Water war in the Middle East

Ette mea essays

Ette mea essays The book is divided into seven stories or chapters that are named Mattie Michael, Etta Mae Johnson, Kiswana Browne, Lucielia Louise Turner, Cora Lee, the Two, and the Block Party. This book is about the women who live in the community of Brewster Place, a poor Neighborhood on a dead-end street. The book displays the struggles of all African- American women. Throughout the novel there is a sense of sisterhood and although they had many differences, this is what helps them all to deal with the men who creates their problems. Together they can withstand the pressures of loss and pain that threaten to destroy their lives. There is a male versus female power struggle between the characters in the book I will be talking about Etta Johnson and her relationship with Rev. Moreland Woods. Etta Johnson is looking for a long term relationship that involves marriage. Rev. Woods want a "now and later relationship that involves having sex now and possibly revisiting his partner later without being committed to that person. Rev. Moreland Wood does have totally different motives for their relationship. Etta Johnson is jobless and looking for a man to take care of her. Ettas friend Mattie advised her to meet, "a man who'd be serious about settling down with you"(330) Mattie does not feel that the preacher is a good candidate for marriage, but Etta is content with her efforts to cause the residents of Brewster to, "be humming a different tune when (she show up there the wife of a big preacher"(331) Etta learns that she is used for sex as power it is but not powerful enough to cause the Rev. to want to marry her. Rev. woods is looking for something less committing than marriage. Woods is looking for a one time event and thinks of his encounter with Etta as a game. Rev. Woods calls Etta "worldly woman"(333) and commends her on her knowledge and "understanding the temporary weakness of the flesh and don't make it out to be something bigger tha...

Geo Lab Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Geo Lab Questions - Essay Example Some of the most salient landscape features found in Los Angeles include mountains, rivers and beaches. In fact, the landscape of Los Angeles has created geologic instability in the area. The main types of rocks that influence the landscape of Southern California are the sedimentary rocks located in the region. Research asserts that the Southern California region has numerous petroleum fields which are mainly formed as a result of sedimentary rocks (U.S Department of State, 2012). McWilliams, C. (2009). Southern California: An island on the land. (9th ed.). New York: Peregrine Smith Press. U.S Department of State. (2012). Minerals. Retrieved from http://countrystudies.us/united-states/geography-5.htm Question 4 A plate boundary is defined as the region found at the edge of the lithospheric plates. According to the discipline of geography, there are three types of plate boundaries. They include convergent, transform and divergent boundaries. Transform or conservative boundaries are fo rmed when two plates slide past each other along transform faults. In addition, convergent or destructive boundaries are formed when two plates move towards each other. Lastly, divergent or constructive boundaries are formed when two plates move away from each other (Condie, 2009). The movement of these plates always leads to the formation of certain physical landmarks. For example, Iceland is continually separating along the Mid-Atlantic ridge. These divergent forces are attributed by the American and Eurasian plates. This separation has led to the formation of a new crust. However, researchers claim that soon enough Iceland will be separated into two land masses because of the broadening of the crust (Harden, 2011). Condie, K. (2009). Plate tectonics. United States: Butterworth-Heinemann Press. Harden, D. (2011). California geology. New York: Prentice Hall Press. Question 5 According to experts in the field of geography, there are several types of features that are formed through either wave or wind action. Research proves that there are both soft and hard features that are formed along the coastline (Jervis, 2009). The aspect of softness or hardness of a physical feature formed at the coastline mainly depends on certain phenomenon. For example, a spit can be identified as a soft feature that is mostly found at the coastline. In most cases, spits are located at regions with shallow waters whereby there is a diversion in the direction of a coastline. A spit is normally formed when deposition occurs at the shallow area. As deposition of finer material continues, the spit bulges outwards into the sea and is more visible. In addition, an example of a hard feature is a headland. A headland is formed through wave action whereby the force of the water hits the shore forming a land mass. In some instances, the formation of a headland is also boosted by the chemical content that is contained in the sea water (Haslett, 2009). Jervis, P. (2009). Physical features. Unit ed States: Folen Press. Haslett, S. (2009). Coastal systems. New York: Routledge Press. Question 6 It is factual that hot air balloons operate on the certain physical principles. When the amount of lift in the balloon surpasses gravity, then, it moves upwards. According to most physical theories, hot air balloons are supposed to be launched in the morning. This is because the stable winds allow the balloon to operate effectively. Since balloons move with air, most pilots

