Monday, August 24, 2020

Critical analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Basic examination - Essay Example These can offer the workers a solid foundation for the point of accomplishing a serious edge (Enrensal, 2006, p.17). A vocation is named as an individual’s occupation that manages how an individual gains their living. Vocation the executives envelops the procedure where individuals contribute their assets for the point of accomplishing profession destinations (VonHippel et al, 2000, p.102). Profession the board is certainly not a one day undertaking but instead a drawn out procedure that is essential for the adjustment of the advancing requests of the 21st century’s economy. Different monetary changes occurring in the economy will in general greatly affect the salary dispersions and business openings accessible on the planet. During profession the board meetings, workers are prepared on the reception of appropriate convictions, mentalities, and qualities that fit in today’s work condition. Profession guidance given to people helps with changing their working prac tices just as to help them in self revelation so as to address the issues of bosses who are exceptionally affected by impacts of globalization (Gray, 2002, p.445). Overall rivalry, innovative change, and modifications in purchaser inclinations have enormously affected on the quality and the kind of work accessible in this way requiring the requirement for associations to set out on profession the executives rehearses. Vocation the board in this manner takes two structures; can either be directed at an authoritative level or at an individual level. In todays advertise settings rivalry and the cost financial aspects presents a great deal of instabilities in the activity showcase. Then again rivalry and development ventures are opening a satiate of chances for the individuals to choose from (Personal Career the executives, 2012). New position openings and related dangers brings about the activity advertise getting amazingly eccentric. In this kind of dubious condition, it is in the end the job of a person to settle on their own choices on what to seek after for the favored profession. The individual aspirations connected to the up and coming business advancements are utilized to take care of business the individual vocation choices. An association for this situation can attempt to help the profession desires of an individual; if at all the vocation is falling in accordance with the objectives of the association. In this way with the thought of professions in the contemporary world, an individual is required to alter the manner in which vocations were seen customarily. An occupation is not, at this point a simple methods for getting cash but instead ought to be taken a gander at as a methods for procuring information. As much as the individual is taking a shot at meeting the destinations of the organization, the individual in question is additionally making reinforcing their aptitude for the point profession improvement (Alagse, 2012). Vocation the executives is n amed as the underlying duty of any person. Seeking after of the favored profession by an individual is a long procedure where he unendingly gets the opportunity to learn things relating to his character, reason, premiums and capacities. It calls for thoroughness and much concentration at every single step of vocation the board. This specific individual should unremittingly audit their assignments and attempt to think of elective viewpoint of the activity, which helps with improving an individual’s experience. An interfered with relook at the present place of employment and the association that an individual is serving nearby the accessible open doors in the outside world will empower a person

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Public Policy and the rise of Business Enterprise Essay

Open Policy and the ascent of Business Enterprise - Essay Example Because of the extreme financial downturn and different components, the car business was working less than impressive. A general recognition was made among people in general in order to detest the vehicle business in such a way, that the overall population was made to begrudge the car specialist on account of the expanded pay rate inside the car business. This desirous open approach prompted a serious droop inside the car business and huge numbers of the car makers had to practically finish off their activities inside the zone however this disposition later changed and the change was brought upon by the Obama organization. Government Support to Home industry The other primary intense subject matter that has prompted such a commotion in this article is on the grounds that all these Big three American vehicle producers, who at once, were going to fail and it was just the Obama organization that helped the car business by offering them the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to endure the panic and arrive at such a situation as depicted in this article. Partners Stakeholders of the American car industry were additionally a piece of this whole situation and all the various gatherings of the partners had their very own enthusiasm for this. The significant partners worried about the American car industry would be the proprietors of the vehicle producer, the workers inside these car fabricating organizations, the legislature, the clients and the providers of these car makers with every single partner having an individual intrigue. The proprietors would be stressed over their own ventures inside the organization and with this expansion in deals; the proprietors would get enchanted as their profits would increment. The administration would be stressed over the expanded degree of joblessness had these vehicle producers stopped to worked because of chapter 11. The improved figures in income would have spared the employments. The representatives would have been influenced had they been excess, the expanded income have given them a desire for enduring. The clients would need to purchase vehicles at significant expenses if the car producer would have shut because of chapter 11. The providers would need to discover interchange clients if these organizations would have shut (Drives, 2011). Strategy choices and execution Public approach is typically an administration activity taken so as to answer a specific issue inside a nation; these moves are made regarding the legitimate and the regulatory conventions winning in the nation. The primary issue inside the article is the example of overcoming adversity of the American car producer specifically Chrysler, General Motors and Ford. The example of overcoming adversity begins with the underlying disappointment that of these 3 major automaker producers and how the administration and the work staff cooperated to assist organizations with enjoying Chrysler and General Motors. The United Auto Workers cooperated w ith General Motors to keep the Work power unblemished when General Motor was going to fail. All the more as of late, both General Motors and the United Auto Workers association are settling on to agree so fixed expenses can be decreased inside General Motors. This shows how the organization is functioning all together

