erasmus essays

erasmus essays A writer, scholar, humanist, and chief interpreter of intellectual currents to northern Europe; this is what Desiderius Erasmus was known for being during the Italian Renisance. He was born in Gouda, Holland, on Oct. 27, in 1469. He was the illegitimate son of a priest and a physicians daughter. He went to a strict monastic schools in Deventer and s-Hwetogenbosch. After his fathers death, he became an Augustinian canon (member of the order) in Steyn. In 1492, he was ordained as a priest. When working for the bishop of Cambrai, he studied Scholastic Philosophy and Greek in Paris. Erasmus found religious life distasteful, and sought secular employment. Later on, he received a papal dispensation to live as a secular scholar. Erasmus lived much of his life moving around, as well as writing. Starting in 1499, he began working as a tutor and lecturer. He taught at Cambridge in 1511-1514, also visiting Oxford during that time. He constantly wrote, while searching for ancient manuscripts. More than 1500 letters that he wrote have survived. Some of these letters are to friends of his. These friends were prominent figures of his time. Some were; John Colet (founder of St. Paul's School in London), Thomas More (author and Lord Chancellor of England), Thomas Linacre (founder of the Royal College of Physicians), and William Grocyn (lecturer in Greek at the University of Oxford). Through these associations he helped establish humanism in England. Erasmus died in 1536, at the age of 70, in Basel. The writing of Erasmus were written in elegant Latin. They showed extensive knowledge on the subject. He also wrote with wit and tolerance. Adagia, written in 1500, established his scholarly reputation. Most of Erasmuss early work attacked church practices and rationalist Scholasticism. Manuella of the Cristen Knyght and his most famous work, The Praise of Folie, both advocate for a return to simple ...

Fun Facts About the Channel Tunnel

Fun Facts About the Channel Tunnel The  Channel Tunnel  is an underwater rail tunnel that runs beneath the English Channel, connecting Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in France. It is more colloquially known as the Chunnel.   The Channel Tunnel officially opened on May 6, 1994. An engineering feat, the Channel Tunnel is an impressive piece of infrastructure. Over 13,000 skilled and unskilled workers were hired to build the Channel Tunnel. Do you know how much a ticket through the tunnel costs? How long are the tunnels? And what does rabies have to do with the history of the Channel Tunnel? Learn how to answer these questions with this list of interesting and fun facts about the tunnel. How Many Tunnels The Channel Tunnel consists of three tunnels: two running tunnels carry the trains and a smaller, middle tunnel is used as a service tunnel. Cost of Fare The cost of tickets to use the Channel Tunnel varies depending on what time of day you go, the day and the size of your vehicle. In 2010, prices for a standard car ranged from  £49 to  £75 (about $78 to $120). You can book travel online. Channel Tunnel Dimensions The Channel Tunnel is 31.35 miles long, with 24 of those miles located under water. However, since there are three tunnels that travel from Great Britain to France, with many small tunnels that connect the three main ones, the total tunnel length is about 95 miles worth of tunnel. It takes a total of 35 minutes to travel across the Channel Tunnel, from  terminal  to terminal. The running tunnels, the two tunnels on which the trains run, are 24-feet in diameter. The northern running tunnel carries passengers from England to France. The southern running tunnel carries passengers from France to England. Cost of Construction Although at first estimated at $3.6 billion, the Channel Tunnel project came in way over budget at over $15 billion when finished. Rabies One of the biggest fears about the Channel Tunnel was the potential spread of rabies. In addition to worrying about invasions from the European mainland, the British were worried about rabies. Since Great Britain had been rabies-free since 1902, they worried that infected animals could come through the tunnel and reintroduce the disease to the island. A lot of design elements were added to the Channel Tunnel to make sure this could not happen. The Drills Each TBM, or tunnel boring machine, used during construction of the Channel Tunnel was 750 feet long and weighed over 15,000 tons. They could cut through the chalk at a rate of about 15 feet per hour. In total, 11 TBMs were needed to build the Channel Tunnel. The Spoil Spoil was the name used for the chunks of chalk removed by the TBMs while digging the Channel Tunnel. Since millions of cubic feet of chalk would be removed during the project, a place had to be found to deposit all this debris. The British Solution to Spoil After much discussion, the British decided to dump their portion of the spoil into the sea. However, so as not to pollute the English Channel with chalk sediment, a gigantic sea wall made of sheet metal and concrete had to be built to keep the chalk debris contained. Since the chunks of chalk were piled higher than sea level, the resulting land that was created totaled about 73 acres and was eventually called Samphire Hoe. Samphire Hoe was seeded with wildflowers and is now a recreation site. The French Solution to Spoil Unlike the British who were concerned about ruining the nearby Shakespeare Cliff, the French were able to take their portion of the spoil and dump it nearby, creating a new hill that was later landscaped. Fire On November 18, 1996, many peoples fears about the Channel Tunnel came truea fire raged in one of the Channel Tunnels. As a train raced through the southern tunnel, a fire had started on board. The train was forced to stop in the middle of the tunnel, not close to either Britain or France. Smoke filled the corridor and many of the passengers were overwhelmed by the smoke. After 20 minutes, all the passengers were rescued, but the fire continued to rage. The fire managed to do considerable damage to both the train and the tunnel before it was put out. Illegal Immigrants The British were afraid of both invasions and of rabies, but no one had considered that thousands of illegal immigrants would try to use the Channel Tunnel to enter into the United Kingdom. Many additional security devices have had to be installed to try to inhibit and stop this large influx of illegal immigrants.

