Computer Storage Devices Essay

Computer Storage Devices Storage devices are used in order to store various items such as programs, data and instructions. Storage was used as early as 1804 by hole punching paper cards in order to control machinery. Without storage, the computer programs and files that exist now would not be possible. There are many different devices used for storage today such as hard drives, floppy drives and CD-Rom drives. Hard drives come in all computers and are the main storage device. An average hard drive usually stores from four to fifty gigabytes, but there are hard drives with much greater capacities available. A hard drive works by using multiple platters which are made of glass, aluminum or ceramic which has been coated with a magnetic material. The data is recorded by arranging the magnetic particles in order to form bytes on the disk. Floppy drives are another type of storage unit in which the information is stored on a separate removable disk. There are two different types of floppy drives: a 3.5 inch and a 5.25 inch. The number refers to the size of the disk that is used in that particular drive. A 3.5 inch floppy drive can store 1.44 megabytes and a 5.25 floppy can store 1.2 megabytes. Imation has developed a superdisk drive which has a capacity of 120 or 200 megabytes which is backwards compatible with the 3.5 inch floppy. The third type of storage that I am going to talk about is a CD-Rom (Compact Disk) drive which also uses a removable disk in order to store data. A CD-Rom works by using a laser lens in order to burn pits into the surface of the CD. The surface of the disk, called land, reflects light back to the lens which is read as 1. The pits in the CD absorb the light and reads to be 0. A CD can store up to 700 megabytes of data. In addition to a CD-Rom, there is also a DVD (digital video disk) Rom which can store up to seventeen gigabytes of information. A DVD is different from a CD because the disk is denser due to the fact that the pits are packed closer to each other. Also, A DVD uses two layers of pits and can be double sided. Another method of storage is the Zip drive which uses a 3.5 inch zip disk and was created by Iomega. The disk can hold the equivalent of seventy floppy disks or 250 megabytes. The Jazz drive, which was also made by Iomega, can store up to two gigabytes. The drive with the largest capacity is the Tape drive which can store several terabytes. The only problem with this drive is that the information is only read/wrote in one direction which means that it takes an extensive period of time to retrieve data. Due to this inconvenience, this drive is primarily used for back up purposes. This paper describes the many different storage units that exist today due to the new advances in technology. There are even more drives that are available which were not listed because they are not as widely used today such as the Orb drive. A few decades ago people would only dream for a device that was capable of storing terabytes of information, but now that dream has become a reality. With the amount of new discoveries that are made every day, the future may possibly bring a device capable of storing exabytes of information.

