Discrimination Against Biracial Children Essay

â€Å"Biracial children face a myriad of concerns on a daily basis. Research reveals what common sense suggests–that all these problems are rooted in racist, biased, and discriminatory social attitudes, attitudes which children encounter from their first moments of pre-school. The sense of injustice that they instinctively feel when they sense these biases will manifest out of discrimination towards one or both of their racial backgrounds, as well as towards the fact that they have more than one racial background. Examples of these concerns, and manifestation of racist attitudes, are concerns shared by parents of bi-racial children, who also suffer the emotional brunt of discrimination against their children. An understanding of the suffering of parents, as well as bi-racial children, can provide for us not only a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and concerns that bi-racial children and their parents experience on a daily basis, but a means of providing the proper environment thereof. â€Å" Sample of Sources Used: * â€Å"Black Women with Biracial Children.† 2007:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blackwomenwithbiracialchild/ * Delle, Margaret. â€Å"Raising Biracial Children: Still a Difficult Subject after all These Years.† 2007: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/107661/raising_biracial_children_still_a_difficult.html†Identity Issues and Concerns of Biracial Children.†2007: http://members.aol.com/lacillo/biracial.html * Jones Frank and Gibbs Staff. â€Å"Parenting Biracial Children: Issues for Black/White Biracial Child- Rearing.† 2007: http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/Parenting%20Biracial%20Children.htm * Nakazawa, Donna Jackson. Does Anybody Else Look Like Me?: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Multiracial Children. Da Capo Press; Reprint edition March 30, 2004. * Pattnaik, Jvotsna. â€Å"Learning about the â€Å"other: Building a Case for Intercultural Understanding among Minority Children.† Childhood Education Vol 79 2003. P NA

2012: It’s the End of the World Essay

If you had only one more day to live, how would you want to spend it? Who would you want to spend it with? There are currently 6,773,643,360 people in the world, of course give or take a few, and in a mere 3 years and seven months, every single one of those people may be faced with that same question. Forty-Four months, 1,309 days, 31,416 hours; no matter how you look at it, that’s all you have left, as some would say. Many people have heard of the ancient Mayans, and know that they reigned thousands of years ago. What they may not know is one little invention of theirs could impact the lifespan of every human being today and future. â€Å"The Mayans started their calendar on August 11, 3114 BC, and they conclude it on December 21st 2012 (Greyl 80). † There are many who believe this day will be the end, as we know it; all living creatures will cease to exist. There are possible theories on how the world will end, some scientific and mathematical, and others based on astrology, but no matter the theory, there is a chance you and I will perish with the other six billion humans in 2012. Unnerving? Yes. Realistic? See more: Beowulf essay essay Maybe. This Apocalyptic theory provides scientific evidence to support it, yet scholars are unlikely to believe it. Everything has a beginning and an end but no matter how many facts or possibilities presented, people are going to be unwilling to accept the apocalypse of 2012. End of the world theories have been around for ages; they have come and gone with perhaps some cause for fright, but obviously nothing too damaging. Apocalypse theories are terrifying yet captivating; there are numerous books on the matter, and even the movie business has felt it is something to pay attention to. With all of this information available, people are aware of it, yet they still are not accepting. Apocalypse theories are enticing to humans because we are conscious of the fact we could die at any moment. Humans are selfish by nature, so they are interested in anything that could cause them discomfort or pain. We also like to be in the know, so it would be convenient to be aware of what was going to happen everyday. We would like to have the opportunity to control our lives or try to change the issues upsetting us. Why do you think people pay for fortunetellers and psychics? Any knowledge we can get about the future, the better off we are. This being said, it is clear that people are interested in the theory, yet unwilling to accept it as true. It is my belief the people who are most likely to believe this phenomenon are religious, and believe in The Bible’s Armageddon, the final battle between God and Satin. I will go into more detail about this theory later, but simply those who know The Bible and follow God believe the world will end eventually. They just might not believe the Apocalypse of 2012 because no one, not even Jesus, is supposed to know the date the world will end. On the other end of the spectrum there are the people who find it highly unlikely for the world to end anytime soon, as their thinking is based more on a scientific level. They believe the world was formed through the big bang, and think the only way the world can end is through another universal mishap. Which there are scientific explanations, but the fact is, people just don’t want to believe the world is going to end. Besides, it’s too big of a risk to start planning your life around it. What if the world didn’t end, and you had spent all of you money, quit your job, and ruined all of your relationships? There have been many end of the world prophecies; the entire Y2K fiasco proved to be nothing serious that it is just easier to ignore these predications. I suppose scholars are so unwilling to believe the 2012 apocalypse is because they feel like the little evidence there is, is not concrete. People are basing this off of a civilization that lived about 3,000 years ago and who had no technology to be able to predict some event like this. Simply put, the Mayans put too much religion into their prophecies to be able to make it scientific enough for scholars to take seriously. The prospect of Apocalypse 2012 ultimately serves as a projective test for anyone who contemplates it. The ones most open to post-2012 reality are those who have the least to lose in the coming upheaval. (Lawrence 75). † â€Å"But I think doomsday has a profound if unspeakable allure for those who are unhappy with themselves, their society, their Maker. Accepting that doomsday is imminent provides the believer with immense satisfaction—that he or she possesses the most important knowledge in the world and that all other pursuits are trivial or misguided. It’s a form of vicarious revenge that anyone can take on life’s unfairness (Lawrence 213). †

Gerard Manley Hopkins Essay

The Windhover, by Gerard Manley Hopkins is a poem about the essence of natural things. This poem describes the relationship of human beings to the natural world as the poet is addressing God through the bird. It is praising him for all the marvellous things He has created and that humans can enjoy. The poem consists in three verses. In the first verse, the poet describes the power of the bird as it is portrayed as the master of heavens. This verse captures the movement of the bird in the sky. It starts with â€Å"I caught this morning mornings minion† that gives the feeling that the bird is a servant of the sky and it is the morning because it is a good time for hunting. Hopkins puts words together like â€Å"dapple dawn-drawn† to portray multi-images as here where the bird is drawn in the sky. Also, the alliteration here produces the effect of the bird’s movement in the air and the intensity of the poem’s feeling. The author writes that the bird is â€Å"striding high there† and this produces the image that the bird is taking huge steps in the air. The bird also â€Å"rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing† showing his power and control with â€Å"ecstasy†. The bird has control over the wind. The rhythm in this verse is very slow, yet steady. This verse consists in very long sentences that convey the effect that the bird is circling the air; with long movements it also reflects the poets feelings. This verse gives as the feeling that he poet has searched very well the words to describe his feelings but at the same time describing the bird. He searches for words that sound as they are written for example â€Å"sweeps smooth†. The second verse consists only of three lines explaining how the bird spots its pray and here, the beauty of the bird is more accentuated when the author uses â€Å"Brute beauty† to describe how beautiful the bird is, even when it is hunting. The word â€Å"brute† has an impact on the readers because this word means violent, wild, but here, the author uses it to emphasize that the beauty is a different kind of beauty; that it is a magnificent beauty, so marvellous and magnificent that there is no better word to describe it than brute. The poem reaches to the climax when the bird spots the pray and the author writes â€Å"here buckle! † as if warning us for action. To be prepared. From now on, the rhythm is more steady with lots of comas and faster than the first verse. This gives us the effect that the bird is now descending towards its pray. At the end of this verse, the author addresses to God as â€Å"Oh my chevalier! † and this is to thank Him for creating such marvellous things as the bird, full of â€Å"Brute beauty† so that humans can enjoy, even though it is only by watching them. When the author addresses to God, the rhythm changes. This matches the ecstasy of the bird in his own physical mastery of the sky. The last verse consists also in three lines, and here, the relationship of human beings to the natural world is also portrayed. This verse is more as a pronouncement. Here the author stops speaking about the bird and makes us realise how God’s beauty of creation is in everything, even in things where there is no apparent beauty. This is achieved also when Hopkins starts talking about how the â€Å"shi er pli d† makes even ploughing beautiful and how â€Å"blue-bleak embers† are also beautiful. In conclusion, I think that Hopkins decides to first start talking about the Windhover and about its â€Å"Brute beauty† to then compare it to the beauty found in every thing of creation. He relates human being to the beauty of nature because the beauty found in nature comes from human’s sacrifice. The words on Hopkins poem impact me because they make me realise how lucky we are to be part of creation and enjoy the beauty there is from Christ’s sacrifice.

Memo- Gazprom and Itera Essay

In the case study of Gazprom and Itera, we see how different companies and governmental organizations can potentially be able to exploit a large company such as Gazprom for a large profit. Gazprom is a large gas and oil company that is valued very cheaply compared to other large oil and gas companies (such as Exxon Mobil). Browder is a shareholder of Gazprom that identifies several questionable transactions that were done by Gazprom and other organizations that have relationships with Gazprom. He is questioning why the undervaluation could have occurred based on the business being conducted by the oil giant. The problem that exists for Gazprom is that the market perceives the company to have lost 99 percent of its assets, completely devaluing the price of its goods. In reality, only 10 percent of its assets were stolen, and the market is slowly trying to catch up to that truth. Browder is attempting to identify the transactions in order to solve the large problem at hand. These transactions include organizations that work with Gazprom such as Itera (a gas trading company) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (their internal auditor) devaluing the gas and oil Gazprom held in certain situations and reselling it for a profit. In one example, Itera bought gas valued at $35 a barrel from Turkmen gas and resold it to Gazprom for $45 a barrel. PwC thought this difference was acceptable due to transportation costs, even though those were already taken care of separately. In general, the lack of transparency and accountability being administered by management in Gazprom and its partner companies was a fail ure to its stockholders. Browder’s recommendations to the Russian government are vital, mainly due to the fact that it has a 38% controlling stake in Gazprom. Because the vast majority of the operations conducted by Gazprom occur within Russia’s boundaries, it is up to the government to set the correct standards and close loopholes so that organizations and individuals will not exploit such situations. Browder’s recommendations to the U.S. and to the Board of Directors of Gazprom could be essential for enacting change within the  corporate environment to prevent such scrupulous transactions. Though these changes could prove helpful in the reorganization of the company in the long run, the international political environment does not provide Gazprom with the best situation. The fact that Russia’s governmental body has so much stake in the company can greatly complicate things due to the personal influence of those running the government. Several members of the Russian government could fulfill a personal agenda using the government’s stake in the company as leverage (this could have been the case potentially with these transactions). This is also the case with PwC and Itera, both with a lot of power to take advantage of loopholes and other lucrative situations when it comes to Gazprom. There are several things Browder can do to combat this situation, but I think his strategy will be a difficult one to execute alone. He would need to collect more shareholder power before he steps forward with the resolutions. Involving the U.S. and Russian government will be difficult due to the lethargic manner in which these situations can be resolved. Taking care of the company from within should be he first move, but only with the appropriate number of people backing his plan.

