Criticism of Pascals Wager Essays -- Religion, Does God Exist?

The proof for the existence of God is an issue that may never be resolved. It has caused division among families and friends, nations and society. The answer to the question does God exist? is almost an unimaginable matchless to give with trustedty seeing that there is a variety of people, ideas, cultures and beliefs. So how does one know if ones actions here on macrocosm could have eternal consequences? What is, if any, a safe bet to make? Blaise Pascal was a 15th century philosopher and a mathematician who proposed the idea that although one cannot know for certain that God exists, one can make a safe bet that it is far better to believe in God than not to believe in God. This is not a proof for the existence of God but sort of an idea that suggest that if there is a God, it is in the persons usefulness to believe rather to disbelieve because the odds are in favor of the believer. This gambler-like idea is better known as Pascals Wager or The Gamblers Argument. Nevertheless, this sort of play-the-ponies idea is not quite precise. Although Pascals Wager serves as a stepping-stone for non-believers, it is a rather vague, faithless and inexact argument. Pascals wager takes the position of a gambler. It says that it is far more logical to believe in God because the odds are in ones favor. Pascal lays it down on a diagram like so if one believes in God and lives a good, moral, and Christian lifespan and in the end finds that God exists, that person has hit the jack-pot, if I may, gaining eternal life in the presence of God. At the same time, if the aforementioned person comes to the end of life and finds unwrap that God does not exist, then that person really did not loose all that much. Sure probably missed a few parties, didnt dr... ...ople to come back to Church and to believe in God but not out of self-interest. In order for the argument to accomplish this it must set-back be rewritten. It needs to define its terms (i.e. the use of the word God), it should not be based on chance or self-interest but rather to make known to the person that it is quite possible that God exists, and finally, it should include a fifth outcome where a person believes in God out of self-interest and is eternally damned anyway for lack of faith, love and for selfishness. Pascals Wager calls to mind a famous quote by Albert Camus I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isnt, than live my life as if there isnt and die to find out there is. Until Pascals argument is solid and fully developed, one should not adopt the argument as a mean for conversion, evangelization or lifestyle.

Coming To America: Adjusting To A Culture Essay -- Cultural Identity Es

     Prince Ahkeim Jahfar wakes up on his twenty-first birthday and realizesthat he is to be wed to a woman he has never met before. This is a custom thatis handed-down in the royal family of Zamoonda, Africa. His father, KingJahfi Jahfar had been planning this wedding for many years. The woman who isgroomed to be the princes wife has been trained since birth to learneverything about the prince and what he likes. She is trained to fill hisevery desire. As it turned out, the Prince was not satisfied with his wife tobe because her intellect did not meet his standards. He decides to travel tothe States to find his bride to be.     Prince Ahkeim and his servant Simi fly to Queens, New York to fill outthe Princes dreams. They arrive in a suburban area of Queens wearing very dearly-won suits and animal skins around their chest. Soon they find out thatthey need to change their wardrobe to fit in with the rest of the population.Prince Ahkeim plans to meet a woman that go forth love him for who he is and notfor the wealth he has. He must make everybody he meets believe that he is anordinary person from New York so that his cover will not be "blown". ThePrince even gets a job at a fast-food restaurant and works like a nestling wouldfrom his home. When asked where he is from, he simply replies "Im an Africanstudent who is studying here at the University".     ...

Essay --

Democratic societies are those who allow individuals to participate in the decision making process, in addition to recognizing and practicing the human adjusts. The legal age of the democratic societies recognize the right to vote as a fundamental human right in accordance with the European Union on piece rights act 1998 protocol 1, part 2, article 3, which acknowledges the right of each individual to vote and without excluding any particular person. Despite this, many countries including the United Kingdom, embargo prisoners from practicing this right and believe in their disenfranchisement. Currently, there is an on going debate concerning the United Kingdoms breach of the Humans right act in loose of the case of Hirst v United Kingdom (74025/01) which has forced the UK to reconsider its position. Banning prisoners from voting contradicts democracy and violations the human rights act. This paper will focus on analyzing a number of different arguments concerning this matter.The United Kingdoms stance on the disenfranchisement of prisoners was clearly expressed in the Representati...

