Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain

â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Brien is a story based on the grunts of Vietnam. The fear, death, and dishonor experienced by soldiers in Vietnam. What about the heartbreaking struggles of gay generations past and present who have dealt with the war on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the threat of getting Human Immune Virus (HIV), and the â€Å"dishonor† of dying from an unknown disease? How many gay men and women have attended the funeral of a significant other or friend who has died of AIDS? Homosexual men and women have felt the threat of dishonor and judgments just like the soldiers of Vietnam. This paper compares the burden of the Vietnam soldier to those living and dying with AIDS. Gays have been in the military as far back as World War II, some may say as far back as the time of Julius Caesar (Goldwater). Tim O’Brien describes the pounds and ounces of the items that every soldier carried in combat as well as the personal weight of the items each man carried. Likewise, the gay soldier also carried the weight of the â€Å"P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gun, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches ,sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, two or three cans of water† and much more. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross was able to carry the 10 ounce love letters from his â€Å"friend† Martha. Could the gay soldier carry the weight of such precious cargo? No, the military may be screening for sex perverts, gay letters written in code, or fearing homosexual witch hunts conducted by superiors. â€Å"Humping† day in and day out through land mines just like every other â€Å"grunt or leg† in Vietnam. Soldiers; gay men and women not only went through the land mines of Vietnam, they have gone through the land mines of the 80’s, 90’s and today. Beginning in the 80’s with the advent of â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tel... Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain Free Essays on Finding Strength In Pain â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Brien is a story based on the grunts of Vietnam. The fear, death, and dishonor experienced by soldiers in Vietnam. What about the heartbreaking struggles of gay generations past and present who have dealt with the war on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the threat of getting Human Immune Virus (HIV), and the â€Å"dishonor† of dying from an unknown disease? How many gay men and women have attended the funeral of a significant other or friend who has died of AIDS? Homosexual men and women have felt the threat of dishonor and judgments just like the soldiers of Vietnam. This paper compares the burden of the Vietnam soldier to those living and dying with AIDS. Gays have been in the military as far back as World War II, some may say as far back as the time of Julius Caesar (Goldwater). Tim O’Brien describes the pounds and ounces of the items that every soldier carried in combat as well as the personal weight of the items each man carried. Likewise, the gay soldier also carried the weight of the â€Å"P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gun, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches ,sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, two or three cans of water† and much more. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross was able to carry the 10 ounce love letters from his â€Å"friend† Martha. Could the gay soldier carry the weight of such precious cargo? No, the military may be screening for sex perverts, gay letters written in code, or fearing homosexual witch hunts conducted by superiors. â€Å"Humping† day in and day out through land mines just like every other â€Å"grunt or leg† in Vietnam. Soldiers; gay men and women not only went through the land mines of Vietnam, they have gone through the land mines of the 80’s, 90’s and today. Beginning in the 80’s with the advent of â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tel...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

