Religion Essay Topics

Religion Essay TopicsTwo of the most common question in religion essay topics is: which types of religion do you believe in? And, if you are still undecided about it, the next topic is: is there any basis to your belief in God or other supernatural being?Though some arguments are commonly used, but no one can really provide evidence that proves their point, there are various other arguments that might be preferred by a particular ones. The two types of argument, one from religion and the other one from non-religion, may also come up in the course of a debate. It can be useful for a person who is undecided about the issue to learn more about the different types of argument.Argument from religion can be referred to as an argument that is based on beliefs. For example, in Christianity, belief is not of the one single sect but of all of the Christians. People must believe in Christ and must follow Jesus as his follower, if they want to be considered as Christians.In Christianity, there a re many sects that have made different beliefs. Many of them have different beliefs that are based on religions that they follow. These sects do not have any evidence of being right. But others say that there are evidences that prove the existence of God or divine beings.The second type of argument that is referred to as non-religious arguments are those that contain the belief of humans to the existence of God. These types of arguments do not have hard evidence to back their position.Arguments that claiming a lack of evidence for the existence of God are often called the anti-theistic argument. As mentioned before, this type of argument is mostly used by atheists. This is because these people do not have any evidence to support their argument. Another question that is commonly asked when it comes to essay topics about religion is: what kind of God would you worship? Aside from using an argumentative argument that is based on the belief in God, another one is to look at the traits o f the God and find out which one of these attributes is most interesting to you.When we think about the traits of the God that a person worships, there are evidences that the God who is worshipped in this particular religion are all related to the qualities of goodness and beauty. Also, people who worship the God with these traits are those who see themselves as having a very peaceful existence in this world. Having a tranquil existence is often seen as a form of heaven.

Trade Policy For FDI Policy - Things Are Looking Up

Trade Policy For FDI Policy - Things Are Looking UpThe issue of foreign direct investment in Pakistan has been a source of extreme debate amongst the Pakistani leadership. Many have considered it as an investment for the country's development. Yet others have, on the other hand, argued that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy on the basis of which FDI can be freely allocated to selected sectors is not yet effective enough to ensure that FDI is not misused by well-connected businessmen. Yet there are those who believe that FDI should be allowed to go ahead, even if in its current form, the policy may not be effective enough to control the growth of FDI.To understand the debate one has to look at the recent development of direct investment in Pakistan. In addition to what is being described as a slowdown in development, development has also been associated with the global crisis. As unemployment rates rise in Pakistan and companies struggle to meet the rising costs of raw materi als, international financial institutions like the IMF and the World Bank have seen fit to curb FDI in the country. While in many countries, particularly those which have seen their political stability threatened by instability or violence, FDI flows into these countries are stopped, FDI in Pakistan seems to be too risky. This is evident from the fact that investment abroad accounts for over half of the country's GDP.So what is the reason for this increased fear? When you think about it, foreign direct investment in Pakistan is still important, but it can also be dangerous, particularly when it is misused for crony capitalism.To use the term correctly, crony capitalism is when private companies or individuals buy business at the expense of the government, while operating below the profit line. By definition, crony capitalism is therefore illegitimate and illegal. It is bad because it stifles a nation's growth. It is bad because it lowers the value of the currency and makes trade unp rofitable. It is bad because it creates unplanned growth and red tape, because, as economic historian Thomas Carlyle pointed out, 'Each of these evils takes all the plans and laws and institutions that we had carefully laid out; and turns them to a hindrance.'While foreign direct investment in Pakistan is beneficial for Pakistan and for its economy in general, and there are many examples of how this has boosted Pakistan's growth, it is important to understand that crony capitalism is inevitable in an open economy. Only by controlling the flow of FDI can the nation expect to become a strong and stable place to invest.A few years ago, India made it quite clear that if it had the ability to direct more than 60% of its investment towards specific industries, they would consider it in bad faith and terminate the deal. It seems that the same thought process needs to be applied to FDI in Pakistan, and it is this which provides the greatest opportunity for the government to control the grow th of this investment.As such, while there is no doubting the fact that direct investment in Pakistan is necessary for the country's development, the debate on how much foreign direct investment can actually be allowed without detrimental effects needs to be looked at properly. And for this to happen, research papers need to be written to make sense of the dilemma Pakistan faces in managing the investment of foreign capital.

