Christian Stewardship and Sustainability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Christian Stewardship and Sustainability - Essay Example Christian Stewardship and Sustainability The concepts of stewardship require such a living approach that persuades desirable qualities of an individual and enjoys the harmony of living with unity. For instance, in stewardship the use of excessive resources like water, forests soil, wildlife and etc is prohibited or at least most likely to be avoided at its best. The word stewardship is mostly understood as a type of responsible and answerable management pattern and practice where the points of sustainability and quality of the environment are considered as the key area to focus on (Worrell, and Michael 263). Our notion of stewardship comes from biblical creation theology, distributed throughout the Bible but most visible in Genesis, the Psalms, and the Wisdom literature of ancient Israel (Butkus 19) It can be said that stewardship is just not a way of living; in fact it is better to be taken as a good way of living or an approach to better way of life. The starting and ending idea of stewardship lies in belongings to God. And on the other hand the theory of keeping everything in a moderate situation prevails in the ecological concepts of sustainability without damaging the productive rate of the society. Few of the best examples of sustainability are the forests that have been there from a long time with no harm. Sustainability is not only a matter of self interest for the communal societies of human being but they also consist of questions against the fundamental values of earth and other species besides humans.

Starbucks Coffee Essay Example for Free

Starbucks Coffee Essay Starbucks has more than 17,000 stores in over the world ( following the information in 2010) including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, and over 700 in the United Kingdom Follow the the information of BusinessWeek. com. in 2010. The Brand Value of Starbucks is 3339 million U. S Dollar. Rank 97 in over the world http://www. interbrand. com/en/best-global-brands/best-global-brands-2008/best-global-brands-2010. aspx Employees 137,000 (2010) Website Starbucks. com Currently Starbucks is present in more than 55 countries. But until 2011, Starbucks still have not come to VN. Our group think that Starbucks should come to VN through franchising method Why choose Viet Nam 1/ A suitable model of development: In recent years, Vietnam has favorable conditions for business activity * GDP growth averaging over 8% * The economic situation is stable * The purchasing power is rated highly in the world VietNam became officially the 150th member of WTO. It opens up a lot of opportunities for not only VN’s entrepreneurs but also other countries’ ones 2/ Policies from VN government. VN government encourage investments VN Laws allowed foreign enterprise operate comfortably in VN which it didn’t occur in the past 3/ Others Vietnam population is 82 million, among whom 2/3 are young people In Viet Nam, people spend 70% their income for consuming, especially in food ( Follow the data from The General Statistics Office) Why choose franchising What is franchising? - Starbucks chooses Franchising as its international entry strategy. A franchise is a business arrangement where the developer/owner (the franchiser) of a business concept grants others (the franchisees) the licensed right to own and operate a businesses based on the franchisers business concept, using its trademark. For complete franchising model, the franchisor share and transfer of at least four types of products include: * Systems ( Strategies, model, management process, marketing support †¦ ) * Trade or business secrets * Right to operate under the Starbucks brand * Products and services Franchising in Viet Nam With Vietnam’s entry into the WTO, it is expected that franchising activity in the country will increase markedly over the next few years. There are presently a handful of major franchises operating in the country, including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Lotteria, Jollibee, Pho 24, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Buntamita and Cartridge World. In the past, Vietnamese law did not provide a clear basis for franchising arrangements, groundwork for franchising to develop in Vietnam. Reasons which Starbucks should choose franchisng In fact, with the economy situation in VN, franchising brings a lot of advantages to both franchisor and franchisees Franchisor * Franchising reduces the risk of investment into a new market for Starbucks. * Starbucks don’t need to have a huge capital. Capital is always one of the biggest problems of any company. But with franchising system, the franchisors don’t need to worry about it because franchisees have to use the capital of them to expand business, not franchiser. * Franchising help Starbucks access the new market quickly and make rapid expansion over broad area. In Vietnam market, especially coffee market, you have to find the way to develop and grow continuously to compete with others. No development means that going back. It’s lucky that franchising system can help you expand, develop your business quickly. * Promote the brand promotion strongly. With the expansion quickly of franchising system, it also helps Starbucks to advertise Starbucks’s image widely when hundreds of Starbucks’s stores appear everywhere. Beside that, the advertising cost will be shared for all stores, so Starbucks don’t have to spend much money to launch their huge advertising campaigns * Maximize income. In franchising system, franchisor can earn a lot of money from franchisees; from copyright cost, the cost for the right to operate under Starbucks’s brand, the profit of franchisees to raw materials which franchisees have to buy directly from Starbucks * Most importantly, franchisees are motivated operators to do a good job. Franchisees have to use the capital of them to operate business. So, it will be a great motivation for them to work well Franchisees * Franchising primary benefit is risk minimization. Starting a new business is risky. Most studies show that over 90 percent fail within three years. The primary reason that the failure rate is so high is because the owners have to do many things. They have to have a plan to introduce their new products or service, beside that they have to do operating plan, marketing plan †¦ to achieve their goal. All of them contain many risks. And the retailer often don’t have a lot of experiences when they start a new business, they have to spend a lot of time to learn characteristic elements of each industry. Franchising reduces risk for these things. When you join a franchising system, franchisee will be trained, taught from experiences to successful secrets which franchisor has to spend a lot of time to know. * Another benefits of franchising is the franchisee don’t have to go through beginning step when you have to do a lot of things, and spend a lot of money to survive, to build an image in consumer mind. * The next benefit, the well known brand names of franchisers are another reason of franchising to franchisees. Nowadays, there’re a lot of same products in different brands in market. Therefore, building a famous brand which everyone know and trust is a key to survive and success with any business. With franchising system, franchisee is allowed to succeed a brand which have a stable position in market, it is really a big advantage for retailer * Maximize manpower: the franchisee only have to focus on business operations. The rest like strategies, marketing process†¦ will be built and transferred to franchisee by franchisor * Easy to borrow money from banks: Because franchise system was proven to be the safest business system. Therefore, it is easier for franchisees to ask money from banks Objectives Short-term: Assert brand of Starbucks coffee in HCM city area. Try to lead Starbucks to become a familiar brand in customer mind Long-term: Create a unique coffee culture of Starbucks in VN. Lead Starbuck brand become a standard for coffee in Vietnam Target market and location Target market Based on our franchising strategy, our objectives in long term and short term, Starbucks will target consumers between the age of 18-50, with a specific concentration on officers and businessman. Demographic Age: 18-50. Gender: Male and Female Income: Average to high income Occupation: Businessman, officers, students, intelligentsia Psychographic: Life Style: For those who have deep experience about coffee People who want to choose for themselves some products that have brand name that show their levels. For people who value quality and service above money People who want to enjoy Starbucks coffee’s culture Location Follow our objectives in short term and long term. Starbucks’s stores have to occur densely in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in: Main streets and main districts where have high living. Plazas and buildings Big universities, especially international universities through Starbucks’s stalls (Most of them serve take-away coffee only) Analyze Environment in VietNam Social and Cultural Environment General View On the basis of study and observation of the rapid development of Vietnamese societal life in recent decades, this text tries to suggest a global view on the cultural environment in Vietnam – the country which is still poor, but which nonetheless has got rather high indexes of life expectancy and education. Cultural environment in Vietnam nowadays is fine, fair, and healthy. However, the cultural environment in Vietnam is now unprecedentedly rich, complicated, and fraught with plenty of implicit problems. Vietnam has three main advantages: Firstly, a suitable model of development; secondly, political and social stability; and thirdly, a nationwide strong will for progress, with 82 million inhabitants, among whom 2/3 are young people. 3. Business Environment in Vietnam a. Macro Environment in Vietnam Economic Factors. Ho Chi Minh City’s per capita income has doubled the figure of the whole country; a recent survey by the HCMC Institute for Development Studies has showed. The first-ever survey on the income and living standards of HCMC households was conducted in 12 districts, with 720 questionnaires released. The survey revealed Ho Chi Minh City’s per capita income has increased over the past years to US$2,500, compared to the whole country’s $1,200. However, the average income of the rich is seven times higher than that of the poor in Ho Chi Minh City, according to the survey. HCMC is now home to 80,000 poor households, a Wednesday conference co-hosted by the HCMC Institute for Development Studies and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) was told. A poor household is defined as having the per capita income of VND12 million ($650). Only 24. 3 percent of Ho Chi Minh City residents feel â€Å"satisfied† with their income, according to the survey. Ho Chi Minh City dwellers spend half of their income on food, and 20 percent of their income on education, the survey says. There an average 4. 6 members in a household in HCMC; the number of people of working age makes up around 70 percent of the total population, the survey says. Vietnam defines a person of working age as aged between 18 and 60 for males and 18 to 55 for females. The southern hub’s unemployment rate is 4. 5 percent, according to the survey. It also says only around half of HCMC households have been living in the city for less than 25 years; meanwhile, the number of migrants within the past 10 years is increasing.

