Is Christmas Pagan?

As every year draws to an end, so the atmosphere of Christmas starts to fill the air. The 25th of December is a day that has caught the heart of most Christians and filled it with gratitude- for it is said – that it is the day that Jesus Christ was born. It is marked on calendars as a public holiday, but it is written on hearts as a celebration of the birth of our savior. It is the time when families and friends gather together, bearing gifts for one another and where feelings of love are evident and friendships are strong. But, what if Christmas is not what it appears to be? What if we just imagine it to be this great celebration of Jesus birth, but in reality Jesus Christ was not in Christmas at all? There is a snare inside this honeycomb we call Christmas. It lays dormant, unseen, it appears harmless, and when one partakes in it, it tastes sweet in the mouth but is really bitter in the spirit. The following essay will emphasis the pros and cons of what hides behind Christmas, and will explain the roots of the traditions, rituals and celebrations that people practice over Christmas. If Christmas is not the birth of Christ, then where did it come from and what does it mean? Allow me to show how and where it all started. The celebration of Christ’s birth was not even a consideration until the third century. It was only about AD 350 when a Roman Catholic, Pope Julius I, decided to introduce the celebration of Christmas as the birth of Christ, and then the thought of honoring Christ’s birth materialized into a documented festival. Why would a Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, choose December the 25th to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ? Scripture reveals that Christ was not even born in December, as shown In Luke 2:8 when the three shepherds saw the star signaling the place of Christ’s birth they were â€Å"abiding in the field keeping watch of their sheep by night†. If it had been December, they probably would not have been sleeping in the field because of the severity of the winters in Palestine at that particular time of year. Pope Julius I also knew that the transition of Paganism to Christendom was hard. He decided to find a compromise – a gray area. He knew that if only he could chisel away at the righteousness of the Christian faith, then he could bridge the gulf between Paganism and Christianity. So herein he found an answer. Pope Julius I strategically set Christ’s birthday on the 25th of December so that the Babylonians would feel accepted as they worshipped the birth of their messiah, Tammuz. The Romans would feel able to participate for they too were worshipping Saturn, and the Egyptians would feel comfortable as they worshipped the rebirth of Mithra. This was the only way that Christians would not feel excluded from their surrounding community but be able to participate in the celebration and festivals. Were they right? Christmas traditions bear their roots in Babylon, as I will explain a little futher. As the Babylonians would worship and honor the son of the Babylonian Queen of heaven, Tammuz (the Babylonian Messiah) they used certain rituals, which later were adopted by the church and established as Christmas traditions. In Babylon their celebration was known as the winter solstice festival. It was recognized by the thrill of having parties, feasts, and the privilege of giving gifts to one another. Every family would cut down an evergreen tree – they would kill the tree and decorate it as a way of commemorating the premature death of Tammuz. The Catholic Church adopted this Pagan tradition of cutting trees as well as decorating them. This act being contrary to scripture, as described in Jeremiah 10:1-5, â€Å"Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: thus says the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workmen, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with hammers, that it move not†. One of the other traditions that were held during the Babylonian celebration was the burning of candles on the night before the celebrations began, in Catholicism one of the watermarks of Christmas is burning candles around the house on Christmas Eve. Babylon was not the only nation that contributed to the forming of Christmas and its traditions, but Rome also played a considerable part in this merge. The Romans used the 25th as a time to honor their agricultural god, Saturn. They called their holiday Saturnalia. The purpose of Saturnalia was to celebrate, and thank the god’s for the coming summer. Every year when the days shortened, Romans, had no way of knowing if the days were going to lengthen again. When the days lengthened in December they saw it as a sign of the end of winter – the mercy of Saturn, the god of agriculture. This lengthening would allow them to prepare for the planting season. They had decided to use the time to commemorate and celebrate the mercy of their god – thus festivities began. Saturnalia’s practices such as dancing and singing naked in the streets became caroling and singing house to house on Christmas evening. Merrymaking and feasting, became the Christmas lunches and dinners practiced by so many Christian families each Christmas. The exchanging of good-luck gifts in Rome are the gifts we see under the Christmas trees today. Romans would deck their homes and doors with boughs of greenery and candles and today the Christmas practice is the decorating of our homes with lights, wreaths and mistletoe. The mistletoe was considered a sacred plant. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe began a ritual to bring fertility to the couple. Holly berries associated with Christmas cakes and also in the decorations were really thought of as the food of the gods. In northern Europe the pagans celebrated their own winter solstice, which they called Yule. The word Yule means â€Å"wheel,† which is a pagan symbol for the sun. Yule was symbolic for Mithras (the sun god’s) birth, which was believed to be on the shortest day of the year. The thought was as Mithras grew so the days because longer, and his ability to warm them became stronger. In all hopes to encourage Mithras to reappear the following year, it was customary to burn Yule logs to represent the warmth that the sun gives. In modern day Europe they still burn logs on the fire. It was also traditional to light candles to signify the light that the sun produces. The question that looms over this essay is, â€Å"Is Christmas a truly Pagan Festival? I will say a definite yes! It is clear, that because Christmas has been a worldwide tradition for so long but the clarity of its roots have long been forgotten The very thought of the celebration of Christ’s birth was not an idea that originated from any form of scriptural background at all, but it materialized from a Pope seeking to dilute the pureness of the Christian faith with Pagan trad itions. This is a pure compromise – a huge compromise! I have shown the heresy of Christmas and the detachment that Christians should have from it. Anything that tries to reduce the magnitude, r detract from the holiness of Christ, cannot be from the spirit of Christ and therefore it must be the spirit of the antichrist. If something is held up by the pillars Paganism, supported by the beams of the spirit of antichrist, then it cannot be for Christians to partake in. The scripture in Jeremiah 7:17-20 says â€Å"Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the father’s fondle the fire, and the woman knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke to anger? † says the Lord. â€Å"Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces†? The refusal of Christians to recognize the importance of relinquishing demonic association is a powerful indicator that the Christian world has gone astray, and forsaken the truth that once burned in the hearts of men. The Lord says, â€Å" My spirit will not always strive with a man†. We should not fight God, but rather be quick to submit to his word lest we do not see ourselves start to fall away. We must be careful that by taking part in Christmas we are not paying tribute the false gods that birthed this tradition.

Cyber Events That Cause Terror in the Australian Population

The cyber events results to too many deaths in the world today. Computers and communication systems are linked together thus making everything else to rely on software and this has paved way to terrorists today. Terrorists organize crime and terror attacks through cyber and the target is increasing towards the Australian government website. Though Australia is a prestigious country, it attracts the attention of the world despite its population.The cyber threats are directed towards critical infrastructure like water, IT, banking, energy, and finance and communication industries in Australia. Events that causes cyber terror in Australia include cyber malicious messages, bullying where false rumors are spread online which are defaming and offensive content found in the cyberspace (Roberts, 2007). Offensive information is harmful to the population of Australia given that it exposes people to criminal vices. Forgery and plagiarism against intellectual property is another cyber event that terrorizes the Australian population.Virus attacks by computer zombies through the internet and unauthorized access on individual’s information is threat-full to the population in Australia. Furthermore, financial losses due to theft of proprietary information from laptops by installing Trojan horse on machines thus enable him to make his attack. The terrorist cyber events include triggering of explosion remotely at a target in the population thus victimizing innocent people in the propinquity of the explosion.The terrorists use the computers to deliver political threats so as to influence the government of Australia to act in the wrong direction thus destroying property of the public or intimidate the public so that they may start violence (Roberts, 2007). In conclusion, the public should guide their cyber space against viruses, hackers and worms thus protecting themselves against cyber terrorism by use of anti-virus software’s and Norton personal firewall to guide a gainst hackers. References Roberts, L. (2007). †Crime Online†. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Vol. 40, pp. 1-15 Cyber Events That Cause Terror in the Australian Population Cyber crimes in Australia have continued to increase taking different forms and processes. They have been the center stage in the promotion and execution of terrorism and terror attacks in the country. Development in computer and internet technology is providing an overwhelming condition with which cyber crimes can be instigated in Australia.They are directed towards different areas such as, transport, water, energy and communication industries. Cyber crimes have thus been dominant and providing a growing threat to Australia. It is important that the society at large guide their cyber space towards actions of protecting any cyber threat which may imply terrorism and other harmful attacks

