Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Essay on Cyber Crime and Businesses Example For Students

Exposition on Cyber Crime and Businesses Consistently millions at times billions of dollars are made by organizations from salary got by online offer of items and administrations. As organizations consistently create and extend their customer base with online items and administrations so does the longing by lawbreakers to misuse vulnerabilities in their web based business arrangement. The mass overall web utilization development inside the most recent 20 years has been â€Å"an inexact 16 million clients in 1995 to an expected 2,937 million in March of 2014† As the significance of web based business increments so does the need to secure the innovative foundation that will do online exchanges for every business paying little mind to its size. I will endeavor to feature and audit the historical backdrop of a couple digital wrongdoings to show the movement of the violations inside the last 30-40 years. I likewise plan to audit how the economy and buyers are affected by digital wrongdoings. At long last I will put forth an attempt to contribute with data gathering on the best way to bring down the danger of a digital assault from and singular client to an enormous scope business. The term â€Å"hacker† has been being used since the mid 1980’s because of broad communications use to depict PC lawbreakers. The utilization of this term is incomprehensibly utilized by everyone and most don't know that there are various implications to the word. Individuals inside the figuring network particularly inside the programming subculture stress the utilization of the term â€Å"crackers† for PC security interlopers (digital lawbreakers). Early programmers once in a while utilized their aptitudes for monetary profit as an inspiration for their criminal conduct in that time cybercrime was puerile and to a great extent observed as a down to earth joke or game by the individuals who carried out it. Weave Thomas made the principal credited PC worm named Creeper which is a case of early digital wrongdoing in 1970’s. The Creeper worm had the option to increase free access by means of modem and duplicate itself to remote PCs. PCs that were contaminated by the infection showed the message, â€Å"I’m the creeper: get me on the off chance that you can.† In 1981 Ian Murphy otherwise known as â€Å"Captain Zap† was the first digital criminal to get sentenced; he penetrated ATT PCs and changed the charging clock. The changed to the charging timekeepers made individuals got limited charging rates during typical business hours. As time advanced so did the criminal refinement just as the harms to people and organizations. In 1999 David Smith made the worm infection â€Å"Melissa† which voyaged by means of Outlook. The Melissa infection was liable for an estimated 500 million dollars in harms as it ended PC systems of at any rate 300 partnerships. On an a lot bigger scope â€Å"Titan Rain† was the named by the US Government to a progression of painstakingly aligned and pra ctically untraceable digital assault that were continuous for in any event three years. The Titan Rain assaults were followed back to the Chinese government, it far reaching and focused on the PC systems of NASA, US Military Defense Information Agency, Naval System Center, Lockheed Martin, Redstone Arsenal, and Sandia National Laboratories. The fundamental reason for the assaults were to assemble knowledge and ordered information just as to discover approaches to leave PC â€Å"backdoors† open to permit other to invade PC systems and frameworks for future assaults. The brief digital wrongdoing history introduced shows a brisk look of how digital violations have raised in a short number of years. Expansions of digital wrongdoing exercises have been progressively increasingly clear inside the most recent couple of years. Essentially due to fix spending by the private segment and diminished budgetary liquidity exacerbated by the financial emergency. The expenses related by digital wrongdoings are incredibly hard to stick point as there are numerous components to consider that can make up misfortunes seen by people or organizations. Variables to consider in misfortunes due to digital wrongdoing are financial exchange control, loss of touchy information, licensed innovation, efficiency interferences, and notoriety harm. The repercussions of a solitary, effective digital assault can have broad ramifications that may incorporate monetary misfortunes and loss of purchaser certainty and trust. The general fiscal effect of digital wrongdoing on society and government is assessed to be billions of dollars a year. â€Å"1 million or more grown-ups become cybercrime casualties each and every day and, on the off chance that you separate that, it likens to an amazing 12 casualties for each second† The monetary loss of digital wrongdoings is only a crude estimation as it gives base of the harm brought about by criminal operations. .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 , .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 .postImageUrl , .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 .focused content territory { min-stature: 80px; position: relative; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 , .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70:hover , .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70:visited , .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70:active { border:0!important; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 { show: square; progress: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-change: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; mistiness: 1; change: murkiness 250ms; webkit-change: obscurity 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70:active , .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70:hover { haziness: 1; change: darkness 250ms; webkit-progress: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 .ctaText { outskirt base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: intense; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; text-embellishment: underline; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; fringe: none; outskirt span: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; text style weight: striking; line-tallness: 26px; moz-fringe sweep: 3px; text-adjust: focus; text-adornment: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-stature: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/basic arrow.png)no-rehash; position: total; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c 7b70 .focused content { show: table; tallness: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u6dede267a1fedd0e5cba97900d3c7b70:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Art Of Theater EssayConsumer certainty has been seriously harmed by the expansion of digital assaults and security penetrates on people just as enormous partnerships. Late instances of enormous scaled organizations that have experienced a digital wrongdoing break-in inside the most recent year were Target, Kaiser, and EBay. In enormous break-ins like the models referenced most of shoppers feel that it is the corporations’ duty to shield them against extortion from such assaults that have been connected to taking their own data. Customers likewise accept that retailers, charge card organizations, and banks are not doing what's needed to ensure the information they are endowed with by buyers. The yearly Symantec firm exploration study which audits consumers’ online practices additionally features the threats and money related expense of digital violations. The information in the Symantec research affirms the concerning aftereffects of the expansion in digital assaults. â€Å"Cyber crimes and related benefit are in consistent development, the expense per cybercrime casualty is up 50 percent, and the worldwide sticker price of buyer digital wrongdoing is $113 billion annually.† The ascent in cybercrime for huge enterprises is mostly because of lacking assurance of the organizations as not sufficient opportunity and assets are apportioned to help limit the dangers. This makes the ideal ground of conditions for the lawbreakers; as it makes digital break-ins practically untraceable because of the time chatter between the security infringement and the purpose of revelation by the person in question. The del ay additionally makes trouble in building an indictment body of evidence against interlopers making cybercrimes far less hazardous than some other sort of wrongdoing which is a lot of speaking to digital lawbreakers. Unmistakably digital wrongdoing is a colossal issue compromising the private and open segments just as the trustworthiness of the information inside the web. Counteraction from assaults is the key in spite of the fact that it might appear as an incomprehensible undertaking to achieve with the numerous elements that should be considered to have a protected PC framework. The division of Homeland Security gives a rundown of safety efforts to follow to help with the avoidance of digital wrongdoings for a wide range of PC clients. †¢ â€Å"Never click on joins in messages. †¢ Never open the connections. †¢ Do not give out close to home data †¢ Set secure passwords and dont share them with anybody. †¢ Keep your working framework, program, hostile to infection and other basic programming exceptional. †¢ Verify the legitimacy of solicitations from organizations or people by reaching them legitimately. †¢ Pay close consideration regarding site URLs. †¢ For email, turn off the choice to naturally download connections. †¢ Be dubious of obscure connections or solicitations sent through email or instant message. â€Å" In end digital violations are acts against classification and respectability by the unlawful access to a PC framework. Digital assaults will conti

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Monetary and Fiscal Policies on Recession Research Paper

