A Short Story A Story - 1181 Words

~I went to school was hanging out with my friends came home and had a nice dinner with my family and went to sleep at the sounds of the wind blowing through the trees, woke up to birds chirping~ then I actually woke up give me the remote! yelled my sister. No my brother shouted. â€Å"Its my turn, GIVE IT BACK! Thats what I woke up to every morning. Got myself breakfast because dad went to work and mom wasnt awake and walked to the bus. I sat by myself as always and watched the beautiful trees of Africa pass by. Went through all my classes, science, English, ... Till lunch I asked nicely if I could sit with some of the guys, but they just turned around laughing, I always wondered why†¦show more content†¦I thought was gonna die. But out of nowhere this huge giraffe came out and all the animals ran, including the giraffe that helped me so I was a bit confused, but I ran after it anyway, for a pretty long time until I couldnt anymore. But it stopped running so I finally caught up to it and it said â€Å"hola† .. I was so confused why did it just say hi to me in a different language? So I ran back to my tree to go to bed. As I was falling asleep, I continued to think about what had happened earlier. The giraffe saved me from all those animals, but then didnt want to talk to me. Then when I finally got it to say something it was in a different language.. Spanish. So when I woke up I went to the Sahara cafe and got my breakfast same as yesterday, but I also found a Spanish-English dictionary. Then I spent over half the day going around to look for the giraffe and read some words from the dictionary. I finally found the giraffe. I went up to it and it almost ran, but I quickly looked in the dictionary to see what ’wait’ is in Spanish I found it and yelled â€Å"ESPERA† So he stopped, turned around looking surprised that I spoke in Spanish but then it looked down and saw the dictionary and it looked less confused. I looked in the dictionary to see how to ask ‘what is your name’ and I asked him â€Å" ¿como te llamas?† he answered and said â€Å"Rafael peroShow MoreRelatedShort Stories : A Story Of A Short Story838 Words   |  4 PagesShort Stories: Creative writing The dark place Supper was always at six o’clock. Our one meal of the day, the highlight of our day. One stale slice of bread and one small pot of cold rice some suspected wasn’t even rice. A cup of water was also allowed to aid in washing down the miniscule amount of putrid food. Drinking the water thought could cause typhus. Supper was never a sufficient amount of food but it kept us breathing and denied us the energy we needed to attempt or even plan an escapeRead MoreShort Story : The Story Of The Story1264 Words   |  6 PagesSuicide mention near the end of the story, please do not read if you are not ok with things like that. It was a beautiful day at the beach. He had been planning their date for weeks. The war had ended and he finally had a chance to spend time with her. He watches her beautiful blonde ringlets bounce as she walked. Her smile was like the sun itself. Hey Seaweed Brain. She grinned. Wise Girl. He greeted her back. She was looking quite distant so he decided to ask what was wrong. What are youRead MoreA Short Story : A Story Of A Story1091 Words   |  5 Pagesher, anyone could tell that it sounded forced. â€Å"That’s nice,† I replied. What? Was I supposed to tell her that I was so thrilled to be her sister because that’s the ‘normal’ thing to do? If you think that, you’ve forgotten that this is not a normal story. If normal is what you’re looking for, you’re welcome to transition to Amelia by Henry Fielding. My mother left Lucinda and me to share Eleanors room, while she had been forced to adjust to the attic. You may think that it would be cruel to haveRead MoreA Short Story : The Story Of The Story1011 Words   |  5 PagesIt is a rainy afternoon, KYOKO OTONASHI is sitting in the classroom as the teacher is giving a lecture in front of the room. Her phone buzzes and she takes it out to check it.Dads messageTheres been another murder, come to the station as soon as possible.Kyokos textI will, after class ends.The bell rings, Kyoko puts her books into her bag and head towards the entrance of the school.As she approaches the exit, she notices that the rain is quite heavy. She doesnt have an umbrella and hesitatesRead MoreA Short Story : The Story Of The Story879 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Ugh, go away!†,yelled Sarah to her little brother. Wait you dont know who these people are, well then let me introduce them to you.This story is about a little family who lived in a small house in New York City. This family consisted of the mom, the dad, Sarah the big sister who we were just talking about, and Sammy the little brother which we were also talking about. Anyway, Sarah is a sixteen-year-old girl who loves music, talking to her friends, and being on social media. Sammy, on the otherRead MoreA Short Story : A Story Of A Story?756 Words   |  4 Pages It was November 29 1864, I was with my brother Kiaan. He was fifteen years old. My name was Hansh and I was only thirteen years old. We were outside my village practicing archery. My brother was a really good bowhunter, he taught me everything I do. Once we headed back to our village my mom was cooking corn and deer meat, that my father killed the day before. We were planning to have a picnic soon. Then it happened, we heard screaming and hollering across the village. My brother and I lookedRead MoreA Story Of A Short Story1228 Words   |  5 PagesHi. My name is Chelsea and this is a short story from my lif e. Now, I am not really good at talking about my life because I feel like there really is not much to discuss. However, I am going to tell you about the hardest thing that I have had to overcome. It is upsetting and sometimes hard to talk about, but I have learned the most from this than I have anything else. It is something that constantly clouds my train of thought and sometimes leaves me at a loss. You see, it all happened six yearsRead MoreA Short Story : A Story?725 Words   |  3 Pagesstarted to walk off. â€Å"But grand...† he was gone from site. I started to get real nervous and started to pick another scab on my knee. Marco was the long time manager here, and for some reason would always chat with grandpa for at least an hour. He was a short man that always had strong pulled back gell in his hair, with a large belt to pull up his shaggy tan pants. I could see Grandpa and Marco starting toward me out of my peripheral vision. Marco with the litter and Grandpa had the long grin on his faceRead MoreA Short Story : A Story?1746 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"I’m off to work!† Cole shouts to his parents as he closes the house door behind him. Today is his first day of work, and he is very excited. When Cole moved to the city, he found a job at one of the factories, and being inspired by machinery, he applied and was accepted. Cole is 17 years old, and is tall with black hair and a thin build. As a kid, he loved school, and would go voluntarily unlike some of his classmates, and so he is expecting great things from his first job. From his house, ColeRead MoreA Story Of A Short Story710 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"I am going to tell you a story. It goes all the way back when I was once a young lad like you. It’s about all the amazing and wonderful adventures I went on. It all started at storage and collection for me. I was thirty-two at the time and was at the bottom of the lake, traveling to my parents current where they were vacationing on. I floated all the way up to the surface to look around. The sun was blazing. It shined right on me. The sun was really helpful because I was really cold, but it warmed

The Trial Of The Mill Farm - 1883 Words

â€Å"In the spring of 1886 the plaintiff, learning that the defendants had some polled Angus cattle for sale, was desirous of purchasing some of that breed, and, meeting the defendants, or some of them, at Walkerville, inquired about them, and was informed that they had none at Walkerville, but had a few head left on their farm in Greenfield, and they asked the plaintiff to go and see them, stating that in all probability they were sterile and would not breed. In accordance with said request, the plaintiff, on the fifth day of May, went out and looked at the defendants cattle at Greenfield, and found one called Rose 2d, which he wished to purchase, and the terms were finally agreed upon at five and one-half cents per pound, live†¦show more content†¦2. Where, in such a case, the thing actually delivered or received is different in substance from the thing bargained for and intended to be sold, there is no contract; but if it be only a difference in some quality or acciden t, even though the mistake may have been the actuating motive to the purchaser or seller, or both of them, the contract remains binding. 3. Where a cow was contracted to be sold upon the understanding of both parties that she was barren and useless for breeding purposes, and it appeared that such was not the case, -- Held, that the vendors had a right to rescind the contract, and refuse to deliver the property. Further reading on the American case of Sherwood v. Walker shows that, â€Å"Tthe contract made was not within the statute of frauds, and that payment for the property was not a condition precedent to the passing of the title from the defendants to the plaintiff. Furthermore I agree that the plaintiff was entitled to a delivery of the property to him when the suit was brought, unless there was a mistake made which would invalidate the contract; and no such mistake can be found. There is no pretense that there was any fraud or concealment in the case, and an intimation or insinuation

Life as a Screenplay free essay sample

The soft velvet seat of the theater surrounds me as I start to relax; the floor is sticky with the residue of spilled soda and candy, and a hint of butter still lingers in the air. The curtains go down and the lights dim; a scene flickers onto the blank screen, an establishing shot of a house. The camera pans right and focuses on the only window in the house with light spilling out. A girl sits at her desk, her face hidden from the prying eye of the lens. The camera follows as she gets up and makes her way to the kitchen, switches to a high-angle shot as she makes her own dinner. The camera cuts away from the girl and focuses on her surroundings—she is alone. The silence is too much for her, so she slips into bed and pulls the covers up around her to drown it out. We will write a custom essay sample on Life as a Screenplay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Only in slumber does she reveal her face to the camera. As the curtains go up and the lights return, I remember that I am the girl on the screen; I am just another character in a story, and my life up until now has always been lived through a lens. Since I was young, I have fancifully considered that I may be the star of an elaborate â€Å"Truman Show†- style program. Though I, of course, recognize the utter improbability of my fantasy, it has still shaped the way I see the world. A brilliantly-hued sunset becomes an impressive CGI shot, my closet morphs into a costuming department able to accommodate any era, and that new girl in Biology clearly came from the Casting department. Through it all, the cameras roll—my eyes, capturing the reels of my life and framing the defining moments of my existence in memories, like limited edition film cells. The lights dim once more, for my daydream-intermission has come to an end, and the projector sputters back to life, returning me to the heroine’s storyline. The scene comes into focus: a long shot of my sitting in the middle of a restaurant, dishes clattering in the background amid a cacophonous atmosphere. My mind stumbles back in time, and instead of watching the scene, I am now reliving it. My throat closes up and tears threaten to spill out of my eyes as I look down at my untouched plate. When I look up, I see my mother’s mouth moving, but I don’t hear the words clearly—it’s as if everything is being muffled by a wall. She’s talking about my father: I think I hear the word divorce, and though I can’t be sure I’ve heard correctly, I know it’s true. I’m not shocked; the truth is I had come to terms with the inevitable long before that day. It is this scene, more than any other, that shows me the power—and limitations—of my mental camera. Strange details that I hadn’t planned to record—my brother’s stony face, the water-spot on my fork that I can’t seem to remove—are indelibly captured on film, while crucial segments, even my own lines from the script, have somehow landed on the cutting room floor. The film reel catches and jerks to a stop, forever paused in that moment of time. Unable to replay that scene further, I revisit the episodes of their divorce, sometimes fast-forwarding, sometimes moving frame by frame, aware yet again of the power of the camera; how the scene is framed, how the contents of the foreground or background can dramatically alter the effect on the audience. When my mothers claims about my father, blown out of proportion, loom too large near the foreground, my heart pangs with guilt as I remember the bitter script I recited at him. With proper framing and proportion, though, I am able to find the necessary balance, the c ontentment of understanding that I can control where my camera focuses. Every day, I revisit the theatre’s dark corridors. This theater is not open to the public—it is here to remind me that I must choose to be my own director, to take an active hand in the casting, scripting, and composition of what will be the greatest blockbuster of my lifetime. It is a limited run, so I better make it worthwhile. Even though I dont always know the script, I do know that, from now on, I’ll be the one controlling the camera.

