...Bibliophobe to Bibliophile. I hate books. Up until three years ago, that was something I would say on a daily basis. I despised books. The sight of thick hardbound books to an extent scared me. Whenever I saw anyone I knew picking out one of those thick books which wasn't a comic, all I did was ask them how they could go through reading the entire book without completely losing interest and getting 'bored'. While most people in around me read and discussed fantasy books such as 'Harry Potter', 'Artemis Fowl', 'Percy Jackson' etc. with such enthusiasm and zeal, all I could do was wonder how they could read hundreds of pages of printed text in tiny fonts without getting frustrated. I could not comprehend how reading hundreds of pages could in any way be more fascinating than watching a movie adaptation of the same content which saves hours of time and also allows you to live through the entire experience in a fast-paced well directed and acted version of it. It all changed completely three years ago. I have had a certain obsession to taking up as many challenges as I could possibly have from any and every person I have known. If anyone ever dared me to do an attainable task, I could never turn them down. One such challenge I received was to read an entire fiction book series of at least 6 books. After a period of discussion it was finally decided that it should be a classic series for my first and it ended up being Harry Potter on popular demand. This challenge eventually ended...
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...World economic trends * There are three reasons why economic growth has been a driving force in the expansion of the international economy and the growth of global marketing. * First, growth has created market opportunities that provide a major incentive for companies to expand globally. * At the same time, slow growth in a company’s domestic market can signal the need to look abroad for opportunities in nations or regions with high rates of growth. * Secondly, economic growth has reduced resistance that might otherwise have developed in response to the entry of foreign firms into domestic economies. * When a country is growing rapidly, policy makers are likely to look favorably on outsides. * A growing country means growing markets; there is often plenty of opportunity for everyone. * Without economic growth, global enterprises may take business away from domestic ones. * Domestic businesses are more likely to seek governmental intervention to protect their local position if markets are not growing. Leverage * A global company possesses the unique opportunity to develop leverage. * Leverage is simply some type of advantage that a company enjoys by virtue of the fact that it conducts business in more in more than one country. * Four important types of leverage are experience transfers, scale economies, resource utilization, and global strategy. Experience Transfers * A global company can leverage its expensive in any market...
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...|Assignment brief – QCF BTEC | |Assignment front sheet | |Qualification |Unit number and title | |BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma In Business |Unit 16: Human Resource Management in Business | |Learner name | Assessor name | | | C Graham, F Mooney, J Robinson, E Smith | |Date issued | Hand in deadline |Submitted on | |1 W/E 26/01/2015 |W/E 27/02/15 | | |2 W/E 26/01/2015 |W/E 27/03/15 | | |3 W/E 26/01/2015 |W/E 17/04/15 | | |4 W/E 26/01/2015 |W/E 15/05/15...
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...Sprint Planning Optimization in Agile Data Warehouse Design Matteo Golfarelli, Stefano Rizzi, and Elisa Turricchia DEIS - Univ. of Bologna, V.le Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy {matteo.golfarelli,stefano.rizzi,elisa.turricchia2}@unibo.it Abstract. Agile methods have been increasingly adopted to make data warehouse design faster and nimbler. They divide a data warehouse project into sprints (iterations), and include a sprint planning phase that is critical to ensure the project success. Several factors impact on the optimality of a sprint plan, e.g., the estimated complexity, business value, and affinity of the elemental functionalities included in each sprint, which makes the planning problem difficult. In this paper we formalize the planning problem and propose an optimization model that, given the estimates made by the project team and a set of development constraints, produces an optimal sprint plan that maximizes the business value perceived by users. The planning problem is converted into a multi-knapsack problem with constraints, given a linear programming formulation, and solved using the IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer. Finally, the proposed approach is validated through effectiveness and efficiency tests. Keywords: Agile methods, Optimization, Data warehouse design. 1 Introduction As empirical studies suggest [9,2], agility is one of the most promising directions to overcome the problems of traditional software engineering approaches. The twelve principles stated in the Agile...
