Essay --

The novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, is well written and a must read for teenagers across America. This novel mainly focuses on the treatment of women and the friendship of women in Afghanistan, and is relatable to many women, mainly in the Middle East. The book takes the reader through the tough lives of two women, Mariam and Laila. These two women have grown up in different environments and were treated very differently from each other. This book shows the unity and strength of two women who stand against their abusive husband and every obstacle they come face to face with. The book starts off in a poor village where Mariam lives with her mother, Nana. Her father, Jalil, is a very wealthy man from Herat who visits her once a week. Since Mariam was born, her mother has always called her names. Nana constantly told her she was a worthless bastard because her father had an affair with his servant, who was Nana at the time. After Nana found out she was pregnant, Jalil and his three wives kicked her out, as it would hurt their reputation. Since Mariam is a girl, no one saw any value in her. Mariam soon learns the truth after she sneaks off to her father’s house to meet him despite her mother’s wishes. At her father’s house she is told to go home as her father is away on a business trip. Mariam refuses to leave and is forced to sleep outside, poorly treated. In the morning, she goes to the yard and sees Jalil’s face in the window, shocked to understand her mother was right all along. When Mariam returns home to apologize to Nana, she finds her dead body hanging. After her mother’s death, Jalil and his three wives force fifteen year old Mariam to marry forty-five year old shoemaker, Rasheed. Years passed in their ma... ... much as its men. He was a teacher before the war so he taught Laila at home as well. Although Laila was educated and Mariam was not, the respect they both had for each other was equal. This novel has a very powerful message for men and women. One gender should not dominate over the other. Equality is important for stability in every relationship and every country. The importance of women should be recognized and this novel briefly shows the power of unity and strength. Men and woman both have different roles, and both should equally have their share in society. The novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a must read for everyone across the country and share the message. Many women in different countries do not have value and are living life in misery. Women’s rights are worth fighting for and Khaled Hosseini did a marvelous job with displaying this story to the readers.

1. How, Specifically Is the Process of Attribution Illustrated in This Case?

Case Module 5 1. How, specifically is the process of attribution illustrated in this case? Ans. The process of attribution regarding the case referred, flags relatively regarding the behavior of the customer’s eye contact wrong implication. The case study stated that a in certain supermarket dozen females claimed the issue of drawing the unwanted attention for maintaining eye contact. There was no clear information as how many female employees were employed there. This may raise several questions of the internal causes and external causes of behavior.The nature of the twelve women was unknown regarding other issues outside their work place. The case study does not apparently satisfy the â€Å"consistency† of the attribution. This implies the behavior of the female employees and the customers they face behave in the same manner in other situations for knowing the distinctiveness of their claims. If the case study had satisfied the arguments then this would have helped in better understanding of the concept of attribution. 2. What do you suppose is being done to help train people to be friendlier toward customers?In other words, what would you imagine goes on in Safeway’s †smile school†? Ans. There is an underlying concept of positive reinforcement that satisfies the organizations in treating people for the desired returns in the form of sales or goodwill. In the Safeway supermarket they send their employees for the friendliness school called â€Å"Smile school†. They make their employees to follow certain trivial manners that greatly affect the positivity in people like smiling face towards customers, maintaining eye contact for three seconds, calling the people by their name when they pay by check or credit card.Respective to the case study the smile school seems enforcing its policies irrespective of the employees’ consignment. 3. Describe what you believe might be the progressive discipline steps outlined in the warning letter sent to unfriendly Safeway clerks? Ans. The concept of the progressive discipline elevates the steps form letting know the curtness of the respective unfriendly employee individually, and then increasingly enforce the degree of the punishment like officially state the undesirable behavior of the employee, then warning the employee in form of a letter with all negative evaluations.Considering the case study the letter must state all the previous warnings to the unfriendly employee, and then warn the employee that continual curtness leads to suspension without pay and may lead to dismissal for unchanged unfriendliness. 4. What perceptual errors did the customers make? Ans. In accordance to the case study the questions gives ideas regarding the issue of the false judgment. As stated in the case the male customers anticipated the positive reinforcements from the supermarket employees as acts of flirtation.This relates the concept of the Halo effect where the appearance of the employees and their positive behavior triggered the false judgment. The basic idea formation of the first impression is totally based on the internal causes of individual behavior. In another instance stated in that case, one shopper followed a female employee to the car in a false disposition. This may lead to the negative reinforcements form the employees and can effect the other customers. 5. What forms of operant conditioning did Safeway use? Ans.The case study relating to the operant conditions inclines to the policies of the supermarket, one such is â€Å"superior service† policy. The concept states that the reaction provided initially, gets back. It is also called Law of effect. The principle of any customer service is providing best customer service. In the case study the Safeway supermarket also provides it employees a positive reinforcements strategies like maintaining the eye contact for three seconds, smile at customers, anticipating the customers needs. It a lso maintains undercover shoppers to ensure the employees are working properly.There is a â€Å"Smiling school† that helps the employees in understanding the operant conditioning and outcome from it. This can be drawn from its spokesperson that their concentration is not on discipline but on treating customers the best way. 6. What characteristics would a Safeway clerk need in order to be successful in complying with Safeway's policy? Ans. Abiding to the policies of the Safeway supermarket, that employees should maintain smiling face and should have at least three seconds of eye contact. There should be certain point in the causalities of the individual behavior where one can personally realize awkwardness beyond that.Maintaining three seconds of eye contact may be offensive for some of the customers and smiling for that long may trigger false impulses in some of them. These external issues of the behaviors of the shoppers are not in the hands of the employee. As stated first in the case study, smiling and eye contact are basic manners in any customer care services. It is individual realization that smiling and maintaining eye should be at a level that does not cause any false perceptions on the shoppers. In that way an employee may successfully sustain in customer services field with out encountering a surly experiences.