Health Insurance For The Poor Health And Social Care Essay

For people populating below poorness line, a wellness job non merely represents a kind of lasting menace to their income earning capacity, most of the times it consequences in the household falling into a debt trap. Whenever the necessity to acquire the intervention arises for hapless households they by and large ignore it because of deficiency of resources, fearing pay loss, or may be wait till the last minute finally when it ‘s excessively late. Even when the hapless do make up one's mind to obtain the coveted wellness attention it eats their nest eggs, forces them to sell their belongings or to slit other of import disbursement like kids ‘s instruction ) The ultimate end of wellness attention funding is to accomplish cosmopolitan wellness attention coverage for all. Social wellness insurance is a mechanism for pull offing and financing wellness attention through pooling of wellness hazards of its members on the one manus, and the fiscal parts of endeavors, families, and the authorities, on the other. SHI ( Social Health Insurance ) is â€Å" a fiscal protection mechanism for wellness attention, through wellness hazard sharing and fund pooling for a larger group of population † .1.2 Introduction about RSBY:Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana or RSBY started from 1st April 2008 after a critical reappraisal was done of the bing and earlier wellness insurance strategies. RSBY has been launched by Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India to supply wellness insurance coverage for Below Poverty Line ( BPL ) households. The â€Å" nonsubjective † of RSBY is to supply protection to BPL families from fiscal liabilities originating out of wellness dazes that involve hospitalization. Beneficiaries under RSBY are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs. 30,000/- for most of the diseases that require hospitalization.1.3 Eligibility and BenefitsUnorganized workers belonging to BPL class and their household members. Recently, other classs of people were besides added to the range of the RSBY. They include edifice and other building workers, MNREGA donees, street sellers, beedi workers and house servants. This enlargement has created an added patient volume to be taken attention of. Coverage extends to five members of the household which includes the caput of family, partner and up to three dependants. It covers preexistent conditions and there is no age bound. Entire amount insured would be Rs. 30000/- per household per annum on a household floater footing. Cashless attending to all covered complaints. Transportation system costs with an overall bound of Rs.1000/- for which no cogent evidence entry is required. Beneficiaries need to pay merely Rs. 30/- as the enrollment fee while the Central and State Government pays the premium to the insurance company selected on the footing of a competitory command by the province authorities.1.4 Unique characteristics of RSBY1.4.1 A concern theoretical account strategy For a societal sector scheme the strategy has been designed as a concern theoretical account strategy with inducements built for each interest holder which is contributing for enlargement and sustainability. 1.4.2 Empowering the donee RSBY provides the take parting BPL family with freedom of pick between public and private infirmaries. A infirmary has the inducement to supply intervention to big figure of donees as it is paid per donee treated. Even public infirmaries have the inducement to handle donees under RSBY as the money from the insurance company will travel straight to the concerned public infirmary can be used by them for their ain intents. 1.4.3 IT ( Information Technology ) Intensive For the first clip IT applications are being used for societal sector strategy on such a big graduated table. Every beneficiary household is issued a biometric enabled smart card incorporating their fingerprints and exposure, around 32,423,483 cards have been issued till 7/9/12. All the infirmaries empanelled under RSBY are IT enabled and connected to the waiter at the territory degree. This helps to guarantee a smooth information flow sing service use sporadically. 1.4.4 Safe and sap cogent evidence Insurance companies, in contrast, will supervise the participating infirmaries in order to forestall fraud or unneeded processs ensuing in inordinate claims. It besides attempts to better the operation of public wellness suppliers via advancing a healthy competition between public and private suppliers. By paying merely a upper limit amount up to Rs. 750/- per household per twelvemonth, the Government is able to supply entree to quality wellness attention to the below poorness line population.1.5 Functioning of RSBY as a strategy1.5.1 Financing of RSBY The Government of India ( GOI ) provides 75 % funding while the remainder 25 % is provided by the State authorities. The choice of a public or private insurance company is done through the procedure of competitory command undertaken by State authorities. 1.5.2 Selection of wellness insurance company and Empanelment of Health Care Providers The choice of the wellness insurance supplier shall be done by the province through tendering procedure ask foring both Public and Private Insurers for better footings of mention. Merely those insurance companies which are licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority ( IRDA ) are included in the procedure. The State Government would explicate the undertakings and find the implementing bureau such as Insurance Trust/ Insurance Cell/ Mother NGO etc. to monitor/supervise the strategy and integrate with insurance company. This would be farther monitored at State and Central degree. After the insurance company is selected, they need to impanel both public and private wellness attention suppliers in the undertaking and nearby territories. The empanelment of the infirmaries is done based on prescribed standards which shall be done every bit shortly as the insurance company gets the contract and it can go on at the same time with the registration of the donees. The insurance company shall impanel adequate infirmaries in the territory so that donees need non go really far to acquire the heath attention services. The insurance company besides needs to organize with several wellness section of the province. These infirmaries are required to put in necessary hardware and package so that smart card minutess can be processed. They should besides put up a particular RSBY desk with a trained staff. The hospital list should let for both public and private infirmaries who agree to take part. At the clip of registration the insurance company must besides supply a list of RSBY empanelled infirmaries, to the donees. When empanelment takes topographic point, a nationally alone infirmary ID figure is generated so that minutess can be tracked at each infirmary. 1.5.3 Role of IT in RSBY/ Smart Cards The usage of biometric enabled smart card and a cardinal direction system makes this scheme safe and foolproof. The biometric enabled smart card ensures that merely the existent donee can utilize the smart card. The cardinal characteristic of RSBY is that a beneficiary enrolled in a peculiar territory will be able to utilize his/ her smart card in any RSBY empanelled hospital across India. This characteristic makes the strategy truly alone and good to the hapless households that migrate from one topographic point to the other. A donee of RSBY gets cashless benefit in any of the empanelled infirmaries. He/ she merely needs to transport his/ her smart card and supply confirmation through his/ her finger print. 1.5.4 Use of services by donees The dealing procedure begins when the member visits the active infirmary. After making the infirmary, donee will see the RSBY aid desk at infirmary where his individuality will be verified by the smart card. If a diagnosing leads to a hospitalization, the helper at the aid desk checks whether the process is in the list of pre-specified bundles. If the process is in the list, the appropriate prescribed bundle is selected from the bill of fare. If the process is non in the bundle list, the aid desk helper cheques with the insurance company sing the monetary value for that process. Upon release of the donee from the infirmary, the card is once more swiped along with finger print confirmation and the pre-specified cost of the process is deducted from the sum available on the card. The donee is besides paid by the infirmary Rs. 100 as transit disbursal at the clip of the discharge. 