Financial and Fiscal Policies on Recession - Research Paper Example Accordingly, the pace of joblessness goes up diminishing the buying intensity of purchasers. Sequentially, cash gracefully in the economy turns out to be essentially low (Navarro, 2009). Financial arrangement is utilized by governments to settle total interest and total flexibly in the economy by impacting the administration spending, obtaining and tax assessment. The administration utilizes financial arrangement to change the examples of people’s spending. As indicated by Keynesian school, financial arrangement reestablishes business rates, request and yield where the economy is working underneath limit. Keynesian suggests two sorts of monetary approaches; expansionary financial strategy and contractionary financial arrangement. Expansionary financial strategy is utilized where the administration requires shortage spending in the event of downturn while contractionary monetary arrangement is utilized when there is an abundance development which requires an overflow in the financial plan (Renee, 2009). Financial approach is another apparatus used to deal with the total interest and gracefully by controlling the flexibly of cash in the economy. The administration utilizes the national bank to control development, liquidity, expansion and utilization because of changes in the measure of cash in the economy. The Federal Reserve System reacts to extreme cash flexibly by raising the loan cost and brings down the financing costs when there is low cash gracefully in the market (Borio and Disyatat, 2010). The Great Recession of 2008 introduced serious financial conditions in the US and furthermore in different nations. Moreover, the downturn was related with stretched monetary droops and moderate financial recuperations. After downturn, the vast majority of the world economies went into sadness and this caused a huge hole in the recuperation of the cash, as the creating nations have more fragile monetary standards contrasted with the created nations.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Modern Warfare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Current Warfare - Essay Example There doesn't appear to be the romanticized idea of energy so frequently proclaimed by creators inside the common laborers. This is particularly so regarding the Vietnam war. In the draft during the Vietnam War, the working class were nearly ensured. Vietnam was increasingly constrained, and the military was resolved to channel common and even white collar class youth away from battle (Appy 1993). To be sure, it has generally been the common laborers that have been persuaded that their bondage would profit them when in reality the advantage tumbled to the higher classes. Guarantees, for example, excused understudy advances, GI Bills, clinical protection, a ten thousand dollar join extra, guarantees of preparing that will prompt promising regular citizen vocations and a large number of different advantages appear as though a supernatural occurrence for a gathering of individuals who are not financially presented to such appearing extravagances. Reliably, the regular workers, effectively a gathering acclimated with taking requests is exploited. The Cold War saw diggers in Canada loosing their occupations with no advantages. From the start, excavators were urged to resign with the presentation of advantage bundles. Anyway as time advanced, diggers who were on the edge of retirement needed to truly hold tight with expectations of accepting their full support agreement. Mines were working at far not exactly a multi day week. There was likewise a drop in the need of railroad steam coal. World War I found the passage of ladies into the work power. While not at fight, ladies were in activity making garments, sending supplies and as yet supporting their families. Subsequently financially, the average workers ladies had the option to add to their monetary condition. During the time between World War I and World War II, there was lost markets for what is viewed as staple enterprises. These ventures included coal, iron, steel, transport making and materials. This misfortune joined with innovative advances which took into account increments underway finished in the loss of over a million employments for the common laborers. The touted gains from these two wars did nothing to ointment the enduring of the regular workers. In the Iraq war, which despite everything looms, stop-misfortune (the act of singularly expanding a soilder's stay in their station) has been reliably maintained in the courts. Common laborers fighters have seen that agreements are totally negligible in their military and regular citizen world. Maybe this is the reason there isn't so much stun when a stop-misfortune strategy is pulled against them. All things considered, at home in regular citizen life, most common laborers representatives must place in their required extra time hours or they chance loosing their occupations. Decency and guarantees are not ideas that the common laborers are acquainted with in either their military or non military personnel jobs. Further, the common laborers individuals neglect to perceive any of the advantages that they are guaranteed. Veterans reliably observe reductions in their advantages. Many embarrassments brings about uncovering the articulate absence of care or empathy that veterans get. This is additionally so for joblessness in the average workers. The New Deal Era brought numerous projects, for example, joblessness. Be that as it may, as the economy currently stands, inappropriately

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Rich Countries and Their Impact on Nature and Environment

Rich Countries and Their Impact on Nature and Environment The development of human civilization is moving forward at a high speed, and the amount of scientific, technical and other discoveries is growing bigger and bigger every century. Unfortunately, the progress of human race in terms of this development has a flip side of the coin, which is harmful influence upon the natural world of the planet. Sometimes in a chase of a new â€Å"gold mine† that can be found after this or that discovery or invention, we underestimate the impact it has on the environment. From the very beginning of scientific-technical revolution, there have been a lot of situations, when scientists and businessmen turned a blind eye to the consequences of creating another chemical or machine building plant or inventing cheaper way to produce plastic goods. The thirst for money and benefits wins over careful and respected attitude to the environment, and it results in air and water pollution, terminating forests and other actions, that can move us one step closer to wiping life off the face of the planet. Recently the world community had a chance to see with their own eyes how this can end up. I mean BP tragedy and impact it had on the natural balance of the planet. I think that the countries owning the objects of naturally dangerous industry should pay some extra fee, which should be considerable enough to support researches and actions to cope with the consequences of such industry. Usually, these countries are rich enough to do that. But there should be a very strict division: the country must own the object or the object is just situated there. So, for instance, if a chemical plant, located in China belongs, let us say, to the UK, it is the UK that should pay the fee. The fee is a must in our situation. Otherwise, we are close enough to destroying the planet we are living on.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Reconciling Edna s Suicide And The Criticism Surrounding

Reconciling Edna’s Suicide and the Criticism Surrounding† by Mary Bird. The first essay I read was titled â€Å"Reconciling Edna’s Suicide and the Criticism Surrounding† by Mary Bird. In this essay she reveals two point of views about Edna’s death. Bird presents two thesis statements. The first thesis is â€Å"†¦awakening is one of mental clarity, and her suicide is a triumphant act. By committing suicide Edna is finally freeing herself from social constraints and possession.† The second thesis is â€Å"Edna’s awaking to be a decline into insanity.† Bird makes a connection to Edna losing her mother to the reason she acts the way she does. Bird says â€Å"Edna is still a child emotionally and continually looks for a motherly influence.† Bird makes a point that throughout the story Edna regresses back to a child all the way to the womb, or water. She is saying that this is a form of insanity and that is why she died. Bird also makes a point that Edna knows exactly what she is doing. Bird says â€Å"Edn a now makes decisions (such as moving out of the house) based on what is right for her, choices that will drastically affect her life, doing so with open eyes and a clear head.† This is one of the reason she also believes that Edna died for feminist reasons. Bird made a good point that the water was like a mother the Edna, and Edna was going back to the womb. She backs up the second thesis a little better than she does the first. I like the way she calls the water her mother. I really can understand howShow MoreRelatedA Solitary Soul By Kate Chopin1995 Words   |  8 PagesOn April 22nd, 1899, Herbert S. Stone Company published a novel written by female Author, Kate Chopin. According to Chopin’s official website published by the Kate Chopin International Society in which biographers and editors detail information of the authors life, works, and commonly asked questions, Chopin was 49 years old at the time that The Awakening was published. This novel was originally titled A Solitary Soul, but was changed just prior to publication. Though today this novel is heavily

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Impact Of News And Information Releases Relative On Stock...