The Effects of Global Warming on Polar Bears Research Paper

The Effects of Global Warming on Polar Bears - Research Paper Example Despite ongoing activism this decrease in numbers still continues up to the present day. Indeed, it is a frightening possibility that soon, polar bears will be just parts of history and will become another name on the list of extinct animals. The decline in Polar Bear population is due to many harsh realities in today’s world. With not only traditional adversaries in the wild to contend with, the additional factors of climate and the encroachment of man begin to play a big factor in the Polar Bear saga. Chief among the causes of the polar bear’s steep mortality rate is hunting by humans (Schliebe et al. 34). Another cruel by-product of the influence of man is the exposure of the bears to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP), highly toxic chemicals. The high levels of accumulation of POP compounds cause impacts to the polar bear’s nervous system, reproduction, and even their immunity (IUCN Red List 1). This man made problem has begun to substantially threaten the health and well-being of the animals. Taken together, these problems alone would be hard for any species to face. However, overshadowing other issues is the advancing argument that the biggest threat to the existence of polar bears is the phenomenon of global warming. The continuous and intensifying climate changes have already made impacts on the polar bears’ sea – ice habitat. With entire shelves falling prey to the cracking and once mighty ice floes reduced to a mere shade of their former selves the ability to deny that the polar caps are warming is nearly impossible to dispute. As a result, their ice covered habitat has been disrupted in a complete and fundamental manner. With even the very fabric of their existence shifting under their feet, their instincts hold little recourse. This deeply affects their access to prey and den areas. It is a very strong position to state that the effects of global warming are seen to be critical to the polar bear’s extinction (IUCN Red List 1). This research will explore the possible effects of global warming on polar bears. The issue i s in need of special attention because the likelihood of polar bear’s extinction is a very important environmental concern. With the continuous climate changes, and the human population stuck in perpetual deadlock, affecting the habitat of polar bears, it is very likely that our environment will lose another biological component. This research paper will assess how the impacts of global warming are contributing to the likelihood of polar bear’s extinction. In order to gain a full understanding of the effects of global warming on polar bears, this paper will focus on three areas of literature. First, the study looks at the area that attempts to comprehend and illustrate that the polar bears are the bears of the sea. Second, the paper will examine the literature that discusses the effects of global warming on the earth in general. Third, the research will delve into the effects of global warming on polar bears specifically. By taking the time to examine all of these basi c facets, the picture of the plight of the Polar Bear begins to come into focus. First, we start by learning about the polar bear. Long regarded as the largest terrestrial carnivore in the whole world (World Life Fund for Nature’s Status Report), the bear has few natural enemies. According to Norris et al, its scientific name is Ursus maritmus (8) was

