National Museum of Anthropology

Armageddon, judgment day, doomsday, annihilation—dark as they may be in connotation, these are the terms many people associate with 21st December 2012. In anticipation, astrologists, scientists, and media men have foreshadowed the near future with a catastrophic picture of the earth’s end. As time approaches, public obsession on the earth’s destruction continues to spread, leaving us to our own interpretations and causing panic to the general public, including of course the business sector. As the day draws near, people question themselves how they should prepare for the destruction.Undoubtedly, many religious followers will form big crowds in churches and houses of worship to plead for God’s mercy. At the same time, computer programmers may think this phenomenon as another Y2K in the making, thus backing up files and creating new programs seem rational at this point. Moreover, some governments have already pronounced concern on the issue, and pushed some efforts to prevent disaster. However, in the midst of all these, it is equally wise to consider pondering on the phenomenon with skepticism. This way, we could come up with a good judgment of whether to believe the prophecy or not.The 2012 hysteria started with the observation that the 13th Baktun of the Mayan Long Count calendar, also referred to as the Aztec calendar, ends on 12-21-2012, a winter solstice (Soveign 2008; Eden n. d. ; Cooper n. d. ). The calendar which is carved on the Aztec â€Å"sun stone† is currently on exhibit in the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Chapultepec Park, Mexico City. Relevantly, some people ponder that since the â€Å"sun stone† shows days of the sun, its final day which is December 21, 2012 ultimately predicts the â€Å"end of the sun.† History recounts a number of phenomena predicted by the Mayas, some of which include solar and lunar eclipses, taking into consideration the rotation of the earth and its speed. T he Mayas also predicted that in 1996, people would create an inter-dimensional network that could enable people to communicate despite a far distance such as the Internet. These prophecies establish reliability of the Mayas and their Long Count calendar in predicting future astrological events.In line with the 2012 phenomenon, many are awed by the Mayan prophecy as the date corresponds with the galactic alignment in which â€Å"the ecliptic of our solar system will intersect with the Galactic plane, called the ‘Galactic Equator’ of the Milky Way. † (Eden n. d. ) At the same time, the earth will also be aligned with the center of the Galaxy where there is maximum mass. This alignment, which never occurred before could definitely cause disruption in the earth’s activity. Furthermore, the said date coincides with the earth’s solar maximum.During this time, solar flares, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections are strongest. These flares come from the sun and shoot through planets, discharging radiation and strong electrical currents and causing problems for satellites, communications, and power grids. (Raeder, as mentioned in Eden n. d. ) An investigation conducted by NASA's THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) satellite declares that conversely, galactic alignment will create â€Å"a huge breach,† allowing more sun particles to come in, possibly causing great danger to both living and non-living creatures.Implications to Different Sectors In line with the upcoming phenomenon, investors to electric and power companies should take precautions in the next three years. Due to strong electrical currents predicted by experts, power failure may likewise take into play. On the contrary, those who have invested in solar energy might reap the harvest, though this still needs in-depth investigation. Moreover, since the forecasted catastrophe is caused by the flares of the sun, it basically implie s earth’s need to contradict the main force, which is heat energy.To control excessive amount of heat onto the earth’s surface, we may need to make serious efforts to counter this by taking better care of our environment. Basically, plant and marine life, which produce the greatest amount of oxygen should be multiplied in order to save the planet. While the Mayan prediction and scientific explorations offer substantial explanation regarding the 2012 catastrophe, let us consider how other sectors of the society react to the said end. In particular, we may note portions of the business sector that thrive from the said prophecy.For example, Sony Pictures Entertainment will release a movie titled, â€Å"2012† in November this year. This movie, directed by Roland Emmerich, centers on the doomsday of 2012 based on the Mayan prophecy. As early as last year, the movie outfit has already released a teaser trailer and launched a Web site that not only promotes the film bu t also invites viewers to register for lottery. Similarly, a number of Web sites (i. e. , December212012. com) that have been established are used not only to promulgate the news but also to sell products that bear captions related to 2012 phenomenon.Some of these include books, t-shirts, caps, and other accessories. All these reveal a hidden agendum of how some profit makers earn from the panic they have just caused the people. These also give the impression of how this prophecy would culminate to a meaningless end similar to prophecies made in the past, such as the Y2K. The truth regarding galactic alignment offers enough warning for everyone to start preparing for the next cycle of weather disturbances and natural disasters. Although many visionaries including Nostradamus (mentioned in December212012.com) offer common views regarding doomsday, we should not allow ourselves to be victims to profit-seekers who proliferate the news only for their personal gain. May this also serve a s a call to stop sensationalizing the issue because at the end of the day, no one can really predict what exactly will happen in the future. Furthermore, may this remind media people and Web authors of their responsibility to our people to tell and live the truth. Works Cited Cooper, Adrian. â€Å"The Year 2012. † (n. d. ). Retrieved 4 March 2009 < http://www. whatismetaphysics. com/year2012. html>. Eden, Dan. â€Å"December 21, 2012: The Real Doomsday? † (n. d. ).Viewzone. Retrieved 3 March 2009 . Emmerich, Roland. â€Å"2012. † (2009). [Film]. NY: Sony Pictures Entertainment. â€Å"History Presents Nostradamus 2012. † (2006). Retrieved 3 March 2009 < http://www. december212012. com/articles/news/History_To_Air_New_Nostradamus_Special. htm>. Raeder, Jimmy. â€Å"Important Update: January 2009. † In Eden, Dan. â€Å"December 21, 2012: The Real Doomsday? † (n. d. ). Retrieved 3 March 2009 . â€Å"Soveign, Mark. â€Å"What Exactly will Happe n in 2012? † (2008). Retrieved 4 March 2009 .