Essay Topics For Uncle Toms Cabin - Good Ideas To Help You Get Started

Essay Topics For Uncle Tom's Cabin - Good Ideas To Help You Get StartedWhile you are looking for essay topics for Uncle Tom's Cabin, you should also be looking for topics that will highlight the importance of having a document. That is, after all, what you are writing about.You'll want to have an outline with you so that you can easily get around to the next part of your thesis. It will help to know where you want to go and when you want to get there.One of the most common themes that students have trouble with is the human element. After all, the points they are trying to make aren't going to be based on specific events that happened. What's more, the most popular essay topics aren't going to contain scientific findings that have been substantiated by another source.Those topics are much easier to find. Yet the human element is one that is very important. That is, no matter how good a science project may be, it's not likely to be understood if it's not accompanied by a real human el ement.As a way to reflect that human element, consider a science project in which you have to get something from another location. For example, if you have to rescue a person who is stuck on a dry lake bed, you could make a trip from the shore of the lake bed to the guy in a house. Think about how difficult it would be for you to do that.An even better idea is to take a trip to the dry lake bed itself. Once you get there, you would still have to get something out of it, which is what makes it a perfect science project.Now that you have the outline for your essay topics for Uncle Tom's Cabin, the hard part is getting started. When you have an outline that clearly outlines what you are writing about, you will be more likely to stay on track and avoid the points that you don't like. By staying on track, you will always be on the right path.

Comparison of East Asian Literature

Introduction Literature always provides an excellent platform where authors can present some of the happenings in the society in an artistry manner through fiction. According to Eoyang, authors always use the power of their imagination to depict what happens in the world in such a way that it is not only meant to entertain, but also to teach and offer some guidance on various issues in life.1Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Comparison of East Asian Literature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Fiction can also be considered as a rich source of history, because most of the writers usually base their story on real events that took place some time back in their lives, or events taking place during the time of their writing. This means that in most cases, it would be possible to detect some form of similarity on works of different authors who had a similar experience in life that shaped the content of their wo rks. As Fong notes, one of the areas to detect such similarities would be the guiding theme in the works, the type of the language used, and some of the historical references made.2  In this study, the researcher intends to analyze two fictions with the view of identifying some of the similarities and differences they exhibit. The book ‘To Live’ by Hua Yu and ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’ by Yan Mo were both written in the context of cultural practices in the East Asian, and their transformations in modern China and Japan. Although the two books were written in different timeframes, they both present the transformation of the East Asia from the historical perspective, the two books are presents issues relating to gender, ethics, and environmental concern in this region. This makes it necessary to conduct a comparative analysis of the two books in order to determine some of the similarities that they present. Comparing these two literatures helps in construc tion of the social structure of the people of East Asia. These scholars have given detailed discussion of the social structure of the people of the East, especially the Chinese social and cultural practices. Comparative analysis of these two literatures helps in bringing a detailed understanding of the historic facts in this region. The two books will be discussed to determine some of common and different issues they have in terms of style, theme presented, and any other stylistic features they could have in common. Common Themes in the Two Books These two books share a number of themes, especially concerning the virtues in the society, and some of the historical facts of this country. It is important to note that the two literatures were written in the context of East Asian cultural practices. Both books try to depict the cultural practices of the Chinese people, and the way they related with their neighbor, especially Japan.Advertising Looking for research paper on comparativ e literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As mentioned previously, these two books were written two different individuals at different times, but both were based on Chinese social background. This means that although they could have some differences in the themes presented, it would be easy to depict similarities, especially in the social practices. The following are some of the similar topics discussed in these two books. Immorality and Unfaithfulness The authors of these two books were concerned of the ethical practices that were common in their society. Although in both books the authors do not complain directly of the rotting culture and the rampant immorality, the manner in which they present immorality shows that they are not pleased with the vice. In the book ‘To Live’, the character in the story talks about several incidences of immorality right from the beginning. The narrator recalls several incidences in his life when he was sent to collect stories and songs from a certain village. While working in this village, the narrator talks of cases when he would meet people engaging in immoral affairs disregarding the fact that some were already married. For instance, the man describes an old man with a bloody nose on a ridge, who was only in his panty. The old man had a swollen face, and the narrator got concerned. He wanted to know what could have caused the bruises. The old man stated that the ungrateful son had hit him. The narrator concluded, â€Å"†¦ the old man must have been putting the moves on his daughter-in-law.