Biotic Components Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biotic Components - Essay Example The beginner of the pond ecosystem is sun. Producers use sunlight and convert carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds and oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. Other most important nutrition for plants is nitrogen and phosphorus. Wandering plants or the phytoplankton (Volvox, Oscillatoria, Diatoms, Spirogyra, Zygnema, Hydrodictyon, Desmids, etc) go through the process of photosynthesis and release oxygen in the water which can be used by bacteria and animals in the pond. Likewise, the Periphytic algae (attached to the rocks and other substances) carry out photosynthesis and provide oxygen in the bottom of the pond so the decomposers can use it. The submerged plants and the Floating plants (Nelumbium, Nymphea, Blixa, Eicchornia, Pistia etc) provide oxygen to the pond and the emergent plants, to the environment outside the pond. This is the first level. Herbivores and carnivorous belong to the second level and are called consumers. Herbivores feed on plants and get en ergy whereas the carnivores feed on herbivorous and get energy. But whenever an animal or a plant is not consumed by any other animal, that matter is decomposed by decomposers, which are on the 3rd level. The tissues are broken down into much simpler compounds which are again used by the plants for nutrients. As energy is converter, some of it is released in the form of heat in the water to maintain the inner functions of the cells in every organism. Nutrient cycle Carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are really important for a cell. The process through which these substances pass from on organism to another or from on cell to the other is called nutrient cycle. Change over time The health of an ecosystem can be endangered by several changes over time. If specie is killed in the pond, it can be highly dangerous for other living in the pond as many animals might feed on that specie for nutrients and the whole system might crash. Due to the climate change, excessive heat in the environment, d rought can appear killing all the species living there. The growth of thick trees around the pond can block the passage of sunlight to the pond, resulting in death of plants and thus the animals. Besides this, natural succession can occur which can totally change the biotic community. It actually occurs due to the changes in the plants, animals or other a-biotic factors, and so a new eco cycle can begin How humans may have affected biogeochemical cycles in that ecosystem. There are many ways a human might affect the pond ecosystem. Nitrogen cycle affected: During transportation, ammonia is released in the atmosphere, which is absorbed in the pond. Fertilizers are highly harmful for the fishes as it contains nitrites and nitrates and thus can affect the nitrogen cycle. Ammonia is extremely toxic to fish and should be removed or converted into harmless matter. If the level of ammonia increases in the pond, fishes can die. New agricultural practices have highly disturbed the nitrogen c ycle of the pond. In order to fulfill the agricultural demands for food, there is an extensive usage of nitrogen gas in the green house which enters the pond through different means. Carbon cycle affected: Accumulation of Carbon dioxide in the pond is highly dangerous for the fish species living in it. If the carbon dioxide amount is high in the pond, it would be difficult for the fishes to remove their internal carbon dioxide in the water, resulting in accumulation in fish blood. This inhibits and endangers the ability of hemoglobin in the fish blood, and thus causes suffocation for fishes.

Second Grade Experience Essay Example for Free

Second Grade Experience Essay During my second year in elementary school, due to the fact that I was doing so horribly in my grades, my parents decided to send me back to El Salvador to bring up my grades. In El Salvador, I lived with my grandma, my cousins, my great aunts and uncles, and most of my family. The schools in El Salvador were so much more different than the schools in America. Since El Salvador is a poor country, the schools couldn’t afford to serve lunch and the houses were much smaller. In America, most kids did not really walk or play outside; they were usually kept locked up in their room, sipping on juice and watching tv. But the kids in El Salvador; they knew how to live their life with meaning. Every single day, as I made more and more friends, I would go to the soccer field and play games outside. We would play tag, soccer, baseball, soft ball; pretty much any kind of sport you could imagine. The soccer fields in El Salvador were the place where I, eventually, learned to play softball. Softball is like baseball but is usually referred to as, â€Å"baseball but for girls. † After learning how to play softball, I decided to join a small softball team that was formed in my second grade class of elementary school. Being on that team, allowed me to be at the fields even more and taught me to love the sport. The idea of fresh air, blue skies, grass stains, balls, and bats made me excited and energetic. Every time I hit the ball with my bat, I ran as fast as my legs could take me, striving to reach the home plate and score a point for my team. Running on the fields all day and hanging out with friends, giggling at our innocent, naive quirks and remarks gave my childhood, memories of freedom and promise. I now look at life like a baseball diamond; you just have to hit the ball and keep running until you finally reach home plate and win.

