Singapore Inflation free essay sample

Also, Nuno Fontes from Trading Economics has said this impermanent get had been foreseen in the January expansion report because of private street transport cost has move by 17. 4 percent in February, up from 10. 5 percent a month sooner. Business cycles are dated by when the course of monetary action changes. At the pinnacle stage, the degree of monetary exercises inside the economy is high. Assets are full used and under such conditions, cost of assets is high since increment cost of merchandise and ventures created. Expansion is characterized as a ceaseless and continued increment in the general value level for all products and ventures and buying power is falling over some undefined time frame. It very well may be broke down as cost push or request pull swelling, or a mix of such impacts. Swelling rate is a proportion of rate changing costs on a year-to-year premise and its recipe is: [(CPI this year CPI a year ago)/CPI last year] x 100 When expansion rate is high, the business banks will diminish credits or change loan fees, utilization and speculation abatement and genuine GDP will diminish. We will compose a custom exposition test on Singapore Inflation or then again any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Singapore expansion remains adamantly high caused primarily by a spike in testament of qualification (COE) costs, the determined snugness in the household work advertise result into wage increments and in this manner, may gave to customers through more significant expenses and ultimately, the lodging costs. Private street transport cost will keep on being a significant supporter of expansion this year, particularly given the constant ascent in COE. Be that as it may, given the ongoing spending measures (forcing unforgiving vehicle advance checks), the vehicle cost might be required to direct yet at the same time, by and large costs would at present stay high as Singapore rebuilding the economy to lessen the reliance of utilizing low-wage outside work including official positions. Lodging costs climbed 4. 2 percent in February, essentially in light of the fact that rentals kept on rising. Subsequently, coming about the other worry to the ascending of business costs I. e rental and labor cost. On the abovementioned, since Singapore imports nearly all that it utilizes †from purchaser products to food and oil, a huge piece of which originates from rising import costs. Food expansion was higher at 2. 3 percent in February contrasted with 1. 0 percent in January basically in light of the little increment in food costs which was related with the Chinese New Year. Administration charges rose by 2. 7 percent in February contrasting with January 1. 9 percent because of greater part drove by the expansion in the expense of family unit administrations for remote specialists. There are 2 reasons for expansion: 1. Request Pull Inflation happens when the general cost level ascents because of an expansion in total interest (AD). Promotion will expand there are increasingly extra cash because of lessening in close to home personal duty and result in buying power increment. 2. Cost-Push Inflation happens when the general value level ascents because of an ascent in the expense of creation. Because of increasing costs, the utilization lessening and speculation will falls due to the vulnerability of economy. Singapore may confront this issue if accepting laborers creating fabricating send out products are saved because of increasing expenses and expanded compensation push. Singapore may confront hosed monetary development if there is cost push swelling. At the point when swelling happens, it impactsly affects the economy. I. e: ? ? ? Average cost for basic items increment, bargain way of life Loss of estimation of cash spared Debtors gain, loan bosses lose Borrowers will profit by swelling and moneylenders will lose from expansion, and this will bring down speculation loaning. The Singapore government has turn out focused measures to assist Singaporeans with managing increasing expenses. Models: ? Keeping the cash solid to hose imported swelling and keep generally expansion as sensible as could be expected under the circumstances.

BRAND COMMUNICATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

BRAND COMMUNICATION - Essay Example This bit of research paper is an endeavor to give a concise report on the IMC plan for Tango for the following a year. This report investigations the fundamental ideas and hypothetical viewpoint of IMC and looks at how these can be applied with an arrangement for Tango, a brand by Britvic Company UK. This report traces how a company’s brand and data can be viably conveyed to different objective markets with model from Tango. As indicated by Schultz and Schultz (2004), incorporated promoting correspondence is a procedure by which organizations quicken returns by adjusting correspondence targets to business objectives (p. 3). IMC has been viewed as a key administrative and showcasing approach that can assists organizations with increasing upper hands and brand dependability in the market. Burp and Belch (2007) underlined that IMC is a vital business process used to plan, structure and create composed and quantifiable brand correspondence programs with clients, representatives, prospects and partners for a specific timeframe. It assists work with shorting term monetary advantages and long haul brand esteem (p. 11). As depicted by Lamb, Hair and McDaniel (2008), incorporated showcasing correspondence is a cautious coordination of every limited time message including customary publicizing, individual selling, deals advancement, occasion promoting, intelligent and pubic connection for item or administrations so as to guarantee the consistency in each message at every single contact that the organization meets it clients (p. 413). The basic objective of IMC is to create showcasing correspondence program that causes the executives to organize and coordinate all components of deals advancement, publicizing, individual selling, open connection in a successful path as the organization can keep up a steady message. IMC is fundamentally looking to oversee wellsprings of brand and picture or business contacts with existing too

Effects of Trauma in Civil War Veterans

Effects of Trauma in Civil War Veterans PTSD PTSD and the Military Print Effects of Trauma in Civil War Veterans By K. Kris Hirst Updated on January 23, 2020 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children Brian W. Downs / Getty Images Using open-source data from a federal project digitizing medical records on veterans of the American Civil War (1860-1865) called the Early Indicators of Later Work Levels, Disease, and Death Project, researchers have identified an increased risk of post-war illness among Civil War veterans, including cardiac, gastrointestinal, and mental diseases throughout their lives. In a project partly funded by the National Institutes of Aging, military service files from a total of 15,027 servicemen from 303 companies of the Union Army stored at the United States National Archives were matched to pension files and surgeons reports of multiple health examinations. A total of 43 percent of the men had mental health problems throughout their lives, some of which are today recognized as related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most particularly affected were men who enlisted at ages under 17. Roxane Cohen Silver and colleagues at the University of California, Irvine published their results in the February 2006 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. Studies of PTSD and War Studies of PTSD to date have connected war experiences to the recurrence of mental health problems and physical health problems such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension and gastrointestinal disorders. These studies have not had access to long-term health impacts since they have been focused on veterans of recent conflicts. Researchers studying the impact of modern conflict participation report that the factors increasing the risk of later health issues include age at enlistment, intimate exposure to violence, prisoner of war status and having been wounded. The Trauma of the American Civil War The Civil War was a particularly traumatic conflict for American soldiers. Army soldiers commonly enlisted at quite young ages; between 15 and 20 percent of the Union army soldiers enlisted between the ages of 9 and 17. Each of the Union companies was made up of 100 men assembled from regional neighborhoods, and thus often included family members and friends. Large company losses--75 percent of companies in this sample lost between five and 30 percent of their personnel--nearly always meant the loss of family or friends. The men readily identified with the enemy, who in some cases represented family members or acquaintances. Finally, close-quarter conflict, including hand-to-hand combat without trenches or other barriers, was a common field tactic during the Civil War. To quantify trauma experienced by Civil War soldiers, researchers used a variable derived from percent of the company lost to represent relative exposure to trauma. Researchers found that in military companies with a larger percentage of soldiers killed, the veterans were 51 percent more likely to have the cardiac, gastrointestinal, and nervous disease. The Link Between Age and Poor Health After War The study found that the youngest soldiers (ages 9-17 at enlistment) were 93% more likely than the oldest (ages 31 or older) to experience both mental and physical disease. The younger soldiers were also more likely to show signs of cardiovascular disease alone and in conjunction with gastrointestinal conditions and were more likely to die early. Former POWs had an increased risk of combined mental and physical problems as well as early death. One problem the researchers grappled with was comparing diseases as they were recorded during the latter half of the 19th century to todays recognized diseases. Post-traumatic stress syndrome was not recognized by doctorsâ€"although they did recognize that veterans exhibited an extreme level of nervous disease that they labeled irritable heart syndrome. Children and Adolescents in Combat Harvard psychologist  Roger Pitman, writing in an editorial in the publication, writes that the impact on younger soldiers should be of immediate concern, since their immature nervous systems and diminished capacity to regulate emotion give even greater reason to shudder at the thought of children and adolescents serving in combat. Although disease identification is not one-to-one, said senior researcher Roxane Cohen Silver, Ive been studying how people cope with traumatic life experiences of all kinds for twenty years and these findings are quite consistent with an increasing body of literature on the physical and mental health consequences of traumatic experiences. Boston University psychologist Terence M. Keane, Director of the  National Center for PTSD, commented that this remarkably creative study is timely and extremely valuable to our understanding of the  long-term  effects of combat experiences. Joseph Boscarino, Senior Investigator at  Geisinger Health System, added There are a few detractors that say that PTSD [Post-traumatic stress disorder] does not exist or has been exaggerated. Studies such as these are making it difficult to ignore the long-term effects of war-related psychological trauma.

The Planet Mars Science Fair Project Ideas

Scientists are learning more about the planet Mars every year and that makes now a perfect time to use it as the subject of a science fair project. It is a project that both middle and high school students can pull off and they can take many different approaches to create  a unique and impressive display. Why is Mars Special? Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is commonly referred to as the Red Planet. Mars is more similar to Earth than Venus in regards to atmosphere, even though its only just over half the size of our planet. There is intense interest focused on Mars due to the possibility of liquid water being present there. Scientists are still trying to figure out if there is still water on Mars or if it was present at some time in the plants past. That possibility yields the chance of Mars harboring life. Quick Facts About Mars Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos.Mars is named after the Roman god of war and it influenced the naming of the month March.One year on Mars is equal to about two years on Earth.One day on Mars is half an hour longer than one day on Earth.The atmosphere of Mars is 95% carbon dioxide. Recent Mars Expeditions NASA has been sending spacecraft to study Mars since 1964 when Mariner 3 attempted to photograph the planet. Since then, over 20 space missions have launched to explore the surface further and future missions are planned as well. The Mars rover, Sojourner, was the first robotic rover to land on Mars during the Pathfinder mission in 1997. More recent Mars rovers like Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity have given us the best views and data available to date from the Martian surface. Mars Science Fair Project Ideas Build a scale model of our solar system. Where does Mars fit in the grand scheme of all the other planets. How does its distance from the Sun affect the climate on Mars.Explain the forces at work when the Mars orbits the sun. What keeps it in place? Is it moving further away? Does it have remain the same distance from the sun as it orbits?Study pictures of Mars. What new discoveries did we learn from pictures the rovers sent back versus satellite photos NASA captured before? How does the Martian landscape differ from Earth? Are there places on Earth that resemble Mars?What are the features of Mars? Could they support some kind of life? Why or why not?Why is Mars red?  Is Mars really red on the surface or is it an optical illusion? What minerals are on Mars that cause it to appear red? Relate your discoveries to things we can relate to on Earth and show pictures.What have we learned in the various missions to Mars? What were the most significant discoveries? What questions did each successful mission answer and did a later mission prove these wrong?What does NASA have planned for future Mars missions? Will they be able to build a Mars colony? If so, what will it look like and how are they preparing for it?How long does it take to travel to Mars?  When astronauts are sent to Mars, what will the trip be like? Are photographs sent back from Mars in real-time or is there a delay? How are the photos relayed to Earth?How does a rover work? Are the rovers still working on Mars? If you love to build things, a scale model of a rover would be a great project! Resources for a Mars Science Fair Project Every good science fair project begins with research. Use these resources to learn more about Mars. As you read, you may even come up with new ideas for your project. Mars Exploration from NASABuild a Solar SystemYour Weight on Other Worlds

