Workforce Diversity and Human Resource Management

Abstract At present, employers have acknowledged that employees’ satisfaction is essential for company’s development. The present paper dwells upon the latest findings in the field of human resource management. It is reported that workforce diversity is beneficial for employees’ productivity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Workforce Diversity and Human Resource Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, it is also important to remember that workforce diversity can cause certain constraints which should be taken into account when working out the necessary technique. Fortunately, when paying attention to possible negative effects of diversity, it contributes to enhancing of creativity and competitiveness among personnel. Admittedly, creativity and competitiveness are two important features which help a company to be successful in the competitive business world. Introduction The histo ry of the concept of workforce development dates back to ancient times. Of course, the modern concept of work force differs greatly from that of people living in times of slavery. At present employers who are preoccupied with their companies’ prosperity pay much attention to their workforce. It is now accepted that comfortable environment created for an employee will make the latter more productive and creative. Admittedly, company which hires productive and creative employees benefit. Thus, nowadays many scholars try to find many ways to motivate personnel. The latest finding in this field is concerned with diversity in the workplace. It has been proved by many researches that it â€Å"creates an energy that can rarely exist in an environment of uniformity† (Sujansky 10). Admittedly, this energy is beneficial for reaching business goals, so employers should make use of the latest discoveries in the field. It is accepted that employees’ satisfaction is important The new concept of the importance of employees for the sake of company’s benefits dates back to 1980s when UK researchers claimed that there were â€Å"direct links between job satisfaction and job performance† (Ferris 1). Thus, scholars started researching this link from different perspectives.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Eventually, everyone agreed that employees’ satisfaction enables companies hire â€Å"reliable and competent employees† which was â€Å"a key component in developing an effective and sustainable competitive advantage† (Kickul 320). Admittedly, productive and competitive employees are eager to take up new assignments and fulfill them as soon as possible. More so, such employees are not seeking new working places, but are concentrated on their tasks. According to Sujansky it is very important to keep employees in the c ompany, because the loss of employees can lead to the loss of customers (9). On one hand, the employee is often the personification of the company’s image, so stability in workforce means stability in the company. In other words, customers will not trust a company where employees do not want to remain for a long time. On the other hand, customers often follow employees who they trust. Besides, when an employee leaves it means that the company will have to waste time and money to educate a new employee (Sujansky 10). Admittedly, all these losses are unacceptable in the modern highly competitive business environment where stability means a lot for companies. The research in the field of effective strategies to reach employees’ satisfaction from work It goes without saying that apart from discovering the reasons of the importance of employees’ satisfaction scholars were trying to work out ways of motivating personnel, though many scholars believe that more research is necessary (Sharma and Kaur 13). Thus, scholars singled out numerous strategies to improve the business environment within the company. For instance, Risher points out that several strategies aimed at different types of employees can be found (34). He claims that these strategies do not require a lot of financing, and even simple performance measuring and providing new problems to solve will motivate employees to like being at work (Risher 35). High-involvement work practices are also reported to be very effective (Konrad 11). These practices presuppose that employees participate in the process of decision making and this is a very good factor which influences employees’ satisfaction (Konrad 12).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Workforce Diversity and Human Resource Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is also necessary to add that scholars stress the exclusive role of the climate within the company (Chuang and Liao 153). It is necessary to add that Chuang and Liao regard the climate in terms of employees and clients relationship, claiming that the creation of the appropriate climate is beneficial for both clients and employees (194). Many researchers focus on existing companies and try to develop effective strategies on the basis of these companies’ experience. For instance, Holland et al. analyzed the experience of more than thousand human resources professionals from numerous Australian companies and found that the majority of these companies pay little or no attention to improving fruitful environment for employees (247). Admittedly, scholars have worked out many techniques and methods to improve working environments. It has been also acknowledged that each company should use the mix of suggested strategies since there are few universal concepts which could be appropriate for all types of companies. However, recently scholars have found one of such universal concepts. Reportedly, workforce diversity positively influences the environment within the company and its competitiveness in the business environment. Diversity in the workforce is beneficial for companies In the first place, it is necessary to define the term. Thus, â€Å"employee diversity is the degree to which individuals perceive similarity between themselves and coworkers† (Ash 223). Thus, diversity touches upon such individual’s characteristics as gender, age, ethnicity, religion, etc. This kind of diversity is reported to be effective in terms of internal business environment. It is possible to point out that diversity is not something that is yet to be reached. The globalization and the development of competitive workforce have brought diversity in the workforce in the majority of countries. In fact, there are certain studies which dwell upon possible problems which companies with diverse workforce can face and how to overcome these constraints. For instance, Ash depicts certain challenges that companies may face in terms of workforce diversity. Thus, people pertaining to different cultures may find it difficult to communicate and co-operate in a proper way (Ash 225).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Americans and Chinese employees have different style of work and communicating their idea, more assertive Americans can dominate over more timid Chinese employees and this will undoubtedly result in poor performance of a team and entire company (Ash 225). Admittedly, apart from ethnic and cultural differences, age issues can also emerge in diverse company. Lowe et al. points out a number of problems which companies face when four generations work in one company (43). Younger people are more energetic and require more benefits from employer, while older employees are more thoughtful and substantial while making decisions. Of course, these peculiarities also cause many conflicts in the workplace. Thus, it is also essential to prevent emerging of some issues associated with diversity. It is possible to implement training of personnel, and make sure that all diverse teams are guided by a person who is aware of possible problems and knows the way to overcome them. Admittedly, if to take into account these differences and be ready for certain constraints, diversity in workforce will be beneficial. As far as creativity is concerned, workforce diversity contributes to the development of new ideas (Ash 225). People can find the most effective solutions if they view the problem from different perspectives. In a diverse environment people having different cultural (and other types of) background generate more ideas, than homogeneous teams (Ash 225). Apart from creativity diversity in workplace also influences competitiveness. Employees try to self-develop and work harder to be better (or not worse) than other members of the team. The spirit of competition can be fruitful for achieving business goals of the company. Of course, it is important to keep friendly atmosphere. More so, the majority of scholars stress that the fulfillment of tasks should be fun (Lowe et al. 51). It is essential to turn routine tasks into some engaging activities which require cooperation from ev ery employee. Conclusion On balance, workforce diversity is one of the most influential factors which affect employees’ productivity. Despite possible negative effects which can be effectively overcome, diversity should be regarded as a great background for companies’ development and improvement. It is important to state that apart from using strategies concerning workforce diversity it is necessary to exploit many other effective techniques and methods of employees’ motivation. Fortunately, scholars have worked out numerous strategies which employers are free to use. Thus, the existing paradigm â€Å"employees should be satisfied for company’s sake† can be easily realized if employers and human resource professionals incorporate certain strategy, based on the scope of effective techniques, for certain companies. Annotated Bibliography Holland, P, Sheehan, C, De Cieri, H 2007, ‘Attracting and retaining talent: exploring human resources devel opment trends in Australia’, Human Resource Development International, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 247-262. Holland et al. suggest that nowadays it is essential to create favorable environment for employees. The authors provide a literature review which considers the latest research in the field. Holland et al. in their own research are focused on Australian organizations. Reportedly, the major concern of HR managers of companies is recruitment and selection. Whereas important activities aimed at skill development, team building and training are ignored. The authors conclude that this tendency should be changed since appropriate environment for employees will result in profits for companies. Sujansky, JG 2007, ‘Make Your Corporate Grass the Greenest: 16 Cost-Effective Ways to a Culture That Keeps Your Keepers’, Journal for Quality Participation, 30, 3, pp. 9-12. The article by Sujansky dwells upon the importance of the appropriate environment for employees. The author p oints out that it is essential for an employer to keep the employees â€Å"happy† since they are the bridge between the company and customers. When employees start searching for new places of work, customers can also be lost for the company. Apart from this Sujansky suggests sixteen effective ways of keeping employees motivated and productive without financial motivation. Sujansky’s 16 tips are easy to follow and, thus, they can be helpful for any employer. Works Cited Ash, Steven R. â€Å"Why Should Small Businesses Care about Employee Diversity?: Five Areas of Research That Influence Organizational Results.† Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship 20.3 (2007): 223-232. Chuang, Chih-Hsun, and Hui Liao. â€Å"Strategic Human Resource Management in Service Context: Taking Care of Business by Taking Care of Employees and Customers.† Personnel Psychology 63.1 (2010): 153-196. Ferris, Stephen M. â€Å"†Our Most Valuable Resource Is Our.†: How to Help Employees Believe in a Slogan.† Ivey Business Journal Online Mar.-Apr. 2006: 1-7. Holland, Peter, Sheehan, Cathy, De Cieri, Helen. â€Å"Attracting and retaining talent: exploring human resources development trends in Australia.† Human Resource Development International 10.3 (2007): 247-262. Kickul, Jill. â€Å"Promises Made, Promises Broken: An Exploration of Employee Attraction and Retention Practices in Small Business.† Journal of Small Business Management 39.4 (2001): 320. Konrad, Alison M. â€Å"Engaging Employees through High-involvement Work Practices.†Ivey Business Journal Online Mar.-Apr. 2006: 11-14. Lowe, Debra, Kenneth J. Levitt, and Terry Wilson. â€Å"Solutions for Retaining Generation Y Employees in the Workplace.† Business Renaissance Quarterly 3.3 (2008): 43-51. Risher, Howard. â€Å"Tapping Unused Employee Capabilities: How to Create a High Performance Environment by Changing the Work Paradigm and Taking a Radically D ifferent Approach to Train the Next Generation of Managers and Supervisors.† The Public Manager 32.2 (2003): 34-39. Sharma, Manoj K., and Gurvinder Kaur. â€Å"Employee Empowerment: a Conceptual Analysis.† Journal of Global Business Issues 2.2 (2008): 7-13. Sujansky, Joanne G. â€Å"Make Your Corporate Grass the Greenest: 16 Cost-Effective Ways to a Culture That Keeps Your Keepers.† Journal for Quality Participation 30.3 (2007): 9-12. This essay on Workforce Diversity and Human Resource Management was written and submitted by user Kayson Reed to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Honeywell Case Summary Essays

