Whats New in WordPress 5.0, Plus What to Expect From the Block-Based Editor

Each time a new version of WordPress rolls out, were all excited about getting to play with its new features. However, few versions in the past have garnered as much buzz around them as WordPress 5.0 because of these two simple words:  the new block-based editor otherwise known as Gutenberg.No, were not talking about the German guy from the 1400s. Gutenberg is a complete redesign and re-imagination of the WordPress editor. With the new version of WordPress already here WordPress 5.0 the default way that people create content with WordPress has changed radically.Big changes to your favorite platform can be difficult to accept. However, even massively popular platforms such as WordPress need to adapt to the times, or risk losing market share. Gutenberg is a bold leap forward, and its not the only update thats coming up.In this article, were going to discuss what makes WordPress 5.0 unique in comparison to previous releases, and then well get into what to expect from WordPress 5.0 and the Gutenberg editor. Lets talk about the future! Want a handy cut-out-n-keep cheat sheet for WordPress 5.0? We have one for you here. It reveals all the shortcuts, tips, and tricks that WordPress 5.0 has to offer.Preview:WordPress 5.0 is a bigger jump than recent major updatesIf youve been using WordPress for a while, then youll know how much the platform has changed over time. Even individual updates often bring significant shifts. For example, the 4.9 Tipton update enabled users to schedule design changes in the WordPress Customizer so they can go live at later dates, just like post drafts.WordPress 4.8, on the other hand, brought us plenty of widget updates. For example, if you wanted images in your widgets in the past, you had to add them manually. Now, there are three dedicated media widgets for image, audio, and video files.Another of our favorite features of 4.8 was the option to check up on nearby WordPress events right from your dashboard, which is handy if you want to do some networking:However, all the changes weve mentioned so far are pretty incremental. Theyre useful, but not exactly game-changing. Most WordPress updates have been more about taking small steps forward rather than major leaps  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ that is, until WordPress 5.0.What to expect from WordPress 5.0WordPress 5.0 is kicking incremental to the curb with some pretty major changes. The biggest is the aforementioned  block-based editor, which well talk more about in a moment.But WordPress 5.0 also marks a change to how the platform handles releases. It used to be the case that you could count on getting two major WordPress releases per year, with plenty of mini-updates in the meantime.Now, the WordPress core team is planning on moving away from that scheduled release model. The idea is that by removing the pressure of predetermined deadlines, the platform will be able to take more significant leaps, and we wont get updates that feel as though they lack in meaningful content.Aside from that, here are a few of the other significant changes that make WordPress 5.0 a very interesting upgrade:The platforms focus is moving towards a more intuitive site-building experience.  WordPress already leads the pack in terms of market share. And by improving WordPress site-building functionality, the core team aims to hold that market share against the rise of hosted website builders.Some improvements to the WordPress Rest API.  The WordPress Rest API helps developers create more feature-rich products by making it easier to send and pull data from your website. This update means developers will be able to more easily create applications using the platform as a framework.Building custom themes becomes easier.  In the past, you needed at least a simple development background to put together a WordPress theme. With Gutenberg, theme creation will become much more accessible thanks to blocks.Page builder plugins might  lose some relevance.  There are a lot of fantasti c page-builder tools  that you can use with WordPress, some of which rival professional platforms. Gutenberg wont be a match for them at first, but it might dissuade people from using them in the long run.What the block-based editor means for youThe launch of Gutenberg means that youll need to get acquainted with a whole new editing experience.âš  Ã¯ ¸  Dont panic if you dont want to use the Gutenberg Editor, youll still be able to keep the classic editor by installing the official Classic Editor plugin.One more important thing is that you dont have to settle for whatever set of features Gutenberg comes with right out the gate. We already have a range of add-on plugins that work with Gutenberg to deliver some cool goodies. Chief of them being additional content blocks.For instance, check out Otter Blocks, our own plugin that adds quite a handful of new blocks to Gutenberg. Including: Services, Pricing, Testimonials, Google Map, Sharing Icons, Pie Chart, Notice, Click to Tweet, and more. Gutenberg Blocks and Template Library by Otter Author(s): ThemeIsleCurrent Version: 1.2.5Last Updated: September 10, 2019otter-blocks.zip 96%Ratings 113,328Downloads WP 5.0+Requires For more details about how the editor works, you can check out our complete Gutenberg Editor guide.Gutenberg affects themes and plugins, tooAside from your own editing experience, Gutenberg also brings important changes to a lot of your favorite plugins and themes. For example, well probably see the emergence of a lot of Gutenberg-friendly themes, which will be designed to take advantage of all the new features the editor offers.Weve already seen a couple of interesting themes being released, such as Atomic Blocks and even the new default theme, Twenty Nineteen that proclaim their Gutenberg-first focus. And existing themes are no slouches either. Popular themes like Neve and Hestia now come with full Gutenberg compatibility too.Similarly, youll see changes with some of your favorite pl ugins. A lot of plugins interact with the WordPress editor directly, whether thats to add new functionality or include shortcodes. Those plugins will need to become Gutenberg compatible, unless they want to alienate a large part of their user base. Years from now, it might even be common to find plugins that only support Gutenberg.Heres how to get the most out of WordPress 5.0First, you ought to get familiar with the basics of how to work with the new block-based content editor, since it is the biggest change in WordPress 5.0.Even though the editor is very straightforward, you can make things even easier on yourself by checking out the handy cheat sheet for WordPress 5.0 that we have over here. Theres even a printable version that can serve as a quick reference file by your desk.Preview:What do you think of this newest WordPress release? Are you excited that the new block-based editor now allows for more custom content design than was previously possible? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Here's what to expect from #WordPress 5.0 and the new #Gutenberg Editor

