Reading response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 37

Reading response - Essay Example Another major hurdle that Wal-Mart employees face is discrimination against women. Many women employees who have faithfully served the organization for years fail to receive equal salary increment similar to male colleagues. Furthermore, they also face opposition from the company as they seek to form a union for employees. Often, those who show initiative in such activities find their jobs in jeopardy. A number of staff in Jacksonville, Texas found themselves unemployed after successfully voting for a union. Another concern for employees is the fact that many times, they are called upon to work overtime without payment. The company has very high targets, and supervisors regularly call employees to work extra hours to meet these demands. Mallaby argues that Wal-Mart caters to the poor and those households with little income. He claims that the prices of Wal-Mart commodities are pocket-friendly. A huge part of an employees salary usually goes to food and other basic needs. The company offers items at very reasonable prices and operates other programs focused on assisting employees (Mallaby 621). Therefore, Wal-Mart is of benefit to the underprivileged members of the community. He also goes further to respond to criticism about the alleged suppression of wages. He points out that the companys wage structure is better in comparison to that of other firms. Many people would like to work in Wal-Mart, and this is revealed in Mallabys account of a recruitment drive when the store opened a branch in Glendale, Arizona. There were 527 job openings advertised, and they received an overwhelming 8,000 applications for these positions. There is also criticism that Wal-Mart is a parasite on taxpayers. This is because 5% of its wor kers are on Medicaid. Mallaby argues that this is normal with large retail firms. He adds that the national average for all the companies is

Mathematical Methods in Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mathematical Methods in Business - Assignment Example The function below approximates the weekly box office receipts for a popular movie, where x = the number of weeks the movie has been playing.  The function below approximates the weekly box office receipts for a popular movie, where x = the number of weeks the movie has been playing.  What is the rate of change of weekly receipts per theater after 10 weeks?The selling price of a product is $400, and the manufacturer is able to sell every unit it makes. The cost of producing x units is given by this formula.A company has developed a function that describes its profit over time. The x variable measures time. If the first derivative of the function is negative at a value of x, it means that the company is not making a profit at that point in time.A function has the characteristics listed in the bullets below. Use the characteristics to construct a rough sketch of the function using this x axis:_________________________________________________________________________________-20                   -15                   -10                  -5                     0                     5                   10                   15                   20†¢ The function has three critical points†¢ When x = -20, the first derivative is positive†¢ When x = -10, the first derivative is zero and the second derivative is negative†¢ When x = 5, the first derivative is zero†¢ When x = 15, the first derivative is zero indicates whether each of these statements is true or false11. T F When x = 0, the first derivative is positive12. T F When x = 5 the second derivative is positive13. T F When x = 15 the second derivative is positive14. T F the basic shape of this curve is more like an M than a W15. T F For any value of x larger than 15, the first derivative will always be negative

