Monday, August 24, 2020

USSR History Essay Example for Free

USSR History Essay The worker ladies collectivization occurred in the period somewhere in the range of 1928 and 1932 (Lynne, 1992). This aggregation can be viewed as a cutting edge social development intended towards battling for human rights. The laborer ladies demonstrated their political development through creation endeavors to battle for their privileges in a nation where resistance was incredible. To present day students of history the worker ladies can be viewed as operators as social change who utilized mental ability to achieve social change. This aggregation anyway was confronted with numerous obstructions, for example Soviet Union utilized purposeful publicity to prevent laborer ladies from getting together and joining in their battle against state approach (Lynne, 1996). Soviet Union realized that such a solidarity would be hindering to its extremist system (Lynne, 1992). The accomplishment of laborer ladies cooperation would likewise be negative to the destinations and objectives of Soviet Union. The Soviet Union can be contended to have been fixated on its fundamentalist sort of initiative and any slight danger must be managed. For example, worker ladies were viewed as in reverse and unequipped for initiating any social activity from its harsh government (Lynne, 1996). In light of this, the main conceivable clarification for the ladies aggregation was induction from hostile to soviet gatherings. Therefore it tends to be contended that the Soviet Union had a low assessment of the laborer ladies. This is appeared in their method of initiative whereby they use programming strategies to cause the worker ladies to do what they needed them to do. For example the Soviet Union made the ladies agree with their position through promulgation and the individuals who restricted them were treated with much savagery (Lynne, 1996). Then again, it tends to be contended that the initial step by the ladies in understanding their predicament and utilizing solidarity (aggregation) to battle for their privileges was a major achievement in the improvement of popular government in Soviet Union as well as on the planet.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Discuss how security requirements can be linked to business Essay

Talk about how security necessities can be connected to business prerequisites - Essay Example The fight is on for discovering the effective ways and plan strategies that can dissect the security dangers and execute the suitable moderation arrangements. As, each occasion or strategy has a superior effect and a more regrettable effect, the innovations that accelerate the business forms are additionally inclined to expand dangers of PC interruption, extortion, disturbance and some more. A fruitful association not just depends on finding imaginative arrangements or items yet in addition on the compelling execution of those arrangements. Here, innovation assumes a significant job as these mechanical improvements can make the executions less difficult, giving a wide scope of decision. Yet, the inquiry emerges in order to which is the correct decision This must be replied by careful research on the cost, soundness and dependability of the innovation to be utilized (WALSHAM, 1993). The Information System of the firm ought to have the option to process this undertaking by taking the outside (innovation usefulness) and interior (business condition) elements into account. Accordingly, the comprehension and joining of mechanical developments assumes a key job in the demonstrating of any Information System to help the business objectives and procedures. ... The association needs to examine all the conceivable outcomes and give the arrangement that is innovative stable and savvy, to actualize, keep up and alter in future. Security Management and Responsibilities Information Owner Each Line Department of the organization, with its own registering offices will delegate a senior individual from the staff as Data Owner. The duties of the Data Owner include: Information subject enquiry systems. To guarantee that all licenses to utilize frameworks and programming is exact, accessible and bought by monetary guidelines. Getting ready subtleties of who can get to what data, how and when, as indicated by the specific order of staff and data. Guaranteeing that all frameworks are kept up in compelling and controlled way. Guarantee suitable preparing of staff in frameworks and applications use. Those frameworks which are worked all through the organization ought to likewise have an assigned Data Owner. Information Owners over the organization will be educated by the Head regarding ead HeadInformation Compliance and Policy. With the current frameworks, guidance is accessible to help information proprietors meet their obligation in consenting to the Information Security Policy. Frameworks Development All frameworks must consent to the primary IT technique created for the organization by the IT group. Imprint Walker, a senior frameworks expert, expresses that an IT system is the absolute most significant factor for the achievement of an association reliant on IT for its activities (Walker, 2000). All framework advancements must incorporate security issues in their thought of new turns of events, looking for direction from the Head of Information Technology. The executives Responsibilities The administration has the most significant impact in building a fruitful

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Dysthymia Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping

Dysthymia Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping Depression Types Print An Overview of Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD on February 07, 2020 twitter linkedin Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Daniel B. Block, MD on February 07, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids JGI / Jamie Gril / Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping View All Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), formerly known as dysthymia, is a fairly new diagnosis that is characterized by chronic depression.  The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) consolidated dysthymia and chronic major depressive disorder under the umbrella of persistent depressive disorder, which includes any chronic depression running on a spectrum from mild to severe. These diagnostic changes were made to reflect the fact that there is no scientifically meaningful distinction between chronic major depressive disorder and what was previously known in the DSM-IV as dysthymic disorder. The word dysthymia comes from the Greek roots dys, meaning ill or bad, and thymia, meaning mind or emotions. The terms dysthymia and dysthymic disorder referred to a mild, chronic state of depression. Symptoms The symptoms of persistent depressive disorder are very similar to major depressive disorder. However, these symptoms are chronic, meaning that people have these depressive symptoms most days for a period of at least two years for adults and one year for children and teens. The symptoms include: Loss of interest and pleasure in daily activitiesLow moodFeelings of sadnessHopelessnessIncreases or decreases in appetitePoor self-esteemTrouble concentratingLack of energy or fatigueDecreased productivitySocial withdrawalIrritabilityFeelings of helplessnessFeelings of guiltSleep difficulties While people with major depressive disorder may have days or periods where they feel better, those with dysthymia have depressive symptoms almost all the time for a long time. PDD may have an early onset, with symptoms first appearing during the child, teen, or young adult years. In kids, the primary symptoms are depressed mood and irritability. Double Depression A person with mild depression meeting the diagnostic criteria for persistent depressive disorder can also experience major depressive episodes. When the major depressive episode has ended, however, there is a return to the previous state of chronic depression. This co-occurrence of PDD and major depressive disorder is something referred to as double depression. Causes Like other forms of depression, the exact cause of PDD is not known, but there are a number of factors that are believed to play a role, including: Genetics: Research suggests that having close family members with a history of depression doubles a persons risk of also developing depression.Brain chemistry: The balance of neurotransmitters in the brain can play a role in the onset of depression. Some environmental factors, such as prolonged stress, can actually alter these brain chemicals. Antidepressants work by altering these neurotransmitters in order to improve mood.Environmental factors: Situational variables such as stress, loss, grief, major life changes, and trauma can also cause depression. In many cases, these factors interact to increase the risk of developing depression. Factors That Increase the Risk of Depression Diagnosis There was and still is no laboratory test available for diagnosing dysthymia or any other form of depression. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and medical history. You will be asked questions about the nature, severity, and duration of your symptoms. Your doctor may conduct testing such as a physical and blood work to rule out any medical illnesses that might be causing your symptoms. To receive a diagnosis of PDD, your doctor must determine that your symptoms could not be better accounted for by drug or alcohol use, a medical condition, or another psychological disorder. In order to be diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder, your doctor will check to see if your symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5 which includes duration requirements. For adults, symptoms of depression must be experienced more often than not for at least two years prior.  For children, the requirement was lowered to one year. Lastly, the symptoms must result in significant distress or impairment of normal functioning. PDD is sometimes difficult to diagnose because symptoms are so long-lasting that many people begin to believe that their symptoms are simply a part of their personality or who they are rather than a result of a treatable condition. According to the American Psychiatric Association, between 0.5 and 1.5% of U.S. adults experiencing persistent depressive disorder each year. A 2017 study suggested that the lifetime prevalence for PDD with major depressive episodes was 15.2%.?? Treatment The treatments for persistent depressive disorder are similar to other treatments of depression.  Generally, a combination of psychotherapy and medications is the most effective. Talk Therapy Psychotherapy may involve a range of different techniques, but two that are often used are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). CBT focuses on learning to identify and change the underlying negative thought patterns that often contribute to feelings of depression.IPT is similar but focuses on identifying problems in relationships and communication and then finding ways to make improvements in how you relate to and interact with others. The Best Online Help Resources for Depression Medication There are a number of different types of antidepressants that may be prescribed to treat PDD, including: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include sertraline Zoloft (sertraline) and Prozac (fluoxetine). SSRIs work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which can help improve and regulate mood.Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which include Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine). SNRIs work by increasing the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. St. Johns Wort, which has been reported to be helpful in cases of mild to moderate depression, is sometimes used as a self-help remedy. While St. Johns Wort and other natural treatment options appear to work for some people with depression, its important that you never take any supplement without first talking to your doctor. When combined with antidepressants, this herbal remedy may lead to a dangerous complication known as serotonin syndrome. Drugs That Increase the Risk of Serotonin Syndrome Coping There are a number of different things that people can do to help cope with persistent depression. Because this type of depression is chronic, incorporating lifestyle changes and self-care with your medical treatments can be helpful. Some things that you can do that will complement therapy and medication: Get regular exercise several times each week.Establish a consistent sleep schedule.Avoid alcohol and other substances.Eat a healthy diet.Create daily routines that help structure your day.Practice stress management techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.Get out of the house and make plans with friends. It can be challenging to do many of these things when you are feeling depressed. While it may be a struggle, remember that you dont need to do it all perfectly. Even small changes can make a difference in your mood and mindset. For example, you might start out by making small goals and then gradually build on these over time.   Tips for Living With Depression A Word From Verywell Even very mild symptoms of depression can disrupt your ability to function and enjoy life, particularly when these symptoms are long-lasting. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available for persistent depressive disorder that can make a major difference in your health and well-being. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling to explore the treatment options that are right for you. What Is Mild Depression?

