The Influence of American Imperialism on Our Economy and American Society since the End of the 19th Century

Introduction In the 18th and 19th century, European countries especially the British and the French were scrambling and partitioning the Asia and Africa continents in order to access cheap source of labor and raw materials. This was accomplished by use of military power and also by establishing investments there.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Influence of American Imperialism on Our Economy and American Society since the End of the 19th Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The United States of America was not involved in the scramble, the American imperialism only started later in 1898 during the Spanish American war where the United States of America saw the opportunity to gain colonies by conquering them from Spain in the Spanish-American war. At that time, many powers thought that they could be super powers only by gaining colonies. However, later, countries (USA included) discovered that colonies we re not the only way for a country to gain power. While the United States of American did not use policy of acquiring extra territories, the country has been using its might to control political and economic decisions almost everywhere in the world through the spread of capitalism (Weber, 1978). To confirm its might, in the recent past, America has engaged in the gulf war, the NATO forces attacks on Yugoslavia, the invasion of Iraq and the continuous attacks on the Taliban as it tries to spread its imperialistic policies. Several years later especially after the Iraq attacks where the US forces were aiming at removing Saddam Hussein from power, the American soldiers are still there and the casualties from these wars have been increasing. As a result, many people have started experiencing the negative effects of American imperialism especially the American themselves since the unemployment levels has been rising and the country is still recovering from the 2007-2008 financial crisis w hich led to many US companies being bailed out or collapsing with many arguing that the army in foreign lands need to be recalled (Karl, 2005). Imperialism Theories There exist several theories that either support or criticize imperialism. According to the supporters of the Marxist theory, the trends towards expansion are not necessarily through conquering and alienation of foreign lands as most people especially political scientists like to define it but imperialism rather explains the changes which have been occurring in the political economic and also social activities as they try to advance their capitalist notions everywhere. These sentiments support the US spread of imperialism where it has been using policies and laws which countries that need to be assisted by the country have to follow. A country which needs aid from the United States of America but does not follow the laid policies is never assisted by the US.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we c an help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In another theory by Kautsky, a capitalist country such as the United States of America cannot sell all the products within their country and thus they have to look for other countries where they can sell their products especially in the less developed economies. Kautsky observed this as the reason behind colonial expansions and spreading of imperialistic policies. He claims this was the reason for colonial expansions and spreading of their imperialistic policies. In the case of United States, rather than expanding colonies they use they imperialistic policies to access what ever they need. For example, a country cannot expect America to assist it if it has trade barriers against it even if the intention is to protect home industries. Conservative theories supports imperialism by indicating that imperialism exists in order to preserve the social orders among the developed economies. The theory further maintains that it is usually necessary for a country to secure trade and also maintain employment levels. The United States of America has achieved this by introducing legislations which protects internal industries from effects of trade liberalization. Finally, in political theory, imperialism helps a country by decreasing the strategic and political vulnerability of a country and the United States of America has achieved by ensuring there is manifestation of power thereby maintaining its status quo. Influence of American imperialism on your economy Social and political self determination from other countries has been challenging the American hegemony in different parts of the world. Other than the challenges above, as the United States of America increase its military supremacy and increase its capability of the army, the country has been accruing large debts especially due to the huge budgets which are allocated for its enormous military expenses. In return, this has increased America dependenc e on foreign creditors especially from the oil producing countries. As a result, the disparity or the differences between the American army and its own weak economy has just been increasing (Knauft, 2007). American imperialism has also affected the economy negatively. For example, the attacks on Iraq an oil producing country led to oil world volumes to decline and as a result the price of oil went up affecting the economy negatively since the high prices reduced the market basket for people all over the world (Americans included).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Influence of American Imperialism on Our Economy and American Society since the End of the 19th Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Positive impact of the US imperialistic policies has been in the increased trade. The US control land over seas where external production takes place, through this, it is able to engage more in international trade e xporting more than it is importing thereby being able to earn more through the foreign direct investment as a result improving the economy as a whole (Cunningham, 2010). American society since the end of the 19th century Since the end of 19th century, American imperialism has led to most Americans living in fear of terrorist attacks. The critics of American imperialistic policies in the Arab world especially the Muslim extremists feel that Americans have been interfering with their governments when their soldiers inhabit their land. As a result, there has been the emergence of terrorist groups targeting both the Americans and their interests in the world. As the US imperialistic policies continue, most people have lost their lives especially most of the US soldiers who went to fight in Iraq. With loss of lives, families have been left widowed and as a result this continues to increase the emotional problems which the Americans go on with suffering. After September 11 attacks, Americ a has seen the introduction of new regional command for defense which maintains that all the foreign acquisitions of the federal buildings to undergo security reviews in ascertaining their safety. As the United States of America tries to protect her interests, traffic along international borders has become difficult and the exchange of students and scientific visitors has been hampered and where in the past information was viewed as the cutting edge for profitability and democratization process with the state secrets reaching historic high levels as a result it remains to be observed whether the imperatives of restrictiveness and openness will be modified and remade in a way that will allow the accumulation of capital and other resources (Steinmetz, 2005): No one is no longer safe in what used to be the Promised Land. The impact of imperialism on people in foreign countries as well as in the US Changes have been witnessed in the political economic and also social activities as count ries try to advance their capitalist notions everywhere. Nations that needs aid from the United States of America but do not follow the laid policies are never assisted by the US. For example, the Vietnam leader Ho Chi Minh requested US president Truman for humanitarian assistance after floods swept harvests in his country but was denied help. Vietnam was viewed as communist and US wanted to control the country due to availability of resources like iron ore, rice and oil (Zinn, 2010). Thus the people of Vietnam were left to starve.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Perkins (2007), argues that US government uses hit men and jackals to control foreign governments and their action determines who gains economically or military power. He cites nations like Egypt that became friendly to US and has since been receiving development aid. The United States of America (capitalist country) cannot sell all the merchandises within their country and thus they have to look for other nations where they can sell their products especially in the less developed economies. Rather than mounting colonies the US employ imperialistic policies to access whatever they need. Those countries facing trade barriers are never assisted by the US even if their main aim is shielding home industries. The US has been introducing legislations that insulate internal ventures from the consequences of trade liberalization. Imperialism has also been assisting nations by curtailing the strategic and political susceptibility of a country; the United States of America has attained this b y making sure there is manifestation of power thus maintaining its status quo. Conclusion The American imperialism has faced many challenges especially in the last century where many people have been against the advancement of its imperialistic polices. These imperialistic policies have affected the economy both positively and negatively. Among the positive effects has been the improved economy of the country through Foreign Direct Investments gained from the excess exports while on the other side, the negative impacts have included the rise in unemployment as most of the budget concentrates on military. Socially which might affect their economic performance; Americans live in fear of terrorist attacks from people who are against their country’s policies. Reference List Cunningham, D. (2010). Modern Imperialism and its Impact. Web. Karl, B. (2005). The US, Iraq and the Future of Empire. Historical Materialism. Vol.13. Iss.3, pp163-192. Knauft, B.M. (2007). Provinicializing Am erica: Imperialism, Capitalism and Counter Hegemony In The 21st Century. Current Anthropology Volume 48, Number 6, pp 781-805. Perkins, J. (2007). The secret history of the American empire: economic hit men, jackals, and the truth about global corruption. New York, Penguin. Steinmetz, G. (2005). Return to Empire: The New U.S. Imperialism in Comparative  Historical Perspective. Web. Weber, M. (1978). Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretive Sociology, Volume 2. California: University of California Press. Reprint. Zinn, H. (2010). A People’s History of the United States. New York: HarperCollins. This essay on The Influence of American Imperialism on Our Economy and American Society since the End of the 19th Century was written and submitted by user Trace Roach 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.

