Movie Notes Blazing Saddles Essay Example

Movie Notes Blazing Saddles Essay Blazing Saddles is a satirical western comedy that is considered the first of its time. It demonstrates the racism toward black people that was never found in the majority of western films. This film in my opinion doesn’t correlate with the culture during the 1970’s whatsoever. Like I said before, Blazing Saddles was the first satirical western comedic film of its time and it didn’t correlate with the average movie that was coming out on a weekly basis. Mel Brooks’s purpose of this film was for comedic reasons only; if it was going to make people laugh he was going to add it to the film. For instance, at the end of every classical western the cowboys left remaining after their grueling battle end up riding in the sunset on their horses to proceed to their next adventure. In Blazing Saddles Bart and Jim get picked up in a limousine and end up getting driven off into the sunset. Just when you think there is going to be a normal scene Mel Brooks is able to ma ke a parody out of it and get every laugh out of each and every audience member possible. How is the film relevant for you or your community? Even though this film is considered a comedy it does have an underlying theme that I believe is very positive. When Rock Ridge is appointed a new sheriff they are extremely excited, when they find out that this new sheriff is a black man they are very angry and even angry enough to send a letter to the governor to appoint a new sheriff. After Bart (who is the new black sheriff) is able to capture Mongo he starts getting more respect and thus treated better by the people of Rock Ridge. I believe the theme of these events would be as cliche as it sounds; don’t judge a book by its color. They didn’t like Bart at first just because he was a black man, but he ended up having wonderful morals and ethics and the ability to save a small town like Rock Ridge with clever antics and wit. I believe this is relevant within my community because We will write a custom essay sample on Movie Notes Blazing Saddles specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Movie Notes Blazing Saddles specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Movie Notes Blazing Saddles specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Role of Hrm in Manufacturing Company Essay Example