J.P. Morgan Essay -- essays research papers

J.P. Morgan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When people talk about J.P. Morgan, they often refer to one man. The J.P. Morgan dynasty was in fact a combined effort of three generations of Morgans. In 1838, American businessman George Peabody opened the London merchant banking firm that would establish the roots of the House of Morgan. In 1854, Junius S. Morgan became the partner of George Peabody and eventually took over the firm in 1864, renaming it J.S. Morgan & Co. At the age of twenty four, J. Pierpont Morgan inherited his father’s business, renamed the business to J.P. Morgan & Co., and made a point to consolidate the firm’s American and European interests. Under Pierpont’s authority, J.P. Morgan & Co. had a great impact on enterprises such as railroads, steel, mining, and other utilities that helped establish the United States as an industrial power. The personality of J. Peirpont Morgan is best described in a statement he made to the U.S. Congressional banking committee in 1912. à ¢â‚¬Å"The first thing is character†¦before money or anything else. Money cannot buy it†¦because a man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It should also be noted that in 1868, the Paris banking firm Drexel, Harjes & Co. was formed. Pierpont became a partner in 1871 and the firm was later renamed Morgan, Harjes & Co.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Five years after his father’s death, ...

What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses in English?

There are a number of both strengths and weaknesses which I possess in regards to English and the areas of reading and writing. My strengths are that I have a passion for reading, I have a good understanding of grammar and its correct usage and I am a decent speller. I also understand and respect that English is an important part of everyday life. My weaknesses are that I do not enjoy writing, I do not have a good writing process for when I do have to write and I tend to procrastinate when faced with an English assignment. I think that my biggest strength in English is that I love to read. One of my favorite pastimes is curling up with a good book, particularly a good murder mystery or suspense novel. I am pretty good at being able to extract information and understand the authors meaning from the piece of writing I am reading. It is also through my love for reading that I gain a broader view of the world and become more knowledgeable. Reading for enjoyment is a great way to learn about new things and not even realize it at the time! Another of my strengths in English is that I have a good grasp on grammar and word usage. This is something that I learned as a child but has improved over time, especially due to my work environment. Whether the goal is to achieve a higher education or persuade a company to use a service, using correct grammar can be the difference between succeeding and failing. This includes the proper use of vocabulary, punctuation, and standard grammar rules such as subject and verb agreement. The goal of communication is to be understandable; proper grammar is a crucial step in reaching this goal. The ability to spell is also an important strength in English. I was lucky when it came to spelling in school and had a certain gift for spelling. I never had to study much, if at all, for a spelling test. This helps a lot in my career when composing memos and proposals for clients. And although I am grateful to Microsoft Words spell check and auto correct functions they have â€Å"dulled† some of my skill in this area. English and writing are important and necessary in everyday life. English is used everyday both written and orally. It is a very important subject because it is a form of communication and is very important all around the world. How would businesses function with out some sort of base communication? They wouldn't. From letters to books to resumes, reading and writing is used by everyone. My biggest weakness in English is that I hate to write. I seem to have a hard time trying to articulate myself and get my ideas into words on paper. I especially do not enjoy writing about personal experiences. I think the main reason for this is that I am a private person and do not want my emotions to â€Å"pour† out on paper for everyone to see. Another contributing factor to writing being one of my weaknesses is my writing process. Well, actually I don't even have one! Usually, not always, but usually, I wait until the night before the paper is due and then begin to brainstorm and write out my thoughts. This is very ironic to me, because for every other class I have a scheduled study time and follow that very closely. Maybe because I dislike writing so much I don't plan on doing it. My lack of a writing process adds to another one of my weaknesses, being a procrastinator and having a lack of motivation (when it comes to English). When I am required to write a lengthy paper on a subject that is boring or unimportant to me as a person, the writing process is often tedious and mind numbing. I can mull the topic over and over in my mind and get no where! My only thoughts being that â€Å"I am NEVER going to get this done! † After looking at and thinking about several of my strengths and weaknesses in English, I would conclude that the best course of action for me would be to continue to use and practice activities that use my already strong skills. Making time in my busy schedule for brainstorming and critical thinking could be the first step in trying to overcome my weaknesses in English as they all pretty much stem from not wanting to write.

