Odysseus The Hero Essays - Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek Religion

Odysseus the Hero Every Epic follows a certain guideline, it is written in an elevated style consisting of a hero and deeds he does during his travels or journey. In the Odyssey written by Homer, the hero named Odysseus portrays many Hero-like characteristics that can make the reader envious. Homer gives Odysseus 3 traits that fit the definition of a hero like a glove. Odysseus is courageous, has great strength and ability, and exhibits noble qualities. Odysseus shows his courage early on in the Epic by agreeing to go and fight in the Trojan War where he was needed. He knew he was risking never seeing his family again but he was willing to fight. The greatest proof of Odysseus being a true hero was his strength and ability. During the war he showed his smarts. He devised the wooden horse plan, where a bunch of soldier packed into a huge wooden horse and were brought into the city of Troy then came out during the night and burned and attacked the people and the city. The smart thinking of Odysseus ended the 10 year long war. Also in book 21 Penelope held the contest to win her hand. The contest was a simple as; whoever could string Odysseus' bow and shoot the arrow through 12 ax heads would be Penelope's husband. Penelope knew Odysseus was the only person who could perform such a feat. This event showed how strong Odysseus was. After the contest when Odysseus made his presence clear he has the courage and Strength to give the suitors 4 reasons for to die. He tells them you took my house, you took my maids, you tried to take my wife, and you disrespected the gods. It took guts to say that after being gone for 20 years. He shows his strength by proceeding killing all of the suitors without any outside help. Odysseus is a noble character who everyone looks up to. Besides some of the suitors, Odysseus is respected by most of the other characters. Antionoos and Euremakus are especially rude suitors who treated Odysseus like dirt when he was dressed as a beggar. Odysseus treated everyone with the same amount of respect they gave him. When compared with other hero's for example Superman, Odysseus fits right in. He has the traits of a true hero and it shows throughout the Odyssey. Bibliography none

The Free Negro in north Carolina Essays

The Free Negro in north Carolina Essays The Free Negro in north Carolina Essay The Free Negro in north Carolina Essay John Hope Franklins The Free Negro in North Carolina, 1790-1860, written in 1943, examines the growth, legal status, and economic and social life of the free Negro in North Carolina.Franklins purpose was to clarify and explain the status of the free Negro in North Carolina, and how the free Negros status related to the rest of the population. The author revealed the advantages and disadvantages of being a free Negro in antebellum North Carolina through extensive research on laws passed during that time, statistics, and scores of other sources. Franklin discussed in great detail the population growth and the legal status of the free Negro in North Carolina.The free Negro population in this area grew in many ways.Natural increase, manumission of slaves by their owners, influx of runaway slaves, the immigration of slaves from other states, and free Negros who purchased their friends and relatives out of slavery were all reasons the free Negro population grew in North Carolina.Franklin states, It was one thing to inherit or acquire freedom and quite another to maintain it.The Negros right to freedom was continuously questioned, and not infrequently he had to go into court and by certificates, affidavits, and the like prove this right to enjoy the privileges of a free man.The authors opinion of the legal system towards the free Negro questions how much freedom even the free Negro population actually had. The economic and social life of the free Negro was directly impacted by their legal status.The legal system hampered economic and social growth of the free Negro by restricting even their communication with the white or slave population.Education was extremely limited for the free Negro, with the few literate free Negros coming out of the apprenticeship system rather than any formal education.Religious practices were also restricted because the free Neg

Computer Industry Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Computer Industry - Term Paper Example The industry has some gaps in the customer services delivery. One of the problems is due to the improvements carried out on new versions of software. Organizations are incurring costs due to the need to keep on retraining their workers to adapt to change. The developers do not take into consideration this factor and often will get complaints from the users. A case scenario is in the operating system scenario where most machines that were using windows XP are not compatible with windows seven which is the most current operating system. The software industry has also been viewed by the customers as one of the industry that increases costs incurred by companies. This has been brought about by the gap that exists between the available developers and the demand of software. The return policy varies from country to country according to the legal framework of the country. Due to the nature of the industry software can only be returned under some conditions. For instance, the software seal s hould not be tampered so that a product can be accepted back. After returning the product the customer will be refunded with amount of money used in purchasing the software. The customer must return the software to the country of purchase for this to apply. One of the things that I could implement is developing software that can allow backward compatibility of software. This will allow new software produced to be compatible with the legacy systems reducing the cost of acquiring new software on the client. Another solution would be to encourage development of software that takes environmental and working condition of customer into consideration. Software companies should know that the client wishes to enhance productivity of the employees and not completely replace them. This will eliminate the culture that has been there that software is supposed to replace or reduce workforce within the organization. The most important resources within the organization are the employees (Laurie, 20 04). The software industry major players have often denied their employees the ownership of their innovations. Companies own the copyrights of the software created by their employees. To eliminate this problem there is need to make sure that developers also form part of ownership of the software they make. Additionally, employees could be allowed to own shares within the company. This will make them feel being part of the company and will work toward improving the image of the company all the time. The company should also formulate a reward system to boost the morale and motivation. This will be used in recognizing those developers who have produced the most successful products for a certain period of time. Employee’s empowerment can be enhanced by retraining them on the most recent mode of software development. This will ensure that employees will always offer quality products to the clients which will improve the image of the company. Providing developers with the recent to ols of development can ensure that they are on the fast track and up to speed with the current technologies. The developers need to have a development environment which will ensure quick delivery while ensuring quality of the product. Customer service program Handling of complaints from customer will be carried with a lot of care and diligence. This will be done with the aim of achieving customer satisfaction. A call centre will be established which will be required to receive customers calls 24

