When to Drink and Not Be Illegal in Thailand essays

When to Drink and Not Be Illegal in Thailand essays Thailand is a Buddhist country and even though Thai people know that it is against a rule from the most important set of Buddhist precepts, some still drink alcoholic beverages. Adults are role models for teenagers, but are they really good examples? How can teenagers decide what is right or wrong growing up with those conflicts? In the society, adults want to teach teenagers to be responsible for their actions. But in reality how many of them have guided the teenagers a way to be responsible? Responsibility is an obligation in which everyone puts upon themselves, but it varies by degree. For example, children have an obligation to listen to and obey parents. By giving responsibility to teenagers, adults have to teach and trust them to know what it is and let them choose whether they want it or not. If teenagers do not want to be responsible for drinking it is their decision not to drink, not adults decision to cut their choices. Drinking age is a good example of the decision made by adults to limit teenagers choices. Teenagers should be able to choose what they want. The government should decrease the drinking age to eighteen like other countries to give teenagers a chance to be responsible for themselves. Teenagers drink because they know or do not know that it is wrong. By knowing, I mean they like challenges. Most teenagers seem to enjoy taking risks all the time. It is not the legal drinking age that can control the drinking issue, but it is the feeling of responsibility. I see underage teenagers drink all the time in Thailand and in other countries as well. I have friends who started drinking since high-school. Some teenagers think that when they do something wrong and get away with it makes them look better in their friends eyes. As for not knowing, I mean many teenagers do not know when to drink. They do not recognize the drinking age. Most of the time teenagers are taught, either by their parents or tea...

Learn the German Translation for Silent Night, Stille Nacht

Learn the German Translation for Silent Night, 'Stille Nacht' The popular Christmas carol Silent Night has been translated into several languages worldwide (like French), but it was originally written in German under the title Stille Nacht. It was just a poem before it was transformed into a song one Christmas night in Austria. If you already know the English version, try memorizing the German lyrics for three of the most common verses. The Story of Stille Nacht On Dec.24, 1818- just hours before Christmas mass- in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf, Pastor Joseph Mohr of St.Nicholas Kirche found himself in a bind. His musical plans for the evening church service were ruined because the organ had recently broken after a nearby river flooded. In a moment of inspiration, Mohr picked up a Christmas poem he had written two years earlier. He quickly set off to a neighboring village where his friend Franz Gruber, the church organist, lived. In just a few short hours that night, Gruber produced the first version of the world-renowned Christmas hymn Stille Nacht, written as a guitar accompaniment.   The Modern Stille Nacht The song as it is rendered today is slightly different from the original version of Stille Nacht. Folk singers and choir groups altered the original melody slightly as they performed the carol throughout Europe in the ensuing decades. The English version was written by an Episcopal priest, the Rev. John Freeman Young. However, the standard English version contains just three verses, whereas the German version contains six. Only verses one, two, and six from Mohr and Grubers original version are sung in English. There is also a version sung by Nina Hagen, an opera prodigy better known as the mother of punk. Stille Nacht in German Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,Alles schlft; einsam wachtNur das traute hochheilige Paar.Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,Hirten erst kundgemachtDurch der Engel Halleluja,Tà ¶nt es laut von fern und nah:Christ, der Retter ist da!Christ, der Retter ist da!Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,Gottes Sohn, o wie lachtLieb aus deinem gà ¶ttlichen Mund,Da uns schlgt die rettende Stund.Christ, in deiner Geburt!Christ, in deiner Geburt! Words: Joseph Mohr, 1816Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818 Silent Night in English Silent night, holy nightAll is calm all is brightRound yon virgin Mother and ChildHoly infant so tender and mildSleep in heavenly peaceSleep in heavenly peaceSilent night, holy night,Shepherds quake at the sight.Glories stream from heaven afar,Heavnly hosts sing Alleluia;Christ the Savior is bornChrist the Savior is bornSilent night, holy night,Son of God, loves pure light.Radiant beams from Thy holy face,With the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord, at Thy birthJesus, Lord, at Thy birth

The Family dynamic has impact on child development Research Paper - 1

The Family dynamic has impact on child development - Research Paper Example It is my theory that the family dynamic does affect child development and the factors that affect the family dynamic the most are financial security of a family, birth order, family structure, parental involvement and parental employment. These factors all seem to play a major role in Child development. FINANCIAL SECURITY: The first article that will be examined is the Canadian Council on Learning (2007) Report on the State of Early Childhood Learning and pertains to family income and how it impacts the family dynamic & childhood learning. Income is not as important as is developing countries a significant discrepancy was demonstrated in this study. Firstly in a study, 19% of children from low-income families were considered to have delayed (Academic) development compared to 14% of other children. Moreover the paper also demonstrated that 28% of young learners from low-income families demonstrated delayed development in Number Knowledge Assessment as opposed to 14% of other (Non-low income) families. Although this study mainly focused on the effect of poverty on young families and what this poverty would mean for young learners probably the most important point that was excluded is the current economic climate of North America. This article was published in 2007 when the economy wa s performing much better than it is right now and ultimately one could postulate that the declining economic condition in the global economy means that more and more young learners are going to be negatively affected and ultimately we may see sliding results on number knowledge assessment and delayed (academic) development. BIRTH ORDER: The next main article that will be covered is Vercilo’s (2010) article which postulated that birth order affects the characteristics and physiological development of Children. Ultimately there are three schools of though on this mater insofar as some psychologist believe that birth order has no effect, modest effect or a great deal of effect on a

Real Estate Law Week 1 Ind wrk Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Real Estate Law Week 1 Ind wrk - Research Paper Example This is because, unlike personal property which is essentially, movable items which are not part of the land, real property refers to land and the things that are permanently affixed to that land. In this regard, notice that even if you should intend to sell the land upon which the house rests, neither will unseat the house from the land, nor can you sell the house minus the land. In another wavelength, it is imperative that you determine the type of real property ownership your house will be under. There is life estate where the right to possess, access and use this house will be limited to the proprietor’s (the Daryl’s) lifetime. In this case, the Darryls may give or sell away the property, later. The family can also resort to free simple which is outright ownership. There is also future interest where the family can seek the right to won the house sometime in future. The Darryls may also consider contingent interest or lienholder where ownership is comes into existence only where specific conditions are fulfilled, or where the Darryls as the holder of a mortgage, judgment lien, deed of trust or mechanic’s lien on real estate take ownership interest in the real property, respectively (Elias,