Why do people start their own business

Why do people start their own  business There are many reasons why people want to start their own business(es). The most obviously reason is about making money, which is translated into making a better life for himself/herself and also the family. However, studies have shown that some people start their own businesses for other reasons as well. Some do it for the time that they will have to share with those closest to them. If one is an employee, his time is controlled and dictated by this job. There are times when his child is sick, or he needs to send his wife for a medical checkup. Unless he takes a day off, and provided that his boss approves his day off, he is stuck. However, having ones own business, he is also the boss. So, who is the boss to say he cannot take 2 hours off to run a family errand. People like to be recognized for their achievements. But by whos standard? In an organization (it is even worse when the organization is big), many employees achievements are overlooked and made to look like as if they are something employees were paid to do anywhere. However, when   a mistake is done, the repercussions are big. Have you heard the saying that Being an employee is a thankless job. When you do right, your boss does not see. When you do wrong, the entire organization talks about it. With businesses, there are opportunities to grow, to broaden the mind, to meet more people. Do you know why so many people meet and marry their spouses from the organization? That is because they never get to meet anybody else outside the organization. At times, these may not be the best match, but there is very limited choice. Employees circles of friends seemed to be limited people at work and maybe people from church. After a while, the circles may even shrink. Why? Well, people move on, especially those who have started owning their own business. Now, I do believe that it is a basic human desire to be able to help others, whether financially or otherwise. That is why those in need of financial assistance will always make a plea via the   public media as the donations just keeps pouring in. Have you ever felt frustrated that you are not able to chip in more because your own finances are not much better, perhaps. That is why many people have started their business based on this purpose and desire to help others. Free Brian Tracy Video There are perhaps a lot of other reasons why people want to start their own businesses. Wanting to start is a common desire but knowing how to do it is a whole new ball game. Then comes the obstacles of starting a business so of which are:- No Time No Money No Network No Product And the list goes on. Yeah, there are many businesses out there where it does take a lot of time to start, heavy financial investments, no special unique products which are not already sold in the market and nobody to sell it to. Would you be interested if there was a business out there where you choose the amount of time you want to put into the business, very little money down, excellent products and a mentor who will guide you to building the network that you want and need for your business? If you are, then this is just the business for you. This is the perfect business to start you on your dream of owning your own business. Give yourself this one chance.. go and have a look at this opportunity. Why Do People Start their own  Business Q1.2: The Seven Pitfalls of Business Failure Summary: When youre starting a new business, the last thing you want to focus on is failure. But if you address the common reasons for failure up front, youll be much less likely to fall victim to them yourself. Here are the top 7 reasons why businesses fail and tips for avoiding them. The latest statistics from the Small Business Administration (SBA) show that two-thirds of new employer establishments survive at lease two years, and 44 percent survive at least four years. This is a far cry from the previous long-held belief that 50 percent of businesses fail in the first year and 95 percent fail within five years. Brian Head, Economist with the SBA Office of Advocacy, noted that the latest statistics are a much more accurate assessment of new business success rates, and that as a general rule of thumb, new employer businesses have a 50/50 chance of surviving for five years or more. Better success rates notwithstanding, a significant percentage of new businesses do fail. Expert opinions abound about what a business owner should and shouldnt do to keep a new business afloat in the perilous waters of the entrepreneurial sea. There are, however, key factors that if not avoided will be certain to weigh down a business and possibly sink it forevermore. 1. You start your business for the wrong reasons. Would the sole reason you would be starting your own business be that you would want to make a lot of money? Do you think that if you had your own business that youd have more time with your family? Or maybe that you wouldnt have to answer to anyone else? If so, youd better think again. On the other hand, if you start your business for these reasons, youll have a better chance at entrepreneurial success You have a passion and love for what youll be doing, and strongly believe based on educated study and investigation that your product or service would fulfill a real need in the marketplace. You are physically fit and possess the needed mental stamina to withstand potential challenges. Often overlooked, less-than-robust health has been responsible for more than a few bankruptcies. You have drive, determination, patience and a positive attitude. When others throw in the towel, you are more determined than ever. Failures dont defeat you. You learn from your mistakes, and use these lessons to succeed the next time around. Head, SBA economist, noted that studies of successful business owners showed they attributed much of their success to building on earlier failures; on using failures as a learning process. You thrive on independence, and are skilled at taking charge when a creative or intelligent solution is needed. This is especially important when under strict time constraints. You like if not love your fellow man, and show this in your honesty, integrity, and interactions with others. You get along with and can deal with all different types of individuals. 2. Poor Management Many a report on business failures cites poor management as the number one reason for failure. New business owners frequently lack relevant business and management expertise in areas such as finance, purchasing, selling, production, and hiring and managing employees. Unless they recognize what they dont do well, and seek help, business owners may soon face disaster. They must also be educated and alert to fraud, and put into place measures to avoid it. Neglect of a business can also be its downfall. Care must be taken to regularly study, organize, plan and control all activities of its operations. This includes the continuing study of market research and customer data, an area which may be more prone to disregard once a business has been established. A successful manager is also a good leader who creates a work climate that encourages productivity. He or she has a skill at hiring competent people, training them and is able to delegate. A good leader is also skilled at strategic thinking, able to make a vision a reality, and able to confront change, make transitions, and envision new possibilities for the future. 3. Insufficient Capital A common fatal mistake for many failed businesses is having insufficient operating funds. Business owners underestimate how much money is needed and they are forced to close before they even have had a fair chance to succeed. They also may have an unrealistic expectation of incoming revenues from sales. It is imperative to ascertain how much money your business will require; not only the costs of starting, but the costs of staying in business. It is important to take into consideration that many businesses take a year or two to get going. This means you will need enough funds to cover all costs until sales can eventually pay for these costs. 4. Location, Location, Location Your college professor was right location is critical to the success of your business. Whereas a good location may enable a struggling business to ultimately survive and thrive, a bad location could spell disaster to even the best-managed enterprise. Some factors to consider: Where your customers are Traffic, accessibility, parking and lighting Location of competitors Condition and safety of building Local incentive programs for business start-ups in specific targeted areas The history, community flavor and receptiveness to a new business at a prospective site 5. Lack of Planning Anyone who has ever been in charge of a successful major event knows that were it not for their careful, methodical, strategic planning and hard work success would not have followed. The same could be said of most business successes. It is critical for all businesses to have a business plan. Many small businesses fail because of fundamental shortcomings in their business planning. It must be realistic and based on accurate, current information and educated projections for the future. Components may include: Description of the business, vision, goals, and keys to success Work force needs Potential problems and solutions Financial: capital equipment and supply list, balance sheet, income statement and cash flow analysis, sales and expense forecast Analysis of competition Marketing, advertising and promotional activities Budgeting and managing company growth In addition, most bankers request a business plan if you are seeking to secure addition capital for your company. 6. Overexpansion A leading cause of business failure, overexpansion often happens when business owners confuse success with how fast they can expand their business. A focus on slow and steady growth is optimum. Many a bankruptcy has been caused by rapidly expanding companies. At the same time, you do not want to repress growth. Once you have an established solid customer base and a good cash flow, let your success help you set the right measured pace. Some indications that an expansion may be warranted include the inability to fill customer needs in a timely basis, and employees having difficulty keeping up with production demands. If expansion is warranted after careful review, research and analysis, identify what and who you need to add in order for your business to grow. Then with the right systems and people in place, you can focus on the growth of your business, not on doing everything in it yourself. 7. No Website Simply put, if you have a business today, you need a website. Period. In the U.S. alone, the number of internet users (about 70 percent of the population) and e-commerce sales (about 70 billion in 2004, according to the Census Bureau) continue to rise and are expected to increase with each passing year. In 2004, the U.S. led the world in internet usage. At the very least, every business should have a professional looking and well-designed website that enables users to easily find out about their business and how to avail themselves of their products and services. Later, additional ways to generate revenue on the website can be added; i.e., selling ad space, drop-shipping products, or recommending affiliate products. Remember, if you dont have a website, youll most likely be losing business to those that do. And make sure that website makes your business look good, not bad you want to increase revenues, not decrease them. When it comes to the success of any new business, you the business owner are ultimately the secret to your success. For many successful business owners, failure was never an option. Armed with drive, determination, and a positive mindset, these individuals view any setback as only an opportunity to learn and grow. Most self-made millionaires possess average intelligence. What sets them apart is their openness to new knowledge and their willingness to learn whatever it takes to succeed. http://www.businessknowhow.com/startup/business-failure.htm Q1.3: Important Factors in Setting Up a Business Setting up a new business takes imagination, research, analytical skill, time and money. Whether you buy an existing business or start a new one from scratch, the steps you take must have a structure that, formed comprehensively and executed cleanly and efficiently, give you the best likelihood of succeeding. You should create a feasibility study and business plan that you can present to advisers and funding sources, whether theyre loan officers or potential investors, that offers dispassionate analysis and displays your enthusiasm for the project. Imagination Maybe you have an idea for a new business, or there may be an interesting business for sale in your area. Either way, its critical that you see the potential and risks to help inform your decisions as you move forward. Your community may lack a certain retail or service business, or there may be a business for sale that you believe you could sustain and improve. You might have ideas that would lead you to build a business that competes with a similar one, believing you can provide higher quality products, more variety or better and/or faster service. If you a need for a business and believe it could work, its just a matter of finding a client base to satisfy. Research A feasibility study reveals, in statistical data, the size of your potential customer or client base. State governments put great volumes of demographic data on their economic development websites, so you can gather counts of individuals, numbers of households, age brackets, education and income levels and other demographic informationall identifiable by zip code, county and community. If your idea involves school children, you can find data relative to student enrollments by age, gender and school district, for public, private, parochial and home-schooled children. Specific state agencies have data on preschool children, children in foster care and those who are otherwise wards of the state, as well as all manner of data on seniors and incarcerated individuals. Analytical Skill Once youve gathered sufficient data about your potential trade area, you should estimate how many people and geographies dont fit your model. For example, your bicycle shop might find many more customers in a community in the central plains states, where the topography is relatively flat, than in downtown San Francisco, which is full of very steep hills. In