Dubai’s heritage and culture for future generations Essay

There has been a sufficient mention of a profound dearth of interest in preserving Dubai’s heritage and culture for future generations. The severity of Dubai’s cultural problems (both current and impending) is an overwhelming testament to the shortfalls of various cultural players. Dubai’s cultural scene is beset by issues ranging from funding to the non-existence of a governing agency on cultural arts and activities. The lack of funding allocation for Culture, Heritage and the Arts hampers government organizations from awarding prizes for artistic/literary achievements and awarding subsidies for the pursuit of the Arts. This phenomenon holds true for the Fine Arts and Literature although the UAE government has accorded ample financial support for Festivals like the Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises and theatrical infrastructure improvements. Support for Folklores Promotion and Archeology and Heritage Campaign, however, has not been reasonable; folklore presenters being imported from Oman and Archeology and Heritage Funds mostly channeled to administrative expenses. Education, being an essential tool for information dissemination, interest stimulation, and revolutionary change has not been aptly utilized to impact artistic/cultural perspectives among Dubai’s youth. This has crucial implications for both the quality and availability of indigenous workforce in that line. There are limited schools for Drama and Theatre, Music, and Folklore. Academic trainings for Archeology and postgraduate courses for Media are unavailable in the United Arab Emirates. Insufficient emphasis is given to Fine Arts, Literature, Folklore, and Heritage in school curriculums. Commercial Music Institutes, more than being of questionable quality, are beyond affordability by some Dubai residents. Lack of public interest is often the offered rationale for these academic limitations, although initiatives focused on the dilemma could have sparked a renewed public interest in Culture and the Arts. This dearth of public interest has crucial implications for the composition of Dubai’s cultural workforce and the artistic/cultural participation among the populace. The Nationals’ interest in theatre and performing arts is in congruence with the number of theatrical activities providers- both are limited. Dubai’s Fine Arts Exhibits showcase some unique talents and the artistic experience. However, the arena is beset by commercialism and a lack of appreciation among UAE nationals. Expatriates are more keen on Emirate Arts which benefits from an artistic enthusiasm peculiar to a wealthier society segment. Dubai’s Musical Arena is characterized by a musically-inclined, musically-upbeat society, and a commercialized musical education system. Songs and dances are an important part of celebrations, and there is an inordinate demand for international concert seats. Inadequate project experience and strong public participation, however, marks Dubai’s Film Scene. The launching of the International Film Festival in 2004 and the Dubai Studio City Project are predicted to generate a strong reception on Dubai’s film, TV, and music industries. Dubai’s literary domain, mainly focused on poetry, is not supportive of the development of intellectuals and thinkers. Government-sponsored poetry awards are an insufficient compensation for the limited career prospects for literature graduates. Festivals in Dubai such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Summer Surprises have acquired an international reputation, drawing tourists from the Middle East and beyond. However, a highly-trained festival-hosting workforce stands in stark contrast to the unprofessional and poorly-trained folklore performers, mostly from Oman. While Dubai’s rapid economic growth has made it a preferred destination for business meetings and international events, its vantage for exhibiting local folkloric performances to an international audience has not been fully utilized. It is quite ironic in that part of the reason of the businesses’ choice of Dubai is the pursuit of some Mideastern charm. Restoration attempts on Dubai’s historic buildings and the circulation of accompanying brochures and maps in multiple international languages are commendable efforts at giving tourists a glimpse of its ancient glory. The aforementioned measures are necessary to take advantage of Dubai’s vantage in the highly-competitive heritage tourism industry. However, the unavailability of Archeology programs in the UAE academe, and hence, the dearth of local Archeology specialists consequence in expatriate archeologists having to send artifacts to their respective countries for research/examination. Dubai’s Media Sector, with its state-of-the-art infrastructure and openness to competition, is in a struggle between foreign ownership and foreign workforce domination and calculated guardianship measures against Western infiltration. The media hub, albeit accommodating of the city’s cosmopolitan composition, suffers the dearth of a commercialized local cultural content. Islam is highly-inculturated and educationally-integrated in Dubai amidst its policy of accommodation and support to non-Muslim, expatriate religions. It is only a sober fact that the beauty of Islam has been overshadowed by negative perceptions pertinent to Terrorism. By and large, Dubai’s Islamic atmosphere, liberal for its multicultural make-up, is aptly guided by the Islamic values of tolerance and moderation. Technology can accord Dubai’s Arts and Culture a distinct vantage, but it can also effect otherwise. Electronic proliferation is a global trend, and cultural domination vis-a-vis high-technology is way unpredictable. It would also be of interest to note of the inadequate coordination among various cultural and arts providers and between Dubai’s public and private sectors. Dubai’s cultural scene is oblivious to common notice because of the dearth of literature in the subject; the absence of data on usage, patterns and preferences and the paucity of surveys and researches are common themes that beset Dubai’s cultural components. It is ironic that cultural/heritage problems prevail in Dubai, while the United Arab Emirates as a whole advocates culture and heritage. In the UAE, the preservation of many of its unique archaeological and architectural sites and its manuscripts have been given special preference. Literature and customs are widely studied in schools, while museum displays, heritage villages and the restoration of vanished monuments (based on photographs, local memory and documentary evidence) have helped to create a context and feel for this cultural legacy . It appears that most of the cultural development is occurring in Abu Dhabi; in 2005 a law was passed in this city establishing Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority. This new Authority’s goal is to sponsor intellectual and artistic activities and preserve the cultural heritage of the Emirates. This entails directly promoting Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage, drawing up and implementing cultural policies, plans and programs, reviving cultural heritage projects, and organizing exhibitions and conferences on cultural heritage 1. Abu Dhabi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the New York-based Guggenheim Foundation to establish a world-class museum devoted to modern and contemporary art, called the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (GAD), the museum designed by the eminent architect Frank Gehry will place the Emirates as a leading international cultural destination22. The researchers have asserted that situated in the center of Abu Dhabi, there is a Cultural Foundation which is now part of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADCH); this, at the heart of the capital’s cultural life benefits children, adults of all ages, UAE citizens and expatriates. One of the most significant features of the Cultural Foundation is the National Library which has well over a million books, primarily in Arabic, although there are also collections in a myriad of foreign languages. A majority of these volumes are available for reference for the public, plainly requiring a simple registration process. There is also an area for children where special programs are planned, especially during the school holidays2 . It is apparent that the culture of Dubai should be promoted in the same manner; perhaps these cities could share wealth in culture preservation through the Fine and Performing Arts and the Media.

