The Unusual History of Microsoft Windows

The Unusual History of Microsoft Windows On November 10, 1983, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Microsoft Corporation formally announced Microsoft Windows, a next-generation operating system that would provide a graphical user interface (GUI) and a multitasking environment for IBM computers. Introducing Interface Manager Microsoft promised that the new product would be on the shelf by April 1984. Windows might have been released under the original name of Interface Manager if marketing whiz, Rowland Hanson had not convinced Microsofts founder Bill Gates that Windows was the far better name. Did Windows Get Top View? That same November in 1983, Bill Gates showed a beta version of Windows to IBMs head honchos. Their response was lackluster probably because they were working on their own operating system called Top View. IBM did not give Microsoft the same encouragement for Windows that they gave the other operating system that Microsoft brokered to IBM. In 1981, MS-DOS became the highly successful operating system that came bundled with an IBM computer. Top View was released in February of 1985 as a DOS-based multitasking program manager without any GUI features. IBM promised that future versions of Top View would have a GUI. That promise was never kept, and the program was discontinued barely two years later. A Byte Out of Apple No doubt, Bill Gates realized how profitable a successful GUI for IBM computers would be. He had seen Apples Lisa computer and later the more successful Macintosh or Mac computer. Both Apple computers came with a stunning graphical user interface. Wimps Side Note: Early MS-DOS diehards liked to refer to MacOS (Macintosh operating system)as WIMP, an acronym for the Windows, Icons, Mice and Pointers interface. Competition As a new product, Microsoft Windows faced potential competition from IBMs own Top View, and others. VisiCorps short-lived VisiOn, released in October 1983, was the official first PC-based GUI. The second was GEM (Graphics Environment Manager), released by Digital Research in early 1985. Both GEM and VisiOn lacked support from the all-important third-party developers. Since, if nobody wanted to write software programs for an operating system, there would be no programs to use, and nobody would want to buy it. Microsoft finally shipped Windows 1.0 on November 20, 1985, almost two years past the initially promised release date.    Microsoft become the top software vendor in 1988 and never looked back - Microsoft Corporation    Apple Bytes Back Microsoft Windows version 1.0 was considered buggy, crude, and slow. This rough start was made worse by a threatened lawsuit from  Apple Computers. In September 1985, Apple lawyers warned  Bill Gates  that Windows 1.0 infringed on Apple  copyrights  and  patents, and that his corporation stoled Apples trade secrets. Microsoft Windows had similar drop-down menus, tiled windows and mouse support. Deal of the Century Bill Gates and his head counsel Bill Neukom, decided to make an offer to license features of Apples operating system. Apple agreed and a contract was drawn up. Heres the clincher: Microsoft wrote the  licensing  agreement to include use of Apple features in Microsoft Windows version 1.0 and all future Microsoft software programs. As it turned out, this move by  Bill Gates  was as brilliant as his decision to buy QDOS from Seattle Computer Products and his convincing IBM to let Microsoft keep the licensing rights to MS-DOS. (You can read all about those smooth moves in our feature on  MS-DOS.) Windows 1.0 floundered on the market until January 1987, when a Windows-compatible program called Aldus PageMaker 1.0 was released. PageMaker was the first WYSIWYG desktop-publishing program for the PC. Later that year, Microsoft released a Windows-compatible spreadsheet called Excel. Other popular and useful software like Microsoft Word and Corel Draw helped promote Windows, however, Microsoft realized that Windows needed further development. Microsoft Windows Version 2.0 On December 9, 1987, Microsoft released a much-improved Windows version 2.0 that made Windows based computers look more like a  Mac. Windows 2.0 had icons to represent programs and files, improved support for expanded-memory hardware and windows that could overlap. Apple Computer saw a resemblance and filed a 1988 lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging that they had broken the 1985 licensing agreement. Copy This Will You In their defense, Microsoft claimed that the licensing agreement actually gave them the rights to use Apple features. After a four-year court case, Microsoft won. Apple claimed that Microsoft had infringed on 170 of their copyrights. The courts said that the licensing agreement gave Microsoft the rights to use all but nine of the copyrights, and Microsoft later convinced the courts that the remaining copyrights should not be covered by copyright law. Bill Gates claimed that Apple had taken ideas from the graphical user interface developed by Xerox for Xeroxs Alto and Star computers. On June 1, 1993, Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the U.S. District Court of Northern California ruled in Microsofts favor in the Apple vs. Microsoft Hewlett-Packard copyright suit. The judge granted Microsofts and Hewlett-Packards motions to dismiss the last remaining copyright infringement claims against Microsoft Windows versions 2.03 and 3.0, as well as HP NewWave. What would have happened if Microsoft had lost the lawsuit? Microsoft Windows might never have become the dominant operating system that it is today. On May 22, 1990, the critically accepted Windows 3.0 was released. Windows 3.0 had an improved program manager and icon system, a new file manager, support for sixteen colors, and improved speed and reliability. Most important, Windows 3.0 gained widespread third-party support. Programmers started writing Windows-compatible software, giving end users a reason to buy Windows 3.0. Three million copies were sold the first year, and Windows finally came of age. On April 6, 1992, Windows 3.1 was released. Three million copies were sold in the first two months. TrueType scalable font support was added, along with multimedia capability, object linking and embedding (OLE), application reboot capability, and more. Windows 3.x became the number one operating system installed in PCs until 1997, when Windows 95 took over. Windows 95 On August 24, 1995, Windows 95 was released in a buying fever so great that even consumers without home computers bought copies of the program. Code-named Chicago, Windows 95 was considered very user-friendly. It included an integrated TCP/IP stack, dial-up networking, and long filename support. It was also the first version of Windows that did not require  MS-DOS  to be installed beforehand. Windows 98 On June 25, 1998, Microsoft released Windows 98. It was the last version of Windows based on the MS-DOS kernel. Windows 98 has Microsofts Internet browser Internet Explorer 4 built in and supported new input devices like USB. Windows 2000 Windows 2000 (released in 2000) was based on Microsofts NT technology. Microsoft now offered automatic software updates over the Internet for Windows starting with Windows 2000. Windows XP According to Microsoft, the XP in Windows XP stands for experience, symbolizing the innovative experiences that Windows can offer to personal computer users. Windows XP was released in October 2001 and offered better multi-media support and increased performance. Windows Vista Codenamed Longhorn in its development phase, Windows Vista is the latest edition of Windows.

