6 Ways to Nurture Your Inner Entrepreneur

6 Ways to Nurture Your Inner Entrepreneur The idea of owning and operating your own business appeals to you. You love the idea of taking an idea of your own creation and then working to turn that idea into a working business that allows you to earn money, and allows you to spend your days doing what you love. Unfortunately, you also have doubts. You dont know if you have enough risk tolerance to become an entrepreneur. You doubt your ability to come up with a great idea, and you are unsure that you can make it through the grueling processes of finding financing and developing a business plan. Youre definitely unsure of whether or not you can manage all of the different tasks you will be expected to take on once your business is launched. Does this mean that your dreams of becoming an entrepreneur are dead in the water? Of course they arent. It simply means that you have to find ways to nurture and develop your inner entrepreneur until you are ready turn a fantasy about owning a business into the real thing. 1. Learn About Other Successful Entrepreneurs One of the best ways to build on your natural entrepreneurial ability is to get some good advice and inspiration from some of the greats. When you learn about the successes, failures, and struggles of notable entrepreneurs you begin to gain an idea of the traits you need to develop to become a successful entrepreneur in your own right. You can also find encouragement if your own efforts arent becoming fruitful as quickly and as smoothly as you would like them to. There are many books that you can read to educate yourself on influential entrepreneurs. 2. Work at Being an Entrepreneur Where You Are You dont need to be the owner of a business to nurture entrepreneurial skills. In fact, launching a business of your own is a horrible way to develop these skills. It is way too risky to put financial investments, time, and other resources on the line in the hopes that you have developed the entrepreneurial chops to start a successful business. What you can do, however, is develop these skills before you try to start your own business. For example, you can... Volunteer to take on leadership roles at work, in school, or other organizations to which you belong Formulate ideas for beneficial projects at work, pitch them, and carry them through to completion Act as a mentor to those who are less experienced than you 3. Become the Party Planner in Your Social Circle There isnt anything entrepreneurial in throwing a small get together, but if you throw a big event, you will learn a lot about what it takes to own your own business. When you put on a major bash you must contact and negotiate with vendors, coordinate multiple schedules, get other people to pitch in, find and obtain funding to pay everybody involved, and then make sure that everybody is satisfied. 4. Start Keeping an Idea and Problem Journal Great entrepreneurs collect ideas and problems. Just like writers who keep a journal for writing down snippets of story ideas, you should begin keeping a journal of business and project ideas, along with problems that you identify that need solutions. At some point, it is very possible that you will come into your head that will eventually be developed into a full-fledged business concept. You will also find that the more you write your ideas down, the more new ideas you will have. 5. Learn to Find as Much Value in Failure as You do Success One thing that differentiates entrepreneurs from other people is their ability to embrace failure. To an entrepreneur, failure is an opportunity to learn something, and then use that knowledge to come up with a better solution. If you can change your attitude about failure involving small things, eventually you will be able to embrace even big failures and use them as a learning experience. You can start by making a commitment to analyze every failure, not to determine where you went wrong, but to determine what you did right, and what you learned. 6. Take on a Part Time Opportunity to Own Your Own Business If you have good interpersonal skills, you could try taking advantage of a work at home opportunity that will give you a bit of entrepreneurial experience. There are many well-known companies that are constantly hiring people who wish to operate their own home based business. You can sell and market products ranging from cosmetics to kitchen supplies. If you think these arent real businesses, think again. You have to develop a list of potential customers, sell your product, pay your supplier, and track the money you have earned for tax purposes.