Honeywell Case Summary Essays Honeywell Case Summary Essay Honeywell Case Summary Essay Honeywell, Inc. and Integrated Risk ManagementThe finance committe of Honeywell, Inc. must decide whether to approve a new type of risk management contract or not. This new risk management program is to provide combined protection against Honeywell’s currency translation risk along with all traditionally-insured global risks, in a multiyear, insurance-based, integrated risk management program. The committees vote would depend upon whether the anticipated cost savings of the program could be realized, and whether the coverage it offered was adequate. According to the Exhibits, Honeywell had suffered some risks and volatility. New risk management seemed to be on demand for stabilization. The case study suggests the comparison of the traditional and newly suggested risk management method and the changing points. Also it explains how those things may be valuable.Honeywell’s new risk management basically suggested ‘integration’. Specifically, new risk management suggested 2.5-year insurance-based contract that covered all traditionally insured global risks and currency translation risk (in other words, treasury-based integrated program with trigger option). While traditional risk management tools are a mixture of separate insurances and options, the proposed contract is an insurance with an annual aggregate retention of $30 million with the option. The old policy is repeated annually while the proposed contract is in a 2.5-year period. Additionally, the premium is cheaper than the traditional risk management as through ‘portfolio effect’.According to the simulating results exhibit 9, we can find that the standard deviation of total cost of risk for the proposed program is $3,819,568 while the one for the existing program is 15,793,879. The proposed program can reduce the total risk of the firm if the simulating results are real. To add, the simulated results also show that the estimates annual premium savings is about 20%.Thus , it is real challenge