Social Media Experience The Rise Of Facebook - 2729 Words

Social Media Experience: The Rise of Facebook Research Report CCT208: Writing and Research Methods in Communication Tiffany Wong 1000691593 Professor Divya Maharajh April 8th, 2015 Abstract In this project, quantitative research was conducted to provide students and adults in our community data on how the frequent use of posting or viewing Facebook correlate to one’s emotions of narcissism or loneliness. The study was conducted to understand the motivations that come from social media sites. Furthermore, if a mutual correlation does occur, students are encouraged to minimize their time on social media to interact and be active with friends outside an offline community. A group of 25 undergraduate students of ages 18-20 participated in the study. From the study revealed, female university students visit Facebook to gain confidence and popularity through self- generated content (updating status, profile photo and uploading albums) compared to males who use system- generated content (messenger and viewing other user’s profile). Discovering the motivation behind social media sites is important to the communications field because media sites have transformed t he way we interact with one another. Methodology Participants A group of 25 students was contacted through Facebook to complete the survey questionnaire of this study. All participants studied at University of Toronto and lived in the city of Mississauga. All 12 males and 13 femalesShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Teen Suicide1135 Words   |  5 Pagesaccredited to the rise in social media† (Riley, 2015). When I read that statement, I recalled an article that I had read about three years ago. The article made the same argument and discussed how a new social media app known as Instagram would affect the soaring rates of teen suicide. Being a teenager myself, I agreed with these claims, feeling that the rise in teen suicide rates, as well as social media in the past decade, had gone hand and hand. On February 4th, 2004, a major social networkingRead MoreSocial Media and Mental Health998 Words   |  4 Pagesrecent study, led by social psychiatrist Ethan Cross of the University of Michigan, found that using Facebook may even make us miserable. On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection, says Kross. But rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result - it undermines it. The negative impacts of social media In 2012, Anxiety UK conducted a survey on social media use and its effects onRead MoreIs Facebook Killing Our Souls?1588 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Social media allows people to connect with each other to create and share information. It is people-powered communication, an authentic dialogue motivated by a basic human desire to share information† (CIPD, Social Media and Employee Voice Report 2013). ‘Click’ and my message is on its way to my friend’s Facebook inbox hundred of miles away. The astonishing speed of how quick we can communicate in today’s societies, all thanks to social media. The invention of Facebook simplified everything we knowRead MoreEffects Of Social Media Essay946 Words   |  4 PagesHow does social networking affect teens? Social Networking is â€Å" the use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other or to find people with similar interests†. 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With the broad reach of the internet and social media, this has led to a wider awareness of the feminist movement. The broad reach of the internet and social media however has also open the female gender to various levels of objectificationRead MoreSocial Media s Impact On Society1455 Words   |  6 PagesMost Think that social media doesn’t have any negative sides. When you think of social media what do you think of. People who use social media don t think about how it can beneficial or not. how about this if you asked your self what would it be like to not have social media. would you benefit from it or would you need it. Most importantly this paper is to inform the reader whether or not it’s inserting. Let start with this question, What is social media? A form of electronic communication (as WebRead MoreThe Impact Of Social Media On S tudents Academic Performance Essay1356 Words   |  6 Pagesbutton. Thanks to the rise of social media, young men and women now exchange ideas, feelings, personal information, pictures and videos at a truly astonishing rate. As social networking sites continue to grow, there is a continual debate on whether it is beneficial or harmful to users. Many learners, especially college students, utilize these sites on a daily basis. Researchers all throughout the world have been diving into a considerable amount of research on how social media influences overall studentRead MoreSocial Media And Health Care Organizations855 Words   |  4 Pagesimproving due to the communication capabilities provided by social media. Many studies have described the use of social media to enhance the understanding of communication, professionalism, and ethics. 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Minimum wage Free Essays

