Zen Description Essays - Nondualism, Yogacara, Buddha-nature

Zen Description What is "Zen" It is a conservative view of some, that the world is a very strange place. Once upon a time, four men and a woman all wished they could meet the perfect person. Each in his or her own way received a message to be at a certain bar at a time and at the third stool from the left, the perfect person would be sitting. The woman got there early, and sat down in the fourth seat to wait. As the time grew closer, she decided it wouldn't hurt to "freshen up" and popped into the bathroom. Just as the door to the bath room closed, the first man a Priest, came in. He looked wildly around the room for a second, and then gazed toward the third seat. Seeing no one there, a look of relief crossed his face. "Thank you, Lord! I fell to a temptation to sin. And you allowed me to see the error of my ways." he muttered. Just as the priest was leaving, the second man a Buddhist, came in. He looked serenely around the room for a moment, the then gazed upon the third seat. Seeing no one there, a look of amazement crossed his face. "Thank you, Lord! I failed to realize the nature of things. And you allowed to see the error of my ways," he muttered. Just as the Buddhist was leaving, the third man a Zen Poet, came in. He slowly look around the room, and the gazed toward the third seat. Seeing no one there, he sighed. And went to sit at the third seat of the bar. Just after the Poet had sat down, the fourth man stumbled in. He looked right at the third seat. Seeing the poet, a look of horror crossed his face. "I'm not gay! I'm not gay! he muttered as he stumbled back out the door. Just as the fourth man left, the woman returned. Seeing the poet, she wondered, "This is the perfect guy?" Uncertain, she sat down at her seat and began to talk to him. The question of "What is Zen?" is the best answer to itself. The common sense point of view that it's a sect of Buddhism based upon the Buddha's mythic "Flower Sutra" is not wrong. Many point toward that exchange as the start of what is Zen. A more scientific view might be to consider Zen as a societal extension of Bodhidharma's four assertions. This is not incorrect either. At this moment, I think the best view is to consider Zen as the skillful means of skillful means. Those who have come to intuitively understand the Buddha's enlightenment use it. Seeing directly into their answer, they see the source of their self-nature, and seek to share the vision with anyone who requests it. We can talk of the various schools and their ways of demonstrating the fundamental truth of reality. But such talk is really only the construction of a gate for those of an intellectual bent. The essence of Zen is nothing more or less than directly perceiving the world around us without the blinders of our own thoughts and opinions. Reach into that moment of understanding, and all of Zen flows forth. Pause for a moment to believe it, and all the oceans of the world turn into deserts. The western mind likes metaphors as points. Recently, I remembered one that was told to me long ago. I will relate it, in hopes that it might shed some light upon this serious issue. The essence of Zen is much like the nature of any computer system. When you get right down to it, "It's all zeros and ones!" See the Zeroes and ones as you like. Try to understand where the software ends, and the hardware begins. Try to follow the chain of history of ideas. Look into the various events, which led to the reception of this essay. All these people, things and events are a useful, if you want to understand the device known as a computer. All their events, people and things are useless, if you don't care about it. Either way, it all comes down to a pattern of zeros and ones interacting with other patterns of zeroes and ones. To see into the essence of the problem of Zen, just ask ten people what computer's are and how they work. Most people will admit, they don't know. A few will offer very different distortions of it,

Fatty Liver Essay

Fatty Liver Essay Fatty Liver Essay Cam Nguyen MCB181R Vince Guerriero Fatty Liver Fatty liver is the condition when there is excessively extra amount of fat in liver, over five percent of liver weigh. Fatty liver has become a new issue, as up to twenty percent of Americans have the condition (â€Å"When the Liver Gets Fatty†), and it is one of the most common factor for the development of liver dysfunctional diseases. Long term fatty liver can process into liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fatty liver is also found to correlate to insulin resistance (Kimura et la.), metabolic diseases like types II diabetes (Kimura et la.), and hypertension (Sung, Ryan, and Wilson). There are two type of fatty liver, alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcohol fatty liver. Alcoholic fatty liver, like the name is caused by the alcohol consumption, while non-alcohol fatty liver can be caused by obesity, and fructose consumption. Alcoholism accounts for 2.5 million deaths annually worldwide. It is ranked as the leading risk factor for mortality for ages 15-59 in males, and t he eighth leading risk factor for mortality for all ages in both sexes (Jaurigue and Cappell). Alcohol is also known for being the most common cause of liver diseases. About ninety percent of alcoholics will develop fatty liver (Jaurigue and Cappell). The reason behind it is the metabolic process of ethanol in alcohol. Body metabolizes ethanol in liver. Ethanol (CH3CH2OH), with the help of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) enzyme, will be turn into Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), then the Acetadehyde will be broken down into Acetate (CH3COO-), with the assistance of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme. Liver mitochondria than can convert acetate into acetyl CoA, an enzyme that activates activates short-chain fatty acids synthesis. Also, the action of ADH followed by ALDH results in the production of reduced NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide). The high NADH/NAD+ concentration favours fatty acid synthesis and the formation of triglycerides in the liver. Fatty liver can be reversible by reduce the alcohol consumption. The amount of alcohol intake recommended by Department of Health for man is 3-4 units of alcohol per day, and for women is 2-3 units per day (a unit is equal to 10ml of pure alcohol). The Royal College of Physicians also suggests to have 2-3 days of alcohol –free days, every week, to allow the liver to recover. Obesity is defined in term of Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated by weight in kilogram over height in meters. A BMI of over 30 is considered as obese. Obesity is one of the biggest health issues today. 1.1 billion adults and ten percent of children are now classified as obese worldwide (Haslam and James). It is related to many other health problems like diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, and even fatty liver. NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) III research indicates thirty percent of obese men and forty percent of obese women have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (Clack, Frederick, and Anna). Obesity can lead to fatty liver condition, as obese people have an excessive amount of extra fat, more than thirty percent of body mass in women, and more than twenty five percent in men. This extra fat can then build up around the internal the organs like liver. In addition, obesity is related to insulin resistance, which can lead circulating levels of free fatty acids to raise. This then will result in increasing fat synthesis in liver. Other factor is obese people also tend to consume more sugar, or more specific, fructose, which is a type of carbon hydrate. Fructose can be found naturally in fruit and vegetables. However, it is mostly consummed through processed products, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and especially soft drinks. In fact, fructose represents up to 10 percent of the total energy intake in US and many European countries (Tappy, and Le), as it is used in most of processed products nowadays. Fructose can be metabolized by liver only, which also results in

Nutrition & ethics in criminal justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Nutrition & ethics in criminal justice - Essay Example What this means is that the areas have toxic and radioactive wastes which were left looming in after wars. When the soldiers are exposed to this kind of toxic wastes, then it is obvious that the health system of the soldiers is affected by them and this causes them to have little endurance. The toxins, when inhaled, are circulated throughout the body by blood and since the blood will be deprived of some oxygen, it is obvious that the toxins will cause the body to lose energy which it gets from the oxygenated blood (Jeremy 67). In addition to the toxic waste residues, the sand particles are also a possible cause for the weakness and fatigue among the soldiers. This is because once they inhale the sand particles, there is a likelihood that they will have respiratory problems, such as congestion. The congestion of the respiratory system causes them to stress their lungs since the body will still need the same amount of oxygen filled blood that it normally gets when breathing. Utilitarianism is a forward-looking or consequentialist theory that focuses on the outcomes or results of actions. The idea of utilitarianism stems from the claim that humans’ greatest and most natural achievement is the maximization of happiness. However, this theory does not go without fault. I has some loose ends that accommodate for its criticism. The outcomes of the utilitarian framework have to be good so that they can outweigh the negative which is punishment. For the purpose of justifying punishment, the utilitarians focus on three outcomes which are deterrence, incapacitation, and correction. Deterrence refers to the refrain from doing things simply because the consequences of doing that thing are quite unpleasant. According

Primary Analysis of The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X Research Paper - 1

