Stonehenge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Stonehenge - Essay Example This book describes the questions and explains the answers, and situates them all within the relevant time periods. During the Renaissance, an answer was obtained for the question: What is Stonehenge In the Victorian period, scholars answered the question: By what kind of men The question of when Stonehenge was built was answered during the reign of the second Queen Elizabeth. One question, however, still remains unanswered: Why was Stonehenge built There are many theories - there always have been, and it is likely that there always will be - at least until the real truth is known. Stonehenge Complete takes the existing facts, compiles them, and attempts to explain them in a way that will educate and entertain readers, as they seek to decipher the mysteries of Stonehenge. Ever since the beginning of recorded British history, visitors to Stonehenge have tried to explain its origins and purpose. Their interpretations are shaped by their own experiences, and cultural and temporal influences. The author researches and reports on an extensive collection of these interpretations, and divides out the historical truths from the legends. The book is laid out chronologically, for the most part. Quite appropriately, it begins at the beginning. The first written record of Stonehenge, by the archdeacon of Lincoln, Henry of Huntingdon, dates back to 1130. The bishop, Alexander of Blois, commissioned him to write a history of England. Stonehenge figures prominently in this history, as it is named one of the country's marvels. Further evidence of Stonehenge's literary and historical popularity can be seen in extant writing from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the legend of Stonehenge and its creation became intertwined with the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It was a popular story that flourished despite evidence to the contrary, and was put into verse in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene." Some dramatic representations of this connection exist in Thomas Rowley's 1620 play, "The Birth of Merlin" and John Galliard's 1734 musical pantomime, "Merlin, or the Devil of Stonehenge." Thus, Stonehenge became forever ingrained in the political and literary consciousn esses of the English people. For several hundred years it was believed that Merlin the Magician was responsible for creating the stones and setting them in place. Subsequent theories for the origins of the stones included: remnants of volcanic rock that were shot up from underground; solid masses that were thrown into place by the fluid earth's rotation; and even meteoric deposits from space which just so happened to fall into a particular pattern. This belief was held in the beginning of the 19th century. Modern geology has identified the true nature of the sarsen rock, but even it cannot explain just how Stonehenge came to be constructed in the way it was. In the eyes of the Renaissance thinkers, no one native to the British Isles could have been responsible for creating such a magnificent structure. At one time or another, the Romans, a mythical race of giants, the Dutch, and the Phoenicians were all considered to be possible originators of the ancient construction site. In the mid-1600s, when John Aubrey

Future Trends in Purchasing Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Future Trends in Purchasing Paper - Essay Example As such, procurement has and continues to help in the evolution of supply chain management in that procurement ensures the security of supply, market expansion, and reduces operational costs while maximizing profits. In essence, this is the direction that supply chain management is headed towards as it evolves from just a profit making venture into a practice requiring adherence to legal, ethical and consumer demands. Callender (2013) gives the example of how the global market now prefers GM-free foods and seeks to shun child labor. E-business can be described as the practice of using technology in order to improve business, essentially by conducting business processes on the internet. The adoption of information technology in the conduct of business has its own advantages and shortcomings, just like the traditional ways of conducting business. According to Popescul & Genete (2007) e-business is advantageous in that it reduces the amount of time required to transact business, while also reducing the costs involved. In addition, the incorporation of information technology in business transactions means that a company is able to market itself on global arenas. On the negative side of doing e-business, companies are exposed to hackers who can swindle the company and its clientele their money. In relation, consumers may fall prey to fraudsters who use information provided online, to steal credit card information. In other cases, There is also the risk that the company’s employees may be unable or unwilling to adapt to the applications used and may thus put the company at risk of losing its consumer base. It is also major concern for companies that the telecommunication bandwidth may be insufficient; meaning that access to online platforms may be hampered thus negating the need for e-business. The practice of using information technology to