The bad things about Obama’s economic plan in foreign policy

To say the economic state of America is the most pressing need on the minds of most Americans today, would certainly not be too far from the truth. This is perhaps why both candidates realize that they have to say something at least on this subject. It is sad however to note that Obama’s plans depict a gross lack of understanding of our economic travails. Indeed, a group of respected economists noted recently that â€Å"Barack Obama’s economic proposals are wrong for the American economy†. Firstly, Obama proposes an overall increase in tax rates just as he admits that this proposal would not serve a weak economy. One wonders therefore how he thinks this would work in present day America. Or is this the strong economy Obama imagines for Americans? Increased tax rates would raise federal spending, bring about a slow in economic growth and of course result in massive job losses which of course heads us for another depression which we sure do not pray for. Again, Obama intends to end America’s trade ties the world over. Now, to decide against international trade is certainly not in our best interest, at least not in these times for the economists said â€Å"international trade is also a powerful source of strength in a weak economy†. Also, more jobs are created when we export our goods abroad and cheap products are also imported for the middle class and low income earners to especially to consume. It is this set of people that Obama’s plans would deprive of this veritable source of livelihood. As part of his plans, he also wishes to withdraw American forces from Iraq so as to free funds for the local economy. But we know that can not be true when an holistic view of the costs and benefits of the war would become after such rash withdrawal. In conclusion, Obama’s plans lack depth and appear destined to fail beyond redemption if allowed to run.

The Mexican-American War, Were We Justified

The Mexican-American War was a war between the United States and Mexico which lasted from April 1846 to February 1848. It stemmed from the United States' annexation of Texas in 1845 and from a dispute over whether Texas ended at the Nueces River (Mexican claim) or the Rio Grande (U. S. claim). The war was the most devastating event in Mexican history, where Mexico lost the modern day areas of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Montana. The Mexican-American spawned out of land lust. The idea of Manifest Destiny and the promising lands of California, which were coveted by many European nations, led to a war of greed.Even Abraham Lincoln, then a young Congressman, and Ulysses S. Grant, the future Civil War victorious commander and U. S. President, believed that the invasion of Mexico was not justified. Mexico had rejected a $15 million cash-for-land deal offered by the US. The area included what now covers the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Col orado and Utah. This territory was Mexican, but only nominally; control over the area was slight, and open to intrusion. Irritated at the rebuff, the US struck back in1845 by annexing Texas, a territory long disputed and fought over by both countries.Mexico responded by severing diplomatic relations. U. S. President Polk further provoked Mexico by moving troops south to the Rio Grande, a river that historically was considered well within Mexico. U. S. and Mexican troops skirmished across the river, leading Polk to declare to Congress on May 11, 1846, that â€Å"†¦the cup of forbearance has been exhausted,† and that â€Å"American blood has been spilled on American soil. † (Source: Eisenhower’s So Far From God, pages 49-55) The U. S. -Mexican War is the pivotal chapter in the history of North America.It is the war that sealed the fates of it's two participants. For the United States, the War garnered huge amounts of territory and wealth, bootstrapping the fl edgling democracy onto the world stage. For Mexico, the War sent the emerging nation into a tailspin that it is still reckoning with today, one hundred fifty years later. In the United States the US-Mexican War is virtually forgotten, and for good reason, as it is the clearest example of American greed and undiplomatic actions. The Mexican-American War was waged upon Mexico out of pure greed and disregard for international liberty.In conclusion, the United States was unjust in its declaration of war on Mexico in 1846. The U. S. was clouded with dreams of Manifest Destiny. It had a president that was obsessed with fulfilling campaign promises and greed for new land. Polk was looking for revenge for the denial of the proposal for buying California as was evident in his original reasons for declaring war on Mexico. Also the U. S. provoked this border dispute into the two-year war that it became by purposely inciting the Mexicans into a fight. All these reasons are the evidence that the US was not justified in declaring war on Mexico.