A Look into the 5 Most Popular Learning Management System for Educators Essays

A Look into the 5 Most Popular Learning Management System for Educators Essays A Look into the 5 Most Popular Learning Management System for Educators Essay A Look into the 5 Most Popular Learning Management System for Educators Essay Essay Topic: Popular Learning management systems are tools that integrate different aspects of learning process into a centralized system. This allows the teachers to track and monitor progress of students’ e-learning courses or training programs. A learning management system can help teachers record student’s performance, track record of student’s progress, report to parents, oversee administration or share content with the students. The system also allows the teachers to prepare a lesson plan and progress reports to the parents. Furthermore, the educators can share knowledge, conduct video conference or even post the whole lessons for the students. Today, there are various businesses offering LMS tools to serve the educators. These companies have products with little variation in their design, function or price but the core function remains the same i.e. providing a centralized management system to the educators. However, there are some popular LMS products that are major stakeholders of the e-learning industry. Based on recent surveys, I will discuss some of the most efficient and reliable products of LMS companies that have the highest share in this industry. 1. Blackboard Blackboard is a leading learning management system among colleges and offers the maximum features for e-learning. It provides a virtual learning environment that can be accessed by the teachers to post comments, receive educational material from students or share information. It has chat forums for teachers or students to interact on any matters and has an integrated mailing system to communicate messages or follow up on issues. Furthermore, it has an online planner for students and teachers to schedule deadlines and agenda. Students can also use course content tool to share information through blogs and videos. Other features include learning modules, media library and grade book. Having over 8.5 million users and 950+ clients all over the world, it tops in the league of leading learning management system currently available. 2. TeacherEase TeacherEase is yet another popular learning management tools used by elementary and high schools. It offers tools for planning lessons and monitoring students’ performance that includes their grades, attendance and behavior. It has centralized database management system that provides access to parents to get their kids progress and teacher’s feedback. A product of Common Goals Systems Inc, TeacherEase was launched in 2001 and has been the most sought-after LMS tool since then. With over 1000 schools and over 300,000 users currently using the system, it has become a major stakeholder in the e-learning industry. 3. Moodle Moodle is another widely-used e-learning platform among educators and students. It offers features like, assignment submission, online chat and discussion forums, online calendar and bulletin boards. Furthermore, it features live video conferencing, mailing system and links to reference resources. With more than 70,000 clients and over 6 million users around the world, it is among the most trusted learning system for the educators. 4. Desire2Learn Desire2Learn is one more popular source of learning management system. It offers the most effective tool for e-learning solutions. It has the fastest growing customer retention rate with more than 700 customers in over 20 countries. This learning management system features a centralized database system that teachers can access to monitor student’s academic growth through their learning pattern. It has similar features to that of other learning management systems with the exception that it can be accessed through Android operating system. Founded in 1999, the company has staff in Canada, Australia, UK and US with headquarters in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. 5. Skillsoft Skillsoft is yet another leading e-learning software for the educators (small to medium sized organizations). Skillsoft provides e-learning experience through various methods that include content sharing, research references, resources management, learning tools and administration system. The company has a strong online presence in the LMS industry with over 700,000 users and more than 2000 customers around the globe.