Friday, May 22, 2020

Csr An Agenda For Inclusive And Sustained Growth...

CSR: AN AGENDA FOR INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINED GROWTH INDICATOR RAISWA SAHA DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES SRM UNIVERSITY, SONEPAT, HARYANA ABSTRACT With the expanding globalization and persistent ecological issues, role of CSR has been redefined and aims to broaden the societal context within which it operates. CSR acts as a commitment for attaining inclusivity and community development in order to reflect a positive impact on the society. In an increasingly fast-paced global economy, CSR acts as enabler and driving force in order to attain sustained growth where markets, communities and the organizations can perform well together so to gain better access in making decisions and maximize the growth . Inclusiveness not only helps in increasing the growth rate of the economy but, it boosts the productivity and employment opportunities with sustainable long-term progress. In the age of stiff competitive market environment there is a growing consensus in the minds of the individuals to contribute towards the betterment of the society and take keen interest in adopting sustainable business policies. With the enormous potential of ful filling the expectations we need more investments in human capital and the relation-building between the stakeholders and the society. Inclusivity and Sustainability, the two very concepts are multi-dimensional in nature which leads to positive health outcomes, access to higher education, improved standards of living, development of skills,Show MoreRelatedRoadmap to Csr Sustainability in Healthcare16191 Words   |  65 Pages       CSR    Hospital   Sustainability   Road   Map    and   the   Balanced   Scorecard                                                          Preface    The   Hospital   CSR   Sustainability   Road   Map      Balanced   Scorecard   has   two   parts.   Part   One    focuses   on   the   fundamentals   of   Corporate   Social   Responsibility   (CSR)   and Read MoreA Project on Industrial Relations and Labour Welfare16776 Words   |  68 Pagesregional – stakeholders and extended development coalitions are vital for achieving the goal set by the Lisbon European Council – to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and with greater social cohesion. Within the economic and technological changes towards globalisation the regional dimension is gaining momentum. The following pages offer an overview about the discussions during the workshopRead MoreCNPC CSR report25861 Words   |  104 Pagesresponsibility performance in an objective, comprehensive and prioritized manner, the 2012 report added some contents like â€Å"Water Resources Management† and â€Å"Staff Communication. While compiling this report, we carried out on-site investigations on the CSR performance of our affiliated companies, verified the authenticity of case studies, extensively solicited opinions and actively responded to the concerns of all stakeholders. References: The Guideline on Fulfilling Social Responsibility by CentralRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagesfor meaningful accounting standardization. With an agenda as rich as this, it is all the more praiseworthy that Michael maintained his dialogues with both the academic and the practitioner communities. But that he did. Those who know Michael Bromwich are not surprised by his many involvements, however. Constantly striving, always curious and ever personable, he has developed a pattern of interests, involvements, and friendships that have sustained his very effective interventions in many institutionalRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  PAGE NUMBER IN THE BOOK 605 608 619 625 629 652 662 667 677 685 694 708 712 718 727 733 740 746 CASE Ministry of Sound – rapid growth but a questionable future in the music industry. Pharmaceutical Industry – global forces at work in the ethical pharmaceutical industry. TUI – competitive forces in the travel industry. HiFi – how can small players survive changing markets? AmazonRead MoreCase Study148348 Words   |  594 PagesChallenging Environment SABMiller Marks Spencer: Where Next for the Icon of British Retailing? Tesco: from Domestic Operator to Multinational Giant Ekomate Systems and the Indian Software Industry: Leveraging Network Relationships for International Growth Sustaining the Magic at Bang Olufsen Cordys: Innovation in Business Process Management iPod to iPad: Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Apple Grupo Ferrovial and the Acquisition of Amey plc Who Runs Education Now? Mergers and De-mergers in the PublicRead MoreI Love Reading Essay69689 Words   |  279 Pages10 : Figure 6.1 : Figure 6.2 : Figure 6.3 : Figure 6.4 : Figure 6.5 : Figure 6.6 : Figure 6.7 : Figure 6.8 : Figure 7.1 : Figure A.1 : Figure A.2 : Figure A.3 : Figure A.4 : Figure A.5 : PE/VC investments by industry in 2007(Total US$ 14.2 Bn) Growth of venture capital and private equity in India, 2000-2007 Investments by stage– Number of deals Building synergies Importance of education Qualiï ¬ cation of entrepreneurs Qualiï ¬ cation of entrepreneurs – Variations according to time period MBA and entrepreneurshipRead MoreStrategic Human Resource Management72324 Words   |  290 PagesThe classical definition of strategy comes from Chandler in Strategy and Structure (1962): ï  ¬ ï  ¬  © ABE and RRC Introduction to Strategic Human Resource Management 5 ï  ¬ ï  ¬ ï  ¬ Coordinate resources in a way that is designed to achieve sustained competitive advantage Identify future actions based on an analysis of the organisation s internal and external environments Determine organisation s activities over the medium to long term. Are strategies deliberate and planned? This is a keyRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesEmployees 123 Case Incident 1 Is It Okay to Cry at Work? 124 Case Incident 2 Can You Read Emotions from Faces? 124 S A L S A L 5 Personality and Values 131 Personality 133 What Is Personality? 133 †¢ The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 135 †¢ The Big Five Personality Model 136 †¢ Other Personality Traits Relevant to OB 139 x CONTENTS Values 144 The Importance of Values 144 †¢ Terminal versus Instrumental Values 144 †¢ Generational Values 145 Linking an Individual’s PersonalityRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pagesdevising a strategy for reducing crime and drug abuse within a city, or organizing a community effort to renovate a public playground would and do benefit from the application of modern project management skills and techniques. Perhaps the best indicator of demand for project management can be seen in the rapid expansion of the Project Management Institute (PMI), a professional organization for project managers. PMI membership has grown from 93,000 in 2002 to more than 270,000 currently. See the

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Global Environmental Environment - 1118 Words

â€Å"Leverage points for improving global food security and the environment† by West et. al. presents various actions that can help guide governments and multi level organizations in the quest to feed a growing population in a changing global climate. The paper focuses on four main strategies: improving yields and efficiency on existing croplands, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water quality degradation, and water use in agriculture, switching animal feed crop production to human-edible crops, and reducing food waste. The authors provide a wide array of relevant data, but fail to synthesize it in a way that is helpful to policymakers and stakeholders. There are so many interrelated factors that are conspicuously absent from this†¦show more content†¦Precision agriculture, access to finances and technology, quality seeds, and integrated crop/pest management knowledge are topics that ought to be focal points in the body of this paper. Soil science may be cons iderably less exciting than global production statistics, but these basics are at the core of the yield gap issue. Moreover, it is likely that governments and environmental stakeholders are aware of the agricultural/environmental statistics, but are unlikely to know how to support individual farmers in a way that promotes resilient and productive growth. Tangible methods are necessary for change, especially when providing guidance at the governmental level. On a positive note, the data that the authors provide about the potential calorie gains by closing the yield gap is highly valuable, and could provide incentives and targets for policymakers. While closing the yield gap will eventually be necessary to feed a growing population, it does nothing to increase food access for populations that are already food insecure. The diet gap, on the other hand, refers to human-edible crops that are already produced but are not directly consumed as food. This includes crops produced for biofuels , crops produced to feed livestock, and food that is wasted at all stages in the supply chain. A largeShow MoreRelatedIn TodayS Global Environment, Environmental Ethics Has1636 Words   |  7 PagesIn today s global environment, environmental ethics has become a necessary practice all around the world as environmental problems cross cultural boundaries. However, creating effective strategies for safeguarding and conserving the environment often bring about ethical issues. In these issues of how to reduce or get rid of pollution and hazardous waste, ethics is at the forefront, especially when there is an absence of laws to governor the issue or lack of adherence to the law. The benefit of employingRead MoreEnvironmental And Organizational Factors Of The Global Business Environment1039 Words   |  5 PagesEnvironmental and Organizational Factors The global business environment is constantly changing. In order for organizations to stay competitive and successful they need to be able to adapt to those changes accordingly. The biggest factors that affect organizations are social, economic, and technological. This paper will look at each of these factors and describe the current major issues surrounding them as well as provide strategies Ellard Williams, Incorporated can use to take advantage of theseRead MoreGlobal Business Environment Effect from Environmental Impacts1772 Words   |  8 PagesGlobal business environment can be impacted by many factors that cross country borders. Environmental factors can greatly affect global business in all corners of the world. Natural disasters, population growth, and pollution are problem areas that affect all countries. Because of the environmental impacts, all countries had to work together to find common solutions. In America, population growth and pollution find communities across the land reclaiming areas that have been left to waste.Read MoreInternational Political Market Values And Subsequent Free Trade Agreements869 Words   |  4 Pagesglobalization. As the global markets and economic competition intensifies, nations move towards trade liberalization. International trade agreements by extension of economic globalization are more often prioritized before environmental agreements. In fact it is evident that environmental policy is rarely prioritized over economic growth. The neo-liberal market ideals have encouraged the development of economic globalization and therefore sustain the approach to environmental policy that the global south needsRead MoreGlobal Warming : A Environmentally Friendly Community And Start A Global Movement1726 Words   |  7 Pages the state of our environment has only continued to deteriorate. Ever since industrialization, our carbon footprint has grown exponent ially, resulting in what we now know as global warming. If carbon emissions continue to rise and the pollution and destruction of the earth continues, life as we know it will eventually cease to exist. This is why we must stop idly watching and actively participating in the destruction of our environment; if there’s no life-sustaining environment there can be no lifeRead MoreGlobal Climate Change, Sustainable Development1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe Global Environmental Movement is one of the many (NGO’s) addressing international issues, mostly in developing countries, gathering and analyze technical information. Environmental issues have become a significant problem over the years, which raised concerns at the global and international levels, which provoke movements for environmental protection at the international level. From the early 1960s forward, concern about the global scopes of environmental harm and the movement for internationalRead MoreOutcome of RIO earth summit 19921626 Words   |  7 PagesIn 1992 the historic UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, popularly known as the Earth Summit) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil witnessed unprecedented political will and commitment among governments to make a paradigm shift to sustainable development. Acknowledging the twin crises of poverty and the environment. About the Conference†¦ United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) 2 week conference Largest gathering of world leaders in history â€Å"historic moment forRead MoreIn The Last 100 Years, The Amount Of Greenhouse Gases In1405 Words   |  6 Pagesgases. In the last 20 years, concern has grown that global warming is inevitable and now considered most probably caused by man-made increases in greenhouse gas emissions. In this essay, I will analyze Dr. Chukwumerije Okereke’s claims of intersectional oppression and domination of the environment concerning distributional injustices caused by globalization and industrialization of the developed countries. Dr. Chukwumerije Okereke is a global climate policy specialist with an aim to promote a moreRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Impact On The Environment952 Words   |  4 Pagesexpectancy becomes longer, the global environment is being negatively impacted by various human and natural activities that are detrimental to the environment. Unfortunately there are many global environmental issues that need the attention of world leaders today, and have become undisputed environmental issues in today’s society. However, the most important public health, environmental issue I would like to address in my discussion is global warming. Furthermore, global warming influences a great amountRead MoreEnvironmental Risk Perception Paper1324 Words   |  6 Pages Environmental Risk Perception Paper Justin Yates Environmental Psychology June 17, 2014 Gerry Lloyd Environmental Risk Perception Paper As the earth continues to age, there are many harmful and lasting direct consequences that the earth and the human nature have endured. The earth as well as humans has to digest all the pollution, deforestation, changes in the environment, and the epic fails of humans trying to better the human life through technology and many

