Globalisation and Economic Sociology Term Paper

Globalisation and Economic Sociology - Term Paper Example   Different nations of people live in one city, like Lenovo representing unity in diversity with so many cultures and traditional values. Different languages are spoken.   Municipalities also register an inevitable growth and they have to provide transportable roads lighting the roads, similarly and should be committed to providing amenities of international standard to being globalization.   The technology is no more permitted, limited to a particular part of the world.   It is exchanged in order to serve the public with the latest technology. The globe is no bigger. Globalization and economic sociology represent a single economy. Single technology, efficiency, and quality of the products should be of high standard. Because of globalization and sociology, there is conspicuous change with the social life industries. One shall meat and come across different rest of different nationals represent at one place.   Different sets of different nationals represent diversified cultures, different languages are spoken at one and the same place, and at one and the same time.   They come to know each other from a closer proximity. The intimacies develop; relationships pave way for greater understanding.   The social pavilion of life is set to rolling.   Broader outlook develops into the more knowledgeable and understanding environment.   There will be a great impact on the urban sociology patterns of life. The world becomes a small place respectively inevitable economic growth, a pleasant knowledge-based environment.   The world is no bigger, thou ghts of seeing the world; the globe on a huge unknown has become so small so much can be felt immensely. The development may fold big colonies.   A lot of departmental stores will enter into the market to cater to the needs of the conglomeration.   The branded cloth stores, all varieties clothes grocers, food needs and other essentialities shall be ushering with magnificence providing job opportunities for skilled and unskilled.   The development shall develop many folds.  

Education System Essay Example for Free

Education System Essay The education system of India is very old. It has started from the ancient times. The Vedas, puranas, ayurveda, yoga represent some forms of education. There are evidences of imparting formal education in ancient India under the Gurukul system. Under the Gurukul system, young boys who were passing through the Brahmacharya stage of life had to stay at the Guru or the teachers home and complete their education. Earlier women and people of lower castes didnt have a right to educate themselves. But Jainism, Buddhism and Sufi movements had some liberating effects. The Britishers can be credited for bringing a revolution in the Indian education system because it is the English language and the reformation movements of the 19th century that had the most liberating effect in pre-independent India. India Education Present Condition  After independence, making education available to all had become a priority for the government. As discrimination on the basis of caste and gender has been a major impediment in the healthy development of the Indian society, they have been made unlawful by the Indian constitution. The 86th constitutional amendment has also made elementary education a fundamental right for the children between the age group- 6 to 14. According to the 2001 census, Total literacy rate 65.38%. The female literacy rate 54.16%. Only 59.4% of rural population is literate as against 80.3% urban population according to the 2001 census. Read more: http://www.ukessays.com/essays/education/education-system-of-india.php#ixzz2KBxKSaq0

Dr. Faustus Essay: Free Will and Personal Responsibility

Free Will and Personal Responsibility in Faustus  Ã‚   It can be argued that Doctor Faustus is damned from the moment of conception. His innate desire for knowledge inevitably leads to his downfall. He represents the common human dissatisfaction with being human and the struggle of accepting our lack of omnipotence and omniscience. Marlowe manipulates this struggle between the aspirations of one character of his time and the implications to Christianity in relation to its doctrine of heaven and hell. Indeed, Doctor Faustus asks for more than what was intentionally made available to him through God's plan, yet it was God's gift to him of his intellect, that tempted him to search beyond his appointed realm of knowledge. Faustus, through his own free will, decides to trade his soul with Lucifer in order to gain the answers to the questions of the universe. According to the divine plan ideology of Catholic doctrine, his decision worked into the cosmic outline. The divine application of his decision implies that there are benefits or rather s ome other importance, outside of the connection to Faustus, of his selling his soul. This lessens the impetus behind his decision because of the emphasis on universal application as opposed to the immediate ramifications to Faustus, the human being. Therefore, one can argue as to where the responsibility or fault lies concerning Faustus' fate because of the presence of other forces who may have influenced his decision. However the responsibility for his choice remains his and his alone. Faustus sells his soul for what he believes to be limitless power, with the full logical, as opposed to emotional, knowledge as to consequences of such a transaction. He knows the stakes of his gamble with the ... ...oth lead to eventual and eternal damnation. On the contrary, one could argue that Marlowe was illustrating the cruelty of the notion that faith alone was not enough to secure one's salvation, merely by Faustus' tragic end in itself. However, by taking into consideration Marlowe's possible sympathizing with Catholic dogma, it can be inferred that much of the ideology of the character of Doctor Faustus, indeed was the direct product of Marlowe's own religious beliefs. Works Cited and Consulted Marlowe, Christopher Dr Faustus in ed. WB Worthen (1996) The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama, 2nd edn., Texas: Harcourt Brace Steane, J.B (1965) Marlowe Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Wilson, F.P (1953) Marlowe and the Early Shakespeare Oxford: Clarendon Press The Oxford English Dictionary (1989), Second edition, Volume xviii. Oxford: Clarendon Press  

Home Depot and Lowes Financial Analysis Essay

ANALYSIS: For the past two years (2012-2013) both Home Depot (HD) and Lowes (LOW) appear to be performing companies. However, overall Home Depot is a significantly stronger company. The total sales growth for HD is 3.0% versus 0.3% for LOW. A comparison of the Short-term Liquidity reveals that HD and LOW both have compatible current ratios. However, the Quick Ratio provides evidence that HD has a much stronger operational efficiency. The Days Receivable, Inventory and Payables all validate the efficiency of how HD is managing their inventory and accounts. Based on this simple fact alone, HD is performing well above LOW. The difference of profitability is highlighted at the significant difference in sales growth of HD (3.0%) versus LOW (0.3%). Within all categories of profitability, HD is out performing LOW. The return on assets to generating profits is proving to be very effective for HD. HD has separated itself from LOW in its capability and efficiency. HDs total asset and investmen t returns clearly separate them from LOW. The HD return on investments categories is almost double for HD over LOW. It is this efficiency that gauges hoe much more effective HD is at putting investments to work to generate revenue. The long-term solvency ratios show that HD is also a much more secure company. The interest coverage is comparable to both companies. However, the Long-Term debt to common equity shows the leverage that HD has over LOW. It only has a very conservative 2% reliance on their debt versus a very high 52.9% for LOW. This difference shows the risk factor that could potentially affect the ability of LOW to repay their debts. The market ratio shows similar price earnings for both HD & LOW. The beta is also compatible and highlights the risk that LOW is slightly higher than HD. The HD Common Stock Market to Book Return, illustrates how HD has almost doubled their market value of their stock to the amount invested by stockholders. This is an incredible strength for any company to achieve. LOW also has a solid ratio, just not as strong as what HD has. The cash flow from operation/net income shows a slight higher ratio for LOW. There was definitely a spike for all cash flow for LOW from 2012 to 2013. HD fell slightly behind LOW at the operational/new income ratio. However, HD is considerably stronger in the cash from operations/investment proving their ability of using internally generated cash from operations to expand the company if desired. The overall winner between HD an LOW is no  question: Home Depot! The company is simply performing much better than Lowes in virtually every financial category as a company. Regarding the DuPont Analysis. In the 1920’s the DuPont Corporation developed what became known as the DuPont analysis, a technique which uses basic accounting identities to break down the return on equity into either 3 or 5 component parts. Based on the information within the report, HD has consistently achieved greater success and proves to be secure enough that it will continue this future trend. The overall N et Income/Sales & Earnings to Price Ratio illustrates clearly that operationally HD is a much better company than Lowes.

