First Kiss Essays - 9, The Naughtiest Girl Is A Monitor,

First Kiss Linda, why don't you meet your boy friend today? Oh, Amy, Are you crazy? Meeting a jerk like him right before my birth day is like a nightmare. But still It's your 20th birth day. Why don't you just call him then? My boy friend, John, he has been acting like a jerk since when we were young. He always forgets my birth day and to save money, he didn't buy me a music tape but always recorded the songs with his own voice. One day, he said that he is going to give me present that is really sexy. His offer was good enough to make me feel so happy. I've never thought that he would buy me a present like that. But as soon as I opened the box, once again, I realized that he was a real jerk. He bought me an underwear, which is way too big for me. How could you do this to me?, don't you even know how to make girls' happy?, do you think it looks sexy? Oh, I didn't know it would be too big for you, but you know what?, I think baggy is sexy. Promise me to show yourself with that underwear on later, ok? Haha~ Even though he's a jerk like that, I had to call him. Being with a jerk is better than being alone on my birthday. Hello? It's me Who? Who's this? Gosh, it's me Linda! Oh, you should have told me your name before. Anyway, why did you call me? Do you want to go to the movies if you have time? No! Why? I don't want to spend money on watching a movie. Ok, I'll pay for you. Now, happy? Ok, I will see you at the theatre at 2:00 I asked my sister for some money and went out to meet that jerk. Linda~~! He was walking toward me with smile. If he wasn't smiling, I would have almost punched his face. I bought two tickets. What kind of a guy asks a girl to pay? Stupid jerk. We had some time because the movie starts at 3:30 and suddenly he suggested an idea to kill some time. Linda, do you want to play a game? From now to 3:00, I will hook up a girl, and you hook up a boy, and whoever hooks up faster will get both of the tickets. What do you think of my idea? I didn't even answer tha t question and took him to a coffee shop and killed stayed there until the movie starts and we headed to the theatre. Linda, do you want to get some popcorn? Yes! I was so happy. Then go and get some popcorn. Oh, don't forget to buy a drink! That's what I just expected. It's impossible for him to have money and even though he has money, he's not that kind of person who would spend money on girls. The movie was sad enough to make me sob. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise. John was crying very loudly. Because he was crying so hard and loud, people started to laugh at him. So at the saddest point is the movie, people was laughing instead of sobbing. After we watched the movie, he asked me to play a pool with him. Oh, god, he will probably ask me to pay again but I couldn't say no. At the billiards, I saw this pretty girl, saying hello to John with a very big smile. I was so nervous. How could a girl like that say hello to John? I couldn't understand it. How is uncle doing?, John asked her . Of course! How about aunt? Is she doing ok? My parents are not home. They went on a trip. They were cousins. That explains why she was saying hello to him with a big smile on her face. After we played the pool, I asked him to go to a karaoke bar. Linda, are you gonna pay for me? Oh, god. Don't you even have some money to spend on your girl friend? Don't you want to spend some money on me? Damn it. Ok, I will pay for you.

