Project Management - planning, conduct, administering, and closing Essay

Project Management - planning, conduct, administering, and closing supply chains [sap5] - Essay Example There are companies that successfully manage internal aspects of their supply chain plan. However, external issues create a greater problem, specifically for  small businesses (Kouvelis, Chambers and Wang, 2006). Small firms have smaller network of  suppliers by building relationships and increasing efficiency hence lowering risk. Ordinarily, certain industries experience higher  supply chain  risks. For instance, pharmaceutical and food companies have strong foundation and understanding of strategy for safeguarding against supply chain problems and interruptions. Effective strategies on supply chain management improve aspects of business like operations and customer service. Code of Conduct Responsibility for people and the environment affects supply chain operations. The role of supply chain includes verifying compliance, making demands, and creating long-term relationships with suppliers (Tyndall, 2004). Moreover, it has to support efforts for sustainable improvements. Cod e of Conduct forms the fundamentals of efforts for improving work environment and working conditions for manufactured products. The code comprises demands pertaining environmental impacts and human rights targeting operations, suppliers and manufacturers. The Code of conduct requirements are derived from the Rights of the Child and the UN Declaration on Human Rights. All manufacturers and suppliers should ratify the Code of Conduct so as to be part of the supply chain. The responsibility of Suppliers is in ensuring that their own manufacturers and suppliers adhere to the Code (Kouvelis, Chambers and Wang, 2006). Manufacturers and Suppliers who cannot or will not sign the Code or live up to organizational needs may not be allowed business. The Code requirements include prohibition of child or forced labour, non discrimination based on personal characteristics or beliefs. Workplace health and safety should be prioritized alongside safe and correct handling of waste and hazardous subst ances. Ultimately, the working conditions must be acceptable. Administering Supply Chain Administering supply chain requires performance of cost-to-serve analysis and regular demand. Fundamentals of segmentation are based on profitability of customers, products and demand dynamics. This analysis gives the required information meant to tailor supply chain policies and service concessions meant to raise the overall profitability of the portfolio. The change in the dynamics of demand and profitability in today's quickly changing business landscape has institutionalized a standard cadence. In the recent past, demand has been regarded as a single requirement to reactions of supply chain. Today, demand signals emanates from forecasts, orders, and safety stock coming from different channels such as Web, retail, enterprise and distributors (Kouvelis, Chambers and Wang, 2006). Furthermore, demand signals originate from different customer types where large, highly profitably customers are com pared to small, unprofitable customers. Besides, diverse customers have different fulfilling relationships depending on the service needed, the customer volume and profitability, and customer support channels. One of the problems facing supply chain managers is the dynamics of supply chain cost structures. There is a greater fluctuation on fuel costs, labor costs, and currency exchange rates for low-cost countries. Profitable sourcing strategies will change to

Illegal use of VOIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Illegal use of VOIP - Essay Example According to the essay the principle behind VoIP is that using a computer and a microphone it is possible to record sound of a person. In this process, the sound would be sampled at a very high rate and then would be stored as files in the computer. Each of these samples is a small bit of sound by the respective person. Now the computer would be able to use these samples in such a way that a listener would be able to hear accurately what the speaker has said. In VoIP, the difference is that the recorded samples are send through IP services to another computer placed at a distant place. So the speaker’s voice could be heard as such by a listener sitting at a long distance. As the paper presents VoIP system could be installed in a variety of hardware systems such as a telephone. There is no need of a computer in that case. Some of the VoIP providers allow a customer to contact only a person using the same service. But there are providers who would allow contacting any person with a telephone number and this include land line or mobile or international or long distance numbers. Instead of a computer one could use a VoIP telephone for the purpose. The traditional telephone available with the customer could be used for the purpose with a VoIP adapter. In this case the digital signals of sound would be converted into regular telephone signals before it reaches destination. ... So IP packets would be containing a lot of samples each with a bit of sound and together they form the entire message. If these packets are delivered in the correct time satisfactory results could be obtained. But if it is delayed, it has to be discarded. The process of compression, transmission, the processes by which it is uncompressed and delivered have to take place in a very less time. If the process is delayed or is not occurring according to time there would be echo or over talk (VOIP disadvantages, 2009). VoIP system could be installed in a variety of hardware systems such as a telephone. There is no need of a computer in that case. Some of the VoIP providers allow a customer to contact only a person using the same service. But there are providers who would allow contacting any person with a telephone number and this include land line or mobile or international or long distance numbers. Instead of a computer one could use a VoIP telephone for the purpose. The traditional telephone available with the customer could be used for the purpose with a VoIP adapter. In this case the digital signals of sound would be converted into regular telephone signals before it reaches destination. Above all these in areas where wireless internet connections are possible like in airports, cafes etc, VoIP service could be availed wirelessly (Voice-Over-Internet Protocol, 2009). This makes illegal calls very easy to be made. There is no need of spending money on expensive devices for VoIP services. Without much expenditure, using the existing phone one could easily make long distance calls through VoIP and for the same reason it is difficult for the government to interfere to reduce such illegal practices (How does VoIP works, 2009). According to Burns (2007) in China the

