Planning,Control, and Risk Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Planning,Control, and Risk - Research Paper Example In 2011, Steve Jobs unveiled the iCloud, which is an online storage for music, files, photos and software in place of MobileMe. The company is also looking forward to the environmental issues that emerge during the production process. Thus, the company has come up with the initiative of reducing the carbon emission during the production process. In spite of the rise in the revenue of the company over the years, the greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 15.4% since 2008 in terms of per dollar revenue (Apple Inc., 2012). Rate of Return Apple Inc. is a US based company and, therefore, deals in the US dollar value. Internationally, dollar is considered to be the standard scale in understanding the present status of the market. Therefore, both local as well as parent currency returns for Apple Inc. would be in terms of the US dollar. If the company invests in developing countries where the market is huge, then the foreign direct investments made by the Apple Inc. will turn out to be fr uitful, as the exchange rates of foreign currencies with respect to US dollar are variable over the market. On taking a closer look we can observe that, as per the present US market, the rest of currencies of the countries in which Apple has invested are of a comparatively lesser valuation. Thus, a deviation occurs with the gross margin and the net sales of the company when computation is done in terms of other foreign currencies. As inflationary pressures are faced by the economy at large, it is quite normal that exchange rate fluctuations occur. So the risk of exchange fluctuations still remains even if the company makes majority of its investment in the US dollar. Since the company has generated a maximum return from Asia Pacific, there remains a probability that the foreign direct investment made in this region of the world will tend to bring about more returns for the company. The market of Asia Pacific still remains untapped in a lot of sectors which, if invested in, can gener ate profitable returns for the company. However, before investing in FDI’s, Apple Inc. needs to measure all the elements of the financial statement operating in functional currency. The company should also translate the current exchange rate from the functional currency to the reporting currency. Most importantly, the company should be able to assess the economic changes that are responsible for affecting the exchange rates over the net investment. The changes that are generally observed are on each item of assets and liability of the company over the years (FASB, 2012). Role of Accountants in Managerial planning process The accountant of an organization has a very important role in the operations of the company, based on which the managerial decisions are taken. In the process of accounting, the details of the most useful data related to the transaction of the business are recorded. If the accounting seems to have flaws, the decisions taken by the management may go against t he success of the company. However, if all the rules of financial recording of a company are taken into consideration in the accounting of the organization, the managerial decisions taken on its basis may turn out to be fruitful for the company. The most vital role of an accountant is maintaining the books of accounts for the future planning of the organiz

Dance review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dance review - Essay Example Ballets give exquisite pleasures to witness at the theater. To me, it appeared that the dual roles of the ballerina depicted the dual roles of common people from every walk of life. Hence the term ‘two-faced’. The eternal battle between the good and the evil. None of us are good in our entirety, and none of us are evil either. Everyone has their own demons and evil intentions. It is only through struggle and overpowering that one side claims victory over the other. We suppress the evil side to confirm to a higher social order. Maybe this aspect was not part of the greater plan. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the original composer of the Swan Lake, might not have put the duality of the human psychology represented through the dancing of ballerinas on purpose. The beauty of the play is that when one ballerina plays both roles it makes the message even more powerful. Odette is trying to set herself free by seeking faithfulness of her lover, while Odile wanting to seduce the lover to make the enchantment permanent. The duality of human nature should not be taken to the extremes of good and evil only. We experience cognitive dissonance frequently in our daily lives. Even more common is the inner child in all of us that wants to trample rules and norms. This side wants to be free, to be rebellious. It wants to do whatever it wants, driven by lust, gluttony and greed. But the mature side of the human tries to hold it back. It tries to suppress it to prevent it from becoming too irrational. The Yin and Yang, the negative and positive, the good and evil, and in that performance, Odette and Odile. As suggested earlier that dance is one of the purest form of human expression. As a Swan Odette was delicate, fragile and innocent. Her posture, her hand movements were so light that she was barely touching the stage. Her ‘floating’ represented the lightness of the soul of a person. Odette presented to me the delicate

Environmental Scan Essay Example for Free