Alien Registration Records

Alien Registration Records Alien registration records are an excellent source of family history information on U.S. immigrants who were not naturalized citizens. Record Type: Immigration/Citizenship Location: United States Time Period: 1917-1918 and 1940-1944 What are Alien Registration Records?: Aliens (non-citizen residents) living in the United States were asked during two different historical periods to register with the U.S. Government. World War I Alien Registration RecordsFollowing the beginning of United States involvement in World War I, all resident aliens who had not been naturalized, were required, as a security measure, to register with the U.S. Marshal nearest their place of residence. A failure to register risked interment or possible deportation. This registration occurred between November 1917 and April 1918. WWII Alien Registration Records, 1940-1944The Alien Registration Act of 1940 (also known as the Smith Act) required the fingerprinting and registration of any alien age 14 and older living within or entering the United States. These records were completed from August 1, 1940 to March 31, 1944 and document over 5 million non-citizen residents of the United States during this period. What Can I Learn From Alien Registration Records?: 1917-1918: The following information was generally collected: Full name (including maiden name for females)Current residence and length of residencePlace of birthSpouse’s name and residenceChildren’s names, sex, and years of birthParents’ names (including maiden name for mother), birthdates, and birthplacesNames, dates of birth, and current residence of siblingsWhether any male relatives serving in the military for/against USWhether registered for selective draftPrevious military or government serviceDate of immigration, name of vessel and port of arrivalWhether naturalized in another country Whether reported/registered with a consul since 1 June 1914Whether applied for naturalization or took out first papers; if yes, when and whereWhether ever taken an oath of allegiance other than to the United StatesWhether ever arrested or detained on any chargeWhether held a permit to enter a forbidden areaSignaturePhotographDescription of registrantFull set of fingerprints 1940-1944: The two-page Alien Registration Form (AR-2) asked for the following information: NameName at time of entry to the USOther names usedAddressDate and place of birthCitizenship/NationalityGenderMarital statusRace Height WeightHair Eye ColorDate, port, vessel and class of admission of last arrival in USDate of first arrival in USNumber of years in the USUsual occupationPresent occupationName, address and business of present employerMembership in clubs, organizations or societiesDates and nature of military or naval serviceWhether citizenship papers were filed and if so the date, place, and courtNumber of relatives living in the USArrest record, including date, place and dispositionWhether or not affiliated with a foreign governmentSignatureFingerprintNot all registrants provided all information. Where Can I Get Alien Registration Records?: WWI Alien Registration files are scattered, and the majority are no longer extant. Existing files can often be found in state archives and similar repositories. Existing WWI alien registration records for Kansas; Phoenix, Arizona (partial); and St. Paul, Minnesota can be searched online. Other alien registration records are available in offline repositories, such as the 1918 Minnesota Alien Registration records at the Iron Range Research Center in Chisholm, MN. Check with your local or state genealogial society to learn what WWI alien registration records might be available for your area of interest. WWII Alien Registration (AR-2) files are available on microfilm from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and can be obtained through a Genealogy Immigration Records Request. Unless you have the actual alien registration number from an alien registration card in your familys possession, or from a passenger list or naturalization document, you will want to begin by requesting a Genealogy Index Search. Important: Alien Registration Forms AR-2 are only available for A-numbers 1 million to 5 980 116, A6 100 000 to 6 132 126, A7 000 000 to 7 043 999, and A7 500 000 to 7 759 142. If the subject of your request was born less than 100 years before the date of your request, you are generally required to provide documentary proof of death with your request. This might include a death certificate, a printed obituary, a photograph of the tombstone, or other document demonstrating that the subject of your request is deceased. Please submit copies of these documents, not originals, as they will not be returned. Cost: Alien registration records (AR-2 forms) requested from USCIS cost $20.00, including shipping and photocopies. A genealogy index search is an additional $20.00. Please check the USCIS Genealogy Program for the most current pricing information. What to Expect: No two Alien Registration Records are alike, nor are specific answers or documents guaranteed to be in each case file. Not all aliens answered every question. Turn-around time to receive these records averages about three to five months, so prepare to be patient.