A History Of Air Pollution In Pietermaritzburg Environmental Sciences Essay

A History Of Air Pollution In Pietermaritzburg Environmental Sciences Essay There is enough scientific evidence from various sources to support the fact that Pietermaritzburg is plagued by air pollution, which is worsened by the topography of the city. There is also much research proving the link between air pollution and asthma. Recent trials show, that not only does air pollution exacerbate asthma, it can actually cause asthma. However, there needs to be further research and trials done to scientifically prove this point. Medical statistics are extremely hard to come by in South Africa, which makes proving the link between air pollution causing asthma difficult. However, there is substantial evidence showing how air pollution triggers asthma attacks and makes them more severe. Air Pollution in Pietermaritzburg: History Past to Present day: Air pollution in Pietermaritzburg is not a new problem. There are over two-hundred newspaper articles in the Witness Newspaper Archives, dating back from the 1980s to present day, reporting on this issue. Old and current photographs of the city often show smog hanging over Pietermaritzburg. In the past, air pollution was caused mainly by cooking fires. However, todays pollution has the added toxicity of man-made pollution from factories and motor vehicles (Banfield, 1992). Twenty percent of Pietermaritzburg residents are affected by air pollution compared to five percent elsewhere in South Africa (Banfield, 1992). Pietermaritzburgs air is monitored by the Msunduzi Municipality, which has recorded that the citys air contains the following pollutants: particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen (oxides), ozone, carbon monoxide and many other harmful gases (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007). Figure 1: Showing the smog formation over Pietermaritzburg: (The Witness Newspaper, 28 June 2008) (Wilson, 2008) Location of Pietermaritzburg: Pietermaritzburg, owing to bad town planning, has all of its main industry and landfill site in the citys bowl. This has resulted in a worsening of air pollution. The N3 highway runs straight through the heart of Pietermaritzburg, as the number of large trucks and vehicles increase, so do the emissions from these vehicles. The timber plantations on the escarpment of the citys basin and sugar plantations on the hilltops, add to the pollution in Pietermaritzburg as these plantations need to be burnt as routine farming practice. (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007) Pietermaritzburgs geographical position in a valley causes a temperature inversion to occur. A temperature inversion is not a normal phenomenon, it only occurs in a valley (such as Pietermaritzburg) and the effect is worsened in winter. The cold air sinks down the sides of the valley and remains on the base of the valley frost may form here. The warm air (along with pollutants) then rises and stops half way up the valley slope to form a thermal belt. This belt traps pollutants and enhances their bad properties and negative health impacts, as the pollutants are not able to escape and they remain over the city and cause health hazardous smog to form. The diagrams below show the effect of the Temperature Inversion in Pietermaritzburg: (Sherriffs, 1989) Major Contributors of Air Pollution: The major contributors of air pollution in Pietermaritzburg are: emissions from industry, motor vehicles, fires at the landfill site and the burning of timber plantations and sugarcane plantations (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007). Major industry, such as FFS Refiners, is guilty of adding to the pollution problem of Pietermaritzburgs air. Below are two graphs showing two of the major pollutants specific to the triggering and severity of asthma: Figure 2: Graph showing the daily averages and acceptable level (in red) of Particulate Matter (air pollution) in Pietermaritzburgs air (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007) Figure 3: Graph showing the daily averages and acceptable level (in red) of Carbon Monoxide (air pollution) in Pietermaritzburgs air (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007) In both graphs pollutants exceed the acceptable national pollution guidelines (highlighted in red) in the months of June and July (winter months) this is owing to the temperature inversion which worsens the pollution problem. Health Problems: Asthma is a chronic health condition, which causes inflammation and narrowing of the lungs airways, which causes difficulty in breathing for the patient and the patient may develop a dry, wheezy cough. Pollutants cause the restriction of the airways, as the pollution particles aggravate the airways of the lungs. Dr R.Gilbert, a general practitioner in Pietermaritzburg with an interest in asthma, states that the number of asthma patients that he treats is much higher than one would expect to find in a town the size of Pietermaritzburg. Dr Gilbert mentioned that Dr W.Robates, an ENT specialist, and Dr A.F.Jooma, a paediatrician, supported his views that the air pollution in Pietermaritzburg is a very real problem, which, without doubt, has a significant effect on the control and severity of asthma. He also states that many of his patients who leave Pietermaritzburg for significant lengths of time and then return often do not suffer from their asthma condition while out of the city. However, on returning, their allergies and asthma symptoms reoccur (Gilbert, 2010, Robates, 2010 and Jooma, 2010). In a telephonic interview with Umbalica Balrashie, the regional sales manager for Glaxo Smith Kline, a leading pharmaceutical company which promotes asthma products, information was provided noting that the three highest sales areas for asthma medication in Kwa-Zulu Natal are Richards Bay, Durban South and Pietermaritzburg. Both Richards Bay and Durban South are highly industrialised areas with significant air pollution emissions, when compared to Pietermaritzburg but owing to Pietermaritzburgs temperature inversion, the pollutants are intensified and therefore, the triggering and severity of asthma attacks in Pietermaritzburg are equal to these two industrialised areas (Balrashie, 2010). Community Views and Issues: Many residents in Pietermaritzburg have complained about the issue of air pollution in the city. In the year 1993, Pietermaritzburg residents spent nearly R1,5 million on asthma medication, stating that the citys pollution has significantly contributed to these costs (Quinlain, 1993). There have been many cases reported of families moving to Pietermaritzburg, and developing asthma or suffering from worsening existing asthma conditions, simply owing to the exposure and intensity of the citys air pollution, which is enhanced and worsened by the temperature inversion. Residents in Pietermaritzburg have complained continuously about the state of the citys air. However, the Msunduzi Municipality have done little about the pollution levels, as these levels of emissions are under the accepted and legal levels during most of the year. What the municipality has failed to promote to National Government is the fact that Pietermaritzburg is situated in a valley which causes a temperature inversion, ultimately worsening the levels of pollutants hanging above the city (in smog). This results in the pollutants being trapped over Pietermaritzburg. Industry and the Local Governments Role: Industry is responsible for the output of toxic emissions, which need to be monitored. Local Government need to take a more stringent and committed stance in relation to industry emission levels. The government needs to create awareness about air pollution and its negative health effects. Car emissions are great contributors to health problems (such as asthma). Pollution warning systems have been taught to the public in the United Kingdom (UK) by the government. South Africa needs to do the same (Hutton, 2010). The South African government has recently (March 2010) invested in a new air quality monitoring system (ODonnell, 2010), which monitors the amount of pollutants in the air and the quality of air (whether good or bad). The major areas of concern that need air-quality assessment and monitoring include transportation areas such as highway routes and main roads, urban areas, municipalities and local community exposure. (ODonnell, 2010) this suggests that Pietermaritzburg should be monitored closely along the main highway through the city and where industry is situated. However, for this to be successful, the local government needs to maintain the monitoring system and it costs a lot of money. This maintenance of the monitoring system needs to be put into South Africas yearly budget for the municipalities. National government needs to constantly assess the problematic pollution cities, such as Pietermaritzburg. This monitoring system should show improvement in the air. If not, the government can ascertain from the monitoring system which pollutants are most rife and where they are being emitted from. National government, together with Local government, could then work on strategies to lower the toxic emissions which ultimately cause health problems. Solutions: N3 Highway The N3 highway is a problem as heavy duty trucks create huge emissions. The railroads should be reintroduced to transport containers from Durban Harbour to Johannesburg. This would dramatically reduce the number of big trucks on the highway and as they often travel in the early hours of the morning, air pollution would be reduced as the temperature inversion is most significant in the early hours of the morning. Industry Local Government needs to work with industry in Pietermaritzburg to improve the amount of emissions that factories produce. As discussed, in an interview with Mr J.Pather, the Head of Environmental Health Services at Msunduzi Municipality, industry have complied in many instances to reduce emissions. From information supplied by Mr C.J.Anthony, Pollution Control Coordinator at Msunduzi Municipality, many specific air pollution issues have been dealt with. For example, Greys hospitals oil furnace has been replaced with paraffin (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007). No further industry should be built in the citys bowl, this will contain the present air pollution. Pietermaritzburgs New England Landfill Site The New England Landfill Site needs to be moved out of the citys bowl. The particulate fall out is unacceptable and because of the temperature inversion, the pollution emissions are worsened. The municipality has attempted to improve conditions but the fact is that the landfill site needs to be moved elsewhere. Burning There are strict regulations concerning the burning of forests and sugarcane. These need to be monitored and implemented to prevent fire emissions in the wrong seasons. Monitoring National Government needs to work closely with Local Government and provide funds which will allow the municipality to upgrade and maintain air pollution monitoring equipment. Constraints: Economic Msunduzi Municipality is in a crisis. The control of air pollution is a low priority at present. It would be a huge expense to fix railroads and to move the Landfill Site. Pietermaritzburg lacks both funds and skills to drive the concept of clean air. Environmental Pietermaritzburg is surrounded by timber plantations and sugarcane farms. This cannot be changed. Conclusion: It is scientifically proven that air pollution triggers and increases the severity of asthma attacks. The link between air pollution and asthma is an accepted fact by specialists throughout the world. In recent years scientists have shown that air pollution from cars, factories and power plants is a major cause of asthma attacks. Further research is currently underway in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) to prove this theory. Pietermaritzburg has high levels of particulate matter and ozone which are two pollutants directly responsible for the triggering of asthma attacks. The temperature inversion in Pietermaritzburg is a known geographical fact which worsens the pollution significantly. It is therefore scientifically correct to state that air pollution in Pietermaritzburg is worsened by the temperature inversion and this air pollution triggers and worsens asthma attacks.

transgenic plants :: essays research papers

Introduction For the past 30 years Scientist have searched desperately for the answer to salt toleration within plants. The damaging effects of salt accumulation in agricultural soils have influenced both ancient and modern day civilizations alike. Worldwide, an estimated 24.7 million acres of once agriculturally productive land are being lost annually due to irrigation-induced salinity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thus, crop production is limited by salinity on 40% of the worlds irrigated land and on 25% of the irrigated land in the United States. These statistics indicate that the progressive loss of farmable land is on a crash course with the expanding global population, in that if something is not done to revamp the output of crop production with in the next 30 years, we will bare witness to the first world wide foot shortage in history. To solve the salt tolerance crisis, scientists have turned to genetics, an area that has been very beneficial to the Agricultural industry in the past century. In fact, thanks to the implication of genetics in the 1960à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the yield per acre of many major crop plants has doubled. This dramatic breakthrough is known as the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Green Revolutionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. As a result of the Green Revolution, countries of western Europe, who used to be the worlds largest importer of food, have become self sufficient. The genetic improvement of crops worldwide played a substantial role in the recent decline in the balance of American trade. While the Green Revolution doubled the output of crops across the world, Eduardo Blumwaldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s work in the field of salt tolerance may in fact be the mother of all agricultural breakthroughs even bigger than the Green Revolution. Hereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s why. In order to maintain the current crop output, farmers must constantly irrigate their land. The irrigation process increases the salinity of soils and water by depositing soluble salts such as Sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfate, and chloride that the water picks up from the soils and rocks that it has passed through. As the irrigation process is repeated, the irrigated soils accumulate salt, at levels that decrease the productivity of the crops grown there. The salt in irrigation water can prevent plants from taking in needed water through their roots, this blockage in turn leads to the death of the plant in question. In hopes overcoming the severe salt burden, Eduardo Brumwald has genetically engineered a tomato plant that can in fact grow, flower, and produce fruit in salt concentrations there were 50 times higher than normal.

Satire, humor and irony

In the Atwood’s short story, there are two speakers. One is trying to write a story while the other gives his opinion or views on the words that the former is using for his story. Their conversation centers on the mistakes or errors in the writer’s choice of words. The poems in the readings show that irony and satire need to be humorous at all times. Shakespeare’s poems did not contain humor. He only made use of irony in writing his pieces most particularly the poem, â€Å"My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the son. ’ On the other hand, Kennedy’s poem, â€Å"A Visit from St. Sigmund Freud,† is satirical but not entirely humorous for it talks about a very serious matter. In talking about Freud and Santa Claus, Kennedy did not utilize humor. His writing took on a serious tone just like Shakespeare did for his poem. The plays of Seinfeld and Leguizamo are very appropriate as readings for humor, irony, and satire for the writers of the said plays wrote them for the purpose of entertaining the readers. The goal of the said plays was to invoke laughter. They were meant to be humorous. They are clear examples of how humor is taken as the theme of literature.

