Life or death essays

Life or death essays Life and Death- In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan Today, modern medicine is nothing short of a miracle, and almost every living creature in our civilized world depend on the great wealth of knowledge occupants in this field of work contain. Today with the advancement of medicine, doctors can take patients from being close to death, and revive, or sustain them, through circumstances that otherwise would have killed them. Around the early seventies many major technological and medical advances began to arise in the U.S. During this time period many more people began to have long-term hospitalizations thus making people who would have otherwise died before, live longer. This happened to be the case with Karen Ann Quinlan of New Jersey in 1975. Karen had been in a comatose state for many months, living off of her vital organs and a respirator. Because medicine and technology were advancing so rapidly in the United States, many people had problems at first with the facts of how ethical this new technology was, and how effective it would be to sustain life for long periods of time. Another problem many people faced was the ethical problem of sustaining a person in a vegetative state. Because technology could sustain someone who had become vegetative for long periods of time, was it morally right to allow a person to continue living if they could not understand or communicate with the world? This was the question that New Jersey superior court had to rule on in the case of Karen Quinlan. There were two parties involved in this case, the plaintiff, Joseph Thomas Quinlan, and the defense, the court, which stood for Karens rights as an individual to remain on life support until she died of natural causes. Joseph Quinlan is called to the stand to testify and explain his reasoning behind his decision to ask the court to order the hospital to remove his daughter from her respirator. The defense attorney first begins questioning J...

6 buzzword phrases to eliminate from your vocabularyÂÂ

6 buzzword phrases to eliminate from your vocabulary   We’ve all been in this position- we’re at work or on an interview and all of a sudden we accidentally say something that we quickly realize sounds so awkward, so not right that we’d give nearly anything to somehow be able to take it back†¦but we can’t. The truth is, once something is out of your mouth and into the world there’s no do over, and depending on how bad it is it you may do some real professional damage- anything from losing some on-the-job cred to sinking your chances on an interview and everything in between. What’s your best bet to avoid this situation? Simple- eliminate some obvious â€Å"red flag phrases† from your vocabulary. These include all the tired clichà ©s, boring buzzwords, and meaningless jargon that are sure to elicit endless eye rolls when they’re spoken out loud, and depending on your audience it could have real consequences.Check out the following 6 things that you should eliminate from your vo cabulary, particularly when the stakes are high and everything you’re saying counts.â€Å"I’m a workaholic.†Whether you are or aren’t really a â€Å"workaholic†- and in today’s professional world, where the balance between one’s personal life and professional pursuits gets blurrier by the minute- good luck trying to define what a workaholic is, let alone whether or not it’s even a good or bad thing. The truth is, this term has officially slipped into the meaningless clichà © bin and will garner the precise sort of reaction that it deserves, and it’s not a good one. Bottom line- most people appreciate folks who show a dedication and passion for their work, so no false modesty or false humble aphorisms are needed here.â€Å"I’m a perfectionist.†This one’s lying in the same â€Å"clichà ©d to the point of total meaningless† and- simply put- is never a good answer to any interview question that you’ll encounter, so just delete it from your memory. Yeah, we know it’s been used in the past to handle the old â€Å"What’s your greatest weakness?† question, but the truth is that this question doesn’t come up on interviews nearly as often as some people think it does, and if it does come up you should certainly come up with something more original. It’s ok to be honest and reflective when faced with this question and you can still come up with a satisfactory response- just try a little harder.â€Å"Leveraging†This is a somewhat newer buzzword that does seem to have a nice â€Å"professional sheen† to it at first listen, but what are you really saying when you use it? Typically it’s used on interviews to discuss a prior employment position that you somehow flipped into something else- does this sound like something you want a prospective employer to know that you may be looking to do in this new position if hired? May be not. Leveraging can come off as selfish, or at the very least self-centered, which may not work to your advantage when trying to sell yourself.Any and all â€Å"fillers.†Fillers are all the â€Å"likes,† umms,† â€Å"hmms,† and space-filling pauses used in conversations, and they never land well or make you look good. Fillers get especially annoying when the frequency of their use is high, and can really make you sound nervous and unpolished. Try practicing giving speeches without using fillers, and try to be mindful about when they pop up in conversation- and work hard to eliminate them from your vocabulary.â€Å"I’m nervous.†It’s ok to be nervous in life, but it doesn’t do you any favors to broadcast this to the world. Especially in your professional life and when on job interviews, your efforts should be spent trying to overcome any bouts of nervousness that you encounter- not trying to inform the world that they may be de aling with a nervous person. Work on eliminating this one from your conversations.â€Å"I don’t have any questions.†This one’s largely in reference to job interviews- where what you say really counts. Don’t forget that first and last impressions, both in job interviews and in other aspects of life, are what people tend to remember- do you want your lack of curiosity or unwillingness to engage more deeply on job interviews with some thoughtful questions be the last impression you make? Of course not. Always have a few carefully considered questions pre loaded when on interviews, it’ll really help cement the impression that you have a sincere interest in the company and position that you’re vying for.There you have it- 6 phrases that you should eliminate from your vocabulary moving forward. Follow the advice presented here, and you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor in whatever conversation situation you find yourself in!

