Monday, December 30, 2019

The New Equipment Finance Subsidiary Of First Certificate...

We’re back to consider another transaction for credit approval. This one caused some spirited debate. I have changed the names and circumstances for this example and I’ve simplified the presentation to fit this article length. Borrower: PimerMed Products, Inc. Lender: The new equipment finance subsidiary of First Certificate Bank (FCB), a local $2.2 billion bank Relationship: No previous/existing relationship with the bank but PimerMed is an attractive bank prospect for FCB Amount: $6MM Equipment: primary manufacturing equipment for expansion and efficiency Term: 60 Month capital lease Pricing: 4% yield (a below average spread for FCB) Overview: PimerMed is a $110MM specialized cardio medical device manufacturer started in 1985 by Gerald Pimer, current Chairman, CEO and 100% shareholder. Mr. Pimer is a well-respected executive in the industry but his daughter is now actively managing the business. The company is considered to be one of the top 3 privately held companies in its segment. Trends are positive for sales growth and cash flow, but the growth has slowed substantially in recent years. Mr. Pimer personally has significant real estate interests. His net worth is estimated to be in the $15MM range with personal debt of approximately $25MM. He no longer offers his personal guaranty for new PimerMed obligations. Financial Highlights: PimerMed is a $110MM revenue company. The business has a diverse customer base with both long time and recently acquired clients. No singleShow MoreRelatedWould You Do The Deal?919 Words   |  4 Pagesexample and I’ve simplified the presentation to fit this article length. Borrower: PimerMed Products, Inc. Lender: The new equipment finance subsidiary of First Certificate Bank (FCB), a local $2.2 billion bank Relationship: No previous/existing relationship with the bank but PimerMed is an attractive bank prospect for FCB Amount: $6MM Equipment: primary manufacturing equipment for expansion and efficiency Term: 60 Month capital lease Pricing: 4% yield (a below average spread for FCB) Overview:Read MoreVietnam’s Textile Industry7086 Words   |  29 Pages Vietnam’s economy is driven primarily by tourism and exports as investment is hard due to the absence of transparency in the legal and regulatory system. Company Basics Our company is the Augusta Textile Company, founded in 1985. Being fairly new, it has remained a mid-sized apparel importing firm that involves the exportation of clothing, as well as selling to local shops. Currently, the company employs 200 full-time employees, about 50 part-time employees, and a managerial team consistingRead MoreAssignment2 Fin100989 Words   |  4 Pages Business Finance and the Capital Structure FIN 100 Strayer University August 4, 2014 Business Financing and the Capital Structure Small business can finance their firms through debt or through equity sources of capital. Debt sources typically include; short or long-term loans from wealthy individuals to banks, while equity sources often include the owner’s wealthy individuals and/or Angel Networks. Venture capital is not a typical source of equity financing for most small businessRead MoreInternship Report on Hbl6597 Words   |  27 PagesINTERNSHIP REPORT ON â€Å"HABIB BANK LIMITED† SUBMITTED BY Sadia Siddiqui Reg#14365 Enrollment# 02-211082-11 SUBMISSION DATE MAY 15, 2012 Acknowledgements: All the praises are for the almighty, Allah who bestowed me with the ability and potential to complete this Internship. I also pay my gratitude to the Almighty for enabling me to complete this Internship Report within due course of time. Words are very few to express enormous humble obligations to my affectionate Parents for their prayers and strongRead MoreNbfc13828 Words   |  56 PagesINTRODUCTION: We studied about banks, apart from banks the Indian Financial System has a large number of privately owned, decentralised and small sized financial institutions known as Non-banking financial companies. In recent times, the non-financial companies (NBFCs) have contributed to the Indian economic growth by providing deposit facilities and specialized credit to certain segments of the society such as unorganized sector and small borrowers. In the Indian Financial System, the NBFCs playRead MoreHistory of the Banking Idustry in Zimbabwe3381 Words   |  14 Pagesthe Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Discount Houses, Commercial Banks, Merchant Banks, Finance Houses, Building Societies and The Post Office Savings Bank. The development of the Zimbabwean banking sector can be analysed within three separate periods, which the banking industry went through different development phases. PRIOR 1991 PERIOD The financial system in Zimbabwe inherited a regulated environment and it has for years pursued segmented or specialised funding. For instance merchant banks were restrictedRead MoreMerchant Banking18039 Words   |  73 PagesBanking. Functions Merchant banking is a service oriented industry. Merchant banks all over the world carry out the same set of services. Merchant banks in India carry out the following functions and services specifically. 1. Corporate Counseling 2. Project counseling 3. Pre-investment Studies 4. Capital restructuring 5. Credit Syndication 6. Issue Management and underwriting 7. Portfolio Management 8. Working Capital Finance 9. Acceptance Credit and Bill discounting 10. Mergers, Amalgamations and TakeoversRead MoreThe Stock Of A Company1261 Words   |  6 Pagesinvestors to get paid out in terms of shares in case a company may be financially unwilling to pay out. Q6: Par value is very essential for any investing body, this enable them to identify the acceptable value for the nominal value stated in the certificate for their common stock. This is meant to assure the investors that no one else will acquire a favourable price after they have made their purchases. Q7: Consolidated financial statements are prepared because they can be used in the determinationRead MoreThe Accounting Profession and Nat39077 Words   |  157 Pages1 No. 1 March, 2009 THE EFFECT OF AUDIT ON CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT By J. R. A. Adefiranye Abstract For profitability and liquidity, companies need adequate finances. Finance stakeholders (that is, shareholders, creditors and other financial lenders) are the providers of these finances. Their interests and beliefs in the activities of the companies are required to make them invest. A recent share investments survey in Lagos and Abuja, involving 100 respondents coveringRead MoreProject Report on Comparative Study of Icici Bank Nd Hdfc Bank8770 Words   |  36 Pages A SUMMER TRAINING REPORT On COMPARISON BETWEEN ICICI BANK amp; HDFC BANK SUBMITTED TO PUNJAB TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY JALANDHAR In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of Degree of Master of Business Administration SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO: ROHIT

Sunday, December 22, 2019

A Very Brief Biography of William Shakespeare - 1609 Words

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare, man with intelligence, creativity, and with great passion for love, was one of the most prestige playwright, poet, and actor from the British Literature. He contributed his whole life writing some of the finest and well known plays and poems that are still highly valued in the present literary world. Shakespeare’s conventional themes for most of his plays and poems are about universal matters such as love, jealousy, and beauty which were common focus during the Renaissance era. During this period, Shakespeare’s poems, Sonnet 29 and Sonnet 130, demonstrates his views and morals regarding love to convey the theme of triumph of true love over beauty and wealth. William Shakespeare born and raised in â€Å"provincial town of Stratford upon Avon in 1954† to wealthy merchant John Shakespeare and Mary Arden (Ruby198). Being a son of a merchant, he was able to attend one of the finest grammar school in town, The King’s New School, where he co uld attain education under highly qualified tutors which benefited his writing skills. At the age 18, Shakespeare married Ann Hathaway, who was eight years older than him followed by three children. Since Shakespeare’s lyrics are mostly about love, passion and beauty, it is believed by the audience that the lady in his sonnets represents his wife, however, it has been implied that, â€Å"no one can determine to what degree Shakespeare’s personal experiences are reflected in his sonnets† (Hacht 798). HeShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare: A Legendary Author Essay896 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s intellectual use of the English language is what brought him prosperity throughout his lifetime, and what brings us to tears and laughter in the modern world. The life of Shakespeare is of great importance to English literature because of his many contributions including poetry, stories, and plays. However, many people do not know that he also owne d a business. â€Å"William Shakespeare was a professional actor, a businessman, and a playwright. Today, nearly four hundred yearsRead MoreDelving into the Personality of Shakespeare in â€Å"What Was He Really Like? by Stanley Wells653 Words   |  3 PagesMost biographies written about William Shakespeare attempt to explain his life chronologically from birth to death. These accounts aim to describe his life through discussing his works and accomplishments. The problem with this pattern is that there are only so many ways humans can rewrite the same facts about the same person. Contrary to most papers about Shakespeare, the essay titled â€Å"What Was He Really Like?†, written by Stanley Wells, focuses internally on who Shakespeare was as an ordinary personRead MoreShakespeare and Women vs. Society and Queen Elizabeth Essay1366 Words   |  6 PagesQueen Elizabeth fought for women to be seen as equals to men through her reign. But in loving the theatre, she never allow ed women to be on the stage; forcing men to play the role of men and women makes her ideals and societys hypocritical. William Shakespeare writes using strong women characters, such as Katherine Minola and Juliet Capulet, to show the society he inhabits just how important women are. Through his writing he shows that he views women as strong and independent. In Romeo and JulietRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Life And Accomplishments1819 Words   |  8 Pages As we all know William Shakespeare was a well known and a highly sought after writer, but did he really deserve all that fame? As early as 1709, with Nicholas Rowe s publication of his edition of Shakespeare s works, the little information that we had about William Shakespeare began to show. Other than several early minor accounts, the preface of Nicholas Rowe s edition contained the first biography of William Shakespeare. Rowe presented eleven known facts about Shakespeare s life. By 1821,Read MoreEssay on The Unaccounted for Period of William Shakespeares Life1954 Words   |  8 PagesThe Unaccounted for Period of William Shakespeares Life William Shakespeare was born on April 26th 1564[1] in Stratford on-Avon to parents John and Mary. Growing up, he received a good education for a country boy of that period. He attended the village elementary school, was tutored by his mother and others, and learned a great deal by himself[2]. At the age of 18 he married Anne Hathaway, had his first child, Susanna in 1583 followed by twins Judith and Hamnet in 1585. DocumentationRead MoreEnglish Reflection924 Words   |  4 Pagesinclude, irresolute, consecrate, escarpment, monolithic, incandescent, and much more. Although our class spend numerous hours perfecting our essays, Mrs.Yu had us research and discover interesting facts about William Shakespeare. To begin our Shakespeare research, I wrote a biography on Shakespeare with the help of my index cards packed with useful information. Soon after learning about Shakespeare’s life, we began to read his plays, which introduced us to a new form of the english la nguage. DespiteRead MoreEssay on Biography of John Marshall1607 Words   |  7 PagesBiography of John Marshall John Marshall was born on September 24, 1755 in prince William County, Virginia. His father moved the family from there before john was ten to a valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 30 miles away. Unlike most frontier dwellings, the home Thomas Marshall built was of frame construction rather than log and was one and a half story. Both parents, while not formally educated, were considered adequately educated for the ties and could read and write. They held a significantRead More An Analysis of Arnolds Essay, The Function of Criticism at The Present Time1226 Words   |  5 Pagesanalyzing Matthew Arnold‘s essay through my reading of his essay. It becomes clear that Arnold defends the importance of criticism. That’s to say he tries to display that the critical mind is of a paramount importance as well as the creative mind. A Brief Biography Arnold, Matthew 1822-1888, English poet and critic, he was a leading literary figure of the Victorian period, and the foremost literary figure of his age. His writings have a distinct style which is characterized by the use of symbolism and earnestnessRead MoreA Brief Biography of Agatha Christie1750 Words   |  7 Pagesloving parents and was the youngest of three children. Louis Montant Miller, was her brother who was ten years older than she, and her sister, Margaret Frary Miller, was eleven years older. The children were brought up in a comfortable home, but not very wealthy. A tragic moment in Agatha’s childhood was when her father, Frederick Alvah Miller, confessed to cheating on her mother, Clarissa Margaret Boehmer. He didn’t reveal this disappointing information to his family until after Clarissa passed awayRead MoreOthello : William Shakespeare s Othello2542 Words   |  11 PagesJack Martin Mrs. Siplivy British Literature 3 March 2015 Othello Introduction Shakespeare is the second most quoted writer in the English language – after the various writers of the Bible. Many of Shakespeare’s ideas for the play Othello came from a collection of tales written by Giraldi Cinthio. In Othello the character of Iago acts as the prominent main character throughout the play, even though he plays the role of the antagonist to the other central characters in the comedy Iago is the tragic

