13 Colleges with Musical Opportunities for Music Non-Majors

Do Mergers Add Value to Business - 1527 Words

Academic Practice for Business CONTENTS Introduction Definition of Mergers Merging Intelligently Steps for Merger Success Reasons for Failure in Mergers Analysis TATA group the market Pioneers Tata Steel Tata Teleservices Do Mergers add value to business? Introduction In a times where there is cut throat competition for even the biggies, organizations who have been playing since many decades and the rulers of economy it became a concern for them for how to survive? Here in cropped up the Idea of MERGERS. Well, whether a Merger adds value to business cannot be answered in a yes or a No. This depends on what kind of a Merger that is. The following essay will comprise of some successes as well as mergers†¦show more content†¦It could be A) Unfocused approach or demotivated employees B) Not enough funds C) Cultural differences D) Disregard of the main business Point A implies that a lot times a Merger is happening for the sake of it as in just because it’s a trend and it would bring the organization in the news. It may happen not for a real Business cause but for having media attention. Here the Banking institution or the Lawyer normally tries to be diplomatic and never corrects or advice their possible clients in order for their own interests being served. Point B implies that a lot of time when the organizations keep their finances as secrets or they hold it onto the last minute to open up about their finances it is sometimes too late by then. Point C says clearly that two different geographical locations or different cultures could pose problems within the managements and operation style. Point D reflects that a lot of times when there are more than required post-merger meetings, concentrating on excessive cost cutting, or social gatherings more than what is required, it happens that the employee starts to loose onto interest. It could even be when the revenues are much less than what’s expected that the motivation of the employee sways away. (http://books.google.co.uk) (Senese,James A.) 2007 ( Managing Post-Merger Corporate cultue: A case study of two mergers in the†¦)Show MoreRelatedNet Present Value of T-Mobiles Discount Rate1421 Words   |  6 PagesPart I: The formula for net present value is as follows: INCLUDEPICTURE http://i.investopedia.com/inv/dictionary/terms/NPV.gif * MERGEFORMATINET   Source: Investopedia (2012) The net present value of this project if T-Mobiles discount rate is 4% is therefore as follows: Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 CF -3219000 350000 939000 1122000 500000 400000 PV -3219000 336538.5 868158.3 997453.9 427402.1 328770.8 NPV -260676 d 4% Based on thisRead More communication Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pages SITUATION nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Four large US telephone providers merged to create a national wireless service. With a combined workforce of more than 30,000, the new company needed a communication platform to integrate its four business units. To quell the rumor mill and sustain productivity, it was important to keep employees abreast of breaking news about integration plans, customer and staffing issues, partner companies, public news releases, and changes to organization design and HRRead MoreAnalysis Of Herbert David Kelleher Co. Air Southwest1414 Words   |  6 PagesSpirit. Which embodies the values Southwest has exhibited for years and that’s to live the Southwest Way, to have a warrior spirit, a servant’s heart, a fun-LUVing attitude, and to work the Southwest way. In order to ensure a successful merger, Southwest must ensure that the current culture is maintained regarding both organizations and to merge the benefits and compensation plans. Completing such as task will require cultivation of talents and to preserve its business culture. Expanding SouthwestRead MoreGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles and Non-operating Value1329 Words   |  6 PagesTongtong Yin/ Canran Xie) Given the background of ACC and AirThread, do you think the acquisition is a good idea? Briefly explain your answer. Yes. First, American Cable Communication (ACC) and AirThread could help each other compete in the industry that was moving more and more bundled service offerings. Second, the acquisition could help both companies expand into the business market. Third, ACC was in a unique position to add value to AirThread’s operations because the acquisition could save AirThreadRead MoreMarketing Analysis : General Mills989 Words   |  4 PagesGeneral Mills is a company that has strategically developed and growth through mergers and acquisitions. Mergers are the fusion of two companies that join forces to compete in the market. There are two types of merger: Horizontal merger on which the company acquires a competitor and vertical merger, on which the fusion is with a supplier. Acquisitions, on the other hand occurs when a company buys another company and become the property of the buyer. Thorough study of the market has made General MillsRead MoreBusiness Process Integration : Bank Of Ame rica Corporation A Fortune 500 For Profit1692 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Mergers and Acquisitions have been a fundamental growth principle in making a company bigger than the existing two companies by merging them together (merger) or one buying another (Acquisition). There are clear vision and long-term advantages in doing so. In short term this causes organizational integration, financial integration, market integration and business process integration challenges. This analysis examines the operations and supply chain principles at work in delivering theRead MoreHow Business Can Grow Faster Than Normal1677 Words   |  7 PagesWhen trying to expand ones business it can take a lot of time and effort to grow the company from its core not to mention how much it will cost to accomplish this goal, but there are other ways a business can grow much faster than normal. This faster method is broken up into two different types mergers and acquisitions. A merger is the combining of two or more companies, this decision is usually mutual between both firms, and it works usually by offering the stockholders of one-company securitiesRead MoreRydth Essay931 Words   |  4 PagesTHE MERGER OF AIRTRAN BY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES:WILL THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES MERGE? Southwest’s merger with AirTran, valued at over US$3 billion, makes Southwest the fourth largest American carrier. The merger increases Southwest’s presence in a number of major cities, most notably New York (LaGuardia) and Washington D.C. (Ronald Reagan National Airport). Thanks to AirTran, it now flies into the coveted Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world’s busiest airport, along with aRead MoreStatus Overview of the Bid for Mcphee Food Halls1779 Words   |  7 Pageswere based on a new equilibrium point. This is the position we are in today. It is important to consider whether or not a further increase in the bid will result in deterioration in the stock price. It is worth keeping in mind that at this point, we do not know what the response of McPhee shareholder is going to be. The market appears to expect they to accept the deal as is, and this is evidenced by the equilibrium condition. Just to recap the two companies a bit. McPhee Food Halls specializes inRead MoreThe Walt Disney Corporation: the Entertainment King1230 Words   |  5 Pagesvalued creativity. At that time, there was no other company that had as many successful cartoon characters as them. The company applied its creative strategy beyond characters and ventured into new business areas, such as producing the first full-length movie. This allowed Disney to capture a lot of value among its target customer base. This pioneering spirit was bolstered by other factors that ultimately shaped the competitive advantage for Disney. The ability to leverage the intellectual property

The Irony of the Story free essay sample

The story titled The Lottery written by Shirley Jackson is an interesting story with an unpredictable ending. The story tells us about a tradition in a small town which is held every year. The tradition is called ‘the lottery’ where the ‘winner’ will be stoned to death. Actually it is a horrible tradition, but in the story it is considered usual, and even acceptable in the society. There are several irony that we can see in the story according to that ‘scapegoat’ tradition. One of the irony is the atmosphere in the town when the lottery is held. The author describes the situation that is â€Å"†¦clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full summer day, the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. † (Page 357). That kind of situation is contradictory with the fact that there is someone will be put to death by the town’s people that day. We will write a custom essay sample on The Irony of the Story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The atmosphere should be sad or gloomy. Moreover, the person who will be put to death could be one of their families. Another irony is seen in the way the people behave. †¦, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones;†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their husband† (Page 358). Those two sentences in the story show fun and happy condition, although they actually know what they are going to do next (which is killing somebody). We can see another irony in the sentence one of the characters say, â€Å"Seems like there’s no time at all between lotteries any more. Seems like we got through with the last one only last week† (Page 361). The sentence shows that the people are excited with the tradition so they always look forward to it. And it also show that the people in that town are immoral and do not have the feeling of humanity. Another irony is shown in the sentence â€Å"Nancy and Bill, Jr. opened theirs at the same time, and both beamed and laughed, turning around to the crowd and holding their slips of paper above their heads† (Page 363). That condition is weird because they should be sad because one of their families will be put to death, but on the contrary, they are relieved and happy another person have the marked paper. The sentence â€Å"Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Page 363) also shows irony because it seems that she really enjoy doing assassination, although it is her own friend and they are just having a joke a couple hours ago. Another sentence â€Å"†¦, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles. † (Page 364) infer that the tradition should be done by all of the member of the society, including the children. The irony is that sentence shows how the grown up teach the children to slay a human; furthermore, the person who has been slay is Mrs. Hutchinson, his own mother. From the one whole story there are another irony. We can see it from the title, the point of view, the diction, and the plot itself. From the title ‘The Lottery’, it is an irony because lottery refers to something which is good, because usually if we win a lottery we will get prizes or money, but lottery in this story is different because the winner will be sentence to death. The winner is actually not win but lost. 1 From the point of view we can see the irony, because from the third point of view, the readers are not know about what will happen in the end of the story, because the readers can not know what the characters think or what is in their mind. It makes the outcome of the story really surprising. From the diction we can see the author is use words which are represented happiness and a normal every day life of people, and it really contradict with the actual situation in the story. 1 From the plot we can also see the irony, how the story is build from the beginning (happy, summer time) until the end of the story which shows the irony of the story (the horrible tradition; killing people). In conclusion, ‘The Lottery’ is an ironical story. It has a very surprising ending, but not too good ending actually. Overall, I like the story.

