Project Proposal for Ministry of Trade Web Portal Free Essays

COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR MINISTRY OF TRADE WEB PORTAL PRESENTED BY: RAHAB WAMBUI KIARIE REG NO: SP13/20526/08 COURSE CODE: COMP 402 PRESENTED TO: MR. OMWOYO SUBMISSION TIME: OCTOBER 2011 A project proposal submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science of Egerton University. Table of Contents ABSTRACT3 CHAPTER ONE: 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Project Proposal for Ministry of Trade Web Portal or any similar topic only for you Order Now 0 INTRODUCTION4 1. 1 PROBLEM STATEMENT4 1. 2 OBJECTIVES5 CHAPTER TWO: 2. 0 LITERATURE REVIEW5 2. SCOPE OF THE SYSTEM6 STARNDARD REQUIREMENT6 3. 0 SYSTEM REQUIREMENT6 3. 1) HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS6 3. 1. 1) APPLICATION PROGRAM6 3. 1. 2 Operating System6 CHAPTER FOUR: 4. 0 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS7 4. 1 PROJECT SCHEDULE AND BUDJET8 4. 1. 1 PROJECT SCHEDULE8 4. 1. 2 PROJECT BUDGET9 4. 1. 3 REFERENCES10 ? ABSTRACT As envisaged in Kenya’s vision 2030, trade will be one of the key sectors to drive economic development of our country. The sector is the link between consumption and production within the economy and contributes towards the employment and wealth creation. There are tremendous potentials for trade to play a central role in driving and sustaining growth and poverty reduction in Kenya. The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), cuts across all sectors of the Kenyan economy but face various development challenges like overreliance on agriculture which mainly depends on unpredictable weather, underdevelopment of Information, Communication and Technology and lack of market information of local goods both locally and internationally. This project will provide a solution to investors and MSMEs by providing information on the various investment opportunities available in Kenya apart from agriculture, know about the various trade policies to avoid unfair trade and also provide a platform where local companies can upload their company profiles and the ministry promotes their products at trade fairs at an international level. CHAPTER ONE: 1. 0 INTRODUCTION The Ministry of Trade’s current mandate is: Trade development policy; Development of micro and small business; Fair trade practices and consumer protection; Private sector development and international trade affairs. The ministry will champion the promotion of both domestic and foreign trade through creation of an enabling business and investment environment as highlighted in this project proposal. The purpose of this proposal is to explain in detail the aim of the project, the methods used in the implementation of the system, scope of the system and budget and time schedule for the implementation of the project. It begins with the introduction which introduces the system to be developed. The next part is the problem statement, the literature review, the scope of the system and the requirements for the system. In the scope of the system we have the system functionalities and its limitations. Since the system is to be developed within a located time frame and budget constraint, it is imperative that the proposal also contains the budget and time schedule. This explains the time schedule for the system and also the budget for the system. . 1 PROBLEM STATEMENT Kenya trade industry faces a number of challenges: unsound business regulatory framework leading to multiple licensing and heavy or cumbersome regulations for SMEs which in turn leads to high cost of business transactions; Lack of comprehensive trade information on the existing and emerging markets to investors and SMEs. Lack of sound business managerial skills and exposure to international best business practices has hampered the growth o f the MSE sector. To overcome the problem a system needs to be developed with the springboard objective of providing Kenyans with a centralized location where they can get trade information and thus lead to economic growth and realization of vision 2030. 1. 2 OBJECTIVES 1. To develop a successful Ministry of Trade web portal 2. To identify conditions for successful implementation of a new improved system. 3. To enhance access of trade information to Kenyans. CHAPTER TWO: 2. 0 LITERATURE REVIEW Having collected information on the ministry of trade I was able to define the main drawbacks associated with the services of the industry. Information sharing between the ministry and the business people is not easy. Enormous opportunities exist in the domestic, regional and international markets. These opportunities should be fully exploited through the systematic promotion of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and providing information to them. It is crucial to note that as trade becomes free and global, technological innovations will become increasingly important, offering consumers more and more options at cheaper prices in the country and all over the globe. With this system in place all the requests for trade information, will be available to recipients at any given time. Therefore potential users’ are:- oInvestors both local and international. oConsumers. oOther ministries in the government that work closely with ministry of trade. oOwners of small and medium sized businesses. 