INNOVATION (Strategic alliances) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Development (Strategic partnerships) - Essay Example In business, development can be characterized as the abuse of new thoughts that discover acknowledgment in the market. These thoughts, regularly, are fused into new procedures, innovation, best practices and plans (Sarkar 2007, p.2). A portion of these thoughts may wind up making a total update an organization’s activity and scope of items. A large portion of the improved items depend on the thoughts of others or a change of existing items. In rundown, development process includes; getting another thought or changing an old one, redesign of existing chances or those that can be advanced, decision of best other options and utilization of the procedure and the thought (Sarkar 2007, p.2). Advancement might be because of the need to address the issues of buyers or improve the method of getting things done. Organizations that neglect to grasp advancement have regularly ended up abandoned by their rivals, prompting the loss of their market specialty. The attention on the speculations of advancement fluctuates on the grounds that there are various perspectives on the procedure of development and the variables that lead to the improvement of advancement. The speculations may concentrate on; (a) mechanical turn of events, R&D and specialized research works in an organization, (b) the person who makes and builds up the new components, and (c) issues of advancement in the commercial center (Sundo 1998, p.4). It includes the trading of innovation between at least two organizations. Vital partnerships are portrayed by hazard sharing and common duty in regard to the accomplishment of determined monetary and innovative objectives and targets. These partnerships will in general emerge from the readiness and want of one firm to help the other in by and large improvement of the firm business or potentially misuse of certain mechanical resources portfolio. A model is the point at which the organizations in the coalition need to (a) structure a joint endeavor in research and dispersion, or (b) enter a joint improvement understanding, or (c) enter

Minimum wages and unemployment level Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Least wages and joblessness level - Essay Example in the measure of the lowest pay permitted by law achieves decrease in the work levels clearly observed with business flexibility running from - 0.1 to - 0.2 among the adolescents and from - 0.15 to - 0.2 for the young people (Charles, 2002, p 89). Managers in a firm are limited with the lowest pay permitted by law which is intended to keep the businesses from paying their representatives rate beneath the lowest pay permitted by law. This law is broadly utilized in the current day nations. In UK and the USA, this law was just relevant to the ladies and the youngsters. The all-inclusive utilization of the law was impacted by the time of the incredible melancholy. On the off chance that the target of the lowest pay permitted by law was to guarantee that utilized accomplished a commendable way of life, at that point a few arrangements must be made for the individuals who are saved (Flinn, 2010, p58-62). During the inconvenience of the lowest pay permitted by law by the dependable bodies, firms inside that ward would not be allowed to pay not as much as what the mindful body commands, for any assistance that they have gotten. For example, this is the point at which the administering body passes enactment that is intended to raise the compensation bill from its underlying of $6.72 every hour to $8.0 every hour. In accordance with the above least wages, at $8.0, gracefully of the work administration was 70,000 hours, yet just 50,000 hours was what was popular by the organizations. Inside a market with deliberate exchange, the choices of firms to recruit its representatives can't be impacted with an outer body, reason being the amount of work required is ordinarily settled through the longing of the firm to purchase yet not the craving of the laborers to sell (Joshua, 1999, p 123). Through the above conversation there is a suspicion that, expanding the measure of the lowest pay permitted by law in a nation, the quantity of utilized individual would increment. Likewise, there is a rising chance that everybody would have the option to find a new line of work. Nonetheless, the quantity of hours that they at first worked would be decreased. Placing this case into thought, there would be ascend in

Reading For Every Type of Self-Care

Reading For Every Type of Self-Care Let’s get something out of the way before I start:   I think the concept of “self-care” has been hopelessly diluted from its original meaning. What was once a term used to describe the necessity of activists taking the time to recharge and refocus before returning to the fray has become a way for lifestyle blogs to sell $65 candles. I think for those of us that suffer from mental illness, or do a lot of political thinking and organizing, on top of full-time jobs or kids or other responsibilities, self-care can be an incredibly important tool and can even feel revolutionary. I advocate for it. Actually, I advocate for taking care of oneself all the timeâ€"I just don’t believe it’s always a feminist act. With that disclaimer, I want to further position this article by saying that it has been an unbelievably horrible couple of weeks. I don’t need to rehash current events here. And it would be downright ridiculous to equate my own stressâ€"from my Manhattan apartment, scrolling through Twitterâ€"with the suffering of those more directly affected by what is happening in our country. I think there is a balance to be struck between Tina Fey’s cringeworthy edict to hole up and eat sheet cake and wearing yourself