Deluca Surname Meaning and Origin

Deluca Surname Meaning and Origin Deluca, or De Luca, is a patronymic surname meaning son of Luca. The given name Luca is the Italian version of Luke, from the Greek name  Loukas  meaning from Lucania, an ancient district of southern Italy. This area is primarily encompassed today by the  modern region of the Basilicata. Alternate Surname Spellings:  DI LUCA, DILUCA, LUCA, DE LUCA, DELUCCA Surname Origin:  Italian Famous People With the Surname DELUCA or DE LUCA Gianni  De Luca - Italian comic book artist and illustratorFrancesca De Luca - London-born actress of Italian originsLuigi De Luca - well-known artist model; great-grandfather of Francesca De LucaGiuseppe De Luca - Italian baritone opera singerFred DeLuca - co-founder of Subway sandwich shops Where Do People With the DELUCA Surname Live? According to the surname distribution data at  Forebears, the DeLuca surname is most frequently found in the United States, while the de Luca spelling is much more common in Italy, where it ranks 19th in the nation. WorldNames Public Profiler identifies de Luca as being most common throughout southern Italy, especially in the regions of Calabria and Campania. The DeLuca spelling is also found in Italy, but is much less common. It is found most frequently in Northwest Territories, Canada, as well as the American New England states. Genealogy Resources for the Surname DELUCA Meanings of Common Italian SurnamesUncover the meaning of your Italian last name with this free guide to Italian surname meanings and origins for the most common Italian surnames. How to Research Italian AncestorsGet started researching your Italian roots with this guide to researching Italian ancestors in Italy. Deluca Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Deluca family crest or coat of arms for the Deluca surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. DELUCA Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Deluca surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Deluca query. FamilySearch - DELUCA GenealogyAccess over 500,000 free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Deluca surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. GeneaNet - Deluca RecordsGeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Deluca surname, with a concentration on records and families from France, Spain, and other European countries. DistantCousin.com - DELUCA Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Deluca. The Deluca Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Deluca from the website of Genealogy Today. Sources: Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Contemporary Issues in American Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Contemporary Issues in American Society - Essay Example If Americanization really is a feature of the new global community, what are the ramifications of the Americanization of the world? From a historical standpoint, what explains the Americanization of the world and is this beneficial to the global community? Accordingly, what are the benefits to the United States of a globalized world in which US cultural hegemony reigns supreme? Aiming to address these questions and many more as they relate to the globalization phenomenon in the 21st century, the following will explore how globalization affects the United States of America. According to scholars Kelly and Prokhovnik, globalization is a complex phenomenon which is difficult to understand. Accordingly, â€Å"although the globalization of culture seems in some ways obvious in our daily lives, it is not an entirely straightforward matter. Culture is a complicated and pervasive phenomenon, taking many forms.† (48) Seeking to address the issues surrounding the Americanization of the world and the role of the United States has played in creating a mass market â€Å"world culture†, the following aims to provide a concise overview the charges leveled against the United States as an cultural, economic and political hegemon. This exploration will seek to explore American culture on a global scale while looking at such issues as the spread of American youth culture, globalization as an American-inspired economic force and the global spread of American democratic governance. In the post-World War Two period, the globalization of American values began in earnest following the near total physical, economic and social devastation of the European continent. Post WW-II, a social revolution paved the way for the international export of American values and ideas throughout the globe. For the United States, the social revolution of the nineteen-sixties was importantly also a cultural revolution. In fact, the â€Å"rise of a specific, and extraordinarily

