Know Rhymesâ€Know Reasons

My parents are nerds.   I don’t mean they were nerds as kids and grew out of it; I mean my parents were nerds from the moment each was born, though their adolescence, and right into adulthood.   Today, my parents remain true to their heritage: they are full-fledged, adult nerds. As most people are aware, nerd hood requires a few supplies and traits: along with the requisite pocket protectors, the over-exuberance for all things academic, and thick glasses, both of my parents are bookworms.   Luckily, certain genetic traits skip a generation, and I can honestly say that I am not a nerd; however, I am a bookworm, and I am not ashamed to admit it because much of my life has been influenced by the things I have read. I grew up with Dr. Seuss.   My father used to spend time every week reading the latest Dr. Seuss book with me.   He’d tuck me into bed, and then I read to him aloud as the story unfolded one rhyme and one intriguing illustration at a time.   My goal was not so much to get to the end, but to learn new words, and each new word I learned was marked by my father with a bright, yellow highlighter. In this way, the progress I made became more tangible, and for all I know, that habit of my father’s allowed me the freedom to read all of my books with a dictionary and a highlighter by my side and never to feel as if doing so was a waste of time or a burden: new word were an adventure, and I loved learning them.   I don’t recall developing a particular favorite Dr. Seuss book as a child, but as I got older, I began to get the urge to unpack the box of my highlighted books and relive a little of my youth. The box of Dr. Seuss books had been stored in the family shed, and the years had taken their toll.   The change in temperature had caused the books to warp and mold, but they had not gone completely to waste: at least one family of rodents had nested in the box, shredding the pages of my early education for their own progeny’s needs.   One lone book remained untouched: Horton Hears a Who, and as I opened this last book of my childhood and began to read, I was struck by the power of the story.   Hidden in the text was one of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned: a single voice of the tiniest girl was strong enough to make a difference.   As hokey as it may sound, I leaned the degree to which an individual can impact the world that day as I read that book.   Perhaps I am a nerd. I won’t waste time by detailing the degree to which I read during grade school, junior high school, and high school; I will only clarify that while I admit to being bookish, I was also an athlete, participated in student body, and had a social life.   I was, however, not done with Dr. Seuss. I hit a wall with Shakespeare, and I felt the burden of reading for the first time in my life.   While many students had grown accustomed to that wall, I had never dealt with it, so by the time it happened to me, the stakes were high: I was in college, and I wasn’t getting it.   I had never skipped a reading—never worried about my English or literature courses. Suddenly, I was ready for a slug of the stuff Romeo had taken.   I did the only thing I could think of: looking for commiseration, I complained to my parents about how stupid Shakespeare was, pointed out that no one could really be sure he’d written his plays, and wondered out loud why anyone needed to read stuff that’s written like that anyway. My father would have none of it, but he suggested to me that anyone who had grown up on Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein had no business complaining about or being confused by Shakespeare.   Like many messages delivered when one isn’t ready to receive them, the point my father had tried to make was lost on me for awhile—buried by the frustration of not having been appeased.   Several days later, I tried to give in to the notion that there might be something familiar in the rhythm and rhyme of Shakespeare if only I’d do what my father had suggested: read it out loud and listen—really listen. I struggled at first trying to work through the colloquial terms.   I fought to remember that the ends of a line of text didn’t necessarily equal the end of a sentence.   I battled with Shakespeare’s sentence structure trying to remember that it was rarely subject-verb-object.   It was like running through sand that was waist deep.   Until it wasn’t.   Suddenly, everything fell into place: it was like I had learned a foreign language.   The words made sense; the story began to unfold around me; I got it; I liked it.   The only thing I can compare it to is sitting in a theater watching a sub-titled movie: there is a point at which the reading becomes so automatic that it is no longer a conscious effort but automatic.   It was just like that. Later, I met the wall that was Henry James.   I was reading Portrait of a Lady, and I had spent far too much time trying to decipher the first scene of the text.   When I realized that James had spent over a page beating around the bush to say that three men were at tea, I wanted to scream.   I wanted to ask the guy why he’d wasted so much ink and so many words simply to point out to the audience that it was tea time, but instead of there being women there, there were men—but I had a book to wade through, and Mr. James was long dead, so I moved on. Having figured out the context of the opening if the book, I went back and started anew, and I realized that I wanted to sit and talk to the man who had chosen such wonderfully descriptive words—a man who had taken such great care to spend the time to so completely describe the fact that three men were at tea.   I remember thinking to myself that if he were a painter, and he painted the way he wrote, that I would love his work like I loved Claude Monet’s Impression Sunrise.   Years later, when I began to read everything I could by and about Henry James, I had a private laugh over his affinity for painters—Monet in particular. Having cracked Shakespeare and James, I was never again afraid of a book’s language or  length.   I picked up Middlemarch and Tom Jones and Vanity Fair and loved each of them for  different reasons, but one day, I picked up Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio, and like  Horton Hears a Who, I found a story that changed the way I viewed the world.   â€Å"The Book of the  Grotesque† made me think about truth, and the way in which each individual forms his or her  own truth and twists it to suite personal needs.   It made me consider that each person’s  quest for and claiming of truth can send ripples into the world, and these ideas changed me. Recently, I have discovered Flannery O’Connor, and while I struggle with the racial issues that threaten to ruin her works for me, I feel the now-familiar tingle beginning that I have grown to recognize as the discovery and excitement that only a well-written book can bring me.   I may have to break down and buy a pocket protector just to use as a book mark. What about writing?   Well, if one day all of the things I have jotted down in hopes of emulating the people previously mentioned ever manages to make its way to a publisher, I will blame that on the books I have read and the people who wrote them.   I will speak of the fact that when I walk into a bookstore, I marvel at all of the people who have managed to get published and allow myself an instant to believe it might someday happen for me as well. As I pick my words and paint my own pictures, I wonder if I have it in me to write the thing that for the right person will make a difference—the thing that might one day be highlighted in bright yellow—the page marked with a sticky note.   Maybe this year I’ll try my hand at NaNoWriMo.   

Goals After Graduation

It's a day to look back and acknowledge the success throughout the year's. Graduation and receiving your diploma is the key to success. Graduates should have a goal in mind of what they want to do with their future. My goal for when I graduate is, to continue my education through college and earn my degree as a medical assistant. The Medical assistant field is always high in demand. And It's one of the top paying field's.I think In order for you to enjoy work you have to find something you are comfortable doing. When setting a goal you have to keep In mind that you have to try to do whatever Is In your hands to achieve that goal. Earning my degree to become a Medical assistant Is my goal because I love helping others. And the fact well paying field Is a plus. Being that I have 5 children and I want the bets for them. I would love to be able to help my husband provide for our children's dally needs.And I know with the help and support of my husband and children I will be able to achie ve my goal of finishing college and earning my degree as a Medical assistant. I know that reaching my goal of earning my degree will take lots of patience and perseverance from my part. But hey nobody said it would be easel Setting goals for after graduating is very important so you can have an I idea of what you want to do with your future. Graduating is already an achieved goal that we all set when we first enter grade school.And that is one of life's most important goal, graduating high school. In conclusion, making goals for after graduating is very important because it helps you have a better planned future. Goals are hard to achieve but are very important in life. Don't let anyone stop you from achieving your goal. Don't matter how old you are with patience and perseverance you will accomplish your goal. I know I will do my best to achieve my goal to earn my degree for Medical assistant.

The UK Housing Market Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The UK Housing Market - Assignment Example There will be a realistic rise in the real estate prices i.e. the prices will not rise too fast.  There will be a realistic rise in the real estate prices i.e. the prices will not rise too fast.  (a) 5% tax on the sale price of each property means a considerable burden for the house-building firms. If such a tax is levied on house building firms, they are bound to pass it on to the retail buyers i.e. it will result is the increase in prices, which in turn means more costly proposition that will ultimately lead to decrease in demand. But some offers on the part of authorities like the offer of low-interest rates to the retail house buyer will help offset this decrease in demand (like in part-a above).  (b) If there’s a significant fall in the prices of construction material like bricks, mortar, and timber then that is definitely a piece of good news for the house building firms as well as the prospective buyers. This will make the housing market more lucrative and competi tive as this will lead to competition amongst the house building firms to offer best bargains to the buyers, which in turn will offer a range of choices for the buyer. This will ultimately result in a considerable reduction in prices. (c) The stamp duty is a must for any house property bought by any individual, as it is tax paid to the government. But supposing Gordon Brown makes an announcement on May 1, 2006, that stamp duty will be doubled w.e.f. then the very first impact it will have is a rush for registering the properties before June 1 and thereafter there’ll be a phase for a couple of months when there will be a fall in the number of property registrations. Thereafter it will not have much of an effect on the prices as such reason being it is not a factor directly affecting the existing prices, but it will lead to some lull in demand.  

