Food Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Food Policy - Essay Example I refer to the year 1992 when the "Single European Market" (SEM, one supposes!) is due to take effect as most trade barriers within Western Europe, or at least in the Common Market, are to be dismantled. The UK government is currently investing over ten million pounds in television campaign to promote all businessmen to be ready to take benefits of these great news sales opportunities. With respect of this, all EEC countries crave to increase their exports into a static consumer market. Certainly, in some sections in the UK business industry there will be winner or looser. Confederation of British (CBI) industry, are already crying foul because to some extent they think that Western Europeans countries will try to buy the UK base corporations. If it happens, simultaneously the British mergers legislations will deter domestic companies in hope to get competitive advantages over international based organizations. This explains the fact, why so many British organizations have setup their business in the USA. But how will SEM affect the quick frozen food industry within the Common Market Maybe not nearly as much as it will some other markets partly because of the strong share of the total market held by Unilever and Nestle. Easily the largest slice of that total is Unilever's with their Birds Eye brand in the U.K., the Findus brand in Italy and Igloo just about everywhere else. Nestle, the Switzerland-based Corporation, use the Findus brand in the U.K. and in some of the other Common Market countries. Nestle use the Stouffer brand in the U.S.A. It has been proved that there is a big difference between brand name and corporate name. This is further evidenced by the variety of brand names used by the United Biscuits frozen food subsidiary, UB-Ross-Youngs, who apart from the brands Ross and Youngs use McVities and Mama Mia--and one or two others--in the U.K. Similarly another U.K.-based enterprise, Rank Hovis McDougal, use the brands Sharwoods (Indian specialties), Tiffany's (pies), Heinzel (cakes) and have now begun to use Mr. Kipling, a brand they have made renowned in the ambient cake sector, for a new variety of frozen hot puddings.' One does marvel what strategy these two major food groups will follow in preparation for the SEM. In contrast the Campbell Soup Company has given some sign as to their intention because having bought the U.K.-based Fresh bake Foods, one of the top three or four domestic frozen food companies; they have renamed themselves in Europe: Campbell's Foods. Campbell's were already using the brands Ungers in the U.K. and Groko on the Continent, but this writer imagines it is going to be Campbell's on everything from now on. At least Sara Lee and McCain's have a one brand strategy for Europe. Heinz has, more recently, entered the European QFF scene with a heavily supported launch of their Weight Watchers brand--of course they use the Ore-Ida brand on potato products in the States. Then there remains the mystery as to what the frozen food marketing future holds for the Pillsbury and Kraft companies under new managements. Pillsbury had just given up using the Fiesta brand in the U.K. to concentrate on Green Giant, and may continue to do so in Europe. Meanwhile, Kraft's new owners, the Philip Morris Group, also own General Foods but the Birds Eye brand

Shark evolution Essay Example for Free

Shark evolution Essay Sharks, commonly referred to as fish are in fact quite different from the regular bony fish. Sharks have a cartilaginous skeleton, which is does not fossilize well, but despite this sharks have left a considerable fossil record. Shark evolution is in fact one of the most successful cases of phylogenic development. The evidence of sharks dates back to over 400 million years ago, almost 200 million years before the first dinosaurs, and before the evolution of any land vertebrates, in the Ordovician period, at the start of the Palezoic era. The only fossils of the oldest sharks are the scales and teeth, the teeth being quite durable and easily mineralized. The teeth in particular reveal that the oldest sharks were quite different from their modern descendants. And even through vertebrates like dinosaurs were eliminated centuries ago, sharks continue to exist today, with almost 1100 species. Among the most primitive sharks was the Cretaceous, discovered in Texas. The Cretaceous is believed to be about 65 million years old. The earliest life on earth dates back to almost 4 billion years ago, to a group called the prokaryotes, which includes the first bacteria. The prokaryotes did not even have a defined nucleus. The oldest eukaryotes, which were more advanced, and had specialized organelles evolved about 2 billion years ago. These included the famous amoeba. But the first multicelluar life form dates back to about 600 million years ago, to the â€Å"Edicarian assemblage† in Australia. Jawless fishes are believed to be the first vertebrates to have evolved, and date back to about 500 million years ago. Sharks then appeared about 450 million years ago. But even though paleontologists have considerable evidence, shark evolution posed many problems because of the fossils. With time, most of the evidence was eliminated. The scales are mostly very small in size, and have many impressions of soft tissues. But despite these drawbacks, studies reveal a rich history. The oldest shark scales go back to about 455 million years ago. But since they are quite different from those in modern sharks, most paleontologists agree that they are not from sharks. The first acknowledged fossil dates back to 420 million years ago in Siberia. These have been classified under the genus of Elegestolepis. Others, discovered from Mongolia have been classified in the genera Mongolepis and Polymerolepis. But apart for these almost classifications, little is actually known about these primitive sharks. But with the beginning of the Devonian period, shark record becomes quite varied. The first teeth of about 400 million years ago were discovered from Europe. These teeth belong to the ancient Leonodus. Leonodus had characteristic double cusped teeth. The oldest shark cranium was discovered in Australia, and dates back to about 380 million years ago, and is believed to be from a shark specie xenacanth. Earlier in fact the Leonodus and xenacanth were thought to be related because of their similar crown shaped teeth. The first partially fossilized shark shark was discovered by a geologist Gavin Young in Antarctica. But this fossil displayed an odd mix of features. Possibility exists that this too may be a xenacanth, but Young named it Antarctilamna. The Antarctilamna was 16-inches long, and was a diplodont, resembling the xenacanth. Antarctilamna’s fin though was directed dorsally. The xenacanth in contrast was exclusively a freshwater shark, and had a long fin directed rearward, just behind the cranium. But with the passage of time, sharks have endured tremendous changes of environment, and yet, have managed to survive. But like all other creatures, the species had to either adapt to the change, or end. Each time a large scale shift occurred; a number of species found the new environment incompatible and became extinct. Sharks though displayed immense diversity, and helping then expand into new habitats. â€Å"Such explosive increases in variety are termed ‘adaptive radiations[1]. ’† Over such a huge span of geologic time, sharks have has two adaptive radiations, and have survived up to five mass extinctions. Many also agree that since most shark fossils have been found either from Australia, or Antarctica, sharks may have originated in the southern hemisphere. The first radiation was in the Carboniferous period, roughly 30 million years ago. This was characterized by the flourishing of the stethacanthids. The second major radiation occurred in the Jurassic Period, about 170 million years ago. During this time both land and air was dominated by reptiles. This was the time when the hybodonts developed. Many believe that the hybodonts were the ancestors of all modern sharks, but evidence is scanty. While the hybodonts shows many obvious similarities to the modern shark, it has characteristic features not found in sharks today. One of these includes the horns behind the eyes. But now, the earliest known modern shark is believed to be the Mcmurdodus from the mid-Devonian time. The basis for this is the Mcmurdodus tooth. The tooth shows is of the same type found in modern sharks, but not in the ancient ones. But â€Å"there is a 190-million-year gap in the fossil record between the last Mcmurdodus and the first unquestionable cowshark [1]. † Even though research continues to unveil the evolution of this epic animal, a complete evolutionary record is difficult to draw. The earliest known sharks in fact were quite different from the modern counterparts. But in some respects they were very close to the modern sharks of today, having the same cartilaginous skeletons, replaceable teeth and multiple gill slits. And with time sharks have endured great geologic change, adapting to different environments, evolving to change, and have thus survived as one the most durable animals on the planet. References 1. Martin, R. Aidan. ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. Biology of Sharks and Rays. Retrieved from (http://www. elasmo-research. org/education/evolution/evol_s_predator. htm)