Mixed methodology Essay Example

Mixed methodology Essay Methodology This study will employ the mixed method in obtaining the results. Mixed methodology although considered complex and tasking, it is identified as one of the effective ways to conduct a comprehensive study (Mertens, 2014). In this mixed method, it will entail both the qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative method will involve the use of questionnaires and survey to obtain relevant information regarding the topic in research. Also, it will comprise of an understanding in details the available literature on the subject. In such a study that aims at developing better interventions, it is important to obtain some of the explanations involving the research topic. Another qualitative method will involve the use of interviews to some of the employees especially in the oil industry. In the quantitative analysis which involves the use of numeric values to conduct a research, it will also entail the use of questionnaires but in the format that allows for numeric data to be obtaine d. The quantitative analysis will also entail the use of already researched data found in the existing literature on the subject. The materials that will be required in the methodology will mainly include funding for the entire process. The funding will be used for purchasing the required writing materials. Additionally, in the live interviews and use of the questionnaires, it is important to consider motivating the employees who will be involved in the study although the research is based on voluntary services. In consideration also is payment of the people who will be assisting me in conducting the study such as the administering of the questionnaires and collecting of various data. Another requirement is obtaining the necessary legal documents for the study such as permission by the companys officials of all the industries I will conduct my study. We will write a custom essay sample on Mixed methodology specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mixed methodology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mixed methodology specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Data analysis will entail the use of software to provide the necessary graphs and determine the correlation between the different variables of the questionnaire. A transcriber will also be used to convert the audio information into written words for ease in storage and analysis. The questionnaires on the other hand, since they are few will be sampled and analyzed singly while putting down on paper the necessary data and information. It is important to put into consideration some of the ethical aspects during the study. This will include ensuring gender equity among the respondents and fairness in the administration of the questionnaires. Notably, legal considerations should also be ensured to avoid conflicts with different people during the study. While it is important to seek permissions from the relevant officials of the industries where the study will be conducted, it is crucial to ensure that the respondents information is kept confidential. This will be achieved with the help of avoiding the use of names of the employees and those involved in the study. The methodology will also entail following the set procedure in conducting research such as training the respondents on what is expected from them before commencing the study. In such a study where both information and data is required, it is conducted with the help of both the qualitative and quantitative methods. While the quantitative data provides information based on numeric figures, the qualitative method will provide the necessary information in a theoretical manner. Questionnaires are selected as most people can express themselves amicably without fear of victimization by the companies they represent. The live interview, on the other hand, will be based on accessing information from the management team and those who do not fear any related issue with the study. Plan for the research This study is expected to cover the duration of seven months. Among the various aspects of the study which will be added include discussion and presentation of the results. Also, there will be the development of the proposed strategies based on the results obtained while recommending on some of the new strategies that can be used. The project will be distributed as follows Activity October (2016) November (2016) December (2016) January (2017) February (2017) March (2017) April (2017) May (2017) Project Proposal Literature review Data Collection Data Analysis Discussion Compiling of the report Presentation Conclusion Change remains the most viable option to improve the success of an organization while reducing the loss of customers and profits. However, the risk of resistance to change remains a dire situation that requires effective intervention. While this is possible, it is first important to consider the reasons behind the resistance which will then assist in developing efficient interventions. Various studies have been developed to study this topic. According to the literature review, technical expertise, efficacy, receptivity and readiness remain the core reasons behind the change resistance. While technical knowledge defines the skills and abilities of the different employees, receptivity is described as how well the workers will adopt the changes being proposed. Receptivity has been identified as a core reason behind change resistance since it focuses on challenges that will face the employees workability. Considering the issue of readiness, it entails both the aspects of knowledge and re sources. According to the existing literature, communication remains the key factor behind both resistance to change and developing ways to avert this aspect in any organization. This proposal will, therefore, aim at seeking more answers towards this topic while basing on two main aspects; the issue of the current trends and their influence on the change resistance and the role of management in change management and mitigation of resistance. The two areas are selected sincle they have not been effectively analysed.The study is based on the Oil Corporation in Angola, one of the largest industries globally. The study will then employ the use of mixed methodology to provide an effective analysis of information. While the qualitative method will entail the use of surveys, questionnaires, and interviews, the quantitative methodology will involve obtaining numeric data from previously done research. The entire study is expected to take eight months while making use of various resources and workforce. Through this study, I anticipate contributing to the existing literature on various aspects involving reasons for change resistance. While focusing my study on the glo bal trends that will influence change resistance, it will be therefore easy to develop strategies that are aimed at addressing possible challenges in change implementation. Similarly, I aim at identifying the role of the management and leadership in organizational change and averting possible resistance in its implementation. References Alvesson, M., Sveningsson, S. (2015).Changing organizational culture: Cultural change work in progress. Routledge. Austin, M. J., Ciaassen, J. (2008). Impact of organizational change on organizational culture: Implications for introducing evidence-based practice.Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work,5(1-2), 321-359. Barros, C., Antunes, O. S. (2014). Productivity change in the oil blocks of Angola.Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy,9(4), 413-424. Benn, S., Dunphy, D., Griffiths, A. (2014).Organizational change for corporate sustainability. Routledge. Burke, W. W. (2013).Organization change: Theory and practice. Sage Publications. Cameron, E., Green, M. (2015).Making sense of change management: a complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers. Cameron, E., Green, M. (2015).Making sense of change management: a complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers. Girons, F., Guerra, F., Hernndez, J., Poblacin, J. (2013). Structural Change in the Crude Oil Price Dynamic: Theoretical Study and Practical Implications.Business and Economic Research,3(1). Hanif, M., Khan, Y. S., Zaheer, A. (2014). Impact of organizational resistance to change on BPR implementation: a case of state bank of Pakistan.European Journal of Business and Management,6(4), 186-196. Klonek, F. E., Lehmann-Willenbrock, N., Kauffeld, S. (2014). Dynamics of resistance to change: a sequential analysis of change agents in action.Journal of change management,14(3), 334-360. Lindmark, M., Acar, S. (2015). Periods of converging carbon dioxide emissions from oil combustion 1973-2004.Available at SSRN 2573668. Lundy, V., Morin, P. P. (2013). Project leadership influences resistance to change: The case of the Canadian public service.Project Management Journal,44(4), 45-64. Matos Marques Simoes, P., Esposito, M. (2014). Improving change management: How communication nature influences resistance to change.Journal of Management Development,33(4), 324-341. Mertens, D. M. (2014).Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Sage publications. Tudor, L. (2014). Change Management Employees Resistance Towards Organizational Change.Romanian Statistical Review Supplement,62(9), 36-43. Tummers, L. G. (2013). Connecting public administration and change management literature: The effects of policy alienation on resistance to change.(FSW).Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen. Umble, M. I. C. H. A. E. L., Umble, E. L. I. S. A. B. E. T. H. (2014). Overcoming resistance to change.Industrial Management,1, 16-21. VINES, A. (2016). Continuity and change in Angola: insights from modern history.International Affairs,92(5), 1229-1237.

Study of Cephaolpods essays

Study of Cephaolpods essays Cephalopods are a remarkable group of animals, with a huge array of adaptations. They can change colour faster than a chameleon plus change texture and body shape. They have three hearts pumping blue blood, are jet powered (water is forced through their siphon by contracting their mantel to provide quick thrust) and have representatives in all oceans of the world - from the tropics to the poles - the intertidal to the abyss. And have even inspired legends and stories since recorded history began. Cephalopods first appeared some time in the late Cambrian, several million years before the first primitive fish began swimming in the ocean. They are believed to be the ancestors of modern cephalopods (Subclass Coleoidea) diverged from the primitive externally shelled Nautiloidea (Nautilus) very early - possibly in the Ordovician, some 438 million years ago. -This is before the first mammals appeared, before vertebrates invaded land and even before there were fish in the ocean and upright plants on land! Thus, nautilus is very different from modern cephalopods in terms of morphology and life history. They were once one of the most dominant life forms in the world's oceans; today there are only 650 or so living species. (Levinton 2001) Octopuses, squids, cuttlefish and the chambered nautilus belong to class Cephalopoda ('head-foot') and the phylum Mollusca. They are nearly always carnivorous, and are characterised by complex behaviour, a well-organised nervous system and a circle of grasping arms, and a powerful beak. Cephalopods are therefore related to bivalves (scallops, oysters, and clams), gastropods (snails and slugs), scaphopoda (tusk shells), and polyplacophorans (chitons). Some of these molluscs, like the bivalves, don't even have a head, much less something large enough to be called a brain! Yet cephalopods have well-developed eyes and other senses that rival our own, large brains, and even show learning and memory skills. M...