addition, some communities advertise themselves as being bicycle-friendly. Your demographic data might suggest that opening a day care business in a predominantly retirement-aged community is a bad idea because there are not enough children to support your operating expenses. Use conservative estimates to determine your potential market and market share. Loan officers and potential investors want certainty that you havent padded the numbers to increase revenue projections, so be prepared to defend your numbers. Business Plan Write a comprehensive business plan that includes sections on management (your experience and fitness for the specific effort you propose), operations (how youll actually conduct the business), marketing (how youll reach your target audience) and key advisers and staff (where will you get the human capital to ensure success). Your plan should also include data from the feasibility study that supports your estimates of market share and the time line to profitability. Again, use conservative estimates of revenues and liberal estimates of expenses. Funding sources will want confidence that youve thought things through carefully and thoroughly. Time Frame You may have the luxury to work full-time on your project, but if you have a day job that requires your attention then youll have to set aside evening and weekend hours to set up your business. Getting permits, licenses, FDA approval and patents take time. You might get a building permit or a business license in a few days, but FDA approval for a food or cosmetic product can take years. Patent research in the hands of a dedicated patent attorney takes time and can be expensiveas much as $30,000 or more. The same holds true if youre renovating a property and your new effort requires an architects stamp, which might cost 10 percent of the construction cost. Simply put, plan on having your project take more time than you originally thought. Funding Sources You may start your business with your own funds, then get support from friends and family. The next layer of funding can be a bank or Small Business Administration loan. SBA funding typically tops out at $150,000. Beyond that there are angel investors, who are individuals of means who take financial risks with entrepreneurs in return for an expected high return on their investment (ROI). If your project requires large sums of investment money, you may be able to find venture capital called professional money with a solid, conservative business plan. Venture capital money requires a very high ROI, though, because of the great risk of failure among start-up businesses. Tax increment financing (TIF) funds help entrepreneurs rehabilitate distressed properties in certain communities. While TIF funds are set up as loans, some, most or all of the funding can be forgiven if the entrepreneur and the new business satisfy certain requirements, such as creating a certain number of jobs. Other Considerations and Resources Along the way, youll probably need the advice and counsel of an accountant, attorney, contractor or architect. The SBA has offices in most major cities and a number of medium-sized ones as well. Become familiar with the National Business Incubator Association (NBIA). Incubators provide physical space and certain amenitiesperhaps phone, fax, copy and Internet serviceat no or minimal cost. They can provide access to consulting, accounting, legal and other resources, again at zero or minimal cost. They may charge a modest rent or take an equity position in your new company. In some cases the incubator may take a royalty or share in your licensing revenues. Learn about the Kauffman Foundation, a comprehensive resource for entrepreneurs. http://www.ehow.com/about_5382205_important-factors-setting-up-business.htm Q1.4: 5 Resources You Need To Succeed To Start A Business Anyone can start a business. But to start a business that succeeds and continues to flourish isnt so easy. According to Statistics Canada, at least half the new companies in Canada go out of business before their third anniversary, and one in four new enterprises dont survive longer than one year. If youre going to start a business that has staying power, there are five resources that you must have in place before you open your literal or figurative doors. To turn a start up venture into a successful business, you must: Fully Commit Successful entrepreneurs are people who are fully committed to their business ventures. You have to be prepared to put your heart and soul into what youre doing. You have to truly believe in your product or service, and be prepared to work long hours to get others to believe in your product or service, too. You have to be ready to go without treats such as holidays, and even necessities such as salary, for what may seem like an endless stretch of time. And you have to do all this without the safety net that salaried employees are used to, such as benefits and pension plans. Be a Type D People commit themselves to all kinds of things; causes, hobbies, other people. Just being able to make a commitment doesnt automatically lead to business success. If youre going to get where you want to go in business, and start a business that will endure, you also have to be what I call a Type D person; someone who has desire coupled with drive, with strong discipline and determination. You have to not only have the business ideas, but be able to execute them. Successful business people are tenacious; obstacles are temporary barriers to work around. They may take No for an answer, but only for as long as it takes them to reframe the question from another angle and ask again. But desire and drive alone are not enough to start a business; you dont want your business to be a temporary comet streaking across the sky. Discipline and determination are what give successful business people the endurance to follow through on their business ideas, and weather the storms and calms of the economic climate. Knowledge is another resource you need to have in place before you start a business. Continue on to the next page to learn what types of knowledge and skills you must have if you want to start a business with staying power. Get The Business Knowledge You Need Many people have tried to start their own businesses without bothering to acquire the business knowledge they need to make their business a success and their businesses have failed. To start a business, you have to be knowledgeable about many different aspects of business and have many different skillsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ or at least have done the research to find and hire the people who have the skills you lack. If you arent knowledgeable enough about accounting to keep your own books, for instance, youre going to need to hire a bookkeeper and/or an accountant. If your business is Internet-based, youd be wise to hire a company to design your web site and handle the back end, unless you personally are an expert in site development. When youre creating your business plan, one of your first steps needs to be a frank assessment of your skills and expertise. What aspects of the business are you qualified or willing to handle, and which aspects will necessitate either more learning on your part or calling in outside help? Managing people is only one skill set youre going to need to start a business thats going to be successful. You also need to be knowledgeable about sales and marketing.  For example, suppose youve developed a better mousetrap. Who are your competitors? What are the mousetraps theyre offering like and how are they priced? What makes your mousetrap better? Is there even a need for a better mousetrap out there? Where is out there? Do you have the skills needed to identify and contact customers? Are you good at selling mousetraps? Can you develop a feasible marketing plan and promotional material? And what about business operations? Do you have the business knowledge to manage inventory and fill orders? Where all you going to store all your mousetraps and how are you going to get them to your customers? Have you found the suppliers you need and developed relationships with them? Have you set up a customer support policy? Business knowledge before you start a business is critical. All the drive and determination in the world isnt going to help you if you dont have the knowledge to actually run a successful business and dont bother to research and plan for your success appropriately. A friend of mine had long dreamed of opening a bookstore. So he did. Unfortunately, he hadnt bothered to study the competition or the demographics of the market in the area. It took less than a year for his bookstore to fail. He had the desire and the drive, but didnt have the knowledge he needed to apply them. So lets assume that you are a Type D Personality with all the business knowledge necessary to start a business. Are you a shoo-in for success? Not unless you have the money you need to start a business. Continue on to the next page to learn about finding start up money. Find Adequate Business Start Up Money Unless you personally have deep pockets, such as inherited wealth, figuring out where youre going to get the money to start your own business and getting the financing in place beforehand is going to be one of the most important components of planning your business. Finding adequate business start up money is especially critical because theres no guarantee that your business is going to make money right away, and certainly no guarantee that your new business will bring in enough money for you and your family to live on. You cant start a business without start-up capital, the total amount of money you need to open your doors for business, and to keep them open until sufficient revenue can be depended on. Youre also going to need operating capital to start a business, the amount of money it takes to keep the business going. Operating capital includes expenses such as salaries, wages, rent, expenses, supplies, utilities, advertising, depreciation, and interest payments. Small business advisors recommend that start-up expenses include at least six months operating capital. If you dont have deep pockets of your own, where do you get the business start-up money you need? According to a 1998 study of small- and medium-sized enterprises by Thompson Lightstone and Company, fifty percent of small- and medium-sized business owners report that they currently borrow from a financial institution, such as a bank. Twelve percent of SMEs finance their companies through private loans from friends or relatives and three percent by loans from non-related individuals. Forty-one percent use personal credit cards to finance their businesses. Personal assets, such as savings, (including RRSPs, pension funds, severance allowances), remortgaging property, credit cards, and personal property, are the most common initial source of business start up money for small businesses. This may be because people starting new businesses have no alternative; if you dont have much collateral or an established credit history, getting a small business loan can be difficult. (See my article, How To Get A Small Business Loan, to learn how to increase your chances of making a successful small business loan application.) In Right From Home: How To Start a Successful Home-Based Business, Barbara Mowat and Ted James state that money borrowed from family, relatives and friends makes up more than fifty percent of the loans to home-based businesses. They advise avoiding misunderstandings and bad feelings by always getting agreements about loans in writing and making sure that all loans are set up with proper security, any terms or conditions, and a payment schedule. This is sound advice to follow whenever you borrow money. What else do you need to start a business with staying power? Support. Click to continue reading The last of the five resources you must have to start a business that will be successful is a good support system. When youre thinking of business support, look first to the home front. Its no coincidence that most successful small business operators are married. While we like to talk about going it alone and running our own show, you cant start and run a successful small business without the support of other people. And who better than a supportive spouse to listen to your ideas or problems, and provide the encouragement or advice that keeps you going? In Entrepreneurship: A Profile For Canadians, (available from the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education), William E. Jennings points out that the successful entrepreneur usually has an exceptionally supportive spouse. He adds that these exceptional spouses dont just provide love and stability, but also specific support for the business, such as helping to provide the capital needed to start a business, or working in the company without pay to keep costs down. Spouses who contribute financially by working outside the business are also a common small business scenario. Having a supportive spouse is especially critical if you want to start a home-based business. As Barbara Mowat and Ted James say, in reality, you dont start a home business, your whole household does (Right From Home; Starting A Successful Home-Based Business).  You cant start a home-based business without considering what your family members think about the idea, what role(s) your family members might play in your business, and how your business is going to affect your home life. Without the active support of your family, your home-based business will fail. Talk out these issues beforehand and explore how supportive your family is before you start a business. Other business people are another valuable source of business support. No matter what kind of business youre thinking of starting, someone has been there and done that. Talking to other business people who have already established a successful business can go a long way towards avoiding pitfalls and provide insight into what works and what doesnt. Ive always found that other business people are willing to share their knowledge with others; if you cant find someone locally to talk to, theres a ever-growing network of business communities online (like this one!) where you can get the information you need, and sometimes good advice, too. Youre always welcome to post your questions and comments on the Small Business Canada forum. And my Business Support library has links to Canadian organizations where you can get advice, find a mentor, or just talk to someone. Q1.5:

