8 Reasons Midterms are the Worst

Some people hate finals, but honestly, midterms are the worst. The majority of them dont even land in the middle of the term, start 3 weeks into the semester, and really only end right before finals. Need more convincing? Here are 8 reasons midterms are the worst: 1. It always sneak up on you. 2. Some professors think 1 midterm is not enough 3. That’s why some are before spring break. 4. And it’s awful because of all the midnight study snacks. 5. Some are right after spring break, but YOLO. 6. You immediately regret it when you return and have to go straight to the library. 7. Midterms aren’t on the same schedule, so the SQUAD is never together. 8. And you have no choice but to deal with it. Midterms suck, but itll be over before you know it. If you ever want to take a break and procrastinate, you can take one of our quizzes, or better yet, you can create your college profile!

Marilyn Manson essays

Marilyn Manson essays This band is a twist of Iggy Pop, KISS, and Alice Coopper. Starting in South Florida as a small industrial Goth band, Marilyn Manson has changed the mainstream music of today. They have come to be a leader and paved the way for other shock-rock bands. Just coming out with his fifth album this week, he will continue reaching out to rebellious teenagers that need some support. Marilyn Manson has been hitting charts because of their songs and lyrics, show performances, and public attention. One of the reasons why Marilyn Manson is famous today is because of their undefined musically talents. They are a five piece band which includes singer Marilyn Manson, lead guitarist Twiggy Ramirez, bassist John5, drummer Ginger Fish, and on keyboards M.W. Gacy. Each member has been playing music since childhood. Putting these musician's talents and creative minds together, they have accomplished more than most bands around. Unlike many artists today Manson with help from Ramarize writes and produces all songs that go onto their albums. Their lyrics are very skillfully written so that they will attract public attention and listeners. Manson gets lyrics from his personal thoughts and tragedies that happen to him. On their bands fourth album, he wrote about his girlfriends drug addiction in a song called Coma White, "A pill to make you numb, A pill to make you dumb, A pill to make you anybody else, But all the drugs in this world won't save her from herself." In this new album calle d Holywood, Manson was inspired by the violence he sees in entertainment and how it is affecting children and the world. Touring the world, visiting countries across the globe, and selling out concerts have been the role of Marilyn Manson since they became popular with the public in the mid-nineties. The band works hard to entertain their fans with new and outrageous performances. Most of their earnings from touring and album sales go into the performances and live sh...

Business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Business law - Essay Example After its establishment, Enron had adopted along with executed certain unethical accounting techniques with the specific objective of hiding its liabilities and other loses during the growth of its stock price. During this time, various experts of the US already provided warning to the company about its increasing debt, but Enron avoided this and moved on to the development of its business by making substantial investments. The financial collapse of Enron was a lesson for the other business houses prevailing in the US1. With this concern, the assignment focused on broadly discussing the unethical accounting practices conducted by Enron that made the company to face bankruptcy. The various responsibilities of the account practitioners in the company have been revealed in order to verify whether they are liable for leading the company towards facing bankruptcy or not. The prime objective of this paper is to determine that the conduct of unethical accounting practices had eventually mad e financial collapse of Enron. Case Background Enron had made a rapid growth since its formation. By the year 2001, it became the seventh biggest natural gas and electrical company in the entire region of the US. The scandal of Enron can be noticed for the reason of its increased level of earning business reputation and gaining substantial profits. After several years, Jeffery Skilling, the new CEO of the company appointed numerous skilled executives who were capable of hiding outstanding amounts that to be presented in the financial statements by using the methods of poor financial accounting. The company filed for bankruptcy in the year 2001 after experiencing a long-run loss in its business. It has been viewed that an increment in the annual revenue of the company was only US$ 9 to US$ 10 during the period of 1995 to 2000. This represents the loss that suffered by the company while conducting its business. It can also be viewed that the stock price of the company had a drastic fa ll from $90 per share to $1 from the middle of the year 2000 and lasted up to 2001 which created a great loss for the shareholders. After this incident, Enron checked its financial statement for the last five years and came to realize a total loss of $586 million2. Due to this heavy loss, Enron filled bankruptcy on December 2, 2001. It can be apparently observed that several problems faced by the company and its shareholders after the bankruptcy. In this regard, most of the employees of Enron were accused with charges and had been imprisoned. Enron lost a huge figure of customers due to bankruptcy and also for a case which was running in the US Supreme Court. The court ordered to pay back the customers with partial return. Being unable to overcome all these losses and negative reputation, Enron failed to restore its previous position in the market where it operates. In relation to the case of Enron, it can be affirmed that there were several reasons for which the company had experie nced bankruptcy. One of the major causes was the practice of unethical accounting practices that prevailed within the company. In this similar concern, the company adopted certain unplanned measures of financial reporting in order to hide the

International manegment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International manegment - Essay Example Silverlight Electronics in Korea has a different business operation approach from Cobalt. The two companies operate in different business and cultural environments. Therefore, negotiation has to address the conflict situation between the two companies. Secondly, the two companies have their potential power in business, which must be respected for a negotiation to be realized. Finally, the concept of options was addressed in the negotiation. Both companies have business options that may be utilized. Actually, I present new and better business options to Silverlight electronics by presenting my proposals to them. I have learned a lot from this negotiation. The most important learning is that all options in a negotiation have to be exhausted. By understanding the needs and expectations of the other company, I can present better business options to them and therefore, arrive at a negotiation more quickly. I will use this concept in my future negotiation with people and businesses