Hypoglycemia Essays - Diabetes, RTT, Medical Emergencies

Hypoglycemia Essays - Diabetes, RTT, Medical Emergencies Hypoglycemia subject = Human Anatomy title = Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar or low fuel in the blood. It also refers to a distubed carbohydrate metabolism, since some people change between high and low blood sugar levels. When the body tries to work under these conditions, mental processes are impaired and body systems are broken. Hypoglycemia is sometimes related to other conditions like drug addiction, alcoholism, allergies, arthritis, diabetes, mental illness, anti-social behavio, an juvenile deliquency. There are numerous causes of hypoglycemia including; inborn errors of metabolism, defects in enzyme systsms, disorders of various glands and organs (hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenals, nervous system, kidneys, and liver). The most common cause is a diet high in carbohydrates and caffiend, which disturbs the blood-sugar regulating systems of the body. THere are a number of symptoms of Hypoglycemia that can be identified. The major symptoms are depression, insomnia, irritability, lack of concentration, crying spells, phobias, forgetfulness, confusion, unsocial or anti-social behavior and suicidal tendencies. The early symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar to those which occur as the result of experiencing a sudden and violent fear: fainting, tremulousness, and inward tremblind, emotional disturbances, chilliness, numbness and pallor encirling th nmouth, hunger, apprehencion, hand tremors, mild degree ofmental cloudiness, dilated pupils and pale skin. As the hypoglycemia progress, a variety of symptoms occur such as headaches, difficulty inconcentration, disoreientation, mental confusion, dizziness, faintness, double vision, coldness of the extremities, staggering or inability to walk, muscle twitching, depression, restlessness, and excessive excitement. Unless these symptoms are recognized and treated, hypoglcemia can lead to convulsions, amnesia, and unconciousness. In 1924, Seale Harris M.D., a diabetic specialist noticed that many peopl had symptoms without having diaetes. Their blood sugar would drop too low after eating a sugary refined carbohyudrate meal, or after drinking cafeine or alcohol. After an initial rise but not into the diabetic range, their blood sugar would then fall into a hypoglemic range with many different symptoms depending on the indivvidual, the immune system, and the metabolis. He was the first person to notice Hypoglycemia and to differentiate it from Diabetes. Hypoglycemia can be treated a umber of ways. THe diet should exclude things that can cause stress on thebody, such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and rapidly absorbed carbohudrates such as sugars, honey, and many grains and cereals. Frequent feedings are essential,k withhearty breakfasts and bedtime snacks. Many symptoms will dissapear when the blood sugar is stablilized. THe most important thing to remember is that the average adult has between one and twot easpoons of blood sugar circulating in his body at one time, with a small amount stored in his liver foremergencies. A child has less in relationto its height and weitht. Eating foods such as 4 ozs of chocolate cake withicing and 6 ozs of Coke, which is too quickly absorbed into the blood, can cause a mess from the sugar overload as the body has to bring the blood sugar down to a normal range by a very complicated process.

Why does Warren Buffett rely heavily on Net Working Capital analysis Essay

Why does Warren Buffett rely heavily on Net Working Capital analysis as his principal method of valuing businesses Do you agree - Essay Example What is meant by Net Working Capital? Net Working Capital (NWC) is Current Assets minus Current Liabilities. Current Assets include Cash and Cash Equivalents, Receivables, Inventory and other current Assets. Current Liabilities include all Short Term Borrowings. Net working Capital is also defined as that part of Current Assets that is financed by Long term Funds. This definition of the NWC is useful for the analysis of the trade-off between Profitability and risk. The Greater the amount of NWC, the greater is the liquidity of the business, lesser the risk. Thus, if the company’s goal is increasing profitability, it can be achieved by increasing risk, which again is measured by the lower level of Net Working Capital. The important elements of decision making during the process of purchase of a business are Profitability and Risk. Both these elements can be analyzed using Net Working Capital. Net Working Capital can be improved by infusing new funds in to the business in terms of Capital or long term finance. Similarly, NWC can be deteriorated by purchase of Long Term Assets. Any increase in Current Assets of the company which has a corresponding increase in current liabilities would not effect the NWC of the company. The value of the business is determined by its intrinsic value. Intrinsic value of a business can be determined by Long term Assets minus Long term Liabilities. The other way of measuring the intrinsic value of the business is Current Assets minus Current Liabilities, which is measured by Net Working Capital. 2In a net-net situation, an investor estimates a liquidation value for a company, then tries to pay a fraction of that value in the market. Ben Graham loved these types of situations, defining the net-net value as: Graham would invest in companies which are available at a price which is two-thirds of the NWC of the company, the one-third portion is the margin of safety which would protect the investor against

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 40

Case study - Essay Example VR offer users with a leeway of performing tasks safely, unlike traditional rehabilitation programs that are repetitive and thus reduce patient’s motivation. It provides patients with specific environments to fit their needs as well as accommodate training in different phases. Re-learning of motor functions includes repetition as the task is connected to sensorial feedback that requires motivation that may take the form of game format during therapy. In addition, specialists have the ability to track and save data that is helpful for monitoring and managing a patient’s therapy. To test the hypothesis, the researcher developed the HYPER project for rehabilitating motor disorders by producing neurorobotics (NR) and motor neuroprosthetics (MNP). However, HYPER was limited to the use of many cables, prompting the use of Kinect, a wireless and promising technology, whose tracking has to be measured. Further, a combination of Brain Computer Interface and virtual reality possible creates a personalized environment that can study brain signals that help in assessing the progress of the patient undergoing therapy. From the case study, it is evident that the introduction of new technology that encompass games for therapeutic use offer numerous challenges, but perform better compared to traditional

Learning from Failure Essay Example for Free

Learning from Failure Essay Everyone strives for perfection, for most people failure is not an option. However, the reality is that failure is an unpleasant fact, each day, a person fails in his or her tasks, decisions and ideas and organizations fail in their strategies and policies. In this highly competitive and achievement oriented society, a failure in any aspect of a person’s life is construed negatively and stereotyped as a sign of weakness. Failures are indeed negative occurrences that involve the inability to carry out the desired objective or goal of the individual or organization (Cannon Edmondson, 2005). Failures can be either large scale or small scale, and it can have far-reaching effects than mere criticisms. Small-scale failures are normal consequences of the individual’s actions and decisions form day to day, for example, not being able to come to work on time is a failure on the part of the employee. Being tardy is a negative behavior and failing to be punctual can directly affect the work performance of the individual; however, such tardiness can also have dire effects on the organization. Chronic tardiness results to missed hours of work per week and probably lesser output for the department or unit and the organization as a whole. Such a failure can be dissected and analyzed as a personal failure, but it has varied implications for the organization’s policies and performance. On the other hand, large-scale failures are highly sensationalized and have the potential to lessen the competitiveness and the trust that people have on their organizations (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). F or example, Martha Stewart’s failure and fiasco in her business enterprise have led to criticisms and stigma and for that time, sales of Martha Stewart’s products were very low. Organizational failures are often not highlighted as a basis for learning; instead, it is covered-up and undisclosed to the public. Learning from failure is not a popular concept in the American reality. Failures have a negative connotation and it is not a thing that is shared to most people. Likewise, organizations steer from the issue of failure and find immediate solutions to such failures and problems without considering the possible learning that the failure brings (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). For example, mass resignations of pilots in an airline company spell disaster, and the most likely action for the company is to reduce flights. Learning from failure dictates that the airline company should look into the reasons of the pilots for leaving the airline. The result of the survey would be used as basis to institute changes in their policies in order to address the concerns of the pilots and to prevent mass resignations in the future. Organizations however, try very hard to keep their failures from becoming public since it would not be good for their business but making failures public communicates that the organization is willing to accept their mistakes and further commit to the improvement of their policies and procedures to prevent and minimize the occurrence of mistakes (Cannon Edmondson, 2005). Large-scale failures that reach the consciousness of the public become common knowledge and these are used as a learning tool for other individuals and organizations.   The stock market scandals have resulted to clearer and stricter guidelines in the stock market. Thus, failures are not entirely negative; instead, it has the potential for driving new information and concepts and in the development of better policies and guidelines for all. Learning is a process that occurs throughout life, and failures play an important role in facilitating learning. Without mistakes and failure, an individual would not be able to learn what is right and acceptable from what is wrong and unacceptable. Failure is as essential to life as learning; one cannot exist without the other. Learning does not occur in a vacuum, it utilizes whatever information, and knowledge is on hand. However, the best kind of learning is said to come from failures and mistakes as it provides concrete basis for differentiating what is positive and good from what is negative and bad (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). At an individual level, workers sent on a training workshop to learn new skills in the operation of new equipments would only have a working knowledge of the new equipment. Actual operation of the equipment would test the knowledge of the worker and the amount of learning that he has gained from the training workshop. A failure on the part of the worker would lead to the inefficient use of the equipment, and identifying one’s mistakes and source of failure would result to more learning. At this point the worker can now identify which of his actions had resulted to the mistake and which actions would control for the effects of the mistake and what behaviors he should do to prevent the mistake from recurring. In terms of organizational learning, failures are also a rich source of information that could be used to improve and strengthen the strategies that they already have in place (Cannon Edmondson, 2005). It is important for organizations to learn from their failures as it is a factual occurrence that reflect the true state of the organization (Carmeli Sheaffer, 2008). For example, a miscommunication between departments can bring about significant problems and difficulties in the conduct of the organizations’ activities. The most likely reaction is for the department heads and managers to resolve the problems brought about by miscommunication, but if the organization wants to apply the concept of learning from failures, they should b able to identify the source of the miscommunication and in what channels the miscommunication occurred, then the organization should look into the communication patterns of the organization and take the necessary steps to ensure that the communication systems would be corrected to prevent miscommunications in the future. Even though learning from failures has been found to be a useful tool for increasing the efficiency of organizations and in cultivating a positive culture, one that is open to experimentation and failure, not many organizations have embraced the concept and continue to disregard the learning that could be had from failures (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). In a discussion of why organizations fail to learn from failures, it was pointed out that organizations fail to utilize failures as rich sources of information because of the lack of critical thinking skills that would identify failures as an opportunity for growth (Carmeli Sheaffer, 2008). Additionally, organizations does not take into account and monitor for failure, instead it is systematically removed and not dwelled upon. Another reason for not being able to learn from failures is the human tendency to reduce the effect or to cover-up the incidence of a failure. Even without undue pressure, individuals have the tendency to downplay failures and mistakes and for most to find excuses and blame the failure on the system, and other individuals (Carmeli Sheaffer, 2008). It is important to recognize that failures present a learning opportunity for organizations and even for one’s personal life, and although it takes courage and a more open and willing perspective, it is not impossible to attain. References Cannon, M. Edmondson, A. (2005). Failing to learn and learning to fail (intelligently): How organizations put failure to work to innovate and improve. Long Range Planning, 38, 299-319 Carmeli, A., Sheaffer, Z. (2008). How learning leadership and organizational learning from failures enhance perceived organizational capacity to adapt to the task environment. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44:468. Nevis, E. C., DiBella, A.J., Gould, J.M. (1995). Understanding organizations as learning systems. Sloan Management Review, 36, 73-85.

