The Other Side of Truth Essay Example

The Other Side of Truth Essay ‘The Other Side of Truth’ is a novel written by author, Beverly Naidoo. The novel is mainly based on telling the truth and lying, and when it is right to do either. In the book are various types of situations where characters need to make a decision on whether to lie or to tell the truth. Beverly Naidoo provides the correct decisions and the wrong ones in the story. Naidoo shows in the novel, when it is ok to lie and when it is not. Naidoo suggests that if your life is in danger it is considered ok to lie, but if you assume your life is still in danger when it’s actually not you might accidently lie to the wrong people. Naidoo displays this when Sade and Femi find the father in a detention centre and ask him why he is not able to come back home with them. Folarin says that he cannot because Sade lied about who they were to the officials. Now the officials do not believe Folarin when he says that they are his kids. There is a strong message that sometimes one lie is ok in the right circumstances, but consecutive lies could end you up in a lot of trouble. An important quote from the book states this idea, â€Å"A lie has seven winding path, the truth has one straight road. pg. 148. Lying could be a very dangerous thing, telling the truth is the best way to go, but even the truth can land you in trouble. The truth is a very powerful thing, it is important that you tell it, this is portrayed by Naidoo in her novel. Naidoo has based the whole novel around the truth. In the story it is used when it should and shouldn’t be. Folarin Solaja is the main protagonist in the novel when it comes to the im portance of telling the truth. He states several quotes about how important in his mind, it is to tell the truth. We will write a custom essay sample on The Other Side of Truth specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Other Side of Truth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Other Side of Truth specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

immigration irish essays

immigration irish essays Like most of the Irish, Kearneys family probably lived as farmers on a tiny farm they didnt own. Potatoes were grown because they took so little land and they grew well in the moist soil of Ireland. Potatoes were probably the main food of the Kearney family. Therefore, when the potato blight hit, the family probably had as little food to eat as the rest of the Irish. The famine lasted over 10 years. The worst years were from 1840 to 1850, when over a million in Ireland died of starvation. It was in 1840 that 12 year old Martin and his family left County Mayo, Ireland for a better life. Travel to America at that time was horrifying. Many sailed in coffin ships or fever ships. They were called that because a lot of ships werent seaworthy, and typhoid fever and other diseases killed man passengers. The ships were cargo ships, not passenger ships. The conditions were filthy. The food was disgusting. Passengers were crowded below deck, and there wasnt enough water to wash. The trip often took 3 months. The conditions on some ships have been compared to those of slave ships. When they arrived in America the Irish immigrants were treated very harshly. So many Irish arrived during the famine years that America couldnt absorb them. They were a different religion. They were unskilled in labor. They tended to remain in the large Eastern cities. They lived in slums, the poorest are of the cities. They were hired for only the lowest jobs. The men worked as unskilled laborers building railroads and canals and working in the coal mines. The women were hired as maids. But even so, many advertisements for jobs said things like, Wanted: A woman for a maid. Any color or religion but NO IRISH. Kearney probably entered the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We know he settled in Pittston, where the family remained for 3 and a half generations. Many Irish from County Mayo s ...