HRM analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

HRM analysis - Research Paper Example The hotel consists of more than 5000 rooms and suits for guests in four thirty storey towers, world class gourmet restaurants, 27000 square feet pool complex, Grand Spa, casino, clubs, etc. Different parts of the hotel have different themes, food courts, restraints, entertainment lounge etc. (Jay & Dwi, 2000). The hotel is set up on an area of 33 acres. MGM Grand Las Vegas most commonly offers accommodation services but in addition to this the hotel also serves as a venue for different shows, events and concerts. Moreover, MGM grand hotel incorporates pool parties, night clubs, shopping outlets, wedding chapel etc. History In the 60’s a group of properties started as MGM Resorts International under Kirk Kerkorian’s leadership. After the grand opening of paradise hotel in early 1970s the second hotel was built in Las Vegas named MGM Grand Las Vegas. Both the hotels were the world’s largest hotels at that time. MGM Grand Las Vegas was opened in 1993 for the first t ime. The hotel turned to be the largest hotel in the United States with over 5000 guest rooms. At the opening of MGM Grand the biggest intention was the creation of first hotel in Las Vegas that includes the Theme Park MGM Grand adventures behind casino. The objective behind this hotel was providing a friendly and family oriented atmosphere where all the family members could enjoy different activities except the casinos. Strategy A strategy that a company sets and adopts to achieve its desired business objectives and goals are known as business strategy. The strategies adopted by MGM Grand Las Vegas hotel are discussed ahead. Competitive strategies are associated with the business strategies in a way to develop a competitive edge for an organization. MGM Grand Las Vegas hotel has potential business strategies to predict the expectations of the customer most accurately and make them satisfied with creativity. Product differentiation is one of the most unique competitive strategies th at MGM Grand uses. One of the examples of this strategy is the introduction of M Life Payers Club in 2010. This club is basically a customer reward club where customers can earn points by shopping and using other services of the hotel and then use those points for other experiences like concerts, food etc. To compliment the services activities the hotel uses marketing and sales strategies (Alan, 2007). The unique communication platforms used by the hotel and the entertainment attractions has helped the hotel win a competitive advantage. The hotel uses strategies to stay ahead of competition. The various strategies adopted by MGM Grand have helped the hotel grow and expand to different countries. In 2006 MGM Grand Las Vegas focused on the extension of its brand into hotels subsidiary named MGM Hospitality. MGM hospitality is held responsible for the outsourcing of gaming and non-gaming both type of investments and the management opportunities. The opening of Grand Macau in China is a nother example of this. These investments helped in accumulating almost one billion dollars of capital in the same year. Market position The ability to establish a unique position in the mind of the customer by delivering benefits and unique features is known as the determinant for the organizations position in the market (Woods, Robert,