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

“Bartleby the Scrivener” by Herman Melville Free Essays

This short story entitled â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener† by Herman Melville gave as an idea about the several interesting characters with many poles apart personalities. But the one that was caught our attention was Bartleby. This man was a scrivener, which, in simple words, was a human description of a modern day copy machine. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener† by Herman Melville or any similar topic only for you Order Now He did his job exceptionally well; he never stopped working, and got things done rapidly and proficiently. But, Bartleby was a man of one phrase: â€Å"I would not prefer to†. He said this as a reply to everything that was requested of him other than to copy documents. Well in fact, he absolutely refused what his boss asked him to do. This confused the reader about Bartleby. But, Melville, never seemed to present an answer to this mystery. Another thing that caught my attention was that he never said â€Å"I will not. †, but â€Å"I prefer not. † This implied us that the individual he was talking to has a choice as to what Bartleby would or wouldn’t do, but in such a way, it was explained that he puzzled the narrator’s feelings, and for a long period of time, it caused him to accept the statement as a â€Å"no†. I concluded this as one of the weaknesses of the narrator as a business owner, but at the same time made me thought what was Bartleby’s reason for responding in such a way. I also found out very interesting about him was his living habits. He decided to stay at the office which he didn’t even bother to ask the permission of his boss (the narrator). He washed, slept, and worked in that place also. He refused (or stated that he would â€Å"prefer not†) to adjust his living arrangements. The narrator transferred his business because Bartleby didn’t want to vacate the place after the new occupant arrived. The narrator understood him but in the end Bartleby was put into prison because of him also. To cut the story short, Bartleby died at the prison. The narrator had an investigation and discovered that his last job caused him some mental affliction and psychological disturbance. In my own point of view, I think if the narrator learned about the real situation of Bartleby as early as possible, he would treat him with compassion and understanding. The reason of Bartleby by telling â€Å"I prefer not to,† â€Å"I prefer not to,† was to isolate his self among the rest and his lack of interest for involvement. The narrator explained in the passage below how he treated Bartleby, â€Å"I placed his desk close up to a small side window in that part of the room, a window which originally had afforded a lateral view of certain grimy backyards, and bricks, but which, owning to in subsequent erections, commanded at present, no view at all, though it gave some light. Within three feet of the panes was a wall, and the light came down from far above between two lofty buildings, as from a very small opening in a dome. Still further to satisfactory arrangement, I procured a green folding screen, which might entirely isolate Bartleby from my sight, though, not remove him from my voice. † The narrator, himself, had separated and secluded Bartleby from the real world. In my opinion, what the narrator did wasn’t able to help Bartleby overcome his trauma from his last work. It only added to the emotional problems that he hid from the start. He used to tell the word â€Å"I prefer not to† because he thought that he couldn’t do anything aside from his work and he didn’t even bother to mingle with other people because he considered himself unacceptable to whatever or whoever. For me, Bartleby didn’t want to isolate himself from other, in such a way that they couldn’t understand him, but the truth was the people that surrounded him, did the isolation. Because of that, he developed negative impressions toward himself and others. As I analyzed this short story, I came up with the judgment that isolation was risky. It can drive an individual to insanity, make him speechless, or even kill his own self. The lesson was not to allow your own self to be overcomed by prejudices and discrimination, and let yourself be isolated. How to cite â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener† by Herman Melville, Papers