Changes to the Role of a Quantity Surveyor

Changes to the Role of a Quantity Surveyor When trying to gather information on the origins of the quantity surveying profession it is not simple, several different authors have different theories on where the occupation arose from. Some feel that it is a 19th century creation, were others seem to think that the birth of quantity surveying stretches all the way back to ancient Egypt. However to attempt to obtain knowledge about quantity surveyings past I must assess all the theories to distinguish which seems the most viable. The Kenyan branch of the RICS opens the website speaking of quantity surveying being used in ancient Egypt, and also references a quote from the bible which was mentioned in Chapter 1; Suppose one of you wants to build a tower, will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it. (Luke, 14:28). Seeing this as the start of the quantity surveying profession I feel is inaccurate but it can be seen as a basis from which it could have rose from. The act of planning ou t all you need has always been used in construction as well as other lines of work, for example a baker would not start baking until he has all the ingredients he needs. Nevertheless it may have been in such a case as the pyramids that some one person may have been assigned to ensure all materials where present and that every that was needed to construct them was there. If this were the case then it may very well have been the first use of quantity surveyors (QSs). The authors who have written about the subject of quantity surveying give little mention of this as their professions origin and choose to focus on more recent history to find their career roots rather than to early empires grand construction projects. Allan Ashworth and Keith Hogg are two well respected authors on the subject of quantity surveying and value in construction, so much so that they have taken over the mantle of writing the new versions of Williss Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor, a book seen as one of the best in quantity surveying circles. In the 2000 book Added Value in Design and Construction Ashworth and Hogg speak of the possible beginnings of quantity surveying: According to Thompson (1968), the roots of quantity surveying go back to the seventeenth century and to the Great Fire of London. There is evidence to suggest that firms of QSs were in existence at the end of the eighteenth century. According to Seeley (1988), the earliest records of a quantity surveying firm were in Reading, Berkshire, in 1785. There is little doubt that other firms were also in existence at the same time. In 1802, a number of Scottish quantity surveying firms gathered to produce the first method of measurement of buildings. In St Lukes Gospel (14:28) a story is recorded of the importance of counting the cost before you build implying that some form of these practices existed even in biblical times! (P 12-13) These authors seem to have no direct opinion on the matter but they do offer up the opinion of others as well as the aforementioned biblical quote. Thompsons belief was that that after the Great Fire of London in 1666, there was such a vast amount of work needed done and that the usual way of paying tradesmen by daily rates was unfeasible due to the amount of labour used. So it was deemed that a measure and value system would be best to allocate payment. This job was entrusted to architects but since they were so busy designing all the new buildings they employed other men to do the job; these men became known as measurers. Seeley and Winfield (1999) state that this method of measure and value surveying was common practice up to the middle 19th century but vaguely describe the aftermath that resulted in the creation of bills of quantities and competitive tendering. The origins of quantity surveying and indeed all surveying are detailed heavily in F.M.L Thompsons 1968 book, Chartered Surveyors, the growth of a profession. The opinion shared by Thompson (1968) and Seeley and Winfield (1999) is a popular one among authors however this opinion is not shared by Colin Dent in his book Quantity Surveying a Fully Metricated Text. In his eyes the birth of quantity surveying came in coincidence with that of the bill of quantities. Dent puts it that the bill of quantities arose from costly nature that was involved in pricing jobs in the 19th century. General contractors in this era where becoming aggravated with spending money measuring, pricing and preparing a tender for a job only not to get and have to incur the costs of an unsuccessful bid. It then left the contractor having to price in the cost of unsuccessful bids into his successful ones; this did not sit well with clients who were disgruntled that they had to pay for a contractors previous losing bid. It was heavily thought at this time that the lowest bid was the best, but it was often the case that the lowest bid came from an omission in the contracto rs own bill of quantities. This would leave the contractor the task of attempting to make the money up from somewhere else in the project. Again clients were displeased with this so it was decided around 1850 that a universal bill of quantities would be made from the client and sent to the contractors to price. Ferry, Brandon Ferry, 2006, see it differently; they believe that it was contractors who first used surveyors to draw up bills of quantities for them to price. A group of contractors would perhaps employ one surveyor with the winning bid then paying his fee. Architects suspected foul play in these bids with excessive wastage allowed and the possibility that contractors would fix so that one bid would win before all would get a pay out from the contract sum. The architect then took over employing surveyors to draw up one bill of quantities for all to price. Either way the bill of quantities system was seen as fair competition between contractors and gained recognition by 1880, and after it was used in the building of the Houses of Parliament and was successful it was then accepted as the most efficient and economical way of building. It is probably most likely from this point of the evolution of the bill of quantities that surveyors shook off the term off measurers and gained the term QSs as their job title. Another contrasting view is that of Duncan Cartlidge the author of New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 2nd edition. The basis of his opinion also comes from the 19th century and the formation of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1834. This move was made by architects to further them surveyors/contractors and their obnoxious commercial interest in construction. In his view the greater responsibility for the business side construction now given to surveyors/contractors created the need to have someone in charge of the managing of capital and quantities, thus the QS was born (Cartlidge, 2006). There are several views regarding the origin of the quantity surveying profession as I mentioned above. However when all views are looked at; an almost direct line events can be seen to occur where every stage seems to be a step in the evolution of quantity surveying. In this readers opinion the act of assessing material amounts for building and also the cost goes back to early civilisation. But it was not until after the Great Fire in 1666 that a full time job was created for someone to measure and value work done. Client and contractor dissatisfaction with payment of the final account and a fair method of tendering led to the birth of bills of quantities and it is the basis of measuring and value and the drawing up of bills of quantities that produced the traditional QS, which still exists today. This form of quantity surveying worked well in the late 19th century and early years of the 20th century, so much so that in 1909 the RIBA incorporated the bills of quantities into its standard building contract, thus making it a legally binding document (Dent, 1970)(Ashworth Hogg, 2000). In 1922 the first edition of the British Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works (or SMM) was adopted into the contract as a means for which works were measured. Its introduction was to alleviate confusion about which quantities were measurable (Ashworth, 1981). The practice of quantity surveying remained very much unchanged for many years; in fact it was not until after that Second World War that the traditional techniques came into question. The government began its task of rebuilding the country after the war and gave heavy public spending during the 1950s and 1960s for rebuilding of houses, schools, hospitals, roads, etc. (Ashworth, 2004). This in turn saw work for QSs rise as the government had spend huge sums of money on the war and had incurred large international debt, so keeping buildings cost low was a top priority (Thompson, 1968). In order to plan this spending properly and achieve value for money in the various projects, something additional needed to be done other than simply to measure and value the works as was the traditional method. The then Ministry of Public Buildings and Works and the RICS began to develop systems of financial control and evaluation for new buildings. This laid the foundation for further exploration into cost control techniques (Ashworth, 2004). In 1957 the Ministry of Education issued a bulletin that was a milestone in the practice as it introduced new methods of working and new principles of cost analysis and cost planning (Building Bulletin No.4 Cost Study). The bulletin initiated the idea of cost planning which set about to compare the cost of different design solutions and also designing within an overall cost framework. This meant that QSs would for the first time have to manage costs all the way through a construction project, whereas a previously they simply a drew up quantities from architect drawings at the start and helped settle accounts at the end. QSs would now have to compare different designs and different elements of buildings in an attempt to obtain cost efficiency, and then manage the expenditure throughout to ensure that the project was not over budget. This was the first use of elemental cost planning or designing to a cost and formally introduced the QS into the design team (Ashworth Hogg, 2000). The 1970s saw a huge increase in the amount of universities offering quantity surveying as an undergraduate course, in 1970 alone 30 polytechnics formed (Willis, 1987). Not only were there more quantity surveying students but there were more quantity surveying lectures, this meant that more research was being done on the profession, finding more and more ways to better itself (Ashworth Hogg, 2000). It was in this research that the holes began to be exposed in the traditional procurement method. Studies showed that clients wee not always obtaining value for money in the procurement of their buildings (Ashworth, 2004). In 1970 -1974 the UK seen a property boom so developers were anxious to get building, this forced fast track methods of procurement to develop as the traditional method was seen as too slow. Management contracting and forms of design and build were introduced. These methods did not require a bill of quantities so QS involvement was left to cost plan and try and keep the budget. These were unchartered water for QSs and there was a lack of cost certainty but it was tolerated as property values were rising so quickly (Cartlidge, 2009). The 70s also seen the introduction of computers something which many believed over time would end QSs. Sir John Egan, author of the wide reaching report Rethinking Construction, once told a group of graduates in 1999 that the construction industry will no longer be needing them to count the cost of a project computer technology would be doing it instead (Carvill, 1999). Adrian .J Smith, author of Computers and the QS, puts it that: The QS and the computer have been partners in an intense love hate relationship for over 30 years; indeed, it would be difficult to find any other profession in which the relationship between man and machine has generated, by turns, so much discussion; hope and optimism; disappointment and disillusion, (Smith, 1989) Of course they were not very well advanced in this era however they did give insight into how projects may be calculated and determined and began to challenge the perceived wisdom of the traditional methods (Ashworth, 2004) During the 1980s the quantity surveying profession started to witness radical changes to their traditional ways of working, and much of the change stemming from new procurement methods which seemed to spell the end for the bills of quantities. Procurement, a term not used until the 1980s, became an important area of activity, largely because of the increasing array of options available (Ashworth Hogg, 2006). These options came about as clients became dissatisfied with amount of time taken to procure through traditional tendering methods (i.e. bills of quantities). So new forms of procurement arose to try and meet client requirements, the main forms that were on the increase were Design and Build (D B), Management Procurement. Clients seen these methods as more beneficial for time and also because it handed more risk to the contractor in D B and to a management contractor in management procurement (Cartlidge, 2009). (The benefits of these types of procurements are discussed for lat er in this chapter). Some quantity surveying companies were very respondent to the change that management procurement brought about and began to adapt their practices, as D B hadnt much use for professional QSs. However it did create an opening on the contractors side for more cost control as they needed to manage their own construction costs. The practice of cost modelling which was introduced in the previous decade had been studied further. While the profession was looking for new ways of estimating away from the bill of quantities, the cost modelling method was, and still is, seen as too radical and requiring too much practice from the security of a reasonably reliable yet imperfect system of the bill of quantities (Ashworth Hogg, 2000). The emphasis of building costs was