2. SCOPE OF THE SYSTEM The web portal will aid in the availing all the details of the trade industry. It will, as its name suggests, be place where the ministry can interact with the general public on matters pertaining its mode of operation. There are several issues about the system’s scope. STARNDARD REQUIREMENT The requirements include the following: 1. Computers 3. 0 SYSTEM REQUIREMENT 3. 1) Hardware requirements ?Processor â₠¬â€œ Pentium IV with 2. 0 GHz or higher ?Memory – 1GB of RAM or more ?Hard Disk size – 320 GB for host, 20 GB for client 3. 1. ) Application program Programming: PHP and JavaScript, Database design: MySQL, Interface: Macromedia Dream weaver, Macromedia fireworks, Macromedia Flash, Web browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Internet explorer, Web server: Apache, System: Linux and Windows. 3. 1. 2 Operating System ?Windows XP (32-bit), Vista(32 – 64-bit), or Windows 7 (32 – 64-bit) ? Linux CHAPTER FOUR: 4. 0 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS The program development process will involve a number of steps as shown in the flow diagram below: 4. 1 PROJECT SCHEDULE AND BUDJET 4. 1. 1 Project schedule Ministry of Trade web portal is a large project that can be accomplished in a period of six months which equates to two semesters. The initial loading of the system with data takes place at the commissioning of the system. A complete schedule is as below. Period/TimeActivityDescription November 2011 Acquisition of use ¬ful Resources. This involves collecting the useful facts from the ministry of Trade November 2011Databases Design Building individual databases, tables and individual record sets and loading with sample test data. December 2011 o January 2012Defining Record setsInvolves defining relations of data within various databases and means of accessing them February 2012Creating a Graphi ¬cal User InterfaceInvolves creating user inter ¬face that users of the system will use to search for information March 2012TestingInvolves testing the system with sample data and correcting any anomalies especially in the database design if any. April 2012Loading DatabasesInvolves cleari ng databases with test data and loading with actual data. May 2012Commissioning the System This involves deployment of the system, hosting it so that it can be accessed by anybody. Table 1) Project schedule 4. 1. 2 PROJECT BUDGET PARTICULARSQUANTITYUNIT PRICE (Kshs)TOTAL COST(Kshs) 1Transport 5000 2Storage devices flash drive, CDs2 GB Flash Drive 2 Compact Disks 1,000 252,000 50 3Printing expenses1000 4Stationery2 A4 Books 2 pens 100 25200 50 5Computer Machine and softwareAvailable but limited 6Internet costs 2000 7Airtime6000 TOTALKshs 16,300 Table 2) project budget 4. 1. 3 REFERENCES ?Ministry of Trade Strategic Plan 2008-2012. ?Hawryszkiewycz, I. (1998), Introduction to System Analysis and Design, Prentice Hall, Australia. How to cite Project Proposal for Ministry of Trade Web Portal, Papers

The Benefits Of Music Education Essay Paper Example For Students

The Benefits Of Music Education Essay Paper Many band teachers will be happy to recount all of the ways that playing an instrument will make you smarter, but are they really true? Of course! Many studies have been done that show music education expediting learning in other subjects and boosting abilities that are sure to be used in everyday life (Brown 2). One of these studies was published by the Psychology of Music journal. It found that playing an instrument can improve reading and comprehension skills because of the music making process. In order to play a song, notes have to be read, the name of the note must be recognized, converted into the finger position or slide, and comprehend how much air is needed for a particular section (Matthews 2). Because math is used in every measure of music, playing an instrument can greatly benefit anyone’s math skills. We will write a custom essay on The Benefits Of Music Education Paper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Division, fractions, counting and pattern recognition are all math skills needed to play an instrument, and which can be improved by learning to play scales, reading time signatures, and counting beats and rhythms (Kwan 1). Music education can be especially beneficial in young children because it helps one learn to distinguish different sounds, pitches and frequencies, which plays an integral part in improving linguistic performance for everyday listening tasks and when learning a foreign language (Wilcox 2). Another study done by the University of Toronto in Mississauga found that the average IQ of six year olds went up three points after they took music lessons for nine months, versus no increase in IQ in the control group of children who had no music lessons (Brown 2). Not only did music education improve IQ, the University of Kansas has proven that playing an instrument improves standardized test scores. Christopher Johnson, a professor at the Uni. f Kansas, said this was because standardized test require a similar focus and concentration that goes along with playing an