St. Johns, Capital of Newfoundland and Labrador

St. John's, Capital of Newfoundland and Labrador St. Johns, the capital city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is Canadas oldest city. The first visitors from Europe arrived at the start of the 1500s and it grew as a prominent location for fisheries for the French, Spanish, Basques, Portuguese and English. Britain became the dominant European power in St. Johns by the end of the 1500s, and the first permanent British settlers put down roots in the 1600s, around the same time that the first English settlements occurred in what is now Massachusetts in the U.S. Near the harbor is Water Street, which St. Johns claims is the oldest street in North America. The city shows its Old World charm in winding, hilly streets lined with colorful buildings and row houses. St. Johns sits on a deepwater harbor connected by the Narrows, a long inlet, to the Atlantic Ocean. Seat of Government In 1832, St. Johns became the seat of government of Newfoundland, an English colony at the  time,  when Newfoundland was granted a colonial legislature by Britain. St. Johns became the capital city of the province of Newfoundland when Newfoundland joined  Canadian Confederation  in 1949.   St. John covers 446.06 square  kilometers or 172.22 square  miles. Its population as of the 2011 Canadian census was 196,966, making it Canadas 20th largest city and the second largest in Atlantic Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia is the largest.   The population of Newfoundland and Labrador was 528,448 as of 2016. The local economy, depressed by the collapse of the cod fishery in the early 1990s, has been brought back to prosperity with  petrodollars  from off-shore oil projects.   St. Johns Climate Despite the fact that St. Johns is in Canada, a relatively cold country, the city has a moderate climate. Winters are relatively mild and the summers cool. However, Environment Canada rates St. Johns more extreme in other aspects of its weather: Its the foggiest and windiest Canadian city, and it has the greatest number of days of  freezing rain  per year. Winter temperatures in St. Johns average around -1 degree Celsius, or 30 degrees Fahrenheit, while summer days have an average temperature around 20 degrees Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Attractions This easternmost city in North America   situated on the east side of the Avalon Peninsula in southeast Newfoundland is home to several interesting attractions. Of special note is Signal Hill, the site of the first transatlantic wireless communication in 1901 at Cabot Tower, which is named for John Cabot, who discovered Newfoundland. The Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden in St. Johns is a designated All-American Selections Garden, with beds of award-winning plants bred in the U.S. The garden offers visitors beautiful viewing, with more than 2,500 plant varieties. It has a superb collection of rhododendrons, with 250 types, and nearly 100 hosta cultivars. Its alpine collection displays plants from mountain ranges around the world. Cape Spear Lighthouse is where the sun first comes up in North America- it sits on a cliff jutting out into the Atlantic on the easternmost point on the continent. It was built in 1836 and is the oldest lighthouse in existence in Newfoundland. Go there at dawn so you can say you saw the sun before anyone else in North America, a true bucket list item.

Fundamental concepts and techniques in accounting and finance Essay

Fundamental concepts and techniques in accounting and finance - Essay Example Fundamental concepts and techniques in accounting and finance The field of financial management has experienced gradual but significant change during the twentieth century. During the first two decades of the century, financial managers were concerned mostly with the legal issues surrounding the issuance of stocks and bonds. This focus of attention reflected the primitive nature of the capital markets in the early 1900s, the wave of mergers and consolidations occurring at that time, and the lack of what now is considered routine full disclosure of accounting and financial information about companies offering securities to the public. With the Depression of the 1930s, the main focus of financial management shifted to the defensive aspects of business survival. As we enter the twenty-first century, the most significant trend to impact successful corporate financial management will be the continuing globalization of business in general and financial management in particular. There is no major U.S. or foreign corporations that do business solely within the confines of their own country. The need to deal with multiple currencies, worldwide money and capital markets where investment capital moves across borders at an increasing pace facing fewer and fewer barriers, a wide variety of accounting systems and tax laws, and a multitude of political risk environments is now a normal part of the responsibilities of a corporate financial manager. This globalization of business does not change the fundamental theories of corporate financial management, but it does have a substantial impact on corporate financial practice and domestic financial markets. ... t change the fundamental theories of corporate financial management, but it does have a substantial impact on corporate financial practice and domestic financial markets. The only thing certain about the future is that finance and industry will continue to change, offering new challenges and opportunities to financial managers. The importance of competent financial management to the success and even survival of the modern business organization cannot be overemphasized. It is no accident that presidents and board chairpersons of large, successful corporations increasingly rise to their positions by coming up the "finance side of the house" (Kaplan, 1989). In smaller business, experience has shown that the early survival of a new business and prosperity in its developing stages is strongly dependent on effective financial planning and control. The most common reason cited for the high failure rate experienced by new ventures is lack of financial expertise. Similarly, financial administration is receiving increased attention by governmental units at all levels. Financial management in all types of nonprofit corporations and organizations is also benefiti ng from increased attention. Competent financial planning and management are critical components of success in any organization that brings people together to achieve a common goal. The impact of inflation and high interest rates has focused increased attention on the financial implications of nearly all business decisions. Knowledge of financial management principles and techniques has become even more important during our current era of economic uncertainty. Functional specialists in such diverse areas as marketing, production, and human resources management have environment in which the firm operates. A

Marriage versus living together Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Marriage versus living together - Essay Example 14). There are those who argue that recent research concerning various aspects of interpersonal relations in romantic couples is based on married couples. Individuals who merely cohabitate are not likely to be as effected by the â€Å"increasing emphasis on the role of cognitive factors in marital functioning† (Baucom et al, p. 209) References Barich, Bielby, Rachel R., Denise D. "Rethinking Marriage: Change and Stability in Expectations 1967-1994."  Journal of Family Issues  17.2 (1996): 139-169. Web. 25 May 2011. . Baucom, Epstein, Daiuto, Carels, Rankin, Burnett, Donald H., Norman, Anthony D., Robert A., Lynn A., Charles K. "Cognitions in Marriage: The Relationship Between Standards and Attributions."Journal of Family Psychology. 10.2 (1996): 209-222. Print. Glick, Paul. "Marriage, Divorce, and Living Arragements."  Journal of Family Issues  5.1 (1984): 7-26. Web. 23 May 2011. .