Odysseus: Epic Hero? :: Free Essay Writer

Odysseus: Epic Hero? The question has been raised as to whether or not Odysseus, the hero of Homers The Odyssey, is an epic hero. An epic Hero portrays many classic properties, including being very strong and courageous. Odysseus is an epic hero, because he portrays many of these and other traits, such as having a goal that is foremost in his mind, and having descended into the underworld. An epic hero is almost overwhelmed with difficulty, often beyond that which a normal man could withstand. Not only is he confronted occasionally by danger or hopelessness; it is the entire premise of the poem. â€Å"Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy† (Fagles 77). This it the first line of the whole poem, summing up what is going to happen as the speaker prays to the Muses, goddesses of stories. There is in fact, no other person, fictional or otherwise, in all of history, ever so besieged with difficulty, as Odysseus. Women and goddesses often tempt epic heroes, and Odysseus is tempted too. The goddess Circe is one of the many people who tempt him, â€Å"Come, sheath your sword, lets go to bed together, mount my bed and mix in the magic work of love-we’ll breed deep trust between us† (Fagles 240). Though Odysseus does bed with her, he never loses sight of hi s hope of coming home to his wife, Penelope. A female character always aids an epic hero, and Odysseus is no exception. Near the end of his travels, Athena feels sorry for him and decides to assist him and let him go home, and once he arrives, she helps him kill the suitors that plague his house. â€Å"That left the great Odysseus waiting in his hall as Athena helped him plot the slaughter of the suitors† (Fagles 390). Not only is this assistance by a woman, and a sure sign of an epic hero, but also a goddess assists him, and only those worthy enough can be helped by the Immortal. Odysseus is also aided and told how to get home by the Goddess Circe. â€Å"You must travel down to the House Of The Dead and the awesome one, Persephone, there to consult the ghost of Tiresias, seer of Thebes† (Fagles 245). This is the same person who tried to tempt him, but she realizes he wont stay and decides to help him instead.

Don’t Change the World Essay

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country. One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country. When he was back to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful, because it was the first time that he went for such a long trip, and the road that he went through was very rough and stony. He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather.Definitely, this would need thousands of cows’ skin, and would cost a huge amount of money. Then one of his wise servants dared himself to tell the king, â€Å"Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money? Why don’t you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet?†The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a â€Å"shoe† for himself.There is actually a valuable lesson of life in this story: to make this world a happy place to live, you better change yourself – your heart; and not the world. The Travelers and the Plane Tree Two men were walking along one summer day. Soon it became too hot to go any further and, seeing a large plane tree nearby, they threw themselves on the ground to rest in its shade.Gazing up into the branches one man said to the other: â€Å"What a useless tree this is. It does not have fruit or nuts that we can eat and we cannot even use its wood for anything.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Don’t be so ungrateful,† rustled the tree in reply. â€Å"I am being extremely useful to you at this very moment, shielding you from the hot sun. And you call me a good-for-nothing!†All of God’s creations have a good purpose. Islam teaches us that we should never belittle Allah’s blessings.

American experiences since 1945

The course is designed to show in details the events that took place in America after the Second World War. That is the things that happened in America after 1945. There are many events that took place. The post war period start from 1945 when Manchukuo province was captured by the Soviet Union and the atomic bombs which were dropped by USA on the mainland of Japan. This essay is going to touch on the cold war ideologies and breakups of made during the time of the war.Also the policies that were made during the cold war time, I will also discuss the events that took place in the 1950s: Politics and Culture, the liberal reforms of 1960s, reason why USA crashed with southern Asia and elaborate on the conservatism and the consensus politics. I will also discuss on the happenings of the 1970’s: Nixon’s politics and achievements and finally, I will also discuss on the 80s events: the cold war, its end and the reasons that led to the fall of the communism. The immediate post war period. The period after 1945(Farber D. , 1994) was a golden time of capitalism in America.In 1946 the council of economic advisors was established. Its roles were to analyze and advice on various policies mostly in development and implementation of domestic and international economic policies. At around 1953 the council for economic advisors had come up with five policies. These were: economic quantitative targets were set. The â€Å"growth model† of economic replaced the â€Å"cyclical model†, full employment budget was drawn, fiscal drag theories were employed, taxation base and flexibility were widened and finally and a low aggregate demand replaced unemployment notion that had persisted.In 1945 there emerged a crash in the course implementation between Edwin Nourse and Leon Keyserkling. Nourse believed that guns were to be dispensed for butter but Keyserling thought that by expanding economic it would promote expenditure without compromising the standards of l iving. During the inter war period economic depended on massive spending , raw materials control and price controls as well as the draft of 12 million military men with these reforms the quality of the lives of Americans continued to improve(Leslie B. , 1995) Culture Emergence and some Politics of 1940s and 1950sDuring this period the quality of life was improved through social welfares. As the stock exchange market thrived uninterrupted from 1949 up to 1957 (Hardayal S. , 2001) the great depression status was reversed, the government embarked on social welfares and military industries complex as it was called by Dwight Eisenhower. It involved employing women in industrial places for manufacturing ammunitions. They were also employed in the military service. The war time experience of women working in military services shaped the future career of women.Many women who were in the war went back to their house hold chores. This past experience led to later integration of women in to th e working places in America. According to (Halliwell M. , 2007) the 1950s provides an account of the cultures in America. These were fiction, poetry, theatre, television and films performances, music, radio and visual arts. In this period the economic was still not good. For instance, there were about 3,288,000 people who were unemployed the average salary of the working class was 2,992 dollars.This is the period that saw many young people who serve in the war comeback home to pick up their lives start new families and new jobs. With this new phase of experiences, American industries rose up to the challenge of meeting the rising demands of items. Americans began buying things they could not buy during the wartime. 1960s: The Liberal Reforms and Kennedy’s Visions. In 1960 a presidential election was held. This marked the end of Dwight Eisenhower as the president of America. He served his nation for a period of two terms.At this time his vice president was Richard Nixon who ha d turned his office into a political base. In the elections of 1960s, John F. Kennedy- a democrat was the second one to have the presidential position as a Roman Catholic after a democrat Al smith . At this time the Soviet Union was far a head of America both militarily and economically. At this time Kennedy was young and inexperienced to be trusted with presidency and his victory margin was among the closest ever known in the history of America. This was attributed to his religious stand. It was believed that many Protestants did not vote him (Murray C., 1994) In 1950’s and 60’s both major political parties in USA were liberal and conservative factions. The Democratic Party had northern and Western liberals and on the other hand was the conservative Southern whites. For two decades the cold war liberalism was not that active and it only peaked in 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson over Barry Gold water during the election. In 1948, Truman the then president of USA had outlaw ed desegregation in the armed forces and civil rights were strongly agitated for. These culminated in to the passage of 1964 civil rights act as well as the voting rights act of 1965.During 1960s the relations between white liberals and civil rights leaders intensified. The later accused the former of hindering the progress it was during this time that Kennedy put federal troops to protect the African Americans who were being admitted to the University of Mississippi. In 1962 (Sitkof H. , 2000) f James Meredita and Martin Luther King junior staged a march to Washington in 1966. This emerged to be a very strong movement which was called the black power. The blacks in this movement accused the whites of trying to control the blacks’ agendas.The opponents of the civil rights wanted blacks in America to stop following democratic machines and instead apply the ethnic model. The civil rights movements totally revolutionized the lives of blacks in America. Much of the credit goes to Martin Luther king. He was the leader of hundreds of Black people. He inspired the blacks greatly especially when he made his’ I have a dream speech’ to the multitude. It was all about racial harmony. This was done on the mail in Washington. In 1902, Kennedy announced that by the end of the 1960s decade USA would send a man on the moon in a spaceship and safety return him to earth alive.This was the height of optimism because at this time its space program was in its infancy stage It was also at this time that president Johnson of America promised his people that he would fight poverty and ensures that the Americans would enjoy descent lives. This promise was actualized when social security fund was increased and as a result millions of Americans received improved health care. This 1960s became the turning point in the history of American. A lot were achieved at this time (Suman K. and Bery G. F. , 1997) 1970s: Outcomes of Vietnam Invasion and Lifestyles Change.During the 1960s period, Richard Nixon in his presidential campaign promised to end the Americans involvement in the war again Vietnam if he was elected in office in 1969. This whole plan was called â€Å"Vietnamization† it meant that the United States would gradually withdraw itself from the Vietnam War and transfer its military duties to the Southern Vietnam. He wanted to reinforce the Eisenhower and Kennedy’s policies of helping the South Vietnamese but things did not go as they were expected. In 1969(Brad R. , 1991) the North Vietnamese communists intensified their attacks and through Laos and Cambodia supply lines.As a result of these events Nixon invaded Cambodia and bombarded Laos. This initially was done secretly but sooner than later it was made public by Nixon who on 1970 April 30 announced on the television that he invaded Cambodia and wanted to recruit some 150,000 new soldiers . This decision was not welcomed by many Americans in fact it provoked many ant-war pr otests especially from college and campus students. In 1970 on May 4th the National Guard fined shots in to a crowd of demonstration at Kent state university and killed four of them and about nine wounded. This only increased outrage to people who turned against Nixon and Vietnam War.Due to the increased pressure to put the war to an end an end (Goodwin J. , 2001) Nixon ordered the North Vietnam zone to be bombed. This act led to signing of an agreement which led to the termination of the war in March 1973. As America quit the war, it left the southerners to fight the northerners’ American indigence in the war caused it a big harm. About 55,000 American lives perished. Basically American gained very little from this war. It left Vietnam a devastated nation. 1980s: Cultural Influence and Economic Policies. In 1980s there was economic boom. The existing market was advancing in age and was financially becoming stable.The society’s face changed demographically. People coul d live longer and seemed younger. New technologies replaced old ones or we can say that there was a technological change. These changes were celebrated by Richard Nixon and his wife with a fashionable clothes accompanied by social events that displayed affluence of American society (Minarik J. J. , 1990) During this time the whole world was in perpetual change for instance the USSR eased their roles and gave in to private enterprise the famous Berlin war came down and Western cloths found their way in eastern, countries.There were some economic policies that were posed by the government. For instance it states that when market lack the in information on the quality of assets as well as true value of an institutions net worth then potential for crisis increased. 1990s: Revival of Cold War Period and Reagan’s Ideas. In the 1980s the cold war came to an end the eastern block had suffered economically. The cold war period of 1985-1991 came back to life with the ascension of Mikha il Gorbachev to power in 1991. In the same year on December 31, the USSR broke into 15 separate nations and this marked the end of the cold war period.Conclusion. Having seen the effects of every action that has been done in America since 1945 and Judging by the way things stand currently, we can say that in the past ten years the politics of America will move to greater heights as the democrats and the republicans become more vibrant in addressing the things that are affecting the Americans right now. Culturally, Americans are very dynamic people who keep on inventing new ways of life. So, it is hard to predict what exactly will happen in the next ten years to come. But socially it seems people will be more integrated, interactive and united.Americans are social and interact with their fellow people in a positive manner and that is why America is a united nation. Reference: Halliwell M. , 2007: American Culture in the 1950’s. Edinburgh University Press, United Kingdom. Farbe r D. , 1994: The Age of Great Dreams America in the 1960s, 1st Edition. USA. Goodwin J. , 2001: No Other Way Out: States and Revolutionary Movement 1945-1991 Cambridge University Press P. 5 Suman K. and Bery G. F. 1997: Preventing Banking Sector Distress and Crises in Latin America; Proceedings on a Conference Held in Washington DC, World Bank. Minarik J. J., 1990: Making America’s Budget Policies from the 1980’s to the 1990’s M. E. Sharpe. Murry C. , 1994: Loosing Ground; American Social Policy 1950- 1980, Basic Books 10th Anniversary Edition. Brad R. , 1991: Weapons Proliferation in the 1990s. MIT Press, Washington. Ciment J. , 2006: Postwar America: An Encyclopedia of Social Political Cultural and Economic History Sharpe New York. Sitkoff H. , 2000: Post War America a Student Companion, Oxford University Press. Leslie B. , 1995: The Cambridge History of Latin America, Cambridge University Press. Hardayal S. , 2001. Ambassadors of Culture. Princeton University Press.

