Thursday, October 31, 2019

Personal reflection on learning Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal reflection on learning - Term Paper Example This paper explores my reflection on this particular aspect. The traditional method of teaching, which calls for a passive role from the part of the learners, has already been outdated and no longer considered the norm or the standard for best teaching practices. What this means is that in the classroom setting such as in my Marketing class, students are expected to participate and be part of the learning process. Gone were the days when learners wait to be spoon-fed with the subject's contents. That is widely accepted as ineffective. There are evidences that could attest to this fact and that the conventional demagoguery has been exchanged for the current more progressive approach in a logical progression of evolution in education. The prevailing idea is that learning should be experiential. The student, together with the teacher, explores and discovers concept and issues, which underpins a framework that is both engaging and effective especially in terms of achieving learning objec tives. Learning a marketing concept, for instance, is not about the assimilation of a conceptual explanation of the teacher but the assimilation through the discovery of such concept, as facilitated by the instructor. This is particularly more pronounced in the case of teaching or learning the marketing field. Marketing is all about relationships; it is all about persuasion, information and experience. Our class learned this indirectly by simulating those processes. Such simulation could not have transpired without the contribution of each student. For example, in doing activities like group works, I discovered that being able to play assigned tasks and roles are crucial in achieving positive learning outcomes. First, there was the structure: we assign leaders and followers. Then, there was the negotiation. Say, I provide some inputs why this student will be better in this task or this role, so the assignments are revised. Because of respect for other people’s opinion, we wer e able to avoid conflicts that could have resulted to poor outcome. Instead, we effectively harnessed diverse perspectives. So it is imperative for students learning this field to be able to navigate through the learning issues and the socialization process involved and should not entirely rely on the source of knowledge or of an expertise. I also would like to cite the benefit of being curious. This worked for me especially when students are encouraged to ask questions, engage in a dialogue and discuss issues. There are times when lectures could be so silent, however participative the teacher encourages it to be. Then I ask a question or raise something thought provoking. And it contributes to making the discussion livelier and more engaging. Other students also do this and I found that we could only ask and raise issues, and participate better if we came to school prepared or knowledgeable. If I assumed a passive position in the learning process, I would have contributed nothing t o the manner by which knowledge is gained and internalized. More importantly, I would have encouraged an ineffectual learning environment. I would like to cite a theory we have learned as an example. The law of supply and demand is a pretty straightforward concept we have learned and a notion that is widely

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Review Questions MGMT Essay Example for Free

Review Questions MGMT Essay 1) Scheduling and sequencing are typically viewed from a technical perspective; that is, they are focused on minimizing quantitative measures such as lateness or cost. However, schedules also have intangible effects on customers, employees, and the perception of service quality. Discuss what some of these intangible effects might be and how managers should consider them when constructing schedules. Some intangible effects of schedules on customers, employees, and the perception of service quality could be, employee morale (overworked, underworked); customer/buyer satisfaction with rate of production/delivery of service; perception of efficiency of potential clients and ancillary support systems. Managers need to take into account that constructing schedules will impact stakeholders in different ways (Collier Evans, 2013). Where a quicker delivery time might make a customer happy, a salaried employee working 14 hour days to meet that demand may ultimately be causing more harm to the company in the long run. One of the best methods for developing schedules is an Activity-on-Node model. In this model, we can see the earliest start (ES) latest start (LS) earliest finish (LS) and latest finish for each activity of the project. Some of they may be able to run concurrently, which leads us to determining what the â€Å"critical path† would be. The critical path is the shortest time between activities that the project may be accomplished (Collier Evans, 2013). 2) Select two of Demings 14 Points and discuss the importance of them to operations managers (as well as all managers) in todays business environment. Deming’s steps 13 (Encourage Education and Self-Improvement) and 14 (Take Action) are the two that I find the most respectable attributes in operations managers and normal managers, alike. I have seen first-hand what sort of morale detriment can occur when self-improvement and education are not fostered in top-performers. For example, employee John Smith decides  he wants to obtain his Project Management Professional PMPâ„ ¢ certification. His company has a training budget that allows for such training, but Smith’s manager cannot rationalize the need for the certification, based on Smith’s current duties. Smith then decides to take vacation time and pay out of pocket to achieve this certification, nearly $2000 of his own money spent on professional development. Several months later, Smith’s company is awarded a substantial Earned Value (EV) contract from the DoD, in which a requirement was that there needed to be a certified PMPâ„ ¢ on the project team. Smith’s manager lacked the foresight to see the benefit of such a certification, and to this day, Smith has not been formally reimbursed for what ultimately led to the acquisition of a multi-million dollar contract. Needless to say, Smith’s regard for that manager severely diminished. Taking Action stood out to me as well, because I have seen what cost-plus contracts can do to a company. The â€Å"chaos is cash† mindset that melds into the minds of managers whose incumbencies are those contracts can be sickening. I once witnessed a company with a directorate that was so focused on this mind-set that deliveries were constantly late or with error, and it was considered the norm to have such things occur. DoD contractors are normally evaluated by the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), and this company was consistently in the unsatisfactory rating. With a new directorate and management, this company was able to climb that rating system two levels for the first time in over a decade. I attribute this to those whom replaced the previous directorate and managements â€Å"Take Action† attitude in correcting that horrific â€Å"cost-plus† mindset. 3) Explain how service quality is measured. Specifically, discuss how you may have experienced each of the five SERVQUAL dimensions as a consumer of services. â€Å"Service quality is consistently meeting or exceeding customer expectations (external focus) and service-delivery system performance criteria (internal focus) during all service encounters† Collier Evans, 2013). The 10 dimensions of SERVQUAL are as follows: SERVQUAL Dimensions Reliability Responsiveness Competence Access Courtesy Communication Credibility Security Understanding/knowing the customer tangibles In regards to reliability, I have had amazing reliability with MESA/BOOGIE guitar amplifiers. My MESA amp has lasted over 10 years with no issues. In regards to competence, USAA’s customer service and knowledge of their own products/services continues to amaze me every time I speak to them over the phone. I would also attribute the courtesy, responsiveness, and communication dimensions to USAA, as well. Their representatives are always well spoken, pleasant, and prompt to return inquiries. With understanding/knowing the customer, I would say Pacific Caliber is high on my list. We at Pacific Caliber can recognize the true, earned-value potential in the candidates we place with our clients, because we have been subject matter experts in those fields already. Much of this has to do with military affiliations and core values, as well. Access would go to Cotixansâ„ ¢ Mexican Restaurant. They have amazing food, 24/7, and are adjacent to my home. Security would go to Lockheed Martin’s private flight-test facilities, that is all I can comment on that. References Collier, D., Evans, J. (2013). OM4 (4th ed., Student ed.). Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The Kansas Nebraska Act History Essay

