The, And, Clothing, Leather And Tweed - 845 Words

Of particular interest, and a perfect piece to fit the genre, with two holes on both sides, and grommets encircling the cutouts, is a white shift dress. While this dress is not what one would call wearable, it certainly makes a statement, and one that Courrà ¨ges made well. Sensible women probably would not have worn this dress due to the cutout placement unless they were in favor of foregoing their undergarments. Courrà ¨ges utilized vinyl, pvc, leather, and an aggregate of burnished materials in order to create his vision which supplemented his modern, futuristic vision. His cloth of choice was gabardine, wool, and tweed. His background in architecture lent to his attention to detail and his dedication to construction. While Andrà © Courrà ¨ges was gaining the praises of the masses, other designers were forging ahead on the same path. Paco Rabanne also gained his fashion footing at Balenciaga, however he also worked for Dior and Givenchy. Perhaps fashion was in his blo od considering his mother was previously the lead seamstress at Balenciaga. With his first manifesto collection, 12 Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials, it was obvious that Rabanne was not an conventional designer, nor was he quick to fade into the background and dissolve into fashion history. In a world where men had dominance and women were contending for even a meager slice of that, Rabanne was a savior of sorts. He once stated that, â€Å"The woman of tomorrow will be efficacious, seductive andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Marc Bohan s First Haute Couture Collection For Christian Dior1381 Words   |  6 PagesInitially producing designs lauded by the industry that contained exquisite fabrics and the finest craftsmanship, Saint Laurent began to construct clothing that was more daring and that strayed farther from Dior’s idea of the brand. Saint Laurent’s last collection, labeled â€Å"Le Beat Look,† consisted of leather skirts, black turtlenecks, and crocodile-embossed leather that mimicked a bohemian style, heavily inspired by youth culture. When he was called to serve in the French Army during the Algerian War ofRead MoreHow Fashion Professionals Are Inspired by History and Culture1843 Words   |  8 Pagesof Karl Lagerfelds game between the rigid lines of jackets - so narrow that fit like a glove, and fairy multilayered skirts reaching just under the knee. The German designer has developed this idea before, but this time supplementing it with long tweed jackets and shirts with turned sleeves. This collection gives both romantic and modern feelings. The Fashion House of Christian Dior is inspired by Egypt. John Galliano recreated the splendor of the ancient state in his new fashion line dresses,Read MoreRalph Lauren2639 Words   |  11 Pageshis products are nearly as diverse as the country that inspires them. He designs a wide range of products, including menswear, womens wear, boyswear, girlswear, home furnishing, eyewear, scarves, shoes, hosiery, fragrances, handbag, luggage and leather goods. And the stores that carry his products are located across the United States and around the world. nbsp; MENSWEAR : POLO BY RALPH LAUREN In 1967, the New York born bred Ralph Lauren started the Polo division of Beau Brummel neckties. TiesRead More Ralph Lauren Essay2557 Words   |  11 Pagesfashion, his products are nearly as diverse as the country that inspires them. He designs a wide range of products, including menswear, womenswear, boyswear, girlswear, home furnishing, eyewear, scarves, shoes, hosiery, fragrances, handbag, luggage and leather goods. And the stores that carry his products are located across the United States and around the world. amp;nbsp; MENSWEAR : POLO BY RALPH LAUREN In 1967, the New York born bred Ralph Lauren started the Polo division of Beau Brummel necktiesRead MoreEggplant: The Universally Flattering Color for Every Woman729 Words   |  3 Pagesto plum to lavender. The new Fresh Produce Eggplant Collection celebrates the earthy tones of this comforting vegetable, which stars in such hearty dishes as ratatouille, moussaka and parmigiana. Fresh Produce now carries more than 100 women’s clothing items in various purple-inspired hues, from a pinstripe vintage cardigan and comfortably stylish flutter dress in eggplant to a Boca pencil skirt in lilac and a soothing soy candle made from lavender and thyme. Enhance Every Skin Tone with EggplantRead MoreWhat Makes A New Fashion?1796 Words   |  8 Pagesresult, many distinct fashion crazes sprang up in decades like the twenties, fifties, and eighties. The flappers in the 20s, the housewives in the 50s, and the bold-colored teens and young adults of the 80s were very famous for being the most popular clothing trends of their decade because of how easy to wear, creative, and disparate they were. The major fashion craze of the twenties that caused a stir was the flapper because it was a deviation from the usual form of dress, residing in the decade knownRead MoreRevival Of The Fashion Industry1247 Words   |  5 Pagesrationing clothing items. In 1945, each person received only 36 coupons. A woman s tweed suit alone cost 18 coupons, and shoes cost 7 coupons. With the government setting such tight limits on purchases, everyday apparel, coats, and shoes had to be functional and hard-wearing. The styles available to purchase during the war were austere and simple. The ‘American Look’ reflected a comfortable active lifestyle leading the fashion world. The full skirts, matching hats and gloves, and bright leather shoesRead MoreIs There a Relationship Between Consumption and Identity?1598 Words   |  7 Pagesfabrics reinforce certain notions of status and personality, using clothing as a sign system. For example, textures from fabrics like satin , velvet and silk are soft and mysteriously attracts touch because of the shine surface. This could be attributed to the wearer expressing a soft, gentle, kind nature. As with heavier and thicker fabrics, such as tweed and leather, which may portray a more masculine character. As Alison Lurie statesRead MoreCfew2473 Words   |  10 Pagesand a self-created image of the free-spirited new woman of the 1920s. Through her personal example and the fashion empire she established,  Chanel  launched and sustained the movement toward simplicity, practicality, and unfussy elegance in womens clothing. A fashion that does not reach the streets is not a fashion, she said, and by the early years of the 1920s,  Chanel  fashion had reached streets throughout Europe and the United States. Early Life.  Chanel  both obscured and embroidered upon the factsRead MoreConsumer Behaviour Luxury Bags4468 Words   |  18 Pagesfollowers, with the latest fashion updates; Gucci is able to capture the attention of those fashion people. Chanel Unique Selling Proposition: Every single detail that are on the handbags, are clearly visible with no flaws. Chanel’s famous for their tweed fabric, embroidery, chains and buttons. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Background of the Firm 2.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Product Positioning Positioning of products is an important aspect to all brands, as it also refers to consumer’s belief about the product

Cyber Stalking Is An Actionable Crime - 1370 Words

Cyber stalking is an actionable crime as defined in 18 USC Section 875, a federal law on interstate communications, and it reads: (a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any demand or request for a ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. (b) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. (c) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (d) Whoe ver, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to injure the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. According to EoghanShow MoreRelatedFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 Pagestheir productivity. Employers often believe they must monitor what employees are doing because employees are hired to work, not to surf the Web checking stock prices, placing bets at online casinos, or shopping for presents for family or friends. â€Å"Cyber Monday,† or the Monday 8 Chapter 1 The Dynamic Environment of HRM after Thanksgiving, as a day to do personal holiday shopping while at work may not be supported by recent sales figures, but recreational on-the-job Web surfing has been said

Human Trafficking in the US Free Essays

Sex Trafficking in the United States Imagine yourself leaving for a trip that you have been looking forward to. You get packed, board the plane, and then finally you arrive at your destination. After settling in you go explore the area. We will write a custom essay sample on Human Trafficking in the US or any similar topic only for you Order Now At this point, you are kidnapped. You cannot do anything to protect yourself or to escape. You end up being forced to strip your clothes and have your body sold. You are now an object, no longer a person. Welcome to the victims’ world of sex trafficking. Because sex trafficking is an underground business, it may be difficult to completely stop this exploitation. Knowing the signs, watching for human sex trafficking, and acting quickly can save countless lives. Sex Trafficking is any practice that involves moving people within and across local or national boundaries for the purpose of sexual exploitation (Farr 2). It is the fastest growing crime in the United States and the second largest illegal trade after the drug industry. Human Trafficking has been going on for over one hundred years. Human Sex Trafficking happens all over the world, including the United States. There are approximately twenty-seven million victims of sex trafficking worldwide; three undred thousand of them are women and children bought and sold yearly here in the U. S. Of the three hundred thousand sex slaves sold in the US, 25% are forced into the business by parents or family members and 75% are former runaways. Each year, 1. 7 million children run away from home. From that number, 90% will be approached by traffickers within 48 hours. Many of which do not make it out the industry alive. In the state of Texas alone, there are only 99 known survivors in the last 20 years whoVe managed to escape sexual slavery (Preda. org). Victims of sexual slavery are not all kidnapped, majority are tricked into the business. Most of the women trafficked into brothels posing as massage businesses are not U. S. citizens, and many do not have documented status. Therefore, traffickers use the threat of deportation to maintain control of immigrant women. Without legal status, the women frequently fear and distrust police or government authorities. Immigrant women are vulnerable due to language barriers, unfamiliarity with their legal rights in the US, and/or the lack of a local support network. Others can be women with financial need or in debt leave the women vulnerable to recruiters, who appear to be offering legal Jobs. Sex trafficking thrives because it is low in risk and high in pay off. The United States FBI estimates about three thousand Russian mobsters control gangs in American cities that involve forced prostitution (Stoecker, Shelly 14). These groups generate 7 billion dollars yearly in the United States. Since there are currently no consistent or accurate ways of tracking these crimes, statistics may vary. Because this is a large and very detailed business, many people are involved throughout the process. Everyone involved has a role to play to ensure the process is done quickly and smoothly. The recruiter finds and brings the victims into the industry usually by force or deception. The recruiter then sells the women to brokers or directly to employers. Brokers are the â€Å"middleman†; they buy the women from recruiters and sell them to employers, those who own brothels or bars. If the women are being transported from overseas, a contractor organizes the transaction. Next an Employment or Travel agent is needed. Their main purpose is to arrange a â€Å"legitimate† Job and Job description or a† legitimate† trip. A document theft or forger obtains all the legal documentation needed to travel from country to country. The transporter travels with the women to each destination and delivers them to the recruiter. Who then sells them to the employers. The employers provide the women with a place to live and work; telling them of the working conditions, living arrangements, and lifestyle. A large number of employers are bar or club owners, while a very small percentage of them are street pimps. For large establishments an enforcer serves as security for the place of business (Farr 63). The life of a sex slave can be compared to an animal caged in a zoo. You are brought out only to do your trick, and then locked in a cage again. Victims, usually ages 11-17, are chained to a bed or confined in small living quarter’s majority of the day until they are fed, usually something light to keep their weight down. Then they are given ice-cold showers to reduce the swelling on their bodies. Attendants then cover-up their bruises from the night before, put make-up on the girls, and then present them to another group of men for more abuse and profit. The women usually serve 5 to 30 men a night. Many of these victims turn to drugs as a solace for the life they have been brought into. Drugs and beatings numb their capacity for thoughts of escape and further iscourage the energy or alertness required to act on their desire for freedom. Many never make it out of the industry alive (preda. org). Stopping Sex Trafficking is harder than it may seem. There are signs of human sex trafficking that everyone should be aware of. Visible indicators may include: Heavvy security at the commercial establishment including barred windows, locked doors, isolated location, and electronic surveillance. Women are never seen leaving the premises unless escorted. Victims live at the same premises as ‘the brothel or work site, or are driven between uarters and â€Å"work† by a guard. Victims are kept under surveillance when taken to a doctor, hospital or clinic for treatment; trafficker may act as a translator. High foot traffic especially for brothels where there may be trafficked women indicated often by a stream of men arriving and leaving the premises. Physical signs of a person being trafficked include: malnutrition, dehydration or poor personal hygiene; sexually transmitted diseases; signs of rape or sexual abuse; bruising, broken bones, or other signs of untreated medical problems; critical illnesses including diabetes, cancer or eart disease; post-traumatic stress or psychological disorders (humantraffcking. org). How to cite Human Trafficking in the US, Papers