Effect Of Temperature On The Digestive Enzyme Pepsin Biology Essay

Effect Of Temperature On The Digestive Enzyme Pepsin Biology Essay In this study an experiment was carried out to determine if varied temperatures affect the rate at which enzymes function. Enzymes are biological catalysts; catalysts are substances that increase the rate of chemical reactions without being used up (BBC, 2010), without these catalysts it would take an extremely long time for these reactions to take place. The enzyme used in this particular experiment was pepsin; pepsin is a zymogen of pepsinogen. Pepsinogen is activated by hydrochloric acid, which is released from parietal cells in the stomach lining. The hormone gastrin and the vagus nerve trigger the release of both pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid from the stomach lining when food is ingested. Hydrochloric acid creates an acidic environment, which allows pepsinogen to unfold and cleave itself in an autocatalytic fashion, generating pepsin. (Life Science Network, 2010) A lot can be learnt about enzymes by studying the rate of enzyme catalyzed reactions, these rates of reaction can be studied in various ways. In this experiment, using a range of different temperatures, the enzyme pepsin will be mixed with egg albumen. This is high in protein and bound to the dye Coomassie blue to gain a light absorbance reading using a spectrophotometer and in effect see how much protein has been digested by the pepsin. Egg albumen was used as the protein source in this study as although it is composed mainly of around 80% water it has about 15% of its total mass made up from approximately 40 different types of proteins, mainly Ovalbumin (54%) (Edin Formatics, 1999). A spectrophotometer is a device used for measuring light intensity and will be used to determine the amount of protein in each mixture, it works by measuring the light intensity as a function of the colour or more specifically the wavelength of light (Global Water Instrumentation Inc, 2007) (Appendix 2). Therefore the lower the reading means less light has been absorbed by the solution being tested indicating in this case that more protein (egg albumen) has been digested by the enzyme (pepsin) and the lower the reading the faster the enzyme reaction rate. If enzyme reactions are affected by temperature, then changes in temperature may bring about different absorbances of light readings related to how much protein has been broken down by the enzyme. As pepsin is found in the stomach it would seem only logical to assume the optimum temperature for this particular enzyme would be around 37Â °c, human body temperature. Method A cuvette was filled with 0.5ml of distilled water and placed in a spectrophotometer, then the machine was calibrated by pressing the zero button with the spectrophotometer set to a wavelength of 595nm. After calibration 0.5ml of egg albumen (2mg.cm-Â ³) was added to a test tube using a glass pipette and incubated in a pre heated water bath at a temperature of 10Â °c (then 20Â °c, 30Â °c, 40Â °c, 50Â °c, 60Â °c, 70Â °c) for five minutes. 0.5ml of pepsin (0.1%) was then added to the test tube and incubated at the same temperature for a further ten minutes. After this incubation period 2.0ml of Coomassie blue reagent was added to the test tube and immediately mixed by capping the test tube with parafilm and inverting several times. After the test tubes contents had been mixed they were carefully poured into a cuvette and placed into the spectrophotometer with the light absorbance levels being recorded at a wavelength of 595nm. The experiment was carried out three times at each temperature to achieve reliable data. Results The results documented in Table 1 are the light absorbance reading averages of three separate experiments carried out at each temperature. A full set of results can be seen in Appendix 1. Figure 1 shows the averaged results plotted on a scatter graph. Table 1 Temperature (Degrees Celsius) Average light absorbance at 595nm 10 2.501 20 2.550 30 2.516 40 2.403 50 2.543 60 2.740 70 2.806 Fig 1 Change absorbance Discussion The results in Table 1 as well as the bell curve graph (Fig 1) show that the optimum temperature as predicted in the hypothesis seems to be 40Â °c, close to human body temperature. These results also show that temperature has a definite effect on the rate the enzyme reacts to breakdown the protein in the egg albumen. Table 1 shows that at 10Â °c, 20Â °c and 30Â °c the light absorbed by the solution is more than at 40Â °c, this is because the pepsin has not broken down as much of the egg albumen at lower temperatures as it has at 40Â °c so the spectrophotometer is picking up more undigested protein particles in these readouts. The same applies to the temperatures above 40Â °c and indicates 40Â °c is the best temperature range for pepsin to be active. Enzymes are made up of amino acids; amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins consisting of a basic amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom and an organic side group attached to the carbon atom (Biology Online, 2010). When an enzyme is formed it is made by stringing together between 100 to 1,000 amino acids in a specific and unique order defining the three dimensional shape of the enzyme and its particular chemical reactivity (Brain, M. 2000). The lock and key theory explains how an enzyme may work, it utilizes the concept of an active site on the enzyme. The theory is that a particular part of the enzymes surface has a strong affinity to the substrate (protein). The substrate is held in such a way that its conversion to the reaction products is more favorable. If you consider the enzyme is the lock and the substrate is the key, the key is inserted in the lock and turns it to open the door letting the reaction proceed (Worthington Biochemical Corporation, 2010) (Appendix 3). However, the induced fit theory expands on the rigid lock and key theory. This updated view of enzymology proposes that the substrate causes a conformational change in the enzyme so the active site achieves the exact configuration for a reaction to occur, the overall effect being a tighter binding between the enzyme and substrate (Allaby, M. 1999) (Appendix 4). The benefit of this tighter binding would be a faster reaction rate as more surface area of the enzyme would be in contact with the substrate. The kinetic collision theory describes temperature affects on a system as the amount of kinetic energy it has, a lower temperature will provide less kinetic energy than a higher temperature. When molecules collide the kinetic energy can be converted into chemical potential energy, if the chemical potential is great enough the activation energy or energy required for an enzyme to work can be reached. The more chemical potential energy molecules have when they collide, a greater number of molecules per unit time will reach the activation energy needed to bind the enzymes active site to the protein resulting in a quicker rate of reaction. If the temperature gets too high some of the weak bonds that determine the shape of a protein and its active site could be broken resulting in the enzyme becoming denatured and decreasing the rate of reaction sometimes rendering the enzyme inactive (Brooklyn College, 2010). Figure 1 shows that after 50Â °c the enzyme reaction rate slows down considera bly, the enzyme is denaturising at a faster rate than it is below 30Â °c. This change in enzyme reaction rate may be due to the fact that pepsins are stored at low temperatures to prevent the enzyme destroying itself, therefore pepsin is less active at lower temperatures until it reaches its activation energy around 30Â °c and anything beyond around 50Â °c 55Â °c will rapidly denature the pepsin so the molecules in the active site can no longer bind to the protein and produce a reaction, rendering the enzyme inactive permanently. Once the pepsin has digested the egg albumen it would still be difficult to analyse the amount of protein left at each temperature, this is why Coomassie was added before taking a reading. In an acidic environment the protein will bind to Coomassie causing a spectral shift from a reddish/brown colour with a low absorbance maximum of 465nm to a light blue colour with a higher maximum absorbance of 610nm with the difference of the two colours greatest at 595nm, an optimal wavelength (Thermo Fisher Scientific, 2010). The binding of the Coomassie takes place when the red form donates its free electron to the ionisable groups on the protein causing a disruption of the proteins normal state and revealing its hydrophobic pockets. These pockets, via Van der Waals forces (attractive and repulsive forces between molecules) bind to the non polar region of the dye, putting the positive amine groups close to the negative charge of the dye, creating a strong bond. Binding of the protein stabilizes the blue form of Coomassie dye, thus the amount of complex present in solution is a measure for the protein concentration by use of an absorbance reading. (Bradford M, 1976, P248-254) Although this experiment has produced reliable accurate data that has proven the hypothesis right, many things could affect the results and readings obtained. When using such an accurate way of recording the data such as a spectrophotometer a number of things could affect the reliability of the results. Things like minor differences in volumes of substances added to the test tubes or inattentive timing methods could be damaging to the results obtained. Simple human error could possibly influence any results with any fingerprints or water on the cuvette affecting the absorbance readings. Conclusion In conclusion, the study carried out was adequate for the data required and indicated that temperature definitely affects the rate at which an enzyme reacts. As long as the method is executed well this is a great experiment to look at temperature and its effect on enzyme activity however as with any scientific study human input is a crucial factor and could affect the quality of results. Another experiment may need to be carried out to determine what the optimum temperature is on a more specific scale, something closer to body temperature would help to discover a more precise optimum temperature, 35Â °c 40Â °c for example. As well as finding out an exact optimum temperature a further study to find out the optimum pH of pepsin could be done to further enhance the enzymes rate of reaction, focused around the acidic pH in the human stomach. Appendices Appendix 1 Temperature (Â °c) Absorbance at 595nm (Reading 1) Absorbance at 595nm (Reading 2) Absorbance at 595nm (Reading 3) 10 2.430 2.550 2.520 20 2.480 2.530 2.640 30 2.500 2.510 2.540 40 2.360 2.400 2.450 50 2.520 2.560 2.550 60 2.660 2.780 2.780 70 2.800 2.820 2.800 Appendix 2 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spetrophotometer-en.svg Appendix 3 http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/Carboxypeptidase/images/lockkey.jpg Appendix 4 http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Induced_fit_diagram.svg/450px-Induced_fit_diagram.svg.png