Monday, April 27, 2020

Southwest Case Study free essay sample

In 2009 Gary Kelly, the CEO of Southwest airlines, was contemplating what it would take for Southwest to survive the economic downfall, due to high oil prices and decline in demand, that was upon the airline industry. One might argue that in the face of many options Southwest both diversified in there solutions as well as stayed true to the brand they had created. We will argue they did both. They branched out in terms of expansion and customer service, while remaining true to their brand in terms of management style and their online presence, or digital strategy. Introduction This case study is the story of a small regional airline carrier applying southwest values to become a major industry force. Southwest airlines began its business nearly 40 years ago in Dallas, Texas. Out of the ashes of a regional airline fight, Southwest airlines flourished by applying its two key goals of simplicity and low costs. We will write a custom essay sample on Southwest Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In 2009 (the time this case study was published), Southwest Airlines had decreasing revenues due to the financial housing/lending crisis, but was faring much better than many of its rivals. The 2009 10-K for Southwest Airlines does not list the direct competitors of the company. However, Yahoo’s financial website lists several of Southwest’s current competitors: Delta Airlines (DAL), Jet Blue (JBLU), and United Continental Holdings (UAL). Southwest Airline’s total revenues for FY09, FY08, and FY07 were $10,350MM, $11,023MM (11. 55% growth), and $9,861MM, respectively. A large percentage of these fluctuations in revenue can be explained in relation to passenger fares with FY09 average passenger fares of $114. 61, FY08 of $119. 16, and FY07 of $106. 60. As the economy took off from 2007 to 2008, so did the fares which also increased Southwest airlines total revenue. The opposite holds true as we entered the deepest parts of the recession in 2009, and average fares declined. Southwest airlines also has positive net income, which is in contrast to many of its competitors. See the table below for additional details: Table 1 Southwest’s Key Information Southwest (LUV) FY09 (in millions)FY08 (in millions)FY07 (in millions) Revenue$10,350$11,023$9,861 Op. Expenses$10,088$10,574$9,070 Net Income$99$178$645 Cash$1,114$1,368$2,213 Acct Rec$169$209 Inventory$221$203 CapEx$585$923$1,331 Southwest’s competitors were also on the move in FY09. In FY09, Delta Airlines was engaged in several alliances with international and domestic carriers to improve market penetration and cooperation of frequent flier mileage programs. Financially, Delta has reduced capacity and is interested in completing the merger with Northwest. JetBlue, on the other hand , is a smaller regional airline carrier, utilizes only electronic tickets, allows reservation specialists to work from home, utilizes similar aircraft (Airbus A320 EMBRAER 190) that are generally new, and maintains a strong position in the New York Area (40% of all domestic passengers at JFK). JetBlue was also hit by the recession s net income dropped in FY08, but rebounded in FY09. United Airlines, on the other hand, had a slight uptick in revenue, but lost money in FYs 08 09 (as evidenced in net income). To further compound the disastrous economic environment, the company suffered hedging losses as a result of oil climbing to $145/barrel and immediately collapsing to the $30/barrel range. United Airlines has a large international and domestic presence, while also carting cargo (3% of company’s total revenue). In summary, Delta and United are industry behemoths that fly both domestically and internationally and use the spoke and hub approach to air travel. Meanwhile, JetBlue is an upstart Northeast regional air carrier that employs a cost-conscious strategy similar as Southwest Airlines. In contrast, Southwest Airlines only fly’s domestically, and utilizes discount pricing and cost-efficient methods to pass savings on to customers. Problem Definition According to the U. S. Department of Transportation airlines can be categorized into four types of services: International, National, Regional, and Cargo (â€Å"The Industry Handbook,† n. d. ). Although Southwest started as a regional airline in 1971 it has grown to become one of the world’s largest low-cost carriers while still remaining a national service carrier, currently servicing only the United States. In 2008 the airline industry as a whole was facing slowing demand and an increase in fuel prices that, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), cost the industry US$5. 2 billion in lost revenues (â€Å"IATA Airlines to lose US$5. 2 billion in 2008 Slowing Demand and High Oil to Blame,† n. d. ). Southwest Airline faces intense competition in the airline industry due to common factors including but not limited to airport capacity, route structures, technology, cost of aircraft, weather, fuel costs and labor. The focus for this paper will be the strategy that they took in addressing management style, opportunity for expansion, enhancing customer experience and their digital strategy in terms of sales to get ahead, or stay ahead, of the competition. In Porter’s five forces analysis, as seen in figure 1, you can see that competition arises from both horizontal and vertical sources, other airlines, consumers and suppliers, respectively. Other airlines introduce the availability of substitutes, competitive rivalry and threat of new entrants which lends to Southwest’s considerations to expansion and management style. The consumers and suppliers introduce the power of the bargaining, hence the attention to enhancing customer service and online strategy. Figure 1: Porters Five Force’s Analysis Model In the â€Å"Enhancing Service at Southwest† case the 10% drop in passenger traffic along with the loss of revenues and profits is stated as being the root cause of concern for the airline, which is in line with what the industry was facing at that time. Southwest was in need of determining how it would handle the service decisions. The operating model for the airline had been focused on point-to-point travel without all the frills. They did not offer assigned seats, meal service, coordination between airlines or business class options and services, but was this a service strategy that could continue? Many airlines had been offering such services and it was time to decide if enhancing customer service by adding these services would fit into the Southwest strategy. Another strategy that could be adopted would be for Southwest to expand into international markets, being a national carrier at the time this was outside of their current structure and experience. International markets bring the necessity to look at the taxation, infrastructure, environmental and economic state of the countries that would be serviced. Could Southwest airlines successfully integrate into the international market? Southwest was one of the first companies to offer purchase of its services online, which allowed for lower overhead and ability to fill flights that had not sold out at the last minute using its DING! application. With the availability and use of the internet increasing, along with their competition employing similar capabilities, was it time for Southwest to upgrade? Although Southwest used the internet as a medium for passengers to manage their itineraries, check in before arriving at the airport, and even purchase tickets from their phone. In an age of information that was the value customers had come to expect (Johnson and Hall, 2009). Many airlines were now offering reward incentives, additional booking tools and other add-ons that no longer gave Southwest the competitive advantage they were used to. Similarly, the good spirited nature and playful anecdotes by employees along with pleasant customer service has become part of what was expected by Southwest customers. Although, other airlines did not offer quite the same experience that you would get by flying with a Southwest crew, they did offer other amenities that were lucrative to travelers, especially business travelers. Southwest management wanted to provide a working environment for their employees that was enjoyable, as this excitement would be passed down to their customers. Would the management style and operational strategy allow Southwest to stay above water when the demand started to increase? This was something that needed to be addressed by the management team that was keeping employees during the time of employee reduction throughout the industry. The questions related to service, expansion, digital strategy, and management performance will be addressed in this case analysis. Analysis A chief differentiator for Southwest Airlines is service. However, in the competitive landscape of the airline industry it is easy for a competitor to copy the strategy of another. Thus, it is important for Southwest to continuously innovate its approach to service. Chapter 2 of the textbook Operations and Supply Chain Management highlights several competitive dimensions of service (Jacobs and Chase, 2011): 1. Cost or Price 2. Quality 3. Delivery Speed 4. Delivery Reliability 5. Coping with Changes in Demand The case study highlights how Southwest Airlines adopts low cost coast to coast fares of $99. The market share for low cost air carriers has grown to nearly 30% of the entire market (Murakami, 2013). Whenever Southwest Airlines enters a market, there is a direct correlation between cost reductions of current incumbents and Southwest. However, full service airlines also fight back by â€Å"differentiating their services against those of LCCs or vice-versa, and eventually the airlines differentiating services gained the power to be able to control their price-cost margins† (Murakami, 2013). This is another reason for Southwest to continue to innovate its cost package. The year after the case study, Southwest tried to reduce cost by: salary freezes for upper management and the overall headcount, reduced capital expenditures on new aircraft, the addition of winglets to reduce drag on its airplanes, and by adding GPS to its airplanes opening air-routes by not relying on ground based information/data (â€Å"EDGAR ONLINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV) 10-K 1/29/2010,† n. d. ). As the company rebounded from the depths of the recession, it has tried to maintain costs through: periodic engine washes, ground power for airplanes at gate, auto-navigation instrumentation to maintain optimum cruising speeds, lower engine idle speeds, and single engine taxiing (â€Å"EDGAR ONLINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV) 10-K 2/7/2013,† n. d. ). In addition, to all of these cost-cutting methods, Southwest Airlines is in the process of converting several of its airplanes to be green. This means that parts of the airplane, such as the seat covers, will be made out of recycled parts. In return, Southwest earns credits in return that can be used to buy fuel as discounted prices and even pass more savings on to the consumer. Quality is paramount to business. Per the hybrid model study, â€Å"having developed high levels of quality capabilities significantly supports the development of delivery capabilities† (Hallgren, Olhager, Schroeder, 2011). The quality of Southwest’s service personnel speaks for itself. In a study performed by the Mays Business School, Southwest Airlines was ranked second only to JetBlue for: individual attention, helpfulness, courtesy, promptness, and overall satisfaction (Babbar Koufteros, 2008). This speaks mountains about Southwest’s ability to grow its market share through intense focus on servicing its customer. While examining opportunities to improve or cut costs related to service, Southwest undoubtedly considered service offshoring. The problem with service offshoring is that it can lead to cultural conflicts that ultimately lead to lower quality (Youngdahl, Ramaswamy, Dash, 2010). Southwest has stuck to its core values over time of only hiring the best employees (~1. 5% of applicants) in the markets that it serves. The problem is that the other airlines may eventually adopt this service emphasis. At the time of the case study, Southwest was interested in improving its service by: adding â€Å"Fly By† Security Lanes (priority access for top-tier customers), improved baggage tracking, call back service while waiting for customer support on the telephone, and outbound messaging which has allowed the company to send flight information to its customers (â€Å"EDGAR ONLINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV) 10-K 1/29/2010,† n. Since the depths of the recession, Southwest has tried to improve service by: inflight internet live television, improved outbound messaging with the ability to be hang up and be re-connected later when an agent is available, and by giving gate agents hands free headsets so that they can better serve the customer at the gate (â€Å"EDGAR ONLINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV) 10-K 2/7/2013,† n. d. ). Southwest also relies on providing its services (i. e.  , aircraft) with reliable speed to meet the market’s changing demands (points 3,4,5 above). By utilizing the same Boeing 737 airplanes across its entire business, Southwest obtains cost advantages in maintenance, spare parts, training of staff and utilization of pilots across any plane. Utilization of the same plane design also has advantages in decreasing the airline industry’s bottleneck: transitions. Per the case study, the average time for a transition is 60 minutes, while Southwest currently averages 25 m inutes. In order to minimize the impact from the bottleneck, Southwest has all employees both on and off the aircraft service it while it is docked. By understanding the layout of the plane, attendants are able to seamlessly communicate key transition steps. Throw in speedy boarding, and Southwest is able to minimize the transition time. Also, Southwest has historically maintained a new air fleet, which also cuts back on maintenance while adding to reliability. In the FY12 10-K, management discussed a strategy to modernize its aging fleet, â€Å"the Company has multiple efforts underway to replace its older aircraft with newer aircraft that are less maintenance intensive and more fuel efficient and that also have a greater range. The Company expects its long-term fuel efficient fleet modernization plan to provide substantial flexibility to manage its fleet needs in a variety of economic conditions† (â€Å"EDGAR ONLINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV) 10-K 2/7/2013,† n. d. ). A second opportunity Southwest Airlines must consider is expansion. The case study highlights the use of a point to point framework, instead of the hub and spoke network that many other airlines use. Each of the points in the â€Å"point to point† network is a smaller airport on the outskirts of a larger metropolitan area. The use of these less congested airports has kept costs low while also permitting Southwest to expand without interference from major airlines. At the time of this case study, Southwest airlines was a regional company that flew from point to point within the United States. The downside of this strategy, is that in order to keep growing, it would need to reach out and adopt the strategies of other airlines by entering other major hubs and/or introducing international routes. The airline industry has changed drastically since the case study, with several airlines merging or acquiring partners. Delta has since merged with Northwest, Southwest has since acquired AirTran, and United Airlines has combined with Continental. From Table 3, all of the airlines are posting greater revenue, with Delta and United posting significantly larger revenue due to the combined revenue streams. However, while Delta is posting much larger net incomes after its merger with Northwest, United Airlines still has negative net income. This imbalance in net income may be attributed to the un-realized synergies from the merger with Continental, being on the wrong side of a furl hedge, or simply by being tied back to the competitive nature of the airline industry. Capital expenditures (CapEx) have also increased as the airlines strive to increase their fleets while the companies are on stable ground and interest rates are low. Southwest airlines conducts the majority of its business in the United States with soon to come destinations to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Aruba, The Dominican Republic, and Bermuda (â€Å"EDGAR ONLINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV) 10-K 2/7/2013,† n. d. ). Furthermore, Southwest Airlines will begin offering international service out of Hobby Airport in 2015. With the addition of AirTran, Southwest has picked up several key gates/hubs. Table 3 2012 Economic Data Southwest (in millions)Delta (in millions)JetBlue (in millions)United Airlines (in millions) Revenue$17,088$36,670$4,982$37,152 Op. Expenses$16,465$34,495$4,606$37,113 Net Income$421$1,009$128($723) Cash$1,113$2,416$182$4,770 Acct Rec$332$1,693$106$1,338 Inventory$469$1,023$36$695 CapEx$1,348$1,968$542$2,016 Southwest has taken a steady approach to expansion. Chapter 5 of the textbook Operations and Supply Chain Management highlights several ideas about capacity planning in services (Jacobs and Chase, 2011): 1. Time 2. Location 3. Volatility of Demand â€Å"A customer cannot be given a seat that was unoccupied on a previous airline flight if the current airline flight is full† (Jacobs and Chase, 2011). Thus, time is important to Southwest. As Southwest continues to expand its services it must re-evaluate the best routing for each plane to ensure that the planes are at capacity the majority of the time. Secondly, while expanding; Southwest must consider the locations of its future destination airports. If the airports are located far away from the metropolitan area, then it will challenge the customer to balance flight cost with the added cost of car rental and transit. Picking the right locations, instead of settling for any location, will permit Southwest Airlines to reap strategic monetary rewards (i. e. , lower costs of operation) Finally, it is important to consider the volatility of demand. Consumers drive the utilization of Southwest’s product. If South west airlines expands, but the demand is only present during specific times then there is a potential ding to Southwest’s bottom line. Per Southwest’s 10-K, typically the first and fourth quarters are the weakest demand periods (â€Å"EDGAR ONLINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV) 10-K 2/7/2013,† n. d. ). Per IATA, â€Å"North American airlines saw demand rise 1. 7% over the 2012 period. This was a slowdown on October growth, which was 3. 6%. Capacity rose 4. 7%, causing load factor to fall 2. 2 percentage points to 77. 5%. Recent economic indicators have shown a solid fourth quarter, despite the disruption of the government shutdown in October. † (â€Å"IATA Passenger Demand Moderates in November,† n.d. ). With the acquisition of AirTran, Southwest is prepared to serve a growing economy in the Caribbean market segment. In preparation for future expansion, Southwest must cautiously evaluate demand such as to not take on unwanted debt (current debt levels of ~12. 3B) or assets (current debt levels of ~19. 3B). The previous analysis points have been based on the premise that Southwest was tak ing risks and venturing outside of their comfort zone to increase their market share, but they were also continuing some of their tried and true methods as well. By implementing a digital strategy in the form of online travel booking Southwest used this disruptive innovation to add value for consumers (â€Å"Shaping Strategy in a World of Constant Disruption Harvard Business Review,† n. d. ). Automated booking started in 1946 by American Airlines, by 1962 ReserVec started remote access automated booking for TCA, but these were all to be used by travel agents and not the general public. It was not until 1994 when Southwest started offering e-tickets that could be purchased directly by the consumer using the internet. By the end of the 1990’s more than half of all tickets were purchased online. In 2005 Southwest introduced their DING! Application, this allowed customers to access last minute and highly reduced fares. Again, Southwest was the first to roll out any such program. By staying ahead of the online boom they were able to offer customers value at the touch of a finger. By 2010 the DING! application was available on all mobile platforms for easy access (â€Å"Southwest Corporate Fact Sheet Corporate Fact Sheet Southwest Airlines Newsroom,† n.d. ). By maintaining and enhancing their online services they have been able to expand their website to include hotel booking, car rentals, cruises and complete vacation packages with the added benefit of receiving â€Å"reward points† for the completed reservation. â€Å"The heavy investment in these boundary-spanning systems creates an extended resource-based advantage that is difficult to replicate† (Lewis, Brandon-Jones , Slack, Howard, 2010). According to their yearly report. Southwest has maintained an 80% booking rate through their internet site from 2008 to the present. In 2006 they started their social media program, showing 12 million monthly visits. With computer savvy customers they offer a number of ways to provide customer feedback, as seen in figure 2, the success here is that they leverage their employees, clearly represent the brand, respect the employee story, they’re lean, efficient, focused and most importantly, they listen. Figure 2: Southwest Customer Feedback ((â€Å"2012SouthwestAirlinesOneReport. pdf,† n. d.)) The future of technology in the airline business includes location based services that will allow the passenger to track their baggage as well as the airline to track the customers. Electronic compensation and rebooking for overbooked flights, missed connections and cancelled flights, reducing the amount of time customers have to spend in lines. Mobile payments will allow the customer to pay for fares on their phone s and finally social media to provide the right feedback that can be acted upon in real time (â€Å"Amadeus-The-Always-Connected-Traveller-2011-EN,0. pdf,† n. d. ). With Southwest’s goal of making travel easier and more efficient for their customer they should no doubt be on the front end of the application development. Finally, by keeping the great customer service as an ongoing vision and purpose of the company Southwest has been a lead the industry in customer satisfaction with a meager 0. 25 complaints per 100,000 customers enplanements, as seen in figure 3. Figure 3: Customer Satisfaction (â€Å"2012SouthwestAirlinesOneReport. pdf,† n. d. ) Southwest airlines take a social management approach that encourages respect, community outreach and a caring attitude amongst other things. According to their 2012 yearly report Southwest reports that one of their Citizenship Goals, employee related goals, is to â€Å"win the hearts and minds of customers by delivering excellent customer service and fostering customer commitment† (â€Å"2012SouthwestAirlinesOneReport. pdf,† n. d. ). This is the underlying management goal to ensure that customers keep coming back. â€Å"Workplaces such as Yahoo, Southwest Airlines, Domino Pizza, Brady Corporation, Ben and Jerry, Odetics, Sun Micro System, and Kodak have encouraged use of fun and appropriate humor in the workplace and that culture seems to appeal to high-tech Millennials. Their stock prices have remained steady, comparatively speaking, in this volatile and turbulent economic environment† (Smith Khojasteh, 2014) In 2013 Southwest launched an internal vision to its employees to remind them of the foundation that the company was built on, connecting people to what’s important in their lives (â€Å"Southwest Airlines Motivates Its Employees With A Purpose Bigger Than A Paycheck Forbes,† n. d. ). In this way Southwest has stuck true to it’s vision. Even in times of recession, industry slowdown, and expansion Southwest has chosen not to reduce resources and encourage employees to participate in ongoing education so they are ready to take on whatever opportunity may come up. Recommendations â€Å"For instance, assume that a consumer has to purchase a ticket for an international flight. Airline Company A has the lowest price; Airline Company B has the best food and airline C is always on time. The consumer will clearly not buy 3 tickets from Company A and B and C in order to realize the benefit of these 3 attributes. The consumer will purchase only one airline ticket† (Ehrman, 2014). Southwest airlines differentiates itself on the attributes of simplicity and low costs. To stay competitive, Southwest must continue to push boundaries while sticking to these two simple attributes. This section of the case analysis will discuss recommendations for Southwest airlines as it heads into the next century of air travel (100 years on January 1, 2014). Southwest prides itself on the ability to provide superior service. By hiring the right employees (