Critical Analysis Oroonoko

Question: Discuss about theCritical Analysis for Oroonoko. Answer: Introduction The piece, Oroonoko displays interplay of history and literature. Unlike the conception of Utopia (an imagined projection of land that is the epitome of perfection), the piece Oroonoko witnessed a miserable climax, where both the male and female lead characters died a filthy death. The piece is far from the portrayal of the perfect terrain and an apposite romantic connection. The novella, according to the author, is the real representation of the slavery during the colonial epoch. The death of Imoinda projects a tragic scene that ended the relationship. In the last part of the novella, Behn shows a dreadful climax, which reveals the death of the female lead at the hand of her lover, Oroonoko. The author shows that Imoinda became pregnant. After the acknowledgement of the fact, Oroonoko realized their slavery plight. He wanted to free his family from the slumber of darkness and slavery. Therefore, he murdered his wife, along the decimation of the foetus. The death of Imoinda, albeit gloomy, but it gave her a respite from the severe hardship and slavery. The piece, Oroonoko reveals the influence of Neoclassicism (It is a phenomenon that entails the imitation of cultural elements of ancient Greece and Rome). During that time, many authors used to trace the similarity to enhance the piece. For an instance, Behn makes a comparative study between Oroonoko and the tiger, which is a majestic beast of might and strength. Here, he is compared to a natural force that explains the significance of the concept. The portrayal of the character, Oroonoko is doubtless, tragic and heart wrenching. The author ended the piece with the sad murder of the female lead at the hand of her husband, Oroonoko. At the other end of the spectrum, the male lead died after the unsuccessful slave revolt, wrought by him against the British. He died at the hands of the British. This led to the abysmal end of the piece. The piece could have portrayed a romantic fulfillment. However, it ended as a real life fiction that had killed the male and the female protagonists. The author, A. Behn, adumbrates and explains the history of slavery through a history format. In the piece, the author highly praises the lead protagonist, Oroonoko and describes him as the hero of the novella. Oroonoko was hailed to be a great man to Behn. According to the author, the character beautifully fits into the story. The author brought in certain historical incidents to highlight the resplendent character of Oroonoko. The romantic entanglement between Oroonoko and Imoinda depict the passionate love for each other. In the last, Oroonoko killed Imoinda out of frustration and the realization of the captive situation. After the cognizance of Imoindas death, Oroonoko behaved as a regale prince. This is certainly a blot to the characterization of Oroonoko. However, he managed to maintain his regality throughout. According to the author, the most enthralling is the analogy between the characterization of Oroonoko and a tiger. Similar to the hero, the tiger is deemed a splendid be ast of might and magnanimity. Behn maintains that after baptism, Oroonoko travelled with many scars, which did not decimate him completely. Truly speaking Oroonoko was the embodiment of virtues. It did not kill him, but made him even stronger. Throughout his life, he had to endure the worst of the slavery and other things. However, he died an honorable, but terrific death. The romance novel or romantic novel is a variant of novel that emphasizes the romantic liaison between two people. The relationship always ends with a satisfying and optimistic note. The piece, Oroonoko portrays a romantic equation between the lead male protagonist and his counterpart. The romantic couple witnessed hard time, when the grandfather of Oroonoko forced Imoinda to betroth him. At the same time, their relationship was attenuated by the dispersal of false rumors. The grandfather completely dictated the scene. According to the author, the two lovers again reunited in the British slave colony of Surinam. The two led a life of happiness, despite the fact of captivity. Behn brings in a tragic turn, when the lead female became pregnant and the stark reality of the slavery loomed large on the horizon. Consequently, the lead male comprehended the graveness of the matter and murdered his wife. According to the author, Oroonoko did not want to bring his children to the world of slav ery. Therefore, the relationship came to a virtual close. The novella is not a romantic one. It fits into the realistic genre.

Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy free essay sample

Liberty University Summary In the article titled â€Å"Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy†, a discussion arises about the incorporation of scripture and prayer into the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Cognitive-behavioral therapy is widely supported by empirical evidence for treatment in a wide variety of psychological disorders (Tan, 2007, p. We will write a custom essay sample on Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 01). The article discuses how to approach biblical Christian values in therapy and how to incorporate those approaches into CBT. Tan discusses the history of behavioral therapy throughout the years and the two main components of mindfulness. The two components of mindfulness include self regulation of attention and adopting a specific orientation (Tan, 2007). Tan then describes eight key features of a biblical Christian approach to CBT. The key features of this biblical approach include: agape love; unresolved past issues; spiritual meaning; the use of biblical truth when approaching organic problems; Holy Spirit’s discernment in bringing about healing; make use of community resources; use techniques that are biblical; use research before making definitive statements about the superiority of CBT (Tan, 2007, p. 102). Tan goes onto describe the two types of integration: explicit and implicit. Explicit integration deals with spiritual or religious issues in therapy, and uses spiritual resources in the therapeutic process (Tan, 2007, p. 68). Implicit integration does not incorporate religious or spiritual aspects into the therapeutic process. Tan describes his approach as explicit and has used this approach to reach a clientele with problems that include: phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, stress, burnout, anger control problems, marital and family problems, adjustment disorder, depression , bipolar disorder, epilepsy, pain, hypertension, and religious conflicts and issues (Tan, 2007). Tan goes onto explain how he assesses whether an individual will benefit from the use of prayer and scripture in therapy. In 1992 Tan developed a seven step model that has played an integral part in the healing of his clients. Tan believes that the model can be modified when necessary but that prayer and scripture cannot be used for clients that are psychotic or severely disturbed. The rest of the article explains subtle ways in which Tan incorporated biblical aspects into the therapy session. He notes that the appropriate use of Scripture in a Christian approach to CBT from a counselor who is sensitive to the needs of the client can benefit Christian clients through the use of scripture and prayer in the therapeutic process (Tan, 1996). In closing Tan states that prayer and scripture can be effective in a Christian approach to CBT and should be used when clients give informed consent for such an approach to be taken. Interaction My initial response to this article was finally. Finally Christians are developing empirically supported studies that support the notion of prayer, scripture and biblical aspects into the treatment process. This study I believe will open many doors to effective treatment and also help with people in their reconciliation with the Lord. I was happy knowing that this author stepped out of the box and approached this issue that has been traditionally overlooked by the scientific community. As believers we understand that truth comes from the Lord and that scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness 2 Timothy 3: 16. Hebrews 4: 12 states â€Å"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart†. From this passage we can see that God’s word brings life and can break down the many barriers we put up. As counselors we come into contact with many people who are burdened, unhappy, and ultimately broken. We need to incorporate scripture into every aspect of our lives especially when dealing with broken people. Psalm 147:3 says â€Å"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds†. As counselors we can do our best to help our clients but ultimately God is the sole comforter and healer and we need to call upon him when serving the broken world. Understanding the importance of incorporating scripture and prayer has lead me to gain further understanding into this field and thus has encouraged me to expand my knowledge. I believe the design of the study was appropriate and has offered some great insight into the world of therapy with the incorporated Christian approaches. I do believe however that further investigations must be considered and further research and study will prove to be beneficial as this approach is fairly new to the scientific community. Application As a once broken individual myself I have first-hand knowledge of the importance of prayer and scripture in the healing process. It was only in communication with the Lord that I heard of his love and plans for my life. As I meditated on scripture I became more Christ like and began to feel his word breathe life into my broken soul. As a future counselor I believe it is important that I incorporate God, prayer, scripture, and biblical principles into all aspects of my life, including the counseling session. I truly believe that God will use me as a channel to serve between the healer and the broken. And it is with this concept in mind that I will seek the Holy Spirits wisdom and discernment in every counseling session. In order to remain culturally sensitive one must obtain consent from the patient in order to gain the right to incorporate scripture and prayer into the therapeutic relationship. Once consent is gained I would start the session with prayer asking for me to be sensitive to hear God’s voice and for the Holy Spirit to lead the therapy process as well as open the patient to healing and comfort. Above all I would pray that God’s love may be felt in the therapeutic relationship and that he fill me with his love for this client. I would also offer any scriptural references that can be beneficial in helping the client overcome their struggle as well as offer any other resources in the community that may be helpful. I will ask the client to meditate on the truth gained from scripture until our next session. I would close the session with a prayer of thanksgiving for what is revealed and the truth that can be found in God that will set us free from the troubles of this world. References The Holy Bible NIV. Tan, S. , Y. (2007). Use of prayer and scripture in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, Vol. 26, No. 2, 101-111. Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy free essay sample Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy can be found in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity. The author, Stan Yang-Tan, covers the apposite use of applying prayer and scripture to the 30-year-old process of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (p. 101). With an array of psychological disorders, the availability of treatments is generous. However, CBT is methodically supported for the treatment of many psychological disorders. Through a purposeful integration of morality, Yang-Tan illustrates the life-changing power of prayer and scripture in Christian CBT. This article provides a momentous synopsis of behavioral therapy that consists of three major waves, traditional behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relatively contextualistic approaches (p. 101). The third wave of contextualistic approaches encompasses Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness Based Congitive Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Therefore, the expansion of CBT generates a projected mindfulness and acceptance through a two-component model. Yang-Tan proposes the two-component model of mindfulness, implicates self-controlled concentration on present conditions and espousing a distinctive orientation through openness, curiosity, and acceptance. We will write a custom essay sample on Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The author illustrates how CBT can be combined with the prayer and scriptural truth in effort to produce lifelong benefits, particularly for spiritual clients. However, making an irrefutable declaration about the advantage of CBT should include implementing a self-developed biblical model comprised of a process based on spiritual emphasis and influence. A counselor who adopts this model can integrate the reliability on the Holy Spirit through the approach of implicit or explicit integration in therapeutic circumstances. The appropriate use of the healing power of prayer and the intervention of scripture can be an effective part of CBT. Prayer and Scripture will therefore be key factors in this therapeutic process of healing and recovery. Reflection My initial reaction to the use of scripture and prayer in CBT was how necessary Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) must be for complete and effective treatment within CBT. Both of these treatments are rooted in Christian spirituality and allow the client to recognize their current circumstances and develop an outlook that will help keep an open and focused mind on results. Through the approaches of ACT and MBCT, prayer and scripture inevitably follow as a source of methodological rigor. Prayer is simply talking to God and is therefore a means of communication. Praying on behalf of another person or self (Intercessory prayer), praying in meditation (Contemplative Prayer), and praying specifically and listening and awaiting God’s response (Inner Healing Listing Prayer) are beneficial to the use of prayer in treatment. The Bible is the greatest example of God’s powerful words. Scripture offers comfort, clarity, correction, character change, cleansing, conviction, and healing (p. 108). For clients who trust in God’s word as the ultimate authority, it is imperative to assess the purpose and objective for using scripture. Knowing what God has to say about a client’s circumstances vs. what the client’s faith or church has to say forms cognitive thinking within the client. By referring biblical teachings and truths, the client can learn how to restructure flawed rational and irrational beliefs that do not support the efficiency of Christian approaches. The concept of ACT and MBTC is such a compelling method of treatment and respectfully governs the character for the therapist or counselor. Understanding how prayer and scripture affects the lives of clients will provide a strong foundation for counsel. Clients will not only understand how to personally apply prayer and scripture on a daily basis, but most importantly, worship God. My interest in researching how to Implicitly Integrate prayer and scripture in therapy peaked upon realizing the explicit integration appears to be more approachable. I do not want to limit my own competency, nor the benefit of the client. Gaining knowledge and skill in applying a method that is not as commonly used as Explicit Integration Therapy opens the window to use subtle biblical emphasis without the client feeling bombarded or perturbed. Application In a counseling career, I intend to rely on God as the sole means for guidance and understanding from the author of understanding, guidance, and counseling. Although I plan to use more explicit integration, I will always start the session with a new client by assessing the client and determining the necessity of prayer and scripture. Upon establishing the history, faith, spiritual practices, problems, and goals, I will take into account all information, and choose an approach suitable for the client. Although prayer and scripture offer healing and understanding, it is not necessary to use in each session. I would love to openly offer to use prayer and scripture through Explicit Integration, as this method is more aligned with direct healing and application from God. I want to help identify the exact needs of clients and seek the supplemental scripture to help work through the given circumstances. For instance, a client may need to find the balance of taking care of their personal life and own wellbeing versus meeting all of the needs of their family. God’s word tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, â€Å"I know the plans I have for you, plans not to harm you, but to give you hope and a future†. Prayer and meditation (Contemplative Prayer) on God’s word fills the mind with God’s enduring love and constant reminder of His grace, mercy and encouragement. The more cognizant I can help the client become of God’s word, the more transformed and renewing of the mind will take place. Jesus’ love light will begin to form changes and the client will soon witness the power of Jesus Christ in their circumstances and the proactive change that took place.

Critical Study of Human Resource Management (HRM) at Infosys technologies pvt The WritePass Journal