Evolution of Cinema in Nineteenth Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evolution of Cinema in Nineteenth Century - Essay Example Furthermore, in order to understand the ways that helped the evolution of cinema, an in-depth discussion will be undertaken. Considering the technological advancement in bring the motion to the pictures, the history of cinema beholds the usage of the magic lantern. Filmmakers made use of different slides which obviously changed the way cinema projected and presented the subject matter. It should be noted that the usage of the magic lantern as the technological aspects was the major tool during the 16th century. However, by the nineteenth century, the Lumiere Brothers used the slide projection of the films with the aid of photographs. Audiences were quiet aware of the ways the films were being projected. The penny arcades seemingly gave a way to the filmmakers in order to understand a concept which was out of the box. It was then the technological aspects of the filmmaking needed a larger screening idea (Popple and Kember). The need of the larger screen was because the filmmakers want ed to grab a larger number of audiences. In simpler words, it can be said that the technological innovation in the cinema was noted when audiences were given more preferences. Obviously, at this point, the size of the audiences was center of focus. The filmmakers including Edwin S. Porter worked marvelously regarding the idea of different scenes in the movie to catch attract attention of the crowd towards the films. It will not be incorrect to state that film ultimately became a way to gain money. This was later given the position of an industry in the late nineteenth century. Thus, it will not be incorrect to state that it was the aid of business that was being cashed and ultimately led to the evolution of the cinema from the popular means (Popple and Kember). Followed by the need of gathering audience for business purpose, the technological innovation that enthralled the cinema was the innovation of stroboscope. Later on, a number of experiments of the photographic methods were un dertaken merely to find the best position. Since the cinema was now an industry, each filmmaker wanted to achieve a better position in the market. In a simpler manner it can be said that the competition was another way which helped cinema to undergo evolution (Popple and Kember). In the late nineteenth century, it was found out that the idea of using 24 cameras in a row helped in taking photographs of a horse running. This helped the directors to find out a new dimension. Thus, the popular culture of having a scrolled photo graphic plate was now changed into a spectrum of moving picture. Throughout the later years of the 19th century, it was found out that this idea was being amended by different innovators in the field of filmmaking. At the same point, people noted that they could use a number of subjects of matter through the films as the motion picture was brought to life. By the end of the 19th century, it was observed that the movies were not just the scenes of the moving objec ts but also a presentation of the communication between two characters. This enabled the production department to come to life since the characters were showing real communication between the individuals. It can also be marked that the objects in the background also got great significance during this time. In this way, cinema changed from a nickel based viewing concept to cinema (Popple and Kember). Luckily, 19th century was the era when the cinema brought the combination of sound as well as visual scenes together with the help of Kodak still cameras and Thomas Edison’

Tuvan Throat Singing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tuvan Throat Singing - Essay Example Tuvan throat singing is done by individuals to mimic the sounds of nature, rivers and animals. One of the most important ways Tuvans could connect with nature was through music. Traditionally Tuvan music leaves open spaces in which nature can come in and add itself to the conversations. Shamans traditionally used music to call upon spirits, ancestors and connect with natural surrounds. Shepherds used music to call their herds and imitate galloping horses. Certain songs were performed for enjoyment and other music created while working. Tuvan singing, also known as Overtone or "throat" singing is unique to this region of Tuva and Mongolia. Simply put it is the harmonized sounds that they are able to produce from deep within their throats. Tuvan singers simultaneously use two or even three voices extracted from one singer. Overtone singing uses low, suspended grumbles with guttural timbre colouring coupled with its upper overtones that sound like high-pitched whistles. These overtones are caught and amplified by the head resonator. In some cases a special additional sub sound joins the lower sound producing the effect of solo three-voice singing. These diaphonics, emitting two or more overtones together, are used to evoke spirits or imitate sounds found in nature. There exist a number of Tuvan overtone-singing styles. ... The styles differ by pitch and timbre. Each style has its own distinctive expressive properties. Khoomei means all throat-singing and encompasses all styles. It can refer to the pressure one feels when throat-singing and also to chest resonance. This is not apparent when listening to recordings but only obvious when listening in person. Not only is khoomei a generic name but it is also a particular style. It is a soft-sounding style, with clear and diffused-sounding harmonics. The timbres are slightly muffled and there are two or more notes clearly audible. Kargyraa is a style the features intense croaking tones, very rich in harmonics. They are usually performed low in the singer's range. There are two major styles of Kargyraa, mountain (dag) and Steppe (xovu). Kargyraa is unique in that nothing feels like singing it. The description used is "a mouthful of sound". This style uses dual sound sources, using both the vocal and ventricular folds in the larynx. This style is the one Tuvan style that is most closely linked to vowel sounds. The mouth varies from a nearly closed "O" to an open one. However unlike most other singing there is no correlation between the vowel and the pitch. Mountain kargyraa is usually lower in pitch than Steppe. It can often include nasal effects. It features a strong low-chest resonance and not a lot of throat tension. Steppe Kangyraa is the opposite and features more throat tension and less chest resonance. It is usually sung at higher pitches and has a raspier sound. Sygyt is the highest and brightest style which uses the highest register of the voice. This can be used to perform complex and distinct melodies, with a tone similar to a flute. The flute or shoor was originally played by the shaman to attract spirits for