Mcdonalds Great Britain - the Turnaround Essay Example for Free

Mcdonalds Great Britain the Turnaround Essay Summary of the Problem McDonalds spacious Britain experienced a great deal of hardships and changes. McDonalds US sales have steadily change magnitude but Great Britain has not shown any significant increase. The solid ground for the sluggish sales is because of new chains such as Yo! sushi and Nandos Chicken Restaurants which tickled the Great Britains taste. An issue in the fast food industry is the mad cow sc are. at that place are some comments about McDonalds Great Britain standardised a guy just go to McDonalds for a last resort, the texture, the taste and the feel of the burger was different than before. Also, passel are becoming more health conscious. There was also a lawsuit with McDonalds and two green peace activists. For teenagers, McDonalds appeal to their taste thats why McDonalds UK profit 118 Million (in Euro). Lastly, the company monitors news articles and television references. In Great Britain, they have been rated either as negative or deaf(p). They have taken these comments and certain steps to reverse the trend. They developed new menus composed of salads, grilled chicken and fruits. Their burgers and original menus were modify to suit their audiences taste. They also developed new recipes. They informed people about their foods dietary information. They also got Destinys fry to advertise for the new salad line and they brewed coffee in receipt to the rising coffee house trend. CEO of McDonalds UK has a vision for them. They have to give more value to the customer in order to upgrade the McDonalds experience. They should get fundament to the basics of service and cleanliness. They will re-invent their food with various changes in their ingredients to suit the taste of the customers. The CEO wants McDonalds to become eat restaurant because they have opportunities there.

Kahlil Gibran Essay -- essays research papers

Kahlil Gibran Information on the Author Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), a poet, philosopher, and an artist was born in Lebanon, a land which has produced many prophets. The millions of Arabic speaking people, familiar with his writing consider him a genius of his age. However, his fame and influence was not limited to the Near East only, but far beyond these borders. His poetry has been translated into more than twenty languages. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in the great capitals of the world and compared by Auguste Rodin to the work of William Blake. In the United States, which he made his home for the last twenty years of his life., he began to write in English. The Prophet and his other books of poetry, illustrated with his mystical drawings are known and loved by innumerable Americans who find them an expression of the deepest impulses of manà ¿s heart and mind. Introduction This book is one of Kahlil Gibrans masterpieces and has become a beloved classic of this era. This book contains poetry about a prophet-called Al- Mustafa- who tells people about different subjects which are all related to subjects in everyday life; for example love, hate etc.. The book also contains a series of illustrations created by the author himself. The book is based slightly on fiction, but the topics discussed in the poetry are all very realistic. If a person read the poetry today it would still be relative to the things happening around us. The poetry is in composition form,...

