Performance Management Poverty and Injustices

Question: Talk about thePerformance Managementfor Poverty and Injustices. Answer: Presentation Oxfam New Zealand is a non-benefit association guided by its standards and targets to offer enduring answers for neediness and shameful acts. The organization centers around vision and missions of more secure, reasonable and a practical world for all to appreciate in the breath of expectation and opportunity. The association's battle for equity and neediness destruction gave to its vigorous presentation framework. Oxfam New Zealand has improved in the job execution and genuine fulfillment perhaps of the hierarchical procedure embraced by the element and representatives. Associations relying upon the most adaptable and versatile exhibition the board appreciate not exclusively representatives' presentation yet additionally high laborers maintenance. Representatives are more than persuaded to proficiently and beneficially convey their obligations with dear ingenuity and commitment. Or maybe its entitlement to express that Oxfam New Zealand puts the positive and committed framework to helps the work power in that accomplish the best exertion and aptitudes to association's advantage. Associations rehearsing sufficient execution acknowledges the significance of each progression of the framework and their commitment to the organizations' powerful maintenance and inspiration of workforce (Buckingham Goodall, 2015). They exalt the arranging idea, checking, advancement and progression arranging stage as a segment of a successful execution the executives. Meaning of Performance Management Organizations rely upon execution the board to style up their hierarchical procedure to make a workplace that engages representatives to perform at the best of their capacities. The best execution the executives takes a thought of gatherings adding to the business development and advancement (Wolpert et al., 2014). Nonetheless, associations display distinctive execution the board frameworks. Despite the fact that the essential objective authored on the objectives setting, assessment, and prizes. Both scattered by the instructing of the gatherings. The gatherings incorporate; Officials and senior pioneers Administrators Human asset administrator Workers The Process of Performance Planning The phase of arranging is worried about the defining of accomplishment objectives for the workers and their administrators. The directors are relied upon to talk about the normal degrees of execution for the activity (Wolpert et al., 2014). The desire for every representative is intended to accommodate its departmental job. While arranging the worker and the administrator must come into terms on the normal. The set objectives are reachable inside the depicted time of activity, most likely a year. Representatives at that point work with the intention of accomplishing the set objectives inside the predefined period. They keep the track and remain conveying on routinely to their administrators just as taking a full moral duty regarding their development both expertly and profession shrewd. Under the stage, the organization deliberately characterize every specialist's objectives and adjust them to with the system of the corporate (DeNisi Smith, 2014). The procedure is normally community oriented in nature. After the making of the arrangement, the organization characterizes the essential employment capacities and duties through an objective structure of SMART examination. The Performance Monitoring The stage is worried about the representative observation and evaluation by the mindful director. The relegated chief stays concentrated on the worker's advancement towards objectives. The strategy hits the desire for the training prerequisites (Wang Sarkis, 2013). The director guarantees either a money related or non-fiscal awards to a worker that hits the objective. The Oxfam New Zealand can enough continue the procedure by keeping the supervisors likewise on oneself advancement following. The administrators are likewise expected to keep tabs on their development on the set objectives. The checking procedure collects dependable data for examination purposes. Representatives are, thusly, urged to rouse themselves through progress and difficulties trusting from the improvement. The supervisors, then again, perceive and fortify the representatives' jobs and exhibitions by keeping up persevering just as unlimited discussions on their exhibitions (Kerr Hayward, 2013). The Performance Development It fuses the chief's job and the laborer responsibility on proficient development and improvement. Chiefs' characterize the unmistakable and quantifiable desires just as give an atmosphere helpful for progress. They control execution and guide consistence of elevated level improvement after some time just as unquestionably make worker undertakings to add to the departmental objectives fulfillment (Kerr Hayward, 2013). Additionally, they decide the issues of execution and set a reasonable course to right just as improve the difficulties. The workers are given useful conditions on enhancements to continue their development. They too considered mindful and responsible to meet their presentation objectives through an unmistakable correspondence methodology by the chiefs. Regularly, strategies about exhibitions are all around set, and preparing and conferences caught. The imparted administration's direction through the prescribed procedures in execution to workers. On the off chance that appropriately followed, an organization appreciates high representative inspiration and maintenance. The Performance Evaluation It assesses the laborers' exhibition by organizing inputs from workers to directors. The supervisors think about the remarks by appropriate perception. It asses the earlier year's assessment in contrast with the current exhibitions ((DeNisi Smith, 2014). It implements the adequate exhibition limits by advancing powerful correspondence and staff acknowledgment just as rousing workers to play out the best of their everything. Whenever done reasonably and impartially, the laborers' spirit rises and desires level improve. A decent assessment doesn't asses just the activity exhibitions yet additionally the representatives' persuasive abilities and offers directional correspondence methodology to settle the issues. The proper assessment allows representatives to catch on their occupations and related desires. Their commitments are esteemed on the bigger image of the association's prosperity. They wind up achieving their goas just as accomplishing extra advantages (Rabl et al., 2012). The objectives of execution assessment cut over representatives' objectives and yields, advancement and authoritative development, execution and documentation and non-separating worker execution evaluation forms. The Oxfam New Zealand can improve its exhibition by applying an evaluative framework engaging representatives' vocation and expert achievement. Progression Planning In centered organizations, progression arranging decides the eventual fate of business on the off chance that an official or a representative leaves or gets terminated. A definitive objectives of the arranging factor the truth in constant of the association's activity paying little heed to work issues (Rabl et al., 2012). An association natures and build up its workforce through educative and preparing projects to improve their abilities, information, characteristics and involvement with significant regions of specialization. The very much prepared representatives fit the empty positions left by the organization. Through the procedure, the current and future needs of the business are resolved dependent on the objectives and goals. The perceived open doors are coordinated dependent on the characteristics and capacities of the accessible representatives just as building up an arrangement proper for hole the board (Wang Sarkis, 2013). The Oxfam New Zealand can effectively accomplish the progression plan by ceaseless providing qualified and spurred laborers with a thought process to take over from the current ranking staff after they leave the association. The five phases basically upgrade the exhibition the board that best suits the organization's requests to hold and persuade workers. PART B The Progressive Warning System for Oxfam New Zealand The organization may have issues with its workforce due to resistance with the guidelines. To emotionally play out its disciplinary advances while dealing with such cases, the organization can decide on the framework. The dynamic framework advocates for a reasonable and best practice to terminate a worker just as lies with the lawful contemplations (Van Dooren et al., 2015). The Oxfam New Zealand Organization can utilize the model as sketched out in the stages; The Oral Reprimand The issuance of verbal censure endless supply of the laborer's presentation issue by the manager. The manager ought to inquisitively decide the issue and the restorative measures to take (Buckingham Goodall, 2015). The total duplicate of the conversation is kept to help for recovery reason in the event that future fundamental advances are required. The Written Reprimand In the persevering of the issue, a chief furnishes a specialist with a composed notice enumerating the conduct and related outcomes. The composing traces the guidelines of conduct and judgment standards upon inability to improve the exhibition (Van Dooren et al., 2015). The director connects the duplicate of the composition on the representative's work profile. The Final Written Warning Inability to improve invites the last composed admonition containing the probation status of the representative. The connected are the duplicates of the past admonitions just as the characterized time of progress (Seuring Gold, (2013). The Termination Review Subsequent to neglecting to improve inside the predetermined period, the administrator tells the Human Resource Manager on the persevered issue. The stage takes a gander at the issues of legally binding relationship guarantee by a worker, remuneration case, and matters of sincere trust and reasonable managing before affecting the progression (Seuring Gold, 2013). The Termination Stage The stage gets actualized if there are sufficient confirmation that a worker had adequate chance to improve however fizzled. The duplicates of the past admonitions either oral or composed recorded for the wellbeing of the organization on the off chance that the case goes to a court. The Purpose of Pe