I Hate My Job How to Work Hard When You Dont Care Anymore

I Hate My Job How to Work Hard When You Dont Care Anymore The Internet is plagued with clichà ©d articles telling you the corporate world is basically like Disneyland, where everything is golden  and all you have to do is use a little elbow grease and you’ll be okay. Well, I’m here to spill the beans on this facade. It’s simply not true. Sometimes your job sucks and no amount of top 7, top 8, or top 10 lists on how to get ahead will change that.The problem is that you still need to make money. You hate your job and you’re disenfranchised with  the corporate world, but you still need to get paid in order to support yourself.So what do you do? If there is anything I’ve learned from my time on reddit, it’s that redditors are brutally honest- regardless of what that honesty entails. So I’m going to be brutally honest with all of you.  I’m not gonna sit here and give you advice like â€Å"cheer up† or â€Å"shift your mindset† because we all know that’s  common sense, and you could and would do it yourself if it were possible.Instead, I’ll speak from my own personal experiences. Hopefully, it will help some of you look at your job in a new light.1.  Don’t work longer than you’re supposed toIf you’re expected to work 9-5, work 9-5. Don’t waste extra time in that hellhole. My reasoning for this is simple: it will affect your overall happiness and productivity. Think about it, you’re miserable for 8 hours a day, every day. That’s 40 hours of misery a week. Imagine if you stayed an hour late every day. That would bump the number up to 45 hours of misery a week. Don’t do that to yourself. You’ll probably get more work done working 40 hours than 45, anyway.2. Find a side projectPart of the reason you’re miserable is because you’re not really being fulfilled creatively. If you picked up a side project to work on, you would at least be able to find something to look fo rward to during the day. You could start a blog. Take up cooking. Start a YouTube channel. There are tons of options out there. And who knows, one day that side project might become your main source of income.3. Learn  while you workAt this point, we’re assuming your job is dull and unfulfilling. So why not learn something while you work? Listen to a podcast about science (my personal favorite is StarTalkRadio), nature, or anything you find interesting. You can even teach yourself a new language while you enter data into that spreadsheet. As long as your hands do the work, your brain can focus on learning Spanish, French, etc.4. Take a napWhat better way to rejuvenate your energy and productivity than by taking a nap? Can’t take a nap in your office because your boss is a fire breathing dragon? You can download  breather  from the app store, an app that lets you rent quiet spaces for 30+ minute intervals. Each comes furnished with a table, sofa, and most importan tly: silence. While this app should be used sparingly because it can cost anywhere from $20-$40 an hour, taking a nap once a week can work miracles for your overall mindset.So basically what I’m getting at is that even if your job sucks, there are things you can do to rejuvenate your enthusiasm and productivity. All of these things, when used together, can provide you with the ability to work hard at your job even if you no longer care. Because at the end of the day, you don’t need to care about your job in order to bring home that  bacon. You just need to rig the game in your favor.

