Corporate Social Responsibility – Nike In Focus

Considering CSR as a set of policies focused on measuring and controlling the economic, social and environmental impacts of corporate decisions, I have tried to analyze its standard regulations in Canadian companies.

I believe Nike, the world's largest producer of sports wear and equipment, is a shining example because this company holds its operations in more than 140 countries and declares CSR as a “core business objective”.

The most issues the corporation has for the time being are the working conditions and workers’ wage rates in developing countries which leave much to be desired in accordance with mass-media and non-governmental organizations’ critical articles based on the audit reports results.

I could hardly absolutely agree with these critics who suppose that CSR for Nike is just a kind of PR campaign since facts demonstrate that this transnational corporation really improved its reputation in the eyes of international community. But it is true that Nike responds to this criticism in a cost-effective manner. The company participates in CSR meetings around the world and develops remediation plans in order to attract much media attention and streamline own expenses. As a result, Nike spends 10 times less money than if it would decide to increase the workers’ wages.

As far as I can judge, CSR does not have any concise ‘standards’ therefore we can only compare the policies declared by a corporation with their implementation in real life. In this meaning, the best case scenario of the realization of the formula corporate + society = responsibility when a corporation provides the society with the absolute transparency of its business operations, and a local government ensures the control over economic, social and environmental consequences of it to act as a single point of accountability in the face of the nation.

Resources:
http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/CSRfiles/nike.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Nike

How to Become a Programmer

If you flirt with the idea of becoming a programmer but do not know where to start this article would be useful and interesting to you.

How to Become a Programmer

Unlike what you might find in some books and articles, programming can not be actually learned in 7, 21 or even 365 days[1]. It is a cumulative process that builds up your skills day after day and year after year. However, programming can also be fun and rewarding (mentally, spiritually and financially). This guide does not promise to give a magical easy way to becoming a programmer, and the ordering of the steps is not sacred, but you'll get a general outline of how to become a programmer in one of the modern programming fields

Interesting occupation and good salary. Really, why not?

Still reading the blog of http://www.wikihow.com

Husky

husky

1 croaking, croaky, gruff, guttural, harsh, hoarse, rasping, raucous, rough, throaty

2 (informal) beefy (informal) brawny, burly, hefty, muscular, powerful, rugged, stocky, strapping, thickset

English Collins Dictionary - English Definition & Thesaurus

Oktoberfest

Geschwistern! Mentally are we are together!

English: Lean Word Manufacturing

Economy

 

Put an «X» beside each passage that clearly contains wordiness or undesirable repetition.

 