Literature Review Since its foundation events study has paved the opportunity for scholars to investigate the impact of news and information releases relative to stock price in the markets. Its roots can be traced back as early as in 1930’s. According to a study by MacKinlay (1997) in his paper, cited an early paper was pioneered by Dooley (1933) who examined the stock price reaction to stock split announcements. In subsequent years, the significance of events study became an irresistible subject as it attracted the attention of John H. Myers and Archie Bakay (1948), C. Austin Baker (1956, 1957, 1958), and John Ashley (1962) who used events study methodology. A substantial number of studies have investigated the reaction of stock prices†¦show more content†¦Using a sample data comprised 297 NYSE and American Stock Exchange companies for 1977 to 1980-time period, indicating twelve quarterly announcements for each of the company. MacKinlay (1997) utilised 30 companies which comprised in to Dow Jones Industrial Index, as a sample to test the impact of quarterly earnings announcements to stock prices. The researcher examined totally 600 quarterly announcements, thus MacKinlay (1997) obtained stock price response separately to bad news, good news and no news cases of earnings per share (EPS) announcements. A great number of studies further identified several factors which particularly concerns market capitalisation, effective of stock market, etc., which explains the dynamic forces of stocks returns during the earnings announcements date in an organised manner. For instance, Atiase (1985) found that unexpected information pass on to the market by actual earnings report is inversely correlated to the company’s capitalisation. Grant (1990) observed that the market in which a company’s securities are traded often determined the behaviour of stocks return around the earnings announcements. Several other studies have aimed to organise for synchronise factors by using time series data such as intra-day and daily data. However, a fairly number of more robust studies has examined the information content of macroeconomics news releases. Elsharkawy and Garrod (1996), Pope and Inyangete (1992).Show MoreRelatedCauses Of Twenty First Century Stock Market Volatility Essay1397 Words   |  6 PagesCauses of Twenty-First Century Stock Market Volatility based on the Introduction of the Internet and Day Trading Since the late 1980’s the United States has observed several housing market bubbles and subsequent collapses (Calabria 2011, p. 552). Also, the country has also observed a profound increase in the trading of technologies stock (Sabherwal, Sarkar, and Zhang, 2011, p. 1210). In addition, the development of day-trading has taken control of nearly half of the stock trading industry (Chou, WangRead MoreThe Great East Japan Earthquakes Impact on the Japanese Financial System1576 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great East Japan Earthquakes impact on the Japanese financial system Introduction Japan is located in an area where several tectonic plates meet. Earthquakes frequently strike the Japanese archipelago - minor tremors occur almost on a daily basis, while severe disasters - infrequently, yet they have had harsh consequences in terms of both direct and indirect impact on the economy, thus, on the financial system. Earthquakes are usually associated with devastation and losses, and Japan is noRead MoreThe And Exchange Board Of India1417 Words   |  6 Pagesforms the foundation of capitalism, which is based on a laissez-faire economy. Greed is the natural desire for humans to try to accumulate as much as possible for oneself. Foreign investors have always steered as far as possible from the Indian stock market . The simple reason for this is that India is plagued by various scams, controversies, and allegations of insider trading that have not satisfactorily been acted upon. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (â€Å"SEBI†) has been in existenceRead MoreFinancial Statements Are Tied Together1621 Words   |  7 Pagesfinancial statements are tied together. The income statement shows the net income, which adds to retained earnings on the balance sheet. The Cash flow statement describes the changes in cash in the balance sheet from one year to the next. 2. What is the impact of different depreciation methods on the bottom line? More depreciation now, means more recorded expenses, which means a lower net income and a lower tax payment. 3. Depreciation is a non-cash expense. How come depreciation changes have cash consequencesRead MoreWalt Disney Company1730 Words   |  7 Pageswith M.J. 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A restaurant facing a lawsuit from a customer who was injured by tripping over a frayed carpetRead MoreEssay on Pfizer Macroeconomic Forecast1715 Words   |  7 Pages There are three different general trends (directions for prices or rates) in the economy. Those with predictive value are leading indicators; those occurring at the same time as the related economic activity are coincident indicators; and those that only become apparent after the activity are lagging indicators. Examples are unemployment, housing starts, Consumer Price Index, industrial production, bankruptcies, GDP, stock market prices, money supply changes, and housing starts also called businessRead MoreGovernment Mandates Impact International Transactions2018 Words   |  9 Pages 1. Supply and demand for products, currencies and other investments creates a push-pull dynamic in prices. Prices and rates change as supply or demand changes. If something is in demand and supply begins to shrink, prices will rise. If supply increases beyond current demand, prices will fall. If supply is relatively stable, prices can fluctuate higher and lower as demand increases or decreases. Effect on Short- and Long-Term Trends With these factors causing both short- and long-term fluctuationsRead MoreGovernment Mandates Impact International Transactions2007 Words   |  9 PagesSupply and demand for products, currencies and other investments creates a push-pull dynamic in prices. Prices and rates change as supply or demand changes. If something is in demand and supply begins to shrink, prices will rise. If supply increases beyond current demand, prices will fall. If supply is relatively stable, prices can fluctuate higher and lower as demand increases or decreases. Effect on Short- and Long-Term Trends With these factors causing both short- and long-term fluctuations inRead MoreEssay about Google Analytics2622 Words   |  11 Pagesfraud to occur towards the end of a fiscal year when goals/expectations need to be met so the auditors need to wait until the books are closed to begin their review. B. Managers often report ‘pro-forma’ or ‘non-GAAP’ earnings as supplemental information when reporting their GAAP earnings. i. What info can a pro-forma earnings number provide that the GAAP earnings number does not? Give examples of possible differences that might exist between the two earnings numbers. The pro-forma number can

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Integrating Building Performance Optimization

Question: Discuss about the Integrating Building Performance Optimization. Answer: Introduction An important aspect of modern architecture, total building performance evaluates the impact of a buildings environment on its inhabitants(Oyedele, et al. 2011). This is a proactive approach in that it includes the preventative design in addition to the analyzing, identifying and rectifying all potential problems in the building environment. The safety of the building is the determinant of its inhabitability ad a fundamental dimension fr evaluating the building quality (Yau, Daniel and Chau 2008). Of particular concern is the air circulation in modern buildings which rely on excessive air conditioning during periods of occupancy. Evaluating Critcalbuilding Performance While building performance and its evaluation is a much debated topic, here remains much ambiguity in its evaluation process. The need for a standardized set of protocols to analyze the total building perform acre is essential for architects as well as builders to verify if abuilding is able to meet the expected standards in building performance(Attia et al. 2013).Building failures, particularly in areas with a dense population can lead to consequences that are catastrophic in nature due to the potential for significant loss of life and property (Yau, Daniel and Chau 2008). Furthermore, it is observed that there exist many voids in this critical area of building performanceevaluation(Attia et al. 2013). While there have been several collective efforts for developing a standard definition of building performance by agencies like NBS(National Bureau of Standards), ISO (International StandardsOrganization) , and OB ( the Centre International de Batiment) ; there are still several areas that demand a comprehensive solution that continue to remain vague. Optimum building management is therefore essential for all buildings that are being considered for human occupancy (Yau, Daniel and Chau 2008). The development of a comprehensive and manageable list of performance criteria mandatory for building environment have been identified as visual quality, thermal quality, spatial quality , air quality, acoustic quality and most importantly building integrity over the long term. Building Status Indicators A building-in-use needs to be evaluated on the basis of a total functional value within the economicframework as opposed to the traditional building-as-an-object approach which tends to rely more on the limited value implied by the proposed support class. Evaluating the critical economic value would depend on the building performance principles, particularly, the build systems and its sub systems; testingmechanism as well as techniques and methods used to measure the performance of the building; and the materials used in the construction as well as their quality(Attia et al. 2013).. The diagnostic tools which are used for the assessment and measurement of building performance need to be in keeping with the law and regulations of the country Guidelines For Collecting Evidence Of Building Status The monitoring of building status is an ongoing process that needs to be completed on a regular basis to ensure the health and safety of its inhabitants(Attia et al. 2013).The stakeholder must be informed of this practice in advanced. The feedback collected must be tabulated and evaluated to help determine the health of the building. It would be a better practice to ensure that activity iscentralized as it is hoped that thiswill help avoid further issues in the mater (Adachi, 2007). Complaints from all parties with an interest in the buildingwork, including Building Control bodies as well as other statutory bodies needs to be addressed on priority. The root cause of these complaints needsto be identified and suitable measures to meet its needs to be adopted on a war footing(Adamu, Price and Cook, 2012), (Adachi, 2007). All building work, be it new or in the realms of renovation; must be necessarily evaluated from the planning stage to the completion stage to help ensure that the standards are met and maintained throughout the building process (Adachi, 2007). . Compliance with building regulations must be met and all such certificates must be safely kept for future references (Adachi, 2007). Key performance indicators include policy, resources, consultation, assessment of plans, site inspection, certificates at completion and archiving of records. This is followed by continuing professional development, performance and management systems review, adherence to business ethics and a predefined complaints procedure Thus, building control performance indicators are: Adoption of best practices in process management of building controls compliance operations Having well defied complaints handling processes A proper breakdown of building control work Building control staff who have the requisite skills, , meet the gender and age profile, have specialist experience and exhibit a respect for people Potential Sources Of Indoor Air Problems The list of potential sources of indoor sir problems begins from the building material used in construction and includes fumes wood stoves, lead based paints, heating devices and so on. The possible list includes, asbestos, building materials including lead based paints, particle boards and other constructionmaterials; Radon; biological agents; smoke from the use of wood stoves and fire places , consumption of tobacco products like cigarettes, pipes, cigars and so on, gas range(s), heating devices (Agency for Toxic Substanace and Disease Registry 2015)and even certain disinfectants and pesticides. Insufficient, improper or even lack of air circulation is yet another area of concern. Possible Solutions For Commercial Rental Properties Total building performanceneeds to be addressed using diagnostic tools assessing and measuring the performance and ensuring that they are in line with key performance indicators. Improving air quality in all places that are either occupies or being considered for human occupation is important in keeping with the requirements for building performanceevaluation(Cao et al. 2014). Possiblesolutions include: Proper ventilation to allow circulation of air(Adamu, Price and Cook, 2012) Clean conditions of building surfaces and mechanical equipment in keeping with present standards. Significant sources of emission are identified and isolated as much as possible Prominent sources of biological and chemical contamination are identifies and isolated Airborne contaminants from construction, operations and maintenance activities are planned to minimize expose of local human inhabitants(Adamu, Price and Cook, 2012). Adoption of these measures would play a significant role in assuring that the building performance is within the accepted standards. Many of these measures gains prominence for older buildings due to the nature of hazardous materials used in construction(Adamu, Price and Cook, 2012), which havesubsequently been listed as dangerous for human beings. References Adachi, T. (2007). Impact of cascading failures on performance assessment of civil infrastructure systems.Georgia Institute of technology. Adamu, Z., Price, A. and Cook, M. (2012). Performance evaluation of natural ventilation strategies for hospital wards A case study of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Building and Environment, 56, pp.211-222. Agency for Toxic Substanace and Disease Registry.(2015, June 05).Taking an Exposure History: What Are Possible Sources of Indoor Air Pollution?. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=33po=7 (accessed September 14, 2016). Attia, S., Hamdy, M., OBrien, W. and Carlucci, S.,(2013). "Assessing Gaps and Needs for Integrating Building Performance Optimization Tools in Net Zero Energy Buildings Design". Energy and Buildings 60: 110-124. Cao, G., Awbi, H., Yao, R., Fan, Y., Sirn, K., Kosonen, R. and Zhang, J., (2014). "A Review of the Performance Of Different Ventilation And Airflow Distribution Systems In Buildings". Building and Environment 73: 171-186. Oyedele, L. O., Tham, K.W., Fadeyi,M.O., and Jaiyeoba, B.E., (2011). "Total Building Performance Approach in Building Evaluation: Case Study of an Office Building in Singapore." American Society of Civil Engineers: online. Yau, Y., Ho, D. and Chau, K.,(2008). "Determinants of the Safety Performance of Private Multi-storey Residential Buildings in Hong Kong." Social Indicators Research 89: 501-521.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Informal And Formal Training, Development Essays - Education