Programming a Class to Create a Custom VB.NET Control

Programming a Class to Create a Custom VB.NET Control Building total custom segments can be an exceptionally propelled venture. Be that as it may, you can fabricate a VB.NET class that has huge numbers of the upsides of a tool stash part with considerably less exertion. Heres how! To get a kind of what you have to do to make a total custom segment, attempt this investigation: - Open another Windows Application venture in VB.NET.- Add a CheckBox from the Toolbox to the structure.- Click the Show All Files button at the highest point of Solution Explorer. This will show the records that Visual Studio makes for your task (so you dont need to). As a verifiable reference, The VB6 compiler did a ton of very similar things, however you never could get to the code since it was covered in accumulated p-code. You could create custom controls in VB6 as well, however it was much increasingly troublesome and required an exceptional utility that Microsoft provided only for that reason. In the Form Designer.vb record, you will find that the code beneath has been included consequently in the correct areas to help the CheckBox segment. (On the off chance that you have an alternate adaptation of Visual Studio, your code may be marginally unique.) This is the code that Visual Studio composes for you. Required by the Windows Form Designer Private parts _ As System.ComponentModel.IContainerNOTE: The accompanying methodology is requiredby the Windows Form DesignerIt can be altered utilizing the Windows Form Designer.Do not change it utilizing the code editor.System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough() _Private Sub InitializeComponent() Me.CheckBox1 New System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox() Me.SuspendLayout() CheckBox1 Me.CheckBox1.AutoSize True Me.CheckBox1.Location New System.Drawing.Point(29, 28) Me.CheckBox1.Name CheckBox1. . . etc ... This is the code that you need to add to your program to make a custom control. Remember that all the strategies and properties of the genuine CheckBox control are in a class provided by the .NET Framework: System.Windows.Forms.CheckBox. This isnt part of your venture since its introduced in Windows for every single .NET program. Be that as it may, theres a great deal of it. Another point to know about is that if youre utilizing WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), the .NET CheckBox class originates from a totally extraordinary library named System.Windows.Controls. This article just works for a Windows Forms application, however the principals of legacy here work for any VB.NET venture. Assume your undertaking needs a control that is a lot of like one of the standard controls. For instance, a checkbox that changed shading, or showed a small upbeat face as opposed to showing the little check realistic. Were going to construct a class that does this and tell you the best way to add it to your venture. While this may be helpful without anyone else, the genuine objective is to exhibit VB.NETs legacy. Lets Start Coding To begin, change the name of the CheckBox that you just added to oldCheckBox. (You should quit showing Show All Files again to disentangle Solution Explorer.) Now add another class to your undertaking. There are a few different ways to do this including right-tapping the undertaking in Solution Explorer and choosing Add at that point Class or choosing Add Class under the Project menu thing. Change the record name of the new class to newCheckBox to keep things straight. At last, open the code window for the class and include this code: Open Class newCheckBox Inherits CheckBox Private CenterSquareColor As Color Color.Red Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint( ByVal pEvent _ As PaintEventArgs) Dim CenterSquare _ As New Rectangle(3, 4, 10, 12) MyBase.OnPaint(pEvent) If Me.Checked Then pEvent.Graphics.FillRectangle( New SolidBrush( CenterSquareColor ), CenterSquare) End If End SubEnd Class (In this article and in others on the webpage, a great deal of line continuations are utilized to keep lines short so they will fit into the space accessible on the website page.) The primary thing to see about your new class code is the Inherits catchphrase. That implies that all the properties and techniques for a VB.NET Framework CheckBox are naturally part of this one. To acknowledge how much work this spares, you must have had a go at programming something like a CheckBox segment without any preparation. There are two key things to see in the code above: The first is the code utilizes Override to supplant the norm .NET conduct that would occur for an OnPaint occasion. An OnPaint occasion is activated at whatever point Windows sees that piece of your presentation must be remade. A model would be the point at which another window reveals some portion of your showcase. Windows refreshes the showcase naturally, however then calls the OnPaint occasion in your code. (The OnPaint occasion is additionally considered when the structure is at first made.) So on the off chance that we Override OnPaint, we can change the manner in which things look on the screen. The second is the manner in which Visual Basic makes the CheckBox. At whatever point the parent is Checked (that is, Me.Checked is True) at that point the new code we give in our NewCheckBox class will recolor the focal point of the CheckBox as opposed to drawing a checkmark. The rest is what is called GDI code. This code chooses a square shape precisely the same size as the focal point of a Check Box and hues it in with GDI strategy calls. The enchantment numbers to situate the red square shape, Rectangle(3, 4, 10, 12), were resolved tentatively. I simply transformed it until it looked right. There is one significant advance that you need to ensure you dont keep separate from Override methodology: MyBase.OnPaint(pEvent) Supersede implies that your code will give the entirety of the code to the occasion. Be that as it may, this is only sometimes what you need. So VB gives an approach to run the typical .NET code that would have been executed for an occasion. This is the explanation that does that. It passes exactly the same parameter-pEvent-to the occasion code that would have been executed on the off chance that it hadnt been abrogated, MyBase.OnPaint. Utilizing the New Control Since our new control isn't in our tool kit, it must be made in the structure with code. The best spot to do that is in the structure Load occasion system. Open the code window for the structure load occasion methodology and include this code: Private Sub frmCustCtrlEx_Load( ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs ) Handles MyBase.Load Dim customCheckBox As New newCheckBox() With customCheckBox .Text Custom CheckBox .Left oldCheckBox.Left .Top oldCheckBox.Top oldCheckBox.Height .Size New Size( oldCheckBox.Size.Width 50, oldCheckBox.Size.Height) End With Controls.Add(customCheckBox)End Sub To put the new checkbox on the structure, weve exploited the way that there is now one there and simply utilized the size and position of that one (balanced so the Text property will fit). Else we would need to code the position physically. When MyCheckBox has been added to the structure, we at that point add it to the Controls assortment. In any case, this code isnt truly adaptable. For instance, the shading Red is hardcoded and changing the shading requires changing the program. You may likewise need a realistic rather than a check mark. Heres another, improved CheckBox class. This code tells you the best way to step toward VB.NET object arranged programming. Open Class betterCheckBox Inherits CheckBox Private CenterSquareColor As Color Color.Blue Private CenterSquareImage As Bitmap Private CenterSquare As New Rectangle( 3, 4, 10, 12) Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint _ (ByVal pEvent As _ System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) MyBase.OnPaint(pEvent) If Me.Checked Then If CenterSquareImage Is Nothing Then pEvent.Graphics.FillRectangle( New SolidBrush( CenterSquareColor), CenterSquare) Else pEvent.Graphics.DrawImage( CenterSquareImage, CenterSquare) End If End If End Sub Public Property FillColor() As Color Get FillColor CenterSquareColor End Get Set(ByVal Value As Color) CenterSquareColor Value End Set End Property Public Property FillImage() As Bitmap Get FillImage CenterSquareImage End Get Set(ByVal Value As Bitmap) CenterSquareImage Value End Set End PropertyEnd Class Why The BetterCheckBox Version Is Better One of the principle upgrades is the expansion of two Properties. This is something the old class didnt do by any means. The two new properties presented are FillColor also, FillImage To get a kind of how this functions in VB.NET, attempt this straightforward trial. Add a class to a standard extend and afterward enter the code: Open Property Whatever Get At the point when you press Enter in the wake of composing Get, VB.NET Intellisense fills in the whole Property code square and you should simply code the particulars for your undertaking. (The Get and Set squares arent consistently required beginning with VB.NET 2010, so you need to at any rate disclose to Intellisense this a lot to begin it.) Open Property Whatever Get End Get Set(ByVal esteem) End SetEnd Property These squares have been finished in the code above. The reason for these squares of code is to permit property estimations to be gotten to from different pieces of the framework. With the expansion of Methods, you would be well headed to making a total segment. To see an extremely straightforward case of a Method, include this code beneath the Property affirmations in the betterCheckBox class: Open Sub Emphasize() Me.Font New System.Drawing.Font( _ Microsoft Sans Serif, 12.0!, _ System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold) Me.Size New System.Drawing.Size(200, 35) CenterSquare.Offset( CenterSquare.Left - 3, CenterSquare.Top 3)End Sub Notwithstanding changing the Font showed in a CheckBox, this technique likewise alters the size of the case and the area of the checked square shape to represent the new size. To utilize the new strategy, simply code it a similar way you would any technique: MyBetterEmphasizedBox.Emphasize() Also, much the same as Properties, Visual Studio naturally includes the enhanced me

