Friday, December 27, 2019

Consumer Culture And Contemporary Childhood Agency

Sociologists have looked at consumption theories primarily through adult relationships of production and consumption. By introducing children as consumers, it is opens up a wide range of areas to study their influence on consumer culture. It is evident through the child’s relationship with their parents, money, identity, and social relations that children have a crucial role in consumption patterns. New marketing and advertising techniques have been introduced accordingly, further emerging the child consumer and their influence on the economy. The child’s relationship with technological devices opens them up to a world of advertisements and marketing ploys made just for them. The idea of consumer culture and contemporary childhood agency have been interwoven and then becomes questioned whether it is benefitical to children or not. This develops concern in many parents as they feel as though they should be protecting their children from these influences. This paper will address the issue of children as ‘passive’ or ‘active’ consumers and whether their participation in consumerism is useful to them. The development of the child consumer begins with the expecting mother as advertisers, marketers, designers and retailers look to capture the attention of mothers to set their children up as consumers before they are even born. Expecting mothers are bombarded with advertising and marketing schemes to start the child’s consumption patterns. An example of this being the gifts givenShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Media Literacy1737 Words   |  7 PagesIndeed, the pervasiveness of media in its abundant forms in contemporary US culture is undeniable. Almost everywhere one looks, one can find forms of media; a magazine at a doctor’s office, a billboard alongside a freeway, a painting at an art gallery, a performance on television or on stage. Media, undeniably, is ubiquitous. However, in all the innumerous forms m edia comes to us in, every one of these forms is created for a single purpose; to communicate an idea or message. Thus, it the individual’sRead MoreSocial Media s Impact On Society1515 Words   |  7 Pagesbutton. Our social realm in which our children live in today has evolved into something far different than what our parents or even grandparents faced during their childhood. Over the past years, social media truly has become something much more than just the typical esoteric jumble of technologies, but instead has driven contemporary culture offering sites and services to accommodate everyone and everything your heart desires. With advancements in technology becoming the forefront of our informationRead MoreGender and Advertising7641 Words   |  31 Pagesexample, the propor-tion of young women in the labor force has now reached American levels. 89 90 CONTROVERSIES IN CONTEMPORARY ADVERTISING In addition to their changing roles in the labor force and in the family, women have also increased their power as consumers. Today, women wield incredible buying power: They purchase or influence the purchase of 85% of all consumer goods, including 91% of all new homes and 65% of all cars (â€Å"Marketing to Women Quick Facts,† 2011). In the United StatesRead MoreRepresentation of Different Masculinities2539 Words   |  11 PagesRepresentation of Different Masculinities It is contended that elements of Rutherford’s statements are invalid when applied to contemporary media representations of masculinity. Rutherford’s argument is threefold. Firstly, he contends that his contemporary media portrayed two polarised images of men; they were either sensitive â€Å"new† men or they were more stereotypical, patriarchal â€Å"retributive† men, arguing that there is no grey area in between or overlaps apparentRead MoreContemporary Diet and Nutrition Essay example4351 Words   |  18 PagesRunning Header: -Final Project HW220-Final Project HW220: Contemporary Diet and Nutrition KAPLAN UNIVERSITY Prof Shantelle Weichers: Contemporary Diet and Nutrition HW220 5/22/2012 Introduction Unit 1 Dietary Trends and Nutrition Information to Remember Defining Diet and Nutrition Eating Patterns and Habits of Americans Nationwide Food Consumption Nutritional Principals and Standards Basic Food Groups Guidelines for Healthy Eating Relationship between NutritionRead MoreResearch Proposal: Depression in Children Adolescence - A Cause for Concern?3274 Words   |  14 Pagesaddressing the issues surrounding depression now in order to teach the next generation on how to be resilient against these matters if possible. I propose to investigate this matter further by looking at the social factors surrounding depression in contemporary Britain. I propose to seek out how this has happened by looking at the ontological aspect of this phenomena, I aim to prove that depression in children and adolescents is a major cause for concern in society. The epistemology of this social concernRead MoreSocial Studies Csec Study Guide10262 Words   |  42 PagesLena Buckle-Scott Vilietha Davis-Morrison †¢ Ancillia Louis A Caribbean Examinations Council ® Study Guide Contents Introduction 1 Section A Individual, family and society 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 Unit 1 Social groups and institutions Caribbean culture Social groups Institutions Cohesion in groups and institutions Leadership, cohesion and interaction in groups and institutions 2.6 Functions of institutions Unit 2 Practice exam questions S A Unit 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 6 8 Section B SustainableRead MoreThe Game Design Innovation : Game Innovation2162 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"deeply engage players in aesthetic experiences created by means of gameplay design†. He suggests that there is a map between game mechanics, input procedures and player experience, which can then by used by game designers to innovate their â€Å"approach to agency through the design of the game system†. Game mechanics are an integral part of a game as it is seen as the â€Å"guts of a design document† since they describe the game’s world to players while teaching them how to maneuver through it leading to a compellingRead MoreCauses of Loitering Problems10544 Words   |  43 PagesCentral and Eastern Europe has within just fi fteen years lived through a process of retail development that usually takes perhaps fi fty years. This has considerably affected the spatial structure of the new retail environment and it has also affected consumer behaviour (shopping as a * This article is based on research undertaken within research project no. MSM 0021620831 ‘Geographical Systems and Risk Processes in the Context of Global Changes and European Integration’, sponsored by the Czech MinistryRead MoreThe Automobile: A False Sense of Freedom Essay2348 Words   |  10 PagesAmerica, (2006). From the begging the automobile promised freedom that we had never experienced before, it has greatly altered our landscape and our culture. Amy Best describes the Latino youth culture in San Jose, â€Å"For them, the car is a central means by which they participate in cultural and economic life, navigating their ways around today’s consumer culture†, (2006). It’s easy to see how this can happen to the youth of San Jose, when it’s something that affects every American. The automobile promises

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Christianity and Life Essay - 1639 Words

Personal Commitments Assessment Name: Adrianne scott Course: CWV-101 Date: 05/03/2015 Instructor: Valerie de la torre Be sure you answer both Part 1 and Part 2 of this assignment before submitting. Part 1 After reading chapter 2 in the textbook and the lecture for this topic, write a 2-3 sentence answer to each of the six questions that form the basic components or personal commitments for your worldview. Answer the questions about your own beliefs, in your own words, not what you think the Christian worldview believes. Keep this worksheet intact and only add your answers under each question. 1. What is ultimate reality? Ultimate reality to me seems like life gives you choices at the end we have to make the decision to what makes us more†¦show more content†¦Knowledge is something that we know that you have facts to back up to form your argument and is justified. Knowledge isn’t something that can be created overnight but something that we form over the course of life. I feel that being raised by my grandmother I gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom because she has years and experience over me and wouldn’t tell me anything to hurt me but to help me in life. We all learn from mistakes but with mistakes gain wisdom then knowledge. We don’t gain knowledge overnight but with growth we become more aware of our worldview. 5. What is your basis of ethics? My basics of ethics was taught by my grandma she instilled a lot of her values and morals in my life giving me the teachings that made her a bright woman. She made sure to start on me early by getting me involved in church and helping me understand my religion and god and what he expects from his people. I was told to become a leader and not a follower use gods power that he using in my life to restore and help those who may be broken in life. I always ask god if I’m unsure I understand in this world of many temptations we may fall but our god isn’t a judging god and will be there with open ears and arms to help you get it right if you want change. I am not perfect but I pay attention I know right from wrong and know I am help accountable for my actions and faults. And have god move in myShow MoreRelatedChristianity, Religion Based On The Life And Teachings Of Christianity1536 Words   |  7 PagesA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christian derives from the Koine Greek word Christà ³s, a translation of the Biblical Hebrew term mashiach. There are diverse interpretations of Christianity which sometimes conflict. However, Whatever else they might disagree about, Christians are at least united in believing that Jesus has a unique significance. It is also used as a label to identify peopleRead MoreWomen s Life Of Christianity1310 Words   |  6 PagesThe women in the history involved in the church played a variety of roles in their life of Christianity. During early Christianity, they were mostly health care givers, teachers, and missionaries. Until recent times, women were mostly excluded from higher church positions such as episcopal and clerical jobs within the churches. However a good number of women have been influential in the life of the church - from contemporaries of Jesus, to subsequent saints, theologians, doctors of the church, missionariesRead MoreThe Impact of Christianity in My Life617 Words   |  2 PagesJesus Christ is the founder of christianity. Christianity was formed in 33 AD and has about 2,100, 000,000 followers. Christianity is founded on the teachings, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Christians sacred scripture is the Bible. Moses is the founder of Judaism. Judaism was founded in 2000 B.C and has about 14,000,000 followers. The sacred scriptures for judaism are the Torah, Tanakh, and the Talmud. Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary and was sent by god to free his people fromRead MoreChristianity and Life After Death Essay647 Words   |  3 PagesChristianity and Life After Death Life after death is an essential part of the Christian religion. Jesus, the son of god, died on the cross and three days later he rose again from the dead, the resurrection. Hundreds of people saw him. This has given Christians the hope that when they die, they will live on in another place. Christians believe in heaven and hell. If a person lives a good moral life they can expect to get to heaven, when they die. If they live an immoralRead MoreLife After Death and Christianity Essay471 Words   |  2 PagesLife After Death and Christianity Existence of life after death is an important part of Christian belief. Most Christians believe that everybody has a soul and a body. The soul is immortal, which means it will not die and after life on earth, it will either go to heaven or hell. Some believe heaven is a place where you are re-united with friends and family and live with them and God and hell a place where you are made to suffer and inflicted with pain. Other ChristiansRead More Comparing the Philosophy of Life in Christianity and Chinese Buddhism820 Words   |  4 PagesComparing the Philosophy of Life in Christianity and Chinese Buddhism Chinese Philosophy not only is the fruit of thinking of the Chinese nation, but also is the important component part of world culture. In Chinese philosophy, there are three main parts: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Among them, Chinese Buddhism, which came from India, experienced a course of sinicization under the influence of Chinese traditional culture represented mainly by Confucianism and Taoism , so it keeps theRead MoreChristianity Is Not An Ideal, It s A Life Style Choice1715 Words   |  7 PagesChristianity is not an ideal, it’s a life style choice. You are not born into a religion, you are not a Christian, Jewish, Buddhist or any specific religion from birth, you are raised as to be that religion. C.S. Lewis is an example of someone who was brought up in a Protestant household, lost faith through his teen years and found Christianity in college. We develop our religion throughout our years, growing more knowledgeable from our experiences and realizing that each of God’s teachings can relateRead MoreChristianity : The World Of The Bible, And Life Lessons994 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction As a Christian we learn a lot about God, Jesus, people in the Bible, and life lessons. Sometimes, though, we forget about the basics of being a Christian or even a human being. In Romans, Paul helps us better understand the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture. Through a better understanding of these subjects, we gain a closer relationship with Jesus and the people around us. Romans gives us a base for our faith and a reason to appreciate God and Jesus. NaturalRead MoreThe Role and Significance of the Monastic Life in Medieval Christianity1654 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role and Significance of the Monastic Life in Medieval Christianity What is monasticism? The central and original role of the monastic life can be drawn from the meanings of the words monk and hermit. the word monk comes from the Greek word monaches which means solitary and hermit from heremites a desert dweller. The early monks and nuns were just that: men and women who fled the worldliness of urban life and the ethos of a church that was at the timeRead MoreThe Teachings of Christianity on the Sanctity of Life in Realtion to Abortion1021 Words   |  5 PagesThe Teachings of Christianity on the Sanctity of Life in Realtion to Abortion Abortion is one of the most controversial topics faced by the world today. The number of abortions has doubled from 1971 to 1991, 100,000 abortions to 200,000 abortions. 500 abortions a day, 1 abortion in 3 women. This is still rising. In this piece of writing I will try to explain the different views on abortion based on the teachings of Christianity about the Sanctity of Life. First of