Social democracy as a force in contemporary britain

Social democracy as a force in contemporary britain In this essay I will attempt to firstly define Social Democracy and what advantages and disadvantages it brings to a state. Then I will move on to showing how Social Democracy is still existent within contemporary Britain through the means of public spending on education and benefits. I will explore Labours contemporary policies to show that Socialism is still present in Labour. However I will then explain how the Labour Party, which has its foundations in Socialism, has changed and moved towards the Third Party or New Labour which also values Capitalist aims. I will then argue that Britain is becoming more of a Capitalist state under New Labour and how globalisation has affected this. Giddens described social democracy as: Social Democracy moderate, parliamentary socialism built upon consolidating the welfare state. (Giddens. A, 1998, p4) He recognised how Social Democracy differed to Marxism. Social Democracy saw free market capitalism as producing many of the problematic effects Marx diagnosed, but believed these can be muted or overcome by state intervention. (Giddens. A, 1998, p8) The advantage of Social Democracy is that Socialism uses the welfare state to abolish exploitation within the market system and destroy the division of society in class groups. They aim to remove all inequalities whether its economic or political using state intervention when needed. (Przeworski. A, 1985, p29) This gives everyone an equal start in life. Giddens told of the state intervention as government intervening in family or individual life when needed. Social democracy saw that there was a vital need for state benefits to help those who are unable to fend for themselves. (Giddens. A, 1998, p9) The advantage of this is that it closes the income gap between the different classes. However Giddens coined the main disadvantage of a Social Democratic state. The economic theory of Socialism was always inadequate, underestimating the capacity of Capitalism to innovate, adapt and generate increasing productivity. Socialism failed to grasp the significance of markets as informational devices, providing essential data for buyers and sellers. (Giddens. A, 1998, p4-5) In the Labour revolution of 1945-1951 Britain was a planned economy, nationalised industry and expanded welfare state, a Social Democratic state. (Reitan.E.A, 2003, p27) However toward the 1970s Britain faced lowest productivity within the major industrial states, high unemployment and inflation. There was unwillingness of workers to move around to find employment. Managers were also slow in introducing technology that would improve productivity. (Reitan. E.A, 2003, p141) this shows that at that time the British state was unable to keep up with the market changes and generate increased productivity backing up Giddens claim that Socialism is unable to increase productivity and adapt to the market. (Giddens. A, 1998, p4-5) There are characteristics of the welfare state within contemporary Britain. We see the state still providing free education. Just recently there are reports saying that there have been increased spending on education. The figures showed that the spending has been increasing for more than 50 years. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8562405.stm The graph below shows the figures of increased public spending on education. Education spending (Derived from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8562405.stm) The graph shows how in the U.K. the state is spending money on education has increased from 50% to almost 140% in 2005-2006. Spending money on education in the UK will giving everyone an equal start in life and removing inequalities which are characteristics of a social democracy. (Przeworski. A, 1985, p29) Another demonstration of a Social Democracy within contemporary Britain is the benefit system. The British government provide benefits for those who are disabled, low income, unemployed, have dependent children, aged over 60, pregnant or recently had a child and those who are caring for another. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/index.htm This is a clear indicator of Socialist practise as they are using the welfare state to eliminate the inequalities within a state. (Przeworski. A, 1985, p29) By providing people who are less off with benefits it closes the gap that Capitalism has created for them. (Giddens. A, 1998, p8) Britains current government Labour still has policies that are indicators of Social Democracy. We want to rebuild trust in politicsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦put more power in the hands of individual citizens so that they can influence the decisions which affect themselves, their families and local communities http://www.labour.org.uk/democracy_and_citizenship This aims to equal chances to voice individual opinions. This ensures that power isnt just given to a certain class and that it is equally distributed between the classes. http://www.labour.org.uk/democracy_and_citizenship There are also ways of creating equality between genders. Introduced the National Minimum Wage two thirds of the beneficiaries are women and it has played a substantial part in narrowing the gender pay gap. http://www.labour.org.uk/Equalities Labour believes everyone is entitled to equality. They aim to be fair to those regardless of gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, race, religion or belief. http://www.labour.org.uk/Equalities This demonstrates Social Democracys existence within contemporary Britain. But there are clear indicators that the British state is moving away from Socialism. Currently Britain is under the Labour Party governance. Social Democracy essentially underpins the British Labour Party with the Labour Parties motto A future fair for all. http://www.labour.org.uk/future-fair-for-all This clearly indicates that their main aim is for equality within the British state. However there has been speculation. The evidence shows that labour has become split into two clearly differentiated constituencies: those with secure employment (insiders) and those without (outsiders). http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/public/content/politicalscience/9780199216352/toc.html?q= There has been speculation that theres a new labour party. This was seen arising when Blair was in power. The new labour seemed to embrace capitalism and abandoned classical social democracy for the third way revised social democracy. (Driver. S, Martell. L, 2006, p26) The Third Way was used to mark out Labours departure from the politics of the Social Democratic state, signifying a reconfiguration of relationships between the economy and state. (Newman. J, 2001, p40) The Third Way is in favour of growth, entrepreneurship, and enterprise and wealth creation. It also values social justice. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/458626.stm However we see how the Labour Party who once was based on Social Democracy edge away and heading towards Capitalism. However does contemporary Britain still value social justice over Capitalism under the Third Way? In recent times we see lowered public spending. Weve already spent  £4bn less on unemployment benefits and income support for the unemployed than was anticipated. Comment Alistair Darling to the BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8406670.stm We see lowered welfare spending which raises questions about Labours a fair future for all. However New Labour sees this less as a social right and more about personal responsibility and social duty. http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/public/content/politicalscience/9780199266722/acprof-9780199266722-chapter-2.html?q=#acprof-9780199266722-chapter-2 This clearly shows how the Third Way governance is prioritising economic issues over social issues. The contemporary British state however has many characteristics of a Capitalist state. Globalisation has also contributed to the breakdown of welfare state in contemporary Britain. We see now that due to globalisation instead of business fighting over market share but now we see states fighting. States remain interested in survival at the very least, and pursuing power at the most. (Aydinli. E, Rosenau. J.N, 2005, p127) Globalisation is described as the denationalisation of politics (Aydinli. E, Rosenau. J.N, 2005, p127) which essentially means that states are no longer deciding policies that benefit them but in fact they make policies that suit globalisation. The emergence of a global market economy and the need for global competitiveness have handed neo liberalism a powerful new weapon with which to contain and neutralise the counter pressures of domestic politics. (Mishra. R, 1999, p3) There is also the belief of the hyperglobalisation thesis where states believe that if their state does not increase incentives for businesses to invest in their state businesses will go elsewhere. States are constantly competing for foreign investment. Therefore they lower corporation tax to increase the incentive. (Ravenhill. J, 2008, p343) So now we see states producing policies that are business friendly. State aims are to lower inflation and a steady currency which is argued to attract businesses as lower inflation would mean lower raw materials for businesses and steady currency means there is less of a risk for the business to be exposed to fluctuations in exchange rates. (Mishra. R, 1999, p5) States constantly fighting over investment has caused them to jeopardise domestic policies. The incremental tightening of domestic environmental policies has sometimes been delayed or blocked for the fear of incurring economic competitive disadvantages. (Holden. B, 2000, p186) This shows that states are more concerned about economic growth and not about equality within the social classes. Not surprisingly a higher level of insecurity, poverty and equality has become accepted in many countriesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the retreat from the mixed economy and the welfare state is visible everywhere with the Anglo Saxon countries leading the way. (Mishra. R, 1999, p3) A good demonstration of the British state favouring Capitalism over Socialism is recently to the bank crisis. We see the state pouring money into the financial sector instead of using it to close the gap of inequality. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7666570.stm It could also be argued that the states increase spending in education http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8562405.stm is purely for Capitalist reasons. Better-educated workers are likely to be more productive at their own jobs; they may, at the same time, raise the productivity of their colleaguesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦their importance has valuable implications for the role of public financing as well as for the organisation of education. (Miles. D, Myles. G.D, Preston. I, 2003, p121) States invest in human capital to make their domestic workforce more productive. They also benefit an increase in technological progress. States with high economic activity are generally those with a state financed education system. (Miles. D, Myles. G.D, Preston. I, 2003, p121) This can be used to argue that Britains public spending on education is purely for Capitalist reasons and not Socialist. Therefore indicating Britains welfare system is Capitalist based. In conclusion I think the British state still had characteristics of a social democracy but with the changes in the economy due to globalisation states has started to prioritise the market over social equality. The contemporary British state produces too many policies that are Capitalist friendly and they have became even clearer with the recent recession. We see Britain moving away from a Social Democratic state towards a more market driven Capitalist state.

