Analysis Of The Poem Billy Collins - 1333 Words

Introduction to Poetry Billy Collins is known as one of the most popular, successful, and influential poets in American history. Collins is famously known for addressing his audience directly, mentally pulling them into the poem, and creating a temporary companionship with the reader. One of the prominent examples of this style of writing can be examined in his poem, Introduction to Poetry. In Billy Collins poem, Introduction to Poetry, he plays the role as a teacher, teaching the reader how to analyze poetry by letting your open mindedness lead you to the meaning of the poem. The title of the poem can be compared to a beginner English class, such as Poetry 101. Introduction to Poetry is about a teacher’s frustration towards the simple mistake that inexperienced readers make when poetry is first introduced. Unable to read the poem properly, they often do not capture a poem’s natural beauty or message. Often frustration to interpreting certain pieces of writing leads to the animosity of poetry. In the poem Collins is contrasting two ways of reading a poem. The first opinion, which is advocated in the first five stanzas, is of the poet or teacher who describes how he would like readers to read the poem. The second opinion, which is condemned in the last two stanzas, is of the readers and students who want to find out as quickly as possible what the poem means. Throughout the poem, there is heavy use of metaphor for â€Å"poem†. For example, in the first stanza, â€Å"I ask them toShow MoreRelatedBilly Collins, analysis of his poems. Shoveling snow with Buddha, Victorias secret, and I Chop Some Parsley While Listening To Art Blakeys Version Of Three Blind Mice3082 Words   |  13 PagesArguably the most popular poet in America, Billy Collins provides readers with two types of poetry that is nothing like typical poetry. One of his unique styles is writing as if the poem could be read like a novel. The other type brings humor and whimsy to his work, yet he hints at a seriousness that lies beneath the surface. Both styles of poetry are easy to read, but take a second look to realize what the Collins is intending the reader to understand. Billy Collins is an exceptionally talented poet whoseRead MorePoetry Analysis of Introduction to Poetry837 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry analysis of ‘Introduction to Poetry’ The Poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† is by Billy Collins, an English poet, and it is about how teachers often force students to over-analyze poetry and to try decipher every possible meaning portrayed throughout the poem rather than allowing the students to form their own interpretation of the poem based on their own experiences. Throughout the poem, a number of literary devices are used. For example: â€Å"or press an ear against its hive†. Using this metaphorRead MoreLiterary Diction In Billy Collinss Once More To The Lake943 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Once More to the Lake† and â€Å"Forgetfulness† Literary Analysis Sarah sat in the corner of her room extremely upset staring down at a piece of paper. She recently failed a math test, and without enough time to bring up her grade, reality sunk in that she would not be receiving honors this semester. Feeling as if her world was crumbling, Sarah suddenly realized that this is just one grade and that she would hardly remember why she was so upset in a few days. The two sources, â€Å"Once More to theRead MorePoetry Analysis. Protecting The Innocence Instilled In1563 Words   |  7 PagesPoetry Analysis Protecting the innocence instilled in children has been questioned throughout history. Some might believe it is within their rights to shelter children from the gruesome parts of the world in a loving manner, while others might believe it is their job to prepare children for what scary realities lie ahead. This is a subject argued about by many parents, teachers, and guardians. If one were to shelter their children too much, the child would grow up to misunderstand how to surviveRead MoreSonnets By Billy Collins : The Antihero Of Sonnet1770 Words   |  8 PagesIn 2010 Billy Collins writes Sonnet, a piece of literary work I consider to be the antihero of sonnets. Collins ironically follows neither the constructs of a Shakespearean nor Petrarchan Sonnet throughout. He also creatively breathes new life into a strict art form while rejecting the historical rules a sonnet must follow in this work. Upon further review of Sonnet, it becomes clear that this deliberate rule breaking is a s killed nod side-step to historic norms and a promotion of a new age ofRead MoreThe Poem By Billy Collins1652 Words   |  7 PagesThe poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins, is about a teacher explaining to her students how to read and analyze poetry. Collins employs an abundance of figurative language, especially metaphors and images, to express the progressive steps taken to understand a poem for all that it encompasses. When beginning to read a poem, first we must look at the bigger picture, like we are working from the outside of the poem to the inside. Once we begin to understand the storyline, we must dive furtherRead More Reflective Essay on College Writing839 Words   |  4 Pagesthem to our writing. Most of the writing we did was simply based upon our own opinions. We hardly ever used secondary sources. I believe that deconstructionist theory was the most helpful theory I learned this year for analyzing literature. Breaking a poem up line by line or i mage by image or even a story into small sections made it a lot easier to grasp the main concepts of the work. Most of the time during this semester, however, I took a formalist point of view. Also, unlike high school, the readingRead MoreI Am An Efficient Editor1779 Words   |  8 Pagesexpress emotions and personal experiences in a distinct, original way. Over the past few years, I have written a lot of poems and lyrics as a means of sorting my thoughts and dealing with overwhelming emotions. Entering the course, I knew my struggles would not lie in writing poetry, but rather, through deciphering the meanings behind others’ poems. I questioned my ability to annotate poems and write about them in an academic format. In my self-assessment, I identified my greatest writing weakness as â€Å"myRead MoreMy Writing Style And Abilities994 Words   |  4 Pagesthemes that were being conveyed. More specifically, within the assignment of evaluation about love versus lust, I could have incorporated how the themes that were being expressed were associated with the events of the poems and affected the events of the plot. For example, one poem I focused on was AP, by John Updike. Within my essay, I explained the overall events and how they specifically realted to the feelings of the Sammy, a main character, and what literary evidence I believed led him to hisRead MorePoetry Essay Prompt2545 Words   |  11 PagesLiterature Poetry Essay Prompts (1970–2011) 1970 Poem: â€Å"Elegy for Jane† (Theodore Roethke) Prompt: Write an essay in which you describe the speakers attitude toward his former student, Jane. 1971 Poem: â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† (W.H. Auden) Prompt: In a brief essay, identify at least two of the implications implicit in the society reflected in the poem. Support your statements by specific references to the poem. 1972 NO POEM 1973 (exam not available) 1974 Poem: â€Å"I wonder whether one expects...† (No poet

Should Sex Education Be Legal - 987 Words

Everyone has their own way of rising children. This sometimes causes problems while deciding on what children should learn in school. While some schools cater to religion being taught the same thing is not set in place for sex education. Many believe that sex education is vital in today’s world. Meanwhile others feel that the sex talk should be left up to the parents. With pregnancy rates going up and adolescents getting pregnant younger soon there will not be a choice. One thing is certain that public schools should educate children in some way. Nevertheless not all parts of sex education will be accepted. With the amount of teen pregnancies and the various sexually transmitted diseases researchers and parents are trying to find ways to stop teens from having sex. A lot of people are turning to teaching sex education in public schools. The first source states that teaching sex education in schools could decrease the sexual activity in adolescents. Kirby states, â€Å"Because most youth are enrolled in school for many years before they initiate sea and when they initiate sex, schools have the potential for reducing adolescent sexual risk-taking† (Kirby, 2002). The second source is for sex education as well. In the Netherlands sex education is more accepted and implemented into the school systems. So much so that teachers are trained over anatomy, the human and how to teach the information to their students. Saskia De Melker tells readers, â€Å"By law, all primary school students inShow MoreRelatedShould Sex Education Be Legal?1680 Words   |  7 PagesSex: the elephant in the room no one likes to talk about. It is a natural act humans have done for years but also a taboo to show or acknowledge. Sex, despite being taboo, is omnipresent. It is present in discussions of God, television, dating, and other areas, all of which have played a role into my understanding of sex and sexuality. However, public education has ultimately been the main factor in maintaining my personal safe sex life. Many parents debate whether sex education should remain inRead MoreSex Education Should Be Legal Essay1891 Words   |  8 Pagesyear, and 50% of new HIV infections occur in individuals under the age of 25 (Beh 22). This can partly be attributed to the state of sex education in the United States. Only 24 states require sex education be taught in schools and only 20 of those require the information to be ‘medically, factually, or technically accurate’ (â€Å"State Policies†). Abstinence-only education has been proven to be ineffective in reducing rates of teen pregnancies, STDs, and the consequences of both; has a lack of public support;Read MoreSex Education Should Be Legal2009 Words   |  9 Pagesfamily. After all, our parents talked to us about the â€Å"birds and the bees† and our teachers made us sit through that awkward sex education class in school, both making our young minds believe that having sex just one time would result in pregnancy. Then you get older and are ready to have a family and come to realize that there is a lot more to getting pregnant than just having sex. There is this magic time in a women’s cycle called ovulation; there is a short 24 hour window for the egg to be fertilized;Read MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legal Defense And Education Fund Supports Same Sex Marriage?1085 Words   |  5 Pagesis legalizing same-sex marriage. In their article, â€Å"Talking About the Freedom to Marry: Why Same-Sex Couples Should Have Equality in Marriage,† the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund s upports same-sex marriage. An opposing view, is given by Robert P. George, a Princeton University professor. In his article, â€Å"The 28th Amendment: It Is Time to Protect Marriage, and Democracy, in America,† he explains why he is against same-sex marriage. The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund concludes thatRead MoreMy View and Opinion on Underage Sex Essay769 Words   |  4 PagesMy View and Opinion on Underage Sex Is the age of 16 the right age for sex to be legal? Many people have their own views and beliefs and the issue is very indecisive, but is there ever going to be an age that everyone agrees is appropriate? This is what my speech is going to be about. Many people have different opinions on what they think the legal age to have sex should be. Every year more and more children are having underage sex and this number is continuing toRead MoreThe Best Kind of Sex Education708 Words   |  3 Pages There is much controversy over which form of sex education should be taught, comprehensive sex education, or abstinence-only sex education. The definition for comprehensive sex education is responsible and balanced sexuality education that seeks to assist young people in understanding a positive view of sexuality, provide them with information and skills about caring for their sexual health, and help them acquire skills to make decisions now and in the future. It is medically accurate and providesRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Respected1123 Words   |  5 Pagessociety, same-sex marriage should be respected at the same level as traditional opposite-sex marriage. â€Å"Marriage is the ultimate affirmation of a sexual relationship. Marriage is the institution in which we not only tolerate people having sex and housing children, but we encourage it and celebrate it as a society† (Foust 3). Most states attempted to avoid the same-sex marriage issue by defining marriage between man and woman, but that soon became an unexpected controversial issue (â€Å"Same-Sex MarriageRead MoreShould Sex Education Be Taught? Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagesaddressing sex education in my classroom. The state-mandated teaching standards promoting a biased, abstinence-only program, however, do little to communicate reliable and inclusive information about sexuality. Texas provisions and education codes relating to sex education should sustain amendments that fully address the sexual health needs of every student, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation or sexual expression. Sex Education in Texas The topic of sex education in the UnitedRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1254 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the majority opinion was an act of will, not of legal judgment. Under the Constitution, judges do have the power to say what the law is, but not what the actual law should be. Both the majority opinion and the dissenting opinions contain some language of interest concerning those who disagree with the legal conclusion based upon religious beliefs. The majority opinion makes a great statement about how many people, who were opposed of same-sex marriage to be wrong, were against it primarily basedRead MoreAbortion Essay879 Words   |  4 Pageslive or the right to decide. The debate whether abortion should be made legal continues to divide republicans and democrats long after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision on Roe v. Wade declaring abortion a â€Å"fundamental† right (Roe V. Wade). The conflict over abortion that was divided into two camps, Pro-Life and Pro-Choice, sparked different views in conservatives and liberals; supporters of both camps may come together to help in sex education, distribution of birth control, and protection to avoid

