a web browser, called the â€Å"thin client† in this architecture. No application is required to be installed in the user’s workstation other than the web browser to be able to use the system.All software updates, bug fixes, and enhancements are implemented in the server which can take effect immediately without requiring any updates or adjustments from the user’s end. † [4] Just like any common web-based systems, users can interact with the iLib system using a keyboard and mouse. Most interfaces in iLib require the user to key-in information in HTML forms using the keyboard and submit form data by clicking the â€Å"submit† buttons with a mouse. In most cases, hitting the â€Å"Enter† key (carriage return) from the keyboard can also trigger form submission.Arellano University Library System â€Å"The University Library comprises the following collections and services: Circulation Unit (foreign books on all fields of interest); Filipiniana Unit (books locally published in the Philippines, books written by Filipino author and books about the Philippines); Periodicals Unit (collection includes journals and magazines in various fields of interest); Reference Unit (collection of reference materials such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbook, almanac, geographical sources, etc. ; Audio-Visual Unit (a collection of audio-visual materials such as CD-ROM, VHS tapes & cassette tapes) and the Graduate School Unit (collection of books for post graduate level together with the thesis collection for reference purposes). As part of the library system, the adoption of computerized version of card catalog commonly known as OPAC (On-line Public Access Catalog) is used by the patrons as a medium of searching the library collection. † Arellano University library system offers different amenities and learning tools in comfortable environments which is intended for the greater benefit and convenience of its students.That is why they have improved their library with the use of OPAC to provide the users easiness and swiftly find what they are looking for. Far Eastern University Library System â€Å"The University Library is an indispensable educational and cultu ral repository. Refurbished and inaugurated on February 16, 1991 it has a book collection of more than 96,988 volumes and subscription to thousands of titles of magazines and journals in hard copies and in electronic format accessible through the EBSCO host Research Databases.The collection of books and other information resources fall under the following areas (easily accessible through the Online Public Access Catalog. † The FEU University Library aspires to be a leading academic information resource center and to be a dynamic partner in the University’s vision to develop responsible and well informed professionals who can contribute to the advancement of the global society. As usual nowadays, they provide an OPAC for easier researching of information from their libraries. 1. Foreign Literature Proposal for a University of Tennessee Digital Library Center James B. Lloyd (Special Collections Librarian and Chair, Digital Library Committee) and Bill Britten (Head of Libr ary Systems, John C. Hodges Library) (2001) states: â€Å"All students, faculty, and researchers would benefit in a variety of ways because the digital format broadens and deepens access exponentially. All of the digital library content would be available to any number of authorized users at one time, no matter their location.Materials would be available for distance research and distance education. Access to digital content could be provided in ways that are simply not possible in the traditional environment. Text can be available fully searchable through natural language, multimedia can be nested, references can be linked to other references, reference tools can be digitized and used to organize digital collections, etc. A digital library serves all of the constituents of the University in new and better ways by enhancing the research potential ofUniversity faculty on all campuses while also serving the needs of distance education. † [3] The DLC will be a catalyst for chang e by creating the organizational and technical building blocks that allow the campus to conceive of new ways of creating, accessing, and applying information resources to research and teaching. It will select, produce, and maintain a wide range of networked resources for scholars and students at UT and elsewhere.It will collaborate with University information technology professionals and research faculty to capitalize on institutional capabilities by focusing University resources on digital library projects that support the teaching and research of UT faculty, support the learning and research of UT students, and foster research about the digital library. An Intelligent Digital Library System for Biological Data Jeffrey E. Stone et al (2005) To make personalized service possible, a â€Å"user profile† representing the preferences of an individual user is constructed based upon past activities, goals indicated by the user, and options. Utilizing these user profiles, our system will make relevant information available to the user in an appropriate form, amount, and level of detail, and especially with minimal user effort. † [4] Due to the goal to serve the users better, a â€Å"user profile† is provided in the system. The user can personalized it and will have the ability to explore the system without much effort.It also allows the user to make feedbacks about the system, so that the system will know about the user’s areas of interest. The system is designed to act as a helper for the user who visits the digital library to find relevant information, with particular attention to the newly developed and modified documents in it. State University of New York Library System The Office of Library and Information Services in SUNY (1999) states their objectives about the library system.It includes: * Consortia-based capabilities such as union catalog and non-mediated requesting of library materials. * Excellent performance for all participati ng libraries. * Ability of the consortia to distribute the system across different servers, provide real-time mirroring of essential data, and permit the pooling of systems staff across the libraries. * The ability for the system to support the combined transaction load of SUNY libraries on all 64 campuses. A state-of-the-art integrated library system that provides access to public services, collection management, and technical services functions.* A system that enables each campus to view and maintain its own data with local control of profile and security configurations. * The ability to effectively convert data from the existing library systems into a new format that will preserve and insure its continued development and preservation, as well as the ability to migrate data to new generations of library systems. Allow for the integration of electronic resources that are made available through the SUNYConnect initiative (e. g. , bibliographic and full-text databases, image database s, electronic journals, etc. ). * To provide a means of, or an interface to, user authentication and user authorization vis-a-vis the SUNY-wide borrowing of library materials.* The ability to exploit emerging technologies and information resources to raise the level of library services, facilitate an increase in staff productivity, and improve effectiveness. 5] These objectives are made because SUNY is committed to providing exceptional library and information services to the university community by implementing an integrated library management system of superior functionality and cost efficiency. These are the type of functionality the SUNY libraries are seeking to incorporate. In short, this proposed system is part of the SUNYConnect virtual library initiative to provide access to the entire SUNY library collection via a common library management system and to enable patron-initiated remote borrowing.Harvard’s Library Digital Initiative: Building a First Generation Digital Library Infrastructure â€Å"Harvard University has funded a 5-year project to build a first generation production infrastructure to support digital library collections. Key project activities include education and consulting on core digital library issues (metadata, technical formats, reformatting, legal issues, preservation, interfaces and access), defining an overall technical framework, and the development of a core set of systems to support digital collections (catalogs and access tools, repositories, user interfaces, access management, and naming).A significant portion of the funding has been allocated to grants to University units for contents projects, intended to inform and test the developing infrastructure. † [6] Harvard University has a large and unusually decentralized library system. Information technology and shared information systems have been used increasingly in the past two decades to bring coherence to library services while maintaining the independence o f the University's hundred or so libraries.Two years ago a task force of faculty, librarians, and administrative deans proposed that the University administration fund a project to: (1) make Harvard's growing digital collections coherent and easy to use, through the development of a common framework and infrastructure, through communication and coordination, and through the use of incentives for collaborative work; (2) avoid wasteful duplicative development of digital library systems across the many independent departments of the University; (3) help curators build digital research collections through education, expert advice, the provision of core services, and the development of a technical infrastructure; and (4) integrate the new digital collections with Harvard's strong traditional collections. Tokyo University Library System â€Å"OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) / Multilingual OPAC You can search the resources using the OPAC system for journals held in entire University l ibraries, and books acquired in/after 1985. They are currently in the process of incorporating the materials acquired before 1985 into their electronic system. † [7]The  University of Tokyo Library  in Tokyo, Japan, consists of the General Library, which provides services for all students and researchers affiliated with the university, Komaba Library, which supports the studies of the first two years of undergraduate education, Kashiwa Library, which functions as the back number center for natural science materials, as well as more than 60 faculty/institution libraries in various academic fields. The library has the largest collection in  Japan, holding a total of over 8,000,000 books. Using the OPAC, the students can easily find what they need for their research and studies. The university is still maintaining the system to improve the services to provide for the users.

