Saturday, August 31, 2019

Scalar Vector

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. Velocity is a vector physical quantity; both magnitude and direction are required to define it. The length of an imaginary straight path, typically distinct from the path actually traveled by P. Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are. In physics or everyday usage, distance may refer to a physical length, or an estimation Time in physics is defined by its measurement Formula Acceleration= change in velocity / time intervalAverage velocity= displacement/time Oz (square root of) squared plus y squared D=ext X=d/t Units The gal, sometimes called Galileo, (symbol Gal) The SSL unit of speed and velocity is the ratio of two -? the mutterer second. The standard unit of displacement in the International System Of Units ( SSL ) is the meter (m). Meter (m) In the International System of Units (SSL), the unit of time is the second (symbol: Examples At an amusement park, when you ride a reallocates is starts slowl y, then faster, then slows down again.If you walk to a campsite 1 mile away and then jack to your start point within 1 hour: Your average speed would be: total distance/time = 2 miles/ 1 hour or 2 miles per hour How far does the earth travel in one year? In terms of distance, quite far (the circumference of the earth's orbit is nearly one trillion meters), but in terms of displacement, not far at all (zero, actually). At the end of a year's time the earth is right back where it started from. It hasn't gone anywhere.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Catching Fire Essay

Catching Fire Suzanne Collins is a mutually celebrated writer of many books, including The Hunger Games trilogy. Catching Fire is just one of these astounding books. Catching Fire, written by Suzanne Collins, belongs in the science fiction genre because of the advancements and invention of different technologies. For example, mockingjays, a common animal in the story, are the product of female mockingbirds and male jabberjays. These jabberjays were genetically engineered by the Capitol, a ruthless gathering of officials that oversee the various districts of Panem, and can eavesdrop on conversions remembering every word that was uttered. Mockingjays on the other hand can only remember short verbalizations, such as a song. Also, during the Hunger Games, the Capitol has the ability to materialize objects directly into the arena in which the tributes fight, for example the â€Å"beasts† that enter the arena in the first book of the trilogy. There have also been many advancements in the field of medicine. Most notably, there is a cream for almost anything, whether it be a third-degree burn or a stab wound. This episode of the best-selling trilogy is written in first-person point of view. We are only allowed to know the thoughts and feelings of the main character, Katniss, causing us to wonder what other characters are thinking and feeling as well. This also causes us to create a deeper connection with Katniss. For instance, in the first book of the trilogy Katniss has a flashback in the arena about the explosion in the mines that killed her father. She relives this memory often and often reminisces of the times before her father died. Overall, the point of view of the story ultimately helps the reader identify with the main character. The point of view in this story causes it to be more relatable. Collins wrote the Hunger Games trilogy in present tense. This causes the reader to take the persona of another character or a diary that Katniss tells everything to. This style seems to be very easy to read, as the plot follows an extremely chronological event base. Contrary to her easy to read style, she uses rather impressive diction. This styles gives her a very competitive edge over other writers of today. This novel is enticing. It leaves no stone unturned. By the end of the novel you know that almost every conflict has been elucidated and resolved. The only conflict that was not resolved is between the Districts and the Capitol. This leaves a major opening for the third book in the series, Mockingjay. Works Cited Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Hunger Games Trilogy. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Byzantine Art Essay Example for Free (#2)

Byzantine Art Essay There are many differences and similarities between the following two pieces of art; the Toreador Fresco and the Egyptian Fowling Scene. The Toreador Fresco is a fresco depicting a bull-leaping ceremony. It is from the palace at Knossos(Crete), Greece and from around 1450-1400 BCE. The Egyptian Fowling Scene is a mural painting from the tomb of Nebamun. It is from Thebes, Egypt and from the 18th Dynasty, ca. 1400-1350 BCE. The styles between these two periods are very different, but there are still a few similarities found between the two pieces of art. The Toreador Fresco depicts a bull in the center, and a man leaping over its back. There is a woman on each side of the bull. Unlike the Fowling Scene, this fresco includes a border. In the Egyptian Fowling Scene, Nebamun is standing in his boat, flushing birds from a papyrus swamp. He is holding his throwing stick in one hand and three birds in the other hand. He is accompanied by his wife and daughter who are both shown holding lotus flowers. In the Toreador Fresco, the bull is the central figure of the painting while in the Fowling Scene every space was filled with lively details such as lotus flowers and butterflies. As for the depiction of the human figure, in the Toreador Fresco, the human figures have stylized shapes with pinched waists and they are highly animated. Also, in order to distinguish between male and female, the artist painted the young women with fair skin and the man with dark skin. This was a widely accepted ancient Minoan convention. This is very different from the depiction of human figures in the Fowling Scene. The skin color of Nebamun, his daughter and his wife are all the same dark color. The artist scaled down their figures in proportion to their rank. The wife and daughter were much smaller than Nebamun. Also, in the Fowling Scene, the animals show a naturalism based on careful observation. One similarity between the paintings was that the human figures were painted with the profile pose with the full-view eye. Another similarity between the two paintings would be that they both represent rituals and traditions. The Toreador Fresco depicts the Minoan ceremony of bull-leaping while the Fowling Scene is a tomb painting showing that Nebamun is enjoying himself in the afterlife. Another difference would be that in the Toreador Fresco, the artist used curved lines to suggest the elasticity of the living and moving beings unlike the Fowling Scene where the depiction of movement was not represented very well. In the Toreador Fresco, the artist also elongated the animal’s shape to show the powerful charge of the bull and used sweeping lines to form a funnel of energy. It is easily seen how the depiction of movement is better represented in the Toreador Fresco than in the Fowling Scene. In the Fowling Scene, the artist used many different and lively colors whereas in the Toreador Fresco, there is not a great variety of colors used. In the Toreador Fresco, you can tell that it is Minoan art by the elegance of the Cretan figures, with their long, curly hair and proud and self-confident bearing. This distinguishes them from all other early figures styles. You can also see a few cultural differences between the two periods just by comparing the two paintings. The human figures in the paintings are all dressed much differently. Also, in ancient Egypt, the artists often used hierarchal scale in their paintings. They would make the size of the human figures larger based on their social status. That is why in the Fowling Scene, the wife and the daughter of Nebamun are much smaller than him. Whereas, in the Toreador Fresco, you do not see a hierarchal scale, the human figures are all the same size. In conclusion, there are many differences and similarities between the Toreador Fresco and the Fowling Scene. Both paintings represent rituals and traditions. Also, they both have figures painted with the profile pose. In the Toreador Fresco, it includes a border and the bull is the central figure. The human figures are wasp-waisted, and highly animated. The depiction of movement is much better represented in this piece of art than the Fowling Scene because the artist used curved lines to emphasize the movement of the figures. He also elongated the bull’s shape to show the powerful charge of the animal and used sweeping lines to form a funnel of energy. In comparison, in the Fowling Scene, the artists filled every space with lively details. The marsh is full of lotus flowers and butterflies. Although the depiction of movement is not shown as well as the Toreador Fresco, a variety of lively colors is shown in the painting. Unlike the Toreador Fresco, the hierarchal scale is shown in the Fowling Scene. Byzantine Art. (2016, Dec 08).

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Ethical Dilemmas Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Ethical Dilemmas - Research Paper Example The intention of this study is Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that are known to provide unique services in health care. They offer their patients with the chance to opt for preferred procedural as well as surgical services carried out beyond the environment of a hospital. ASCs were set up and have been serving people with their services for over three decades. ASCs have been successfully representing an outstanding and incomparable capability of enhancing quality along with their service towards their customers while concurrently bringing down the expenses over the years. ASCs are being considered to be an exception because of the mounting expenses of services in the health care industry. Developments in services and technologies in the health care industry are increasing the costs and in such a time ASCs are considered to be of great relief for the people. Great efforts are being made throughout the nation in order to enhance the system of health care and ASCs have appeared to be triumphant in altering the services related to health care in a positive way. All kinds of surgical procedures were carried out in hospitals in the past. Previously, people needed to wait for months in order to get an appointment and patients had to spend quite a few days in the hospitals in order to recover. The concept of ASCs was developed by physicians. They felt the need and recognized a prospect to set up a superior quality, lucrative choice and a substitute for the surgical services being provided in the hospitals. Physicians were disturbed and annoyed of the postponements, inadequate rooms for carrying out operations and difficulty in acquiring new equipment for surgical procedures. This made them to look out for an alternative and build up centers with better facilities and services (Ambulatory Surgery Centers, 2002). Organizational Structures and Responsibilities The developers that are the physicians carry on offering force for growth of the already existing ASCs along w ith the new ones. Physicians enjoy more freedom while carrying out their operations compared to the hospitals. They are capable of

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

MOHG2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MOHG2 - Essay Example These analysis form an integral part of the financial statement analysis, especially from the investors point of view, who always strive to invest in countries having strengthen and stabilizing financial ratios and representing an upward trend. It is of great significance that the ratios must be benchmarked against a standard in order for them to possess a meaning. Keeping that into account, the comparison is usually conducted between companies portraying same business and financial risks, between industries and between different time periods of the same company. The company under consideration is Mandarin Oriental International Limited and in this report analysis of the financial performance of the company for the financial year 2011 with the financial year 2010 has been conducted in order to draw attention to various financial trends and significant changes over the period. The analysis is divided into three main categorize namely Profitability, Liquidity and Gearing. Profitability ratios identify how efficiently and effectively a company is utilizing its resources and how successful it has been in generating a desired rate of return for its shareholders and investors. Liquidity ratios measure the ability of the company to quickly convert its asset into liquid cash to settle its short term liabilities. Whereas, the Gearing ratios identifies the extent to which the company is financed through debt and to what degree the operations are being conducted from the finance raised through raising equity capital or otherwise. Mandarin Oriental International Limited is regarded as one of the prominent when it comes to luxurious hotels. As quoted from the annual report of Mandarin for the financial year 2011, â€Å"Mandarin Oriental International Limited is an international hotel investment and management group with deluxe and first class hotels, resorts and residences in sought-after destinations around the world. The group now operates, or under