Battle of Churubusco - Mexican-American War - Winfield Scott

Battle of Churubusco - Mexican-American War - Winfield Scott Battle of Churubusco - Conflict Date: The Battle of Churubusco was fought August 20, 1847, during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Armies Commanders United States Major General Winfield ScottMajor General William J. Worth8,497 Mexico General Manuel RinconGeneral Pedro Anaya3,800 Battle of Churubusco - Background: With the beginning of the Mexican-American War in May 1946, Brigadier General Zachary Taylor won quick victories in Texas at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Pausing to reinforce, he later invaded northern Mexico and captured the city of Monterrey. Though pleased with Taylors success, President James K. Polk was increasingly concerned about the generals political aspirations. As a result of this, and reports that an advance on Mexico City from Monterrey would be difficult, he began stripping Taylors army of men to form a new command for Major General Winfield Scott. This new army was tasked with capturing the port of Veracruz before moving inland against the Mexican capital. Polks approach nearly brought disaster when a badly outnumbered Taylor was attacked at Buena Vista in February 1847. In desperate fighting, he was able to hold off the Mexicans. Landing at Veracruz in March 1847, Scott captured the city after a twenty-day siege. Concerned about yellow fever along the coast, he quickly began marching inland and was soon confronted by a Mexican army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Attacking the Mexicans at Cerro Gordo on April 18, he routed the enemy before advancing to capture Puebla. Resuming the campaign in early August, Scott elected to approach Mexico City from the south rather than force the enemy defenses at El Peà ±Ãƒ ³n. Rounding Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco his men arrived at San Augustin on August 18. Having anticipated an American advance from the east, Santa Anna began redeploying his army to the south and assumed a line along the Churubusco River (Map). Battle of Churubusco - Situation Before Contreras: To defend the southern approaches to the city, Santa Anna deployed troops under General Francisco Perez at Coyoacan with forces led by General Nicholas Bravo to the east at Churubusco. In the west, the Mexican right was held General Gabriel Valencias Army of the North at San Angel. Having established his new position, Santa Anna was separated from the Americans by a vast lava field known as the Pedregal. On August 18 Scott directed Major General William J. Worth to take his division along the direct road to Mexico City. Marching along the east edge of the Pedregal, the division and accompanying dragoons came under heavy fire at San Antonio, just south of Churubusco. Unable to flank the enemy due to the Pedregal to the west and water to the east, Worth elected to halt. In the west, Valencia, a political rival of Santa Anna, elected to advance his men five miles south to a position near the villages of Contreras and Padierna. Seeking to break the deadlock, Scott sent one of his engineers, Major Robert E. Lee, to find a path through the Pedregal to the west. Successful, Lee began leading American troops from Major Generals David Twiggs and Gideon Pillows divisions across the rough terrain on August 19. In the course of this movement, an artillery duel commenced with Valencia. As this continued, American troops moved unnoticed to the north and west and took positions around San Geronimo before nightfall. Battle of Churubusco - The Mexican Withdrawal: Attacking around dawn, American forces shattered Valencias command at the Battle of Contreras. Realizing that the triumph had unhinged the Mexican defenses in the area, Scott issued a series of orders following Valencias defeat. Among these were orders which countermanded earlier directives for Worths and Major General John Quitmans divisions to move west. Instead, these were ordered north towards San Antonio. Sending troops west into the Pedregal, Worth quickly outflanked the Mexican position and sent them reeling north. With his position south of the Churubusco River collapsing, Santa Anna made the decision to begin pulling back towards Mexico City. To do so, it was critical that his forces hold the bridge at Churubusco. Command of the Mexican forces at Churubusco fell to General Manuel Rincon who directed his troops to occupy fortifications near the bridge as well as the San Mateo Convent to the southwest. Among the defenders were members of the San Patricio Battalion which consisted of Irish deserters from the American army. With the two wings of his army converging on Churubusco, Scott immediately ordered Worth and Pillow to attack the bridge while Twiggs division assaulted the convent. In an uncharacteristic move, Scott had not scouted either of these positions and was unaware of their strength. While these attacks moved forward, the brigades of Brigadier Generals James Shields and Franklin Pierce were to move north over the bridge at Coyoacan before turning east for Portales. Had Scott reconnoitered Churubusco, he most likely would have sent the bulk of his men along Shields route. Battle of Churubusco - A Bloody Victory: Moving forward, the initial assaults against the bridge failed as Mexican forces held. They were aided by the timely arrival of militia reinforcements. Renewing the assault, the brigades of Brigadier Generals Newman S. Clarke and George Cadwalader finally carried the position after a determined attack. To the north, Shields successfully crossed the river before meeting a superior Mexican force at Portales. Under pressure, he was reinforced by the Mounted Rifles and a company of dragoons which were stripped from Twiggs division. With the bridge taken, American forces were able to reduce the convent. Charging forward, Captain Edmund B. Alexander led the 3rd Infantry in storming its walls. The convent quickly fell and many of the surviving San Patricios were captured. At Portales, Shields began to gain the upper hand and the enemy began to retreat as Worths division was seen advancing from bridge to the south. Battle of Churubusco - Aftermath: Uniting, the Americans mounted an ineffective pursuit of the Mexicans as they fled towards Mexico city. Their efforts were hampered by the narrow causeways which traversed swampy terrain. The fighting at Churubusco cost Scott 139 killed, 865 wounded, and 40 missing. Mexican losses numbered 263 killed, 460 wounded, 1,261 captured, and 20 missing. A disastrous day for Santa Anna, August 20 saw his forces defeated at Contreras and Churubusco and his entire defensive line south of the city shattered. In an effort to buy time to reorganize, Santa Anna requested short truce which Scott granted. It was Scotts hope that peace could be negotiated without his army having to storm the city. This truce quickly failed and Scott resumed operations in early September. These saw him win a costly victory at Molino del Rey before successfully taking Mexico City on September 13 after the Battle of Chapultepec. Selected Sources PBS: Battle of ChurubuscoSon of the South: Battle of Churubusco Aztec Club: Battle of Churubusco - Map

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Essay Example The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) aims at more financial disclosures by companies to prevent accounting frauds. Due to this act a new agency, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB came into existence. The purpose of this agency is to oversee, regulate, inspect and discipline accounting firms that conduct auditing activities of public companies. SOX act is applicable to all US registered public companies. International companies that are registered with the SEC and the accounting companies that conduct auditing services are also covered in this Act. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act ensures corporate accountability and makes provision for penalties in case of violations. Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act specifies corporate responsibility for financial disclosures. CEOs and CFOs are made accountable for the veracity of financial disclosures. The Act makes it mandatory to include an internal control report in all financial disclosures of companies. This is to ensure that the management is confident about the reported financial data because of necessary controls in place to verify authenticity of data. Each financial report will also conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of the internal controls to be certified by auditor of the firm. Section 1348 has been added in Chapter 63 of title 18 pertaining to securities fraud. Accordingly, Criminal penalties are enforceable for defrauding investors of the companies by false presentations. Criminal penalties are also enforceable under section 802 for modifying documents. Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is further modified through section 409 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to provide Real Time Issuer Disclosures. Under the provision, any material changes in the financial condition must be provided by the companies to protect the interests of shareholders or investors. The auditor conducting an audit of

Study case 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Study case 1 - Essay Example It is regarded as morally wrong unless that person is your wife. The man declined to remove his pants for the X-ray due to his protestant stand which does not allow females to see their private parts and this also the main reason as to why he refused to cover himself with a towel. Most of them would even prefer to die than to be treated by a female doctor which does not make sense at all. Just because, this female doctor is going to see your private parts does not mean she is going to do anything with them, all she is interested in is treating you and therefore fulfilling her duty at work (Nam, 11). Most of our cultures misguide us by the things they make us believe, and they may destroy us rather than build us. Religion is supposed to build and unite us but not to tear us apart (Nam, 11). Therefore, everybody is supposed to respect each other, and that includes their religion too. We all believe in something even if not God. We believe He exists though nobody can really prove that he does, we all therefore want the religion we believe in to be superior to the others. However, personal views on religion should be banned in all healthcare facilities and clinics as they helps in promoting unity. If personal views are brought up in the health facilities, it may bring up religious conflicts which bring a poor working environment. This is the main reason as to why one has to compromise his or her religious views for the sake of healthcare. It is very unfair for one to think of banning the religious garb or the jewelry to the healthcare yet they do not know what these things mean to these people. It is their belief that is being disrespected and therefore mocking their belief (Nam, 10). What they do not ask themselves is how they would feel if they were in their position or what they would do if the same was being done to them. But no, of course they did not ask