Preliminary Screening of Bioactive Natural Products Essay Example for Free

Preliminary Screening of Bioactive Natural Products Essay The plants which are used to cure diseases are called medicinal plants. This property of plants is due to the presence of certain chemicals namely Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, Glycosides, flavanoids, volatile oils, vitamins, resins, gums etc. These chemicals terminate the growth of micro organisms by obstructing one or many metabolic activities of microbes. World Health Organisation has estimated that perhaps 80 % of the Earth’s inhabitants rely upon traditional medicine for their primary health care needs and a major part of this therapy involves the use of plant extracts or their active principles. Plants form the major resource in the preparation of drugs in many ancient systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, Siddha and Allopathy. Our present work mainly aims at the screening of Bioactive compounds present in wood and fruit of Terminalia pallida Brandis Terminalia pallida is a semi evergreen tree belongs to the family Combretaceae and its telugu name is called Tella-Karaka. Wood and fruit are highly medicated due to the prescence of bioactive compounds. These parts are widely used by the tribals of various districts of Andhra Pradesh to cure diarrhoea, peptic ulcers and diabetes. Fresh plant parts were collected, shade dried and ground in to coarse powder. Extraction of Bioactive compounds can be done with different type of solvents for further phytochemical analysis. Results obtained in the present study reveals the presence of Flavanoids, Indoles, Leucoanthocyanins, steroids, Phenols, Saponins, Tanins in the wood of Terminalia Pallida. Fruits consist of all the above bioactive compounds along with alkaloids. These bioactive compounds are responsible for antidiarrhoeatic, anti-ulcer and anti-diabetic properties of the plant. The present communication attempts to assess the status of phytochemical properties in wood and fruits of Terminalia Palllida , Brandis to develop the awareness among the local people. It is also useful to the advanced research in the Pharmacertical field.

Affirmitive Action :: essays research papers

Have you ever wondered who gets to attend the country’s selective colleges and universities? The really smart kids, the hard workers, star athletes, artists, singers, mathematicians, writers, alumni children? Of course universities want them all. But what about when it comes to race? Suddenly the stakes of getting in are raised. How many African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Whites should there be in each class? Should acceptance to a school depend on a person’s race?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Well I believe that acceptance to a school shouldn’t be depended on the race of a person. I believe this because it’s like judging a book by it cover, it doesn’t always work out. Let me give you an example just because you’re Asian doesn’t mean that you’re going to be smart, know how to fix a computer, or be a crappy driver. Actually we should all be thought of equals and our race shouldn’t matter in being accepted into a college. Colleges shouldn’t administer students onto there campuses to keep diversity, but let their capability determine their entrance. College admissions should be determined by academic performance/capabilities instead of one’s ethnicity just to increase diversity in the college atmosphere.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, there is another side to this raging debate over affirmative action. There are a more then a handful of minorities that are qualified for admission, but need that extra help affirmative action grants in order to get admission into that top tier university. Some of these people come from economically challenged backgrounds, they meet the requirements that universities require, but do not excel as some of more competitive students that apply. In these type of situations affirmative action, grants admission to the economically challenged student, rejecting the more qualified one. But who are we to say that the kid from the wrong side of tracks, that was raised with seven brothers and sisters, most of whom haven’t been to college; doesn’t disserve his chance to be the first in his family over the pure bread tutored child?