AirJet Best Parts Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

AirJet Best Parts - Coursework Example This increases your positive cash flows for the project and ultimately resulting in higher NPV. A company which opts for incremental method of depreciation will have higher cash flows in the initial years and it will reduce by the time it reaches its expiry. On the other hand, a company which opts for straight line method will have equal positive cash flows every year. Lastly, Depreciation of $10,000 per year, with an income tax of 40%, saves $4,000 and that amount is accounted as a positive cash flow. 5. Opportunity cost is the profit forgone by not investing in a particular opportunity. It is particularly pertinent to this project as the company may have other investment opportunities which they overruled for this particular investment. (Shim & Siegel, 2008)For example, if this money was not invested in the purchase of a machinery, it may have been deposited in a bank and earn a decent enough return without any substantial risk. Moreover, this could have been distributed among shar eholders as dividend or the money could have been used to purchase any other equipment with different set of anticipated cash flows. Therefore, the cost of not depositing that money in the bank or distributing as dividend or not purchasing any other equipment is the opportunity cost of the project. 6. ... Moreover, if interest rate rises than the cost of capital will increase which will eventually lead to lower returns. In addition to the above factors, if the cash flows are not the same as expected than the whole analysis would be redundant and may result in lower or higher returns. Lastly, we have assumed that the equipment stays in working condition for the time it is with us but this is not always true. Therefore, these factors should be accounted for before taking up the final decision. Task 5: Cost of Capital 1. a) Raytheon 20 yr bond from 1998-2018 of 6.4% coupon has a yield to maturity of 4.62%. (Morningstar, 2011) b) After tax cost of debt would be: c) There could be alternates to calculating cost of debt in this case. An approximate cost of capital can be found by adding up all the interest paid last year and divide that amount by debt outstanding. Another way could be adding all weighted debt cost to get an average cost of debt for the firm. d) Yield to maturity of a bond i s equivalent to the internal rate of return earned by an investor. It is an actual estimation of future return, as it is the rate at which coupon payments can be reinvested when received is unknown. It equips an investor to compare the merits of different investment. On the other hand coupon payment doesn’t account the element of required return in it. It is difficult to infer the cost-benefit balance by looking at the coupon payment. 2. a) Raytheon beta = 0.68 Boeing beta= 1.22 Lockheed Martin beta=1.01 (Yahoo Finance, 2011) Average Beta= 0.97 b) CAPM provides linear relationship between risks associated with the return. The systematic risk involved is taken into account to provide its required rate of return. However; its assumptions do not match