Greasy lake and the three immature teenagers Essay Example for Free

Greasy lake and the three immature teenagers Essay Greasy Lake by T. Coraghesan Boyle’s is the story of a group of adolescents, searching for the one situation that will proclaim them as bad boys and how their minds change. The greasy lake is a short story which the narrator uses details, imagination and language to describe and represent the moral condition of each character. Also, during the story the narrator shows us how each character becomes closer to maturity after facing a crazy and unexpected night in a local lake, where we are all witness to and extreme change in their lives causes by immature action. Three young men, who considered themselves bad, were out looking for trouble and excitement on their summer break. One of the most interesting things was the perception they had about being tough or being cool at the time. It is very interesting how the three young showed his toughness throwing eggs at the houses of their neighbors. They were acting irresponsibly, drinking too much alcohol and doing drugs, which caused errors in their decision. This was the way of thinking of the three young men â€Å"we wore torn-up leather jackets, slouched around with toothpicks in our mouths, sniffed glue†. The bad choices they made would somewhere along the line cause their fate to step in, but no one knew what is going to happen that night. The boys must face their reality of becoming responsible adult men. For example, whether someone chooses to be responsible and do their homework that kind of actions determines if the three young men are capable to be responsible. The actions the boys took and the words they said eventually determined their immaturity. â€Å"On this, the third night, we’d cruised the strip sixty-seven times, been in and out of every bar and club we could think of in a twenty –mile radius, stopped twice for bucket of chicken and forty-cent hamburgers, debated going to a party at the house of a girl Jeff’s sister knew, and chucked two dozen raw eggs at mailboxes and hitchhikers.† If they would have chosen to go to the party at Jeff’s sister’s friend’s house then none of the trouble at Greasy Lake would have happened. The whole scene is dark to begin with the irresponsible choice they made to drink alcohol ultimately affected the rest of their choices and  actions. Alcohol may have distorted their judgments, which may have lead them to believe they saw Tony Lovett’s car, causing them to honk, flash their bights and press their faces on his window on the wrong car. Alcohol also may have affected the narrator’s agility, causing him to drop his keys in the dark. These actions leave them unprepared, when they end up in trouble with a big greasy character, as they call him. They begin to fight and one of them hits the guy with tire iron on the head while the adrenaline starts to rise in each of them, begin tearing the clothes off the girl in the car when they try to abuse of the young girl, they are interrupted by another car, which was approach to the scene they believe the other car have seen them. They start running away from the scene to avoid getting caught. The three boys were fri ghtened by the consequences that can bring them for their immaturity acts. During the story at this point At this point the narrator is not bothered about his moms car, because he is now safe in the lake behind trees where no one could find him. Once the narrator continues to find a safe place he runs into something that looks like something strange emerges from the lake and realize that it is a body of a man. Then the narrator thinks its very scary evil character found in lake and lifeless. The narrator is very scared by what he discovered runs where his friends were. Very afraid the only thing you want is to get home and forget everything that happened that night. Finally find the car keys and see that everything is in perfect condition, but have a final approach with two young girls who ask if they have seen the friend, who have not seen since last night they stay silent without express what really wanted and they lie and say no. During that time the one of the girls offers them to go home and have fun drinking alcohol and use drugs. After that episode t he three young men begin to experience inner change, to say no and see that they are not as bad as they believed or they could be, and all they want is to leave everything bad that experienced last night and be able to do positive things for their lives. In brief, Coming of age seems to be a problem. When I first felt the teenagers as adults and to take very risk decision to grab the tires iron and after trying to rape a woman every wrong decision have their consequences. However, they are very willing to face the adult outcomes.  Perhaps the lesson here is do not try to grow too fast. The point of view is in first person, from the point of view of narrative and Teenagers. The environment plays a role in the story. Also, during the story the narrator shows us how each character becomes closer to maturity after facing a crazy and unexpected night in a local lake, where we are all witness to and extreme change in their lives causes by immature action.