†3 This is not only an immoral act, but also a sign of unfaithfulness on the side of the daughter-in-law towards the husband. The act is an incest. This book also presents another story about Fugui, an old poor farmer. The narrator meets him on one of the days when he is in the field collecting songs and stories. Fugui tells the narrator about his early life a nd his ‘whoring’4 character despite being married. In the book ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’, the theme of immorality and unfaithfulness is also presented in a clear conscious manner. In this book, we meet Shangguan Lu, the wife to Shangguan Fulu, who is a blacksmith. She has bent over to sweep in front of her shop. Suddenly, Pastor Malory appears from behind the church. Seeing the woman bent, he stares at her lustfully: â€Å"†¦His heart skipped a beat, his lips quivered†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"†¦Dear Lord, he muttered, almighty God†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 5 The pastor then moves to a corner where he is able to observe Fulu’s wife better without her realizing that someone is watching her exposed thighs6 while she was sweeping. The pastor’s acts clearly demonstrate that he is longing for an intimate affair with someone’s wife. This is not only a betrayal to his religious teachings, but also betraying the faithful people who trust his lea dership and ethical views.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Comparison of East Asian Literature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, this book demonstrates various instances where married men would walk out of their matrimonial beds and engage in immoral affairs with other women. In fact, the story shows how lust ‘for big breasts and wide hips7’ is forcing some men into illicit relationships with women who are not their wives. Disrespect in the society Respect is one of the most cherished virtues in the society, and many of the East Asian literatures have always expressed this in different ways, especially the need to respect the elderly and those in power. The two have clearly illustrated lack of respect in the society from various perspectives. In both cases, it is clearly presented that lack of respect to the elderly and those in authority comes with some consequences. The people wh o should be given honor are treated by contempt. In the book ‘To Live’, the lack of respect is demonstrated in various ways, even among little children. When the narrator gets into one village he frequented in the past, children start shouting: ‘Here comes the man who yawns quite often.’8 This is a clear lack of respect showed by these children. They must have learnt this bad habit from their parents and other senior members of the society. The old man who is hit by the son lacked respect for the son, when he made a sexual move on his son’s wife. The son also displayed disrespectful behavior by beating up the father without mercy. Fugui would dismiss the father when he tells him that his conduct is untoward. One day when the father tried to punish him for his gambling, he shoved the old man away, hurting him in the process. As a son, it would be expected that Fugui would never dare to lay his hand on the father who has been doing all he could to shap e his life for a better future. Fugue also lacks respect to the father-in-law. While ‘riding on the back of a fat whore’, he would tell the ‘whore’ to stop by the father-in-law’s shop so that he could greet the family. He continued with this disrespectful habit even after being told that the father-in-law abhorred his presence.  Same incidents can be witnessed in the book ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’ on various instances. Shangguan Lu, the wife to the blacksmith Fulu, shows a lot of dishonor to her husband. She commands every activity happening in the family without giving her husband an opportunity to offer his opinion as the head of the family. â€Å"I asked you a question!† she says to the husband, â€Å"What do you gain by showing me those yellow teeth? I can’t get a fart out of you, even with a stone roller.†9Advertising Looking for research paper on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A wife should not express herself to the husband in this manner, especially in front of their son and daughter-in-law. It is a clear demonstration that she does not consider her husband as a person who deserves any form of respect. Abused Marriages and Families Another common theme that comes out of the two books focuses on the abused marriages. In the two cases, we witness marriage partners engaging in abusive acts against their wives or husbands. In the book To Live, Fugui has been proven very abusive towards his pregnant wife. Despite being unfaithful to her, he would come home late at night drunk and dirty, demanding for food from her. Any form of delay or complaint would earn her beatings from the man. She respects Fugui a lot and rarely talks about his unfaithfulness or irresponsible behavior to other people. However, the husband sees this as a weakness and abuses the wife verbally and even physically at times. The same topic is presented in the book, Big Breasts and Wide Hips . Shangguan Lu is described as a women abusive to all the family members. She does not respect the husband who esteems her so much. She would dismiss him in their discussion in front of other people. She regards her husband’s opinion as being inferior to her. Lu is also abusive to other members of the society. She shows not respect to her son, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter. Besides the woman tells the son: â€Å"I never hear an encouraging, proper sentence from that mouth of yours, and you never tire of spouting nonsense and rumors.†10 This phrase is made in reference to a statement the son made about foreign troops that are attacking the country. The son has to keep quiet, fearing possible reactions from the mother. The latter also tells her grandchild to get married at a tender age because she is good for nothing in the family. The girl is depressed by the constant physical and emotional abuses from Lu. In addition, it turns out that Shangguan Lu is phys ically abusing her husband, which can be observed in her saying: â€Å"Women are worthless creatures†¦ so you have to beat them.†11 Upon hearing this statement, the husband asks, â€Å"Then why are you always beating me?†12 This question from Fulu demonstrates that his wife has formed a habit of beating him, and he has come to conform to this culture of abusive marriage. Christianity Another similar theme that is outlined in the two books is Christianity as a common religion in the two societies. In the book, ‘To Live’, there are several instances where characters show their faith in the Christian teachings. Jiezhen, the wife of Fugui, believes in the biblical teachings, especially the need for a wife to respect and be submissive to the husband. Although the man does not reciprocate this in his actions, she does not tire in her commitment to him. Fugui describes himself as â€Å"†¦ the prodigal son of Xu family†¦.