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Comparison of the sacrifices characters make in Ambrose Bearces An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge and John Updikes A P.

Comparison of the sacrifices characters make in Ambrose Bearces An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge and John Updikes A P. Often times in literature for the protagonist to make progress a sacrifice has to be made. This sacrifice can spark progress in the movement of the story or growth in the character themselves. The true development in the story comes not in the sacrifice but in the motives behind the characters actions. After we know the motivation of the characters within the story we can begin to analyze what they represent. In both "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A P" the protagonist sacrifices something that has a profound impact on his life, but the results of their actions are vastly different.John Updike develops Sammy, from "A P" in such a way that the reader senses that his frustration will eventually consume his reason, and that all he is missing is the spark to set off his anger. The only thing we know for sure about Sammy's beliefs is that he hates the atmosphere of A P and as a result despises his job.Ambrose Bierce, American authorThe rest of his beliefs, as they pertain to t he story, are left to deduction. It is ironic that Sammy, who describes the customers in the store as being sheep, ultimately makes a sacrifice to defend the esteem of several young girls shopping in the market. Upon seeing the chastising of the attractive girls by the manager Sammy immediately protest but is not engaged by the manager and so he quits his post. Incase Sammy hadn't realized it the manager, who is a friend of the family, informs him that life will be hard for him if he quits. It is here that we learn that Sammy is a man of principle and he follows through with his action regardless of its consequences. Lengel, though, was right; because Sammy...