Product Layouts and Group Technologies Essay -- Operations Management

Product Layouts and Group Technologies In today’s world of operations management, layouts of manufacturing processes play a key role in achieving and maintaining long term goals. These layouts need to be well thought out and carefully planned for they can effect the cost or producing goods and delivering services for many years into the future. Layouts are dependent on the technology utilized and product type manufactured. There are four typical layouts: process layout, product layout, fixed position layout and combination layout. A combination layout is a layout that shares properties of two or more layouts. Such as a group technology layout that shares characteristics of a process layout and a product layout. They’re similar in that the cells are designed to perform a specific set of processes, and it is similar to product layout in that the cells are dedicated to a limited range of products. Each layout usually involves compromise and balancing of the process variables and it’s always debatable whether the perfect layout actually exists. â€Å"The purpose of layout planning is: to maximize the efficiency and profitability of a manufacturing operation to allow consistency and quality in products to be produced to allow flexibility and ease of adaptation for machinery and production personnel to products as required by the market†(Anonymous 2). Some characteristics of a good layout would be minimum material movement, workstations close together, easily adjustable to changing conditions and one plant floor so that everyone can see what’s going on. To define and explain, a product layout is a product-orientated layout that is appropriate for producing one standardized product in typically large volumes. Each unit being produced requires the same sequence of operations from beginning till end. During times when product demand is high enough and sustainable over a long period of time, it is usually cost effective to rearrange resources from a process layout to a product layout. In certain cases the equipment layouts are arranged so that the product in manufactured in a sequential and continuous arrangement. A good example would be an assembly line. Assembly lines can vary widely either they can be virtually 100 percent parts assembly by workers or by a transfer line where all the work being done is by machine. An assembly line is ... ...erformance. For example the decision to adopt a process layout which often groups workers according to skills may not be compatible with an operation requiring some persons of all skills to produce a variety of different products. For process and product layouts, the design begins with a statement of the goals and facility. Preliminary layouts are then designed to meet these goals. After initial designs have been developed, improved designs are sought through numerical analysis and discussion with the users. The development of a layout should involve everyone that it is effecting. Computer based models can be used for preliminary estimations to create some preliminary layouts using CAD or similar drawing software. The layouts then can be analyzed against the goals of the facility and improvement made if necessary. In summary while there are a lot of tools for good layout planning and each layout are dependent on the type of products and external variables impacting on the manufacturing process. A skilled layout planner working with manufacturing staff and management should work through objectives and options to determine the optimal solution for a given facility. Product Layouts and Group Technologies Essay -- Operations Management Product Layouts and Group Technologies In today’s world of operations management, layouts of manufacturing processes play a key role in achieving and maintaining long term goals. These layouts need to be well thought out and carefully planned for they can effect the cost or producing goods and delivering services for many years into the future. Layouts are dependent on the technology utilized and product type manufactured. There are four typical layouts: process layout, product layout, fixed position layout and combination layout. A combination layout is a layout that shares properties of two or more layouts. Such as a group technology layout that shares characteristics of a process layout and a product layout. They’re similar in that the cells are designed to perform a specific set of processes, and it is similar to product layout in that the cells are dedicated to a limited range of products. Each layout usually involves compromise and balancing of the process variables and it’s always debatable whether the perfect layout actually exists. â€Å"The purpose of layout planning is: to maximize the efficiency and profitability of a manufacturing operation to allow consistency and quality in products to be produced to allow flexibility and ease of adaptation for machinery and production personnel to products as required by the market†(Anonymous 2). Some characteristics of a good layout would be minimum material movement, workstations close together, easily adjustable to changing conditions and one plant floor so that everyone can see what’s going on. To define and explain, a product layout is a product-orientated layout that is appropriate for producing one standardized product in typically large volumes. Each unit being produced requires the same sequence of operations from beginning till end. During times when product demand is high enough and sustainable over a long period of time, it is usually cost effective to rearrange resources from a process layout to a product layout. In certain cases the equipment layouts are arranged so that the product in manufactured in a sequential and continuous arrangement. A good example would be an assembly line. Assembly lines can vary widely either they can be virtually 100 percent parts assembly by workers or by a transfer line where all the work being done is by machine. An assembly line is ... ...erformance. For example the decision to adopt a process layout which often groups workers according to skills may not be compatible with an operation requiring some persons of all skills to produce a variety of different products. For process and product layouts, the design begins with a statement of the goals and facility. Preliminary layouts are then designed to meet these goals. After initial designs have been developed, improved designs are sought through numerical analysis and discussion with the users. The development of a layout should involve everyone that it is effecting. Computer based models can be used for preliminary estimations to create some preliminary layouts using CAD or similar drawing software. The layouts then can be analyzed against the goals of the facility and improvement made if necessary. In summary while there are a lot of tools for good layout planning and each layout are dependent on the type of products and external variables impacting on the manufacturing process. A skilled layout planner working with manufacturing staff and management should work through objectives and options to determine the optimal solution for a given facility.