A Novel Application of Cloud Computing

Question: Describe about A Novel Application of Cloud Computing? Answer: This particular assignment reflects answer of two questions such as impact of cloud computing on corporate strategy and value chain as well as the effectiveness of cloud based ERP system in business process. Moreover, this assignment also reflects the aspects that need to avoid during the implementation of cloud based ERP system in business. Here, analyst represent the impact of cloud computing such as transformative impact, impact on value delivery, equation, resource management, performance management, risk management, etc. Several diagram drawn by the researcher in order to display the impact process of cloud computing. In next question, analyst represents the benefits of cloud computing such as cost reduction and saving, mobility, flexibility, etc of cloud based ERP solutions in business. Cloud computing has the ability to load software, cloning for meeting sudden workload demand, virtual server, etc. In business industry and rapid growth of Information Technology, cloud computing is used widely. In the market, there are several cloud service providers such as Apache, OS, MySql, etc. This study also describes the ERP system in business with key risks during implementation of cloud based ERP for business organization. Implementation of Cloud based ERP solution in the business In order to increase organisational performance and prepared the best accounting information system, organisation in business sector has to involve Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). It is an integrated system that simply makes overall organization process into one way. SAP is one of the key suppliers of ERP system for business. However, in early days, most of the people used ERP system traditionally through involving a large IT team within the workplace. However, it has been also seen that ERP is the biggest information technology process that often not execute properly. As a result, company faced trouble to execute the program. Moreover, development of traditional ERP system is high cost budget. For small business, it is impossible to implement ERP system. However, in these days of rapid technology growth, suppliers of ERP such as SAP introduced cloud computing process in development of ERP solution for business organisation. It is much cost effective and easy to execute. Rountree Castrillo (2013) argued that due to moving resources from Software as a Service to the Platform as a Service, the concept of cloud based ERP solution plans introduced. The cloud computing platform moves from software as a service to platform as a service is just because of embracing growth of iPads and Smartphone applications. Through the variety of ways, cloud computing make the resources available for effective management. The cloud computing provide more holistic system to the organisation that shift the operational skills for delivering business value and effective infrastructure. If the organisation implements cloud ERP in their business, they are able to achieve following benefits that delivers high benefits Reduce total costs of ownership: Cloud based ERP solution can allow the organisation in building application with los budget and also allow to access from anywhere. Thus, they can able to maintain their CRM, HR department, analytics report, etc. Thus, cloud based ERP system generates automatic process and decrease the requirements of hardware and software as well as the IT team within the organisation. Cloud based ERP system required low cost to develop as well as forecast. Abidi Abidi (2012) cited that cloud based ERP system reduce cost more in order to make low competition for the organisation. Better Alignment of IT investment: The cloud based ERP system has required little of capital rather than the tradition ERP system. Solution of cloud based ERP system is more flexible rather than other such SAP ERP system. In order to develop the cloud based ERP system, organisation has to bare little in technology. Therefore, Huang Nicol (2013) suggested that the costs of cloud based ERP solution can up and down according to the infrastructure of organisation. The third party vendor take total responsibility in developing the cloud based ERP system. Therefore, company in business industry can align their IT investment in better way. For example, if the organisation has cloud based ERP system it allows the organisation in monitoring the entire system and ensuring the system uptime. As the cloud based ERP solution monitor and access information automatically, the IT department can able to focus more on the other task such as resource management, CRM. HR, SCM, etc. Global Access: The cloud based ERP system allows the staffs or employees of the organisation in accessing information from any place. Apart from that, the cloud base ERP system was provided by the large organisation such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc. Therefore risk of information theft in accessing from outside of the office has low. With the help of internet, employees of the firm are able to access information from any locations. Faster Time to Value: The cloud based ERP solution service providers demand that, it deliver performance in a better way instead of traditional ERP system. Cloud based ERP system has been applied for computing the resources. Therefore, it allows the organisation in increasing their performance within lower costs. Apart from that, it has been seen that Microsoft dynamics assists the organisation in consistence performing as well as faster service providers n terms of improving the performance. Moreover, through the involvement of cloud based ERP system, organisation can able to save their significant costs. A dynamic business solution: Cloud based ERP system is one of the most effective and efficient resource scalability regarding costs. Cloud based ERP system can allow in purchasing the amount of resources additionally. Therefore, the existing IT staff can focus more on the value add of projects rather than in maintaining day-to-day operations. Solution for organisation of all size: Cloud based ERP system connect the entire process of business in one system such as information about suppliers, locations, clients, etc. For example, Microsoft dynamic ERP system is an effective tool that maintains interoperability between the external and internal system for daunting task. Risk that needs to avoid during the implementation of cloud based ERP system In order to implement the cloud based ERP solution within the organisation, company may faced several risks. Therefore, for implementing the cloud based ERP system in business, need to avoid following risks such as Security Breaches: It is the key risk in implementation of cloud based ERP solutions because third party vendor install ERP system within business process. Apart from that, prominent cloud hosting companies install system. Therefore, leakage of information regarding security may create several risks. Therefore, during the implementation of cloud based ERP system, need to avoid the security risk through developing proper rules and regulations. Majority of user faced challenges in conducting ERP system. Therefore, management of the organisation or head of the department has to take total responsibility in adopting security breaches during implementation of ERP system. Concern of business owners: In major cases, it has been seen that, owner of the business ever closely involve with the implementation process of cloud based ERP system. As a result, the third party vendor unable to implement ERP solution according to their requirement. Therefore, several risks occur and implemented system fail to interact the business operational process. Therefore, for implementing the cloud based ERP system, need to involve closely with the third party vendor that install the program and describe them about the entire process clearly as well as requirement of the company. Federal and state regulation: It is also another factor that needs to consider for avoiding risk in implementation process of cloud ERP solution. In order to mitigate or avoid the risk of implementation cloud based ERP system, organisation especially the financial institution and the heath care service providers has to involve laws or regulation that covers sensitive data or information. This study concludes the impact of cloud computing in corporate strategic and value chain and affect of cloud based ERP system in business. Apart from that, suggest to avoid the risk during implementation of cloud based ERP solutions in business. Reference List Abidi, F., Abidi, H. (2012). Cloud Libraries: A Novel Application of Cloud Computing.IJ-CLOSER,1(3). doi:10.11591/closer.v1i3.586 Rountree, D., Castrillo, I. (2013).The basics of cloud computing. Burlington: Elsevier Science.

The British Security Coordination and Canadian Involvement in Clandestine Activities Essay Example