ELO reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ELO reflection - Essay Example The heightening of the adrenaline that comes with the speeding of the motorized vehicles is the best feeling. I have therefore developed interests in Play Station games that imitate the sport like ‘Need for Speed’. The excitement has also made me have an ever growing passion on movies such as ‘The Transporter’, ‘Need for Speed’ and ‘Fast and Furious’ (Crossroads Dragway, 2014). I have an interest in both the racing and non racing Motorsport activities. I am more propelled by the speeding effects that come with Motorsport thus making me to enjoy both kinds. I have an interest in automatic car racing, motorcycle racing and motor rallying when it comes to racing type of Motorsport. The non- racing Motorsports events that interest me include drifting, motorcycle trails, tractor pulling, freestyle Motorcross, and regulatory rallies. I have spent several moments in the past years just to get a glimpse of what is happening in these events. Even though I have passion with the Motorsports, I have never developed interest in knowing the participants. The case is different from that of movies since the elevating experience is also more captivating in the latter’s scenario (Crossroads Dragway, 2014). I have been captivated by the Motorsports, but the level differs when it comes to drag racing. The part of drag racing that interests me most is the fact that the competition is usually between two people at a time. In addition, most of the races are normally more competitive with the parties having a small gap as they go through the finish line. Due to the small difference that is experienced, the drag race employs the use of speed sensing systems and electric timing to record the results. The fact that the race course is normally on a straight short course of approximately a quarter mile in length elevates me more. It enables one to be able to see the whole competition

Interpersonal Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Interpersonal Management - Assignment Example in an independent manner including being aware of how I can be able to manage time, do presentations and express my views and opinions to other people. These skills are vital as they assist in the development of the aspects that a person needs for the workplace in future. They are integral in the development of confidence as well as self-esteem as they allow a person to learn to be assertive and develop an awareness of the needs of other people. The interpersonal skills learnt are also important as far as teamwork and responsibility is concerned as they make it easier for an individual to manage particular situations. The interpersonal skills that I have learnt have assisted me to understand that I should not be judgmental towards other people and to share ideas while working as a team through communicating with each other (Sen, 2007). All this aspects are integral and important in any workplace, particularly as far as social care is concerned. I have learnt to appreciate the concepts that are necessary for successful and efficient group work and to enjoy group sessions while contributing. I am now more confident that I am able to contribute positively to the success of any workforce while helping others to appreciate the significance of contributing their perceptions and ideas that are relevant to the prevailing situation. I have learnt to understand that every person has a point and there are always people who are willing to learn from what I have to offer. I have developed skills that assist me to work and collaborate with various individuals in different groups where I can listen to the ideas of others while giving my own. However, I have also learnt that some people are selfish with their ideas and do not contribute much in a group settings, instead, they soak up information that has been contributed by other people and add their own ideas from there. Knowledge that is acquired from subjects such as social policy and considering the manner in which different

