Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Professions of a New Generation You Can Get Without an Academic Degree

Professions of a New Generation You Can Get Without an Academic Degree We are often told that the best way to get ahead is with a college education. The reality though is that an academic degree is not always the best choice. The good news is that rewarding job opportunities exist. Below are just a few examples of careers that one can be truly proud of that do not require years of advanced education and study. Health Industry 1.Dental Hygienist Dental Hygienists responsibilities are all related to keeping a patient’s teeth clean and healthy. They are the ones that educate patients on brushing, flossing, and assisting them in choosing the right products. Most dental hygienists need to be accredited so a 12-month course at a community college should be all the education that is required. Salary: $72,330 Education: a 12-month course at a community college. 2.Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Sonographers operate the sonogram machines used to determine an unborn baby’s gender and medical condition. These machines are also needed to identify tumors and other medical conditions a patient may have. There are no formal license requirements that must be met but applicants will have to pass a certification exam, which may require at least a fundamental knowledge of how to use the equipment and analyze the results. Salary: $68,970 Education: fundamental knowledge on the equipment usage. 3.Occupational Therapy Assistant OTAs are responsible for following through on the occupational therapist’s guidelines laid out to help patients get back to a normal routine and lifestyle after a debilitating medical condition, injury or an accident. This job does require an AA degree, which can be completed in one to two years at a local community college. Salary: $57,870 Education: an AA degree at a local community college. Internet Technology 1.Web Developer Web Developers design and create websites. While some jobs do require a BA degree to land the job there are plenty of other jobs that require only a specialized certification in their area of expertise. These can be acquired by attending a local trade school. For many companies, employers put more emphasis on an applicant’s portfolio rather than their degrees so creating a mock-up of your design ideas may be all that is needed to get your foot in the door. Salary: $64,970 Education: specialized certification in the area of expertise. 2.Computer Support Specialist Computer Support Specialists are responsible for troubleshooting computer and technical problems. They are required to have a solid foundation in both hardware and software issues and how to resolve them but these skills that can be learned on the job. Proof of competency is more important than the degree so as long as you can pass the exam you have a good shot at getting the job. Salary: $62,250 Education: solid foundation in both hardware and software issues. 3.Content Marketer While content marketing is more about the writing it is a job that blends those writing skills with modern technology. A good content marketer has knowledge of web design, basic computer technology, and marketing strategies. Salary: $58,302 Education: knowledge of web design, basic computer technology, and marketing strategies. Industry 1.Electric Power Line Installer With new construction happening every day the demand for power is at an all time high. Installers work under dangerous conditions so it is considered to be a high risk job however, the skills required can be mastered through an apprenticeship program or some form of on-the-job training, which you should be able to start with only a high-school diploma. Salary: $66,213 Education: an apprenticeship program or some form of on-the-job training. 2.Wind Turbine Technician Wind techs are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the massive wind turbines used to generate power. Most of the job requirements are technical and can be learned on the job. However, if you want to get a leg up in this field it may help to complete a 1-2 year AA degree at a local trade school or community college. Salary: $51,050 Education: a 1-2 year AA degree at a local trade school or community college. 3.Heavy and Tractor Truck Drivers It is estimated that every year there are at least 1.7 million jobs posted for commercial drivers. To get a CDL license you can take a short course of about seven to eight weeks many of them offered by the company you will work for. The cost for these courses can often be included in the hiring package so you don’t have to come out with cash up front to get the job. Salary: $40,000 Education: a course of about seven to eight weeks. Finance 1.Insurance Sales Agent Insurance agents work in many different fields. Their primary role is to sell home, health, auto, life, and business insurance to corporations. In corporate insurance they may also be expected to sell liability and property damage policies. The insurance industry is heavily regulated and an agent must be licensed by their state. However, with a little personal study one could get licensed with just a high-school diploma. Salary: $48,200 Education: a license that can be gotten with a little personal study. 2.Tax Preparers Tax Preparers are always in high demand, especially during tax season. They help Americans get their taxes filed, claim refunds, and declare business and personal deductions. Every year there is a huge gap in the number of preparers needed and the number of positions filled. Salary: $41,000 Education: high school diploma. 3.Bookkeeper Bookkeepers are responsible for maintaining financial records for businesses. They record all transactions, update statements, and are on hand to clarify any discrepancies in the records. No extensive education is required but they should have basic math and computer skills as well as an understanding of bookkeeping techniques. Salary: $40,991 Education: basic math and computer skills. So, while an advanced degree can be rewarding, it is still possible to have a financially satisfying career without one.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Classical Management Style versus Scientific Management

Classical Management Style versus Scientific Management Signs and Symptoms of Incompetent Management Management incorporates the act of leading and controlling a group of people with an objective of attaining collective goals. Usually, organizations with perfect and effective management systems achieve marvelous results.