Informal And Formal Training, Development Informal and Formal Training and Development Informal Training and Development Informal training and development is rather casual and incidental. Typically, there are no specified training goals as such, nor are their ways to evaluate if the training actually accomplished these goals or not. This type of training and development occurs so naturally that many people probably aren't aware that they're in a training experience at all. Probably the most prominent form of informal training is learning from experience on the job. Examples are informal discussions among employees about a certain topic, book discussion groups, and reading newspaper and journal articles about a topic. A more recent approach is sending employees to hear prominent speakers, sometimes affectionately called the parade of stars. Informal training is less effective than formal training if one should intentionally be learning a specific area of knowledge or skill in a timely fashion. Hardly any thought is put into what learning is to occur and whether that learning occurred or not. (However, this form of training often provides the deepest and richest learning because this form is what occurs naturally in life.) Formal Training and Development Formal training is based on some standard form. Formal training might include: a) declaring certain learning objectives (or an extent of knowledge, skills or abilities that will be reached by learners at the end of the training), b) using a variety of learning methods to reach the objectives and then b) applying some kind(s) of evaluation activities at the end of the training. The methods and means of evaluation might closely associate with the learning objectives, or might not. For example, courses, seminars and workshops often have a form -- but it's arguable whether or not their training methods and evaluation methods actually assess whether the objectives have been met or not. Formal, Systematic Training and Development Systematic, formal training involves carefully proceeding through the following phases: a) Assessing what knowledge, skills and /or abilities are needed by learners; b) Designing the training, including identifying learning goals and associated objectives, training methods to reach the objectives, and means to carefully evaluate whether the objectives have been reached or not; c) Developing the training methods and materials; d) Implementing the training; and e) Evaluating whether objectives have been reached or not, in addition to the quality of the training methods and materials themselves A systematic approach is goal-oriented (hopefully, to produce results for the organization and/or learners), with the results of each phase being used by the next phase. Typically, each phase provides ongoing evaluation feedback to other phases in order to improve the overall system's process. Note, again, that not all formal methods are systematic. Some courses, workshops, and other training sessions have goals, methods and evaluation, but they are not aligned, or even integrated. The methods, in total, do not guide the learner toward achieving the training goal. The evaluations are too often of how a learner feels about the learning experience, rather than of how well the learning experience achieved the goal of the training. Self-Directed and Other-Directed Training Self-Directed Training Self-directed training includes the learner making the decisions about what training and development experiences will occur and how. Self-directed training seems to be more popular of late. Note that one can pursue a self-directed approach to informal or formal training. For example, self-directed, informal training might include examples of informal training listed above (book discussion groups, etc.), as long as the learner chose the activities and topics themselves, either for professional or personal reasons. Self-directed, formal training includes the learner's selecting and carrying out their own learning goals, objectives, methods and means to verifying that the goals were met. Other-Directed Learning Other-directed, formal training includes where someone other than the learner specifies the training goals will be met in training, how those goals will be met and how evaluation will occur to verify that the goals were met. This form of learning is probably the most recognized because it includes the approach to learning as used in universities, colleges and training centres. This form of learning typically grants diplomas and certificates. Note that this form of training, although readily available in universities, etc., is usually somewhat generic, that is, the program is geared to accommodate the needs of the most learners and not be customized

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Derechos y Deberes de los Americanos Fuera de Estados Unidos

Derechos y Deberes de los Americanos Fuera de Estados Unidos Hay ms de ocho millones de ciudadanos americanos que viven por fuera del territorio nacional. Muchos viajan por oportunidades de trabajo, otros para casarse con ciudadanos de otros paà ­ses y otros por los atractivos costos de vida en otras partes del mundo. La mayorà ­a de ciudadanos americanos viven en cercanà ­as del territorio nacional, con Canad y Mà ©xico como destinos principales, seguido de Europa, India, las Filipinas e Israel. En la actualidad hay una tendencia en la que los pensionados se mudan a paà ­ses de menor costo de vida para poder tener una calidad de vida mucho mejor que la que tendrà ­an en Estados Unidos, esto debido al cambio de dà ³lar a las monedas locales. Independiente de las circunstancias, el paso inicial ms importante cuando se vive en otro lugar es contactar a la embajada o consulado local inmediatamente se llegue al nuevo lugar de residencia. Este ser el lugar donde se tramitarn los pasaportes y documentos legales que requieran una apostilla del gobierno de Estados Unidos. En general, los ciudadanos americanos que viven por fuera de Estados Unidos conservan los siguientes derechos: Los relativos e inherentes a la ciudadanà ­a. Los ciudadanos en el extranjero pueden dirigirse a las embajadas para pedir ayuda si esta requiere de la intervencià ³n del gobierno. En caso de arresto o problemas con la ley, las autoridades locales estn obligadas a contactar a la embajada e informarle de la situacià ³n. Los relativos al votar en las elecciones federales. Actualmente se puede solicitar la planilla de manera electrà ³nica y regresarla por el mismo medio. Cuando se est en el exterior se vota en el à ºltimo estado de EE.UU. en el que se registrà ³. Los relativos a la ciudadanà ­a de los hijos. En el momento del nacimiento de un bebà © en el extranjero, si uno o ambos padres son ciudadanos americanos, hay que contactar a la embajada local para obtener el CRBA (Consular Report of Birth Abroad, reporte consular de nacimiento en el extranjero) para documentar que el nià ±o/a es un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos. Los relativos al pago mensual del Seguro Social para los pensionados y discapacitados. Los relativos al matrimonio/divorcio en el extranjero. Para certificar la validez del matrimonio/divorcio oficiado en otro paà ­s hay que contactar al Fiscal General del estado en el que se residà ­a originalmente dentro de los Estados Unidos. Tenga en cuenta que los ciudadanos con doble nacionalidad (y los de una sola), estn sujetos a las leyes locales y el gobierno de Estados Unidos no tiene jurisdiccià ³n legal si la persona comete algà ºn tipo de delito. Y asà ­ como cuentan con derechos, estos son los deberes de los ciudadanos americanos en el exterior: Rellenar las planillas y enviar los formularios de impuestos federales cada aà ±o. Estar al dà ­a en los impuestos locales que apliquen para cada paà ­s. Abstenerse de viajar a los paà ­ses que el departamento de estado considera no propicios. Inscribirse al servicio selectivo para los ciudadanos hombres. Estar al dà ­a con FACTA, o el tratado por medio del cual las instituciones financieras del extranjero deben informar al IRS acerca de los movimientos financieros de ciudadanos americanos o de empresas americanas. Finalmente, debe entenderse que Medicaid y Medicare no tienen cubrimiento en el extranjero y que podrà ­a haber razones por las que puede perder su nacionalidad. Este es un artà ­culo informativo y no pretende ser asesorà ­a legal.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