India Essay

The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectusfrom about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilisation, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from c. 3300 to 1300 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, was the first major civilisation in South Asia. A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture developed in the Mature Harappan period, from 2600 to 1900 BCE. Beginning in the mid-18th century and over the next century, large areas of India were annexed by the British East India Company. Dissatisfaction with Company rule led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, after which the British provinces of India were directly administered by the British Crown and witnessed a period of both rapid development of infrastructure and economic decline. During the first half of the 20th century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress and later joined by the Muslim League. The subcontinent gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, after the British provinces were partitioned into the dominions of India and Pakistan and the princely states all acceded to one of the new states. The origin of the name â€Å"Taj Mahal† is not clear. Court histories from Shah Jehan’s reign only call it the rauza (tomb) of Mumtaz Mahal. It is generally believed that â€Å"Taj Mahal† (usually translated as either â€Å"Crown Palace† or â€Å"Crown of the Palace†) is an abbreviated version of her name, Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of this marble masterpiece is credited to the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who erected this mausoleum in the memory of his beloved wife, Arjumand Bano Begum, popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal, who died in AH 1040 (AD 1630). Her last wish to her husband was â€Å"to build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before†. Thus emperor Shah Jahan set about building this fairytale like marvel. The construction of Taj Mahal was started in AD 1631 and completed at the end of 1648 AD. For seventeen years, twenty thousand workmen are said to be employed on it daily, for their accommodation a small town, named after the deceased empress-‘Mumtazabad, now known as Taj Ganj, was built adjacent to it. Amanat Khan Shirazi was the calligrapher of Taj Mahal, his name occurs at the end of an inscription on one of the gates of the Taj. Poet Ghyasuddin had designed the verses on the tombstone, while Ismail Khan Afridi of Turkey was the dome maker. Muhammad Hanif was the superintendent of Masons. The designer of Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site. The central dome is 187 feet high at the centre. Red sandstone was brought from Fatehpur Sikri, Jasper from Punjab, Jade and Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire from Sri Lanka, Coal and Cornelian from Arabia and diamonds from Panna. In all 28 kind of rare, semi precious and precious stones were used for inlay work in the Taj Mahal. The chief building material, the white marble was brought from the quarries of Makrana, in distt. Nagaur, Rajasthan. Top Religious Attractions The Golden Temple – Adherents of the Sikh religion need no introduction to their sacred pilgrimage seat. Sri Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple, named so due to the quintessential golden hue that the monument is bathed in, is laced by the equally sacred waters of the Amrit Sarovar or the Pond of Nectar. On a jewel-studded platform is the Adi Grantha or the sacred scripture of the Sikhs wherein are enshrined holy inscriptions by the ten Sikh gurus and various Hindu and Moslem saints. Kerala Backwaters -The Backwaters of Kerala are the place meant for those in search of a peaceful moments amidst natural beauty. The main backwater destinations in Kerala are Kumarakom, Allepey, Cochin, Trivandrum and Kollam. Cruising along these backwaters on board the houseboats or Kettuvallom is one experience that is forever cherished by visitors to the state. India has always been a popular destination for travellers. The culture, tradition and lifestyle of the common masses and the grandeur and opulence of the royalty has attracted people to explore and feel the real India. All these things combined with mysticism, spiritualism, yoga and Ayurveda make India a must visit destination on the world travel map. India tour is aimed at offering you the best of India. Whether it is the sandy desert of Rajasthan, the tranquil and serene backwaters of Kerala or the mesmerising beauty of the Taj Mahal Dhoti Dhoti kurta is the traditional Indian clothing of men. Unlike other dresses, it is an unstitched piece of cloth usually 5 yards long that is tied around the waist and legs. The knot is tied at the waist. Dhoti is known by different names at different places such as Laacha in Punjabi, dhuti in Bangla. Indian Sari Sari is one of the most wonderful dresses worn by Indian women. Infact, when one thinks of a typical Indian woman, the first thing that strikes the mind is a woman clad in sari, who is wearing the solah shringar including bindi, chudi, kajal etc. history India is a land of ancient civilization. India’s social, economic, and cultural configurations are the products of a long process of regional expansion. Indian history begins with the birth of the Indus Valley Civilization and the coming of the Aryans. These two phases are usually described as the pre-Vedic and Vedic age. Hinduism arose in the Vedic period. The fifth century saw the unification of India under Ashoka, who had converted to Buddhism, and it is in his reign that Buddhism spread in many parts of Asia. In the eighth century Islam came to India for the first time and by the eleventh century had firmly established itself in India as a political force. It resulted into the formation of the Delhi Sultanate, which was finally succeeded by the Mughal Empire, under which India once again achieved a large measure of political unity. It was in the 17th century that the Europeans came to India. This coincided with the disintegration of the Mughal Empire, paving the way for regional states. In the contest for supremacy, the English emerged ‘victors’. The Rebellion of 1857-58, which sought to restore Indian supremacy, was crushed; and with the subsequent crowning of Victoria as Empress of India, the incorporation of India into the empire was complete. It was followed by India’s struggle for independence, which we got in the year 1947. Weding An Indian Hindu wedding is strictly observed according to the ancient cultural norms laid down in the Vedas. In the Indian society a wedding is not just the coming together of two people rather two souls. In fact, a wedding also brings two families closer, which thereafter share a bond of respect and affection. As a result, there are a number of traditions and customs associated with the Indian Hindu wedding ceremony. These traditions are the essence of the marital institution, thereby strengthening the significance, chastity and faith in the same. Rangoli Rangoli, one of the most beautiful and most pleasing art forms of India, is comprised of two words, ‘rang’ meaning ‘color’ and ‘aavalli’ meaning colored creepers’ or ‘row of colors’. Rangoli basically comprises of the art of making designs or patterns on the walls or the floor of the house, using finely ground white powder along with different colors. Numerous households in the Indian subcontinent make use of Rangoli designs for decorating the courtyard of their house.

How do Americans cope with declining or stagnant incomes What are the responses from consumers, businesses, banks, etc.

How do Americans cope with declining or stagnant incomes What are the responses from consumers, businesses, banks, etc. It is possible to remember several situations when income of the US citizens declined or was stagnant. Remembering the crisis of 1930s, the reaction of US government should be stressed. People were affected by the changes in power and ideology. Great shifts in the government took place and many economic problems were solved by the government as its role in the country’s economy increased.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on How do Americans cope with declining or stagnant incomes? What are the responses from consumers, businesses, banks, etc.? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A new wave of crisis with the similar characteristics took place after the World War II. That time government reacted to the income stagnation or even decline by â€Å"an active fiscal policy; providing an extended social safety net for low-income people; and regulating business activity† (MacEwan and Miller 39). These measures were di rected at regulating the total demand by means of regulating the taxation and government’s spending. Government did all possible to assist US citizens. After the Second World War the situation began to improve due to the international relationships which expanded and developed. It allowed the country to become stronger in the limited period and to make sure that situation is going to increase. In summary, the following actions were done after the situation in 1930s’. Unionization was promoted, government increased its regulation of industry and finance, minimum salaries were established just for social security, to restrain unemployment. The banks were considered as the strongest ones, which are too big to fail. Absolutely different situation has occurred in 2008. The declining and stagnation of incomes could not be reacted by the measures taken by the government in 1930s and after the World War II. It should be stated that â€Å"consumer spending declines as income r emains stagnant† (The Associated Press). This is the phrase taken from the title of the newspaper from November 30, 2012. It should be stated that the affect of the crisis remains up to now and the economy just starts to recover. The reaction of the population to the stagnation was a complete limit of spending. People bought only the things of the first necessity and did not have an opportunity to spend more. Additionally, limited employment and high prices on gasoline also restricted people in their actions. Looking at the existed situation, it may be stated that international trade in this case does not support the country but creates higher competition at the market which is not a positive factor. Moreover, immigration creates additional problems at the labor market increasing the demand. Businessmen cautiously conduct their activities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The banks and the government try to react, supporting population, however, slow pace of economic growth may not be implemented. Therefore, it should be stated that the same actions of the government which were taken in 1930s’ do not work today. The economics has changed and if in 1930s’ government had an opportunity to affect the financial situation in the country, nowadays, it seems impossible. The consumers limit their expenses, the banks are interested in returning their money, the government does all possible to secure both citizens and banks, however, it is a very complicated affair which is still successful, but not with the desired speed. Regulating some aspects of the economics, the fiscal economical situation remains as it is. Business in the current conditions cannot develop successfully (The Associated Press). MacEwan, Arthur and John A. Miller. Economic Collapse, Economic Change: Getting to the Roots of the Crisis. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2011. Print. The Associated Press. â€Å"Consumer spending declines as income remains stagnant.† The Oregon, 30 Nov. 2012. Web. https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2012/11/consumer_spending_declines_as.html

3 Cases of Missing Parenthetical Punctuation

3 Cases of Missing Parenthetical Punctuation 3 Cases of Missing Parenthetical Punctuation 3 Cases of Missing Parenthetical Punctuation By Mark Nichol In each of the following examples, a complementary comma that provides closure for a parenthetical phrase is missing. Discussion after each sentence explains the problem, and a revision demonstrates the solution. 1. A-list actors, including Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, and Bill Murray provide the voices for CGI characters. If the sentence began with the actors’ names and was a simple statement of identification, only the commas after the first and second names would be required. But because the names, preceded by the organizational signal word including, are parenthetical to the main clause, â€Å"A-list actors provide the voices for CGI characters,† providing examples rather than constituting a comprehensive list, a comma must follow Bill Murray’s name to complement the comma after actors: â€Å"A-list actors, including Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, and Bill Murray, provide the voices for CGI characters.† 2. Despite Jones’s busy schedule, Smith said that he always found time for her. Smith does not say something in spite of Jones’s busy schedule; â€Å"Smith said† is parenthetical to the main clause, â€Å"Despite Jones’s busy schedule, he always found time for her,† so it should be bracketed by two commas: â€Å"Despite Jones’s busy schedule, Smith said, he always found time for her.† 3. If he got lost, Jones was told a search party would not be sent to rescue him. The sentence suggests, with an apparently tangled tense construction, that if â€Å"he† were to get lost, he would be informed that no search party would be sent to rescue him. But what is meant is that he was told that if he got lost, no rescue effort would ensue. â€Å"Jones was told† is parenthetical to the statement, just as â€Å"Smith said† is parenthetical in the previous example, so it must be set off from the main clause by commas before and after the phrase: â€Å"If he got lost, Jones was told, a search party would not be sent to rescue him.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†50 Types of PropagandaWhen to Spell Out Numbers