SOC 318 question set 2 Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

SOC 318 question set 2 - Research Proposal Example The decline in unionization means the continued expansion of the part-time, temporary, and contingent workforce, less job security, more economic insecurity, and a growing underclass of working poor. The vast majority of people living in poverty in the United States are not the unemployed, but the working poor. More than forty million Americans have no access to health care. Studies show that in industries with a high level of unionization, the wages, benefits, and working conditions of all workers in the same industry improve, whether or not they are unionized. Nonunion employers will frequently match union wages and benefits to maintain a competitive workforce. Conversely, in industries with low levels of unionization, there is much less regulation, and workers have few protections at the workplace. (http://www.jil.go.jp/event/ko_forum/kouenroku/documents/resume.pdf) Choose a leader of the labor movement. Conduct your own Internet research. You may want to search Ceasar Chavez, Jimmy Hoffa, Kate Mullany, Samuel Gompers, Crystal Lee Sutton (Norma Rae) or someone else. Introduce us to the person you have selected and the grievances they had with the workplace. What lessons can be learned from this leader Let's suppose the Department of L... identify three most important challenges facing the extractive industries today, 2. identify the single most underlying cause of these problems, and 3. offer one viable suggestion. Present your report to the class and decide which policy suggestion from the class is most realistic. Three most important challenges facing the extractive industries today are lack of effective communication, low trust for management, and ineffective technical infrastructure.A scenario in which management and employees talk and listen to one another and resolve problems together will increase employees' trust in management. If employees are to believe what the management says, there has to be continuous clear and open verbal and written communication, and this will be done according to a specific strategic plan of action. By not asking, not listening, not talking, not taking action and not opening numerous channels of communication, companies will feed the adversarial relationships that lead to unionization and to slowdowns, walkouts and strikes in companies where unions already are in place. (Harrow, 2004) 4. Hazardous work Based on information from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, how do jobs in the extractive industries rate What three conclusions can you draw regarding the dangers in these workplaces Challenge or confirm the conclusions of your classmates. According to the Workforce Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century Forum, which was hosted in April 2004 by the GAO, the 21st century workforce in the United States is expected to have a very different set of challenges and opportunities than those encountered by previous generations. These observations certainly apply to the extractive

Starting and Developing a New Venture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Starting and Developing a New Venture - Essay Example They have endured a lot and gone through many hurdles but their success is worth the risk they took. Their experiences in their different ventures are very vital for those aspiring to be in entrepreneurship. Although the two entrepreneurs have invested in different field, they have common entrepreneurial traits are attributed to them I regard to their line of work and which may have helped them become insiders and business mogul. All entrepreneurs have many things in common, but every one of them has a unique characteristic (Kaushik, & Bhatnagar, 2009, p.84). Stelios Haji Ioannou a self labeled serial entrepreneur studied Economics and later Shipping, Trade and Finance. He started working for his father and later set up his own shipping company with the capital he was given by his father. Haji started Easy jet in 1995 some years later after being acquitted by courts on charges of poor maintenance, manslaughter, intimidation and attempting to bribe witnesses. Haji held one of his serv ing crew responsible for the accident. On the other hand Richard Branson ventured into business at a tender age of 16. Though Branson had dyslexia and poor academic performance as a student, he later discovered his ability to connect with others. Entrepreneurial characteristics of Richard Branson and Haji Stelios Locus of Control The locus of control is the power in the principle that one can formulate and implement things. Most entrepreneurs have a high locus but in most cases they are poor in delegating duties. They are upbeat when it comes to venturing into business. They tend to be more practical and positive about their business ventures. In 1993, Branson took what most people thought was a very risky: the railway business. This is a good signal that he could do the impossible and make it happen in the practical world. Entering into the railway business for Branson was no weak point on his person but was by far and thick a measure of his ability to make things happen. For Haji taking on his business and making his firm the biggest budget airline corporation in Europe is not a small thing. By engaging in such a big venture against all odds Haji was taking the path often taken by very few people. Locus of control goes beyond setting up a venture and consists of such things like formulation, control and implementation. Branson and Haji are in that breed of entrepreneur who have managed to set themselves up and avail that consistent locus of control. Creativity and Innovation Necessity is the mother of invention. Most entrepreneurs rely on the necessity of a certain group of people. Curiosity and creativity is the quintessence of entrepreneurism. New products, new solutions and new ways are the core of creativity and in general entrepreneurism. It is about willing to think of all possibilities and opening one’s mind to creative things through being inquisitive of what is going on in the world and quite often generating a gimmick of stuff that suggests one’s ability to create new products that other people are afraid of thinking. Branson has been termed as one of the new generation of the creative world. He took products that were already in existence and made them look original. He has revolutionized the airline business by integrating it with other business ventures like the Virgin Fuels and Space tourism. Virgin Fuels was designed to respond to global warming and exploit the insistence spikes in