Order Out of Chaos Essay -- History, Roman Empire, Charlemagne

Volatility in the West during the ninth and tenth centuries drove Europeans to strive for a more stable way of life. The institution of feudalism and St. Benedict’s monastic Rule arose in response to this problem and provided what the scattered kingdoms of the old Roman Empire were struggling to achieve. The death of Charlemagne, the succession of power to his son, Louis, and the signing of the Treaty of Verdun began the collapse of the strong and united Europe that had formerly been in place. Soon after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire the West started to face a myriad of problems. â€Å"The renewed invasions of the Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims and the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire led to the emergence of a new type of relationship between free individuals† (Spielvogel 163). The decline in government authority and protection forced peasants, who made up the majority of the medieval population, to depend on land-owning lords and barons that acquired their properties as sovereign power decentralized. This relationship based on the context of the subjection of a subordinate to a superior became known as feudalism. Coinciding with the breakdown of government was a transformation of the Church through the way members of the religious community lived, worked, a nd worshiped. Monasticism, such as that developed by St. Benedict, formed as an answer to problems within the Church and a need for structure in religious life. St. Benedict’s Rule and feudalism are leading examples of how there was a resolute search for stability in medieval Europe. â€Å"With the breakdown of governments, powerful nobles took control of large areas of land. They needed men to fight for them, so the practice arose of giving grants of land to vass... ... time when much of the barbarian west was only nominally Christian, Benedict’s Rule kept alive the spirit of pursuing a life of gospel perfection† (Reid 50). â€Å"Benedict’s rule, which was a synthesis of several rules, could be applied to any number of monasteries and locations† (Vidmar 79). This universality of his rule helped to stabilize not only monasticism and the church, but also rub off on the common people and nobility that the monastics encountered. Feudalism and St. Benedict’s monastic rule both exemplify the search for stability in the medieval western world. Together they steadied the chaos caused by the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire and the destructive invasions of the ninth century by correcting the military, political and religious status quo. This put the West on the road to advancement, expansion, and dominance in the centuries to come.