Accounting theory in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Accounting theory in Australia - Essay Example One such standard that has been much debated is the fair value accounting measure. Fair value accounting has gained popularity in the recent years as the standard for measuring assets and liabilities by firms. Although, fair value accounting has been accepted and adopted by firms across the world, it is still considered to be inefficient in its utility. Perhaps it is because of the discrepancy in the financial systems and conceptual frameworks which have given rise to the chaos that is evident in todays corporate environment. In the following discussion the researcher shall discuss the impact of fair value accounting and disclosures based on current accounting standards, conceptual frameworks and theoretical assumptions with the view to enumerate on its viability, utility and efficiency. International accounting standards are broadly divided into the United States’ independent regulators’ approach and the European public ownership approach. The European approach had been based on the theoretical framework that since corporations are usually serve their own profit interest, it is up to the government to curb private monopolies and monitor their activities. On the other hand the US independent commissions for monitoring and enforcing regulation had been developed with the view to give the market economic independency on the premise of laissez faire. Ironically, as Gaffikin (2005) points out, both the systems fail to achieve its objective of regulation as a result of market inefficiency and economic regulation consideration. This led to the development of a regulation system based on interest theory - that is serving both the private and public interests (Gaffikin 2005). Today, accounting standards across the world is based on the US Financial Accounting Standard Board and the International Accounting Standard Board. Australia follows similar measurement

Multidimensional Chromatography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Multidimensional Chromatography - Essay Example Hence, essentially speaking, one dimensional chromatographic separation is definitely not the last word for isolation and characterization of biomolecules, chiefly proteins. The limitation is due to its low resolving power in presenting a homogenous protein sample from a complex mixture of several other unwanted proteins, associated matrix components and metabolites that can otherwise be segregated in a much more efficient way by various types of matrix loaded multiple columns utilizing their differential properties and affinities. Moreover, combination of two or more analytical separation steps involve perfectly standardized pre-treatment processes that are to be coordinated in an automated way for a complete segregation of the test samples. (Mondello, P. 251) Multidimensional separation techniques were first devised with the implementation of two dimensional separation beds, in which two different parameters for migration corresponding to two distribution coefficients help to identify the separated components on the bed with more certainty and a high peak capacity than that achieved by one dimensional separation procedures. (Cortes, P. 14 - 15) A high value of peak density is an important requisite for effective separation process and it can easily be achieved by combining two or more chromatographic separation techniques. The greater the number of peaks that can be resolved effectively in a given multidimensional separation procedure within a fixed time frame greater is the overall efficiency of the process. Likewise with effective resolution of a higher number of peaks more and more complex samples can be duly segregated, characterized and analyzed for further investigation. In a simple two dimensional chromatographic process that is c arried out by a combination of two different columns, the maximum peak capacity will be the product of the peak capacities of the individual columns, thereby generating a higher capacity of resolution for the overall analytical process. As for example, the peak capacities for each separation process being 100 and 200, the combined value of the maximum peak capacity of the two dimensional separation procedure becomes a product of the two, that is, 20000, thereby ensuring high resolution and larger separation between the collected fractions. (Chromatography Online.com, 1998 - 2008) Multidimensional chromatography, therefore, finds a maximum usage in biomedical research and especially in proteomics, where investigation of biological samples of protein mixtures requires prior separation and characterization in order to tag the target protein. In protein analysis research several novel methods of multidimensional chromatographic separations are being currently used in complementation with the 2-D polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic separation (2D-PAGE), for a much better resolution and greater separation space between analyzable eluents. Multidimensional approach involving multidimensional liquid chromatography (MDCL) used in unison with bio-mass