Use of Moral Hazards in Workplaces

Use of Moral Hazards in Workplaces The use of the term moral hazard has a history of more than 200 years. As Dembe and Boden (2000) showed that, since the 1600s, the term moral hazard is used in the discussion about the possibility of incentives for people under insurance to be less careful to protect themselves or insured goods and the tendency of fraud for obtaining financial benefits from insurance. It first appeared in the economic literature in the 1960s in terms of decision-making under uncertainty. Arrow (1963) and Pauly (1968) are two frequently quoted papers. Arrow (1963) considered moral hazard as one of the problems in the insurance market and pointed out that the assumption that insured events are taken place out of the control of insured individual is not really true in the real life and, therefore, there is not complete insurance market if the uncertainty exits. Pauly (1968) also explained that the moral hazard problem can be analyzed by orthodox economic tools in different kinds of insurance. In the economic literature nowadays, moral hazard is studied in various fields. Dembe and Boden (2000) concluded that there are two major categories of researches on moral hazard. One is originated from the early literature about insurance market; the other is about economic decision-making, such as finance, banking, accounting and management. In the current financial crisis, moral hazard is more frequently discussed and blamed as one of the causes of the banking problem. Summers (2007) claimed that the problem of moral hazard is overrated and warned people be aware of moral hazard fundamentalism. Dowd (2009) disagreed and believed that the problem is underrated and should be taken seriously. Dowd discussed the policy failures in the US financial industry in regards of moral hazard. Dow (2010) analysed the concept of moral hazard in relation to the financial crisis and concluded that there is immoral behaviour in financial market but the problem should go further than conventional understanding. The rest of the essay is organised as follows. In the second section, the definitions and nature of moral hazard are discussed. In section three, examples will be provided and analysed. I will also describe the ways to overcome these problems in the fourth section. 2. What is Moral Hazard? Moral hazard is defined in various ways in different aspects. The earliest explanation is from the perspective of insurance sector. Marshall (1976) provided the definition as any misallocation of resources which results when risks are insured with normal insurance contracts and only with such contracts. Briefly, moral hazard as the risky behaviour an insured individual may act because of the insurance cover. There are two kinds of moral hazard in insurance field. One of them is ex ante moral hazard, which is the risky behaviour itself. In this situation, the insured will act risky, which results in more payment by the insurer for the negative consequence. The other one is ex post moral hazard. This is the type of behaviour that people change their reaction of risk when insurance is provided or enlarged to cover their cost. Moral hazard can be also explained in terms of agent-principle problem. Dowd (2009) defined moral hazard as the potential behaviour that one party who is in the behalf of another party puts his own interest first. This definition is often used in management area. It is considered as the consequence of asymmetric information. Michael Parkin (2010) explained this as follows: In some markets, either the buyers or the sellers- usually the sellers- are better informed about the value of the item being traded than the person on the other side of the market. Information about the value of the item being traded that is possessed by only buyers or sellers is called private information. And a market in which the buyers or sellers have private information has asymmetric information. Asymmetric information causes two problems: adverse selection and moral hazard. Moral hazard is the tendency for people with private information, after entering into an agreement, to use that information for their own benefit and at the cost of the less-informed party. 3. Examples of Moral Hazard There are many cases about the moral hazard problem in insurance market. An example provided by Stiglitz (1997) is about the auto insurance in New Jersey. In the 1980s, New Jersey was considered to have the worst problem on auto insurance. It had no upper limit on the medical costs that could be claimed from any accident and the state even provided auto insurance, Joint Underwriting Authority (JUA), to drivers who are too risky to get insurance from private companies at a similar rate for the less risky drivers. The state suffered a big loss by its insurance policy. The traffic accident rate and car theft rate were much higher than most of other states. Drivers took more risky behaviour when they are insured against medical treatments and car theft. The JUA had accumulated a $3 billion deficit at the end of the 1980s and extra taxed were needed to cover the loss which brought big problem to the government. In finance and banking industry, moral hazard also can be found in various cases. Too big to fail banks speculative investment banking activities are guaranteed by the government, because their failure will influent the whole economy. The belief that they will always be rescued from collapse causes these big banks to take greater risks in their lending policies in search of higher returns. Another example of moral hazard problem in banking industry