Project Management Research Paper Essay

The common denominator of all successful projects is the capacity and quality of its project managing mechanism. Project management is the discipline that integrates various processes towards the achievement of specific objectives and deliverables. This discipline is founded under the premise that all projects are unique, and no two are ever the same. Managing the efforts of those individuals involved requires a great deal of coordination, organization, and a forward thinking focus on the project’s objective[s]. Facilitating a successful integration of people variables and project variables towards specific objectives is the condition that the project management function provides. There is an enormous disparity between projects and operational processes. While each paradigms purpose is to yield a value and/or benefit to the organization the manner in which those values are created varies greatly. Operational processes involve the creation of organizational wealth through the manufacturing of a product or service. These processes are typically mechanistic and consuming specific resources while yielding linear and proportional revenues. In contrast, project objectives are unique, which inhibits the structuralizing of any procedural or mechanistic components. Projects occur within a lifecycle which begins with the projects selection. It is at this stage of the cycle that the project outcome is assessed for feasibility. â€Å"Project selection, the initial phase, refers to the time frame during which a strategic need is recognized by top management. It starts with identifying the needs and desires of the user of the project deliverables-the customer† (Jiang & Heiser, 2004). Very little resource consumption and collaborative efforts occur at this stage. The development stage of the project is a more involved process. It is during this stage that risk and impacts become realized and project management integration is applied. It is vital the project managers have a clear understanding of the project objective at this stage, and that risk mitigating plans be fully implemented. â€Å"The project manager and newly assigned team members meet to plan jointly at a macro level of detail the major activities that must be accomplished† (Jiang & Heiser, 2004). The third stage of a projects life cycle consists of implementation. It is during this stage that higher levels of risk are prevalent. â€Å"This is generally the longest phase of the project both in terms of duration and effort (Kloppenborg & Petrick, 1999). Implementation efforts can be highly involved and complex determined primarily by the scope and scale of the project. The fourth and final stage of the project life cycle is its termination. At this stage the project has beco me fully implemented, and any programs, products, or services are fully adopted by the end-users. A project that has achieved this stage on-or-under budget and time is considered successful. As budgets and time become inflated a projects success become proportionately debilitated. If the issues and impact affecting those consequences go unaddressed, the project will fail entirely. It is for this reason that measuring progress—at the micro level—and through each phase of the projects life cycle is crucial. A successful project manager not only maintains a constant focus on the projects end result, but also assesses task completion and progress on the basis of their costs and timing. When either these components become debilitated or show signs of retardation, it becomes the projects managers’ responsibility to escalate those efforts to appropriate levels of progress. Achieving this outcome requires that project managers possess those leadership qualities needed to motivate the necessary mechanisms. Furthermore, that assumes that leadership qualities affect accurate and effective communications to every layer of the organizational structure. One of the most important contributions project managers make to a project is the leadership capacity they fulfill. Effective leaders remain engaged throughout the projects lifecycle by the decisions they make and the efforts they put forward. However, effective leaders must also know when a situation/issue needs to escalated. The timing of the escalation is important, because it does not do any good if that  effort is reactive to the point that the solicited response becomes invalid. The study [Royal Air Force study] also found the universal applicability of the interpersonal sensitivity, influence and communication skills required to interact, whether it be in management co-ordination and problem solving, leadership motivation or command decision making, and that personal motivation, vigour and conscientious commitment that will lead to managerial control of the environment will also support leadership mastery and command success. (Turner, Mà ¼ller, & Dulewicz(2009). The impact these competencies have on the leadership and sponsorship capacity of project managers is invaluable to those efforts. Project managers that cannot effectively fulfill these conditions will find it difficult to motivate and escalate progress wh ere necessary. Capital improvement and traffic safety projects are the culmination of a series of complex phases. These phases consist of scoping and formalizing the projects charter; assigning authorization and responsibilities to each stakeholder; and procuring the necessary resources to execute and complete the project. Because these activities are performed by various project team members and outside stakeholders the activities require a great deal of coordination and communication in order to effectively perform the individual assignments and tasks. The success of these capital improvement and safety projects would not be possible without the implementation of various project management tools. The civil sector of the construction industry is the primary agent responsible for maintaining all public infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water and sanitation systems, and pedestrian a vehicle safety devices. Assuming this responsibility involves implementing various maintenance and construction projects, each one with a different objective and scope of work. A project recently completed by the capital improvement projects (CIP) team involved both road-widening and drainage components. The project had a 24 month lifecycle, with 12 of those months used for securing funding and clearing the right-of-way for construction. The scale of this project warranted a great number of resources beyond financial and accounting. One such resource needed was consultants with design experience  whom had accomplished project of the same magnitude and in a similar fashion. Additional resources consisted of individuals with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, as well as, organi zation, design[s] compilation, and documentation. A number of different project management tools were used to coordinate these efforts and efficiently consume these resources. The work authorization system was an invaluable asset of this project. The work authorization system was the instrument used by the project manager to account for project-specific work. Because there are always projects in various stages of a lifecycle that need attention, it is important to know how much time each project has consumed. In addition, work authorization allows the project manager to assess what efforts are needed for a specific phase of the project and determine if a member with a particular skillset can be added or reassigned to another project. Essentially, this tool allows the project manager to authorize the cash expenditures associated with that work, while tracking the capital budget for that fiscal year. â€Å"This process would be appropriate to define (or bound) the authorized or approved scope, schedule, and cost for the project. On most government projects, which are primarily funding limited, this work authorization process is the current year (or detailed ) work planning process intended to match the approved project work to the fiscal year funding plan.† (Douglas, 2000) Project status reports were vital to the cohesiveness of varying tasks towards objectives. The status reports for this particular project were formally submitted on a weekly basis, and involved meeting with all team members to discuss the previous week’s developments. The purpose of these progress meetings was to discuss any issues that may impact the project’s budget or its schedule. During these meetings the project manager reviews the reports and inquires on any events that â€Å"standout†. In addition, all pertinent information becomes available during these meetings, which allowed for a more collaborative and cooperative task engagement. Without this progress-tracking instrument, the progress status of the project’s varying phases would be difficult to assess and account for. The implementation of integrated manage tools has become a contributing factor of the capital improvement projects successes. Work authorization and scheduling systems provide the means to assess and control resources more efficiently, and the decision making process adopted by the CIP has dramatically minimized the costs associated with erroneous and/or delayed decisions. The use of these tools allowed for the high-profile road-widening and drainage project’s success, and continues to be an invaluable asset towards the efficient completion of subsequent projects. The project management plan is the method that establishes a link between efforts and outputs. Barkley (2006) â€Å"The project management plan defines how the project is executed, monitored, controlled, and closed† The plans components include people, namely the roles the individuals will play and the responsibilities assigned to them. The plan also requires inputs in the form of technology and financing that will aid in bringing the project-objectives to fruition. In addition to these components, an effective project management plan will include accurate and frequent communications. The essence of a good project management plan (PMP), PSMJ contends, is to keep it brief (you can do that simply by making reference to other documents instead of incorporating them), to the point, well-indexed, and not cluttered with text-instead, use tables and figures to illustrate your points. Distributed and regularly updated, the plan becomes a reference for the client; the team members; and principals, top managers, and administrators of your firm. (PMP, 2004) These items are the specific components needed to exact a project management plan. Segmenting the project into specific milestones is an important condition needed to monitor progress, and more importantly weigh all inputs against the objectives met. Segmenting affords a more accurate means of measuring current progress (current progress – resources consumed) and make adjustments to meet the anticipated results outlined in the projects charter. Without this segmentation comparing progress to costs would not be possible until the project’s completion, at which point the desired outcome would be less than the resources allocated for its creation. In conclusion, the formal role of a project manager is not difficult to grasp. However, the manner in which an effective project manager exacts this  function can be difficult to understand. This complexity is the consequence of integrating people, systems, and resources into a harmonious and unique sequence of events that culminate to achieve an objective. The quantifiable and qualitative paradigms of this d iscipline can be learned in any academic institution. However, the effective application of these principles is inherent to an individual’s character. References Barkley, B. (2006). Integrated project management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780390319944 Collins, J., & Rowe, J. (2005). Management challenges unique to transit projects. AACE International Transactions, , PM151-PM156. Retrieved from Douglas,Edward E., I.,II. (2000). Project trends and change control. AACE International Transactions, , C10.1-C10.5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/208184374?accountid=32521 Jiang, B., & Heiser, D. R. (2004). The eye diagram: A new perspective on the project life cycle. Journal of Education for Business, 80(1), 10-16. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/202820997?accountid=32521 Turner, J. R., Ralf Mà ¼ller, & Dulewicz, V. (2009). Comparing the leadership styles of functional and project managers. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 2(2), 198-216. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17538370910949266 Project management plan: A foundation for success. (2004). Design Firm Management & Administration R eport, 04(3), 1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/223209894?accountid=32521