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Learning Styles Essay Example For Students

Learning Styles Essay Learning Styles Essay Throughout our lives, we are faced with many different learning experiences. Some of these experiences have made a better impact than others. We can attribute this to our learning style. A persons learning style is the method through which they gain information about their environment. Research is going on all over the world to help explain learning styles. As teachers, it is our responsibility to learn about these different learning styles so that we can appeal to every type of learner in our classrooms. Howard Gardner has elaborated on the concept of learning style through what he calls multiple intelligences (Gardner 3). Understanding these intelligences will help us to design our classrooms and curriculum in a way that will appeal to all of our students. We may even be able to curb negative behavior by reaching students in a different way. If we implement activities that call upon the use of all these intelligences (Gardner 2) we will get the best out of all of our students (Santrock 311). Their grades will improve and they will retain more information for a longer period of time. Learning styles can also help us to determine possible career paths so that we can help to steer children in the right direction. Discovering our own learning styles can potentially maximize our own information processing and teaching techniques. Howard Gardner is a professor at Harvard who has studied the idea of intelligence in a way that links research and personal experience (Traub 1). He began speaking about multiple intelligences in 1983. Since then, he has won a MacArthur genius grant, he has written books which have been translated into twenty languages, and he gives about seventy-five speeches a year (Truab 1). His ideas have been backed and popularized by many groups seeking to reform the current educational system. The idea is that we know a child who scores well on tests is smart, but that doesnt mean a child who does not score well is not getting the information or is incapable of getting it (Traub1). Gardners goal is to turn what we normally think of as intelligence into a mere aspect of a much wider range of aptitudes (Traub 1). Most of us believe that doing well in school requires a certain amount of intelligence. School work usually focuses on only two avenues of intelligence. Traditional teaching focuses on verbal and mathematical skills. A person who is weak in both of these will probably do poorly in school. Gardner suggests that their is eight different aptitudes or intelligences (Gardner 3). Each individual has the eight intelligences in various amounts. Our strengths and weaknesses in the intelligences influence how we learn (Gardner 5). They may even affect how successful we are in life. Verbal- linguistic is the first of Gardners proposed intelligences (Gardner). A linguistic learner thinks in words. This person uses language to express and understand meaning (Gardner 24) Linguistic learners are sensitive to the meaning of words, their order, and their inflection (Gardner 24) This type of person uses writing to express themselves, often through poetry, stories, and letters. Verbal linguistic (Gardner 24) learners are usually very skilled readers. Speaking is another strength that they possess. Oral communication is used often for persuasion and memorization (Gardner 133). They are often eloquent speakers and have wonderfully developed auditory skills. This type of intelligence tends to pick up foreign languages with ease. Identifying a verbal linguistic (Gardner 24) learner in your classroom is not difficult. Because of their talents at expressing themselves their class work will stand out. They tend to do well at expressing themselves through writing. The will often speak their mind and can easily explain an event that happened through words, both speaking and writing. Planning lessons that appeal to the verbal linguistic (Gardner 24) learner is very easy. The traditional curriculum appeals best to this kind of learner. Throughout The Novel Wuthering Heights, Emily Bront Effectively Utili Essay Another weakness of mine is that in some cases I need to have an overall understanding of a subject before I appreciate the smaller details. This is a weakness because sometimes it can over complicate a topic if I .

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Plot This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona free essay sample

â€Å"This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona† by Sherman Alexie is about the life struggles of two American Indians named Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire. Victor,the protagonist, has not only lost his job but his father as well. With the aid of Thomas he will travel to collect his father’s remains and estate. This story is neatly structured in a standard plot line format, built around the death of and retrieval of Victor’s father and his property. Through the use of several flashbacks, from the firework show at age seven,when ten and Victor liked Thomas’ stories, at twelve Victor stepped in wasp nest and Thomas saved him,and when 15 and not friends anymore, all the relevant information concerning the struggle and history of the characters is revealed. The story centers around Victor’s difficulty in raising funds to get from the reservation to Phoenix, Arizona. He lives a typical life on the reservation. We will write a custom essay sample on Plot This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"Victor didn’t have any money. Who does have money on a reservation. Victor asks for help from the Tribal Council but only gets one hundred dollars. This is not enough to fly to Phoenix or return with his father’s truck or other possessions, but Victor accepts any way. While getting this cheque cashed, Victor sees Thomas Builds-the-Fire in the Trading Post. Thomas Builds-the-Fire, Victor’s childhood friend, offers to help. â€Å"He knew he needed Thomas Builds-the-Fire. †(131) Victor reluctantly accepts due to the fact that they haven’t been friends for many years. Victor remembers â€Å"When they were fifteen and had long since stopped being friends, Victor and Thomas got into a fistfight. †(131) Victor has become the typical American Indian on the reservation. He doesn’t want to be ostracised because he is socializing with Thomas Builds-the-Fire, even though Thomas is the only person that has been there for him time and time again. This shows how much Victor’s character struggles not only with external hurdles, but also internally with his own emotions and with what others think of him. Thomas Builds-the-Fire’s character is critical. Thomas Builds-the-Fire’s role is to connect Victor with his heritage and help him find his identity. This is evident in the use of his given name Thomas Builds-the-Fire instead of just Thomas. Thomas has struggled most of his life because of his shamanistic qualities and therefore, has more internal strength to draw from in times of adversity. He is considered a shaman,the storyteller. He tells the stories no one wants to hear and yet he continues to tell them anyway. While at the Trading Post, Thomas notices Victor and processed to pay his condolences. At this moment Victor asks Thomas â€Å"How did you know about it? † Thomas’ response is â€Å"I heard it on the wind. I heard it from the birds. I felt it in the sunlight. Also, your mother was just in here crying. † (130)This exchange is the first of many that occur during their journey to Phoenix that shows Thomas’ strength in knowing who he is as a shaman, and to show that he is a perceptive person, carefully observing the actions of others. Thomas Builds-the-Fire plays an important part in the story, because his character not only solves the financial or external conflict, but also aids Victors character and assists with his internal struggles this help Victor discover himself, by reminding him of his past. For example, â€Å"When Victor was twelve, he stepped into an underground wasp nest. †(133) and Thomas saves him. Or when they are on the plane flying to Phoenix Victor discovers that Thomas can actually converse well while he on the other hand could not. This is evident during their conversation with a gymnast on the plane. The journey develops both characters through flashbacks, but the final leg of the trip, the drive home, shows more details about the lives of the characters as well. Victor drives most of the way home, then as soon as Thomas begins to drive he hits in their opinion â€Å"The only thing alive in this whole state and we just killed it. † (134) This shows an ironic similarity to the death of Victor’s father. They feel the emptiness,ugliness, and loneliness of victor’s father’s death being found by the smell alone, then they compare this with the emptiness and loneliness of the desert. By killing the jackrabbit they feel even more despair. This causes them to state that its a suicide by the rabbit due to his loneliness, and not their fault. This act shows another growth in the characters, by showing that they finally realize that life puts obstacles in the way to develop their ability to change. Just like one of the many stories Thomas has told â€Å"There were these two Indian boys who wanted to be warriors. But it was too late to be warriors in the old way. †(131) both characters learn and lean on tradition, but have to change with time to find themselves. The trip to Phoenix,Arizona moves the plot, but through the flashbacks each Characters struggles with others and within themselves are displayed. Victor’s Character has grown and will continue to grow in the future. Thomas’ character is the permanent fixture of the cultural life forgotten in time which has not changed. The story concludes with Victor giving Thomas half his fathers remains, both in agreement that they would be spread at Spokane Falls, the place where Thomas’ vision had lead him. Victor’s father found him there and Thomas learns that he was his vision. â€Å"For a long time I was mad because I thought my dream had lied to me but they didn’t. Your dad was my vision. Take care of each other is what my dreams were saying,Take care of each other. †(133) This shows that even though life changes people’s traditions remain fundamentally rooted. Along their journey to Phoenix,Arizona, Victor and Thomas both share childhood memories through flashbacks which help illuminate both characters personality.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