Coca-Cola Company Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Coca-Cola Company - Research Paper Example The mature market can turn out to be a barrier for the companies that desire to operate in such markets as well as to make an entry in the new market (Brown, 2002). It is very tough condition for a new company to introduce its products and services in the market when the chances of growth are less. Mature market creates a tough situation for the companies to expand. With due regard to this context, it can also be observed that the companies in a mature market faces tough times to extend its objective further because of the existence of the equilibrium condition in the market. The major characteristics of a mature market include slow overall growth of the market trends, decreasing industry profit ratio, influencing behavior played by the experienced buyer for the producers and increase in the market research for the products. The characteristics play a significant role in increasing the competition in terms of the market shares which lead to increase in the price of the product (Brown , 2002). In order to understand the scenario of a company’s operations in a mature market, the study intends to analyze the operational strategies taken by Coca-Cola Company, a leading global beverage corporation. ... Overview of the Company The journey of Coca Cola was initiated in Atlanta, United States. It was founded by an Atlanta based pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886. John Pemberton discovered the solution to be used in preparing the drinks. The drink was readily preferred by the people, which initiated the long journey of a successful company. While the business was getting expanded John Pemberton’s bookkeeper named the drink as ‘Coca Cola’, and from then onwards the business was started as Coca Cola Company. Before realizing the growth and the success of the brand developed by him, John Pemberton passed away. Subsequently, Asa Griggs Candler, a businessman from Atlanta captured the rights to the business and became the inaugural President of the company to run the business (The Coca Cola Company, 2011). In the initial phases of commencement, keeping in view the need for expanding the Coca Cola business, it made the President Asa Griggs Candler to think about the safegu arding the brand. The measures taken by the President were primarily advertising the product authenticity so that consumer demand for it increases. Furthermore, the shape of container was also changed with attractive styles in order to differentiate it from other brands and to protect the product from being copied and sold in the market at a cheaper rate (The Coca Cola Company, 2011). During the World War II, in 1943, General Dwight D. Eisenhower asked the Coca Cola Company to take the trade overseas to ten bottling plants to serve the people with drinks during the time of war. Thereafter, when the war came to an end the company was allowed to do business overseas. This initiated the path for expansion for the company in the global shores. In due course of time, with the continued expansion

Educational Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Educational Evaluation - Essay Example This would provide an opportunity to introduce the standards to teachers and allow them to infuse them into their curriculum and develop assessment based on their understanding of the critical/creative thinking standards. 4. Allow teachers the time to use these strategies and assessment principles in their classrooms in an attempt to help them develop their own individuality when designing and assessing instruction while at the same time providing them with innovative experimentation. 5. Reunite with teachers to dialogue about what they thought was effective and ineffective, their evaluation of the critical thinking standards, and what barriers they felt impeded their abilities to utilize this manner of instruction and assessment. Having a healthy dialogue with teachers about critical/creative thinking and then affording them the time to utilize methods and strategies for teaching and assessing thinking would allow teachers to think about and identify their own practices. Building metacognitive opportunities into the process, would allow teachers to think creatively and intellectually about their own teaching processes. This would motivate them to recognize what they thought was valuable and what they thought should be changed in their curriculum and instructional methods, along with recognizing where they might be able to learn more about critical and creative thinking and instruction. All good decisions and solutions to problems require a clear understanding of what the actual problem is. Helping students separate causes from solutions, symptoms from problems, and sub-problems from real problems is essential for teaching students to think critically. For example, defining the wrong problem can send a student down the wrong path to, at a minimum, irrelevant solutions, and ensure that she will not understand the subject matter or concepts she is examining. Helping students define problems to take what they are learning and phrase inquiry in the form of questions to be answered through research and collaboration is a goal of critical instruction. Helping students see the goals and objectives in what they are studying is essential to help them understand subject matter. Many problems with students' understanding of, for example, biology or history come with the fact that they do not know why they are studying biology or history what biologists and historians attempt to accomplish through their scholarly endeavors. By not identifying the goals contained within various disciplines, students cannot be expected to understand the discipline as a system. For example, without understanding what a biologist seeks to accomplish by studying cells, let's say, the student cannot possibly hope to identify biological problems in the area of cellular formation or development. It cannot be taken for granted that students understand what historians, biologists, mathematicians, artists, or journalists do; in fact, it should be assumed the opposite and engage students in discussions as to the purposes behind studying one subject or another. Simi larly,

The Ideal Classroom and School Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The Ideal Classroom and School - Assignment Example This essay describes the role of education and how it can be assisted by the ideal classroom and school, ultimately concluding that such concepts are tied into present culture and needs and so should remain flexible. Ultimately, the construction of any ideal is dependent upon perspective and the ability to meet the needs of one's learners. It is therefore imperative that ideals are not copied from one place to another, but that each educator seeks their own answers. Many of the more pragmatic suggestions for creating an ideal classroom in research literature relate to secondary education, but interestingly the two projects currently attempting to construct an ideal classroom are focussing on the primary age range. With the practicalities of constructing an ideal classroom at an early stage in academic literature, a more philosophical approach is taken in this essay. From this perspective, practical ideas are discussed in terms of why they are thought to be ideal. As the notion of an ideal classroom is as much a theoretical as a practical concern, I do not judge the existing literature to be lacking as empirical research into an ideal classroom would be heavily dependent upon its culture and context, arguably suffering from a lack of generalisability from its very nature. The broader role of education discussed by Wragg in Moon et al. ... The broader role of education discussed by Wragg in Moon et al. (2002) includes flexibility, that the aim is simply to meet students' needs. While this slightly dodges a question by posing another question (e.g. who determines and limits the needs), the intent suggests that the concept of 'ideal' has to be a fluid one. An ideal classroom now may not be one in 20 years, nor is the ideal classroom for a London school necessarily ideal for a similar school in Hull. The concept of an ideal classroom and school may be culture bound as much as it is resource driven, so it is necessarily to strictly define for what purpose the classroom is 'ideal'. As with Moon et al. (ibid), this poses the question "ideal for what" To argue that education has changed so little over millennia suggests comparison to another field where little has changed, namely philosophy. Philosophy has value to society for its questions rather than its answers, and I would argue that education is very much the same. It is so much a part of our human and social condition that each generation must ask itself the same questions even if the answers are only temporary. If philosophy is the question of who we are, education represents who we want to be. In the thousands of years of human education, classrooms and schools are a relatively recent innovation. They arguably account for a small proportion of what is learnt through a lifetime, for example Moon argues that the challenge for formal teaching is how to transpose the extraordinary human capacity for learning, particularly in the young, to those artificial worlds we have created in schools and classrooms. (Moon et al., 2002 p.3) McIntyre illustrates this point by stressing that the "concept of teaching has no

Stress Management and Its Effect on Efficient Work Performance Dissertation

Stress Management and Its Effect on Efficient Work Performance - Dissertation Example One of these is the distractions they get away from their work due to stress. In a recent study, Michelson (2004) noted that the commonest cases and instances of stress arise when the roles of employees demand that they have a lot of interaction with people as a means of serving the interest of these people. Employees whose work also put a lot of mental strain on them, as well as those who are engaged in the use of heavy and multiplex machinery have also been identified to be victims of some of the worse cases of stress (McIntosh, 2011). Sadly, even though it is generally appreciated that stress is a major hindrance to successful organisational running, not much has been done by way of managing stress among workers. Coldwater, Mohl, Denny and Mote (2012) blame this situation on the wrong identification and classification of the nature of stressors that employees are commonly faced with. In another instance, Michelson (2004) pointed to the fact that the best form of stress management can only come when there is the right identification of stress that employees are faced with. Purpose of the Study It will be noted that the Administrative Stress Index ASI ascribes five major areas of stressors namely administrative constraints, administrative responsibilities, interpersonal relations, intrapersonal conflicts, and role expectations. As part of the problem of wrong identification and management of stressors faced by employees within the labour force, this research is being conducted with the purpose of using the Administrative Stress Index (ASI) to identify the commonest forms of stressors that employees within three major labour forces namely the education, health and security sectors face in the delivery of their duties. Having used the ASI to identify the types of stress, a questionnaire that seeks to classify the stress management mechanisms used by workers will then be used. This purpose of the study can be noticed to be multi-variant in the sense that it will make it possible to collect sufficient data on all possible stressors that come with the delivery of administrative roles within the education, health and security sectors. The purpose of the study also encompasses stress management of specific stressor. This study is therefore being conducted as an opener to the issue of corporate management of stress by first focusing on the identification of stressors. Aim and Objectives The purpose of the study will be achieved with the aim of identifying different forms of stressors and how they are managed within the educational, health and security sectors. This can however be seen as a very broad and generalised goal, that cannot be achieved by performing only a single task or duty. The aim of the study has therefore been broken down into specific objectives, which signify the very specific tasks that will be undertaken to bring about the achievement of the research aim. The specific objectives of the study are thus given below. To achieve t he research aim therefore, the researcher has a responsibility of achieving all the specific objectives. 1. To identify various forms of stressors with different categories of jobs in the educational, health and security sectors. 2. To ascertain the different forms of stress management mechanisms that work best with each category of stressors identified. 3. To examine the impact and effectiveness of stress manage

Occupational Therapy Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Occupational Therapy Practice - Assignment Example Another example is a kindergarten child shows evidence of bibliophobia. An occupational therapist help rehabilitate the condition by presenting books that appeal to his/her personal senses, for instance, tapping the emotional likings. If the child loves cars or flowers, the occupational therapist can give the child books with attractive picture illustrations and short descriptions. The goal is to enable the child to appreciate writings and develop a liking for reading. There are different ways therapists can encourage the use of the just right challenge for example in helping clients who have the behaviour of smoking. They can be introduced into other leisure activities that they enjoy most as a means of rehabilitation hence occupational therapists are to encourage them to adapt to the new environment as they swithch from their smoking behaviour. Therapist can use just right challenge in children to help them learn through play activities these help children develop their physical co ordination, social skills enabling them socialize with other children. It also helps them develop emotionally and improve their self-confidence. For this reason therapists recommend leisure and play activities that give the just right challenge for children when learning and having fun. They also provide activities that help children learn how to solve problems. Besides behaviour change and improvement of children skills, therapist also helps clients with mental problems by recommending leisure activities.

Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Management - Essay Example The discount products of large retailers like ASDA and Wal-Mart’s etc are also alluring this segment. The competition is growing along with the growth of various consumer segments. The intensified competition also puts a pressure on the players to offer the customers from every window to sale or market their products and services. The paper covers literature review of the Retail Clothing Sector. The organisation studied for this purpose is asos.com. Various factors of the growing online fashion retailing have been covered in this study. Retailing sector particularly Fashion retailing has attracted attention of various researchers and scholars. Studies have covered various aspects of retailing from organisation structures to advent of technology within this sector and its impact on overall industry. Davies 1993; McGoldrick 1990 state (as cited in Gillooley and Varley, 2001 pg. 7) According to Gillooley and Varley (2001 pg.7-20) emphasis is on the role of technology, technologist in clothing industry and distribution system. They feel that the dominance of manufacturers brands and the emphasis on product/price promotions is higher in retail clothing industry as compared to food or other retailing. Retailers are often classified on the basis of amount of service they offer, depth and breadth of the products and services, relative price changes and their organisation structure Retailer may offer self, limited or full service to the customer. Based on category these can be classified as Specialty stores, Department stores, Supermarket, Convenience stores, Superstores and category killers. The latest concept is online retailing or e-tailing that has replaced the need of personal visit, bricks and mortar to a certain extent. Due to the increase in the number of Internet users the traffic towards online marketing is increasing. This is due to two major factors. One that consumer wants conveniences in terms of effort, money spend and quality assurance and the

Loneliness and Dreams in Mice of men Essay Example for Free

Loneliness and Dreams in Mice of men Essay John Steinbeck wrote the novel of Mice and Men during the great depression. During this time there were few jobs which meant people had to migrate in search of jobs. This meant they were constantly moving and could not establish lasting friendships or relationships. Steinbeck portrays the loneliness and hardship felt by people living through the 1930s American depression. He shows how the dreams of the characters were what helped them survive through this period. In this essay I will discuss the dreams and loneliness of the characters in the novel and how Steinbeck reveals each characters loneliness and dreams. George and Lennie both experience loneliness. Even though they had each other George needed somebody on his wavelength, with his level of maturity because Lennie is like a child and does not think like an adult, he is mentally retarded. One almost gets the feeling that he doesnt want Lennie for companionship at all when he is talking to Lennie about how he would live without him. God a mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. Page 11 As George carries on talking of his laid back carefree lifestyle he dreams of he progressively gets angrier. It makes the reader wonder why he even stays with Lennie if he feels so overwhelmed with the responsibility of looking out for Lennie. George is a thinker he sees how bitter other men on the ranch have become through their loneliness; George knows that staying with Lennie stops him from being truly lonely. He also has protection from Lennie because he knows he is safe when he has a big guy like Lennie as his friend. Looking out for Lennie gives him a purpose, a reason, a role in his life he gets the satisfaction of knowing he is needed. George fell silent. He wanted to talk. Page 41 This quote is from when George talks to Slim. He is happy to have the chance to talk to someone on his level of maturity. As Slim is a good listener and tries to understand the relationship between George and Lennie. Lennie doesnt really experiences loneliness although he needs to pet something, to hold something. He always has George to look after him sees George as a father figure. George instructs him on how to behave and what to do in certain situations. Slowly, like a terrier who doesnt want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, page 9 This quote is taken from when George wants to take a dead mouse away from Lennie who doesnt want to give it up. It reveals how George has an authority over Lennie. George and Lennies dream is to one day own some land. They wish to live on this land and be their own boss. George no longer wants to comply with somebody elses rules. He wants to have a purpose in working hard on the land because then he will benefit from his hard work. Whereas when working on a ranch he is working hard for somebody elses profits. Lennie is only interested in tending to the rabbits. He just wants to be able to pet some animals. His dream fits in with Georges it doesnt matter if he owns the land or not. Curleys wifes name is never mentioned she is always referred to as Curleys wife. Steinbeck never uses her name because the other men see her as belonging to Curley, just another possession of his on the ranch Curleys wife is the only woman on the ranch, she married Curley recently and she is still quite young. She is lonely because she has no one to confide in. When she wants to talk to the men she uses the excuse she is looking for Curley. Any you boys seen Curley? Pg81 This quote is from when Lennie, Candy and Crooks are in Crooks room and Curleys wife comes in. In this chapter we know she uses the excuse she is looking for Curley as a way to talk to the men on the ranch. We know this because, after the men tell her he hasnt been there she says Think I dont know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went. Page 81 She uses this excuse every time she wants to talk to the men but she has shown that she knew exactly where he was this time. She then calls them the weak ones the bunch of bindle stiffs but even after that she wishes to talks to them. This is because she is desperate for some company anyone to talk to. She is seen to be a tart and jail bait by the other men on the ranch, but she still wants to have them for company. Curleys wife also had dream, she still has, and when she was younger she wanted to be an actress. She says how she could have been famous, rich and happy. I coulda made somethin of myself. She said darkly, Maybe I will yet. Pg 93 The fact that she still hopes to fulfil her dream is rather pathetic. Her dream is very unrealistic she will never break free from her unhappy marriage. She has this dream because it is a form of escapism, she can pretend that she is not lonely and that one-day she will not have to live the way she very much dislikes. I tell you I aint used to livin like this. Pg 93 She reveals her dreams to Lennie when hes on his own she finds that the men only talk to her when they are on their own. Even when Lennie is on his own he is reluctant to talk to her because of what George has said about her. Crooks is a Negro in a society that considers non-whites as sub-human. He also is partially crippled which does not help when he is living in a society that value people by their ability to provide a service. Because of his race he does not sleep in the same room as the other workers, he lives in the room where he works in and a manure pile under the window. Because of this Crooks spends most of his time on his own leading to a great feeling of loneliness. His only companions are his books and as he has seen people come and go he has acquired more possessions than the others have. His loneliness is revealed when he is talking to Lennie. Lennie is talking to Crooks in his room, telling him about the land they will one day own. A guy needs somebody-to be near him. Pg 77 Crooks reads books but because of his colour he has no friend not even somebody on his wavelength. He is on his own every night whereas all the other men share their room in the bunkhouse. Crooks is so overcome with his loneliness that he cannot hope or dream anymore. He doesnt take any notice of Lennies dream because he has heard it all before. I seen hundreds of men come by on the road An every damn one of ems got a little piece of land in his head. An never a god-damn one of em ever gets it. Pg 78 Although after he hears how this dream could become a reality Crooks is influenced and wants to join in. He later retracts his statement because of the way Curleys wife treats him. Well you keep your place, then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it aint even funny. Pg 85 Shes racist and through her body language she shows that she has the authority over him. This is why he no longer wanted to join in with the plan of owning land. Candy is lonely because he has nobody; he only had one companion, which was his dog that he had since the dog was a puppy. Candy was very upset when his dog had to be killed. His loneliness is revealed when Carlson proposes that the dog should be shot. Whynt you shoot him, candy? The old man squirmed uncomfortably. Pg 47 The thought of Candys only companion being shot fills him with dread. The thought is uncomfortable. He tries many times to reason with Carlson and find a way that he can put off the death of his dog. Candy said hopefully, you aint got a gun. Pg 50 The only reason he lets his dog die is because he cannot argue with Carlson. Also Slim agreed with Carlson and Slim word is the law in this play, the voice of reason. Candy is so desperate for companionship that he keeps a blind dog that is in pain from dying in a way this is an act of selfishness. Candy listens attentively while George and Lennie are talking about their dream. He offers to buy the land they need to fulfil their dream. Sspose I went in with you guys. Thas three hundred an fifty bucks Id put in Pg 62 Candy is very old, because of the great depression there is no job security and because of this he thinks he will be sacked soon. At this point the dream seems more real to them than it has ever been before. Before it was just a fantasy, some thing to find comfort in, but he could never actually let himself believe it. They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing, Pg 64 I think now their dream is more realistic but not realistic enough because George says if Lennie and he dont spend anything they would have $450 but they are bound to spend something especially when George is interested in going to the cat house. Also the asking price is $600 it will take a lot longer for them to raise that amount of money. The great depression in America had its effect on many of the characters; money was hard to come by. Loneliness is a major theme in the novel Of Mice and Men because many of the characters suffer from this more than anything else. Loneliness kills Curleys wife, embitters Crooks and candy although Lennie and George put it off through the fact that they have each other for companionship. Guys like us, that work on the ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. Lennie broke in. But not us! Because because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and thats why Pg 14 Steinbeck doesnt offer any answers to the characters problem of loneliness. Showing the reader a graphic and moving portrayal of how loneliness affects people without providing an antidote or giving a happy ending makes the novel really sad. Lennie and Georges dream brought nothing but pain and grief instead of promised joy and happiness, which ties into the tittle of the book which was taken from a poem titled to a mouse by a Scottish poet called Robert Burns. This poem was about how a mouse, which had planned for the winter by making a nest, had its nest ruined by a tractor. George and Lennie planned carefully how they were going to achieve their dream of being free and independent but forces beyond their control shattered their dream. Steinbeck never suggests that dreams should not be had, Lennie and Georges dream was so powerful that Candy was drawn in and for a short time so was the cynical Crooks. This dream was what comforted Lennie and helped George survive. The dreams the characters had had to be had they were what was needed to hold on to, to survive and to work for. This period of time made people bitter because they were lonely, the only person they had to look out for was themselves, kindness had no place on the ranch. They all cried out for love and care but only Lennie openly expressed his need for it through his constant talk of rabbits. Characters like Crooks had become cynical, he had lost hope and he couldnt dream. At first when Lennie talked of his dream Crooks thought it was another pathetic dream he was beyond imagining how everything could be. Curleys wifes dream was rather pathetic and quite unrealistic but it was a form of escapism for her. So she fantasised about her dream coming true but it was her way of coping when she was in an unhappy marriage that she had no way out of. It is sad to think that the loneliness that she was trying to get away from killed her in the end.