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

10 Opening Lines That Are Straight Up Killing Your Cover Letter

10 Opening Lines That Are Straight Up Killing Your Cover Letter QUICK INTRODUCTIONYou are just out of college and you saw a job advertisement for a job you really like, so you submitted your resume and cover letter â€" just as the job ad said you should do.However, weeks have passed by and you have not heard anything back from the employer. The reason for this may be that your cover letter did not capture the attention of the employer so that he or she wants to continue reading and getting to know more about you.The first thing you want to do is to get your potential employer impressed, not annoyed. In fact, you want to be able to give an awesome first impression of yourself â€" such that they cannot reject your job application.So what is the first thing you should do to achieve this? You should amaze them with your well-written job-winning cover letter.WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?Firstly, what is a cover letter?It is a letter or written communication that serves to introduce an accompanying document or introduces a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). A cover letter helps to show why you are the best person for the job description and how you will be a great addition to the company.It also shows your capability to communicate your career objectives efficiently and to support your resume career summary.When it comes to preparing a cover letter as a part of a job application, many job seekers are filled with anxiety about experimenting with their cover letters.They are usually under the pressure to please the hiring manager, and it that pursuit they forget to show their personality in their job applications documentation.This is the major reason why their application would look lifeless and will not differentiate this applicant from other applicants. You should let your personality be seen clearly through the cover letter so you stand out from your competition applying for the same position.After several weeks or months of you searching for the perfect job and you have found it and now it is your turn to impress the employers with yo ur cover letter so you land and stand out in a job interview, so you get the job offer.A cover letter is the most effective way for you to introduce to the hiring or resource manager who you are, the things you have to offer, why you want the job and why you are the one to be offered the positionâ€"but you have a very limited period of time to do all of these things.Therefore, if you really want to attract the reader or employer’s attention, you have to start right.OPENING LINES OF COVER LETTERSOpening lines of cover letters are usually not very specific, but they do not need to be. Abby Locke, a speaker, writer, and president of Washington DC-based Premier Writing Solutions says Most cover letters usually begin with lines like, In response to your job advertisement, Im forwarding my resume for your review and consideration”.You should endeavor to make a very strong first impression by writing something spectacular and different â€" something that will clearly express the value you are offering.You can attract the attention of the reader of your cover letter by:emphasizing your accomplishmentsexpressing the reasons why you are interested in the jobstating the mission of the employer, andshowing how your strongest skills can contribute to the achievement of that mission.Abby Locke suggests that the road to writing a good cover letter is to start with writing a list of the best three ways you would make an impacton the organization.You should be able to ask yourself and answer questions such as What core competencies would enable me to surpass the norm in the position I am targeting?. Locke also emphasized on you answering how the employer would gain from hiring you.The ability to convey all these details in just a few lines seems impossible. The start of the cover letter should be very catchy, but not overselling especially if you are a student or graduate who has not even a year of experience for reference.You should ensure that your cover letter should be professional, but not boring â€" but be careful, as the borderline between those extremes is usually very blurry.It is an awesome idea to have several examples of cover letters you can look through to serve as a source of inspiration when you are desperate for one.Towards the end of this article, there will be few ideas on how to write killer opening lines for your cover letter; but firstly, let us see the top 10 opening lines that are straight up killing your cover letter10 OPENING LINES THAT ARE STRAIGHT UP KILLING YOUR COVER LETTER1. “Dear Sir/Madam”, “To whom it may concern” or “Dear recruiter”It is almost criminal to use a non-specific salutation to address your cover letter as you are admitting that you have not done your research and you do not know who and where are you applying for a job.Doing this also suggests that you are using a generic template and that you are sending the same cover letter to every employer you apply to for a job.Do not get me wrong â€" t emplates save time and you should use them for that reason as long as you rework it for the each specific employer.2. “My name is…”Your name is on your resume, your application form (if you had to complete one to apply for the job) and on your envelope/email which you used to submit your job application.It is also in your signature at the bottom of your cover letter so why waste valuable space to state your name once again at the beginning of it?Give credit to the hiring manager/recruiter for being able to figureout your name before starting to read your cover letter and instead, use these potentially only a few seconds you have to leave a mark on the reader by stating something that will convince them to start a conversation with you.3. “I am writing to express my interest in/for…”Of course, you are writing to express your interest in the advertised vacancy â€" otherwise, you would not be writing at all.Do not state the obvious and move on to saying why you are applying for the specific position and why are you excited by the prospect of getting it.4. “I have enclosed for your consideration my resume…”Similarly to the above, when submitting a cover letter as a part of a job application by default you do that to accompany your resume.The recruiter or the hiring manager will see your resume when they open your application, so again â€" there is no need to waste their time and space in the letter to state the obvious.5. “My qualifications for this job are…”Your resume will list all your qualifications in details, but can mention them in brief in your cover letter too but not at the very beginning.The start of the letter should grab the reader’s attention and many of the other applicants for the same job will probably share your qualifications, so that will not make you distinct in the eyes of the recruiter.You can do better when it comes to the opening line of your cover letter â€" keep reading for tips how you can achieve that.6. “My first job was [X], my second job was [X], my third job was…”Well, like this you have re-written your CV into your cover letter! Having your resume in two different places is not the way to sell yourself.Your cover letter is an opportunity for you to expand and add detail to the experiences and skills you have listed in your CV, as well as to prove to the potential employer that you are the best choice among the other applicants, so use it well!7. “I am probably not the best candidate, but”Oh, boy (imagine the reader facepalm as soon as they read this)! If you don’t believe in yourself and that you are the best candidate for the job, why would the recruiter?It is good to be modest and not come across as arrogant narcissist when writing your cover letter, but it is not good to set yourself for failure.Starting your cover letter with this sentence will give reasons to the recruiter to reject your application right off the bat.8. “This job will be the perfect opportunity to develop my skills”Big NO-NO! Telling your potential employer that you need this job because it will allow you to learn new or improve existing skills is a rookie mistake. Employers pay you for bringing your skills to their workplace â€" they are not a training school.Employers also know that a good employee will not be static at the new workplace, they will pick-up new skills and further develop their current skills but this should not be the main reason why you are applying for a given position.Instead, you should convince the reader in the first sentence that they should hire you because of the skills, abilities, attitudes, experience, and qualifications you bring to the table.9. “My mum/friend/family told me to apply for this job”Even if this was really the case, there is no need for the world to know this, especially not your future employer.No company wants employees who are not passionate about their work and their industry, as they know these employees have short caree r span.They will leave the company as soon as another opportunity closely matching their interests appears.So, do not start your cover letter with an information about who suggested you apply for the vacancy â€" ideally, this idea should have come out of your desire to work in that particular industry/company.10. “Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my application”Ok, you are polite â€" we get it. However, you will have your chance to thank the reader for their time reading your application at the end of the cover letter (once they have actually read it).Again â€" do not waste very limited space at the begging of your cover letter to say something that can be said somewhere else in the letter.Be smarter about how you use your cover letter “real-estate” as it will be either a very good or a very bad investment you will make for your future.HOW TO WRITE A KILLER OPENING LINE FOR YOUR COVER LETTERNow that we have seen what opening lines NOT to write, let us review few examples of good opening lines and few pieces of adviceon how to write the opening lines in cover letters that can help you bag the job that interests you.Use Powerful Words“As an expert in the field of financial planning, I have given financial advice for the executions of projects of different kinds both at large and small scale”. Using powerful words to describe yourself grabs the attention of the reader to your cover letter. Display of confidence in abilities is better than false humility.The job that you are applying for is requiring a certain amount of self-confidence and abilities and you need to have the experience to back up your claims.Some other examples of opening lines following this rule are:The position advertised by you sounds like a great match with the qualifications and skills that I have been able to acquire during [Here mention the relevant study program or job employment]…Financial analysis, project management, and research are my passions and areas o f expertise. Not only are these my passions, but also I believe these skills are the foundation for any project management professional. As an analytical financial manager, I excel at extracting data to understand where the company’ focus should be.As an experienced financial manager and former business owner, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to remain current with the fluctuations in the value of currency and inflation in the investment portfolio market without breaking the budget.As an event planner for ABC Company, I ensure seamless communication and marketing between all involved parties. By implementing new social media marketing tactics in the past year, I have doubled the attendance at all events organized by the company. Kill The Competition“While soldiers are eager to battle, strategists win the war. I am an artful strategist of my profession, different from my co-applicants in the following ways…” You should be able to differentiate yourself from your com petition. Ensure you use your most relevant accomplishment stories to explain your value to the company.Other examples of this are:“Unlike many other project cost managers, I ensure all parties know who is responsible for what, and when each part is due. I do this using my own system that I have used for 20+ years because it works. At any time, I can see the status of all activities. This ensures every project execution is on time and on a budget, plus we clearly see when we’ve succeeded, and what needs to be developed next time.”“After spending five years managing the internal finances for a 2,000-person company, I could plan a quarterly town hall project budget or draft an inter-office budget in my sleep. What do I want to do next? Put that experience to work consulting executives on their financial strategy.” Introduce The Leader In You“I coordinated the Annual Youth Science Expo which occurred for 340 hours, 30 volunteers in the course of five weeks.”Show that you can be involved in leadership or management. Breaking down the details allows the employers to understand your accomplishments.Some examples of opening lines are:“Through my years of experience in PR, I have established my skills and strength in social media, media networking and leading a group of team members. It is the combination of these skills that make me the best candidate for the PR Manager position.”“I am so happy your company needs a social media coordinator skilled at With my track record of boosting social networking by 55% increase in the number of followers through teamwork and creative leadership, I believe that Im a great fit. Kick-Off With Excitement“I have been excited since I discovered the opening in project management with your company…” Employers are attracted by those who seem to show excitement towards the job as this shows dedication.Other examples of similar opening lines are:“I was excited to find an opening in HR with ABC Company because yo ur work with XYZ Company has been important to me for a long time. I am the best candidate for this position because it combines my experience with HR and XYZ Company.”“As a long-time fan of ABC Company’s certifications, I was thrilled to see your vacancy. With my experience cutting costs 48% for XYZ Company while dropping lead times by nearly 20% and boosting quality, I believe I can be of help with ABC Company current market challenges as I continue to expand my personal skill set.”Quote The Trail Blazers“Accountability enables responsibility.” â€" J.K Rowling. As a manager who has gathered experiences over the years, I sincerely believe that the key to success in any work environment is accountability.”Have your work ethic described with a quote. Quotes tend to add more worth to your cover letter.Another example of how the use of quotes works effectively when you are applying for a job position is the following:“As sociologist John Hudson has observed: ‘A billio n hours ago, modern homo sapiens emerged. A billion minutes ago, Christianity began. A billion seconds ago, the IBM PC was released. A billion Google searches ago was this morning.’ I have chosen this quote as an introduction to my application as a social networkmanager because…”Use The Culture-Field-Skill (The Bridge) Formula“Born in Korea, studied in Canada and worked in China; my blend of cultures and Asian background may just be unprecedented! I am…” This opening line is usually used when the job demands a bridge between fields, countries or cultures.This also can be found in the following example:“Having finished my education in international relations and business, I’m interested in the opportunity to combine my passion for exploring cultures with my professional career. Your advertisement for the position as business development manager for the French market, therefore, appears very intriguing to me…”  Show Your Expertise“Two of my best aspects of exper tise are financial analysis and time management. In my years of experience in coordinating teams and meetings, I have been able to put these into full use…” The right keywords will make sure your cover letter is read. Illustrate your passions, dreams, and goals and use these to meet their needs.“ABC Companys marketing assistant opening is an excellent match to my qualifications. As a recent graduate of X University with a major in marketing and business, I offer solid academic credentials as well as industry experience gained from an internship at XYZ Company. If given the chance, I know that my strong business and marketing foundation would benefit your department, customers, and the company’s bottom line.”Name Your Referrer“In my recent conversation with your financial manager XY, I was informed about the opening in your Accounting Department and thus was suggested to apply for the job of…” You named your referrer to provide the employer with a point of reference t o go from. The employers will be interested to find out why your referrer thought you would be a good fit for the job â€" like in this example:“John Smith, your financial manager, suggested that I apply for this position because he knows firstly, that software solutions achieved 78% performance-to-goals at XYZ Company, and secondly â€" that you are looking for a software developer with efficiency and efficacy, which my CV shows.”Display Knowledge About The Company“Recently, your company was highlighted in the XXX Newspaper because of your partnership work with “Company ABC” whose work I follow…” Stating your knowledge about the company and their recent events can be a real turn-on. You can start your cover letter stating your knowledge of what they do and why you know so much about them.Some examples of cover letter opening lines of this kind are:“I recently read that your company is #2 on X Magazines list of top companies to work for in 2017 in this state.”“I re ad with great passion the article in X Magazine announcing the upcoming launch of your company’s branch in my area. Congratulations on this new venture and its impressive $20 million in pre-launch sales!”The Impact Making Man“When I learned that the ABS Company was recruiting new staff members, Istrongly felt that I had to apply. I have always been anticipating finding a company where I can make an impact.” You should speak as if you are already hired by the organization.Another example of opening lines such as this is:“When I discovered that ABC Company was hiring, I knew I had to apply. I’ve desired to find a company where I feel like I can make an impact even while working as” CONCLUSIONCreativity can bring you the job. Keep the cover letter simple and well detailed.The first few sentences in cover letters have a loaded task â€" they are to attract the attention of a recruiter who has already reviewed many applications.Then they need to convince a hiring manager to go deeper into your background to find out whether your skills and personality match the position they need to fill or whether you would be a benefit to the organization or not. It is your cover letter, it is your opening line, and it may be your ticket to that dream job.Do not underestimate it.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Recommendation For Current It Security Policy - 794 Words