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Classical Management Style versus Scientific Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The level of success of such organizations normally depends on the competency of their managers. Managers are integral components of any organization. They should be visionary and competent in their endeavors in order to realize remarkable results. This requires effective leadership skills (GIRIN, 2011). For example, declining profits within an organization (due to falling revenues and increasing expenses) signifies management’s incompetence. Employees underperform under incompetent managements. Disregarding the workers’ p references, poor motivational strategies, and lack of innovation are among other factors that employees’ performance. It is crucial to understand these provisions based on their viability, applicability, and other relevant frameworks. Reduced morale and weakened motivation within the workforce indicate an incompetent management. Incompetent managers are reluctant to employ highly qualified personnel. It is vital to consider these provisions when analyzing characteristics of incompetent leadership. Ineffective communication and poor feedback channels also portray managers with deprived competency. Concurrently, secrecy, gossip, and denying realities are other vital signs of incompetence (Jia,You, Du, 2012). Because of these, employees lose their trust in the management. Overconfidence is also a sign of management incompetence. Notably, such managers confuse accidental organizational success with their personal strategic radiance.Advertising Looking for essay on busine ss economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Incompetent managers are more likely to put the entire organizations into risky ventures. Particularly, these managers are more likely to push employees to effect risky ventures. Insufficient quality control may also be a sign of management’s incompetency. Defective products, intensive damages on goods, constant service interruptions, and high rates of client complaints are associated with insufficient quality control (GIRIN, 2011). These emerge due to lack of employee motivation and dedication to duty. Poor client services from employees might also emanate from management incompetence. It is observable that several signs or symptoms of incompetent management remain evident in most organizations. The Classical Management Style versus Scientific Management Classical management refers to the management based on the conviction that workers have economic and physical demands. According to this management style, workers’ social requirements and demands for job fulfillment is unimportant. This management style lobby for increased labor specialization, centralized decision processes, and profit making. Being the oldest management strategy, classical management is specifically interested in the increase of efficiency, both for the employees and the organization (Jia, You, Du, 2012). Basically, the style majorly deals with the universal operational guidelines while endeavoring for monetary efficiency. It embodies scientific, administrative, and bureaucratic management. Scientific management concentrates on a particular and modest manner of doing specific jobs. Scientific management depends on the theory that examines work processes with an aim of improving the general labor productivity (GIRIN, 2011). It involves the organizational management according to the efficiency principles drawn from empirical investigations on the work as well as production methodologies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Classical Management Style versus Scientific Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As potentiated by Taylor, scientific management suggests that resolutions, which are dependent on dictatorship and tradition, must be replaced with concise processes developed from analysis of specific situations. Thus, it can be noted that classical management is more repressive than scientific management (Paulus Yang, 2000). In scientific management, it is believed that basic jobs can be planned adequately to increase productivity. It is critical to understand these provisions in the context of effective management. Notably, scientific management is extremely effective when considered in diverse contexts. Unlike classical management, scientific management depends largely on the empirical analysis of situations. The distinction between scientific and behavioral theories is clearly depicted within different organizations. Whilst scientific theory stresses on the importance of empirical analysis of the work processes, behavioral theories examine the actual performance competency of leaders (GIRIN, 2011). According to behavioral theory, good managers can be molded. There is an assumption that an effective leadership depends on an identifiable and learnable behavior. I have severally experienced behavioral theory in the course of my work. For instance, presently in my organization, the senior managers started learning in their various departments as trainees through apprenticeship. In this practice, there is a clear depiction that leadership competencies may be learned. This is unlike the widespread belief that leadership competencies are inherent.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References GIRIN, J. (2011). Empirical Analysis of Management Situations: Elements of Theory and Method. European Management Review. 8: 197–212. Jia, L., You, S. and Du, Y. (2012). Chinese Context and Theoretical Contributions to Management and Organization Research: A Three-decade Review. Management and Organization Review. 8: 173–209. Paulus, P. and Yang, H. (2000). Idea Generation in Groups: A Basis for Creativity in Organizations. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 82:76–87.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

To what extent should the financial reporting practices of public Essay

To what extent should the financial reporting practices of public sector organizations differ from those used by companies in the private sector - Essay Example Hence the financial accounting system is to be very strict to ensure the uniform justice. Making them profit driven is crucial for the whole nation as will add further to the gross domestic product of the country and for generating higher employment. In addition the reforms in public sector are needed for following factors which also decide the style of financial reporting in public enterprises. The financial reporting analysis studies indicated that majority private firms get involved in cost reduction activities and hence their efficiency is higher and hence public sector can follow this by implementing cost reduction measures with out affecting the social objectives. Matsumari and Matsushima (2004) conducted an investigation on mixed duopoly, in which a public enterprise with social objectives competes with a profit-maximizing private firm. The use of a Hotelling-type spatial model helped them in product differentiation. Similarly the production costs were reduced by following cost-reducing activities. It was also noticed that the private firms engage in excessive strategic cost-reducing activities and hence their production cost becomes lower than the public firm. It was also felt that privatization of the loss making public firms will result in reducing the operational losses and converting them in to profit making enterprises. The second factor that is to be kept in mind is that the source of funds for the public sector is from the public mainly where as the source of funding in private sector is from private individuals. Hence the public sector enterprises should be held highly responsible for the financial performance. It does not mean that the private sector should be neglected but it suggests that the private sector needs a separate style of financial reporting system. The users and stakeholders are another crucial

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

CISCO Systems Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