Essay on Literacy in African-American Literature -- compare and contras

Levels of Literacy in African-American Literature - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, poetry of Solomon, and Push Through literacy will come emancipation. So runs a theme passim the various selections we make water read thus far. But emancipation comes in many forms, as does literacy. The various aspects of academic literacy are rather obvious in relation to emancipation, especially when one is confronted with exclusion from membership in the dominant culture. In the various slave narratives we have examined, all but one writer, bloody shame Prince, managed to achieve academic literacy to varying degrees (although, Mary Prince was in the process of learning to read and write). And even though she was not literate, Mary was still able to have her story told. Frederick Douglass, made it a point to attain literacy at any cost. Most, but not all, of Toni Morrisons characters in Song of Solomon appear to have attained at least a modicum of literacy. In Push, Sapphire has her protagonist, Precious, pointed down a long road toward at least a minimal form of academic literacy that will allow her to become a more functional human being and a much more productive member of society. What part does literacy play in the advancement of the individual, and to what lengths will one go to achieve it? What part must the individual play to make certain that literacy leads to the desired or implied advancement? And, finally, is in that respect a cost for literacy, or is it always something gained? Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass As a relatively young man, Frederick Douglass discovers, in his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, that learning to read and write can be his path to freedom. Upon discovering that... ...he past, but Douglass and Precious can use their connections with the past as means to avoid its mistakes. So all triplet find a personal use for what once was reality as a promise for a more fulfilling reality in the future. An d in a certain sense, all three find emancipation through their disparate relationships with literacy. Works Cited Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The Classic Slave Narratives. Ed. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. new York New American Library, 1987. 243-331. Gates, Henry Louis. The Classic Slave Narratives. New York New American Library, 1987. Graff, Harvey J. The Literacy Myth Literacy and Social Structure in the Nineteenth-Century City. New York Academic Press, 1979. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York Penguin Books USA, Inc., 1987. Sapphire. Push. New York Vintage Books, 1996.

big bang theory Essay -- essays research papers

The macro Bang theory states that all the matter that is in the creation was once in a very small amount of station with infinite temperature, pressure, and density. This theory is well supported and there are many reason for its support. One main reason is that no one rattling has a clue and The Big Bang Theory seems far fetched but more reasonable than any opposite ideas that there are out there. any(prenominal) of the important thing to know about the big bang to understand are the beginning and the few seconds immediately after the actually bang. Also what mostly has happened since the then. It is important to know theories of how it leave alone end as well, and to get a well rounded opinion, I feel it useful to be in possession of some of the other possibilities outlined. The best place to start is the beginning.One of the things that cosmologists are non yet sure about is the Big Bang itself. It is not yet possible to gain a definitive answer to the questions what w as the Big Bang and why did it happen? How of all time, there has been a great deal of speculation recently on this subject, and it whitethorn not be long before a definitive, or almost definitive, answer will be declared. For the moment we will simply take the Big Bang as it is given, a huge explosion in which time and space began expanding. It is important to realize that space itself originated in the Big Bang. IT is tempting to cerebrate of the universe before the Big Bang as being a vast, infinite, expanse of empty space, like the space between the galaxy clusters today. The Big Bang, then, would put one over flung matter into this nothingness, but this is not what happened. Space itself was created during the Big Bang. Einstein and all subsequent cosmologists require viewed space as being as real as matter. In fact, physicists now view empty space as a sea of virtual particles. So space is now expanding along with the galaxies and stars that exist with it and has been expand ing ever since the Big Bang.Actually, cosmologists actually have a clearer picture of what the universe was like during the period right after the Big Bang than they are about the universe today.The reason for this is universe was very simple, in comparison, then. The universe was filled with a hot soup of particles like a hot gas trapped in a box. The photons in the cosmic microwave bac... ...re is only so much energy available in the universe for the building of new stars. Just as the law of thermodynamics tell us that a closed universe cant go on forever, so they tell us that new stars cannot go on being created forever in an open universe. Eventually the last star will die out and will not be replace. The proton will eventually decay. After about a billion billion billion billion years, all atoms will fall apart, and matter as we know it will cease to exist. The universe will be a vast sea of leptons and messenger particles.One main, but unsupported, theory is that the universe was created by God. This theory is not excepted in the scientific community because in has no evidence to back it up. That doesnt mean it isnt a possibility. There are a few other theories of the creations of the universe, but no other theories are as excepted as the big bang theory. Some of the important stuff to know that I have covered is the eras right after the Big Bang, the Big Bang it self and a few of the possible endings to the universe. I hope with this information you can have a better understanding of the universe, its creation, and its endings.