Analysis of The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt :: The Goal Business Management Essays

Analysis of The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt The Goal is a book that focuses on the theory of constraints in order to improve production. Eliyahu Goldratt brings us a pleasant story that shows the important strategies that any manager or CEO should follow to be successfully productive, and capable of reaching their goals. The book easily explains and demonstrates many attainable ways for any human being to learn how to manage their industrial relations, business processes, and also, their personal lives. Many people believe that in order to succeed in a business that is having difficulties, it is important to focus on a particular area in order to be better productive in each of them, and be able to reach the goal. Instead, Goldratt and Jonah demonstrates that is important to focus on the company as a whole, but at the same time, it shows that it is incorrectly to only focus in an specific manufacturing department, or one plant, or a department within the plant, because people should not be concerned in local optimums. The Goal is a book that has an immense support on improvement, which will undoubtedly encourage the Total Quality Management terminology when trying to built up and improve their productivity. However, the Theory of Constraints also plays a very important role in this book, because it guide us to not only focus on the improvements of the business as a whole, but also to focus intensively on the constrains, â€Å" Herbies†, or bottlenecks. In order for a company to push its improvement and create a balanced plant, it is necessary to increase the throughput, while reducing inventory an operating expense. But, what is most important is to identify the bottlenecks to be able to focus on them. After focusing and solving the constraints, everything else is going to be less powerful but important at the same time. Any company is unable to manufacture a 100%. Therefore, people should really focus on the constraints, in a way that it will prevent a failure that will damage the entire system. Bottlenecks are the key in every plant, because it will determine the activity that will create a profit and maximize the business output.