Marine Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marine Finance - Assignment Example Research – Mainly concerned with providing research work on marine industry. The Shipping Industry The shipping industry comprises of the largest marine sector. However there has been a decline in the shipping industry since 1974. This can be primarily attributed to cyclical developments which got worse with the structural changes in the shipping industry and the world trade that made adjustments a time consuming and complex process. The extreme changes in the revenues, cash flows and values of assets during the present financial crisis have bought in difficulties in the regular order of financing shipping companies. While bank loan will continue to be an important source of finance, the newly regulated environments are forcing the shipping banks to shift their risk from balance sheet to capital markets through instruments of loan securitization. Due to this shipping company will look for capital markets as a source of external debt. Risk management will be a key issue in the shipping companies under the current situation. The other changes witnessed by the shipping industry is that traditionally it was structured by function and performance but now it is undergoing drastic changes as traditional functions are now merged with number of other services. Another major change witnessed by the shipping industry is involvement of the government in its ownership, operation and regulation. Thus the shipping industry has evolved over time from traditionally being an owner operating, free trading, and unregulated industry towards a public oriented, highly regulated and institutionalised industry (Frankel, 1987, pp. 1-15). Role of Financial Management in Risk Mitigation of shipping Industry The shipping industry encounters a number of risk namely changes in equity prices, interest rates, exchange prices, commodity rates and the changing freight rates. The risk of the changing freight rates will be discussed at length in this section. This is a kind of marketing ris k the shipping industry faces on a regular basis. The freight rates historically have proved to be very volatile. The effect of unpredictable geo-political events and slow adjustment of supply to demand has resulted in drastic changes in the freight rates. In financial management the best used risk assessment model is the Value at-Risk Approach. It was developed by JP Morgan’s Chairman Dennis Weatherstone. In this approach he asked his staff to provide him with one page report on a daily basis popularly known as the â€Å"4:15 report† which indicates the risk and potential loss in the next 24 hours in the bank’s portfolio. The approach used the estimates of standard deviation and correlation between the returns of different traded equipments. General methodologies of estimating the Value at Risk Approach are analytical methods, Historical Simulation and Monte-Carlo Simulation. This very approach is used in the assessment of freight rate risk in shipping industry . This approach first considers freight rates as risk factors which are assumed to follow random walk and are modelled using stochastic processes. These stochastic processes reflect some of characteristics of freight rate dynamics. The cash flow forms the key measurement of risk. For

K-Pop Research Essay Example for Free

K-Pop Research Essay K-Pop ê °â‚¬Ã¬Å¡â€ (an abbreviation of Korean pop or Korean popular music): is a musical genre consisting of dance, electronic, electropop, hip hop,[2] and RB music originating in South Korea.[1] In addition to music, K-pop has grown into a popular subculture among teenagers and young adults around the world.[3] Although in a bigger scope K-pop may include other genres of popular music within South Korea, outside of the country the term is more commonly used for songs sung by Korean teen idols, which covers mostly dance, electronic, rap, hip-hop, and RB genres. [4] Starting in 1992, dance and rap music became popular due to Seo Tai-ji Boys, which is seen by many as the beginning of modern K-pop.[4] Genres such as ballad and rock are still popular today; however, the term can be debatable. With the rise of social media networks during the mid 2000s, the ability of K-pop to reach a previously inaccessible audience via the Internet is driving a shift in the exposure and popularity of the genre.[5] The Korean Wave has spread K-Pop to the Pacific Rim, the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. As an important part of the Korean Wave, K-pop has come from humble beginnings to gain a huge fan base not just in Asia but also other parts of the world. As South Korea continues to develop its IT infrastructure, K-Pop music is being shared over the internet and through mobile devices more rapidly than ever.[6] According to The New York Times, attempts by K-pop stars to break into Western markets had largely failed prior to the proliferation of global social networks. However, K-pop artists are now gaining more international exposure through social media networks such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, making it easier for K-pop artists to reach a wider audience.[7] Fans come from all around the world[8] and K-Pop is considered by some to be South Korea’s greatest export because of its popularity and growing influence.[9] Kpop bands as highly produced, sugary boy- and girl-bands with slick dance routines and catchy tunes.[10] Many K-Pop music videos have colourful visuals and a catchy beat.[11] K-Pop multiple vocal genres, especially hip-hop and rap, emphasize performances and strong visuals.[12] Dance is an integral part of K-pop. When combining multiple singers, the singers often switch their positions while singing and dancing by making prompt movements in synchrony. K-Pop is also recognized for pretty-boys and girl groups[13] that are young and considered attractive. I couldn’t stop humming the beat; it had been cemented in my head. At first it was just a mere song that I would play to make fun of, but I couldn’t help it. Over and over again, I played it. There was something intriguing about, something different. It pulled me in and drew my brain. My ears craved the tune again. I did my best to resist the urges, afraid that I’d be swept into its trance and be associated with those who would listen to it. I eventually went back to listen to it, disgusted with myself for enjoying listening to the repetitive track. The chorus was ridiculous, the Engrish was unbearable, yet I was still called for by it. It was different than most of the type of music I had indulged in. K-Pop. I was herded into the world of delusional fandoms that couldn’t bear insults towards their oppas. The world where Engrish is a normal thing you would sing along with. Besides the occasional fan wars and drama (not the K-Dramas, but actual drama), I felt like I had a family within my own fandoms. It was simple; we were all interested in that particular group, and we all respected each for that. It gave us common grounds. But it’s even more than that, we all still shared the general idea: We all liked K-Pop. Most people who are used to western music made fun of this genre. This is probably the biggest thing that binds us together. Most of us non-Korean listeners have probably dealt with being made fun of for liking K-Pop, and this makes us even closer.