Landscape Procurement Plan

Landscape Project Procurement Plan 1. Overview: Following a major renovation and addition to the house, a redesign of the front yard is required. This redesign will encompass the front yard that is approximately 65 ft wide by 70 ft deep. The area is bounded on the south side by the house and a wooden fence, on the west side by a continuation of the wooden fence for approximately 40 feet. The north side is to the property line, and the east side is bound by the driveway. There is a sidewalk that comes away from the house to about 25 feet and turns to the driveway. The area enclosed by the driveway and sidewalk is approximately 350 ft2.The major components of this redesign consist of grading and removing excess soil remaining from remodel, install electric wiring for exterior lighting, install hardscape, landscape design and installation of the plants and trees. What is not included in the scope of this project is the seeding of the lawn area, lawn maintenance, removal of existing plan ts and painting/staining of existing fence. 2. Make or Buy Analysis: While my husband and I have the ability to perform the majority of the tasks associated with the landscape redesign, the constraints of time and manpower limit the amount of work that we will perform.Below is the Make or Buy Analysis. Task| Make/Buy| Reason| Excavate/Grade yard| Buy| Limited experience on a Bobcat. More cost effective to hire the work out. Landscape companies routinely perform this type of work| Install electric wiring| Make| Husband is an electrician and is qualified to perform the work| Landscape design| Buy| Not skilled in landscape design| Installation of plants| Make & buy| This task will be a combination. The larger trees and plants will be installed by the nursery. We will install the smaller plants. Install hardscape| Make| These items will be purchased and installed following the plants as time and budget allow. | 3. Procurement needs: a. Excavation/grading b. Electrical materials c. Lands cape design d. Installation of plants e. Installation of hardscape 4. Statement of work: Task| Statement of Work| Excavation /grading| Soil remains from the excavation of the foundation and new basement sections of the addition. The majority of the soil will be removed to another location on the property to fill in low spots.This soil will be spread in a manner that will result in a reasonably level location relative to the surrounding area. Following removal of the excess soil, the front yard will be re-contoured according to the specifications outlined in the landscape design. | Electrical| The electric will consist of exterior grade wiring/conduit running from the main electric panel located in the northeast corner of the basement. The exterior lighting will be on its own circuit with dedicated breakers. The conduit will be placed below grade and extend beyond the sidewalk, to the edge of the driveway.An exterior rated junction box will be installed with additional connections to allow expansion of the exterior lighting as needed in the future. An exterior light pole and fixture will be installed that includes, at a minimum, one exterior outlet. Additional conduit will be placed below grade to the northwest corner of the house. An LB will be installed to bring the electric wiring aboveground to provide power to two exterior outlets for general use. | Landscape design| Evaluation of soil type and condition, elevation and directionality of front yard to be completed.Based on this evaluation, any modification or supplementation of the soil will be performed as needed. A selection of trees, shrubs, and perennial plants will be chosen, collectively identified as â€Å"plants† throughout the remainder of the plan. The design of the landscape shall include the overview diagram, the planting schematic and all care instructions for selected plants. A minimum of three alternate plants will be provided in addition to the plant identified in the design. The majo rity of the plants should be considered native to the Midwest. Trees and tall shrubs must be located away from overhead power and phone lines.The design must include what is collectively known as 3 season plants, which have blooms, seed heads, etc. visible during spring, summer and fall. All ornamental grasses must be less than 4 foot tall. A minimum of 2 flowering trees must be included in the design. One large tree, defined as 10 – 12 foot tall, with trunk diameter of at least 6 inches, must be included as well. The design will include evergreen as well as deciduous plants and shrubs. The overall design should be identified as low maintenance, consisting of sufficient plantings to minimize weeds, identification of various covers, such as hardwood mulch and decorative rock/gravel. Installation of plants| The plants will be installed according to the agreed upon design and plant selection. If, for any reason, a plant is not available, a substitute will be chosen and installed in its place. Plants will be installed with appropriate care to minimize any shock or trauma sustained by the plants. Following installation, return visits to evaluate the health of the plants will occur at agreed upon intervals as appropriate. Should any plant not be thriving, or performing as expected, the plant may be replaced with a substitute identified in the design plan. Installation of hardscape| Hardscape is generally defined as permanent fixtures, such as statuary, fountains, etc. in a garden or landscape setting. All locations will be prepared according to the design and the hardscape features identified in the landscape design will be purchased OTS or built as time and budget allow. | 5. Procurement Documentation: The documentation required to obtain services for each activity is listed below. Task| Documentation Type| Appendix| Excavation/grading| Request for Quote| A| Electrical materials| Request for Quote| B| Landscape design| Request for Proposal| C|Installation of plants| Request for Proposal| D| Installation of hardscape| Request for Quote| E| 6. Contract Types: The type of contract that will be offered with each task. Task| Contract Type| Excavation/grading| Firm Fixed Price| Electrical materials| Purchase Order| Landscape design| Firm Fixed Price| Installation of plants| Time and Material| Installation of hardscape| Purchase Order| 7. Evaluation criteria and selection process f. Available alternatives per activity g. Evaluation criteria h. Recommendation Pre-Qualified Sellers per Activity Task| Supplier| Location| Phone number|Excavation/grading| Waldbart & Sons LandscapingEarthtones LandscapingThe Garden Kingdom| Bunker Hill, IlLebanon, IlGlen Carbon, Il| | Electrical materials| Frost ElectricHome DepotLowes| Collinsville, IlEdwardsville, ILEdwardsville, IL| | Landscape design| Waldbart & Sons LandscapingEarthtones LandscapingThe Garden Kingdom| Bunker Hill, IlLebanon, IlGlen Carbon, Il| | Installation of plants| Waldbart & Sons Landscap ingEarthtones LandscapingThe Garden Kingdom| Bunker Hill, IlLebanon, IlGlen Carbon, Il| | Installation of hardscape| Waldbart & Sons LandscapingEarthtones LandscapingThe Garden Kingdom| Bunker Hill, IlLebanon, IlGlen Carbon, Il| | Evaluation Criteria & Selection Process Task| Evaluation Criteria| Weight|Excavation/grading| CostQualityReferences| 50%25%25%| Electrical materials| CostService| 50%50%| Landscape design| CostQualityReferences| 40%30%30%| Installation of plants| CostQualityReferences| 40%30%30%| Installation of hardscape| CostQualityReferences| 50%30%20%| Criteria Analysis Excavation/Grading| | | Waldbart & Sons| Earthtones| Garden Kingdom| Criteria| Weight (%)| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Cost| 50| 75| 37. 5| 88| 44| 92| 46| Quality| 25| 92| 23| 97| 24. 25| 89| 22. 25| References| 25| 97| 24. 25| 95| 23. 75| 83| 20. 75| Total| 100| | 84. 75| | 92| | 89| Electrical Materials| | | Frost Electric| Home Depot| Lowes|Criteria| Weight ( %)| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Cost| 50| 85| 42. 5| 93| 46. 5| 93| 46. 5| Service| 50| 98| 49| 80| 40| 98| 49| Total| 100| | 91. 5| | 86. 5| | 95. 5| Landscape Design| | | Waldbart & Sons| Earthtones| Garden Kingdom| Criteria| Weight (%)| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Cost| 40| 86| 34| 91| 36. 4| 88| 35. 2| Quality| 30| 92| 27. 6| 89| 26. 7| 97| 29. 1| References| 30| 96| 28. 8| 89| 26. 7| 98| 29. 4| Total| 100| | 90. 4| | 89. 8| | 93. 7| Installation of Plants| | | Waldbart & Sons| Earthtones| Garden Kingdom| Criteria| Weight (%)| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score| Cost| 40| 90| 36| 96| 38. 