high on the agenda and it was also during this time that attention shifted from initial construction costs alone to a more comprehensive overall view of the costs over the entire life cycle of the project. Who le life costing takes into consideration the initial procurement, design and construction costs as well as fees and charges. It also takes into account the operational costs such as maintenance, repairs and energy expenses, and the cost of disposal and recycling of the building is also included (Cartlidge 2009). Eventually all of these aspects would be considered within the emerging practice of facilities management. These considerations provided yet another shift towards adding value to the industry and its clients. This recognised that to examine the initial costs of construction within the context of whole costs that it might yield an overall better financial situation for the client (Ashworth Hogg, 2000). Two other new aspects of costing that came about in the 1980s were value management and facilities management. Value management or value engineering arrived in the UK in the 1980s but in some sense it already existed, as mentioned earlier the government wanted cheaper building s after the war, so cost planning in this era focused on acceptable products for the least cost which in essence is what value can be defined as (Kelly, Morledge, Wilkinson, 2002). Facilities management was also introduced as from of project management that went much further than just managing the construction. Aspects of the building such as its infrastructure, its environmental impact, its maintenance and its communication links all came under the role of a facilities manager (Ashworth 2004). Basically it was not just managing the buildings construction but managing the building as a whole. Value management was a natural progression for QSs as they were the experts on buildings product costs so they were able to inform the client on all options and help provide the selection which bore the most value. The RICS recognised this change when it published its report of a study of Value Engineering and Quantity Surveying Practice in 1987. Facilities management was further away from the traditional QSs way of working and closer to a profession which specialised in project management, however with many believing at this time that QSs were heading down that route this line of work was seen as a future possibility for QSs. During the 1990s several key reports were produced that assisted in the new directions of the QS profession, they helped to formulate a future direction and strategy, emphasising the changing nature of society in general and the construction industry and the profession within it (Ashworth Hogg, 2000). The first in 1991 was made by Davis, Langdon Everest, one of the largest QS firms in the world at present, wrote the report QS2000: The Future Role of the Quantity Surveyor which focused on the changes in the construction industry and how it was affecting the profession. The important point stressed in this report was that QSs needed to learn to manage more effectively the time and quality as well as the cost in an attempt to add value into a clients business and construction project. The report also identified widening markets and diversification for the quantity surveyor, suggesting three key areas of future activity: value management, procurement management, and facilities manageme nt. The idea of more research and development into better QS practices was promoted as it was as another way of adding value for the client (Davis, Langdon, Everest, 1991). The RICS The core skills and knowledge base of the quantity surveyor report released in 1992 affirmed a lot of the points raised in the 1991 Davis, Langdon and Everest report. It also raised point that QS may need to change the way they address clients and professionals to try and make clear to clients the services they offer (RICS, 1992). Constructing the team was a report written by Sir Michael Latham in 1994 which had far reaching consequences on the construction industry and those employed in it, including quantity surveyors. The report called for more standardisation of design and construction by establishing more functional and efficient supply chains. More transparency in costing between the professionals and clients was seen to be needed; this was of particular interest to QSs as target of reducing cost by 30% was set by the report. The report also encouraged more teamwork in all construction teams to produce a product that all, including the client, could be justifiably happy with. This point also highlighted QSs as they did at this time have a reputation as difficult to deal with professionals for the client (Cartlidge 2006). Sir John Egan, a keen advocate of Sir Michael Lathams report and known to be a person to be a person convinced of the need of change in the industry was appointed as head of the Construction Task Force (Cartlidge, 2006). It was Egans opinion; that while some of the construction industry learned from the Latham report, not enough was done to meet the targets set out within it. In 1998 Sir John Egan published his own report titled Rethinking Construction. This report was seen as the blueprint for the modernisation of the systems used in the construction industry to procure work. The Egan report revealed in a survey of major UK property clients that many still dissatisfied with the services performances offered by both contractors and consultants. These clients revealed that: More that a third of them thought that consultants were lacking in providing a speedy and reliable service They felt they were not receiving good value for money insofar as construction projects did not met their functional needs and had high whole life costs They felt that the design and construction should be integrated in order to deliver added value There was a failure to keep within agreed budgets and the completion schedules. (Rethinking Construction, Sir John Egan, 1998) These points were damaging to consultants and in particular quantity surveyors who a lot believe were one of the guiltiest of these failings in the industry. Responding to this report, in 1999 Building magazine published the article The QS: a profession on the brink. The magazine conducted its own survey of over 12,000 QSs and the overwhelming feeling was one of anxiety about their future. The survey shows that QSs are concerned about the rapid erosion of their traditional role, their inability to persuade clients that they can significantly contribute to their projects, and the threat posed by acquisitive rivals and by other professionals such as management consultants and accounts 75% of QSs asked believed at this stage that new software packages were replacing their traditional cost modelling role; in fact a senior partner of Davis, Langdon Everest is quoted as saying that traditional quantity surveying, especially the calculation of BoQs, is on the way out. Many senior QSs in large firms such as Cyril Sweet and Bucknall Austin believed the profession was heading into management consultancy that specialise in construction. The latter in fact now referring to themselves as construction economists. This article seemed to spell the end for the QS as it was followed by more articles that sang from the same hymn sheet (Building, 1999). Adapt or Die (2000) called on QSs to find a new niche in the industry as their traditional role of measuring and drawing up BoQS was fading fast. It referred to QSs as an endangered species and that it was a case of survival of the fittest, the fittest being the surveyor who adapts and diversifies to a changing industry. Many practices have already evolved, reinventing themselves as cost consultants or construction cost advisors, or diversifying to become project managers, construction managers or total service providers offering professional management services to the industry not a word about cost in there at all. (Building, 2000) A year later (2001) a further article entitled What is the use of QSs stated through a survey that the general public had little or no idea of what a QS does. The author suggesting that construction law was an appropriate landing spot for diversifying QSs citing that their cost expertise could be a valuable tool in dispute resolution. The article also followed the theme of others implying that the traditional role was dying (Building, 2001). A lot of the articles around this time were in response to the 1999 survey carried out by Building magazine, so in that respect their fear inducing titles seemed to be on the mark. But five years on the same magazine was speaking quite differently. From forecasting that the QS profession may be on the brink, they were now stating that not only were QSs in high demand, but that their services were on the rise all over the world. The 2004 article Rocking All Over the World tells of how some of the UKs largest QS firms were expanding into foreign markets such as the Middle East, China, North America, Europe and other Commonwealth Nations. Richard Steer, senior partner of Gleeds a large QS firm, commented Just as were trying to lose the name quantity surveyor we are getting requests for QS services. It should be highlighted from the article that while there was an increase in QS demand, it was not for the traditional QS services. The industry was interested in professionals with expertis e in sustainable construction, dispute resolution and adjudication, cost control techniques, procurement advice and also the need for an independent voice in the construction process (Building, 2004). It is not surprising that QSs were in high demand in this era. The world was on the forefront of building boom as property around the world went up at a dizzying pace in places like Dubai and Beijing (for the 2008 Olympic games) for example. What should be noted form this was the services they were offering. Williss Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor 12th ed (2007) depicts how the role of a QS had evolved from the traditional in 1960 into the present (see Fig. 1.1) Single rate approximate estimates Cost planning Procurement advice Measurement and quantification Document preparation, especially bills of quantities Cost control during construction Interim valuations and payments Financial statements Final account preparation and agreement Settlement of contractual claims Fig. 1.1 Traditional quantity surveying activities 1960 Investment appraisal Advice on cost limits and budgets Whole life costing Value management Risk analysis Insolvency services Cost engineering services Subcontract administration Environmental services measurement and costing Technical auditing Planning and supervision Valuation for insurance purposes Project management Facilities management Administering maintenance programs Advice on contractual disputes Planning supervisor Employers agent N.B. some of traditional activities may still be part of a present day QSs role such as procurement advisor or cost planning. (Ashworth Hogg 2007) Williss book also gave insight into what the future may bring for the QS, all of which are spoken about today and are considered to be the most recent QS responsibilities to have developed. Activities such as: Environmental and sustainability analysis Supply chain management Facilities management Legal services Quality management Automated measurement and quantification Taxation and investment advice relating to projects (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) (Cartlidge, 2009) When looking at the list of traditional of activities for quantity surveyors compared to the present day role which the practice, it shows up a profession that has vastly evolved in the amount of services that it has the potential to offer to the construction industry. Yet still today QSs are challenging themselves to take on more as to stop other professions poaching their business. Stuart Earl of the RICS in this article in the Construction Journal speaks of the need to adapt to stop outside intrusion. His article New tools for the trade covers the topic of the rules of measurement issued by the RICS. The new rules of measurement: order of cost estimating and elemental cost planning is set of comprehensive rules for calculating the cost of the whole project, not just the building works which the Standard Method of Measurement (SMM) currently does. This initiative is a bid by the RICS to incorporate whole life costing into the framework of the QS role and to promote value for money thinking. Stuart Earl describes the rule as: our professions statement of the minimum technical standard required to carry out measurement at all stages in the life of a building. If we do not rise to the challenge, others may do it for us, or worse, we may find ourselves losing out to accountants. (RICS Construction Journal, Aug, 2009) Michael Sullivan, the chairman of the QS Construction Professional Group of the RICS, details a similar problem for QSs. His article from the Construction Journal, The vital link, he tells of QSs need to embrace sustainability in the industry so that it becomes a part of the quantity surveying framework for the future professionals to adopt rather than another profession. the next generation of QSs will want to know what you are doing about sustainability, expecting you to understand it more than others, like management consultants (RICS Construction Journal, Dec, 2009) Ever since quantity surveyings traditional practices were questioned in the wake of the Second World War, QSs have been faced with the challenge of diversifying and justifying their profession. Although on the small to medium scale the traditional practices are still alive (with some modern innovation, e.g. Information technology advancement), the large scale projects and firms are very much different (Cartlidge, 2009). And it is no surprise that the companies that have done the best are those that have adopted the Egan ethos of value for money and became more client focussed thus changed and added to the QS services they offer. It seems possibly that to succeed the QS industry hinges on the amount of services you can provide to fulfil a wide variety of client needs.