Why I love basketball free essay sample

Basketball is my life and the focus of my dreams. Ever since my father introduced me to the sport, I have been passionate about it. When I was four, I received my first Fisher Price basketball court. The court was in my house and the basket was only five feet tall. My parents placed it in the living room since it was the only room in the house without carpet. I practiced shooting every day. I would wear my fathers sneakers and imitate basketball moves that I had seen on T. V. At that age, I did not yet have any self-awareness about my potential for the port, but my father knew it was very likely to become a passion. By the age of five, my father was taking me out to the park with a basketball and I can actually remember the day I made my first basket. After that, I went on to play in basketball leagues, as well as work out with my father in gyms every night. We will write a custom essay sample on Why I love basketball or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Those were the best of times. Basketball became an important thread in my life and eventually proved to help guide the decisions I made for my future. I had to do a lot of hard work in the eginning, but it was worth it because it paved the way for me to have the opportunity to play at the college level. When practices are hard now and the demands of being a college athlete seem overwhelming, thinking back to my earliest basketball memories gives me happiness and keeps me going. Some of the reasons I love basketball are because it is challenging, helps me improve myself as a person, and teaches me a lot about life. In this sport, I have learned how to mentally prepare myself for hardships. When I am in a game and down two points with only a few seconds left on the clock, I know exactly which play to run. I also know how to use what energy I have left in my body and mental concentration to fght through any injury or obstacle. I have been taught to plan in advance and think two steps ahead during the game. In life, this helps me plan, organize, and execute anything I have to do to get around any obstacle that I may face. The fact that I know there will always be someone in the world who is a better player than me makes me ork harder and smarter every day. That thought creates self-discipline in my life. I can relate everything I do in life to a principle I have learned from my basketball education. Because I have such an immense love for the game of basketball, I typically have lots of emotions before every game. The feeling I get while on the court is unique only to this game. I believe it has to do with the fact that I am deep in what I am doing and in control of my mind and thoughts, which are focused on the game while everything else is secondary. While I am on the court competing I do not have any external worries or problems to distract me; it is Just me against my opponent. Even if I did not do well on a test earlier in the day, have family problems, money issues, or other struggles, my time on the court captures my complete attention and all those problems go away as soon the game sta rts. This is a skill that will help me become a high performing employee in the years ahead because Ill be able to focus on the task at hand and not let myself become easily distracted. I have always been competitive and I love to win. In anything I do I want to be good at it, or even the best. When my team wins a game I get the feeling that I helped and did all I could for my team and coaches. Winning helps me develop a sense of purpose and pride for myself and the people I represent; winning is the outcome of hard work and creates future success. The wins show me that I am doing something right in life and there is a reward for the type of commitment that leads to them. There is no better feeling than being rewarded for difficult efforts.

Construction Safety Essay Example

Construction Safety Essay Construction Safety Name: Institution: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on Construction Safety specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Construction Safety specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Construction Safety specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Construction Safety The science studies how man relates to his work and applies theory, principles, data and methods to design a favorable working condition. Ergonomics seeks to understand the needs of a worker in his work place by eliminating bottlenecks such as inefficient, unsafe, unhealthy, and uncomfortable work situations and basic practices. This is mainly done by taking into account the physical and psychological capabilities and the limitations of a worker. Ergonomics ensures that the employer maximizes on the capabilities rather than the limitations. Ergonomics takes into account factors such as body movement and body posture. It also considers environmental, operational and organizational aspects of the work place. All these factors play a central role in ensuring efficiency of employees at the work place. The main concern of managers at construction sites is to ensure the safety of the work environment for the workers. Construction safety considers how management of ergonomics integrates the safety management philosophy and technique in guaranteeing safety on the construction sites. Safety management philosophy outlines general necessities on how to prevent injury or loss of life and to protect a work environment from fire, explosion and procedural dangers (Sutton, 2011). Ergonomics of management should consider these issues in designing a safe work environment out of a construction site. Application of ergonomics should also consider the physical and psychological impact of the work to the employee. Construction companies should employ ergonomics to ensure that injuries that are usually because of error are non-existent at the place of work. Physical factors include the body posture and body movement while at work. In a construction site, many things have to be moved up and about a building under construction. In this process, the site worker is exposed to many dangers. Back injuries are the most frequent injuries in a construction site. These injuries usually result from applying oneself to much on the job. In any workstation, postural support is necessary for managing loads on the spinal and appendages (Proctor Vu, 2005). For example, a worker while hammering nails on to a roof may stay bent in the same position for a long time with out relieving or supporting himself. The prolonged position may cause a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) that may negatively influence how he performs other tasks later and may involve errors. Ergonomics should explore options that would make employee mobility safer and less strenuous. Controlling human error is important to avoid any major injuries while working. The deteriorating health of employees costs money and business performance and reputation. If these issues continue to arise then one risks losing a business. A good business should promise heath and safety to achieve high value productivity. The finest working systems are centered on a well-trained staff, with appropriately designed work that is relevant to the person’s skills. The physical, organizational and mental effect on a person at the workplace can affect their well being and safety and affects their output. Consider a worker who needs to apply a huge amount of their strength in doing performing a task. Increased energy use, increases the chances of injury occurrence. People may see a challenge if the mental demands of a job is too high. If this is the case, then this can pose a health issue, but it can also affect the quality of the work produced. Similarly, if individuals have no clear-c ut idea of what their job entails, they may lack the drive to work and the job will suffer. The work of the safety manager is ensuring issues are handled to maximize the productivity of an individual at work. A company must undertake a risk assessment to determine the various issues that may negatively affect productivity. A company must assess the rates of injuries in their construction sites to determine their need of an ergonomics program. Even if there is none, it is important to employ this program for assurances that they will never arise. Several elements must be considered to guarantee that an ergonomics program is successful. To begin with, employer must commit time, employees and resources at their disposal to ensure the program succeeds. There has to be someone in charge with the ability to effect the changes made due to the program. Employees must be actively involved in identifying the problems and suggesting solutions to the problems. There also has to be a system that identifies risk factors in the site. There also has to be a system to research, acquire, and apply resolutions arrived at such as new equipment. Management also has to be trained on procedures being implemented. It will also be vital for management to guarantee that medical cover will be available for the injured workers. U ltimately, the system has to be regularly revisited to cater for new problems that may affect the work place. Ergonomic factors depend on the environment, work factors and the organizational factors. It also considers the human and personal attributes that manipulate conduct at work and can influence safety and health. Ergonomics ensures that all these factors are evaluated to determine the flaws in a system that might compromise health and safety in construction sites. In short, to apply ergonomics in a work place, there has to be a comprehensive risk assessment based on certain areas. In the workplace, errors are bound to occur. This is possible despite the level of training the workers may have. The costs arising from this error can be too much to bear. Errors are believed to be the number one cause for accidents. It should be a necessity to ensure that systems employed by the construction managers are error free. A risk assessment will therefore determine what causes the errors and now this could be solved. One of the factors that create room for error is fatigue. Strauch (2004) asserts that fatigue impairs performance. Fatigue also makes a person less aware of procedures that are supposed to be followed leading to accidents. The safety managers at constructions site have to develop a system that reduces fatigue. For example, they can make workers movements as minimal as possible by limiting their work areas. Another area to look at is the procedures put in place at the construction sites. Procedures are usually instructions that guide what a worker is supposed to do at the work place on specific tasks. If employees do not follow procedure, an error will likely occur. An error then means a possibility of an accident occurring. A risk assessment therefore determines the procedures put in place are appropriate enough to avoid error. If the guidelines are effective, then competency of the worker should be put into question and a decision should be made. Procedures need to be followed to the later. Human competence is therefore vital. For a worker to be competent, he must be trained. The safety manager has to ensure that the every employee has the necessary skill set to operate the machinery on sit. If not, the employee must be given adequate training. Competence must be associated with the responsibilities a worker has. Safety manager must always ensure that the worker remain competent in their areas of work. This will mean training of workers when needed to adapt to new industry standards. A competent worker should be able to adequately trained handle risky situations. If a site manager feels a team is not sufficiently competent, then it would be important for them to outsource services from elsewhere. Staffing means having the right people to handle a job assigned to them. These people must be in the right place and at the right time always. It is important t6o have staffing levels that will enable workers to work in an organized manner. Staffing organization ensures that people operate as directed. This reduces the frequency of accidents since everyone knows their roles. Through staffing, workers can be assigned a workload. It is important that the safety manager ensure that the staff is not over worked. Too much work may mean that the job will be hurriedly and the require quality will not be met. In the workplace, it is necessary to have effective communication patterns. The information in the site can either be written or spoken. Written signs can be put up in various locations that are considered dangerous. This will ensure that everyone on the work site is aware of the danger zones in the building. The safety manager should make sure that the relevant areas are marked appropriately. The safety manager should also consider who has to initiate communication about safety concerns. For example, the supervisor has to communicate the relevant safety measure a worker has to take everyday before work begins. Ergonomics must be introduced into the organizational culture of an organization. An organizational culture is the process of doing things in an organization. A consistent culture nurtures a productive and successful business entity (Schein, 2010). A safety manager at a site must ensure that safety measures are part of the organizational culture. Culture has a great influence on how workers perform on the job. Culture forms the basis through which and worker will gauge the acceptability of his behavior. If it is the organizations’ culture for workers uphold safety at all times then, everyone will insist on being on the safe side all the time. References Dul, J., Weerdmeester, B. A. (2008). Ergonomics for beginners: A quick reference guide. Boca Raton: Taylor Francis. In Proctor, R. W., Vu, K.-P. L. (2005). Handbook of human factors in Web design. Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational culture and leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Strauch, B. (2004). Investigating human error: Incidents, accidents, and complex systems. Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT: Ashgate. Sutton, I. S. (2012). Offshore safety management: Implementing a SEMS program. Waltham, MA: William Andrew.