CISCO Systems Inc - Research Paper Example The company operates through data center operations management services, which assists the customers in accelerating the operational success by employing new technologies and solves the problems that arise in the due course of time. The Data Center Services for Operations Enablement of CISCO includes many voluntary modules, which assist in accelerating the operational maturity of the Data Center management processes. The three main domains of operation such as plan, build and manage are significant in the company. The services aim at addressing the challenges that are associated with the operational processes and tools. This requires assessment of data effectively and efficiently in the data center. The business operation of CISCO has undergone huge changes and is also encountering modifications presently so that they can sell the bundles of solutions in high prices. The offered solution bundles need changes in credit selling, revenue attribution, supply chain and order processing (CISCO Systems Inc., 2014a; CISCO Systems Inc., 2014c). Analysis of operations transformation process of CISCO One of the main competitive advantages of CISCO is its ability to offer architectures of different products related to collaboration, mobility, borderless networks, and security. The transformation process of the service that is taken into account is Wireless LAN (CISCO Systems Inc. 2014b). The process considers the designing and sale of the solutions of the products that are developed by the units or partners of the unit.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Influence of Culture on Language Essay Example for Free

The Influence of Culture on Language Essay In this movies, I can find a lot of concepts that we have been studied in this four chapter. Although I mostly disagree the main idea of this movie, I think it is fight for survive and there are not clear justice, I admit it is a good movie to study intercultural communication. After watching this movie, I first think about the Identity. Identities are sets of social expectation related to ourselves and others that are grounded in the interplay between similarities and difference and pertain to personal, relational and communal aspects of lives. As you can see from the opening scene when the general hope the Lieutenant Jim to fight for human, even he make him to choose between his brother life or Mala. A role is something one puts on and takes off depending on the needs of the situation. In this situation, the general expected the Lieutenant Jim to fight for him but not for parliament, because he think Jim is a human and soldier, he could not fight for Terrian. It is a role expectation. I also find the communications relationship to identity in this movie and it is Ironically. When the soldiers find the Mala in their Ark, they first thought is she will destroy Ark, they should catch her as soon as possible. Such identity label always take this common idea that Mala is not human, she must in order to destroy to come the Ark. The communication naturally reflects her identities, also her identities will common reflect what she will doing. But ironically, who arrest human to capture the planet uncompromising is not Mala, but Lieutenant Jim, also a human. It is no doubt to find the movie is most to focus on personal identity. The movie highly praise the personal identity has special power to solve the conflicts between relational identity and communal identity. As a human, he has a communal identity. But he also has a relational identity that he is a friend of Mala. During the battle, he want to save his brother and also do not want to hurt Mala, at this time, he did another choice. At last, there a scene shows a big sculpture about Lieutenant Jim. Heroism most present a personal identity. In the movie, I find another conflict about the worldview. What is our relationship with the nature, mastery or adaptive. The general certainly stand for mastery the world. He want to capture the planet and change the world to another earth. Human is mostly like to mastery the world. We can find at the movie stated, it is because of absolute mastery the nature, we are ver-exploitation, destroy the nature and fight each other that lead to lose our world. But the parliament seems to change. It is more like Terrian to adaptive the world. They stand to share the world and lend into the environment. At this point, we can find another concept which we study in this for chapter is Similarities and Differences. So when we discuss the culture, we could not be overgeneralization. Back to the worldview, we find the Terrians world view is more in accordance with that current environmental protection organization advocated. At this view, I really love to adapt the world or not to master it. But at last, I mostly find that human is more like to make a big cage to close ourselves. I thought the author is rather extreme. At last, I think to study a intercultural communication in a movie is a meaningful and interesting. But maybe it is a little exaggeration, because the movie always take some authors personal value in it.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Rebels of Dharma Bums, Takin it to the Streets and New American Po

Rebels of Dharma Bums, Takin' it to the Streets and New American Poetry      Ã‚  Ã‚   You don't need a destination to run away. All you have to know is what you are leaving behind. In the 1960's, young men and women in the United States, especially on the west coast, made a mad dash away from almost two centuries of American tradition. They ran to so many different places that it would be impossible to generalize about their aims and philosophies. What they had in common was the running itself.    America was drowning in materialism. In "A Coney Island of the Mind," Lawrence Ferlinghetti characterized the land of the free and the home of the brave as "a concrete continent spaced with bland billboards illustrating imbecile illusions of happiness" (New American Poetry, ed. Allen, p131).    John Sinclair criticized a country that needed "Eighty-seven different brands of toothpaste" and "Millions of junky automobiles" (Takin' it to the Streets, ed. Bloom, p303). After the novelty of cars and other products wore off, some Americans began to feel that the emphasis on production was changing the character of the country. Economic prosperity had gone to America's head, and in the scramble for profit idealism had been left behind. Kafka is quoted by Richard Brautigan in his novel Trout Fishing in America as having said that "I like the Americans because they are healthy and optimistic." (Takin' it to the Streets, p280) The new generation of Americans, however, was nowhere near optimistic about the future of their country. They saw the land of the free and the home of the brave degenerating into a production line of television sets and plastic gizmos.    The loss of individuality was what many feared. In ... ...ad all the enthusiasm and all the rebelliousness. They were the ones who, according to Ginsberg, "howled on their knees in the subway and were dragged off the roof waving genitals and manuscripts" (p185). However, all their manuscripts said different things. Mainstream America had two hundred years of tradition behind them, and in addition to that they had force of habit and a leader in the form of the United States government. The new generation had only their conviction that a change must take place. But their passion and their flamboyance made people listen up.    Works Cited Allen, Donald, ed. The New American Poetry. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999. Bloom, Alexander and Breines, Wini. Takin' it to the Streets. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1995. Kerouac, Jack. The Dharma Bums. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1986.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Collapse of Ronan Point