Dangers of Body Art Essay

â€Å"Grandma, what does that thing on your right wrist say? † asked Maya. â€Å"It says Justin Bieber! Who is Justin Bieber? Was that your boyfriend back in the day? † Maya’s grandma simply responded, â€Å"No, this is what you call a big mistake! † Grandma did not tell Maya about her life-threatening encounter with Hepatitis B, how she was judged for tattooing a Canadian singer’s name on her, and how she was not able to keep a steady job. Grandma regrets getting that tattoo. She daydreamed many days how her life could have been better. Can you really blame Grandma? She did this when she was a teenager. The trend in this century has increased. Tattoos are a major fashion statement among teenagers today, but the majority of the young adults fail to consider the medical, social, and professional consequences tattoos can inflict on one’s life which may result in regret. Adolescents have several reasons for having tattoos are numerous but some are senseless. A survey was given to students about the motive for their tattoos: â€Å"Fifty-three percent of the students replied for self expression. Thirty-five percent just wanted one. Twenty-one percent got the art to remember an event. Seventeen wanted to feel unique. Eleven got it to express independence,† (Winkler 18). The reasons are endless. A rebellious tattoo gives one a tougher look, so that one appears disobedient to rules. The indifferent appearance verses the bland look that has been acquired by society for centuries. Well-known actress, Pamela Anderson, feels â€Å"tattoos are symbolic of the most important moments of your life† (Mason 16). Moments of life are similar to rites of passage. On Dictionary. com, a rite of passage is â€Å"Ceremonies that mark important transitional periods in a person’s life . . . † (Keloid). It is common for one to get a tattoo(s) displaying marriage or in memory of another’s death. Anderson also stated about getting a tattoo, â€Å"my sons’ first girlfriend come over and I’m all wrinkled up in a chair with tattoos all sagging down to my ankles† (Mason 16) Everyone sets goals but in cases people have tattooed the goals or something symbolic to the goals on their body. â€Å"Several athletes, for example, have had the Olympic rings tattooed on their bodies to show how much they wanted to compete in the Olympic Games. † (Mason 16). Love is a beautiful thing but would you risk showing it on your skin? It is common for people to tattoo love-one’s name on them. Many say that having a relative’s name is better than having a boyfriend or girlfriend’s name tattooed on one. One’s lover can change constantly but your family is yours officially. For instance, â€Å"Actress Angelina Jolie had actor Billy Bob Thornton’s name tattooed on her arm soon after she married him. By the summer of 2002, the two had split up† (Mason 17). Some professional tattoo artist can remember a story about someone who came in to cover up someone’s name that was tattooed on them. Mr. Barham’s second period class took a survey on having their girlfriend/boyfriend’s name on them. Fifty percent said it was ignorant, twenty-five percent said it was ill-advised, and twenty-five percent said to wait till marriage. (Concluding Sentence? ) Hardship enters in and out of everyone’s life. Hardship can send one into sadness. Sadness is another reason one may have a desire for a tattoo; most likely to remember the event. Actress Alyssa Milano said about getting tattoos out of misery, â€Å"I’ve always gotten them [tattoos] at times when I was sad about something [†¦] relationship problems or the fact that it had rained every day for a month† (Mason 17). It is not advised to get a tattoo during the time of grief. Why do you have that tattoo again? † said Ashley. â€Å"Well, I don’t know† said Jason. Jason received a tattoo no for no particular reason? As said before, thirty-five percent of teens got the tattoo because they just wanted it (Winkler 18). Some say it looked cool or felted good and encouraged them to get more. One can result in a deadly ending if having numerous tattoos or even if you get one for the first time. The risks of having tattoos are endless but the most deadliness one is Hepatitis B or C. Problems, such as infections, tattoo removal, keloid formation, and allergic reaction. There have been many people who have contracted diseases through tattoos, but when society thinks of tattoos, the risks are not recognized. Infections are prone to happen if one does not use sterile equipment to perform the tattooing procedure such as re-using ink or used needles. Infection affects the blood stream and later causes problems if one was to become a blood donor. Tattoos removal may involve scaring of the dermis and numerous treatments. The cost of treatments varies by size and what treatment is being done but either way the treatments are expensive. One consequence tattoo removal results in is keloid development. According to Dictionary. com, a keloid is â€Å"an abnormal proliferation of scar tissue†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Keloid). If one already develops a keloid(s), getting a tattoo(s) increases the formation. Having an allergic reaction is possible to happen while getting a tattoo and is difficult to control. It is extremely rare for one to be allergic to the products used. Removing the tattoo pigments is the procedure that aids one during an allergic reaction. Neither teenagers nor adults would have thought these risks could infect someone. Usually when people have tattoos, they are judged on spot. In some cases, society does not accept the act of having tattooing due to personal preference which starts social altercations. Views on tattoos can be taken in a negative manner. Doing research, â€Å". . . the average person described the body art as dirty and gross† (Ottawa Expert in French & English Language Training; Free Online French & English Lessons). Compare the average person to someone fund of tattoos and they could prove them wrong. To others, tattoos are seen as their way to express through art. Pricing for tattoos are outrageous, also. Generally, tattoo parlors range pricing upon a flat fee, hourly fee, or both. A flat fee is the cost based on the artist having to sketch the design, provide colors to the art, and time it took. An hourly fee is a charge based upon the length of time it took to complete the tattoos; common hourly fees range for 50-250 per hour. Prices tend to be extremely high which causes many to go to an unprofessional artist. When getting tattoos, others do not consider society’s opinion or just do not care. There have been cases where parents have kicked out their child because of having tattoos resulting to be homeless. Also, parents have disowned children due to tattoos. Facts stated, â€Å"Over half of the families in Canada would not let their children get tattoos. † (Ottawa Expert in French & English Language Training; Free Online French & English Lessons). It has been restaurants or stores that do not allow tattooed people to enter the facility. Religious reasons are, also, why people are not able to get tattoos. Roleff reproduced about religions and tattoos, â€Å"Getting a tattoo may give some youths a feeling of power and control over their lives, but the Old Testament forbade tattoos. While today’s Christians are not bound by Old Testament law, tattoos-even temporary ones-suggest paganism and idol worship. Many people react negatively to those with tattoos, which could lead to problems when it is time to find a job or pursue personal relationships. Many people come to regret having a tattoo. It is best not to get one in the first place† (Roleff 68). Generally, views of tattoos by society have been negative. From awful adjectives to religious views, tattoos are frowned upon constantly. Tattoos in the work area have, also, been a problem for years. Today in society some find it acceptable but others still find it hard to get over. Having tattoos while maintaining certain professions, such as a government job, give the society the perspective of how tattoos are viewed. There have been times when a firefighter has been insulted, harassed, or discriminated against for having a tattoo. People in the community find it unprofessional for them to even have the littlest of tattoos. I know it is impossible to believe but teachers have and had lives, also. In the past, there have been problems where a teacher has got a tattoo. Districts have addressed the dress code for teachers, and enforcing them to hide all body art. Teachers chose to comply with the new rules. Some meet the terms to support their family and some wanted to be role models to the students. Schools are not the only place where they have placed a dress code. The official policy is to sport tattoos in certain places, such as a certain spot on the neck. Also, it has to be an appropriate tattoo. According to a section article, â€Å"In 1900 an estimated 90 percent of sailors in the United States Navy were tattooed† (Roleff 82). That was until another policy had been set to prohibit tattoos that were in plain sight. The policies are in place for the professional look from society. According to Dictionary. com, a tattoo is the act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legends, etc. , by making punctures in it and inserting pigments (Tattoo). The motivations for having tattoos were endless but true. Teenagers, today, have made tattoos seem acceptable to have, especially having many of them but lack understanding consequences. The medical outcomes to having tattoos are numerous diseases and difficulties. Majority of society’s view tattoos as impure. The prices of tattoos are insane but for a tattooist, them expressing themselves is way more valuable. There have been public places that do not allow people who have tattoos. Religions find it unruly to have tattoos. Then, there is the professional view. Society would not want a tattooed firefighter to represent them because of the unruly look that tattoos are viewed as. Teenagers may love the form of expression but do not take the time to understand. Tattoos can cause death or can hurt one, physical or mentally.