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are Not Evil Essay -- GCSE Coursework Macbeth

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are Not Evil Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are good people with poor judgment. It is unfair for Malcolm to describe them as "this dead butcher and his fiend - like queen". In the beginning they are a respected couple sharing a loving relationship. Their downfall is not due to evil, but caused by their ambition for Macbeth, sparked by the witches' prophecy. Macbeth's indecision on whether or not to kill Duncan, and Lady Macbeth's begging of the spirits to take away her feminine qualities, demonstrate that ruthlessness does not come easily to them. Macbeth is a Scottish nobleman and important kinsman of King Duncan, whose devising and heroic leadership of a winning tactic in a battle show his talent, courage and loyalty to his country. He is well respected, and after his feat of braveness, Duncan believes him worthy to receive the title of Thane of Cawdor, which is a huge honour to Macbeth. The problem with this, though, is that it helps to spark his ambition, which, we find later, is his tragic flaw. Lady Macbeth is a loyal wife with ambitions for her husband. She believes that Macbeth deserves to be King, but thinks that he is too nice to do anything about it. She does not think that he could kill Duncan on his own. She is supportive of Macbeth, and is willing to do what she can to help him get what he wants. She is basically a caring and loving person, though, so she pleads with the Spirits to take away her tenderness and femininity and make her ruthless: " Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top full of direst cruelty." (I.v.38-41). This evidence on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth proves that, at the beginning of the play, they are bo... ...omen Reading Shakespeare 1660-1900. Ann Thompson and Sasha Roberts, eds. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1997. Knights, L.C. "Macbeth." Shakespeare: The Tragedies. A Collectiion of Critical Essays. Alfred Harbage, ed. Englewwod Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964. Mack, Maynard. Everybody's Shakespeare: Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press, 1993. Schlegel, August Wilhelm. Criticism on Shakespeare s Tragedies . A Course of Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. London: AMS Press, Inc., 1965. Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992. Steevens, George. Shakespeare, The Critical Heritage. Vol. 6. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1981. Wills, Gary. Lady Macbeth and Evil. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Euro Disney Intercultural Management

Disney Corporation faced lots of problems when launching Euro Disneyland in Paris. Most of them were caused by poor research of the European market, European people’s traits and habits. Question 1: What could have been the reason why guests were spending less and leaving sooner? Disney Corporation expected that people will spend a lot of time and money in Euro Disney Park, however in reality they leave sooner and spend less money than was expected, and it causes big losses.The main reason of it can be explained by Geert Hofstede?s dimension about time-orientation which is very similar to Fons Trompenaar?s time-orientation dimension. As USA is considered to be short-term-oriented country, while European countries are long-term-oriented people spend money differently. Europeans are likely to save money, save it for the future, not to spend big sums of money in short period, but US citizens can often spend a lot easily, and they are not likely to save money. Additionally, America ns did not count with the importance of culture for the average European citizen.When visiting Paris, thousand years of history surrounds you. To the American, whose country is only a few hundred years old, the perception of spending your holiday does not likely include sightseeing. But when a European visits Paris, they will surely spend part of their holiday to discover one of the most famous and historical cities in Europe. Evidently they will spend less time in Disneyland, there is much else to see. Question 2: When reading the description of some of the critical aspects, what could have been the major problems and how could they be solved?From the beginning Disney Corporation applied universalistic approach. As Disney’s community relation manager said: â€Å"we knew it would work because it had worked everywhere else†. They wanted that everything in this new Disney Park in Paris was as it is in USA because they already had experience of applying the same method in Japan. And in Japan it was successful; however it didn’t work in Europe. Probably, it was not a good idea for European Disneyland, since French and all Europeans are different from U. S. people by mentality; they have other habits, which effect European customers’ behavior.To solve this problem Fons Trompenaar’s dimension about universalistic and particularistic approach can be used. As it was necessary from Disney Corporation to apply particularistic approach instead of universalistic, so they could make research before launching the park. Disney Corporation made all the same settings as they open new Disneyland in U. S. , so French citizens considered it as Americans’ desire to create a piece of USA on their land. In order not to have this problem Disney Corporation could know just one most wide-spread stereotype about France that French are proud people.They are a nation that works hard to preserve their culture. Tourists often complain that they donà ¢â‚¬â„¢t speak English with them even if they know the language. They actively discourage the Anglicization of the French language, the primary objective of L'Academie francaise is to preserve the language. So it was obvious that French people will not welcome freely Americanization of their holidays on their land. If Disney Corporation just showed respect and add a bit of French traditional, cultural features, then French people would not perceive Disney as threat.Moreover, it could attract more customers exactly to Paris Euro Disneyland, as they can find here some special things which they were not able to find in other Disneyland. One more major reason of Disney Corporation failure in France can be explained by Fons Trompenaar’s Nature Orientation dimension. As U. S. A. is rather internal country the corporation could believe that everything depends on them, they thought they could force Europeans to spend money. It can be prove by Disney’s community relations manag er: â€Å"We are so good, nothing can stop us†.Disney Corporation staff believed that if they create proper conditions, if they find, train good personnel – European customers will increase their expenditures and will stay late in the park. However, there are things which were not under Corporation control, for example, habit of Europeans to economize money is stronger than desire to spend more money in short-period. There is only one way to solve these kinds of problems, just to pay attention to them, be careful to consumers’ behavior, to be really customer-driven company.Question 3: What assumptions did Disney make about the French and Europeans (as guests and consumers)? How might Disney have had a more favorable initial experience in France? The Disney Corporation assumed that all Europeans, as a â€Å"civilized West† are very similar to Americans, that European customers will behave the same way as Americans. And even if they have different way of va cations, they assumed that Disney will be able to Americanize Europeans’ vacation habits, what could entertain American families would satisfy European families as well.Disney Corporation thought that what they created in Paris is something immortal and has enough to keep families happily there for a week. But thanks to Europeans’ cultural features, it is a safe bet that what American culture could offer would not be enough for them in many aspects. A civilization so deeply affected by their thousand year culture has different expectations. In addition chicken nuggets, hot dogs and fries might be somewhat standard fair in America but in Europe food is to be enjoyed and savored and one tends to linger over a meal as opposed to eat as quickly as possible.Disney could have had a more favorable initial experience had they have prepared some market research. They would have found that the country has very different working standards. France has a lot smaller Power Distance than that in USA, additionally they are proud people, they must have taken it really bad when everything was prescribed to the last detail and they secretly kept a close watch over their work. In order to operate such a large and prestigious theme park with thousands of employees and millions of visitors, it’s inevitable to find out the expectations by both labor and customer side.Strategies to transfer a successful business concept from one culture to another An important lesson to be learned is to always take cultural features into consideration. It is the base of good cross-cultural relationships both inside and outside of the corporation. Our success greatly relies on our customers’ judgement and our employees’ loyalty, which depend on managing cultural differences. It can be done in several ways, but the first step is always to examine and evaluate the country’s cultural dimensions.Then we can move on to the next step: If it suits the country of dest ination (=CoD), leadership and most decisions can be defined by the country of origin (=CoO) (if the CoD has high PDI and UAI, Communitarianist and Specific, Achievement oriented†¦), or CoO has to let local leadership make short- and medium-term decisions (low PDI, high Masculinity, Individualist and Emotional†¦) Same market/customer approach can be applied if the CoD’s cultural dimension indexes are about the same as the CoO’s – translation check must be done.There is no point in changing the image if our brand is already widely known and accepted, but needs a new type of approach if the CoO’s cultural values don’t match the CoD’s values. Generally neighbour countries are likely to share the same values because they root from a mutual history. Product placement – we have to find out about the CoD’s Time Orientation and Nature Orientation in order to get a correct picture: what do our employees and customers expect of our product?What alteration must be done to keep our employees and customers satisfied and our business profitable? The answer is simple – if the CoD has high Long-Term Orientation and Nature Orientation, then we must plan our product to be economical, nature-friendly and our company will produce lower but more sustainable profit. If it’s indexes are low, we are facing a short but rapid profit attainment, and our products â€Å"go out of fashion† quickly.

THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ essays

THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ essays In the Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Mordecai Richler clearly intends to portray his main character as a failure. Duddy understands perfectly well that a man must pursue his dreams, which is why he is one of the most motivated young man of his time. From the moment Duddy hears his grandfather say, "A man without land is nobody, he is prepared to seek the land of his dreams. This aspiration of Duddys is very respectable, but unfortunately his methods are totally inappropriate, and that leads to him being a failure. The moment that Duddy began to immerse himself into the establishment of his film company, it could be seen that he was willing to do anything to get money, even if he had to lie. For example, the film Duddy made for the bar mitzvah was of extremely poor quality, and as a result, the product was an obvious failure. Duddy himself knew that well: Duddy didnt say a word all though the screening but afterwards he was sick to his stomach. (Page 148). Later, Duddy said to Mr. Friar: I could sell Mr. Cohn a dead horse easier then this pile of _ (page 148). After this particular incident, Duddy does not even speak honestly to his clients. In conclusion, the only way Duddy sells his waste films is by telling lies. He always lies to gain money, and thats all that Duddy cares about. Duddy has never been loved in his family, so originally he was quite content to know that Yvette cares about him. At the beginning, Yvette and Duddy are in love. Its so nice to see you lie still for once, she said. Your always running or jumping or scratching. Duddy was surprised and flattered to discover that anyone cared enough to watch him so closely. (Page 92) As time passed by, however, Duddy began to use Yvette as a tool. The main reason for that is Duddy was striving to get the land, and since he could not legally own it as a minor...