Role of Hrm in Manufacturing Company Essay Example Role of Hrm in Manufacturing Company Essay Role of Hrm in Manufacturing Company Essay ASSESSMENT 2: ESSAY This essay will evaluate the role of Human Resource Management in a manufacturing company. This will include a critical assessment of three functions being Recruitment, Selection and Employee Turnover function which are vital to the achievement of estimated goals. Being appointed as the Head of HRM by the General Manager of ABC company, certain problems are to be addressed such as poor matching of new personnel to their job and rising levels of staff turnover. This essay will also point out certain aspects and changes which may be required by the company to retain employees reduce cost and increase profitability if considered. The main aim of recruitment is to ensure that the organization is adequately and effectively staffed at all times. The next step involves matching the suitable applicants to the jobs in the organization followed by the selection function. It is mandatory for Organizations to make the best of their recruiting practices because, in today’s increasingly market-based human resource management (HRM), effective recruitment is likely to be the ‘most critical human resource function for organizational success and survival’ â€Å"(Taylor and Collins 2000: 304). Another definition that throws light on the essence of Recruitment can be quoted as ‘those practices and activities carried out by the organization with the primary purpose of identifying and attracting potential employees’(Barber 1998 : 5). This definition highlights the important difference between two HR functions that are difficult to distinguish, namely recruitment and selection. An Overall recruitment policy and a number of processes need to be in place to determine overall outcomes for the organization before effective recruiting can take place. Recruiting should always involve analyzing the position to be filled, the person to fill it, writing a job description and person specification, and analyzing the organization’s short, medium and long term needs and goals. It is essential that the requirements of the job are thoroughly understood through the process of job analysis. The success of recruitment can be measured in terms of diversity. For example, Bola M. Ogun (2004) examined the positive effect of encouraging diversity in the workplace wherein the best would be recruited not only to complete the task in hand but also add to the competitive advantage of the firm. In order to sustain long term profitability and growth, the firm should invest in assessment and retention of personnel. Authors have argued that organization-employee fit is a two-way street and thereby understanding, effective communication and rewards are the important issues to be addressed here. Another type of explanation is the positive effect of recruitment on the profitability of a firm. For example, Terpstra and Rozell (1993) argues that the firms that analyzed recruiting sources for their effectiveness in generating high-performance applicants had greater annual profitability especially in manufacturing industries. They suggest that this in depth analysis has a positive effect with generating profit in the industry. It would appear that Terpstra and Rozell’s explanation cannot be accounted for the cost involved in taking a decision to choose among the recruiting sources in consideration of the performance, culture and diversity. There is however, a positive relation between the annual profit and the budgetary cost to be incurred in the analysis. Another type of explanation is one that produces no connection between recruitment function and a Profitable organization. For example, Rynes and Cable( cited in Recruitment Strategy,2007) argues the absence of any studies investigating the effect of the fit between recruitment and organizational effectiveness and descriptive research can be used to speculate about the possibly strategic imperative of such context-aligned recruitment practices. The problem with this argument however, is that it does not consider the fact that recruitment process is part of the cycle of an effective and efficient organization in terms of tapping into the market for qualified personnel. In addition, Barber and her colleagues (1999) argues that the organizational size determines recruitment success. This may be due to the fact that the Recruitment and Selection function would be scrutinized from the beginning as re-hiring and re-training of new employees can be costly and ineffective for large industries. It is safe to point out that the work in large especially manufacturing industries does not require exceptional skill. However, Job security might be an issue if legal requirements are not fulfilled. It is worth pointing out that human resource management supports goals pre-determined by the organization by providing crucial services for the benefit of the personnel in the organization. This can be explained by an example, Koch and McGrath (1996) argued how the capital intensity of a firm might positively interact with HR (including recruitment) planning to bring about increased labor productivity. Koch and McGrath are right; however it is necessary to stress the importance of recruitment planning and assessment in capital-intensive industries. Prior to recruiting, the company should ensure that labor laws, laws on dismissal and legislation are complied with. In HRM, the Selection function is by far the most challenging task to be carried out on the basis of effective principles. Human Resource function can provide value to an organization in cognition to the objectives of staffing and personnel placement and making available specific human resources guiding principles, processes and techniques, directed towards the accomplishment of these objectives. In order to determine the extent of ‘fit’ of personnel in the organization, provide standards to base and evaluate the capabilities of applicants and scrutinize the selection process clear and specific objectives for selection and personnel placement are required. The company image can play a major role during the selection process. An applicant’s view point of the firm also matters during the procedure as a positive or negative image of the Firm becomes viable. Final selection can be made more reliable by regularly reviewing the recruitment procedure. In order to deal with problems during the process, Reference and credential checking are effectively carried out. To select the right person considered fit for the job, HRM is required to conduct a Job Analysis which refers to the identification, collection, synthesizing, understanding and application of job related data. The job analysis process has three pivotal components based on its outcome for both the manager and employee. These elements include Job profile, Job requirements and People relations. The key to achieve consistent quality and productivity is to provide a feasible working environment to the employees. The overall culture of the organization is connected to its employee satisfaction, performance and turnover. Turnover includes both Voluntary and Involuntary Turnover. The main cause of voluntary turnover or the need to quit can be due to the receipt of negative feedback in informal performance check by the management or threat to job security. Involuntary instances occur when the employee has no say in the termination of his duties. Although it is unrealistic to achieve a turnover of zero percent however, a high turnover can have a negative effect on the organization as it is the case of ABC company. There can be a number of causes to a high turnover, although in this case it can be on the grounds of the existence of a communication gap between the manager and the newly hired personnel. For example, Mushrush (2002) argues that causes of turnover are varied which may include, â€Å"high stress, working conditions, monotony, poor supervision, poor fit between the employee and the job, inadequate training, poor communications, and organization practices† . As a result of this, the manager has a duty to ensure proper training and development and a feasible working environment is provided. Moreover, an Overview of Employee Turnover Research (2006) indicates that there are costs involved in replacing existing employees, recruiting replacements, new-hire training and unemployment insurance which can be of a prime concern here. Although our main focus is to retain new employees, there is a