The Best AP US Government Review 5-Step Guide

The Best AP US Government Review 5-Step Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips AP US Government can be a fascinating class for those interested in how the American political system works and what factors led to its formation. While the exam is less difficult than many other APs, it's still important to understand the types of questions you can expect and the most efficient ways to study based on the content. In this article, I'll go through sample questions from each part of the exam, list a step-by-step AP Government review process, and provide some tips for making the most of your studying. What’s the Format of the AP US Government Exam? The exam is two hours and twenty-five minutes long, and, like other AP tests, it includes multiple-choice and free-response sections.The multiple-choice section is 45 minutes long and contains 60 questions.You’ll earn one point for each question you answer correctly; there are no points deducted for incorrect answers or questions you leave blank.The free-response section is 100 minutes long and contains four questions.Each question in the free-response section is worth the same percentage of your score, although they typically have different numbers of raw points possible. What Do Questions Look Like on the AP US Government Exam? In this section, I’ll provide official examples of questions from each section of the test.The multiple-choice example is from the course guidelines, and the free-response example is a released question from the 2015 AP test. Multiple Choice Question Example EXCEPT questions are common on the AP US Government exam.It’s critical to read these questions carefully so that you don’t end up getting confused and looking for the wrong answer.In this case, we are looking for the one response that doesn’t represent a concern about the flaws of the Articles of Confederation.We need to eliminate the responses that were legitimate reasons for modifying the Articles of Confederation. The main issue with the Articles of Confederation was that they created a wimpy central government that didn’t have enough power to regulate conflicts between the states.We can eliminate any answers that talk about problems with weaknesses of the central government.That means B, D, and E should all be crossed out, leaving us with A and C as potential answers. Choice C, the desire to promote trade among the states, is connected to the problems with a lack of centralized power.Since the states were so autonomous, trade barriers were being set up that stifled the economy and divided the country too drastically.The federal government needed to be strengthened so that it could prevent these sorts of barriers from being thrown up and creating divisions and rivalries that damaged the country’s economy as a whole.This means that choice C can also be eliminated. Choice A, the only answer left, is the one we want.Although there was ultimately dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties which led to the creation of the Bill of Rights, this did not come to fruition until a couple of years later; it wasn’t a direct impetus for the convention. Free This question requires an understanding of presidential election policies and procedures.You could earn one point in part A for describing a reason why the electoral college was instituted by the framers of the constitution.Potential answers include: It provides for a compromise between small and large states in the election process. It protects against direct election by poorly informed citizens (caters to elites). The framers did not trust the people, Congress, or state legislatures to elect the president on their own. The electoral college reinforces federalism and gives states a role in presidential selection. For part B (also worth one point), you have to explain the message the cartoon sends regarding presidential elections.You might say that it points out that candidates mainly focus on battleground or swing states while placing much less emphasis on most other states.Alternatively, you could simply say that the cartoon indicates that most states are ignored by presidential candidates in the election process. For part C (again, worth one point), you would need to explain why California, Texas, and New York are not emphasized in the cartoon despite being assigned tons of electoral votes.You could say that all those states are very heavily controlled by one party or the other, so campaigning there will only help a candidate so much.Their voting patterns are essentially predetermined. The fate of the election is typically decided in smaller but more evenly divided states. For part D, worth two points, you just need to describe two campaign tactics used in swing states during presidential elections.Possible answers include: Concentrating campaign funds in those states Putting out more TV ads and media coverage in those states Having larger campaign organizations stationed in those states Making more campaign appearances in those states Focusing on issues that swing voters in those states care about Selecting a running mate who hails from one of the swing states You could earn a potential total of five raw points for this question, which is a typical number of points for most AP US Government free-response questions.On the 2015 exam, the first three free-response questions were worth five points each, and the last question was worth seven points.Keep in mind that each question has the same influence on your final score regardless of its raw point value.That means there’s no reason to prioritize one question over another; just start with whichever question seems easiest to you. Which Topics Does the AP US Government Exam Cover? There are six major topics covered by the exam.Here’s a chart detailing how often you’ll see each of them in the multiple-choice section: Topic Area Percentage of Questions Constitutional Underpinnings of US Government 5-15% Political Beliefs and Behaviors 10-20% Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media 10-20% Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts 35-45% Public Policy 5-15% Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 5-15% How to Review for AP US Government It can be hard to know where to start with your AP Gov review - I'll walk you through five steps to get you readyfor the exam. Step 1: Take a Practice Test The first step in your review should be to take a real practice exam.You need to do this before you dive into studying so you can focus on the areas that need the most work rather than reading over the material indiscriminately.As I mentioned in the previous section, you should also be sure totime yourself accurately on this practice test. When you’re done, score the test (one point for each multiple-choice question, consult specific scoring guidelines for free-response questions), and use this calculator to convert your raw score into an approximate AP score.This should give you some insight into how much time you’ll need to spend studying if you want to reach your goals. The AP US Government exam is known as one of the easier AP tests, so I'd suggest that you aim for a 5 unless you're really struggling with the material. Step 2: Look Back at Your Mistakes When you’ve finished scoring the test, review your mistakes to see which topics need to be addressed in your studying.Categorize incorrect answers by topic area and/or skill set.If you find that you had a lot of trouble with questions that asked about the judiciary, you would want to focus on that content in your review sessions. You can also consider the types of question formats that tripped you up most frequently.For example, if you noticed that you did especially poorly on EXCEPT questions, you might conclude that you need to practice slowing down and paying more attention to the wording of questions on the test. Step 3: Study Whatever You Forgot Now, you can dive back into your notesand study any content that was problematic for you on the practice test.If you don’t have many issues with content and are struggling more with the test format or careless mistakes, you can just do a short review of any small tidbits you missed and then move onto the next step. Step 4: Do Selective Practice Questions This step is important if you struggled with â€Å"EXCEPT† questions or most of your mistakes came from careless misunderstandings of the questions.Practicesimilar questions so that you’re more used to the types of wording and formats you’ll see on the exam.You can find tons of practice questions available on different websites and in review books (I’ll eventually be writing another article that lists all of these resources for you). Step 5: Take a Second Practice Test to Measure Your Progress When you’re satisfied that you have a better handle on all the issues that plagued you on the first practice test, you should take another test to see if you’ve made real progress.Again, time the test accurately, and take it in a quiet, distraction-free environment.If you find that your scores have improved, you can either decide that you’re satisfied or shoot for even more improvement by going through this process again.If you don’t see much improvement, you should backtrack and reexamine your study process.It may be that you were reading over your notes without really absorbing them or you didn’t do enough practice questions to get the hang of the test. Here’s an approximate timeline for the completion of all five of these steps: Step 1: 3 hoursStep 2: 1 hourStep 3: 2 hoursStep 4: 2 hoursStep 5: 3 hours Total Time: 11 hours When you finish studying for the AP test, the unofficial step 6 is convincing your teacher to let you watch House of Cards in class for the remainder of the year. 3 Study Tips for AP US Government Finally, here are a few essential study tips to keep you on track during your AP Government review. Tip #1: Prioritize Institutions of National Government As you can see from the chart in the previous section, "Institutions of National Government" is the most prominent single content area on the test.Congress and the Presidency, in particular, are hot topics that make up around 30 percent of questions. You should be familiar with the powers of these institutions, their compositions, the election processes associated with them, their origins, and how they’ve changed over time.It’s critical to have this knowledge as a foundation so that all the other information you’ve learned makes sense and can be tied back to the central structure of the US political system. Tip #2: Know Your Key Terms AP US Government is heavy on understanding terminology in context and identifying correct definitions on both sections of the test. It’s a great idea to make some flashcards to get yourself up to speed with all the fancy words that are used to describe stuff related to the government. Most review books and textbooks will have lists of key vocabulary that you can reference when creating flashcards.Be able to identify each term by its corresponding definition and state the definition when you're presented with a key term. Tip #3: Authentic Practice Resources Are Important There’s no foolproof substitute for official AP practice questions when reviewing for this test.Although it’s fine to use some unofficial sources (and, in fact, you probably have to if you hope to get in enough practice), you need to mix in at least some official AP questions to make sure you’re ready for the exam.Take at least one or two full official practice tests in your studying so you can get an accurate prediction of how you would perform on the real test. You should also time yourself to the specifications of the real AP test when taking official practice tests.This will help you to detect any issues with time management and develop skills in pacing that are necessary on the AP test.Note that you have less than a minute for each multiple choice question on this test (60 questions in 45 minutes), so you’ll have to keep yourself moving forward constantly to ensure that you make it to the end of the section. Don't get stuck in traffic when you come across hard questions. Either take your best guess or skip it on the first run through and come back to it later. Make sure you glare at the question as you zoom past. It knows what it did. Key Points for AP Government Review The AP US Government exam is one of the shorter AP tests, but it still covers a wide range of topics and includes some confusing question types that you should become familiar with before test day. Here's a recap of the steps you should take to get the most out of your review process: Step 1: Take a Practice Test Step 2: Look Back at Your Mistakes Step 3: Study What You Missed Step 4: Do Selective Practice Questions Step 5: Take Another Practice Test You can repeat these steps as necessary until you're satisfied with your scores. In your studying, focus on learning the ins and outs of institutions of national government and memorizing the definitions of key terms. You should also be sure to practice your skills using real AP questions from the College Board. Above all, don't be intimidated by this test. You're almost certainly capable of earning a 5 if you start studying well in advance! What's Next? To get your studying started, here's an article detailing how to find the best AP practice exams. Want even more advice on how to do well on your AP exams? Check out these six critical tips for success on any AP test. If your school doesn't offer an AP class that interests you, you might consider going rogue and taking the test anyways. Learn how you canself-study for an AP exam and end up with a great score. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Analyzing Case Study Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analyzing Case Study - Research Paper Example The analysis will take into consideration the actions and decisions of the energy industry regulators to promote competition in the industry. United Kingdom Energy Markets As demonstrated by the actions of British Gas and the Scottish and Southern Energy, the energy market in U.K is characterized by collusion and cartels. These oligopolistic market structures enable the six larger firms in this industry to regulate the market by determining the prices and supply of energy products. An oligopoly is a market structure, which is controlled by few producers, and each of the producers has control over the market. The extent to which an industry or a market is dominated by a few leading firms is determined by the concentration ratio. It is an industry where the level of market concentration is high. In most circumstances, an oligopoly exists when there are five large firms, and the demand or sales of their products account for 60 percent of the total market. There is no specified theory th at explains how firms determine the output and price under the conditions of oligopoly. If there are price wars in the industry the oligopolistic firms will produce and price their products as perfect competitive industry, at other times they will behave like a pure monopoly. The following are the characteristics of oligopoly market structure; these characteristics are also displayed by the UK energy market. First, product branding; this feature is seen when every firm in the market is selling differentiated (branded) products. For example, British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Scottish Power, Npower, and SSE firms among other small firms in the energy industry sell differentiated products in the UK energy markets. Second, entry barriers; considerable entry barriers into the industry market prevents other firms to enter the market thus enabling dominant firms to maintain supernormal profits. Various small firms may operate on the edge of an oligopolistic market, but these firms are not large enou gh to have a considerable effect on the market output and prices. In July 2011, the British Gas announced an increase in electricity and gas prices by 16 percent and 18 percent respectively just eight months after it increased its prices. British Gas managing director defended the increase in prices saying that the market rates for energy has increased in the global energy market, which increased the wholesale costs of the firm by 30 percent for the last one year (King 2011). While reacting to this increase in energy prices energy minister, Chris Huhne demanded change in the UK electricity market. Energy secretary Chris Huhne, held a meeting with small energy suppliers, with an objective of finding ways of breaking the dominance of the large six electricity and gas companies and help in keeping energy prices down. The plan of the minister was to abolish the entry barriers in the energy market to allow competition between small and large firms in the energy industry (King 2011). The actions of Chris clearly show that there are entry barriers in the UK energy market. Third, interdependent decision making; in oligopolistic market firms take into consideration the possible responses of their competitors to any change in output, price or forms of non-price competition. Increase of gas and electricity prices by British Gas came one month after