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to consider the perceived failures associated with the famous collapse of Ronan Point on 16 May, 1968. Following a gas explosion, an entire corner of the 22 storey tower block in East London collapsed, killing 4 people and injuring 17. In order to analyse the failures that occurred, the paper will firstly look at the history of the building, its design and construction, before looking at the collapse itself and the perceived failures that were identified after the event. The building was named after the chairman of the housing committee of the relevant London Borough, Newham, and was one of many tower blocks built during the 1960s in a budget-driven and affordable way to deal with the growing demand for affordable housing in the region (Levy and Salvadori 1992). The very ethos of this affordable housing and the use of cheaper materials and cheaper construction approaches is arguably one of the first and fundamental contributory factors to the disaster (Griffiths et al 1968). Design and Construction The actual design and construction of the building was mooted as far back as the end of World War II, when much of the housing available in the London region was destroyed as a result of the war and there was a rapid demand for a large amount of housing. Other factors such as a lack of skilled labourers, as well as the changing housing policy which enabled multi-stories to be established, created a demand for the design and construction of buildings such as the one in question here. A prefabricated construction technique was used which involved the creation of much of the high-rise building which was then transported to the area for final construction (Cagley, 2003). The actual construction approach that was used here was that of the Larsen-Nielsen system which was composed of factory-built, precast concrete components designed to minimise on-site construction work. Walls, floors and stairways are all precast. â€Å"All units, installed one-story high are load bearing† (ENR, 1968 at p.54). Although this system was tried and tested, the approach was not designed to be used in a building of more than 6 storeys high. However, the building of this tower block was 22 storeys high and there was no recognition, at the construction phase, that this could potentially jeopardise the validity of the construction technique. The basic construction approach involved a precast concrete structure frame, with each floor of the multi-storey building being supported by the load-bearing walls directly beneath each other, floor upon floor (Bignell et al 1977). Collapse The collapse itself happened at 5:45 am in the morning when the tenant of one of the apartments on the 18th floor lit a match, unbeknownst that there had been a gas leak overnight. By lighting the match, an explosion took place and this ended up damaging the load-bearing wall which was present on the 18th floor and was acting as the only support for the corner of the 19th floor. When the corner of the 19th floor collapsed, this had the effect of the 20th floor collapsing. Once the floors above had already collapsed the pressure on the floors became unbearable and the domino effect continued downward, destroying the entire corner of the building (Delatte, 2009). The way in which the collapse took place meant that, essentially, it destroyed a portion of the living room all the way down the building, but left the bedrooms intact in most cases, with the exception of floors 17 to 22 the room which were in the immediate vicinity of the explosion. It was on these floors that all of the fata lities happened and due to the fact that the explosion had taken place early in the morning, the majority of the individuals who were in their bedrooms were unaffected (Delatte, 2009). Perceived Failures When looking at the perceived failures and causes of failure, it can be seen that the analysis is largely split into two distinct areas: first, considering the immediate cause of failure; the second looking at the fundamental flaws in the design and construction of the building that allowed such a dramatic reaction to the immediate event (Griffiths et al 1968). The actual investigation into the event which took place involved a government panel which was formed in order to look at the causes of failure and to consider whether or not there were other buildings which potentially could suffer from a similar eventuality, in the future. As stated previously, the construction approach taken for Ronan Point was replicated in many other buildings, with eight other exact replicas in occupation. Therefore, establishing the reason for the collapse is crucially important (Pearson and Delatte, 2003) One of the key factors that took contributed in the immediate event itself was found to be a substandard connection used in order to connect the gas stove in the relevant apartment. Whilst this meant that the gas leak had presented itself in a way that would not have been likely, had they used a different connection, as well as having the incorrect connection, it was found that over tightening had occurred during installation. This probably weakened the connection and allowed gas to leak out. Despite this, the evidence gathered suggested that the explosion itself was not substantial, as there was no permanent damage to the hearing of the individual in the apartment. This suggests that relatively little pressure was involved, although there was sufficient pressure to move the external walls of the building and to create a progressive collapse within the building (Levy and Salvadori, 1992). Broadly speaking, the progressive collapse is thought to have occurred due to the fact that there was a lack of alternate load paths available and there was no support for the structural frame available on the higher floors (Wearne, 2000). This meant that when there was an explosion on level 18, this took out the only support so that the floors above level 18 failed and this placed excessive pressure on the lower floors, until it ultimately collapse to ground level. Perceived failures, can be split into two distinct categories, the first being the cause of the explosion itself; the second looking at the repercussions of the explosion, which were extensive, given the magnitude of the explosion, which was relatively low. Procedure and Project Management Unsurprisingly, as a result of the collapse here, building codes, guidelines and regulations were advised not only in the United Kingdom, but across the globe. The building regulations, changed in 1970, state that any building with more than four storeys needs to have a design structure in place that would resist a progressive collapse of this nature (Pearson and Delatte, 2005, pp. 175). Apart from the construction mechanisms themselves, there were also concerns that failures had occurred in the project management, as well as failures to check procedures. The gaps between the floors and in the walls meant that the building had not been established in a way that was part of the original design and planning. In addition to the actual failure in the design of the property, concerns were also raised in the report in relation to the