The Nist Definition of Cloud Computing

Special Publication 800-145 (Draft) The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing (Draft) Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Peter Mell Timothy Grance NIST Special Publication 800-145 (Draft) The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing (Draft) Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Peter Mell Timothy Grance C O M P U T E R S E C U R I T Y Computer Security Division Information Technology Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930 January 2011 U. S. Department of CommerceGary Locke, Secretary National Institute of Standards and Technology Dr. Patrick D. Gallagher, Director Reports on Computer Systems Technology The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) promotes the U. S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the nation’s measurement and standards infrastructure. ITL develops tests, test methods , reference data, proof of concept implementations, and technical analysis to advance the development and productive use of information technology.ITL’s responsibilities include the development of technical, physical, administrative, and management standards and guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive unclassified information in Federal computer systems. This Special Publication 800-series reports on ITL’s research, guidance, and outreach efforts in computer security and its collaborative activities with industry, government, and academic organizations.National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-145 (Draft) 7 pages (January. 2011) Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, n or is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. ii AcknowledgementsThe authors Peter Mell and Timothy Grance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would like to thank the many experts in industry and government who contributed their thoughts to the creation and review of this definition. We especially acknowledge Murugiah Souppaya and Lee Badger, also of NIST, whose advice and technical insight assisted this effort. Additional acknowledgements will be added upon the final publication of this guideline. iii 1. 1. 1 Introduction Authority The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed this document in furtherance of its statutory responsibilities under the FederalInformation Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002, Public Law 107-347. NIST is responsible for developing standards and guidelines, including minimum requirements, for providing adequate information security for all agency operations and assets; but such standards and guidelines shall not apply to national security systems. This guideline is consistent with the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, Section 8b(3), â€Å"Securing Agency Information Systems,† as analyzed in A-130, Appendix IV: Analysis of Key Sections. Supplemental information is provided in A-130, Appendix III.This guideline has been prepared for use by Federal agencies. It may be used by nongovernmental organizations on a voluntary basis and is not subject to copyright, though attribution is desired. Nothing in this document should be taken to contradict standards and guidelines made mandatory and binding on Federal agencies by the Secretary of Commerce under statutory authority, nor should these guidelines be interpreted as altering or superseding the existing authorities of the Secretary of Commerce, Director of the OMB, or any other Federal official. 1. 2 Purpose and ScopeTh e purpose of this publication is to provide the NIST definition of cloud computing. NIST intends this informal definition to enhance and inform the public debate on cloud computing. Cloud computing is still an evolving paradigm. Its definition, use cases, underlying technologies, issues, risks, and benefits will be refined and better understood with a spirited debate by the public and private sectors. This definition, its attributes, characteristics, and underlying rationale will evolve over time. 1. 3 Audience The intended audience is people adopting the cloud computing model or providing cloud services. 2. The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e. g. , networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models. Essential Characteristics: On-demand self-service.A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service’s provider. Broad network access. Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e. g. , mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs). Resource pooling. The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.There is a sense of location independence in that the customer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify l ocation at a higher level of abstraction (e. g. , country, state, or datacenter). Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, network bandwidth, and virtual machines. Rapid elasticity. Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out, and rapidly released to quickly scale in.To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time. Measured Service. Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability1 at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e. g. , storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.Service Models: Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to use the providerâ₠¬â„¢s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e. g. , web-based email). The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configurations. 1 Typically through a pay-per-use business model. Cloud Infr astructure as a Service (IaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components (e. g. , host firewalls).Deployment Models: Private cloud. The cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist on premise or off premise. Community cloud. The cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns (e. g. , mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist o n premise or off premise.Public cloud. The cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services. Hybrid cloud. The cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e. g. , cloud bursting for load balancing between clouds). 3

Enhancing Performance

Enhancing Performance Ethical issues that have circulated in the world of sports have been around for years, ranging from the use of performance enhancing drugs to holding athletes on a higher pedestal than the rest of society. With more endorsement deals and how professional sports as a business is growing and changing, the more issues arise. One of the biggest concerns that have been pondered for years in sports is the implementation of random drug testing. It has never been recognized in any professional sport to this day. Even though there can been random in many other professions, it seems that athletes once again are being held to a different set of standards than that of the rest of us. If other jobs are subject to random drug screenings, that why should professional sports be any different?There is a multitude of stakeholders in this type of situation. Ranging from the athletes, they themselves get tested, to the fans that purchase the tickets to see them play.Any Lab Test Drug Testing LabFrom the athlete's standpoint, they see it as an infringement on their personal rights as human beings. Their case is such that they see random drug testing, or even scheduled drug testing, a violation of their personal privacy. In other such cases, when an athlete has tried to take the situation to court after being tested positive for illegal substances, they blame the handlers and testers of the samples for the tests results being positive."Despite the attention paid to quality control, doping cases are often taken to court by the athlete concerned in an attempt to find weak points in the testing process and thusinvalidate the results. Usually the focus is on administrative aspects related to sample collection, sealing and transportation. However, concerns about the analytical work carried out in the...

Traditional Massages essays

Traditional Massages essays Ancient Massage or Thai Massage is an extraordinary method of aligning the energies of the body, and originates from the time of the Buddha. Nuad Phaen Boran as is it called in Thailand, correctly translates only as Ancient Massage or Traditional Massage. More widely known today as Thai Massage, it is also often called Traditional Thai Massage, Ancient Thai Massage and occasionally Yoga Massage or Thai Yoga Massage. In our web pages, we wanted to use only Ancient Massage to be faithful to the original appellation but had to change our mind and also use Thai Massage to be referenced correctly by the search engines. If we did not use the words "Thai Massage", who would have found us and the information we wanted to share with students, researchers and practitioners of this art. The Healing Hands Center offers training not only in Ancient Massage or Thai Massage but also in Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, and other healing arts by masters in these various disciplines. At the time of the Buddha, among the lay physicians, the most renowned was Jivaka Komarabhacca, who is described as providing free medical care to the Buddha and other monks and donating his mango grove at Rajagaha for use as a monastic community, named Jivakarama. Jivaka's fame as a healer was widely known and tales about his life and medical feats can be found in almost all versions of Buddhist scriptures. Concerning his interest in medicine and his medical education, in the Pali account, Jivaka, as he approached the age at which he must seek his own livelihood, decided to learn the medical craft. Hearing about a world-famous physician in Taxila, he traveled to that city, famous for education, to apprentice with the eminent doctor. After seven years of medical study, he took a practical examination that tested his knowledge of medical herbs, passed with extraordinary success, and, with the blessings of mentor, went off to practice medicine. In the Sanskrit-Tibetan version,...