†13 This is in refere nce to the biblical prodigal son who takes away his portion of wealth and squanders it in a foreign land. This means that he knows from the biblical teachings, that the path he has taken is wrong, but chooses to be like the prodigal son anyway. Christianity can also be traced in the book, Big Breasts and Wide Hips. As it begins, we meet Pastor Malory, who is a man of God and has been given the responsibility of carrying for the faithful in the church. He is the head of this church, and the members of this society rely on him for spiritual guidance. One of the most loyal faithful is Shangguan Lu and her family. Traditional practices and beliefs The theme of tradition is exhibited in both books in several instances. In the novel ‘To Live’, this tradition is presented through the collection of songs the narrator had, and through the story of Fugui. The songs that the persona collects reflect on the traditional Chinese culture in the olden days. The narration by Fugui also shows some traditional beliefs. When the father of Fugui realizes that the son has become lazy, he beseeches him that he is the only light in the family. He tells the son that he has to protect the legacy of the ancestors and ensure that the lineage remains as rich as it has always been in the past. This situation demonstrates a strict family pattern that exists in this country. As Hagel notes, the Chinese culture has a strong social classification within the society, and it is difficult for one to come from one social class to another.14 Once born in a royal family, a person would remain in this loyalty for the entire life, unless something abnormal takes place. This is what the father was trying to explain to his son. The same cultural practice is presented in Fulu’s family in the novel ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’. Shsngguan Fulu is a lazy blacksmith. The son Shangguan Shouxi also becomes a blacksmith like his father. Shouxi’s son is not ambitious to ach ieve higher success than that of his father, arguing that a man cannot compete against his shadow. When Shouxi’s wife dies, the mother conducts a traditional ritual that is common in the Chinese culture. This is demonstrated in the sentence that says, â€Å"Shangguan Fulu presented a bolt of white cloth to a matchmaker†¦ with a request that she approach the Yu family with a marriage proposal on behalf of her only son†¦.†15 She does this as part of her traditional responsibility as a mother to her son. The marriages are also ‘registered’ in a traditional way, with mules given out as a bride price. Social class The social class, as mentioned above, is a common factor in the Chinese traditional society. Both novels have covered this aspect adequately. In the book ‘To Live’ social classes and class differences come out in various instances. Thus, the family of Fugui is very rich. and has slaves who work for them on their large track of l and. Other servants also perform multiple tasks such as taking care of little Fugui when he has just started schooling. The poor are treated like slaves having no rights. Fugui recalls how their servants respected his father when he was just a young boy. In his early life, a slave would be sent to school to take him home every evening. He would molest the slave who never dared to refuse his unfair instructions: â€Å"†¦ After I climbed on (him), I’d hit him on the head as say, ‘Changgen, let’s go!†¦ Fly†16 This is a treatment that befits a beast of burden such as an ox, and not a human being. The book ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’ also brings to focus the issues of social class in this society. Fulu’s family is on the lower social class as compared to Fugui’s clan. Being a blacksmith, Fulu can barely earn enough for the family that is considered as one of the poorest in this society, and people look down upon them. Althou gh the principles and authoritativeness of Shangguan Lu earns the family some respect, this does not change the fact that the family is considered poor. This is witnessed when Shangguan Lu is making a proposal to Xuaner’s family. Xuaner askes: â€Å"Have I raised a proper young lady just so she can marry the son of a blacksmith?†17 This question demonstrates that Fulu’s family is on the lower social ladder. Similarities in Stylistic Devices As Huang says, an author is always given power to use various stylistic devices to make the story unique and interesting.18 Some of them are shared in a number of ways. The following are some of the devices that are common in both stories. Story within a story A story within a story is one of the most popular literary devices among writers. In the book ‘To Live’, this literary tool has been majorly used to bring out most of the themes in this story. The narrator is explaining his life when he goes to the field to collect songs and stories. In this narration, he tells of how he meets a desperate old man trying to overwork his ox. Then, one could be acquainted with the story of the old man Fugui, which dominates in the better part of the book. This is the story within the story the narrator it presenting to his audience. In the book ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’, Shanggguan Lu describes a story about his life when the Japanese military forces controlled the entire region of the current China and Japan. At that particular time, the Japanese forces are ruling the region. She remembers how strong the Chinese forces were then, and how they managed to keep the Japanese forces away from this land. Use of dialogue Dialogue is one of the most common literary devices that are always very popular in novels. According to Huang, dialogue brings life into a novel, as it creates a scene in the mind of the reader as he or she relates the character to a real life scenario.19 In the book ‘To Live’, dialogue has been used extensively throughout the story. There are cases where the author uses dialogue to present the societal issues in this book. The book, ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’ has also used this stylistic tool to highlight actions happening and the thoughts of the characters. Premonition One could notice that premonition is evidenced in the two novels. In both cases, it has been utilized to predict the unpleasant future. In the book ‘To Live’, Fugui’s father tells the son that he is good for nothing and is a