Significance of the Rose in Human Societies around the World. The Research Paper

Significance of the Rose in Human Societies around the World. The origin, kinds and meaning of roses - Research Paper Example For over thousands of years, the rose has been used to signify innocence, adoration, and most essentially, love in different societies. It is one of the most important commercially grown flowers around the globe with tons of rose flowers being imported and exported around the world for various reasons, key among them for aesthetic purposes (Board 638). Another use of the rose flower in the contemporary society is the abstraction of rose essence, which is used in the making of beauty soaps, lotions, and beauty treatments. Another product derived from rose flowers is rose water, which is used in artificial additives to create a rose flavor in confectionaries and various foods from around the globe (Board 638). 2. The origin of roses In retrospect, there are reportedly over 120 different species of the rose flower, which are thought to have existed long before humankind. According to Board, in Oregon and Colorado in the United States, anthropologists reportedly located fossils approxima ted to be close to thirty million years of age (638). The University of Illinois extension states that the gardening of roses is thought to have started roughly 5,000 years ago (illinois.edu). While the different species of rose flowers are scattered across the earth’s northern hemisphere from America to Africa, their farming is thought to have originated in China. Roses were widely cultivated in the Middle East during the Roman era, and were used for aesthetic purposes, for ancient treatments, and as a fragrance (University of Illinois Extension illinois.edu). The art of rose flower gardening was perfected in Rome according to the University of Illinois Extension, where the noble class created extensive rose gardens for the public, particularly in the south (illinois.edu). 3. Different Kinds of Roses and their Different Meanings Different types of roses are culturally associated with different meanings. According to Shannon, red roses are used in human societies to signify l ove for each other, as well as respect (ask.com). They are mostly exchanged during days and occasions associated with passion such as Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversaries for loved ones and other occasions attributed with romance. They are known all over the world to espouse true love. White roses on the other hand are used as an embodiment of spirituality and religion. Straight from traditions, white roses are associated with religion and are deemed as signifying innocence, purity, admiration, and modesty (Shannon, ask.com). White roses have also been accepted over time to indicate loyalty, honesty, and awe, all of which are essential attributes in enduring friendships (Shannon, ask.com). Yellow roses are culturally deemed to be embodiments of friendship and a nature of amiability. Over time, this outlook of yellow roses has grown to include a perception of the flowers signifying the happiness and bliss that is present among friends (Shannon, ask.com). While in the Victori an times, it was regarded as a representation of jealousy, in the contemporary society, yellow roses are exchanged between friends on special occasions such as baby showers, graduation, birthdays, and work related events (Shannon, ask.com). Pink roses are deemed to symbolize femininity, elegance, tenderness, perfection, and cultural fulfillment in various human societies (Shannon, ask.com). These flowers bear a further meaning that is expressed in the deepness of the hue of the flower. A rose flower that is a deep pink for example is an emblem of thanksgiving and admiration; on the other hand, a pale pink colored rose flower suggests sympathy, tenderness, grace, and elegance (Shannon, ask.com). Orange roses bear the attribute of warmth and enthusiasm

Design for the project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Design for the project - Essay Example It is a type of static structure diagram that describes the structure of a system by showing the classes of the system, their attributes,   methods, and the relationships among objects. They describe the object and information structures used by an application, both internally and in communication with its users.It is a type of static structure diagram that describes the structure of a system by showing the classes of the system, their attributes,   methods, and the relationships among objects. They describe the object and information structures used by an application. (i) It helps to organize the project for everyone to identify the project overall theme and then the interlocking parts of research or activities that relate to the overall theme.If it is a demonstration project then one identifies the different sections of the demonstration and how they go together and the most important parts.A data dictionary refers to the descriptions of data items in a database.  In developi ng programs that employ the use of a data model, a data dictionary shall often be consulted to point out where a data item fits in the structure, its values and what it means in the real world.Why it is Used.(i) It is an important fundamental since it illustrates all the entities and their properties in a data model.(ii) It aids in the implementation of a database because of entities. (iii) It reduces data redundancy. The data dictionary also allows controlling the addition of new data elements and thereby avoiding duplicates.

The Emergence Of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Information Technology Essay

