IEP - What Is an Individual Education Program

Definition: The Individual Education Program Plan (IEP) is a written plan/program developed by the schools special education team with input from the parents and specifies the students academic goals and the method to obtain these goals.The law (IDEA) prescribes that school districts bring together parents, students, general educators, and special educators to make important educational decisions with consensus from the team for students with disabilities, and those decisions will be reflected in the IEP. The IEP is required by the IDEIA (Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 20014) the federal law designed to carry out the due process rights guaranteed by PL94-142.  It is intended to spell out how the local education authority (LEA, usually the school district) will address each of the deficits or needs that have been identified in the Evaluation Report (ER). It lays out how the students program will be provided, who will provide services, and where those services will be provided, designated to provide education in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The IEP will also identify adaptations that will be provided to help the student succeed in the general education curriculum.  It may also identify modifications, if the child needs to have the curriculum significantly changed or modified in order to guarantee success and that the students educational needs are addressed.  It will designate which services (i.e. speech pathology, physical therapy, and/or occupational therapy) the childs ER designates as needs.  The plan also identifies the students transition plan when the student becomes sixteen.   The IEP is meant to be a collaborative effort, written by the whole IEP team, which includes the special education teacher, a representative of the district (LEA), a general education teacher, and the psychologist and/or any specialists who provide services, such as the speech language pathologist.  Often the IEP is written before the meeting and provided to the parent at least a week before the meeting so the parent can request any changes before the meeting.  At the meeting the IEP team is encouraged to modify, add or subtract any parts of the plan they feel together are necessary. The IEP will focus only on the areas that are affected by the disability(ies). The IEP will provide a focus for the student’s learning and designate the time for the student to successfully complete the benchmark objectives on the way to mastering the IEP Goal. The IEP should reflect as much as possible what the student’s peers are learning, which provides an age-appropriate approximation of the general education curriculum.  The IEP will identify supports and services the student needs for success. Also Known As: Individual Education Program or Individual Education Plan and is sometimes referred to as the Individual Education Program Plan.

Elie Wiesels Night Essay - 766 Words

In the memoir, Night, author Elie Wiesel portrays the dehumanization of individuals and its lasting result in a loss of faith in God. Throughout the Holocaust, Jews were doggedly treated with disrespect and inhumanity. As more cruelty was bestowed upon them, the lower their flame of hope and faith became as they began turning on each other and focused on self preservation over family and friends. The flame within them never completely died, but rather stayed kindling throughout the journey until finally it stood flickering and idle at the eventual halt of this seemingly never-ending nightmare. Elie depicts the perpetuation of violence that crops up with the Jews by teaching of the loss in belief of a higher power from devout to doubt they†¦show more content†¦Three days later, optimism still present, the Jews still refused to believe that God would let dreadful things occur to them even when â€Å"German army vehicles made their appearance on their streets† (9). The t owns â€Å"impressions of the Germans were rather reassuring† (9) at that time, on the contrary of the bloodcurdling conceptions they later gained when the reality of the terrors of Germans had cropped up. Months later, Elie and the other Jews’ faiths become warped when they come back down to earth and the Germans true intentions strike as they enter their long expedition in the death camps. Though faithful as they enter the horrific camps of Auschwitz, Bergen Belsen, Buna, Birknau, Dachau, and Buchenwald, the Jews become capricious. They start losing grip and begin falling down the slippery slope of death the Germans set up for them as more horrors of the camps become unveiled. Soon after arriving in the camp and being told about the crematoria, he felt â€Å"anger rising with me [Elie]. Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent† (33). This is the first time that his faith is challenged. After a few days in Auschwitz he â€Å"had ceased to pray. I [Elie] was not denying His existence, but doubted His absolute justice† (45). As seen, Elie is beginning to have doubts about God and therefore his belief and faith in him. Finally, when Elie is looking for God to come though he doesn’t and he asks,Show MoreRelatedElie Wiesels Night516 Words   |  3 PagesElie Wiesels Night Elie Wiesel’s Night is about what the Holocaust did, not just to the Jews, but, by extension, to humanity. The disturbing disregard for human beings, or the human body itself, still to this day, exacerbates fear in the hearts of men and women. The animalistic acts by the Nazis has scarred mankind eternally with abhorrence and discrimination. It seems impossible that the examination of one’s health, by a doctor, can result in the death of a human being if he appearsRead More Elie Wiesel’s Night 936 Words   |  4 Pages There exist only two types of people in a time of war and crisis, those who survive and those who die. Elie Wiesel’s novel, Night shows how Elie, himself, faces difficult problems and struggles to survive World War II. Wilfred Owen’s poem, â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est†, tells a story about a young soldier thinking of himself before others during World War I. The poem â€Å"Mary Hamilton† shows how a mother killed her child so she would not get into trouble. Sir John Harrington writes about a sadRead MoreElie Wiesels Night Essay1159 Words   |  5 PagesElie Wiesels Night As humans, we require basic necessities, such as food, water, and shelter to survive. But we also need a reason to live. The reason could be the thought of a person, achieving some goal, or a connection with a higher being. Humans need something that drives them to stay alive. This becomes more evident when people are placed in horrific situations. In Elie Wiesels memoir Night, he reminisces about his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust. There theRead MoreAn Analysis of Elie Wiesels Night822 Words   |  3 PagesElie Wiesel: Night The five letters that Elie Wiesel utilizes as the title for his book summarize, within one word, all the feelings, the uncertainty, the anger, the fear, etc. associated with the events contained in this novel. The book is a work of art, and Wiesel is a great storyteller, leaving his audience with a deeper knowledge of both historical events and the defiance and courage of the human spirit. Perhaps the most memorable scene in the story is that in which the author and his fatherRead More Elie Wiesels Night Essay448 Words   |  2 PagesElie Wiesels Night In Elie Wiesel’s Night, he recounts his horrifying experiences as a Jewish boy under Nazi control. His words are strong and his message clear. Wiesel uses themes such as hunger and death to vividly display his days during World War II. Wiesel’s main purpose is to describe to the reader the horrifying scenes and feelings he suffered through as a repressed Jew. His tone and diction are powerful for this subject and envelope the reader. Young readers today find the actionsRead More Elie Wiesels Night Essays1095 Words   |  5 PagesNight In Night, by Elie Wiesel, there is an underlying theme of anger. Anger not directed where it seems most appropriate- at the Nazis- but rather a deeper, inbred anger directed towards God. Having once been a role model of everything a â€Å"good Jew† should be, Wiesel slowly transforms into a faithless human being. He cannot comprehend why the God who is supposed to love and care for His people would refuse to protect them from the Germans. This anger grows as Wiesel does and is a constantRead MoreEssay about Elie Wiesels Night881 Words   |  4 PagesThe tragedies of the holocaust forever altered history. One of the most detailed accounts of the horrific events from the Nazi regime comes from Elie Wiesel’s Night. He describes his traumatic experiences in German concentration camps, mainly Buchenwald, and engages his readers from a victim’s point of view. He bravely shares the grotesque visions that are permanently ingrained in his mind. His autobiography giv es readers vivid, unforgettable, and shocking images of the past. It is beneficial thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Elie Wiesels Night933 Words   |  4 PagesThe author of Night, a novel documenting the horrible and gruesome events of the holocaust, Elie Wiesel expresses his experiences and observations in which he and his fellow Jews were dehumanized while living in concentration camps (a hell on earth). All Jews, as a race were brutalized by the Nazis during this time; reducing them to no less than objects, positions which meant nothing to them, belongings that were a nuisance. Nazis would gather every Jew that they could find and bring them to theseRead MoreWhen Night Falls in Elie Wiesels Book, Night687 Words   |  3 PagesWhen Night Falls Elie Wiesel’s book Night presents certain aspects of Jewish history, culture and practice through the story of Wiesel’s experience with his father in the concentration camps. Wiesel witnessed many horribly tragic things throughout his days in the concentration camps. It is these experiences that cause him to struggle with his faith. He grew up as a devote Jew who enjoyed studying and devoting himself to his religion. Throughout the book we see him struggle with his conceptRead More Loss of Faith in Elie Wiesels Night Essay796 Words   |  4 PagesFaith in Elie Wiesels Night Night is a dramatic book that tells the horror and evil of the concentration camps that many were imprisoned in during World War II. Throughout the book the author Elie Wiesel, as well as many prisoners, lost their faith in God. There are many examples in the beginning of Night where people are trying to keep and strengthen their faith but there are many more examples of people rebelling against God and forgetting their religion. The first example of Elie loosing

