The Demon In The Free

The Demon In The Freezer EssayRichard Preston has established himself a reputation of being a storyteller that mastered on putt faces on otherwise undistinguishable deadly viral diseases like ebola computer virus, anthrax and smallpox. He is keen on guardedly describing to his readers how fatal these viruses are in his novels.He has proven himself to be an expert on stirring awareness among his clientele about these viruses which though contained in a sense that these are confined to received facilities of the world, have now been made and being developed by certain terrorist groups into a fatal weapon which at any moment can be discharged anywhere to effectively kill and thus strike terror among the targeted public. Like his other books (i. e. Biohazard, The Coming Plague, and The Hot Zone), The Demon In The Freezer is effective in keeping the readers attention to follow every bend of the story.The Book is divided into eight thrilling chapters. Opening in the life of an ord inary flick retoucher of the National Enquirer in early seventies by the name of Robert Stevens, the author skillfully guides the readers to a shocking awareness of the presence of the Anthrax virus that killed Stevens (Preston, 2002). The unfolding of the story at the outset was seemingly calm until the death of Stevens which at this time has triggered anticipation in the reader and keeps him/her following the next turn of the story.The whole book effectively tells of the looming dangers of biological weapons. Since these viruses were put under control and relegated to the confines of laboratories such as in Atlanta and Siberia, the thought that some of these viral diseases are presently in the hands of terrorists is just simply terrifying. On the other hand, constant care must be observed by those who currently responsibly keeping these for further studies. Preston is adept in telling this kind of story.His accurate knowledge on these matters, which obviously a product of extens ive research, was carefully woven into his story. All the important details and informations which naturally enhanced the story are all facts based on true accounts. Preston is also effective in giving his readers the rationale behind why the battle still rages on destroying these viruses among those suspected of keeping them. This is definitely a good read. Reference Preston, Richard. October 8, 2002 (1st Edition). Publisher random House.

Rise of the Merchant Class in the Middle Ages

Rise of the Merchant Class in the plaza AgesThe Middle Ages, which is considered to be the clip mingled with 500 and 1500 AD gave try to a vernal economic and cultural experience in Europe. The transition from the Classical Age to the Renaissance was a process of evolution. After the barbarian invasions of Europe during the fourth and fifth centuries by the Anglos, Saxons, Goths, and Huns, the great Roman Empire declined. It was only starting in the eighth century that Europe slowly began its cultural, as rise up as economic, recovery.Politic exclusivelyy, several(prenominal) naked states emerged starting in the year 900, including the consolidated Scandinavian states under King Sweyn of Denmark the creation of a Hungarian state and the states of Bohemia and Poland. These states were very stable monarchies, which helped branch out commercial trade between one another. The Scandinavians traded extensively with the east, the Mediterranean countries, and with Russia. The end o f miscellaneous civil wars in Europe helped countries like Italy make a piddle for themselves in trade with the Mediterranean. Pisa, Genoa, and Amalfi, were all major commercial hubs. Germany and northern Europe were also able to make use of trade routes to the Mediterranean through Italy and France. other result of the more settled Europe was the revival of agriculture, which was further stimulated by commercial expansion referable to the growing exchange economy. Many cities began expanding, creating the lead for wider adds of agricultural produce. As a result, previously unproductive lands in countries such(prenominal) as France and Germany were converted to fertile farms, rich with grazing herds. Nobleman with large pieces of uncultivated land offered these lands to peasants for cultivation in return for which they collected payment or rent. This was the beginning of the feudal system in Europe.Under the feudal system, kings gave nobleman large grants of land in exchange for soldiers. In exchange for fighting, the soldiers were given gifts of jewels, horses, and sometimes land, in territories that had been newly conquered, called fiefs. These vassals, or servants to the king had authority over the peasants, called the serfs, who pull ined on their land. The vassals became powerful local rulers who make their own laws, which the workers on their land were required to obey. Economic get ahead stimulated by this system gave rise to new towns and a rise in macrocosm in areas that were previously unsettled.The rapid increase in population due to the economic revolution resulted in a shortfall of land. However, instead of causing a problem, farming and land cultivation techniques improved so that land could be used more efficiently. This also invokeed quite an amount of the population away from farming jobs, and into jobs in towns and cities. By the 1100s, these hard working urban citizens modeled the position class and were enterp uphill, ambitious , and contributed to the success of an early form of capitalism. This chivalrous capitalism is practically referred to as the birth of capitalism.Contributing to the development of the European intellectual, religious, and moral recovery was the setting up of new monasteries, since the church had also suffered due to the numerous invasions in