How I Brought Historical Legends Into My Modern-Day Novel

How I Brought Historical Legends Into My Modern-Day Novel How Blending the Past and Present Allowed Me to Ask: "What If?" Along with being an author, Finian Black is a doctor who served in the British Army. He lives in Winchester, which is chock-full of medieval reminders of the time and story inspiration. In this article, he talks about how playing with myths and legends - stories steeped in history but often in little solid facts - gave him the freedom to weave elements of the past into his modern-day novel.Every story, whether it's a parent making up a simple tale for a sleepy child or a  sprawling saga, can be boiled down to a simple question:  what if? So, whenever a new idea for a story starts to take shape, the first thing I do is look for the magical question that gets to the heart of it all, and everything flows from there. Speculating on the past allows authors to write about a different version of present-day. Writing allows me to ask, "what if?"I live in the beautiful cathedral city of Winchester near the south coast of England. It's a great place to wander around, and wonder about! The idea for my new historical fiction novel,  The Final Raven, came during a visit to the Great Hall in Winchester, where an ancient round table has hung on the wall for centuries. As I looked upon that table, one question sprang to mind: what if a child discovered they are the last living descendant of King Arthur? Simple as that, I was ready to get started.With the base idea established, I had to think about where the story might go. The "what if?" part is always the easy bit! What follows is countless hours of story mapping, character plotting, running up blind alleys and falling into bottomless pits as the story takes on a life of its own. I asked myself: Would it be set in the present day or recent past? Who is this child? What is their background? Why now, after so long, would it come to light that th ere is a living descendant? And, of course, how much of the existing Arthurian legend would I incorporate? However, being rooted in Arthurian legend, I knew that there were some road signs readers would expect in my novel: Merlin, a sword in a stone, the Lady of the Lake, and Morgan le Fay, to name just a few. But I didn’t want to just re-write what’s already been done so well before, so I purposely toned down the obvious Arthurian elements, bringing them subtly into present-day so as to not distract from the story I wanted to tell. Lastly, I knew I needed a very strong cover that would convey mythical history but also appeal to the YA demographic. The cover designer I hired through Reedsy, Edward Bettison, captured exactly that with the bold typography and visual of the Tower of London raven.Pulling from the PlantagenetsMany of the kings during the Plantagenet period used the myths of Arthur for their own propaganda, and their stories are more incredible than any fiction. Furthermore, the Plantagenet period was hugely important in shaping what modern Britain looks like - w hich made it a great source of inspiration both regarding the historical aspects of my book and my modern-day characters. My historical research about this time period was extensive, delving into the lives of the different kings and what drove them to act the way they did. Two of the books that helped my research immensely were Dan Jones’ The Plantagenets and Desmond Seward’s The Demon’s Brood. Both brought to life the period and its individuals in a way that was invaluable.The Plantagenet period saw great kings like Edward III, but also terrible ones like John - and it is the terrible ones that first come to mind when thinking about this period. The bloodletting, violence, and cruelty were beyond anything we see in Game of Thrones, and those who wanted to challenge the king had to be prepared to act abhorrently. Amongst the pool of eligible individuals, it was often the maddest that took the crown. All of these qualities provided ripe inspiration for my villai n and clarifying his motives: which is to be king, at any means necessary - an ancient grievance of his. He is someone with medieval values in the modern world, and this combination makes him a lot of fun to write. "Turning to the past inspired my modern-day villain with medieval values." Drawing from the legendary Tower of London RavensAs for the novel’s title,  The Final Raven? Well, I’ve been fascinated by these wonderful birds for a long time. They are intelligent, beautiful, and mysterious. From the outset I knew that I wanted to incorporate the famous legend of the Tower of London ravens in my story as I find it to be a very powerful tale. The legend says that if ever the ravens were to leave the Tower, Britain would fall. There are different views on just how old this legend is. It has been said it only goes back as far as World War Two, when Churchill used it as propaganda to build national resolve. Others suggest it is a Victorian story. I like to believe the version that tells of King Arthur slaying a Celtic warrior called Bran at the site of the Tower. In this version, Bran turns into a raven and it is his descendants who still live there today. Magical!This legend offered me another great chance to blend mythical pasts and presents by incor porating modern technology: in my version of the story, the ravens are implanted with microchips so that the villain can track their demise on his tablet - green, to amber, to red! I used the motif of the dying birds as a countdown through the book, culminating in a race to save the last bird†¦ but if you want to know more, you'll have to read the book!It was important to me to go back to the Tower while writing this novel - which was fine by me! I love it there. It’s a thousand years of history brought to life in front of your eyes (much like a well-written novel can be!), and of course, you can meet the ravens. The Ravenmaster is a real person, too - he’s active on Twitter. Check him out. A great way to put a modern twist on historical legends is to incorporate technology. I've written stories since I was very young. Words are magical things - they can amaze, inspire, scare, and excite us. I love books that make me want to read one more page, then another, and another. To be a writer, I passionately believe that you also have to be a reader. Use of language shapes us, teaches us, and helps us find our own voice. I once read that the first million words we write *are* just practice for the proper writing that follows - in other words, keep going. Never lose sight of how to improve, and never worry if a paragraph or page doesn't flow. It might not make the final edit but it all improves our skills as writers.This book is the first in a series of three, and will be continued in The Devil's Blood, due out April 2018.The Final Raven is available in  paperback and on  Amazon Kindle.Interested in learning more about conducting historical research? Sign up for our Reedsy Learning course:  How to Research a Historical Novel or Nonfiction BookPlease shar e your thoughts, experiences, or any questions for Finian Black in the comments below!

