The Effects of Baby Boomers Retiring Will Have on the Economy Research Paper

The Effects of Baby Boomers Retiring Will Have on the Economy - Research Paper Example At each stage, of its life cycle, the baby boom generation has changed the market for many products, altered the demand for public services, as well as the nature of the labor force. This paper delves into the effects the baby boomers’ retiring will have on the economy of the United States over the next 20 years. Introduction In the world’s history, baby boomers (who represent 28% of all the United States’ adult population) have been one of the most productive generations. This generation took advantage of subsidized scholarships and school loans from the government, which enabled them to get proper education, which in turn helped them to secure high paying jobs in all sectors of the US economy with tremendous added gains from globalization and newer technologies (Talbott, 2010). Social scientists, analysts, and policymakers have developed a great interest regarding the effects of the retirement of baby boomers on the economy of the US and the nation at large. Th e year 2005 marked the commencement of the exodus of baby boomers from the labor force. Since then, every seven seconds, a baby boomer attains the retirement age of sixty years, and this process will continue for the next twenty years. These retirements foreshadow a diminution of workplace knowledge as well as knowledge-based experience at a time when such experience and knowledge are more and more vital to the economy of the US as well as to the organizations that comprise it (Beazley, Boenich, and Harden, 2002). Estimates by the Employment Policy Foundation indicate that with baby boomers reaching the age of retirement, by the year 2012, businesses will experience a severe shortage of six million employees, and this number will increase to thirty-five million employees by the year 2030. Slower workforce growth implies that there will be slower rate of growth of the economy, and consequently, the living standards of everybody in the nation will be lower. Essentially, the baby boom generation’s retirement threatens to limit the potential of the economy of the United States, reducing the speed limit on how fast it can grow. Economists projects a considerable decline in the growth of the US economy to 2.2% by the year 2015, compared with a typical growth of about 3.2% during the last forty years (The special committee on aging, 2007). According to Gordon (2005), over the next next twenty years, a great number of baby boomers, roughly seventy million baby boomers, some highly skilled, will start leaving the job market of the United States of America gradually, with only forty million employees coming in. Following this retirement, skill shortages throughout the whole economy will get to critical levels. Woodruff (2011) points out that reports from the Pew Research Center indicate that for the next twenty years, over ten thousand baby boomers will be retiring daily. This retirement will have a remarkable effect on everybody and on all measures of the United States’ economic output (Talbott, 2010). For instance, it will lead to a slowdown of about 0.5% in the growth rate of in the workforce every year from its average 1.6% per annum since 1950-2007. The decline in the growth of the workforce in the United States is an indication that the nation’s labor supply may be inadequate to sustain the standards of living (Jarvik, 1980). The special committee on aging (2007) reports the fact that the aging and retirement of baby boomers will have potential impacts on the economy of th

Politics and the AIDS epidemic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Politics and the AIDS epidemic - Research Paper Example The part of the world that is affected worst by HIV infection is the sub-Saharan Africa. As of now, their is neither a cure nor a vaccine for AIDS. Thus, combating the disease is a major challenge for health care providers and biomedical scientists. AIDS and HIV infection represents one of the most public -pressing public health policy and public health problem in the world. Currently AIDS is pandemic and has significant impact on the health care costs. In the current era, HIV infection is considered to be in the end stage of a chronic disease with rapid spread among Hispanics and Blacks (Fox, 1990). Though the disease was first identified in 1981, the mode of transmission of the disease and causating agent was discovered only in 1984. In 1985, detection of the virus was developed and applied to blood transfusions. In 1987, anti-retroviral agents were manufactured and since then there has been constant upgrading of drugs to combat infection, but with no cure or vaccine for the diseas e. Currently, it is estimated that 850,000 to 950,000 Americans are living with HIV infection/AIDS (Kates, 2004). The disease is a national epidemic with severe effect on specific groups like injection drug users, gay and bisexual men, young individuals and racial and ethnic minorities. Currently, it is also increasingly affecting communities which are economically backward and also women. Since the time AIDS was diagnosed for the first time in the United States, the relationships among politics, science and health care policy have changed drastically. In the 1980s, the