Discovery of the Higgs Field Behind the God Particle

Discovery of the Higgs Field Behind the God Particle The Higgs field is the theoretical field of energy that permeates the universe, according to the theory put forth in 1964 by Scottish theoretical physicist Peter Higgs. Higgs suggested the field as a possible explanation for how the fundamental particles of the universe came to have mass, because in the 1960s the Standard Model of quantum physics actually couldnt explain the reason for mass itself. He proposed that this field existed throughout all of space and that particles gained their mass by interacting with it. Discovery of the Higgs Field Though there was initially no experimental confirmation for the theory, over time it came to be seen as the only explanation for mass that was widely viewed as consistent with the rest of the Standard Model. As strange as it seemed, the Higgs mechanism (as the Higgs field was sometimes called) was generally accepted widely among physicists, along with the rest of the Standard Model. One consequence of the theory was that the Higgs field could manifest as a particle, much in the way that other fields in quantum physics manifest as particles. This particle is called the Higgs boson. Detecting the Higgs boson became a major goal of experimental physics, but the problem is that the theory didnt actually predict the mass of the Higgs boson. If you caused particle collisions in a particle accelerator with enough energy, the Higgs boson should manifest, but without knowing the mass that they were looking for, physicists werent sure how much energy would need to go into the collisions. One of the driving hopes was that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) would have sufficient energy to generate Higgs bosons experimentally since it was more powerful than any other particle accelerators that had been built before. On July 4, 2012, physicists from the LHC announced that they found experimental results consistent with the Higgs boson, though further observations are needed to confirm this and to determine the various physical properties of the Higgs boson. The evidence in support of this has grown, to the extent that the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Peter Higgs and Francois Englert. As physicists determine the properties of the Higgs boson, it will help them more fully understand the physical properties of the Higgs field itself. Brian Greene on the Higgs Field One of the best explanations of the Higgs field is this one from Brian Greene, presented on the July 9 episode of PBS Charlie Rose Show, when he appeared on the program with experimental physicist Michael Tufts to discuss the announced discovery of the Higgs boson: Mass is the resistance an object offers to having its speed changed. You take a baseball. When you throw it, your arm feels resistance. A shotput, you feel that resistance. The same way for particles. Where does the resistance come from? And the theory was put forward that perhaps space was filled with an invisible stuff, an invisible molasses-like stuff, and when the particles try to move through the molasses, they feel a resistance, a stickiness. Its that stickiness which is where their mass comes from. ... That creates the mass.... ... its an elusive invisible stuff. You dont see it. You have to find some way to access it. And the proposal, which now seems to bear fruit, is if you slam protons together, other particles, at very, very high speeds, which is what happens at the Large Hadron Collider... you slam the particles together at very high speeds, you can sometimes jiggle the molasses and sometimes flick out a little speck of the molasses, which would be a Higgs particle. So people have looked for that little speck of a particle and now it looks like its been found. The Future of the Higgs Field If the results from the LHC pan out, then as we determine the nature of the Higgs field, well get a more complete picture of how quantum physics manifests in our universe. Specifically, well gain a better understanding of mass, which may, in turn, give us a better understanding of gravity. Currently, the Standard Model of quantum physics does not account for gravity (though it fully explains the other ​fundamental forces of physics). This experimental guidance may help theoretical physicists hone in on a theory of quantum gravity that applies to our universe. It may even help physicists understand the mysterious matter in our universe, called dark matter, that cannot be observed except through gravitational influence. Or, potentially, a greater understanding of the Higgs field may provide some insights into the repulsive gravity demonstrated by the dark energy that seems to permeate our observable universe.

MOBILE COMMERCE (M- COMMERCE) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MOBILE COMMERCE (M- COMMERCE) - Research Paper Example Mobile commerce is similar to e commerce because it is mediated by computer networks; however, it differs from this form because some internet devices do not have access to telecommunications networks. Mobile commerce has numerous benefits that companies in any industry can enjoy, and one of them is their ability to respond to issues instantly. It is a given fact that certain transactions are time-critical, such as making a buy in the stock market for brokers; having an m-commerce platform for such industries could make the difference between success and failure for these stakeholders. Businesses can gain significant leverage when they merge the intention to purchase with the actual purchase through a mobile device. One way of how this has been achieved is through the use of PDAs (personal digital assistant) in the healthcare sector. Nurses and physicians constantly need to access patient information or records even though this may have occurred in another department within the institution. Some healthcare providers that have adopted these technologies are now able to access patient status and other critical information without having to go to the corresponding department. This has minimized administrative cost while productivity has increased, and the service quality within these entities is also quite promising. In addition to its instantaneous nature, m commerce allows users to carry out transactions independent of their location; this could drive sales substantially for such companies. Many buyers may want to purchase a certain item or service but could be unable to do so because of their distance from the actual store. Even e-commerce, which promises such an advantage is often limited by one’s ability to locate a computer, yet this is not the case for mobile devices. M-commerce holds a lot of promise for businesses that embrace it because they have the opportunity to sale their wares to buyers anywhere they are. The ubiquity of