Develop an outline research proposal for a project related to social

Develop an research proposal for a project related to social care provision for pre-school children - Outline Example The type of social care has been found to have an influence on the personalities and behaviour patterns of children (Burchinal, 2009). The proposed study therefore aims at validating the research studies carried out by other people and seeks to improve on the measures taken towards the alleviation of the problems. The study also aims to assess the position of women in the problem and tries to find ways that can be used to incorporate them in the solutions. The problem of the study is to identify the challenges of day care facilities and organizations and suggest ways through which these problems and challenges may be resolved. The problem is an old one, which has become more pronounced with the increase in population and strain on the available social amenities (Children’s Foundation, 2007). Also, the fact that more women are participating in the workforce contributes to the burden on social care for child support. The study therefore has in its scope the implementation of both long term and short-term solutions for the standards needed for day care as well through policy change. The literature review is expected to include a discussion of the preschool day care facilities in the UK and how it impacts on the economy and the society. It will also include previous research undertaken to assess the impact of quality of day care on the development of children. Data is collected periodically by the U.K Census bureau on the different arrangements that are employed by families with working mothers. The Daycare Trust publishes child cost surveys annually. It covers cost surveys in January for general child-care costs and July for holiday child-care costs. According to Daycare trust 2011, the survey indicates that child-care costs have increased and surpassed the average wage. This has placed parents under financial immense strain. For example, the costs of child minders in Scotland for children

Communication behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication behavior - Essay Example the book in her bag before asking me for it but I had no chance to tell her that she should not do that again but she had to go and I thought that I just met her and don’t know her that well. I keep my daily journal in my drawer and I allow nobody to neither open the drawer nor read the journal. We have a housekeeper coming over twice a week and I didn’t allow her to enter my room since I keep my room clean myself. This afternoon, she was allowed by my mother to check my room for cleaning and the housekeeper opened all the drawers including the one where I keep my journal. I knew she opened the drawer because the pen tucked in the journal rolled out to the side of the drawer. I asked her if she went in my room and even before she said yes I interrupted her and told her to please not to go through my drawers the next time. My best friend spent the night over at our house and she was flipping through my magazines. She probably got bored with them and she found the drawer where I keep my journal. I was coming out from the bathroom and I saw her opening the drawer. I told her not to open that drawer again because I was keeping my journal there. I also told her that I don’t want anyone to touch my journal since I was not comfortable when people touch my personal stuff. I was having a hard time comprehending the day’s lecture in class which prompted me to ask a guy classmate. Another classmate, a girl, interrupted and tried to explain on the topic but instead of helping me, she only added to my confusion. After her explanation, my guy classmate gave his explanation which was better and entirely different from the explanation of my girl classmate. I wanted to tell her about her mistake but I hesitated because I was worried that she might get offended. At school when my best friend and I were walking at the hall, a new friend asked me to a party but he told me that I was the only one invited and that I was not allowed to bring anyone else. I politely refused