Traditional Monoclonal Antibodies and Recombinant Antibodies

Traditional Monoclonal Antibodies and Recombinant Antibodies Introduction: Antibody is a special molecule that present in our bodies to fight against infections and stimulate immune response. Typical antibody is a Y shaped molecule consists of two H (heavy) and two (light) chains. Two antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) are linked with a constant region (Fc)(Brekke and Sandlie 2003). After the discovery of murine monoclonal antibodies produced by hybridoma cells developed by Kohlor and Milstein(Kohler and Milstein 1975), the role of monoclonal antibodies in therapeutics and clinical diagnostics are increasingly important in the last three decades (Laffly and Sodoyer 2005). The term monoclonal antibody is defined as an antibody molecule which is monospecific and derived from a single B cell clone. Results in using fully murine monoclonal antibodies in therapeutics are not ideal and problems aroused in triggering unwanted human immune responses. These problems force the generation of recombinant antibodies in the replacement of traditional monoclonal antibodies. Tailor-made recombinant antibodies fragments increase flexibility both in immunotherapy and immunodiagnostics. The application of minimal form of functional antibodies single-chain antibodies (scFvs) are the most popular form of recombinant antibodies fragments as diagnostic agents (Hagemeyer et al. 2009). In this assignment, the comparison between traditional monoclonal antibodies and recombinant antibodies as therapeutics agents and diagnostics tools will be discussed. From the example of tragedy TGN 1412, the potential risk of using recombinant antibodies in therapeutic agents should not be ignored. Finally, future perspective of recombinant antibodies in gene therapy and using polyclonal antibodies as novel immunotherapeutic strategy will be discussed. Theoretically, probably any kind of monoclonal antibodies can be produced with the aid of hybridoma technique. The continuous culture of hybridoma cells creates an inexhaustible supply of monoclonal antibodies in the laboratories by cell culture or rodent(Nelson, Reynolds et al. 2000). Its highly specificity, stability and homogeneity are ideal for diagnostics and in therapeutic purposes. After the introduction of the first FDA approved drugs OKT3 launched into the market in 1986, the results of using fully murine monoclonal antibodies in human was not promising (Chatenoud, Baudrihaye et al. 1986; Chatenoud, Jonker et al. 1986). This is because murine originated monoclonal antibodies triggered several immunogenic responses in human body. One of the problems arise is human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) or anti-globulin antibodies (HAGA) response (DeNardo, Bradt et al. 2003; Presta 2006) generated against the administrated murine antibodies. Studies showed that around 30-75% of patients with solid tumors and relapsed B-cell malignancies developed HAMA response after exposure to murine antibodies (Smith, Nelson et al. 2004; Majidi, Barar et al. 2009). The activation of HAMA response is mainly due to the host antibodies generated against the idiotopes of the administered murine antibodies. Moreover, rapid clearance of murine Abs shortens its serum half-life and relatively ineffective to trigger cytotoxic effect (e.g. ADCC and CDC) compared to human antibodies hindered murine Abs as therapeutics agents (Presta 2006). Based on the above unresolved problems, with the aid of genetic engineering, murine monoclonal antibodies are modified to become less immunogenic and enhance potency in therapeutics and diagnostics. Three different types of recombinant antibodies are generated: chimeric, humanized and human antibody. In chimerization, the murine variable region is fused with the human constant region forming chimeric antibodies(Presta 2006). This modification imitates the human immune system. Although chimeric antibodies is less immunogenic but may trigger human anti-chimeric antibody responses (HACA)(Baert, Noman et al. 2003). Further maturation technique is humanization (hyperchimeric). In this technique, only the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the murine antibody was grafted into a human constant and variable regions (Smith, Nelson et al. 2004). By resurfacing, reshaping and hyperchimerisation of hyperchimeric antibody, the antibody binding affinity improved. Although the above me thods minimize immunogenicity, but immune response result of xenografting may occur. Finally, human antibodies can be generated by transgenic mice and in vitro combinatorial libraries (Brekke and Loset 2003; Brekke and Sandlie 2003; Presta 2006). Antibodies which generated under this method are expected to be identical to human antibodies with clinical significant without any side effects. One of the examples in combinatorial library approach for the selection of antibodies is by phage display technology in which antibody variables domain are expressed as fusion protein as coated on the surface of the bacteriophages. Under combinatorial library approaches and transgenic mice, the chance of getting fully human antibodies are higher when compared to hybridoma and chimeric antibody technologies. In addition, single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and Fab fragment can be isolated (Brekke and Loset 2003; Brekke and Sandlie 2003). Therapeutics application Fc portion in an intact antibody trigger effector function which is undesirable for therapeutic applications. Therefore, for a desirable antibodies design for cytokine inactivation or receptor blockage, the main considerations of antibody design are: size, tissue penetration, distribution, half-life, effector function, affinity, stability and immunogenicity. scFv and Fab fragments are preferred as choice of preference when compared to traditional antibodies because of smallest in size, high binding affinity, specificity, good tissue penetration and reducing immunogenicity due to HAMA response. scFv and Fab antibodies have a shorter half-life than whole antibodies and this drawback can be overcome by PEGylation. In addition, the attachment of PEGylation of murine monoclonal antibody reduces HAMA response of the host after administration(Laffly and Sodoyer 2005). Applications of monoclonal antibodies are vastly employed in therapeutic agents (e.g. treatment of cancer) and in clinical diagnostic (e.g. histopathological diagnosis). Humanized mAbs (transgenic mice) (resurfacing, reshaping and hyperchimerisation, etc) Phage display technology (Fabs and Fvs) In recent years MAbs have become very important commercial reagents, and currently contribute to over 30% of biopharmaceuticals in development and production. To date, 10 different MAbs have achieved FDA approval, with others in phase III trials.4 Applications Antibody conjugates (Majidi, Barar et al. 2009) Unconjugated mAbs (Majidi, Barar et al. 2009) rAbs for cancer therapy immunohistology genetic immunotherapy(Pelegrin, Gros et al. 2004) scFv for diagnostics tools (size, immunosensor, inhibition of imnflammation and complement system) (Hagemeyer, von Zur Muhlen et al. 2009) Problems polyclonal vs monoclonal therapeutics (Haurum 2006) TGN1412 incident (Self and Thompson 2006) References: Baert, F., M. Noman, et al. (2003). Influence of immunogenicity on the long-term efficacy of infliximab in Crohns disease. N Engl J Med 348(7): 601-608. Brekke, O. H. and G. A. Loset (2003). New technologies in therapeutic antibody development. Curr Opin Pharmacol 3(5): 544-550. Brekke, O. H. and I. Sandlie (2003). Therapeutic antibodies for human diseases at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2(1): 52-62. Chatenoud, L., M. F. Baudrihaye, et al. (1986). Restriction of the human in vivo immune response against the mouse monoclonal antibody OKT3. J Immunol 137(3): 830-838. Chatenoud, L., M. Jonker, et al. (1986). The human immune response to the OKT3 monoclonal antibody is oligoclonal. Science 232(4756): 1406-1408. DeNardo, G. L., B. M. Bradt, et al. (2003). Human antiglobulin response to foreign antibodies: therapeutic benefit? Cancer Immunol Immunother 52(5): 309-316. Hagemeyer, C. E., C. von Zur Muhlen, et al. (2009). Single-chain antibodies as diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents. Thromb Haemost 101(6): 1012-1019. Haurum, J. S. (2006). Recombinant polyclonal antibodies: the next generation of antibody therapeutics? Drug Discov Today 11(13-14): 655-660. Kohler, G. and C. Milstein (1975). Continuous cultures of fused cells secreting antibody of predefined specificity. Nature 256(5517): 495-497. Laffly, E. and R. Sodoyer (2005). Monoclonal and recombinant antibodies, 30 years after. Hum Antibodies 14(1-2): 33-55. Majidi, J., J. Barar, et al. (2009). Target therapy of cancer: implementation of monoclonal antibodies and nanobodies. Hum Antibodies 18(3): 81-100. Nelson, P. N., G. M. Reynolds, et al. (2000). Monoclonal antibodies. Mol Pathol 53(3): 111-117. Pelegrin, M., L. Gros, et al. (2004). Monoclonal antibody-based genetic immunotherapy. Curr Gene Ther 4(3): 347-356. Presta, L. G. (2006). Engineering of therapeutic antibodies to minimize immunogenicity and optimize function. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 58(5-6): 640-656. Self, C. H. and S. Thompson (2006). How specific are therapeutic monoclonal antibodies? Lancet 367(9516): 1038-1039. Smith, K. A., P. N. Nelson, et al. (2004). Demystifiedrecombinant antibodies. J Clin Pathol 57(9): 912-917.