possibility of employees abandoning their jobs due to a time lag between identifying the appropriate role of the employee and re-training him. Retention, not only includes re-training and analyzing roles but also reassuring the employees of the company. As illustrated by Levine, fear of losing one’s job can be categorized as another cause for turnover wherein constant encouragement and support from the management is necessary to prove that â€Å"their career is not at risk by staying with the company† (n. d) A company that understands the needs and reasons of its employees are more likely to reduce turnover and save cost on re-hiring. However, it can be argued that the high staff turnover may be a product of the conduct of the employees as well. For example, Meyer, Stanely, Herscovitch, Topolnytsky, (2006) argues that an individual can have an impact on the turnover rates by putting forward â€Å"unrealistic expectations† or lack of performance. Meyer et al. (2006) offers a valid explanation in terms of examining every aspect of the abnormal rise. The obvious way to reduce turnover would be to instill flexibility, training and reducing the communication gap within the organization. Employees are to be reassured and retrained in this case to fit their qualities with their roles. There is a strong requirement for investment in training which is supported by Zig Ziglar who emphasizes that â€Å"When an employer invests in employees with training, they return with more productivity and more loyalty† (Love, 1998). As a result of this, the organization along with its personnel grows in a productive manner. Being the HR manager, for ABC Company a solution is to be sought out to deal with the HR functions at a policy level and actual HR level. Human Resource strategies are required to ideally suit the needs of the manufacturing company. Inconsistent application of HR policies can leave the organization open to legal challenges, increased costs and turnover along with reduced morale. There is evidence of poor matching of skills of new employees with their work roles. To face this problem head on, an accurate account of employment data for all the employees in the organization is to be maintained. This can be owed to the unawareness of the entity of its current staff needs and skills. At a Policy level, a strategic change outlining the objectives of the organization and consequential imbalances in skills to job of personnel is to be identified wherein at an actual level, maintenance of promotion potential, experience information and career data of personnel would act as a source for identifying shortages and surpluses in the operational plans of the organization. Action plans that include training and development, relocation and time frame for implementation are devised. These Action plans are then required to be monitored to ensure achievement of pre-described goals. The Recruitment function would help in attracting the qualified personnel considered ‘fit’ for the job in the organization. At a policy level, internal versus external recruitment and agencies can be considered to find the right personnel to match the job requirements. At an actual HR level, cost of further recruitment might be unnecessary however, effective communication of the recruiting function to the authorized persons of the organization can provide a strong foundation to avoid future problems. Identification of the roles of the current personnel along with a written description of the job process, duties, terms and conditions is to be documented and filed. At the policy level, Selection function plays a fundamental role in identifying the key attributes required from a person recruited to fit the job/duty efficiently. Selection can be effectively executed based on the qualities, type and level of work needed to achieve perceived goals of the organization. In regards to the Actual level, the selection function would be based on the documented description of the requirements of personnel available to the recruiters. At the policy level, Employee turnover function can be reduced by the provision of extensive training and development program, fair working environment, incentives and bonuses. At the Actual level, effective communication with the personnel is essential along with providing a feasible and flexible working condition. Rising Staff turnover can be owed to the fact of poor fit of employee with job, poor guidance and ineffective communication of tasks. An extensive training and development program can hone the skills of the required personnel to fit their job It is difficult to offer a stipulated time period wherein the policy goals can be achieved due to an uncertain outlook of ABC Company. However, a written documentation with complete data, qualifications, availability, experience of the personnel and all other relevant data can be completed within a time span of 3-4 months. Moreover, training of the new personnel to acquaint them with the required duties is to be carried out immediately which can be assumed to span once every 3 weeks for a period of 2 months. Extensive re-training can then be provided every 6 months to keep up with technology and development in the market. Apart from framing policies, there is a need to understand the behavior and total outlook of the company. In reference to Labor Mobility in Australia(Refer Appendix 1) Manufacturing Industry has less than 12% of employees shifting from the Industry as compared to Mining which has the highest Labor Mobility of 21. 6%. Keeping this in mind, voluntary turnover might not pose an issue in this company. Employee turnover is beneficial in some companies, however in the manufacturing industry stability in terms of Job performance and Employee satisfaction is beneficial. Finally it is worth pointing out that, according to research, Management must understand the value of quality staffing throughout the organization, and proper care is taken to ensure an individual fit their roles in the organization to ensure long term productivity. This essay also illustrates the importance of HRM to bring about a balance in the organization by increasing staff satisfaction, reducing turnover and increasing organizational productivity. Each policy level and actual level goal has a timeframe for execution which can be accurately estimated after consultation with the Management of ABC Company. REFERENCE LIST Beach,R, Brereton,,D, Cliff,D,2003, ‘Workforce turnover in FIFO mining Operations in Australia: An Exploratory Study’, Retrieved on 24th Oct 2010 from: www. csrm. uq. edu. au/docs/TURN_FINAL. pdf Cable, DM, Turban, DB, 2001, Establishing the Dimensions, Sources and values of job seekers’ Employer Knowledge during Recruitment, ‘Research in Personnel and Human Resource Management’ , Vol 20,pg115-163. Khan, S 1991, Selection and placement, Volume 1,Issue 4 Retrieved on 20th October 2010 Levine, T, 1998, ‘How to Reduce Employee Turnover’ Retrieved on Oct 23rd, 2010 from: nettemps. com/employers/hrcorner/printer. htm? id=21pf=1 Love, T. 1998, ‘Training can Relics [sic] Employee TurnoverReducing employee turnover’. Retrieved on Oct 23rd 2010 from: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1154/is_n8_v86/ai_20934425 Meyer, J, Stanely, D, Herscovitch, L, Topolnytsky, L, 2006,‘Overview of Employee Turnover Research’, SIGMA Assessment Systems. Retrieved on Oct 23rd, 2010 rom: sigmaassessmentsystems. com/articles/empturnover. asp Morley,MJ,2007, Person Organization fit, ‘Journal of Managerial Psychology’ Vol 22,No. 2,pp109-117. Retrieved from: www. emeraldinsight. com/0268-3946. htm Mushrush, W. ,2002, ‘Reducing Employee Turnover’-Creating Quality Newsletter, 11(5). Retrieved on Oct 23rd 2010 from: missouribusiness. net/cq/ 2002/reducing_employee_turnover. asp Orlitzky,M. 2007,’Recruitment Strategy’,Oxford Handbook of Human Resource Management,Boxall,P,Purcell,J,Wright,P,Oxford University Press,New York,pp273-299. Tipper,J, 2004, How to increase diversity through your recruitment practices, Vol 36, No. 4 pp 158-161. Retrieved on 23rd Oct 2010 from: www. emeraldinsight. com/0019-7858. htm Zeffane,R. 1994,’Understanding Employee Turnover: The Need for a Contingency Approach, vol 15,no. 9. Zimmerman, RD, Darnold,TC, 2007, ‘The impact of job performance on employee turnover intentions and the voluntary turnover process-A meta-analysis and path model’ retrieved on 23rd Oct 2010 from www. emeraldinsight. com/0048-3486. htm APPENDIX Figure 1: Labor mobility by industry, Australia www. csrm. uq. edu. au/docs/TURN_FINAL. pdf