History and Origins of Wheat Domestication

History and Origins of Wheat Domestication Wheat is a grain crop with some 25,000 different cultivars in the world today. It was domesticated at least 12,000 years ago, created from a still-living ancestor plant known as emmer. Wild emmer (reported variously as T. araraticum, T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides, or T. dicocoides), is a predominantly self-pollinating, winter annual grass of the Poaceae family and Triticeae tribe. It is distributed throughout the Near Eastern Fertile Crescent, including the modern countries of Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, eastern Turkey, western Iran, and northern Iraq. It grows in sporadic and semi-isolated patches and does best in regions with long, hot dry summers and short mild, wet winters with fluctuating rainfall. Emmer grows in diverse habitats from 100 m (330 ft) below sea level to 1700 m (5,500 ft) above, and can survive on between 200–1,300 mm (7.8–66 in) of annual precipitation. Wheat Varieties Most of the 25,000 different forms of modern wheat are varieties of two broad groups, called common wheat and durum wheat. Common or bread wheat Triticum aestivum accounts for some 95 percent of all the consumed wheat in the world today; the other five percent is made up of durum or hard wheat T. turgidum ssp. durum, used in pasta and semolina products. Bread and durum wheat are both domesticated forms of wild emmer wheat. Spelt (T. spelta) and Timopheevs wheat (T. timopheevii) were also developed from emmer wheats by the late Neolithic period, but neither has much of a market today. Another early form of wheat called einkorn (T. monococcum) was domesticated at about the same time but has limited distribution today. Origins of Wheat The origins of our modern wheat, according to genetics and archaeological studies, are found in the Karacadag mountain region of what is today southeastern Turkey- emmer and einkorn wheats are two of the classic eight founder crops of the origins of agriculture. The earliest known use of emmer was gathered from wild patches by the people who lived at the Ohalo II archaeological site in Israel, about 23,000 years ago. The earliest cultivated emmer has been found in the southern Levant (Netiv Hagdud, Tell Aswad, other Pre-Pottery Neolithic A sites); while einkorn is found in the northern Levant (Abu Hureyra, Mureybet, Jerf el Ahmar, Gà ¶bekli Tepe). Changes During Domestication The main differences between the wild forms and domesticated wheat are that domesticated forms have larger seeds with hulls and a non-shattering rachis. When wild wheat is ripe, the rachis- the stem that keeps the wheat shafts together- shatters so that the seeds can disperse themselves. Without hulls, they germinate rapidly. But that naturally useful brittleness doesnt suit humans, who prefer to harvest wheat from the plant rather than off the surrounding earth. One possible way that might have occurred is that farmers harvested wheat after it was ripe, but before it self-dispersed, thereby collecting only the wheat that was still attached to the plant. By planting those seeds the next season, the farmers were perpetuating plants that had later-breaking rachises. Other traits apparently selected for include spike size, growing season, plant height, and grain size. According to French botanist Agathe Roucou and colleagues, the domestication process also caused multiple changes in the plant that were generated indirectly. Compared to emmer wheat, modern wheat has shorter leaf longevity, and a higher net rate of photosynthesis, leaf production rate, and nitrogen content. Modern wheat cultivars also have a shallower root system, with a larger proportion of fine roots, investing biomass above rather than below ground. Ancient forms have built-in coordination between above and below ground functioning, but the human selection of other traits has forced the plant to reconfigure and build new networks. How Long Did Domestication Take? One of the ongoing arguments about wheat is the length of time it took for the domestication process to complete. Some scholars argue for a fairly rapid process, of a few centuries; while others argue that the process from cultivation to domestication took up to 5,000 years. The evidence is abundant that by about 10,400 years ago, domesticated wheat was in widespread use throughout the Levant region; but when that started is up for debate. The earliest evidence for both domesticated einkorn and emmer wheat found to date was at the Syrian site of Abu Hureyra, in occupation layers dated to the Late Epi-paleolithic period, the beginning of the Younger Dryas, ca 13,000–12,000 cal BP; some scholars have argued, however, that the evidence does not show deliberate cultivation at this time, although it does indicate a broadening of the diet base to include a reliance on wild grains including the wheat. Spread Around the Globe: Bouldnor Cliff The distribution of wheat outside of its place of origin is part of the process known as Neolithicization. The culture generally associated with the introduction of wheat and other crops from Asia to Europe is generally the Lindearbandkeramik (LBK) culture, which may have been made up of part immigrant farmers and part local hunter-gatherers adapting new technologies. LBK is typically dated in Europe between 5400–4900 BCE. However, recent DNA studies at Bouldnor Cliff peat bog off the northern coast of mainland England have identified ancient DNA from what was apparently domesticated wheat. Wheat seeds, fragments, and pollen were not found at Bouldnor Cliff, but the DNA sequences from the sediment match Near Eastern wheat, genetically different from LBK forms. Further tests at Bouldnor Cliff have identified a submerged Mesolithic site, 16 m (52 ft) below sea level. The sediments were laid down about 8,000 years ago, several centuries earlier than the European LBK sites. Scholars suggest that the wheat got to Britain by boat. Other scholars have questioned the date, and the aDNA identification, saying it was in too good a condition to be that old. But additional experiments run by British evolutionary geneticist Robin Allaby and preliminarily reported in Watson (2018) have shown that ancient DNA from undersea sediments is more pristine than that from other contexts.   Sources Avni, Raz, et al. Wild Emmer Genome Architecture and Diversity Elucidate Wheat Evolution and Domestication. Science, vol. 357, no. 6346, 2017, pp. 93–97. Print.International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium. A Chromosome-Based Draft Sequence of the Hexaploid Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Genome. Science, vol. 345, no. 6194, 2014. Print.Fuller, Dorian Q, and Leilani Lucas. Adapting Crops, Landscapes, and Food Choices: Patterns in the Dispersal of Domesticated Plants across Eurasia. Human Dispersal and Species Movement: From Prehistory to the Present. Eds. Boivin, Nicole, Rà ©my Crassard and Michael D. Petraglia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. 304–31. Print.Huang, Lin, et al. Evolution and Adaptation of Wild Emmer Wheat Populations to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses. Annual Review of Phytopathology, vol. 54, no. 1, 2016, pp. 279–301. Print.Kirleis, Wiebke, and Elske Fischer. Neolithic Cultivation of Tetraploid Free Threshing Wheat in Denmark and Nort hern Germany: Implications for Crop Diversity and Societal Dynamics of the Funnel Beaker Culture. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 23, no.1, 2014, pp. 81–96. Print. Larson, Greger. How Wheat Came to Britain. Science, vol. 347, no.6225, 2015. Print.Marcussen, Thomas, et al. Ancient Hybridizations among the Ancestral Genomes of Bread Wheat. Science, vol. 345, no. 6194, 2014. Print.Martin, Lucie. Plant Economy and Territory Exploitation in the Alps During the Neolithic (5000–4200  cal Bc): First Results of Archaeobotanical Studies in the Valais (Switzerland). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 24, no. 1, 2015, pp. 63–73. Print.Roucou, Agathe, et al. Shifts in Plant Functional Strategies over the Course of Wheat Domestication. Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 55, no. 1, 2017, pp. 25–37. Print. Smith, Oliver, et al. Sedimentary DNA from a Submerged Site Reveals Wheat in the British Isles 8000 Years Ago. Science, vol. 347, no. 6225, 2015, pp. 998–1001. Print.Watson, Traci. Inner Workings: Fishing for Artifacts beneath the Waves. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 115, no. 2, 2018, pp. 231-33. Pr int.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