FAT file systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

FAT file systems - Essay Example File Allocation Tables (FAT) is of huge significance to the users of Compact Flash (CF) because the requirement of FAT type is different for the devices that are optimized with over 2.14 gigabytes (GB) of storage capacity unlike those that require only 2.13 GB. This topic has gained huge importance specifically after the hard disk’s application into the personal computers. This paper tends to create awareness among the camera users regarding the FAT through a comprehensive discussion of its history. Introduction: The subject of this white paper is the illustration of FAT File Systems. This white paper is directed at creating an understating among the users of camera regarding the File Allocation Tables, which are generally referred to as FAT. Because of the disparity between the need of FAT type among different devices, Compact Flash (CF) users need to be given a thorough understanding of the FAT so that they may be able to make the right choice as per their device. The scope of this white paper is limited to the discussion of history of FAT File Systems along with a brief review of the relation of FAT with the Compact Flash (CF) devices which generate files with sizes up to 5+ mega pixels. This white paper first gives a comprehensive account of the historical background of FAT. This is followed by a review of the use of FAT File Systems in CF. Finally, the findings are concluded in the last section. History of FAT File System: Development of FAT File System: In February, 1976, during his stay at the Albuquerque’s Hilton Hotel spanning five days, a child known as Bill Gates who has gained immense fame for his contributions in the world of computer developed and coded FAT (Gilbert). â€Å"FAT was designed for small disks and simple folder structures† (Microsoft). Replacement of floppy disks with double-sided diskettes: The original Personal Computers made use of floppy disks for carrying the data whose capacity usually used to be 180 kilobyt es. After the floppy disks, use of double-sided diskettes increased. The double-sided diskettes used to be double the capacity of the floppy disks and were up to 5 ? inches in size. The initial DOS developers indicated the relation of sectors to individual files as well as identified the vacant tables by creating tables with a view to organizing the data. As a result of this, the Operating System (DOS) was able to use the limited space on the double-sided diskettes to the maximum limit. There was no more the need of availability of a continuous series of sectors for saving the files. It was possible to break up the data for the files and distribute that everywhere in the double-sided diskette in an increasingly organized and sequenced fashion; a process that is frequently referred to as fragmentation. Nevertheless, it was fortunate in those times to be able to keep the data in one diskette because one would not need to switch the diskettes in and out alternately time and again while the program’s operation would continue. Selection of table length: There are 768 sectors upon a diskette with a capacity of 360 KB. This required the table to be large enough in order to determine every single sector of the total of 768. There was also the requirement of some room for expansion because the developers were aware of the on-going creation of larger diskettes. Number of possible values permitted by the use of one byte per table did not exceed 512, so that would not practically serve the purpose. On the other hand, two bytes would waste the disk space by permitting 16384 entries. Thus, decision had to be made somewhere in between one and two bytes. So finally, table with the length of 12 bits that were equal to 1.5 bytes were chosen so that the usage of sectors on the first double-sided diskettes could be traced. As a result of this, 4096 possible values were permitted. Such a FAT table was able to deal with storage devices with the capacity as large as 2 GB prov ided that each entry

A Journal opinion article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Journal opinion article - Essay Example Despite the promise to cut debts by half, Federal debts has gone up by 52% reaching $16.2 trillion a thing unheard of in the US. In the year 2007 US underwent the worst recession since the great depression that robbed that saw stocks hitting their bottom just before 2009. This changed after January 2009 when Dow Jones Average went up 70%, Standard & Poor 500 index went up 81 %, and NASDAQ complex index went up 119% (Jackson web). The levels of unemployment stood at 7.8% as they are as at September 2012. Although millions lost jobs immediately, Obama took oath the government has managed to pull the economy to the position of absorbing the same and providing extra jobs. Just before the recession, the level of unemployment had gone down to less that 5% only to rise in 2009 to as high as 10% (Jackson web). The poor state of the economy prevented the level from falling again and it took nearly two years to lower the level even by a small margin. However, the economy has slowly regained mo st of the lost jobs and predictions promise more jobs in the next coming months. The level of unemployed Americans is 12.1 million, which is the lowest since January 2009. A drop from 8.1% to 7.8% before the elections gave Obama a positive boot to winning the elections just a month away (Jackson web). Although some sectors like manufacturing has lost many jobs and some critics use it to bring the government down and to prove that no progress has taken place at all. Some even suggest that the government have skewed numbers to aid Obama re-election into government. The bureau of statistics has come out to confirm that really some jobs have been created and that the economy is actually moving forward. However, several other indicators suggest otherwise and confirm a slow growth of the economy. For instance, the US treasury, note went up by a small percentage depicting that investors are now willing to shift their investments from bonds to stocks. In fact, the prices of some stocks have gone up by a significant percentage with Dow Jones industrial average going up. Less income to families and increased poverty levels is another challenge blamed on Obama government. It is true that many families have suffered financially in the past few years and the poverty levels have gone up. In fact, household income and family income declined by a significant percentage or stagnated to some. Due to high levels of unemployment, the number of Americans living below the poverty line went up and was at 46.2 million in the year 2011. This is a rise from 46.3% in the year 2010 (Jackson web). In addition, food supplemental aid increased from increasing poverty levels. However, due to recession that occurred in the year 2007, household incomes were already declining or stagnant when Obama took office in 2009. The good news is that with the declining levels of unemployment, household income and family income will soon report an increase. Obama’s government has been blamed for ri sing fuel prices, which has doubled since he took over government. To be precise, the price was at $1.85 by end of January 2009 but at October 2012, this figure has gob has gone up to $3.8 (Jackson web). Although the prices of oil remain up, oil imports have gone down with a significant amount. In addition, dependence on oil has gone down with the country turning to other better sources like wind power and

Personal Application Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Application Assignment - Essay Example I had very confusing experience in the sense that I felt that my colleagues at other departments were actually creating issues which were hindering in achievement of my objectives. I tried hard to meet my targets on time and worked closely with my customers to understand their actual requirements and as to how my organization can actually support them. However, whenever I used to forward my recommendations to other departments basically responsible for ensuring that the customers receive what they want started to create problems for me. I was specially a target because of my ability to achieve my targets and compete aggressively with my colleagues in order to develop a better career for myself and ensure a quick progression on the organizational ladder. I however, felt that my colleagues did not liked the way I started to progress in our organization. Looking back at this experience, I often feel that I should not have been involved in the overall organizational politics as it hindered my progress on a career which I liked much. I was under the impression that the individuals within an organization often support their fellow workers in order to help them to achieve the organizational objectives and in the process also allow individuals to fulfill their own objectives. However, I believe I was wrong because I failed to recognize the importance of informal networks and how they can actually affect an individual’s performance and career progression. I also believe that other departments were also struggling to meet their own targets and fulfill their own part of the responsibility. However, due to the lack of organizational attention and negligence by higher management have probably resulted into the culmination of an attitude which de-motivated them and they were hardly contributing positively towards the achievement of

Problems Of Corruption In Ukrainian Government And The Possible Ways Research Paper

Problems Of Corruption In Ukrainian Government And The Possible Ways To Solve It - Research Paper Example As per this report, Ukraine shared this poor corruption status with other third world countries like Bangladesh, Central African Republic, and Syria. In the same year, Ernst & Young identified Ukraine as one of the three most corrupted countries in the world along with Brazil and Columbia. Referring to Wikileaks cables, US diplomats described Ukraine as a state of kleptocracy under the presidency of Kuchma and Yushchenko. This paper will identify the intensity of corruption prevailing in Ukrainian government and suggest some potential remedies to fight the issue. Depth of Corruption in Ukrainian Government Bribes are very common in Ukraine because Ukrainians think that such unfair rewards are customary and expected in every official matters. Referring to recent investigative reports, some of the huge bribes in the country involve more than USD 1 billion. According to a sociological survey conducted by Management Systems International (MSI) in 2008, the level of corruption was very hi gh; in vehicle inspection (57.5%), the police (54.2%), health care (54%), the courts (49%), and higher education (43.6%) (UNO, â€Å"Country reports†). The police and the courts which are in charge of law enforcement in the country are highly corrupted. Undoubtedly, the higher corruption level in the courts and the police become a great obstacle to abolishing this social as well as economic issue. As compared to well developed economies like US and UK, many of the Ukrainians are willing to pay some or other forms of bribes so as to get served fast. Recently in 2011, the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych admitted that bribes cause the state budget to lose billions of dollars in revenues and a notable percent of public funds â€Å"end up in the pockets of officials† (as qtd in Rachkevych). The president’s words clearly reflect the profundity of corruption in Ukraine. In spite of great media coverage and hot discussions, corruption is still growing to be a majo r growth impediment to the Ukrainian economy. As different surveys point out, nearly 70% of Ukrainians who had dealt with government services over the last five years directly involved in corrupt practices. Experts suggest that this rate would further increase if some respondents were not afraid of consequences. Referring to a report by Danilova, political corruption through the use of administrative tools is a key issue challenging the development of the country (â€Å"Hundreds protest..†). Ukrainian politicians mainly use administrative tools to commit election fraud and thereby make election results in their favor. The situation where many of the top Ukrainian governmental officials have been liable for prosecution also indicates how intense the problem of corruption is in the country’s government system. In fact, medical care is free for Ukrainians in state-run hospitals. However they pay money there to make sure that they receive quality treatment whenever require d. Recently some advocacy groups have accused the Ukrainian Health Ministry officials for misappropriating the money that should have used to treat AIDS patients. They claim that officials bought AIDS drugs at highly inflated prices and received kickbacks in return. As Nitsevych points out, business firms in Ukraine widely engage in corruptive practices in order to take advantages of business licensing, taxation, and customs (â€Å"Potential for German investors..†