Race and Ethnicity Essay

The ongoing struggle to fight the skin color prejudice in the contemporary American society is portrayed in Michael Jackson’s song â€Å"Black or White. † Whereas the racism is defined as a superior behavior against other race-thus making it inferior, the singer refers to this term as â€Å"See, it’s not about races, just places, faces, where your blood comes from is where your space is. † Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists in the music industry, calls for equality in how people view and behave towards each other. The question, which this master thesis investigates, does it matter if you’re black or white, is clearly answered by the singer: â€Å"It don’t matter if you’re black or white. † Jackson was trying to influence his society to act in a similar way and he calls for them to live their lives by Dr. Luther’s dream â€Å"†¦. judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. † However, almost thirty years later, it still seemed only as a dream because he sang: â€Å"I’m tired of this Devil†, where the bad is being represented by the prejudice. At the same time, he clearly states: â€Å"I’m not gonna spend my life being a color† – this is where he makes his conclusion. This can imply that even though he doesn’t discriminate and would like to see color prejudice gone, he is still being discriminated against. While being the most prominent artist in the music industry, he still calls himself â€Å"a color† and he rebuts against it and wants to be seen for the person he is and not the pigmentation of his skin. It is widely known that Michael Jackson had many facial plastic surgeries and it is controversial whether or not he altered his skin color by chemical peels or was it the disease called vitiligio that changed his face color to white. Therefore, it can be speculated that he modified skin to appear white, which ultimately is his vision. It can be further questioned – since Michael Jackon can’t win his struggle for racial equality, did he give up and go white – just to end his inner battle? Will all his suffering come to closure since now he looks white? Is this the true answer? It may be deemed as so since the skin color is the guide of one’s position in the society where being white claims supremacy-control and power. It should be noted that Michael Jackson is one of the greatest musicians of all times, having sold over 750 million records worldwide. He has accomplished so much in his life, yet still feels inferior and calls for racial equality in the world. His vision for a better world to live in, free of racism, ends on a sad note: â€Å"It’s black, it’s white†. To summarize, through decades, the blacks have fought to be equal, as the American nation shall guarantee those rights, yet, the society is still divided into the superior, the whites, and inferior- the blacks (and other people of color). Blacks have always been portrayed as the dirty, the poor, the lesser-of-a human type whereas the whites are seen as the dominant, the good type. Again, Jackson does not agree with this stereotype in saying: â€Å"I ain’t second to none. † Moreover, he claims that he will no longer be scared and mentions historical symbol of a KKK group: â€Å"I ain’t scared of your brother, I ain’t scared of no sheets. † With his passing in 2009, many of his inner struggles come to the end, but will the next generation start working on being color-free as the king of pop envisioned? America has always struggled with racial issues, especially those of black and white. Some them included racial segregation, education, workforce, banking and even seating on the bus. Black people continuously tried to â€Å"break thru† into community, but were always pushed aside as dirty, poor and unwelcome. We, in modern times, see the United States of America as a country that treats everyone equal. Americans should all be all equal, no matter what race, color, religion or any other characteristics they have. After all, we all remember year 2009, which is when Americans elected their first African American President. Question that comes to mind – why â€Å"first African American President,† not just simply their 44th President? So – the race and color of your skin does matter in modern times. My analyses of selected books, academic journals, films and music video will concentrate and argue if Americans indeed discriminate against race or if it is history and no longer exists in American life. First, I would like to take into consideration the iconic Michael Jackson, one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest singer and performer of the 21st century. Not only his songs deserve a closer look, but also his lifestyle – ideas, fears and the public opinion. â€Å"Black or White† by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell is a one of the greatest singles in Michael’s career. It was released on November 11, 1991. What inspired Michael to particularly select these two topics? Black or white – as implied in the song, he sings about skin color. Songs starts in Africa, possibly showing Jackson’s â€Å"beginning† – he is black. In one of the scenes, Michael sings â€Å"I ain’t scared of no sheets; I ain’t scared of nobody† – while he is walking through fire images – which is being compared to KKK and its torch ceremonies. Here, he is portraying his painful vision of KKK and its vision. Later, the performers sing â€Å"I’m not gonna spend my life being a color. † What a great statement. Michael, throughout his whole life and his career, shows us his inner and constant fight for a non-racial America. Being black himself, he had struggled and finally came to the top, but still did not achieve the level of happiness – which is â€Å"no color† in his country. Later, Jackson sings on Statue of Liberty’s torch, again possibly reminding us about the KKK, and at the same time – the Statue symbolizes liberty, which for him will be color-free, no discrimination America. We shouldn’t forget about Michael’s actions in this video. In the original version, he is smashing the car, windows and the inn exploded. However, later he had to edit this version to minimize his violent behavior, however. He altered it by adding four racial graffiti messages onto the windows that he was smashing. As I suggested earlier, Michael Jackson is portrayed as an angry black man who simply hates the discrimination against black people and shows his feelings by destroyed his surroundings, as he was being destroyed himself –just for being of black color. In is interesting to observe, the Jackson, when asked to change his destructive aggressive music video, he indeed did change it, but didn’t forget about this hostility towards discrimination. He had just portrayed it differently (graffiti). First message reads: â€Å"Hitler Lives,† then â€Å"Nigger Go Home,† â€Å"No More Wetbacks,† and finally â€Å"KKK Rules. † It can be argued if Michael Jackson is simply smashing windows with those painful ideas – is destroying them – to make a better world? Finally, the song comes from the album â€Å"Dangerous. † What did the author have in mind? Are all of those issues, painful experiences and the fight for non-colored America dangerous? It can be argued that yes. Jackson showed us the dangerous side of being black, where he was always forced to fight and that causes different sorts of trouble. In â€Å"Black or White,† Michael brilliantly portrayed two core problems people were facing daily: black or white. As we look at his lifestyle and constant metamorphoses, Michael Jackson had numerous surgeries that altered the color of his skin and make him â€Å"white. † It is very controversial as many sources quote that Jackson had a condition where one looses a pigment of his skin, called vitiligo. However, Michael Jackson public image is seen as a person who constantly tried to be white, therefore, sought surgeries to help him attain this goal. Michael Jackson shows us that it could have probably been easier to make himself white and not struggle for color-free America, where everyone is equal, no matter of who there are or what they look like. It would also be important to analyze some of the lyrics from Jackson’s music video. He sings: â€Å"I had to tell them I ain’t second to none. † It can be understood that he no longer is accepting the fact that black is â€Å"second,† which is worse, just because of the color. He continues: â€Å"And I told about equality† – he tells us he wants to be considered equal, despite his skin color. Next verse, he has really had enough of being pushed around because he is black â€Å"I am tired of this devil, I am tired of this stuff, I am tired of this business. † Finally, he talks about racism in: â€Å"See, it’s not about races, Just places, Faces, Where your blood, Comes from, Is where your space is, I’ve seen the bright, Get duller, I’m not going to spend, My life being a color. † Here Michael Jackson compares himself to simply being a â€Å"color. † He is less than a human being only because he is not white. He is â€Å"black. † Again, he accents his refusal of living his life being black. He wants to be equal, equal to white. It should be also noted that throughout video, Michael Jackson is wearing black and white clothing (white shirt, black blazer, white accents on his right arm and nails, black shoes, white socks). He seems to be a person caught in a black-and-white world and struggles to change it, showing his pain. However, at the very end, he turns into a black panther. This transformation may symbolize him as a black man who will fight for his rights, yet, still remain black. In book â€Å"The Color of Credit: Mortgage Discrimination, Research Methodology, and Fair-Lending Enforcement† Stephen L. Ross and John Yinger present racial issues and argue the importance of skin color in banking. It should be noted that this book was published in 2002, year where we all think that American people are equal, especially on racial basis. Therefore, why and how does the skin color come into play in banking? First, the American lenders take many factors into consideration when disbursing the mortgage. Such factors include many details such as the creditor’s ability to repay the loan – where the lender accesses the potential risk of losing the loan. There are many different lenders and they base their information on statistics, demographics and make final decision based on the risk factors. Research showed that mainly blacks would seek loans, which are not favorable to all lenders. Therefore such bank does take race into consideration when reviewing for application for credit. It is also shown that blacks will most likely work with subprime lenders (44%) with comparison to whites (only 4%). Blacks generally cannot use the prime mortgage market due to their poor qualifications, thus creating the black to white ratio of getting the mortgage – with figures of 2. 28 denial for prime market and 1. 27 for subprime. At the same time, limited research shows that blacks-even though have some qualifications as white – would remain in the subprime market and thus be charged higher fees. Equal Credit Opportunity Act says: It shall be unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant, with respect to any aspect of a credit transaction—on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to contract). (U. S. Code Title 15, Chapter 41, Section 1691) This would mean that all people should be treated equally in banks, when doing business in banks, no discrimination in credit transaction. However, authors argue that the bank may take a different look at the person and who they are in â€Å"business necessity† can be proved. Therefore, even while it is regulated by law, certain discriminatory practices can and do exist. Later, it would be rather hard to prove that the lender discriminated based for example on race. All regulations are not very clear and courts find it hard to find such a connection of discrimination. It is implied that blacks, with poorer ability to repay, living in lower income communities, must face subprime, expensive mortgages – to possibly make as much money as possible in the shortest time-so if the black borrower defaults on his payments, the lender wouldn’t lose its investment. This is to compare with the white borrower who lives in the richer-type setting, is more likely to meet his payments, therefore, he is offered a prime mortgage rate, without the necessity to further secure the loan. It can be argued if blacks and whites are treated equally, despite many regulations. On one hand, the lender must adhere to all necessary regulations, but on the other hand, such institution can make necessary decisions to make that mortgage profitable – thus, taking all factors into consideration in the application process. We can further analyze that race and color of skin does matter when one is being evaluated for such an application. It is believed that whites pose a lower risk to a financial institution than blacks. This also means, as authors point out, that black are less likely to be approved for a higher-priced home than a white person, which causes the real estate agents to discriminate and not show the more expensive houses to blacks. Maybe they don’t discriminate, they just know that lender is not likely to approve a black person in comparison to the same application of a white person? It is particularly important to note that authors point out that ‘‘on average, black mortgage applications have higher loan-to value and debt-to-income ratios than do white applications. ’’ In closing, it should be noted that while many regulations exist, there is no proof that racial discrimination has gone away and some research suggests that blacks still have lower approval rate in comparison to the whites. It is said that race does play a key role when the lender looks at your mortgage application.