Read What is a language, and write a short essay (about 750 words)

Read What is a language, and write a short (about 750 words) summarizing the arguments they give in support of their cla - Essay Example Within modern linguistic theory, claiming that a language is rule-managed is to maintain that it can be described in terms of grammar which is a set of rules (Smith and Wilson 332). Grammar has two major roles; separating grammatical from incorrect sentences and providing explanation of each grammatical sentence indicating how it should be pronounced and what it depicts (Smith and Wilson 333). Speakers of a language habitually behave as if their language was rule-governed yet not all speakers of the same language possess same set rules. For each speaker, there is a right and a wrong way of constructing and understanding sentences. This can neither be explained exclusively in terms of customs nor are habits, since the case novel utterances, produced and comprehended without having been heard before (Smith and Wilson 333). It can also not be explained solely in terms of convention or social agreement as each speaker has varying methods of construction and understanding which he shares with no one else (Smith and Wilson 334). Rule system can easily be created and operated by one individual such as, cases of children learning their first language and that of adults with idiosyncratic speech patterns (Smith and Wilson 339). ... The grammar that a speaker actually possesses will depend, at least in part, on the utterances he has heard in the past-mainly as a child learning language for the first time.Since each speaker will have heard different set of utterances, it is not surprising that he comes to possess a slightly different grammar from those of people around him (Smith and Wilson 333). Strictly speaking, in spite of the miscellany of the utterances of which speakers are exposed in learning their language, Smith and Wilson argue that there seems to be incredible similarity in grammars which result from learning process (333). The linguistic knowledge that speakers have is unconscious knowledge. The work of a linguist is to devise explicitly conscious grammatical conventions that speakers are acquainted with. The distinction between rule-governed regularities and fortuitous patterns in language is usually by significant generalization and accidental generalizations (Smith and Wilson 334). Accidental gene ralizations occur by chance while significant are those attained after operation of rules; thus, the search for linguistic rules has two aspects. One is the search for patterns and second is the rejection of those patterns which are considered accidental (Smith and Wilson 335). According to a study by Noam Chomsky, human beings are inherently disposed to learn certain varieties of language (Smith and Wilson 336). In other words, the languages that actually exist are the ones that children are subjected to learn. This is supported further by two facts: first, that human languages exhibit noteworthy similarities; second, children follow remarkable parallel routes to

Organization Development Consultant Plan for the Red Cross Essay Example for Free