Exploring Prague 15 Top Things to Do and See

Exploring Prague 15 Top Things to Do and See SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips I didn’t have a specific reason to study abroad in Prague. I wasn’t studying Czech literature or language, and I didn’t have any ancestralconnection to the city. One thingmade mepack my bags and move to the Czech Republic: pictures of Prague, which revealed the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. Prague is inarguably one of the most picturesque and best-preserved cities in Europe. Founded in the late 9th century, it still has medieval lanes and architecture, along with a mixof art and architecturethat span the centuries. As I suspected, Prague turned out to be a place of pure aesthetic bliss. Duringmy four months there,my understanding deepened as I encountered darker parts of Prague'shistory, from the old Jewish ghetto toscars of the Holocaust and the Communist occupation from 1948 to 1989. Prague is a complex place, and there’s a ton to see, do, and learn withinits maze of cobblestoned streets. This guide will tell you the top 15things to do and see when you visit Prague to get a full sense of the Czech capital in its past and present. Top 15 Things to Do In Prague: Table of Contents Here's the full list of the top 15 places to see and things to do in Prague, Czech Republic. Click on each to go toit directly, or just scroll down for the full list! See the Astronomical Clock Climb the Bell Tower of Old Town Hall Explore Old Town Square Stroll Around the Novà ½ SvÄ›t District Walk Across the Charles Bridge Visit the Prague Castle TourJosefov, the Historic Jewish Ghetto Visit World-Class Museums See Bizarre Public Sculptures Experience the Nightlife Eat Czech Food Drink Czech Beer See Opera at the National Theater Climb Petrin Hill Take a Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov 1. See the Astronomical Clock One of the first things to see in Prague is its famous astronomical clock, the oldest one of its kind in the world. It was installed over 600 years ago, in 1410. The clock is mounted on Old Town Hall in Old Town Square, the central square of the historic district. The clock has several dials and arms, including one dial that shows the positions of the sun and the moon and another that points to the months of the year. There are several figures that move around the clock each hour. Twelve represent the apostles, and four symbolize Vanity, Greed, Lust, and Death. Death, a figure of a skeleton, rings the bell each hour, and the other figures shake their heads at him. The performance ends when the figure of a rooster crows. Around the turn of the hour, a crowd usually gathers around to see the figures move. Since the clock and square are favorite places to visit in Prague, this crowd canget big during tourist high season. The figures move every hour, so you can pretty much catch the show whenever. Even if you don't catch themoving figures, you'll enjoy seeing the beautiful astronomical clock. Where Is Prague’s Astronomical Clock? The astronomical clock is located on the side of Old Town Hall in Old Town Square. If you’re taking public transport, either the underground metro or the above-ground tram, then you should get off at the Staromestska stop. Metro: Line A to Staromestska Tram: Lines 17 or 18 to Staromestska. The figures move on the hour every hour from 9 AM to 9 PM. 2. Climb the Bell Tower of Old Town Hall After the rooster crows the end of the astronomical clock show, head to the 14th century bell tower of Old Town Hall. You can climb this 228-foot tower for gorgeous, 360 degree views of Prague. Climbing the bell tower was something I didn’t do until the end of my study abroad semester, and I wished I’d done it sooner. It’s a beautiful view over red roofs, spires, church domes, and the Vltava River that runs through the city. How to Visit You can climb the stairs up the bell tower or take the elevator, which is wheelchair accessible. The fee is about $5 for adults and $3 for children. By the way, the Czech Republic uses the Czech koruna (CZK). As I write right now, one US dollar equals 24 CZK. The tower is open from AM to 10 PM on Mondays and 9 AM to 10 PM Tuesday through Sunday. 3. Explore Old Town Square Prague largely escaped destruction during World War II, so a large part of its historic district dates all the way back to the 10th century! The historic core is now under protection as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The central nucleus - and where I was lucky enough to take classes on Czech theater and the literature of Franz Kafka - is the Old Town Square. It’s a big cobblestoned square lined by buildings that span the centuries, from Gothic to Baroque to Rococo architectural styles. The square was a market place place until the end of the 19th century, but now it’s filled with cafes, shops, galleries, restaurants, vendors, and street performers. It also hosts a magical Christmas fair in the winter that makes the entire square smell like cinnamon and sugar. Below are a few of the most notable buildings and statues in Prague’s Old Town Square. What to See in Prague’s Old Town Square After you’ve admired the 15th century astronomical clock, check out these buildings around the square, along with the large memorial in its center. Tyn Cathedral: On the opposite side of the square from the astronomical clock sits the imposing Tyn Cathedral. This Gothic cathedral has been Prague’s main church since the 14th century, and you can easily spot its 262-foot towers topped with black spires. The church contains the oldest pipe organ in the city, and it hosts Roman Catholic services and classical concerts. St Nicholas Church: This 1735 church with a white facade was built and decorated in the Baroque style. It actually didn’t touch Old Town Square until a house in front of it was knocked down in 1901. To find Tyn Cathedral, just look up. Kinsky Palace: This former palace, built in the mid-1700s, is now an art museum. Look for its Rococo-style pink and white exterior. House of the Stone Bell: This medieval house dates all the way back to the 1200s. The stone bell you’ll find inside is a replica of the one used in 1310 to signal the future king, John of Luxembourg, that he could come with his army and occupy the square. Jan Hus Memorial: This large monument was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of martyrdom of Jan Hus, a religious reformer and predecessor of Protestant movement. Hus suffered the medieval consequences of criticizing the Catholic Church when he was burned at the stake in 1415. This monument eventually became a symbol of dissidence duringthe Communist occupation. Sitting by the monument became a quiet way for Czech people to show resistance to Soviet rule. 4. Stroll Around the Novà ½ SvÄ›t District Old Town Square, while definitely worth the visit, can get crowded with tourists, especially in the summer months. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track, you should check out the quieter Novy Svet district of Prague. This â€Å"New World† neighborhood consists of just a few small streets that date back to the 14th century. Walking past the log cottages with thatched roofs feels like you’ve discovered a small village in the middle of a city. This area’s a great place to stroll or stop by the Novy Svet Cafe for delicious coffee without a wait. Where to Find the Novy Svet District The Novy Svet district is on the other side of the Vltava River from Old Town Square. It’s just down the hill from Prague Castle, so you could walk through here to get to or from the castle as an alternative to the primary, more crowded route. The best metro stop to get to Novy Svetis Malostransk. 5. Walk Across the Charles Bridge When I studied abroad in Prague, I took an art history and architecture class. Most days, we wandered around the city, admiring and learning about the structures that straddled the line between art and architecture. Charles Bridge is one such structure, a bridge from 1357 lined by 30 Baroque statues. All of the statues along this cobblestoned bridge over the Vltava are religious figures heavy with symbolism. Most of the statues you’ll see today are careful replicas. The originals are on display in the National Museum. As a top pick in most guide books for what to see in Prague, the bridge can get crowded with visitors, as well as vendors competing to sell food, portraits, and jewelry. If you want to beat the crowds and get away from the commercial aspect of Charles Bridge, you could wake up early and catch the sunrise over the river. If you don’t mind the early wake up call, strolling across the empty Charles Bridge through the mist of sunrise is an unforgettable experience of natural and urban beauty. Where Is Prague's Charles Bridge? You can approach the bridge from either side of the river. The closest metro and tram stop is Starometska, on the Old Town Square side of the Vltava. 