Analysis of theoretical explanations of the relationship between Essay

Analysis of theoretical explanations of the relationship between technology and society - Essay Example 2.1 Technological determinism is a reductionist theory which holds the assumption that a society’s technology plays a crucial role in driving the development of its social structure as well as the cultural values (McLoughlin 1999, 32). The social structures evolve as a result of adapting to the technological change. The theory also suggests that technology moves on its own course which is normally independent of the human direction. It is therefore regarded to as an autonomous system which ultimately permeates all other sub systems of a society. Technological determinism contributes to the conclusion that emergence of automated technology inevitably raises the level of skill as well as the autonomy of the work force. According to Webster (2002, 34), technological determinism is also a clear explanation of the relationship between technology and society which asserts that technology plays an important role in determining the social existence within a society. In most instances technological changes act as catalysts for societal change. The changes are either seen as literally outside the context of the society or metaphorically outside the society. In addition, the technological developments take place as a result of natural logic which is not socially or culturally determined. As a result, the developments enact change and social adaptation (McLouglin 1999, 39). 2.3 The reason as to why I think they are perfect examples is due to the impact they have on the society and their autonomy nature. Bearing in mind that technological determinism refers to technology as an autonomous system, the quotes support the idea behind that. For example, robots are slowly being assimilated into the systems of our homes and lives whereby they will play a central role later in the century just like both the internet and combustion do now. In reference to technological determinism, the revolution of

How far do you agree with the intentionalist perspective that Hitler Coursework

How far do you agree with the intentionalist perspective that Hitler had always intended the extermination of the Jews - Coursework Example Hitler insisted to the German population that the Jews were socialists as well as democrats who eagerly exploited the Aryan people’s need for social justice to grab social power over the Aryan population (Victor, 2000). The same school affirmed that Hitler made a blue print of his step by step architectural plan. The plan prioritised removing the Jews from the face of the earth. The intentionalists declared the Hitler Germany policy to exterminate the Jews led to the 1941 German invasion of USSR. The attack on the Jews was dubbed as Hitler’s final solution. Intentionalist philosopher Gerald Fleming branded Hitler as the Fighing Prophet. (Totten, 2000). Further, the Nazi anti-Semitism policy from 1933 to 1939 focused on the discrimination of the Jewish people. Hitler’s government priorities included removing the Jews’ rights. For example, the business companies implemented the Hitler government policy by terminating Jews from their workplaces. In Germany, the Jewish youth did not have equal societal opportunities with non-Jewish youths (Friedlander, 2014). In terms of how far Nazi leaders achieved prescribed policy goals, the Hitler government implemented a new civil service law on April 7, 1933 prohibiting the hiring of Jews. On April 26, the German government ordered the public burning of all Jew-authored books. On July 14, 1933, the German government cancelled the citizenship of its Eastern Jew residents (Friedlander, 2014). Concentration camps, including the Oranienburg_camp and the 1936 Dachau_concentration camps, were set up starting in 1933. During 1937, the government set up the Buchewald concentration_camp to accommodate the growing number of new Jewish prisoners. The camps were used for the consequent massacre of the German Jews. Instead of forcing Jewish prisoners to help in the production of German military equipment, Hitler preferred

Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations Research Paper - 1

Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations - Research Paper Example This paper will apply the process analysis theory to the development of solutions for this facility. By using a process flowchart or process map from a process analysis theory identified in the research and applied to the strategic planning issue complicated issues will be easier to understand, thus allowing for the solution to become clearer in the research. A search of the literature, Internet, Capella Library, and other sources for process analysis, flowcharts, and mapping will guide the direction of the paper. This writer will analyze a specific strategic planning issue, problem, or concern in the acute long-term care facility at RHC. This facility will be an example of many other long-term care facilities as the issues here are closely related within the industry. The rationale for choosing this topic is in the overall organizational structure of this writer’s own healthcare organizations problems and how they affect the overall care of the resident. Cost control is number one in management’s opinion and the consequences of that decision are not addressed appropriately or adequately. Health plans working with nursing homes need to offer better payment models to alleviate some of the issues. In addition, quality care suffers, staff retention is high, medical treatment is lacking, morale is low and patient/family satisfaction is unfavorable. Care coordinators for the resident would be a good implementation in the representation of resident. This writer’s own long-term c are facility has many issues with updating the changes required to address these issues. Those that are addressed are done in a crisis management criterion, simply putting out hot spots and not addressing long-term goals. This project will provide an organizational process to develop a better system for acute long-term care.

Critique of a Political Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Critique of a Political Speech - Essay Example On the 4th of November 2008, Senator Barack Obama spoke at the rally in Grant Park in his hometown, Chicago, Illinois, after winning the competition for the seat of the President of America. After his victory, the first black president of the United States gave a speech before an enthusiastic audience of 240,000. This speech was marked as one of the most awaited, watched, and reviewed political address in history. Obama’s voice echoed in the world, his slogan of change and his strong political campaign were praised. He mentioned the fundamental issues faced by the United States and the rest of the world. He also mentioned about his late grandmother who died just two nights before this date. The speech referenced some of the influential leaders of the US history. Words and thoughts of John F.Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King were discussed. The voice of Martin Luther King’s â€Å"I Have A Dream† was revived. There were echoes in favor of democratic principle, Abraham Lincoln’s â€Å"a government of the people, by the people and for the people† were heard in President Obama’s manner. The speech granted a deep sense of hope despite of adverse circumstances, an optimistic approach in hard times of tough goals. President Obama also directly quoted Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address in these words:† As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." Indeed, history was made on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. The impact of the elections result and the speech was tremendous; the sense of joy was carved on the faces of millions listening to the speech. Long term impacts of the slogan â€Å"YES WE CAN† and Obama’s speech were written in journals and newspapers throughout the globe (Saldin). The performance of

Finance Issues during the First Five Years of a New Company Essay

Finance Issues during the First Five Years of a New Company - Essay Example Accumulated losses of the first 3 years have only been neutralized in the last accounting period for which actual results are available. Consequently, the company has never declared a dividend and does not even forecast one for the first year of forecasted business results. Â  2. The Gross Margin has improved from 18.75% in 2004 to 21.57% in 2005. The forecast Gross Margin for 2006, at 22.92% is only slightly higher than the latest achievement of 2005. However, fuel costs, which are significant for a business such as that of PDS is forecast to rise to 26.04% of revenue, as against 25.49% in 2005 and 25% in 2004. It appears that PDS is not able to secure protection against a major inflation driver into its business contracts. However, PDS has been able to reduce variable labor expenses from 56.25% of revenue to just 52.94% in 2005 and expects the trend to continue with a forecast of just 51.04% in 2006. These are significant productivity gains in a challenging human resources environment. Similarly, staff salaries are forecast to remain constant in 2006 compared to 2005, though net profits will more than double. Â  3. Leased capacity utilization has improved very significantly during the past five years, considering the remarkable rise in revenues. However, depreciation at less than 5% of the gross block in vehicles seems to totally inadequate. The depreciation reserve is entirely inadequate and distorts the profitability picture, including the basis for taxation. Â  4. Though the debenture loan and bank overdraft show plenty of scope for gearing compared to the Gross Block, the company does not have any immovable fixed assets.