Studying History Is a Waste of Time

Studying history is a waste of time because it prevents us from focusing on the challenges of the present. People live in this present. They plan for and worry about the future. History, however, is the study of the past. Given all the demands that press in from living in the present and anticipating what is yet to come, the speaker concludes that studying history is a waste of time because it distracts us from current challenges. However, I do not agree with this opinion because history is essential to individuals and our society. In the first place, history helps us understand people and societies. It offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave. Understanding the operations of people and societies is difficult, though a number of disciplines make the attempt. An exclusive reliance on current data would needlessly handicap our efforts. How can we evaluate war if the nation is at peace—unless we use historical materials? How can we understand genius, the influence of technological innovation, or the role that beliefs play in shaping family life, if we don’t use what we know about experiences in the past? Some social scientists attempt to formulate laws or theories about human behavior. But even these resources depend on historical information, except for limited, often artificial cases in which experiments can be devised to determine how people act. Major aspects of a society’s operation, like mass election, missionary activities, or military alliance, cannot be set up as precise experiments. Consequently, history must serve, however imperfectly, as our laboratory, and data from the past must be served as our most vital evidence in the unavoidable quest to figure out why our complex species behave as it does in societal settings. This fundamentally, is why we cannot stay away from history: it offers the only extensive evidential base for the contemplation and analysis of how societies function, and people need to have some sense of how societies function simply to run their lives. The second reason history is inescapable as a subject of serious study follows closely on the first. The past causes the present, and so the future. Any time we try to know why something happened—whether a shift in political party dominance in the American Congress, a major change in the teenage suicide rate, or a war in Iraq – we have to look for factors that took shape earlier. Sometimes, fairly recent history will suffice to explain a major development, but often we need to look further back to identify the causes of change. Only through studying history can we grasp how things change; only through history can we begin to comprehend the factors that cause change; and only through history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society persist despite change.