Recommendation to Current IT Security Policy The systems approach to problem solving is used to analyze and identify mediatory provisions, see figure 2, Appendix D, Systems Approach to Problem Solving. Loss suffered in the Societe Generale Bank security breach was substantial because the perpetrator knew where to look to acquire access to financial information and circumvent existing security measures. This defined fraudulent behavior and solidified criteria for productive countermeasures. Prevention and risk management must be addressed by establishing policies and procedures and enforced by management at all levels. In accordance with Societe Generale Bank security policy these recommendations are proposed †¢ Implement institutional audits, including employee actions; †¢ Implement quarterly risk assessments; †¢ Implement quarterly security awareness training for all employees; †¢ Enforce separation of duties and least privilege; †¢ Implement access controls includes policies for account and password management and account termination; †¢ Perform regular review of organizational security risk, policies, and procedures and institute preparedness; and †¢ Provide multilayer secure access points for remote access gateways (Musthaler, 2008). Countermeasures Preemptive steps to sustain a secure landscape for Societe Generale Bank will include the first five out of seven identified recommendations focusing on audits, risk assessments, awareness training, separation of duties, andShow MoreRelatedEssay about Tft2 - Heart Healthy Task 11524 Words   |  7 PagesHealthy Information Security Policy Due to personnel, policy and system changes, and audits, Heart Healthy has voluntarily updated their information security policy to be in-line with the current information security laws and regulations. Currently Heart-Healthy Insurance, a large insurance company, plans to review and provide recommendations for an updated information security policy in the area ‘s of: 1. Current New Users Policy – The current new user section of the policy states: â€Å"New usersRead MoreTft2 Task 11519 Words   |  7 PagesHealthy Information Security Policy Due to personnel, policy and system changes, and audits, Heart Healthy has voluntarily updated their information security policy to be in-line with the current information security laws and regulations. Currently Heart-Healthy Insurance, a large insurance company, plans to review and provide recommendations for an updated information security policy in the area ‘s of: Current New Users Policy The current new user section of the policy states:   â€Å"New usersRead MoreCollaborative Technical And Comprehensive ( Ctch ) Security1700 Words   |  7 PagesCollaborative Technical and Comprehensive (CTCH) Security Business Consulting LLC is very grateful for the opportunity to provide a proposal for the ______ project. CTCH is a Security Consulting Firm that was founded by Calvin James Daniels in 2016 and is located in Lompoc, California. The firm’s motto is to â€Å"Bridge the gaps in security that exists between Industry Standards, Site Requirements and Client Expectations.† This industry approach enables CTCH to identify the individual needs of clientsRead MoreObama Administrations Policy Views on Cybersecurity1338 Words   |  6 PagesTitle Page Contents Introduction Obama Administration’s Policy Views on Cybersecurity 1.1. Enhancing Resilience 1.2. Reducing Threats Obama and Bush Administrations 1.3. Bush Administration 1.4. Policy Similarities 1.5. Policy Differences Recommendations for Improvements 1.6 Cyber Czar Position 1.7 International Organization and joint punishment Works Cited Introduction The following document will provide information pertaining to presidential administrationsRead MoreProtecting And Maintaining The Cia Triad1426 Words   |  6 PagesCIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability) of a company s information is essential to the organization s success, preventing the business disruption, regulatory compliance, legal and reputation issues that accompany information security compromise. Essential to managing confidentiality and integrity are tools that aid in Identity Management or â€Å"IdM† systems that facilitate and centralize the administration of identities which must be managed to ensure secure and robust accessRead MoreCase Analysis : Topaz Information Solutions1184 Words   |  5 Pagesor disclosure of protected health information (PHI) on behalf of or for a covered entity. As a business associate (BA), Topaz is required to complete an annual security risk assessment to evaluate the physical, administrative and technical safeguards implemented to comply with HIPAA’s Privacy and Security Rules. The Privacy and Security Rules require that a covered entity obtains satisfactory assurances from its business associates that the business associate appropriately safeguards the PHI itRead MoreThe Number And Certified Public Accountant1067 Words   |  5 Pages but does not have a Social Security number and the Return Preparer Office does not provide the CPA with a PTIN number. There is a conflict between the IRS and RPO policies. It is ironic that a CPA can represent a person before the Internal Revenue Service, but can not prepare income taxes for not having a PTIN number. This is a conflict created by the Register Preparer Office because a Social Security number is not a requirement. In relation to the Social Security number requirement to obtainRead MoreU.s. Politics, Citizen Safety, And Economy1390 Words   |  6 Pagescartels. The Mexican security crisis is no longer contained within their borders, and it is beginning to affect U.S politics, citizen safety, and economy. Based on my theoretical analysis, I recommend that: 1. Congress readdresses our militarized approach to security and control in Mexico and focuses on the other aspects of the Merida Initiative, such as modernizing the border and interacting with communities and citizens. 2. The United States should aim its drug policies away from suppressionRead MoreNational Cybersecurity Policies And Regulations Essay1255 Words   |  6 Pagesat home. The foundation of any mandated cybersecurity strategies that secure our nation national security must incorporate worldwide or state local threats whether targeted toward the federal government or the private sector forces. The OPM breach highlighted the insufficient and inconsistence security approaches the federal government has already used in modernizing the existing cybersecurity policies. There is a requirement for the United States government to institute polices that would incorporateRead MoreInformation Assurance Policies Developed Within The Title Insurance Industry1729 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction How are information assurance policies developed within the title insurance industry? While each organization can choose to follow its own path, there is an established set of best practices available. These best practices are available from the American Land Title Association, and they address most of the issues that are related to information assurance in the industry, but do these practices completely cover all of the necessary areas of information assurance or are there weaknesses