Business Analysis Of MGM

Business Analysis Of MGM MGM Grand one of the world’s leading and most respected hotel and gaming companies, owns and operates 24 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has investments in four other properties in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois and the United Kingdom. As it implies in the mission statement below, in all their resorts their main aim is to provide high quality customer service in every facility around the world in order to enhance shareholder value and sustainability. â€Å"Our mission is to deliver our winning combination of quality entertainment, luxurious facilities and exceptional customer service to every corner of the world in order to enhance shareholder value and to sustain employee, customer and community relationships.† In addition, MGM Resorts International with 16 resorts and 165 restaurants supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its gaming properties. Assess ing Growth Opportunities MGM Grand is considering to gain more market share with its current products using a market penetration strategy. For this reason, each product (resort) is diversified to meet the needs of the different market segments. MGM Grand diversifies its hotels mainly by pricing strategies, and level of luxury. Market Positioning of Resorts Bellagio with its glamorous appearance and appealing nature is positioned as one of the most high end hotels in Vegas. Following that, Aria is growing its position in the international market with high sales in convention bookings. Aria expresses its significant difference with its contemporary architecture whereas Bellagio stands out with its AAA Five Diamond Award ® winning casino. The third strong player of MGM Grand, Vdara provides a non-gaming, smoke-free environment. Mandalay Bay points out itself as â€Å"Untamed Luxury† whereas Mirage follows the slogan â€Å"Vegas Starts Here†. MGM Grand, on the other hand is â€Å"Maximum Vegas†. 4Ps of Marketing Product MGM Resort International has 12 hotels on Las Vegas Strip and operates 7 more hotels in US and other locations. Bellagio, Aria serving the needs of the high end visitors, New York, New York, Monte Carlo, Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus MGM Grand , on the other hand are serving the needs of the diversified market with its diversified accommodation range. Vdara, Signature at MGM, The Hotel at Mandalay Bay are boutique hotels designed for satisfying special needs of its visitors. The Hotel at Mandalay Bay is mainly designed for business travelers as well as pleasure seekers. City Center with its luxury shops is positioned as â€Å"one of the world premiere shopping destination† attracting all visitors of Las Vegas. MGM Grand Detroit serving luxury in the center of entertainment in the city mainly attracts high end customers with its high end positioning. Brand name is an important key factor in MGM Grand’s marketin g strategy therefore establishes different brand names and implies different pricing strategies to each product in its portfolio. Pricing For MGM Grand pricing is a key variable in differentiating the variety of the quality and thus prices demanded from customers. Bellagio is the high end product with the highest pricing model followed by Aria. However MGM GRAND, Excalibur, Circus Circus, New York New York and others are effected by seasonal pricing, special discounts and special packages.

Introduction to Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Introduction to Psychology - Essay Example While I recognized that there were individuals with different personality structures, to me it was not clear what exactly constituted crazy or sane, and what demonstrated normal or abnormal psychology. After researching these elements throughout the course I have come to a greater understanding and appreciation of psychology and its elements within the lives of others. Considering sanity and insanity, while I had previously believed that there was a clear and distinct divide between these two elements, I now believe that the distinguishing features are much more nebulous. It’s my understanding that oftentimes individuals can demonstrate abnormal or deviant views on the nature of existence or life, while at the same time demonstrate functional lifestyles in other aspects of their life. I also recognize that oftentimes these individuals, with proper care and counseling, can come to develop more sane or functional modes of existence. In terms of abnormal or different behavior, wh ile I recognize that there are individuals whose behavior is so entirely deviant that they are a threat to themselves and society that it must be curbed, there are also a number of positive elements of anormal psychology. In these regards, the course has demonstrated to me that while there is abnormal psychology that must be dealt with, in many contexts it’s necessary to consider the positive benefits of a society that values neurological diversity (Zimbardo 2010). This is perhaps the most intellectual development I made throughout my study in this course. Namely, that while psychology and doctors are quick to label individuals as bio-polar, autistic, or schizophrenic, in many instances these individuals simply demonstrate psychological perspectives that are deviant of mainstream norms. In labeling these people as such, I’ve come to believe that society is actually doing them a disservice, as in many instances that are simply unique individuals facing oppressive mechan isms from a social order not open to neurological diversity. 2. Identify and discuss the forces acting on you to limit or prevent your freedom of choice, both those rooted in your past (such as guilt, traumatic memories, obligations, bad contracts, unrewarding experiences, punishment, low self-esteem, or shyness), those rooted in the present (including social pressures to conform, comply, obey, and do what others reward you for; personal pressure to be recognized, approved of, accepted, and loved), and those based in the future (such as unrealistic expectations, aspirations, concern for liabilities and responsibilities, desire for security, or fear of death). While one of the predominant thematic elements of American society is the claim of freedom for all citizens, when one examines the issue on a personal level it’s evident that freedom is more complex that right granted by the government. When one considers freedom in terms of their personal lives, it’s clear there are a number of past, present, and future elements that factor into the ability of one to truly exercise elements of personal choice. When I consider freedom in terms of my own life, I recognize that I am constricted by these elements. Personal choice in my life surfaces perhaps most strikingly in terms of my artistic and social desires. In terms of my artistic desires, I have somewhat idealistic notions of myself as being a successful singer, but recognize that such a desire is highly unlikely to come to fruition. As

Bibliography on e-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bibliography on e-commerce - Essay Example In doing so, it also illustrates those elements of the business cycle that may prove difficult as smaller businesses begin to grow and the efforts being taken to try to meet those needs. Ted Kemp provides a quick basics approach to how to market goods online effectively without necessarily investing in some of the more expensive retailing software and expertise available. In his discussion, he points out some of the more important elements of a website’s appeal to online consumers, including what to place on the main page, how to encourage shoppers to purchase and providing some examples of online retailers that have effectively employed these tactics. Megna, Michelle. (January 15, 2008). â€Å"How to Choose Tools that Customize Online Shopping.† E-Commerce Guide.com. Available January 16, 2008 from Michelle Megna provides a comprehensive summary of a Forrester Research study into the concept of e-tail personalization. This refers to the various software tools available to online marketers that provide automatic personalization for consumers in bringing them product offerings customized to their interests and shopping behaviors. While these tools have often been underutilized because of the sheer complexity of the process, the study reveals that they have become much simpler to deploy, more flexible for the marketer and customizable in terms of how merchandisers might wish to cross-sell their products. Pankaj Kamthan outlines some of the major risks inherent in e-commerce that have caused problems in the past. While some of these issues have been addressed through more updated software since the article was written, the concerns that were raised by these issues remain valid. This is because hackers have become more sophisticated in keeping with the software and because consumers may retain concerns based upon these issues. Valentine, Lisa. (December 6, 2007). â€Å"One

Marketing Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing - Research Paper Example The marketing decides about what to produce and where to position and sell the product – which market segment to cater or how to differentiate the product from competition. Correct identification of all these tasks in proper direction is of paramount importance that eventually makes the organization thrive with ever increasing sales. It will be most appropriate to explore how the marketing function can turn the tides in company’s favor so that the company is put on high trajectory of growth with thumping profits. Smith (2011) argues that some airlines increase their costs by 25 percent just to get additional 5 percent of the market. It just does not make sense if profitability is one of the goals. Southwest airlines continued with a strategy of low pricing for over 4 decades albeit with a focus on target market and that concept always stayed with the company. In a short distance travel, Southwest Airlines identified the customer needs as flexible and efficient travel, l esser time in boarding, timely service and of course, the affordable price. Southwest Airlines met with these needs of its customers by removing meals, no preselecting of seat, no first class travel, no booking through agent. In short, it was a selection between satisfying every customer at high cost or satisfying a vast majority at low cost and the Southwest Airlines smartly decided to choose the latter. Southwest continues with this philosophy even today. It operates with efficiency and without any extra frills when compared with competitors. At low cost, it still makes profit and continues to grow. The Starbucks Coffee Company is one of the fastest growing organization and worth mentioning for its prudent marketing strategies; especially, small businesses can learn a lot from the company. Starting with just one store about 30 years ago, currently the company owns thousands of outlets in the US and abroad with the total revenue exceeding $4 billion. Starbucks does not put ad in ne wspapers or a billboard or a poster. They focus on product quality providing delicious taste and aroma. Customer satisfaction has been their main guiding principle and in keeping with that the company has added more flavors in their serving, high speed wire-less internet capability in their outlets and pleasant environment. Their product and services speak for themselves through word-of-mouth publicity discarding any need for a high-level ad campaign. Apple Inc. is a classic case of innovation and product development that firmly establishes the company as most sought after in the market place so far its products are concerned. Apple came out with iPod, iTunes, iPhone and then the App Store. The iPod found the gap in MP3 player market and promptly filled the gap to grab over 70 percent market share; that is unprecedented in the history. In the field of tablet computer, iPad’s market share is over 50 percent – much ahead of its nearest rival Samsung who is languishing at meager 18 percent market share. In smart phone market, iPhone’s market share has risen by 10 percentage points to touch

The Future Success of Sony Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

The Future Success of Sony - Essay Example One of the main market segments, where Sony is still the market leader, is the gaming market. But competitors are soon catching up and it needs to innovate and make its But competitors are soon catching up and it needs to innovate and make its PlayStation better as competitors. Microsoft and Nintendo have already released their next generation consoles and it is high time that Sony releases its and makes the experience far better than the previous ones. The portable music player is another segment that the company has lost its market share, mainly to competitor Apple. In order to regain its market share, it has to come up with a new and innovative product that is more than just a music player. Instead of competing directly with iPod, Sony must try coming up with a product that is going to shake up the segment, like it has done with Walkman years ago or for matter for of fact Apple has done with iPod. It needs to reinvent itself in the television market as dominance in this market will result in an increase in demand for other products also. As it failed to identify the potential in the LCD market, it is now trying to play catch up. Instead, it must try coming up with next-generation televisions which is better than the LCDs. There are other segments to where the company needs to implement product innovation if it has to justice to the brand name it has achieved and replicate the success of the past. One of the major strengths of Sony us that it is considered to be a premium brand by consumers as it has gained the reputation of producing high quality, technically superior, innovative and reliable products. Hence, products coming out of it are generally considered by the consumers to be among the best. Like Apple, it is also a lifestyle brand which means that consumers take pride in owning Sony products. This is a great platform for the company to market and sell its products. The main weakness of the company is the brand image that it has acquired in the recent past. It is now seen as the shadow of its past successes. It has been criticised for not tapping new opportunities and failing to innovate. The company was once a market leader/innovator but now has become a follower. Its overall financial performance has not been encouraging to shareholders.