Minimum wage in Naples Labor Market Minimum wage Is the price floor imposed by the government for the welfare of labor. Price floor Is the legal minimum on the price at which a good can be sold. It Is an attempt by the government to maintain prices at other than equilibrium levels. We will write a custom essay sample on Minimum wage or any similar topic only for you Order Now When a government Imposes a price floor, there will be two cases. One the price floor Is not binding if the price floor is maintained below equilibrium price level. In this case, the market forces naturally move the economy to the equilibrium level and the price floor as no effect. In other case when price floor is above equilibrium level, such price floor is binding. In this case the market price equals price floor as government imposes such control on prices for the welfare of labors. At this point the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded which results in surplus of labor I. E. Unemployment. Since the supply is high some seller are unable to sell all they want at the market price. The sellers who appeals to personal biases of the buyer, perhaps due to racial or family ties, are better able to sell their goods than those who do not. By contrast, In a free market, the price serves as the rotational mechanism, and sellers can sell all they want at the equilibrium price. The Impact of minimum wage rate depends on the skill and experience of workers. Highly experienced and skilled workers are not affected because their equilibrium wages are above the minimum wages. Thus, the minimum wage raises the income of workers who have jobs but lowers the income of workers who cannot find Jobs. A labor market with a binding minimum wage: Minimum wage in context of Nepal: Minimum wages dictate the lowest price for labor that any employer may pay. Wages of workers are considered a principal cause of Industrial disputes in Nepal. The prevalence of a low wage rate has aggravated the extent of economic exploitation of employees. An assessment has reflected that employers themselves are retelling a greater part of profits and benefits and only a small part to others sectors Including social securities and labor welfare activities. Wages and benefits are not compatible with increasing productivity and overall economic development of the country. So, to ensure workers a minimally adequate standard of living, the Minimum Wage Determination Committee has set the minimum wage rate for formal sector accordingly. Naples labor market is subjected to the forces of supply and demand. Workers determine the supply of labor, and firms determine the demand. If the government does not intervene, the wages normally adjust to balance labor supply and labor demand. If government fixes the minimum wage rate above the market equilibrium level, the quantity of labor supplied exceeds the quantity demanded. The result Is unemployment. In Nepal the minimum wage was RSI. 200 In 2011 which Is not relevant due to the fast changing socio-economic realties. This Is the reason trade unions negotiating on behalf of employees are demanding that Mullen wages should be doubled to RSI. 12400. They have an argument that prices of particularly in Katmandu, an expensive city, even a monthly wage of RSI. 12400 for is far from enough for comfortable life. Some others have been asking for RSI. 15000 minimum salary claiming that it is insuffic ient to survive in towns and its suburbs with the present salary and wage structure. So, let’s see the consumer price index (ICP) of Nepal to find whether the wage rate is determined on the basis of ICP. Annual National Consumer Price Index Base: 2005/2006=100 Highest minimum wage in South Asia: The minimum wage in Nepal as agreed by the employers and trade unionists in May 2013 is the highest in South Asia. Though Napalm’s minimum wage was highest in Pradesh in India raised theirs above Napalm’s. The average minimum monthly salary of India at US $47 still was lower than that of Nepal. Entrepreneurs believe that the problem of scarcity of workers in Nepal will decrease after the salary hike. According to Upstairs Murray, Vice President of the Federation of Naples Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FINCH), the flight of workforce will be stopped as the daily wage has been increased along with the minimum monthly salary. Entrepreneurs have also claimed that the Indian workers can be attracted as the minimum daily wage has been increased from RSI. 230 to RSI. 318. Minimum Monthly Salary in Year Country In US $ Nepal Sir Lankan Bangladesh Pakistan 70 Attar Pradesh (India) Briar (India) Conclusion: The government has declared the minimum wage but it is difficult to implement because of anti-worker and anti-union mentality . N the part of the government, here is no system of implementation and mechanism for monitoring the progress. From the very beginning, disputes have emerged with respect to the implementation of the wages particularly in the formal sector. Wage issues have now become the most important agenda in the industrial relations in the country. If the government and employers do not take this matter seriously and if they fail to implement corrective measures, the workers will go frustrated resulting in industrial unrests and other adverse effects in productivity. Over time and again minimum wage has increased. For long, the minimum wages earned by workers fell far below the amount needed to satisfy the family subsistence. But after unionization of labor, positive developments occurred in terms of real wages. However, only the fixation of wages cannot maintain healthy industrial relations. Regular monitoring of the implementation of the wages is very important. In the case of Nepal, this aspect is fully absent. Workers in enterprises or sectors where union is absent or weak are still compelled to work for a wage that is insufficient to earn a living. It is recommended that the minimum wage is fixed for workers taking into consideration the existing inflation rate. Employers have been asking for a scientific method for salary and wage hike based on annual inflation rate published by the central bank that will end to fear every two years that employees might go on strike. The government’s move to automatically revise minimum salary and wage every two years from the beginning of the new fiscal year will give political parties little room for bickering in the industrial sector and disturb the business environment. How to cite Minimum wage, Papers Minimum Wage Free Essays The concept of minimum wage is to ensure that employers do not pay wages below the mandated level. However this does not always happen instead this policy ends up hurting these workers and the economy in terms of lower job opportunities. This is because the increase of labor costs keeping all other things constant would eat into the net profits of the company. We will write a custom essay sample on Minimum Wage or any similar topic only for you Order Now Therefore in order to offset the decrease in profits, the need for low skilled labor decreases and companies look for higher productivity workers. The groups that are directly affected by the minimum wage consists of young workers or teenagers, part-time workers and workers from non-poor families. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1. 8 million paid-hourly employees were paid the federal minimum wage of $7. 25 in 2010. 5 These 1. 8 million employees can be broken down into two broad groups: Roughly half (49. 0 percent) are teenagers or young adults aged 24 or under. A large majority (62. 2 percent) of this group live in families with incomes two or more times the official poverty level. Looking just at the families of teenaged minimum wage workers, the average income is almost $70,600, and only 16. 8 percent are below the poverty line. 7 Note that the federal minimum wage applies to workers of all ages. 8 The other half (51. 0 percent) are aged 25 and up. 9 More of these workers live in poor families (29. 2 percent) or near the poverty level (46. 2 percent had family incomes less than 1. 5 times the poverty level). 10 However, even within this half of all minimum wage employees, 24. percent voluntarily work part-time, and just 34. 3 percent are full-time full-year employees. 11 Only 20. 8 percent of all minimum wage workers are family heads or spouses working full time, 30. 8 percent were children, and 32. 2 percent are young Americans enrolled in school. 12 The popular belief that minimum wage workers are poor adults (25 years old or older), working full time and trying to raise a family is largely untrue. Just 4. 7 percent match that description. 3 Indeed, many minimum wage workers live in families with incomes well above the poverty level. In order to understand the effect of raising minimum wage, the competitive model for economy can be used. This model requires a negative sloping demand curve for labor and wage rate that is competitive in nature. This means that the wage rate is not determined by any individual agents and is always equal to the market rate. In the figure shown below the dema nd curve is labeled as DD and the supply curve is SS. As mentioned, since the market decides the wage rate , the intersection of the demand and supply gives this rate – Wc. The corresponding employment rate is Ec. By imposing the minimum wage Wm, another corresponding employment rate emerges Em. With the implementation and increase of minimum wage, the demand of employment reduces and also has a corresponding excess supply for labor. However with the increase in minimum wage there is also an influx of new labor attracted by the minimum wage which puts further pressure of the employment opportunities available. However this comes at the expense of low skilled labor who find it very difficult to compete in the new scenario. The effects of raising minimum wage could be channeled in the following ways: * Decreased employment opportunities to keep profit margins * The increased cost of labor may be passed on the to the consumer in terms of higher prices for products and services. * Firms may decide to reduce the working hours and maintain the existing labor force which diminishes productivity of the firms. Reduced job training which diminishes the firms to maintain high productivity among the labor force. However if the model is assumed to be the monopsony model, the economy is considered to be marginally competitive. This means that majority of the market share is under a few firms. In this scenario, if the minimum wage is increased from below competitive wages to competitive wages as shown in the diagram, the employment rates will actually increase. This is because there is a new found interest in the labor force to work in these industries and the companies can afford to pay these wages. However this concept is not widely used due to low presence of lower- wage firms in comparison to the large labor forces of an economy. Reference 11Â  Author’s analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Current Population Survey data for March 2010. http://www. downsizinggovernment. org/labor/negative-effects-minimum-wage-laws#top Question 3: Impacts of an Appreciating Currency In the case of appreciation of the yen, the following impacts could occur to Japanese firms * The first effect would be on the negative effect of exports and as a result would cause the firms to become less competitive based on price. * Another effect would be as a result of the exchange rate fluctuations. Certain firms might not be protected to negative fluctuations as a result of dealing with yen as their primary mode of currency. This therefore can eat into the profitability of the Japanese firms and cause multinationals to shift overseas to a more stable country. Therefore in short, the reduction in exports due to an increase in the value of yen is because the Japanese goods have now become more expensive to other countries. Therefore this reduction directly affects the firms that deal with these exports and thus affects their profitability. However , in spite of the decrease in exports , Japanese firms now have the ability to expand overseas due to the higher purchasing power of the yen. One example of this phenomenon was when the liquor company Asahi took over the Independent Liquor from New Zealand for 1. 3billion dollars. How to cite Minimum Wage, Papers Minimum Wage Free Essays The concept of a minimum wage has been around for over a century; New Zealand was the first country to have a minimum wage, enacted in 1894. The United States introduced minimum wage during the Great Depression in 1938. (Anderson) A minimum wage is a price floor; this sets a base line wage that companies have to pay their employees. We will write a custom essay sample on Minimum Wage or any similar topic only for you Order Now Currently in the United States nearly 75 million people work minimum wage jobs. (Goldstein) In 2004 the federal minimum wage was $5. 15 an hour and only 12 states had higher minimum wages. (Wall Street Journal) Today it is $7. 5, last updated in 2009. Polling shows that the public supports an increase in the minimum wage. (Kusler) Minimum wage brings together theoretical economics and real world economics, by coming up with a number that is as close as possible to the natural equilibrium while still providing a wage that workers can live on. It has positives and negatives, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Proponents of the minimum wage want a base line wage that workers can earn so they are not taken advantage of and can earn enough to provide for their families. This side of the argument assumes that the employers are making a profit for themselves and will exploit their workers as much as they can. Minimum wage is a protection for workers from getting exploited and not being able to provide for their families. Many argue that minimum wage is too low at this time, leaving millions of workers still needing assistance from the government, which is paid by tax payers. As tax payers we are picking up the slack of low wages paid to low earning employees. By increasing the minimum wage, we would be giving more purchasing power to the people who are most likely to spend it. For example, in 2009 in Georgia the minimum wage was the current minimum wage of $7. 25. If you spend a third of your income in housing, the recommended amount, to rent a one bedroom apartment in Atlanta of about $800 you would need to earn $16 an hour. (Gatlin) As this example illustrates, the wage that workers are getting today is not allowing them to support themselves, making the government have to step in with social services to help them. (The Wall Street Journal) If minimum wage had increased with inflation from 1968, people would be earning $9. 2 an hour, which is a lot closer to a living wage. (Gatlin) Other calculations suggest that if it had followed that path today, the minimum wage would be $10. 55. (Goldstein) Earning more is a reward for low wage workers, they are more likely to be loyal, more productive, less likely to not show up for work and shirk their duties. What owners think they save in payroll with paying workers less, they spend looking for new employees beca use old employees are leaving for jobs that pay higher wages. They also lose the investment that they made in training the person, that training will now have to be invested in someone else. Micah Domato, who runs A. L. Bazzini, a store that sells nuts, in New York City pays his employees an entry wage of $8; he keeps it at that level because other stores would not be able to compete with his pricing. (Wall Street Journal) If employers restructure their wage scales almost 400,000 more workers would benefit; they are the ones working slightly above minimum wage. Indeed, on January 1st, 2012 eight states raised their minimum incomes to adjust for inflation and over 1 million workers benefited. There is so much agreement on this topic that both Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have said that they support an automatic increase to keep up with inflation. (Kusler) In conclusion, raising the minimum wage will give purchasing power to low income earners who are the people who need it the most. It will also create more business because people will be buying more with their increased incomes. People who are against minimum wage feel that it creates a surplus of unemployed workers. This surplus can’t get hired because there isn’t enough money to pay them from the profits that they are making at that level of production. Not only will it slow job growth, but an increased minimum wage will actually lead to even more job losses than the first minimum wage. For example, in 2009 in Georgia, the unemployment rate rose from 4. 5% to 10. 7% in 18 months around the time when the latest minimum wage was set. This price floor will limit job creation in the long run for the least skilled workers. Their employers will have to calculate if the new hourly wage exceeds their hourly product of labor, and then employers will have to see if they should substitute the worker with a more productive worker that will work at a level that is more than his or her wage or they will keep the costs they would have spent on a worker. In both cases, increasing minimum wage is a risk for the current worker. An alternative for minimum could be income subsidies, which can be considered less market intrusive. (Kusler) The National Federation of Independent Business says a tax credits for heads of households is another good alternative that won’t shrink job opportunities or place collateral damage on small businesses. Higher wages can discourage employers from hiring new employees because they can’t afford them. They will in turn maximize their profits with their current employees. The governor of New York in 2004 George Pataki said he would rather the increase be federal minimum wage than state wide because it gives states with lower minimum wages an advantage. In the end, an increase in the minimum wage is feared to only bring disaster. Fewer people will get hired and small business will have to take on a cost they cannot afford. This issue has been debated close to home as well. On November 6 of this year, San Jose passed a law with 58% of the vote that would increase the city-wide minimum wage from $8 to $10 an hour. This new minimum wage is what it was in 1968, adjusted for inflation. Only San Francisco, Washington DC, Santa Fe and Albuquerque have set their own minimum wage before. The measure started in a San Jose State University classroom. The students drafted the measure and got enough signatures to turn their idea into Measure D. Goldstein) In San Jose an average minimum wage worker salary is $1,280, which is not even enough to cover the average rent of $1,800. More people, therefore, have to rely on government assistant to get by. This new law will help 40,000 low wage workers. (Myers-Lipton) The Mayor of San Jose, Chuck Reed, sided against it and the City Council was divided. The Mayor says that it will t ake about $600,000 to put the law in place because they have to make sure everyone follows it. This will put a huge strain on the city’s budget, in addition to the 25% increase in their pay roll for the city’s own minimum wage workers. The opposition says that this increase would lead to cuts in staffing or hiring fewer workers. For example Fourth Street Pizza says that they will have to consider some increase in their prices so they don’t have to lay any one off. (Rusk) Measure D will go in effect early 2013. Only the future will say what effect this measure will have on the economy of San Jose, I hope it proves to be a positive outcome. Minimum wage helps keep a balance between the theoretical economic world and the real world by giving workers better wages than they would otherwise have. The big debate now in many states and municipalities is whether to keep it or increase it. Increasing would lead to workers having better lives and being more loyal and productive at work. Others say increasing it would lead to staffing cuts and fewer jobs because firms wouldn’t be able to cover their cost of paying workers more or having more of them. San Jose just raised its city minimum wage by voter approval. In the future it could go both ways, but hopefully it will improve the economy because people will have more money so they will spend more money. How to cite Minimum Wage, Essay examples

Odysseus A mere mortal, but purely moral Essay Example For Students

Odysseus: A mere mortal, but purely moral Essay In Homers Odyssey, he uses the stories of Calypso and Circe to give a reader a glimpse at Greek values. Odysseus is a perfectly moral man by Greek standards. In the Calypso episode, Odysseus demonstrates the value of faithfulness, and in the Circe episode, he illustrates Greek values in general. While both goddesses seek Odysseus to be their husband, Odysseus responds as a perfect Greek hero. During the Calypso episode, Homer teachers that one must remain faithful in their hearts. The Circe episode shows the loyalty between a commander and his troops, burial rights, hospitality, and the relationship between host and guest. The Calypso episode explains how a man must be faithful to his wife in his heart. The Calypso scene opens with a description of how beautiful her island of meadows and flowers is and how even a deathless god who came upon that place would gaze in wonder, heart entranced with pleasure 154. The story proceeds to describe the goddess as having a breathtaking voice 154 and being lustrous 155. Yet, when the story describes Odysseus, he is wrenching his heart with sobs and groans and anguish 156. Even though, Odysseus resides on a beautiful island with a goddess who takes care of him, he still wishes to be at home. Odysseus recognizes that fact that the island is beautiful, but he still longs to be at home. Additionally, Odysseus remains faithful to Penelope, not by modern day standards, but he chooses Penelope over the goddess. When Calypso questions Odysseus, he recognizes that fact that Calypso is more beautiful. Odysseus even mentions that Penelope falls far short 159 of Calypso, but yet, Odysseuss heart is with Penelope. Next, Odysseus must build a raft himself. Yet, he finds this labor minimal since he is given a chance to return home. He even realizes that he may become shipwrecked or die on the voyage, but he is willing to take these risks to return home. The final temping offer to make Odysseus turn away from his home and his wife is when Calypso offers him immortality to stay with her. Again, Odysseus chooses his land and his wife. In modern times, sleeping with a goddess would be considered unfaithful, but Greek values allow this if and only if the man still wishes to return home and return to his wife. Thus, one of the highest values for a Greek was to be faithful to their home and their wives in their hearts. The stories involving Circe describe several values. The stories describe hospitality, the loyalty between a commander and his troops, the relationship between host and guest, and burial rights. When the story begins with an analysis on how guests ought to be treated. Circe is an enchantress who welcomes some of Odysseuss troops into her home for food and drink. Then, she made a potion that would clear their memories so that when she struck them with her magic wand, they turned into pigs. Zeus or Hermes must have witnessed this episode because Hermes came to Odysseus with a potent drug 239 that would counteract Circes potion. Since Zeus is the god of hospitality, Circe was in the wrong by harming her guests as she did. So, Odysseus went to Circe with the drug, and when she attempted to do the same thing, Odysseus was able to triumph over trickery. Thus, another important Greek value is to be kind to strangers, treat them as guests, and follow the hospitality etiquette. The next event demonstrates that the commander must be loyal to his troops. Circe offers Odysseus marvelous food with appetizers aplenty too, lavish with her bounty 242, but her refuses the food saying that any man in his right mind 242 could not accept food before hed freed his comrades-in-arms and looked them in the eyes 242. So, Greek soldiers must be loyal to each other. This is further demonstrated when Circe sends for Odysseuss ship to come closer to shore. .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 , .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .postImageUrl , .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 , .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7:hover , .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7:visited , .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7:active { border:0!important; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7:active , .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7 .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u28b1428e5563e19b198c592168c601f7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Joyce and John Cheever were two influential writers of the late 1800's and early 1900's EssayEurylochus hesitates and is mutinous against Odysseuss order to bring the ship about. Odysseus, though, still remains loyal to him. Even though he had half a mind to draw the sharp sword from beside my hip and slice his head offà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦But comrades check me, each man trying to calm me 244. This event offers another important value: the soldiers must be loyal to their commander and heed every order. So, Homer demonstrates how troops and commanders ought to be extremely loyal to each other. While the troops and Odysseus are at Circes palace, they each respect each other as hos tess and guest. Circe tries to make them comfortable and joyful as she says, no more tears now, calm these tides of sorrow 244. She hosts Odysseus and his troops for a year. Odysseus graciously accepts Circes kindness and is good to her. When Odysseus requests to leave, Circe grants him his desire, and she even helps him. Here, Homer demonstrates that it is necessary to give the host warning when planning to leave and even ask the host for leaving rights. Circe tells him to visit Tiresias in the Kingdom of the Dead for advice on how to get home safely. Then, on their final departing from Aeaea, Circe gives them food and drink to take on their voyage as well as a swift wind. She gives them several gifts as expected by a hostess when her guest leaves. Therefore, while host must be gracious and giving to guests, the guests are expected to be respectful of their host. Finally, Homer tells how the dead are to be given their rights. Before departing Aeaea again, the troops must mourn the Elpenor, give him a funeral, and bury his body. The fact that Odysseus and his troops returned all the way back to Aeaea shows that the burial right of the dead is extremely important. Therefore, the Greeks held the right of services and burial to be a significant value. Homer portrays Odysseus as a nearly perfect man with nearly perfect Greek values. Hence, the reader is able to get a glimpse of Greek values by using Odysseuss decisions and action as a guideline. The Calypso story shows that Greek values require a man to be faithful to his land and to his wife no matter what the temptation is. The Circe episode shows the loyalty between a commander and his troops, burial rights, hospitality, and the relationship between host and guest.