Willa Cathers Death Comes for the Archbishop: Powerful Prose :: Willa Cather Death Comes for the Archbishop

Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop: Powerful Prose It is understandable that some early twentieth-century critics of Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop said that the "'book is hard to classify,'" and "that it is not a novel" (On Writing 12). At that time, novels generally were written with a recognizable structure, with character development as a focus and chronology as a central organizational strategy (Harmon 350). In Death Comes for the Archbishop the central character's changes are subtle and relational, while the chronology sometimes seems random and unpredictable. Cather's preference to call her work "a narrative," a term usually contained within the definition of "a novel," does make sense, if only to distinguish her style in the minds of her readers. Cather's main character, Archbishop Latour, does not change so much as come into clearer focus. It is as if her story begins with a picture of Latour through a blurry wide-angle lens. He is only a name in the prologue; he is denied authority when he first arrives in Santa Fe; he is traveling in foreign territory. Yet, through a series of vignettes, Latour's personality becomes more vivid and realized, like the landscape around him. Rather than major personal trans-formations or dramatic circumstances, we find that Latour becomes more of what we already thought he was. Although a relatively solitary man, Latour is literarily never alone. Cather almost always sets her main character in relation to either another character or to the landscape. Comparisons of the scenery to that of other locales are made, but like the personality of the Latour himself, the landscape seems to develop its essence, as well. In a scene towards the end of the book when Latour is on one of his many journeys back to Santa Fe, we see a good example of this juxtaposition, "[t]he plain was there, under one's feet, but what one saw when one looked about was that brilliant blue world of stinging air and moving cloud" (DCA 231-2). Cather points the fulfillment of her tale in her title. In the last section, titled just as the book itself, the Archbishop is "active in some other part of the great picture of his life" (Death Comes for the Archbishop 288). During his last days he was "done with calendared time," these words reflecting the arbitrary way in which memories are recalled, and the manner in which the book's minimal plot progresses.