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Enron, An American Energy Company - 1587 Words

Enron Leadership One of the best examples recently seen relating to bad leadership is what took place within Enron. Throughout the late ‘90’s, Enron, an American energy company, was considered one of the country s most innovative companies; while the company continued to build power plants and operate gas lines, it became better known for its unique trading businesses (npr.org, 2014). It can be described as the ideal company for the dotcom-driven stock market boom of the 90s; Enron threw itself head-on onto the internet, and Wall Street loved it, rocketing its stock upward (npr.org, 2014). At the all-time high, Enron was worth $70 billion and its shares traded around $90 each (npr.org, 2014). All this ended when the company stated†¦show more content†¦At the top of this enormous fraud case was Kenneth Lay. The evidence will show the unethical tactics that took place, as well as how the leaders used these tactics in their strategy, using their power. Evidence will additio nally show the outcome of the Enron disaster and what could have been done differently. Unethical Tactics With a brief overview of Enron given, the unethical tactics that took place amongst the leadership in Enron is important for discussion. At the head of all the unethical tactics lay Kenneth Lay, CEO of Enron, who is the most recent and visible cases of alleged CEO failure to act accountable and responsible (Ferrell Ferrell, 2010). According to Ferrell and Ferrell (2010), no other high-ranking executive has had as much of an impact on the scrutiny of business ethics in America than Ken Lay, making Enron the ultimate example of corporate wrongdoing. Of the employees involved, there were 22 that were indicted or convicted; to show how deep the wrongdoings went, there were 130 unindicted co-conspirators that worked for Ken Lay (Ferrell Ferrell, 2010). This goes to show the influence, though negative, he had down the line. Culture plays a big part in organizations, and ethical rule bending was a part of the midlevel management corporate culture at Enron (Ferrell Ferrell, 2010). E nron has been described as having a culture of arrogance,

Orphanages in America Free Essays

Issue: Whether the United States’ policy shift away from institutional care is warranted given the benefits it provides. Description: The stigma associated with orphanages has lead policymakers in the United States to discourage the use of these institutional care facilities. The Social Security Act of 1935 authorized the first federal grants for child welfare services. We will write a custom essay sample on Orphanages in America or any similar topic only for you Order Now Since then, the federal government has continued to encourage states to adopt Foster Care as their main child welfare system. The policies encouraging Foster Care are in large part due to the government’s recognition that the nuclear family is a superior model for child development. This, coupled with the traditionally negative view of children being raised in group homes, has lead to many myths about institutional care and encouraged the public’s negative stereotype of these facilities. The government’s adverse position to institutional care must be disabused. It limits a form of childcare that is proven to be effective and beneficial. The reasons and history behind the government’s biased view of these facilities is still unclear. Orphanages offer many disadvantaged children distinct advantages over foster care, some of which are structure, stability, and a sense of permanence. Children’s homes permit siblings to stay together, afford children a chance to develop moral and religious values, encourage a sense of responsibility and work ethic, as well as much needed education and job-related skills. There is great potential for orphanages to meet the needs of the many children who currently languish for years in the modern foster care system. It is time for policymakers to recognize the distinct advantages institutional care can provide. Sources: Barth, R. P. (2002). Institutions vs. Foster Homes: The Empirical Base for the Second Century of Debate. Chapel Hill, NC: UNC, School of Social Work, Jordan Institute for Families Carp, E. Wayne, Orphanages: The Strength and Weakness of a Macroscopic View Second Home: Orphan Asylums and Poor Families in America by Timothy A. Hacsi. Reviews in American History, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Mar. , 1999), pp. 105-111. The Johns Hopkins University Press) Article Stable URL: http://0www. jstor. org. aquinas. avemarialaw. edu/stable/30031010 Dozier, M. , Zeanah, C. H. , Wallin, A. R. and Shauffer, C. (2012), Institutional Care for Young Children: Review of Literature and Policy Implications. Social Issues and Policy Review, 6:Â  1–25. doi:Â  10. 1111/j. 1751-2409. 2011. 01033. x Levesque, Roger J. R. , The Failures of Foster Care Reform: Revolutionizing the Most Radical Blueprint, 6 Md. J. Contemp. Legal Issues 1, 35 (1995) Nurith Zmora, Orphanages Reconsidered: Child Care Institutions in Progressive Era Baltimore (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1994) McKenzie, R. B. (Ed. ) (1999). Rethinking orphanages for the 21st century. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Whetten, K. , Ostermann, J. , Whetten, R. A. , Pence, B. W. , O’Donnell, K. , Messer, L. C. , . . . The Positive Outcomes for Orphans Research Team (2009). A comparison of the wellbeing of orphans and abandoned children ages 6–12 in institutional and community-based care settings? in 5 less wealthy nations. PLoS ONE, 4, e8169. doi: 10. 1371/journal. pone. 0008169. How to cite Orphanages in America, Papers