To what extent was Hitler a weak dictator Research Paper Example

To what extent was Hitler a weak dictator Research Paper Example To what extent was Hitler a weak dictator Paper To what extent was Hitler a weak dictator Paper For many reasons Hitler could be described as weak dictator because he failed to control all aspects of the NSDAP effectively largely down to his lazy attitude. This is a view put forward by the structuralist school of thought. However, there is also evidence from intentionalist school of thought that all the major decisions came about from Hitlers decision, such as the outbreak of war in 1939, the Night of the Long Knives in 1934 and the final solution in 1941. Therefore, Hitler could be seen as a very strong and effective dictator. Therefore, both sides of the argument have to be analysed to discover the strength of his dictatorship. In the Nazi state, Hitler made all laws. His power was unlimited and was granted the position of Fuehrer for life. He was the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, leader of the Government and Head of State. This was known as Fuehrer power. The Hitler myth was created by Goebbels and Hitler was seen as political genius who had been destined to be great since birth. The German people became devoted to him and even during the lowest points of the war Hitler had the vast support of the German public, which highlights his power. The party was organised around Hitler as a pyramid, with Hitler at the top of the Nazi hierarchy, followed by 36 Gauleiters or district leaders including high-ranking Nazis such as Hermann Goring and Joseph Goebbels. All laws came from either Hitler signing the decree or from Hitlers orders and he had the final say in any dispute. Similarly all the major decisions came about from Hitlers decision, such as the outbreak of war in 1939, the Night of the Long Knives in 1934 and the Final Solution in 1941, therefore, suggesting that Hitler was a strong dictator. However, it is unconceivable that one man could be in charge of the entire government like Fuehrer power suggests. This meant that Hitler had to rely heavily on other leading Nazis such as Goering, Goebbels and Himmler. In recent years, historians have begun to see a different image of Hitler, compared to the view of Hitler in Nazi Germany. One historian wrote Hitler was unwilling to take decisions, frequently uncertain, exclusively concerned with upholding his prestige and personal authority, influenced in the strongest fashion by his current entourage, in some respects a weak dictator. These structuralists believe that Hitler forsook everyday government business for an indolent life instead paying little attention to the running of the country. He hated committees and gradually removed the government cabinets. These were the traditional methods of running the country. In 1933, the cabinet met 72 times, while in 1935 just 12 times and it was removed by 1938. Rather than concentrating on the problems the party faced, Hitler would immerse himself in pet projects such as architecture. Albert Speer, who redesigned much of Berlin in the Nazi regime described how adjutants often asked me: please dont show any plans today', depicting this latest view of Hitler. This idleness gives an insight into why the Nazi government was so disorganised. Decisions throughout the party were all attributed to the will of the fuehrer and were made by Nazi officials following Hitler around and picking up on his rambling. At every level of the party there was rivalry for power and many were doing the same job as each other. Even at the very top of the hierarchy the four main Nazis behind Hitler Goering, Goebbels, Roehm and Himmler had an intense rivalry for power each trying to out do each other to increase their power. An example of this is Himmler and Goering plotting to remove Ernst Roehm from power leading up to the Night of the Long Knives, by complying a file claiming Roehm was be paid by the French to remove Hitler. Another example is that Goebbels inspired Krystalnacht. However, despite this heated competition, Hitler managed to hold the party together adding weight to the intentionalist claim that Hitler was a strong dictator, although it could be argued that it was a weakness that allowed the personal empires to grow, possibly threatening his position, for example Roehm before the Night of the Long Knives. The battle for power could also be attributed to Hitlers desire for Social Darwinism throughout the party so it would always be strong. Hitler believed that things would sort themselves out without interference and this can be seen in his policy with conquered countries during the war. Rather than tell Nazis in the respective countries how they should run the country, he just told them that in ten years time, the country must be Nazified, again showing that Hitlers running of the government was largely haphazard indicating his weakness as a dictator. The Night of the Long Knives is a good example of how Hitler was a strong dictator. The Night of the Long Knives was a very successful and efficient way of removing the enemies of the party, organised by Hitler. In that single night, Hitler managed to remove all power from a potential rival to his power the SA, who had been causing trouble threatening Hitlers support from the established German society and Ernst Rohm who was encouraging a second revolution. It also gained the support of the army, which would be vital for the establishment of a totalitarian state and future foreign policy and expansion. However, this event also shows Hitlers failing as a dictator. That fact that Hitler allowed the SA to get out of hand shows that he was a very ineffective dictator. It can also be said that Hitler had very little to do with the Night of the Long Knives. Going and Goebbels organised the attack by complying a dossier on Rohm and persuaded Hitler to act against his long time friend. Various sources suggest that Hitler was in fact reluctant to act. The intentionalist view of Hitler could also be challenged. Structuralists believe the Third Reich was largely down to a nationalist movement. Therefore, it can be seen why German intentionalists would be willing to blame all the atrocities of the war on a dead leader, claiming they had to obey, absolving all blame from themselves. In the early years of the Nazi party, Hitler can be seen as a strong dictator who played a vital part in their rise to power. However, as time progressed he can be seen as indolent and heavily reliable on his inner circle of Nazis. Power seemed to rest with the individuals who chased personal power for example Himmler, who elevated himself up the party hierarchy. There are various examples of Hitler being inspired on particular products, but many sources describe that this enthusiasm was rare and for the majority of the time Hitler was very idle and the inner circle of Nazis did the work of the party. Evidence suggests that from the mid 1930s onwards, Hitler was merely a figurehead for propaganda as he was worshiped by the public and although he had unlimited power, he rarely used it.