Intel Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Intel Corporation - Case Study Example Cliff Edwards (2006) mentions the changing culture in the Intel Corporation. During the term of Andrew Grove, his motto was "Only the paranoid survive". He and former chief Craig Barret introduced the manner of giving out money to some computer makers for joint advertising. During the term of new CEO, Paul Otellini, his diplomatic nature made him adopt his motto of "Praise in public, criticize in private". (Edwards, 2006) Edwards (2006) mentions the changes that are pushed by Intel Chief Marketing Officer Eric Kim on the Intel brand. Kim suggested to stop the manufacture of old models that were created during the tenure of former Intel Chief Executive Andrew Grove and focus on the new ones. Kim wanted to retain the Pentium brand. Figure 1 shows the evolution of the Intel brand logo from which according to Edwards (2006) had a "dropped e" until the new Intel brand logo which according to Jeff Adkins (2006) is to be launched in 2010. Intel's CEO Paul Otellini supported the move of reforms on the company. He wants to produce products not only for personal computers but also on consumer electronics, wireless communications, and health care. Edwards (2006) identifies the reason for this change which was the decreased revenue growth for computers because of added competitors like mobile phones that also have features similar to computers. Aside from Intel's main products, the microprocessors, Otellini wants to produce all varieties of chips and software and combine them into "platforms". (Edwards, 2006) III. STRATEGIC CONTROLS AND IMPLEMENTATIONS In response to the reported drawbacks during the 2nd quarter of 2006 wherein Intel Corporation placed behind its rival chipmaker Advance Micro Devices Incorporated (AMD), Edwards (2006) reports that Intel Corp. began decreasing its prices of computer chips by at least 200 U.S. dollars. It also introduced its new processor the Intel Core 2 Duo which runs twice the performance of Pentium 4 desktop chips and saves more energy for laptop computers. For the older Pentium processors, Intel will continue manufacturing them for the people who have low budget allotted for purchasing computers. Edwards (2006) argues that if there will be a price war between Intel and AMD, Intel will come out benefiting from its larger sales through lower costs. Intel has better manufacturing techniques which give the company the room to lower its prices that will not affect the overall profits. Edwards (2006) adds that AMD can match the technology Intel has by the second half of 2007. (Edwards, 2006) Aili McConnon (2007) reports a manifestation of the vision of Otellini of developing products aside from computer microchips. The company has been developing a highly developed version of motion capture in which people will not need remotes to change the channels and volume of their televisions. (McConnon, 2007) This strategy is one way of promoting the brand in the entertainment arena. Bruce Einhorn (2006) cites another move for the company in making its products accessible by many people and the Kim's vision of improving the lives of people. In the case of China were Internet Caf computers reached 11 million units in 2006, the Intel management created a system in assisting in the management and update

Animal play VS human play Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Animal play VS human play - Essay Example In his explanations, he uses poetic language which is what plays are all about and therefore making his readers think outside the box of the plain language in order to understand his explanations and which will enable the reader to also engage in the same when reading and analyzing a poem in future (Brown 1). Huizinga’s article also like Brown’s discusses and elaborates plays. His approach is however different from that used by Brown even though both discussions center on both animal and human plays. He concentrates mainly on the cultural aspects and meaning the different plays have or which they try to relay or portray to the public. Other than explaining only the cultural meaning of plays, Huizinga categorizes and analyzes the psychological, physiological and even the biological aspects of a play (these are plays’ inner terminologies and language same as those used by Brown in his article). Huizinga concentrates more about what the plays mean and represent and not the type or category it belongs to (Huizinga 97). In spite of their different articles which are also different in discussion, both writers seem to be communicating with each other and their works also seem to be a continuation or explanation in detail of the other. As mentioned before, the article by Brown seems to center majorly on the play types and categorization according to their themes. He does this by use of minimal poetic language (that is however understood) numerous illustrations. The work of Huizinga is a deeper explanation of the meanings of different types of plays and their analysis under different themes and theories. This analysis therefore uses poetic language that is technical and if one is not familiar with such a language, then even the explanations being made will not be understood. Reading from Brown’s article to that by Huizinga is like a continuation but in much more details and requiring more concentration than was previously

Homicide Investigation Essay Example for Free

Homicide Investigation Essay More work goes into a homicide investigation than what the media alludes to. Television shows like Law and Order, and CSI show an over glorified series of basic investigations as well as highly dramatic interrogation in which each homicide case is solved within a one-hour episode. In reality, a homicide investigation is 20 times more complex than what is aired on prime time television. Cases can take years to solve, and a large number remain open indefinitely. From start to finish, a homicide investigation begins when the first responder arrives on the scene, and ends when the perpetrator is placed behind bars. The goals of an investigation are to see if the death of a person was caused by a criminal act of another individual, as well as determining the person responsible for causing the death. The earlier an investigator arrives on the scene of the crime, the more likely the case is to be solved. â€Å"Medically, death is determined by the cessation of three vital functions: heartbeat, respiration and brain activity. (Hess and Orthmann ) Normally, the first sign of death is when the person has stopped breathing. If a person dies shortly before, or in the presence of an officer, the officer should always try to revive the victim. The person’s pulse should be checked for after breathing has ceased since certain drug over doses cause extremely shallow breathing, and can give the allusion that a person is deceased. The two most important pieces of physical evidence in a homicide investigation are the murder weapon and the victim’s body. Videotaping, photographing, and sketching the crime scene, as well as taking notes are crucial actions in an investigation as well. The evidence that is found must be properly handled and packaged. Physical evidence can be found in an abundance of different places, such as: on the victim, on the suspect, or at the scene of the crime. If the victim is still living, and brought to the hospital, the hospital then becomes a separate crime scene. Discovering the body of the victim, as well as identifying it can help the police tremendously. In some cases, the body of the victim is not found. The perpetrator could have performed any number of disposal techniques such as, dissolving the body in a vat of acid, cutting up the body, burying the body, or burning the body. In cases where the body is buried under ground, the police can use a few different technologies in order to locate it. Magnetometers, metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, and infrared thermography are the newest technological advances in the police arsenal. Also, cadaver dogs are highly useful since they are specially trained to locate a body by identifying the scent of decomposing human flesh. Once the body has been located, police must identify it. Multiple identification of the deceased victim made by family, friends, or co-workers is ideal since human error is much more likely when under stress. If the victim is disfigured beyond recognition, police examine fingerprints or DNA, which are the two most reliable forms of identification. Fingerprints do not always have available matches in the IAFIS, which is a â€Å"national fingerprint and criminal history system that responds to requests 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help our local, state, and federal partners—and our own investigators—solve and prevent crime and catch criminals and terrorists. (FBI. gov) DNA analysis allows investigators to rule out that the victim is not a specific person in the event that fingerprints cannot be matched. Investigators must estimate the time of death, or TOD, of a victim in order to acquire an accurate time frame in which the homicide occurred. This estimation is important since it could prove that the suspect could have b een at the scene during the estimated time frame, as well as to the victim’s family for Social Security, and insurance purposes. The post mortem interval (PMI) is the time between when the victim’s death, and when the corpse was discovered. â€Å"Understanding the processes that occur in a body during the PMI can help investigators estimate a time of death. † There are many methods in which forensic scientists can estimate the TOD, but none of them are fool proof. As a result, pathologist can usually find a good estimation of the victims TOD within a few hours of the actual event. When a person first dies, their body stays limp until Rigor Mortis sets in nywhere from ten minutes to several hours afterwards, depending on environmental conditions. Rigor Mortis (Latin for â€Å"stiffness of death†) causes the joints of the body to stiffen as a result of partial contraction in skeletal muscles. The smaller muscles, like those found in the face, are usually affected first. Maximum rigor is normally reached within 12 to 24 hours, and can keep the body rigid for around three days until the muscles begin to decompose. In some cases, usually when the victim is holding something at the TOD, the victim’s hand will tightly close around the object. This is called a cadaveric spasm, and while associated with rigor mortis, the condition is only found in specific muscle groups instead of the entire body. A cadaveric spasm can sometimes help investigators determine if the death was a result of a suicide or a homicide. If a victim is found with a gun in his hand, and the gunshot wound was not inflicted from his own weapon, it is more likely he was trying to defend himself against an armed assailant. Knowing if a person is alive or dead is a very important part of the first responding officer’s job. If the victim is pronounced dead, investigators must find the murder weapon in order to have solid proof that they were killed by someone else. If a body is discovered after a homicide has been committed, investigators must identify it, and determine the time of death, which can be estimated by looking at a number of signs. With all of this work for investigators to do, how can one homicide case be completely solved within a one hour time slot on television?