Orgo and physics and math, oh my

Orgo and physics and math, oh my Believe it or not, one of the most enjoyable experiences of my MIT career so far was simply planning my class schedule for this semester. For some reason, Ive always been fascinated with schedules, calendars, planners all the inventions that, artificial constructs though they may be, nonetheless help govern and organize our lives. Combine that fascination with the fact that I was taking classes I was genuinely interested in, plus a general excitement to begin my second semester at MIT (keep in mind this was back during IAP, before Id started having to actually do any work for these classes), and you can hopefully understand why I was so excited to finally set my schedule. The final product looks something like this. There are a few things I like about this schedule, and a few things I dont like. I like, for example, that its symmetric about Wednesday. I like that I always have an hour or half-hour break after 11 am, which is great for getting lunch, catching up on email, or working on a p-set. I mostly like starting class at 10 am. And I really like that my day ends at 2 pm on Monday and Friday, since that leaves me with a solid four-hour block of time before dinner, which is really fantastic for getting research done. On the other hand, notice how I have six hours of class on Wednesday? 20.020 is pretty laid-back compared to my other classes, which is great, but still six hours is a long time for a college student! I mean, thats almost as much time as I spent in class in high school! Hopefully you found that last paragraph amusing, since I was being intentionally facetious (which is one my favorite words ever, by the way). But really, its true: even though you spend far less time actually in class as a college student, the level of intensity skyrockets. The professors move pretty quickly through the material, and sometimes even the most organized lecturers sometimes cant explain everything they would like to. If you dont know whats going on because you slept through a lecture or you didnt do the assigned reading, the professor simply cant go back and re-explain everything just for your benefit. Unlike high school, homework really is homework; you wont be given any time to do it during lecture and trying to finish a p-set while also taking notes is generally a bad idea. Thats not to say students dont get individual attention from professors at MIT. To the contrary, I think most professors really go out of their way to make sure theyre accessible to their students. After lecture, all professors stick around for at least a few minutes to answer any one-on-one questions people may have. Whether youre asking about a concept that you found to be unclear during lecture, bringing up an interesting additional point that wasnt raised at all during class, or maybe even asking for a UROP, the profs are definitely wiling to hear you out and help you in any way they can. Im not just saying that to make my professors look good I really do mean it. A case in point: last semester, Melis and I ended up having an awesome interview with Eric Lander who basically runs the Broad Institute, while also teaching 7.012 in his spare time an opportunity we seized simply because I took the time to ask Dr. Lander if hed be willing to do an interview one day after class. If youre interested, the transcript of the interview which Melis and I published in MITs Undergraduate Research Journal is available online here. Beyond the professors, MIT also has, like most colleges, teaching assistants (TAs). TAs are generally grad students, though in some classes theyre actually professors. In addition to generally helping out the lecturers and other course administrators with some of the grunt work that keeps classes running smoothly, TAs also run recitations. Recitations (which are limited to roughly 10-20 students) are basically your chance to review the material presented in lecture, run through some sample problems, and ask questions about the p-set in a relatively low-stress and personal zone. They also leave ample opportunity for general hilarity, but that sort of depends on the TA. Anyway, hopefully you found the last few paragraphs enlightening or, at least, interesting because Ive actually digressed quite a ways from my original goal of simply talking about my schedule. Since my classes are, basically, awesome. And now, here they are! (Presented, in true MIT fashion, by ascending numerical order.) 5.12 Organic Chemistry (5-0-7) In which we study Lewis dot diagrams, molecular structures, stereoisomerization, chirality, chair cyclohexanes, acid-base reactions, and much much more. Chemistry, biology, and the related engineering disciplines (a.k.a. Courses 5, 7, 10, and 20) all require this course, which also satisfies one of the GIRs. I enjoy the professors lecturing style, plus hes very organized and provides awesome lecture notes based on his PowerPoint presentations, which are in themselves very well done. The first test is Friday, so I guess Ill find out how much Ive learned pretty soon. [In case you were curious, the numbers X-Y-Z in parentheses indicate that the class entails X hours in lecture and/or recitation, Y hours in the lab or studio, and Z hours spent preparing outside of class (reading, p-seting, studying for tests). The sum C=X+Y+Z gives the total number of units each class is worth (usually 12).] 8.022 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism with Theory (5-0-7) The logical follow-up to Physics I: Mechanics, I like to think of 8.022 as 8.012s little cousin. So far its been much more math-based than 8.012 was, which suits me just fine. Weve raced through the first three chapters of our textbook, covering Coulombs Law; the electric field; the definitions of divergence, curl, and flux in Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical coordinate systems; the electric potential; Gauss Law; Faraday cages; and other fun electrical things. The class also features three optional labs, the first of which I did last week; pictures perhaps to follow. The professor is pretty good; and, ironically enough, my 8.012 professor from last term is now my TA. Small world, eh? Although I was a little anxious about taking this class, given my experiences with 8.012, Im happy to report things seem to be going well. On the whole 8.022 does seem easier, plus I now have a much better understanding of how to prepare for MIT tests in general. Although I had been prepared to switch into 8.02 if I found the material too hard or the pace too fast, we took our first test this morning and I did quite well so Im happy to report that it looks like Ill be sticking with it. 18.03 Differential Equations (5-0-7) Ah, math. I like this course a lot, in large part because differential equations are incredibly useful for basically every science and engineering discipline; in that respect, 18.03 is my first real engineering course. Just to show you how important differential equations are, according to our professor, about 140 courses at MIT require 18.03 as either a pre-prerequisite or co-requisite. Thats a lot of courses. So far weve covered slope fields, first-order linear ordinary differential equations, Eulers method, integrating factors, complex exponentials and roots, sinusoidal functions, and input/output models. I havent quite made up my mind about the professor yet some of the lectures were mediocre, but some (like the one on complex exponentials, including my favorite formula ever) were really awesome. Our first test is Wednesday whos excited!? 20.020 Introduction to Biological Engineering Design (3-3-3) This is easily the most unconventional course Im taking this semester, as well as one of the most fun. The first 3 up there refers to two 1.5-hour lectures held every week, except that lectures in 20.020 are really more like conversations between the two instructors and the other 25 or so students in the course. Each lecture starts off with a fun but thought-provoking challenge or workshop on the first day, for example, we built model airplanes. On the second day, we were supposed to deconstruct an ordinary tape recorder into as many individual components as possiblethen put it together the next day. It almost seems silly, but each challenge is supposed to make us think about how the real world applies to biology, ways we can make biology easier to engineer, how nature cleverly solves physical problems, and so on and it seems to work. In addition to lecture, we also have a three-hour studio period on Wednesdays (denoted by the second 3), which are designed to allow for sustained and/or creative thought on a particular topic. In the first week of class, for instance, we watched presentations from the iGEM Competition (2006 and 2007); in the third week, we gave presentations on the problems and issues that mattered most to us. Coming up with solutions to some of these problems is going to be the major focus for the rest of the course, so thats pretty exciting. 21W.746 Humanistic Perspectives on Medicine (3-0-9) Finally, we come to the humanities section of my life. Because MIT requires all students to take 8 classes in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, most students fulfill that requirement by taking one HASS class each semester theyre here. Last semester, though, I took four science classes (5.112, 7.012, 8.012, and 18.02) and no humanities, which turned out to be a pretty interesting experience. Its definitely doable, but even so, I wouldnt really recommend taking four science classes your first term unless youve given it a great deal of thought. Anyway, Im actually pretty happy to finally be taking a humanities class again, since it gives me an opportunity to exert parts of my brain that didnt get a ton of use during the first term, particularly my creative urges (general chemistry doesnt usually involve writing poems) and my forensic facilities (you cant really argue with a line integral). I consider the class Im taking right now to be a bit of a hybrid between a class on the history of medicine and a general survey of how doctors think, work, and act. 21W.746 has no formal lecture component; instead, we have two 1.5-hour discussions where we sit in a circle and discuss various topics as a group, sort of in the Socratic fashion. Outside of class, much of the focus is placed on completing the assigned readings since if you dont, you wont have anything productive to say during discussions (and will just sound like a fool when the professor inevitably calls on you to talk). There are no tests or p-sets; instead, our grade is determined by three major essays (the first, which required us to rewrite the Hippocratic Oath and justify our changes, was due last Thursday), peer review of each others writing, revising our essays based on our classmates reviews, a book review, an oral report, an oral presentation, and (of course) class participation. If that sounds like a lot, in some respects I guess it is but you have to understand that all of these assignments are spread out across the semester, so its pretty manageable if you work at it consistently. This entry is getting ridiculously long, plus I have quite a bit of work to do (i.e. studying for those 18.03 and 5.12 tests I mentioned) so Ill cut things off here. Before I go, though, a few miscellaneous thoughts, from most important to least: Decisions are about three weeks away! If your mental state is anything like mine was last year, I imagine that news is simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating. The release date has not been set yet, though (as usual) it should be around March 15th. Im sure Matt or Ben will make an announcement on the blogs as soon as they know for sure. I know its tough, but hang in there Im rooting for you guys. :) Although MITs online course catalog has a pretty decent course planner utility, I used a website called ATLAS instead. ATLAS is the brainchild of Scott 08, a Course 5 junior whos graduating a year early (!) and also happens to be pretty good at cooking up computer code. One of my fraternity brothers, Scott is known around the house for enjoying the finer things in life especially good food, sleeping in, and the scent of vanilla. Give ATLAS a whirl and see what your class schedule might look like next year! This comic pretty much sums up my life. xkcd knows me so well.

Henry David Thoreau - 4404 Words

Henry David Thoreau INTRODUCTION Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian , philosopher andtranscendentalist. Henry David Thoreau was a complex man of many talents who worked hard to shape his craft and his life. He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state. Henrys books, articles, essays, journals, and poetry total over 20 volumes. Among his lasting contributions were his writings on natural history and philosophy, where he anticipated the methods and findings of†¦show more content†¦The school ended when John became fatally ill from tetanus in 1842[19] after cutting himself while shaving. He died in his brother Henrys arms.[20] Meanwhile, he was spending a good deal of time writing - he had begun a journal in 1837 which ran to 14 volumes of close-packed print when published after his death. He wanted to be a poet. But America starved its poets as a rule, and Thoreau spent much of his life attempting to do just what he wanted and at the same time to survive. For he wanted to live as a poet as well as to write poetry. He loved nature and could stay indoors only with effort. The beautiful woods, meadows, and waters of the Concord neighborhood attracted him like a drug. He wandered among them by day and by night, observing the world of nature closely and sympathetically. He named himself, half humorously, inspector of snow-storms and rainstorm Ralph Emersons Assessment Upon graduation Thoreau returned home to Concord, where he met Ralph Waldo Emerson. 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He spoke out against an unjust society and challengedRead MoreWalden By Henry David Thoreau843 Words   |  4 PagesEveryone sees the world through their own eyes. Not two people can see something in the exact same way or interpret it the same way. They can each have their own opinion about the subject. In â€Å"Walden† by Henry David Thoreau, he has a very individualistic view on nature. In â€Å"Walden†, Thoreau goes out into the woods to try and live his life deliberately. Schneider states, â€Å" In 1845, he received permission from Emerson to use a piece of l and that Emerson owned on the shore of Walden Pond.† He staysRead MoreComparing Sigourney And Thoreau, And Henry David Thoreau981 Words   |  4 PagesSigourney and Thoreau The authors Lydia Huntley Sigourney, and Henry David Thoreau, both demonstrate similarities and differences in their works. While comparing both essays, it is evident that both authors share similar views on environmental issues, and at the same time demonstrate great emotional journeys in their works. The extraordinary beauty of nature appears frequently in both pieces. Both authors focus their personal experiences, however, within different subject matters. The way in whichRead MoreThemes Of Henry David Thoreau925 Words   |  4 PagesHenry David Thoreau When people really take their time to look at the beautiful world around them and take it in, it is hard not to be amazed. Nature is the world around us such as plants, animals, ocean, and mounting. Centrally, he focuses on the relationship between nature and wildness, civilization, culture and the freedom in nature. Also, he thought deeply about nature and how can affects our self when we are alone. He extremely exaggeration, he trying to hang up and would attract us. The authorRead MoreThe Legacy Of Henry David Thoreau1991 Words   |  8 Pagessuccess against muscle and weapons. Yet, the enduring leadership and legacy of Henry David Thoreau, an early American author and abolitionist, has shaped the development and evolution of non-violent protest movements worldwide. This is the story of how the power of Thoreau’s words have shaped the arc of history for nearly 200 years: his pen was indeed mightier than the sword. Personal Background: Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts. He was also raised there forRead MoreHenry David Thoreau Essay3362 Words   |  14 PagesHenry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was a man who expressed his beliefs of society, government, and mankind while living under his own self-criticism. Thoreau believed he had many weaknesses which made him a failure. This strong disapproval of himself contrasted with his powerful words and strong actions. These contradictions led to some of Thoreaus greatest pieces of literature. Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817, in his grandmothers house. ThoreauRead MoreThe Accomplishments Of Henry David Thoreau1472 Words   |  6 Pages Background Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12th, in Concord Massachusetts. Thoreau was many things, not simply just a writer; but he was one of the most influential writers America knows today. Early on in his life he grew up in a simple home with hard-working parents, and an abundance of siblings. His father and mother both had worked as teachers as well as investing in many other trades to get by. Henry started developing his talent for writing early on, by age ten he had written his firstRead MoreEssay on Henry David Thoreau474 Words   |  2 Pages Henry David Thoreau is a man of many facets; a man who refuses to conform to what the masses believe is acceptable. He calls for the rejection of complexity and for a change in mankind’s view of life. Thoreau, in his many writings, demands change in a stagnant society. He emphasizes respect for nature, even to the point of blatant disrespect for humanity. Thoreau’s connection to nature was a key ingredient in his lifestyle. He studied ants closely; hoping to understand them like one understands