The Currency Act of 1764

The Currency Act of 1764 The Currency Act of 1764 was the second and most impactful of two laws passed by the British government during the reign of King George III that attempted to take total control of the monetary systems of all 13 colonies of British America. Passed by Parliament on September 1, 1764, the act extended the restrictions of the Currency Act of 1751 to all 13 of the American British colonies. It eased the earlier Currency Act’s prohibition against printing of new paper bills, but it did prevent the colonies from repaying future debts with paper bills. Parliament had always envisioned that its American colonies should use a monetary system similar, if not identical, to the British system of â€Å"hard currency† based on the pound sterling. Feeling that it would be too hard for it to regulate colonial paper money, Parliament chose to simply declare it worthless instead. The colonies felt devastated by this and protested angrily against the act. Already suffering a deep trade deficit with Great Britain, colonial merchants feared the lack of their own hard capital would make the situation even more desperate. The Currency Act exacerbated tensions between the colonies and Great Britain and is considered to be one of the many grievances that led to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Economic Problems in the Colonies Having expended almost all of their monetary resources buying expensive imported goods, the early colonies struggled to keep money in circulation. Lacking a form of exchange that did not suffer from depreciation, the colonists depended largely on three forms of currency: Money in the form of locally-produced commodities, like tobacco, used as a means of exchange.Paper money in the form of a bill of exchange or a banknote backed by the value of land owned by an individual.â€Å"Specie† or gold or silver money. As international economic factors caused the availability of specie in the colonies to decrease, many colonists turned to bartering - trading goods or services between two or more parties without the use of money. When bartering proved too limited, the colonists turned to using commodities - mainly tobacco - as money.  However, only poorer quality tobacco ended up being circulated among the colonists, with the higher quality leaves were exported for greater profit. In the face of growing colonial debts, the commodity system soon proved ineffective. Massachusetts became the first colony to issue paper money in 1690, and by 1715, ten of the 13 colonies were issuing their own currency. But the colonies’ money woes were far from over. As the amount of gold and silver needed to back them began to dwindle, so did the actual value of the paper bills. By 1740, for example, a Rhode Island bill of exchange was worth less than 4% of its face value. Worse yet, this rate of the actual value of paper money varied from colony-to-colony. With the amount of printed money growing faster than the overall economy, hyperinflation quickly reduced the buying power of the colonial currency. Forced to accept the depreciated colonial currency as a repayment of debts, British merchants lobbied Parliament to enact the Currency Acts of 1751 and 1764. The Currency Act of 1751 The first Currency Act banned only the New England colonies from printing paper money and from opening new public banks. These colonies had issued paper money mainly to repay their debts to for British and French military protection during the French and Indian Wars. However, years of depreciation had caused the New England colonies’ â€Å"bills of credit† to be worth far less than the silver-backed British pound. Being forced to accept the heavily depreciated New England bills of credit as payment of colonial debts was particularly harmful to British merchants. While the Currency Act of 1751 allowed the New England colonies to continue using their existing bills to be used to pay public debts, like British taxes, it prohibited them from using the bills to pay private debts, such as those to merchants. The Currency Act of 1764 The Currency Act of 1764 extended the restrictions of the Currency Act of 1751 to all 13 of the American British colonies. While it eased the earlier Act’s prohibition against of the printing of new paper bills, it did forbid the colonies from using any future bills for payment of all public and private debts. As a result, the only way the colonies could repay their debts to Britain was with gold or silver. As their supplies of gold and silver rapidly dwindled, this policy created severe financial hardships for the colonies. For the next nine years, English colonial agents in London, including no less than Benjamin Franklin, lobbied Parliament to repeal the Currency Act. Point Made, England Backs Down In 1770, the New York colony informed Parliament that difficulties caused by the Currency Act would prevent it from being able to pay for housing British troops as required by the also unpopular Quartering Act of 1765.  One of the so-called â€Å"Intolerable Acts,† the Quartering  Act forced the colonies to house British soldiers in barracks provided by the colonies. Faced with that expensive possibility, Parliament authorized the New York colony to issues  £120,000 in paper bills for the payment of public, but not private debts. In 1773, Parliament amended the Currency Act of 1764 to allow all of the colonies to issue paper money for the payment of public debts - especially those owed to the British Crown. In the end, while the colonies had reclaimed at least a limited right to issue paper money, Parliament had reinforced its authority over its colonial governments. Legacy of the Currency Acts While both sides managed to temporarily move on from the Currency Acts, they contributed substantially to the growing tensions between the colonists and Britain. When the First Continental Congress issued a Declaration of Rights in 1774, delegates included the Currency Act of 1764 as one of the seven British Acts labeled as â€Å"subversive of American rights.† An Excerpt From the Currency Act of 1764 WHEREAS great quantities of paper bills of credit have been created and issued in his Majestys colonies or plantations in America, by virtue of acts, orders, resolutions, or votes of assembly, making and declaring such bills of credit to be legal tender in payment of money: and whereas such bills of credit have greatly depreciated in their value, by means whereof debts have been discharged with a much less value than was contracted for, to the great discouragement and prejudice of the trade and commerce of his Majestys subjects, by occasioning confusion in dealings, and lessening credit in the said colonies or plantations: for remedy whereof, may it please your most excellent Majesty, that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the Kings most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of September, one thousand seven h undred and sixty four, no act, order, resolution, or vote of assembly, in any of his Majestys colonies or plantations in America, shall be made, for creating or issuing any paper bills, or bills of credit of any kind or denomination whatsoever, declaring such paper bills, or bills of credit, to be legal tender in payment of any bargains, contracts, debts, dues, or demands whatsoever; and every clause or provision which shall hereafter be inserted in any act, order, resolution, or vote of assembly, contrary to this act, shall be null and void.