Primary Analysis of The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X - Research Paper Example Nation of Islam was an organization which tried to establish a separate state for African American Muslims and therefore it opposed many of the policies of the civil rights movement1. The intentions of civil rights movement were not for breaking the country, but for regaining the civil rights of the oppressed African American community. Malcolm was attracted by the ideologies of the leaders of civil right movement and he separated himself from Nation of Islam, before delivering his famous speech "The Ballot or the Bullet". Even though he supported Black Nationalism in principle, he never advocated the argument for a separate state for Muslim African American people. He always believed that it is better to fight for justice without sacrificing the interests of America as a country. In other words, he never advocated the efforts to destabilize America even though his community struggled to achieve equality in American social life. At the same time many people believe that Malcolm was actually trying to prepare black community for a bloody war with the dominant white community with the help of this speech. In their opinion, even though he appeared to be distanced himself from the constraints of religion, his actual intentions were mysterious. He tried to ridicule the activities of some of the former black and white Christian leaders like Martin Luther King, Clayton Powell, and Reverend Galamison, Billy Graham etc. Moreover, he asked his community to use their voting rights judiciously and take weapons for self-defense purpose. This paper analyses whether the dimensions of the public speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" made by Malcolm X, were culturally/communally motivated or socially motivated. â€Å"Although Im still a Muslim, Im not here tonight to discuss my religion. Im not here to try and change your religion† (Malcolm). Malcolm has realised the importance of achieving unity among African

Compare and contrast the relative competitiveness of small firms and Essay

Compare and contrast the relative competitiveness of small firms and large firms - Essay Example However, there are numerous definitions for the firms among various economists; and researchers are still on their efforts to study more on the competitive factors between large firms and small firms. Small firms Small scale firms are privately owned and operated business undertakings, classified on their characteristics like small number of employees and lower turnover. They usually occupy only a tiny segment of the market place where they are operating. For the purpose of simplifying the accounting requirements, section 382 and 465 of the Companies Act 2006 defined the Small and Medium sized firms on the basis of the amount of business carried out by the company. They define, â€Å"a small company is one that has a turnover of not more than ?6.5 million, a balance sheet total of not more than ?3.26 million and not more than 50 employees† (Small and medium sized enterprises, 2011). Large firms Large firm is often considered as an economic cluster of large profit-making corpor ations who have the ability to directly influence the social and political policy. Large firms are usually identified on the basis of national ranking rather than their actual size. They have many advantages in the market which the small firms do not possess, such as the flexible pricing policies. They are capable of changing the price at frequent intervals. Rebecca Hellerstein and Pinelopi Goberg (cited by Derby, 2011) write that large firms are changing their products’ prices more frequently than the small firms do, and by smaller amounts. Competitiveness Competitiveness is a word having numerous definitions. Here we will take the business aspect of competitiveness into account. Chikan (2006, p.46) gives one of the most acceptable definitions and it says, â€Å"business competitiveness is a competence of the company that allows the company to provide products and services for customers within the standards of social responsibilities, that (i) are preferred to the products and services of other competitors and (ii) provide profit for the company† (ed. Reine, 2009, p. 179). Competitiveness is considered to be a multi-dimensional perception. This term has a three diverse but interconnected stages; firm, industry, and country level. And we are concentrating on the firm level competitiveness. As both firms are taken into consideration, growth is an important point and is a performance measure that gives and additional vision of the strength and competitiveness of the firms. Firms can benefit in many ways from the competitiveness, if exploited efficiently, which includes higher efficiency in the market, improved power, capacity to withstand the changes of environment, higher profits, and enlarged prestige for the firm. The competitiveness exists not only depending on the associationalism of firms but also determined by the alliance between the local businesses and governments. Not many other economic factors have gained attention as ‘competitiv eness’ has done. Competitiveness is used often to deal with any aspect regarding the market performance. The most important factors affecting the competitiveness are, product quality, capability towards innovation, being able to adjust easily according to customers’ need. Price competitiveness As we talk about the price competitiveness between the small and large firms, the most disputed issue that comes to the surface is predatory pricing, a practice implemented by the large business firms, which offers massive discounts to the consumers. This