Organization Development Consultant Plan for the Red Cross Essay The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping people in need throughout the United States. Most of the country may not realize how much the Red Cross accomplishes this noble calling through the dependency on the generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public to support their lifesaving services and programs. The American Red Cross also partners with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world to help some of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. â€Å"Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D. C. on May 21, 1881† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Barton accomplished several overseas missions for the Red Cross but eventually came back to the United States and continued her domestic and global efforts for the next 23 years (Red Cross, 2013d). The Red Cross received their first congressional charter in 1900, and the second in 1905, which is still in effect today. The charter â€Å"†¦sets forth the purposes of the organization which includes giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation† (Red Cross, 2013d, para. ). Since 2006, the Red Cross and FEMA have partnered together to help various government agencies and communities plan and coordinate the provision of food and shelter for people affected by disasters (American Red Cross, 2013d, para. 8). Today, there are over a thousand local chapters throughout the United States (American Red Cross, 2013e, para. 3) that continue the mission of the American Red Cross, fueled by loyal volunteers and contributors. . Organizational Culture The culture of the American Red Cross is built on its dedication to a contemporary mission and vision statement which will guide it through the 21st century, along with seven fundamental principles. Stop  «Ã‚ »Mission Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 1). â€Å"The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. † Vision Statement (Red Cross, 2013c, para. 2). The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope; our communities are ready and prepared for disasters; everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives. The seven fundamental principles of the Global Red Cross Network consist of the following: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality (American Red Cross, 2013c). These fundamental principles are used as a basic foundation in which to build from and guide all of the Red Cross communities across the globe; keeping everyone in tune with the core values and mission established by Clara Barton so long ago. The Board of Governors serves as the governing body of the American Red Cross, which has all powers overseeing and directing the leadership and management of the business and affairs of the organization. The corporate governance principles of the American Red Cross are found in the Congressional Charter and a series of documents that are reviewed periodically, by the Board of Governors, to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the organization and reflect best practices (Red Cross, 2013a, para. 1).  In 2007, the American Red Cross devised a comprehensive governance reform that was signed into law by the President of the United States. This reform was an effort to modernize the Board, and provide a more clear oversight and strategic role for the Board. Highlights of governance reforms include: ensuring that Governance procedures provide clear guidance about expectations and enhance Board and individual Board member performance (American Red Cross, 2013a, para. 2). Organizational Leadership over Time The Chairman of the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), like most executives, play a significant role in the stabilization and future growth of the American Red Cross. The Chairman leads the Board of Governors in the oversight of the organization while the President and CEO implements strategic organizational development and leads the operations of the Red Cross. Currently, two women hold the honor of Chairman and CEO of the American Red Cross; Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and Gail McGovern, respectively (Red Cross, 2013b). â€Å"Ms. McElveen-Hunter is the former U. S.  Ambassador to Finland (2001 – 2003) and the CEO and owner of Pace Communications, Inc. , the largest private custom publishing company in the United States† (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 2) and was appointed as Chairman of the American Red Cross on June 17, 2004. â€Å"Gail J. McGovern was named President and CEO of the American Red Cross on April 8, 2008. After previously holding top management positions at ATT Corporation and Fidelity Investments†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Red Cross, 2013b, para. 3). McGovern has extensive experience running large organizations and a proven track record for improving performance (American Red Cross, 2013b). Current Organizational Development Phenomena Since the inception of the new CEO, Gail McGovern, in 2008, the American Red Cross has undergone several structural changes in an effort to maximize the organizations impact with its available resources. According to McGovern, these efforts to â€Å"†¦improve operational efficiency, cutting unnecessary expenses, modernizing our technological systems, or standardizing blood collection labeling† (Red Cross, 2012, pg. 1) are all directed towards the goal of providing optimal care for those in need. Just in the last year two years alone, the American Red Cross has assisted the tornado victims of Joplin Missouri, which claimed more than 150 lives in 2011; helped those afflicted by numerous wildfires burning in various parts of the West; supplied aid to victims of floods in Florida, due to Tropical Storm Debby; provided much needed help to those living near the Northeast coast who suffered from extensive power outages and damage from Hurricane Sandy, and many, many more vital services that go largely unmentioned throughout the country (Red Cross, 2012). The American Red Cross, clearly, will never run out of work; which requires a leader that is creative, resourceful, dynamic, fluid, and up for complex challenges in an ever changing landscape. Organizational Development Needs The first step in approaching a national giant such as the American Red Cross is to obtain a meeting with current president and CEO, Gail McGovern, for a meaningful dialogue and assessment of her vision for the future of American Red Cross the brand, and American Red Cross the organization (i. e. employees, volunteers, contributors). Clear expectations and limitation on what the organization development consultant’s role will be during the process, as well as future follow-up assessments, must be defined. A well established theory of organizational development, tailored to the American Red Cross, must be adhered to. In this case, I recommend the socio-technical systems theory first developed by Eric Trist. This theory incorporates the idea that organizations are comprised of, and interdependent of, two systems: social and technical; realizing that changes in one cause changes in the other. This approach is best utilized by organizations that directly rely on their material