Monday, August 26, 2019

Social Welfare for Children in Kuwait Research Paper

Social Welfare for Children in Kuwait - Research Paper Example In general, the state is committed to providing the welfare of children as stipulated by the constitutional principles, as well as Kuwait’s international obligations under the conventions and treaties it has signed and ratified. Some of these treaties and conventions include the 1973’s International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention, which concerns the minimum age for admission to employment (No. 138), and the 1999’s ILO convention that concerns primary with the prohibition and immediate action for eliminating worst forms of child labor (no. 182). The government has taken the convention regarding the rights of children, and two optional protocol measures to protect the rising generation from any forms of exploitation, and spiritual or physical harm.   In addition, it guarantees a right to education, introduced free compulsory education, and delivers treatment as well as healthcare for infectious diseases. Therefore, the government has taken up a number of mea sures as discussed below in order to keep up with these principles (Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations, 2007).   The government provides primary healthcare along with preventive services for children, in order to lower the mortality rates, and encourage healthy living behaviors. Furthermore, it also shields children from exposure to delinquency, neglect, bodily harm and infringements of their freedom through criminalizing such acts and imposing very high penalties on them (United Nations, 2011).   In order to deal with these.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Descartes Discourse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Descartes Discourse - Essay Example In the process, it appeared to me that the conclusion would be arrived at differently when Descartes confessed â€Å"I observed that the proposition ‘I am thinking, therefore I exist’ has nothing about it to assure me that I am speaking the truth† (Descartes, 2007). Apart from the projected certainty of the ‘cogito’ statement, he finds that he could only establish guarantee of truthfulness for matters that undergo an individual’s vivid conception. (2) Since you were expecting a different ending, evaluate how successful the author was in convincing you to accept the validity of the â€Å"surprise ending† that was not clearly suggested at the beginning. Though the surprise ending is far from my basic assumption, Descartes managed to convince me through his admission of the perfection of God from whom the human capacity to think originated. It persuades me to agree with the power of reason as Descartes acknowledged that something or someone is greater than him and his potential to form thoughts or ability to doubt where he justifies the validity of reason over senses and cognition by reasoning itself. The philosopher at the time seems capable of being open to the light of all metaphysical and spiritual possibilities that need not be sustained by material or physical evidence in his quest for truth as long as his approach leads him to gradual and clear discernment of evidences when

What is the Role of Financial Strategy within an Organization Assignment

What is the Role of Financial Strategy within an Organization - Assignment Example Within the organization, the different functions compete for the resources. Organizations have to adopt certain financial strategies in order for it to optimize resources that are available for use (Sanwal, 2008). Once the internal allocation is taken cared of, the company can focus on other aspects of the organization to achieve growth. An organization is faced with the dilemma in choosing which finance strategy would best suit their corporate structure. Will it be to adopt a financial strategy driven towards greater efficiency or towards better management of the organization as a whole It is ideal and optimal to achieve both and when an organization is able to do so then it can focus efforts on the remaining functions. Some organizations have tried to standardize the established financial system to be able to replicate the system and apply it in the global spectrum. Many organizations have tried to focus on the enhancement of the financial function to achieve greater efficiency in the bigger picture. To be able to maintain their global positions and to determine which strategies best suit the company, these organizations do the benchmark. Benchmarking is a flexible tool in management which can be used in the various functions of an organization. Companies do industry scans and assess the strengths of their competitors (Ruth, 2006). They use these assessments to determine which areas are weak in their own organizations, which functions need to be given attention and what measures are to be taken to implement changes if there are any. In the organization's venture towards being cost-efficient and at the same time globally competitive, it encounters various problems along the way and it must take note of various risks consequent with the implementation of financial strategies that it has decided to implement. Some points and important matters that the organization has to take into account before deciding which strategy to use are the current corporate structure and the system of the organization. Corporate structure helps determine which processes best contribute to the organization's growth and development. The flexibility of the corporate structure is also very vital especially now in the current dynamic industries we have (Sanwal, 2008). For systems, in an industry scan done by SAP, the two systems that place great weights on finance are transaction processing and decision support system (Patel-Muellers, 2006). Though companies want to focus on decision support and management, they are in truth spending their time on transaction processing. However, progress is little by little evident in the efficiency of the companies' processes as they journey towards being more strategic. Â  

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Administration Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 4

Administration - Assignment Example Failure to secure the payroll records and data can pilot identify theft, public relations problems and government fines. 2. How substantiation procedures guarantee that an employee’s claim for an allowance is substantiated: Employees must provide substantiated information and records to claim their allowances. The key principle fundamental expense substantiation is that to subtract work expenses; the employee needs to substantiate them by acquiring written proof of the expense. The records of written proof or substance provide evidence of spent finances. They provide prove that the expense was incurred and required reimbursement. The substantiation procedures ensure that the employee provides documentation for the expenses incurred to ensure proper auditing and limit frauds (Revenue Service 2009). 3. Records related to payroll management: Every organization must keep employee payroll information to include records and data. The payroll records include the employee name and address, social security number, pay rates; total wages earned, deductions and net pay, bank account details and employee benefits like health insurance premiums and retirement contributions. The payroll management must keep these data and records for duration of three years before making any alterations unless otherwise stated or at the request of the employee (Revenue Service 2009). 4. Key Items that required calculating an employee’s gross pay: Gross pay of an employee is the total amount of money paid before taxes or before other deductions is subtracted from the total remuneration. The gross pay includes basic remuneration, allowances, compensation for services including overtime pay, bonuses, commissions and any other amounts deemed payable by the employer that are found in the personnel appointment data. In addition, the gross pay includes interests, rents, royalties, alimony, annuities and pensions found in the bank statements of the employee (Revenue Service

Friday, August 23, 2019

Block's analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Block's analysis - Essay Example Instead, as the service sector has come to contribute a large part of the global income, it has become important for organizations to choose the right structure and approach that can create the perfect working atmosphere for its employees. Most organizations that exist in the world today are yet to recognize the importance of organizational behavior and remain attached to a culture that centers over control and authority. Even with the increased emphasis on improving relationships, developing inter personal skills and communicative strengths, institutions still tend to rely on focusing their resources towards devising better and efficient strategies, control structures and technology that continue to be perceived as the visible parameters for organizational success. However, businesses fail to understand that the present working demands an approach that is rational and need not be tangible and measurable. Issues concerning standards, practices, rewards, empowerment and training are issues that assume greater significance in the new age of consulting that needs further enhancements and newer approaches as it is still nascent in terms of evolutionary analyses. In the present case, it seems that employees (consultees) have been asked to fill out a survey that is perceived as potentially exacerbating material by the top management in the company. as the name suggests, The role of the coordinator for Staff Development in the current scenario is to improve the professional and personal capabilities and efficiency of the employees. However, problems can arise when the role of a consultant is limited to a mere effort that involves analyzing the current situation and suggest a few recommendations that are believed to provide better results. Instead, employees expect to see action whenever any such attempts are made. When surveys aimed at finding out possible inefficiencies are too specific by virtue of concentrating on minute areas of detail, workers need to use extra effort and thought to fill them out. In many such instances, they are probably the best bet when it comes to highlighting very specific issues that exist within their work domains. Having made such an effort, respondents expect someone to pursue it responsibly and take the necessary action. When they begin to sense that nothing has been done to look into their issues, a general sense of distrust and distaste begins to develop. A staff coordinator is also responsible for ensuring transparency at all levels within the organization and ensuring that the management participates in the requisite roles with complete dedication. It is also expected that deliberate displays of power, authority and expertise are done away with in such scenarios. However, as is evident in most organizations today, differences crop up at all levels within a company. For instance, departments sometimes find it difficult to coordinate a task that requires collaboration between several such entities usually involving a distortion of communication and lack of understanding of the role of people in the other departments thereby leading to mutual criticism and lack of respect. In such cases, animosity develops between departments, which may surface

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Iq Test Paper Essay Example for Free