The Practicality of the Social Contract Essay -- Sociology, Society, G

I.) Introduction Society’s structure has been debated and contested as far back as ancient Greece. Since then, man has developed social systems that greatly differ from anything the ancients had in mind. One such system is the social contract theory, which first came to prominence around the time of the enlightenment. Simplified, social contractarians argued that in order to achieve a balanced and stable society, all of its members must sacrifice certain liberties to a government or similar authority. As Rousseau explains, the contract begins when â€Å"Each of us places his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the general will† (148). Essentially, it is an agreement between the rulers and the ruled that produces a stable political state. John Locke’s The Second Treatise of Government and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract are both enlightenment works that detail contractarianism, yet each has a unique and different way of considering the social contract. Although John Stuart Mill is also known for his work with Utilitarianism, his essay On Liberty considers consent and other issues relating to contract theory. These authors provide different insights into the social contract, and frequently one will reject another’s idea and offer a new solution. Even after this meshing of ideas and solutions, contract theory falls short of practicality. The idea is appealing, appearing on the surface as a fair and just way of governance. However, true liberty cannot arise from a contract, as man cannot be â€Å"forced to be free† (150). There are two fundamental flaws with contractarianism: it is not practical and it ignores human nature, and even if were possible to establish a true contract-based society, the citi... ...tract theory does raise additional questions. Rousseau envisioned a society in which every voice was heard. A solution to this impracticality is the idea of representation—something which Locke advocated for in The Second Treatise. The idea makes sense; have one person represent a group of people to improve functionality. However, how can a man fully represent an entire group’s interest? Surely there must be some differences between the representative and those he represents. If that is the case, can one call that justice? The man already relinquished certain rights by accepting the contract. With representation, he also gives up his right to full participation in the system. Despite this problem and the other issues with contractarianism, this theory served as a foundation for the American political system and continues to inspire political ideologies worldwide.

Apples and Oranges: a Comparative Essay

Apples and Oranges: A Comparative Essay Is the old adage â€Å"you can’t compare apples and oranges† correct? Besides being food, both of these produce items have much in common. They both are located under the Fruits and Vegetable category of the Canadian Food Guide; they are both spherical in shape, making them fit in the palm of your hand; and they both have a considerable amount of moisture under their skin. However, in both nutritional value and aesthetic appearance the orange far out weighs the lowly apple. Although, according to the Canadian Food Guide, a serving of apples and a serving of oranges are both considered one equal serving within the Fruits and Vegetables category, the nutritional value of oranges is far superior to that of apples. First, oranges have a higher concentration of vitamin C. This vitamin is essential in strengthening and maintaining a healthy immune system. Thus, the greater the vitamin C—within reason—the greater the functioning and resilience of our immune system. Furthermore, peeling an orange often requires extreme dexterity and excellent hand-eye coordination. Thus, when eating an orange one is not only receiving an excellent dose of vitamin C, one is also practicing hand-eye coordination and honing his/her dexterity. On the other hand, apples, although a good source of vitamin C lack the concentration that is obviously present in oranges. Thus, when eating an apple it seems that the apple’s nutritional value is simply calorie intake—fuel for the body. While this function is necessary, oranges ‘play double duty’. They provide us with calories at the same time as helping us to fight viruses and disease. Furthermore, eating an apple only requires a strong jaw and teeth. It does not help us to practice transferable skills such as dexterity. While the nutritional value of the fruits we consume is important, their aesthetic appearance is of greater concern. The appearance of an apple is pleasing; its symmetry, shine, and contours emulate marble sculptures. However, there is one essential flaw in the aesthetic of the apple. It lacks a strong and invigorating aroma. When an apple is bitten, it emits a deep musky smell, one that is unique but in no way mood-changing. Oranges, when peeled emit a heavy citrus scent which, studies have shown, help us to become re-energized. Perfumers have even attempted to capture this scent in their colognes, body washes, and au de toilets. But no synthetic concoction can truly mimetic the revitalizing effects of citrus. The very prestigious study of aromatherapy has verified the mood-changing effects of the citrus scent; â€Å"citrus is often used by psychologist to treat patients with depression with some promising results† (Fakes 2). Thus the orange combats both diseases of the body and diseases of the mind. Although there are many superficial similarities between apples and oranges, oranges are of greater nutritional and aesthetic value. Apples are valuable in their caloric value and their appearance, but they lack both the concentration of vitamin C as well as the revitalizing citrus effects. Therefore, perhaps the old adage is correct: â€Å"You can’t compare apples and oranges†.