HIV epidemic's politics were dominated mainly by four interacting factors fear and fascination, individuals involved in the contraction and spread of the disease, endemic problems of the social policy of United States and the impact of scientific knowledge advances on policy (Fox, 1990). During the initial years, politics was considered as inimical for prevention, but not it is considered as central. The main challen ge is to facilitate prevention of spread of the virus through policies that protect the most vulnerable population. During the first decade of the AIDS epidemic in the US, the policies were hostile to several areas of research like sexuality and meedle exchange. The political climate last decade was more sympathetic and effective health policies were not there because of two important issues. One was the issue as to whether efforts towards prevention was to be targeted for high risk populations and high risk geographic areas alone, or, must be broadly based. The other was issue was uncertainty of involvement of democratic participation including various local health departments, federal government agencies and community-based organizations (Bayer, 1997). As far as international politics with regard to HIV infection/AIDS is concerned, World Bank has a major role to play for international health with regard to AIDS pandemic. The bank is mainly responsible for various efforts to combat factors contributing to the AIDS like poverty, in countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Initially, several structural adjustment programs which were often criticized by the critics were promoted. These developed several negative consequences and the World Bank, along with International Monetary Fund focused on health related issues. AIDS evoked political response and also government action. It was initially

World War Two Essay Example for Free

World War Two Essay After World War Two, the United States government faced a problem. Against Soviet pressure in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, it wanted to convince the world, especially new nations emerging from colonialism, of America’s moral leadership. Often, it found that its most exasperating opponents were some of its own people. The Unites States was profoundly racially segregated. In many states, blacks were legally relegated to separate and profoundly unequal schools. Businesses followed social or legal rules which barred or degraded blacks. Courts often functioned with a callousness and brutality of authoritarian regimes. In Cold War Civil Rights, Mary Dudziak shows how international needs prompted the United States to respond to its racial problems. In America’s long struggle to deal with race, leaders had often brought foreign influence to bear. Frederick Douglass had appealed for help in England, arguing that the whole human family needed to address this problem. 1 During World War I, the war to make the world safe for democracy, black leaders had sought to make America safe for Americans, but to little avail. World War Two marked the turning point. Fighting against regimes that spouted racist ideologies while still segregating its armed forces, America found it had to confront its own moral dilemma (pp. 7-8. ), especially as this dilemma took on strategic implications: Axis propaganda mocked the notion that non-whites could expect justice from racist America. (Pp. 8-9. ) While some voices were raised, the problem went largely ignored. America had not yet committed itself to the ideals that it had sacrificed so much to secure for others. (Pp. 9-11) The Cold War hobbled the use of foreign influence to aid the civil rights effort. Anyone airing domestic issues overseas might now be linked, often wrongly, to communist agitation. (P. 12) Still, a space remained, in which civil rights was driven by international concerns. America found it had to project an increasingly detailed image abroad. International pressures forced the United States to show itself confronting its racial problems. Often, this meant that international concerns drove the federal government and major social and political leaders to deal with domestic racial issues. (Pp. 13-14) Inherently, national leaders in international affairs were thrust into prominence in civil rights struggles. Professor Dudziak points out that her emphasis on the roles of leaders â€Å"should not be seen as an effort to privilege a top-down focus as ‘the’ story of civil rights history. † (P. 14) The vignette with which she opens the book illustrates how leaders were involved. In 1958, a black handyman in Marion, Alabama was charged with stealing less than two dollars in change from a white woman. Charged solely with robbery, he was convicted by an all-white jury and sentence to death. The case caused an outcry around the world. American businessmen overseas feared losing substantial market leverage if the death sentence was carried out. From around the globe, the United States heard calls to overturn the sentence. In the American government, this international pressure was focused on the American official charged with such concerns, the Secretary of State. John Foster Dulles probably did not care about a black handyman from Alabama, but he could not ignore the dispatches pouring in from American consular offices. He telegraphed the governor