George Handel :: Music, Operas, Allelujah Chorous

George Handel was one of the best composers of his time. Handel really didn’t grow up with music but when he got the hang of it there was no looking back. Handel was not your average child, he became great at what he did at a young age. â€Å"By the age of eleven, Handel was able not only to compose but also to give organ lessons(Kamien 169). Handel played several instruments and begin playing in operas before he was twenty-one. Handel father was important factor of his life, he was the one that let Handel pursue music full-time at a young age. â€Å"Perhaps to honor the wishes of his father, who had died when Handel was twelve, he entered Halle University at seventeen to study law(Kamien 169).† Handel later drop out of school and traveled to different places to pursue his music. George Handel wrote many operas and oratorios. Some of his first operas got him well-known in England. â€Å"He became England’s most important composer and a favorite of Queen Anne, who gave him a subsidy of 200 a year(Kamien 170). But with the good there’s always a bad. For a period of time, Handel shows were doing good, he even had his own company produce his operas but soon things would change. â€Å"Both opera companies went bankrupt as a result of the competition, and Handel suffered a breakdown(Kamien 170). In, 1741, George Handel produce one of his best works Messiah. â€Å"Handel stopped writing operas entirely(Kamien 170).Oratorios poured from his pen(170). Oratorios don’t have acting, and costumes like operas. Messiah still to this day is one of George Handel greatest works. â€Å"Messiah lasts about two and half hours and was composed in just twenty-four days(Kamien 171). Messiah did not get its success overnight but it took time to gain its su ccess. â€Å"Unlike most of Handel’s oratorios, Messiah is meditative rather than dramatic; it lacks plot, action, and specific characters(Kamien 172).†Messiah is still being use to this day. â€Å"Mozart made one, and still later versions are often played by orchestras for one hundred and choruses of several hundred(Kamien 172). Another one of George Handel great works is Hallelujah Chorus. â€Å"This is the popular name for the chorus that closes part 2 of Handel’s Messiah, which consist of three parts(Alison 1).† This chorus is known everywhere, you might have heard it or recognize it in church, movies, and plays. â€Å"In the Hallelujah Chorus, words and phrases are repeated over and over, as has been common practice in choral music for several centuries(Kamien 177). George Handel :: Music, Operas, Allelujah Chorous George Handel was one of the best composers of his time. Handel really didn’t grow up with music but when he got the hang of it there was no looking back. Handel was not your average child, he became great at what he did at a young age. â€Å"By the age of eleven, Handel was able not only to compose but also to give organ lessons(Kamien 169). Handel played several instruments and begin playing in operas before he was twenty-one. Handel father was important factor of his life, he was the one that let Handel pursue music full-time at a young age. â€Å"Perhaps to honor the wishes of his father, who had died when Handel was twelve, he entered Halle University at seventeen to study law(Kamien 169).† Handel later drop out of school and traveled to different places to pursue his music. George Handel wrote many operas and oratorios. Some of his first operas got him well-known in England. â€Å"He became England’s most important composer and a favorite of Queen Anne, who gave him a subsidy of 200 a year(Kamien 170). But with the good there’s always a bad. For a period of time, Handel shows were doing good, he even had his own company produce his operas but soon things would change. â€Å"Both opera companies went bankrupt as a result of the competition, and Handel suffered a breakdown(Kamien 170). In, 1741, George Handel produce one of his best works Messiah. â€Å"Handel stopped writing operas entirely(Kamien 170).Oratorios poured from his pen(170). Oratorios don’t have acting, and costumes like operas. Messiah still to this day is one of George Handel greatest works. â€Å"Messiah lasts about two and half hours and was composed in just twenty-four days(Kamien 171). Messiah did not get its success overnight but it took time to gain its su ccess. â€Å"Unlike most of Handel’s oratorios, Messiah is meditative rather than dramatic; it lacks plot, action, and specific characters(Kamien 172).†Messiah is still being use to this day. â€Å"Mozart made one, and still later versions are often played by orchestras for one hundred and choruses of several hundred(Kamien 172). Another one of George Handel great works is Hallelujah Chorus. â€Å"This is the popular name for the chorus that closes part 2 of Handel’s Messiah, which consist of three parts(Alison 1).† This chorus is known everywhere, you might have heard it or recognize it in church, movies, and plays. â€Å"In the Hallelujah Chorus, words and phrases are repeated over and over, as has been common practice in choral music for several centuries(Kamien 177).

