Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Margit Stange’s Literary Criticism of Chopin’s The Awakening Essay

Margit Stange’s Literary Criticism of Chopin’s The Awakening Kate Chopin made Edna Pontellier, however neither the character nor her maker was separated from the world in which Chopin lived. As a way to comprehend the decisions Chopin gave Edna, Margit Stange assesses The Awakening with regards to the women's activist belief system of the late nineteenth century. In particular, she contends that Edna is looking for what Chopin’s counterparts meant self-proprietorship, an idea that turned on sexual decision and â€Å"voluntary motherhood† (276). Stange makes a progression of important associations between Kate Chopin’s performance of Edna Pontellier’s â€Å"awakening† and the verifiable setting of women's activist idea that Stange accepts impacted the novel. For instance, she compares Edna’s journey for monetary freedom with the late nineteenth century’s Married Women’s Property Acts, which tried to give wedded ladies more noteworthy power over their property and profit. At last, Stange ac cepts, Edna’s arousing, her obtaining of self-assurance, originates from distinguishing and re-circulating what she possesses, which Stange contends is her body, much as contemporary women's activist scholars talked about what she calls women’s â€Å"sexual trade value† (281). Extra references to reformers, for example, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Charlotte Perkins Gilman, just as the legitimate norms of femme seule and femme couverte brace Stange’s position that Edna’s encounters are an impression of recorded reality, regardless of whether a portion of the conditions are somewhat unpleasant. Chopin, Stange notes, is mindful so as to isolate Edna the spouse from Edna the lady †â€Å"Mrs. Pontellier† becomes â€Å"Edna† in the content, and afterward â€Å"Mrs. Pontellier† again when her feeling of self-possession again appears to be lost. Chopin... ...alls a â€Å"moment of outrageous maternal giving,† Stanton contended for women’s right to an open voice in light of the fact that â€Å"‘alone [woman] goes to the doors of death to offer life to each man that is naturally introduced to the world; nobody can share her feelings of trepidation, nobody can moderate her aches; and if her distress is more noteworthy than she can endure, alone she goes past the entryways into the tremendous unknown’† (289). Chopin may have had a more clear handle of the enormous hold of the talk of parenthood than Stange recognizes. Edna at â€Å"the entryways of death† might be a lady trapped in an advancing origination of self-possession, troubled by the distress of understanding that she can just actually claim what she does not need anymore, on the grounds that what she needs is yet outside her ability to understand. Edna’s trap is for sure a chronicled reflection, a remark on the turbulent, even savag e, advancement of philosophies, desires, decisions, and real factors.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Stakeholders in Health Reform Free Essays

When discussing social insurance change, one should consistently consider the partners. Partners are â€Å"people and associations that have a stake (enthusiasm) for what a human services association does and that could influence the social insurance organization† (Olden, 2011). There are a wide range of partners for our situation concentrate however we will concentrate on the fundamental ones. We will compose a custom paper test on Partners in Health Reform or on the other hand any comparable theme just for you Request Now In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act considerably affected emergency clinics and the human services framework. Most people group wellbeing focuses were profiting by inclusion extensions and security net clinics were battling monetarily because of the way that the state put additionally financing towards protection endowments to extend inclusion. Scholarly clinical focuses (AMC) had the option to order more significant expenses and pull in more patients from network emergency clinics because of the way that strategy producers continued putting off creation choices about easing back the development of human services spending. AMCs â€Å"received the most noteworthy installment levels and had the option to arrange the biggest rate expands, which expanded the spending patterns and broadened the incongruities among have and have-not suppliers in the market. † The more lofty, huge name medical clinics had more force and in this way could practice more use. AMCs additionally extended to suburbia, which represented a lot of danger to network emergency clinics by â€Å"raising the rates paid for administrations conveyed in network settings and by expanding the quantity of referrals to downtown AMCs, which order the most noteworthy rates. Doctor/suppliers who claimed unattached, walking focuses had been moving toward medical clinics with offers to sell their offices because of the way that they were getting less productive due to â€Å"updated expense calendar and increasingly forceful wellbeing plan usage the board. † Physicians were likewise adjusting themselves to emergency clinics and other big ger practices. Little practices gambled losing an enormous portion of their patient boards on the off chance that they dropped out of wellbeing plan systems. The effect on the littler, less esteemed emergency clinics/social insurance frameworks were certainly negative, while the effect on bigger, increasingly renowned medical clinics/medicinal services framework appeared to be extensively progressively positive and valuable. Concerning bosses, as per the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act (the Act), on July 1, 2007, Massachusetts managers with at least 11 full-time representatives working in Massachusetts had three head commitments. To start with, Massachusetts businesses needed to either make a â€Å"Fair and Reasonable Premium Contribution to beneficiary employees’ human services premiums or cause a commitment to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of up to $295 every year per worker. Second, Massachusetts businesses needed to set up a cafeteria plan for their workers under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. At last, every business was required to report whether the business has offered to pay for-or to orchestrate human services protection inclusion and whether the representative has acknowledged or declined it† (James, 2007). In the event that businesses didn't go along, they would confront robust fines. An arrangement of the Act was the merger of the little gathering and individual or non-bunch protection markets, which was intended to make premiums progressively moderate for people. Little gathering premiums really expanded by 2. 6%. â€Å"The premiums of little managers had expanded considerably since the merger of the little gathering and individual medical coverage markets† (contextual investigation). Bosses who were converged into the little gathering and non-bunch showcase â€Å"felt the effect of rising premiums in light of the fact that they were presently financing people in that market† (contextual analysis). Huge managers didn’t truly feel any effect aside from the issue for conforming to the detailing prerequisites. Littler bosses normally didn’t have the labor to direct them through the Act’s necessities, which put them at a higher danger of not being consistent. By and large however, consistence turned into much all the more testing and â€Å"annoying† for businesses. Protection suppliers are likewise â€Å"major† partners in social insurance strategy and dynamic. In spite of the fact that they can be exceptionally powerful in the medicinal services strategy and law dynamic procedure, they additionally are presumably the most attacked. In Massachutettes, wellbeing plans needed to take out â€Å"continuous open enlistment, survey the full yearly punishment for any huge time of persistent un-protection, force hanging tight periods for specific administrations and bar buyers from purchasing in the blended market in the event that they approached business supported coverage† (contextual analysis). Doing these things, the insurance agencies planned to bring down premiums. Bill 2585 passed however the law didn't go the extent that the insurance agencies had trusted. It just â€Å"limited open enlistment in the combined market to two times every year in 2011 and once per year after that† (contextual investigation), which didn’t truly help a lot. Because of misfortune in the little market bunch in 2009, wellbeing plans â€Å"planned twofold digit premium increments in 2010† (contextual investigation), however the administration stepped in and shut down it. Despite the fact that the huge name emergency clinics were driving up cost, the insurance agencies were viewed as the trouble makers. This made neighborhood plans â€Å"record sizable working misfortunes for the principal quarter of 2010 and needed to attract on stores to cover expected misfortunes coming about because of the rate rollbacks† (contextual investigation). The insurance agencies, particularly the littler ones, endured monetarily. The most significant partner in the social insurance policymaking is likely the patient. In Massachusetts, the Act gave â€Å"nearly all inclusive medical coverage coverage† (contextual investigation). In 2009 the uninsured dropped from 8. 2% to 2. 7%. Individuals who had recently been uninsured and had no real way to get appropriate human services, could now do as such. There were a few issues however. As indicated by the Act, â€Å"the most youthful and most advantageous could abstain from being the blended hazard pool by buying more affordable inclusion in a different youthful grown-up showcase or by staying on their parent’s plan until they turn 26† (contextual analysis). This was useful for those patients however for other people, it was a major issue since it was causing premiums to increment. Detached, mobile focuses were being offered to medical clinics. This expanded the rates paid for administrations conveyed at these offices. Patients who â€Å"were secured by boss supported protection can purchase transient strategies with the goal that they can gain admittance to medicines which are not typically shrouded in their standard plans† (contextual investigation). This is known as hopping in and out. Bouncing all through these transient plans caused premiums for different patients to up, which was one of the enormous issues that wellbeing plans needed to determine. Policymakers additionally proposed supplier rates or giving the express the position to attach supplier rate increments to clinical swelling so as to contain cost yet nothing truly happened to that. There are numerous partners associated with medicinal services change in Massachusetts. These included patients, medical clinics and wellbeing frameworks, businesses and protection suppliers. There are obviously different partners that are for a littler scope, for example, clinical hardware suppliers, medicinal services promoters, etc yet we needed to concentrate on the significant ones. Works Cited: James, L. H. , ; Rebecca, F. A. (2007). The massachusetts social insurance change act: What businesses need to know. Worker Benefit Plan Review, 61(12), 17-19. Recovered from http://search. proquest. com/docview/216889767? accountid=10559. Step by step instructions to refer to Stakeholders in Health Reform, Essay models

Saturday, August 8, 2020

SIPASA Elections COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

SIPASA Elections COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The following was contributed by Anesa Diaz-Uda, a second-year MPA student. __________________________ The climatic end of my time as a SIPASA board member came way back on Thursday, November 19th â€" Election Day.   My last charge on SIPASA was to organize and run this election to determine the incoming SIPASA board. Despite the immense amount of work leading up to Election Day (by myself, the rest of the Board, and all the candidates), Election Day came and went without a hitch. The polls opened at 8am, and closed at 4pm.   At 4pm we ceremoniously broke into our ballot box (a duck-taped shut cardboard box), and began counting ballots.   Each of the programs electing boards had different color ballots to make counting easier for us.   We counted right on the 4th floor (across the way from the Admissions Office), and had our results within a few hours. We coordinated with the Deans, and announced our results at the Deans/ SIPASA monthly Happy Hour at the 6th floor lounge.   The lounge was packed with students, faculty and administrators waiting in anticipation for our results â€"nerves not as high with all the wine available. 100% of MPA DP students, 59% of MIA students, and 50% of MPA students voted.   Clear winners were determined (no run offs were necessary â€"thank goodness!), and the drinking/ dancing commenced on the 6th floor with DJ Rob. GLIPA (Gays and Lesbians in International and Public Affairs) continued the festivities with their Thanksgiving Kick-Off Party at Madame X. In all the day and our term ended on a high note. To read more about the election, you can follow this link to one of our school news papers.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Movie Review Top Gun - 929 Words