john warr Essay Example

john warr Essay Civil War Art is a big part of history today.People today us it to remember the war.How did people survive, where did people live, why did we fight are all questions and wonders of people today.Artist these days and back than drew about those questions.It gave people a mental picture on how our world was back than.Also what the Civil War was about.Today there are many artists that paint pictures about the Civil War. Civil War Art is very valuable.It brings back the life of the Civil War.Artist chose the sight or the position of what they are painting.It really affects the final painting.They choose to paint the scars of a direct shell hit.Paintings also of bulges in coats were shown from having a rock lying for so long in their patch pocket.Artist paint mainly only three-quarter of the killed soldiers, paintings show swollen and blotted bodies that have been laying out in the heat for quite a few days. John Warr was one of the many artists today that draw paintings of the Civil War.W arr lives in Northern Alabama.Began Painting in 1980.His interest in the Civil War photos and reenactments.He decided to do a confederate scene.Many of John Warrs paintings have quite a bit of wildlife in them.Which is another of his interest to paint along w/ Civil War Art. Amy Lindenberger another artist that draws scenes of the Civil War.Amy lives in Ohio where she has been painting quite a few of her Civil War paintings.Amy was always interested in Civil War.With her two daughters she became involved with Civil War reenacting.She noticed by reenacting that there is more to the lives of Americans who lived at the time of the War than just what occurred on the battlefield.The war had a big impact on the common soldiers and to the families.She now has a series, which focuses more directly on the wars impact on the common soldier and the families. Dale Gallon was very interested in Civil War Art

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Alternative Meanings for Hand and Names of Its Parts

Alternative Meanings for Hand and Names of Its Parts Alternative Meanings for â€Å"Hand† and Names of Its Parts Alternative Meanings for â€Å"Hand† and Names of Its Parts By Mark Nichol The human hand is such a quintessential element of our anatomy we wouldn’t be human without ours (specifically, without our prehensile thumbs) that we have applied the word to many literal and figurative senses other than the physiological one, as well as a wealth of idiomatic phrases (too many to list here). Here’s a discussion of alternative meanings of hand, as well as those for its parts. Hand can refer to participation or an offer of assistance, or it denotes a round of applause. It applies to a body part or a component of an object resembling a hand, and a symbol resembling a hand with an outstretched index finger is called a hand, or an index. An aspect, direction, or side is called a hand; on the other hand, the word also refers to the concept of control, possession, or supervision. One can give one’s hand as a pledge (usually, in reference to marriage), and one’s signature or handwriting is called one’s hand. The word denotes ability or skill, or interest or participation or a significant role. In card or other games, hand refers to the cards or game pieces held, to a round in a game, or to a player in a game; by figurative extension, it means â€Å"the strength of one’s position.† In the realm of a rougher game, pugilistics (boxing), or in fighting in general, hand identifies a punch. The creator or producer of a work might be acknowledged as a hand; it could also reference someone with knowledge of or skill in a specific topic, or handiwork or workmanship. The word also applies, more mundanely, to an employee or worker, especially a laborer, or a member of a ship’s crew (or the figurative equivalent). In a sense more akin to tactile connotations, hand describes the feel of a material. Finger, too, has other meanings, including something resembling a finger in shape or function, or a measurement equivalent to the general width of a finger. As a verb, it means to identify or to touch, to extend as a finger would be extended, or to play music using one’s fingers. Likewise, thumb applies to something with a thumblike appearance, and, as a verb, it means â€Å"to leaf through a book or to cause wear by doing so,† or â€Å"to hitchhike or to signal for a ride by holding out one’s thumb.† A knuckle, too, is something that looks like a joint in a bodily appendage (or, in the case of a cut of meat, is that anatomical part from livestock), including a weapon worn on the knuckles and more commonly called brass knuckles. Knuckle can also refer to a part of a hinge or to a structural component with the appearance of a knuckle. To knuckle is to press or rub with one’s knuckles. Palm extends to objects that might remind one of that part of the hand; the palm tree derives its name from resemblance of the fan-shaped leaves to a hand. A palm is also the act of palming; to palm is to conceal with one’s hand or to stealthily give or take something, or, by extension, to commit fraud. It also means to touch with one’s palm, as in the basketball violation of resting a ball in one’s hand during dribbling. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 "Home" Idioms and ExpressionsRules for Capitalization in TitlesFew vs. Several

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Discuss the use of monetary policy to influence the levels of Essay

Discuss the use of monetary policy to influence the levels of inflation and unemployment in an economy - Essay Example Reserves of commercial bank are one from of liabilities of federal bank .the imposition of reserve requirement from federal bank results this liability. Treasury deposits are also a liability for federal bank since there are the deposits made by treasury department of states. Federal Reserve notes are the notes circulated by federal bank in the country in the form of paper money. They are the claims against the assets of federal bank and hence become liability for federal bank. Since, we know that one of the core functions of federal bank is the creation and control of money in the economy, the monetary policy acts as an action plan for this purpose. The federal bank has three core tools to control the money supply in the market Since bonds are floated in the market by government and other organization to raise money, they can be used by the federal bank to increase or decrease the money supply. The federal bank can either buy or sell bonds with commercial bank or general public. Buying securities from commercial banks the reserve of commercial bank are increased while the assets base of federal bank increases. Same thing happens when the federal bank buys securities from public, the asset base of the federal bank increases as well as that of commercial bank. Overall the money at the disposal of federal bank increase which increases the money supply n the market. Reserve ratio is the amount of reserve of commercial bank that they are required to keep with the federal bank. This reserve is not allowed to be loaned to the public. A federal bank, when want to increase money supply in the market decreases the reserve ratio which in turn decreases the reserve of commercial bank kept with federal bank. With the increase money at the disposal of commercial bank they are able to load out more money in the market which increases the money supply. Similarly if the federal bank wants to decrease the money supply it increases the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Failed IT Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Failed IT Project - Research Paper Example IT project teams emphasize on developing software using unsophisticated codes that would facilitate its functionality. Simplicity facilitates the ease of implementation of the project. In addition, monitoring the functionality of the project is far much easier (Smite, Agerfalk & Moe, 1998). Thus, a project that emphasizes on the complexity from the outset will ultimately faces many difficulties in its design and implementation. It was evident that the complexity of the baggage handling system would lead to enormous problems in implementation and design. The system was too complex that the programmers had to develop it in two years. In fact, it was the most complex baggage handling system ever developed. This was because the system would serve a mammoth airport that was twice the size of Manhattan that had more than 20 major airlines. In designing complex systems, it is vital that the complexity of the systems is manageable during the not only during its development but also in its ma intenance. However, the BAE engineers designed a system that had high coupling and had widespread and inconsistent points of failure (Kerzner, 2004). This led to many problems during the testing of the system. In designing complex IT projects, the engineers must ensure that there is modularity in the operations. Modularity makes complexity of the projects manageable. In addition, it facilitates the undertaking of parallel work and accommodates future uncertainties. In projects with modular architecture, substitution of new designs with older ones is relatively cheap. (Liso, 2009). However, in undertaking the automation of the DIA ABS there was not modularity in the activities of the project. Lack of modularity posed serious problems especially after DIA and BAE changed the design of the system to accommodate the requests made by the airline companies. Lack of modularity led to faults that were evident during the testing of the system in the media's presence. Telecars crushed into each other and flung the baggage spewing out the contents of the baggage (Kock, 2006). In

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Sociological Imagination SOC 131 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Sociological Imagination SOC 131 - Assignment Example In the Jakarta Post, Achmad Munjid talks about how religion can be used as a social critique. He commented that the social critique of religion is lessened when religion is controlled too much by those in power. This causes religion to not provide sociological imagination because those in authority tend to make religion as strict as possible, with those unable to keep up being punished for their sins. Munjid gives the example of Christianity under the rule of Constantine. He also makes reference to Islam after the great prophet Muhammad had passed away. Despite these examples, Munjid also mentions such individuals as Martin Luther, the Buddha, and Confucius, all of whom came to bring about social reform through their actions and words. More people today need to come from the point of view of one of these role models and not look to take advantage of