Maquiladora Industry in United States

In this paper I will discuss the history and practices of the Maquiladora industry. I will discuss its background, its problems, the benefits it offers to United States companies, and the impact the NAFTA has and will have on the industry. In addition, I will make a suggestion on a possible strategy the Maquiladoras can adopt in order to address the challenges brought on by the NAFTA, to ensure it remains a strong force in the future. Mexican agricultural workers had been granted temporary work visas allowing them to work in the United States† agricultural industries through a program called the Bracero Program until 1965 when this program was terminated. As a result of this termination, the unemployment rate had exceeded 70% in certain border cities. In May of 1965 the Border Industrialization Program was established as a replacement for the Bracero program. It was later renamed the Maquiladora Program. The program was established by the Mexican government to provide employment for Mexico†s rapidly growing population along its border with the United States. This program was utilized to keep Mexicans from entering the United States. The idea was that Mexican workers would be kept on the Mexican side of the border if they were given factory jobs on the Mexican side. The Maquiladora program also wanted to attract foreign manufacturing facilities, technology, and know-how by giving a permanent tax holiday to manufacturing companies that would set up â€Å"twin plants† on the Mexican side of the border. In the beginning of the program, all foreign-owned operations had to be located within a 20-kilometer strip along the US-Mexican border. Since 1972 they can be located anywhere in Mexico. In 1996 there were around 2,500 Maquiladoras – 35% of them were located in the interior states of Mexico. Last year there were over 3,000 and more and more of these operations are being located outside of the border regions. Each of Mexico†s 31 states has at least one Maquiladora. Maquiladoras, also referred to as â€Å"in bond† or â€Å"twin† plants, are allowed to temporarily import into Mexico (free of tax) machinery, equipment, replacement parts, raw materials, and just about anything that was used in the assembly or manufacture of semi-finished or finished products. Once assembled or manufactured, the Maquila products must be exported unless special permission is obtained to sell a limited amount of output in the Mexican market. When these products are imported back to the United States, import duties are levied on the foreign value-added only. If Maquila products stay in Mexico, the are subject to applicable Mexican duties. The largest issue surrounding the Maquiladora industry is the exploitation of cheap labor. The working conditions are often unsafe, workers are not compensated adequately for their labor, attempts to unionize are discouraged; and sexual discrimination and harassment are too common. The conditions in and outside the Maquiladoras are terrible. Workers perform tasks such as welding without protective masks, leather gloves, or goggles (in many instances) and industrial accidents and toxic exposures are common. This, along with malnutrition caused by low salaries, produce skin illnesses, cancer, irregularities in menstruation, abortions, tumors, intoxication and birth of undernourished or disabled babies. Of the employees, many are young girls and women ranging from the ages of 14 to 20. They work 6 days a week in 10-hour shifts. The average weekly salary for a Maquiladora worker is US$35 – $45 even though the average monthly rent for a house with public services such as running water and electricity is around $200 a month. For the most part, Maquiladoras are unorganized. In those that are organized, state-controlled unions represent the workers. Although some companies are unionized on paper, the unions, for the most part, function to reinforce management policies rather than for the benefit of workers. Then there are what are called â€Å"phantom† unions. These unions do not fight for the worker†s rights. The workers do not even know them and have never seen their union leaders. When a conflict arises in a factory, management informs the worker that their unions have accept these or those conditions. Not only are they not protected by existing unions, those that attempt to unionize and are often threatened or bribed by plant managers and the government. In many companies, discrimination against and harassment of the female employees is very common. Female job applicants are required to produce urine samples to be used for pregnancy test, while some have company doctors and nurses examine the applicants or ask confidential information concerning their contraceptive practices. This is done because pregnant women are refused employment. Sexual harassment is often the rule rather than the exception. Rapes occur frequently and few are reported because women fear being fired or blacklisted. Shame and humiliation also keep them quiet. In Mexico, men and women are equal before the law, but the law does not recognize discrimination as a problem to be solved. The Pollution Brought on by the Maquiladoras The increased pollution, accompanied by the dumping of tons of hazardous wastes, poses a serious health threat to the residents of Mexico as well as the resident of the bordering US states. There are several canals that are â€Å"black† with chemical wastes that have been measured at levels that greatly exceed permissible standards. One factory was caught dumping drums of paint, solvents, and shellac into a drain. In other areas there are abandoned lead smelters and air full of soot and dust from brick-making ovens and smoldering tire dumps. Main Advantages for the United States† Companies For the United States companies this was a great advantage since Maquiladoras operates at very low costs in places where the currency is weaker than the dollar–such as Mexico. The less a currency is worth, the more relative value the dollar has. Since Mexico†s peso is relatively week, companies can trade their dollars for pesos with which they pay workers and expenses. The products they manufacture, however, are sold for dollars, increasing their profits by huge margins whenever the local currency falls. They could enhance competitiveness, reduce their