IT and Voting essays

IT and Voting essays Information technology what is information technology or IT and can IT be used in the voting system of today. First lets define IT to get a better understanding of the word. Information technology is hardware, software, telecommunications, database management, and information processing technologies used in computer-based information systems. An example of IT is the input, output, and storage devices that support them. This is the same system used at the voting polls on Election Day. You have input (human), output (the machine used to cast a vote), and storage device (the data stored on the ballot). This is the conventional way to vote but since was in the 21st century (the age of the computer) why dont we just use a form of IT with the voting system so it would be more accurate. The problem with using IT in the voting system today is that if we use a form of IT, say the internet, and internet voting system would not be good in a election where the stakes are high (say the president of the U.S.) there would be a strong motivation for someone to commit fraud. Also with the internet there could be a series of vote buying and selling and privacy violations that could reverse the outcome of the election. Another problem with using IT in the voting polls is that with a computer styled voting system it would lack an audit trail. This would mean that in a close election there could be no recount of votes. The computer styled voting system might not always count the votes correctly. In computers, Hackers would be a main concern with this type of system. All in all there is enough information to develop computer based voting system but we just havent thought of a way to keep people from tampering with the votes. ...

Design a pay structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Design a pay structure - Essay Example The three main compensable factors that are identified are responsibility, Skill, and effort with each compensable factor having two sub-factors or degrees (Burke, 2008). For instance, the skill factor is made up of educational and technical know-how. Responsibility is made up of impact of the job and scope of control. Effort is made up of the degree of solving problems and how complex tasks are. Outliers ought to be done away with since the will not offer representativeness for the sample (Armstrong, 2002). This implies that the will be extreme data points that need to be taken consideration of in a separate manner. Therefore, in the present data set, there is no extreme outliers that need to be taken concern of. The base bay weighted means will be computed for every benchmarked job. Weighted means will be computed to represent the market data well (Milkovich & Newman, 2008. The simple mean will be computed by summing up the base pay rates and then subsequently dividing them by the total number of organizations, which are a total of six in the present case. The large and small companies in this case will be given the same weights since we are using a simple mean. The weighted mean is good since it offers equal weight for every incumbents wage, job and hence it qualifies as a representative (Burke, 2008). To establish the weighted average base the following is used to come up with the weighted average pay for front desk receptionist job where there are nine job in office in all the six companies. (1/9 X2100) + (2/9 X 2200) + (1/9 X 1800) + ()2/9 X 18500) + (1/9 X 17500)=$19944.44 To come up with the given pay rates provide a three percent pay tactic across the families of jobs. Excel was used to multiply the pay rates that were predicted for every benchmark job (Burke, 2008). The benchmark jobs were multiplied by 1.03. The computations came up with pay rates that were

Restoration & Recovery Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Restoration & Recovery Plan - Essay Example These directives and orders are part of Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning is required for Federal Government Agencies. PDD 63 or the Critical Infrastructure Protection directive and FPC 65 summarize the requirements for COOP information system infrastructure and emergency measures. FPC 65 stipulates that federal agencies are required to get back into operations within 12 hours from any kind of service collapse. OMB CircularA-130 prescribes continuity of operations planning which includes emergency procedures and policies for immediate operations recovery and restoration as well as long-term mitigation of potential services interruption of critical operations (EMC Corporation, 2006). In any kind or emergency, police and emergency services are the most essential. Therefore, the integrity, restoration and recovery of information systems in these branches of government should be the utmost priority. Florida is one of the states that have had to be vigilant regarding these concerns since the 1990's (Mittler, 1995). The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office is no exception to these circumstances. Palm Beach's experience with Hurricane Katrina emphasized not only the need to be prepared for the disasters and the essential role that police and emergency services have to play in recovery (Kam & Gomez, 2005). Restoration and Recovery of Information Systems and Data Breakdowns of information systems and data loss are not limited to the event of disasters. Natural disasters may impact systems extremely and can impair critical functions when they are needed the most but system attacks, hacking and other related crimes that is becoming the most urgent. Restoration of Information System Operations According to the National Security Agency (NSA), through the Information Assurance Directorate (IAD), information assurance refers to procedures designed to safeguard and secure information and information systems against failure, collapse or attacks. Part of this program is the re-establishment of information systems by the development of security, response and resolution competencies into the system (2006). These standards govern feral information systems and have been adopted by industry as well. These measures include providing for restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection, and reaction capabilities. Public sector agencies and departments must comply within the prescribed recovery period and point service levels depending on the significance of their operations and information. They have to take into account considerable quantities of paper and electronic data, data storage distribution, necessity for nonstop operations and high data security and integrity measures (EMC Corporation, 2006) Recovery of Data Data backup and replication are the underlying concern in restoration and recovery. The primary factors considered are cost, management, reliability and security Effective back up strategies limit the need to reinstall programs and regenerate data in the events of data loss. However, data loss over a long period of time either by malicious acts or because of inadequate systems is more difficult to salvage and may go unnoticed (Ginty, 2005).

Business Model Canvas Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Model Canvas - Assignment Example More so, the Organisation believes in commitment, honour and courage in every aspect of their work (Jamison, 2004). Business model can create an enormous difference between dismissal failure and global leading success. For instance in 1959, the first plain paper copier was a prospective game changer but it was six times more expensive compared to the alternative copiers. As a result, the Company Xerox 914 decided to come up with a new business model. Instead of selling the machine, the Company hired it for ninety five dollars per month and charged a small amount of cents per copy for the number of copies that exceeded 2000 per month. As a result, customers made a large number of copies in the same era, thus the Company generated a large amount of money from the machine. Osterwalder Alexander was so pleased about the idea, thus came up with a Business Model Canvas, which was a simple graphical template that described the nine important components in a business. They include; value propositions, resources, customer segments, customer relationships, business activities, revenue streams, costs, channels and partnerships (Osterwalder, Pigneur & Smith, 2010). In this regard, the Business Model Canvas is a tactical management template that is essential in creating new or documenting the already existing business models (Greenwald, 2012). Business Model Canvas is as very essential aspect in every organisation. In this regard, much emphasis should be placed on its utilisation so as to enhance the efficiency of the organisation, thus attain the stated goals. The United States Marine Corps cannot predict the uncertain event that may be faced by people. Thus, if such occurrences occur, the organisation has the duty to protect the citizen and its interests. In order to achieve the stipulated goals, the organisation ought to put into consideration a number of essential aspects. In this case, the United States Marine Corps