instrument. Their study showed that students who participated in music education scored around 20 percent higher in math and English test than those who did not. A study by Boston College suggest that the root of the improvement academic areas due to music education was due to the stimulation and development of the brain that developed and changed networks of neurons in the brain involved with making music (Brown 3). Not only does music education benefit people academically but physically too! Some of the skills that you gain when learning a musical instrument will reap immediate benefits, such as using each finger on both hands to do something different and using you mouth to breath and play all at the same time increases fine motor control and coordination (Cole 3). Percussion, in particular, is very beneficial in increasing these areas as it requires constant movement of hands, arms, feet; you name it. Other instruments, such as saxophone, flute, violin, and a variety of others, help to develop ambidexterity and may help children become used to trying things that may at first seem uncomfortable (Kwan 1). Besides improving coordination, playing a musical instrument has other serious benefits towards one’s health. According to Suzanne Hanser from Berklee College of Music Education in Boston, researchers have shown that playing an instrument may lower blood pressure, reduce stress, decrease heart rate, lessen anxiety and depression, and enhance the body’s immunological response (Cicetti 2). Music education has also been proven to help decrease the effects of aging on the body’s ability to hear. A study done by Nina Kraus at Northwestern University in Illinois has tested 44 individuals ages 55-76 by measuring electrical activity in the brain related to hearing the syllable â€Å"da†, and she found that individuals who had three or more years of music education responded the most quickly (Cole 5). Her study is important because it shows that although hearing declines with age, music education can slow down the process immensely (Dye 2). .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 , .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .postImageUrl , .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 , .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40:hover , .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40:visited , .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40:active { border:0!important; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40:active , .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40 .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1899c90b6e0667d21341e8ab8b710c40:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Music of Childish Gambino EssayBesides academic and physical benefits, there are also many mental benefits related to the brain and aging that go along with learning a musical instrument. Some simple mental benefits of learning an instrument include the ability to focus on the task on hand and the future at the same time, the ability to bring together different ideas into one product, problem solving, creativity, discipline, focus, and concentration (Lipman 1). One very important skill learned is the power of perseverance. Because musicians can’t play every piece of music perfectly the first time through, music education benefits people by teaching them that you need to keep practicing in order to become good at something (Matthews 1). As more is being researched about diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimers, and more people are being properly diagnosed there has been an increase in people trying to keep the brain as healthy as the body. John Carpente, founder and director of the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy in New York, said he believes that music is one of the most engaging and emotionally powerful stimuli and believes it helps people emerge from self inflicted isolation that comes with the Alzheimers disease (Cicetti 2). â€Å"Musical activity throughout life may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making your brain fitter and more capable of accommodating the challenges of aging. Since studying an instrument requires years of practice and learning, it may create alternate connections in the brain that could compensate for cognitive decline as we get older,† said Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, a researcher at the Uni. of Kansas Medical Center. So next time when a music educator or any music student tries to convince you that all the people that don’t play a musical instrument are worse off, take their words into consideration and pick up an instrument. It’s never too late to learn an instrument, and the academic, physical and mental benefits you gain will be well worth it. Bibliography: Cicetti, Fred. Follow on Facebook.  LiveScience.com. TechMedia Network, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.  . Dye, Lee. Playing Music Protects Memory, Hearing, Brain Processing. ABC News. ABC News Network, 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.  . Lewis Brown, Laura. The Benefits of Music Education. PBS Parents. PBS, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.  .