Technological Environment Essay Example for Free

Technological Environment Essay When a relatively primitive technology is used in the production process, the technology is usually referred to as labor-intensive. A highly advanced technology, on the other hand, is generally termed capital-intensive. Business Perspective: The way that businesses function both in and out of the office has changed drastically. Thanks to advances in computer, information and communication technology. Companies now use a variety of mobile devices, software and various applications that employees can use for marketing and networking, as well as research and development, for their goods and services. Internet- the Internet, perhaps more than any other factor, has changed the way that companies do business. Most companies have websites, which allow them to reach a larger audience and attract customers and employees from all over the world. In addition, businesses are now utilizing social-networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, enabling them to communicate directly with customers with news and updates. These websites are interactive, which means that companies can also receive immediate feedback on new products from customers, speeding the process of research and development. Email, video conferencing and online chat rooms have also made it easier for businesses to become more globalized, communicating quickly and easily with clients and co-workers regardless of their location. * Mobile Devices- The Internet resources listed above are not just available on an office computer. Many companies provide their employees with other mobile devices such as laptops, tablet computers, PDAs and smart phones. These devices are portable and enable workers to stay constantly connected and updated with their work. They also make it more possible for employees to have a mobile office, working from any location and allowing them to travel or live in an area other than where the business is actually located. Most mobile devices also have an enormous number of applications available such as productivity tools, locators that utilize GPS functions and other organizational applications that help employees download, type, share and even print documents remotely from their device. * Software- Depending on the type of business, the software used by companies will vary. However, many companies can benefit from several types of software and applications.

when plague strikes :: essays research papers

Overview of: ‘When Plague Strikes’ by James Giblin This book is separated into three main parts the Black Death, smallpox, and aids. This book gives facts of occurring diseases and the diseases from the past. This books content mainly took place in Europe and Asia when it gave facts dates and examples. It explains the nature and symptoms of diseases from long ago. The bubonic Plague mainly affects rodents, but fleas can transmit the disease to people. Once people are infected, they infect others very rapidly the disease struck and killed people with terrible speed. They called it "The Black Death" because of the black spots it produced on the skin. A terrible killer was loose across Europe, and medieval medicine had nothing to go against it. In five years twenty five million people were dead because of the Black Death. So many people had died that there were serious labor shortages all over Europe. The Black Death came in three forms, the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemia. Each different form of plague killed people in a nasty way. All forms were caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis. The symptoms were enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes (around arm pits, neck and groin). The term 'bubonic' refers to the characteristic bubo or enlarged lymphatic gland. â€Å"Victims were subject to headaches, nausea, aching joints, fever of 10 1-105 degrees, vomiting, and a general feeling of illness. Symptoms took from 1-7 days to appear. Bubonic plague is just the medical term for the Black Death† (Giblin 11). Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease. There is no specific treatment for smallpox disease, and the only prevention is vaccination. The name smallpox is derived from the Latin word for â€Å"spotted† and refers to the raised bumps that appear on the face and body of an infected person. Smallpox outbreaks have occurred from time to time for thousands of years, but the disease is now eradicated after a successful worldwide vaccination program. The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. The last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977. Generally, direct and fairly prolonged face-to-face contact is required to spread smallpox from one person to another. Smallpox also can be spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects such as bedding or clothing. â€Å"The first symptoms of smallpox include fever, malaise, head and body aches, and sometimes vomiting.