Environmental Scan Essay INTRODUCTION This paper will depict research of the internal and external environments of Target Corporation and Cessna Aviation Company through environmental scanning. By performing a SWOT Analysis, a resolution of the competitive advantages will be made of both companies and the strategies that they are using. The environmental scan of these organizations will include information on how each one creates value and sustainability of competitive advantages through the use of business strategy. The paper will explain the measurement guidelines that the organizations use to verify their strategic effectiveness. The paper will also explain just how effective each companys use of their measurement guidelines is. TARGET Target Corporation is the second most successful retailing company in the United States. While the company offers services in the credit card segment, its retail segment is probably the most recognizable one. Below is an S (strengths), W (weaknesses), O (opportunities) and T (threat) analysis of the company (Mbaskool, 2014) (Mbaskool, 2014) Target Corporation is easily recognized by its famous red and white logo. Since its foundation in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1902, it operates now in every state with the exception of Vermont. Unlike Wal-Mart, the company was slow expanding over the United States borders. On March 04, 2009, Target broke the trend and started to venture internationally. Financially, the company is strong and is now listed as the 36th company on the 2014 Fortune 500 report (Fortune 500, 2014). Strangely, the store is considered by many to be a boring store, for it does not play music in its  stores. Meanwhile, the company has experienced difficulties preventing criminal activities such as theft on its properties. Target faces stiff competition from Wal-Mart and K-mart. A couple of allegations are threatening the reputation of the company and the products that it sells. Government regulations are targeting sales of materials containing polyvinyl Chloride. Also, in 2009, the company was slapped with a lawsuit from the 20 California District Attorneys for illegal waste dumping. The company has long been known for its high-price products. However, it achieved competitive advantage through differentiation in innovation. Target has been able to offer products with unique characteristics. Customers justify the high price with the quality and differentiation associated with the products. CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY For eighty years, Cessna Aircraft Company has become a pioneer in the aviation industry. Currently Cessna is a subsidiary of Textron, which acquired Cessna in 1992. The focus is Cessna growing to become the largest aircraft manufacture developing more aircraft in the air than any competitor. The start of Cessna began with Clyde Cessna developing the desire to fly in 1911. Cessna began operation as the founder in 1927 building the Cessna A-series. Innovation fueled Clyde Cessna to continue to develop and remain aggressive in manufacturing aircraft until retiring in 1936. The obstacles Clyde set forth to overcome were many and through the process many resources became allies through the further development of powered aircraft (Cessna, About, 2012). Through the start of manufacturing Clyde Cessna had a main strength to enter the aviation field, which is the desire to fly. The other strengths that Clyde had through his start were the ability of operating a farm and car lot. Mechanically inclined from the working on motors of the farm equipment and vehicles gave Clyde further development to chase the aviation dream. Innovation to design a better airplane Clyde spent his life savings to obtain a copy of a Queen Aero plane Company design of the Bleriot XI fuselage. The Cessna family in 1916 began to resource with Walter Beech (Beech craft), Lloyd Stearman (Boeing), and others (Cessna, News Releases, 2011). INTERNAL Thorough the interaction of establishing valuable resources Clyde could overcome the weaknesses of psychological criticism from others. Even though Clyde was fascinated with the aviation industry starting, Clyde continued to design the monoplane until he accomplished successful manufacturing of an aircraft of mechanical power. By the time Clyde was stepping down from the company, he had brought the first seaplane into operation. The constant innovation kept the company from many weaknesses and boosted Cessna into the industry. EXTERNAL Cessna found many opportunities innovating in the aviation industry, paving the way into the future of the Cessna Company. Through the struggles of becoming an establishment in aviation Cessna became more knowledgeable with the social, technological, economic, and environmental aspects of the business. Understanding and growing the opportunities within the aviation industry brought much success.   The success of Cessna became a threat in its own because the aviation was just starting out. Competition from other resources in the industry would guide Cessna toward documentation of the many innovative ideas set in the company. The alliances with different organizations also indeed gave Cessna the opportunities to advance competitively. One example of an alliance is the current parent company Textron who started out as an external alliance and is currently a major factor in the internal operations of Cessna. Through the alliances Cessna has grown into a company known for first class bu siness travel for others that buy and invest in Cessna. CONCLUSION In conclusion, an environmental scan benefits an organization by pointing out their competitive advantages, disadvantages, and how they are measured. Performing a simple SWOT analysis helps determine their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to improve the sustainability of the organization. The information that it provides helps determine future business strategy. It can show how it is measured and how effectively it is working for the company. Both companies mentioned in this paper are