One of the most iconic movies from the 80’s is Top Gun. From the thrilling flight scenes to Tom Cruise s winning smile, the movie was, and remains, a hit. Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, is sent to an elite naval flight school with his best friend Goose. Both men must undergo training in an extremely competitive environment. to become the best pilots in the academy. They face many challenges and loss along the way. Throughout the movie Top Gun, the hyper-masculine environment of flight school allows for there to be a much more fluid relationship between homosexuality and homosociality. Unlike in everyday occurrences, where romantic exchanges between men are considered gay, the exchanges between the characters in the movie are often considered completely normal. Though not every scene in the movie portrays this accepting, modern perception of homosocial relations. The movie often contradicts itself by also displaying hypermasculine scenes. This contradiction illustrates how the re s not only multiple perceptions of masculine behavior but also a conflict in society about the proper way for men to act while together. Throughout Top Gun, there are many conversations between copilots that could easily be perceived as homosexual but are not considered to be. While discussing airplanes in training, one pilot turns to another and says, â€Å"This gives me a hard on,† and his co pilot responds with â€Å"don t tease me.† This is a sexually charged conversation, something that is veryShow MoreRelatedMovie Review : Top Gun965 Words   |  4 PagesTop Gun: Power to the V In the movie Top Gun, the main character Maverick goes to a school where he is taught to be the best navy pilot he can possibly be. In the film, Maverick goes through life-changing experiences and obstacles that make the movie not only very exciting but inspirational as well. The film was a very popular movie in the 1980’s and is thought to have positive themes of hard work, confidence, and determination. Although these are sought out to be the main, underliningRead MoreAnalysis of The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Poster783 Words   |  4 Pages Design Analysis Essay BCM 110 In this essay I am going to analyse the movie poster for the film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean : The Curse of the Black Pearl’ . This film was released in 2003 directed by Gore Verbinski and it was a huge Box-Office hit and had great reviews . It also made Johnny Depp the superstar he is now and it stars other actors such as Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley . The genre of the film is an action adventure film with lots of other elements in it . Read MoreHow Does One Rebuild a Failed Movie1410 Words   |  6 Pageshow does one rebuild a failed movie in such a way as to make it an enjoyable experience for the viewer? Case in point: Drive Angry. Heres what my favorite place says about this motion picture: Drive Angry is a 2011 American action film starring Nicolas Cage and Amber Heard, and directed by Patrick Lussier. It was released on February 25, 2011. Shot in 3-D, the film was met with a mixed reception and grossed almost $30 million....The film has received mixed reviews from critics. It currently holdsRead MoreFight Club Movie vs. Book1414 Words   |  6 PagesEven considering the complicated format of the book, David Fincher managed to almost perfectly illustrate the novel Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk, in his movie of the same name. Although tempting to compare a book and its film counterpart on even grounds, as a substitute of one another, the tools used to create each one differ greatly and thus should be evaluat ed on a thematic level. While the reading audience has the chance to reread, and absorb the themes in layers, the other audience is seeingRead MoreEssay on A Comparison of Othello and the Movie O1548 Words   |  7 Pagesand the Movie O When Shakespeare composed the tragedy Othello televisions were not. Along with no televisions, life in the late 1500s had many different qualities than it does today. This time period had no war on drugs and no high school shootings. Peer pressure was not an issue. The audiences of Othello in the 1500s did not face the circumstances that we, American high school students, face today. With these significant differences in daily life, come the attempts of movie creatorsRead MoreFilm Analysis - Sin Nombre950 Words   |  4 PagesFilm 1070 1 September 2013 Film Analysis/Personal Reflection: Sin Nombre The movie, â€Å"Sin Nombre† directed by, Cary Fukunaga, is about the story of a young man, by the name of Willy, living in Mexico, whom is a member of the gang known as â€Å"MS†. This film makes its audience familiar with the struggles of the journey for immigrants trying to make it to America. Willy’s commitment for the gang turns redundant when one of the other gang members murders his girlfriend. A series of events occur inRead MoreCollege Rhetorical Analysis1337 Words   |  6 PagesAn Argument on Gun Control: Ann Coulter’s â€Å"Guns Don’t Kill People, the Mentally Ill Do† In this lengthy article â€Å"Guns Don’t Kill People, the Mentally Ill Do,† that was published in the Townhall Daily, the author, Ann Coulter, argues about a major prevailing issue today, gun control. She believes the problem isn’t the guns themselves, but the mentally disturbed people. Coulter credits the declining mental health system as the main setback. She supports her argument by providing tragic examplesRead MoreFilm Analysis of Boyz in the Hood Essay example2165 Words   |  9 Pagesquestion will almost feel almost like a death sentence. Nobody wants anyone to judge them before they even go through life on what they will end up being. In the movie â€Å"Boyz in the Hood† director John Singleton, paints a clear image of the problems that happen very often in the African American communities. The movie deals with issues such as: the importance of a father in a young man’s life, the ongoing violence of black on black crime, and how black people are put in situations whereRead MoreBuzz Cook Essay1195 Words   |  5 Pageswas announced that I think is new to the cooking appliance world. There is good news and sadly some bad news for people who are trying to find easier ways of making delicious meals at home but do not have the skills or mindset to make a meal off the top of their head with what they have at home. Hint, There is a new surprising kitchen appliance out from a well known company that claims it might help you in the kitchen. 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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Digital Fortress Chapter 10 Free Essays