thin trying to address every single repulsive event immediately. I think most of us at Book Riot would consider reading a kind of ultimate self-care, because it has the power to both educate and comfort, to be a quiet pastime with the power to amplify any number of voices. I think when we feel lost, or stagnant, sometimes the action that feels the most manageable is to pick up a book. In that spirit, I’ve put together some books ranging from “generally soothing” to “re-invigorating” that I’ll most likely be turning to in the coming weeks. If you’re seeking, to borrow another book’s phrase, some chicken soup for the soul, I would highly recommend Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things , a compilation of her Dear Sugar advice columns. I’m the kind of person who has always enjoyed reading advice columns, even when (especially when?) the query has nothing to do with my own personal problems. It makes me feel a little better about the world to know that people are so willing to make themselves vulnerable to strangers. Strayed’s advice is always lovingly and thoughtfully given, without shying away from the complexity of the questions she’s asked. (I also recommend the Dear Sugar podcast, which has the ambience of a late-night radio show playing Josh Groban songs. It helps me sleep.) For a more personal narrative, Zadie Smith’s book of essays Changing My Mind is the best (shocker: Hannah recommends a Zadie Smith book!). Her thoughts on other books, movies, and her own life feel like you’re having a deep conversation with your smartest friend over coffee. Her essay about Katharine Hepburn single-handedly birthed my obsession with Hepburn, whose movies are among my favorites of all time. This book might gently nudge you towards looking more critically at the media you consume, but for me, it always prompts me to meditate on the good things. Moving along. I’ve been trying to read more authors of color, especially women, and now is a good time for it: there are brilliant new novels by WoC popping up everywhere. Earlier this month, I devoured The Mothers by Brit Bennett in about two days, which was funny and touching, managing somehow to be both atmospheric and matter-of-fact. I’m also currently in the middle of Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo, which tells the story of a Nigerian woman whose husband takes a second wife after she fails to conceive. Stay With Me reads like the best, most enduring epic, and all day I think about when I’ll be able to get home and keep reading. I’m including both of these books because I think that when turning to books for self-care, an easy way to give that action a little bit more of an impact is to support the work of authors of color and stories about people of color. It helps to decenter the notion that these books are somehow special-interest. Finally, if you are ready to read something that will rile you up, an excellent choice would be James Baldwin’s I Am Not Your Negro. This book is challenging, devastating, and overall a brilliant collection of Baldwins writings. There’s also Angela Davis’s classic text Women, Race, and Class, which tends to hold up despite its slight dated-ness. And for good measure, I’d also add in Susan Sontag’s exhaustive discussion of empathy in Regarding the Pain of Others, which is specifically about art and photography but I think remains unbelievably relevant in the age of social media. And, when it comes out, I have no doubt Ta-Nehisi Coates’ We Were Eight Years in Power could serve as the crown jewel of this section. Reading doesn’t have to be passive, and, in my opinion, in hard times it can only help.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act - 1309 Words

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is a federal law that was set up to protect the free exercise of religion, as an undeniable right, protected by the First Amendment. Easy enough, right –however, it seems can be interpreted in different ways, some depending on what your beliefs are i.e., religious or secular. Such as in the legal case of Burwell (U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services) vs. Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby argued that they should not have to pay for contraceptives for their employees as part of their healthcare because contraceptives such as the emergency contraception went against their religious beliefs because is an abortifacient. I went into this with an open mind as I really didn’t follow the case at the time and really didn’t know too much about it. I also did really know too much about what RFRA was from a legal point of view. To help me fully understand I found the syllabus from this case in which part of the first paragraph says: â€Å"The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) prohibits the â€Å"Government [from] substantially burden [ing] a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability† unless the Government â€Å"demonstrates that application of the burden to the person-(1) is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.†Ã¢â‚¬  (Supreme Court Of The United States, 2013). The second paragraph reads:Show MoreRelatedThe Religious Freedom Restoration Act962 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States. One such polic y that concerns many is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In light of the political climate in today’s society the act requires a review to determine if the law is fair to all cultures and their religious belief. