Concept of a small world

A small world can be viewed from different perspectives. This can be from the mathematical, physical or sociological perspectives. Small-world network is a mathematical graph. In this graph most nodes don’t neighbor one another.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept of a small world specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apart from this, these nodes can be approached from different directions. Small-world networks are characterized by cliques and near-cliques. From the sociological perspective, these small-world networking has advantages. One of the advantages is their resistance to change. This is due to the presence of the filtering apparatus that makes use of highly connected nodes. Also, the other advantage is the efficiency in transferring information. It has the capability to transfer information and at the same time has the capability to maintain the number of links needed to keep the network running (M urray, 2010). The models related to this are mostly applicable to empathy group theory. The theory has been represented in sociological argument. Affinity groups can be described as social movement groups. They are characterized by their small size. Also, they are semi-independent pledged being directed towards a bigger goal. The model has been used to prove the protest directorial strategies against police action. The model urges that the higher the populations in the network that result from merging of small networks, the more valuable are the nodes. The same can be put across when defining the affinity group model. (Cohen, 2003). In this phenomenon social connections are formed. The social connections link individuals from different regions of the world. The concept brought about the well known phrase of six degrees of separation. This was after the small world experiment. During the experiment, people were requested to reach a certain person by sending a message through a chain of links. In that experiment most of the chains failed. The relationship between individuals can be shown by the use of collaboration graphs. An affirmative relationship is indicated by a positive edge between two nodes.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, a negative one is illustrated by a negative edge. Prediction can be done on the probable outcomes of the graph. Signed social network graphs are used to illustrate this. To illustrate the behavior of those who can change their opinions, balanced graphs are used. Vice versa takes place for those who can change their opinions (Cohen, 2002). According to study, it has been observed that joy has a relation with social networks. In case one individual has joy, a certain fraction of those surrounding him or her have joy too. Individuals at the central part of a certain network enjoy life in future than those in the ou ter region. Genetical values can also be seen in the social networks. This is according to research carried out within the recent years. Also, taking an example that the chances that a two individuals being friends to another are high. In addition, the numbers of routes that can be used to move to another person in a network are heritable (Bartheleny, 1999). Reference List Bartheleny, M. (1999). Small-world networks:Evidence for a crossover picture. Phys.Rev. Lett. 82(15), 3180. Cohen, R.,(2002). Structural properties of scale free networks: A handbook of graphs and networks. London. Lilly printing press. Cohen, R.(2003). ‘‘Scale-free networks are ultrasmall’’: phys.rev.lett. 98(23),4321. Murray, R.(2010). ‘‘Networks with the smallest average distance and the average clustering’. Web. RetrievedAdvertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept of a small world specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Concept of a small world was written and submitted by user Hayleigh S. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The eNotes Blog Teachers, Here Is How to Spend YourSummer

Teachers, Here Is How to Spend YourSummer I distinctly remember staying late, late on a Friday night my second year of teaching so that I could finish all of my grading and planning for the next week. I loved the idea of having a whole weekend to myself for once, but I didn’t actually think about what I would do with it once I had it. I woke up on Saturday morning feeling optimistic and free and by 1:15pm when I still hadn’t really moved from my bed, dread started to creep in. I had no idea really what to do with this free time. Completely forgot what I actually liked to do. It was the worst day ever. I  ate a Hungry Man dinner at 4:00pm. If you are like me and are in danger of having that happen to your entire summer, or even just a couple of weeks of it, I have some ideas for you. 1) Sleep. For, like, two weeks. If you have this planned, it’s intentional and therefore you don’t have to feel guilty. Teaching is insane. You need to sleep for two weeks just to hope to get back to what other people consider to be normal. If you want to be ambitious and semi-social, go sleep in a hammock at the park, or by the water. But by all means, tell everyone who will be affected by this what your plan is, and then execute like a champion. Now that you’re rested and you have accomplished your first task for yourself, get back to being you. Being a teacher means giving time to other people constantly and it can be hard to remember yourself. Here are some ways back: 2)  Devise and execute a silly science experiment. You teach others how to learn (sometimes more than) five days a week. When was the last time you did some structured experimentation and learning yourself? Chart progress of your experiment and send pictures to your students. Nerds rule. 3)  Write a ridiculous song and practice it until you can nail it around any campfire or even your class next term.  Indulging a ridiculous part of yourself may sound, well, ridiculous.  It is, but it is also liberating and keeps your creativity in check. I wrote a  love song for my wife  and it is one of the worst and off-color songs I know. I serenaded her  with that dirge, and while I cannot guarantee that she didn’t lose some measure of respect for me, she secretly thought it funny  and  endearing. 4) Spend an  ambitious amount of time unplugged. Three to five days with only a book, notepad, and good walking shoes away from everyone you know, in total silence, is gripping if not life-changing. You remember quickly what it is you like and who you are. You’ll probably write that novel youve been meaning to get to, too. Teachers are the coolest people (I should know). Go on, bask in you-ness this summer. You deserve it. This was a guest post by educator  Christopher Eide. Let us know if youre interested in contributing to the blog.