New Small Business Competes With Google, Bing and Yahoo Essay

New Small Business Competes With Google, Bing and Yahoo - Essay Example Gabriel Weinberg has established a mechanized that maximizes on the needs of its users, unlike the other search engines. A vast majority of search engines comprise of numerous ads that surround relevant pages, and personalized tracking. Gabriel Weinberg way was different from other search engines. He sought out to address the concerns of consumers that had queries while using these search engines. Gabriel Weinberg’s search engine proves to be a long time competitor to Google and other search engine. There is factual information to back this reasoning. Currently European and U.S officials have already begun criticizing practices that are considered to be monopolistic in nature. Google and other bigger search have been considered to be selective with regards to their star results. These are considered to favor some businesses and elbow out competitors. Additionally Gabriel Weinberg venture maintains that it will not track its users. A combination of these factors sheds light to the future. It is evident that this search engine will last and still be a long term foe to bigger search engines. As of late, the future holds good tidings for Gabriel Weinberg search engine over established ones. One major fact stands; it is a major threat to bigger search engines. Should Google not review their systems, facts prove that they may not be in

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Cultural Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Cultural Identity - Essay Example It creates a certain stereotype that is more often not well justified or has no basis at all. My cultural identity is shaped and influenced by an ancient cultural Chinese tradition of filial obedience based on the teachings of Confucius, a feeling of belonging and affiliation with the entire Chinese nation, including the overseas Chinese in many other countries, and it is because of the Chinese civilization being the oldest continuously existing civilization in the world today, with its unique language (the most difficult to learn and master) and system of its writing (based on characters), and pride in resurgent China after two centuries of being under Western colonial powers. There is equality among sexual genders although under the present regime, families prefer baby boys to baby girls because of its one-child per family policy to help contain its ever-increasing large population. Although the Chinese people is composed of many ethnic groups, there is only one national language, which is Mandarin, and despite its huge geographic size, China officially has only one time z one (it covers five time zones) for easier governance and administration. A Chinese person is able to connect and feel an affinity with another Chinese anywhere in the world due to this single language for communication. I have come over to the United States of America as an international student, and one of my subjects in school is inter-cultural communications. This is the first time I experienced the concept of white privilege, in which people of the white race feel a sense of entitlement to all the good things in life, and taking these things for granted as something that is due to them (Martin 55) in a daily pattern of dominance, subordination, and privilege. It is unspoken type of privileged class, with white males looking down on the females (regardless of skin color) as sexual objects, made of

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Natural Gas Essay Example for Free