‘A Grade on your next research paper with these six simple steps

Being a student, you always effort to have better classes in your research paper to get a good GPA. For this, you should have your research paper exceptional. Elena from .comsaid: â€Å"To achieve supreme excellence or perfection in anything you do. You need more than just knowledge.† So, to achieve ‘A grade, here is the real start with six necessary steps for your research paper: Choose the topic: The first and most essential step is to choose the theme for your research paper. Choose the subject about which you have awareness because this makes you put your more exertion and enthusiasm in it. Always try to select the topic which you can manage and is not very technical. Once you have chosen the topic, start your paper with an introduction about it and tell your reader what you are going to discuss in your article. Otherwise, your paper will be confusing. Moreover, it is essential to keep your research paper in the right direction so dont get diverted from the topic. Also keeps in mind that tell the readers what information your writing will give them because no one is going to read your paper unless it provides them with some info. Prepare outline: Preparing outline helps a lot while writing down ideas. It also enables you to track what points you have explained and what positions you have to tell in the future, which keep the research paper inflow and a structured manner. While preparing an outline to keep in mind some of the things. I.e., what are you about to write and how you want to present it in your paper, what are your estimations and then give some supportive arguments, make links between ideas to have flow and then write what you had concluded after in the end. Search the information: After preparing your outline, the first thing to do is to list down the sources in your mind which help you in your research process. Preparingdraft helps the writer by giving him a direction in his writing process and also speeds up the research process. So, researching information is the most intensive part of writing your research paper. Try to have a vast number of sources to fulfill your requirement, i.e. internet, books, journals, videos, and interviews. For general and background information, one can approach to documentaries, encyclopedias, different URLs, etc. Try to get information from official sites, e.g. the .com sites are considered excellent. Give maximum time for searching information. Also, keep copies and records of places from where you are collecting the information so you can retrieve it later when required. Rearticulate the information to avoid plagiarism later on. Start writing your research paper: After doing your complete research, it’s time to write your gathered information in a flow so the reader could understand what you are trying to convey them. Sometimes, you require more research as you start writing your paper according to the complexity of your topic. As you have prepared an outline already, so this is going to help a lot while writing as it wont let you miss an important point. While writing, it is not necessary to stick only to the points you have written in your outline, you can also add- points which came afterward in your mind. Keep in mind that whatever you are writing after introduction is related to your topic and is focused. We can also say it’s the first or rough draft of paper because amendments are required at the end. So don’t put excessive stress on while writing it down for the first time. Try to use your own words and not to copy it directly from the places you have searched. Prepare final draft and correct errors: It is essential to check and edit whatever you have written. Checking the paper for the correction also means that you are preparing the final draft. This step enables you to rearrange ideas if required, make grammatical corrections, and improvement in presentation. While preparing the final draft, you can also check and observe the effectiveness of your paper. You can even refine your paper while going through it. Facts and figures should have given particular importance to check if they are credible or not. Prepare a checklist: The last and final but the crucial step of your research paper writing is to prepare the list. It is prepared to check if you have missed anything which should be there in your research paper to make it appealing to the reader regarding presentation, information, and structure. This step also includes preparing the cover page for your paper having your name, course information, and title of your paper.

Battle of Globe Tavern - Civil War

Battle of Globe Tavern - Civil War Battle of Globe Tavern - Conflict Dates: The Battle of Globe Tavern was fought August 18-21, 1854, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders Union Major General Gouverneur K. Warrenapprox. 20,000 men Confederate Lieutenant General A.P. Hillapprox. 15,000 men Battle of Globe Tavern - Background: Having begun the Siege of Petersburg in early June 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant began movements to sever the railroads leading into the city. Dispatching troops against the Weldon Railroad in late June, Grants effort was blocked by Confederate forces at the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road. Planning further operations, Grant transferred Major General Winfield S. Hancocks II Corps north of the James River in early August with the goal of striking at the Richmond defenses. Though he did not believe that attacks would lead to the citys capture, he hoped they would draw troops north from Petersburg and force Confederate General Robert E. Lee to recall troops sent to the Shenandoah Valley. If successful, this would open the door for an advance against the Weldon Railroad by Major General Gouverneur K. Warrens V Corps. Crossing the river, Hancocks men opened the Second Battle of Deep Bottom on August 14. Though Hancock failed to achieve a breakthrough, he succeeded in drawing Lee north and prevented him from reinforcing Lieutenant General Jubal Early in the Shenandoah. Battle of Globe Tavern - Warren Advances: With Lee north of the river, command of the Petersburg defenses dell to General P.G.T. Beauregard. Moving out at dawn on August 18, Warrens men moved south and west over muddy roads. Reaching the Weldon Railroad at Globe Tavern around 9:00 AM, he ordered Brigadier General Charles Griffins division to begin destroying the tracks while Brigadier General Romeyn Ayres division deployed to the north as a screen. Pressing up the railroad, they swept aside a small force of Confederate cavalry. Alerted that Warren was on the Weldon, Beauregard ordered Lieutenant General A.P. Hill to drive back the Union forces (Map). Battle of Globe Tavern - Hill Attacks: Moving south, Hill directed two brigades from Major General Henry Heths division and one from Major General Robert Hokes division to attack the Union line. As Ayres made contact with Confederate forces around 1:00 PM, Warren ordered Brigadier General Samuel Crawford to deploy his division on the Union right in the hope that he could outflank Hills line. Advancing around 2:00 PM, Hills forces assaulted Ayres and Crawford, driving them back towards Globe Tavern. Finally stemming the Confederate advance, Warren counterattacked and regained some of the lost ground (Map). As darkness fell, Warren directed his corps to entrench for the night. That night, elements of Major General John Parkes IX Corps began to reinforce Warren as Hancocks men returned to the Petersburg lines. To the north, Hill was bolstered by the arrival of three brigades led by Major General William Mahone as well as the cavalry division of Major General W.H.F. Rooney Lee. Due to heavy rain through the early parts of August 19, fighting was limited. With the weather improving late in the afternoon, Mahone moved forward to strike the Union right while Heth assaulted Ayres in the Union center. Battle of Globe Tavern - Disaster Turns to Victory: While Heths attack was stopped with relative ease, Mahone located a gap between Crawfords right and the main Union line to the east. Plunging through this opening, Mahone turned Crawfords flank and shattered the Union right. Desperately attempting to rally his men, Crawford was nearly captured. With the V Corps position at risk of collapse, Brigadier General Orlando B. Willcoxs division from IX Corps moved forward and mounted a desperate counterattack which culminated with hand-to-hand fighting. This action rescued the situation and allowed the Union forces to maintain their line until nightfall. The next day saw heavy rains descend upon the battlefield. Aware that his position was tenuous, Warren used the break in the fighting to construct a new line of entrenchments approximately two miles to the south near Globe Tavern. This paralleled the Weldon Railroad facing west before turning ninety degrees just north of Globe Tavern and running east to the main Union works along the Jerusalem Plank Road. That night, Warren ordered V Corps to withdraw from its advanced position to the new entrenchments. With clear weather returning on the morning of August 21, Hill moved south to attack. Approaching the Union fortifications, he directed Mahone to assault the Union left while Heth advanced on the center. Heths assault was easily repulsed after being hammered by Union artillery. Advancing from the west, Mahones men became bogged down in a swampy wooded area in front of the Union position. Coming under intense artillery and rifle fire, the attack faltered and only Brigadier General Johnson Hagoods men succeeded in reaching the Union lines. Breaking through, they were quickly thrown back by Union counterattacks. Badly bloodied, Hill was forced to pull back. Battle of Globe Tavern - Aftermath: In the fighting at the Battle of Globe Tavern, Union forces sustained 251 killed, 1,148 wounded, and 2,897 captured/missing. The bulk of Union prisoners were taken when Crawfords division was flanked on August 19. Confederate losses numbered 211 killed, 990 wounded, and 419 captured/missing. A key strategic victory for Grant, the Battle of Globe Tavern saw Union forces assume a permanent position on the Weldon Railroad. The loss of the railroad severed Lees direct supply line to Wilmington, NC and forced materials coming from the port to be off-loaded at Stony Creek, VA and moved to Petersburg via Dinwiddie Court House and the Boydton Plank Road. Eager to eliminate the Weldons use completely, Grant directed Hancock to attack south to Reams Station. This effort resulted in defeat on August 25, though additional parts of the railroad line were destroyed. Grants efforts to isolate Petersburg continued through the fall and winter before culminating in the citys fall in April 1865. Selected Sources CWSAC Battle Summaries: Battle of Globe TavernEncyclopedia Virginia: Battle of the Weldon Railroad Civil War Trust: Cutting the Supply Lines