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Save the Ailing Earth from Vehicular Pollution Free Essays

Delhi Metro (Hindi: Dilli Me? ro) is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida in the National Capital Region of India. The network consists of five lines with a total length of 125. 67Â  kilometres (78. We will write a custom essay sample on Save the Ailing Earth from Vehicular Pollution or any similar topic only for you Order Now 09Â  mi). The metro has 107 stations of which 17 are underground. It has a combination of elevated, at-grade and underground lines and uses both broad gauge and standard gauge rolling stock. Delhi Metro is being built and operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC).As of April 2010, DMRC operates more than 100 trains daily between 6:00 — 23:00 with a frequency of 3 to 4. 5 minutes. [5] The trains have four to six coaches[6] and the power output is supplied by 25-kilo volt, 50 Hz AC through overhead catenary. The metro has an average daily ridership of over a million commuters,[3] and has carried over a billion commuters in seven years since its inception. The concept of a mass rapid transit for Delhi first emerged from a traffic and travel characteristics study carried out in the city in 1969. 8] Over the next several years, many official committees by a variety of government departments were commissioned to examine issues related to technology, route alignment and governmental jurisdiction.In 1984, the Delhi Development Authority and the Urban Arts Commission came up with a proposal for developing a multi-modal transport system, which would consist of constructing three underground mass rapid transit corridors as well augmenting the city’s existing suburban railway and road transport networks. 10] While extensive technical studies and search for financing the project were in progress, the city expanded significantly resulting in a two-fold rise in population and a fivefold rise in the number of vehicles between 1981 and 1998. [10] Consequently, traffic congestion and pollution soared, as an increasing number of commuters took to private vehicles with the existing bus system unable to bear the load. 8] An attempt at privatising the bus transport system in 1992 merely compounded the problem, with inexperienced operators plying poorly maintained, noisy and polluting buses on lengthy routes, resulting in long waiting times, unreliable service, extreme overcrowding, unqualified drivers, speeding and reckless driving. [11] To rectify the situation, the Government of India and the Government of Delhi jointly set up a company called the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on March 5, 1995 with E. Sreedharan as the managing director. [12 How to cite Save the Ailing Earth from Vehicular Pollution, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