The Kansas Nebraska Act History Essay The Kansas Nebraska Act was introduced in 1854 in the same when any other legislation is introduced, because it received a majority vote in the Senate and the House of Representatives. In order to consider why it was able to achieve this majority it is important to examine what the act aimed to achieve. Both the aims and causes of the act and the reasons why it was supported are intrinsically linked in explaining why the Kansas Nebraska Act was introduced in 1854. The Kansas Nebraska Act was surrounded by controversy both during the process of its introduction and immediately after. The Kansas Nebraska Act revived the issue of slavery and its expansion which had been temporarily calmed following the compromise of 1850. It is logical to consider why the Kansas Nebraska Act was controversial after the examination of the nature of the act and why it was introduced. From this, conclusions can be drawn as to the ways in which the act was divisive and controversial. In order to determine the reasons why the Kansas-Nabraska act was introduced it is logical to examine those who supported it and the reasons for that support. Douglas all aims The obvious place to start when examining the reasons for the introduction of the Kansas-Nebraska Act is to consider its architect. Democratic Senator Douglas, from Illinois, introduced into the senate in 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act for a multitude of reasons. There is little doubt that one of Douglass chief aims for the bill was personal ambition[1]. Young, dynamic, and burning with presidential ambition Douglas sought an issue which would protect his popularity in the North West and win vital support in the south, an area which he had thus far failed to endear himself too.[2] It was also a policy he felt which would unify the sectionalising Democratic Party, the whigs had traditionally been reluctant towards development so Douglas saw the introduction of Kansas and Nebraska as a policy that the democrats could get behind[3]. Despite only being forty-one, Douglas saw himself as the new leader of the Democrats in the Senate, his ultimate ambition however clearly lay for the white h ouse.[4] He hoped that a successful and popular piece of legislation that could unite the Democrats would lead to his presidential nomination. The Kansas-Nebraska Act aimed to add two new states to the Union, further expanding the United States of America. Douglas new that American westward expansion into the unorganised territories west of Missouri and Arkansas would aid the building of the proposed transcontinental railway. It was hoped to eventually build a railway line reaching across the width of the nation from the East Coast connecting to the isolated California on the West Coast. The railway was clearly of some interest to Douglas, it is an indisputable fact that Douglas had been deeply interested in the Pacific railroad project both personally and politically, ever since 1844.[5] He also hoped that along with the railway, a telegraph line could be set up across the nation and a postal system could be developed. It is also often forgotten that in the next session of Congress after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, Douglass main activity was the sponsorship of a Pacific railroad bill.[6] Douglas, it is fair to argue, primarily hoped to introduce Kansas and Nebraska to the Union so as to boost his popularity and to allow for the construction of the transcontinental railway. However Douglas did not stumble blindly into the issue of Kansas Nebraska without being aware that he would have to address the slavery question or fear provoking it. As with the addition of any new state to the union during the pre-civil war era the issue of whether the new state would allow slavery usually presented the most difficulties. Douglass plan for adding Kansas and Nabraksa to the union was to allow the states themselves vote whether or not they would be admitted to the Union as slave or free states. Douglas hoped that by employing popular sovereignty that the Kansas-Nebraska act could maintain the support of both the north and the south of the nation. Eric Foner explains how to Douglas, popular sovereignty embodied the idea of local self-government and offered a middle ground between the extremes of the north and south.[7] Douglas hoped that his plan for popular sovereignty would act as a compromise between north and south in order for his act to get through congress. Muc h evidence suggests that Douglas himself cared little about slavery. He was a Jacksonian Democrat and a much greater believer in the democratic principle of local autonomy and in unionism.[8] After the initial aims of the Kansas Nebraska Act, Douglas hoped that the act would help set a president for the future ways in which the slave status of states should be decided, he aimed to create a solution which would be a compromise between the north and south. Pierce and cabinet It is fair to say that the success of the Kansas Nebraska Act rested on the support of the president. Democratic president Franklin Pierce was at first sceptical over the act. Although he, like Douglas, supported the idea of Westward expansion and the Transcontinental Railway he feared that the act could be divisive. Pierce believed that the Missouri Compromise had kept peace between the north and south. The Missouri Compromise of 1920 was an agreement between pro-slavery and anti-slavery section. It prohibited the expansion of slavery into the area north of the parallel 36Â °30 in the western territories except for within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri. President Pierces cabinet were also unconvinced by Douglass proposal. On Saturday 21st January 1854, the Pierce administration convened to discuss the act. All the cabinet were against the act with the exception of James C Dobbin of North Carolina and future President of the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis.[9] However the following day Douglas met Pierce and persuaded him to support the act and to write a crucial statement repealing the Missouri Compromise.[10] It is certainly the case that Pierce, like Douglas, dreamed of making his mark with westward expansion. Since his inauguration Pierce had hoped to unite the sectionalising nation behind policies of Westward expansion.[11] But he was certainly aware and cautious of the sectional controversy of introducing the act. In the end he caved in to pressure from the South, a region where he had most support.[12] He hoped that the act would retain his strong support in the South whilst being largely accepted in the north. Pierce, perhaps unlike Douglas, was aware that the act was going to gain far more support in the south and be seen as pro-slavery. S Democrats As was to be expected the Southern Democrats were the primary supporters of the Act. Once democratic president Pierces support for the act was ensured, the Democrats with southern allegiances overwhelmingly followed. When the vote on the act was finally cast on the 26th May 1854 57 out of the 59 Southern Democrats voted in support of the act. They had little reason to oppose party policy, especially when it was seen as to the advantage of the South. Although the south were originally indifferent towards the bill, once Southern Democrat Senator David Atchison forced Douglas to write into the provisional bill that the states slavery status would be decided by popular sovereignty, Southern support grew. [13] To the south, popular sovereignty had two basic meaning: first, it meant that neither Congress nor a territorial legislature could exclude slavery from a territory during the territorial stage and secondly, it meant that only a state constitution adopted at the time of statehood cou ld positively disallow slavery.[14] The Kansas Nebraska Act was seen as determining policy for the future, as much as it was for Kansas and Nebraska, therefore the pro-slavery south saw it as allowing the potential expansion of slavery. Once popular sovereignty became a feature of the act most Southern Democrats got behind the bill based on their sectional motives. As well as David Atchison, who backed the act once slavery was not banned in either state, his democrat housemates Robert M. T. Hunter, James M. Mason, Andrew P. Butler as well William O. Goode formed a powerful Southern Democrat group termed the F Street Mess.'[15] Douglas recognised their power in congress and was willing to make the popular sovereignty concession to the south to get them on side. When congress reconvened on December 5, 1853, it reconvened with the support of the F Street Mess, who were hugely influential to the rest of the Southern Democrats.[16] These Southern democrats were keen to seize the Kansas- Nabraska act as their own, they not only wanted to gain support in the South for being behind it but they wanted to display the dominance the pro-southern Democrats had over the party. The Northern Democrats views on the act were a lot more split. When the Kansas-Nabraska Act went to the vote Northern Democrats voted in favour of the act by 44 votes to 42. Those who voted against the act unanimously disagreed with it for sectional reasons; they saw it as a act giving far too much concession to the south. The group of 44 Democrats who voted for the act were nearly all motivated by party loyalty. Their party loyalty was sufficient for them to support their president and the southern sect of their party in a policy which they saw as against the interest of their region. The fact that over half the Northern Democrats supported the act was proof of the strength of the Democratic Party at this time[17]. The North Democrats in support of the act did so in hope of retaining political harmony. They felt that supporting the act would increase political unity of the party. They were also all too aware that their criticism of the act would only act as a boost for the Whigs. To quite a large extent the Kansas-Nebraska Act exposed the sectional cracks in the Democratic party, but it was no way near to the extent it damaged the Whig party. The Kansas-Nabraska Act massively exposed the sectional cracks in the Whig party. The Kansas-Nabraska bill brought the shaky structure of the Whig party tumbling down.[18] Those who supported the Act supported it for regional motives, not due to party loyalty. Not one single Northern Whig voted for it whereas the majority of Southern Whigs did.[19] Pro-Southern Whig, Archibald Dixon, summarised Southern Whigs aims for the act when he managed to convince Douglas to include a section in the Kansas-Nabraska Act which would repeal the Missouri Compromise which prohibited slavery above the 36Â °30 parrelel.[20] The Whigs had been in decline in the South because of the effectiveness of the Democrats policies on slavery. The 33rd United States Congress that begun in 1853 contained a mere two dozen Southern Whigs, in comparison to 64 Democrats.[21] Dixon hoped that by seizing the initiative on the issue he could regain the party much support in the south. Dixon believed that without the rep eal of the Missouri Compromise explicitly included in the Act slaveholders would be unwilling to move into Kansas and Nebraska until slavery was actually approved by the settlers. Without slaveholders moving into the region before the vote was to be taken it would almost certainly be a free-soil result. Dixon hoped that the introduction of the explicit repeal of the Missouri compromise into the Act would make proslavery southern support the act and want to move into the new territories in time to influence the vote on slavery. In this way Dixon hoped he could take the support of the pro-slavery south from the democrats into the hands of the whigs. [22] After the repeal was secured a majority of Southern Whigs got behind the act because of almost solely regional reasons. Although the western expansion of the US and the transcontinental railway were supported, as they were by almost every member of congress, the issue of slavery had dwarfed these initial aims. 12 out of 19 Southern Wh igs voted of the Kansas Nebraska Act, for those 12 it is safe to say that the issue of the potential expansion of slavery was the main motive. 6 out of the 7 Southern Whigs who opposed it were from the upper south.[23] Every single of the 45 northern Whigs, on the 26th May 1954, voted against the act. This could not be more evidence for the sectional divisions which emerged in the Whig party largely as a result of the Kansas Nebraska Act. Enf of part one Northern Whigs Although examination of the Northern Whigs feelings toward the act tell us nothing of the positive hopes of the act and why it was voted in they reflect the reasons why the act was so controversial. To the Northern Whigs, and a lot of the population of the North, the Kansas Nebraska Act was seen as concerningly pro-southern. The North repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850, which had banned the expansion of slavery into the southern unorganised territories,meant that slavery was free to expand once again. This was certainly seen as a backward step by all abolitionists, but even those who wouldnt class themselves as abolitionist were concerned with the growing power of the South. The Kansas Nebraska Act reawakened sectional concerns in the north and south that had laid dormant since the Compromise of 1850. This sectional conflicts transferred as far as both parties in the two party system. Although the democrats showed greater unity that the whigs sectional diffe rences were still evident. For the whigs, the Kansas Nebraska act tore them apart. Northern Whigs were outraged at the support of some of the Southern Whigs for the act, whereas Southern Whigs become more self-consciously Southern losing concern for party unity and policies.[24] The North popular soveriegty 164 Opinionf of some northern democrats Douglas had turned traitor, they said, in return for slaveholder support for the presidency. This publicity relied heavily on moral absolutes: the Missouri Compromise was not just an act of Congress; it was a sacred pledge. The repeal was not just a political maneauver; it was the result of an atrocious plot. Douglas was not, conceivably, trying to find a way to keep Nebraska free and also get it organized; he was a Judas, a benedict Arnold, selling Nebraska into slavery. Free SOilers The North Kansas Nebraska Land 144 Settles were anxious to move in, but they could not legally buy the land until Congress organized a territory, the land was surveyed, and the government put it up for sale. According to the terms of the Compromise of 1820, slavery was forever prohibited from the area to be organized. Know Nothings + Two Party System The Whigs were not the only party that the controversies of the Kansas Nebraska Act tore apart. The slavery issues stirred up by the act were one of the primary reasons for the collapse of the Know Nothing Party. The Know nothings were a short lived, semi secretive, anti immigration political party. They enjoyed the peak of their success between 1854 and 1856. They were a semi-secretive, local, nature had allowed them to gain much success without having a divisive opinion on slavery. However, by their National Convention in June 1855 their success meant they were forced to take a stance on the issue of slavery. Eventually they took a stance which reaffirming the Kansas Nebraska Act causing many Northern Know Nothings to leave the party concerned over the Southern influence over the party. Southern members also grew equally suspicious of northern members proslavery attitudes. By the middle of 1855, the party began to divide into sectional camps, a party built on unionism and xenophob ia could no longer survive the sectional issues raised by Kansas Nebraska.[25] Many expected that they might triumph at the 1856 elections but their support had dropped massively by that point largely due to the issue of slavery. The more that Southern indifference to the act become strong support, the quicker Northern opinion was aroused against it. Sectional differences overtook party loyalty. As a result the South voted almost solidly for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and although a slight majority of Northern Democratic votes ensured its passage, there was, as a result huge northern outcry against the measure lead to the formation of anti-Nebraska coalitions in many states to fight the mid-term elections in the autumn of 1854.[26] Within a year or two of the introduction of Douglass bill, an increasingly solid South faced a new North sectional party dedicated to resisting the further extension of slavery.[27] 139-140 destruction of the two party system, interest became far to sectionalized, had begun way before Kansas Nebraska but was exacerbated by it. 142 By 1853 the democrat party had split into three factions the Barnburners, now led by John A Dix; the Softs, led by Marcy; and the Hard, led by ex-senator Daniel S Dickninson. Antislaery congressman issued the Appeal of the Independent Democrats. Written by two abolitionist from Ohio Congressman Joshua Giddings and Senator Salmon P Chase the appeal proved to be one of the most effective pieces of political persuasion in American history. Quotes in book 414 foner Arguably the continued growth of the Republican Party, a party who was born out of anti Kansas-Nebraska sentiment, is testimony to how much the issue continued to be divisive after 1854. Already sectional issues? Put in two party systemThere is plenty of historiography which debates the most significant consequences of the Kansas-nabraska Act. One which carries a lot of weight is that of Peter J Parish big quote, maybe put in other sections 53 Conclusion Holt (Political parties) 74 Pairsh 52 Holt 144 Foner 414 Potter 170 Potter 170 Foner 414 Potter 172,173 Potter 161 Potter 161-162 Holt 140 Holt 147 Parish 52 Cooper 347 The Road to Disunion: Volume 1: Secessionists at Bay, 1776-1854 William W. Freehling. 556 (Oxford, 1991) Freehling 556 Parish 53 Parish 53 Holt 143 Cooper 350 Holt 148 Parish 53 Billington, Ray Allen, The Protestant Crusade 1800-1860: A Study of the Origins of American Nativism, New York, 1938. 423 Parish 53 parish