Crying happens in both sexes, men and women.	Crying happens in both sexes.
In terms of the climate of Somalia, it is very hot and dry.	Climate in Somalia is very hot and dry.
Society considers pit bulls to be killers because a few of these dogs have killed or fatally injured someone or another animal.	Society considers pit bulls to be killers because they have killed or fatally injured someone or another animal.
What can I say about culture of Vancouver? Well, first it is multicultural culture.	First Vancouver is multicultural.
Today in industrialized nations, 80 percent of the people live in urban area, while 20 percent live in rural areas.	Today in industrialized nations, 80 percent of the people live in urban area, while the rest in rural.
I closed my eyes to relive the incredible experience again.	I closed my eyes to relive the incredible experience.
The front of the building faces north while the back faces south.	The front of the building faces north while the back south.
Choosing a life partner is not easy.	ok
In today's society having a computer is very crucial.	In today’s society having a computer is crucial.
The best job I have ever had was at the London Public Library. It was the best job because it was interesting. There were a number of facts that made the job interesting. One of the major facts that made the job interesting was the people who worked at the library.	The best job I have ever had was at the London Public Library because of the interesting people who worked there.
It was New Year's Eve night.	Ok
The average wattage of a car sound system ranges between 100 and 300 watts.	The average wattage of a car sound system ranges 100 and 300 watts.
Last year I had many different teachers. One of my favourite teachers was the calculus teacher.	One of my favourite teachers I had last year was the calculus one.
Even though the novel Erewhom came under some criticism, the overall opinion was that of a positive one.	Even though the novel Erewhom came under some criticism, the overall opinion was positive.
It must admit that I have only one addiction in life. That addiction is television.	I must admit television as my only one addiction in life.
My full-time job was two hours away.	Ok
It is very stressful for students to juggle school and work at the same time.	Ok
My grandmother once broke her leg. As a result, she limps quite a bit when she is walking.	My grandmother limps quite a bit when walking because she once broke a leg.
The piston is connected to a connecting rod, which in turn is connected to the crankshaft. The crankshaft is connected to a large metal disk called the flywheel.	Ok
Relationships are brief and short-lived.	Relationships are short-lived.
After ten minutes in the cold, I could hardly feel the existence of my limbs.	Ok (or After ten minutes in the cold, I could not feel my limbs.)
We find that some teachers are negligent of criteria essential to the students' comprehension of a subject.	We find that some teachers are negligent of   criteria essential to the students’ subject comprehension.
My cousin Jason is 15 years old. He feels that in order for him to look and feel good, he must have the latest clothes.	My 15 years old cousin Jason wants to have the latest clothes to look and feel good.
It is hard to get a job.	Ok
In the opinion of my dad, he says that the quality of luxury cars is what sets them apart from economy cars.	My dad says the quality of luxury cars sets them apart from economy ones.
Swimmers who vary their pace will get very exhausted.	Ok
With a tax increase, it can create a black market or an underground economy.	A tax increase can create a black market or an underground economy.
Why do teenagers marry? There are many reasons why teenagers marry.	Teenagers marry because of many reasons.
Many companies pollute by releasing harmful levels of pollutants into the environment.	Many companies pollute the environment in harmful levels.
Taking trip to Mexico would be the trip of a lifetime for us.	A trip to Mexico would be of a lifetime for us.
Walking is the safest exercise.	Ok
I'm sure that France, Japan or Spain have beautiful languages, but the fact is I simply do not converse in any of these languages.	French, Japanese or Spanish are beautiful languages but I do not speak them.
Smoking is a major risk in women's pregnancies.	Smoking is a major risk in pregnancies.
Winter is very unique.	Winter is unique.
To be able to communicate in more than one language does nothing more than add to one's relative competitive advantage when dealing with other people.	Speaking more than one language is a relative competitive advantage.
A family is something you will always have forever.	A family is something you will have forever.
The difference between a room with plants in it and one with no plants is extremely obvious.	The difference between a room with plants and without is extremely obvious.
The only seasons Indonesia has are the wet season and the dry season.	Indonesia has only wet and dry seasons.
Politicians know that if they want to be reelected, they must lower taxes.	Politicians know they must lower taxes in order to be reelected.
There is Chinese saying that says, “A family that has an elderly person has a treasure”.	A Chinese saying says, “A family that has an elderly person has a treasure”.

Most Readers

who said the Russians are the most readers?

Busty Secretary Vacancy

Way to go, craiglist.com ! That's I'm lovin'!

(just afraid it will be deleted by their moderator):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are a leader in the adult industry and we are looking for a secretary. Image is everything so having an attractive busty secretary is a huge plus in our company marketing itself. We are #1 in our market space and have a staff that includes all good looking intelligent people. Ugly people may feel this is discrimination. I call it good business. Ugly people don't drive the cars I drive ;)

We pay very well and have a fun relaxed atmosphere in our office. We are looking for an energetic talented person that will fit the roll.

If you are interested please send us an email detailing why we should give you a shot. If you'd like to include a picture of yourself to improve your chances that's fine by us.

Good Luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ugly people may feel this is discrimination. - I am sure this awesome guy feels nothing. But anyway, 50K do not grow on trees!

Russian Tartar Emetic

some dictionary defines Russian as a person with a Caucasian body and a Mongolian soul. A Tartar Emetic.

what do you think of it my friends?

Unit 2: My Opinion On Randomly Chosen Article

Worrisome economic reports add to market fears in Canada, U.S.

As a matter of fact, the index of affordability which includes sales of new cars and houses has decreased significantly in the country what bears witness of the slump.  The authorities assure there is no reason for awaiting something worse than it has been and the Canada’s economy is stronger than her American counterpart. I am not very good at the economics but I do not see any principal difference between them.

For my deeper concerns those bad economic reports do not bode well for us. All market indicators, first of all, like job growth, housing sales and prices are a little bit better in Canada than in the U.S. at the moment.