need for quality control of the construction processes taking place. For example, it was proven that during the construction, certain design factors had been ignored, with unfilled gaps between the floors and walls, throughout the premises, which meant that the building had little in the way of separation between the flats. Furthermore, in high rise buildings of this type, a relatively narrow staircase is acceptable, as there is thought to be enough fire protection between the floors. In the absence of this fire protection, narrow staircases w ould be unacceptable, in the event of a fire or explosion of this nature. Key Failures The analysis above indicates that there are several failures which together created the dramatic collapse at Ronan Point. These are: social pressures on the construction company to establish a large amount of housing accommodation, rapidly and cheaply; the use of constructions not aimed at high storey buildings of this nature; failures to put in place methods whereby there was no secondary support structure in place, in the event of a failure with any of the load-bearing walls; failures with the processes being followed, which resulted in the wrong processes being followed in the connection of the gas pipes, as well as other omissions during the construction process, with the failure to follow the design provided. It can be seen, that the project management would have, at least in part, dealt with many of these failures and would have either prevented the explosion, in the first place, or would have seriously reduced the impact of the explosion, once it did take place. The crucial factor in this analysis is that the explosion itself was relatively minor, yet the repercussions were large and it is this chain of events that requires attention when it comes to better project management, in the future. Recommendations for Better Project Management Certain failures took place at the design phase, when the design construction of the premises was selected, yet was not entirely suitable for a 22 storey building. This was arguably the first and crucial failure which could have been avoided with further research into the limitations of this design. However, the main focus of the recommendations presented here is in relation to the project management process, from the point at which the design was presented for the construction, to the point at which the building was completed (Pearson and Delatte, 2005). At the outset, when the project team came together, there was an opportunity to run scenarios and to check the validity of the chosen construction, given the design that were being presented and the need to establish a 22 storey building. By running these types of scenarios, it is likely that it would become apparent that the chosen construction design was simply inappropriate. Even without this element of the project management being undertaken and risk assessments being carried out, the next stage of the project management should have involved a strong quality control check for every aspect of the work. The fundamental design of the building was proven to be flawed; however, there were also errors during the actual construction phase, for example the use of the wrong connections when it came to the gas pipes installed. Although this, in itself, did not lead to the catastrophic collapse of part of the building, it did create a minor gas explosion which started the chain of events. Quality control processes at every phase of construction and fitting would have potentially prevented the chain of events from emerging, in the first place (Shepherd and Frost, 1995). Next Steps and Conclusions Bearing this in mind, there are several proposed changes and next steps which could be taken to prevent a similar failure happening in the future. Firstly, although the design used was accepted during this era, it was known that it would simply not be appropriate for the type of building which was being planned. This should have been noted, at the outset, with additional safety structures then planed so as to prevent this type of progressive collapse from taking place. Secondly, worst-case scenarios should be run, at the outset, to enable the project managers to ascertain whether any weaknesses existed. Moreover, although the rest of collapse in this case resulted in the building being destroyed, it was also not able to withstand strong winds and this also, ultimately, could have resulted in the building becoming uninhabitable. By running scenarios, such as high winds or explosion, these issues would have been highlighted and changes in the design could have been incorporated, from the outset (Pearson and Delatte 2003). Finally, quality control during the construction process was also not suitable. This should have been done with much greater consistency, to ensure that the smaller processes, such as the fitting of connections, was carried out to an appropriate standard, thus preventing the minor incident that ultimately led to the overall disaster. By following these clear project management approaches and ensuring that an individual was put in place, in order to manage quality and control, as well as any variables in this area, the collapse of the building could have been avoided, or at least the cause of the collapse mitigated against, so as not to cause loss of life and injury. References Bignell, V., Peters, J., and Pym, C. (1977). Catastrophic failures. Open University Press, Milton Keynes, New York. Cagley, J. R. (2003, April). The design professional’s concerns regarding progressive collapse design. Building Sciences, 27, 4-6. Delatte, N. J. (2009). Beyond failure: Forensic case studies for civil engineers. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Reston, Virginia, 97-106. Engineering News Record (ENR). (1968). â€Å"Systems built apartment collapse.† ENR, May 23, 1968, 54. Griffiths, H., Pugsley, A. G., and Saunders, O. (1968). Report of the inquiry into the collapse of flats at Ronan Point, Canning Town. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London. Levy, M., and Salvadori, M. (1992). Why buildings fall down: How structures fail. W.W. Norton, New York, 76-83. Pearson, C., and Delatte, N. (2003). Lessons from the Progressive Collapse of the Ronan Point Apartment Tower. In Forensic Engineering, Proceedings of the Third Congress, edited by Paul A. Bosela, Norbert J. Dellate, and Kevin L. Rens, ASCE, Reston, VA., pp. 190-200. Pearson, C.,and Delatte, N. J. (2005) Ronan Point Apartment Tower Collapse and Its Effect on Building Codes. J. Perf. of Constr. Fac., 19(2), 172-177. Shepherd, R., and Frost, J. D. (1995). Failures in Civil Engineering: Structural, Foundation, and Geoenvironmental Case Studies, ASCE, New York. Wearne, P. (2000). Collapse: When Buildings Fall Down, TV Books, L.L.C., New York, 137-156.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Political Stupidity