doing well with their current business strategy, but environmental scanning is something that should be done periodically in order to maintain their success. The text states that A strategist can analyze any industry by rating each competitive force as high, medium, or low in strength. (Wheelen Hunger, 2010). Many companies used these tools to verify its strategic  effectiveness. Rapidly changing external environment requires that upper management not only make quick decisions but also educated ones based on concrete data. Environmental scanning is an integral part of any successful strategic planning. This paper shows the different measurement guidelines at the disposition of the company to verify strategy effectiveness. References Carpenter, M. A., Sanders, W. G. (2009). Strategic management: A dynamic perspective concepts and cases (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Cessna (2011). News Releases. Retrieved from http://www.cessna.com/NewReleases/New/NewReleaseNum-1192344130761.html Cessna (2012). About Cessna. Retrieved from http://www.cessna.com/ Fortune (2014). Fortune 500 2014. Retrieved from: http://fortune.com/fortune500/unitedhealth-group-incorporated-14/ Mbaskool (2104). SWOT Analysis of Target Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.mbaskool.com/brandguide/lifestyle-and-retail/4911-target-corporation.html Wheelen, T. L., Hunger, D. (2010). _Concepts in Strategic Management and Business Policy: Achieving Sustainability_ (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Lustration In Czech Republic And Slovakia Social Policy Essay

Lustration In Czech Republic And Slovakia Social Policy Essay Twenty years after the Velvet Revolution resulting in the change of regime, common feeling prevailing in both, Slovakia and the Czech Republic is disillusion. According to the latest polls of STEM agency, forty years of communist oppression would not discourage 12.3% Czechs to vote for the Communist Party in next election. In Slovakia, the Communist Party would enjoy only 3.1% support as FOCUS agency discovered. However, it cannot be concluded that Czechs excused leaders and collaborators of former regime whereas Slovaks did not. These figures have to be seen in the light of approaches Slovakia and the Czech Republic pursued in coping with their communist past. Absence of the lustration law in Slovakia caused that leaders and collaborators of former regime pervaded into new political system easily, and now can be found in many other parties throughout the political spectrum, apart from the Communist Party. Thus, their actual support cannot be verified. Whereas, the lustration law in the Czech Republic disqualified leaders and collaborators of former regime from holding public positions. This essay tries to argue that although approaches Slovakia and the Czech Republic pursued in coping with their communist past were completely different, surprisingly, none of them led to satisfactory outcomes. This essay primarily presents strengths and weaknesses of the lustration law adopted in 1991, as it applied to the Czech Republic and Slovakia together until its dissolution in 1993. Moreover, with minor changes, it has been valid since then in the Czech Republic. On the contrary, in Slovakia it expired in 1996. This essay describes unfavourable consequences of absence of the lustration law in Slovakia. However, it also mentions harms its existence and strict enforcement did in the Czech Republic. While being a common state, Czechs and Slovaks pursued the same attitude in coping with their communist past. Its Federal Assembly passed the lustration law as the first post communist government on October 4, 1991. This law stated precisely who can and cannot hold certain public positions. A person who was: member of State Secret Police (hereinafter referred to as StB), resident, agent, owner of conspiracy flat, informer, ideological or conscious collaborator of StB, high-ranked official of the Communist Party, member of Peoples Militias, student, or researcher at one of the KGB universities for longer than three months, was excluded from public employment (Act on Lustration 1991). In addition, this law specified more precisely category conscious collaborator as person recorded in StB files as confident or candidate for collaboration (1991). The lustration law, valid until 1996, obliged everyone holding a leading public position, including public enterprises, courts, media outlets and higher education institutions to require the Interior Ministry for lustration certificate, of 8-euro value (Lustration Act 1991). However, lustrations happened even before putting the lustration law into life. The Federal Assembly already in January that year passed a resolution in accordance with all members of parliament, ministers, their deputies and civil servants had to be screened for StB collaboration. It did not take long until the first ethical concerns were raised about both, the resolution and the lustration law. Roman David mentions that the International Labour Organisation criticized them for being discriminatory towards the expression of political opinion and human rights groups for violating the right to express, associate, be free from discrimination, and participate in public life (2004, 790). The headlines of internationally respected dailies called lustrations in Czechoslovakia Witch Hunts, Hunts for Villains (New York Times 1991) or Grounds for New Injustices (Le Monde 1992), describing them as threats to democracy, fragile anyway at that time. Many scholars mention that new policy makers used exactly contrary argument, defending lustrations as a mean to build and strengthen democracy. They believed if leaders and collaborators with former regime were given public employment, it would undermine democracy. (David 2004, 