The Marvels of Intellect and Creativity Free Essays

Several ideas and images sprang to our mind when the name Leonardo da Vinci is mentioned. Most people associate it with famous artworks such as Mona Lisa and The Last Supper while some equate the name to the scholastic concept of the Renaissance man. Numerous accounts demonstrated Leonardo’s contribution in the field of arts and sciences, thus his name become an archetype of a genius. We will write a custom essay sample on The Marvels of Intellect and Creativity or any similar topic only for you Order Now He fascinated the world with his advanced ideas and creative imaginations; moreover, he provided his successors with knowledge and guidelines through his discoveries and achievements. Through his intellect and creativity, Leonardo da Vinci portrayed a significant role in the evolution of modern civilizations. Leonardo da Vinci was born at the dawn of the Renaissance period. The 14th to 16th century was an interesting borderline of the Dark Ages and the Enlightenment Period that inspired Leonardo’s curiosity and observation. The Italian society in his youth was characterized by people with enthusiastic interest in learning and humanism. The concept of humanism during the Renaissance was described by Alfred Burns as â€Å"the growing self-awareness expressed in new styles in art and architecture and in the search for the vanishing intellectual treasures of an idealized classical age† (197). The promotion of humanism and self-awareness brought questions and disagreement in various aspects of society. On the other hand, the pursuance for art and architecture was supported and financed by art patrons, thus ingenious artists were recognized during the Italian Renaissance. One of the recognized advocates of art during the Italian Renaissance was Lorenzo de Medici, who became famous for making Florence a â€Å"community of pleasure† (Taylor 25). Leonardo’s interest in the arts was favored by his time for he was given the opportunity to work with the greatest artists of his era. He worked as an apprentice for Verrocchio and later on he was admitted to be a part of the Guild of Painters (Brown and Rankin 212). His early artworks were commissioned by patrons belonging to religious groups; therefore, it basically consisted of religious icons and commemorative art pieces. The early part of Leonardo’s professional life was spent in Milan, where he worked in the court of Ludovico, duke of Milan. There, he gained extensive experiences and technical skills in designing for the court’s lavish events and occasions. Rachel Taylor used to describe that â€Å"when the wave of Renaissance was crescent in Italy, the powers were five – Florence, Naples, Venice, Rome and Milan – all jealous and splendid† (99). Therefore the city’s excellence also marked Leonardo’s preeminence. During his stay in the court of the duke, he documented his learning and experiences in the field of architecture and engineering by compiling writings and detailed drawings of his designs and ideas. The so-called compilations, which are also referred to as the notebooks and manuscripts, reflected his inquisitive attitude towards the governing principles of matter and knowledge. Aside from Leonardo’s court duties, two of his significant art pieces, the Horse and the Last Supper, were also completed during his stay in the court of Milan. At the fall of the Duke’s power over Milan, Leonardo found his way back to Florence. Not long after this, he worked for Cesare Borgia, a political figure in Italy, as a military architect and engineer (Brown and Rankin 212). Taylor suggested in her book that Cesare’s policies implicated death and violence (350), thus Leonardo considered his return to Florence to work for other patrons. Upon his arrival, he was commissioned to paint the Battle of Anghiari and later on he started working on the famous Mona Lisa. Subsequently, he again visited Milan to work for the French king and according to Brown and Rankin, it was â€Å"a period when he influenced Milanese painting even more than during his early residence there† (212). He moved to Rome and stayed in the Vatican to work for the Pope and later on, he spent his time traveling to various places in Italy. He settled in France, where he spent his last days â€Å"attended by loving friends and at peace, in his chateau of Cloux, near Amboise† (Brown and Rankin 212). The grandeur of Leonardo’s time witnessed the complex transition of the Western civilization. The notion of enlightenment favored and nurtured the formation of Leonardo’s genius, and in return, he endorsed the acknowledgement for man’s potential and power of reason. Various fields of knowledge that benefited from his achievements would include the realms of art, engineering, architecture, mathematics, physics, optics, human anatomy, ornithology and aerodynamics. The Renaissance and its distinguished figures changed and influenced the culture that was formed and influenced by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The society’s classic approach of simply approving or rejecting developing doctrines and customs evolved into a modernistic method that involved analysis and critical thinking. The Enlightenment Period, together with the fame of Humanism, paved the way to scientific revolution. The intellectual reformation is considered as one of the significant events in our history for it influenced and provoked the â€Å"general mind to be more and more preoccupied with the larger problems beyond, which the new knowledge has brought fully into view† (Kidd 1). The transformation was a progressive step to a higher form of learning that encompassed the political, social, economic and religious principles of Western civilization. The propagation of self awareness and modern thinking brought positive and negative changes in the economic and social aspects of the Western civilization. The recognition of artists and notable scholars, as depicted by the fame of Leonardo da Vinci, influenced the flow of trade and commerce. In European countries like Italy, cities such as Florence, Milan and Naples flourished. On the other hand, the method of tax collection was implemented to supervise the increase in trade goods. Movements that aimed for learning and education produced interesting theories and assumptions that motivated man’s quest for truth and expansion of his horizons. The Age of Enlightenment recognized critical thinkers who became famous for contemplating and debating about avant-garde ideas (Hudson 21). Scholars and critical thinkers guided and initiated modern discoveries, inventions and innovations that improved the economy of the Western world. Moreover, political and religious controversies also emerged at the advent of scientific and critical thinking. In Europe, several ranks of power emerged in the form of monarchs, spiritual leaders, merchants and tradesmen, scholars and artisans. The period of enlightenment and the succeeding years depicted a sweeping portrayal of political and religious reformation. The concept of religion was separated from politics because of the humanist principle, which differentiate the distinct boundary between human and divine control. Humanist beliefs and principles intensified but were not universally accepted; therefore it was attacked by counter-arguments that justify the role of idealistic and religious attitudes towards politics. These contrasting views and beliefs about politics and its religious connections were highlighted in the works and theories of several Renaissance philosophers. The Age of Enlightenment introduced several Renaissance Men, who individually imparted significant marvels of intellect and creativity. And as stated by William Hudson, it was as if â€Å"their lives opened itself out to them in all its vast and varied possibilities and they were eager to enter into their great heritage† (7). There are several names from the Renaissance Age that surfaced in the course of evolution and transition of the Western civilization, but the fame of Leonardo da Vinci soared higher than the other for he exhibited exceptional qualities and eccentric fancies. The interesting and unique fusion of excellence in two exclusive areas of knowledge – the arts and sciences, was depicted by his accomplishments as a rational scientist and mystical artist. Leonardo’s paintings and art contributions were highly popular but it is interesting to note that â€Å"there only remain six of his authentic paintings, and two of them were unfinished† (qtd. in Brown and Rankin 211). His study of perspective, examination of proportion and analysis of light and shade were fundamentals of innovative and modern arts. Sketches and details of his fascinating interests were accounted in several of his notebooks entrusted at various European libraries and museums. Some of his notes reflected the complex and controversial topic of dissection, which enlightened basic issues concerning human anatomy. He declared various assertions in human proportion, one of these was his citation that â€Å"the span of a man’s outstretched arms is also equal to his height† (qtd in MacCurdy 217). He delved into unacceptable domains of his time by studying human cadavers in order to understand the unknown; moreover, his philosophy and skepticism reflected the rise of scientific thinking from the unexplained. Scientific observations of his surroundings were recorded together with his theoretical assertions and it anchored the essentials for the study of Botany and Geology. His technical experiences in the field of engineering and physics, together with the application of scientific principles contributed to the development of Western technology. Some of these contributions included his experiences in building war engines, works specializing with hydraulics, and discoveries of possible energy sources. He also provided avant-garde theories in mathematics that foretell the discoveries of modern researchers (Brown and Rankin 211). Leonardo portrayed in his manuscripts an intense fervor for aviation, which was primarily influenced by apparent observation of birds. He documented several notes containing his interest with flight and he called it the â€Å"Treatise on Birds† (qtd. in MacCurdy 211), which he divided into four parts. He continued on studying birds consequently influencing the birth of Ornithology; and at the same time, he persisted on propagating ideas about the flying machine thus providing rough beginnings for Aerodynamics. The quest for knowledge in a creative approach delineates Leonardo da Vinci in a civilization situated between the borderline of savagery and enlightenment. His accomplishments in understanding and in attempting to understand the unknown through scientific approach enhanced the basic political and cultural principles influencing a society. His triumph was earned through the synthesis of intellect and creativity, which encompassed the multiplicity of human civilization. Works Cited Brown, Alice V., and William Rankin. A Short History of Italian Painting. London: J.M.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dent Sons, 1914. Burns, Alfred. The Power of the Written Word: The Role of Literacy in the History of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Western Civilization. New York: Peter Lang, 1989. Hudson, William H. The Story of Renaissance. London: Casell, 1912. Kidd, Benjamin. The Principles of Western Civilization. New York: Macmillan Company,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1902. MacCurdy, Edward. The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci (Volume 1). New York:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Reynal Hitchcock, 1938. Taylor, Rachel A. Leonardo the Florentine: A Study in Personality. London: Richards   Ã‚  Ã‚   Press, 1927.                                                                   How to cite The Marvels of Intellect and Creativity, Essay examples

Paul Gauguin Biography Essay Paper Example For Students

Paul Gauguin Biography Essay Paper Biography Paul (Eugà ¨ne-Henri)  Gauguin  (1848–1903) French painter, born in Paris. He grew up in Orlà ©ans, with his father, and in Lima, Peru, with his mother’s family, became a sailor and joined a stockbroking firm in 1871. He began painting with his friends Pissarro and Cà ©zanne, abandoned the stock market in 1883, sent his wife with their five children to her parents in Denmark and devoted the rest of his life to art. Paris proving too expensive he settled in Brittany (1886). After a visit to Martinique and an acrimonious association with Van Gogh he went (1891) to the South Seas, first to Tahiti and (1901) to the Marquesas, where he died. Originally influenced by the Impressionists, particularly by his friend Pissarro, he parted from them in 1887, dissociating himself from their techniques of breaking up colour. He   evolved a decorative style using simplified drawing, and flat, strong, pure and not necessarily naturalistic colouring; outlines, as in cloisonnà © enamels, were often intensified by black lines. The brilliant colours of Tahiti provided ideal inspiration and he was also influenced by primitive sculpture, as is seen in some of his pictures of serene impassive islanders represented in attitudes of repose. Gauguin’s paintings were a major influence on later non-representational art. His  Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When will you Marry?; 1892), in a private sale, reached $US 300 million, the highest price for any artwork.