Between Art and Architecture in The Landscape Essay

Between Art and Architecture in The Landscape - Essay Example The paper tells that expressions that are in architecture are distinguished by the works of various architects, movements of different time frames and approaches to creating the buildings. There are distinguishing characteristics associated with the different architectural structures and landscapes, specifically which are based on the approaches which the architects take. A feature which is considers in terms of architecture is based on the artistic influences that are portrayed in each of the buildings. While architectural pieces may be considered as artistic, there are several artistic structures that do not represent architecture. Identifying and defining the differentiation as well as the approaches of various artists and the aesthetics of architecture then creates a defined meaning of what is associated with various movements. Even with the use of experimentation of mediums and the expectation of using art as architecture, are still specialized aspects that show there are altern atives that are created from both mediums. This is developing controversial aspects to the artists and architects as well as how the use of both mediums is able to develop distinctions between both categories. Identifying the spatial differences, crafting alterations and the approaches and ideologies which are taken by different architects is also able to create a different approach to how the architects and artists remain as distinct categories that are able to develop alternative movements and experimentation based on the individual mediums. Defining Contemporary Art and Architecture The concept of art and architecture has traditionally been associated with two different mediums based on the aesthetics and functionality of the pieces. Architecture implies a building or other area which is used for lifestyle needs or which is based on creating what is known as a spatial practice. The artistic works imply an expression an aesthetically valuable approach that is able to convey a mess age or meaning that is more critical in nature. The combination of both is known as a critical spatial practice and is now regarded as intertwining between both mediums. This consists of site specific art and public art, urban interventions, conceptual designs and collaborative groups which are developing hybrid approaches to the artistic and architectural endeavors within a spatial area. The changing meaning of art and architecture is one which has altered specifically because of implications based on the developments between each medium (Rendell, 2006: 3). The similarities and differences with contemporary art and architecture as well as the blurred lines which have been created have furthered into changing characteristics of what identifies art and architecture. The identification is one which is no longer based on the functionality and images that are approached as well as the use of space or context that comes from either art or architecture. The combination of both has led int o a different visual reasoning of the work. Conceptual ideas as well as figurative approaches are both being used with art and architecture to show a shift in the perspectives of what both mediums relate to. The change is one which is no longer identifying and defining the rules and regulations which were approached in terms of visual designs and the systems which were before required for art and architecture. Instead, there is a direct link to the visual landscape that crosses in terms of art and architecture as the same approach to structure (Goldschmidt, 2003: 158). Social and Cultural Changes in Architecture The movement into art and architecture as interchangeable and as a hybrid concept has not only

Designation of Kahane Chai Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Designation of Kahane Chai - Research Paper Example As the result of the growing conflict in the Middle East, in the year 1947 following the War, the United Nations proposed a partition plan for British ruled Palestine. According to this plan, Palestine would have an Independent Jewish State and an Independent Arab State within recommended boundaries and a call for an economic union. The city of Jerusalem was however given a special shared status, proposed by the United Nations to accommodate the religious interests of both Arabs and Jews in the city. The treaty was signed in November 29th, 1947 and called for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom before 1st April 1948 from Palestine. This treaty was however met with mixed reactions by the respective Jewish and Arab nationalists. The Jewish community in Palestine accepted this proposal by the United Nations while the Arab committee and the Arab League rejected this proposal. This resulted in a civil war within the transitional period established by the United Nations and the partition plan was never carried out. Israel, however, proceeded to declare itself an independent state away from the British mandate of Palestine as awarded by Syria after World War I. This move by Israel led to aggression by neighboring Arab States. In this article, we will examine the rise of some Israeli radical thinkers and political activists groups such as Kach and Kahane Chai in the midst of this ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Motivation in a Pharmaceutical Company in Greece

Motivation in a Pharmaceutical Company in Greece The pharmaceutical sector faces stiff competition but a motivated salesforce can provide competitive advantage and facilitate in consolidating the presence of a firm in a highly regulated market. This study will test the relevance of modern motivation theories in the context of the recent financial crisis and add to the literature. The need for motivating sales representatives in the pharmaceutical sector is discussed in the presence of downward employment pressures on the sector in Europe. This research will attempt to determine the applicability of the extrinsic and intrinsic motivators for salesforce motivation in pharmaceutical firms of Greece. The most significant extrinsic factors determined by literature include salary, opportunity of hierarchical advancement and bonuses, while the most important factors in terms of intrinsic motivation include challenging assignments, flexible work arrangements, team-based job design, verbal recognition, career development and self-efficacy. This research will identify the techniques that can be used to enhance salesforce motivation in pharmaceuticals sector of Greece. Determinants of sales representatives motivation in a Pharmaceutical company in Greece during the current recession 1.0- Introduction The sales representatives working for pharmaceutical firms in Europe face significant probability of downsizing due to the increasing focus on salesforce effectiveness measures as opposed to the traditional approach of placing importance to the size of the salesforce (Herwig 2003, pp. 42-56). The recent financial crisis has also led to the dwindling of jobs in Greece and across the European continent. The pharmaceutical industry is faced with cut-throat competition and a highly motivated salesforce can provide competitive advantage to a firm and facilitate continuing profitability and consolidation of the market share in a highly regulated market (Danner and Ruzicic 2006, pp. 2-5). This research proposal is intended to develop an appropriate approach to measure the significance of the determinants of motivation in the context of Greece and the financial crisis. 1.1- Statement of the problem What factors determine the motivation levels for sales representatives at pharmaceutical firms in Greece given the conditions prevalent during the current financial crisis? 1.2- Aims and Objectives This research aims to determine the interaction of motivational factors for the salesforce teams in pharmaceuticals with changing economic conditions. It will test the relevance of modern motivation theories in their attempt to explain the importance of the determinants of motivation in the context of an impending financial crisis in Greece. The following are the objectives of this research. To identify the factors that help determine the motivation levels for sales representatives unique to the pharmaceutical sector in Greece. To study the cultural factors that influence motivation of sales representatives. To test the impact of a lack of job security on the motivation levels of salesforce in the pharmaceutical sector. To determine the methods of motivation acceptable to sales representatives. To identify the most useful technique that can be used to enhance motivation levels of sales employees. 1.3- Significance of the research There is a scarcity of sector related studies of salesforce motivation in the context of Greece; therefore, this research highlights the debate regarding the importance of motivating sales representatives in the pharmaceutical sector (Shim 2006, pp. 6-8). This study tests the relevance of motivation theories in the context of the recent financial crisis and adds to the modern literature that can be further studied in a regional context. The need for motivating the salesforce in the pharmaceutical sector is discussed in the presence of downward employment pressures on the industry. This study intends to incorporate the cultural differences and their impact on the success of motivation techniques utilised by firms (McAlister and Vandlen 2006, pp. 1-2). 2.0- Literature Review Erez and Isen (2002, p. 1055) use the expectancy theory to predict the motivation level of an individual and test the extent of motivation created in individuals based on their perception that hard work will result in superior performance in terms of rewards, recognition and satisfaction. The study indicated that when the link between performance and outcome is specified, all three components of expectancy motivation are influenced positively (Erez and Isen 2002, pp. 1065-1066). Seijts et al., (2004, p. 227) define goal setting theory as the contention that goal commitment leads to a higher task performance compared to a vague performance goal. The results indicate that goal orientation can complement the motivation created through goal setting and influence an improvement in performance of an employee. Maslow (1954) developed a theory of motivation and personality that provided a hierarchy of needs with the satisfaction of physical needs at the lowest level of hierarchy and self actualisation at the highest level; the theory argued that the first level of hierarchy must be fulfilled before an individual can proceed to the next level. Borkowski (2010, pp.118-124) discussed the ERG theory that provides an alternative approach to the hierarchy of needs by identifying three categories of needs: existence, relatedness and growth. The existence includes all the basic necessities required by an individual to survive, relatedness facilitates the development of relationships in the society and growth relates to achievement and success (Locke and Latham 2006, pp. 265-267). However, the ERG theory suggests that an individual can attain higher levels of hierarchy before fulfilling the lower level of needs. This theory also accounts for the difference in needs between different cultures and societies and caters to the explanation of the frustration-regression principle; implying that an individual may need existence related objects once relatedness is not satisfied (Bernard 1992, pp. 56-59; John 2005, pp. 16-19). McClellands theory of needs suggests that three needs of an individual need to be satisfied including achievement, power and affiliation; individuals are motivated by a combination of these needs and some individuals may exhibit a strong tendency to be motivated by one of these factors (Borkowski 2010, pp. 125). Schultz et al., (2006, pp. 23-27) discuss the equity theory predicts that workers often tend to react to the speed of the individuals surrounding them at work. The study tests the relevance of equity theory in explaining worker motivation and find that workers tend to react to the speed of co-workers but the reactions tend to vary significantly from one individual to another. Malik and Naeem (2009, pp. 26-28) study the motivational preferences of pharmaceutical salesforce in the context of the developing world and identify using a questionnaire analysis that the three most important motivators include pay and fringe benefits, job security and promotion opportunities. It is also found that the motivation created through pay and fringe benefits has similar impact on all demographics. The motivational impact of job security was the highest amongst sales representatives with less than ten years experience owing to the high unemployment and the recent financial crisis. Therefore, it is prescribed that special emphasis should be placed on severance pay, outplacement and early retirement before initiating downsizing of pharmaceuticals salesforce (Woodbine and Liu 2010, pp. 28-30). McAlister and Vandlen (2006, pp. 1-3) highlight the importance of extrinsic and intrinsic motivators for salesforce motivation in pharmaceutical firms. The most significant extrinsic factors found in the study include salary, opportunity of hierarchical advancement and bonuses, while the most important factors in terms of intrinsic motivation include challenging assignments, flexible work arrangements, team-based job design, verbal recognitions, career development and self-efficacy. The study also argues that taking cultural and generational differences into account can also prove to significantly improve salesforce motivation. Singh (2010, p. 72) also studies the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, that may lead to higher job satisfaction in pharmaceutical salesforce and finds that growth, relationships with co-workers, promotion expectation, recognition, job security, operational procedures, delegation and quality of work supervision can lead to significant increase in m otivation (Jansson and Vessman 1997, pp. 202-203). The internal promotion schemes and growth from inside the company can improve motivation amongst salesforce. The study also indicates that demographics have no significant impact on motivation levels in sales force (Gonsalves 2008, p. 3). Longino (2007, pp. 1-13) found that salesforce motivation and performance in pharmaceutical firms is significantly high when an appropriate territorial distribution and design is used by these firms. Danner and Ruzicic (2006, pp. 1-7) argue that pharmaceutical salesforce are no more governed by the size of the team and instead by salesforce effectiveness; the widespread downsizing in the salesforce of pharmaceutical firms around Europe can lead to major concerns regarding job security and de-motivate the sales representatives. Therefore, increasing job security proves to be the most important factor for salesforce motivation in pharmaceuticals during the current financial crisis (Barnett 1999, pp. 6-10). 3.0- Research Methodology The research will utilise a combination of the qualitative and quantitative methods to determine the significance of the factors that lead to increased motivation for sales representatives (Longino 2007, pp. 1-4). The determinants of motivation highlighted by the literature review will be the focus of the analysis in the context of Greece and the recent financial crisis. The measurement of the impact of these factors on motivation levels will be quantitative; however, the research will be reinforced by a qualitative analysis of the motivation techniques used by pharmaceutical firms using a case study approach (Hongchatikul 2008, pp. 12-13). The secondary research will examine the literature that focuses on developing innovative means for handling sales representatives with different profiles and segments. Primary data for this research will be collected by developing a questionnaire for the sales representatives working at pharmaceuticals firms. 3.1- Sampling Methodology The sampling methodology chosen for this study involves a multi-stage sampling process involving two distinct phases of selection process of the firms used for analysis (Alan 2011, pp. 21-26). The initial stage involves the selection of the sectors that are the focus of this research; this is based on conscious selection of the large scale pharmaceutical firms operating in Greece. The second stage includes the selection of the sales representatives for questionnaires using a non-probability sample as the goal is to select a maximum size for the sample and the minimum sample size will be a hundred sales representatives (Gordy 2000, pp. 139-148). The research may also involve interviews with pharmaceutical firm managers depending on the resources and the cooperation available from the companies. 3.2- Resources The dissertation will accomplish a review of the literature on sales force motivation, motivation techniques and the impact of a recession on sales force motivation levels. The research resources include eminent online journals including the Science Direct, Blackwell Synergy, Jstor, Ebrary, Springer Link, Ingenta Connect, Google Books and Google Scholar, and the books and publications available at the library. The resource pool will be filtered after conducting a preliminary review of the literature available and the relevant literature will be sorted for inclusion into the dissertation. 3.3- Ethical Obligations It is crucial to uphold the integrity of research process and the ethical conduct of the researcher is manifest from the fact that a replica of all the literature and data used for the research will be maintained and made available upon request. The contact to the moral risks posed during the exploration process is also diminished by certifying that the researcher uses a manageable sample for case analysis to be able to conduct an in-depth analysis of the motivation techniques used by the selected firms (Nelson 2004, pp. 4). 4.0- Conclusion The research on salesforce motivation in the pharmaceuticals sector in Greece will not only add to the existing pool of literature on salesforce motivation but it will also create interest in the testing of modern theories of motivation and the impact of the recent financial crisis on the determinants of salesforce motivation (Iguisi 2009, pp. 147-149). This provides incentive for sector based studies on salesforce motivation and an opportunity to compare the results obtained in different industries and across diverse cultures and economies. References Alan, B., (2011). Business research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Barnett, C., (1999). Motivation theories: Integration. New Hampshire: Whittemore School of Business and Economics, University of New Hampshire. Bernard, W., (1992). Human motivation: Metaphors, theories and research. Michigan: Sage Publishers. Borkowski, N., (2010). Organisation behaviour in healthcare. Sudbury: Jones and Barlett Publishers. Danner, S., and Ruzicic, A., (2006). The European pharmaceutical industry: Delivering sales excellence in turbulent times A roadmap for getting the basics right and exploring the future. Munich: Roland Berger. Erez, A., and Isen, A., (2002). The influence of positive effect on the components of expectancy motivation. Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 87 (6), pp. 1055-1067. Gonsalves, B., (2008). Retaining and motivating your sales force in Asia. New York: Mercer Series. Gordy, M., (2000). A comparative anatomy of credit risk models. Journal of Banking and Finance, Vol. 24 (1), pp. 119à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"149. Herwig, J., (2003). Motivate and reward: Performance appraisal and incentive systems for business success. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Hongchatikul, U., (2008). The impact of organisational development interventions on employee commitment and motivation and customer satisfaction: A case study. Bangkok: Graduate School of Business, Hua Mak Campus. Iguisi, O., (2009). Motivation related values across cultures. African Journal of Business Management, Vol. 3 (4), pp. 141-150. Jansson, S., and Vessman, J., (1997). The industrial point of view: Competence development in Pharmaceutical industry. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Vol. 61, pp. 202-203. John, M., (2005). Organizational behaviour I. Essential theories of motivation and leadership. New York: M.E Sharpe Incorporation. Locke, E., and Latham, G., (2006). New directions in goal setting theory. Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 15 (5), pp. 265-268. Longino, E., (2007). Sales management control, territory design, sales force performance, and sales organisational effectiveness in pharmaceutical industry. Boca Raton: Eric Longino. Malik, M., and Naeem, B., (2009). Motivational preferences of pharmaceutical sales force: Empirical evidence from Pakistan. Pakistan Economic and Social Review, Vol. 47 (1), pp. 19-30. McAlister, R., and Vandlen, C., (2006). What types of rewards or recognition practices motivate individuals to be creative and innovative, particularly those in RD functions whose products are developed over long time periods? Cornell: Cornell University. Nelson, K., (2004). Motivating high performance in pharmaceutical sales teams: Key compensation and team process factors. New York: Lantern Group. Rye, D., (1998). 1,001 ways to inspire: your organization, your team, and yourself. Victoria: Castle Books. Schultz, K., Schoenherr, T., and Nembhard, D., (2006). Equity theory effects on worker motivation and speed on an assembly line. Boston: Harvard Business School. Seijts, G., Latham, G., Tasa, K., and Latham, B., (2004). Goal setting and goal orientation: n integration of two different yet related literatures. Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 47 (2), pp. 227-239. Shim, S., (2006). Adoption of pharmaceutical sales force automation systems: An exploratory study. South Orange: Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University. Singh, V., (2010). Job satisfaction among pharmaceutical sales force in South Africa: A case with special reference to Cape Town. Ä °Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸letme AraÃ…Å ¸tÄ ±rmalarÄ ± Dergisi, Vol. 2 (2), pp. 63-74. Woodbine, G., and Liu, J., (2010). Leadership styles and the moral choice of internal auditors. Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organisation Studies, Vol. 15 (1), pp. 28-35.