1.5.5 Claim colony After the service is rendered to the patient, the infirmaries need to direct an electronic study to the insurer/ Third Party Administrator ( TPA ) . The Insurer/ TPA after traveling through the records information will do the payment to the infirmary within a specified clip period which has been agreed between the Insurer and the infirmary. 1.5.6 Monitoring and rating Information associating to minutess taking topographic point each twenty-four hours at each infirmary is sent through a phone line to a territory waiter. A separate set of pre-formatted tabular arraies are generated for the insurance company and for the authorities severally. This allows the insurance company to track claims, reassign financess to the infirmaries and investigate in the instance of leery claim forms through on-site audits.1.6 Impact of RSBY on wellness attention use1.6.1 Penetration of RSBY Scheme Since its induction, 26 States including 1 brotherhood district have advertised about it. So far, out of these 26 provinces, the registration procedure and empanelment of infirmaries has been initiated in merely 22 provinces. Out of a entire 631 territories in India, BPL households shacking in 399 territories were selected for obtaining RSBY screen. It is of import to observe that provinces in which the registration procedure has been completed, the entire BPL households enrolled, out of the selected BPL population, are merely approximately 57 % . Though the incursion of the strategy has non been every bit high as expected. This might be due to really low degree of consciousness and instruction among the multitudes about the benefits of the strategy, or possibly to the complicated procedural or deficiency of earnestness in the execution of the strategy. But the plan is even operational in Naxal-prone territories ( such as Rayagarh, Sambalpur and Deogarh ) , which have experienced much anti-government force and snatchs. 1.6.2 Utilization of wellness attention benefits under RSBY strategy The RSBY strategy has used the public private partnership ( PPP ) theoretical account for the empanelment of infirmaries in the strategy. Hence, both public and private wellness attention suppliers have been empanelled under the strategy. So far more than 4,000 infirmaries ( out of which 75 % infirmaries are private infirmaries ) have been empanelled and more than half a million in population have obtained intervention in these infirmaries. The high degree of engagement of private infirmaries shows the success and credence of the strategy among private infirmaries. The use of health care installations under RSBY strategy is highest in the province of Kerala and lowest in instance of province of Assam. The empanelment of the figure of infirmaries for BPL households in each province is really unevenly distributed 1.6.3 Nature of disease intervention under RSBY The insured BPL households are using insurance screen most of the times ( i.e. approx two tierce of respondents ) for chronic diseases such as hernia, kidney diseases, haemorrhoids, high blood pressure, and nutritionary lacks etc. The 2nd most of import usage of RSBY screen is to acquire intervention for acute conditions like enteric fever, dandy fever febrility, diarrhoea, enteric fever, viral hepatitis, rubeolas, malaria, and TB. Among the nature of intervention received, both surgical and medical intervention has an about tantamount portion i.e. 46 % surgical and 54 % medical intervention. 1.6.4 Substitution of use of no/informal wellness installation to formal wellness installations Though with the debut of the RSBY strategy, the handiness to, and use of, the formal health care system has improved among BPL households, but at the same clip still there is long manner to travel as most of the population ( i.e. more than 70 % of BPL population of India ) has yet non been covered under the RSBY Scheme. 1.6.5 Impact of RSBY on wellness results Since the RSBY strategy was launched merely a few old ages ago, it is non possible see its impact in footings of the decrease of mortality rate, disease load, and disablement. studies conducted by the ministry so far have indicated a beneficiary satisfaction ratio runing between 77 % and 92 % . Access to the infirmaries for the hapless has gone up from 1.7 % to 2.7 % , harmonizing to the National Sample Survey Organization 1.6.6 Dissemination of information and cognition about RSBY The word of oral cavity spreading, interaction with ASHA, ANMs, AWWs, Aanganwadi Workers and Loudspeaker proclamations were the most of import beginning of information and cognition about the RSBY strategy among donees. It is seen that though donees of the strategy are cognizant of the rudimentss of the strategy, like the sum of entire coverage available, figure of household members covered, and sum required to pay for acquiring enrollment etc, there awareness related to assorted entitlements granted by the strategy like transit costs, nature of interventions covered, coverage for disbursals on Out Patient Department ( OPD ) intervention was really hapless. This low consciousness could take to struggles, moral jeopardies ( over/mis use of wellness attention installations ) and dissatisfactions among donees. 1.6.7 Impact of the RSBY strategy on economic result Micro wellness insurance, hence, involves a direct economic load ab initio placed on the insurance company who clears the hospitalization outgo on the behalf of the insured and of the Government who pays the insurance premium on the behalf of the BPL family. Other than the direct costs, selling and disposal costs besides add to the economic load. Higher claim colony rates and disposal costs result in high claim/loss rates, casts uncertainties on the long-run sustainability of wellness insurance strategies. States like Gujarat, Haryana, and Kerala show a high claim ratio. This high claim ratio is bespeaking a prevalence of over use of wellness services i.e. moral jeopardies, projecting uncertainties on the long-run sustainability of the RSBY. 1.6.8 Impact of the RSBY strategy on behaviour of BPL families While insurance companies pay for the majority of the cost in instance of a private system, authorities pools are used if proviso is public, the consumer pays merely a little portion of the entire cost i.e. out-of pocket on ingestion of the wellness service. Irrespective of how wellness attention is financed, one fact is that one time people have fallen ill they face inducements to devour more than optimum wellness attention, since they do non hold to pay the full marginal cost for the attention they utilize. The wellness economic sciences literature refers to this sort of behaviour as a moral jeopardy. The use of formal of wellness installations has increased significantly after the micro wellness insurance screen under the RSBY. This is supported reported by National Sample Survey Organization 60th the figure of hospitalization instances for Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure ( MPCE ) , less than INR 253. The per centum of BPL population hospitalized across India has increased from 0.28 % ( in twelvemonth 2005 ) to 2.69 % , 2.39 % and 1.5 % of enrolled BPL population in the provinces of Kerala, Gujarat and Haryana severally. Hence, hypothesis 1 about the increased use of the Health attention installation ( No. of hospitalization ) after the RSBY execution was supported. Switching penchants ( from populace to private infirmaries ) of donees. Similar phenomenon can be seen in footings of the altering penchants of the donees from public to private infirmaries. These changed penchants and behavior show window the presence of moral jeopardies in the RSBY strategy every bit good, l ike other wellness insurance strategies.