4| 85| 34|Quality| 30| 93| 27. 9| 90| 27| 92| 27. 6| References| 30| 95| 28. 5| 88| 26. 4| 93| 27. 9| Total| 100| | 92. 4| | 91. 8| | 89. 5| Installation of Hardscape| | | Waldbart & Sons| Earthtones| Garden Kingdom| Criteria| Weight (%)| Score| Weighted Score| Score| Weighted Score | Score| Weighted Score| Cost| 50| 75| 37. 5| 80| 40| 85| 42. 5| Quality| 30| 75| 22. 5| 85| 25. 5| 90| 27| References| 20| 88| 17. 6| 70| 14| 92| 18. 4| Total| 100| | 77. 6| | 79. 5| | 87. 9| Final Selection Each of the identified vendors have the ability to perform all required tasks outlined in the statement of work and generally perform these tasks as a single contracted job.The final selection of vendor is based on the highest average weighted score. My husband will perform the electrical work, purchasing materials from the selected vendor below. Task| Company| Excavation/grading| The Garden Kingdom| Electrical materials| Lowe’s| Landscape design| The Garden Kingdom| Installation of plants| The Garden Kingdom| Installation of hardscape| The Garden Kingdom| 8. Schedule Dates: At least 10 days lead time will be given to the initiation of the project to ensure electrical work will be completed. The lead times will also be dependent on weather conditions. If rain postpones w ork, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Task| Lead time| Start Date| End Date|Landscape design| 2 weeks| April 2, 2012| April 13, 2012| Electrical materials| 2 weeks| April 16, 2012| April 20, 2012| Excavation/grading| 2 weeks| April 23, 2012| May 4, 2012| Installation of plants| 2 week| May 14, 2012| May 25, 2012| Installation of hardscape| 3 weeks| May 7, 2012| May 14, 2012| 9. Contract Administration: We will act as general contractors for this project. We will be responsible for all phases of the project. We will also be responsible for having underground utility location performed in advance of any excavation. Since there will be one vendor performing the work, the contract administration is as follows: Activity| Constrains/Assumptions| Payment Schedule|Excavation/grading| * Underground utilities have been located and appropriately marked before work starts * There will be no delays due to weather * Within budget| Deposit plus invoice upon completion| Electrical materia ls| * There will be no delays due to weather * Availability of materials * Within budget| Invoice at purchase, payable 30 days net| Landscape design| * There will be no delays due to weather * Availability of selected plants * Within budget| Deposit plus invoice upon completion| Installation of plants| * There will be no delays due to weather * Within budget| Deposit plus invoice upon completion| Installation of hardscape| * There will be no delays due to weather * Within budget| Invoice upon completion| 10. Procurement Metrics: The success of each activity will be evaluated by the below criteria: Activity| Metric| Specific Metric|Excavation/grading| * Cost * Speed * Satisfaction| Actual vs planned costWork completed on scheduleIssues resolved satisfactorily | Electrical materials| * Cost * Speed| Actual vs planned costWork completed on schedule| Landscape design| * Cost * Aesthetic design * Satisfaction| Actual vs planned costDesign meets criteria in SOWI’m happy with the de sign| Installation of plants| * Cost * Speed * Quality| Actual vs planned costWork completed on scheduleMinimal plant death/replacement| Installation of hardscape| * Cost * Speed * Quality| Actual vs planned costWork completed on scheduleIssues resolved satisfactorily| Appendix A: Request for Quote: Excavation/Grading Request for Quote Landscape Installation May 2012Specifications: * Must be bonded and insured * The front yard area needs to be graded and leveled in preparation of landscaping * Grading will consist of leveling and smoothing according to landscape design plan * Features such as berms, dry creek beds will be created as defined in the landscape plan * Excess soil will be moved to another location on the property as fill and leveled * Underground utilities will be located and marked prior to work starting * Provide a minimum of 3 references Please respond no later than March 30, 2012 Contract will be awarded on April 13, 2012 Appendix B: Request for Quote: Electric Reque st for QuoteLandscape Installation May 2012 Specification: * Must be bonded and insured * The electric will consist of exterior grade wiring/conduit running from the main electric panel located in the northeast corner of the basement. * The exterior lighting will be on its own circuit with dedicated breakers. * The conduit will be placed below grade and extend beyond the sidewalk, to the edge of the driveway. * An exterior rated junction box will be installed with additional connections to allow expansion of the exterior lighting as needed in the future. * An exterior light pole and fixture will be installed that includes, at a minimum, one exterior GFCI outlet. Switches for exterior lighting will be installed in the front entryway * Additional conduit will be placed below grade to the northwest corner of the house. An LB will be installed to bring the electric wiring aboveground to provide power to two exterior GFCI outlets for general use. * Provide cost breakdown of materials to be used Please respond no later than March 30, 2012 Contract will be awarded on April 13, 2012 Appendix C: Request for Proposal: Landscape Design Plan Request for Proposal Landscape Design Plan May 2012 Specifications: * Must be bonded and insured * Evaluation of soil type and condition, elevation and directionality of front yard will be completed. * Based on this evaluation, any modification or supplementation of the soil will be performed as needed. A selection of trees, shrubs, and perennial plants will be chosen, collectively identified as â€Å"plants† throughout the remainder of the plan. * The design of the landscape shall include the overview diagram, the planting schematic and all care instructions for selected plants. * The design will also include any hardscape items such as fountains, trellis’, etc. * A minimum of three alternate plants will be provided in addition to the plant identified in the design. The majority of the plants should be considered native to the Midwest. * Trees and tall shrubs must be located away from overhead power and phone lines. * The design must include what is collectively known as 3 season plants, which have blooms, seed heads, etc. visible during spring, summer and fall. All ornamental grasses must be less than 4 foot tall. * A minimum of 2 flowering trees must be included in the design. * One large tree, defined as 10 – 12 foot tall, with trunk diameter of at least 6 inches, must be included as well. * The design will include evergreen as well as deciduous plants and shrubs. * The overall design should be identified as low maintenance, consisting of sufficient plantings to minimize weeds, identification of various covers, such as hardwood mulch and decorative rock/gravel. * The proposal shall have 2 prices; 1. ) Complete design and installation, and 2. ) just the overview diagram, the planting schematic and all care instructions for selected plantsPlease respond no later than March 30, 2012 Contrac t will be awarded on April 18, 2012 Appendix D: Request for Proposal: Landscape Installation Request for proposal Landscape Installation May 2012 Specification: * Must be bonded and insured * The plants will be installed according to the agreed upon design and plant selection. If, for any reason, a plant is not available, a substitute will be chosen and installed in its place. * Plants will be installed with appropriate care to minimize any shock or trauma sustained by the plants. * Following installation, return visits to evaluate the health of the plants will occur at agreed upon intervals as appropriate. Should any plant not be thriving, or performing as expected, the plant may be replaced with a substitute identified in the design plan. * Responsible for removal of all waste Please respond no later than March 30, 2012 Contract will be awarded on April 18, 2012 Appendix E: Request for Quote: Installation of Hardscape Request for Quote Hardscape Installation May 2012 Specification s: * Must be bonded and insured * All locations will be prepared according to the design and the hardscape features identified in the landscape design will be purchased OTS or built as time and budget allow. * Any permanent placements requiring electrical or plumbing connections should be identified and specified before completion of the electrical work found in the SOW.