Short Story and Pride Essay Example

Short Story and Pride Essay Pride is a wonderful thing, but too much pride may blind someone to the inevitable future they create. Pride is great it gives people self confidence and makes them happy. The more pride someone has the more they accept themselves. Excessive pride can leave people to poor choices that cannot be reversed. In the short story The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, Fortunate is a prideful man with a great life; however, he lets his pride blind him to his inevitable faith. Fortunate prided himself a little too much on his connoisseurship of wine believing himself the best. (209) Mentors having much pride in himself as well ought revenge on Fortunate for insulting him, and uses Fortunate pride against him by threatening to use another wine tester. Fortunate falls for this trick by letting pride overcome himself. In the short story The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst brothers pride gets in the way of his caring for his little brother. We will write a custom essay sample on Short Story and Pride specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Short Story and Pride specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Short Story and Pride specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The narrator gets a new brother, but he is not all there. Hes ashamed at first but his pride leads him to love his brother. Then the narrators pride leads him to teach his brother doodle to walk. He then believes he can teach him to do everything. But then a terrible fate happens to the narrators rather, which concludes pride is a terrible, wonderful thing that bears two vines, life and death. The narrators pride blinds him of the fact that doodle is not running as fast and that he has over worked him. Pride is great until someone lets it blind them. Fortunate lets it blind him and is trapped deep in the wine cellar and dies. Brother lets his pride blind him to the over working of doodle and finds him deceased. Pride is great it will make you happy. It will make you accept yourself. Pride will also lead you down an irreversible path of life and death, and will ultimately decide your faith.

Free Essays on Hope V. Despair

Hope vs. Despair In John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, we are given a beautiful interpretation of the story of Genesis. This detailed interpretation of Genesis begins with the fall of Satan and his inner struggle with good and evil. Satan assumes the role as the main character, Adam and Eve are his pawns for destruction and God is just a bystander. Although, when Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit they lose their utopian paradise it is not the absolute fall of mankind because in the end hope overcomes despair and mankind is saved after all. In Paradise Lost, Satan is a complex character which undergoes much change and turmoil throughout his journey to destroy mankind. He was once considered the highest angel under God however, his sins of pride and envy overpower his obedience to God and therefore, he is cast down from heaven. Now consumed with hatred he persuades others to follow his actions and wages a war against God and his new creation, mankind. Satan is a twisted and tortured soul who is driven by an obsession of hatred, envy, passion and despair. While it is only his name which provokes hate within us it is his actions that we understand and relate to as humans. Satan is a real person to us and we understand what he is going through and his struggle with internal agony and sins. Yet, his inability to seek redemption and follow through with a life of continuous evil is where we lose connection with Satan. On more than one occasion Satan has struggled with the possibility to repent: â€Å"O then at last relent! Is there no place Left for repentance, none for pardon left?† (IV, 79-80) While he knows that he would be better off repenting he cannot kneel down to a God that he believes is tyrannical and unmerciful. Consequently, he releases any kind of hope that he once had: â€Å"So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, Farewell remorse! All good to me is lost; Evil, be thou my good†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (IV, 108-110). As S... Free Essays on Hope V. Despair Free Essays on Hope V. Despair Hope vs. Despair In John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, we are given a beautiful interpretation of the story of Genesis. This detailed interpretation of Genesis begins with the fall of Satan and his inner struggle with good and evil. Satan assumes the role as the main character, Adam and Eve are his pawns for destruction and God is just a bystander. Although, when Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit they lose their utopian paradise it is not the absolute fall of mankind because in the end hope overcomes despair and mankind is saved after all. In Paradise Lost, Satan is a complex character which undergoes much change and turmoil throughout his journey to destroy mankind. He was once considered the highest angel under God however, his sins of pride and envy overpower his obedience to God and therefore, he is cast down from heaven. Now consumed with hatred he persuades others to follow his actions and wages a war against God and his new creation, mankind. Satan is a twisted and tortured soul who is driven by an obsession of hatred, envy, passion and despair. While it is only his name which provokes hate within us it is his actions that we understand and relate to as humans. Satan is a real person to us and we understand what he is going through and his struggle with internal agony and sins. Yet, his inability to seek redemption and follow through with a life of continuous evil is where we lose connection with Satan. On more than one occasion Satan has struggled with the possibility to repent: â€Å"O then at last relent! Is there no place Left for repentance, none for pardon left?† (IV, 79-80) While he knows that he would be better off repenting he cannot kneel down to a God that he believes is tyrannical and unmerciful. Consequently, he releases any kind of hope that he once had: â€Å"So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, Farewell remorse! All good to me is lost; Evil, be thou my good†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (IV, 108-110). As S...