The Emergence Of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Information Technology Essay Many organizations have initiated Enterprise Resource Planning systems, using such packages as SAP, Peoplesoft and Oracle. The ERP market is one of the fastest growing in the software industry. In a research conducted by APICS, 34.5% of the companies with revenues over $1 billion planned to purchase or upgrade in ERP system. This research is relevant to indicate that the ERP market may reach $ 1 trillion by the year 2010 (Umble et al., 2005). Enterprise resource planning systems are a major investment. Companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in ERP software. Its implementation promotes a variety of business justifications which include replacement of numerous legacy systems, reduction in cycle time from order to delivery, and reduction in operating costs. Also, the on-line, real-time operational data that ERP systems enable managers to make better decisions and improve responsiveness to customer needs (Gyampah, 2004). There is evidence that organizations are satisfied with ERP. Based upon a sample of 117 firms in 17 countries, the Conference Board reports that 34% of the organizations were satisfied with ERP, 58% were somewhat satisfied, 7% were somewhat unsatisfied, and only 1% were unsatisfied (Al-Mashari, M., Zairi, M., 2009). Organizations have a business justification for implementing ERP systems. The business benefits of ERP include improved accessibility of information, real time access to data across the organization, improved cycle time for orders, decreased financial closing time, reduced operating costs, and lowered inventory levels. In addition ERP systems provide an opportunity to re-align business processes with best practices and to integrate enterprise-wide information supporting financial, human resources, manufacturing, sales and marketing functions. Evolution of ERP It was in the Sixties that the concept of resource planning was first introduced by software packages that dealt with inventory control capability. Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems were later introduced in 1970s and these contained a master production schedule and a bill of materials file with list of materials needed to produce each item. MRP systems were enhanced by adding tools for sales planning, customer order processing and capacity planning that provided input production scheduling, known as closed loop MRP. In the 1980s, MRPII systems incorporated financial accounting system along with manufacturing and materials management systems. MRPII led to an integrated business system that was used to create a database of material and capacity requirements for production and this system then translated these requirements into financial information. By 1990s ERP systems provided seamless integration of all information flows in the company- Financial Accounting, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management and Customer Information (Rondeau Litteral, 2001). Challenges of ERP System ERP system projects involve considerable time and cost not only in terms of investment but also for realization of benefits from their implementation. Research by Standish Group illustrates that 90% of ERP projects are late over budget. Meta Group survey data, based on 63 companies, showed that average implementation cost of ERP was $ 10.6 million and took 23 months to complete (K. Siau, 2004). A successful implementation of ERP requires a multi-stage approach (Jones M. and Price L., 2004), and the benefits of ERP may not occur until later stages. Jones et al., propose three stages: the project phase, the shakedown phase, and onward and upward phase. ERP software is introduced during project phase and is implemented into firms operations during shakedown phase. It is not until onward and upward phase, during which ERP modules are successfully integrated with operations, that the organization can achieve actual business results, such as inventory reduction (Motwani et al., 2002). However, Spathis et al. identify four phases for implementation of the same. The phases are: a planning phase, a re-engineering phase, a design phase, and a configuration and testing phase (Spathis et al., 2003). They indicate that re-engineering business practices around the ERP software is critical to successful implementation. In their stage analysis, Rondeau et al. (2001) suggest benefits of ERP occur when ERP modules are implemented successfully and when organizations can use the ERP foundation to add advance modules such as customer relationship management. A company has to make sure that its ERP investment fetches increased profitability. The key challenge is not in managing technology, but in managing people. An ERP system changes the way people work, and for the system to be effective, the change must be dramatic. It promotes efficient business processes with the requirement of fewer people than before ERP implementation or up-gradation. This implies that some employees will be asked either to change their day-to-day activities or their services would no longer be needed. Managing human behavior aspects of organizational change also known as organizational change management (OCM) cannot be underestimated in importance of this part of the implementation process. One of the keys to managing OCM is to realize that people tend to defy changes associated with their work related activities. If the ERP implementation is a project that is being forced on the employees, then they will instinctively resist it. However, if it is viewed as a chance to make the company more efficient and effective by improving business process, and consequently these process improvements will make the company more profitable and ensure job security to employees, then there is a greater likelihood that the employees will wholeheartedly support the implementation efforts. The best way to improve a business process is to delegate the task to develop process improvement ideas to people who are most familiar with the process using their experience and creativity. Sometimes, a company is not ready for ERP. In many cases, ERP implementation difficulties result when management does not fully understand its current business processes and cannot make implementation decisions in time . In order to obtain benefits from an ERP system resulting in reduction of costs needs an organization to streamline its business processes. However, if a company is not prepared to change its business process es, it will find a large bill for software and consulting fees with no improvement in organizational performance. ERP packages imply, by their design, a way of doing business, and they require users to follow that way of doing business. Some of business operations, and some segments of its operations, may not match the constraints inherent in ERP. Therefore, it is imperative for a business to analyze its business strategy, organization, culture and operations before choosing an ERP approach. Review of Literature Companies implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in order to achieve better responsiveness to the needs of customers through real-time information provided by the system, to link customers and suppliers into a complete supply chain, to provide high degree of cross functional integration, to reduce the costs and to provide the foundation for effective e-commerce (Vollmann et al., 2005). The pressure to survive in the new world order and align with the new paradigm for organizational success, namely, speed, flexibility, integration and innovation, further drives organizations towards adopting integrative software approaches like ERP. It is also a well known fact that information technology affects the organization structure (Bhattacherjee, 2000). Hence, ERP implementation would impact the structure, but this impact has not been elaborately investigated. It is often supposed that IT creates a flatter structure (Stevens, 1998). The flat structure speeds up decision-making p rocess, shortens lines of communication and aids in savings (Klein, 2001). ERP implementation benefits are not realized quickly as expected and the process is lengthy and expensive (Siau, 2004). Many organizations world over and particularly in the fast developing countries are traditional hierarchies and managing changes in structure offering challenges. As ERP implementation is an enterprise wide venture of change.It is important to understand how to manage impact on the organization structure. Two research objectives were central to this research project. ERP implementation influences the structure of the organization. Management of the change to the new structure. This paper is an attempt to examine the ERP implementation experience in a company. It drew on Organization Theory and Change Management theory to understand the transition between structures and to provide the explanations (Amoako-Gyampah, 2004). ERP represents a comprehensive software approach and information technology effects on the organization structure (Kurup, 2004) and ERP implementation success involves change management of techniques, the change management theory (Paton and McCalman, 2004) prove useful in explaining the outcomes of the case study . IT and Organization Structure The organization structure defines how the tasks are to be allocated, who reports to whom and the formal coordinating mechanisms and interaction patters that will be followed (Robbin, 1990). Organization structure has three components: Complexity, Formalization and Centralization. These components are described below and impact of IT on these components is expressed and applied to case analysis to aid in investigation of the influence of ERP on organization structure. Complexity Complexity refers to the degree of differentiation that exists within an organization. This includes the degree of specialization or division of labour, the number of levels in the organizations hierarchy, and the extent to which the organizations units are dispersed geographically (Klein, 2001). With introduction of this component of organization structure, it is possible to have wider span of control with more knowledgeable and empowered employees. Companies with IT can reduce the middle management layers and widen span of control and thereby flatten the organization structure. However, removing layers might create new challenges. New mechanisms for coordination might be needed or new process of governance might be necessary. According to the model proposed by Klein (2001), IT results in wider spans of control, fewer levels, fewer people, easier collaboration and communication. In other words, IT lowers the complexity. Formalization Formalization refers to the degree to which an organization relies on rules and procedures to direct behavior of employees. Evidence exists to indicate that developing detailed guidelines of appropriate operating procedures enhances coordination and is suitable in a stable environment (Martin, 2009). Formalization, however, is negatively associated with adoption and implementation of innovation in organizations (Ahadi, 2004) and hence it is negatively related to the ERP implementation because it tends to boast deleterious effects on the work attitudes. Centralization The decisional control in organization could be centralized or decentralized. In traditional hierarchies the decisional control is usually centralized. Research indicates that IT tends to make the decisional control more decentralized with no commensurate loss of control by the top management (Robbin, 1990). It is possible that the centralization component is related to the size of middle management although there are conflicting findings. IT results in a decrease in the size of the middle management workforce in organizations with centralized decision authority and with an increase in the number of middle managers in organizations where the authority is decentralized. Change Management The change management when linked to ERP implementation has been more focused on process change (Davison, 2002). The other type of change namely organizational restructuring provides specifics related to moving from one structure to another. The objective of restructuring is based on the companys long-range plan and the intention is to set up a structure that enables a company to be ready for new activities. However, changing an organizations structure can be difficult and successful restructuring depends on three conditions: sound planning, effective leadership and organizational commitment (Witzel, 2002). To examine organizational change in a traditional hierarchical organization, consideration is given to: Human element and informal organization. Necessity of strong management actions and inspirational vision. Sustainability of an initiative. None of available models considers all the three aspects. Informal Organization INPUT Strategy Formal OUTPUT Resources, Organization Individual Environment team, Performance Managing Change Transformation Process Figure -1 In traditional organizations, manager had to solve problems by directly communicating with the employees and was related to power and values. However, in ERP implementation much of the learning process comes from hands on use under normal operating conditions after the implementation period is over. Thus power is then transfered to individuals who are able to operate the ERP system better and utilize Work People the system resources efficiently (Aladwani, 2009). ERP affect on nature of work and training is an important part of change management practices. ERP requires users to understand that they are no longer working in isolation, and whatever they do now impacts someone else. This can create resistance that comes from a fear of the unknown and from the need of stability. There are two fundamental sources of resistance to innovations like ERP: perceived Risk and Habit. The habit of keeping the routine practices prevalent in hierarchies has to be tackled using appropriate strategies. Spathis and Constantinides (2003) have proposed a planned change model and this model assumes that change can be defined and moved in a planned way. Unlike other planning models, the four phases suggested in this model are linear and irreversible. This model satisfies the requirement of well-controlled change and strong management actions. Four phases that have been suggested are: Exploration, Planning, Action and Integration. Implementation of ERP Information technology leads to a tremendous impact on productivity of both manufacturing and service organizations. Companies have implemented systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), MRP, EDI, over time for improving their productivity. ERP systems have received attention lately due to more effective decision-making capability. Many companies are implementing ERP as a means to reducing operating costs, increasing productivity and improving customer services (Martin, 2009; Pliskin and Zarotski, 2000). ERP system can cripple a company, if not implemented properly. There are horror stories concerning implementations gone astray (Laughlin, 1999; Bancroft et al., 1998). Implementing ERP system successfully calls for strong leadership, a clear implementation plan, and a constant watch on the budget (Wagle, 2008). From a project managers point of view, most