Fake Myth

How Shadows Came To Be In the kingdom of Ridonicorn, there was a peculiar king named Shade. He claimed that he could stalk anyone without being seen. The Olympians knew him well, for his boasts were somewhat true. Often times, they bet on him to see if he tail people. Poseidon and Hermes almost always won the bets since they usually on the same side. If there was ever an argument, Artemis would settle it by choosing the right side of the bet. One day, Hermes and Poseidon didn’t place the same bet.Artemis was not there to settle the argument. This may seem trivial but it greatly upset the Olympians. They were so confused that no one else placed a bet. Poseidon thought Shade would not be able to follow the mysterious citizen and Hermes thought he would. Shade had already followed the citizen one mile into the enchanted forest near Ridonicorn when he heard a voice telling him to come into the bushes. He obeyed silently and went off his path. â€Å"What dost thou want? † sa id Shade to the voice.Then, right before his eyes, an old man with a cane came out of nowhere and said to him; â€Å"Only to help my king. † Shade was curious at his response In his weird manner of talking, he said; â€Å"What would thou doest to helpeth me in my quest from the gods? † â€Å"I have an enchanted necklace,† replied the old man. â€Å"that will make it so that no one can see hear you but the gods. † â€Å"Give it to me now! † ordered Shade. The old man gave it to him and Shade immediately put it on. â€Å"Did it work? † he asked the old man.Deceivingly, the old man replied; â€Å"Shade? Where did you go? † Shade was filled with happiness and continued his peculiar errand. He did not know that the old man was Hermes and could indeed see and hear him. Hermes was trying to â€Å"secure† his success of his bet with the necklace. However, no one knew that the person who Shade was stalking could see and hear him perfect ly. She was Artemis. She had left Olympus to take a break and hunt since she was not a good mood. When she noticed that Hermes was trying to win a bet, she was filled with nger. She shot an arrow right past Shade’s head. Shade was surprised since he thought he could not be noticed. â€Å"You think I can’t see you, mortal? † Shade shuddered. The way she said â€Å"mortal† made it seem as if she wasn’t. He was too late to notice and Artemis placed a curse on him. He and his offspring were forced to follow everyone without secrecy. Poseidon won the bet, Hermes had to do Poseidon’s chores for a millennium, and Shade (now Shadow) and his children had to follow everyone while always being seen for eternity.

Direct and Indirect Competition Essay Example

Direct and Indirect Competition Essay Example Direct and Indirect Competition Paper Direct and Indirect Competition Paper Essay Topic: Competition The water Industry as many other industries has direct and Indirect competitors; the direct competitors are companies that are producing the same line of products and Indirect competitors are the ones that are selling something that your customers or potential buyers may use as an alternate or substitute of your products. An example of direct competitor is Seychelles Water Filtration company, they are a fast growing water company. They have complete portable water filtration products and brands in North America and world wide with breakthrough technology. Seychelles have a similar water filtration water bottle with a flip top and advanced water filter. They claimed that removes 99. 99% of pollutants up to 100 gallons. They package includes water bottle, 100 gallon filter and an insulated sleeve that can be attached to a belt or a back pack. Each bottle uses BAA -free low-density polyethylene, FDA approved for food products. Summary emergency food storage is another company that is a direct competitor, they are one of the united Kingdom and Europe largest and most trusted emergency preparedness company producing the life saver bottle with 100% filtration, the product Includes 4000 IF bottle, a carbon activated filter and a pre-filter disk. This bottle complies with all British, US and European drinking water regulations. Katydid is another direct competitor they offer a wide variety of water filtration and purification products with their headquarters in Kampuchea near Zurich, Switzerland, with offices in US, Europe and Singapore with a global market share exceeding 50 percent. They have been in business for more than 80 years and got into the water treatment sector since 2009. They have similar product My bottle microfilmed, it is a multi-purpose filtration system, that meets EPA guidelines for the removal of bacteria. Each bottle includes drinking straw, Internal carbon filter that cleans up to 100 liters depending on water quality. Indirect competitors are the beverage manufacturers, water bottlers, coffee and tea makers and even the utility companies that send water to your tap. Direct and indirect competition By glaziers The water industry as many other industries has direct and indirect competitors; the indirect competitors are the ones that are selling something that your customers or food products. Aquamarine emergency food storage is another company that is a direct competitor, they are one of the United Kingdom and Europe largest and most trusted filtration, the product includes 4000 IF bottle, a carbon activated filter and a pre-filter removal of bacteria.