Critical Study of Human Resource Management (HRM) at Infosys technologies pvt Infosys, INTRODUCTION Critical Study of Human Resource Management (HRM) at Infosys technologies pvt Infosys, INTRODUCTIONBRIEF HISTORY AND PROBLEM IN DETAILINTERVENTION 1: INCREASING EMPLOYEE’S COMPENSATIONIntervention 2: TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES CONCLUSIONREFERENCES:Related Infosys, INTRODUCTION Infosys technologies is a leading outsourcing IT services multinational company having headquarter in Bengaluru, India and is having its branches and development centres in China, UK, Japan, Australia with a large workforce of 1,27,000 employees all over the world. They have a flat organizational structure HR structure directed by Nandita Gurjar with a few levels of management between software developers and managers, and thus the employees have more involvement in decision making. That is why, they have been rated best employer by business world/Hewitt. They offer software development, business consulting, product engineering, maintenance, integration systems and validation services to the companies like Microsoft, SAP, Google, Yahoo, Oracle etc. They are 2nd largest software multinational company in India after TCS with an approximately revenue of US$ 5.7 billion in 2010 and employees a chunk of skilled employees. Infosys created a great global picture of software outsourcing of India all over the world because of which they attracted a large number of talented engineers across the world. There has been a burgeoning growth in the workforce in recent years, Due to the interlinked and fantastic international HRM structure they were rated â€Å"Best companies to work for† by HAY group. Females contribute to more than 30% of their employees making them awarded by NASSCOM for gender empowerment. Their HRM have given importance to each employee and given a fantastic place in their company. Due to all this for last two decades they are attracting very talented engineers and software developers resulting in burgeoning growth of their organization. In recent time, they are getting big projects from big companies, for which they need skilful and talented employees. But in last four years they are dramatically facing the problem of attrition. A recent survey showed that in October-December quarter of 2010 there was 17.5% attrition, which is an alarming situation for them, that will affect their started projects massively. According to financial express, attrition has become a major trouble for them, and they need to solve it as soon as pos sible. The most striking point is the continuous increase in attrition rate in last 2 years, making it a big challenge to their HRM department. Interventions of solving this can be done by increasing compensation, training and feedback. BRIEF HISTORY AND PROBLEM IN DETAIL Infosys was founded in 1981 by N.R. Narayana murthy and six entrepreneurs with a very small capital of US$ 250, which was signed up with client Data Basics corporation in New York. And in same way in 1983,   it relocated its corporate headquarters from Pune to Bengaluru. After that they, opened their branch in USA.Subsequently, in early 1990s they introduced modern human resource management program and got a certification of ISO-9001, which was a great achievement for them. Also in the same year there shares were shared with public sector. Also, they opened a development centre in Fremont, Las Vegas , USA which was a significant milestone for the company. They were accessed at CMM level 4 in 1997 that was their global success. They started enterprise solutions also called packaged application practice. In same year its one big division â€Å"Infosys business consulting services was launched. Next year they opened offices in France, Hongkong and other development centres in USA, UK and Canada. A big achievement in their HRM was achieved when they were rated best employer for 3 consecutive years. In 200-2002. They were accredited with many other organizations like â€Å"MAKE† because of their innovative HRM structure. Its HR department made a massive increase in employees in next years. But after then it has been facing problem of attrition massively. The attrition rate is peaking   to a hight rate in the early 2010, in this period the attrition was 13.4%. According to NASSCOM website, there is huge demand of IT professionals in the past few years, hence the demand is too high, so there is a big reason to worry about attrition recently. With new and new projects coming up, the services need to be build up its skilful employee sale to meet the requirements. As the market is having more opportunities so either employees are leaving companies. During this quarter 7833 people left the organization that was like a backlash in the productivity. Usually in this quarter employees are started their MBA or MTECH degrees. About 90 left for higher education and 2215 left to join other companies. Company invest a huge amount on their training and in return they want certain required work, but surprisingly, they get the resignation letters from employees, which is a big loss for the company. Even their competitors like TCS and Wipro are also facing attrition of 21.7% and 14.4% respectively in last quarter of 2010. Though the IT bell added 14,624 new employees in 2010 during the quarter but there was alarming exit of skilful 6,618 employees taking the total to 122,468 till September 30 2010 . Infosys wanted   to g=hire about 10,000 more engineers in 2010 which has been highest record till now because of booming projects.Their HR head can put some strict and affective policies to reduce attrition. INTERVENTION 1: INCREASING EMPLOYEE’S COMPENSATION A very effective way to reduce the attrition is to increase their basic salary because most of the times, employee leave because of limited compensation and go to better paying companies. A perfect example is of HCL technologies which is a competitor of Infosys technologies also faced attrition of 30% in 2004.(Frauenheim A. , 2008). HCL’s leadership thus decided to focus on employees and followed A policy â€Å"goal of employee reforms by increasing transparency† made them understand that employee needed compensation and increments. So HCL decided to pay higher fixed salaries significantly to get valuable input from the employees. This policy was built to make trust in employees. Resulting in decline of attrition to 15% and their revenue jumped to 146% and production to US $ 1.9 billion in no time. Infosys today is as global as HCL, so they must follow the same way and increase compensation of employees. Their one more rival Satyam computer services pvt ltd was facing t he problem of attrition in July 2006. (Market watch, 2007). So they increased the employee’s wages by 18% hence reduced attrition rate and they managed to meet their productivity. One more example is of Microsoft who also faced attrition of 9% in fiscal year 2004 that made the HR worried when they were losing mangers, engineers and marketers. Their director of platform evangelism left for internet phone Skype technologies, for a better salary and a long list of employees were moving to Google. The reason was compensation and profits. So there were Microsoft compensation moves that made a hike in their salaries. And they rated their employers by top performers and the pay scale was decided by high performer to average performer.† It creates competition in the ranks, when people really want community† said Microsoft vice president, and thus they were able to retain their talented employees. (Green, J. 2005)   Similarly, Infosys can also divide the top performers a nd average performers and hike their compensation accordingly which will create a competition   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  to reach optimum targets to get better pay scale, resulting in self motivation. So by increasing compensation of employees will be a great way of reducing attrition. Intervention 2: TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES Training will make the employees comfortable with work and reduce their problems. Many times, employees are not able to adjust with their work and start losing the interest, in such cases they need a motivating and technical training. An article by Bob Harris says training an employee by building new ideas with learning experience to software developers will enhance confidence and loyalty in words (Harris, B. 2005). And thus training will impart a moral boost and build long term relationship with company and simultaneously competitive work. With training, proper positioning of employees in their work will develop a harmonious relationship in organization resulting in reduction in attrition and retaining skilful employees. (Goldenkoff, R. 2007) As a trainer we can avoid unnecessarily frustrating the techies by giving them that task which they are not capable of. And because of new technology coming up there is need to train them with new methods of developing software with less time consuming and with less errors. A better approach during training should be adopted to put no communication gap between trainers and the trainees, they should be exhibited with all the skills they need in their work. (Peter, A. 1977).Training to be offered timely and feedback on it is necessary especially on new policy and techniques, their conflicts with supervisors should also be considered and then resolved by mutual understanding in proactive training. Training should have a dual affect of new skills and personal relationship with supervi sors and managers. Motivation and encouraging toward the commitment toward work will create a sense of loyalty in the employee; as a result it will create a sense of responsibility and their own importance in their company. INTERVENTION 3: SURVEYS AND FEEDBACKS Significantly, employee’s feedback data can support exit data. Such as annual federal employee viewpoint survey that includes asking employees whether they are leaving the organization in next period and why (to know the reason). The responses of those who say they are considering to leave next year are-(1) they do not like the work, (2) they are not satisfied by reorganization they receive (3) they are not happy with the compensation.(Sitzmann, T 2010) Hence this will give a clear idea to the HR department about the exit reasons of their employees. A research has shown that positive effects of prompting, self-regulation, minimizes the doubts of both management and employees. Using the method of prompting questions and reflective approach to the queries resulted in decrease of attrition and created confidence in employees. (Korrapati, R. 2010) The intervention of questioning and answers from employees moderated attrition. A questionnaire can be given to the employees asking for the response of their basic needs in work, interested work, incentives, promotions and working shifts. The basic design for the surveys can be alteration in person interviews with telephones and mail out surveys periodically. (Lavigna, B. 2011).This will give a brief idea of their unmet need which can be fulfilled and van be helpful in retaining them in organization . Sometimes the employees are not happy with the manager, so the manager can be changed and instead of loosing employee. In some cases it is found that employees are not happy with workload and pressure, so the HR team can put more people on that work in order to equally distribute the work and put such kind of work that he can do. An article by national longitudinal survey says that by survey methodologies impact of attrition can be reduced. . If its I consistent with its objective, continuous rounds are there that totally consider each, the targeted incentive reasons data can be achieved, and finally longitudinal survey that convince and offer attention, making them confident that they are providing their study in a right way, and thus with all these attrition knowledge will be achieved helping in reducing attrition. (Randall, J.   2005) The HR will be retaining them for long term by meeting their needs.   With the help of survey and feedback from them, It will eliminate all th e unwanted shifts, and will lead to mutual co-ordination between management and organization, hence leading to satisfaction an reduction in attrition. If all these feedback are unbiased and done accurately, this will reveal all the pros and cons, bringing a clear picture of the organization CONCLUSION Overall, it is concluded that attrition is causing trouble for Infosys that is caused by unmet needs like overtime, stress; low fixed salary or low motivation in employees which can be solved by hike in compensation, feedback, surveys and training. We have to implement these way according to circumstance. Out of this feedback from employees is very essential that reveals the general idea to HRM, about the root of this problem which can be solved with discussion and meeting of these needs, such kind of responses will lead to future planning also and it will further reduce the future attrition. But, will it really solve the problem? Sometimes, the best surveys even do not work accordingly and employee still leaves the firm, so a proper planning has to be made during the feedback to get correct data and implement the solution carefully. Also, any confidential way of surveys and questionnaire should be implemented. Similarly the intervention of more compensation should be implemented in company. The better the work, the better he should be paid, because of the competitive world and new competitors, the HR have to visualize the correct pay scale for the employee when compared with similar talents and should not be biased.   Is it there any competition in employees regarding pay scale? How employees can be motivated to get more incentives?   .These questions should be in consideration of HRM and will result in positive effects. While training, the real motive of retaining the employee for long term has to be considered. What questions have employees in their mind? Will the training will be affected and will he be in company for more time after training? An effective and practical policy should be adopted which will work on this special project considering these, the HRM should go for training because if training does not solve the problem, what will be use of it? All these ways have to be followed by HR head Nandita Gurjar and monitor , the managers while doing so, if the ways are working they should continue in same way and if not they should be rebuild and closely monitored. Subsequntly, The HRM can make future planning also so that this problem will not occur and is the policies are periodically followed. Then only the HRM will be able to retain talented engineers in company for long term. Hence, through all these ways we can solve the serious problem of attrition in Infosys technologies which should be adopted by Hr department of Infosys technologies. REFERENCES: (1) Textbook: Global Human Resource Management. Managing people in developing and transitional countries authors: Willy McCourt. Derek Eldridge (2) Infosys: infosys.com/about/what-we-do/pages/index.aspx (3) Lavigna, B. 2011 Do you know who is leaving your company and why? vol 34 issue 1 p9-21. Accessed in Business source complete (4) Sitzmann T., Ely, K. and Brown K. ,2010 Sometimes you need a reminder Academy of management learning education, vol9 issue 2, p169-191, Accessed in   Business source complete (5) Randall J, 2005 The problem of respondent attrition: survey methodology is key. monthly labor, Vol , 128 issue 2 p63-70, 8p Accessed in Business source complete (6) Goldenkoff R. 2007 Home land security: DHS’s actions to recruit and retain staff and comply venations reform act.  Ã‚   GAO reports 2007 p1 76p Accessed in Business source complete (7) Korrapati R. and Edara V. 2010 A study of the relationship between software project success and employee job satisfaction.   vol 14 issue 1 p 22-25 Accessed in Business source complete (8)   Frauenheim, A. 2008 HCL technologies: Workforce management Volume 87 Issue 17, p25-25, 1p. Accessed in Business source complete (9) Market watch, 2007 Satyam: profit lag as attrition problem continues. Full Market watch Vol 6 Issue 4 p157-15 Assessed in Business source complete (10) Greene, J.et al. 2005 Troubling exists at Microsoft issue 392,p98-108, 9p Accessed in Business source complete (11) Harris, B, 2005 Bust attrition by fostering loyalty. SDM: security disturbance, Vol 35 issue 10, p130-130 1p Accessed in Business source complete (12) Peter, A. 1997 Downsizing strategies that minimize layoffs   American business review   Vol 15   issue 1 p57 By: Business source complete