Training on Performance of Employees in Etihad Airways

Training on Performance of Employees in Etihad Airways This research project aims to investigate the impact of training on the employees of El Etihad, a well known airline based in the Middle East with operations across the world. 1.1. Overview Training and development play very important roles in the enhancement of individual abilities and professional advancement of organisational employees (Gerber Lankshear, 2000). Numerous changes have occurred in the global economic and business environment since the end of the Second World War. Such changes, which have intensified in nature and scope since the 1980s, include rapid advancement in technology, the dismantling of physical and economic barriers between nations, the development of instantaneous methods of communication across long distances, and sharp reduction in costs of international travel (Gerber Lankshear, 2000). The phenomenal increase in international travel is an integral part of globalisation and has in turn led to immense churning in the airlines industry (Craig Douglas, 2000). The airline industry has witnessed the emergence of numerous new airlines across the world, even as well established and once famous airlines have had to close down. Whilst new airlines like Ryan Air and Easy jet have come up in the UK, numerous new airlines have sprung up in China, India and the Middle East. Such growth in the airline industry has resulted in intensification of competition, segmentation of customers, and the emergence of low cost airlines and chartered trips (Craig Douglas, 2000). Etihad is one such airline, which was established in 2003 in Abu Dhabi and has in a short period of time grown significantly both in operations and in sales. Operating in an intensely competitive environment, the organisation needs to improve its sales and operational efficiencies in order to break even and become fin ancially viable (Craig Douglas, 2000). It is widely recognised that with all other things being equal, the competitive advantage of organisations, both in production and in service sectors, is determined by the quality of organisational employees and the levels of customer service (Eaton, 2001). The role of employees is especially important in service sectors like hotels and airlines, where individual customer satisfaction is often dependent upon the quality of service provided by organisational employees. All modern day airlines, big and small, recognise the importance of employees and their role in the achievement of competitive advantage and organisational growth (Eaton, 2001). Airline employees, both on the ground and those who fly, are chosen with great care and trained continuously and intensely in order to improve operational efficiencies, customer service and competitive advantage. 1.2. Aims and Objectives This research project aims to determine the role of training of employees in Etihad airlines on the organisational efficiency, customer service, and competitive advantage of El Etihad Airlines. Its objectives are as under To examine the role of training in improvement of organisational efficiency and competitive advantage of organisations. To investigate how training can improve the performance of employees in the airlines sector. To investigate and assess the ways in which training can help the performance of employees at Etihad Airways 1.3. Research Questions The research questions for this project are framed as under: Research Questions 1: What are the organisational advantages of training? Research Question 2: How can such advantages improve the performance of employees in the Airlines sector? Research Question 3: How can training improve employee and organisational performance at Etihad Airways? Research Question 4: How will such improvement impact the operational and financial performance of Etihad Airways? 1.4. Terms and Definitions Terms and Definitions Details Epistemological Approach The approach of knowledge Quantitative and Qualitative Methods The two main methods of social research Population The group of people or things under study in research projects Sample A small portion of the population that is expected to have the attributes of the larger population 1.5. Limitations of Study This study will be limited by the amount of information accessed during the course of investigation of primary and secondary sources. Whilst extensive efforts will be made to obtain relevant information, it is very possible that some facts that are relevant may not be unearthed. Such inadequacies could limit the final analysis and results of the project. 2. Literature Review Etihad Airways Etihad Airways was established in July 2003, through the proclamation of a royal decree by Sheikh Khalifa, the President of the UAE. Etihad is the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, and offers air travel within country and to numerous other global destinations (iloveindia.com, 2009). It is based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE. The company is yet to post a profit and has faced difficult times in the wake of the global economic downturn of 2008 (iloveindia.com, 2009). Competition in the Airline Industry The airline industry has faced very challenging times over the course of the past decade and continues to face multifaceted and tough situations. The industry suffered extremely in the days after the September 11 attacks, when worldwide drops in air travel compelled a number of celebrated airlines, counting the likes of Swissair, to seal operations because of enormous operational and financial losses (Yousfi, 2008). The huge hike in fuel costs in recent years, which in 2007 shot up to more than 140 USD per barrel and now floats between USD 70 and 75 per barrel, is adversely affecting the operations and finances of all passenger airlines. The airline industry, globally, has suffered losses worth billions of dollars in recent periods and expects to make a nominal profit of 0.05% in 2011 (Yousfi, 2008). Etihad has not just been adversely affected by adverse global environmental circumstances but also by competition from strong Middle East airlines like Qatar Airlines and Gulf Air. The o rganisation faces extremely strong international and local competition, and is finding it difficult to break even and thereafter make profits (Yousfi, 2008). Training and Development Training and Development constitutes the overall organisational strategies and policies that are adopted by organisations for helping employees to improve their individual and collective organisational abilities and skills (Adiele, 2009). Training initiatives aim to build workforces with better ability in order to allow organisations and employees to attain their objectives for customer satisfaction and service. Training represents all the activities that are taken up, both by organisations or individually by employees, to improve employee performance in existing or associated areas of employment (Adiele, 2009). Training in organisations comprises of two important segments, i.e. internal training and external training (Vemic, 2007). Internal training is provided within the organisation. Such training can be classified into off-job and on-job training, on-job training standing for the improvement of skills through the actual participation of workers in their jobs and off-job training standing for learning enhancement through observation; either in class rooms or in the work place (Vemic, 2007). External training represents training that is arranged outside companies, mostly by consultants and professionals (Vemic, 2007). Need for Training and Development Employees need to be trained for various reasons. Whilst staffing of employees is carried out on the basis of their overall suitability for the jobs expected of them by way of educational background and achievements, prior training and working experience, changes in work place and environmental conditions, as well as alterations in work requirements, often require employees to enhance their skills (Lowson, 2002). Training needs could arise because of reasons like (a) the inculcation of fresh technologies and work processes, (b) alterations in manufacturing, service or other work processes, (c) the need to prepare employees for additional responsibilities, (d) the need to prepare workers to take on improved responsibilities, (e) the need to develop their awareness about environmental and business circumstances and (f) the need to develop or alter their attitudes and behaviours (Lowson, 2002). Organisations are progressively emphasising on the importance of ethics in the work place (Vemic, 2007). Modern organisations are informing employees about the ethical direction of their organisations and the requirement for employees to maintain ethical codes of conduct. Apart from ethics, training programmes are frequently designed to give employees interpersonal skills and conflict minimisation techniques (Vemic, 2007). Inculcation of the requirement for preservation of work place harmony also helps workers in improving their relationships with others. Training also plays a key role in inculcating safety in working processes (Vemic, 2007). Benefits of Training and Development HR experts are agreed on the positive benefits of training, not just for junior members of the workforce, but even more for supervisors and managers, for augmentation of individual and organisational productivity and performance (Gerber Lankshear, 2000). Suitable and well planned training assists workers to develop their skills and knowledge, as well as to acquire new skills. Many studies have shown that employees can toil considerably faster and with lesser errors after proper training. Such training allows them to do their jobs better and enables them to take on new responsibilities. Whilst training assists organisational performance and efficiency, it also increases employee worth and augments their value in the employment market (Gerber Lankshear, 2000). Please see Appendix 2, which details the various benefits of training and development in the form of a chart. 3. Research Methods 3.1. Methodological Perspectives 3.1.1. Important Research Factors Research in areas management come under the broad scope of economic research (Bryman Bell, 2007). The research methodology for such assignments is determined in agreement with the doctrine of social research and is shaped by the character of the subject under study and the infrastructural and other resources available with the researcher. The choice of suitable research methods and techniques involves the selection of precise research methods and the most appropriate sources of information (Bryman Bell, 2007). 3.1.2. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods of Research Social research methods are fashioned by two broad and different research approaches, namely the quantitative approach and the qualitative approach. These approaches are fashioned by dissimilar epistemologies and require the use of distinct research techniques, both for acquisition and for analysis of data (Darlington Scott, 2002). Please see Appendix 1 Most theories put forward by researchers need substantiation, measured by relevant quantitative data Quantitative research is an inquiry into an identified problem, and based on testing theories. The goal of quantitative methods is to determine whether the predictive generalizations of a theory holds true. Quantitative political research thus refers to the use of measurement in the analysis of behaviours and attitudes. Quantitative political analysis makes great use of statistical concepts and theories in its execution. In a situation that involves the behavioural analysis of large numbers of people, sometimes running into hundreds of thousands, statistical analysis is the most convenient way of arriving at a logical conclusion. The use of statistics by way of various tools like predetermined sampling methods, probability, correlation and regression analyses is used to present findings that support or contradict research hypotheses. Quantitative analysis is initially somewhat bewildering to stereotypical political researchers, who mostly have backgrounds in the liberal arts and are unfamiliar with statistical models. However, the models used are reasonably simple and decision making is restricted to choosing the level of data to be used, the choice of the sampling technique, the sample size and the appropriate tool for measuring variability. The measurement of variability, which involves computation of means, medians, modes, standard deviations and coefficients of correlation and regression, is the only stage in quantitative analysis that requires a certain amount of number crunching. However, software for their computation is universally available and researchers, these days have little to do other than feeding in the results of surveys and questionnaires. Apart from these descriptive techniques for data analysis, statistical inferential techniques that