American war for independence II

The American war for Independence was a new revolution that was relevant for various political and social reasons. Due to the changes caused by such revolution, the changes that happened during this event greatly changed the course of American History. In order to fully understand the radical nature of the American Revolution, it is first important to briefly discuss the events during this period. Occurring in the latter half of the 18th century, the American Revolution was the event that allowed the Thirteen (13) Colonies to become the United States of America.This was also the event that finally granted these colonies the independence that they desired from the British Empire. The American War of Independence or Revolutionary War that ensued from 1775 to 1783 was largely radical in nature because of the fact that it was the first instance that a colony had tried and succeeded to gain independence from the British Empire. One of the key developments resulted from this revolution was the birth and growth of enlightenment philosophy in America.The influence of this wave of thinking created a certain sect that was opposed to an absolute monarchy, such as that of the British Empire, and instead embraced a new form of government that was revolutionary for its time. The broad intellectual and social paradigm shifts within the colonies introduced new ideas with regard to republican ideals that began to take hold among the members of the colonies. Democracy soon began to play a larger role in the determination of the new government that was going to replace the absolute monarchy.The steadily expanding role of democracy in government caused the deterioration of traditional social hierarchies that existed. Instead a new ethic was created within the core of American Political values. While the United States was arguably not the first democracy to ever exist, the neo-classical model that arose during this time was largely unheard of in other parts of the world, particular ly from a British Colony.These social and political changes greatly impacted the way that the world saw the Americas from that point on. As the birthplace of modern democracy as the world now recognizes it, the United States of America soon became the symbol of world democracy. The birth of new ideas with regard to government, representation and social class were all altered by this event. It was so influential that it became the foundation of the American Constitution and the reason why the United States will always be known as the land of the free.

Quick Guide to Command-Line Arguments in Ruby

Quick Guide to Command-Line Arguments in Ruby Many Ruby scripts have no text or graphical interfaces. They simply run, do their job and then exit. To communicate with these scripts in order to change their behavior, command-line arguments must be used. The command line is the standard mode of operation for UNIX commands, and since Ruby is used widely on UNIX and UNIX-like systems (such as Linux and macOS), its pretty standard to encounter this type of program. How to Provide Command-Line Arguments Ruby script arguments are passed to the Ruby program by the shell, the program that  accepts commands (such as bash) on the terminal. On the command-line, any text following the name of the script is considered a command-line argument. Separated by spaces, each word or string will be passed as a separate argument to the Ruby program.   The following example shows the proper syntax to use to launch the test.rb Ruby script from a command-line with the arguments test1 and test2. $ ./test.rb test1 test2 You may encounter a situation in which you need to pass an argument to a Ruby program but theres a space in the command. It seems impossible at first since the shell separates arguments on spaces, but there is a provision for this. Any arguments in double quotes will not be separated. The double quotes are removed by the shell before passing it to the Ruby program. The following example passes a single argument to the test.rb Ruby script, test1 test2: $ ./test.rb test1 test2 How to Use Command-Line Arguments In your Ruby programs, you can access any command-line arguments passed by the shell with the ARGV special variable. ARGV is an Array variable which holds, as strings, each argument passed by the shell. This program iterates over the ARGV array and prints out its contents: #!/usr/bin/env ruby ARGV.each do|a|   Ã‚  puts Argument: #{a} end The following is an excerpt of a bash session launching this script (saved as the file test.rb) with a variety of arguments: $ ./test.rb test1 test2 three four Argument: test1 Argument: test2 Argument: three four