Lenin’s death in 1924 Essay

12 marker: Explain why; at the time of Lenin’s death in 1924 there was no obvious successor to lead The USSR. Lenin’s death came as a great shock to many Russians in 1924; he led the October Revolution in 1917 he was seen as father like role to Russians. He had built up a new government and allowed many of his fellow Bolsheviks roles positions in his new Soviet State, and these figures all thought that they have the power and influence to lead Russia. Lenin knew that he was ill and that he would not be able to keep on making key decisions and attending committee and politburo meetings. He felt that the people in his government saw this as an opportunity to try and assert their power and then after his death have a good chance of becoming the leader of The USSR. He wrote a testament, damning five of the people that held high authority in his new government: Trotsky, Stalin, Bukharin, Zinoviev and Kamenev. If this were to be circulated in the party it would mean that people lower down in the party would be questioning these people too, they might feel that these individuals had too much power. However, these were the leading communists and there did not seem to be any other Bolsheviks that were capable or ready to become a leader. Lenin called Trotsky ‘excessively self-assured’ Lenin thought that Trotsky focused too much on himself and not enough on the Russian people. Lenin also called Stalin the other main contender for the role of leader ‘too rude’ and stated that he has been placed with too much power within the part as Secretary-General; this has made him quite arrogant. Lenin calls for Russians to remember that although Zinoviev and Kamenev are quite underestimated, that they were not loyal to the October Revolution and therefore not the most trustworthy or loyal. Lenin feels that Bukharin is very intelligent, and would be good at the administration aspect of leadership but not a good enough orator to be seen as a strong leader by the masses. This really set the cat among the pigeons; it showed that Lenin did not have confidence in one single successor, showing negative aspects of all of the possible candidates. Although this was suppressed by Kamenev and Zinoviev from being read at the 23rd party conference, Stalin had the most to lose if this had been read, being very critical of his personality and power. Ultimately, it showed that there was going to be a power struggle, and that there was no obvious successor. Lenin’s Testament highlighted some major concerns of his, that there were five possible successors but none of them seemed obvious to go straight to the leadership position. Trotsky was seen as an alternative main candidate, he had a lot of support from the working class in the two main cities, Moscow and Petrograd. He was educated and a brilliant orator, moving crowds of people that came to visit him speak. However, he had many personal weaknesses, he was not liked by a lot of the main decision makers under Lenin, and he needed their support for a leadership position. He did not understand that Russia was an agricultural country and he had to think of the country’s agriculture as much as its industry. Stalin had many important roles within the communist party, commissar for nationalities, worker’s and peasant’s inspectorate and more. Although he had a vast amount of power within the party he was not seen as being consistent, something a leader should be. Also, he had a tough relationship with Lenin before his death. Bukharin was seen as very clever, but not being Marxist enough, he had been appalled by the bloodshed of the civil war and supported the NEP that had allowed an emergence of a middle class, something the Revolution was against. Also Bukharin did not take any side in arguments within the party, showing Lenin that he maybe was not a committed communist. Zinoviev and Kamenev had not been loyal to the October Revolution in 1917; showing that they would not be the leader that Lenin wanted. Lenin thought that they buckled under pressure and for these two reasons did not allow them on the Russian bureau of Central Committee. These factors reinforce the uncertainty for the role of leader, there were candidates that seemed to be strong like Stalin or Trotsky but they had large weaknesses too. Although, there was a lot of room for possible criticism and backstabbing due to the contenders having weaknesses of their own, in 1921 the ban on factionalism introduced by Lenin stopped the formation of groups within his party and stopped criticism of decisions made within the party. It was a way of trying to make the party seem loyal and was basically a ban on free-speech: Meaning that the candidates would not be able to run for leader by highlighting weaknesses to the party or masses. The five candidates would not be able to campaign. Also, because Lenin’s Testament was not published it did not allow the party to make a decision on the leadership, alongside the ban on factions meant that a candidate would just have to seem like a strong runner individually or resort to backstabbing. In conclusion, I believe that by not publishing Lenin’s testament, this meant that his personal opinions were not voiced to the party, at the party conference, where hundreds of the most influential communists would have seen that all of the main five candidates had weaknesses and there was not one that Lenin felt was singly good enough to rule the party. He was possibly hinting to a collective government with a coalition between all five, mixing their positive aspects to make a great USSR. Although the ban on factions was important, the Testament would have voiced the weaknesses of the five people in the running for leadership coming straight from Lenin his conclusion would have gained influence from the party that was loyal to him. Therefore, I believe that by not publishing Lenin’s testament meant that there was great uncertainty over the role of leader.

The Door You Willing to Shut

Stephen King provides us with his own vocabulary as well as methods for isolating one’s mind and unlocking it to its utmost potential. His blueprint for writing involves isolation from mundane life, from thinking too rationally or dogmatically in order to get in touch with our creative side. Using the terms â€Å"the room†, â€Å"the door† and â€Å"the determination to shut the door† he maps out an environment, which helps him concentrate on his writing.Stephen points out that usually we need to find a comfortable place to write (in his case-his home). The next step is to get rid of all distractions (the shutting of the door) and then to set a certain goal, as well as to make sure that it is quite attainable. King believes, based on his own experience that the hardest part about writing is just to begin the task, writing â€Å"one word at a time†; once it starts its not overly difficult to maintain the flow of ideas and their transfer on paper.Pers onally I find the environment of a small cozy cafe preferable to that of my home in terms of shutting the door to various distractions that King talks about. The room and the determination to shut the door are more important to me when I write, then the door itself. When I write in a cafe, I do not control the environment—the door — that is, I cannot shut it entirely, but I can control my focus on my work, in King’s own words it’s called the determination to shut the door.I’m not sure if I would be able to write to Metallica or AC/DC as King apparently can, but music in general if it is soothing, would not distract me. Just like King, I find the hardest thing is to begin, once I get going I do not feel distracted by my surrounding environment, I can focus and be completely absorbed by the writing task, creating a piece â€Å"one word at a time†.