Operations Management Assignment Concept Design Services

Operations Management Assignment Concept Design Services Concept Design Services (CDS), Linda Fleet, marketing director of CDS is working with design house, providing end-to-end product design, manufacturing and high-quality designer goods distribution integrated service provider. All three types of operations management responsibilities have been working, the implementation of CDS which helps them succeed. Direct responsibility, is directly related to the service and delivery of products and production activities. Before that, they used to do industrial moldings as aerospace and some cheap household goods. According to Linda fleet management, they found that they could also become one of the main advantages of high produce profitable business. They all went to the companys customer service, so retain revenue customers and win new customers the ability to contribute. Indirect responsibility is involved in activities with other parts of the CDS interact. However, CDS new products need more complex mechanical and longer working hours. As the company grows, enlarged the demand for their products, operations management is to achieve time efficiency is very important. This is crucial, because it makes the right production plan through coordination between sales, manufacturing activities and design. Promote the companys costs, so if effectively managed, can reduce the cost of the entire enterprise. Broad responsibilities involve scanning is a political environment, social and business in which the existence of the organization is to understand the broader context of its mission. In its production process and the complexity of delivering services require good management, if they are to meet their customers needs time to succeed. Through proper operation and management, stock appeared greatly accurately forecast sales lead to lower delivery costs reduced. If managed properly, could damage the product and customer traffic adversely affect the companys reputation. In any case, the role of operations management can be highlighted by achieving business goals. Minimize costs, maximize revenue and avoid excessive investment, and the development of future innovation capacity. Operating performance objective is to ensure the proper operation of resource allocation, there are performance necessary to monitor, review the operation and record. A solution role in this process is the performance that relates to the internal and external factors that are associated with the appropriate measures to identify administrative competitiveness. This enables organizations to describe performance goals to measure its results of operations of the five basic operations are performance objective are quality, speed, reliability, flexibility and cost. Quality is very important in our list of performance objective, as many authorities believe it is the most important. The meaning of quality is a service and product, as it should be. In other words, it is consistent with its specification. CDS external influences customers complain less, this will make it easier for customers and good quality satisfaction. This brings more revenue CDS. If the CDS high quality consistency for all business processes and activities will progress is being made very few mistakes. This usually means that, CDS costs are saved, and increased reliability of the response speed increases. Speed is saying responsiveness of speed shorthand. This means that the external or internal customer requests a product or service, and they get it to the interval. CDS external speed is important, because it helps to quickly respond to customers. This is usually a positive consumer will be more prospective to return with more business observation. Sometimes it is possible to charge a higher price when the service is fast. Have a great impact on the speed of the internal relationship between cost reduction will mean faster throughput customers reduce costs. When the material system in the long hang around, as well as more opportunities for them to get lost. Dependability refers to the time customers receive their products or services on. External Dependability is generally considered a good thing by the customer. Of course, late delivery of goods and services can be considerable stimulus customers. CDS can guarantee its sustainability and success is also equipped with an increase in customers provide more opportunities for companies and of brands CDS return. CDS internal reliability is to save time, save money directly and through a CDS stability to enable it to improve its efficiency. Flexibility always means to change the operation in some way. Flexibility subdivided into different types of products or services flexibility , delivery flexibility, mix flexibility, volume flexibility. For external flexibility to benefit CDS, CDS they can let consumers to customize their new product or service and they want to deliver by the CDS. It also allows CDS to make a huge number of products or services in order to reduce costs. (Slack, 2007). It allows the internal impact of CDS, to meet our customers faster response in dealing maintain the reliability of the change based on market demand and contribute to the provision of goods and CDS save time and money. First, the cost structure of different company can vary significantly. Note how the costs of different types of four different examples. Second, and most important, the other four performance objective are caused by internal, to reduce costs. CDS must manage their own products, a large number of products produced. It can save more costs, it can make more profit. Price is very important for each customer. If cheap, you can get good quality products, every customer will buy as much as they can. Volume: It is considered high. While this case study does not specify the amount of production, it can be inferred yield. Another sign of mass production is, CDS from its key line subcontract to other mounding company, so they can focus on producing its own concept. Variety: It considers the reasons for the high cause CDS market is a highly competitive, innovative design which determines the corporate life. CDSs capacity of develop products that are stylish, and its adaptability to change, because change is the key to the fashion business survival. Change: It also believes that the reasons for the high variety, CDS is forced to continue to produce innovative design, will retain their customers are interested in, and therefore maintain a high demand for the same reason. Visibility: You can consider is the high and low. When there is the visible part of the operation of final product I do not think theyll like this better if they insist they know best plastic molding, specializing in it, which makes standardized speed up production processes and reduce their unit costs. In operation, I believe that if they separate from other business cooperation activities, but mainly decided to do or from a central executive body, it works to their advantage. This is because, through the provision of priority, designers, which caused delays and friction within the company as well as to customers waiting. For the CDS must also improve their business, they need to develop a more accurate and reliable sales forecasts in order to achieve : higher utilization , better customer service and cost savings. Provide cross-training between designers and marketing departments in order to improve sales forecasting additional activities can be carried out. From product testing to scheduling and forecasting work closely with all aspects of those unit costs will be reduced, because the waste reduction will be minimal, and provide feedback to the designer. This will let them know what the feedback of marketing products out there getting greetings, EM brass and what is and what is not. The company seems to be more and more clients from a narrow El has been re -based accounts, which is why the separation operation, so that more concentration should be placed on them to ensure they select and hire guaranteed, and tell them they are a priority for some can easily change their states that its operation is visible, but not to their satisfaction. As for the other part of the normal activities of daily orders and can be set to meet the flexibility and scope of these commands so that you can request from that seems to take longer, so deal with a wider range of color variations speeding customers who may not have weighty order to allow both types of client needs treatment.