The Grimké Sisters, Abolitionists From South Carolina

The Grimkà © Sisters, Abolitionists From South Carolina The Grimkà © sisters, Sarah and Angelina, became leading activists for the abolitionist cause in the 1830s. Their writings attracted a wide following and they drew attention, and threats, for their speaking engagements. The Grimkà ©s spoke out on the highly controversial issues of slavery in America at a time when women were not expected to become involved in politics. Yet the Grimkà ©s were no mere novelty. They were highly intelligent and passionate characters on the public stage, and they presented a vivid testimony against slavery in the decade before Frederick Douglass would arrive on the scene and electrify anti-slavery audiences. The sisters had particular credibility as they were natives of South Carolina and came from a slave-owning family considered part of the aristocracy of the city of Charleston. The Grimkà ©s could criticize slavery not as outsiders, but as people who, while having benefited from it, ultimately came to see it as an evil system degrading to both masters and slaves. Though the Grimkà © sisters had faded from public view by the 1850s, mostly by choice, and they became involved in various other social causes. Among American reformers, they were respected role models. And there is no denying their important role in conveying abolitionist principles in the early stages of the movement in America. They were instrumental in bringing women into the movement, and in creating within the abolitionist cause a platform from which to launch a movement for womens rights. Early Life of the Grimkà © Sisters Sarah Moore Grimkà © was born November 29, 1792, in Charleston, South Carolina. Her younger sister, Angelina Emily Grimkà ©, was born 12 years later, on February 20, 1805. Their family was prominent in Charleston society, and their father, John Fauchereau Grimkà ©, had been a colonel in the Revolutionary War and was a judge on South Carolinas highest court. The Grimkà © family was very wealthy and enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle which included the owning of slaves. In 1818, Judge Grimkà © became ill and it was determined he should see a doctor in Philadelphia. Sarah, who was 26, was chosen to accompany him. While in Philadelphia Sarah had some encounters with Quakers, who were very active in the campaign against slavery and the beginnings of what would become known as the Underground Railroad. The trip to a northern city was the most important event in her life. She had always been uncomfortable with slavery, and the anti-slavery perspective of the Quakers convinced her that it was a great moral wrong. Her father died, and Sarah sailed back to South Carolina with a newfound belief in ending slavery. Back in Charleston, she felt out of step with local society. By  1821 she had moved to Philadelphia permanently, intent on living in a society without slavery. Her younger sister, Angelina, remained in Charleston, and the two sisters corresponded regularly. Angelina also picked up anti-slavery ideas. The sisters had inherited slaves from their father, which they freed. In 1829 Angelina left Charleston. She would never return. Reunited with her sister Sarah in Philadelphia, the two women became active in the Quaker community. They often visited prisons, hospitals, and institutions for the poor, and had a heartfelt interest in social reforms. The Grimkà © Sisters Joined the Abolitionists The sisters spent the early 1830s following a quiet life of religious service, but they were becoming more interested in the cause of abolishing slavery. In 1835 Angelina Grimkà © wrote an impassioned letter to William Lloyd Garrison, the abolitionist activist, and editor. Garrison, to Angelinas surprise, and to the consternation of her older sister, published the letter in his newspaper, The Liberator. Some of the Quaker friends of the sister were also upset at Angelina having publicly announced a desire for the emancipation of American slaves. But Angelina was inspired to continue. In 1836 Angelina published a 36-page booklet titled An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South. The text was deeply religious and drew upon Biblical passages to show the immorality of slavery. Her strategy was a direct affront to religious leaders in the South who had been using scripture to argue that slavery was actually Gods plan for the United States, and that slavery was essentially blessed. The reaction in South Carolina was intense, and Angelina was threatened with prosecution if she ever returned to her native state. Following the publication of Angelinas booklet, the sisters traveled to New York City and addressed a meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society. They also spoke to gatherings of women, and before long they were touring New England, speaking for the abolitionist cause. Popular On the Lecture Circuit Becoming known as the Grimkà © Sisters, the two women were a popular draw on the public speaking circuit. An article in the Vermont Phoenix on July 21, 1837 described an appearance by The Misses Grimkà ©, from South Carolina, before the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. Angelina spoke first, talking for nearly an hour. As the newspaper described it: Slavery in all its relations - moral, social, political and religious was commented upon with radical and stern severity - and the fair lecturer showed neither quarter to the system, nor mercy to its supporters. Still she did not bestow a title of her indignation upon the South. The Northern press and the Northern pulpit - Northern representatives, Northern merchants, and the Northern people, came in for her most bitter reproach and most pointed sarcasm. The detailed newspaper report noted that Angelina Grimkà © began by talking about the active slave trade conducted in the District of Columbia. And she urged women to protest the governments complicity in slavery. She then spoke about slavery as a broadly based American problem. While the institution of slavery existed in the South, she noted that northern politicians indulged it, and northern business people invested in businesses which depended on slave labor. She essentially indicted all of America for the evils of slavery. After Angelina spoke at the Boston meeting, her sister Sarah followed her on the podium. The newspaper mentioned that Sarah spoke in an affecting manner about religion, and ended by noting that the sisters were exiles. Sarah said she had received a letter informing her she could never again live in South Carolina as abolitionists would not be allowed within the states borders. Theres little doubt the sisters would have been in peril had they visited South Carolina. In 1835 abolitionists, sensing it was too dangerous to send emissaries into the slave states, began mailing anti-slavery pamphlets to southern addresses. The pamphlet campaign resulted in sacks of mail being seized by mobs in South Carolina and the pamphlets being burned in the street. Controversy Followed the Grimkà © Sisters A backlash developed against the Grimkà © Sisters, and at one point a group of ministers in Massachusetts issued a pastoral letter condemning their activities. Some newspaper accounts of their speeches treated them with obvious condescension. In 1838 they stopped their public speaking, though both sisters would remain involved in reform causes for the rest of their lives. Angelina married a fellow abolitionist and reformer, Theodore Weld, and they eventually founded a progressive school, Eagleswood, in New Jersey. Sarah Grimkà ©, who also married, taught at the school, and the sisters kept busy publishing articles and books focused on the causes of ending slavery and promoting womens rights. Sarah died in Massachusetts on December 23, 1873, after a long illness. William Lloyd Garrison spoke at her funeral services. Angelina Grimkà © Weld died on October 26, 1879. The famed abolitionist Wendell Phillips spoke of her at her funeral: When I think of Angelina there comes to me the picture of the spotless dove in the tempest, as she battles with the storm, seeking for some place to rest her foot. Sources Veney, Cassandra R. Abolitionism.  New Dictionary of the History of Ideas, edited by Maryanne Cline Horowitz, vol. 1, Charles Scribners Sons, 2005, pp. 1-4Byers,  Inzer, Grimkà ©, Sarah Moore.  American Women Writers: A Critical Reference Guide from Colonial Times to the Present:  A Critical Reference Guide from Colonial Times to the Present, edited by Taryn Benbow-Pfalzgraf, 2nd ed., vol. 2, St. James Press, 2000, pp. 150-151.Byers, Inzer, GrimkÉ (Weld), Angelina (Emily).  American Women Writers: A Critical Reference Guide from Colonial Times to the Present:  A Critical Reference Guide from Colonial Times to the Present, edited by Taryn Benbow-Pfalzgraf, 2nd ed., vol. 2, St. James Press, 2000, pp. 149-150.

Customers Insurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Customers Insurance - Essay Example That said, Social Media such as Facebook and LinkedIn are now far more widely used than conventional advertising platforms by ‘smaller’ customers, so focusing our marketing and sales effort on Social Media should, therefore, be very seriously considered.It must also be recognized that our competitors will be proceeding in a similar manner - on the other hand, if they are not, Our Company will have an immediate, and perhaps decisive, competitive advantage, at least temporarily!This Outline Proposal constitutes the Executive Summary for a much more extensive document which will set out the detailed requirements for the proposed personal Insurance Risk Management facility, which will be compiled should the Board consent to this project.In order to address this new market segment, Our Company will need to fundamentally review it’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) procedures, particularly in view of ‘small client’ purchasers of our products, particul arly small business enterprises, sole traders, and individuals. In addition to this, small business enterprises, sole traders and individuals, lacking even a meaningful fraction of the commercial and financial resources available to our existing corporate clients, will be paying particular attention to a particularly competitive price for our products, which will relief on the ability of Our Company to achieve this in terms of our portfolio of insurance products responding to price reductions offered by our competitors.

Pizza Veloce Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pizza Veloce - Term Paper Example To provide convenient solutions for ordering and getting different pizzas Products and Services: The main products that will be offered by Pizza Veloce will be the wide variety of pizzas, most which will be based on genuine, Italian recipes that have been used for several centuries. The products will also include side items and other smaller Italian dishes, as well as desserts and drinks that can be served with the foods. The services that will be available by Pizza Veloce will be inclusive of the ways in which the pizza and other food items can be delivered to the home. The first consists of services available online for easy connections and ordering. The second is based on delivery services that are available for those who don’t want to leave their home and are interested in ordering. The third will be in – house services so individuals have the option of a restaurant like atmosphere. Each of these services will be supported by technological structures for fast delive ry and a structure that enhances the making of the pizzas. Organizational Structure: The first part of the structure will be based on different departments and employees that will be able to provide the pizza making services. The first will be a team of employees for making the pizzas. The second will be a team used for the deliveries. There will also be customer service representatives that will be available for the online services and others that will provide in – store services. There will be one manager that overlook all operations at all times, specifically to make sure that there are connections with all deliveries and that workers are effective with the work. The organizational structure will then move into a CEO responsible for overlooking the main components of the operations, a vice president responsible for initiating new developments and a team that overlooks the expansion of the Pizza Veloce. This will consist of an online and offline marketing manager, human resources manager, technology manager and a liaison which will work between the office team and those who are working at the pizza company. Each of the organizational structure components will also consist of supporting technology, specifically which will change the number of employees as well as the needs which are associated with the restaurant. Expected Revenue The expected revenue that comes with the pizza is based on the amount of demand which can grow from the customer expectations. On average, a small pizzeria can expect to make $10,500 to $18,500 per week, if there is continuous demand. However, there are factors to consider with the costs of the pizzeria. For example, the cost of rent is about $8,000 per month. The cost for employees is also an average of $1200 per person per month, with an expected 5 workers per week, which equals $ per month for payment. The technology used as well as the structure is also expected to cost an average of $10,000 to install and $30,000 for yearly maintenance. The profit per year will then be at an average of $180,000 with the expenses averaging $208,000. For the pizzeria to break even, there will need to be three restaurants which open initially, which will increase the profit to $540,000 while maintaining the loss at $544,000. After the second year, the revenue will begin to gain, first by $10,000 because of the installed technology and with the expected increase in profit. There will also be options to expand the chain to continue to gain the profit after