Guide to Present Tenses for ESL

Guide to Present Tenses for ESL The Basics: Present Tenses: There are two present tenses: The present simple and the present continuous. The two tenses are quite different. Generally, the present simple is used to refer to everyday habits that you have. Use the present simple to talk about activities or routines which take place on a regular basis. Tom takes the A train to work every day.Peter usually gets home at seven in the evening. The present continuous is usually used to refer to events happening at the present moment in time. Theyre doing their homework at the moment.Marys playing tennis with Tom at the club right now. Present Simple Structure: Positive Subject Verb Objects I, You, We, They - eat lunch at noon. Subject Verb s Objects He, She, It - works well in any situation. Negative S do not (dont) Verb Objects I, You, We, They - dont enjoy opera. S does not (doesnt) Verb Objects He, She, It - doesnt belong to the club. Questions (Why, What, etc.) do S Verb Objects? Do - I, you, we, they - work in this town? (Why, What, etc.) does S Verb Objects? Does - he, she, it - live in this city? Present Continuous Structure: Positive Subject conjugate the helping verb be verb -ing. Im, Youre, Hes, Shes, Were, Youre, Theyre - working today. Negative Subject conjugate the helping verb be not verb -ing. Im not, You arent, He isnt, She isnt, We arent, You arent, They arent - coming this evening. Questions Question word conjugate the helping verb be subject verb -ing What - are you, they - doing this afternoon?What - is he, she - doing this afternoon? Study Present Tenses in Depth: Here are detailed guides to the present simple and the present continuous tenses. Each guide provides situations, common time expressions used with the tense, as well as examples. These guides were prepared especially for beginners and include dialogues and a short quiz. Present Simple for Beginners Its also important to know how to use adverbs of frequency with the present simple. Adverbs of frequency such as usually, often, etc. are used to tell how often you do something. I often go out on Saturday nights.They usually take the bus to work. Test Your Knowledge of Present Tenses: Once youve studied the rules - or if you already know the rules - test your knowledge: Adverbs of Frequency Quiz Teach a Lesson about the Present Tenses: There are five absolute beginner lessons related to the present simple on the site: Lesson for the present simple positive formLesson for the present simple negative formLesson on present simple question formLesson on using adverbs of frequency with the present simpleLesson on talking about daily habits with the present simple These lessons are great for helping students learn by rote, rather than through grammar exercises and serve as a good introduction to the tenses for false beginners. For the present continuous, here is a descriptive activity helping learners use the present continuous. Activities Concerning Present Tenses: Here are some fun classroom games that you can use in class, or on your own which will help you with giving instructions. Simon SaysColored Lego Blocks Finally, this grammar chant will help you practice the present simple - especially the third person singular (he, she, it)