COMPARATIVE LEGAL SYSTEMS( Coursework) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

COMPARATIVE LEGAL SYSTEMS( Coursework) - Essay Example By adopting the French and Italian model, Guatemala has successfully designed its judicial system. The judicial reform has brought about segmentation as because often the civil laws in Guatemala have different interpretations. The fact that, the laws are based on different legal philosophies, account for this problem. On the whole, adoption of new reform has proved to be effective for controlling administration of the State. Adoption of French civil law: Guatemala. The French were the first to adopt new regulations about sodomy. Under the new regulations, criminal charges that were till then associated with sodomy were removed. This initiative was first of its kind in Western Europe, during the eighteenth century. This legal measure was later on adopted by numerous nations like Netherlands, Guatemala, Mexico, Luxemburg, Japan, Switzerland, Greece, Thailand, etc. Laws pertaining to sodomy were adopted by Guatemala in 1871, as a measure to acknowledge natural sexual orientation in huma n beings. Thus, the French legal norms adopted by Guatemala decriminalize sexual acts- both heterogeneous and homogenous. It was a measure taken by Guatemalan government to decrease serious physical assaults. For quite some time, Guatemala has been troubled by increasing rate of hate crimes. Gays, lesbians, and transsexuals are the usual victims of hate crimes. Often the crimes committed are too violent in nature. Due to all these, it was necessary for Guatemala to adopt a specific code of law for this issue. The French civil laws were most appropriate for this issue. After adopting the French civil lows, Guatemalan government has ensured that its citizens do not face any discrimination based on their sexuality2. The French civil laws were adopted by Guatemala with an objective to simply issues regarding oral case, role of judges, responsibilities and liberty of prosecutors, and also about investigation and evidentiary arguments. Introduction of French civil laws has helped to contr ol crimes, for Guatemala has been experiencing crimes due high poverty and social inequalities. Slow economic progress is yet another reason for Guatemala having such a high crime rate. Moreover, the French civil laws have helped in controlling crime scenario. At the same time, it has also simplified Guatemala’s private laws. Also, the French laws have shaped by Guatemala’s commercial scenario. Thus, it could be said that France had numerous implications in Guatemala’s penal structure3. Difference between application of French civil law in France and Guatemala The civil laws were adopted by Guatemala differ in application in France and Guatemala. According to the French civil law, crimes of individual were viewed keeping in mind the relationship shared by the individual charged with criminal offences and his or her society. Due to this, French governments insists more on investigation procedure, thus making the while legal procedure a lengthy one. Also, French c ivil laws consider and accept every single provision, through which the accused could defend itself. The laws also hold any individual guilty only after his guilt is proven in the court of law. The French civil laws also support abolition of torture. This implies that the neither the accused nor the criminals could be subjected to cruelty and barbarism under any situation4 In France, the prisoners are even allowed to vote. Also they are not made to work or they have to attend any educational

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Report 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Report 1 - Essay Example The image of an organization can be negatively affected by a dress code that does not mirror seriousness. The Canadian Workplace All workers in Canada have a right to dress according to their tastes so long as their preferences do not collide with workplace stipulations (Krahn, Hughes, & Lowe, 2010). Sometimes, there are rules created by corporations about what is appropriate that infringe on the workers’ personal rights. For example, there are companies that do not approve of workers with tattoos, dreadlocks, beards, and facial rings. The rules of such corporations can be rendered irrelevant by court rulings, though this is not always what happens when the workers of such corporations sue them. Business owners and corporate directors in such cases are usually required to provide evidence that justifies the existence of such rules. Sometimes, employers provide valid reasons that result in courts upholding their rules on the appropriate dress codes. For example, manufacturing p lants that have a lot of machinery have a right to require that their workers remove all facial jewelry because it might get caught in the machines and seriously injure them. Since some employers are the creators of their own companies, they have a right to determine whether their workers should wear uniforms or dress in regular clothes. The only issue that employees can complain about are those to do with decency. For example, bar owners have no right to force their waiters and waitresses to dress in skimpy outfits that make them uncomfortable. If a worker sues his or her employer for being dismissed after refusing to wear skimpy clothes, a court can make the decision that the dismissal was unnecessary if it is established that the employer’s preferred dress code for workers was unreasonable. Moreover, there are sporadic cases where bar owners who have such dress codes have been allowed to dismiss workers who refuse to don skimpy outfits. In such cases, the bar owners proved in court that they had included information in previous work notices that informed potential workers about the type of work, as well as workplace uniform, that they would have to wear when working. In most cases where Canadian companies have dress codes that do not require that workers don indecent clothing, however, courts usually side with the employers. This is because the dress codes in such cases are usually enforced to prevent accidents in the workplace. For example, safety boots and gloves protect against accidents in the workplace. Employers have the right to implement dress codes when seeking to protect their workers so long as they explain their reasons for this to their employees. In some workplaces in Canada, workers are expected to dress in uniforms. Nurses, restaurant workers, and police officers are an example of workers who regularly don uniforms when at work. Their uniforms identify them to the public and enforce consistency in the labourforce. For nurses, their un iforms do not only identify them to the public, but also serve to protect their patients from catching any germs from the nurses who work with different patients all through the day. For restaurant workers, donning hair coverings is a way of stopping hair strands from falling into the food they serve to the customers.

Friday, January 31, 2020

Adversary vs. Civil Law Essay Example for Free

Adversary vs. Civil Law Essay The two legal systems in question are the adversary system, most commonly practiced in the United States, and the civil law system, also referred to as the inquisitorial system, most commonly practiced in European countries. Both systems have the same goal; to find the truth. However, each system has a very different path to justice. The adversarial system implies that two parties assume opposite positions in debating the guilt or innocence of an individual. In this scenario, the judge is required to be neutral at the contest unfolding before him or her. The role of the judge in this arrangement is to ensure the trial proceeds according to the procedural rules of trial or due process of law and that evidence entered is done so accordingly. The basis of this approach in criminal matters in which two sides engage in debate and battle about the guilt or innocence of an accused and since each side wants to win, then the debate will foster a critical look at the issues and the evidence to be examined by both parties. See more:Â  Masters of Satire: John Dryden and Jonathan Swift Essay By engaging in this discourse, the truth should emerge as the judge watches on. This means that the roles played on both sides are very distinct. The defense counsel as one adversarial party gather the arguments to defend the client and attacks the credibility and worthiness of the evidence presented. The prosecutor puts forth the arguments on behalf of the state and gathers and presents the evidence pointing that the accused has committed an offense. The judge is the referee and arbitrator on issues related to clarifying what the law is. The judge does not intervene on any side except where procedural fairness is jeopardized by either party as dictated by the Sixth Amendment. In an inquisitorial system, a judge is involved in the preparation of evidence along with the police and in how the various parties are to present their case at the trial. The judge questions witnesses in depth and can even call witnesses to appear while prosecution and defense parties can ask follow up questio ns. The judge plays the central role in finding the truth and all the evidence that either proves the innocence or guilt of the accused before the court. The judge takes on the role of prosecutor and judge in the inquisitorial system. Some other major distinctions is that there are no jury trials in an inquisitorial system and a judge can force an accused to make statements and answer questions. This differs dramatically from the common law and adversarial right not to take the stand in ones own defense. In my opinion, I prefer an adversarial system. I think it does a better job of protecting the rights of those accused of crime than does the inquisitorial system. One of the key reasons for this is the use of juries in an adversarial system. In an inquisitorial system, judges determine the facts, and then make their decision. Often a small number of judges would make that decision, and perhaps even just one man. In contrast, a jury is made up of 12 people, not always which allows fo r a broader range of experiences and opinions, which ought to secure more consideration of what has been proved. Another weakness of the inquisitorial system is the role that the judges play. Not only do they act as the judge and the jury, they will often act as prosecutors. This is a huge conflict of interest, and is extremely harmful to the accused. A judge who is also acting as a prosecutor is not going to be unbiased, and will not act as a neutral decision maker. In an adversarial system, however, the prosecutor is separate from the judge, and appears before the judge like any other lawyer. The United State could never use the civil law system because of Constitutional problems. For instance, to avoid putting responsibility for the search of truth in the hands of judicial agents of the state the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to trial by jury but of course civil law countries generally do not use juries except for certain countries in capital cases. Other rights include the right to effective council; to testify on his/her behalf; to compel the testimony of others; to confront accusers; and the right to cross examination. The Fifth Amendment privilege of self-incrimination further limits the powers of the states. Good job identifying multiple c onstitutional problems and pointing out where the protections are found in the Constitution. Case in Point: State of New Mexico v Valdez, 95 N.M 70 (Supreme Ct. of N.M., 1980) underline or italicize case name The defendant in this case, Richard Valdez, had been convicted of armed robbery in a district court. He appealed since a fellow inmate, Richard Garcia, had confessed to the crime in front of his former attorney, Alice Hector, who was a public defender. Also present during the confession was Garcia’s attorney, a public defender under Hector, the district public defender. This attorney warned Garcia that Hector was not his attorney and any statement Garcia made would be used at the defendants trial and could be detrimental to his own interests. Garcia repeated his confession to Hector and indicated his willingness to testify on defendants behalf. Garcia later changed his mind and exercised his Fifth Amendment right refusing to testify. The court upheld an objection to Hect or’s testimony of the confession based on attorney-client privilege. Although Ms. Hector was not directly involved in the representation of Garcia, her staff was, and all information obtained by them was thereby imputed to her.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Nuclear Waste Essay -- Environment Pollution Papers