important consideration is a clear implementation plan and a strategy, that should evolve through systematic consideration of companys requirements and its ability to manage changes called for under new circumstances. Some of the factors to be considered seriously at planning stage are: Information needs at the operational and managerial level for various functional areas. Feasibility of ERP system integration with the existing information systems Schedule for adaptation of the new system. An organization requires development of an implementation strategy. Such a strategy, will determine how the related changes can be successfully absorbed at various parts of the organization. It has been found that the organizations that had no SAP implementation strategic plan performed poorly compared to those who had a plan. ERP implementation from countries around the world demonstrates that success is essentially conditional on adequately managing complex context of the implementation, which necessitates change management across various key areas related to business processes, IT structure, and management systems (Al-Mashari and Zairi, 2009). This highlights practical issues associated with the implementation of ERP systems. For successful implementation three basic requirements are to be met: a clear business objective, comprehension of the nature of changes and understanding of the project risk. Strong leadership and constant watch on budget are the two other, yet equally significant requirements, as stressed by Wagle (2008). For an effective implementation of ERP system, particularly SAP R/3, an organization must take a holistic view of the process (Al-Mashari and Zairi, 2009). Various issues at strategic, managerial, and operational levels should be addressed in order to achieve optimum outcomes from an ERP system. For a successful outcome an organization must establish competencies in four core areas: Change Strategy development and deployment, Enterprise-wide Project Management, BPR integration with IT, and technical aspects of ERP installation. These competencies will enable managers to effectively manage changes and direct the organization to desired goals (see Fig.2). Fig. 2. Core competencies in effective implementation of ERP (adopted from Al-Mashari and Zairi 2009). Change management Strategy Changes in an organization are brought about through implementation of strategies. Kuruppuarachchi et al. (2002) examined the success (and failure) factors and implementation methodologies that contribute to change management strategy formulation in organizations. Fig. 3 presents a framework of the change management process, incorporating change agents and strategic considerations at various stages of ERP implementation, when viewed from an IT project implementation point of view. Meyers et al. (2009) analyzed about 130 research papers to find out factors influencing the implementation of new technologies for improved operational efficiencies. They classified implementation success factors as buyers characteristics, seller characteristics, buyer-seller interface, and environment. These factors are listed below: Human resources: greater education and training among personnel; positive motivation, attitudes, and commitment toward the innovation. Structure: an adaptive and flexible structure; strong communications mechanism and net work across structural boundaries. Decision processes: broad strategic, as opposed to narrowly and earlier involvement of technical goals; greater and earlier involvement of the operational workforce; top management support and commitment and the presence of a champion; cooperation among units; slow, gradual radical incorporation of the innovation. Technology fit: familiarity with the new technology and availability of relevant skills within the organization. Higher level of technical capabilities of the seller. Strong communications skills of the seller. Expertise in project management of the seller. Constructive cooperation between buyer and seller in implementation. Knowledge transfer: the buyer is involved in leaning, diagnosing, and shaping usage patterns of the buyer. Intensive networking within and across industries leading to greater exposure to innovations. Fig.3. Change management considerations (Source: Kuruppuarachchi et al., 2002). Case Study -I Pantaloon: ERP in Retail More than eight years after it forayed into the retail business, Pantaloon Retail decided to implement SAP to keep itself competitive in the rapidly growing Indian retail market. Store operations have never been as important to retailers as they were then. Successful retailers are those who know that the battle for customers is only won at the frontline, which in the case of a retail chain is at its stores. Pantaloon was regularly opening stores in metros and there was an urgent need for a reliable enterprise wide application to help run its business effectively. The basic need was to have a robust transaction management system and an enterprise wide platform to run the operations, says Rakesh Biyani, Director, Pantaloon. The Solution The company was looking for a solution that would bring all its businesses and processes together. After a comprehensive evaluation of different options and software companies, the management at Pantaloon decided to go in for SAP. Some of the qualities of SAP retail solutions are that it supports product development, which includes ideation, trend analysis, and collaboration with partners in the supply chain; sourcing and procurement, which involves working with manufacturers to fulfill order according to strategic merchandising plans and optimize cost, quality, and speed-variables that must be weighted differently as business needs, buying plans, and market demand patterns change; managing the supply chain, which involves handling the logistics of moving finished good from the source into stores and overseeing global trade and procurement requirements; selling goods across a variety of channels to customers, which requires marketing and brand management; managing mark-downs and capt uring customer reactions, analyzing data, and using it to optimize the next phase of the design process. In a Nutshell Aim To deploy a robust transaction management system and an enterprise wide platform to run its operations. Solution SAP retail solution Implemented by SAP team with the help of Novasoft, Singapore Number of users Around 1,200 Time taken About six months Cost of implementation A $ 10 million Implementation The implementation was outsourced to a third party. The implementation was done by the SAP team with help of Novasoft which is based at Singapore, says Core Team Member. This project was headed by Pantaloons Chief Information Technology Officer, Chinar Deshpande. Some people from Pantaloon assisted in the project and twenty four qualified people worked on the SAP implementation. Three Phases SAP implementation in Pantaloon was not a single phase process. The project was divided into three phases. The first phase of implementation involved blueprinting of existing processes and mapping them to the desired state. In this phase, the entire project team worked on current processes within Pantaloon Retail. The various existing processes were thoroughly analyzed and drafted. This blueprint was later used in the formation of new states of the solution. Since the SAP would combine all the processes, each and every one of these had to be evaluated. In the second phase, the SAP platform was developed with the help of Novasofts template which was predefined by SAP after evaluation of Pantaloons needs and expertise in retail solutions. The last phase in this project was for stores to switch over to the new system and for current data to be ported. Before the SAP implementation, all the data was unorganized. This data had to be migrated to the new SAP application. The project was flagged off on 15th June 2005 and took about six months to finish. It went live at the head office on 1st January 2006. The Pantaloon Retail stores used SAP from 1st January 2006 to 30th June 2006. Benefits and Challenges The key challenges in this project were not in the implementation. Rather, the difficulties were faced during the data migration and in managing the interim period when the project was underway for about six months. Migrating unorganized data to an organized format was a challenging task. SAP General Ledger gives Pantaloon a higher level of transparency into individual operations and helps it continually drive productivity improvements across the enterprise. For example, Pantaloon can now automatically split accounting line items per document for each company profit center. These transactions are handled by the software,and the company no longer needs to make period adjustments to balance sheet and profit and loss statements. With the document splitting tool, Pantaloon now has a real-time, complete picture of its accounts receivables and payables across all operational levels, which has enabled it to reduce receivables by up to 10%. In addition, it is now able to close the monthly books 20% faster, due to tight integration between financials and controlling components and real-time reconciliation capabilities. The application is currently being used by around 1,200 employees across the organization. For maintaining this implementation and its related applications, Pantaloon has an in-house team and it has outsourced ABAP resources. ERP system relied greatly on this in-house team for training its employees (at every level) and extracting benefits from ERP. The system runs on a HP Superdome server on HP UNIX 11 and the database is from Oracle. The cost of this project was about $ 10 million. Future projects After the successful implementation of SAP for its retail chain, Pantaloon plans to go ahead with IT projects such as implementation of WMS with RFID, Customer Intelligence and CRM. Inventory and Promotions Optimization are being pursued. Case Study II Ace Designers Ltd. ERP reduces manufacturing costs by 20% for Industrial Equipment manufacturer Overview Since 1987, Ace Designers Limited, Indias manufacturer of CNC lathes and auto lathes, has been exporting machines around the world, including Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States. With growth, their largely manual systems started breaking down. They had no centralized purchasing department and means of sharing information, so company groups were paying different amounts for the same parts from the same vendor. Delivery dates were missed because of a lack of inventory control, and top management had little visibility to manufacturing process. The Challenge Ace needed a complete information system built around an ERP solution that would help manage every aspect of their manufacturing process-from purchasing and inventory to manufacturing, planning and preparing for ISO certification. The Solution Ace commissioned a comprehensive survey of the ERP market and Intuitive was selected for four major reasons: A 100 percent Microsoft platform, an easy-to-use graphical interface, excellent support, and scalable open architecture features that permitted the addition of users at any time. The consultants who evaluated Intuitive ERP and its competitors for ACE Designers concluded: Intuitive ERP is easy to install, interface, customize and maintain. It can be integrated seamlessly into any manufacturing environment and has a good scheduling flexibility and versatile options. It also has a definite ISO 9000 facilitation orientation. Ace Designers Results Ace started module wise implementation of Intuitive ERP in four phases, which were completed in four months. Intuitive ERPs graphical interface and integration with Microsoft Office and Access made it easy for Aces staff, which prior to this had virtually no computer experience, to learn and use the new system. And using Microsoft SQL Server as the database engine delivered speed and robustness necessary for their mission critical applications. Hence, employees support was a crucial factor that added to achievement of success in ERP implementation in the organization. We transformed the company from a practically nil computer culture to a total computerized system, said V. Chandra, General Manager of Ace. The learning curve for Intuitive ERP is reduced to well below that of other manufacturing systems because of graphical and interactive flow charts and complete context sensitive online help. Implementing Intuitive ERP led to dramatic improvements in every operational area: Managers now have the most current inventory and costing models available to them at all times, and they can set competitive pricing that ensures profitability. They are able to monitor online status of work orders for components, sub-assemblies and final assemblies. Improved Planning: With the previous manual planning system, it was difficult to coordinate customer requirements and design changes with production and assembly functions to meet the manufacturing schedule. Now there is seamless coordination between all departments while significantly reducing planning headcount. Prior to Intuitive ERP, there had been virtually no inventory management at Ace; information on non-moving or slow-moving items and stock values was not available. With new tools in place, manufacturing inventory has been reduced by 20 percent. With reports such as Purchase Price Variance, there is visibility of the cost of every purchased item. This has resulted in better price negotiation with suppliers resulting in a 20 percent price reduction. Intuitive ERP provides accurate data for making manufacturing decisions through reports that include online machine utilization, online work order status monitoring, online WIP components costing, online WIP sub-assembly costing and online labor utilization. Case Study III ERP Implementation Failure at HP Stanford engineers Bill Hewlett and David Packard started HP in California in 1938 as an electronic instruments company. Its first product was a resistance-capacity audio oscillator, an electronic instrument used to test sound equipment. During the 1940s, HPs products rapidly gained acceptance among engineers and scientists. HPs growth was aided by heavy purchases made by US government during the Second World War. In the 1980s, HP emerged as a major player in the computer industry, offering a full range of computers from desktop machines to powerful minicomputers. This decade saw the development of successful products like the Inkjet and LaserJet printers. HP introduced its first personal computer (PC) in 1981, followed by an electronic mail system in1982. This was first major wide-area commercial network that was based on a minicomputer. HP introduced its HP 9000 computer with 32-bit super chip. HP became leader in workstations with the purchase of market leader, Apollo Computers, in 1989. In August 2004, HP announced that its revenues for the third quarter and it was identified that its Enterprise Servers and Storage (ESS) segment had gone down by 5% (amounting $ 3.4 billion) as compared to the same quarter the previous year. The company attributed this revenue shortfall mainly to the problems faced because of migration to a centralized ERP system at one of its North American divisions. The total financial impact of the failure including backlogs and lost revenue was pegged at $ 16