the past. The more settled political climate helped bring back the influence of the church. A few of the great noblemen founded new reformed unworldly houses that were more inclusive including the famous abbey of Einsiedeln, the monastic school of St. Emmereram, and the Episcopal school of Bamberg. This reformation of the monasteries broke down regional differences and revived discipline as well as literary and artistic life. The feudal ideas of lordship extended even to the monasteries, as in the case of the abbot of Cluny who was the head of all monasteries founded or reformed by his order.Even though there was much political, economic, an d religious progress, new problems were created by all this development. Consolidation of kingdoms created complications for German, Italian, Hungarian, and Polish rulers. In Germany, the economic recovery caused tension between the aristocracy, which was only interested in profiting as much as possible from the revived economy, and the government. In Italy, it led to antagonism between the knights, and their feudal lords, or bishops. However, the amicable revolution between the knights and the bishops gave rise to powerful new classes that strived to better their positions, leading to nobles and non-nobles.In spite of all of these tensions, people still had jobs to support the growing population in cities and towns. Any commodity that was unavailable in individual fiefdoms, was obtained by barter. Artisans made farm implements, dishes, and clothing, which they exchanged for the grain, wine, and meat produced on the farms. Beginning in the 10th century, a new class of trading peop le emerged, referred to as peddlers. Peddlers traveled from town to town, supplying the nobility and the peasants with the products they needed. The areas frequently visited by them quickly developed into towns, which emerged as major centers of trade and attracted many merchandisers who supplied the prospering nobility. As the nobility got richesier, they were able to afford gems, silks, exotic spices, and other symbols of wealth. The merchants who previously went from town to town, were now traveling to unusual locations such as Egypt, Morrocco, and Turkey. The activities of the traders permanently altered the face of European society, leading to a commercial revolution, which was essentially the shift of power from the landlords and nobility to the merchants. Concentration of wealth in emerging cities such as Florence, Venice, London, and Paris attracted merchants worldwide.By the tenth century, extensive trade routes had been established connecting Britain, the European conti nent, the Middle East, and North Africa, by river and by sea. Asia and the Middle East had several excellent overland trade routes. For instance, the four thousand mile long Silk Road led out of China all the way to the Black Sea in Eastern Europe, through Persia, Afghanistan, and India. Germanys Hanseatic League saved traders time with their larger ships that carried wine and salt to the East in exchange for the grain and timber they bought back.Some traders and merchants began plying the sea routes in search of more goods and profits. Due to its location between the East and Europe, Italy was a vital trading country. Merchants from Venice traded with those from the knotted Empire through Turkey, and merchants from Pisa and Genoa traded with cities in North Africa. They brought back African gold and ivory, precious stones, silks, perfumes, and spices from Persia and India, Turkish carpets, Persian ceramics, and Syrian glass and metalwork, all of which commanded high prices in Euro pe.In the eleventh century, local merchants primarily sold their goods in weekly markets. A network of weekly markets was one of the main components of the booming economic progress that swept across Europe in the Middle Ages. These markets spurred the creation of money, and harbored huge amounts of wealth to the merchants. Fairs, which lasted for weeks and were held at crossroads of important trade routes, were another means by which well-established merchants bought and sold goods. Some of the most important trading fairs included the 12-day cloth fair and the 8-day leather fair, both held in Champagne, France.Since fairs and markets could easily be ruined by undesirable weather conditions, some traders eventually came up with ways to make profits without ever leaving their homes. Using credit, they bought and sold goods through agents at various fairs, giving rise to a form of banking. This contributed to a free flow of money, which enriched the lives of people in all classes of society. This increase in wealth helped patronize artisans, goldsmiths, and retailers. The towns that grow most the fair sites attracted business and brought about the standardization of currency, weights and measures.The merchant class largely populated the new towns that sprang up, and influenced the economy and social life of their societies. The towns attracted specialists such as grocers, spice merchants, cobblers, apothecaries, and goldsmiths who formed unions called guilds. These guilds set the prices for the goods they produced, as they were the only ones in the area creating this product in the area. Therefore the citizens in this area were willing to pay some(prenominal) price they charged. Their control over these prices led to much of their control over the economy. Additionally, they effected and influenced social life with the elaborate feasts and celebrations they held for religious services, holidays, and similar events.With the increase of merchant activities and the rise of the merchant class, it became necessary for them to learn to read, write, do arithmetic, and have a general knowledge of foreign affairs. Local governments and scholars, both