Sustainable tourism strategic plan

Sustainable tourism strategic plan Executive Summary Tourism is the main generator of revenue in the Hawaiian economy. Therefore the state markets itself primarily as a tourist destination. In keeping with this image the Hawaii Tourism Association (HTA) has developed the Hawaiis Tourism Strategic Plan: 2005-2015. This is a comprehensive plan which is inclusive of and addresses the needs and responsibilities of all stakeholders in Hawaiis tourism product. The purpose of this essay is to conduct an analysis into the sustainability of Hawaiis tourism product by evaluating their policies, principles and sustainability practices as outlined in the plan. A SWOT analysis will be presented identifying Hawaiis strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as it pertains to their tourism product. The product will also be assessed based on the criteria which embody the four pillars of sustainable tourism which are economic, ecological, cultural and local sustainability. The principles governing Agenda 21 will also be used as a guideline to evaluate Hawaiis tourism product. Recommendations will then be made based on the limitations of the product that were identified and a conclusion based on the results of the analysis. Hawaii, the 50th state of the Unites States of America is an archipelago which comprises of eight major islands known as Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau and Kaho olawe. This group of volcanic islands is located in the Northern Pacific Ocean at approximately 2,400 miles West South West of San Francisco (City-Data.com, 2010). The islands tropical climate coupled with its beautiful scenery which comprises of lush rainforest, exquisite beaches and sensational mountain ranges has made it a very attractive destination for tourist. In addition, its multicultural society has resulted in a rich cultural diversity which also adds to the distinctiveness of the archipelago. As a result, the main revenue generator is tourism which contributes the most jobs, income and growth to the Hawaiian economy. According to the Department of Business, Economics, Development and Tourism, (2009) the number of stay over tourist for 2009 was 6, 514,382 which contributed to approximately 20% of Hawaiis GDP. This is a clear indication as to how important tourism is to the Hawaiian economy. The importance of sustainable tourism in the current global climate cannot be underscored. According to the World Tourism Organization (2004), any type of tourism destinations should develop sustainable tourism guidelines and policies in order to strike a balance between the socio-cultural, economic and environmental aspects of tourism so that environmental resources are efficiently utilized, the unique aspects of the culture are preserved and respected, and all stakeholders in the economy benefit. Therefore, it is important that Hawaiis Strategic plan for tourism incorporates all of these aspects in order to be effective. The vision that Hawaii formulated for its tourism product by the year 2015 is as follows: Honor Hawaiis people and heritage; value and perpetuate Hawaiis natural and cultural resources; engender mutual respect among all stakeholders; support a vital and sustainable economy and provide a unique, memorable, enriching visitor experience. (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2005) Although this vision contains the key aspects of sustainable tourism development, it is important to consider in detail whether the policies, practices and principles which are included in the strategic plan are reflective of their vision. It is imperative that even before a strategic plan is formulated that a SWOT analysis is done in order to identify the internal strengths and weaknesses of product and the external opportunities that the product is exposed to. The following SWOT analysis is a more detailed version of the one that was prepared by the Hawaii Tourism Authority[1]. As identified by the tourism strategic plan, Hawaiis strengths as a tourism product are: Hawaii is branded internationally as a prestigious exotic vacation spot. The islands experience consistent warm climate throughout the year with an average variance of about 4oC. Native Hawaiians have a unique Polynesian Culture and History. The idea of a tropical volcanic island covered in diverse flora and fauna adds allure and appeal to the islands as a tourist destination. Most visitors claim to be satisfied with their time spent in Hawaii. The islands are blest with rich volcanic soil that supports the islands flora, fauna and lush vegetation. Natives are very friendly and welcoming which makes visitors feel more appreciated. Top class resorts provide varied quality accommodations. Airport and local security is excellent which propagates a feeling of safety. Hawaii offers a variety of activities and attractions to keep guests occupied, from surfing in the summer to skiing in winter. Hawaii is geographically isolated in the Pacific Ocean therefore there are no other islands in the world like it. The plan also highlights the following as weaknesses of Hawaii as a tourism product: Hawaiis geographic isolation makes it an expensive travel destination. There are inadequate public and private infrastructures such as restrooms and roads which makes visitor stay more uncomfortable. Visitors to Hawaii spend little time interacting with native residents especial in the rural areas Hawaii offers the same types of activities it has for the past decade which has become monotonous for tourists and declined repeat visitors. Inaccurate pre- and post-arrival Information on accommodation and Hawaiian culture have been a source of complaint and an expression of visitors dissatisfaction. There is inadequate Stakeholder Consensus in the tourism industry currently and as such there is much dissatisfaction amongst key stakeholders especially amongst the native communities. Businesses usually run slowly in Hawaii which increases visitor frustration for prompt service. Insufficient pre-visit information has often resulted in a mismatch between visitor expectation and product delivery. Hawaii has a very volatile inter-island transportation services. Taxis and tours are expensive and drivers often have very limited knowledge of the islands. In addition, many taxi and tour vehicles are not properly maintained. All together, this situation delivers poor service to visitors. Airlift to Hawaii can become problematic. Apart from being expensive, most airlines have limited their flights to or pulled out of the islands totally, as a result of financial strain placed on the industry by increased fuel costs and the need for added security features since the 911 incident in New York. Hawaiis public facilities such as its park benches, public restrooms, etc are poorly maintained, which provides an unsightly attraction and uncomfortable feeling to tourists. Tourists are often unaware of and have little access to many new activities available to them owing to communication and transportation limitations. There is a shortage of professional (Certified) guides on Hawaii which results in poor service delivery to touring tourists and adds to the dissatisfaction visitors feel when in Hawaii. Hawaiis strategic plan identifies the following as opportunities for Hawaii as a tourism product: Hawaii can further develop itself as a tourism product in terms of sustainable tourism. The increasing patronage of cruise lines promises an opportunity for future enhancement in that industry. Hawaiis native Polynesian culture is unique to Hawaii and it offers a chance to experience an alternative culture to tourists. Geographic market segmentation information affords Hawaii the chance to better customize their marketing efforts to meet the needs of their international customers. As such Hawaii can market themselves in different regions of the world, highlighting the vacation needs of these regions that it can fulfill. Health, sports and eco tourism are only a few of the recent tourism markets that are evolving. Hawaii has already hosted the PGA tour and hopes to capitalize on these other new markets that are showing up. Additional ferry services can certainly improve Hawaiis inter island transportation system, allowing more efficient and cheaper transportation between islands, thus reducing the total cost of the Hawaii vacation experience. A sustainable tourism approach will allow Hawaii to more prudently utilize and protect its resources thereby maximizing economic benefits from them whilst conserving them for future use. Improving public and private infrastructure affords Hawaii to provide a more comfortable, sanitary and attractive destination to visiting tourists thereby reducing visitor dissatisfaction. Sustainable tourism also allows Hawaii to impart ownership of their tourism product to all stakeholders. Such inclusion leads to greater satisfaction and purpose on behalf of the stakeholders which in turn maintains morale and motivation to deliver a good product. Since Hawaii will be engaging culture tourism, it means that its culture must be preserved and perpetuated for future display. As a consequence, Hawaiian native Polynesian culture will be conserved over the distant future. Hawaii recognizes the following as threats to their tourism product: Most public and private infrastructure in Hawaii is quite old and as such they are becoming unattractive and possibly unsafe for use. 43% of native Hawaiians feel that tourism is negatively impacting on Hawaii and as such there is a disturbing level of anti tourism mentality in Hawaii. As tourism have developed in Hawaii so has crime and drug use, if this trend is to persist security will soon become a deterrent for visitors. Disruptive world events such as, 911 terrorist attacks, world financial crisis, H1N1 virus, etc , continue to placed added financial strain and fear on travellers and airlines. As such, travel is compromised and less persons car willing to or can afford a Hawaiian vacation. Limited state funding is quickly becoming an issue because sustainable tourism is a costly framework to operate and Hawaiis current funding is insufficient to fully engage the concept. Hawaii is now receiving increased global competition from other destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Seychelles, Caribbean, etc as alternative vacation hot spot offering a wide range of services and unique cultural experiences. Increased Homeland Security measures from the U.S makes travel to Hawaii frustrating and as such visitors are often repulsed by the extensive searches and long lines that result, from the enforcement of these measures. The volatility of the airlines continues to remain a problem for the foreseeable future for Hawaii. With over 6 million visitors expected annually and even a greater number in the future, airlift to Hawaii is simply insufficient. However, Hawaii has no control over the added expenditure constraints faced by the airlines that are faced with no choice but to increase airfares or decrease flight numbers. At present there is a level of internal disagreement and complacency as it pertains to tourism management. Some feel that native Hawaiian culture and identity is being threatened along with their environment. Others feel that the Hawaii brand is strong enough to sustain Hawaiian life and there is no need to undertake such immense spending. If these types of attitudes continue to prevail, Hawaii as a tourism product will soon be in trouble. Many natives feel that Hawaii has been so focused on tourism they have not realized that Hawaiians themselves have become a lot like the tourists that visit, in terms of their dress, speech, lifestyle, foods, etc. As such, some feel that Hawaiians are losing their identity and sometimes its difficult to tell who the tourist is from who the native is. The current cost of the Hawaiian experience is too expensive. It is the number one deterrent for potential visitors. Unfortunately, with the volatility of the airline industry that cost is more than likely to get even higher. The first aspect of sustainability that will be looked at is economic sustainability. According to Mckercher (2003), economic sustainability should be beneficial to all stakeholders involved both presently and in the future. Principle 3 of Agenda 21 declares that the right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of future generations. Hawaii incorporates many economically sustainable practices in its tourism product which are highlighted in the strategic plan. The diversity of the product in order to provide a wide variety of activities for the tourist to enjoy is addressed. They have ensured that the product is diverse enough to cater to the family, a couple on a romantic getaway and even extreme sports fanatics. With this diversity comes a wide range of activities for the tourist to engage in while they are vacationing in Hawaii. Some of the activities include; hiking, golfing, scuba diving, horseback riding, spa massages etc ( Hawaii Activities, 2010). However, because Hawaiis image of being a leisure destination lacks appeal to the business tourist this limitation affects sustainability of their product since it limits the types and amounts of visitors that come to their shores. Another important aspect that is covered in the strategic plan which is of extreme importance to the economic sustainability is access to the destination. Hawaii has encountered some major challenges regarding access to its product. Maintaining an adequate amount of airlift to the islands has become an issue as a result of the airline industrys increase in volatility. Also, their airport and port facilities are aging and unable to adequately cater to the needs of a growing industry. The facilities at the airport have negatively impacted the total visitor experience coupled with the fact that the immigration process is very burdensome (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority it takes approximately 71 minutes per passenger to be processed through customs and immigration. Highways, roads and ground transportation systems are also problematic on the island. Maintenance of the roads and highways as well as the high levels of congestion is very inconvenie nt to the local populations as well as visitors (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). Additionally, they have recognized the importance of communication and outreach, marketing, research and planning and further product development and have incorporated it in their plan. With regards to communication and outreach, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is cognizant of the fact that the attitudes of all the stakeholders involved in the development and maintenance of their product is critical if success is to be achieved. They have identified the stakeholders as residents, government agencies, visitors and private businesses. As a result they have put measures in place to raise awareness, increase knowledge, participation, collaboration and interactions among all the stakeholders. For example, one of their policies is to conduct outreach programs and provide forums in order for all stakeholders to exchange ideas, concerns and queries regarding their tourism product (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). Visitor input in this regard is limited since these forums and programs do not inc lude visitors. In relation to marketing, the focus is on increased visitor spending instead of increased visitor arrivals because they have recognized that accommodation capacity is limited. They have segmented their marketing efforts to cater to the differences in the conditions and needs of specific geographic markets such as Europe, Latin America, Japan, Asia etc. However, this cannot be done in isolation and must be coordinated with their product development programs. Some of the areas that have been recognized as being important to visitors are a clean environment, intriguing culture and history, a wide variety of accommodations and, safety and security. In 2009, their Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Report revealed that more than half of their visitors thought that the Hawaiian experience was excellent and would revisit the destination (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2009). In spite of this, visitors are still requesting new and unique experiences to be added to the tourism product. This aspect is addressed by their research and planning initiative in their strategic plan and should address the development and improvement of their tourism product through research and proper planning initiatives. This is important in light of the fact that tourism is not a stagnant industry and in order to keep up with the trends and events that affect the industry proper research and planning must be done. Also, because of the growing concerns of visitors about their safety and security, this aspect is also addressed. This is an important aspect of economic sustainability because a negative perception held about visitors safety and security in any destination could adversely affect visitor arrivals and expenditures. The second pillar that will be looked at is ecological sustainability. According to Mckercher, (2003) ecological sustainability should promote developmental practices which are compatible with the maintenance of essential ecological processes, biological diversity and biological resources. Ecological sustainability is a very important aspect of sustainable development and must be an essential part of any plan aimed at achieving sustainable development (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, 1992) Tourism puts a lot of strain on the natural resources of the state because of the continuous demand by tourist for recreation and tourism-related activities. Hawaii State Parks Survey, (2007) showed that approximately 10.1 million people visit the state parks within a particular year. As a result sustainable practices that pertain to their natural resources have become a necessity. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has placed a lot of emphasis on the upkeep and restoration of t he national parks, beaches, trails waterfalls etc. They have embarked on initiatives to find methods of maintaining, repairing and improving their natural resources. Some of the initiatives are; charging entry and user fees and the provision of security on their sites in order to regulate the activities of tourist (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2005). Another very important aspect of ecological sustainability is the identification and promotion of acceptable and responsible tourist behaviors. This is important in order that visitors enjoy the natural resources of the destination without destroying them. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has embarked on initiatives geared at raising awareness regarding the responsible and acceptable utilization of the Hawaiis natural resources. This initiative is not only targeted at the tourist but at all stakeholders involved. Some of the areas of focus are educating all stakeholders about water and energy conservation practices, recycling and safety conditions of hiking trails and beaches. This education takes the form of in-room videos, brochures, website postings and warning signage (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2005). It is also imperative that appropriate legislation be put in place so that the sustainability of the ecology/natural environment can be maintained in a realistic fashion. Environmental protection laws such as article XI, section 9 of the Constitution of the state of Hawaii allows all Hawaiian the right to a healthy environment and gives everyone the authority to legally persecute another party for violating this right (Hawaii Legislative Reference Beureau, 1978). The third pillar that will be looked at is cultural sustainability. According to Mckercher (2003) cultural sustainability should increase the control that people have over their lives, coincide with the values and culture of the communities affected and strengthen the identity of the community. Agenda 21, Principle 22 further purports that the culture and identity of the people should be recognized and supported in order to achieve sustainable development (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development). Hawaiis uniqueness is built on the great amount of value that is placed on the native culture. According to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, (2004) many native Hawaiians believe that their cultural integrity is being compromised as a result of increase in the number of tourist that visit the islands. As a result, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has identified ways of honoring and sustaining Hawaiian culture and as such has included it in their strategic plan . As with any operation, there are challenges to be faced. An important aspect of cultural sustainability that has been raised is; the gap between the tourism industry and the Hawaiian natives. The Hawaiian culture is used to appeal to visitors, however natives feel isolated because they are not a part of the process and in turn, they feel threatened. Agenda 21 (UN, 1992) views this situation as a weakness based on its view that partnerships must be developed with all stakeholders with an aim of constructing collective responsibility for planning, decision-making, solutions development, program execution and appraisal. In short, authority over sustainable tourism must be shared with the native stakeholders. Another issue mentioned in their plan was the way in which hawaiian culture is being marketed to the outside world. The Hawaiian culture, is sometimes, merged with cultures of other islands, thus, tainting its authenticity. Some also feel that there is a need for the Hawaiian culture to be highly appreciated, and most of all, preserved. According to McKercher, (2003), cultural sustainability should aim to ensure the protection of native cultures and traditional knowledge. Hawaiis musicians, craftsmen, artists etc. are those who keep the Hawaiian culture alive, as such they should be incorporated as key stakeholders in the tourism development and decision making process. One of the aspects that were recognized for action was that they needed to foster closer relationships between the community and the tourist in order to promote interaction and shared understanding among the groups. The Hawaii Tourism Authority, in their strategic plan, identified some objectives, which, if achieved should bring favorable sustainable results. Initially, there would be a bridging of the gap among the natives and the tourism industry through direct collaborating and engaging efforts between the two parties. Another stated objective would be to foster the Hawaiian culture by incorporating all aspects of it to gain positive results. Thereby, educational programs on Hawaiian culture, training in various aspects of Hawaiian culture such as boat building, art, music, etc, information on job opportunities available through manifestations of Hawaiian culture, will all be initiated to guarantee protection and continuance of Hawaiis culture and traditions. The last stated aim i s to support cultural, programs, artists and organizations in their work, thus bringing them together with the tourism industry and sharing a common understanding and support system for each other. According to Robinson and Picard (2006) based on the objectives and design quality of a tourism strategic plan and the implementation of policies and activities that hold culture and sustainability in regard should include the communal participation in preserving and enriching of cultural heritage over the long term. Hawaiians seems to have taken this point of view deeply into consideration, as its essence has manifested itself into the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan. Native Hawaiians and their host culture are a major part of what continue to make Hawaii unique (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). Sustainable tourism appears to be a potent weapon in the fight to protect, revitalize and economically benefit from it. The final pillar that will be looked at is local sustainability. According to McKercher, (2003) local sustainability should be designed so that the local communities benefit from tourism activities. Principle 1 in Agenda 21 indicates that human beings are the primary concern in all aspects of sustainable development (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development). Local sustainability is very important in order to ensure that the benefits derived from tourism are retained in the local communities. In order to ensure that the local community cooperates with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, they must ensure that they involve them in the decisions regarding tourism development. MeKercher, 2003 states as one of his principles governing local sustainability that the local community should maintain control over tourism development. In order to ensure that the community is actively involved in tourism development ongoing community meetings and surveys are held in order to ensure tha t the local community actively participates in tourism planning and policy development. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has addressed this issue in their workforce development initiative aspect of their strategic plan. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has estimated that tourism provides jobs to one out of every five people in Hawaii. As a result they have recognized the importance of providing employment and opportunities for advancement to locals within the tourism industry. Some of the ways they have ensured that the community contributes and benefits from tourism are; by having outreach programs in order to educate community members about opportunities for them within the industry. Some of the opportunities available for locals in the community are the provision of agricultural products to hotels and restaurants, cultural practitioners, arts and craft and musicians. Additionally, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has pledged support to various internship programs and initiatives organized by locals which offer opportunities for them within the ind ustry. There are also measures in place to provide organize programs and activities aimed at motivating the local workforce. Based on the limitations identified with regards to Hawaiis tourism product and their strategic plan, the following recommendations have been made. Firstly, a communication strategy should be developed. Although the Hawaiis strategic plan speaks of sustainability, responsibility, accountability, etc, as guiding principles behind it, however, there is limited mention on how information is going to be communicated to the population and what channels are to be used. According to USAID (2006) a fully developed communications strategy for the implementation of sustainable tourism can help to facilitate the process much easier. USAID (2006) says that stakeholders have both a right to partake in the administrative process and a responsibility to adopt environmentally, communally and financially sustainable behaviours and practices. They add that the effective communication can create consciousness of these responsibilities and convince stakeholders the long-term benefits of sustainable tour ism (USAID, 2006). Moreover, USAID (2006, P.2, Para. 2, 3.) highlights that a communication strategy that identifies how information, awareness creation, advocacy, network building, conflict mitigation, and communication platforms will be supported can be considered comprehensive and is critical to the success of any sustainable tourism event. Secondly, a new instrument for measuring the success of the Strategic plan should be created. Hawaii have, resident sentiments, state and county tax receipts, visitor spending and visitor satisfaction, as its major instruments for measuring the success of its plan. These instruments however do not measure how well present resources are being preserved, to what extent Hawaii is meeting its transportation needs, to what degree is its culture being maintained and developed as a product, how much tourism earned directly and indirectly, to what extent are communities responding to and being developed by tourism, to what extent native human resources have been trained professionally and otherwise, in the industry? Each of these areas have been cited in the plan as key developmental areas in sustainable tourism yet none of them can be measured by the instruments laid out in the plan. According to the UKs Department for culture, media and sports (DCMS) (2002), Sustainable Tourism Indicators are needed to provide measures for observing the impacts of tourism and to record advancement towards attaining set sustainable tourism goals and objectives. Nonetheless, the department cautions that before considering what indicators could best be used in relation to monitoring and measuring change, it is necessary to generate a set of measures to provide a baseline against which to assess change (DCMs, 2002, P.16. Para. 1). In addition, the DCMS (2002) says that measurement indicators must carry therein the capacity to identify trends and have a longevity that extends beyond the life of the programmes under consideration. Thirdly, the vehicular emission standards for imported vehicles should be regulated. Transportation on Hawaii has also been highlighted as one of its biggest weaknesses and much is being considered to address the problem in the strategic plan. Vehicular exhaust however, has been noted as a major polluter of the environment. With an increase in transportation on the islands, the probability of air pollution also increases. If appropriate emission standards are put in place, Hawaii can ensure that the effect is minimized. According to the Uks Department for Transport (DFT) (n.d), many people are still unaware of the impact of road vehicles on the environment and our health but if proper regulatory measures are enforced the environmental impact of vehicles can be dramatically lessened (DFT, n.d). Fourthly, local investment in transportation services should be promoted. Tax incentives can be offered to persons invest given they adhere to local licensing requirements. These requirements should include certified training for public and private transport operators as a prerequisite for an operators license that allows you to operate transportation in the tourism industry, given that you maintain certain operational standards. As previously mentioned, inadequate transportation and poor service while being transported have been cited as two outstanding weaknesses and areas of focus in the strategic plan. Promotional incentives like tax breaks can encourage persons to offer that type of service to not only help ease the problem but also create employment opportunities for themselves. However, these persons must be trained to offer quality service and their operations must meet regulatory standards that enable them to lighten their footprint on the environment. Fifthly, waste management programs should be developed and implemented. Nowhere in Hawaiis strategic plan does it mention addressing waste management from tourism but it does speak of protecting the environment. Increased quantities of sewage and garbage are two major threats to every environment resulting from tourism. Programs must b