The Tale of Two Perspectives Professor Ramos Blog

The Tale of Two Perspectives -ABSFreePic.com The Tale of Two Perspectives Many extremely different cultures have been examined across the United States of America for as long as it has existed. Because the country is so large and spread far and wide, it is impossible for there to be only one culture and therefore just one singular way to identify as an American. There have been very many interpretations and perspectives on what it means to be an American. However, many authors have attempted through their writing to express what it means to be an American and how to identify as an American. Through literature, both Carl Sandburg and Jean Toomer contributed to the growth of American identity through their own appreciations of different aspects of that identity, together creating an ultimate definition of an American. Carl Sandburg emphasized a whole American identity while Jean Toomer emphasized a cultural American identity. Carl Sandburg can be seen throughout many of his works to not necessarily encourage any particular American identity in the form of what a person looks like or where they come from (Maas). Sandburg seemed to actually value the way of life of the general American. This general life included working and laboring to build a better life for yourself. This perspective is most likely due to Sandburg’s own experiences throughout his life. He was born in a small, rural house and started working as a very young boy, laboring so that he may create a better life for himself. This perspective of laboring for a better life is obviously represented in his poem â€Å"Chicago.† The very first lines of the poem, Sandburg is naming off different occupations, stating â€Å"Hog Butcher for the World,/ Tool Maker, Stack of Wheat,/ Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler;† (Sandburg 773). By having the list of the different occupations, which are more often than not essential to every day American life, Sandburg is showing his appreciation for labor and those who do it. He is acknowledging the identity of American workers, and expressing that to be American is to work for yourself and work towards the ever attractive American Dream. While Sandburg shows his specific appreciation for laboring in the poem â€Å"Chicago,† he is specifically referring to the city of Chicago. Chicago is often seen as the heart of the United States, as it is a top commerce location and many different people from many different walks of life will flock there. Sandburg is aware of this as he writes â€Å"Chicago.† He shows pride in the city that has become the home of so many people of different standings, pasts, and social statuses. He states in his poem, â€Å"Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so/ proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning† (Sandburg 773). In these two lines, he is stating that because of the many people who live and work in Chicago, there is no other city like it. He is understanding that though everyone in the city may have separate identities, they are one in the same in that they are proud to be where they are, and they are moving on stronger than they were before. With these lines, Sandburg is emphasizing that American identity is not where someone may come from or what they may be, but rather how proud they are to be what they are. Carl Sandburg is seen to show an appreciation for the strength of American people who are able to push through their hardships and come out stronger on the other side. This sentiment is obvious in his poem when says, â€Å"Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth,/ Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs,/ Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle,/ Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse, and under his ribs the heart of the people,/ Laughing!† (Sandburg 774). Through these lines, Sandburg is stating that through every burden a man may face in Chicago, he is able to laugh. Laughing in the face of danger is a common trope seen throughout hardships of history. Sandburg sees the legitimacy in this sentiment, as many people in Chicago have a rough go at it, but are able to survive and come out stronger than they were. This ability to be strong in the face of hardship is one of the major cornerstones of American life, as believed by Carl Sandburg. He is showing that he believes that in order to be an American, you have to be willing to come out of hardships as a stronger and better person. He believes that American identity includes facing hardships head on, and being stronger because of it. Jean Toomer, though he often wrote about the South including in â€Å"Cane† and his excerpt from it â€Å"Georgia Dusk,† he only visited the South twice and was not raised in a rural setting, but in white neighborhoods where he was mostly passing as white (Ramsey). With this in mind, it is interesting that Toomer wrote about the South. However, it can be assumed that because he originally grew up in white American neighborhoods, he aspired to experience and understand the culture of African Americans. This want to appreciate this culture can be seen in â€Å"Georgia Dusk† as Toomer attempts to identify with African Americans in the South. Toomer’s appreciation for the culture can be seen in â€Å"Georgia Dusk† when Toomer says, â€Å"Race memories of king and caravan,/ High-priests, an ostrich, and a juju-man,/ Go singing through the footpaths of the swamp† (Toomer 969). These lines show vivid imagery of the old culture of African Americans before coming to America. By acknowledging this older culture, with some of it still living on in later generations, Toomer is expressing the importance of owning a culture within America. He is showing a belief that in order for one to be an American, they must know their culture and embrace it. Jean Toomer shows a similar interpretation of labor in America to Carl Sandburg, as he acknowledges laboring. Toomer states, â€Å"The sawmill blows its whistle, buzz-saws stop,/ And silence breaks the bud of knoll and hill,/ Soft settling pollen where plowed lands fulfill/ Their early promise of a bumper crop† (Toomer 969). In these lines, Toomer is acknowledging how working will affect those in America. However, Toomer ties in how working affects the culture that he focuses on. While the men are working, he states that, â€Å"Their voices rise†¦ the pine trees are guitars,/ Strumming, pine-needles fall like sheets of rain†¦/ Their voices rise†¦ the chorus of the cane/ Is caroling a vesper to the stars† (Toomer 969). Toomer is expressing that the people are able to incorporate their beloved culture into their very much American laboring. Toomer seems to be emphasizing how versatile America is when it comes to culture, as people are able to work while still observing and expressing their culture. This shows a pride in that culture, as Toomer seems to emphasize. Toomer is focusing on an American identity that shows pride in the culture that one subscribes to. To Toomer, without this pride, one would not be worthy of calling themselves an American, as they would not have any identity to begin with. Carl Sandburg and Jean Toomer through their individual focuses on American identity are able to encompass what it means to be an American. Sandburg touches on the wholeness of American identity and how being American means working for a better life and being proud of how much stronger you can get. Meanwhile, Toomer focuses in â€Å"Georgia Dusk† on the cultural aspect of being American. He shows a belief that being an American means holding on to an original culture and carrying it through to America instead of abandoning it in order to assimilate as an American. He also focuses on the idea that one must have pride in their own culture and have that strong identity with that culture. Through both of these focuses, a more encompassing, yet still specific, definition of American identity can be made. Considering the two perspectives of Carl Sandburg and Jean Toomer, the combined and ultimate definition of American identity would be an identity associated with working hard, having any culture one would like, and having pride in both of those. Since these two authors have penned their respective works, America and Americans have changed drastically. However, both of their perspectives and the combined definition are still able to be held true, though with some societal challenges. The meaning of American has been lost within the last few decades with many social and economic strains. However, this idea of American identity may soon be rediscovered as time marches on. As people begin to regain their sense of pride in who they are, where they come from, and what they believe, the perspectives of both Carl Sandburg and Jean Toomer may soon be rediscovered and reimplemented as the standards of living within the American identity. Maas, David F. â€Å"Using Gs Extension Al Devices to Explore Carl Sandburg’s Poetry.† ETC: A Review of General Semantics, vol. 62, no. 4, Oct. 2005, pp. 411–419. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=a9hAN=18596409site=ehost-live. Ramsey, William M. â€Å"Jean Toomer’s Eternal South.† Southern Literary Journal, vol. 36, no. 1, Fall 2003, pp. 74–89. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1353/slj.2003.0038. Sandburg, Carl. â€Å"Chicago.† The Norton Anthology: American Literature: 1865 to Present, edited by Robert S. Levine, W. W. Norton Company, 2017, pp 773-774. Toomer, Jean. â€Å"Georgia Dusk.† The Norton Anthology: American Literature: 1865 to Present, edited by Robert S. Levine, W. W. Norton Company, 2017, pp 968-969.