â€Å"Ensei Tankado is dead?† Susan felt a wave of nausea. â€Å"You killed him? I thought you said-â€Å" â€Å"We didn’t touch him,† Strathmore assured her. â€Å"He died of a heart attack. We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Fortress Chapter 10 or any similar topic only for you Order Now COMINT phoned early this morning. Their computer flagged Tankado’s name in a Seville police log through Interpol.† â€Å"Heart attack?† Susan looked doubtful. â€Å"He was thirty years old.† â€Å"Thirty-two,† Strathmore corrected. â€Å"He had a congenital heart defect.† â€Å"I’d never heard that.† â€Å"Turned up in his NSA physical. Not something he bragged about.† Susan was having trouble accepting the serendipity of the timing. â€Å"A defective heart could kill him-just like that?† It seemed too convenient. Strathmore shrugged. â€Å"Weak heart†¦ combine it with the heat of Spain. Throw in the stress of blackmailing the NSA†¦.† Susan was silent a moment. Even considering the conditions, she felt a pang of loss at the passing of such a brilliant fellow cryptographer. Strathmore’s gravelly voice interrupted her thoughts. â€Å"The only silver lining on this whole fiasco is that Tankado was traveling alone. Chances are good his partner doesn’t know yet he’s dead. The Spanish authorities said they’d contain the information for as long as possible. We only got the call because COMINT was on the ball.† Strathmore eyed Susan closely. â€Å"I’ve got to find the partner before he finds out Tankado’s dead. That’s why I called you in. I need your help.† Susan was confused. It seemed to her that Ensei Tankado’s timely demise had solved their entire problem. â€Å"Commander,† she argued, â€Å"if the authorities are saying he died of a heart attack, we’re off the hook; his partner will know the NSA is not responsible.† â€Å"Not responsible?† Strathmore’s eyes widened in disbelief. â€Å"Somebody blackmails the NSA and turns up dead a few days later-and we’re not responsible? I’d bet big money Tankado’s mystery friend won’t see it that way. Whatever happened, we look guilty as hell. It could easily have been poison, a rigged autopsy, any number of things.† Strathmore paused. â€Å"What was your first reaction when I told you Tankado was dead?† She frowned. â€Å"I thought the NSA had killed him.† â€Å"Exactly. If the NSA can put five Rhyolite satellites in geosynchronous orbit over the Mideast, I think it’s safe to assume we have the resources to pay off a few Spanish policemen.† The commander had made his point. Susan exhaled. Ensei Tankado is dead. The NSA will be blamed. â€Å"Can we find his partner in time?† â€Å"I think so. We’ve got a good lead. Tankado made numerous public announcements that he was working with a partner. I think he hoped it would discourage software firms from doing him any harm or trying to steal his key. He threatened that if there was any foul play, his partner would publish the key, and all firms would suddenly find themselves in competition with free software.† â€Å"Clever.† Susan nodded. Strathmore went on. â€Å"A few times, in public, Tankado referred to his partner by name. He called him North Dakota.† â€Å"North Dakota? Obviously an alias of some sort.† â€Å"Yes, but as a precaution I ran an Internet inquiry using North Dakota as a search string. I didn’t think I’d find anything, but I turned up an E-mail account.† Strathmore paused. â€Å"Of course I assumed it wasn’t the North Dakota we were looking for, but I searched the account just to be sure. Imagine my shock when I found the account was full of E-mail from Ensei Tankado.† Strathmore raised his eyebrows. â€Å"And the messages were full of references to Digital Fortress and Tankado’s plans to blackmail the NSA.† Susan gave Strathmore a skeptical look. She was amazed the commander was letting himself be played with so easily. â€Å"Commander,† she argued, â€Å"Tankado knows full well the NSA can snoop E-mail from the Internet; he would never use E-mail to send secret information. It’s a trap. Ensei Tankado gave you North Dakota. He knew you’d run a search. Whatever information he’s sending, he wanted you to find-it’s a false trail.† â€Å"Good instinct,† Strathmore fired back, â€Å"except for a couple of things. I couldn’t find anything under North Dakota, so I tweaked the search string. The account I found was under a variation-NDAKOTA.† Susan shook her head. â€Å"Running permutations is standard procedure. Tankado knew you’d try variations until you hit something. NDAKOTA’s far too easy an alteration.† â€Å"Perhaps,† Strathmore said, scribbling words on apiece of paper and handing it to Susan. â€Å"But look at this.† Susan read the paper. She suddenly understood the Commander’s thinking. On the paper was North Dakota’s E-mail address. [email protected] It was the letters ARA in the address that had caught Susan’s eye. ARA stood for American Remailers Anonymous, a well-known anonymous server. Anonymous servers were popular among Internet users who wanted to keep their identities secret. For a fee, these companies protected an E-mailer’s privacy by acting as a middleman for electronic mail. It was like having a numbered post office box-a user could send and receive mail without ever revealing his true address or name. The company received E-mail addressed to aliases and then forwarded it to the client’s real account. The remailing company was bound by contract never to reveal the identity or location of its real users. â€Å"It’s not proof,† Strathmore said. â€Å"But it’s pretty suspicious.† Susan nodded, suddenly more convinced. â€Å"So you’re saying Tankado didn’t care if anybody searched for North Dakota because his identity and location are protected by ARA.† â€Å"Exactly.† Susan schemed for a moment. â€Å"ARA services mainly U.S. accounts. You think North Dakota might be over here somewhere?† Strathmore shrugged. â€Å"Could be. With an American partner, Tankado could keep the two pass-keys separated geographically. Might be a smart move.† Susan considered it. She doubted Tankado would have shared his pass-key with anyone except a very close friend, and as she recalled, Ensei Tankado didn’t have many friends in the States. â€Å"North Dakota,† she mused, her cryptological mind mulling over the possible meanings of the alias. â€Å"What does his E-mail to Tankado sound like?† â€Å"No idea. COMINT only caught Tankado’s outbound. At this point all we have on North Dakota is an anonymous address.† Susan thought a minute. â€Å"Any chance it’s a decoy?† Strathmore raised an eyebrow. â€Å"How so?† â€Å"Tankado could be sending bogus E-mail to a dead account in hopes we’d snoop it. We’d think he’s protected, and he’d never have to risk sharing his pass-key. He could be working alone.† Strathmore chuckled, impressed. â€Å"Tricky idea, except for one thing. He’s not using any of his usual home or business Internet accounts. He’s been dropping by Doshisha University and logging on to their mainframe. Apparently he’s got an account there that he’s managed to keep secret. It’s a very well-hidden account, and I found it only by chance.† Strathmore paused. â€Å"So†¦ if Tankado wanted us to snoop his mail, why would he use a secret account?† Susan contemplated the question. â€Å"Maybe he used a secret account so you wouldn’t suspect a ploy? Maybe Tankado hid the account just deep enough that you’d stumble on to it and think you got lucky. It gives his E-mail credibility.† Strathmore chuckled. â€Å"You should have been a field agent. The idea’s a good one. Unfortunately, every letter Tankado sends gets a response. Tankado writes, his partner responds.† Susan frowned. â€Å"Fair enough. So, you’re saying North Dakota’s for real.† â€Å"Afraid so. And we’ve got to find him. And quietly. If he catches wind that we’re onto him, it’s all over.† Susan now knew exactly why Strathmore had called her in. â€Å"Let me guess,† she said. â€Å"You want me to snoop ARA’s secure database and find North Dakota’s real identity?† Strathmore gave her a tight smile. â€Å"Ms. Fletcher, you read my mind.† When it came to discreet Internet searches, Susan Fletcher was the woman for the job. A year ago, a senior White House official had been receiving E-mail threats from someone with an anonymous E-mail address. The NSA had been asked to locate the individual. Although the NSA had the clout to demand the remailing company reveal the user’s identity, it opted for a more subtle method-a â€Å"tracer.† Susan had created, in effect, a directional beacon disguised as a piece of E-mail. She could send it to the user’s phony address, and the remailing company, performing the duty for which it had been contracted, would forward it to the user’s real address. Once there, the program would record its Internet location and send word back to the NSA. Then the program would disintegrate without a trace. From that day on, as far as the NSA was concerned, anonymous remailers were nothing more than a minor annoyance. â€Å"Can you find him?† Strathmore asked. â€Å"Sure. Why did you wait so long to call me?† â€Å"Actually†-he frowned-â€Å"I hadn’t planned on calling you at all. I didn’t want anyone else in the loop. I tried to send a copy of your tracer myself, but you wrote the damn thing in one of those new hybrid languages; I couldn’t get it to work. It kept returning nonsensical data. I finally had to bite the bullet and bring you in.† Susan chuckled. Strathmore was a brilliant cryptographic programmer, but his repertoire was limited primarily to algorithmic work; the nuts and bolts of less lofty â€Å"secular† programming often escaped him. What was more, Susan had written her tracer in a new, crossbreed programming language called LIMBO; it was understandable that Strathmore had encountered problems. â€Å"I’ll take care of it.† She smiled, turning to leave. â€Å"I’ll be at my terminal.† â€Å"Any idea on a time frame?† Susan paused. â€Å"Well†¦ it depends on how efficiently ARA forwards their mail. If he’s here in the States and uses something like AOL or CompuServe, I’ll snoop his credit card and get a billing address within the hour. If he’s with a university or corporation, it’ll take a little longer.† She smiled uneasily. â€Å"After that, the rest is up to you.† Susan knew that â€Å"the rest† would be an NSA strike team, cutting power to the guy’s house and crashing through his windows with stun guns. The team would probably think it was on a drug bust. Strathmore would undoubtedly stride through the rubble himself and locate the sixty-four-character pass-key. Then he would destroy it. Digital Fortress would languish forever on the Internet, locked for all eternity. â€Å"Send the tracer carefully,† Strathmore urged. â€Å"If North Dakota sees we’re onto him, he’ll panic, and I’ll never get a team there before he disappears with the key.† â€Å"Hit and run,† she assured. â€Å"The moment this thing finds his account, it’ll dissolve. He’ll never know we were there.† The commander nodded tiredly. â€Å"Thanks.† Susan gave him a soft smile. She was always amazed how even in the face of disaster Strathmore could muster a quiet calm. She was convinced it was this ability that had defined his career and lifted him to the upper echelons of power. As Susan headed for the door, she took a long look down at TRANSLTR. The existence of an unbreakable algorithm was a concept she was still struggling to grasp. She prayed they’d find North Dakota in time. â€Å"Make it quick,† Strathmore called, â€Å"and you’ll be in the Smoky Mountains by nightfall.† Susan froze in her tracks. She knew she had never mentioned her trip to Strathmore. She wheeled. Is the NSA tapping my phone? Strathmore smiled guiltily. â€Å"David told me about your trip this morning. He said you’d be pretty ticked about postponing it.† Susan was lost. â€Å"You talked to David this morning?† â€Å"Of course.† Strathmore seemed puzzled by Susan’s reaction. â€Å"I had to brief him.† â€Å"Brief him?† she demanded. â€Å"For what?† â€Å"For his trip. I sent David to Spain.† How to cite Digital Fortress Chapter 10, Essay examples