Russian Space Exploration Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Russian Space Exploration - Research Proposal Example Economic difficulties have caused problems for Russian space exploration efforts but commercialization has met with success and the space program still captures the imagination of the vast majority of the people of Russia. This essay presents a discussion about Russian space exploration efforts and questions if humanity can join in its efforts for the conquest of space to make the best of that which is available. Man has had an interest in space since time immemorial but the dream of space travel could only be satisfied when advances in rocket technology could make this dream possible (RussianSpaceWeb. com, â€Å"Pre-20th Century Developments†). Russia had established a rocket production plant as early as 1861 and Nikolai Ivanovich Kibalchich (1854 - 1881), a revolutionary who was to hang for his involvement in the assassination of Emperor Alexander II, had proposed the idea of slowly burning explosives as being useful for aeronautical applications. Thus, interest in space exploration had been present in Russia before the twentieth century but the practical realization of dreams could only be fulfilled because of advances in physics, chemistry and aeronautics, which were supported by economic development. Russia’s space exploration program was to receive a boost from efforts made in Germany to design long-range rockets during the Second World War (Harvey, â€Å"Russian Planetary Space Exploration† pp. 17 – 35). On May 4, 1945, Russian troops had occupied the German rocket research center at Peenemà ¼nde and this led to efforts directed towards improving on German rocket technology and incorporating the results in Russian technology (Chertok, pp. 1 – 15). Later, in 1950, a team led by Sergei Korolev was to study a multistage version of the R-3 rocket that was capable of launching a satellite into space and this was a departure from German efforts. However, Russian

How Alternative Medicine Has An Impact On Mainstream Medicine Essay

How Alternative Medicine Has An Impact On Mainstream Medicine - Essay Example The mainstream treatment processes in these diseases do not cure fully and produce numerous side effects, which no patient would like to live with. It will not be out of place to examine the things in above perspectives. â€Å"Alt Medicine† speaks about the numerous alternative medicines that have its origins in many ancient treatment systems such as Ayurved from India or Herbal Treatment System originated from the China. Over the years, several other treatment processes came into existence and went on influencing the masses depending upon the complexities about the illness. At times, the cost and personal belief system also plays a crucial role in moving the patient toward alternative medicine. (Alt Medicine) Mainstream medicines have side effects. To cure arthritis and gout, physicians prescribe the drugs, which are mostly NSAIDs that usually provide relief from pain. Although, they are highly effective yet they have severe side effects too. â€Å"NSAIDs Side Effects† distinctly mentions that NSAIDs instill stomach cramps, drowsiness, diarrhea, heartburn, edema (swelling of the feet), nausea and much of the discomfort. NSAIDs carry a risk of causing heart attacks, stroke, clotting, which could be fatal. The risk is proportionate to the dosages. (NSAIDs Side Effects) Thus, it is well established fact that mainstream medicines have numerous side effects. It will be most appropriate to examine some of the alternative medicines in above context In the â€Å"Alternative Treatment for Arthritis?† mangosteen is described as an alternative medicine to cure arthritis. Mangosteen is a tropical fruit naturally grown in East Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, and Sri Lanka. Its extraordinary ability to cure lies in a compound called xanthones, which is abundantly available in the rind of this fruit. Alternative medicines derived from the mangosteen are largely used by patients suffering from Arthritis. (Alternative Treatment for Arthrit is) â€Å"Properties of Xanthones† argues that xanthones are the most powerful antioxidants provided by nature in mangosteen. Being a natural product, it has no side effects even the patient continues to take it for a long period of time. Xanthones are known to have antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial effect and thus found to be curing numerous diseases. It is not surprising that people turn to such alternative form of medicines to cure their chronic ailments which are troubling them for a long time. Xanthones are known to destroy bacterias such as salmonella typhi (causing typhoid fever) and tuberculosis bacteria. (Properties of Xanthones) Benefit of xanthones or for that matter mangosteen concentrates is scientifically an established fact. Furthering the argument, another alternative medicine is worth exploring. â€Å"Pure Acai Berry Capsules† categorically describes about the similar medicinal properties of Acai Berry, a kind of fruit found in South and Central Ame rica. Acai Berry is being used in preparation of many alternative medicines to cure various illnesses. Acai Concentrate in form of powder and liquid is available as an alternative medicine to cure various diseases. (Pure Acai Berry Ca

Louis Pasteur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Louis Pasteur - Essay Example To understand the process better we may think of, the old fashioned idea of home canning process where we use heat united with combined given temperatures’ to kill the harmful germs. Most foods may be pasteurized examples includes milk, and most form of cooked foods such as the cooked vegetables. Louis Pasteur discovered the process, when summoned by alcohol manufacturing company to determine the cause of beetroot alcohol to sour. During that time, many scientists thought that the fermentation was a merely chemical process. He did research into fermentation, which led him to find out that it was yeast, one of the living organisms that crooked the beet to alcohol. Yeast was plump and round under the microscope, after being spoiled by the alcohol, it contained another different microbe that looked like a rode-shaped. He speculated that the different rod shaped known as the Mycoderma acetic, frequently used to create vinegar, caused the wine to be spoiled (Fandel, Wilson, Ramos & Barnett, 2007). His pasteurization discovery formed the germ of Pasteur or the germ theory of fermentation. He could apply the same notion to the genesis of diseases making to have the greatest contribution in medicine and science. This made Emperor Napoleon III of France enlisted him to save France industries of wine from the diseases. His main role was to establish exact temperature, and time that would take to destroy the harmful microorganisms found in the wine without transforming the taste of the wine. He untested the process and named it pasteurization (Fandel, Wilson, Ramos & Barnett, 2007). With time, the process was incorporated in making vinegar and beer. He came up with a practical technique for the curb of beer fermentation; he provided a rational methodology for the brewing industry. Besides these he devised a technique used in the manufacturing of beer, which

Time Value of a Dollar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Time Value of a Dollar - Essay Example Critics are already arguing that the dollar can no longer be the reserve currency especially after the collapse of the U.S mortgage market, which set off the most awful global recession recently. There are a couple of reasons people prefer the present value of a dollar. If they can invest the money to earn interest over a period of time that is greater than a future payment, they will invest it in the present. Inflation is also a key factor in time value evaluations since it reduces the spending power of a dollar. Inflation is the persistent increase of prices and a dollar today may buy less quantities of a similar commodity in the future. Taking this into consideration one would rather invest now in a project that would earn them continuous cash flows rather than save that money to use it at a future date. Another reason is the default risk, which is the threat of not receiving the promised dollar in future. To understand time value of money we define the terms Net Present value, Fu ture present value and present value. The net present value is the value of future streams of cash flows into the cash at hand in the present date. The future value is the value of the money an individual has now at a later day. ... Different scholars explain that there is need to create strong fundamentals of the U.S economy, build investor confidence and diversify out of the dollar in order to protect it from depreciating with time. The U.S economy has weak fundamentals such as huge national debt, high unemployment rates, and international military operations. In a highly publicized vote the senate recently raised the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion to avoid defaulting debt obligations which would be a catastrophe by itself. This could create a debt driven crisis that could strain standards of living by being detrimental to economic growth, dampen wages and restrict the government from investing or providing a safety net. It is necessary that the debt ceiling is not exceeded so as to prevent this debt driven crisis as it would accelerate the depreciation of the dollar. Military expenses are not productive and are a nonmonetary reason for inflation, an opinion that most economists share. There is the need to sho w creditors that the government is serious about stabilizing federal debt. Spending cuts are necessary to protect against the decreased value of money in future. Building investor confidence is a key to protecting the future value of money, and the government must ensure that it restores investor confidence for most believe that printing excess money for bailouts and stimuli will eventually weaken the dollar (Steverman). Asset prices should be watched carefully so that they remain in line with their underlying values and also do all it can to ensure economic growth. So far, the low dollar policy has helped as it has ensured that exports remain higher than imports. And if this keeps up there is hope that in the future the value of the dollar will be

System Development Life Cycles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

System Development Life Cycles - Essay Example The plan addresses the modification of the product towards betterment of needs of the customer along with the delivery of additional features and functional enhancements. The incremental process model like other evolutionary approaches is iterative in nature but unlike prototyping, the incremental model focuses on the delivery of an operational product with each increment. (Pressman) Early increments are stripped down versions of the final product. Advantages: Incremental model is useful in the case when staffing is unavailable for a complete implementation by the business deadline established for the project. Increments can be planned to manage technical risks. Limitation: The whole project depends upon the "core product", and if in any case it is halted or bugged the whole system comes down. RAD Model (Rapid Application Development) Rapid Application Development Model emphasizes a short development cycle with a "high-speed" adaptation of the model. (Pressman) RAD achieves rapid development by using a component based construction approach. RAD employs tools, techniques, and methodologies designed to speed application development. (Stair, 2001) RAD employs extensive use of JAD (Joint Application Development) process for data collection and requirement analysis. Like waterfall model, RAD adapts the same approach of the phases. RAD supports "parallel working" on different systems. Advantages: The main benefit of RAD upon other models is its capability to finish the task in an efficient manner followed by an efficient speed because of its "parallel working" system. Each major function can be assigned to a...(Pressman) Early increments are stripped down versions of the final product. As the prototype or demo system is further defined, feedback is elicited from users (Harbison, 1997) Thus, the domain models, reference requirements, and reference architecture are continually validated. The prototype or demonstration system development process provides further validation of these requirements and models, and identifies needed refinements. It can be problematic in the situation where the customer after viewing the prototype considers it to be the final version, satisfies and demands a few more changes without analyzing upon the back end development complications. Iterative model is the actual implementation of Waterfall model, due to which it is termed as "mini waterfall model". The reason behind is simple as it implements waterfall process in various phases or chunks. While comparing different SDLC models with the traditional model, one can easily judge the variations followed by enhancements from time to time. The waterfall model is the oldest one, similarly the prototype and RAD models are the extensions of waterfall model, and finally the user-end model, which is the latest, and is an augmentation of the RAD and prototype model. Many