Essays --

Bierce had every reader on the edge of their seat awaiting Peyton Farquhar success in his escape. â€Å"If I could free my hands, I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream"(399). Peyton Farquhar thought this in â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† as he awaited his execution. It is the start of his unconscious plans to escape his death and it highlights the important theme of reality verses illusion, the death, and the deception that leads to Peyton Farquhar’s death. Ambrose Bierce "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," written in 1890 is about a man named Peyton Farquhar whose escape is widely believable. Although this short story is fiction, it is suspenseful and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. It is very possible for the reader to be so wrapped up in the desire for Peyton's escape. The story was told as if he were escaping, "He was not conscious of an effort, but a sharp pain in his wrist apprised him that he was trying to free his hands." statements such as this one gave off a direct thought that escaping was exactly what he was doing. The story goes on to give detailed information about his struggle to free himself and his efforts to make it home. By the end of the story the reader is still attached to the idea that this escape was in fact real and successful. The story starts off in Alabama around the Civil War time, where Farquhar is placed on a bridge with his executioners as he awaits his death. In Sharon Talley’s article â€Å"Visions of the Night† she suggest that Bierce was obsessed with death, and the Civil War due to him himself being a civil war soldier. She also felt that he understood the importance of dreams and their connection to the unconsci ous, most importantly the fear of death. In â€Å"Ow... ... (405). The reader took the details and formed them with their initial thoughts of escape, never putting the context clues together and realizing that he actually never escaped at all. â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† shows to be an interesting, dramatic breath taking story with a hopeful main character who was determined to not live in the moment of his current situation. Bierce did a great job of turning Peyton Farquhar’s illusions into reality for the reader’s. Peyton’s illusions came from the fact that he could not face his reality of his death and this was the only way he could cope with it, his psychological succeeds at everything his physical could not. Throughout the entire story, it is nearly impossible to draw the line between what is real and what is being made up by Peyton, the reader is totally submerged into his illusions, deeming them as reality. Essays -- Bierce had every reader on the edge of their seat awaiting Peyton Farquhar success in his escape. â€Å"If I could free my hands, I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream"(399). Peyton Farquhar thought this in â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† as he awaited his execution. It is the start of his unconscious plans to escape his death and it highlights the important theme of reality verses illusion, the death, and the deception that leads to Peyton Farquhar’s death. Ambrose Bierce "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," written in 1890 is about a man named Peyton Farquhar whose escape is widely believable. Although this short story is fiction, it is suspenseful and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. It is very possible for the reader to be so wrapped up in the desire for Peyton's escape. The story was told as if he were escaping, "He was not conscious of an effort, but a sharp pain in his wrist apprised him that he was trying to free his hands." statements such as this one gave off a direct thought that escaping was exactly what he was doing. The story goes on to give detailed information about his struggle to free himself and his efforts to make it home. By the end of the story the reader is still attached to the idea that this escape was in fact real and successful. The story starts off in Alabama around the Civil War time, where Farquhar is placed on a bridge with his executioners as he awaits his death. In Sharon Talley’s article â€Å"Visions of the Night† she suggest that Bierce was obsessed with death, and the Civil War due to him himself being a civil war soldier. She also felt that he understood the importance of dreams and their connection to the unconsci ous, most importantly the fear of death. In â€Å"Ow... ... (405). The reader took the details and formed them with their initial thoughts of escape, never putting the context clues together and realizing that he actually never escaped at all. â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† shows to be an interesting, dramatic breath taking story with a hopeful main character who was determined to not live in the moment of his current situation. Bierce did a great job of turning Peyton Farquhar’s illusions into reality for the reader’s. Peyton’s illusions came from the fact that he could not face his reality of his death and this was the only way he could cope with it, his psychological succeeds at everything his physical could not. Throughout the entire story, it is nearly impossible to draw the line between what is real and what is being made up by Peyton, the reader is totally submerged into his illusions, deeming them as reality.