Affirmative Action Overview

Affirmative Action Overview Affirmative action refers to policies that try to correct past discrimination in hiring, university admissions, and other candidate selection. The necessity of affirmative action is often debated. The concept of affirmative action is that positive steps should be taken to ensure equality, instead of ignoring discrimination or waiting for society to fix itself. Affirmative action becomes controversial when it is perceived as giving preference to minorities or women over other qualified candidates. The Origin of Affirmative Action Programs Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy used the phrase â€Å"affirmative action† in 1961. In an executive order, President Kennedy required federal contractors to â€Å"take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed†¦without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.† In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson issued an order that used the same language to call for nondiscrimination in government employment.  Ã‚   It was not until 1967 that President Johnson addressed sex discrimination. He issued another executive order on October 13, 1967. It expanded his previous order and required the government’s equal opportunity programs to â€Å"expressly embrace discrimination on account of sex† as they worked toward equality. The Need for Affirmative Action The legislation of the 1960s was part of a larger climate of seeking equality and justice for all members of society. Segregation had been legal for decades after the end of slavery. President Johnson argued for affirmative action: if two men were running a race, he said, but one had his legs bound together in shackles, they could not achieve a fair result by simply removing the shackles. Instead, the man who had been in chains should be allowed to make up the missing yards from the time he was bound. If striking down segregation laws could not instantly solve the problem, then positive steps of affirmative action could be used to achieve what President Johnson called â€Å"equality of result.† Some opponents of affirmative action saw it as a â€Å"quota† system that unfairly demanded a certain number of minority candidates be hired no matter how qualified the competing white male candidate was. Affirmative action brought up different issues concerning women in the workplace.  There was little protest of women in traditional â€Å"women’s jobs†- secretaries, nurses, elementary school teachers, etc. As more women began to work in jobs that had not been traditional women’s jobs, there was an outcry that giving a job to a woman over a qualified male candidate would be â€Å"taking† the job from the man. The men needed the job, was the argument, but the women did not need to work. In her 1979 essay â€Å"The Importance of Work,† Gloria Steinem rejected the notion that women should not work if they do not â€Å"have to. She pointed out the double standard that employers never ask men with children at home if they need the job for which they are applying. She also argued that many women do, in fact, â€Å"need† their jobs. Work is a human right, not a male right, she wrote, and she criticized the false argument that independence for women is a luxury. New and Evolving Controversies Has affirmative action corrected past inequality? During the 1970s, the controversy over affirmative action often surfaced around the issues of government hiring and equal employment opportunity. Later, the affirmative action debate shifted away from the workplace and toward college admissions decisions. It has thus shifted away from women and back to a debate over race. There are roughly equal numbers of men and women admitted to higher education programs, and women have not been the focus of university admissions arguments. U.S. Supreme Court decisions have examined the affirmative action policies of competitive state schools such as the University of California and the University of Michigan. Although strict quotas have been struck down, a university admissions committee may consider minority status as one of many factors in admissions decisions as it selects a diverse student body.   Still Necessary? The Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Liberation Movement achieved a radical transformation of what society accepted as normal. It is often difficult for subsequent generations to understand the need for affirmative action. They may have grown up intuitively knowing that â€Å"you can’t discriminate because that’s illegal!†Ã‚   While some opponents say affirmative action is outdated, others find that women still face a â€Å"glass ceiling† that prevents them from advancing past a certain point in the workplace.   Many organizations continue to promote inclusive policies, whether or not they use the term â€Å"affirmative action.† They fight discrimination on the basis of disability, sexual orientation, or family status (mothers or women who may become pregnant). Amid calls for a race-blind, neutral society, the debate over affirmative action continues.

Financial Controls of Logistics Performance Assignment

Financial Controls of Logistics Performance - Assignment Example 8. Why is it difficult to obtain logistics cost data in many firms? Logistics costs are essential factors that influence the market competitiveness of firms and countries. Reducing logistic costs is bound to reduce the total costs of both goods and services. However, the attainment of logistics cost data is relatively difficult for most companies. This is primarily as a consequence of the lack of sufficient logistics cost information as a result of poor logistics management activities. Firstly, there is no unified definition of logistics cost (Bokor, 2012). The lack of uniformity with regards to defining logistics costs, as well as methods used in the calculation of logistics cost affects the acquisition of logistics data. Since the definition of logistics cost is incoherent, it is, therefore, tricky to compare the findings of logistics costs. In addition, it is difficult to acquire logistics data because the cost component is mostly not standardized. The limited standardization of c ost measurement deters the standardized acceptability of logistics data. In addition, difficulties emerge due to the hardships encountered in the collection of transparent information. On a micro level, a vast majority of firms publish cost data to serve their accounting needs, as well as external requirements such as government taxation (Pohlen, Klammer & Cokins, 2009). These produce an inhibitor to cost transparency throughout the data collection process. The accounting needs of firms often inhibit cost transparency, resulting in deficient information, disparities in the allocation of costs such as overhead costs and a narrow outlook of the concept of cost management. 9. Explain the four methods that can be used for controlling logistics activities. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? 1. Standard Cost Standards are utilized as an integral part of flexible budgeting processes. One of the greatest advantages of standard cost is the provision of the most effective mana gement controls. Standard costs are typically ascertained from industrial engineering studies in which logisticians assess work activities and operations in order to realize effective and practical operating rates for different tasks. Another major advantage of standard costs is that they can be created for diverse logistics functions, including warehousing and transportation, as well as other logistical components and levels such as individual work activities and logistics sub-functions (Voortman, 2004). However, standard costs have the disadvantage of inapplicability in case of increased costs of doing business, for instance, increased transportation. 2. Budgets Budgets are quite effective in terms of monitoring, as well as controlling costs. In some instances, the utilization of standards is not needed. This is particularly the case for tasks, which are repeated infrequently. Another advantage is that budgets control business processes and costs in a highly effective manner. Nota bly, the effectiveness of a budget is based on the anticipation of cost patterns. Budgets are also advantageous since they are adjustable to reflect shifts in operating conditions, consequently, companies utilize budgets to control costs in most areas (Bokor, 2012). However, budgets can also deter effective implementation of innovative business ideas that entail more costs than those placed in the budget. 3. Productivity Standards Productivity standards are highly applicable when standard costs are unavailable