Smoking Ban

The Smoking Ban Brandon Samuel January 24, 2013 The Smoking Ban Smoking is a popular pass time. At the same time, it also threatens the lives of millions of people, smoker and non-smokers alike. Smoking kills more people each year than any other disease. Smoking kills 2 out 10 people each year in developed countries. (PAHO, 2007) Secondhand smoke puts non-smokers at similar risk to that of smokers. Retrospectively non-smokers feel their rights are being violated. Smokers want to have a choice to smoke where they want.Smokers claim smoking is a legal act so why ban it? Forty Six million smokers make their own health decisions to smoke. However, the Environmental Protection agency drafted a report, in May of 1992, stating that second hand smoke is a carcinogen. Every state in America should address this problem on a national level and local level. Smoking should be banned from all public facilities. Several states have passed smoking laws making it illegal to smoke in any public facili ty. In California, it's illegal to smoke in a car with children under the age of 18 aboard.Other states such as Maine, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Arkansas have similar car smoking laws- with different ages that apply. Many variations of policies have been set locally to support a nationwide movement to have smoke free laws in every state. Among these states Michigan is also among these states jumping on board for smoke free environments. The clean air act was established to protect citizens against harmful effects of smoking or second hand smoke. There are currently 13 states that have no statewide ban and simply rely on the clean air act to restrict smoking.These laws of the clean air act are very broad and may restrict per county but it is up to the state to apply specifics to their area. As Smoking has been a habit of choice for many Americans, laws and policies are set in place to protect those who wish not to be affected by second hand smoke. Michigan has been among many state s adapting to the change. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill on December 18, 2009 which was put into place on May 1, 2010 where all public areas including workplaces, restaurants, and bars ill be smoke free. The policy also states, unlike California and other states that you may not smoke on any patio of these establishments as well. Opinions of others feel that this is quite harsh as people feel they should be able to smoke outside on a patio at the establishment. The bill defines and explains all appropriate measures which must be taken in order to uphold the law. The sections describe actions for company owners to prohibit smoking in these areas and to also post signs around the establishment. (Mulder, 2010)There are two exceptions to the smoking ban which includes cigar bars and tobacco specialty stores. Both of these businesses must file an affidavit with the department and await approval. The bill is very specific about what is allowed and what not allowed for these establishment s is. For example, you may not smoke cigarettes in the cigar bar, only cigars. The second exception to the policy is casinos. If the casino was established before the bill was called into action then patrons may smoke in the facility. However, casinos that are established after May, 1, 2010 must be smoke free.Penalties of this bill are determined to be no more than 100 for the first offense and no more than 500 for the second offense. Food establishments that do not permit smoking as according to the law may not discriminate against employees who do smoke. (Mulder, 2010) Below are a list of state and local laws that pertain to the United States and the participation of this policy. †¢ Across the United States, 21,884 municipalities are covered by a 100% smoke free provision in non-hospitality workplaces, and/or restaurants, and/or bars, by either a state, commonwealth, territorial, or local law, representing 79. % of the US population. †¢ 39 states and the District of Colu mbia have local laws in effect that requires non-hospitality workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars to be 100% smoke free. There are 2,140 states, commonwealths, territories, cities, and counties with a law that restricts smoking in one or more outdoor areas, including 1,056 that restrict smoking near entrances, windows, and ventilation systems of enclosed places; 1,497 that restrict smoking in public outdoor places such as parks and beaches; 253 that prohibit smoking in all outdoor stadiums and other sports and entertainment enues, and 361 that restrict smoking in some areas within outdoor stadiums and other sports and entertainment venues. (ANRF, 2012) †¢ Smoking is a habit that many people engage in throughout America. It can also be thought of as a social activity, and many people who do not smoke normally will smoke especially when they go to bars, restaurants, and casinos. At the same time, smoking is a great health risk, which endangers not only the user, but also eve ryone who is in the same area as the user.In this context, this paper will examine the pros and cons of banning smoking in bars and restaurants and will provide an ethical solution to this debatable issue. Looking at ethical solutions to this problem depends on how you view the issue at hand. Quit smoking in enclosed spaces or continue the way we have always done things. What about giving people the choice not to be engulfed by SHS? Does the smoker’s right to smoke trump the right to not smoke or be affected by SHS? If no, then set rules and regulations. Those who don’t follow will have consequences.Clarks article states that an amazing 88% of Americans feel that smoking is annoying. Too much surprise, most smokers support a smoking ban as well. We could cater to the 88% and develop solutions to these problems such as; make it illegal to smoke in any public facility. Another solution would be to install advanced air filtering systems to enable smokers to continue to sm oke indoors as long – as the filtering systems prove to be efficient. This may be the key to help the smokers, less likely to feel isolated and attacked.Another possible solution would be to spend money on outdoor areas (patios) where customers may eat or socialize outside together. This would actually draw non-smokers and smokers together in an environment where they could mingle together without feeling like they are being harmed physically or emotionally. If your business was located in a cold area, the owners could also install outdoors heaters to allow year round patios. To clarify misconceptions even further, the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, written by Michael L.Marlow, reports that the best evidence reported that smoking bans put into place does not pose an economical threat to the any business. (Marlow, 2009) In addition to public smoking remedies, there should be a smoking ban in any vehicle that transports a child under the age of 18 years old. By ma king the age 18, there is no question of rights that are infringed. You have to be 18 to buy and smoke cigarettes, so lets keep it consistent and simple. Given scientific information on the effects of smoking a non-objectivist would agree that sometimes simplicity is the key. Waller, 2008, p. 175) As stated previously smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease, says the World Health Organization. According to their figures, it is responsible for approximately 3. 5 million deaths worldwide every year – or about 7% of all deaths. (BBC News: Smoking) Moreover, the World Health Organization says that by 2020 17. 7 percent of all deaths in developed countries will be the result of smoking (BBC News: Smoking). This means that out of every 10 people who die roughly two people die because of smoking.The WHO is currently working on a global level to achieve 100 % smoke free environment in any enclosed space. This is to include airlines, schools, workpla ce, health facilities, bars, restaurants, and all public facilities. This global organization recognizes the dangers that come from smoking and also would like to help educate our youth on the effects of smoking. This type of action would focus on preventative measures to lower the percentages of smokers in the years to come. WHO, 1999) There was also a recent study done by the United States Societies actuary and it reported that a combination of direct and indirect medical costs estimated about 10 billion dollars in health care costs associated with smoking. To sup port this estimate, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported that a clean air act would save US employers 15 billion dollars annually and the workforce productivity would raise about 3. 5 %. (PAHO, 2007) To begin, the argument for allowing smoking in bars and restaurants is that many people go to bars and restaurants to relax and socialize.Historically, smoking has been a part of these activities, espec ially drinking and socializing in bars, pubs and nightclubs. Charles Clark writes in his article about the desperate attempts to cut down smoking in public facilities. Politicians, administrators, and supervisors are looking for policies that they can move forward with- in order to â€Å"crackdown on smoking†. Clark notes that since the smoking ban issue has been pushed so heavily and been in the forefront of everyone’s minds, smokers have been feeling publicly humiliated, vilified, and ridiculed. Clark, 1992) The ban of smoking could, in this context, jeopardize businesses by forcing businesses to ban activities in which their customers engage. This economic factor is potentially problematic, since it is often a good thing for businesses to further profits by catering to the wishes and desires of the customer. Secondly, bars are places where everyone knows that people smoke and so they enter into this environment of their own free will. Thus, smoking in this case is n ot a malicious activity, since everyone freely chooses to visit a place that allows smoking.Thirdly, it is potentially problematic to dissuade what is often considered a social activity in a social environment. In the context of the pros to banning smoking in bars and restaurant, these cons to banning smoking in a bars and restaurants hold up different viewpoints. First of all, smoking is a serious health risk both to all customers and the people who serve them. Studies have also proven that the smoking bans have not affected the businesses that are on board. In fact, it has increased business and people are generally supporting the change. PAHO, 2007) This also brings up another issue of whether or not to ban smoking in every workplace establishment and vehicles with children as well. Overall, according to the World Health Organization, smoking kills and disables more people worldwide than any other disease. This means that smoking, which is a chosen habit, kills more people than s erious worldwide disease such as AIDS. Tynan’s article reports that the American Nonsmokers ‘ Rights Foundation estimated 33% of US residents live in areas where smoking bans have already been set in place. Tynan, Babb,  , 2008,  May). When looking at the smoking ban we can include the smoking ban to incorporate all public facilities, transportation (airplanes, trains, buses), and also vehicles with children aboard. Right now children are suffering from second hand smoke. In many states it is still legal to smoke in your car with children. But what isn’t exploited is that the World Health Organization reports that 700 million children are exposed to second hand smoke. SHS exposure causes upper respiratory infections and increases the chance of asthma. PAHO, 2007) Shouldn’t America fight for protecting adult non-smokers, but also the children too? In regards to SHS in the workplace The Employee Relations Law Journal (2006) Tomkowicz and Lessack make cla ims that workers who smoke, take longer and more frequent breaks. In addition, to longer breaks there is a rise in the cost of health care, which is more expensive for everyone because of smoking and its many effects. The World Health organization supports this claim as well, adding that economically the businesses are at higher risk for fire, more expensive cleaning fees, and higher insurance premiums. PAHO, 2007) Non-smokers feel the smoking ban has a positive impact on the health of everyone, so let’s continue the progression and move forward with a nationwide ban. These reasons alone should show that public establishments and society should support a clean air act. A habit, which kills and injures so many people worldwide and in the US, is hard to embrace. In a larger respect, one could argue that, considering these facts, it is the duty of our United States government to protect people when they go to public places from the awful effects of smoking.The biggest reason, mo reover, that smoking should be banned from restaurants, bars, public places, and transportation is that we need to find a way to protect the rights of individuals asking for a choice to stay healthy. Why should smokers infringe their choice on others? It would be safe to say that the opposing views of the smoking bans derive from a universal ethical egoism viewpoint where as Bruce Waller’s text Consider Ethics (2008) describes ethical egoism as everybody does what benefits them, not considering others views or values. Waller, 2008, p. 87) Although ethical egoism deserves consideration society should also consider utilitarianism as another ethical viewpoint. Although these negative myths about the smoking ban can be refuted, and smokers understand consequences of smoking tot heir own health, smokers have to also calculate the consequences to non-smokers as well. Assuming the United States Government fights these battles locally, nationally, and statewide, many of the Americans will continue to decline in health and continue to die each year from tobacco and SHS.If society looks at second hand smoke in an ethical manner they could see that SHS is detrimental to ones health and we have a moral obligation to our fellow humans to not impose serious health risks upon others. Another aspect to point out is that most of America does not smoke. There are more non smoker s that there are smokers. Also smokers generally want to quit but still smoke because of nicotine addition. A lot of smokers support a clean air act. There are several myths that are brought about from the tobacco industry.Cleary looking at the difference between right and wrong is this case is key. People should have the right NOT to smoke, even passively. Simply, have rules and regulations on where smokers can and cannot smoke. Based on scientific knowledge, many Americans and organizations that support the smoking ban has begun to campaign against second hand smoke. If the smoking ban does not progress, we may see backlash of an angry population. We could also see US studies providing that second hand smoke increases the number of people with lung cancer and heart disease.People who are addicted to smoking should be treated with compassion in order to help their habit. However, they should not be permitted to harm others by chemical means. If America cannot agree to enforce public smoking laws, then we will continue to see declines in smoker’s health including cancer and fatal deaths resulting from a carcinogenic agent, such as cigarette smoke. In regards to smoking in the workforce, employees who are continually and routinely exposed to a lot of second-hand smoke may end up walking away from their jobs, due to the health risks.In this respect, non-smokers can be subjected to the same ailments and risks that smokers are subject to. This fact in itself makes it plainly evident that smokers endanger others by smoking, and that in view of public health, the governmen t must pass laws which protect its citizens from health hazards, especially ones which kill more people so violently. Conclusion To conclude, the arguments for allowing smoking in bars and restaurants rest on the assumptions of the past, that smoking is a social activity and should be allowed in public places.But since that time in the early 20th century when smoking was much more prevalent among adults, medicine has discovered absolutely that smoking greatly jeopardizes the life and quality of life of millions of people, smokers and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke alike. M. Tynan says that the 2006 Surgeons General’s Report concluded that SHS causes premature death and disease in young children and nonsmoking adults. This means that the government must enact changes in the law to reflect this scientific knowledge.Overall, however, when weighing both the pros and cons, it becomes very evident that smoking is too harmful to people’s health and must be publicly c ensured as much as possible. Given all these factors of smoking the US government should provide a universal ban for smoking in public facilities. With the exception of those establishments who provide an area, which is sealed off, and the air current is ventilated away from the general public. Only then would a bar or restaurant owner be able to allow smoking in this space.Millions of Americans chooses not to smoke. However, they are not given the chance to get away from second hand smoke. In most states it is still legal to smoke in restaurants, bars, casinos, and public facilities. Why is the law taking their right away to be healthy, but yet not taking the right away from smokers all the while letting them blow smoke in their way? What is more important the right to smoke or your right to good health? References ANRF. (2012, January 02). Overview list – how many smoke free laws?.Retrieved from http://www. no-smoke. org/pdf/mediaordlist. pdf Clark, Charles. (1992). Are ban s on tobacco use unfair to smokers? Crackdown on smoking, 2(45), Retrieved from http://library. cqpress. com. ezproxy. falcon. edu/cqresearcher/document. php? id=cqresrre1992120400=hitlist=0 doi: cqresrre1992120400 Marlow, Michael L. (Summer 2009). Epidemiologic and economic research, and the question of smoking bans. (Essay). Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons  14. 2  :  58(3). Health Reference Center Academic.Gale. Baker College. 23 Oct. 2009   . Gale Document Number:A201551415 Mulder, M. (2010, February 04). Michigan smoking ban exemptions and enforcement. Retrieved from http://www. michiganpolicy. com/index. php? option=com_content=article=693:michigan-smoking-ban-exemptions-and-enforcement=43:health-care-policy-briefs=159 Pan American Health Organization, PAHO (2007, May 23). Smoke free inside. Retrieved from http://www. paho. org/english/ad/sde/ra/Engbrochure. pdf Slovak, Lila E. (Fall 2007).Smoke screens: why state laws making it a crime to smoke in cars cont aining children are a bad idea. Family Law Quarterly  41. 3  :  601(21). Health Reference Center Academic. Gale. Baker College. 23 Oct. 2009   . Gale Document Number:A175284505 Tomkowicz, Sandra M. ,  and  Susan K. Lessack. (Winter 2006). Where there's smoke: employer policies on smoking. Employee Relations Law Journal  32. 3:  48(18). Health Reference Center Academic. Gale. Baker College. 23 Oct. 2009 Gale Document Number:A156054991. Tynan,  M. ,  Babb,  S. ,  &  MacNeil,  A.. (2008,  May).State Smoking Restrictions for Private-Sector Worksites, Restaurants, and Bars – United States, 2004 and 2007. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,  57(20),  549-552. Retrieved October 23, 2009, from ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. (Document ID:  1500262111). Waller, N. B. (2008). Consider Ethics: Theory, Readings, and Contemporary Issues (2nd ed. ). Pearson Education, Inc. World Health Organization, WHO, (1999, August 6). Action plan on tobacco or health. Retrieved from http://www. wpro. who. int/NR/rdonlyres/1167BB28-E2D2-4C61-A5CB-234BD303C3BC/0/RC5011. pdf

The eNotes Blog 19th Century Patriarchy-Defying Prose and Poems Works of Austen andDickinson