The British Security Coordination and Canadian Involvement in Clandestine Activities Essay In times of tribulation people come together to do what they can and what they must to survive. Some people go so far beyond the call of duty and normal responsibilities that everyone who comes after them are forever in debt to their courage and selflessness. Never has so much been owed by so many, to so few. Churchills famous words still ring true to this very day but people often fail to realize exactly how much people sacrificed and risked for them. Some of the most astounding stories from World War II have not been heard by many simply because of the nature and delicacy of those stories. Intelligence during the second Great War played a very integral part in the allied victory, however, the very nature of the work the intelligence community did ensures that to this day many documents are still highly classified.In the past 30 years many more books have been written, with varied accuracy about Canadian participation in the British Security Coordination, Special Operations Executiv e and MI9. Through accounts of Canadians behind enemy lines and looking at the importance of William Stephenson and Camp X or STS-103, looking at Canadian involvement in the covert aspects of World War Two will show that they were not only crucial to the cooperation and communication between Allied forces, but also in the resistance in occupied Europe and helping soldiers escape from behind enemy lines.Covert operations was a young business at the beginning of World War Two, but quickly grew up becoming the foundation of most intelligence agencies in the modern age including the Central Intelligence Agency which is a direct descendant of the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.). One of the first such organizations to come into existence with relation to World War 2 was the Special Operations Executive or S.O.E. Created in 1940 from Section D of M.I.6, M.I.(R) of the War Office, and a small section of the Foreign Office, S.O.E had a very specialized objective to fulfill:Its mandate was to encourage resistance in enemy-occupied Europe and Asia by sending agents to help organize and train local volunteers in sabotage, industrial demolition, ambush, disruption of communications and, in a few cases, to engage in the collection of specific intelligence.1S.O.E. would go on to drop agents behind enemy lines virtually all over the world to help recruit and train resistance to, as Churchill stated, set Europe ablaze. With the possibility of a ground force being landed in Western Europe to open up a second front growing slimmer into 1940, the British government decided that something had to be done to disrupt German efforts. While virtually expelled from Europe (except Gibraltar) the British took what steps it could, including a blockade of continental Europe, and a limited bombing effort, though at this point bombers were still in short supply. The S.O.E. gave Britain an effective way to help the enemies of Germany behind enemy lines while furthering there own agenda. From its rocky beginnings through until 1946 when it was disbanded the S.O.E. in 71 months fielded more than nine thousand agents and operated everywhere from China, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and nineteen European countries.2 It was in this organization that Canadians were primarily used behind enemy lines because of the many nationalities in Canada, especially the French, and Eastern Europeans.One of the many things to come out of the S.O.E. was North Americas British Security Coordination. The B.S.C. was created out of the need for better Anglo-American cooperation, but also for a stronger presence of Allied intelligence agents in North and South America. The British Security Council was responsible for the financial and administrative tasks of many stations throughout Latin America, as well as MI5s (Britains homeland security) domain in North and South America including Newfoundland and Canada, as well as various Caribbean possessions.3 The British Security Coordina tion was crucial for the presence it had in North and South America, the valuable advice it gave to the burgeoning American intelligence agency the Office of Strategic Services, and for the direct link it gave between the American government and the British government. The B.S.C. and its American interests was run by William Stephenson, or a man better known as Intrepid.William Stephenson, born in Winnipeg in 1896 and adopted by Icelandic immigrants he would become a major mover and shaker during World War Two. Stephenson joined up during World War One and went to fight in France sometime in mid-July and was sent home a week later after being wounded and gassed. While wounded though he took courses in the theory of flight, internal combustion, and communications and navigation and ended up back in the war as a fighter pilot. Stephenson was eventually awarded the Military Cross in April 1918 and the Distinguished Flying Cross in August 1918 for reportedly shooting down eighteen enemy craft and two kite balloons.4 After the war Stephenson went back to Winnipeg where he became an unsuccessful entrepreneur and opened a hardware store but quickly closed it when in 1922 he filed for bankruptcy.Stephenson left rather quickly for England and began a successful career as a businessman and inventor, patenting things like the can opener, and wireless photography. He went on the have several contacts with powerful business men and became one himself, socializing with politicians and famous figures like H.G. Wells. Stephenson was also known to give Churchill, who was not in office at this time, accurate information on German rearmament and even said at one point We were all friends, you see, Churchill and the rest. We were a group of friends who saw the war coming.5 Stephenson was sent as Churchills personal representative to the United States to help counter German propaganda to stop American aid to the Allies and to ensure closer relations between the F.B.I. and British intelligence. One of Stephensons first achievements in America was a meeting that was arranged by Bill Donovan with the Secretary of Navy Frank Knox, the Secretary of War Henry Stimson and the Secretary of State Cordell Hull to discuss the trade of fifty over-age destroyers to the British. This was just the first of many direct involvements that Stephenson had concerning American aid and involvement with the British.With Stephenson having made contact with Roosevelt among others in the United States the business of helping construct an American intelligence agency that would operate over-seas and organizing British interests in the Western half of the world began. Stephenson set about hiring Canadians to staff the B.S.C. and work around the clock to decode and send messages crucial to the Allied cause. Stephensons influence was so great that not only did he have direct access to the heads of state, but he could virtually ignore Britains ambassador to the United States Lord Lothian, just as the British ignored Ambassador Kennedy in London.6 This direct access lead to the British able to have a central agency on neutral soil which was a collusion of four major British intelligence departments based out of New York plus a communications-intelligence web that covered virtually all directions and a secret police force on American soil. These facts alone lent to the urgent need for secrecy as any violation of Americas sovereignty, which the British Security Council surely was, would contribute nicely to the anti-war movement in the United States and help Germanys war effort. Despite these restrictions many remarkable things were achieved by Stephenson and the many men and women who worked for him. One of the more astounding stories that seems to come more out of a thrilling spy book rather than historical documents was the procurement of Vichy French Naval ciphers kept under lock and guard in the French embassy.Two of Stephensons agents known as Cynthia and Bertrand masquerading as romantic lovers bribed a night watch man to let them into the embassy for a circumspect tryst. After gaining his trust by doing this for a few nights they slipped him a sleeping powder in his champagne and brought in a locksmith to figure out the code for the safe in the code room. The next night they again went in and knowing that the security guard was probably quite suspicious about his falling asleep had Cynthia undress for the guards expected intrusion. After sufficiently embarrassing the guard and getting his assurance that they would not be bothered anymore, they opened the safe and passed out the naval ciphers to a waiting agent who copied them and brought them back to be replaced in the safe.The Vichy French naval ciphers were successfully stolen by two daring agents and went to great use in Operation Torch and the landing in North Africa.7 Stephenson and his staff of loyal Canadians did much for the war effort far from the front in the United States and al l over Latin America. Stephenson ensured a level of cooperation between America and Britain that simply was not possible through normal diplomatic lines and in the eyes of the American public. From secretaries to code analysts the British Security Council organized the war on this side of the Atlantic and gave the Allies a major advantage through their radio operators and covert services.One of the most closely guarded secrets on Canadian soil during World War Two was a secret agent training school strategically placed on the shores of Lake Ontario. Dubbed Camp X by those that knew of its existence on this side of the ocean and STS-103 (Special Training School 103) by the British. Located on the border of Whitby and Oshawa just east of Toronto Camp X was established in 1941 by William Stephenson as a way to train agents for assignments with S.O.E. and MI9 in Axis Europe. Camp X was designed to not only train special agents, but with sophisticated radio equipment link the United Stat es with Canada. Located off of Lake Ontario which was ideal for bouncing radio signals to Europe, South America and of course between B.S.C. headquarters in New York and London, fifty kilometers from the United States across Lake Ontario and only five kilometers from Defense Industries Ltd., which was the largest ammunition manufacturing facility in North America at the time, Camp X was in a perfect position to contribute to the war in several crucial ways.One of the best aspects of Camp X was the very diverse population within its reach. The B.S.C. had within its reach large populations of French Canadians, Yugoslavs, Italians, Hungarians, Romanians, Chinese and Japanese from which to select as potentials for S.O.E. training. For the British is was simply easier to send a few instructors to Canada then to send several hundred potential recruits to Britain just to discover they did not have what it takes to operate behind enemy lines. Camp X was essentially a recruiting and culling school for potential recruits for the S.O.E., training them in aspects of silent killing, revolutionary work, sabotage and recruitment methods for the resistance methods.Camp X did not just train potential recruits for the S.O.E., they also trained other training officers for the United States and their newly formed O.S.S. When the Office of Strategic Service was still known as Coordinator of Intelligence (from July 1941 to June 1942) it was agreed that the C.O.I. should train its Special Operations Officers at Camp X. Many officers that went on the form the bulk of the O.S.S. were trained in the trade by British officers at Camp X. The first unit dispatched from the O.S.S. was a U.S. army major named Carl Eifler who had been trained at Camp X along with his key subordinates. Carl Eifler and his men were sent to India and later given the chance to operate in China proving themselves to be more than capable of handling their assignments.8The agents that were trained in Camp X and dro pped behind enemy line were certainly as effective as their American counterparts, if not more so. It has been the consensus of many historians that the superior efforts of the expert training and support staff of Camp X may have reduced the duration of the war by six months to a year and saved hundreds of thousands of lives.9 This may seem like a bold statement, but the French Canadians who were dropped into German occupied France were responsible for blowing up bridges and disrupting railway tracks, delaying the Germans by at least three weeks from reaching Normandy after D-day. In the course of roughly a year and three months from January 1942 until March 1943,Camp X had over 273 men and women trained who would go on to work in the S.O.E. both in the field and as training officers, O.S.S. officers and agents, security officers in South America, among various other things.10 It is estimated that another one hundred and fifty agents were trained between March of 1943 and April of 1 944. A number of these agents were trained in the use of HAM radios, and were responsible for much of the information gathered for the Allies. Stationed all over South America these men and women were given the task of monitoring radio communications of the enemy which was much heavier than most would think in South America.The other part to Camp X that was crucial to the war effort was the massive radio housed there code named Hydra. This radio station was putting through high priority messages straight through to heads of state including Roosevelt and Churchill. The camp also had direct lines to New York, Ottawa and Washington, and their lines had an even higher priority than the Prime Ministers office.11 Hydra was responsible for the secure communication available between the British and Americans, and was the hub that most major communications between the two Allies went through. Though Camp X was one of dozens of special agent training camps that the British had throughout the world it was undoubtedly the most important for several reasons. The men that Camp X trained were often the most successful behind enemy and there are dozens accounts of these brave people and there stories, it was an invaluable tool in the training of intelligence officers for the American O.S.S., and it was the base for the largest radio installation in North America, and a direct communication link between the British and the Americans.Through the efforts of individuals like William Stephenson and the hundreds of Canadians who voluntarily dropped behind enemy lines in the fight against the Germans, and the men and women that were organized to monitor German radio as well as pass information between the Allies, Canadians played a large role in the covert aspect of World War Two. While many Canadians do not recognize this fact, it is not because they do not want to, it is because they do not know. Many Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice for the good of others, while many more ga ve their utmost dedication and attention to the war that was raging so far away.The collusion between American and British interests that Stephenson managed so skillfully, despite all the restrictions placed on him helped ensure British survival during the darkest days of the war, and eventual entry into the war by the United States. From Canadian radio operators to Canadians organizing resistance they were involved in all levels of the covert aspect of World War Two.