Sociocultural Forces

Before starting to plan to franchise a Mc Donald’s in another country. They obtain the relevant information from the target market in addition to the individual customers of the organization. They find out the shifts in areas like the consumer behaviour and purchasing patterns of the market. Fundamentally, this is the key condition for executing a suitable customer relationship management system. Some of the Sociocultural forces from the countries where they were planning to enter that Mc Donald’s took into consideration Cultural Cultural: McDonald's international restaurants satisfy local tastes and customs by offering unique products, services and other items to the menu. Customers in Norway can order McLaks – a fresh grilled salmon sandwich with dill sauce on a whole-grain bun. McDonald's fans in the Netherlands can have vegetable burger and in Italy and Greece customers can help themselves at a fresh salad bar. Population Changes: Changes in population demographics have many potential consequences for organizations. As the total population changes, the demand for products and services also changes. When McDonald's opens restaurants in a new country, the jobs it creates stimulate the national economy and broaden the local tax base. Besides the new jobs directly linked with McDonald's restaurants, the company indirectly supports other segments of a country’s workforce by hiring local construction firms and purchasing from local suppliers, local farmers and local distributors. Educational Levels: All the staff and employees at McDonald's are given a handsome salary package and attractive incentives in accordance with the level at which the person is working. That’s why employees at McDonald’s in other countries are satisfied and motivated. Higher educational levels allow people to earn higher incomes than would have been possible otherwise. The increase in income has created opportunities to purchase additional goods and services, and to raise the overall standard of living of a large segment of the population. The educational level has also led to increased expectations of workers, and has increased job mobility. Workers are less accepting of undesirable working conditions than were workers a generation ago. Better working conditions, stable employment, and opportunities for training and development are a few of the demands businesses confront more frequently as the result of a more educated workforce. Norms and Values: McDonald's has an open-door culture; any employee can go to the Restaurant Manager and can discuss any problem or new ideas for the improvement of the restaurant. Nobody has any hang-ups; everybody does everything. McDonald's also believes in value to the customer, that is, why prices are value oriented â€Å"†¦ nothing sells forever unless it is value for money.† Norms (standard accepted forms of behavior) and values (attitudes toward right and wrong), differ across time and between geographical areas. Lifestyles differ as well among different ethnic groups. As an example, the application in the United States of Japanese-influenced approaches to management has caused firms to reevaluate the concept of quality. Customers have also come to expect increasing quality in products. Many firms have found it necessary to reexamine production and marketing strategies to respond to changes in consumer expectations. Social Responsibility : is the expectation that a business or individual will strive to improve the welfare of society. From a business perspective, this translates into the public expecting businesses to take active steps to make society better by virtue of the business being in existence. McDonald's is firmly committed to give back to the community where we operate. They are happy to become involved because they recognize that organizations have a role to play in helping communities to work successfully.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 23