795; Williams 2003, 2) In this regard, it is difficult, if not impossible to decide who was wrong and right. However, it is possible to define the strengths and weaknesses of the lustration law from 1991. First, the criticism of the lustration law based on the deprivation of political rights does not hold the water. It prevented leaders and collaborators of former regime from public employment, but as Roman David argues the right to public employment was deliberately omitted from the European Convention of Human Rights (2004, 797). Moreover, he adds that the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989 was a monolithic organisation which excluded opposition, prohibited discussion and did not allow free elections (2004, 799). It cannot be considered standard political party as it does not fulfil general criteria of a political party recognized in democracy. Thus, it can hardly claim the same legal protection which is given to other parties. (2004, 799) Furthermore, public employment is identified with certain values. Roman David uses an example of USA where the Supreme Court has confirmed several qualifications for public employees, such as trust, integrity and competency, fitness and loyalty and impartiality, fairness and effectiveness' (2004, 797). This shows that the public employment demands exemplary behaviour. Can someone who contributed to oppression of others be an example for others? Does he hold these values? When identifying former regime and its actors, its crimes should not be overlooked. According to the Czech Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism, from 1948 to 1989, 205 486 persons were imprisoned and 248 persons were executed for political reasons, 282 persons died when trying to cross western borders, and 21 440 persons were placed in forced labour camps from 1948 to 1953. Besides, these figures do not include damages of those, who were deprived from possibility to study, work in their field, and were exposed to constant pursuit of StB and regular interrogations, during which StB members were not reluctant to use violent practices. The Communist Party not only gave consent to these practices carried out by the Peoples Militias that was armed forces of the Communist Party and by StB, it encouraged them to use them. Would not their former members be a threat to unstable democracy in Czechoslovakia, if they were given a chance to participate in public decisions? Knowing the context, is not surprising that after 1989 new policy makers took uncompromising stance towards leaders and collaborators with former regime and dismissed them from political life. However, while one ethical concern was solved, another popped up. If a dismissal from public employment was legitimate, then who to dismiss was in question. As nothing is black and white, simple division on bad and good proved to be impossible for a whole variety reasons. Certainly, thousands of people collaborated with former regime voluntarily for personal gains, fully aware of harms their actions caused to others. However, with new lustrations becoming public, new life stories disclosed proved it was not always the case. Some people seemed to be forced to agree on collaboration. Simply, they had no other choice if they wanted to protect their families and friends, keep their employment, study at universities or even if they wanted to continue dissenting against regime. Who could say s/he was in such situation and decided not to collaborate? A handful could. The political party Public against Violence (hereinafter referred to as VPN), created after 1989 mostly from dissidents was one of the firsts that decided to verify whether their candidates ranked to this handful and screened them for StB collaboration. If they were positive (meaning, they had records in StB files as collaborators), either they resigned or we withdrew them from their position. These were dreadful days. We saw life stories of people who were broken in prisons, uranium mines, during their travels abroad or simply at work. Some of them were our long-time friends, Fedor Gal, Slovak dissident and co-founder of VPN recalls (tyzden 2009). It turned out some of leaders of the Velvet revolution had records in StB files as hostile persons, but as collaborators at the same time. The situation got complicated. Was it right to use the same measure for everyone? Moreover, when the definition of categories excluded from public employment in the lustration law proved to be imprecise . However, no controversy could be found in respect to high-ranked officials of the Communist Party, the same could not be said about StB collaborators and members of Peoples Militias. High positions in the Communist Party were to be queued. Everyone who reached this hierarchic level within the system not only decided voluntarily, but also had to put much effort in order to reach it. As Roman David argues, Only devoted and loyal candidates were granted membership. He stresses these were aware of illicit aims of the Communist Party (2004, 802). The StB collaborators were also conscious members. However, in some cases StB members blackmailed them in order to make them sign the agreement on co-operation. Still, the biggest loophole occurred in the category of Peoples Militias members. As Roman David emphasises, even though Peoples Militias helped to oppress the opposition during the communist coup in February 1948, they did not necessarily know this was its purpose when they entered the organization. Later on, when they realized it, they could not disjoin the organization, as it was almost impossible with any communist organisation. (2004, 802) Furthermore, not everyone who entered the Peoples Militias even after the communist coup shared its purposes. The circumstances varied from case to case. This essay would use the case