Policy analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Policy analysis - Essay Example 1st Amendment The 1st amendment to the constitution of the United States was proposed on 25 September 1789 and was enacted on 15 December 1791. The 1st amendment guarantees the freedom of religion, speech and press and protects the citizens’ right to assemble and petition the government. Since its ratification, the 1st amendment has successfully sustained over a period of more than 200 years, without any major changes or alterations being affected to it. The 1st amendment has effectively played a crucial role in the history of America, both in the contemporary and earlier ages (Fleming 372). America being a nation founded by immigrants, the freedom of religion enshrined in the 1st amendment certified throughout that the great melting pot called America accommodated citizens with diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, without being resorting to discrimination or state supported hatred or persecution. The right to expression and petition facilitated by the 1st amendment was t he statutory backing that enabled many luminaries and suppressed groups within the nation, to raise a voice for equal rights and opportunities (Fleming 372). For example, when Martin Luther King Jr. pursued the struggle for the civil rights of the African Americans, it was the rights protected by the 1st amendment that extended a legal relevance to his struggle. The right to assemble and petition led to the constitution of history changing groups like the National American Women Suffrage Association and it was the freedom of press that accounted for the attention and coverage extended to the sidetracked and suppressed sections of the society. The 1st amendment has been valuable to the society in the sense that whenever some individuals or groups felt the need to change government or discriminatory laws, the 1st amendment came to their rescue. 2nd Amendment The 2nd amendment was proposed on 25 September 1789 and got enacted on 15 December 1791. This amendment safeguards the constitut ional right to keep and bear arms. Owing to many reasons, the 2nd amendment has lost its relevance. Its goes without saying that the 2nd amendment was meaningful in the context of the times in which it was enacted (Barnett 238). During the days when this amendment was ratified, an organized and well trained militia was essential to safeguard the freedom of the state and the liberty of the people (Barnett 239)). So, to achieve the objectives necessitated by this strategic cause, the right to keep and bear arms was utterly essential. Secondly, the days in which the 2nd amendment was passed, America was still a quintessentially agrarian society and people do relied on hunting to sustain and survive. Hence, in those times, guns were a necessary household item that served many purposes in the daily life of the masses (Barnett 2239). However, the 21st century is a different lot, and hence the 2nd amendment has directly or indirectly been the cause of much violence and bloodshed. In modern America, with its organized law and order framework, guns positively have no practical relevance for the common citizenry. People do not need guns to sustain themselves or to carry on with their daily life. The spurt in urban violence and organized crime in recent days has in fact shattered the very

The Role Of Public Relation In Crisis Management in the Oil & Gas Research Paper

The Role Of Public Relation In Crisis Management in the Oil & Gas industry - Research Paper Example Whenever a crisis happens, the management of an organization needs to proceed in a manner that would guarantee the most effective coordination of the three groups, which would ensure that public relations is used in the management of the crisis. The role of public relations in the management of crisis in oil and gas industry has been portrayed in a number of crises with some companies managing the crisis poorly and damaging the image of the company while others using public relations strategies to improve the company’s image. The oil and gas industry has experienced a number of crises with some generating good public response and others attracting a public outrage and rendering the company almost bankrupt. The response to the crisis of a toxic gas release, which happened on December 1984 at a Union Carbide Chemical Factory or Plant located in Bhopal, India killing over 2000 (3800) people formed one of the most effectively managed crisis in history. The team managing this crisis consisted of ten of the executives and managers of Carbide headed by the C.E.O and worked for several months in coordinating the management, operation, and communication response to the industrial accident. The public relation methods that were utilized in managing this crisis included crisis communication, consumer public relations, internal communication, and government relations. According to a report by Jackson Browning (1993), the then vice president of Union Carbide Corporation in charge of safety, health, and environmental programs, the team held its first press conference that took very few minutes. In the press conference, the team acknowledged that the serious disaster had happened in a factory owned by the Union Carbide where they had a 50.9% share. The team explained to the press some of the immediate measur5es that they were already undertaking in addressing the crisis. The company had daily briefings where they would answer

Cosmopolitanism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cosmopolitanism - Essay Example In this reference, the cosmopolite has some advantages that might include personal and political emancipations and freedoms over less economically privileged individuals. The philosophical significance in cosmopolitanism lies in its challenge to generally recognize attachments to fellow-citizens, parochially shared cultures, the local state, and the like. In Ancient Greece the term Cosmopolite meant citizen of the world. The opus of the Greek term, cosmopolis, already indicates this unsolved stress: cosmos, an accepted universal order, is related to polis, society's inconsistent order. As a result, from the Greek democratic city-state to the international village, the idea of cosmopolite has been disturbed by questions such as whose world this actually is. Can the forces of homogenous external expansionist exist harmoniously with the heterogeneous localized ones A truly cosmopolitan answer would imply a permanent interest in difference and the recognition that internationals and locals depend on each other in order to exist. Since its beginning, cosmopolitanism has been a category marked by a need to negotiate with "others" and has reflected tensions between local and regional realities, ethnocentric and relativist perceptions, and particularism and universalism. Historically, cosmopolitanism has reflected the ideologies of different periods and modes of integration to larger, colonial or global, political units. As a category mostly held by elites, it often means the sophistication that results from familiarity with what is diverse. It has become an allegory for mobility, migrancy, sensitivity and forbearance to otherness, independence from specific authorities, and transcultural and intercontinental realities and claims. Its opposing concepts have often indicated racism, fixity, parochialism, restricted sovereignty, and commitment to a motherland or a nation-state. The history of the relationships between local and regional conceptions is old as human race. A strong inclination towards local reality, particularism, variety and context may oscillate, such as at the end of the Renaissance or during the Enlightenment, towards highlights on general formal timeless statements that pretend to be universal. Having its roots in Ancient Greece, cosmopolitanism has been disconnectedly present in western philosophical or political deliberations. The military conquests of Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) opened up the situations for the existence of a "world empire" that supposedly aimed at uniting East and West into an enlightened commonwealth. Greek became the lingua franca of the Hellenistic age (4th - 1st century B.C.), an age that lasted until the institution of Roman hegemony. Although cosmopolitanism was a subject for Greek philosophers before Stoicism, this school of philosophy established in Athens by 300 B.C. systemized cosmopolitan theories advancing revelations such as that of a world city, an ideal state where everyone would be a resident. Stoics were active in assessing Greek ethnocentrism towards barbarians and promoted a sense of brotherhood, a vision of humankind that was conveyed to Romans and predated Christianity's claims to universalism. Cosmopolitanism passed on to different political and intellectual elites from the Roman Empire through Medieval Europe. The Christian church played a chief role in the reproduction of cosmopolitan ideals and apparatuses by shaping two or more cultures sacred imagined

Bullying Behavior in Middle School Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bullying Behavior in Middle School Review - Essay Example The theory is used to demonstrate that individuals have a huge impact of their surroundings and activities done by or with their associates. They perceive things (e.g. victimization or bullying) from the interacted people and their experiences. The third premise reveals that even if individuals do not go through bullying or victimization, they presume and get an adverse effect on their acts and thoughts. These negative activities harm them as much as the victims. The theory is successfully implemented and employed throughout the paper and has helped in drawing the conclusions. This research is very helpful in understanding the behavioral factors of bullying and victimization among younger generation. This research adds a new and incredible piece in this subject. However, there are some limitations related to this research paper. The research conducted by Mongold cannot be taken as a research producing conclusions that fit-to-all. In simple words, the research paper is conducted on the basis of a single middle school’s setting which cannot be estimated as true for the whole city, state or world. The conclusions drawn have effect of a number of factors including the thoughts, views, values, behaviors, cultures and backgrounds of individuals. Individuals that are a part of a single organization may be influenced by the aims, rules and objectives of it. In addition, the views about bullying and victimization can also be affected by continuous imposition of these matters on children by lectures, conduct or education. Since the guidance counselors conduc t ‘bully-proof’ lessons annually, it is more probable that the views and conduct of individuals are affected by it. Another question that can be raised on the credibility of the conclusions drawn can be the accuracy of data collected through questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of a number of questions and it is probable that the participants may

Cosmopolitanism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cosmopolitanism - Essay Example In this reference, the cosmopolite has some advantages that might include personal and political emancipations and freedoms over less economically privileged individuals. The philosophical significance in cosmopolitanism lies in its challenge to generally recognize attachments to fellow-citizens, parochially shared cultures, the local state, and the like. In Ancient Greece the term Cosmopolite meant citizen of the world. The opus of the Greek term, cosmopolis, already indicates this unsolved stress: cosmos, an accepted universal order, is related to polis, society's inconsistent order. As a result, from the Greek democratic city-state to the international village, the idea of cosmopolite has been disturbed by questions such as whose world this actually is. Can the forces of homogenous external expansionist exist harmoniously with the heterogeneous localized ones A truly cosmopolitan answer would imply a permanent interest in difference and the recognition that internationals and locals depend on each other in order to exist. Since its beginning, cosmopolitanism has been a category marked by a need to negotiate with "others" and has reflected tensions between local and regional realities, ethnocentric and relativist perceptions, and particularism and universalism. Historically, cosmopolitanism has reflected the ideologies of different periods and modes of integration to larger, colonial or global, political units. As a category mostly held by elites, it often means the sophistication that results from familiarity with what is diverse. It has become an allegory for mobility, migrancy, sensitivity and forbearance to otherness, independence from specific authorities, and transcultural and intercontinental realities and claims. Its opposing concepts have often indicated racism, fixity, parochialism, restricted sovereignty, and commitment to a motherland or a nation-state. The history of the relationships between local and regional conceptions is old as human race. A strong inclination towards local reality, particularism, variety and context may oscillate, such as at the end of the Renaissance or during the Enlightenment, towards highlights on general formal timeless statements that pretend to be universal. Having its roots in Ancient Greece, cosmopolitanism has been disconnectedly present in western philosophical or political deliberations. The military conquests of Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) opened up the situations for the existence of a "world empire" that supposedly aimed at uniting East and West into an enlightened commonwealth. Greek became the lingua franca of the Hellenistic age (4th - 1st century B.C.), an age that lasted until the institution of Roman hegemony. Although cosmopolitanism was a subject for Greek philosophers before Stoicism, this school of philosophy established in Athens by 300 B.C. systemized cosmopolitan theories advancing revelations such as that of a world city, an ideal state where everyone would be a resident. Stoics were active in assessing Greek ethnocentrism towards barbarians and promoted a sense of brotherhood, a vision of humankind that was conveyed to Romans and predated Christianity's claims to universalism. Cosmopolitanism passed on to different political and intellectual elites from the Roman Empire through Medieval Europe. The Christian church played a chief role in the reproduction of cosmopolitan ideals and apparatuses by shaping two or more cultures sacred imagined