Friday, October 25, 2019

Teens Parental Friend Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"It’s okay what you do here. I’m a cool mom.† That’s a quote from the latest teen movie, Mean Girls. Most parents think that being their teen’s best friend is something that will help them understand why teens do what they do. Unfortunately that’s not the case. Parents who give their teens whatever they want at whatever cost are wrong. They are teaching their teen to spoil their own child in the future. They also can start teaching their teen bad habits by not giving them chores to do or making them do homework. When parents become close friends with their teen the role of the authority figure is lost, which causes the teen to become lazy, dependent, and prevents them from succeeding to their highest performance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Parents who give their teen whatever they want at whatever cost is spoiling their child. Yes, we all understand that parents want to stay active and participate in their teen’s life. If a parent spoils his teen with new clothes, shoes, video games, and money that gives the teen the impression that it’s okay to ask for whatever they want, in reality that’s not possible. The teens have to work for what he wants. In a research 40 percent of parents said that they would buy their child everything they wanted if they could (USA Today). Sampson Lee Blair said, â€Å"Trying to play to every little whim or desire will create problems for the child later in life.† I have to agree. A parent can still be his teen’s friend, but in a different way, a par...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Boldwood’s Christmas party Essay

Bathsheba Everdene is the main character in a Thomas Hardy novel called â€Å"Far From the Madding Crowd†. Which is set in Wessex. Bathsheba’s character is along with many other things decisive, brisk, vain, businesslike, and independent. However you see her evolve throughout the book, mainly as a result of her marriage to Frank Troy. At the beginning of the story Hardy seems to focus on her bad qualities, though you still see people wishing to be married to her. Some good qualities are shown as well like her thoughtful response to save Gabriel’s life. Her first fault is vanity. This trait is mentioned in chapter one, almost everything else follows on from this. Vanity affects the way she behaves in a powerful way. Her vanity makes her annoyed and angry at not attracting Boldwood’s attention. When she meets Frank Troy he plays up to her vanity by paying her compliments and showing her flirtatious affection. By the end of the story she shows that she has grown out of or overcome her vanity. Instead of wanting to stand out and have everyone looking at her, at Boldwood’s Christmas party, she dresses down and wants to merge into the background. You can also see she is not vain because when Boldwood praises her beauty the comments have no effect. Her life experiences have caused this change in her. The main life experience is her marriage to Frank Troy which affected her the most. She transforms from a confident character to a submissive and introverted figure she becomes less and less like her usual self. The first sign you see of independence is fairly near the beginning in chapter three, when we see her riding the horse. Instead of doing it the conventional ladylike way we see her lie flat on her back on top of the horse’s back. This could be showing her independence and unconventional behaviour, this would tie in with an independent spirit â€Å"too wild†. She likes to have independence so later on in the story when this is taken away from her we see her rely on Gabriel Oak. She always had her own independence, but when she got married she lost that independence and we see her seek advice and help from Gabriel Oak. At one point in the story she rejects Gabriel’s advice, but later on in chapter fifty four she asks for it. This shows a big change in her personality. She once would have done her own thing and maybe even sacked Gabriel for his ‘advice’ whereas she now values both him and his opinion. Her independence continues to be shown throughout the rest if the story, even after her marriage to Frank Troy. Independence along with confidence is showed when she goes to the corn market and is the only woman there. Another characteristic shown is confidence with businesslike skills. An example of this would be when she takes it upon herself to sack her bailiff. â€Å"I have formed a resolution to have no bailiff at all†. Bathsheba’s confidence continues to be shown with her decision to pay the workers herself in chapter ten. Bathsheba has a lot of confidence in herself. â€Å"In short I shall astonish you all†. This is said shortly after her decision to have no bailiff when she is convincing the staff that she can manage. The speech shows her self-confidence shining and her belief in her own ability. Towards the end of the novel we see her find an even balance between the overconfidence which she showed through the beginning of the novel which made her appear full of herself, compared with when she had little or no confidence and relied on Frank Troy, to finally become a person who can cope on her own but realises she cannot do everything to the best of her ability without assistance. Before we see her lose her self confidence she shows she believes in herself by going to the Corn Market, making her the only woman present. One thing bothers Bathsheba; the fact that Boldwood is the only person who does not take notice of her. This lack of attention shows us how she craves to be the centre of attention; you could even go as far as calling her an attention seeker. She will do silly antics in an attempt to attract people’s attention. For example the Valentine’s Day card. Bathsheba tries to make herself popular with everyone especially men; this seems to be her biggest desire. In chapter thirteen she mischievously sends a Valentine card to Boldwood to attract his attention. This starts Bathsheba’s change. She wants people to notice her and does not sit around waiting she takes action for herself. The sending of the Valentines card shows her vain characteristic. A big characteristic she shows throughout is impulsiveness, she does things without thinking. The Valentine’s Day card is an example of this; another example of this earlier in the book is when she chases Gabriel Oak after he had been wrongly informed that many men wanted her hand in marriage; though she did not want to accept his proposal. She did not think that her actions would show this until after the conversation her and Gabriel had. Many of her actions are on impulse she doesn’t think things through first. Later on however she takes time to think about Fanny’s grave and she decides to clean it up and replant the bulbs on it. This also shows she can be selfless. When Gabriel gives her advice early in the novel she decides she doesn’t like what he has to say. She sacks him whilst she was angry and acting highly impulsively. This demonstrates how she doesn’t want to face the truth even though she values his opinion; later in the novel after the â€Å"drowning† of Frank Troy she relents asking him for his thoughts.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Choice of Final Products and Ingredients

For my final product I have chosen to make Pork and Apple Turnovers as in Objective three they proved to best meet my specifications and appealed the most to my target audience. In this objective I modified my choice of product and have added more fruit to the final product so as it can best fit with my brief and encourage people to eat more fruit This table on the next page will show the ingredients that I will be using in my final product with reasons why. I have also added a table to show what equipment I will be using and why. Pork sausage meat Apple Onion Plain white flour Margarine Water Salt and pepper This ingredient was for the flavour of my turnover. It created the odour of the final product and gave the appearance of the filling. Adds colour and texture to the product and providing it with a sweet odour. I chose apple as it was a popular fruit for my target group and I need to encourage them to consume more fruit. Adds a contrasting taste to the product and gives the product a better texture. Flour is used in this product to help bulk the mixture and give it texture. This is used as a shortening agent to create the ‘shortcrust pastry'. This particular ingredient will help to make the pastry crisp and crumbly in texture. Water was used in this product to help bind the ingredients together in both the flour and the filling. Used to add flavour to the product which contrasts to that of pork, apple or onion. Basic seasoning. Knife Food processor Bowl Oven Weighing scales Use to accurately cut the apple and onion and ensure pieces are small To ensure the continuity of textures so as the filling has a constant taste with each bite. Used for the mixing of ingredients such as the pastry mixture and the initial mixing of the filling. Used to cook the product at the end of mixing both parts of the making process and once it has all come together. Used so able to accurately weigh out each individual ingredient so as the final outcome is to the best of my potential. Control System for Final Product Control Reason How? Products and ingredients are cooked thoroughly. To ensure the killing of bacteria and to avoid the spoilage of the product and under cooking. Use the timer on the oven face to see accurately how long the product has been cooking for. Look to see if the food is not burnt. Set the ovens to the correct temperature Ensure that all coatings are taken of the sausage meat Plastic is a choking hazard, to ensure quality Look to see if the covering has been completely taken off Ingredients are of the highest quality. To ensure quality and longer shelf-life Buy the ingredients from approved retailers who are well known for their high quality food products, preferably the day before. Check to see that the ingredients are of high quality. Apple and onion chopped to a suitable and uniform size. To ensure constant texture in the product and quality Look and compare chopped pieces Weighing and measuring To ensure that the correct proportions of ingredients are used. Use accurate scales and measuring jug. Cooked and raw meat are kept separate To ensure cross-contamination does not occur. Clean each surface thoroughly after each stage and use clean or different utensils for each stage. Circumference and weight of final product is accurate within each product To ensure equal quality in each product. Measure the circumference and weight accurately No foreign bodies are able to enter the product. To decrease the risk of cross contamination and the growth of bacteria Look to see if any large pieces can be spotted In manufacture packaging is sealed To avoid contamination Spotters on the production line to check for the problems.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Biography of Thomas Gage, British Army General