I could not say much about this steepest drop of the exchange indices but I am able to judge about my personal plans on buying my own home. Now, it seems to me more far away along with the last news on the market.

The only thing that always makes me surprised is the gas prices: despite all these news about oil prices drop below $95 per barrel, quite the opposite, they have still been rising!

I believe we have to prepare for bad times because as far as I can judge that is only the tip of the iceberg. I am not sure what the word recession means precisely but I guess the continuing growth of prices and of unemployment (thanks god not yet in IT industry!) are in this notion.

As to a number of the huge financial corporations bankrupting lately as falling apples from the tree and all that jazz I suppose it proves the theory on the capitalistic economy as the subject to periodic crisis. Good times bad times. We will go through it.

Our Professor

As usual, at the beginning everybody in a group has to tell a little about his or her own person to others to 'break the ice'. 

No need to say how many nationalities and occupations are in our group. Ordinary canadian mosaic. But something interesting on our professor. She got BAC at McGill and Master's degree in Sydney, Australia where she taught as well as in Tokyo, Japan, Warsaw, Poland, Istanbul, Turkey, and Tver, Russia  - what's a surprise!

She mentioned its name as Kalinin (former name, the city was named after Mikhail Kalinin, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR). I wonder in what times she was there!

An Interesting Question On OS We Still Have Not An Answer For

Searching for Google Chrome for Linux recently installed on my laptop I came across this blog posting A Web OS?.

The author maybe is a little bit aggressive, and therefore the text is stuffed with f-words too much but it gives the general view of how the OS environment are evolving - from simple to sophisticated and ineffective - disregarding of real user's needs.

The point I like most there is the following question:

"... when your Aunt asks why her 1.2GHz computer isn't fast enough to run an online word processor that has the same fucking features as the 1987 version of Corel WordPerfect, you don't have an answer for her."

I have not any answer. And you?

unit 1

I am going to post here my homeworks of the course I take in McGill University. Not to teach someone but rather to remember the material we pass through during the course English Grammar and Writing Techniques. Your comments are warmly welcomed and appreciated!

Since there is such a topic as Blog Writing in the course I believe this blogspot of mine will be useful.

So, this is the first one about good writing, the text taken from the anthology recommended by our professor to buy ($20) at McGill bookstore.

Simplicity Questions

1.What is the main argument or thesis of “Simplicity”? (Course pack p.111)

The gist of the article is the right way of writing. The good writing must be clear as reflection of clear way of thinking. It is not something given like a nature's gift but might be learnt by hard working.

2.List some examples of clutter. (Course pack p.111)

Too complicated texts of manuals, sophisticated style of insurance or medical plans, ciphered financial reports, and my favorite one – FIDO mobile plans.


3.How can a writer avoid clutter? (Course pack p.113)

In very simple manner – just to simplify the words themselves and the text entirely by means of which one tries to express thoughts. In any case, it should be started from clear thinking, then continued in clear writing, and finally, in iterative redactions in order to achieve the initial lucidity of mind.


4.Define the “common reader” and list some possible reasons a reader could become confused when reading a text. (Course pack p.113)

This is a person with very short average period (30 sec) of attention and many temptations to lose the latter like the following: TV, cellular, advertising, radio, internet and so on.


5.Provide examples of ways a writer can be careless. (Course pack p.113)

It can be in many forms. For example, the shoddiness when a reader may interpret a phrase in a few ways, or when a logical liaison is absent, or a reader just loses the sense because of verbiage or incorrect using of a word.


6.Why is the edited manuscript included in the “Simplicity” essay? (Course pack pgs. 114-115)

To show us the process of 'clearing' as it is in reality of a writer's life. How much work should be done before the text is accepted in final redaction.


7.What important questions should writers ask themselves? (Course pack p.116)

Is what I have written exactly what I wanted to say? Would it be enough clear for somebody else who reads it without my assistance? How much bigger could my honorarium be if I added some more words in this apparently too simple and short sentence?


8.What conclusions does the author of “Simplicity” come to? (Course pack p.116)

The author bewares us to be persistent on that long hard road that leads to good writing (good mention of the ancient proportion of inspiration and respiration in any action).