What is Business Studies? Essay -- Business

What is Business Studies? Business studies is the study of how businesses are set up, financed, organised and controlled, how people are employed, managed and paid, how goods are developed, produced and sold, how goods and services are priced and how the local, national and international government help or hinder businesses. In studying the setting up of a business there are many aspects that need to be considered. Such as the type of business ownerships which are suitable for the entrepreneur, where the capital will be coming from, what goods or services could be considered to sell and where the business should be located. The extensive amount of research, which is carried out before the business operates, is also studied. There are many sources of finance open to the entrepreneur, which also need to be studied in depth. The business owner has to set the right price for its goods or services - a price which is of convenience to the consumer and which is affordable for the owner. This is possible by using break-even analysis, and again market research. Owners ... What is Business Studies? Essay -- Business What is Business Studies? Business studies is the study of how businesses are set up, financed, organised and controlled, how people are employed, managed and paid, how goods are developed, produced and sold, how goods and services are priced and how the local, national and international government help or hinder businesses. In studying the setting up of a business there are many aspects that need to be considered. Such as the type of business ownerships which are suitable for the entrepreneur, where the capital will be coming from, what goods or services could be considered to sell and where the business should be located. The extensive amount of research, which is carried out before the business operates, is also studied. There are many sources of finance open to the entrepreneur, which also need to be studied in depth. The business owner has to set the right price for its goods or services - a price which is of convenience to the consumer and which is affordable for the owner. This is possible by using break-even analysis, and again market research. Owners ...

