The eNotes Blog A Government of Wolves Ten Writers SoundOff

A Government of Wolves Ten Writers SoundOff Like most of you, I am becoming more and more annoyed by the government shutdown. Yesterday, I heard a sick child will not get his weekly visit with a therapy dog because those non-essential workers had been furloughed. Here are ten quotes from writers, past and present, that may help you channel and articulate your own feelings and frustration with our elected leaders: 1.   A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.†Ã‚   Edward R. Murrow 2.   â€Å"People shouldnt be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.†Ã‚   Alan Moore, V for Vendetta 4.   â€Å"You have to remember one thing about the will of the people: it wasnt that long ago that we were swept away by the Macarena.†Ã‚   Jon Stewart 5.   â€Å"The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, and intolerable†Ã‚   H.L. Mencken 6.   â€Å"The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.†Ã‚   Julian Barnes, Flauberts Parrot 7.   â€Å"Laws are spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught.†Ã‚   Honore de Balzac 8.   â€Å"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.†Ã‚   Mark Twain 9.   â€Å"Its all very well to run around saying regulation is bad, get the government off our backs, etc. Of course our lives are regulated. When you come to a stop sign, you stop; if you want to go fishing, you get a license; if you want to shoot ducks, you can shoot only three ducks. The alternative is dead bodies at the intersection, no fish, and no ducks. OK?   Molly Ivins 10.   â€Å"Good governance never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.†Ã‚   Frank Herbert, Children of Dune

Understanding Toxins in Avocado Seeds

Understanding Toxins in Avocado Seeds Avocados are a great part of a healthy diet, but what about their seeds or pits? They contain a small amount of a natural toxin called persin [(R, 12Z,15Z)-2-Hydroxy-4-oxohenicosa-12,15-dienyl acetate]. Persin is an oil-soluble  compound found in the leaves and bark of the avocado plant as well as the pits. It acts as a natural fungicide. While the amount of persin in an avocado pit isnt enough to harm a human, avocado plants and pits can harm pets and livestock. Cats and dogs may become slightly ill from eating avocado flesh or seeds. Because the pits are so fibrous, they also pose a risk of gastric obstruction. The pits are considered toxic to birds, cattle, horses, rabbits, and goats. Avocado pits also cause problems for people who are allergic to latex. If you cant tolerate bananas or peaches, its best to steer clear of avocado seeds. The seeds contain high levels of tannins, trypsin inhibitors, and polyphenols that act as anti-nutrients, which means they reduce your ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals. In addition to persin and tannin, avocado seeds also contain small quantities of hydrocyanic acid and cyanogenic glycosides, which can produce toxic  hydrogen cyanide. Other types of seeds containing cyanogenic compounds include apple seeds, cherry pits, and citrus fruit seeds. However, the human body can detoxify small amounts of the compounds, so theres no risk of cyanide poisoning to an adult person from eating a single seed. Persin may cause apoptosis of some types of breast cancer cells, plus it enhances the cytotoxic effects of the cancer drug tamoxifen. However, the compound is soluble in oil rather than water, so further research is needed to see whether an extract of the seed can be made into a useful form. The California Avocado Commission recommends people avoid eating the avocado seed (though of course, they encourage you to enjoy the fruit). While its true there are many healthful compounds in the seeds, including soluble fiber, vitamins E and C, and the mineral phosphorus, the consensus is more research is needed to determine whether the benefits of eating them outweigh the risks. How to Make Avocado Seed Powder If you decide to go ahead and try avocado seeds, one of the most popular ways to prepare them is to make a powder. The powder can be mixed into smoothies or other foods to disguise the bitter flavor, which comes from tannins in the seed. To make avocado seed powder, remove the pit from the fruit, place it on a baking sheet, and cook it in a preheated oven at 250 F for 1.5 to 2 hours. At this point, the skin of the seed will be dry. Peel away the skin and then grind the seed in a spice mill or food processor. The seed is strong and heavy, so this is not a task for a blender. You can grate it by hand, too. How to Make Avocado Seed Water Another way to use avocado seeds is for avocado seed water. To make this, mash 1-2 avocado seeds and soak them in water overnight. The softened seeds can be pureed in a blender. Avocado seed water may be added to coffee or tea or to a smoothie, much like avocado seed powder. References Butt AJ, Roberts CG, Seawright AA, Oelrichs PB, MacLeod JK, Liaw TY, Kavallaris M, Somers-Edgar TJ, Lehrbach GM, Watts CK, Sutherland RL (2006). A novel plant toxin, persin, within vivo activity in the mammary gland, induces Bim-dependent apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. Mol Cancer Ther. 5 (9): 2300–9.Roberts CG, Gurisik E, Biden TJ, Sutherland RL, Butt AJ (October 2007). Synergistic cytotoxicity between tamoxifen and the plant toxin persin in human breast cancer cells is dependent on Bim expression and mediated by modulation of ceramide metabolism. Mol. Cancer Ther. 6 (10).