Japan’s Anime: Implications on Western Society Essay

Anime, which is short for Japanese animation, is an element in Japanese pop culture that is acclaimed for its global impact. With origins from the manga or Japanese art of comics and cartoon pictures and now significantly contributing to film and games production; it is not only bringing in market influences but is also contributing significantly to Western culture. In this essay, I would like to share some ideas about the roles of anime, a supposedly Japanese artifact in the transformation of a seemingly distant Western society. A few assumptions have to be established prior to elaborate discussions on the matter. First, anime must be viewed as a result of Japan’s endeavor to offer a different way of telling stories that allowed the artists to enjoy creativity in character building and imagination in choosing location. Second, initially created for their locales, it reflects both social limitations of and desires of its people in relation to history. Hence, anime is telling more about their past and its present implications. Third, with globalization’s power to cross borders, through open market and information and communications technology, anime’s popularity in Europe is a manifestation of transculturalism. Fourth, there is growing debate about the source of this anime popularity among Westerners and even postmodernists too started deconstructing this Japanese Art and relate its subjects and characters to critical socio-political and economic themes such as gender and identity. Anime also enabled outsiders’ exploration of Japan culture and history by seeing through their stories. Fifth, anime may have missed essential elements due to translations in language to cater to its foreign audience. Yet again, the effort to do so shows the interest in knowing foreign interpretation of life, and perhaps if it is attractive to the audience, then the latter must have agreed to the elucidation made thereof. These assumptions help us in generating our thesis statement, which is that anime, has its local purpose whose inherent characteristics although might have been owed to the creator are nonetheless historically and socially bound. Capitalism and the interest in profit might have encouraged countries across the globe to invest in it such that the classic in anime becomes a distinctive option for Westerners. Its popularity nonetheless is predicted to be influencing most especially the youth in terms of lifestyles, views and behaviors. This forecast makes scholars analyze anime’s content and opine about its transformative power in other nation’s culture while some even went to reading its gender issues, power relations, and philosophical renditions. For me, it is the diversity of analytical interests that emerged from ANIME that truly increased its transformative role in Western societies. Because anime’s Western adaptation became successful (e. g. Astro Boy, Pokemon, etc), it was thought to be potentially profitable. Westerners have always been curious about the Asian country that used to challenge superpowers- Japan. Anime to them was exposing a lot about Japan culture. Japan’s homogenous society and constancy in traditions either is remarkable for Westerners or naive-either way, it has stirred human interest and curiosity. If anime is an imported product, it will be bought because it is from JAPAN- the meaning is both socio-cultural and economic. The will to understand anime beyond the visual images led them to study Japanese language. In pop culture, growing imitation is a measure of success. In the United States and Europe, animators have emulated the methods, styles and gags in anime. This certainly required expertise from the artists that are never better without collaboration with the Japanese animators and filmmakers. Not only are the anime drawings the source of inspiration but also the taglines and cliches in anime that were borrowed in animated TV series in the US. The growing number of anime fanatics triggered the foundation of conventions where Japanese writers, directors and artists are invited to speak or lecture. They enjoy dressing up like the anime characters and attend in the so-called cosplay. In schools and universities, anime clubs gain prominence and so are seminars engaging understanding of Japan. Anime also provided options for the youth in Western societies who became tired of their own culture. Japan’s image became a perception of the future, the untold and the daring as exemplified in Akira by Otomo Katsushira that was shown in US and Europe in 1990. The Western youth have always desisted cultural resistance and are easily disillusioned by politics but anime gave them a fresh image of robotic, merciless youth in the postmodern era. Anime then has transformed Western culture in a phenomenon referred to as the transmission of thoughts, culture and politics from East to West. An essential component of one’s belief system is ideology or at least a set of ideas. Behaviors are affected by the specific belief system. Should there be a specific group’s belief system, it forms part of a given culture. The belief system of the Japanese youth was described in the â€Å"Kawaii style† in the mid 1970s or the Japanese cute. Kawaii means â€Å"cute† in English, which portrays a childlike character having the innocence, simplicity, gentleness, and amiability of a child. It is represented by pink romanticism to a funny genderless style. It became a means for the youth to express in an ambiguous manner, how adulthood means having the authority, knowledge, skills and experience to be able to cooperate in the society and fulfill responsibilities and obligations, but fails enormously. Childhood is seen as a place of individual freedom, which is unreachable nonetheless while condemning the adulthood. Kawaii fashion and lifestyle was used as a form of rebellion from the Japanese youth. This style was mimicked by the Western youth who apparently was able to confirm their views on realities of life through the Japanese genre. European women started creating the â€Å"Riot girls† style wearing baby-doll attires with boots and other masculine accessories. From America to United Kingdom, bands with members exemplifying Japanese cute became popular. Hence, the impact of Japan’s culture has created lifestyles in Western society that mirrors common sense of individualism, of the dynamism of youth and capacity for change. Anime that concentrates on visual images drawn manually yet skillfully in frames is characteristic of simplicity and magic. Of particular importance are the works of Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of Princess Monanake, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service among others. The success of these anime around the world made this old man, indeed a legend and a master of anime. The characters in Miyazaki’s anime are mostly change enthusiasts, dynamic and hopeful too- quite ironic in a system where change is resisted and tradition is extolled. The traditional dichotomies between the protagonist and antagonist are caricatured in a different