Carrefour's Misadventure in Russia Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Carrefour's Misadventure in Russia - Case Study Example This research will begin with the statement that with a move to the globalized era, successful businesses and large corporations are continuously looking for the opportunities of international expansion. The last trends show that emerging economies, especially BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) become more popular destinations for business development purposes. While there are many examples of successful penetration and business establishment on these markets, there are also examples of failures and misadventures. Entry strategy of the France-based retail giant Carrefour to the Russian market has been unsuccessful, and the company’s sudden exit has raised many different opinions in this respect.   Below there is provided an overview of potential factors that might have its impact on the company’s failure continued with the further analysis of the Russian food retail market based on the Porters’ five forces model. While there was not clearly defined the rea son of why Carrefour has made a decision to exit suddenly the Russian market, there were mentioned some obvious factors that might have contributed to this decision. These factors include: social and cultural factors; legal factors; late entry decision; absence of sufficient organic-growth prospects and acquisition opportunities, and political factors. Such social and cultural factors that have been identified as the potential barriers to the Carrefour’s expansion in Russia included: bureaucracy, corruption, red tape.

War in Vietnam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

War in Vietnam - Essay Example It is not the actual military defeat that hurt. It was the emotional defeat, the defeat of intelligence, the political defeat, the defeat of calculation, the defeat of the entire plan and purpose of the war that so staggered the nation that it is still trying to come to terms with the questions of the war to which different analysts are providing different answers (Mackubin Thomas Owens). Probably the best person to answer the Vietnam question was Ngo Dinh Diem who capably led the charge of South Vietnam. Like John F Kennedy, Diem too was a Roman Catholic. He successfully kept communism under control, sometimes brutally. However, in the process he angered the Buddhist monks who were part of the majority in Vietnam. He was seen as a protg of the Americans and he behaved like one. Nevertheless, as time went on, he was becoming increasingly isolated because of fears by some including the United States ambassador to Vietnam, Henry Cabot Lodge that he was leading a corrupt regime. The failure of the American intelligence to track the correct course and keep at it grated the final nail to the coffin with a very big hammer. Now the Americans are coming to realize that Diem was not such a bad fellow after all (Mackubin Thomas Owens). Journalists David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan depicted Diem in the most debilitating terms. Their account of Diem was so horrifying and unpleasant that a 1963 congressional mission described them as "arrogant, emotional, unobjective and ill-informed." One cannot fault Halberstam and Sheehan though. They were only faithfully and unwittingly reproducing what was fed to them through obliging Vietnamese sources who were secretly communist agents themselves (Mackubin Thomas Owens). Diem depended on the Americans to carry out his agenda of blocking the communists. He signed a joint communiqu with President Eisenhower condemning communism (Dr. Penelope Nicholson). Diem complemented the policies of the United States quite well in Vietnem. However, the American politicians were not happy with Diem. They did not want a Catholic running amok amidst the predominant Buddhist population. They found fault with his government capturing and killing communist insurgents. They wavered in backing him on long term basis fearing he was increasingly becoming a liability and must be isolated. The fault lines in the American intelligence were undermining a factor that was actually providing them positive results in the war. The intrigue took its toll. Diem was assassinated in a coup by his senior military officers in 1963. Kennedy was unnerved by the assassination of Diem although he approved of the coup. Post Diem After the assassination of Diem the question of leadership haunted Vietnam. Any leader who took up the reins had to have the backing of the Americans. But the policy decisions for Vietnam came from

How Our Culture Glorifies One Sex Over the Other in Dating Essay Example for Free

How Our Culture Glorifies One Sex Over the Other in Dating Essay In his musings A Note on Vulnerability and Responsibility, Hugo Schywyzer comments, Men, it seems, cant distinguish being wanted as a partner and being needed as a protector and provider. Women have always been held in high regard when it comes to dating. This is because women, through time, have always been viewed as weak and in need of protection. This view has carried over to our new era of woman empowerment and independence. These views have slowly changed over the decades though and beginning in the 1960s, women have slowly evolved into an equal partnership with men. These days, women and men earn their place in their relationships. The glorification is no longer automatic even while you are simply dating one another. Men have traditionally held the more responsible role of being mature and more understanding in a relationship. These days though, maturity and respect in a relationship are considered a two-way street where a dating couple would rather find a common middle ground rather than the man letting the woman have her way in the relationship. Although a womans decision is still glorified in terms in dating, women today tend to use their prerogative to find an outlet that they both will enjoy. It is no longer just a woman who must enjoy a date these days and the women prefer it that way. Although, the continually evolving area of dating has proven that women do not necessarily have to date. It is perfectly acceptable for women to opt for independence and remain single. Women no longer like being placed on a pedestal where men seemingly glorify them for the sake of their egos. Women no longer respond in a resigned manner to sexist treatment. Women will no longer accept that she is inferior and, judged to be mentally inferior to the male. Women feel respected these days when a man listens to what she has to say and considers her suggestions. Men seem to prefer a woman who shares her thoughts because the responsibility for dating enjoyment and relationship building no longer falls squarely on the mans shoulders. Consider my personal situation as an example. I work in the Armed Services and yet it does not affect my relationship with men. Instead of being threatened by my position, which used to be solely a mans job, most men who know me admire me for my courage and sense of duty and responsibility. These are traits that I carry over into my personal relationships that produces a smooth flowing and open line of communication and understanding with my partner. Since we both have input into how to improve our relationship, we have built a strong bond that cannot be questioned and need not be doubted. We are equals and partners in everything we do. These days, a man is no longer relegated to the protector and provider role. This evens out the responsibility in a relationship and allows the woman to ask her man to treat her as an equal while still being vulnerable and in need of protection. It can be said that men now treat women as their equal in every way even with the limitations set in place not by man, but by Mother Nature herself. Our culture no longer dictates that we glorify one sex over the other when it comes to dating. A woman no longer needs to pretend to be vulnerable and like a porcelain doll just to make the man feel strong. Men now get their glorification by living up to their commitments and vows in a relationship. Glorification of one sex over the other is no longer the norm. The bible lectures women to be submissive to their husband, that has not been the case for decades now. These days, women have the right to say no if she feels a situation is not right for her. Men can no longer assume for example, that when he says he is moving to another state, his girlfriend or wife will automatically go with him. Women these days have more things to consider like their jobs, family, friends unlike before when she was simply a stay at home person who was expected to do a mans bidding. M These days, a womans opinion is recognized as needed and therefore must be considered. Dating these days are based on totally new sets of rules based on woman empowerment and independence. Certain sports like soccer, golf, tennis, and basketball now have equivalent female leagues. While activities such as rock climbing, handy work around the house, and car repairs, which used to be the sole realm of men have seen a fair share of women accomplishing the same tasks without the hindrances one may have ordinarily expected. Responsibility of making a relationship, or even just a simple date, work is now a shared task that no longer glorifies or spotlights one sex over the other. This I further reinforced by the mass media of today with shows such as Sex at the City, Friends, Greys Anatomy, and Alias. All the women on these shows equal their male counterparts in every way. The barriers of social enjoyment have been torn down by these shows and empowered women to become an active participant in choosing their life mate. These shows encourage woman to take the initiative for dating or any other companionship activity provided that she is comfortable doing so. It is okay for a woman to be aggressive to a certain degree. A woman asking a man out on a date is no longer frowned upon since men can sometimes be just as shy as the woman when asking for a date. It is okay for a woman to change her own flat tire. It is no longer an issue if a woman has more intellectual know how than men. Women like these gain the respect of the significant other who glorify the woman who earned the right to be treated equally and not because tradition and society has dictated it to be that way. Society now dictates the women prove themselves if they want to be respected. Women have proven it many times over. Women are now leading and formidable figures in the fields that were exclusively for men in the past such as politics (Hillary Clinton senator), and business (Oprah Winfrey Mass Media). Outline of How Our Culture Glorifies One Sex over the Other in Dating Lead-in There is a belief that our culture glorifies one sex over the other when it comes to dating. Thesis These days our culture no longer glorifies one sex over the other in dating because all responsibilities and tasks are now a shared effort on the part of the man and woman. Conclusion: Be it a male or female, the dating couple want to earn the respect of their partner and earn the respect and glorification that is accorded to them as a productive significant other in the dating relationship. Works Cited: Hugo Schwyzer. November 03, 2005 A Note On Vulnerability and Responsibility. Retrieved January 4, 2007 from http://hugoboy. typepad. com/hugo_schwyzer/2005/11/on_a_more_serio. html