of Milan Kuta, published in the New York Times. Milan Kuta was respected oncologist when he was offered to lead the Oncology Centre in not very favourite Czech town Chomutov in 1985. In order to get this employment, he had to enter the Communist Party and provide the Peoples Militias with first-aid courses. Never being active in political life before, he decided to accept the offer, as he knew it was the only way for the centre to get appropriate finances and for him to get more interesting job. However, in 1991, after the lustration law was enforced, he as the director of state-owned medical centre found himself in unpleasant situation. Coming under the category inconsistent with public employment, he had to resign from his position. (New York Times 1992) Nowadays, Milan Kuta still works in the Oncolog y Centre in Chomutov and is considered renowned specialist in his field. If a role of the lustration law were simplified to being a mean inflicting punishment on collaborators with former regime for their past wrongdoings, it would be difficult to say what Milan Kuta did wrong. Furthermore, in this case, it would be also difficult to defend the lustration as a mean to build and strengthen democracy. How would democracy be endangered if Milan Kuta stayed in his post? He was not active in the Communist Party, and he never collaborated with StB. The only criticism could come from giving Peoples Militias first-aid courses. First, was this inherently bad? Second, could this be compared to pursuing people and oppressing their fundamental rights? It hardly could. Thus, was not a burden of collective guilt too heavy for Milan Kuta? Not only he loosed his post in the Oncology Centre, he had to face a disdain of society. Moreover, Milan Kuta was not the only case. Many people were harmed by imprecise definition of some categories inconsistent with public employment according to the lustration law and by the principle of collective guilt, it imposed. Finally, also the credibility of StB files was questionable. Political leaders, old as well as new, in both countries quickly realized these could be useful tools for political blackmailing. Pavel Zacek, the Czech historian from The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in Prague claims, StB files were manipulated and thousands of them possibly destroyed by StB, but also the Communist Party, Peoples Militias, and army immediately after the Velvet revolution (SME 2009). This suspicion puts another question mark behind the legitimacy of the lustration law in Czechoslovakia. The lustration law passed in 1991 in Czechoslovakia was important step in preventing leaders and collaborators with former regime from shifting newly built democracy back to dictatorship. However, it was step uncertain, unaware of direction it wanted to take and of destination, it wanted to reach. The categories of people affected by the lustration law were too broad. The public employment covered significant part of the labour market after 1989. Thus, too many people were deprived from public employment and the lustration law did not differentiate among them. A doctor giving first-aid courses to Peoples Militias was in the same position as member of StB pursuing and interrogating innocent people. The lustration law from 1991 was common basis for both countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. However, Czechs were initiators and insisted on the lustration law more than Slovaks, which proved to be true after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993 as well. As Nadya Nedelsky mentions, while the Czech Republic kept the lustration law, prolonged its validity in 1995 and in 2000, though the president Vaclav Havel vetoed its prolongation both times, Slovakia let the lustration law expired in 1996 and never enacted it again. (2004, 76, 66) In the Czech Republic, the lustration law was amended in 2000, granting an exemption to persons born after the 1st December 1972. These, if having interest in public employment were not obliged to submit either lustration certificate or statutory declaration (Amendment of Lustration Act 2000). There are several reasons explaining diverged approaches in dealing with communist past. Most often, scholars argue that the regime was not equally tough in both countries. Nadya Nedelsky confirms it and adds to that that the main reason why both countries were not treated in the same way was different level of dissent. According to her, low level of dissent in Slovakia led to lesser oppression of Slovaks, and consequently after the Velvet revolution to lesser interest in transitional justice as well. (2004, 81) After 1989, Slovak public became divided not only in this matter. Certainly, there was a public support for lustration processes. However, it was not so unite as in the Czech Republic. Significant part of Slovak public was already occupied with the idea of independent Slovak state. This one seemed to prevail. Although, strength of regime or disunity of public in the matter of transitional justice played important role in deciding for and against the lustration law, they do not provide with sufficient reasoning of two contrary attitudes. The character of political scene of that time in both countries should not be omitted in this debate. Nadya Nedelsky mentions, even though Vaclav Klaus and Vladimir Meciar, Czech and Slovak political leader who gained their popularity from playing crucial roles in a split of Czechoslovakia, had several common features, they led both countries to completely different directions. While the government of Vaclav Klaus got the Czech Republic closer to the western democracies, authoritarian government of Vladimir Meciar, breaking fundamental human rights got Slovakia to international isolation. Even though Vaclav Klaus several times