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...The coldest, windiest, and driest continent, Antarctica contains 90 percent of all of the ice on the planet in an area just under one and a half times the size of the United States. Let's take a look at one of the world's most desolate regions. Lying in the Antarctic Circle that rings the southern part of the globe, Antarctica is the fifth largest continent. Its size varies through the seasons, as expanding sea ice along the coast nearly doubles its size in the winter. Most of Antarctica is covered with ice; less than half a percent of the vast wilderness is ice free. The continent is divided into two regions, known as East and West Antarctica. East Antarctica makes up two thirds of the continent, and is about the size of Australia. Ice in this part of the continent averages 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) thick. West Antarctica, on the other hand, is a series of frozen islands stretching toward the southern tip of South America, an extension of the Andes Mountains prominent on the warmer continent. The two regions are separated by the Transantarctic Mountains, a range that stretches across the entire continent, although sometimes covered by ice. The ice of Antarctica is not a smooth sheet but a continuously changing expanse. Glaciers inch across the continent, cracking and breaking the ice. Crevasse fields with cracks hundreds of feet deep span the continent, hidden by only a shallow layer of snow. Icebergs fall along the coast, where shelves and glaciers break off into the sea. Despite...
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...• In new world o Is on earth so all laws of gravity/physics apply o In separate universe like how Spiderman movies are different o Have technology but it isn’t as big as it is in todays world o Have guns, electricity, cars o Not as extensive as tablets, smartphones etc. • Jon is 18 year old man o Socially awkward, doesn’t have friends o Gets picked on by peers o Doesn’t have/know parents (at least not at first) o Lives in orphanage where he is treated badly • Lives in dictatorship o Walled in city on cliff with forest leading up to it o Only one entrance through normal means Only one gate to get in o Ruled by woman who is middle aged Cruel with no remorse Similar to witch in Once Upon a Time • Background o Takes place in one small part of the world Like the size of a small state o Each state is like its own country o Very little interaction between states o state was living normally until a rebel group took over o There was a coup where the state government was destroyed by the rebels o Rebels only wanted power and money which they got o Now entire state lives under rule of the woman dictator There are said to be some small towns that don’t live under rule of dictator Live in hiding though if they exist • Chapter 1 o Story begins with flashback to how Jon is found Left outside gate of the city Unclear at first how he got there Guards hear baby crying Go and investigate and find Jon Are confused as to how he got there ...
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...Racing down the hallway with a plastic sword in my hand and a cover hanging off of my back I shouted “All for one, and one for all!”, a motto used by the adventurous antagonist trio in my favorite book of all time, The Three Musketeers. As a child, I've always enjoyed reading classical books such as, Huckberry fin and Swiss family Robison. However, none of these classics seemed to top The Three Musketeers. I fell for the story and the writing in a big way. This book is just full of adventure which was perfect for an imaginative kid like me. The amount of adventure and thrill this book provided really blew my mind. I wasn't much of a reader as a kid, finisihing about half the books I started, but this book caught my eyes. I dare you to take the time to read this outstanding book if you haven't already had the privilege, from the moment that you begin reading the first page you will be propelled into a world of action, quests, love, and brotherhood. In the beginning of the story D'Artagnan is introduced to the three musketeers when he incidentally insulting all of them. They each challenge him to a duel because of this, but while he is dueling with one of the musketeers, the cardinal's guards threatens to arrest them because there is a law in which says there is no dueling. D'Artagnan and the musketeers then join forces and drive the guards away. D’Artagnan then becomes friends with the other two musketeers. I always found this a interesting way to start off the story because...
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...Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947 was an American gangster who attained fame during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit. His seven-year reign as crime boss ended when he was 33 years old. Born in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City to Italian immigrants, Capone was a Five Points Gang member who became a bouncer in organized crime premises such as brothels. In his early twenties, he moved to Chicago and became bodyguard and trusted factotum for Johnny Torrio, head of a criminal syndicate that illegally supplied alcohol--the forerunner of the Outfit--and that was politically protected through the Unione Siciliana. A conflict with the North Side Gang was instrumental in Capone's rise and fall. Torrio went into retirement after North Side gunmen almost killed him, handing control to Capone. Capone expanded the bootlegging business through increasingly violent means, but his mutually profitable relationships with mayor William Hale Thompson and the city's police meant Capone seemed safe from law enforcement. Apparently reveling in the attention, such as the cheers when he appeared at ball games, Capone made donations to various charities and was viewed by many to be a "modern-day Robin Hood". However, the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre of gang rivals from the North Side Gang damaged Chicago's image, leading influential citizens to demand governmental action. The federal authorities became intent on jailing Capone...