A Study On Structural Formworks In High Rise Building Construction

ABSTRACTIn the most recent couple of years extensive requirement for tall structures has been building up. Specific accentuation has been given to decrease the time duration in finishing of these undertakings. Therefore, formworks have been acquainted in order to diminish time and also work cost of such industries.Structural Form works utilized as a part of the Construction has gigantic favorable circumstances due to the speed of finishing of the building. But as this Auto Climbing System is likewise utilized at great heights these variables could prompt significant dangers. These are for the most part utilized as a part of constructing main wall/ divider which fills in as the foundation of the whole structure of the building.Few of such hazards can consist of workers working on platforms posing a threat of tumbling from tallness, damage from equipment tumbling from stature to the individual working underneath the platform. More preference should be given amid the Jumping/Lifting of such platforms. At the point when the platforms are hoisted from a lower level to a larger , more amount of dangers are presented. The objective for this study is to understand different dangers and risks associated with the utilization of such basic form works in the construction business and give legitimate and suitable methods for control measures.INTRODUCTIONIndia is a fast growing country with its cities growing even faster and expanding to newer limits. Such exceptional growth stories have pulled in people from different parts of India to settle and work in its cities. This has led to growing demand of living space required for city families as well as office spaces for companies and other services .For such development plan, limited city area is one of the key reasons for concern. Specifically the expansion of city spaces through horizontal construction is possible only up to a certain extent and will further lead to shrinking of available area for other projects. Therefore high rise buildings in cities are the need of the hour and an efficient way of land management and utilization.In many developed cities around the world their skylines are as famous as the cities themselves. High rise buildings are not just architectural and infrastructural marvels but become a part of city identity and icon. Tall buildings are a marker of city life as well as a standard of better quality of life. Its main benefit is the ability to accommodate a large amount of people with each vertical ascent and thereby saving up a lot of land. Other benefits include lesser exposure to air and noise pollution but better access to natural light and ventilation while offering a high vantage point view of the city itself.Tall structures offer a refuge from floods but it needs design fortification to protect it from other natural calamities like high intensity wind force and lightning. Therefore safety rules and regulation need to be strictly laid out and followed during construction of high rise buildings. Structural stability and security are key aspects of such building safety as they have to be earthquake and fire resistant .In case of high rise buildings it is their height that determines whether safety compliance needs to be fulfilled or not and as such builders have to overlook and furnish fire and earthquake safety plans and exit routes, rescue spaces, electricity supply, service ducts, elevators among others.The construction of high rise buildings requires advanced technology and machinery to aid in the process. One of such new advancement is the Auto Climbing System which is a hydraulically operated self-climbing formwork system. It is useful because it significantly reduces the completion time of construction projects and safer compared to the traditional method of crane lifted formwork often referred to as jump forms.There is a need to evaluate the saf ety of the platforms installed for a secure working environment as there have been reports of industry accidents occuring when the platform is lifted from one level to another. This technique requires more crane time and is too sluggish, dangerous and inefficient for tall structures where the concrete walls dividers are consistently on the analytical way. Despite the fact that Auto or Self climbing framework is a tremendous advancement in diminishing the time required for completing the project, we cant disregard the small deficiency in these frameworks.The importance of this thesis is to give a secure workplace to the work persons and all the staff performing work on or underneath the platform. Huge importance should be given for the establishment of these platforms. It has been generally seen that ,while lifting or jumping of the platform has been carried out , very less investigation has been done as far as the well being of this specific action is concerned. However, a number of accidents have been accounted for while lifting the platform starting with one level then onto the next.. LITERATURE REVIEWAutomated Climbing System can be generally used for the outer part of the main concrete wall, because of the exterior look of building that is concrete or a tower that supports the cables. One of the main benefits of Automated Climbing system format includes the lack of over wall that acts like an obstruction which in return allows the steel to be put in a proper manner on the ground ; can be carried to places via mats. ACS arrangement is particularly used for the insides of the main wall as well as used for lifting both inside ; outside part of formwork for building.The first step starts with removing the casing, by using carriages, of the previous casting and then by screwing the climbing shoes to the anchor. These climbing shoes are bolted on every platform which is locked automatically. After that the mechanism is swapped which now climbs the unit than the rail, which is generally done at 50cm/min. when the unit reaches the climbing shoe, before disabling the hyd raulics, it is locked using bars and then with the help of carriage, rebar is fixed by positioning the framework which is ready to be finned with concrete, finally completing the construction cycle. While selecting a proper ACS format for a concerned project, factors that need to be decided are: building form, sequence in which construction will take place, the number and time of cycles need to me mentioned properly, work that needs to be reinforced, and specification needed during placement of boom while climbing. Formworks are divided into wide number of types based on different sizes, location where it will be used, equipments needed for construction, operation nature.Major hazards identified in structural formworks†¢ Extreme weather conditions like heavy rain and strong winds can cause problems in hanging type platform. So proper assessment of weather conditions is of utmost importance.†¢ Unauthorized and untrained personnel should not be allowed to operate the platform as improper handling can cause major hazards.†¢ Fall of material from the platform on the ground below can be hazardous to person standing down.†¢ Ladders and scaffolds erected on temporar y basis should be removed otherwise they can fall while lifting is performed. †¢ Strength of concrete should be high enough before fixing the platform.†¢ Length of cord must be long enough for performing lifting of platform otherwise they could get stretched and break causing spillage of hydraulic oil.†¢ Incompetent and untrained members could cause miscommunication while jumping on platform.†¢ Sufficient clearance must be provided between wall and platform so that it doesnt scrape against the wall causing uneven lift.†¢ If protectors are not provided on platform it could cause slipping of profiles and lead to falling of platform.†¢ Proper access of the platform must be maintained to protect worker from getting stuck.Safety norms and procedures to be followed during the operation of the climbing system. a) On site safety for personnelClimbing rescue walls at the edge of the slab and platform with protectors provide effective safety against falling and also provide protection against extreme weather conditions in case of work at height.b) Safety from extreme weather conditions like high wind loadClimbing operations are of two types crane-dependent climbing procedure and self-climbing procedure. 72km/h is the max wind speed for self climbing procedures. According to German standards such structures are designed to withstand high wind loads. For high wind speeds of over 200km/h statistical proof can be provided.c) Manufacturers service for providing safety to the personnelCompetent assembly personnel, engineers and supervisors should be available at all time for providing help beyond initial phase. Regular assembly and training must be conducted. d) Improvement in quality for safetyEN ISO 9001 Quality System is followed for conducting internal procedures of the company. It provides the basis for best quality of the PERI equipment as well as high quality of development standards. Official approval is provided to PERI climbing anchors and quality of its components is maintained.Control measures and recommendations:It is absolutely imperative that the person operating the lifting of the auto climbing Systems of all hazards and risks associated with the working and the functioning of the auto climbing system. Hence we make it mandatory that the person operating has beengivenproper training an all thesafety aspects have been properly explain to him. Only a certifiedoperator from the manufacture should operate the lifting or jumping of the Auto climbing System.Ensure that we observe all the weather conditions while lifting and operating the Auto climbing System. Extreme weather condition such as high wind speed and torrential rain, it is advisablew should not operate it in harsh climate conditions.The next major hazard to look at is if any looseitem is present on the platform being lifted. During lifting, the material could roll onto the ground which could cause serious injuries to the person below. So, all loose materials should be removed from the platform.CONCLUSIONOur main objective is to highlight the various circumstances ; constraints while managing the utilization of the formwork under various conventional conditions. As most of the major undertakings have to be completed under stipulated time period, so, there is no easy or effortless quick fix while using formwork for typical buildings.We should not avoid the hazards associated with the utilization of formwork at work site. In order to just increase the rate of work to decrease the completion period of construction, it will be wrong to simply not notice the safety in construction because it may endanger the lives of each and every people associated with the work.Therefore, it is very important to focus on the various safety features that have been highlighted in this study. The most important question that we all need to ask ourselves is that – should we follow all the safety rules to have a risk free work place in order to complete the project in right time or should we just try to complete the given work by hook or by crook neglecting the rules thereby endangering all our lives as well as others?

CASE STUDY- DIABETICS Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

- DIABETICS - Case Study Example blurred vision, he also often has trouble carrying out his daily activities like grooming, getting to and from the comfort room, reading, writing, watching television, surfing the internet, working, and driving. His frequent feelings of thirst also require him to have access to drinking water at all times, which in his work as a carpenter is not always possible. Moreover, his frequent need to urinate also interferes with his daily activities causing him to frequently take bathroom breaks and to be near a toilet at all times. His recent injury has also caused him to limit his social activities and his participation in the community and other work activities because the inflammation on his arm is very much apparent and he feels embarrassed by it. An intervention I can apply to this patient to improve and promote his level of functioning is to teach the patient to manage his diabetic retinopathy which is causing his visual impairment. The recommended management would be to reduce the blood glucose levels in order to prevent the progression of the retinopathy (Rodrigues, 2012). Reduction of blood sugar levels can include diet and lifestyle changes. These changes have to be discussed with the client, mainly focusing on the diet changes he can make, what his regular meals can include, what he can eat in between meals, and the portions he can take for each type of food (Martinez-Gonzales, et.al., 2008). Regular exercise can also help. However, exercise has to be monitored by a health professional in order to prevent any injuries. In order to promote functioning for this patient, I would recommend magnifying lenses in order to allow regular reading and writing activities to be carried out by the client (Hume, et.al., 2012). Eye gl asses with special lenses which serve to enlarge the letters and allow reading and writing can also be fitted to the patient. Magnifying lenses can also assist in the management of the disease allowing the patient to self-administer