Technical report -information system for a FBO Assignment

Technical report -information system for a FBO - Assignment Example The main business operation is focused around the hangar maintenance with other departments to provide the support functions of the business. First, the back office solutions will be discussed as a support function for the information system. This report will then break down the information system as it pertains to each department by the hardware and software that is required for the users to properly perform the functions of their job. Schematic System requirements Hardware Requirements All the computer system in this setup have a similar structure containing the main memory, the processor, and peripheral devices such as output and input devices, secondary storage, Visual display unit among others. The main functionality of the system is to synchronize all the systems so that they are able to carry out several functionalities as being commanded by the installed programs. The central processing Unit (CPU) is the most fundamental component of any computer system. This directly implies that the proper functionality of a system is fully dependent on the type and speed of the processor. Also, the functions of the processor are made possible by the availability of the main memory also known as random access memory (RAM) which acts as a storage for the programs that are processed by the central processing unit and this also depicts its importance. In this scenario, high performance of the setup system is importance. Thus to enhance this high performance, powerful computers are required. In summary, the hardware specifications to enhance high performance in this system are listed in the table below. Component Requirement Processor Specification 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3330 processor 6M Cache Speed – 3.2GHz Memory 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM, 1600MHz Available Disk Space 1TB Hard Drive 3.5" 7200rpm, SATA Drive DVD+/-RW Tray Load Drive, 16X, SATA Display and Peripherals Monitor, Keyboard and pointing device The recommended computer system which contains the above stated components is Inspiron 660 Desktop. This Computer is designed produce high performance. This is made possible by the third generation Intel core processor and the main memory of 8 GB. Moreover, the computer is equipped with four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI connection, 8 – in -1 media card to facilitate connectivity to other peripheral devices. Other peripheral devices Device Cost Cisco Linksys E1200 Wireless Router $ 44.99 HP – Office jet Pro 8600 Plus Network-Ready Wireless All-In-One Printer $ 229.99 To facilitate communication of all the devices over the network and the internet, Local Area Network is setup which includes a wireless network for wireless devices. Also, to facilitate the day to day printing services, HP – Office pro 8600 plus printer is installed. Basic Structure of the network Server Hardware Requirements The processor should 3rd generation Intel i3 processors with a minimum speed of 2 GHz. The recommended for this task should 3rd generat ion i3 processors with a speed of 2.16 GHz. The processor should Intel Manufactured. The recommended minimum Random Access Memory is 1 GB or higher. Considering the above stated specifications, the best server to

Japanese manga censorship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Japanese manga censorship - Research Paper Example Sometimes the word â€Å"air† is used to describe manga in Japanese which implies its possibility to penetrate everywhere: people buy manga on trains, in local supermarkets and small shops, in cinemas and read it in parks, luxurious apartments and shopping malls (Kinsella 4). Why has manga become so widespread and demanded in Japan? In post-war period it became linked to political events of the country and was perceived as counter-cultural experimentation. Most manga nevertheless concentrated on depiction of daily life events. Beginning from the 1970s manga adapted to the tastes of the population and concentrated on the topics popular among men: science fiction, robots, heroic events, however he group of women who appeared in the end of the 1970s adapted manga to female auditory making manga about love and romantic relationships (Gravet 24) The beginning of the 1980s coincided with the growth of the initial manga auditory and the economic rise of the country that is why publishers decided to widen the scope of genres and started looking for explicitly sexual and violent images in manga that were supposed to provide popularity. But the success on the territory of Japan was only a first step because manga has even won its special place in hearts of American readers with the help of exotic heroes, unique style of depiction, and unpredictable plot twists. Manga offered a fresh look on heroic epos: wide-eyed superheroes, latex-booted heroines and wild-haired supervillains have become extremely popular in a faraway America (Wood 14). For a long time manga and anime managed to avoid the attention of censors until an unfortunate case in 1989 when in a house of a serial killer a number of explicitly sexual content was found and he himself turned out to be a member in Comiket, the biggest convention for manga fans in the country. Since then the debates regarding the necessity of censorship for manga do not cease. Though some