is that bankers encourage borrowing which is not in the customers best interest. In many business, bankers act as both lenders and financial advisors for their customers because of their financial expertise. Cases such as bankers provide advises in their own best interest rather than customers can be found. In many banks incentive systems, bankers can get bonus by lending more to customers, but will get no or an insignificant amount of penalties when the lending is not beneficial to customers or the debt cannot be collected. This would pro bably result in customers or banks losses which has little impact on the bankers individual benefits. Similar examples can be found in management area. Managers who act on the behalf of shareholders to operate the companies would take risky and short-term oriented strategies which could maximise their own benefits at the cost of shareholders. Managers whose payment is related to the companys profit would possibly carry out operation policy which would increase the profit within his employment period but might not create shareholders wealthy in the long run; some managers who hold the companys stock option might try to boom the stock price by fraud. These are all considered as moral hazard problems which come from the agency problem and the asymmetric information. The most famous example is probably the fall of Enron in which not only the governance and incentive of management were involved, auditing, fund management and financial analysts also played a part which can be considered immoral in this case. 4. Some Further Discussion In this section, after taking examples of moral hazard problem from different aspects, what they have in common are discussed. The question why moral hazard is considered as a problem will be analysed and possible solutions to these examples are also be provided. (1) Common features and negative consequence of moral hazard First of all, at least two parties are involved. In the examples of insurance, the two parties are the insurer (insurance companies or the state) and the insured party. In the banking examples, the problem is between banks and the state or bankers and customers. And in terms of management, it comes to agent (managers) and principle (shareholders). Secondly, one partys interest is guaranteed, which encourages taking higher risk. The loss of the insured party can be partly covered by the insurance no matter how risky his behaviour is. Similar feature is showed in the cases of banking and management, although they do have some risk management system to limit the risk within certain extent. Additionally, the highly risky behaviour of one party is difficult to or cannot be controlled by the other party. An auto insurance provider is impossible to control every insured drivers driving speed. Not all customers of banks and shareholders of companies have a clear view of what their agent (bankers and managers) are doing because of lacking private information and professional knowledge. Whats more, these moral hazard problems result in the cost of others and could lead to misallocation of social resources. The case of New Jersey auto insurance in the 1980s, the fall of Enron in 2001 and the recent banking crisis all caused huge social costs and brought economy problems. (2) Can these problems be overcome? Dowd (2009) suggested that measures that limit and eliminate moral hazard should be welcomed to reduce excessive risk-taking practice; and those create moral hazard should be avoid. Generally, a risk management system should be built. For example, insurance companies insure ones property up to a certain percentage of its replacement cost rather than fully cover it. Therefore, even if a big part of the risk is taken over, the insured party will still be worse off if bad thing happened. And this will encourage them to reduce their risk-taking behaviour. In Pauly (1968), deductibles and coinsurance are suggested to reduce the moral hazard. Deductible is an insurance in which an amount should be paid by the insured before the insurer will cover any expenses. Coinsurance is a sharing of risk between insurer and insured. Both methods aim to splitting and spreading the risk among the two or more parties involved in moral hazard problem. In Dowd (2009), he argued that the state support should be removed from banking and banks should survive on their own strength in order to remove the moral hazard. However, this would not be possible in practice. More essentially, the size of too big to fail banks should be cut down or controlled at a limited level. Moreover, better performance measurement and incentive system should be introduced. Credit rating by bankers should be carried out more effectively and bankers should bear the risk of their behaviour and get penalties for bad debt at an amount that is high enough to warn them to avoid the excessive risk. In terms of management, long-term performance measurement should be taken from the shareholders perspective; regulations that require more transparent disclosure are also highly required. Conclusion In this essay, definition of moral hazard and examples from insurance, banking and management perspectives are discussed. The commons of these examples include the parties involved in the moral hazard, the uncontrollable risky behaviour of one party whose benefits are guaranteed and the social costs which the problem brings. Risk measurement and control system should be built to reduce moral hazard problem. Solutions such as risk-sharing insurance, significant penalties of bad debt and long-term performance measurement are suggested.