How Polar Bears are adapted to their Environment Essay

The Polar Bear’s fur is extremely thick and it traps the heat so well, you can’t see one in inferred vision. This is good because the retention of heat keeps it permanently warm. It does not lose body heat as other animals and people do, and it would not be recognised by an inferred scanner, such as used when searching earthquakes and other devastated sites for survivors. The Polar bear would not be detected so this shows how well the bears fur keeps its body warm, especially in icy cold freezing temperatures. Polar bears can go weeks between meals. Their digestive system, like true carnivores, is also more adapted for processing meat than plant material. Their large stomach capacity is designed to allow them to take advantage of unexpected large meals which will serve to tide them over during the slower months when food might be hard to find. This would keep them from starving until they can find more food. However starvation is not a cause of death for the Polar Bear, as their ability to store body fat, enables them to go such long periods without food, that it would be almost impossible for the Polar Bear to go hungry! The necks of Polar Bears are longer than their nearest kin, the brown bear. This adaptation makes it easier for them to keep their heads above water when swimming, and, like others, enables the Polar Bear to live in the somewhat harsh Artic environment! The forepaws on a Polar Bear are very large. With a diameter approaching 30 centimetres (12 inches) and partial webbing between their toes, Polar Bears are able to use their front feet much like paddles to propel them rapidly through the water. This helps them to catch their pray, as they can swim very fast so their pray doesn’t get away. The hind feet are slightly smaller. On both the front and hind feet, the bottoms are covered with dense fur which affords better traction when moving on ice. This helps them to move quicker, whether they are running away from predators, or running towards their pray! On land though, they are not as quick as brown bears and appear to have traded off speed for their extremely massive forelegs which they use to break through seal dens or flip a large  seal out of the water. They are able to attain speeds of 40 kilometres per hour (25 miles per hour) for short distances. The carnassial teeth of Polar Bears have re-evolved changing back from a flatter crushing surface to a sharper-edged surface suitable for shearing off bite sized chunks of meat from their prey. Also, the canine teeth, used for seizing and holding prey, are longer, sharper and spaced wider apart than in brown bears. The heavy fur the polar bears are covered with is varied from pure white to more of a yellow hue. The white fur is important camouflage for the bears as they hunt their prey out on the ice pack. The coat consists of two layers – an undercoat of fine white hair and outer coat composed of long guard hairs. The individual guard hairs are hollow. This gives the fur an actual translucent effect!! The hollow hairs also help to make the Polar Bear more  buoyant when swimming. The actual colour of the skin of the Polar Bear is black. It is thought that this is an adaptation for better heat retention. The female polar bear has developed a unique survival technique when it comes to the development of an embryo. It is called delayed implantation. Delayed implantation clearly serves an important survival need for the mother. Should the female not have put on enough fat reserves before the time to den arrives, the embryo will not implant and it is simply reabsorbed by her body. She will then continue her winter hunting out on the pack ice.