Turkey (Meleagris gallapavo) History

Turkey (Meleagris gallapavo) History The turkey (Meleagris gallapavo) was inarguably domesticated in the North American continent, but its specific origins are somewhat problematic. Archaeological specimens of wild turkey have been found in North America that date to the Pleistocene, and turkeys were emblematic of many indigenous groups in North America as seen at sites such as the Mississippian capital of Etowah (Itaba) in Georgia. But the earliest signs of domesticated turkeys found to date appear in Maya sites such as Cob beginning about 100 BCE–100 CE. All modern turkeys are descended from M. gallapavo, the wild turkey having been exported from the Americas to Europe during the 16th century. Turkey Species The wild turkey (M. gallopavo) is indigenous to much of the eastern and southwestern US, northern Mexico, and southeastern Canada. Six subspecies are recognized by biologists: eastern (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), Florida (M. g. osceola), Rio Grande (M.g. intermedia), Merriams (M.g. merriami), Goulds (M.g. mexicana), and southern Mexican (M.g. gallopavo). The differences among them are primarily the habitat in which the turkey is found, but there are minor differences in body size and plumage coloration. Oscellated Turkey (Agriocharis ocellata or Meleagris ocellata). Corbis Documentary / Getty Images The ocellated turkey (Agriocharis ocellata or Meleagris ocellata) is considerably different in size and coloration and thought by some researchers to be a completely separate species. The ocellated turkey has iridescent bronze, green, and blue body feathers, deep red legs, and bright blue heads and necks covered with large orange and red nodules. It is native to the Yucatn peninsula of Mexico and into northern Belize and Guatemala- in a completely different range than wild turkeys- and is today often found wandering in Maya ruins such as Tikal. The ocellated turkey is more resistant to domestication but was among the turkeys kept in pens by the Aztecs as described by the Spanish. Before the Spanish arrived, both wild and ocellated turkeys were brought into co-existence in the Maya region by the extensive trade network.   Turkeys were used by precolumbian North American societies for a number of things: meat and eggs for food, and feathers for decorative objects and clothing. The hollow long bones of turkeys were also adapted for use as musical instruments and bone tools. Hunting wild turkeys could furnish these things as well as domesticated ones, and scholars are attempting to pinpoint the domestication period as when the nice to have became need to have. Turkey Domestication At the time of the Spanish colonization, there were domesticated turkeys both in Mexico among the Aztecs, and in the Ancestral Pueblo Societies (Anasazi) of the southwestern United States. Evidence suggests that the turkeys from the U.S. southwest were imported from Mexico about 300 CE, and perhaps re-domesticated in the southwest about 1100 CE when turkey husbandry intensified. Wild turkeys were found by the European colonists throughout the eastern woodlands. Variations in coloration were noted in the 16th century, and many turkeys were brought back to Europe for their plumage and meat. Archaeological evidence for turkey domestication accepted by scholars includes the presence of turkeys outside of their original habitats, evidence for the construction of pens, and whole turkey burials. Studies of the bones of turkeys found in archaeological sites can also provide evidence. The demography of a turkey bone assemblage, whether the bones include old, juvenile, male, and female turkeys and in what proportion, is key to understanding what a turkey flock might have looked like. Turkey bones with healed long bone fractures and the presence of quantities of eggshell also indicate that turkeys were kept at a site, rather than hunted and consumed. Chemical analyses have been added to the traditional methods of study: stable isotope analysis of both turkey and human bones from a site can assist in identifying the diets of both. Patterned calcium absorption in eggshell has been used to identify when the broken shell came from hatched birds or from raw egg consumption. Turkey Pens: What Does Domestication Mean? Pens to keep turkeys have been identified at Ancestral Pueblo Society Basketmaker sites in Utah, such as Cedar Mesa, an archaeological site which was occupied between 100 BCE and 200 CE (Cooper and colleagues 2016). Such evidence has been used in the past to implicate the domestication of the animals- certainly, such evidence has been used to identify larger mammals such as horses and reindeer. Turkey coprolites indicate that the turkeys at Cedar Mesa were fed maize, but there are few if any cut marks on turkey skeletal material and turkey bones are often found as complete animals. A recent study (Lipe and colleagues 2016) looked at multiple strands of evidence for tending, care, and diet of birds in the US southwest. Their evidence suggests that although a mutual relationship was begun as early as Basketmaker II (about 1 CE), the birds were likely used solely for feathers and not fully domesticated. It wasnt until the Pueblo II period (ca. 1050–1280 CE) that turkeys became an important food source. Trade These ocellated turkeys (Agriocharis ocellata) dont seem very interested in the Maya ruins at Tikal, Guatemala. Christian Kober / robertharding / Getty Images A possible explanation for the presence of turkeys in Basketmaker sites is the long-distance trade system, that captive turkeys were kept within their original habitats in Mesoamerican communities for feathers and may have been traded up into the United States southwest and Mexican northwest, as has been identified for macaws, albeit much later. It is also possible that the Basketmakers decided to keep wild turkeys for their feathers independent of whatever was going on in Mesoamerica. As with many other animal and plant species, domesticating the turkey was a long, drawn-out process, beginning very gradually. Full domestication might have been completed in the US southwest/Mexican northwest only after turkeys became a food source, rather than simply a feather source. Sources Cooper, C., et al. Short-Term Variability of Human Diet at Basketmaker Ii Turkey Pen Ruins, Utah: Insights from Bulk and Single Amino Acid Isotope Analysis of Ha. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 5 (2016): 10-18. Print.Lipe, William D., et al. Cultural and Genetic Contexts for Early Turkey Domestication in the Northern Southwest. American Antiquity 81.1 (2016): 97-113. Print.Sharpe, Ashley E., et al. Earliest Isotopic Evidence in the Maya Region for Animal Management and Long-Distance Trade at the Site of Ceibal, Guatemala. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115.14 (2018): 3605-10. Print.Speller, Camilla F., et al. Ancient Mitochondrial DNA Analysis Reveals Complexity of Indigenous North American Turkey Domestication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107.7 (2010): 2807-12. Print.Thornton, Erin, Kitty F. Emery, and Camilla Speller. Ancient Maya Turkey Husbandry: Testing Theories through Stable Isotope Analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science: R eports 10 (2016): 584-95. Print. Thornton, Erin Kennedy. Introduction to the Special Issue - Turkey Husbandry and Domestication: Recent Scientific Advances. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 10 (2016): 514-19. Print.Thornton, Erin Kennedy, and Kitty F. Emery. The Uncertain Origins of Mesoamerican Turkey Domestication. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory 24.2 (2015): 328-51. Print.

Health Care Policies in a Hospital Unit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health Care Policies in a Hospital Unit - Essay Example This paper will address a required change in billing and retrieving of payment from insurance companies and patients in a hospital unit. In health care, a health policy can be defined as an action that is usually undertaken in order to achieve a certain health care goal within the society (Feldstein, 2011). There are several categories of health policies in the health care system. These policies are usually reviewed in order to improve the services provided through the health care system. The health care policies are aimed at solving or addressing an issue within the health care institutions. Researchers assert that the expenditure in health care is slowly outpacing the GDP in most countries. This paper will employ a possible policy that can address the issue of billing and retrieving of payment from insurance companies and patients in the hospital unit. The creation of a policy usually encompasses three main steps. These steps include the formulation stage, legislative stage and the implementation stage. In the formulation stage, the policies are usually reviewed by professional experts in the medical field. The legislative stage is the most essential phase in the creation of a policy. This is the stage whereby the policy is enacted through the support of the legislators (Feldstein, 2011). Lastly, the implementation stage is the last stage whereby the intervention of the policy is performed. In this case, the predicament lies within the billing department which also deals with retrieving of funds from insurance companies. The payment system in a health care institution deals with processing the payments for the services offered in the health care institution. In order for the health care institutions to address this predicament, they should apply the pay per performance policy. This policy is one of the emerging trends in health insurance (Forman, 2008).

Technologies and Predictions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Technologies and Predictions - Essay Example This has actually created a heated debate amongst technicians and experts regarding the future of technologies. The prime objective of this essay is to explore and analyze the future predictions and developments in the technology. However, this essay has narrowed its focus on three particular technologies of television, robotics, and electric cars. Starting with a brief introduction of each technology, the essay will present the predictions; explain the basis of these predictions followed by the impacts of these technological developments. According to Britannica encyclopedia, â€Å"television is an electronic system for transmitting still or moving images and sound to receivers that project a view of the images on a picture tube or screen and recreate the sound† (Jensen & Toscan, pp. 41-49, 1999). Without any doubts, most of the 20th century was the century of television because the impact it created was beyond the thoughts and expectations of anyone. The first televisions used the cathode ray tube technology, received analog signals, and were monochrome. However, it was during the mid 1900’s when color television came into the market. Likewise, since the 1990’s it have been the high definition televisions (HDTV), flat panel display systems and 3D television systems, which have ruled the scene. There is a lot of buzz in the market regarding the new technological development in this field called as organic light emitting diode (OLED) which is ready and about to land in the markets. The next few years, this technology would probably rule the market. Made from organic polymers and having a thin conductor in between. Moreover, they do not need backlights to form the image, which means that their size is the thinnest in the market and so flexible that one can even roll it like a T-shirt. Another development that the market is long

Influnce of Confucianism on Ancient China Society Essay

Influnce of Confucianism on Ancient China Society - Essay Example Based on his teachings, China later on went on to develop Confucianism, an ethical and philosophical system, which preaches about the importance of morality and other virtues like righteousness and honesty in one’s life (Lefande, pp. 1–10). People often refer to Confucianism as a religion since many people employ it as a sound ideology in their lives and govern their actions and decisions according to it. This ethical system or religion promoted a society where every person prioritizes the advancement of his or her personal virtue. Selflessness and honesty are amongst the few characteristics, which Confucianism holds in high esteem and promotes as ideals necessary for a healthy flourishing society. It believes that the best individual is the most ethically and morally sound individual (Hoobler and Hoobler, pp. 60). The influence of these teachings were spread widely even outside China. â€Å"They influenced the cultures and governments of Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and several other East Asian countries† (Lefande, pp. 1–10). This influence lasted centuries after the era of Confucius, and are venerated by people all over the world even now. However, to understand the true effect of Confucianism, one must analyze the effect it had on East Asia in the centuries that immediately followed the era of Confucius. The Influences on Society and Government One of the main reasons why Confucianism was so influential among East Asia was because it was based on ancient Chinese values, which are respected and in some cases shared by other countries in East Asia (Lefande, pp. 1–10). These include the mandate of heaven, veneration of ancestors, spirits, and rituals which China’s cultural heritage is based upon. Also, since it promoted a virtuous character for all people, not matter what stage of life they were at, it gained popularity as the people saw it as a reasonable system according to which they could live. People belonging to higher tiers of society would use the principles taught by Confucianism such as loyalty, honesty, and selflessness to boost their image in the public as well as to train them in order to gain positions in the government. This affected the government, as the people wishing to become a part of it would do so by improving themselves on moral grounds, thus making themselves examples for others to follow and desirable leaders (Lefande, pp. 1–10). This also had a similar effect on lower rungs of society, such as peasants and farmers. The principles of morality and virtue also became famous amongst them as they learned that following these principles was beneficial to them not only on an individual and on a family level, but also immensely improved the society as a whole. With such desirable results and influences, this religion quickly spread over China as well as several other East Asian countries. It was so well adapted into the culture of the Chinese that even today; the Chines e have taken their culture with them. Places dominated by a Chinese population such as Singapore also stand heavily influenced by the teachings of Confucianism today. Another way in which Confucianism had a major effect on government as well as society of China was through its promotion of education. According to the principles taught by Confucius, it helped polish the character of a person if he or she gained a proper education. This was one of the