Free Essays on A Perfect Day For Bananafish

Symbolism in J.D. Salinger’s â€Å"A Perfect Day for Bananafish† Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger is an entertaining view of the negative and positive aspects of human nature. The nine short stories depict the lives of the Glass family, a family created by Salinger (Salinger). The members of this clan represent the different classes of society as Salinger saw them. Even though the stories and characters carry harsh moral lessons, they are quite intriguing and skillfully written. J.D. Salinger illustrates symbolism in â€Å"A Perfect Day for Bananafish† by the personalities of the characters and the bananafish parable in the story. Salinger introduces Seymour Glass on the last day of his life (Westbrook). He is on the beach talking to his new six-year-old friend, Sybil Carpenter. She affectionately calls him â€Å"see more glass.† While they are playing, he asks her if she would like to catch a bananafish. She questions him and he tells her the following parable: They lead a very tragic life†¦ they swim into a hole where there’s a lot of bananas. They’re very ordinary-looking fish when they swim in. But once they get in they behave like pigs†¦Naturally, after that they’re so fat they can’t get out of the hole again. Can’t fit through the door. They get banana fever and they die†¦(Salinger 16). In the bananafish parable, the bananas represent the mushy, bland temptations of a materialistic society. A bananafish imprisons itself in a banana hole, and while enjoying these simple pleasures, he gives up his freedom. Banana fever is the disease of an overly materialistic society. Seymour, according to this view, is himself a bananafish, and his suicide is seen as despair over his own banana fever (Belcher). Salinger typically focuses on the conflict between an innocent, childlike character, and the vulgar adult world. The typical Salinger hero is more preoccupied with spiritual realities than with the significance o... Free Essays on A Perfect Day For Bananafish Free Essays on A Perfect Day For Bananafish Symbolism in J.D. Salinger’s â€Å"A Perfect Day for Bananafish† Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger is an entertaining view of the negative and positive aspects of human nature. The nine short stories depict the lives of the Glass family, a family created by Salinger (Salinger). The members of this clan represent the different classes of society as Salinger saw them. Even though the stories and characters carry harsh moral lessons, they are quite intriguing and skillfully written. J.D. Salinger illustrates symbolism in â€Å"A Perfect Day for Bananafish† by the personalities of the characters and the bananafish parable in the story. Salinger introduces Seymour Glass on the last day of his life (Westbrook). He is on the beach talking to his new six-year-old friend, Sybil Carpenter. She affectionately calls him â€Å"see more glass.† While they are playing, he asks her if she would like to catch a bananafish. She questions him and he tells her the following parable: They lead a very tragic life†¦ they swim into a hole where there’s a lot of bananas. They’re very ordinary-looking fish when they swim in. But once they get in they behave like pigs†¦Naturally, after that they’re so fat they can’t get out of the hole again. Can’t fit through the door. They get banana fever and they die†¦(Salinger 16). In the bananafish parable, the bananas represent the mushy, bland temptations of a materialistic society. A bananafish imprisons itself in a banana hole, and while enjoying these simple pleasures, he gives up his freedom. Banana fever is the disease of an overly materialistic society. Seymour, according to this view, is himself a bananafish, and his suicide is seen as despair over his own banana fever (Belcher). Salinger typically focuses on the conflict between an innocent, childlike character, and the vulgar adult world. The typical Salinger hero is more preoccupied with spiritual realities than with the significance o...