Can Fancy Trucks Attract New Drivers

Can Fancy Trucks Attract New Drivers CareersInGear has rounded up several of the latest innovations luxury truck manufacturers are turbo-loading into new rigs:Â  In-truck bathing and toilet facilities! The most popular features? KitchenettesTables and boothsEntertainment centers set up with surround sound, DVD players, video game consoles, and flat screen TVsLarger, non-folding bedsHow are the entertainment centers not a terrible idea? But anyway, the thing to remember with all these action-packed palaces on wheels is the weight. Balance your need for amenities with the number of loads you want to make, the mileage you’ll be accumulating (and the fuel costs that go with it), and the frequency of the runs you’ll be making. Companies like TryHours are piloting 20 big rigs in their fleet with more extravagant features, but in order for these upgrades to be reasonable across the industry they’ll need to be scaled down appropriately. More comfortable beds, absolutely! Xbox? Maybe not so much!Have you se en any of these luxury rigs on the road yet? Â  Would the increased convenience of stopping less and enjoying more privacy be worth the compromises on load-bearing? Weigh in in the comments!

Environmental Risks From Mine Tailings

Environmental Risks From Mine Tailings Tailings are a type of rock waste from the mining industry. When a mineral product is mined, the valuable portion is usually embedded in a rock matrix called ore. Once the ore has been stripped of its valuable minerals, sometimes through the addition of chemicals, it is piled up into tailings. Tailings can reach immense proportions, appearing in the form of large hills (or sometimes ponds) on the landscape. Tailings deposited as large piles can cause a variety of environmental problems: Slumps, landslides. Tailing piles can be unstable, and experience landslides. In 1966, in Aberfan, Wales, a hill of mining debris famously collapsed onto buildings, resulting in 144 deaths. There are also cases where wintertime avalanches occurred on tailings, with loss of life for residents below.Dust. Dry tailing deposits contain small particles that are picked up by the wind, transported, and deposited on communities nearby. In the tailings of some silver mines, arsenic and lead is present in the dust in high enough concentrations to cause serious health problems.Leaching. When rain falls on tailings, it leaches away materials that can create water pollution, for example, lead, arsenic, and mercury. Sulfuric acid is sometimes produced when water interacts with tailings, or it can be a by-product of ore processing. As a result, highly acidic water leaks from the tailings and disrupts aquatic life downstream. Tailings from copper and uranium mining often produce measurable levels of radioactivity. Tailing Ponds Some mining wastes become very fine after they have been ground up during processing. The fine particles are then generally mixed with water and piped into impoundments as a slurry or sludge. This method cuts down on dust problems, and at least in theory, the impoundments are engineered to let excess water flow out without leaking tailings. Coal ash, while not a type of tailing, is a coal burning by-product stored the same way, and carrying similar environmental risks. In reality, tailing ponds also carry several environmental risks: Dam failure. There have been numerous instances where the dam holding back the impoundment collapsed. The consequences to the aquatic communities below can be serious, for example in the case of the Mount Polly Mine Disaster.  Leaks. Tailing ponds can be hundreds of acres in size, and in those cases, leaks into surface and ground waters are probably inevitable. The heavy metals, acids, and other contaminants end up polluting groundwater, lakes, streams, and rivers. Some very large ponds in Canada’s tar sands operations leak large amounts of tailings in the underlying soil, in the aquifer, and ultimately into the nearby Athabasca River.Wildlife exposure. Migrating waterfowl has been known to land on tailing ponds, and in some cases with dramatic consequences. In 2008, about 1,600 ducks died after landing on a tar sands tailing pond in Alberta, contaminated by floating bitumen, a tar-like substance. However, simple deterrent measures can reduce that risk significantly.

Cause and Effect of Online Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cause and Effect of Online Education - Essay Example People throughout the nation are looking for ways to cut their costs of living without sacrificing what they already have. Students who are trying to get an education are not typically interested in cutting out going to school so that they can get a job now. Many studies have actually shown that such a move is counter-productive in the long-run. When a student takes the time to get a degree, their earning power exponentially increases. Therefore, when an individual makes the decision to stop going to school in order to work full-time, they are actually limiting their earning potential. There is also truth in the idea that you must train to get the job you truly want rather than just the job you’ll accept. On-campus educations can cost several thousand dollars a year depending on which institution you attend. So, many students are turning to online education in order to cut back on cost while still continuing toward their degree. At Oregon State University, the average cost of full-time attendance for one year is $9435.01 while living off-campus, and $21430.01 if the student is living on campus (â€Å"Oregon State University†). Conversely, while attending the same university entirely online, the cost of one full-time year is only $8460 (â€Å"Oregon State University†). Conversely, while attending the same university entirely online, the cost of one full-time year is only $8460 (â€Å"Oregon State University†).   Therefore, we can clearly see that online education can save money. Nearly every class in the United States has felt the squeeze of the tough financial situation.   Families who used to subsist on one income have had to see their partner return to work.   Numerous High School students are balancing work and school to help out their families.   College students, who used to be able to go to school full-time with the help of financial aid, are finding themselves in the position of having to work as well.     Ã‚  

Managing Information Technology Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing Information Technology - Coursework Example An added feature of executive Information system is its support for the graphical functions representation. Unlike the predecessor solution providers that only provided data figures, this system through the help of graphs, comparison charts and other similar displays make it possible understanding the scenario in a better manner. Integration of the internal data with the external variables is another feature function of E.I.S. Creating a budget that is in line with the needs of the organization is also made possible through this utility feature system. Owing to their excellent output, their increased productivity and reduced hassle, the larger enterprises and front runner business trend setters have adopted these systems into their networks. Data mining is a modern trend that has emerged with the evolution of the information technology based support systems. As the name would imply, it is the investigation and assessment of the different variables and different data sheets and facts through a certain critical viewing and perspective. The two concepts are equally intertwined, while data mining is related to the dissected and detailed investigation and assessment of the overall facts and data at hand, the data warehouse in contrast serves as a repository of information and overall monitoring level tool and software support system. Number of techniques and strategies can be adopted with regard to the data mining process and utilization of the software. Two of the most commonly used techniques include clustering and classification techniques. Through the technique of clustering different set of variables may be brought together for a cumulative assessment of key variables. The cluster technique allows targeting and segregating two set of variables and responders in a data set collected from a survey or any other observational study undertaken. Pre determination