big bang theory Essay -- essays research papers

The large Bang theory states that all the matter that is in the universe was once in a very small amount of length with infinite temperature, pressure, and density. This theory is well supported and there are many reason for its support. One main reason is that no one unfeignedly has a clue and The Big Bang Theory seems far fetched but more reasonable than any some other ideas that there are out there. what forever of the important thing to know about the big bang to understand are the beginning and the fewer seconds immediately after the actually bang. Also what mostly has happened since the then. It is important to know theories of how it leaveing end as well, and to get a well rounded opinion, I feel it useful to run through some of the other possibilities outlined. The best place to start is the beginning.One of the things that cosmologists are non yet sure about is the Big Bang itself. It is not yet possible to flop a definitive answer to the questions what was the Big Bang and why did it happen? However, there has been a great deal of speculation recently on this subject, and it may not be long before a definitive, or almost definitive, answer will be declared. For the moment we will simply take the Big Bang as it is given, a huge explosion in which time and space began expanding. It is important to realize that space itself originated in the Big Bang. IT is tempting to figure of the universe before the Big Bang as being a vast, infinite, expanse of empty space, like the space between the galaxy clusters today. The Big Bang, then, would shoot flung matter into this nothingness, but this is not what happened. Space itself was created during the Big Bang. Einstein and all subsequent cosmologists select viewed space as being as real as matter. In fact, physicists now view empty space as a sea of virtual particles. So space is now expanding along with the galaxies and stars that exist with it and has been expanding ever since the Big Bang.Ac tually, cosmologists actually have a clearer picture of what the universe was like during the period right after the Big Bang than they are about the universe today.The reason for this is universe was very simple, in comparison, then. The universe was filled with a hot soup of particles like a hot gas trapped in a box. The photons in the cosmic microwave bac... ...re is only so much energy available in the universe for the building of new stars. Just as the law of thermodynamics tell us that a closed universe cant go on forever, so they tell us that new stars cannot go on being created forever in an open universe. Eventually the last star will die out and will not be replace. The proton will eventually decay. After about a billion billion billion billion years, all atoms will fall apart, and matter as we know it will cease to exist. The universe will be a vast sea of leptons and messenger particles.One main, but unsupported, theory is that the universe was created by God. This theo ry is not excepted in the scientific community because in has no evidence to back it up. That doesnt mean it isnt a possibility. There are a few other theories of the creations of the universe, but no other theories are as excepted as the big bang theory. Some of the important stuff to know that I have covered is the eras right after the Big Bang, the Big Bang it self and a few of the possible endings to the universe. I hope with this information you can have a better understanding of the universe, its creation, and its endings.

Budgeting as a Tool for Planning and Control Essay

A budget is one of your best tools for r each(prenominal)ing your goals whatever your age or stage in life. Its a plan of what silver you expect to receive and how you expect to spend it. * Who should collapse a budget? * How to straighten out a budget * persona the money planner * Things you need * Getting help * Tracking your expenditure * Making the most of your income Who should have a budget? Tip A steady budget is harder to stick to. Be realistic. Everyone pot benefit from a budget. Its not just for people who are having trouble fashioning ends meet.If youre spending less than you earn, use your budget to work out how much you can put aside each pay to improve your financial position. We call this paying(a) yourself first. If youre spending to a greater extent than you earn, use your budget to see where your money is going. Then see if there are any ways you can cut your spending or increase your income. Rick and Heather Mawby The Mawby family makes sure their money go es a long way. Read more Back to top How to make a budget Add up how much money is coming into your household (your income), and how much is going out (your spending), then work out the difference.The consequent is either money left over (a surplus) or not enough money to cover your spending (a deficit). Aim for a surplus so you have some money to save for your goals or pay off debt faster. Back to top Use the money planner Making a budget is favorable with our money planner. Once youve set your budget you can save it in My Sorted to review later. You can save more than one budget and level(p) share it with friends and family. The NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services also has a free budget worksheet you can download. Back to top Things you need Your budget needs to be true or it wont work.Give yourself time to get all the information youll need, including * A record of your day-to-day spending. Keep receipts from your shopping, and gather up bank statements and bills from the last three months. These will show regular expenses like rent, mortgage, hire purchase, credit cards, phone, power and insurance. * A list of annual costs. Think most things you pay for less regularly like vehicle licensing, medical expenses, gifts and holidays. * Your income details. A list of any money you get such as your pay, benefits or allowances, NZ highly or interest earned on savings. * Savings. Details of any regular savings you make.Back to top Getting help If you need help making a budget, or if you are having trouble making ends meet, contact a budget adviser. Back to top Tracking your spending Once youve set a budget you need to see how its working in reality. Keep a spending diary or use an online tool. Find out more about money tracking. Back to top Making the most of your income Budgeting isnt just about watching your spending. How much you earn also affects whether you have money left over for saving or paying off debt. Why you need to grow your income If you r income doesnt grow youll effectively earn less each year just because of inflation.So when youre planning your finances, dont forget to include goals for growing your income. Know what youre worth Do you admit what someone in your position with your experience and skills should be earning? Does your employer? To remark out what youre worth, read the situations vacant in your local paper or demote out the online job sites. You could even contact some recruitment agencies to find out what a similar job to yours is currently paying. You can also find broad salary information for different types of jobs on the Careers New Zealand website.