Discuss the agency problem relating to multinational companies, and in Essay

Discuss the agency problem relating to multinational companies, and in particular multinational banks, and how, they differ from - Essay Example The situation of agency problem is such in many of the organizations that the agents or the management of the organization makes use of their authority for deriving personal benefits rather than benefits of the principals or the shareholders. In other words, agency problem arises due to the conflicting interests among the management, creditors and shareholders’ regarding the goals of the organization as well as that of the concerned parties (Investopedia, 2011). The agency problem in multinational companies can be appropriately discussed by focusing on the ways as to how the supervision and regulation affects the risk-taking measures of the banks in the host-country (Ongena & Et. Al., 2011). This research paper is aimed to present the discussion on agency problem in multinational companies, particularly banks, through review of various aspects related to the evolution of the problems. The research also aims to present a comparative study of the agency problems faced by the mul tinational organizations and domestic organizations. Two Most Common Agency Problems in Banks In the non-financial corporations, an incentive is provided to the shareholders through limited liability that allows them to seize bondholders’ wealth by increasing the level of risk. The government is indulged in protecting the bond holders from the outcome of risk taking activities of the banks. Thus, the shareholders’ incentive to supervise and restrain risk taking is low. In the banking literature, such situation of absence of discipline is known as the â€Å"moral hazard problem associated with deposit insurance†. A second very common situation of agency problem arises due to the limits on the wealth of managers that forces a separation of control and ownership. This forces the managers to consider their own objectives to be more important than that of the shareholders (Demsetz, 1997). Agency Problems and Risk Taking at Multinational Banks The root cause of agency problems in multinational companies, particularly banks is related to the structuring of regulations for multinational banking units. The host country is more interested in structuring the regulations in such a way that would provide disadvantage to the foreign firms to compete with the domestic firms. But this notion would result in inconsistency with the objective of a single market (Baum, 2002). The consequence of leaving the supervision and regulation in the home country, as evident from the case of the European Union, is that the member countries adopted different structures of regulation and supervision for the financial institutions. Thus, if the multinational banks are faced with similar regulatory issues, they would either split according to functions or would consolidate regulation into one agency. In that case, in certain situations the Central Bank will be involved, whereas in other cases, it would not. Hence, it is evident that considering these regulatory issues, the multinational banks would select policy trade-offs on the basis of their degrees of responsibilities and

Illustration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Illustration - Essay Example ctive equipment consists of a range of clothing and equipment, which is worn by workers, students, contractors and visitors to protect their bodies from workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment contains equipment for eyes, head, ears, breathing system, body, hands and arms and feet and legs and should be used for the protection of an individual against any hazardous situation. People working in a workplace make use of personal protective equipment to ensure their safety. Firemen use PPE, manufacturing laborers use PPE, students and scientists working at laboratories use PPE, people working at construction sites use PPE, doctors use PPE and many others use PPE for their safety from any risky situations. For different kinds of workers working at different places, different kind of safety equipment and clothing is used. Firemen wear costumes that secure them from extensive heats and burns, they also use goggles for the safety of their eyes so that their eyes don’t get injured because of the situations they are put in. There are also special helmets for the firemen that secure their heads from any injurious activity happening around them. The students working in laboratories with chemicals should put on the lab coats and gloves in order to work securely. There can be many chances of occurrence of some dangerous situation. For that time, they should be ready and should use the PPE designed for that purpose. With proper precautionary measures by using PPE, many hazards can be controlled. While entering a workplace, the workers should wear the PPE instructed for them in order to take suitable precautionary measures for any risky situation. The protective equipment is designed for the safety of its users and when it is used, it proves to be efficient. Generally, people consider protective equipment as a burden and try to avoid it but they should keep in mind that it is not a burden and should be used for their own safety. Some people also use half of the