How to Get on the New York Times Bestseller List ( What to Know First)

How to Get on the New York Times Bestseller List ( What to Know First) How to Get on the New York Times Bestseller List Do you want to learn how to get on the New York Times Bestseller list?If soyou may have the common aspiration to become a bestselling author. The prestige, the title, and the credibilty are all super temptingBut theres more to landing on the NYT Bestseller list than just writing a book and hoping it gets there.Heres how to get on the New York Times Bestseller list:Understand what the NYT Bestseller list is looking forObtain fast and diverse salesEstablish a large author platformHave a pre-order list before your launchGet paid for speaking in bulk book purchasesIf you want to skip right down to these steps, click right here.Otherwise, stick around so that you can gain a further understanding of what it actually means and what it truly takes to get on the New York Times Bestseller list.NOTE: If you want to become a bestselling author in a way thats truly impactful, check out our VIP Self-Publishing Program to learn how to make it happen. Learn more about it hereWhy do authors want to g et on the New York Times Bestseller list?Getting published in the New York Times Bestseller list is traditionally regarded as the gold standard in the publishing world. While many notable bestseller lists exist in the publishing world - The Wall Street Journal bestseller list for business-themed books, for instance- the New York Times Bestseller list, published weekly since 1931, is the oldest and most prestigious list. To that extent, getting your work published on the list is a major deal. Getting published on the Times’ list not only raises your profile as an established author but can offer many more opportunities.Here are some benefits of becoming an NYT Bestselling author:Land future writing contracts with established printing housesBroader industry recognitionEstablish you as a major thought leader and expertProvide increased sales particularly if you are a lesser-known writerLend a good deal of bragging rights. Best Seller Lists are EvolvingPerhaps the most important thing to understand about the New York Times Bestseller list is that it is an evolving list. It always has been and, as historical and more recent trends seem to suggest, probably always will be. To be fair, it is not only the Times. Only as recent as 1995 did the Los Angeles Times begin to count paperbacks again on its bestseller list. Further back in time, in 1961, the Chicago Tribune more infamously denied certain high-selling books that it considered to be â€Å"sewer written by dirty fingered authors for dirty-minded readers† from appearing on its Bestseller list. Various genres and classic works of literature have historically not appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list.   The recent explosion of E-books (The Times began counting them in 2010), self-published books, and audiobooks have also contributed to a more evolving list.How do best seller lists work?The New York Times Bestseller list is made up of various lists divided by different categories such as fict ion and non-fiction, hardcover, paperback, Ebooks, audiobooks, and various book genres.For you, the aspiring writer whose goal it is to be published in the their Bestseller list, probably the most important thing to know is what is worth writing if you are to get your work published on the list. Again, The New York Times does not consider various categories for their bestseller list. A helpful article published on their site about their various guidelines and scoring method clarifies the matter. Here is what those guidelines state: â€Å"Among the categories not actively tracked at this time are: perennial sellers, required classroom reading, textbooks, reference and test preparation guides, e-books available exclusively from a single vendor, journals, workbooks, calorie counters, shopping guides, periodicals and crossword puzzles.†Cookbooks, contrary to popular belief, are included, as are religion, spirituality, and faith books. The NYT Bestseller â€Å"List† is Not a True Measure of Bestselling StatusIt may seem contradictory and still remains controversial to say but it is nonetheless true: The New York Times Bestseller list does not represent a true best-seller listthat is, when accounting for actual total sales. Just what constitutes â€Å"Bestseller† status has been the decades-long battle legal, political, commercial, and otherwise between- the Times, various authors, and book publishers. Like any traditional gatekeeper, the Times has its set of rules, standards, and procedures. As such, they hold the â€Å"keys† as to â€Å"who† gets in. It is best to think of New York Times Bestseller status as something that is subjective in nature. A book that becomes a New York Times Bestseller doesn’t necessarily have to sell millions of copies, or hundreds of thousands, for that matter. While