Amanda Ortiz, Swetaben Ahir, Nga Le, and Shantel Palmer Professor McDade English 1302 October 15, 2012 Political Stupidity, U. S. Style In E . J. Dionne’s essay, â€Å"Political Stupidity, U. S. Style† he wants to address the political stupidity that the government is making. To start his argument, he raises an emotional question, â€Å"Can a nation remain a superpower if its internal politics are incorrigibly stupid? † The author is saying are we letting politics, irrational ideas on fiscal policy and an antiquated political structure undermine our power.He divides political stupidity into three parts: stupid tax policies, irrational ideas on fiscal policy and antiquated political structure. In his essay, â€Å"Political Stupidity, U. S Style,† Dionne employs ethos, connotation and an emotional appeal. In paragraph sixteen, Dionne uses ethos. He writes, â€Å"I’m a chronic optimist about America. † E. J. Dionne is confident about the future to get better but we need well intentioned republicans who care about the nation interest to realize something has gone fundamentally wrong with their party and work to help bring it back.To get rid of political stupidity, he wants to form a senate, a new conservatism that is worthy of our name, liberals willing to speak out on the threat our daft politics poses to our influence in the world, and moderates. However the readers might have complete trust of the government of the United States and so they might not like someone questioning their credibility. In paragraph number seventeen, Dionne uses connotation saying â€Å"We need moderates who do more than stick their fingers in the wind to calculate the halfway point between two political poles. Dionne is hoping to make people aware of the political stupidity and the need to bring change in the system of politics. Sticking their fingers in the wind, means a person putting his finger in the wind is unlikely to come up with original solutions, and decisions are made without backing evidence. It says that the politicians are making blind decisions without even thinking about its consequences. It also makes them look like fools running the country. However, if some people think that the politicians were fools, the United States would not have been a super power.In paragraph seven, Dionne uses a strict emotional appeal as a mean to persuade his audience. He writes, â€Å"The simple truth is that the wealthy in the United States- the people who have made almost all the income gains in recent years- are under taxed compared with everyone else. † Consider two reports from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. One, issued last month, highlighted findings from the Congressional Budget Office showing that, â€Å"The gaps in after-tax income between the richest 1 percent of Americans and the middle and poorest fifths of the country more than tripled between 1979 and 2007. The other, from February, used Int ernal Revenue Service data to show that the effective federal income tax rate for the 400 taxpayers with the very highest incomes declined by nearly half in just over a decade, even as their pre-tax incomes have grown five times larger. He writes this, hoping that by using the reports from the Congressional Budget Office, he would be able to prove his point that the United States is politically stupid. It seems as if he is trying to bring awareness among the people of the United States about the decisions made by politicians.Although he has demonstrated his evidence very convincingly and it seems that he would get his readers attention and they would listen to his concerns but some of his readers think that he is being blunt and through his essay he is making direct acquisitions on the politicians of the United States. The United States is falling behind and the public seems not to notice. In paragraph number fourteen, Dionne talks about the structure of our government. He talks abo ut how the ratio between the largest and smallest state was 13 to 1. Now it’s 68 to 1.He writes,† because of the abuse of the filibuster, 41 senators representing less than 11 percent of the national population can, in principle, block action supported by 59 senators representing more than 89 percent of our population. And you wonder why it’s hard to get anything done in Washington? ’’ Dionne gives convincing evidence to support his claim which is the politics of the United States is stupid. He uses ethos and shows his concerns by saying he is a chronic optimist about America. He also uses reports to prove his point and persuade the audience. However he seems blunt and tells it like it is without any fear.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Why should we recycle. Essay Example

Why should we recycle. Essay Example Why should we recycle. Essay Why should we recycle. Essay The recycling process involves the collection, separation and reprocessing already used materials into new products. The process is so called because the process undergoes a severally the cycle of manufacture; production, use†¦The recycling process involves the collection, separation and reprocessing already used materials into new products. The process is so called because the process undergoes a severally the cycle of manufacture; production, use. Recycling reduces the likelihood of wasting of useful materials and the process thereof of production as well as reducing consumption of fresh raw materials. There are two major forms of recycling: salvaging and reusing. Salvaging is a waste sorting technique in which parts or materials that have intrinsic value or are hazardous in nature are collected and separated in materials recovery facilities. Reuse on the other hand is the using again of a material that had already been used (Porter, 2002).ThesisDue to rapidly dwindling resour ces it has become imperative to recycle due to the potential of recycled materials to save enormously in terms of resources required for fresh production as well as the potential of recycled materials to remain in circulation virtually for a long time.Virtually everything can be recycled. However some materials when recycled tend to loose their properties, quality or their size (like paper, cardboard) while others like steel and aluminum tend to remain the same in quantity and quality after recycling. Some of the materials that can be recycled include aluminum, waste paper, glass, steel cans, cardboard, newspapers certain plastics and many other materials. These can find their way back to the consumers in a the same form or a different ones. For example when glass is recycled, it can be remanufactured into glass containers, laundry detergent bottles, steel framing, office paper, roofing, pipes and much more (Porter, 2002).Some of the materials that are widely used and therefore offe r a very viable choice for mass recycling due to their ability to save on the cost of energy used in production of new ones are aluminium, plastics, glass and other miscellaneous wastes such as nail polish, paint thinner, batteries.AluminumIt is estimated that about 24 million tones of aluminum is produced annually in the world. Of these, it is approximated that about 29 cans are produced for every pound of aluminum produced in the U.S. (Purdue, 2003). Majority of these cans are used for beer and soft drinks (99% of beer packaging is aluminum based while 97% soft drinks are packaged in aluminum cans) but only about 40% of the cans are post-consumer recycled (Donald, 2002). Given the fact that it requires only about 5% as much energy to recycle an aluminum can than when produced from virgin ore, there would be no need for mining new ores since about 3.1 million tones of aluminum waste is generated accounting for about 1.5% of the total municipal waste of the united states. There can be a sizable amount of savings if aluminum is completely recycled (Ackerman, 1996).PlasticsPlastic is the most used material on earth. It has been established that on average, an American car contains about 300pounds of plastic of about 60 different resins, about 