involve generalising from a sample to the whole population are also regularly used in qualitative research methodology. Quantitative analysis involves two other major tasks that influence the quality of the final analysis, namely data collection and the final validation of results. Data collection can happen directly through the use of questionnaires and surveys, from opinion polls or from pre-existing material, like results of other research efforts or official statistics. Harrison (2001) states that opinion polls are often used to obtain indications about public preferences while exit polls help in forecasting results. The voluminous material available from official sources is also used as base data in quantitative research on many occasions, after satisfaction of its validity for the Qualitative methods of analysis are fundamentally different and are applied when the issue under study is subjective in nature and open to different ways of interpretation (Neuman, 2005). Qualitative research methods are fashioned by interpretivist epistemology and concern detailed examination of multifaceted subjects that are frequently profound and incapable of being satisfied with yes or no responses. Qualitative techniques involve obtaining understanding human behaviour in depth as well as the reasons that govern such behaviour, i.e., the how and why behind attitudes and consequent decision-making. Samples are therefore small and focussed and techniques incorporate skilled and extensive interviewing of respondents, observation and examination of documents (Neuman, 2005). The major difference between quantitative and qualitative research techniques lies in much greater involvement and the elimination of detachment, which however is integral to quantitative research involving large samples and surveys. Numerous techniques, including participant observation, ethnography, ethno methodology, dramaturgical interviewing, case studies, unobtrusive observation, content analysis and historiography form part of the repertoire of the student using qualitative methodology for research. There are very few step by step rules in this methodology and the objective is to arrive at the real reasons behind what people actually do, as opposed to what they say, e.g. in surveys. Whilst most research assignments call for the use of either quantitative or qualitative methods, some multifaceted and multidimensional issues necessitate the use of both techniques (Neuman, 2005). 3.1.3. Choice of Information Sources Information sources are generally categorised into primary and secondary sources. Secondary information sources consist of all the information on the subject that is available to the public at large in the form of published material, more specifically books, articles, both journal and magazine, and other publications (Bryman Bell, 2007). Primary information is obtained from sources that are part of or are integral to the subject under study (Bryman Bell, 2007). Whilst primary information is commonly obtained from interviews and focus group discussions, such information is also available from specific public domain sources like organisational or departmental publications, publications authored by the subjects under study, interviews given by them to reliable media publications, and otherwise from information disseminated through personal or organisational websites (Bryman Bell, 2007). 3.2. Research Design The research project is complex and its design will need to incorporate both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. It is proposed to investigate the responses of a small group of 25 airline employees of Middle East airlines on the proposed benefits of training. This will help in obtaining information from airlines employees on their perceptions of training, especially on the training techniques that could help them in their jobs. Whilst it could be difficultly to obtain permission from airline managements for the conduct of such a survey, a recommendation letter from the institution should help in obtaining their agreement to participate. Qualitative interviews with three senior or middle level airlines staff, especially with people associated with the HR function will also help in obtaining detailed information about the role of training in improving the performance of airline employees. 3.3. Population and Samples The population, for the purpose of this assignment, consists of the employees of Etihad Airways. With the operations of employees of most employees in the airlines sector being reasonably similar, the population can be taken to be all people employed in the airline sector in the Gulf States. The sample for the quantitative survey is fixed at 25 airline employees. The size of the sample is fixed on a non-probabilistic basis and has been decided in line with the abilities and resources of the researcher in conducting the survey. Qualitative interviews are expected to be conducted with three airline employees. The choice of three respondents for qualitative employees is reasonable considering the detailed work required in conducting qualitative interviews. The sample size for qualitative interviews is thus determined at three respondents. 3.4. Data Collection Data collection for quantitative interviews with 25 airline employees will be through carefully constructed questionnaires that will contain a maximum of 15 multiple choice questions. The questionnaire will be easy to use and will be administered by 3 volunteers at airline terminals, only after approval of airline managements. Data will be collected for qualitative analysis from direct interviews with carefully chosen officials, engaged in middle or senior management positions in the airline sector in the Gulf countries. The questions for the interviews will be both open and close ended in nature. The interviews will be audio taped and thereafter transcribed into typed documents. 3.5. Research Ethics Appropriate care will be taken to ensure the adoption of ethical rules and norms that are pertinent to business research (Bryman Bell, 2007). All information sources used for the purpose of study will be acknowledged carefully and comprehensively (Bryman Bell, 2007). All participants will be informed of the nature of the assignment and its purposes. Respondents have been informed of their right to confidentiality and of refusing to answer all or any of the questions asked of them. All respondents have also agreed in writing of their unilateral and unforced willingness to participate in this study (Bryman Bell, 2007). 3.6. Data Analysis The analysis of data will need to be done with reference to the research questions of this project. Data collected from the questionnaire survey will first be carefully transcribed and tabulated, and thereafter analysed with the use of standard statistical tools and techniques. Analysis of data obtained during direct interviews will be conducted after the contents of the audio tapes are carefully transcribed along with notes on behaviours of respondents during the course of interviews. It is important in such cases to bring out the nuances that are not available in the typed manuscripts of the interviews. References Adiele, N., 2009, Importance of Training and Development in a Firm, Ezine, Available at: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ndunuju_Adiele (accessed October 13, 2010). Bryman, A., Bell, E., 2007, Business Research Methods, 2nd edition, New York: Oxford University Press. Creswell, J.W., 2003, Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches, 2nd ed, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Darlington, Y., Scott, D., 2002, Qualitative Research in Practice: Stories from the Field, Crowà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s Nest, N.S.W.: Allen Unwin. Eaton, J., 2001, Globalization and Human Resource in the Airline Industry, 2nd ed., Ashgate Publishing Ltd: Aldershot, UK. El Etihad Airways, 2010, à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Company Profileà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ , Available at: www.etihadairways.com/sites/etihad/global//default.aspx (accessed October 13, 2010). Elliott, D., Stern, E. J., 1997, Research Ethics: A Reader, 1st edition, Institute for the Study of Applied and Professional Ethics at Dartmouth College. Gerber, R., Lankshear, C., 2000, Training for a Smart Workforce, London, Routledge. Craig, C. S., HYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=111420252HYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=111420252 Douglas, S. P., 2000, HYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=111420252International Marketing ResearchHYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=111420252 (2nd ed.), New York: John Wiley HYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=111420252HYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=111420252 Sons. iloveindia.com, 2009, Etihad Airways, Available at: www.iloveindia.com/airlines-in-india//etihad-airways.html (accessed October 13, 2010). Kervin, J. B., 1992, Methods for business research, New York: Harper Collins. Lowson, R, H., 2002, Strategic Operations ManagementHYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=102807829, The New Competitive Advantage,HYPERLINK http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=102807829 New York, Routledge. Morrison, S., Winston, C., 1995, The Evolution of the Airline Industry, The Brookings Institution, 4 Washington, D.C. Neuman, W. L., 2005, Social Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, 6th Edition, Allyn Bacon. Penslar, L. R., 1995, Research Ethics: Cases and Materials, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A., 2009, Research methods for business students, 5th ed, Essex: Pearson Educational. Vemic, J., 2007, Employee training and development and the learning Organisation, Economics and Organisation, 4, 2, 209-216. Yousfi, J., 2008, Troubled Global Airline Industry Battered by Fuel Costs, Labor Problems, Money Morning, Available at: moneymorning.com//troubled-global-airline-industry-battered-by-fuel-costs-labor-problems/ (accessed October 13, 2010). Appendices Appendix 1 Differences between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Qualitative Research Is Objective in nature Is Subjective in nature Depends upon Measurement Depends upon Interpretation Researchers are independent of the Process Researchers are part of the Process Sample size is very important Sample size is not important Used for testing theory and dependent upon early Literature Review Used for developing theory and as such Literature Review is an ongoing process Reasoning is logistic and deductive and establishes relationships and causation Reasoning is dialectic and inductive and establishes meaning, discovery Report is generally in the form of statistical analysis and strives for generalization Report is narrative in nature, dependent upon interpretation and works towards uniqueness

Julius Caesar :: essays research papers

William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, is mainly based on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The various men who happened to object to his assassination had different personal desires for their actions. Depending on each of their actions, words or even tone of voice they may misrepresent them and may be misinterpreted. Brutus, Cassius, and Antony had motives for their actions. I will explain what each of them stood to gain from the death of Caesar. Brutus, servant and close friend to Caesar, has a strong relationship with Caesar but a stronger relationship with Rome and it people. Brutus was a very noble man. He tries to justify the death of Caesar but he can not get the thought of cold-blooded murder out of his mind. One of the reasons Brutus would conspire against Caesar is that he loved the Roman people more than Caesar. Brutus was the head of the conspiracy because the Romans respected his judgement and loyalty to the Roman Empire. If he would have loved Caesar more than Rome's people he never would have killed Caesar for the Roman people. Cassius is the most significant character for his ability to perceive the true motives of the characters. Cassius thinks the nobility of Rome is responsible for the government of Rome. Cassius strongly dislikes Caesar personally. He sees Brutus as the person that will unite the nobles in the conspiracy. Cassius tries to use Brutus to achieve his goal. His main goal is to remove Caesar from power by using his persuasive speaking. Antony first appears in the play as a devoted follower of Caesar. He is also one of the great triumvirs. When he gains permission to speak at Caesar's funeral he undermines the public confidence to seize the power of Rome. In his speech at the capitol he concentrates on Brutus and appeals to the emotions of the people of Rome. At the end of the play, he publicly glorifies Brutus in order to heal the public's wounds caused by the loss of Brutus, Cassius, and Caesar.