of which profited from teaching the children of these merchants, set up schools to take care of the demand for education. The success of the schools in turn, led to the establishment of universities, so that people were able to continue their education if they desired. Some of these universities include Oxford, Cambridge, Chartres, Reims, and the University of Paris. The rising importance of schools broke the monopoly that the church previously had in the area of education.Since merchants made great profits from buying and selling goods, they were considered sinners by the church, because they enriched themselves rather than working for greens good. The fear of hell was very real and the church often confiscated merchant estates. To avoid this, merchants began contributing some of the wealth they made to monasteries and churches, and providing funds to charitable causes including hospitals and homes for those without shelter.The rise of the merchant class gained them access to high society and some became famous patrons of the arts, constructing concert halls, churches, and other cultural centers. These merchants spread wealth and culture to the masses and aided in dissolving the previously existing social structure by creating a society where even a peasant was able to rise in wealth and status.Merchants that joined the ranks of nobility further strengthened their position in society by patronizing the arts even more. They hired artists, musicians, and writers to produce whole kit that still live on today, including works of art such as Madonna and Child, Nativity, and the Wise Man, by renowned artists such as Michaelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo Da Vinci. Some of the extremely productive merchants, cognize as the merchant princes, sometimes became so powerful they c ontrolled their countries wealth. The Medicis, a family of bankers that lived Italy, are an example of such powerful and successful merchants.As a result of this patronage of the arts, many architectural and artistic gems were produced during this time. Some of the buildings built during the Middle Ages using the Gothic or Romanesque styles used such advanced techniques that these buildings are still existent today. The Chartres cathedral, the Laon Cathedral, and St. Denis, all in France for instance, represent the quality of the churches, houses, and castles built during that time. Also produced during the Middle Ages was some beautiful art work that is often overlooked, including jewelry, pottery, metalwork, carved woodwork, sculptures, and illustrated manuscripts. Most of the art work was created in the setting of the church, such as murals of Biblical stories, chalices, shrines, reliquaries, and statues of angels and saints. The rise of the merchant class also made portraits ver y popular, along with intricate work for personal use such as woven tapestries, decorated manuscripts, tableware, jewelry, and carved furniture.Inventions and technology during the Middle Ages were in the form of a gradual improvement in the way things were done, rather than a series of dramatic discoveries. It took place in the form of a gradual shift away from mass slavery, the use of wind power, of open fields in agriculture, the use of the wheelbarrow, double entry book-keeping, and finally the use of firearms and printing. The windlass, a rope around a barrel which turned using a crank, was used to lift heavy loads. Water mills and windmills were used to power all kinds of machinery. For instance, a malleus driven by a mill was used in fulling cloth, which is a method of cleaning fabric used in textile production. A new kind of loom was introduced as well as the invention of the spinning wheel, which greatly reduced the time taken to weave cloth, and produce new fabrics. The s ecrets of producing silk were passed on from Greece to other parts of Europe. Papermaking was brought back from China, greatly reducing the cost and time to write and produce books.The growth and progress of the European civilization in the middle ages was largely due to the rise of the merchant class. With their ambition and hard work, they paved the way for modern times. Under their leadership, Europe enjoyed a prosperity not known since the Roman Empire. When Europe emerged from the Middle Ages, it had attained a level of sophistication in its universities, literature, art, learning, science and technology, that were unmatched in the world. Significant advances were made in the areas of live farming, harnessing the horse to the plough, cloth making, iron working, ship building and navigation. This technical progress would not have amounted to much if it had not been coupled with the intellectual tools that the businessmen of that time used to manage his business and observe and measure fluctuations in the economy. The world of trade had to perfect various systems from dealing with rates of exchange for goods and services extracurricular their towns or even countries, establishing credit procedures, legal bases in keeping with the times, and methods for monitoring and balancing their accounts. All of these eventually became the foundation for our modern system of economic relations. Although it is often ignored in history, the Middle Ages saw the birth of a new cultural experience in Europe, which eventually led to the Renaissance. The cultural heritage of the Middle Ages is still apparent in architecture, art, education, science and technology, that have survived the test of time.BibliographyGold and Spices The Rise of Commerce in the Middle Ages, Jean FavierThe Medieval Merchant, Stuart A. KallenThe Middle Ages, Giovanni CaselliThe novel Middle Ages, Raintree Steck-Vaughn LibraryThe Medieval World, Mike CorbishleyLife During the Middle Ages, Earle Rice, Jr.