Compare and contrast the 3 basic biology position of the 3 Essay

Compare and contrast the 3 basic biology position of the 3 philosophers Darwin, Dembski and Behe - Essay Example He is an American analytic philosopher who wrote a number of books about intelligent design such as The Design Inference, Intelligent Design: The Bridge between Science and Theology, and the Design Revolution. This concept of intelligent designed promoted by Dembski involves an argument that an overarching intelligence is responsible for the complexity of life that can be detected empirically. His concept of intelligent design is seen by the scientific community as a modern form of creationism, drawn from a traditional Christian set of religious belief attempting to portray itself as a science. . Michael Behe is also an advocate of intelligent design. He is an American biochemist and best known for his argument for irreducible complexity. According to him, some biochemical structures are too complex to be sufficiently explained by known evolutionary mechanisms and thus more of a result of intelligent design. However, his claims about the irreducible complexity of essential cellular s tructures have been discarded by enormous majority of the scientific community. The Theories Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is called natural selection. The theory stated that different species began from shared ancestors. Adaptations to different environments caused the differences in the organisms. The environment will determine which of the species are best fit to live and the traits of these organisms are passed down to new generations. New species are created out these traits. Decades of studies and observations led to the development of this theory. Intelligent Design is the negative argument of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. According to this theory, the forces of nature or something else are not sufficient to result to aspects of life or species. There must be an existing intelligent designer. According to this theory, the intelligent designer brought life and the natural selection have nothing to do with the appearance of the organisms we find today. Acco rding to William Dembski (1998), intelligent design can be formulated as a scientific theory having empirical consequences and devoid of religious commitments. The intelligent design can be discharged as a theory of information. According to him, information is not reducible to natural causes but best sought in intelligent causes (Dembski, 1998). Thus, intelligent design becomes a theory for detecting and measuring information, explaining its origin and tracing its flow (Demski, 1998). Michael Behe on the other hand wrote in his book Darwin’s Black Box that many biological systems are â€Å"irreducibly complex.† According to him, in order for these biological systems to evolve, multiple systems would have to arise simultaneously (Robison, 1996). Behe claims that these systems exist in Biology and the existence of â€Å"irreducible complexity† argues for an intelligent designer. The basic premise of the book is that  "Biochemistry has pushed Darwin's theory to the limit.   It has done so by opening the ultimate black box, the cell, thereby making possible our understanding of how life works† (Ussery, 2010). As Behe claims, life is so complicated, that it must have been created by divine intelligence, or at any rate gradual evolution could not possibly have created such complex systems (Ussery, 2010). Evolution vs. Intelligent Design Creationism and evolution have frequently competed since Darwin first proposed his theories of evolution and natural selection in his book

Knowledge Management and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Knowledge Management and Innovation - Essay Example 855). This piece of research work critically examines the knowledge sharing theoretical models developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi to elucidate how this model has been implemented in a typical industry to apply KM to the innovation of a product. This paper compares and contrasts knowledge transfer models based on relevant literatures and empirical evidences. Knowledge Management and Innovation In the contemporary business contexts where markets, products, competition, technology, laws and consumers are rapidly changing, continuous innovation and effective practice of KM to support innovation has become a major source of competitive advantage (Aramburu, Saenz and Rivera, 2006, p. 157). Nonaka and Takeuchi (2005, p. 1-5), both are widely renowned as KM gurus, argued that Japanese companies remained as enigma for most Western business experts and they gave a new explanation of what made Japanese companies highly successful. ... ased on this explanation, the three major components of KM are creating the knowledge, sharing it and using the created or shared knowledge for organizational purposes. Some literatures have considered more components such as knowledge identification, knowledge collection, knowledge organizing, knowledge dissemination, knowledge evaluation and knowledge adoption or implementation (Mehrabani and Shajari, 2012, p. 166). Forster (2005) described that knowledge management is a generic term that includes certain process by which employees’ experience, knowledge, skills etc are gathered, shared and utilized and then converted to a system of collective organizational learning so as to improve organizational performance. Nonaka and Takeuchi perceived knowledge as a profound instrument that has effectually increased organization’s capability to implement right action from the evidences of Japanese companies. Knowledge has been categorized in to two; tacit and explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is one that is embedded in a person through the forms of experience, knowledge, skill, talent, wisdom etc and this can be attained from imitation and practice. Explicit knowledge is information stored in documents or database (Lee, Leong, Hew and Ooi, 2013, p. 850). Literatures in the field of KM have clearly illustrated the profound impact of knowledge management on innovation. Most firms in contemporary business contexts find innovation as their grand strategy due to that consumers expect regular changes and advances in products (Pearce and Robinson, 2004, p. 207). Innovation is not merely an idea, but rather, it is the conversion of idea in to business functionality by establishing the idea in to reality (Endsley, 2010, p. 1). Many literatures including Boghani (2007), Lee et al

Assessing Media Influence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Assessing Media Influence - Essay Example Readers, viewers and consumers of information should supply the necessary interpretation of stories and symbols to discover the relation of information and of its consumers. This is because a phenomenon unfolded in a television show could not be understood in itself but about how the meanings interacted and impacted to viewers or readers (Berger, 2005, pp. 10-28). Cultural norms, socialization process and ethical concerns have so much regulatory effect to determine the information’s acceptability or non-acceptability to the taste and standard of communication (Berger, 2005, pp. 60-120). It is therefore important for viewers and readers to be positively self-critical in absorbing the information. It should be the goal of every media consumer to combine analysis and creativity to effectively segregate the truth from myth and to free self from the victimization-effect of violent media production (Berger, 2005, pp. 2013-214). This is not just about words or video shoots at work. T his is also about responsible media consumption by unmasking the paradigmatic and syntagmatic meanings evoked differently (Berger, 2005, pp. 2013-214). Most media institution is not truly an independent entity. They are incorporated as either a public, private and rarely in cooperative in nature. As companies, they are also competing in sourcing and presenting information to gather more readers and viewers. The most attractive and those who have certain leverage in the market by possessing wider area of coverage will likely gain more advertisers (Croteau & Hoynes, 2006, p. 15-19). They are also for profit. Thus, consumers of information should be critical too about the kind of commercial products they introduced. Everyone knows that advertisements are used by corporations to leverage in introducing their products to the market (Croteau & Hoynes, 2006, p. 15-19). Media played much on its influencing capacity regardless on what products are introduced. The fees of advertisers are actu ally their most prevent concern and not the quality of products indorsed (Croteau & Hoynes, 2006, p. 20-68). While we agree that media is an avenue of free ideas, but it remained the info-consumers responsibility to ascertain whether goods popularized by the media are truly relevant for public welfare (Croteau & Hoynes, 2006, pp. 17-48; 192.) Lest, everyone should be reminded that nothing can blind an intelligent and responsible consumer to know which products in the market can be bought for healthy consumption. Moreover, while media is required to be impartial and independent in espousing views, but researchers observed evident tendencies for media to slant the reports and information to some interests, depending on what to their purview is the story worth tackling about in a day. Slanting, for some, have serious effects to public perception and such affect the models of social equilibrium where companies are in constant discourse with consumers. They criticized that media is biase d and are perceived to have favored certain groups of consumers than others. True, unbiased reports these days are hard to see, except for investigative reportage where all views and voices of stakeholders are put into serious consideration, thus, widening the relational and contextual meaning of a phenomenon discussed. The media has been also powerfully putting women

The Importance of Reading Books Essay Example for Free

The Importance of Reading Books Essay The joy of reading books cant be described in words. Its something that you can understand only by actual experience. There is much more to life than your work and spending time aimlessly with latest technology products. Reading books gives you that much needed break from the chaos in your life. It instills peace inside you, makes you relaxed and also exercises your brain in the process. When you read a book, it feels great to put yourself into a different world that the writer has created for you. Ask any avid reader about this and they too will agree that reading a book is same like watching a movie. When you spend hours and hours reading a book, creating a world with different characters in your mind, your imagination powers are sure to get a boost. Depending upon what you read, you will come out with the same experience as when you watch some really good movie. I have been a voracious reader ever since i learned how to read. Thats why i never get bored even being alone for a long time. I have found that reading books is the best medicine to kill boredom. What starts with reading story books, when you are a kid, turns into reading books for improving yourself as you grow older. From story books - technical management books - self improvement - spirituality and beyond, the journey is fantastic and you learn something with each passing day. You understand your thoughts and emotions more clearly. It makes you realize who you really are and makes your life more meaningful.Reading books will make you a better thinker and a better man. Thanks to technology you can easily find good articles to read on the internet. A great article can inspire and motivate you as much as a great book. Its not how much you read, but what you read which is more important. The only reason i recommend reading books over short articles is because when you spend hours with a thought or an idea then its more likely to stay with you for long time rather than when you spend just few minutes tinkering with it. Its easy to read a quote or an article for few minutes than discard it and continue with what you were doing. But when you invest your time in reading a good book, you end up spending at least a few hours reflecting on its contents as you read. Thus, its likely to stay with you for a longer time and have some positive influence on you. A good reader also varies his reading pace based on the content he is reading and what he wants to get from it. The purpose of reading news articles is different from reading stories, which is different from reading important documents. Over a period of time, you will understand how to vary your reading pace and comprehension based on what you read and what you want from it. Also, just reading good books is not enough. The way you read it is more important. When you come across a new idea or a different opinion, think upon it deeply. Dont accept it or reject it blindly. Try to reason with it and understand the writers point of view. Reflect upon the thoughts that come to your mind whenever you read a great book. You will know whether a book is great or not based on the thoughts it awakens inside you. As you continue this habit of reading and reflecting on what you read, you will start forming your own thoughts and values. It will challenge your mind and the thoughts, customs and traditions that you have grown up with. However, there is one thing which you should always remember when you make this a daily habit, as you are investing a part of your life doing it. Too much reading, without any thinking and action isnt of much use. When you know you are ready to do something its time to move to the next step. Act upon what you think is right and what you have decided to do. Its easy to get so much involved in the reading process, that you forget that the main purpose of reading is to make you a better person which can only happen when you act upon it. Just finishing one book after another without any real action from your side wont help you. What kind of person you want to be and what you would ultimately become depend greatly upon the type of content that you read and how much you act upon them. Reading articles that promote negativity, hatred and give wrong information is dangerous. Its better to not read anything at all than read such articles. Whether you read on some electronic device or prefer reading an actual book. Thats your personal choice. Personally, i prefer to read actual books whenever possible. I find that even after hours of reading my eyes feel fresh and full of energy. Thats something i dont find when i read too much on my computer. Before ending this article, i would like to summarize few important points and also suggest some Dos and Donts of reading: * Always read your content from a safe distance. Neither too close to your eyes neither too far away from your eyes. * Always prefer quality over quantity. Better to read one great book than hundred mediocre ones. * Understand properly what you have read and reflect upon it. * Dont accept anything blindly that you read but think for yourself and try to understand the reason behind whats been written. * Bookmark interesting pages for future reference. You never know when you will need them. * Sometimes it takes more than one reading to fully grasp some thing. Dont be disappointed if you dont understand a book in one reading. Maybe when you come back to it the next time, you will get it. * Focus completely on what you are reading. Dont think about other stuff while reading. * If possible, create a favorite spot in your house for reading books. You will feel more relaxed whenever you are there. * And above all, enjoy your reading experience. The habit of reading good content daily will act like an exercise for your mind and keep you mentally fit and flexible. If you have never given it a try then always remember that its never too late to start a good habit.