Was Nelson Mandela A Great Leader History Essay

Was Nelson Mandela A Great Leader History Essay INTRODUCTION The leader is a man who comes closest to realizing the norms the group values the highest; this conformity gives him his high rank, which attracts people and implies the right to assume control of the group. (Homans, 1950). The underlying need-structure of the individual which motivates his behavior in various leadership situations. Leadership style thus refers to the consistency of goals or needs over different situations. (Fiedler, 1967). One of the great leaders who had the above qualities fulfilled in him was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former president of South Africa and world acclaimed international statesman. The following would be a detailed analysis of his leadership traits, behavior and the situations in which he had proved himself a good leader. ABOUT NELSON MANDELA Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela commonly known as Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in Umtata, Transkei, South Africa; son of Henry Mandela (a Tembu tribal chief). He married Evelyn Ntoko Mase (a nurse), 1944, divorced, 1956; married Nomzamo Winnie Madikileza (a social worker and political activist), June 14, 1958, divorced; married Graca Machel (lawyer), 1998; children: (first marriage) Thembi (a son; deceased), Makgatho (son), Makaziwe (daughter); (second marriage) Zenani (daughter), Zindziswa (daughter). He took up a correspondence course with the University of South Africa (now UNISA) to complete his first degree. He was awarded his Bachelors degree in 1941, and in 1942 he was articled to another firm of attorneys and started upon a law degree at the University of Witwatersrand. By 1948 Nelson Mandela had failed to pass the exams required for his LLB law degree, and he decided instead to settle for the qualifying exam which would allow him to practice as an attorney. LIFE AS A PRISONER During the 1940s and 1950s he rose rapidly through the ANC hierarchy but was frequently subject to police harassment, detention, and banning. When the ANC was outlawed in 1960 he went underground and organized its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). In 1962 he was Sentenced to five years imprisonment for inciting Africans to strike and for leaving South Africa without a valid travel document. In 1964, whilst still in detention, he was charged with treason and, after giving a memorable four-and-a-half hour speech criticizing apartheid, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Living in a prison had the same meaning as living in the worst place in South Africa: Robben Island. ANC prisoners earned D classifications, which was prisoners who were the most dangerous and had the least rights. They were kept in cells with hay carpets and thin blankets as beds and iron buckets for toilets. The daily menu was always the same; small portion of corn soup with extra vegetable or meat chop for dinner. The men were wearing thin shirts from khaki and shorts, even during the winter, and were restricted from reading newspapers or magazines-they were not allowed to read any news at all. The prisoners spent most of their time in a chalk mine, where they worked very hard As one of the leaders of the group, Nelson received more harsh treatment than the others. He was kept 23 hours in his cell every day, shined only by a lamp. This made him unable to sleep or know what the time was. He was only allowed to have one visitor every six months and once he was not allowed to see his wife for two years, Winnie. He could only write and receive one letter every six months. The letter he received was screened by the guard, who would cut the parts that were considered to be unsafe, effectively erasing those parts even though there were writings behind those parts. In total Mandela spent twenty-seven consecutive years in detention. From 1964 to 1982 he was held on Robben Island, from 1982 to 1988 in Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town, and from 1988 to 1990 in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl. From 1985 on he rejected several offers of conditional release which would have imposed severe limits on his political activities. In many ways his imprisonment increased his, already considerable, political status and resulted in a worldwide campaign for his release. During the 27 years that Mandela spent in prison, hidden from the eyes of the world while he quarried limestone and harvested seaweed, his example of quiet suffering was just one of numerous pressures on the apartheid government. Public discussion of Mandela was illegal, and he was allowed few visitors. But as the years dragged on, he assumed the mantle of a martyr. In 1982 Mandela was moved to the Maximum security Pollsmoor Prison outside Cape Town. This move apparently stemmed from fears by the South African authorities that Mandela was exerting too great an influence on the other prisons at Robben Island. Mandela spent much of the next six years in solitary confinement, during which he was allowed a weekly 30-minute visit by his wife, Winnie. He was offered a conditional freedom in 1984 on the condition that he settle in the officially designated black homeland of Transkei, an offer Mandela refused with an affirmation of his allegiance to the African National Congress. In 1988, Mandela was hospitalized with tuberculosis, and after his recovery he was returned to prison under somewhat less stringent circumstances. In February 1990 he was unconditionally released to scenes of joyous celebration at home and abroad. LIFE AS A POLITICIAN Another revisionist interpretive approach is to understand Mandelas greatness as a collectively manufactured achievement the deliberate assembly of a messianic personality originating in a movements awareness Of its own organizational shortcomings and willingness to compensate for them by directing its ideas through a charismatic individual. This is indeed part of Mandelas story, for the ANC certainly began to intentionally contrive a public legend around Mandelas  leadership  well before he went to prison during the 1952 defiance campaign, when collective decisions and activities were attributed to his personal genius. The appearance in South Africa at this time of popular photo-journalism aimed at black readers made this easier, and Mandela himself took pains to ensure that the media images matched the messages he and his comrades wished to project. Mandelas earliest political experience came while enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, where he was working to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While at the college, he was elected to a student political organization known as the Students Representative Council. Soon after, Mandela was expelled for participating in a protest on campus (ANC archive). Because of this, Mandela attended Johannesburg where he finally obtained his BA. Soon after, he joined the  African National Congress  in 1942, during the height of  World War II. Nelson Mandelas personal fixation with freedom brought him to work with many other members of the African National Congress to form a group under the leadership of a colleague, Anton Lembede (ANC archive). The groups main focus was to change the African National Congress into a mass movement, including all people from urban communities to those in the country. Mandela was instrumental in many political endeavors, many of which were anti-apartheid movements such as the Program of Action, a policy based initiative which was founded on the principle of using the non-violent weapons of boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-co-operation (ANC archive). This eventually became the modus operandi of the African National Congress. And yet, some of our greatest leaders and role models have to resort to evil in order to do well. Mandela, being no exception to this, was the leader of an armed resistance group known as Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), formed in 1962. Mandela explains his reasoning: At the beginning of June 1961, after long and anxious assessment of the South African situation, I and some colleagues came to the conclusion that as long violence in this country was inevitable; it would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. -Nelson Mandela. He was eventually elected President of the African National Congress in 1991. Later, in 1994, he was democratically elected President of the State of  South Africa. QUOTABLE QUOTS OF NELSON MANDELA Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.   A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.   Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.   Communists have always played an active role in the fight by colonial countries for their freedom, because the short-term objects of Communism would always correspond with the long-term objects of freedom movements.   SELECTED WRITINGS OF NELSON MANDELA No Easy Walk to Freedom, Basic Books, 1965. The Struggle Is My Life, Pathfinder Press, 1986. Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, Little, 1994. AWARDS GIVEN TO NELSON Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding from the government of India, 1980; Bruno Kreisky Prize for Human Rights from the government of Austria, 1981; named an honorary citizen of Rome, 1983; Simon Bolivar International Prize from UNESCO, 1983; W. E. B. DuBois Medal, 1986; Nobel Peace Prize, 1987; Liberty Medal, 1987; Sakharov Prize, 1988; Gaddaff Human Rights Prize, 1989; Houphouet Prize, 1991; Nobel Peace Prize, 1993; numerous international honorary degrees, including honorary doctorate degree, Open University, Cape Town, 2004; honorary degree, Amherst College, New York, 2005. CLOSING THOUGHTS True, Mandela had important collaborators that helped him to become a hero and he was the beneficiary of social context and historical circumstances. But no reassessments are likely to detract from Mandelas  achievements  as a political performer whether following his own strategic intuitions or acting out a collectively contrived script. Mandelas understanding of politics as performance is well documented it is obvious and explicit in his courting of the media as early as the 1950s, and his fascination from that time with costumes and disguises. But Mandelas iconic status is not just the consequence of his theatrical capacity to motivate and inspire. His authority is also the product of the occasions when he has acted against the grain, when he has asserted his own individual will. Such actions have continued since his supposed retirement. Nelson R. Mandela, in the wake of political turmoil, was one man who was both willing and able to stand up and fight back. Indeed, we can see how the man developed his legacy through his activist years, his years in prison, and his much more elaborate life afterwards. Despite Mandelas history of supporting terrorism (was on the offical US Terrorist Watch List), the South African Broadcasting Corporation poll for the Greatest South Africans, had Mandela ranked number one greatest South African of all time. Conclusion Nelson Mandela has never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he has never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration, in South Africa and throughout the world, to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation. Mandela personifies struggle and today he is still leading the fight against apartheid with extraordinary resilience and vigor after spending nearly 3 decades of his life behind bars. He has sacrificed his private life and his youth for his people, and remains South Africas best known and loved hero. Nelson Mandela reinforces the fact that leaders have very different qualities and that leadership success is more complex than just identifying few traits or preferable behaviors. He is endowed with many personality traits that make him a natural leader, and over the course of his lifetime, he has also developed many leadership skills and strategies Mandelas leadership success can be attributed to his use of consensus. Consensus is considered to be the superior decision making process to build commitment and motivation in group members towards group objectives. Using consensus aids in making the best possible decision and utilizes the resources of everyone involved. In conclusion, Nelson Mandela is viewed as a revolutionary leader for his ability to empower and motivate others using his strong regard for consensus and the democratic process.

Case Study: Office Depot Essay -- Business Case Study

(1) What marketing orientation or approach does Office Depot appear to be using now? How does Office Depot create value for its customers? Describe two things it could do it move it more toward implementing the marketing concept. After the situation has been addressed by Steve Haines, Office Depot appears to be using a societal marketing concept approach. A societal marketing approach is carried out by making good marketing decisions through considering consumers’ wants, the company’s requirements, consumers’ long-run interests, and society’s long-run interests. This tactic focuses on delivering value to customers to improve the consumer and the society’s well-being. Office Depot appears to be focusing on the building profitable customer relationships process of marketing to build value. They are taking their customer relationship management process into account to build their customer relations by delivering superior customer value and satisfaction. They are also realizing that their customers are very important to the success of their firm and are striving to fix any problems associated with their actions. They are trying to create value for their customers by building strong relationships for more reasons than just the idea of profits. A business’s marketing aim is to build specific relationships with the â€Å"right† customers. It is essential to create value for these targeted customers and to obtain a higher customer equity. Two things that Office Depot should do to move it more toward carrying out the marketing concept could include addressing the issues with their services directly to the employees and allowing their customers to realize that their feedback is greatly appreciated and that their ideas and opinions will b... ...s customer service operation and learned of Steve's story, what steps would you take? I would be very upset if I were in charge of Office Depot's customer service operation and learned of Steve's story. I would take several steps to try to resolve the situation. It would be a good idea to require my employees to take several courses that focus on stressing specific customer relations skills. I would also design a policy that each employee would be required to follow when dealing with customers. This would ensure that all employees were displaying good customer relation skills. I also think that it would be a good idea to individually address this specific situation to the employee involved. Maybe, for example, the employee is not aware of what he is doing wrong. Employees need to be individually and specially trained in their field of association with the company.