Saipo The Project Identity

Saipo The Project Identity Mission The mission of Saipo Company is to provide people in developing regions with the products of the soap recycling process because of the observed lack of inexpensive hygiene products in many countries globally. Thus, the practical goal of the company’s work is to cooperate with soap producers round the world to recycle the leftover or expired soap materials to distribute the products in developing countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Saipo The Project Identity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Brand Value Saipo Company focuses on providing the unique products and services which are interesting not only for the potential customers as the product’s target audience but also for the company’s partners and shareholders because of expanding the possibilities for combining the elements of profitable and charitable activities. Combining the efforts of giant producers of soap and contributing t o the increase of shareholders’ gains, Saipo is the potentially most recognizable producer of soap in developing countries because of the products’ availability and social mission. The customers’ perception of the brand depends on the actual provision of inexpensive soap products in developing regions to determine the market and target audience of Saipo products. Saipo explores the new market segment with the help of effective strategies. The brand recognition as well as brand value can be discussed as depending significantly on orienting to innovation and creativity along with following the people-oriented culture and strategy. The demand for hygiene products globally affects the unique mission of Saipo Company which is the contribution to improvement of living conditions in developing regions while affecting availability of soap products. The Impact of Readings To work out the effective name for a new company, it is necessary to focus on the creative approach. The role of creativity in the project identity and product development is emphasized in the research by Brattstrom, Lofsten, and Richtner. Thus, the research’s results influenced the process of developing the name and the further focus on the effective mission statement because the authors presented the detailed description of the product development process (Brattstrom, Lofsten, and Richtner 744).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nevertheless, the development of a mission statement requires the concentration on the specific goals, functions, activities, and strategies followed and performed by the company. Paying attention to the research conducted by Cheung, Wong, and Lam, it is important to note that goal clarity and the focus on innovation along with creativity are the important factors to influence the brand’s success (Cheung, Wong, and Lam 690). That is why, these aspects should be taken into consideration while developing the effective mission statement. To develop the points associated with brand value, it is necessary to refer to the elements of the company’s organizational structure, culture, and performance in order to distinguish the aspects which contribute to the company’s uniqueness. The article by Cheung, Wong, and Lam and the research by Rauniar and Rawski are important to answer the questions about the Saipo Company’s mission, goal, and particular features of the enterprise’s performance with orienting to the profitable and charitable activities (Cheung, Wong, and Lam 690-691; Rauniar and Rawski 939). The readings on the aspects of the project development and specific organizational structures of companies to succeed within the market and industry are useful to decide what details should be accentuated in the mission and brand value statements to attract the target audience and poten tial investors. Brattstrom, Anna, Hans Lofsten, and Anders Richtner. â€Å"Creativity, Trust and Systematic Processes in Product Development†. Research Policy 41.1 (2012): 743-755. Print. Cheung, Sai On, Peter Wong, and Anna Lam. â€Å"An Investigation of the Relationship between Organizational Culture and the Performance of Construction Organizations†. Journal of Business Economics and Management 13.4 (2012): 688-704. Print.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Saipo The Project Identity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Rauniar, Rupak and Greg Rawski. â€Å"Organizational Structuring and Project Team Structuring in Integrated Product Development Project†. International Journal of Production Economics 135.1 (2012): 939-952. Print.