Art Exhibit on Nature Essay Example for Free

Art Exhibit on Nature Essay The planet earth is the only known habitat for humankind. For millions of years, it served as the home to numerous living things such as animals, plants and people. More so, it has been a witness to many events that have shaped the course of world history. Because of this, it is suffice to say that our beloved Mother Earth has played a vital role in nourishing and sustaining the existence of humans. In return for all the benefits and nourishment that Mother Earth has provided to humans, human beings have showed their gratitude by expressing their appreciation and admiration for the beauty and splendor of nature. For centuries, human beings have captured the magnificence of the diversity and uniqueness of the environment which was shown using various art forms such as painting, sculptures, photography, architecture and many others. In line with this, throughout history, several art movements have emerged. There were the Classical, Renaissance, Baroque, Modernism and many others. The dominant and styles and themes differed in these art periods. However, there was one theme that has remained constant until the present day. This is known as landscape or nature art. This form of art is defined as the illustration of mountains, flora and fauna, bodies of water and the sky. More so, it is a celebration of the majestic beauty of nature. This trend in the art world has continued to persist throughout the ages. Aside from this, it has also evolved in terms of styles and techniques. Every part of the globe has developed their own approach on how to translate the beauty of nature into a canvas. Because of the variety in culture and tradition, nature and landscape artworks have surfaced as distinctive copies of the wonders of the environment. With this, nature had become a worldwide art phenomenon and these artworks have made nature a timeless masterpiece that will be forever treasured and recognized. On the other hand, due to changing times, the seemingly everlasting beauty of nature is apparently gradually diminishing. If before humans respected the significant role of Mother Earth in the cycle of life, nowadays, humans have abandoned their vital task of being the steward. Instead of taking care of the natural wonders of the world, humans have opted to obliterate it. This sudden change was caused by the desire to improve the ways of living of people. Initially, the intention may seem innocent and harmless but if one would look closely, traces of selfishness and greed can be uncovered. People wanted to advance the human race but at the expense of damaging the environment. Because of this, a drastic natural occurrence has been plaguing the contemporary society. This has claimed lives of many people and destroyed millions worth of properties. This phenomenon has been labeled as climate change or global warming. In the recent years, Mother Earth has been experiencing unusual changes such as the increase in temperature of the atmosphere, extinction of some animal and plant species, loss of land mass and many others. These alterations have posted an alarming threat to the existence of many living things. If humans would permit this condition to carry on, in time people would be left homeless and without any nourishment. To help intensify awareness on the present state of the environment, an art exhibit will be put up. This exhibit will showcase the nature artworks of American artist, Ansel Adams, French painter, Paul Cezanne, and a Japanese artisan named Hokusai. The objective of the exhibit is to help the viewers realize the importance and connection of nature with the existence of humans. More so, this nature-themed art exhibit will explore the various perceptions of artists on nature from different periods. It will demonstrate how people saw and appreciated the beauty of the environment during their respective eras. By incorporating artists from different continents such as North America, Europe and Asia, viewers will also be given a 360 degrees view of the world’s most beautiful places. Hopefully, after they have seen the exhibit, the viewers will have a new-found respect on the beauty and vigor of Mother Earth. Ansel Adams is an American photographer who has mastered the artistry of capturing wonderful shots of landscapes in scenic places strewn all over the United States. Aside from being an artist, he was also a dedicated environmentalist â€Å"who encouraged understanding of, and respect for, the natural environment. † Even though he initially got noticed as a noted photographer in commercial photography, he excelled in the field of landscape photography (Notablebiographies. com). The black and white landscape photographs have become Adams’ trademarks. Two of Adams most recognized photographs are the â€Å"The Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming† and â€Å"‘Old Faithful’ geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming† (TheHistoryPlace. com). Adams was commissioned to take these pictures for the National Park Service in 1941. The photographs were intended to be used to make the â€Å"photo mural for the Department of the Interior Building in Washington, DC. † The main theme was focused on showcasing nature â€Å"exemplified and protected in the U. S. National Parks† (U. S. National Archives and Records Administration). These two photographs have illustrated the grandiose and picturesque beauty of the mountain ranges and national parks in the US. Furthermore, he used his creativity to â€Å"preserve the wilderness and one of the first to promote photography as an art form† (TheHistoryPlace. com). Paul Cezanne is considered as one of the masters of post-Impressionism. He is also well-known for pioneering an avant-garde movement then called cubism in the late 1800s. Because of his quirkiness and modern styles, Cezanne was misunderstood by the people. But this did not discourage him to advance his creativity. He â€Å"grew out of Impressionism and eventually challenged all the conventional values of painting in the 19th century through its insistence on personal expression and on the integrity of the painting itself. † Through these innovations, he was recognized as the â€Å"father of modern painting† (Pioch). But before Cezanne ventured into cubism, he created several simple yet exquisite landscape paintings that â€Å"immortalized the Provencal countryside† in France. In his two paintings, â€Å"Etude: Paysage a Auvers† (Study: Landscape at Auvers) and â€Å"Jas de Buffan† (The Pool), Cezanne was able to depict nature as real as he can. These two oil paintings were generated in 1873 and 1876 respectively. For Cezanne, nature cannot be accurately duplicated in a canvas. He tried to link the natural and artistic worlds by showing his own perceptions about nature. In relation to this, most of his artworks are advised to be seen as a whole and not per part in order to fully appreciate their artistic essence (Pioch). Hokusai is a famous Japanese painter. Compared to the previous artists, his choice of material for painting is unconventional. Hokusai used wood as his canvas to celebrate the beauty of nature. A native of Edo, which is now called Tokyo, Hokusai is regarded as â€Å"one of the outstanding figures of the Ukiyo-e or pictures of the floating world (everyday life), school of printmaking† (Pioch). In the â€Å"The Breaking Wave Off Kanagawa or The Great Wave,† Hokusai illustrated the splendor of the sea. Since Japan is surrounded by water, this painting has become the quintessential representation of Japanese aesthetics. This seascape painting with a Japanese natural landmark, Mt. Fuji, had represented the Asian geography. More so, it showed the combination of western and eastern influences with regards to art production. Moreover, this particular Japanese art have preserved its authenticity and oriental aesthetic by â€Å"flattening the texture and using color surfaces as an element. † On the other hand, this painting also showed how nature can be so powerful which was expressed on the giant which was on the verge of devouring the people aboard the two boasts (Andreas. com). Works Cited â€Å"ANSEL ADAMS Biography. † 2007. Notablebiographies. com. 12 December 2008 http://www. notablebiographies. com/A-An/Adams-Ansel. html. â€Å"Ansel Adams Photograph. † n. d. U. S. National Archives and Records Administration. 12 December 2008 http://www. archives. gov/research/ansel-adams/. â€Å"Best of Ansel Adams. † 1999. TheHistoryPlace. com. 12 December 2008 http://www. historyplace. com/unitedstates/adams/. â€Å"Hokusai. † 2008. Andreas. com. 12 December 2008 http://www. andreas. com/hokusai. html. Pioch, Nicolas. â€Å"Cezanne, Paul. † 19 September 2002. Webmuseum, Paris. 12 December 2008 http://www. ibiblio. org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/. Pioch, Nicolas. â€Å"Cezanne, Paul: Landscapes. † 19 September 2002. Webmuseum, Paris. 12 December 2008 http://www. ibiblio. org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/land/. Pioch, Nicolas. â€Å"Hokusai, Katsushika. † 19 September 2002. Webmuseum, Paris. 12 December 2008 http://www. ibiblio. org/wm/paint/auth/hokusai/.

Canterbury Tales :: English Literature Essays

Canterbury Tales There is a great deal of useful information to be found on the Internet but sorting through it can often be a hassle. There are some sites that are useful and give a great deal of helpful information but there are also many sites that just don't meet up to those standards. Since anyone can put information on the web, it is often hard to tell a good site from a bad one. Today, I am going to go through a few sites relating to Geoffrey Chaucer and his book The Canterbury Tales and give examples of good and bad sites relating to them. One fantastic site that is on the web is The Litrix Reading Room at http://www.litrix.com. This site, which is edited by Sam Jones, gives free electronic distribution of books for use by readers. It gives a list of authors and the books that they have from them. This site has a great number of books and some of the choices are American, Horror, Misfits, Mr. Holmes, Mystery, Sci-fi and Westerns. This site is very helpful in the reading of The Canterbury Tales because it has an updated, translated version of the book that makes it easier to understand and follow the story line. I would recommend litrix.com greatly. One very good site, which relates to Geoffrey Chaucer is http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/chaucer.html. This site is large in depth with many features that will keep any Chaucer fan busy for hours or help students find whatever they may need. Some of the features include: different quotes from Chaucer, a paragraph summary of his life, links to many of his works, audio excerpts from The Canterbury Tales, discussion groups and links to other Chaucer pages. This site was created by Anniina Jokinen and it is clear that she did a very good job. Another fantastic site that relates to Chaucer is http://www.media.wright.edu/studorgs/english20403/chaucer.html. This site has all the links that a person may ever need for Chaucer. Some of the many links that are offered on this site is his biography, Chaucerian language, online reports, and online texts of The Canterbury Tales and medieval sites. Each main link has a few choices beneath it so a person can pick and choose between different sites and writing styles, which is always helpful. Getting different perspectives on different topics relating to Chaucer can only help a person in receiving a better grade and better understanding the material.

Discuss Wharton’s presentation of the character development of Newland Archer

The character of Newland Archer is presented in this passage through his meditations on a range of issues. The scene is set directly after an Archer family dinner with a friend, Sillerton Jackson. Archer's reflections give us a glimpse into the way he thinks and the sort of person he is. Initially we learn about Archer himself and his background, he is from a wealthy family, with ever â€Å"vigilant † servants, â€Å"bronze† statuettes and his own study. We can also see from the description of the study that he is cultured, intelligent and well read. The passage allows us to see a little of his history, especially of the tale of his romance with May Welland. Her â€Å"large photograph† has displaced all others on his table, signifying that she and no other is first in his affections. Archer's view of their impending marriage is initially that he will be her â€Å"soul's custodian†, showing that it will be a very traditional relationship, that she is naive compared to him, and that he must protect and enlighten her. He was taught that marriage to May would be like â€Å"safe anchorage† in life but he tells us his belief is changing, that he believes it may be like a â€Å"voyage on uncharted seas†. This clear nautical imagery lets us see how Archer is coming to doubt his previously unquestioned conventional beliefs – â€Å"old settled convictions† – and that it may be dangerous for him to go into this marriage so unprepared. He is moving on, intellectually, questioning what he once held firm. Archer's attitude to his relationship with May is inextricably linked to his basic conventional traditional mindset. He sees himself and May as key players in a courtship ritual that they possibly could become stereotypical examples of people â€Å"linked by ignorance on the one side and hypocrisy on the other†. In a way he believes this is inevitable due to the society they both belong to, but it is not what he wants from marriage. He desires â€Å"passionate and tender comradeship† with May in their marriage; he loves her â€Å"sincerely†. However her attitude to her character shows that he does not fully understand her. He sees her as partly as an † artificial product† produced by her family, her up bringing, making her innocent and frank. He feels this is wrong that she has somehow been denied the right to be a full person, as she has been denied the experience of life, social, cultural and sexual, that he has been allowed to explore. He feels what has been created in her personality is false, but somehow we get the impression that this is something that has been hard for him to come across. He sees her as less than him intellectually, as she is not educated as he has been, in the arts and literature, and therefore senses her comprehension is less, when really it may just be her lack of exposure to his amount of learning. Newland Archer's relationship with the women soon to be his cousin through his impending marriage to May, Ellen Olenska, is that this point in the novel, still slight. He knows her partially through acquaintance but mostly through gossip. The way he thinks of her as â€Å"Countess† shows the distance and formality between them and he does believe that she has done something reprehensible that requires â€Å"championship†. This shows that although he believes † Women should be free†, this will never really apply to New York standards and he resents the â€Å"coil of scandal† her arrival has placed him in. Her arrival and the talk surrounding it seems to have acted as a catalyst to his thought patterns, hinting of a deeper relationship to come. She is this woman with foreign ways who could be â€Å"free† as men are, and she makes Newland aware of the implications and reality of his betrothal. Newland Archer's character development is presented throughout the passage as a struggle between what he did believe in and what he is coming to doubt the validity of through new experiences and thoughts. His attitude to society is important as it stands for his old conventional self, and his reactions to its dictates, especially on the theme of marriage, show how he is maturing and thinking independently. The imagery he uses to describe New York society are important, â€Å"conventions that tied things together and bound people down† – this rope imagery suggests the constricting nature of tradition and how it hods all subject to it captive. The irony betrayed by Edith Wharton's' tone in the presentation of the conscious thoughts of Newland Archer shows the slightly ridiculous nature of New York society. The situation Archer is in regarding his own defence of Countess Olenska is ironic, as he would be forced to condemn May should she ever behave similarly to her cousin. Another irony in the passage is the description of the state of typical New York high society marriages as having an â€Å"enviable ideal† when frankly they are in a pitiable state. Lefferts is described as the â€Å"high priest of form† when really he has no substance or true beliefs and is truly hypocritical, especially in regard to his treatment of Beaufort's affairs. The behaviour of Mrs Welland's simulated reluctance at the announcement of the engagement when really she expected it is sarcastically commented on showing the double standards between what is said and what is expected throughout New York society. Edith Wharton uses conflicting ideas within Newland Archer's mind to effectively present a man who is changing and developing into a deeper way of thinking about his own life and society in general.