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...France (officially the French Republic) is a country located in Western Europe. Here are some fun facts about France. * The most popular sports in France are football (soccer), rugby league and rugby union. Handball and basketball are also popular in many parts of France. * Well known sporting events held annually in France are the Tour de France (the best known road bicycle race in the world) and the French Open (one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments) * French literature is very popular and well known. Charles Perrault was one of France’s most influential children’s writers. He wrote books such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Puss in Boots. * The French healthcare system was ranked number one in the world back in 1997. Average life expectancy in France is currently 79.73 years. * 54% of French people identify themselves as being Christians, while 31% of people stated that they were not religious. Islam, Buddhism and Judaism are all practised by a minority (just over 1%) of the population * It is estimated that there are between 200,000 and 1 million illegal immigrants in France * France has an estimated population of 64.5 million, making it the 19th largest country (in terms of population) in the world. * France is the most popular tourist destination in the world. Nearly 82 million people traveled to France for holidays in 2007. Spain was the second most popular tourist destination with 58.5 million visitors. * In 2004, only 68...
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...Gone – Michael Grant Gone is a novel in which everyone in Perdido Beach who is 15 years of age or older spontaneously disappears. Also, whenever someone turns 15 they would disappear as well. Some children|teenagers develop powers, some stronger than others. Powers such as light, telekinesis, strength, speed, gravity control and lots more. Some become power hungry and many people try to take over to become leader Main Characters: There are many important characters in Gone, however the main character is Sam Temple. The book starts in his point of view and returns to it often. He’s also on the cover of the book. * Sam Temple Sam has the power to shoot deadly greenish white light beams from his hands, and create balls of light. Sam is Astrid Ellison’s main love interest. He is the son of Connie Temple and biological fraternal twin of Cain Soren. He does not like considering himself a hero although that’s what he is. * Cain Soren Cain attended Coates Academy, and was the one who took control of Perdido Beach. He has telekinesis; the power to move things with his mind, and is the only 4-bar besides Sam. He is the main love interest of Diana Ladris. Although she only believes he is capable of puppy love. * Gaiaphage Also known as The Darkness, the Gaiaphage is a sentient alien virus who gave everyone their powers and caused the mutations. It appears as a green glowing slime with the capability to touch people’s minds. It lived in the mine shaft. In Gone it is only a mystery...
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...“The fire, the fire. It rages within, a campfire and then an inferno, and my body is its fuel. I feel it racing through me, eating away at the weight. There is nothing that can kill me now; I am powerful and invincible and eternal.” –Beatrice ‘Tris’ Prior Reading dystopian novels always keeps me on the edge of my seat. The idea of a declining society led by an oppressive government can be devastating, but the way it is depicted in young adult books of today makes the topic quite stimulating and intriguing. For some odd reason, instead of straying from such stories, I become emotionally attached to them. Veronica Roth, through the Divergent series, did that same kind of magic to me. I do not know how it happened. It just HAPPENED. The Divergent series follows the story of Beatrice ‘Tris’ Prior as she struggles to make difficult choices about love, family, and sacrifice. The faction-based world she lives in turns out to be a lot different from what she has always known and she is determined to unravel the intricacies of life and fully embrace her Divergence. I may be alone in this, but Allegiant, the third and final book of the trilogy, is my favorite of the pack. It is filled with a lot of thrilling twists, unexpected revelations, and meaningful lessons that got me holding my breath up to the last page. In the first two books, I have seen a lot of Tris’ hasty and self-destructive decisions which caused her so much trouble (Like when she took it upon herself...