L'Orals Marketing Mix Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

L'Orals Marketing Mix - Assignment Example The firm’s internationalization process followed an Uppsala model rather than Product Life Cycle or Born Global approaches. L'Oreal enjoys positive Country of Origin Effect and clearly seeks to maximize on global consumer perceptions that French skin care products are of high quality. Part 1: L'Oreal’s Marketing Mix- Standardisation/Adaptation to International Markets The approach for the analysis of L'Oreal’s marketing mix will follow the pattern of product, price, place, and promotion. In terms of L'Oreal’s products, it is noted that most of them go by an English name across the international market, for instance, Maybelline, Softsheen Carson, Matrix, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney and Roger and Gallet. The exceptions of English-named products all use French names such as Lanc?me, L'Oreal Professionnel and Kerastase (L'Oreal.com 2011). This is indicative of a standardization approach, which for multinational marketing such as the one undertaking by L'Ore al follows a globalization, adopting the most widely used language for their products. Through taking advantage of the wide use of English, the firm is able to reach wide markets without having to adapt through use of local languages for branding. Another aspect of L'Oreal that is indicative of standardization is its maintenance of the same packaging and design as much as possible, only changing it due to the nature of the product (for example fluidity). In terms of product usage, it is clear that the company aims to establish a range of products that can fit everyone; for instance, through using the same product portfolio for the entire European zone. There are however elements of adaptation in L'Oreal product considerations as evidenced by the company’s operations in the Asian markets. A manifestation of this is conducting surveys and tests to learn about the differences in the nature of Chinese skin in order to develop products best suited for this market. Besides using re search laboratories, the company has also previously commissioned a research by Wang, Fang, and Zhu (2008, 57-66) to investigate Chinese skin. Similar efforts have also been made by the firm in the USA (Benard et al. 2005, pp. 278-287). This standardization/adaptation mix strategy is also evident in India, where L'Oreal launched the global brand Garnier (standardization) but then tailored it in formulation and packaging (adaptation) to fit the Indian market as was well reported by Warc News (2010, p. 2). Analysis of the company’s pricing strategy in foreign markets reveals an adaptation approach. On a closely related consideration to the product lines, it is noted that L'Oreal first undertakes research on the target market including the specific section to target before developing the product. Hence, there is a presentation of a heterogeneous range of products from luxurious ones to what can be considered as addressing cosmetics needs with both categories following different pricing. The type of product sold in a particular region is based on the pricing strategy that is deemed most suitable. For instance, Garnier was introduced in India with the aim of attracting the customers based on the low price; $ 5.60, while the same brand goes for $ 6.47-$8.38 in the USA (Wall Street Journal 2007).

Surface Structure Space Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Surface Structure Space - Essay Example Thus, Andrew Bolton argued that â€Å"all clothes have social, psychological and physical function†. According to Entwistle (2003, pg 93), there is a strong relationship between dress and body. Basically, dress that is inform of materials such as fabric, jewelry, paint or even feathers closely relate with the body or flesh at all times. Moreover, the body is affected by choice of materials to wear. For instance, some individuals prefer to dress in leather instead of silk, some choose Lycra instead of cotton among other preferences, which they presume match with their bodies well. Notably, the choice of dress for individuals influences their looks and feelings. According to Kornblum & Smith (2011, pg 51), Umberto Eco gives a perfect example about the existing relationship between dress and body. Eco argues that having been used to dressing in Jeans, it becomes very uncomfortable since they pinch and restrict movements even after losing weight thus leading to â€Å"epidermic self awareness†. As a result, Eco has become conversant with the current dress code and as such there h as been strong connection between the lower body and the external world. In light of this, dress could then be described as a form of â€Å"human epidermis† (Entwistle, 2003, pg 93). Going by the fact that human beings do not form self awareness, it is argued that dress forms a presumed second skin, which in most cases do not demonstrate consciousness. Nevertheless, the consciousness of dress is increased when something about it goes amiss. For instance, the consciousness of dress could be influenced by the possibility of dressing in clothes that are not fitting and/or those that do not fit a given occasion. In this regard, some individuals might dress casually when they are expected to be formal thus increasing individuals’ consciousness. Besides, Kornblum &

Living Environment in Kalahari Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Living Environment in Kalahari - Essay Example Measures to diverge these conditions have become futile. Despite many global environmental bodies that are mandated with environmental protection being set, little is being done due to lack of good will from different countries from the globe. Many meetings e.g. Kyoto have been convened in an effort to look for a solution to the crisis, but little has been achieved as developed countries have failed to sign the protocol which would bind the countries to contribute in environmental protection (Valsson, 2006). Some of the adverse effect of environmental pollution has been highlighted in the book, cry in the Kalahari. The author emphasizes on the problems that the animals go through in the wilderness. He wrote that they lacked basic needs making them make use of the little water that they get e.g. water from the bowls that the writer forgot outside the tent. This indicates the human ignorance when building empires while ignoring other living organisms which also depend on the environmen t (Owens & Cordelia, 1992 p.4). The chapter also emphasizes on the neglect by the developed countries to help in environmental conservation measures despite playing a great role in environmental pollution. ... This has increased demand for land. The land that was previously used by animals as their habitat has been transformed into human living areas. This has starved thousands of wild animals as feeding areas have reduced tremendously (Owens & Cordelia, 1992). Desert conditions have become very extreme with the living conditions become so unbearable. People living in these areas have been left vulnerable unable to afford even the basic needs. It has become hard for them to grow food crops as the environmental conditions have become harsh (Haluzan 2010). Environmental conditions in the arctic regions have also changed. The temperature levels have increased with 0.7 degree centigrade. This has led to smelting of the snow making the environment unfavorable for animals living in these areas. Furthermore, the vegetation which are adapted to cold conditions, have also been affected. Aquatic organisms have also been affected with a majority of them dying as a result of increased temperature leve ls of the water (Haluzan 2010). Changes in biodiversity Biodiversity plays a great role in protecting the lives of people, increasing food security, health and even resilience. There have been great changes in biodiversity especially in the northern countries. The changes in biodiversity are expected to continue increasing with the level of temperature increasing in the world. The growing vegetation both in the desert and the arctic regions are affected directly by changes in climatic conditions. According to the scientific information, the lichens and mosses population levels are expected to decrease. These act as food for reindeer therefore; their population is also expected to decrease (David & Paul, 1992, p. 16). On the other hand, the