Jacksons Building Centres Essay Example for Free

Jacksons Building Centres Essay Introduction: A large to medium sized business such as Jacksons need quite a big Human Resources department. They perform a key role in the companys day to day operations. This department cover many areas such as, recruitment and training, organisation at department levels and looking at competition, these are just a few aspects of the department but are all needed so make the business run efficiently. This Human Resource based project I am going to base on Jacksons Building Centres. The main aim of this study is to investigate the five main areas of Human Resources which are: * Human resource planning * Recruitment and selection * Training and development * Performance management * Motivational theory Human resource planning: In an ideal world businesses should plan ahead when it comes to human resources. A well-organized business will have forecasts and projections of its future staffing needs. These will then be matched to forecasts and projections about the local labour market, which means that the business can develop appropriate strategies for the recruitment, training and development of its staff. Projected Levels of Employment in Lincolnshire: Work Force Lincolnshire Total Number in Employment 219,085 % of all working age in employment 75.2 % of Male Full-Time 42.7 % of Female Full-Time 6.6 % of Male Part-Time 23.4 % of Female Part-Time 27.2 The types of jobs that are in decline in Lincolnshire: The two main types of jobs that are in decline in Lincolnshire are: * Farming this is due to more to increased mechanisation so the ratio of work complete by machines to human is decreasing, thus less man power is needed. * Heavy Engineering the majority of heavy engineering companies have left the area only leaving the largest which is Alstom. Due to Jacksons not being involved in these sectors the decline in certain areas of employment does not have an effect on the business. Technological advances, changes in social behavior, demographic shifts and economic conditions are driving fundamental changes in the structure of the labour market and the playing field on which competition is laid for labour. The competitiveness with other employers is affected by general labour market forces. Recruitment and Selection: Recruitment and Selection is a well-worn topic, whish is traded fully in all major texts. There is always a tension between getting the right person for a job and how much resource in terms of time and money is devoted to recruitment. The main ways in which Jacksons recruit is via Job Centres and Local News papers. This encourages people who live in the local area to apply for the job. The Selection Process for the management scheme: Requirements: Between the ages of 18 and 24. 4 GCSEs 2 A Levels Application: * Approximately one hundred people apply for four positional available, * They then look for suitability for the position in Jacksons case Energetic and hard working, * They then select the definite nos: * not complete application forms, * poor handwriting * poor literacy * They then look for the applicants that they like: * Sociability quality * Good Motivational qualities * A Spark! They then invite the selected applicants to an assessment centre where they undergo a series of tasks. They are first split up into groups of around twelve for around half a day where the do exercises based on: Motivation Sociability Team Work During this time they look for the Contribution of the applicant or domineering and no contribution, within this they look for a balance between them. They then have a half an hour paper base study where they have to figure an appropriate solution to a given problem. From the assessment centre they narrow the candidates down to 2 or 3 which will be interviewed. The interview will be based and assessed on: A Balanced approach Halo Effect Avoiding bias Describe personalities Numeracy Questions Case study during interview (customer service problem) Move away from Psychometric tests Looking at objectives An interview report is then compiled. If the applicant is successful then they will be asked back to another interview with Branch managers and other high status employees. They will then offer 4 to 6 placements within a month to 6 weeks. Included in the next few pages are examples of the Application Form and the Employment Interview Report. Training and Development: Jacksons run a management trainee program which has been running for around twenty years. Jacksons say it has been a strong contributory factor in their continued success, providing their branches with a steady stream of capable Merchant Managers. The programme consists of two stages. The first lasts for two years, in which time trainees will gain a valuable insight into the running of a busy Builders Merchant. The programme will be agreed at the beginning of the course and is designed to acquaint the trainee with a merchants environment, as well as learning and developing valuable personal competencies, such as time-management, assertiveness and communication skills. Knowledge will be developed from grass roots level where the trainee will work in a number of departments, building up an understanding of both the products we sell and customers we deal with. Progress is assessed regularly, both verbally and by written appraisal. Upon successful completion of the first phase the trainee will move onto the second stage of the