disgrace to the family. The man tells him that it would continue with his gambling habit then his future is bleak. This happens as has been predicted by the old man in his last days. Fugui’s life became unbearable. He turns out to be one of the most desperate members of the society where his father is considered as one of the richest. In the book, ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’, Gou San would predict poss ible attack from the Japanese forces, and this comes to pass. Differences between the two Novels The two books under consideration are developed in the Chinese setting that explains why they have a lot of similarities. As Chang notes, it is common to find novels written in a same environmental setting share a number of themes and other features because of a common influence.20 However, the two books have some difference in terms of the central theme and some of the literary devices. In the book ‘To Live’, the focus is on the life of Fugui, an extremely irresponsible son of a village tycoon. He gets hold of the family wealth and wastes it in gambling. However, he realizes his mistakes, repents, and changes his wayward ways. Although this comes when it is too late to spare the family from poverty, this character appreciates that he has been responsible for the misfortunes of the family. On the other hand, ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’ presents Shangguan Lu who is very abusive to the husband. Unlike Fugui, Lu does not come to appreciate that physical abuse of the husband is a mistake that she should be avoided. War with Japan (Historic Perspective) The two books discussed present the military confrontation between the Chinese and Japanese military forces. However, the books describe two different eras. In the book, ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’, the story is told when the Japanese forces were stronger. They took control of many cities in this region and the Chinese were living in constant fear of possible attacks by the Japanese. Sima Ting says: â€Å"†¦ the Japanese are on their way†¦ run, don’t trade your lives†¦.†21 The book demonstrates that in this era the Japanese forces ruled the region, which is contrary to the message brought out in the book, ‘To Live’. The second story is told when the Chinese forces have managed to subdue the Japanese forces. They recaptured some of the territ ories they lost to the Japanese, and the region was generally free from any possible Japanese attacks. In this regard, the narrator says, â€Å"The wildest time was just after the Japanese Surrender, when Nationalist troops entreated the city to recover the lost territory.†22 This shows that during this time, the Chinese forces managed to drive away the Japanese army away from the Chinese territory. So, this story is told in a different era from that of the other book. The use of the story within a story as a literary style is more extensive in the book ‘To Live’ than it is in the book ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’. Conclusion The two pieces of writing discussed in the story written by different authors share a number of common factors and contain some differences. This situation can be explained by the fact that most of the works of fiction are always based on real life experience, and when authors share some environmental factors, it is common to fin d similar and contrasting issues. The books ‘To Live’ and ‘Big Breasts and Wide Hips’ contain a number of similarities, especially in themes presented. They both talk about the Chinese culture and traditional practices. In addition, they cover some similar stylistic devices. However, it is important to note that the two novels also have clear differences in their central themes and some stylistic devices. Bibliography Chang, Kang. Women Writers of Traditional China: An Anthology of Poetry and Criticism. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999. Eoyang, Eugene. The Transparent Eye: Reflections on Translation, Chinese Literature, and Comparative Poetics. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press, 1988. Fong, Grace, Herself and Author: Gender, Agency, and Writing in Late Imperial China. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press, 2008. Hegel, Robert. Reading Chinese Illustrated Fiction. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1998. Huang, Martin, Mapping Masculinity. Universit y of Hawaii Press, 2006. Huang, Martin. Desire and Fictional Narrative in Late Imperial China. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2001. Yang, Mo. Big Breasts Wide Hips: A Novel. New York: Arcade Publishers, 2004. Yu, Hua. To Live: A Novel. New York: Anchor Books, 2003. Footnotes 1 Eoyang, Eugene. The Transparent Eye: Reflections on Translation, Chinese Literature, and Comparative Poetics. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press, 1988, p. 38 2 Fong, Grace, Herself and Author: Gender, Agency, and Writing in Late Imperial China. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press, 2008, p. 45 3 Hua, Yu, To Live: A Novel, New York: Anchor Books, 2003, p. 3 4 Ibid p. 4 5Mo, Yang, Big Breasts Wide Hips: A Novel, New York: Arcade Publishers, 2004, p. 2. 6 Ibid p. 2 7 Ibid p. 7 8Hua, Yu, To Live: A Novel, New York: Anchor Books, 2003, p. 3 9 Ibid p. 5 10 Mo, Yang, Big Breasts Wide Hips: A Novel, New York: Arcade Publishers, 2004, p. 13. 11 Ibid p. 65 12 Ibid p. 65 13 Ibid p. 9 14 Hegel, Robert. Reading Chin ese Illustrated Fiction. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1998, p. 78 15 Mo, Yang, Big Breasts Wide Hips: A Novel, New York: Arcade Publishers, 2004, p. 117. 16 Ibid p. 81 17 Ibid p. 123 18 Huang, Martin. Desire and Fictional Narrative in Late Imperial China. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2001, p. 56 19 Ibid 20 Chang, Kang. Women Writers of Traditional China: An Anthology of Poetry and Criticism. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999, p. 74 21 Ibid p. 142 22 Hua, Yu, To Live: A Novel, New York: Anchor Books, 2003, p. 21 This research paper on Comparison of East Asian Literature was written and submitted by user Punisher to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Analysis of Riordans Manufacturing IT Systems