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed in 1993, allows for any business to be entitled to an exemption from applicable laws as long as it can be proven to be due to one’s religious belief. (Rivkin, David Whelan, 2012). In simpler terms, itRead MoreLocal Religious Freedom Restoration Act905 Words   |  4 PagesLocal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) are controversial in nature, because while they pretend to use the excuse to protect the free exercise of religion, intrinsically it is an avenue to attack same sex marriages which have been ruled constitutional by most circuit appellate courts in the United States. Currently the Supreme Court is hearing the cases that might ultimately decide the faith of marriage equality. United States v. Windsor opened the door for most federal appellate jurisdictionsRead MoreThe Controversy Over Religious Freedom1264 Words   |  6 PagesControversies Over Religious Freedom Religious freedom has been a staple of the American doctrine since the Bill of Rights. Since then, religious freedom has been challenged non-stop. From the Supreme Court’s rulings that have shaped what religious freedoms mean, which include the enactment of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and the legalization of same-sex marriage; to obstacles that Muslims face. Religious freedom has been and continuous to be a center point in American politicsRead MoreReligious Freedom : More Than Just America s Hobby Anymore1666 Words   |  7 PagesReligious Freedom: More Than Just America’s Hobby Anymore Religious freedom in the United States originated in the reason that many pilgrims arrived on North America’s shores. They were leaving so that they could practice their version of their religion unhindered by a government entity. This was later reaffirmed by the Constitution of the United States with the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause. The laws of the land continued to be relooked at by the Supreme Court and religious freedom wasRead MoreContraception Within The Affordable Care Act2406 Words   |  10 PagesContraception within the Affordable Care Act Sarah Tharpe University of New England SSW 505 October 16, 2014 Abstract The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its mandate regarding contraception has been the center of contention since the United States Supreme Court decided to go forward with the case in 2013. The initial mandate in question instructed establishments to include and or make available all forms of contraception. Additionally, the employee’s individual health care plan was to provideRead MoreThe Freedom Restoration Act Should Not Be Treated Like People, Let Alone Granted1499 Words   |  6 PagesWhether big or small, corporations should not be treated like people, let alone granted religious freedom. The Supreme Court continued the horrible trend of pro-corporation rights. Whether one stands with Hobby Lobby, Inc. and considers this case a success of religious freedom or an intrusion, I see it as the court favored corporation’s rights over personal rights. Female workers should be given the availability to use contraceptives. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Burw ell v. HobbyRead MoreBirth Control and the Government Essay1092 Words   |  5 Pagesbirth control and the government. A dangerous couple, it raises the question of who should have control over contraceptive laws and what controls involving them should be put in place? Currently, under the Obama Administration, the Affordable Care Act and â€Å"Obamacare† have been created. One of the sections of this new plan creates a mandate which requires private businesses to provide insurance that covers birth control costs. The government should not be able to force businesses, and therefore theRead MoreControversial Issues Like Same Sex Marriage1481 Words   |  6 Pagesanti-gay license to discriminate, it permits anyone to deny â€Å"any services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges, nor counseling, adoption, foster care, and other social services to anyone else, based on their sincerely held religious beliefs (Bardash). The second bill bars same-sex couple s from taking part in contract marriage. Subsequently, it expels the fundamental right to have equal protections guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to any LGBT person as well as women andRead MoreHobby Lobby : An Overview1027 Words   |  5 PagesIsland by August 2017(Bloomberg). The company seems to continue to grow even in the down turn of the economy. Many people may say that this is a coincidence, but they believe that they are prosperous because of their faith in God. With the company’s religious beliefs, they are not open on Sundays. They believe that their employees need to spend Sundays with their family and not working. Only being open for sixty-six hours a week, the company is still very prosperous (becketfund.org). With the introductionRead MoreHeavens Gate and the Infingement of Religious Freedom2800 Words   |  12 PagesInfringement of Religious Freedoms Introduction How much religious freedom do we want? The United States Constitution guarantees religious freedom to all citizens. However, since the establishment of this freedom, there have been continuous debates and modifications. Despite this independence, there have been times when the government felt it necessary to infringe upon religious freedom for various reasons. The question is, at which point it is okay for the government to become involved in religious affairs

The Role Of Strategic Human Resource Management Essay