The Secret To Increasing Student Engagement In A Classroom

Increasing classroom engagement is every teachers goal. While there are many up and coming edtech tools that support teachers and increase student engagement, many teachers have come up with creative DIY classroom solutions themselves. We asked some teachers to share their creative methods; here are a few: Design Puzzles Paula Burgess, Math Teacher at Hume-Fogg Magnet High School (Nashville, TN): My seniors in trigonometry have been working on a mathematical design project (involving empty cardboard rolls) that will not only enhance their math skills, but also give them an opportunity to present their designs to second graders as part of a project-based learning activity. We are making puzzle pieces to create a mathematical design using empty cardboard rolls.Lost at Sea Marshmallow ChallengeMike Provitera, Business Professor at Barry University (Cutler Bay, FL), Management Consultant, Book Author: Two exercises that I like to use often in the classroom and in consulting are: The Lost At Sea exercise: People select from a group of items and figure out which to use first in rank order if they were lost at sea. After the exercise is complete, the correct ranking and the reasoning behind it is revealed. The Marshmallow Challenge: In my book, I discuss The Marshmallow Challenge, an 18-minute exercise that groups 4 to 5 people together to create the highest structure using 20 pieces of spaghetti, a yard of string and tape, and one marshmallow. I use this as an instructive design exercise because it encourages teams to experience simple but profound lessons in collaboration, innovation, and creativity. It’s also a lesson in incentives and skill sets: good incentives plus low skills does not necessarily equal success.SurvivorKristen Fusaro-Pizzo, 10th and 12th Grade English Teacher at Staten Island Technical High School (NY): To keep my students engaged, I started playing Survivor in my classroom seven years ago, and it has become my signature. Classes are divided up into teams, and they last the length of a curriculum unit. During the game, teams are awarded points based on classroom participation, scores on quizzes/exams/projects, and classroom challenges. The team with the mos t number of points at the end of the unit wins a prize, usually gift cards to a local coffee shop. TabooShaneequa Cannon, Former Classroom Educator at Young Womens Preparatory Academy (Miami, FL): I was a high school English Language Arts teacher for over a decade. I found vocabulary to be instrumental to my students’ academic and professional development, so I adapted Taboo. The vocabulary words we studied were the main item the students had to guess while the keywords and phrases from the textbook definitions were on the taboo list as well. Students had to find another way to describe their vocabulary words, deepening the understanding of the use and the meaning behind the words. Each student created three vocab taboo cards; they loved it when someone couldn’t guess their word because they made the card hard. Did you know provides free access to educators? Browse thousands of college application essays that you can use as examples in your teaching. We also offer exclusive interactive graphs that can be used at the school discovery and application stages.

Free Essays on World War 2

War is one of the most tragic things in our world today. It is even sadder that usually it comes around at least once in our lifetime. In the 20th century alone we have already had two huge wars. These wars were call the World Wars simply because they involved most of the big countries of the world. Many people have died in these wars, Especially the Second World War. That is my focus for this essay. The leader of Germany at the time of WW2 and the person who most think started WW2 was a man named Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler was born in Austria. By the time that World War 1 started in 1914, he was living in Germany. He served well in the German Army and for that he earned a medal for bravery. At the end of the war Hitler decided to take up politics. By 1921 he was already the founding leader of the Nazi party. Hitler was an incredibly racist man and he had a great hate for Jews. By 1933, Hitler gained political power by winning the election. Soon after he made himself absolute dictator, calling himself the Fuhrer, which means "Leader". By the end of the 30's he was already sending Jews off too concentration camps to meet a horrible death. I believe that Hitler was one of the greatest causes of World War 2. Although there are many other reasons, he was definitely one of them. Another reason was the Treaty of Versailles. This was the treaty that was signed at the end of World War 1. This treaty outlined the rules that Germany must follow because of their defeat by Britain and France. The treaty angered many Germans, for most of the rules in the treaty were unfair and Germany lost a great amount of wealth. One of the cruelest reasons for the war was Hitler's racist hate for Jews. He would send them off in cattle cars to places called concentration camps were they would be slaughtered by the thousands. World War 2 was huge and involved a lot of countries. There were thousands of battlefronts and war sites. The two main battlefronts ... Free Essays on World War 2 Free Essays on World War 2 War is one of the most tragic things in our world today. It is even sadder that usually it comes around at least once in our lifetime. In the 20th century alone we have already had two huge wars. These wars were call the World Wars simply because they involved most of the big countries of the world. Many people have died in these wars, Especially the Second World War. That is my focus for this essay. The leader of Germany at the time of WW2 and the person who most think started WW2 was a man named Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler was born in Austria. By the time that World War 1 started in 1914, he was living in Germany. He served well in the German Army and for that he earned a medal for bravery. At the end of the war Hitler decided to take up politics. By 1921 he was already the founding leader of the Nazi party. Hitler was an incredibly racist man and he had a great hate for Jews. By 1933, Hitler gained political power by winning the election. Soon after he made himself absolute dictator, calling himself the Fuhrer, which means "Leader". By the end of the 30's he was already sending Jews off too concentration camps to meet a horrible death. I believe that Hitler was one of the greatest causes of World War 2. Although there are many other reasons, he was definitely one of them. Another reason was the Treaty of Versailles. This was the treaty that was signed at the end of World War 1. This treaty outlined the rules that Germany must follow because of their defeat by Britain and France. The treaty angered many Germans, for most of the rules in the treaty were unfair and Germany lost a great amount of wealth. One of the cruelest reasons for the war was Hitler's racist hate for Jews. He would send them off in cattle cars to places called concentration camps were they would be slaughtered by the thousands. World War 2 was huge and involved a lot of countries. There were thousands of battlefronts and war sites. The two main battlefronts ...

Biogenta plc and Outback Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Biogenta plc and Outback Inc - Essay Example onalities are calm, relaxed and secure; agreeable individuals are cooperative, tolerant, trusting; conscientiousness persons are dependable, responsible, achievers while openness includes intelligence and creativity among others. The management can thus assess individuals and classify them based on these traits and offer them varied experiences to elicit productivity and good performance. For example, conscientious individuals can be given leadership roles since they are responsible and dependable while those who portray openness can be entrusted with projects due to their creativity. The problem with trait theories is that they are unable to explain individual differences in personality. Another problem is that an individual may not behave in a similar manner in a different situation thus personality assessment during recruitment or selection based on traits may be unreliable. The person may not be able to produce results when placed in a different situation hence the theory is not a good predictor of behaviour (Ewen, 2003). The behavioural theorists emphasize the interaction of individuals and the environment. Theorists like Skinner and Watson believe behaviour is learnt through operant and classical conditioning (Ewen, 2003).The stimulus in the environment forces individuals to act in certain ways and behaviour is reinforced through rewards or discouraged through punishment. They believe that people are born empty and gain personality through a processes of association (Engler, 2009). The management can thus change people’s personality by providing them with a proper working environment and by reinforcing behaviour through reward system. The management has to decide the kind of behaviour required in the organization and reinforce it. The psychoanalytic theory by... This research is the best example of comparison of Biogenta plc and Outback Inc. Biogenta plc is a multinational company with manufacturing facilities in over 10 countries and a span of 15, 000 employees in over 80 countries. It is a world leading business dealing with crop protection products such as herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Its mission is to be the most trusted provider of crop-protection products in the world and has a set of values embedded in its culture to foster performance. It encourages diversity and corporate social responsibility and has innovation as its strength. Outback Inc on the other hand, is a family managed organization operating in Sydney, Australia. It is an adventure based tour company established in 1990s and has grown from a small size to moderately sized company offering a variety of services such as guided tours, accommodation and meals. The company has no clear vision or strategy to guide its actions and depends on Japanese clients. A lot of problems such as declining profits, high turnover and loss of clients are being experienced in the company due to poor management and organizational culture. Both organizations operate in a turbulent environment but Biogenta operates in several countries hence it may be affected more by diverse cultures. Outback has also to deal with individuals from different cultural backgrounds in its service provision but mostly deals with Japanese nationals and does not have to deal with complex management issues associated with international human resource management.