Enron Scandal Essay

Accounting scandals are political or business scandals which arise with the disclosure of financial misdeeds by trusted executives of corporations or governments. These days, not too often, these scandals are splashed as headlines across media. Why? Because there are complex groups of stakeholders who might be seriously affected by the scandals. Enron scam was the most remarkable scandal in 20 centuries by their institutionalized, systematic, and creatively planned accounting fraud. The scandal also brought into question the accounting practices and activities of many corporations in the United States. The scandal also affected the greater business world by causing the dissolution of the Arthur Andersen accounting company. This report will reveal the whole story of Enron scam and auditors role from the situation in more depth. It will also include the current situation of those responsible for the fraud. 2. Background of U. S in 1990s The 1990s of U. S were a time of prosperity and this prosperity period is originated from growth in IT corporates and in accordance with increase in productivity as technology develops with IT. In the mid- to late-90s, society’s expectations of what the Internet could offer were unrealistic. Many investors foolishly ignored the fundamental rules of investing in the stock market and instead, investors and entrepreneurs became preoccupied with new ideas that were not yet proven to have market potential. Furthermore, they ignored the blatant signs that the bubble was about to burst. (IT Bubble in 90s) There are two main reasons for the bubble; with investors` optimistic expectation, there were a lot of ‘Window dressing’ in accounting. As Enron collapsed, the growth of the tech sector proved to be illusory, and bubble started to sober. 3. Enron- who are they? Enron Corporation is an energy trading, communications company which was formed in 1985 based in Houston, Texas. Enron marketed electricity and natural gas, delivered energy and other physical commodities. Company branched into many non-energy-related fields as well, including such areas as high-speed Internet bandwidth, and financial and risk management with 21,000 employees at mid-2001. The company reported revenues of $101 billion in 2000. It has stakes in nearly 30,000 miles of gas pipeline, owns or has access to a 15,000mile fiber optic network and has a stake in electricity generating operations around the world. 4. Enron- what they did? The Enron fraud case is extremely complex. There are several main characters who are spearheading the Enron scam. One of them was Jeff Skillng. Jeff Skillng, who was a consultant in Mckinsey, took charge in consulting Enron. He found problems and also potentiality of Enron and he proposed the idea of â€Å"gas bank† to Enron, which is a system that is combining financial system and gas supply and demand system, and taking the margin from the two system(as bank does). This was an ideal idea in theory and Enron asked him to take charge for this business, and later he became the president of Enron’s trading operations. Also, he convinced federal regulators to permit Enron to use an accounting method known as â€Å"mark to market. † Using this method allowed Enron to count projected earnings from long-term energy contracts as current income. This was money that might not be collected for many years. It is thought that this technique was used to inflate revenue numbers by manipulating projections for future revenue. The problem is that it doesn`t match realised profit and real cash flow. especially, Enron`s main trading was long term future contract which is hard to make valuation for the future. Use of these techniques made it difficult to see how Enron was really making money. The numbers were on the books so the stock prices remained high, but Enron wasn’t paying high taxes. When the telecom industry suffered its first downturn, Enron suffered as well. Eventually, the house of cards began falling. When Enron’s stock began to decline, the Raptors began to decline as well. On August 14, 2001, Enron’s CEO, Jeff Skilling, resigned due to â€Å"family issues. † Enron chairman Ken Lay stepped in as CEO. 5. One example of fraud Enron`s â€Å"too much Off-Balance Sheet Transactions† Enron used â€Å"off-balance-sheet†technique for anytime, for many purposes, because it would enable Enron to present itself more attractively as measured by the ratios favored by analysts and investors. Skillng used securitisation to supply more liquidity and also to clean up the assets that is hardly generating income from it. He also hided most of the debt by securitisation. So, Enron needed Special purpose entities(SPE) for the securitization purpose. JEDI was one of the SPE. California PERS and Enron invested by $25000m each. As soon as the JEDI established, Enron started to sell energy related stock to JEDI and it grew JEDI by 23% per year on average. It made Skillng`s ECT business bigger and bigger. 6. Consequences for the stakeholders The key stakeholders affected by the collapse of Enron were its employees and retirees. Stakeholders and mutual funds investors lost $ 70billion market value. Banks were also affected by the meltdown of the company. Not only the stakeholder and bondholder lose out, the confidence in the company also fell. This was the major setback for the company. The actions of Enron management left a deep scare for its 4000 employees which lost out their jobs and also impacted others around them. Some blamed Arthur Andersen; Enron’s accounting firm and some blame the board of directors for insufficient oversights. The damage was so big that it was likely to take years for the court to sort the wreckage. The company did not think of its future and took many bad steps just to earn money. The CEO should have looked into the company matters long time ago and took action so that hundreds of jobs could have been saved. The companies who were associated with the big firm were affected on a very large scale. This was the biggest bankruptcy of a firm with $63. 4 billion in assets. 7. Auditors in this scandal, and their role The external auditing body of Enron company was Arthur Anderson LLP, formerly one of the ‘big 5’ accounting firms, providing auditing, tax, and consulting services to large corporations. Andersen definitely Knew Enron Was in Trouble but they overlooked at it and even conspired with Enron to manipulate the financial statements. They knew Enron was in trouble as early as Feb.  2001, a company memo showed, and Andersen debated dropping the collapsed energy firm all together, Reuters reported. Additionally, Andersen knew in mid-August of a senior Enron employee’s concerns about improprieties in the energy company’s accounting practices. Andersen confirmed that a memo dated Feb. 6 recounted a meeting between Andersen executives about whether Andersen should retain the now-bankrupt Enron as a client. Auditors are responsible directly under the law especially the international standards to report directly to the shareholders on the status of the company’s or a bank’s account at a particular point in time. They heavily misconducted as auditors as they received money and hided about Enron`s truth. 8. Ramifications It is not easy to implement rigorous standards without changing Incentives. This situation can be seen in South East Asian countries like: Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, China. Each country can implement its own accounting standards, but did not implement the substantial institutional changes required to make these standards effective. According to various studies conducted in this area, new standards did not result in better-quality financial reporting.9. Conclusion: In search of better standards and ethics The ENRON Scandal is considered to be one of the most notorious within American history; an unofficial blueprint for a case study on White Collar crime. Enron’s behaviour has confirmed that the treatment of off-balance-sheet dodge, American accounting standards are too lax. It is time for another effort to realign the system to function more in shareholders’ interests. Companies need stronger non-executive directors, paid enough to devote proper attention to the job.