of Alabama, and the governor reported himself ready to respond to the outpouring of interest in the case. The sentence was quickly commuted. (Pp. 3-6) Turning to the story of how international pressure and domestic race relations shaped one another, Dudziak combine colorful details with a command of the big picture. She begins with Truman, who came to office facing racial concerns. Southern whites fought to defend a way of life threatened by the changes the war had wrought. (Pp. 19-23) Eventually, his reelection effort forced Truman to press the civil rights issue. Hoping he would win voters from the Republicans and the Progressives, Truman’s advisors urged him to speak out on civil rights. His advisors gambled that this would attract black voters, and reasoned that the south would stay safely Democratic. (Pp. 24-25) Accepting this advice, Truman called for civil rights measures that he knew he could not get through Congress. (Pp. 25-26) To his chagrin, southern Democrats bolted and formed their own party, but the strategy worked. Truman carried critical states, polling better among blacks than Roosevelt had done four years earlier. (P. 26) Truman’s key issue was the Cold War, and Truman found that America’s enemies made racial relations a major story. How could the United States claim that to be a model for emerging nations when America was so segregated? Throughout the world, the news media stressed racial issues. A California court decision striking down an antimiscegenation law was widely reported in the Philippines. (Pp. 32-33) American race problems were constant news in India. (P. 32) Communists focused on race issues, trying to embarrass the United States. (Pp. 38-39)2 And America embarrassed itself internationally when foreign diplomats were barred from various facilities. 3 To beat the bad foreign coverage, the United States tried to tell its own story. (Pp. 44-46) As Dudziak shows, some efforts foundered because the world did not share America’s zeal for anti-communism. Pp. 54-60) Even people the government wanted to enlist in its efforts sometimes balked. Sadly, blacks who failed to meet expectations established and enforced by zealous officials often faced serious pressure, as shown by the cases of Paul Robseon (pp. 61-62), Louis Armstrong (pp. 66-67), and Josephine Baker (pp. 67-77). President Truman desegregated the American military. Frustrated that Congress would do nothing on civil rights, Truman used his executive authority to order the military to integrate. (Pp. 82-90) Important as this action was, Dudziak argues that Truman made an even greater contribution by supporting the efforts of the NAACP’s legal attacks on desegregation. Through its briefs amicus curea and other arguments, the government pushed back the color line, often by showing the courts how important these cases were to American international prestige. (Pp. 82-114)4 President Eisenhower was frankly reluctant to endorse the great legal case of Brown v. Board. But in September 1957, he had to decide if Arkansas was part of the United States. Orville Faubus called out the Arkansas national guard. In naked defiance of the Supreme Court, he ordered that blacks be kept out of Little Rock’s schools. He argued that tensions were so high that if the schools were forced to integrate, violence would follow. To protect the black students, he would keep them segregated. (P. 116) As Eisenhower knew, the world was watching Little Rock, and America’s prestige stood in the balance. Huge teams of correspondents from around the world reported each steps of the strange dance of Washington and Arkansas. (Pp. 115-44) After tolerating three weeks of stalling, Eisenhower acted. The 82nd Airborne Division, with fixed bayonets, surrounded Central High School and escorted nine black student inside. (P. 129) Just nine days later, American prestige took another blow: the Soviets launched Sputnik. (P. 145) Roused, the United States dealt with both problems using a single tactic: decisive action. Space programs were accelerated, and the government moved ahead in Arkansas. (Pp. 145-46) On the legal front, the Supreme Court ruled that the rights of blacks could not be sacrificed to whites who would use violence or the threat of violence to hold them back. (Pp. 146-47)5 John Kennedy came to office as an activist. Unfortunately, he failed to grasp the need for activity in the field of civil rights. Hoping to concentrate on international relations, he was embarrassed and felt undercut by the Freedom Riders trying to desegregate buses in the south embarrassing. (P. 158) Initially he largely placated southern Democrats. (P. 156) Slowly, however, he learned with newly formed African nations, American standing required pressing civil rights. (Pp. 162-63) Kennedy did act decisively when riots broke out at the University of Mississippi , and much of the world applauded. (Pp 163-66) Still, African diplomats continued to face embarrassments in traveling to and from Washington. (Pp. 152-54, 1167-69) In 1963, Birmingham. Alabama police used brutal tactics to try to suppress civil right marches. Television images of police brutality (pp. 169-70) raised cries, especially in Africa, that racists were barring all legal change. As Kennedy pressured Alabama, the world applauded. (Pp. 175-78) Feeling the impatience of civil rights