Monday, March 2, 2020

Definition and Examples of Feghoots

Definition and Examples of Feghoots A feghoot is a narrative (usually  an anecdote or short story) that concludes with an elaborate pun. Also called  a shaggy dog story. The term feghoot is derived from Ferdinand Feghoot, the title character in a series of science fiction stories by Reginald Bretnor (1911-1992), who wrote under the anagrammatic pen name Grendel Briarton. Observation A Feghoot is  supposed to make you moan... Feghoots arent the most useful form of pun: but they can help you end a story- a big problem for many of us. We tell a great anecdote to our friends, get some  laughs, and things are going well until we realize we have no clue how to bring the thing to a close. What do  you do? Give it a moral? An alternative, the Feghoot ending, summarizes your story in a way that makes people laugh- or even more satisfying, groan appreciatively.   (Jay Heinrichs,  Word Hero: A Fiendishly Clever Guide to Crafting the Lines That Get Laughs, Go Viral, and Live Forever. Three Rivers Press, 2011) Feghoot and the Courts The planet of Lockmania, inhabited though it was by intelligent beings that looked like large wombats, had adopted the American legal system, and Ferdinand Feghoot had been sent there by the Earth Confederation to study the results.Feghoot watched with interest as a husband and wife were brought in, charged with disturbing the peace. During a religious observation, when for twenty minutes the congregation was supposed to maintain silence, while concentrating on their sins and visualizing them as melting away, the woman had suddenly risen from her squatting position and screamed loudly. When someone rose to object, the man had pushed him forcefully.The judge listened solemnly, fined the woman a silver dollar and the man a twenty-dollar gold piece.Almost immediately afterward, seventeen men and women were brought in. They had been ringleaders of a crowd that had demonstrated for better quality meat at a supermarket. They had torn the supermarket apart and inflicted various bruises and lacerations on eight of the employees of the establishment. Again the judge listened solemnly and fined the seventeen a silver dollar apiece.Afterward, Feghoot said to the chief judge, I approved of your handling of the man and woman who disturbed the peace.It was a simple case, said the judge. We have a legal maxim that goes, Screech is silver, but violence is golden.In that case, said Feghoot, why did you fine the group of seventeen a silver dollar apiece when they had committed far worse violence?Oh, thats another legal maxim, said the judge. Every crowd has a silver fining.(Isaac Asimov, Feghoot and the Courts. Gold: The Final Science Fiction Collection. HarperCollins, 1995) Pynchons Feghoot: Forty Million Frenchmen Cant Be Wrong Thomas Pynchon, in his 1973 novel Gravitys Rainbow, creates a convoluted setup for a feghoot in the character of Chiclitz, who deals in furs, which are delivered to his storehouse by a group of youngsters. Chiclitz confides to his guest Marvy that he hopes one day to take these boys to Hollywood, where Cecil B. DeMille will use them as singers. Marvy points out that its more likely that DeMille will want to use them as galley slaves in an epic film about the Greeks or Persians. Chiclitz is outraged: Galley slaves?... Never, by God. For DeMille, young fur-henchmen cant be rowing!* (Jim Bernhard, Words Gone Wild: Fun and Games for Language Lovers. Skyhorse, 2010) * A play on the World War I expression, Forty million Frenchmen cant be wrong.Note that Pynchon has fashioned an entire  narrative digression about illicit trading in furs, oarsmen in boats, fur henchmen, and DeMille- all of it in order to launch this pun.(Steven C. Weisenburger,  A Gravitys Rainbow Companion. University of Georgia Press,  2006) My Word! There is a round in the...popular BBC radio panel game My Word! [1956-1990] in which scriptwriters Frank Muir and Denis Norden tell tall stories and funny anecdotes. The essence of one round revolves around a well-known saying or quotation. The participants are asked to tell a story allegedly to illustrate or explain the origin of the given phrase. Inevitably the unlikely stories end in partial, homophonic puns. Frank Muir takes Samuel Pepys And so to bed and makes And saw Tibet out of it. While Denis Norden transforms the proverb Where theres a will theres a way into Where theres a whale theres a Y.(Richard Alexander, Aspects of Verbal Humor in English. Gunter Narr Verlag, 1997)

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Musical Multimedia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Musical Multimedia - Research Paper Example This "Musical Multimedia" essay outlines and analyzes Madona's Material Girl music video. Representations of feminism and a combination of independence for women echo from Madonna’s song where she gained a place in the academic world. According to scholars, the singer emerged as a new voice in the post-modernist arena where composition was pegged on identities and images to reach out to an audience. The theorization of Madonna’s video equally demonstrates the role of the media in determining new perspectives while also influencing the traditions associated with musical harmonies. The incorporation of the aspects of love and money largely manifest a wider scheme in the performance of ballads while also connecting with varying models of multimedia. However, it is fundamental to acknowledge that songs and music videos have a disparity based on the message reflected to the listeners as compared to music videos as observed in Madonna’s Material Girl. There are three m odels that, according to Nicholas Cook, play an integral in defining the consistency of various forms of multimedia in the scheme of communications. The similarity test, for instance, takes into consideration the coherent and consistent metaphors that sometimes are identical to another. In using metaphorical expressions, Cook observes that varying emerging multimedia forms tend to communicate a message by associating meaning with the expected message as noted in Madonna’s song. This is complimented by the whirring sound found in the film production of Madonna’s song.... The similarity test, for instance, takes into consideration the coherent and consistent metaphors that sometimes are identical to another. In using metaphorical expressions, Cook observes that varying emerging multimedia forms tend to communicate a message by associating meaning with the expected message as noted in Madonna’s song. This is complimented by the whirring sound found in the film production of Madonna’s song that tells a story based on broken love and the essence of becoming rich to win women. According to Cook, the untraditional mode found in Material Girl espouses a new reception in the academic world whereby the song is connected to a love for money through the intertexual reference made in the creation of effect2. Elements of fragmentation and discontinuity are also apparent in post-modernist constructs whereby artists such as Madonna present visual imagery in recreating narrative models to suit a particular audience. This differs from the models that ba se their argument on coherence, consistence and similarity test. Additionally, the disintegration of the studio systems heralded numerous changes in Hollywood with emphasis on exhibition, creation and even distribution leading to the collapse of vintage film production. On that note, the songs and musical videos underwent a new revolution compounded by complicated technology that produced 3 dimension (3D) flicks for audiences with diverse beliefs and values. A difference also exists between a love story and romantic story in regards to the projection of identity and image. In a love story, for instance, imagery is critical during the representation of conventions that directly associated with

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Positivism as an Epistemological System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Positivism as an Epistemological System - Essay Example Thus, there can be no room for any mystical abstractions in explaining phenomena. In the second wave of positivist thought, a second form of positivism, i.e. logical positivism took place, and â€Å"took advantage of the further progress made in the hard sciences to insist on purging all metaphysics from the scientific method† (Jordan, 2004, p.28). â€Å"Logical positivist views about science and knowledge were based on a general theory of language. †¦This theory of language featured two main ideas, the analytic-synthetic distinction and the verifiability theory of meaning† (Godfrey-Smith, 2003, p.25). I will discuss these ideas in detail in the next section. The third wave of positivism is generally attributed to a group called the Vienna Circle. â€Å"The Vienna Circle was established by Moritz Schlick and Otto Neurath. †¦But from the early days through the end, a central intellectual figure here was Rudolf Carnap† (Godfrey-Smith, 2003, p.22). In this stage, positivism was carried in its logical form. However, some positivists prefer to regard this latter period as logical or scientific empiricism (Greetham, 2006, p.121), to distinguish it from the previous logical positivist movement. In this essay, I shall use the term logical positivism to refer to the whole of 20th century positivism, to distinguish it from Comte’s 19th century positivism. Positivism as Epistemology From a general perspective, positivism is considered to be an epistemological system through its advocacy of attaining empirical knowledge through sense perception, and its adherence to the scientific method i.e. induction. However when logical positivism stepped into the picture, it was made clear that â€Å"logical positivism had other roots... The first part of the paper consists of an historical analysis of 19th century positivism, logical positivism, up until the period of the Vienna Circle. The second part covers the epistemological implications of positivism. Here,the main tenets of logical positivism and its adherence to epistemology are discussed. A main figure that it will be discussed here is Karl Popper. Finally, this paper is concluded by discussing the fall of positivism. The paper stresses that progress and development in knowledge is an endless endeavor. Since the birth of positivism up until its downfall, positivism nevertheless shaped the manner by which we do science. The authod talks that one is the breakdown of the view of language that formed the basis of many logical positivist and logical empiricist ideas. Another is pressure from holistic arguments. A third is the frustrating history of attempts to develop an inductive logic. A fourth is the development of a new role for fields like history and psychology in the philosophy of science. The report makes a conclusion that positivism succeeded in developing a systematic method of approaching reality. And scientific knowledge was the very basis for reconstructing reality, with scientific laws as central in research. If epistemology is the study of knowledge, then positivism is a valid epistemological system. For if there is one thing that positivism established, it is no other than a coherent reconstruction of human knowledge based on the methods and principles of science itself. It is in this regard that positivism, despite its fall, proved to be influential throughout history.