The Case Study of Procter and Gamle-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Case Study of Procter and Gamle. Answer: Introduction Technology is something that is being used by the business organizations and users from all across the globe. There are many technological tools and components that are used by the business units to execute the business operations and tasks. The technical tools have provided the business units with a lot many advantages for the ease of execution of operations and the streamlining of the activities as well. The report covers the case study of Procter and Gamble (PG) by explaining the importance of information governance in the organization. There is also an analysis of the use of Information Technology and Information System in the other organization along with the use of cloud computing, cloud-based applications, social media integration, and possible areas of improvements and importance of security in the organization. Procter and Gamble Role of Senior Leadership in Information Governance Information Governance (IG) is defined as a set of discipline including a number of different processes and methods so that information security is maintained and the business objectives are achieved. The business organizations in the present time are making use of technology for the management if their information sets and for the execution of the business tasks and operations. There are several assets that the organizations must manage so that the streamlining of the business activities is achieved. One such significant asset for the organization is the information and data sets. Procter Gamble (PG) is a multi-national corporation that is based out of America and has its headquarters in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company is a manufacturer of family, household and personal care products. The company has done numerous modifications and enhancements to make sure that information management is carried out in an adequate manner. Information Governance is one of the major pillars to make sure that the information and data sets are correctly managed and organized. There are a lot many activities that are involved in the management and organization of information. It is, therefore necessary that the resources are selected for the information governance. Senior resources and leadership engaged with the organization has a lot of responsibility for required information governance (Ico, 2014). PG is a multi-national company that was set-up in the year 1859 and now operates in more than 180 countries all across the globe. Due to widespread operations, customer base and office units, there are huge clusters of data sets that PG manages on a per day basis. The senior leadership and management of the organization took several steps for adequate and efficient information governance and management. The senior leadership started with the setting up of Global Business Units (GBUs) for the company. These GBUs were formed on the basis of the various product categories that are offered by the organization, such as personal care, health care etc. The next step of action was to set up Market Development Organizations (MDOs) to make sure that the company had a competitive advantage over the local firms and units. Global Business Services (GBSs) along with several corporate functions were executed. This practice led to the classification and allocation of more than 129,000 employees to four different verticals. This initiative was taken so that the management of the employees could be done with ease (Wolverhampton, 2017). Passerini was provided with the charge of GBS in the year 2003. IT capabilities and efficiencies of the organization were transformed as an outcome. Information and Decision Solutions (IDS) were the units that were set up and brought in action so that information sets could be handled in a better manner and the information organization could be done correctly. This also proved to be of a great aid in the analytics and decision making activities for the business executives. Bob McDonald was termed as the companys CEO and President in the year 2009. Bob further transformed the IT practices and laid a great emphasis on the IT capabilities. Technology is changing at a rapid pace and it is necessary that the organizations adapt to such changing face of technology. The senior leadership at PG adopted the idea of changing technology and data analytics including other technologies under the domain of Business Intelligence were adapted for better information management and analysis. The senior leaders and middle level managers worked together to enhance the technological capabilities. The company experienced increased profits and revenues as an outcome. The senior leadership that is engaged with an organization thus has a huge role to play in information organization, management and governance. The senior leadership carries out the tasks around activity monitoring along with control and evaluation. A number of verification and validation activities are carried out by the senior leaders in the form of reviews, inspections and walkthroughs. Such practices bring out the areas of improvements and the necessary changes that shall be made. The senior leadership in an organization is always aware about the organizational strategies, vision, mission, purpose and goals. There are several resources in an organization structure with resources deployed at different levels. The senior leadership is at the higher level in the structure and has the utmost clarity on the goals and business objectives. Also, in order to execute the changes that are highlighted, it is necessary to have the necessary authority and ownership for the same. The senior leadership has an authority to bring the steps in action and can also manage the resources in an efficient manner (Arma, 2011). PG could witness and experience the business gains due to the efficiency and capability of its senior leadership and management. The skill set of the senior leaders and their decision making abilities led to the enhancement of the organizational profits and also led to the higher customer engagement and satisfaction levels. Critical Analysis of the Organization on the Use of Is IT Organization Overview XYZ is a business organization that works in the domain of finance and provides financial solutions to its customers. The company has its headquarters in Sydney, Australia and is spread over five different locations in the country. The company currently has more than 260 employees in different departments and units. The company has made sure that the information sets are adequately managed and the latest technology is always adopted by the organization. There are numerous cloud services, social media platforms and likewise that are used and implemented in the organization. Cloud Infrastructure in the Organization Cloud computing is defined as a form of computing that utilizes the computing resources over the network for the execution of business operations and activities. There are various cloud services and platforms that have been developed for the execution of business tasks. XYZ Company has included a lot many cloud services and activities in its structure, such as cloud based database, digital market, cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, cloud-based finance management and account management systems along with communication protocols (Iyoob, 2015). Cloud Delivery Model: Platform as a Service (PaaS) The company makes use of the cloud delivery model as cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS). This model is used in the business applications and development of the financial solutions for the clients making use of cloud resources and elements. This is the cloud model that provides the framework for the development as well as the customization of the business tasks and activities (Intel, 2013). The company carries out a number of business tasks and operations in terms of development, testing and many others. The use of the PaaS model in the organization leads to the simplification of the tasks and is also a cost-effective approach. The cloud vendors that the company works with include Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. These cloud vendors manage the operating system framework along with information storage and virtualization activities. The company also makes use of an enterprise PaaS solution so that a self-service portal is formed for the management and organization of the entire computing infrastructure. The model also works well with the private cloud deployment model that is used by the organization (Nasr and Ouf, 2012). The PaaS model provides a number of advantages to the company in terms of automatic updates along with the decrease in the costs. The model also provides the business organization with the necessary compatibility with the rest of the technical solutions and components that are used. Private Cloud Model The deployment model that is used in the company is the private cloud model. This model makes sure that the cloud services are securely used by the clients in the virtual environment. There is an enhanced control and privacy that is reflected in the business organization with the use of this model. This model also provides a number of benefits to the organization which are as listed below. The primary advantage that the cloud model provides to the company is the security of information and data sets. The model also offers the benefits in terms of dedicated resources along with firewalls and on-site resources. Enhanced control is another benefit that is offered by the cloud model to the organization as well as its resources. The tracking of the progress and the applications also becomes easy (Ibm, 2009). There are several resources that are engaged in the organization. Resource allocation is improved because of the cloud model and the availability of the resources does not appear as a challenge for the senior management and leadership (Gorelik, 2013). Application reliability is always maintained with the aid of virtual partitioning. Cloud Software - CRM Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is software that is used by the business organizations for better customer engagement and management of the customer data and information sets. There are several cloud-based CRM systems that are available in the market and the one that is used by the XYZ Company is the Salesforce CRM. This software is designed by Salesforce and it has provided XYZ Company with the capability to easily manage the customer data and information. There are several other benefits and features that are included in this software as automated analysis of the data sets, social media integration, improved workflows and improved customer engagement along with many others. The company has managed to gain benefits out of this CRM system due to the correct implementation of the software in the company. One of the essential activities that were carried out as the first step of implementation was the planning of the cloud-based implementation of Salesforce CRM. The step included the definition of the objectives along with the definition of the schedule and budget. The next step included the allocation of the roles and duties to the members of the project team. Stakeholder management was also carried out efficiently so that the stakeholders remained satisfied of the outcomes of the system. Salesforce CRM is a system that had to be customized as per the requirements of the organization. This was done with ease owing to the planned implementation of the software using the phased approach for the same. Setting up of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) was the next step and the Salesforce report builder was also used to keep a track of the progress. Maintenance and support activities were carried out as the final step of the implementation process. The use and implementation of cloud-based CRM has made sure that there are several advantages offered to the organization. The customers can easily contact the business organization in case they get stuck during the execution of a specific operation or activity. There are also other benefits that are offered in terms of improved customer relations and engagement. Social Media Platforms Social media has come up as an integral part of the business organizations in the present era. It has become mandatory to ensure that social media presence is made and is reflected to the stakeholders and the customers. There are also dedicated social media management teams that are being set up in the organizations for the management of social media platforms and networks (Modeus, 2013). XYZ Company also made sure that it included the social media platforms and networks in its business tasks and activities. There are numerous social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and likewise that have been set up by the company and are managed for a variety of different purposes, such as information sharing and handling, management of customer relationships along with marketing and advertising tasks. The social media networks that have been set up by the organization are managed by the social media management team that comprises of social media managers, social media advertisers, social media analysts and associates. These social media accounts are used by the company to make sure that the information is handled in a better way and there are maximum benefits that are gained out of the same (Cvijikj, 2011). The customer interaction has also improved as a result of the social media integration that is carried out by the organization along with speedy resolution of customer queries and complaints. Impacts on the Organization The company is making use of numerous information systems and technology in their architecture. There have been positive impacts of the same on the organization along with the emergence of a few points of concern. The implementation of these systems has led to the improvement of sharing of information along with the enhancement of the communication capabilities internally as well as with the external stakeholders. The enhanced communication and sharing has also allowed better employee integration and connection. The employees have gained the ability to immediately connect with their supervisors for guidance and resolution of the queries. The automated system has led to the enhancement of the decision making abilities along with the decision support activities. There are Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Management Information Systems (MIS) that have been implemented so that the senior management and leadership can take decisions quickly using the information and data sets that have been provided to them (Esmt, 2016). Big Data tools are also being used in the organization for advanced management and analysis of the data sets. There are huge clusters of data that are used by the organization on a daily basis. Big Data tools have provided the capability to make sure that these data sets are correctly organized and managed. These tools are integrated with other technical tools and applications as well. There have been a few negative implications of the information systems and technologies in the organization in terms of the security attacks and risks. The data sets that are associated with XYZ Company comprise of the financial and accounting details of the customers and employees along with the personal information of these entities. There are also details of the projects undertaken by the company along with the shareholder and stakeholder that is involved. The exposure of such information to the entities that are not authorized to view or modify them may lead to adverse impacts. There can also be legal obligations due to the occurrence of such cases. The company makes use of cloud-based services and applications, such as private cloud model, customer relationship management system and many more. There are also social media platforms and networks that are used. The attacks on such applications and the data sets that are associated