HEC-HMS Evaluation

HEC-HMS Evaluation HEC-HMS is a hydrological model that can be used to check the effect of a storm based event on a watershed or a continuous simulation. HEC-HMS is distributed model but it deals with a watershed as a conceptual model which consist of sub-basin and reach. HEC-HMS is very powerful as it has many options for hydrological calculations and a user-defined is one of the options. One of the uses of the HEC-HMS is to predict the future urbanization that can happen in a watershed and the corresponding flood that could happen. HEC-HMS alone cannot get the places of the flooded area but the hydrograph extracted from the HEC-HMS can be used in HEC-RAS and RAS-mapper to get the inundated map of the city due to a certain storm event. In this lab, a simple simulation will be used to simulate the hydrograph of Tifton watershed.   In order to build a HEC-HMS project, there are components should be added first. The main components that the HEC-HMS require is the basin component which contains the basin properties such as sub-basins, reaches and junctions, the metrological component which contains the rain gages that will be used for precipitation, the control component which contains the simulation time period and the time series component which contains any time series data such as the hyetograph or hydrograph. HEC-HMS has four main windows which are the component window, view window, editor window and message log window. The component window contains all the created components so that we can toggle between them. In order to edit any of the components chosen from the component window, the editor window is used and it contains tab but for global data entry or edit the component menu is used. The view window shows the selected basin, result or table. The log message shows if there is error or the model has found no problem as for example as shown in Figure 1 the log message says, Note 10008: Finish opening projectà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Which means that the project was opened successfully with no errors found. Figure 1 Log message of HEC-HMS Basin component As mention before that the HEC-HMS is conceptualizing the watershed, so we will import the watershed image as a background as shown in Figure 2 and draw on it the corresponding component. This is a simple watershed that contains only one sub-basin and one outlet. the sub-basin is named 74006 and the outlet is junction in HEC-HMS and there is no reach used for flow channel routing. Figure 2 HEC-HMS desktop view The sub-basin properties should be entered for HEC-HMS to use in calculations. The main property is the catchment area as the HEC-HMS is using all the catchment symbolled in one point (sub-basin 74006). The other properties that should be entered are the hydrological calculations that the HEC-HMS will use to calculate the hydrograph at the outlet of the sub-basin as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 Sub-Basin hydrological calculation methods Canopy is the method used to calculate the water intercepted on the tree that avoid the water to reach the ground. The percentage of vegetation obtained from remote sensing is used to determine the canopy. In this lab, simple canopy method is used which need only the initial water storage in the tree and the maximum storage that the plant can hold. In order to indicate the surface storage that can happen in the watershed there are different methods, in this lab a simple surface is used. The simple surface method is mainly saying how much is the initial storage and the maximum storage. The maximum storage provide in this lab is zero which is useless as the surface method can be selected as none instead. To get the parameters of the initial storage and maximum storage a site investigation can be done or throughout satellite maps and DEM the surface depletions and storage area can be calculated roughly. Infiltration losses is indicated here as the loss method. The loss method that is widely used is the Horton equation but in this lab the soil moisture loss is used. The soil moisture loss method mainly works as the soil moisture content and the maximum infiltration rate of the vadous zone of the soil as well as the groundwater beneath the vadous zone depth and the percolation rate from vadous zone to the groundwater and if the groundwater is into two different soil type provide the data to each soil type. In order to get the data for this method a soil surveying is required or from a previous defined data as the FAO maps or Canada CIRUS maps. The unit hydrograph for the basin is not known so a synthetic hydrograph will be used. There are different synthetic hydrograph methods in HEC-HMS, in this lab Clark (1945) Hydrograph is used. The Clark Unit Hydrograph is divided into translation based on synthetic time area curve and time of concentration as well as a reduction of discharge as excess rainfall is stored in watershed. Clark Unit Hydrograph is modeled with linear reservoir for baseflow. The parameters for the Clark Unit Hydrograph is the time of concentration and the storage coefficient. Time of concentration can be calculated using watershed properties or from previous observations but the storage coefficient most likely will be calibrated. The linear reservoir is used for baseflow separation. Baseflow is linearly related to average storage of each time interval similar to the Clark unit Hydrograph. The linear reservoir also is used with the soil moisture content as it depends of the water in the groundwater and how it returns back to be a contributed to the hydrograph as a baseflow. The parameters of the baseflow is hard to measure so it will be most likely calibrated. Time series component In the time series component, a rainfall hyetograph is entered in the rain gages using the Tifton DSS file provided with the project. After entering the hyetograph, the graph can be shown as shown in Figure 4. The hyetograph will then be assigned to the basin in the metrological compenent. Figure 4 Tifton Hyetograph In the time series component, also the observed outflow hydrograph of the catchment is entered using the Tifton DSS file. After entering the DSS file the hydrograph is shown as in Figure 5. The hydrograph should be used for model calibration of the unknown parameters. Figure 5 Tifton observed hydrograph Meteorological component In the meteorological component, the hyetograph is assigned to the sub-basin and if there are more than one rain fall gage a weighted average can be assigned to each sub-basin. Also in the meteorological component, the evapotranspiration is entered. In this lab, monthly average is used which gives a constant value for each month and corresponding coefficient. Control component Finally, the control component is used to define the simulation period and time interval. In the lab, according to my group number which is 15 the corresponding simulation time is used which is from the first of January 1970 to the thirties of June 1970. After finishing all the data entry, a simulation manager is used to create a simulation which is defined by selecting the basin, meteorological and control data to be computed. After creating the simulation, compute is chosen and a message of successful appear in the message log -if there is any error or warning will appear in the message log too-. From the results tab, a global summary can be viewed as shown in Figure 6. The global summary gives the drainage area contributing to each sub-basin and each junction and the time to peak and the corresponding peak discharge as well as the total volume of excess rainfall. In this lab, there is only one sub-basin so the sub-basin and junction will have the same properties. The peak discharge is 873 CFS and happened in the thirty-first of March 1970 at 1:00 PM. The total excess volume is 16.36 in. Figure 6 Global Summary The graph of the sub-basin 74006 shown in Figure 7 show the hyetograph in the top part which consists of red and blue. The red part shows the infiltrated depth while the blue line shows the excess rainfall depth. The bottom part of the graph shows the hydrograph which consists of the baseflow and the excess hydrograph. The blue solid line shows the hydrograph while the dotted red line shows the baseflow. As we can see that in January all the rainfall is almost infiltrated and there is no excess and that is reflected in the hydrograph as there is no excess hydrograph only baseflow. The peak rainfall events happened at the end of March and May and as we can see that there is a lag time between the peak of the hyetograph and the hydrograph which represent the time of the water to route though the watershed to the outlet of the catchment. Even both event in March and May has the same rainfall but the peak was higher in March due to the infiltration difference. The infiltiration that happ ened in May was larger than March as the soil moisture content in March was high due to event happened just before the peak event while before May peak event it was dry for almost two months. Figure 7 Hyetograph/Hydrograph of Sub-basin 74006 The hydrograph of the junction shown in Figure 7 shows the hydrograph coming from each sub-basin the blue dashed line and the total summation of all the hydrographs at the junction the blue line and the observed data the black dotted line. The dashed blue line and the solid blue line are coinciding because there is only on sub-basin that contribute to the junction. As shown in Figure 7, the observation and the hydrograph at the junction as almost the same which means that the parameters and methods used in the HEC-HMS are representing the reality quite well. Figure 8 Hydrograph of Junction HEC-HMS can simulate storm event to get the flow hydrograph of the catchment. It is important to use the adequate method based on the data availability. The model should be calibrated using the observed data. HEC-HMS can gives how each sub-basin can contribute to the basin outflow and what changes will happen if any of the sub-basin changes. Hydrologic Engineering Center (2010). Hydrologic Modeling System HEC-HMS, Quick Start Guide, US Army Corps of Engineers, Davis, USA

Brenda C. Seggerman Essay

hemoperitoneum was noted, and approximately 500 mL of blood was rapidly evacuated from the pelvic cavity, as were large clots. Following this, the bowel was packed away from the pelvic area with packing laps. A retaining retractor was introduced. The left fallopian tube was noted. A large tubal ectopic pregnancy was noted, affecting approximately the distal half of the fallopian tube. Following this, a Heaney clamp was placed in the mesosalpinx and another curved Heaney clamp was placed in the proximal aspect of the left fallopian tube beyond the area of the ectopic pregnancy. A partial salpingectomy was then performed, removing the portion of the left fallopian tube containing the ectopic pregnancy. Heaney clamps were then replaced with sutures of No. 1 Vicryl. Hemostasis was checked again, and no bleeding was detected. Further evacuation of blood and blood clots was then performed. The right fallopian tube was noted to be covered with adhesions, both tubo-ovarian and tubo-uterine adhesions. The adhesions were then sharply lysed, freeing the right fallopian tube. Hemostasis was checked again. No bleeding was detected. Mild serosal abrasion was noted from the area where the ectopic pregnancy was apparently attached to the bowel. This was not bleeding and was very superficial. Hemostasis was checked, and no bleeding was detected. The peritoneum was then closed continuously with 0 chromic suture. The fascia was approximated with interrupted figure-of-8 stitches of 0 Vicryl, and the skin was approximated with the staple gun. OPERATIVE REPORT Patient Name: Brenda C. Seggerman Patient ID: 903321 Date of Surgery: 03/27/—- Page 3 The patient tolerated the procedure well and left the operating room in satisfactory condition. All counts were correct. Blood loss was estimated at 1000 mL, which was replaced with 2 units of whole blood while in recovery. ________________________ Rosemary Bumbak, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology RB:xx(your initials in lower case) D:03/27/—- T:03/27/—-