Analysis of Riordans Manufacturing IT Systems Free Online Research Papers I. History: Riordan Manufacturing, Inc. is an industry leader in the field of plastic injection molding. With state-of-the art design capabilities, they create innovative plastic designs that have earned international acclaim. Attention to detail, extreme precision and enthusiastic quality control are the hallmarks of Riordan Manufacturing. Connected via a Wide Area Network (WAN) it maintains facilities in Albany, Georgia, Pontiac, Michigan, and Hang Zhou, China. The companys research and development is done at the corporate headquarters in San Jose, Ca. Riordans major customers are automotive parts manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, the Department of Defense, beverage makers and bottlers, and appliance manufacturers. II. Assessment: In order to stay competitive in a constantly changing business environment, Riordan needs to remain current with the latest technology, recent industry developments, and attend to the service requirements of its customers. According to Riordan’s CIO and other staff members, Riordan’s telecommunication and data networking systems necessitate upgrading to better support the company’s recent and future growth needs. Team A began its investigation by gathering information about the existing network system. Based on the diagrams provided, we completed an inventory of the existing hardware and evaluated the security protocols for the wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) connections in each location. The current networking model in place is a server-based (client/server) design. Each locality dedicates hardware (servers) for handling the application requests from the workstations. All locations support more than 10 users. (Greg, Tittel, Johnson, 2004) In examining the networking schematics, we found that the diagrams and the logical designs were out dated; these were not consistent with the actual physical implementations. The current network consists of aging and outdated technology and devices; such as, hubs, Cat3 cabling, Windows 98 workstations and NT Servers. Two of the four facilities are not employing firewalls on the networks and two sites had firewalls placed in fron t of their routers. An additional drawback is that the bandwidth is limited between locations. Limited information was obtainable regarding the port, router configurations, and security software. The current infrastructures implemented were designed with a unique approach. However, there are some basic resemblances between current designs in place at the San Jose and Hangzhou locations, only minor alterations are required for the specific needs of the individual locations. In addition, the network designs at the Albany and Pontiac locations also bare some similarities with one another. Even so, there appears to be a basic need for the local area networks (LAN) to mirror one another and standardize the network configurations within the WAN. In further review of the San Jose and Hangzhou locations, it appears that these networks follow the Bus and Ring topology principals with two WAN connections. Each network patterned on a 100 base T Ethernet backbone with an edge router for data transmission to and from the other locations and external sources on a full T1 line. The number of users supported in each location is between 35 and 50 users, per site. The workstations connect to the network via 24 port Cisco 5950 switches running on 100 base T Ethernet lines. In addition, each location is running the following servers: basic Windows NT network/domain Network and Exchange servers, UNIX based ERP/MRP servers, and NAS file storage servers. However, there is only a single UPS (Uninterruptible power supply) backup device in each location to support the entire site in the event of power loss. Each location also contains a satellite connection that serves as a back up for these locations in the event that the primary T1 line is u navailable. The current network design extends to connect to a 1 GB Ethernet based backbone that supports 15 additional users running on an unknown MAC platform with its own Windows network server. In reviewing the designs for the Pontiac and Albany locations these networks, appear to be modeled on the Star Bus topology principals with 1 WAN connection. Each network is daisy-chained to comprise the backbone. Ethernet cables connect multiple Nortel Baystack routing devices (Pontiac uses 10 Base T lines with hubs and Albany uses 100 Base T lines with switches). Each was using a single edge router for passing data between locations via a fractional T1 line. Missing security devices and inadequate routing protocols for communications protect the WAN from intrusion. There are no provisions for diverse traffic routing; overall network reliability is at risk. Another major concern is the lack of secure remote access or VPN (virtual private network) to aide with security for the network. III. SCOPE: The Purpose of this paper is to provide Riordan’s national and international manufacturing plants a common arrangement of system and plant security controls. It is the aim of Team A, to provide recommendations that apply equally across Riordan’s information network. The primary business objective is to enable seamless compatibly between all facilities. Our first initiative is to standardize network configurations, hardware components, and software applications. This will improve data integrity and availability throughout the entire organization. Encompassed within this plan is the deployment of security protocols and policies that will safeguard both the network and ensures accessibility for Riordan’s customers and employees. IV. Recommendations: Based on Team A’s evaluation, it was determined that the current network infrastructure is in desperate need of a complete overhaul. All four locations should mirror one another and the network configurations standardized. We have charted proposed logical designs (page 8) for the upgraded networks at each location to demonstrate the topology and identify the required components. This modeling process will assist management to better understand the possibilities of the new system. The following list is an overview of the recommended changes for the network upgrades: Protocol Recommendations: TCP/IP – LAN Routing and transport protocol, which holds the entire network together. SNMP – Network management protocol for managing the network infrastructure. FTP – file transfer protocol for WAN/LAN wide file transfers. DNS – Domain naming system for network name resolution. MPLS/RSVP for routing protocols TCP/IP is flexible enough for use in both LAN and WAN environments and it provides a rich set of services and utilities for the Windows platform. The usefulness of TCP/IP is broad, because of its routable, scalable and ability to build very large hierarchical networks. TCP/IP facilitates communications at different layers of the OSI model. Many of the protocols include TCP/IP and are standards based with worldwide