The Story of an Hour and its literary elements Essay - 1

The Story of an Hour and its literary elements - Essay Example d to their husbands’ will and social expectations, and this is valuable, because it helps us understand how death can be the best and only way to untie the knot of marriage. Mrs. Mallard’s body and soul are tied to her husband. The plot reveals how her marriage is a prison. She marries someone she does not love: â€Å"And yet she had loved him—sometimes. Often she had not.† Despite this, she lets Brent have complete control of her soul and body, because women are considered as properties of their husbands. Mrs. Mallard’s name is not acknowledged until the end of the story. She will always be a Mallard, the wife of Brently. Brently Mallard, however, has his full name given at the onset, and this indicates his own individuality, individuality that Mrs. Mallard and other women were not allowed to have. Furthermore, the setting is within Mallard’s home. It suggests how she is imprisoned by her home life. In addition, spring symbolizes a new life that Louise yearns for. Her new life is so real, she can taste it: â€Å"The delicious breath of rain was in the air.† Even the sky reinforces the atmosphere of a new life: â€Å"There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window.† Her husband’s death opens a whole new life for her: â€Å"Free! Body and soul free!† Mrs. Mallard is also weighed down by social demands. In the 19th century, women were seen as weak. They are treated with gentleness, and the same handling is given to Mrs. Mallard, though she also has a heart problem: â€Å"Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husbands death.† She also owns a â€Å"comfortable chair,† which indicates how women are creatures of comforts, since they are assumed to be materialistic and weak. Furthermore, she shows weakness in how she accepted her husband’s death: â€Å"She wept at once,

Qualcomm, Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Qualcomm, Inc - Research Paper Example This was the beginning of the exponential growth of the company. The company nowadays has extensive portfolio not just in the United States of America, but the company has over 195 patent agreements around the world. This makes Qualcomm the best and the largest company in the communication sector. The company has also been very active in the growth of 3G and other wireless communication developments. Among various other development, company has developed several modern technologies in the industry including CDMA technology, 3G technology and QUALCOMM Enterprises Services (QES). QUALCOMM is also helping the governments around the world in setting up effective communication solutions. QUALCOMM has also started QUALCOMM licensing service though which the every new development that QUALCOMM makes is licensed to companies around the world so that this development is not concentrated to just one part of the world, but it spreads throughout the world evenly. (Qualcomm’s Official Webs ite, 2011) Qualcomm is threatened quite badly by the large amount of lawsuits that were filed against the company. Everyone these days seem to file lawsuits against the company. From the handset makers to cellular networks, everyone has given its own share of problems to the communication industry giant, QUALCOMM. These lawsuits range from antitrust law violations to licensing agreement. All of this could have created a mess if it was not QUALCOMM. It is one company that is spending huge sum on its team of defense attorneys. Hence, the company can fight it out by having out-of-the-court deals with the companies who have filed these lawsuits or else they can go with them hard in the court of law. In any case, QUALCOMM does not have too much to worry about and this problem is going to be handled more than effectively by the team of lawyers that are on QUALCOMM’s payroll. This problem also stemmed from the sharp growth of the communication industry in the last decade. This irreg ular resulted in a lot of problems and lawsuits for QUALCOMM. However, QUALCOMM is in a great position to come out of this problem as they have a great team of attorney to defend the company’s position. (Sidener, 2009) Another problem with QUALCOMM is its declining margin. In the latest quarter ending June 26 2011, QUALCOMM operating profit margin was 30 percent. This was a decline of 3 percent from the quarter previous year. This shows that operating expenses of QUALCOMM are rising faster than its revenues. This has caused the problem of declining QUALCOMM’s profitability. The scrutiny of financial statements reveals that this decline in profitability is a result of increasing cost of equipment and servicing costs. QUALCOMM can improve its position by moving towards more efficient operations. They should try to reduce the costs by as much as possible and should try to increase their revenues. This can be done by increasing the cost control methods and hiring operation managers at each cost centre. They should inspect the factors that are leading to wastage and should try to eliminate them so that the next quarter’s financial statements are more profitable and more ostentatious. (Qualcomm’s Income Statement, 2011) QUALCOMM operates in an industry and is facing high level of competition. It is reported that there are around 21 companies that provide competition to QUALCOMM directly or indirectly. This is

Relation between service quality and customer satisfaction Essay

Relation between service quality and customer satisfaction - Essay Example The researcher states that a look into the related literature proves that both quality and satisfaction are often used interchangeably as if both are the same construct. However, a closer look reveals that both are different concepts which are very similar to each other. According to many researchers, customer satisfaction is a function of discrepancy between a customer’s previous expectations and the customer’s perceptions regarding the new purchase. In simple words, if the customer feels that the service is better than what is expected, there is customer satisfaction. Now, a look into the concept of service quality proves that it is defined as the comparative function between customer expectations and actual service rendered. Thus, one reaches the notion that while customer satisfaction is a more specific, short-term evaluation that is influenced by actual service quality and customer expectations, actual service quality is more general and long term evaluation. In si mple words, service quality is just one important factor that can ensure customer satisfaction. Here, one point becomes evident; customer expectation is an important factor that can influence customer satisfaction. Now, a look into the related literature proves that customer expectation is the product of a number of factors. These factors range from word of mouth communications from other customers, personal needs of customers, past experiences, and external communications from service providers including the price-quality relationship.    Now, it becomes necessary to elaborate each of these points in detail. First of all, it is common for all customers to develop some expectations about the service to be received based on the word of mouth feedback from ones friends and acquaintances. Another point is the influence of ones personal needs. For example, one customer might visit a sports centre as a way to socialise while another one may visit in order to keep oneself fit. Another p oint of consideration is the fact that some customers develop their own expectations based on their prior experiences in similar situations. That means, the customers are likely to weigh the service against the service they received in the past in order to decide whether the service is satisfactory.    Another important area of consideration is the influence of external communications on customer expectations. External communication means the accuracy of information that comes out through promotion regarding the quality of service. Once the promotional materials provide high expectations and fail to provide the same quality service in practice, there will be customer dissatisfaction. Thus, it becomes evident that the promotional materials should only contain factual, objective information that can be useful for the customers in making informed choices. In other words, the expectations of the customers that are developed through promotion should meet the actual quality of service.    Now, a look into the work by  Iacobucci et al (1995)  proves that both customer satisfaction and service quality are very similar to each other because of the similarities in their antecedents. For example, according to the scholars, the antecedents of service quality are price, back-stage, and expertise. Similarly, the factors that lead to customer satisfaction are timeliness, service recovery, and physical environment  (ibid). Now, a closer look reveals a factor that is rather interesting. All the antecedents of