Biography of Marvin Stone, Inventor of Drinking Straws

Marvin Stone (April 4, 1842–May 17, 1899) was an inventor who is best known for inventing, patenting, and producing the spiral winding process to manufacture the first paper drinking straws. Before his straws, beverage drinkers were using the natural rye grass or hollow reed straws. Fast Facts: Marvin C. Stone Known For: Invention of the paper drinking strawBorn: April 4, 1842 in Rootstown, OhioParents: Chester Stone and his wife RachelDied: May 17, 1899 in Washington, D.C.Education: Oberlin College (1868–1871), TheologySpouse: Jane E. (Jennie) Platt, of Baltimore Maryland (m. January 7, 1875)Children: Lester Marvin Stone Early Life Marvin Chester Stone was born on April 4, 1842, in Rootstown, Portage County, Ohio, the son of another inventor, Chester Stone and his wife Rachel. Chester Stone was an inventor himself, having invented the washing machine and a cheese press. In the 1840s, Chester moved his family to Ravenna, Ohio, where Marvin went to high school. After high school, he started to pursue a degree at Oberlin College, but when the Civil War broke out in 1861, he mustered into service as a private in the Seventh Regiment of Company C, of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He fought at Gettysburg and Chancellorsville, and was wounded and disabled from active duty in the Battle of Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, Tennessee on Nov. 24, 1863. He eventually transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps and was sent to Washington, D.C. on December 1, 1864, where he stayed in special services until he was mustered out on August 7, 1865. After the war, he returned to Ohio and in 1868 enrolled at Oberlin College as a music major, but he ultimately graduated from the College of Theology in 1871. He was then a newspaper journalist in the Washington, D.C. area for several years. On January 7, 1875, he married Jane E. Jennie Platt: they had one child, Lester Marvin Stone. Inventive Life Marvin Stone began to imply his inventive nature into his business life in the late 1870s, when he invented a machine for making paper cigarette holders. He started a factory on Ninth Street in Washington, D.C. to supply a major contractor, W. Duke Sons and companys Cameo brand of cigarette holders. His paper straw invention was the result of a problem Stone recognized: people used natural materials—rye grass and reeds—to consume cold liquids, which sometimes brought an additional taste and odor to the drink involved. Further, the grass and reeds were often cracked and grew musty. Stone made his prototype straw by winding strips of paper around a pencil and gluing it together. He then experimented with paraffin-coated manila paper, so the straws would not become soggy while someone was drinking. Marvin Stone decided the ideal straw was 8.5 inches long with a diameter just wide enough to prevent things like lemon seeds from being lodged in the tube. Stone Straw Corporation The product was patented on January 3, 1888. By 1890, his factory was producing more straws than cigarette holders. The company was housed in a large manufacturing establishment at 1218-1220 F Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C. On February 6, 1896, Stone applied for two U.S. patents (585,057, and 585,058) for a machine that made artificial straws made of paper; the patents were published in June 22, 1897. Stone was reported to be a kind and generous employer, looking after the moral and social condition of his working girls, and supplying them with a library, music room, meeting room for debates, and a dancing floor in the F Street building. Stone died on May 17, 1899, before his machines were brought into production. The company continued under the leadership of his brothers-in-law L.B. and W.D. Platt. They fought off a patent infringement case in 1902 against William Thomas of the American Straw Company; Thomas was a former employee. In 1906, the first machine was put into production by the Stone Straw Corporation to machine-wind straws, ending the hand-winding process. Later, other kinds of spiral-wound paper and non-paper products were made. Public domain (printed in the  The Home Furnishing Review, 1899) Impact on Other Industries In 1928, electrical engineers began to use spiral-wound tubes in the first mass-produced radios. All were made by the same process invented by Stone. Spiral-wound tubing is now found everywhere—in electric motors, electrical apparatus, electronic devices, electronic components, aerospace, textile, automotive, fuses, batteries, transformers, pyrotechnics, medical packaging, product protection, and packaging applications. Bendable straws, articulated straws, or bendy straws have a concertina-type hinge near the top for bending the straw into a more favorable angle for sipping. Joseph Friedman invented the bendy straw in 1937. Death Stone died at his Washington, D.C. home on May 17, 1899, following a lengthy illness. His remains were buried at Baltimores Green Mount Cemetery. Legacy Stone took out several patents in his life—in addition to the cigarette holders and straws, he invented a fountain pen and an umbrella, and his last invention was for adding color to fine china—but he was also said to be a philanthropist. His factories employed several hundred people, and he was involved with building two blocks of tenement housing in Washington, D.C. to provide good housing for African-American people in the city. He also did very well for himself and his family, building a home named Cliffburn in Washington Heights, where he and his wife held social events that included Sen. Lyman R. Casey, whose wife was the sister of Stones wife. Marvin Stone died before his patented manufacturing process was in production, but the company that Marvin Stone created is still in operation as the Stone Straw Company. Today they produce a variety of types of straws including eco-friendly straws which are bio-degradable and made of paper. Sources Obituary: Marvin C. Stone. The Home Furnishing Review 15, 1899. 323.Death of Marvin C. Stone: Inventor and Manufacturer and Veteran of the Civil War. Evening Star (Washington DC), May 18, 1899.  Catalogue of Oberlin College for the College Year 1868–9. Springfield, Ohio: Republic Steam Printing Company, 1868.  Catalogue of Oberlin College for the College Year 1871–72. Springfield, Ohio: Republic Steam Printing Company, 1871.  Thompson, Derek. The Amazing History and the Strange Invention of the Bendy Straw. The Atlantic, Nov. 22, 2011.  Wilson, Lawrence. Stone, Marvin C., Private. Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1864: With Roster, Portraits and Biographies. New York: The Neale Publishing Company, 1907. 440-441

Suitable Nutritional Care Free Essays

Any sports played or even trainings and exercises may be beneficial to anyone unless done with in good condition. It may lead to development and improvement may it be physically or mentally. On the other hand it may also lead to body exhaustion in particular for those who do it on a regular basis, the athletes. We will write a custom essay sample on Suitable Nutritional Care or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is why suitable nutritional care must be made to ensure that an athlete is competitive all throughout his career.   He must know how to develop good physical condition through proper diet. For every competition, trainings and exercises, an athlete must not fail to remember not to eat before and after the activities. Eating after the game or the post game nutrition is extremely essential. We must choose the right kinds of diet to fasten body recovery. After the activity, it is recommended that we eat rich in carbohydrates foods and beverages which can reload glycogen stores. For the lost fluids, replace it by drinking 2 cups of fluids especially cold water, it is more rapidly absorb by the body than warm waters. Beverages and sport drinks may also be taken in exchange for the fluids lost. Caffeine and alcohol containing fluids must be avoided.   The body fluids lost must be replaced within the period of 2 hours after any athlete’s activity. Replacement of the fluids lost benefits the body by eliminating the general discomfort not only the thirst and to regulate the body. Potassium and sodium were also lost during the activity, to replace it eat more fruits and vegetables for the replacement of potassium and salty foods for the sodium lost. (http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~excs597k/tow/NF92-66.htm) Proper pre-game and post game meals must be observed to ensure anyone’s not only for normal athlete’s health and body development. Pre-game nutrition is needed for the body to prepare the body for a strenuous activity. It provides additional body strength.   Post-game nutrition is more important, significantly helps out for exhausted person to recover and restore all nutrients and fluids lost in the body. It helps to normalize the body as well as the organs. It will be a good method to reestablish the body’s strength and shape and performance in order to perform any regular body activities.       How to cite Suitable Nutritional Care, Essay examples