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Margaret Mead Was A Great Scientist, Explorer, Writer, And Teacher, Wh

Margaret Mead was a great scientist, explorer, writer, and teacher, who educated the human race in many different ways. In the next few paragraphs I will discuss the different ways Margaret Mead, Anthropologist, effected our society. Margaret Mead was born in Philadelphia on December 16, 1901, and was educated at Barnard College and at Columbia University. In 1926 she became assistant curator of ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and she served as associate curator and as curator. She was director of research in contemporary cultures at Columbia University from 1948 to 1950 and professor of anthropology there after 1954. Participating in several field expeditions, Mead conducted notable research in New Guinea, Samoa, and Bali. Much of her work was devoted to a study of patterns of child rearing in various cultures. She also analyzed many problems in contemporary American society, particularly those affecting young people. Her interests were varied, including childcare, adolescence, sexual behavior, and American character and culture. Margaret Mead taught generations of Americans about looking carefully and openly at other cultures to understand the complexities of being human. Margaret Mead brought the serious work of anthropology to public consciousness. Mead studied at Barnard College, where she met the great anthropologist Franz Boas. Franz Boas became her mentor and her advisor when she attended graduate school at Columbia University. Mead's work is largely responsible for the treasures on view in the Museum's Hall of Pacific Peoples. In addition to her work at the Museum, Margaret Mead taught, and wrote more best selling books. She contributed a regular column to Redbook magazine. She was also lectured, and was frequently interviewed on radio and television. A deeply committed activist, Mead often testified on social issues before the United States Congress and other Government agencies. Mead died in New York City on Nove mber 15, 1978. Mead Margaret was an American anthropologist, widely known for her studies of primitive societies and her contributions to social anthropology. She will be remembered everywhere by anthropologist all over the world.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Alfred Wegeners Hypothesis About Pangaea

Alfred Wegener's Hypothesis About Pangaea In 1912 a German meteorologist named Alfred Wegener (1880-1931) hypothesized a single proto-supercontinent that divided up into the continents we now know because of continental drift and plate tectonics. This hypothesis is called Pangaea because the Greek word pan means all and Gaea or Gaia (or Ge) was the Greek name of the divine personification of the Earth. Discover the science behind how Pangaea broke apart millions of years ago. A Single Supercontinent Pangaea, therefore, means all the Earth. Around the single protocontinent or Pangaea was a single ocean called Panthalassa (all the sea). More than 2,000,000 years ago, in the late Triassic Period, Pangaea broke apart. Although Pangaea is a hypothesis, the idea that all the continents once formed a single supercontinent makes sense when you look at the shapes of the continents and how well they essentially fit together. Paleozoic and Mesozoic Era Pangaea, also known as Pangea, existed as a supercontinent during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic time periods.  The Paleozoic geologic era translates to ancient life and is over 250 million years old. Considered a time of evolutionary transformation, it ended with one of the biggest extinction events on Earth taking over 30 million years to recover due to it being on land. The Mesozoic era refers to the time in between the Paleozoic and Cenozoic era and extended over 150 million years ago. The Synopsis by Alfred Wegener In his book The Origin of Continents and Oceans,  Wegener foretold plate tectonics and provided an explanation for continental drift. Despite this,  the book is received as both influential and controversial even today, due to the opposition divided amongst geologists regarding his geographic theories.  His research created a forward understanding of the technical and scientific logic before the shift was confirmed. For example, Wegener mentioned  the fit of South America and Africa, ancient climate similarities, fossil evidence, comparisons of rock structures and more. An  excerpt from the book below demonstrates his geological theory: "In the whole of geophysics, there is probably hardly another law of such clarity and reliability as this- that there are two preferential levels for the world’s surface which occur in alternation side by side and are represented by the continents and the ocean floors, respectively. It is therefore very surprising that scarcely anyone has tried to explain this law."- Alfred L. Wegener, Interesting Pangaea Facts In mythology, Hercules wrestled with the giant Antaeus, who gained his strength from his mother, Gaia.Pangea lasted over 300 million years ago  and started to break apart around 175 million years ago.The contemporary theory suggests that the Earths outer shell is broken up into several plates that move over the Earths rocky shell. This is what we know of plate tectonics today.The process of Pangaea was put together slowly over time.  In fact, it took a few hundred million years before it was formed.