costs, and maintain quality by placing their labor-intensive operations in the less developed Mexico, benefiting from the lower wage rates there. For many US companies, manufacturing in Mexico has become necessary to battle overseas competition. Since many manufacturers are moving to â€Å"just-in-time† inventory systems, the quick delivery possible from Mexico†s border towns offers a substantial advantage over Asian alternatives. The NAFTA†s Impact on the Maquiladora Industry Traditionally, Maquiladoras offered foreign businesses several advantages over other forms of direct foreign investment. Since the signing of NAFTA, however, many of these advantages are either being phased-out or granted to all Mexican companies. The most significant advantages of operating as a Maquiladoras include: 100% foreign investment, operation without ownership of assets, tax sheltering of cost centers, and 100% duty-drawback or waivers for temporary imports. Furthermore, the NAFTA attempted to address the labor exploitation and environmental problems associated with the Maquiladora industry. One of the benefits of the Maquiladora program is 100% foreign investment of Mexican operations, which formerly was not allowed. However, Mexico†s Foreign Investment Law has changed through the years (most significantly in 1989 and 1994)-full investment is now allowed in most business ventures. Operation Without Ownership of Assets Another advantage that Maquiladoras have is that they can receive production materials and capital goods as loans from their parent and client companies. As a result, most Maquiladoras have little of no inventory of fixed assets, eliminating the need to pay the Mexican asset tax of 2% of all assets. In January 1995, the Mexican IRS reported that Maquiladoras would now have to factor the depreciation of â€Å"loaned† assets in price-transfer calculations, which is the first step toward phasing-out this advantage by 2001. When Maquiladoras are structured as cost center (providing manufacturing services for a foreign parent) the foreign corporation has traditionally paid the Mexican company for operating costs plus negligible profit. By doing this they avoid Mexico†s 34% corporate income tax, 10% mandatory profit sharing, and asset taxes. Now the Mexican IRS is changing the way Maquiladoras must declare assets. Over the next few years, Maquiladoras will be forced to raise their declared profit percentage to a rate that is comparable to that of two unrelated companies performing the same transaction at â€Å"arm†s length†. This is the type of transfer pricing procedure that is implemented by most trading blocks, like the EC. It will soon be effect throughout North America. 100% Duty-Drawback or Waivers for Temporary Imports Maquiladoras have always allowed Mexican companies 100% duty drawback or waivers in imported components that are exported as final goods. Since 1994, this has provided many Maquiladora programs a way to use non-NAFTA materials within products without the need to pay the corresponding duties over those materials when importing or exporting goods to other NAFTA nations. On January 1, 2001, Maquiladoras that manufacture goods for export to NAFTA partner countries will no longer be allowed to take the waiver. The waiver will still be available for goods that are going to non-NAFTA countries. In 1995 the NAFTA†s of Labor created the National Administrative Office (NAO) as well as the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC). Both were intended to stop labor abuses. The NOA was established to monitor labor complaints that NAFTA critic†s voice regarding unfair labor practices. The NAO can recommend â€Å"ministerial consultations† as well as imposed heavy sanctions against Mexico. Unfortunately, the side agreements proved useless. The NOA cannot force Maquiladoras to allow unions-the most they can do is recommend â€Å"ministerial consultations.† Sexual harassment and discrimination continues as well. The NAFTA has also created side agreements covering the environment. One of them is the North American Development Bank (NAD Bank). Its purpose was to finance wastewater treatment projects along the border in the poorer communities. However, the most important criteria that needed to be met in order to receive funds were meeting certain market considerations. With this program NAFTA â€Å"encouraged† growth without regard for the environment through its practice of placing market consideration above environmental protection. Another is the Commission for Economic Cooperation (CEC). The CEC was established to investigate governmental non-enforcement of environmental laws. Unfortunately it has no power to enforce ,they can only investigate-and they can†t even do that until Mexico collects the data on the pollution for them. Possible Strategy for the Maquiladora Industry As long as the Mexican currency is weaker than the US dollar I don†t think that the changes are going to dramatically effect the flow of US companies to the south. However, the Maquiladora industry cannot count on this for continued growth. By the year 2001 the Maquiladora industry as we know it now will have significantly changed when the phasing out is complete. Maquiladoras will no longer be â€Å"tax break† establishments; they will be just like other foreign investments. In order for them to fully compete in the near future they must become more efficient and leaner. The impact of globalization is forcing manufacturers to produce more rapidly and cheaply than ever before and to continuously improve. Because there will be no differentiation between the non-Maquiladora and Maquiladora industries I feel the inefficient producers will be wiped out. Therefor, Maquiladora employees will need better training, education, incentives as well improved working conditions and higher wages. Operations will also have to be streamlined in order to reap the benefits of economies of scale and scope. In addition, Mexicans as well as US citizens will start to demand more accountability from the Mexican government and the Maquiladora industry. They need to be more responsible for their actions. What will the U.S. corporations do when human rights activists and environmentalists start lobbying and protesting on their US sites? Do they want to risk losing their shareholders to this type of negative attention?