expressed his belief that looking back into past can prevent from moving forward in the present and future, he always voted for the lustration law. On the contrary, Vladimir Meciar was strongly against the lustration law, surprisingly referring to violation of human rights. Moreover, regarding Vladimir Meciar, he was accused of stealing and destroying StB files that could discredit him, as he was suspected to be collaborator of StB. As Vaclav Klaus and Vladimir Meciar formed newly created republics for several years after the split to big extent, it is not surprising that the attitude toward lustration turned in the Czech Republic and Slovakia into completely different directions just because they had a different view on it. Nevertheless, surprisingly, different directions these two approaches took did not result in different ends. Harms the lustration law and its strict enforcement caused in the Czech Republic because of its loose definition were described above. Nevertheless, harms its absence caused in Slovakia are not fewer. Lack of public and political interest in settling the past resulted in politics, but also church being riddled by former communists. The most known is the case of Jan Sokol, former Roman Catholic archbishop accused of collaborating with former regime. Even though, his name popped up in StB files several times, never as of hostile person, but as of candidate for collaboration, and later on as of agent, and there was found a record disclosing about whom he informed StB, he never admitted it or offered his resignation. (Nations Memory Institute 2004-2009) Not having the lustration law, Slovakia did not have any mechanisms to withdraw Jan Sokol from his position. Again, similarly as in the case of Milan Kuta, Jan Sokol is not an exception. Slovakia never fully extricated from the influence of leaders and collaborators of former regime. In addition, Slovak political development after 1989 is the case in point, what crucial role the lustration law plays in democratisation processes. Slovakia with its do nothing approach in dealing with the communist past, proved to be weak to protect its young democracy, as Vladimir Meciars government apparently did not comply with democratic principles. Overall, twenty years passed since the lustration law in the Czech Republic has been in force and thirteen since in Slovakia it expired. Certainly, it played important role in strengthening democracy after 1989. A fear that leaders and collaborators with former regime could undermine was understandable. However, is this law tenable in the Czech Republic now being a part of the European Union since 2004? Is not same fear groundless? Who will redress all the damages done to reputations of unjustly accused of collaboration? Vice versa, who will redress all the damages done to dissidents in Slovakia who suffered from oppression of the communist regime, and have to see now their oppressors making public decisions? These unanswered questions did not have to be posed if either the Czech Republic or Slovakia adopted more consistent approach in dealing with their communist past. References Czech Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism. The Number of Casualties of the Communist Regime in Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989. http://web.mvcr.cz/archiv2008/policie/udv/popraveni/obeti/index.html (accessed December 4, 2009) David, Roman. 2004. Transitional Injustice? Criteria for Conformity of Lustration to the Right to Political Expression. Europe-Asia Studies. 56, no. 6: 789-812. Engelberg, Stephen. 1992. The Velvet Revolution Gets Rough. New York Times. May 31. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/31/magazine/the-velvet-revolution-gets-rough.html (accessed December 4, 2009) Federal Assembly of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic. 1991. Zà ¡kon, ktorà ½m sa ustanovujà º niektorà © d(alÃ… ¡ie predpoklady na và ½kon niektorà ½ch funkcià ­ v Ã… ¡tà ¡tnych orgà ¡noch a organizà ¡cià ¡ch C(eskej a Slovenskej Federatà ­vnej Republiky, C(eskej republiky a Slovenskej republiky. (Act on Lustration) 455/1991. FOCUS (Marketing and Social Research agency in Slovakia). Electoral Political Party Preferences for November 2009, http://www.focus-research.sk/files/110_Preferencie%20politickych%20stran_%20nov2009.pdf (accessed December 4, 2009) Gal, Fedor. 2009. Lustracie III. Tyzden (Slovakia). August 30. http://www.tyzden.sk/casopis/2009/35/lustracie-iii.html (accessed December 4, 2009) Monroy, Catherine. 1992. Difficile lustration en Tchà ©coslovaquie Le sort rà ©servà © aux anciens communistes risque de donner lieu à   de nouvelles injustices. Le Monde. February 24. http://www.lemonde.fr/cgi-bin/ACHATS/acheter.cgi?offre=ARCHIVEStype_item=ART_ARCH_30Jobjet_id=398186 (accessed December 4, 2009) Nations Memory Institute. 2004-2009. Sprà ¡va Ã…  tB Bratislava (The StB Report Bratislava). http://www.upn.gov.sk/regpro/zobraz.php?typ=krajkniha=88strana=62zaznam=82158 (accessed December 4, 2009) Nedelsky, Nadya. 2004. Divergent Responses to a Common Past: Transitional Justice in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Theory and Society. 33, no. 1: 65-115. New York Times, national edition. 1991. A Witch Hunt in Prague? April 6. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/06/opinion/a-witch-hunt-in-prague.html (accessed December 4, 2009) STEM (The Centre for Empirical Survey in the Czech Republic). STEM Political Party Preferences for November 2009, http://www.stem.cz/clanek/1884 (accessed December 4, 2009) TASR, Meciar vyuzival materialy StB, tvrdi cesky historik (Meciar abused StB material, says the Czech historian), SME, October 7, 2009. Williams, Kieran. 2003. Lustration As the Securitization of Democracy in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics. 19, no. 4: 1-24.