The Absence of Consolidation in Democratic Nepal Essay

The Absence of Consolidation in Democratic Nepal - Essay Example The political parties are marginalized and bemoan the unconstitutional nature of the existing government.1 The Maoist abandoned the democratic process in 1996 and declared a "people's war" intending to establish a Maoist people's republic in the place of the constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The insurgency was low in intensity and rural until the Royal Army was used to contain the insurgency following the declaration of a state of emergency in November 2001. The insurgents now control about 70% of the country. At the pretext of quashing the insurgents, the king declared a state of emergency in early 2005, the parliament was closed down and he assumed all executive and legislative powers. On April 24, 2006, the king reinstated the House of Representatives In early May 2006, the House of Representatives declared Nepal a secular country.2 Despite several governmental efforts, superficial at the best, there was no institutionalization of democracy in Nepal. The very causes that feed the insurgency are also the barriers to consolidation of democracy, some of which are: rural poverty, uneven development between urban and rural areas, endemic corruption, persistent socio-economic inequalities and the frustration at the delivery of public goods and services from the government.3 The obstruction of public development by insurgents create a vicious cycle of poverty and social discrimination compounded by the existing issues of poverty, ethnicity, language, Dalits, gender rights, girl trafficking, ecocide with centralization, misgovernance, more official corruption, Bhutanese refugees, autocratic tendencies of democratically elected leaders, weak accountability to democratic pressures, effects of economic liberalization, etc. These failed to establish links between freedom and modernity with a rationalization of social, econ omic and political pluralism and failed to construct civil attachments of the bulk of citizens to nationhood, the political society and the key institutions of governance.4 Once a polity has been democratized, the problem of consolidation arises, which is not a mere improvement in the overall quality of democracy. Instead, this quality is a product of appropriate analyses of electoral politics and market mechanisms. '"(d)emocratic consolidation requires much more than elections and markets." Rather, a consolidated democracy is a political situation in which democracy has become "the only game in town"'5 For Schmitter, the consolidation of democracy is "the process of transforming the accidental arrangements, prudential norms and contingent solutions which have emerged during the transition from autocracy into relations of cooperation and competition that are reliably known, regularly practiced and voluntarily accepted by those person or collectivities, i.e., politicians and citizens, who participate in democratic governance."6 According to Linz and Stepan: "A democratic regime is consolidated when no significant party within the polity attempts to create a non-democratic regime, when the majority of the people, even under sever economic crises or deep dissatisfaction, believe that democratic procedures and institutions are the most appropriate way of governing the country, and when governmental and non-governmental forces