Which the Design Argument Provides Evidence for the God?

June 2011: Examine the ways in which the design argument provides evidence for the existence God? A famous philosopher Kant commented on the proof of the design argument which shows the existence of God stating â€Å"This proof always deserves to be mentioned with respect. It is the oldest, the clearest and most accordant with the common reason of mankind. This was mentioned in his book the Critique of Pure reason. The argument that I am going to put forward and the proofs I am going to provide is the teleological argument.The word teleological comes from the Greek word telos which means end or purpose and logical which means the study of therefore this is the study of the purpose. The teleological argument is an inductive argument therefore proofs are based on premises which means they are drawn from experience and the conclusion is not logically necessary. Aquinas is a very important philosopher in the design argument. In his famous work â€Å"summa theological† Aquinas had his five ways in which he is most remembered for. In the design argument we are most concerned with the final way which is that God is the divine designer of everything.Here Aquinas suggests that non intelligent material requires an intelligent being behind it to make it beneficial. Aquinas used the example of an arrow and a archer; he stated that for an arrow to reach its destination it must be directed by the archer which is the intelligent being therefore applying this to the universe for us to reach are destination and purpose in the universe there must be a higher intelligent being before us which is directing us. Aquinas stated natural bodies seem to act in a regular way to reach some sort of final purpose; this shows Aquinas using science to back up the views of God in the Bible.Also Aquinas argued for design qua regularity; he saw the overall regularity in the world as proof for a designer God. William Paley another famous philosopher mainly known for his Watch Analogy took Aquinas’s ideas further and formed his own version of the teleological argument. Paley compares the world to a machine and sees it made up of all intricate parts which work together for an end result. He saw all the small adaptations in the nature and for him these were proofs of a designing intelligence.An example of the small intricacies in the nature is the water cycle and how it all works together. The watch serves an analogy which demonstrates purpose and telos. All evidence would show that the watch had been designed for a purpose, design and designed with the necessary regularity to meet its purpose. He said every design requires a designer and that all designs have an end function. Paley claimed that in the same way as the watch and other machine’s the universe was full of small intricacies that could not have come about by chance.Paley used the example of the eye. The way the eye is so complexly designed there is no way it could have all come about by chance moreover science till date is unable to create a replica of the eye. Also Paley was fascinated by the solar system and the rotation of the planets. He saw the evidence of a divine hand at work in the universe. F. R. Tennant a philosopher of the 1930’s elaborated on the teleological arguments with his anthropic principle. This principle basically is saying that the world is revolving around human kind.Tennant believed the best evidence of design could be seen in the way the universe supports intelligent life. An example of this would be how the trees release oxygen which supports us humans to live and without oxygen we wouldn’t be alive. This is an astonishing proof of design and existence of God. Also another example of Tennant’s anthropic principle which shows that the world is designed around us human beings is that the sun is placed in the perfect distance. Tennant developed his anthropic principle to add the aesthetic argument in this Tennant argued against Darwin’s Theory of evolution.He said that the theory of evolution cannot explain why humans have feelings as they are not necessary for survival also natural selection cannot account for the existence for the feelings of appreciation etc. Tennant believed that the capacity for joy was putt in us by our designer which is God. Richard Swinburne accepts the anthropic principle. Swinburne believes that the earth is so finely tuned that there is no other explanation other than a designer God. He believes that science explains how the things in the world are so finely tuned in the world and that the Bible explains why.Swinburne believe that we should understand the existence of scientific laws in terms of a purpose which has been put in place for the. The purpose can be best explained by an omnipotent being. Due to the design argument being an a posteriori argument it strengthens the argument as we can see the complexities with our naked eye. However due to it being inductive meani ng based on experiences people interpret the experiences differently moreover it can negatively be argued that the designer or creator does not have to be God and that the jump to conclusion of god is too big†¦

Galley or Corridor Kitchen Layout

Galley or Corridor Kitchen Layout The galley or corridor kitchen layout is one of the standard kitchen layouts that decades of ergonomic research developed. This layout is the most efficient layout for a thin kitchen space. A galley kitchen consists of work space on two opposing walls. There is a single traffic lane between them. There is an opening on one or both ends. A galley kitchen can be as long as you want. You will just need to divide the kitchen into different work sites. The best width for a galley kitchen is 7 to 12 feet. Kitchens over 10 feet wide can utilize the U-shaped kitchen layout. Galley Kitchen Benefits Great for rectangular spaceEfficient for a small kitchen spaceCan adjust to any lengthCan easily divide the kitchen into multiple work sites Galley Kitchen Drawbacks Through traffic can cause congestionNot efficient for large kitchensNot good for multiple cooksDoes not work well for open floor plans Placing the Work Triangle The basic kitchen work triangle can be placed anywhere along the length of the galley kitchen provided you keep the elements grouped together. An equilateral triangle works best with two elements on one wall and the third centered between them on the opposite wall.

Omnivore Definition and Examples

Omnivore Definition and Examples An omnivore is an organism that eats both animals and plants. An animal with such a diet is said to be omnivorous. An omnivore that youre probably pretty familiar with are humans- most humans (other than those who dont get any nutrition from animal products because of medical or ethical reasons) are omnivores. The Term Omnivore The word omnivore comes from the Latin words omni- meaning all- and vorare- meaning devour, or swallow. Therefore, omnivore means devours all in Latin. This is pretty accurate, as omnivores can get their food from a variety of sources. Food sources can include algae, plants, fungi, and animals.  Animals may be omnivorous their entire lives or just at specific stages of life. Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Omnivore Omnivores have the advantage of being able to find food in a variety of places. Therefore, if one prey source diminishes, they can fairly easily switch to another one.  Some omnivores are also scavengers, meaning they feed on dead animals or plants, which further increases their food options. They do have to find their food- omnivores either wait for their food to pass by them or need to actively seek it out.  Since they have such a general diet, their means of getting food is not as specialized as carnivores or herbivores. For example, carnivores have sharp teeth for ripping and gripping prey and herbivores have flatter teeth adapted for grinding.  Omnivores may have a mix of both kinds of teeth- think of our molars and incisors as an example. A disadvantage for other marine life is that marine omnivores may be more likely to invade non-native habitats. This has cascading effects on native species, which may be preyed-upon or displaced by the invading omnivore. An example of this is the Asian shore crab which is native to countries in the Northwest Pacific Ocean but was transported to Europe and the U.S. where it is out-competing native species for food and habitat. Examples of Marine Omnivores Below are some examples of marine omnivores: Many crab species (including blue, ghost and Asian shore crabs)Horseshoe crabsLobsters (e.g. American lobster, spiny lobster)Some sea turtles- like Olive ridley and flatback turtles- are omnivores. Green turtles are herbivores as adults, but omnivores as hatchlings. Loggerhead turtles are carnivores as adults but omnivores as hatchlingsCommon perwinkle: These small snails feed mostly on algae but may also eat small animals (like barnacle larvae)Some types of zooplanktonSharks are generally carnivores, although the whale shark and basking shark may be considered omnivores, as they are filter feeders that eat plankton. As they mow through the ocean with their enormous mouths open, the plankton they consume may include both plants and animals. Using that line of reasoning, mussels and barnacles may be considered omnivores, since they filter small organisms (which may contain both phytoplankton and zooplankton) from the water Omnivores and Trophic Levels In the marine (and terrestrial) world, there are producers and consumers. Producers (or autotrophs) are organisms that make their own food. These organisms include plants, algae, and some types of bacteria. Producers are at the base of a food chain.  Consumers (heterotrophs) are organisms that need to consume other organisms to survive. All animals, including omnivores, are consumers.   In a food chain, there are trophic levels, which are the feeding levels of animals and plants. The first trophic level includes the producers, because they produce the food that fuels the rest of the food chain. The second trophic level includes the herbivores, which eat producers.  The third trophic level includes omnivores and carnivores. References and Further Information: Chiras, D.D. 1993. Biology: The Web of Life. West Publishing Company.Harper, D. Omnivorous. Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed September 29, 2015.National Geographic. Autotroph.  Accessed September 29, 2015.The Oceanic Society. What Do Sea Turtles Eat? SEETurtles.org. Accessed September 29, 2015.

Exploring the Link between Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Dissertation

Exploring the Link between Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Individual Performance in a Further Education College - Dissertation Example Results 6. Conclusion Recommendations Scope for Future Study Abstract Organizational learning is the study about an organizations learning process. It includes how the organization learns from its former mistakes, gain insight on various aspects of management from their past actions and how they implement certain changes for the future based on these lessons. The modern trends in today's business environment like globalization, technical dependence and extreme marketing activities affect every organizations culture and structure to a certain extent. Understanding about an organizations learning capacity as a whole in adapting to these new trends will determine how far organizational learning is important to gain competitive advantage over others. The link between organization learning, the performance of the employees and the knowledge gained about the process is not explored in detail in organizational learning literature. The project will focus on exploring this missing link and at tempt to underline how far organizational learning enhances the process knowledge of their employees on the whole. A Community College or a Further Education College in UK is selected as the point of research. ... Narrative analysis method is used to explore the data collected and draw conclusions. Our results state that organizational learning or organizational learning influences the staff working for the college to a substantial level. People who tend to fall back in following the authority’s procedure also heed to organizational learning when it comes to mission, trust level and participating in the big picture or goal of the company and accessing the various technologies used to implement the same. Introduction Organizational learning and organizational culture are usually interlinked. Every organization has to learn from its past actions, from its competitors, customers and the ever changing business environment both internal and external. This learning is important for them to adapt to the new changes and stay ahead of their competitors. Organizational learning or organizational learning refers to how collective learning is garnered in every company or institution. Various proces ses are concerned with it starting from reflection of the past actions to analyzing the future plans based on the knowledge gained from the previous decisions. For an organization to grow as a whole this knowledge should be passed on to the groups in general even though the idea or knowledge insight might have occurred to one single person (Argyris & Schon, 1978; Kezar, 2005). Business field is closely related to organizational learning as much of the research done in the area comes from analyzing various MNC's and their performances. Businesses keep evolving constantly paving way for continuous organizational learning both among the employees as well as the higher management. On the other hand, there are various other fields starting from government offices to educational