Biopure Corporation free essay sample

If decided to launch, the ability to price Oxyglobin appropriately is critical to minimize the impact of prospective launch for Hemopure. We believe Oxyglobin should be launched immediately because of realized potentials and benefits. The potentials are: to create a brand image for blood substitutes, to create a competitive advantage by first launch, to have the benefit of â€Å"go to market† with production, sales and distribution, and to create revenues to launch Hemopure. The potential revenues earned from Oxyglobin could be used toward building another facility for manufacturing of Hemopure. The possible obstacles Biopure might encounter with Oxyglobin are: veterinarians may not recommend and/or perform blood transfusions, the ability to produce Oxyglobin when Hemopure is launched, and Biopure has little or no experience with launching of high RD profile products. Oxyglobin can be launched successfully because it is FDA approved and will be first in the market as animal blood substitute. As indicated on the survey, veterinarians may not recommend the use of it because it is an expensive product; however, pet owners showed interest and preferred to be informed of alternative treatments for their pets. Therefore, Oxyglobin should be launched with a starting price of $200 per unit. Biopure should use in-house sales force to distribute Oxyglobin to save approximately 30% of the fees charged by the third party distributors. By launching Oxyglobin, Biopure will create revenues to continue with research and development for Hemopure. When Hemopure is launched, the marketing and distribution issues encountered during Oxyglobin launch can be avoided. Based on the SWOT analysis shown (Table 1: SWOT Analysis for Oxyglobin), we believe Biopure should start selling Oxyglobin immediately. To address Ted Jacobs’ argument regarding the size of the veterinary market and the price sensitivity, which may impact Hemopure’s price when launched; we believe that because of the physical characteristics of these two products (Oxyglobin is targeting veterinary market and Hemopure targeting human market), pricing would not be a major concern for the following reasons. Launching of Oxyglobin will create a competitive advantage because Oxyglobin is unique, first of its kind, first to market, and with no competition. Oxyglobin will achieve prominence as a breakthrough discovery product of the century. It would take the competitors between 2 to 5 years for a new product to get approved and ready for market. Oxyglobin will proliferation Biopure’s reputation, credibility and have a greater impact on an IPO when the company decides to go public. Oxyglobin will generate revenues to boost Biopure development efforts ahead of its competitors in obtaining FDA approval for launching of Hemopure. Biopure will have a better knowledge and understanding of market strategies based on lessons learned from launching of Oxyglobin. In two years, Biopure would also have established a robust distribution network in time for launching of Hemopure. Launching of Oxyglobin will also minimize Biopure overall potential risks; if Oxyglobin fails, then the lessons learned would help to alter strategic decisions for launching of Hemopure (see Table 2: SWOT Analysis for Hemopure). Based on our analysis, we recommend that launching of Oxyglobin at this point instead of waiting for two years or more to launch Oxyglobin with Hemopure represents the best solution to the primary concern facing Biopure at this time. If launched together, Biopure may be able to sell at a high price, and make more profit with per unit cost for both products. The overall profit would be minimal because there would not be as many units of each product to sell since Biopure has to share the same facility to manufacture Oxyglobin and Hemopure. Biopure would also lose out on the potential revenues it will generate to increase production capacity for Hemopure. There would be zero profit for two years which will not bode well with the stockholders. Exhibits STRENGTHS |WEAKNESS | | | | |FDA approval for commercial use as blood substitutes for the |Undesirable side effect such as discoloration of urine and | |veterinary market |gastrointestinal problems | |Competitive advantage, first company to receive approval for blood |Single manufacturing facility for Oxyglobin and Hemopure. |substitute of any type |Small veterinary market for Oxyglobin | |No competition for Oxyglobin |Price sensitivity within the veterinary market | |Possible brand image for â€Å"blood substitute† |No established network of distributors | |Sufficient source material e. . blood of cattle to support the full |Annual capacity of 300,000 units | |production capacity | | |Raw materials cost is $1. 0 per unit | | |OPPORTUNITIES |THREATS | | | | |Establish brand image/position for â€Å"blood substitute† products |Lower the market price for Oxyglobin may result inability to recoup | |Success of Oxyglobin will bring opportunity for Hemopure |development costs | | |Negative impact on the ability to appropriately price Hemopure | | |Competitors to enter the veterinary market with their own product | |Table 1: SWOT Analysis for Oxyglobin | |STRENGTHS |WEAKNESS | | | |Stored at room temperature |Single manufacturing facility for Oxyglobin and Hemopure. | |Disease free |Annual capacity of 150,000 units | |Longer shelf life for up to 2 years |Universal blood substitute | |Immediately 100% efficient at transporting oxygen |Shor t half-life | |Purity, efficacy and convenience |Potential of higher toxicity | |Raw materials cost is $1. 0 per unit | | |OPPORTUNITIES |THREATS | | | | |Experience in marketing of Oxyglobin |FDA rejects Hemopure | |Advantage for brand image for â€Å"blood substitutes† from Oxyglobin |Competition from Baxter’s HemAssist and Northfield’s PolyHeme | |Increase in demand for blood substitute is expected to increase with | | |the aging population | | |Table 2: SWOT Analysis for Hemopure |

The Sun Rising by John Donne and To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell Essay Example For Students