6. Visit the Prague Castle Prague is pretty much in a category by itselfwhen it comes to medieval art and architecture, and its castle is just one more reason why. The Prague Castle is the largest medieval castle in Europe. It was founded all the way back in 880 AD. Building and renovations continued over the centuries, with one big project implemented by Emperor Charles IV in the 1300s. The palace complex covers over 18 acres and includes royal residences, gardens, and churches. Today, the complex includes the official residence and office of the president of the Czech Republic. There’s even a daily ceremony of the changing of the guards. What to See in Prague Castle Royal Palace: This Gothic palace dates back to the 14th century. One highlight is the huge Vladislav Hall, which was used for coronations, banquets, market, and even jousting tournaments (it’s that big). Leading up to the hall is the Riders’ Staircase, where knights could ride through on horseback. You should also check out the Observation Gallery, which has a great view over the gardens. St Vitus Cathedral: This huge cathedral contains the remains of the much celebrated 14th century emperor, Charles IV. It has an extremely detailed facade, tall spires, lots of religious statues, and gorgeous art nouveau stained glass windows. Inside, you can also see the silver tomb of St. John of Nepomuk. St George’s Basilica: This 10th century structure contains the tombs of several princes. Golden Lane: The Golden Lane is lined by small 16th century dwellings, originally built for servants and tradesmen. At one end sits the Daliborka Tower, which was once used as a prison. The famous Czech writer, Franz Kafka, lived at #22 Golden Lane for a few years. Royal Garden: These sprawling manicured gardens encircle the castle. They’re a beautiful place to spend an afternoon wandering past flowers, hedges, moats, grapevines, pavilions, and fountains. The primary Royal Garden was built in 1534. Castle Picture Gallery: This gallery contains over 4,000 works, including 100 paintings. It has an especially large collection of 17th century European Baroque art. Admission is free every Monday from 4 to 6 PM. Otherwise, tickets to the gallery are just $4.00. Visiting Hours and Fees You can buy tickets for most individual parts of the castle complex, but if you want to visit several parts of it, you should get a combined ticket. Because the Prague Castle is so big, the tickets are good for two days. The most comprehensive ticket is the Circuit A for about $14.50. It includes St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, an exhibition called the "The Story of Prague Castle," St. George's Basilica, Golden Lane with the Daliborka Tower, and Powder Tower. You can take $3 or $4 off if you skip the Powder Tower. From April to October, Prague Castle is open everyday from 6 AM to 10 PM, and the historical buildings are open from 9 AM to 5 PM. From November to March, the historical buildings close at 4 PM. How to Get There The Prague Castle is just about a 22-minute walk from Old Town Square. Keep in mind that most of this walk is uphill. If you do choose to walk, you’ll want to turn around to see the beautiful views over the river and Old Town. By public transportation, take the tram to one of these stops: Krlovskà ½ letohrdek, PraÃ… ¾skà ½ hrad, or PohoÃ…â„¢elec. You can also take the metro and get off at Malostransk or HradÄ ansk. 7. See Josefov, the Historic Jewish Ghetto Josefov is the Jewish quarter located between Old Town Square and the Vltava River. The area was once a walled ghetto where Jews were forced to live beginning in the 13th century. Much of the district was destroyed when Prague remodeled parts of the city between 1893 and 1913. Today, you can see six synagogues, as well as Europe’s oldest Jewish cemetery. Visiting the cemetery especially can be an intense and difficult experience. Most of the Jewish population in Prague was forcibly relocated to concentration camps and murdered in 1941 by German occupiers and Czech Nazi collaborators. As of 2014, only about 3,900 Jewish people lived in the Czech Republic. There were over 356,000 in 1930. Historical Places in Josefov Pinkas Synagogue: This is the second oldest synagogue in Prague. Today, it’s a museum commemorating the thousands of Czech Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Spanish Synagogue: This synagogue was built in the Moorish revival style. Inside, you can find an exhibition about Jewish history in the Czech Republic Old New Synagogue: This is Europe’s oldest active synagogue. It was built in 1270. High Synagogue: This synagogue is actually excluded from tours, as it’s meant for local and foreign visitors who want to attend services and pray. It was built in the Renaissance style in 1568 and features impressive Gothic ribbed vaulting in the tall ceiling. The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague dates back to the 1400s. Old Jewish Cemetery: This is the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. It dates to the early 15th century and is now administered by the Jewish Museum in Prague. Since Jews were not able to get more space for the cemetery, the ground is uneven and higher than the surrounding streets. The Holocaust memorial in Berlin emulates the uneven ground of the Prague Cemetery. Franz Kafka’s Birthplace: Famous Czech writer Franz Kafka was born in the Jewish quarter on July 3, 1883 on the corner of Kaprova Street and Maiselova Street. His family lived here for a few years before moving to Wenceslas Square. Where to Find Josefov Josefov sits between Old Town and the Vltava River. You can click on the pins to find the specific addresses of the synagogues, museums, and Jewish cemetery. 8. Visit Museums Among the many Prague attractions are over 25 renowned museums with all sorts of collections. Some house great works of art, while others contain memorials to the victims of the Holocaust and Communist occupation. You can learn about technology, music, or the life and writings and Franz Kafka. For a lighter experience, you can go to museums of chocolate, toys, or traditional Bohemian puppet art. You can also find some oddones, like the Sex Machines Museum or the Museum of Historical Chamber Pots and Toilets. Below are some of my top picks for museums in Prague(plus one graffitied wall). Top Museums in Prague National Gallery in Prague: This gallery contains the largest collection of art in the Czech Republic. It’s actually housed in various buildings throughout the city. You’ll find major works by renowned European artists, as well as one of the largest collections by Czech artists, like Kupka, Benes, and Mucha. National Museum: If you’re looking to step away from art and check out natural history and other fields, then you should go to the National Museum. Like the National Gallery, the collections, which comprise over 14 million items, are housed in various buildings. Some of the main departments are prehistory, protohistory, botany, zoology, Czech history, ethnography, theater, anthropology, and paleontology. Jewish Museum in Prague: The Jewish Museum administers the exhibitions in the various synagogues and other buildings. Its collection of Jewish heritage contains over 40,000 objects and 100,000 books. Museum Kampa: This museum is located on an island in the Vltava and houses a large collection of European modern art. As you walk in, you’ll see Magdalena Jetelova’s famous sculpture of a chair. Check out the Museum of Communism to learn the REAL TRUTH about Russian nesting dolls. Museum of Communism: The Communists occupied the Czech Republic from the end of World War II until the Velvet Revolution in 1989. They arrested over 200,000 Czechs and killed hundreds that tried to flee. This museum shows the history of Communist rule through photos, films, sculptures, and propaganda from the era. Lennon Wall: Not a museum, but rather a wall where protesters of the Communist regime would paint pictures and words of peace, most of them Beatles, particularly John Lennon, inspired. In 2014, a group of art students painted white over the wall, leaving just the words, "Wall is over," which werelaterchanged to "War is over." New artwork and graffiti have since reappeared. Sex Machines Museum: This three-story museum has a collection of sex devices, some dating back to as early as the 16th century. According to its website, it has â€Å"an exposition of mechanical erotic appliances, the purpose of which is to bring pleasure and allow extraordinary and unusual positions during intercourse.† Where to Find Them Click on a pin for the specific address of each museum on the list above! 9. See Bizarre Public Sculptures Perhaps one thing that helped people get through dark times in their history was the so-called Czech sense of humor. Czech people have a reputation for beingsarcastic and controversial, and they like to make fun of their politicians. Nowhere does this stereotype appear to be more true than in the strange public statues around the city, most of them by the famous Czech sculptor, David Cerny. The rebellious Cerny first gained notoriety when he painted a Soviet tank pink and was briefly arrested. Below are six notable statues by Cerny around Prague, along with a seventh by Czech sculptor, Jaroslav Rona. Public Statues Around Prague Babies: This Cerny exhibition has 10 huge babies crawling up the side of the Zizkov TV Tower and around Kampa Park. Brown-nosers: Here, Cerny invites viewers to climb ladders and you through the backsides of two giant statues. When you look through, you’ll see video of an actor who looks like Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president from 2003 to 2013, eating baby food. Piss: This fountain features two male statues urinating toward each other. The streams spell out quotes from Czech literature. UnUtero: People can walk underneath and inside this statue of a huge silver pregnant woman. Hanging Man: This statue has moved around the world, and many people have mistaken it for someone jumping. It shows Sigmund Freud hanging by one hand from a beam coming off a roof. Franz Kafka Statue: This famous Kafka statue is not by Cerny, but by Jaroslav Rona. Unveiled in 2003, it shows a smaller man riding atop the shoulders of a larger headless man and is inspired by Kafka’s short story, â€Å"Description of a Struggle.† 10. Experience the Prague Nightlife While walking around the cobblestoned streets of Prague may transport you into the past, experiencing its bar and club scene will take you right past the now and into the future. Prague has such a big nightlife scene that it’s gathered a reputation as a party city. You can choose among pubs, bars, dance clubs, jazz bars, sports bars, breweries, beer gardens, rooftop terraces, and underground cave bars. Here are a few suggestions, but they’re really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Prague’s nightlife scene. Where to Go SaSaZu: This huge club hosts renowned DJs from all over the world and plays mainly house music. It opened in 2009 and can hold over 2,500 people. Duplex: Dance inside a glass cube at this rooftop nightclub while enjoying views over the city. Chapeau Rouge: This underground club has three levels, one with a bar and tables and two with DJs and dance floors. It’s located close to Old Town Square. Karlovy LznÄ›: This is the largest nightclub in Central Europe and has over five stories, each with its own dance floor and type of music, including hip hop, 80s, and trance. The interior has mosaics dating back to the 15th century. Karlovy Lazne is more popular with foreign visitors than locals. Retro: Go to Retro for electro-house music and a great light show. It can hold over 1,200 people. The crowd is generally a mix of Czech people and foreigners. Radost FX: Radost is on the smaller side and typically plays American hip hop. If you don’t feel like dancing, there’s a loungewith fuzzy couches to hang out in. To get a sense of what it looks like, check out Rihanna’s "Please Don’t Stop the Music" video. She shot it in Radost in 2007. Bunkr Parukarka: This underground club is located in a 1950s nuclear bunker. You’ll get electro-pop and industrial tracks from some of Prague’s top DJs. Zizkov: This last recommendation is not a club, but actually an entire neighborhood. Zizkov is a former industrial suburb with over 300 bars in just 2 square miles. It’s a super casual, somewhat gritty spot. You’ll see lots of dive bars and beer in plastic cups. Where to Find These Bars and Clubs Check out the Prague map for the locations and addresses of the bars and clubs listed above. . Eat Czech Cuisine While I was enamored with the city of Prague, I was less in love with itsfood. Traditional Czech food involves a lot of meat and starch, and I found it to be pretty heavy. There are plenty of more modern restaurants with great cuisine. I did love the desserts, especially the cinnamon-sugar pastries that were sold by street vendors in the winter. You should definitely try some traditional Czech foods to find your favorites. Below are some of the main ones. Traditional Czech Foods Knedlà ­ky, or dumplings: These dumplings are typically wheat or potato-based, steamed and sliced, and served on the side of meat. Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut (or cabbage): This is the most typical Czech dish. Pork is the most common meat eaten in the Czech Republic. Koleno: pork knee marinated in beer and usually served with pickled vegetables and dark bread. Loupk: a sweet crescent-shaped roll covered in poppy seeds, usually eaten for breakfast. GulÃ… ¡, or goulash: another staple Czech dish (though originally from Hungary). Goulash is usually stewed beef in gravy served with dumplings. Trdelnà ­k is a rolled dough with cinnamon and sugar. Yum! Schnitzel: thinly sliced veal, pork, or chicken, covered in breadcrumbs and fried. Schnitzel is usually served with potato-based side dishes. PalaÄ inky: These are similar to French crepes, though they’re cooked with a different batter. They can be sweet or savory and are commonly sold at food markets. Trdelnà ­k: a rolled pastry wrapped around a stick and coated with cinnamon and sugar. These are popular at Christmas markets, where they’re heated up over an open flame. SmaÃ… ¾enà ½ Sà ½r: This is a deep-fried cheese, often sold by vendors at food markets. Below are a few recommendations for food markets. A couple are year-round, while othersjust pop up around the holidays. Farmer’s and Holiday Markets in Prague Havel’s Market (Havelske trziste): This permanent market is open everyday, year-round from 9 AM to 6 PM. Come here for fresh fruits and vegetables, food, flowers, crafts, toys, puppets, leather goods, and souvenirs. Address: Havelska Street, Prague 1 off Melantrichova, a pedestrian-only street between Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Naplavka Farmer’s Market: popular riverside Saturday market with fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese and meat stands, cooked food, beer and wine, and coffee. It’s open from 8 to 2 on Saturdays by the river bank close to the metro stop Palackà ©ho nmÄ›stà ­. Prague's Christmas markets are magical! Jirak Farmer’s Market: This market’s located around the Jiriho z Podebrad stop on the metro from Wednesday through Saturday. In addition to the usual fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses, you can find delicious breads and pastries. It’s open from 8 AM to 6 PM Wednesday through Friday and 8 AM to 2 PM on Saturday. Christmas Markets: the largest ones are located in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square and are pretty magical. You’ll find cinnamon-sugar pastries, roasted nuts, mulled wine, thick hot chocolate, and crackling meat turning over an open fire. Craft tents sell traditional handicrafts, wooden toys, tree ornaments, puppets, jewelry, and other great gifts. The Christmas markets are open everyday from early December to early January. Easter Markets: The best Easter markets, like the Christmas markets, are located in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. You can find lots of food and gifts among the brightly painted tents, along with activities for kids and people in traditional costume. The Easter markets are typically open for the first three weeks in April. 12. Drink Czech Beer While the Czech Republic may not have a reputation for the world’s best cuisine, it does have some of the best beer! Happily, it’s also some of the least expensive. You can find Czech-made beer (pivo) at all of the bars, pubs, and breweries. My favorite bars were the atmospheric underground cave bars with stone walls, candlelight, and wells that tunneleddeep into the ground. Czech Beer Brands The majority of Czech beers are light in color and served chilled. They’re brewed from hand-picked hops and have a transparent golden color and light taste. The most widely distributed brands are Pilsner Urquell (you can visit the brewery in the town of Plzen) and Budweiser Budvar. Other Czech brands are Bernard, Gambrinus, KruÃ… ¡ovice, Radegast, Starobrno, Staropramen, Svijany, and Velkopopovickà ½ Kozel. There are also microbreweries throughout the city. Below are a few recommendations for breweries and a beer museum. Where to Go for Beer: A Few Recommendations Zly Casy: This bar has 48 delicious beers on draft from small Czech breweries. Address: ÄÅ'estmà ­rova 390/5, 140 00 Prague. U Medvidku Beer Hall and Restaurant: This 550-year old beer hall is famous for its dark lager, X-Beer 33. X-Beer 33 is the strongest Czech beer at .8% alcohol content. Address: Na PerÃ… ¡tà ½nÄ› 7, Starà © MÄ›sto, 0 00, Prague. Prague Beer Museum: the Beer Museum has exhibits on the history of beer-brewing, plus over 31 beers on tap. Address: Na Perstyne 7, Pr 1, Prague. 13. See Opera at the National Theater Are you looking for a more glamorous experience out on the town? Prague is renowned as a center for opera, as well as ballet, music, and theater. Not only will you see great productions, but you’ll do so in the gorgeous National Theater, a 19th century neo-Renaissance building on the Vltava River and important cultural institution in the city of Prague. Ticket prices range from $15 to $50, and you can reserve them online on the National Theater’s website, as well as find the full schedule of productions. When I saw an opera here, there was a screen with English subtitles so I could follow the story. Where to Findthe National Theater The National Theater is located at Narodni 2 in Prague’s New Town. You can take the metro to Narodni trida on Line B or the tram to Narodni Divadlo, lines 6, 9, 17, 18, or 22. 14. Climb Petrin Hill If you’re craving greener spaces, head out of the main part of the city toward the 1000-foot tall Petrin Hill. A popular spot among locals, the park around Petrin Hill has landscaped gardens, a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower, a rose garden, and a Hall of Mirrors. You can climb the 299 steps of Prague’s mini Eiffel Tower for sweeping views over Prague. How to Getto Petrin Hill You can walk or take a funicular railway to Petrin Hill. The walk is just about 30 minutes, but it’s pretty steep. The railway leaves from Ujezd Street and goes up to Petrin Hill. This park is open from 10 AM to 8 PM, March to October and 10 AM to 6 PM, November to February. 15. Take a Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov While Prague has endless things to do and places to see, it’s also surrounded by incredible towns and sights. One awesome and popular day trip takes you south to Cesky Krumlov. Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s a picture perfect medieval Bohemian town. It has the same fairytale quality of Prague with even fewer signs of modern life. You’ll see a big castle, lots of puppet museums and shops, outdoor markets, and Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Does it sound like a small town version of Prague? That’s a pretty apt description, right down to the fact that it’s also situated around the Vltava River (just 100 miles south). How to Get to Cesky Krumlov If you’re renting a car, you can drive to Cesky Krumlov along route E55. The drive is about two hours and take you through forests, fields, and villages. The most popular way to get there is the bus. This direct, 3-hour bus ride drops you off at the bus station in Cesky Krumlov. From there, it’s just about a 10-minute walk to the center of town. Since the buses can fill up, you should make reservations in advance. The train is probably the least convenient option, since there aren’t any trains that go direct. You could travel between 2.5 and 3.5 hours to ÄÅ'eskà © BudÄ›jovice and then go another 45 minutes on a new train to Cesky Krumlov. The train station is about a 30-minute walk from the city center. So there you have it, the top 15 things to do in Prague. (I could add a 16th for any college undergrads - study abroad there!) In closing, let’s go over some final thoughts about what to do in Prague, the beautiful city in the heart of Bohemia. Historic Prague: Final Thoughts Prague is a paradise for anyone who likes to wander amid art and architecture from centuries past. As a well-preserved medieval city, Prague transports you back in time with its Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo buildings and sculptures. While it’s easy to fall under Prague’s magic spell, you’ll also find reminders of tragedies in its past. It’s important to acknowledge these realities while appreciating the resilience of the Czech people, who have a history of resistance through politics, theater, literature, music, and art. Prague is not all museums, cathedrals, and heavy history, though. It’s also a seriously fun city with world-renowned nightclubs and buzzing bar districts. When it comes to good party spots, I definitely trust Rihanna to know what’s up. Even if you’re not into dancing, you may appreciate the fact that cheap world-class beeris only ever a few steps away. I may not have known about all of Prague's attractions when I decided to study abroad here. Like I said, I was mostlymotivated by aesthetics. As I soon found out, though, Prague isindeed as beautiful as thepictures promised. Plus, the city hasso much more.