Oil and Natural Gas: Its Effects to America and the Global Economy Essay

Oil and natural gas have a very important role in the lives of almost all people in the world. These have been the primary source of energy that fuels the technological civilization that exists at the present. Its importance could be seen in the everyday lives of most individuals. The moment someone wakes up in the morning and read the newspaper up to the time that same person would sleep in the comforts of his/her home, the utilization of petroleum products are present. The newspaper is produced out of ink coming from oil as well as the printing machine that is operated by the same means of energy. Similarly, oil-operated machineries also create the various infrastructures like the houses people live in. Furthermore, even computers, which are widely used today in terms of government services and even in mere personal purposes, are run by electricity coming from natural gas. According to Pfeiffer, the present civilization is built on oil and that economic progress will continue as long as there is a continuous supply of this energy. This is also the reason why the volatile and fluctuating prices of oil and natural gas affect numerous countries as well as its citizens. Its status in the international market has implications in the economies of countries like the United States of America and basically, the whole world. Oil and natural gas that are the backbone of this society’s economy has a long history behind it. These sources of energy come from the earth’s ground as either solids, liquids, or gases. Crude oil or petroleum is liquid source of energy that is considered as a commercial fossil fuel. Natural gas as well as propane comes in gaseous form. Coal, on the other hand is a solid form of energy (Nonrenewable Energy). These energy sources are formed in the earth millions of years ago when it was still covered by water. Combine remains of animals and tiny plants that are layered together with sand and mud are also present. During the time that the earth underwent drastic changes, intense amount of heat and pressure were present, which have been the caused for these fossils to turn into hydrocarbons. Basically, what are simple remnants of plants and animals have turned into valuable deposits of crude oil and natural gas inside the crust of the earth (Discover the wonders of natural gas). Natural gas is often defined as a combustible, gaseous mixture made up of simple hydrocarbons. It is a very light portion of petroleum that includes both natural gas as well as crude oil. Natural gas often rise through the surface by means of natural openings in the earth’s crust or it can be brought to the surface by man-made wells. Thousand of years ago, it was discovered that this gas could be burned and be utilized for heat and light. At present, natural gas is still one of the safest, efficient, and abundant source of energy in the world (Discover the wonders of natural gas The importance of oil and natural gas to the world’s economy is very vital, which is why a decline in its resources would mean a devastating crisis which would affect countries not only with the likes of the United States of America but also the whole world. According to the Energy Information Administration and the Department of Commerce and Bureau of Economic Analysis (Pfeiffer), United States’ was able to acquire its status as a superpower in the global economy due to the availability of oil, natural gas, and coal. The increase in the energy consumption is directly proportional with the income of the U.  S. because the higher the amount of energy consumed, the annual gross domestic product (GDP) also increases. However, a large amount of the country’s GDP becomes reliant in the consumption of energy. If a decline in energy consumption takes place then this will eventually have an adverse effect in the annual gross domestic product of the country. What is even worst is the idea that the decline of consumption is suspected to change abruptly rather than gradually. This could lead to the collapsed of the market especially when the investors realized that the decrease in energy resources could not be reversed. The outcome of this situation would entail a crisis that is worse than the Great Depression of 1930s (Pfeiffer). The adverse effect in the lack or limited supply of oil resources is greatly felt during the 1973 Oil Crisis. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that is mostly composed of Arab nations decided to imposed an oil embargo in western countries especially in the United States of America. This action is brought about by the participation of western countries in the Yom Kippur War wherein they supported Israel in this armed conflict. Another reason of the embargo is the realization of member countries of the OPEC of the important position they have in the global economy. They started to increase the prices of oil and at the same time decrease its supply. Basically, OPEC utilized the oil embargo as both a political tactic as well as a means of empowering themselves. In doing so, they were able to punished the western countries for supplying arms to the Israelis and at the same time realized their potential due to the effects of their action towards other countries (Horton). United States of America experienced an abrupt increase in the prices of petroleum products. The prices quadrupled from a mere 25 cents to almost a dollar within the span of a few months. The country was in complete disarray. A nation that was so accustomed to driving vehicles in their everyday lives was now powerless with the high prices of oil. People have to wait for about two to three hours in line just to get their car’s fueled. The consumption of oil dropped about twenty percent due to the high prices of oil as well as the efforts of the citizens to conserve money (Horton). The U. S. government did extreme measures in order to conserve oil. The congress issued a speed limit of 55mph that reduced fuel consumption and reports of fatalities. Even the practiced of the daylight savings time happened during that period in order to conserve energy. Tax credits were also given to those people who could devised new sources of energy like solar and wind power. Moreover, President Nixon, who was the president during that time, created the Energy Department and made it a part of the cabinet office. Its main purpose is to developed energy policy that could make the U.  S. energy independent. The oil companies also cooperated in Nixon’s call for energy conservation as they voluntarily closed on Sundays and they only cater to their regular customers. They only sell ten gallons of gasoline or less at a time. Being the case, they believed that these would contribute in making the American citizens thriftier in using petroleum products (Horton). Arab countries especially the members of the OPEC once again exported oil to western countries. However, the shipment of petroleum products has inflated prices. One of the crucial effects of the oil crisis is the economic decline the world experienced due the an inflation rate that remained above ten percent as well as the record high unemployment rate. After World War II, economic growth, which was happening worldwide, has been observable but this was no longer the case due to the oil embargo that took place. According to Horton, at present, the effects of the 1973 oil crisis are still being felt. This can be seen in the practices of most people. Nowadays, fuel-efficient vehicles are more patronized as compared to big cars that are very gas consuming. Most appliances that are used today require less energy consumption as compared before. Furthermore, the exploration of resources and other means of energy also increased in the U. S. The series of armed conflict in the Middle East change the pattern of consumption of oil products. Oil is responsible for approximately one-third of the energy used in the world. The series of wars starting from the Iranian revolution in 1979-1980 up to the Iran-Iraq war in 1980 had caused a drop in the over all consumption of oil in the world. In 1980, 63 million barrels are consumed per day but it decreases into 59 million barrels per day in 1983. However, the consumption of petroleum products in the world has increased ever since with 84 million barrels per day in 2005 (United States Government Accountability Office, p. 9). The United States of America also experience an increase in the consumption of petroleum products since 1983 to 2004, from 1. 65 percent annually to an averaged of 20. 6 million barrels per day in 2005. The country consumes one-quarter of the world’s oil consumption. According to the projections of the Energy Information Agency, U.  S. consumption will continue to increase up to 27. 6 million barrels per day by the year 2030 (United States Government Accountability Office, p. 9). The duration of the oil crisis has also paved the way for a new idea in the international economy in terms of monetary and the oil industry. Dr. Ibrahim Oweiss, a professor of economics at the Georgetown University coined the term â€Å"petrodollar†. This word connotes the money being paid by western countries in exchange for petroleum products that mostly comes from west Asian countries or the Middle East. This took place during the time where there is a significant increase in dollar surpluses. Most countries especially the developing ones are exchanging their commodities for dollars (Washington Affairs). According to the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, the petrodollar poses a new threat in the American economy as well as the world’s. If during the oil crisis of 1973, petroleum products were utilized in order to punish western countries from its participation in the Yom Kippur War. At present, petrodollar could be a viable weapon for Middle Eastern countries to once again affect the economic situation of the world. This would become possible if an Arab nation would pull out its investment from New York Banks, which will trigger a tremendous shift in the U. S. economy. However, Dr. Oweiss himself warned that if ever such incident would take place the U. S. government would implement the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which would freeze the asset instead of allowing it to be removed. The investment of the Middle East in the U. S. is then considered as a form of â€Å"capital hostage†. The politics behind the supply and demand for oil could be attributed to the important role that it has in the economy of the world especially in countries like the United States of America. However, petroleum products are considered to be finite resources or non-renewable source of energy. Non-renewable resource like petroleum products are sources of energy that cannot be replenished, regenerated, or re-made in a short span of time. It exist in a particular fixed amount which could be totally consumed before it could be re-made again by nature (Nonrenewable Energy). The finite or limited source of oil and natural gas has a huge effect on the pattern of supply and demand, which will eventually affect the price for these commodities. The price of oil in the world market determined based upon the balance between the world’s demand and supply. Recently, the production of oil has reach its near capacity because of the continuous increase in demand, which is also the reason why there is an upward pressure in oil prices (United States Government Accountability Office, p. 0). Oil consumption is inversely proportional with oil prices. Higher oil prices caused consumers to reduce their oil consumption. Increases in crude oil are also reflected in other petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, as well as petrochemicals. Consumers’ adaptability to the increase in oil prices is greatly dependent on the cost of changing their activities and shifting their lifestyle in order for them to utilized less oil. In connection with that, consumers are believed to have more options in adapting to the high prices of oil in the long term rather than in the short-term situation. Reducing the amount of oil consumed in the short terms would be possible by merely driving less or more slowly as compared to the long term solution wherein people could actually purchase a more fuel-efficient vehicle or moved closer to work so that their consumption of oil would be reduced (United States Government Accountability Office, p. 11).