Organizational studies Essay Example for Free

Organizational studies Essay The Functional -Structural Approach has dominated organizational studies. Describe and discuss the paradigm fully and assess the challenge posed to it by Postmodernism. Introduction Functional approach Is considered the second very essential paradigm In psychology. Functional structural approach in psychology deals with cognitive processes that Incorporate consciousness (Burrell and Gareth, 41). William James the father of functional approach came up to this paradigm from a viewpoint that functional approach in psychology is very important biological function. He also postulated that sychologists ought to understand the functions related to cognition so as to comprehend how mental processes in humans operate. Organizational studies is the study that Involves examining how individuals build organizational processes, structures, and practices, moreover, it studies how these phenomenon in turn shape social Interactions and creates organizations that impacts individuals (Knights, and Glenn, 252). Remarkably, organizational studies incorporate diverse areas that consider varied features of the organization. Arguably, cognitive oriented psychologists often describe human behavioral activities rom the perspective of mental constructs; they argue that classical conditioning as a means of behavior change is due the construction of associations within the individuals cognition. Postmodernism in philosophy is a movement that is very precarious of the Introductory assumptions and the propensity of western philosophy. Generally, postmodernism emphasizes the significance of personalization, power relationships and discourse in construction of the world views and truth (Alvesson, 5). It can be described as a set of strategic. critical, and rhetorical activities incorporating the use f concepts that Include trace, repetition and hyper reality to subvert other concepts such as Identity epistemic certainty, unlvoclty of meaning and historical progress. Following the present dominance of functional structural approach in organizational studies currently. this paper will present how functional structural approach has dominated organizational studies. Moreover, it will discuss this paradigm fully and further assess the challenge posed to It by postmodernism. Functional Structural Approach As a structural tneory, Tunctlonal structural approacn vlews tne organlzatlon In tne ociety being more important than any other individual within the society. Arguably, functional structural approach is a top down concept; individuals in the long run become products of societal influences as they become socialized by the institutions around them that include media, religion, family, and education. Functional approach is very important in the study of organizational studies because it offers a perspective of viewing the society as a set of interconnected parts that in the long run function as a whole. It is therefore of great importance to acknowledge he importance of functional structural approach in the study of organizational studies. Other than explaining the cognitive operations of human beings, the functional structural approach offers a platform of understanding the relationships that exist between these parts in the society hence contributing towards the maintenance of society. Through the notion of structural functionalism approach, the use of cognitive analogy in the tradition of Spencer, Comte and Durkheim has greatly influenced upon sociological thought (Burrell and Gareth, 43). By deriving upon the concepts of interrelationships between parts, holism, functions and needs the biological equivalence has been constructed in varied was to develop a social science perspective firmly linked to the sociology of regulation. Following the functional structural approach, the study of organizational studies have simplified in that functionalist believe that sociological matters should be approach from a perspective of scientific facts, a concept otherwise known positivism. According to the father of positivism Anguste Comte, functionalism should be based n primary facts and objectively weighed hence making it possible to note issues in the society that impact individuals hence providing a framework for innovation in law and implementing new legislation (Siebert, 36). The functional structural approach has been established to be of great significance in the study of organizational studies in that, by adopting the use of methodology in natural science and focusing on direct observable social facts, one is able to understand how parts that exist in the society function, hence the organizational behavior, organizational culture, organizational psychology, and organizational heory. Functional structural approach in sociology stresses the significance of the existing interdependence among various patterns and institutions within a social setting for its long term subsistence. According to †°mile Durkheim, functionalism is essential in understanding the utility of cultural and social traits, because it enlightens its contribution to the maneuvering of the overall system. Functionalism is therefore of great importance to the study of social behavior, organizational culture, organizational psychology, and organizational theory, because It OTTers a platTorm 0T crltlcally revlewlng tne reasons Denlna ce rtaln Denavlor patterns based on cognitive analysis. Arguably, functional approach is very significant in the study of attitudes (Herbert, 10). Understanding attitudes is very important to organizational studies. From a psychological point of view, the reasons behind changing attitudes are derived from the functions they accomplish to the individual specifically incorporating value expression, ego defense and knowledge. It is therefore very important to note the dominance of functional approach not only to the study of patterns in the society but lso to the changing attitudes from a cognitive perspective. In the recent years, organizational studies have been established to be increasingly important in social scientific investigation. Based on the number of research studies related to functional structural approach, it is important to note that organizational studies have claimed a better part of the functional approach (Crowther and Green, 50). Most research these days seeks a functional explanation of organizational studies, thus a societal functioning. What is the future of functional approach in organizational studies? Despite the opposition encountered by scientifically oriented organizational studies from some British organization researchers, their support on qualitative studies failed to yield credible knowledge. Their qualitative studies on organizational studies were not incorporated in the literature of organization studies because it produced no generalized knowledge. Following the failure of qualitative studies from these researchers, there has been a great increase in the number of researchers that incorporate the use of functional approach when researching issues that relate to rganizational studies. Majority of these researchers are oriented to the functional structural approach. Remarkably, the functional paradigm in psychology have hampered the rapid development of organizational studies, this will benefit the future due to the increased use of cognitive perspectives to in understanding patterns and structures in the society. Arguably, organizational studies will always provide knowledge about the performance within a society to the succeeding generations by incorporating and applying the use of functional approach hence making progress in social science. According to Hawthorne studies, functional approach has been helpful and dominant in studying and analyzing the behavior patterns among employees (Burrell and Gareth, 131). The conclusion made from these studies emerged based on conceptual scheme explanation of employee complaint which was determined drawing explanations from the functional approach. It is important to note that functional approach has dominated research pertaining to industrial problems, the interface which occurs due to the changes in the physical environment and the equilibrium established in such settings . Remarkably, theoretical views have changed overtime, nese views nave Decome more certain ana amDlvalent. I nese views nave Deen integrated to become more determinists, functionalists, more generalizing, and more organizationally rational. It is acknowledgeable that the functional approach has played a huge role towards explaining organizational studies. The challenge posed to Functional-structural approach by Postmodernism Despite the success and dominance of structural functional approach, postmodernism poses a great challenge to its subsistence and persistence. According to the post modernists, their theory is critical on the claims about bjectivity. The idea of grand theory is viewed by the postmodernists as skeptical and is viewed as unwarranted at its very least. This critique posed by the postmodernists to the structural functional approach has hindered the prosperity of this approach in the present times. Despite the importance of structural functional approach to organizational studies, postmodernism presents the dangers that the grand theory can pose, when not viewed as limited perspective when analyzing the society (Kilduff and Mihaela, 94). To some extent, the functional approach is not applicable in the postmodern society ecause norms and family structure within the society have incredibly changed overtime (Lord, 509), the changes realized in the postmodern times can be attributed as a move towards the idea of a new explanation of organizational studies. From this perspective, the use of functional approach is not useful anymore since it does not apply to postmodern society. The functional approach has been highly criticized for being more of teleological. It is has been viewed to be reverse the cause and effect order. Functional structural theory has faced a lot of criticisms from other social theories articularly the postmodernists. The most prevalent criticism faced by the social structural function from the postmodernists and other sociological notions, is the fact that most of these notions particularly the postmodern theory criticize the structural functional theory on the grounds that the concept systems of this theory offers too much unnecessary weight to consensus and integration, hence neglecting the concept of interdependence and conflict. In this theory, Parsons gave no satisfactory explanation as to how actors exercise their agency in antagonism to inculcation and socialization of the accepted norms. Generally, the structural functional theory does not offer a credible explanation as to why individuals accept or choose some values and norms within the society. From a postmodernist approach, the prominence of structural functional approach is heading to its end. This is based on the view that feminism is on a high rise and has launched critics on the functionalism theory. Considering that the functional approach did not incorporate the suppression of women in the society and the family, feminism and the post-modernist are at high opposition to the existence of this theory. Desplte tne Tact tnat Parsons aescrlDea sltuatlons tnat lead to tne rlse 0T women state of affairs and that some feminists agree that he provided accurate information concerning these situations. Parsons admits that he oversimplified his analysis concerning women in relation to family and work; moreover he postulates that he focused more towards the positive functions within the family rather than its dysfunctions towards women. The postmodernist criticize this theory because it lacks the feminist stability. Arguably, the postmodernist are likely to pose a huge challenge o the prevalence of this theory because it views the theory as a one that does not incorporate all the necessary elements. One major difference between modernism and any other notion paradigm in psychology particularly the functional approach is the fact that; whereas the structural functional approach seek universal laws for social behavior important in the study of organizational studies, the postmodernism views that the aim of social science should not be generalizability but rather innovation and discovery (Kilduff and Mihaela, 97). Remarkably, the catastrophe experienced in functional approach while analyzing rganizational studies can be attributed to postmodernism. Postmodernism is more likely to pose a huge challenge to the prevalence of functional approach, according to postmodernism, multiple contingencies upset outcomes while the historical and the cultural conditions can be ignored by people are well conversant with this knowledge. Conclusions In conclusion, it is evident that functional structural approach has dominated organizational studies. Despite its prevalence, postmodernism post a huge challenge to its development and growth.