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 11

Personal Statement Example I have therefore over time learnt to be hardworking and always desire environments that stimulate my intellectual abilities and this I hope to enjoy at California University. As a result of the cultivated culture of handwork and desire for all round development I attained very good grades in subjects such as mathematics and English as well as sports subjects like Soccer and physical education classes. I also have a strong desire of learning in environments with people from different parts of the world since I believe there is strength in diversity. I therefore am applying for the University of California’s transfer program not only to benefit from the challenges of being in new environment but also to benefit from learning in a diverse environment that will enhance cultural exchange. I believe therefore the educational experience at the University of California will be enriching and fulfilling in terms of meeting my professional goals. I am a strong disciple of knowledge and quality education hence would always strive to get just that and apply the same to the betterment of humanity. I believe the very diverse learning environment that is the University of California will give me an opportunity to independently learn, interact with people from all over the world and stimulate my critical thought. I will make use of all opportunities to gain knowledge which I should apply in offering solutions to our world’s many problems on graduating an Actuarial Scientist from the University of California. By applying my knowledge and offering solutions to issues facing the world I believe will be able to touch, transform lives of people and contribute significantly towards society’s health. I am also an avid sports person; I highly appreciate the value of sports in enhancing the health and stability of society. I studied and attained straight A grades in soccer and physical education while at college. I participated as a soccer player in the

S6W3Dqs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

S6W3Dqs - Essay Example The same applies to President Eisenhower’s in his farewell address. In this respect, Henry Kissinger’s remark that â€Å"Morality has nothing to do with foreign policy† is totally misplaced and uncalled for. Morality should, as a matter of fact, be part and parcel of the overall national strategy. Morality has to do with the distinction of good from bad or right from wrong. On the other hand, foreign policy is concerned with the beliefs, attitudes and actions of America towards other countries. Mr. Y (2011), in A National Strategic Narrative clearly articulates the American dream as regards to foreign policy. For instance, the narrative calls upon the United States to pursue it domestic and foreign policies with a unified effort that reflect constancy of purpose (The National Strategy Forum Review, 2010). It further goes on to state that US should pursue her national interest while at the same time allow others to pursue theirs. However, this is pegged on condition that American values are not betrayed. Finally, Mr. Y says that America should seek fair competition and should not hesitate to deter bad behavior. This in itself is a moral position in foreign policy. Based on personal reflection, the National Strategic Narrative, and a recollection of values enshrined in American constitution, the role of morality in national security strategy cannot be downplayed. Other nations will only respect the position of USA on various matters based on her moral standards. The involvement of multinationals such as NATO in America national security has greatly boosted the collective power to promote security, curb incumbent threats, as well as protect the American citizens. Such is the case with which NATO and its 27 member states work to promote ideas and peace of the member countries. America is part and parcel of these efforts done by NATO. Secondly, multinationals work with the American government to advance the

Cultural Differences and Communication Management

Cultural Differences and Communication Management The same person, thus, can belong to several different cultures depending on his or her birthplace; nationality; ethnicity; family status; gender; age; language; education; physical condition; sexual orientation; religion; profession; place of work and its corporate culture. Culture is the lens through which you view the world. It is central to what you see, how you make sense of what you see, and how you express yourself. http://www.1000ventures.com/ten3_operations/customized/cross-cultural_differences_china-us.html Four Cultural Dimensions Cultures both national and organizational differ along many dimensions. Four of the most important are: 1. Directness (get to the point versus imply the messages) 2. Hierarchy (follow orders versus engage in debate) 3. Consensus (dissent is accepted versus unanimity is needed) 4. Individualism (individual winners versus team effectiveness)7 http://www.1000ventures.com/ten3_operations/customized/cross-cultural_differences_china-us.html Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges Culture is often at the root of communication challenges. Exploring historical experiences and the ways in which various cultural groups have related to each other is key to opening channels for cross-cultural communication. Becoming more aware of cultural differences, as well as exploring cultural similarities, can help you communicate with others more effectively. Next time you find yourself in a confusing situation, ask yourself how culture may be shaping your own reactions, and try to see the world from the others point of view. http://www.1000ventures.com/ten3_operations/customized/cross-cultural_differences_china-us.html Cultural Differences In some cultures, looking people in the eye is assumed to indicate honesty and straightforwardness; in others it is seen as challenging and rude. Most people in Arab cultures share a great deal of eye contact and may regard too little as disrespectful. In English culture, a certain amount of eye contact is required, but too much makes many people uncomfortable. Most English people make eye contact at the beginning and then let their gaze drift to the side periodically to avoid staring the other person out. In South Asian and many other cultures direct eye contact is generally regarded as aggressive and rude. In some cultures and religious groups eye contact between men and women is seen as flirtatious or threatening. Men of these communities who do not make eye contact with women are not usually rude or evasive, but respectful. Different cultures also vary in the amount that it is acceptable to watch other people. Some experts call these high-look and low-look cultures. British culture is a low-look culture. Watching other people, especially strangers, is regarded as intrusive. People who are caught staring usually look away quickly and are often embarrassed. Those being watched may feel threatened and insulted. In high-look cultures, for example in southern Europe, looking or gazing at other people is perfectly acceptable; being watched is not a problem. When peoples expectations and interpretations clash, irritation and misunderstandings can arise Culture Shock Failure to identify cultural issues and take action can lead to a culture shock. In order of priority, the most often found symptoms of culture shock are3: feeling isolated anxiety and worry reduction in job performance high nervous energy helplessness. Not coping with culture shock symptoms when they appear can lead to a very negative situation. Respecting Differences and Working Together Anthropologists discovered that, when faced by interaction that we do not understand, people tend to interpret the others involved as abnormal, weird or wrong5. Awareness of cultural differences and recognizing where cultural differences are at work is the first step toward understanding each other and establishing a positive working environment. Use these differences to challenge your own assumptions about the right way of doing things and as a chance to learn new ways to solve problems. Case point   DuPont A US-based multicultural team at DuPont gained around US$45 million in new business by changing the way decorating materials are developed and marketed. The changes included new colors that team members new, from their experience within other cultures, would appeal more to their overseas customers.6 Building Trust Across Cultural Boundaries Research indicates4 that there is a strong correlation between components of trust (such as communication effectiveness, conflict management, and rapport) and productivity. Cultural differences play a key role in the creation of trust, since trust is built in different ways, and means different things in different cultures. For instance, in the U.S., trust is demonstrated performance over time. Here you can gain the trust of your colleagues by coming through and delivering on time on your commitments. In many other parts of the world, including many Arab, Asian and Latin American countries, building relationships is a pre-requisite for professional interactions. Building trust in these countries often involves lengthy discussions on non-professional topics and shared meals in restaurants. Work-related discussions start only once your counterpart has become comfortable with you as a person. Cultural differences in multicultural teams can create misunderstandings between team members before they have had a chance to establish any credibility with each other. Thus, building trust is a critical step in creation and development of such teams. As a manager of a multicultural team, you need to recognize that building trust between different people is a complex process, since each culture has its own way of building trust and its own interpretation of what trust is. Anthropologists in cross-cultural management Observing people in Sydney made me quite clear that the dominant focus of cross-cultural academics and practitioners on national cultures is problematic. People from so-many cultural background study and work in closely cooperation at universities and public and private organisations. Looking at your Indian, English, Dutch, Japanese or German colleague as representatives of fixed national cultures will not help you very much in your collaboration. The so-called essentialistic perspective has become very popular in contemporary management literature and consultancy and is highlighted by European authors, such as Hofstede (1990) and Trompenaars (1993). The work of Hofstede and Trompenaars, who have developed cultural maps of the world in which each country can be situated based on their score on different indexes, fitted perfectly in the assumption that culture is a (more or less) stable entity that can be engineered, and managed. However, recent evaluations of these essentialistic cul tural programs are not positive in regard to organizational costs and sustainability. The programs use a dramatic oversimplification of the culture concept and make no difference between espoused values and actual behaviour. Consultants of large cross-cultural consultancy firms themselves dont believe in the value of multi value models. Instead they do use their international sensitiveness and experience to train managers and employees. In our research on the number one consultancy on cross cultural business in the Netherlands showed that a larger part of the consultants were using anthropological tools and methods rather than the corporate developed multi value models. None of them however, were anthropologists. And this is surprising as international management and the training of managers in cross-cultural affairs should be of the core competences of anthropologists. However, anthropologists are not very good at selling their knowledge and skills to corporations. They are outnumbered by all other kind of professions that have taken up cross cultural consultancy. Only recently I have seen a growth of (small) anthropological consultancy firms, but there could be many more of them. The message that everything is more complex than what our cultural competitors bring is of course not a very good argument for selling your services. That could be done better by, for example, showing in a business case the costs of failures and awkward collaboration. To support managers and organisations operating in a international context, we have explored new directions in cross-cultural management by making managers aware of practices of (cross-cultural) collaboration. The interest is not so much in gaining knowledge of other (national) cultures but rather on spaces and boundary objects in which cross cultural collaboration in daily organizational life takes place. Two weeks ago I was working with a large project management firm that had asked help to manage their large diversity of workforce. The company had employees of more than 35 different national cultures working in complex projects. Instead of training the management on all these cultures we studied collaboration practices at the workfloor from a socio-material perspective which includes spatial settings, materiality and social behaviour. The French anthropologist Latour called this symmetric anthropology. We found that engineers and project employees of both the company and the clien t gathered around so-called rollerboards. These are tables that can roll and have large paper drawings of installations on them. Around the rollerboard 6 different professionals stand, hang and are bending over the drawings. In debating which objects had to be left out, changed or added, each of the 6 professionals got time to explain their view, experience, perspective. If agreed upon, different colours were used to materialize the debate and colour the drawings on spots were the debate was on. The manager was surprised as he wanted to replace the rollerboard by a computer system, which would have ruined this efficient cross-cultural collaborative practice. In this way anthropologists can deliver knowledge and advice that are not given by traditional cross-cultural consultancy firms.

Reducing Teen Pregnancy With Sex Education Essay -- argumentative, per

Adolescent pregnancy is a crisis that inadvertently affects all. This is not only a burden to the young woman and her family, but also has a consequential impact on society. By reducing the number of adolescent pregnancies we could promote child well-being and decrease child poverty statistics (National Data). Increasing the number of comprehensive sex education courses would help young people learn how to better protect themselves against premature pregnancy and STDs, and would in turn curtail the number of teenage pregnancies. Among industrialized countries the United States has the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy. The rate of teen pregnancy in the U.S. is twice that of Great Britain and four times that of Germany and France. According to Saul Hoffman, Ph.D. and publisher of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy study, adolescent childbearing in 2011 alone cost U.S. taxpayers $10.1 billion, (Hoffman 2012.) Statistics show the alarming number of female adolescents walking around with oversized stomachs. Three in ten girls in the United States get pregnant at least once by age twenty (National Data). Less than one three of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma and only 1.5 percent have a college degree. Adolescent mothers are at a greater risk for birthing complications such as pregnancy induced hypertension, poor weight gain throughout pregnancy, and pregnancy-induced hypertension (Hoffman 2012). Infants born to adolescent mothers have a greater risk for premature birth, low birth rate, increasing the possibility of infant death, mental retardation, and chronic respiratory problems. Children born to adolescent parents are higher at risk for abuse and neglect, and are less apt to acquire adequ... ...015. . Hoffman, Saul . "Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing ." The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy , 30 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2015. Landry, David J. , Jacqueline E. Darroch, Susheela Singh, and Jenny Higgins. "Factors Associates with Content of Sex Education in U.S. Public Secondary Schools." Perspecitves on Sexual Reproductive Health 35.6 (2007): 261-262. Print. "National Data| The National Campaign." The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy , n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2015. .