Petroleum Exploration

Petroleum Exploration and Production consists of four major processes of exploration, well-development, production and site abandonment. In this assignment, we had chosen the major process of exploration and production. Petroleum Exploration is conducted to find and detect the site which contains oil or natural gas. Visible surface features such as oil seeps, natural gas seeps, pockmarks provide basic evidence of hydrocarbon generation. However, most exploration depends on highly sophisticated technology to detect and determine the extent of these deposits using exploration geophysics.Areas thought to contain hydrocarbons are initially subjected to a gravity survey, magnetic survey, passive seismic or regional seismic reflection surveys to detect large-scale features of the sub-surface geology. Features of interest are subjected to more detailed seismic surveys which work on the principle of the time it takes for reflected sound waves to travel through matter of varying densities and using the process of depth conversion to create a profile of the substructure.Finally, when a prospect has been identified and evaluated and passes the oil company's selection criteria, an exploration well is drilled in an attempt to conclusively determine the presence or absence of oil or gas. On the other hand, after the process of exploration and well development, the thrid process will be the production of oil. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling.This comes after the studies of structural geology at the reservoir scale, sedimentary basin analysis, reservoir characterization mainly in terms of porosity and permeable structures. It is refined and separated, most easily by boiling point, into a large number of consumer products, from petrol or gasoline and kerosene to asphalt and chemical reagents used to make plastics and pharmaceuticals. Petroleum is used in manufacturing a wide variety of materials, and it is estimated that the world consumes about 88 million bar rels each day.

Study Tour Report to Germany on the Theme Industrial Relations, Labour Productivity and National Development The WritePass Journal