Iq Test Paper Essay Battery is the standardized IQ test of the military and most high school guidance counselors recommend this test to their â€Å"lost† students. Each enlistee/student that takes this test will know one of two things, potential career path or what work assignment they will be doing for the next 2-4 years. I myself scored well, any job in the military was available to me, and choose to be an Airborne Petroleum Supply Specialist. This test didn’t really help me as it does with most high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and students in postsecondary schools(Baker, 2002) looking for some kind of guidance for their future . I took the test because I was looking to be a free young man and this test would allow me to do that. I do believe that the ASVAB test is very helpful in shaping today’s youth. Since the first time the ASVAB was administered in1968 to over one fourth of all high school seniors the test has been revised drastically (Baker, 2002). In 1995 the Department of Defense (DOD) asked the American Institutes of Research to find out if the ASVAB test was really working to give high school students career assistance or not. The test already told the DOD what work assignment was best suited for the potential enlistee. Basically the American Institutes of Research decided that it was better to group all of the different test items together, thus creating the Career Exploration Knowledge Scale. The previous standard scale, the Career Decision Scale (Baker, 2002), was found to be a one-dimensional measure of career indecisions. Tests are designed to discriminate among individuals, and therefore contain items of varying difficulty (Gibson Harvey, 2003). The harder the questions, the fewer enlistee/students answer them correctly. The easier the questions, enlistee/student should answer them correctly more often. Some argue that the ASVAB test, among many others, is bias. Would you know to bake a cake or solve a mathematics â€Å"word problem†? Some women, in addition to men, have no clue how to bake or add. Tests revolve around what any given person has learned or seen before taking it. Anyone can say anything is bias. Overall, many studies have proven that the ASVAB Career Exploration Program both enhanced self knowledge associated with career discovery and reduced uncertainty for high school students. In Conclusion, to give guidance to a young adult who is still creating the networks and pathways of their mind, body and soul, then I say have at it.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

General Appliances Essay Example for Free

General Appliances Essay Introduction:The General Appliance Corporation is a manufacturer of all types of home appliances. The company has a decentralized, divisional organizational structure, which consists of four product divisions (electric stove, laundry equipment, refrigeration and miscellaneous appliance division), four manufacturing divisions (chrome products, electric motor, gear and transmission and stamping division) and six staff offices (finance, engineering, manufacturing, industrial relations, purchasing and marketing staff). The staff offices do not have functional authority over the divisional general managers, who are each responsible for their own divisional personnel. The manufacturing division made approximately 75 percent of their sales to the product division. In addition, the parts made by the manufacturing division is designed and engineered by the product divisions. Since the eight divisions are expected to act like independent companies, the transfer prices are negotiated amongst themselves. But, if two divisions could not agree on a price, they submit the dispute to the finance staff for arbitration. The product division does not have the power to decide whether to buy from within the company or from outside. If there was a disagreement with the sourcing, the manufacturing division could appeal to the purchasing staff to reverse the decision. Problem:At the General Appliance Corporation, the purchasing staffs are the personnel that decide which part would continue to be manufactured within the company (org. chart may need to be revised). When the part is decided to be manufactured internally, the manufacturing division must hold the price at a level the product (purchaser) division could purchase it outside. Currently, the managers do not have the freedom to source and choose the alternative that is in their best interest, even though an alternative for sourcing does exist. The three problems that exist in the company are:-Determining a transfer price that includes the extra $0.80 per unit spent on developing the new quality standards. Also, the arbitration committee should determine whether the appearance is a subjective or objective matter. -An excess capacity (supply is greater than demand) caused a temporary  decrease in the selling price. -The standard price used for calculations of the total cost, profit and proposed price is determined from the price given in a competitors proposal this is not a definite price. Investment Centres dont know when to produce or when to outsource (what role does innovation or engineering for lower costs play?)For each case, calculate if its better to outsource or manufactureArbitration committee which considers all staff functionsDo something quick fast (cheap) and easy to doAnalysis:Stove Top Problem Survey has shown that the companys reputation as a producer of quality products has deteriorated, and resulted in the Chrome Products Division implementing quality improvements to the stove tops. Chrome has proposed to increase the price of the stove top by $0.90; $0.80 represents the additional costs of quality improvements and a $0.10 profit mark-up. The Electric Stove Division does not see the improvements as necessary changes since there is no change in engineering specifications, the changes made were never requested or approved, consumers may not even notice or want the change, and believes that the improvements made will only bring the quality level of the stove tops to the competitors level. Ultimately, Electric Stove sees these quality changes as being more subjective rather than objective. The engineering department of the manufacturing staff has verified that the new improvements were of superior quality then of their competitors and the costs were reasonably allocated. Thermostatic Control Problem Electric Motor Division has been able to consistently reduce the price of the thermostatic control units to mirror the price of Monson Controls Corp. from $3.00 in 1984 to $2.40 in 1987. Monson has decided to further reduce their price to $2.15, which according to the general manager of Electric Motor Division, would result in selling at a loss rather than a profit. The GM believes that they are just as efficient as Monson, therefore Monson must be selling at a loss at $2.15. Laundry Equipment and the Refrigeration Division both require a total of 120 000 units for their division (100 000 units for Laundry and 2 000 units for Refrigeration). Refrigeration has made an agreement with Electric Motor that  they will be able to competitively source to the lowest bidder, in this case, Monson for $2.15. Laundry Equipment believes that for such a large order, they could probably obtain a lower price than $2.40 if they were to outsource. In reviewing this dispute, the Finance Staff stated that there was excess capacity in the market that results in soft prices. The purchasing staff believed that Refrigeration could purchase their requirements at $2.15 for the next year but if the corporations orders were all place externally, the price would rise to $2.40 through increase in demand or limited supply. Considering the 120 000 units of thermostatic control that is required by both the Laundry Equipment and the Refrigeration Division, and the fact that their requirement is large enough to increase Monsons price of $2.15 to $2.40, General App. will have to outsource and purchase from within. Assuming that the more units General App. outsources, the price will gradually increase due to the increase in demand. The best combination of outsourcing and purchasing from within would be to outsource 60 000 units at an estimated price of $2.25 and purchase 60 000 units internally for $2.40. This would cost the organization $279 000, a savings between $1 000 and $9 000. The average price per unit is $2.325, less than the cost of the market price if the required volume was entirely outsourced. It is also less then purchasing the entire volume internally. This would result in Laundry Equipment saving $7 500 and costing $3 500 to Refrigeration as oppose to purchasing their required volume at $2.15. Transmission Problem Laundry Equipment has previously entered into an agreement with Thorndike Machining Corp to purchase one-half of its transmission for 10 years. Two years before the expiration of the agreement, General App. decided to manufacture their own transmissions to extend their capacity. Thorndike proposed a price reduction of $0.50 consistently for the next two years with a new economy transmission unit at a price of $10. The Gear and Transmission Division estimates that they can replicate a comparable model of the economy transmission at a competitive price of $9. The Gear and Transmission Divisions proposal failed to eliminate the cost of design features of $0.50 per unit. This would bring the proposed total  unit cost for GT from $11.66 to $11.11. This error makes Thorndikes proposed price of $11.21 appear more favourable. Bibliography: Anthony, Robert N., and Vijay Govindarajan. Management Control Systems. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2000.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Causes And Effects Of Carbonated Beverages