The Tenure of Dianne Feinstein as Mayor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Tenure of Dianne Feinstein as Mayor - Essay Example We analyze how the people of San Francisco tried to preserve a balance among wealthier and poorer elements of the population. We also illustrate the buildings that were renovated or taken down and how Walker assesses whether the efforts were successful or not. San Francisco is a city famously recognized as a beautiful, vivacious and highly habitable. This was not the case in the 19th century because the city was excoriated to an astonishing extent, soon after the rich made it have a scene of improper management. In the present day, it would have been of less admiration if the unusual disturbance opposing to the newly construction could not have taken place. The opposition was remarkably successful, and such a situation had not yet occurred elsewhere in America and this rebellion is the one that makes the city more welcoming for the people’s habitation (Richard 200). Dianne Feinstein offered her service as the 35th mayor of San Francisco. She was the first female to ever get th e position as mayor. Her election was for two complete terms. She served as the mayor in 1978 after the death of Harvey Moscone. She was extremely judicious; she strongly supported law and measures of order. On several occasions, various feminist groups and the gay got annoyed with her. This was so because she was able to manage her attitude with open minded views about the way of life. During her time as mayor, she managed to demonstrate her skills in politics and great level of governmental ability (Mikulski and Catherine 145). In the gubernatorial race in 1990, Pete Wilson defeated Feinstein. However, she effectively managed the portion of the term of Wilsons Senate that was unexpired, in 1992. She became particularly famous in the United States because the active political practice in the state. She also participated actively in the neighboring politics and in the ruling body. Various constituencies in the society got appealed by Feinstein, by the way she followed a moderate pat h which integrated several intriguing political customs and the politics which was conservative. She had center of attention to issues of offense. She was also interested in the police staffing and the centralized expenditure for the cities. She succeeded in controlling the level of crime in the city (Roberts 253). Challenges were there too despite Diane's efforts. This has seen in the balancing of the budget which the cutbacks exacerbated in the condition and centralized spending for the cities. While in the Senate, Feinstein stood on very firm stand regarding several issues. She was remarkably honest against the verdict of President Bill Clinton to formulate Mexico a United State partner in the battle against drugs that are not legal. Later on she successfully managed the city budget, inaugurated the administration that had freedom and the workplace guiding principles. She fully supported the growth of downtown and the expansion of money matters. Through this, she was able to be a friend to downtown business interest. Feinstein always considered the security of civilians to be on the forefront. She was able to make Laguna Honda Hospital acquire grant by creating compliance of the hospital with the state and the centralized law. When Feinstein she was sixteen, her uncle took her to San Francisco Board of Supervisors (the city council) gatherings. Later on she

Living Environment in Kalahari Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Living Environment in Kalahari - Essay Example Measures to diverge these conditions have become futile. Despite many global environmental bodies that are mandated with environmental protection being set, little is being done due to lack of good will from different countries from the globe. Many meetings e.g. Kyoto have been convened in an effort to look for a solution to the crisis, but little has been achieved as developed countries have failed to sign the protocol which would bind the countries to contribute in environmental protection (Valsson, 2006). Some of the adverse effect of environmental pollution has been highlighted in the book, cry in the Kalahari. The author emphasizes on the problems that the animals go through in the wilderness. He wrote that they lacked basic needs making them make use of the little water that they get e.g. water from the bowls that the writer forgot outside the tent. This indicates the human ignorance when building empires while ignoring other living organisms which also depend on the environmen t (Owens & Cordelia, 1992 p.4). The chapter also emphasizes on the neglect by the developed countries to help in environmental conservation measures despite playing a great role in environmental pollution. ... This has increased demand for land. The land that was previously used by animals as their habitat has been transformed into human living areas. This has starved thousands of wild animals as feeding areas have reduced tremendously (Owens & Cordelia, 1992). Desert conditions have become very extreme with the living conditions become so unbearable. People living in these areas have been left vulnerable unable to afford even the basic needs. It has become hard for them to grow food crops as the environmental conditions have become harsh (Haluzan 2010). Environmental conditions in the arctic regions have also changed. The temperature levels have increased with 0.7 degree centigrade. This has led to smelting of the snow making the environment unfavorable for animals living in these areas. Furthermore, the vegetation which are adapted to cold conditions, have also been affected. Aquatic organisms have also been affected with a majority of them dying as a result of increased temperature leve ls of the water (Haluzan 2010). Changes in biodiversity Biodiversity plays a great role in protecting the lives of people, increasing food security, health and even resilience. There have been great changes in biodiversity especially in the northern countries. The changes in biodiversity are expected to continue increasing with the level of temperature increasing in the world. The growing vegetation both in the desert and the arctic regions are affected directly by changes in climatic conditions. According to the scientific information, the lichens and mosses population levels are expected to decrease. These act as food for reindeer therefore; their population is also expected to decrease (David & Paul, 1992, p. 16). On the other hand, the

Explain how the U.S. attitude towards European integration has evolved Essay

Explain how the U.S. attitude towards European integration has evolved between 1945 and the enlargement of the EU to 25 members in 2004 - Essay Example The growth of European unity from a six nation trading block in the 1940s to the 25 nation political, military and economic confederation that exists today has been accompanied by a similar evolution in America’s attitude toward the integration of Europe. There are as many reasons for the US to view the European Union as a threat as there are to view it as a beneficial force. Economically, the EU exceeds the US in population and therefore has the potential to become an economic rival, if it has not done so already. The extent to which the EU has come to coordinate common defense policies and structures also poses a potential challenge to NATO, the primary vehicle by which the US has been able to project military influence throughout the world. Further, a key factor precipitating European integration has been an anti-Americanism born of Europe’s desire to become independent from US influence and to stand on the same stage in exerting its own geo-political influence. Ultimately, the official position of the United States has generally been positive toward the European integration project that has taken place over the past several decades. Official American foreign policy has commonly encouraged and praised European efforts to form cooperative economic, political and military institutions to which its constituent nations subscribe. Nevertheless, the challenge that a unified Europe poses for the United States has made unofficial attitudes somewhat less enthusiastic. In the end, whether American attitudes toward European integration are positive or negative will depend largely on whether Europe rises to become a true global challenge to the U.S. World War II devastated Europe and provided an impetus for the concept of integration as a pragmatic approach to avoiding similar destructive conflicts in the future. Making the countries of Europe economically interdependent, starting with the traditionally fiercest antagonists, France and

The ethical theories of natural law and situation ethics Essay Example for Free

The ethical theories of natural law and situation ethics Essay There are two main approaches to ethics which are held by Christians today. Over the years it has proved to be a very controversial and widely debated issue. Catholics and certain other strict denominations of the Christian church hold the view that natural law should be the means of making ethical decisions, whereas more liberal Christians consider situation ethics as a more suitable ethical system to go by. Natural law was advocated by St Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century. It states that all ethical decisions should be made by looking at the absolute moral laws which have been laid down for us by God. For Christians these stem from The Ten Commandments. Believers in this are known as Ethical Deontologists. They maintain that an action is intrinsically good, bad, right or wrong. When faced with a moral dilemma, one should refer to the Law, irrespectively of what the outcome will be. It is suggested that the human purpose of life is to live and reproduce, to live harmoniously, to learn and to worship God. Problems can arise when the consequence of the decision causes more harm than good. An example of this can be found in Catholic moral theology abortion is immoral and can never be permitted. A loophole in this law means that a surgical procedure may be acceptable even if the result of it leads to the death of a foetus. In this case abortion isnt the primary intention, but is a by-product of the primary objective. This makes it permissible, but can lead to further problems if there are more biological complications. It is at points such as this that the basic natural law approach begins to fall apart. In this day and age it is becoming increasingly difficult to apply absolute moral laws to every situation that arises. On the basis of the principle, it could be argued that it is acceptable to kill thousands of Afghans so as to avoid the deaths of a few Americans. Evil effects can be easily justified by claiming that they are by-products of ones actions. This brings us to the question of whether God has laid down firm and unalterable rules or whether as human beings, we need to make our own moral decisions. As a result of the major flaws that appear in the theory of natural law, a Teleological approach to ethics was later introduced by the Anglican theologian, Joseph Fletcher, although the basic ideas of situation ethics have a much longer history. This relative theory of ethics is based on consequentiality the outcome of an action. The main principle of this theory is that for an action to be ethical, it simply has to be carried out in a loving manner. Nothing is intrinsically good except for love. Actions are good if they help human beings and they are bad if they hurt people there are no other criteria. What is right in one case may be wrong in another. The individual and the situation are the only important thing when making a decision, rather than applying a principle (for example thou shalt not kill). The following quotations help to summarise situation ethics, There is only one ultimate and invariable duty, and its formula is Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. How to do this is another question, but this is the whole of moral duty. (William Temple) The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of law; it is absolute because it concerns everything concretethe absolutism of love is its power to go into concrete situations. (Paul Tillich) Even though the teleological approach is a relative theory of ethics, it still involves an absolute law which is to do everything in love. However, the relativity of this theory allows room for exceptions to rules. Relativism doesnt imply that anything goes. For something to be relative, youve got to have something to be a benchmark, and situation ethics states that it should be relative to love. Fletcher said that it relativises the absolute, it does not absolutise the relative! Jesus and the apostles replaced the Torah, the strict Jewish Law with the principle of love. In the New Testament Jesus condemns the Pharisees for taking the Jewish Laws to such extremes because it loses the spirit in which the Law was written. This Christian love that Jesus taught and lived is known as agape. Agape does not depend on being loved in return. The command of love calls individuals to a high level of personal responsibility. Agape is not selective and doesnt have favourites it is a matter of attitude not feeling. It desires the good of others, not of the self. Above all, Christian love is practical (James 2:14-26). Jesus tells us that we should love our enemies our neighbour is anybody and everybody. As with just about every theory of morality, situation ethics is open to a considerable amount of criticism. The notion of basing actions on consequentiality is not always helpful because it can be difficult to determine the outcomes of certain situations, especially in the long-term. Humans also tend to look at situations subjectively so it becomes easy for selfishness to taint love. It can be difficult to assess a situation with objectivity. Even some actions dont necessarily become good just because they are done from a loving motive. The two theories that I have looked at are in stark contrast to one another. I think that it is difficult, if not impossible, to say that there is one approach that should be used at all times to justify every ethical decision that needs to be made. Each situation can throw up unexpected technicalities and difficulties that we have to contend with, but that doesnt mean to say that we shouldnt make decisions on the basis of our own moral beliefs. Bishop John Robinson once wrote, There is no one ethical system that can claim to be Christian and I completely agree with that. A supporter of the natural law approach asks what the law says and the situationist asks what is the best decision to help human beings, but why cant there be a middle ground? We should be able to use what was once the Law as a guideline when making ethical decisions rather than sticking rigidly to one approach just for the sake of theological argument. The Pope believes that the Law is Gods revealed will but it could be said that God revealed his will most fully through Jesus time on Earth. Not only did He preach on the importance of love, but He also showed us perfect examples of it throughout His life. It is the subtle difference between these doctrines that lies at the heart of many issues which are in hot debate at the moment. If the Church could ignore these theological ambiguities and become reunited, perhaps they could then learn to fulfill their purpose in Christ.