way. Thus, Miyazaki’s anime has been treated as an escape valve from the rigidity of Japanese culture, insisting change and while the general appearance of the film is Japanese in culture and history, it tries to suggest how a country of such former colonial powers could embrace modernity with discretion as to properly choosing allies or that it is possible to be both traditional and modern. His anime presents a lot of contradictions that are not usually discussed in reality but is highly characteristic of life. Thus, its appeal to Western audience is never distracted by cultural difference instead builds a common ground between two different worlds. For instance, the prostitutes and lepers that she takes care of despite her destructive activities in the forest that threaten animal life respect Princess Monanake’s Lady Eboshi. The heroine in the Spirited Away was described by Miyazaki as successful not because she was able to defeat evil but because she was able to survive. True enough, this lack of explicit clarity in Miyazaki’s works in defining good and evil was explained by his pessimism in a world that will soon be lifeless because of man’s own doing but the children deserves a positive world view nonetheless. So, he didn’t want to use traditional stereotypes even in children’s stories at this time when tradition itself needs reexamination. Kiki’s Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro are both devoid of villains but are more reflective of traditional animism and Japanese culture. The challenge in life may not necessarily point to cultural differences but to the stereotypes and dichotomies that are embedded in each culture, be it Western or Japanese. This sounds Marxist but this is not surprising for someone who has been inspired by Marxism. He used to see things according to class like in Castle in the Sky, which portrays the laborers in a good light. However there are common themes that all cultures could relate to like the issue on the environment. This is why Miyazaki’s anime emphasize on environmentalism. Worshipping a tree (My Neighbor Totoro), fascination in forests, wolves, flowers and trees (Princess Monanake), and cleansing a river with spirit (Spirited Away)- these are products of Miyazaki’s childhood experience where in his hometown, the environment has been used to further economic progress despite degradation. He then configures this idea in Castle in the Sky and Nausicaa of Valley of the Wind. It projects conflict between military and nature. The former destroys culture and natural resources that endangered the inhabitants of the community. But his anime films favor anti-war principles. War is featured as destructive, merciless and futile. Another recurrent theme is his anime is feminism especially since most of his protagonists are strong-willed and independent women. Likewise, childhood is one issue that is given emphasis by Miyazaki. According to him, he worries about modern children at the same time he is concerned with how they should understand the world by keeping in contact with nature. The technologies of video games have isolated them to the real world that is why his anime centers on children’s hopeful efforts at identifying truth by wisdom. Other Japanese animation have presented varied themes but nevertheless consistent in inviting change and flexibility. Ranma ? for instance is a story about a young boy who changes into being a girl when in contact with water. Sailor Moon also has characters that are mostly bisexuals. Gender critiques and conservatives attacked this quite bold interpretation of human sexuality and gender at the same time. To some, it is proving the existence of dichotomies and differences between male and female- the fact that Ranma ? was laughed at and received funny comments about his eccentricities. However there are some who interpreted it in a humanist sense such that the anime reveals that in each person there is always the presence of feminine and masculine sides. Whichever analysis prevails, it certainly gives us the idea that Japanese anime touched the consciousness of Western society to a great extent. The influence is both in structure and in value. Filmmakers have been inspired to use themes in anime that used to be neglected in a world that was so driven by capitalistic profit and traditional conventions. This time, transformations in the light of globalization meant also giving importance to life and nature in form and substance- that despite inherent differences, unity and reconciliation is preferred. In a book entitled, Japanamerica: How Japanese Culture Has Invaded the US, Ronald Kelts explained how the 9/11 tragedy led Americans to embrace Japanese anime during a time when the government failed to represent its people resulting to death and destruction. An article by Sharon Kinsella entitled, The Japanization of European Youth tells how anime serves as a source of wisdom for the youth in Western countries while they are confused about how strong individuals must be characterized. Some may comment that Japanese anime is nothing but entertainment to Japanese who are living proofs of â€Å"all work, no play† personalities- a sort of escapism. But taken in a context where the audience is known for maturity and liberal etiquette, the impacts of Japanese anime is more than leisure related. Anime reminds people of world divinity that is difficult to remember. Thoughts on teamwork, individualism, courage, sensitivity to nature and justice are good to advocate don’t you think? For as long as Japanese anime contributes to the well being of every person in whatever nation it deserves the recognition. It might have transformed the culture in Western societies yet meaningful transformation could only take place when the audience captures the nobility that anime has been created for. For one, it is noble to transcend childish cartoon characters and give children new characters in anime that are mature and responsible. In Western society, children have been encouraged to enjoy their youth so cartoons like Tom and Jerry, Superman, etc are either made to make children laugh not to think, and whose main characters are adults trying to save children. Let us not forget that Anime is Japanese Art. Different cultures have varied forms of art but there is simply more inspiring and epic arts than others- this depends on current trends, issues and prospects. If nowadays, the whole world is affected by issues on war and terrorism, sustainability of environment, racial and gender discrimination, economic crisis- then Japanese Animation truly deserves its stance. References Gauntlett, David. Media, Gender and Identity. UK: Routledge, 2002. Izawa, Eri. â€Å"The Romantic, Passionate Japanese in Anime: A Look at the Hidden Japanese Soul†. Japan Pop! Inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture. New York: M. E. Sharpe, 2000. Kelts, Ronald. Japanamerica: How Japanese Culture Has Invaded the US. USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. Kinsella, Sharon. The Japanization of European Youth. 1997. Hayao Miyazaki. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki

Implementation of an Information System for a Financial Institution

INTRODUCTION Background Ribeiro and David (2001) state that information technology over the years has had a number of significant impact on organizations. Such impacts are: †¢ It has created opportunities for competitive advantages amongst competitors in any industry †¢ It has improved the relationship existing between customers and organizations †¢ It has helped with the development of new products as well as services †¢ It has allowed organizations to perform tasks which would have remained impossible without the use of a computer system. It has reduced the total cost incurred in transaction processing for banks and other financial institutions. History of the I. T manager Having applied for the post of the I. T systems manager, listed below are my qualifications and information about my past work experience: †¢ A master’s degree in Information systems with technical background in Windows Server and Desktop technology †¢ Professional qualificati ons in CISCO and MCSE with an understanding of some server grade applications including IIS, Apache, SharePoint, DNS, SQL and Foundstone Reasonable knowledge of large enterprise LAN/WAN environments †¢ 8 years experience in project management, leadership and organizational skills †¢ 7 years IT managerial experience in other financial institutions †¢ 5 years experience with client technologies †¢ 4 years working experience developing effective IT for financial institutions History of Progress bank Progress bank was established in 1999 and up till now does not have any I. T department in place. Their customer base is relatively small as well as the number of staff. Recently, it mergered with another bank in a bid to make it stronger and this has led to increased operational activities, increased customer base and more staff and a decision to introduce and implement an effective I. T department for the bank. The board decided to set up the department in order to ease their work, to allow free flow of communication between the various departments, to hasten decision making processes, to improve the turn-around time in their daily operational activities. The board members of the bank want the I. T manager to report directly to the Head of Operations of the bank. About 10 – 12 information technology specialists would be required to work with him in the new department and the roles and responsibilities are to develop, maintain and support the banks cash and commercial product management systems, to reconcile accounts, to manage the cash systems and control disbursement of funds. Some recruitment consultants were consulted to help out with the recruitment of appropriate candidates and so far, 8 people have been recruited to work with the I. T manager. These people include network technicians, network assistants, and network engineers. Responsibilities of the I. T manager The major tasks and responsibilities of the I. T manager have been identified to be: 1. Development of an information system for the bank. 2. Coordination, monitoring and supervision of the supporting staff for the development, designing, coding, maintaining and modifying application programs for a limited area and small number of projects. 3. Extensively working with the business units of the bank in support of their business processes, electronic business communication and also transactional needs. . The provision of analytical support for applications-related activities including customer experience, marketing, technology, human resource and also the operations department. 5. Leading the deployment of advanced information technology solutions relating to commercial product needs. 6. Recommendation and suggestion of strategies as well as hardware and software enhancements to increase employee productivities. 7. Administering, recommending and im plementing changes to policies that affect the employees of the various departments. 8. Making the flow of information within the organization easier and faster through the development of the intranet. 9. Making communication a two- way thing i. e. vertical and horizontal. 10. Developing a customer database for the bank. 11. Selecting, developing and evaluating personnel to ensure the efficient and effective operation of assigned functions. 12. Ensuring that the project budget, schedules and performance requirements are completely met. 13. Regular interaction with customers and some peer group managers. 14. Ensuring that the organization operates fully in accordance with the established procedures and practices. How to measure the implementation success The success of the implementation of an information system can be measured by taking note of the following: i. User satisfaction with the system or with the outcomes of using the system. ii. Favorable attitudes on the part of the users towards the system. iii. The overall payoff to the organization. iv. The extent to which the system accomplishes the organizational objectives. Limitations The major limitation to be considered is the cost. It would be costly for the organization to fully introduce and to implement an effective information system. A major factor to be considered is the need for training and development of the existing members of staff of the organization. Training and development sessions, on-the-job training, meetings and discussions need to be arranged for the members of staff in a way that it would not interfere with the day-to-day operational activities. The whole process of change may be a cumbersome one for the employees because they would have to transfer the information and data from the various departments from files which were their major form of storage to the computers. INFORMATION SYSTEM This refers to the interaction between people, processes, data and technology. It refers to the way people interact with technology to support the business processes. Information systems are different from the information and communication technology (ICT) and also from business processes although it has an ICT component and it also helps to control the performance of the business processes (Zhu and Meredith, 1995). An information system can be defined as a work system involving activities that are necessary for the processing (capturing, transmitting, storing, retrieving, manipulating and displaying) information (Wang and Strong, 1996). An information system can be considered as a semi-formal language that supports decision making as well as actions. Components of Information System There are different components of the information system and they include: i. I. T comprising of the hardware and the software. ii. Data/ Information. iii. Procedures/Policies. iv. People. v. Purpose and vi. Communication Networks. Hardware Standards There are different standards of computer hardware, the hardware consists of the things that can be seen. The standards will be reviewed and revised occasionally based on the emerging desktop technologies and development in software (Avgerou, 2001). It is recognized that in the bank, the ability to share vital information easily and quickly is very important. Apart from the quick sharing of information, the software environment is also important especially those used for word processing, databases for the customers, spreadsheets, network browsing and electronic mail. Therefore, the development of a wide computing infrastructure which is based on good hardware and software standards will improve the day-to-day operational activities and interactivity between the various departments of the bank. The standards would also help facilitate the quick exchange of information as well as important documents both within and outside the bank. According to Stair and Reynolds, the hardware standards are based on the present technology that is available in addition to the present needs of the bank which then applies to both the windows and the mackintosh platforms. However, for each hardware configuration, some considerations have to be made which include: i. Easy connectivity to the bank’s network. ii. Easy connectivity to the external systems and other organizations. iii. The in-house experience with the chosen product and the configuration. v. The maximum period which the machine can effectively function. v. The presence of service provided by external hardware repairers. Different types of computers can be purchased but regardless of the type purchased, the minimum configuration should be: i. Intel core 2 Duo processor. ii. 2 G RAM because we’ll be using windows Vista. iii. 60 GB hard disk. iv. CD – ROM/DVD drive. v. Network connection. vi. 3 years warranty. Because of the nature of the tasks performed by the bank, there will be a need to archive data, so a DVD+R drive is recommended. Recommendations on what to purchase Monitors: Flat panel monitors with high resolutions are recommended due to cost constraint, but as time goes on, we could change them to dual monitors. Printers: HP Laser jet P2015dn (monochrome) and HP Color Laser Jet 2605dn (color) is recommended. Scanners: USB scanners are recommended. Other Peripherals such as Modems, NICs and Drives: From previous experience, a personal relationship has been developed with MNJ Technologies Direct so it is recommended that supplies be purchased from them. Software Standards The software standards have a lot of advantages and these include: 1. An improved data sharing to ensure: . The sharing of data between applications such as word processors, databases, spreadsheets and so on. b. That there are identical resources on each of the desktop to provide easy transfer of information and to serve as a consistent tool-set for all the bank workers. c. A consistency of file format to provide optimal file sharing between individuals, units and departments within the organization. 