with these applications can be dangerous for the or ganization. In case of XYZ Company, security is one of the aspects that needs to be enhanced for the organization. Possible Improvements Technology is something that is witnessing a constant change. There are new tools and technologies that are being developed on a daily basis and XYZ Company is also required to maintain pace with the same. There are changes and improvements that are required to be done in the infrastructure and the architecture along with the procedures and methodologies that are used for maintenance, management and deployment of the technology. The organization is spread over five locations and each of these locations has its own set up and resources. The employees that are engaged with these locations need to communicate and collaborate with the internal staff members along with the external stakeholders. It has been observed that there are cases of inefficient and ineffective communication that come up that lead to further issues. There are also issues in the networking infrastructure of the organization which can be improved. It is also necessary to make sure that the network integration is improved so that the resource sharing capabilities are improved. The company currently follows only the private cloud for the deployment of cloud services and applications. There are other cloud models that can be used, such as community and hybrid cloud models. These models provide a combination of public and private cloud models which provide the best of the both models. There are scenarios wherein it is necessary to use public cloud only. Hybrid cloud will provide the organization with the capability to use both. There are also numerous NoSQL databases that are available. Such databases shall be used by the organization in place of the SQL databases and MySQL databases. These databases will be easy to integrate with the Big Data tools along with the Business Intelligence tools. (He, 2014). The organization works on the finance solutions and services for the customers. The information category that is usually associated with such solutions and services is generally extremely critical in nature. The organization shall, therefore make sure that the security of the applications is maintained. There are new and improved security tools and controls that must be used and implemented in the organization (Utica, 2014). The security attacks can have extremely severe consequences on the information properties along with the customer trust in the organization. The occurrence of security events, such as denial of service attacks, attacks on information integrity, confidentiality, and availability may lead to legal obligations as well (Msb, 2015). There are many security controls that shall be used and implemented in the organization to avoid the security attacks and risks. There are numerous network-based security attacks that take place which shall be prevented and avoided by usin g the techniques as intrusion detection and prevention systems along with other tools like network monitors and scanners. This will provide the organization with the complete network activity being carried out. There are also other security tools that have been developed in the form of anti-malware and anti-denial tools. These tools shall be installed and implemented across the organization and all of the associated systems. Malware attacks and denial of service attacks will be avoided as a result. The use and application of such security controls will provide the organizations with the ability to avoid, control, detect and prevent the security risks and attacks. The further security attacks will also be avoided as a result. The Business Intelligence tools that are used in the organization shall also be further enhanced. There must be use of data analysis and data warehouse tools that must be used. This will allow the organization to understand the customer preferences and choices along with the estimation of the customer needs and demands. The level of customer satisfaction and the customer engagement will also rise with the use of such tools and technologies. Importance of Security in Information Management There are several properties of information that need to be managed and maintained. Some of these properties include security of information, reliability of information, information privacy etc. One of the most significant aspects of information is the security of information sets. There are different data sets that are used in the organization, such as public data sets, private data sets, confidential and critical data sets, sensitive data and many more. The organization works on the finance solutions and services for the customers. The information category that is usually associated with such solutions and services is generally extremely critical in nature. There are various forms of security attacks that may take place in the organization, such as denial of service and distributed denial of service attacks, media and message alteration attacks, information breaches and loss, information leakage, physical security attacks and likewise. These attacks can have a negative implication on the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information along with a poor implication on the information security and privacy (Kissel, 2013). Also, the frequent occurrence of security risks and attacks leads to the deteriorated customer trust and satisfaction. The level of customer engagement may also come down as an outcome along with the legal obligation. The data sets that are associated with XYZ Company comprise of the financial and accounting details of the customers and employees along with the personal information of these entities. There are also details of the projects undertaken by the company along with the shareholder and stakeholder that is involved. The exposure of such information to the entities that are not authorized to view or modify them may lead to adverse impacts. There can also be legal obligations due to the occurrence of such cases. The company makes use of cloud-based services and applications, such as private cloud model, customer relationship management system and many more. There are also social media platforms and networks that are used. The attacks on such applications and the data sets that are associated with these applications can be dangerous for the organization. The employees that are engaged with the organizations are provided with access to the internal data and information sets and there is a great level of authority that is usually provided to the employees. There are insider threats and attacks that may take place that are given shape by the employees and such attacks have a great impact on the information security along with the reputation of the organization. This is because of the reason that employees may pass on the sensitive details to the competitors of the business organization which may be misused to gain a competitive edge in the market (Geant, 2010). There are many security controls that shall be used and implemented in the organization to avoid the security attacks and risks. There are numerous network-based security attacks that take place which shall be prevented and avoided by using the techniques as intrusion detection and prevention systems along with other tools like network monitors and scanners. This will provide the organization with the complete network activity being carried out. There are also other security tools that have been developed in the form of anti-malware and anti-denial tools. These tools shall be installed and implemented across the organization and all of the associated systems. Malware attacks and denial of service attacks will be avoided as a result. The use and application of such security controls will provide the organizations with the ability to avoid, control, detect and prevent the security risks and attacks. The further security attacks will also be avoided as a result. Disaster Recovery and Risk Management In order to make sure that the security of information is maintained, it is necessary to carry out risk management process as well. Such a process will make sure that all of the security risks and attacks that may be possible in the organization are identified in advance. There is a specific risk management process that shall be designed and identified. The risk management process must include risk identification, risk assessment, risk evaluation, risk treatment, risk control and closure. In such a process, all of the possible security risks from the areas of network security, information security, malware attacks etc. will be identified and assessed. The specific treatment strategies will also be mapped with the security risks that will be identified. However, in spite of all of the efforts and initiatives, there may be cases of security occurrence and attacks. In such cases, it would be essential to have a disaster recovery plan and policy in place. This policy and plan will comprise of the measures that shall be followed in case of a security attack to control the damage and minimize the downtime. The plan will comprise of the back-up tasks and processes that the organization must follow. In this manner, even if a malicious entity succeeds in capturing the data sets, the organization will have a copy of its information sets ready in advance. Similarly, the plan will cover the encryption and cryptography processes that shall be used and implemented in the organization for the control of the disasters and associated activities. Conclusion PG is a multi-national company that was set-up in the year 1859 and now operates in more than 180 countries all across the globe. Due to widespread operations, customer base and office units, there are huge clusters of data sets that PG manages on a per day basis. The senior leadership and management of the organization took several steps for adequate and efficient information governance and management. The senior leadership that is engaged with an organization has a huge role to play in information organization, management and governance. The senior leadership carries out the tasks around activity monitoring along with control and evaluation. A number of verification and validation activities are carried out by the senior leaders in the form of reviews, inspections and walkthroughs. Such practices bring out the areas of improvements and the necessary changes that shall be made. Cloud computing is defined as a form of computing that utilizes the computing resources over the network for the execution of business operations and activities. There are various cloud services and platforms that have been developed for the execution of business tasks. XYZ Company, a finance corporation, has included a lot many cloud services and activities in its structure, such as cloud based database, digital market, cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, cloud-based finance management and account management systems along with communication protocols. The company carries out a number of business tasks and operations in terms of development, testing and many others. The use of the PaaS model in the organization leads to the simplification of the tasks and is also a cost-effective approach. The deployment model that is used in the company is the private cloud model. This model makes sure that the cloud services are securely used by the clients in the virtual en vironment. There is an enhanced control and privacy that is reflected in the business organization with the use of this model. Social media has come up as an integral part of the business organizations in the present era. It has become mandatory to ensure that social media presence is made and is reflected to the stakeholders and the customers. There are also dedicated social media management teams that are being set up in the organizations for the management of social media platforms and networks. There are various forms of security attacks that may take place in the organization, such as denial of service and distributed denial of service attacks, media and message alteration attacks, information breaches and loss, information leakage, physical security attacks and likewise. These attacks can have a negative implication on the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information along with a poor implication on the information security and privacy. The organization must make use of the security controls and risk management strategies for avoiding the same. References Arma (2011). Senior Leadership Imperative to Information Governance Success. [online] Arma.org. Available at: https://www.arma.org/r1/news/newswire/2011/07/27/senior-leadership-imperative-to-information-governance-success [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Cvijikj, I. (2011). Social Media Integration into the GS1 Framework. [online] Available at: https://cocoa.ethz.ch/downloads/2013/05/1230_AUTOIDLAB-WP-BIZAPP-058.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Esmt (2016). The Evolving Role of Information Systems and Technology in Organizations: A Strategic Perspective. [online] Available at: https://www.esmt.org/sites/default/files/peppard-c01.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Geant (2010). Information Security Policy. [online] Available at: https://services.geant.net/sites/cbp/Knowledge_Base/Security/Documents/gn3-na3-t4-ufs126.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Gorelik, E. (2013). Cloud Computing Models. [online] Web.mit.edu. Available at: https://web.mit.edu/smadnick/www/wp/2013-01.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. He, X. (2014). Business Intelligence and Big Data Analytics: An Overview. [online] Available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/55334437.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Ibm (2009). The Benefits of Cloud Computing. [online] Ibm.com. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/ibm/files/H300444G23392G14/13Benefits_of_Cloud_Computing_634KB.pdf [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]. Ico (2014). Information governance strategy 2014-16. [online] Available at: https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/policies-and-procedures/1043029/information-governance-strategy-2014-2016.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Intel (2013). Virtualization and Cloud Computing. [online] Intel.com. Available at: https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/guides/cloud-computing-virtualization-building-private-iaas-guide.pdf [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]. Iyoob, I. (2015). Cloud Computing Operations Research. [online] Available at: https://www.columbia.edu/~ad3217/publications/cloudOR.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Kissel, R. (2013). Glossary of Key Information Security Terms. [online] Available at: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2013/NIST.IR.7298r2.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Modeus, G. (2013). Social media - Integrate it and perform better?. [online] Available at: https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:632477/FULLTEXT01.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Msb (2015). Strategy for information security in Sweden 2010 2015. [online] Available at: https://www.msb.se/RibData/Filer/pdf/25940.PDF [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Nasr, D. and Ouf, S. (2012). A Proposed Smart E-Learning System Using Cloud Computing Services: PaaS, IaaS and Web 3.0. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 7(3). Utica (2014). The Need for Security. [online] Available at: https://www.utica.edu/faculty_staff/qma/needforsecurity.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]. Wolverhampton (2017). Information Governance Board Definitions, Roles and Responsibilities. [online] Available at: https://wolverhampton.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s4114/Appendix%20B%20-%20Information%20Governance%20Board%20Definitions%20Roles%20and%20Responsabilities.pdf [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017].