Natural Gas Essay Qatar is known to have the third largest reserve in the world for natural gas. It is a colorless, shapeless, odorless gas in its natural form. Main property of this gas that made it so prized is its combustibility. When burned, natural gas emits a great deal of energy (NaturalGas. org, 2004). But not like fossil fuels, natural gas is a clean burning gas with lower level of potentially harmful byproducts is emitted into the air as resultant to the combustion process. Natural gas is usually composed of a mixture of combustible hydrocarbon gases. While natural gas is formed primarily of methane, it can also include ethane, propane, butane and pentane. The composition of natural gas can vary widely but in its purest form it is mainly composed of methane. Usually found under the earth, this gas is usually associated with oil deposits. Natural gas is another form of fossil fuel, like coal and oil, and is essentially the remains of plants and animals. Use of natural gas as an energy source comprises 24% of the total energy consumption in the US for the year 2000. Natural gas, with its varied usage and has many different applications for industrial, commercial and residential sectors, is vital component of the nations energy supply. PHOTOVOLTAICS Photovoltaic literally means light electricity, which was derived from the Greek words photo and volt. Photovoltaic materials and devices basically generate electricity by converting light or solar energy into electricity that can be utilized by devices requiring electrical power. It was discovered by a French physicist Edmond Becquerel on1839 while conducting an experiment involving electrolytic cell connected by two metals as electrodes. Since then harnessing of solar electricity has been developed and used (Solar_Energy_and_Technology_Program, 2005). Since the discovery of photoconductivity, solar energy has been harnessed to generate electricity. On 1873, Wilby Smith identified Selenium to demonstrate photoconductivity. Photovoltaic property was also observed Adams and Day to be exhibited by Selenium while in its solid form. The first solar cell was created by Charles Fritts on 1883, which was made from Selenium wafers (Corrosion_Doctors, 2007). PV was originally developed to provide power to devices on places that would require a renewable source of energy like in outer space. With the development of PV devices or solar devices, PV cells have been used in providing power to spacecrafts and devices. The first reported usage of PV cells was during 1959 for the Vanguard 1 satellite using silicon wafers in the solar device. This satellite lasted for 8 years in operation (Corrosion_Doctors, 2007). Since Vanguard 1 other spacecrafts and satellite were reported to utilize also PV technology in providing power to manned and unmanned crafts and satellites. PV generation is gaining increased importance as renewable source due to its advantages like absence of fuel cost, no noise or wear due to absence of moving parts and little maintenance. The world market for photovoltaic exceeded 200 MW in 1999 could rise to 650 MW in 2005 and 1800 MW in 2010 – provided that installed costs for grid-connected PV drop to less than US $4/ Wp in 2005 and $3 in 2010. The world grid-connected market grew to 110 MW in 2000, 400 MW in 2005 and will grow to 700 MW in 2010 provided the installed costs will decrease to $3/W by 2010. The following tables and graphs show a general idea of how the PV world market is growing and how the prices of PV modules/Wp is dropping since the year 1990 up until now and in the upcoming future. PV Cells PV cells or solar cells, composed of semiconductors that are made from crystalline solids, which permits electrical conduction when connected to two metals, are devices that converts solar or radiant energy into electrical energy. This thin wafer of semiconductor is chemically treated to produce negative charge on one side and positive charge on the other side. A p-n junction separates and connects the two oppositely charged sides. The process of converting sunlight into electricity is explained in three processes 1. Sunlight is absorbed by the thin semiconductor wafer. 2. Positive and negative charges are generated and are separated in the different parts of the cell. The movement of these particles generates voltage within the cell. 3. And, the electrical current generated by the separation of the charges is transferred to the intended device via the electrical terminals connected to the cell. When sunlight is absorbed by the solar cell, electron hole pairs are generated, and if their recombination is prevented they can reach the junction where they are separated. The electrons are moved into the front side or negative side of the cell. Commercial solar cells usually designate the negative side in the front part. The back or other side of the cells is designated as the positive side. When these two are connected electrical current flows between through wires connected to the electrical device. The current that flows is usually proportional on the intensity of the sunlight that the solar cell captures (Elwell Komp, 2007). The back contact or positive side is usually made of continuous layer of metal but the front contact, on the other hand is usually made into thin fingers. The front contacts are evenly spaced to allow the as much sunlight to reach the positive side of the cell. The cell is covered with an anti reflection coating to maximize the absorption of sunlight. A thin protective coating covers the cell to allow cleaning and maintenance (Elwell Komp, 2007). An example of a single solar cell structure is shown in figure 1. PV cells are manufactured in many shapes and sizes. Some are even smaller than a postage stamp. While there are individual cells that are many inches across. Interconnected PV cells form a PV module. Modules are interconnected to form a PV array. The module is designed to contain a number of Silicon cells interconnected as a series of thin layers. This is purposely intended to protect the solar cells from the ambient and as well as generate a higher voltage compared to a single cell, which delivers less than 1 volt. Arrays varies in the size that is needed dependent upon the amount of sunlight that the location is receiving and the needed power generated by the array depending the intended usage. The array is not just composed of the PV modules, which comprises the majority of the PV system, it also includes the electrical connection, mounting hardware, power-conditioning equipment and batteries that store the generated electricity intended for use during the times when the sun is not available or shining (Solar_Energy_and_Technology_Program, 2005). Crystalline silicon solar cells are used in more than half of all solar electric devices. Like most semiconductor devices, they include a positive layer (on the bottom) and a negative layer (on the top) that create an electrical field inside the cell. When a photon of light strikes a semiconductor, it releases electrons (see animation). The free electrons flow through the solar cells bottom layer to a connecting wire as direct current (DC) electricity. Some solar cells are made from polycrystalline silicon, which consists of several small silicon crystals. Polycrystalline silicon solar cells are cheaper to produce but somewhat less efficient than single-crystal silicon (Solar Electricity, 2004). A simple silicon solar cell can power a watch or calculator. However, it produces only a tiny amount of electricity. Connected together, solar cells form modules that can generate substantial amounts of power. Modules are the building blocks of solar electric systems, which can produce enough power for a house, a rural medical clinic, or an entire village. Large arrays of solar electric modules can power satellites or provide electricity for utilities. Solar Electric System Components (Solar Electricity, 2004). PV cells can be made from different semiconductor materials but the most commonly used in manufacturing is crystalline silicon. Crystalline silicon has gained popularity since it was the first material used in the earliest successful PV devices. Silicon has 14 electrons and its orbital arrangements allows up to four electrons to be given, shared or accepted. These outermost electrons, known as valence electron, play a vital part in photoelectric effect of solar cells. Solar cell technology benefited greatly from the high standard of silicon technology developed originally for transistors and later for integrated circuits. This applied also to the quality and availability of single crystal silicon of high perfection. In the first years, only Czochralski (Cz) grown single crystals were used for solar cells. This material still plays an important role. As the cost of silicon is a significant proportion of the cost of a solar cell, great efforts have been made to reduce these costs. One technology, which dates back to the 1970s, is block casting which avoids the costly puling process. Silicon is melted and poured into a square SiO/SiN coated graphite crucible. Controlled cooling produces a polycrystalline silicon block with a large crystal grain structure.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Baroque Mexican Music Concert Report Essays -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concert I attended was a recital of Mexican baroque choral music. There were 5 main pieces played, each one having its own unique style and function. The recital was held at University of South Carolina School of Music recital hall room 201 on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 6:00pm. The group that sang was the graduate vocal ensemble and was conducted by Daniel S. Clark. The group of singers did an excellent job capturing the music and it was very hard to notice any major mistakes. The concert in a whole was a very soothing to me because when I went there I was very hyper and tense, but as the pieces were being played out, I became very relaxed and sleepy. This concert was a little different because in the beginning, the conductor went through a lecture of the Mexican baroque period. After he went through all of the material, they sang 5 songs and left. It was very interesting to learn about the music as it was heard and I think this is a very effective way to tea ch people about music and let them learn through personal interaction. Most of the songs were sang mostly by the higher pitched singers so it made us very sleepy. I had to wake up my friend who came with me because he was snoring!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first piece that was played was â€Å"Beatus Vir† with Brian Glosh as the cantor. A cantor is the person who leads a congregation in singing. At the end of the performance, the 2 cantors were given special recognition because of th...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Managing technological change