Women and Debt Essay -- essays research papers

The dreaded ‘D’ word; debt. All of us have it at some time or another, and we would all like to get rid of it. Recent studies have shown, it is more common for women to be in debt. There are many reasons why this is so. When you look into a women’s closet you do not just see your everyday jeans and shirts like you would in a man's. You would be lucky if you see a few suits, ties and a tuxedo from the senior prom, but it is entirely different for a woman. A woman’s closet looks more like a department store. You have dress shirts, casual shirts, baby tees, tank tops, camisoles, dress pants, work pants, "fat" jeans, "skinny" jeans from the10th grade, casual jeans, dress jeans, not including the jeans you bought to go with the sexy red top that doesn't match with anything but the red top. If you are lucky to have a walk-in closet you might have a section for shoes, belts and purses, that is, if you’re lucky! The reason this happens is because when women go shopping they don't just go to purchase a shirt or a pair of jeans; no, the intentions may be good but it never works out that way. Every time a women picks up a shirt the first thing she thinks is, this is cute; then we have this little vision, of seeing our cute little self, in this new shirt with a nice dark pair of jeans, and fabulous pink pumps, and that’s when the trouble begins. Most of us women already do have darks jeans and pink pumps, but they are old and faded or we were seen in them two times a...

Epidemiology Essay

The increasing ease of access to computers, computer games, the internet, and social acceptance of extended leisure time have seemingly caused the incidence teenage obesity rise at alarming rates (Teen obesity, 2011). There is of course no single contributing factor to the cause of obesity but research has linked a variety of biological, genetic, cultural and behavioral traits to the disease. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, childhood obesity is not typically caused by a particular medical disorders; â€Å"less than 1 percent of all obesity is caused by physical problems. Obesity in childhood and adolescence can be related to poor eating habits, overeating or binging, lack of exercise, family history of obesity, stressful life events or changes (separations, divorce, moves, deaths, abuse), family and peer problems, low self-esteem, and depression or other emotional problems† (AACAP, 2011). While the typical â€Å"extra few pounds† are not necessarily detrimental to the overall health of an individual, the incidence of obesity in teens is a serious health issue as it puts the child at increased risk for emotional problems, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and undue stress on their young body (AACAP, 2011). Direct links have been seen between obesity and complex health concerns of increased risk for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory complications and sleep disturbance (AACAP, 2011). It can cause issues like an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems, trouble sleeping (AACAP, 2011). Demographics The demographics of obesity are individualized to a person’s ideal weight for their height and body type. Obesity is categorized by having an excess of weight that is well outside of the medically accepted range based on height. There are varying degrees of obesity and being overweight is not the same as obesity. Obesity is categorized as being 20% or greater than the ideal weight for the individual (PAMF, 2011). The WHO’s definitions of â€Å"overweight† and â€Å"obese† are based on an individual’s body mass index (BMI), which measures weight relative to height. Overweight is marked by a BMI greater than or equal to 25 and obese is defined as having a BMI greater than or equal to 30 (World Health Organization, 2012). While it is widely accepted that Americans are one of the most overweight countries in the world, many other nations have seen steady increases in their rates of obesity. Epidemiological data has shown that countries all over the world have been steadily gaining weight in all genders, ethnic groups, ages and educational levels (World Health Organization, 2012). According to the national Institute of Health, 15. 5% of teenagers were obese (2006). This means that a large number of teenagers today are at risk for health issues like heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure as well as type 2- diabetes. Obesity is a growing trend in all social classes and cultures; however it is disproportionately prevalent in certain ethnic populations. Obesity rates for example among â€Å"African American and Mexican American adolescents ages 12-19 were more likely to be overweight, at 21% and 23% respectively, than non-Hispanic White adolescents 14%† (aspe. hhs. gov, 2011). The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey concluded that this disparity is of great concern especially when considering that type-2 diabetes and heart disease is at present, a prevalent health concerns among these ethnic populations (aspe. hhs. ov, 2011). With obesity on the rise in vulnerable populations that are seemingly already at increased risk for related disease, further research and interventions should be aggressively sought. When considering the younger generations that are becoming increasingly overweight, lifestyle habits, particularly the acceptance of sedentary entertainment have to be highly c onsidered as factors leading to the problem. The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) have established clear links that the sedentary nature of watching TV is linked with some unhealthy outcomes in kids (NCCOR, 2012).

Critical Analysis of Mrs Lazarus Essay

Next line portrays that she must have got married on the day that her husband died if she had ripped her wedding clothes from her body. This stanza provides the reader with physicality by the use of the words â€Å"ripped†, â€Å"howled†, â€Å"shrieked†, â€Å"clawed†, â€Å"retched† etc. – onomatopoeic – portray a violent narrator. â€Å"howled†, â€Å"clawed† – anthropomorphic. Repetition – â€Å"over and over†, â€Å"dead, dead†. – symbolise that she thought of him repeatedly. This stanza displays as her almost hating him because he died. Sentence Structure – Short sentence to start – illustrates immediacy. Long sentence follows – symbolising how long she has grieved over the one she had lost – how long the process of recovery had been. Language – emotional, aggressive, sinister, chilling. Overall tone – depressing, graphic/gruesome. Themes – death, sorrow, aftermath. Stanza 2 Remains in past tense. â€Å"Gutted† – associated with gutting fish – unpleasant – symbolising destruction of her home. Colour change from â€Å"white† to â€Å"dark† – conveys â€Å"white† as being before he died (symbol of purity, holiness), and â€Å"dark† as the world she is in now that he is gone (symbol of evil, desperation) Symbolism of isolation – â€Å"Single cot† (relates to Mrs Quasimodo i. e. â€Å"Single silver fish†), â€Å"widow†, â€Å"one empty glove†, â€Å"half† – sense of her feeling incomplete. â€Å"White femur†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ bones – â€Å"dust† – ashes – relates to the fact that her husband is now reduced to this because he is dead. â€Å"Stuffed dark suits into black bags† – implies a murder? Could reveal her suicidal nature – her husband’s death had, inevitably, driven her to her own death. â€Å"noosed the double knot of the tie round my bare neck† – the only way she can dispel the isolation is to kill herself. â€Å"double† – sense of being whole again. Sense that her grieving continues. bare neck† refers back to the 1st stanza where she had stripped herself of her clothes. Sentence Structure – Short, simplistic, reflecting a child’ s dialect i. e. â€Å" Gone home† Language – unemotional – could symbolise her method of recuperation Overall tone – graphic, angry, vengeful, remorseful Themes – neglect, isolation, suicide Stanza 3 Continues on from second stanza. Religious reference – â€Å"gaunt nun† – reference to her imposed celibacy (duty to stay faithful to her dead husband). â€Å"Stations of Bereavement† – relates to Stations of the Cross – symbolising that she, like Jesus, has to struggle. icon of my face† relates to statues and figures in churches – also implies that her facial expression remains the same since the day of her husband’s death. â€Å"touching herself† – conveys that the only pleasure she is able to achieve would be by touching herself. Following lines imply that these were the only memories that she had of him i. e. he â€Å"dwindled† away. Her only memories of him were of his illness. â€Å"shrun k to the size of a snapshot† – modernisation – a picture remains only a memory, as had Mrs Lazarus’s husband. Sentence Structure – Long – broken with commas – symbolises constant bereavement Language – religious, frustrated yet sorrowful, modern Overall tone – frustrated, resentful Themes – celibacy, religion Stanza 4 Continues from third stanza with repletion of â€Å"going† – displays the fact that she does not feel as though he is gone yet. Tangible memories of Lazarus i. e. the hair fallen from his head, his scent – both vanishing – â€Å"the last hair†, â€Å"his scent went†. Imagery of their disappearing marriage – no value, no meaning. â€Å"ring† – supposed to symbolise eternal love – conventional meaning is diminished in this case. He is no longer worth anything to her as he is now only a â€Å"small zero†. Sentence Structure – Becoming shorter as she begins to forget about him. She is beginning to dismiss him from her life. Language – dismissive, unemotional Overall tone – guilt-free, disgusted Themes – independence Stanza 5 â€Å"Then he was gone† – simplistic – sense of immediacy, perhaps unexpected – he exists no more. â€Å"legend† – forgotten – he became just words – â€Å"language†. â€Å"schoolteacher† – perhaps he had taught her something in her life? â€Å"man’s strength† – protection But I was faithful for as long as it took† – as long as what took? Perhaps premeditated murder? Religious reference â€Å"faithful† – to whom? God? Lazarus? â€Å"Until he was a memory† – it took quite a while for her to come to terms with everything – perhaps she was trying to remain celibate? Sentence Structure – varied length – symbolise the normality of her life now. Language – settled (i. e. no anger, no strong emotion) Overall tone – defensive – â€Å"But I was faithful for as long as it took† Themes – deceit Stanza 6 Setting of scene – â€Å"field†, â€Å"moon† – night time Personification of atmosphere – â€Å"fine air† Observing and admiring landscape. â€Å"shouting† – disruption of new â€Å"healed† life. Were the men coming for her? Why were they shouting? Sentence Structure – Long, flows – illustrate the calm serenity of her current life – until the interruption of shouting men. Language – calm, descriptive Overall tone – serene Themes – admiration of the simple things in life Stanza 7 Continues from stanza 6. Images of people chasing her. Building up of tension – repetition of â€Å"I knew†. Personification of light – â€Å"sly† – even the light had betrayed her – labelled her as the wife of an ill man. shrill eyes† – piercing into her – evil – undeserved – highlights that the community had a prejudice of her husband because of his illness. Overwhelmed by crowds of people – feels consumed by the â€Å"hot tang† and the â€Å"hands bearingâ₠¬  her. Sentence Structure – varied. Broken with commas to illustrate the break in her normality. Language – anxious Overall tone – fearful Themes – betrayal Stanza 8 Illustrates the resurrection of her husband. â€Å"He lived† – shock, disbelief. â€Å"the horror on his face† – even he was terrified of her situation. She cannot escape the memory of him, no matter how far away he may seem. saw†, â€Å"heard†, â€Å"breathed† – use of the senses – immediacy – â€Å"rotting†. This stanza could be her mind revisiting the memory of Lazarus’s dead body. This could symbolise her reuniting with him – her escape from isolation. From beyond the grave, Lazarus maintains control over Mrs Lazarus – she is unable to rid him from her mind – eternally married to him – so she must be faithful. Does love defy death? Sentence Structure – Long – symbolise the return of bereavement. Language – graphic/gruesome – to describe disfigured body/their love Overall tone â₠¬â€œ depressing, horrific

Indian Red Scorpion Facts (Hottentotta tamulus)