The Supremecy of faith the Supremecy of Reason :: essays research papers fc

The Supremacy of Faith, The Supremacy of Reason The history of science has long been in conflict with religion or  ¡Ã‚ §organized ignorance ¡Ã‚ ¨ as Dr. David Starr Jordan called in his book Science and Sciosophy. In this conflict history would reveal that science always prevailed. At times this victory was won at the cost and/or suffering of the individual who earth the nerve to present their finding to the world as court. Obstructions have been raised by men who thought the little they knew of the works and ways of the Creator was all that there was to be known. However, this insensitive response to the essential Christian Concepts provides inadequate recognition of the fact that Science and Religion may work to the same end but take different routes. My holistic view of the issue of science and religion has changed over the past 6 weeks. I realize that there is a certain harmonization of science and religion that gives humanity the abundant life engineered by Jesus Christ in the Gospel. This blending of my ethnocentric reli gious beliefs and the reasoning of empirical thought allowed a reinventing of viewpoint allowing my position to be transformed into something new. Which I believe would be an objective to this disciplined study. The selection of this book Science and Religion Opposing viewpoints allows the reader to take a glance at this conflict from five areas. Great Historical Debates on Science and Religion, Are Science and Religion Compatible, How did the Universe Originate, How did Life Originate and Should Ethical Values Limit Scientific Research? For the sake of brevity we will cumber you with a skeletal version of the text. The author is very clever in presenting information to provide a deeper understanding of the material and come away with an appreciation of the complex nature of the issues debated. The author was careful to mention Pitfalls to Avoid: „h Regarding one ¡Ã‚ ¦s own opinion as being common sense and the most rational stance and the viewpoint of others as being only opinion and naturally wrong. „h To close one ¡Ã‚ ¦s mind to the opinion of others they disagree with. Seek to understand rather than to be understood. The author emphasizes the following typology to develop basic reading and thinking skills: „h Evaluating Sources of Information „h Separating Fact From Opinion „h Identifying Stereotypes „h Recognizing Ethnocentrism Lastly, the author presents a recognized opinion or theory and allows the prevailing points of view to speak plainly and passionately on the subject. The Supremecy of faith the Supremecy of Reason :: essays research papers fc The Supremacy of Faith, The Supremacy of Reason The history of science has long been in conflict with religion or  ¡Ã‚ §organized ignorance ¡Ã‚ ¨ as Dr. David Starr Jordan called in his book Science and Sciosophy. In this conflict history would reveal that science always prevailed. At times this victory was won at the cost and/or suffering of the individual who earth the nerve to present their finding to the world as court. Obstructions have been raised by men who thought the little they knew of the works and ways of the Creator was all that there was to be known. However, this insensitive response to the essential Christian Concepts provides inadequate recognition of the fact that Science and Religion may work to the same end but take different routes. My holistic view of the issue of science and religion has changed over the past 6 weeks. I realize that there is a certain harmonization of science and religion that gives humanity the abundant life engineered by Jesus Christ in the Gospel. This blending of my ethnocentric reli gious beliefs and the reasoning of empirical thought allowed a reinventing of viewpoint allowing my position to be transformed into something new. Which I believe would be an objective to this disciplined study. The selection of this book Science and Religion Opposing viewpoints allows the reader to take a glance at this conflict from five areas. Great Historical Debates on Science and Religion, Are Science and Religion Compatible, How did the Universe Originate, How did Life Originate and Should Ethical Values Limit Scientific Research? For the sake of brevity we will cumber you with a skeletal version of the text. The author is very clever in presenting information to provide a deeper understanding of the material and come away with an appreciation of the complex nature of the issues debated. The author was careful to mention Pitfalls to Avoid: „h Regarding one ¡Ã‚ ¦s own opinion as being common sense and the most rational stance and the viewpoint of others as being only opinion and naturally wrong. „h To close one ¡Ã‚ ¦s mind to the opinion of others they disagree with. Seek to understand rather than to be understood. The author emphasizes the following typology to develop basic reading and thinking skills: „h Evaluating Sources of Information „h Separating Fact From Opinion „h Identifying Stereotypes „h Recognizing Ethnocentrism Lastly, the author presents a recognized opinion or theory and allows the prevailing points of view to speak plainly and passionately on the subject.

Rehabilitation Of Criminals: A Waste Of Time Or Worth The Effort? :: essays research papers

Rehabilitation of Criminals: A Waste of Time or Worth The Effort?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since 1960, the number of violent crimes committed per capita in the United States has increased by more than 450%. More than 24,000 murders took place in America in 1991.. With each passing year, rapes, robberies, murder, and other forms of extreme violence has become a way of life for some individuals who fall short of society's norms; however, it is only a small portion of criminals who commit the majority of the crimes. It is no longer rare to be a victim of a violent crime or to know someone who has been affected .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Get tough laws passed by many states have caused a increase in prison spending. Prison populations in the 1980's have more than doubled resulting in more prisons being built every year. Even with all the harsh sentencing guidelines, judges are not sentencing criminals to do necessary time . Prisons have become a revolving door society. Only 25% of those convicted are sent to prison. Judges usually have to let out a inmate before another one can take his place. There are limited cells in prisons, so the majority of crimes are punished by probation or court sanctions. Even when longer sentences are given, they are rarely served. The average murderer spends about six years in prison.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What factors decide the outcome of such individuals? Some experts feel there is no absolute answer, only speculation. There is however, a strong relationship between environment and the outcome of offenders. Low income, poor education,drugs, and family breakdown are some factors that keep repeating in cases of habitual offenders; however, the public sees the problem lies with the availability of guns and lack of morals. Only one factor stands out in both public and professional opinion, drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To deal with crime, we must first go to the root of the problem. The American society is a breeding ground for violent crime. Preventative measures must be implemented to stop such behavior before it starts. Teaching family values in after school programs is a step in the right direction. Programs that teach respect, anger management, and accountability for one's own actions is a must in today's society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prison programs for the first time offender to help them become productive members of society can be a step in the right direction.Teaching inmates how to manage anger, drug counseling, people skills, as well as teaching blue collar trade to inmates will ease the transition from prison to the outside world. When the inmate is released, a half way house should be the residence of

Pizza Hut, Yum! Essay

Describe the organization you have chosen. Please include the name and a short description of the organization’s products or services? The organization chosen for this assignment is Pizza Hut, Pizza Hut was established in 1958 by Frank and Dan Carney, and they started out with a small building on a busy intersection in their home town, and became the largest and most successful pizza restaurant company in the world. For four decades they built a reputation for excellence that earned the respect of their customers and industry experts alike. Pizza Hut, Inc. , a division of Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc., has more than 7,200 units in the U. S. and 3,000 units in more than 86 other countries. Tricon is the parent company to two other segment leaders, Taco Bell and KFC . when combined with Pizza Hut, these organizations make up the world’s largest restaurant group. Pizza Hut offers many different styles of pizzas along with side dishes such as salads, Buffalo wings, pasta, breadsticks, desserts and garlic bread. Pizza Hut’s mission is to become the most favorite’s restaurant all over the world and they indeed are, as long as they continue to meet their customer’s wants. Which for example they can learn through social media cites. And their vision is to reach on the top of the peak to provide best service and taste and to see yum on customers faces. This will take great participation from staff to make happen. And Pizza Hut is trying their best to keep them happy so that they do their jobs to keep customers happy. For example if an employee is doing their job, and making the pizza right, because they feel like they are an asset to the company, then in turn the customer is happy and the company has seen the fruition of their vision, and that is to provide the best service and taste. How does the organization motivate its employees? Describe any programs or methods they use to motivate workers. Pizza Hut motivates its employees by offering rewards and recognitions. The first thing that it offers is what is called the big cheese ward that is a coveted award, and is the highest level of corporate recognition. This award is personally presented by the owner and is a yellow foam rubber wedge of cheese that goes on top of the recipients head. The recipients also receive a photo of the presentation. The second form of an award is a program that recognizes managers, area coaches, and market coaches for their ability to grow Pizza Hut, run great restaurants, develop great teams, and make plans. Rewards include celebration trips for the recipient and guest as well as dinners. There are also are quarterly bonuses awarded to general managers based on the size of the manager’s restaurants and their performance on a variety of measures. Describe the current state of the organization’s workforce dynamic. Is its workforce growing? Is it changing? How is it changing and why? The dynamics at Pizza Hut is very simple, you have young teenagers who work there and are not to bothered about the job which shows in their customer service, the consequences of this changes the dynamics of the environment because it causes the bosses to be more tight on the rules because of the slacking helping hand. There are also many other dynamics in Pizza Hut but not as there would be in a corporation such as oracle. So Pizza Hut also has workers that are older and have families to feed and are more concerned about their jobs this can be seen in the great jobs they do at work. There is also dynamics such as diversity ( population of 66%) that makes up Pizza Hut, one of the many reasons for diversity is for globalization, and leaders realizing that when a company has many different minds making decisions there can be many different ideas and options. The workforce is not growing, and yes, it is changing a great example, for the reason it is changing is because people who are starting to work for Pizza Hut are not teenagers anymore but college educated and adults who running these business and more effectively carrying out their strategies. What are some of the workforce trends that this organization needs to address? What similar organizations can be used as a benchmark? In this question the point is, what within this one specific location are we doing to drive sales up. The answer is the workforce is changing to older more educated employees who care more about their jobs, therefore customer service is at a better quality and customer return causing an increase in sales. A majority of the managers are women and be promoted in the ranks plus a vast majority are diverse, this drives up sales because now the company can go global with out to many issues with relating to other cultures, plus they are now able to reach a market that they were not reaching before. What are some of the industry trends that are affecting the organization overall? Is the industry growing, or declining? When thinking about industry trends, we must consider what all other pizza joints are doing or other restaurant industries are doing to increase their sales. In the following paragraph we will name a few trends the first is the growth of the fast casual segment, which demonstrates consumers who are still focused on price and are willing to pay more for healthier food that they consider to be of better quality. The industry has customized by making healthier pizzas or options on their menus. The second trend is premium speed, this is a tactic to launch healthier more flavorful menu items and employing technology to speed up the dining experience. The third is transparency, this is a new trend where customers are more and more demanding to know the origin of their foods, not only that that though they also are demanding to know how employees are being treated and to know general business practices. The fourth trend is due demographic diligence, and the fifth is technology interface revolution, this is a broad range of ways to enhance the customers experience and to save time and money. For example to offer loyalty programs, promotions and discounts electronically, and brand awareness at the click of a mouse. References Chell, M. A. (2001). The american workforce: Identifying workforce challenges, trends, and recommendations. Economic Development Review, 17(3), 76-81. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/230097386? accountid=34899 Five foodservice trends to watch for in ’14. (2013). Trends and statistics Retrieved from www. pizzamarketplace. com Kouzes, J. (2007). The Leadership Challenge [VitalSouce bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http://digitalbookshelf. argosy. edu/books/9780470633397/id/Pt_978-0-4706-3339-7_chap3 Mike, B. (2003). Changing culture at pizza hut and yum! Brands, Inc. Retrieved from http://researchdocs. cox. smu. edu.