Monday, November 25, 2019

137 Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students

137 Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Summer programs provide high school students with opportunities to explore their academic interests and spark new passions. They also allow high school students to get a taste of college life and meet otherstudents from all over the world. In this article, I'll provide a list of 137 collegesthroughout the United States that host summer programs for high school students. Furthermore, I'll give you information about what pre-college summer programs are like and how you can select the right program for you. What Is a Pre-College Summer Program? A pre-college summer program offers high school students the opportunity to take classes at a college and experience college life during the summer. Most programs range from one to seven weeks long. You can take programs that focus on a number of diverse subjects, such aswriting, leadership, entrepreneurship, and engineering. Many summer programs offer both residential and commuter options. Students can stay in dorms with their peers or commute from home if they live close to campus. In addition, not only are students able to take classes from college professors or visiting scholars, but they’re also able to listen to lectures from alumni and participate in social activities. Many selective private colleges, includingStanford,Harvard, andColumbia, offer pre-college summer programs for high school students. Some pre-college summer programs are open enrollment (anyone can attend), while others require admission through an application process. The selective programs typically require teacher recommendations, application essays, and standardized test scores. Check a specific program's website for its admission requirements. While these programs can be fun and educational, most of them are expensive. There are some free programs and many programs that offer financial aid for qualified students, but summer programs often cost thousands of dollars. Pictures of Money/Flickr How Did I Create This List of College Summer Programs for High School Students? To make the following list of summer programs for high school students, I relied on information from Summer Program Finder, which helps locate various summer programs. I looked up the programs in each region of the country and listed the colleges that host programs. In addition to the listed programs, there are summer programs for high school students that are not housed at colleges. Because programs are always evolving, note that there might be programs at colleges that aren't listed below. That said, you can alwayslook at a specific college's website to see whether it offers summer programs for high school students. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. List of Summer Programs Below is an extensive list of summer programs at 137 US colleges,organized alphabetically by state. Alabama School Location University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Arizona School Location Arizona State University Tempe, AZ California School Location California College of the Arts Oakland, CA Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA Middlebury Institute of International Studies Monterey Monterey, CA Stanford University Stanford, CA UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA UC Davis Davis, CA UCLA Los Angeles, CA UCSB Santa Barbara, CA UCSD La Jolla, CA UCSF San Francisco, CA USC Los Angeles, CA Colorado School Location Johnson Wales University Denver, CO US Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, CO Connecticut School Location US Coast Guard Academy New London, CT Yale University New Haven, CT Delaware School Location Delaware State University Dover, DE District of Columbia School Location American University Washington, DC The Catholic University of America Washington, DC The George Washington University Washington, DC Georgetown University Washington, DC Florida School Location Johnson Wales University North Miami, FL University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Georgia School Location Emory University Atlanta, GA Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA Illinois School Location Northwestern University Evanston, IL University of Chicago Chicago, IL University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Indiana School Location Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, IN Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN University of Notre Dame South Bend, IN Kentucky School Location Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Maine School Location Colby College Waterville, ME University of New England Biddeford, ME Maryland School Location Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD University of Maryland College Park, MD US Naval Academy Annapolis, MD Massachusetts School Location Babson College Babson Park, MA Bentley University Waltham, MA Berklee College of Music Boston, MA Boston University Boston, MA Brandeis University Waltham, MA Emerson College Boston, MA Hampshire College Amherst, MA Harvard University Cambridge, MA MIT Cambridge, MA Smith College Northampton, MA Springfield College Springfield, MA Tufts University Medford, MA Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA Michigan School Location Michigan State University East Lansing, MI University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota School Location Carleton College Northfield, MN Missouri School Location Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO New Hampshire School Location Dartmouth College Hanover, NH New Jersey School Location Caldwell University Caldwell, NJ Centenary University Parsippany, NJ The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ Drew University Madison, NJ Fairleigh Dickinson University Teaneck, NJ Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ Princeton University Princeton, NJ Ramapo College Mahwah, NJ Rider University Lawrence Township, NJ Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ New York School Location Adelphi University Garden City, NY Alfred University Alfred, NY Barnard College New York, NY City College of New York New York, NY Columbia University New York, NY Cornell University Ithaca, NY Ithaca College Ithaca, NY Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY New York Institute of Technology New York, NY NYU New York, NY Parsons The New School of Design New York, NY Pratt Institute Brooklyn, NY Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY The Rockefeller University New York, NY Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville, NY School of Visual Arts New York, NY Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NY SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, NY Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Union College Schenectady, NY University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY University of Rochester Rochester, NY US Military Academy (West Point) West Point, NY Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY North Carolina School Location Duke University Durham, NC Johnson Wales University Charlotte, NC UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC UNC Greensboro Greensboro, NC Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Ohio School Location Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH Columbus College of Art and Design Columbus, OH The Ohio State University Columbus, OH Oregon School Location Lewis Clark College Portland, OR Pennsylvania School Location Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Penn State Berks Reading, PA Penn State New Kensington New Kensington, PA Penn State University Park State College, PA Penn State York York, PA Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, PA University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Rhode Island School Location Brown University Providence, RI Bryant University Smithfield, RI Johnson Wales University Providence, RI South Carolina School Location Clemson University Clemson, SC South Dakota School Location South Dakota School of Mines Technology Rapid City, SD Tennessee School Location Sewanee: The University of the South Sewanee, TN Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Texas School Location Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX University of Houston Houston, TX UT Austin Austin, TX Vermont School Location Middlebury College Middlebury, VT Virginia School Location College of William Mary Williamsburg, VA Hollins University Roanoke, VA University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA Washington School Location University of Washington Seattle, WA Wisconsin School Location University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Should You Attenda College Summer Program? Really, it’s up to you whether or not you decide to attenda summer program. You can check out our post onwhether you should do a pre-college summer program for a detailed explanation of the pros and cons. On the plus side, summer programs can provide you with a good opportunity to explore your academic interests or take a class in a subject that’s not offered at your high school. Also, you can make friends, experience a taste of college life, and get a better idea of whether or not you want to attend a specific school. On the negative side, most college summer programs for high school students are expensive, and they might not provide much help with getting into college (unless it’s a highly selective program that’s offered at no or minimal cost). Do your research, and if a program is something you can afford and would likely enjoy, go for it! It might stimulate your academic and personal growth, and can help you clarify your future goals. If you know for sure that you want to do a pre-college summer program, there are a number of factors to consider to help you selectthe right program for you. The location of the program is an extremely important consideration for many students. If you have a dream school or a college you're strongly considering, you might want to do a program on that school's campus to get a better feel for the college and to demonstrate your interest in it. You might also want to save money by going to a program close to home, or perhaps you'd like to be able to spend a few weeks living in a big city, such as New York or Boston. Additionally, be sure toselect a program that's in line with your interests. If you have a passion for creative writing, then you can cultivate that passion in a writing program. If you're fascinated by business, you can hone your business skills in an entrepreneurship program. Finally, you might need to consider the cost and length of the program. If you have a limited budget, you'll likely have to focus your search on cheaper programs that you can actually afford. If you have other obligations or activities you're hoping to do during the summer, you might want to choose a shorter program. You can use this list and the Summer Program Finder to identify programs that match what you're looking for. Good luck! What's Next? Thinking of becoming a doctor? Maybe you'll be interested in doing a medical summer program. If you want to explore your interests during the summer without leaving home or paying to attend a summer program, perhaps you can get an internship. Are you interested in other ideas for summer activities? Learn more about what you can do during the summer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Effect of Lobbying on Public Opinion Research Paper - 1

The Effect of Lobbying on Public Opinion - Research Paper Example A big extent is the use of the right public relations tools to inform and more crucially, shape opinion. It involves influencing the public process of debates, discussions, and consultations in order to have good or favorable public opinion. In today's modern society, there is widespread use of lobbyists who are either volunteers or some people paid to speak on one's behalf as an advocate. In this regard, part of lobbying is the intent of influencing the legislative process by having favorable laws enacted in relation to a persons or groups special interests. Before a bill becomes a law, drafts are passed around with their justifications and aimed to judge a public reaction (OECD, 2009, p. 160). The public process – lobbyists are required to meet legislators several times. In some cases, lobbying brings about good results as it raises public awareness of certain issues. A good example is recent laws regarding the prevalence and dangers of school bullying which had not been noticed before until some students committed suicides due to bullying. In this instance, the parents are now re-assured their kids are safe at school because of the advocacy or lobbying by a parent of a bullying victim to introduce new laws or to persuade a legislator to vote in a certain way to approve the proposed bill against school bullying (Walston-Dunham, 2008, p. 63). On the other hand, the legislator has gotten a good idea of how public opinion stands on certain issues as relayed to him or her by the lobbyist or advocacy groups.  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Executive Memo on Accounting for Pensions and Elimination of Segments Essay

Executive Memo on Accounting for Pensions and Elimination of Segments - Essay Example As stated in paragraph 25 of IAS 19, there are two kinds of pensions: defined contribution and defined benefit plans. In defined contribution plans, the company’s actual obligation is just the amount it agreed to place in the fund. With this plan, the employee bears the risk if the total contribution is not enough to cover the expected benefits. In defined benefit plans, the risk is borne by the employer because they have to pay the amount of the agreed upon benefits and adjust their contributions accordingly to finance these benefits. For defined contribution plans, the accounting and reporting requirements are simple. The company merely recognizes the required amount to be contributed as an expense. A liability will be recognized if the actual payment to the fund is less than the required contribution and a prepaid expense will be recognized if the actual payment to the fund is more than the required contribution. For disclosure or reporting purposes, the company is only req uired to disclose the expense amount and the contributions pertaining to key management personnel. For defined benefit plans, the accounting processes are much more complex. If the company utilizes defined benefit plans, its expense will be based on calculations using actuarial techniques. This is because there are various assumptions that go into the calculation process. In addition, the company’s legal obligation is not the only factor for calculating the pension expense amount, there are also constructive obligations resulting from the company’s informal practices, those that could not be changed without incurring severe damage in the relationship between the employer and the employee. The reporting for defined benefit plans is more rigorous. In general, the company will need to make adequate disclosures that will provide enough information to the financial statement users about the nature of the pension plan and any impact on the financial statements if there are c hanges in the plan. Specifically, the company is required to disclose its accounting policy for the recognition of actuarial gains and losses. It also needs to give a general description of the plan. It also needs to show three (3) reconciliations, as applicable, for the opening and closing balances of the present value of the obligatio