How ATVs Work Essay -- essays research papers

Thesis statement: All terrain vehicles are helpful and useful and I will explain how they work and how to fix them in this paper. Outline: Inn this paper I will discuss ATV’s and general knowledge and getting them wet. I also will discuss their origin and how they need care and how to keep them doing good for a long time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What is an ATV? It is an All Terrain Vehicle, also called three or four wheelers. It is also called a quad or ATV. An ATV is built to go where other vehicles cannot go. ATV’s are also built to handle a lot of stress and abuse. ATV’s are virtually indestructible; however, they have a few weaknesses and it is important to know and understand those few weaknesses. You should always do a complete check of your ATV before riding . Second, ATV’s also provide power and speed. There are also amphibian ATV’s that float and go like a boat. ATV’s were first â€Å"work† vehicles for telephone and electrical linemen and other types of people. They used the ATV’s to get from one pole to another that went over difficult terrain where 4x4 trucks could not go. (Estrem ATV’s 10)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Second, you do not need a special permit or driver’s license to drive a ATV although special training is recommend by several manufacturers and some even give seminars and free classes. I believe that some company’s give cash back to people who take classes. I ,myself, have not taken any of these classes. There are no age limits or restrictions because these are not operated on public streets, roads or highways. ATV’s are â€Å"Off-road† machines. There is also safety gear to protect you from harm. These accessories include helmets, gloves, boots, chest protectors and so on. (Estrem ATV’s 10-11) Third, ATV’s need some type of power plant to propel them. The types of power plants that are most common are the two stroke engine and the four stroke engine (A stroke is one movement of the piston Microsoft Encarta 96 Internal Combustion Engine). The general principle of the two-stroke engine is to shorten the periods in which fuel is put into the combustion chamber and in which the spent gases are exhausted to a small fraction of the duration of a stroke instead of allowing each of these operations to occupy a full stroke. In the simplest type of two-stroke engine, the poppet valves are replaced by sleeve valves or ports (openings in t... ...fied Buggy class. At home on sand, dirt, or the surface of Mars, these competition-designed vehicles spend as much time on their roll bars as they do on their tires. The series will feature another buggy class called the Stadium Lites. The Lites are an ultra-quick, lightweight version of the Supers and are based on Honda's Odessey/Pilot line of full roll cage ATVs. Finally, the Stadium Thunder Bikes will wow the crowd with high-flying action. These big, bad, four-stroke bikes are the same machines used from Baja to Supercross. (Internet VIA America Online Internet Provider)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Conclusion ATV’s are fun yet dangerous. ATV’s require a lot of care and maintenance but they will give you a good feeling in life that cannot be matched. I have discussed Water damage and how to prevent it, good riding spots and how to care for the major parts of your ATV. I have also told about the the renewed interest of ATV stadium riding and racing. I have not tried this but it may be fun. Please though observe all rules and safety protocols to prevent injury or death. If you respect the laws and use common sense and care ATV riding and racing can be an enjoyable experience.

Britian during the First World War and The Social and Welfare

First World War How did women contribute to the war effort? Suffragist and suffragette member took men's places In Jobs when the men went overseas to fight. Hundreds and thousands of women were employed In munitions factories, in the transport system (conductors on buses and trams), employed as laborers on farms, as nurses and in offices a secretaries and receptionists. This was a crucial part of the war effort as it kept the country going. How were civilians affected by the war?During the war the government: Rationed food Civilian land was taken over by the government for food production diluted so people wouldn't get drunk British summertime was also introduced Beer was This was all under the Jurisdiction of the Defense of Realms Act (DORA) which was Introduced by the government In 1914. British summertime was Introduced so there were longer hours meaning that people could work for longer. Under DORA people could not discuss military affairs. How effective was Government propaganda during the war?A form of censorship was adopted in war time Britain, the government only allowed retain things in newspapers to be printed. Soldier's letters from the front were also censored. Posters were published to encourage the civilian morale. What was the attitude of the British people at the end of the war towards Germany and the Paris peace conference? During the war there were millions of deaths of soldiers on the front, and many permanently maimed by the war. The civilians were angry and wanted Germany to pay: a headline from a newspaper was ‘make Germany pay.British Depth study: social and welfare reform What were working and living conditions like for the poor in the 1 sass? Pollution: there was a large amount of pollution in cities due to the amount of coal burnt Overcrowding: large amounts of people were moving into cities to find Jobs, low wages and high rents meant families found the smallest places to live Disease: there were major epidemics all around Londo n due to overcrowding, low standard housing and poor quality water supplies Waste disposal: litter filled the streets along with horse manure. Human waste flowed into sewers and then Into the rivers.The free school meals were not compulsory but by the end of 1914 a large amount of he population were getting one good meal a day The pensions act meant that many of the elderly were kept out of the work house but it was refused to people who had never worked before Many of the Jobs that were in the exchange act were temporary or part time and the amount of Jobs available didn't increased The national insurance act was a good safety net for people who had fallen ill or were unemployed however they had to pay money out of their wages and wasn't enough for the whole family to live on Free medical treatment was only available to the wage earner