Wisdom and Pain found in Silence from the 1981 film The Chosen Essay

Wisdom and Pain found in Silence from the 1981 film The Chosen - Essay Example The last section of the discussion will be drawn upon from the previous points in amplifying them into an evidential conclusion. It will then explain with reason the different sides of the argument of raising a child in silence. Reb Saunders believed that he should raise Danny how he was raised by his father. His father taught him about the suffering of the Jews, but later taught him only through silence. Through not speaking to him, he was forced to look inside himself and to find his own strength. The idea was that a person learns about the pain of others by suffering their own pain. His father also told him that a tzaddik (a Hasidic leader) must also know how to suffer for his people. When he raised Danny, he wanted to find a way that he could teach his son, who was so brilliant, about pain, so that he would want to take on the sufferings of another. He did this through withdrawing from him, teaching through silence, so that Danny would find answers for himself. However, raising a child in silence creates questions as to the psychological effects it has on the child. Although Danny and Reb Saunders do not talk, Danny does in fact respect his father. Strangely, Danny does not feel as though his father does not love him. Reb Saunders may in fact love Danny, but it is hard to love, or to feel loved by somebody, if there is no communication on a personal level. Being raised in silence was a literary device invented by the writer of the original book and is not a custom of the Hasidism culture. Reb Saunders believed that it's a curse to have a brilliant son. Danny is all mind and no soul, whereas Reb Saunders thinks that what he needed was a son with heart and compassion. It is possible that these beliefs are derived from the memories of his brother, who was similarly endowed with a powerful mind, but was indifferent to the suffering of others. He died during World War II, in a gas chamber in Auschwitz. The fact that Danny does have a brilliant mind just as his fathers brother did, signifies this point. Reb Saunders is simply trying to help Danny become compassionate before his time is up too. In his mind, he is only doing what he thinks is the right thing to do to make Danny ready for the responsibility of tzaddik. In general, raising a child in silence would lead to a compassionate heart for two reasons. It would allow them to expand their mind and make them think about life in a very dissimilar way to a child who isn't raised this way. It would also limit their life experiences in a way which would create borders and boundaries to the relationships they are involved in. However, this method would certainly not be suited to everyone. Each human being is made quite differently, and there would be various different results and consequences, depending on the child involved. Modern society would also see this method as being very unorthodox and threatening to the child's wellbeing and mental growth capabilities. If a child is raised in silence, the child will become more independent, at the cost of a healthy social life. Opening up to people, and talking about problems will be difficult. Also, a child learns much more about how to interact with others by interacting with his or her parents. If a child is not exposed to this because a parent acts only as a teacher, their social interactions

Education In Texas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Education In Texas - Essay Example However, due to the enforcement of accountability system has successfully created various educational changes in the state. As a result, a clear improvement has been observed in high-poverty schools with a gradual increase in students’ academic achievements. The paper critically analyzes different reforms and evolution of public education in Texas over the years in a detailed manner, which was implemented to meet the needs of state’s diverse population. These educational reforms revolve around the improvement of the State’s educational goals, to promote accountability in order to attain achievements by the students and to improve the efficiency of public schools. Background of Public School Education in Texas: Education in Texas holds an eminent position. People in Texas are highly concerned about the education of their children. The Texas Declaration of Independence (1836) has pointed out the many errors committed by the Mexican government in establishing a uniform educational policy within the state. For the first time in 1840, the very first Anglo-American public school law was enforced in Texas which was aimed to support public school in each county. Soon after the law was passed, another step was taken by the state government in 1845. In the state constitution of 1845, it has been mentioned that the state government would give away one-tenth of the annual state tax revenue in the support and development of the public schools. During the same year, another school law was enforced by the state government. ... Public education in Texas has remained in continuous evolution. It faced another change after the Civil war and Reconstruction, when the new constitution of the new state in 1876, granted 45 million acres of public land in the support of public schools and passed the instructions that the revenue generated from the new Permanent School Fund would be put in bonds. However, again in 1884, the law for public school was rewritten. Many amendments were made in the Permanent School Funds Program (Source: TEA). The Current Situation of Public School Education in Texas: Recently, different laws have been introduced in the state which gave liberty to all and every city and town to develop and administer their own schools. As a result, different independent schools in various districts have been established. During 1900, there were 526 districts in which the high schools were given the primary status in public school education. But recently, it has been estimated that there are around 1039 ind ependent schools in Texas State. In 1911, another law was passed for the betterment and development of the rural high school education. This law revolved around giving support to the teachers by the state in their salaries and expansion of rural schools in the districts (Gene Preuss). With the passage of time, a remarkable improvement in the education was observed. However in late 1939, the first-term Texan Governor W. Lee O’ Daniel highlighted many problems that were faced by the public schools especially in rural areas. He termed those problems as, â€Å"inequalities of opportunities in public school system (Gene Preuss).† According to his studies and research, rural schools were faced with

Auto Ownership Affected by Automated Vehicles Essay

Auto Ownership Affected by Automated Vehicles - Essay Example Automation will also help safer transit-3 vehicle operation, potentially resulting in high cost savings because to reduced self-insured losses. In addition, partial automation in bus vehicles may lead to highly reduced headways and thus increased people-moving capacities in environments where capacity is a constraining factor. Impacts and independent future speculations This part consists an analysis of the possible effects of the implementation of autonomous vehicles on the society. Modern transportation has a very significant role in the world. Transportation is a very fast growing sector, which is greatly associated with new technologies. In this time, the technology is evolving so fast that it is hard for people to get used to it. Making educated speculations concerning the future developments and determining their possible findings helps people understand and prepare for these variations. This is why it is significant to determine possible results of the implementation of autono mous vehicle technologies. This part will elaborate on the socio-economic effects of autonomous vehicles. Safety Safety matters have the most critical impact on daily life of all the transportation problems. Accidents from the traffic sector have colossal negative impacts on economy. For instance, in the European Union, there are over 40,000 accidents with about 1.3 million accidents annually. Every life lost through traffic accident results to a very high financial cost to the community as well as its appalling social impacts on people. Community’s intelligence, work-force together with social values is lost with the people dying in traffic accidents. Injuries too have huge financial effects, because treatment expenses are very high and the injured individuals are unable to work for a given of time. The most efficient solution to these accidents is the implementation of much better intelligent vehicle safety systems which will gradually evolve into fully autonomous vehicles. In the long run the implementation of autonomous vehicles seems to be a very profitable investment. An economical analysis carried out on a recent European project called â€Å"eCall† depicts how intelligent systems can save the economy. The eCall project aims at implementing a special emergency system on every car Impacts on traffic, economy and society Introduction of a fully autonomous vehicle in the transport system, traffic flow would immediately change. Traffic is presently a nuisance to drivers almost all over the world. The average person in the United States waited for 26 hours in traffic during the whole year in 2001. This is a very great amount of total time spent doing nothing but waiting by a myriad of individuals. During the early stages of implementation to the highway system there would be a combination of both autonomously driven vehicles and human controlled vehicles. This could result to confusion and problems pertaining the reaction of motorists to the dr iverless vehicles and how efficient the autonomous vehicles can integrate into flow of traffic. The autonomous vehicles would be following all directions of the traffic while human drivers have the choice to go against the law. As period goes on and the autonomous car becomes a more familiar vehicle on the road, traffic

Theater Arts Film Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Theater Arts Film Analysis - Assignment Example It is clear that he is in love and he is ready to change to win her heart. The artist (Greg) also notes that he is ready to change his life, as there is love in his life as well, the love for art. Attention to such details as Melvin’s reluctance or certain inability to walk on small blocks. At the end of the film, he sometimes pays no attention to the surface he is walking on. This is a sign of the starting changes and Melvin acknowledges them. 2. a. It is important to note that numerous elements of the film contribute to the theme. For instance, narrative of the film contributes to the theme greatly. The plot structure is linear, which helps to trace the change. This enables the filmmakers to show the evolution of characters and their decision to change as well as their first steps in this direction. Flashbacks would destroy the theme, as the changes could get lost in the mosaic of different periods. b. It is necessary to note that performance of the cast also contributes to the theme. Acting is very realistic. The main characters express very strong emotions such as despair, fear, anger, affection, zeal. They are very sincere and appealing. The main characters are dynamic as they change their lives and they are ready to become, at least, slightly different people. Importantly, Melvin and the artist undergo quite tremendous changes while Carol remains almost unchanged as a person. Her life is dramatically changed but her features of character are the same. It is possible to add that she seems to be a tool or rather a muse that changed the two man. c. As far as cinematography is concerned, it is possible to note that the film uses conventional tools. The lighting is natural though it often reflects the mood of the characters. For instance, Melvin first feeds the dog and he is stressed out, he is very gloomy just as his room is. This scene is interesting in terms of the camera angle employed. The high angle emphasizes the mood of the