Computer software Essay

What were more or less of the problems with DST Systems old software program development environment? Some of the problems with the DST Systems old software development environment wereoften manual and time-consuming(AS used a mixture of tools, processes, and source calcu after-hours control system without any repository for code or a standardized developer tool set different groups within the org. used very different tools for soft ware development)hard to locate where resources were allocatedthe DST struggled to update its most important product, AWDB. How did scrummage development help solve some of those problems? Scrum development helped solve some of these problems by accelerating its software development rhythm method of birth control from 24 months to 6 months and developer productivity increased 20%. What the scrum development pretty much acted like was the coach for the team. This is how the scrum development helped solve some of these problems.InformationAgile developm ent approaches like Scrum is designed to reveal problems, not solve them. The solutions are situational they take different forms depending on the agreemental context. allows say we have a software development team that is often deep in delivering the final product. Theyve been together for a while and delivered six-fold releases but they are almost always late. Management and the team decide to try Scrum hoping that a fresh approach will enable the team to deliver on time. The team dives in defining stories, planning sprints and delivering working software iteratively. Will they deliver the final build on time?If the late deliveries stem from poorly defined business requirements and overleap of business participation, Scrum will not solve the problem. What Scrum will do is highlight the lack of business involvement earlier in the project thus providing an opportunity to fix the problem.If the late deliveries result from optimistic work estimates by the development team, Scrum will not solve that problem either. Sprints will deliver less than planned and alert the team that they need to adjust their estimates for future sprints. They may remedy deliver the final build later than expected but at least the problem will be well publicized in advance.If the late deliveries are caused by lack of teamwork and in-fighting amongst the team members, those behaviours will likely continue. The frequent deliveries mandated by Scrum may draw attention to these issues but wont solve them.The critical concept behind Scrum, the agile development approaches is continuous improvement identifying problems and solving them continuously. The effort will never be perfect engineering changes too fast for that but the team will continuously adjust and improve.C. What other adjustments did DST make to be able to use Scrum more in effect in its software projects? What management, organization, and technology issues had to be addressed? The other adjustments DST was able to ma ke to use Scrum more effectively in its software projects were by setting up a project evaluation team to identify the right development environment. Another key adjustment was DSTs adoption of CollabNets products. This adjustment allowed DST to complete all of their work within the ALM platform.The management issue being addressed was production being slowed down. The organization issue was the lack of organization so processes were breaking down. Finally, the technology issue being addressed was the problem occurring with the software so production was taking a major hit.

Freedom: Meaning of Life and Br Essay

Freedom is often spoken of in what abide be referred to as a loose sense. One country has more emancipation than another a twenty-one year old has more freedom than a fifteen year old, but what exactly does this word, which is so often airily used, mean? Or, if this conclusion cannot be reached, what does it not mean? For different people it may mean different things, but there has to be an equilibrium that can be reached in order to determine the meaning of freedom itself. In one form, freedom can mean that a person has exemption from an obligation.* If altogether the root (free) is looked at, it can be interpreted that one is not under the control or power of another.* However often the latter definition is used, it is as well as disagreed with, and for good reason there is always a ruler, although the ruler may not necessarily be in the form of a person or group of persons. Take, for instance, the human body. It consists of basically three things, as far as ruling powers are concerned prudence, will, and unexampled appetite.Raw appetite can be looked at as what we collapse without reason, will is what can control raw appetite (or desires that we have without reason), and prudence is that which provides a choice between will and raw appetite. Prudence has the ability to make between the two options. This is just one example of how a ruler must always exist, although it may not have a physical form. Taking this into consideration, the meaning of freedom can further be explored. Perhaps it can be defined as having the liberty to choose who/what the ruler is to be. For, since nothing can exist without having some form of rule, if people are not permitted to choose what the ruling factor is, then that would not be considered having freedom. Through this, it can be concluded that freedom, possibly, is not simply the ability to be able to do whatever it is that you want, and it is not simply being liberated from the power of another. It can also be conclud ed that one of the definitions of freedom could possibly be the liberty to choose the ruler. However, it is possible that it is unfeasible to ever moderate the exact definition of freedom.

Reflection on Sona

I have heard pretty more more or less about 10 State of the Nation Addresses by many a(prenominal) presidents. They all have told pretty much the analogous common and general thing, that they being the president of the artless for this year have done so much to help the Philippines. With investments coming in, roads and buildings constructed, health, education and insurance growths. Believe me when I say I have heard it all. Pnoys SONA is pretty much the same things I have heard other presidents say. They boast numerous and countless achievements in their term but still I have never heretofore to hear a truthful lay down of the Philippines in pretty much every SONA.For once in my lifetime I in reality ask a president to say where and what the Philippines is at. A person can already spang what the President saying is false by taking a ask around you. For my experience, I still see majority of the population below the poverty line. I see 10 to 15 year old cornerstone begging the people to improve it. I still see no multifariousnesss being made. So to say that Pnoys SONA is nothing new is a concomitant and not a mere opinion. What I really would like to hear is a truthful SONA. Something more negative rather than positive. Something that would really describe where the Philippines is at.I know it when I see something fishy and I know it when something is true. Hey, honourable take a look around you, and you will know 100% if the president is fictionalisation or not. The real problem is politics. It is a dirty business. People want to win elections, be the best, and of course want to show their best. Politics is a man so deranged that what all politicians do nowadays, is give free food for everyone in the barangay and they instantly win. Has winning come down to such levels that people really do not care anymore? It is true, that people want to rise from the ranks of poverty, but they should not rely on any politician.They should not rely on the thin gs they hear our president Pnoy say, but in reality, they should rely on themselves. Yes the government and Pnoy is there to help us, but the real problem lies within people. Will the easy ever step down to the poor? Will the poor ever be able to step up to the rich? Its in all these questions that I ask myself, should I really be listening to the SONA when in fact, not specifically, but I know where my country is at. I want real change and not just the words and numbers coming out from our presidents most recent SONA.Real change that I can see when I walk down the alley or the streets. I know my part in this country and I hope that people will realize that a SONA is just words coming out of one persons mouth. The real state of the nation lies within the hearts and minds of all people life history in their country. It lies within the heart and conscience of every person, may it be the rich or the poor. We all have our judgements in society. Lets just for once, stop judging, and st art helping each other out. Only then will we be able to see the true changes that will for sure, ratify our country not for the worse, but for the better.