2. An improved training which focuses on: a. Team training in various courses and workshops for different levels of user proficiency i. e. the introductory, intermediate as well as the advanced stages. b. Computer – based training courses which is centered on selected software packages. 3. An improved support from the I. T support staff to focus on: a. The depth of knowledge of application instead of the breadth of the large number of applicants. b. Product expertise. 4. Smoother software installation and upgrades to ensure: a. The proper installation of the different software for the new computers usually making it a part of the initial hardware installation. b. That routine installation is made instead of a specialized process for each individual resulting in maximization of time and resources. c. That upgrades are tested and properly documented in order to reduce potential incompatibilities. Types of software standards 1. Fully supported software: it is my responsibility as the I. T manager to ensure that the appropriate software is installed, to troubleshoot software problems, to provide training courses and to provide the documentation of selected packages. Office productivity suite includes Microsoft word, Microsoft excel, PowerPoint, Access, and MS Office. i. Electronic mail/calendar ii. Web browser which includes internet explorer 6, safari 1 (Mac OS 10. 2), Firefox 2. iii. Web course development : Desire2Learn. v. Web page development: Dreamweaver MX. v. Image Editing: Adobe Creative Suite 2. 0. vi. Operating Systems: Windows XP and Windows Vista. vii. File transfer: Transmit, Filezilla 1. 7. viii. Other utilities: PowerArchiver 2000, Norton Antivirus 10. 15, Print Key 2000. ix. Network operating system: Netware 6, Microsoft server. x. Network clients: Netware client 4. 9 SP2 (Win XP). 2. Partially supported software: This may include some versions of the fully supported software and in some cases; it includes a new release of a standard application. These includes: i. Mathematical software: Maple 10, Matlab 2006. i. Telnet: Host Explorer (Telnet) 4, Putty (Win). iii. Operating systems: Windows 2000, Mac OS X 10. 3. iv. Statistics: SPSS 15. x, SPSS 12. x, Minitab 15. x. v. Office productivity suite: MS Office XP. 3. Non- supported software: these are some software that the I. T will not install nor provide follow-up support for because they are considered as obsolete. Examples of these include all Microsoft DOS and Windows 3. 1 based software. 4. However, changes will be made regularly by the I. T department to the computer hardware and software standards and this will be communicated to all members of staff. Sufficient time will be allowed for the migration to new standards; changes will also be made regularly to the hardware configurations as technology and prices change and would also be communicated to all members of staff. Operating systems Operating systems are the most important software which runs on the computer. Without it, the application software which is designed to communicate with the hardware through the operating system cannot run. There are different types of operating systems and these can be classified into: a. Single program operating system and . Multi tasking operating system The single program operating system is a type of OS that allows only one program to run at a particular time. This was later converted to the multi tasking operating system because it was found out that it was time consuming and not very practical and professional to close one application in order to open another one especially if you want to copy or transfer data from one application to anothe r. The multi tasking operating system is a type of OS that enables a single user to have more than one applications open at the same time. It usually gives the computer the option of determining how many time slices will be allocated to each program. The main program gets the most and the rest is distributed to the remaining programs depending on their rates of activity. There are basically three types of the multi tasking operating systems. These are: Single user multi tasking systems, real time operating systems and the multi user operating system. The real time operating systems are usually used to control scientific instruments, industrial systems and so on. The user has little control over the activities performed by this type of system. The single user multi tasking system allows a single user to open and run different applications at the same time. Examples of this type are Windows of Microsoft and the Macintosh of apple. Multi user operating systems are systems that give access to the resources on a single computer to many users at the same time. An example of this is the UNIX. However, the operating system that is commonly used are Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP (coming in two versions as the home and the professional), Windows Vista, Windows CE, Apple Macintosh, Unix, Solex etc (Charette, 2005). Network Security The computer networks can either be public or private. They are used daily to conduct transactions and to hasten communications amongst individuals, business and groups within an organization. The networks comprises of ‘nodes’ which can be referred to as ‘client’ terminals and one or more ‘servers’ or ‘host’ computers. They are usually linked by communication systems which could be private which could be used within a company and public which can be accessed by members of the public such as the Internet. However, due to technological advancement, most of the companies host computers can be accessed by employees within the offices over a private communications network outside the offices through normal telephone lines (Tatnall et al. , 2002). Network security can then be described as involving all the activities that the various organizations, institutions, enterprises and so on take to protect the value of their assets and the integrity and continuity of their operations. In order to make the network secure, threats should be identified and strategies put in place to combat them by making use of the different network security tools. Threats to network security There are different threats to network security and they include: a. Viruses: these are computer programs that have been written by programmers with the aim of infecting computers when triggered by a certain event. b. Trojan horse programs: these are delivery vehicles for destructive codes which could appear as a harmless software program or as a useful one. c. Vandals: these are some software applications that can destroy the computer. . Attacks: This could be information-gathering activities which collect data that is used to compromise networks, access attacks which exploit network vulnerabilities gaining entry to e-mails, databases and the corporate network and denial-of-service attacks which prevent access to some part or all parts of the computer system. e. Data interception: This involves the altering of data packets that are being transmitted. Some network security tools that can be put in place include: a. Antivirus software packages: These are used to counter most of the virus threats. They need to be updated regularly in order for it to be effective. b. Secure network infrastructure: firewalls and intrusion detection systems provide protection for all the areas of network hence enabling secure connections. c. Virtual private networks: these are used to provide accessibility control and data encryption between different computers on a particular network. It allows the safe connection of workers to the network without the risk of someone else intercepting the data. d. Encryption: these are used to make sure that messages cannot be read by anyone else other than the authorized recipients. . Identify services: are services that identify users and control their activities as well as their various transactions on the network. Services used here include authentication keys, passwords etc. However, no single solution can protect against the variety of the afore mentioned threats, as a result, multiple layers of the security tools should be put in place. Network security i s usually accomplished through the hardware as well as the software, with constant update of the software to further protect from the emerging threats. In order for the network security system to be effective, it is important to note that all the network security tools work hand in hand to minimize maintenance and to improve security. Client Server Computing Client server computing can be defined as a distributed computing model where the requesting of services from the server processes is done by client applications. Here, both the clients and the servers run of different computers that have been interconnected by a computer network. Basically, it is server software that accepts requests for data from the client software and returns the results to the client. The major focus in client-server computing is on the software. A common example of the client-server computing is the use of the internet which could be the collection of information from the World Wide Web. However, client server computing generally applies to systems in which the organization runs various programs that have multiple components distributed amongst different computers in a particular network. The concept is linked with the enterprise computing which ensures availability of the computing resources. Client server