Gothic architecture and romanesque architecture Essay Example for Free

Gothic architecture and romanesque architecture Essay Gothic Style is the most fascinating and mysterious architectural era the world has seen. These large structures of the 11th through the 16th centuries, that are considered to be of Gothic Style, are simply glorious. Throughout the centuries, beautiful medieval cathedrals have been towering above every building and till this day, still survive with their astonishing appearance. The edifices built during the so-called Gothic period were not built with simple identifying Gothic features. Gothic architecture was born of Romanesque architecture altered by the influence of medieval society. Romanesque and Gothic architecture, although having many similarities, also have many differences. There are some who would regard the first Gothic churches in France as late extensions of the Romanesque building boom.The Romanesque contributed greatly to the development of highly articulated, expressive exterior and interior design.'(K Conant p. 6) French Romanesque architecture was the antecedent to Early Gothic in France. What remained to be done in creating the Gothic style as we know it was to take the proportion and sophistication of Cluny III, its relatively thin vaulting, its flying buttresses, joining them to the rib vaulting of Durham, and developing the effective features of each. (K Conant p. 291) Romanesque architecture was designed to be more for protective purposes than for any aesthetic quality. So as not to be destroyed by invaders, the walls of the Romanesque cathedrals were built very thickly. Gothic, on the other hand, had thinner walls and worked towards a more artistic approach. Gothic cathedrals were also designed with statues and sculptures on them such as the gargoyle, which also served as a rainspout. Romanesque cathedrals had few windows, as the walls of the cathedrals were very thick and made placement of windows extremely difficult. Contrary to Romanesque architecture, Gothic had many stained glass windows, which spread colored light, giving a feeling of peace. Gothic style used many flying buttresses and pointed arches, while Romanesque used rounded arches for added support to the heavy construction of the walls and ceilings. Gothic architecture was achieved intentionally by the plan of Abbot Suger to rebuild St-Denis. During the thirteenth century other French contributions influenced cathedrals and partially erased the twelfth century forms. (Grodecki, p. 73) The great models of the thirteenth century gave rise to formal  continuity that can be seen more clearly throughout France than in other countries. France contains more structures that are easier read of successive stylistic phases. Champagne was the most readily influenced by the creation of Gothic architecture. The edifices of Champagne and Saint-Remis represent the final technical and formal improvements of Early Gothic architecture. The sixteenth century Parisian church of Saint-Eustache was modeled after the twelfth century Notre-Dame of Paris. Though Notre-Dame of Paris is considered to be a negative influence by Grodecki, it was a model for many edifices of lesser dimension and importance in the diocese of Paris during the last third of the twelfth century. The edifice being four stories tall lacks a triforium: in its place are rose shaped roundels that emit light up to the roof. The very large, well lit gallery opens to the central nave through triple arched openings. (Grodecki p. 62) Given the height of this structure, the builders turned to flying buttresses as a final solution. However, flying buttresses were not added to the choir. The cathedral was built according to the thin-wall principle; the shallowness of the window recesses and of the gallery arcade make this thinness noticeable at every level. (Grodecki p.62) A positive influence on Gothic architecture is Chartres Cathedral. The Chartres type is believed not only to have served as a model for the great cathedrals both in and out of France, but also its formal and structural success is believed to have made it a kind of masterpiece sui generis whose historical value surely matches that of the most celebrated creations of world architecture. Gothic style is not to be found in the Chartres type, but instead in mid-thirteenth century art: namely Rayonnant style. The choirs of Paris cathedrals all share certain features that make the real culmination of the Gothic principles of space and construction. (Grodecki p. 107) The immensity and magnificence of Chartres is due to the facts that it was the seat of a very wealthy bishopric and the site of a well-known Marian pilgrimage. Chartres includes a double ambulatory with chapels, due to the combining of the plans of Notre-Dame at Paris and of Saint-Denis. The transept is borrowed from the Cathedral of Laon. Chartres architects genius and originality is shown in the interior elevation and general  structure of the building. Chartres is three stories and resembles Sens with one difference: the arcade and clerestory are of equal height, separated by a triforium much like that of Laons. The design of the interior volumes, the delineations of bays by piers and colonettes, the rigor of the side aisles and ambulatory these features comprise one of the most logical spatial arrangements known to Gothic architecture. (Grodecki, p. 110) The Cathedral of Chartres must be considered one of the monuments that states most explicitly the Scholastic or mystic purpose of medieval art. The influence of this extraordinary structure was immediate and widespread. Chartres prompted the elimination of the gallery during construction and the rejection of certain characteristic Champagne features. The twelfth century design of Notre-Dame had been superceded . There are some discrepancies about when Gothic first came to England. According to L Grodecki, the Gothic style was first introduced to England in 1174 by Guillaume de Sens in the choir of Canterbury Cathedral. (Grodecki, p. 195) While C Wilson believes that Gothic was introduced to England by way of a series of more or less disconnected episodes, only some of which had important consequences. (Wilson, p. 72) Wilson also believes that some of the churches which the Cistercians built in the north of England from about 1155 were Gothic. (Wilson, p. 73) So he is saying that these churches are the earliest examples of Gothic in the region, which counter claims Grodeckis theory. Unfortunately it is not at all clear which of the mid-12th-century Cistercian churches in the north of England served as the channel through which Gothic influences reached the region. What can be affirmed is that at least one northern Cistercian church must have been built in the Gothic style by the late 1150s. The presence of the Burgundian elements at York virtually proves that the northern English Cistercians were the medium by which both the architect and the Gothic elements of his design were transmitted. (Wilson, p. 74) Avila, which is a parallel to York, is a mixture of Burgundian Cistercian Romanesque and French Gothic. The society of the medieval time played an important role in the creation of these Gothic Cathedrals. Every walk of life in medieval society can be seen portrayed in the art and decoration of a medieval cathedral. (Brookes essay in Swaans GC, p. 13) The materials used in constructing these edifices were often gifts or offerings from the King, founders, patrons and craftsmen. Swaan seems to think that the peasants felt that the cathedrals were not meant for their presence except during construction when they offered their carts or labor for building. This would suffice to say that the contractors were of low class peasants. Cranes and pulleys powered by men and animals were used to haul stones. Cathedrals were expensive to build; the money came from gifts of land, farms, houses, and jewels. Many people believed that donating money would forgive their sins. The workers such as the architects, sculptors, blacksmiths, and many others, believed that being a part of the construction would bring them fame and fortune. Cathedrals and the people inside implored that God is the most important part of a persons life and should be thanked for everything. People offered prayers and offerings to God at the great Cathedrals thinking it would bring a prosperous and healthy life. At anytime were the townspeople feeling downhearted or prosperous for any reason, their first priority was to go to the center of town and thank God at the cathedral. Praising the Lord became a ritual of everyday life. As one of the largest buildings of its time, the cathedrals represented the heavens in which people believed was peaceful and serene. France was the birthplace of the Gothic Style. French cathedrals began the Gothic era that spread throughout Europe in a rage that has never been seen since. English cathedrals combine the art of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The cathedrals represented faith, dedication and cooperation. And showed the people that even if they had a miserable life, they could always turn to the comforting church for salvation. Cathedrals across the world come in many shapes and sizes but all have the same purpose, to serve as a place to praise Jesus. They will always be around to show the roots of Christianity and portray the architectural skills served by the people of the middle ages.