Assisted Suicide

Matthew Donnelly was a man who had loved life, but Matthew Donnelly became a man that wanted to die. For the past thirty years, Matthew had conducted research on the use of X-rays. Now, skin cancer was consuming his tortured body. He had lost his nose, his left hand, two fingers on his right hand, and part of his jaw. He was left maneuver and was slowly deteriorating. The pain was unrelenting. Doctors estimated that he had a year to live. Lying in bed with teeth clenched from the excruciating pain, he pleaded to be put extinct of his misery.His pleas, however, went unanswered because of existing law in the state of Texas. One day, Matthews brother Harold, who could no longer ignore Matthews repeated cry for mercy, removed a . 30 caliber pistol from his dresser drawer, walked into the hospital and shot and k dyspepticed his brother. Harold was tried for murder. (Santa Clara University article) Had assisted suicide been legal in Texas, as it is in Oregon, Harold would not be in the p osition he is in today. Oregon was the first State to pass the law. In 1997 the Death with Dignity Act was implemented.This piece of legislation enables a workmanlike adult who desires to end their life access to a lethal dose of medication which they administer themselves. In order for a person to qualify for assisted suicide in Oregon, they must be a legal adult and be capable of understanding the consequences of their decision. They must also have a panorama of six months or less to live due to a terminal illness and have the backing of a registered physician (Volker, 2007). We have a moral obligation to relieve the suffering of our fellow human beings and to respect their right to die with dignity.Throughout most of our country today, terminally ill diligents lie with incurable diseases and without the means to end their own suffering because the government tells them they cant. These patients can only look forward to lives filled with yet more suffering and degradation. When such(prenominal) people beg for a merciful end to their pain and indignity, it is cruel and inhumane to refuse their will. Compassion demands that we give these people the choice they currently hold outt have. Despite the clear need for a national death with dignity law, assisted suicide remains a controversial topic in todays society.Opponents of the right to die act have many arguments against euthanasia as the right of all citizens. Some argue that only immortal is the true owner of when a person should come to their natural end. Others make the case that someone in seat of a terminally ill patient would not have the capacity to make a rational decision and could be negatively influenced by an immoral or poor physician. In retort to the critics, I say this. We live in the land of the free and nobody should be able to violate an individuals freedom by forcing their face-to-face beliefs or spiritual beliefs on others (just as it is written in the Constitution . Furthermore, as a proponent for assisted suicide I would argue that it is hygienic within an individuals rights to decide when and how they want to die. Why I understand the concern for patients being taken advantage of, I consider this a problem to be solved as opposed to an impassable wall. Let us come together to create a system, like Oregon, that protects terminally ill patients from being taken advantage of when they are most vulnerable while preserving the rights of those same citizens to choose in what manner they will meet their end.Harolds myth has proved that making it illegal to die when you choose to can lead to desperate acts by either the patient themselves or in this instance, a tight-fitting family member. We should have the freedom to choose how we live our lives. Whether or not we want to end our lives early or let an illness take its course and let us die naturally are highly personal decisions and an instance where individual opinions are not welcome as law. People deserve t o abjure this earth with their dignity intact. How that is accomplished should be a personal choice, not subject to public opinion.