Nacthez essays

Nacthez essays The extravagant Natchez Nation stretched from what is now North Carolina to Arkansas during the times prior to the founding of the New World. They controlled numerous areas along both sides of the lower Mississippi River. (Barnett) The Natchez are a predecessor to the Moscogee or Creek Confederacy. Upon the arrival of the European settlers, the new diseases such as influenza, small pox, and cholera forced the Natchez as well as many other provincial nations to retreat back into Native American territory. (K.T. (Hutke) Fields) The Natchez could be given credit to the thousands upon thousands of valiant warriors who chased the crumbling and divided Spanish army under the leadership of Hernando de Sotos descendant Luis Moscoso de Alvarado. March 1682 sparked the beginnings of a relationship between the Natchez and the Europeans. Rene Robert Cavelier and his French expedition were the beginnings of what would from a distinct animosity between the people of the Natchez nation and the Fre nch. Shortly thereafter Fort Rosalie at Natchez was formed. This formed various disagreements between both the Natchez and the French. Fighting between both nations started which pushed the scattered remnants of the Natchez nation west. Many citizens went to live with their brethrens in the adjoining nations of the Chickasaws, Creeks, and Cherokees. (George Sabo III) The interactions with the different ethnicities such as the Africans and Europeans changed both the world of the new world and old world for better or for worse. As aforementioned the Natchez were one of the many mound building civilizations of the Mississippi Valley. The Natchez had a social organization that was basically based on the relationship of the members of the Great Sun. (George Sabo III) The community leader or Great Sun managed all tribal affairs. He was also the principal war chief. Virtually one could think of the Great Sun as the living God. (K.T. (Hutke) Fields) H...