Biography of Thomas Gage, British Army General Thomas Gage (March 10, 1718 or 1719–April 2, 1787) was a British Army general who commanded troops during the beginning of the American Revolution. Prior to this, he served as the colonial governor of Massachusetts Bay. In 1775, he was replaced as the British military commander-in-chief by General William Howe. Fast Facts: Thomas Gage Known For: Gage commanded British Army forces during the early stages of the American Revolution.Born: March 10, 1718 or 1719 in Firle, EnglandParents: Thomas Gage and Benedicta Maria Teresa HallDied: April 2, 1787 in London, EnglandEducation: Westminster SchoolSpouse: Margaret Kemble Gage (m. 1758)Children: Henry Gage, William Gage, Charlotte Gage, Louisa Gage, Marion Gage, Harriet Gage, John Gage, Emily Gage Early Life The second son of the 1st Viscount Gage and Benedicta Maria Teresa Hall, Thomas Gage was born in Firle, England, in 1718 or 1719. At the Westminster School, he became friends with John Burgoyne, Richard Howe, and the future Lord George Germain. Gage developed a fierce attachment to the Anglican Church and a deep distaste for Roman Catholicism. After leaving school, he joined the British Army as an ensign and commenced recruiting duties in Yorkshire. Flanders and Scotland In 1741, Gage purchased a commission as a lieutenant in the 1st Northampton Regiment.  The following year, in May 1742, he transferred to Battereaus Foot Regiment with the rank of captain-lieutenant. In 1743, Gage was promoted to captain and joined the Earl of Albemarles staff as an aide-de-camp in Flanders for service during the War of the Austrian Succession. With Albemarle, Gage saw action during the Duke of Cumberlands defeat at the Battle of Fontenoy. Shortly thereafter, he, along with the bulk of Cumberlands army, returned to Britain to deal with the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Gage served in Scotland during the Culloden campaign. Peacetime After campaigning with Albemarle in the Low Countries from 1747 to 1748, Gage was able to purchase a commission as a major. After moving to Colonel John Lees 55th Regiment of Foot, Gage began a long friendship with future American general Charles Lee. A member of Whites Club in London, he proved popular with his peers and cultivated important political connections. With the 55th, Gage proved himself an able leader and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1751. Two years later, he mounted a campaign for Parliament but was defeated in the election of April 1754. After remaining in Britain another year, Gage and his regiment, re-designated the 44th, was sent to North America in to take part in General Edward Braddocks campaign against Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War. Service in America Braddocks army moved slowly as it sought to cut a road through the wilderness. On July 9, 1755, the British column neared its target from the southeast with Gage leading vanguard. Spotting a mixed force of French and Native Americans, his men initiated the Battle of the Monongahela. The engagement quickly went against the British and in several hours of fighting, Braddock was killed and his army routed. In the course of the battle, the commander of the 44th, Colonel Peter Halkett, was killed and Gage was slightly wounded. Following the battle, Captain Robert Orme accused Gage of poor field tactics. While the accusations were dismissed, it prevented Gage from receiving permanent command of the 44th. In the course of the campaign, he became acquainted with George Washington and the two men stayed in contact for several years after the battle. After a role in a failed expedition along the Mohawk River intended to resupply Fort Oswego, Gage was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to take part in an abortive attempt against the French fortress of Louisbourg. There, he received permission to raise a regiment of light infantry for service in North America. New York Frontier Promoted to colonel in December 1757, Gage spent the winter in New Jersey recruiting for his new unit. On July 7, 1758, Gage led his new command against Fort Ticonderoga as part of Major General James Abercrombies failed attempt to capture the fortress. Slightly wounded in the attack, Gage, with some assistance from his brother Lord Gage, was able to secure promotion to brigadier general. In New York City, Gage met with Jeffery Amherst, the new British commander-in-chief in America. While in the city, he married Margaret Kemble on December 8, 1758. The following month, Gage was appointed to command Albany and its surrounding posts. Montreal Amherst gave Gage command of British forces on Lake Ontario with orders to capture Fort La Galette and Montreal. Concerned that expected reinforcements from Fort Duquesne had not arrived, Gage suggested reinforcing Niagara and Oswego instead while Amherst and Major General James Wolfe moved into Canada. This lack of aggression was noted by Amherst and when the attack on Montreal was launched, Gage was placed in command of the rear guard. Following the citys capture in 1760, Gage was installed as military governor. Though he disliked Catholics and Native Americans, he proved an able administrator. Commander-in-Chief In 1761, Gage was promoted to major general and two years later returned to New York as acting commander-in-chief. The appointment was made official on November 16, 1764. As the new commander-in-chief in America, Gage inherited a Native American uprising known as Pontiacs Rebellion. Though he sent out expeditions to deal with the Native Americans, he also pursued diplomatic solutions to the conflict as well. After two years of sporadic fighting, a peace treaty was signed in July 1766. At the same time, however, tensions were rising in the colonies due to a variety of taxes imposed by London. Revolution Approaches In response to the outcry raised against the 1765 Stamp Act, Gage began recalling troops from the frontier and concentrating them in coastal cities, particularly New York. To accommodate his men, Parliament passed the Quartering Act (1765), which allowed troops to be housed in private residences. With the passage of the 1767 Townshend Acts, the focus of resistance shifted north to Boston, and Gage responded by sending troops to that city. On March 5, 1770, the situation came to a head with the Boston Massacre. After being taunted, British troops fired into a crowd, killing five civilians.  Gages understanding of the underlying issues evolved during this time.  Initially thinking the unrest to be the work of a small number of elites, he later came to believe that the problem was the result of democracy in colonial governments. In 1772, Gage requested a leave of absence and returned to England the following year. He missed the Boston Tea Party (December 16, 1773) and the outcry in response to the Intolerable Acts. Having proven himself an able administrator, Gage was appointed to replace Thomas Hutchinson as governor of Massachusetts on April 2, 1774. Gage was initially well received, as Bostonians were happy to be rid of Hutchinson. His popularity quickly began to decline, though, as he moved to implement the Intolerable Acts. With tensions increasing, Gage began a series of raids in September to seize colonial munitions. While an early raid on Somerville, Massachusetts, was successful, it touched off the Powder Alarm, which saw thousands of colonial militiamen mobilize and move toward Boston.  Though later dispersed, the event had an impact on Gage. Concerned about not escalating the situation, Gage did not attempt to quash groups such as the Sons of Liberty and was criticized by his own men for being too lenient as a result. In April 1775, Gage ordered 700 men to march to Concord to capture colonial powder and guns. On the way, active fighting began at Lexington and was continued at Concord. Though British troops were able to clear each town, they sustained heavy casualties during their march back to Boston. Following the fighting at Lexington and Concord, Gage found himself besieged in Boston by a growing colonial army. Concerned that his wife, a colonial by birth, was aiding the enemy, Gage sent her away to England. Reinforced in May by 4,500 men under Major General William Howe, Gage began planning a breakout. This was thwarted in June when colonial forces fortified Breeds Hill north of the city. In the resulting Battle of Bunker Hill, Gages men were able to capture the heights but sustained over 1,000 casualties in the process. That October, Gage was recalled to England and Howe was given temporary command of the British forces in America. Death In England, Gage reported to Lord George Germain, now the Secretary of State of the American Colonies, that a large army would be necessary to defeat the Americans and that foreign troops would need to be hired. In April 1776, a command was permanently given to Howe and Gage was placed on the inactive list. He remained in semi-retirement until April 1781, when Amherst called upon him to raise troops to resist a possible French invasion. Promoted to general on November 20, 1782, Gage saw little active service and died at the Isle of Portland on April 2, 1787. Legacy Gage was survived by his wife and five children. His son Henry went on to become a British Army officer and member of Parliament, while his son William became a commander in the British Navy. The Canadian village of Gagetown was named after him.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Analytic Method of Teaching Phonics

The Analytic Method of Teaching Phonics Are you looking for ideas for teaching phonics to your elementary students? The analytic method is a simple approach that has been around for nearly one hundred years. Here is a quick resource for you to learn about the method, and how to teach it. What Is Analytic Phonics? The Analytic Phonics method teaches children the phonic relationships among words. Children are taught to analyze letter-sound relationships and look to decode words based upon spelling and letter patterns and their sounds. For example, if the child knows bat, cat and hat, then the word mat will be easy to read. What Is the Appropriate Age Range? This method is appropriate for first and second graders and struggling readers. How to Teach It First, the students must know all the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. The child will need to be able to identify the sounds in the beginning, middle and end of a word. Once the students are able to do that, the teacher then selects a text that has a lot of letter sounds.Next, the teacher presents the words to the students (usually site words are selected to start). For example, the teacher places these words on the board: light, bright, night or green, grass, grow.The teacher then asks the students how these words are alike. The student would respond, They all have ight at the end of the word. or They all have gr at the beginning of the word.Next, the teacher focuses on the sound of the words make by saying, How does the ight sound in these words? or How does the gr sound in these words?The teacher picks a text for the students to read that has the sound they are focusing on. For example, choose a text that has the word family, ight (light, might, fight, right) or choose a text that has the word family, gr (green, grass, grow, gray, great, grape). Finally, the teacher reinforces to the students that they just used a decoding strategy to help them read and understand words based upon the relationships letters have with one another. Tips for Success Use books that have predictable, repetitive sentences.Encourage children to use picture clues for any unknown words.Teach students about word families. (now, how cow) (down, frown, brown)Encourage students to look for consonant clusters at the beginning and ends of words. ( bl,fr,st, nd)When teaching analytic phonics, make sure to emphasize  the importance of each sound.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Actions that the MLRO of BCD should take