Two different concepts of power and authority

Two different concepts of power and authority Power and authority are two different concepts but they are closely related.Power is completely different from authority because power is needed in order to establish authority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Power is defined as ability of individuals or groups to get what they want despite the opposition. Power is derived from a variety of sources including knowledge, experience and environmental uncertainties (Denhardt et al, 2001). It is also important to recognize that power is specific to each situation. Individuals or groups that may be entirely powerful in one situation may find themselves with little or no power in another. The manager of Super Fine Pty Ltd, who is my Dad, is a perfect example. In running the company, he can exercise the managerial power to run the company. Power is difficult to measure and even to recognize, yet it plays a major role in explaining authority. In organizations, power is most likely exercised in situations where the stakes are high, resources are limited, and goals and processes are unclear (Denhardt et al, 2001). The absence of power in organizations forces us to rely on soley hierarchical authority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When power becomes legitimate, it is then recognized as authority (Denhardt et al, 2001). Power becomes authority when it is accepted and even desired by society. As stated by the course study notes, authority refers to a situation where a person (or group) has been formally granted a leadership position. An individual has authority when everyday norms and regulations support the exercising of power by that individual. In an organizational setting, authority is hierarchal and vested in positions, which are defined by organizational charts, positions and rules. Generally, power in authority also involves the possibility of rewards such as promotions and good performance reviews. The negative side of this is that it also presents the possibility of punishments, such as disciplinary actions and demotions. Power by way of authority is a more formal form of power. Authority figures within an organization are granted a level of power which individuals must comply with. Power in Organizations:- Power is the ability of one person to influence another. They can use this power to become leaders and to manage businesses. Power also brings influence on the behavior and attitudes of other people. This can be applied to customers and/or suppliers. The demand for power is common among the business world. There is a difference in power and authority. Only people who hold formal positions have authority, whereas all people at any level of an organized company have the power to influence other people. Authority is power. It is power on another level. Power is obvious and understood, while authority is vested in a particular position. An example of such a position of authority would be the CEO of a company or a GM. The distinguishing aspect however lies between the position and the need to become more powerful. Where there is power, there are also consequences that go along with it. It depends on how the power is used and to whom it is inflicted. The consequences range from a number of general effects. There are three specific examples of this. They are commitment, compliance, and resistance. Power is the stronghold for the three fold outcome that is brought on through consequences. Commitment:- Commitment can be as simple as following through with the task at hand or lack thereof. It is best defined in this way, when the followers welcome the influence process and accept it as reasonable and legitimate. Commitment can be shown through an employees ability to complete the task they are given by the person with more power than they possess. They will change their ideals to match that of the higher authority. If the CEO of a company says that his proposal is going to change, in the mind of the employee, they agree to change theirs as well. The employees, or people of lower authority, believe in the success of the company, they are fully committed the leaders ideas. The outcome of commitment is accepting without a doubt that whatever the leader says goes. Compliance:- Compliance determines asking someone to do something or perform a job, but they are not committed to it. They go along with their leader simply because they have to; it is party of their job. They could be doing it out of fear that they may fail or become jobless if they do not follow through. What sort of leader wants their co-workers to appear weak and not as dedicated as they should be? That is why the business leaders of the world want the best they can get? No boss wants to ask twice or to complain about an employee who, to put it simply, just doesnt care enough. Resistance:- Resistance defines when people do not actively agree with their leader or authority figure and passively resist it. This can affect their efficiency as a worker and can set a poor example for the rest of the employees around them. They can set a low standard of thinking that they do not have to do the job because there are other people who can do it instead. They may have the mindset that they are superior or too busy to deal with something that they do not fully agree with. This particular consequence is crucial to the reputation and status of the employee within the company. Relationship between power and leadership:- One important factor within power and leadership is the distribution of power. In organizations today, they feel that concentrated power can be detrimental to an organizations performance. When I say this I mean that more equal power should be distributed throughout the company, bringing about a higher performance in an organizations operating systems, to make decisions. Power should be equally distributed throughout, with the exception of the authority figures. If companies didnt have CEOs or managers, there would be too many power starving people and much more chaos. They keep the business flow organized. They make sure that their employees follow through with their jobs and support the businesss purpose. Within distribution of power, there are differences in the ways cultures view its importance. For example, in some cultures the implementation of power sharing is likely to face more obstacles in a culture where sub ordinance do not rely heavily on their superiors.refrence This is contrary to the common culture that most of us know in our world. For example, in the United States, people would be more likely to respond to managers that they favour or take liking to. On the contrary, people in overseas countries would be more likely to follow directions that are given by managers who have authentic power or authority. This goes to show how cultural influence has not only an obvious affect, but a psychological one as well. It can propose ideas that need to be honored because the culture believes that it is a better way of doing things. They believe that if they perform a certain way, they are doing things the best way. Within power in leadership, I have stated the reasons and consequences that appear most relevant. In most companies, the want for power is greatly desired. The more powerful one individual is, the more successful and respected they become. They have a greater influence to the people who follow them, who are looking for a way to find a safe position of status. They need to feel that they are efficient enough to do their job and to make sure people see that quality in them. Sources of power within leadership:- Sources of power are part of the second focal point within power and leadership. There are five genuine sources of power. They are legitimate power, reward power, coercive power, expert power, and referent power. All of these prove to be valid in getting a deeper insight to the sources of power. The second aspect within sources of power is using individual sources of power. Sources are described below as follows:- Legitimate power: Legitimate power is based on person holding a formal position. Others may comply because they accept the legitimacy of the position of the power holder. it is going to have the most fulfillments out of all other powers. It is better described as having power, but abilities to give rewards and punishments are limited. Once leaders lose their position of authority, they lose their influential meaning for others. Reward power:- Reward power is based on a persons access to rewards. Others comply because they want the rewards the power holder can offer.Once the access to the rewards or punishment is taken away by the organization, people start to resist the leader and his demands. This by far is one of the worst powers to orchestrate your company due to the potential resistance level of the employees situation. Coercive power:- Coercive power is determined by persons ability to punish. Others comply because they fear punishment.It also has the potential reaction for resistance. Punishment serves as an intimidator in this case. Fear of punishment is not the same as respect of authority. Employees are more likely to resist when they know that they will be punished because it takes away their dignity and respect for themselves in a working environment. Expert power:- Expert power depends on a persons expertise, competence, and information in a certain area. Others comply by, they believe in the power holders knowledge and competence. This power shows as having a potential reaction in the compliance area. If a leader proves to be educated and well trained in an area of business, the employees will abide and follow his wants and demands. If not however, the drive to succeed and meet the demands is absent. Referent power:- Referent power is influenced by persons attractiveness to find a friendship with others. Others comply because they respect and like the power holder. This type of power has the best potential for committed employees. They agree with their surroundings and the people who hold authority over them. It is not like an intimidating or difficult work place, but one that agrees with their skills and beliefs. When the superior and employee get along and hold a relationship that is positive, it accounts for a mutual understanding of the business requirements. Along with these five sources, there is the individual source and how it is used. Influence comes into play because it is related to power. Power brings about change in compatibility. Powerful leaders could or could not influence subordinates behaviors, or influence can occur without a specific source of power. Personal appeal depends on referent power and usually occurs with co-workers. This is likely to relate to commitment. Inspiration and influence persuade workers, while superiors moderate their organizations. There are different ways of the power to come from either internal or external. It stems forth from great leadership skills and a dependable foundation. To form the analysis of why there is power, there are five sources which are tied in Dark side of power:- The dark side of power is the major phase within leadership. There are different reasons of it which brings consequences and solutions that go along with it. This does not mean that all power is used with the same mind set. Some is used for the common welfare of all people, while other forms are one sided. Basically the grey side of power is when leaders succeed at the employees expense. Without accountability, excessive power brings many negative consequences. Too much power is blamed for different spoils, ranging from financial waste, fraud and sexual harassment. Some of the causes such dark side comes from leaders, who create the distance from others. They put their abilities up on a pedestal, portraying their view of themselves as being superior to others around them. One of the biggest causes power addiction is due to too much praise of the leader for simple things, flattering that the leader is always right. Another is when the leader imposes his thought above all others, considering his junior is incapable because whatever he says goes. A prime example of such a corruption is allowing a retired CEO to come back and receive benefits and all of the company incentives, while stepping down from the CEO position. Consequences of dark side of power:- There are also some consequences of dark side of the power. On a general level, having a distance from others in the organization itself leads to poor decision making because they lack the information needed to make good judgments. Another consequence of excessive power is a sense of immorality; they consider themselves subject to different rules than their subordinates which creates unethical and illegal behavior in leaders while expecting their subordinates to follow instruction at every cost. One last consequence is the devaluing to followers. Jeopardizing their self-worth to better the superiors standings is another way to put it. This can result in an overly assumed sense of control that makes the follower feel weak and incompetent. Some of the solutions are that could narrow the gap between followers and leaders is to involve them in day-to-day activities, minimizing the followers dependency on the leader, and involving outsiders in decision making. These things can help up to some extent to prevent excessive centralization of power and abuse. Through the causes, consequences, and solutions associated with the dark side of power, discussion can be evaluated for many things. They are just three ways to divide what the dark side of power actually is and who culprit is associated with it. Once deeper understanding about the dark side of power has gained, preventions and modifications can be implemented to deter these things from coming between a leader and a follower. Everyone wants to become a leader to have a superiority complex and respect by other subordinates. Being leader and a superior is great fulfillment to our self-esteem due to the reason that power to control over things and demand of whatever we want and we gain respect from the others. But we must put in our mind that being a leader, it is not an easy to perform by everyone. The essence of being a leadership is to come down at subordinates level and listen to them in order to inspire in working. As a leader they must see it that they are accessible and available all the time to their subordinates. Effective leader:-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To become an effective leader, a leader should possess some skills in managing their people. These skills include communication, trustworthy and confidence. Leader must provide clear instructions to their subordinates and provide some insights about the nature of their work, let them know about the worth of their work for the organization and how they will be able to contribute the progress of their institution or their company. Good leaders are not born, they are made. They must undergo a process of thorough self-examining, education, training and experience, it helps them to make their subordinates in determining their work and become focus in everything they do. In these processes the teamwork will be enhanced. The leaders must also know and aware of some specific things in order to make him an effective leader.  He should have the understanding about the difference between leader and a boss, where being a leader his follower aim high to achieve the goal while being a boss the s ubordinates will become intimidate and not able to give their best.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Leadership is applicable to all aspects as long there are group that are working together. A group must have a leader in order to have there is a systematic flow of organizations. In applying effective leadership into a certain institution like managing or running a school, there must be a leader who will guide the people in their doing and to have a systematic outcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In a school culture, leadership is very important for the reason that they are molding the next generation leader. For which, effective leadership skills, the headmasters must be capable enough in handling their subordinates. Where the headmasters must be approachable and available at all time moreover being a leader they should segregate the information to their subordinates having clear instructions. With this proper communication, the subordinates will be able to give their best. For instance, if there is conflict arising between of their subordinates it can easily fix through a proper counseling in that case it will not become bigger. Furthermore, if there are any complaints from the students it can easily figure out.   With regards to this situation the subordinates will be competing with each other but instead they are working as teamwork. Conclusion:- Through an effective leadership it will make the subordinates to become responsible and independent to work their job. Having an effective leadership of a certain management it attracts lots of competent people applying in different position, in this case it will uplift the standard of an institution that there are lots of people will be trusting them and gain respect which is a fulfillment of being a leader where we can learn a lesson that is worth to keep. Refrences:- Yung-Shui, Wang, and Huang Tung-Chun. 2009. THE RELATIONSHIP OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH GROUP COHESIVENESS AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. Social Behavior Personality: An International Journal 37, no. 3: 379-392. Yukongdi, Vimolwan. 2010. A study of Thai employees preferred leadership style. Asia Pacific Business Review 16, no. 1/2: 161-181 Kanji, Gopal K. 2008. Leadership is prime: How do you measure Leadership Excellence?. Total Quality Management Business Excellence 19, no. 4: 417-427 Belaya, Vera, and Jon Henrich Hanf. 2009. The two sides of power in business-to-business relationships: implications for supply chain management. Marketing Review 9, no. 4: 361-381. Bunderson, J. Stuart. 2003. TEAM MEMBER FUNCTIONAL BACKGROUND AND INVOLVEMENT IN MANAGEMENT TEAMS: DIRECT EFFECTS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF POWER CENTRALIZATION. Academy of Management Journal 46, no. 4: 458-474 Ingram, Thomas N., Raymond W. LaForge, and Jr., Charles H. Schwepker. 2007. SALESPERSON ETHICAL DECISION MAKING: THE IMPACT OF SALES LEADERSHIP AND SALES MANAGEMENT CONTROL STRATEGY. Journal of Personal Selling Sales Management 27, no. 4: 301-315. Denhardt, R.B, Denhardt, J.V. Aristigueta M.P. (2001). Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organization. Sage Publications. Thousand Oaks, CA. Global leadership and personal power by Jeffrey grandz- iveybusiness journal.