activists at home and abroad, in May 1963, Kennedy tried to change the American legal system, which faced new defiance from southerners even as he realized that under traditional American law, the federal government was powerless to act in many civil rights matter. He appeared before a joint session of Congress and called for of bold civil rights laws. (P. 180) This speech galvanized the civil rights movement at home and abroad. (Pp. 181-83) Throughout the world people praised this new initiative. (Pp. / 185-86) At home, the civil rights movement made the first great march on Washington. Even as new problems arose, it seemed that Kennedy was ready to deal with them. (Pp. 198-99) In the wake of Kennedy’s assassination, Lyndon Johnson pressed new civil rights measures through Congress, giving the federal government sweeping powers to enforce civil rights. (Pp. 203-20) Simultaneously, the federal courts abolished travel restrictions that had limited Americans’ rights to travel overseas. (P. 220) One American who traveled during this period was Martin Luther King, going to Norway to accept the 1964 Nobel peace prize. (Pp. 222-26)6 When Dr. King returned to lead marches from Selma, Alabama, he had a firm and supportive governmental response, communist criticism of American civil rights faltered. (Pp. 234-39 But even then, the civil rights movement was destroying itself. Urban riots brought violence and despair rather than movement. Dr. King was assassinated. Robert Kennedy was assassinated. The United States fought a war in Vietnam in which its overwhelmingly non-Asian army seemed totally oblivious to the issues of occupying an Asian nation. (Pp. 242-48) The story that Dudziak tells in this book is important to American history. Civil rights and world events did one another during this period. Now, with globalization and the Internet making the entire world essentially local, America needs to consider this period, learn from it, and learn how to apply those lessons to the present. ENDNOTES

Market and strategy analysis of whirlpool

Market and strategy analysis of whirlpool Refrigerator is truly an integral part of every home. The choice of refrigerator brand and model you want to buy will depend on the number of people in the house as well as your income and their space available in the income. Mainly refrigerators are two types direct cool, frost control and frost free refrigerators. Whirlpool develops the strategy of market segmentation ,target market ,distribution and manufacturing. Whirlpool is the first manufactured product of home home appliances The market share of whirlpool is above 25% Segmentation Whirlpool understood Indian market very closely,and launching products through customer needs. Its mainly basis on the technology,price,services. When the customer needs and wants of the products are launched they are feasible to every customer. It is the basic segment. It covers all the features except for modular shelves, all of them are single metallic bodys.in this segment ranges from 180 to 230 litres.These type of refrigerators are small refrigerators and small shops.In this canot be stored in large capacity.The price varies from 8850 to 12700.In this master price is the base product with unique health guard,thick door design and jumbo bottle neck.In this genius xl premier is the higest product with unique health guard,thick door design,jumbo bottle rack,chill max and modular shelves features. Frost control This segment is the premier segment. It has more feature values compared to the direct cool. This type of refrigerators are technically advanced and are aimed to reduce frost information in the refrigerator.Its ranging capacity is 180 to 310 litres. In this price varies from 11550 to 17745.Its has mainly the 6th sense frost control technology and which is the additional point of this segment. Frost free This segment is the elite segment. It is the most profitable segment in the whirlpool. In segment there are 21 models.Compared to other the price and capacity are more. Its ranges from 220 to 450 litres.In this segment it has not introduced in the low capacity refrigerators.For elite models it has created the higher segment.Mainly the elite models are used for super markets and malls.The price varies from 13775 to 36200It has mainly introduced the 6th sense tower cooling technology for forst free refrigerators.for end products its also introduced 30 litre crisper. Target customers The market that is valued for refrigerator is 4000 crores.In the consumer durable market then th market share is 16%.In market is growing annually at 7-8 %. For the direct cool segments the consumer requirements are low capacity. i.e house holds,small shop keepers, bachelors. For the frost control segment is the average amount of income and is mainly targeted in the middle class. For the frost free segment mainly targeted on the high income and also large storage capacity. In terms of income it can be classified for 3 differrent strategies.In the whirlpool mainly advertising on the target of housewives.hence the primarily target for whirlpool is housewives. Positioning Mainly its has trying to itself as a homemaker.Recently the whirlpool tag line for advertisements was your magic is home making.in earlier it was you whirlpool.For advertising and promotion it spends 70 crores.Ajay and