Analysis of Starbucks in 2012 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Starbucks in 2012 - Essay Example Starbucks has always been determined in establishing a large network of its stores both in America and all around the world. The cooperation leads in selling coffee as a result of selling its products at a premium rate in order maximize their profits. There are several questions about Starbucks that may need answers. Will the glamor of sensualist Starbucks coffee be retained or will more engaging options shake the success of Starbuck’s main coffee products? Will advertisement help Starbucks maintain its position as a world leader coffee chain producer? The most appropriate point to begin from is evaluating the current coffee market; undertaking an analysis to determine the level over which consumers need the designer coffee is important. Starbucks faces stiff competition from its major competitor such as McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts and Caribou coffee. The management has been engaged to ensure that the company maintains its well-known reputation as major coffee chain cooperation. Recently, Starbucks’ competitor McDonald launched its campaign on Mccafe in which its aim is to sell coffee at a relatively low discount as compared to Starbucks. McDonalds enjoys the advantage of an excellent podium from which it can face its competitors as a result of establishing numerous stores that gives it easy access into the markets. Dunkin Donuts as well is not relaxed; Dunkin is seen to use its doughnuts and other menu items on the stage. The customer has the option of choosing between a coffee donut and a mug of coffee. Externally, Starbucks also deals with daily competitive challenges. For instance, in Singapore, The Coffee Bean and Tea leaf is always on the forefront to contain the giant coffee chain store. For Starbucks, manageable development results to embracing business plans and operations to meet the requirements of Starbucks’ stakeholders currently while sustaining, safeguarding and ensuring the availability of natural and human resources that may b e required in the future. Each and every coffee store in Asia eyes Starbucks. The coffee chain has established 1,744 stores in the Asian Pacific with Singapore having a total of 92 stores. Recently, Starbucks announced the establishment of 100 new stores with each in Philippines and Malaysia. Starbucks never waits for its competitors is when to follow the suit. It has been seen to be expanding its markets outside America to increase its profitability. Starbucks recently purchased Teavana Holdings at a cost of $620 million in an effort to expand its markets. Starbucks is faced with some challenges in the event of serving its customers. One major challenge is the price of coffee beans as factor behind the company’s major profit. Starbucks’ profit and coffee price hugely rely on coffee price beans which are a product and stands not to be altered by Starbucks. As a result of hedge money, climatic conditions and other related factors, the cooperation is in a position of not able to approximate the price of its coffee and the cooperation’s profitability. Product pricing is another major setback. Starbucks’ product and services experience makes the company to charge high prices on its coffee. In contrast, McCafe premium coffee is selling at a lower price as compared to Starbucks’ premium coffee and was well assessed. After review, another challenge faced by Starbucks is negative publicity. The public has

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example The reason for the study of â€Å"cloud computing† is to have a detailed insight into the history, significance, fundamentals, components, systems, methodologies, and implementation, and more related to cloud computing. This paper achieves this purpose by first discussing the history of cloud computing, followed by the discussion of its ramifications in the technology world, development of the system and its security, and relationship between agile software development and cloud computing. The history of cloud computing Although there is subjectivity about the exact time when the term cloud computing surfaced, yet it appears to have originated from the use of the stylized clouds drawings for the denotation of the networks in the diagrams of communication systems and computing. â€Å"Cloud† as a word is often used for the Internet metaphorically. The Internet is being represented by the symbol of a cloud since 1994. Since the prevalence of computers, technologists and scientists have been exploring ways to increase the availability of the power of large-scale computers to the users by means of such ways as experimenting with the algorithms for the maximal use of infrastructure, sharing of time, and the optimal use of applications and platform with the prioritized access to the central processing units. The â€Å"Dynamic Web† describes the process of development of the Internet from being just document centric toward its increased ability to render different kinds of services. This contribution particularly focused on the need for the meta-data that could describe the implementation details as well as other conceptual details of the applications based on model. The omnipresence of the high-capacity networks, storage devices, computers of low cost, utility computing, and the widespread adoption of the service-oriented architecture, and hardware virtualization are some of the most fundamental factors that have caused the growth of cloud computing. People involved in cloud computing include J.C.R. Licklider, John McCarthy, and Douglas F. Parkhill. Licklider brought the cloud computing’s concept to the forefront. McCarthy proposed that computation would be organized as a public utility in the future. Parkhill comprehensively discussed all the contemporary features of cloud computing in his book â€Å"The Challenge of the Computer Utility† (Banerjee, 2011). Hurdles in the development and implementation include but are not limited to flawed predictions of cost savings, increase in the cost of operation, lack of ability to comply with the requirements of growing capacity, chargeback, bandwidth, and scarcity of trained professionals in cloud computing. Another major hurdle is the security concern; the available offerings of cloud are public networks and hence increase the vulnerability of the system to the attacks. Ramifications of cloud computing in the technology world 1. Mobile communication The recent advances in the networks of mobile communication and the increasing popularity of the smart phones have empowered the users and caused a massive transformation in the mobile Internet. Nevertheless, the limited capabilities of information storage and computing of the mobile devices have traditionally served as big hurdles in the way of supporting the