systems are important and useful in the banks because it allows easy accessibility of account information on a central database server amongst other things. This will be very useful in the day-to-day operational activities. All the access is done through a PC client which provides a graphical user interface (GUI). Data such as the individual account numbers can be entered into the GUI along with the different types of transactions made on the account be it withdrawal or deposits. The PC client validates the data, transfers it to the data base server and eventually displays the results. Client Server Toolkits It has been observed that a lot of software toolkits for the effective building of client-server software are available today. These toolkits are referred to as middleware and examples are the Open Software Foundation (OSF) Distributed Computing Environment (DCE), Distributed component object model (DCOM), Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM) and the Transaction processing monitors (TPM). Data Base Management System This is a collection of programs that enables effective storage, modification and extraction of information from a database. Its primary goal is to provide an environment that is convenient and efficient for the storage and the retrieval of information. Different types exist which range from small systems running on personal computers to huge systems running on mainframe computers. Examples of database management system are Microsoft Access, My SQL Server, Oracle and FileMaker Pro. Examples of the use of the database systems include: †¢ Automated teller machines(ATM) †¢ Computerized library systems †¢ Computerized parts inventory systems †¢ Flight reservation systems Employee information systems †¢ Company payroll †¢ Credit card processing systems †¢ Sales tracking systems and so on The internal organization determines the ease and flexibility of information extraction. The requests for information from a database are made in form of a question. This information can be presented in different formats. The database management system includes a report writer program which en ables the output of data in the form of a report; some also include a graphics component which allows the output of information in the form of graphs and charts. The major purpose of a database system is that it provides users with an abstract view of data. Data is usually stored in complex data structures bit users see a simplified view of the data. Model View Controller Model view controller is a design pattern that is used by applications which need the ability to maintain multiple views of data. It focuses on a separation of objects into three categories such as: †¢ Models: for the maintenance of data †¢ Views : for the display of all or a portion of data †¢ Controllers: for the handling of events affecting both the models and the views. Due to the fact that it can be categorized, there can be interactions between multiple views and controllers with the same model and there can also be interactions between new views and controllers that were never in existence with a model without necessarily forcing a change in the design of the model. Model view controller can be represented graphically as shown below: [pic] The controller can change a model or a view or change both due to certain events. When a controller changes the model, all the dependent views update automatically and similarly, when a controller changes a view, the view gets data from the model to update itself. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) This is a term that is used to describe the set of activities supported by multi-module application software that helps businesses and companies to manage the important parts of its business. It is a package that promotes the seamless flow of information in any organization. The information from the ERP system provides visibility for key performance indicators that are necessary for meeting corporate and business objectives. ERP software applications are useful in managing product planning, providing customer service, purchasing, inventories and tracking orders. Enterprise resource planning includes application modules for the finance and the human resources aspects of any business. Typically, it has both modular hardware and software units that communicate on a local area network. This allows a business to add or to reconstruct modules while preserving the integrity of the data. Some of the players in the ERP market are SAP, PeopleSoft etc, while the new comers include Oracle, IBM and the Microsoft. Before an organization implements the ERP, certain issues need to be addressed and they are stated below: †¢ The popular information systems †¢ Fluctuations in the choice of technology The ability of the market players to stay in tune with ERP †¢ The effective ways to implement business applications like ERP †¢ Ways to benefit from it in order to lead to competitive advantage †¢ The necessity for the innovation of software applications All these are important to take note of and will eventually determine the business mod el of the organization. The implementation of ERP is a very crucial factor in the ERP system. The success of a good ERP implementation lies in quicker processes making training very important. The speed and extent of the training eventually determines the worth and the value of the ERP. Decision Support System This is a term that describes computer applications which enhances the user’s abilities to make decisions. It describes a system that is designed to help decision makers identify problems and to make decisions to solve those problems by using information from a combination of raw data, personal knowledge, business models and communications technology (Hanna et. al, 2003). Information that can be gathered and presented by a decision support is: †¢ Comparative sales figures from one period to the other †¢ Projected revenue figures which are usually based on assumptions on new product sales A stock of all the current information assets which could be data sources, data warehouses, data marts etc. Components of Decision Support System According to Bhargava et. al,(1999), the components of Decision Support System can be classified as: †¢ Inputs: which include numbers and characteristics that are used for analysis †¢ User knowledge and exp ertise: which are inputs that require manual analysis by the users †¢ Outputs: which are transformed data that aid the generation of the DSS decisions †¢ Decisions: these are the results generated by the DSS Applications of Decision Support System Decision support system can be used and applied in various fields. Some of them are stated as follows: 1. It can be used for medical diagnosis in the clinics. 2. It is used extensively in business and management to allow faster decision making, better allocation and utilization of resources and the early identification of negative trends which could pose as threats to the organization. 3. It is used in agricultural production systems to facilitate decision making at the farms and at policy levels. 4. It can also be used in forest management for long-term planning. 5. It can be designed to make useful decisions in the stock market or even in the marketing department of the banks to decide which segment or target group to design a product for. It is basically useful in any field where effective organization is necessary. Benefits of Decision Support System Some of the benefits of an effective DSS include: 1. It helps to create competitive advantage amongst an organization’s competitors. 2. It facilitates interpersonal relationships between the employees of a particular organization. 3. It increases control in an organization. 4. It speeds up the process of problem-solving in an organization. . It recognizes the importance of training and development within an organization and it promotes this. 6. It encourages innovative thinking as well as discovery of new areas of the decision maker hence improving motivation of the employee CONCLUSION It is worthy to note that the implementation of an effective information system is a continuous process t hat starts from the period the original suggestion was made and continues in the system as new users are introduced. Implementation plays a major role in the management of information technology and as such steps should be taken that it is done properly. REFERENCES Avgerou, C. , (2001). The significance of context in information systems and organizational change. Information systems Journal, Vol 11, pp 43 – 63. Bhargava, H. K. , Sridhar, S. & Herrick, C. (1999). Beyond spreadsheets: Tools for building decision support systems. IEEE Computer, 32(3), 31-39. Charette, R. N. (September 2005). Why software Fails. IEEE Spectrum. Hanna, M. M. , Ahuja, R. K. & Winston, W. L. (2003). Developing spreadsheet-based decision support systems using VBA for Excel. Gainesville, USA: Innovation Center. Ribeiro, L. & David, G. (2001). Impact of the information system on the pedagogical process. Stair, R. M. & Reynolds, G. W. (1999). Principles of information systems (4th ed. ). USA, Course Technology – ITP. Tatnall, A. , Davey, B. , Burgess, S. , Davison, A. & Wenn, A. (2002). Management information systems -concepts, issues, tools and applications. Melbourne: Data Publishing. Wang, Y. and Strong, D. M. (1996). Beyond Accuracy: What data quality means to data consumers. Journal of Management Information Systems, 12, pp. 5-34. Zhu, Z. and Meredith, P. H. (1995). Defining critical elements in JIT implementation: a survey. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 95(8), pp. 21-29.