Borat Review Essays

Borat Review Essays Borat Review Paper Borat Review Paper Essay Topic: Film Talent is luck and right now no other comedian has more of it than Sacha Baron Cohen as seen in his latest smash hit Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for make benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Borat has evolved from Cohens former creation Ali G in da house. Writer Larry Charles and comic genius Sacha Baron Cohen have combined their work to produce the most vulgar, offensive and rib tickling film yet to come. Nothing is off-limits; feminists, Jewish people, homosexuals or politicians they all receive equal amount of hatred. Borat and his producer, Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian) begin their journey to explore American culture and improve Kazakhstan for the better. In his hotel room, while channel surfing, Borat instantly falls head-over-heals for the gorgeous Pamela Anderson, watching a late night repeat of Baywatch. Will the sexy time prove to be very naaaice? An unscripted mockumentary introduces us to Borats residence of a Kazakhstani village. Many of their traditions, which would prove unethical in our society, such as the Running of the Jew. He introduces us to his wife Oksana, the hated neighbour and the award-wining prostitute sister, he also tells us about his father, Boltolk the rapist. Soon Borat and his friend Azamat set off on their journey to America. Cohen sputters out the most outrageous, racist and sexist statements he can think of; yet its the reaction of his unknowing victim which proves to be the most interesting aspect of the film. Borat meets real people in real situations with hysterical consequences. His backwards behaviour generates strong reactions around him exposing prejudices and hypocrisies in American culture. Once in America, Borat criticises western values at every turn. One person who is likely to regret the day he met Borat, is Tennessee rodeo manager Bobby Rowe. He is deliberately provoked by the comedian into making unnecessary, prejudice and disapproving remarks about Muslims and homosexuals. Borats stop at Dicksons Tennessee, where he is invited to sing The Star-Spangled Banner in front of a crowd of rodeo fans. Warned beforehand by a rodeo manger that he looks a little too much like a terrorist; Borat wins over the crowd by informing them that Kazakhstan supports their countrys War of Terror. He then goes on to include that he hopes George Bush may drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq. Borat proceeds to stir up the rodeo but, when he begins to sings his version of Kazakhstans national anthem to the tune of Americas; he is immediately booed out of the arena. Sacha Baron Cohen knows exactly which buttons to press and he then just keeps on pressing them. A Hotel messenger delivers a telegram informing Borat that his wife has just died. At first the man is very professional; even offering sincere condolences, but when Borat gets excited over the news and yells out haigh faive, the man quickly joins in on the celebration. Borat pushes the limit of humour as he reveals a deep and disturbing truth and, ignorance within American culture. Do we live in a society where difference is not accepted? Borat heads from Washington D.C, Tennessee, California and finally to Los Angles in search for his beloved Pamela Anderson. Most people would fly across America, but Borat prefers to travel in style!-in an ice cream van. He purchases from a car dealer. Although he does have a reasonable excuse, he fears that in case the Jews repeat their attack of 9/ 11. If for any reason you object to seeing a 500lb bare, naked and hairy man running around a hotel room, then you might want to rethink about watching this film. Whether its black people, Jewish people, women, students, every category of human beings will find something to complain about after watching this film. Borat is homophobic, which leads to a distressed Borat asking So you think that the man who put his hand in my anus was was homosexual? Borat questions the thought that women have smaller brains than men? His genius work stands out as he succeeds in creating explosive cultural clashes such as having a posh Alabama lady calling Borat A lovely man with a bit of effort he could be properly Americanised, but she is later showered with bad surprise, when Borat brings down his souvenir after a nature call. Borat is placed in the most difficult situations possible, sometimes barely escaping being sent off to jail and even once wrestled to the ground by the police. All throughout the documentary Cohen remains in character. Like him or hate him, Sacha Baron Cohen delivers the amazing performance and one that the audience wont forget. Cohens comedy can sometime stoop to the comedy likes of Jackass-type toilet humour. A few scenes just arent funny enough and are unnecessary such as the fight between Azamat and Borat which leads to them standing naked in a presentation evening. Cohen delivers some of the biggest laughs of the year, while at the same time thinking about the root causes of prejudice and intolerance, and for that reason Borat is a must-see.