Baseball :: essays research papers

, cricket played a role in the evolution of organized baseball. From this British game came umpires and innings, and early baseball writers like Henry Chadwick used cricket terminology such as "batsman," "playing for the side," and "excellent field" in describing early baseball games. Likewise, the pioneer baseball innovator Harry Wright, a cricket professional turned baseball manager, drew heavily on his cricket background in promoting baseball as a professional team sport in the United States. By the 1840s various forms of baseball vied for acceptance, including the popular Massachusetts and New York versions of the game. The Massachusetts game utilized an irregular four-sided field of play, with the four bases located at fixed, asymmetrical distances from each other and the "striker's," or batter's position away from the home base. "Scouts," or fielders, put men out by fielding a batted ball on the fly or on the first bounce, or b y hitting a runner with a thrown ball. But this lively version of the game was overshadowed in the late 1840s by the "New York game," a popular version of which was devised by the members of the New York Knickerbocker Club. Organized in 1845 by a band of aspiring gentlemen and baseball enthusiasts, the Knickerbocker version was devised by one of their members, Alexander J. Cartwright. Cartwright prescribed a diamond-shaped infield with bases at ninety feet apart, a standard which has stood the test of time. The pitching distance was set at forty-five feet from the home base, and a pitcher was required to "pitch" a ball in a stiff-armed, underhanded fashion. The three-strikes-are-out rule was adopted, and a batter could also be put out by a fielder catching a batted ball in the air, or on the first bounce, or by throwing a fielded ball to the first baseman before the runner arrived.