buy custom Barry Long essay

buy custom Barry Long essay Barry Long is a 49 year old African-American male. He lives in Chicago, Illinois. Born and grew up in Hawaii, United States. He is an American nationality who subscribes to Christianity and attends United Church of Christ. He is married and has two daughters. In his growing years he was schooled at Jakarta, Besuki and St. Johns of Assisi School. He then proceeded to the college as at his fifth grade until he finished high school. After high school, Barry attended a second college for one and half years. He thereafter transferred to a University in Canada, where he pursued his bachelors degree. He proceeded to join a Law school to pursue a doctorate degree. After his studies, he worked temporarily as an administrator to oversee the development of projects in the community. This included religious based projects in New York City and other cities whereby he worked as a community coordinator. He helped to put up a profession program of training and a tenants' rights association in Chicago. Barry also served as a consultant and trainer for a community organizing institute. In addition, Barry served as a don at a Law school in Chicago for period of ten years whereby he taught law. Later on, he joined a 15 legal representative law enterprise in the field of civil rights legal action and locality economic development. Thereafter, he served duties in directors boards of the Economic Fund in the state of Colombia, where he served as head of directors and as founder and chairman of the panel of directors. With the experience gained while working for various organizations and institutions Barry continued to embrace as many opportunities as he could to lead. He then continued to show excellence in the performance of his duties in the positions he served in which earned him the trust of the larger public. He has had an upward trend in rising in ranks and positions. He has had quality leadership skills that promoted him duly. Traumatic events. Barrys parents separated when he was two years old and finally detached later on. The father, who is a Kenyan native, remarried and left Barry under the care of his grandparents from the mothers side. The mother also married a student who was attending college at Hawaii. Barrys mother later passed on from sarcoma while the father died of a car accident. This exposed him to social stigma which resulted from the multiracial heritage that surrounded him. Barry has struggled to quit smoking over the years and administers nicotine surrogate therapy to date, though he has admitted that he has not quit entirely. Barry has had to encounter numerous psychological issues, social, environment and relationships that have defined his life to date. He began as a society coordinator before graduating with degree in law then helped put up a working position in a training program, a college introductory training program, in addition to rights of tenants association that is in Chicago. Barry also worked as guide and trainer for one of the foundations present in Chicago, which was a society organizing institute. He traveled to various countries where he met and interacted prominent people. While at the University, he was appointed the editor of Law Review in addition to the leader of the journal. He also worked with law organizations in Chicago. Barry served as the head of Health plus Human Services agency when Democrats, after ten years in minority, recovered popularity. In these bids, he proposed a list of bills which include; The Safety and Systematic colonization Act. Together with other related sta keholders, he introduced follow-up legislation, Escalation Simplicity plus Liability in the context of National Expenses Act in the year 2008. As the first African American landmark leader, he has fought for a law that allowed nuclear firm owners to alert the state on the danger of chemical emissions. He further voted for the division deed fairness Act and the gender equality Amendments Act. Barry came up with a business spurt prerequisite candid management and Open regime Act. Barry later on introduced change to the Protection Authorization Act toting up safeguards for traits disorder military discharges. He also sponsored the Sanctions Act on war prone countries supporting divestment of state annuity funds from the industries dealing with oil in addition to gas and co-sponsored legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism. Barry also sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program providing one year job protection for family members caring for soldiers with injuries that were related to combat. He also proposed an extension of the coverage of insurance on health to cater the people who are not insured, in an attempt to cut down the increase in level of premiums in addition to facilitating for the maintenance of coverage in the situation of change in occupation or termination of office tenure. These are some of the bills he proposed during his early years in leadership. He has also brought change in the collapsing motors company by renewing loans for these corporations so that they could continue with operations. In 2009, Barry approved the concern that adding too much debt could cause the financial system to run into a "twofold dip" recession. 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As an environmental initiative, Barry proposed a restriction and trade auction scheme to hamper the issue of chemical emissions like carbon and further introducing a long term investment program in energy sources to safeguard the state from depending on foreign fuel and alternative resources. According to polls conducted, Barry was rated as the most popular world leader, as well as the one figure that most people would pin their hopes on to pull the world out of the present day economic recession. Barry's international appeal has been described as a defining factor for his public image. The polls also indicate tremendous support for Barry in other countries. Moreover, he has interacted with renowned world distinct figures. This implies that the future hold much for this personality making his life to be prosperous and outstanding internationally. He has written two books that are bestsellers in the bookshops and bookstores allover the world. Buy custom Barry Long essay