Given that Radovan Rankovich (RR) is allegedly wanted by the authorities in the Ukraine for criminal actions against the state, and has received a recent transfer of ?15 million from a Corporate Service Provider in Cyprus, it is likely that this would warrant a disclosure to NCA for investigation. In accordance with this, the MLRO will be required to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with NCA and subsequently liaise with them to deal with this matter accordingly (Ellinger et al; 2011: 97). Part 7 of POCA makes it a requirement for banks to make a disclosure to NCA if they reasonably suspect that a person is involved in money laundering (s. 329). If the MLRO fails to make such a disclosure then he or she may be found criminally liable under this Act for a failure to disclose (s. 331). This is because a person commits an offence under s. 329 if they; acquire, use or have possession of, criminal property. Since a bank would fall within the scope of this section, it is possible that BCD Bank would be subject to criminal proceedings if they failed to take the appropriate action and thus make the relevant disclosures. If the MLRO does not believe that the grounds of suspicion are sufficient to report the matter to NCA, then the MLRO will be required to make further inquiries (International Monetary Fund, 2011: 65). Once the MLRO has made a report to NCA, the report will be ‘protected’ under s. 337 so that nothing in the report shall be taken to breach any restriction on the disclosure of information. Given that BCD Bank may have engaged in money laundering by allowing RR’s transactions to take place, they may have a defence under s. 338 if they make demonstrate that they made the disclosure as soon as possible. Similar provisions also apply under th e TA if the person is also suspected of terrorist financing. As Christian has received a text message stating that RR is wanted by the authorities in the Ukraine for criminal actions against the state, it is likely that the MLRO will also be required to comply with the provisions under the TA for a reasonable suspicion of terrorist financing. An obligation to report under the TA will therefore arise which means that the MLRO will be required to disclose the identity of RR, any information that relates to the matter and the whereabouts of the laundered property. There are two different types of report that may be made by the MLRO, namely protected reports and authorised reports. A protected disclosure is made by a person during the course of their trade, profession or employment. This type of disclosure is generally made by a person who is carrying our professional activities. An authorised disclosure is made by a person who is about to commit a prohibited act or has already committed a prohibited act (Bastable and Yeo, 2011: 108). Since the bank has already dealt with the property that is suspected of being laundered, it is more appropriate for an authorised disclosure to be made. The MLRO will also be required to obtain consent from NCA under ss. 335 and 336 to determine whether Christian can action any further transfers out of RR’s account. This will be done by making a ‘consent report’ to NCA, which will then block any transactions for seven working days. If NCA gives consent to the MLRO, the MLRO will then be able to give consent to Christian to carry out the transactions (Bastable and Yeo, 2011: 108). If NCA refuse consent, however, the proposed transactions will be frozen for a further 31 days, unless consent is granted during that period; R (on the application of UMBS Online Ltd [2007] WL 1292620. The Risks and Issues for the Bank This particular issue regarding RR is likely to be problematic for the BCD Bank as they will want to act in the best interests of their customer, namely RR, so that they remain in business with them whilst at the same time they are required to fulfil certain obligations imposed upon them by law. Because BCD will be required to disclose their suspicions even if RR has not acted in a criminal manner, this will have a damaging effect upon RR’s reputation and as put by Hislop (2009); â€Å"absent bad faith, little more than a â€Å"bad feeling† can trigger a banks disclosure obligations under POCA 2002, with in some cases catastrophic commercial consequences for the customer and a damning of his hitherto â€Å"good name† in the business community.† If the banks suspicions are incorrect, this can be significantly detrimental for RR. As such, the bank will need to be careful that they are striking a balance between the interests of RR with its duties to disclose . In the recent case of SHAH and another v HSBC private bank (UK) Ltd (2009) EWHC 79 (QB) the implications Part 7 has upon the rights of the individual and the banking business was clearly highlighted. Here, it was demonstrated that where a bank makes a SAR in respect of a suspicious transaction, they may not be provided with protection if the customer decides to challenge the banks suspicions in the future. This is so, despite the fact that a criminal offence may have been committed if the bank failed to make such a disclosure. Customers will have a right to challenge the banks suspicions with the bank then being required to prove that the suspicion was reasonable. It may be difficult to determine how the bank can justify making a disclosure since it was made clear by the court in this case that â€Å"the defendant must think that there is a possibility, which is more than fanciful, that the relevant facts exist. A vague feeling of unease would not suffice.† The bank will therefore be taking a risk in many any disclosure, especially this one since it will have to be shown that the text message was sufficient enough for a disclosure to be made. Furthermore, even if the circu mstances do render a disclosure justified, the bank’s decision may still be challenged which can be costly and time consuming. In K Ltd v National Westminster Bank plc [2007] 1 WLR 311 it was noted by the Court that; â€Å"to intervene between a banker and his customer in the performance of the contract of mandate is a serious interference with the free flow of trade. But Parliament has considered that a limited interference is to be tolerated in preference to allowing the undoubted evil of money-laundering to run rife in the commercial community.† Therefore, even though such a disclosure may interfere with the relationship between the bank and RR, such interference will be necessary if it will be likely to prevent money laundering from taking place. The bank needs to be clear that an interference of RR’s account is appropriate on the circumstances, since a frozen bank account for a period of time has in the past been considered a ‘grave injustice’ in the case of Squirrell Limited v National Westminster Bank plc (Customs and Excise Commissioners intervening [2006] 1 WLR 637. Here, the customer’s funds were frozen resulting in the customer being unable to afford the legal fees it would cost to challenge the decision. Therefore, if RR’s funds were frozen, which subsequently prevented RR from challenging the decision; it is unlikely that this would be deemed appropriate by the court. In accordance with this, it has been said that the test for suspicion is â€Å"a purely subjective matter† ( Medroft, 2010: 190). The decision as to whether the suspicion is reasonable will therefore depend upon whether Christian actually believed that the transaction was suspicious. If it cannot be found that this is the case, the interference cannot be considered justifiable and a breach of the customer’s human rights may also be established as in K Ltd. The bank will therefore be required to consider whether ‘reasonable grounds’ do actually exist, having regard to the elements constituting market abuse offences (Hudson and Hutchinson, 2009: 1). There are many inherent risks that are associated with disclosures and as such, it is vital that the bank is aware of its exact rights and obligations. In SHAH the court found that the bank did not act in an unreasonable manner which is likely to be the case in the instant situation. As such, it will most likely be difficult for RR to show that the bank had not acted in good faith. However, it could be argued that there was an unreasonable delay by the bank to make the disclosure under s. 338(2). As a result of this, the bank could be exposed to liability for breach of its duty of care (Medroft, 2010: 190). Whether this is acceptable remains an arguable subject but as expressed by Benjamin (2007: 62); â€Å"here the objective is not informed consent to risk but combating crime.à ¢â‚¬  Accordingly, it is therefore generally accepted that a bank’s interference will be justified on public policy grounds. The bank will still be subjected to many risks when making a disclosure, nonetheless, and must therefore consider whether the consequences of making a disclosure can be justified (Ellinger et al. 2010: 114). In addition, if the bank decides to make a disclosure, they must be careful not to allow the customer to find out as they can be found liable for ‘tipping off. This is another issue that may arise since a customer could become aware that a disclosure has been made simply due to the fact that their account has been suspended. It could be said that the bank is in a difficult situation as whatever option it takes, sanctions may still be imposed. As one judge noted in Governer Company of the Bank of Scotland v A Ltd [2000] Lloyd’s Rep Bank 271, 287; â€Å"the bank may commit a criminal offence if it pays or if it refuses to pay.† Furthermore, if the bank makes a disclosure based on its suspicions, which later turn out to be unfounded, the bank risks civil liability for breaching its contract with its customer (Ellinger et al: 2010: 114). This is because the bank will have frozen the customer’s account which would have prevented payments from being made in and out of the account. Because the banks have a significant burden imposed upon them when it comes to dealing with money laundering, some attempt has been made to ensure that banks acting in good faith will not face criminal liability. For example, it was held by the court in C v S [1999] 2 All ER 343 that â€Å"it would not normally be an abuse of process to prosecute a bank which was doing no more than obeying a court order for disclosure.† Still, it is necessary for the bank to consider all of the risks before considering whether to make a disclosure or not. Overall, it is necessary on the facts for the MLRO of BCD Bank to make a disclosure to NCA since it does appear that the suspicions are reasonable. This is based upon the transaction of ?15 million that was made recently as well as the text message that Christian has received. Whilst the bank would be required to examine the potential issues with disclosing such information and freezing the account of RR this appears necessary and in the public interest. It will most likely prevent money laundering activities from taking place and will ensure that Christian, the MLRO and the bank are complying with their obligations. References Bastable, G., and Yeo, N., (2011). Money Laundering Law and Regulation: A Practical Guide, Oxford University Press. Benjamin, J., (2007). Financial Law. OUP Oxford. Ellinger, E. P., Lomnicka, E., and Hare, C., (2011) Ellinger’s Modern Banking Law, (Oxford University Press. Ellinger, E. P., Lomnicka, E., and Hare, C., (2010) Ellinger’s Modern Banking Law. 5th Edition. OUP Oxford. Hislop, D., (2009). ‘Banks, SARS the Customer’ 159 New Law Journal 1099, Issue 7380. International Monetary Fund., (2011) Banking and Insurance, Business Economics. Medcroft, N., (2010). A Banker’s Liability for Damages Arising from Compliance with PT 7 POCA’ 4 Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 227, Issue 4. Medcroft, N., (2009). Refusing to Execute Payment Instructions Where a Bank Suspects Money Laundering. 