kajol are brand ambassadors of whirlpool. A relationship basedon equality,love and romance. The following are the Successful mantra of Whirlpool: Know a customer Be a customer Serve a customer The major competitors with whirlpool in the refrigerator segment are Samsung LG Industrial structure The industrial structure mainly comes in the category of oligopoly market. But the 3 of them having the major share. Brand identity: The identity of brand is very crucial in this industry. The company with a strong brand can be definitely success in this industry. New entrants: Threat is very low. Advertising : Requires huge amount for advertising. In india it was established in the year 1997. LG has no segments, they are mainly concentrated only one segment. In this green ion door cooling refrigerators are the special features. It has been rated 5 star by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). They launched recently in the first TV-refrigerator. In this segment there are 9 models available in the market. It is mainly targeted in the middle and above middle class. The price vries range from Rs.14450 to Rs.39880 It is only one refrigerator with out works stabilizer. PROMOTION / MARKETING STRATEGY Its marketing mainly depends up on advertising.abhishek bachan was the brand ambassador for LG. Mainly concentrate on the rural areas. In this market share is increased to 15.8 to 18% For this value to the customer is more important and not price. They are top quality and leading edge technology. Samsung is mainly the technology leader and they mainly competiitn with others is technology. They are mainly twin cooling system. They provide optimum level of coling in the refrigeration compartment and the freezer. Mainly it is around cooling action. Mainly it uses the siver fresh technology. In this furtherly can be classified in to 3 segments. Direct Cool Frost Free Side By Side Direct Cool It is mainly target on the middle class. In this there are 6 different models. Its ranges the capacity of 180-200 litres. The price varies from Rs.8,700 to Rs.10,900 Frost Free Refrigerators No of models Price Rs Less than 350 litres 6 13000-2200 Greater than 350 litres 6 29000-56000 Bottom freezer 3 38000-56000 Side By Side Its mainly targeted on the premium product in the niche market. It has mainly 13 models. In this capacity ranges from 545 to 880 Litres Price varies from Rs. 56,000 Rs. 1,41,000 After Sales Service They started the own service centres and helpline numbers. In this mainly success mantra is 10 second to loose a customer, 10 years to gain them back . For this year expecting to expand refrigerator channel by 25%

College or University Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commence

Members of the faculty, parents, guests, and graduates, have no fear. I am well aware that on a day of such high excitement, what you require, first and foremost, of any speaker is brevity. I shall not fail you in this respect. When we arrived at State College, all was new to us and we walked around looking up at everything in awe. As we have been preparing to leave, we were given the chance to see State College from the top of the tallest building, looking down on everything with nostalgic familiarity—inspecting the tiny people that bring State College to life, trying to imagine the countless buses we squeezed to get on, and the hours spent talking to friends. State College has meant something different to each of us, the good, the basketball. The thing about State College is that everyone is so excited to be here that the energy is palpable. There is a vibrancy and newness and sense of possibility, that carries us as students, motivates you as teachers and staff, and makes an impression on those watching us—and indeed we know there are many people watching us, looking out for the good, the bad, the basketball. We are a community diverse in thought and background: the kind of terrain that is never easy to navigate. Take it from my own experience, as I have spent my whole life learning to walk through such terrains—through countries, and communities, and schools that are divided and diverse and marked by difference—so I know how challenging and uncomfortable and sometimes exhausting that process can be—but I also know that it is remarkably rewarding, and powerful, but most of all, necessary. I know that graduation speeches are notorious for trying to impart grand messages on a sea of overwhelmed and overheated people, ... ...moment since we were born. When we left for college, they knew that we were still kids at heart. Now they look at the young men and women we’ve become and find themselves as speechless as we are. For lack of words, just turn around and blow your parents a kiss, give them a wave; it’s Mother’s Day after all, and they know the gratitude and love that these simple gestures mean today. Our families held us up when we were learning to walk, while we were learning to become adults, and amidst the uncertainties of moving on, they once again become our ground and the arms that keep us steady. The best friends we’ve made have become our family too and they will be with us through this uncertainty and others. For now, savor the goodbyes and welcome the new beginnings and remember that four years ago, we were doing the same exact thing—and everything has turned out fine.