Principles of the Sda Health Message Essay

The Seventh Day Adventist religion has certain guidelines and principles on the health of their bodies and minds. The main focus of these principles can be broken into 8 main areas; The blessing of Exercise, The blessing of Water, The blessing of Sunlight, The blessing of Fresh Air, The blessing of Temperate, Drug-free, Stimulant-free Living, The blessing of Rest, The blessing of Nutritious Food and Trust in Divine Power. Each of these areas has separate ideas and guidelines on how to truly nurture your body and mind. Although these principles were introduced a long time ago most of them are still relevant for today’s lifestyles but like most things they do have weaknesses. The blessing of Exercise states that exercise is not merely an option, it is essential to maintaining both physical and mental health. Regular exercise has the benefits of increased energy, stress relief, healthier skin, more self-confidence, effective weight control, reduced depression and the risk of heart disease and cancer. Our bodies are designed to be active yet in today’s society we are moving less. Society’s lazy lifestyle has resulted in a rise in many medical conditions. Some conditions that result from inactivity include: heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, ‘metabolic disorder’, and certain cancers. Proverbs 6:6-13 says â€Å"How long is the lazy man going to lie around? When is he ever going to get up? I’ll just take a short nap, he says; I’ll fold my hands and rest a while. But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber.† This verse is saying that useful activity tends to prosperity while inactivity and laziness tend to adversity. Christ himself set an example of physical activity. For most of his life he was engaged in manual labour and during his ministry he walked the roads of Palestine. Christians partake in exercise to keep their bodies healthy and reach their full potential as a creation of God, to serve him efficiently. In today’s society there are no weaknesses with the idea of exercise, it is still beneficial to our bodies to partake in exercise. Water is a vital fluid which without we would die. The human body is 75% water but it is constantly being lost through exhaling and perspiration. Drinking 6 – 8 glasses of pure water a day will aid in maintaining efficient, happy wellbeing. Water is often linked with purity. We use water to clean our bodies, cleanse our insides and to clean our conscience. Water is also used during Baptism in Christian religions because of its purity. A clean body inside and out and a clean conscience will lead to total health. The principle, The Blessing of Water is based not only on our body’s physical need for water but also the use of water to clean our body, soul, conscience and mind this is a key to full health. So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water (Hebrews 10:22 GNT). This quote focuses on the use of water for cleanliness of the physical body and the heart and conscience. Light is essential to life (Gen. 1:3). It powers the process that produces the nutrients that nourish and energize our bodies and that releases the oxygen we must have to live. Sunshine promotes health and healing. Every living thing in our world is dependent on sunlight. There are many proven health benefits one will receive from being exposed to regular sunlight. Some health benefits that sunlight can give us include lowers blood sugar and blood pressure, lowers cholesterol by converting it to vitamin D, increases red and white blood cells in the body, strengthens the immune system, helps calm nerves and increases adrenaline, destroys germs on the skin, increases circulation, helps eliminate pesticides and other chemicals from the body. The sun is an essential part of our life and that has not changed and will never change as we depend on it to live and keep us healthy. Sunlight does need to be in moderation especially in today’s society where skin cancer is very high. The most essential element to sustain life is oxygen. Without it we would die in a few minutes. Fresh air helps the immune system fight disease, rids the body of impurities and helps prevent problems such as fevers, colds and disease. An environment with impure air causes blood to carry less oxygen than is required for optimal function of cells. This tends to make a person less alert and responsive. Adults spend about 8-10 hours indoors at work and children 5-6 hours indoors at school instead of being outdoors in the fresh air. Dust collects on every surface and even as we get rid of it, the dust swirls around and makes its way into our respiratory system. As we cook food, occasionally we burn a meal or two and those fumes get inhaled also. Companies try to sell us products to ‘clean’ the air in our homes, but they add to the indoor air pollution. There is no substitute for fresh air. People living in small towns experience air which is fresher than those living in cities and therefore the benefits are even greater for them. This is because the air in large cities is polluted with smoke from factories and vehicles. More oxygen to the muscles reduces that lactic acid build-up in the muscles which leads to cramping. Ellen White once said â€Å"The stomach, liver, lungs and brain are suffering for want of deep, full inspirations of air which would electrify the blood and impart to it a bright, lively colour, and which alone can keep it pure, and give tone and vigour to every part of the living machinery.†. The only weakness of this idea in today’s society is the amount of air pollution we are faced with. We are not able to gain the full potential of this idea because of this pollution. The Blessing of a Temperate, Drug-free, Stimulant-free Living includes the use of any drugs even caffeine and alcohol as well as things that overstimulate our bodies like most technologies. The wise Christian will abstain from all that is harmful, using in moderation only that which is good. Drugs have saturated our society because they offer stimulation and release from stress and pain. Christians are surrounded with seductive invitations to use drugs. Even many popular, innocent-appearing beverages contain drugs – coffee, tea and colas etc all contain caffeine. Tobacco is another drug that is popular in society but tobacco in any form is a slow poison that has a harmful effect on physical, mental and moral powers. At first it affects are hardly noticeable. It excites and then paralyses the nerve, weakening and clouding the brain. Alcohol is a very popular drug in society today but some people do not understand that it is a drug and the effects it can have on the body. Since God communicates with us only through our minds, it is well to remember that alcohol adversely affects their every function. As the level of alcohol in the system rises, the drinker progresses through loss of coordination, confusion, disorientation, anaesthesia, coma and death. Drinking alcoholic beverages on a regular basis will eventually produce loss of memory, judgement and learning ability. Although the ideas behind this make sense and can improve health, in today’s busy society caffeine would have to be one of the highest used drugs. Proper rest is essential for health of body and mind. Periods of rest provide much needed quietness for communion with God: â€Å"Be still, and know that I am God† (Ps 46:10). God stressed our need for rest by setting aside the seventh day of the week as the day of rest (Ex 20:10). Rest is more than sleeping or ceasing our regular work. It involves the way we spend our leisure time. Weariness is not always caused by stress or by working too hard or too long. Our minds can be wearied by overstimulation though the media, sickness or various personal problems. Recreation is re-creation in the truest sense of the word. It strengthens, builds up and refreshes the mind and body. To life at its best, Christians should only pursue only those forms of recreation and entertainment that strengthen their bond with Christ and improve health. This is a much needed principle in today’s society but again it is unrealistic with such busy lifestyles. The blessing of nutritious foods was given to the first couple by the Creator with the ideal diet. â€Å"I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat† (Gen 1:29 GN). The diet God planned for us consisted of grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables. This diet offers the right nutritional ingredients to support optimum health. The Bible does not condemn the eating of clean animal products, but in the original diet God gave us did not include any flesh foods and this is why the Seventh Day Adventists try to follow a vegetarian diet. The vegetarian diet is the ideal, but sometimes we cannot always have the ideal. Those who wish to stay in optimum health will eat the best food they can obtain. The Seventh Day Adventist started the company Sanitarium which makes healthy, vegetarian food to help them to obtain the best foods they can. Another weakness of the original diet is that it can reduce the chance of your body to lack in proteins, calcium, vitamin B12, i ron and Zinc. Trusting in God means to rely on Him. You must surrender your will, your ideas, your desires and your future in to Gods hands. It takes a very special relationship to allow you to surrender so much. When we trust in god we look to Him for guidance, we look to Him when things go bad, we look to Him for help and we look at Him for love and strength. All God requires from us is to simply trust in Him. Trust in God can is the only way that we can overcome our fears and weakness. To trust in God we put all confidence into His character, ability and strength. We depend and have faith in Him; we believe He is who He says He is. There are no weakness when trusting in God the only thing that comes when trusting God is the strength to let him into your life and replaces feelings of insecurity and fear with those of love and compassion. We can trust in many things. None, however, offer the protection, the long term security, or benefit that trusting in God offers. Although these health messages are still spoken about and believed in they are not always, in today’s society, followed exactly. It is all well and good to think that these principles are a good idea but it is another thing to follow them. We have the mentality these days that yes something may be a good idea and you may believe in what it means and what it is doing but we still don’t do it. Times have changed and we are not ‘forced’ or expected to do things that people were once ‘scared’ of defying like attending church or following principles of their religion like these health principles. Although these messages are mainly still useful today they need to be put into practice to achieve any results. References Bible: Good News Translation. (1992). Ingleburn, NSW: The Bible society. Chamberlain, M. (1997). Cooranbong first town in Lake Macquarie: 1826-1996. Cooranbong: Michael Chamberlain. Health Systems Check,. (2012) Alcohol and Malnutrition. Health Effects of Alcohol Consumption. Retrieved on 25th May 2012 from http://www.healthchecksystems.com/alcohol.htm Hopp, J. (1984). Light for living part 1. Journal of Adventist Education. 40(4). Retrieved on 26th May 2012 from http://circle.adventist.org/files/jae/en/jae198446041714.pdf Parker, M. (2011). Christian Behaviour. Lecture presented to education students at Avondale College, Cooranbong, NSW. Sun Safety Alliance. (n.d.). The facts about getting too much sun. Skin Cancer. Retrieved 28th May 2012 from http://www.sunsafetyalliance.org/bare_facts.html