Running for Student Council Pros and Cons

Running for Student Council Pros and Cons Are you thinking about running for student council? Trying to weigh the pros and cons? The actual rules for student council will differ from school to school, but these tips will help you decide if student council is right for you and will help you prepare a successful campaign. Reasons to Run for Student Council Student government might be a good activity for you if you: Like to bring about changeWould enjoy a career in politicsEnjoy planning eventsAre outgoing and sociableHave time to prepare for attending meetings Common Student Council Positions President: The class president normally runs council meetings. The president often represents the student body in meetings with school administrators.Vice President: The vice president assists the president in many duties. The vice president also stands in for the president and runs the meetings when necessary.Secretary: The class secretary keeps an accurate record of meetings and student activities, programs, and sessions. You should be organized and enjoy writing and taking notes if you run for this position.Treasurer: Are you good with numbers? Interested in bookkeeping or accounting? The treasurer keeps track of student council funds and is responsible for the disbursement of funds. Campaign Planning Consider Why Youre Running: Ask yourself what kinds of changes you want to effect and what issues youd like to resolve. What is your platform? How will the school and student body benefit from your participation in student council? Set a Budget: There are expenses involved with running a campaign. Create a realistic budget, taking into account materials like posters, buttons, and snacks for volunteers. Find Campaign Volunteers: Youll need help creating your campaign and communicating your goals to students. Choose people with a wide variety of skills. For instance,  a strong writer can help with your speech, while an artist can create posters. People from different skill sets can help leverage creativity while people with different interests can assist in broadening your connections. Brainstorm: Think about your strengths, the words that best describe you, your advantages over the other candidates, and your unique message. Its often helpful to ask others to describe how they see you. Tips for Student Council Campaigns Review all the campaign rules carefully. They will differ from school to school, so dont make any assumptions. Remember to check for paperwork submission deadlines.Make sure you meet academic requirements.Complete the application in a professional way. No sloppy handwriting or incomplete answers. Teachers and advisors will be more supportive if you demonstrate that you take the position seriously.You may be required to collect a certain number of signatures from fellow students, teachers, and administrators before you can run. Consider preparing a notecard with important points about your goals and plans and use it as you meet and greet school staff.Identify a certain problem or policy that is meaningful to your classmates and make it part of your platform. However, be sure not to make promises you cant keep.Create a catchy slogan.Find an artistic friend who can help you create publicity material. Why not create postcard-sized ads? Just be sure to follow school rules when it comes to publicity. Prepare a campaign speech. If you are worried about public speaking, practice your speech and follow tips for speaking in class.Remember to play fair. Dont remove, destroy, or cover over other students posters.Be sure to check the rules at your school before investing in giveaways such as items with your name printed on them. At some schools, this sort of advertising may result in disqualification.