Columbine High School massacre, Essay

A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. Video games typically use additional means of providing interactivity and information to the player. Audio is almost universal, using sound reproduction devices, such as speakers and headphones. Other feedback may come via haptic peripherals, such as vibration or force feedback, with vibration sometimes used to simulate force feedback. In the early days of cartridge consoles; they were sometimes called TV games. It has been shown that action video game players have better hand-eye coordination and visuo-motor skills, such as their resistance to distraction, their sensitivity to information in the peripheral vision and their ability to count briefly presented objects, than nonplayers. Researchers found that such enhanced abilities could be acquired by training with action games, involving challenges that switch attention between different locations, but not with games requiring concentration on single objects. It has been suggested by a few studies that online/offline video gaming can be used as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of different mental health concerns. In Steven Johnson’s book, Everything Bad Is Good for You, he argues that video games in fact demand far more from a player than traditional games like Monopoly. To experience the game, the player must first determine the objectives, as well as how to complete them. They must then learn the game controls and how the human-machine interface works, including menus and HUDs. Beyond such skills, which after some time become quite fundamental and are taken for granted by many gamers, video games are based upon the player navigating a highly complex system with many variables. Learning principles found in video games have been identified as possible techniques with which to reform the U. S. education system. It has been noticed that gamers adopt an attitude while playing that is of such high concentration, they do not realize they are learning, and that if the same attitude could be adopted at school, education would enjoy significant benefits. Students are found to be â€Å"learning by doing† while playing video games while fostering creative thinking. Video game development and authorship, much like any other form of entertainment, is frequently a cross-disciplinary field. Video game developers, as employees within this industry are commonly referred, primarily include programmers and graphic designers. Over the years this has expanded to include almost every type of skill that one might see prevalent in the creation of any movie or television program, including sound designers, musicians, and other technicians; as well as skills that are specific to video games, such as the game. All of these are managed by producers. 97% of 12-17 year olds in the US played video games in 2008, thus fueling an $11. 7 billion domestic video game industry. In 2008, 10 of the top 20 best-selling video games in the US contained violence. Violent video games have been blamed for school shootings, increases in bullying, and violence towards women. Critics argue that these games desensitize players to violence, reward players for simulating violence, and teach children that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflicts. Video game advocates contend that a majority of the research on the topic is deeply flawed and that no causal relationship has been found between video games and social violence. They argue that violent video games may reduce violence by serving as a substitute for rough and tumble play and by providing a safe outlet for aggressive and angry feelings. The controversy over violent video games resurfaced following the massacre of 13 people at Columbine High School in Jefferson County, CO on Apr. 20, 1999. The two teenage shooters were revealed to be avid players of weapon-based combat games Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. Following the shooting, 176 newspaper articles across the country focused on the allegation that video games were the cause of the tragedy. On Oct. 7, 2005, California passed a law that required violent video games to include an â€Å"18† label and criminalized the sale of these games to minors. The law was blocked by the US District Court for the Northern District of California and was struck down in Feb. 2009 by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals citing First Amendment protections and the inability of the state to demonstrate a link between violence in video games and real-world violence. As of Dec. 2008, six other state statutes and two city ordinances concerning the sale of violent video games to minors have been stricken down on similar grounds. On June 27, 2011, the US Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Brown vs. Entertainment Merchants Association that the California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors violated free speech rights. In the majority opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote, â€Å"A state possesses legitimate power to protect children from harm†¦ but that does not include a free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed. † Several games have garnered significant media attention, including 2004’s JFK assassination reenactment JFK Reloaded, 2005’s Columbine shooting reenactment Super Columbine Massacre RPG! , and 2006’s Rape Lay, a Japanese video game where the player stalks and rapes a mother and her two daughters. Prior to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which went on to gross $550 million in the first five days after its Nov. 10, 2009 release, leaked footage of the game stirred enough controversy that publisher Activision issued a response defending the game’s violent imagery. Some cons to the question â€Å"Does Video Games promote violence are the following: Violent juvenile crime in the United States has been declining as violent video game popularity has increased. The arrest rate for juvenile murders has fallen 71. 9% between 1995 and 2008. The arrest rate for all juvenile violent crimes has declined 49. 3%. In this same period, video game sales have more than quadrupled. Another con would be violent video games provide healthy and safe opportunities for children to virtually explore rules and consequences of violent actions. Violent games also allow youth to experiment with issues such as war, violence and death without real world consequences. In conclusion I have learned throughout this research that video games in fact do have a major impact on young adolescents in today’s time whether it’s positive or negative. I’ve also realized that for one some kids may act out because of theses sometime violent games and that for two they may improve in their behavior by these games as well. There isn’t really a yes or no answer to this research topic ,but maybe parents should just get games more appropriate for their child’s age . Work Cited â€Å"Video Games ProCon. org. † ProConorg Headlines. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. â€Å"Video Game. † Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. â€Å"Children and Video Games: Playing with Violence. † Children and Video Games: Playing with Violence. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Inca Empire Demise essays

Inca Empire Demise essays At its height, the Inca empire stretched from modern day Colombia to central Chile, and had about nine to ten million inhabitants, yet in 1532 Francisco Pizarro and a meager 62 horsemen and 102 foot soldiers conquered the empire. Pizarro was able to conquer the Incas not only because of his cunning and ruthlessness, but also because their kingdom was in disarray, therefore, I will discuss what I believe are the three main reasons why the empire fell, and none of them will have anything to do with Francisco Pizarro. My first explanation for the demise of the Incas is their rapid and recent expansion they had gone through only a few decades before Pizarro arrived. Circa 1438 AD Inca Yupanqui (Pachacutec) defeated the Chancas and expanded his empire out of the Cuzco valley. Around 1463 AD, while Inca Yupanqui was busy organizing his conquests and remaking Cuzco, the capital of his empire, his son, Topa Inca, was allowed to take control of the Inca army and continue the task of conquest. During that time, Topa Inca conquered the Northern Highlands of Peru, the Southern and Central Highlands of Ecuador, and then the Northern and Central Coastal areas of Peru. When Inca Yupanqui died around 1471 AD, and Topa Inca became Sapa Inca and took over the empire. During Sapa Incas rule, the empire virtually doubled in size, with the conquest of the lands of the Southern Coast of Peru, the northern half of Chile, Northwest Argentina, and Eastern Bolivia. This was done less than sixty years before Piz arro marched into Cajamarca (Davies 125-129). The successor to Sapa Inca was his son Huayna Capac in 1493 AD. When Topa Inca died ca. 1493 AD, he was succeeded by his son Huayna Capac. The empire had expanded rapidly to absorb millions of people spread over thousands of miles of land, and Huayna Capac had to concentrate much of his effort on quelling various rebellions in the north and defending the large border. Thus, when Huay...

Tribal Lands essays

Tribal Lands essays The legacy of Native Americans is one of the most important heritages of American history and culture. Native Americans have traditionally had a land-based culture. Their land is their prime resource and fulfills a further objective of promoting their heritage and culture. Therefore, the importance of conserving the sites of traditional value for these tribes is of utmost importance. By protecting these sites, one can conserve the cultural, spiritual as well as the economical status of the Native However, though the importance of land conservation cannot be denied, it is ironic that the history of the American Indian shows massive loss of The Dawes Act, implemented in 1887 resulted in a loss of more than 90 million acres of tribal land which in itself is no small figure accounting for a large percentage of the total tribal land. Even now, there is consistent looting of Indian land be it in the form of privately owned sites, graveyards, fishing grounds or wildlife habitat. The constant occupation of native tribal land is a persistent problem being faced by the Native American tribes like the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakama and Klamath have all lost some part of their original land. They have however fought for it, with the help of land conservation organizations and other non-governmental workers. Their logic behind the fight against illegal occupation of tribal land is to save the land and build native economies which are socially, culturally and economically strong and devoted to strengthening the Native American status as well as preserving their traditional heritage. May our Creator send the spirits of those who have traveled these valleys and ridges, those who were laid to rest at the Big Hole, the Bears Paw and other places on the route of the Nez Perce W ...

Gaonic Society and Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Gaonic Society and Culture - Research Paper Example The first â€Å"Gaon of Sura† was Mar Rab who took the charge in 609 and the last was Samuel ben Hofni who died in 1034. The last â€Å"Gaon of Pumbedita† was Hezekiah Gaon who was agonized and he died in 10401. During the â€Å"Golden Age† of Arabs Jews were prominent in the society and their religious and cultural practices and economic living flourished. After 681, the Jews were severely victimized by â€Å"Christian Visigoths† and therefore they invited the Muslim Arabs mainly the â€Å"Berber† conquerors. These conquerors successfully removed the â€Å"Christian Visigoths† and brought an end to their tyranny, providing the Jews their religious autonomy2. Thereafter a period of tolerance began as Jews devoted themselves in studying the sciences, commerce and industry to augment the prosperity of the country. They engaged themselves in translating Arabic texts into Roman and Greek and Hebrew texts into Arabic. The involvement of the Jews w as also found in several other disciplines such as â€Å"botany, geography, medicine, mathematics, poetry and philosophy.3† During this time Jewish ideas blossomed leading to partial Jewish autonomy. Again insecurity of the Jews developed around 976 and the situation further deteriorated in 1090 with the attack of â€Å"Almoravids†, a Muslim protestant sect from Morocco. Under their rule Islamic belief was imposed on the Jews. The famous educational bodies of the Jews were closed. Then by 1085 there was invasion by the Christian forces. Jewish community was still prominent. Some scholars such as Maimonides, born in 1135, were well-known figures in Judaism. Jewish existence still continued until they were powerfully debarred or converted by the â€Å"Christian Monarchs†4 The purpose of this paper is to show that the uniqueness of the gaons could be attributed to their piety and practices apart from their scholarly talents and achievements which reflect discipline , integrity and wisdom. The Gaons, their practice and religion During the Islamic period, due to the absence of corporate groups, the commercialized and crafted guild of the European variety was not restricted to those members having majority belief in Islamic culture. There was significant resemblance among the Muslim and Jewish practices. This encouraged flexible interactions between the Jews and Muslims in economic activities and led the Jewish to adopt liberal attitude towards the Muslims. They preferred to in developing business contracts and settling disputes in the Muslim religious courts as opposed to early Talmudic prohibition. According to one of the Babylonian Geonim this practice was implicitly recognized by the Jewish judiciary on account of mutual faith. â€Å"Ashkenazic rabbis† persisted on stringent observance of Talmudic controls. Therefore the Geonim and later halakhic authorities in the â€Å"medieval Arab world† objected on Jews relevance to Muslim courts and emphasized on continual Talmudic ban. The Gaon after considering many contradictory biblical verses exhibits that they do not include abrogation. Islamic religious expressions were used in â€Å"Judaeo- Arabic† writing of the Jewish scholars. Saadya Gaon, the first great â€Å"rabbinic† who wrote in Arabic referred deliberately to the â€Å"Torah†. His Arabic translation of the Bible reflected an integration of â€Å"Arabic-Islamic† culture. The considerable resemblance between the Jewish and Islamic law, the corresponding operation of both of their legal systems and their sharing of linguistic discourse across

Independent Creative Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Independent Creative Writing - Essay Example I have created my time capsule keeping this fact in mind. It would be difficult to write about the culturally diverse American society and for this reason, a DVD should be made that would record the different aspects of the American society. These different aspects would be personal, business and recreational society. For this purpose, the video recorder will have to visit different homes, business centers including the White House and popular recreational spots including fast food joints such as McDonald’s. This DVD would be the main object of the time capsule. To ensure that the DVD is playable, a DVD player would also be included in the time capsule. Along with the DVD, an album of pictures will also be put in the time capsule. This album will have pictures of popular spots that are idolized by the society including Hollywood, fast food joints, stadiums, and theaters etc. The composition of the pictures would be such that the essence of the place is captured, that is, stadium during a football match. I would also include a recent newspaper. This newspaper will cover most aspects of the contemporary American society including the most recent headlines and the opinions of leading journalists on the pressing problems of today’s society.

The Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre, Toronto Assignment

The Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre, Toronto - Assignment Example at Toronto is one of the many symbolic centers of the Ismaili community which act as a space of socio-cultural meeting, intellectual involvement, and spiritual reflection. They aim to connect the community, authorities, and the civil society. As such the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili center at Toronto is a place of congregation, described as a â€Å"jamatkhana†, a place of communal setting (The Ismaili, n.pag.). The architecture of the museum and the Ismaili center along with the design of the landscape confirms the Islamic heritage which the site promotes. Hence the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Center is a place of social interaction that is situated in the context of the Ismaili culture, more specifically the Islamic identity. The Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Center at Toronto represents a uniquely designed landmark which has a surrounding that is influenced by Islamic as well as regional cultures. The museum and the center therefore serve the purpose of the Islamic community in the broader context of the Canadian society. The architecture is deeply drawn from Islamic influences with gardens and parks surrounding the location arousing sentiments of friendship, peacefulness, and spirituality. There is a congregational hall in the Ismaili center which is a space for gathering of the community so as to promote mutual understanding and harmony. The design is greatly inspired by Islamic art and architecture with the park and garden being the most notable feature of Islamic art. A garden reflects a place of greenery and as such, symbolically represents a place of peace or reflection. The Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili center has a huge park located around it, which engenders a similar feeling of peace and spiritual ity. The park present near the museum is quite scenic and is a vital aesthetical component of the whole building. The museum and the center mean to represent peace and harmony and the surrounding park helps to consolidate the sense of peacefulness. In terms

The perception of Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Healthcare System Essay Example for Free

The perception of Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Healthcare System Essay Introduction Public health in America has benefited from various innovations and advanced medical technology. However, these developments do not serve all Americans. Even in modern times disparities exist between whites and minorities in terms of health care. For instance the rate due to heart disease and stokes were higher for African Americans than for whites; 30% and 41% respectively, in 2002. The infant mortality rate for African Americans was higher compared to that of whites, in spite the fact that the national infant mortality rate had decreased. In 2004, African Americans had the highest diagnosis rate for HIV; 50% (Center for health care strategies). Ensuring equity in health care is necessary in order to prevent premature death, control disease, prevent unnecessary illness or disability and promote the quality of life for all citizens. An intervention by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention lead to the formation of Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH). The program’s mandate is to identify, minimize and eventually eliminate racial and ethnic inequality in the health care sector. Minority groups are the main victims of health care inequity. As a result the REACH program targets; African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, Latinos, Alaska natives and Pacific Islanders. These communities need to be involved in the REACH program since, they are after all the beneficiaries. Individuals, community leaders and opinion leaders need to be consulted and empowered. REACH has developed strategies that improve health care in various communities, work sites, schools, after school settings and in health care facilities. Application of community development principles of good practice to research on racial and health care disparities. For a society to be successful then development of individual communities and organizations needs to be considered. Community development focuses on the improvement of the quality of life for an entire community. A community can be defined as a team of people who are unified due to location, common interests or ownership. For this kind of development to occur then the principles of good practice ought to be enforced. Some of the principles of good practice include; encouraging participation, problem identification and designing of solutions by community members and community leaders. Leaders in the community are also empowered and educated so that they can understand the problems that exist in their community and abstinence from practices that affect the community negatively. In other words the principles of good practice include; inclusion of community members, capacity building through management of information and resources, partnerships with all stakeholders, equity , accessibility and responsiveness in terms of action towards various initiatives (Maslow, 2003,p.19). The community should be involved in the research on racial and ethnic disparities in health care. The community will provide valuable information on the disparities that exist, intervention programs and the progress made in addressing the issue. Researchers need to consider vital elements in the community; trust, cultural heritage, history, expertise, community leaders, community initiatives and resources. Community based research relies highly on participation and trust. Trust is fundamental for the research on racial and ethnic inequality in health care. The researcher needs to understand the community’s history and how it relates to their current health care situation. For example the slavery and racial discrimination history of African Americans can provide insight on why the disparity in health care exists. The researcher needs to appreciate information from participates. However, this does not imply that all information should be accepted as truth without further investigation. The views of the community members should be listened to carefully, evaluated and investigated. Researchers should view the community as a partner in the research and interact with members. The researcher needs to develop a partnership with the members of the community. Together the parties define the health care disparities and needs. They also evaluate the effectiveness of programs initiated so as to reduce the health care inequality and provide recommendations on how to improve those programs. In this partnership between the researcher and the community members the thoughts and opinions of the community members need to be reflected in the publications. It is a common practice for publishers to decide what to print. Most of the times the community participates are not co-authors of the publications; they are simply acknowledged for their cooperation in the authors’ notes. As a result some of the issues that are very vital to the community may be left out. Members of a community provide superior information on their community’s views and their culture. Thus inclusion of community members as co-authors of publications will benefit both the researcher and the community. Moreover, this effort is a form of empowerment for the community since their views and opinions will be better represented thus creating a comprehensive picture. Ethical practices should be used in data collection, ownership and publication (Blythe, 2007, p.68). In order to understand the role that racial inequality has on premature deaths, infant mortality rate, disability and the spread of disease community based research is crucial. Community partners provide information on the nature of health care they receive in terms of health education, treatment, responsiveness in health care centers and the facilities that are available in their localities. Research ensures that health care delivery coincides with the needs of the community. The insight provided by community participation research is useful to the government and other stakeholders who are responsible for designing and implementing health care delivery programs. Community participants in a research usually represent the views of the community in relation to health care. Thus their views should be considered and reflected in the research. Research helps in addressing the challenges that face the health care system. Hence it provides solutions communities and policy makers which will ultimately improve the nature and quality of health care available to all citizens. For racial and ethnic disparities to be eliminated then all stakeholders need to develop strategies that will address issue. Various states and Medicaid managed organizations have developed a community based strategy to address racial disparities in health care. The strategy emphasis on community participatory research on health care racial and ethnic inequality. The community members, community based organizations are the main source of information. The health care providers and government then analyze the information and set policies on health that ensures equality in access and treatment to all American citizens. Compared to traditional research methods community based participatory research provides pertinent findings and is less time consuming. Health care providers are increasingly using this approach; the main focus is using community based approach to interact with minorities. For instance the ‘EXCEED’ project uses partnership between researchers, community member, community health care centers and the community organizations. EXCEED uses the community participatory research due to acknowledgement that it leads to comprehensive findings on the social, cultural and economic aspects that contribute to the racial and ethnic disparities in health care. The EXCEED program â€Å"Excellence Centers To Eliminate Ethnic/Racial Disparities† is an in initiative by the Agency of Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ). Its mandate is to investigate and understand racial and ethnic disparities in health care as well as designing and implementing strategies on eradication of those disparities (Bayne, 1998, p.116). Conclusion Inequality in health care provision is evident in terms of health care access, prevalence of disease, health care setting and the quality of care. America’s minorities’ usually higher rates of disease, higher infant death rate and poorer health care compared to white Americans. Disparities in health care affect the individual, communities and the economy. Poor health care contributes to the cost of health care through complications due to poor care, avoidable hospital admission and preventable emergency cases. Community based participatory research on racial and ethnic disparities in health care provides data that reflects the extent of the situation. Information from the research is used by health care providers to design strategies provision of quality health care services to all citizens. Community based participatory research is a partnership between the community and the researcher. There is equity in power, decision making, credit and knowledge. The community and the researchers collaborate in all segments of the research; problem identification, planning for the research, actual research, data collection, analyzing of data and recommending a course of action. Data collected through community based participatory research on racial and ethnic disparities in health care is usually analyzed by the government and other health care stakeholders. The revelations made by the data are useful when goals and policies are been designed so as to eliminate the racial and ethnical disparities in health care. Health care is fundamental in every society. Therefore health care providers are advised to ensure equity in quality, access and care in the health sector for all Americans regardless of their race or ethnicity (Allan, 1998, p. 112). Reference Allan, B. P. (1998). Health care financing.   New York: Hill crest. Bayne, J. N. (1998). Strategic plans. New York: Hill crest. Blythe, R. J. (2007). Disease Prevention. Manchester University Press. Maslow, R. P. (2003). Health Management. New York: Macmillian. Porter, P. (2004). Healthy and Beautiful. New York: The free Press. The effects of community factors on Health. Retrieved August 18 2008 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.policylink.org/pdfs/. Reducing health disparities through focus on communities. Retrieved August 17 2008 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.policylink.org/pdfs/HealthDisparities.pdf