Law and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Law and Ethics - Essay Example em came into existence; however, due to objections raised by certain citizens, the courts gave their verdict against these religious practices and forbade schools to continue with daily prayers. It is difficult to agree with the statement in the sense that religion is everyone’s personal belief and schools should not foster any particular religious idea among students particularly when the US constitution has granted a full freedom of faith to all its citizens. This simply means that separating church from the school education was indeed a necessity to secure a freedom of expression of the people as their fundamental right as provided in the US constitution. At least until 1962, the regular school prayers were common but while delivering its judgment in the case of Engel versus Vitale, the Supreme Court called it unconstitutional. The Supreme Court took its view citing the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and declared that the reciting prayer in the school is an unconstitutional act. The Establishment Clause ensures that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". The makers of the constitution had introduced the First Amendment, especially to prevent majority thrusting their opinions on others and the school prayers tended to do so. The Supreme Court further added that neither the nondenominational character nor the voluntary nature of school prayers can protect the schools from violating the Establishment clause. Through the case of Murray versus Curlett, the Supreme Court put an end to the prayer recitation practices in the public schools. The Fourteenth Amendment ensures that no state can ever make or enforce any law that results into taking away the privileges and rights given to all Americans. In the landmark decision, the Supreme Court declared that prayer recitation practices were in direct violation of the fundamental rights – "the freedom of religion† provided in the

Girl with the Pearl Earrings Essay Example for Free

Girl with the Pearl Earrings Essay There could be many different interpretations of the ending scene when the pearl earrings are returned to Griet. The look on Griet’s face is a look of shock, some anger, and recollection. Catharina gave Griet the pearl earrings because she cannot bear to wear them, nor stand the sight of them since the day she saw the painting. Vermeer betrayed Catharina and the earrings are the biggest reminder of the betrayal, so to move on from the time Griet spent as their maid and rid all those memories from her mind she needed to give away the earrings. Catharina could have given them to anyone, sold them, or even just threw them away; instead she chose to give them to Griet. She gave them to Griet, to let Griet know that she is not mad at her and she understands Griet did nothing wrong. Catharina shows that her anger and hurt comes from Vermeer’s betrayal when she, with tears in her eyes, looks at Vermeer and asks â€Å"Why don’t you paint me? † In which Vermeer replies that she doesn’t understand. Catharina then in a rage tries to slash the painting, but Vermeer stops her. She then shifts her anger to the only thing she can do, which is make Griet leave. Catharina making Griet leave was misplaced anger, it was anger she wanted to take out on her husband and the painting but couldn’t. Therefore to make it up to Griet for making her leave, she sent her the pearl earrings. She was an emotional wreck in tears and screaming, outranged by her husband’s actions and Griet was a weak young girl she could at the time let her anger out on. After a few days of thinking she realized she was wrong and had Tanneke take the gift to Griet. Vermeer not only betrayed his wife but he also betrayed Griet at the end. When Catharina tells Griet to leave Griet looks at Vermeer to say something, to let Catharina know she has done nothing wrong. Vermeer says nothing though and just lets her leave, which is devastating to her. Griet then even tries one more time to go to talk to him before she leaves to give it one more chance, but he just lets her leave. Vermeer is to blame for all that happened, but lets his wife take the blame out on Griet and then lets Griet take the blame that should be his. He hurts everyone in this story, instead of being a man and taking up for his wrong actions, he is childlike. The sudden music that plays in the movie when Griet opens the earrings is a shocking sound, in disbelief that Catharina has given them to her and is not mad. Griet at first is shocked, and you can see it all over her face. Then she clutches them in her hand as to say thank you and looks off in the other direction as thinking â€Å"What should I do now? † I did not think I would enjoy this novel because I’m not very into historical fiction but I actually enjoyed the novel and movie very much. It was extremely interesting to me, kept me constantly thinking about what each character was thinking. I do however wish the ending had a little more, like maybe letting us know where Griet ended up but I guess we are just supposed to figure that out our selves.

Free Great Gatsby Essays: Religious Influences :: Great Gatsby Essays

Religious Influences in The Great Gatsby During the 1920s, sometimes referred to as the Progressive Era, political and social changes surfaced in society in efforts to progressively improve the nation. However, the 1920’s can accurately be described as the decade of selfishness. Society was material oriented and, as a result, there was a decrease in religious practices. This is vividly displayed in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald's use of mortal characters as religious influences. There are three significant occurrences in the novel which show the loss of spirituality of the time, beginning with Gatsby's watch over Daisy the night of the hit and run. Gatsby spends the entire night watching for Daisy's sign, just as knights risked their lives in pursuit of the Holy Grail. His desire for Daisy to come for his help and "live happily ever after" with him is misplaced because of the goal he hopes to attain: Daisy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Next, there is underlying symbolism presented shortly before Gatsby's death as he struggles with the swimming equipment. When offered assistance from his butler, Gatsby refuses and must "bear the cross" alone. Finally, Gatsby's murder is portrayed as a process of purification, which is of great religious importance. Shot in his chlorinated pool, Gatsby overcomes his shortcomings and is "cleansed" of his sins.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The immoral efforts that were put against American pop culture in the 1920s are best summarized as Wilson stares into the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg of a vast wasteland, "You may fool me, but you can't fool God!" His neighbor must remind him, "That's an advertisement" (Parker 33). Another symbolic aspect of the Valley of Ashes is that it is the home of the Wilsons, a place where the average person has some type of religious practices. Myrtle's murder is a blatant example of the pointlessness of religion in the Twenties' society. Fitzgerald suggests that in Twentieth-