Personnel Administration

Personnel Administration This lesson complies with the following course outcomes: CO 3: To analyze the policy and decision making process in public administration CO 5 : To discuss the importance of ethics in public administration Synopsis While the country’s public administration is considered an important machinery of the government, the people; men and women who devote their time more than eight hours a day are the key to successful public service. The public administrators of any country share the same goal to deliver services as best as possible to the citizen.Unlike their counterpart in the private sector, employees of the public sector made up a huge team of officers and staff paid through public fund to deliver services. In Malaysia alone, the public service is an employer to more than 1 million people around the country. Thus, the administration of these personnel surely isn’t a joking business. As time goes by and with the introduction of sophisticated managem ent systems and technologies, the personnel of the public service need to be trained and re-trained continuously to keep up. 89Personnel Administration in the Public Sector While the country’s public administration is considered an important machinery of the government, the people; men and women who devote their time more than eight hours a day are the key to successful public service. The public administrators of any country share the same goal to deliver services as best as possible to the citizen. Unlike their counterpart in the private sector, employees of the public sector made up a huge team of officers and staff paid through public fund to deliver services. In Malaysia alone, the ublic service is an employer to more than 1 million people around the country. Thus, the administration of these personnel surely isn’t a joking business. As time goes by and with the introduction of sophisticated management systems and technologies, the personnel of the public service need to be trained and re-trained continuously to keep up. So, who are these massive staff of the public service? Of course, they must be people with good calibre and worthy to be appointed into the service. One of the most important characteristics of modern public personnel dministration is the merit system or a system of appointment and promotion based on recognized ability and capability such as tertiary education, skills and experience. Historically, Prussia, one of the constituent states of what was to become modern Germany, was the first modern nation to institute a merit system. It was this German civil service that inspired Max Weber’s famous â€Å"ideal-type† bureaucratic model. In 1789, this system was The mertit system adopted by France, British-India in 1830s and in Britain in 1850s. 1 pposses any criteria of recruitment and promotion based on political preferences, nepotism and discrimination, also known as the â€Å"spoils system†. 1 Jay Shafritz, Albert Hyde and David Rosenbloom (1986). Personnel Management in Government: Politics and Process, New York: Marcel Dekker. 90 With the huge number of staff working for the public service, government ought to give attention to their welfare and career advancement. You see, working with the public service is actually a career because government provide opportunity for each staff to improve himself/herself throughout heir years of service. They can be trained, promoted, and transferred for job enrichment. All these are done through what we called public personnel administration. Public personnel administration covers â€Å"all activities that forecast on the number and type of employees which an organization will need and then find, and develop them with necessary skills† (Robert D. Gatewood). It is â€Å"concerning both the management of and the policy making for people, and positions in the government bureaucracy† (Nicholas Henry). Important functions of Personnel Adm inistrationSome of the most important functions of personnel administration include the followings: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Formulation of rules and regulations for an appointment which include terms and conditions of employment Establishment of suitable and reasonable remuneration system or the reward system Recruitment Promotion to encourage the most suitable and qualified people to apply and fill in the job Provision of attractive and long term career development Provision of sufficient and suitable training and development Application of fair and just disciplinary system Provision of fair and equitable welfare system Application of attractive pension system upon retirement 91As a career employment, each job in the public sector is well thought of before initializing recruitment. The government is very careful in identifying the needs of each job. For example, a government’s clerk should be able to conduct functions that are required from him/her at whichever department or agency. That is why the basic requirements needed for a person to fill in the post of a government clerk would be the same across the country. Thus, the government would need to enlist those needed requirements and advertise them to encourage qualified persons to apply and finally fill in the post. The process can be applied to all jobs within the public sector. The government should also be an ‘equal opportunity employer’.What it means is that public sector jobs should not only open to specific races, gender or religious background. The government must be an employer to all. However, there are some posts in the government that would require special criteria and skills. Take for example, anyone who would like to join the armed forces, police force or any other regimented bodies should pass the medical tests. This requirement cannot be considered as discriminating against those who are medically unfit. It is just that some occupations would require individual who possesses certain skills and capabilities. When one is hired into the service, the job should prepare him/her for further advancement.This is done through training, development, transfer, attachment and promotion. Employees undergo annual appraisal process in which the department would be able to tell the persons about their performances and readiness to shoulder more important responsibilities. These processes are well explained in Max Weber ideal-type bureaucracy as you have learned in the previous lessons. Among them is the guaranteed reward or compensation paid to the employees in terms of monthly salary. Now lets us look at the different processes of personnel administration. 92 Human Resource Planning In the previous section, I have briefly explained some of the processes involved in human resource planning.Planning is a very important aspect of personnel administration. If you failed in your personnel planning, then the productivity o f the organization will be at stake. According to Edgar Schein, â€Å"†¦ if you wrongly hired a person to any posts, then you would need to spend a lot of money to train and re-train the person to put him/her at par with requirements of the job†. Well, that is considered if he/she has the right attitude. It the public sector, there are numerous rules and procedures to follow that once a person is hired, it is difficult to fire under normal circumstances. Thus, taking in the right the person for a particular job is very, very critical.It all begins proper planning for the job by the personnel manager or administrator. Firstly, the manager should perform an in depth study about what the job will perform and ultimately a ‘list of duties or functions’ will be made ready for the job. Some call it the ‘job specifications’. Second, the manager needs to identify the right qualifications, skills and experiences of the potential candidate. Third, the mana ger also needs to ascertain the remuneration and other allowances for the candidate. Forth, the manager should also concern in identifying various training programs for the candidate’s later professional development. Criteria and Methods of RecruitmentWhen a public manager has prepared the request for a new post or to fill in a vacant post, approval needs to be gained from the higher authorities. This may refer to a higher office such as from a district office to the state office, from state office to the main office say in Putrajaya or from the main office to the Central Agency, Public Service Department (JPA). The request from the original manager will be studied and upon approval from the central agency, the request will be submitted to the Public Service Commission (SPA) for recruitment exercise. Some agencies are given the empowerment to hire when JPA has granted the ‘warrant to hire’. However, most hiring by government departments except for part time and c ontractual jobs are conducted by the SPA. 93Some of the criteria that will be considered for hiring purposes would include the followings: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Academic qualification Age Skill (technical staff) Working experiences Health Working ability Attitude (cooperation, passion and etc) Interest in work The recruiting bodies (either SPA or the relevant agencies) would first need to advertise vacancies in a wide communication medium. This would include newspapers, television and radio channels, websites, letters to associations etc. It is very important that the government use all these mediums to reach almost everyone that are qualified to fulfill its role as an equal-opportunity-employer. Candidates will then be short-listed and call for interviews. The persons who are responsible to conduct interviews should be well prepared and equipped with instruments or questions that are relevant.Since interview sessions would certainly make ca ndidate exposed some of their own personal information, the interviewers should exercise confidentiality and professionalism. At the end of the process, when a candidate is selected, he/she would receive a letter of appointment together with the job specifications, remunerations and terms of the appointment. Training and Development New staff is at their best when they first joined the organization. However, as time goes by, he/she would need training and development to continue to be relevant to the organization. New methods of doing a job, technology and skills change almost everyday. Thus, every employee needs to be trained and re-trained.The public is very generous in proving fund for employees’ training and development. So, it is not surprising that each one of then should fulfill at least 36 hours of training time in a year. Some organizations provide more than 36 hours! 94 Training and development encompasses three main activities: training, education, and development. Training refers to activities that are focused upon the enriching the job a particular staff is currently holding. They are meant to help him/her to perform well in the job. They can be conducted on the job or can also be held outside the organization. Training is makes the person more competent in the things he/she does. 2 Training is an event.Training has a beginning and end. Participants are exposed to knowledge and skills associated with new concepts during the event. Many organizations think, all we have to do is conduct some training and everyone will embrace the new: strategy, system, method, process, procedure, tactic or tool. They will go back to work the next day, use the new way and execute flawlessly within a short period of time. 3 Training usually refers to some kind of organized (and finite it time) event — a seminar, workshop that has a specific beginning data and end date. It's often a group activity, but the word training is also used to refer to specific i nstruction done one on one. Education activities focus on the jobs that an individual may potentially hold in the future. These activities are planned to move up an individual staff to a higher position and responsibility. 5 Finally, development focuses on activities that the organization plan to continuously improve an employee not only his/her skills but also attitude, esprit d’ coup, productivity and quality. Development is a process. IT is a much bigger, inclusive â€Å"thing†. For example, if a manager pairs up a relatively new employee with a more experienced employee to help the new employee learns about the job, that's really employee development. If a manager coaches and employee in an on-gong way, that's employee development.Or, employees may rotate job responsibilities to learn about the jobs of their colleagues and gain experience so they might eventually have more promotion opportunities. That's employee development. Thomas N. Garavan, Pat Costine, and Nor een Heraty (1995). â€Å"Training and Development: Concepts, Attitudes, and Issues†. Training and Development in Ireland. Cengage Learning EMEA. pp. 1. 3 4 2 http://ezinearticles. com/? Whats-The-Difference-Between-Training-and-Developmen t? &id=1038575 http://performance-appraisals. org/faq/trainingdevelopment. htm Derek Torrington, Laura Hall, and Stephen Taylor (2004). Human Resource Management. Pearson Education. pp. 363 5 95 Different Kinds of Training and Development 1. On-the-job Training and LecturesThe two most frequently used kinds of training are on-the-job training and lectures, although little research exists as to the effectiveness of either. It is usually impossible to teach someone everything she needs to know at a location away from the workplace. Thus on-the-job training often supplements other kinds of training, e. g. , classroom or off-site training; but on-the-job training is frequently the only form of training. It is usually informal, which means, unfor tunately, that the trainer does not concentrate on the training as much as she should, and the trainer may not have a well-articulated picture of what the novice needs to learn.On-the-job training is not successful when used to avoid developing a training program, though it can be an effective part of a well-coordinated training program. Lectures are used because of their low cost and their capacity to reach many people. Lectures, which use one-way communication as opposed to interactive learning techniques, are much criticized as a training device. 2. Programmed Instruction (PI) These devices systematically present information to the learner and elicit a response; they use reinforcement principles to promote appropriate responses. When PI was originally developed in the 1950s, it was thought to be useful only for basic subjects.Today the method is used for skills as diverse as air traffic control, blueprint reading, and the analysis of tax returns. 3. Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) With CAI, students can learn at their own pace, as with PI. Because the student interacts with the computer, it is believed by many to be a more dynamic learning device. Educational alternatives can be quickly selected to suit the student's capabilities, and performance can be monitored continuously. As instruction proceeds, data are gathered for monitoring and improving performance. 96 4. Audiovisual Techniques Both television and film extend the range of skills that can be taught and the way information may be presented. Many systems have electronic blackboards and slide projection equipment.The use of techniques that combine audiovisual systems such as closed circuit television and telephones has spawned a new term for this type of training, teletraining. The feature on † Sesame Street † illustrates the design and evaluation of one of television's favorite children's program as a training device. 5. Simulations Training simulations replicate the essential charac teristics of the real world that are necessary to produce both learning and the transfer of new knowledge and skills to application settings. Both machine and other forms of simulators exist. Machine simulators often have substantial degrees of. physical fidelity; that is, they represent the real world's operational equipment.The main purpose of simulation, however, is to produce psychological fidelity, that is, to reproduce in the training those processes that will be required on the job. We simulate for a number of reasons, including to control the training environment, for safety, to introduce feedback and other learning principles, and to reduce cost. 6. Business games They are the direct progeny of war games that have been used to train officers in combat techniques for hundreds of years. Almost all early business games were designed to teach basic business skills, but more recent games also include interpersonal skills. Monopoly might be considered the quintessential business game for young capitalists.It is probably the first place youngsters learned the words mortgage, taxes, and go to jail. Source : http://ezinearticles. com/? Six-Types-of-Training-and-Development-Techniques&id=1944536 97 Roles of Public Service Commission (PSC) and Public Service Department (PSD) There are constellation of information from the SPA and JPA websites about their functions, history and other things that you can learn from. Please visit these two websites and perhaps you want to ask them something related to this course. Good Luck! Public Service Commission (PSC) Website. Public Service Department (PSD) Website. 98 Lesson 7 Assignments Please check with your Seminar Facilitator for a list of assignments for this lesson. 99 100 Similar essay: Theories Actually Seen in Practice in Ojt