Friday, November 15, 2019

Adidas and Adidas Pops Competitive Advantage

Adidas and Adidas Pops Competitive Advantage Three strategies that will Increase Adidas and Adidas Pops Competitive Advantage A competitive advantage is modelled around the question of why a consumer should purchase a product from a given company when there are other numerous alternatives (Gebauer, Gustafsson Witell, 2011). According to Kumar et al. (2011), competitive advantage is the force behind a companys sustainability and long-term survival, and as a result, scholars have devised numerous frameworks such as the 5Cs of marketing and Porters five-force model to evaluate the organisational competitive advantage. In this section I have identified three strategies that a high number of firms employ to gain a competitive advantage and which could be employed to increase the competitive advantage of Adidas and its new product Adidas Pop. 1. Differentiation Over the years it has become apparent that markets have become most turbulent and competitive for manufacturing firms and pricing strategies are no longer sufficient to keep an organisation competitive (Gebauer, Gustafsson Witell, 2011; Valipour, Birjandi Honarbakhsh, 2012). In some industries however, businesses still use price wars to undermine their competitors (Zhang Round, 2011). However, lowering prices for competitiveness is unsustainable in the long run and, as a result, many companies have resorted to other strategies to help differentiate themselves from competitors (Valipour, Birjandi Honarbakhsh, 2012).ÂÂ   According to Valipour, Birjandi Honarbakhsh (2012), traditionally, manufacturing organisations focused on products to the neglect of customer needs. However, this approach has changed and now, customer needs largely inform the product process (Kumar et al., 2011). The Adidas differentiation strategy is built around establishing the company as a premium qualit y and highly innovative brand that not only sells sports apparel but can positively impact consumer lifestyles (Kohli Jaworski, 1990). To achieve this strategy, Adidas has developed a number of highly innovative products and has also collaborated with high profile fashion designers to create sportswear that is both functional and fashionable (Adidas, 2016). The move has led many consumers around the world to use Adidas products as a fashion statement instead of for sportswear (Gebauer, Gustafsson Witell, 2011), which has seen the Adidas market share grow in line with its business strategy. As part of the Adidas product range, Adidas Pop will utilise a similar customer-centric differentiation strategy to set itself apart in the emerging markets of Asia. Despite retailing at a comparatively premium price, Adidas Pop will appeal to the targeted markets 19 to 29 year-olds who want to live the Adidas lifestyle. This differentiation strategy will require the input of the marketing and p roduction departments, as well as the RD unit to collect consumer wants and capture them in a product that accurately addresses their needs. To measure the success of the differentiation strategy, the organisation will evaluate the development and products costs with actual sales. 2. Alliances Strategic partnerships are vital to businesses, as evidenced by Adidas decision to form an alliance with Reebok to penetrate the North American market and outsource its manufacturing functions to third parties in China to cut on production costs (Evans Richardson, 2007). Furthermore, Adidas has also formed alliances with distributors such as wholesalers and franchisees, to penetrate markets that are otherwise too costly for the company to set their shops in (Adidas, 2016a). Without these strategic alliances with both manufacturers and distributors in China, the vision for Adidas Pop would be impossible or extremely costly to establish. However, because of Adidas strategic partnerships, the Adidas Pop can be operationalised and could possibly break even within the first year. However, while strategic alliances are increasingly becoming a popular practice in the corporate world, they are not always beneficial to all involved parties (Hamel Pralahad, 1985; Tax Brown, 1998). For examp le, critics observe that after 11 years of an alliance, Reebok lags in sales, in which while the three other brands profits have been growing at 16 percent annually, for the same period, those of Reebok grow by approximately five percent (Adidas, 2016). In such cases, Buhalis Crotts (2013) suggest the use of partnership performance measurement systems such as the Balanced Scorecard to determine the financial and non-financial position of Adidas Pops potential allies. 3. Cost Leadership Developed by Michael Porter, cost leadership is a way of establishing a competitive advantage by keeping costs at the lowest level (Kaliappen Hilman, 2013) If the cost for Adidas products can be kept lower than those of Nike or its other competitors then it is possible to create a competitive advantage. It is important to note however that keeping costs at the lowest level possible is not such an easy task. Costs need to be managed across the entire chain from the very beginning to the very end. According to Kaliappen Hilman (2013), a balanced mix of a cost leadership strategy enhances organisational performance. Cost leadership is mainly internal-oriented as opposed to other competitive strategies such as the differentiation strategy that focus on the external environment (D. Banker, Mashruwala Tripathy, 2014). According to D. Banker, Mashruwala Tripathy (2014), cost leadership involves total costs control, in which, the production budget is solely focused on the most necessary processes. Adidas main competitive strategies are differentiation and strategic alliances. However, cost leadership will also be a useful strategy for Adidas Pop, in which the central focus will be total cost minimisation. Moreover, cost leadership is beneficial in keeping debts levels down and monitoring operations costs (Valipour, Birjandi Honarbakhsh, 2012).

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Education and Typical Public School

Another problem pestering the quality of Philippine education is the quality and proficiency of the teachers. According to a recent article (Gerochi, 2002), Filipino teachers lack proficiency in English, Science and Mathematics. Many said that these areas should have been trained comprehensively since as teachers, they should be able to teach the students with a more quality for future growth. But with what I see, the teachers have problems of their own. One example, and the most obvious, is the low salary and terrible working condition. Many public school teachers opt to have â€Å"sidelines† during class that sometimes the teacher simply forgets to teach. But who can blame them if their salaries of around 8000-10,000 pesos, plus deductible, who can a teacher provide for his/her family? And with the rising cost of living, these figures are not enough. Others cannot teach well in class because of the ratio of students to a teacher. In a typical public school, in every one teacher there are 50-60 students in a class! The school facilities can also be a factor of the problem. The Philippines, both in private and public, lacks sophisticated laboratories and facilities to cater the needs of the students. For example, many public schools are still lacking the basic computer laboratories and it is so ironic that computer nowadays, computer education is crucial for future Computer Studies student. Without proper training in computer, how can a student be competitive and computer literate? Jose Rizal reminds us how modern and latest technologies are important in a student’s development in his novel El Filibusterismo. Like in the novel, the laboratory equipment are stored shut in a cabinet and never to be used in class because of the insufficient number of equipment. And when it is shown in class, it is presented like a monstrance of a priest! And prophetic as it seems, Rizal’s time is happening all over again in our contemporary times. Lastly, a common problem of our Philippine education is the rising cost of sending a child to school. Private schools charges skyrocketing tuition and miscellaneous fees to a student that parents are having a hard time to cope with the rising cost of education. Even sending a child in a public school doesn’t fare better since even the poorest of the poor cannot afford to send a child in school. I remember vividly a story of a public school teacher with a pupil of him. He said that this student was so poor that teachers pay for everything so she can go to school. The teachers don’t mind this sacrifice because the student is so bright and intelligent. She never went to college after high school since she cannot really afford it anymore. What saddened the teachers is that this student passed UP but with no scholarship. Right now, many see education not as necessity but a luxury they cannot afford (Reyes, 2002). The state of Philippine education is indeed sad and disheartening. We probably are all asking who’s to blame for all this mess. But we cannot simply point finger since we all have responsibilities to solve these problem. The government tries its best to give the country and it seemed not enough. But we should not blame the government entirely since it is just not the government’s problems. It is the problem of each and every one of us. If we want the highest quality of education in the country, we should work together to solve this problem. As a teacher, these problems will be a big cross to bear. But if I can help solve this problem in my own little way, the cross can be lighter and easier to bear. This is the bitter cup of a teacher to bear. But we must remember that the teacher and every one of us will determine the course of our country’s development through education. Even Rizal said that for a country to progress, education is the key to that success. Solving the problems of Philippine education is a long way to go but if we work for the better, we can attain that quality education we all hope for the best.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Sbi Change Management