Causes And Effects Of Carbonated Beverages The aim of our research is to focus on the side effects of carbonated drinks in order to create awareness for every consumer who wants to secure their upcoming future from the hazards of carbonated drinks, commonly called soft drinks. The need for research was felt, as it is one of the neglected areas, so by further research in this regard would surely help in creating awareness, educating the mass and in the development of preventive, promotional and curative health program in the community. As the knowledge of our people, particularly students regarding the side effects by the consumption of carbonated drinks is not satisfactory. The attitude of students is relatively better but their practices are neither preventive nor health promoting. Thus, there is a need of Behavioral Change in youngsters. Before discussing the causes and effects of carbonated beverages let us, know what the attitude is. Attitude towards something is very important for human life because facilitates communication between people. It is one of the important attribute of a person which communicates his first impression on others and the kind of personality he possesses. Personality type is one of the crucial elements in shaping an individuals life. Therefore, attitude towards something is very important to be determined at initials so that in upcoming stages of life an individual may learn and shape his attitude accordingly. Therefore, to change the attitude of people towards something, awareness is the first step and one of the efficient tools to help people learn and educate very effectively by providing them knowledge and by throwing light and exploring unexplored issues, which are directly or indirectly affect our lives. One of the important but neglected issues in our lives is of health. We like to suffer from problems and diseases first and then go for solutions; this type of approach is called as post approach. We as a nation is in need to adopt pre-approach especially in the field of health .One of the great saying defines the best: Prevention is better than cure. Carbonated Beverages are those drinks which have carbon dioxide (a colorless and tasteless gas) in it excluding alcohol. Among all the soft drinks colas are the most popular one. The ingredients in such colas are sweeteners, and chemicals such as carbonic and phosphoric acids, citric acid which harms teeth and causes weakness of bone. Colas contain a reasonable amount of caffeine. Caffeine is a natural diuretic and so can actually make a person thirstier and encourage dehydration. Variety of soft drinks is consumed by a high percentage of population on daily basis. The consumption of soft drinks in greatest quantity has been observed mostly in children and adolescents. In the current study, the knowledge base of students regarding the harmful effects of carbonated drinks is not satisfactory. William Frazier says: In order to neutralize a glass of cola, it takes 32 glasses of high pH alkaline water. In the 1840s, carbonated water began having flavorings added to it. By the turn of the 1900s, Carbonated Beverages had become a part of a typical western consumers drink choices. Originally, Carbonated Beverages were seen as healthy, or a way to distribute healthful creation in a way that made them pleasant and convenient to drink. Carbonated drinks were marketed as a digestive support as late as the 1950s.Then, they came to be seen as junk foodstuff as the term in essence came to mean soda pop. Now (2007), parts of the Carbonated Beverage industry are trying to rebrand themselves as Energy drinks, and natural drinks such as water, juices and various teas have been carbonated. Probably the first carbonated drink to be sold in a Can was Cliquot Club brand ginger ale, in 1938. (practically edible.com) In medical and scientific field there is a going concern about the causes and effects of carbonated drinks on the health of consumers but unfortunately until yet their harmful effects have not been explored widely. Still some of the researchers have identified harmful effects of cola on health but they are unable to increase awareness in consumers may be because they are not given a space to expose. According to the study of Himalayan Institute of Medical Science (H.I.M.S.), Dehradun, about 92.10% of the medical students and 95.08% of the nursing students had ever heard about the carbonated drinks. The aim of the study was to assess the awareness, attitude and practices of students regarding carbonated drinks. (Kishore, Aggarwal, Muzammil, Oct-December 2009) A clear association has been found in a meta-analysis of 88 studies between the soft drink consumption with increased body weight. Increased soft drink consumption was also found to be associated with decreased calcium intake and increased risk of numerous medical problems e.g., diabetes. Thus, a strong relation was found between soft drink intake and nutrition and health effects. (Vartanian, Schwartz, Brownell, 2007) In a number of observational studies and reports it was concluded that carbonated beverages are associated with the risk of reduced bone mass and increased fractures. Researchers examined that particularly colas were found to have strong link among other carbonated beverages and the reason of such adverse effect is the content that is phosphoric acid found in the carbonated beverages. (Heaney Rafferty, 2001) A study was done to examine the cause of osteoporosis and the research concluded that the consumption of cola is associated with low Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in women. (Tucker, Kyoko, Qiao, Hannan, Kiel, 2006) However, the relationship between the milk and risk of bone fracture, and consumption of soft drink with osteoporosis in women and children found to be inversely and directly proportional respectively. However, knowing the fact of these relationship women and children are still moving towards extra-consumption of soft drinks and declining milk attitudes has shown promptly. (Squirres, Sally) High consumption of carbonated drinks increases the tendency of osteoporosis especially in children and women. Phosphoric acid and citric acid are the two main acidic contents that play the dramatically role in increasing the proneness of bone fracture. The phosphoric acid removes those nutritious mineral whereby the bones weaken and so in aggressive conditions results in break of bones. A survey conducted on a large number of athlete women who consumes carbonated drinks in order to examine the effects of carbonated beverages. They find that acidic contents are the main cause of dissolving calcium from bones. (Spencer, Kramer, Osis, 1988) Leeann Birch, a researcher from Pennsylvania State University, has found that soft drinks frequently displace nutritious beverages, such as milk and juices, Because of such displacement of drinking choice especially youngsters are unable to meet their current milk requirement, which is needed at every stage for human body growth. The noticeably increment of the childhood obesity in this generation must be taken seriously by the parents of those children. Not only the obesity problems but also various problems are just resulted by the high consumption of carbonated beverages taken by them. These health problems may include diabetes, tooth decay, osteoporosis, and many neurological disorders. Children usually exposed to drink soda pops as junk food. They have the ability adopt the attitude of what others to something and if they feel pleasure, they make their attitude as a habit. Mostly youngsters are more addictive of such drinks just because of their attitudes of consuming carbonated drinks in surprising quantity without having the knowledge of risk associated with it. (Kishore, Aggarwal, Muzammil, Oct-December 2009). In this regard, a research conducted by the team of Harvard Researchers they found that 14-year-olds children who did not drinks habitually were less likely to be obese than those who use to ta ke drink soft. Carbonated beverages may cause significant long-term enamel dissolution and were found to be more aggressive towards enamel then coffee or tea. (Fraunhofer Rogers, 2004) Excessive consumption of soft drinks can cause complex dental consequences including dental erosion and caries, both conditions may result in harmful effects on dental hard tissues. (Cheng, Yang, Shao, 2009) We have found two causes of the dissolution of enamel. The general reasons given by dentists are the low pH value, amount of sugars and variety of addictives in carbonated drinks leads to the dissolution of enamel. The consumption of such drinks affects enamel, a hard thin calcium-containing layer that covers and protects the crown of a tooth. Numerous surveys are conduct in this regard. A young boy examined in this regard in 2002, who consumed more than two beverages per day, reported uncontrolled dental decay during operation at computer terminal. Secondly, it has found that soft drinks are more harmful for enamel in mostly two conditions: when taking alone and continual sipping. However, during food time soft drinks cannot affect as much as when it takes alone. During food, our mouth secreted saliva whereby the acids and the sugar does not retain on dental enamel but retained when drinking alone, this is happen more likely by cola drinks than other beverages, results in starting tooth decay. It is a common problem, associated with the consumption of a large number of soft drinks, in which acid level increases throughout the body. All carbonated drinks are very acidic in taste; particularly dark colas such as Coke and Pepsi are much more acidic. (Kishore, Aggarwal, Muzammil, Oct-December 2009) There is a news article, which has published in Al-Riyadh newspaper on August 20, 2006, in which it is stated that according to scientific and medical research: Drinking Pepsi and Cola leads to cancer because the key element is taken from Pigs Sausage. The heavenly book Quran, Bible and Torah forbids eating Pork, as it is the only animal that eats dirt, dung and urine, which makes lethal and deadly fabric polluted germs and microbes. The Indian University performed tests on the impact of consumption of Pepsi and Coca Cola, which proved that drinking them, lead to more rapid heart rate and low pressure. Bones kept in the cup of Pepsi soften during the week knowing that the bones of the dead remain in the grave for thirty years. Study itself confirmed that the calcium dissolved in Pepsi and it weakens the bladder, kidneys; kill the pancreas, lead to diabetes and contagious diseases. (pegham.com) A study was conducted on carbonated beverages and among all the soft drinks, Coke and Pepsi were taken in consideration. Some, but not all, carbonated drinks were linked to about 50-80% of higher risk of pancreatic cancer when consumption is done on regular basis with 1+ serving. Thus, the study concluded that a strong relationship was found between carbonated drinks and the risk of pancreatic cancer. (Chan, Wang, Holly, 2009) According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Dr.Ambumani Ramadoss) has clarified the steps that Government has taken from the JPC Report of 2003.After the JPCs Report standards were fixed to these carbonated drinks, namely, Coke, Pepsi or other later drinks. India was one of the first countries in the world to fix standards for carbonated drinks. (Kishore, Aggarwal, Muzammil, Oct-December 2009) Also in most of the observational studies, colas are seen to be strongly associated with the risk of increased bone fracture. In many western countries, the use of milk is declining because of increased consumption of soft drinks and fruit juices, resulting in unhealthy routine as milk and water are the essential products for daily life and should be consumed on daily basis for proper growth and health. One of the key point that all of us must consider is, that over utilization of anything should be avoided especially when something is related to human health as we all know: Health is Wealth. Therefore, awareness is the first step to understand the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, harmful and beneficial. Adolescents and kids dont think long-term, its the duty of adult people or the people who have the knowledge regarding this neglected issue, should educate the mass about it so that our young generation may know and understand harmful effects of carbonated drinks and may change their attitude towards such drinks. They may reduce the consumption of cola carbonated beverages or they might completely switch to nutritious drinks like milk and juices. However, if consumers wont change their attitude towards soft drink consumption then that may result in increased health problems like obesity and osteoporosis and at that time when they have got into these health problems then changing attitude or opting for healthy drinks will be too late to help. Healthier drinks are generally replaced by soda. By high consumption of soda you cut the intake of fruit juices, milk and even water and withdraw yourself from essential vitamins and minerals, which are the key ingredients for healthy life. Healthy people always have the attitude that they go for healthy things and there are so many healthy alternatives available such as water, tea and fruit juices. Water is the best alternative as it reduces the thirst and serves as the best drink of all the drinks in the universe as it contains natural elements. Another alternative of soft drinks can be tea, which can provide safety in our body as it contains antioxidants, which helps in fighting health problems. Now, variants of tea such as green tea is available in different flavors like herbs and lemon, considered as a helping tool in reducing weight. Another good alternative of soft drinks can be fruit juices as they are pure and rich in vitamins. Thus, there are many healthy and nutritious alternative drinks are available so we as a consumer must go for such drinks, as they are beneficial to us in form of growth and development of our body and mind, which is the essence of life.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Essay --

In 1933 to 1945, Germany was under the rule of Adolf Hitler, the man who commanded the Nazi party. Their goal was to get rid of all of the ‘undesirables’, or people seen as lower than ‘true Germans’ in Europe. Most of these people were Jewish but political prisoners, Gypsies, homosexuals, and Jehovah’s Witnesses were also targeted. These people were shipped to concentration camps, camps where people were detained and confined, typically under harsh conditions. The first of these made, and the model for all others, was Dachau, located about ten miles north of Munich, Germany. It is approximated that over 50,000 people met their deaths in the Dachau camp, which would be the amount of people that would fit into a sold out Yankee Stadium. The Holocaust horrors extended beyond the largely targeted Jews, as evidenced by the treatment of the largely civilian population of prisoners at the Dachau concentration camp. The first prisoners to arrive at the camp came on March 22, 1933 and were under command of SS Officer Hilmar WÃ ¤ckerle, the man who established rules that instituted terror as a way of life for the prisoners at camp. Many of these prisoners consisted of social democrats and German Communists who had an easier time at the camp than later prisoners. Long term imprisonments often lead to death but many of the early prisoners were released after serving their sentence and were considered to be rehabilitated. But even in this early stage of the camp and the party, laws were changing to fit the Nazis ways. Theodor Eicke took over control three months after the camp opened, due to WÃ ¤ckerle being charged with the murder of a prisoner. Hitler overruled the charges and declared that concentration camps were out of the realm ... ...ite, lining the path are twelve information panels. The almost three kilometer path represents the path taken by most prisoners when they arrived in the camp. The camp also has an archive on site that is open for visitors, containing papers and documents from the camp when it was open. Currently housing over 6,000 pictures, papers like maps and blueprints, 350 phonograms, and about 1,200 films, there are many different sources in the archive and attached library. These consist of eye witness statements, documents about the development of the camp and the International Prisons Committee, which was established after the liberation. The memorial was made so the people of today could look back and remember the extreme amount of people that had their lives turned upside down and lost by the Nazi Party and to teach people so the same tragedy does not repeat itself.