Nuclear Waste Australia is a major player in the grand scheme of the world’s energy needs. Its large land mass and geologic history has provided it with an extensive list of mineral resources. Australia, therefore, since the initial gold rushes of the 1850’s, has come to depend heavily on the mining industry. In particular, the discovery in the 1950’s of uranium and new coal deposits created a wave of mining that to present has proven to be quite profitable for the country’s economy.[1] Australia is unique in that it is the world’s second largest producer and exporter of uranium,[2] and â€Å"the world’s largest coal exporter.†[3] It comes as no surprise, therefore, that current energy issues regarding waste products hits close to home for Australia. However, Australia’s contributions to and use of fossil fuel and nuclear energy are all very different. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 has enabled Australia to assume a role that not only contributes to the efforts of emissions reductions, but also allows it to continue its economic benefits of coal mining. Solutions to and decisions about nuclear waste management, on the other hand, are much more difficult to come to. While Australia’s future in the coal industry will depend greatly on the results of the Kyoto Protocol, the future of nuclear waste management may eventually greatly depend on Australia. History of Mining and Nuclear Policy Due to its large production of coal, Australia has come to rely heavily on fossil fuels as its primary source of energy.[4] While it might seem appropriate that nuclear energy be another significant source, since uranium is a significant component of the fuel used to run nuclear reactors, this is not actually the case. Au... ... Zwaan, op cit. [20] Langer, â€Å"Nuclear waste management and the earth sciences† [21] â€Å"Nuclear Electricity, Sixth Edition, August 2000† [22] Ibid. [23] Holland, op cit. [24] Ibid. [25] Nuclear Waste Storage (Prohibition) Act 1999, in Holland, op cit. [26] Parliamentary Debates, Senate 26 August 1999 in Holland, op cit. [27] Prime Minister Howard in Holland, op cit. [28] Holland, op cit. [29] van der Zwaan, op cit. [30] â€Å"Nuclear Electricity, Sixth Edition, August 2000† [31] Holland, op cit. [32] â€Å"Nuclear Electricity, Sixth Edition, August 2000† [33] Langer, op cit. [34] Holland, op cit. [35] â€Å"Nuclear Electricity, Sixth Edition, August 2000† [36] Holland, op cit. [37] Ibid. [38] Senator Minchin in Holland, op cit. [39] van der Zwaan, op cit. [40] Ibid. [41] ENST 309 Lecture Notes. [42] Beardow, op cit.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