Free Essays on Urban Dynamics

Segregation In Urban Areas Since urbanization began in European cities, there has always been segregation, either by class, socio-economic status, political affiliation, etc. In modern American cities stratification is most heavily linked to class or race. There are many reasons that segregation in cities take place, and we will explore the more prevalent ideas of social stratification. When urban centers in America were beginning to take shape, people moved in droves to these industrial metropolises to find work and success. We studied earlier the effects of this mass immigration to cities and saw the horrid living conditions that people endured to find work. The overcrowding of cities made ghettos obvious and wealth was not directly associated with the masses of people moving in. Through the years, urban areas grew with new suburban towns encircling the city. Wealthier people inhabited these suburban areas with the ability to move in and out of cities at their own will. Cities became a melting pot of cultures in a small area. People of the same ethnic background often moved into neighborhoods in which their own culture was dominant as to fit in and feel more at home. These areas are obvious in places such as Chinatown, or â€Å"Little Italy†. Southie, in Boston is dominated by the working class Irish people that came to the American cities as many others did: looking for work, and the American Dream. These social groupings are one way that cities become segregated. This segregation is not the discriminatory term that we usually attribute to the phrase, but the separation of social groups. â€Å"The city in the 1920’s was often a battleground as various groups within the population struggled for social and cultural authority.† New laws in urban centers gave way to a new cultural group as well: criminals. Organized crime in the 1920’s was widespread; â€Å"In New York, Chicago, Detroit, and other cities, big-... Free Essays on Urban Dynamics Free Essays on Urban Dynamics Segregation In Urban Areas Since urbanization began in European cities, there has always been segregation, either by class, socio-economic status, political affiliation, etc. In modern American cities stratification is most heavily linked to class or race. There are many reasons that segregation in cities take place, and we will explore the more prevalent ideas of social stratification. When urban centers in America were beginning to take shape, people moved in droves to these industrial metropolises to find work and success. We studied earlier the effects of this mass immigration to cities and saw the horrid living conditions that people endured to find work. The overcrowding of cities made ghettos obvious and wealth was not directly associated with the masses of people moving in. Through the years, urban areas grew with new suburban towns encircling the city. Wealthier people inhabited these suburban areas with the ability to move in and out of cities at their own will. Cities became a melting pot of cultures in a small area. People of the same ethnic background often moved into neighborhoods in which their own culture was dominant as to fit in and feel more at home. These areas are obvious in places such as Chinatown, or â€Å"Little Italy†. Southie, in Boston is dominated by the working class Irish people that came to the American cities as many others did: looking for work, and the American Dream. These social groupings are one way that cities become segregated. This segregation is not the discriminatory term that we usually attribute to the phrase, but the separation of social groups. â€Å"The city in the 1920’s was often a battleground as various groups within the population struggled for social and cultural authority.† New laws in urban centers gave way to a new cultural group as well: criminals. Organized crime in the 1920’s was widespread; â€Å"In New York, Chicago, Detroit, and other cities, big-...

Divorce(should we reform laws to make it harder to get a divorce) Research Paper

Divorce(should we reform laws to make it harder to get a divorce) - Research Paper Example However, there seems to be great differences in divorce activities among countries, due to variation in law. Historically, the divorce rate has been low in most of the Muslim countries, probably because of the traditional systems of organized marriages and polygamy. Despite of all these efforts, the divorce rates have soared in most of these countries as Women rebel their culture, and engage in businesses across the globe. There are various reasons attributed to cause divorce, ranging from economic and social factors among others. Over the past one decade, people have blamed economic inflations and recession, infidelity, domestic abuse, unusual close attachment to biological family, communication problems, lifestyle incompatibility, and failure to reach expectations among others. As a result, in the aftermath, it affects the families, children, and the communities, not only in the physical aspects, but also psychologically. Hence those seeking divorce and the law offering it should b e mindful of its negative consequences. Short term outcomes: These effects could develop in the process or immediately after the parents’ separation, probably in first two years. Some could occur and end completely, but others could keep reappearing based on the situations the children are engage in. First of all, there are those kids who feel responsible for their parents divorce, therefore, the guilt they have separates them from their parents, not knowing how to resolve the situation. Normally, the children who are always making their parents argue due to their irresponsibility or violence in their past, get to feel so. Remember the children’s personalities differ; hence as some feel guilty, others develop anger and resentment towards their parents for breaking up (â€Å"Effects of Divorce,† separation.ca). It is good to understand that children have different needs and in the surfacing of a divorce, they fail to understand why the two grown ups cannot resolve their

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing - Assignment Example 1. Most Important Marketing Component A proper and complete Marketing plan consists of all the components as they complement each other and together have a direct impact on the product’s performance in the market. Amongst every component, Promotion can be considered as the most important component of the marketing mix as it actually drives the consumers’ purchase decisions as put by Kyambalesa, (2000) in his book  Marketing in the 21st Century: Concepts, Challenges, and Imperatives. Promotions are the only way through which the consumers can be made aware of any brand and the values which it promises to deliver. By using a full 3600 advertising campaign with strong brand activation campaigns, a company can ensure that the customers are fully aware of the offering which will directly result into sales and revenue for the company (Egan, 2007). 2. Component of Marketing Plan: Importance of Implementation and Controls As explained by Egan, (2007) in his book  Marketing communications, promotional campaigns are the strongest mode of communication between a marketer and the consumer. A strong promotional campaign is of no value to the company and the brand is it is not accurately and effectively implemented.