Monday, March 2, 2020

The Definition of Mother Tongue Plus the Worlds Top 20

The Definition of Mother Tongue Plus the World's Top 20 The term mother tongue refers to a persons native language - that is, a language learned from birth. Also called a  first language, dominant language, home language, and native tongue  (although these terms are not  necessarily  synonymous).   Contemporary linguists and educators commonly use the term L1 to refer to a first or native language (the mother tongue) and the term L2 to refer to a second language or a foreign language thats being studied. Use of the Term Mother Tongue [T]he general usage of the term mother tongue...denotes not only the language one learns from ones mother, but also the speakers dominant and home language; i.e., not only the first language according to the time of acquisition, but the first with regard to its importance and the speakers ability to master its linguistic and communicative aspects. For example, if a language school advertises that all its teachers are native speakers of English, we would most likely complain if we later learned that although the teachers do have some vague childhood memories of the time when they talked to their mothers in English, they, however, grew up in some non-English-speaking country and are fluent in a second language only. Similarly, in translation theory, the claim that one should translate only into ones mother tongue is in fact a claim that one should only translate into ones first and dominant language. The vagueness of this term has led some researchers to claim...that different connotative meanings of the term mother tongue vary according to the intended usage of the word and that differences in understanding the term can have far-reaching and often political consequences. (Pokorn, N. Challenging the Traditional Axioms: Translation Into a Non-Mother Tongue. John Benjamins, 2005.) Culture and Mother Tongue It is the language community of the mother tongue, the language spoken in a region, which enables the process of enculturation, the growing of an individual into a particular system of linguistic perception of the world and participation in the centuries-old history of linguistic production. (Tulasiewicz, W. and A. Adams, What Is Mother Tongue? Teaching the Mother Tongue in a Multilingual Europe. Continuum, 2005.) Cultural power can...backfire when the choices of those who embrace Americanness in language, accent, dress, or choice of entertainment stir resentment in those who do not. Every time an Indian adopts an American accent and curbs his mother tongue influence, as the call centers label it, hoping to land a job, it seems more deviant, and frustrating, to have only an Indian accent.(Giridharadas, Anand. America Sees Little Return From Knockoff Power. The New York Times, June 4, 2010.) Myth and Ideology The notion of mother tongue is thus a mixture of myth and ideology. The family is not necessarily the place where languages are transmitted, and sometimes we observe breaks in transmission, often translated by a change of language, with children acquiring as first language the one that dominates in the milieu. This phenomenon...concerns all multilingual situations and most of the situations of migration.(Calvet, Louis Jean. Towards an Ecology of World Languages. Polity Press, 2006.) Top 20 Mother Tongues The mother tongue of more than three billion people is one of 20: Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, Javanese, German, Wu Chinese, Korean, French, Telugu, Marathi, Turkish, Tamil, Vietnamese, and Urdu. English is the lingua franca of the digital age, and those who use it as a second language may outnumber its native speakers by hundreds of millions. On every continent, people are forsaking their ancestral tongues for the dominant language of their region’s majority. Assimilation confers inarguable benefits, especially as internet use proliferates and rural youth gravitate to cities. But the loss of languages passed down for millennia, along with their unique arts and cosmologies, may have consequences that won’t be understood until it is too late to reverse them.(Thurman, Judith. A Loss for Words. The New Yorker, March 30, 2015.) A Lighter Side of the Mother Tongue Gibs friend: Forget her, I hear she only likes intellectuals.Gib: So? Im intellectual and stuff.Gibs friend: Youre flunking English. Thats your mother tongue and stuff.(The Sure Thing, 1985)

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Wheelchair Experience Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Wheelchair Experience Assignment - Essay Example So I decided to bring him to a mall in his wheelchair and have lunch there at the same time. The first difficulty we had was looking for a space to park our car which had to be somewhat near the entrance. We were fortunate to find a spot very close to the mall entrance, but found it frustrating that there were no ramps to access the curb. I finally rolled my cousin up to the entrance, where a nice young man held the door open for us. Upon entering the mall, my cousin found it somewhat simple to move the wheelchair through the aisles and walkways. Deciding to have lunch, we had to take an elevator to the first floor to get to the food court. We got directions from a store map to find where the elevator was, and we found out it was on a far side of the mall. However, we were pleased that the elevator was quite fast and spacious. After that, we found the entrance to the food court very easily, and my cousin was able to maneuver to the food court by himself. As soon as we arrived at the food court, my cousin commented that the brick flooring made it a quite uneven ride up to the food counters. After selecting a food stall, my cousin was able to hold and stretch for the orders with my help, until it was time to look for a table. My cousin had to let me carry his food to me until I got seated at the table. We finally managed to find an oval table with enough room to get my cousin’s body conveniently level to the table. Eating in the wheelchair appeared fairly alike to eating while in a regular chair, and my cousin shared that it was easy to do so. However, we noticed that he needed to lock the wheelchair in place to keep from rolling away while he ate or stretched for the food. After eating we decided to visit some shops. We went inside several clothing shops, and all three were just about the same in construction. The first shop was the easiest of the stores to maneuver, since there was a

Sunday, February 2, 2020

International Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Economics - Essay Example The major elements of the transition process comprise macro-stabilization, price and market liberalization (including international trade), restructuring and privatizing state enterprises, and redefining the role of the state" (IMF, 2002, pp. 90-91). The major problem of more and more interdependent world is the interaction of world structures, which are characterized not only by different levels of development, but also by different extent of an involvement in the world division of labour and the world economy. Waltz on expressing his neorealist conceptualization of the determinants of international behaviour claims, "International structure emerges from the interaction of states and then constrains them from taking certain actions while propelling them toward others" (Waltz, 2000, p. 11). The analysis of modern economic and integration processes allows allocating two basic tendencies. One of them is quantitative growth of countries incorporated in the various international economic unions and other international economic alliances that is the evidence of increase of globalization of economy. The other tendency is continuous perfection of forms and methods of realization of world economic integration that speaks about deep qualitative changes occurring in this process. At the present stage the international economic integration has reached global scales. Globalization of economy represents the maximum form of the international economic integration. It is expressed in formation and activity of interstate and international economic associations, and also in occurrence and development in modern community of the international economic institutes and trans-national corporations. The changing global economy is also "providing challenges to the European Union. Globalization of production, procurement, and distribution; e-logistics and e-transport; and outsourcing of what traditionally had occurred internal to a company or country have caused many government and private sector officials to rethink what types of investment and at what levels are necessary to remain competitive" (Caldwell, 2002, p 7). Each state is expressed in "structural and quantitative characteristics. For the world economy the international monetary system (IMS) will be considered as a structural characteristic. The growth rate of the gross national product of countries participating in international economic relations will be regarded as a quantitative characteristic" (NATO, 2006, p. 101). If early stages of the international economic integration have had only one form of its realization - the international trade, the stage of globalization alongside with it assumes moving of labour, capital, scientific and technical knowledge, and information in planetary scale. Thus, at a stage of globalization the international economic integration gets not only more significant quantitative char