Indian Red Scorpion Facts (Hottentotta tamulus) The Indian red scorpion (Hottentotta tamulus) or eastern Indian scorpion is considered to be the most lethal scorpion in the world. Despite its common name, the scorpion isnt necessarily red. It can range in color from reddish brown to orange or brown. The Indian red scorpion doesnt hunt people, but it will sting to defend itself. Children are most likely to die from stings because of their small size. Fast Facts: Indian Red Scorpion Scientific Name: Hottentotta tamulusCommon Names: Indian red scorpion, eastern Indian scorpionBasic Animal Group: InvertebrateSize: 2.0-3.5 inchesLifespan: 3-5 years (captivity)Diet: CarnivoreHabitat: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri LankaPopulation: AbundantConservation Status: Not evaluated Description The Indian red scorpion is a fairly small scorpion, ranging from 2 to 3-1/2 inches in length. It ranges in color from bright reddish orange to dull brown. The species has distinctive dark gray ridges and granulation. It has relatively small pincers, a thickened tail (telson) and a large stinger. As with spiders, male scorpion pedipalps appear somewhat inflated compared to those of females. Like other scorpions, the Indian red scorpion is fluorescent under black light. Several color morphs of Indian red scorpions exist. Sagar khunte /  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Habitat and Distribution The species is found in India, eastern Pakistan, and eastern Nepal. Recently, it has been seen (rarely) in Sri Lanka. Although little is known about the Indian red scorpions ecology, it appears to prefer humid tropical and subtropical habitats. It often lives near or in human settlements. Diet and Behavior The Indian red scorpion is a carnivore. It is a nocturnal ambush predator that detects prey by vibration and subdues it using its chelae (claws) and stinger. It feeds on cockroaches and other invertebrates and sometimes small vertebrates, such as lizards and rodents. Reproduction and Offspring In general, scorpions reach sexual maturity between 1 and 3 years of age. While some species can reproduce asexually via parthenogenesis, the Indian red scorpion only reproduces sexually. Mating occurs following a complex courtship ritual in which the male grasps the females pedipalps and dances with her until he finds a suitable flat area to deposit his spermatophore. He guides the female over the spermatophore and she accepts it into her genital opening. While scorpion females tend not to eat their mates, sexual cannibalism is not unknown, so males quickly depart following mating. Females give birth to live young, which are called scorplings. The young resemble their parents except they are white and unable to sting. They stay with their mother, riding on her back, at least until after their first molt. In captivity, Indian red scorpions live 3 to 5 years. The female Indian red scorpion carries her young on her back. Akash M. Deshmukh /  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not evaluated the conservation status of the Indian red scorpion. The scorpion is abundant within its range (except for Sri Lanka). However, there are high bounties on collection of wild specimens for scientific research, plus they may be captured for the pet trade. The population trend of the species is unknown. Indian Red Scorpions and Humans Despite their potent venom, Indian red scorpions are kept as pets. They are also kept and bred in captivity for medical research. Scorpion toxins include potassium channel-blocking peptides, which may have use as immunosuppressants for autoimmune disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis). Some toxins may have application in dermatology, cancer treatment, and as antimalarial drugs. Indian red scorpion stings are not uncommon in India and Nepal. While the scorpions are not aggressive, they will sting when stepped on or otherwise threatened. Reported clinical fatality rates range from 8 to 40%. Children are the most common victims. Symptoms of envenomation include severe pain at the site of the sting, vomiting, sweating, breathlessness, and alternating high and low blood pressure and heart rate. The venom targets the pulmonary and cardiovascular system and can cause death from pulmonary edema. While antivenom has little effectiveness, administration of the blood pressure medication prazosin can reduce the mortality rate to less than 4%. Some persons suffer severe allergic reactions to the venom and antivenom, including anaphylaxis. Sources Bawaskar, H.S. and P.H. Bawaskar. Indian red scorpion envenoming. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 65 (3): 383–391, 1998. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(95)00005-7Ismail, M. and P. H. Bawaskar. The scorpion envenoming syndrome. Toxicon. 33 (7): 825–858, 1995. PMID:8588209Kovařà ­k, F. A revision of the genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908, with descriptions of four new species. Euscorpius. 58: 1–105, 2007.Nagaraj, S.K.; Dattatreya, P.; Boramuth, T.N. Indian scorpions collected in Karnataka: maintenance in captivity, venom extraction and toxicity studies. J. Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2015; 21: 51. doi:10.1186/s40409-015-0053-4Polis, Gary A. The Biology of Scorpions. Stanford University Press, 1990. ISBN 978-0-8047-1249-1.

A QA Interview With Film and TV Critic Troy Patterson

A QA Interview With Film and TV Critic Troy Patterson Troy Patterson wears many hats, though hed hate that cliche. Hes a book critic for NP, TV critic at Slate.com and the film critic at Spin magazine. He also written for a host of other publications including The New York Times Book Review, Mens Vogue, Wired, and Entertainment Weekly. Patterson, who calls Brooklyn home, is a wickedly funny and nimble writer who crafts sentences like this one about Jon and Kate Gosselin, the feuding couple at the center of Jon Kate Plus 8: She is a moaning 34-year-old harpy with highlights as wide as mountain-bike tires sporting an asymmetrical haircut suggestive of a wounded stork. He is a sullen 32-year-old layabout whose skate-punk sideburns and gelled forelocks signal boring bad news. And, on the show, both struggle to act half their age. Or read his take on The X Factor: People like to talk about how reality TV attracts exhibitionists. This was literalized last night when a pervert at the Seattle audition dropped his pants, inspiring Paula Abdul to discreetly vomit. If we set him aside, the most memorable rejectees were the geriatric husband-and-wife team of Dan and Venita. They warbled off key through Unchained Melody, wore clothes too transfixingly tacky to rate as vintage, and were mildly lobotomized in manner. If this were a tryout for a dinner-theater adaptation of a David Lynch film, they would have definitely gotten a callback. Heres a QA with Patterson. Q: Tell me a little about your background: A: As a kid and teenager in Richmond, Virginia, I was a big reader Twain, Poe, Hemingway, Vonnegut, Salinger, Judy Blume, detective novels, out-of-town newspapers, Cheerios boxes, whatever. I got hooked on magazines by way of Tom Wolfe and Spy. I went to college at Princeton, where I majored in English Lit and edited the campus weekly. After graduating, I lived in Santa Cruz, California, for a little while, working in a coffee shop and freelancing for the local alt-weekly. Those were the clips I used when I applied for a magazines jobs in New York. I worked at Entertainment Weekly for seven years, where I started as an assistant and later became a book critic and staff writer, and I left EW on my 30th birthday to freelance and to fool around writing fiction. In 2006, I went to Slate, where Im on contract, and subsequently picked up regular gigs reviewing movies for Spin and books for NPR. Q: Where did you learn to write? A: I think that all writers educate themselves through practice, practice, practice. It helps to have good instructors along the way (mine include nursery-school teachers to Toni Morrison) and to hunker down with the usual guidebooks (Strunk White, William Zinsser, etc). Q: Whats a typical workday like for you? A: I dont have a typical workday. Sometimes I write all day, sometimes I write for 90 minutes. Sometimes its all reading and reporting and research. Some days Im running around watching movies or recording podcasts or schmoozing with editors. Then theres keeping up with the news, fending off publicists, replying to hate mail, and staring at the ceiling trying to come up with ideas. Q: What do you most like/dislike about what you do? A: May I quote Dorothy Parker? I hate writing; I love having written. Q: Is it hard being a freelancer? A: You betcha. And success, though dependent on hard work, is also contingent upon pure luck to a ridiculous degree. Q: Any advice to aspiring writers/critics? A: Forget it; go to law school. But if youve got too much passion to resist becoming an arts journalist, then try to learn something about a broad range of history and cultureShakespeare, horror flicks, fashion, philosophy, politics, everything. And dont worry about developing your voice; if you study your elders closely and try to write naturally, itll develop itself.

Anatomy of Taste Buds

Anatomy of Taste Buds The oral cavity and its anatomy play a key role in understanding taste and its biological function in the human body. The oral cavity consists of your lips, cheeks, teeth, tongue and throat. The taste buds are the chemoreceptors that detect and relay taste stimuli. In order for the taste buds to detect the taste of food or drink, the molecule must be suspended in an aqueous solution, otherwise known as saliva. Most taste buds are found within specialized projections on the tongue called papillae (Seeley, Stephens, they do not house taste buds but they do provide the rough surface on the tongue that allows for easier manipulation of food (Seeley, Stephens, â€Å"Eight to 12 of these papillae form a V-shaped row along the border between the anterior and posterior parts of the tongue† (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). Each person has roughly 10,000 taste buds on their tongue, and each taste bud contains three distinct types of specialized epithelial cells within them. â€Å"T he sensory cells of each taste bud consist of about 50 taste, or gustatory cells. The remaining two cell types, which are nonsensory cells, are basal cells and supporting cells† (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). Each taste cell has gustatory hairs, which are specialized microvilli, that help direct the tastants, or substances dissolved in saliva, into the taste, or gustatory, pore (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). Several secondary sensory neurons connect to each taste bud and release neurotransmitters when stimulated. Sensory information from the oral cavity can travel to the brain in three different ways. The tongue itself is broken down into thirds. Sensory information from the anterior, or front, two-thirds of the tongue is transmitted to the brain via a branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) called the chorda tympani (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). Information from the posterior, or back, one-third of the tongue, the circumvallate papillae, and the superior phar ynx is carried by the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX) (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) transmits information from the epiglottis, which is located in the back of the throat (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). The olfactory region also has a substantial role in taste so it warrants a brief anatomical discussion as well. Olfaction is our sense of smell and it is a response to odorants that stimulate sensory receptors that are located in the extreme superior region of the nasal cavity (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). The ten million olfactory neurons that are located in the olfactory region of the nasal cavity then travel through foramen in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone in the bottom of the skull and terminate into the olfactory bulb that’s just above the cribriform plate (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008). The olfactory tract then takes the signal from the olfactory bulb to the cerebral cortex (Seeley, Stephens, & Tate, 2008) . This is a simplified version of the much more complex biological process that is olfaction, but it is sufficient for the depth of this paper.