What Is It To Be A Reflective Teacher Education Essay

What Is It To Be A Reflective instructor Education screenStudent teachers should not be trained simply to perform skills in certain prescribed ways but, must have the mental tools to escape on master tasks to be adaptable and critical to know, resourceful, and creative (Howey Strom, 1987). Student teachers should be coached in reflective practice and given greater independence in decision making, as they after part learn to practice these critical skills and take responsibility for their decisions, successes, and failures in order to develop into a professional teacher (Becker 1962 Schn, 1984). Therefore, it is important to be recognised as a professional because it recognizes the reality of everyday life in the classroom as a teacher (See extension 1, 2 and 7)Teacher as a professionalIt is important to fill the scale of which teachers are considered professionals. The standard approach of Hoyle and John (1995) leads to a number of features that the forms the measure of an occupation to be regarded as a professional, such as the definition of a profession in relation to its social function center, high skill set and unconditional decision-making and adaptability, etc. In accordance with Hoyle and John (1995), these measures are consistently demonstrated in teaching practices and are embedded as part of the teaching standards, (See accessory 1, 2 and 4).It is important to recognize that our knowledge and understanding of the areas can change dramatically over time. This determines its professional credibility. This explains why some occupations now recognized as a professional, were not granted this recognition in the past. For example, the complexity of the human body was not known or understood until recently. Simple solutions such as bleeding patients for fever, were used, and the limited knowledge at the time, appeared to work. Similarly, the simple view of teaching and learning, and the simple techniques, such as punishment, are applied and per ceived as working. only when over a century doctors were not so dissimilar from members of other industries, and only a little better than the healer (Berliner, 1987). Medical education in Harvard, Massachusetts, consisting of two semesters. The art of medicine is taught largely on the job. Currently, this is the case with teaching being taught on the job.Teachers are unsure to which category they belong to semi-professional, tradespersons or professional (Burke, 1996). As a result, they are often unsure of what they can rightfully ask others such as, management and ministerial bodies or what demands other, such as parents, can make on them. Above all, they do not know what demands they should be making of them. Expectations that a professional person is considered appropriate for themselves are obviously different and more difficult than a tradespersons (Schn, 1984). In addition, when teachers are seen as professionals, they are aware that the quality of service that is expected of them, as they expect it to be from professionals for their needs, such as medical, lawyers (Burke, 1996).Etzioni (1969) preferred some professions to be classified as semi-professionals. According to him, the work day of a teacher is well regulated and subject to controls in areas, such as the need for teachers to inform the parents about their childs progress, school inspections and the publication of results of pupils in the rankings, to inform the independence of teachers. Therefore teacher can be seen as prime examples of semi-professionals.The Vision of Teacher as a professional allows broader parameters for the total development of teachers and teaching. This should be an effective way to improve self-image and encouraging teachers to master the prefatorial skills of teaching and provide a better service to pupils and parents. Teachers are, after all, make and implement decisions every day and every hour that traces the life and the future of their pupils and the offbeat of their country, (See Appendix 1 and 2 Downie, 1990). The more you are aware of this fact and others, including the Department for Education, recognize and accept its implications, the better the education will prosper (See Appendix 5).What is it to be a reflective teacher?In education, reflective practice refers to the development of teachers to examine their own teaching methods and determine what works best for students. It implies teachers consider the ethical implications of classroom procedures on the pupils (Barbara, 2000).The idea of reflection in action is the search for experiences that connect with our feelings, and attending our theories in use. The teacher experiences surprise, perplexity, and confusion in a side that is uncertain or unique. They reflect the situation before them, and use previous understandings that are already implicit in their behaviour. The result is the construction of peeled knowledge to inform our actions in the situation that unfolds before u s (Schn, 1984).Reflection on action is subsequently carried out after the situation. This may mean writing notes, things to talk to a head teacher, etc. The act of reflection on action allows us to spend time exploring why we acted as we did, and so on. Therefore, we authentic a newborn series of questions and ideas about our practice (See Appendix 3 and 7 Myers, 2011 Schn, 1984).In this way we can get involved with a situation that we do not have a complete understanding but, hopefully, we can avoid big problems, while testing the waters. When considering a situation in which we are predisposed by and use our repertoire and our frame of reference. As we work, we can bring fragments of memories and start the construction of building on our existing theories and appropriate responses to the new situation (See appendix 7 Myers, 2011).Teachers in general, but perhaps experience teachers in particular, have to face new challenges all the time in both what they teach (because that is constantly developing and changing) and how they teach it. This idea of reflection-in-action that was mentioned before where Schn (1984) identifies as being a more appropriate characteristic model for professionalism in times of change, requires teachers to take control of their professional learning and particularly to value the tacit knowledge that they hold and which guides their classroom practice. Becoming a professional science teacher is not a case of learning a predefined set of procedures and a static body of knowledge it is about engaging with a energising and exciting subject and facing the challenges of presenting to pupils in an accessible way.One of the positive aspects of a science teachers daily life comes from working with others. Science teachers tend to work in departments. Indeed, there may be more contact and interaction between science teachers than other subject specialisms, such as the need to spread abroad with technicians on daily basis to fully prepare a lesson, (See Appendix 6).ConclusionThe art of reflective teaching must be personally strong for teachers, but also lead to a steady increase in the quality of education for children. In fact, because it is evidence-based, reflective practice in student teachers, freshly qualified teachers, staff and professionals with experience in meeting performance standards and skills. In the note, the concept of reflective teaching focuses on goals, values, and social consequences of education (See appendix 7 Myers, 2011).