THE WORD CHANGE Change is inequitable; not a respecter of persons. Change is for the better or for the worst, depending on where you view it. Change has an adjustment period, which varies on the individual. It is uncomfortable, for changing from one state to the next upsets our control over outcomes. Change has a ripping effect on those who won’t let go. Change is awkward — at first. Change is a muscle that develops to abundantly enjoy the dynamics of the life set before us.Change calls own strength beyond anyone of us. Change pushes you to do your personal best. Change draws out those poised for a new way. Change isn’t for chickens. Change does have casualties of those defeated. Change will cause us to churn or to learn. Change changes the speed of time. Time is so slow for the reluctant, and yet it is a whirlwind for those who embrace it. Change is more fun to do than to be done to. Change seeks a better place at the end and is complete when you realize you are different. Change Management:Change management is a set of processes that is employed to ensure that significant changes are implemented in an orderly, controlled and systematic fashion to effect organizational change. One of the goals of change management is with regards to the human aspects of overcoming resistance to change in order for organizational members to buy into change and achieve the organization's goal of an orderly and effective transformation. Organizational change management takes into consideration both the processes and tools that managers use to make changes at an organizational level.Most organizations want change implemented with the least resistance and with the most buy-in as possible. For this to occur, change must be applied with a structured approach so that transition from one type of behavior to another organization wide will be smooth. SBI: State Bank of India is the largest state-owned banking and financial services company in India, by almost every p arameter – revenues, profits, assets, market capitalization, etc. The bank traces its ancestry to British India, through the Imperial Bank of India, to the founding in 1806 of the Bank ofCalcutta, making it the oldest commercial bank in the Indian Subcontinent. The Government of India nationalised the Imperial Bank of India in 1955, with the Reserve Bank of India taking a 60% stake, and renamed it the State Bank of India. In 2008, the Government took over the stake held by the Reserve Bank of India. SBI provides a range of banking products through its vast network of branches in India and overseas, including products aimed at NRIs. The State Bank Group, with over 16,000 branches, has the largest banking branch network in India.With an asset base of $260 billion and $195 billion in deposits, it is a banking behemoth. It has a market share among Indian commercial banks of about 20% in deposits and advances, and SBI accounts for almost one-fifth of the nation's loans. * The Stat e bank of India is the 29th most reputed company in the world according to Forbes. * State Bank of India is the largest of the Big Four Banks of India, along with ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank — its main competitors. Change Trigger: Liberalisation of the Indian Banking system:During the 1990s, the Indian economy began a period of rapid growth as the country's low labor costs, intellectual capital, and improving telecommunications technology allowed India to offer its commercial services on a global basis. This growth was also aided by the government's decision to allow the creation of private-sector banks (they had been nationalized in the 1960s) Private sector banks made their first appearance in January 1993. The private-sector banks, such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, altered the banking landscape in India.Core banking systems and electronic delivery channels that allowed these banks to introduce new products and provide greater convenience to customers acted as a hur dle for the PSBs. During that period, Public Sector Banks accounted for over three-fourths of total banking industry assets. They were weighed down with huge NPAs(Non-Performing Assets), falling revenues, lack of modern technology and a massive and highly unionized workforce. New entrants began to erode the market share of the nationalized banks, especially in metro cities and urban areas.The PSBs found it increasingly difficult to compete with the new private sector banks and the foreign banks. These banks also employed state-of-the-art technology, which helped them to save on manpower costs and concentrate on providing better service. Changes in SBI: Drivers for a New Core System Though SBI had undertaken a massive computerization effort in the 1990s to automate all of its branches, implementing a highly customized version of Kindle Banking Systems' Bankmaster core banking system (now owned by Misys).However, because of the bank's historic use of local processing and the lack of r eliable telecommunications in some areas, it deployed a distributed system with operations located at each branch. Although the computerization improved the efficiency and accuracy of the branches, the local implementation restricted customers' use to their local branches and inhibited the introduction of new banking products and centralization of operations functions.The local implementation prevented the bank from easily gaining a single view of corporate accounts, and management lacked readily available information needed for decision making and strategic planning. The advantages in products and efficiency of the private-sector banks became increasing evident in the late 1990s as SBI (and India's other public-sector banks) lost existing customers and could not attract the rapidly growing middle market in India. In fact, this technology-savvy market segment viewed the public-sector banks as technology laggards that could not meet their banking needs.In 2002, SBI adopted a new tech nology that included the implementation of a new centralized core banking system. This effort encompasses the largest 3,300 branches of the bank that were located in city and suburban areas. The State Bank of India's objectives for its project to modernize core systems included: †¢ The delivery of new product capabilities to all customers, including those in rural areas †¢ The unification of processes across the bank to realize operational efficiencies and improve customer service. Provision of a single customer view of all accounts †¢ The ability to merge the affiliate banks into SBI †¢ Support for all SBI existing products †¢ Reduced customer wait times in branches †¢ Reversal of the customer attrition trend Challenges for the bank: The bank faced several extraordinary challenges in implementing a centralized core processing system. These challenges included finding a new core system that could process approximately 75 million accounts daily — a number greater than any bank in the world was processing on a centralized basis.Moreover, the bank lacked experience in implementing centralized systems, and its large employee base took great pride in executing complex transactions on local in-branch systems. This practice led some people to doubt that the employees would effectively use the new system. Initial Conversion Project: The conversion effort began in August 2003, when SBI converted three pilot branches to the BaNCS system. The successful conversion and operation of the pilot branches was followed by the conversion of 350 retail branches with high-net-worth customers between August 2003 and September 2004.At this point, the bank intentionally halted the conversions to analyze and resolve reported problems. After the software and procedural changes were implemented, SBI converted an additional 800 branches between December 2004 and March 2005. Unlike in the previous conversions, this group of branches included predominan tly commercially oriented offices. The conversion effort then refocused on retail branches until November 2005, when the bank paused again to resolve problems that came up during this second group of conversions.After the second round of changes, the system and processes were functioning smoothly, and management believed the branch conversion could be accelerated. Based on the successful pilot survey, SBI decided to convert the approximately 6,700 remaining SBI branches to the BaNCS system. The conversion of the remaining branches began in June 2006, with the stated goal of completing the conversion by year-end 2008. Managing the change: The factors which helped SBI in managing such a huge change are as follows: * Senior management commitment.The project was driven by the chairman of SBI, who met every month with the information technology (IT) and the business sector heads. The chairman monitored the overall status and ensured that sufficient resources were allocated to the project . TCS senior managers were thoroughly committed to the project as well and periodically met with the SBI chairman to review the project status. †¢ Staffing and empowerment of project team. The core banking team consisted of the bank's managing director of IT acting as team head and 75 business and IT people selected by the bank.TCS also staffed the project with approximately 300 IT professionals trained on the BaNCS system. Importantly, the SBI business people were viewed not just as contributors to a key project but as future bank leaders. This team reported to the SBI chairman and was empowered with all decision-making authority. †¢ Ownership by business heads. The regional business line heads were responsible for the success of conversion of their respective branches and reported the status to the chairman. Thus, the business heads' objectives were aligned with those of the project team. Focus on training: SBI used its network of 58 training centers across India to trai n employees on the new system. TCS personnel first educated approximately 100 SBI professional trainers, who then trained 100,000 SBI employees at the centers; the remaining employees trained at their respective job sites. Benefits of New Core Systems Implementation The new core system has resulted in benefits throughout the bank for both the customers and the employees of SBI. For example, the new core banking system has allowed the bank to redesign processes.It established 400 regional processing centers for all metro and urban branches that have assumed functions previously performed in the individual branches. The customers after implementation of this CBS system were no longer only the â€Å"customer of the branch is no longer only the customer of the branch but has also became the customer of the bank†. Meaning, they can carry out any transaction in any branch of the bank. After implementation of this system the bank has reversed the trend of customer attrition and is n ow gaining new market share.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain

Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain Introduction The market is increasingly becoming competitive as the world gets globalized. Business units are forced to come up with measures that can ensure that all their departments are running within expectations. Technology has redefined various fields of business operations. The logistics department is one of those that have been heavily influenced by the emerging technologies in the contemporary world.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Bidgoli (56), the emerging technologies have redefined supply chain with the emergent of various technological inventions. This scholar says that use of technology driven applications have become very common in the modern society. With the world reduced into a global village with this same technology, it is prudent that logistics managers apply technology in their n ormal operations in order to meet the expectations of the market. Bidgoli (78) says that some firms have suffered serious loses due to wrong application of technology in supply chain management. This scholar says that the emerging technologies are very important in the logistics operations. However, it is a challenge to understand the most appropriate technologies to use. Some of the technologies are not appropriate because they are disruptive in nature. They have the tendency of disrupting the normal operations of a firm. This means that a firm must be able to identify the appropriate technologies and come up with measures that would help in its normal operations. It is through this that a firm can manage its logistics in a manner that would yield the desired results. Implementing these technologies does not only need an understanding of the technologies themselves, but also the long run impact they may have on the firm. This research focuses on the most appropriate methods of impl ementing information technology driven solutions for supply chain management with focus on the case study on Rolls-Royce plc. Business Analysis and Justification of Electronic Business Operations Electronic business operation has increasingly become important in the current world. Many business units have come to appreciate the importance of managing their businesses electronically. As was stated above, the world has been reduced into a global village due to technological developments in the field of information technology and transport. Firms are currently striving to have global operations as a way of increasing their market share. However, this may not be achieved if the management ignores the importance of some of the technological developments. According to the case study given about Rolls-Royce plc, it is apparent that the management of this firm has come to appreciate the importance of using information technology in managing its logistics.Advertising Looking for repo rt on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This business case clearly demonstrates that the market has become increasingly competitive, and firms are forced to ensure that all their operations leading to delivering products to customers are done efficiently and in time. This has seen a lot of pressure put on the logistics in order to ensure that products reach customers in time, and in good condition. This is what the management of Rolls-Royce has been very keen on. Electronic business operations cannot be avoided in supply chain management. As shown in the case study, when a firm releases its products from the manufacturing plant to the market, there is always a need to track the products in real time. There is need to ensure that the products movement are known by the logistics manager in order to help other departments such as the marketing unit in planning for the delivery of the product to the customers. Tracking of the products electronically while on transit not only helps in enhancing their security, but also in assuring the management that the products will reach the destination market in time. Through this, the management will also be kept abreast with any occurrences that may cause delay in the delivery of the products. This way, the management will be able to come up with measures that would help arrest a possible crisis that may arise when the products delivery is delayed. One of the most important tasks in supply chain management is the management of the inventory while in the warehouse at the production plant, while on transit and in the market before it is delivered to the relevant authorities. According to Yahaya, Gunasekaran and Abthorpe (25), the market has become very competitive, and firms are keen on delivering value to their customers in order to maintain them. Value chain management has therefore, become an important strategy for many business units. Supply chain management plays an important role in value chain management. This is because it ensures that the inventories are managed properly and that when a product finally reaches the market, it is in good shape. This is what the management of Rolls-Royce has been keen on as demonstrated in the case study. This process can be made easier and more efficient if the concerned authorities can incorporate information technology in it. Installing various electronic gadgets can help in detecting the condition of the product, especially when the product is perishable. Most of the transport vessels have electronic gadgets installed in them to help in automatic regulation of temperature within the transport vessel. In case there is a cause of alarm, the gadget would communicate with the officers manning the facility for an action to be taken. This has created a scenario where products reach the market in better condition than when the manual methods were used. This not only increases the profitabilit y of the firm, but also helps in developing strong trust with the customers. This is because of the reliable communication and delivery of products in good quality to the customers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Implementing Information Technology Driven Solutions for Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Identifying Proper Market Segments and Marketplaces Market segmentation refers to the process of selecting and then classifying the markets based on demographical factors, especially the social class, gender and age. Market segmentation has become important in the current world, especially with the increasing differentiation in the market. As firms struggle to capture more markets globally, they are faced with differences in tastes and preferences among different classes of people. According to Gunasekaran and Abthorpe (258), the current consumers always demand for products that are specific to their nee ds. Firms are therefore, forced to find a way of meeting the needs of different categories of consumers in the market. Market segmentation is an important step in achieving this satisfaction. When the market is segmented, a firm will know how to deliver products to specific market segments. In the given case study, Rolls-Royce has been keen on identifying different market segments and delivering quality to these segments. In supply chain management, segmentation helps the logistics management in identifying products that might need to be delivered to the market within the shortest period. Each market segment will therefore, be treated uniquely based on their characteristics. Potential Legal, Ethical, and Tax Issues In logistics, it is always important to maintain ethics and all the legal issues that entail business operations of that firm. According to Gunasekaran and Abthorpe (261), there are legal issues that a firm is expected to follow based on the country in which, it operates. This is especially so when the firm has a global market coverage. As seen in the case study of Rolls-Royce, it is important to maintain ethics in order to help a firm build a good reputation. One of the ethical issues is on tax remittance at the custom duty warehouses. Many firms have learnt the art of evading taxation when moving its products from one border to another. Not only is this practice unethical, but also illegal and can lead to a law suit if the relevant authorities were to realize. In logistics, it is important to understand all the legal terms and conditions as stated by the relevant authorities. Once these laws become clear, it is then important to maintain ethics by following these laws closely to ensure that the relationship between the firm and these authorities is cordial. This will help in building a strong reputation for the firm. Whenever there are tax issues that a firm should address while goods are on transit, it is ethical to address the issues as expected to ensure that the firm do not find itself in a legal tussle with any authority.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is important to ensure that all the logistics officers responsible for the physical transportation of the products do not engage in such unethical practices as bribery because when the authorities realize this, the image of the firm can be tainted, besides the possible litigation that may follow. As Bidgoli (98) notes, building a good reputation may take years. In order to bring a firm to the level where its brand is strong in the market, it may take a long time and at great expenses. However, a small unethical behavior of the individuals trusted with running the firm can destroy the firm within a very short time. As Bidgoli (114) says, it is important that all the logistics officers carry out their tasks knowing that the future of the firm rests in their successful delivery of the duties assigned to them. Conclusion The case study given about Rolls-Royce demonstrates that firms in the current world must develop competitive strategies that can enable them manage the market compet ition. Rolls-Royce has come to appreciate the fact that success and failure can always befall a firm, depending on the approach that a firm takes in managing its logistics. Logistics is a very important aspect of a business unit through which a firm can realize success in the market if well managed. In logistics management, it is important to employ information technology as a way of improving efficiency. Technology has become a very important aspect of business units that it cannot be brushed aside by firms. An attempt to ignore these technologies may render a firm obsolete in the market. It is also important for these firms to segment the market in order to deliver maximum satisfaction to customers. Above all, a firm should ensure that it maintains ethics and maintains legal practices in its operations. Bidgoli, Hossein. The Handbook of Technology Management. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, 2010. Print. Yahaya, Yusuf, Gunasekaran Ahmed and Abthorpe, Mark. ‘Enterprise information systems project implementation: A case study of ERP in Rolls-Royce.’ International Journal of Production Economics 87 (2004): 251–266. Print.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Police Discretion