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Themes of Morality and Racism in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a novel full of racism and hypocrisy of the society that we know. Huck continually faces the many challenges of what to do in tough situations dealing with racism and what the society wants him to do. With the novel being written in the first person point of view gives us insightful information into the challenges the Huck is facing and gives us a look into Huck’s head. Huck uses many different techniques to deal with his problems and he gets through them with the end result always being what Huck believes is right. Through Huck’s perspective we see how he deals with all of the racism and hypocrisy of society to form him into the character that he is and to serve the themes of the novel. Huck in many instances has a conflict from the racism that society has put forth and he has difficulty deciphering what is right by his heart and what is right by society’s standards. In the novel you find Huck lying on many occasions to help protect his slave friend Jim. In one instance Huck poses as a girl in a town down the river to see the response to Huck’s fake death and Jim’s disappearance. Huck finds out that â€Å"Before night they changed around and judged it was done by a runaway nigger named Jim†¦ The nigger run off the very night Huck Finn was killed. So there’s a reward out for him-three hundred dollars† (86). With a reward being out for Jim’s capture Huck knows that people are going to be looking for Jim. Huck quickly created a story to protect his slave friend Jim from the feared slave catchers. Huck hides his identity numerous times to protect his friend Jim from danger and possibly death. It takes an extraordinary high moral person to take these kinds of personal risks to prote... ... could not stand such indecency and it bothered him to see that. "It made my heart ache to see them getting fooled and lied to so." (183). Huck in those passages shows a special person, almost a hero, that was uncanny for the time period, showing emotions towards slaves where the rest of the society either didn’t think anything of it or just thought of slaves as property with no feelings. With all the issues of right and wrong, Huck tries to do the right thing even though most people in the society around him wouldn’t view them as correct. Huck breaking Jim out of slavery and Huck’s feelings of sickness of slave trading, give the reader insightful information on the characters perspective. Through Huck’s perspective we see how he deals with all of the racism and hypocrisy of society to form him into the character that he is and to serve the themes of the novel.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Fever And Headache Case Study Health And Social Care Essay

Prior to parturiency, the client chows balanced repasts daily. He takes Multivitamins. He drinks 8-12 spectacless of H2O daily. He does n't hold any nutrient allergic reactions. His lesions heal fast. Complete set of dentitions, does n't utilize dental plates. The client is DAT ( diet as tolerated ) diet with no dark colored nutrients. Elimination Pattern The client does n't hold trouble extinguishing. He does n't utilize laxatives. His stool is formed. He defecates one time or twice daily. No jobs experienced when urinating. His piss is normal in colour and sum. Upon parturiency, the client defecates one time day-to-day. Still no trouble urinating. Activity and Exercise The client has sufficient energy to make the day-to-day activities he desired. He jogs around their small town sometimes. He likes to read books during his trim clip. He can to the full take attention of himself. While in the infirmary, the client walks around his room. He feels weak most of the clip, because he is merely lying down. He watches telecasting while in the infirmary. Cognitive-Perceptual The client does n't hold hearing troubles and does n't utilize hearing AIDSs. He does n't have on reading spectacless. He normally decides for himself but seeks advice from his older sister. Sleep/Rest Before parturiency, the client does n't hold trouble kiping. He makes certain to acquire adequate remainder for the following twenty-four hours ‘s activities. He does n't see incubuss. Now, the client said that he was non able to kip good because he is really concerned about his wellness. He sleeps a small late and wakes up early the following twenty-four hours. Self-perception The client describes himself as simple and determined. He feels good about himself. He does n't let petty jobs to acquire the best of him. Role-Relationship The client lives with his sister and her household. They portion with the family disbursals. Whenever they encounter jobs, they sit down and discourse them. Sexuality-Reproductive The client is sexually active but refuses to speak about his sexual life. Coping/Stress Tolerance When stressed, the client tries to loosen up himself foremost before confronting the job because he might do determinations he will repent. He talks to his sister or close friends whenever he has jobs. He does n't take any medicines or drugs. He handles jobs maturely. Values/Beliefs The client is spiritual. He prays frequently, though seldom attends mass. He has programs for himself in the hereafter and he says he will make his best to accomplish them.Family AssessmentName Relation Age Sexual activity Occupation Educational Attainment C.G Wife 31 F Gross saless Manager College GraduateHeredoMaternal: None Paternal: NoneDevelopmental HistoryTheorist Age Task/Stage Patient Description Erikson 36 y/o Generativity vs. Stagnation The patient is concerned about others. He makes the most out of his clip. Freud 36 y/o Genital Phase The patient is sexually active. Piaget 36 y/o Formal Operationss The patient thinks about how to cover and work out jobs encountered. Kohlberg 36 y/o Post Conventional The patient is concerned about his single rights. Fowler 36 y/o Conjunctive Faith The patient is cognizant of the truth and takes the enterprise to detect it.Physical ExaminationHeight: 5'5 Weight: 70 kilogram Volt BP: 130/90 mmHg RR: 26 cpm PR: 72 beats per minute Skin Light brown in colour Birthmark on upper part of arm Uniform temperature in custodies and pess Skin turgor & lt ; 2 secs No lentigos Nails Pink nail beds Integral tegument environing the nails Blanch trial or capillary refill & lt ; 4secs Head and Face Head is round in form Symmetric facial characteristics Symmetric facial motions No facial hair No tangible multitudes, lesions, cicatrixs Eyess Eyebrows symmetrical and equally distributed, equal motions Eyelashs equally distributed Eyelids are integral, no stains ; symmetrical motion Students are every bit circular and reactive to illume Ears Color same as facial tegument, symmetrical Pinna recoils after it is folded No discharge Nose External olfactory organ is symmetric, unvarying in colour, non tender, no lesions, no discharges Nasal septum integral Maxillary and frontal fistulas non tender Mouth and Pharynx Outer lips symmetric, unvarying in colour, can purse lips Inner lips are pink No losing dentition, pinkish gums Tongue is in the centre, pink in colour, moves freely Neck Muscles are equal, caput centered Can travel cervix with no uncomfortableness No tangible multitudes Spinal column Spine is straight, shoulders and hips are at same tallness Thorax/Lungs Skin intact, no tenderness, no tangible multitudes ( + ) wheezes Cardiovascular/Heart Jugular venas non seeable Symmetrical pulsing on peripheral pulsations Capillary refill trial: & lt ; 4secs Breast Symmetrical Abdomens Skin uniform in colour Symmetrical motions caused by respiration Audible intestine sounds No tenderness Extremities Uniform in colour, symmetric Symmetrical pulsing of peripheral pulsations Capillary refill: & lt ; 4 secs Genitalias REFUSED Rectum and Anus REFUSEDPersonal/Social HistoryHabits: He likes to read and travel to the promenade Frailties: Drinks on occasion Life style: Active Client ‘s usual twenty-four hours like: After acquiring off from work, he finds clip to rest and read a book. Rank in the household: 2nd kid Travel: Went to Bacolod for 10 yearss Educational Attainment: College Graduate III. Environmental History The client lives in a private subdivision in Malabon, Manila with his sister and her household. He describes their small town as quiet and peaceable. Few autos pass by their street. They segregate their refuse and maintain their milieus clean.IV. PathophysiologyA. Theoretical Based Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Predisposing Factor: – Age – Sexual activity -Immunodeficiency Precipitating Factor – Aedes aegypti mosquito Bite of a virus transporting mosquito Mosquito injects fluid into victim ‘s tegument Virus enters in the host ‘s blood watercourse Infects cells and replicate in sufficient sum Platelet will supply a shield for the virus from exposure and binding to neutralize preexistent antibody. Novices immune system response Stimulates release of cytokines Activation of memory T-cell response during re-exposure Macrophages or monocytes engulfed the virus holding a thrombocyte ( phagocytosis ) Virus-antibody composite Cytokines destroy cell membrane and cell wall Cytolysis Complement activation system Fluid switching ICF to ECF Coagulopathy ( PT, PTT ) Thrombocytopenia Vasculopathy ( plasma escape ) Vascular endothelian cell activation High Fever, organic structure failing, concern, sickness & A ; purging, abdominal hurting, petechial roseola in countries of the organic structure, bloody stool ( sometimes ) B. Client Based Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Non-modifiable Factors: – Age: 36 y/o – Sexual activity: Male Modifiable Factors: -Immunodeficiency Poor Environmental Sanitation Aedis Aegypti Mosquito bites Creates multiple lesions in the blood watercourse Increase phagocytic activity Virus multiply in blood stream After 2-3 yearss incubation, febrility appears Paracetamol given Excessive ingestion of thrombocytes Scheduled BT For replacing Hematologic studies reveal that patient has low home base count Dengue Titer Test Done( + )Which states that patient has grade 1 DHF with marks and symptoms manifestedV. Laboratory ResultsUrinalysis ( 7/14/10 )ExaminationConsequenceInterpretationColor Yellow Yellow in colour may bespeak concentration in urine Transparency Slightly Cloudy–pH 6.0 pH and specific gravitation is within normal bounds Specific Gravity 1.010 Glucose Negative–Protein++Transeunt lift due to infection Blood Negative–Ketone++More fats are being used for energy alternatively of glucose Nitrite Negative–Bilirubin Negative–Blood ( 7/14/10 )ExaminationNormal ValueConsequenceInterpretationHemoglobin 140-175 g/L 141 Normal Hematrocrit 0.42-0.50 0.44 Normal RBC Count 4.50-5.90 Ten 10^12/L 4.92 Normal WBC Count 4.00-1.050 Ten 10^9/L 4.40 Normal Basophil 0.00-0.01––Eisonophil 0.01-0.04––Pang 0.02-0.05 0.01 Normal Neutrophil 0.36-0.66 0.69 Normal Lymphocyte 0.24-0.44 0.16 The patient is compromised because of immunodeficiency. Monocyte 0.02-0.12 0.14 Normal Platelet Count 150.00-450.00X10^9/L 125 The patient ‘s thrombocyte count is below normal scope which means that there no equal coagulating map.Blood ( 7/19/10 )ExaminationNormal ValueConsequenceInterpretationHemoglobin 140-175 g/L 140 Normal Hematrocrit 0.42-0.50 0.43 Normal RBC Count 4.50-5.90 Ten 10^12/L 4.84 Normal WBC Count 4.00-1.050 Ten 10^9/L 7.37 Normal Basophil 0.00-0.01––Eisonophil 0.01-0.04 0.04 Normal Pang 0.02 0.02-0.05 Normal Neutrophil 0.36-0.66 0.53 Normal Lymphocyte 0.24-0.44 0.30 Normal Monocyte 0.02-0.12 0.11 Normal Platelet Count 150.00-450.00X10^9/L 215 NormalPotassium ( 7/17/10 )ExaminationNormal ValueConsequenceInterpretationPotassium 3.50-5.50mg/dL 3.7 NormalCurdling and Hemostasis ( 7/18/10 )ExaminationNormal ValueConsequenceInterpretationActivated Partial Thromboplastin- Patient 22.60-35.00 secs 32.6 Normal Activated Partial Thromboplastin- Control 22.60-35.00 secs 30.2 NormalUltrasound Result ( 7/17/10 )ExaminationConsequenceDoppler Scrotal/Testes The testicles are normal in size, echopatterns and constellation with no focal lesions noted. The right steps about 4.4 tens 2.6 s2.1 centimeter ( LWH ) . While the left steps about 4.0 tens 2.8 ten 2.1 centimeter ( LWH ) . No extratesticular mass lesion is noted. The epididumes are non unusual. Free fluid aggregation is seen within the left scrotal pouch. Impression: Left Hydrocoele. Normal Testiss and epididymes No grounds of varicocoeleVIII. List of Priority Problem1. Hyperthermia related to desiccation secondary to DHF phase 1 2. Deficient Fluid volume related to active fluid volume secondary bleeding 3. Activity Intolerance related to generalise failing secondary to DHF phase 1IX. Ongoing Appraisal7/14/10 – On DAT ( Diet as Tolerated ) with NDCF ( No Dark Colored Foods ) – Proctor VS q4, rigorous I & A ; O – Dx process: CBC, Platelet count, Potassium, Urinalysis – Dengue Titers – Master of educations: Aeknil 1 A IV q4 Nafarin 1 check TID Azithromycin 500 milligram OD 7/15/10 – Addition unwritten fluid intake – Dx process: Blood Typing ( Result: Bachelor of arts ) 7/16/10 – Facilitate station BT as ordered – Give antamin 1 amp 30 min prior to BT 7/17/10 – Warm compress over scrotal are TID 7/18/10 – WOF marks of shed blooding 7/19/10 – Cold compress 10 min BOD and displacement to warm compress 10 Command – Scrotal Support 7/20/10 – May travel placeTen. Discharge PlanMedicine: Celebrex 200 milligram 1 check 2x a twenty-four hours PRN for hurting Exercise: Avoid strenuous exercisings Treatment: Patient must take medicines for hurting as needed. Bed remainder. Increase unwritten fluid intake Health Education: Promote patient to hold a healthy life style. Practice good hygiene. Diet: Diet as tolerated. Eat balanced repasts daily, nutrients high in fibre.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Laws Regulating Federal Lobbyists