Small Family Owned Business

My assignment for the presentation on ( diminutive) family owned businesses was to research and share an organized piece on the international studies of the subject. after(prenominal) several days of searching the internet for appropriate studies, I had gathered enough data to put together a three part report. The three parts consisted first off of an intro, which I believed was enough to be considered its own part, just beca affair of the extremely interesting point that family owned businesses are much(prenominal) a widespread habitualality.Second came the bulk of my research, the description of small family owned businesses under the laws of different countries, specifically those belonging to countries in Europe. Last but not to the lowest degree, I followed up with the importance of small family owned businesses impact on the overall economy of Europe, and how they applied. When you think of a small family owned business, you usually think of at least one local business you have known and have used your whole life whether a gas station, kebab imbiss, cafe, restaurant, or car dealership, and so on However, think about if everyone in the world named at least one such business.Many people would name the some of the same enterprises, but now you spate imagine just how many small family owned businesses there are across the world. Because there are so many, not many reports exist that bunghole contain the entire scope of every kind in every country, therefore, my report covers information regarding largely to european studies. Across Europe and in the fall in States, there is no widely accepted definition or legal description of a family business, however there are many criteria that if met by a small business, can be used to classify a business as such.Although each country has its own list of indicators, some countries use common knowledge to decide what constitutes a family business. This means that most countries simply use perception to differenti ate a family business from a non-family business ground on the interrelationship between family and enterprise that can obviously be observed like the active involvement of family members in the enterprises day-by-day activities.Few countries legal codes actually mention regulations in which small businesses are referred and partially defined, but can vary easily from each other such as the Austrian regional agricultural legislation stating a family business defined as any autonomous economic entity regularly and sustainably providing for the farming familys income to the Italian Civil Code which describes family businesses as enterprises in which members of the family unit work and have ownership.For most cases, instead looking for derelict, briefly mentioned bits of code referring to family business, a group of common soft and hard criteria has been identified(3). Soft criteria includes o family relations affect the assignment of the management o family indirectly runs the fami liarity o major family influence/ ascendancy of the management (in terms of strategic decisions) o significant proportion of the enterprises senior management o most important decision made by the family o family examine of the management of the enterprise at least 2 generations having had control over the enterprise Hard criteria includes more legitimate and quantifiable proof such as o chief executive officer has to be a family member o 1 family member is actively involved in the operative management of the company o More than 1 family member in the management o CEO and at least 1 management team member stems from the family o At least 2 directors/board members stem from the family o At least 3 board or staff members stem from the family o volume of the management team stem from the familyOr, in the case of Denmark, a family has control over the company if it has 50 % of the shares, or if it has 50 % of the shares and a member of the family is the CEO In regards to impact on economy, although small family owned businesses chance uponm like only a small part of the world economy, they actually make up quite a large percent of all enterprises. It is estimated that about 70-80% of businesses across Europe are family businesses, and of those, about 50% are small family owned businesses.Over all, small family owned businesses also contribute to about 40-50% of employment in Europe(3). The following table(3) shows elements of the definition of family business by country, gathered by several international studies on family business. What the previous table shows, is cross-national (European) minimum criteria for the ownership, control, or management of a company by a family according to FBN supranational 2007, Les Henokiens, European Group of Owner managed and Family Enterprises (GEEF), and PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP. 2007.Under FBN International 2007, and also according to the European Group of Owner managed and Family Enterprises, ownership is described as the direct or indirect majority of votes held by the founders, spouses, parents, children, heir, or persons having acquired the shares control/management is described as at least one representative of family or kin present in the management. In contrast to those studies, Les Henokiens suggests that in locate to hold ownership, a company moldiness own the majority of shares for more than two hundred years in regards to control/management the enterprise must be managed by a direct descendant of the founder.Another contrasting opinion to FBN International 2007 and the European Group of Owner managed and Family Enterprises, but perhaps not as extreme as Les Henokiens, is the study performed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP. 2007 which defines ownership as simply at least fifty-one percent of shares held by a family or link families, and control/management as a majority of the senior management team and the owners having a day to day responsibility for the management of the business.In c onclusion, we can see that (small) family owned businesses are a huge contributing factor to the economy worldwide, but still remain a mostly ignored topic by most countries and their legal systems, which is interesting because one would think something so important would be more tightly regulated. I would like to thank my hard works group, and Ms. Fink for the opportunity to present this topic. Works Cited (I have numbered my sources to make identification easier within the report) 1. D, Jamie. Running a Family Business Within the Law SBA. ov. Running a Family Business Within the Law SBA. gov. U. S. Small Business Administration, 4 May 2010. Web. 5 May 2012. . 2. Elliott, Larry, and Julia Kollewe. Germanys Smaller Firms Emerge Intact from the Recession. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 15 Mar. 2011. Web. 5 May 2012. . 3. Mandl, Irene. Overview of Family Business Relevant Issues. Ec. europa. eu. European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General, 2008. Web. 5 May 2012. . 4. Winslow, CJ. Welcome to FoodTronix. Welcome to FoodTronix. Web. 5 May 2012. .

Mobile Phone and Skype Users Essay

1. Describe the environment in which Skype competes based on the three characteristics of high-tech commercializes (Chapter 1). Skype competes in the Internet telephone set market, which provides voice-over-internetprotocol (VOIP) services to use of goods and servicesrs. This allows users to install the software on their computers and make call through the Internet for free. Skype makes small charges for per-minute calls to landlines and mobile phones. The three common characteristics of high-tech markets are 1) market uncertainty 2) technological uncertainty and 3) competitive volatility.1) Market uncertainty a) The users are uncertain about the security and potential vulnerabilities exposed by the Skype system. Users doubt the reliability of the system. It is often not used for making emergency cases or highly important matters like calling the ambulance or police. b) in that location exist different VOIP platforms. There is platform dependency, where only Skype users can make calls to users who are using the Skype platform. c) Users move in herd behavior and there is increasing popularity in using sociable platform like MSN messenger, which also provides VOIP service. Thus there is a shift of users to more popular platform.2) Technological uncertainty a) Windows update caused potential glitch in the system. This caused blackouts to users, which caused lost of trust in the Skype system. b) Users doubted the privacy security of the system, which could be intruded by unknown strangers calling using Skype. c) Users can easily disguise themselves and falsify their identities when registering to use the platform. Thus unregulated membership enlarges the rise of misusing the technology for crimes.3) Competitive Volatility a) There is an increasing direct competition from large competitors such as Yahoo, MSN and Google. These players stimulate diverted Skype users as this free voice-communication over the net is integrated into each of the social platform. As the network becomes larger, some of these services might utilize taxation model of Skype by adding value-added service to call users by landlines and mobile phones and provide it for free. b) The rising popularity in the use of Iphone also means there is a increase of other free calling services provided by Tango and Facetime etc. these platform provide the ability for users to conveniently call using their phone or gadgets like Ipad.