Emile Durkheim Essay Example for Free

Emile Durkheim Essay Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) is rightfully considered by many as the father of sociology. Durkheim is responsible for incorporating sociology as a science, into the French academic curriculum, when he initiated the â€Å"Science Sociale†. The ‘Division of Labor in Society’ is among his most noted works. In 1879, he joined other political and intellectual leaders like socialist Jean Jaures and psychologist Pierre Janet in the famous Ecole Normale Superieure. His four important works were ‘Division of Labor in Society’ (1893), ‘The Rules of Sociological Method’ (1894); ‘Suicide : A Study in Sociology’ (1897) and ‘The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life’ (1912) (Durkheim). Durkheim’s Views on Social Bonding Emile Durkheim is one of the earliest sociologists who used a scientific approach in studying sociology. He emphasized the importance of socialism in philosophy, law and history. In his book ‘Division of Labor in Society’ (1893), Durkheim talks about relationship and bonding among individuals within a society. Society is likened to a live organism having various systems to perform the essential functions of the society. The social state is maintained by the people through their adherence to social rules associated with strong beliefs. He reveals two types of social bonding or cohesion in a society, which he termed as mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. According to Durkheim, the mechanical solidarity was more applicable to pre-industrial societies in which individuals had similar or nearly similar work, thus ruling out inter-dependence. Here the cohesion was formed and sustained by the existing social system and was therefore dependent on the system as a whole. On the other hand, increased industrialization in developing societies; find people taking to various activities. People begin to diversify in their work and related activities, with some getting more and more sophisticated or specialized too. Demarcation of labor is more visible here, resulting in interdependence of individuals within a society; and Durkheim calls this bonding as organic solidarity. According to Durkheim, society to a big extent is controlled by integrity or morality, which ensure that people’s aspirations are within reasonable and socially accepted limits. In individualistic societies, the level of social integration is low which is further lowered as the individualism factor rises. Durkheim was of the view that organic solidarity is more cohesive than mechanical solidarity because we depend more on the differences existing between us rather than the similarities between us. He also noted that the rate of suicide is inversely proportional to the level of integration existing in the society. He reasoned out that the suicide rate fell during the Second World War because war played the role of a social integrator. Durkheim was of the view that only a stable and hierarchical society would be suitable for us, given our emotional and psychological framework. Durkheim saw social facts as being different from psychological facts and maintained that social life is not purely based on psychological facts (Smelser). Durkheim had earlier maintained that social life was held by the legal system. He then shifted his stand to emphasize that moral rules become internalized and begin to exist independent of the individual. Constraints on an individual are no longer a external factor, but a moral obligation (Coser, 1977). He saw social solidarity as a pure moral phenomenon, which cannot be observed or evaluated, but suggested that it could be studied using an external index. The social solidarity factor could be studied by correlating and interpreting external parameters relating to tastes in art, costumes etc.

What Happens When Machines Become Conscious? :: The Age of Spiritual Machines Technology Essays