Study Tour Report to Germany on the Theme Industrial Relations, Labour Productivity and National Development Historical and theoretical perspectives on industrial relations, labour productivity and national development Study Tour Report to Germany on the Theme Industrial Relations, Labour Productivity and National Development Historical and theoretical perspectives on industrial relations, labour productivity and national developmentThe political economy of industrial relations, labour productivity and national developmentGlobalisation and corporate governance: the dynamics of industrial relations and labour productivity in national developmentIndustrial relations and labour productivity: challenges and opportunities for defence and national securityConclusionReferencesRelated Historical and theoretical perspectives on industrial relations, labour productivity and national development Industrial relations grew out of the need for workers to join forces and present their grievances to the employers as a unified force. Kuhn (2006, p.23) suggests that everyone who earns income through work or is involved in the management of workers is immersed in the practice of industrial relations. Changes in industrial relations and the quality of employment relationships have an effect on the productivity of an organisation. In addition to this, the terms and conditions of employment have a direct effect on the workers’ quality of life both in and out of the organisational premises. If the quality of life lead by the workers is poor, then this will be transferred to their productivity at work as they will not be able to perform at the highest level regardless of the mechanisms that the employer puts in place to maximise production (Kuznetsov, Dahlman, World Bank Institute 2008, p.31). Generally most people get to know the meaning of the term industrial relations long before they even get into employment. This knowledge partly comes from its daily use by friends, family and the media both of which try to present industrial relations as events that involve trade unions and conflict incidents. However this meaning is not the right one because it makes people perceive industrial relations as a rebellious movement which is not actually the case. This is why it is necessary to first ascertain a clear and useful definition of industrial relations before considering the debate in more depth. . Korres (2008, p. 21) defines industrial relations as the interaction of people and organisations in the work place. Industrial relations is concerned with how people, groups, institutions and organisations make decisions that regulate or shape the relationships between employees and employees, employees and employers, and trade unions and employers. Therefore industrial relations ar e concerned with the working life, society and the national economy. The main purpose of industrial relations is to provide a conceptual framework for ensuring that the different relationships at the organisational level run smoothly. Welfe (2009, p.56) asserts that industrial relations can be analysed using three major theoretical perspectives namely unitary, pluralist and Marxist. All of these perspectives interpret workplace conflicts, role of trade unions and variations in job regulations uniquely in order to generate solutions. The unitary theory perceives organisations as an integrated unit with all the members working towards the achievement of common objectives. There is only one source of authority which is the management, trade unions are perceived as being unnecessary (Kuznetsov, Dahlman, World Bank Institute 2008, p. 88). The pluralist theory regards organisations as being comprised of powerful and divergent groups which are the trade unions and the management. These two groups have their own legitimate loyalties and objectives. The pluralists consider the conflict of interest and disagreement between the two groups as inevitable. Trade unions are therefore regarded as legitimate representatives of workers charged with the responsibility of bargaining for their interests. The Marxist theory sees fundamental divisions of interest between labour and capital in organisations. The inequalities of economic wealth and power are products of the capitalist system (Kattel Kalvet, 2006, p. 38). The Marxist perspective stresses that organisational conflict is necessary and it arises from the inequitable distribution of resources. The political economy of industrial relations, labour productivity and national development Leydesdorff (2006, p. 99) says that trade unions have had inextricable links with political parties and movements in different countries. Although some states have over time managed to decentralise trade unions from national politics, others are still struggling to do so. Even in countries like India where labour movements and politics have had intricate associations in the past, independent unions are now increasingly emerging (International Conference on Computer Processing of Oriental Languages, Li MollaÃŒ -Aliod 2009, p. 95). Owing to the historical relationship between politics and trade unionism, labour strikes seem to increase during periods of political instability. During these periods, the unions often have a tendency of displaying increased militancy as a way of offering assurance to the members that their demands will be met using all possible means. Such an assurance acts as an added incentive for the employers to join the unions. The trade unions however, in most cases distance themselves away from any acts of militarism terming it as a media ploy to negatively present their motives. Most trade unions hold the view that the media should clearly differentiate individual criminal acts from the violence that is sponsored by the unions (Llerena, Matt, Avadikyan 2005, p. 121). Regarding the opinions held by the employers that the trade unions are heavily politicised, the trade unions believe that their employers use their political connections as leverage against workers with dissenting opinions. The unions believe that even before the employers sit down with the unions to listen to their grievances, they always have a tendency of finding out the political inclination of the dissenting workers and then hold talks with the relevant political heads. Such tendencies make it difficult for the negotiation process because collective bargaining is often compromised. Menkhoff (2011, p.77) asserts that politics and unioni sm have always gone together but the effects of the association are gross in unstable political environments as they in most cases lead to industrial disputes. Regulatory and institutional frameworks for labour and national productivity Industrial relations still has a very significant role to play in the social protection of workers in the 21st century. The adoption of protection tariffs along with restrictions on immigration plays a major role towards the establishment of legal systems for regulating labour in order to help the workers. For instance regulations that are explicitly connected to industrial policies like tariff protection with standards of labour in the form of determining the minimum wage for workers have a direct effect on industrial relations (Weiss Schmidt 2008, p. 63). The proponents of such mechanisms are in most cases concerned with investment and social protection of workers as well as the profits of the businesses being protected. Therefore this confirms the argument that regulation of labour has both social and economic justifications. Protection regulations can stimulate labour demands in a country through policy formulation and successful implementation. Policies that increase the demand for labour also influence the type and pattern of jobs available within a country (Blanpain Baker 2010, p. 44). Countries like Germany, Japan and Australia pursued protectionist industrial policies in the form of active tariff and non-tariff during their key phases of industrialisation in order to facilitate development (Thornley, Jefferys, Appay, 2010, p. 55). In addition to this, most industrialised states maintained their tariff protections until the 1980’s to help them in maintain social protection systems that include traditional labour laws. Lipsey (2006, p. 54) says that industrialised countries also use extensive procurement systems as another form of industrial policy for regulating labour standards of employees of organisations that benefit from government contracts. Therefore in such countries industrial polic ies have an influence on labour laws and labour market developments. However such interventions are not limited to the developed countries only because even the developing countries use industrial policies as means of fostering economic development and job growth. Bamber (2010, p. 33) asserts that industrial regulations have been curtailed by the Washington consensus since the 1980’s. This consensus holds that all nation states should pursue industrial development and alleviation of poverty through strategies of trade liberalisation and deregulation of the labour market. This implies that the developing nations should implement free trade and laissez faire industrial policies, introduce greater flexibility in regulating employment to lower the costs of hiring and firing employees to attain economic growth (Moreau Blas-LoÃŒ pez 2008, p. 96). Some people criticise this