The game of volleyball Essay Example for Free

The game of volleyball Essay The object of the game of Volleyball is for each team to send the ball regularly over the net to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the ball from being grounded on its own court. Basic Outline of play: The player on the back right position serves the ball by hitting it over the net to the opponent’s court. A team is not allowed to hit the ball three times in attempt to return the ball to the opponent’s court. A player is not allowed to hit the ball twice consecutively, unless attempting to block the ball. The rally continues until the ball hits the ground/floor, goes out of bounds or a team fails to return it to the opponent’s court or commits a fault. Scoring Systems: The best of three or five games will win the match. The team that scores 25 points first with a minimum two-point advantage wins a game. If there is a deciding game, that game will be won by the team that first scores 15 points with a minimum two-point advantage. Side out Scoring: Side out scoring is another way to score a Volleyball match. The team serving is the only team that can score a point, except in the deciding game when rally-point scoring system is used. When the receiving team wins a rally, they gain the right to serve but do not gain a point and its players rotate one position clockwise. Rotation ensures that players play at both the net and the back zone of the court. A team wins a game by scoring 15 points with a two-point advantage. Further, they win the match by winning the best of three or five games. In the event of a 16-16 tie, the team that scores the 17th point wins a non-deciding game with only a one-point advantage. In a deciding game there is not point cap. The Basic Rules and Regulations of Volleyball: ========================================== ==== The Serve ( A ) Server must serve from behind the restraining line (end line)(refer to court diagram) until after contact. ( B ) Ball may be served underhand or overhand. ( C ) Ball must be clearly visible to opponents before serve. ( D ) Served ball must clear the net without touching the net. Failure results in a side out. ( E ) First game serve is determined by a volley, each subsequent game shall be served by the previous game loser. ( F ) Serve must be returned by a bump (dig) only. No setting or attacking a serve. A. a server must serve from behind the restraining line until after contact. B. The ball may be served underhanded or overhanded. C. The ball must be clearly visible to opponents before serve. D. Served ball must clear the net without touching the net. Failure results in a side out. E. A volley determines first game serve, the previous game loser shall serve each subsequent game. F. The serve must be returned by a bump only. No setting or attacking a serve. Rotation. ( A ) Team will rotate each time they win the serve. ( B ) Players shall rotate in a clockwise manner. ( C ) There shall be 4-6 players on each side. Playing the Game (Volley) - ( A ) Maximum of three hits per side. ( B ) Player may not hit the ball twice in succession ( A block is not considered a hit ). ( C ) Ball may be played off the net except on serve. ( D ) A ball touching a boundary line is good. ( E ) A legal hit is contact with the ball by a player body above and including the waist which does not allow the ball to visibly come to a rest. ( F ) If two or more players contact the ball simultaneously, it is considered one play and the players involved may not participate in the next play. ( G ) A player must not block or attack a serve. ( H ) Switching positions will be allowed only between front line players. (After the serve only). Basic Violations - ( A ) Stepping on or over the line on a serve. ( B ) Failure to serve the ball over the net successfully. ( C ) Hitting the ball illegally (Carrying, Palming, Throwing, etc. ). ( D ) Touches of the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play. If the ball is driven into the net with such force that it causes the net to contact an opposing player, no foul will be called, and the ball shall continue to be in play. ( E ) Reaching over the net, except under these conditions: 1 When executing a follow-through. 2 When blocking a ball which is in the opponents court but is being returned (the blocker must not contact the ball until after the opponent who is attempting to return the ball makes contact). Except to block the third play. ( F ) Reaches under the net (if it interferes with the ball or opposing player). ( G ) Failure to serve in the correct order. ( H ) Blocks or spikes from a position which is clearly not behind the 10-foot line (refer to court diagram) while in a back row position. The Court Playing Area Both indoor and outdoor courts are 18 m x 9mi (296 x 59). Indoor courts also include an attack area designated by a line 3 m (910) back from the center line. Lines on the court are 5cm (2 wide). Net Height Net height for men, co-ed mixed 6, outdoor is 2. 43 meters or 711-5/8. Net height for women, 74-1/8. The height of the net shall be 8. Ball The ball weighs between 9 and 10 ounces. Ball pressure is between 4. 5 and 6. 0 pounds Observation and Analysis For an analysis of the volleyball sport, we observed a 2 minute clip of a volleyball game between the red and green team. The 2 minute period revolved around the service of a player from the red team (6 serves were successfully executed before the opposition went for the kill which resulted in a side out). I observed each serve and detailed the plays of each team (red and green) for that particular serve.

Domestic Violence: The Tracy Thurman Story :: Violence Against Women Essays

There is one particular case that stands out in my mind when I think of domestic violence. The Tracy Thurman Story. Tracy Thurman was a Connecticut housewife. She suffered a horrendous abuse at the hands of her husband. As the days got older so did the beatings and was more horrified each day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Buck and Tracy got involved she realized that he had a gambling problem. She had confronted him about him losing money while gambling in front of his friends. Buck became furious and punched the door working his way around Tracy. Buck then starts yelling and saying how his mother put a gun to his head and asked Tracy never to leave him. Seeing his vulnerable side, Tracy felt sorry for him. This showed Tracy that Buck had a shattered soul and a sense of humanity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not too long, after Tracy found out she was pregnant. After telling Buck the news, he beat her for the first time. Tracy then leaves from Florida to Connecticut, her hometown and stays with a close friend. Buck follows her to Connecticut and begs, pleads, and promises that it will never happen again. They then get married, stayed in Connecticut, and had a baby boy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Buck is unable to find work and convinces Tracy to move back to Florida. After losing a game of cards, he goes to rage and beats Tracy again leaving her two black eyes. Tracy moves back to Connecticut, only to have Buck follow her and takes the baby away from Tracy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At this point Tracy gets a restraining order against Buck. He is not allowed in the state of Connecticut, and Tracy’s home. She sees Buck standing in front of her home and calls the police. The police cannot find the court order against Buck. When the officer comes to the house and tells Tracy that her husband has a right to stand in the street and it would be easier if they weren’t married.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A couple days later, Buck is outraged. He goes to Tracy’s house again screaming for her to come out of the house. This time he doesn’t let up. Tracy then calls the police again and tells them that Buck is outside her house again and wants a patrol car to come by the house. The officer takes a detour back to the station. The officer takes forever to get to the house.