What Happens When Machines Become Conscious? Some leading techno-pundits like Ray Kurzweil believe that machines will become conscious within our lifetimes. In his book, The Age of Spiritual Machines, Kurzweil writes that computers will, â€Å"increasingly appear to have their own personalities, evidencing reactions that we can only label as emotions and articulating their own goals and purposes.† He goes even further to say that the computers will â€Å"appear to have their own free will†, and â€Å"have spiritual experiences† (Kurzweil 6). This is an astounding prediction, but one that is echoed by many of today’s artificial intelligence (AI) theorists. In this brief discussion, I will bring into focus some of the questions surrounding the topic of intelligent computers and consciousness. Whether or not computers will be conscious or spiritual in the future, the fact remains that they are increasingly able to accomplish tasks which were thought only achievable by humans, such as playing chess, or even reading printed text aloud to assist the blind. Stanford computer scientist John McCarthy believes that the only reason computers cannot do some tasks as well as humans is that we do not have an actual understanding of how we solve the problems ourselves. He writes that, â€Å"whenever people do better than computers on some task or computers use a lot of computation to do as well as people, this demonstrates that the program designers lack understanding of the intellectual mechanisms required to do the task efficiently† (McCarthy 2004). This lack of understanding of underlying mechanisms is apparent in the situation when experts in a field cannot fully explain how they accomplish a complex task, such as playing the saxophone or swinging a golf club, which they ma y only fully understand on a subconscious level. As brain researcher Fred Genesee (2000) writes, even the human learning process can be seen as a kind of â€Å"programming†: We now think that the young brain is like a computer with incredibly sophisticated hardwiring, but no software. The software of the brain, like the software of desktop computers, harnesses the exceptional processing capacity of the brain in the service of specialized functions, like vision, smell, and language. All individuals have to acquire or develop their own software in order to harness the processing power of the brain with which they are born. Alas, if only we could find a better way to teach the computer how to solve problems, rather than the current programming methods! Kurzweil suggests that in the future we will be able to use detailed, non-invasive scanning of the human brain to replicate a brain’s structure inside a computer (53).