Introduction to the Old Testament and Pentateuch Essay

Introduction to the Old Testament and Pentateuch - Essay Example This section significantly covered the origin and fall of man beginning in the time of Adam and Eve then Noah and the Great Flood up to the tower of Babel – the moment the Lord confused the language of the whole world. Section II (Genesis 12 – 36) conveys the narrative of the patriarchs and matriarchs from Abraham and Sarah to Isaac and Rebecca then later descendants in Jacob who married Leah and Rachel. In this section, God’s covenant with Abraham is made known – the Covenant of Circumcision, where God spoke to Abraham and told him that he would become the father of many nations. The destruction of the sinful cities Sodom and Gomorrah by two of God’s angels as well as how Jacob obtained the name Israel are accounted for herein. Section III (Genesis 37, 39 - 50) initiates with the story of Joseph and his dreams and the moment his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites from whom Potiphar bought him in Egypt. This narrative further includes Josephâ€⠄¢s journey in Egypt, his prosperity through the Pharaoh whose dreams he satisfactorily interpreted, and the time when he revealed himself to his brothers. The section also comprised rich details considering how Joseph took charge of the famine in both Egypt and Canaan and ends with the blessings and death of Jacob. (2) The Four Sources of the Pentateuch The Pentateuch was written over about five centuries from the 11th to the 6th century B.C. and then collected and edited during the Exile by the scholars who, in the last two centuries, performed thorough analytical study of the first five books especially of the alternate uses of the sacred name of YHWH with the generic noun for divinity, elohim. As collector and editor of the Pentateuch at the time of the Exile, they carefully joined four sources into the Pentateuch. These are the so-called Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly, and Deuteronomist sources and are usually abbreviated as J, E P, and D. Each source is distinct in its own theolog ical viewpoint and literary style to the books of the Pentateuch which may be observed upon critical reading. The Yahwist Source: The Yahwist source prefers to use the sacred tetragrammaton [the four Hebrew consonants = YHWH], which was pronounced as â€Å"Yahweh,† God’s personal name revealed to Moses at the Burning Bush. In literary style, the Yahwist is concrete and imaginative, using anthropomorphism [â€Å"in human form†] in its theological description of YHWH’s activities. The Yahwist was a collector of the old legendary stories of the mythic ancestors. The Yahwist writes from the point of view of the south during the time of the Divided Monarchy. The Elohist Source: In contrast to the Yahwist source, the Elohist source prefers to use the generic common noun for God, elohim. The Elohist is sober and moralistic. The Elohist writes from the point of view of the northern kingdom during the time of the Divided Monarchy. The Priestly Source: The Priestly source concentrates on genealogies and on the traditions of the Israelite priests. The Priestly author at the end of the Babylonian Exile may have done the compiling and editing of the Pentateuch. The Deuteronomist Source: The Deuteronomist source, written at the end of the monarchy, is characterized by its

Kolbs cyclical learning theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Kolbs cyclical learning theory - Assignment Example In the entire session, I was actively involved in varied chronological ideas with the major one involving lab analysis. Throughout the sessions, it was evident that more and more results were acquired, and each time the results differed. This was identified after each individual clearly demonstrated their results. Concrete experimentation consists of varied activities that can range from field works to lab sessions. In this sessions, everyone is committed to gaining the best results; a reason for having many correct answers for a similar question. Attaining different although acceptable lab results raised a lot of questions with most of them associated with credibility of the entire lab process. Although, I had numerous doubts, I decided to try and understand the results and the causes that resulted into the above facts. On putting more efforts and repeating the process several times, it became evident that these results would always vary, but accurate calculations using the data for each individual would provide similar results. This ensured that if the same lab sessions were repeated or rather taken in similar circumstances, but different periods, it was possible to anticipate the following results or actions. The reflective observation has instances when a learner concentrates and reflects on the experiences that occurred in the prior stage. Understanding the general principle in which the entire lab session, results and the analysis occurred proved incredibly challenging.

Impact of Microfinance on Developing Countries Literature review

Impact of Microfinance on Developing Countries - Literature review Example With no access to financial systems, the poor have to define new informal ways through which they have to guarantee their financial survival while at the same time obtaining seed capital for development. Such informal community based institutions are meant to meet their daily and long-term financial needs, a gap that is perfectly filled by the micro financial institutions (Jegede, Kehinde & Hamed, 2011). Consequently, micro financial institutions are organizations developed towards promoting economic activities among the poor and low-income earners, where formal financial institutions have not offered similar services. To these people, banking services are impossible or almost impossible and they have to get a new way of bridging the gap left by the banks, which makes micro financial institutions prominent in poor countries particularly in the African continent. Micro financial institutions will lend small amounts of capital to members and other poor individuals in the locality towar ds poverty eradication, in addition to providing the poor communities the same services that are available in banks, and which are enjoyed by the rich (Jegede Kehinde & Hamed, 2011). In fact, microfinance institutions do not only provide capital for the poor but will go an extra mile to alleviate poverty from the basic individual level and at the community level (Anyanwu, 2004). Consequently, as Anyanu asserts, in Africa and other developing countries, microfinance institutions are considered the main source of funding for the poor towards creating projects that alleviate poverty and educate the poor on wealth creation. Due to the important role played by these institutions in poverty eradication, the government of Nigeria adopted micro financial institutions as the main route towards poverty eradication with the central Bank of Nigeria developing the necessary policies to facilitate operations of these institutions. This is despite the fact that the number of people benefiting from these institutions is still lower than required, with more people targeted through expansion of microfinancial institutions throughout the rural areas in the country. More than 70% of Nigerians live below the poverty line with microfinance banks serving about one million clients across the country that has a population of more than 140 million people (Irobi, 2008). Considering these facts, it is important to investigate how microfinance institutions affect the poor in developing countries with a close focus on Nigeria. Microfinance institutions have a role to correct an imperfect market in answering the various shortcomings of imperfections in the credit market (Armendariz & Murdoch, 2010). Making it easy for people to obtain capital has been shown as the best way to increase output, profits and net income among the poor, which improves their individual and communal welfare. However, the borrowing capacity is mostly dependent on the amount of information in the market, the vulnerab ility of the business being funded and the amounts of uncertainties in the business setup (Duvendack et al, 2011). Moreover, credit facilities continue to be used for gender empowerment among the poor where microfinance institutions targeting women have continued to sprout. Such credit facilities and education on members are aimed at promoting the status of women in the society and empowering them to handle more roles in the society and their families in general (Duvendack et al, 2011). There is a general simplified assumption that credit is an exogenous mode of treatment on borrowers that represent the wellbeing of the affected individuals through changing their livelihoods and other relations between individuals (Duvendack et al,