Differences in Programming Language

  Answer: The significance of the programming knowledge for the company is very great since the correct choice will ensure proper connectivity, accessibility, ease of maintenance and the complexity of the software (Vine, 2005). Certain broad requirements can be obtained from the transcript of the conversation between Hugh McBride of McBride Financial Services and Abram LaBelle of Smith Systems Consulting who discussed the computer network needed for McBride’s planned offices. By programming language, we mean the set of instructions that are written and called a program and the computer processor carries out the instructions. The significance of the programming is felt on the development and maintenance cost, ease of use, easy availability of the application from different points, speed of access, features that can be provided in the application.A programming language such as Visual Basic is quite easy to learn and implement but the language does not allows for complex comput ations such as forecasting, gathering information, creating reports, etc. To perform complex operations, algorithms would have to be used and programming languages such as C++, C#, and others are very much suited. But the cost of development and maintenance would be significantly higher. These languages are called as OOPS – Object Oriented Programming Languages and they write the code around the data that has to be processed. In a majority of the cases, OOPS applications run on dedicated Intranets or WANs.The other set of programming languages are the web based languages such as Java, .NET, HTML, PHP, etc. These languages allow the application to be web based and the software used is usually freely downloadable. Another set of programming languages are centred around Unix and Linux operating systems. These are usually open source but very complex and requires a dedicated teams of developers and maintenance personnel (O'Brien, et all, 2005).2. Differences in Web Based and WANà ¢â‚¬â„¢s programming languages.Answer: There are two broad requirements, one is the website that customers, sales staff and brokers would be using and the other is the backend application that the staff would be using to complete their accounting and other tasks. The first possibilities is having a WAN that will have dedicated terminals, which can be placed in all the required areas. The terminal will be directly connected to a central server and since it is dedicated, only the Intranet of McBride Financial Services can be accessed. This kind of a system can be seen in ATMs’ and would require the application to be written in C++, have the user interface written in Delphi or other front end languages.The system would be connected to a powerful database that would be able to handle hundreds of connection requests. Systems written in C++ are very stable, crashing of the system is very rare, system response is very fast and most important since it is a dedicated Intranet, hacking is not possible and can be immediately detected. But the development cost of such systems is huge, it becomes very complex, in house software programmers are required and software programming is not a core business area of McBride Financial Services. Another alternative is to have a web based system that is written in Java or .NET. These systems also requires expensive programming but after the software is implemented, it can be easily maintained by lesser expensive teams who are not skilled enough for programming but can set right small bugs and maintain the database.The case also requires a powerful database into which information can be uploaded and downloaded as required. In both possibilities, the database would remain same and only the call procedures would be different. Since security is a major concern, very strict authentication should be forced. For each connection request, the IP number of the computer should be verified and this can be done through web-based languages. Cookies should not be stored in the client computer and this prevents the possibility of another person getting information from public computers (Turban, et all, 2002).  3. Recommendation for the applicationAnswer: A web-based system is recommended since such a system can be accessed from anywhere in the world. A system written in Java or .NET can be implemented. Such programming languages can be easily maintained and less expensive and the work of maintenance can be outsourced as per the standard industry practice where back office operations are outsourced to reliable parties at lower costs. The database can be either Oracle or IBM WebSphere since both have connectivity to the Internet and are web servers. Such servers have the optimum speed and there are lesser instances of slow speeds. Customers can access the application from cyber cafes, K Mart and other department stores and view the choices for financial plans.An online calculator can be provided that will calculate the a mount, premium, interest rates, etc. and customers can also provide their personal information. By using 128 bit encryption for authentication as used by PayPal, the chances of hackers getting into the system are very remote and this system can be stored in a central server. Employees will log into another server which will fetch data from the customers server and carry out their tasks. A robust gateway can be provided between the two servers and this further reduces hacking possibilities.To prevent the chances of crashes and data loss, it is recommended that day to day records be cached in mirror servers and this data can be written either dynamically or once in 12 hours. In the case of system crashes, data can be recovered from the mirror servers. To further prevent data loss, tape backups can be taken periodically and stored in Storage Area Networks. By providing such a system, customers and even staff can access the system from anywhere and use secure login and authentication. I f there is an unusually high suspicious activity in the network, then this can be seen as a hacking attempt and the system can be stopped either manually or through programs. Web based application will ensure that all the requirements are met (Olson, 2006).   