Managing technological change effectively in organizations, and even across entire industries, has always been a challenge for management, IT practitioners, and business development specialists. Technological change within companies and enterprises is not primarily a technology issue nor is it an area of interested limited to IT managers and specialists alone. Technological change should be a primary concern for business managers. The new generations of IT advancements can be applied to support advanced information management which in turns can enable business transformation within an organization.Managing automation-focused projects has become an outdated approach. Without a system on managing technological change effectively, the end results for organizations in applying new technologies usually result in unexpectedly high failure rates (BusinessWeek Online, 2006). A solution for business and IT managers is to make use of the Benefits Realization method. All organizations actually have a Benefits Realization process whether they are aware of it or not.For most companies, it is most likely not a formal process, and as such, the organization does not only know about it, but it also does not understand it. When an organization is not aware of the Benefits Realization in place, then it tends to be a passive process, not a managed one. What happens of course is that the process does not work very well. However, when the Benefits Realization process is designed and engineered systematically, it can actually lead to a tremendous improvement in the organization’s performance (BusinessWeek Online, 2006).In general, the Benefits Realization method provides for a new basis for using IT to deliver business results more consistently, predictably, and effectively. The approach makes use of two interconnected elements: mindsets on IT and on management methods. Taken these two fields together, Benefits Realization seeks to focus on integrating technology into an organ ization’s business system. It posits that the application of IT alone, regardless of how technically powerful, cannot deliver effective and successful business results without considering and combining IT with business methods (BusinessWeek Online, 2006).In other words, for an effective Benefits Realization process, the organization must seek to combine IT and management capabilities, and provide for a system that monitors the entire process from start to finish. F. Research Issue The ideal Benefits Realization design should start from the launch of the project, go beyond deliver, and actually measure the success and process improvement of the new design, process, software, or whatever technology was introduced to the organization.The problem is that not all companies have systems in place to really measure process improvement for Benefits Realization after completion of the project. This may happen when the organization is not aware that it has a Benefits Realization process in place to begin with, or when the organization’s Benefits Realization design simply does not have the tools to measure the end results of the process. G. Objectives of the Study The research study has the following objectives: ? To identify the reasons why the introduction of technology in benefits realization has often failed to bring about real change and benefits to the company.? To discuss how failure of most benefits realization programs are due to the lack of measurement tools in determining the benefits from its investments. ? To provide recommendations and solutions on how to establish effective benefits realization within an organization. H. Definition of Terms The following key terms, which will be used recurrently throughout the study, are defined as follows: ? Benefits realization – the discipline of ensuring that business initiatives deliver expected benefits (Aron, Tucker & Hunter, 2005).It is â€Å"an integrated set of processes, techniques, tools, d ocumentation standards and governance framework that cane be used to get the most value from technology investments† (Federal Aviation Administration, 1999, p. 1-2). ? Business benefit – a real source of value to the business, such as increased revenues, improved customer retention, lower costs, or quicker time-to-market (Aron, Tucker & Hunter, 2005). ? IT-intensive project/initiative – a business project with a significant IT component. It is increasingly common to consider all projects business projects.Projects involving significant IT activities and/or costs represent an opportunity for the Chief Operating Officer (CIO) and Information System (IS) organization to contribute strongly to benefits realization (Aron, Tucker & Hunter, 2005). I. Significance of the Study The study is significant since it will analyse the reasons why benefits realization programs fail in companies. It will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of benefits realization approaches used by companies. The recommendations that the study will provide can serve as useful tools for organization in setting up effective benefits realization programs.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Bose Marketing Structure