The Sun Rising by John Donne and To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell Essay The main theme of The Sun Rising and To His Coy Mistress is love. Each poem follows different aspects of love. They are both strong aspects of love and both universal themes for they will forever be around as long as people still love each other. These themes are mainly there because of Donnes and Marvells views and personal experiences. Born a Catholic in 1572 John Donne became a lawyer and was well known for sailing as a gentlemen adventurer with Essex and Raleigh. Donne became MP for Brackley in 1601. He secretly married a lady by the name of Ann Moore. We will write a custom essay on The Sun Rising by John Donne and To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Donne was briefly imprisoned because of this secret marriage. Donne wrote most of his love poetry before 1615 and wrote various writings including Songs and Sonnets. In 1615 Donne took holy orders, was ordained as a deacon and became priest at St. Pauls Cathedral. He was then made royal chaplain to James I. I believe that Donnes experience of his secret marriage has helped him to understand love and he shows this in the poem. The main theme of The Sun Rising is to show how much he loves his lover and how wonderful and important she is. The poem contains metaphysical ideas and this helps to emphasise how he feels about his lover. For example the last two lines of the poem read: Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere; this bed thy centre is, these walls, thy sphere. This creates an image of just the poet and his lover in bed, blocked off from anything or anyone else. It is also saying that as far as the poet is concerned the sun only needs to shine on them as he feels he and his lover is the most important thing in the world and no-one else matters. The poem is symmetrical with three regular stanzas each containing a rhyme scheme of ABBACDCDEE. This rhyme scheme repetition helps the poem flow and makes it easier to read. The rhyming couplet at the end helps round off each stanza, emphasising it is the end of that stanza and the start of a new idea. The rhyming couplet at the end of the last stanza helps bring the poem to a delicate close because it leaves you with the image of the poet and his lover and nothing else mattering. Donne changes the tone of the poem depending upon who he is talking to or about. At the beginning of the poem he uses a very colloquial tone to address the sun and he is disrespectful to the sun. For example, the opening line of the poem: Busy old fool, unruly sun, this lets the reader know he is angry at being woken up. The poet talks to the sun as though he is a person; this is because the poet feels very powerful when with his lover and feels authoritative over the sun. He questions the sun on why he is so powerful and why everyone has to run in line with his timing. Donne asks: Must to thy motions lovers seasons run? After this Donne then proceeds to scorn the sun as a time watcher as though the sun has nothing better to do. Donne asks: Saucy pedantic wretch, go chide late schoolboys, and sour prentices. Go tell court-huntsmen that the king will ride, Call country ants to harvest offices; This section creates many images of normal a wide variety of people, ranging from young schoolboys to the king and this helps emphasise the fact that Donne wants the sun to shine anywhere but in his room with his lover. The rhyming couplet that end the first stanza, read: Love all alike, no seasons know, nor clime, Nor hours, days, months which are the rags of time. These two lines help summarise the first stanza, which is that love never changes and does not know seasons or time unlike the sun which changes what time he rises depending on the time of year. Donne is also implying it is the same for all lovers. When Donne is talking about his lover he uses a completely different tone compared to when he is talking to the sun. He is more relaxed and structures the words so that they are said more slowly than before. For example, She is all states, and all princess I, the use of all helps slow down the line and the alliteration of the s sound forces you to say it slowly and with emphasis on the repeated all. In the second stanza Donne tries to take some authority over the sun by stating: Thy beams, so reverend and strong why shouldst thou think? I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink, Donne is saying how easy it would be for him to close his eyes so that he can eclipse the sun. Donne then proceeds to say: But that I would not lose her sight so long: this means that Donne does not want to lose sight of his lover, whose eyes are brighter than the sun. By saying this, Donne is implying that his lover is greater and more beautiful than the sun. The second stanza creates some of the most important exotic imagery in the whole poem. In this stanza Donne is telling the sun that even if he travelled around the whole world, to some of the most beautiful places, the sun would not find anything as beautiful as Donnes lover. .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b , .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .postImageUrl , .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b , .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b:hover , .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b:visited , .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b:active { border:0!important; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b:active , .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub0cb5dc8eee4d765ec0bc2f962ecfb3b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: William Blake Poetry Themes EssayThe stanza reads (line 16) Look, and tomorrow late, tell me whether both the Indias of spice and mine, Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with me. These exaggerated comparisons known as conceits make it very interesting for the reader. In this he is also asking the sun if he finds his lover more beautiful than the treasures of the earth. Donnes tone has calmed down a lot in the second stanza compared to the first stanza. I believe this is because at first he is grumpy because he had been woken up and no one likes being woken up in the morning. Then as the poem goes Donne becomes more expansive about his love and talks more about his lovers beauty. In the third stanza Donnes tone becomes more nonchalant. In this stanza he compliments his lover a lot and the first two lines read: She is all states, and all Princes I, Nothing else is. I believe these are two of important lines in the poem as they generally summarise the whole meaning of the poem. In these two lines Donne is saying that she is all the countries in the world and he is all the princes and that nothing else matters to him apart from her. Mid-way through the stanza Donne says: Thou, sun, art half as happy as we, In that the worlds contracted thus; This is saying that the sun isnt half as happy as Donne and his lover, even though the sun gets to see everything and is a powerful source of life because without the sun we would all die due to starvation from no crops being grown. I t also says that Donnes world has shrunken down and all that he needs is confined in his bedroom, i. e. his lover. Also in that quote, the alliteration of the h sound makes you say the sentence slower and almost sounds like breathlessness shown in awe of their emotions. This gives it more meaning. The very last rhyming couplet of the poem reinforces that all Donne needs is his lover, it says: Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere; This bed thy centre is, these walls, thy sphere. I think this is a great sentence to end on because-as said already- this creates an image of Donne, in bed with his lover, blocked off from the world and confined to his little bedroom where Donne is at his happiest because he is with his lover and he can not be disturbed by anyone, not even the sun. To His Coy Mistress written by Andrew Marvell, also contains the theme of love, but focuses on a different aspect to The sun rising. Born in 1621, Andrew Marvell was brought up in Hull on the River Humber and was born a Protestant. He briefly converted to a Catholic but then changed back. He had many skills and was a writer, a tutor and a traveller. In 1659 he was elected MP for Hull and he was in power for nearly 20 years. To his coy mistress is his most famous poem, and it is cleverly written on the ancient theme of carpe diem -or seize the day- as an attempt to convince a girl to sleep with him. The poem starts off very slowly and at this time Marvell is being patient with the girl. At first he implies that the lady not wanting to sleep with him and wait is a crime. The first two lines read: Had we but world enough, and time, this coyness, lady, were no crime. This is saying that it would not be a crime if they had forever to follow the conventional courtship rituals. The poem is written with rhyming couplets all the way through and the poem does not have any stanzas. The first type of imagery starts in the fifth line where Marvell writes: Thou by the Indian Ganges side, Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of Humber would complain. I would Love you ten years before the flood. This means that he would have loved her before the flood in the bible. He is implying if he could he would have loved her forever. Marvell also writes about how if he had the time he would wait for her to feel ready to have sex, but he does not have that time and wants to take her virginity now. This is the whole point of the poem and is very well expressed. Marvell writes: But at my back, I always hear Times winged chariot hurrying near which shows that he is conscious of the time passing and that he is not getting any closer to having sex with her. The poem uses metaphors very effectively. The eleventh line reads: My vegetable love shall grow. This means that his love is like a vegetable, and it starts of a seed, and that needs looking after and nurturing in order to grow, just like his love. Vegetables need certain things to grow, like water and sunlight, and I think Marvells love is like that because he needs to have sex with her so his love can grow even more. .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf , .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .postImageUrl , .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf , .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf:hover , .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf:visited , .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf:active { border:0!important; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf:active , .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u584e6a0c197e6c4fb4045b11db8d29bf:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How do the Poets Portray the Theme of Love in the Poems you have studied EssayIn the second quarter of the poem Marvell starts to compliment his lover as an attempt to seduce her in to bed. He does this by saying: An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes and thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast; But thirty thousand to the rest: An age, at least, to every part, and the last age should go to her heart. In these lines Marvell is saying how he should, pay more attention to her beauty, and that she deserves nothing less. This is quite ironic because he does not even attempt to do any of this. Marvell rounds this off by writing: For, lady, you deserve this state; Nor would I love at a lower rate. After this comes the couplet: But, at my back, I always hear Times winged chariot hurrying near, which is saying he does not have time to pay that much attention to her as he said he would like to. This is a clever sentence, because it contains personification, imagery and a metaphor. It contains personification because it makes you think time is a person on a chariot, and you get a good image of this in your mind. It is also metaphorical because it compares the speed of time and how people are always running out of time as someone is hurrying him up. After this, Marvell becomes more and more restless and impatient. The tone changes and becomes more urgent. It speeds up, as Marvell is getting angry because she still will not sleep with him. Marvell now starts to talk about passion and how, if she does not have sex soon, she never will. He writes: That long preserved virginity: and your quaint honour turn to dust; And into ashes all my lust This is also hinting he is getting bored of waiting and that his passion for her will die down if he does not have sex with her soon. It is also threatening her with the idea of dying a virgin. He then writes: The graves a fine and private place, but none I think do their embrace. Now, therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew. And while thy willing soul transpires, at every pore with instant fires. This shows that Marvell is desperate and he is saying that when she dies no one will want to have sex with her and she should do it while she is young because no one will want her when she is old. You can now sense that Marvell is extremely frustrated and he uses the word Now frequently. In one final gasp Marvell writes: Let us roll all our strength, and all our sweetness, up into one ball; and tear our pleasures, with rough strife, Through the iron gates of life. He is saying that they should rip their clothes off and make love as soon as possible because it will be like heaven-the iron gates of life. This gives a sexual image of the gates of life. To conclude the poem Marvell writes: Thus, though we can not make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run. This means that they cannot stop time, but they can use time wisely, by making the most of it to make love. These two poems are both about different aspects of love, The sun rising focuses on how wonderful a lover can be, To his coy mistress is all about seizing the day, and consummating his love. To his coy mistress is not really about being in the blissful state of love, unlike The Sun Rising. It is more to do with the physical aspect of making love, and although you get the impression it is about love it never says it in the poem. I think that in To his coy mistress it shows how man can get desperate for love and will resort to saying anything. It does not show the one quality that only human beings have, that no other life form on earth have, that is being able to have feelings to someone and use sex as an expression of peoples love. The sun rising shows this and this is why I feel people can relate to this poem better. The arguments for love in The Sun Rising are mainly about celebrating love and showing that you feel love for someone, and it gets more elaborate and expansive throughout the poem. For example it starts out with ordinary schoolboys and later talks about more exotic ideas like the West Indies, until finally it talks about the universe. To His Coy Mistress examines the time essence of a relationship and how there is not enough time to do everything the way it should be done and is about making the most of your youth. It is a very time conscious poem and expresses how Marvell feels about enjoying life.

News paper style article about strange happenings in an Italian village.

News paper style article about strange happenings in an Italian village. The gate at the entrance to Canneto Di Caronia, Italy has come off its hinges and swings in the wind as cats wander into homes abandoned after a series of mystery fires.Canneto di Caronia has been taken over by an endless flow of scientists, engineers, police and even a few "ghostbusters" searching for clues to the recent spontaneous combustion of everything from microwave ovens to a car. The fires started in mid-January and have claimed home appliances and fuse boxes in about half of the 20 odd houses. After a brief respite last month, the flames have flared up again almost daily even though electricity to the village was cut off long ago."We're working in the dark. We don't have a single lead so far," said Pedro Spinnato, mayor of the trio of Caronia towns. "Every time some new scientist comes to town they arrive thinking the whole thing has been invented or that they're going to solve the mystery in two minutes.Panorama di CaroniaThey've all been wrong."The 39 inhabitants of the t own halfway between Palermo and Messina were evacuated after the regional government declared a state of emergency in Canneto, which occupies a single street nestled between a railway line and the sea. "I've seen an air conditioner burst into flames and burn down in 30 seconds. These are not normal events, but I think we're going to have to start looking for a different kind of help," said Antonio Pezzino, whose house was first hit.From the start, Gabriele Amorth, one of the Catholic Church's top exorcists suspected the devil was at work. "I've seen things like this before," he told Il Messaggero daily. "Demons occupy a house and appear in electrical goods," he said urging the parish priest to take action. The local priest, Don...

Leadership Concepts Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Leadership Concepts - Term Paper Example Leadership is a concept that receives much talk globally, and has generated a sequence of literature particularly in the field of management (Bass and Stogdill, 1990). There is no uniformity or rather a common definition of leadership. The paper concludes with a list of several recommendations aimed at improving the current leadership skills. Leadership Concepts Excellent leaders have always been associated with a continuous process of learning and not as a result of birth. If one has the desire and the will to become a leader, then an effective leader can come out of the person in question. According to Kidder (1995), it takes not only training to become a good team leader, but it also takes education, experience and a long period of self-dedicated time to study leadership as a skill. For the workforce or juniors to be inspired, an effective leadership has to be, has to know, and has to do a number of things. These things are not achieved while resting on a laurel, instead, they are achieved via continued learning and dedicated study so as to improve the current and already acquired skills as well as learn new skills. This paper aims at looking at the key concepts of leadership; the influence of power on the followers, and evaluate the effectiveness of both transformational and transactional leadership in an organization. Many have defined leadership in various ways. According to Goleman (2000), leadership is a process where a person influences an assembly of other persons with the aim of achieving a common goal. Another definition, put forward by Dwight Eisenhower, â€Å"Leadership is the ability to decide what is to be done, and then getting others to do it† (Larson, 1968). Another definition of leadership comes from Cleeton and Mason (1934), that â€Å"Leadership indicates the ability to influence men and secure results through emotional appeals rather than through the exercise of authority.† The key concept as of these definitions is the abil ity of the person to organize their followers and point them towards achieving a common goal. The difference depends on a number of aspects and the nature of the subjects. For instance, a corporative executive may seek opinion democratically from the subordinates and develop a stratagem to arrive at a common goal. Key Concepts of Leadership In many organizations, numerous personnel are promoted to higher ranks as a result of their hard work. According to Goleman (2000), this is the first mistake companies make. As this paper reports, leadership is a quality that is associated with a number of key concepts. i. Humbleness – arrogance always come to practice during insecure moments, acting as a cover-up. There is no employee who will ever want to see a leader who is remote and haranguing. Instead, they would enjoy working with a leader who is humble and treats them with respect. ii. A good leader will always recognize and appreciate their juniors in the wake of a good performanc e. This has a huge impact on the motivation of the employees, which later yields productive results. iii. One should be a servant. Direct all the efforts towards work and ensure that the juniors have no obstacles that hinder their performance and that they are in possession of all the required tools to accomplish their tasks. iv. A good leader should be visionary in that they can help the juniors to see a better future and excite them on how to get to it. v. Confronting – many classify the word confrontation as a dirty word, but still, one can be confronted positively so as to get others on the right track in a rather gentle way. Confrontation can also be useful in identifying and eliminating from the team ineffective members and those with