Average Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Average - Essay Example The median’s advantage is that the extreme values do not affect the result as much as the mean. Moreover, there is only one answer and it is useful in comparing sets of data (Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center , n.d.). The disadvantage of the median is that it is not very popular. In the example given, the data is best represented by the mode which is $1. The mean may not be representative of the data because of an extreme value, $14 which will affect the result of the computation. When one sees the word â€Å"average†, it is important that one check if there are any extreme values in the data set because this will show whether the â€Å"average† is really representative of the data. If one is to ask a researcher for a mean, median or mode, one would request for the mean because among the three measures of central tendency, one believes that it is the most reliable and usually representative of the data set. However, if there are extreme values, it would also be helpful to compute the median and mode. Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center . (n.d.). Measure of central tendency. Retrieved February 6, 2012, from regentsprep.org:

Foreign Assignment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Foreign Assignment - Case Study Example This code of conduct ensures audit programs that assist in policy monitoring, review of employee treatment in terms of race, religion, opportunity and promotions. International companies should also ensure employees’ rights are protected, and compliance with the applied laws and regulations is upheld. Since employees are the most important resource in the company, they should have the right to; compensation, good working conditions, ethics and opportunities. An international company has the obligation of strictly prohibiting discrimination and employee harassment because of their color, gender, race, religion, and national origin, veteran’s status and sexual orientation The bank violated sexual orientation as a moral code. This by posing young women as client attraction; they had five young and beautiful women working as secretaries and receptionists. They are situated at the entrance of the bank and required to wear a customary uniform that are colorful and sexy. In accordance to the bank, they should be social to clients and pose well in order to attract more customers without having to have women to attract more customers. This abused their sexuality as they were contradictory to the image of the financing business and they were also demeaning to the young ladies who were wearing them. The bank’s decision to follow the norms of the host country is not correct or rather it is unfair since it violates the policies of international company laws. The host country discriminates against gender; the clients at the bank rarely go to Sara for assistance as they view her as a weak link at the business (Dunfee and Robertson, n.d). They do not understand how a woman can be in authority and rule over men, this makes Sara be viewed as assistance in order for business to run effectively. This affects the workers perception

Responsibilities and Duties Essay Example for Free

Responsibilities and Duties Essay Executive housekeepers are usually in charge of overseeing the cleaning process of large establishments like hospitals, nursing homes and hotels. These positions are normally indoors, although some time can be spent outdoors at lodging establishments. Work hours are done during the day, but evening or night hours are common with establishments that are open around the clock. A standard workweek for many executive housekeepers is 40 hours, although overtime or weekend hours can be required during busy periods. ASSISTANT HOUSEKEEPER Assistant executive housekeepers support the executive housekeeper and other cleaning supervisors in all duties of the housekeeping operation. Assistant executive housekeepers coordinate, schedule and supervise housecleaning staff, inspect building areas for proper cleaning, and inventory cleaning supplies. They provide on-the-job training, coordinate the housekeeping schedule and facilitate communications among guests, housekeeping staff and other hotel managers FLOOR MANAGER As Floor Manager, you will supervise the work of a team of room attendants or housekeeping assistants, servicing a floor, or several floors of the hotel between you. You report to the head housekeeper, and may deputies in that persons absence (depending on your seniority over the other floor housekeepers). Staff has to be briefed, and their work checked. Reception must be informed when rooms are ready for re-letting, or if there is a problem (such as a late departure, or if two people seem to be occupying a room for one person). Maintenance will need to be told of repairs and replacements. You may also be responsible for issuing cleaning materials clean linen and guest suppliers (soap, shampoo, etc.) to your staff, for their rooms. You will need to be aware of safety and hygiene risks, and alert to security concerns. Your master key/card will open all the guest rooms in your area of the hotel. PUBLIC AREA SUPERVISOR Job descriptions for public area attendants show that the primary duty for personal area attendants is to keep one or more public spaces within a facility clean and safe. They thus may be responsible for removing hazards, dusting, vacuuming, polishing, emptying ashtrays and trash receptacles, wiping down surfaces and performing other housecleaning tasks. Additionally, public area attendants may greet customers, answer customer questions and relay customer needs to other employees or to their supervisor. LAUNDRY ATTENDANT Laundry attendants are essential components of the networks of housekeeping and maintenance staffs found in commercial and public facilities. Common facilities where laundry attendants work include hospitals, gyms, spas and hotels. The duties of a laundry attendant may vary depending on the place of employment; however knowledge of relevant health issues and policies is always required. LINEN ROOM SUPERVISOR Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in storing linens and wearing apparel, assembling loads for DRIVER, SALES ROUTE, and maintaining stock in linen supply establishments: Assigns duties to workers. Inventories articles in stock, such as table linens, bed sheets, towels, and uniforms, and confers with SUPERINTENDENT, LAUNDRY to request replacement of articles in short supply. Counts articles in loads for DRIVER, SALES ROUTE to ensure agreement with quantity specified on load sheet Confers with DRIVER, SALES ROUTE and with customers to resolve complaints and to modify orders according to size, color, and type of articles specified. ROOM ATTENDANT Room attendant are responsible in cleaning the guestrooms, rendering night turn-down-service, giving guest requests and maintenance and cleaning of guestroom hallways, service areas (including linen closet and room attendants comfort room) and guest elevator / service trucks.) PUBLIC AREA ATTENDANT Keeps all lobbies and public facilities (such as lobby restrooms, telephone area, the front desk, and offices) in a neat and clean condition. Public area attendant promotes a positive image of the property to guests and must be pleasant, honest, and friendly and should also able to address guest requests and problems. LINEN ROOM ATTENDANT Job purpose of linen room attendant is to perform all activities associated with the retrieval of soiled linen, processing of linen and distribution of clean linen. HOUSEMEN A houseman carries out general duties in a home or hotel. His duties can be broad and general like handling minor maintenance issues to cleaning up after banquets and other large gatherings. A housemans duties are, essentially, a combination of small jobs that are performed as needed by his employers.

Gender and Evil in Crime and Punishment and The Master and Margarita Es

Gender and Evil The conflict between good and evil is one of the most common conventional themes in literature. Coping with evil is a fundamental struggle with which all human beings must contend. Sometimes evil comes from within a character, and sometimes other characters are the source of evil; but evil is always something that the characters struggle to overcome. In two Russian novels, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita, men and women cope with their problems differently. Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment and the Master in The Master and Margarita can not cope and fall apart, whereas Sonya in Crime and Punishment and Margarita in The Master and Margarita, not only cope but pull the men out of their suffering. The main character in Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov, has nihilistic ideas, which ultimately lead to his own suffering. Raskolnikov, an impoverished student, conceives of himself as being an extraordinary man who has the right to commit any crime. He believes that as an extraordinary man that he is beyond good and evil. Since he does not believe in God, he cannot accept any moral laws. To prove his theory, he murders an old pawnbroker and her step sister. Besides, he rationalizes that he has done society a favor by getting rid of the evil pawnbroker who would cheat people. Immediately after the murders, he begins to suffer emotionally. Raskolnikiv â€Å"[feels] a terrible disorder within himself. He [is] afraid of losing his control†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dostoevsky 95). He becomes ill and lies in his room in a semi-conscious state. As soon as he is well and can walk again, he goes out and reads about the crime in all the newspapers of the last few days. The sheer mention of the murder.. . ... cope and so they suffer, yet the women find ways to cope with the evil. The men completely fall apart and suffer both physically and mentally. The women even save the men by helping them end their suffering. However, the women do it in very different ways. Sonya in Crime and Punishment turns to God, while Margarita in The Master and Margarita turns to the Devil. Both women realize that in order to end the suffering, they must find a way to escape from it Works Cited Bulgakov, Mikhail. The Master and Margarita. Trans. Diana Burgin & Katherine Tiernan O’Connor. New York: Vintage Books, 1996. Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Vintage Books, 1993. Volkova, Elena. â€Å"The Salvation Story in Russian Literature.† Oxford Journal 20.1 (March 2006). 31-46. 1 Dec. 2007 .