Monday, November 18, 2019

Midterm Essay 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Midterm 3 - Essay Example Human development is thus, characterized by the appropriation and transformation of nature by human needs. The idea here is that human beings usually transform themselves according to the demands of the external world. In line with this argument, people do not engage in labor freely, but are rather forced by external forces to engage in labor. Marcuse perceives labor as a means of objectifying a person considering that people are always striving to engage activities that will profit them economically (ibid). As such, capitalism is seen as the primary cause of alienation in the society as it forces human beings to act. The fact that people do not realize that labor and capitalism has enslaved them explains that they do not realize the need for change, thus making them one-dimensional thinkers. As such, instead of fighting against the alienation caused by capitalism and demanding social change, one-dimensional thinkers begin to identify with those who fuel such capitalism, thus becoming complacent in their alienated state. As Marcuse writes, â€Å"†¦the subject which is alienated is swallowed up by its alienated existence†¦there is only one dimension, and it is everywhere and in all forms†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (19). Fundamentally, the working class people are lured into a consumerism system in which labor is essential for production, their artificial needs are met, and these people are slowly integrated into the capitalist society. By ensuring that the workers perceive labor as beneficial and making sure that the worker’s artificial needs are met, the capitalist society eliminates the cha nces of opposition. One of the catalysts of the kind of alienation caused by capitalism is technology. Marcuse argues that technology has revolutionized the mass media such that the capitalist system is able to infiltrate the social lives of its citizens (18). In essence, mediums such as radio and television have been used by the system to take capitalist ideas into the homes of citizens

Saturday, November 16, 2019

5 Basic Principles Of Energy Security

5 Basic Principles Of Energy Security Energy security is put in first place among the priorities facing the European Union. Although the problems of ensuring energy security were standing in front of a united Europe from the beginning of the integration process in recent years they have acquired the greatest relevance and importance for the EU. This is due to the fact that today the EU depends 50% on external energy supplies to its market and on the policies pursued by supplier states. In addition, European countries are concerned about the well-known problems with the energy supply for them against the backdrop of turmoil between Russia, as the main EU energy supplier and Belarus and Ukraine, through whose territory the Russian hydrocarbons are delivered to the West. Russian-Ukrainian standoff on the issue of gas prices and transportation is the major concern of EU member states and compel them to talk about the need to diversify energy supplies. Concentrating 7% of world population, more than a quarter of world GDP and 20% of world trade, the EU has only 2% of the worlds black gold and 4% natural gas. Limitation of its own resource base in Europe accounts for a significant dependence of the EU on external energy supplies. The European natural gas market is the third largest in the world. The volume of gas consumption in EU countries reached 513 billion m3 (21% of world consumption). Russia is the second largest EU oil supplier and provides 33% of the EU black gold needs. The Russian Gazprom is the leader in EU natural gas supplies with 46% of total. If we talk about security of energy supplies, the main task in this area is the energy sectors geographical and resource diversification i.e. the expansion of supply sources, supply routes and pipelines. The EU security in energy sector NABUKO I EU The European Union is seeking to protect self from energy dependence on Russia with diversification of natural gas supplies policy by agreements with non-conventional energy suppliers, the Caspian states (Caspian states have only 4-5% of worlds gas reserves). But due to the unreliability of Russian energy supplies through third countries (Belarus and Ukraine) as well as the possibility of using Russian resources as a political tool, transporting Caspian Sea hydrocarbons (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) to the West has acquired great importance to the EU. Improve supply reliability and energy security EU responsible implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor. The planned corridor is composed of three parts: the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline (the project provides for delivery of natural gas from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan), Baku Tbilisi Erzurum (from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey) and Nabucco (from Turkish territory, via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary Austria). Thus, the reliability of energy supply in Europe is due to the changing geography of supply, increasing the number of exporting countries, the creation of new infrastructure facilities. In the face of increasing competition from non-traditional suppliers of hydrocarbons Russia is very important to maintain the competitiveness of their energy in the European market, to ensure effective and reliable conditions for their transit to Western Europe. From the European Union course to diversify energy imports implies Russias post-Soviet space deterrence, to avoid direct or indirect control by the latter over the mining sector and transit infrastructure in surrounding areas. Revealing in this regard, the role of such organizations as the GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova), which can be an active participant in non-Russian energy supplies to European markets. Major energy projects GUAM is the White Stream. White Stream the idea of the Ukrainian side to diversify natural gas supplies to Europe and Ukraine and reducing dependence on Russia. According to the concept of developers this pipeline should pass along the Eurasian oil transport corridor, i.e. from Azerbaijan to the Georgian port of Supsa, and then across the Black Sea to Ukraine and onward to the EU, bypassing Russia. From a geopolitical point of view, the creation of transport corridor from east to west, bypassing Russia, on a plan of Brussels, will: To diversify energy supplies to reduce dependence of the EU from Russia and thus ensure energy security; Dismantle the transport system of the former Soviet Union, largely through the territory of Russia and provides strategic control over the export of Central Asian energy resources; Open the path to European Union cooperation with countries seeking to establish independent from Russian energy transportation routes; Establish control over the hydrocarbon resources of the region and not to allow these resources were available to Russia; At the expense of control over energy resources to ensure the establishment of political control over the countries of the region; Set the geopolitical pluralism, independence (from Russia), the newly independent states. Implementation of the EU projects such as the Nabucco, whose design capacity is 30 billion m 3 of gas per year, is a complex challenge for the Russias national interests towards Europe and tangibly affect Russias foreign policy and foreign economic activity. Russian energy resources development and policy Energy policy Russias European direction is traditionally occupies a leading position in trade of fuel and energy resources. The EU has come 53% of Russian oil exports and 62% natural gas. For Russia, with its unique geographical and geopolitical position, the problem of transit of energy resources are of particular importance, since it depends on the transit of hydrocarbons in the main markets of third countries. This implies the task of ensuring uninterrupted supplies of Russian energy exports to Europe. Improving energy security EU calls for Russia to develop and implement a wide range of policy and energy initiatives aimed at diversifying sources of supply of hydrocarbons. Passionate desire of Russia to find new routes for transporting oil and gas to the EU, bypassing the neighbors (Belarus and Ukraine), good reason: a choice of routes is important because it allows not depending on the mood of the transit country. Currently, construction of the North European Gas Pipeline Northern stream » (Nord Stream) will run under the Baltic Sea from Vyborg, Russia to Greifswald Germany. Capacity will be 55 billion m 3 of natural gas per year. Implementation of this project will help solve the problem of diversification of export flows of gas, will expand supply in Western Europe and the implementation of Russias obligations under the concluded and the future long-term contracts for the supply of natural gas. The second project is the South Stream (South Stream), which will run under the Black Sea from Novorossiysk to the Bulgarian port of Varna, and then divide into two branches and will pass through Serbia and Hungary to Austria through Greece to southern Italy. Capacity will reach 60 billion m 3 of natural gas per year. The main objective of these projects is to provide direct communication between the seller (Russia) and customers (Western, Central and South-Eastern Europe), bypassing the territory of Belarus and Ukraine, through which the now Russian natural gas to the EU through pipelines Urengoi Pomary Uzhgorod and Yamal Europe. As a Eurasian power, Russia is naturally interested in a free hand in its energy policy in all directions. At the end raises the question of correcting the current asymmetry of Russian energy exports in favor of the eastern direction. Russias national interest is to diversify markets for energy resources, expanding the geography of supplies of hydrocarbons. Due to this, Russia reduces dependence on the potential risks and, of course, opens up new and promising markets. To enter the Asia-Pacific region will create a pipeline Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline, which would connect the oil fields of Western and Eastern Siberia to the ports of Primorsky Territory in Russia and provide access to the markets of the Asia Pacific region. This pipeline capacity of 80 million tonnes a year must pass from the Taishet (Irkutsk region), north of Lake Baikal through Skovorodino (Amur region) in the Pacific Kozmino Bay (Primorsky Krai). The priority of Russian foreign energy policy includes the construction of a branch in China from being built oil pipeline Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean. Power outlet will be 15 million tones a year. The implementation of the above projects will provide an opportunity to solve simultaneously the two most important geo-economic and geopolitical objectives: provide a way out of Russian crude oil to the rapidly growing market of the Asia and the Pacific region and reduce dependence on the main buyer of energy. Tendencies of development of world energy markets and energy security issues Malo history, why energy is needed, crucial statistics In our fast developing world, according to recent prognosis, energy consumption can grow up to 30% within next 15 years. World oil demand can became higher for 42% and natural gas consumption will rise for about 60%. Todays world market is characterised with four most important circumstances: sharp rise of energy demand in developing Asian countries (up to 45% of perspective world growth in oil consumption) increasing gap between demand and production volume of gas in economically developed countries (for example, by 2020 between 60% and 70% of gas consumption in Europe will be provided with the account of imports) insufficient capacity for the production, processing and transportation of oil and gas as well as the limited possibilities of new sites insufficient transparency of world energy market All these conditions presented to the fore the problem of energy security. Also, the globalization process with which the world has faced in the twentieth century, directly affect the sphere of world energetic  [1]  . The enormous energy demand growth in Asia intensified competition for stable and cheap energy sources and in many parts of the world (especially rich in energy resources) occurring instability and conflicts. These circumstances contribute to energy instability and large fluctuations in energy prices. World reserves of cheap energy are reduced, crossed the zenith of production while consumption is growing steadily. In light of these circumstances should be considered global processes in the energy sector. If we take in consideration allocation of worlds energy reserves, it can be seen that every part of the world has some reserves or reserves are allocated within reasonable range (e.g. Russia energy reserves are sufficient to cover rising European demand, Gulf of Mex ico and Venezuela reserves are most convenient to America) Dijagrami. Experts assessment say that there is sufficient energy reserves, but the cost of exploitation going to be sufficiently higher. World of cheap and accessible energy is definitely behind us. It is necessary to mention climate change and slowly growing tendency of reduction in CO2 emissions which will affect the consumption of fossil fuels but the global demand will not be reduced. Achieving global energy security will be reached by the world community implementation of measures in three main areas: Reliable supply of the world economy traditional forms of energy; Increase the efficiency of energy resources and environmental protection; Development and use of new energy sources. All world and especially developed countries and largest energy suppliers have to contribute to achieving energy security. Basic principles of energy security Despite all the differences in the approaches of major states, there are common points in the understanding energy security. In fact, it is possible to isolate the basic principles that are more or less shared by all states. Energy security is the mutual responsibility of both the energy consumer and the energy supplier. This is acknowledged by all, but the problems arise where the consumer and provider begin to demand each from other guaranties of supply or pay for these supplies. For example, in a moderate variant, the demand for guaranties of supply can lead to the consumers request to allow him representing the economic interests of the company for development and transportation of energy resources in the provider country. This is the case where the EU requires from Russia opening its energy sector for European investments. On the other hand, Russia sets requirements of direct accessing to the customer delivery systems. In the radical version assurance of supply can be expressed in direct political and economic dictation towards supplier country, up to carrying out military operations against them. Also, in the recent history we have witnessed that supplier country can impose measures such as deliver y cutoffs, which affected not only targeted countries but many others (Russia Ukraine and Russia Belarus disputes). However, there is a third option, presented by Asian countries. It is the willingness to guarantee delivery due on the one hand, the participation of companies representing the economic interests of consumers in developing energy resources in the provider country, on the other playing by the rules of the provider country and investing heavily in infrastructure, mining and transportation. In this case, it is not a simple commodity-payment scheme, but a more complex investment, insurance and other contractual relationships. The consumer provides his assurance of supply at the expense of investment in infrastructure provider, so as to optimize the supply chain, making it more modern, less costly, etc. Suppliers, allowing consumers to develop projects in their territory introduce not only secure and stable market, but also a strategic investor. Thus, we are talking about the principle of responsibility and interdependence of consumer and provider  [2]  . Further, despite the limited number of countries that act as energy suppliers, development of events shows that there is competition between them; moreover, the very limited number of suppliers can toughen this competition. Factor that stimulates competition among providers is definitely another principle called diversification of sources and suppliers. At the moment there is competition between energy suppliers and it must also be built into the system of global energy security. The most important condition for this is the energy security depoliticization. In fact, the competition based on economic principles, competition for consumers is logical and understandable phenomenon. However, any use of energy resources for political purposes in the situation of rising demand leads to conflict, consequences of which can be unpredictable. Every attempt to put energy as a subject of political conflict is challenge to the global energy security system. Thus, the principles of energy security are also the depoliticization and fair competition. Moreover, if we can present the competition between suppliers, it is much more serious phenomenon the competition between consumers. The global reduction of energy production will imply the competition among energy buyers and consequently instability in particular regions could appear. Economic development without stabile energy supply is impossible. Therefore, overcoming global problems such as poverty, epidemics, poor education, environmental challenge, without economic stability is unattainable. Energy supply and demand, market competition, joint investments, global warming, CO2 emissions, joint stability and many other factors indicate that energy security is primarily a global issue so we can point at another principle, the principle of globality.. In this context, we should not forget that energy security is inseparable part of a global security system. Looking the importance of energy for the quality of life and life in general, it is necessary to emphasize the principle of social orientation of energy security for both individual countries and the world at large.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Ethical Issues in Social Work Essay example -- Papers