Personal freedom Essay

The personal freedom notion has changed vastly over the years from the harm principle to the notion of basic rights. Cobley suggest that in this day and age, these principles will not allow us to have maximum freedom. On the other hand, suggest that only by giving up all our freedom to the government, then we can maximize our freedom. I am largely convinced by his reasons why total freedom should be given to the government as the democratic government has proven to be able to fully optimize the freedom of our society. From paragraph 5 in line 58-61, Cobley suggest ‘ ill-health ignorance†¦factors’ are the factors preventing equality and liberty. He believes that ‘fraternity’ will help to reconcile both factors and eventually allow liberty. This is because these factors allow the clever and the strong to gain unfair advantages. And only by caring for each other, these unfair advantages will be shared equally, and hence allow equal opportunities for all. B y allowing equal opportunities for all, this allows the people to have freedom to compete equally. I am largely not convinced by his view of freedom, as it is an ideal state and not practical. In order to get the general rich population to share their advantage to the disadvantage is improbable and far from practical. This is because men are generally selfish and to care for complete strangers is not common in society. This point can be further strengthening by numerous examples of the stronger and smarter – not caring- but exploiting the poor. For example, many years back in Singapore, it was revealed that the chief executive officer of NKF – a charity fund – misused the finds of the charity to fund his luxurious lifestyle. This goes to show that the rich in general are unlikely candidates to show their care and concern for the poor. I however feel this responsibility should be given to the government through means such as heavy taxes onto the rich. I feel that this is the only way to ensure freedom to have equal opportunities for both the poor and rich. Therefore I believe we should surrender our claims to freedom to the government so that they can help re-distribute this income and ensure freedom is maximized. Hence, I disagree with the author’s view that by getting the rich to show concern to the poor ensures freedom as this is not practical and merely ideal. In para graph 3 Cobley discussed that freedom should be surrendered to the government if the laws passed down are deemed as ‘acceptable’ and not to ‘override certain basic freedom’. For example, basic rights such as the  right to live or worship. Cobley at the end of the passage however expresses his view that he is not in favor of it. I am too largely in agreement with his view because these basic rights are hard to define. Everyone have their own view of a ‘basic’ right and this often stems from religious beliefs. This would make it very hard for the government to decide on something common as there would bound to be people unsatisfied. For example, Singapore recently passed down a censorship law on websites with high viewership. Their rationale to it was that they feel these websites should be socially responsible to the public. Hence information should be censored. However others argue that these laws infringe the basic right to freedom of speech – therefore causing unhappiness to these people. Henceforth I feel that freedom should be fully surrendered to the government as to have ‘basic rights’ is impossible to define due to the various views of a basic right. Thus it is beneficial to me to give full autonomy of freedom to the government. In paragraph 6, Cobley feels that he should ‘surrender my so-called liberty†¦to its laws and restrictions. Cobley feels that all his freedom should be given to the government to control and restrict. He further adds on that ‘any division into†¦wrong.’ Thus, further strengthening his viewpoint that more should be done to give our ‘freedom’ to the government. I am largely in agreement with his view because I feel the democratically chosen state is best able to represent the people. This is because the government best represent the majority, and being the one ‘in-charge’ of the state they are also able to see the country in a macro perspective. Thus, making them capable of making decisions to ensure that both short-term and long-term the country benefits overall. In addition if we continue to erect barriers, we can see the society being more dis-united and having more of our freedom restricted. For example, we can see in Russia – where drinking is a problem – roads are becoming unsafe and the freedom of innocent passer-bys are compromised just so as to give the Russians ‘freedom to drink’. If more was done to curb drinking, this can result in not only the lives of these passer-bys to have more freedom but also the families of these drinkers. Not only would theses families have more disposable income – freedom to spend – but also potentially more freedom of safety from these drunkards. Thus, this clearly shows how we should give full freedom to the government so that we would have more freedom as the government is better  able to assess the situation. Henceforth, it is only beneficial to me that total freedom is given to the government. In conclusion, I agree with the author that e should give all claims to individual freedom to the government.