The Unlikely Tragic Hero Essay Example for Free

The Unlikely Tragic Hero Essay In his essay on tragedy, Arthur Miller once wrote the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thinghis sense of personal dignity. This insightful view of the common mans ability to be a tragic hero is emblematic of the female protagonist, Mrs. Alving, in Henrik Ibsens controversial drama Ghosts. In her fight to pull her family together and become the archetypal wife Mrs. Alving learns of lifes tragedies- she loses everything she loves and all she has built in the name of dignity. Regardless of the deleterious internal effects on her psyche, Mrs. Alving protects and uphold her values. She respects marriage; she knew her husband was unfaithful, yet Mrs. Alving did not end the relationship as she wanted to uphold her matrimonial vows. She recalls soon after, I heard Alving come in too. I heard him say something softly to her. And then I heard oh! it still sounds in my ears, so hateful and yet so ludicrous I heard my own servant-maid whisper, Let me go, Mr. Alving! Let me be!' (1.405). Though she fights to understand the truth, she has nobly held her tongue to save her boy and let her husband die honorably. Although she believes it is a bad idea to leave the newly built orphanage uninsured, she protects Manders from public indignation by complying with his anti insurance idea; this becomes a regrettable decision when the orphanage burns down. She still respects Manders ability to function under the laws of society, but when he makes note of the ignominious progressive books she has been reading Mrs. Alving becomes defensive. She explains, here, in my loneliness, I have come to the same way of thinking, Pastor Manders. But I have never dared to say anything (1.351). While she has a strong belief in progressive ideas, Mrs. Alving would never shame her family by outwardly expressing them. Mrs. Alving respects her family enough to realize they will be hurt if she does not hold everything together. She imparts only fond memories of Mr. Alving to her son Oswald and reminds him of the familial ties which they must live by. As Oswald refers to his father saying, and yet he managed to do so much in the world; so much that was good and useful; although he died so early the reader realizes how delusional his vision of his father is (1.295). Deeply obliged to both her son and her late husband, Mrs. Alving fights to cover up the truth of her marriage and provide the best for her son, striving to protect his innocence and morality. She believes she can save her son from anything, though as her marital situation worsened she could not bear the thought of keeping her son in such an environment, she explains I had to bear it for my little boys sake. But when the last insult was added; when my own servant-maid; then I swore to myself: This shall come to an end! (1.411). She did not want him to suffer from the actions of his father, thus she sends him abroad. Continually fighting to protect those around her, Mrs. Alving only hurts herself in the process. She invites Captain Alvings lovechild, Regina, to live and work in their home to ensure she receives a fair education. It is only later that she becomes aware of her son and Reginas relations- an incestual relationship made possible by Mrs. Alvings kindness to the young Regina by letting her live in their home. In behaving under the societal guidelines and ignoring her husbands despicable actions, Mrs. Alving only pushed him further away. The absence of a faithful husband created a perpetual loneliness in Mrs. Alving and though she found peace of mind in sending her son Oswald abroad, his absence devastated her and their relationship would never be repaired. Plagued by the internal guilt of her husbands unfaithfulness, Mrs. Alving concludes that their environment pushed her to become the societal faà §ade of a wife. By viewing life through societys vantage point, Mrs Alving became a dutiful wife, who unfortunately fell into the mechanic motions of a wifes day-to-day duties. Upon realizing her fault, she apologizes to her son saying, they had taught me a great deal about duties and so forth, which I went on obstinately believing in. Everything was marked out into duties into my duties, and his duties, and I am afraid I made his home intolerable for your poor father, Oswald(3.122). Mrs. Alving sees how she added to her husbands unhappiness and thus tries to make up for his wrongdoings. She dedicates the orphanage to him, even though he was unfaithful to her. She believes in showing respect, and making sure her husband is remembered in the light which others knew him. She believes she will have fixed everything once she rids herself and her family of the true memories of her husband. The morality of societys ability to coerce the family unit to function under traditionally acceptable conditions has been questioned throughout history. Henrik Ibsen enables his readers to become aware of the horrible truths that lie behind closed doors in his contentious 1881 Norwegian drama, Ghosts. Mrs. Alving suffers from the conflict between the external pressures of society battling what she believes is moral. Her societal training has taught her how to gracefully handle any situation- sweep your troubles under the rug and wait for them to creep out when you are most vulnerable. The tragic events she faces throughout this play result in the domino effect which stems from the intricate web of society-pleasing lies she has spun since marrying Captain Alving. Eventually Mrs. Alving comes to the understanding that societal dignity is not a panacea; ones ability to complete the tasks of a dutiful wife will not save a marriage, will not show a child love, nor will it create a fairytale ending. Mrs. Alving does not live happily ever after, rather she is left isolated. She will continue on in her dignified lonesome state of living.