Kudler Fine Foods Computer Information System Essay

Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) is a California-based provider of a variety of high end foods, both local and from around the world, founded by Kathy Kudler in 1998. Since the opening of the first location, Kudler has opened two more locations in the San Diego area; Del Mar in 2000 and Encinitas in 2003 (About, 2011). As a growing business, Kudler’s needs are constantly changing, especially in terms of the company’s information technology and information systems. This paper will discuss the needs of the company in regards to business operations and accounting, as well as discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the systems currently in place. Based on the current technological opportunities, suggestions will be made to further improve these systems, and evaluate any threats that may affect these systems. Primary Findings Business and Accounting Needs Business Needs As a retail company, Kudler Fine Foods needs to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Kathy Kudler budgeted over $50,000 for Smith Systems to select and install the existing finance and accounting system, called Retail Enterprise Management System (REMS). REMS provides an Point-of-Sale module, or POS module, to automate all retails sales made, in detail. This system automatically reports this data to the accounting modules, as well as manages all credit/debit card transactions made in the stores. This helps to eliminate data entry errors by limiting the amount of data requiring manual input by employees (Accounting System Overview, 2011). Accounting Needs REMS also addresses the accounting needs of KFF, by providing applications for the general ledger, accounts payable, bank reconciliation, asset management and accounting modules. Each of these modules is interconnected with the POS, which allows for direct transfer of data between modules (Accounting System Overview, 2011). General Ledger Module. The General Ledger module includes the chart of accounts, and transaction details transferred y the POS system. This data is used to create the company’s budget and financial reporting. Due to the electronic transfer of data from the POS to the general ledger, this module requires minimal manual data entry (Accounting System Overview, 2011). Accounts Payable Module. The AP module allows for the check disbursement portion of the business to be done electronically. This module holds vendor data, tax and freight data, and accepts data from other modules that directly affect purchasing (Accounting System Overview, 2011). Bank Reconciliation Module. Data from the accounts payable, accounts receivable and purchase order modules are compiled automatically by the bank reconciliation module. This data is used in cash flow analysis for financial reporting (Accounting System Overview, 2011). Asset Management and Accounting: There was no module created for this portion of the business. Kudler needs to develop an efficient and economical way to track inventory and other assets, other than relying on the leasing company and spreadsheets (Accounting System Overview, 2011). Strengths and Weaknesses in the Current System Strengths The strength in the existing information system is that the modules that are installed reduce the manual data entry, thus eliminating unnecessary errors to the information, by allowing the modules to share information provided by the point-of sale machines. The POS system itself is a major benefit to the IT system as a whole, due to the number of transactions it is able to detail, catalog and parse to the interconnected modules. Secondly, the network set up at each location supports 3-4 POS terminals, an inventory terminal and a server terminal. Each individual network, for each store is providing enough storage power for the needs of each location (Information Technology, 2011). Weaknesses As previously discussed, the network setup has benefits on an individual store basis. However, the system as a whole is not sufficient in running a cohesive, multi location business. Kudler’s inventory systems are completely separate from one another, which could cause a serious issue in asset management within the company. A second weakness is the lack of policy regarding security within the system. This could lead to vulnerability to an internet attack for customer personal information and identity theft. Also, without back up procedures, there is no way for Kudler to prevent data loss, should the network(s) fail. Recommendations Based on the information above, the recommendation for Kudler and KFF would be to first, establish a set of security policies and back up procedures, in order to prevent hacking and data loss, respectively. In order to do so, Kudler would best benefit by reestablishing a working relationship with Smith Systems. Smith would then set up and maintain an offsite server that will service all three KFF locations, and allow the company to consolidate the three separate inventory systems. The offsite server would then serve as a repository for all accounting, inventory and human resources related items. Doing so will cut down the potential staffing and duplication in the inventory system. Additionally this would reduce the number of servers required, and thus reduce the potential of IT related hardware issues. Conclusion To conclude, Kudler Fine Foods uses and information system established by Smith Systems that sufficiently handles point-of-service retail sales receipts, and disburses the information to the appropriate accounting software modules. The modules receive the financial data from the sales to create financial reports, budgeting reports, and analyze accounts receivable and accounts payable. The system also maintains ordering and purchase order data, however, it does not maintain a single inventory module, which could track the sales of these items after the goods are received in the individual stores. In order for this to occur, Kudler needs to establish a solid set of security measures and procedures in the case of data loss. To address this, Smith Systems can be contracted to maintain an offsite server with security maintenance. This will help to prevent internet attacks by hackers searching for customer identification and credit card information. Once these changes are in effect KFF should see an increase in efficiency in the current systems in use.

Atomic Bomb....Was it neccessa essays

Atomic Bomb....Was it neccessa essays August 6th, 1945, 70,0000 lives were ended in a matter of seconds. The United States had dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Today many argue whether or not the U.S. should have taken such a drastic measure. Was it entirely necessary that we drop such a devastating weapon? To answer that first we must look at was going on in the world at the time of the conflict. The U.S. had been fighting a massive war since 1941. Moral was most likely low, and resources were at the same level as moral. Still both sides continued to fight and both were determined to win. Obviously the best thing that could have possibly happened would have been to bring the war to a quick end with a minimum of allied casualties. Harry Trumans decision to drop the atomic bomb was entirely warranted and was in the best interest of Americans and the world. Three factors should be considered to fully realize this. First, what would have happened should we have not dropped the bomb? Would WWII have ended s hortly afterwards without nuclear arms-not likely. Secondly we must consider the Japanese peoples extreme dedication to their country and emperor, willing to give up their own lives without thinking to stop the enemy. Lastly the morality of nuclear bombing must be explored. While many may argue against the use of such a seemingly cruel form of attack was unnecessary, it is obvious that the atomic bomb was the only means to an end of WWII. What would have happened had the A-bomb not been used? The most obvious answer is that he war would have continued. U.S. forces therefore would have had to invade the home island of Japan. It is hard to imagine the number of additional casualties we would have incurred had a Japanese land war been necessary. Also, our forces would not only have to fend off the Japanese military, but they would also be defending themselves against the civilian peoples of Japan as well. Like the Vietnamese that would come years...

Art Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Art Critique - Essay Example The tails wind around from the normal spot on the creatures and become plugs that are each inserted into an electrical outlet that sits in the center foreground. One creature sits facing away from the picture plane, revealing the depth of the TV and the source of the cords. The other creature sits facing it and its face, or TV screen, is visible. This reveals that the creature is reflecting an image that is a mirror reflection of the creatures from the perspective of the human viewing the painting. The image is clearly making a statement about the current state of existence among especially the younger generations. His approach is described as combining the â€Å"age-old aesthetic of realism with the conceptual ideologies of pop art and the absurdities of surrealism† (Zucker, 2009). The blue-green color palette is deliberately representative of the color that the television screen paints the room when it is the only light source. There is even the discernable bright light immediately surrounding the TV set at the horizon line that glows with pale yellow. The creatures are the blue-gray that human skin becomes when seen in the light of the TV. This introduces the idea that the creatures are really people who have dedicated themselves so fully to the entertainment of the television that they have become symbiotically connected to it – they cannot survive without it. But the message seems to go deeper in the scene found on the TV screen. â€Å"Williams’ biti ng wit and shady humor have become more honed and subtle in his recent body of work† (Mukul, 2009). In this scene, the artist is also sending the message that the television can only reflect the experience of real life. If the people aren’t doing anything, than that’s all that the television can reflect. When I first looked at this image, I simply felt amused looking at these two things looking at each other. The longer I

Analysis of Terrorist Attacks in International Law Research Paper

Analysis of Terrorist Attacks in International Law - Research Paper Example Hague Convention considers the unlawful seizure of an aircraft, an international criminal offense and even the accomplices of the hijackers are charged with the same offense and even the states that get connected to the offense are asked to abide with the international law of hijacking. "The Convention requires each contracting state to take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offense when the offense is committed on board an aircraft registered in that state, or when the aircraft lands in that state with the offender on board, or when the alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite him to one of the other states just mentioned" American Society of International Law.1" The use of the hijacked aircraft as lethal weapons, resulting in the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of persons, may be a crime against humanity under international law. The Statute of the International Criminal Court, which is in the process of obtaining the necessary ratifications to enter into force, defines a crime against humanity as any of several listed acts "when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack." The acts include murder and "other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health." When the attack happened in 2001 on the World Trade Centre, the International Criminal Court was not yet functioning. Still, the crimes were held as crimes against humanity that would be subject to all domestic criminal courts of the world and eventually they came under the jurisdiction of International Criminal Court. Under the jurisdiction of international law, not only any country could try the terrorists for the terrorist acts within the borders of that particular country irrespective of their nationality and citizenship according to the statutes that are in force, but also the terrorists could be sent to another country for trial if that country's grievance against such terrorists is more severe. All the countries can exercise the universal jurisdiction for the crimes committed against their State. According to the universal law, any country can bring such terrorist offenses under its own law and prosecute the offenders if 'they are within its custody'.International law issues can also crop up if any country is obviously harboring terrorists who have already committed acts of terrorism anywhere in the world. Military action against such a country is definitely not advised, but the country could be the target of many other international actions like sanctions, trade embargos etc. If there is an extradition treaty between the two countries, it should be honored immediately and not doing so, can earn the status of a rogue nation to the un-obliging country.