Confusion and Anxiety in Robert Frost’s Poems Essay

During his lifetime, Robert Frost wrote poems that relate the confusion, anxiety, and struggles of the human mind. In his poems, he depicts how people’s minds may be imbued by confusion and anxiety as they experience pain and explore life’s possibilities. Particularly, in â€Å"The Road Not Taken† and â€Å"Acquainted with the Night,† the poet illustrates how thee two themes can lead a person to attempt to escape reality and give up one’s life. The two poems share similar elements, one of which is the persona. Both poems form the image of a confused person, someone filled with much anxiety. In â€Å"The Road Not Taken,† the author makes an analogy between the persona’s situation in the woods and real life decisions one has to make in life. As the persona chooses between the two roads in front of him, he wants some assurance that the road or decision he will make is right. Seeing that both roads look the same, he is quite confused which one to take. Nonetheless, he takes the road which he describes to be untraveled. Likewise, the persona in â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† suffers from confusion; but unlike the other, his confusion is worse and more intense, somehow similar to a dilemma. The way the author presents this is also climactic. First, he mentions the journey that he has taken, â€Å"I have walked out in rain — and back in rain. I have outwalked the furthest city light. I have looked down the saddest city lane. (2-4) These journeys have made the persona weary and confused, which is why he claims to have been â€Å"acquainted with the night. † The night in the first stanza refers to the different images of the night that people are usually aware of. As he reveals in his journeys, there is the image of night based on its literal meaning, the image of night as the darkness or confusion, then there is also the image relating to sorrow and emptiness. As the two poems relate the journeys they take, the time element of the poems becomes significant. In the first poem, the persona describes a momentary confusion that could affect his lifetime. The decision he makes that time would reveal other realities he will face in the future. This shows the tendency of the persona to persevere and move on, despite obstructions along the road. In contrast, the persona in the second poem imparts a confused state that has long existed. As he reveals, he has been to many places, and has experienced a lot of sadness, thus he has been â€Å"acquainted with the night. † This ailing confusion makes him decide to stop, as he relates, â€Å"I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet. † This shows the desire of the persona to stop the confusion, or end the sorrow, which similarly suggests a desire for death. This is the very reason why the first line is repeated in the last stanza: to establish a different meaning of â€Å"night. † The luminary clock in line 12 is time itself, with all its abstractness. As it declares that â€Å"time was neither wrong nor right,† it tells the persona that it is not yet the right time for him to die, and in fact, it cannot declare whether it is the wrong time either for no one can actually predict death. Notably, as the persona confronts all these confusions, he implies the desire to discontinue, unlike the other persona who is more optimistic about his fate. As the personas in the poem think about their present struggles, they experience some anxieties. In the first poem, the persona expresses his anxiety regarding the road ahead of him, â€Å"I doubted if I should ever come back. † (15) In the real sense, he is anxious of the challenges he needs to face in life as he takes the untraveled road. In the second poem, the persona shows anxiety regarding sorrow and death. As he desires and waits for death to come, he apprehends and takes note of its coming in another person’s house â€Å"far away an interrupted cry came over houses from another street. † (8-9) It is not clear how the persona feels about his failure to die, but this thought adds up to his anxieties. The themes of confusion and anxiety are commonly illustrated in the two poems based on the mental processes that the personas undergo. As both personas undergo these experiences, there shows a tendency to digress or escape their present confusion. In the first poem, the persona wishes to elude the road he has taken but realizes there is no turning back while in the other, the persona tries to escape his sorrows by welcoming death. As both personas fail to give up their present realities, the author intentionally imparts a unified message to his readers; that is, no matter how confusing or challenging life is, taking up our journey is still the wisest option. Works Cited Frost, Robert. â€Å"Acquainted with the Night. † 1923. In New Hampshire. 12 May 2009 . Frost, Robert. â€Å"The Road Not Taken. † (n. d. ). Poets. org. 12 May 2009 .

Escape from the Western Diet Essay

In Michael Pollan’s essay â€Å"Escape from the Western Diet,† he informs Americans about the western diet and believes they need to escape from it. The reason Americans should escape the western diet is to avoid the harmful effects associated with it such as â€Å"western diseases† (Pollan, 434). To support his view on the issue, Pollan describes factors of the western diet that dictate what Americans believe they should eat. These factors include scientists with their theories of nutritionism, the food industry supporting the theories by making products, and the health industry making medication to support those same theories. Overall, Pollan feels that in order to escape this diet, people need to get the idea of it out of their heads. In turn he provides his own rules for escaping the western diet as well as the idea of nutritionism set forth by scientists. Pollan explains that scientific theories of nutritionism focus on individual nutrients rather than foods as a whole (Pollan, 434). He further goes on to refute this claim mentioning that these scientific theories contradict with one another. Pollan explains â€Å"the scientists who blame our health problems on deficiencies of [micronutrients] are not the same scientists who see a sugar soaked diet leading to metabolic syndrome and from there to diabetes, heart disease†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Pollan, 435). On one hand there are scientists who blame health problems on a lack of nutrients, and on the other hand there are scientists who blame those health problems on a sugar soaked diet. By stating these theories, Pollan tries to get his point across that they all have the same thing in common; these theories are mere explanations to western diseases. In Pollan’s view, â€Å"scientists can argue all they want about the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, but whichever it is, the solution w ould appear to remain very much the same: Stop eating a Western diet† (Pollan, 435). In other words, no matter what reason scientists have for the causes of western diseases, the common factor among them is the western diet, and that should be the basis for solution. In addition to bringing to light these contradicting scientific theories, Pollan goes further to include how these theories benefit the food industry as well as the health industry. Pollan observes â€Å"for the medical community too scientific theories about diet nourish business†¦ new theories beget new  drugs†¦ and new diets organized around each new theory’s elevation of one class of nutrient and demotion of another† (Pollan, 436). Basically, Pollan is informing that the health industry wants to profit off the theories declared by making drugs in regards to the nutrients cut down on. Similarly, Pollan notes the food industry comes out with a new line of products to match with the new theories made for the western diet. He reminds the reader to escape the western diet even though it will be hard because these industries only seek to profit rather than change the way people eat for the better (Pollan, 436). To address what distinguishes the food of a western diet, Pollan compares whole foods and processed foods. He quotes Gyorgy Scrinis and concludes to himself â€Å"instead of worrying about nutrients, we should simply avoid any food that has been processed to such an extent that it is more the product of industry than nature (Pollan, 438). Pollan agrees with Scrinis for avoiding processed foods, but he complicates it by mentioning that all whole foods are taken over by industrial processes. Again Pollan reminds the reader that escaping the western diet will not be simple, yet he convinced it is possible and he offers his developed solutions for it (Pollan, 438). Pollan encourages Americans â€Å"eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants† (Pollan, 440). His three rules emphasize eating food that is in fact real food, eating in a manner that presents a positive culture, and eating plants which Pollan considers the best types of food a person can eat. As Pollan argues against the scientific theories of nutritionism, he exposes what he considers their contradictions as well as the cycle of new theories creating new products creating new medicine. He informs the reader that these theories exist for these companies to make a profit rather than change the way people eat for the better (Pollan, 436). So again, Pollan reminds the reader to escape the western diet because it is the cause of western diseases. He offers his solutions on how to eat a better, more traditional diet.