Comparative Analysis of suicide in Japan and UK Essay

Comparative Analysis of suicide in Japan and UK - Essay Example There has been a variation of these rates between different countries and regions (NEERAJA 2008, pg23). The variations of the suicide rates between different countries are mainly because of different economic and social conditions that exist in these countries. The Asian countries over the recent years have recorded higher numbers of suicide than their western counterparts. Although the data for these deaths seem inaccurate in the Asian countries, various indicators have shown that they rate higher, some reports rating it as high as 60% of the overall suicides in the world (NOCK 2013, pg31). Japan, for instance, has experienced a surge in its suicidal mortality rates since the 1990’s (NEERAJA 2008, pg53). This has brought much particular attention to the Government and its policy makers. Globally the suicidal rate indicates a higher suicide rates on males as compared to females. Comparing to their female counterparts in the same age groups, males from different age groups have been characterized by high suicide rate (BARKER 2004, pg24). Over the centuries, it has been important to consider this factor in order to be able to develop preventive measures. To develop proper mitigation strategies, it is important to study the variations especially with times and different regions. The causative factors should be reviewed on a broader perspective to help counter this menace. Failure or success of these strategies has failed to be measured on single aspects like that of mental illness and/or disorders. This is because of the multifaceted issue, and a lot of other factors have been known to contribute to it (OCARROLL & PARK 2007, pg22). The healthcare provisions relating to the suicide menace has been more comprehensive and fruitful in the UK when comparing it to Japan (NEERAJA 2008, pg81). According to most published reports, Japan has rated higher in the suicidal rates as compared to

Military and Business Leadership - Similarities and Differences Term Paper

Military and Business Leadership - Similarities and Differences - Term Paper Example The study used both qualitative and quantitative methodology in gauging the responses of military soldiers particularly those who have been deployed to Afghanistan and business managers from different organizations. The online survey questionnaire was accomplished by a total of 250 respondents wherein 200 coming from the military group and the remaining 50 from the business group. The findings suggested that there are indeed a number of traits and qualities that business leaders could adopt from military leadership with regards to effective crisis management. Moreover, there are major skills or qualities of military leaders which are admired most and are considered best applied in crisis management. In addition, business managers also stressed the need to adopt such skills and qualities from a military perspective of crisis management as they feel that these are needed to effectively address crisis situations in a business setting. These are comprised of courage or bravery, being ana lytical, intelligence, being influential, compassion and relationship-building. Business and military leadership do have differences, particularly in the expected traits and qualities. However, when it comes to crisis management, a combination of traits from both realms is effectual.  In recent decades, leadership has never faced a challenge as big as it does now. The organizations that survived and flourished through periods of great uncertainty in the past are suddenly finding themselves bankrupt and are disappearing almost overnight caught in the great economic crisis that has engulfed the world today (Davey and Smith, 2009). The centuries of research in leadership and management theories and practice suddenly seem to be found lacking in content. There is a great need for leadership lessons for the corporate leaders of present times, so that they may guide their organizations to survive through the ongoing economic and management crisis. Global executives of top multinational c ompanies responded with eight answers when they were asked what according to them the most important leadership quality was. The eight essential leadership qualities identified were humility, energy, intuition, vision, perspective, passion, conviction and learning (Harvard Business Review, 2007). This forms the trigger for this research study.

Othello the Manipulator Essay Example for Free

Othello the Manipulator Essay Shakespeare’s Othello: Iago, the Master Manipulator William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello† is a play consumed with deception, jealousy, and revenge, mainly caused by a powerful â€Å"villain† named Iago (1. 1. 28). Although Iago presents himself as everyone’s honest friend, he is always trying to manipulate and deceive them, as shown in his words â€Å"Whip me such honest knaves† (1. 1. 50). This heartless character even manipulates everyone around him including his companions Cassio, Rodrigo, and the Moor, Othello intending to gain power. His actions create a massive amount of jealousy and rage. All of this revenge and manipulation first forms when Cassio is chosen for the position as Othello’s Lieutenant, a job which Iago wanted desperately. This sends Iago into a rage motivated by his hunger for power. His revenge towards Cassio first begins at a celebration when Iago pressures him into having one drink after another knowing Cassio has a low tolerance with alcohol. Under pressure, Cassio argues, â€Å"Not tonight, good Iago: I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment† (2. . 1164-1167). Iago’s perfects his manipulation by taking advantage of other’s weaknesses. Iago manipulates both Cassio and Rodrigo into fighting each other which results in Othello taking away Cassio’s title as Lieutenant. Using Cassio’s statement, †She’s a most exquisite lady† Iago is able to use this to conjure a second mastermind plan to have Cassio’s rep utation ruined by convincing Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair (2. 2. 1152). Although Iago seeks revenge from Cassio for gaining Iago’s desired position as Lieutenant, his main interest of destruction is the Moor Othello, which is the masterpiece of Iago’s many manipulative plots. Iago uses Othello’s beloved wife, Desdemona, to take advantage of Othello’s weakness. Iago implies, â€Å"Cassio my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it; That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing your coming† (3. 3. 1668-70). Iago’s coy assumption of Cassio overcomes Othello, making Othello think Iago is an honest friend he can trust. This gained trust makes Iago’s plans of destruction much easier to accomplish. Iago, also, makes Othello overhear a conversation between Iago and Cassio, which he believes he is about Desdemona, when in fact their conversation is about Cassio’s prostitute Bianca. As the two men laugh and tell sexual stories, Othello goes into a jealous rage, at the thought of Cassio having these relations with Desdemona. Iago multiplies Othello’s rage as he talks about the situation, â€Å"Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice? † (4. . 2602). He convinces Emilia to take Desdemona’s handkerchief, which was Othello’s first significant gift to her. Iago sets the situation up so that the sacred handkerchief will be found in Cassio’s room, and later is given to Cassio by Bianca in front of Othello. As Iago pumps more deceitful lies of Cassio and Desdemona’s affair into Othello’s head, Iago says, â€Å"And did you see the handkerchief? à ¢â‚¬ ¦and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! She gave it him, and he hath given it his whore† (4. 1. 2604-08). Othello, having seen this will have all the evidence he needs to suspect Cassio of the affair. Iago then manipulates Othello into killing his loyal wife by suggesting, â€Å"Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated† (4. 2. 2638-39). Iago’s over whelming hunger for power is also shown though his best companion, Rodrigo, whom is also in love with Desdemona. Discovering that Desdemona and Othello are married, frantic Rodrigo confides in Iago and asks, â€Å"What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it† (1. . 673-676). As a master of deception, Iago proves to Rodrigo that Desdemona’s heart will be easily won by his lavish expensive gifts. With Rodrigo’s excessive amount of savings, Iago purchases these gifts that are intentionally for Desdemona and sells them for his profit. Secondly, Iago convinces Rodrigo into thinking that Cassio and Emilia are having an aff air. Iago manipulates Rodrigo into fighting Cassio at the celebration. Iago persuades Rodrigo by saying, Watch you to-night; for the command, I’ll lay’t upon you. Cassio knows you not. I’ll not be far from you: do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favorable minister (2. 1. 1064-70) In conclusion, Iago’s deception and manipulation plan to gain power completely fails as everything falls to pieces. When Iago’s wife, Emilia, reveals Desdemona’s loyalty to Othello and all of Iago’s lies, it is far too late. After Othello murders his wife, he finds out all of Iago’s â€Å"honest words† were all lies and catches Iago in the act. In the final scene, Iago says, â€Å"Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: from this time forth I never will speak word† (5. 2. 3665-66). In the end, Iago manipulated everyone around him so he could gain personal power. However, his selfish goal of power is never reached and nothing is gained from Iago’s manipulative actions. Iago’s excessive lies and actions show that he is the main cause for so many problems containing deception, jealousy, rage, and revenge. Work Cited Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. The Norton Shakespeare: Tragedies. 2nd ed. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008, 425-507.

Thomas Hardys The Sons Veto, Graham Greenes The Basement Room and al

Thomas Hardy's The Son's Veto, Graham Greene's The Basement Room and alan Sillitoe's Uncle Ernest In each of the three stories, 'The Son's Veto' by Thomas Hardy, 'The Basement Room' by Graham Green and 'Uncle Ernest' by Alan Silitoe, the respective writer conveys a sense of isolation regarding the central character. There are numerous similarities between the characters based on their common plight, but each story differs in the portrayal of these characters. The writer's effectively present the characters using a varying range of literary styles. In 'The Son's Veto' the disabled Sophy is denied happiness from not fitting in to a higher social class. Graham Green in 'The Basement Room' employs a surreal situation to demonstrate the vulnerability and naiveity of youth. 'Uncle Ernest' is a story, which adopts a dreary approach to Ernest's life. The opening descriptions of the three characters are very effective and induce stereotypical views. This applies to Ernest especially in 'Uncle Ernest' as we first hear of him wearing a "dirty raincoat" and looking as though he "hadn't washed for a month". These observations imply that Ernest is homeless and the use of "dirty" further emphasize the fact that something is wrong in his life. Sophy also stands out from everyone else in 'The Son's Veto' but for different reasons to Ernest. Hardy creates Sophy's character to be misplaced in society, as she is a "young invalid lady" and wheel chair bound. In contrast to this her "nut brown hair was a wonder and a mystery". Her hair is used to make reference to her history suggesting a mysterious and dark background yet its vibrancy allowed her to maintain a part of her character. The wheel chair depicts isolation espe... ...he war. The reader is overwhelmed with sympathy for Ernest, as nothing ever seems to result in happiness for him. Our sympathies lie with all three characters as their isolation has been conveyed to the reader effectively by each author. Philips loneliness is a result of a troubled up bringing which leaves him mentally scared for life. Sophy and Ernest on the other hand are similar to each other and unlike Philip. They both induce a sense of helplessness in the reader after a life of persistent disappointment denies them from any chance of happiness. It becomes almost inevitable that Ernest and Sophy would end up completely isolated as events throughout the stories favor this outcome. On the other hand Philip's situation is different, he is portrayed as a very vulnerable character and it's as if he is prevented from ever having a chance to live a life.