Need of a Strengthened Species Act Essay

There lived a bird called Passenger Pigeon in North America. A century ago people could see them in thousands or even in millions. Sadly, there are very few of them left today. The species called passenger pigeons was becaming extinct like many other species. Obviously, there were no laws to protect endangered species, resulting in the large scale destruction of the native habitat. Providing legislation is, in any case, one important aspect in shaping environmentalism. Taking today’s increasing threats towards the environment in to account, a collaborative action and response become increasingly inevitable. It would provide opportunities towards expanding the value of implementing responsibility and changes with the current challenges. Therefore, the capacity of exploring the development of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) remains to be considered and vital. So this paper will analyze the present scenario to focus on the issue â€Å"should the endangered species act be strengthened? By addressing the specific loopholes in its legislation and expanding its policies to meet the current demands of today, the ESA can fully utilize its value in ensuring a mutual accountability to the government and the citizenry. However, considering the current environmental challenges, the analysis shall look into the differing perspectives concerning the viability of expanding the tenets inscribed within the ESA. It includes formulating and assessing how each side corresponds to either its development or abolishment. Catering to this avenue can help provide effective representation of issues shaping these diverging perspectives. Contradicting Ideas of Development of ESA Proponents seek to establish new principles and avenues which can address the current trends of today. On analyzing the contradicting Ideas about the expansion of ESA, the principle that has always been advocated is the reinforcement of new patterns towards amending the law, which can help standardize measures that are important today and cultivate better means for participation among the citizenry and the government (Desiderio, 2002). At the same time, the current conditions among species, considerably needs attention. Given the continued strategy to exhaust resources, updating the ESA would prove to be a constructive strategy in creating new means for consolidating efforts such as budgeting, policies, and programs for preservation (United States Senate, 2005). On the other hand, the contrasting perspective considers the abolishment of the ESA. The main reason for this revolves around the inability of the law to further address the environmental problems. It points out that the accounts for change only resulted to further degradation due to the loopholes associated with this mandate (Miller and Spoolman, 2008). Seeing this, it is indeed crucial to provide the responsibility towards institutions, organizations, and citizens that are more concerned, dynamic, and adaptive to the continuous change happening in the system. These avenues in turn necessitate better means of addressing endangered species without ample consideration to existing standards related to policies (Easton, 2009). Critically analyzing the issue, the value of expanding the ESA is one approach that can involve the government in efforts to address the problems of the environment. In particular, it considers the ability to shape furthering and expanding conservation efforts. With the ability of the US government to provide support through budgeting and enacting of rules and standards, it creates better means of consolidating the threats to endangered species (Miller and Spoolman, 2008). Such directions then infuse creating a consensus towards creating a society that is responsive and responsible towards sustainability, preservation, and conservation of today’s endangered species. At the same time, expanding the ESA also culminates the process of infusing the role of the government in social concerns. Since environmental conservation and protection of endangered species goes along with other social issues, pointing out new prospects for ESA can deliver important results (e. g. expanding the protection of animals, habitat conservation, and exhaustion of resources). Allowing this process to occur justifies the cause of establishing relationships and widens the scope of application as the interplay of groups and individuals becomes fully realized (Desiderio, 2002). Making ESA More Reasonable, Effective and Accepted Overall, it is important now to use all the available sources to recognize how the conflicting perspectives contribute to the process of negotiations and ascertaining interests. Such directions can then establish the process of how ESA not only consolidates the value of protection and conservation but also be an instrument towards furthering opportunities to reach out, communicate, and respond to the increasing threats towards sustainability and adherence to current trends. One of the main objectives of enhancing the ESA should be the maximum utilization of the money spent and recovery efforts made for the benefit to of the suggested species. Economic factors are to play no part in listing species is an original ESA mandate. While designating critical habitat, as well as accounting for species impact in development, both require a complex balancing of environmental versus economic factors (Environmental Policy Issues 2004). An example to the importance of this objective is the Pacific salmon population of the Columbia River Basin. The region includes parts of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada and some parts of Canada. Ever since the first listing of the Salmon population under ESA, the Bonneville Power Administration alone has spent $3. 5 billion on recovery efforts. However, to this date no published reference, to the benefits given to this five listed population by this large amount of money, have come into light (Shepard 2002). Considering the fact that ESA is the prime piece of legislation that protects the biodiversity, development is inevitable in ESA on such facts as a) enhancing the recognized causes of decline in the number of species, b) numbering of critical species must be done on a newly developed scientific base and the recovery plans needs to be very active. An assumption within the current ESA is that the species are declining in number because of the loss of habitat. Shepherd (2002) stated that many raptors including Bald Eagles are declined in number because of the thinning effect in the insecticide DDT on egg shells. Pacific Salmon has been declining due to climatic and ocean conditions. Some of these causations are beyond our capacity to control. Habitat loss had a telling effect on decline of most of the species like buffalo which were once numerous on the grass lands of United States. Those historical grass land habitats have now been converted into farms, cities, plantations and interstate highways. It is important now for ESA to recognize all the reasons for the decline of species. ESA would need still more responsible agencies to decide a few information in timely manner. First of all the determination should be accurate and impeccable on population size of species that how many potential inter breeding individuals that it may not become extinct. Secondly, the determination needs to be accurately made on the numbers are sufficiently increased and to be removed from the ESA list. Moreover, what action needs to be taken in order to increase the size of the population. ESA must direct the agencies to develop such administrative steps so that their decisions would be wholly based on the available science. ESA needs an enhancement which would ensure that every decision taken and implemented is scientific. The data collection can be done by the agencies with a complete co-operation of the public. The goal of the Endangered Species Act is not only to prevent extinction but also to bring species back to healthy population levels. The FWS describes recovery as the â€Å"process by which the decline of an endangered or threatened species is arrested or reversed, and threats removed or reduced so that the species’ survival in the wild can be ensured (Species Report Card 1997). That is why Shepherd (2002) insists on the active recovery plans. An active plan might include a description of site specific management plans which would be helpful to achieve conservation and survival of the species. The recovery plan must indicate the target population number and the criteria to assess when the targeted population number is achieved. There needs to be a schedule to implement the project with all the priorities and budget. The species report card calls for even more specifications on the recovery plans such as species reintroduction, habitat acquisition, captive propagation, habitat restoration and protection, population assessments, research and technical assistance for landowners, and public education. A time limit for a regulatory action is a federal statute mandate. The private sector undergo severe impacts if a decision is delayed resulting in a non issuance or non authorization of a permit. The private institutions might even be put out of business on such regulatory responsiveness is shown by any federal agency. One way to possibly change these attitudes and behaviors is, says Shepard (2002), by making continuing education an integral part of the technical staffs’ career. Training in the specific scientific and management knowledge needed to efficiently and effectively fulfill a job description is not asking too much of anyone. And it is a very good use of public funds and public employee time. Such changes in the ESA administration are vital for an effective and fruitful implementation of ESA. Enhancing in ESA is inevitable as it is extreme and inflexible in mandating the protection of every species regardless of other considerations. â€Å"The 1970s case of the snail darter (Percina tanasi), a small fish on the Little Tennessee River that was threatened with extinction by the building of a dam, led to an amendment allowing petitions for exemption from ESA requirements. More recently, critics have questioned the science behind ESA enforcement, arguing that healthy species are placed on the protected list. Finally, the judicial costs are enormous; lawsuits from both pro-environmental and pro-growth factions add greatly to the expense of enforcing the ESA† (Environmental Policy Issues 2004). Conclusion ESA is often measured as the most thriving section of environmental legislation; it still has the reputation of being controversial. The suggestions made here, after analyzing the conflicting perspectives are technical enough to advance the force behind the implementation of ESA. This will provide an improved co-operation and adherence from the part of the regulated public towards the realization of a better working statute. Thus the ESA should evolve itself to include sound since in order to avoid controversies. References Desiderio, M. (2002) Chapter 27: ESA Reform: Facing Hard Truths. The Endangered Species Act: law, policy, and perspectives. eds. Baur, D. C. , Irvin, W. R. , American Bar Associaton and Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. (US: American Bar Association) pp. 533-544 Easton (2009) Principle Versus Politics: Should the Endangered Species Act Be Strengthened? Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Environmental Issues. 13th ed. (US: McGraw-Hill Companies). Environmental Policy Issues (2004) The Endangered species act Issues; Proquest Cambridge Information group. http://www. csa. com/discoveryguides/ern/04jun/overview. php accessed on 11th May, 2010. Miller, G. T. and Spoolman, S. (2008) Case Study: U. S. Endangered Species Act. Sustaining the Earth. (US: Cengage Learning). Shepard, B. R (2002) How to Improve the Endangered Species Act; Applied Ecosystem Services Inc. Troutdale Species Report Card (1997) Association of biodiversity information and the nature conservancy; The state of US plants and animals. United States Senate (2005) Endangered Species Act: hearing. (US: DIANE Publishing).