The Lost Symbol Chapter 24-25

CHAPTER 24 The revelation crashed over Langdon like a wave. I know why I am here. Standing in the center of the Rotunda, Langdon felt a powerful urge to turn and run away . . . from Peter's hand, from the shining gold ring, from the suspicious eyes of Sato and Anderson. Instead, he stood dead still, clinging more tightly to the leather daybag that hung on his shoulder. I've got to get out of here. His jaw clenched as his memory began replaying the scene from that cold morning, years ago in Cambridge. It was six A.M. and Langdon was entering his classroom as he always did following his ritual morning laps in the Harvard Pool. The familiar smells of chalk dust and steam heat greeted him as he crossed the threshold. He took two steps toward his desk but stopped short. A figure was waiting there for him–an elegant gentleman with an aquiline face and regal gray eyes. â€Å"Peter?† Langdon stared in shock. Peter Solomon's smile flashed white in the dimly lit room. â€Å"Good morning, Robert. Surprised to see me?† His voice was soft, and yet there was power there. Langdon hurried over and warmly shook his friend's hand. â€Å"What in the world is a Yale blue blood doing on the Crimson campus before dawn?† â€Å"Covert mission behind enemy lines,† Solomon said, laughing. He motioned to Langdon's trim waistline. â€Å"Laps are paying off. You're in good shape.† â€Å"Just trying to make you feel old,† Langdon said, toying with him. â€Å"It's great to see you, Peter. What's up?† â€Å"Short business trip,† the man replied, glancing around the deserted classroom. â€Å"I'm sorry to drop in on you like this, Robert, but I have only a few minutes. There's something I needed to ask you . . . in person. A favor.† That's a first. Langdon wondered what a simple college professor could possibly do for the man who had everything. â€Å"Anything at all,† he replied, pleased for any opportunity to do something for someone who had given him so much, especially when Peter's life of good fortune had also been marred by so much tragedy. Solomon lowered his voice. â€Å"I was hoping you would consider looking after something for me.† Langdon rolled his eyes. â€Å"Not Hercules, I hope.† Langdon had once agreed to take care of Solomon's hundred-fifty-pound mastiff, Hercules, during Solomon's travels. While at Langdon's home, the dog apparently had become homesick for his favorite leather chew toy and had located a worthy substitute in Langdon's study–an original vellum, hand-calligraphed, illuminated Bible from the 1600s. Somehow â€Å"bad dog† didn't quite seem adequate. â€Å"You know, I'm still searching for a replacement,† Solomon said, smiling sheepishly. â€Å"Forget it. I'm glad Hercules got a taste of religion.† Solomon chuckled but seemed distracted. â€Å"Robert, the reason I came to see you is I'd like you to keep an eye on something that is quite valuable to me. I inherited it a while back, but I'm no longer comfortable leaving it in my home or in my office.† Langdon immediately felt uncomfortable. Anything â€Å"quite valuable† in Peter Solomon's world had to be worth an absolute fortune. â€Å"How about a safe-deposit box?† Doesn't your family have stock in half the banks in America? â€Å"That would involve paperwork and bank employees; I'd prefer a trusted friend. And I know you can keep secrets.† Solomon reached in his pocket and pulled out a small package, handing it to Langdon. Considering the dramatic preamble, Langdon had expected something more impressive. The package was a small cube-shaped box, about three inches square, wrapped in faded brown packing paper and tied with twine. From the package's heavy weight and size, it felt like its contents must be rock or metal. This is it? Langdon turned the box in his hands, now noticing the twine had been carefully secured on one side with an embossed wax seal, like an ancient edict. The seal bore a double-headed phoenix with the number 33 emblazoned on its chest–the traditional symbol of the highest degree of Freemasonry. â€Å"Really, Peter,† Langdon said, a lopsided grin creeping across his face. â€Å"You're the Worshipful Master of a Masonic lodge, not the pope. Sealing packages with your ring?† Solomon glanced down at his gold ring and gave a chuckle. â€Å"I didn't seal this package, Robert. My great-grandfather did. Almost a century ago.† Langdon's head snapped up. â€Å"What?!† Solomon held up his ring finger. â€Å"This Masonic ring was his. After that, it was my grandfather's, then my father's . . . and eventually mine.† Langdon held up the package. â€Å"Your great-grandfather wrapped this a century ago and nobody has opened it?† â€Å"That's right.† â€Å"But . . . why not?† Solomon smiled. â€Å"Because it's not time.† Langdon stared. â€Å"Time for what?† â€Å"Robert, I know this will sound odd, but the less you know, the better. Just put this package somewhere safe, and please tell no one I gave it to you.† Langdon searched his mentor's eyes for a glint of playfulness. Solomon had a propensity for dramatics, and Langdon wondered if he wasn't being played a bit here. â€Å"Peter, are you sure this isn't just a clever ploy to make me think I've been entrusted with some kind of ancient Masonic secret so I'll be curious and decide to join?† â€Å"The Masons do not recruit, Robert, you know that. Besides, you've already told me you'd prefer not to join.† This was true. Langdon had great respect for Masonic philosophy and symbolism, and yet he had decided never to be initiated; the order's vows of secrecy would prevent him from discussing Freemasonry with his students. It had been for this same reason that Socrates had refused to formally participate in the Eleusinian Mysteries. As Langdon now regarded the mysterious little box and its Masonic seal, he could not help but ask the obvious question. â€Å"Why not entrust this to one of your Masonic brothers?† â€Å"Let's just say I have an instinct it would be safer stored outside the brotherhood. And please don't let the size of this package fool you. If what my father told me is correct, then it contains something of substantial power.† He paused. â€Å"A talisman, of sorts.† Did he say a talisman? By definition, a talisman was an object with magical powers. Traditionally, talismans were used for bringing luck, warding off evil spirits, or aiding in ancient rituals. â€Å"Peter, you do realize that talismans went out of vogue in the Middle Ages, right?† Peter laid a patient hand on Langdon's shoulder. â€Å"I know how this sounds, Robert. I've known you a long time, and your skepticism is one of your greatest strengths as an academic. It is also your greatest weakness. I know you well enough to know you're not a man I can ask to believe . . . only to trust. So now I am asking you to trust me when I tell you this talisman is powerful. I was told it can imbue its possessor with the ability to bring order from chaos.† Langdon could only stare. The idea of â€Å"order from chaos† was one of the great Masonic axioms. Ordo ab chao. Even so, the claim that a talisman could impart any power at all was absurd, much less the power to bring order from chaos. â€Å"This talisman,† Solomon continued, â€Å"would be dangerous in the wrong hands, and unfortunately, I have reason to believe powerful people want to steal it from me.† His eyes were as serious as Langdon could ever recall. â€Å"I would like you to keep it safe for me for a while. Can you do that?† That night, Langdon sat alone at his kitchen table with the package and tried to imagine what could possibly be inside. In the end, he simply chalked it up to Peter's eccentricity and locked the package in his library's wall safe, eventually forgetting all about it. That was . . . until this morning. The phone call from the man with the southern accent. â€Å"Oh, Professor, I almost forgot!† the assistant had said after giving Langdon the specifics of his travel arrangements to D.C. â€Å"There is one more thing Mr. Solomon requested.† â€Å"Yes?† Langdon replied, his mind already moving to the lecture he had just agreed to give. â€Å"Mr. Solomon left a note here for you.† The man began reading awkwardly, as if trying to decipher Peter's penmanship. â€Å"`Please ask Robert . . . to bring . . . the small, sealed package I gave him many years ago.' † The man paused. â€Å"Does this make any sense to you?† Langdon felt surprised as he recalled the small box that had been sitting in his wall safe all this time. â€Å"Actually, yes. I know what Peter means.† â€Å"And you can bring it?† â€Å"Of course. Tell Peter I'll bring it.† â€Å"Wonderful.† The assistant sounded relieved. â€Å"Enjoy your speech tonight. Safe travels.† Before leaving home, Langdon had dutifully retrieved the wrapped package from the back of his safe and placed it in his shoulder bag. Now he was standing in the U.S. Capitol, feeling certain of only one thing. Peter Solomon would be horrified to know how badly Langdon had failed him. CHAPTER 25 My God, Katherine was right. As usual. Trish Dunne stared in amazement at the search-spider results that were materializing on the plasma wall before her. She had doubted the search would turn up any results at all, but in fact, she now had over a dozen hits. And they were still coming in. One entry in particular looked quite promising. Trish turned and shouted in the direction of the library. â€Å"Katherine? I think you'll want to see this!† It had been a couple of years since Trish had run a search spider like this, and tonight's results astounded her. A few years ago, this search would have been a dead end. Now, however, it seemed that the quantity of searchable digital material in the world had exploded to the point where someone could find literally anything. Incredibly, one of the keywords was a word Trish had never even heard before . . . and the search even found that. Katherine rushed through the control-room door. â€Å"What have you got?† â€Å"A bunch of candidates.† Trish motioned to the plasma wall. â€Å"Every one of these documents contains all of your key phrases verbatim.† Katherine tucked her hair behind her ear and scanned the list. â€Å"Before you get too excited,† Trish added, â€Å"I can assure you that most of these documents are not what you're looking for. They're what we call black holes. Look at the file sizes. Absolutely enormous. They're things like compressed archives of millions of e-mails, giant unabridged encyclopedia sets, global message boards that have been running for years, and so forth. By virtue of their size and diverse content, these files contain so many potential keywords that they suck in any search engine that comes anywhere near them.† Katherine pointed to one of the entries near the top of the list. â€Å"How about that one?† Trish smiled. Katherine was a step ahead, having found the sole file on the list that had a small file size. â€Å"Good eyes. Yeah, that's really our only candidate so far. In fact, that file's so small it can't be more than a page or so.† â€Å"Open it.† Katherine's tone was intense. Trish could not imagine a one-page document containing all the strange search strings Katherine had provided. Nonetheless, when she clicked and opened the document, the key phrases were there . . . crystal clear and easy to spot in the text. Katherine strode over, eyes riveted to the plasma wall. â€Å"This document is . . . redacted?† Trish nodded. â€Å"Welcome to the world of digitized text.† Automatic redaction had become standard practice when offering digitized documents. Redaction was a process wherein a server allowed a user to search the entire text, but then revealed only a small portion of it–a teaser of sorts–only that text immediately flanking the requested keywords. By omitting the vast majority of the text, the server avoided copyright infringement and also sent the user an intriguing message: I have the information you're searching for, but if you want the rest of it, you'll have to buy it from me. â€Å"As you can see,† Trish said, scrolling through the heavily abridged page, â€Å"the document contains all of your key phrases.