A Struggle for Social & Economic Equality of Black People in America

The struggle for social and economic equality of Black people in America has been long and slow. It is sometimes amazing that any progress has been made in the racial equality arena at all; every tentative step forward seems to be diluted by losses elsewhere. For every â€Å"Stacey Koons† that is convicted, there seems to be a Texaco executive waiting to send Blacks back to the past. Throughout the struggle for equal rights, there have been courageous Black leaders at the forefront of each discrete movement. From early activists such as Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. DuBois, to 1960s civil rights leaders and radicals such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and the Black Panthers, the progress that has been made toward full equality has resulted from the visionary leadership of these brave individuals. This does not imply, however, that there has ever been widespread agreement within the Black community on strategy or that the actions of prominent Black leaders have met with strong support from those who would benefit from these actions. This report will examine the influence of two â€Å"early era† Black activists: Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Through an analysis of the ideological differences between these two men, the writer will argue that, although they disagreed over the direction of the struggle for equality, the differences between these two men actually enhanced the status of Black Americans in the struggle for racial equality. We will look specifically at the events leading to and surrounding the â€Å"Atlanta Compromise† in 1895. In order to understand the differences in the philosophies of Washington and Dubois, it is useful to know something about their backgrounds. Booker T. Washington, born a slave in 1856 in Franklin County, Virginia, could be described as a pragmatist. He was only able to attend school three months out of the year, with the remaining nine months spent working in coal mines. He developed the idea of Blacks becoming skilled tradesmen as a useful stepping-stone toward respect by the white majority and eventual full equality. Washington worked his way through Hampton Institute and helped found the Tuskeegee Institute, a trade school for blacks. His essential strategy for the advancement of American Blacks was for them to achieve enhanced status as skilled tradesmen for the present, then using this status as a platform from which to reach for full equality later. Significantly, he argued for submission to the white majority so as not to offend the power elite. Though he preached appeasement and a â€Å"hands off† attitude toward politics, Washington has been accused of wielding imperious power over â€Å"his people† and of consorting with the white elite. William Edward Burghardt DuBois, on the other hand, was more of an idealist. DuBois was born in Massachusetts in 1868, just after the end of the Civil War and the official end of slavery. A gifted scholar, formal education played a much greater role in DuBois's life than it did in Washington's. After becoming a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Fisk and Harvard, he was the first Black to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1895. DuBois wrote over 20 books and more than 100 scholarly articles on the historical and sociological nature of the Black experience. He argued that an educated Black elite should lead Blacks to liberation by advancing a philosophical and intellectual offensive against racial discrimination. DuBois forwarded the argument that â€Å"The Negro problem was not and could not be kept distinct from other reform movements. . .† DuBois â€Å"favored immediate social and political integration and the higher education of a Talented Tenth of the black population. His main interest was in the education of ‘the group leader, the man who sets the ideas of the community where he lives. . .'† To this end, he organized the â€Å"Niagara movement,† a meeting of 29 Black business and professional men, which led to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The crux of the struggle for the ideological center of the racial equality movement is perhaps best exemplified in Mr. DuBois's influential The Souls of Black Folk. In it, he makes an impassioned argument for his vision of an educated Black elite. DuBois also describes his opposition to Booker T. Washington's â€Å"Atlanta Compromise† as follows: â€Å"Mr. Washington represents in Negro thought the old attitude of adjustment and submission†¦Ã¢â‚¬  According to DuBois, Washington broke the mold set by his predecessors: â€Å"Here, led by Remond, Nell, Wells- Brown, and Douglass, a new period of self-assertion and self- development dawned†¦. But Booker T. Washington arose as essentially the leader not of one race but of two–a compromiser between the South, the North, and the Negro.† DuBois reported that Blacks â€Å"resented, at first bitterly, signs of compromise which surrendered their civil and political rights, even though this was to be exchanged for larger chances of economic development.† DuBois's point and, according to him, the collective opinion of the majority of the Black community, was that self- respect was more important than any potential future economic benefits. Before Washington's conciliatory stance gained a foothold, â€Å"the assertion of the manhood rights of the Negro by himself was the main reliance.† In other words, DuBois resented what he saw as Washington â€Å"selling† Black pride: â€Å"†¦Mr. Washington's programme naturally takes an economic cast, becoming a gospel of Work and Money to such an extent as apparently almost completely to overshadow the higher aims of life.† The compromise included, in DuBois's words, â€Å"that black people give up, at least for the present, three things,– â€Å"First, political power, Second, insistence on civil rights, Third, higher education of Negro youth,–and concentrate all their energies on industrial education, the accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South.† The final point comprised the centerpiece both of Washington's strategy for the ultimate redemption of Black Americans and of DuBois's condemnation of that strategy. Indeed, Washington backed up his assertions by founding the Tuskeegee Institute as a trade school for young Black men. DuBois could not abide this type of appeasement. In his mind, this step was tantamount to the Black community telling the white community that, henceforth, Blacks would cease pretending to be equal to whites as human beings; rather, they would accept an overtly inferior social status as being worthy of maintaining the white majority's physical world, but unworthy of true equality, of conducting socio-cultural discourse with the mainstream society. The paradox must have been maddening for both men, especially Mr. Washington. He no doubt understood that, as a group, Blacks could never hope to progress to the point of equality from their position of abject poverty. Moreover, without skills, their hopes of escaping their economic inferiority were indeed scant. Washington's plan for blacks to at least become skilled artisans and tradesmen must have seemed logical to him from the standpoint of improving the economic lot of the average Black man. At the same time, he must have realized that, by accepting inferiority as a de- facto condition for the entire race, he may have broken the black spirit forever. In considering this matter, the writer is reminded of more recent events in American history–the affirmative action flap that occurred after Clarence Thomas's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, for example. Mr. Thomas, clearly a beneficiary of affirmative action, announced that he was nonetheless opposed to it. His argument was that if he had not been eligible for benefits under affirmative action programs, he would have still achieved his current position in the inner circle of this society's white power elite. Similarly, Booker T. Washington enjoyed access to the power elite of his time, but one must wonder whether President Roosevelt, for example, in his interactions with Mr. Washington, was not merely using the situation for public relations value. â€Å"[Mr. Washington] was ‘intimate' with Roosevelt from 1901 to 1908. On the day Roosevelt took office, he invited Washington to the White House to advise him on political appointments of Negroes in the south.† After all, he did not become a popular president by being oblivious to such political maneuvering. Perhaps Mr. DuBois was the more prescient visionary. Perhaps he understood what Mr. Washington did not, that after the critical historical momentum toward social acceptance that had been established prior to the late nineteenth century, if political pressure were not maintained, the cause of true equality would be lost forever. Moreover, DuBois understood that equality would not be earned through appeasement. From our perspective of over 100 years, we must admit that he may have been right. For example, in the aftermath of the â€Å"Atlanta Massacre† of September 22, 1906 and a similar incident in Springfield, Illinois, â€Å"it was clear to almost all the players that the tide was running strongly in favor of protest and militancy.† â€Å"For six days in August, 1908, a white mob, made up, the press said, of many of the town's ‘best citizens,' surged through the streets of Springfield, Illinois, killing and wounding scores of Blacks and driving hundreds from the city.† However, it later turned out that DuBois was considered to be too extreme in the other direction. For example, as the NAACP became more mainstream, it became increasingly conservative, and this did not please DuBois, who left the organization in 1934. He returned later but was eventually shunned by Black leadership both inside and outside of the NAACP, especially after he voiced admiration for the USSR. In the political climate of the late 1940s and 1950s, any hint of a pro-communist attitude–black or white–was unwelcome in any group with a national political agenda. We can see, then, that neither Washington's strategy of appeasement nor DuBois's plan for an elite Black intelligentsia was to become wholly successful in elevating American Blacks to a position of equality. However, perhaps it was more than the leadership of any one Black man that encouraged African Americans to demand a full measure of social and economic equality. Perhaps the fact that there was a public dialogue in itself did more to encourage Black equality than the philosophy of any one prominent Black man. After all, concepts such as equality are exactly that: concepts. As such, it up to each of us to decide how we see ourselves in relation to others; superior or inferior, equal or not equal, the choice is ultimately our own.