book sales do meet the subjective criteria that the Times uses, it is a specific kind of â€Å"book sale† that counts towa rd New York Times Bestseller status. Moreover, given the explosion of online sales and the diminishing number of traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores (and, consequently, bookstore sales) the sales methodology behind how books are counted has influenced which books appear or do not appear on the list. As explained in a recent article about how to become a best-selling author and how to appear on a bestseller list, its stated that the New York Times in particular, when tallying books for bestseller status, considers:Books that sold in a very specific time period: The Times does not track cumulative sales. Hence, why the Bible, the best-selling book of all time, will not appear on the list. Books like Don Quixote and The Tale of Two Cities, worldwide beloved classics that have sold millions over the years, also will not appear. Dan Brown’s Davinci Code, however, will appear, as it did for several years between 2003 and 2006. Books sold at very specific places: certain book sa les are â€Å"weighted† more favorably depending on where they originate. Bulk sales, under certain conditions, are counted toward bestseller status; ebooks published by a sole vendor are not, etc.Again, the Times explains this in more detail on their site. What Writers Need to Know About the New York Times Bestseller ListEven though it retains its prestigious reputation, The New York Times Bestseller list has been the subject of much controversy. Charges of â€Å"curated elitism,† an overreliance on books published by the major New York publishing houses, questionable methodologies, bribery, editorial and political bias have prompted lawsuits and intense debates among authors, book publishers, and industry executives.A 1983 lawsuit by William Beatty, an American writer best known for his novel The Exorcist and 1973 movie by the same name, is a case in point. While his book Legion sold many copies during its initial publication- enough to earn a comfortable spot for a while on the Times’ Bestseller list- his book appeared on the list only for one week.Sensing bias and claiming that by it not remaining on the Times’s list his sales were being hurt, Beatty took his case to Court. In Court, the Times defended itself on grounds that â€Å"The list did not purport to be an objective compilation of information but instead was an editorial product.† The Court sided with the Times, dismissing a $3 million lawsuit. Think of it like this: The New York Times is the newspaper equivalent to a prestigious university and fashionable high-end clothing brand. When it comes to getting on their bestseller list, just as it is for gaining admission to, say, an Ivy League School, few get in.For those that do, they did their due diligence, worked incredibly hard, made great contacts, followed the rules, met the editorial standards, among other things.How to Get on the New York Times Bestseller ListIf you really have your hearts set on becoming a Ne w York Times bestselling author, here are some of the things youll have to do in order to make it happen.#1 Know What the NYT List wantsA Stanford Business Schoolanalysis done years ago concluded by saying that the majority of book buyers seem to use the Times list as a signal of whats worth reading.Knowing what the Times regards as a bestseller is important because it provides a helpful window into this segment of the bestselling publishing world. It helps to know what is currently passing for a New York Times Bestseller.Simply start with the category in which you would like to be published: fiction, non-fiction. Beyond that, genre: history, political, fantasy, science-fiction. It helps too to know who the Big Players are.The Times is known to favor the Big New York publishing houses. Who are these? What are their submission guidelines? Who are some agents known for working with them?Do you have what it takes to become a bestselling author? Take our quiz to find out!Click Here to Save Your Spot#2 Obtain fast and diverse sales In the age of digital self-publication and promotion, the traditional publishing route is virtually a thing of the past. Not so for a New York Times Bestseller. Unlike selling on digital mediums where you can become a Bestseller by selling your book on, say, Amazon, to whomever, wherever, becoming a New York Times Bestseller follows a different system.To achieve bestseller status on the Times not only do you have to sell at least 5,000 10,000 copies in one week, but these sales have to be diverse sales.That is, you cannot sell 10,000 books to a pre-existing list of followers through a personal website or thousands from only one marketplace like Barnes and Noble.Rather, these sales must flow from retailers across the country and in different geographical locations- everything from Big-Box chains like Barnes and Noble and Walmart, small independent book stores, E-commerce giant Amazon, university bookstores, etc.It is worth noting tha t the public does not have access to who the aforementioned retail outlets are. To prevent possible abuse from those looking to rig the system.