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...A Book That Changed My Life We have to admit that some great books have the power to heal our souls and make us better people. Around The World in Eighty Days is just such a book to me. This book is a fiction story written by a French writer, Jules Verne. In this story, an Englishman, Phileas Fogg and his new French valet Passepartout attempt to travel around the world within eighty days just because he had a huge wager with his friends at the club. Mr Fogg wants to prove his contention that one can travel around the world in only eighty days. During their journey around the world, they met many friends and faced tons of challenges and difficulties. Besides the interesting and vivid plot of the story, this inspiring book has taught me three things when facing difficulties in life: never give up, caring others, and do something meaningful in life. First of all, of the many things that I learned from this book, one of them is overcoming difficulties. Traveling around the world in eighty days is a daydream for many persons but Mr Fogg made it successfully because he insisted and did not give up. Even though this book is a fiction, from the author’s perspective, the tools that we need for success is perseverance. Throughout the whole book, I learned that there are many difficult problems we need to be confronted with in our real life. But if you try hard to conquer it and you may find a way to be success. Therefore by the end of the book I decided to study a very tough course...
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...class, white American, literacy is not something one normally thinks about. It is a given that someone in my situation will go to school and learn to read at the appropriate age level that is expected of them. Growing up in Missouri, literacy was not an issue that concerned me. I did not especially like reading, but it was a normal part of school so I just did as I was told. It was not until a school program called “Book It” came to my school that I realized being literate is not only important, but that reading can also be fun and actually exciting. I grew up more concerned with how my recent baseball game went or what I was going to do with my guy friends on the weekend. “Book It” taught me not only to enjoy reading but respect the opportunity to get to read whenever I wanted. My outlook on reading completely changed when I was in elementary school. I was coaxed into reading by being rewarded pizza if I read so many books. Since then I have realized the value of being literate and how important it is to not only myself, but to society as a whole to be able to pick up a book, read, and comprehend what the author has laid out before us. Perhaps you are not familiar with the “Book It” program, so laying some groundwork is important. The basic concept of the program is that reading a designated amount of books (during my years in the program it was ten books) equated into receiving a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut. This may seem trivial to adults, but as a nine-year-old...
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...shopping for books can definitely be entertaining, but I must also confess that when it comes to buying books, I am a little bias toward novels with pretty pictures on the cover. Maybe it is because in today’s society we are taught to judge everything by appearance, but maybe it is really because growing up my dad read me books with lots of colorful images before bedtime and usually the prettier the pictures in the story the better it was. In books for younger kids most books contain extravagant images accompanied by a few simple words. The artist’s job for children’s books is, in my opinion, is more important than the author’s. I relied on the artist to tell the story, like Mozart relied solely on music to get across his story. When I started to move on to chapter books such as the Cam Jansen series, I would flip through the book, letting the pages fly underneath my thumb, and be disappointed at the lack of color. Not a single picture appeared. I thought that it was the worst thing in the world because it meant from then on I would be forced to read dull pages. Contrary to my initial thoughts, when I cracked open that first book I was unable to put it down until I finished. I was amazed at how I had just seen into another person’s mind and lived with a different identity for that hour. I was no longer Sam Maxwell, I was Cam Jansen the crime solver. I had my own private movie showing in my head. I read lots of Cam Jansen books following the first one and really enjoyed my new identity...
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...English 114 29 September 2014 Literacy Narrative I walked into my 10th grade English class on the first day of school and was greeted by my peppy, upbeat teacher, Mr. Mathew Kahn. I knew it was going to be a fun semester just from that first day of class. Mrs. Kahn gave us a lot of freedom to write what we wanted, when we wanted to. He had an amazing ability to communicate with students. It might have been because of his young age, so he knew how to satisfy teenagers like us. This teacher taught the material from his heart. He was making sure that everybody had understood the lesson before they leave. This helped me mold my papers into perfection with the help of Mrs. Kahn’s exceptional editing skills. He taught me how to write a paper that only I could come up with. He encouraged me to do this by using different writing techniques. A teacher that doesn’t take himself too seriously always will be a big hit with teenagers, although he’s not afraid to impose his authority if he has to. He would open every lesson in a disciplined manner by quickly silencing the class and getting on with the work while still having his bright positive attitude. This was a rarity at my school because my peers would typically waste the first twenty minutes of class. Mr. Kahn showed his students that he actually cared if we learned from his lessons or not. He made sure to get to know us on a personal level as well. We all had a relationship with him and knew if we ever needed anything...
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