Ikea report Essay

Executive summary This report describes the importance of market research, the target market and market segmentation. How a business can use a situation analysis and SWOT to provide a direction for Ikea. This examines how types of customers and buyer behaviour will impact marketing strategies. Evaluates as a key marketing strategy for Ikea as a case study. Analyses marketing strategies can be used to achieve marketing objectives and describes some ethical and legal things that a business must manage and respond to while marketing. Business Overview Ikea is a well-known global brand with hundreds of stores across the world. In order to improve performance, it must assess its external and competitive environment. This will reveal the key opportunities it can take advantage of and the threats it must deal with. Ikea responds to both internal and external issues in a proactive and dynamic manner by using its strengths and reducing its weaknesses. Through this, Ikea is able to generate the strong growth it needs to retain a strong identity in the market. Ikea’s passion combines design, low prices, economical use of resources, and responsibility for people and the environment. The company’s products, processes and systems all demonstrate its environmental stance. For example, clever use of packaging and design means more items can fit into a crate, which means fewer delivery journeys. This in turn reduces Ikea’s carbon footprint. Ikea believes that there is no compromise between doing good business and being a go od business. It aims to go beyond profitability and reputation. Ikea is intent on becoming a leading example in developing a sustainable business. This will create a better everyday life for its customers. Market research When Ikea conducts market research it is important that the business first determines its information needs. The business should have some idea about the type of information it is looking for. It could vary from customer profiles or brand awareness through to attitudes towards certain new products. Once its information needs are established, the business can determine the most appropriate research method. This is primarily done by IKEA group although individual stores would use sales reports in order to  gather data about the types of customers and popular products that are particular to the area or store. The Target Market The target market is a group of customers for whom a particular product has been developed. The business hopes that these people will buy the product when it is made available in the marketplace. Some products appeal to all consumers, while others have limited appeal. A business needs to understand the nature of consumer markets. The three types of markets Ikea appeals to are Consumer, Mass and niche. The products in Ikea produce are universal to all and with their flat pack design they fall into the niche market. Ikea focuses on meeting the customer demands and satisfying their needs. Ikea’s main focus is that of the selling orientation. Market segmentation Market segmentation is the process of breaking down a total market into small markets It allows businesses to focus their efforts and resources on a section of the market. By focusing on a particular target group, It would consider the features that consumers of this target group would be looking for in a product, the appropriate promotional strategies to generate awareness of and sustain interest in the product, and the most suitable pricing policies and distribution channels. Market segmentation and product/service differentiation,Demographic segmentation, dividing consumers into groups based on selected demographics, so that different groups can be treated deferent Situation analysis and SWOT Situation analysis is the way in which a business can examine the current position within the market and provides them with direction for their marketing campaign. SWOT is the first stage of planning and looks at the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats involved in a project or business venture. For example, one of Ikea’s key strengths is its strategic aim to use no more material than necessary in the production of each item. One particular table, the NORDEN table, uses knotty birch wood. The knots in this wood usually mean it is rejected by other retailers and manufacturers as unsuitable for use. However, IKEA has made the knots part of its design feature. Types of customers. psychographic segmentation, this is based on lifestyle and personality, values and interest, Ikea does not divide the store into sections but you have to walk through the whole store before you can exit, this is a strategy to sell more products. The types of customers vary from people, households, firms, educational institutions, government, clubs and societies, religious organisations. The customers that account for most of Ikea’s sale is the bold customer. Ikea is a business that is not aiming towards a purchase occasion but the usage rate of their product, being household items they aim for their products to last well and function to a good quality standard. Ikea has a good user loyalty with a wide range of buyers from the types of customers. Consumers see how affordable Ikea products are and how well they last, as long as they don’t mind putting the product together. The buying process would not be different from Ikea customers but the free yearly catalogue gives purchasers time to plan a trip to Ikea as the Ikea stores are not usually located conveniently due to the large floor space required to house their product. Ikea stores are not usually located outside the inner metropolitan area for this reason. There are psychological, sociocultural, economic and government reasons why people shop or don’t shop are Psychological segmentation Branding. Ikea is ranking 41 in the world’s most valuable brands. The brand name alone is worth 8 million. The brand image for Ikea stands for affordable, contemporary design and its flat pack product range that gives Ikea its identity. The brand name or logo essentially provides a message to the people of the quality and value associated with that product, when they see it they immediately form judgements on the quality, a strong brand name is essentially enhancing the relationship between a business and its customer. Marketing and strategies Product Ikea’s products are tangible, Product matters because it is the reason that customers go to Ikea in the first place. Ikea has the market in flat pack furniture and the unique design attracts customers and meets their needs, this product could include the prestige of owning the product which would also relate to psychological factors. Place Place matters because it is how the customers access the product. The Ikea experience is more than just products, it is a retail concept laid out in such a way that families, singles, couples etc. can enjoy shopping for furniture. A day at Ikea has been described as more of an outing than a shopping trip. Price Price matters because it is at the heart of the Ikea concept. Flat pack furniture cannot compete on price with upmarket, fully assembled pieces, so it is essential that Ikea continues to keep its prices below the competition. Price including pricing methods, market and competition based, Competition based pricing is the commonly used pricing strategy. Promotion Promotion is the most public aspect of marketing and it matters because it helps to drive customers into the stores in order to buy furniture. Ethical and legal. Ikea is recognised as a business that is both legally and ethically a responsible business that looks beyond profit and develops a positive workforce with these practices, advertising is very powerful in developing the wrong or wright idea and misleading advertising is bad ethics. Developing products in 3rd world country is considered unethical because they get payed well below minimum wage. Ikea produces environmentally responsible products, the flat pack design would be argued that it minimizes wastage and the cardboard would be environmentally friendly. The role of consumer law deals with Deceptive and misleading advertising which could be false information about products features and content, false special offers which don’t exist and  overstating the benefits that a product will provide to the consumer. Price discrimination, giving preference to some retail stores by providing them with lower prices than is offered to the competitors of those retailers. The competitor and consumer act aims to discourage the price discrimination in the business environment. Implied conditions and warranties is a great way for a business to ensure the product will last at least the warrantee time, this attracts customers and the consumer expects the business to fulfill their legal obligation to provide a refund or replacement or the product if there is a manufacturing problem within the warranted date, regardless the business by law. Resale price maintenance, this aims to balance the profit maximization of a business, Ikea ensures that the quality of a product in one country doesn’t differ from another. A manufacturer cannot refuse to sell the goods to a retailor if the retailor intends to sell the product for below the recommended price.