Friday, May 1, 2020

Managerial Effectiveness in Multinational Corporations

Question: Describe about The impact of international human resources practices and organizational culture on managerial effectiveness in multinational corporations in Ireland? Answer: Proposed Title: The impact of international human resources practices and organizational culture on managerial effectiveness in multinational corporations in Ireland Organization The organization selected for study is as Pfizer Global Supply. Introduction Ireland has both foreign owned and Irish owned multinational companies. Foreign Owned MNC is operated from UK, US or European countries. All MNCs in Ireland have proper human resource practices and organizational culture which motivate their employees to perform better. Globalization is changing roles and responsibilities of human resource in Ireland MNCs as well as their organizational culture (Anon, 2015). International human resource in Ireland MNC used to reward, develop, motivate, organize work culture within the MNCs where people from different culture work for common goal. The MNC chosen for study of impact of international human resource and organizational culture on managerial effectiveness is Pfizer Global Supply. Background of Study This study is having an analysis of international human resource practices and organizational culture impact on one of the pharmaceutical multinational of Ireland named as Pfizer Global Supply. Analysis is done to evaluate the employment practices of Pfizer Global Supply regarding their employees and organizational goal (Anon, 2015). According to Pfizer Global Supply as stated in (Anon, 2015) managers should have both leadership skill as well as managerial skill so that all employees performance is good. The study focuses on the managerial skills require by managers to manage their employees, working culture and other factors. The problems faced by Pfizer Global Supply are as regarding their employees pay and performance management and distribution and others. Problem Statement The problem statements regarding the study are as Pfizer Global Supply can face problems regarding their organizational culture as maximum employees are from different culture and environment with their own beliefs and thoughts (Anon, 2015). The other major problem which Pfizer Global Supply can face is regarding their international human resource practices and policies if are changed in future, that is they may be unable to change as per all the employees and it can de motivate them. Research Questions Pfizer Global Supply international human resources practices and organizational culture involves many problems as they can face problem regarding convergence and divergence of their international human resource practices. While managing workforce to work in group for common goal and objective. Pfizer Global Supply in future while changing their reward system, remuneration structure, promotion policy or working culture can face problem as they may be unable to work as per every employee present in organization (Bellot, 2011). The key factor on which Pfizer Global Supply performance depend is its employees, so to increase their performance level they should try to work as per their employees expectations. Primary Research Question The primary research questions of this study are as the methods adopted by Pfizer Global Supply for different international human resource practices like training, development of their employees regarding international working environment which organization will adopt in future. Steps or methods adopted by Pfizer Global Supply human resource department regarding the communication gap among employees and managers (Corrigendum, 2014). Analysis of international human resource strategies adopted by Pfizer Global Supply with the problems which may arise in future (Corrigendum, 2015) . Objective of Research The objectives of this research are as To analyze the impact of international human resource practices performed by Pfizer Global Supply pharmaceutical company on their managerial skills.Evaluate the problems faced by Pfizer Global Supply in managing workforce who belong to different culture and environment.The process adopted by Pfizer Global Supply for maintain their organizational culture and human resource practices.Analysis of Pfizer Global Supply different international human resource management practices and methods or theories adopted for maintain organizational culture taking into consideration their employees. Significance of study The significance of this study is to1. To analyze the problem which may occur in Pfizer Global Supply regarding their international human resource strategies, theories adopted for human resource practices and other.2. For evaluating the impact of international human resource practices adopted by organization on their managers and their managerial skills (Work - Chron.com, 2015).3. The effect of organizational culture on Pfizer Global Supply goal, managers managerial and leadership skills.4. Importance of international human resource strategies and organizational culture in Pfizer Global Supply operation process. Problem and opportunities The main problems faced by Pfizer Global Supply in international human resource management practices are as in maintaining cross cultural environment, in maintaining the reward benefits and compensation structure as per the employees, while training and development process of their employees regarding international working environment and others. On the other hand the methods or strategies adopted by Pfizer Global Supply from recovering the above mentioned problems are as talent management process, skill development, competency development, leadership development, knowledge development and other methods. Literature Review International human resource management practice in Pfizer Global Supply in used for maintaining and developing international environment within the organization . Organizational culture is the main factor used by Pfizer Global Supply organization for motivating or influencing their workforce regarding international working environment. The theories which explain international human resource management and organizational culture are as Cross Cultural management theory which represents the method with its importance for maintaining the multi cultural workforce that is every employee in organization has its own belief and working culture which is very important for human resource department. Resource dependency theory which represents the connection between the organizations with its element . This theory focuses on the resource factor of organization i.e. there employees for planning and marinating organizational culture. Methodology and Data collection This part of research report represents the overview of the different methods used in this study. The areas covered in this part are sample, sampling, data collection. The sampling techniques used in this study are qualitative and quantitative. For qualitative sampling analysis 100 employees of Pfizer Global Supply were given questionnaire which was related to their work and human resource policies and practices. For quantitative sampling managers and executives were given set of questionnaire. The data collection techniques used for this study are primary data as from interview and questionnaire and secondary data is collected from different blogs, journals, magazines and others. Bibliography Anon, (2015). [online] Available at: https://www.jimsjournal.org/6%20Bhushan%20Kapoor.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Anon,(2015).[online]Availableat:https://file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/Ananthram%20and%20Chan%20-%20Challenges%20and%20strategies%20for%20global%20human%20resource.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Anon, (2015). [online] Available at: https://www.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2E2B1EF2-6CDC-4BF8-8D5F-6EC000EE2198/0/9781843982661_sc.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Anon, (2015). [online] Available at: https://www.latec.uff.br/mestrado/Rh/Artigos/020.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Bellot, J. (2011). Defining and Assessing Organizational Culture. Nursing Forum, 46(1), pp.29-37. Corrigendum. (2014). The International Journal of Human Resource Management, pp.1-1. Corrigendum. (2015). The International Journal of Human Resource Management, pp.1-1. Work - Chron.com, (2015). What Is the Meaning of Managerial Effectiveness?. [online] Available at: https://work.chron.com/meaning-managerial-effectiveness-6993.html [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015].

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Plastic Essays - Water Conservation, Dielectrics, Plastic, Recycling

Plastic Many individuals today have civilized bodies and barbarous souls. Many are blind to the real sights of this world and deaf to its voice. However, no matter how ignorant one may be, he or she cannot disregard the significance of plastics in his or her life. Although they were not recognized as such, many materials used centuries ago for clothing and elements of construction, were natural polymers based on starch and cellulose. Then, ever since Alexander Parkes concocted the first man-made plastic in 1862, people utilized plastics in everything?automobiles, homes, entertainment, clothes, and even medicine. In addition to its many uses in everyday products, plastics can perform functions at a cost lower than other materials, and perhaps more efficiently too. Where would humanity be without the use of plastics? Although there is no way that anybody can deny the fact that plastics enhance everybody's lives, many are unaware how important plastics are to the society. While some people may argue that the invention of computers is the most important development in the last 2,000 years, plastics allow the manufacture of computers to occur. The more obvious use of plastics is Tupperware, which makes mothers happy all over the world by making the preservation of leftovers more convenient. Along with satisfying the adults, plastics bring smiles to the younger generations with Barbie dolls, footballs, Frisbees, and Hula Hoops. Then, in order to assure that the little girls and boys are playing without the risk of hurting themselves, producers gave rise to safeguards such as helmets and kneepads. Furthermore, in the fashion industry, the discovery of nylon in 1920's created a big craze. Instead of animal hair in toothbrushes and silk stockings, chemists replaced them with nylon; this caused American women to storm department stores across the country to purchase this latest in women's hosiery. From the first moment a man opens his eyes in the morning to laying his head down on the pillow at night, he is constantly surrounded by the wonderful world of plastics. Besides ameliorating the quality of many lives, the widespread use of plastics also became one of the major contributors to the economy. For instance, in United States, or the largest consumer and producer of the plastics in the world, shipments of plastics totaled $274.5 billion in 1996. Also, due to plastics' light weight and durability, consumers can purchase economy-size products, inducing cheaper shipping-and-handling fee and yet extremely convenient. Moreover, in plastics industry accounted for 1.3 million jobs, helping every family to expand their employment opportunities. Less people would have to sleep on the streets; with the steady increase in the past two and a half decades, the plastics industry grants those in poverty another chance to pick themselves off the streets and start new lives. A lot of people believe that plastics are hazardous to the environment. However, it is not the material that is dangerous to nature?it is the people that utilize them. Many will be surprised to hear that plastics are derived from natural resources, and in addition, because plastics are so efficient, their function often conserves other resources. As a result, plastics create less pollution and employ fewer substantially poisonous ingredients. Moreover, plastics toughness permits many products to be reused over and over again, and therefore decreasing the quantity of trash disposed. Similarly, plastics recycling program grants access to communities to collect plastics products. Therefore, plastics are only precarious to the environment if the users recklessly dump them in the garbage can or throwing it on the streets instead of reusing them. Other than commonplace uses of plastics, most people does not obtain the knowledge that plastics aid in such matters as preserving the great historical remains. A polymer coating protect the Statue of Liberty and other famous monuments worldwide. Another use of plastic that is not usually known would be billiard balls. Before plastics, hundreds and thousands of elephants were killed for their ivory to make billiard balls. Instead of slaughtering the innocent animals and purchasing the billiard balls for an enormous amount of price, plastics allow people to play with plastic billiard balls with equal amusement. Furthermore, beginning with the dawn of the space age in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I into orbit to the Hubble Telescope at the end of 1999, plastic has permitted man to travel the far reaches of space, fulfilling the scientists' dreams. Without plastics to construct vehicles and other equipment that the astronauts need to survive, space exploration would be confined to the use of a land-based telescope. Plastics will definitely be a huge part

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Computer Simulation Essays - Simulation Software, Free Essays

Computer Simulation Essays - Simulation Software, Free Essays Computer Simulation WARSIM 2000 is simulation software, used by the armed forces. Extensive, thorough, and tiring work has been done on thgis program. It covers almost all aspects and situations required for realistic, meticulous and a complete simulation. Information Technology has lead to the advancement of the tools required to build the simulator. Information Technolgys guideleines and technolgy have reinforced this creative simulator General Description of Operational Capability. WARSIM 2000 will increase the effectiveness of commander and battle staff training by dramatically increasing the realism and the scope of the available training environment. In conjunction with other services' simulations, WARSIM 2000 will provide a complete operational environment with scenarios drawn from the entire operational continuum to support Army, joint and coalition force training distributed across the globe. a. The WARSIM 2000 simulation system will use a computer-based simulation and associated hardware to support the training of unit commanders and their battle staffs from battalion through theater-level as well as to support training events in educational institutions. Designed and built using modern computer technology, modern software engineering techniques, and validated algorithms and databases, it will allow units world-wide to train using their organizational equipment. A key feature of the system will be its use of technology to minimize the total Army's overhead associated with supporting training. The system will be designed to meet emerging Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) standards and protocols to facilitate linkages with DIS compliant simulators and live training events. b. The WARSIM 2000 simulation system will consist of, or use, several components: (1) Computer-based battle simulation models that portray the joint and combined environment needed to support Army training events. (2) Software modules for linking WARSIM 2000 to other simulation models to expand the training environment for joint force training exercises. (3) Databases. (4) Computer systems to run the simulation models and support the databases. (5) Technical control systems/workstations for use by personnel in an exercise support function e.g., simulation controllers, analysts, and opposing/ surrounding forces role players. (6) Flexible and responsive terrestrial/satellite communications gateways and media for transmitting voice, data, facsimile, and video between different elements at remote locations involved in supporting a training exercise. c. WARSIM 2000 will meet the Mission Need Statement's (MNS's) requirement for providing a training environment that will allow unit commanders and battle staffs to focus their warfighters and systems in countering threats across the operational continuum. WARSIM 2000 must provide an environment that presents problems to stress and stimulate commanders and their battle staff to assess the situation, determine courses of action, and plan and issue new orders in a timely manner, all while using their organizational equipment and procedures. d. Logistical support for WARSIM 2000 will be based on a government- owned contractor-supported system. The government will own necessary hardware, have all proprietary rights to the developmental hardware and software components, and full license rights to the non-developmental software components of WARSIM 2000. Contracted logistical support will provide for the maintenance of government-owned computer hardware at all times. e. The acquisition and development strategy for WARSIM 2000 must abide by several constraints. (1) The WARSIM 2000 acquisition must build upon the successful infrastructure of current simulations so that the training community (Army and international) can train in an evolutionary progressive yet consistent manner. The Army has invested significant resources into developing its training simulation systems, linking them with other service simulations via the Aggregate Level Simulation Protocol confederation, and proliferating them throughout the Army and the international community. While these systems have shortcomings that must be fixed, they provide a training environment and representations of combat that have been accepted by the training community world-wide. The WARSIM 2000 acquisition must allow the confederation of simulations structure to evolve in a manner that allows current users (Army and international) to maintain access to the confederation without having to make a substantial near-term investment in resources. (2) Meeting the WARSIM 2000 requirements will demand significant technological innovations. However, there are many existing and developing systems that could and should be part of the overall solution. The acquisition strategy must ensure that developers optimize the investment of each service in existing systems (instead of starting from a blank sheet of paper) and insert echnology into the training