Ethical Issues in Social Work I will provide practical help for new social workers to help them understand and deal with ethical issues and dilemmas which they will face. There are many ethical issues which are important to social work, but I feel that these are all covered by the care value base. The care value base Was devised by the care sector consortium in 1992, this was so that the workers in health and social care had a common set of values and principles which they would all adhere to. It is important because for the first time the social care sector had a clear set of guidelines from which ethical judgements could be made. The care value base is divided into 5 elements - The care value base covers - Equality and Diversity - Rights and responsibilities - Confidentiality - Promoting anti Discrimination - Effective communication Equality and Diversity Carers must value diversity themselves before they can effectively care for the different races, religions and differently abled people they will come across in their caring profession. Diversity is where there are many different kinds of people living in a community together. This means that in a set environment there will be black, Asian, gay, straight, differently abled people living together in a community. Discriminatory prejustice must be able to be recognised by the carer, for example, if a woman is being discriminated against in a care home, or treated differently in a hospital setting, the carer must be able to recognise that this behaviour is happening, and inform a higher power, or go through the complaints procedu... ...es. The ethical issues surrounding this Act is who’s rights are more important, the right of the parent to have their child with them, or the right of the child to live happily and without fear of abuse. This also applies to schools The Data Protection Act of 1998 means that service users have a right to keep private information confidential, but it also means that they have a responsibly in relation to the rights of other service users. The confidentiality must be kept within certain borderlines, and can be broken when other service user’s rights come into conflict. Certain information may need to be passed to a senior member of staff when there is someone in danger. This relates to ethical issues as it is difficult to decide when confidential information should be shared, as described in my ethical dilemma above.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Planning a Scheme of Work

Planning Scheme of Work – Literacy Level 2 The produced scheme of work is aimed at 16 to 18 year old learners who are enrolled on the â€Å"Entry to Employment† (â€Å"E2E†) programme. The programme is intended for unemployed young adults to assist them in improving their prospects of employment with training or of entering higher education. The programme is designed to include personal and social skills, vocational skills and Basic and Key Skills. In this context, much learning is intended to embed Basic and Key Skills into other areas of learning and vice-versa Session ContentSessions are based on the Skills for Life Teacher Resource Pack issued by the DfES, which is produced to support National Standards for Adult Literacy. These resources are designed to be based on real life situations, aimed at adults and to cover the Adult Literacy Core Curriculum. Six modules have been used, one at level one and five at level two. I have divided each module over two sessi ons each lasting for two hours of classroom time. Opportunities to complete tasks beyond the scope of the session are available as all learners have free study periods, which are supported by tutors.Extension activities using spelling and grammar exercises have been included and would also be completed in free study time. I have decided on the sequence of topics based on Reece & Walker (2003, p239) suggesting that easiest topics could be tackled first, so starting the programme with level 1 activities. I have also taken sessions directly relevant to E2E learners, i. e. job search, and used these for the first few sessions as I have observed this type of learner questioning the relevance of various activities they are asked to undertake on the wider E2E programme.Teaching and Learning Methods Sessions are started with a directed section, explaining objectives to the learners, using visual aids (interactive whiteboard and data projector) and or audio clips to demonstrate the learning point of the session and stimulate interest in the topic. This part of the session lasts about 10 to 15 minutes and is followed by an opportunity for learners to work on their own, in small groups or more usually in pairs, using printed or on-line resources, for around 40 to 50 minutes. During this time learners are supported by the tutor.After this a break is taken and the above process is repeated after break, focusing on the next part of the session, again starting with visual aids, usually in the form of a data projector. The final 10 minutes are used to re-iterate points made and check understanding through questioning. The scheme of work relies on the use of visual and audio stimuli in conjunction with individual learning as many learners on the E2E programme have had poor experiences of conventional classroom technique. A. T. Graham (1999, P. 26) Says:It is interesting to note the following figures for what we remember (learn? ) from our various senses: Sight 75% Hearing 13% Feeling 6% Smell 3% Taste 3% Feedback from learners of these methods is almost unanimously positive, especially towards the use of technology and visual aids. Assessment Methods At the end of each session, learners are encouraged to complete the module checklist and detail areas that they feel confident with or need more practice with. Each session incorporates tasks to be completed during the session and completion of the tasks is supported and observed by the tutor.This presents the opportunity to continually assess each student’s progress as well as assist any student encountering difficulty. Although not part of the scheme of work, students sit diagnostic assessments at the start of the programme and further diagnostics as well as practice tests later in the programme. Usually a second diagnostic at six weeks followed by mock tests at 10 and 12 weeks. Self Evaluation A self-evaluation form has been included for completion at the end of each session. The form examines the effectiveness of tutor and learner activities, resources and where relevant, achievement.The largest space is reserved for learner feedback as learners are asked for feedback after each session and asked to complete feedback forms on a regular basis. These, together with improvements in diagnostic and mock test scores form the basis of evaluation for this programme. Learning Theory & Motivation A key element of the scheme is that it encourages independent learning. Within each structured session there are opportunities for the learners to work on their own or in pairs with support from a tutor.During this time learners are not simply given worksheets and expected to complete them, each learner has access to their own resources which they follow at their own pace and work through with discussion between groups of learners and the tutor. So, for example, during a session on newspaper articles, after a class discussion of two examples of newspaper articles students would be asked to fi nd their own examples on the Internet, examine the differences between articles themselves and discuss their findings with the tutor one to one or in a small group.In this way learners take control of their own learning and experience the satisfaction of knowing that they are not simply filling in blanks. Learners on the E2E programme then have equal time in non-structured sessions to carry on with any unfinished work, carry out their own research and complete any extension activities. Geoffrey Petty (2001, P. 306) States that: There is a consensus amongst management theorists that giving employees control over how they work greatly increases their sense of responsibility, motivation and effectiveness.Unsurprisingly, giving students control over their own learning empowers them in the same way. Independence is not an arbitrary foundation for a teaching method: it resonates with a deep human need – the need for freedom; the need to be in control. This is a need felt most stron gly by adolescents†¦ 16 to 18 year old learners, many of whom have achieved little or nothing at school respond well to being given control of their own learning. ResourcesThe E2E programme benefits from being well resourced, especially with technology. This has an impact on the engagement of learners, most 16 to 18 year olds being unimpressed with anything less than cutting edge technology. Every learner has access to a broadband enabled, high specification computer on which to complete individual work, all resources are available across the network for printing and or editing by the learner, meaning that the learner is in control of his or her own version of the Skills for Life Resource Pack.So, for example, in lesson five, a resource page for searching the Internet would be projected to the whiteboard, we would be able to discuss the question â€Å"can you name any more search engines? † and the tutor would be able to note some examples on the screen for learners to s ee. Learners would then be able to look at their own version of this resource page, type in their answers and print off a hard copy for their file. They would then be able to access the Internet and continue with the activity. Equality of OpportunityAs discussed, the scheme of work is based around the Skills for Life Teacher Resource Pack issued by the DfES, the introduction to which states that the materials are intended to be â€Å"broad-based† and â€Å"adult-appropriate†. Within the materials, names, voices and pictures of characters are ethnically diverse and represent both genders. It is however the job of the tutor to be sensitive to learners and I have replaced 2 articles on terror alerts in lesson nine after awkwardness during the session amongst Muslim students.Wheelchair access to the building and wireless laptop computers are available to students with disabilities. Two of the fixed computers in the classroom are configured for large fonts. Conclusion The E ntry to Employment programme is aimed at a group of learners who have previously struggled in education and so challenge tutors to find new ways to engage them. Independent learning is encouraged by the Learning and Skills Council for E2E and more sources than that quoted support this method. The use of I. C. T. s also encouraged and this scheme of work relies heavily on it although a much less â€Å"high tech† version could be delivered if this was required. Although many learners are engaged by the technology, it cannot take the place of a tutor or teacher, merely add to the learning experience and a good understanding of the subject is impossible to replace. Bibliography A. T. Graham (1999) Planning for Teaching & Learning, Resource Handbook Geoffrey Petty (2001) Teaching Today, Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Ltd Reece & Walker (2003) Teaching, Training and Learning ,Sunderland: Business Education Publishers Ltd.