means for their output, and at the core of their existence lays an almost indecipherable difference between their human and non-human systems (Van de Ven Joyce, 1981). Together, the consultant and the CEO will determine how these two components (social and technical) interact within and around the American Red Cross organization, and assess feedback and synergy between the systems for optimal effectiveness. Secondly, a data gathering method must be decided upon to obtain the most relevant and accurate information for basing an organizational strategy upon. There are several methods available, each with inherent positive and negative considerations. However, the CEO must establish what types of information the consultant may and may not have access to; this will limit the choices of methods available. For a national organization that is also a part of a global organization, such as the American Red Cross, a survey/questionnaire is recommended, which focuses on the current climate of the cultural perceptions of the organization by the employees and volunteers. This method allows a consultant to quickly yield data, address a broad range of topics, compare the data across groups, maintain anonymity, and easily repeat the process for follow-up purposes for the next two years and beyond. Other data gathering methods such as observation and focus groups are also recommended but with full disclosure and acknowledgement that they are both time-consuming and limited for a national organization; consideration should be given to reserve these methods for upper-level management as needed (Anderson, 2012, pp. 119-150). Once the information desired is agreed upon with Gail McGovern, then the method and design of the data gathering tool can be implemented. Next, gathering and interpreting the data correctly to ensure maximum benefit for the proposed intervention(s) is critical. I suggest using a detailed system of deductive analysis that makes coding data easier, helps with data interpretation, and communicating it to the client. It would also be useful to also incorporate inductive analysis as well to pull out key themes that may be evident (Anderson, 2012, pp. 19-150). Once, this is done, a feedback meeting, with Gail McGovern, should be set up to discuss the results derived from the data, proposed intervention(s), and strategic planning. Keep in mind, however, the data should be reviewed at least one more time prior to the meeting to ensure that it accurate, and has not violated any established ethical considerations. This attention to detail cannot be emphasized enough as the interpretation of th e data unveils the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This, in turn, will directly affect the stability and future direction of the organization as it strives to grow and thrive in a vastly competitive environment over arguably shrinking economic resources. Organizational Development Recommendations Based on the results and interpretation of the data, intervention(s) may be suggested that are in line with Gail McGovern’s vision for American Red Cross; a vision for stability and increased revenue and partnerships (Red Cross, 2012). Therefore, I would turn your attention to the Kotter’s Model (Kotter International, 2012) as a step-by-step guide for a national organization, with a global reach, that embraces change and is ready to whole-heartedly commit to such a program that is proven to yield incredible performance benefits when followed long-term (see both Chart 1 and Chart 2-pg. 12). Implementing step one is vital, developing a sense of urgency (Kotter International, 2012). The CEO must develop a sense of urgency, regarding her vision for the future of the American Red Cross, amongst the employees, volunteers, and contributors. This is accomplished by first determining the current climate of the organization through the data gathering methods mentioned previously, which establishes a base-line from which to monitor progress, and then devising organization strategies (media, social-media, print-media, etc†¦) to disseminate the vision quickly and develop the sense of urgency necessary. The second step of Kotter’s Model involves putting together the right coalition of people to lead a change initiative which is critical to the success of McGovern’s vision for the future (Kotter International, 2012). The American Red Cross currently has a stellar mix of dedicated people at the highest levels. However, objective observation and analysis of upper-level team meetings is recommended in order to evaluate current synergy, or lack thereof, and add team building workshops as needed to address and facilitate trust, relationship building, communication and collaboration across various branches of the organization. In a rapidly changing world, complex organizations, such as the American Red Cross, are forced to make decisions more quickly and with less certainty than they would like. Effective leaders must make productive decisions under these ircumstances; therefore, it is paramount that all of the teams develop a level of trust in one another. The third step involves establishing a clear vision which serves three important purposes (Kotter International, 2012). A clear vision simplifies the complex, motivates people, and helps implement the actions efficiently. McGovern must be unmistakably clear in stating her vision for the American Red Cross, the path in which the organization must follow to be successful in accomplishing the vision, the expectations of each leader who reports directly to her, the benchmarks for measurement of progress, and a method for objective follow-up. The fourth step is gaining an understanding and commitment to a new direction (Kotter International, 2012). This step is imperative to core of the vision. In order to establish an understanding and commitment to the new vision for the American Red Cross from the current leaders, McGovern must commit herself to communication in all ways, and at every level of the organization possible. Multiple channels of communication must be used to enforce the message of the vision, and up-dates on the progress, frequently to keep everyone aware of the goal, and their importance to the overall success of the organization. This can be accomplished in various ways, such as: daily motivational huddles (15 minutes or less to focus on the days objectives), monthly meetings to maintain continuity, quarterly newsletter to monitor progress, yearly meetings with upper-management to communicate goals and celebrate achievements. The fifth step involves empowering broad-based action (Kotter International, 2012). Having a clear and realistic understanding that creating a new vision, and establishing new cultural norms, is not without its obstacles is essential to McGovern as she attempts to realign the American Red Cross with her vision. Implementing proven management problem-solving methods, as well as on-going training is crucial. Furthermore, all action plans must be analyzed in order to ensure that management has all of the necessary tools and up-to-date information for successful implementation of the change vision. Lastly, utilizing electronic surveys help to speed up feedback and provide information for people to do their jobs more efficiently.