Part V Lamb I am light, now I fly, now I see myself beneath myself, now a god dances through me. FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE Chapter 23 We rode Vana north toward the Silk Road, skirting the great Indian desert that had almost killed Alexander the Great's forces as they returned to Persia after conquering half of the known world, three centuries before. Although it would have saved a month to cut through the desert, Joshua was not confident about his ability to conjure enough water for Vana. A man should learn the lessons of history, and although I insisted that Alexander's men had probably been tired from all that conquering, while Josh and I had basically been sitting around at the beach for two years, he insisted we take the less hostile route through Delhi, and north into what is now Pakistan until we joined the Silk Road once again. A little ways down the Silk Road I thought we received another message from Mary. We had stopped to have a short rest. When we resumed the journey, Vana happened to walk over where she had just done her business and the pile was pressed into the perfect likeness of a woman's face, dark poo against the light gray dust. â€Å"Look, Josh, there's another message from your mother.† Josh glanced and looked away. â€Å"That's not my mother.† â€Å"But look, in the elephant poop, it's a woman's face.† â€Å"I know, but it's not my mother. It's distorted because of the medium. It doesn't even look like her. Look at the eyes.† I had to climb to the back of the elephant to get another angle on it. He was right, it wasn't his mother. â€Å"I guess you're right. The medium obscured the message.† â€Å"That's what I'm saying.† â€Å"I'll bet it looks like someone's mom, though.† With the detour around the desert, we were nearly two months getting to Kabul. Although Vana was an intrepid walker, as I have mentioned, she was a less than agile climber, so we often had to take long detours to get her through the mountains of Afghanistan. Josh and I both knew that we could not take her into the high, rocky desert once we passed Kabul, so we agreed to leave the elephant with Joy, if we could find the erstwhile courtesan. Once in Kabul we asked around the market for any news of a Chinese woman named Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm, but no one had heard of her, nor had they seen a woman simply named Joy. After a full day of searching, Joshua and I were about to abandon the search for our friend when I remembered something she had once said to me. I asked a local tea seller. â€Å"Is there a woman who lives around here, a very rich woman perhaps, who calls herself the Dragon Lady or something like that?† â€Å"Oh, yes sir,† the fellow said, and he shuddered as he spoke, as if a bug had run across his neck. â€Å"She is called the Cruel and Accursed Dragon Princess.† â€Å"Nice name,† I said to Joy as we rode through the massive stone gates into the courtyard of her palace. â€Å"A woman alone, it helps to have your reputation precede you,† said the Cruel and Accursed Dragon Princess. She looked almost exactly as she had almost nine years ago when we had left, except perhaps that she wore a little more jewelry. She was petite, and delicate, and beautiful. She wore a white silk robe embroidered with dragons and her blue-black hair hung down her back almost to her knees, held in place by a single silver band that just kept it from sweeping around her shoulders when she turned. â€Å"Nice elephant,† she added. â€Å"She's a present,† Joshua said. â€Å"She's lovely.† â€Å"Do you have a couple of camels you can spare, Joy?† I asked. â€Å"Oh, Biff, I had really hoped that you two would sleep with me tonight.† â€Å"Well, I'd love to, but Josh is still sworn off the muffin.† â€Å"Young men? I have a number of man-boys I keep around for, well, you know.† â€Å"Not those either,† Joshua said. â€Å"Oh Joshua, my poor little Messiah. I'll bet no one made you Chinese food for your birthday this year either?† â€Å"We had rice,† Joshua said. â€Å"Well, we'll see what the Accursed Dragon Princess can do to make up for that,† said Joy. We climbed down from the elephant and exchanged hugs with our old friend, then a stern guard in bronze chain mail led Vana away to the stables and four guards with spears flanked us as Joy led us into the main house. â€Å"A woman alone?† I said, looking at the guards that seemed to stand at every doorway. â€Å"In my heart, darling,† Joy said. â€Å"These aren't friends, family, or lovers, these are employees.† â€Å"Is that the Accursed part of your new title?† Joshua said. â€Å"I could drop it, just be the Cruel Dragon Princess, if you two want to stay on.† â€Å"We can't. We've been called home.† Joy nodded dolefully and led us into the library (filled with Balthasar's old books), where coffee was served by young men and women who Joy had obviously brought from China. I thought of all the girls, my friends and my lovers, who had been killed by the demon so long ago, and swallowed my coffee around a lump in my throat. Joshua was as excited as I had seen him in a long time. It might have been the coffee. â€Å"You won't believe the wonderful things I've learned since I left here, Joy. About being the agent of change (change is at the root of belief, you know), and about compassion for everyone because everyone is part of another, and most important, that there is a bit of God in each of us – in India they call it the Divine Spark.† He rambled on like that for an hour, and eventually my melancholy passed and I was infected by Joshua's enthusiasm for the things he had learned from the Magi. â€Å"Yes,† I added, â€Å"and Josh can climb inside a standard-size wine amphora. You have to bust him out with a hammer, but it's interesting to watch.† â€Å"And you, Biff?† Joy asked, smiling into her cup. â€Å"Well, after supper I'll show you a little something I like to call Water Buffalo Teasing the Seeds out of the Pomegranate.† â€Å"That sounds – â€Å" â€Å"Don't worry, it's not that hard to learn. I have pictures.† We were four days at Joy's palace, enjoying comfort, food, and drink such as we hadn't experienced since we'd last seen her. I could have stayed forever, but on the morning of the fifth day Joshua stood at the entrance to Joy's bedchamber, his satchel slung over his shoulder. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to. We shared breakfast with Joy and she met us at the gate to say good-bye. â€Å"Thanks for the elephant,† she said. â€Å"Thanks for the camels,† Joshua said. â€Å"Thanks for the sex book,† Joy said. â€Å"Thanks for the sex,† I said. â€Å"Oh, I forgot, you owe me a hundred rupees,† Joy said. I had told her about Kashmir. The Cruel and Accursed Dragon Princess grinned at me. â€Å"Just kidding. Be well, my friend. Keep that amulet I gave you and remember me, huh?† â€Å"Of course.† I kissed her and climbed on my camel's back, then coaxed him to his feet. Joy embraced Joshua and kissed him on the lips, hard and long. He didn't seem to be trying to push her away. â€Å"Hey, we had better go, Josh,† I said. Joy held the Messiah at arm's length and said, â€Å"You are always welcome here, you know that?† Josh nodded, then climbed on his camel. â€Å"Go with God, Joy,† he said. As we rode through the gates of the palace the guards shot fire arrows that trailed long tails of sparks over us until they exploded above the road ahead: Joy's last good-bye to us, a tribute to the friendship and arcane knowledge we had all shared. It scared the bejeezus out of the camels. After we had been on the road awhile, Joshua asked, â€Å"Did you say goodbye to Vana?† â€Å"I intended to, but when I went to the stable she was practicing her yoga and I didn't want to disturb her.† â€Å"No kidding?† â€Å"Really, she was sitting in one of the postures you taught her.† Joshua smiled. It didn't hurt anything for him to believe that. The journey on the Silk Road through the high deserts took us over a month, but it was fairly uneventful, except for one attack by a small group of bandits. When I caught the first two spears they flung at me and flung them right back, wounding the two who had thrown them, they turned and ran. The weather was mild, or as mild as one can expect in a deadly and brutal desert, but by now Joshua and I had traveled so much in this sort of harsh country that there was little that affected us. Just before we reached Antioch, however, a sandstorm whipped up out of the desert that left us hiding between our camels for two days, breathing through our shirts and washing the mud out of our mouths every time we took a drink. The storm settled enough to travel, and we were at a veritable gallop in the streets of Antioch when Joshua located an inn by impacting with its sign on his forehead. He was knocked back off his camel and sat up in the street with blood streaming down his face. â€Å"Are you hurt badly?† I asked, kneeling beside him. I could barely see in the driving dust. Joshua looked at the blood on his hands where he had touched his forehead. â€Å"I don't know. It doesn't hurt that badly, but I can't tell.† â€Å"Inside,† I said, helping him to his feet and through the door of the inn. â€Å"Shut the door,† the innkeeper shouted as the wind whipped through the room. â€Å"Were you born in a barn?† â€Å"Yeah,† said Joshua. â€Å"He was,† I said. â€Å"Angels on the roof, though.† â€Å"Shut the damn door,† said the innkeeper. I left Joshua sitting there by the door while I went out and found shelter for the camels. When I returned Joshua was wiping his face with a linen cloth that someone had handed to him. A couple of men stood over him, eager to help. I handed the cloth to one of them and examined Josh's wounds. â€Å"You'll live. A big bump and two cuts, but you'll live. You can't do the healing thing on – â€Å" Joshua shook his head. â€Å"Hey, look at this,† one of the travelers who had helped Joshua said, holding up the piece of linen Joshua had used to wipe his face. The dust and blood from Josh's face had left a perfect likeness on the linen, even handprints where he'd gotten blood from his head wound. â€Å"Can I keep this?† the fellow said. He was speaking Latin, but with a strange accent. â€Å"Sure,† I said. â€Å"Where are you fellahs from?† â€Å"We're from the Ligurian tribe, from the territories north of Rome. A city on the Po river called Turin. Have you heard of it?† â€Å"No, I haven't. You know, you fellahs can do what you want with that cloth, but out on my camel I've got some erotic drawings from the East that are going to be worth something someday. I can let you have them for a very fair price.† The Turinians went off holding their pathetic swath of muddy cloth like it was some kind of holy relic. Ignorant bastards wouldn't know art if you nailed them to it. I bandaged Joshua's wounds and we checked into the inn for the night. In the morning we decided to keep our camels and take the land route home through Damascus. As we passed out of the gates of Damascus on the final leg home, Joshua started to worry. â€Å"I'm not ready to be the Messiah, Biff. If I'm being called home to lead our people I don't even know where to start. I understand the things I want to teach, but I don't have the words yet. Melchior was right about that. Before anything you have to have the word.† â€Å"Well it's not just going to come to you in a flash here on the Damascus road, Josh. That sort of thing doesn't happen. You're obviously supposed to learn what you need to know in its own time. To everything a season, yada, yada, yada†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"My father could have made learning all this easier. He could have just told me what I was supposed to do.† â€Å"I wonder how Maggie's doing. You think she got fat?† â€Å"I'm trying to talk about God here, about the Divine Spark, about bringing the kingdom to our people.† â€Å"I know you are, so am I. Do you want to do all of that without help?† â€Å"I guess not.† â€Å"Well, that's why I was thinking about Maggie. She was smarter than us before we left, she's probably smarter than us now.† â€Å"She was smart, wasn't she? She wanted to be a fisherman,† said Josh, grinning. I could tell that the thought of seeing Maggie tickled him. â€Å"You can't tell her about all the whores, Josh.† â€Å"I won't.† â€Å"Or Joy and the girls. Or the old woman with no teeth.† â€Å"I won't tell her about any of them, not even the yak.† â€Å"There was nothing with the yak. The yak and I weren't even on speaking terms.† â€Å"You know, she probably has a dozen children by now.† â€Å"I know.† I sighed. â€Å"They should be mine.† â€Å"And mine.† Joshua sighed back. I looked at him as he rode beside me in a sea of gently loping camel waves. He was staring off at the horizon, looking forlorn. â€Å"Yours and mine? You think they should be yours and mine?† â€Å"Sure, why not. You know I love all the little – â€Å" â€Å"You are such a doofus sometimes.† â€Å"Do you think she'll remember us? I mean, how we all were back then?† I thought about it and shuddered. â€Å"I hope not.† No sooner did we pass into Galilee than we began to hear about what John the Baptist was doing in Judea. â€Å"Hundreds have followed him into the desert,† we heard in Gischala. â€Å"Some say he is the Messiah,† one man told us in Baca. â€Å"Herod is afraid of him,† said a woman in Cana. â€Å"He's another crazy holy man,† said a Roman soldier in Sepphoris. â€Å"The Jews breed them like rabbits. I hear he drowns anyone who doesn't agree with him. First sensible idea I've heard since I was sent to this accursed territory.† â€Å"May I have your name, soldier?† I asked. â€Å"Caius Junius, of the Sixth Legion.† â€Å"Thank you. We'll keep you in mind.† To Josh I said, â€Å"Caius Junius: front of the line when we start shoving Romans out of the kingdom into the fiery abyss.† â€Å"What did you say?