The Divine Right of Kings and Humanism Essays

The Divine Right of Kings and Humanism Essays The Divine Right of Kings and Humanism Paper The Divine Right of Kings and Humanism Paper custom and precedent). In the middle of the 17th century, the English Royalist squire Sir Robert Filmer likewise held that the state was a family and that the king was a father, but he claimed, in an interpretation of Scripture, that Adam was the first king and that Charles I (reigned 1625–49) ruled England as Adams eldest heir. The antiabsolutist philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) wrote his First Treatise of Civil Government (1689) in order to refute such arguments. The doctrine of divine right can be dangerous for both church and state. For the state it suggests that secular authority is conferred, and can therefore be removed, by the church, and for the church it implies that kings have a direct relationship to God and may therefore dictate to ecclesiastical rulers. The most commonly studied form of absolutism is absolute monarchy, which originated in early modern Europe and was based on the strong individual leaders of the new nation-states that were created at the breakup of the medieval order. The power of these states was closely associated with the power of their rulers; to strengthen both, it was necessary to curtail the restraints on centralized government that had been exercised by the church, feudal lords, and medieval customary law. By claiming the absolute authority of the state against such former restraints, the monarch as head of state claimed his own absolute authority. By the 16th century monarchical absolutism prevailed in much of western Europe, and it was widespread in the 17th and 18th centuries. Besides France, whose absolutism was epitomized by Louis XIV, absolutism existed in a variety of other European countries, including Spain, Prussia, and Austria. The most common defense of monarchical absolutism, known as â€Å"the divine right of kings† theory, asserted that kings derived their authority from God. This view could justify even tyrannical rule as divinely ordained punishment, administered by rulers, for human sinfulness. In its origins, the divine-right theory may be traced to the medieval conception of Gods award of temporal power to the political ruler, while spiritual power was given to the head of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the new national monarchs asserted their authority in all matters and tended to become heads of church as well as of state, as did King Henry VIII when he became head of the newly created Church of England in the 16th century. Their power was absolute in a way that was impossible to achieve for medieval monarchs, who were confronted by a church that was essentially a rival centre of authority. The English humanists English humanism flourished in two stages: the first a basically academic movement that had its roots in the 15th century and culminated in the work of Sir Thomas More, Sir Thomas Elyot, and Roger Ascham, the second a poetic revolution led by Sir Philip Sidney and William Shakespeare. Though continental humanists had held court positions since the days of Humphrey of Gloucester, English humanism as a distinct phenomenon did not emerge until late in the 15th century. At Oxford William Grocyn (c. 446–1519) and his student Thomas Linacre (c. 1460–1524) gave impetus to a tradition of classical studies that would permanently influence English culture. Grocyn and Linacre attended Politians lectures at the Platonic Academy of Florence. Returning to Oxford, they became central figures in a group that included such younger scholars as John Colet (1466/67–1519) and William Lily (1468? –1522). The humanistic contributions of the Oxford group wer e philological and institutional rather than philosophical or literary. Grocyn ectured on Greek and theology; Linacre produced several works on Latin grammar and translated Galen into Latin. To Linacre is owed the foundation of the Royal College of Physicians; to Colet, the foundation of St. Pauls School, London. Colet collaborated with Lily (the first headmaster of St. Pauls) and Erasmus in writing the schools constitution, and together the three scholars produced a Latin grammar (known alternately as â€Å"Lilys Grammar† and the â€Å"Eton Grammar†) that would be central to English education for decades to come. In Sir Thomas More (1478–1535), Sir Thomas Elyot (c. 490–1546), and Roger Ascham (1515–68), English humanism bore fruit in major literary achievement. Educated at Oxford (where he read Greek with Linacre), More was also influenced by Erasmus, who wrote The Praise of Folly (Latin Moriae encomium) at Mores house and named the book punningly after his English friend. Mores famous Utopia, a kind of companion piece to The Praise of Folly, is similarly satirical of traditional institutions (Book I) but offers, as an imaginary alternative, a model society based on reason and nature (Book II). Reminiscent of Erasmus and Valla, Mores Utopians eschew the rigorous cultivation of virtue and enjoy moderate pleasures, believing that â€Å"Nature herself prescribes a life of joy (that is, pleasure)† and seeing no contradiction between earthly enjoyment and religious piety. Significantly indebted both to classical thought and European humanism, the Utopia is also humanistic in its implied thesis that politics begins and ends with humanity: that politics is based exclusively on human nature and aimed exclusively at human happiness. Sir Thomas Elyot chose a narrower subject but developed it in more detail. His great work, The Book Named The Governor, is a lengthy treatise on the virtues to be cultivated by statesmen. Born of the same tradition that produced The Prince and The Courtier, The Governor is typical of English humanism in its emphasis on the accommodation of both classical and Christian virtues within a single moral view. Elyots other contributions to English humanism include philosophical dialogues, moral essays, translations of ancient and contemporary writers (including Isocrates and Pico), an important Latin-English dictionary, and a highly popular health manual. He served his country as ambassador to the court of Charles V. Finally, the humanistic educational program set up at the turn of the century was vigorously supported by Sir John Cheke (1514–57) and codified by his student Roger Ascham. Aschams famous pedagogical manual, The Schoolmaster, offers not only a complete program of humanistic education but also an evocation of the ideals toward which that education was directed. Ascham had been tutor to the young princess Elizabeth, whose personal education was a model of humanistic pedagogy and whose writings and patronage bespoke great love of learning. Elizabeth Is reign (1558–1603) saw the last concerted expression of humanistic ideas. Elizabethan humanism, which added a unique element to the history of the movement, was the product not of pedagogues and philologists but of poets and playwrights. wsu. edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/DIVRIGHT. HTM http://history. wisc. edu/sommerville/351/351-172. htm historyguide. org/intellect/humanism. html wsu. edu/~dee/REN/HUMANISM. HTM