Parenting Skills Essay

Explain the assorted forms of claw plague? Include Shaken Baby Syndrome in your response. The different forms of pip-squeak abuse are , material Abuse , Emotional Abuse , knowledgeable Abuse , and Neglect. Physical abuse is forcefulness directed toward a baby bird by a parent or some other bounteous heraldic bearinggiver. Emotional abuse is when a caregiver causes the babe to feel worthless and rejected . Sexual abuse towards a child may be in a verbal way , chip inership to fleshly contact with the child. Finally , Neglect is when the parent or caregiver fails to care for their childs basic physical , emotional , disciplinary , and/or educational needs.Shaken Baby Syndrome is when an individual shakes a child violently over a period of time leading to the childs hospitalization or worse , death. 2. What lineaments of physical care must a parent provide an infant child? The type of physical care a parent must provide an infant child is , batheing , diaper changes , and dress & supply properly . Its Also a MUST to prop the infants head up properly while openhanded a child its bottle. 3. What are some strategies for helping a child cope with separate out? Some of the strategies for helping a child cope with stress are , Encouraging open conversation with their child , helping them feel comfortable enough to open up to you about whats bothering them.Helping your child come up with ways to solve their bear problems rather then solve them yourself is also a great way. Another way to help a child cope with stress is learning what type of berths put your child in a stressful state, then try avoiding putting them in that situation . Also creating a home environment that is stable abd free of hostility and violence , keeping your own stress to a minimum is also a great way to prevent stress on your child , because chances are you may accidently take your frustration out on your child. Critical Thinking Questions1.What is the conflict between a evasive environment and a nurturing environment? The difference between a protective environment and a nurturing environment is a protective environment is when a child is prtected from violence and abuse . They must feel safe in the home , school , and in the community . Helping the child feel as if they can trust her parents , teachers , and other adults in her community . A nurturing environment is when the parent is activiely attentive to their childs physical and emotional needs , being able to trust their family to care for them and to love them.2. How do childrens needs change as they grow through development stages from babyhood to teen years? How do picky needs children differ? During the infancy years a child will need you to do absolute everything for them. During toddler years a child may be able to communicate and do task like feeding themselves with a bottle , spoon , and cupful . During elementary years a child will be able to take care of about of of their physica l needs , Yet still depend on you to impose structure and rountine. Teenagers will near never need your help taking care of their physically needs. But with a child who has special needs , depending on their disability you may have to care for the child as if theyre a toddler for the rest of their lives.3. List and explain factors a parent can control that lead to a nurturing environment. Include characteristics of nurturing parents. A parent can control whether or not there is abuse & violence in their household , Always being avaliable to their child for physical and emotional needs. Asssuring the child that they will incessantly be their to care for them , reminding the child that theyre loved . Setting time aside for family time is a great way to provide a nurturing environment for your child. A nurturing parent will always shroud their child according to their needs , focusing their attention whenever possible. Building a loving and caring kinship with their child, listenin g & allowing their child to express themselves.4. List and explain factors that lead to poor relationships and that increase the risk of child abuse. Factors that lead to poor relationships and that increase the risk of child abuse may be , Latchkey children, Marital encounter and divorce , kernel abuse , HIV/AIDS , or Death. Latchkey children are left alone without adult supervision which can lead to fear and anxiety . Marital strife and divorce may lead to conflict in the home resulting to high level of stress and failure academically and socially . Substance abuse may hinder a parents self-control resulting in a parent who becomes irresponsible and a non-nurturing parents. HIV/AIDS can devastate a family , resulting in a child losing both parents devising the child a orphan , It may also cause financial strain on a family . Death can make a child doubt their safety in a sane day to day basis .5. Why is it critical for a parent to be involved in their childrens education? It i s critical for a parent to be involved in their children education . in the first place because kids need motivation , parents want their children to be successful in life. Parents should also be cautious on what they do around their children , because children learn largely by observation. Older Children need to be taught to proactively pursure their academic goals.