Paul Krugmans The Accidental Theorist :: Federal Reserve Monetary Policy

Paul Krugman's The Accidental Theorist In the piece entitled Four Percent Follies from The Accidental Theorist Krugman discusses how some people think Alan Greenspan should let the economy grow faster. Four Percenters, those against Greenspan, feel that he is not putting enough currency into circulation therefore slowing growth. If more money is put into the economy then it will grow faster but if too much is put in, inflation will occur. Also, they feel that this will remedy the low rate of unemployment which will soon cause inflation to spiral upward if it continues to decrease below the standard 6%. Adam Smith would surely understand the Four Percenter’s plea. He would want the economy to be free from too much government control. Greenspan is abusing his place and should let the currency flow into the market rather then hold back. Sure, Smith would say some mediation is necessary to keep too much money from pouring in so inflation doesn’t occur. Smith believes that the economy should be free from the government yet the government should still silently oversee it to prevent any problems. Greenspan is preventing problems but is being too cautious and Smith would want him to let more currency into our market but still keep it from getting out of control. My view on this matter is quite similar to that of Adam Smith’s view on the matter. I also feel that an economy should be allowed to flourish and grow to its fullest capacity. As the article illustrates, inserting more money into the economy will certainly cause the economy to grow and also help fix the unemployment rate. So I feel that Greenspan should loosen his control over the money and let more currency be distributed into the economy. But I also feel that it is very important that Greenspan maintains a watchful eye over this inserting of money into the economy. His job is to keep the economy prosperous and safe. So while he must let more money flow he still must be sure to keep too much money from entering our market.

Big Spaceship

Big Spaceship feels, as an agency, it should continue to grow while still keeping the boutique culture that brought the company success. There is no clear direction as to how the company should grow. Big Spaceship is unique, so its specific market could soften at any time, which would most likely lead to layoffs. Currently, Big Spaceship is a privately held company. One option would be to open the company up the public to gain capital which would put the company in a good position for sustainable growth.Like other ad agencies that have sold out to holding companies, selling out could help stabilize growth within the ad agency. Big Spaceship could open up a satellite office with key inner circle employees, which would allow for growth, while keeping the small boutique image. Opening Big Spaceship up to the public has a high probability of generating a large amount of capital due to the company's past success. This however, would leave the company open to pleasing shareholders, which c ould move away from Big Spaceship's culture.Selling to a holding company would be beneficial short term. The holding company would provide support and stability during down turns in the ad agency market sector. In the long run, the holding company's ideas may overshadow Big Spaceship's vision. Adding a satellite office with trusted employees at the head, would allow for growth while still keeping the vision aligned with the main office. It would generate autonomy with the satellite office. Big Spaceship tried a satellite office once in Los Angles, but closed shortly due to differentiating cultures.Although it did not work in LA, it could potentially work in another location. The best recommendation would be to find a holding company that fits Big Spaceship's vision well. Although it's not ideal to be under a holding company's control, it provides the best stability for down turns in the market. If the holding company is a good fit, there is great potential for Big Spaceship to keep its vision, boutique culture and continue to be successful.