President James Buchanan and the Secession Crisis

President James Buchanan and the Secession Crisis The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 triggered a crisis which had been simmering for at least a decade. Outraged by the election of a candidate who was known to be opposed to the spread of slavery into new states and territories, leaders of the southern states began to take action to split from the United States. In Washington, President James Buchanan, who had been miserable during his term in the White House and couldn’t wait to leave office, was thrown into a horrendous situation. In the 1800s, newly elected presidents were not sworn into office until March 4 of the following year. And that meant Buchanan had to spend four months presiding over a nation which was coming apart. The state of South Carolina, which had been asserting its right to secede from the Union for decades, back to the time of the Nullification Crisis, was a hotbed of secessionist sentiment. One of its senators, James Chesnut, resigned from the U.S. Senate on November 10, 1860, only four days after Lincoln’s election. His states other senator resigned the next day. Buchanans Message to Congress Did Nothing to Hold the Union Together As talk in the South about secession was quite serious, it was expected that the president would do something to reduce tensions. In that era, presidents did not visit Capitol Hill to deliver a State of the Union Address in January but instead provided the report required by the Constitution in written form in early December. President Buchanan wrote a message to Congress which was delivered on December 3, 1860. In his message, Buchanan said that he believed secession was illegal. Yet Buchanan also said he did not believe the federal government had any right to prevent states from seceding. So Buchanan’s message pleased nobody. Southerners were offended by Buchanan’s belief that secession was illegal. And Northerners were perplexed by the president’s belief that the federal government couldn’t act to prevent states from seceding. His Own Cabinet Reflected the National Crisis Buchanan’s message to Congress also angered members of his own cabinet. On December 8, 1860, Howell Cobb, the secretary of the treasury, a native of Georgia, told Buchanan he could no longer work for him. A week later, Buchanan’s Secretary of State, Lewis Cass, a native of Michigan, also resigned, but for a very different reason. Cass felt that Buchanan was not doing enough to prevent the secession of southern states. South Carolina Seceded on December 20 As the year drew to a close, the state of South Carolina held a convention at which the state’s leaders decided to secede from the Union. The official ordinance of secession was voted on and passed on December 20, 1860. A delegation of South Carolinians traveled to Washington to meet with Buchanan, who saw them at the White House on December 28, 1860. Buchanan told the South Carolina commissioners that he was considering them to be private citizens, not representatives of some new government. But, he was willing to listen to their various complaints, which tended to focus on the situation surrounding the federal garrison which had just moved from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Senators Tried to Hold the Union Together With President Buchanan unable to prevent the nation from splitting, prominent senators, including Stephen Douglas of Illinois and William Seward of New York, attempted various strategies to placate the southern states. But action in the U.S. Senate seemed to offer little hope. Speeches by Douglas and Seward on the Senate floor in early January 1861 only seemed to make things worse. An attempt to prevent secession then came from an unlikely source, the state of Virginia. As many Virginians felt their state would suffer greatly from the outbreak of war, the states governor and other officials proposed a peace convention to be held in Washington. The Peace Convention Was Held in February 1861 On February 4, 1861, the Peace Convention began at the Willard Hotel in Washington. Delegates from 21 of the nations 33 states attended, and former president John Tyler, a native of Virginia, was elected its presiding officer. The Peace Convention held sessions until mid-February when it delivered a set of proposals to Congress. The compromises hammered out at the convention would have taken the form of new amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The proposals from the Peace Convention quickly died in Congress, and the gathering in Washington proved to be a pointless exercise. The Crittenden Compromise A final attempt to forge a compromise that would avoid outright war was proposed by a respected senator from Kentucky, John J. Crittenden. The Crittenden Compromise would have required significant changes to the United States Constitution. And it would have made slavery permanent, which meant legislators from the anti-slavery Republican Party would likely have never agreed to it. Despite the obvious obstacles, Crittenden introduced a bill in the Senate in December 1860. The proposed legislation had six articles, which Crittenden hoped to get through the Senate and the House of Representatives with two-thirds votes so they might become six new amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Given the splits in Congress and the ineffectiveness of President Buchanan, Crittendens bill did not have much chance of passage. Not dissuaded, Crittenden proposed bypassing Congress and seeking to change the Constitution with direct referendums in the states. President-Elect Lincoln, still at home in Illinois, let it be known that he did not approve of Crittendens plan. And Republicans on Capitol Hill were able to use stalling tactics to make sure the proposed Crittenden Compromise would languish and die in Congress. With Lincolns Inauguration, Buchanan Happily Left Office By the time Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated, on March 4, 1861, seven slave states had already passed ordinances of secession, thus declaring themselves no longer part of the Union. Following Lincolns inauguration, four more states would secede. As Lincoln rode to the Capitol in a carriage beside James Buchanan, the outgoing president reportedly said to him, If you are as happy entering the presidency as I am leaving it, then you are a very happy man. Within weeks of Lincoln taking office, the Confederates fired upon Fort Sumter, and the Civil War began.

HOW TO QUOTE IN AN ESSAY

HOW TO QUOTE IN AN ESSAY You wonder how to use quotes in essay, search no more. We are eager to share with you how to quote in an essay. Quoting passages in books, magazines, etc, essays, research papers and other articles is determined by two major points. First is the appropriateness belonging to the passage you wish to quote which is highly important. The second is choose the main idea of your paragraph that will reflect the whole subject concept and to incorporate the quotation. Additionally , there are a minimum of two fundamental rules that you need to pursue remember when you are putting sentences directly from your source for instance a book to your writing composition. One, you must put the proper citation at the end of the direct quote. Two, you should always place quotation marks in the beginning and at the end of your quote to indicate out that the phrase within your paragraph is actually taken out from a different source. It is vital to make note of that your quotation for your direct quotes should stick to the citation format required by your teacher. It is also important that you should thoroughly select the quotes you want to incorporate into your essay or essay. You have to make sure that each direct quote is highly relevant to your paragraphs main idea or main subject. Otherwise, your quoted line will make your argument, discussions or research vulnerable and weak.

Leaders as Learners Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leaders as Learners - Assignment Example Leading HR is also a very important area of learning and development that is to be inculcated into the leaders as a way of helping them know how to use people to achieve organizational growth and development. This is because the growth agenda is not expected to be carried out single handedly by the leader. The areas of learning and development identified above are most likely to change if the same talent management portfolio was being prepared or non-leaders. The reason for this assertion is that, unlike leaders, non-leaders do not bare the direct responsibility of facilitating growth. This is because such non-leaders do not have control over the resources of the organization, including the human resource. It is therefore important that whiles developing talent management portfolio for non-leaders, learning and development responsibility tasks that will be seen as over and above the control and jurisdiction of employees are eliminated (Martin & Schmidt, 2010). Once this is done, the hierarchies and power structure that exists within the organization can be held intact whiles promoting learning and development among all internal stakeholders of the organizations. As it has been explained above, learning and development among leaders must not be restricted to job-specific areas. Rather, the learning and development that takes place must be as holistic as possible. It can be expected that when learning and development is made to be job-specific, leaders and other people engaged in the learning will only be seeking to develop and emphasize on the areas they are best learned and trained in (Senge, 1997). For example a leader with background in marketing, when made to engage in job-related learning and development in marketing may neglect other functions within the organization such as production. Meanwhile, it takes the collective achievement of all