19th Century Patriarchy-Defying Prose and Poems Works of Austen andDickinson Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson,  two of the most influential female writers in literature, continue to comment on the mans world of today more than 200 years later. While they didn’t cross paths in their lifetimes (Dickinson was born 13 years after Austen’s death), they led strikingly similar lives. Both were the second daughters of well-respected families, and they never married or had children but were extremely close with their kin- especially their older sisters. In fact, each of their older sisters went on to help publish their literary works after the writers’ deaths. The two did not witness a majority of their works get published: Austen wrote six novels in her lifetime, in which only four were actually published, and Dickinson only saw seven out of eighteen hundred of her poems published in her lifetime. In terms of their writing, Austen and Dickinson both wrote a new prototype for a woman: one rooted in self-respect and personal agency, rejecting the societal expectations of the 19th century. Illustration via Pinterest The 19th-Century Woman During the 19th century, many literary works written by women were not widely accepted. In fact, a significant amount of Austen’s work went to print without her name to avoid the negative stigmas associated with female authorship. Writing was considered a profession for men, and  women were usually expected to remain in the household and be submissive to their husbands. For most 19th-century women, the pressure to marry was crucial for financial security and overall well-being. Both Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson detested the idea of marriage and conveyed these thoughts through the characters and themes within their writing. Jane Austens Novels Not all of Austen’s female heroines hail from the same social class, and each character has a distinct personality. Her female characters are educated, independent women that dream of marrying for love- not money. They are fearless with their opinions and exert a self-confidence that wasnt typical of women during that time. Anne Elliot, the protagonist of Austen’s novel  Persuasion,  says, â€Å"Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.†   Anne Elliot’s character traits can be considered passionate yet practical and are very similar to those of  Elizabeth Bennet from Austens most famous work,  Pride and Prejudice. After Lady Catherine de Bourgh, inflated with narcissism, tells Elizabeth Bennett she is unworthy to marry Mr. Darcy, Bennett retorts with one of the most prominent lines from Pride and Prejudice:  In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentlemans daughter; so far we are equal. To Austen, money and social status does not determine a person’s worth- men and women should be equal, regardless of societys imposition. Emily Dickinsons Poetry Holly Rimmer-Tagoe from The Skinny  wrote,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"for feminists, Dickinson’s experience has become symbolic of the loss of talent that results from women not being able to fully participate in public life and flourish as members of society.† Dickinson herself might have  purposely led a secluded lifestyle to escape a world that would force her into a traditional role as an inferior individual. While she never married, much of her poetry evokes a heart-wrenching tone of a helpless wife trapped in a union deprived of compassion and love. In Dickinson’s  I gave myself to him, she refers to marriage as the solemn contract of life.† She believed that when a woman is married she no longer has any hope of achieving a personal identity. Further, she thought a woman never had the opportunity to construct her own identity in the first place since, before her husband, she looked to her father to dictate the ways to live. This poem- amongst many other of Dickinson’s work- was quite rebellious at the time. In her poem  They shut me up in Prose, she writes, they put me in the Closet /  Because they liked me still. In two lines, Dickinson was able to sum up the essence of a prominent female experience: women were encouraged to maintain a â€Å"still† and docile presence, hidden away in a closet. Their Legacy By no means should Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson be viewed strictly through a feminist lens. Their works are dynamic and complex, exploring universal themes that go beyond gender inequality. However, it’s important to note that without their revolutionary voices, their works may not have had such a lasting impact. Jane Austen pioneered a new perspective on romance and provided a social realism to her readers, and  Emily Dickinson’s honest, emotive poetry has continued to similarly captivate lovers of poetry.   Austen and Dickinson were innovators of literature, who produced countless works that continue, to this day, to inspire writers to use their voices as platforms for self-expression and social critique. Though these women never lived to see the full impact of their works, their legacies lives on through their words. Curious to learn more about Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, and their famous literary works? Check out to find detailed biographies of your favorite authors alongside full summaries and study guides! (Header Image via Pinterest)

The Quest essays

The Quest essays Adolescence is a period of life in which critical psychological and physiological changes occur. It is also the time when identity, a unified sense of self characterized by attitudes, beliefs, and ways of acting that are genuinely ones own (Insel, 1994), forms. The theory of Eric Erikson describes the psychological development of identity as a developmental stage in which individuals are faced with finding out who they are, what they are all about, and where they are going in life.(Santrock, 1997) During this stage, adolescents are trying to find an answer to the question Who am I? and making important life choices, such as career, intimate commitments, or morality. The identity formation period is very critical and it will affect the individual throughout the adulthood. If adolescent arrives at a positive path to follow in life, then a positive identity will be achieved; but if a positive future path is not defined, then identity confusion reigns. (Santrock, 1997) I interviewed a 13 year old girl from a well educated family. The interview was done in the privacy of her house in her own room and took about 40 minutes. During the interview, the teen was asked to answer a list of questions and encouraged to use as much details as possible. Each answer was carefully recorded and evaluated. The questions I asked her targeted fundamental self aspects that build the feeling of identity. The interview examined the following aspects: role experimentation, self certainty, peer relationships, family relationships, sexual orientation, career, and leadership. The girl I interviewed had a strong sense of uniqueness-she wants to be different and expresses herself colorfully. I found that appearance is very important, such as adoption of different fashions and in hair styles. Girls are very conscious of how they look. While admitti ...