Qantas Airlines: Human Resources Management

Qantas Airlines Human Resources ManagementThe Qantas Airways is the largest air hose in Australia. Its Human Resource Management operates in the alliance in four study beas, which be occupation segments, corporate, shared services, maturement, and learning. This report establishs limelight to the Qantas airways HRM and its role in ensuring perfect operations of the company. It further discusses dislodge direction and job abstract and design. The company has undergone intensifier change management such as cutting of prices and labour costs in order to vouch high productivity, moderation of wages as well(p) as the admission of plastic structures through a versatile and motivated workforce. Moreover, the HRM is also responsible of ensuring that right people are hired and given necessary gentility under job analysis and design. However, despite the roles that the company has entrusted the HRM, there founder been heightened cases of accidents and strikes from dissatisfi ed workers alleging that they are paid meagre salaries. This rises a HRM gap in delivering its responsibilities. Therefore, the report further argues that the HRM has fai guide in its change management and job design and analysis strategy. In order to correct the situation, the report further proposes that the HRM change its pre equivalenceation and communication personate. As a kernel to an end, the report discusses some of the implications emerging from the HRM problems and ends with a comprehensive summary.Description of Qantas and HRM ActivitiesThe Qantas Airways is Australias largest airline. It has a solid history as it began its business years back by transporting passengers and mails. Today, the company has expanded its operations in almost 140 destinations across the globe. It is Australias largest employers with around 37,000 employees. The human resource management operates in the company in four major areas, which are business segments, corporate, shared services, an d development and learning. Under corporate level, the HRM is responsible for employees salary as well as benefits, the industrial relations of the airline with its competitors and development of the management. In the business segment level, the HR teams often collaborate with other business segments to delay successful delivering of strategies that ordain ensure competitive emolument. Human resource has a major responsibility in the company and under shared services the HRM is responsible of managing workers records, liveing remuneration and recruitment process and managing employees compensation as well as coming up with strategic plans on staff travelling schedules and schemes (Belobaba, Odoni and Barnhart, 2009). Finally, under the learning and development level, the HRM numbers up with train programs for employees to help them deliver their work effectively.HR Functions Change Management and mull Analysis and Design at the Qantas AirwaysDiscussion of Two HR functions i n the QantasChange ManagementThe Qantas airline was formerly owned by the government hence did not perceive efficiency and profits as its ancient goal (Rothkopf, 2009). After its privatisation in 1995, the HRM had to adopt various management practices in order to overcome the companys external and internal influences.The HRM in their change management has underline on cutting costs and more so reduction of labour costs to guarantee heightened productivity, moderation of wages as well as the introduction of flexible structures through a versatile and motivated workforce (Marks, 2007). Cutting labour costs in the Qantas airways crap involved strict measures from the HRM such as reducing wages and salaries through eliminating costly practices (Hernandez, 2011.).The Qantas airline HRM has undertaken immense changes in order to cope with diverse external and internal factors (Gillen and Morrison, 2005). Various factors led to changes in the HR management such as the need to form more profits in the company and the fact that the company was under government ownership. This means that the airline had maintained its authoritarian hierarchical structure, autocratic form of leadership, and strict procedures and rules (Hughes, 2012).In addition, the airline has been involved in a major change as far as dressing is concerned and in 2003, the HRM facilitated in the expansion of the companys apprenticeship programme (Gunn, 1988). According to Kirkpatricks model of learning and training, training helps in ensuring affirmative results (Kearns, 2010).Job Analysis and DesignJob design and analysis is the cornerstone of the Qantas HRM. Job analysis can be viewed as the hub of all human resource management activities that are needed for effective organizational functioning (Berman et al, 2009). Under job analysis, the HRM is responsible for planning, recruitment, selection, placement, and induction of workers (Berman et al, 2009). The procedures that are often supported by job analysis process include personnel selection, training, job evaluation as well as performance appraisal (Berman et al, 2009). In addition, the process of job analysis supports the Qantas organizational strategy in dealing with market competition and talent crisis. According to human resource theory, strategic HRM centeringes on connecting all HR functions with organizational goals (Rothwell and Benscoter, 2012).The Qantas airline HRM in the process of job analysis determines various training needs of workers. Moreover, in job analysis process, the HRM determines on some of the things that affect behaviour in the company.After job analysis process, the next step is job design, which aims at outlining and organising duties, responsibilities, as well as tasks in a single unit in order to achieve particular objectives. Job design in the Qantas airways is essential in enabling effective feedback. In addition, training is an imperative part in job design in order to make sure that em ployees are conscious of their work demands. Training encompasses leadership training to employee orientation (Aulenbach, 2007). Development and training plays an imperative role in ensuring success of a company. Today, most organisations view training as an imperative role of human resource (Price, 2011). From research conducted, it is evident that most organizations such as the Qantas airways are spending a lot of money on training with a belief that it will consequently give them a competitive advantage in both global and local market (Jackson, Schuler and Werner, 2011). According to human resource theory (Bacon et al, 2009), workers need maximum support from human resource function. In that case, the Qantas airways offer training to staff in order to motivate them as well as ensure competitive advantage