Value Chain Analysis

value chain analysis Inbound Logistics Operations Marketing Service Outbound Logistics SAP , VCM SAP , CRM – DMS Strategic Alliances Transporters, Convoy Drivers Association Dealer Network, Marketing Research Firms, Vehicle Financing Regional Warehouses, Dealer Workshops, Distributors, TASS 9 Value Chain Analysis: Tata Motors Inbound Logistics Long term contract with service provider’s – transporters and agents Personnel at regional offices for over seeing the smooth transit of goods Transparency and monitoring through deployment of IT – all transactions through SAP DTL supplies for critical high value items. Efficient storage facilities – easy storage and retrieval Operations Capital Equipment Manufacturing division – tooling development capabilities of global standard. Apprentice Trainee Course – ensuring stable source of skilled manpower. Kaizen & TPM team – continuous drive to improve efficiencies. Automated manufacturing processes. Distributed manufacturing – Assembly units at South Africa, Thailand, Bangladesh, Brazil etc Maintenance – technical competence Capacity Utilization – Mercedes Benz cars make use of Tata Motors paint shop facilities. Outbound Logistics Stockyards, all across the country Long term contracts with transporters – higher volume of business to transporters ensures competitive price. Regional Sales Office and Vehicle Dispatch Section linked through SAP. Efficient security system for prevention of any kind of pilferage Marketing and Sales Structured approach to understanding the requirements of individual customers – QFD’s conducted at regular intervals. Clear identification of product requirements, leading to development of innovative products – Tata 207 DI, Tata Ace Pan India presence and global footprint. Independent teams for addressing the requirements of institutional customers – Defense, State Transport Units Helping to augment the scarce resources – Fiat selling vehicles through Tata dealerships, in return Tata has access to Fiat’s technology and unutilized capacity. Quick assessment of the changing market dynamics and consumer preferences – Tata 407 LCV Large network of dealers – use of technology : DMS. Service Easy availability of spare parts Efficient collection of data from field and communication to the respective plants Pan India presence, as well as global presence. Large network of workshops – Dealer workshops and TASS Training facilities – for dealer end and TASS personnel Procurement E procurement initiative Global Sourcing Team – China, a key destination for sourcing essential items like tires, power steering units etc. , Steel procured from Belarus Long term relationships with a stable and loyal pool of suppliers Technology driven procurement – SAP and VCM Strategic subsidiaries & JV’s – TACO group of companies, Tata Cummins Centralized Strategic Sourcing for key components – FIP’s, Steel etc Group resources – Tata Steel and Tata International Localized supplier base at mfg. locations – low inventory levels Value Chain Analysis value chain analysis Inbound Logistics Operations Marketing Service Outbound Logistics SAP , VCM SAP , CRM – DMS Strategic Alliances Transporters, Convoy Drivers Association Dealer Network, Marketing Research Firms, Vehicle Financing Regional Warehouses, Dealer Workshops, Distributors, TASS 9 Value Chain Analysis: Tata Motors Inbound Logistics Long term contract with service provider’s – transporters and agents Personnel at regional offices for over seeing the smooth transit of goods Transparency and monitoring through deployment of IT – all transactions through SAP DTL supplies for critical high value items. Efficient storage facilities – easy storage and retrieval Operations Capital Equipment Manufacturing division – tooling development capabilities of global standard. Apprentice Trainee Course – ensuring stable source of skilled manpower. Kaizen & TPM team – continuous drive to improve efficiencies. Automated manufacturing processes. Distributed manufacturing – Assembly units at South Africa, Thailand, Bangladesh, Brazil etc Maintenance – technical competence Capacity Utilization – Mercedes Benz cars make use of Tata Motors paint shop facilities. Outbound Logistics Stockyards, all across the country Long term contracts with transporters – higher volume of business to transporters ensures competitive price. Regional Sales Office and Vehicle Dispatch Section linked through SAP. Efficient security system for prevention of any kind of pilferage Marketing and Sales Structured approach to understanding the requirements of individual customers – QFD’s conducted at regular intervals. Clear identification of product requirements, leading to development of innovative products – Tata 207 DI, Tata Ace Pan India presence and global footprint. Independent teams for addressing the requirements of institutional customers – Defense, State Transport Units Helping to augment the scarce resources – Fiat selling vehicles through Tata dealerships, in return Tata has access to Fiat’s technology and unutilized capacity. Quick assessment of the changing market dynamics and consumer preferences – Tata 407 LCV Large network of dealers – use of technology : DMS. Service Easy availability of spare parts Efficient collection of data from field and communication to the respective plants Pan India presence, as well as global presence. Large network of workshops – Dealer workshops and TASS Training facilities – for dealer end and TASS personnel Procurement E procurement initiative Global Sourcing Team – China, a key destination for sourcing essential items like tires, power steering units etc. , Steel procured from Belarus Long term relationships with a stable and loyal pool of suppliers Technology driven procurement – SAP and VCM Strategic subsidiaries & JV’s – TACO group of companies, Tata Cummins Centralized Strategic Sourcing for key components – FIP’s, Steel etc Group resources – Tata Steel and Tata International Localized supplier base at mfg. locations – low inventory levels