acceptance. The disadvantage of using the TCP/IP configuration that TCP/IP is more complicated than NetBIOS or IPX/SPX. In comparison to NetBEUI, TCP/IP employs a larger header that encapsulates the data. This also slows down the transmission of the packet. FTP, SNMP, and DNS have all suffered historically from insecurity issues and compromises; however, these protocols have matured over the years and are available with encryption algorithms. Because of the existing TCP/IP infrastructure, it should be relatively simple to build upon the existing network. (Kozierok, 2005) MPLS is a dynamic routing protocol the utilization of it will aide in switching the traffic flow during a power outage. MPLS is a tag switching protocol, Video IGMP joins are accommodated as well as the SIP traffic for Voice. MPLS also supports QOS, meaning priority routing is enabled for voice and video. By building an MPLS core network and enabling diverse services to traverse the core network, IT personnel are able to streamline the operations and administration of their network and enable effective utilization of the regional core network. This will support such emerging services as Layer 3/2 VPNs, VPLS and Point-to-Multipoint commercial service. (Juniper, ND) One of its known disadvantages is the interoperability between vendors on configuration parameters. This can interfere with link down status and halt traffic flow. 1. Topology: The basic network design or topology in all locations need restructured to support the company’s plans for future growth. Currently Riordan Manufacturing employs a WAN topology commonly referred to as a Hub-and-Spoke configuration (Star topology). The Main office is the Hub of the network with the remote offices creating the Spokes of the network. Presently, each remote site is utilizing a fractional T-1 back to the main office. The only exception is a satellite link from the China office. Each location routes its internet traffic back to the main office for browsing connectivity. Although the star topology is the most widely used topology in networks that contain more than just a few computers (Greg, Tittel, Johnson, 2004), it lacks the amount of bandwidth needed for the company’s plans for efficiency. Also there are no provisions for diverse traffic routing which affects the reliability of the overall network. However utilizing the current topology will be cost effective and upgrading the digital circuits will cause minimal interruption within the current configuration. Our recommendation is to switch to a partial mesh topology. Our primary concern is the cost of satellite space and because additional equipment is very expensive and could place the company into discord. The China location does have an internet connection and accessing the main office via this link should activate when the satellite connection fails. Increasing the bandwidth over the satellite will improve their throughput for backups and database updates. 2. Hardware: a. Switches: China has two, 24-port switches that connects the inter office LAN to the rest of the network. A gateway switch connects and translates communication between the LAN to the satellite connection to the HQ. The China network would benefit from replacing the three, 24-port hubs that connect the factory floor to the network with three, 24-port switches. Pontiac does not employ switches. This site is connected with hubs and patch panels. The Pontiac network could benefit from replacing the 4 hubs and 3 patch panels with four, 24-port switches for network segregation, and to alleviate network congestion and create Virtual LANs. Albany has three, 24-port switches and a patch panel. This network has enough switches to accommodate the network segregation to support creating VLANs. Corporate headquarters in San Jose has two, 24-port switches that connect the inter-office network. Two gateway switches connect and translate communications between the LAN and the Satellite and between the RD LAN and the inter-office LAN. Corporate headquarters could benefit from replacing the 24-port hub with a 24-port switch. In all the networks, replacing the hubs with switches will help to alleviate possible network congestion caused by the hubs rebroadcasting the signal to every device on the network. These changes will provide more bandwidth per channel to accommodate more VoIP phones and other expansion if needed in the future. In addition, the new switches will segregate the single larger networks into smaller Virtual LANs, which will further alleviate network traffic. A disadvantage to replacing the hubs with switches is that switches will cost a little more than hubs. b. Security: The corporate headquarters network in San Jose has 2 WAN connections. The first one is a T1 wired connection protected by an unknown firewall. The second connection is a satellite link to China with no security devices noted. The Albany, GA. network has 1 WAN connection to corporate headquarters. This connection is a fractional T1 with a 256k circuit for email and 1.5Mbps for burst. The WAN is not protected by any type of network security device or protocol. The Hanghzou, China network has two WAN connections. The first one is a T1 connection protected by an unknown firewall. The second connection is a satellite link to corporate headquarters in San Jose no security devices noted. The Pontiac, MI. network has 1 WAN connection to corporate headquarters. This connection is a fractional T1 with a 256k circuit for email and 1.5Mbps for burst. To secure the network a firewall solution will be implemented at all four locations. The firewall, a Cisco 525 PIX, will reside between the Cisco routers and the primary Cisco switch on the T1, E1, and satellite connections. This will ensure that all possible entrances to the network are secured. The Cisco 525 PIX firewall incorporates â€Å"multi-vector attack protection services† for further protection, from many forms of attacks, such as, â€Å"denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, fragmented attacks, replay attacks, and malformed packet attacks.† It uses a variety of advanced protection features, such as, â€Å"TCP stream reassembly, traffic normalization, DNSGuard, FloodGuard, FragGuard, MailGuard, IPVerify, and TCP intercept and provides real-time alerts to administrators.† â€Å"Administrators can also easily create custom security policies using the flexible access control technologies provided by Cisco PIX Security Appliances, including network and service object groups, user and group-based policies, and more than 100 predefined applications and protocols.