Importance of Early Childhood Education Essay Example for Free

Importance of Early Childhood Education Essay With the economy currently in such a terrible position now it is’s no wonder why that people everywhere are being laid off, and companies around both the country and the world are jobs are laying off and choosing to keep staff to a minimum. Unfortunately, the positions that are kept are held by those who have the educational background that has essentially securedd their position from the beginning. There once was a time where an individual could apply for a job and their lack of educational experience was not held against them, but. N now, it seems as if there are extremely few reputable jobs are ooffered where only a high school diploma and some college is sufficient. But However, the economy is not who shouldto be blamed. The question instead that we should be asking that should be asked is, â€Å"where does it start? † Although it is understood that education is needed to surpass stay ahead throughout our lifeves, the importance of early education is frequently overlooked. Childhood education, as in Pre-Kindergarten thru fifth grade, is not about learning the simple or basic parts of education, but instead rather itsis about introducing young children’s minds to new and more complex things that will prepare them for a successful future. Some may choose to believe that pushing a child to learn a multitude of things at a young age would be considered cruel. Some may also believe that spending too much time learning would take away a child’s â€Å"childhood,† and that children should be allowed to stay children for as long as possible. , and should be allowed to play as much as possible. On theWhile the importance of imaginative play is alsovery important,contrary, if you were to analyzeing the circumstances it makes it would be clear as to why so many children have chosen a path of uncertainty in education. For example, take a five year old child who is being introduced to school for the first time. He or she would learn the basics; counting, coloring, reciting the ABC’s. Now take a child who has been introduced to a pre school program (normally around the age of four) as similar to that ofin First Step or Head Start. By the time that child will have entered into Kindergarten he/ or she will have already been introduced to a level of learning that is above any child that has not take advantage advantage of early learning programs. Thise will enable them to excel above their classmates. Children’s minds are truly like sponges; when a child is still young their mind’s this should be the time when their minds sshould be â€Å"crammed† with an abundance of knowledge. Sean Brotherson, a family science specialist, gives the example of a child’s brain being like a house that has just been built. He says, the walls are up and the doors are hung. You bring supplies to the new house and set them on the floor, but they will not work until everything is wired and hooked up. He goes on to explains, â€Å"wWhileexplain, â€Å"while learning later is possible, it usually is slower and more difficult. Some improvement in most skills is possible throughout life. However, providing children with the best opportunity for learning and growth during the periods when their minds are most ready to absorb new information is important†. From the time a child is born he/she is learning. A disinterest in learning at an early age is something that may follow him or her throughoutu their school age life, and is something that can haunt them for their entire lives and may hinder their ability to succeed in the real world. If a child shows no interest in adding and subtracting from the very beginning, it’s is often likely that child will continue thru school disliking Mmath throughout school. . and that This is something that can hold a child back from their potential. It also started at a young age. Children need to believe that learning is fun and, at the right age, is something that can help them progress farther. in life. In most Pre-Kindergarten classes in the United States, children are being taught to button their clothes, tie their shoes, or count to ten, and introduced to letters and shapes for the first time. These are all good tools to learn, just not in school. If you were to look at schools in other countries, they are far beyond what the U. S. is teaching our Preschoolers. Elaine Wu, with The Kapi’o Newspress, did an article on the failing education in the U. S. She found that according to a study done by UNICEF, the U. S. was failing when it came to international education rankings. Studies showed that other nations in the â€Å"developed† world had a more effective education systemsmore effective education systems. How wrong could it be to give our children a little more to think about, or giving them a problem that may take a little longer to solve?. Being that the children that attended my hHigh sSchool were approximately 75% mMilitary â€Å"brats,† it wasn’t not rare to have a new kid transfer in. There were kids from all places over the world but the ones that stood out were the ones from different countries. I took special interest in where they came from, but what interested me more was the fact that they were being placed into mostly advanceds classes. So with that curiosity I would start a conversation, usually beginning with â€Å"where are you from†? aAnd usually often times they were from another country or from somewhere where education was an important factor in their community. I am now 26 years old and am finally deciding to finish school. Things like what I just described makes me wonder about the course my life has taken. ifIf I had beenwere pushed into the books and encouraged to learn when I was younger would my outcome in school be different?. Here is another example. I look at my I have a fourteen year old nephew who is now in 9th grade. He is a straight A student and plays basketball (coincidently at my same high school). His grades are monitored by his parents but the transition wasn’t was not always easy. He came from New Orleans, Louisiana, where he lived with his mother. New , whichOrleans has one of the worst school systems in America so his early education was a struggle. When he moved to Hampton, trying to get him to open a book and study was next to impossible but. Wwith a lot of perseverance he now knows how important school is and where it can take you. But imagine if he had beenwas excited to learn from the beginning. If he had been given the opportunity, the transition may have been easier. I am now 26 years old and am finally deciding to finish school. Things like what I just described makes me wonder about the course my life has taken. If I had been pushed into the books and encouraged to learn when I was younger, would my outcome in school be different? I don’t expect society’s children to be building rocket ships at the age of eight. But putting more thought in to teaching children things that broaden their minds wouldn’t be such a bad thing. WWork Cited Brotherson, Sean. â€Å"Growth of the Mind†. Online posting. August 2001. www. nbsu. com Wu, Elaine. â€Å"Failing America†. Kapi’o Newspress. 25 April 2001 .

Ultradian Rhythms Essay Example for Free

Ultradian Rhythms Essay Ultradian rhythms are bodily rhythms that last less than 24 hours. The most obvious ultradian rhythm is the different stages of sleep, existing within the ciradian rhythm of the sleep-wake cycle. Sleep is dived into cycles, each lasting about 90 minutes. During these cycles, we will experience 5 different stages of sleep- the first four being characterized as non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), and the last stage being characterized as rapid eye movement sleep (REM). When human beings are awake, the electrical activity in their brain usually takes the form of fast, erratic brain waves. These waves are known as beta waves. During stage 1 of sleep, the brains electrical activity begins to change, with the brain waves becoming more slow and regular. This demonstrates that the persons mind is beginning to relax, and these waves are known as alpha waves. The presence of alpha waves in the brain can usually be used to indicate that the onset of sleep has occurred, and that the person is no longer awake. As well as a change in electrical activity, the persons core body temperature will also drop and their heart-beat slow down. As the sleeper goes into Stage 2 of sleep, their brain waves become even slower and a greater amplitude. These are called theta waves. This shows that the brain is becoming increasingly more relaxed. During this stage of sleep, it is common to experience sudden bursts of brain activity: known as K complexes and sleep spindles. Stages 1 and 2 of sleep are commonly referred to as being as being light sleep. This means that people in these stages of sleep can be easily awoken by external factors such as noise. Stages 3 and 4 of sleep are characterized by even slower brain waves, known as delta waves. Stages 3 and 4 are often referred to as being slow-wave sleep (SWS)- and sleep during this time is far more deep than in the previous two stages. However, the sleeper has not reached a state of unconsciousness, and can still be woken up by certain external factors (eg. Parents being woek nby the sound of their baby crying). These are the stages of sleep where most of the bodies physiological repair work occurs. It can also be associated with biochemical changes, such as the release of growth hormone taking place during this time. In these first four stages of NREM sleep, dreams have been shown to be unlikely to occur. During a study by Dement and Klietman, in which participants were woken up when their brain waves indicated certain stages of sleep, it was shown that only around 7% of participants had reported having dreams when their brain activity had indicated the stages of NREM sleep. Stage 5 of sleep, the final stage in the sleep cycle before it repeats, is known as REM sleep. This the stage of sleep where brain activity is most like that of the awake brain. It is also the stage of sleep where most dreams are likely to occur.