#3 Build a Strong Author PlatformFor first-time and lesser-known authors it is especially critical to have a pre-existing audience before attempting New York Times bestseller status.This is how you can start to build your author platform and audience:Be active on social media: it goes without saying, people- potential followers, collaborators, industry leaders, publishers, agents, and readers- exist in the digital space. Find them, connect with them, and collaborate, if possible.Be already building credibility / expertise on your particular niche / topic / passion: write a weekly blog, as an example. This is perfect practice to hone your writing skills, develop your voice and writing styles, conduct research for your eventual book. The goal is to establish trust and credibility.Collaborate with others in your particular area for more knowled ge and broader exposure: if you want to get in with the Big Wigs you got to know your stuff. Once you have built up some credibility you can leverage this and reach out to important figures in your field. It is a win-win-win for you, the person you are reaching out to and the audience that is set to gain important information from the two of you.Engage with your audience: Assess your audience’s â€Å"book pulse:† how hungry are they for your words of wisdom, unique insight, creative mind? What questions are you asking them? What have they had to say about your previous blog posts, vlogs, tweets, etc? Are they genuinely impressed, suggesting you write a book perhaps?Maybe they are giving you more fuel for your book- telling you about things you had previously not known before, mentioning other books that further your expertise? Engagement is key. What, if any, do you have with your audience?#4 Have a Pre-Order List Before Your Book Launch You should have such a list f or any book you seek to publish. For a potential New York Times Bestseller it is especially important from a sales perspective.Rob Eager, a notable book marketing consultant, explains that, in the case of a New York Times Bestseller, all pre-orders sold before a book launch are counted during the first week of official sales. So, for instance, 5,000 sold during pre-release and another 5,000 during the first official week equals 10,000 total books sold- a critical number to reach during the first week for New York Times Bestseller status.Having a pre-order list works hand-in-hand with a pre-existing audience. If you already have the audience it is, of course, easier to have a ready pre-order list. If you are successful enough to have both of these before launch you are in good shape.#5 Exchange speaking fee for a bulk book purchasesWhile it may not be the best course for everyone, speaking engagements are incredible opportunities to double-down on your writing endeavors and entrepre neurial goals more broadly.They are not only great confidence-boosters but serve as great book marketing opportunities. Exchanging speaking fees for a bulk book purchase is especially important during the pre-order phase because it allows you not only reach a broader audience (and hopefully make more sales) but allows you to meet the Times’ requirement that book purchases be in different geographic areas. New York Times Bestseller Status vs. Writing as Means to an EndGiven the age of digital entrepreneurship where self-publishing a book continues to gain significant traction, effectively taking down the traditional barriers of entry- publishing industry contacts, top-notch agents, and costly marketing plans- it is really up to you to figure out your writing goals.Traditional publishing with the aim of appearing on an internationally-recognized Bestseller list like the Times versus self-publishing with the aim of achieving personal / business goals (and potential Bestseller st atus just not in the Times) is a tradeoff you’ll have to consider. Remember publishing a book is not an end in and of itself. With its ability to boost your name, reputation, and authority, not to mention, depending on your industry, land you more consulting clients and speaking gigs, writing a book can open up some pretty amazing doors. A successful published book is a marketing tool like no other.Whatever path you choose, keep in mind that achieving Bestseller status in places other than the New York Times Bestseller List has been proven to land equally promising and lucrative opportunities. And we are just in the beginning phases of this amazing trend. Self-Publishing School is here to help. Good luck.Are you ready to become a bestselling author where it matters?Yes, landing on the NYT Bestseller list will get you more book sales but becoming a bestselling author elsewhere is much easier and more attainable- with our methods, at least.

Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Research Paper

Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes - Research Paper Example But as he went along, it became a highly entertaining and wonderful story, â€Å"quite as adventurous as any old –time romance, full of humor , abounding in wisdom an the very day things of life ,and to a certain extend ,of human nature â€Å" (N L Carrington). The theme of this novel is the tragedy that befalls those who are incapable of realizing the change of times and stick on the values and manners of a bygone era . The story which is a panorama of captivating events embodies the life, manners and milieu of medieval Europe which even at the time of his writing were outdated. The name of the book in Spanish is â€Å"E1 Ingeniso hidaldo Don Quixote de la mancha†. The hero Alonso Quixado belonging to place called La Mancha is a member of the lower nobility.(hidaldo) .He is tall and lean, about fifty years old , with cheeks that appeared to be kissing each other on the inside of his mouth, a neck half-yard long . Books of chivalry and adventure, which became very com mon in the fifteenth century, had been his obsession. Innumerable such books he has read with relish and enthusiasm. As a result, his mind is steeped in gripping accounts of enchantments, battles, challenges, wooing and agonies. He has thus lost his sanity. He fancies that he can make himself a knight errant and roam the world in full armor, righting every kind of wrong and exposing himself to peril, thus he will reap eternal renown’s as the undoer of injustice, the protector of damsels, the terror of giants and the winner of battles. In the book Don Quixote he himself says â€Å"I know I’m capable of ...of being all the Twelve Peers of France, and all the Nine Worthies as well, for my exploits will be far greater than all deeds they have done all together and each by myself† The novel is a highly amusing account of how this strange hero living in a make-believe world of medieval romance and adventure tries to make good this boast. The first thing he does is to change his name in keeping with the glorified office of a knight. The pedestrian Quixado thus becomes (Don Quixote of La Mancha, â€Å"Don ‘being the title reserved for the highly sophisticated and upper class in society, equivalent to ‘Sir’ In English. A knight was expected to have chivalric lady love. And he gallantly chooses a sturdy farm –lass, to whom he was never uttered a word, and gives her the name Dulceniadel Toboso. The next requirement was a mighty steed. A white but sickly and lean horse he manages to get from his family stable, and renames it Rocinate. A Set of ancient metal armor, helmet, sword and spear he is able to get from a dark room in his house and this serves as his knightly equipment. The armor and helmet are too large and heavy for his lean and lank body. But It is with supreme satisfaction that he whereas the armor and wields the weapons although the onlookers find him totally grotesque and funny. His knightly pose is complete onl y when he takes with him, as his squire or assistant, Sancho Panza, a stupid fat and short farmer from the neighboring village, According to stories of chivalry, the squire is to follow the knight –errant on another horse, but as they fail to secure a horse, Sancho Panza rides on a donkey. Don Quixote gives Sancho all kinds of promises including that of the governorship of a newly conquered island, and the foolish squire believes in all that completely. The ludicrous situations created by this pair going out in search of adventures are of unending interest

Ethics in Public Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics in Public Administration - Essay Example Consequently, if it happened that the firefighters took any wood from the alder tree that they had cut down in Oregon, then the case would have dealt on employees liaising with their supervisor to illegally possess public property for personal gain. According to the information given, it is clear that a retired officer from the firefight department decided to blow the whistle. As such, the Fire Chief should have asked the rest of the firefighters to collect the wood from his place and those that they might have illegally taken to their own places for personal use and present it to the relevant authorities because they have a duty to adhere to ethics laws. Of importance to note that, it is much easier for the firefighters to adhere to ethics laws when their supervisor Fire Chief demonstrates the principle. Additionally, there should be continuous adherence to ethic laws at the work place, having learnt from this unfortunate situation of breach of ethic laws (Geuras & Garofalo, 2010). It is for undoubted reasons that the City Manager or Mayor should have the mandate of ensuring that the ethic laws are adhered to by every individual in the public administration. Basically, the City Manager should create public awareness through media both print and electronic. Moreover, there should be forums on how best the public officers should serve the public, as well as, the rights of the public in service delivery. It is crucial to comprehend that, there must be stringent measures for those who attempt to breach laws. In relation to this case, the City Manager should lay down the laws that have been breached by the fire fighters to facilitate their fines and/or punishment. In cases where the firefighters report directly to the City Managers, implementation of the punishment should proceed. It is obvious that even after the wood was discovered in Fire Chief home, he continued to insist that it was a