Globalisation: An Economic Phenomenon

Globalisation: An Economic Phenomenon Globalisation is in itself an abstract term without a fixed objective definition. The extent to which the world has become interconnected in even greater ways in recent contemporary history has blurred this definition further. To categorise Globalisation as an essentially economic phenomenon, sheds no light on the true circumstance the world finds itself in today. Economic integration may be a large contributing factor driving Globalisation forward, but it is far too simplistic to label globalisation as essentially an economic phenomenon, for the world we find ourselves inhabiting today has a much deeper level of interconnectedness than solely economics can profess accountancy for. Globalisation today has come to describe an ongoing and pervasive phenomenon which is redefining the economic, social and cultural dynamics of contemporary societies,  [1]  acting in all spheres of twenty first century life, not just those related to economic linkage. The world itself is interconnected in an ever growing number of ways not just trough the global nature of trade, finance and production but in other more diverse aspects of daily life. Socially people around the globe are becoming closer, supranational political institutions based not solely on economic aims but on political goals and social grounds, strengthen the argument that although economics plays an undeniable role within the concept of globalisation, this economic aspect can no longer be viewed in isolation from Globalisations other attributes. This argument is also evident in many of the problems the world faces today; terrorism, environmental disasters and epidemics, no longer affect nations in isolation rather affect the world as a whole, such is the varied and diverse nature of the phenomenon of globalisation. The nation sate can no longer effectively tackle problems within its own boarders, gone is the age of isolation. The informal ebbing away at state autonomy is, and will continue to be a major characteristic of globalisation, with politics-understood as the pursuit of world order and justice are played out in a global context,  [2]  thus globalisation is prevalent in all spheres of contemporary existence and this is what this essay will argue. Economic globalisation refers to the intensification and stretching of economic interrelations across the globe,  [3]  this is displayed through the instantly connected and dependant nature of global production; trade and finance, that has resulted from the deregulation of global markets allowing greater product and capital fluidity around the globe. This in part has been ever grater intensified through the development of communications and informations technologies, allowing business to operate instantly on a global scale, through the click of a computer mouse. Economic globalisation has relied upon the concepts of neoliberal economics as an ideological base. This has been exemplified through the Washington consensus. Although this consensus directly relates to the policies of the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary fund and the World Bank, it can be seen broadly as describing the agreed terms on which the economic aspect of globalisation has come to flourish. This consensus can be defined as the acceptance of trade and capital market liberalization, fiscal austerity, rapid privatisation, widespread deregulation and the downsizing of government,  [4]  Economic liberalisation has handed market forces free reign to decide global prices and levels of production allowing the Adam Smith notion of the invisible hand, to drive the market to its most profitable equilibrium. This free market aspect of globalisation can be exemplified through the recent trends within world trade. Global trade has become a principle factor of the economic aspect of the phenomena of globalisation. This globalised nature of trade has resulted in consumers dispersed across many corners of the planet purchasing the same articles and the same time  [5]  . Thus for manufactures the global market has allowed companies to source the best possible materials for production, at the lowest possible price, resulting in the global nature of both production and trade. For contemporary multinational companies, no longer is it important to produce a product within a particular nation when the product will be sold to consumers globally. Thus production competition and the trade of goods is no longer regionally affiliated but linked to a highly competitive global market by which companies are present across the globe with factories, offices and shops situated in many different regions, contributing to the economic aspect of globalisation. This economic aspect of globalisation has also been exemplified through the expansion of global finance. This change in money and capital markets since the 1970s is perhaps the most unequivocal indicator of the globalization of economic affairs  [6]  . Financial transactions are now processed instantly on a planetary basis, allowing a greater ability for companies to trade and produce regardless of geographical boarders. This financial flow has been coupled with and aided by greater levels of foreign investment through international share markets. Capital in todays globalised world can be traded instantly allowing investments into foreign companies from around the globe directly linking capital flow between countries through direct share investment. This foreign investment into production and trade has blurred the boundaries of nation sate further for example, as much United States dollar is now traded outside the US as inside  [7]  . This illustrates the truly global nature of finance, with clearly outlined currency boundaries becoming blurred. Possibly the best way to exemplify the true global nature of global economics is through the global financial firestorm of the 2008. This crisis was largely caused by the collapse subprime mortgage system within United States however, due to the interconnected nature of the financial system the collapse of investment banks within the US created a domino effect highlighting failing banks around the world, resulting in implementation of fiscal stimulus packages by governments throughout the western world. Economic globalisation has thus resulted in the ever greater interconnectedness and dependency level of national economies. No longer are nation sates economic decisions enacted in isolation. The global economy is quickly replacing the nation state economy. Critics argue that the loss of sovereignty from nation states in terms of economic policy has reduced accountability for decision when policy collapses however, there can be no argument that even if accountability is lost, globalisation does have and will continue to include an economic aspect. The economic aspect of the phenomenon of globalisation has an undeniable role in shaping a globalised world however; it is only through the linking of this economic aspect with other political, cultural and social aspects that we define globalisation as a whole. The economic aspect describes a greater level of interconnectedness within world markets, however this is not the only way the world is interconnected and thus does not define the complete notion of contemporary globalisation. Political globalisation has become a key constituent part and also a driving force behind contemporary globalisation. These political forces however often go unrecognised, Rarely, indeed are the political aspects of globalisation recognised by either its friends or its foes  [8]  . This does not mean however that this aspect of globalisation is less important or influential to the phenomena as a whole. We shall see that it is in fact political globalisation that often drives interconnectedness in much greater ways than those presented through global markets. The political aspect of globalisation can be easily represented by the plethora of international organisations, supranational bodies and international none governmental organisations, that profess an active role in delegating decision above individual nation sate circumstance, providing a forum for global issues to be targeted. Society in todays more global world is regulated in what can be described as a polycentric manner  [9]  . This is a manner by which even the most basic political decision is involved in a complex command structure based not solely within sates geographical boundaries. Increasingly political decision directly affects the interconnected nature of the world and thus, International organisations have developed in accordance to meet these new demands. An example of this new form of political globalisation is through the ever expanding role of the European Union. Although the Union was initially founded on economic grounds as the European Coal and Steel Community, it was now occupies a much deeper, active role in the daily politics of the 27 member sates. This can be illustrated through an ever greater focus on the social charter and the hoped creation of common European values. This more social aspect of globalisation through the EU however has not been void of critique most notably through the rejection of the European Constitution. States in this instance seemed unwilling for a greater level of deepened integration and pooled sovereignty. Despite this rejection however, there is no doubt that the role of the European Union has become undeniable in the daily lives of citizens, acting as a political institution within the phenomena of globalisation. The most notable institution within this political realm of globalisation is the United Nations, the United nations has an interest indeed and obligation to help secure the equitable and lasting success of globalisation  [10]  . The UN With 192 members represents the very embodiment of legitimate political globalisation. This aspect of political globalisation can be displayed through recent UN interventions into sovereign states, an increasing readiness by the UN to intervene within states would indicate a move towards global governance  [11]  . This intra state intervention notably professes global legitimacy through the support of member states. The UN is authorised in acting to maintain global order, thus the values of Globalisation are expressed through UN intervention. For example the NATO intervention into Kosovo was backed by the UN in order to avert ethnic cleansing. We are here seeing how global agreement through the UN allows the expression of a global consensus o n political values, providing legitimacy to intervene within sovereign states professing a global political mandate. Thus through UN intervention we are seeing a political institution upholding common planetary values thus, acting as a driving force behind the phenomenon of globalisation. This Political aspect of globalisation is also expressed through the growing focus on Human rights and social targets within nations. This once again represents a global consensus on issue and the formation of global policy, again through the UN. The Millennium Development Goals represent the formation of a global consensus to reduce poverty throughout the developing world. Here it is demonstrated that through an International political institution, global policy is formed that is then applicable on a global level. Critics argue that the failings of the millennium development goals highlight that globalisation is not an evenly spread phenomenon however, objective results for this question are regardless. The global agreement of nations to target these areas, exemplifies the way in which politics and policy through international organisations, contributes to the phenomena of globalisation. Another example of the way in which the phenomenon of globalisation is formed is through world issue politics. Within the globalising world, issues have developed that cannot be combated by the nation state alone, rather require global co-operation to resolve them effectively. These challenges to world security and peace have been varied in their origins, acting as agents of globalisation beyond the economic front. There has been a rising consensus between sates that global problems may need global solutions  [12]  . Examples of decisions taken transcending national borders, due to global nature of the issue, are those regarding the environment. The problems surrounding global warming have lead to, although in places reluctant in the case of the United States and China, a general consensus that this threat cannot be tackled effectively by any single nation no matter how large. Successful Global planetary agreements have been reached, notably with the almost universal adoption of the Montreal Protocol. This protocol tackled the depleting ozone layer through the banning of CFCS. Despite this ban having obvious economic impacts on the pharmaceutical companies of the richest nations in the world, Each country would have been better off had it rejected the Montreal Protocol  [13]  , agreement was reached. This signals an instance where Globalisation of issue rather that economics proved a driving force within the political branch of Globalisation. There became a political consensus that for the greater good of each individual country, the economic aspect must be overlooked and collective decision reached. Thus in this case it is not economics that drove globalisation, rather contemporary threats to world security that enabled collective agreement and the formation of global policy, thus contributing to the concept of globalisation. Despite this example however the more recent Kyoto protocol has stuttered greatly in comparison largely due to the most developed states of the world namely the USA and China refusing to ratify more radical cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases, principally on economic grounds. However, it is arguable here that it is not the agreement or consensus of nations on a piece of legislation that represents globalisation, although this is useful it is not necessarily needed. The very fact that every nation of the world entered into dialogue because of the global issue of climate change is enough to strengthen the argument for a globalising world not driven by economic interests necessarily but also to tackle global issues. Cultural interconnectedness is also becoming an ever greater feature of globalisation. It may here be arguable that economics and free trade ultimately dictating the way in which culture is becoming a less diverse concept through the influence and domination of multinational companies on everyday life. However we shall see that cultural globalisation has and will continue to become a distinct phenomenon within globalisation itself. The homogenisation of culture whether damaging or enhancing is taking place. Global brands such as Coca-cola, McDonalds represent an inescapable global culture that it is impossible to evade or counteract. The extent to which global brands are decaying national culture is arguable, however there can be little doubt that one of the most directly perceived and experienced forms of globalisation is the cultural form  [14]  . This cultural globalisation is seen critically by some and positively by others as a largely American phenomenon. Increasingly American brands are penetrating everyday lives in the most distant parts of the world. This McWorld culture is not only synonymous to the fast food industry it represents, but to virtually all aspects of modern life.  [15]   This cultural linkage through global branding has been greater intensified through the communications revolution. This has allowed the time space aspect of the world communication to shrink considerably. Global satellite television channels have allowed the same events to be portrayed simultaneously across the globe leading to a global identity being formed by which peoples around the world become synonymous, relaying the same information through various means of technology promoting links between individuals, communities and societies around the globe. Possibly the most notable example of this cultural aspect of globalisation is the development of language. Through the above mentioned Americanization of world culture native languages have suffered to compete on the world business stage. This has resulted in the extinction of many languages that have no longer proved beneficial in an ever Americanised world. Languages in the world have dropped from 14,500 in 1500 to less than 7,000 in 2000  [16]  , this represents the market like competition of cultures as an added dimension to contemporary globalisation allowing the strong to flourish and the weak to perish, in the continued path to an ever more global homogenised culture. The interlinking and merging of cultures from around the world can be seen as a driving force behind and a constituent part of the phenomenon of globalisation. Cultural practices lay at the very heart of globalization  [17]  , although it may be argued that it is the economic activities of multinational companies drives the global culture we are experiencing today, there is no doubt that this economic aspect is inherently liked to the greater interconnectedness within ideals and values. Multinational companies may drive culture forward through the global dimension of business however, as citizens of the world become familiar with global brands, a much deeper element of cultural globalisation is taking place thus, although linked to economics cultural synonymity is an undeniable part of the complex phenomenon of globalisation. Globalisation thus cannot be described as a purely economic phenomenon. We have seen that contained within globalisation are many different aspects that overlap to form what is understood as globalisation. The economic aspect of globalisation relies upon the political dimension of globalisation through the management of international monetary markets by global institutions such as the World Bank, but also relies upon the global consumerist demand created by a globalised culture. Globalisation is best seen as a spherical three dimensional fluid concept which contains; cultural political and economic aspects, which are dependant rather than independent from one another. A globalised world would not describe the mere interlining of world markets without the same influence of cultural and political interconnectedness that individuals experienced today.