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Different approaches to strategy development might be appropriate in Essay - 1

Different approaches to strategy development might be appropriate in different organisations - Essay Example This paper will discuss how different approaches to strategy development might be appropriate in different organizations. Wherever business executives sit to deliberate on their corporate strategy, they always begin by critically examining the industry or the existing environmental conditions from which they operate in. they then follow this by examining both the strong and weak points of their competitors. With the industry and competitive aspects in scope, they then set out to establish a unique strategic position that can give them an opportunity to outperform their competitors. In order to attain such a competitive advantage, an organization has to come up with development strategies that differentiate it from other organizations that are dealing in the same products and it does this mostly by lowering their prices. This also calls for the organization to place its value chain strategically and to come up with manufacturing, marketing, and human resources development strategies in the process. This then gives the organization room to set up its budgetary allocations for its operations (Sterman, 200 0). Using the above analogy, one thing that comes out clearly is that the options that any organization has are defined by the environment under which it operates and this means that strategy is impacted by structure. It is therefore logical to conclude that an organization that sells its goods online would have a varied development strategy from another organization that has physical shops for its goods and services. This â€Å"structuralist† approach has been the subject of discussion for over three decades now and more organizations are adopting it in the new model of industrial organizational economics. According to this new paradigm, the performance of an organization is greatly dependent on how it conducts itself and this conduct is in turn greatly impacted by the existing

Monday, February 3, 2020

Ethical or Unethical Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical or Unethical Argument - Essay Example Ethical arguments are based on evidence or fact which can be proven and cannot be challenged by multiple people. The evidence or fact is such that has been scientifically proven or is a fact based on recorded events that cannot be questioned. However, arguments based on mere opinion are those that are based on a person’s personal perception of things and require individual analysis. Inflicting your opinion on other people or trying to mold their opinion according to yours without providing facts or reasons is considered unethical (Vaughn, pp. 236-237). Some arguments contain sound reasoning or logic and consider others viewpoint within them before drawing to a conclusion. These arguments are based on logic, fact, and contain proof of reasoning instead of relying upon a single person’s judgment. Unethical arguments do not consider the viewpoint or perception of others and lack sound reasoning. They are based upon mere opinion or a single person’s judgment. They may be based upon inferences or predictions and may also carry the elements of prejudice and biases. Most of the time, unethical ways of argument cause harm to a certain cause without due reason and are concerned with the most trivial concepts (Stevenson, pg. 15). Hitler’s argument against the Jews and the argument for breeding a â€Å"better race† was an argument based primarily on his own opinion and prejudices. Other arguments which stereotype certain religions, races, ethnicities, and people, in general, are also considered unethical arguments as they are based upon mere opinion rather than objective fact which are non-refutable (Stevenson, pg. 22). In order to argue in an ethical manner, a person must consider the reason for which they are arguing. The purpose of the argument or the outcome that wants to be achieved must be such that must not cause undue harm to anyone and must not hurt anyone’s beliefs without due reason.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Metaphors In Cognitive Linguistics