† said the Roman. â€Å"No, no, don't thank me, you earned it. Right at the front of the line you go, Caius.† â€Å"Biff!† Josh barked, and once he had my attention he whispered, â€Å"Try not to get us thrown into prison before we get home, please.† I nodded and waved to the legionnaire as we rode away. â€Å"Just crazy Jew talk. Pay no attention. Whimper Fidelis,† I said. â€Å"We have to find John after we see our families,† Joshua said. â€Å"Do you think that he's really claiming to be the Messiah?† â€Å"No, but it sounds like he knows how to get the word out.† We rode into Nazareth a half hour later. I suppose we expected more upon our arrival. Cheering maybe, little children running at our heels begging for tales of our great adventures, tears and laughter, kisses and hugs, strong shoulders to bear the conquering heroes through the streets. What we'd forgotten was that while we were traveling, having adventures, and experiencing wonders, the people of Nazareth had been living through the same old day-to-day crap – a lot of days had passed, and a lot of crap. When we rode up to Joshua's old house, his brother James was working outside under the awning, shaving a piece of olive wood into a strut for a camel saddle. I knew it was James the moment I saw him. He had Joshua's narrow hooked nose and wide eyes, but his face was more weathered than Josh's, and his body heavier with muscle. He looked ten years older than Joshua rather than the two years younger that he was. He put down his spoke shave and stepped out in the sunlight, holding up a hand to shield his eyes. â€Å"Joshua?† Joshua tapped his camel on the back of his knees with the long riding crop and the beast lowered him to the ground. â€Å"James!† Joshua climbed off the camel and went to his brother, his arms out as if to embrace him, but James stepped back. â€Å"I'll go tell Mother that her favorite son has returned.† James turned away and I saw the tears literally shoot out of Joshua's eyes into the dust. â€Å"James,† Joshua was pleading. â€Å"I didn't know. When?† James turned and looked his half brother in the eye. There was no pity there, no grief, just anger. â€Å"Two months ago, Joshua. Joseph died two months ago. He asked for you.† â€Å"I didn't know,† Joshua said, still holding his arms out for the embrace that wasn't going to come. â€Å"Go inside. Mother has been waiting for you. She starts every morning wondering if this is the day you'll return. Go inside.† He turned away as Joshua went past him into the house, then James looked up at me. â€Å"The last thing he said was ‘Tell the bastard I love him.'† â€Å"The bastard?† I said as I coaxed my camel to let me down. â€Å"That's what he always called Joshua. ‘I wonder how the bastard is doing. I wonder where the bastard is today?' Always talking about the bastard. And Mother yammering on always about how Joshua did this, and Joshua did that, and what great things Joshua would do when he returned. And all the while I'm the one looking out for my brothers and sisters, taking care of them when Father got sick, taking care of my own family. Still, was there any thanks? A kind word? No, I was doing nothing more than paving Joshua's road. You have no idea what it's like to always be second to Joshua.† â€Å"Really,† I said. â€Å"You'll have to tell me about that sometime,† I said. â€Å"Tell Josh if he needs me I'll be at my father's house. My father is still alive, isn't he?† â€Å"Yes, and your mother too.† â€Å"Oh good, I didn't want to put one of my brothers through breaking the painful news.† I turned and led my camel away. â€Å"Go with God, Levi,† James said. I turned. â€Å"James, it is written, ‘To the work you are entitled, but not the fruits thereof.'† â€Å"I've never heard that. Where is that written?† â€Å"In the Bhagavad Gita, James. It's a long poem about going into battle, and this warrior's god tells him not to worry about killing his kinsmen in battle, because they are already dead, they just don't know it yet. I don't know what made me think of it.† My father hugged me until I thought he'd broken my ribs, then he handed me off to my mother, who did the same until she seemed to come to her senses, then she began to cuff me about the head and shoulders with her sandal, which she had whipped off with surprising speed and dexterity for a woman her age. â€Å"Seventeen years you're gone and you couldn't write?† â€Å"You don't know how to read.† â€Å"So you couldn't send word, smart mouth?† I fended off the blows by directing their energy away from me, as I had been taught at the monastery, and soon two small boys who I didn't recognize were catching the brunt of the beating. Fearing lawsuits from small strangers, I caught my mother's arms and hugged them to her sides as I looked at my father, nodded to the two little ones, and raised my eyebrows as if to say, Who are the squirts? â€Å"Those are your brothers, Moses and Japeth,† my father said. â€Å"Moses is six and Japeth is five.† The little guys grinned. Both were missing front teeth, probably sacrificed to the squirming harpy I was currently holding at bay. My father beamed as if to say, I can still build the aqueduct – lay a little pipe, if you know what I mean – when I need to. I scowled as if to say, Look, I was barely able to hold on to my respect for you when I found out what you did to make the first three of us; these little fellows are only evidence that you've no memory for suffering. â€Å"Mother, if I let you go will you calm down?† I looked over her shoulder at Japeth and Moses. â€Å"I used to tell people she was besought by a demon, do you guys do that?† I winked at them. They giggled as if to say, Please, end our suffering, kill us, kill us now, or kill this bitch that plagues us like the torments of Job. Okay, maybe I was just imagining that's what they were saying. Maybe they were just giggling. I let my mother go and she backed off. â€Å"Japeth, Moses,† Mother said, â€Å"come meet Biff. You've heard your father and me talk about our oldest disappointment – well, this is him. Now run and get your other brothers, I'll go fix something nice.† My brothers Shem and Lucius brought their families and joined us for dinner and we all lay around the table as Mother served us something nice, I'm not sure what it was. (I know I've said that I was the oldest of three brothers, and obviously, with the squirts, it was five, but dammit, by the time I met Japeth and Moses I was too old to have the time to torment them, so they never really paid their dues as brothers. They were more like, oh, pets.) â€Å"Mother, I've brought you a gift from the East,† I said, running out to the camel to retrieve a package. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"It's a breeding mongoose,† I said, tapping on the cage. The little scamp tried to bite the pad off of my finger. â€Å"But there's only one.† â€Å"Well, there were two, but one escaped, so now there's one. They'll attack a snake ten times their size.† â€Å"It looks like a rat.† I lowered my voice and whispered conspiratorially, â€Å"In India, the women train them to sit on their heads like hats. Very fashionable. Of course the fad hasn't reached Galilee yet, but in Antioch, no self-respecting woman will go out of the house without wearing a mongoose.† â€Å"Really,† said Mother, looking at the mongoose in a new light. She took the cage and stowed it gently away in the corner, as if it contained a delicate egg, rather than a vicious miniature of herself. â€Å"So,† said Mother, waving to her two daughters-in-law and the half-dozen grandchildren that loitered near the table, â€Å"your brothers married and gave me grandchildren.† â€Å"I'm happy for them, Mother.† Shem and Lucius hid their grins behind a crust of flatbread the same way they did when we were little and Mother was giving me hell. â€Å"All the places you traveled, you never met a nice girl you could settle down with?† â€Å"No, Mother.† â€Å"You can marry a gentile, you know. It would break my heart, but why did the tribes almost wipe out the Benjamites if it wasn't so a desperate boy could marry a gentile if he needs to? Not a Samaritan, but, you know, some other gentile. If you have to.† â€Å"Thanks, Mother, I'll keep that in mind.† Mother pretended to find some lint or something on my collar, which she picked at while she said, â€Å"So your friend Joshua never married either? You heard about his little sister Miriam, didn't you?† Here her voice went to a conspiratorial whisper. â€Å"Started wearing men's clothes and ran off to the island of Lesbos.† Back to normal nudging tone. â€Å"That's Greek, you know? You boys didn't go to Greece on your travels, did you?† â€Å"No, Mother, I really have to go.† I tried to stand and she grabbed me. â€Å"It's because your father has a Greek name, isn't it? I told you, Alphaeus, change the name, but you said you were proud of it. Well, I hope you're proud of it now. What's next, Lucius here will start hanging Jews on crosses like the other Romans?† â€Å"I'm not a Roman, Mother,† Lucius said wearily. â€Å"Lots of good Jews have Latin names.† â€Å"Not that it matters, Mother, but how do you think they get more Greeks?† To my mother's credit, she stopped for a second to think. I used the lull to escape. â€Å"Nice to see you guys.† I nodded to all of my relatives, old and new. â€Å"I'll come by and visit before I go. I have to go check on Joshua.† And I was out the door. I threw the door open at Joshua's old house without even knocking, nearly coldcocking Joshua's brother Judah in the process. â€Å"Josh, you've got to bring the kingdom soon or I'm going to have to kill my mother.† â€Å"She still plagued by demons?† asked Judah, who looked exactly as he had when he was four, except for the beard and the receding hairline, but he was as wide-eyed and goofy of smile as he had ever been. â€Å"No, I was just being hopeful when I used to say that.† â€Å"Will you join us for supper?† said Mary. Thank God she had aged: gone a little thicker around the hips and waist, developed some lines at the corner of her eyes and mouth. Now she was just the second or third most beautiful creature on earth. â€Å"Love to,† I said. James must have been home with his wife and children, as I guessed were the other sisters and brothers, except for Miriam, and I'd already been apprised of her whereabouts. At the table it was only Mary, Joshua, Judah, his pretty wife, Ruth, and two little redheaded girls that looked like their mother. I expressed my condolences for the family's loss, and Joshua filled me in on the timing of events. About the time that I spotted Mary's portrait on the temple wall in Nicobar, Joseph had taken ill with some disease of the water. He started peeing blood, and in a week he was bedridden. He lingered only a week longer before he died. He'd been buried for two months now. I looked at Joshua as Mary related this part of the story and he shook his head, meaning, too long in the grave, there's nothing I can do. Mary had known nothing about a message calling us home. â€Å"Even if you two had only been in Damascus you'd have been lucky to get here in time. He went so fast.† She was strong, had recovered somewhat from the loss, but Joshua appeared to still be in shock. â€Å"You have to go find Joshua's cousin John,† Mary said. â€Å"He's been preaching about the coming of the kingdom, of preparing the way for the Messiah.† â€Å"We've heard,† I said. â€Å"I'll stay here with you, Mother,† Joshua said. â€Å"James is right, I have responsibilities. I've shirked them too long.† Mary touched her son's face and looked in his eyes. â€Å"You will leave in the morning and you will find John the Baptist in Judea and you will do what God has ordained you do since he placed you in my womb. Your responsibilities are not to a bitter brother or an old woman.† Joshua looked at me. â€Å"Can you leave in the morning? I know it's soon after being gone so long.† â€Å"Actually, I thought I'd stay, Josh. Your mother needs someone to look after her, and she's still a relatively attractive woman. I mean, a guy could do worse.† Judah aspirated an olive pit and began coughing furiously until Joshua pounded him on the back and the pit shot across the room, leaving Judah gasping and staring at me through watery red eyes. I put my hand on Joshua and Judah's shoulders. â€Å"I think I can learn to love you both as sons.† I looked at the pretty but shy Ruth, who was tending the little girls. â€Å"And you, Ruth, I hope that you can learn to love me as a slightly older, but incredibly attractive close uncle. And you, Mary – â€Å" â€Å"Will you go with Joshua to Judea, Biff?† Mary interrupted. â€Å"Sure, first thing in the morning.† Joshua and Judah were still staring at me as if they'd both been smacked in the face with a large fish. â€Å"What?† I said. â€Å"How long have you guys known me? Jeez. Grow a sense of humor.† â€Å"Our father died,† said Joshua. â€Å"Yeah, but not today,† I said. â€Å"I'll meet you here in the morning.† The next morning, as we rode through the square, we passed Bartholomew, the village idiot, who looked no worse or less filthy for the years gone by, and who seemed to have come to some sort of understanding with his doggy friends. Instead of jumping all over him as they always had, now they sat quietly before him in a group, as if listening to a sermon. â€Å"Where have you been?† Bart called to us. â€Å"In the East.† â€Å"Why did you go there?† â€Å"We were looking for the Divine Spark,† Joshua said. â€Å"But we didn't know that when we left.† â€Å"Where are you going?† â€Å"To Judea, to find John the Baptist.† â€Å"He should be easier to find than the Spark. Can I come?† â€Å"Sure,† I said. â€Å"Bring your things.† â€Å"I don't have any things.† â€Å"Then bring your stench.† â€Å"That will follow on its own,† Bartholomew said. And thus we became three.