Current Event Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Current Event - Essay Example But to characterize this crisis as a tribal conflict would be simplistic in the extreme. To the contrary, the Darfur crisis is caused by political, economic and social marginalization that, unless properly addressed by both national policies, will wreak havoc upon the region for some time into the future. To fully understand the root causes of the present crisis, it is necessary to gain a complete appreciation of the Darfur region in its proper geographic and historical contexts. Geographically speaking, the western portion of Sudan known as Darfur is in area about 493,180 square kilometers, about 20% of the nation's total territory of 2,505, 813 square kilometers and is subdivided into three wilayats or states known as Gharb (West) Darfur, Janub (South) Darfur, and Shamal (North) Darfur. These states suffer from the lack of perennial watercourses and as a result, their population is scarce and tends to cluster around permanent wells. Western Darfur is a plain that has the greatest water supply. The drainage from the volcanic massif, the Jabal Marrah, washes onto the plain, allowing for a somewhat larger settled population. This area also has a significant portion of the so-called qoz sands. Here, although livestock raising is the major economic activity, significant crop cultivation also takes place. In contrast, North and South Darfur are semi-deserts that have little water from the wadis or the wells that dry up in the winter. The soils in these areas support vegetation for grazing (Geography). The entire region has few natural resources. About six million people inhabit Darfur, drawn from about eighty different tribes and ethnic groups. From a subsistence perspective, these ethnic groups fit into two categories. First, there are the livestock herders who are for the most part, Arabic speakers. The second group is composed of the farmers, who are bilingual and are considered Africans. The ethnic groups in Darfur include the Fur, Bani Halba, Tanhor, Borty, Habaniya, Zaghawa, Zayadia, Rizaigat, Masaleet, Taaishya, Maidoub, Bargo, Dajs, Bani Hussain, Tama, Mahria, Mohameed, Salamat, Messairia, Eraighat, Etafab, Fallata, Ghimir, Bani Mansour, Ab-Darag, Selaihab, Mima, Turgom, Marareet and other African and Arabian tribes. The language spoken is Arabic and the religion for both Arabs and Africans is Sunni Muslims (Darfur Conflict). Historically, the inception of modern day Darfur came with the Fur dominated Keira dynasty that arose in the seventeenth century. This sultanate, which was established by Sulayman Solongdungo (1650- 1680), managed its expansion throughout the region through a combination of peaceful and coercive incorporation of territorial and tribal groups (Young). In 1787, Sultan Mohammed Tayrab extended the sultanate to the Nile when he conquered the Funj province of Korodofan (Young, 2). The rulers of the Keira dynasty then continued to encourage a pattern of immigration into the region to provide for increased manpower needs. Whole groups were brought into the area through means such as land grants and high sultanate positions (Young, 2). Eventually, this process of assimilation and incorporation settled the basic pattern of ethnic grouping into specific regions that still stand to the present day. The tribal distribution that emerged can be categorized by livelihood and ecology. The sedentary farmers, which include