Civil Rights Era

Civil Rights Era Introduction It is notable that blacks faced extreme discrimination in the historical America. During that period, the freed â€Å"blacks† of 1840s were encountering various challenges while trying to integrate in a society that racially segregated them. Previous political regimes had enacted legislation that led to institutionalisation of racism. American leaders’ assertion that the country stood for freedom was a sham, as blacks lacked access to basic social and civil rights.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Civil Rights Era specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This led to the formation of movements through prearranged public meetings, demonstrations, matches and boycotts as they campaigned against this social vice. Moreover, various action groups fought for the civil and social rights of Black people, which they termed â€Å"Civil Rights Era† The â€Å"civil rights era† was amid 195 5 and 1968 when the social movement was extremely vocal. â€Å"Civil right movement† is sum of all activities undertaken by various activists in the fight against segregation. The southern states had used slaves as their source of labour in their plantations, meaning that the leading population of blacks was in the south. The whites profoundly ingrained bigotry in this region. Following the large population, the movement was very vocal in the southern states. The era is estimated to have lasted fifteen years. During the era, various leaders enacted different legislations to avert a looming social and civil crisis. The movement activity reduced greatly after the elimination of its enigmatic principal Martin Luther. Fortified with exceptional oratory skills, Martin King led this movement by holding rallies, boycotts and peaceful demonstration. His leadership was highly applauded for being non-violent in a struggle that most expected to be bloody. However, some incidences were v iolent. Thesis It is certain that racism was rampant in the historical America; however, the rise of â€Å"Civil Rights Movement† normalized the situation thus leading to the enjoyment of various services by all citizens. During such time, associations were formed to champion for the rights of the blacks. Despite abolition of slavery, the freed people continued to live in bondages owing to neglect by the White dominated government. Although this community constituted a significant part of the population, they had no congressional representation. This in effect meant that they lacked representation arms of the state that formulated laws that they adhered to. Existing laws did not give voting rights to the African Americans.Advertising Looking for research paper on african american? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Due to such issues, most members of this community felt they had been neglected; on the social aren a black people were not allowed to utilize the same facilities as whites. Black students could not attend educational institution set aside for white counterparts from the elementary to the tertiary level. Employment in government institution was skewed and this led to majority of black people being unemployed. Some of the revolution leaders include Rosa Parks who was an Alabaman seamstress who entered a â€Å"Montgomery bus† on her way home. As passengers augmented, the driver ordered Rosa to offer her seat to a white. Rosa displayed bravery when she failed to give it up her seat despite subsequent arrest. Her experience resulted in more than a year and a half embargo of the â€Å"Montgomery buses† (Phibbs, 2009). Thurgood Marshal is another personality who made noteworthy input to this struggle. His input came via multiple civil litigations that he filled. His competence in the legal field was evident as he only lost in one case that he filed at the time. In one case where he challenged the school system, resulting in an overall transformation as the Supreme Court ordered that all schools should be open to all races. This outcome was in line with the law that provided equal education for all. As stated above Martin Luther was the leader of all movements. President Johnson who took over leadership after the elimination of JF Kennedy led to the enactment of affirmative action that King and other activists negotiated. Martin faced assassination in 1968 while in a Memphis hotel. Achievements of the â€Å"Civil Rights Movements† In the civil era, multiple changes were achieved that assisted the Black people integrate into the American society. The aim of the black movement was to fight for the racial dignity, economic and political rights. There was a need for a remedial action to be taken as racial discrimination was evident. Thurgood’s case was the first to bring changes. The movement was fighting for Black students who were able to attend the same school as Caucasian students. This case brought equality into the education sector. During the mind 1960s, Johnson, the president, rallied the Congress in enacting civil rights bill and the voting act. This legislation ensured that African Americans had representation in the different governing structure like local authorities and Congress. The Civil right bill was a remedy for the racism abuses that they underwent. These movements prompted the congress to pass various acts thus preventing the country from plunging into chaos (Levy, 1998). The Civil right Act consisted of many rights. First it allowed all voters to be registered. This did not exclude the literacy tests which applied to both whites and blacks. Secondly, the Act addressed discrimination in public facilities such as hotels, restaurants, motels and private clubs which referred to a certain group. Thirdly, the municipal government was prohibited to deny public facilities to the public facilities to people on basis of their race, religion and ethnicity.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Civil Rights Era specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Kerner Commission had done a thorough study on the causes of urban violence. The result was that racism was the major cause. The riots were on the increase in mid 1960s and were fuelled by the racial disparities. Malcom X was one of the leaders in the riots and he called for armed self defence. He was later shot at the age of 39 as he gave a speech. The Black Panther’s party was founded in 1966. Huey Newton and Bobby Saele were the founders of this party. They had a concern of the police force brutality towards the African Americans (Steinberg, 2000). Passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Greatest achievements of the civil rights occurred after the passing of civil rights legislation. The passing of the â€Å"Civil Rights Act in 1964 and voting right Act in 1965† (NAACP, 2011, p. 1) brought a great revolution in the freedom of African Americans. This was to stop any form of discrimination. It meant that it was unlawful to discriminate anyone on the basis of their color, race, and religion or nationality. The voting rights Act was voted in 1965. It was meant to ensure the right to vote for all Americans. The right to vote for black Americans was also supported by the government. The Attorney general Robert Kennedy was quite influential in the fight against racial discrimination. The judiciary took part in protecting personal liberties against majority power. The civil rights movement’s agenda was to give equal privileges to all Americans regardless of their race. These rights also ended discrimination in the housing. It came to action during the 15th amendment of the American constitution. The south however experienced discrimination in voting even in the late 1960s. The basis of discrimination was from simple literacy tests that wer e meant to alienate the blacks from the voters. This caused only a small number to participate in the voting process. The provision of the act prohibited discrimination. The preclearance was also needed for the states and other jurisdictions that had a history of racial discrimination. This provided an approval by the United States department of justice. This Act enabled many African Americans to participate in politics. In 1964 summer, the white students also participated in registration of the colored people. Civil rights organizations such as National Association for the Advancement of colored people (NAACP) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were also involved in the same activity of registering colored voters (NAACP, 2011).Advertising Looking for research paper on african american? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More President Lyndon B. Johnson speech in May 1964 at the University of Michigan encouraged the graduating students to shun racism and work towards freedom for all. He insisted that, their imagination and initiatives would determine the kind of a society they were going to build. Richard Nixon took over the presidency in 1968. By this time about 60% of African Americans were eligible to vote in Mississippi and other Southern States. From 1965 to 1990 black state legislators number rose from two to 160. The voting rights Act was renewed in 1970, 1975 and 1982. Before 2003 South America had more black candidates winning elections but fewer democrats overall winning office. The right to vote made a great impact to the African Americans as this led them to hold positions in local, state and national levels. Civil Rights Act of 1964 also assisted the black people to secure more jobs. The Civil Bill of Rights Act opened equal opportunities for employment. Formation of Equal Employment Opportu nity Commission had a long term impact on the country. The law was clear that no discrimination was allowed in public facilities or the government and the employment opportunities. At the moment, it was not easily enforced but was gradually enforced in the later years. The State fair employment practices Agencies together with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission were in charge of implementation of the laws in employment. They were allowed to file law suites on behalf of employees. Any complaint of discrimination could be filed within 180 days. This was in relation to pregnancy, age and disability. Employers were not supposed to qualify their employees on the basis of their race. Johnson helped the minorities to gain equal opportunities. In November 1964, Johnson won the presidential elections against Barry Goldwater. At the end of his Presidency, there was violence as well as Vietnam War. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated. This raised a question on the prog rams that President Johnson had started of Medicare for elderly Americans and Medicaid for poor Americans. Passage of the Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965 The immigration Act was signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1965. This positively influenced migration in the 20th century. Majority of the immigrants came in to work. There was also a shifting in gender immigrants. Initially, males were majority of the immigrants, but the Act influenced the number of females who arrived in the U. S. There was a difference in the education levels of the immigrants. Majority of the past immigrants were not educated while the subsequent immigrants were skilled. This is now referred to as â€Å"brain drain† from origin countries. Currently on its mission to globalization, the U.S. has increased number of immigrants. The Americans are also going to other countries as they export jobs while the immigrants are working for them. The Act allowed integration of African Americans in the count ry. The system allocation of Visas is based on family relationship to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. However, due to high number of visa application many people have to wait for a long time to acquire immigration Visa (Laney, 2003). 1968 was marked by the Fair housing Act that came after assassination of Martin Luther king Junior. The Act was mainly to curb discrimination in housing. It prohibited landlords from refusing to rent or sell houses on the basis of race, gender, religion or ethnicity. Racial preference in advertising, redlining and blockbusting were also prohibited by the Act. Integration of blacks into the American society Integration of African Americans and other minorities by the whites was as a result of violence. The task was difficult to implement because it had everything to do with changing peoples minds. The attitude of the majority was negative and it took time to convince them. 1960s was the baseline for integration of black Americans in the whit e society. The changing in numbers of blacks’ participation in schools, housing, military, sports and government has a major impact on the social development of the U.S. Government authority played a great role in desegregation. Black-white segregation was persuasive throughout the United States and mostly affected the southern parts. Blacks were excluded in many areas especially the prestigious and beneficial sectors. The blacks did not have chances in government, businesses, community associations and unions. World War II made a significant change in perception of whites about the blacks. The war created many economic opportunities to the blacks following the blacks’ migration to Northern and urban areas. This created an environment of interaction and broadened the social and political abilities of the blacks. The attitude of racism was unnecessary evil. The country was experiencing a rapid economic growth. However, the blacks were migrating from the Southern region to the Northern part where black population reduced by 24% from 1940 to 1970. Blacks mostly migrated to the large cities which had accessibility to the rail line. Manufacturing centres of upstate New York also attracted the blacks. Those blacks who went to the North were more successful than those in the South. The blacks were about a quarter of the population in big cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Boston by 1960. Only Minneapolis city had a smaller population of blacks below the national average of 11.7%. The protests by Civil Rights Movement organizations demanded for the rights of black Americans as well as to shun discrimination against them. The blacks’ participation in civil rights increase in the 1960s brought conflict with the whites. Their participation was not in vain because after persistence, their demands were included in the constitution. This was their path to freedom as they were able to enjoy many privileges that they had for l ong been denied. Participation of blacks in major institutions of American society broke the barrier of discrimination. Arts, Entertainment, religious institutions and public schools became flexible and allowed the blacks in their facilities and this was how the blacks became integrated into the American society. Changes in the education sector The Supreme Court ruling was against discrimination in public schools. This came in 1954, when Virginia political establishment had threatened to close the white schools that would allow African Americans in their schools. The ruling was named Brown II. It was a case that was held because of five different people accusing school facilities of discriminating the black children. It was a serious case since Browns’ child was not allowed to attend a nearby school that was near their home. She went far away to the school that was meant for the blacks. In 1960s, some of the supreme courts decisions ordered for equality in schools and worked towards implementation. The Act was in favour of stopping segregation in terms of education facilities. The law prohibited discrimination in the area of funding where all schools were supposed to get equal funding regardless of the students race. Title VII of the Act outlawed discrimination against any person because of the relationship with another individual of a different â€Å"race, color, race, religion, sex or nation of origin† (Burton O’Brien, 2009, p. 1). The government was greatly involved in the achievements of civil rights movements. President JFK helped in the enforcement of law that did not support discrimination in schools and many public areas. In 1970, a U.S. judge in North Carolina gave an order that the black students could attend white schools and that the white students could be admitted in the black schools. 1974 was marked by another episode where the whites demonstrated against the black students in their schools. The black students were harasse d by their counterparts who made them to run away from school. The Brown case came up later in1979. The courts made a policy that was known as Open enrolment that gave freedom of choice to students to attend the school they wished to. Segregation in public schools was therefore outlawed by the passing of civil rights Act. The bill amendment also protected women in courts which in addition included the white people for the first time (Burton O’Brien, 2009). Conclusion Racial discrimination was common in U.S. history. It deprived many African Americans their rights and privileges that made them to remain in poverty and have the dominant whites as superior. These included schools, housing, employment, voting rights and migration. This however did not last forever. The civil rights era between 1955 and 1968 was characterized by various activists including Martin Luther King Junior, Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshal who were fighting against segregation on basis of their race. The civil rights movement had many blacks in participation. Their fight for desegregation resulted in achievements of the legal victories in many areas that promoted their equality. The education system changed to open for both blacks and whites and stopped racial admission. Secondly blacks were allowed to use social facilities as much as whites were. Thirdly, the African Americans got voting rights which enabled them to participate in political issues. The immigration and Nationality Services Act also encouraged many blacks to immigrate to U.S. Moreover, the Civil Rights Act in 1968 banned discrimination in housing, both for rent and for sale regardless of ones race. The participation of the blacks in key institutions such as government, businesses and community programs enhanced their success and growth that promoted their integration in the white society. References Burton, O O’Brien, D. (2009). Remembering Brown at Fifty: The University of Illinois Commemorates Brown V. Boar d of Education. Illinois: University of Illinois Press. Laney, G.P. (2003). The voting rights act of 1965: historical background and current issues. New York, NY: Nova Publishers. Levy, P. (1998). The civil rights movement. New York, NY: Greenwood Publishing Group. NAACP. (2011). NAACP. Web. Phibbs, C.F. (2009). The Montgomery Bus Boycott: a history and reference. New York, NY: ABC-CLIO. Steinberg, S. (2000). Race and ethnicity in the United States: issues and debates. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell.