Friday, November 8, 2019

The Portrayal of Women in the Odyssey Essays

The Portrayal of Women in the Odyssey Essays The Portrayal of Women in the Odyssey Paper The Portrayal of Women in the Odyssey Paper Essay Topic: The Odyssey Women play an important role in the epic, The Odyssey, written by Homer. Set in a period subsequent to the Trojan War, the accounts of Odysseus and his trials and tribulations feature four main types of women: the goddess, the seductress, the witch and the good wife. Each of these portrays the role of women in a different way, some in complete contrast to the actual civilization of the period. Ancient Greece was very much a patriarchal society. Men were regarded as of higher status than women, and were seen as the stronger gender. Sports were reserved purely for men, as were literature, politics and philosophy. Typically, a woman was judged, not by her own achievements, but by the wealth and status of her father or husband. A woman would be forced to be married at a young age, keep the house for her husband and have children. Usually, ancient Greek women were not educated, although in Athens, women were taught to read, at school or at home, simple facts on mythology, religion and occasionally musical instruments and as with most other places in ancient Greece, they learnt the basics of the household; spinning, weaving, sewing, cooking and other household jobs. The immortal goddesses contrast with the distinctive characteristics of an ancient Greek woman in the Odyssey. Athena, goddess of wisdom, for example, addresses the Gods, including her father, despite the traditions of status. By ignoring these traditions, Athena shows her strength and confidence. It seems she is outspoken, and is more a typical representation of a modern day woman than that of ancient Greece. Throughout the book, Athena shows considerable pity for Odysseus, despite the fact that men were supposedly the stronger gender: she used her persuasion to encourage the gods to reconsider their destiny for him, and set him free from Calypsos island, and she inspired thoughts for Odysseus when he is enduring the wrath of Poseidon on his journey to the island of the Phaeacians. At this point, Athena interrupts Odysseus negative thoughts of being colliding with rough rocks, to give him the idea of holding onto one of the rocks as the waves crashed against them. Not only does she stir notions within Odysseus, but Athena aids him more subtly by promoting thoughts in other people. For example, when Odysseus is washed up on Scherie, Athena appears in Nausicaas dream as one of her friends. She persuades her that she should go and wash her clothes in the river, which is where she first encounters Odysseus, and aids him in his ongoing quest by taking him to her parents for hospitality. The second of woman is the seductress. The Nymph Calypso saves Odysseus when he is washed upon the shore of her island, and keeps him as a sexual prisoner for 7 years, offering immortality in return for him staying with her. She is a perfect example of how women could be powerful against man, yet still be overruled. This is because when she keeps Odysseus captive on Ogygia, Odysseus has no power to do any different. However, it is Zeus final decision that he should be released from her island, and Hermes, messenger to the gods, who tells her. These are both men making her do something she doesnt want to, but she has to obey them, which is a reflection of the ancient Greek traditions. Additionally, Calypso is also seen as the model hostess, offering her guest ambrosia, nectar and clothes. She does this with ease and pleasure, as she even offers Hermes these things before asking why he had come to see her. She is seen to be immoral by sleeping with a married man, yet to simultaneously have good manners, portraying the complexity of women which wasnt recognised in ancient Greek society. Also a seductress, but concurrently a witch, Circe is firstly portrayed as deceitful and cunning. She lures Odysseus men into her house before turning them into pigs. Her trickery shows her to be independent and strong-minded, although she is then proven to be weaker than men when Odysseus arrives. Contrasted against his bravery in Book 10, Circe displays cowardice when confronted by Odysseus after he has eaten the drug of real virtue from Hermes to protect him from the witches black magic. Circe then tries to seduce Odysseus, but he abstains until he can secure an oath between himself and the witch. She, however, shows a complete disregard for men by turning them all into pigs, then putting her own desires before their freedom, and this shows that Circe also possesses completely contradictory characteristics from the ancient Greek women. On the other hand, when Odysseus demonstrates his power by pulling out his sword, Circe collapses to her knees and bursts into tears, proving that it is Odysseus who holds the authority at this point. Daughter of King Alcinous, Nausicaa, is presented as a mature person, as she is unmarried, therefore young, and yet she doesnt run away when she sees Odysseus naked by the river. She instructs her maids to give him clothes, and he responds to this by not hugging her knees and begging for help, like he first thought of doing. This shows that Nausicaa is well-respected. She also cares about her image as a virtuous woman, because when Odysseus travels to the palace with her, he has to walk behind her, so that people didnt think they were together. Also, when Nausicaa takes Odysseus to meet her parents so that he can receive help from them, she insists he meet her mother first as opposed to her father. This demonstrates her respect for her mother, and her understanding of the way in which the system should work, but the knowledge of how it actually does. Finally, the good hostess and wife are portrayed by Penelope. Even after 20 years, she has stayed loyal to Odysseus by stalling the suitors. This is also quite devious, as she leads them into thinking that once she finishes her weaving, shell marry one of them, except every night she undoes all that she achieved that day. This is the side of her which seems unlike that of the women of ancient Greece. However, parallel to the ancient Greek traditions of statuses between genders, Penelope is reprimanded by her own son. She is told to go to her room and stop making decisions because that was his concern as he was the man of t he house. Without any confrontation, she resigned as returned to her room. This shows that Penelope is contrasted with the other women portrayed in The Odyssey, because she is comparable to the ancient Greek society, whereas Athena, Calypso, Circe and Nausicaa are dissimilar. In conclusion, women in The Odysseus are mostly portrayed as strong-willed and open-minded people with their own thoughts and opinions. Although some are immortal, and supposedly free of human emotion, they feel loss, anger and fear, and can make love to mortal men. Their strength of character is displayed with their ability and willingness to differentiate from the periodic stereotypes of women, although in the end, they almost always surrender to the ancient Greek patriarchal culture. If these charcters were to be placed in the ancient Greek society, I think that they would be discarded from the civilization, except for Penelope who would integrate into the culture with her conceded attitude towards the men around her.