4 Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 190, Issue 4. Hudson, D., and Hutchinson, K., (2009). Suspicious Transactions Reports: Reporting Obligations of Financial Institutions in the UK. Complinet, [Accessed 07 June, 2014]. Cases C v S [1999] 2 All ER 343 Governer Company of the Bank of Scotland v A Ltd [2000] Lloyd’s Rep Bank 271, 287 K Ltd v National Westminster Bank plc [2007] 1 WLR 311 R (on the application of UMBS Online Ltd [2007] WL 1292620 SHAH and another v HSBC private bank (UK) Ltd (2009) EWHC 79 (QB) Squirrell Limited v National Westminster Bank plc (Customs and Excise Commissioners intervening [2006] 1 WLR 637 Actions that the MLRO of BCD should take Given that Radovan Rankovich (RR) is allegedly wanted by the authorities in the Ukraine for criminal actions against the state, and has received a recent transfer of ?15 million from a Corporate Service Provider in Cyprus, it is likely that this would warrant a disclosure to NCA for investigation. In accordance with this, the MLRO will be required to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with NCA and subsequently liaise with them to deal with this matter accordingly (Ellinger et al; 2011: 97). Part 7 of POCA makes it a requirement for banks to make a disclosure to NCA if they reasonably suspect that a person is involved in money laundering (s. 329). If the MLRO fails to make such a disclosure then he or she may be found criminally liable under this Act for a failure to disclose (s. 331). This is because a person commits an offence under s. 329 if they; acquire, use or have possession of, criminal property. Since a bank would fall within the scope of this section, it is possible that BCD Bank would be subject to criminal proceedings if they failed to take the appropriate action and thus make the relevant disclosures. If the MLRO does not believe that the grounds of suspicion are sufficient to report the matter to NCA, then the MLRO will be required to make further inquiries (International Monetary Fund, 2011: 65). Once the MLRO has made a report to NCA, the report will be ‘protected’ under s. 337 so that nothing in the report shall be taken to breach any restriction on the disclosure of information. Given that BCD Bank may have engaged in money laundering by allowing RR’s transactions to take place, they may have a defence under s. 338 if they make demonstrate that they made the disclosure as soon as possible. Similar provisions also apply under th e TA if the person is also suspected of terrorist financing. As Christian has received a text message stating that RR is wanted by the authorities in the Ukraine for criminal actions against the state, it is likely that the MLRO will also be required to comply with the provisions under the TA for a reasonable suspicion of terrorist financing. An obligation to report under the TA will therefore arise which means that the MLRO will be required to disclose the identity of RR, any information that relates to the matter and the whereabouts of the laundered property. There are two different types of report that may be made by the MLRO, namely protected reports and authorised reports. A protected disclosure is made by a person during the course of their trade, profession or employment. This type of disclosure is generally made by a person who is carrying our professional activities. An authorised disclosure is made by a person who is about to commit a prohibited act or has already committed a prohibited act (Bastable and Yeo, 2011: 108). Since the bank has already dealt with the property that is suspected of being laundered, it is more appropriate for an authorised disclosure to be made. The MLRO will also be required to obtain consent from NCA under ss. 335 and 336 to determine whether Christian can action any further transfers out of RR’s account. This will be done by making a ‘consent report’ to NCA, which will then block any transactions for seven working days. If NCA gives consent to the MLRO, the MLRO will then be able to give consent to Christian to carry out the transactions (Bastable and Yeo, 2011: 108). If NCA refuse consent, however, the proposed transactions will be frozen for a further 31 days, unless consent is granted during that period; R (on the application of UMBS Online Ltd [2007] WL 1292620. The Risks and Issues for the Bank This particular issue regarding RR is likely to be problematic for the BCD Bank as they will want to act in the best interests of their customer, namely RR, so that they remain in business with them whilst at the same time they are required to fulfil certain obligations imposed upon them by law. Because BCD will be required to disclose their suspicions even if RR has not acted in a criminal manner, this will have a damaging effect upon RR’s reputation and as put by Hislop (2009); â€Å"absent bad faith, little more than a â€Å"bad feeling† can trigger a banks disclosure obligations under POCA 2002, with in some cases catastrophic commercial consequences for the customer and a damning of his hitherto â€Å"good name† in the business community.† If the banks suspicions are incorrect, this can be significantly detrimental for RR. As such, the bank will need to be careful that they are striking a balance between the interests of RR with its duties to disclose . In the recent case of SHAH and another v HSBC private bank (UK) Ltd (2009) EWHC 79 (QB) the implications Part 7 has upon the rights of the individual and the banking business was clearly highlighted. Here, it was demonstrated that where a bank makes a SAR in respect of a suspicious transaction, they may not be provided with protection if the customer decides to challenge the banks suspicions in the future. This is so, despite the fact that a criminal offence may have been committed if the bank failed to make such a disclosure. Customers will have a right to challenge the banks suspicions with the bank then being required to prove that the suspicion was reasonable. It may be difficult to determine how the bank can justify making a disclosure since it was made clear by the court in this case that â€Å"the defendant must think that there is a possibility, which is more than fanciful, that the relevant facts exist. A vague feeling of unease would not suffice.† The bank will therefore be taking a risk in many any disclosure, especially this one since it will have to be shown that the text message was sufficient enough for a disclosure to be made. Furthermore, even if the circu mstances do render a disclosure justified, the bank’s decision may still be challenged which can be costly and time consuming. In K Ltd v National Westminster Bank plc [2007] 1 WLR 311 it was noted by the Court that; â€Å"to intervene between a banker and his customer in the performance of the contract of mandate is a serious interference with the free flow of trade. But Parliament has considered that a limited interference is to be tolerated in preference to allowing the undoubted evil of money-laundering to run rife in the commercial community.† Therefore, even though such a disclosure may interfere with the relationship between the bank and RR, such interference will be necessary if it will be likely to prevent money laundering from taking place. The bank needs to be clear that an interference of RR’s account is appropriate on the circumstances, since a frozen bank account for a period of time has in the past been considered a ‘grave injustice’ in the case of Squirrell Limited v National Westminster Bank plc (Customs and Excise Commissioners intervening [2006] 1 WLR 637. Here, the customer’s funds were frozen resulting in the customer being unable to afford the legal fees it would cost to challenge the decision. Therefore, if RR’s funds were frozen, which subsequently prevented RR from challenging the decision; it is unlikely that this would be deemed appropriate by the court. In accordance with this, it has been said that the test for suspicion is â€Å"a purely subjective matter† ( Medroft, 2010: 190). The decision as to whether the suspicion is reasonable will therefore depend upon whether Christian actually believed that the transaction was suspicious. If it cannot be found that this is the case, the interference cannot be considered justifiable and a breach of the customer’s human rights may also be established as in K Ltd. The bank will therefore be required to consider whether ‘reasonable grounds’ do actually exist, having regard to the elements constituting market abuse offences (Hudson and Hutchinson, 2009: 1). There are many inherent risks that are associated with disclosures and as such, it is vital that the bank is aware of its exact rights and obligations. In SHAH the court found that the bank did not act in an unreasonable manner which is likely to be the case in the instant situation. As such, it will most likely be difficult for RR to show that the bank had not acted in good faith. However, it could be argued that there was an unreasonable delay by the bank to make the disclosure under s. 338(2). As a result of this, the bank could be exposed to liability for breach of its duty of care (Medroft, 2010: 190). Whether this is acceptable remains an arguable subject but as expressed by Benjamin (2007: 62); â€Å"here the objective is not informed consent to risk but combating crime.à ¢â‚¬  Accordingly, it is therefore generally accepted that a bank’s interference will be justified on public policy grounds. The bank will still be subjected to many risks when making a disclosure, nonetheless, and must therefore consider whether the consequences of making a disclosure can be justified (Ellinger et al. 2010: 114). In addition, if the bank decides to make a disclosure, they must be careful not to allow the customer to find out as they can be found liable for ‘tipping off. This is another issue that may arise since a customer could become aware that a disclosure has been made simply due to the fact that their account has been suspended. It could be said that the bank is in a difficult situation as whatever option it takes, sanctions may still be imposed. As one judge noted in Governer Company of the Bank of Scotland v A Ltd [2000] Lloyd’s Rep Bank 271, 287; â€Å"the bank may commit a criminal offence if it pays or if it refuses to pay.† Furthermore, if the bank makes a disclosure based on its suspicions, which later turn out to be unfounded, the bank risks civil liability for breaching its contract with its customer (Ellinger et al: 2010: 114). This is because the bank will have frozen the customer’s account which would have prevented payments from being made in and out of the account. Because the banks have a significant burden imposed upon them when it comes to dealing with money laundering, some attempt has been made to ensure that banks acting in good faith will not face criminal liability. For example, it was held by the court in C v S [1999] 2 All ER 343 that â€Å"it would not normally be an abuse of process to prosecute a bank which was doing no more than obeying a court order for disclosure.† Still, it is necessary for the bank to consider all of the risks before considering whether to make a disclosure or not. Overall, it is necessary on the facts for the MLRO of BCD Bank to make a disclosure to NCA since it does appear that the suspicions are reasonable. This is based upon the transaction of ?15 million that was made recently as well as the text message that Christian has received. Whilst the bank would be required to examine the potential issues with disclosing such information and freezing the account of RR this appears necessary and in the public interest. It will most likely prevent money laundering activities from taking place and will ensure that Christian, the MLRO and the bank are complying with their obligations. References Bastable, G., and Yeo, N., (2011). Money Laundering Law and Regulation: A Practical Guide, Oxford University Press. Benjamin, J., (2007). Financial Law. OUP Oxford. Ellinger, E. P., Lomnicka, E., and Hare, C., (2011) Ellinger’s Modern Banking Law, (Oxford University Press. Ellinger, E. P., Lomnicka, E., and Hare, C., (2010) Ellinger’s Modern Banking Law. 5th Edition. OUP Oxford. Hislop, D., (2009). ‘Banks, SARS the Customer’ 159 New Law Journal 1099, Issue 7380. International Monetary Fund., (2011) Banking and Insurance, Business Economics. Medcroft, N., (2010). A Banker’s Liability for Damages Arising from Compliance with PT 7 POCA’ 4 Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 227, Issue 4. Medcroft, N., (2009). Refusing to Execute Payment Instructions Where a Bank Suspects Money Laundering. 4 Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 190, Issue 4. Hudson, D., and Hutchinson, K., (2009). Suspicious Transactions Reports: Reporting Obligations of Financial Institutions in the UK. Complinet, [Accessed 07 June, 2014]. Cases C v S [1999] 2 All ER 343 Governer Company of the Bank of Scotland v A Ltd [2000] Lloyd’s Rep Bank 271, 287 K Ltd v National Westminster Bank plc [2007] 1 WLR 311 R (on the application of UMBS Online Ltd [2007] WL 1292620 SHAH and another v HSBC private bank (UK) Ltd (2009) EWHC 79 (QB) Squirrell Limited v National Westminster Bank plc (Customs and Excise Commissioners intervening [2006] 1 WLR 637