Privacy Laws and Policies Debate Essay

Upon viewing this weeks reading as well as liberation through other student arguments about why they are against communication privacy laws and policies, I smell even more strongly about them being crucial for success. Those who fear being watched are the ones who discern they are doing wrong. Companies have the right to see what is going on, they pay the salaries of each employee.In times worry today a ships company needs to know what is going on inwardly itself. This means that having access to computers, email, mobile devices along with monitoring systems in the work place. virtually of my fellow classmates to not agree with roughly of the practices but per our reading in Workplace Privacy it stays that Under the ordinary course of phone line exemption, for example, employers may monitor email communications if the employer can show a legitimate business mathematical function for doing so (Friedman, Reed, 2007). If employees know that they are being closely watched it d ecreases the chances of them not working or cheating the company.Some may argue that from our reading it says While employers have many legitimate reasons to monitor employees electronic communications, they likewise need to consider negative implications of increased employee monitoring in terms of the effect of such practices on employee perceptions and attitudes (Friedman, Reed, 2007). For me this does not work because if you are scared of being seen on camera or having someone go through work items then you are clearly doing something you should not be. Any person who owns a company would agree that the best way to stay in business is know what is going on within your company.ReferenceFriedman, B., & Reed, L. (2007, June). Workplace privacy Employeerelations and legal implications of monitoring employee e-mail use. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 19(2), 75.

How Dreams and Dreaming Affect Individual Characters

Explore how day dreamings and dreaming affect individual percentages in the refreshing. Remember to consider how the Ameri female genitalia romance is represented in your answer. In the novel most of the characters befuddle a dream. Each of the characters seem to have a sense of loneliness in each of their scratchs and their dreams are the things that keep them hoping for something better than their lives on the ranch. Lennies dream for one is based on his childlike personality, he wants to be with George and tend to the rabbits.At every daub in the novel where he believes his dream will be compromised you see him fill with rage and accept a tantrum like a child would. When something goes wrong his brain comes back to the rabbits and how he cant bear to loose his dream, this drives him to try and cover up or runaway from his wrongful acts. Lennies dream is tied to Georges and without George his dream is very unlikely to bump. Moving onto George, at first it seems his dream is based on leaving Lennie to live his life as he chooses but as the novel progresses it becomes clear that he shares a dream with Lennie.This would be to have a little house and live off the fatta the lan and in this dream Lennie gets to tend to the rabbits. Compared to Lennies very childlike outlook on their dream George is very practical in his way of thinking for example his dream includes having a scare and some pigs and have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens so that they can live off the fatta the lan. A lot of the men in the novel that move from place to place often dream of having their own place, something that can belong to them and beingness their own boss.George is by chance the only person that gets close to his dream being achieved with a little help from Candy. Another character with a dream is Curleys wife, who wants to be in the movies. Her dream is based upon naivety and how she is very substantially led to believe things. On two occasions s he has been fooled into this way of thinking once when she was a shaver and a show came to town and one of the actors. He says I could go with the show but her acquire wouldnt allow it. On the second occasion she met a guy, an he was in pitchers and was told he was gunna barf me in the movies.Says I was a natural. Soons he got back to Hollywood he was gunna redeem to me about it. She never received a letter and blames it on her mother once again, the way she negotiation about it is though she knows that it wasnt going to happen but cant bear admitting it so she makes her mother the scapegoat. Also she talks about her dream as though its in the retiring(a) and wont progress any further than that. Candy and Crooks both dream of not being completely and a better life away from the ranch which is ultimately the true American Dream.Most of the conflicts that happen in the novel can be blamed upon the so called American Dream when the dream area and human beings collide. The Amer ican Dream contradicts itself by claiming it will do thing, for example equality when in reality Curleys wife and Crooks are shown to have next to no presence on the ranch full because she is a woman and he is black. By the end of the novel it become clear to George that bitter Crooks is correct, his dream will never be achieved. Overall the novel highlights the impossibility of the American Dream ever being achieved. In the end not one person has achieved their dream.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Summary

Unhappy Ending I think that the outcome of Ambrose Bierces story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek tide over, was credible because Bierce hints that Peyton Farquhar, the main character, is dead throughout his journey. If the reader pays about attention to the story, it becomes obvious that the escape is imagined and he is actually going to be hanged. The first piece of severalize that Farquhar is hallucinating is how unaware he is of his own struggle to free himself underwater.Farquhar states that he was not conscious of an effort, just a sharp pain in his wrist told him that he was trying to free his hands suggesting that he isnt actually aware of his own attempts at escape (Bierce 493). Some may argue that Farquhar wasnt aware of his effort because he had an adrenaline rush, but the injuries are too close to the injuries of a hanging to be ignored. The second piece of evidence that Farquhar didnt escape is the pain in his neck and head.As he is fighting to get free, Farquhar describ es how his neck ached horribly and his brain was on fire (Bierce 494). A person struggle at the end of a hanging rope would experience the same pain. He simply imagines breakout free as he dies, but in reality, the intense pain is caused from the noose tightening and at long last choking Farquhar. His freedom swim is clearly a dying dream. The third piece of evidence that proves that Farquhar imagined his freedom is the unbelievable detailed description of nature.There is no sort of adrenaline rush that could show the prismatic color in all the dewdrops upon a million blades of grass just for Farquhar (Bierce 494). It is more probable that Farquhar imagined his escape dear as he strangled to death. In conclusion, the ending of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge was credible and powerful because it hints to the reader that Farquhar doesnt survive and merely dreams of the beautiful escape from his horrible fate.