USS New Jersey (BB-62) During World War II

USS New Jersey (BB-62) During World War II The USS New Jersey (BB-62) was an Iowa-class battleship that entered service in 1943 and saw combat in World War II and later fought in Korea and Vietnam. Overview of the USS New Jersey  (BB-62) Nation:  United StatesType:  BattleshipShipyard:  Philadelphia  Naval ShipyardLaid Down:  September 16, 1940Launched:  December 7, 1942Commissioned:  May 23, 1943Fate:  Museum ship Specifications Displacement:  45,000 tonsLength:  887 ft., 7  in.Beam:  108.2 ft.Draft:  36 ft.Speed:  33 knotsComplement:  2,788 men Armament Guns 9 Ãâ€" 16 in./50 cal Mark 7 guns20 Ãâ€" 5 in./38 cal Mark 12 guns80 Ãâ€" 40 mm/56 cal anti-aircraft guns49 Ãâ€" 20 mm/70 cal anti-aircraft cannons Design Construction of the USS New Jersey In early 1938, work began on a new battleship design at the urging of Admiral Thomas C. Hart, head of the US Navys General Board. Initially envisioned as an enlarged version of the South Dakota-class, the new ships were to mount twelve 16 guns or nine 18 guns. As the design evolved, the armament settled on nine 16 guns. This was a supported by a secondary battery of twenty dual-purpose 5 guns mounted in ten twin turrets.  Additionally, the designs anti-aircraft armament moved through several revisions with many of its 1.1 guns being replaced with 20 mm and 40 mm weapons. Funding for the new ships came in May with the passage of the Naval Act of 1938. Dubbed the Iowa-class, construction of the lead ship, USS Iowa (BB-61), was assigned to the New York Navy Yard. Laid down in 1940, Iowa was to be the first of four battleships in the class. Later that year, on September 16, the second Iowa-class battleship was laid down at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.  With the US entry into World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the building of the new ship, dubbed USS New Jersey (BB-62), quickly advanced. On December 7, 1942, the battleship slid down the ways with Carolyn Edison, wife of New Jersey Governor Charles Edison, acting as sponsor.  Construction of the vessel continued for another six months and on May 23, 1943, New Jersey was commissioned with Captain Carl F. Holden in command.  A fast battleship, New Jerseys 33-knot speed permitted it to serve as an escort for the new Essex-class carriers that were joining the fleet. USS New Jersey During World War II After taking the remainder of 1943 to complete shakedown and training activities, New Jersey then transited the Panama Canal and reported for combat operations at Funafuti in the Pacific.  Assigned to Task Group 58.2, the battleship supported operations in the Marshall Islands in January 1944 including the invasion of Kwajalein.  Arriving at Majuro, it became Admiral Raymond Spruances, commander of the US Fifth Fleet, flagship on February 4.  On February 17-18, New Jersey screened Rear Admiral Marc Mitschers carriers as they conducted large-scale raids on the Japanese base at Truk.  In the weeks that followed, the battleship continued escort activities as well as shelled enemy positions on Mili Atoll.  In the second half of April, New Jersey and the carriers supported General Douglas MacArthurs landings in northern New Guinea.  Moving north, the battleship bombarded Truk on April 28-29 before attacking Ponape two days later. Taking most of May to train in the Marshalls, New Jersey sailed on June 6 to take part in the invasion of the Marianas.  On June 13-14, the battleships guns struck targets on Saipan and Tinian in advance of the Allied landings.  Rejoining the carriers, it provided part of the fleets anti-aircraft defense during the Battle of the Philippine Sea a few days later.  Completing operations in the Marianas, New Jersey supported attacks in the Palaus before steaming for Pearl Harbor.  Reaching port, it became the flagship of Admiral William Bull Halsey who rotated in command with Spruance.  As part of this transition, Fifth Fleet became Third Fleet.  Sailing for Ulithi, New Jersey rejoined Mitschers Fast Carrier Task Force for raids across the southern Philippines.  In October, it provided cover as the carriers moved to aid MacArthurs landings on Leyte.  It was in this role when it took part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and served in Task Force 34 which was detached at one poi nt to aid American forces off Samar. Later Campaigns The remainder of the month and November saw New Jersey and the carriers continue attacks around the Philippines while fending off numerous enemy air and kamikaze attacks.  On December 18, while in the Philippine Sea, the battleship and the rest of the fleet were struck by Typhoon Cobra.  Though three destroyers were lost and several vessels damaged, the battleship survived relatively unscathed.  The following month saw New Jersey screen the carriers as they launched raids against Formosa, Luzon, French Indochina, Hong Kong, Hainan, and Okinawa.  On January 27, 1945, Halsey departed the battleship and two days later it became the flagship of Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badgers Battleship Division 7.  In this role, it protected the carriers as they supported the invasion of Iwo Jima in mid-February before moving north as Mitscher launched attacks on Tokyo. Beginning on March 14, New Jersey commenced operations in support of the invasion of Okinawa.  Remaining off the island for a little over a month, it protected the carriers from relentless Japanese air attacks and provided naval gunfire support for forces ashore.  Ordered to Puget Sound Navy Yard for an overhaul, New Jersey was out of action until July 4 when it sailed for Guam via San Pedro, CA, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok.  Made Spruances Fifth Fleet flagship again on August 14, it moved north following the end of hostilities and arrived in Tokyo Bay on September 17.  Used as the flagship of various naval commanders in Japanese waters until January 28, 1946, it then embarked around 1,000 US servicemen for transport home as part of Operation Magic Carpet. USS New Jersey and the Korean War Returning to the Atlantic, New Jersey conducted a training cruise to northern European waters for US Naval Academy and NROTC midshipmen in the summer of 1947.  Returning home, it went through a deactivation overhaul at New York and was decommissioned on June 30, 1948.  Moved to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New Jersey was idle until 1950 when it was reactivated due to the beginning of the Korean War.  Recommissioned on November 21, it conducted training in the Caribbean before departing for the Far East the following spring.  Arriving off Korea on May 17, 1951, New Jersey became Seventh Fleet commander  Vice Admiral Harold M. Martins flagship.  Through the summer and fall, the battleships guns struck targets up and down the east coast of Korea.  Relieved by USS Wisconsin (BB-64) late that fall, New Jersey departed for a six-month overhaul at Norfolk. Emerging from the yard, New Jersey participated in another training cruise in the summer of 1952 before preparing for a second tour in Korean waters.  Arriving in Japan on April 5, 1953, the battleship relieved USS Missouri (BB-63) and resumed attacking targets along the Korean coast.  With the cessation of fighting that summer, New Jersey patrolled in the Far East before returning to Norfolk in November.  The next two years saw the battleship take part in additional training cruises before joining the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean in September 1955.  Abroad until January 1956, it then served in a training role that summer before taking part in NATO exercises in the fall.  In December, New Jersey again underwent a deactivation overhaul in preparation for being decommissioned on August 21, 1957. USS New Jersey in the Vietnam War In 1967, with the Vietnam War raging, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara directed that New Jersey be reactivated to provide fire support off the Vietnamese coast.  Taken from reserve, the battleship had its anti-aircraft guns removed as well as a new suite of electronics and radar installed.  Recommissioned on April 6, 1968, New Jersey conducted training off the California coast before crossing the Pacific to the Philippines.  On September 30, it commenced attacking targets near the 17th Parallel.  Over the next six months, New Jersey moved up and down the coast bombarding North Vietnamese positions and providing invaluable support to troops ashore.  Returning to Long Beach, CA via Japan in May 1969, the battleship prepared for another deployment.  These activities were cut short when it was decided to move New Jersey back into reserve.  Shifting to Puget Sound, the battleship was decommissioned on December 17. Modernization In 1981, New Jersey found new life as part of President Ronald Reagans plans for a 600-ship navy. Undergoing a large-scale program of modernization, much of the vessels remaining anti-aircraft armament was removed and replaced with armored box launchers for cruise missiles, MK 141 quad cell launchers for 16 AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and four Phalanx close-in weapons systems Gatling guns. Also, New Jersey received a full suite of modern radar, electronic warfare, and fire control systems. Recommissioned on December 28, 1982, New Jersey was dispatched to support US Marine Corps peacekeepers in Lebanon in late summer 1983.  Arriving off Beirut, the battleship acted a deterrent and later shelled Druze and Shiite positions in the hills overlooking the city in February 1984. Deployed to the Pacific in 1986, New Jersey led its own battle group and that September operated close to the Soviet Union during a transit of the Sea of Okhotsk.  Overhauled at Long Beach in 1987, it returned to the Far East the following year and patrolled off South Korea prior to the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.  Moving south, it visited Australia as part of that nations bicentennial celebration.  In April 1989, as New Jersey was preparing for another deployment, Iowa suffered a catastrophic explosion in one of its turrets.  This led to the suspension of live-fire exercises for all ships of the class for an extended period.  Putting to sea for its final cruise in 1989, New Jersey took part in Pacific Exercise 89 before operating in the Persian Gulf for the remainder of the year. Returning to Long Beach, New Jersey fell victim to budget cuts and was slated for decommissioning.  This occurred on February 8, 1991, and deprived it of a chance to participate in the Gulf War.  Taken to Bremerton, WA, the battleship remained in reserve until being struck from the Naval Vessel Registry in January 1995.  Through reinstated to the Naval Vessel Registry in 1996, New Jersey was struck again in 1999 prior to being moved to Camden, NJ for use as a museum ship.  The battleship is currently open to the public in this capacity.