The Historic Fight over the Mountain of Light

The Historic Fight over the Mountain of Light Its only a hard lump of carbon, after all, yet the Koh-i-Noor diamond exerts a magnetic pull on those who behold it. Once the largest diamond in the world, it has passed from one famous ruling family to another as the tides of war and fortune have turned one way and another over the past 800 or more years. Today, it is held by the British, a spoil of their colonial wars, but the descendant states of all its previous owners claim this controversial stone as their own. Origins of the Koh i Noor Indian legend holds that the Koh-i-Noors history stretches back an incredible 5,000 years, and that the gem has been part of royal hoards since around the year 3,000 BCE.   It seems more likely, however, that these legends conflate various royal gems from different millennia, and that the Koh-i-Noor itself was probably discovered in the 1200s CE. Most scholars believe that the Koh-i-Noor was discovered during the reign of the Kakatiya Dynasty in the Deccan Plateau of southern India (1163 - 1323).   A precursor to the Vijayanagara Empire, Kakatiya ruled over much of present-day Andhra Pradesh, site of the Kollur Mine.   It was from this mine that the Koh-i-Noor, or Mountain of Light, likely came.    In 1310, the Khilji Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate invaded the Kakatiya kingdom, and demanded various items as tribute payments.   Kakatiyas doomed ruler Prataparudra was forced to send tribute north, including 100 elephants, 20,000 horses - and the Koh-i-Noor diamond.   Thus, the Kakatiya lost their most stunning jewel after less than 100 years of ownership, in all likelihood, and their entire kingdom would fall just 13 years later. The Khilji family did not enjoy this particular spoil of war for long, however.   In 1320, they were overthrown by the Tughluq clan, the third of five families that would rule the Delhi Sultanate. Each of the succeeding Delhi Sultanate clans would possess the Koh-i-Noor, but none of them held power for long. This account of the stones origins and early history is the most widely accepted today, but there are other theories as well. The Mughal emperor Babur, for one, states in his memoir, the  Baburnama,  that during the 13th century the stone was the property of the Raja of Gwalior, who ruled a district of Madhya Pradesh in central India.   To this day, we are not entirely certain if the stone came from Andhra Pradesh, from Madhya Pradesh, or from Andhra Pradesh via Madhya Pradesh. The Diamond of Babur A prince from a Turco-Mongol family in what is now Uzbekistan, Babur defeated the Delhi Sultanate and conquered northern India in 1526.   He founded the great Mughal Dynasty, which ruled northern India until 1857.   Along with the Delhi Sultanates lands, the magnificent diamond passed to him, and he modestly named it the Diamond of Babur.   His family would keep the gem for just over two hundred rather tumultuous years. The fifth Mughal emperor was Shah Jahan, justly famous for ordering the construction of the Taj Mahal.   Shah Jahan also had an elaborate jeweled gold throne built, called the Peacock Throne. Crusted with countless diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls, the throne contained a significant portion of the Mughal Empires fabulous wealth.   Two golden peacocks adorned the throne; one peacocks eye was the Koh-i-Noor or Diamond of Babur; the other was the Akbar Shah Diamond. Shah Jahans son and successor, Aurangzeb (reigned 1661-1707), was persuaded during his reign to allow a Venetian carver called Hortenso Borgia to cut the Diamond of Babur.   Borgia made a complete hash of the job, reducing what had been the worlds largest diamond from 793 carats to 186 carats. The finished product was quite irregular in shape and did not shine to anything like its full potential.   Furious, Aurangzeb fined the Venetian 10,000 rupees for spoiling the stone. Aurangzeb was the last of the Great Mughals; his successors were lesser men, and Mughal power began its slow fade. One weak emperor after another sit on the Peacock Throne for a month or a year before being assassinated or deposed. Mughal India and all of its wealth were vulnerable, including the Diamond of Babur, a tempting target for neighboring nations. Persia Takes the Diamond In 1739, the Shah of Persia, Nader Shah, invaded India and won a great victory over Mughal forces at the Battle of Karnal. He and his army then sacked Delhi, raiding the treasury and stealing the Peacock Throne.   Its not entirely clear where the Diamond of Babur was at the time, but it may have been in the Badshahi Mosque, where Aurangzeb had deposited it after Borgia cut it. When the Shah saw the Diamond of Babur, he is supposed to have cried out, Koh-i-Noor! or Mountain of Light!, giving the stone its current name.   In all, the Persians seized plunder estimated at the equivalent of 18.4 billions dollars US in todays money from India.   Of all the loot, Nader Shah seems to have loved the Koh-i-Noor the most. Afghanistan Gets the Diamond Like others before him, though, the Shah did not get to enjoy his diamond for long.   He was assassinated in 1747, and the Koh-i-Noor passed to one of his generals, Ahmad Shah Durrani.   The general would go on to conquer Afghanistan later that same year, founding the Durrani Dynasty and ruling as its first emir. Zaman Shah Durrani, the third Durrani king, was overthrown and imprisoned in 1801 by his younger brother, Shah Shuja.   Shah Shuja was infuriated when he inspected his brothers treasury, and realized that the Durranis most prized possession, the Koh-i-Noor, was missing.   Zaman had taken the stone to prison with him, and hollowed out a hiding place for it in the wall of his cell.   Shah Shuja offered him his freedom in return for the stone, and Zaman Shah took the deal. This magnificent stone first came to British attention in 1808, when Mountstuart Elphinstone visited the court of Shah Shujah Durrani in Peshawar.   The British were in Afghanistan to negotiate an alliance against Russia, as part of the Great Game.   Shah Shujah wore the Koh-i-Noor embedded in a bracelet during the negotiations, and Sir Herbert Edwardes noted that, It seemed as if the Koh-i-noor carried with it the sovereignty of Hindostan, because whichever family that possessed it so often prevailed in battle. I would argue that in fact, causation flowed in the opposite direction - whoever was winning the most battles usually nabbed the diamond.   It would not be long before yet another ruler would take the Koh-i-Noor for his own. The Sikhs Grab the Diamond In 1809, Shah Shujah Durrani got overthrown in turn by another brother, Mahmud Shah Durrani.   Shah Shujah had to flee into exile in India, but he managed to escape with the Koh-i-Noor.   He ended up a prisoner of the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, known as the Lion of the Punjab.   Singh ruled from the city of Lahore, in what is now Pakistan. Ranjit Singh soon learned that his royal prisoner had the diamond. Shah Shujah was stubborn, and did not want to relinquish his treasure.   However, by 1814, he felt that the time was ripe for him to escape from the Sikh kingdom, raise an army, and try to retake the Afghan throne.   He agreed to give Ranjit Singh the Koh-i-Noor in return for his freedom. Britain Seizes the Mountain of Light After Ranjit Singhs death in 1839, the Koh-i-Noor was passed from one person to another in his family for about a decade. It ended up as the property of the child king Maharaja Dulip Singh.   In 1849, the British East India Company prevailed in the Second Angol-Sikh War and seized control of the Punjab from the young king, handing all political power to the British Resident.    In the Last Treaty of Lahore (1849), it specifies that the Koh-i-Noor Diamond is to be presented to Queen Victoria, not as a gift from the East India Company, but as a spoil of war.   The British also took 13-year-old Dulip Singh to Britain, where he was raised as a ward of Queen Victoria.   He reportedly once asked to have the diamond returned, but received no answer from the Queen. The Koh-i-Noor was a star attraction of Londons Great Exhibition in 1851.   Despite the fact that its display case prevented any light from striking its facets, so it essentially looked like a lump of dull glass, thousands of people waited patiently for a chance to gaze at the diamond each day.   The stone received such poor reviews that Prince Albert, Queen Victorias husband, decided to have it recut in 1852.    The British government appointed Dutch master diamond-cutter, Levie Benjamin Voorzanger, to recut the famous stone.   Once again, the cutter drastically reduced the size of the stone, this time from 186 carats to 105.6 carats.   Voorzanger had not planned to cut away so much of the diamond, but discovered flaws that needed to be excised in order to achieve maximum sparkle.    Prior to Victorias death, the diamond was her personal property; after her lifetime, it became part of the Crown Jewels.   Victoria wore it in a brooch, but later queens wore it as the front piece of their crowns.   The British superstitiously believed that the Koh-i-Noor brought bad fortune to any male who possessed it (given its history), so only female royals have worn it.   It was set into the coronation crown of Queen Alexandra in 1902, then was moved into Queen Marys crown in 1911.   In 1937, it was added to the coronation crown of Elizabeth, the mother of the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.   It remains in the Queen Mothers crown to this day, and was on display during her funeral in 2002. Modern-Day Ownership Dispute Today, the Koh-i-Noor diamond is still a spoil of Britains colonial wars.   It rests in the Tower of London along with the other Crown Jewels.    As soon as India gained its independence in 1947, the new government made its first request for the return of the Koh-i-Noor. It renewed its request in 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned. Indias parliament once again asked for the gem in 2000. Britain has refused to consider Indias claims. In 1976, Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto asked that Britain return the diamond to Pakistan, since it had been taken from the Maharaja of Lahore.   This prompted Iran to assert its own claim.   In 2000, Afghanistans Taliban regime noted that the gem had come from Afghanistan to British India, and asked to have it returned to them instead of Iran, India, or Pakistan. Britain responds that because so many other nations have claimed the Koh-i-Noor, none of them have a better claim to it than Britains.   However, it seems pretty clear to me that the stone originated in India, spent most of its history in India, and really should belong to that nation.