Plot Twist Essays

Plot Twist Essays Plot Twist Essay Plot Twist Essay Essay Topic: Fight Club Novel A plot twist is a change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot of a film, television series, video game, novel, comic or other fictional work. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually surprising them with a revelation. Some twists are foreshadowed and can thus be predicted by many viewers/readers, whereas others are a complete shock. When a plot twist happens near the end of a story, especially if it changes ones view of the preceding events, it is known as a twist ending. Revealing the existence of a plot twist often spoils a movie, since the majority of the movie generally builds up to the plot twist. A device used to undermine the expectations of the audience is the false protagonist. It involves presenting a character at the start of the film as the main character, but then disposing of this character, usually killing them. It is a red herring. Example of a plot twist An early example of the murder mystery genre[1] with multiple twists[2] was the Arabian Nights tale The Three Apples. It begins with a fisherman discovering a locked chest. The first twist occurs when the chest is broken open and the dead body is found inside. The initial search for the murderer fails, and a twist occurs when two men appear, separately claiming to be the murderer. A complex chain of events finally reveal the murderer to be the investigators own slave. A flashing arrow is a metaphorical audiovisual cue used in films to bring some object or situation that will be referred later, or otherwise used in the advancement of plot, to the attention of the viewers. The device is not introduced into the plot or the dialogue, but is something peripheral; however made obvious (hence the name) by a particular camera shot or background music. An example of this device is a camera close-up in a horror movie that suggests information like danger from an unlocked door. A literal flashing arrow was used in the 1981 film Student Bodies to mock this cliched use. [1] The use of flashing arrows and that particular joke were both mentioned in Everything Bad is Good for You, where the authors says works that have little use of this and require figuring things out yourself have a more deductive viewer base. Another example of a literal flashing arrow can be seen in the Ouran High School Host Club. This device is used several times throughout the anime- for instance in the first episode, a flashing arrow and high-pitched beeping oise indicate a vase that a character breaks later on in that scene. Red herring is an idiomatic expression referring to the rhetorical or literary tactic of diverting attention away from an item of significance. [1] For example, in mystery fiction, where the identity of a criminal is being sought, an innocent party may be purposefully cast in a guilty light by the author through the employment of deceptive clues, false emphasis, lo aded words or other descriptive tricks of the trade. The readers suspicions are thus misdirected, allowing the true culprit to go (temporarily at least) undetected. A false protagonist is another example of a red herring. In the  comic book  fan community, the apparent death and subsequent return of a long-running character is often called a  comic book death. While death is a serious subject, a comic book death is generally not taken seriously and is rarely permanent or meaningful. At least three comic book deaths are well known. The first two are the 1980 death of  Jean Grey  in Marvels  Dark Phoenix Saga  and that ofSuperman  in  DCs highly-publicized 1993  Death of Superman  storyline. There is one major distinction between the two, however whereas it was never intended that Supermans death be permanent, and that he would return to life at the conclusion of the story,[3]  Jeans passing (one of many temporary deaths among the  X-Men) was written as the true and permanent death of the character,[citation needed]  only to beretconned  a few years later to facilitate her return. In more recent history, the death of  Captain America  made real-world headlines in early 2007[4]  when he met his apparent end, but Steve Rogers returned in  Captain America: Reborn  in late 2009. Usually more subtle, foreshadowing works on the symbolic level. For example, if a character must break up a schoolyard fight among some boys, it might symbolically foreshadow the family squabbles that will become the central conflict of the story. Other times, it is seemingly inconsequential, with the goal of having the audience be surprised by the storys climax and yet find it justified. If a character learns that a certain man was a regular at the diner where her mother worked many years before, it helps to justify the events later in which she learns that the man is her biological father. If foreshadowing is not done carefully, the common experiences of life can make the foreshadowing too obvious and allow the audience to predict the outcome of the story. Example: a character behaves in an odd and erratic fashion and complains continuously of a  headache, then later is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Foreshadowing can also be used dishonestly in a mystery, where a series of events which points to a conclusion is later found to be composed of unlikely coincidences which have been dishonestly added to the story by the author in an artificial way, with the sole purpose of drawing the audience into an incorrect expectation. In such cases, the audience feels manipulated, and the story may be less satisfying.

Information Privacy and Electronic Privacy Essay

Information Privacy and Electronic Privacy - Essay Example This type of privacy is however not limited to information stored in computer systems alone but in other electronic devices as well such as fax machines, mobile phones, telephones and even in emails. It pertains to any information that is transmitted or stored electronically in a digital manner. This paper is going to focus on differentiating the two kinds of privacy mentioned above. Even though they seem interrelated, they have their own differences including differences in legislative acts governing them as well as their sources and the potential privacy breaches as well as what measures can be taken to ensure the information remains private unless it is absolutely necessary for third parties to have such information (Eyob, 2009). Information privacy concerns information that is stored in records. This means that it covers only the information that the owner has provided about himself or herself depending on where it was needed for example in hospitals it is the medical records or in financial institutions it is the financial records about transactions among others. However, when it comes to electronic privacy, it is concerned with not only the stored personal information but the information in transit as well. This therefore means information one has just sent to another and even the recipient has yet to receive it but it is intercepted mid-way. Information privacy is mostly breached by individuals and private institutions seeking information that can be sold in industrial espionage or to taint the name of an individual. People seeking this kind of information therefore hire hackers and spies to go through the physical and electronic records in storage containing the information they need about the individual. In electronic privacy, the information is mainly sought by the government and law enforcement institutions in order to incriminate an individual. This is the reason they tap into conversations over the phone as well as

Importance of employee performance management in retail Industry Essay

Importance of employee performance management in retail Industry - Essay Example Moreover, by evaluating and analyzing the performances of the organizations as well as the performance of the individuals working in the organizations, the management is able to formulate strategies that could further help in improving the productivity of the organization. Therefore it can be said that the performance management tools and performance management of employees help in improving productivity as well as in helping firms to gain competitive advantage. According to Armstrong (2006), employee performance management is the process in which employees are provided with significant opportunities to develop and nurture their skills and knowledge for the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. Having mutual understanding between the manager and the employees is quite essential in the employee performance management as the employees tend to maximize their efforts for the accomplishment of organizational goals (Leopold et al, 2005). Therefore, establishing employee perfo rmance management is quite essential for the organization to increase its overall productivity along with the level of performance in the market. Performance management is a process that ensures improvement in both quantity and quality of work and activities taken into consideration by the organization. In addition, the process helps the organization in aligning all the activities with the organizational goals and objectives (Leopold et al, 2005). By identifying the areas of improvements and areas where the organization has its strengths, the organization is in a better position to make important strategic decisions and help in achieving competitive advantage particularly when the organization is operating in a highly competitive industry such as retail industry. The level of competition in the retail environment has significantly risen and the organization has to deal with variety of employees, due to which the implementation of performance management has become a necessity to achi eve the organizational goals while sustaining the business for long-run in the market (Jones et al, 2005). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the process of employee performance management. In order to do so, the importance and benefits associated with the employee performance management have been taken into consideration. Moreover, the retail industry within UK’s competitive environment has also been taken into consideration. For the effective evaluation of employee performance management, a case study of the UK retail industry has been presented in the study. Lastly, recommendations have been provided with an aim to help the organizations operating in retail industry to enhance the level of performance along with the overall productivity within the competitive retail landscape. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Employee performance management, in simpler words is the process that allows the establishment of shared workforce understanding by motivating the managers and e mployees to have mutual understanding regarding the attainment of organizational goals and objectives. Employee performance management ensures that the employees would work towards the attainment of desired organizational goals rather than just the personal goals. With the help of this process, the objectives of the