WordPerfect Essays - User Interface Techniques, Double-click

WordPerfect Essays - User Interface Techniques, Double-click WordPerfect Using Tables in WordPerfect As most of you know, WordPerfect 6.0A for Windows allows you to do simple word processing pretty easily. My intention in this session is to look at tables fairly comprehensively so that you can see how to use this feature a little more fully. In addition, we'll use data from other applications , including text data and a Harvard Presentation graphics chart in WordPerfect. Seeing how tables are used within WordPerfect templates As you may already be aware, WordPerfect comes with a number of premade templates. We're going to look at one that uses a table within it, the calendar, so you can see how the feature can be used. Click on file Click on template Slide the up arrow up to cal_side Click on the words: Note description Click on the opposite facing up/down arrows for month and select July for month Click on the opposite facing up/down arrows for year and select 1995 for year The calendar will then auto fill in the appropriate days and dates and then poof! disappear. Click on Window (at the top table, window, help) This will bring up a list of documents. Note: You can have a number of documents open concurrently. This is practically limited by the amount of memory and speed of your machine as it relates to the complexity of documents. On my fairly sophisticated machine I've found six text mostly documents are about as much as I can handle the performance of. Click on the last numbered document (most likely document 2) This is a fairly complex table. If you need to make changes in it, you can do so with the table menu. To make a fairly simple change in the calendar, Click on any of the squares Click on table Click on Lines/Fill Click on the table radio button Click on Fill Radio Button Click on drop down box Click on the words 10% fill Click OK You'll see the changes reflected. Bringing your own data into a table Most of the time you'll have your own data that you want to bring in, either in the format of a spreadsheet or a ASCII file. A table handles this kind of data especially well. To bring in a text file (ASCII delimited in this case) and translate it to a table Click on File Click on Open Open File... Automatically it will detect it's an ASCII text file Select entire area of file Click on table create Choose tabular format Choose OK This will convert your text to a table with strange formatting. There are two ways to change this formatting. If you just want something that looks normal, you can click and drag the column lines easily. We'll do this with the day column Bring your mouse to the line between the two columns... You'll see a crosshatch arrow Click and drag out Your column will be resized automatically. Note, though, there is a limited width to the page, so you can not size columns larger than they can print. More frequently, you'll want an exact column width. In this case, we'll do this with the number columns. To do this: Select the columns you want to set the width for by clicking and dragging over them Click on Table Click on Format Select the column radio button Check the check box for fixed width (lower right hand corner) Select in the lower left hand corner the button for column width Select .600 in the box Your columns will be the exact same size now. They will not be aligned completely correctly though. If you want a simple right or left justification: Select the cells (the numbered cells) you want to justify within the table Click on the justification icon 8 over from the left Choose Right justification This will align your cells automatically to the right. More frequently with decimal numbers you'll want a decimal align, that is for the numbers to line up along the decimal point. Select the text you want decimal aligned Click on the justification icon Choose decimal align You can do any formatting within a table that you can do with normal text. We'll bold, italicize and underline some of our fine text. Double click on the word Monday. This

Measure for Measure Act 2 - Analysis

Measure for Measure Act 2 - Analysis Our Measure for Measure Study Guide is packed with scene-by-scene analysis for this classic Shakespeare play. Here we focus on  Measure for Measure  Act 2 analysis to guide you through the plot. Act 2, Scene 1 Angelo is defending his actions by saying that the law must change in order that the people continue to have fear and respect of it. He compares the law to a scarecrow which after time, no longer scares the birds but acts as a perch for them. Escalus urges Angelo to be more temperate, he tells him that Claudio is from a good family and that he could have easily been promoted to a similar position as Angelo’s. He asks Angelo to be fair, saying: â€Å"Whether you had not sometime in your life Erred in this point which now you censure him†. Escalus questions Angelo wondering whether he is being hypocritical. Angelo admits to being tempted but says he has never given in to his temptation: â€Å"Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, another thing to fall† He says that he would expect the same treatment if he transgressed but acknowledged that he could well have done in another circumstance. Angelo talks about the fine line between criminals and those who pass the law, we are all capable of criminality but some have the power to prosecute others that don’t. Angelo orders the Provost to execute Claudio and nine the next morning. Escalus hopes that heaven will forgive Claudio and Angelo for condemning him; he feels sorry for Claudio who has only made one small mistake, and contemplates Angelo’s fate for potentially committing worse actions and going unpunished: â€Å"Well heaven forgive him, and forgive us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall. Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none; and some condemned for a fault alone† Enter Elbow a constable, Froth a foolish gentleman, Pompey, and officers. Elbow explains that he is the Duke’s constable. He often gets his words muddled so it makes it difficult for Angelo to question him. He has brought Froth and Pompey to him for being in a brothel. Froth confesses to working for Mistress Overdone and Escalus tells the men that working in prostitution is illegal and punishable and that they should not be seen in a brothel again. Escalus then asks Elbow to bring him the names of other worthy constables. He reflects on Claudio’s fate with regret but feels that nothing can be done about it. Act 2 Scene 2 The Provost is hoping that Angelo will relent. Angelo enters; The Provost asks him if Claudio will die the next day. Angelo tells him that of course he will die and asks him why he is being questioned on the matter. Angelo tells the Provost that he should get on with his job. The Provost explains that Juliet is about to give birth, he asks Angelo what should be done with her. Angelo tells him to: â€Å"Dispose of her to some more fitter place and that with speed.† The Provost explains that a very virtuous maid, the sister of Claudio wishes to speak with Angelo. It is explained to Angelo that she is a nun. Isabella implores Angelo to condemn the crime but not the man who committed it. Angelo says that the crime is already condemned. Urged on by Lucio to be less cold, Isabella further entreats Angelo to free her brother; she says that had Claudio been in Angelo’s position he would not have been so stern. Angelo tells Isabella that Claudio will die; she tells him that Claudio is not ready and pleads with him to give him a stay of execution. Angelo’s will appears to be bending as Isabella is told to return tomorrow. Isabella says: â€Å"Hark how I’ll bribe you, good my lord, turn back.† This pricks Angelo’s interest: â€Å"How bribe me?† She offers to pray for him. Angelo is sexually attracted to Isabella but is confused because he is more attracted to her because she is virtuous. He says: â€Å"O let her brother live!... What do I love her†.

Career Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Career Research - Essay Example Aside from regular record keeping, being the contact person with insurance companies, and preparing patients for an exam, the medical assistant can also be of minor help to the doctor during simple clinical procedures. The job requirements for a medical assistant is not as stringent as one might believe. It only requires a 2-year degree and some previous work experience in order to get started. It is said that there will be a tremendous job growth in the area according to the Bureau of Labot Statistics due to the increase in the number of doctors and practical nurses. Therefore, being a medical assistant can turn out to be lucrative career for those involved in it in the future. I am looking forward to discussing my application further with you at your most convenient time. You may contact me in through my mobile phone at 123456789 or via email at web@next.net. I will also make a follow up call to your company next Wednesday regarding my