Computer System Architecture of Buses

Computer System Architecture of Buses Abstract This report focuses on the computer system architecture of buses. The research is based on the buses which used by AMD K computer system. Those are includes bus characteristics, bus arbitration and bus topology. In bus characteristics, we had cover the bus width and bus speed, types of buses and bus lines, and also advantages and disadvantages of a bus to a network. In bus arbitration, there was include purpose of arbitration, how does the arbitration protocol work and multiplexing. Other else was the bus topology. In the end of the report, there was a summarize results which include why a bus hierarchy is required, how a bus hierarchy works and additional hardware circuitry required. Introduction This assignment is mainly explaining a fundamental architectural feature present in all computer system, buses. Buses have historically provided a flexible communications structure in computer systems. Furthermore, buses in computing are a digital communication mechanism that allows two or more functional units to transfer control signals or data. Most buses are designed for use inside a single computer system; some are used within a single integrated circuit. Many bus designs exist because a bus can be optimized for a specific purpose. For example, a memory bus is intended to interconnect a processor with a memory system and an I/O bus is intended to interconnect a processor with set of I/O devices. Furthermore, buses can be divided into two major groups based on their control. Those two groups are local buses and system buses. Various bus designs have been used in the PC, including ISA, EISA, Micro Channel, VL-bus and PCI. Other peripheral busses are NuBus, TURBOchannel, VMEbus, MULTIBUS and STD bus. Bus Width A bus is characterized by the amount of information that can be transmitted at once. It is call bus width. The amount expressed in bits, corresponds to the number of physical lines over which data is sent simultaneously. The term width is used to refer to the number of bits that a bus can transmit at once. Typical widths are 8, 16, 32, or 64 bits at a time. In other words, the bus width means the size of the entity that the bus sends data in one cycle. For example 32 bits, this means that the bus has 32 wires that are used for the transmission. (This may also be different, depending on the transmission protocol). Bus Speed Bus speed means how many bits or bytes (1 byte = 8 bits) is the bus able to send in a unit of time (typically second). For example for a computer network it could be 100 Mbs means 100 Megabits (12, 5 Megabytes) in a second. The bus speed is also defined by its frequency. It expressed in Hertz. Frequency means the number of data packets sent or received per second. Each time that data is sent or received is called a cycle. Besides, the bus speeds also commonly known as front side bus (FSB). It is shows how fast the components can communicate with each other. Faster bus speed means faster computer. You can easily see how a faster FSB helps your computer get more information from one place to the other. For example, if two computers are exactly the same in all ways except one has an FSB speed of 500 MHz and the other has an FSB of 1066 MHz, twice as much data will get through on the second computer compared to the first. This means your computer will get more work done in the same amount of time faster spreadsheet calculations, faster decoding of that movie, or smoother video games. To increase the bus speed you can either increase the bus width or the frequency of the transmission on the bus. The Different Types of Buses Local Buses A local bus is the simplest buses consist of set of wires. Within the central processing unit (CPU), local buses can generally be divided in three types. They are address buses, data buses or control buses. Address buses tend to be specialized in purpose and are usually unidirectional. It carries an address from the CPU to memory or I/O devices. Data buses tend to be more general in purpose and are bidirectional. It carries data between the CPU and memory or I/O devices. Control buses carry signals from the control unit to other components of the computer and back to control unit. System Buses Unlike local buses, system buses are independent functional components of many computers. Each system bus has its own control circuit, called a bus controller, and within each bus controller is an arbiter, which process requests to use the bus. The bus controller may be distributed among the devices that use the bus. Systems buses generally connect system components together, such as the CPU,I/O system and often the main-memory system, and designers often optimize system buses for transferring data between I/O devices and main-memory. A key distinction between system buses and local buses is that system buses tend to have well-documented and stable definitions, so that designers can attach a wide variety of devices to them. Local buses are processor-specific and not widely documented. They tend to be proprietary. Example of system buses are DEC UNIBUS and the Apple NuBus. Bus Lines The wires that comprise a bus are called lines. Four main categories of bus lines : Data lines Carry data from one place to another. Address lines Specify the recipient of data on the bus. Control lines Provide control for the synchronization and operation of the bus and the modules to which it is connected. Power lines Provide power to various components connected to the bus. Advantages / Disadvantages of a Bus to a Network Data bus networks have quite a few advantages compare the other network topologies such as point-to-point links in these applications. Generally, a data bus can make possible the interconnection of a set of terminals when the number of terminals is so large that interconnection through individual point-to-point links becomes unusable. Furthermore, a data bus topology can provide large configurationally flexibility. Terminals can be added to the network or moved to different locations without major revisions in the cabling layout. Both of these advantages are of particular importance in applications in which cable installation is the dominant system cost, for example in shipboard applications. Purpose of arbitration In a computer system, all the devices communicate with the other device are connected to the main board over a same bus. If two or more I/O (input and output) devices try to use the bus at the same time to access the main board, there will be a conflict arise. Therefore, bus arbitration is created is to resolve the problem. Bus arbiter is a circuit to coordinate the activities of devices request for memory transfer using the bus. The process that runs by bus arbiter is name as Bus Arbitration. It is to prevent two or more I/O devices initiating transfers at the same time. The bus arbitration mechanism is designed to allow high priority devices such as the processor and RAM get first access to the bus, while the other devices (disks, video cards, sound cards etc.) get lower priority, and often have to wait to access the bus. The prioritization is according numbered interrupts to priority systems. The lower the numbered interrupts will has the higher priority. On many systems, the CPU has interrupt 0. Therefore, CPU always goes first on the bus. Meanwhile, there are time slices provided over the bus. How does the arbitration protocol work The device that uses to allow for initiating data transfers on the bus is called as bus master. Therefore, only one bus master can exist at a time. When the bus master relinquished its control, the other device also can act as bus master. However, the process of transferring the bus mastership from one device to another device has to coordinate carefully to take account of the needs of various devices. As stated earlier, the bus arbitration has been design to use by high priority device. Therefore, scheduling function will be performs by bus arbiter. Bus arbiter can be part of the processer or separate unit that connected to bus. The diagram above show a basic arrangement example of processor contains the bus arbiter circuitry. In this case, the processor is act as the bus master. However in some cases, the other DMA (direct memory access) controller can gain the bus mastership. DMA controllers activate the Bus-request line, BR before it gain the bus mastership. The Signal of Bus- request line is transfer using the logical OR concept from the bus-request line to the other I/O devices. When the bus request is activated, the processor will activates the bus Grant signal, BG1, gives permission to the DMA controller use the bus when it become free. The signal is using a daisy-chain arrangement to connect all DMA controllers. Therefore, when DMA controller 1 request for the bus, it will block the propagation of the grant signal to other I/O device automatically. Else, it will assert BG2 to grant downstream. The bus master indicates all I/O devices that it is using the bus by activating another open collector line call as Bus Busy, BBSY. Therefore, a DMA controller need to wait for Bus busy to inactive after the Bus Grant signal send. In the situation, the DMA controller can assumes the bus mastership. Multiplexing Multiplexed bus is a type of bus structure which the number of signal lines represented by the bus is less than the number of bits of data, addresses, and control information being transferred between devices of the computer system. For example, if a multiplexed address bus use 8 signal lines to transmit 16 bits of address information. The information is transferred sequentially where the additional control line is being used for sequencing the transfer. In another example, the system represent a master control unit (MCU) connecting to one or more receiver-transmit unit (RTU) by a data bus. The MCU transmits a message to the RTU for comprising a synchronization pulse of known duration and successive time spaced timing signals separated by time duration T marking the boundaries of data bits to be transmitted from the RTU to the MCU. The RTU is including a clock pulse source which utilizes the synchronization pulse to determine the frequency of the clock pulse source in P pulses per duration T. The value P is used in conjunction with the timing signals to create properly timed data determining signals in the data bits. Point to point topology Point to point (PTP) is directly connects two nodes to together. Following is some example of using PTP to connect 2 nodes together. Two computers communicating via modems. A mainframe terminal communicating with a front end processor. A workstation communicating along a parallel cable to a scanner. In a point-to-point topology, all the devices are connected with a shared switch. The switch is different from the shared topology. Computational components that are connected using a point-to-point topology do not need to use any type of bus arbitration scheme. Instate, the shared switch breaks the continuous stream of data on the bus into data packets that are routed to the individual devices. Using this method, the shared switch able establishes point-to-point connections between the different devices. From an individual devices perspective, a connection has to be a private, direct, continuous connection to another device. The connection may comprise one or more two-way of serial-connections. By increasing the number of lanes of a connection, therefore the bandwidth of the connection can by increase. An example of point-to-point bus topology is the implementation in peripheral component interface expresses (PCI Express). PCI Express is a computer expansion card standard designed t o replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP standards. It was introduced by Intel in 2004, PCIe is the latest standard for expansion cards that is available on mainstream personal computers. Multipoint Multipoint is a bus topologies that carries signals to several destinations. It is also known as multidrop bus (MDB) or broadcast bus. Multipoint bus usually requires addressing signals on the bus to identify the addressed destination. Example : Ethernet. It is also a computer bus in which all components are connected to same set of electrical wires. Summary From this assignment, we had classified out the type of buses which its basically grouped into four parts known as processor bus, cache bus, local I/O bus and standard I/O bus. Each of this is different as processor bus is the highest-level bus that the chipset uses to send information to and from the processor. While, cache bus used to accessing the system cache. At the same time, the local I/O bus is for connecting performance-critical peripherals to the memory, chipset, and processor such as video cards and disk storage devices. Example of local I/O bus is like Peripheral Component Interconnect Bus (PCI). Last would be the standard I/O bus which it used for slower peripherals such as modems while it also for compatibility with older devices. Bus hierarchy is required due to the lower level bus like local and standard I/O buses need to steps by steps sent the data to the upper levels of buses in order to allow users to retrieve or transfer the data from each particular memory to another. Hence, I consider them a hierarchy because each bus is to some extent further removed from the processor; each one connects to the level above it, integrating the various parts of the PC together. Each one is also generally slower than the one above it. As a conclusion, bus is generally designed for multiple devices to share the medium. Furthermore, additional hardware circuitry is needed because of that may have problems when two clients want to transmit at the same time on the same bus. Therefore, hardware like bus arbitration is needed to overcome this conflict. Conclusion As a conclusion, buses are actually helpful as its act as a vital medium in order to transferring data. Basically, buses connect different modules within the CPU and to memory and other I/O peripherals. Meanwhile, buses can also connect two different components at the same time through the usage of point-to-point or multipoint. Buses can carry data, address and control function as it could transmit the instructions of the users into the outputs. Buses are form in the combination of data line, address line, power line and control line. Then, buses and buses communicate through a medium called bridge. Further, we had identified the characteristics of the buses as it categorized into two categories. For bus speed, it covers the area for speed of transmitting data to another medium. While, bus width is the amount of data can be transferring. Besides, type of buses, pros and cons of bus and network and buses arbitration also included within our report. Lastly, we had also stated out the purposes of buses arbitration. Frequently Ask Question (FAQ) What is a bus? How to solve the conflict of different data is being transferring through the same bus but at different devices? What are the functions of buses? How to measure the speed of transferring or retrieving data from buses? How does buses connected to each other? How to increase the buses speed? Which method allows buses to connect 2 devices? References Jospeph.S, 1985, Multiplex bus system for controlling the transmission of data between a master control unit and a plurality of remotely located receiver-transmitter units [online], Available from http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4538262.html [Accessed 30 October 2009] What is a computer bus? [Online], Available World Wide Web : URL http://en.kioskea.net/contents/pc/bus.php3 [Accessed 26 Oct 2009] Shinichi, What is bus speed? [Online], Available World Wide Web : URL http://www.helium.com/items/986164-what-is-bus-speed [Accessed 26 Oct 2009] Multidrop bus [Online], Available World Wide Web : URL http://wikirank.com/en/Multidrop [Accessed 02 Nov 2009] Derwyn.J, 1984, Passive fiber optic data bus configurations [online], Available from http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4457581.html [Accessed 10 November 2009] System bus, online, Available from http://www.inetdaemon.com/tutorials/computers/hardware/mainboards/bus/[Accesed 30 October 2009] DAINTITH.J, 2004, multiplexed bus. A Dictionary of Computing [online], Available from http://www.encyclopedia.com [Accessed 03 November 2009] Hamacher.C, Vranesic.G, Zaky.G, 1996, computer organization In, 4th edition, McGraw-hill international editions, Singapore, 1996, pp186