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure Expenditure means a payment made by a business to obtain some benefits, i.e., assets, goods and services (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 1.2 Meaning of Capital Expenditure or Asset Capital expenditure is that expenditure which is for future benefits. It means expenditure for gaining an asset. Asset is a resource controlled by an organization as a result of past event and for which future benefits are expected (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 2. Revenue expenditure 2.1 Meaning of revenue expenditure Revenue expenditure are expenditures for ordinate repairs, maintain ace, fuel , insurance or other item needed to maintain used building, and plant and equipment. They go to the expense account and reduce the income of period in which they are incurred, because benefits from these expenditures dont last beyond that period (NARAYANASWAMY, R, 2008). 3. Differentiate between Capital and revenue Expenditure Investment Appraisal What is an investment? Specifically, an investment is the current commitment of dollars for a period of time in order to derive future payments that will compensate the investor for (1) the time the funds are committed, (2) the expected rate of inflation, and (3) the uncertainty of the future payments(BROWN, Keith and Reilley, Frank, 2005). Method of investment Appraisal A companys shareholders prefer to be rich rather than poor. Therefore, they want the firm to invest in every project that is worth more than it costs. The difference between a projects value and its cost is termed the net present value. Companies can best help their shareholders by investing in projects with a positive net present value (BREALEY et al., 2001). We start this material by showing how to calculate the net present value of a simple investment project. We also examine other criteria that companies sometimes consider when evaluating investments, such as the NPV projects payback period IRR Net Present Value (NPV) Suppose that you are in the real estate business. You are considering construction of an office block. The land would cost $50,000 and construction would cost a further $300,000. You foresee a shortage of office space and predict that a year from now you will be able to sell the building for $400,000. Thus you would be investing $350,000 now in the expectation of realizing $400,000 at the end of the year. You should go ahead if the present value of the $400,000 payoff is greater than the investment of $350,000. Assume for the moment that the $400,000 payoff is a sure thing. How much would you have to invest in it in order to receive $400,000 at the end of the year (BREALEY et al., 2001). Thats easy: you would have to invest $400,000 ÃÆ'- 1/1.07 = $400,000 ÃÆ'- .935 = $373,832 Therefore, at an interest rate of 7 percept, the present value of the $400,000 payoff from the office building is $373,832. NPV = PV required investment = $373,832 $350,000 = $23,832 In other words, your office development is worth more than it costs-it makes a net contribution to value. Internal Rate of Return Instead of calculating a projects net present value, companies often prefer to ask whether the projects return is higher or lower than the opportunity cost of capital. For example, think back to the original proposal to build the office block. You planned to invest $350,000 to get back a cash flow of C1 = $400,000 in 1 year. Therefore, you forecasted a profit on the venture of $400,000 $350,000 = $50,000 (BREALEY et al., 2001). Rate of return = profit/ investment = C1 investment/ investment = $400,000 $350,000/ $350,000 = .1429, or about 14.3% The alternative of investing in a U.S. Treasury bill would provide a return of only 7 percept. Thus the return on your office building is higher than the opportunity cost of capital. This suggests two rules for deciding whether to go ahead with an investment project: 1. The NPV rule. Invest in any project that has a positive NPV when its cash flows are discounted at the opportunity cost of capital. 2. The rate of return rule. Invest in any project offering a rate of return that is higher than the opportunity cost of capital (BREALEY et al., 2001). PAYBACK PERIOD These days almost all large companies use discounted cash flow in some form, but sometimes they use it in combination with other theoretically inappropriate measures of performance (BREALEY et al., 2001). Inflation and capital investment decisions Inflation can have a serious effect on capital investment decisions, both by reducing the real value of future cash flows and by increasing their uncertainty. Future cash flows must be adjusted to take account of any expected inflation in the prices of goods services in order to express them in normal (or money) terms, i.e. in term of actual cash amounts to be received or paid in the future. As an alternative to the nominal approach to dealing with inflation in investment appraisal, it is possible to deflate nominal cash flows by the general rate of inflation in order to obtain cash flows expressed in real terms, i.e. with inflation stripped out (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). (1+real cost of capital) = (1+ normal cost of capital) / (1+ inflation rate) For example if the nominal cost of capital is 15% and the rate of inflation is 9 %, the real cost of capital will be 5.5 %. Investment appraisal and risk involved In the context of investment appraisals, risk refers to the business risk of an investment, which since it derives from a companys capital structure is reflected in its weighted average cost of capital. Risk is tusk distinct from uncertainty, which increases proportionality with project life. A risk-averse company is concerned about the possibility of expected, i.e. with downside risk, and will therefore want to asses the risk of an investment project. There are several methods of assessing project risk and of incorporating risk into the decision making (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Sensitivity Analysis Sensitivity analysis is a way of assessing the risk of an investment project by evaluating how responsive the NPV of the project is to change in the variables from which it has been calculated (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Types of risk Credit Risk Market risk Equity Risk Liquidity risk Financial Analysis Financial performance analysis using financial ratio Categories of Financial Ratios Analysts find it useful to classify ratios into broad groupings, based on the characteristics that particular ratios are intended to measure. In this section, we discuss ratios under four major headings that are widely employed by analysts: liquidity, profitability, capital structure, and investor ratio (STICE et al., 2002). Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios indicate the short-term solvency of the firm. They also indicate how effectively the firm is managing its working capital (STICE et al., 2002). Profitability Ratios Profitability ratios are the second major focus of analysis for any investor. Without profits, there will be no return to the investor or no one will want to invest (STICE et al., 2002). Gross Profit The gross profit percentage is the first source of profitability for a manufacturing or merchandising firm. The data for the gross profit margin are found in the first sections of the income statement. These data indicate the level of profits earned from buying and reselling goods (STICE et al., 2002). Operating income ratio The operating income ratio is the second indicator of profitability because it includes All the other normal and recurring operating costs. Increasing or stable levels Of operating income indicate sustainability of the firms profits (STICE et al., 2002). Financial Statement Analysis, Wendys International, Inc. In this section, we apply our financial statement analysis framework to Wendys International, Inc. Liquidity Analysis Profitability Analysis Summary, Wendys International, Inc. Our analysis of Wendys financial statements is cautiously positive. The primary weak indicator is in the area of profitability (based on accrual-based earnings), and this result may be due to transitory effects that may not persist in the future. There were significant positive trends in liquidity, and stability in investor ratios. Further examination of supplementary information, as well as subsequent quarterly results for 1998 and 1999, could be used to support or challenge these conclusions (STICE et al., 2002). Non-Financial Analysis Using Balance score card Balance Score Card The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a technique developed by Kaplan and Norton (1992) that helps organisational decision makers to navigate the organisation towards success. The technique enables organisations to translate their mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures that provide the framework for a strategic measurement and management system. Organisations have used the Balanced Scorecard to; (1) clarify and translate vision and strategy, (2) communicate and link strategic objectives and measures, (3) plan, set targets and align strategic initiatives and (4) enhance strategic feedback and learning, and succeed in realizing both tangible and intangible benefits of their investments (Kaplan and Norton, 1992, 1996, 2000). The Balanced Scorecard measures organisational performance, with emphasis on financial objectives. But, it also includes the performance drivers of these financial objectives, and measures organisational performance across four balanced perspectives; (1) financial, (2) customer, (3) internal business processes and (4) learning and growth (DARSHANA SEDERA, Guy Gable and Michael Rosemann). Framework of Balance Score Card.