in the company. Frances (2009) avows that training is imperative in ensuring imperative piloting skills. In 2009, the company opened approximately $10 million staff training cen tres in an effort to build on economies of scale.The HRM through job design help the workforce to make vital adjustments.Problems and Implications Faced by QantasAlthough the two major elemental functions of HRM is to ensure successful change management and job analysis and design, the Qantas airline has undergone through various challenges in these two areas. The HRM in their change management cogitate on cutting costs such as labour costs in order to increase productivity, ensure moderate workers salary and introduce flexible structures. However, they have failed in ensuring effective and non-biased change management. This is because, workers recently have been complaining of being paid meagre salaries and even gone for strikes. Under change management, they should have ensured successful remuneration of employees. However, it is embarrassing to note that a reputable company like Qantas with such successful change management strategy has failed to take sustenance of its employe es. The unsolved salary issues have caused employee outcry and various scandals in the company. The pilots have been protesting over meagre salaries and the join workers have continued to demonstrate over bear ine persona arguing they are paid 25% less than their equals in Victoria (Hernandez, 2012). In a survey that was conducted in 2012, on three potassium Qantas employees, the workers expressed dissatisf bring through with the management of the company mostly the HRM (McDonald, 2012). Serious staff challenges have continued threatening the company yet up to now the HRM is still reluctant to come up with a new change management model such as ADKAR model that will cater for the interests of workers and allow the company to counsel activities on particular business results (Hiatt, 2006).Under Job analysis and design, it is apparent that the HRM made immense mistakes in choosing the right candidates. Despite heavy training programs that the HRM has invested in during job analysi s and design process, it is only in 2008 that the company was involved in an in-flight incident, which caused serious injuries to passengers and death of 129 passengers due to specious commands (Frances, 2009). In addition, it is apparent that training has not had a supreme impact in the company since in 2006, the Qantas Airways pilots failed to monitor their position hence ended up to the wrong runway. Moreover, in 2009, the companys pilots failed to accept and decided to overshoot their destinations by 150 miles (Frances, 2009). Frances (2009) alleges that captains in the company are not competent enough as they lacked knowledge on use of get to shaker and stall recovery thus ca utilise serious accidents. It is hence clear that the HRM department leaves a lot to be desired as incidences have continued to intensify despite the companys change management and job design and analysis strategy (Louise, 2011). With such a successful airline company, it is apparent that its HRM is pu rposeless and has only led to losses than success. The company asserts that it is commit fully to developing its people, yet they do not attend to know how they can forge a beneficial relationship with its staff. There has been a lot of change in the company including cutting of costs, developing training programs, outsourcing working rules and regulations, collaborating with the unions yet the situation seem to be moving from bad to worse. It is apparent that the HRM has been incompetent in hiring the right personnel and dealing with employees.Implications to StakeholdersVarious stakeholders include trade unions, government, shareholders, customers, community, business partners, employees, the media, and non-governmental organisations. They all have a major influence on the companys performance and its strategy. The media coverage on wrong decisions in the Qantas have affected negatively on the companys image. The problems discussed obviously allude that the HRM, shareholders, a nd business partners have been reluctant in solving the current crisis hence affecting the performance of the company. Because of the accidents reported, most consumers are not keen on using Qantas airline hence affecting profitability (BBC News, 2012). Additionally, the challenges in the company have also affected employees and consumers on grounds that they have lost confidence with the runway of the company (Sandilands, 2011).The looming disagreement between Qantas and its pilots shows clearly that the HRM and business partners have failed in ensuring they contribute in effective management of the company. In addition, the Non-governmental organisations have failed in remainder resolution between the Qantas and its employees. It is apparent that the HRM, business partners, and non-governmental organisations involved have failed in coming up with rational solutions to ensure such current disputes do not develop into a major crisis. Instead of the companys CEO, Alan Joyce holding productive talks, he has been busy making provocative comments in legion(predicate) heated exchanges. For instance, he condemned union members on issues regarding wages arguing that their talks and protests were baseless (Bamber, 2011). The union leaders in return criticised senior managers and accused them of tarnishing the brand image of the company succession they were awarding themselves hefty salaries. This hence implies that the community as well as Union members have lost confidence on the companys stakeholders and this in return has led to bad publicity and reduced profitability. Consequently, the media has given a wide coverage on the companys latest controversies meaning that it is benefiting financially because of the developing story.It is upsetting to see Qantas employees go on strike due to poor management issues in a company owned by various stakeholders. The shareholders, business partners, the HRM, CEO, and Nongovernmental Organisations have a major role to play in ensuring issues in the company are resolved and the company goes back to its initial profitable situation. Therefore, they need to sit down and come up with a rational plan towards improvement (Bamber, 2011).Action plan and RecommendationsWith the increasing incidences, there is hence a need to come up with an action plan. First, all the stakeholders must meet to discuss on ways to solve the recent crisis. In the meeting, there will be change of communication and training model to more rational models that are employee oriented. The HRM will carry out the process and engage other stakeholders to give ideas on how salary and training issues ought to be handled. The