The Benefits of Attending an Inner-City School :: Personal Narrative Essays

The Advantages of Attending an Inner-City School Imagine having a gun stare you straight in the face. What do you do? How do you react? Luckily most people do not have to face a situation like this in their lives. However, this happened to me once while walking to my high school which is located in the middle of a large city. Another young man who was walking past me decided to show off in front of his friends and show them how "manly" he really was. Without saying a word, he walked up to me and began punching me. Once I began fighting back, he pulled out a gun and pointed it straight at me. After seeing this, I ran as fast as I could towards my school, hearing the group of boys laughing hysterically behind me. While this occurrence by no means typifies St. Ignatius High School, going to school did prove to be dangerous at times. While most people hold the belief that inner-city schools can only hinder the learning process, I would argue that these schools provide experiences which enrich one's education simply because of their loc ation in the city. To clarify this point, I must first describe the ways in which Saint Ignatius High School is different from the typical inner-city school. Most people define inner-city schools as institutions which are in the city and have a comparatively inferior education system. This private, Catholic institution consists mostly of white students who come from wealthy families. Although Saint Ignatius is in the city, it also gives its students one of the best educations in the state. In fact, the surrounding city contrasts the school in almost every way. Robberies and fights occur almost daily in this poor area of the city. Mexicans make up the majority of the residents in the surrounding neighborhood. The minute I stepped off the campus of the school, I realized I had entered an entirely new world. Society usually tends to focus on the negative side of inner-city schools. Many people like to stereotype these schools which, while these generalizations may be true in some cases, tend to be exaggerated most of the time. People think that the students of these schools receive inferior educations. My school is regarded as one of the best in the state. People also believe that violence occurs on a daily basis, both in the school itself and in the surrounding city.

Nine Learning Experiences Ages 3-5 Essay

To advance physical and intellectual competence I provide numerous activities to enhance these qualities in the children that I teach. In the area of physical, my goal is to make sure the students are given many possibilities to participate in large motor activities daily. I make this fun by joining them while they are playing. I encourage them to do activities that encourage running and jumping. We play tag, hide and seek, and their favorite game â€Å"Mr. Fox what time is it†. When the weather does not permit us to go outside we have free play inside the gymnasium. We are able to use tricycles, play basketball, and build using pipes and blocks. We also do a unit on how to keep our bodies healthy. This is where we get the parents involved so they can learn what they can do at home with their children. We send home a chart that gives them opportunities to be physically active and they turn this chart in at the end of the unit. Then as a class we discuss what we did with our families. To promote intellectual activities I provide numerous materials that they can use and I rotate them occasionally so they are not bored with it. For example, in our art center the children are exposed to many different types of materials. They have various types of paper and paints as well as recycled material that they can use to sculpt their own art. Our class is also exposed to music of many different cultures. We play music throughout the day and one day a week we have a music class outside of our classroom. As a preschool teacher I keep up with what is new and promote these findings during our learning experiences. I provide many avenues for children to find who they are and respect who others are.

Compensation Package Proposal

Compensation is a very important aspect of the employee of a company; it seems important a well-defined compensation package is in place. â€Å"Compensation involves direct cash payments, indirect payments in the form of employee benefits, and incentives to motivate employees to strive for higher levels of productivity. † (Cascio, 2010, p. 413) It seems a compensation package will be different for each different career type but must always meet the needs of the employees and the organization. A proposal for a total compensation package for the information technology employees of Wal-Mart needs to be written.This proposal will include a description of the job group, a salary table for specific positions, a placement policy, benefits packages, and the way the plan is implemented by the organization. Job Group Information Technology Employees Information technology seems to be a field with rapid growth; according to Taylor (2010), careers in the IT world expects to grow 32% by 20 18. It appears every company has some kind of computer related work involved to help the company succeed. â€Å"A strong background in the technical fundamentals of computer science and programming languages like Java, Microsoft.NET, and C++ are obviously important for success in the field. But a creative brain and an ambition to stay updated on the newest advances in the field — whether through books or training — are also key† (Taylor, 2010, para. 4). Information Technology also involves strong communication with others, creativity, the ability to work in a team, and a strong undergraduate background. Although much knowledge is need to succeed in IT, it appears the pay scale and advancement opportunities will pay off.Positions within this area of work include cyber-security, graphic design, technology architects, web page developers, and software engineers. Wal-Mart seems to be in search for technology employees. Technology is use in Wal-Mart to run the global market. Wal-Mart (2012) states that â€Å"[The company] is focused on developing new technologies to transform the way customers’ shop†¦we’re helping to improve operations, back-room systems and Wal-Mart’s world-class logistics network, speeding products to customers across the globe† (para. 1).Wal-Mart’s technology department makes up of 3,500 employees in the United States and 2,000 globally (Wal-Mart, 2012). Wal-Mart (2012) states that a career in the technology department of the company will offer an employee exciting projects, investments in new technology, training, development, and exposure. Wal-Mart seems to offer careers such as Software Quality Engineers, Sr. System Engineers, Software Developers, and Project Managers. Salary Table This salary table is created for the job group and specific positions offered by Wal- Mart.To determine where an employee would fall within the salary category, the guidelines are list below: Minimum- Thi s is the entry level, this means the person fulfills the minimum job requirements. Level A- The employee has the experience and knowledge to master most of the duties in an independent manner. Usually, employees who fall in the Minimum and Level A stage are in their developmental phase because they are still learning. Level B- This employee is highly experience and his or her level of productivity exceeds the job requirements.Employees whose salary fall in an Level A and B are in the maturity phase because they have mastered the skills. Maximum- The employee is continuous producing results that are above the requirements. Employees in the level B and Maximum are in the leadership phase. They have demonstrated superior leadership skills and strong commitment to the organization. ProfileSoftware Quality EngineerMinimumLevel ALevel BMaximum Entry- Level $44,497$49,036$54,023$58,869 Mid- Level$54,498$60,978$68,095$76,144 Senior- Level$70,429$78,825$88,047$96,980ProfileSystems EngineerMi nimumLevel ALevel BMaximum Entry- Level$46, 419$50, 843$55,702$62,267 Mid- Level$56,277$62,815$69,996$77,381 Senior -Level$69,723$77,109$85,221$94,213 ProfileSoftware DevelopersMinimumLevel ALevel BMaximum Entry- Level$41,844$47,393$53,488$59,942 Mid- Level$54,916$62,019$69,821$78,016 Senior- Level$71,549$79,009$87,202$95,965 ProfileProject ManagerMinimumLevel ALevel BMaximum Entry- Level $42,248$50,143$58,815$68,409 Mid- Level$57,560$66,878$77,113$88,150 Senior -Level$70,110$79,759$90,356$102,019 Placement PackagesProper compensation is essential for members, staff, and organization so that it is a field of education and professional title of Employment Placement Specialist. Often times there can be an imbalance of effort in the workplace; qualified candidates need to be met with sufficient recompense. Pay structures can vary by hourly wage, tier, grade, salary or levels. Wal-mart’s employee compensation will be set at hourly rates depending on beginning and intermediate exp erience level and transition to salary for at the junior and senior levels.The range of experience with respect to compensation is as follows Beginner Zero-Two Years of Experience; High School Diploma or GED IntermediateTwo-Five Years of Experience; High School Diploma or GED; previous work experience; on the job experience Junior Five-Ten Years of Experience; High School Diploma or GED; College Degree; previous work experience; on the job experience Senior 10+ Years of Experience; High School Diploma or GED; College Degree Master’s level; previous work experience; on the job experience Compensation ranges will be discussed during interview process.Once a candidate is select, a definite wage will be set for beginning and intermediate positions. For junior and senior level a series of predetermined work related questions, including levels of education, work experiences, and qualifications will determine the salary offered. Employees will receive medical benefits and bonus or m erit packages. Compensation levels and packages will be present to executive staff managers for approval or change, and incorporate necessary changes. In addition communication with HR is necessary for successful implementation and effective monitoring of process along with proper literature.Benefits Package As with any organization, Wal-Mart provides their employees with benefits packages that suit the needs of those who are involve. Some of the most popular benefits are those indirect and not of monetary value the way a salary or hourly pay is. Some of the more popular benefits are insurance, overtime, leave, flexible timing, and retirement. These options are more widely offered because of the long- term benefits of job stability and employee retention. When an employee offers a benefit that they may use in the future or take advantage of more often he or she may be more likely to appreciate his or her position.Perhaps the most important indirect benefit that many people take adva ntage of is insurance. By having coverage through their employer an individual would not have to worry about finding a third party and paying more for health care costs. â€Å"Insurance coverage, for instance, is often terribly expensive, so the company that offers medical and/or life insurance to employees as part of its benefits package is bestowing significant savings on those employees and their families† (Reference for Business, n. d).If Wal-Mart were to offer their full- time employees coverage that was affordable and widely accepted it is believe that many of their employees would have a better experience with their jobs. Although benefit packages, direct or indirect, are offers to employees as a positive incentive they can create obstacles when accepted. For instance, if an employee considers salary, exempt, they are not required to be paid overtime even if he or she has worked the hours. This might cause a problem between the employee and management because he or she are being overwork for no pay.Being paid overtime considers an indirect benefit because many employees, as with Wal-Mart, are not expected to work more than 40 hours a week. This same kind of issue may arise with an employee choosing to use the company insurance, which is a benefit for him or her. They may have needs, not covered in the policy that provides, and still have to pay more out-of- pocket than expected. The best way to avoid issues with indirect compensation is to be sure everything is explain, in writing, to the employee so that the employer is not at risk in the future of acquiring a fair labor law suit brought upon him or her.Wal-Mart should create a detailed benefits package for their employees to read and sign in acknowledgement. This will ensure that everything is understood and that all questions regarding the indirect compensation are asked and addressed appropriately. Conclusion Compensation was once the foremost attraction to a workplace. People traveled the tr aditional roadways of education with the ultimate destination of a first-rate job in their field with best reward.Today with elevated unemployment rates, a world crammed with terrorist, cancer, and other illness invasions, natural disasters, and plain old trigger happy citizens; qualified, unqualified, and over qualified candidates alike are seeking two for the price of one. A job to make ends meet while enjoying life and all its positive proffers. Whatever the reason is necessary that organizations meet the needs of its qualified candidates with fair and appropriate compensation be hourly wage, tier, grade, salary or level. Employees which are fairly compensate perform better in the workplace and in their personal lives. Work is not man's punishment. It is his reward and his strength and his pleasure. † –George Sand ? References Cascio, W. (2010). Managing human resources (8th ed. ). New York , NY: McGraw-Hill. Taylor, M. (2010). The wall street journal. Retrieved from http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001 424052748704358904575478133397664058. html Reference for Business (n. d). Employee benefits. Retrieved from http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/small/Di-Eq/Employee-Benefits. html Wal-Mart (2012). Retrieved from http://careers. walmart. com/careers-in-technology/ http://humanresources. about. com