Cognitive Theories of Human Development Essays -- Cognitive Developme

Cognitive Theories of Human Development Jean Piaget, known as the most important theorist; started the most comprehensive theory of intellectual development. Piaget was born in 1896, in Neuchatel Switzerland, and lived a full and significant life, he passed away at age 84. His father was a medieval historian, and his mother was a homemaker; she was highly emotional and her behavior disrupted the normalcy of their home. Piaget married Valentine Chatenay, and they soon welcomed three girls; Jacqueline, Lucienne, and Laurent. The Paiget’s spent much of their time observing the girls childhood development. Paiget’s success began early in life. At the age of 10 years, Piaget published an article about a sparrow. By the age of 21 years, he earned his doctorate in natural sciences. In the 1940s and 50s, he studied children and adolescents. He focused on children’s understanding of mathematical and scientific concepts; he also continued to study cognitive development and philosophical questions in epistemology. Paiget initially faced objections from his peers; by the late 1960’s and the decades to follow, many psychologists began to recognize the importance of his theories. Another significant contributor to the cognitive development theory was Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky was born in 1896, in Tsarist Russia, to a middle-class Jewish family; sadly he died at the young age of 38, due to tuberculosis. His father was banking executive and his mother was a teacher; although most of her time was spent raising their eight children. In school he was known as the â€Å"little professor.† As a young adult, he attended the University of Moscow, but his Jewish decent proved to be a struggle. Vygotsky studied law, but also dabbled in many ... ...speech†. For Vygotsky, learning preceded development. Like Piaget, Vygotsky believed that children's egocentric speech was an important part of their cognitive development. The two differed in how they viewed the purpose of egocentric speech. The main difference between social and cognitive is that cognitive development involves the construction of thought processes, including: remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. References Crain, W.C. (2011). Theories of development: Concepts and applications (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Craig, G.J., & Dunn, D. (2010). Understanding human development (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

The Holocaust and Book Title Night

Night â€Å"Today everything is possible, even the crematoria. (Night, Wiesel 59) This compound hyperbole describes Elie Wiesel memoir of all the treacherous events that took place during the holocaust. Elie witnessed the whole experience first-hand. Weisel titled the book Night, evoking both literal and symbolic description of his dark ordeal as a holocaust victim and survivor. â€Å"That’s it, God is no longer with us. † (Wiesel 42) In this excerpt Elie Wiesel used syntax to figuratively exaggerate the despair the Jews faced.Although all Jews felt that God was either no longer there or simply did not exist, this quote was used as a hyperbole to make a seemingly inferior race feel the heat of a religious upheaval. â€Å"Never shall I forget that first night in camp, which has turned my night into one long night seven times sealed. † (Wiesel 32) By using hyperbole, this excerpt lets Wiesel express this symbolic complex sentence to exaggerate the agonizing feelin g of the holocaust being one long and dark quandary. â€Å"Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my god and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. (Wiesel 32) By giving the personification that his dreams were turned to dust helps us as readers understand the full extent of the gruesome nature that had changed the lives of millions forever. This book is a perfect example of Man’s inhumanity to man. Babies were shot and burned right in front of Elie. This could be like someone kicking a puppy in front of you and knowing you can’t do anything to stop it. The book title Night helps us as readers understand the dark, outstretched gloomy nature of the holocaust, and the symbolic side of the emotion being felt during war.The holocaust was full of remorseful and dark memories like the night sky is black. Elie’s book titled Night truly shows how terrifying this war was. â€Å"Over there, that’s where you’re going to be taken. That’s you ’re grave. Over there. † (Wiesel 38) This literal compound sentence was an excerpt from the book. Its literal effect on readers helped us understand that the thought of death could not be escaped. There was no place the Jews could go, and nothing Jews could do to escape the horrific thought of a horrifying death. Whether this be starvation, a bullet to the chest, or the rematorium, the thought of death haunted them all. What was described as one of the scariest things happening during this time were men turning on family members. Between killing for a piece of bread and abandoning parents or children for being weak, the holocaust had men acting not as men, but as wild animals. Also on the literal side the excerpt â€Å"Never shall I forget that smoke. † (Wiesel, 32) The smoke that represented where he could have died, and the smoke that turned innocent infant children into nothing more than a diminishing pile of ash.During the holocaust men were not treated as su ch. To the eyes of German SS soldiers Jews were merely dirt. Wiesel’s symbolic side of the book was shown through personification, hyperbole, syntax and a variety of various sentence structures such as using ways to describe how dark and gloomy his â€Å"long nights† stay at camp was. The title also brought out the more literal side like the smoke he swore never to forget. The symbolic and literal nature of the title Night was a description like no other of Elie Wiesel’s journey through hell.