A Stock Analysis Report On Starhub Economics Essay

A Stock Analysis Report On Starhub Economics Essay The aftermath of the financial crisis in the year 2008 has adversely affected the economic systems in the world; causing liquidity in the credit markets to dry up and eventually resulted in many financial institutions facing insolvency issues. Businesses around the world faced tough times in getting funds as banks became conservative in lending. Financial authorities around the world thus took measures in a bid to control the wide spread of the crisis to reduce the impacts. Singapore was not spared in the crisis too and now sees massive funds, monetary policies and fiscal plans being implemented to ease the situation. In 2009, Singapores GDP decreased by 7.5% from a growth rate of 21.7% in the post-crisis bounce Q2 to 14.2% in Q3. However, there were increasing signs of recovery in Q3, showing an expansion of all sectors in the economy. This reflected a better-than-expected outcome for Singapores GDP growth forecast for 2009 and has been revised upwards to between -2.5% and -2%, from -6% to -4%. The decrease in unemployment rate from 3.1% in 2005 to 2.2% in 2008 as shown in Appendix Table 2.1 also signals that the Singapore economy is recovering from economic slowdown. 1.2 Critical Variables affecting Singapore economy We have identified several critical variables that have significant impact on the Singapore economy. They are namely, the monetary policy, fiscal policy, and external trades. 1.2.1 Monetary Policy One of the key initiative of MAS to ease the economy is adopting monetary policy works through manipulating the exchange rate to influence the economy to achieve low inflation and sustainable growth, taking into consideration the fact that the nature of Singapores economy is strongly correlated because of the economys reliance on exports and the city-state imports virtually all of its needs which will be covered in section 1.2.5 Singapore Export. This resulted in MAS relying on the currency rather than its interest rate as its policy tool. Currently, MAS has abandoned its strong currency strategy in which it has implemented since April 2004 and has maintained its loose monetary policy zero per cent appreciation for the Sing dollar despite a modest recovery from recession since 2002 (CNA, 2009a). The maintaining of its relaxed monetary policy of zero per cent appreciation of the S$SNEER policy band came about on October 10, 2009 (Bloomberg, 2009). This new policy is a complete U-turn of MAS stance when MAS called for a quicker exchange-rate appreciation to damp inflation six months ago. Strengthening the Sing dollar, which has been adopted by MAS since April 2004, is a move to tame the increasing inflation as Singapores annual inflation rate has moved up to 7.5% in a new 26-year record high (CNA, 2009b). However, inflation for the upcoming year is expected to fall with the increase in commodity prices. Although MAS Monetary Policy Statement does not state the reason for the new policy except that the economy is deteriorating and inflation is on the rise rapidly, we analyze that the new policy will help Singapore exporters in the long run, and this will be covered under section 1.2.5 Singapore Export. This will encourage a strong growth recovery in the upcoming year and we foresee that the Singapore economy will be favorable to investment despite the gloomy world economy originating from US recession. This is due to the fact that Singapore does not rely only on US but other trading partners from other nations. 1.2.2 Fiscal Policy On the fiscal front, the government has been responsive to the evolving challenges confronting the Singapore economy and has enforced it full force. Subsequently, with the onset of the global financial crisis and credit crunch, the government announced a $2.3 billion package towards the end of 2008 to loosen credit lines and help local businesses gain access to loans (MAS, 2009). In view of the rapidly deteriorating economic environment, a $20.5 billion (8.2% of GDP) resilience package was delivered to save jobs, to address structural challenges, help viable companies stay afloat and enhance the economys long-term capabilities. For instance, the corporate income tax rate will be reduced from 18% to 17%, starting from YA2010, to boost competitiveness and attract investment to spur job creation. In addition, the government is also pressing ahead with long-term investments in infrastructure, education and healthcare to make Singapore a world-class city. Thus with these policies implemented, growth rate for Singapore economy is expected to rise further in 2010 (IRAS, 2009). 1.2.3 Inflation Inflation occurs when demand exceeds supply, causing prices of goods and services to rise. Over the years, the Singapores inflation rate has been on a rise from 0.5% in 2005 to 6.5% in 2008 which is in line with the consumer price index (CPI1) which also raised from 100.4 in 2005 to 110.3 in 2008 as shown in Appendix Table 1.4 (Government of Singapore, 2009). The rise in inflation is mainly driven by higher food and transport costs in Singapore. This leads to slower growth of the money supply in the economy as well as higher interest rate are charged for borrowing money. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has recently announced that its inflation forecast for 2010 to be between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent as a flood of foreign investment raises asset-bubble worries (JakartaGlobe, 2009). A fall in inflation means that the overall price level of goods will decrease and that consumer purchasing power will raise, simulating consumer spending as well as the economy. 1.2.4 External Factors The outlook of Singapores economy is closely linked to global conditions which is the international trade performance. In other words, positive global economic developments would suggest a healthy economy in Singapore. Singapores consumer price index (CPI1) is driven by external factors such as oil and food commodity prices which is determined by the growth of the world markets. Emerging market economies, especially in Asia, continue to recover strongly. For instance, Indonesia, Singapores fourth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at S$75.1 billion saw a rise of 13 per cent from 2007 (Borhan. H., 2009). In addition, private-sector economists currently expect the US economy to expand by 2.7% in 2010, from a projected -2.4% this year, adding further to the bright outlook of the export markets. 1.3 Forecast for Singapore Economy We expect that the growth in the first and second quarters in 2010 is likely to be moderated, taking in the fact that exportation is expected to remain depressed. However, in the third quarter onwards, we analyse that the economy will shift towards positive as a result of the stimulative policies implemented by the governments of its trading partners. The Singapore economy will thus ride on this wave of economic recovery and progression. In addition to this is the fact that MAS will continue to be vigilant over the progress of the economy and has implemented a series of policies. With the continued implementation of the S$SNEER policy, it will further strengthen Singapores export markets, encouraging an increase in its export rates due to cheaper goods from Singapore. Furthermore, the resilience package which the government delivered will continue to reap positive effects in the economy as more companies are able to tide through this tough period, saving jobs and increasing employment rate in the process. 2. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 2.1 Overview of Singapore Info Communication Industry We have selected info communication industry as the industry suitable for investment. Over the years, the infocomm industry has greatly enhanced Singapores competitiveness by raising productivity and transforming business processes. 2.1.1 Defensive Industry We have indentified infocomm industry as a defensive industry. Telecommunication and internet services are an integral part of business operation and will still be required even in times of recession. The info communication industry plays an important and essential role that supports the Singapore economy to function as a major communication hub. As such, our selected industry will appeal to investors as defensive industries as the values of these stocks are generally maintained during economic downturn. 2.1.2 Market Structures Oligopoly The Singapore infocomm industry was liberalized in April 2000 by IDA to promote competition among existing players and create opportunities for new market entrants. Following that, big companies like StarHub and M1 were awarded licenses to set up telecommunications operations in Singapore (IDA, 2000). This leads to a transition of the market structure from monopoly previously dominated by SingTel to oligopoly. Singapores Info-communication industry is dominated by three major companies namely, SingTel, MobileOne (M1) and StarHub. Currently, SingTel holds the number one position with a 46.4% market share. StarHub came in second with 27.9% market share while MobileOne stands third with 25.7% market share as of 2008 (IR Market Research Corp, 2009). Since a large percentage of the market is taken up by these firms, they tend to cooperate with each other by keeping their prices competitive to take full advantage of the profits in the industry. 2.1.3 Past Sales and Earnings Performance Singapores info communication industry is one of the key contributors to the Singapore economy. From Appendix Chart 2.2, we infer that the overall infocomm industry experienced a stage of constant growth during the period of 2004-2008. The revenue of the industry has been constantly increasing from $34.77 billion in 2004 to $58.10 billion in 2008. This represents an overall growth of 40.2 per cent (IDA, 2008a). Based on the trend given in Appendix Chart 2.2, we infer that the infocomm sector has past the rapid acceleration growth and currently in the stage between mature growth and stablisation market maturity. The public are now familiar with the industry, profit margin continues to grow and begins to stabilise as shown in past three years performance. The Info communication industry in Singapore relies on both the domestic and export markets. Since the domestic market is limited to Singapore, major companies in the sector such as SingTel have expanded its business to overseas. In 2008, the 61% of Singapores infocomm total revenue was contributed by export composition (IDA, 2008c). Based on the annual survey of info communication industry 2008, Singapores infocomm export experienced a constant growth rate of 77.6% from 2004 ($19.86 billion) to 2008 ($35.28 billion) as shown in Appendix Chart 2.4. While Singapores infocomm domestic experienced an overall grow of 53.1% from 2004 ($14.91 billion) to 2008 ($22.82 billion) and strong growth of 25.9% from 2007 ($18.13 billion) to 2008 ($22.82 billion) as shown in Appendix Chart 2.5 (IDA, 2008c). 2.2 Government Initiatives towards Info Communication Industry Singapores government support plays an important role in the growth of the infocomm industry. Over the years, IDA has been continuously working on creating demand and opportunities to enhance competition and sustain growth in the infocomm industry through short and medium term policies, regulations and guidelines. For instance, IDA has been working on programmes such as the Overseas Development Programme to assist local infocomm companies in expanding into international markets through collaborating with major local infocomm companies (IDA, 2009a). Singapore export infocomm has been a key contributor to the overall growth of the industry. In 2008, 61% of Singapores Infocomm total revenue was generated by the export sector (IDA, 2008c). On top of that, the government has recently developed a go-to-market strategy to accelerate market access and expand business opportunities through marketing products and services offered by local infocomm companies to potential foreign customers through overseas tradeshows and seminars (IDA, 2009d). This would help promote the Infocomm industry, create more overseas business opportunities as well as increasing the profit margins of Singapore Infocomm exports in the following financial year. As for domestic of infocomm, the government will be investing S$1.73 billion on the infocomm industry to meet the demand of businesses and citizens through increasing business efficiency (IDA, 2009c). To promote effective competition, IDA has also recently released new advisory guidelines which obligates major mobile operators such as SingTel, StarHub and M1 to cease the fixed early termination charges on customers who sign on mobile contracts for no longer than three months and terminate before the end of their contract with effect on 1 March 2010. This would mean higher competition between firms in the upcoming year which would aid in the growth of the industry (IDA, 2009e). 2.3 Porters Competitive Forces Model 2.3.1 Rivalry among Existing Firms The rising demand for mobile broadband services has attributed to the stronger competition between the three major operators SingTel, StarHub and MobileOne. Competitors are now providing higher quality and value-added services at more attractive prices. For instance, SingTel is offering the all-in-one Mio Home packages that include broadband Internet access, home fixed line and Mio TV at an attractive price. In addition, SingTel and M1 are also offering rewards such as monthly bill rebates to promote loyalty from existing subscribers and new phone set at attractive prices to attract new customers. Besides that, they are also offering full mobile number portability services to allow subscribers to retain their existing phone number even if they switch to another service provider. As such, the competition between these companies would further drive the infocomm industry. 2.3.2 Bargaining Power of Customers Since Singapore Infocomm sector are dominated by SingTel, StarHub and M1, customers will have to accept the service plans offered by these companies. As such, customers in the telecommunication industry have little bargaining power since the price of products and services are mainly determined by these companies and. For example, customers who wish to buy an iphone would need to subscribe to 3G data plans and pay a fixed price plan set by the mobile provider. Thus, even if there is a price cut, it is most likely caused by competition within the industry rather than customers bargaining power (MSN, 2009). As such, major infocomm companies have the ability to influence the market price of their products and services while keeping prices competitive to take full advantage of the profit margin thus making the industry attractive to invest. 2.3.3 Bargaining Power of Supplier The suppliers of the major infocomm companies are recognised as having strong bargaining power over the industry. For instance, the suppliers of StarHubs Max Cable TV are mainly contents providers such as Cartoon Network, HBO, etc and handsets suppliers such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, etc. With the recent acquisition of the distribution rights of Apple iPhone, Apple Inc would become the new supplier of StarHub. These suppliers have high power in exercising the price and quality of the product. For example, in order to broadcast a particular channel on Max Cable TV, StarHub would need to pay a price set by the channel providers. 2.3.4 Threat of New Entrants The ownership of a telecom license can represent a huge barrier to entry. Singapore infocomm industry of was liberalized in April 2000 by the government with the objective to increased competition among existing players and to create opportunities for new market entrants. However, since most citizens already own at least one mobile phone and tied to their service plans, it would be difficult for new entrant to penetrate into the market as they would need to come out with a large sum of money for set up as well as to compete with existing competitors in price, quality and services. As such, the threat of new entrant to major players such as SingTel and StarHub is low (Point-Topic, 2009). 2.3.5 Threat of Substitute Products or Services Our team infer that there are currently no close substitutes in other industry since the Singapore infocomm industry is constantly keeping up with new technology and infrastructure it would be hard for other industries to come out with substitute products or services. As such, the threat of substitute products or services to the major infocomm companies is also minimal. 2.4 Forecast for Info Communication Industry It is expected that the info communication industry will maintain its performance in this economic slowdown. The defensive industry as a whole remains stable and continues to grow even at times of economic slowdown which is an appealing choice for investor. Thus we have grounds to believe that revenue for infocomm industry will sustain and that the industry will achieve a stronger grow to be in line or even go beyond the forecasted growth of the general economy for 2010 (IDA, 2008a). 3. COMPANY ANALYSIS REFERENCES Bloomberg. (2009). Singapore, in recession, ends currency gain policy (update2). Retrieved December 19, 2009, from http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087sid=a0P7GXmf4hEsrefer=home Borhan. H . (2009). Islands of optimism. Retrieved December 20, 2009 from http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/wps/portal/WCMPreview?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/My+Portal/Main/Past+Events/Islands+of+optimism Business Wire. (2009, August 12). Research and markets: Singapore key statistics, telecom market and regulatory overviews. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from LexisNexis Academic database. BuySingapore. (n.d.). Singapores infocomm technology (ict) industry. 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Annual survey on infocomm industry for 2008, (p. 7). Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.ida.gov.sg/doc/Publications/Publications_Level2/20061205092557/ASInfocommIndustry08.pdf IDA. (2008b). Performance of the infocomm industry. Annual survey on infocomm industry for 2008, (p. 8). Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.ida.gov.sg/doc/Publications/Publications_Level2/20061205092557/ASInfocommIndustry08.pdf IDA. (2008c). Performance of the infocomm industry. Annual survey on infocomm industry for 2008, (p. 9). Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.ida.gov.sg/doc/Publications/Publications_Level2/20061205092557/ASInfocommIndustry08.pdf IDA. (2009a). Overview. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.ida.gov.sg/Infocomm%20Industry/20060406160952.aspx IDA. (2009b). Internationalisation. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.ida.gov.sg/Infocomm%20Industry/20060418122545.aspx IDA. (2009c). Singapore government continues to invest in infocomm. 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Singapore broadband overview. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://point-topic.com/content/operatorSource/profiles2/singapore-broadband-overview.htm Reuters. (2009a). Update 1-singapore lifts inflation view, sees modest 2010 growth. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/markets/100202930-1-update-1-singapore-lifts-inflation-view%252C.html Reuters. (2009b). Singapore lifts inflation view, sees modest 2010 growth. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/business/43905-singapore-lifts-inflation-view-sees-modest-2010-growth Reuters. (2009c). Singapore forecasts 2010 GDP to rise 3 to 5 per cent. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20091119-180874.html StarHub. (2009). Home hubbing pack lite at $41.73 per month. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from http://www.starhub.com/promotions/hubbing/97569.html