Macroeconomic Performance of the Ten Countries Essay

What was Expected from the Governments and Central Banks of These New Entrants? On May 1, 2004, ten Central European and Mediterranean countries joined the EU and their names are as follows: Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia.   This raised the enlargement to 25 countries that comprise of 450 million people, which is more than the population of the U.S. and Japan combined. [1] This accession will compel the new member states governments to utilize the EU legislation without much exception and will enable them to enjoy all the advantages that go with it, and once they go through a certain period and show improvements, they will be included in Schengen area and the euro zone. In addition, from the year 2004 to 2006 they are entitled to receive a payment of 45 billion euros in a form of a community aid and 30.7 billion euros in a form of payment appropriations.   As a result, according to two treaties that were signed in Amsterdam and Nice that were the basis through which the enlargement was conducted, the intent of the whole arrangement was to make the enlarged Europe more democratic, transparent, and effective calling on all governments to work on these areas. The end result of the enlargement had been labeled as a historical precedence that will change the dimensions of the continent and it is believed to put the division of the past behind ushering in democracy, freedom, and stability to the whole region.   At the same time it is believed that it creates opportunities for all involved where the early 15 nations business share and economical activity had increased, while the new entrants have also reaped economic advantage that was not available for them before the assesstion. What had come into existence is a union of 450 million people and had already represented at the time the union was effected one-fourth of the world wealth, giving the region a new leading economic power.   In addition, the role the continent is playing in the international scene had gotten enhancement, especially in security and defense policy. [2] The new states and their governments that are joining the Union will have to adhere to the Copenhagen Criteria and it has three components.   The first component is any of the nations that are joining the union should reach a certain level of stability and should have establishments that oversee and guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and the observing of the rights of minorities.   Then the second one which is an economic criteria stipulates that the nations adhere to the principle of the market economy and have a mechanism that enables them to deal with competitive pressure and market forces that will be directed at them after joining the EU. What is called acquis communautaire adoption criterion anticipates that the candidates should put themselves in a position to shoulder the membership’s obligations, as well as a strict adherence to the principles of the political, economic, and monetary union.   Through all this process the Union is responsible for evaluating, recommending, and approving of the states’ performance and it will evaluate the capacity of the Union to absorb more members without affecting the normal functioning of the existing Union members. The process starts when European countries apply to join the Union and that will be evaluated based on how the applicant nations with the guidance of their respective governments meet the Copenhagen political and economic criteria, and the accession is granted only when the requirements are met.   The nations through their governments will have to agree to apply the EU legislation that is over 80,000 pages from day one, even if there are a few exceptions that will allow the new entrants a leeway as long as it is not going to intervene with the smooth operation of the activities of the other members.   When the EU is convinced that the applying nations meet all the requirements of the Copenhagen criteria the next phase will kick in, which is the signing of the accession treaty. [3] The ten Central European and Mediterranean states, through macroeconomic plans that were introduced and carried out by their respective governments had gone through this process before getting permission to join the Union.   And once they joined the Union there are more questions arising because it is difficult to say what currency they should be using and as long as they meet the Maastricht criteria they are expected to the join the euro zone by abandoning their own currency. Here the various central banks play a leading role because it is known that it will take them some time to meet the requirements and while working to meet the requirements they will have to focus on their structural and economic reforms so that they will manage to have a better convergence in both nominal and real terms.   Since the other requirement before joining the euro is entering the Exchange Rate Mechanism of the European Monetary System, the ERM II will require them to abandon their own monetary policy. It does not necessarily mean this route fits everyone since the rigorous stability requirement applied by the exchange rate could derail the existing stand of their current account, simply because when there is appreciation in their currency it will affect their competitiveness, because of the high price they will be forced to charge.   The other worry is joining the ERM II should not result in overvaluing their currency whereby they will be obligated to devalue their currency in the two years test period.   From what had been witnessed most of the nations had an open economy that was heavily reliant on trade with EU countries and if they can eliminate the transaction cost in any way, which would include currency exchange, they will embrace it. [4] The final outcome was from the ten countries that joined the Union Slovenia, Lithuania, and Estonia were able to enter the ERM II and were expected to join the euro zone on January 1st, 2007, simply because they had met most of the criteria. But the only nation that managed to join the euro was Slovenia showing that the others did not meet some of the requirements, they need more time to make the adjustments, and might be able to join the euro by the year 2008. The other three nations Latvia, Cyprus, and Malta had also joined ERM II and could join the euro in 2008.   The remaining members Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland are deemed to wait longer to better meet the criteria.   [5] The Macroeconomic Policy These Nations had been Following After Joining the Union. To address this question starting from the Central European nation that just joined the euro zone in January 1, 2007 might shed light on the areas that the nation did right while the other two nations Lithuania and Estonia will have to wait at least up to 2008 to be evaluated if they would meet the requirement of the ERM II.   The nation had $17,290 per capita income in 2005, it had a population of two million people, and it was among the most successful transition economies.   The nation’s GDP per capita in 2005 was 81% of the other EU members, which must have helped it to get a high score, since it is the only nation that has such a high percentage. According to the report the prosperity of Slovenia is due to its gradual and consensual approach to reform, which has made it different from the other nine countries.  Ã‚  Ã‚   It has worked hard to attain this position although lately its competitiveness is eroding.   Another area that had lagged was foreign direct investment (FDI) due to the slower pace and the general reluctance to interact with foreign sources resulting the FDI to be 1.2% of GDP between 1997-2005.   Even if it had reached once to 7% of GDP it had gone back to .02% of GDP in 2005 and this falling behind is curtailing the advancement the nation could have attained, yet it did not prevent it from joining the euro, simply because the possibility is within reach. [6] As far as economic growth is concerned the nation has averaged 3.9% it the mentioned period and had managed to fend off macroeconomic imbalances that were commonplace with the other transitional economies and its tight fiscal and monetary policy had resulted in allowing it to have a near balanced budget with a 1.7% budget and 1.1% current deficit, another good performance that was coupled with an enhanced foreign trade. The country also had managed to bring inflation under control and it had it at a single-digit since 1996.   Another advantage the nation had was it had a strong performance where the GDP growth was at 3.9% fueled by a rise in foreign demand.   In all this, inflation was under control at 2.5% and that was attained by allowing wage to lag behind productivity growth, by making up for oil price increase by introducing excise tax, and by attaining a stable exchange rate. [7] The next nation to look at is Lithuania which was among the three nation that were slated to join the eruo in 2007,   but has not made it and looking at its performance might shade light on how it fared.   The first glaring difference between the two countries is the per capita income where in Lithuania it was $7,210 in 2005 even if the population in Slovenia was only 1.4 million, whereas the population in Lithuania is 3.4 million. Other than that the GDP growth of 7.5% was much higher and it was the fastest growing economy in the region. It also had much more to export, which included refined oil, machinery and equipment, and textile.   It is not different than the other countries that are heavily dependant on the euro zone for their exports, the average being 60%.   The other advantage it had over Slovenia was it had enjoyed a peak GDP growth of 10% in 2003 since it was in a better position to create wage growth by bringing down unemployment from 17% down to 6% and in doing that it had got help from the EU fund that it was entitled for joining the Union in 2004. At the same time, it had a much better domestic demand that is enabling it to drive its economy.   Yet, there is a sign of heating of the economy as there is shortage of workers since they are migrating to the UK and Ireland.   After joining ERM II it had shown an impressive commitment to adopt the euro and was able to liberalize its pricing and most of its trades had been directed to the EU zone.  Ã‚   The other factors such as privatization had been taken care of to the point where all factors of production are in the private hands, and it had also been working in the area of FDI that is seeing a steep increase.    