No to Gmo Essay

No to GMO Genetically modified foods are foods or plants that have been modified by researchers and scientists to improve the growth and development process. This idea was first introduced in 1982 and now has become widespread in use, especially in the US. This technology is sometimes referred to as â€Å"gene technology† or â€Å"genetic engineering† (WHO). All genetically modified foods are produced in a laboratory to â€Å"enhance its biological feature† (Godiff). This is not healthy. GM foods have the potential to pose major health risks for humans. The three major issues of concern for human health are allergenicity, gene transfer, and outcrossing. Genetically modified foods also pose risks to the environment, such as the possibility of species extinction (WHO). These foods are being produced because they seem to be advantageous. They seem to bring promise of lower prices and better quality. The whole purpose of genetically modified food(s) is to improve crop producti on by resisting unwanted insect damage, viral infections, and tolerating certain herbicides; however, this is not the result of GM foods (WHO). Cost, safety, property rights, and potential environmental danger all must be properly addressed and assessed. But perhaps they are being addressed in all the wrong ways. One of the biggest overall concerns, aside from human health, is for the environment. First, there is a fear that the GMO’s may â€Å"escape† and introduce the engineered genes into wild populations (WHO). This means the modified genes could alter plants and animals that were not meant to be altered. This leads into another big issue, insects that may not be pests will become susceptible to the gene product, causing death throughout various insect populations. That might mean the very insects that help plant growth and provide essential nutrients, will die off. A study showed that the pollen from genetically modified corn caused high death rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars (Godiff). Monarch butterflies are already a near threatened species. If we continue to grow these crops, we could risk endangering not only the magnificent Monarch butterfly, but other species as well. This is a big problem. The first of the major concerns for human health is allergenicity. Allergenicity is a problem because there are possibilities that a new allergen could be pr oduced along with the new gene, meaning that it could produce even more things to be allergic to (Godiff). Because so many people are allergic to  different types of food, this seems to raise the most concern. Not only is it bad that allergenicity is a concern, it is even worse that there is no reliable way to test the product for allergies (Pusztai). The next two areas of concern surround gene transfer and outcrossing. And they are a lot more complicated. Gene transfer is when genes from the GM food product transfer to cells of the body. This could result in serious adverse effects. This would be extremely bad if genes with an antibiotic resistance were to be transferred into the human body. Once they were transferred it would cause antibiotic resistance, which would lead to the body not being able to fight off certain pathogens. Once the body is not able to fight off the pathogens, it could lead to a weakened immune system and ultimately not getting better. This is hard work in the medical field going to waste. Outcrossing, the second important area of concern, is â€Å"the movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild† (WHO). This is an issue because seeds can easily be transferred from one place to another- by wind, water, and certain animals. The pollen from the genetically modified crops could also be transferred to the conventional crops. This ultimately means that our conventional crops may become contaminated, and mixed with the GMC’s. Farmers will have no way of knowing if this happens. So, one pro posed way to fix this is to adopt regulations such as separation of the fields between GM crops and conventional crops (WHO). Genetically modified crops and conventional crops cannot co-exist. Really, in general, there is no end to the controversy over genetically modified crops or GMO’s. Each of these foods must be assessed on â€Å"case-to-case† basis. These studies cannot be generalized and cannot be taken lightly. Greenpeace said, â€Å"Scientific concerns about the safety of GM foods are clearly real† (Meikle) There is a study that showed the toxin levels are not only extremely evident but also extremely unpredictable (Pusztai). In all honesty, while these may be the major and most important areas of debate, they are not the only ones. In fact, there could be countless adverse health effects that we do not even know about yet. These products must undergo more testing and stricter regulations. We, like the European Union, need to enforce and place more emphasis on testing GM foods. Perhaps not to the extreme, as they are, like violent protesting and activist raids. We do not want to destroy years of fieldwork, but we do need to do something, before it gets out of hand  (Curry). There is not nearly enough information on genetically modified foods for them to be considered safe. There is no information on the long-term effects. Finally, labeling genetically modified foods. This should hit home the most. We should know what we are eating. We should want to know what we are eating. If the product is made with genetically modified corn, it should say so on the ingredients list. Otherwise it should be labeled no GMO’s. This is so important, just for everyday purposes, so that we can consciously decide and make educated decisions on the foods we are eating and what we are supporting. How are we supposed to stop the mass production of GMC’s if we are buying them? Buying foods that are made with GMO’s is only showing support for the very thing we do not want. This is essential for ourselves and our family. In conclusion, genetically modified foods are bad news. There is not enough information on them to really know whether or not they are okay. And there is certainly not any information on what they could do to our health in the future. Until there is, the skepticism will remain. Genetically modified foods need to be further researched and labeled in the market. But as of right now, they seem to be causing a lot of problems and also have the potential to cause many more. Human health and the environment are at risk. Genetically modified foods aren’t worth it. Once there is more research and tests done, there may be reason to further review it. But right now the answer is no. Bibliography â€Å"20 Questions on Genetically Modified (GM) Foods.† World Health Organization . Web. 12 Mar. 2013.. Curry, Andrew. â€Å"Seeds of Conflict.† Discover Magazine. (2013): n. page. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. . Godiff, Lewis. â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods.† Science and Technology Journal. (2012): Web. 12 Mar. 2013.. Meike, James. â€Å"Journal to Publish GM Foods Report.† Guardian. (1999): Web. 26 Feb. 2013. . Pusztai, Arpad. â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods: Are They a Risk to Human/Animal Health?.† actionbioscience. n. page. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. .