Jurassic Park :: essays research papers

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton is a riveting piece of science fiction. Most of the story takes place on an island off the Pacific side of Costa Rica. A deciduous rain forest inhabits most of the island. An eccentric old man named John Hammond leases the whole island to create a frightening dinosaur amusement park, using real dinosaurs. Within this jungle setting, Michael Crichton’s engrossing, believable characters bring the story to life with quick action, intense dialogue and scientific questions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Hammond’s amusement park is dedicated to making live dinosaur specimens available to view to the paying public by genetically splicing prehistoric DNA. To test out his park and prove to investors it is safe and real, he invites two paleontologists, Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler, his two grandchildren, Tim and Lex, and a mathematician, Ian Malcolm. While the guests are on a tour of the dinosaurs, a greedy self, obsessed computer programmer named Dennis Nedry shuts the security and power off using a trap door he built into his computer code, in order to steal valuable embryos of the dinosaurs in the park. While trying to flee from the park to deliver the embryos to a competing genetics company, Nedry comes across a few dilophosaurs, who have escaped, because along with security, the electric fences (to harbor the animals) has been shut off. The dilophosaurs leisurely kill Nedry by first spitting him in the eye with poisonous spit to make him blind, and th en devouring him. Meanwhile, the guests are attacked by an escaped tyrannosaur. Throughout the last half of the book, Hammond and his assistants try to re-establish electric power, while Grant and Hammond’s two grandchildren fight and outsmart dinosaurs to make it back to the main headquarters. In the end, Hammond dies from a dinosaur attack, along with seven other island visitors. His employees and guests are taken in to Costa Rican custody. A herd of velociraptors escapes from the island and the Costa Rican government kills the remaining dinosaurs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alan Grant is a very important character for the story. He is a paleontologist that shows three strong good qualities during his journey back to the control room., which are that he is a problem solver, an intelligent person and caring individual. Grant is in his mid-forties. He is an outdoor oriented person, wearing tennis shoes and jeans, even when teaching at universities. One of his qualities is that he is a problem solver.

Free Essays on Picture of Dorian Gray: Dorian as Faust :: Picture Dorian Gray Essays

Dorian as Faust in The Picture of Dorian Gray The Picture of Dorian Gray is a rich story which can be viewed through many literary and cultural lenses. Oscar Wilde himself purposefully filled his novel with a great many direct and indirect allusions to the literary culture of his times, so it seems appropriate to look back at his story - both the novel and the 1945 film version - in this way. In many ways, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a retelling of the Faust story. A temptation is placed before Dorian, as with Faust, and he falls for it--offering up his soul to get it. In fact, one of Faust's principal wishes is also to remain young. Faust and Dorian also each seduce a young woman, then lead her to her death, as well as leading the woman's brother (Valentine in Faust and James Vale in Dorian Gray to die in attempting revenge for his sister. It is also a Doppelganger story, like Adelbert Chamisso's "Peter Schlemihl" (in which Peter foolishly sells his shadow) and even more like Edgar A. Poe's "William Wilson" (in which the narrator is tormented by a schoolchum who looks and sounds exactly like him, and which ends much like Dorian Gray, with its more sinister overtones. Dorian Gray has a theme of eternal youth, bought at the price of one's soul, and continued through the destruction of others, in common with vampires as well. And, of course, Dorian Gray has to be run in the mind's eye against the backdrop of Oscar Wilde's life, particularly his affair with the young aristocrat, Lord Alfred Douglas, which eventually landed Wilde in jail for sodomy, and pretty much ended his career. Along these lines, the life of Oscar Wilde and his novel, Dorian Gray can also be compared to that of rock star Freddy Mercury of Queen and their song, "Bohemian Rhapsody." Here we have Oscar Wilde, fun-loving, witty, cynical, decadent kind of guy, undone by his homosexual liaison with Lord Alfred Douglas, languishing in jail for sodomy. A few years previous to this sad turn of events, he writes The Picture of Dorian Gray--about a decadent, immoral murderer, who also has homosexual relations (with various young men who die, become drug addicts, commit suicide, etc.), and who dies a horrible and disfiguring death due to his evil ways. Now, we also have Freddy Mercury, who lived a flamboyant and decadent lifestyle as a sexually ambiguous rock star.