If there is another aspect that is holding it back it could the unparalleled poverty level in the nation and it is at 52% purchasing power parity compared to 81% enjoyed by Slovenia.   And one of the reasons that it did not qualify might be at least 16% of its population lives under the poverty line and poverty is widespread in the rural area where it is considered to be up to 57% of the poor are living.   That area might be the reason that contributed to its being held back for a while since all the indicators including health and education are going badly lacking in these regions. [6] Estonia that was in the list to join the euro in January 1, 2007 with the other two nations is a relatively smaller country with a population of 1.35 million and its per capita income is $9,100.   This nation has fewer natural resources and it depends on trade for the most part.   Its main specialty export is telecom.   Its GDP growth performance was not bad at 7.5%. The country had been a main gateways for trade between the Soviet Union and the West that is said to have given it some advantage and because of that the education level and the standard of living of the people was higher that other member countries. In 2005 its GDP growth had reached 9.8% resulting in the heating up of the economy as the unemployment rate had gone down, while at the same time workers are migrating to the other EU countries.   What is driving its economy is the domestic demand that is expanding due to income growth and credit expansion that is also taking export higher.   If there is any problem highlighted it is the overheating of the economy and the current account defect that is at 11% of GDP in 2005 and was at 13% in 2004, which would mean this could be one of the reasons why its plan to join the euro in 2007 had been postponed. [8] The other three nations slated for 2008 to join the euro are Latvia, Cyprus, and Malta.   Latvia has a per capita income of $6,750 and has 2.3 million people where one-third of them are living in the capital city.   The nation has few natural resources and is an importer for the most part and the import includes natural gas, oil, and electricity.   The source of GDP for 2005 was 23% industry, 73% service, and the remaining 4% was from agriculture. The country had some difficulty adjusting after it left the Soviet Union and the situation was turned around by the fiscal discipline the government introduced, where a cap was put to the subsidies enterprises were getting.  Ã‚   The government’s early liberalization effort had enabled the nation to join WTO in 1999.   Overall, the nation had converted itself into a market economy, which enabled it to join the EU in 2004.  Ã‚   Market and price liberalization, privatization, restriction on foreign transaction all are in the right perspective and the result had been positive where privatization is almost complete. Other areas overhauled were the legal system, institutions, and the social safety net.  Ã‚   The GDP growth had made it to 10.2% in 2005 and the unemployment rate was at 8.7% in the same year.   Some of the malice that is affecting the other nations such as low-income level, which was at 47% of the EU average had not spared this nation either.   Because of that labor migration had been escalating after joining the Union which is feared to create a problem in the long run while at the same time the population is aging.   Because of this there is a fear of overheating and the deficit has reached 12.4% while inflation is at 6%, which has contributed to the holding back of the nation from joining the euro and that might be possible in 2010. [6] Cyprus on the other hand has a highly developed infrastructure with a population of 784,000 and with a per capita of $7135.   The macroeconomic policy of the government had focused on meeting the requirement of joining the EU.   There was oil discovery in the sea south of Cyprus and negotiations had gone underway with the neighboring Egypt how to exploit the finding. The overall market structure is based on a free-market basis and is heavily dependant on the service sector, yet there is lack of investment from government and private sector, while at the same time the high cost of freight had been scaring business away, and all this had been worsened by the lack of skilled labor.   In spite of this handicap, the GDP growth rate had made it to 11.4 in 2004 and yet it is lagging behind in attracting FDI.   Even if there is a political problem between the north and south, this particular nation might be among the nations that would join the EU in 2008. [9] Malta is also another island with a population of 404,000, which had transformed itself into a freight transshipment and a financial center as well as a tourist destination.   In addition, it has some limestone and a better productive labor force than Cyprus where the economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing, and tourism.   Its per capita income is much higher than most countries at $20,300 and the unemployment rate for 2006 was at 6.8%.   The island has liberalized its market and privatized some government-controlled firms and the possibility that it might join the euro zone is there. [9] The other nations Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, are much bigger nations and there is Slovakia also that are slated to join the euro gradually after meeting the criteria, which might prove to be difficult to them because of their size.   If we take the case of the Czech Republic, it has a population of 10.2 million and a per capita income of $11,110 making it among the highest income earning countries.   After joining the EU in 2004 the process of transforming the economy from centrally planned to a market driven economy is almost complete.   There had been a considerable fiscal consolidation, and the inflation is low at 1.8%, while at the same time it had no problem with its balance of payments. Foreign direct investment is 50% of the GDP making it the only nation that enjoys such inflows of investment, yet, in spite of it, it had a high unemployment rate of more than 8% and is persisting, which might have been because of its high population that is not affected much by the migration of labor. The GDP growth for 2005 was 6%, attained mainly through export created through FDI in the automotive sector.   The fiscal deficit for 2005 was at 3% whereas the current account deficit fell to 2.3% for 2005.   Because of the high unemployment, which is the outcome of sluggish economic performance it might have to stay a bit longer before joining the euro, although the expectation is it will meet the requirement eventually. [10] More or less, the same is applicable to the other three countries Hungary, Poland, Slovakia whose population is 10 million, 38 million, 5.4 million respectively, making Poland the highest populated country among the EU-10 countries.   While Hungry had $10,050 per capita income, Poland had $7,110, and Slovakia had $8,130 in 2005.   Poland had to deal with structural reforms to consolidate public finance, tackle unemployment and poverty, work on making the nation attractive for business by introducing a more efficient government. The fact that up to seven million people live in poverty does not make it look as a good candidate for the euro yet and the unemployment rate is the highest at 16%.   However, the situation is a bit changing after joining the EU in 2004 and there was a growth of 5.3% in GDP in 2004, which created high consumption level, investment opportunity, and a better exporting level, and eventually it will make it a proper candidate to join the euro as it is working to meet that goal.   Its FDI is at 5% of GDP and that is low for such a large country although its inflation rate is low at 2.1% and its current account defect is also under control. [6] On the other hand, Hungary is in a much better position since it was able to attract FDI that is enabling it to build a robust private exporting sector.   If there is a problem, the budget deficit is at 8% due to higher public spending and tax reduction, which could affect the economy in the long run.   Inflation had slowed down to 3.5% for 2005 which was due to regulated prices and a decrease on indirect taxes. The unemployment rate stood at 7.2% in 2006.   Even if the government had introduced a fiscal consolidation program what might be needed to change the situation is a long term structural reform.   Hungary is moving steadily to join the euro gradually, and is better situated than the rest of the countries that are in line to join the euro in the coming years. [6] Slovakia is also in a similar situation with the others where it had a 6% GDP growth in 2005 and had unemployment rate of 16.2%.   In recent years, especially after joining the EU in 2004 it had undertaken major steps to decentralize its economy.   The government had introduced reform in many areas including welfare, pension, health care, labor market, and public finance.   Its GDP for 2005 grew by around 6% and inflation was at 2.7%. The fiscal deficit was at 3.3% while the current account deficit had been 7.8% of GDP for 2005 and it had FDI rate 2.7% of GDP.   Overall, it is working toward meeting the EU’s criteria to join the euro although it is difficult to say when it will meet all the requirements. [6] The conclusion is, there are requirements these nations will have to meet and the major ones are to tackle high level of inflation, a budget deficit below 3% of GDP, the public debt has to be at a manageable level, and maintaining a long term low interest rate in parallel to other central banks. If these are in place side by the side with the Maastricht and the Copenhagen Treaty criteria the time it will take them to join the euro will be shorter. Otherwise, their participation could affect the smooth operation of the whole Union, as well as it will put them at a disadvantage offsetting their whole fiscal and monetary policy. [11] REFERENCE The Union Welcomes Ten New Countries [Online]. Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.delnam.cec.eu.int/OurNewsletter/2004/ECNewsMay04.pdf.   March 14, 2007. European Parliament Fact Sheet. [Online]. Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚   www.europal.europa.eu/facts/2_3_0_en.htm.   March 14, 2007. The Challenge of European Economy in 2004. [Online]. 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