Catherine of Aragon - the Kings Great Matter

Catherine of Aragon - the Kings Great Matter Continued from: Catherine of Aragon: Marriage to Henry VIII The End of a Marriage With England allied against Catherines nephew, the Emperor Charles V, and with Henry VIII desperate for a legitimate male heir, the marriage of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII, once a supportive and, it seemed, loving relationship, unraveled. Henry had begun his flirtation with Anne Boleyn sometime in 1526 or 1527. Annes sister, Mary Boleyn, had been Henrys mistress, and Anne had been a lady-in-waiting to Henrys sister, Mary, when she was Queen of France, and later a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon herself. Anne resisted Henrys pursuit, refusing to become his mistress. Henry, after all, wanted a legitimate male heir. Always Invalid? By 1527, Henry was citing Biblical verses Leviticus 18:1-9 and Leviticus 20:21, interpreting these to mean that his marriage to his brothers widow explained his lack of a male heir by Catherine. That was the year, 1527, when Charles Vs army sacked Rome and took Pope Clement VII prisoner. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor as well as king of Spain, was the nephew of Catherine of Aragon his mother was Catherines sister, Joanna (known as Juana the Mad). Henry VIII saw this as an opportunity to go to the bishops who could use the Popes incapacity to themselves rule that Henrys marriage to Catherine had not been valid. In May of 1527, with the Pope still a prisoner of the Emperor, Cardinal Wolsey held a trial to examine whether the marriage was valid. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, refused to support Henrys position. In June of 1527, Henry asked Catherine for a formal separation, offering her an opportunity to retire to a nunnary. Catherine did not accept Henrys suggestion that she retire quietly so that he could remarry, on the grounds that she remained the true queen. Catherine asked her nephew Charles V to intervene and to try to influence the pope to refuse any request of Henrys to annul the marriage. Appeals to the Pope Henry sent an appeal with his secretary to Pope Clement VII in 1528, asking for his marriage to Catherine to be annulled. (This is often referred to as a divorce, but technically, Henry was asking for an annulment, a finding that his first marriage had not been a true marriage.) The request was amended quickly to also ask that the Pope permit Henry to marry within the first degree of affinity though not a brothers widow, and permit Henry to marry someone previously contracted to marry if the marriage was never consummated. These circumstances fit the situation with Anne Boleyn completely. He had previously had a relationship with Annes sister, Mary. Henry continued to muster scholarly and expert opinions to refine and extend his arguments. Catherines argument against Henrys was simple: she simply affirmed that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated, which would make the whole argument about consanguinity moot. Campeggis Trial The Pope was no longer a prisoner of the Emperor, Catherines nephew, in 1529, but he was still largely under the control of Charles. He sent his legate, Campeggi, to England to try to find some alternate solution. Campeggi convened a court in May of 1529 to hear the case. Both Catherine and Henry appeared and spoke. That Catherine knelt before Henry and appealed to him is likely an accurate depiction of that event. But after that, Catherine stopped cooperating with Henrys legal actions. She left the court hearings and refused to return another day when ordered to do so. Campeggis court adjourned without a verdict. It did not reconvene. Catherine had continued to live at court, though Henry was often with Anne Boleyn. She even continued to make Henrys shirts, which enraged Anne Boleyn. Henry and Catherine fought publicly. The End of Wolsey Henry VIII had trusted his chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, to handle what was called the Kings Great Matter. When Wolseys work did not result in the action Henry expected, Henry dismissed Cardinal Wolsey from his position as chancellor. Henry replaced him with a lawyer, Thomas More, rather than a clergyman. Wolsey, charged with treason, died the next year before he could be tried. Henry continued to marshal arguments for his divorce. In 1530, an treatise by a scholarly priest, Thomas Cranmer, that defended Henrys annulment, came to Henrys attention. Cranmer advised that Henry rely on the opinions of scholars in European universities rather than on the Pope. Henry increasingly relied on Cranmers counsel. The Pope, instead of responding positively to Henrys plea for a divorce, issued an order forbidding Henry from marrying until Rome came to a final decision on the divorce. The Pope also ordered secular and religious authorities in England to stay out of the matter. So, in 1531, Henry held a clerical court that declared Henry the Supreme Head of the Church of England. This effectively overrode the Popes authority to make decisions, not only about the marriage itself, but about those in the English church who cooperated with Henrys pursuit of the divorce. Catherine Sent Away On July 11, 1531, Henry sent Catherine to live in relative isolation in Ludlow, and she was cut off from all contact with their daughter, Mary. She never saw Henry or Mary in person again. In 1532, Henry obtained the support of Francis I, the French king, for his actions, and secretly married Anne Boleyn. Whether she became pregnant before or after that ceremony is not certain, but she was definitely pregnant before the second wedding ceremony on January 25, 1533. Catherines household was moved several times to different locations on Henrys orders, and such close friends as her long-time companion (from before Catherines marriage to Henry) Maria de Salinas were forbidden contact with Mary. Another Trial A new Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, then convened a clerical court in May of 1533, and found Henrys marriage to Catherine null. Catherine refused to appear at the hearing. Catherines title of Dowager Princess of Wales was restored as Arthurs widow but she refused to accept that title. Henry reduced her household further, and she was moved again. On May 28, 1533, he declared Henrys marriage to Anne Boleyn to be valid. Anne Boleyn was crowned as Queen on June 1, 1533, and on September 7, gave birth to a daughter they named Elizabeth, after both her grandmothers. Catherines Supporters Catherine had much support, including Henrys sister, Mary, married to Henrys friend Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. She was also more popular with the general public than was Anne, seen as a usurper and interloper. Women seemed especially likely to support Catherine. The visionary Elizabeth Barton, called the nun of Kent, was charged with treason for her outspoken opposition. Sir Thomas Elyot remained an advocate, but managed to avoid Henrys wrath. And she still had the support of her nephew, with his influence over the Pope. Act of Supremacy and Act of Succession When the Pope finally pronounced Henry and Catherines marriage valid, on March 23, 1534, it was too late to influence any of Henrys actions. Also that month, Parliament passed an Act of Succession (legally described as being 1533, since the calendar year then changed at the end of March). Catherine was sent in May to Kimbolten Castle, with a much-reduced household. Even the Spanish ambassador was not permitted access to speak with her. In November, Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, recognizing the ruler of England as the supreme head of the Church of England. Parliament also passed an Act Respecting the Oath to the Succession, requiring of all English subjects an oath to support the Act of Succession. Catherine refused to swear any such oath, which would acknowledge Henrys position as head of the church, her own daughter as illegitimate and Annes children as Henrys heirs. More and Fisher Thomas More, also unwilling to take an oath to support the Act of Succession, and having opposed Henrys marriage to Anne, was charged with treason, imprisoned, and executed. Bishop Fisher, an early and consistent opponent of the divorce and supporter of Catherines marriage, was also imprisoned for refusing to recognize Henry as head of the church. While in prison, the new Pope, Paul III, made Fisher a cardinal, and Henry hurried Fishers trial for treason. More and Fisher were both beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1886 and canonized in 1935. Catherines Last Years In 1534 and 1535, when Catherine heard that her daughter Mary was ill, each time she asked to be able to see her and nurse her, but Henry refused to allow that. Catherine did get word out to her supporters to urge the Pope to excommunicate Henry. When, in December 1535, Catherines friend Maria de Salinas heard that Catherine was ill, she asked permission to see Catherine. Refused, she forced herself into Catherines presence anyway. Chapuys, the Spanish ambassador, was also allowed to see her. He left on January 4. On the night of January 6, Catherine dictated letters to be sent to Mary and to Henry, and she died on January 7, in the arms of her friend Maria. Henry and Anne were said to celebrate upon hearing of Catherines death. After Catherines Death When Catherines body was examined after her death, a black growth was found on her heart. The physician of the time pronounced the cause poisoning which her supporters seized on as more reason to oppose Anne Boleyn. But most modern experts looking at the record would suggest that a more likely cause was cancer. Catherine was buried as the Dowager Princess of Wales at Peterborough Abbey on January 29, 1536. Emblems used were of Wales and Spain, not of England. Centuries later, Queen Mary, married to George V, had Catherines gravesite improved and marked with the title Katharine Queen of England. Only when Henry married his third wife, Jane Seymour, did Henry invalidate his second marriage to Anne Boleyn and reaffirm the validity of his marriage to Catherine, restoring their daughter Mary to the succession after any later male heirs he might have. Next: Catherine of Aragon Bibliography About Catherine of Aragon: Catherine of Aragon Facts | Early Life and First Marriage | Marriage to Henry VIII | The Kings Great Matter | Catherine of Aragon Books | Mary I | Anne Boleyn | Women in the Tudor Dynasty