Tips on Measuring Distance on a Map

A map represents a portion of  Earths surface. Because an accurate map represents a real area, each map has a scale that indicates the relationship between a certain distance on the map and the distance on the ground. The map scale is usually located in the legend box of a map, which explains the symbols and provides other important information about the map. A map scale can be printed in a variety of ways. Words Numbers Map Scale A ratio or representative fraction (RF) indicates how many units on Earths surface are equal to one unit on the map. It can be expressed as 1/100,000 or 1:100,000. In this example,  1 centimeter on the map could equal 100,000 centimeters (1 kilometer) on Earth. It could also mean that 1  inch on the map is equal to 100,000 inches on the real location (8,333 feet, 4 inches, or about 1.6 miles). Other common RFs include 1:63,360 (1 inch to 1 mile) and 1:1,000,000 (1 cm to 10 km). A word statement gives a written description of map distance, such as 1  centimeter equals 1 kilometer or 1 centimeter equals 10 kilometers. Obviously, the first map would show much more detail than the second, because 1 centimeter on the first map covers a much smaller area than on the second map. To find a real-life distance, measure the distance between two points on the map, whether inches or centimeters—whichever scale is listed—and then do the math. If 1 inch on the map equals 1 mile and the points youre measuring are 6 inches apart, theyre 6 miles apart in reality. Caution The first two methods of indicating map distance would be ineffective if the map is reproduced by a method such as photocopying with  the size of the map modified (zoomed in or reduced). If this occurs and one attempts to measure 1 inch on the modified map, its not the same as 1 inch on the original map. Graphic Scale A graphic scale  solves  the shrink/zoom  problem because it is simply a line marked with the distance on the ground that the map reader can use along with a ruler to determine scale on the map. In the United States, a graphic scale often includes both metric and U.S. common units. As long as the size of the graphic scale is changed along with the map, it will be accurate. To find a distance using a graphic  legend, measure the legend with a ruler to find its ratio; maybe 1 inch equals 50 miles, for instance. Then measure the distance between the points on the map and use that measurement to determine the real distance between those two places.  Ã‚   Large or Small Scale Maps are often known as large scale or small scale. A large-scale map refers to one that shows greater detail because the representative fraction (e.g., 1/25,000) is a larger fraction than a small-scale map, which would have an RF of 1/250,000 to 1/7,500,000. Large-scale maps will have an RF of 1:50,000 or greater (i.e., 1:10,000). Those between 1:50,000 to 1:250,000 are maps with an intermediate scale. Maps of the world that fit on two 8 1/2-by-11-inch pages are very small scale, about 1 to 100 million.