Metaphors In Cognitive Linguistics The nature of metaphor. Are people aware of the existence of metaphors in their everyday lives? Very often we treat them only as stylistic devices, but in fact metaphorical expressions verbally represent the way of human thinking and reasoning. People tend to conceptualise emotions, love being one of them, metaphorically because both emotions and metaphors connected with them are inevitable parts of everyday live. Without our ability to categorize, we would not function at all, either in the physical world or in our social and intellectual lives (1990: 6) explains Lakoff in Women, Fire and Dangerous Things. According to Cognitive Linguistics, language is a very powerful tool as it reflects the way we categorize and conceptualise the world we live in. It is almost impossible to understand a thing without grouping it with other category members that share the same properties. In doing so, we acquire different kinds of concepts and, as a result, build our general knowledge. Cognitive Linguistics allows us to understand that metaphorical thinking is crucial to human cognition. Thus, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson in their Metaphors we live by propose a cognitive theory of metaphor, as a process thanks to which one concept is understood using another concept (Lakoff 1980: 5). The best example of this is talking about LOVE in terms of JOURNEYS. As mentioned previously, our ability to categorize allowed us to gather knowledge about journeys that we can depend on in understanding love. Zoltà  n Kà ¶vecses in Metaphor, A Practical Introduction emphasizes that we need to differentiate conceptual metaphor from metaphorical linguistic expressions. He proves that the latter disclose the existence of the former. Let us use a few examples to reveal the relationship between conceptual metaphor ( small capitals) and metaphorical expressions ( italics). LOVE IS A JOURNEY Were at the crossroads. Its been bumpy road. Our marriage is on the rocks. Were stuck. We cant turn back now. ( Kà ¶vecses 2002:6 ) We can conclude that such metaphorical expressions give us insight into the metaphorical nature of the concepts that structure our everyday activities (Kà ¶vecses 2002: 7). How do we conceptualise emotions? Lakoff in Women, Fire and Dangerous Things views emotions as having no conceptual content. However, I believe there must be some, as we are able to describe the intensity of a particular emotion. Although feelings and emotions are extremely difficult to understand, these abstract concepts can be conceptualised with the help of more concrete ones (Lakoff 1980:59), that is why LOVE is conceptualised in terms of FIRE or WAR (e.g. My love is on fire, I do not want to get burned again, This kindled love in his heart). Concrete concepts facilitate the understanding of these complex emotions. There are many examples of metaphors of love ( which I will try to present in the following chapters). They are common in everyday life as they present different aspects of this powerful emotion. Without the notion of metaphor, we would not be able to comprehend such an abstract feeling as love. The intensity plays an essential role in the way we think of love, for instance. The conceptual metaphor LOVE IS FIRE emphasizes the existence of love (on fire), its intensity (flames), duration and shows how love affects people (He was consumed by love) . Due to the existence of metaphor, the most powerful emotions, love being one of them, can be interpreted. 1.2 Source and Target Domains So far, we have managed to explain that metaphor consists of two concepts and that we comprehend one concept in terms of another. These concepts are called domains. According to Kà ¶vecses, conceptual metaphors tend to use abstract concept as a target and more concrete as their source ( 2002:6). LOVE IS A JOURNEY love forms the target domain journey forms the source domain ( a conceptual domain we try ( a conceptual domain we take a to comprehend) conceptual content from) As far as metaphors of love are concerned, many people wonder why some endearments are more popular than others. Why the expression my sweet-heart is more popular then my sweet-leg when talking to the beloved person? Why do we use one and not the other? When we look at the endearments containing fairy-like elements the most common are: prince-charming, my princess, my knight. Why is it like that? The answer is obvious, we choose these fairytale characters because we find some of their charactristics attractive and we want to ascribe them to the person we love. Lakoff and Johnson claim that this kind of tendency is more regular rather than occasional (1980: 67). The previously mentioned characters, are the SOURCE domains whereas the person to be described the TARGET domain. Similarly, from fire (source in LOVE IS FIRE metaphor) love takes its intensity and from an insane person (source in LOVE IS MADNESS metaphor) his/her quite irresponsible and strange behaviour. The examples above show that the source domain provides us with terms necessary to describe the target domain. As Lakoff proposes, in order to describe and understand the target domain, one must have the knowledge of the source domain. Let us take LOVE IS A JOURNEY metaphor. We understand love because we have knowledge about journeys. Each time we think about journeys, we consider travelers, route and destination. In order to understand love in terms of a journey, one must have in mind the idea of lovers as travelers, the course of their romantic relationship as an act of traveling with happy moments as well as obstacles (Its been bumpy road). Our knowledge about different kinds of journeys equips us with a powerful tool that can be used to make the description of love richer and more adequate. 1.3 Mapping So far, we have established that a conceptual metaphor consists of two domains: source and target. We have also found out that we need to take into account both domains to fully understand a conceptual metaphor. However, what does it mean to understand a metaphor? Kà ¶vecses explains that the knowledge of correspondences between these two domains is necessary to comprehend a conceptual metaphor. We refer to these conceptual analogies as MAPPINGS ( Kà ¶vecses 2002: 6). Let us take one example concerning metaphor of love to see how the mapping can function. We cannot turn back now. When we use the expression cannot turn back, we reveal that we are not going to change the direction and destination of our journey. We refers to people involved in a journey. That is how we created three necessary elements of a journey: a destination, travelers and a journey as such. However, when we apply an appropriate context to the sentence, we will get a new meaning of it. We will understand the whole sentence to be about love. Thus, the travelers are lovers who discuss things that are happening in their relationship while cannot turn back can be interpreted as a situation when lovers cannot change the course of events that happened to them. JOURNEY LOVE THE SOURCE DOMAIN THE TARGET DOMAIN We- travelers We-lovers Journey Romantic relationship Destination of a journey Lovers aims or goals Difficulties that travelers encounter Obstacles in the relationship The example above shows that the understanding of a conceptual metaphor goes from more concrete (the journey) to the more abstract concept (events in the relationship) (Kà ¶vecses 2002: 6). Such a rule was called The Principle of Unidirectionality . 1.4 Metaphorical Systematicity: Highlightning and Hiding We have already learnt that there is a systematicity that allows us to understand one concept in terms of another (e.g. interpreting development of love in terms of a journey or the intensity of love in terms of fire) (Lakoff, Johnson 1980:10). However, what does systematicity mean? When we talk about love in terms of a journey, we use vocabulary that is normally applied when discussing travelling e.g. We are at the crossroads. We can see that there is a kind of a pattern we tend to use. Thus, systematicity is a pattern that affects the way we talk about love, allowing us to use words or phrases that previously had been used to refer to different concepts (Lakoff 1980: 7). Kà ¶vecses points out that when a metaphor concentrates on one or more features of a concept, it highlights those features. However, when one aspect of a given concept is highlighted, the other ones will be hidden (2002: 80). Checking which features are highlighted or hidden in the following metaphors of love will give more light to this interesting issue. LOVE IS SUBSTANCE She was filled with love. He poured out his affections on her. She couldnt hold in her love for him any longer. LOVE IS NATURAL FORCE She swept me off my feet. Waves of passion came over him. She was carried away by love. (Lakoff 1980: 49) As we can see conceptual metaphors create and describe the target domain by directing attention at or hiding different angles of it. Thus, in LOVE IS SUBSTANCE metaphor, the aspect of content is highlighted, whereas the possible chance of development of a romantic feeling is concealed. The examples of LOVE IS A NATURAL FORCE metaphor reveal that love cannot be controlled as well as show the intensity of the emotion. However, the aspect of an emotional enrichment, which is also present when people experience such an overwhelming feeling, is hidden. 1.5 Structural metaphors So far we have found out that metaphors are not discussed only as poetic devices but as ways of our thinking and understanding abstract concepts. We can distinguish three kinds of metaphors: structural, ontological and orientational. In ontological metaphors experiences are treated as concrete objects e.g. containers (I put a lot of energy into preparing decorations) . When we deal with them in such a way we can refer to them, categorize them, group them, and quantify them and, by these means, reason about them (Lakoff 1980:25). The group of orientational metaphors is said to be connected with our orientation in space. Concepts are connected with physical orientation, for instance happiness is up (Im feeling up) and sadness is down (Im feeling down) (Lakoff1980:16). Structural metaphor is the most productive type of all conceptual metaphors. Thanks to these metaphors, complex and abstract experiences can be understood in terms of simpler and more concrete ones e.g. LOVE IS A JOURNEY. In Metaphors we live by Lakoff and Johnson state that the conceptual system is metaphorical in nature (1980:4). What does it mean, how can it structure the world we live in and how does it influence our activities? Let us take LOVE IS FIRE metaphor as an example. My heart is on fire. He was consumed by love. I do not want to get burned again. That kindled love in his heart. Thanks to the metaphorical expression That kindled love in his heart, we can conceptualise love as having a beginning and an end just as fire has. When the fire is kindled, the love begins; when it goes out, the love ends. These examples also prove that we not only talk about love in terms of fire. The lover can be consumed by love when he/she is so in love that it is all that he/she thinks about. If the lover does not want to get burned again it may mean he/she does not want to experience the same serious dissapointment after an unsuccessful relationship. Due to the fact that the essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another (Lakoff 1980:5), we can conclude that love is structured and understood (Lakoff 1980:5) in terms of fire. 1.6 Container Metaphors and Personification Another kind of a conceptual metaphor has been called by Lakoff and Johnson the container metaphor. In container metaphors humans are viewed as containers with boundaries and an orientation of inside and outside f.e. She was filled with love (Lakoff 1980:29). As far as non-physical objects are concerned, they can also be comprehended by mentally converting them into physical ones. Let us imagine our world as a container with borders separating the inside from the outside. It is clear when we take into consideration objects that have natural or artificial boundaries, for instance rooms. However, when we talk about our emotional states or conditions e.g. He is in love, the matter is not so obvious. Lakoff and Johnson suggest that we tend to conceptualise our emotions as containers, whereas the way we feel when we experience particular emotions is conceptualised as being inside the container (1980:30). Emotions can be also comprehended in terms of substances e.g. His heart was filled wi th love (Bierwiaczonek 2002:140). As Bierwiaczonek points out heart and eyes are most frequently used as containers for emotions being understood with the help of substances (2002:140). A crucial as well as interesting group of ontological metaphors are those describing something as a person: personifications (Lakoff 1980: 33). This means that we ascribe human features to non-living objects. Looking at metaphors of love, we are overwhelmed with a feeling that love has been personified in many metaphorical expressions. The following are only the most common examples. Love can give you hope. Love can be blind. Love can be tender. What is even more appealing, love can go through the same stages as humans do in the course of life, love comes to life, it lasts and dies. References Lakoff, George. 1990. Women, Fire and Dangerous Things. What Categories Reveal About the Mind. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Lakoff, George and Mark Johnson. 1980. Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kà ¶vecses, Zoltà ¡n, 2002. Metaphor, A Practical Introduction. Oxford University Press, Inc. George Lakoff, 1993. Contemporary Theory of Metaphor. In Andrew Ortony, (ed.) Metaphor and Thought, 202-251. New York: Cambridge University Press. McGlone, M.S. 1996. Conceptual Metaphors and Figurative Language Interpretation: Food for Thought? Journal of Memory and Language, 35, 544-565. CHAPTER 2 THE CHARACTERIZATION OF METAPHORS OF LOVE The models of love In the previous chapter we have managed to understand that thanks to metaphor, which is a crucial part of our everyday life, we are able to conceptualise the world we live in. We have admitted that metaphor cannot be treated only as a stylistic device because as Reddy suggests the locus of metaphor is thought, not language (in Lakoff 1980: 204). Such an idea proves that our reasoning as well as our behaviour reflect the way we metaphorically comprehend everything that happens in our lives. Powerful emotions, love being one of them, are inevitable parts of the human existence thus metaphors such as LOVE IS FIRE or LOVE IS A CONTAINER help us to understand this overwhelming feeling. Very often love is seen as a kind of an award we get, something that enables us to do things we are normally afraid to do as it equips us with extra power. According to Kà ¶vecses (in Bierwiaczonek 2002:25) we distinguish two models of love: ideal and typical. Having in mind that only ideal love provides us with the previously mentioned power, it is not difficult to guess what kind of love we look for. In the ideal model of love, lovers see themselves as a unity (e.g. We are one) as they complement each other. They are imbued with the feelings that their love is a true one, that they were created to live together and that their love is immortal. The lovers believe that there is an emotional bond between them, which enables them to live in a perfect harmony. Needless to say, there are certain psychological effects that occur when we are in love: increased body heat, blushing, increased heart rate (2002: 25). There are many categories of love, however five of them are the most common. Bierwiaczonek (2002:28) presents the following kinds of love: FAMILY LOVE: PARENTAL and CHILDS LOVE OF PARENTS, the family love is revealed through the care and attention that parents give their children and vice versa (e.g. Mother muzzled my cheek); FRIENDSHIP, great liking for someone, friendship constitutes an emotional bond between people, it can even complement sexual love, give a new meaning to it and enrich partners realationship; SEXUAL LOVE, sexual passion; AGAPE, Gods admiration, Christian love and LOVE OF THINGS, fondness for material possessions (e.g. His love was money.) Most of the metaphors of love consider sexual love, thus for the purpose of the work we will discuss only these types of metaphors. Metaphors of love 2.2.1 Metaphors of lovers Metaphors of lovers are very intriguing kinds of metaphors since they highlight the aspect of lovers who are involved in a romantic relationship (Bierwiaczonek 2002:112). In the metaphor LOVE IS A UNITY, the metaphorical expression We are one indicates that lovers are parts of a whole. Similarly, the metaphor LOVE IS A JOURNEY shows lovers as travelers, whereas the metaphor LOVE IS WAR presents them as participants in a war or even opponents. LOVERS ARE PARTS OF A WHOLE She is my better half They are unseparable There is a strong bond between them (Bierwiaczonek 2002:113) The examples above prove that we can discuss lovers or think about them as parts of a larger whole. Although metaphors reflecting our emotional states are used spontaneously, not all combinations are possible. The metaphorical expression She is my better half perfectly suits when we consider she as a lover. When we think of she as a family member e.g. My mum is my better half, the whole expression sounds ridiculous (Bierwiaczonek 2002:113). There are also metaphors emphasizing the behaviour of lovers f.g. LOVERS ARE BIRDS (f.e. Look at those two lovebirds on the bench). In LOVE IS MADNESS metaphor, lovers are presented as insane people mainly due to the intensity of love which makes them behave irresponsibly or, in extreme cases, lovers may lose control over themselves (e.g. He has gone mad about her). 2.2.2 Love is a journey metaphor So far, the analysis of conceptual metaphor enabled us to explain that such an abstract feeling as love can only be comprehended with the help of metaphor. Which metaphors of love can facilitate the understanding of contemporary world? How do people conceptualise these metaphors? LOVE IS A JOURNEY Its been a long, bumpy road. Look how far we have come. We are at a crossroads. I do not think this relationship is going anywhere. We are stuck. Our marriage is on the rocks. We have gotten off the track. Well just have to go our separate ways. (Lakoff 1980:45) As mentioned in the first chapter, people use concrete concepts to understand more abstract ones (Kà ¶vecses 2002:6). Such a tendency justifies the fact of using the concept of a journey when trying to comprehend love. Worth mentioning is also the variety of metaphorical expressions concerning different types of journeys. When talking about love, people can refer to train travel (e.g. We have gotten off the track), car travel (e.g. We are at the crossroads) and sea travel (e.g. Our marriage is on the rocks) (Lakoff 1980:45). Such a diversity makes the verbal reflection of our emotions richer and, as a result, the pictures created in mind are more vivid. SOURCE- JOURNEY TARGET- LOVE Love is war metaphor LOVE IS WAR He is known for his many rapid conquests He is slowly gaining ground with her He fought for him but his mistress won out He overpowered her She is besieged by suitors He has to fend them off He made an ally of her father ( Lakoff 1980:49) LOVE IS WAR metaphor is an example of a strutural metaphor, the metaphor which facilitates understanding an abstract concept of love using the concept of war. As far as war is concerned, we consider the following issues: two fighting sides, the result of the fight and the fight itself. In LOVE IS WAR metaphor, such components respectively refer to the lovers, the result of the verbal battle and the disagreement between lovers. SOURCE- WAR The above examples clearly emphasize the existence of the fight between the lovers f.e. He overpowered her. However, the fact of cooperation, which is also present during the war, is hidden. The lovers are shown as opponents trying to fight for their rights. According to Lakoff (1980: 61-67), our language is an expression of our thoughts and feelings. Treating them as parts of our personality, we can assume that LOVE IS WAR metaphor shows one aspect of our personality- willingness to fight for what we consider crucial to our well-being. TARGET- LOVE Love is magic metaphor LOVE IS MAGIC She cast her spell over me She had me hypnotized I was entranced by him She is bewitching I was spellbound (Lakoff 1980:49) From the dawn of history people have been intrigued by magic. On one hand they saw impossible things taking place in front of their eyes, on the other hand their common sense forbade them to believe in such miracles. Although, it is not important whether humans belive in magic or not, what is important is the fact that people are not indifferent to it. Magic affects people and fascinates them profoundly. Women especially are said to have the power to seduce men, hypnotize them or even, cast spells on them. As love is treated almost as a magical and inexplicable phenomenon, it is not difficult to understand why LOVE is comprehended in terms of MAGIC. LOVE IS MAGIC metaphor definitely emphasises the existence of an almost magical conncection that bonds lovers, while hiding the aspect of the mortality of partners and their inability to use magic. SOURCE- MAGIC TARGET- LOVE Love is madness metaphor LOVE IS MADNESS Im crazy about her She drives me out of my mind He has gone mad over her Im just wild about Harry He constantly raves about her (Lakoff 1980: 49) In LOVE IS MADNESS metaphor love is presented as a state of insanity. When one is in love, she/he experiences certain kinds of emotions which are, in fact, similar to mental states of madness. Only intensity differentiates these emotions from each other. Each time we go through them, we have symptoms indicating a psychological illness. Very often the object of love is treated as a cause of a particular feeling or illness (e.g. She drives me out of my mind). One in love is shown as an insane person (e.g Im crazy about her) and a feeling of love as an illness itself. LOVE IS MADNESS metaphor directs our attention at the profound effect that love has on people, thus humans tend to compare it to the state of madness. However, the metaphor refuses to highlight the ability to create plans for the partners future and the aspect of a fruitful cooperation which are also present in a romantic relationship SOURCE- MADNESS TARGET- LOVE Love is a patient metaphor LOVE IS A PATIENT This is a sick relationship They are a strong, healthy marriage Their marriage is dead, it cannot be revived We are getting back on our feet Their marriage is on its last legs (Lakoff 1980: 49) We have already mentioned that lovers are treated as a unity (e.g. We are one). The existence of a unity between spouses indicates the belief that they are actually one person. Due to the fact that a person in love can suffer from symptoms of an illness, we can assume that lovers are patients. The patients health state represents the state of the relationship or marriage. Although the physical and mental condition of the relationship is revealed, the possible ways of healing the marriage are concealed. All of us have experienced an illness at least once in our life-time. However each illness, even the smallest one, is treated as something new. As far as love is concerned, each new relationship is worth taking care of because as Hubert H. Humphrey said The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love. Love can make us feel sick, but it is also able to heal our hearts and souls. SOURCE- PATIENT TARGET- LOVE Love is fire metaphor LOVE IS FIRE I dont want to get burned again. My hearts on fire. That kindled love in his heart. She is his latest flame. He was consumed by love. (Lakoff 1980: 49) Humans describe love as a one of the most vivid and powerful feelings we experience, that is why we use so many metaphors in order to describe the aspects of this overwhelming emotion. However, LOVE IS FIRE metaphor is the most significiant as far as the intensity of love is concerned. As we have observed the intensity of the emotion is highlighted, whereas the possibility of a regeneration after an unfortunate relationship is hidden (people, things cannot revive after being utterly damaged by flames). Thanks to this conceptual metaphor, people can connect different phases of fire burning with different stages of being in love. Such a conceptualisation explains that love, as well as fire, has its beginning, duration and the end. The damage caused by the intensity of fire can refer to the lovers psychological damage because of the disappointment in love. SOURCE- FIRE TARGET- LOVE Love is a physical force metaphor LOVE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE He was magnetically drawn to her His whole life revolves around her The atmosphere around them is always charged They gravitated to each other immediately I could feel the electricity between us (Lakoff 1980: 49) Intensity, being one of the most siginficant features of love, enables us to use forces such as magnetism, gravity and electicity while talking about this powerful emotion. LOVE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE metaphor definitely highlights an imperious aspect of love over other emotions that people can feel. In this metaphor, humans conceptualize love as a force majeure, something that they cannot control or have an influence on. If we assume that such a feeling as love cannot be controlled, we have to admit that also lovers cannot be restricted. The existence of magnetism between them signifies the necessity of living together or spending as much time as possible with each other whereas electricity between lovers presents the power of love that bonds them. SOURCE- A PHYSICAL FORCE TARGET- LOVE 2.2.9 Love is a rapture metaphor LOVE IS A RAPTURE Im giddy with love Ive been high on love for weeks She is drunk with love He is intoxicated with love (Lakoff 1980:49) The examples above present love as a state of an ecstasy caused by drugs or alcohol. The existence of such a metaphor proves that the behaviour of people who are in love resembles the conduct of those being on a drug- induced high. Although lovers do not usually take any narcotic stimulants, they indeed show symptoms of an addiction. A constant thinking about the object of love, a difficult to understand happiness when spending time with each other or a determination to win the beloveds heart are symptoms which may be misunderstood and the person showing them may be accused of using illegal stimulants. However, in everyday situations humans realize that love has such an impact on those experiencing it that they actually can act irresponsiby. SOURCE RUPTURE TARGET- LOVE There are many different kinds of metaphors of love presenting various aspects of this overwhelming feeling. I have chosen only a few of them, the most fascinating and ambiguous ones. The analysis of the metaphors of love proved that this feeling is difficult to comprehend because of its complexity. By trials and errors I have realized that it is impossible to present all the possible sides of this powerful emotion. Love affects people profoundly and therefore it is very important for them. That is why they try to comprehend this abstract feeling using more concrete concepts such as a journey, war or fire. Thanks to metaphors we create in our minds the breathtaking pictures of an incredible world we live in.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Dementia Care Essay