Background of Hrm Essay

Key Points to Share: Human resources management is the process of controlling and managing people to achieve an organization’s objectives. For example, it specifies what time the employees have to arrive and determines what kind of task suits to the individual. 1. The Evolution of Human Resource Management Function 1.1 Scientific Administration The concept is to put the right man to the right job. When a person keeps working on repetitive jobs, tasks get done quicker. For rewarding system, the more they work, the more they get paid. Employees are seen as machines (cost) and the company tells them what to do. Being repetitive work routines, employees get bored and dissatisfied. Moreover, there is a lack of communication between employees. 1.2 Personnel Administration The concept is quite similar to science administration because a company sees employees as machines (cost). It gives little attention in dealing with human. This concept is usually found in manufacturing jobs and factories. It focuses on controlling, hiring, and firing people. For example, a company makes sure that employees come to work and leave on time by using clock-in and clock-out system. 1.3 Human Relations Movement There are more interactions between people. Participation in discussion and knowledge sharing are allowed, resulting in a closer distance between boss and employees. It is the time that organization moves from controlling to sharing ideas. As a result, company can have more options and be innovative. Also, employees would feel more comfortable and have a sense of belonging to the company. 1.4 Human Resource Management It focuses on how a company manages people, understanding employees’ needs and wants, and making their employees as an asset. Employees are trained in order to develop necessary skills for long-term advantages. This concept is influenced through practices, policies, and function of employees in the company. The business strategy links to HR strategy including job design and structure, recruitment, selection, training, rewarding and promotion, career management, and performance management. In the case whereby employers treat employees well, it is beneficial in the long run in maintaining relationship with employees. 5. Strategic Human Resource Management It shows how a company link different HR practices together. Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM) is a good example of corporate institute run by CP. It offers courses that try to develop important skills in the way the company wants. In this strategy, the company links their educational courses to organizational strategy to prepare students to become well-trained employees. McKinsey 7S Model and Strategic HRM Value identifies what is good and what is right. Company tries to stress on the importance of keeping the company’s value. Also, company tries to pass on company’s value generation to generation. 2. Current Competitive Challenges in HRM 2.1 Globalization has an impact toward HRM in terms of movement of people, war for talent, and regional integration. Nowadays, people can easily work anywhere because of trade policy and immigration policy. These policies allow more flows of goods and services, and also factors of production. It benefits companies which are seeking for potential labors. Also, many multinational companies send expatriates to work in foreign countries. However, there is also a bigger gap between good brand image companies and companies that cares more about reducing costs. In Asia, we have a potential to become an important source of labor since there is a trend of growth pool such as ASEAN, China, and India. Above all, the labor cost is cheap. As a Thai citizen, we think that it is going to be hard for Thailand to compete with other ASEAN countries for many reasons such as cultural factors and social factors. For cultural factors, Thais are lazy and they are not willing to do dangerous, difficult, and dirty jobs. For social factors, Thais do not want to work outside of the country because they do not want to be apart from their families. In Thai society, grandparents help to look after their grandchildren while parents can go to work and this shows strong family ties of Thai culture. 2.2 Human Capital is skills, knowledge, and competency of individuals that bring economic benefits to an organization. It can be developed through supportive national policy by government, corporate tailor-made strategies by companies, and continuous self-improvement by individuals. In Western countries, the company seeks for employees who have a good communication skill, leadership, capabilities and creativity. On the other hand, Thailand focuses more on being knowledgeable. The companies start to make their own strategy to attract human capital. For example, CP creates its own university to train its potential employees. By doing so, CP can offer specialized training and also detect talented people that they are looking for. 3. Change Management There are two types of changes which are reactive change and proactive change. Reactive change is a change when something has already happened while proactive change is doing something before it happens. A company needs to have change management programs to prepare employees for uncertainty and make sure that they can adapt to various situations. However, the effort to change can fail for many reasons. If the companies do not wish to encounter failure, they should maintain proactive change. For example, the price of company A’s stock may decline from time to time. Thereby, company can give incentives to stockholders to encourage them to buy its shares. 4. Cost Containment There are five cost containments including downsizing, outsourcing, offshoring, onshoring, and crowdsourcing. 1. Downsizing happens when most companies layoffs their employees during the financial crisis. 2. Outsourcing is using the third party to work in the organization. It saves costs of hiring and training employees. Also, it helps companies to be more flexible. 3. Offshoring (Global Sourcing) is a business practice of sending jobs to other countries. For instance, many Western countries move their production part to other countries in Asia to cut costs. 4. Onshoring is a business practice of sending jobs to other locations within the country. For instance, the minimum wage in Thailand is 300 Baht. If employees live in Bangkok or Phuket, they would have to spend more on expensive necessities. However, if they live in other parts of the country, they would find it cheaper. 5. Crowdsourcing is the process whereby a company amateurs to design or create their products instead of full-time employees. It can help in terms of reducing cost. 2.5 Technology There are two types of technology which have impact on HRM which are Human Resources Information System (HRIS) and Electronic Human Resource Management (E-HRM). HRIS is the technology that introduces and provides data to the company. Examples would be MUIC OASIS and Googledoc. E-HRM is a process of transferring the information that is used for HRM. In other words, it is a tool that uses to access the system such as iPhone and iPad. These two types of technology are helpful for HR functions such as learning, recruiting and training. However, technology has many drawbacks such as privacy issues, uncontrollable spread of data, and the overuse of technology causing lower productivity of employees. 3. Employee concerns in the workplace 3.1 Background diversity There should be no discrimination in terms of national origin, race, religion, marital status and personal appearance in the organization. In U.S., there is an EEO Law (Equal Employment Opportunity Law) which makes sure that companies treat the employees equally. 3.2 Age diversity In some companies, they prefer elderly because these people are more knowledgeable. They are better at giving advices to customers. Generation Typology 1. Veterans (1920-1946) 2. Baby boomers (1947-1964) 3. Generation X (1965-1980) 4. Generation Y (1981-2000) 5. Generation Z (1995-2010) 6. Generation I (2001 onwards) 3.3 Gender issues in workplace 3.3.1 Sexual preferences: Masculinity vs. femininity For example, there is a certain perception of women as housewives and men as income earners. As a result, men are preferred at the workplace as they are seen to be more productive at work. However, this issue does not only apply to male and female preference, but also third genders. 3.3.2 Sexual harassment can be in both verbal and physical ways such as sexual jokes, language usage, and physical touching. 3.3.3 Office romance is prohibited in some companies to avoid issue of being biased on performance and evaluation. 3.3.4 Grass ceiling means there are some unseen barriers which block female from promoting to upper job positions such as CEO, COO, CFO, etc. There are three reasons that obstruct women to be on a top position. †¢ Stereotype: Company directors and executives would consider women as less talented than men to reach higher position. They believe that women are too sympathetic and therefore, cannot be a leader. †¢ Old boy’s network: male would like to create their own league, which causes tougher obstacle for women. †¢ Cultural influence: Japan, Korea, and Taiwan focus more on masculinity while Scandinavian countries focus more on femininity. 3.3.5 Marital Status: Being single or married can have am impact on being selected. For example, if you are married, you will be seen as a responsible person and concerned more about job security because they have a family to support. 3.4 Job security Unlike past decades, the current tendency of job security is expressed as instability because of world economic crisis, excessive welfare in Northern and Western Europe, and characteristic of new generation. More people would prefer to be a freelance (do not get regular and secure jobs but irregular and insecure jobs such as part time jobs in 7-11 or fast food store). 4. Conclusion With background of human resource management, a company could understand more about the evolution of this science, learn from the history, and choose a method that suits to its style. To success in managing people, we have to concern about both competitive challenges and employee concerns. These two things will be used to consider and applied to HR functions which are planning, recruitment, staffing, job design, training, appraisal, communications, compensation, benefits, and labor relations. If a company can adapt and adjust its HR processes properly, it will be surely successful. There is no business, if there is no people to work for it.