Police Discretion Discretion is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "the ability to make responsible decisions, individual choice or judgment, power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain legal bounds." In law enforcement discretion is left up to each individual officer on the field everyday. Police officers are given the authority to make reasonable and responsible decisions out in the field. Discretion is used in many situations, such as when an officer chooses to stop a vehicle for a small traffic violation. There are also times when the officer has no choice but to use specific discretion in certain situations. Society believes that an officer can make any choice he or she chooses at anytime while on the job. This belief is "mythical"; there are many situations when an officer has no choice but to follow the law. There are also situations when an officer has to make a decision on what type of force is necessary for certain situations.Domestic violence in Spain 1998-2007For the most part every officer has a choice when to use or not to use discretion, and enforce the law.In the role as a police officer decision making is not easy. Society will use discretion against an officer if the situation does not involve a major crime. Many people will try to talk their way out of the simplest traffic violations, to some felonies. An officer only has so much discretion they are allowed to use. In some cases an officer depending on the situation will give out a warning, and advise the citizen to be aware of the law and not to do it again. However, there are other situations when a warning will not be sufficient enough, but the citizen will still insist on having a warning instead. An officer must use his/her own...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Medical physist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Medical physist - Essay Example There are cases where one becomes lucky and gets multiple job offers to choose from in his field of study. This is not luck but another hurdle to overcome, some people have found themselves in job environments that they never thought would be that way. This is just because they did not make proper decisions before considering the kind of offer that best suits them both in the short and long term. A good job is not just about having the best salary; there are several other things that guide job consideration in a case where one has landed multiple job offers. Proper decision making about job offers is an important process, which needs to be given due seriousness. Most graduates will simply want to close their eyes, line up the offers in front of them and pick on a particular job only to regret later (Ahmed, Hasnain and Venkatesan, 2012). Remember, when you make the decision to choose on a job and later realize that it is not the one you dreamt of, the ones that you had to foregone will not be waiting for your reverse decision. In this age where students graduating have surpassed job offers available means that the door is always opened for the next candidate once you decline an offer from one of your probable employers. As a graduate medical physicist, there may be more that one job offer that may come knocking. Making the right decision about the kind of job to take will be vital since it will be key to deciding your career path. A good career should give the job candidate a good chance for advancement (Mayrhofer, et al, 2005), this means that a lot of decisions have to be given due considerations before the final decision is arrived at. One of the important things to do before signing up any of those job offer forms is to make an assessment about the industry and specific company before joining it. A good assessment can always

Friday, November 1, 2019

Whiteheads Prolificacy in Logic and Philosophy Essay

Whiteheads Prolificacy in Logic and Philosophy - Essay Example Because of this, Whitehead issues the warning that philosophy must not make a dereliction on the multifarious aspect of the world. It is for this same reason that Whitehead describes beauty as the union of intensity, harmony, and vividness which involve perfection of importance for an occasion. The same explains the reason for Whitehead seeing God as the set of all processes and relationships so that God is radically transcendent (universe-in-god) and radically incarnate (god-in-universe). Whitehead maintains that the metaphysical status of eternal objects is resistant to change so that they remain incomprehensible without an actuality and only intelligible within a broader conceptual frame (Stein, 2006). Â  Whitehead noted that experiences of science, ethics, aesthetics, and religion greatly influence the worldview of the Western culture and should, therefore, factor a more comprehensive and holistic cosmology. This cosmology should be comprehensive enough to provide systematic descriptive theories of the world, which are applicable for deducing human intuitions that have been arrived at through scientific, ethical, aesthetic and religious experiences. Whitehead maintains that in order for science to be, there has to be the presence of sufficient structures, given that intelligibility is a general condition essential for science and all knowledge. Whitehead also continues that science is progressive and imposes upon humanity, progressivity in thinking and inquiry. Whitehead also sees science as existing for posterity, since its progressive technology enables the generation-generation transition into uncharted seas of adventure or inquiry. Â  According to Whitehead, the essence of truth readily necessitates the need for verification.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Is empowerment a valuable tool for increasing efficiency and Essay - 5

Is empowerment a valuable tool for increasing efficiency and effectiveness in todays organisations - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that there is no denying the fact that most of the organizations use only a minuscule of their employees’ total potential and many times employees feel that their skills and abilities remain underutilized. In order to inculcate efficiency driven organizational attitude, the organizations need to give way to a setup that encourages employees to grow and learn and make an optimal use of their overall potential. It is only in such organizations that a space for innovation, efficiency and effectiveness could be created because the employees’ in such empowerment driven organizations do get a chance to make the best of their abilities and to develop new skills and attitudes that innovation requires Hence, in empowering organizations employees do feel an urge to go beyond their sphere of duty so as to put in an extra effort aimed at meeting the organizational goals. The employees in empowering organizations see their extra effort as an investment rather than being dissatisfied and wait for the highest bidder. In most of the successful organizations, it is the ability to encourage the untapped potential in the employees that enables them to compete in the markets and allows them to successfully retain the experienced and skilled talent. In that context, it is a myth to assume that the learning potential within organizations tends to be innate and once the employees are trained and introduced to their job responsibilities, they will learn new skills and behaviors on their own. That is why an empowering audit allows the organizations to learn about the immediate skill levels and motivation of their employees, and what could be done to inculcate new skills and behaviors. In that sense empowerment is a positive force that has immense relevance in varied processes and opportunities going on and available within organizations. Before understanding the role of empowerment in boosting organizational effectiveness and ef ficiency, it is a must to have an insight into how the organizations disempower employees and what are the significant traits of the disempowering organizations. The disempowering organizations do believe in fixing the blame rather than solving the key issues and problems.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Speech Analysis Essay Example for Free