Saturday, January 25, 2020

King of the Delta Blues Singers: Robert Johnson Essay -- essays papers

King of the Delta Blues Singers: Robert Johnson The life of Robert Johnson, one of the most influential early blues artists, in shrouded by vague details and encompassed in mystery. His emotion filled playing and singing blends to form some of the most moving, original blues music ever produced. Ironically, despite being one of the top influences to blues music, little is known about the shy, mild mannered bluesman. "Almost nothing, is known about his life†¦ he is only a name on a few recordings." Where did he come from? Who was Johnson’s family. Who inspired Robert to play the blues and who influenced his music? Who exactly was Robert Johnson? Only the vague recollections of his friends and family link us to the mysterious life of Robert Johnson. From these accounts the story of Robert Johnson is brought to life, and the events which fueled his powerful music are pieced together. Robert Johnson was born on May eighth, 1911, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Robert was the eleventh child born to Mrs. Julia Dodds. Robert’s mother described little Robert as a playful little boy, who "Always used to be listenin, listenin to the wind or the chickens cluckin in the backyard or me, when I’d be singin round the house. And he just love church†¦ Little Robert set on my lap and try to keep time, look like, or hold on to my skirt and sort of jig up and down and laugh and laugh." (Lomax, 14) Thus, Robert was first introduced by his church into the world of music and was forever captured by its beauty. Mrs. Johnson didn’t have much trouble with Robert as a child but as he grew older, he became more and more intrigued about the extravagant life of the bluesmen, and taken by the spiritual music. He started following the musicians around, staying out all night, intrigued by the bluesman’s free lifestyle. Anyone that had a guitar, little Robert would follow off according to his mother. "Sometimes he wouldn’t come home," Robert’s mother recalls, "and a whippin never did him no good." Mrs. Johnson feared the worst for Robert, she believed the guitar was the instrument of the devil and that the music he listened to was full of sin. Robert would ease her worries by playing church songs to her, yet this never erased the fear she held inside for her son. Robert was captured by the mystery surrounding the life of the bluesmen. The women, gam... ...the blues. In 1990 a collection of Robert Johnson’s songs were put together in a two disk collection of his work. This CD set won a Grammy and sold over half a million copies. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice, first in 1980 and again a second time as an early influence in 1986. Johnson’s mysterious, shadowy life and beautiful, emotion packed songs will continue to intrigue the minds of many for years to come. Bibliography: Booth, Stanley. Rhythm Oil. New York; Pantheon Books, 1991. Finn, Julio. The Bluesman. Brooklyn; Interlink Books, 1992. Guralnick, Peter. Searching For Robert Johnson. New York; Obelisk Books, 1989. "Johnson, Robert." CD-ROM. Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia 1996. Feb. 4. "Johnson, Robert." Encarta Online. Jan., 1999. Jan 23, 1999.. Lomax, Alan. The Land Where the Blues Began. New York; Pantheon Books, 1993. "Robert Johnson." Johnson, Robert. Dec., 1999. Jan. 23., 1999. . "Robert Johnson." Robert Johnson. May, 1999. Jan. 23.,1999. Shirley, David. Every Day I sing The Blues: The Story of B.B. King. Danbury; Grolier Publishing, 1995. "Welcome to the Crossroads" Robert Johnson. Jun., 1998. Jan., 1999..

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Cause and Effects essay Essay

There is no doubt that education is essential to people’s lives. Having a good educational background is an important factor to get a good job and to work effectively. However, one of the saddest issues in today’s society is the college dropout rate in many college or university remains very high. Some people are successful because they have the motivation and determination to graduate college; others are less lucky because they start college and feel as if they lack the preparation, desire, discipline or ability to succeed academically or persevere until a degree has been earned. This leads to quite a situation–to find the support needed to continue or to dropout? Whether you’re realizing that college isn’t for you, family issues, laziness or even debt, understanding some of the common causes and effects of quitting college may aid in the decision. College is an investment. Students either pay for college themselves, possibly with family support or scholarships, or with financial aid. Many students drop out of college because they can’t or don’t want to take on any more student loan debt. The consequence of dropping out at this point is that you have already piled up sizable debt and loan payments (students who drop out of college are required to pay back a portion of their federal-aid funds such as the Pell Grant) that you have to begin paying back several months after you quit school, yet you don’t get the payoff of a degree. Many financial aid administrators feel that the government shouldn’t penalize poor students for dropping out of college, and nor should lower-income students have to â€Å"punch a clock† in order to receive their grant money. Satisfying all the academic requirements and paying all your bills is both necessary and sufficient for being eligible to graduate. In addition to any debt you must repay, your earning potential without a degree is much lower to degree holders. Thus many college dropouts struggle to cover short-term bills and expenses, and find it difficult even to consider saving up money for a home. A college dropout earns about seven percent less than someone with an associate’s degree and about thirty-two percent less than someone with a bachelor’s. College dropouts face more limited career options than graduated peers. A bachelor’s degree commonly  opens the door to entry-level positions in many industries and career fields. As a dropout, your access to many jobs that require a college degree is limited to compete for jobs against people who hold degrees, even when a degree is not required. Job opportunities aren’t the only things that push people to college, sometimes it comes from a progenitor. Some students attend college under pressure from parents or to make their parents proud, not always making themselves happy in the process. In these cases the decision to drop out is not always warmly received. In fact, some students are told that they can’t return home after dropping out, which can only build on more stress. The expectation is that they will get a job and enter the â€Å"real world.† However, to get a job with good pay is hard to find without a degree, and most people don’t realize that. Another reason for dropping out of college is if there was a death in the family or someone you were close to falls ill. A death can cause depression which will eventually make you lose focus of your studies and you’ll end up either failing out, or dropping out. Dropping out can negatively affect relationships with significant others, as well. Recent studies show that divorce rates were significantly lower for college graduates than those without degrees. Having a great academic background can take you a long way, and you can learn how to work adequately in the future. To ensure a successful future, one must strive and have the incentive to succeed. Unfortunately certain things happen and some students have to drop out. It could be a personal choice, or it could be a sacrifice they have to make. In instances where it would be a choice, the students feel as if they’re working towards a dead end and have the lack of motivation. Knowing the reasons and the consequences can help others understand the decision that was made.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Aztec Sacrifice - The Meaning of Ritual Human Killings