10% of all the earnings of a grocery store are used to buy paper and plastic packaging. Cumulatively, plastic contributes about 23.9% (by volume) of all municipal waste in the U.S. however out of these only about 0.9 million tons of plastic (accounting for 4.7% of all the plastic used) were recycled (Purdue, 2003). The amount spent on manufacturing new plastic could have been reduced had all the plastic been recycled since there is no additional cost or energy required in recycling plastics (Donald, 2002).GlassAnnually about 41 billion glass containers were produced in the U.S. alone in shades of clear (about 64% of the total), brown (23%) and green (13%) this is according to research carried out by Purdue University (Purdu e, 2003) in 1992.Glass containers are 64% clear, 23% brown, and 13% green. The glass generated a total waste of approximately 13.3 million tons of glass contributing 6.3% of total U.S municipal waste. Of these only 35% was recycled which is very low for a commodity which is said that one glass jar recycled can produce energy to power a 100watt light bulb for about four hours (Ackerman, 1996).Other miscellaneous wastesIt is this class of goods that produce most of the municipal waste of the U.S. while some of them cannot be classified under ‘recyclable’ goods, a significant amount can be salvaged or reused.The materials that end up in waste that could be better reused   include durable goods, such as television sets, refrigerators and other home electronics which contributed about   16% of the   U.S. municipal solid waste (by weight, 25.5 million tons of solid waste). The amount of energy used to make each component cannot be compared to the cost that can be incurr ed by producing a new one. Their mode of recycling can be sale by salvaging parts that can be reused (PA Department of Environmental Protection. 2008).Having looked at the various forms of materials and their benefits in terms of energy savings if they are recycled rather than produced from scratch, we can deduce that overall recycling affords the best solution to efficient use of available energy.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Biography of George Washington, First U.S. President

Biography of George Washington, First U.S. President George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799) was Americas first president. He served as commander-in-chief of the Colonial Army during the American Revolution, leading the Patriot forces to victory over the British. In 1787 he presided at the  Constitutional Convention, which determined the structure of the new government of the United States, and in 1789 he was elected its president. Fast Facts: George Washington Known For: Revolutionary War hero and Americas first presidentAlso Known As: The Father of His CountryBorn: February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, VirginiaParents: Augustine Washington, Mary BallDied: December 14, 1799 in Mount Vernon, VirginiaSpouse: Martha Dandridge CustisNotable Quote: To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. Early Life George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia to Augustine Washington and Mary Ball. The couple had six children- George was the oldest- to go with three from Augustines first marriage. During Georges youth his father, a prosperous planter  who owned more than 10,000 acres of land, moved the family among three properties he owned in Virginia. He died when George was 11. His half-brother Lawrence stepped in as a father figure for George and the other children. Mary Washington was a protective and demanding mother, keeping George from joining the British Navy as Lawrence had wanted. Lawrence owned the Little Hunting Creek plantation- later renamed Mount Vernon- and George lived with him from the age of 16. He was schooled entirely in Colonial Virginia, mostly at home, and didnt go to college. He was good at math, which suited his chosen profession of surveying, and he also studied geography, Latin, and English classics. He learned what he really needed from backwoodsmen and the plantation foreman. In 1748 when he was 16, Washington traveled with a surveying party plotting land in Virginia’s western territory. The following year, aided by Lord Fairfax- a relative of Lawrences wife- Washington was appointed official surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. Lawrence died of tuberculosis in 1752, leaving Washington with Mount Vernon, one of Virginias most prominent estates, among other family properties. Early Career The same year his half-brother died, Washington joined the Virginia militia. He showed signs of being a natural leader, and Virginia Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie appointed Washington adjutant and made him a major. On Oct. 31, 1753, Dinwiddie sent Washington to Fort LeBoeuf, later the site of Waterford, Pennsylvania, to warn the French to leave land claimed by Britain. When the French refused, Washington had to retreat hastily. Dinwiddie sent him back with troops and Washingtons small force attacked a French post, killing 10 and taking the rest prisoner. The battle marked the start of the French and Indian War, part of the worldwide conflict known as the Seven Years War between Britain and France. Washington was given the honorary rank of colonel and fought a number of other battles, winning some and losing others, until he was made commander of all Virginia troops. He was only 23. Later, he was sent home briefly with dysentery and finally, after being turned down for a commission with the British Army, he retired from his Virginia command and returned to Mount Vernon. He was frustrated by poor support from the Colonial legislature, poorly trained recruits, and slow decision-making by his superiors. On  January 6, 1759, a month after he had left the army, Washington married  Martha Dandridge Custis, a widow with two children. They had no children together. With the land he had inherited, property his wife brought with her to the marriage, and land granted him for his military service, he was one of the wealthiest landowners in Virginia. After his retirement he managed his property, often pitching in alongside the workers. He also entered politics and was elected to Virginias House of Burgesses in 1758. Revolutionary Fever Washington opposed British actions against the Colonies such as the British Proclamation Act of 1763 and the Stamp Act of 1765, but he continued to resist moves to declare independence from Britain. In 1769, Washington introduced a resolution to the House of Burgesses calling for Virginia to boycott British goods until the Acts were repealed. He began to take a leading role in Colonial resistance against the British following of the Townshend Acts in 1767. in 1774, Washington chaired a meeting that called for convening a Continental Congress, to which he became a delegate, and for using armed resistance as a last resort.  