The Status of German Women under Nazism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Status of German Women under Nazism - Essay Example The end of World War I harkened the birth of several political groups in Germany possessing extreme views, such as those professing ultra-nationalistic and anti-democratic ideas. Adolph Hitler joined one of these groups known as the German Workers' Party. In the years following 1920, he became the leader of the party, later reorganizing and reorienting it to reflect his personality. He also renamed the party to the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP) or, as translated into English, the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Nazism was the term by which the party's ideology, its doctrines, and its policies came to be known. (Columbia Encyclopaedia 2004) The ideology of Nazism was based on an amalgam of doctrines of racism, nationalism, and what was known as the "hero-cult" espoused by various writers and interpreted by Hitler and others in works such as Hitler's Mein Kampf. Instead of a set of well-described principles, Nazism was a vague ideology glorifying myth, prejudice, and nihilist views. Control was paramount and democracy was viewed as a corrupt form of government that served to protect the mediocre and weak elements of society. Under Hitler, Nazism became national law in Germany. (Columbia Encyclopaedia 2004) Nazism was a reaction to the emancipation of society, which occurred as monarchies throughout Europe fell and as Marxist ideology grew in popularity. Nazism, contrasted to the Marxist emphasis on the desire for equality in property ownership, focused on issues of social equality, primarily the issues of racial superiority and inferiority. (Harvey 1999: 77+) The anti-feminist spirit of Nazism was related in a significant manner to the movement's racist ideology, according to Stibbe (1993: 35+), who writes that "[l]ike the Jew, the modern 'emancipated' woman was seen as an agent of degeneracy and national decline, bringing in her wake the 'destructive' forces of Bolshevism, democracy, and parliamentarianism." A hint of Hitler's perspectives on the role of women became apparent shortly after his assumption of power in January of 1933. In his government's handbook for Nazi leaders and their organisations and members, entitled and translated as The ABCs of National Socialism, the following translated entry, which was directed at Jewish women, appeared: "[T]he Jewish housewife, herself, is no picture of cleanliness, but idly sits around, painted up and powdered and adorned in silk and baubles" (Rosen 1933, cited in Guenther 2004: 92). But Hitler's views of women in German society were not restricted to Jews alone. Women, in general, were cri ticised for purchasing cosmetics, perfumes, and other luxury items rather than saving the money or spending it on household items. Hitler, both through the ideology he promoted and the policies he enacted, insisted that German women must "return to their pre-emancipation roles" (Guenther 2004: 93). The ABCs of National Socialism, as translated, stated (Rosen 1933, cite