A History of Bose Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar G. Bose, then professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As an MIT grad student in the 1950s, Dr. Bose decided to purchase a new stereo system. He was disappointed to find that speakers with impressive technical specifications failed to reproduce the realism of a live performance. The quest for better sound was on. Extensive research in the fields of speaker design and psychoacoustics—the human perception of sound—led to the groundbreaking 901 ® Direct/Reflecting ® speaker system in 1968.Its unprecedented approach to sound reproduction came much closer to the essence and emotional impact of live music, and won immediate acclaim. The list of major Bose innovations continues to grow. Fourteen years of research led to the development of acoustic waveguide speaker technology, found in our award-winning Wave ® radio, Wave ® music system and Acoustic Wave ® musi c systems. Acoustimass ® speaker technology reshaped conventional thinking about the relationship between speaker size and sound, enabling palm-sized speakers to produce audio quality previously thought impossible from speakers so small.Auditioner ® audio demonstrator technology removed the guesswork from sound system design for arenas and other large venues. It allows builders, architects and facility managers to hear precisely what a Bose ® system will sound like in their building, before any equipment is installed, even if the building only exists as a blueprint. Bose Lifestyle ® systems provided a welcome alternative to conventional component-based systems by offering fully integrated home entertainment solutions. Lifestyle ® systems deliver award-winning performance and elegance from elements specifically engineered to work together.The systems approach has paved the way for numerous Bose solutions, audio and beyond. Integrated systems account for the acclaimed perfor mance of Bose automotive sound systems and Acoustic Noise Cancelling ® headsets. The revolutionary Bose suspension system and ElectroForce ® linear motion system rely on proprietary Bose software and hardware working together in harmony. All feature technologies available only from Bose. Today, you can find Bose wherever quality sound is important. From the Olympic games to the Sistine Chapel. From NASA space shuttles to the Japan National Theatre.In the home and on the road, from large outdoor arenas to intimate neighborhood stores, restaurants and clubs, you can hear the realism of the most respected name in sound—Bose. | Organisational Structure of Bose Corporation – February 2nd, 2011 Bose Corporation (pronounced /? bo? z/) is a privately held organization, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, that specializes in audio equipment. [2] Founded in 1964 by Amar G. Bose, the company operates 5 plants, 151 retail stores (as of October 20, 2006) and an automotive subsi diary at Stow, Massachusetts. With respect to sales in the U. S. or home audio retail and portable audio retail sales, Bose was ranked third for the period of November 2008 to April 2009. [3] Bose is known for the 901 speaker series. CEO Amar Bose CFO Daniel Grady * Forming – during this stage of group development, the members get acquainted with each other. During this stage, the group establishes ground rules. * Storming – this stage is characterized by a high degree of conflict within the group. I consider the storming stage as the most crucial stage. In this stage, the group members and the leader have to resolve the issues that may affect the group in the future.If the group is unable to resolve the issues, it may be disbanded. If the issues are resolved the group will become cohesive. * Norming – during this stage, the group becomes more cohesive and identification as a member becomes greater. During this stage, the group members start to develop relations hips. * Performing – during this stage, questions about group relationships and leadership have been resolved and the group is ready to work. Each member devotes his/herself to getting the job done. * Adjourning – during this stage, the group will cease to exist. This is because it has met its goals and is no longer needed.Another interesting topic is group structure. Group structure refers to the characteristics of the stable social organization of the group, the way the group is ‘put together’. I learned that the way the group is structured affects its performance and ability to function. Through class discussions, I learned about the factors that affect group performance. * Size – the size of the group affects its ability to function. I learned that is best to maintain a small group with 10 members. In a small group, everyone feels needed and everyone is given responsibility. Nature of the task – the nature of the task affects the groupâ⠂¬â„¢s ability to function. The task should contain the right amount of challenge that will excite and push members to perform better. * Resources and support – adequate resources also affect group performance. * External recognition – rewards and recognitions are linked motivation.The members must feel that their work and efforts are valued. * Group composition – it is important to maintain a small group with diverse talents and skills. * N. B: Bose products are found in homes, theaters and large sports arenas. The U. S. ilitary and NASA have contracts with the company Bose Mission Statement The challenge of accurate music reproduction The ability to differentiate live music from all others is what makes its reproduction so challenging. The singular mission at the heart of Bose ® is to reproduce music as true to the original performance as possible. And that involves research, technology and a strong commitment to excellence. Bose Company Objectives Bose main tains an exceptionally strong commitment to research, for it is within the discipline of research that yesterday's fiction becomes tomorrow's reality.We strive to identify things which, when made better, improve people's lives. But it's more than just research. We aim for excellence in everything we do. From the way we run our business to our customer service. From the products to the owner's manuals you'll use to set them up. In everything we do, we truly believe that â€Å"good enough† is merely a starting point. We've taken our commitment and our passion for innovation and applied them to developing unique sound solutions to meet virtually any audio challenge in any application, even the space program.While many of our products are designed for entertainment and home audio solutions, you'll find Bose sound is prevalent in both the aviation and automotive industries, too. We've also designed professional sound systems for many applications, including stadiums and auditorium s, houses of worship, retail businesses, department stores and restaurants. Our commitment has served us well. Today, Bose has operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. The Bose ® Commitment to Customer SatisfactionAt Bose, an overriding goal is to create value for our customers by offering products and services that meet their needs. Our experienced sales and applications specialists strive to understand your specific testing needs, and then provide a solution for you. We put customers at the center of a dedicated focus on quality and service, and we measure success by the satisfaction of our customers. We are dedicated to bringing you products of superior quality and performance, and exceptional service so you can achieve your goals.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How Content Can Catch Fire With Amplification Process With Heidi Cohen