Whole Food, Whole People, Whole Planet: How does Whole Food’s HR practices enhance their ability to attract and retain employees and set the precedent for the supermarket industry? Whole Foods Market has a reputable history as a desired place to work. It has been placed in prestigious lists such as Fortune’s â€Å"100 Best Companies to Work For†, Ethisphere â€Å"World’s Most Ethical Companies† and the â€Å"Top 150 National Workplaces† (Whole Food Market, 2015) Which web page?. Such accomplishments endorse Whole Foods as a key player in the supermarket industry and an excellent model for competitors. Furthermore, as businesses continue to evolve so do their primary functions. Like Whole Foods, many companies today are expanding the use of strategic human resource management. In fact, now more than ever, executives are working closely and strategically with their human resources divisions in developing creative ways to implement proper polici es, practices, and systems that can successfully influence employees’ attitude and performance† (Noe, Hollenback, Gerhart, Wright, 2015, p. 5). Consequently, Whole Foods considers various aspects of its strategic and distinctive HR practices. In its benefits package, the company offers different levels of compensation, wage transparency, employee incentives, and opportunities for retention and growth. When recruiting and selecting candidates, it utilizes talent management systems, allocates store-specific employment personnel, and implementsShow MoreRelatedStrategic Role Of Human Resource Management1550 Words   |  7 Pagesincreasing competitive environment organisation needs to focus on the value of investing human resources as a major competitive advantage. It is important to set a HRM to meet those advantages to meet company’s objectives with the flexible environment. Schuler (1992) defines strategic human resource management as â€Å"the integration and adaption to ensure (1) human resource management is fully with the strategy and the strategic needs of the firm (2) HR polices cohere both across policy areas and across hierarchies;Read MoreStrategic Role Of Human Resource Management Essay1813 Words   |  8 PagesThe human resource management refers to the activities that an organization uses, to implement a labor force in an effective manner; these activities are: the determination of the human resources strategy of the company, recruitment, performance evaluation, the administrative development, and remuneration and labor relations. The strategic role of human resource management in itself is complex in a national company, but it is even more in an international company, where recruitment activities, administrativeRead MoreRole Of Strategic Human Resource Management1916 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction As human resource (HR) management started to replace personnel management to become one of the important inter-functions of the organization, some people may question what make this subcategory of management has important impact on the operation of organisation. Then started to research the strategic value of human resources. Hendry and Pettgrew (1986, cited in Storey, 2007) define that strategic human resource management (SHRM) is a usage of planning consistent HR practices or policiesRead MoreThe Role Of Bureaucracy And Strategic Human Resource Management2591 Words   |  11 Pagesbureaucracy and strategic human resource management. In addition, the research paper discusses the various aspects of strategic human resource management and the application of bearacracy in the contemporary personnel management. In the paper, the author examines the effect of various human resource management approaches on the adoption of business and policy decisions in an organization. The goal of th e research is to present a framework that can be utilized by organizational management in the makingRead MoreThe Role of Strategic Groups in Understanding Strategic Human Resource Management15467 Words   |  62 Pagesjournal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0048-3486.htm The role of strategic groups in understanding strategic human resource management Judie M. Gannon Oxford School of Hospitality Management, Faculty of Business, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK The role of strategic groups 513 Liz Doherty Business School, Shefï ¬ eld Hallam University, Shefï ¬ eld, UK, and Angela Roper School of Hospitality Tourism Management, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK Abstract Purpose – This articleRead MoreA STUDY ON STRATEGIC ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Essay1679 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿PREFACE Strategic management is the management of change involving the system of corporate values, the corporate culture, and all managerial process of change, such as leadership, planning, control, and human resources management. The strategic management process represents a logical, systematic, and objective approach for determining an enterprises future direction. Researchers usually distinguish three stages in the process of strategic management: strategy formulation, strategy implementationRead MoreThe Role of Human Resource Information Systems (Hris) in Strategic Human Resource Management (Shrm)19886 Words   |  80 PagesThe Role of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) in Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Asafo-Adjei Agyenim Boateng Master of Science Theses in Accounting Swedish School Of Economics and Business Administration 2007 HANKEN-Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration Department: Accounting Type of Work: Master of Science Thesis Author: Asafo-Adjei Agyenim Boateng Date: 4th August, 2007 Title of Thesis THE ROLE OF HRIS IN STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Abstract: InformationRead MoreThe Strategic Role of Human Resources Management in Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility in Business Organisations in Zimbabwe1764 Words   |  8 PagesTHE STRATEGIC ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN PROMOTING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS IN ZIMBABWE 1. InTRODUCTION This study will critically analyse how industry in Zimbabwe is exploiting the strategic role of Human Resources Management in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in order to give their business organizations competitive advantage. This introduction presents a context of the research proposal and helps to clarify how fulfilment ofRead MoreRewarding Employees Through Compensation and the Role Job Analysis and Hr Planning Has on the Organisations Performance with Strategic Human Resource Management and Remedies6185 Words   |  25 PagesREWARDING EMPLOYEES THROUGH COMPENSATION AND THE ROLE JOB ANALYSIS AND HR PLANNING HAS ON THE ORGANISATIONS PERFORMANCE WITH STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIES CONTENTS PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION 4 2. ASSIGNMENT ONE