Adult Program Design Part II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Adult Program Design Part II - Essay Example But the systems in every business also need to be audited in terms of their suitability and credibility. Before a business can be audited, it is wise to construct an audit design that will aid in the process of audit and not only look at the existing flow of transactions and their recording and reporting on financial statements and other records, but also recommend improvements and needed changes that will serve in terms of clarity, veracity and meet the laws and principles of the land. In this assignment we are going to design tests of controls, substantive tests of transactions, and analytical procedures for the acquisition and payment of the business called Apollo Shoes. The Acquisitions and Payments Process at Apollo Shoes It Is evident that we can only design an audit procedure or process around the existing flow of transactions and their processes at Apollo Shoes. Only in the case of massive fraud or circumstances warranting a detailed investigation would the complete revamping of existing procedures be understandable. According to the present Accounting and Control Procedure Manual as indicated in the Case Study details, all cash disbursements /payments are made by check, signed by the Treasurer, including those for petty cash transactions. Checks are always made out to a defined payee, never to cash. Blank checks remain in the custody of the Accounts Payable Department and the treasurer is not allowed to sign blank checks. Additionally, we see that checks are recorded in the cash disbursements journal using the date of the check, and in the general journal using the month of the check as a factor for recording these entries. Internal Control Procedures While it appears from the case study material especially the accounting and control procedure manual that some degree of internal control has been maintained over cash disbursements/ payments process, there are a few comments to be made. One factor is the separation of ownership and control. Since the tre asurer himself signs most of the checks, he can very well make them out to a fictitious vendor and then pocket the money himself after opening up an account in that name. The case of Comptronix as reported in Chapter 19 of the text indicates that collusion between unscrupulous individuals even in top management is not unheard of (Arens et al., 2006). Enron is another case in point. Secondly, the recording of transactions as per date made out on the check leaves some room for error and can result in reconciliation difficulties with the bank statement, as this is a common practice with nearly every business. It is better if a simple chronological order is followed date-wise in recording every transaction of whatever nature so that there is no ambiguity on this account. Concerning the purchase of fixed assets, the approval for the same is usually made in advance by top management. This ensures that they have approved the purchase. Budgetary allocation of funds is also evident, and all excesses of 10% or above to be signed off by the Treasurer. Payments once again are to be made by check. The automatic treatment of fixed assets of value of $5,000 and above as capital expenditure is questionable, and should be looked at on a case to case basis. Assessing Risk Factors Connected with the Acquisitions and Payment Process The risk factor involved due to concentration of the signing of all checks by the Treasurer has been indicated above. It is better that a combination of two signatures be required on every disbursed check. One can be the Head of Department or VP of the section of the business to which the check pertains, and the other would be the Treasurer. The

Compare and Contrast the customs of Mexican Americans and Puerto Term Paper

Compare and Contrast the customs of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans - Term Paper Example There are as many Puerto Ricans living in the United States than those living in the small island that has a population of four million (CountryWatch, 2011). Puerto Rico became property of the United States back in 1898 after the United States won the Spaniard-American war. A common trait between both ethnicities is that they are typically bilingual (English / Spanish). The Spanish spoken by Puerto Ricans is a bit different than the Spanish spoken by Mexican Americans in terms of words and accent. The parents of Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans teach their kids Spanish at home and Spanish is often spoken in their households. Both races are sports fanatics. In boxing there is a big rivalry between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. The Oscar De la Hoya vs. Tito Trinidad bout at the time was the biggest revenue generating non heavyweight pay per view bout in the history of boxing. Oscar De La Hoya is the most successful Mexican American fighter in the history of boxing. Baseball is the national pastime of Puerto Ricans, while many Mexican Americans prefer to play soccer. The tourism and travel tendencies of the two groups are different as Puerto Ricans often travel back and forth from the mainland US to the island of Puerto Rico. Sometimes Mexican Americans due to immigration issues of their parents do not travel as much back and forth. When they travel Puerto Ricans do not have to worry about foreign exchange considerations since Puerto Rico shares the same currency with the United States. Both ethnic groups believe a lot in the value of being a good host to their guests. Offering food and drinks to guests is a mutual custom of both groups of Latinos. The traditional foods of each Latino group are very different. Mexican Americans often eat a diet associated with floor tortillas, corn, refried beans, and rice, and chilies, spices, vegetables, beef, and cheese (CultureGrams, 2011). In Puerto Rico the most common meal is