Security Policy GDI Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Security Policy GDI Company - Case Study Example Given that GDI has made significant gains in its business, there is need to preserve the capability the firm receive from its information technology assets. This security policy understands that protecting the physical and operation security of GDI is the main challenge underlying its writing. Therefore, the report presents several policies that seek to protect named assets of GDI with a goal of preserving the security and operation of the firm. Vacca (2010) argues that information technology polices form the first line of defence against threats. There are several policies this security policy document outlines, which are a result of careful analysis of the firms existing network topology. Because information technology forms a critical backbone to the operations of GDI, a careful analysis characterized the writing of this document. Among the essential goals of the security, policies were the establishment of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the firm’s informat ion technology asset. Policy 1: Email Security Policy Email remains a preferred medium of communication for the GDI Corporation. Because of the widespread use of email in the firm, there is need for GDI to implement policies that will limit the loss of essential loss through email exchange within or outside the firm. While email is one of the most effective techniques for communication, firms like GDI stand a risk of exposing their data and information technology infrastructure to threats that can emerge from lack of email security policy. Bayuk, Healey and Rohmeyer (2012) contend that email remains vulnerable to a wide variety of threats such as worms. These threats can interfere with the operations of the organization, as well as lead to the loss of data. Given the danger that could emanate from email use, this report understand the need of an appropriate email security policy, which will ensure that email exchange do not result to the loss of data, introduction of threats and breach of confidentiality. First, GDI should implement a policy that restricts its employees from sharing any fi.es that belong to the organization. This clause could limit the loss of information that GDI’s employees have the privilege to view as compared to other people. This policy should be printed and given to all employees using the firms email. In addition, GDI should also produce a policy that would restrict all the employees from using the firms email for their own private use. The use of emails for any other purpose could introduce threats such as worms. To add on this, the firms should stipulate that all employees scan their emails to ensure that they have no threats such as worms or Trojan horse that could spy on the company’s data. Policy 2: Server Security Policy GDI servers are essential assets that must be protected from physical and operations risks that may have profound effect on the operations of the firm. To ensure that GDI’s servers are secure, there has to be an elaborate policy in place. The se rver security policy calls for the hardening of GDI’s server to ensure that all vulnerable areas are addressed to limit the impact of threats. This policy ensures that GDI’s administrators carry out periodic maintenance of the system by applying patches and other software updates. Servers that lack essential patches are vulnerable to attacks (TechRepublic, 2004). Updating the servers by installing patches would ensure that the server is secure and up to date. Being that updates are critical to the operation of