IT-based management: Challenges and solutions. NTT DoCoMo Essay

NTT DoCoMo Introduction            NTT DoCoMo is one of the largest mobile communications companies in japan that has thrived for a long period. Despite of this factor, the company faces several challenges in terms of market saturation, competition from rival companies and rivalry in the mobile phone industry. NTT DoCoMo was found in the year 1992, a period when it was spun off by NNT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone). Looking back at NTT’s history, it is noted that the company was privatized in 1986, but still the government of japan still held some shares of 46% and part of its equities in the year 2004. As a result of this, NTT owned 58% of DoCoMo’s equities.            Though DoCoMo poses great potential in terms of innovation, the company also faces competition, especially in the technology sector. Felica (part of DoCoMo) has over the years competed with Type A and Type B contactless IC technologies, where type A technology was mostly used in Europe, and Type being utilized in Japan extensively. With this type of competition, the company was able to form alliances with other stakeholders to come up with a technology (a chip tech) that would be utilized by credit card users.            DoCoMo’s strategy to pursue the wireless internet was achieved with the launch of i-mode. This is in consideration of the fact that i-mode technology enabled users to receive an incoming call while surfing the internet. The technology mostly targeted young consumers rather than business persons, in spite of the fact that business individuals would most probable use premium services of the product. Through this aspect, the various competitive advantages of the product are realized with its market limitations on the other hand. This concept introduces porter’s generic strategy into use, where one can increase profits through the reduction of costs while at the same time charging industry’s average price. Porter’s strategy (cost reduction strategy) also facilitates the increase in market shares through the lowering of prices, while at the same time making reasonable profits from the sale of each share. In consideration of the cost reduction strategy, DoCoMo Company was able to set up small transaction fees for its chip technology to its users. These transaction fees were on an average of about 2% to 3% for EDY services. Such a strategy poses a competition to credit card companies whose transaction fee run on an average of about 3% to 5%.            Porter’s generic strategy also incorporates the focus strategy, where a company concentrates on a particular market. This is usually through the understanding of the dynamics that exist in a particular market (understanding of the customer’s needs is one of the crucial factors to consider in this strategy). The main advantage of this strategy is that, customer loyalty is usually established especially when unique services are provided in a new market. Despite the DoCoMo’s extensive marketing strategies, the company was not able to utilize the focus strategy. Though DoCoMo’s success in Japan in the initial launch of i-mode, the company did not lay a strategic focus on the Japan market. Its foreign ventures especially in the USA and other countries also faced various challenges that were not considered prior to the venture. From the study, it is evident that DoCoMo’s partners also did not adopt i-mode technology, something that cont ributed to its disadvantages overseas.            In porters five model, four factors are perceived to have the capability of causing market rivalry. These factors are supplier power, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and the buyer’s power (Hill & Jones,  2010). Through the analysis of DoCoMo’s market, it is realized that the company faces a high supplier’s power in its market, a factor that has made it loose its influence over the Japanese market. Government policies have also affected DoCoMo’s entrant to new markets, an element that has reduced the extent of expansion of the company.            Prior to taking any risk, companies and others organizations ought to come up with a model that will enable them to project the probable risk that is prone to affect their venture hence making it unsuccessful. DoCoMo is a company that has great ideas and innovations but the only issue affecting the company’s performance was the lack of well centered risk projection pattern or model. In a risk projection model, one has to identify the risk, analyze the risk qualitatively, assess the issues at hand quantitatively and finally come up with a risk response planning. With this model, DoCoMo Company would be able to come up with a solution to its market problem especially in the Japanese market. The model would also enable the company to choose selectively, the most appropriate countries to partner with (Grey,  2004). .            Competition is one of the problems that DoCoMo is facing. This problem can be addressed effectively through the implementation of a proper differentiation strategy. Product differentiation entails making once product different and more attractive than the competitors’ products. The extent of differentiation in this case will depend on the nature of technological products being produced by other companies in the market. In consideration of this concept, DoCoMo will be obliged to produce products that have more functionality, features and durability than the competitor’s products. I relation to this; i-mode (DoCoMo’s product) would have a higher competitive edge over its rival products (Joia,  2003).            Though DoCoMo tried to diversity its market extensively, the company was unable to come up with an effective focus strategy. By having a proper focus strategy, DoCoMo would be able to dominate in its market where the product supply would remain constant. In this case a proper focus can be achieved through the development of a uniquely low-cost and well-specified product market. Such a strategy would enable the company to create dominance over its market, hence establishing customer loyalty (Joia,  2003). Cost focus differentiation would also be an important strategy for the company to implement especially when attracting new customers. In consideration of all these factors that DoCoMo should consider in coming up with a solution to its problems. The management of the company is also expected to carry out a SWOT analysis of the company in order to solve its problems. A clear and well-set SWOT analysis would enable the company come-up with a measure to manage the s uppliers’ power and also the capability to reduce the buyer’s power. This would in-turn enable the company dominate its market and thrive in all its market ventures (Joia,  2003). Recommendation            From the study, it is realized that DoCoMo is a company that has been extensively to produce products that are of high innovation due to its mergers with other stakeholders. The company also faces problems in terms of competitors. As a result of all this, it would be recommendable for the company to set-up a proper management program. A program, that will be able to overlook all the necessary strategies that can enable the company thrive in both domestic and foreign markets. Implementation of both SWOT and porters five model would enable the DoCoMo thrive well in providing e-money services (Joia,  2003). References Grey,  S. (2004). Practical risk assessment for project management. Chichester: Wiley. Hill,  C.  W., & Jones,  G.  R. (2010). Strategic management theory: An integrated approach. Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning. Joia,  L.  A. (2003). IT-based management: Challenges and solutions. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub. Source document