programme, where there will be more specific management development lasting up to one year. Transport/Warehouse Building Materials Plumbing and Heating Sales Plumbing Office Heating Office Ironmongery Bathroom Showroom Kitchen Showroom Jackson Hire Timber one month three months three months two months two months three months three months one month three months three months In addition to the above, you will also spend time in the following areas: a. Accompanying a Company Representative b. Accompanying a Lorry Driver c. A period in the Accounts Office As a trainee manager you will also take part in special projects such as trade shows, corporate promotions and careers conventions. You will also spend time working at one other branch. This gives you the opportunity to work with people from around the group. Motivational Theory: Training in motivation is important in helping learners develop self-regulatory skills to set their own goals and manage their own learning and performance. Evaluating motivational levels in a learning situation also allows the instructor to determine the clarity of their units directions, and measure the effectiveness of varying consequences to either success or failure of individual students (Driscoll, 2000). Keller adds curiosity and its measure and promotion are a key to promoting knowledge seeking behaviour (Keller, 1987). A prevalent model in motivational theory is credited to John M. Keller. The ARCS theory of motivation corresponds to each of the four letters of the acronym (Keller, 1984): A- Attention R- Relevance C- Confidence S- Satisfaction Attention Kellers Attitude of Inquiry (1987) is a phrase used to describe the attention level desired to promote learning. He recommends varying presentation styles in order to maintain student attention (Keller,1983). Driscoll suggests presenting some materials through varying media, alternating lecture with demonstration, small group discussions, or class debates (2000). Relevance Instructors should relate lessons to their learners experiences by providing concrete examples and analogies. The more familiar something is, the more likely a student is to see it as relevant to their learning and use (Driscoll, 2000). Keller states that people enjoy learning more about things they already believe in or are more interested in (1987). Elementary teachers who used all four categories of ARCS found that relevance bore the strongest positive relationship to on-task behavior (Newby, 1991). Confidence Students gain confidence in their own abilities when experiencing success at challenging tasks (Driscoll, 2000). Students can be shown that seemingly unreachable goals can be attained through a series of organized, manageable sub goals and attainable small steps. Even failure can build confidence if the learner attributes failure to the poor use of strategies inherent to learning (Clifford, 1984). Satisfaction Students base satisfaction on the comparison of their achievements on balance with the achievements of those involved with them in the same learning environment (Keller, 1987). Elements increasing satisfaction can be verbal praise, incentives, and awards (Driscoll, 2000). The above four are the main sections that are obtained under the title Motivational Theory. Different Theories: Many theories have been established within the last one hundred years and it is not possible to consider each one of these. What is important in the study of motivation are the key names that have influenced todays approach. Four major theories have remained at the forefront of motivational techniques and each one is linked to a different style of management they are: * Frederick Winslow Taylor * Douglas McGregor * Abraham Maslow * Frederick Herzberg. Performance management Performance Management refers to different strategies designed to get the best of a businesses work force. Different techniques are employed which attempt to relate performance with pay, or promotion or training. Such schemes are not always popular with workers. A method of creating fair individual and team will be used by the Human Resources department and this could be done by the SMART model: Specific use a clear language to describe exactly what is required Measurable identify numerical targets and outputs which can be counted and assessed Agreed agree these with the employee so that they take responsibility for their own output Realistic set targets that are attainable for each individual, according to their skills and competencies Time-related state specific dates when targets must be achieved and will be measured External Labour Market The external Labour market is important to the running of the Human Resources department of Jacksons. To attract people to the company they need to compete with other companies. This means that Jacksons have to be able to offer the best package for them to attract new workforces. One of the main things that Jacksons offer is the Management training course. This is a very sort after employment opportunity due to incorporating management and other valuable skills fitting for later employment opportunities. Another aspect of importance to the external labour market to the Human Resources department is the way jobs and such are advertised. This in many cases is what a potential employee is looking at. So the Human Resources department look at other companies methods and take the good points from them to increase efficiency of attracting potential employees.