Advanced manufacturing technologies Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Advanced manufacturing technologies - Article Example Due to increased advancement in technology in various fields such as electronics, and medicine among others manufacturing engineers have advanced their techniques to cater for increasing demand in these other fields of technology.The complexities in manufacturing of parts required by the technologists in specialties such as medicine has necessitated development of various advanced manufacturing techniques. This paper seeks to outline Layered Manufacturing Technology (LM), Rapid Prototyping (RP) and other techniques used in advanced manufacturing technology in details. It will also establish the correlation between the technology and medicine; that is the use of the technology in manufacture of implants. Lastly the paper will discuss the details of reverse engineering technology as applied in Computer Aided Design (CAD).Advanced manufacturing technology is aspect of advancement in manufacturing technology that enables development of composites and composite materials that are benefici al to manufactures in the market. On the other hand it enhances productivity, efficiency and excellent quality of products manufactured. There are various aspects in the place of advanced manufacturing technology, which include Layered Manufacturing Technology, Computer Numerical Control among others.The Layered manufacturing technology has proved to be very diverse and in application and more so in the field of medicine. This technology though easy to implement since it does not require he contemporary tools needs a very skilled and knowledgeable know-how to implement if the desired results have to be obtained. This technology constitutes of various techniques that include Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM). Layered Manufacturing Technology Layered manufacturing technology (LM) can be defined as production of solid materials in laminated form. This technology of material production can be carried out using various methods but all of them apply the same idea of principle. In the process of manufacture the three-dimension design of the object to be produced should be well described with respect to its dimension. This is then formatted to give the slice; that is the layers in terms of their definite size and numbers so that they can be assembled together to form the solid material wanted. They are several technologies that are applicable in combination of the said layers or slices in this technology to come up with a solid object, thus this technology is perceived as construction of a definite solid shape from individual building units of given size. This technology as described, has some positive aspects to the technologists employing them; that is It makes the tools, moulds or dies usage not necessary. On the other hand the technologist can easily manipulate the quality of the surface finish of the object being manufactured Although the limitation to this technology is that the rate of manufacturing objects is slower than other methods of manufacturing which uses tools, moulds or dies and depends on the method used. This method of manufacturing in perception of the basic principle can be related to the following manufacturing methods. The layers are like bricks used by masons in constructions of objects of different required shapes. Clay threads layered together to form walls that will produce an object of required shape and size in pottery. Use of slices in expressing three-dimensional landscape in cartography. The big difference between layered manufacturing technology and above practices is that the units used in t LM technology are considerably very small to the tune of 10-100 microns. LM technology was developed from Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology, which involves high-speed production of patterns that are hard to produce using

The American people Essay Example for Free

The American people Essay The offensive had some initial successes for the Vietnamese because American intelligence failed to detect the build-up of enemy troops. One of the most famous events during this offensive was the infiltration of the American embassy in the South Vietnamese capital Saigon by a 15-man suicide squad, all of whom were easily killed. A reporter at the time in the embassy which was regarded as the safest place in Vietnam saw this as it was happening and this crisis was viewed by millions around the globe. After confident predictions of an imminent victory many Americans were shocked to see footage of Communist fighters in the grounds of the American embassy which created a ‘credibility gap’ between the official message and what was seen happening on television. Famously Walter Cronkite, the most influential US anchorman said â€Å"What the hell is going on? I thought we were winning this war†. The introduction of draft of new soldiers further increased opposition, and many burnt their draft cards. Black and other minorities, who made up the largest proportion of the American army, did not want to fight ‘for something that they don’t have themselves’, especially since many white people got out of the draft by going to college. Famously Muhammad Ali was prosecuted for refusing to be drafted and said, â€Å"No Vietcong ever called me nigger†. Also the shooting of Vietnam Veterans who were peacefully protesting outside Kent state only caused more unrest amongst the American people. Huge marches were taking place against the war, with a million people joining one in New York. Between 1960 and 1973 over 500,000 men deserted from the armed forces and in 1967 ‘Vietnam Veterans against the War’ was formed. Particularly significant in undermining support for the war at home was the growing realisation of the brutality of the war. US troops were trained to see the enemy as not human so that they felt able to kill them. The tactic of ‘Search and Destroy’ were intended to help find Communist guerrillas hiding in villages, but often resulted in innocent civilians being attacked and having their houses and crops destroyed as collateral damage. The use of chemical defoliants was also very damaging as they were found later to be carcinogenic and America’s indiscriminate bombing seemed only to alienate the South Vietnamese rather than win other their ‘Hearts and Minds’. The most famous atrocity of the war was the massacre in the village of My Lai on March 1968. The company was told that a Vietcong battalion was hiding in the village and that any villagers found were definitely communist supporters. Despite finding no enemy fighters they destroyed the village and killed hundreds of its inhabitants. At first this massacre was kept secret and only on November 12th 1969 did the story appear in the American press after a reporter talked about the story to an officer on trial for this massacre. The reports of the massacre greatly strengthened the anti-war movement in America. This shook many Americans view of themselves as the ‘good guys’ and made them question whether America was fighting for a just cause. In addition the $66 million a day spent by 1968 meant that President Johnson’s spending on a new ‘Great Society’ was drastically cut, and income tax rose. $900 million worth of American equipment had been destroyed however they had only done $300 million worth of damage to the North Vietnamese economy. Also the cost of the troops in Vietnam amounted to about $20 to $30 billion a year. In 1967 ‘Life Magazine’ calculated it cost $400,000 for each Vietcong guerrilla killed. The media was the most powerful reason for America losing the war and the fact that it was uncensored meant that gruesome pictures were reported back in America which caused un-repairable damage to the war effort. This war showed definitively that if the people at home are not happy to fight, a country will never win. The power and danger of the media was shown with the recent Wikileaks scandal, showing that there is a need not to have everything out in the public. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Vietnam 1954-1975 section.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci To Autumn