Education Reform Essay

It is undeniably clear that we have serious problems with our education system. Talk to any teacher and you will hear the same complaints; overcrowded classrooms, lack of supplies and text books, unfairness of the grading system, discipline issues, drugs, underpaid teachers and the list goes on and on. The result; our children can’t read, spell or solve basic math problems without a calculator. Many students can not even find their own country on a map. In the midst of debates going on in many different levels, the big question is how can we fix these problems? The National Commission on Excellence in Education delivered a devastating assessment of American education in 1983. According to the commission’s findings; 23 million American adults were illiterate by the simplest tests of reading and writing. Almost 13 percent of all 17 year olds in the United States were functionally illiterate. Illiteracy among minority young was a scaring 40 percent. Scholastic Aptitude tests ( SAT ) showed that average verbal scores fell over 50 points and mathematics scores dropped 40 points from 1963 to 1980. International comparisons of student achievement revealed that on 19 academic tests  American students were never first or second and compared to the other industrialized nations, were last seven times. ( http://www. ed. gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk. html (3 of 10 ,2005 ). These findings alarmed the nation and in 1989, an education summit involving all fifty state governors and president George H. W. Bush resulted in the adoption of national education goals for the year 2000. The same year, National Council of Teachers Of Mathematics published the Curriculum and evaluation Standards for School Mathematics, a standards based document. ( Schwardz, 2000 ). Standards based  school reform has become a predominant issue facing public schools. In the 1990’s , The Standards-based National Education Goals were set by the U. S. Congress. This movement resulted in the famous No child Left Behind Act of 2001 which is still an active nation wide mandate in the United States ( Schwardz 2000 ). A standards-based system measures each student against the concrete standard, instead of measuring how well the student performed compared to others. The main goal of this reform is that no student by virtue of poverty, age, race, gender, cultural or ethnic background,  disabilities or family situation will be exempt from learning the required material. ( Robinson,2000 ). The school income from property taxes and the federal funds are based on the student attendance. Every public school is required to take attendance every day so the budget can be given to the state accounting department and the money made available. If a child stays home even for one day, the attendance shows less need for money. Because of this system, we have overcrowded classrooms. The government legislators should realize that fewer students means better classroom management and better education. The fight for the control of public schools also contribute to the problems we are facing with our education system. In the United States, schools are regulated by laws and regulations at the district, county, state and federal levels. The most of day to day activities have been influenced by district level government usually by a district bureaucracy led by a superintended and controlled by a locally elected or appointed school board. ( Smith, 2001 ). State and federal governments often mandate programs and reforms or prohibit certain activities by criminalizing them through legislation or court  precedent or restricting state and federal funds to schools which are not in compliance. ( Robinson, 2000 ). In the early days of our nation, our constitution left education matters Mostly in the hands of states. In those days founding fathers did not want the federal government running education. But times have changed. Now we have a mobile society, new technology, and a global economy which has erased district, county and states lines that once had meaning. Nowadays, whether raised in California, Florida, Colorado or Virginia, all children in America need the same knowledge and skills that will help them  compete in both national and the international marketplace of jobs. Tight local control of public education under the influence of provincial attitudes and ideologies can leave our children ill prepared to survive in this very challenging global environment. Federal government leads the way in important areas such as food, drug, product, financial and environmental regulations and policies. Should not education, one of the most essential contributors to the success and well being of our nation, be naturally included in that list? The violation of the separation of church and state issue has also been an ongoing  debate in our public schools. In our constitution, the first amendment states â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, this indicates that a person is free to study any form of religion and that the government will not adopt any religion as the official religion of the state or nation nor will they favor any religion above another ( First Amendment to the United States Constitution, retrieved June 29, 2010 ). There are conflicts over school praying and most people agree that allowing some  groups of children to pray inside the classrooms could offend other children with different religious backgrounds or the children with atheist parents. Author Randall Eberts ( 2007 ) states that if we take a look at any humanities course, we will find religion somewhere. He also states that religion is in science, literature and art. The battle of evolution vs. creationism vs. intelligent design never stops. Science teachers can teach about the planets, stars and galaxies but they have no answer regarding how it all started. They can come up with several theories but it is difficult to satisfy many students with  various religious background. In art classes, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel are among the greatest pieces of artistry which are both religious in nature. In order for a student to be able to analyze these types of artwork, they must be able to refer to the religious themes portrayed in the pieces. In literature, Dante’s Inferno is a good example of how religion is approached in a high school literature class. In the text, Dante has established series of rings of hell and categorized which sins would banish a soul to that region for eternity. Since not all students believe in heaven and hell, teachers must be extra careful how to approach this topic so it won’t appear as if they are trying to enforce their viewpoints on the topic. There has to be a fine line between teaching religion and teaching about religion. According to a study by Christian Smith, ( Smith, 2002 ) religion affects students many ways including the following: Religious students are more likely to be involved in community work. Religious students are less likely to be suspended or expelled. Religious students are more likely to be involved in student government. Religious 12th graders are less likely to misbehave at school. Religious 12th graders are less likely to skip school without permission. There is a positive correlation between religious students and their involvement in extracurricular activities. Researchers mark Regnerus and Glen Elder ( Regnerus, 2003 ) conducted a research and found out that â€Å"when youth from low-income neighborhoods attend church, their academic performance improves primarily due to social influences of the church. It seems like most problems in the schools are the result of inability to make important decisions about the future of education in America. Valuable time is wasted by infighting and indecision. We seem powerless to fix the problems. All parties involved should have a common agreement about what some of the basic needs of students are. Our culture and the state of society is rapidly changing. In the light of these changes, new ideas about education can be useful to improve our education system. But they should be investigated for their effectiveness. The key to our future depends on highly educated students who are prepared for the 21st century. Our economic future and ability to compete in the world marketplace depends on it.