Knowing the Strength of Your Buying Power :: Nike Public Relations Retail Media Essays

Knowing the Strength of Your Buying Power Reliable news sources have publicly exposed the grim working conditions of people employed by contractors making Nike products in Indonesia, Haiti and Vietnam. Nike’s association with the exploitation of third world workers has fueled a worldwide boycott on their products. Positive public relations are very important to Nike, who has positioned themselves through expensive advertising campaigns as a very strong competitor in the market of athletic shoes. Those running Nike are very aware that any negative association with the company’s name will be detrimental to its success. Nike’s name has become synonymous with the successful slogan â€Å"just do it.† Their association with sweatshops is contradictory and ruinous to their self promoted image as the champions of personal achievement. Nike must maintain a positive public image in order to continue to seduce consumers into choosing them over the competitor. So, when enough people were paying attention to Nike’s unscrupulous business practices, Nike was pushed to respond. Through the boycott, concerned consumers were able to get Nike to acknowledge and address the inhumane conditions at the factories they subcontract work to. Although there has not yet been complete resolve with Nike, concerned consumers have shown their power to be heard. Through consumer action we can create positive changes personally and politically. Many publications -- the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Sydney Morning Herald, Life Magazine -- have reported on the unjust treatment of workers making Nike products. There are reports of children sewing soccer balls for 60 cents a day, workers being beaten, sexually harassed, collapsing from exhaustion, being fired on the account of taking sick leave, working in hazardous conditions, being paid below a livable wage and the list goes on. This kind of flagrant exploitation is illegal in America. We have created laws to protect the unempowered worker from being taken advantage of by the empowered boss. On American soil, we are forced by the law to conduct business with a certain amount of moral decency and through these enforced labor laws we have developed a social understanding and agreement on humane treatment in business. But, because American workers have restricted overtime hours and a higher living wage then those in third world countries, manufacturing goods here is more costly. So, to increase profit margins, many U.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Alcohol Television Commercials are Misleading Viewers Essay -- Media

Alcohol Television Commercials are Misleading Viewers At any given time a person can turn on their television and find a commercial of some sort. Their main purpose is for them to throw information about their product to anyone who will listen. It is also common for this form of advertisement to be promoting an alcoholic beverage. Whether it’s a catchy song with the chorus chanting â€Å"This Bud’s for you!† or three frogs belching â€Å"Bud-Wei-Ser!†, viewers learn the slogans and use them in their own lives. Needless to say, alcohol companies have mastered the art of grabbing the attention of their audience by imbedding their images and words through commercial advertising. Although clever, these advertisements can be misleading their viewers to think that drinking brings unattainable excitement and pleasure rather than the serious consequences that frequently arise. Statistics for drinking are alarming for any age group. However reports about adolescent drinking are possibly the most alarming, and are a large indicator that alcohol advertisements mislead their audiences. The National Institute on Media and the Family has reported many disturbing facts about the false portrayals of alcohol consumption. For example, the institute reports that â€Å"by the time teenagers reach driving age, they will have seen 75,000 alcohol ads† (Baran, 2004, p. 445). This means that adolescents are exposed to almost 13 alcohol advertisements a day. Whether it’s subtle or obvious, children still get the message that alcohol consumption leads to parties and happiness. In fact, statistics show that â€Å"56% of children in grades 5 through 12 say that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink† (Baran, 2004, p.445). By the use of image ad... ...d federal mandated warnings), research has shown that they hurt the cause as opposed to helping. The boomerang effect expresses just this: â€Å"drinkers perceive alcohol as having more benefits when the warning is present† (Lapin, McKinnon, 1998, p.3). Alcohol is almost like a forbidden fruit, which makes the idea even more exciting and its consumers to feel as though they are overcoming the infringement on their own rights. This research, as discomforting as it is, makes it almost impossible to find a solution to overcoming the misleading information handed out through alcohol commercials. As long as alcohol is sold, it will have to be advertised with the enthusiasm and appeal that it does now, in order to maintain the consumer’s attention. Sadly enough, this has to be done through false conditions which will steadily impact our society’s view of drinking.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Learning Communities Essay

Concorde Career Institute Orlando has been an educational institution for over 25 years. This organization provides fast-track, health-related programs in various fields. As with any educational institution, proprietary or not, there are many employees-all part of many different departments. Concorde Orlando has developed of a learning community to some extent, but the findings presented in Assignment Two support a need for further development in many areas. Concorde has committed itself to providing online and in-person training in order to continue to connect members of its current learning community. This training usually covers a variety of different objectives and the training is usually provided by outside companies. By utilizing outside agencies to provide training materials, the needs of the organization and its employees are not being evaluated nor met. A more personalized training, tailored to specific and immediate needs is a must. Stronger leadership and a more cohesive working milieu are also imperative. Concorde’s major concerns should be focused upon its communication and teamwork approach but, there are many more areas of that require attention. A cohesive, functional learning environment takes dedication and time. Once those areas are better executed, it can begin to build upon the foundation it has begun to lay. Concorde Career Institution, as a corporation, makes statements that it supports a mature learning environment. The mission statement seems to promote an idealistic working atmosphere that fosters independent thinking, creativity, and a teamwork approach to education. Reality has proven to be different. A motivated and strong team leader should be put into place-one that can appreciate the benefits of a well-built and maturely developed learning community. Concorde Orlando provides a yearly employee evaluation. This valuation is meant to appraise employee performance, acknowledge strengths and identify weaknesses. The employee evaluates himself, and then subsequently, so does his/her immediate supervisor. Depending on the evaluation’s results, it may produce an action plan. This action plan recognizes areas that need to be improved on, provides a strategy by which to improve them and a date in which a reevaluation should take place. Concorde does not necessarily discuss findings in employee performance evaluations with the employees; therefore organizational expectations are not known. This causes confusion and ambiguity. Many organizations have begun to favor consultants when evaluating employee performance. This can assure independent and neutral employee performance feedback. There is research that supports consulting as a strategy for improving teachers’ implementation of classroom interventions. † Results have supported that internal consultants are able to assess and briefly increase teachers’ treatment integrity with performance feedback† (Sanetti, et. al, 2013). There is a call, however, for organizations to realize that being proactive instead of reactive is a more logical approach when it comes to employee performance. According to a 2012 Global Workforce Study,† a survey of 32,000 employees across 30 countries, calls for employers to focus on engagement. The report defines such engagement as the intensity of employees’ connection to their organization based on three factors: the extent of their discretionary effort committed to achieving work goals, an environment that supports productivity in multiple ways, and a work experience that promotes well-being† (T&D, 2013). This of course will improve overall employee performance and benefits the organization as a whole. The â€Å"group think† theory suggests that people from similar areas of work and backgrounds have ideas that are familiar are accepted without examination, while those that are unfamiliar are rejected without open consideration (Martin, 2006). Groups affected by group think do not tolerate opinions that do not coincide with their own. A learning community can be especially susceptible to group think when its community members are similar in background, shielded from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules for decision making. At Concorde, group thinking does not habitually exist. Concorde does consider the input of the community, holding biannual meetings in which area affiliates give their input on school progress, its students and offers suggestions for change. This organization seems to value the input and opinions of others. Community members can feel included when they participate in creating the future direction of their learning community. They will make better decisions when they respect social, environmental and economic needs. When a shared vision is used to devise goals that guide local leadership, the community is well on its way to creating a better, sustainable place for the community (Grunkemeyer and Moss, 2010). Shared visions are an important characteristic of any successful learning community. Concorde Orlando is no exception to this fact. This organization has a clear set of goals to accomplish, and department leaders do communicate these company visions with employees. There does not seem to be a comprehensible plan in place, however, as to how to achieve them. Often times, multiple meetings are held in order to impart the company vision community members. Because we live in a world that is constantly changing and moving, organizations are challenged with conditions that seem to change at the speed of light. Often times, initiatives are poorly planned and executed. These errors can cause crippling effects within an organization. More and more, organizations have come to depend on teamwork. According to Ofoegbu, O. , et. l (2012) â€Å"Teamwork may be an appropriate managerial approach to reducing politics by increasing employees’ understanding and control, particularly in organizations whose strategic objectives call for employees to work in teams. † Most modern organizations have realized the value and benefits of teamwork and Concorde Orlando is no exception. Most projects are completed by teams. Most issues are resolved through the input of various community members. Many community outreach activities are also organized and carried out by teams. With enrollments being the number one company goal, Concorde Orlando heavily relies on teamwork in order to achieve this. Unfortunately, inappropriate team leaders are often chosen, resulting in poorly executed plans. This can cause major project delays and â€Å"do-over’s†. Dennis J. Elrod (2012), states that â€Å"Great leaders are always learning, whether it’s from those above them in the hierarchy, their peers, or those they lead. They also don’t let opportunities to improve pass them by, so it pays to always be on the lookout for things that may improve your leadership style. There are many different types of leaders and many different types of leadership styles. Leaders not only concern themselves with the organizational goals, but also about the people who are involved in the process. Autocratic and hierarchical models of leadership dominated many businesses and organizations for years. The workplace environment changes from generation to generation. Today, community members are no longer content to go to work in complete obscurity. Employees want to feel significant, stimulated and challenged. Being an effective leader builds a sense of belonging within its learning community. Effective leaders not only increase employee retention, but also improve employee efficiency. Employees are more willing to follow efficient leaders than non-effective individuals. Choosing the right leader is the difference between success and failure. A great team leader needs to understand the organization’s goals and be able to understand what drivers are needed in order to motivate the team members. It is the leader’s job to ensure that great ideas are smartly implemented. The team leader must be able to sell his vision, the organization’s goals and the rewards reaped from the fruits of their labor. He must be able determine which team member could execute what parts of the project, resolve conflicts, and encourage each team member’s creativity and input. Concorde Orlando has a long standing history of ineffective leadership and a very high turn-over rate. During the last year, there have been several personnel changes in the Campus President, Academic Dean and program director positions. This instability and low employee retention ratio in its leadership roles have compromised Concorde Orlando’s credibility with the student body, its employees and the community. Concorde Career Institute has not been a pioneer in the field of communication. Issues are slow to be resolved, meetings are full of redundant material and there is a general fear of communicating with administrators for fear of retaliation. Great communication starts with listening and observing, and this organization has not trained its leaders to do that. Training is requisite in order to learn how to effectively communicate with others in a work environment. Currently, there is no communication training available at Concorde. The same communication methods that have been in place for years are still practiced today. Reevaluation of these methods is needed in order to have more successful communication within its learning community. Internet access provides opportunities for classrooms throughout the world to communicate and collaborate in real time. In the same way, members of the learning community can experience these open new ways of thinking. â€Å"A compendium of organizations and businesses is dedicated to encouraging an emphasis on skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, computer and technology skills, communication, and self-direction skills in US schools and schools worldwide. The educational challenges of the 21st century open up possibilities that, until now, have been beyond imagination† (Roth, 2010). Concorde does utilize different methods of training its employees in order to maximize learning potential. What seems to have been most successful within this learning community is peer leadership. â€Å"Peer leadership contributes to the success of collaborative group learning† (Popejoy and Asala, 2013). Group learning allows all members to be actively involved. When community members are involved in learning processes with their peers, they are more likely to feel comfortable. Concorde Orlando supports and encourages all types of learning models, therefore increases the chance of successful outcomes. Concorde Career Institute-Orlando could be classified as being well on its way to developing a mature learning community. Though this learning community is fraught with quite a few weaknesses, it also has an impressive set of strengths. As long as someone has the initiative and fortitude to move this community forward, Concorde Orlando can prove to be a great success.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Relationships in Pride and Prejudice