Text Analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh Free Essays

Jill Seymour HST 197 Dr. Smith September 17, 2012 Text Analysis of The Epic of Gilgamesh The question I thought about while reading this text was what the role is for women, and how their actions and descriptions reveal Mesopotamian attitudes concerning gender. The female gender was not highly looked upon during these times. We will write a custom essay sample on Text Analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh or any similar topic only for you Order Now The only time you see a respected female figure is when the mother of a son is being talked about. Any other time females are being talked about, they are portrayed with vulgar characteristics and seen as simply being there to serve the man. I will go through both ways the women are being portrayed, and relate them back to how they reveal Mesopotamian culture. The main woman character in this story is Ishtar. Ishtar is the goddess of love, fertility, and war; the Queen of Heaven. Normally when you think of the word goddess, a majestic and noble type of being comes to mind. Ishtar is portrayed as the complete opposite in The Epic of Gilgamesh. The first time she comes into play she uses the characteristics of a prostitute to lure in the man that she wants, which at the time is Enkidu. Ishtar is told â€Å"make your breasts bare, have no shame. Let him see you naked, let him possess your body† (Sandars, 3). It then goes on to say that â€Å"she was not ashamed to take him, she made herself naked and welcomed his eagerness† (Sandars, 4). Before she is told to lay with Enkidu, the story explains that this is not the first man she has done this to. Ishtar is being used for this, because she is known to have her way with the men and they don’t know how to tell her no because of her beauty. The way Ishtar is seen relates back to Mesopotamian culture in showing that women were not very important in society. They were mainly there to serve the man and to reproduce. They were looked at in two ways; the daughter of her father, or the wife of her husband. At an early age girls were trained to do the roles of a good wife and mother. It was not frowned upon in their culture for women to be at the mercy of the men. Women were able to own property and have jobs outside of the home, but that decreased when more distinct social classes arose in the second millennium. â€Å"Husbands gained authority in the household and benefited from the marriage and divorce laws† (Bulliet, 18). Even the law was against women and helped out the male gender in almost every situation. The next time she comes into play, we are seeing similar characteristics of her trying to lure in the man she wants when she is trying to get Gilgamesh to marry her. â€Å"Come to me Gilgamesh,† she says, â€Å"make me your bridegroom; grant me seed of your body† (Sandars, 25). She tells him she will give him anything he can possibly imagine if he would only marry her. When Gilgamesh refuses the offer we see a different side of Ishtar. She starts being portrayed as evil and self-centered. Ishtar goes to her father in tears saying to kill Gilgamesh for refusing her proposal or she will let all of hell break free, literally. Even marriage in the Mesopotamian culture benefitted the man more than the woman. â€Å"A man normally took just one wife, but he could obtain a second if the first gave him no children† (Bulliet, 18). The woman was to be a servant, of sorts, to the husband, and was expected to give him children. Later they became a way to keep wealth in the family by arranged marriages. Kings and rich men had several wives. Marriage alliances arranged between families made women instruments for preserving and enhancing family wealth† (Bulliet, 18). Even here they are referred to as â€Å"instruments†, and not given the respect of a human being. If the woman didn’t bare children, she was easily replaceable. If the woman came from a wealthy family, or her family wanted to become wealthy, they would arrange a marriage for her to gain or keep wealth in the family. On the other hand, women weren’t always looked at in this manner. Gilgamesh respected his mother very much so, and would go to her for advice. His mother, Ninsun, is said to be a minor goddess, but she is noted in a couple different places for her wisdom. â€Å"Now Gilgamesh got up to tell his dream to his mother, Ninsun, one of the wise gods† (Sandars, 5). In Mesopotamian culture, even the women gods were respected by the people. They thought them all to be wise and would seek their guidance in certain situations. Their religious beliefs brought this respect, and in some ways fear, to honor the gods so they would be gracious in return. Religious beliefs instilled fear of the gods, who could alter the landscape, and desire to appease them† (Belliet, 19). The Mesopotamians believed that the gods were human like in form, but that if they were to be unhappy by something the people did, they could alter anything in their lives, and in some cases even kill them. Overall, women were not looked at then the same ways they are looked at today. The cultural norm for women was to serve the men with their