Philosophy of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Philosophy of Education - Essay Example It should also teach to students general knowledge and skills that they will be able to broaden later in their higher education as well as apply in everyday life. School should also develop problem-solving and decision-making skills, and educate physical, emotional and social needs. The Purpose of Education Herbert Spencer once said: â€Å"Education has for its object the formation of the character† and â€Å"The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action†. These two quotes reflect my beliefs about education. The purpose of education is to prepare young generations to be able to fully function in the society, to teach them morals and skills to be able to make right decisions that will benefit them and society overall. Another purpose of education is to teach young generations to act upon those decisions and contribute to personal growth and society overall. I believe that education starts with family, in particular parents. They are responsible for raising a ch ild into a rightful citizen. They are the ones who help the child make first steps, say first words, and make first decisions. They provide the direction that determines the lives of their children. The saying goes â€Å"It takes a village to raise a child†. That is where the school community comes in. They help children grow academically, socially, and morally. The education should help reveal the potential of the child. As Jean Piaget believed, intellectual ability is not something that is taught to children, it is something that children develop naturally as they grow. So schools have to provide the framework for that growth. I think schools should provide basic education that is consistent across the country, but at the same time take an individual approach to adjust or add to the curriculum to meet the needs of children of various racial, ethnical, socioeconomic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. For example, children should be able to learn history and geography of t he world to be well-rounded individuals, but at the same time they should have an opportunity to study their cultural and ethnical heritage in more detail. This would help them appreciate their roots as well as respect people of other cultures and backgrounds. I think that currently the system of education is lacking the ability to provide a solid education for children and young people of various backgrounds. Unfortunately, the quality of education youngsters receive is still determined by the amount of money parents have. Even though President George Bush has made an attempt to give the equal opportunities to children of less privileged backgrounds through his landmark legislation â€Å"No Child Left Behind†, still this legislation has failed to achieve its goals in full. President Obama has recently raised the issue of quality of education and the very questions whether the education should be the same for everyone. He advocated for better schools and better education, esp ecially considering the fact that American schools lose to schools in most developed countries in the world. Educational Philosophers: The Power of Logic I believe in logic. I think people who think logically

Job Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Job Discrimination - Essay Example The following will explore job discrimination with an eye to how this form of discrimination affects certain groups of people in the labor market and how society has attempted to protect these people from discrimination. Discrimination in the workforce affects people from all walks of life. Accordingly, the employment opportunities of half of our population are hindered by latent and overt sexism in the offices of America. It is well known that women in America earn substantially less than their male counterparts. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) of 1963 was established more than four decades ago to protect men and women who perform the same tasks from wage-based discrimination. Sexism is an unfortunate aspect of our modern society but the EPA seeks to combat it through positive legislation aimed at correcting the pay discrepancy between men and women in the labor force. Older workers also face a variety of impediments to their active inclusion in the labor force and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination at work. Finally, people with disabilities face a plethora of hurdles in society and the Americans with Disabilitie s Act (ADA) of 1990 was established to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities in American society. Covering a wide variety of instances of discrimination, the ADA is the most recent piece of legislation mentioned above which aims to tackle problems associated with discrimination in the labor force (Bernbach 1996; Ripa 2007). Job discrimination prevents the active inclusion of certain types of individuals in the work environment and is detrimental both to the diversity of an office as well as to the productivity of a particular work space. Seeking to address the major challenges minorities face with respect to discrimination at work, the government has legislated policies to protect certain groups from harmful work practices. Job

Propose a Research Method and Design - Propose and Justify Research Paper

Propose a Method and Design - Propose and Justify Method and Design - Research Paper Example More broadly will be based on three key motivations: 1. To study the impacts of high energy costs in the information and technology sector as well as the significance of adopting cloud computing technologies in the management of data centers. 2. To investigate the underlying concept behind cloud computing and the relations between various data virtualization techniques and other emerging technologies. 3. To determine the potential benefits of moving data centers to the cloud both in small and large organizations. The research will also seek to explore the potential use of cloud computing in the reduction of carbon emissions. Lastly, the research will also involve investigate the associated risks of adopting the use of cloud data centers as well as some of the available remedies to such risks. Research questions Generally the three main research questions are designed to bring light on some of the greater issues associated with the adopting of cloud data centers. 1. What are the curre nt implications of high energy costs in the information sector and what is the potential significance of using cloud computing technologies to lower energy consumption? 2. What is the concept behind cloud computing and data virtualization? 3. ... For example, the selection of the respondents will be achieved by mapping out individuals who are either directly or indirectly engaged in the information and communication technology sector. For example, the chosen respondents who will participate in the research will primarily be selected from social groups and individuals who are working or participating in the ICT industry and are therefore well informed of the recent technological developments such as cloud computing. Interviews and questionnaires will then be conducted to determine their individual experiences with both the traditional data centers and the emerging virtual private cloud servers. Before administering interviews or questionnaires for the research, pilot tests will first be carried out, validated and checked to determine the reliability of the research methodology and design (Creswell, 43). Lastly, the questionnaires and interview questions will be developed based on the how the collected data and responses will b e analyzed as well as how they are related to the main research questions. Interviews A purposeful sampling strategy will be used to select 20 respondents are required to participate in the research. Some of the potential individuals that will be selected to participate in the research include computer entrepreneurs, business managers and members of private data centers as well as their friends and families. The selected participants will then be divided into four groups of five respondents each. This will make it easier to compare the experiences of various respondents in relation to the topic of study. To minimize potential research biasness, both structured and semi structured interviews will

What Being A Leader Means To Me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What Being A Leader Means To Me - Essay Example A good leader inspires confidence in their followers. When I was captain of the football team, my fellow teammates were confident in my leadership. When I would go over plays, my teammates knew I had the best interest of the team at heart. When my plays would be successful most of the time, my teammates grew more confident in my leadership. I knew that I was responsible for successful plays. The whole team looked to me. That meant hard work on my part. In order to inspire confidence, I had to offer successful plays. This was accomplished by researching other teams, not to mention the hours of plays I watched on video. I put in hours and hours in order to inspire confidence from my teammates. The second part of being a leader is setting example by actions, not just words. My teammates and I had to endure grueling practices. Some of my teammates might get injured and sit out on practices. I did not have that luxury. In order to set an example by action, I had to endure despite the pain, fatigue, and my body’s weakness. I had to continue in order to inspire my team. If I quit over an injury or fatigue, then I could never ask my teammates for one hundred ten percent, because I did not live up to that standard myself. If my teammates did twenty laps, I had to do twenty-one in order to prove I was a leader. I had to make every practice, or not expect my teammates to make every practice. Actions speak louder than words. My leadership is an action orientated leadership. Finally, as a leader I did make mistakes. Sometimes my plays were not always successful. Instead of blaming a teammate, I would accept the responsibility. However, when I made a mistake, I would learn from that mistake. If a certain teammate could not catch the ball, I did not put him in the position to catch the ball. Every individual has weaknesses and strengths. I would play to the

Painting and Theatre in 16th century Venice and Rome Essay

Painting and Theatre in 16th century Venice and Rome - Essay Example The essay "Painting and Theatre in 16th century Venice and Rome" discovers the 16th-century painting and theater in Rome and Venice. The art of painting and sculpting practiced during this period was characterized, by an acute interest in human beings and their surroundings and by a meticulous recording of detail, especially that of human anatomy. The classic art developed individually at different places with the center of activity being Rome. Venice was altogether active in its own manner and remained more or less unaffected and uninfluenced with the movements in rest of the Italy. The principle of perspective was a revolutionary finding in the fifteenth century which was to govern the progress of painting in the next century. With the help of these principles, making of technically correct three dimensional drawing on a two dimensional surface became possible. This gave a major direction for painting to progress as this added feature helped to draw technically correct and proporti onate objects in foreground and background providing a new meaning and understanding to the art of painting. Proportion and size of the object in painting were given more importance and this precision and exactness was taken further by going in to detail of individual elements. This perfectionist approach came to be known as movement of classicism in the field of art. Venice was an important and prosperous centre during this period which had grown powerful financially and politically. The city being geographically separated. from the mainland of Italy developed a distinct style of painting which came to be known as the Venetian school of painting2 with prominent artists like Giovanni Bellini, Titian and Giorgione shaping its course. Giovanni initiated the styles of painting which was later taken to new heights by his pupils, Titian and Giorgione. Venice being a city of lagoon, there was high shortage of land. Only the privileged could afford a garden in the house. People used to cra ve for a spreading view of land and this was reflected in the paintings of Venice. The theme of paintings was mainly based on the landscapes rich with natural beauty. Venetian school for painting is known for its rich and atmospheric quality. The paintings describe nature in details and play with colors and light to show emotion. The use of bright and luminous colors, perfect and minute detail of the landscape and natural elements and the use of indistinct brush strokes were the key characteristics of these paintings. The attempts where directed toward achieving an atmosphere with rich colors and luminous surroundings to fulfill the inner craving for a vast landscape to live in. The use of light filled colors like orange, yellow and blue are noticeable in these paintings. The knowledge of perspective was explored to greater depths and complex landscape paintings with distinct foreground and background were made. The techniques of two point and three point perspective were also utilized in many cases. The painting of 'the tempest' by Giorgione expresses nature in elaborate detail and 'the adoration of shepherds' shows the use colors and light to depict human emotions. 'The pastoral concert' by Giorgione also provides a good example of takes the Venetian landscape painting in detail. In Venice, a tradition of colorist painting reached its climax in the works of Titian, whose portraits demonstrate a profound understanding of human nature. Titian dominated Venetian painting of this period. In the spirit of the Renaissance, he created scenes of the Greek and Roman classical