Austin writes about four relationships and shows the differences between their foundations; some eave good foundations and others are doomed to crumble and produce unhappy lives. These four relationships between Jane and Bentley, Lydia and Hickman, Charlotte and Mr.. Collins, and Elizabeth and Dared are different, but taken together provide a general guide to any relationship. First impressions are a very important part of the relationship and can influence, for better or worse, the rest of the relationship.First impressions can be affected by many things including preconceived prejudices, appearances, and social status. Austin believes that first impressions are very important. This is seen by Diana Francis, author of â€Å"An Overview of pride and Prejudice†, who says, â€Å"Austin began Pride and Prejudice in 1 796 under the title First Impressions. Her family found the novel entertaining and continued to reread it for at least two years†¦. She again began revision wo rk on First Impressions, though she was forced to retile it as the name had already been used by another novelist. Austin finally published it in 1813 under the title Pride and Prejudice. She came back to this concept much later, it seems, because she thought that this book could be a very influential book and needed to be written. This book is important because it shows the difference between good and bad foundations. It does this without directly saying what to do and what not to do like in the conduct books. In order to examine the foundation of the four key relationships, Austin must begin with each couple's first impressions.The author first shows the characters of Jane Bennett and Charles Bentley whose first impressions are based on an attraction to character. While they are both physically attracted to each other, they also see that the other one has a virtuous character. Ms. Jane Bennett is the eldest and most beautiful aught of a middle class family. She also has a sweet di sposition, is fairly well educated, and is not silly and mindless like some of her other sisters. Charles Bentley is a wealthy man who has just moved into the neighborhood.He is a good-looking man, he is very kind and polite, and well rounded. Bernard J. Paris, a professor at Michigan State University, describes their relationship: â€Å"The Jane-Bentley relationship may be more passionately intense, but it is presented as a happy accident. Fortunately for themselves, Jane and Bentley are what they appear to be† (100). Paris believes that it is an accident that Bentley moved to Interfiled, near to Jane, it is an accident that they were both attracted to one another's looks, and it is an accident that they were attracted to one another's personalities.Even though they do have a sweet love story, this could have happened to anyone really, and this is why Paris says their relationship is an accident. That is why they are not the main relationship of the book, because they are ju st average. Bentleys affection for Jane is shown when he goes out of his way to dance with her more than he dances with the other girls. He even describes her as â€Å"the most beautiful return have ever beheld! â€Å"(Austin 18). The reader can see that Jane likes Bentley just as much when the Bennett return home from the Emerson Assembly and the girls talk about how much they enjoyed themselves.Jane says about Bentley, â€Å"He is just what a young man ought to be, sensible, good humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! So much ease, with such perfect good breeding! † (Austin 24). Bentley and Jane seem to have a good, innocent relationship. The two show all the signs that they are willing to get to know each other on a deeper level and build a foundation so that their relationship will grow and flourish. The next couple that Austin discusses is Lydia Bennett and George Hickman, who are both very shallow. Their first impressions are based on physical attraction .Neither of them attempts to know one another deeper, which presents a problem and foreshadows the complications in their relationship. Lydia is one of the youngest Bennett daughters, around the age of fifteen, who is enthralled with any man in a uniform. She goes into town whenever she hears word of officers coming. She is one of the silliest Bennett girls, and this leads to her irresponsibility. She is â€Å"a young girl fascinated by the uniforms of he militia regiment and flattered by the attention and attractiveness Of Hickman, [and she] is easy prey for the disreputable young soldier' (Attachment 12).Paris notes about her upbringing, â€Å"Mr.. Bennett has power when he chooses to use it, but in general he has abandoned his paternal responsibility. His daughters are allowed to be idle and frivolous if they wish. Little effort is made either to form their characters or correct their manners† (101 The reader can infer that if the Bennett daughters, especially Lydia, had been raised better, Lydia would have made better choices in choosing a love interest. If Lydia had been raised to not be so silly and careless, she could have made better life choices.Lydia problems stem from the lack of good role models she had in her life. Her mother, whom she takes after, is also a very silly and frivolous woman, and her father does nothing to control his wife or his other daughters Lieutenant Hickman is a lieutenant in the army, who is stationed at Emerson and is good-looking. This makes him irresistible to Lydia, but she really knows nothing about his character or background. Austin uses Lydia fascination with soldiers to comment on how women in her era were often impressed by en in uniform.Daniel Pool, writer of What Jane Austin Ate and Charles Dickens Knew, states, â€Å"It is thus almost invariably the cavalry who really set feminine pulses racing in the nineteenth-century English fiction† (1 11). Hickman prides himself as being a dishonest and distru stful person from a very young age. He uses his words, charm, and good looks to try to make wealthy girls fall in love with him so he can use their money to pay off his innumerable debts.He, at first, started to talk to Elizabeth but stopped pursuing her when he found a girl with more money whom he could try to woo. When that fails, Hickman then tries and succeeds in misleading Lydia. He lies to Elizabeth about his true character. He also lies about his relationship with Dared and the time he tried to elope with Dairy's sister, Georgian, for her money. The lie that Hickman told builds up the prejudice that Elizabeth has toward Dared in the first place. In turn, this starts the relationship of Elizabeth and Dared off badly.Lydia immaturity and Hacksaw's dishonorable character suggest that this relationship is not a good one and will not prosper. Charlotte Lacuna's and Mr.. Collision's first impressions are based on social debility and security. They are both looking for social and mo netary comfort and stability in married life. They find that in each other. It is not a marriage that Austin promotes because it is not based on love. Charlotte Lucas lives near the Bennett and is a close friend of Elizabeth.Her family, like the Bennett, is not extremely wealthy and is in fact a little poorer than the Bennett. Charlotte is not very well educated, does not have a lot of money, and is not the prettiest girl. She realizes this and forms her view of marriage accordingly. She knows her circumstance and has set her standards for arraign very low so that they can be met or maybe exceeded easily. She had often talked to Elizabeth of her marriage expectations, stating, â€Å"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance .. It is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life† (Austin 40). Charlotte did not really expect love in marriage; she just wanted to be married because she needed the security it offer ed. She was nearing the age when she would be too old to be considered an eligible lady. Mr.. Collins is the distant and eccentric cousin of the Bennett who comes to sit and hopefully to find a wife. He is the clergyman of a parish on the estate of Lady Catherine De Burgh, and it is assumed he is not the first son in his family.Debra Attachment, the Vice President for Academic Affairs at New Mexico State University, tells us that the first son of the family would receive most of the inheritance, and â€Å"If he were a younger son, his family influence and financial support would generally provide him with either a lesser estate or with training for a profession (generally the church, the law, or the military) together with money or influence enough to obtain a professional position once his training was complete† (4). He is described by Mrs.. Bennett as an odious man, and he annoys the whole family except for Mr..Bennett who finds joy in laughing at his overcompensation of ev erything. Since the Bennett did not produce a male heir, Mr.. Collins will receive their estate when Mr.. Bennett passes because of a strict settlement on Longhorn. Because of this, the Bennett daughters will not inherit the estate which makes Mrs.. Bennett very upset. The reader can first see the flaws in Mr.. Collins when he comes to Longhorn. He picks out a wife in Jane, but when he finds out she already is poke for, he quickly changes to Elizabeth. Austin explains, â€Å"Mr..Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -? and it was soon done – done while Mrs.. Bennett was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course† (Austin 132). We see that he does not really want to find love in anyone; He just wants to acquire a wife to look acceptable to society while tying to benefit from the entailment that will leave the Bennett daughters without a home. Since Elizabeth refuses his proposal, he moves on and finds Char lotte Lucas who is also looking for a convenient arraign.The idea of a pragmatic marriage seems harsh to society now, but in the Regency time period this was accepted. People did not usually marry for love; instead, they married for money. â€Å"Marriage in eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England was as much (sometimes more) a matter of property as of love or companionship† (Attachment 38). Austin does not like this kind of marriage. She lifts up relationships based on love throughout her novels. This relationship does not seem like it will prosper because of the fact that the people know nothing about each other and have nothing in cornrow.The first impressions between Elizabeth Bennett and Fatalism Dared are obstructed by their pride and prejudice, so it blocks their attraction at first. They are both very proud people, and it initially hurts their relationship. Elizabeth Bennett the second oldest Bennett daughter, is strong-willed and very vocal in what she believ es. She is also very beautiful and the favorite daughter of Mr.. Bennett because she is the most like him. She is a very prideful person, and she develops prejudices against people without knowing them fully. Fatalism Dared, the good friend of Mr..Charles Bentley, is a very misunderstood character. He is a handsome and wealthy man. He comes off as a very cold and arrogant man to people who do not know him. Dared explains his behavior: Unfortunately an only son, (for many years an only child) I was spoilt by my parents, who though good themselves, (my father particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable,) allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to wish at least to think meanly Of their sense and worth compared with my own. Austin 672) He was raised to be cold to the outside, but on the inside he is a kind ND gracious person; Elizabeth realizes this when he talk s to the people closest to him. It takes Elizabeth months to realize his true character, and she regrets her first impressions very much. Dared comes from a very rich family that belongs to the highest class. Because of this, he seems justified in the society for thinking of himself as higher than other people at times. When Dared arrives at the Emerson Assembly, he feels superior to the other people there and, because of this, only dances with Bentleys sisters, whom he considers to be his equal.When Dared is questioned about Elizabeth by Bentley, he distantly says, â€Å"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men† (Austin 18). Elizabeth, inadvertently, hears this and, because of this comment, begins to dislike him. She also believes things about Dared that she has been told by Hickman which makes her like Dared less. In order for their relationship to work, they will have to put aside their pride and prejudices and focus on getting to know one another, which they will continue to do throughout the next months.Paris believes hat their relationship will work because † it is based upon a real understanding of themselves and each Other and upon a proper combination of values† (100). This gives hope since Paris believes that they will prosper, even though they will have to go through trials. First impressions not only lay a foundation, but they provide insight into what the reader can expect. This foundation that is built helps the couple when they encounter misunderstandings of many kinds. Misunderstandings test the foundations of each relationship.Misunderstandings are one of the most important things in the development of a relationship. Austin takes these same four relationships through initial misunderstandings in order to continue to build their foundations. From these misunderstandings, each relationship is tested and tried to see if it will last. One sees the importance of a good foundation, which is established in first impressions, and continued on as the relationship progresses. Jane and Bentley, although they seem like a perfect couple, still have their troubles.Their misunderstandings are filled with heart-break and communication issues. When they had both developed feelings for each other, Bentleys friends start to try to influence him, to distance himself from Jane because they are not socially equal. Bentleys sister, Caroline, does not like Cane's family because they are not from the upper class, and they are not well mannered. Another one of Bentleys friend, Mr.. Dared, explains that he tried to break up their relationship because he did not feel that Jane liked Bentley as much as he liked her.Dared did not want his friend to get hurt. He was also fearful of the fact attachment was trying to marry Bentley so she could have his money. Dared later realizes that this is not the case and that her feeli ngs for Bentley are true and honorable. Caroline Bentley sends a misleading letter to Jane telling her that Bentley and his friends will be returning to London for the winter. She implies that Bentley will woo Darers sister, Georgian, which crushes Jane. Caroline also insinuates