Benefits of the Graphical User Interface

Benefits of the Graphical User Interface The graphical user interface (GUI; sometimes pronounced â€Å"gooey†) is used by most commercially popular computer operating systems and software programs today. Its the kind of interface that allows users to manipulate elements on the screen using a mouse, a stylus, or even a finger. This kind of interface allows word processing or web design programs, for example, to offer WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) options. Before GUI systems became popular, command line interface (CLI) systems were the norm. On these systems, users had to input commands using lines of coded text. The commands ranged from simple instructions for accessing files or directories  to far more complicated commands that required many lines of code. As you might imagine, GUI systems have made computers far more user-friendly  than CLI systems. Benefits to  Businesses and Other Organizations A computer with a well-designed GUI can be used by almost anybody, regardless of how technically savvy the user might be. Consider the cash management systems, or computerized cash registers, in use in stores and restaurants today. Inputting information is as simple as pressing numbers or images on a touchscreen  in order to place orders and calculate payments, whether they be cash, credit, or debit. This process of inputting information is simple, practically anybody can be trained to do it, and the system can store all of the sales data for later analysis in countless ways. Such data collection was far more labor-intensive in the days before GUI interfaces. Benefits to Individuals Imagine trying to browse the web using a CLI system. Instead of pointing and clicking on links to visually stunning websites, users would have to call up text-driven directories of files and perhaps have to remember long, complicated URLs in order to input them manually. It certainly would be possible, and much valuable computing was done when CLI systems dominated the market, but it could be tedious and generally was limited to work-related tasks. If viewing family photos, watching videos, or reading the news on a home computer meant having to memorize sometimes long or complex command inputs, not many people would find that to be a relaxing way to spend their time. CLIs Value Perhaps the most obvious example of CLIs value  is with those who write code for software programs and web designs. GUI systems make tasks more accessible to average users, but combining a keyboard with a mouse or a touchscreen of some sort can be time-consuming  when the same task can be accomplished without having to take ones hands away from the keyboard. Those who write code know the command codes they need to include and dont want to waste time pointing and clicking if its not necessary. Inputting commands manually also offers precision that a WYSIWYG option in a GUI interface might not provide. For example, if the goal is to create an element for a web page or a software program that has a precise width and height in pixels, it can be faster and more accurate to input those dimensions directly than to try and draw the element with a mouse.

Derivatives and Alternative Investments Assignment

Derivatives and Alternative Investments - Assignment Example First, if management understands about the corporation’s risks better than shareholders, the corporation, not its stakeholders, can hedge. Subsequent, corporation could be capable to hedge at a lower cost. Corporate hedging can be justified if default costs are significant, since it reduces the possibility of default (Johnson, 2010). Lastly, if the corporation encounters progressive taxes, it can decrease tax accountabilities by hedging which steady corporate earnings. To calculate the appropriate number of bonds and equity futures that should be sold the following are considered and done. Bond estimation is a technique used to establish the predictable trading price of a bond. The anticipated trading value is computed by adding the total of the current values of all coupon costs to the current value of the par value (Johnson, 2010). German federal state bonds with a minimum issuing volume of EUR 1 billion. FDAX = opening price 8,218.50 Low price 8,164.00 High 8,259.00 Daily s ettlement price 8,197.50 Bond face value = â‚ ¬ 1 000 000 000 Annual coupon rate = 3.723% Maturity in years = 1 year Market interest rate = 7.2% Future Bond Price = 3.723% * 1000 000 000 * 1-(1+7.2%)-10/7.2% + 1000000000/ (1+7.2%)10 =32,230,000*6.94 +1000000000/2.004 =223676200+499001996 =â‚ ¬ 722,678,196 Future Equity Present value = â‚ ¬50,000,000 Question 2 Interest rate swap amount = â‚ ¬5,000,000 Term: 5 year fixed rate payer The risks of the interest rate swap To explain the risks of the interest rate swaps position taken by the European asset manage the following are considered. In addition, the possibilities of hedging the scenario are also explained. Management decisions relating to a bank’s interest rate risk challenge should consider the risk or reward swap of interest rate risk positions. This is why the trade-off, in form of interest rate swaps, is necessary in this scenario (Corb, 2012). Management must compare the possible risk such as impact of unp leasant rate actions of an interest rate risk situation or approach against the possible reward (impact of positive rate movements).To assess the potential impact of interest rate danger on a corporation’s operations, a well-managed company will reflect on the affect on both its incomes (the profits or accounting viewpoint) and fundamental economic worth (the capital or economic perspective). Both perspectives must be evaluated to establish the full scope of a corporation’s interest rate risk vulnerability, particularly if the company has significant long-term or multipart interest rate risk positions (Corb, 2012). The current situation warranty interest rate swaps consideration so as to avert too much risk exposure. An interest rate swap is an accord by two entities(the European asset corporation and the central Bank) to swap or exchange floating rate interest compensations for fixed rate interest compensations and vice versa. It is significant for the European asset manager to appreciate that swaps are between corporations and not between personal investors; however, the outcome of these swaps may influence his/her job activities or the cost he/she may pay for a bond. The most ordinary kind of swap is a vanilla exchange in which fixed rate interest compensations are swapped for floating rate interest payments according to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) (Corb, 2012). The London Interbank Offered Rate is the interest rate that financials institutions with high credit ratings from ratings organizations charge one another for

Commercial Landlord and Tenant Law Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Commercial Landlord and Tenant Law - Term Paper Example He says that if Mr Jagger wants to take the room the shortest term he will agree is one year, and he requires Mr Jagger to sign an agreement (which he produces and gives to Mr Jagger). Mr Jagger likes the room, and says he's 'happy with a one-year deal', but also says he wants to look at the form of agreement and possibly take advice on it before signing it, but he does need to move in immediately. He offers Mr Richards a month rent 'upfront'. Mr Richards accepts this, and allows Jagger to move in immediately. He says, however, that Jagger's occupation will be on the terms of 'that agreement in your hand unless we agree something different', and they agree that in due course they will formalise the arrangement by signing an appropriate document. Mr Jagger looks at the agreement. It is headed 'Licence', indicates a 'licence period' of one year, a weekly licence fee of 75 and states (amongst other things) that Mr Richards is at liberty to require Mr Jagger to share the room with any third party whom Mr Richards wishes to put into occupation. Explain, by full reference to the background law, the status of the interest (if any) which Mr Jagger has in the room in Mr Richards' house and how such interest came to be (or failed to be) created and whether, in consequence, it is open to Mr Jagger to leave without further liability either immediately or at some point prior to the expiry of a year after he moved in. Answer In regards to common law, the licence is not legally binding because Mr Jagger did not sign it. Mr Jagger holds a licence to use the assigned room in Mr Richards home. A licence is only a personal permission, not transferable and is not binding. If Mr. Jaggar would be a tenant, he could have a legal estate which can be inherited or transferred, and is binding on third parties. A tenancy will have a great deal of statutory protection, particularly relating to security of tenure; a licence can be terminated easily (subject to any contractual agreement) and even the residential licensee has only minimal statutory protection under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, not amounting to security of tenure. Mr Jagger's interest came to be when he and Mr Richards verbally agreed to a "one year deal". A licence is merely permission to use the premise it is not a lease. If no contract were created at all, it would still be considered a licence because the grantor obtains the right to use the entire premise. The giving and accepting of rent does not define a tenancy. Since this is only a licence to use the premise Mr Jagger has no further obligation to Mr Richards. If it is a tenancy it would be created formally by deed (unless within the exceptions under Law of Property Act 1925 S.54). If