6 Tips to Help You Get Through College

6 Tips to Help You Get Through College Sometimes, when you are bogged down with stressful homework assignments and you are unable to find a minute of free time, it is hard to remember that college is something you should absolutely enjoy. Its true! Sure, you are supposed to work and study hard as well, but you should also have a great social life and enjoy new experiences as well. Sadly, we often receive emails other messages from students who are struggling to get through college, let alone enjoy themselves. This is why weve decided to put together this list of college survival tips. After all, were not just the best college paper writing service. We also consider ourselves to be supporters of students who are struggling in any way. 1. Find Out Who Gives College Student Discounts That student ID card in your wallet is more valuable than you think. If you live in a college town, restaurants, bars, laundromats, and other businesses will often give you a decent discount if you show your ID. If you love going to the movies, check with your local theater. They frequently offer the best discounts of all. 2. Learn to Cook If you cook at least some of your own meals, youll save quite a bit of money. Sure, you may not have access to an oven or stove, but you can do some amazing things with a microwave, hotpot, and slow cooker. 3. Find a Few Places to Study Outside of Your Dorm Room Sometimes, when you have trouble concentrating, the best thing you can do is get a change of scenery. This is why it helps to have more than one study spot. Youll also establish some good will with your roommate if you can make an exit while they are entertaining guests. 4. Be Safe Make sure that you have emergency contacts on your phone. If you live far from home, make sure that at least one of those contacts is somebody who lives locally. If you go to a club or a party, watch your drink and keep make an agreement with your friends to keep tabs on each other. Finally, dont hesitate to ask campus security for an escort if you feel unsafe. 5. Dont Forget to Get Help From Reputable Writing Services Remember, if you check out college paper writing service reviews, you will find us at the top of many lists! You can also get help your schools writing lab and even your instructors. Wherever you get help, dont wait too long. You dont want to risk failing a class or dropping your GPA. 6. Dont Blow Off The Campus Tour The more familiar you are with campus the better off you will be. Your tour guide will likely show you a few off the beaten places that you may not learn about otherwise such as rarely used computer labs and rarely used student lounges which are great for taking a quick nap. College is a great life-experience. Do not miss your chance to enjoy due to shyness or lack of information!

Pro Merger And Anti Merger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Pro Merger And Anti Merger - Essay Example This draws the attention of media to the spate of marriages. The articles had shown a slew of divorces from trade to local to business press. The most recent ones are the AT&T’s announcement of its division into four entities – business, broadband, wireless and consumer and separation of British Telecom into retail and wholesale segments in its fixed line business in UK. It is difficult to identify the logic behind the changes in activity. In the world of mergers and acquisitions, the chaos still remains. The deeper analysis shows the consolidation of industries conforming to set of laws. The companies analysing the position of their industries on the consolidation curve and developing strategies according to that led them to win. The study conducted by A.T. Kearney shows that a distinct pattern is followed by the activity of consolidation. It makes progress in four phases with varying lengths. Mergers vary proportionally in reverse order to the extent of consolidation. Each consolidating industry passing through four different stages are opening, accumulation, focus and alliance. The time period from first stage to final stage stretches over 20 years approximately. An industry can increase its merger and acquisition from starting at low level of concentration till the saturation is reached. The activities of merger are also dependent on the movement of stock. The rising stocks provide considerable acquisition currency to the companies (Maire and Collerette, 2010, p.281). Massive deregulation in economic sectors and growing globalization also affect consolidations as the levels of stock market affect it. They drive stock prices and consolidation. Consolidation also boost stock prices because the top management is judged in terms of growth usually on its performance and also because the mergers open the access to international capital markets. Other than the phase specific development and cross industry patterns, there are other factors that accelerate industry consolidation like capital market pressures, globalization, advent of internet, technology infrastructure to support networking. More value can be achieved by the company which is demanded by the capital markets through acquisitions and mergers. The infrastructure of technology providing the facility of communicati on to companies outside their own walls influences the activity of consolidation. The communication via internet and potential of integration facilitates the management of complex enterprises. This makes more mergers and acquisitions possible. As companies strive to get bigger, market fragmentation is followed by consolidation waves. On reaching a certain degree of concentration, the mergers decline. The businesses focus on its core competencies at that time until it no longer look for merger and acquisition rather it choose alliances. Knowing the phases and patterns of the activity of merger and acquisition enable the knowledgeable players understanding the scene of merger in their industry, evaluating the

Sampling Plan Utilizing Randomizer Research Paper

Sampling Plan Utilizing Randomizer - Research Paper Example The research paper "Sampling Plan Utilizing Randomizer" presents the overview of the software that allows the users to define the dominant age of Facebook users. The population of 2000 ruled out the possibility of the feasible census and instead a simple random sampling technique was used. This is powerful online software which generates samples randomly. All you need to do is to feed in the range of values and specify the number of sets. Then choose how many numbers to be picked from each set to represent the population. It is easy to use, faster and available free of charge on the internet. In order to assess the dominant age of Facebook users, my established contacts were used. I had 2000 friends on Facebook which is an online social networking site. I hoped to address the research question: What is the dominant age of Facebook users? The population of 2000 ruled out the possibility of the feasible census and instead a simple random sampling technique was used. The availability of the contacts on the site made it possible to establish a sampling frame from where a representative sample was to be drawn. In order to ensure the equal chances of selection into the sample space, the sampling units were represented by their number on the list generated from my friend's page. The contacts were arranged alphabetically and assigned position 1 to 2000. The numbers were fed into a randomizer to generate 25 sets. In each set, the randomizer picked 2 numbers bringing the sample size to 50.