Natural Resources and Energy on The Forest Essay

Natural Resources and Energy on The Forest - Essay Example Simultaneously weather change is posing an added significant menace to the healthiness of ecologies and hence their capability to offer bionetwork services, at the same time as human populace upsurge and resource usage for each person is growing. Such a blend of ecological, climatic and monetary burdens causing to food, water and energy scarcities has a potential risk. Therefore an ecology-based set of resolutions that human social order can use to evade possible impending difficulties, in addition to manage with and adjusting to vicissitudes are even now undergoing and is expected to endure. Central to attaining this goal is to manage the technique bionetwork welfares are adopted into conservative judgment creating tools. For instance the technique ecology services are appreciated and accounted for in the current financial model and pointers like gross national products (GDP). At present, the international financial model and countrywide accounting does not count for all the importa nt welfares that nature offers to populaces, particularly in the long period leading to the misuse or mistreatment of natural assets before their supportable and effective usage. Devoid of complete evaluation of less-tangible natural profits as of ecologies, usage will continue untenable and dreadful conditions unavoidable causing to the possible breakdown of significant ecology roles and facilities. It is obvious that there is a necessity to improve a fiscal model that precisely mirrors profits to populaces as of the environs and the expenses linked with ecology collapse. Making this correct will help to advance in the direction of sustainability. Effects of Growing Human Population The endurance of ecosystem is less anywhere populace mass is maximum. The Asia/Pacific region has lost considerable portion of its genuine forest cover, typically to agricultural expansion however correspondingly to urbanization and mineral exploitation. Damages in Europe estimated to be average 75 % in Russia 24%, in Africa 68%, and in the Americas 35%, however with much higher rates in more thickly occupied regions for example the seaside areas and Central America. The major territories of wilderness endure only in a lesser amount of populous zones of the globe, which for numerous facts have demonstrated difficult for human being to settle in a few numbers. These comprise the rainforests of the Amazon basin and Central Africa; the ice-covered taiga areas of Siberia and isolated areas of North America; and certain desert, mountain and swamp areas. Examples of the latter types comprise the African Sahara; the huge Himalayan regions. Increasing affluence and financial activity amid humanoid strengthen their influence on local bionetworks by swelling request for natural assets and causing contamination as of manufacturing and energy production. Affluence can offer the assets for a clean-up of contamination, as happened with some European tributaries in modern time. Similarly, severa l European nations are substituting agricultural land and old manufacturing industries with quasi-natural forests. This is likely for the reason that they have the affluence to purchase food from somewhere else or to participate in intensive farming to produce additional foodstuff from less acreage, and have the craving to reinstate olden environments. For example, the

Global and Sustainable Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Global and Sustainable Development - Essay Example The New European Division of Labor too coincided between 1450 and 1640 (actually he clubbed these two periods together), when social classes and ethnic groupings came into existence with bureaucratization, which is the "process aided the limited but growing power of the king. By increasing the state power to collect taxes, the kings eventually increased state power to borrow money and thereby further expand the state bureaucracy," http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/wallerstein.html At the end of it all the supreme power vested in the absolute and greatly empowered monarchy. These periods also saw homogenization of the local population when minorities got expelled and capitalist groups without local standing were either hated or feared (e.g.: Jews, protestants). During this period, Catholic Church became strong and even threatened the States. Militia was established to protect the emperor's regime and the state from outside invasion. The kings were free from the earlier feudal laws and many enlightened emperors used the opportunity to inspire institutions, arts etc. and the local bourgeoisie got strengthened. Northwestern European states improved by 1640 while Spain, Italy and Liberian America declined and England became the most important state. Division of labor, fall in wages, Europe becoming the centre of capitalism, increase of politico-economic groups etc. happened during this time and finally, industrialization stepped in. The third and fourth stages occur in 18th century and beyond and this capitalism belongs to the industry and not to agriculture. This period is marked with exploration and exploitation of new markets, competitive world systems, shifting of core regions into industrial concerns and manufacturing. Division of labor between labor class and landowners became part of the development of capitalist world economy. He says political and economic conditions completely changed the north-western Europe after the end of feudalism. With the imperialistic policies Europe became a major power in the world. He traces the modernization of the world through the historical and economical happenings and he feels that modern society and world system have increased the disparity between haves and have-nots because the relationship between the core, peripheral and semi-peripheral remained relative and not constant. During these developments, other problems like sexism, racism, where biology defined the position and such positions are socially unchangeable, cropped up. World system commoditized everything and the politics for accumulation, struggle for benefits and truth as opiate crept in. Wallerstein has rendered powerful contribution to sociological practice. "What distinguishes the historical social system we are calling historical capitalism is that in this historical system capital came to be used (invested) in a very special way" Wallerstein (1983, p.14). The world system he has detailed still remains one of the best theories, an all-enveloping perspective. "A world-system is a social system, one that has boundaries, structures, member groups, rules of legitimation and coherence. Its life is made up of conflicting