Technology and Music †Baroque, Boole, Binary, Beams, and Bach :: Technological Musical Music Essays

Technology and Music – Baroque, Boole, Binary, Beams, and Bach Is this merely a clever alliteration or a deep connection between science, mathematics, and western culture entirely overlooked? The following seeks to join these five B's in an intimate manner, bringing to light this seemingly complex connection. Part I: Baroque and Bach Chromaticism and elaborate forms of ornamentation characterize the Baroque period of music. In fact, this period, lasting from the late sixteenth century through the early eighteenth century, marked the first period in which composers truly used harmony in music. In addition, this period brought to fame many composers whose music is still enjoyed today including Pachelbel, Handel, Haydn, Vivaldi, and Bach. Born in 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach (hereafter Bach) made himself one of the most renowned western composers of all time. Johann Ambrosia Bach, Bach's father, and Johann Christoph Bach, Bach's brother, trained Bach in music at a very young age. In 1703 at the age of 18, Bach began a series of jobs as organist in Arstadt. Twenty years later, Bach became cantor and choral director at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. He held this distinguished position until his death. Before his death in 1750, though, Bach had had two wives (the first died in 1720) and 20 children some of whom became musicians as well. He had written such notable pieces as the Brandenburg concertos, "The Art of the Fugue," various religious compositions including the "Mass in B minor" and the "St. John Passion," numerous fugues, preludes and overtures, and more than 300 cantatas. Bach's "Overture Number 3: Air" is a composition often played at weddings, graduations and the like. Though it is only about four and one half minutes in length, it is one of my personal favorites, and will be noted later as this odd connection continues. Part II: Boole and Binary George Boole, a self-taught mathematician and logician, was born in England in 1815 (approximately 65 years after Bach's death). In 1854, he published "An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, on Which Are Founded the Mathematical Theories of Logic and Probabilities." Therein can be found the basis for substituting symbols for the words in the language of logic, thus Boolean algebra is born. Today, computer scientists often use Boolean to relate sets of data. Using the words AND, OR, NOT, IF, and EXCEPT, a Boolean algebraist can determine the truth of a statement as well as rewrite the statement in a more understandable form. Technology and Music – Baroque, Boole, Binary, Beams, and Bach :: Technological Musical Music Essays Technology and Music – Baroque, Boole, Binary, Beams, and Bach Is this merely a clever alliteration or a deep connection between science, mathematics, and western culture entirely overlooked? The following seeks to join these five B's in an intimate manner, bringing to light this seemingly complex connection. Part I: Baroque and Bach Chromaticism and elaborate forms of ornamentation characterize the Baroque period of music. In fact, this period, lasting from the late sixteenth century through the early eighteenth century, marked the first period in which composers truly used harmony in music. In addition, this period brought to fame many composers whose music is still enjoyed today including Pachelbel, Handel, Haydn, Vivaldi, and Bach. Born in 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach (hereafter Bach) made himself one of the most renowned western composers of all time. Johann Ambrosia Bach, Bach's father, and Johann Christoph Bach, Bach's brother, trained Bach in music at a very young age. In 1703 at the age of 18, Bach began a series of jobs as organist in Arstadt. Twenty years later, Bach became cantor and choral director at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. He held this distinguished position until his death. Before his death in 1750, though, Bach had had two wives (the first died in 1720) and 20 children some of whom became musicians as well. He had written such notable pieces as the Brandenburg concertos, "The Art of the Fugue," various religious compositions including the "Mass in B minor" and the "St. John Passion," numerous fugues, preludes and overtures, and more than 300 cantatas. Bach's "Overture Number 3: Air" is a composition often played at weddings, graduations and the like. Though it is only about four and one half minutes in length, it is one of my personal favorites, and will be noted later as this odd connection continues. Part II: Boole and Binary George Boole, a self-taught mathematician and logician, was born in England in 1815 (approximately 65 years after Bach's death). In 1854, he published "An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, on Which Are Founded the Mathematical Theories of Logic and Probabilities." Therein can be found the basis for substituting symbols for the words in the language of logic, thus Boolean algebra is born. Today, computer scientists often use Boolean to relate sets of data. Using the words AND, OR, NOT, IF, and EXCEPT, a Boolean algebraist can determine the truth of a statement as well as rewrite the statement in a more understandable form.