change process will take place from 1st to 28th November in the companys boardroom. To carry out the process, the employees will be interviewed in order to show some of the areas they would need change. The entire companys workforce and managers will be given information concerning the changed plan.The recent problems i nvolving HRM function has caused the company to suffer financially. The Qantas airline in their website asserts that, Qantas is committed to providing meaningful jobs with competitive salaries and superior benefits (Qantas, n.d). However, they have failed in fulfilling their promise as the strikes reported tell a different story. In addition, they allege that they provide targeted, quality training to the Qantas group and assists in the development of skills (Qantas, n.d). However, the accidents reported show a major gap in their training strategy. The HRM should revisit their training and communication model and make a change on it. It is time the company moved out of a market approach change strategy that only concentre on making profits and focus on employee oriented approach that consider the interests of workers. With an effective training model, there will be workshop and focus group sessions where employees air their grievances and come up with solutions to their problems (F rances, 2009). In addition, effective HRM communication should contribute successfully to teamwork, learning, innovation, safety, and productivity (Krizan et al, 2010). Moreover, the HRM should invest heavily on their pilot candidates and ensure that they get the right training. Coming up with a HR strategic oriented communication model is important in guaranteeing that employees are at par with requirements and needs of the company. This will help in discussing paramount issues affecting the running of the company. Once there is fit between communication and training model in relation to the role of the HRM, the next step should be to come up with a tactical plan on how the HR will be managing their roles to ensure there are no more scandals. The HR needs to be involved fully in daily operations of the company to ensure connective with needs of the employees. Moreover, the HRM should come up with performance management plan, which is imperative in following up on the performance o f the staff members.The HRM should also be miasmal in its strategy. This means that the companys operational and strategic agenda should be communicated clearly to workers and must be accepted. This will ensure employees needs are met and there are no operational challenges. In addition, its mission should be shared with other shareholders to make sure they are on the right path to correcting the image of the company.Todays HR models recognise on the fact that people do not leave their issues at home when they are going to work. For the company to be successful, it should focus on the needs of the workers whether personal or professional. This will motivate the workers to deliver quality work. In that case, there will be less accidents and remuneration problems in the company (Frances, 2009). In addition, in training sessions, the HR should focus on changing staff members attitude towards work and teach them on how to have a positive attitude. This will help in motivating workers a nd encouraging them to air their grievances through dialogue.ConclusionSimilar to other managers in an organisation, HRM has various functions. The HRM ensure successful change management and right people are hired in various ranks. However, the HRM has failed, as there have been increased cases of strikes from discontented workers. Additionally, there have been numerous accidents reported in the company. To avoid such incidences in the future, it is important for the company to change its communication and training model. In addition, they should be transparent in their operations and involve other stakeholders to ensure they are trending on the right path. This will help in reducing accidents and strikes from dissatisfied employees.

J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings - Frodo Baggins as a Christ-Fi

J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the peal - Frodo Baggins as a Christ-Figure J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings has delighted readers since its publication owing to its authors skillful development of his fantastic realm and its inhabitants adventures therein. In fact, Tolkien is rightly regarded as the father of the modern fantasy genre, and it often seems in all fantasy imitates his work in some way. However, as readers return to the work, it often becomes apparent that the work is more than a simple escapist journey into an complex quantity world the work represents the finest traditions in literature and rich grounding in Tolkiens study of language and mythology. Equally surprising, though, Tolkien himself admits that the series is a fundamentally religious and Catholic work1 To the casual reader, Middle-Earth, the setting, seems a world devoid of religious practice, Christian or otherwise. Unsurprisingly, Tolkien added that the religious aspect about which he spoke ap peared unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision, and that the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism.2 Therefore, an investigation into probable sources of Christian symbolism leads to questions of characterization and its most explicit target Frodo Baggins, a Christ-figure.The protagonist of the story, Frodo Baggins is a Hobbit, a small humanoid creature, short in stature and big in appetite. As soon as Tolkien introduces him in the first chapter, Frodos status as a Christ figure emerges Anyway there was this Mr. Frodo left an orphan and stranded, gossip Frodos new neighbors when his uncle Bilbo adopts the him.3 immediately, Frodo possesses two important characteristic of any Christ ... ...ery land of Mordor, conquering an evil which seems far greater than himself. In doing so, Frodo makes up for carelessness of the nations of Middle-Earth who in their sloth allowed the evil to produce up, despite forewarning of the danger. In all these things, there exist clear similarities with Christ who undertakes a similar goal, vanquishing the evil of sin from the world with total selflessness, compassion, and determination. In the end, Frodo admits admirably, I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved.61 Tolkien, J.R.R.. To Robert Murray, S.J. 2 December 1953. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. Ed. Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, 1981) 172.2 Ibid.3 Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Lord of the Rings (Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, 1954) 31.4 Ibid, 217.5 Ibid, 309.6 Ibid, 309.