How Many Days Congress Works - Annual Total and Average

How Many Days Congress Works - Annual Total and Average Members of Congress work fewer than half of the days in any given year, But those account for only the legislative days, defined as an official meeting of the legislative body to do the peoples business. The House works about one day out of three, and the Senate works a little more than that, according to federal records. Youve probably heard the phrase do-nothing Congress at least once in your life, and its often a jab at the inability of lawmakers to reach common ground and pass important spending bills. Sometimes its a reference to how little Congress appears to work, especially in light of the $174,000 base salary for its members - more than three times the amount of money the median U.S. household earns. Heres an explanation of how many days Congress works every year. Number of Days Congress Works in Session a Year The House of Representatives has averaged 138 legislative days a year since 2001, according to records kept by the Library of Congress. Thats about one day of work every three days, or fewer than three days a week. The Senate, on the other hand, was in session an average of 162 days a year over the same time period. Technically a legislative day in the House can span more than 24 hours. A legislative day ends only when the session is adjourned. The Senate works a little differently. A legislative day often stretches beyond the boundaries of the 24-hour workday day and sometimes week. That doesnt mean the Senate is meeting around the clock. It just means that a legislative session merely recesses but doesnt adjourn after a days work. Here are the number of legislative days for the House and Senate each year in recent history: 2016: 131 in the House, 165 in the Senate.2015: 157 in the House, 168 in the Senate.2014: 135 in the House, 136 in the Senate.2013: 159 in the House, 156 in the Senate.2012: 153 in the House, 153 in the Senate.2011: 175 in the House, 170 in the Senate.2010: 127 in the House, 158 in the Senate.2009: 159 in the House, 191 in the Senate.2008: 119 in the House, 184 in the Senate.2007: 164 in the House, 190 in the Senate.2006: 101 in the House, 138 in the Senate.2005: 120 in the House, 159 in the Senate.2004: 110 in the House, 133 in the Senate.2003: 133 in the House, 167 in the Senate.2002: 123 in the House, 149 in the Senate.2001: 143 in the House, 173 in the Senate. House Averages 18 Hours of Work a Week Theres a little more to this analysis than just the number of days lawmakers are scheduled to cast votes. A 2013 analysis conducted by The New York Times found that the House was in session for 942 hours that year, or about 18 hours a week. That level of work, The Times noted, was the least by any Congress in a non-election year in nearly a decade. By comparison, the House worked 1,700 hours in 2007,1,350 hours in 2005,and 1,200 hours in 2011. The same went for the Senate, which had 99 voting days in 2013. Some attempts have been made to force members of Congress to work full weeks. In 2015, for example, a Republican lawmaker from Florida, Rep. David Jolly, introduced legislation that would have required the House to be in session 40 hours a week when members of the House were in Washington, D.C.A work week in Washington should be no different than a work week in every other town across the nation,† Jolly said at the time. Jollys measure failed to gain traction. Constituent Services Theres much more to being a congressman than voting. One of the most important aspects of the job is being accessible and responsive to the people who voted them into office. Its called constituent service: answering phone calls from the public, holding town-hall meetings on important issues, and assisting members of the 435 congressional districts with their problems. The nonprofit Congressional Management Foundation has reported: Members work long hours (70 hours a week when Congress is in session), endure unequaled public scrutiny and criticism, and sacrifice family time to fulfill work responsibilities. The 70-hour work week reported by members of Congress is more than twice the average length of the work week for Americans. When Congress Adjourns Congressional sessions begin in January of odd-numbered years and typically end in December of the same year. Congress adjourns at the end of each session. There are two sessions for each sitting of Congress. The Constitution forbids either the Senate or the House to adjourn for more than three days without the permission of the other chamber.

Literature review matrix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Literature review matrix - Essay Example   The researchers designed two phases for the study. In the first phase, participants were interviewed and their responses noted down while in the second phase, the researchers studied participants independently and noted their observations.   In the results, the researchers were able to identify some factors which influence the proper implementation of evidence based practices. They included organizational and practice issues, multi-professional relationships and the role of project leaders.   Some of the factors that were identified as influencing the process of implementing evidence based practices include number of years in the nursing practice, the age of the nurses and the number of years since obtaining the last professional degree.   Majid, S., Foo, S., Luyt, B., Zhang, X., Theng, Y. L., Chang, Y. K., & Mokhtar, I. A. (2011). Adopting evidence-based practice in clinical decision making: nurses perceptions, knowledge, and barriers. Journal of the Medical Library Association: JMLA, 99(3), 229.   Rycroft†Malone, J., Harvey, G., Seers, K., Kitson, A., McCormack, B., & Titchen, A. (2004). An exploration of the factors that influence the implementation of evidence into practice. Journal of clinical nursing, 13(8), 913-924.   Dalheim, A., Harthug, S., Nilsen, R. M., & Nortvedt, M. W. (2012). Factors influencing the development of evidence-based practice among nurses: a self-report survey. BMC health services research, 12(1), 367.   Van Achterberg, T., Schoonhoven, L., & Grol, R. (2008). Nursing Implementation Science: How Evidence†Based Nursing Requires Evidence†Based Implementation. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 40(4),

American history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

American history - Essay Example Under Brigham Young the Church took a more aggressive view of self-defence, especially when under attack from Native American tribes. The Spanish-American war, however, split the Mormon church with different factions taking sides both for and against participation in the war. Eventually, the policy evolved. In the final analysis, this war marked the end of Mormons believing themselves to be separate from other American citizens. They agreed to be ruled by the Commander-in-Chief. The agreed to fight in war when required and to stand up for both their faith and their country when called to do so. This was certainly a turning point in the history of the Mormon Church and its role in the United States. This article offers a reappraisal of the Spanish-American war. The idea that is commonly said of this war is that it was a short, minor conflict that provided a big boost to the American ego. In truth it was not an easy war to win, nor was America properly prepared for it. Additionally, its consequences would last for many years to come and shape much of America throughout the 20th century. While prosecuting and concluding this war, Roosevelts goal was to strengthen and preserve American power around the world. He took an aggressive approach towards doing this as he did in many aspects of his life. He felt that democracy and capitalism were well worth preserving and fighting for. Indeed, Roosevelt would have agreed with E.H. Carr who wrote a few years later about political realism. Utopianism is unrealistic. It supposes that a perfect world can be created by men and that is one of our goals on Earth. Carr was a realist: he believed the world is not perfectible and that efforts to do so will end in failure and sometime calamity. The political system contains too many variables for any person or group to control. The League of Nations was a good example of this. The problems of the

Digital Technology and Cinema Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Digital Technology and Cinema Culture - Essay Example Let the paper analyze some of the specific examples that had some direct positive impact over the cinema culture and its horizon. The simplest example is that of video editing that comprised extensive efforts and demanded a huge amount of money before the technology entered the market. However, with the digital revolution, the visual effects tools made it easier for the filmmakers to manipulate the video in any form they wanted with desired animation and other editing. In 1984, computers such as Macintosh came in the market that were specially designed to have a graphical user interface, these were first ever of its kind that penetrated into the world of cinema giving it even more fame and multiplicity (Willis, pp.7, 2005). More tools such as Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Macromedia Director, Macromedia Flash and all the other kinds gave more horizon to the cinema culture and gave the filmmakers access to perform multiple tasks with perfection and novelty. The seque nces of images, special effects, distinctive colouring, imaginative animations and much more merely became possible with digital technology revolution (Willis, pp.7-8, 2005). It helped the cinema culture attract and gain more audience as compared to the earlier decades. Subsequently, when producing a film became comparatively hassle-free, more people started investing in this business and thus, the number cinemas grew with an increasing film being produced every year with the use of digital technology. Apart from the latest technological tools used by the cinema industry, the inventions such as newly-designed cameras and video-capturing tools that had modernized elements with specially designed features and functions made the videos look a lot more fascinating and compelling. On the contrary, cinema might have assumed new venues of popularity and fame due to digital technology and its implications on the cinema culture but, on the other hand, digital technology penetrated in the mar ket in such a fast pace that people became more interested in buying those technologies and making them a part of their aesthetically designed house. People started enjoying their micro cinemas at home rather than taking out time and going to the proper cinemas outside their comfortable houses (Lister, pp.22-23, 2001). The preference of buying techno products such as plasma screens, advanced audio speakers and other appliances became more preferable and a status quo than being interested in going to the cinemas to watch movies and other shows. It is possible that many of us must have heard about Marshall McLuhan’s popular phrase Medium is the Message. McLuhan, quite reasonably and with valid points, suggests that the medium that is used to convey any type of message or information holds a significant importance in the pace of that information being carried to the receivers (Yamamoto, pp. 500-501, 1998). It depends on the medium that is used to convey a message, that how long would it take for the message to reach to its targeted audience and how far would the message go. Thus, the influence of the message is not the message itself but, the way used to send it. This means that the receivers or the intended message focus more upon and take more interest over the kind of medium utilized. Their preference depends upon how effective is the medium and how much do they like it. The acceptability of the message is thus a later factor. In the same way, it is said that cinema comprises those elements that lure and attract the young generation more than any

Youth Involvement in Sports Essay Example for Free

Youth Involvement in Sports Essay Parents have been involved in youth sport for quite some time now, and they always will. Help from parents is essential, but sometimes parent’s involvement can be a bit too much. Fast growing team sports like hockey and soccer traditionally have a lot of parent involvement because they can be expensive, scholarship opportunities seem to be everywhere, and way too many parents think their little one will be the next big superstar athlete. Violence, controlling behavior and abusive behavior towards officials, athletes, coaches and spectators has a lot of youth organizations second guessing the role of parents in youth sport. Mandatory training classes for parents on sportsmanship and behavioral conduct are becoming more popular, because a lot of parents just do not know how to act. The involvement of parents in youth sport is essential because some one has to get little Johnny to and from games and practices. Plus expensive league fees and equipment do not pay for themselves, but should this be looked at as an investment or a recreational expense. (Especially at the youth level) The parents of today are investing huge amounts of time and money into the development of children, when the children should just be focusing on fun and friends. This over involvement of parents can negatively affect the child’s feelings towards sport because fun and enjoyment is taken out of the equation as business, skill development, and financial return is emphasized. Parents just need to support their child’s involvement in sport as it relates to participation and enjoyment. What happens in a lot of cases is the parents try to live through their kids and when the parents take control the fun goes out the window. So why do children participate in sport? That is the million dollar question. Well a recent study was taken on what the most popular reason for youth sport participation was. The number one reason for youth participating in sport is to have fun. It is not about winning and bring home a huge trophy and having championship medals, kids just want to have fun. New skills, to be with friends and the thrill of competition were the next on the list. (Winning was not one of the most popular reasons) Parents need to focus on emotional and financial support of their children during their sporting experience. Children will experience a lot of ups and downs while participating in sports, wins losses cheaters as long as verbal encouragement is shown and support is given things should go pretty well. When parents get emotionally involved things usually start going down hill and kids tend to lose their interest. The two most visible types of parents in youth sport are excitable and fanatical. Excitable parents are usually supportive, but they tend to get caught up in the moment. They have good intensions, but at the end of the day they probably create more bad then good. Excitable parents can be embarrassing and the children of excitable parents usually do not want their parents involved in competition, or practices. Fanatical parents put a lot of pressure on their kids and are constantly creating scenes with officials and coaches. The kids of these parents do not show a lot of excitement towards games and practices, and chances are they will drop out of sports completely. Fanatical parents are way too focused on winning and losing. The fanatical parents are the parents who are living through their children and who push them way too much on a consistent basis. These parents do not recognize the ability levels of their kids and they believe their kid will become the next superstar athlete. Parent orientation meeting are becoming more popular in youth sports. I believe they are a great way to start off the season. The meetings are planned to create a connection between the coach and the parents. The meeting helps everyone get on the same page, and it gives the coach a chance to lay down the laws and it give parents a chance to answer questions. Coaches will get a chance to introduce themselves and explain their philosophy. Safety procedures, schedules, parent responsibilities and league rules can be explained. Playing time and disciplinary actions will also be covered. I believe if parents let coaches coach, ref’s ref and kids play everything will be alright. At the end of the day everyone just wants to have fun, and the youth sport experience can be improved when everyone is supportive of one another. Winning should never be the priority when it comes to youth sports. Of course winning is fun, but at the end of the day it is not the most important thing in the world. If parents let their kids make the decisions about when, where and why they want to play sports then everything will be alright, but if parents get too involved things will go down hill and youth participation levels will follow.