Problems of Library Automation in Africa Essay

In 1981, IBM introduced its personal computer (PC) for use in the home, office and schools. Prior to that time, there had been several MS-DOS compatible personal computers that ran DOS programs. As computers became more widespread in the workplace (ie. an independent agent’s office), new  ways to unleash their potential developed. As smaller computers became more powerful, they could be linked together, or networked, to share memory space, software and information, and communicate with each other. So where does the insurance industry enter the â€Å"automation† picture? A word from our sponsor: What’s so difficult about combining personal and commercial umbrella coverage? Not much. Get a quote online now! Independent agents have come a long way in using technology over the past 20 years. From the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, independent agents for the most part used PC-based automation systems to boost efficiency and cut costs. Since 1970, ACORD, a not-for-profit standards-setting association for the insurance industry, has been involved in automation. The association is comprised of carriers, agents, vendors, solution providers, associations and other interested parties. â€Å"We aren’t the ones who ‘built’ the automation system,† said Carolyn â€Å"Cal† Durland, managing director of Standards for ACORD. â€Å"What we did and still do is provide standards-Forms and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) upon which the vendors or solution providers base their automation systems.† She explained that to find out how the industry became automated, one must look to the vendors and solution providers. In 1972, the first ACORD form, a property loss notice, went into use. Today, ACORD’s standards include Forms, AL3 (Automation Level 3), XML, OLife and ObjX. The Forms are point of sale, data collection vehicles, AL3 is ACORD’s EDI standard (or machine-to-machine, business-to-business, data transmission formats or components), OLife is a data integration standard and ObjX is â€Å"much more than EDI.† In the 1980s-when the number of PCs in use increased dramatically-ACORD members asked for standardized electronic transmissions between the agents’  computers and the carriers’ computers. â€Å"The industry has come to ACORD to consolidate efforts to eliminate duplication of work,† Durland said. â€Å"For example, without one approved, countrywide ACORD application, all of the 2,400-plus insurance carriers would have to have their own form. And the vendors or solution providers who automate those forms would have to customize each form.† Now that ACORD and the industry are working hand-in-hand, there is one form accepted and used by many of those carriers. In addition, the vendors or solution providers have the option to become licensed by ACORD to redistribute the Forms. â€Å"ACORD provides them with tools†¦to print the ACORD Forms,† Durland said. â€Å"ACORD’s Forms efforts have stripped the costs out of this distribution channel.† According to Durland, in the same manner that the industry came together with ACORD to do Forms, they have also worked to develop EDI Standards. â€Å"Through our subcommittee process and strict compliance to anti-trust guidelines, we bring together carriers, agents, vendors, solution providers and other interested parties to discuss what is needed to transmit the data collected,† she said. Change is good The industry on the whole, according to Durland, is slow to make changes, â€Å"although there are some carriers that have the resources to be on the leading edge of technology.† The beginning was a bit archaic. â€Å"Carriers realized the benefits of automation and developed proprietary systems that they placed in the agents’ offices,† Durland said. â€Å"This resulted in the agents having to physically go from one terminal to another to interface with the carriers automating their process.† With the inception of the agency management vendors and ACORD’s standards implemented in those systems, the agents were conceptually able to eliminate  those proprietary terminals and work through one system. â€Å"This concept called SEMCI, Single Entry Multiple Company Interface, allowed the agents to keep the data in one place and transmit it electronically to any of the carriers it was licensed to represent,† Durland explained. One step forward, two steps back Ten years ago, when Durland joined ACORD, there were many agency management systems attempting to enable SEMCI. â€Å"Today, due to acquisitions and mergers, there are three primary vendors and a few smaller ones,† she said. â€Å"SEMCI is still the goal for the agents and the carriers. However, with the inception of Web enabled processes, the carriers-in an effort to streamline their costs-reverted back to proprietary applications. â€Å"Those leading edge carriers put up Web sites that required the agent to go to the site and enter the information. So instead of going to a separate terminal in their office, they now had to connect to a Web site and rekey the data that was already in their databases.† This resulted in the acceptance of the new standard XML. â€Å"XML is a standard that enables connectivity between Web applications and agency management systems, in addition to business-to-business, business-to-customer, etc.,† Durland said. The goal to secure SEMCI, according to Durland, can still happen with the implementation of XML. â€Å"Plus it broadens the trading partner base to be more than the agent to insurance carrier,† she said. A push for implementation In the 1990s, implementation guides were written and a certification process was developed. Today, there are more than 12,000 upload and 40,000 download implementations using AL3 standards. AL3 continues to evolve and there are new implementations every day, including using AL3 standards over the Internet. Ever since the dawn of the industry’s automation, forms standardization  continued and still continues to be an important focus for ACORD as the standards-setting association works with many different trading partners within the industry. Today there are roughly 400 ACORD forms. And although it’s important to note how many forms there are, what is even more important to note is the fact that these ACORD forms have eliminated or prevented 80,000 proprietary forms-saving the industry millions of dollars. Communicating on a global basis According to Durland, ACORD has staff dedicated to building relationships with other standards-setting organizations. The fact is, the industry handles business on a global basis, so it just makes sense that the goal is to be able to communicate on a global basis. As an example, Durland pointed out that carriers write coverage for properties owned by people all over the world. In turn, these carriers work with other carriers or reinsurers to share the exposure. When asked why it is so important for the industry to be automated, Durland said, â€Å"Automation strips costs out of workflows.† Simply put, to only have to go to one place for information and to be able to service customers quickly and efficiently is key. â€Å"For example, the agent and carrier agree to indemnify the customer if they have a loss which is covered under their policy. The customer pays a fee based on that promise. When the loss occurs, they want someone to handle it promptly†¦to be given information on the progression of the resolution and be paid or have the item replaced ASAP,† Durland said. Automation makes it possible. â€Å"With the technology and automation available to us today, the opportunities to share information are unlimited,† Durland said. â€Å"The industry realizes that and is working together to figure out how to communicate electronically  with each other.†