method as a slower way of attaining economic development in preference for industrial regulation where states pursue development through stimulating economic growth by creating quality jobs in sustainable industry. The proponents of free trade perceive industrialisation strategies that involve active state involvement in promoting economic activities as being detrimental to economic growth. The opponents on the other hand think that active industrial policies are important in attaining economic development and high living standards of the industrialised countries (Blyton, Sage Publications., Sage eReference 2008, p. 85). Indeed the dominance of trade liberalisation as a strategy for industrialisation is unfair to the developing countries as it denies them the chance to enjoy the benefits that come with cushioning their states against the adverse effects of market exposure as was done by the developed countries in the past. The industrialised countries achi eved development under different conditions from those of free trade and without industrial policy. Srivastava (2007, p. 86) suggests that trade liberation is only one among the many industrialisation strategies that the developing countries might opt to pursue. Most developed and developing countries pursue economic policies that involve active promotion of innovation as a means of attaining industrialisation. However, at this level it is critical to note that the practice and analysis of industrial policy is increasingly becoming very sophisticated. In terms of promoting industrial development, the current industrial policies are less focused on picking winners and tariff protection i.e. the government selection of specific industries that it considers as being more sustainable and in line with the local conditions of the labour market and business expertise over others . Although this is still prevalent in some countries most current industrial policies are directed through horizontal measures that promote innovation and competitiveness across certain regions or economies rather than being confined to certain specific preferred sectors. Much of debates on the role of industrial policy in both the developing and industrialised countries are concerned with the selection of an appropriate path to economic development. According to Singh (2008, p. 62), there is a strong correlation between industrialisation strategy, industrial policy and traditional labour laws in the new protection policies of most developing countries. Comparative studies of labour market in southern Africa and East Asia reveal that countries will endeavour to structure their regulations on industrial relations to be in line with the industrialisation strategies that they are pursuing (Dowling, Festing, Engle, 2008, p. 12). For instance in East Asia most of the states have been able to progress through the industrialisation stages from import substitution to export oriented and finally higher value oriented exports. This implies that the strategies for industrial relations in these countries reflect the different strategies being pursued by the stat e. Trade liberalisation strategies that are export oriented often have different effects for labour regulation and practices of industrial relations compared to the more protective import replacement strategies. Therefore states rely on export oriented strategies when selling products that are labour oriented where low costs of labour and production are the main sources of competitive advantage (Thornley, Jefferys, Appay, 2010, p. 87). For instance the export oriented industrialisation strategy of Singapore compelled it to promote workplace flexibility by placing restrictions on aspects like enterprise bargaining and containing industrial disputes by restricting the employees’ right to strike. Bhatia (2008, p. 71) notes that the states that have pursued more inward oriented industrialisation strategies often have tolerance for stronger labour protections. However it should be noted that many variations of these simplified categories exist and as such it is not possible to make the conclusion that export oriented strategies are associated with low labour standards and downward pressure on labour protections than the policies that are inward oriented. However, one thing that remains certain is that there are connections between industrial policy of a country and the labour law settings. In the context of labour management regulation, industrial policy contributes to both the constitution and regulation of labour market through its effects on labour supply and demand as well as the industrial working conditions. Additionally, from a normative perspective the settings of industrial policy have a great significance on economic development of a state and consequently the social protection and quality of life. Therefore the impact of regulation of labour on industrial relations is dependent on the nature of policies chosen by the nation states. For instance states that opt to pursue government delivery of goods and services whether through monopolies or as competitor with the private sector will offer the workers more secure jobs than those of the private sector (Thornley, Jefferys, Appay, 2010, p.74). However, a large amount of these public jobs often have negative impacts on the working conditions across the economy. It is therefore recommended that states should use regulations that will maintain the existing structures or facilitate structural adjustments through assisting the industries that will open up new opportunities by attracting new investments and innovation. Impact of science, technology and innovation on industrial relations, labour productivity and national development The industrial relations system pursued by a state has a direct effect on all the four elements of innovation which are: motive, content, process and outcome. The intentions behind innovation may include reduction of costs of production through decreasing the amount or quality of labour, promoting more flexible and creative use of labour and encouraging management control over labour. Dinius (2010, p. 66) claims that the contents of the innovation process itself may call for changes in the level of skills and need to accommodate the prevailing structures of industrial relations. The innovation process needs to consider the social organisation, trade unions, work groups and the physical form of the production process. In essence the outcomes of innovation are functions of industrial relations at both the individual and collective levels. Innovation on the other hand affects all the five features of industrial relations which are: work, tasks, pay, work organisation, employment levels and union organisation (Dowling, Festing, Engle, 2008, p.38). Innovation leads to an increase in the level of skills required for completing tasks more than it reduces it. Innovation may also result to an increased responsibility especially if the increased value is closely monitored by equipment and is meant to increase organisational competitive advantage. Innovation may require the employees to widen their level of skills in order to be able to adapt to the new tasks. In most cases it calls for expansion of intellectual skills and manual skill reduction due to automation of most of the processes. The overall effect of innovation on industrial relations is that it mostly leads to an increase in the proportion of skilled workers in the labour force especially in private manufacturing. Globalisation and corporate governance: the dynamics of industrial relations and labour productivity in national development Howell (2005, p. 75) asserts that globalisation leads to the liberalisation of world economies. The liberalisation of economies has made many organisations to make structural adjustments for improving operational efficiency. The increased pressure from the public has forced business enterprises to operate within higher ethical standards and take more social responsibility. The organisations from the developed economies are in most cases required by law to observe non-discriminatory policies in hiring, treatment and paying of all workers (Kattel Kalvet, 2006, p. 33). However as far as recruitment is concerned, globalisation is pushing organisations into recruiting managers and workers with high skills conforming to the international standards in their host countries. Globalisation and corporate governance have led to certain structural adjustments in terms of diversifications and restructuring both of which have resulted into cutting off of some jobs and recession in the job industry. The trade unions then started to raise concerns about job losses and the adverse effects on work dynamics and their rights in some countries like India (Blyton, Sage Publications., Sage eReference 2008, p.52). The same wave was echoed in countries like Japan and South Korea where workers formed industrial unions to counter the impacts of globalisation on their economies. These unions managed to negotiate for employment terms and working conditions as well as the payment rates. Generally, globalisation and corporate governance came into existence at a time when trade unionism was fading off in most countries. However globalisation has contributed to the deterioration of labour standards and strengthened the capital bargaining power while reducing the bargaining powe r