After the battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, the political dispute became an armed conflict. Commander-in-Chief On June 15, Washington was named commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. On paper, Washington and his army were no match for the mighty British forces. But although Washington had little experience in high-level military command, he had prestige, charisma, courage, intelligence, and some battlefield experience. He also represented Virginia, the largest British colony. He led his forces to retake Boston and win huge victories at Trenton and Princeton, but he suffered major defeats, including the loss of New York City. After the harrowing winter at Valley Forge in 1777, the French recognized American Independence, contributing a large French Army and a navy fleet. More American victories followed, leading to the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. Washington formally said farewell to his troops and on December 23, 1783, he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief, returning to Mount Vernon. New Constitution After four years of living the life of a plantation owner, Washington and other leaders concluded that the Articles of Confederation that had governed the young country left too much power to the states and failed to unify the nation. In 1786, Congress approved the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to amend the Articles of Confederation. Washington was unanimously chosen as convention president. He and other leaders, such as  James Madison  and  Alexander Hamilton, concluded that instead of amendments, a new constitution was needed. Though many leading American figures, such as  Patrick Henry  and  Sam Adams, opposed the proposed constitution, calling it a power grab, the document was approved. President Washington was elected unanimously by the Electoral College in 1789 as the nations first president. ​Runner-up John Adams became vice president. In 1792 another unanimous vote by the Electoral College gave Washington a second term. In 1794, he stopped the first major challenge to federal authority, the Whiskey Rebellion, in which Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay federal tax on distilled spirits, by sending in troops to ensure compliance. Washington did not run for a third term and retired to Mount Vernon. He was again asked to be the American commander if the U.S. went to war with France over the XYZ affair, but fighting never broke out. He died on December 14, 1799, possibly from a streptococcal infection of his throat made worse when he was bled four times. Legacy Washingtons impact on American history was massive. He led the Continental Army to victory over the British. He served as the nations first president. He believed in a strong federal government, which was accomplished through the Constitutional Convention that he led. He promoted and worked on the principle of merit. He cautioned against foreign entanglements, a warning that was heeded by future presidents. He declined a third term, setting a precedent for a two-term limit that was codified in the 22nd Amendment. In foreign affairs, Washington supported neutrality, declaring in the Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 that the U.S. would be impartial toward belligerent powers in a war. He reiterated his opposition to foreign entanglements in his farewell address in 1796. George Washington is considered one of the most important and influential U.S. presidents whose legacy has survived for centuries. Sources George Washington  Biography. Biography.com.George Washington: President of the United States. Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Command and Control or Top-Down Management Style Research Paper - 2

The Command and Control or Top-Down Management Style - Research Paper Example In addition, the whole team must agree on the course of action taken by the organization concerning diverse issues (Yee-Melichar, Boyle & Flores 2011, p. 159). This paper wishes to examine the top-down management approach in the management of organizational change. The top-down approach in managing change implies imposed change since the change plans come from senior levels. Top-down style involves implementing changes more quickly as well as dealing with problems if necessary. Thus, this style is effective in organizations in which employees tend to resist changes. However, the style has the potential of increasing resistance to change due to the failure of incorporating employees in the change process. The managers at senior levels require being very specific when spelling out the change expectations as those following such plans do not participate in the process of planning (Anderson, Ackerman-Anderson 2001, p. 100). Since employees are not incorporated in the decision-making course and are repeatedly only motivated via either incentives or fear, moral can turn out to be an issue but these are usually countered by strict organizational requirements for all employees. However, change management could is inadequate since the top management may ignore a substantial part of the organization irrespective of how effectively such top-level decisions are reached (Morgan 2000, Para 4). In recent years, the top-down style of management is perceived as less favorable compared to the other management styles. However, it is sometimes very essential towards the success of projects and organizational change as seen above. An organization’s style of management plays a crucial role in determining whether the organization will triumph or fail. In this case, an organization can adopt a top-down style of management or a participative/inclusive management style (Dogra 2000, Para 1). Now, this paper can only say that both means of management are good as some projects  and organizational change management processes may work differently with the different management styles.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Mohammed Ail Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mohammed Ail - Research Paper Example He rose to fame even outside the boxing ring for his outspoken and brave behavior. When the government demanded of him to join the military in 1957 to fight in Vietnam he refused citing religious reasons. He said that he cannot fight until and unless it is justified through religious teachings. The US government did not recognize this excuse and arrested him for draft evasion charges. The American public shifted their perception about Ali after his conviction (Ezra, 2009). People turned sympathetic towards him and saw him as an inspiration. Due to this incident, he could not professionally box for four years at the prime time of his career. Later Ali’s appeal worked its way to the Supreme Court. He won the case in his favor. His court victory made him an icon for a generation that would reject forceful inclusion in the military or any action against their will. Finally in 1971 he returned to the ring. He won the world heavyweight championship title three times; 1964, 1974 and 1978. His career as a boxing legend involves historical matches with boxing greats like George Foreman and Joe Frazier. Muhammad Ali rose above his sport after mastering it (Remnick, 2011). Ali brought the game of boxing to a whole new level. With his charismatic personality, his sheer power in the ring and his butterfly movements he became an icon for the sports of boxing. Ali is an entertainer when it comes to interviews and TV shows. He is an outspoken personality and would love to talk about issues other than boxing. He was the first African-American athlete who would shout his pride of being from the black race. He stood firm against the white establishment. Ali was kept under surveillance by the FBI, and received the same treatment as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X (Remnick, 2011). He lived a high-profile life and move the masses. Ali was born in Louisville Kentucky. His father Cassius Marcellus Clay