NIST 800-64 rev2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NIST 800-64 rev2 - Essay Example The problem I choose to discuss is poor communication between the employers and employees. In managing IT systems and their progress, an Information system security process is put in place to help identify risks, plan and mitigate problems that may arise at the workplace. Implementing a risk management – based approach serves to integrate security systems throughout the agency. However, throughout the system and its working, communication plays a major role in how well everything is understood and implemented in order to ensure high productivity with lesser number of problems. Communication is an indispensable part of any organization because its success or failure depends a lot on it. One of the critical assets of any organization is proper communication between employers and employees as well as among the management and workers. Proper communication helps to instill integrity and solidarity among the workers and helps them to focus better on the goal ahead. System managers c an make use of good communication as a tool to build strong relationships not only among the workers but also the clients that deal with them. Proper communication is a fundamental asset for decision – making, negotiation, implementation and assessment of the whole developmental process. One of the dilemmas that could arise in the workplace is miscommunication that leads to anger, fear, mistrust and lack of understanding among the parties involved. This problem is quite evident especially within a multicultural organization. The five phases such as Initiation, Development, Implementation, Operation and Disposal that contributes towards the smooth working and productivity of the organization could be hampered if there is no proper communication among its staff and workers. In implementing and executing a risk management based approach, it is both crucial and vital to help employees understand the integrated security component of the organization because each of them plays a si gnificant role in its successful achievement. Miscommunication in any one of the areas could bring about heavy losses to the agency or organization. In the Security Considerations in the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) different individuals play different roles with different responsibilities and in order to ensure the systematic progress and success of the organization, they have to interact with each other during each stage of activity. In such a scenario, effective communication involving security requirements and expectations is inevitable. Every member is accountable in the position they hold responsibility within the organization. Employing an appropriate Information security personnel at the initiation juncture would be the right thing to do, so as to avoid communication mishaps during the process of any project. The individual carrying out this job has a big responsibility since it is a high risk job involving the organizations operations as well as its assets. However, all the other officials and managers each have their own role to play and their own responsibility which is clearly defined and they are accountable for things that go wrong. In such a set up effective communication plays a very important role because it helps to keep the security system in tact and in an effective working order. Since every person is highly responsible and accountable for their actions, it is inevitable that the first thing that should be put into place is a proper

NIST 800-64 rev2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NIST 800-64 rev2 - Essay Example The problem I choose to discuss is poor communication between the employers and employees. In managing IT systems and their progress, an Information system security process is put in place to help identify risks, plan and mitigate problems that may arise at the workplace. Implementing a risk management – based approach serves to integrate security systems throughout the agency. However, throughout the system and its working, communication plays a major role in how well everything is understood and implemented in order to ensure high productivity with lesser number of problems. Communication is an indispensable part of any organization because its success or failure depends a lot on it. One of the critical assets of any organization is proper communication between employers and employees as well as among the management and workers. Proper communication helps to instill integrity and solidarity among the workers and helps them to focus better on the goal ahead. System managers c an make use of good communication as a tool to build strong relationships not only among the workers but also the clients that deal with them. Proper communication is a fundamental asset for decision – making, negotiation, implementation and assessment of the whole developmental process. One of the dilemmas that could arise in the workplace is miscommunication that leads to anger, fear, mistrust and lack of understanding among the parties involved. This problem is quite evident especially within a multicultural organization. The five phases such as Initiation, Development, Implementation, Operation and Disposal that contributes towards the smooth working and productivity of the organization could be hampered if there is no proper communication among its staff and workers. In implementing and executing a risk management based approach, it is both crucial and vital to help employees understand the integrated security component of the organization because each of them plays a si gnificant role in its successful achievement. Miscommunication in any one of the areas could bring about heavy losses to the agency or organization. In the Security Considerations in the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) different individuals play different roles with different responsibilities and in order to ensure the systematic progress and success of the organization, they have to interact with each other during each stage of activity. In such a scenario, effective communication involving security requirements and expectations is inevitable. Every member is accountable in the position they hold responsibility within the organization. Employing an appropriate Information security personnel at the initiation juncture would be the right thing to do, so as to avoid communication mishaps during the process of any project. The individual carrying out this job has a big responsibility since it is a high risk job involving the organizations operations as well as its assets. However, all the other officials and managers each have their own role to play and their own responsibility which is clearly defined and they are accountable for things that go wrong. In such a set up effective communication plays a very important role because it helps to keep the security system in tact and in an effective working order. Since every person is highly responsible and accountable for their actions, it is inevitable that the first thing that should be put into place is a proper

Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Art History - Essay Example The materials that have been used to construct and decorate the interior of the building make it more unique. Different types of wood have been used in the interior of the building. The different types of wood that has been used includes teak, oak, maple, cedar and mahogany. Contrast of colour is evident in the interior of the building due to the arrangement of the wood materials. On the other hand, the interlocking joinery on the stair cases has been left exposed. The inlays in the tile mantles match the inlays in the custom furniture. Some of the panels also act as concealed doors. The woodworking in the house is excellent and it match the furniture that are found in the building (Douglass, 2013). A traditional plan also exists in the interior of the building which makes the interior beautiful. Different shapes have also been used in the room for the purposes of creating harmony in the building. Natural light is also able to enter the interior of the building which makes it possibl e top clearly view the decorations. The rooms in the building have been well shaped and organized around a central hall which makes it more unique. The symmetry in the interior of the building has been localized which plays an essential role in terms of making it attractive to the audience. The symmetrical spaces in the building are related to one another which is an indication that the design was and construction were carried out with a lot of expertise. The ceiling heights in the building are first and the second floors. On the other hand, the height is also different in the dens. This creates uniqueness as the spaces in the building are constantly shifting. The interior of the building is quite spacious and it allows the different furniture to be put in place. The craftsman style concepts were also used in the decorations of the interior of the building which makes it distinct. This is considering that the craftsman style usually utilize simple techniques

Niger country Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Niger country - Research Paper Example Large deserts cover the North of the country. A little over three fourths of its area is covered by the Sahara desert. The terrain is largely made up of desert plains and sand dunes, with flat to rolling Savannas in the South and hills in the North. The Southwest of the country, where the river Niger flows, is the only fertile land and is also home to most of its citizens. The Niger stretches across Western Africa for a length of about 2, 600 miles and is considered to be one of the primary rivers in Africa besides the Nile and the Congo. The Geographical layout of Niger is almost twice as more as that of California and comprises of mixed terrain with central hills and plateaus that merge themselves into expansive lowlands with plains in the North and mountains in the Southwest. Each region experiences its own climate. The North is a more arid region, while the center of Niger experiences a tropical kind of climate, and the South a more Equatorial climate. This happens because the Af rican continent is extremely vast. The Atlantic Ocean at 0m is considered to be the lowest point, while the highest point is taken to be Chappal Waddi which rises to a height of 2, 419m through which runs Africa’s most famous river, the Niger. ... The population of Niger is predominantly Islamic and is distributed mostly between the West and the far South of the country, primarily because that is the only inhabitable land mass due to the presence of the river Niger and the flora, fauna and fertile land surrounding it. The people are mostly descendents of the nomadic Tuaregs, who were the first inhabitants of the Sahara region, followed by the Hausa from the 14th century, the Zerma from the 17th century, the Gobir from the 18th century and the Fulani from the 19th century. Niamey is the capital city and is located in the far-southwest corner. The country was incorporated into French West Africa in 1896. At the time, the country was in a state of seemingly perpetual turmoil, but once harmony was restored, the French made the area its colony in 1922.The French constitution was adopted through referendum in 1959 that made it an autonomous republic with the French community. To this day, the country is faced with serious social, na tural and political problems. There is economic instability as nature isn’t too favorable making the country, its people and economy vulnerable to drought from time to time, with the constant threat of locust infestation. Added to this, is political instability arising from constant friction between the civilian political parties and the military and internecine wars among various tribes. U.S. Immigration: The African Experience People of African descent in the United States, until the early 20th century, were not considered as part of America’s migratory tradition historically. This puzzling fact of American society derives from the transatlantic slave trade between the

NIST 800-64 rev2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NIST 800-64 rev2 - Essay Example The problem I choose to discuss is poor communication between the employers and employees. In managing IT systems and their progress, an Information system security process is put in place to help identify risks, plan and mitigate problems that may arise at the workplace. Implementing a risk management – based approach serves to integrate security systems throughout the agency. However, throughout the system and its working, communication plays a major role in how well everything is understood and implemented in order to ensure high productivity with lesser number of problems. Communication is an indispensable part of any organization because its success or failure depends a lot on it. One of the critical assets of any organization is proper communication between employers and employees as well as among the management and workers. Proper communication helps to instill integrity and solidarity among the workers and helps them to focus better on the goal ahead. System managers c an make use of good communication as a tool to build strong relationships not only among the workers but also the clients that deal with them. Proper communication is a fundamental asset for decision – making, negotiation, implementation and assessment of the whole developmental process. One of the dilemmas that could arise in the workplace is miscommunication that leads to anger, fear, mistrust and lack of understanding among the parties involved. This problem is quite evident especially within a multicultural organization. The five phases such as Initiation, Development, Implementation, Operation and Disposal that contributes towards the smooth working and productivity of the organization could be hampered if there is no proper communication among its staff and workers. In implementing and executing a risk management based approach, it is both crucial and vital to help employees understand the integrated security component of the organization because each of them plays a si gnificant role in its successful achievement. Miscommunication in any one of the areas could bring about heavy losses to the agency or organization. In the Security Considerations in the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) different individuals play different roles with different responsibilities and in order to ensure the systematic progress and success of the organization, they have to interact with each other during each stage of activity. In such a scenario, effective communication involving security requirements and expectations is inevitable. Every member is accountable in the position they hold responsibility within the organization. Employing an appropriate Information security personnel at the initiation juncture would be the right thing to do, so as to avoid communication mishaps during the process of any project. The individual carrying out this job has a big responsibility since it is a high risk job involving the organizations operations as well as its assets. However, all the other officials and managers each have their own role to play and their own responsibility which is clearly defined and they are accountable for things that go wrong. In such a set up effective communication plays a very important role because it helps to keep the security system in tact and in an effective working order. Since every person is highly responsible and accountable for their actions, it is inevitable that the first thing that should be put into place is a proper