Propose a Research Method and Design - Propose and Justify Research Paper

Propose a Method and Design - Propose and Justify Method and Design - Research Paper Example More broadly will be based on three key motivations: 1. To study the impacts of high energy costs in the information and technology sector as well as the significance of adopting cloud computing technologies in the management of data centers. 2. To investigate the underlying concept behind cloud computing and the relations between various data virtualization techniques and other emerging technologies. 3. To determine the potential benefits of moving data centers to the cloud both in small and large organizations. The research will also seek to explore the potential use of cloud computing in the reduction of carbon emissions. Lastly, the research will also involve investigate the associated risks of adopting the use of cloud data centers as well as some of the available remedies to such risks. Research questions Generally the three main research questions are designed to bring light on some of the greater issues associated with the adopting of cloud data centers. 1. What are the curre nt implications of high energy costs in the information sector and what is the potential significance of using cloud computing technologies to lower energy consumption? 2. What is the concept behind cloud computing and data virtualization? 3. ... For example, the selection of the respondents will be achieved by mapping out individuals who are either directly or indirectly engaged in the information and communication technology sector. For example, the chosen respondents who will participate in the research will primarily be selected from social groups and individuals who are working or participating in the ICT industry and are therefore well informed of the recent technological developments such as cloud computing. Interviews and questionnaires will then be conducted to determine their individual experiences with both the traditional data centers and the emerging virtual private cloud servers. Before administering interviews or questionnaires for the research, pilot tests will first be carried out, validated and checked to determine the reliability of the research methodology and design (Creswell, 43). Lastly, the questionnaires and interview questions will be developed based on the how the collected data and responses will b e analyzed as well as how they are related to the main research questions. Interviews A purposeful sampling strategy will be used to select 20 respondents are required to participate in the research. Some of the potential individuals that will be selected to participate in the research include computer entrepreneurs, business managers and members of private data centers as well as their friends and families. The selected participants will then be divided into four groups of five respondents each. This will make it easier to compare the experiences of various respondents in relation to the topic of study. To minimize potential research biasness, both structured and semi structured interviews will

Painting and Theatre in 16th century Venice and Rome Essay

Painting and Theatre in 16th century Venice and Rome - Essay Example The essay "Painting and Theatre in 16th century Venice and Rome" discovers the 16th-century painting and theater in Rome and Venice. The art of painting and sculpting practiced during this period was characterized, by an acute interest in human beings and their surroundings and by a meticulous recording of detail, especially that of human anatomy. The classic art developed individually at different places with the center of activity being Rome. Venice was altogether active in its own manner and remained more or less unaffected and uninfluenced with the movements in rest of the Italy. The principle of perspective was a revolutionary finding in the fifteenth century which was to govern the progress of painting in the next century. With the help of these principles, making of technically correct three dimensional drawing on a two dimensional surface became possible. This gave a major direction for painting to progress as this added feature helped to draw technically correct and proporti onate objects in foreground and background providing a new meaning and understanding to the art of painting. Proportion and size of the object in painting were given more importance and this precision and exactness was taken further by going in to detail of individual elements. This perfectionist approach came to be known as movement of classicism in the field of art. Venice was an important and prosperous centre during this period which had grown powerful financially and politically. The city being geographically separated. from the mainland of Italy developed a distinct style of painting which came to be known as the Venetian school of painting2 with prominent artists like Giovanni Bellini, Titian and Giorgione shaping its course. Giovanni initiated the styles of painting which was later taken to new heights by his pupils, Titian and Giorgione. Venice being a city of lagoon, there was high shortage of land. Only the privileged could afford a garden in the house. People used to cra ve for a spreading view of land and this was reflected in the paintings of Venice. The theme of paintings was mainly based on the landscapes rich with natural beauty. Venetian school for painting is known for its rich and atmospheric quality. The paintings describe nature in details and play with colors and light to show emotion. The use of bright and luminous colors, perfect and minute detail of the landscape and natural elements and the use of indistinct brush strokes were the key characteristics of these paintings. The attempts where directed toward achieving an atmosphere with rich colors and luminous surroundings to fulfill the inner craving for a vast landscape to live in. The use of light filled colors like orange, yellow and blue are noticeable in these paintings. The knowledge of perspective was explored to greater depths and complex landscape paintings with distinct foreground and background were made. The techniques of two point and three point perspective were also utilized in many cases. The painting of 'the tempest' by Giorgione expresses nature in elaborate detail and 'the adoration of shepherds' shows the use colors and light to depict human emotions. 'The pastoral concert' by Giorgione also provides a good example of takes the Venetian landscape painting in detail. In Venice, a tradition of colorist painting reached its climax in the works of Titian, whose portraits demonstrate a profound understanding of human nature. Titian dominated Venetian painting of this period. In the spirit of the Renaissance, he created scenes of the Greek and Roman classical

Overview of the Skeletal Essay Example for Free

Overview of the Skeletal Essay The purpose of this exercise is to learn the skeletal systems and the components associated with the system. I will be exploring the major types of bones and cartilage. Are there any safety concerns associated with this exercise? If so, list what they are and what precautions should be taken. Handle the microscope and the slides with care; when taking the chicken bone out of the oven use caution because the bone is extremely hot. The Chemical Components of Bone Questions A. Describe the effect that the lemon juice (acid) had on the chicken leg bone. The Lemon juice caused the bone to change colors and soften B. Describe the effect that baking (heat) had on the chicken leg bone. The bone is really dry and brittle; I also noticed the color of the bone changed C. Rickets is a disease where the bones are not formed completely in children due to a lack of Vitamin D. Does the heated or acid-soaked bone represent a child with rickets? Explain why. The acid-soak bone represents a child with rickets, when the bones aren’t getting enough Vitamin D the bones softens and tend to bend. When the bones harden back up they stay in the shape it was bent when it was softened. Exercise 2: Microscopic Structure of Bone obseRvations Observe the structure of the Haversian system. Sketch what is seen and identify the following: central canal, lacunae, concentric lamellae, canaliculi and an osteocyte. See attached photo Questions A. Which part of the Haversian system was the hardest to see on the slide of compact bone? Why do you suppose this is? Osteocytes are the hardest part to see on the slide because they are so small. B. Which structures in the compact bone deliver nutrients to the osteocytes? Canaliculi deliver nutrients to osteocytes through haversian canal. C. Which structures are found inside the central canal? Cerebrospinal fluid; Spinal cord Exercise 3: Structure of a Long Bone obseRvations A. From step 4 in the procedures Observe the epiphysis. Identify as many of the following structures as possible: articular cartilage, compact bone, spongy bone and bone marrow. Make a sketch of the bone in the Lab Report and label the structures you identified. See Attached photo B. From step 5 in the procedures Observe the section of diaphysis. Identify as many of the following structures as possible: periosteum, compact bone, endosteum and bone marrow. Make a sketch of the diaphysis in the Lab Report and label the structures you identified. See Attached photo Questions A. How does the femur of the skeletal model compare to the diagrams in your textbook or this manual? The model and the diagrams match. The only difference is the sizes and the detail B. Using your chicken bone, how does the texture of articular cartilage (or hyaline cartilage) compare to that of periosteum? Note: Articular cartilage (made of hyaline cartilage) is found on the ends of the bones. It absorbs compression and allows for smooth movement. C. What is the function of spongy bone?