Age of Computer Essay

Eras in the history of art and architecture may be distinguished by styles such as Renaissance, Gothic, Impressionist or Surrealist, and so on. Techniques too have marked different eras over the centuries: from the primitive tools of the Stone Age, to the Industrial Age marked by steam and electrical power and the discovery of turbines, and engines. Today, we have entered a new era: the computer age – an age which owes everything to inventors. Charles Babbage, an English mathematician, is considered to be the great-grandfather of the computer. Over 150 years ago, in 1840 to be exact, he invented a sophisticated calculating machine, and called it the â€Å"Analytical Engine.† As with many inventions, his creation was far in advance of its time. It took another 100 years before the first computers were built, and as you know, they were huge and incredibly heavy. Take, for instance, the famous Mark I. It was the world’s first electro-mechanical computer and was used during World War 2 by the U.S. Navy. In comparison to 20th-century systems,  it could be likened to a battleship: 2.6 meters high, 16 meters wide, 2 meters deep, and weighing a massive 5 tons! The machine – the hardware – could not develop without the software to match, of course. In this respect, two women mathematicians played key roles. Ada Lovelace Byron, daughter of the poet Lord Byron, wrote in 1843 what today we’d call programs for Charles Babbage’s â€Å"Analytical Engine.† She was a pioneer and is considered to be the very first programmer in history. That’s why 130 years later, the U.S. Department of Defence gave her forename – Ada – A-D-A – to one of the most important computer programs in the world. It is used not only by the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force but also by big industry, universities, and other centers of research. Grace Hopper, an American woman, invented in 1952 the very first compiler of all times, a program which translates a programming language so that it can be understood by computers. It was a sensational breakthrough which opened doors to automatic programming and thus directly to contemporary personal computers (PCs). Today, computers are at the center of thousands upon thousands of other inventions. They are the heartbeats of the modern world. Computers are every-where – from kitchens to concrete mixers, from planes to pockets. They listen. They speak. They act. Never in world history has one invention had such an influence on humanity as a whole. Without the computer age, there would be no global awareness. Internet, in particular, has created a brand new environment. A new culture has been born – free, rapid, and universal – where people share their knowledge and expertise. Information and communication techniques have been turned upside down, distance has been eliminated, frontiers abolished. A tremendous interactive potential is burgeoning on our planet Earth today. Like it or lump it – none can stop it! I would like to mention something concerning Internet. The inventors in 1990  of the World Wide Web (WWW), which revolutionized the contemporary computer world, did not become millionaires. British Tim Berners-Lee and Belgian Robert Caillau, both researchers at European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, did not make any money through their invention of the WWW. They refused to patent it. They feared that in so doing, the use of the Web would prove prohibitively expensive preventing its use worldwide. Thus, they passed up a fortune so that our world can learn and communicate today, and we should be grateful to them for their foresight. The invention of the computer with its multitude of programs and new information technologies is transforming the traditional perception of an inventor. A more positive image is emerging. No longer personified by an eccentric crackpot, a crackpot male genius working alone in attic, garage or basement, today’s inventors resemble more and more millions of other scientists, industrial researchers and entrepreneurs in workshops or laboratories surrounded by a computer station. All use the â€Å"mouse† instead of a pencil, and their drawing boards are computer screens. Women inventors have also contributed to this change in the traditional image of the inventor, particularly in certain fields such as chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, not to speak of computer software. In the USA, for instance, the number of women inventors with patents in the field of chemistry increased three-and-half times during the period from 1977 (2.8%) to 1988 (9.9%). It would be interesting indeed to see what further increases have taken place over the past 10 years. Another popular fallacy is not only that the large majority of inventors are eccentric and male, but they are also perceived as being raZther ancient! The truth is that, thanks to the computer, people are actually inventing more and more at an increasingly youthful age. In Silicon Valley, a 30-year old inventor is considered already long in the tooth, and many newcomers to the inventive world are in their 20s. Some predict that in a few years time,  there’ll be a new generation of 14-year-old millionaire inventors appearing in Silicon Valley! Unfortunately, this new generation of inventors – women and very young people – is insufficiently present among representatives of most inventor associations worldwide. These are still run by people who, although totally dedicated to their work, were neither born nor grew up in the computer age. Therefore they find adaptation difficult. Information technology frequently passes them by. This is often a cause of very real problems. lighbulbInternet.jpg (1394 bytes) Let’s now consider some of the ways inventors can make use of the new technologies of the computer age. We all know that inventors need a lot of information. Technological information contained in patent documents is essential at the very earliest stages of invention. It can avoid duplication in research work. It can provide ideas for further development of existing technology. It can also give a glimpse of the technological activities of competitors. That is why Patent Offices have put their patent documentation databases on the Internet. Access is not only fast, but easily accessible, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It’s also free in the sense that it doesn’t cost the inventor a single cent to consult such documentation! Time-consuming travel to Patent Offices or libraries storing patent documents is a thing of the past. The inventor also has access to much more data than through a single database. Obviously, the ideal is one huge library, containing millions of patent documents from all over the world. The European Patent Office (EPO) has tried to create this world library of patent documents. I am glad to inform you that IFIA Web site allows surfers to visit this EPO site, and through it, to jump to the major providers of patent information in the world, whether they be Patent Offices or private  enterprises, such as IBM. A further advantage is the constant updating of all these databases by each of the providers. In brief, it’s sufficient to click on one address, the EPO address, to access millions of documents: . lighbulbInternet.jpg (1394 bytes) For many inventors, the marketing stage often starts with a prototype to prove that the product works satisfactorily, and what’s more, works safely. The greater a model’s perfection, the greater the chances of selling a license to a manufacturer. But a professional prototype, as close to the final product as possible, can rapidly become extremely expensive. One fantastic and inexpensive alternative to a physical prototype is a computerized model. Basically, it amounts to modelling the invention from all angles on a computer, with self-running commentary, demonstrations and animation of all the invention’s functions. The diskette or ZIP disk can be duplicated in as many copies as necessary, and sent via regular mail. The computerized prototype can also be loaded onto a video tape and copies made. Busy executives – prospective investors, licensees or buyers – seem, however, to prefer a diskette which is easy to put into the computer, in addition to the fact that most offices do not have a TV and VCR. The video tape would seem more appropriate when presenting an invention at an exhibition or fair. On the subject of invention shows, let me stress in passing that virtual exhibitions exist already. One of IFIA’s members, the Hungarian Association of Inventors, even launched an international competition of inventions last March with a virtual jury, each member sitting serenely in front of his/her computer screen, somewhere around the world. lighbulbInternet.jpg (1394 bytes) With the computer age upon us, we are also moving slowly but surely away from the traditional paper system of filing patent applications to the new  electronic filing system – a rapid and cheap transmission system of text and image data. Patent Offices are now engaged in preparing the necessary tools to assist inventors and other applicants in this form of electronic commerce. Naturally, their Web sites will have to provide links to reference material, technical guidelines and instructions on filing applications. The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, provides inventors and industry with an advantageous route for obtaining patent protection worldwide. Starting from January 1, 1999, the PCT is offering a reduction of US$ 200 (two hundred) for every electronic filing. That’s quite an encouragement to use this system! However, no system is perfect. It still remains a fact that Patent Offices are faced with serious technical issues related to information security. Namely: How to ensure the security and authenticity of the transmission and exchange of unpublished – therefore confidential – data? The next question to arise is: Who will be responsible in case of third-party intrusions? The Patent Office? – or the applicant? Because of the international nature of the patent system, it has been decided recently that all information security issues will be examined in the framework of WIPO. To better understand some of the many issues involved, I would like to give two examples as described in a WIPO document discussed a few days ago in Geneva: † †¦ any exchange between applicants and examiners requires excellent levels of security and data privacy. Furthermore, many of these activities require some assurance of the identity of one party or another. For example, if an applicant is exchanging information with an examiner, the examiner needs to know that the individual is indeed authorized to provide  information, (e.g. proof of identity), and the applicant needs to be confident that he or she is indeed in contact with a patent examiner and not a clever hacker. [†¦]† â€Å"The exchange of priority documents provides another interesting example. If a priority document is to be exchanged in electronic form, it needs to be validated by the originating party. In other words, the document needs to be signed to demonstrate its authenticity, it needs to have a guaranteed time stamp associated with the transaction, preferably by a third party (to prevent presumed or actual forgery of dates and times), and it needs to have some guarantee of accuracy, so that a party obtaining the document can tell if tampering occurred†¦Ã¢â‚¬  lighbulbInternet.jpg (1394 bytes) Every now and then we hear some people say, â€Å"There’s hardly anything left to invent. Everything has been invented already!†. What a silly remark! You can be certain that inventors will continue inventing, and new discoveries will be made, right up to the very last minute before the world comes to an end! But to return to today, with the computer age, the possibilities of invention are endless and in all possible fields. It has also been said that the computer will eventually invent the inventor. By that I mean that one day, the computer will replace the inventor. Up to a point, I must agree – but only to a certain extent. You can feed the computer with billions of data. One has even beaten a world chess champion. Nevertheless, the computer has no humanity, no imagination, no sensitivity or affectivity, and no inherent wisdom. Can it smell the perfume of a rose? †¦interpret the color of a sunrise? Can it caress the cheek of a child? †¦or savor the taste of Hong Kong’s dim sum?! Above all it’s a machine – a fantastic machine – but remember, it’s only a machine. So let’s not make a new god out of the computer, as some tend to do. But rather use its possibilities to a maximum †¦ and through it, try quite simply to build a better world. That should be our motto.