Niger country Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Niger country - Research Paper Example Large deserts cover the North of the country. A little over three fourths of its area is covered by the Sahara desert. The terrain is largely made up of desert plains and sand dunes, with flat to rolling Savannas in the South and hills in the North. The Southwest of the country, where the river Niger flows, is the only fertile land and is also home to most of its citizens. The Niger stretches across Western Africa for a length of about 2, 600 miles and is considered to be one of the primary rivers in Africa besides the Nile and the Congo. The Geographical layout of Niger is almost twice as more as that of California and comprises of mixed terrain with central hills and plateaus that merge themselves into expansive lowlands with plains in the North and mountains in the Southwest. Each region experiences its own climate. The North is a more arid region, while the center of Niger experiences a tropical kind of climate, and the South a more Equatorial climate. This happens because the Af rican continent is extremely vast. The Atlantic Ocean at 0m is considered to be the lowest point, while the highest point is taken to be Chappal Waddi which rises to a height of 2, 419m through which runs Africa’s most famous river, the Niger. ... The population of Niger is predominantly Islamic and is distributed mostly between the West and the far South of the country, primarily because that is the only inhabitable land mass due to the presence of the river Niger and the flora, fauna and fertile land surrounding it. The people are mostly descendents of the nomadic Tuaregs, who were the first inhabitants of the Sahara region, followed by the Hausa from the 14th century, the Zerma from the 17th century, the Gobir from the 18th century and the Fulani from the 19th century. Niamey is the capital city and is located in the far-southwest corner. The country was incorporated into French West Africa in 1896. At the time, the country was in a state of seemingly perpetual turmoil, but once harmony was restored, the French made the area its colony in 1922.The French constitution was adopted through referendum in 1959 that made it an autonomous republic with the French community. To this day, the country is faced with serious social, na tural and political problems. There is economic instability as nature isn’t too favorable making the country, its people and economy vulnerable to drought from time to time, with the constant threat of locust infestation. Added to this, is political instability arising from constant friction between the civilian political parties and the military and internecine wars among various tribes. U.S. Immigration: The African Experience People of African descent in the United States, until the early 20th century, were not considered as part of America’s migratory tradition historically. This puzzling fact of American society derives from the transatlantic slave trade between the

Threat of Lutheranism to the Catholic Church Essay Example for Free

Threat of Lutheranism to the Catholic Church Essay The end of the fifteenth century had left Christendom with a Church in great need of reform. The Church had been greatly weakened by the events of the past few centuries. The fourteenth century’s Great Famine and Black Death had battered the public’s trust in the Church, as had the Papal Schism spanning from 1378-1417. When the ideas of Martin Luther began to spread in the early 1500s, the Church became afraid for its power, its reputation, and its finances. Luther was promising people that they would be saved through their faith alone—what place did that leave for the Church and its teachings? In any other time in human history, Luther’s ideas likely would have been quietly beaten down and buried, but a very unique set of circumstances allowed the ideas of a small-town monk and professor to take on the immense power of the Catholic Church. While others’ ideas could be ignored, the Church was intensely threatened by Luther because his ideas questioned the role and necessity of their already-weakened institution, called for an end to indulgences, endangered social stability, and exposed the failings of the Church by returning to the Bible as the only source of God’s truth. Two hundred years before Luther came onto the Church’s radar, the Catholic Church was enjoying great power and success. The Church leaders wielded considerable influence on all matters in Christendom. Even those who felt discontent with the Church were too afraid to rebel against its order, fearing the loss of their salvation. The despair of the Great Famine and Black Death, however, greatly destabilized the Church’s position. The people of Europe had placed so much faith in the Church, yet what could they think when their priests and monks proved susceptible to the plague, dying in higher numbers than the common people? Should not the Pope, with his power bestowed by God, be able to stop this famine and disease from ravaging the continent? Should God not save His people? The doubts of the people caused the first real murmurings of religious upheaval, made even worse by the Papal Schism. The schism caused people to not only question the power of the Church, but to wonde r who was really in charge and from what source his authority came. The weakness of the Church in the wake of the famine and plague led to the prominence of potential reformers in the late 1300s and early 1400s. John Wycliffe and Jan Hus preached the desire for the Church to return to a humbler form, one bereft of extreme wealth and grandeur. Both men hailed the importance of putting the Vulgate into the vernacular so the common man could understand it. Though they both lived many years before Luther, their teachings caused great anxiety in the Church, and their actions helped to lay the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation. One of the greatest reasons the Church was already feeling so threatened and vulnerable when Luther started preaching was because of the discoveries of Lorenzo Valla. Valla, a student of Petrarch’s humanist schools, had spent time studying the Donation of Constantine, the document from the Emperor Constantine giving the Catholic Church authority over the entire Roman Empire. After examining the document, Valla came to the conclusion that it was a forgery and, thus, completely voided. His essay revealing the forgery was circulated for many years and finally officially published in 1517. The Church, having using the Donation of Constantine for centuries to validate its power over Christendom, flatly rejected Valla’s logic. After the blows of the last century, the delicate Church could not afford for people to start questioning its authority. The combination of the effects of the Great Famine, the Black Death, the teachings of Wycliffe and Hus, and the discovery of Valla left the Church in a very vulnerable position. When Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses up on the door of a Wittenberg Church, the Church leaders were understandably threatened. The last thing they needed were more attacks on their teachings and influence. By challenging the people of Wittenberg to a debate on his theses, Luther made himself even more of a threat because he was forcing the people to think. People who had complacently followed church teachings all their lives were now being told to question the things they had taken for granted. The Church had even more reasons to be threatened by Luther. The availability of the printing press at this time allowed for Luther and his friends to disseminate his teachings throughout all of Germany. Once Luther’s ideas had spread, the Church ran into even more problems with Luther. Luther refused to back down from his ideas, even after Pope Leo X sent a cardinal to reason with him. Despite their frustration, the Church was unable to put Luther to death because of protection from Friedrich the Wise, the ruler of Luther’s district. Friedrich, quite pleased with the attention that is coming to his district, refuses to hand over Luther to church authorities. The Church leaders were always threatened by voices of dissent against them, but could, under normal circumstances, quickly put the dissenter to death for heresy. Luther proved a great threat because Friedrich’s protection allowed him to remain unharmed and able to write and distribute his teachings. While the circumstances leading to Luther’s rise to prominence had already put the Church on high alert, it was also the content of Luther’s teachings that caused them great panic. The cornerstone of Luther’s teachings was that â€Å"whoever has faith will have everything† (Luther 13). He preached that faith in God was the only thing required for salvation. Luther’s teachings stood in stark contrast to those of the Church, which emphasized ceremonies, indulgences, and the seven Sacraments. The followers of the Church had been told that money and good works could get them into heaven, only now to be told that â€Å"if a man were not first a believer and a Christian, all his works would amount to nothing and would be truly wicked and damnable sins† (Luther 39). If people were to believe that salvation were to only be gained through their own personal faith, then what role would the Church play? According to Luther, they no longer needed the Church to administer the Sacraments, to intercede on their behalf, or to use indulgences to free themselves and loved ones from Purgatory. The Church, for so many centuries in a position of political and religious authority, could not stand for these teachings, teachings that devalued them to nothing. While the Church was greatly threatened by the effect of Luther’s ideas on its own power, there was also concern for their effect on social stability. At this time period, politics and religion were intricately linked. Political leaders and church leaders all came from wealthy families. High-ranking parents were able to pay church leaders to secure their sons a role such as bishop or pope. People who were born peasants were peasants for their whole lives. The stability of this system was deeply rooted in religion. Traditional church teachings were needed because they â€Å"legitimized social hierarchies and political authority† (Diefendorf 4). To avoid discontent among the peasants and to retain their positions, Church leaders taught that people were born into the roles that God desired for them. Peasants were meant to be peasants, and kings were meant to be kings. People were taught that trying to change their station in life was akin to rebelling against God and would surely warrant eternal damnation. When Luther began teaching the idea of â€Å"justification by faith alone,† it called this system into question. How would social mobility forfeit salvation if faith was all that was required to be saved? The teachings of Luther alarmed all political leaders, not just those affiliated with the Church, because of the fear that these new ideas would disrupt the social order and their place within it. Despite the panic of the religious and political leaders, Luther’s ideas continued to spread throughout Christendom, gaining followers and driving people away from the Church. The Church would have had nothing to fear from Luther if they had not strayed so far from the Bible and its teachings. They viewed Luther as the threat, but his ideas were largely based in their own wrongdoing. The Church had become arrogant, greedy, and manipulative. In their desire to build grand basilicas and seize political power, they became consumed by the â€Å"completely depraved, hopeless, and notorious godlessness† that Luther detected (Luther 79). They were using fear to motivate their followers and had sunk so low as to sell salvation. I think the biggest reason the Church was so fearful of Luther’s teachings was because they sensed how much truth they contained, and they knew that the common people sensed it too. The Church had chosen to ignore its fallibility and had started writing rules in God’s place. They were out of line, and Luther drew attention to it. I think the Church knew how much they had strayed, knew they had wandered down a dark and evil path, but felt they were too far-gone. The Church was a powerful entity, and its leaders knew they had to keep being viewed that way. They could not be seen as weak or indecisive, or the common people would seize on that failing. When Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses onto a Wittenberg church door in 1517, no one could have predicted the enormous effect his ideas would have. His ideas were thrown into the world at the exact right time and were heard by the exact right ears. His idea of â€Å"justification of faith alone† was enough to rouse a whole continent, enough to provoke battles and bloodshed in town after town. Despite being a single man, his ideas were enough to draw the interest, and ire, of the Pope and the Emperor. The Church was so intensely threatened by Luther because of their already-weakened state, his promise of salvation through faith alone, his insistence on the end of indulgences, his danger to social stability, and their own possible realizations that there was truth in his words. The truth of it is, though, that the Church was threatened not by a common monk in a small town, but by the strength of an idea that was strong enough to move millions.