People with dementia can be very vulnerable and may not be able to communicate their wants and needs to other people. It is therefore up to the people who are caring for the individual to make sure that their interests are being protected, and to ensure that they are being treated equally and fairly and do not face any discrimination. Many people do not understand dementia and do not know how to go about trying to communicate with someone living with the disability that is dementia. It is easier for them to ignore the person than to make any attempt to include them. It is this lack of knowledge and understanding which leads to inequality, discrimination and isolation. To show that it is possible to have diversity, equality and inclusion when working with people with dementia we need to first understand what each term means. Diversity is about difference; everyone is different, we are all unique. There are basic differences such as gender, race, culture, ability, beliefs, age, sexual orientation etc. Then there are more specific differences between people such as their likes and dislikes, they jobs they did or still do, hobbies and interests they might have, their unique life experiences etc. Equality means treating people as equals and respecting their differences. It means enabling people to have â€Å"equality of opportunity† to live a safe, happy and productive life despite their differences. Inclusion means including people rather than leaving them out. If, for example, a person has a disability which affects their mobility then efforts should be made to make things accessible for them, such as putting ramps into buildings instead of steps. Or a person with a hearing disability should not be excluded from going to the cinema, subtitles should be available. To ensure that a person with dementia is being treated equally and fairly the first step would be to find out about that person, to discover their unique needs and preferences and to give the person choices. Each person has the right to make their own choices and to live their life as they choose as far as that is possible. The needs of the individual are what is important and any care given should be tailored to meet those needs. This is the basis of Person Centred Care. Once a person has received a diagnosis of dementia and they have come to terms with the turmoil of receiving such news, they may wish to discuss with others how they want to  manage their condition as it progresses. These wishes should be respected and followed as the person would like as closely as possible. A life story book compiled by the person themselves or with help from family, friends and neighbours, can provide invaluable information, as it gives an insight into the person with dementia, and can be a ver y helpful communication tool. The history of a person can sometimes explain their behaviour and, once you understand why a person is acting in a certain way, it may be possible to use this information to discover ways to include the person and make them feel valued and that they matter. For example a person may have been a nurse working in a busy hospital, so involve them and suggest that they help you to make the bed. Or a person may have worked in a restaurant so let them help to lay the table. This includes the person and promotes self-worth and will boost their confidence to maybe encourage them to try other things. A person’s life history should include details about their life, their experiences, their likes and dislikes, their hopes, fears and dreams – anything that is or was important to them. Once you have this to refer to you will be able to communicate better with that person and to ensure that their needs are being met. The information in the life history helps you to get to know the per son and to see them for who they are and not just to see the dementia. Recognise that not everyone will want to do the same activities, not everyone will want to join in with a sing-song or take part in a quiz. Find out what a person does enjoy and design activities to suit them. It is important not to stereotype people as this can lead to discrimination. People with dementia are often treated like children, they are criticised for what they can’t do instead of being encouraged for what they can do. Or it is assumed that they can do nothing or make any decisions for themselves. This is discrimination and can result in making people feel like they no longer matter and can lead to isolation and withdrawal. Every person with dementia will have their own unique experiences of their disability, some will have similar experiences to others but many will be different due to factors such as age, ethnicity, or having a pre-existing learning disability. It is easy to assume that dementia occurs in old age (people over 65), however around 2% of people with dementia in the UK are aged between 50 and 65. When a younger person is diagnosed with dementia they can have quite different needs than an older person. It can be  difficult for that person to get access to specialist help in the early stages. There needs to be more awareness of the occurrence of dementia in younger people as they are likely to have more commitments and will have to make long term plans for their future. A younger person with dementia may still have dependent children, or dependent parents. Their spouse may have to face giving up their own career or interests to become their carer. The individual’s career will also be affected, though they may be able to continue working in the early stages, plans will have to be made, and the progression of their dementia could have serious financial consequences when they can no longer continue to work. Changes in behaviour may be more challenging in a younger person. The future care of the person will need to be discussed with the individual to ensure that their continuing needs and preferences will be met as their dementia progresses. When working with a person who is from a different ethnic or cultural background it is important to gain as much knowledge as you can about how dementia is viewed in their culture or country. Some countries do not recognise the disability and may not even have a word for it. Once again being able to know the life history of the individual is very important. Once you know a person and what their beliefs, hopes and fears are, you will be able to see the person and be able to fulfil their own particular needs. Learn about customs or religious beliefs, learn about any special diets, and maybe learn a few words or simple phrases in their language. People with learning disabilities are less likely to receive an early diagnosis of dementia. Changes in behaviour may be noticed first as opposed to memory loss. Because of their learning disability the person may have difficulty in understanding the implication of their diagnosis. They may already have a care or support plan in place and have a support system set up for them. This information should be used to continue to support the person and to fulfil their changing needs as the dementia progresses. Working in a person centred manner is the best way to ensure that the very diverse needs of each person with dementia are being met. To recognise that everyone is different with their own unique needs and preferences is vital in ensuring that diversity, equality and inclusion is recognised for people with dementia. Working this way goes to show that it is definitely possible to have diversity, equality and inclusion when working with people with dementia.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Interview with Entrepreneur Essay