Friday, October 18, 2019

Alibaba Group in the Marketplace of China Case Study

Alibaba Group in the Marketplace of China - Case Study Example The case describes the corporate strategy of Alibaba Group, one of the leading e-commerce international organizations. The company was started in the year 1999, and since then it had grown rapidly and grasped the e-commerce market through their business approaches. Despite the financial turmoil in a global business environment, Alibaba Group had placed itself strongly in the market and beset the difficulties to progress further. The aggressive growth strategy had helped the organization to achieve the competitive advantage. The company started providing basic facilities to its users and increased its customer base. Problem Statement The creation of corporate advantage at Alibaba Group has been discussed in this segment. It also deals with the fact that if the corporate advantage thus created is sustainable. Alternative Solutions and Approaches to the Problem The main strategy which provides Alibaba Group with corporate advantage is its series of growth movements. Alibaba Group had ex panded its market reach rapidly with the introduction of Taobao in the year 2003, which is an internet shopping platform. Jack Ma understood the prospects in the e-commerce sector and accordingly had taken possible steps to achieve higher market share. The keyword bidding was becoming beneficial in China, therefore, Taobao launched â€Å"Zhi Tong Che† service in the year 2008 which provides people to bid for keywords in exchange of special advertisement status. As trust is one of the vital factors for performing business in China, Taobao had introduced â€Å"Alipay† service in the year 2004. Through this service, the company successfully eliminated the settlement risk of payment which had assisted to generate faith among sellers and customers. In the year 2005, Alibaba Group had acquired â€Å"China Yahoo!† in order to strengthen its market presence. This strategy lets Alibaba Group integrate and join resources for development. The other strategy of Alibaba Grou p included investing in the international market to attract more customers. In the year 2006, the company had invested in â€Å"Koubei.com†. Besides, the company has also started the joint business with â€Å"Softbank Corporation† in Japan.

Policing and justice in the United Arab Emirates Research Paper

Policing and justice in the United Arab Emirates - Research Paper Example People in this region are mostly Arabs and belong to the (Muslim) Sunni religion. (Bureau of Democracy) States that United Arab Emirates is a combination of seven emirates. United Arab Emirates population is about 3.8 million people. About 17 percent of the whole population is citizens while the rest are temporary citizens. Its rulers form the federal supreme council, highest legislature and the executive. This is the same council that chooses the president and the vice president form within the council. The president then appoints his prime minister and the cabinet. Originally, the rule in the emirates was mainly patriarchal to mean that political power was mainly laid in the loyalty to their very own, i.e. tribal leaders, leaders in each individual emirate and the leaders of the federation. They do not practice democracy in their elections because they do not have any. They do not have political parties either. Citizens communicate with their leaders through the mechanisms that have been established called the majlis. The Federal National Council (FNC) is a consultative body that has 40 advisors. There has been a report that the government does not respect human rights for example, the civilians have no right to change the government, they have some laws that undermine human rights, workers are abused, trafficking of women and children, discrimination of non citizens, corruption and there is no transparency in the government. Some of these problems are being addressed by the government like human trafficking. Their police and criminal justice system is under the Ministry of Interior. This ministry is in charge of maintaining law and order and also is involved in the public security. This ministry has an efficient police force which is responsible for the maintenance of law and order, investigating crime and also preventing crime from taking

The Mexican Revolution and the Middle Class Research Paper

The Mexican Revolution and the Middle Class - Research Paper Example The Mexican revolution remains one of the most important revolutions that took place in Latin America. It is marked with political celebrations in Mexico, and this is because it is an important political event. The most important players during this revolution were the middle class. The middle class played a great role in ensuring that the revolutionaries won the war, against President Diaz. These people provided money and soldiers for purposes of advancing the agenda of the revolutionaries. The army was under General Carranza, and it engaged the government in urban centers. The middle-class army also provided support to the armies of General Pancho Villa in the North, and General Zapata in the South.This support was essential in breaking the various sieges that the government army had laid against these two Generals. By concentrating in urban areas, the government’s army was also limited on how it could advance its troops for purposes of quelling the rebellion in the rural ar eas of Mexico. Furthermore, after the rebellion, it is the Middle Class who took over power and began initiating a sequence of policies aimed at changing promoting good governance in Mexico. Immediately after the end of this revolution, President Obregon took over the leadership of Mexico and introduced a series of changes aimed at making Mexico a democratic state.People who argue against the recognition of these revolutions denote that they are bloody and violent, and hence they lead to the loss of lives.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Political Economy of Inequality & Distribution Essay

Political Economy of Inequality & Distribution - Essay Example Social justice is achieved if the economic systems allow people to select opportunities created by performing within the constraints of the rules. This is because the resultant distributions from the rules will make the system just and fair. Hayek insists that the concept of social justice cannot still be attained through procedural fair rules because luck involved does not reflect an individual’s advantage (Miller 1997, p. 142-144). This notion implies that luck cannot precede distribution because one must receive the resources to appreciate economic policy. The outcome of the distribution method should show an individual’s effort of acquiring the resources. This can be in the benefits the society derives from such economic activities and the reasons for procedural rules. However, there are no legal systems where people do not break rules and Hayek should suggest ways of taming political economists from mistreating other players (Hayek 1978, p. 87). Market systems cann ot rely on a just society if the resources are reserved for a few individuals who want to satisfy personal missions. As a result, the results and deserts of free markets limit the attainment of social justice that remains a mirage in the society. Hayek’s argument that social justice is a mirage holds that procedural rules contribute to the erosion of individual freedoms and promote the introduction of totalitarianism. The concept highlights that an authority that exercise coercion in allocating resources to individuals is not just. This is because an ideal social justice evaluates an individual’s desert using his contribution to the welfare of the society (Hayek 1978, p. 87). The market liberation does not favor social justice because individual’s claims are not met and requires reconstruction of the economic system to address the shortcomings. Although organizations are beneficial parts of the society, trying to make serve all purposes affecting

#7 Doppler Radar WSR88 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

#7 Doppler Radar WSR88 - Essay Example The Doppler Radar WSR88, or more popularly known as the WSR-88D, is named as such because it stands for Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988 Doppler, and was built in 1988 (Fitzpatrick 2006). The NWS has been using radar to detect precipitation since the 1940’s. However, the WSR-88D network was first installed in 1993, replacing the WSR-57 radar network. The old radar system built in 1957 required very hard to find spare parts that were mainly available in the former Soviet Union and thus required the necessary upgrade (Goldstein 2002). Furthermore, the displays of the original data system were often confusing and were not very effective in detecting severe weather. Compared to its predecessor, the WSR-88D systems have provided a significant increase of weather data off the coasts in storms. It was built with newly developed surface-based remote sensors that have the spatial resolution needed for coastal zone studies (National Research Council (US) Panel on Coastal Meteorology 1992). Furthermore, the WSR-88D network can detect not only precipitation, but also rainfall rate, accumulated rainfall, and the location of the rainfall. The National Weather Service and the Department of Defense have deployed and operates around 160 WSR-88D Doppler radar in the country, including in the US Territory of Guam and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (National Research Council (US) Panel on Coastal Meteorology 1992). The system uses the Doppler effect to indicate whether raindrops were moving towards the radar or away from it. The Doppler radar’s ability to detect movements has thus provided significant improvements to the meteorologist’s ability to look inside thunderstorms and find out if rotation in the cloud exists (Ahrens 2008). It is vital to pinpoint this rotation because it usually precedes a tornado. The Doppler Radar WSR-88 is a very important device in getting necessary information about the earth’s present and future weather conditions. It has evolved from

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Mexican Revolution and the Middle Class Research Paper

The Mexican Revolution and the Middle Class - Research Paper Example The Mexican revolution remains one of the most important revolutions that took place in Latin America. It is marked with political celebrations in Mexico, and this is because it is an important political event. The most important players during this revolution were the middle class. The middle class played a great role in ensuring that the revolutionaries won the war, against President Diaz. These people provided money and soldiers for purposes of advancing the agenda of the revolutionaries. The army was under General Carranza, and it engaged the government in urban centers. The middle-class army also provided support to the armies of General Pancho Villa in the North, and General Zapata in the South.This support was essential in breaking the various sieges that the government army had laid against these two Generals. By concentrating in urban areas, the government’s army was also limited on how it could advance its troops for purposes of quelling the rebellion in the rural ar eas of Mexico. Furthermore, after the rebellion, it is the Middle Class who took over power and began initiating a sequence of policies aimed at changing promoting good governance in Mexico. Immediately after the end of this revolution, President Obregon took over the leadership of Mexico and introduced a series of changes aimed at making Mexico a democratic state.People who argue against the recognition of these revolutions denote that they are bloody and violent, and hence they lead to the loss of lives.