Marketing Communication Tools for Apple

Marketing Communication Tools for Apple In the past two decates it become a common practice for companies to spend millions and billions of money in advertisement (see Table 1, due to lack of any further evidence the numbers should be taken under suspicion). Most of us think that they spent all this money just to make us buy more and more but is not only that. Their ultimate goal is to make as aware of their presence, they want to gain more and more market share and they also use various methods and ways to attract new customers that they have not yet consider them as an option. In order to do that they have to use some tools and means. These tools are known as Marketing Communication Tools and they consist from five principles -also known as marketing communication mix- advertising, sales promotion, public relations, personal selling and direct marketing (Armstrong, Kotler, Harker, Brennan, 2009, p398). Not all of the tools are been used from the companies, some of them are used less some of them more. This is dependable on the strategy the company wants to follow, at this assignment I will try to critically assess and evaluate two key marketing communication tools that Apple Inc. uses. Apple Inc. founded in 1976 and is one the largest corporation across the world that designs computers, electronics and computer software. It became known by been one of the first companies to mass produce and sell Personal Computers, in 1976 Apple 1 and in 1977 Apple II. Since then they become one of the leading companies both in innovation and sales this is the reason why I choose this particular brand in my assignment. One of the most common marketing tools used by Apple Inc. is direct marketing and as Chris Fill (2005, 4th) defines the companies level in his book Apple Inc. is a type four hybrid company. This means that they see direct marketing as brand vehicle and use direct marketing to exploit market space opportunities (Chris Fill 2005, 4th, p.738). The main tool they use for their strategy is the internet and web-mail since the evolution of technology helps direct marketing to prosper and grow. Apple Inc. exploited that by using huge storage databases to keep track of their customers data and preferences. Their main goal is to build a strong and long-term relationship with their customers by forming a community and to define the word I used I mean dedicated customers that follow Apple Inc. products blindly. This growing community is the power of company; it consisted by dedicated customers that are tied to the company mainly for sentimental reasons slowing rising as a cult. Even if the products sometimes do not meet their expectations or the products are left to die from the company they still follow them as a cult current slowly rising. As an example we can relate to that cult is the Abandoned Apple Newton Brand Community as explained at Albert M. Muniz Jr and Hope Jensen Schau research Religiosity in the Abandoned Apple Newton Brand Community published in the Journal of Consumer Research mentioning how customers off different brands turn their favorite brands into a religion and giving the products supernatural and magical motifs because they believe they are consisted from some kind of magic and will survive through time and at some point they even might rise again like the phoenix from the ashes. From a consumer point of view their strategy is not as effective as it could be; mainly because direct marketing should be more about feedback and customer profile based. From that prospective they should focus more on how they can use effectively their recourses to be more customer-friendly and diverse, they need to give you the opportunity to feedback and give your own advices, after all this are a way of saying to the customer that you care about his opinion and the customer feel that they contribute to their favorite brand. In 2001 Apple Inc. decided to add one more communication tool missing so far from their arsenal, as a result from that they launched their very own retail stores aiming to get higher market share and to bring joy to millions of dedicated customers around the globe. At this moment Apple Inc. counts 324 stores around the world, their philosophy is simple, they want customers to be able to found everything around their technology in one store. The goal is simple, the company tries to be more diverse more interactive and more two-way communication with their customers, this is what personal selling is all about this is what they aimed at. They want existing customers to interact with new customers and sales personnel to interact with both of them. This is the way they make their bond with the dedicated customers even stronger, due to human interaction and tow-way communication the customers do not only attach to the brand but they evolve a special relationship with the personnel that serves them in a way that the selling personnel influence the buying decision of the customer and the customer has someone that knows what his needs and wants are. Personal selling is a great way to learn about what your customers think for your brand, because is a two-way communication and the feedback is faster than from the one you have with research or direct marketing. Is more specific, more consumer-oriented and more flexible than other communication tools but not without a cost. The main weakness is the high cost, the cost for each contact is very high and thus less time consuming methods should be introduced and used for each customer from the sales manager, as an example Germanos ( http://www.e-germanos.gr/ the pioneers in phone selling in Greece) has evolved a very effective and less time consuming model of personal selling, it is called the 5 minutes rule in which each sales personnel has 5 minutes to identify the customer, identify their needs, propose, take him to the counter and closure. Additionally there is always the possibility of misunderstanding due to the human factor involved in the whole process although human factor is a n important part of this process is also the one part that sometimes causes most of the problems the reasons may vary from cultural and religion beliefs to differences in the social status. As a conclusion after doing research for the strategy that Apple Inc. uses we came across equivocal results, despite Apple Inc. market share status (one of the pioneers at their market) and their total revenue their main goal is their loyal customers, perhaps giving more attention on building stronger and life-lasting relationships with their existing customers than introducing the company to new customers. We cannot get a clear conclusion if their strategy is either bad or good, the only thing we can assume is that what they do, they do it to keep the brand image at a level to justify that their brand is for the few and not for the many. Bottom line despite their strategy or their agenda we need to respect Apple Inc. but always have in mind that we need to be critical and analyze everything to see the hidden truth and what is going on behind the scenes. At the end I want to include a part of an interview given in the September of 2010 from the founder of Accer Inc. , Stan Shih, Apple has to be respected. He said that the company and CEO has always been using a different strategy in the computer industry. According to Shih, Apple is looking for revolution, while other PC brands are evolving naturally.

Teaching Philosophies :: Education Teaching Teachers Essays

Teaching Philosophies When everyone always asked the question, what do you want to be when you grow up? I replied; I want to be a teacher. I said this because teaching was the only occupation that was familiar to me. Now, when people ask me that question I answer, I am striving to become an art educator, not because it is familiar, but because of the difference I could make. The greatest rewards of being and educator are those that are intrinsic. What I enjoy the most about teaching someone something new, even now, is the look on their face after they have mastered the technique. Being and art teacher makes this reward a common one, because of the variety of media one works with. Although this, and other reactions are common, I will never get sick of their repetition, or the content area that I am teaching. I would use an eclectic approach to my teaching philosophy. It would be composed of the popular method of pragmatism, mixed with idealism. I believe that all students should have the right to make positive contributions to the class and society, and that learning should be both a group and an individual activity. I personally feel that one of my jobs as a teacher, is to act as a mentor to students, and lead by example. I enjoy teaching, and am knowledgeable in the content area that I am responsible for. I feel that students would enjoy learning the history, theories, and techniques of art when I present the material to them. I am a firm believer in Plato’s theory â€Å"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.† If a child is putting forth maximum effort, I find no reason to enforce faster working habits negatively upon them. Children with slower working speeds should be encouraged, and nurtured, while being worked with on a one to one b asis occasionally. My ideal classroom would have large tables arranged in several horseshoe or incomplete circles. This would give the students a maximum area to work, and myself a place to stand and give advice and directions. The ceramics section would be in the back corner of the room to prevent clay dust on everything. My bulletin boards would be decorated with famous works of artists of the past. One would be reserved for especially for an assignment outline for each media the class would cover.

uncertainty in our life Essays -- essays research papers

After learning the concept of post-modernism in class and doing some research on the internet, I have a rough idea of what the postmodernism is. In this essay I will discuss the postmodern elements in the movie  ¡Ã‚ °Run Lola Run ¡Ã‚ ±. By watching this movie, I think that  ¡Ã‚ °Run Lola Run ¡Ã‚ ± is a movie which is fast paced, exciting and attractive. Moreover, it offers three sections, each comprising the same story, but told in contrasting ways; which in my opinion makes this movie quite different from other common movies and the uncertainty of the postmodernism view of life obvious.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First of all, the movie has an unusual opening. When the movie begins, there are just many people on the screen; and I cannot find any clue to the plot or the setting. However, I think this opening shows Bonnycastle ¡Ã‚ ¯s idea of postmodernism which is  ¡Ã‚ °it is hard to know what you might encounter next or what kind of transaction might be expected of you ¡Ã‚ ± (Bonnycastle 232); in other words, I think the opening wants to show us there are various people on the earth, and their fate and destiny are different. After this unusual opening, the main characters Manni and Lola appear on the screen; however, after they finish their phone call, I understand what has happened. In addition, Lola has a mere 20 minutes to get a large amount of money to her boyfriend so that he will not be killed by his boss. In fact, it seems impossible to do such a thing in 20 minutes; however, I think this is what the audiences will find the most attractive. In addition, I guess the director wants each member of the audiences to imagine the next 20 minutes in their own mind before they see the result of the movie. However, I am sure that each person ¡Ã‚ ¯s ending will be different as this is a reflection of the uncertainty of the postmodernist view of life. Consequently, the first part of the movie only interests me in what will be going on in the next 20 minutes. After Lola hangs up the phone, the movie shows Lola running. The movie uses rapid camera movements and accompanies by a pulse-pounding soundtrack to make me follow Lola with every turn she runs. With the movie goes on, I feel that the main characters Lola and Manni do not fit stereotypical gender roles in this movie. As Bonnycastle says  ¡Ã‚ °[you] may be uncertain about the sex of some of the people who surround you, and about how much p... ...; however, sometimes we never care about the tiny changes but it does reflect the uncertainty of postmodernism view of life. In this movie, not only the main characters ¡Ã‚ ¯ lives but also all the characters ¡Ã‚ ¯ lives show the uncertainty of postmodernism view of life. In each section Lola passes by the same bystanders. For example, the old woman, nuns and man on bike, their lives are changed in different ways. Moreover, in the last section of the movie, I feel the result is interesting and give audiences a surprise. In the first two section of the movie, one of Lola and Manni will die at the end, but last section ends with a comedy. Manni finds his lost money from the beggar; however, Lola wins 100,000 marks in the Casino. This ending seems perfect, and it shows that the life is changeful. From the changes in different section of the movie, it gives me a feeling about that our life is full of uncertainties. Each of the same characters in the movie has several different results and this obviously reflects the ideas of the postmodernism view of life. After I watched this movie, I am thinking of one problem, what will the result be in my life when there are various uncertainties ahead?