† â€Å"Cisco PIX 525 Security Appliance models have integrated hardware VPN acceleration, delivering highly scalable, high-performance VPN services. (Cisco, 2008) To aide with network security, virtual private network VPN client software will be installed on all workstations and usage will be necessary to access resources located across the network. VPNs provide the highest level of security using advanced encryption and authentication protocols that protect data from unauthorized access. VPNs enable you to create secure, business-critical communication links over the Internet Give telecommuters and mobile workers secure access to your LAN. VPNs are also able to connect two computers over long distances yielding substantial savings over dedicated leased line options. V. Diagrams Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 VI. Conclusion: In conclusion, Team A analyzed each of the Local Area Networks of Riordan Manufacturing to develop a proposal to upgrade the Wide Area Network of Riordan Manufacturing. The proposed improvements would increase the bandwidth, which would facilitate improved data and voice communications among all of the plants, headquarters and their customers. In addition, to providing faster, more reliable telecommunications with increased throughput, the proposed upgrades will provide Riordan Manufacturing with new communication protocols that will improve security and encryption to facilitate Virtual Private Networks and other secure remote computing capabilities. Finally, the improved network would provide increased customer access for sales and support by providing more high speed and reliable access to the Riordan’s web site as well as providing high quality, reliable telephone connections. References: Kozierok, Charles (2005). The TCP/IP Guide, Retrieved March 15, 2008 From tcpipguide.com/ Juniper (ND) Leveraging MPLS to Enable Deterministic Services in the Cable Core, Retrieved March 13, 2008, From: juniper.net/solutions/literature/white_papers/200228.pdf Shinoda, Yoichi. (2002). The MPLS advantages. Retrieved March 16, 2007 From soi.wide.ad.jp/class/20010022/slides/02/47.html Greg, T. Tittel, E. Johnson, G. (2004) Guide to networking essentials [Electric version] Course Technology; Ch 2 14 pp 71-528; Retrieved from University of Phoenix eResource website, Aug. 26, 2007 Research Papers on Analysis of Riordan's Manufacturing IT SystemsRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanThe Project Managment Office SystemOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalTwilight of the UAWDefinition of Export QuotasMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use

Workplace Drug Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Workplace Drug Testing - Essay Example Erstwhile US President Mr. Ronald Reagan stressed on workplace drug testing so as to maintain employee productivity and drug free workplace. (Infantry.army.mil) Many governments across the world have initiated ‘attack on drug use’ instead of ‘attack on drug supply’ as the latter was not providing any better results. It has found that many organizations have implemented this measure to enhance the profitability of the workforce, cut down absenteeism, safety of the workers, reduce the costs on healthcare management and maintain drug free environment at the workplace. Most of the employers have the freedom to deny or reduce workers’ compensation payments, if illicit substance use is found to be proximate cause of employer’s injury. Legitimate or important interests are required to justify the drug testing. The workplace drug testing is aimed at safety of the employee and others, organization efficiency, reputation risk, employee welfare, etc. Various organizations in various countries in order to reduce the demand for illicit drugs, protecting health and promoting safety of workers and co-workers, public safety and efficiency, economy and honesty of the workers towards organization, have taken such measures of employee drug testing. It can also be justified as the measure to minimize damages caused due to accidents at workplace and on roads. (Drug Testing and Privacy, 1990) However, if any employee makes a plea against workplace drug testing, it is more likely to be dismissed. Drug testing can be justified on the basis that it is been done for the safety of an individual, the public and society at large Workplace drug testing is a sensitive issue as it arises due to collision between workers’ and employers interests. (ILO, Geneva, 2003) There are several types of testing method, all of which are controversial, but random testing method has always been the centre of argument. Drug testing may raise

The Last Mountain Movie (Mountain top removal) Essay

The Last Mountain Movie (Mountain top removal) - Essay Example The process results in both air and water pollution, which is not just local but also has the potential to spread across states. Huge amounts of coal sludge is generated, which when spilled, pollute local rivers. Local wells and springs are contaminated with heavy metals. Moreover, freshwater fish from water bodies around such locations are unsafe for consumption due to the risk of mercury poising. The process also damages the homes of local residents by causing floods as the natural drains such as waterways and streams have been buried in the process. The process also results in the depletion of forest cover, which would have otherwise existed on the mountains. The use of explosives for blasting the mountain tops leaves behind vast amounts of toxic wastes, and the resultant rubble along with silica dust or fly ash often finds its way into people’s homes as the wastes are dumped down the valley. Thus, the ecological balance and safety of the local environment is affected in a very adverse way. The local people have been affected in terms of both health and economy. The pollution caused during the process of mountain top removal and coal mining results in innumerable adverse effects on human health. Common health complications include brain damage, breathing disorders and cancers. As pointed out in Bill Haney’s The Last Mountain, every year in the US, emissions from the coal plants result in more than 10 million cases of asthma, 600,000 cases of brain damage in newborn children, apart from 43,000 premature deaths. Brain tumors and autism are common in such localities. The homes of the local residents undergo destruction because of flooding and rubble dumped into the valley. A large number of people lose their jobs due to increasing mechanization of coal mining. As big coal companies have replaced manual labor and jobs with machines, the number of local jobs has been brought down significantly.