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Bride :: Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Bride You may well be wondering what the Bride is doing making a speech. Well, those of you who know me well, know that I always have talked too much and usually find a way to get my two cents worth in so it probably is no surprise! I also wanted to say thank you to those deserving in my own words. When I met Ray, I was totally off men and relationships, so it is a more than a little surprising to find myself standing here just under two years later! I have my sister to thank for this remarkable conversion, as she was the Cilla Black wannabe who got us together – with all the subtlety of Blind Date I might add. Her favorite trick was to invite Ray to come for drinks with her and I and then suddenly â€Å"remember† she’d left the iron on or hadn’t fed the cat or any other such nonsense. Of course this was highly embarrassing and cringe-making but I am so very grateful to Donna for knowing us both better than we knew ourselves, knowing that we should be together and putting us in each others’ lives. She has been a great Bridesmaid and she has helped a lot over the last few months; not least in the organisation of a top hen party - the details of which follow the time honoured code of â€Å"What goes on tour, stays on tour†! Donna not only is the best sister a girl could ever have but she is also my very bestest friend and has been my idol since I arrived in this world. Thank you so much for everything, not least for loving me. This is just a small gift as a token of our love and appreciation. While I am on thanking there are a few more that I would like to do and I promise to be brief! Firstly thanks to all of you for coming and thank you for the wonderful gifts – we’ll look forward to opening them when we get back from honeymoon. I know that most of you took time off work and travelled a long way to be here and I want to say how much it means to us to share our day with the family and friends that love us. Sadly not everyone could be with us and I would especially like to mention Ray’s Grandfather, George who sadly passed away last year and my favourite Aunt, Auntie Kissie who has been very ill and wasn’t well enough to make the journey.

It’s Also For Me Essay

Since I was in prep school, there is always a significant number of people who talk to me in English. And even if it’s not my prime vernacular, I try really hard to converse back. I have to admit that, most of the time, I have difficulties in understanding native English speakers as the use of slang is very popular here in the United States. I got the hang of it, though, by trying to learn the language on my own – whenever my schedule permits. I scan the dictionary every once in a while, read English short stories often, and ask my friends to talk to me in English whenever possible. These are the few ways I dig to acquire competence in writing and speaking in English, not to mention the fact that I never have had an English subject back in elementary and high school. Now that I plan to enter college, I need to pass the University Writing Skills Requirement (UWSR) as a requisite for a baccalaureate degree in my prospect university. This requirement is to measure a student’s competency in English writing. It’s a tough thing for me – that’s a given. But with my determination and persistence to hone my English skills (writing in particular), I am certain that I will be able to go through it and be admitted. Why not? This could also be for me! I want to prove to myself that even if I’m not a native English woman, I can put myself in a position where the natives are in – level myself to them, so to speak. I started writing in English in grade school. Even if my phrasing is bad, and most of my sentences consist of grammatical errors, I never forwent my desire to write. To strike a balance, though, I also write in my native language which is . I kept a diary and wrote a number of poems both in English and in . Back then, I remember I had troubles with my subject-verb agreement. I weren’t able to differentiate phrases from sentences, nouns and verbs, the past and present tenses and all that jazz. And as to speaking, I seemed to suck at pronunciation; I used to pronounce mad, mud and mod in the same way! But as I said, that was before. I am now pretty complacent of my English skills, more importantly in writing. I considered challenge every single encounter I had with a native English speaker. I tried to talk back with all confidence; and true indeed, each experience 0effected to an improvement in my skills. I am positive about satisfying the UWSR by taking the Writing Skills Test (WST) which will demonstrate my critical thinking and good analysis. I answered a few English-written essays before, analyzed a few texts and answered tough personal questions from previous mentors. These have greatly helped me in enhancing whatever level of English I possess. With these all together, I am confident to take the WST. Young optimist I am, I believe that language should never ever curtail a child’s longing to be educated in a good school. Education for me is something to be literally fought for – something a child, no matter how financially constrained, should not fail to have. Everyone is entitled to it. I AM ENTITLED TO IT. Source: Writing Skills Test. California State University-East Bay. Retrieved 06 March 2008 at http://www. testing. csueastbay. edu/uwsr/wst/wsthome. php

Olladas Critique Paper War is a Tender Thing Final Draft

In the case of Disdain Rumples parents, It's both. How they choose to react to the situation is what determines their destiny. Disdain's mother shows indifference to a number of political issues in the beginning. Her character is stoic. The way she answers her daughters questions suggests she doesn't care about any of it at all. The film also introduces that Disdain's mother is Christian while her father is a Muslim. For Christians, the most important ideal is â€Å"to love your enemies and die in the pursuit of ringing them love†.On the other hand, for Muslims, it's fighting the enemies of Islam and dying as a martyr of Allah. Sacrifice is an important ideal in both religions but its meaning in each religion is completely opposed. â€Å"A Christian can never be in love with a Muslim†, she says as she talks about the conflict between Christians and Muslims and how it was at fault, in some way, for her separation with Disdain's father. Moreover, there's a certainty in he r voice, as if no one can have a say in her decision, when she makes up her mind to end heir marriage.But what one fails to recognize while watching her, what one may think is an act of selfishness, is actually an act of selflessness. â€Å"I'd rather we be separated and he be alive than we be together and he be dead. † These are the words of her mother that really struck me. Any woman who loves her husband very much has an extreme fear of losing him but in the film, Disdain's mother was able to cast out that fear because of her deep love. She prefers to be far from her husband so his life could be spared, so that he could be safe.Personally, saw the film as something astonishingly moving; how it was able to remarkably express that feeling of wanting and loving something or someone you know you cannot possibly have because of all the wars and religious conflicts; how the mother's strong yet affectionate personality captured the core and soul of the title itself; the way the s cenes were shot-?so very frank and forthright. Perhaps its simplicity-?having the camera record what everyone has to say without using special effects or requiring the people to wear make-up or to dress up-?is what makes it exceptional.The pureness of the idea about the coexistence betwixt love and war that Disdain Arum presents in the film is undeniably impressive. Everyone has a different definition of love. Love to one person is letting go even if it hurts. For others, love is to give something up for someone to be in a better situation. But for Disdain's mother, love is those two definitions put together. It is the very essence of the courage, especially in their situation, to do the right thing even when the cost is great. That, my friend, is fearless love.

The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow

The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow What could you accomplish if you had a week or two to focus exclusively on your writing, with all your needs taken care of, no interruptions, no TV or chores or kids to distract you? Your days and nights to yourself, with the time and space to work at your own pace, in your own way? In the historic arts community of Eureka Springs, two adjacent houses, surrounded For breakfast and lunch you can fetch supplies or leftovers, fill your basket and take it back to your room or kitchen. All suites have mini fridges and coffee makers. But dinners are special: Monday to Friday, Colony kitchen goddess Jana prepares beautiful and satisfying gourmet dinners for writers to share while gathered around a big table. It’s a time to socialize, unwind, process your work, get and share ideas in a creative flow. To qualify, one doesn’t have to be a published writer, have a bestseller, be famous or have an agent. The only requirements are to step up, fill out a simple application form, have a plan for what you’ll work on while in residence, and submit a sample of your work. Introspection and modesty dog the writer’s journey. Self-deprecating assumptions can stifle all forward movement: â€Å"Oh, I’m not a real writer. I’m not famous enough yet, eligible, educated, etc.† Our literary heroes have used those same disclaimers. And yet, given the opportunity and grace of uninterrupted time in a perfect environment, with solitude, support and meals, many residents astound themselves with the level of productivity they achieve and the quality of the writing they produce. But no one can write all the time. When it’s time to take a break from the printed page, residents only have to step outside the door to find beautiful trails to wander, or streets lined with Victorian and Queen Anne houses to stroll. The entire city of Eureka Springs is on the National Historic Register, and residents are very careful to preserve the historic accuracy of their homes and public buildings. Downtown streets are lined with galleries and funky little shops filled with hand-crafted and unique items. The Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library is worth a visit, and it’s only a half-mile stroll from the Colony. On weekends, when Jana is not preparing dinner, Eureka Springs offers more than 42 sit-down restaurants with all kinds of cuisines, from burgers to more elegant offerings. How much does this cost? The fee is $55 a night, including food, with a one-time Internet fee and a cleaning fee. That means you can get seven days and nights for $430. There is a one-week minimum stay and a three-month maximum. Check it out on the website, www.writerscolony.org, or visit the Facebook page to see what other writers say about it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/149738778602/?ref=br_tf The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow 515 Spring Street Eureka Springs, AR   72632 Ph:   479-253-7444 Email: director@writerscolony.org writerscolony.org/