Car Accidents

CAUSE AND EFFECT PARAGRAPH -CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS Car accidents are something that has become common in human life. Almost everyday car accidents happen around us within anytime and anywhere around the worlds. It harms everyone without exception to anybody. The tragic part of car accidents is when it involving fatal. It is very unfair for every living body to die in the car crash and it such a wasted. Furthermore car accidents are something that can be avoided if we altogether concern about the factors that can lead to the crash. First and foremost, careless driver is one of the factors of car accidents. They are not paying 100% attentions on the road while driving. Some of them are talking on the phone, and controlling the car with only one hand. This actually increases the risk of getting involved in car accidents. There are also driver that are not in proper condition to drive. As example, the driver does not getting enough sleep to be able to drive safely resulting in falling asleep while driving and may lead to car accidents. Secondly, poor road conditions also contribute to car accidents. Irregularly surface of road can cause driver to lose control on the car. Unclear road signs that are hard to be seen especially during night and improper placed of speed bump are really disturbing the driver and thus car accidents are more likely to occur. Finally, bad weather is also the causes of car accidents. Heavy rain, storm and snow limit the driver’s visibility and put themselves and others on risk. As example, when it is raining heavily, the road become slippery and car’s tyres have fewer grips on the surface of road. Consequently, the cars will collide with each others. As a conclusion, peoples especially drivers should take note the factors that cause the car accidents as they will beware when driving and thus can help avoiding car accidents. Car accidents Brainstorm as many causes of accidents as possible in the following categories (Include at least 10 examples of each) HUMAN: Speaking on the phone Testing Speaking to the passengers in the back seat No settable Driving under the Influence of drugs/alcohol Not being cautious of people crossing the road Distracted driving Ignoring road signs Unsafe lane changes Road rage VEHICLE: Flat tires – Design defects – Equipment failure – Brakes – Faded road signs – Potholes – Roadway constructions – Animals on the road Traffic lights not working 4.Write down what the different types of drugs are that can affect someone's driving ability? – Depressants – Hallucinogens – Stimulants How can Stimulants effect someone's driving ability? – You can have a false sense of confidence – You can make rash decisions that can lead to increased risk taking behavior – Your visual perceptions can be distorted, which will make it difficult to Judge distances – Your driving ability and co-ordination will be lessened – With the lack of sleep, you will actually feel more exhausted, affecting your reflexes Car Accidents CAUSE AND EFFECT PARAGRAPH -CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS Car accidents are something that has become common in human life. Almost everyday car accidents happen around us within anytime and anywhere around the worlds. It harms everyone without exception to anybody. The tragic part of car accidents is when it involving fatal. It is very unfair for every living body to die in the car crash and it such a wasted. Furthermore car accidents are something that can be avoided if we altogether concern about the factors that can lead to the crash. First and foremost, careless driver is one of the factors of car accidents. They are not paying 100% attentions on the road while driving. Some of them are talking on the phone, and controlling the car with only one hand. This actually increases the risk of getting involved in car accidents. There are also driver that are not in proper condition to drive. As example, the driver does not getting enough sleep to be able to drive safely resulting in falling asleep while driving and may lead to car accidents. Secondly, poor road conditions also contribute to car accidents. Irregularly surface of road can cause driver to lose control on the car. Unclear road signs that are hard to be seen especially during night and improper placed of speed bump are really disturbing the driver and thus car accidents are more likely to occur. Finally, bad weather is also the causes of car accidents. Heavy rain, storm and snow limit the driver’s visibility and put themselves and others on risk. As example, when it is raining heavily, the road become slippery and car’s tyres have fewer grips on the surface of road. Consequently, the cars will collide with each others. As a conclusion, peoples especially drivers should take note the factors that cause the car accidents as they will beware when driving and thus can help avoiding car accidents.