Rules and Usages for Reflexive Pronouns in English

Rules and Usages for Reflexive Pronouns in English Reflexive pronouns are used much less often in English than in other languages. This explanation provides an overview of reflexive pronoun use in English with explanations and examples. English Reflexive Pronouns Here is an overview of reflexive pronouns matched with subject pronouns.   I: myselfyou: yourselfhe: himselfshe: herselfit: itselfwe: ourselvesyou: yourselvesthey: themselves The reflexive pronoun oneself  is used when speaking in general about a situation. An alternate form is to use the reflexive pronoun yourself to speak about people in general: One can hurt oneself on those nails over there, so be careful!You can enjoy yourself by simply taking the time to relax.   Reflexive Pronoun Use Explained Use reflexive pronouns when the subject and the object are the same with reflexive verbs:   I enjoyed myself when I was in Canada.She hurt herself in the garden.   Here is a list of some of the most common reflexive verbs in English: to enjoy oneself:  I enjoyed myself last summer.to hurt oneself:  She hurt herself playing baseball last week.to kill oneself:  Killing oneself is considered a sin in many cultures.to market oneself as something:  Hes trying to market himself as a consultant.to convince oneself:  Peter tried to convince himself to move on with his life.to deny oneself:  Its a bad idea to deny oneself the occasional scoop of ice-cream.  to encourage oneself:  We encourage ourselves to learn something new every week.to pay oneself:  Sharon pays herself $5,000 a month.to make oneself something: George makes himself a sandwich. Reflexive Verbs That Change Meaning Some verbs change their meaning slightly when they are used with reflexive pronouns. Here is a list of some of the most common verbs with changes in meaning: to amuse oneself to have fun aloneto apply oneself   to try hardto content oneself to be happy with a limited amount of somethingto behave oneself to act properlyto find oneself to learn about and understand yourselfto help oneself   to not ask for help from othersto see oneself as something/someone to think about yourself in a specific manner Examples She amused herself by playing cards on the train.  They helped themselves to the food on the table.  Ill behave myself at the party. I promise!   As an Object of a Preposition Referring to Subject Reflexive verbs are also used as the object of a preposition in order to refer back to the subject: Tom bought a motorcycle for himself.They purchased a round trip ticket to New York for themselves.We made everything in this room by ourselves.Jackie took a weekend holiday to be by herself. To Emphasize Something Reflexive pronouns are also used to emphasize something when someone insists on doing something on their own rather than relying on someone else: No, I want to finish it myself!   I dont want anyone helping me.She insists on talking to the doctor herself.   She didnt want anyone else talking to the doctor. Frank tends to eat everything himself.   He doesnt let the other dogs get any food. As the Agent of an Action Reflexive pronouns are also used following the prepositional phrase all by to express the subject did something on their own: He drove to school all by himself.My friend learned  to invest in the stock market all by herself.I chose my clothing all by myself.   Problem Areas Many languages such as Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Russian often use verb forms which employ reflexive pronouns. Here are some examples: alzarsi:  Italian / get upcambiarsi:  Italian / change clothessich anziehen:  German / get dressedsich erholen:  German / get betterse baigner:  French / to bathe, swimse doucher:  French / to shower In English, reflexive verbs are much less common. Sometimes students make the mistake of translating directly from their native language and adding a reflexive pronoun when not necessary. Incorrect: I get myself up, shower myself and have breakfast before I leave for work.  She becomes herself angry when she doesnt get her way.   Correct: I get up, shower and have breakfast before I leave for work.She becomes angry when she doesnt get her way.