La Belle Dame Sans Merci To Autumn I have chosen to compare these two poems both written by Keats. Keats was only 26 years old when he died, and wrote La Belle Dame Sans Merci just three years before this. He died of tuberculosis along with his mother and brother. His brother passed away in 1919, a year after both poems were written, indicating that the poems may have some significance to Keatss feelings and emotions in both poems. To Autumn is a poem celebrating the beauty of nature in the season of autumn. It is a very sensuous poem with lots of strong imagery. In To Autumn there is a very regular iambic pentameter rhyme scheme and there are three stanzas each eleven lines long. The regular rhyme scheme contributes to the calmness and serenity of the poem and highlights the poems ode like qualities, with nothing but praise for the different aspects of the season. By contrast La Belle Dame Sans merci is a narrative poem written in ballad quatrains, which are all rhyming couplets, It also has a lot more stanzas that have fewer lines. This cuts off the regularity and the harmonious feel is broken unlike in To Autumn. Another way Keats splits up the rhythm is by using caesura (he uses a lot of dashes which create pauses and breaks in his work. From the start of To Autumn we see mists and mellow and fill all fruit These two pieces of alliteration in the first stanza help the poem sound appealing and run smoothly of the tongue. Perhaps the sound made when reciting mists and mellow could be likened to bees buzzing which would be a great way of Keats incorporating nature into a poem about nature. In the second stanza the rhetorical question Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store? is asked, helping to engage the reader and makes them think about nature. I think there is a change in tone in the second stanza from the from first. In the first we are given images of wonderful fullness that nature is bringing to objects such as fill all fruit with ripeness to the core and plump the hazel shells. These create a sense of achievement and perfectness being instilled into objects in nature and create a proud and triumphant mood. However in the second stanza the mood is that of a slow moving and relaxed one. The words drowsd and sound asleep are used which are related to relaxation and the phrase sitting careless on a granary floor is used, suggesting there is no rush about things, again relating to the overall slow moving mood of this stanza. thy soft hair lifted by a winnowing wind is a nice phrase using personification (winnowing wind) to add to the relaxing feeling the poet is trying to convey. Another word that cements the slow moving tone is oozing which keats uses to describe cider being pressed The third stanza lists some of the the sounds of nature, but describes them in a bounteous and praising way. Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn is a line that demonstrates how keats can turn something normally overlooked into something that catches your attention and makes you appreciative about it. He does this by describing the gnats as a choir, a group that represents disciplined order and talent. He describes them as a wailful and says that they mourn, by describing them as having so much emotion it helps us to realise that they are complex and are purposeful. Keats also uses an interesting juxtaposition soft dying on the third line of this stanza to describe the day, soft suggests calm and gentleness, however death is the imminent end. I think Keats wants us to appreciate the sheer beauty of nature in this poem, and his intention is to make us believe as strongly as possible that this beauty around us is not to be taken for granted. In my mind he has instilled a strong representation of his perception of nature. I think hes done this by using such great visual and descriptive imagery as well as appealing to the senses. In this poem we are bombarded with reference to on sense or another and in the 3 stanzas every one of the five senses are mentioned, clammy cells instantly remind you of touch whereas the fume of poppies draws you to imagine the smell in your own head, all the references to these senses build a stronger picture in your head of the painting Keats is trying to paint. Keats creates strong imagery in this ballad and focuses on every sense, we have sound- they criedand sweet moan, taste sweet relish, smell fragrant zone and a passage that brilliantly describes the womans beauty Full beautiful-a faerys child, Her hair was long, her foot was light, And her eyes were wild this creates a perfect image of the womans beauty, perhaps the fact she is a faerys child heightens her good looks as this image could not be achieved by a normal human being. Keats uses the metaphor on thy cheeks a fading rose, this uses flowers (bringing nature into it) to show how his cheeks are rosy, but are fading just like a rose, this could mean that the life is draining from the man. i see a lily on thy brow is another metaphor that brings attention to his pale forehead through the use of flowers. As the narrator is using these terms about the knight it could bring a clue to his personality, someone fond of nature perhaps? Throughout the ballad we see countless examples of the word wild being used, eyes were wild, i shut her wild, wild eyes and honey wild this repetition shows the relation or association the poet wants to give the poem to nature. In this poem nature reflects the position of the knight, however in To Autumn nature is personified in a much more positive way and Autumn is personified as being close bosom-friend of the maturing sun which shows its friendliness in that it is conspiring with the sun. The metaphor sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep is used and Autumn is also personified to have thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind and to be someone who watchest the last oozings hours by hours. In-fact the whole second stanza is an extended personification of Autumn carrying out relaxing activities related to the relaxing nature of the season. The tone of this poem is very lifeless with a very gloomy atmosphere, the knight is described as being haggard which shows tiredness and he is palely loitering which shows he has no purpose about him or what he will do, this women has made his life worthless with no path. The landscape is barron and possibly the season of winter as no birds sing. Authenticity of a medieval timezone is also added by old fashioned spellings such as faery instead of fairy. As we know, both poems are about nature although the way in which all life has been sucked out of the knight shown by the description that he is palely loitering and how Keats shows the bleakness and cold of the situation by describing warriors as death pale with starved lips. He also describes the scenery as cold and the sedge is withered from the lake. This desolate and isolated feel is in complete contrast the way the surrounding in To Autumn is teaming with life and fruit is filled with ripeness to the core. With everything reaching its full potential with the help from the seasons. An example of this is the way that he writes that summer has oerbrimmed their clammy cells. To Autumn has much more praise and descriptions of the beauty of nature. In The Belle Dame Sans Merci I think Keats intentions are to show perhaps how the naivety of falling into love could end with such undesirable consequences with no way out(especially when they dont love you as much as you love them). In the poem the knights disappointment would be less severe if he did not believe from the beginning of their affair that the fairy child loved him in equal measure. She appears to fall in love with the knight just as he is falling for her. The look she gives him in line 19 and her sweet moan might be read as signs of her love, and the presents she gives him are further proof they are equally balanced in their feelings for one another. She even takes him back to her home, her elfin grot, and makes him feel comfortable. It would be natural for him to assume she is as interested as he is in continuing their relationship when he awakes. However you cant be sure the knights intense feeling when he finds his lady gone is caused primarily by the loss of her. I t could be that he is suffering from the disappointing conclusion that she never really loved him as much as he thought she did. By the end of the poem he clearly feels alone, but he does not show any hatred toward her. The only clues the poem gives about whether or not the lady may have felt love for the knight come from the people who visit the knight in his dream and tell him the lady is pitiless, that she has no mercy, Them coming to him also suggest she has done it do them before and he is another person to have fallen into her cruel trap. To Autumn is an example of an Ode as it is addressed to somebody and written in stanzas. La Belle Dame Sans Merci apart from the obvious difference of a French title contains all the necessary elements of a Ballad; it is a quatrain with the second and fourth line of each stanza rhyming and has much shorter lines. Also Autumn is written as an address to a season while La Belle Dame Sans Merci is a dialogue. A similarity is that the two poems share a common setting, this being autumn. As well as the giveaway from the title in To Autumn Keats writes about the landscape With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run and still more, later flowers for the bees, two extracts from the first stanza which describe Autumn. In La Belle Dame Sans Merci also in the first stanza it says The sedge has witherd from the lake which is an scenario that happens in autumn. Another common feature is the poems sensuality, as both use descriptions relating to all the senses. This is integral to the atmosphere as the sensuality makes the setting and events so much more authentic in the readers mind. This nature and sensuality are very closely linked in both poems, everything to do with the senses is natural. However there is a difference in the way nature is referred to in La Belle Dame Sans Merci. because there is a peripeteia, the faery who is most natural thing in the ballad and who has given the knight so much pleasure sucks the life from him when he least expects it And there she lulled me asleep. The faery that has seemed to give life and personify nature is the same one that took away life from the knight. There are also many contrasts between the two poems of Keats. The tone of the poems are very different. To Autumn is rich, positive, happy and praising the goodness of life and nature. La Belle Dame Sans Merci is enchanted however very sad and desolate. To Autumn is full of long wholesome words with many syllables exaggerating the fulness, like fruitfulness, winnowing and conspiring. As well as these Keats uses hyphenated words bosom-friend, soft-lifted and half-reapd. These words add to the rich feelings and complex structure of the poem and break the rhythm up as I said earlier. La Belle Dame Sans Merci is written in a much simpler direct way using many short monosyllabic words And no birds sing or And her eyes were wild. This makes the poem very sharp and harsh, with to the point phrases. When you read To Autumn it has to be read slowly to savour the bountiful description Keats is creating, but La Belle Dame Sans can be read quickly to keep up with the pace of the story being to ld. In To Autumn throughout the poem the season is gradually changing.The bees think warm days will never cease for summer has oevbrimmd their clammy cells indicates there are still some characteristics left of summer, but later on in the poem it says that the red breast whistles from a garden croft, indicating the arrival of winter. This movement through the season is relaxed and will repeat every year. This could relate to how Keats was aware of his oncoming death but was calm and accepting of it, shown in the relaxed feel of this poem. Perhaps Keats ballad was an opposite point of view, showing how he felt he was trapped in a place and loitering until his death? Or maybe the two poems could both indicate different things in his life. In La Belle Dame Sans Merci The poem itself could be a metaphor for events in Keats own life. Keats had recently lost a brother to tuberculosis and he himself was. a lily on thy brow and on thy cheeks a fading rose, both these lines could be interpreted as symptoms for the disease. La Belle Dame may (or may not) be referring to a woman Keats met who distracted him, from his vocation, and as he was in such a bad state she could be wasting what little time left he had on the word. Autumn could then be some of his work she was distracting him from, the work praising the world and drawing attention to the beauty that was appreciated by him as he knew he would miss it so much. In conclusion the two different styles of writing poetry (the Ode and Ballad) which would normally be so different are made similar in many ways by what Keats has added to them, he has added his touch and it is these personal features that run through both poems which links them and makes them exciting.

Irony, Arrogance, And Oedipus Essay -- essays research papers

"Listen to me. You mock my blindness, do you?/ But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind" (I, 195-196). With these memorable words, the sightless prophet Teiresias all but paints the entire tragic story of Sophocles' Oedipus the King, one of the most prominent pieces of Greek literary heritage. Greeks knew and loved the story of Oedipus from childhood, just as children today cherish the story of Cinderella. In his version of the beloved tale, Sophocles concentrates his attention on the events directly leading to Oedipus' destruction, portraying Oedipus as a helpless pawn of fate. The most prominent literary device is dramatic irony, primarily of the spoken word, through which--especially in the Prologue--Sophocles captures audience attention, illuminates Oedipus' arrogant personality, and foreshadows the events of the final scenes. It is not difficult to understand why Sophocles resorts to dramatic irony in the construction of his play. He is working with much the same problem a modern-day playwright would face in fashioning a play around the Cinderella motif: audience familiarity, leading to a lack of suspense. It is difficult to maintain audience interest when the conclusion and the events leading up to it are obvious to everyone. To circumvent this difficulty, Sophocles saturates his play with dramatic irony, riveting the audience with the awareness that they know more than Oedipus, letting them cringe with the delicious knowledge of the misfortunes he will face. Sophocles employs the blindness of Oedipus to such advantage that he creates an atmosphere similar in many respects to that of a modern horror film. The audience knows the destination well and has probably been there before, but the journey is too pleasurable to forego. Understandably, it is the Prologue that is richest in dramatic irony, because in that scene, everyone concerned is still in complete darkness to the truth and their ignorance therefore causes their words to carry far greater weight. Oedipus comes out to the people, moved with compassion at their suffering, and says to their spokesman the Priest: "Tell me, and never doubt that I will help you/In every way I can; I should be heartless/Were I not moved to find you suppliant here" (Prologue 12-14). He will help them ... ... He seeks to make the name of Oedipus a force to be reckoned with, a terror to evildoers. And, frankly, he desires to perpetuate his name by elevating himself to celebrity status. One can almost hear the gods laughing as Oedipus builds his air castles. Oedipus shall indeed perpetuate his name--in one of the most horrible ways imaginable. He will indeed save Thebes--but he will destroy himself in the process. His name will become a byword forever. He will leave an unending legacy not of glory and fame but of infamy and shame. Through Oedipus the King Sophocles presents the paradox of a man whose good side causes harm and whose bad side works good. The character of Oedipus itself is one vicious irony, for his virtues devolve into virulent vices that wreak his complete destruction. Though the story he tells is a heartbreaking and predictable tragedy, Sophocles masterfully employs the tools of his craft to fashion a drama that has captured the fascination of untold generations. Perhaps therein lies the ultimate irony: The name of Oedipus will always be cloaked in a pall of darkest ignominy, but that of Sophocles remains forever radiant in brightest glory.