Aztec sacrifices were famously a part of the Aztec culture, famous in part because of deliberate propaganda out of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico, who at the time were involved in executing heretics and opponents in bloody ritual displays as part of the Spanish Inquisition. The over-emphasis on the role of human sacrifice has led to a distorted view of Aztec society: but it is also true that violence formed a regular and ritualized part of life in Tenochtitlan. Key Takeaways: Aztec Sacrifice Sacrifices were a regular and ritualized part of life in 15th- and 16th-century Aztec capital cities.  The numbers and extent of the practice were almost certainly inflated by Spanish conquistadors.  Reasonable estimates are between 1000 and 20,000 human sacrifices per year in Tenochitlan; the Spanish claimed much more.The main religious purpose was to renew and sustain life, and to communicate with the gods.  As a political tool, sacrifice was used terrorize Aztec subjects and legitimize the Aztec rulers and the state itself. How Common Was Human Sacrifice? As many Mesoamerican people did, the Aztec/Mexica believed that sacrifice to the gods was necessary to ensure the continuity of the world and the balance of the universe. They distinguished between two types of sacrifice: those involving humans and those involving animals or other offerings. Human sacrifices included both self-sacrifice, such as bloodletting, in which people would cut or perforate themselves; as well as the sacrifice of the lives of other human beings. Although both were quite frequent, the second one gained the Aztecs the fame of being a bloodthirsty and brutal people who worshiped cruel deities. Meaning of Aztec Sacrifices For the Aztecs, human sacrifice fulfilled multiple purposes, both at the religious and socio-political level. They considered themselves the â€Å"elected† people, the people of the Sun who had been chosen by the gods to feed them and by doing so were responsible for the continuity of the world. On the other hand, as the Mexica became the most powerful group in Mesoamerica, human sacrifice acquired the added value of political propaganda: requiring subject states to offer up human sacrifice was a way to maintain control over them. The rituals connected with the sacrifices included the so-called Flowery Wars intended not to kill the enemy but rather to obtain slaves and live war captives for sacrifices. This practice served to subjugate their neighbors and send a political message to both their own citizens as well as foreign leaders. A recent cross-cultural study by Watts et al. (2016) argued that human sacrifice also propped up and supported the elite class structure. But Pennock (2011) argues that to simply write off Aztecs as bloodthirsty and uncivilized mass murderers misses the central purpose of human sacrifice in Aztec society: as a deeply held belief system and part of the requirements for the renewal, sustaining and refreshing of life. Forms of Aztec Sacrifices Chac-Mool (divine messenger bearing offerings) in stone with traces of colour, Sanctuary of Tlaloc, Templo Mayor, Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), Mexico. Aztec civilization, ca 1390 CE. De Agostino / G. Dagli Orti / De Agostini Picture Library / Getty Images Plus Human sacrifice among the Aztec usually involved death by heart extraction. The victims were chosen carefully according to their physical characteristics and how they related to the gods to whom they would be sacrificed. Some gods were honored with brave war captives, other with slaves. Men, women, and children were sacrificed, according to the requirements. Children were specially chosen to be sacrificed to Tlaloc, the rain god. The Aztecs believed that the tears of newborn or very young children could ensure rain. The most important place where sacrifices took place was the Huey Teocalli at the Templo Mayor (Great Temple) of Tenochtitlan. Here a specialist priest removed the heart from the victim and threw the body down the steps of the pyramid; and the victims head was cut off and placed on the tzompantli, or skull rack. Mock Battles and Flowery Wars However, not all sacrifices took place on top of pyramids. In some cases, mock-battles were organized between the victim and a priest, in which the priest fought with real weapons and the victim, tied to a stone or a wooden frame, fought with wooden or feathered ones. Children sacrificed to Tlaloc were often carried to the god’s sanctuaries on top of the mountains that surround Tenochtitlan and the Basin of Mexico in order to be offered to the god. The chosen victim would be treated as a personification on earth of the god until the sacrifice took place. The preparation and purification rituals often lasted more than one year, and during this period the victim was taken care of, fed, and honored by servants. The Sun Stone of Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina (or Montezuma I, who ruled between 1440-1469) is an enormous carved monument discovered at the Templo Mayor in 1978. It features elaborate carvings of 11 enemy city-states and likely served as a gladiatorial stone, a dramatic platform for gladiatorial combat between Mexica warriors and captives. Most ritual killings were practiced by religious specialists, but Aztec rulers themselves often took part in the dramatic ritual sacrifices such as the dedication of Tenochtitlans Templo Mayor in 1487. Ritual human sacrifice also took place during elite feasting, as part of a display of power and material wealth. Categories of Human Sacrifice Mexican archaeologist Alfredo Là ³pez Austin (1988) described four types of Aztec sacrifice: images, beds, owners of skin, and payments. Images (or ixpitla) are sacrifices in which the victim was costumed as a particular god, becoming transformed into the deity at a magic ritual time. These sacrifices repeated the ancient mythical time when a god died so his force would be reborn, and the death of the human-god impersonators allowed the rebirth of the god. The second category was what Là ³pez Austin called the beds of the gods, referring to retainers, those victims killed in order to accompany an elite personage to the underworld. The owners of skins sacrifice is that associated with Xipe Totec, those victims whose skins were removed and worn as costumes in rituals. These rituals also provided body part war trophies, in which the warriors who captured the victim were awarded a femur to display at home. Human Remains as Evidence Apart from the Spanish and indigenous texts describing rituals involving human sacrifice, there is also ample archaeological evidence for the practice. Recent investigations at the Templo Mayor have identified the burials of high-ranking personages who were ritually buried following cremation. But the majority of human remains found in Tenochtitlan excavations were sacrificed individuals, some beheaded and some with their throats cut. One offering at the Templo Mayor (#48) contained the remains of approximately 45 children sacrificed to  Tlaloc. Another at  Tlatelolcos Temple R, dedicated to the Aztec god of the rain, Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl, contained 37 children and six adults. This sacrifice was carried out at Temple Rs dedication during the great drought and famine of 1454–1457 CE. The Tlatelolco project has identified thousands of human burials which were ritually deposited or sacrificially offered. In addition, evidence of human blood residue at the House of the Eagles in Tenochtitlans ceremonial precinct indicates bloodletting activities. Là ³pez Austins fourth category was sacrificial debt payments. These types of sacrifices are epitomized by the creation myth of Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent) and Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror) who transformed into serpents and tore apart the earth goddess, Tlaltecuhtli, angering the rest of the Aztec pantheon. To make amends, the Aztecs needed to feed Tlaltecuhtlis endless hunger with human sacrifices, thereby staving off total destruction. How Many? According to some Spanish records, 80,400 people were slaughtered at the dedication of the Templo Mayor, a number likely exaggerated by either the Aztecs or the Spanish, both of whom had reason to inflate the numbers. The number 400 had a significance to Aztec society, meaning something like too many to count or the biblical notion involved in the word legion. There is no doubt that an unusually high number of sacrifices did occur, and 80,400 could be construed to mean 201 times too many to count. Based on the Florentine codex, scheduled rituals included a figure of around 500 victims a year; if those rituals were conducted in each of the calpulli districts of the city, that would be multiplied by 20. Pennock argues persuasively for an annual number of victims in Tenochtitlan of between 1,000 and 20,000. Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst Sources Ball, Tanya Corissa. The Power of Death: Hierarchy in the Representation of Death in Pre- and Post-Conquest Aztec Codices. Multilingual Discourses 1.2 (2014): 1–34. Print.Berdan, Frances F. Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Print.Boone, Elizabeth Hill, and Rochelle Collins. The Petroglyphic Prayers on the Sun Stone of Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina. Ancient Mesoamerica 24.2 (2013): 225–41. Print.De Lucia, Kristin. Everyday Practice and Ritual Space: The Organization of Domestic Ritual in Pre-Aztec Xaltocan, Mexico. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 24.03 (2014): 379–403. Print.Klein, Cecelia F. Gender Ambiguity and the Toxcatl Sacrifice. Tezcatlipoca: Trickster and Supreme Deity. Ed. Baquedano, Elizabeth. Boulder: University Press of Colorado, 2014. 135–62. Print.Là ³pez Austin, Alfredo. The Human Body and Ideology: Concepts of the Ancient Nahuas. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.Pennock, Caroline Dodds. Mass Murder or Religious Homicide? Rethinking Human Sacrifice and Interpersonal Violence in Aztec Society. Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung 37.3 (141) (2012): 276–302. Print.Schwartz, Glenn M. The Archaeological Study of Sacrifice. Annual Review of Anthropology 46.1 (2017): 223–40. Print.Watts, Joseph, et al. Ritual Human Sacrifice Promoted and Sustained the Evolution of Stratified Societies. Nature 532.7598 (2016): 228–31. Print.