EDMA 610 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EDMA 610 - Assignment Example Job design is how a job is organized. It contains the duties and responsibilities of the job, the way the job should be done and the relation of the holder to colleagues. The differences between job analysis and job deign is that whereas job analysis involves an investigation, job design involves already established properties of the job. 1. Ranking method of job evaluation is a simple arranged in order of their merit or value to the organization. Jobs are ranked according to the relative difficulty in performing them. The jobs at the top have the highest value and the bottom has the lowest value. It is subjective in nature cannot be used in large organizations. 2. Factor comparison method of job evaluation is a complex method. It systematic and scientific processes. The job is analyzed according to factors, for example skill involved in the job, mental and physical requirements, working conditions among others. After which key jobs are selected. Key jobs are those jobs whose wage rate the management considers as correct. Other job wages are fixed putting the key job factors into consideration. It is a consistent method. 3. Point method of job evaluation begins with the breakdown of jobs into key factors. Points are assigned to each factor in order of importance of the duties and responsibilities involved in the job. Totals of the points are made. Jobs with similar point totals are placed in the same pay grades. 4. Classification method of job evaluation places jobs according to classes. The classes are according to the skills and training involved in the job. Classes start from class one made of managerial positions, the last class being the unskilled. It is less subjective method and is easy to understand. A good working condition is one that provides comfort to the employees so as to do their best. There are certain practices a company should adopt to make the work

For this assignment, you are to find an article on epidemiology in the

For this assignment, you are to find an on epidemiology in the news - Article Example The researchers studied relations between fast-food /health food eating, and the neighborhood of fast food/healthy food lovers. The participants were more than 5000 middle-aged people from the United States who were asked about the frequency of fast food consumption, the place of its consumption (in the street or in the restaurant) and the place of living. The results of the interrogations were worked out with the aim to determine the connection between active/ not active fast-food consumption and the neighborhood of the fast-food/healthy food lovers. This was compared with the frequency of people’s fast-food consumption near their own homes (Moore, Latetia V.,  Diez Roux,  Ana V., Nettleton Jennifer A., Jacobs, David R. Franco, Manuel, 2009). The results showed that those people who did not consume fast food at all, went on diet very often. In the places, where people like to consume fast-food near their home, the percent of fast food consumption is higher and the cases of going on diet is very seldom (Moore, Latetia V.,  Diez Roux,  Ana V., Nettleton Jennifer A., Jacobs, David R. Franco, Manuel, 2009). Moore, Latetia V.,  Diez Roux,  Ana V., Nettleton Jennifer A., Jacobs, David R. Franco, Manuel. Fast-Food Consumption, Diet Quality, and Neighborhood Exposure to Fast Food. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2009, available at

Project Report on designing and implementing a thematic task-based Research Paper

Project Report on designing and implementing a thematic task-based unit of work which could be used with a mixed-ability class - Research Paper Example Student describes the way they carry out different activities during the day and number of times they do a particular job in an unclean manner. They understand the reason why they are asked to wash their hands every time they eat something. Students understand the different ways in which they can keep their body clean and also take care to maintain the environment clean. Reading: The students are encouraged to read the questionnaire and understand the meaning of words and importance of the concept of cleanliness. The vocabulary and grasping quality of students are enhanced when they read different articles circulated among them. Writing: The students while filling the questionnaire give importance to the spelling which can improve the quality of their writing. Various pictures are drawn and asked to describe. Children are asked to write about the times the things they do to make themselves clean. Speaking: Students are asked question to improve their speaking ability. They are asked about their lifestyle and give brief detail on day to day activities. Discussion among themselves in groups is introduced to have interaction. 1. Students can be lead to a clean place and allowed to sit in a row and asked to give their experience Ask them about any inconvenience or discomfort they have on skin or any occurrence of any allergies lately. The student’s responses can be written on the board. There should be discussions about the features of different bacteria and viruses, where they breed and what situation can destroy them. It should also be discussed about the role played by skin and immune system in order to avoid illness. They should be guided to ways to implement health and clean living. 3. Collect all the response from families and use it at the right time. Once the surveys are done the students should be asked to share all the family information with his class mates. The student

My Self Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

My Self Assessment - Assignment Example How do I interact with others? How well do I fit with the organization? Who am I? Personality insights According to Boud (1995), personality insights entail the characteristics, behaviors, feelings, and thoughts that play apart in making a person unique and different from others. The personality of an individual arises from within him, or herself and tends to remain consistent throughout a person’s lifetime. In my assessment, my basic personality can be regarded as that of extroversion. This is because I have high scores in aspects such as being talkative, outgoing, and sociable. As an extrovert, I get energized by being around other people, as I am not a loner. I am a personality type A, because I ma never late to attend to my activities. Besides, my degree of competitiveness is remarkably high, as I like to compete and achieve the best results. In addition, I am also driven and like doing many things at once, eat fast, and do other things extremely fast. As a type A personal ity, I also express feelings and have many varying interests (Boud, 1995). Values and Attitudes Insights Boud (1995) asserts that values may entail convictions of what can be regarded as acceptable, right, or desirable to a person. ... To me, the fourth central terminal value turns out to be prosperity and wealth, while self respect and pride in accomplishment are the fifth and sixth most significant value respectively. Peace and love in the world and recognition from peers hold number seven and eight respectively in terms of terminal values. The least significant terminal values to me are lasting friendships and salvation. The most prominent instrumental value in my life is self sufficiency and independence, and the second one is being helpful and caring towards others. I value autonomy; as I strive towards being able to be less dependent on other people to assist me achieve my goals (Boud, 1995). In addition, I care for other people and tend to be helpful, whenever people face me with a problem. Hard work and achievement are my third most significant value, while open-mindedness and receptivity to new ideas stands out to be the fourth most prominent value. Thus, I am extremely involved in my job, as I strive to g et the best results. Truthfulness, being well mannered and courteous towards others, and education and intellectual pursuits are the fifth, sixth, and seventh most significant value, to me. Dependability and being counted on by others is my eighth most powerful value, while assertiveness is the ninth value. The least critical value, to me, is obedience that entails following the wishes of others. In my own assessment, I value workplace diversity; this is because I am receptive to other people’s ideas. I welcome change in the workplace, as I rarely hold on to the normal and usual ways of doing things. Therefore, I am always ready to listen to what other people have to say in the workplace. Motivation insights Boud (1995) note that

Insurance fraud Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Insurance fraud - Essay Example Prosecutors and police refer to insurance fraud as either â€Å"soft fraud or hard fraud† (Bourhis 6). Hard fraud, which is rare, occurs when one commits a crime of bringing about destruction of property in order to claim compensation. Soft fraud, unlike hard, is where the insured exaggerates an otherwise legal claim or gives wrong information when applying for a policy in order to lower premiums. The most common fraud is where the value insured is more than the true value of the asset and the policyholder destroys the property and makes it look like an accident to benefit (Bourhis 7). Other fraudsters fake death to collect payments from the life policies. Health care Insurance also experience fraud cases perpetrated by either patients or physicians. Physicians commit fraud by misrepresenting treatments received by patients and patients commit fraud when they provide false information on application, loaning insurance cards and when using transport benefits for non-medical purpose (Bourhis 9). Automobile fraud occurs when insured submits a claim for false accidents, file multiple claims for one accident, claim compensation on injuries not related to automobile accident, reports exaggerated repair costs, or misreport wage losses because of injuries (Bourhis

Tax Havens or Offshore Financial Centre Research Proposal

Tax Havens or Offshore Financial Centre - Research Proposal Example You can have tax havens that charge virtually no tax at all or which just charge annual administrative sums of money for companies using its shores as a base for their operations, and you can have nations that simply charge a lower rate of taxation than competitor havens". (Barber, 2006) Recently some countries have emerged as evident tax havens and are attracting hefty capital inflow. Singapore, Hong-Kong, Barbdos etc are only a few to name. "In Asia, offshore interbank markets began to develop after 1968 when Singapore launched the Asian Dollar Market (ADM) and introduced the Asian Currency Units (ACUs). The ADM was an alternative to the London euro-dollar market, and the ACU rule enabled mainly foreign banks to engage in international transactions under a favorable tax and regulatory environment" (International Monetary Fund, 2000) Similarly in Europe, Luxembourg attracted investors from Germany, France and Belgium in the early 1970s (IMF, 2000) due to its low income tax rates, the lack of withholding taxes for nonresidents on interest and dividend income, and banking secrecy rules. On the same ground The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man provided very similar opportunities. Moreover Bahrain began to serve as a collection center for the region's oil surpluses during the mid 1970s, after passing banking laws and providing tax incentives to facilitate the incorporation of offshore banks. In the Western Hemisphere, the Bahamas and later the Cayman Islands provided similar facilities. Following this initial success by other countries, a number of other small countries tried to attract this business. Many had little success, because they were unable to offer any advantage over the more established centers. This did, however, lead some late arrivals to appeal to the less legitimate side of the business. "By the end of the 1990s, the attractions of offshore banking seemed to be changing for the financial institutions of industrial countries as reserve requirements, interest rate controls and capital controls diminished in importance, while tax advantages remain powerful. Also, some major industrial countries began to make similar incentives available on their home territory. For example, the U.S. established in 1981, in major U.S. cities, the so-called International Banking Facilities (IBFs). Later, Japan allowed the creation of the Japanese Offshore Market (JOM) with similar characteristics. At the same time, supervisory authorities, and to some extent tax authorities were adopting the principle of consolidation which reduced the incentives for banks to carry on business outside their principal jurisdiction. As a result, the relative advantage of OFCs for conventional banking has become less attractive to industrial countries, although the tax advantages for asset management appear to have grown in importance. In fact, reported bank intermediation on the balance sheet in IFCs has declined over the period 1992-1999, thus contributing to the overall decline in the share of bank cross-border assets intermediated through OFCs from 56 percent of total bank cross-border