in this letter that Jane should suppress her feelings for Bentley. She is described by David M.Sheppard, author of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, as unable to think badly of anyone, and this can be to her disadvantage. In this case, Cane's refusal to see the bad in people hurts her because she believes the best in Caroline Bentley, even when Elizabeth tries to warn her. Paris says, â€Å"Jane is insecure about her own worth and acceptability and needs to approve of everyone lest they disapprove of her†¦ . If she likes others, they will like her†¦. To maintain her picture of the world, she denies, rationalizes, and distorts† (1 1 1). Dared is seen to be looking out for his friend's best i nterests.Caroline Benignly on the other hand, seems to only be vindictive and jealous when she tries to separate Bentley and Jane because she does not like the Bennett family. Dared tells Bentley about his concern about Cane's true feelings for him. Bentley listens to these concerns, but in the end he knows that Jane does love IM. Because Of this, he fights to make this relationship work against the wishes of his best friend. Bentley is very cautious to always listen to Dairy's advice and sometimes a little too much. Paris says, â€Å"Bangle's chief trait is his readiness to be led by others.It gives him [Bentley] a feeling of security to have his actions directed by Dared' (1 1 1-112). In this case, Bentley is very reliant on his friend, but as a grown man he needs to be able to make his own decision and not care about what others think. This is especially true when it comes to the woman he will spend the rest of his life with. He finally realizes his after he leaves Nether-field and breaks Cane's heart. He then goes against the wishes of his sister and has to prove to Dared that he and Jane really do love each other. When Bentley comes to this conclusion, Jane has to choose to forgive him.Even though Bentley broke her heart when he left Interfiled, Jane still forgives him because she feels that their love is true and will last Their misunderstanding tests the foundation of their relationship and makes it stronger. Lydia and Hacksaw's misunderstandings relate directly to their personalities because they are both characterized by lies and immaturity. Hickman convinces Lydia to run away with him, and Lydia goes along with it because she thinks that Hickman is going to marry her. But in fact, he has no plan to do so. Their elopement alone was a huge disgrace.This is seen when Mr.. Bennett says, â€Å"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn? † (Austin 662). He is using sarcasm to say that this is a dishonor t o their family and hurts their family status. Everyone knows that Hickman did not plan to marry her, and that was one of the biggest disgraces. Austin reveals the severity of their situation: it would have en more for the advantage of conversation, had Miss Lydia Bennett come upon the town† (Austin 560). To be â€Å"upon the town† means to become a prostitute, so this is a very harsh comment (Sheppard 561).They are finally discovered, and Hickman is paid by Dared to marry Lydia. This shows Darers good character to Elizabeth and removes some of the prejudices she has against him. The marriage helps the Bennett family tremendously because it would have ruined their family reputation if Hickman had just left Lydia after they had run off together. This is seen when even Attachment explains why Dairy's actions are so helpful: † . NY scandal committed by one member of a family implicated all – and could literally destroy the chances of the unmarried women in the family to find respectable mates.Thus, Lydia Bennett running off with Mr.. Hickman presents a danger not only to her own reputation and her own future but to those of her sisters as well† (3). This marriage is a very sad one because there is only physical attraction. There is a weak foundation in their relationship, so it can be guessed that they will both lead miserable lives together. Austin points out that â€Å"Hacksaw's affection for Lydia, was just what Elizabeth had expected to find it; tot equal to Lydia for him† (Austin 574). This suggests that they will not have a good relationship because Lydia likes Hickman more than he likes her.They will have to work very hard in order to make this relationship work. This is not seen as a good relationship in the eyes of Jane Austin. Charlotte Lacuna's and Mr.. Collision's misunderstandings stem from the shallow foundation that they have. Their relationship is based on security and comfort in life, so they do not have any physical or character attraction to each other. Their married life is strained, and this is seen from the very ginning, when Collins proposes and asks about the date of their wedding.Austin notes, Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained† (Austin 228). Sheppard explains, â€Å"There is irony in this use of the term [disinterested] since it often connotes lack of concern with one's monetary interest, and Charlotte desire here centers around her own material benefit† (229). Charlotte situation is sad and ironic. She realizes this herself but knows there is nothing she can do about it since it stems from a lack of money, beauty, and youth.The irony in their relationship is that even though Charlotte wants a comfortable life, she cannot have that with Mr.. Collins because he is so hard to tolerate. She spends most of her time avoiding him. Sheppard says, Charlotte clearl y appreciates this reality; she also knows that, given her age and lack of either fortune or good looks, Mr.. Collins may be her last chance. With him, she will enjoy a comfortable income and home, the power of managing a household, and a much higher social position than she would have as a single woman. 231) Mr.. Collins' only mission in life is to please his patron, Lady Catherine De Burgh- Lady Catherine had suggested to him that he should find a good wife, and because he would eventually inherit the Bennett estate, he thought it a good idea to marry one of Mr.. Bonnet's daughters. After Elizabeth rejected him, he turned to Charlotte, who was willing to marry him because she also just wanted to be married in order to be comfortable. Charlotte would be comfortable because he made a decent amount of money, and Mr..Collins would be comfortable because he would please Lady Catherine. They would both be settled in society even though their comfort would come at a price. Their happines s is squandered. However, they both have their hobbies that keep them occupied. When Mr.. Collins was not doing clergy duties, Charlotte encouraged him to work in the garden as much as possible, and Charlotte stayed inside taking care of the household. This marriage is a very dull marriage, and it is not seen as a marriage that Austin likes because there is no love.Elizabeth and Darers relationship begins with many troublesome misunderstandings that in the end shape them into the best couple. Stuart M. Tape, author of â€Å"Elizabethan and Dairy's Mutual Mortification and Renewal†, says, â€Å"Each has changed because each has worked a change on the other. The happiness is deserved by a process of mortification begun early and ended late† (69). Even though they do have trials they turn themselves, individually, into better people, and their relationship is strengthened as well. This is where the theme of Pride and Prejudice mainly comes in.Attachment characterizes thei r misunderstandings: â€Å"Obstacles to their marrying include differences in wealth and social position, the behavior of members of their respective families, and their own proud and prejudiced views of themselves and each other . (2). The fact that Elizabeth prejudges people, in this case, hurts her because her presumptions about Dared are wrong, even though they are understandable at the time. John Lubber, the author of Jane Austin states, â€Å"Elizabeth is eventually proven very wrong in her hasty judgment of him, but there is considerable justification for her error. (46). The presumptions Elizabeth has are understandable. Because of Dairy's upbringing he comes off as cold and distant. Elizabeth also assumes that Hickman is a noble man and believes the lies he tells about Dared, which leads her to make more rash judgments against Dared. Dared, at first, does tot like Elizabeth, but after a couple of encounters with her, he begins to develop feelings toward her. Although he h as these feelings he â€Å"sees the connection as unsuitable to the dignity of his family† (Paris 104).Because of their difference in class, he feels that it would not be a good match from society's standpoint. Dared puts these feelings off for as long as he can before giving in. Paris says, â€Å"He is so much in love, however, that he decides to make a social sacrifice for the sake of personal satisfaction† (105). However, Elizabeth is offended when Dared proposes to her because the proposal is given in a way hat is not flattering to her. He then writes her a letter addressing her prejudices toward him. Alistair M.Ductwork, author of â€Å"Social Moderation and the Middle Way†, says, â€Å"There, in his letter to her following her rejection of his proposal, Elizabeth begins to see Dairy's character in a different â€Å"light† and to recognize how badly she misjudged him from a too easy acceptance of Hacksaw's partial view and a too hasty response to ex ternals -every charm of air and address. â€Å"‘ (46). Elizabeth has not found out his true character yet. After being rejected by Elizabeth, Dared writes and delivers a letter explaining the accusations she has about him.When she reads this letter, she begins to take back her prejudices because she begins to see his true character. At this point their relationship starts to turn for the better, and there is hope because their foundation is beginning to mend itself. Their misunderstanding is the most profound, but their reconciliation matches it. Society greatly influences the relationships in Pride and Prejudice. In the Regency time period, marriage was a central topic. In each of the four relationships, Austin reveals how society reacts by showing the response of the people around the relationships.When this is shown, one can see the conflict between the couples and the Regency society. But, where there is no disagreement with society, Austin shows how her view of marriage differs from the accepted view. Society in the nineteenth century is described by Attachment: This society was highly stratified: aristocrats tended to socialize with other aristocrats; the gentry (generally considered to be upper middle class by today's standards) socialized with other gentry; transported socialized with transported, the working poor with the working poor, and the poverty-stricken with other nonworking poor †¦ He class system in England at the beginning of the nineteenth century, though the rigid in theory, in the fact had considerable room for mobility (3). The ability to change classes is very helpful for a person and their descendants because they will not be forever confined to one class. This is helpful for the Bennett daughters because they can easily move up in life by marring men with more money. Student's works are characterized by her satirical language.This can be seen in the first line of the book: â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife† (2). Dorothy Van Ghent, the author of On Pride and Prejudice, states, This is the first sentence of the book. What we read in it is its opposite – a single woman must be in want of a man with a good fortune – and at once we are inducted into the Austin language and the energy -? . That arises from the compression between a barbaric subsurface marital warfare and a surface of polite manners and civilized conventions. 20 – 21) It can be seen that, in the society that the Bennett daughters were raised in, they were aware of their family financial mishaps. Because of this, the idea that they would have to array into money in order to be happy in life was pounded into their heads by their mother. Mrs.. Bennett is reflecting society by believing that the happiness of her daughters could only come from their marrying into money. But Austin proposes that money, in a relationship, is not neces sary, but that love must be present for happiness.Cane's and Bentleys relationship agrees with Student's view of marriage because their relationship is based on true love and attraction, even though they are from different classes of society. However, it is not in direct disagreement with society. Their relationship is more impractical in the eyes f society because they married for true love and attraction. Society, at this time, feels that love is good but marriage should be based on status and comfort in life. They believe that if a person finds these things in a spouse and happen to be attracted to this person that it is sheer luck.The reason that society really likes this relationship is because Jane is moving up in classes and marrying into money. Even though Bentley is marrying someone who does not have much money, it does not affect Bentley like it does Jane because she is solely dependent on Bentley. We see that society likes this relationship through the character of Cane's other. Before Jane and Bentley have announced their feelings, she brags to everyone about how they are going to get married and how much money Bentley brings in a year. We also see Mr..Bonnet's reaction to their relationship, as it is in contrast to his wife's. He is glad attachment has found love in Bentley and that she will be taken care of but says, â€Å"l have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income† (Austin 632). This means that they will continually be taken advantage of, which is seen to be true when Lydia and Hickman come to stay with them.One can assure that Lydia and Hickman will overstay their welcome and use them not only because of their bad character but because Jane and Bentley are compliant and always seek the approval of others. Lydia and Hacksa w's relationship does not agree with society or Austin. Austin views this relationship as selfish and superficial. They think only of themselves when they run off and disgrace the Bennett family. Society definitely does not like the idea of Lydia and Hickman just running off cause society wants them to be married.It is good that Lydia and Hickman get married, but, at the same time, it is not. They have no money except for the bride money that Hickman received from Dared and the little money he makes a year from the military. Because they do not have much money, they will have to be very cautious with their money, which does not seem likely with these two.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Nicki minaj and Michael Jackson Essay