Stradivarius: Unsurpassed Artisan or Just Lucky? :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Stradivarius: Unsurpassed Artisan or Just Lucky? There are about seven hundred Stradivarius violins still intact from the 17th century, and they are among the most sought-after instruments in the world (3). Most, if not all, of the greatest violinists of modern times believe that there is something in the Cremonese violins that provides superior tonal quality to all other violins. Skilled violinists can even distinguish between different qualities in the sound produced by individual Stradivarius violins. The challenge for scientists is to characterize such differences by physical measurements. In practice, it is extremely difficult to distinguish between a Stradivarius instrument and a modern copy on the basis of measured responses because the ear is a supreme detection device and the brain is a far more sophisticated analyzer of complex sounds than any system yet developed to assess musical quality. There have been many theories as to why Stradivarius violins produce such legendary brilliance and resonance, none providing a conclu sive answer. To understand the factors that affect the quality of sound produced by violins, the functioning of the violin must be understood. First of all, sound is produced by drawing a bow across one or more of the four stretched strings, but the strings themselves produce almost no sound. The energy from the vibrating string is transferred to the sound box, which is the main body of the violin. The bridge, which supports the strings, acts as a mechanical transformer; it converts the transverse forces of the strings into the vibrational modes of the sound box (4). The bridge itself also has resonant modes, playing a role in the overall tone. The front plate of the violin is expertly carved with f-holes which boost the sound output at low frequencies, through the Helmholtz air resonance. The Helmholtz air resonance describes the action of the air bouncing backwards and forwards through the f-holes (1). Then, front and back plates are skillfully carved to get the right degree of arching and vari ation in thickness. Even the tiniest changes in the thickness of the plates and the smallest variations in the properties of the wood will significantly affect the specific resonance in the frequency range (1). There are many theories as to the "secret" of Stradivarius violins. Of course what was obviously first explored was the exact size of the violins and ratio of the parts of the violin to each other. It was proposed

Literary Genre Essay

Literature (from Latin litteraetantri (plural); letter) is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources (although, under circumstances unpublished sources can be exempt). Literally translated, the word literature means â€Å"acquaintance with letters† (as in the â€Å"arts and letters†). The two major classification of literature are poetry and prose. â€Å"Literature† is sometimes differentiated from popular and ephemeral classes of writing. Terms such as â€Å"literary fiction† and â€Å"literary merit† are used to distinguish individual works as art-literature rather than vernacular writing, and some critics exclude works from being â€Å"literary†, for example, on grounds of weak or faulty style, use of slang, poor characterization and shallow or contrived construction. Others exclude all genres such as romance, crime and mystery, science fiction, horror and fantasy. Pop lyrics, which are not technically a written medium at all, have also been drawn into this controversy. POETRY A poem is a composition written in verse (although verse has been equally used for epic and dramatic fiction). Poems rely heavily on imagery, precise word choice, and metaphor; they may take the form of measures consisting of patterns of stresses (metric feet) or of patterns of different-length syllables (as in classical prosody); and they may or may not utilize rhyme. Relaxation Through Poetry is a tool used to help someone relax in times of stress. One cannot readily characterize poetry precisely. Typically though, poetry as a form of literature makes some significant use of the formal properties of the words it uses – the properties of the written or spoken form of the words, independent of their meaning. Meter depends on syllables and on rhythms of speech; rhyme and alliteration depend on the sounds of words. Arguably, poetry pre-dates other forms of literature. Early examples include the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (dated from around 2700 B. C. ), parts of the Bible, the surviving works of Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey), and the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. In cultures based primarily on oral traditions the formal characteristics of poetry often have a mnemonic function, and important texts: legal, genealogical or moral, for example, may appear first in verse form. Some poetry uses specific forms. Examples include the haiku, the limerick, and the sonnet. A traditional haiku written in Japanese relate to nature, contain seventeen onji (syllables), distributed over three lines in groups of five, seven, and five, and should also have a kigo, a specific word indicating a season. A limerick has five lines, with a rhyme scheme of AABBA, and line lengths of 3,3,2,2,3 stressed syllables. It traditionally has a less reverent attitude towards nature. Poetry not adhering to a formal poetic structure is called â€Å"free verse† Language and tradition dictate some poetic norms: Persian poetry always rhymes, Greek poetry rarely rhymes, Italian or French poetry often does, English and German poetry can go either way. Perhaps the most paradigmatic style of English poetry, blank verse, as exemplified in works by Shakespeare and Milton, consists of unrhymed iambic pentameters. Some languages prefer longer lines; some shorter ones. Some of these conventions result from the ease of fitting a specific language’s vocabulary and grammar into certain structures, rather than into others; for example, some languages contain more rhyming words than others, or typically have longer words. Other structural conventions come about as the result of historical accidents, where many speakers of a language associate good poetry with a verse form preferred by a particular skilled or popular poet. Works for theatre (see below) traditionally took verse form. This has now become rare outside opera and musicals, although many would argue that the language of drama remains intrinsically poetic. In recent years, digital poetry has arisen that takes advantage of the artistic, publishing, and synthetic qualities of digital media. An essay consists of a discussion of a topic from an author’s personal point of view, exemplified by works by Michel de Montaigne or by Charles Lamb. ‘Essay’ in English derives from ‘attempt. ‘ Thus, one can find open-ended, provocative and/or inconclusive essays. The term â€Å"essays† first applied to the self-reflective musings of Michel de Montaigne–even today he has a reputation as the father of this literary form. Genres related to the essay may include: †¢the memoir, telling the story of an author’s life from the author’s personal point of view †¢the epistle: usually a formal, didactic, or elegant letter. †¢works by Lady Murasaki[citation needed], the Arabic Hayy ibn Yaqdhan by Ibn Tufail, the Arabic Theologus Autodidactus by Ibn al-Nafis, and the Chinese Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong[citation needed]. Early novels in Europe did not count as significant litera perhaps because â€Å"mere† prose writing seemed easy and unimportant. It has become clear, however, that prose writing can provide aesthetic pleasure without adhering to poetic forms. Additionally, the freedom authors gain in not having to concern themselves with verse structure translates often into a more complex plot or into one richer in precise detail than one typically finds even in narrative poetry. This freedom also allows an author to experiment with many different literary and presentation styles—including poetry—in the scope of a single novel. Other prose literature Philosophical, historical, journalistic, legal and scientific writings are traditionally ranked as literature. They offer some of the oldest prose writings in existence; novels and prose stories earned the names â€Å"fiction† to distinguish them from factual writing or nonfiction, which writers historically have crafted in prose. Natural science As advances and specialization have made new scientific research inaccessible to most audiences, the â€Å"literary† nature of science writing has become less pronounced over the last two centuries. Now, science appears mostly in journals. Scientific works of Aristotle, Copernicus, and Newton still possess great value, but since the science in them has largely become outdated, they no longer serve for scientific instruction. Yet, they remain too technical to sit well in most programmes of literary study. Outside of â€Å"history of science† programmes, students rarely read such works. Philosophy Philosophy, too, has become an increasingly academic discipline. More of its practitioners lament this situation than occurs with the sciences; nonetheless most new philosophical work appears in academic journals. Major philosophers through history—Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche—have become as canonical as any writers. Some recent philosophy works are argued to merit the title â€Å"literature†, such as some of the works by Simon Blackburn; but much of it does not, and some areas, such as logic, have become extremely technical to a degree similar to that of mathematics. History A great deal of historical writing ranks as literature, particularly the genre known as creative nonfiction. So can a great deal of journalism, such as literary journalism. However these areas have become extremely large, and often have a primarily utilitarian purpose: to record data or convey immediate information. As a result the writing in these fields often lacks a literary quality, although it often and in its better moments has that quality. Major â€Å"literary† historians include Herodotus, Thucydides and Procopius, all of whom count as canonical literary figures. Law Law offers a less clear case. Some writings of Plato and Aristotle, or even the early parts of the Bible, might count as legal literature. The law tables of Hammurabi of Babylon might count. Roman civil law as codified in the Corpus Juris Civilis during the reign of Justinian I of the Byzantine Empire has a reputation as significant literature. The founding documents of many countries, including Constitutions and Law Codes, can count as literature; however, most legal writings rarely exhibit much literary merit, as they tend to be rather garrulous. Drama A play or drama offers another classical literary form that has continued to evolve over the years. It generally comprises chiefly dialogue between characters, and usually aims at dramatic / theatrical performance (see theatre) rather than at reading. During the 18th and 19th centuries, opera developed as a combination of poetry, drama, and music. Nearly all drama took verse form until comparatively recently. Shakespeare could be considered drama. Romeo and Juliet, for example, is a classic romantic drama generally accepted as literature. Greek drama exemplifies the earliest form of drama of which we have substantial knowledge. Tragedy, as a dramatic genre, developed as a performance associated with religious and civic festivals, typically enacting or developing upon well-known historical or mythological themes. Tragedies generally presented very serious themes. With the advent of newer technologies, scripts written for non-stage media have been added to this form. War of the Worlds (radio) in 1938 saw the advent of literature written for radio broadcast, and many works of Drama have been adapted for film or television. Conversely, television, film, and radio literature have been adapted to printed or electronic media. Oral literature The term oral literature refers not to written, but to oral traditions, which includes different types of epic, poetry and drama, folktales, ballads. However the use of this oxymoron is controversial and not generally accepted by the scientific community. Some prefer to avoid the etymological question using â€Å"oral narrative tradition†, â€Å"oral sacred tradition†, â€Å"oral poetry† or directly using epics or poetry (terms that no necessarily imply writing), others prefer to create neologisms as orature.