1. Why did you start your own business? Curt has always had a passion for engineering. When he was younger he work as a mechanical engineer through AMP. Then changed to metal engineering but decided he was tired of working for corporate office after 7 years and pursed his hobby into a career. Curt has always enjoyed boating and good seafood. For years before his founded business, he would enjoy being on the boat and catching good seafood which is when he wanted to bring fresh seafood to central Pennsylvania. 2. Is running your own business as hard as everyone says that it is? Yes and no. He’s states that there are pro’s and con’s to any situation especially in the business world. He views his pro’s would be to be able to set your own schedule and to him, he sees his â€Å"work† not so much as work but something that he enjoys and looks forward to waking up every day to. Some of the con’s he listed were that it’s hard to have leave time away from his business. He solely owns 2 local businesses; one located on Eisenhower Blvd., Harrisburg and the other on the Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, and an online business. The online shop (www.ilovecrabs.com) is ran out of his Carlisle pike location where fed ex comes daily to deliver next day shipment to anyone within the 50 states. His business has been very successful. 3. Do you believe the efforts and rewards for owning your own business are worth the sacrifices? Yes, Curt believes that he is very happy with the outcome of where his business is today. He says that he might change a few things looking back but nothing too serious. He says the business world is about risk and sometimes things work very well and sometimes they fail but it’s always good to know when to back out and when to leap towards something. 4. Did you always see yourself as an entrepreneur, or that you would in time, owning your own business? To a certain extent he has always wanted more. Between 16-17 years old, he seemed to be great at buying and selling different things. Even working as an engineer for 7 years, he would buy and sell anything really that he could make a profit on. 5. How did you finance your initial startup costs for your small business? He saved some money working but he also went to the bank for  part of it. His mother, Sharon Engle, helps with organizing his finances every Tuesday. 6. How do you market or advertise? What seems to have the most positive effect in bringing in profitable customers? Curt used to do the advertising himself but he has hired someone to do that for him to help take some load off. Most advertising is through their internet retail website (www.ilovecrabs.com), but their two local retail shops work with clipper magazine, or you could sign up with their crabsavers newsletter and save $10 off your first order and receive either text messages and or emails with coupons and special deals weekly. They used to advertise with the newspaper and yellow pages but he claims it’s becoming a dying trade. He uses organic advertising online with google now too. He also states the radio is a way to have local customers aware that he is bringing this fresh seafood in daily but not so much for sales and promotions, he sticks to his coupons and surplus sales.Teaming up with Obrycki’s from Maryland, Harbour house crabs now provides the Obryck’s famous seasoning along with their personal blends of seasonings. 7. What’s your greatest entrepreneurial achievement? That the business is still thriving after 15 years since being founded. His first retail shop boomed to the online business after about his first 2-3 years of opening. It became such a hit that in 2009 he opened his second retail shop and moved his online shop to process through the second shop due to size and area. 8. How do you identify business opportunities and what measures do you take to decide whether to invest into this opportunity? He says usually he will stick with his gut feeling but sometimes it’s a little more in depth then that he explains. After successfully launching his second store for 1  ½ years, he decided to partner up with Captain Bob’s restaurant. Unfortunately, it became a little too much to handle with the ordering of their products vs. what his small retail shop has to offer. So after 1 year, he gave back his part of the company to the owner of Captain Bob’s and still sells fresh crabs to the restaurant as they have always done before. 9. What’s the toughest feedback you’ve ever received and how did you learn or improve from it? â€Å"There will always be customers that you won’t be able to satisfy no matter how much you try to do for them in fixing the situation.† He said the first few negative comments he received was through his online  website and was taken personally. Curt had taken this hard because he wasn’t able to satisfy the customers, which is his company’s main goal when providing this fresh food. 10. What makes your business stand out from your competitors? â€Å"We stand out in quality and customer service.† He says, â€Å"We can’t control mother nature and there are certain variables that cause things to be difficult at times but when something happens, our team is encouraged to kill the customer with kindness but also with that have a strong backbone for the company, don’t let someone step all over you but be kind.† 11. How many hours do you work daily? How has this effected your personal or family life? Do you take time out to have fun? Well because Curt doesn’t have a partner, his phone is on him 24/7 and will answer from the time he wakes up until 10pm. He does have a home office and bases all his finances, strategies, and more at his home so it’s difficult sometimes to have to separate the two. He enjoys it to be near his family more but then again he walks away from a lot to take a business call. 12. What kind of culture exists in your organization? The culture that goes with my products are anyone who enjoys fresh seafood, someone or even a group wanting to get together to crack open some crabs and enjoy quality food with quality time given. Bringing friends and families together. 13. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur. Challenging. 14. Who has been your greatest inspiration and why? His grandfather because in 1934 during the great depression era, his grandfather opened up a small business selling Engle equipment, originally type-writers. The business took off so well that Curt’s father and uncle took it over when his grandfather passed. Eventually Toshiba bought the company out and still sells equipment today! 15. Describe how you built a successful profitable customer base? Curt believes finding a service or product that the customers want or demand is the first step he took, then backing that up with customer service has what made this so successful. 16. What’s the best advice you’ve been given? â€Å"Never give up?† Curt explains to me that he tells his kids for example that  when they say something like â€Å"I can’t†, he will in return respond â€Å"Never say I can’t, that’s giving up before even trying, and you should at least always try whether you win or lose.† 17. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire most and why? Is it a product or service that draws you in? Amazon. He loves not only the products that are so easily obtained but he loves their fast and reliable service provided. 18. Knowing what you know now, is there anything that you would do differently? â€Å"I would†. There were a few investments Curt had but they weren’t worth the trouble. â€Å"It’s still an experience†, he says but it’s good to know when to leave. 19. If I were to want to open up a small business tomorrow, what would be the top priority on my to-do list? He suggests to write a business plan and take it to the business administration building so they can review it and approve your idea. It takes a lot of research to find all that you need but it’s the foundation of the whole project. He also says that looking back at his first business plan, it’s accurate but at the same time off from what it really was from his planning. 20. Do you have an exit strategy? Currently Mr. Engle is looking for an exit strategy because he didn’t really have one at the time of presenting his plan. He did but not what he is really planning now. Ironically as I asked Curt this question, he asked me about taking over the business but I also did work for him from 2005-2013 so I do know a lot about running the stores. I denied though because I have other plans.