How Women Can Maximize Their Leadership Skills

How Women Can Maximize Their Leadership Skills There’s a long way to go before we can say that we have gender equality in the workforce. That ideal  world would include total guaranteed pay equity, family leave, and a host of other less tangible things on the equality laundry list- most which would involve women getting the respect they deserve, not to mention recognition for their performance and the freedom to go about their workdays without having to deflect sexism or misogyny. Maybe you work in an environment that feels well ahead of the curve. If so, that’s awesome. But perhaps you don’t, and you are striving to understand how you can have the kind of career you want despite the minefield of obstacles that seem to stand in your path. Either way, let’s face it. Women can- and often are- treated differently in the workplace.Have you ever been called â€Å"honey† or â€Å"doll† by a client or a superior? Have you ever been the only person asked to fetch coffee in a meeting of mostly m en? Have you been passed over for promotions in favor of male colleagues who haven’t been working there as long as you have and, at least as far as you can tell, haven’t matched your performance or achievements? These are but a few of the many ways in which women are still being left behind professionally.According to the latest accounting by Catalyst, women currently hold only 5.8% of CEO positions at SP 500 companies. That’s a pretty measly slice of the pie. How, you might be wondering, can those odds be changed? There’s a lot of chatter (online and in bestselling books and inspirational speeches) about what women need to do to get to the top. â€Å"Leaning in† is just one strategy. Dressing or acting less feminine is another popular one- that means upping your aggression, going in for the kill, learning to be a mercenary in a cutthroat business world. But if these strategies feel a little severe to you, or abrasive, or you just can’t imag ine these tactics working for you, there are other ways.Embrace Your Natural Leadership AbilitiesKeep in mind, women have a wealth of natural leadership skills- and have for generations. Think about the hardworking, iron-willed and purposeful women in your family. Think about how your family has been held together and shepherded through tough times over the years. Chances are a woman is responsible for some or most of that. Think for a second about the unsung skills of your foremothers. Just because they aren’t recognized as they should be doesn’t mean their skills aren’t praiseworthy- and aren’t just the kind of leadership qualities you might innately possess.Things like emotional intelligence, instinct, crisis management, multitasking, troubleshooting, and opportunity managing. Women have (mostly) run the domestic show for a long time, and so effectively and seamlessly that nobody thinks to notice their labors, or their wealth of skills- or to notice ho w those skills might so easily translate into assets in the corporate world.Every woman is different. And gender differences don’t always fall along cookie-cutter lines. There are plenty of women who wouldn’t identify with all or any of the above traits, and plenty of men who would. But, generally speaking, most women do tend to be more collaborative and to take a slightly different tack in decision-making and leadership matters.Just because there are these marked and observable differences in most cases, it is also true that there aren’t any real substantive differences in what it takes to be a good leader that would disqualify a woman or more naturally recommend a man. Women are just as passionate, just as entrepreneurial, just as driven, just as strategic, and every bit as capable. Humans are humans, after all.According to a Gallup poll in 2015, employees with female managers were found to be more engaged in their work than those with male managers. Despite t his- and despite the fact that women are 51% of the population, only 33% of employees in the U.S. have female bosses or supervisors. At the 2013 World Economic Forum, founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab said that â€Å"A world where women make up less than 20% of the global decision-makers is a world that is missing a huge opportunity for growth and ignoring an untapped reservoir of potential†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He was (and still is) right. The more diversity of decision-makers in the workplace and the world, the better off the world and the workplace will be.Develop Key SkillsStart by leveraging the authentic qualities you started out with, rather than downplaying those traits in favor of more stereotypically masculine ones. Embrace your empathy and intuition. They can be invaluable tools for innovation and strategic marketing. Lead by example. â€Å"Go high† when everybody else is going low (thanks, Michelle Obama!). Use your problem-solving skills rather than studying f rom some male-written business manual. Trust your own ideas. Speak when you feel you should, but not just for the sake of speaking. Stay quiet and listen when you feel that’s most appropriate- you’ll never know what you might learn or how your patience might be rewarded when you finally do interject and lobby for your ideas.Cultivate ConfidenceThis may be a tough one, but it’s necessary. Ever met a male CEO or industry leader without it? Start by faking it; eventually you’ll make it. And remember, you won’t get where you want to go by trying to please everyone you come across. If you’ve done your homework and you know your industry and your job inside and out, then speak up; join the fray. Trust yourself. You know what you’re talking about. Speak up and share it. Don’t be afraid to show the world that you are well aware of your own merits and qualifications and that you feel quite strongly when you’ve got the right idea. Be an Actor, Not a ReactorKeep an eye out for opportunities to make a real impact and create a reputation for being a real contributor to projects and causes that matter. But also try to balance that a bit. Work-life balance is important. You can’t rise to the top if you’re too stressed and exhausted to support yourself on the way up. Your contributions will be most valuable when they’re backed up by good stores of sleep and health and verve.Work to Build a Matriarchy from WithinHelp other women. Pull your sisters up to the next promontory as you reach it. Mentor women and girls in your field. But also keep in mind that (most) men aren’t adversaries. Reach out for other, very different perspectives and advice. Seek out both male and female mentors and learn to navigate a path that feels right to you between their unique points of view. Learn to see what all good leaders have in common, regardless of their gender. (Hint: this will be a long list.)Above All : Listen for Your Own VoiceSeek out the stories of women who have made it to those coveted top rungs. Many top women leaders will say that there are a few qualities most crucial to the kind of success in leadership that you crave. Things like being proactive, constantly striving to learn new things and move your business (and indeed your industry) forward. Being able to negotiate confidently, rather than settle quietly. Being flexible, and able to adapt to any situation or crisis you may confront, open enough to think outside the box for a solution. But also keeping your eyes open, using your listening skills and powers of observation. Staying focused, despite all of the noise. Being authentic, true to yourself, but never keeping silent. Being outspoken, even if that means learning to get comfortable not being universally liked.Remember, you are your best (and sometimes only) advocate. Only you can be truly confident in your capabilities. It’s up to you to convince everyone e lse. Toot your own horn and the horns of the women you work with. No one will do it for you. Strike that power pose and unleash your creative forces. Pitch your ideas. Be audacious. Soon, you’ll be respected, even if not universally everyone’s best pal or favorite colleague. Respect, above all else, is key.In an ideal world, the burden wouldn’t fall so squarely on women to prove their mettle and earn the respect their male colleagues seem to start with at the bottom rung. But the world won’t always be so lopsided. You could be one of tomorrow’s leaders, a captain of industry who commands respect and changes lives. You could help shape a better, brighter world- not just for women in the workplace, but for all of us. So go ahead and take your seat at the conference table. And don’t be afraid to stand up and grab the mic.