The Facts and History of Cinco de Mayo

The Facts and History of Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo is probably one of the most celebrated and least understood holidays in the world.  What is the meaning behind it? How is it celebrated and what does it mean to Mexicans? There are many misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo and it is more than an excuse to have some nachos and a margarita or two. Its also not a celebration of Mexicos independence as many people think. It is an important day in Mexican history and the holiday has true meaning and importance. Lets get the facts straight about Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo Meaning and History Literally meaning The Fifth of May, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican Holiday celebrating the Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5, 1862. It was one of the few Mexican victories during Frances attempt to penetrate Mexico. Contrary to popular belief, this was not the first time that France attacked Mexico.  Back in 1838 and 1839, Mexico and France had fought what was known as  the Pastry War.  During that conflict, France invaded and occupied the city of Veracruz.   In 1861, France sent a massive army to invade Mexico once again. As was the case 20 years earlier, the intent was to collect on debts incurred during and after Mexicos war of independence from Spain. The French army was much larger and better trained and equipped than the Mexicans struggling to defend the road to Mexico City. It rolled through Mexico until it reached Puebla, where the Mexicans made a valiant stand. Against all logic, they won a huge victory. The triumph was short-lived, however. The French army regrouped and continued on, eventually taking Mexico City.   In 1864, the French brought in  Maximilian of Austria. The man who would become Emperor of Mexico was a young European nobleman who barely spoke Spanish. Maximilians heart was in the right place, but most Mexicans did not want him. In 1867, he was overthrown and executed by forces loyal to President Benito Juarez. Despite this turn of events, the euphoria of the unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla against overwhelming odds is remembered every May 5th. Cinco de Mayo Led to a Dictator During the Battle of Puebla, a young officer named  Porfirio Diaz  distinguished himself. Diaz subsequently rose rapidly through the military ranks as an officer and then as a politician. He even aiding Juarez in the fight against Maximillian. In 1876, Diaz reached the presidency and did not leave until the  Mexican Revolution  kicked him out in 1911 after a  rule of 35 years.  Diaz remains one of the most important presidents in the history of Mexico, and he got his start on the original  Cinco de Mayo. Isn’t It Mexico’s Independence Day? Another common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexicos Independence Day. In actuality, Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain on September 16. It  is a very important holiday in the country and not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo. It was on September 16, 1810, that  Father Miguel Hidalgo took to his pulpit in the village church of the town of Dolores. He  invited his flock to take up arms and join him in overthrowing Spanish tyranny. This famous speech would be celebrated as the  Grito de Dolores, or The Cry of Dolores, from then on. How Big ofa Deal Is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo is a big deal in Puebla, where the famous battle took place. However, it really isnt as important as most people think. Independence Day on September 16 has much more significance in Mexico. For some reason, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States- by Mexicans and Americans alike- than it is in Mexico. There is one theory for why this is true. At one time, Cinco de Mayo was widely celebrated in all of Mexico and by Mexicans living in former Mexican territories such as Texas and California. After a while, it was ignored in Mexico but the celebrations continued north of the border where people never got out of the habit of remembering the famous battle. Its interesting to note that the largest Cinco de Mayo party takes place in Los Angeles, California.  Every year, the people of Los Angeles celebrate â€Å"Festival de Fiesta Broadway† on May 5th (or on the closest Sunday). It’s a large, raucous party with parades, food, dancing, music, and more. Hundreds of thousands attend annually.  It’s even bigger than the festivities in Puebla. Cinco de Mayo Celebration In Puebla and in many U.S. cities with large Mexican populations, there are parades, dancing, and festivals. Traditional Mexican food is served or sold. Mariachi bands fill town squares and a lot of Dos Equis and Corona beers are served. It’s a fun holiday, really more about celebrating the Mexican way of life than about remembering a battle which happened over 150 years ago. It is sometimes referred to as a â€Å"Mexican St. Patrick’s Day.† In the U.S., schoolchildren do units on the holiday, decorate their classrooms, and try their hand at cooking some basic Mexican foods. All over the world, Mexican restaurants bring in Mariachi bands and offer specials for what’s almost certain to be a packed house.​ It’s easy to host a Cinco de Mayo party. Making basic Mexican food like salsa and burritos is not too complicated. Add some decorations and mix up a few margaritas and you’re good to go.