A Rhetorical Analysis of the Stem Cell Research Debate Essays -- Genet

Stem cell research has been a heated and highly controversial debate for over a decade, which explains why there have been so many articles on the issue. Like all debates, the issue is based on two different arguments: the scientific evolution and the political war against that evolution. The debate proves itself to be so controversial that is both supported and opposed by many different people, organizations, and religions. There are many â€Å"emotional images [that] have been wielded† in an attempt to persuade one side to convert to the other (Hirsen). The stem cell research debate, accompanied by different rhetoric used to argue dissimilar points, comes to life in two articles and a speech: â€Å"Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress† by Virginia Postrel; â€Å"Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? No, It’s a Moral Monstrosity† by Eric Cohen and William Kristol; and â€Å"Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Demo cratic National Convention† by Ron Reagan, Jr. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the main categories differentiating the two arguments. The audience for whom those works were written for explains a great deal about the syntax and the diction, and as stated in Dynamic Argument, provides â€Å"different strokes for different folks† (Lamm and Everett 11). When Ron Reagan was delivering his remarks to the Democratic National Convention, he took into account that he needed to paint a picture for his audience â€Å"while still doing justice to the incredible science involve [involved]† (qtd in Lamm and Everett 428). The fact that he was trying to convince his audience to vote for embryonic stem-cell research showed that he needed to explain exactly how the procedure worked. His story about the thirteen-year-old young woma... ... a Moral Monstrosity.† In Dynamic Argument. Ed. Robert Lamm and Justin Everett. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 425-26. Hirsen, James L. â€Å"Who’s the Victor on the Stem Cell Debate?† 7 Aug. 2001. 24 Sept. 2007 . â€Å"How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis.† 5 Aug. 2005. 23 Sept. 2007 . Lamm, Robert, and Justin Everett. Dynamic Argument. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. Postrel, Virginia. â€Å"Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress.† In Dynamic Argument. Ed. Robert Lamm and Justin Everett. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 420-23. Reagan, Ron Jr. â€Å"Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.† In Dynamic Argument. Ed Robert Lamm and Justin Everett. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 428-30.