the holocaust and national soc essays

the holocaust and national soc essays Upon examining the excerpts from the works of Christopher Brownings Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the final solution in Poland; and Omer Bartovs Murder in our Midst: the Holocaust, Industrial killing, and Modernity; one develops an understanding of the responsibilities the average German soldier had on the Holocaust. Christopher Browning argues that that the average German soldier did not willingly participate in killing of Jews. Browning believes that Nazi propaganda was the machine that drove Nazism and coerced German civilians into killing the Jews. Bartovs arguments on the Holocaust are more of a theoretical depiction of both the culmination of science and law. He believes the Holocaust and National Socialism were ever-present in the organized states of the industrialized western society. We have developed ambivalence towards war and violence. All that is needed in the modernity of war is two crucial elements: a scientific stamp and legalistic sanction. Christopher Browning states in his book, Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland, that the majority of the German military did not willingly participate in the mass genocide of the Jews. As pointed out by Browning, Even twenty or twenty-five years later those who did quit shooting along the way overwhelmingly cited sheer physical revulsion against what they were doing as the prime motive but did not express any ethical or political principles behind this revulsion. Browning continues to follow course in that the Germans were blindly following orders. Most of the blame should come at those who gave the orders, and not the German military and civilians who executed these heinous crimes. Bartov elects to explain the governing body behind Nazism and its social uprising into the Hitler State. The emergence and implementation of industrial killing was a crucial component in the...

Philanthropic activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philanthropic activity - Essay Example The event falls on the National Child Abuse Awareness month, and its venue is Patsy’s House, a Children’s Advocacy Center. My participation in the event was on 2015, March 28, at around 12:25 noon-2:00pm. My participation location was at Patterson Honda, Old Jacksboro Highway. I helped raise funds for the African Student Organization, by donating to the pinwheel program. I made a $20 donation to the organization, helping raise funds for the event. I also took my beloved dog with me, which I let the kids play with as they enjoyed themselves. I indulged in philanthropy to help raise funds for the organization, playing my societal role in bettering the lives of other individuals. I hope to participate in other charitable activities, as my previous attendance made me feel better about myself. I felt appreciated by seeing the joy and happiness depicted in those kids, developing and unquenchable urge to participate even further. Verification of my service can be provided by Onyinye, who was a fellow participant. Her contact information is as presented

John McCain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

John McCain - Essay Example Citizens traditionally invest their trust in leaders whom they perceive representing society's ethical principles. Without ethos, leaders have little chance of uniting society for the advancement of their causes. The ideal leader is able to persuade his constituents with both logically and emotionally appealing arguments. For this reason, logos and pathos are critical components of a successful leader's character. While good leaders might excel in either ethos, pathos or logos, truly great leaders incorporate all of these aspects into their characters. Both Pericles and John McCain are able to do this by continuously seeking to mitigate their shortcomings while developing their attributes. Both are known for having lived their lives according to the principles they espouse, giving them much credibility. McCain displays superior ethos when referring to the war in Iraq because he has the military experience to back up his words. While other candidates may pay lip service to the same matters, McCain has an educated opinion derived from twenty-two years in the military. McCain, like Pericles, displays his superior ethics through both his convictions and his actions. Pericles firmly believed that rights and privileges entail responsibilities and obligations. McCain draws similar conclusions, championing individual responsibility at all levels. "For all the grandiose promises made in this campaign, has any candidate spoken honestly to the American people about the government's role and failings about individual responsibilities" he said. (McCain on CNN, 2007) McCain believes that the government has a responsibility to the people, but in turn the people have a duty to participate in the politics and defense of their country. As McCain said during a 1958 speech at the U.S. Naval Academy, "If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you are disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them." Indeed, political participation and service to state and society are the responsibility and obligation of every American citizen (Dinan, 2008). Pericles was known throughout the ancient Greek city-states for the emotional strength of his arguments. Pericles motivated the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War in a similar way to how McCain inspires Americans during the troubled times of today. McCain realizes that logical arguments based upon facts, figures and reasons are not enough to move society. Thus, he makes extensive use of emotionally appealing arguments, demonstrating his impeccable pathos. While advocating the benefits of national service programs, McCain keeps data out of the picture. Rather, he utilizes sentimental yet strong verbiage to illustrate his points, such as "those who claim their liberty but not their duty to the civilization that ensures it live a half-life, indulging their self-interest at the cost of their self-respect. Sacrifice for a cause greater than self-interest, however, and you invest your life with the eminence of that cause (McCain, 2001)." I look to a great leader for inspiration and motivation. This great leader must necessarily match Pericles' embodiment of ethos, logos and pathos. McCain's ethical convictions and credibility; logical and reasoning ability; and emotionally appealing arguments, make him a modern day Pericles and I admire him for