The Taming of the Shrew A Feminist Reading

A feminist reading of Shakespeares The Taming of the Shew throws up some interesting questions for a modern audience. We can appreciate that this play was written over 400 years ago and, as a result, we can understand that values and attitudes towards women and their role in society were very different then than now.   Subordination This play is a celebration of a woman being subordinated. Not only does Katherine become the passive and obedient partner of Petruchio (due to his starving her of food and sleep) but she also adopts this view of women for herself and ​evangelizes this mode of being to other women. Her final speech dictates that women must obey their husbands and be grateful. She suggests that if women do contest their husbands, they come across as ‘bereft of beauty.’ They must look pretty and be quiet. She even suggests that the female anatomy is unsuitable for hard work, being soft and weak she is unsuited to toil and that a woman’s demeanour should be reflected by her soft and smooth exterior. Modern Contrasts This flies in the face of what we learn about women in today’s ‘equal’ society. However, when you consider one of the most successful books of recent times; Fifty Shades of Grey, about a young woman Anastasia learning to be subordinate to her sexually dominant partner Christian, a book particularly popular with women; one has to wonder whether there is something appealing to women about a man taking charge and ‘taming’ the female in the relationship? Increasingly, women are taking more high powered positions in the workplace and in society in general. Is the idea of a man taking on all the responsibility and burden of work more appealing as a result?   Would all women really prefer to be ’kept women’, with the small dispensation of having to obey your men folk in return? Are we willing to pay the price of male brutality over women for a quiet life as Katherine is? Hopefully the answer is no. Katherine - A Feminist Icon? Katherine is a character who initially speaks her mind she is strong and witty and is more intelligent than many of her male counterparts. This can be admired by a female readership.   Conversely, what woman would want to emulate Bianca’s character who is essentially just beautiful but unremarkable in other aspects of her character? Unfortunately it appears that Katherine wants to emulate her sister and eventually becomes even less willing than Bianca to challenge the men in her life as a result. Was the need for companionship more important to Katherine than her independence and individuality? One could argue that Women are still celebrated more for their beauty than for any other achievement in today’s society. Many women internalize misogyny and behave accordingly without even knowing it. Women like Rhianna cavort and look sexually available on MTV to buy into a male fantasy in order to sell their music. They shave all over in order to conform to the current male fantasy demonstrated in prolific pornography. Women are not equal in today’s society and one could argue that they are even less so than in Shakespeare’s day...at least Katherine was just made to be subordinate and sexually available to one man, not millions. How Do You Solve a Problem Like Katherine Feisty, outspoken, opinionated Katherine was a problem to be solved in this play. Perhaps Shakespeare was demonstrating the way in which women are beaten down, criticised and derided for being themselves and in an ironic way was challenging this? Petruchio is not a likable character; he agrees to marry Katherine for the money and treats her badly throughout, an audience’s sympathy is not with him. An audience may admire Petruchio’s arrogance and tenacity but we are also very aware of his brutality. Perhaps this makes him slightly attractive in that he is so manful, perhaps this is even more attractive to a modern audience who is tired of the metrosexual male and would like a resurgence of the cave man? Whatever the answer to these questions, we have somewhat established that women are only slightly more emancipated now than in Shakespeare’s Britain (even this contention is debateable). The Taming of The Shrew raises issues about female desire:   Do women really want a man to tell them what to do and take charge or is an equal partnership something they should be striving for?If a woman wants a man to be in charge does that make her an enemy of the feminist?If a woman enjoys the Taming of the Shrew or Fifty Shades of Grey (Sorry to compare the two, Fifty Shades of Grey is by no means on a par in literary terms!) is she internalising patriarchal control or responding to an innate desire to be controlled? Perhaps when women are fully emancipated these narratives will be rejected completely by women? Either way we can learn from The Taming of the Shrew about our own culture, predilections and prejudices.