Apush Dbq 2

During the Washington, Adams, and Jefferson administrations (from 1776 to 1807) neutrality was America’s main foreign policy. In determining that neutrality was the overall focus of American diplomacy, one must assess the deviations from, as well as the success, of neutrality. Neutrality was originally implemented by George Washington in order to maintain the young country’s best interests. However, lapses in neutrality occurred when the government was forced to favor one foreign power, either Great Britain or France, through treaties. Furthermore, commercial interests ultimately drove America’s decisions and thus influenced the effectiveness of neutrality. Despite such lapses in success, America’s number one foreign policy remained neutrality. Political leaders found involvement in European affairs to be irrelevant and detrimental to the young nation, thus neutrality was the primary focus of America. George Washington was a strong supporter of neutrality despite his highly opinionated cabinet (Hamilton was pro-British and Jefferson pro-French). In 1793, in response to King Louis XVI’s beheading in the French Revolution, Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality which stated that America would â€Å"adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers†¦ † (D). Washington opted to remain neutral in order to avoid conflict with Britain and France, refusing to side with either one. Furthermore, Washington emphasized the necessity of neutrality in his farewell address in 1796. He explained that the â€Å"great rule of conduct for [Americans] in regard to foreign nations†¦ † was to have â€Å"†¦ s little political connection as possible† (J). Thus, Washington established the importance of neutrality which was also supported by John Adams. During the Revolutionary War (right after the Battle of Saratoga) the Americans formed the Franco-American alliance and gained French support from the king. However, John Adams wrote in his diary in 1775, â€Å"That We ought not to enter into any Alliance with her [France], which should entangle Us in any future Wars in Europe,† (A). Adams supported Washington’s push for neutrality and recognized the consequences of forming an alliance with France. Adams was right about the Franco-American Alliance, which later resulted in France seeking American aide against Britain after Louis XVI was beheaded. On the other hand, Adams approved Jay’s Treaty with Great Britain which upset the French who were at war with the British. Jay’s Treaty settled the return of confiscated goods and ships to the Americans and established that pre-Revolutionary War debts must be paid as stated in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Americans had avoided these debts even though the Treaty of Paris stated that â€Å"creditors on either side shall meet†¦ o the recovery of the full value in sterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted,† (E). During the Jefferson administration, foreign tensions rose and eventually lead to the War of 1812. Jefferson also enforced neutrality, claiming in his Inaugural Address in 1801 that the nation will maintain â€Å"honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none†¦ à ¢â‚¬  (K). Such ideas were evident in his response to the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. In 1807, the British warship Leopard fired on an American warship, the Chesapeake, killing three Americans and impressing four others. Impressment was the act of forcing American sailors into the British navy as depicted in document M (M). Instead of declaring war as many American citizens wanted, Jefferson issued the Embargo Act, which cut off all American shipping to Europe in an attempt to cripple the British economy and prevent them from confiscating American goods and impressing their sailors. However, Jefferson’s attempt to maintain neutrality back-fired and crippled the American economy more than Europe’s. Conflicts between Great Britain and France often caused lapses in America’s focus on neutrality. Specifically, during the Washington’s administration and the French Revolution, â€Å"Citizen† Genet, the French minister to America, broke the typical rules of diplomacy by appealing directly to the American people. He called for American support of the French Revolution, pointing to the Franco-American Alliance which stated that the two nations shall â€Å"make all efforts in its Power, against their common enemy [Britain]†¦ † (C). Such support would directly violate America’s primary foreign policy, neutrality. Thus, Washington refused to support the French Revolution and make an enemy of Great Britain. This decision angered pro-French Americans who supported France’s aspiration to establish a republic. As a result, Thomas Jefferson, who was pro-French, resigned from his position of Secretary of State in disagreement with Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality. The ratification of Jay’s Treaty with Great Britain further infuriated French supporters, failed to solve the issue of British impressment, and even promised that Americans would pay pre-Revolutionary War debt to Britain (F). Moreover, it caused the French to be outraged with the Americans and started French seizure of American ships. Political tensions between the three nations continued during John Adams’ presidency with the XYZ Affair in 1798. Three French agents, known only as X, Y, and Z, demanded a high fee from American delegates to enter negotiations for a treaty regarding the French seizure of American ships. This tested the young nation’s focus on neutrality as outraged Americans called for war with France. As a result, neutrality was pushed aside as the Quasi War, which was never officially declared, broke out. The public anger caused by the war strengthened the Federalist party, who used the power to pass the Alien, Sedition, and Naturalization Acts. These Acts limited Democratic-Republican power by: increasing the number of years required for immigrants to become citizens (Naturalization Act), by authorizing the president to deport aliens deemed a threat to the nation (Alien Act), and by making it illegal for newspaper editors to criticize the president or Congress (Sedition Act). The Convention of 1800 concluded the Quasi War, however impressment continued into Jefferson’s presidency during the Napoleonic Wars, making it more difficult for the young nation to maintain neutrality. Thus, conflicts between Great Britain and France often involved America despite the American focus on neutrality. Commercial interests often times caused disruptions of neutrality and competed as a priority of the young nation. Because commerce was of high importance to the growing nation, neutrality, in order to maintain trade, was necessary. Thomas Paine even stated, â€Å"Our plan is commerce,† and emphasized the importance of neutrality to the American economy by saying â€Å"we ought to form no political connection with any part of it [Europe],† (B). For instance, Jay’s Treaty negatively affected American commerce and political relations with France. Additionally, James Madison criticized the treaty as being â€Å"ready to sacrifice†¦ the dearest interests of our commerce†¦ † (G). The treaty not only affected political diplomacy with France, but also affected relations with Spain and their North American colonies. Spain saw the treaty as a sign that the Americans were building an alliance with Britain and felt a need to strengthen their American territories. This lead to Pinckney’s Treaty, in 1795, which set the boundary line between the United States and the Spanish territories, as well as allowed the use of the Mississippi River and the Louisiana sea port to both the Americans and the Spanish (H). Pinckney’s Treaty protected American commerce along the Mississippi and resulted in peaceful relations with Spain. Later, during Adams’ presidency, the seizure of American merchant ships by France raised tensions that resulted in the Quasi War. The disruption of American commerce forced the nation to disregard neutrality in order to protect their trading rights. The Convention of 1800 concluded the war and promised that â€Å"Property captured†¦ shall be mutually restored†¦ † (I). The Convention revealed the evident commercial intentions of the Quasi War and set the American economy as a priority equal to that of neutrality. However, Great Britain continued to seize American ships and impress American sailors. Instead of engaging in war, Jefferson opted to pass the Embargo Act of 1807 in an attempt to sustain neutrality. The Act prevented trade with any European nation, attempting to damage Britain’s economy and preclude impressment. Unfortunately, the plan backfired and devastated the American economy. Thus, Americans felt a greater need to deviate from neutrality in order to better their commerce. Although America faced disruptions in neutrality, ultimately, it remained the nations overall primary foreign policy. From 1776 to 1807, neutrality kept the young nation out of unnecessary European conflicts and served to maintain the country’s best interests.

Oil/Gas Pipelines: Opportunities and Challenges

Oil has become the most in-demand product in the world. It has become the center of round-table discussions, and never that a single day passed without it being on the news. Decrease in its supply could mean the downfall of nations, especially the industrialized ones. This was evident in three world oil crises in 1973, 1979, and a brief one in 1990, which reversed the flow of money, making the oil-producing countries in the Middle East the vital force that could change the direction of the future of the world. Their cut-offs in production led to the creation of policies and rules on consumption, saving, and independence from oil.A nation, controlling the production, selling, and over-all management of oil, is assured of a significant posting in any field of the world’s lifestyle, but most importantly in politics and economics (Tanter, 2007). To become something like this, a nation should invest in ways on how to transport oil from its sources to its consumers, like the creatio n of networks of pipelines.Research and development projects have been carried out and continuously be done to meet the challenges in connection with oil and gas pipelines. One of these is the continuing drive to discover more oil and gas reserves locked under the earth or offshore. There are still many places in the planet that need to be explored. Even the most extreme environments should be included, like what they did to the North Sea.Designing and manufacturing pipes will still emerge as one of the important factors in the realm of oil and gas pipelines. Through the years, designs have been continuously improved to accommodate several factors like environment, and the nature of oil and gas. Researchers now consider the direct relationship of the size of the diameter of the pipe with the flow capacity of the product. Moreover, they also examine the expansion and contraction of pipes during the transportation of oil and gas due to significant temperature change, which could resul t to cracks, collapse tensions, and other similar effects. Materials will continuously be tested to determine the best for pipes. Though steel is already being used, improvements are still being done to test durability. Stresses and fractures, especially offshore projects, should be accounted for to minimize the percentage of failure. Cathodic protection against corrosion should be upheld to the highest level to assure the survivability of the pipes throughout the project.Terrorism attacks on pipelines will remain one of the most feared human phenomena. This is due to the fact that whenever pipelines are bombed or attacked, industries are affected. With this, countries should strengthen their monitoring schemes to ensure the safety and zero attack on their pipelines.Keeping with the laws of nature and environment also poses great challenge to companies engaged in oil and gas pipelines. Discovery of new sites for extraction will always encounter similar scenario with the trans-Alaska crude pipeline project, which was delayed for nine years, because the construction of pipelines was attached to environmental issues (Kennedy, 1993). Environmentalists will still be around the corner to watch the movements of oil companies.A greater challenge is on the side of politics and regulation. Better policies and laws covering the construction of pipelines, and transportation of oil and gas should be enacted to cover threats and possible failure-causing movements, especially in explorations crossing two different countries. Faster approval of laws should be done to maximize the economic potentials of the discovered oil and gas reserves.The greatest challenge could be the offering of affordable price of pipelined products to consumers. Companies must take note that the advancements they make with pipe designs and manufacturing, and the entire pipeline construction and transportation project, should go at par with the purchasing power of consumers, who are directly affected b y any oil price hike.Since the drilling of the first commercial oil well in 1859 in Pennsylvania, the evolution of pipelines has gone a long way, though remaining as the most economical way (Kennedy, 1993). Oil and gas pipelines are efficient, using only 4% of the energy content of the transported product. This is far better in comparison with other modes of transportation like water, rail, and trucks (Dykesteen & Frantzen, 1991).Higher levels of technology give way for the development of better pipes and more sophisticated pipeline networks. These could yield higher efficiency rate and better service for the people, who basically need the product in their everyday living.The construction of country’s own pipelines could spell independence from importing oil and gas from foreign countries. This could also alleviate problems on oil crisis, and cut-off on importation rate. This could consequently clip the country to economic prosperity because of the removal of the burdens of o il importation.Pipelines transport oil, and natural gas from extracting wells located in the different parts of the globe, including the most hostile areas like Alaska and Siberia. These products are then refined, and prepared for consumption by all citizens in all corners of the world. These products when properly used could continuously fuel the economic progress of any country involved with it.References:CBC News Online. 2006. The price of oil – in context. Retrieved 29 June 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/oil/.Dykesteen, E & K Frantzen. 1991. Multiphase Fraction Meter Developed and Field Tested. Oil & Gas Journal. 18 February 1991: 50.Kennedy, JL. 1993. Oil And Gas Pipeline Fundamentals. 2nd ed. Oklahoma: PennWell Books.Tanter, R. 2007. Pipeline Politics: Oil, Gas and the US Interest in Afghanistan. Znet. Retrieved 29 June 2007. http://www.zmag.org/tanteroil.htm.Tobin, J. 2006. Additions on the Capacity of the US Natural Gas Pipeline Network: 2005. Energy Informat ion Administration, Office of Oil and Gas. Retrieved 29 June 2007. http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/feature_articles/2006/ngpipeline/ngpipeline.pdf.