Project Management Philosophy Application Paper Essay

Project Management Philosophy Application Paper - Essay Example The purpose of the project was the redesign of a sample of the department website for the college. Teamwork was evident in the project with all the members completing their assigned duties within the time allocated and effectively providing required feedback. Having set objectives clearly defined and made known to all the members is the other principle of project management we applied for the success of the project. All the team members were made aware of the need to complete the website redesign within the allocated time and ensure the functionality of the website and satisfaction to the users of the project. Achieving quality was the main aim of the project. The other principle we used in the project was the understanding of the constraints that would limit the ability to meet the objectives and delivering the project. The constraints we identified included time, resources, and project scope, and we aimed at meeting the needs of the project within the time, resources, and scope req uired of us (Nicholas, 2004). Maximizing stakeholder return on investment is the other project management principle applied in the research and entailed the ensuring quality redesign and high satisfaction of the website users. To achieve the requirement for maximum stakeholder ROI, we took professional pictures, got in touch with the client for feedback and changes as required in agile methodology for constant client involvement, and received waiver for the use of the picture on the website. Rapid feedback from the client and the team members was also applied in the management of the project ensuring high client satisfaction and completion of the project within the allocated time Attention to the development of quality work was also evident in the redesign of the website through the use of professional photographer and ensuring the redesign was top notch as evidenced by the complete

Kanban Systems Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Kanban Systems - Research Paper Example This system was introduced in Toyota car plant in Japan as a means through which the company would smooth their produce throughout their production process. Through this system the company aimed at improving productivity of their system. This system will also ensure that the company secures its involvement and participation in realizing its aim of high productivity by acting as a better means of keeping on check flow of products through the production system. Kanban therefore provides highly visible means of keeping on track the build-up of inventory levels with a production system. The system is made up of cards with all the information of what is required to be done on a product at each stage of production. The cards also explain what parts should be inserted in the subsequent process. Through this cards a firm can therefore control a work in progress, its production and smooth flow of its inventory. Through Kanban system therefore a firm can achieve the following objectives among others Kanban systems was invented twenty years ago by the vice president of Japanese car giant Toyota. The main aim was to smoothen the flow of products in the car plants throughout the production system of the firm. Since then the system has gone through vary many modifications as a means of production activity control. As a measure of activity control Kanban system have helps firms to achieve goals of Just-in-time and manage operations of the same. Further, Kanban system helps in relaying crucial information for monitoring and controlling the quantities required by the firm according to its production plans. An effective Kanban system provides a better way for employees of firm to understand how the management want their time to be spent (Louis, 2006). This means a firm can identify where idle time lie easily and make further adjustment as fast as possible. This may come interns of