† Katherine stared up at the redaction in silence. Trish gave her a minute and then scrolled back to the top of the page. Each of Katherine's key phrases was underlined in capital letters and accompanied by a small sample of teaser text–the two words that appeared on either side of the requested phrase. Trish could not imagine what this document was referring to. And what the heck is a â€Å"symbolon†? Katherine stepped eagerly toward the screen. â€Å"Where did this document come from? Who wrote it?† Trish was already working on it. â€Å"Give me a second. I'm trying to chase down the source.† â€Å"I need to know who wrote this,† Katherine repeated, her voice intense. â€Å"I need to see the rest of it.† â€Å"I'm trying,† Trish said, startled by the edge in Katherine's tone. Strangely, the file's location was not displaying as a traditional Web address but rather as a numeric Internet Protocol address. â€Å"I can't unmask the IP,† Trish said. â€Å"The domain name's not coming up. Hold on.† She pulled up her terminal window. â€Å"I'll run a traceroute.† Trish typed the sequence of commands to ping all the â€Å"hops† between her control room's machine and whatever machine was storing this document. â€Å"Tracing now,† she said, executing the command. Traceroutes were extremely fast, and a long list of network devices appeared almost instantly on the plasma wall. Trish scanned down . . . down . . . through the path of routers and switches that connected her machine to . . . What the hell? Her trace had stopped before reaching the document's server. Her ping, for some reason, had hit a network device that swallowed it rather than bouncing it back. â€Å"It looks like my traceroute got blocked,† Trish said. Is that even possible? â€Å"Run it again.† Trish launched another traceroute and got the same result. â€Å"Nope. Dead end. It's like this document is on a server that is untraceable.† She looked at the last few hops before the dead end. â€Å"I can tell you, though, it's located somewhere in the D.C. area.† â€Å"You're kidding.† â€Å"Not surprising,† Trish said. â€Å"These spider programs spiral out geographically, meaning the first results are always local. Besides, one of your search strings was `Washington, D.C.' â€Å" â€Å"How about a `who is' search?† Katherine prompted. â€Å"Wouldn't that tell you who owns the domain?† A bit lowbrow, but not a bad idea. Trish navigated to the â€Å"who is† database and ran a search for the IP, hoping to match the cryptic numbers to an actual domain name. Her frustration was now tempered by rising curiosity. Who has this document? The â€Å"who is† results appeared quickly, showing no match, and Trish held up her hands in defeat. â€Å"It's like this IP address doesn't exist. I can't get any information about it at all.† â€Å"Obviously the IP exists. We've just searched a document that's stored there!† True. And yet whoever had this document apparently preferred not to share his or her identity. â€Å"I'm not sure what to tell you. Systems traces aren't really my thing, and unless you want to call in someone with hacking skills, I'm at a loss.† â€Å"Do you know someone?† Trish turned and stared at her boss. â€Å"Katherine, I was kidding. It's not exactly a great idea.† â€Å"But it is done?† She checked her watch. â€Å"Um, yeah . . . all the time. Technically it's pretty easy.† â€Å"Who do you know?† â€Å"Hackers?† Trish laughed nervously. â€Å"Like half the guys at my old job.† â€Å"Anyone you trust?† Is she serious? Trish could see Katherine was dead serious. â€Å"Well, yeah,† she said hurriedly. â€Å"I know this one guy we could call. He was our systems security specialist–serious computer geek. He wanted to date me, which kind of sucked, but he's a good guy, and I'd trust him. Also, he does freelance.† â€Å"Can he be discreet?† â€Å"He's a hacker. Of course he can be discreet. That's what he does. But I'm sure he'd want at least a thousand bucks to even look–â€Å" â€Å"Call him. Offer him double for fast results.† Trish was not sure what made her more uncomfortable–helping Katherine Solomon hire a hacker . . . or calling a guy who probably still found it impossible to believe a pudgy, redheaded metasystems analyst would rebuff his romantic advances. â€Å"You're sure about this?† â€Å"Use the phone in the library,† Katherine said. â€Å"It's got a blocked number. And obviously don't use my name.† â€Å"Right.† Trish headed for the door but paused when she heard Katherine's iPhone chirp. With luck, the incoming text message might be information that would grant Trish a reprieve from this distasteful task. She waited as Katherine fished the iPhone from her lab coat's pocket and eyed the screen. Katherine Solomon felt a wave of relief to see the name on her iPhone. At last. PETER SOLOMON â€Å"It's a text message from my brother,† she said, glancing over at Trish. Trish looked hopeful. â€Å"So maybe we should ask him about all this . . . before we call a hacker?† Katherine eyed the redacted document on the plasma wall and heard Dr. Abaddon's voice. That which your brother believes is hidden in D.C. . . . it can be found. Katherine had no idea what to believe anymore, and this document represented information about the far-fetched ideas with which Peter had apparently become obsessed. Katherine shook her head. â€Å"I want to know who wrote this and where it's located. Make the call.† Trish frowned and headed for the door. Whether or not this document would be able to explain the mystery of what her brother had told Dr. Abaddon, there was at least one mystery that had been solved today. Her brother had finally learned how to use the text-messaging feature on the iPhone Katherine had given him. â€Å"And alert the media,† Katherine called after Trish. â€Å"The great Peter Solomon just sent his first text message.† In a strip-mall parking lot across the street from the SMSC, Mal'akh stood beside his limo, stretching his legs and waiting for the phone call he knew would be coming. The rain had stopped, and a winter moon had started to break through the clouds. It was the same moon that had shone down on Mal'akh through the oculus of the House of the Temple three months ago during his initiation. The world looks different tonight. As he waited, his stomach growled again. His two-day fast, although uncomfortable, was critical to his preparation. Such were the ancient ways. Soon all physical discomforts would be inconsequential. As Mal'akh stood in the cold night air, he chuckled to see that fate had deposited him, rather ironically, directly in front of a tiny church. Here, nestled between Sterling Dental and a minimart, was a tiny sanctuary. LORD'S HOUSE OF GLORY. Mal'akh gazed at the window, which displayed part of the church's doctrinal statement: WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS BEGOTTEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND IS BOTH TRUE MAN AND GOD. Mal'akh smiled. Yes, Jesus is indeed both–man and God–but a virgin birth is not the prerequisite for divinity. That is not how it happens. The ring of a cell phone cut the night air, quickening his pulse. The phone that was now ringing was Mal'akh's own–a cheap disposable phone he had purchased yesterday. The caller ID indicated it was the call he had been anticipating. A local call, Mal'akh mused, gazing out across Silver Hill Road toward the faint moonlit outline of a zigzag roofline over the treetops. Mal'akh flipped open his phone. â€Å"This is Dr. Abaddon,† he said, tuning his voice deeper. â€Å"It's Katherine,† the woman's voice said. â€Å"I finally heard from my brother.† â€Å"Oh, I'm relieved. How is he?† â€Å"He's on his way to my lab right now,† Katherine said. â€Å"In fact, he suggested you join us.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† Mal'akh feigned hesitation. â€Å"In your . . . lab?† â€Å"He must trust you deeply. He never invites anyone back there.† â€Å"I suppose maybe he thinks a visit might help our discussions, but I feel like it's an intrusion.† â€Å"If my brother says you're welcome, then you're welcome. Besides, he said he has a lot to tell us both, and I'd love to get to the bottom of what's going on.† â€Å"Very well, then. Where exactly is your lab?† â€Å"At the Smithsonian Museum Support Center. Do you know where that is?† â€Å"No,† Mal'akh said, staring across the parking lot at the complex. â€Å"I'm actually in my car right now, and I have a guidance system. What's the address?† â€Å"Forty-two-ten Silver Hill Road.† â€Å"Okay, hold on. I'll type it in.† Mal'akh waited for ten seconds and then said, â€Å"Ah, good news, it looks like I'm closer than I thought. The GPS says I'm only about ten minutes away.† â€Å"Great. I'll phone the security gate and tell them you're coming through.† â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"I'll see you shortly.† Mal'akh pocketed the disposable phone and looked out toward the SMSC. Was I rude to invite myself? Smiling, he now pulled out Peter Solomon's iPhone and admired the text message he had sent Katherine several minutes earlier. Got your messages. All's fine. Busy day. Forgot appointment with Dr. Abaddon. Sorry not to mention him sooner. Long story. Am headed to lab now. If available, have Dr. Abaddon join us inside. I trust him fully, and I have much to tell you both. –Peter Not surprisingly, Peter's iPhone now pinged with an incoming reply from Katherine. peter, congrats on learning to text! relieved you're okay. spoke to dr. A., and he is coming to lab. see you shortly! –k Clutching Solomon's iPhone, Mal'akh crouched down under his limousine and wedged the phone between the front tire and the pavement. This phone had served Mal'akh well . . . but now it was time it became untraceable. He climbed behind the wheel, put the car in gear, and crept forward until he heard the sharp crack of the iPhone imploding. Mal'akh put the car back in park and stared out at the distant silhouette of the SMSC. Ten minutes. Peter Solomon's sprawling warehouse housed over thirty million treasures, but Mal'akh had come here tonight to obliterate only the two most valuable. All of Katherine Solomon's research. And Katherine Solomon herself.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Interpreting The Role Of Nurses During Kerala s Public...

Research Proposal Interpreting the Role of Nurses in Kerala’s Public Health Care System Name of the Guide: Dr. Mathew George Pallavi Muraleedharan Enrollment Number: M2015HE018 Master of Health Administration (2015-17) 1. INTRODUCTION The shortage of qualified human resources in the health sector is a major challenge India is currently facing. 18% of the primary health centers are without a doctor and out of the 52% sanctioned posts for specialists at CHCs that remain vacant, 55% are for surgeons, 48% are for obstetricians and gynecologists, 55% are for physicians and about 47% for pediatricians (Rao et al. 2011). As a consequence, the worst hit are the people from the rural sections and other marginalized communities. Although the proportions may be different in the case of Kerala, the reality is not quite promising either. The shortage of MBBS graduates to serve under the National Health Mission on contract in government hospitals is an issue of concern for the NHM authorities in Kerala (The Hindu 2015). The reluctance of the doctors to serve in the rural areas is also evident. In situations such as these it is imperative to adopt prudent alternative courses of action. The Planning Commission’s HLEG report suggests that a new cadre of mid-level practitioners called the BRHC with a 3-year training should be introduced to meet the growing needs especially in the underserved areas. It is also worth considering what can be done to the existing HR. Why not utilize