How Content Can Catch Fire With Amplification Process With Heidi Cohen Do you do whatever you can to get a prospect’s attention? Many marketers actually miss the mark when it comes to connecting their customers and content. Today, we’re talking to Heidi Cohen, chief content officer of Actionable Marketing Guide. She describes how you can build momentum to keep your content visible, consumable, and actionable. Also, Heidi shares a method to follow for your content’s amplification and distribution process. Difference between distribution and promotion of content Distribution Method: Ignite (up to first three days): Build a network and spark participants’ interest and willingness to engage with and share your content Fuel (first month): Plan, manage, and schedule social media marketing to keep content fresh and visible; utilize many mediums (i.e. video, audio) Spread (ongoing): Road test content to determine what works or doesn’t to attract new people; perform audit to update content and get conversions Less than 60% of digital traffic is human; build relationships and be creative to reach humans who will share your content Ways to create new or keep content going include visuals/images, guest posts, build authority, get people involved, take content live, and go to conferences Links: Heidi Cohen Subscribe to Heidi Cohen’s Newsletter Hootsuite Buffer Aaron Orendorff How To Avoid The Most Costly Mistake In Influencer Marketing With Shane Barker Andy Crestodina Steve Dotto The Secret 3 Steps For Content Amplification And Distribution Success 5 Basic Content Types Customers Need How We Increased the Readership of Buffer’s Blog to Over 1.5 Million Visits Yale Appliance Brian Dean The New York Public Library on Instagram How to Network at a Conference: 101 Tips From Marketing’s Best Content Marketing World Gini Dietrich Write a review on iTunes and send a screenshot of it to receive a care package! If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Heidi Cohen: â€Å"You don’t want to have your promotions look like wallpaper meaning that no one sees them.† â€Å"Optimization is key because it’s not just that one shot in the dark.† â€Å"You’ve got to make sure that everything you create has‘connected content’.† â€Å"Keeping that content going is way cheaper than creating it again.† Im a big proponent of testing and tracking to get those incremental 10% improvements.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Underworld Adventure of Aeneas in The Aeneid