Theft of Information and Unauthorized Computer Access

Theft of Information and Unauthorized Computer Access Introduction Information plays a vital role in successful organizational management. Information management using modern information technology enhances organizational survival and decision-making.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Theft of Information and Unauthorized Computer Access specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Individuals with ill intentions can utilize any security flaw existing in the organization’s information systems to pursue their selfish interests; this, in other words, can render an organization susceptible to risks, which are costly or lower the integrity of the organization. Unauthorized computer access is only possible when an organization information security strategies are weak thus leaving an organization’s information resources vulnerable or accessible. When there are loopholes in the information security management system, malicious individuals take advantage of these ostensible f laws to achieve their ill intentions of either stealing or corrupting an organization’s databases. This paper discusses some of the key threats to an organization’s information security system or the persons that compromise an organizations computer system through unauthorized entry. Some of the highlighted threats are discontented employees, journalists, and political activists, hackers and information agents. Discontented Employees An organization’s information systems can be compromised in a variety of ways. The most notable being actions by discontented employees. Employees become a threat when they have been laid off or when they have left their jobs voluntarily in search of greener pastures. Such people might attempt to steal information with a motive of using it to exploit the company by selling confidential information to the competitors or to leverage on the same to get a new job. Owing to their familiarity with the computer system employed, such unscru pulous staff stands a better chance of successfully sabotaging, hacking or distorting information (Salehnia, 2002). Ideally, every organization should have an information security policy. Unfortunately, most companies lack proper policies to govern storage or management of sensitive and confidential information against theft and fraud. One of the most basic and yet reliable measure towards curbing employee related risks is doing an employee audit.Advertising Looking for article on computer science? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An employee audit can be done electronically or manually to ascertain that no employee is not in custody of vital company information as they leave the company premises. In addition, magnetic chips should be fixed on crucial organization documents such as reports and files to control information movements. Hackers A hacker is an individual who is well equipped with programming skills and use s these technical skills to gain unauthorized access to an organizations information systems. Hackers do this for personal gigs or monetary gain. Hacking is a serious threat to many organizations’ computer systems. Hackers break into computer systems by compromising the integrity and privacy of data (Cross Shinder, 2008). By obtaining this information, they easily use it to trade with interested parties pretending to be the genuine users. Unlike, other security risks, hackers, pose the greatest risk and can completely jeopardize the operations of the firm. However, several measures such as regular change in passwords and encryption of passwords and user names are important in containing the risk. Journalists and Political Activists Journalists or political activists might be interested in the operations of an organization with intentions of discrediting or damaging the organization’s reputation. While there are codes of ethics that govern journalism, practical codes v ary giving room to substantial overlap in information dissemination. Thus, some journalist and political activist take advantage of this mostly through bias reporting of facts, misrepresentation of figures and blatant deception to the public. Sometimes they will suppress the information even disregarding facts through mischief. Overly, they attempt to shape and influence the opinion of the public (Bosworth Kabay, 2002). Information Agents These people use subversive tactics to gather proprietary information. This information could be anything from new product ideas, bid information, proposals, marketing strategies or research and any other corporate data. They penetrate the information system of a given organization with the intention to find information that they can trade. They sell this information to the highest bidder especially in financial or consultancy or brokerage industry. It is, therefore, important for all organizations to exercise vigilance and secure their systems to any such security threats.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Theft of Information and Unauthorized Computer Access specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion It is critical for all organizations to embrace various security strategies to guarantee the safety of vital information and resources in the organization. This can be done by having back up files, changing passwords regularly, use of encryptions, installing antivirus scanners to prevent any unauthorized access to information against persons or foreign software programs. Physical security such as employing guards, using biometrics doors, and controlling unauthorized access can also be deployed. Finally, each organization requires a meticulously formulate information security policy. Failure to institute measures against information security threats, opens up an organization to much information security threats, which can easily compromise an organization†™ information systems. Reference List Bosworth, S Kabay, M. (2002). Computer Security Handbook. New Jersey, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Cross, S. Shinder, D.L. (2008). Scene of Cybercrime. Burlington, MA: Syngress Press. Salehnia, A. (2002). Ethical Issues of Information Systems. Hershey, PA: IRM Press.