How Contract Breaches Affect Businesses

A contract is an agreement between two parties, each agreeing to do or forbear from doing something. A contract, if properly formed, is legally binding and all parties to a contract are required to perform their respective obligations under the contract, failing which legal action can be taken. A failure or refusal to perform one's obligations under the contract will be called a â€Å"breach† of the contract. Contract breaches have wide ranging consequences both legal and practical to the parties to the contract.This article will address the various effects that contract breaches will have on businesses. Some of them are set out below:- (a) Injury to reputation – It is not good for a business' reputation if word gets out that they have not honored their part of the contract. Other companies will be reluctant to do business with an entity which has previously defaulted on other contracts, especially when the default can be seen to be intentional or as part of a sharp bus iness practice.The injury to reputation can be incalculable and can have long lasting effects on the company getting new business. (b) Events of default – Sometimes breaching a contract, especially if it involves payment of money, can expose you to legal action including insolvency proceedings. These will often trigger the â€Å"event of default† clause in a lot of commercial contracts, especially those involving financial institutions. This will of course have dire consequences and can affect the smooth operation of one's business in the event an â€Å"event of default† clause is triggered.This of course goes without saying. (c) Legal fees – Breaches of contract, if serious enough, will often lead to litigation and dispute. It is no secret that legal fees can be exorbitant especially when the subject matter at stake runs into the millions. It is therefore important for all parties to involve to think carefully and try to avoid breaches of contract as the price you will pay to remedy the situation will far outweigh any good you can possibly receive from an intentional breach.d) Damage to relationship – It goes without saying that a breach of contract, especially intentional, will sour the relationship between the contracting parties. As it is often said, you should never burn your bridges and having a bad relationship with a commercial partner will not do well for one's business and should be avoided at all costs. At the end of the day it is common knowledge that contract breaches bring nothing but negative consequences, and as far as possible, parties should try to stick to their contract obligations to the best of their ability.

High School Drop Out

Rates Are Increasing Many young adults view high school as a new territory with more advanced classes, more students, but other students only view the negative side of high school , rather than the positive. What most young adults do not understand is that when they choose to dropout of their high school, it is only stealing valuable knowledge from them. It is obvious that the high school drop out rate is increasing rapidly. Why might the rate of high school students be increasing, and why do students make such a dramatic change on their life? Also read: Should Boarding Schools Be AbolishedSome of this may result from the lack of parental guidance, bullying in our high schools, or teen pregnancy? First of all, parental guidance can be the most important element in a student’s education. Students who lack parental guidance have a greater chance of tossing his or her education away compared to those students who receive the help, support and positive guidance from their parents. Many high school students who lack a positive parental guidance to support his or her education, causing the rate of high school dropouts to increase.Not having a parental guidance causes student, to not take an education important and seriously, because they see their parents not showing any interest in their schooling as well. Parents can take action in their child’s education by keeping track of their grades, attending parent teacher conferences, or participating in more school activities. When students have parents who participate i n their child’s education that child is more likely to graduate from his or her high school. Another reason our high school dropout rates are increasing rapidly, is do to the fact of school bullying.School bullying is a type of bullying that occurs in connection with education, either inside or outside of the school. Bullying can be verbal, physical, or emotional and is usually repeated over a period of time. Bullying causes students to have a low self-esteem about themselves and may feel as if no one cares about them. School bullying can also occur in any part of a school building including, on buses, classrooms, even in sports. School bullying has become to be a serious problem in our schools system. The number one effect that bullying has on high school students, is students dropping out. Last,

Rebuild your hiring process into a successful one with 5 easy steps

Rebuild your hiring process into a successful one with 5 easy steps If you work in HR, you know how important it is to place real value on the hiring process- but does the company you work for feel the same way?Although it can be argued that nothing is more important to the short- and long-term viability of an organization than ensuring that the teams who work towards its success contain the best and the brightest candidates available, the truth is that some companies don’t take the hiring process as seriously as they should, and have a poor hiring process that reflects this thinking.Having a strong and well-defined hiring culture can really take your business to the next level and help propel it past the competition in your industry. It stokes the flames of motivation and innovation- key determinants of success that truly separate those businesses just looking to hang on from those looking to leap ahead of the pack. Conversely, if your company fails to commit to taking its hiring practices seriously, it can make it difficult to attract top-ti er individuals in today’s candidate-driven job market, where seemingly infinite opportunity is outpacing available talent, and those with the background and skill sets to disrupt the status quo and drive real change have plenty of options to choose from when looking for their next job or project.An article by the International Franchise Association (IFA) highlights the importance of having a well-defined hiring process for your company: â€Å"Every new employee will either contribute positively to customer satisfaction, growth and profitability, or contrastingly have a negative impact on the business. By adopting a structured and comprehensive hiring process, you’re taking the first step in positioning your business for success by attracting the right talent. The type of talent that will help build the company culture, drive sales and ultimately position the company as a leader in the industry.†So, it seems abundantly clear that having a well-defined hiring proc ess is a crucial element of any company- but how can you tell where your company ranks? As an HR professional, there are some key indicators you can use to determine if your company is taking its hiring culture and practices seriously (or not).hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});How were you hired?A key performance indicator you can use is the process you encountered when you were a candidate for your current position. Even if it was years ago, this information can help you establish a baseline regarding how your company is faring when it comes to hiring. Was the experience streamlined, polished, and completely effective at answering your questions, addressing your needs and concerns, keeping you updated during the process, and capturing your interest in joining the team? Were there clear areas for improvement? Do those areas still need improvement?How does your company treat HR overall?Does your company place a real value and importance on cultivatin g a top-tier HR department that’s made up of seasoned and well-trained staff who fully understand the company’s mission and culture? Are they prepared to support and bolster the company’s goals with each new position they’re tasked with filling? Take stock of your department and its position in the organization, which will help you determine if your company has a strong hiring culture, or if there’s room for improvement.Do you have a set process in place?Is your company’s hiring process structured for success? According to the IFA, the following steps are essential for a comprehensive hiring process for each open position:Define, create, and identify the role to be filled.Source, market, and promote your open position and receive applicants.Select, evaluate candidates for the position and company culture.Verify, follow up with ideal candidates to confirm the skills and information they’ve represented.Of course these are basic steps an d a lot of nuance goes into each hire, but if your company is falling down when it comes to any of these broad strokes, it may be an indication that your hiring culture can use some work.If you’ve read this far and are starting to feel as if your company’s hiring process and culture can use some real work, don’t despair. There is plenty you can do as an HR professional to help make lasting and positive changes in your organization.Improve recruitment efficiency.Make sure your company is taking full advantage of available professional tools to support the hiring process. This includes checklists for organizational efficiency when screening candidates, preparing for interviews, and aggregating candidate data; taking advantage of well-designed and well-maintained email templates for a wide ranges of tasks, from basic correspondence to scheduling interviews and sending feedback, and more; and using helpful recruiting software for tracking candidates through the hiri ng pipeline and analyzing data.Enhance the candidate experience.As an HR professional, you’re often the first point of contact for a candidate regarding your company, and are instrumental in effectively forming their first impressions. Do your best to ensure that each candidate’s experience during the hiring process is positive, regardless of whether or not they’re hired (because word spreads). Make sure the careers page on your company’s website is well-maintained and your application process is seamless and candidate-friendly, and keep all candidates in the loop and well-informed with friendly updates during the decision-making process. Candidates are people, and possibly even potential customers of your business and brand, so be respectful, helpful, and genuine with every one of them- as in most aspects of life, the Golden Rule applies here, too.Evaluate candidates more effectively.This one’s mainly designed to streamline the internal hiring pro cess, but it’s important to keep HR staff satisfied and engaged with their work in order for them to do their jobs effectively. Make sure that your evaluation process for each position is accurately capturing crucial data to assess the potential effectiveness and value of each candidate. Some key methods for obtaining useful candidate metrics include portfolio and work sample reviews, having candidates complete thoughtfully designed standardized tests, and structuring interviews for maximum impact and hiring efficiency. All HR personnel should be trained properly to evaluate candidates at all levels and positions- if they’re not, this is a worthy investment in time and resources for your company to make.Boost candidate sourcing.Help boost the effectiveness of your HR department, and in turn stimulate your company’s hiring process and culture by implementing effective candidate sourcing strategies. Take advantage of social media to build your company’s bra nd and keep followers and potential candidates informed about job openings, make sure your company is represented at key industry events and associations, develop an effective company referral program, invest in helpful sourcing tools to find qualified candidates quickly, and build and maintain an active candidate pipeline for current and future job openings.Attract top talent with top ads.This one may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised by how many companies run ineffective and sometimes downright confusing ads when seeking candidates for open positions- and you’d better believe that candidates notice poor ads, which factor into first impressions and can serve to pollute your organization’s hiring culture. Make sure your company is utilizing engaging and clearly crafted ads that include all key relevant details about the position, as well as candidate requirements and â€Å"nice-to-haves,† and make sure your company’s brand is well represented.Us e the advice and strategies presented here to help you figure out how strong your company’s hiring culture is right now. Take an honest look at the way you operate, and then determine how to make any needed improvements to your organization’s hiring practices and processes. Good luck!