Dissertation topic in Science Education, PhD Research Paper

Dissertation topic in Science Education, PhD - Research Paper Example Beneze et al identify that â€Å"for most students, school science is like being chained inside Platos cave, only able to experience or interpret the world of science from flickering shadowy images† (2003, p. 285). In a study of 3 years of large scale analysis of the teaching of science, they concluded that children do not get so familiar with the use of abstract ideas and they do better with practice. In an old journal that examined the evolution of the teaching of science in elementary schools, it was apparent that the original approach of teaching science in the 1800s was to get children to perceive nature â€Å"from the childs standpoint† (Curtis, 1950). However, further investigations indicated that as times evolved and institutions of higher learning got structured and teaching methods were institutionalized, middle schools were required to prepare their pupils for advanced courses in science (Curtis, 1950). Thus, although practical studies and practical teaching is important and vital, there is the need for the teaching methods to be relevant to higher education and the real world. The teacher will have to draw a balance between three main things in the teaching of science: Internships for teachers are normally conducted in an academic or school-setting. There is limited exposure to the industry and other institutions of higher learning (Minuskin, 2009). There is an inherent challenge in the funding of these internships. Hence, if it is going to be upgraded to a system that will involve institutions of higher learning, the industry and the development of practical ideas, there will be more cost constraints. This can be reasonably spread through the use of online methods and other developed systems that can be conveniently replicated (Nadarajan, 2011). Also, partnerships between the community and institutions can help to share the costs (Hogue, 2012). The aim of the

The development of the concept of competitive advantage and how these Literature review

The development of the concept of competitive advantage and how these ideas have been taken up and have influenced the enginee - Literature review Example Competitive advantage not only provides firms with the necessary edge but it also ensures that they are able to create and maintain niche position in the market. Hence, elements of competitive advantage become major tools of survival in highly competitive business environment of contemporary times. The paper would be mainly discussing the development of the concept of competitive advantage of firms and it is exploited by businesses to maintain market position. Concept of competitive advantage The concept of competitive advantage is complex in its scope and therefore is difficult to define with conclusive authority. Many scholars have tried to unravel the factors that can be applied universally for all businesses but have failed to do so. Though early scholars had tried to identify strength and weaknesses of business strategies and plans that could be exploited by businesses to compete against their rivals, the words ‘competitive advantage’ remained elusive (Andrews, 1971 ; Ackoff, 1970). Interestingly, Penrose (1959) and later Ansoff (1965) had used the word but only to describe as how to compete. For them, various components of business strategies were important issues within competitive advantage and were required to be identified as strength or weaknesses so that they can be used to compete against the rivals in industry. ... It therefore, provides huge possibility for factors or elements that could still be used by firms to gain competitive advantage. The generic strategies vis-a-vis cost leadership, differentiation and focus were promoted as major ingredients of competitive advantage by Porter. But in the contemporary environment of recessive trends and changing format of social structure, these factors are used by all firms. They have become an easy means of survival but in the tough times, they could be caught in the vicious war of price cut leading to loss and closure. Thus, something ‘more’ is required for firms to gain competitive advantage or CA. Hay and Williamson (1991: 42) describe CA as capabilities which give the firms relative advantage against the rivals. Barney (1991: 99) also asserts that CA is value creating strategy that is unique and is not used by competitors. Both scholars were aware that CA is important aspect of businesses but were deficient in describing the elements that constitute CA. The definition was abstract in its content but at the same time, gave invaluable insight into the importance of having competitive advantage. Kay (1993: 24) believed that CA is a measurable financial performance outcome that can be defined as ‘ratio of added value to the firm’s gross or net output’. Most important is the fact that Kay had used it as a tangible asset or value addition to the product and services that help the firms to improve their financial outcome. The criteria lose its essence in the fast transforming scenario of emerging new paradigms in intangible assets and business compulsions. Competitive advantage cannot be confined within the context of tangible products and viewed objectively for its value added services. The transforming values have

Select a business from anywhere in the world Essay

Select a business from anywhere in the world - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact of macroeconomic forces on the business of Tesco. Tesco Plc is a multinational company operating in multiple continents namely North America, Asia, and Europe. This paper concentrates only on business of Tesco in the U.K. Major political forces shaping the economy; impact of recession; and the potential impact on the business are to be discussed in details. The sustainable practices followed by the company have also been highlighted. Tesco Plc is a British retailing giant specializing in food business. Jack Cohen founded the Company in 1919 and it was named as Tesco in 1924. The company had started its business in 1929 with the opening of the first store in London. Tesco had continued its aggressive expansion in the U.K. and by 1960’s there were multiple stores in the country. With the onset of globalization in the 80’s the company had begun to diversify its business both geographically, and, in terms of its business portfolio (Tesco plc, 2014). Presently, the business of the company comprises selling of grocery, electronic items, clothing and furniture. It also includes providing financial, software and telecom services (Tesco plc, 2014). The company offers products that can be used by people of all age groups. Market share of Tesco in the U.K. is 28%. It has been observed that the market share of the company have declined from 31.7% in 2007 to 28.7% in 2014 (Wood, 2014). Theory of economics state s that firms operating in the same market and offering same products by targeting similar base can be treated as competitors. The major competition for Tesco comes from ASDA, Sainsbury and Morrisons. The following pie chart shows the market share of Tesco as compared to its competitors. After the global financial crisis it has been found that Tesco have been losing market share mainly to competitors like Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl that have a combined market share of 3.5%. The main reason that can be