Speech Analysis Essay In David McCullough’s June 2012 Commencement Speech You Are Not Special, he argues that no one is really special. In this speech he is saying that everyone is alike somewhere and somehow. Even though he is seems to be bashing the graduating class, he still adds encouraging words. Throughout the whole speech he continuously states that you are not special, but then ending the speech with saying, â€Å"You are not special because everyone is. † I argue that both McCullough and Sierra use the strategies of adding comparison, list, and emotion to make their speech and article convincing. An article in response to McCullough’s speech, Open Letter from a millennial: Quit Telling Us We Are Not Special written by a woman named Sierra on June 25, 1012. Her response argues that this speech is not appropriate for the graduating class who are ready to take on the world. McCullough’s speech should be aimed towards the parent’s generation. Sierra states that the parents are responsible for the problems their children face. In the real world the high school diploma is worthless. Comparisons are used in both McCullough’s and Sierras work. Sierra uses the comparisons to compare what we know now to our childhood memories, such as the tooth fairy. â€Å"We stopped believing in our own specialness around the same time we stopped believing in the tooth fairy. † She is saying that at a young age, we realized that we are not as special as everyone said we were. McCullough uses comparisons as well. In the beginning of his speech he compares the high school diploma to marriage. Unlike marriages, we cannot separate, divorce, from our diplomas, like we could our spouses. Both McCullough and Sierra use lists to persuade their audience. In Sierras article she uses list to show how as children and teenagers we depend on our parents. Stating that they do work for you, and then call you lazy or telling and teacher that an â€Å"A† is not good enough and the list continues. She uses list to get her point across. Rather than just stating one fact, she gives them all. In McCullough’s speech, he uses lists as well. He states that children have been pampered, fed, catered to, and so on. He uses this to get across that we have been babied our entire lives, so will we be prepared for the real world? He also uses list with statistics stating that somewhere someone is just like you. McCullough uses â€Å"There are 3. 2 million seniors from 37,000 high schools. † He continues on with the numbers of class presidents, swagger jackers, and pairs of Uggs. This is to get across that no one is different and there is always another person with the exact same thing as you. McCullough uses more humor. This makes the speech less offensive to the audience. While reading this speech you don’t notice the humor much, but when actually viewing the speech it is more humorous to the crowd. What some might think is humorous others might not. In conclusion, even though both use similar strategies in their work McCullough’s article is more persuasive. He makes you actually think that you are not special by adding comparisons, lists and emotions.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Vladimir Lenin :: Vladimir Lenin Essays

Vladimir Lenin, who’s real name was Vladimir Ilch Ulyanov, played an important role in shaping the character of the twentieth century western world. He oversaw the most far-reaching revolution that in 1917 radically changed the political and social structure of Russia and balance of power in the world. Being an important historical figure in Russia, Lenin is treated more like a god. To the Russian public, he is presented as strong, wise, courageous, and kind. Lenin’s infallibility, or accuracy, was so strong that his words pervaded every level of daily life. Such as newspapers, storybooks, etc. Children were taught to follow his example and adults were told to follow his path and advice on how to be hardworking, loyal communists. Since the revolution more than 350 million works by Lenin have been published in the former USSR. He is the ultimate mentor and guide for all soviets, like he was a god or idle. He had the final authority on every aspect of their life. Anyone who visits the Soviet Union then and now is bound to be shocked by the utter extravagance of the nation’s adulation with him. Americans today can not even grasp why the Soviets idolize one man so much. It inspires guilt in Americans about their own revolutionary past. But, to the extremes of which the worship of Lenin is carried makes us ask ourselves who he really was. As you will see the man and the myth are often difficult to distinguish. Lenin’s likeness appears before the Soviets very often and in many different ways so that he is almost too easy to forget about. An example would be, in a park in Kiev, a floral arrangement is fashioned to resemble his face. In Moscow this adulation reaches an absurd height. In Red Square people wait in an endless lone to see his tomb. While in this line an eternal flame honors the millions of soviets who died in World War Two. Who was Lenin really? A god, a man, or something else. Where did he come from? What did he believe? Why did the Soviets immortalize him so relentlessly? Lenin was born in the backwater town of Simbirsk in 1870. He grew up in a well educated family in provincial Russia. He excelled at school and went on to study law. At university, he was exposed to radical thinking, and his views were also influenced by the execution of his elder brother, a member of a revolutionary group.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Drawframe Machine

Introduction The draw frame in a textile mill is unavoidable in yarn spinning as fibers need to be kept side by side termed as parallelization of fibers in textile technology. This is done as we see that most of the fibers at carding stage are so fast that there is little or no fiber parallelization. Even though modern carding machines have using the auto leveler still there can be some unevenness along the slivers. These two issues will affect the quality of the yarn. The draw frame machine is the last machine which can improve the yarn quality in the yarn manufacturing process. The tasks drafting and doubling are the objectives of the draw frame machine in order to improve the fiber orientation and sliver uniformity respectively. Removal of hooks and dust also can be carried out by the machine, at a significant amount. Objectives To study the material path, objectives and drafting system of the draw frame machine. Procedure * Study the important parts and their function of the machine * Observed and draw the material path * Roller drafting system was observed * Compare the differences between modern and conventional machine Draw frame material path (picture) Tasks of the draw frame * One of the main tasks of the draw frame is improving the evenness over short, medium and especially, long terms. Card slivers fed to the draw frame have a degree of unevenness that can not be tolerated in practice. Doubling is the process of combining two or more slivers usually from carding engine to deliver a single sliver. In the draw frame 6-8 slivers are combined to give one sliver. During the doubling process it is expected that the non-uniformity is in the card sliver will be even-out and a uniform sliver will emerge. Drafting is a process where the weight per unit length of the input sliver is reduced. During the drafting process, fiber parallelization also takes place. The drafting and doubling processes are achieved by passing the slivers through rotating rollers. The fluted bottom rollers are steel rollers while the top rollers are synthetic rollers heavily weighted on the bottom rollers by means of springs. The bottom rollers are run at increasing speeds starting from the back rollers to the front rollers. In addition to the improving evenness, doubling also provides a degree of compensation of raw material variation by blending. The result is exploited in particular in the production of blended yarns comprising cotton/synthetic or synthetic/synthetic blends. At the draw frame, metering of individual components can be carried out very simply by selection of the number of slivers enter the machine * Dust is steadily becoming a greater problem both in processing and personnel involved. It is therefore significant to remove dust in every possible step in the process. Dust removal can only be carried out where there is fiber/fiber, fiber/metal friction. Since dust articles adhere relatively strongly to the fibers. A high performance draw frame with a sufficient number of suction point is a good dust-removing machine. * Sliver formation and coiling is also a important part of the draw frame process using sliver trumpet and calendar roller this functions were done. Differences of drafting systems between modern and conventional draw frame * Modern draw frame machine have helical flute where the conventional machine have horizontal flute. Conventional modern (horizontal) (helical) * In conventional drafting system 4/4 system is used where in modern drafting system 5/4 system is used. * In the modern machine the flutes are inclined and in conventional machine flutes are arranged in straight line. * In the conventional system lever type pressure arm system is used and in modern system spring load system is used. In addition to this the modern draw frame machine have the followings * Single prevention:- if for whatever reason a sliver get exhausted or broken the machine will automatically stop * Colour light system:-indication at which specific point the problem is in the machine which cause into stop * Red-mechanical problem * Green-sliver break * White-power on no run * Blue-over heat * Orange-no can * Automatic can changing:- the machine can be programmed to deliver a specific length of sliver on to the two can after which the cans are automatically changes to new cans. Discussion

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Highline Financial Services Essay

Every origination needs to separate themselves from their competition. From offering the newest and latest products to offering outstanding service. Highland Financial Services Itd. Is no different from other companies. Standing out from other organizations is critical for the company’s success. Managing partner Freddie Mack must use the information that he has been provided with to find if he may need to hire or layoff any personnel for the upcoming year. Doing this accurately will help the company reach their goals and insure the companies well being for the future. Freedie Mack will need to use moving average date technique. This technique that averages a number of recent values, updated as new values become available (Stevenson, 2012 p. 84). Freedie must use the following equation. Ft=Man= n E i-t At-i/n= At-n†¦+At-z+At-1/n. By taking amounts from each quarter in the corresponding service areas and dividing the values, Freedie will get the percent’s of growth. The example would be from year one, quarter one, service A and year two using service A quarter one (60/72=1.2% growth projection and then taking the 1.2% and multiplying this by 72). This would give the organization an 86 in service column A for year three, quarter one and so on for each quarter as we will see in the table below. Freedie would use this date to determine the growth or fall regarding the demand. He can use this to predict several years in the future using this technique. Using this technique is easy and easy to understand (Stevenson 2012, p.85). The observations from the technique are the service scores gradually are increasing with the average growth if 1.19% in service A, 1.15% growth in service B, and .98% in service C. Service A and B are growing at a higher pace, while service C is growing slower. To grow the service areas faster, Highland Financial Services Ltd. should offer higher service standards within the current service areas in the coming quarters and years. One option the company may want to explore is better training to up sell the better service package to their clients. This potentially would raise sales and allow them to hire more employees. Freedie should be concerned the organization is not growing in the service area C column. All but quarter three are down, the organization must do something to improve the service  for this quarter by looking into their operations strategy. Depending on what the companies current operations strategy is, they may want to revisit the strategy. Freedie must use up to date information on demand forecasting for the organization. One thing that they can do is use shorter time frames versus long term forecasting due to economy or other outside obstacles. Using short time frame forecasting will allow the organization flexibility if they need to adjust their forecast (Stevenson 2012, p.109). The organization should not layoff any personnel, but rather hire more staff for the business needs as they arise. While the trend shows a raise in service over the next year, they may want to plan for the future and look more into the next few years rather than just one year. Doing this will allow them to hire an appropriate amount of people and be able to train them to be ready for the upcoming business gain and future success of the business. Table below shows the forecast for Year 3 and the four quarters within the year. References: Stevenson, W, J. (2012) Operations Management, 11th edition, New York, N.Y: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How to Define Acceleration