Basic Functions of a Network Management System.

C H A P T E R 6 Chapter Goal †¢ Become familiar with the basic functions of a network management system. Network Management Basics Introduction This chapter describes functions common to most network-management architectures and protocols. It also presents the five conceptual areas of management as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Subsequent chapters in Part IX, â€Å"Network Management,† address specific network management technologies, protocols, and platforms in more detail. What Is Network Management?Network management means different things to different people. In some cases, it involves a solitary network consultant monitoring network activity with an outdated protocol analyzer. In other cases, network management involves a distributed database, autopolling of network devices, and high-end workstations generating real-time graphical views of network topology changes and traffic. In general, network management is a service that emp loys a variety of tools, applications, and devices to assist human network managers in monitoring and maintaining networks. A Historical PerspectiveThe early 1980s saw tremendous expansion in the area of network deployment. As companies realized the cost benefits and productivity gains created by network technology, they began to add networks and expand existing networks almost as rapidly as new network technologies and products were introduced. By the mid-1980s, certain companies were experiencing growing pains from deploying many different (and sometimes incompatible) network technologies. The problems associated with network expansion affect both day-to-day network operation management and strategic network growth planning.Each new network technology requires its own set of experts. In the early 1980s, the staffing requirements alone for managing large, heterogeneous networks created a crisis for many organizations. An urgent need arose for automated network management (including what is typically called network capacity planning) integrated across diverse environments. Internetworking Technologies Handbook 1-58705-001-3 6-1 Chapter 6 Network Management Architecture Network Management Basics Network Management Architecture Most network management architectures use the same basic structure and set of relationships.End stations (managed devices), such as computer systems and other network devices, run software that enables them to send alerts when they recognize problems (for example, when one or more user-determined thresholds are exceeded). Upon receiving these alerts, management entities are programmed to react by executing one, several, or a group of actions, including operator notification, event logging, system shutdown, and automatic attempts at system repair. Management entities also can poll end stations to check the values of certain variables.Polling can be automatic or user-initiated, but agents in the managed devices respond to all polls. Agents are software modules that first compile information about the managed devices in which they reside, then store this information in a management database, and finally provide it (proactively or reactively) to management entities within network management systems (NMSs) via a network management protocol. Well-known network management protocols include the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP).Management proxies are entities that provide management information on behalf of other entities. Figure 6-1 depicts a typical network management architecture. Figure 6-1 A Typical Network Management Architecture Maintains Many Relationships Network management system (NMS) Management entity Network management protocol Network Agent Agent Agent Proxy Management database Management database Management database Managed devices ISO Network Management Model The ISO has contributed a great deal to network standardization.Its network management model is the primary means for understanding the major functions of network management systems. This model consists of five conceptual areas, as discussed in the next sections. Internetworking Technologies Handbook 6-2 1-58705-001-3 Chapter 6 Network Management Basics ISO Network Management Model Performance Management The goal of performance management is to measure and make available various aspects of network performance so that internetwork performance can be maintained at an acceptable level.Examples of performance variables that might be provided include network throughput, user response times, and line utilization. Performance management involves three main steps. First, performance data is gathered on variables of interest to network administrators. Second, the data is analyzed to determine normal (baseline) levels. Finally, appropriate performance thresholds are determined for each important variable so that exceeding these thresholds indicates a network problem worthy of attenti on. Management entities continually monitor performance variables.When a performance threshold is exceeded, an alert is generated and sent to the network management system. Each of the steps just described is part of the process to set up a reactive system. When performance becomes unacceptable because of an exceeded user-defined threshold, the system reacts by sending a message. Performance management also permits proactive methods: For example, network simulation can be used to project how network growth will affect performance metrics. Such simulation can alert administrators to impending problems so that counteractive measures can be taken.Configuration Management The goal of configuration management is to monitor network and system configuration information so that the effects on network operation of various versions of hardware and software elements can be tracked and managed. Each network device has a variety of version information associated with it. An engineering workstati on, for example, may be configured as follows: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Operating system, Version 3. 