Refugees and Migrants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Refugees and Migrants - Essay Example It is the differences in leaving one’s country which makes a person labeled as a refugee, migrant, immigrant, asylum seeker, or a safe-haven seeker. But they all share one common fact. They are aliens in a foreign country and hold second class status to the people who were born in that state. We should start of first by understanding what is basically a refugee and a migrant. A refugee is defined as an individual who has forcefully been made to leave his home country due to a fear of being persecuted or feeling his life to be threatened. Refugees are often outcasts in their home country due to a difference in race, religion, nationality, or being part of a social group which is not accepted by the current government. But not all refugees are in such a state due to human influences. People escaping famines and pestilence are also included into the broad category of refugees (NCCA 2008). A migrant, however, is defined as a person who leaves his/her country in search of better jo bs (Dictionary.com 2008). They leave their country using their own discretion without any influences such as coercion or force. This can clearly give a picture between the distinction between the two groups of people. While refugees are fleeing their country to save their own lives and lives of their families, migrants basically leave their countries to find work. The difference lies in the motivation for leaving their country. Before basically delving into the argument as to why migrants and refugees should be handled differently we will try to see what arguments are placed for considering them as one and the same. Many sources, usually egalitarian in nature, argue that since both groups of people are displaced from their home countries they should be welcomed by any new society and provided support. A policy known as "non-refoulement" exists, an international policy, which aims at protecting the rights of refugees. According to this policy people who have become refugees and arrive at a new state are not to be returned back to their home states and should be openly welcomed. 140 states have signed the non-refoulement policy which makes them prime states for refugees to seek a new life in (Jose Riera). But that is one of the only few valid arguments given by anyone. Because other than that, in reality a feature noted in most developed nations is that their laws, if at best not hostile towards refugees, are often biased to the nature of being cruel. For example, in an article by amnesty international's Australian edition it states how even though Australia has signed a number of treaties which enforce it to treat refugees well but in truth these refugees are detained in places where the Australian law is not valid hence these refugees cannot even demand non-refoulement since the policy is not valid in that area (Mark 2007). The reason why we such instances in newspapers of people being detained and arrested when trying to cross the border into another country is that it is becoming more and more difficult for the host country's to manage the inflow of these immigrants/refugees. The sheer volume of the incoming people is a burden on most countries who now, not only have to meet the needs of their own citizens but must also take care of these new people who are not always productive factors for the country. The refugees require lodging, sustenance and shelter which are costs the host country must bear. Not only that, but finding new jobs and work opportunities for these new people is also a taxing job for the government. In recent years there is also a security risk in permitting foreign individuals with no proper documentation and records into

Ohio Sentate Bill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ohio Sentate Bill - Essay Example Having said this, it is not as though the nation has no responsibilities to play in ensuring that the citizen is well protected and provided for to give back to the nation. It is for this reason that bills and laws that are made in the nation must take a human face and consider the welfare of the citizen as the most important conditions. To this effect, it is absolutely necessary, right and appropriate that citizens are airing their views on the Senate Bill 5 and how it might affect them. The debates and discussion are therefore highly encouraged and no side of the argument can immediately be judged as invalid, out of place or unnecessary. Especially as voting is yet to be done, it is important that debates continue to clarify issues so that the voting public would have better reasons why they should make a particular choice on the day of voting. The Issues No body can deny the fact that the mere mention or thought of the fact that a person’s earning would be reduced directly or indirectly is unpleasant news to hear. In fact, monies are earned through labor and labor is a difficult phenomenon. It is for this reason that everyone would want his or her earning secured. But what about cases where the deductions would bring about an eventual and long term benefit. Like in the payment of life insurances and fixed deposits, so would the long term benefit of the Senate Bill 5 be. Vardon and Siegel (2011) note that â€Å"Senate Bill 5 also would save $191 million at the state level by eliminating employee longevity and step pay increases.† In the wake of times when America is trumpeting for rapid economic take after the recession, such an amount pumped into the economy would in no small way raise the economic fortunes of the nation. Having made this point, it is important to reiterate the need to ensure accountability at the hands of higher governmental officials so that the professed economic benefits would be achieved. There is also an urgent need for c ritics’ cry on the implementation process to be considered. This is because there seem to be a kind of disparity that creates the impression that someone is robbing Peter to pay Paul. This point is strongly supported by Kasich who decries how there exists â€Å"imbalance between the costs of health insurance for the private and public sectors† such that one group wound eventually be making losses for another person’s gains. There is the much talked deprivation of employees to air their views and bargain on their entitlements. Some say that the Senate Bill 5 will be â€Å"taking away the power to negotiate deductibles and co-pays that contribute to the overall cost of health insurance† (Vardon and Siegel, 2011). However, that is not all what the Senate Bill 5 presents as far as employee bargaining power is concerned. As a matter of fact, public service workers such as teachers, firefighters and law enforcers â€Å"will be able to negotiate with local and state officials for important contract provisions including wages and some working conditions, including those related to safety† (The Intelligencer, 2011). The fears continue to rage on but citizens are encouraged to consider the full impulse of the bill deeply. If for nothing at all, it is known that the little restrictions on bargaining power would go a long way to restrict excessive spending to help Ohio maintain a balanced budget. It should however be noted with caution that this does not become an avenue for killing the