Denmark Vesey Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Denmark Vesey was an African-American leader of an attempted slave insurrection in 1822. After many years as a slave, he won $1,500 in a lottery. Vesey used this money to purchase his freedom. He used his intelligence, energy, and luck to acquire considerable wealth and influence in South Carolina. All of these factors helped lead to the largest attempted slave revolt in American history. David Robertson’s book Denmark Vesey outlines his life as a slave, to his freedom, to his execution, and the consequences of the aftermath.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  South Carolina was one of the only states in which the black slaves and abolitionists outnumbered their oppressors. Denmark Vesey’s slave revolt consisted of over nine-thousand armed slaves, free blacks, and abolitionists, that would have absolutely devastated society in South Carolina for slave owners, and could have quite possibly been a major step towards the abolishment of slavery in the United states. Robertson succeeded in describing the harsh conditions of slaves in pre-civil war Charleston, South Carolina. This book also helped me to understand the distinctions between the different groups. These groups including the black slaves, free blacks, extreme abolitionists, and the pro-slavery communities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  David Robertson’s Denmark Vesey is sub-titled ‘The Buried History of America’s Largest Slave Rebellion and the Man Who Led It.’ This title is extremely appropriate because of the lack of available information regarding the Denmark Vesey rebellion. No one knows the details of the former-slave’s life such as his background, birthplace [â€Å"It is not confirmable whether Vesey was born in Africa or the West Indies.†], place of execution, or physical appearance. Charlestonian officials considered all facts and records of the plans of the revolt to be too dangerous to keep, with the fear of another slave being negatively influenced by them. Nearly all copies of the record of the event, an official report of his trial, and other information were confiscated and burned. The Denmark Vesey revolt is nearly forgotten because of this. Considering the resources that were available to Robertson, Denmark Vesey was well researched, and f actual, without his own opinion showing through too much. For these thoughts he added in his own chapter â€Å"A Personal Conclusion.†... ...ible, even though the book is relatively short. Denmark Vesey gives a good foundation of information on the subject, but is lacking in certain areas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In spite of its deterioration, the aftermath of the revolt had extensive consequences. Robertson particularized them with references to John Calhoun fortifying South Carolina before the civil war occurred. It also left a scare in the people’s minds, and was another small step towards the abolishment of slavery. Robertson analyzed the aftermath in a variety of aspects, including the effects on the public, and the government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Denmark Vesey by David Robertson, is an important contribution to American historiography. His â€Å"detective story† is about a forgotten event, which is commonly overlooked when studying American history. It is undeniable that if the Denmark Vesey revolt had taken place, American history would have been changed forever, with ideas about slavery being changed, and the complete destruction of Charleston, South Carolina. David Robertson adequately relayed the event in a way that portrayed Denmark Vesey to be a hero, and a source of pride for African-Americans.

Compare and Contrast Fresh Foods vs. Canned Foods Essay

Eating is something us as humans do everyday. We live in a world where it is important to eat. We choose what we are going to eat, and what we eat affects our bodies. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the differences between eating fresh foods instead of canned foods. The main differences between both are flavor, health benefits, cost, accessibility. The differences between these two kinds of foods are their flavor. Fresh foods have that great flavor and taste because they keep all their natural conditions, where as canned foods lack of its flavor because of their chemical processes that are added to the natural foods. It is known that the fresh foods will have a great taste and flavor when consumed because of the time in which they have been prepared. Most canned foods are now available in low-salt, no-salt, low-sugar, and no-sugar preparations for those with special dietary needs or for those who want more of a natural flavor. It’s also a way to have a similar taste of fresh foods. Many doctors say that eating fresh foods are the best, followed by frozen, and then canned foods. Canned foods are last because of the heat involved in the processing process. Canned foods lose some of the original fresh food nutrients when stored, and also be tinned with many chemical factors that prolong the shelf life and apparent freshness of the food but could also become toxic if consumed too much. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans show that individuals eating diets higher in fresh foods have a lower risk of chronic disease. Another difference is that fresh food provides all the fiber, vitamins and minerals that are needed for your body to function normal. Fresh foods in grocery stores are picked before being fully ripened so that it will stay firm during its shipment. With canned foods, they are often left to fully ripen before harvesting, resulting in a higher nutritional value of the ripe produce before canning, however since this process method involves lots of process, some nutrients, such as vitamins B and C go down and the relative levels decrease resulting in having lots of sodium. Canned foods have more of sodium adding to them than fresh food. Too much sodium in the diet contributes to increased blood pressure, a risk factor that could lead to lots of chronic conditions. Fresh foods have almost no sodium in them because they don’t get processed the way can foods do. There are thousands of canned food products that are available in every state, lending convenience to those with a very busy lifestyle. The sodium content in commercially canned foods has been significantly reduced, up to 40% over old canning methods. After talking about the three differences between buying fresh foods and buying canned foods. In the end, it comes down to a your personal choice, based on the time each person has, amount of money he/she has to spend on food. Therefore it is important that you consider your possibilities and chooses the best type of foods for your lifestyle. But, of course, fresh foods straight from the garden or farm will always remain the healthiest and have the most nutrition. But for those we don’t have time to grow and produce fresh fruits and vegetables, canned products may be worth considering. http://www.livestrong.com/article/260270-nutrition-differences-canned-foods-vs-fresh-produce/

Examining the selection criteria for equity finance investment in social enterprise