The Underworld Adventure of Aeneas in The Aeneid Virgil imbues his Hades, as well as his Elysium, with a substantiated and understandable raison detre , and in the process corrects the notions of his predecessor [Homer in the Odyssey]. For Virgil, the Underworld must be categorized and organized as well as justified: thus the grouping of the souls of his Hades by reason or nature of punishment.Interaction and Reaction in Virgil and Homer Underworld Issues Here are some of the unanswered questions about the mythology of the Underworld that are left at the end of the nekuia (Underworld scene) of Book XI of the Odyssey, by Homer: Why was Elpenor upset that he hadnt been buried?Why was it said that Tiresias, of all mortals, was permitted to keep a clear head about mortal matters?Why were the shades of the eternally tortured, Sisyphus, Tityos, and Tantalus, near each other? The view of the Underworld presented in the nekuia is alien from modern views of death. Its hard to understand what went on when one adheres strictly to Judaeo-Christian visions of Hell. On this page and the next are some insights into the Homeric Underworld, based on references to Vergil. The Aeneid, by Vergil (or Virgil), was written many centuries after Homers Odyssey. Despite a few centuries, Vergil is chronologically closer to Homer than we are. Vergil is a good model also because he deliberately patterned his work on Homer and elaborated on it, and he lived in a milieu where Homers writing was still very much a part of the common culture since Homer was at the heart of the routine education of children. Therefore, Vergil tells us something about the Greco-Roman (pagan) Underworld that we should know to understand Homers nekuia. The striking similarities and close contrasts between the Underworlds of the two poets make it painfully obvious that Virgil was strongly affected by the ideas instilled in Homers text. How exactly he reacted to this burden, however, and how he attempted to justify his own work and separate it from that of Homer: these are the difficult yet ever-important questions. In re-creating Homers Hades, and in the process facing up to his predecessor, Virgil exhibits clearly his desire to re-work Homer, to complete and perfect the vision of the earlier poet.Interaction and Reaction in Virgil and Homer Reasons for Going to the Underworld HomerOdysseus goes to the Underworld for help getting home.VergilAeneas goes to pay a duty call on his dead father Anchises. Underworld Guidance HomerThe help Odysseus seeks comes from the prophet, Tiresias, in the Underworld and the sorceress, Circe, among the living.VergilAmong the living, Aeneas seeks the guidance of the Sibyl at Cumae, a priestess of Apollo who speaks inspired prophetic utterances. Among the dead, he seeks the counsel of his father. Warnings HomerCirce calms his fears and instructs Odysseus on how to travel.VergilThe Sibyl tells Aeneas how to proceed but warns him that while the trip to Hades is easy, the return voyage is limited to the select favorites of Jupiter. Aeneas must be divinely chosen if he is to return. This isnt all that terrifying a caveat, however, since he will know in advance whether he will be able to make the trip. In order to start the journey, the Sibyl says he must find a golden bough sacred to Proserpine. Should the gods not want him to proceed, he will fail to find it, but he does find it. In the guise of two doves, Venus, Aeneas mother, guides him. Unburied Dead Like Odysseus, Aeneas has a dead companion to bury, but unlike his predecessor, Aeneas must bury him before proceeding to the Underworld because the death has contaminated Aeneas fleet (totamque incestat funere classem). Aeneas does not initially know which of his companions has died. When he finds Misenus dead, he performs the necessary ceremonies. Misenus lay extended on the shore;Son of the God of Winds: none so renowndThe warrior trumpet in the field to sound;With breathing brass to kindle fierce alarms,And rouse to dare their fate in honorable arms.He servd great Hector, and was ever near,Not with his trumpet only, but his spear.But by Pelides arms when Hector fell,He chose Æneas; and he chose as well.Swoln with applause, and aiming still at more,He now provokes the sea gods from the shore;With envy Triton heard the martial sound,And the bold champion, for his challenge, drownd;Then cast his mangled carcass on the strand:The gazing crowd around the body stand.162-175 Slightly different from Odysseus, Aeneas has 2 men for whom he must provide funeral rites, but he doesnt find the second until the Sibyl has taken him to the shores of the River Styx, past the companions of Death: Famine, Pestilence, Old Age, Poverty, Fear, Sleep, and Disease (Curae, Morbi, Senectus, Metus, Fames, Egestas, Letum, Labos, and Sopor). There, on the shore, Aeneas finds his recently deceased helmsman, Palinurus, who cannot cross over until he is given a proper funeral rites. Proper burial is impossible since he was lost at sea.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Characteristics of The Regency Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Characteristics of The Regency Era - Essay Example In the novel, Anne Elliott who plays the leading role in the novel was displayed as an independent woman who believed and could differentiate between right and wrong. The Regency period was also a portrayal of the good faith and the Christian code of conducts. Women in the Regency period were also believed to be uptight and often refrained from showing their emotions.Based on the article, it could be said that the regency period although however, bad as it may seem also had a certain sense of ethics and good code of conduct among people which was easily displayed in their actions. The people respected the women, although this could be taken negatively their ways of living held high standards and code of conducts that we often tend to seek in the current era. The good manners were mostly portrayed among the female gender of the society who were always required to act in a formal manner no matter what whereas this was not expected as much from the male gender of the society.Joannou, Ma roula. Women's Writing, Englishness, And National And Cultural Identity. The Regency period as described in the novel Persuasion by Austen in 1818 shows a period of overindulgence and sexual misconducts. According to Austen, the Regency period existed from 1811 to 1820 which was when the Prince of Wales took over the throne as George IV, this era is popularly known as the period wherein recklessness and exorbitance were at their peak and this was all characterization of George IV himself.

Friday, November 1, 2019

You Decide Activity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

You Decide Activity - Assignment Example This would be effectively done by increasing lending rates to commercial banks. This will in turn serve to reduce the money supply in the public. Once people have money, they can invest moderately and in addition create job opportunities. In addition, the governments should also sell treasury bills in order to decrease money supply in the economy. Another very effective monetary policy is use of the credit multiplier (Taylor, 2007). When the reserve ratio is increased, there will be less availability of money for credit hence the supply of money will be under control. Adjusting rates of interest is of great significance in controlling an increase in the gross domestic product of the economy. Inflation significantly devalues a country’s currency because goods will be highly priced. The problem of inflation can be avoided by stabilizing the dollar. Taxation is also an alternative approach to controlling inflation (Carbaugh, 2011). If the money supply is very high in the economy, taxation should be increased to control the supply of money in the market. Increased market operation is another that will control the supply of money hence assisting the country regain an economic balance (Taylor, 2007). At times controlled economic recessions are good as they cure the problem of inflation. One measure that would help completely deal with the current economic problem would be to stimulate the economy especially through lower tax rates. Producers will be motivated to produce more and as a result restore the economy. In addition, the government should try to increase its public expenditure without at first considering the budget deficit. Commercial banks should be motivated to create more funds for