of labour. Industrial relations and labour productivity: challenges and opportunities for defence and national security Industrial relations often affect the labour productivity because it contains the attitudes of the management and workers towards each other and the work itself. As such, industrial relations affect organisational productivity both directly and indirectly through variables like motivation of workers, managerial competence and institutional backup. The concept of industrial relations encompasses the interactions that occur between the employees and the employers in an organisation. The nature of this relationship has an effect on the production process because poorly motivated workers for instance have an increased tendency of not performing at their optimal levels (Kuznetsov, Dahlman, World Bank Institute 2008, p. 61). McCallum (2008, p. 72) claims that organisational productivity is a function of the morale of the workers. For this productivity to remain on the higher side, it is important that the morale of the workers be kept at the highest possible level. Failure to motivate the morale of the workers will result in a drop in both quality and quantity of organisational productivity. In fact Hardy (2011, p. 13) supports this position by suggesting that employee morale and productivity always go together. Therefore industrial relations as a factor that affects organisational productivity influences the production process in many ways. For example during times of industrial disputes or when the employees are on a go slow, productivity will not be affected in terms of loss of labour alone because there are other incessant work stoppages, machines and other variable and fixed capitals will not be fully utilised and this will result in low level of output and raise the average cost. The refusal to wor k in overtime by the trade unions also results in loss of revenue because overtime is meant to increase organisational production capacity. Strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of Germany The SWOT analysis is a strategic management tool used for identifying and categorising the significant internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities and threats) factors that face an organisation, territory, city or even a country (Bhatia 2008, p. 55). The analysis provides strategic data that can be used in matching organisational resources with the competitive environment in which it is operating. This matching is of importance in making strategic decisions for optimising organisational performance. Struck (2011, p. 31) suggests that the SWOT analysis is important in helping the organisations to direct their actions to match the strengths with opportunities presented by the environment and ward off the threats as well as seek ways of overcoming the weaknesses. Then analysis id not a foresight approach but just a good starting point for strategic decision making which organisations can use in designing and positioning products and services . The following section analyses the SWOT of Germany. The findings reveal that despite its strength in areas like ability to innovate, great willingness to engage in self-directed training and good infrastructure, the country still has some serious weaknesses to overcome. These problems arise mainly from the education sector such as schools adoption and use of new information and communication technology tools and high levels of unemployment. Germany has its own strong areas especially regarding the implementation of knowledge in the society. The country has a flexible, well trained and innovative workface. In addition to this the society has very little income disparities and good quality of life. However because of the aforementioned weaknesses, the country runs the risk of having a poorly educated workforce in the future which could negatively impact its innovation ability and economic strength. Furthermore, the high rates of unemployment will continue to prevent economic growth. Strengths Ability to innovate Good access to broadband Flexible terms of work which is acceptable to many Weaknesses A weak education system that is lagging behind in terms of adapting and using new information technology tools Rising rates of unemployment Opportunities Good quality of life Flexible and well trained workforce Little income disparities Threats High rates of unemployment is limiting economic growth The new generation workforce is poorly educated Conclusion This paper has discussed the importance of industrial relations and its effects on the production process and the economy of a country. The findings reveal that good industrial relations are a prerequisite for industrial development because in its absence, the workers will lack the necessary motivation and the morale that they require to be able to produce at the optimal levels. Globalisation and corporate governance are changing industrial relations across the globe and as such it is wise for countries to invest in education and innovation so that their employees can meet the demands of the international labour standards. Recommendation and implementation strategies With the continued advancement of the effects of globalisation, past mechanisms like labour regulations are increasingly being rendered irrelevant. Therefore countries need to invest in empowering their workforce with the appropriate skills required for innovation and productivity through their education systems. The school system should be well integrated with information and communication tools so that the students engage actively with technology and in the process be able to innovate and bring forward ways of improving the production process. References Bamber, G. (2010). Regulating Employment Industrial Relations and Labour Law International Co. Kluwer Law Intl. Bhatia, S. K. (2008). Strategic industrial relations and labour laws. New Delhi: Deep Deep Publications. Blanpain, R., Baker, J. (2010). Comparative labour law and industrial relations in industrialized market economies. Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International. Blyton, P., Sage Publications., Sage eReference (2008). The SAGE handbook of industrial relations. London: SAGE Publications. Dinius, O. (2010). Brazils steel city: Developmentalism, strategic power, and industrial relations in Volta Redonda, 1941-1964. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press. Dowling, P., Festing, M., Engle, A. D. (2008). International human resource management: Managing people in a multinational context. London: Thomson Learning. Hardy, S. T. (2011). Labour law in Great Britain. Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International. Howell, C. (2005). Trade unions and the state: The construction of industrial relations institutions in Britain, 1890-2000. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press. International Conference on Computer Processing of Oriental Languages, Li, W., MollaÃŒ -Aliod, D. (2009). Computer processing of oriental languages: Language technology for the knowledge-based economy : 22nd international conference, ICCPOL 2009, Hong Kong, March 26-27, 2009 : proceedings. Berlin: Springer. Kattel, R., Kalvet, T. (2006). Knowledge-based economy and ICT-related education in Estonia: Overview of the current situation and challenges for the educational system. Tallinn: PRAXIS Center for Policy Studies. Korres, G. M. (2008). Technical change and economic growth: Inside the knowledge based economy. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate. Kuhn, M. (2006). Towards a knowledge based economy?: Knowledge and learning in European educational research. New York: Lang. Kuznetsov, Y., Dahlman, C. J., World Bank Institute. (2008). Mexicos transition to a knowledge-based economy: Challenges and opportunities. Washington, D.C: World Bank. Leydesdorff, L. (2006). The knowledge-based economy: Modeled, measured, simulated. Boca Raton, Fla: Universal Publishers. Lipsey, R. G. (2006). Services industries and the knowledge-based economy. Calgary: Univ. of Calgary Press. Llerena, P., Matt, M., Avadikyan, A. (2005). Innovation policy in a knowledge-based economy: Theory and practice. Berlin [etc.: Springer. McCallum, R. C. (2008). McCallums top workplace relations cases: Labour law and the employment relationship as defined by case law. Sydney, N.S.W: CCH Australia. Menkhoff, T. (2011). Beyond the knowledge trap: Developing Asias knowledge-based economies. Singapore: World Scientific. Moreau, M.-A., Blas-LoÃŒ pez, M. E. (2008). Restructuring in the new EU member states: Social dialogue, firms relocation, and social treatment of restructuring. New York: P.I.E. Peter Lang. Singh, B. D. (2008). Industrial relations and labour laws. New Delhi: Excel Books. Srivastava, S. C. (2007). Industrial relations and labour laws. New Delhi: Vikas. Struck, O. (2011). Industrial relations and social standards in an internationalized economy. München: Hampp. Thornley, C., Jefferys, S., Appay, B. (2010). Globalization and Precarious Forms of Production and Employment: Challenges for Workers and Unions. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub. Weiss, M., Schmidt, M. (2008). Labour law and industrial relations in Germany. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. Welfe, W. (2009). Knowledge-based economies: Models and methods. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.