Oxymorons :: essays research papers

OXYMORONSA Act naturally Advanced BASIC Almost exactly Alone unitedly American English Authentic replica Awfully good B (Top) Bad luck Baked Alaska Bittersweet Black light Blank reflection Business ethics Butthead C (Top) California expressway Cardinal sin Christian Scientist Civil war Classic novel Classically modern intelligibly confused Cold comfort Communist leader Conspicuous absence Constant change Cowardly lion Criminal justice D (Top) deafening tranquilize Death benefits Definite maybe Deliberate thoughtlessness Down escalator Dry wine Dynamic equilibrium E (Top) Eloquent silence European Community Evaporated milk Even odds Exact estimate Extensive briefing Extinct life Eyes Wide Shut G (Top) Fairly dark Famous Belgians Feminine logic Forgotten memories Found missing Free love Freezer burn Fresh-frozen Friendly fire former end Fun run Fuzzy logic G (Top) Genuine imitation Good grief Government organization Government service bully Britain Great Depression Guest host H (Top) Hells Angels Highly underestimated Holy war Homeless shelter Hopelessly optimistic I (Top) Idiot disciple Ill health Include me out Industrial park Instant classic Intense apathy J (Top) Job security Jumbo runt L (Top) Least favorite Light heavyweight Liquid gas Little giant Live recording Living dead Loosely jam-packed Loose tights M (Top) Make haste slowly Managed competition Microsoft Works Mild abrasive Mild enthusiasm Military intelligence lowly crisis Modern history N (Top) Natural additives Noble savage Non-alcoholic beer Non-working mother Normal deviation Nothing much Numb feeling O (Top) strangely appropriate Old news Only choice Open secret Original copy P (Top) Paid volunteer Paperless ofice Passive aggression ataraxis force Peace offensive Peacekeeper missile Plastic wood Positively cynical Press release Pretty ugly Pronounced silence R (Top) Random order Rap music Real potential Recorded live Resident alien Rock opera Rolling stop S (Top) Safe sex Safety haza rd

Women’s friend: The Popularity of Shapewear Essay -- Fashion, The Cors

From ancient time through now, passel always need to be a fashionable person especially for women, because they want their bodies have a curve and they also want their bodies more fit and more shape. to each one person has their view of fashion, and each country also has their types of fashion. In the western country, people think that wearing a corset is very fashionable. Between the warmheartedness of the 16th century to 18th century, women always to wear corset between a rigid quasi-cylindrical torso above their waist and heavy full skirts under to let their bodies look more gorgeous. In the ancient China, Chineses women think foot-binding is fashion. From the 10th century to early 20th century, most ancient Chinese women think small feet looks beautiful and fashionable. They used a strip of cloth to tightly tie their ankle when they were four or five forms old, and they were unbroken it for life time. No matter what method people use to express the fashion, peoples primar y goal is to make them look beautiful, make their bodies has a curve and become more fashionable. By today, wearing shapewear can modify peoples bodies can influence people to believe fantasy threadlike is normal can let people have more self-confidence and it also encourage people to pursue high social status. Although shapewear may suffer some health risk, it benefits some people physically and psychologically.The corset is one of the most controversial garments in the entire history of fashion. It has been about 400 year history of fashion it has been creating to fit of clothing and appearance of figure. People choose to wear corset to make their bodies look more beautiful and slim. In fact, the early man to wear it is to treat back pain, and then the women found that ... ... invisible and affordable, and some would even feel comfortable. Shapewear is becoming popular. The manufacture kept changing the prognosis to make it fashion. Corset has been about 400 years history of fashion, although it may pose some health risk, but it benefit for many people physically. Wearing shapewear can mould the beautiful curve of breast enhancement, to receive an abdomen, waist, minus, carry buttock, leg effect, and its obvious to accentuated womens sexy. There are many type of shapewear can make people have a great figure, such as waist & tight slimming, back slimming, shaping panties, and body slimming. As the era progress, peoples concept of shapewear change a lot and the shapewear will become more popular in todays ball club people wear shapewear to modify their bodies and many women think the feeling of slim can give them more self-confidence.