CDL Guide Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois

CDL Guide Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois This article is useful for anyone who wants to get your CDL in Indiana, Iowa or Illinois. If you want to learn about earning a CDL at other states, we have put together a comprehensive guide on how to get a commercial driver’s license in every state of the country. IndianaTo get a CDL  you must:be at least 18 years old if you will be  transporting property within state lines and 21 years old if you will be transporting peoplehave held an Indiana driver’s license, chauffeur’s license,  or public passenger chauffeur’s license  for at least one yearpresent documents of identification proving your identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residencypass  the  appropriate  knowledge  test for  the  vehicle type that you plan to operateKnowledge Tests RequiredCommercial  vehicle drivers: General knowledge testSchool bus drivers: School bus endorsement test and passenger transport test  All bus drivers: Passenger transpor t testVehicle with air brakes:  Air brakes testCombination of vehicles: Combination vehicle testDrivers transporting hazardous material: Hazardous material testDrivers transporting liquids in bulk: Tanker testDrivers pulling double or triple trailers: Doubles/triples testYou may  receive only  three  CDL permits in  two years, and a CDL  learner’s permit is valid for six months.  Those with a  CDL learner’s permit may operate a commercial motor vehicle only when accompanied by a valid CDL  holder who has the proper class and endorsement(s).IowaTo get a CDL  you must:be 18 years oldprovide proof of full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and citizenship, permanent residency, or an I-94 documentproof of Iowa residencypass a vision screening testobtain and hold a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) for at least 2 weeks prior to your applicationcertify the vehicle type you plan to driveSteps to Obtaining a CDL1. Pass the knowledge test re quired for the commercial vehicle you want to operateGeneral knowledge for any CDLCombination vehicle for Class AAir brakePassengerSchool busDoubles/TriplesHazmatTankIowa operator (if applicable)2. Obtain a CLP3. Pass the required skills and driving test, which is comprised of 3 partsPre-trip vehicle inspection, making sure your vehicle is safe to driveSkills test, which tests maneuvers around cones and backin maneuversA driving testIllinoisTo get a CDL you must:be 18 years oldhold a valid Ohio State diver’s licenseprovide a valid Social Security cardmeet minimum medical standards as established by federal and state regulationspass the knowledge and skills testsTestingThe knowledge test is a written test required for each class of vehicle you hope to drive, each endorsement, and removing an air brake restriction.The skill test is a 90-minute driving test comprised of a pre-inspection and a road test. You will need to arrive with a vehicle appropriate to the class of license y ou seek.ExemptionsThe law exempts these categories from the CDL:A â€Å"Farm Truck†Fire EquipmentPublic Safety VehicleRecreational VehicleCommercial Motor VehicleVehicle Operated for Military PurposeNonbusiness Commercial Motor VehicleVehicle Designed for Transporting Goods

Consider these arguments in terms of culture, motivation, and Essay

Consider these arguments in terms of culture, motivation, and strategy, and comment on their substance. You should also reflect - Essay Example The paper also seeks to reflect on how power is exercised in organisations in relation to moral values. The paper begins by explaining the concept of culture in view of the arguments raised by Stiglitz. The paper will also critically analyse how motivation of the people as well as the strategy implemented have a bearing in the way financial institutions are operating during the contemporary period in USA in particular. Culture is the most basic cause of a person’s wants and behaviours. â€Å"This is commonly referred to as a set of basic values, perceptions, wants behaviours learned by a member of society from the family and other important institutions,† (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004). For instance, the following values are given priority in the United States of America: achievement and success, activity and involvement, efficiency and practicality, progress, material comfort, individualism, freedom as well as humanitarianism. The success or failure of a given organisation can be attributed to this concept of culture. However, Stiglitz argues that individualism and market fundamentalism have eroded the sense of community and have led to exploitation of the ordinary people. ... In actual fact, the approach taken by the banks is that which advocates the survival of the fittest. Whilst the free market concept posits to the effect that the market forces should shape the standards expectations especially of financial institutions, it can be argued that the conditions set are favourable to the business organisations which leaves the ordinary people exposed to manipulation by these big businesses. The aspect of materialism has increased dramatically in the operations of financial institutions and this has posed a serious challenge to the ordinary people who end being victims especially during turbulent periods that can be attributed to the strategies implemented by the financial institutions. Whereas marketers in the other industries worry about the impact of culture on their strategies, financial institutions in USA are primarily concerned with entrenching the aspect of individualism in their operations (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004). Stiglitz argues that rugged ind ividualism combined with a high degree of materialism has led to loss of trust among the members of the society and different financial institutions. The aspect of culture and moral values can also be attributed to the concept of ethics. Business ethics loosely refers to values, principles and standards that operate within a particular organisation which attempts to make a distinction between something that is morally good from bad (Rossouw, 2004). The concept of business ethics therefore derives from the value system that is used by a particular organisation to shape its operations. To reinforce this assertion, DesJardins (2006, p. 5) describes values as the â€Å"essential and enduring tenets†