bodies and in their actions. If they did not give the man the children he wanted, she could be replaced. At an early age they were being trained to have the skills of a good wife and mother. It was not frowned upon for a man to have more than one wife. This did not happen often until around the second mullinium, but was quite oftenly seen with the kings and rich men. The another way the women were used in this society was to keep or gain wealth for her family. The families would arrange the marriages for her daughter, and she would have to make sure to keep her husband happy so she was not replaced. The gods and goddesses were feared and respected on the other hand. They were able to manipulate what would happen in the people’s lives, so they made sure to keep them happy; even the women were kept happy in this sense. Mesopotamian culture wasn’t too far off from how some things are looked at in today’s society, but women were not very important in their society. They were only there for few reasons, and if they didn’t meet those expectations they were replaceable. Today we would say that is unjust and against our rights, but that is a privilege we now have in our country that those women were not able to achieve. Aren’t we glad to live in today’s society where men and women have equal rights? How to cite Text Analysis of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Essay examples

Who Built The Great Pyramid Giza Essays - Giza Plateau,

Who Built the Great Pyramid Giza Who Built the Great Pyramid Giza It's the oldest and the only surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza. It doesn't need any speculations in reference to the appearance, size, or shape. It is located in the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today it is part of Cairo, Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Giza is believed to have been built over a 20 year period. First, the site was prepared, then large blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing was used to smooth the surface. This outer casing disappeared over the years. It is still not known how the blocks were placed, but there are many theories. One theory is that the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as construction proceeded. The ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of blocks. The blocks were pushed or pulled into place. Another theory says that blocks may have been placed using long levers with a short angled foot. All through history, the pyramids of Giza have motivated the human imagination. Pyramids were referred to as "The Granaries of Joseph" and "The Mountains of Pharaoh." Today, the Great Pyramid is enclosed, along with other pyramids and the Sphinx, in this region of the Giza Plateau. When the Great Pyramid was built it was 481 ft (145.75 m) high, over the years it has lost about 30 ft (10 m) off the top. It was the tallest structure on Earth for over 43 centuries, it was surpassed in the 19th Century A.D. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth the surface. Some of the casing can still be seen near the top of Khefre's pyramid. The sloping angle of the sides is 54 degrees, 54 minutes, 0 seconds. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal points on the compass (N, E, S, W). The horizontal cross section is square at any level, each side is 751 ft (229 m) in length. The maximum error between side lengths is amazingly less than 0.1%. This structure consists of about 2 million blocks of stone, each one of the stones weighs more than two tons. It's been said that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 10 ft (3 m) high, 1 ft (0.3 m) thick wall around France. The area capped by the Great Pyramid could hold St. Peter's in Rome, the cathedrals of Florence, Milan, Westminster and St. Paul's in London combined. The entrance to the pyramid is on the north face. There are a lot of corridors, galleries, and escape shafts that either lead to the King's burial chamber, or were meant to serve other purposes. At the heart of the pyramid is where the King's chamber is located. Every single one of the interior stones fit so well, a card won't even fit between them. The sarcophagus is also oriented to the compass directions, and is only 1 cm smaller in dimensions than the chamber entrance. It may have been introduced as the structure progressed. There are new theories concerning the origin and purpose of the Pyramids of Giza. The many different theories have to do with astronomic observatories, places of cult worship, geometric structures constructed by a long gone civilization, and extraterrestrial related theories. There is little evidence that supports the extraterrestrial theories. According to most people the pyramids were built by great armies of slaves, by ancient pharaohs of Egypt to preserve their bodies. They were meant to be monuments to the pharaoh's greatness, filled with treasures for the afterlife. In order to construct such a massive structure, the pharaohs copied the Great Pyramid. The Great Pyramid doesn't contain a pharaohs body, treasure chamber, and no treasures itself. So who built this wonderful structure? The Great Pyramid is thirty times larger than the Empire State Building, the features are so large they can be seen from the moon. The base covers 13.6 acres, which is equal to seven midtown Manhattan city blocks. Each side of the pyramid is greater than five acres in area. A highway lane that is eight feet wide and four inches thick could be built from San Francisco to New York and put inside the Great Pyramid. Only a solid stone mountain could hold the Pyramid's massive weight, and there just happens to be a flat solid granite mountain just beneath the surface of the ground directly under the pyramid. The pyramid is located at the exact center of the Earth's land mass. That means