How to Define Acceleration Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity as a function of time. It is a vector, meaning that it has both magnitude and direction. It is measured in meters per second squared or meters per second (the objects speed or velocity) per second. In calculus terms, acceleration is the second derivative of position concerning time or, alternately, the first derivative of the velocity concerning time. Acceleration- Change in Speed The everyday experience of acceleration is in a vehicle. You step on the accelerator, and the car speeds up as increasing force is applied to the drive train by the engine. But deceleration is also acceleration - the velocity is changing. If you take your foot off the accelerator, the force decreases and velocity is reduced over time. Acceleration, as heard in ads, follows the rule of the change of speed (miles per hour) over time, such as from zero to 60 miles per hour in seven seconds. Units of Acceleration The SI units for acceleration are m / s2(meters per second squared or  meters per second per second). The gal or galileo (Gal) is a unit of acceleration used in gravimetry but is not an SI unit. It is defined as 1 centimeter per second squared. 1 cm/s2 English units for acceleration are feet per second per second,  ft/s2 The standard acceleration due to gravity, or standard gravity  g0 is the gravitational acceleration of an object in a vacuum near the surface of the earth. It combines the effects of gravity and centrifugal acceleration from the rotation of the Earth. Converting Acceleration Units Value m/s2 1 Gal, or cm/s2 0.01 1 ft/s2 0.304800 1 g0 9.80665 Newtons Second Law- Calculating Acceleration The classical mechanics equation for acceleration comes from Newtons Second Law: The sum of the forces (F) on an object of constant mass (m) is equal to mass m multiplied by the objects acceleration (a). F am Therefore, this can be rearranged to define acceleration as: a F/m The result of this equation is that if no forces are acting on an object (F   0), it will not accelerate. Its speed will remain constant. If mass  is added to the object, the acceleration will be lower. If  mass  is removed from the object, its acceleration will be higher. Newtons Second Law is one of the three laws of motion Isaac Newton published in 1687 in  Philosophià ¦ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy).   Acceleration and Relativity While Newtons laws of motion apply at speeds we encounter in daily life, once objects are traveling near the speed of light, the rules change. Thats when Einsteins special theory of relativity is more accurate. The special theory of relativity says it takes more force to result in acceleration as an object approaches the speed of light. Eventually, acceleration becomes vanishingly small and the object never quite achieves the speed of light. Under the theory of general relativity, the principle of equivalence says that gravity and acceleration have identical effects. You dont know whether or not you are accelerating unless you can observe without any forces on you, including gravity.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Wemmicks character analysis Essays

Wemmicks character analysis Essays Wemmicks character analysis Paper Wemmicks character analysis Paper Wemmick is a clerk at Mr. Jaggers office. In this book, we get introduced to Wemmick during the second stage of pips life, in page 157. Wemmick is a very important character in the story as he greatly helps the protagonist, pip after he goes to London. He is the person who gives pip the money allotted to him by his benefactor, whenever required and furnishes him with his basic needs. Interestingly Wemmick has two different distinct personalities. One surfaces when he is at his work place and the other when he is back at home. Wemmic himself tells pip about this in page 192. He says, The office is one thing and private life is another. When I go into the office, I leave the Castle behind me, and when I come into the Castle, I leave the office behind me. At his work place we come across Wemmick as being very stern and unruffled. This characteristic in him can be seen in page 157, pip says, We found a new set of people lingering out side, but Wemmick made a way among them by saying coolly yet decisively, I tell you all, its no use; he (Mr. Jaggers) wont have a word to say to one of you and we soon got clear of them and went on side by side. In the page 157 again, pip describes Wemmick, while at work as a, dry man, rather short in stature, whose expression seemed to have been imperfectly chipped out with a dull edged chisel. Wemmick never seems to be bothered by the common din and the chaos around his workplace. He had an exceptionally calm disposition. This characteristic in him can be observed in page 158 where pip says, he wore his hat on the back of his head, and looked straight before him: walking in a self-contained way as if there were nothing in the streets to claim his attention. His mouth was such a post office of a mouth that he had a mechanical appearance of smiling. We had got to the top of Holborn Hill before I knew that it was merely a mechanical appearance and that he was not smiling at all. While this was the sterner, more coarse nature of Wemmick, back at home, he was much more concerned about various things and was very friendly. Wemmicks caring and concerned characteristic can be seen in page 238. Talking about his father he tells pip, He is in wonderful feather. Hell be 82 next birthday. I have a notion of firing eighty-two times, if the neighbourhood shouldnt complain and that cannon of mine should prove equal to the pressure. This also goes to show how much he loved his father. Wemmicks friendly nature surfaces when he at his home. This can be witnessed in page 192 where pip recalls, The interval between that time and supper, Wemmick devoted to showing me his collection of curiosities. And in page 193 he says, wemmick was up early in the morning, and I am afraid I heard him cleaning my boots. After that he fell to gardening and I saw him from my gothic window pretending to employ the Aged and nodding at him in the most devoted manner. Our breakfast was as good as supper and at half past 8 precisely we started for Little Britain. By degrees, Wemmick got dryer and harder as we went along, and his mouth tightened into a post office again. At last we got to his place of business and he pulled out his key from his coat collar, he looked as unconscious of his Walworth property as if the Castle and the drawbridge and the arbor and the lake and the fountain and the Aged had all been blown into space together by the last discharge of the Stinger. Wemmick cared a lot for pip. Eventually he becomes a good friend and adviser to Pip. His importance in the story is truly realized in page 334, where he saves Pips life by sending him a note cautioning him not to go home.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

About the Supplemental Security Income Program - SSI

About the Supplemental Security Income Program - SSI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal government benefit program providing cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter to persons who are blind or otherwise disabled and have little or no other income. Monthly SSI benefits are paid to persons with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children, as well as adults, can qualify to get SSI benefits. How SSI is Different From Retirement Benefits While the SSI program is administered by the Social Security Administration, the way in which SSI benefits are administered is very different from how Social Security retirement benefits are paid. SSI benefits do not require and are not based on the recipients prior work or a family members prior work. In other words, no current or prior employment is required to qualify for SSI benefits. Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI benefits are funded by general funds from the U.S. Treasury generated by income taxes paid be individuals and corporations. Social Security taxes withheld from workers paychecks under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) do not help fund the SSI program. Total SSI funding, along with maximum monthly amounts to be paid to SSI recipients, are set annually by Congress as part of the federal budget process. SSI recipients in most states can also have their benefits supplemented by Medicaid to help pay for doctor bills, prescriptions and other health care costs. SSI beneficiaries may also be eligible for food stamps in every state except California. In some states, an application for SSI benefits also serves as an application for food stamps. Who is Eligible for SSI Benefits Anyone who is: aged (age 65 or older);blind or disabled. And, who: has limited income; andhas limited resources; andis a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens; andis not absent from the country for a full calendar month or for 30 consecutive days or more; andis not confined to an institution (such as a hospital or prison) at the governments expense; andapplies for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible, (for example, pensions, Social Security benefits); andgives SSA permission to contact any financial institution and request any financial records about you; andfiles an application; andmeets certain other requirements. What Does  Ã¢â‚¬ËœLimited Income’ Include? For purposes of determining SSI eligibility, Social Security counts the following as income: money you earn from work;money you receive from other sources, such as Social Security benefits, workers compensation, unemployment benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs, friends or relatives; andfree food or shelter. What  Are ‘Limited Resources’? For purposes of determining SSI eligibility, Social Security counts the following as limited resources: cash;bank accounts, stocks, U.S. savings bonds;land and real estate;vehicles;personal property;life insurance; andanything else you own that could be converted to cash and used for food or shelter. NOTE: For complete details on the SSI program, including qualifications and how to apply for benefits, see the  Understanding Supplemental Security Income home page on the SSA website.   SSI Payment Details Amounts of SSI benefit payments are set annually by Congress and are typically adjusted every January to reflect the current cost of living.  Maximum (SSI) payment amounts increase with the cost-of-living increases (COLA) that apply to Social Security retirement benefits. Some states provide supplemental SSI benefits. SSI benefit payments are not taxable. Possible Benefit Reductions Exact benefit amounts paid to individual SSI recipients may be less than the maximum depending on non-SSI income, like wages and other Social Security benefits. Persons living in their own home, in the home of another person, or in a Medicaid-approved nursing home may also have their SSI payments reduced accordingly. The monthly amount is reduced by subtracting monthly countable income. In the case of an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, the amount payable is further divided equally between the two spouses.   Updated current maximum and average SSI payment amounts can be found on the SSI Statistics web site. SSI Work Incentive Programs Helping people with disabilities achieve independence by taking advantage of employment opportunities is one of the Social Security Administration’s highest priorities. SSI’s work incentive programs help disabled and blind SSI recipients to continue to work while minimizing the risk of losing their SSI or Medicaid benefits. Certain work incentive programs allow SSI recipients to exempt some of their work income from their list of resources. Others allow SSI recipients to continue to receive Medicaid coverage even though they are not receiving monthly SSI cash benefits. SSI recipients may be eligible to take advantage of more than one work incentive program. As with Social Security retirement benefits, working can reduce the amount of the recipient’s SSI benefit payments. Complete information on SSI work incentive opportunities can be found in the SSA’s â€Å"The Red Book - A Guide to Work Incentives.†