Federal lobbyists attempt to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, usually members of Congress or heads of Cabinet-level federal regulatory agencies. Lobbyists may include individuals, associations and organized groups, corporations, and other government officials. Some lobbyists represent a legislators constituencies, meaning a voter or bloc of voters within their electoral district. Lobbyists may volunteer or be paid for their efforts. Professional lobbyists—by far the most controversial lobbyists—are hired by businesses or special interest groups to influence legislation or federal regulations affecting those businesses or groups. In public opinion polls, lobbyists rank somewhere between pond scum and nuclear waste. In every election, politicians vow never to be â€Å"bought out† by lobbyists, but often do. Briefly, lobbyists get paid by businesses or special interest groups to win the votes and support of members of the U.S. Congress and state legislatures.   Indeed, to many people, lobbyists and what they do represent the main cause of corruption in federal government. But while lobbyists and their influence in Congress sometimes seem to be out of control, they really do have to follow laws. In fact, lots of them.   Background: The Laws of Lobbying While each state legislature has created its own set of laws regulating lobbyists, there are two specific federal laws regulating the actions of lobbyists targeting the U.S. Congress.   Recognizing the need to make the lobbying process more transparent and accountable to the American people, Congress enacted the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) of 1995. Under this law, all lobbyists dealing with the U.S. Congress are required to register with both the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate. Within 45 days of becoming employed or retained to lobby on behalf of a new client, the lobbyist must register his or her agreement with that client with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House. As of 2015, more than 16,000 federal lobbyists were registered under the LDA. However, merely registering with Congress was not enough to prevent some lobbyists from abusing the system to the point of triggering total disgust for their profession. Jack Abramoff Lobbying Scandal Spurred New, Tougher Law Public hatred for lobbyists and lobbying reached its peak in 2006 when Jack Abramoff, working as a lobbyist for the rapidly growing Indian casino industry, pleaded guilty to charges of bribing members of Congress, some of whom also ended up in prison as a result of the scandal. In the aftermath of the Abramoff scandal, Congress in 2007 passed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) fundamentally changing the ways in which lobbyists were allowed to interact with members of Congress. As a result of HLOGA, lobbyists are prohibited from â€Å"treating† Congress members or their staff to things like meals, travel, or entertainment events. Under HLOGA, lobbyists must file Lobbying Disclosure (LD) reports during each year revealing all contributions they made to campaign events for members of Congress or other expenditures of efforts they make that might in any way personally benefit a member of Congress. Specifically, the required reports are: The LD-2 report showing all lobbying activities for each organization they are registered to represent must be filed quarterly; andThe LD-203 report disclosing certain political â€Å"contributions† to politicians must be filed twice a year. What Can Lobbyists ‘Contribute’ to Politicians? Lobbyists are allowed to contribute money to federal politicians under the same campaign contribution limits placed on individuals. During the current (2016) federal election cycle, lobbyists cannot give more than $2,700 to any candidate and $5,000 to any Political Action Committees (PAC) in each election. Of course, the most coveted â€Å"contributions† lobbyists make to politicians are the money and votes of the members of the industries and organizations they work for. In 2015 for example, the nearly 5 million members of the National Rifle Association gave a combined $3.6 million to federal politicians opposed to tighter gun control policy. In addition, lobbyist must file quarterly reports listing their clients, the fees they received from each client and the issues on which they lobbied for each client. Lobbyists who fail to comply with these laws face could face both civil and criminal penalties as determined by the Office of the U.S. Attorney. Penalties for Violation of the Lobbying Laws The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House, along with U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) are responsible for ensuring that lobbyists comply with the LDA activity disclosure law. Should they detect a failure to comply, the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House notifies the lobbyist in writing. Should the lobbyist fail to provide an adequate response, the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House refers the case to the USAO. The USAO researches these referrals and sends additional noncompliance notices to the lobbyist, requesting that they file reports or terminate their registration. If USAO does not receive a response after 60 days, it decides whether to pursue a civil or criminal case against the lobbyist. A civil judgment could lead to penalties up to $200,000 for each violation, while a criminal conviction —usually pursued when a lobbyist’s noncompliance is found to be knowing and corrupt—could lead to a maximum of 5 years in prison. So yes, there are laws for lobbyists, but how many of those lobbyists are really doing the â€Å"right thing† by complying with the disclosure laws? GAO Reports on Lobbyists’ Compliance with the Law In an audit released on March 24, 2016, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that during 2015, â€Å"most† registered federal lobbyists did file disclosure reports that included key data required by the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA). According to the GAO’s audit, 88% of lobbyists properly filed initial LD-2 reports as required by the LDA. Of those properly filed reports, 93% included adequate documentation on income and expenses. About 85% of lobbyists properly filed their required year-end LD-203 reports disclosing campaign contributions. During 2015, federal lobbyists filed 45,565 LD-2 disclosure reports with $5,000 or more in lobbying activity, and 29,189 LD-203 reports of federal political campaign contributions. The GAO did find that, as in years past, some lobbyists continued to properly disclose payments for certain â€Å"covered positions,† as paid congressional internships or certain executive agency positions provided as part of the lobbyists’ â€Å"contributions† to lawmakers. GAO’s audit estimated that about 21% of all LD-2 reports filed by lobbyists in 2015 failed to disclose payments for at least one such covered position, despite the fact that most lobbyists told the GAO that they found the rules regarding reporting covered positions as being â€Å"very easy† or  Ã¢â‚¬Å"somewhat easy† to understand.