Samurai Warriors Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Samurai Warriors - Research Paper Example It is a common fallacy to think of the Samurai as fierce warriors, since the best of them were great visionaries who pursued spiritual, artistic and cultural endeavors apart from their regular, prescribed duties. The samurai were people of the aristocratic warrior class, but after the 12th century, it referred to all the warriors who gained power in the 12th century and ruled national politics and society up to the Meiji Restoration of 1868. The transformation of the samurai from a purely warrior class began during the Tokugawa period. A very important part of the Samurai life was to engage oneself in literary and artistic pursuits. Some of the finest gardens, buildings, poetry, landscapes, especially the rock gardens, and paintings are the handiwork of the Samurai and the renowned tea ceremony as well as the Kabuki and Noh theaters were part of the Samurai legacy in the Japanese society. It was one of the prescribed routes given to them to reach their full potential and ultimately acquire the Way. The Samurai, in spite of being warriors, had some of the finest qualities to be found in men and writing about them Xavier said that â€Å"among barbarous nations there can be none that has more natural goodness than the Japanese†¦ wonderfully desirous of honor and rank†¦ however poor†¦ receive the same honor from the rest as if they were rich".

Soil orders and their associated environmental elements Essay

Soil orders and their associated environmental elements - Essay Example Gley tundra soils are formed in the conditions of permanent water saturation and low temperatures. They are typical for landscape-geographical zones of the tundra, and located on plains illustrative of eternal frost. Another characteristic feature of tundra soils is their formation without great influence of the vegetation. â€Å"The exact character of these soils depends on the ground ice position, slope and the vegetation. If the slope is stable, peaty soils are formed due to slow organic and chemical action. In case of steep slopes, thin soils result† (Pujari). Considering the shallow depth of melting in summer ground, and below it the beginning of a frozen horizon, even a seasonal thawing layer is characterized by low temperature and is over-soppy with water, which cannot seep into the deeper land layers. All this slows down the activity of micro-organisms, decomposition cause of plant residues, and the formation of soils. For inhibit access of oxygen, tundra soils are fea tured with a bluish-grey gley horizon. The surface of tundra soils is often complicated with hummocky micro-relief. They are acid, poor in grounds, with scanty reserves of nutrients. Consequently, fertility of tundra soils is low. This is due to their relative youthful age and lack of activity of biological processes. As for the associated climate of gley tundra soils, it is subarctic with extremely long-lasting winter. As most of the tundra lies within the Arctic Circle, it experiences winter polar night. The severity of winter depends on the continentality. As a rule, the tundra practically has no climatic summer, or the latter comes for short time. The average temperature of the warmest month (July or August) is 50-59  °F. In summer all vegetation rises with the polar day oncoming (or the white nights in those parts of the tundra, where the polar day does not reach). May and September is spring and autumn. Tundra soils are characterized

Investment and Portfolio Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Investment and Portfolio Analysis - Essay Example 102-103). Such the yields are available for the public. For instance, one can easily find them on the Internet. The characteristics of a bond determine timing and values of associated cash flows. Therefore, an investor can easily discount all cash flows associated with a bond to figure out fairly good estimate of its value. As for the common stocks, the company that issues the stock can invest some portion of its earnings in projects in hope to increase the value of the firm. The rest of the earnings is distributed among the shareholders in the form of dividends. Unfortunately, â€Å"the details on forthcoming projects are not generally public information† (Ross, Westerfield and Jaffe 1999, p. 109). Therefore, the patterns of cash flows shareholders receive are not known in advance and can be much more complicated than those bondholders receive. However, a number of techniques for stock valuation were developed. All of them need as input â€Å"investor’s required retur n on the stock† and â€Å"growth rate† of one or several indicators of companys performance such as "dividends, earnings, cash flow or sales" (Reilly and Brown, 2003, p. 377). To estimate the first input, investors can use the return of a common stock of the respective class and rating as a useful benchmark (Haugen, 1979, p. 68). Due to above mentioned complexity, accompanied by the fact that the guarantees to the investors in common stocks differ from the ones to the investors in bonds, sometimes these inputs can be estimated only roughly. Moreover, their uncertainties can turn out to be â€Å"too large to be practical† (Ross, Westerfield and Jaffe 1999, p. 111). Thus, generally investors produce better estimates of bond values than those of common stock ones. To identify appropriate investments, portfolio managers figure out a set of â€Å"marketwide and industrywide factors† that makes unsystematic risks of

Type of business, purpose and ownership Essay Example for Free

Type of business, purpose and ownership Essay Sainsbury’s Sainsbury’s is the UK’s most long standing major food retailer, having opened its first shop in 1869. Sainsbury’s brand is built around providing fresh and tasty food for its customers. It differentiates itself from other supermarkets by offering a broad range of products at a great price, a strong ethical approach to business and continuous leadership. The size of Sainsbury’s consists of 504 supermarkets and 309 convenience stores. A large Sainsbury’s produces over 30,000 products. Sainsbury’s is currently in the tertiary and secondary sector, this is because Sainsbury’s provides services (through banks), sell goods and own their own farm. Their purpose is to exceed customer’s expectations for fresh and healthy food, making their lives easier every day. Sainsbury’s ownership is the public limited sector because it sells its goods on the stock exchange. Sainsbury’s key stakeholders are: Customers: They want a company to produce products that meet or exceed their needs, they would like to see improvements Employees: They want the company to provide them a source of revenue; they seek security for employment, promotional opportunities and good rates of reward Suppliers: Want stable instructions and punctual payments. They want to be valued by the company they work for. RSPCA RSPCA stands for Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The vision of RSPCA is to work in a world that humans respect and live in harmony with the natural world. RSPCA first begun in 1824 as society for prevention of cruelty to animals. It total profit is funded by donations and legacies. Local inspectors were appointed and people promised to donate  £20 pounds towards their inspectors. This has created 172 branches in English and Wales. In addition to the branches, there is one charity run by an animal trust and the other is run by a charitable company. RSPCA is currently in the tertiary sector as they provide services for animals that need to have health checks. Their purpose is to provide animals with special needs a loving home. RSPCA is categorised into a charitable trust, this is to raise funds and support them for good causes. RSPCA’s key stakeholders  are: Employees: The employees will be happy to work on a charitable basis and also need to be caring fo r the animals in need. Government: The government wants RSPCA to be successful, it would like to see prosperous business that take full responsibility in welfare of society Local and National communities: The actions of the business has a remarkable outcome on the communities, the communities therefore represent interest groups. Summary: The main differences between Sainsbury’s and RSPCA is that Sainsbury’s sells products like food and clothes for money and services , while RSPCA provide services that raise money for the services they provide for example they ask people to donate money to help animals in need The main similarities are Sainsbury’s and RSPCA are in the same sector because Sainsbury’s provide services like banking to people who can’t come to their shops to buy their shopping. RSPCA provide a service that look after animals and give them medical treatment