The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five, sometimes stylized The Jackson 5ive), later known as The Jacksons, or simply Jacksons, are an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana. Founding group members Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson and Michael Jackson formed the group after performing in an early incarnation called The Jackson Brothers, which originally consisted of a trio of the three older brothers. Active from 1964 to 1990, the Jacksons played from a repertoire of R&B, soul, pop and (in the 1970s) disco. During their six-and-a-half-year Motown tenure, The Jackson 5 was one of the biggest pop-music acts of the 1970s, and the band served as the launching pad for the solo careers of their lead singers Jermaine and Michael, the latter brother later transforming his early Motown solo fame into greater success as an adult artist. The Jackson 5/The Jacksons have sold 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best selling artis ts of all time!!!!!!!! Nicki minaj Born in 1982, Nicki Minaj grew up with an abusive, addicted father. She attended La Guardia High School for the Arts, she was introduced to rapper Lil Wayne, who launched her career. Her 2010 debut album, pink friday,wit the single â€Å"Your Love,† topped the Billboard charts. A frequent â€Å"cameo† singer, Minaj’s voice was featured in seven songs on the charts. In 2012, Early Life Hip-hop artist and singer Nicki Minaj was born Onika Maraj on December 8, 1982, in Trinidad and Tobago, and moved with her family to Queens, when she was 5 years old. Minaj’s father was a severe drug addict with a long history of violence. At one point, he set fire to the family’s home and tried to kill Minaj’s mother. Those early struggles, Minaj has said, helped fuel her drive to rise above the life her parents knew. â€Å"I’ve always had this female-empowerment thing in the back of my mind,† she told Details magazine, â€Å"because I wanted my mother to be stronger, and she couldn’t be. I thought, ‘If I’m successful, I can change her life.'† To reach that point, however, nicki developed personas for herself that would allow her to be a â€Å"new person.† An early incarnation was someone she called â€Å"Cookie,† then came â€Å"Harajuku Barbie,† before finally settling on Nicki Minaj. â€Å"Fantasy was my reality,† she has said. Minaj clearly had a knack for performance. At the age of 12, she authored her first rap, then went on to delve into acting at La Guardia High School of Music and Art, the school that inspired the movie Fame. Rapper and Singer Determined to make it in the music business, Minaj took on backup singing roles for local New York City rappers. Soon, she began writing her own material. She was eventually discovered by Dirty Money CEO Fendi, who came across Minaj’s MySpace page, loved what he heard, and immediately signed her to his label. That connection led Minaj to Lil Wayne, who collaborated with her on a series of mix tapes, the first of which, Playtime is Over, was released in April 2007. The recording, and subsequent mixed tapes, showcased Minaj’s female swagger and out-front style. By early 2010, considerable anticipation had built up around Minaj’s much discussed, much covered debut album, which was scheduled for release that fall. In April of that year, she released her first single, â€Å"Massive Attack.† Two months later she won Best Hip-Hop Female at the annual BET Awards. She dedicated the award to Lil Wayne.she later became an America idol jugde.