2 Ethernet interface, Version 5. 4 TCP/IP software, Version 2. 0 NetWare software, Version 4. 1 NFS software, Version 5. 1 Serial communications controller, Version 1. X. 25 software, Version 1. 0 SNMP software, Version 3. 1 Configuration management subsystems store this information in a database for easy access. When a problem occurs, this database can be searched for clues that may help solve the problem. Accounting Management The goal of accounting management is to measure network utilization parameters so that individual or group uses on the network can be regulated appropriately. Such regulation minimizes network problems (because network resources can be apportioned based on resource capacities) and maximizes the fairness of network access across all users.Internetworking Technologies Handbook 1-58705-001-3 6-3 Chapter 6 Review Questions N etwork Management Basics As with performance management, the first step toward appropriate accounting management is to measure utilization of all important network resources. Analysis of the results provides insight into current usage patterns, and usage quotas can be set at this point. Some correction, of course, will be required to reach optimal access practices. From this point, ongoing measurement of resource use can yield billing information as well as information used to assess continued fair and optimal resource utilization.Fault Management The goal of fault management is to detect, log, notify users of, and (to the extent possible) automatically fix network problems to keep the network running effectively. Because faults can cause downtime or unacceptable network degradation, fault management is perhaps the most widely implemented of the ISO network management elements. Fault management involves first determining symptoms and isolating the problem. Then the problem is fixed and the solution is tested on all-important subsystems.Finally, the detection and resolution of the problem is recorded. Security Management The goal of security management is to control access to network resources according to local guidelines so that the network cannot be sabotaged (intentionally or unintentionally) and sensitive information cannot be accessed by those without appropriate authorization. A security management subsystem, for example, can monitor users logging on to a network resource and can refuse access to those who enter inappropriate access codes.Security management subsystems work by partitioning network resources into authorized and unauthorized areas. For some users, access to any network resource is inappropriate, mostly because such users are usually company outsiders. For other (internal) network users, access to information originating from a particular department is inappropriate. Access to Human Resource files, for example, is inappropriate for most use rs outside the Human Resources department. Security management subsystems perform several functions.They identify sensitive network resources (including systems, files, and other entities) and determine mappings between sensitive network resources and user sets. They also monitor access points to sensitive network resources and log inappropriate access to sensitive network resources. Review Questions Q—Name the different areas of network management. A—Configuration, accounting, fault, security, and performance. Q—What are the goals of performance management? A—Measure and make available various aspects of network performance so that internetwork performance can be maintained at an acceptable level.Q—What are the goals of configuration management? A—Monitor network and system configuration information so that the effects on network operation of various versions of hardware and software elements can be tracked and managed. Q—What are th e goals of accounting management? Internetworking Technologies Handbook 6-4 1-58705-001-3 Chapter 6 Network Management Basics Review Questions A—Measure network utilization parameters so that individual or group uses on the network can be regulated appropriately. Q—What are the goals of fault management?A—Detect, log, notify users of, and automatically fix network problems to keep the network running effectively. Q—What are the goals of security management? A—Control access to network resources according to local guidelines so that the network cannot be sabotaged and so that sensitive information cannot be accessed by those without appropriate authorization. Internetworking Technologies Handbook 1-58705-001-3 6-5 Chapter 6 Review Questions Network Management Basics Internetworking Technologies Handbook 6-6 1-58705-001-3