The brander-krugman model

The brander-krugman model Extended Essay 1 The Brander-Krugman model, also known as the reciprocal dumping model, explains the possibility of international trade in a homogenous good. In doing so, it raises an interesting issue: is this apparently pointless trade socially beneficial? Meanwhile, Corden developed a more realistic customs union (CU) theory compared to orthodox theory by relaxing the assumption of constant marginal costs (MC). While the framework of these two models are similar, their conclusions are very different, the reasons for which are discussed further below. a) Both models are set in a partial equilibrium framework; the prices of all substitutes and complements of the good in question are assumed to be constant, as are the income levels of consumers, allowing for an easier analysis of welfare gains from the formation of the customs union (CU). Within this framework, there is a single producer in each of the CU countries that produces a homogenous good. The other similarity between the two models is that the tariffs set and faced by both countries (Home (H) and Partner (P)) before CU formation are equal .Thus, when the union is created a Common External Tariff (CET) already exists. Corden develops his model in further stages to include made-to-measure tariffs so that the CET has to be set upon CU formation. It is assumed that this will be set lower than the original tariffs that were imposed. The countries forming a CU in Cordens model are small relative to the rest of the world (R), implying that its formation will have no effect on world prices. In the Brander-Krugman model, all three countries (R is represented as one country) are identical in size. Symmetry is assumed between the firms in the Brander-Krugman model therefore the firms in each of the countries face the same constant marginal cost and domestic demand functions, contrary to Corden. Corden relaxes the assumption of constant marginal costs (MC) that is held in orthodox customs union theory, and assumes instead that the firms benefit from internal economies of scale and thus face declining marginal and average cost (AC) curves. Figure 1 shows that the minimum point of the firms AC curves is above the price paid for imports (pm). Hence a tariff is necessary to protect domestic production, which is set at T- pm and prevents R from importing to H and P. The domestic price being equal to the firms AC, they operate at a normal profit. The price received for exports (px) is assumed to be lower than pm as H and P also face tariffs. Therefore, their AC is greater than px and so they cannot export their goods either. Thus, unlike in the Brander-Krugman model, there is no international trade prior to CU formation. The main characteristic of the Brander-Krugman model is that the firms display Cournot behaviour the firms make decisions about their own output levels to maximise their profits assuming that the output levels of the other producers will not change[1]. This is not necessarily the case in Cordens model. b) The existence of internal economies of scale in Corden means that efficiency and welfare gains could be increased if a single firm increases its output and captures both markets following CU formation. This, along with the assumption that the firms face different cost functions, leads to the conclusion that the firm with the higher AC will exit the market and import the good from the firm that can produce it at a lower cost (this essay will assume that the partner firm exits the market). The assumption that the partner firm operated at a normal profit pre-CU indicates that there will be no loss of producer surplus and no welfare loss in P as it exits the market. Conversely, the symmetry between the firms in Cournot means that neither firm in the CU has a cost advantage over the other. Thus, both the home and partner countries benefit from CU formation by increasing trade with each other, resulting in an increase in output for both firms (Appendix, equation (1)). Although H and P have increased their overall output, the quantity they supply in each of their domestic markets decreases (equation 2). Although there is an overall gain in welfare in both models as a result of CU formation, the source of these gains differ. Both the home and partner countries experience a welfare gain from CU formation in Cournot given the symmetry, whereas only the home country benefits in Corden as the partner firm exits the market. In Cournot, the price falls in the markets (equation 3) and thus the welfare gain is largely reflected by an increase in consumer surplus (equation 4) in both the home and partner markets. The countries also lose welfare through a fall in tariff revenue (equation 5) and the firms profits may rise or fall depending on the elasticity of the aggregate demand in the CU (equation 6). However, Hs overall welfare gain is shown to be always positive (equation 7). In Corden, the assumption that the home and partner countries are small compared to the rest of the world implies that the CU firms are not large enough to compete with the outside firm and therefore the CU formation will not affect world prices. This, along with the assumption that the remaining firm within the CU maximises his profit by charging right up to the import-preventing price, which is the world price plus the CET, means that the price will remain unchanged. Thus, the increased welfare is due to an increase in the remaining firms producer surplus (figure 1, a+ß) as the fall in average cost (to J, figure 1) is not passed onto consumers. However, if made-to-measure tariffs are assumed and the CET is lower than both the initial tariffs, a price reduction will be induced in both countries and some of the welfare gain will be passed onto consumers. The symmetry in Cournot and differentiation in Corden also lead to different conclusions with respect to the impact on the rest of the world. In Corden, the CU formation does not affect Rs welfare under the assumption that there was no international trade pre-CU and there is still none post-CU. In Cournot, the fall in Rs output (equation 8) and the price drop in H and P impact negatively on the R firms profits (equation 9). As consumption and imports in R remain unchanged, Rs welfare is reduced. The main assumptions that lead to the different conclusions are those of symmetrical costs in Cournot and differentiation in Corden. This affects how the welfare gains are divided amongst the countries as well as how they are split between the producers and consumers. c) In discussing the appropriateness of the models to the EU situation, the relevance of the assumptions and the predicted results, and how the causes of these results compare with reality need to be considered. There are many studies that analyse how EU integration has affected trade flows in terms of trade creation and trade diversion. Trade creation is defined as intra-EU imports replacing domestic production; trade diversion as EU imports replacing imports from the rest of the world. By 1992, bilateral trade between any two EC countries was 65% higher than if the EC had not existed, supporting both models predictions that trade between the home and partner countries increases.[2] Over the period from 1959/60 to 1977, which includes both stages of integration for the EC and EFTA countries, annual trade creation was estimated at $20-31 billion and trade diversion at $5-8 billion.[3] This affirms the Cournot prediction that the partner firm would increase its imports to the home country at the expense of both domestic production and imports from the rest of the world. A study by the Single Market Review on the impact of the Single Market Programme (SMP) on trade creation and trade diversion gives a detailed insight into the relevance of the Corden and Cournot models to the EU situation.[4] Its data and analysis focuses on industries within the manufacturing sector, particularly the 15 industries that were likely to be particularly sensitive to the SMP.[5] Although there are some industries close to perfect competition with a concentration ratio of 0.00 or 0.01 such as clothing and boiler making most industries within the EU are relatively oligopolistic according to their average concentration ratios. The assumption of perfect information is unlikely to hold true. In many economic theories where this is assumed, it is highly unrealistic, especially with regards to the reactions of a firms competitors to the union formation. While Cournot assumes that firms face a constant MC, a 50% reduction in output from the minimum efficient scale of output led to an increase in AC, and therefore MC, in all the industries analysed, thus indicating the presence of economies of scale. The assumption that all firms display Cournot behaviour does not always hold in the context of the EU. Through a comparison of the changes in the price-cost margins and in the home firms market share in the domestic industry, it is evident that industries reacted in two very different ways. One group, including office machines and pharmaceutical products, experienced large cuts in their price-cost margins and a relatively small change in their market share, while the opposite is the case for the other group. It appears that the first group decided to reduce its prices instead of losing market share, implying that some firms do not compete on output but on price. However, the effect of changes in competitive behaviour by firms on market shares was extremely small for most industries and countries, though it was usually more important in the smaller EU countries.[6] Thus, changes in firms behaviour are relatively insignificant in affecting market shares, compared to other factors. The assumption of symmetrical firms is, again, an unrealistic one. Given that the country sizes within the EU are very different, it is highly likely that firms across the EU faced different market sizes and domestic demand functions before integration, and as a result, they are unlikely to be the same size or have the same cost functions. In terms of the impact of the CU formation on the industries, most of the results predicted in Cournot hold true from 1900-94, the period examined in this SMR report. The price-cost margins in the 15 sensitive industries fell by an average of 3.9%, while they fell by 3.6% in the manufacturing sector as a whole. The extent of this drop in each industry depends on the behaviour of the firms. The impact of the SMP on the respective market shares in the manufacturing sector as a whole is negative for the home industries, and positive for both the EU and the rest of the worlds market shares in the home country. Cournots model correctly predicted that the home firm would sell more while the partner firm would sell less in the home market. However, it predicts that the rest of the worlds share of the home market would fall. The SMR carried out two ex-post simulations; one with no direct external trade effects and one with. All of Cournots predictions regarding changes in the market shares hold true for the former simulation. However, the latter simulation is more accurate in reflecting the actual changes in market shares that were experienced over this integration period. This implies that the Cournot model does not take into account the increasing liberalisation of external trade over this period that also led to a reduction in extra-EU trade costs, either as a result of the CU formation or due to increasing globalisation. In terms of welfare, the changes support Cournots prediction that welfare increased in both H and P. The change in welfare measured as a percentage of GDP was greater than the percentage change in GDP in each of the EU countries analysed. The main goal of creating the single market in the EU was to increase its competitiveness with respect to large economies such as the USA through economies of scale. This implies that Cordens model should offer a more accurate picture of the EU. However, certain assumptions do not reflect the EUs characteristics. The assumption that the CU-forming countries are small may hold true for some of the EU countries; however, the implication of this that the customs union will be unable to affect world prices may not hold. Given the size of the EU, it is large enough to compete with the large economies such as the USA and Japan. Cordens predictions regarding changes in price and market shares are not appropriate to the EU situation, due to the strong assumptions that there was no international trade prior to the formation and thus no trade with the rest of the world after. Also, with the partner firm exiting the market, it is assumed that there is no increase in competition following CU formation, thus no change in the prices. However, there is evidence supporting the main conclusion of this model that the welfare gain is a result of restructuring, which leads to increasingly concentrated industries as firms can benefit from economies of scale as the size of the market that they have access to increases. Between 1987 and 1993, the four-firm concentration ratio increased by 2.3% across 71 industries in the EU.[7] This was partly due to increased restructuring; between 1987 and 1990, the percentage of MAs involving countries from two different member states jumped from 9.6% to 21.5% in anticipation of the Single Market. This replaced MAs within country borders which fell from 71.6% to 60.7% over the same period.[8] While it is true that EU industry concentration has increased, this is cannot be attributed solely to an expansion in the market size. Many industries already operated internationally in the 1980s and hence, a market size expansion would not have had as big an impact on the concentration level. The single market also led to a reduction in non-tariff barriers (especially barriers to entry) between EU member states, through public procurement liberalisation, increased ease of cross-border knowledge transfer and the free movement of capital. Cordens comparative static model fails to take into account the dynamic effects of EU integration. The aim of the SMP was much more ambitious than a mere elimination of the tariff barriers and thus both theories, which focus on the effects of a CU, are too simplistic to be wholly appropriate. Certain aspects of both models are comparable to the EU situation. However, Cordens model seems to be more suitable; while Cournots results regarding changes in the prices and respective market share were more accurate, Cordens underlying characteristics are much more appropriate to the current EU situation. 1 Friedman, James (1983), Oligopoly Theory, Cambridge University Press Frankel (1997) (Ali El-Agraa P175) Kreinin (1979b) (Ali El-Agraa P175 European Commission/CEPR (1997) Trade Creation and Trade Diversion, Subseries IV/ volume 3 of The Single Market Review Buigues, Ilzkovitz and Lebrun (1990) EC/CEPR, 1997, Trade creation and trade diversion Subseries V, Volume 4, Economies of Scale AMDATA in European Economy (1999)