Amargasaurus Profile

Amargasaurus Profile Name: Amargasaurus (Greek for La Amarga lizard:); pronounced ah-MAR-gah-SORE-us Habitat: Woodlands of South America Historical Period: Early Cretaceous (130 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 30 feet long and three tons Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Relatively small size; prominent spines lining neck and back About Amargasaurus Most of the sauropods of the Mesozoic Era looked pretty much like most every other sauropod- long necks, squat trunks, long tails and elephant-like legs- but Amargasaurus was the exception that proved the rule. This relatively slim plant-eater (only about 30 feet long from head to tail and two to three tons) had a row of sharp spines lining its neck and back, the only sauropod known to have possessed such an imposing feature. (True, the later titanosaurs of the Cretaceous period, direct descendants of the sauropods, were covered with scutes and spiny knobs, but these were nowhere near as ornate as those on Amargasaurus.) Why did the South American Amargasaurus evolve such prominent spines? As with similarly equipped dinosaurs (like the sailed Spinosaurus and Ouranosaurus), there are various possibilities: the spines may have helped to deter predators, they may have had some kind of role in temperature regulation (that is, if they were covered by a thin flap of skin capable of dissipating heat), or, most likely, they may simply have been a sexually selected characteristic (Amargasaurus males with more prominent spines being more attractive to females during mating season). As distinctive as it was, Amargasaurus appears to have been closely related to two other unusual sauropods: Dicraeosaurus, which was also equipped with (much shorter) spines emanating from its neck and upper back, and Brachytrachelopan, which was distinguished by its unusually short neck, probably an evolutionary adaptation to the types of food available in its South American habitat. There are other examples of sauropods adapting fairly quickly to the resources of their ecosystems. Consider Europasaurus, a pint-sized plant eater that barely weighed a single ton since it was restricted to an island habitat. Unfortunately, our knowledge of Amargasaurus is limited by the fact that only one fossil specimen of this dinosaur is known, discovered in Argentina in 1984 but only described in 1991 by the prominent South American paleontologist Jose F. Bonaparte. (Unusually, this specimen includes part of Amargasaurus skull, a rarity since the skulls of sauropods are easily detached from the rest of their skeletons after death). Oddly enough, the same expedition responsible for the discovery of Amargasaurus also unearthed the type specimen of Carnotaurus, a short-armed, meat-eating dinosaur that lived about 50 million years later!

Structure of law firms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Structure of law firms - Essay Example They view creeping commercialism as the root of the problem. â€Å"Law as a business? 7D-that is, a money-making trade-is seen as the antithesis of the public service ideal upon which the legal profession was founded. The idea that professionalism is grounded in public service has its roots deep in the history of Anglo-American law. In the distant past when the French speaking Norman kings dispensed justice to an Anglo-  Saxon populace, it was necessary for parties to be represented by someone who could speak the language of the court.  These representatives were inevitably nobles who served out of fealty to their king. For such early advocates, service rather than profit was the reason to assume this role. English barristers today do not accept a fee, but rather receive an â€Å"honorarium† in acknowledgement of this tradition of public service.1 However, ethical rules of the courts and bar associations form the fundamentals of practicing law in most American states. Cas e in point, the state of New York requires lawyers operating in the state to act in accordance to the New York Code of Professional Responsibility.2 1. Law firm structure in General By tradition, the organization of law firms is that of general partnerships. While a majority of law firms registers limited liability partnerships to shelter associates, or members, from explicit liability entirely or to a certain extent, the most fundamental organizational structure has been general partnership. The rise to partnership position in a law firm has been the biggest indicator of professional and personal success in law. In this case, â€Å"I have made partner† or â€Å"Making partner† are two phrases that occupy lawyers careers as they use it as a yardstick of success in private practice. In effect, lawyers draw a lot of satisfaction when referred as a partner, since the tag shows accomplishments in a lawyer’s private practice career. Thus, notwithstanding the all-too- common generational disparities, associates-the subordinate members- in law firms always desire to â€Å"make partners† in a law firm.3 In comparison to Saudi Arabia, lawyers in America have the capability of establishing professional organizations using an assortment of methods. According to an Ethics Opinion of the New York County Lawyers' Association, â€Å"A law firm may be structured as a professional corporation (PC), a limited liability company (LLC), or a limited liability partnership (LLP) without, by its structure alone, violating any ethical standard.†4 Conversely, the interpretation of Law Governing Lawyers states, â€Å"A lawyer may practice as a solo practitioner, as an employee of another lawyer or law firm, or as a member of a law firm constituted as a partnership, professional corporation, or similar entity.†5 In the comment of the restatement of Law Governing Lawyers, they mention that: A law firm established as a partnership is generally subje ct to partnership law with respect to questions concerning creation, operation, management, and dissolution of the firm. Originally, in order to achieve certain tax savings, law firms were permitted in most states to constitute themselves as professional corporations. Most such laws permitted that form to be elected even by solo practitioners or by one or more lawyers who, through their professional corporation, became partners in a law partnership. Pursuant to amendments to the partnership law in many states in the early 1990s, associated lawyers may

Summarize the artical, give an overall meaning, key facts and opinion Coursework

Summarize the artical, give an overall meaning, key facts and opinion of the sources - Coursework Example Post uses cells called myosatellites, these are muscle cells, which are used normally to repair damaged muscle tissue. These cells can be extracted without necessarily killing the animal, and they develop into a muscle cell; it is easier to control the development of these cells (Brown, 2011 p1). For the cells to develop the muscle cells must be exercised regularly, this can be done by giving the cells minute electric shocks that stimulate their growth. However, the professor wants the muscle cell to exercise on their own; pieces of velcro act as anchor points and are fitted into a Petri dish where they create tension in the muscle cells. Naturally, the cells will try to contract, but the velcro provides the necessary resistance, which stimulates the cells to grow and increase their bulk (Brown, 2011 p1). After a few weeks, the cells will have grown into strips, which are a couple of millimeters thick and 2-3 centimeters long. The professor has not yet managed to grow them any bigger; this is until he finds a means to enable nutrients and oxygen to access the cells that are at the center of the strip. The professor is hopeful that, in a few months coming, he will have developed an intricate meshwork that will enable the nutrient and oxygen to reach the center of the strip and produce strips that will be thick enough (Brown, 2011 p1). According to the professor, the research that he is carrying out has potential to change the meat production methods. With laboratory production of meat, we shall still need small herds of cattle to donate the stem cells, but the traditional livestock farming will be outdated. Although no one has tasted the meat yet, even if the hamburger does not taste good, it still represents a very significant breakthrough that could reduce carbon emissions and transform the face of farming (Brown, 2011 p1). The professor has had a lot of experience in the field of vascular physiology. The document was obtained