Research Methodology The main purpose of this section is to discuss how the primary research has been carried out and the rationale for the choice of methodology. The conclusion of the literature review showed that there are currently no publically agreed criteria for social venture capital funding and very little in the way of conclusive advice for social enterprises attempting to raise this kind of funding. As a result, it is important to gather primary data to facilitate the development of robust conclusions and to answer the research questions. When proposing a research methodology for an in-depth study such as this, Saunders et al. (2009) suggest that it is practical to build the research methodology and research design in such a way that it supports the overall aim and objectives of the research. As such, every aspect of the methodology must reflect the overall purpose of the research, and be geared towards answering the research question and accomplishing its objectives (Neuman, 2000). This chapter therefore outlines the methodology through which the research objectives were met, and the question answered. Several important factors, such as the research philosophy, design, strategy and data collection are highlighted. Issues relating to the research’s validity, generalizability and reliability are also discussed. Research Philosophy According to Easterby-Smith et al (2008), it is important to understand the research philosophy being adopted in management research, as it helps clarify how the research should be designed, approached, and how data could be collected and analysed. Easterby-Smith et al also note that an understanding of the research philosophy could help the researcher in creating, designing and identifying research that may not in line with past experiences. Based on the research aims and objectives, the researcher deemed it most appropriate to adopt an interpretivist philosophy. This is due to the overriding aim of this research, which is to understand the reasons behind social enterprise funding, thus implying that there is a need to understand human responses to a situation, thereby making the result of the findings potentially subjective in nature (Denzin and Lincoln, 2003). Saunders et al (2009) note â€Å"interpretivism is an epistemology that advocates that it is necessary for the researcher to understand differences between humans in our role as social actors† The researcher will need to make sense of the subjective and socially constructed meanings expressed by respondents, as per the interpretivist philosophy (Saunders et al, 2009). The interpretivist perspective can be argued to be decidedly appropriate when it comes to management research due to the complexity and uniqueness of business situations (Saunders et al, 2012; Neuman, 2000). As a result of this choice, the positivist philosophy would not be adopted in this study, as it would be ineffective to adopt a philosophy that observes and generalises social reality (Robson, 2002). Collis and Hussey (2003) also argue that the positivist philosophy cannot help understand the inner feelings, attitudes and human emotions behind social enterprise investments, as these could differ from one investor to another. Research Approach According to Collis and Hussey (2003) a research that adopts an interpretivist philosophy should be inductive in its approach. An inductive approach to research can help to gain an understanding of human interpretation to events, which is especially useful in management research, where the attitude and motivation of stakeholders matter (Saunders et al, 2009). As this study is concerned with understanding how social enterprise investors determine their investment criteria, then it is useful for this research to adopt an approach that makes it possible to understand human emotions and attitudes, compared to the deductive approach that is usually based on generalised scientific principles and academic theories (Bryman and Bell, 2007). Research Purpose As the aim of this study is to identify what social venture capitalists look for in an investment opportunity, this lends itself very much to an exploratory research methodology. According to Robson (2002, pg. 59), â€Å"an exploratory research is a valuable means of finding out what is happening; to seek new insights; to ask questions and to assess phenomena in a new light.† Saunders et al (2009) also state that an exploratory research is useful if the aim of the research is to understand a problem, find out what’s happening, or when the researcher is particularly unsure about a research problem. As such, an exploratory study is an ideal design, as it helps to answer this research’s question more effectively. An exploratory study has been chosen compared to descriptive studies – which portray accurate events of people, events or situations (Robson, 2002), because this research seeks to ‘find out’ and not to ‘narrate’. Furthermore, the literature review already shows that there is insufficient information on selection criteria on social enterprise investments, which defeats the purpose of a descriptive study. The same also applies to explanatory studies, where the emphasis is to study a situation and explain the relationship between two or more variables (Saunders et al, 2009). This study is not designed to assess the relationship between variables, but rather to understand investor attitude. An exploratory study is therefore the most effective form of answering the research question. Data Collection Saunders et al. (2009) suggest that when gathering primary data for an inductive exploratory study, it is normal that much of the data will be qualitative in nature. While there is a considerable amount of quantitative data around the subject of venture capital and social enterprise, these statistics are not sufficient to clarify investment criteria. A further issue with quantitative data is that this research does not seek to reconcile hypothesis and as a result, a methodology needs to be chosen that produces qualitative data. To answer the research question, and to develop a better understanding of this new development for both the social VC and social enterprise industries, it is important to collect data that is rich in opinion and explanation (as recommended by Morris and Wood, 1991). Qualitative data collection is therefore the most appropriate for this research. As it is anticipated that much of the primary data gathered for this study will be qualitative in nature, Saunders et al. (2009) suggests that there are several techniques for gathering primary data. These include inter alia interviews, surveys, focus groups, case studies, and participant observation. To obtain rich data that will be sufficient to allow for analysis, the development of themes, and sufficient contrast of opinion, techniques such as questionnaires and general surveys with large samples are unlikely to be effective (Morris and Wood, 1991). Firstly due to the fact that they will not provide the necessary opinion to answer the research question but more importantly due to the fact that there is a limited sample of available respondents with the necessary experience in their industry, as will be clarified in the data sources section of this methodology. While both the VC industry and the social enterprise ‘movement’ are well established, the actual link between them is relatively new and as a result it is important to select a technique that allows for the development of theories to emerge during data collection and analysis. A longitudinal study would potentially be ideal as would the case study method, since both of these allow for the opportunity for the discovery of interesting new ideas and theories (Adams and Schvaneveldt, 1991). A longitudinal study is not appropriate for this dissertation due to the time constraints, and so a cross-sectional study is more appropriate. While there was the potential to carry out a case study of either a social VC fund or a social enterprise, this would have only provided information around one organization. To effectively analyse the link between two industries it is more appropriate to gather data from a broad cross section of organizations and links to avoid either any bias or à ¢â‚¬Å"isolate opinion† (Collis and Hussey, 2003). According to Belk (2008), the main weakness of qualitative data collection is that it can be limited by insufficient resources. This means that because interviews are resource intensive, a narrower range of opinion is gathered. However Collins & Hussey (2003) argue that if the interviews are well structured even though they only gather the opinions of a relatively small research population the depth and breadth of data gathered and the fact that it is contextually relevant is certainly sufficient in terms of data validity and reliability for an exploratory study such as this. Having established the time limitations and the issue that the potential sample is limited but should be sufficiently broad, interviews emerge as the most appropriate methodology. As Sanders et al (2009) explains, there are a number of different ways that an interview can be conducted. It is first important to establish which structure of interview is the most appropriate. There are three main categories of interview structure, and these are: structured, semi-structured and unstructured. The primary distinction between them being the level of freedom given to the researcher in terms of asking different questions to interviewees, and varying the length allowed for the responses (Saunders et al, 2009). The literature showed that there is no clarity as to either the criteria used for funding or for the advice to those seeking funding, and as a result there needs to be the opportunity for the interviewees to express opinion and provide information that moves beyond the confines of a set of structured questions. To develop new and interesting theories, it is essential that the interviews allow for different responses (Robson, 2002). However, this dissertation has a limitation of length which prevents unstructured interviews from being an appropriate technique as it could potentially allow for too much data to be collected making analysis overly complex or it could prevent the necessary focus on the issues related to the research question. Semi-structured interviews allow for sufficient data to be collected while also providing the flexibility that is necessary for the researcher to develop both original insight and sufficient opinion for the analysis (Bryman and Bell, 2007). Data Sources and Data Collection Techniques Since it has been established that the author shall conduct semi-structured interviews, it is important at this stage to re-visit the research questions, which are as follows: When evaluating social enterprises for equity investment, which criteria are considered most important Do social venture capitalists differ in their evaluation criteria compared to commercial venture capitalists Secondary research question: What are the drivers for the social venture capitalists A questionnaire has been developed accordingly and used as a guideline, allowing for flexibility of the discussion and giving the respondents room to reject certain questions or focus on questions that was within their expertise, whilst still ensuring answers to the more critical questions. This semi-structured format is favourable also because it allows for discretion and prioritization in time management, without the need to interrupt or inconvenience the respondent (Neuman, 2000). Primary data has been gathered using said questionnaire, from five individuals that are responsible for screening social enterprises in the UK for access to equity investment. Five interview respondents were seen as ideal for a number of reasons. Firstly, this research is exploratory in nature; secondly, time constraints would have made it difficult to gather and analyse data from more than five respondents; and lastly, it was difficult to gain access to these individuals. The semi-structured interviews were conducted over the phone and in face-to-face environments, as per the respondents’ preference. The questionnaire was shared beforehand allowing the respondents time to consider and prepare for the questions if need be, as well as to filter out respondents who were not well suited. Research participants were encouraged to expand upon their responses to allow the researcher to gather a wide range of data (Belk, 2008). The interviews were audio-recorded with consent and subsequently transcribed verbatim[1], in order to allow the researcher to focus on the interview and fully engage with the respondent, without compromising on the accuracy of the data collected (Robson, 2002). This further allowed for the researcher to take note of additional non-verbal communication to enrich the quality of data retrieved (Kvale and Brinkmann, 2009). At the end of each interview, a summary was developed in order to reflect upon the progression of the interview process and start developing any findings. This â€Å"stop and reflect† process in between interviews, as recommended by Saunders et al (2009), has allowed the researcher to adapt to this new knowledge and delve deeper into the research questions with each ensuing interview. This process has led to an additional set of questions on the questionnaire[2], with the aim of addressing four new research questions: Is there in fact a market/demand for equity investment in social enterprise in the UK Is there a supply/demand balance of social enterprises to social investment How do SIFIs interact What does the future of social investment look like Once the data had been gathered, the author administered data reduction techniques (Miles and Huberman, 1994) by critically reviewing and selectively focusing on key parts of the extended text which are the transcripts. By extracting relevant pieces of information to answer our research questions, along with our notes throughout the interview process, the author was then able to codify the data, which was then subject to thematic analysis. Data collection, data analysis and the development and verification of the propositions have been very much an interactive and interrelated set of processes, whereby actual analysis occurred throughout. The flexibility of this process was key to enabling more insightful data and propositions, as enabled by an inductive approach. Issues of Reliability, Validity and Generalisability Reliability denotes the extent to which findings from a research can provide consistent findings, if another study were to adopt its data gathering and sampling technique (Easterby-Smith et al, 2008). The major threats to research liability: respondent bias, respondent error, interviewer bias and interviewer error (Robson, 2002) were avoided by: Sending the questionnaires to the respondents beforehand to avoid misinterpretation of intent or questions. Audio-recording the interviews, and taking ‘time-outs’ to reflect on the answers and ask further questions. Analyzing the data using data-reduction techniques, in order to prioritize the key findings and avoid loss of data. Validity, according to Saunders et al (2009) â€Å"is concerned with whether findings are really about what they appear to be about†. The interview questions were based on the research question, thus linking respondent answers to the overall aim of the research. Furthermore, the respondents were accredited professionals with industry insight on social enterprise investments. As a result, they were most fit to answer the interview questions. This helped ensure the data collected and analysed was valid. Generalisability measures the extent to which research findings are generalizable to other research settings (Saunders et al, 2009). Due to the inductive nature of this study, it is the researcher’s opinion that the findings of this research are generalizable to social enterprise investments in the UK. The findings from this research could help explain how investors determine what social enterprises they would invest in the UK. This is due to socio-economic factors that may differ from one country to another. Ethics With any primary research it is imperative that matters relating to research ethics are taken into account (Denzin and Lincoln, 2003). This includes ensuring that research participants have a clear understanding of what the research will entail and their contribution to the research. Research participants have agreed to support the research voluntarily, and so Denzin and Lincoln (2003, p.114) describe this as â€Å"informed consent†. The author has explained the nature of the research and reassured research participants of their role. Furthermore, confidentiality will be maintained through ensuring anonymity of research participants throughout this dissertation, only divulging participants’ names on a need to know basis to dissertation assessors. Not only is this ethical best practice, but Bryman & Bell (2011) also highlight the fact that it further ensures that the researcher gathers legitimate data which is not subject to inadvertent bias, for example a research p articipant feels that they must say nice things about their supervisor. In this instance because the research is heavily reliant on personal opinion then it is imperative that research ethics are observed. Due to the respondents’ varying assumptions in definition when referring to key research terms, such as â€Å"social enterprise† and â€Å"social venture capital†, all questions were clarified in detail where necessary, and the author ensured an alignment of understanding prior to collecting data. References Adams, G. R. and Schvaneveldt, J. D. (1991) Understanding Research Methods, Longman Group: UK, 406pp Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007) Business Research Methods, 2nd Ed, Oxford University Press: Oxford, 786pp Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2003) Business Research: A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students, 2nd Ed, Palgrave McMillan: NY, 374pp Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., and Lowe, A. (2008) Management Research: An Introduction, 2nd Ed, SAGE: London, 194pp Morris, T. and Wood, S. (1991), ‘Testing the survey method: continuity and change in British industrial relations’, Work, Employment & Society, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 259- 82. Neuman, W. L. (2000) Basics of social research: qualitative and quantitative approaches, Pearson: UK, 391pp Robson, C. (2002) Real world research: a resource for social scientists and practitioner – researchers, 2nd Ed, Wiley-Blackwell: NY, 599pp Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009) Research methods for business students, Fifth Edition, Pearson Education: NJ, 624pp