#7 Doppler Radar WSR88 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

#7 Doppler Radar WSR88 - Essay Example The Doppler Radar WSR88, or more popularly known as the WSR-88D, is named as such because it stands for Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988 Doppler, and was built in 1988 (Fitzpatrick 2006). The NWS has been using radar to detect precipitation since the 1940’s. However, the WSR-88D network was first installed in 1993, replacing the WSR-57 radar network. The old radar system built in 1957 required very hard to find spare parts that were mainly available in the former Soviet Union and thus required the necessary upgrade (Goldstein 2002). Furthermore, the displays of the original data system were often confusing and were not very effective in detecting severe weather. Compared to its predecessor, the WSR-88D systems have provided a significant increase of weather data off the coasts in storms. It was built with newly developed surface-based remote sensors that have the spatial resolution needed for coastal zone studies (National Research Council (US) Panel on Coastal Meteorology 1992). Furthermore, the WSR-88D network can detect not only precipitation, but also rainfall rate, accumulated rainfall, and the location of the rainfall. The National Weather Service and the Department of Defense have deployed and operates around 160 WSR-88D Doppler radar in the country, including in the US Territory of Guam and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (National Research Council (US) Panel on Coastal Meteorology 1992). The system uses the Doppler effect to indicate whether raindrops were moving towards the radar or away from it. The Doppler radar’s ability to detect movements has thus provided significant improvements to the meteorologist’s ability to look inside thunderstorms and find out if rotation in the cloud exists (Ahrens 2008). It is vital to pinpoint this rotation because it usually precedes a tornado. The Doppler Radar WSR-88 is a very important device in getting necessary information about the earth’s present and future weather conditions. It has evolved from

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Cultural Web Essay Example for Free

The Cultural Web Essay We have decided to use the cultural web in order to look at the organizational culture as it is now and secondly look at how we want the culture to be in the future. Thirdly we will evaluate and identify the differences between the two; these differences are the changes we need to make in order to achieve the high-performance culture that we want to obtain. The cultural web identifies six interrelated elements that paints the bigger picture of the company of analysis. The six elements are the following: 1. Stories After having conducted qualitative interviews with both customers and employees at A.G. Barr there are a few points to be made regarding the reputation and beliefs of the company. 1.1 â€Å"We like things the way they are† First of all each and every of the interviewed employees agreed that they were part of a family-styled organization, however only few customers were aware they were buying products from a family-owned company. Secondly, when the employees were asked about their desires for the future of the company, 90% of the employees stated that they are happy with the way things currently are and do not show great support towards potential changes at the firm; customers on the other hand mainly stated that companies should always invest in differentiation in such a competitive environment. 2. Rituals and Routines The rituals and routines at A.G. Barr are regular as employees are working on normal time-schedules. The only extra activity they have organized is an annual picnic with the whole firm. 3. Symbols The visual representation of the company is also not as different from most companies as they operate in a normal-sized, clean office space. People can dress up according to their status; workers in their workers’ outfit and managers in suit and tie. 4. Organizational Structure The structure at A.G. Barr is an informal and at the same time hierarchical  structure; especially the hierarchical difference between the workers and managers is massive as the managers have full authority. 5. Control Systems The organization is mainly controlled by the managing board that control all the input and output of the firm in terms of financial systems. We have made quite some changes to this control system in our recommendations as it suggests implementing a reward system to motivate the departments and create a healthy competition within the firm. 6. Power Structures The powers structure is especially hierarchical as the people who have influence on the decisions are all part of the management board. Decisions are made regardless of what the employees are saying, but the employees seem to be fine with that as the survey shows that they are happy with the way things are.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Transcendence and Immanence

Transcendence and Immanence Transcendence and Immanence Simone de Beauvoir, in her groundbreaking mid-20th century work The Second Sex, presented the concepts of transcendence and immanence as integral features of her theoretical analysis of the structures of patriarchal oppression in Western society. This essay will explore these concepts in terms of Beauvoirs feminist analysis. In this context, it will be argued that these concepts cannot be considered to be gender biased if bias is understood in terms of a negative or unsubstantiated scholarship. Rather, as will be argued, Beauvoirs use of these concepts to describe how the lives of women and men in society are distinctly culturally gendered is not only substantiated when considered in its own historical context but also illuminates our understanding of gender roles in Western society in the early 21st century. In The Second Sex Simone de Beauvoir presents the concepts of transcendence and immanence in the course of attempting to answer the fundamental question of what is a woman (Beauvoir 1949). Beauvoir contends that the view of generic terms such as masculine and feminine as being symmetrical only applies in the technicalities of legal documents, for in Western society and culture the two are radically distinct (Beauvoir 1949). She contends that the masculine is the normative default in Western society, and that the feminine is defined against this: She is defined and differentiated with reference to man, and not he with reference to her; she is the incidental, the inessential as opposed to the essential. He is the Subject, he is the Absolute she is the Other. (Beauvoir 1949, p.5) Of course, Beauvoir is aware of that the conceptual binary Self/Other is a principle of differentiation that applies to more than simply the relations between men and women. For example, she notes its referents throughout the cultural history of the West, with analogies to myth, as well as its use to support racist attitudes with respect to Blacks and Jews, and its related use to support class-based oppression (Beauvoir 1949). This is a clear strength in her work for, as critics widely acknowledge, Beauvoir was never solely preoccupied with oppression based upon gender, but recognized and struggled against oppression in a variety of forms (Simons 1999).[1] It is against this context of oppression that Beauvoir defines her concepts of transcendence and immanence. Beauvoir argues, in The Second Sex and other writings, that related to this conceptualization of Self/Other is another dichotomy that is a basic feature of oppression: the differentiation of the human population into two groups those who achieve transcendence through creative and dynamic life-enriching activities, and those relegated to lives of immanence concerned simply with the maintenance of life in its basic conditions (Beauvoir 1949). It is important to recognize that these are not simply theoretical concepts but, rather, are intended by Beauvoir as descriptive of the daily lives of humanity. From this perspective, transcendence and immanence are defined in terms of the everyday work and actions of human beings. Thus, transcendent work includes writing, exploring, inventing, creating, studying, while immanent work includes such work as cooking, cleaning, bureaucratic paper pushing and even biological actions such as giving birth (Veltman 2004). The key point to grasp in this differentiation is that activities which involve immanence are basically futile in that they consume time and energy, but accomplishes nothing of fundamental significance (Veltman 2004). Of course, in making this differentiation Beauvoir is not arguing that these activities are not often essential. After all, we all need to provide for ourselves, or have provided for us, cooking, cleaning and other services. Similarly, child birth is a basic fundamental requirement for the continuation of the human species. Moreover, as critics of Beauvoir have noted, it is important to recognize complexities in her understanding of these concepts throughout her various works. For example, Beauvoir acknowledges that immanent work may sometimes be creative, just as activities of transcendence can often involve numbing repetition (Veltman 2004). Good examples of each would be the case of a mother knitting clothes for her children to wear as a creative activity of immanence, while an author painstakingly proof-reading her novel would be an example of repetitive transcendent activity. Given this complexity, it would be useful to differentiate between the concepts of transcendence and immanence based upon their respective relations to two key qualities: (1) existential justification, and (2) durability across time. As one critic notes of Beauvoirs depiction of these concepts: Since activities of immanence merely sustain life and achieve nothing more than its continuation, they also cannot serve to justify life as its raison detre. Rather, existential justification can be established only within transcendent activities that move beyond the maintenance of life itself. . . . If a life is to have reason for being rather than persist solely without reason, it must reach outward toward the future through the production of something creative, constructive, enlightening or otherwise durable. (Veltman 2004, p.124) Having thus explored and delineated the parameters of Beauvoirs concepts of transcendence and immanence, the question of whether these concepts are gender biased remains to confront us. It is undeniable, for example, that Beauvoir uses the concepts in The Second Sex in order to explore the processes by which women have been oppressed throughout history in general, and in the context of mid-20th century Western society in particular. As Beauvoir argues in The Second Sex: the situation of woman is that she a free and autonomous being like all human creatures nevertheless finds herself living in a world where men compel her to assume the status of Other. They propose to stabilize her as an object and to doom her to immanence since her transcendence is to be overshadowed . . . . (Beauvoir 1949, p.20) Clearly, Beauvoirs use of the concepts of transcendence and immanence in her work is situated within a broader context of social and cultural oppression of women by men. Moreover, it is also clear that Beauvoir has a definite agenda in her work in that she does not regard this oppression dispassionately. Rather, she repeatedly questions how women can throw off this oppression and achieve transcendence in their daily lives: How can a human being in womans situation attain fulfilment? What roads are open to her? . . . . How can independence be recovered in a state of dependency? What circumstances limit womans liberty and how can they be overcome? These are the fundamental questions on which I would . . . throw some light. This means that I am interested in the fortunes of the individual as defined not in terms of happiness but in terms of liberty. (Beauvoir 1949, p.20) The above passage is significant in understanding the issue of gender bias in Beauvoirs use of the concepts of transcendence and immanence in that we can see that she is not unbiased in her objectives. Clearly, Beauvoir makes no effort to obscure or hide the fact that she is biased in favour of promoting womens liberty and their capacity to transcendent activity. This being said, however, it cannot justly be extrapolated from this conclusion that Beauvoirs use of these concepts displays a gender bias in the sense of a negative or scholarly unsubstantiated argument. Indeed, as has been noted above, Beauvoir grounds her work in carefully delineated arguments that reference a wide range of theoretical and philosophical models in Western civilization. Moreover, it is noteworthy how in her use of the concepts Beauvoir takes extraordinary care in their description and application. For example, as noted above, she is careful to note subtle complexities in the use of the concepts in everyday life with reference to how immanent activities may be creative, while some transcendent activities may be repetitive and boring. In conclusion, while it may justly be said that Beauvoir is biased in her use of the concepts of transcendence and immanence as descriptive models of the structures that support the oppression of women in everyday life, and in her objectives to subvert this oppression and promote the liberty of women, it cannot be said that her work display gender bias in this area. This term implies a level of prejudice that potentially undermines the value of a work given the particular interests or agenda of the author. Given the extraordinary care and attention of Beauvoir in her use of these concepts to reinforce her arguments with respect to the oppression of women in Western society, and the fact that these arguments have withstood the text of time and the critique of leading authorities and scholars over the past half-century, Beauvoirs use of transcendence and immanence cannot be represented as displaying gender bias. Works Cited Beauvoir, S.   (1949).   The second sex.   Trans. H.M. Parsley. London: Penguin. Butler, J.   (1986).   Sex and gender in Simone de Beauvoirs Second Sex.   Yale French Studies, 72: pp.35-49. Simons, M.   (1999).   Beauvoir and The Second Sex: Feminism, race and the origins of existentialism.   Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield. Veltman, A.   (2004).   The Sisyphean torture of housework: Simone de Beauvoir and inequitable divisions of domestic work in marriage.   Hypatia, 19.3: pp.121-143. [1] Here it is important to note the distinction that Beauvoir makes between sex and gender. As Beauvoir declared: one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman. Thus, as Judith Butler observes, it is critical that we recognize the operation of the sex/gender distinction between biological bodies and social constructions in reading Beauvoirs work (see, Butler 1986).