Analysis of Economies of Scale

Analysis of Economies of Scale GONZALO PARENTE QUESTION 1: ECONOMIES OF SCALE: Shipping is an immense industry requiring huge financial investments and continuous development. Therefore, it has become an ideal game field to find and implement economies of scale. Any minor achievement on this will mean an impressive extra benefit in terms of cost reduction and efficiency gains. However, when economies of scale are managed under wrong market perspectives it can generate catastrophic results affecting for example ports flexibility and their commercial feasibility (e.g. congestion at terminal, hinterland) (P. Rodrigue, 2014). It is important to highlight that different shipping segments require different strategies due to variations on operations and infrastructure. Therefore, it can be found different shipping niches where economies of scale can be applied: Bigger capacity leads to lower costs per unit: Benefits, in terms of costs per unit, increase with ships capacity. If a comparison, in terms of operating costs, is made between a TTT class and a New Panamax vessel, it can be seen that megaships would be 30% cheaper than medium size vessels ($100/TEU) (P. Rodrigue, 2014). Bigger ships carry less fuel consumption: It is known that fuel consumption counts around 45%-50% of operating costs. Modern ships have led to a reduction on fuel consumption turning the shipping industry into a more profitable business. Under normal conditions, megaships consume 164 tons of fuel per day, being 35% lower than a medium size vessel (P. Rodrigue, 2015). Low speed (Slow steaming) also reduces fuel consumption: During the crisis of 2008-9 a new sailing approach came up, Slow steaming, reducing the speed to 18-20 Knots aiming to lower the fuel consumption. It enabled the market to absorb the over-fleet capacity during periods of slack demand, without impact in port congestion thanks to keep the fleet port call frequency. While a Post Panamax consumes 230 tons per day sailing at 24 Knots/hour, at 21 Knots/hour it would burn 150 tons per day (33% less) (P. Rodrigue, 2015). New shipbuilding techniques mean vessels being built rapidly: It has let ship-owners increase their fleets in a much reduced time at very low prices, taking advantage of the market conditions at all times. It is economy of scale applied to ship design. For example the new ships price fall between 2008 and 2009 was due to the appearance of revolutionary techniques offering new ships at very low prices (Stopford, 2009). Vessel ´s specialization leads to market flexibility: Not only economies of scale but also economies of scope are encompassed by ship specialization. Case: In order to fight against the inefficiency generated by bulk carriers sailing in ballast, a new specialized vessel came up called Multi-purpose. In terms of economies of scale, a multi-purposes vessel was an innovated idea due to the wide range of goods that it can accommodate at the same time, adapting it to the market conditions at all the moments without concerning about the port features, season, trends etc (Stopford, 2009). New technology and handling equipment speed up port operations: Operating mega vessels under high levels of productivity/efficiency requires sophisticated handling equipment. TTT vessels can be operated by 7 cranes at once (251 TEU/hour); while NewPanamax vessels need 6 cranes to handle 140 TEU/hour (Stopford, 2009). As a conclusion, the application of economies of scale to the shipping industry has led to a positive impact on the global economy. QUESTION 2: COST ELEMENTS OF SHIPPING: When talking about shipping costs, two main types of costs must be always taken into account: voyage related costs and no-voyage related costs. However, a better way to understand how different costs work in the shipping industry is by classifying them into capital, operating and voyage costs (ICS 2012, 2103; Plymouth university -Mr Adkins, 2014). The capital costs are fixed costs directly related to the vessel ´s purchase. These costs are part of the owner ´s responsibility. Some of these costs are Pre-delivery costs: the cost of transporting the vessel from the shipyard (e.g. japan) to the delivery point (e.g. Rotterdam). Loan repayment: it involves all the money that the shipowner must pay back to the bank. Leasing charges refer to the cost that shipowners must pay to the lessor e.g. TC for capesize, 5 years = $10500 per day. Depreciation: it refers to the decline in value of the vessel or any other infrastructure. Depreciation depends on the cost of the asset, the expected salvage value of the asset, the estimated life of the asset. Vessels life aprox. 25 years. Operating costs can be divided into four groups: crew costs, repair and maintainace, insurance and administration. Crew costs include the seafarer`s wages (Not the same for Philippines, American or Greeks), the travel costs (Not the same from UK to Rotterdam than UK to Italy), crew training (Depends on flag state/ship registries), medical inspections, recruitment process, insurances for crew accidents. Repair and maintenance costs include the maintenance of engines and other equipment, replacement of vessel ´s parts. For old vessels, it counts even 14% of operating costs. Insurance costs: The two compulsory insurances that every vessel must have are the 2/3 hull and machinery and the 1/3 third party liability. Administration costs consists of communication costs agents in port, or shore based administration and management charges. The voyage costs are one of the most important costs that shipowners must take into account when planning voyages. It is usually known as voyage estimation. Fuel charges: include the fuel price, the engine power and efficiency, the design and state of hull and the ship ´s speed. Port charges include the port dues which is the general use of port facilities (depends on volume of cargo, weight of cargo, gross tonnage and net tonnage). Service charges which include the pilotage, towage and cargo handling. Canal charges refer to the price vessels have to pay to ship across these short cuts. Please see below a good example of voyage estimation: (Private data from Shipbroking firm) Vessel: 8.000 TEU Route: Shanghai-Rotterdam (12.000 miles and 100% load factor). Bunker price = $650 Ship cost = $100m Containers = $20m Operating costs = $8.500 Value of cargo = $60.000 per TEU Annual interest rate = 3% Emission cost = $30 per tonne of fuel consumed Freight rate = $800 per TEU A ship is considered profitable when after taking into account capital, operating and voyage costs, still generate profits for the shipowner. This profit directly depends in the market level and freight rates. It is not the same to fix a vessel for WS50 than for WS80.Sometimes, it happens that freight rates vary for the same vessel size. One of the main factors is the geography. Depending on the demand for vessels in those specific markets, some shipowners will be willing to accept higher or lower freight rates. . For example: A vessel operating in Cross-MED for WS50 and a vessel operating UKC-ARA for WS80. In order to make your vessel more profitable, some strategies can be applied to seek economies of scale. Nowadays, one of the most popular seems to be slow steaming. QUESTION 3. WORLD MERCHANT FLEET, STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION: As seen, shipping is a global industry formed by a sum of different sub-markets. This question is focused on the bulk market and the main differences between three of the biggest segments: tanker, dry bulk and containers. When looking at different shipping segments, it is important to analyze not only the routes of each segment but also the type and vessel size used in each of the markets. For liquid bulk cargoes, the type of vessel used is known as tanker vessels. Tankers are divided in two main groups: crude oil tankers and product tankers (ICS, 2015). Crude oil tankers range from 80.000-120.000 dwt (Aframax), 120.000-200.000 (Suezmax), to 200.000-500.000 dwt (VLCCs-ULCCs). The main routes are AG-USG, AG-China, AG-Japan and AG-ARA-UKC (ICS, 2014). Product tankers range from 10.00-42.000 dwt (Handy), 42.000-60.000 dwt (MR), 60.000-120.000 dwt (LR1-LR2). The main routes are USA-UKC for Diesel, NE to USG-N. America for gasoline and AG-China/Japan/ARA for Naphtha. For the product industry it is important to take into account the refineries location (ICS, 2015). The main features of crude oil and chemical products are that must be stored into tanks, handled by pumping and in some cases can be corrosive and toxic. For dry bulk cargoes, the type of vessel used is known as dry bulk ships. Some of the main features of this cargoes are that are shipped in large quantities and handled with automated equipment like belts and conveyors. The size of the vessel usually varies with the commodity transported. These are the most important commodities in the dry bulk industry (ICS, 2013; E. Branch, 2012). Iron ore: Main routes: Brazil to China-W. Europe (Panamax)- Australia to Japan/China (Panamax). Raw material of steelmaking. Major importers, it changes with countries development. China, Japan and USA are considered the three bigger consumers. Major exporters, Australian, Brazil, India or South Africa. Key players: Vale, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, ArcelorMittal, Metalloinvest, Anglo American. Ports/Terminals: Itaqui, Tubarao, Sepetiba, Ponta do Uba, Dampier, Port Walcott. Coal: Main routes: Australia to Japan/W.EU S.Africa to EU (Handymax), Columbia to W.EU (Panamax). Raw material of steelmaking as well as fuel for generating power. There are two main types: Cocking coal and steam coal. Coking coal: Australia is the worlds largest exporter. Steam coal: Australia Indonesia larger exporters. Major coal importers are Europe and Japan (43% of the world ´s coal imports). Grain: Main routes: US to S.America/Japan/Asian countries (Panamax), Argentina to Brazil (Handysize). Wheat, maize, rice, barley, soya etc. They all seasonal and irregular in volume and route. Major importer: Japan, China, Russia, EU, N. Africa, Brazil, Middle East countries. Main exporters: Canada, N.S. America, Australia. The last group are the containerships. Containerships have been positively affected by technologic improvements such as containerization or automization. Vessels range from: -1000 TEU (Small feeder), 1.000-2.000 TEU (Feeder), 2.000-3.000 (Feedermax), 3.000-5.000 Panamax, 5.000-10.000 TEU (Post Panamax), 10.000-15.000 TEU (New Panamax), +14.000 (ULCV) (ICS, 2015). The main routes for containerships are from F.EAST to EU and US (Panamax, Post Panamax), USA to China (Panamax and Post Panamax) and from USA to EU (Post Panamax and smaller) (ICS, 2015). It is interesting to highlight that companies are struggling on the return voyage from West to East. It makes operators to find different ways to optimize the empty containers in order to avoid the loss of marginal profit. QUESTION 4. SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND ITS IMPACT ON FREIGHT RATES: (Based on my dissertation) The shipping industry is a global-scale industry ruled by a combination of factors in charge of determining market trends, market levels and cycles. The supply and demand for vessels will establish the shipping market balance. The mechanism used to link the supply and demand in this industry is known as freight rates. Freight rates reflects the balance of ships and cargoes available in the market at a certain time (Stopford, 2009). Too many ships usually mean low freight rates, and too few ships usually mean high freight rates. Once freight rates are established, charterers and shipowners adjust to them, bringing the supply and demand into balance (Stopford, 2009). The Baltic Exchange is the organization in charge of providing, in co-operation with top shipping companies, daily reports for different markets and vessels sizes (BDTI TD1, TD6à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). In terms of the shipping market model, 5 supply and 5 demand factors strongly influence the freight rates. On the demand side, one of the most important variables is the world economy and, especially, the global business cycles and local development trends (emerging economies-Nigeria). World economy plays an important role when determining the price of commodities and also when setting the freight rates that buyers and sellers are able to pay to transport them. Another two key factors to achieve economies of scale are the average haul distance and the amount of cargo shipped per voyage. Random economic shocks (2008 crisis) have also a great weight in shipping demand. As these shocks affect demand and people economic power, freight prices are reduced as the demand for these commodities is considerably reduced. And, last but not least, transport costs encompassing capital, voyage and operational costs (ICS, 2015; Stopford, 2009; Lectures given by Jonathan Challecombe: International Shipping and Maritime Management and Markets). On the supply side, the new buildings and scrapping activities are essential to adjust the market balance. New buildings increase the fleet supply, lowering freight rates. Scrapping reduces the fleet supply, increasing freight rates. Fleet productivity is another factor which is focused in vessel ´s efficiency. In a fast pace market, speed and waiting times are crucial for business profitability. The last variable is the freight revenue. For example in markets with strong trends, shipowners may extend their vessel ´s life or purchase second-hand vessels to take advantage of the market; while in markets ruled by weak trends, old ships are scrapped 10 or 15 years before their commercial life ends (ICS, 2015; Stopford, 2009; Lectures given by Jonathan Challecombe: International Shipping and Maritime Management and Markets). For example it is good to understand what is going with the current dry bulk and container markets. The very low freight rates experienced during the last few months are caused by the extreme difference in terms of fleet growth (+) and the fleet demand (-). This situation has led to overcapacity. As a conclusion and in order to become again a balanced industry, shipping companies should follow a new tool developed by BIMCO known as Zero supply growth. It mainly require shipowners to neutralize the delivery of new vessels every year by scrapping an equal amount of capacity from the existing fleet (BIMCO, 2016). Mergers and acquisitions are also great strategies although will lead to a more monopolized market. QUESTION 6. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SEABORNE TRADE: As a derived demand, maritime shipping is shaped by worldwide macroeconomic conditions. Although shipping market is very complex we can say that there are five major factors which rule the demand for shipping: transport costs, seaborne commodity trades, average haul, random shocks and world economy, which is the most important one (Stopford, 2009). World economy impacts on the demand for shipping mainly through the business cycle and the trade development cycle. Business cycle lays the foundation for shipping cycle, so that fluctuations in the rate of world economic growth cause a cyclical pattern of demand for shipping. There is a close relationship between the growth rate of shipping and the world GDP, what becomes clear if you see how both parameters have closely changed over the recent history. It is not surprising given that world economy generates the most of demand for shipping by importing raw materials for manufacturing or exporting manufactured products. Another side of the relationship between macroeconomics and shipping is the seaborne commodity trades, which can be divided into short-term and long term. Seasonality of some trades is an important cause of short-term volatility. For instance, many agricultural commodities are linked to seasonal reasons, caused by harvest. But in the oil business there also is a cycle that reflects the seasonal fluctuation in energy consumption in western countries. Seasonality has a great impact on spot market (Dry and wet bulk) (ICS, 2015). The flows of raw materials (mainly ores and crude oil) follow a shipping pattern from developing countries towards developed countries. Transports terminals in developing countries are specialized in loading raw materials while developed countries unload are focused on unloading. On the other hand, the flows of manufactured goods mainly concerned developed countries, but it is changing due to the effects of globalized manufacturing processes. We have a new geography of global trade, which can be depicted quite accurately by maritime shipping routes. Developing countries are no longer just the suppliers of high volume-low value raw materials, but instead now also import large volumes of oil, iron ore, and participate in global value chains and the globalized production of manufactured goods (Stopford, 2009). As a result, developing countries are emerging as major world exporters and importers. They have also become main players in globalized manufacturing processes. As an instance we can mention that the growing energy needs of developing countries and the expansion of South-South trade are contributing to recharging tanker shipping and trade maps, supported by the US strategy to get its energy independence. QUESTION 7. ESTIMATING AND FORECASTING It is said that information is the most important variable that make shipping companies win or lose. Currently, technology has enhanced companies to get information from the market, global economy and many other factors in order to make an accurate market estimation and take advantage of it (Stopford, 2009). However, it is said that not all information is reliable, creating uncertainty among shipping players. It is why not only shipowners but also charterers, traders, operators and even brokers must have a clear network to get daily outlooks of what is going on in the market at every stage. Some of the most common information sources are: Shipping institutions: BIMCO, IMO, ICS, BALTIC EXCHANGEà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Broking companies: PLATEAU DAILY REPORTSà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Newspapers, magazinesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ QUESTION 9. RISK MANAGEMENT: A popular strategy used in the shipping industry to reduce the effects of volatile markets is known as bunker hedging. It consists in a fuel price analysis and it is used with the purpose of reducing the company ´s exposure to volatile bunker costs and eliminating the risk of companies ´ bunker budgets getting out of control (Mercatus, 2016). Swap is one of the most popular uses when bunker hedging (Mercatus, 2016). It allows the buyer to hedge his bunker exposure by fixing the price he pays for fuel at a predefined level, over a predefined period of time. Two different scenarios can be found: Scenario 1: It is when fuel prices move from below the swap execution price. As a financial compensation, the shipping company has to pay back the difference between the market price and the swap price to his trading counterparty in order to offset low prices in the market (C, Cheetham, 2013). Scenario 2: It is when fuel prices move above the swap execution price. As a financial compensation, the shipping line has to receive the difference between the market price and the swap price from his trading counterparty in order to offset high prices in the market (C, Cheetham, 2013). A great forecasting job must be done before entering into a bunker hedging agreement. Shipping companies need to be sure in terms of future bunker prices trends. Related factors such as new oil fields, global trade and international regulations must be always taken into account. When properly managed, bunker hedging can lead companies to generate bigger profits as the exposure to fuel prices fluctuations is removed. A freight derivate contract is defined as a financial contract between two different parties, where future prices for transporting goods by sea are agreed. Freight derivate contracts are usually divided into two main groups: Forward Freight Agreement (FFA) and Freight Swap Agreement (FSA) (Baltic Exchange, 2016). These derivate contracts are used by charterers and shipowners in order to hedge against fluctuations in freight rates. The main difference between the FFAs and FSAs is the assumption of risk. With FSA risk for both parties, with FFA risk assumed by the counterparty. FFAs cover the route, settlement date, contract size and contract rate. Lastly, the main difference between hedging and speculation is that speculation involves an activity to make profit and hedging only attempts to reduce economic business risk. QUESTION 10. OTHER SEGMENTS AND SPECIALIZED CARGOES: LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas and it is considered the third major energy source carried by sea, after oil and coal. It is one of the most environmentally friendly energy source which is mainly used for power generation and for the domestic use. LNG is considered a hazardous cargo which requires coated tanks and isolated facilities at port in order to safely handle its extremely low temperature (ICS, 2015; Stopford, 2009; Energy Annual Reports, 2016). LNG is usually transported by Very Large Gas Carriers for very long voyages. LNG can be also transported via pipelines, although for that liquefaction is needed. The transport of LNG includes four different activities: Transportation of LNG from gas fields to plants, via pipeline. Methane gas is separated from other substances and stored for sea transportation. LNG loaded into ships. Receive and store LNG at delivery terminals. The LNG costs are divided in the following proportions: 15% production, 40% liquefaction, 25% sea transport, 20% regasification. It is important to highlight that LNG trade is conducted with long-term contracts (Bareboat or Time Charters) with fixed prices. Main exporters: Iran, Qatar and Russia in less scale: Africa, Asia, North and South America and the EU. Main importers: USA, EU, Japan, S. Korea and China. QUESTION 11. PORT DEVELOPMENT: In order to better understand how ports and terminals develop, it is fundamental to focus in a specific port. In my case, the Port of Rotterdam has been chosen as it was one of my research topics at university. As shipowning companies, ports and terminals are in continuous development process where technology and efficiency improvement are always sought. Time reduction when loading and unloading, port accessibility, hinterland connections and the ability of create economies of scale in terms of cargo handling and cargo storage are some of the main reasons why ports have evolve from individual specialized terminals to huge multipurpose shipping hubs where not only shipping but also logistics activities are carried out(Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2004). It has led to improve the supply chain and the instalment of strategies such as JIT (Just in time). Spatial relationships between terminals are key points in port competition. In order to explore how terminals should interact with each other, two main concepts are highlighted: centrality intermediacy (Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2005). Centrality places terminals as a point of origin and destination traffic. It involves intermodal activities and gene rates economic activities in its vicinity. Intermediacy sees terminals as an intermediate point in the flow of freight. It could also be a good point to exploit transshipment (Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2005). The main reasons why some ports stop developing when they reach a certain stage are: lack of green fields to build new terminals (Eg, Southampton Port or the ICTT Terminal, Vallarpadam-India) and the strong competition from terminal global terminal operators such as Dubai Ports World and APM (Venugopal, 2014). For example, the Port of Rotterdam has been working for a long time in two main expansion projects. Firstly, Maasvlakte I which was completed few years ago, and Maasvlakte II which is still on-process. In terms of space, the Port of Rotterdam will gain a total of 20%-22% extra space to allocate the forecasted rising number of containers and enhance a more viable multimodal system. Economies of scale are achieved by the great number of containers that it is able to handle. Thanks to its dimensions, total costs are divided over more than 11.5 million TEU they handle every year. The provision of customer focused services as well as 24/7 cargo handling and storing activities enhance the port to provide a reduction on vessel ´s turnaround times what leads to better productivity. Last but not least, the proximity of the dry bulk and tanker terminals to key production and storing points give the port an important comparative advantage. It minimizes costs and increases safety and effi ciency in terms of time. The great connections with the hinterland and foreland makes this port a global shipping choke point (Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2004). In order to remain globally competitive, attract foreign trade and increase the total volume of exports and imports, countries have to encourage private operators to invest in national ports infrastructure including port configuration, handling equipment and port connectivity. QUESTION 12: THE CONTAINER SHIPPING MARKET: Over the years, container shipping lines have placed increasing amounts of hope in the notion that the trading growth being experienced in emerging markets would improve the demand of containerships. However, as a large number of Super-Post Panamax containerships (ULCV) of size between 13,000 19,000 TEUs being introduced to the market, increasing the current total capacity of world containership in service to 18.2 million TEUs; the overcapacity issue looks set to continue in 2015, although less severe than year 2009. Currently, the largest containership recorded in the industry are the sister vessel MSC Oscar and MSC Oliver with the size of 19,224 TEU (Lloyds List, 2016). The market is expecting to see more of such vessels magnitude being built and deliver in the near future. In terms of global trends ruling the container`s supply and demand, some facts can be highlighted: 1. Container ´s overcapacity: Timing is one of the main factors when referring to the shipping supply and demand. As great expectations were placed into the current market, many shipowners purchased bigger and more sophisticated vessels, which nowadays can ´t be employed. 2. Emerging economies power demand for shipments: Containerships owners can still find a glimpse of light for this market in emerging economies. For example, Nigeria will see its population grow by 275 million by 2050. It gives an idea of the shipping potential of this emerging economies/countries. 3.Cargo adaptation to the container shipping method: containerization. Cargo can be directly shipped from the mill to the consignee, or even to the customer, making the shipping industry more efficient and safer. 4.Sustainability and environmentally friend: New trends have come up concerning about environment issues. It has radically affected the cost for carriers and consequently the vessel ´s supply and demand (CSR). 5.Customer focus and new technology: Development in technology mainly seeks compliance with new regulations and cost-efficiencies. The current lack of transparency along the supply chain can affect either supply as demand due to wrong market forecast or unforeseen constraints. The East-West trade is mainly driven by the import demand of products from China and India to Europe. However, companies are struggling on the return voyage from West to East. It makes operators to find different ways to optimize the empty containers in order to avoid the loss of marginal profit. In order to remain competitive, operators will have to follow some tendencies which will shape the container industry (ICS, 2015) Cost reduction and vessel optimization can be achieved through forming shipping alliances between containership operators. The alliance agreements generally cover areas such as the type and size of vessel to be employed on each route; itineraries; port rotations, chartering of ships; feeder services and the coordination of inland services. 2M, O3, G6 alliance and the CKYHE. Slow steaming can be also applied (Lloyds List, 2016) Another way is the slot chartering: By leasing out part of the vessel ´s slot during the return voyage from Europe to Far-East, operators can obtain optimum efficiency of fleet operation and to maximize slot utilization (Lloyds List, 2016). And last but not least, cost-savings measure adopted by operators is through the use of longer routes in the East-West trade. For instance, instead of using the Suez Canal, ship operators may choose to travel by a longer sea route through the Cape of Good Hope enabling operators to accommodate additional ships with a similar frequency of port calls and reducing the overcapacity issue. 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