Dropout of school Essay

The Huffington Post recently ran an article entitled, â€Å"America’s School Dropout Epidemic By The Numbers† about America’s dropout problem. I would like to add my opinions about why children drop out of school. I am a professional educator who served as a classroom teacher, school counselor and school administrator in the New York City school system for over 33 years. I believe that there are five major reasons why children leave school: 1. The students themselves They make wrong decisions. They get involved with gangs, drugs/alcohol, get pregnant and commit crimes. Many have a poor school attitude and are frequently bored by school. They are disconnected to their families, school and life. They do not see the reasons they need to go to school. They are not involved in school activities and lack self-esteem. Some have been promoted lacking skills needed for promotion. Some have undergone major illnesses and have missed too many days of school and have been informed that they will be held back. Because of many of the conditions listed above, they have been suspended and have fallen behind in their work and see little purpose of returning to school. 2. The family they come from There is often a clash between the family values and those of the school. Frequently, their parents have dropped out of school themselves. The students come from families from low socio-economic backgrounds, where there are many other children. Older children often have to go to work in order to supply the family with much-needed funds for basic family needs or need to stay home to take care of younger siblings so that their parents can work. Many children come from non-English speaking homes with high mobility. Single parent homes have become the norm in the United States. Many children are products of divorce, separation or, sometimes, family violence. hey are not being raised by parents, but rather by aunts, uncles and grandparents. Families are not meeting some children’s basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. 3. The community they come from Many children live on the wrong side of the tracks in places where education is not valued, where drugs, gangs and violence abound. And where schools are low-performing, they often lack community and health support. 4. The schools they attend The schools are toxic to student learning, students, parents and staff. Students are suspended for minor infractions (such as â€Å"talking back to the teacher†), or placed in â€Å"remedial classes. † The schools have a culture of low expectations. They lack adequate guidance counseling. The curriculum is not relevant to the needs of the students being taught. Passive instructional strategies are being used without regard to individual student learning styles. Teachers are not trained in the latest teaching/learning/technology techniques. Funding is based on property values so that low-income neighborhoods receive less funding than wealthy neighborhoods. Because some states pass budgets in a less than timely matter, teachers are not hired in time producing over-sized classrooms. 5. The teachers they have The least-experienced, least classroom-trained teachers are often assigned to the most difficult schools. They enter the field with the expectation that they have been adequately prepared by the schools of education with the skills they need and they haven’t received. (See Arthur Levine, â€Å"Educating School Teachers†) They are leaving the field faster than colleges can prepare them. The teacher â€Å"dropout rate† is higher than the student dropout rate. Forty-six percent of teachers leave the field within five years. When asked why they leave, a majority state that they haven’t been properly prepared, have had increased demands placed on them because of high stakes testing and are not getting adequate support from their supervisors in dealing with classroom discipline. Like all generalities, there are exceptions to the information provided above. But, by and large, the statistics bear them out.

102 Frankenstein and Evaluations Professor Ramos Blog

102 Frankenstein and Evaluations Monster Theory The Question The question I want to consider now is: What does it mean to be human? Arguably, literary texts in charting human actions and emotions and so on, reflect back at us what makes us who we are? What makes us tick? By looking at the monsters we create, we can learn what is means to be human and/or to be humane. What Makes a Good Professor? Rate My Professor Come up with criteria for a good Professor. Start with the good ones you have had. The bad ones teach us just as much. 3 to 5 Criteria Dont pick just 1 and dont pick 20. It needs to be reasonable. Pick the best one. Grading Structure that makes sense. 4 stars 5 stars A,B,C,D,F 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-10 Doesnt matter. It just needs to make sense to you and your reader. This is easy with professors and restaurants because we do it all the time. Now we will apply these to the monsters we are evaluating. Monster Theory We have been talking about Frankenstein the past few days. Which of the seven monster theories apply to it? Thesis I. The Monster’s Body Is a Cultural Body (4) Thesis II. The Monster Always Escapes (4) Thesis III. The Monster Is the Harbinger of Category Crisis (6) Thesis IV. The Monster Dwells at the Gates of Difference (7) Thesis V. The Monster Polices the Borders of the Possible (12) Thesis VI. Fear of the Monster Is Really a Kind of Desire (16) Thesis VII. The Monster Stands at the Threshold . . . of Becoming (20) Monster Theory Class Notes

The Prince of Tides-Compare novel to film essays

The Prince of Tides-Compare novel to film essays The process of transforming this novel into a film takes away a tremendous amount from the original story. This is certainly the case with The Prince of Tides. Pat Conroy develops each character and brings to life each member and associate of the Wingo Family. I was disappointed with many of the characters in the film. In the novel many of the characters had a huge role in developing the personality of Tom Wingo, whereas in the film these character were either excluded or merely mentioned as a quick reference or a mere memory. The novel focuses on the dysfunctional relationship between the members of the Wingo Family and the affects of those relationships in the adult lives of those family members. Tom Wingo takes a trip to New York City, from his home in Colleton South Carolina, to visit his sister Savannah Wingo who has attempted suicide for the second time. Also to assist her Doctor with information about her past that will possibly lead to the suppressed memories that has brought her to this point. It is during these sessions that Tom reflects with unabridged detail on his childhood from birth to present date. These recollections, in my opinion, are the most captivating part of the story that was extracted from the film. For example: The story of the birth of the Wingo twins. During a hurricane, Amos Wingo and his servant Sarah Jenkins sought shelter and helped deliver his grandchildren Tom and Savannah, and save them and their mother Lila from certain death. This was a brilliantly poetic way to bri ng to light the turmoil that will surround the lives of Tom and Savannah. This type of dialogue allows the reader to connect emotionally with each character and was unfortunately edited from the film. The two most important events, which I feel had the biggest impact on the lives of Tom and Savannah, were also severely modified in the film. The rape of Tom, Savannah, and their mother Lila was a big pa ...

The History of the BASIC Programming Language

The History of the BASIC Programming Language In the 1960s, computers ran on gigantic mainframe machines, requiring their special rooms with powerful air-conditioning to keep them cool. The mainframes received their instructions from punch cards by computer operators, and any instructions given to a mainframe required writing a new piece of software, which was the realm of mathematicians and nascent computer scientists.   BASIC, a computer language written at Dartmouth college in 1963, would change that. Beginnings of BASIC The language BASIC was an acronym for Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. It was developed by Dartmouth mathematicians John George Kemeny and Tom Kurtzas as a teaching tool for undergraduates. BASIC was intended to be a computer language for generalists to use to unlock the power of the computer in business and other realms of academia. BASIC was traditionally one of the most commonly used computer programming languages, considered an easy step for students to learn before more powerful languages such as FORTRAN. Until very recently, BASIC (in the form of Visual BASIC and Visual BASIC .NET) was the most widely known computer language among developers. The Spread of BASIC The advent of the personal computer was crucial to the success of BASIC. The language was designed for hobbyists, and as computers became more accessible to this audience, books of BASIC programs and BASIC games surged in popularity. In 1975, Paul Allen and Bill Gates, the founding fathers of Microsoft,) wrote a version of BASIC for the Altair personal computer. It was the first product Microsoft sold. Later Gates and Microsoft wrote versions of BASIC for the Apple computer, and IBMs DOS which Gates provided came with its version of BASIC. The Decline and Rebirth of BASIC By the mid-1980s, the mania for programming personal computers had subsided in the wake of running professional software created by others. Developers also had more options, such as the new computer languages of C and C. But the introduction of Visual Basic, written by Microsoft, in 1991, changed that. VB was based on BASIC and relied on some of its commands and structure, and proved valuable in many small business applications. BASIC .NET, released by Microsoft in 2001, matched the functionality of Java and C# with the syntax of BASIC. List of BASIC Commands Here are some of the commands associated with the earliest BASIC languages developed at Dartmouth:   Ã‚  HELLO - log inBYE - log offBASIC - start BASIC modeNEW - name and begin writing a programOLD - retrieve a previously named program from permanent storageLIST - display the current programSAVE - save the current program in permanent storageUNSAVE - clear the current program from permanent storageCATALOG - display the names of programs in permanent storageSCRATCH - erase the current program without clearing its nameRENAME - change the name of the current program without erasing itRUN - execute the current programsSTOP - interrupt the currently running program