Ancient Greek Musical Instruments

Lyra: originally called Chelys, because of the tortoise shell used as its sound box. According to Nicomachus of Gerasa (Ist cent. AD), the tortoise-shell Lyra was invented by god Hermes, who gave it to Orpheus. â€Å"Orpheus taught Thamyris and Linos, and Linos taught Hercules. When Orpheus was killed by the Thracian women, his lyra was thrown into the sea, and washed ashore at Antissa, a city of Lesbos, where it was found by fishermen, who brought it to Terpander, who in turn carried it to Egypt and presented it to the Egyptian priests as his own creation. We don't know how many strings the original Lyras had. By the time of Terpander (8th-7th cent. BC) Lyra was a seven stringed instrument and from many ancient sources we know that this type remained in use for a long time during the classical period. The addition of an eighth string in the 6th century BC is credited by Nicomachus of Gerasa to Pythagoras. By the fifth century there were Lyras with anything from 9 to 12 strings. The strings (neura) were made of animal gut of sinew, but there are also references of strings made of linen or hemp.Lyra was mainly used for the musical education of the young, and by amateur players in general. Cithara plucked instrument with 5 strings originally, but later with as many as 12 strings. Cithara was bigger than the Lyra and it was the principal concert instrument played by professional musicians, the citharodes. According to Plutarch, cithara was designed by Cepion, a student of Terpander. Many instrument names like guitar, cittern, zither etc. derive from the word cithara. Barbitos or Barbiton is an instrument of the Lyra family and resembles a Lyra, but it has longer arms and narrower sound box.Musicians of the School of Lesbos, like Alcaeus and Sappho, are frequently depicted in vases playing the Barbitos. Phorminx probably the oldest of the Cithara type instruments. From references in ancient sources (Homer, Hesiod, Aristophanes) we know that Phorminx was richly dec orated with gold and ivory, and accompanied the singing of the epic singers called rhapsodes. Epigonion belongs to the psaltery family and it is the instrument with the largest number of strings, sometimes as many as forty (Polydeuces).It may owe its name to the fact that it was played ‘on the knee' – Greek ‘epi gonu', or maybe because its inventor was someone named Epigonus. Pandouris or pandourion, also called trichord because it had three strings, is the first fretted instrument known, forerunner of the various families of lutes worldwide. Source of our knowledge about this instrument is the Mantineia marble (4th cent BC, now exhibited at Athens Archaeological Museum) depicting the mythical contest between Apollo and Marsyas, where Pandouris is being played by a muse seated on a rock.

Industry Analysis: Soft Drinks Essay

Barbara Murray (2006c) explained the soft drink industry by stating, â€Å"For years the story in the nonalcoholic sector centered on the power struggle between†¦Coke and Pepsi. But as the pop fight has topped out, the industry’s giants have begun relying on new product flavors†¦and looking to noncarbonated beverages for growth. † In order to fully understand the soft drink industry, the following should be considered: the dominant economic factors, five competitive sources, industry trends, and the industry’s key factors. Based on the analyses of the industry, specific recommendations for competitors can then be created. Dominant Economic Factors Market size, growth rate and overall profitability are three economic indicators that can be used to evaluate the soft drink industry. The market size of this industry has been changing. Soft drink consumption has a market share of 46. 8% within the non-alcoholic drink industry, illustrated in Table 1. Datamonitor (2005) also found that the total market value of soft drinks reached $307. 2 billion in 2004 with a market value forecast of $367. 1 billion in 2009. Further, the 2004 soft drink volume was 325,367. 2 million liters (see Table 2). Clearly, the soft drink industry is lucrative with a potential for high profits, but there are several obstacles to overcome in order to capture the market share. The growth rate has been recently criticized due to the U. S. market saturation of soft drinks. Datamonitor (2005) stated, â€Å"Looking ahead, despite solid growth in consumption, the global soft drinks market is expected to slightly decelerate, reflecting stagnation of market prices. † The change is attributed to the other growing sectors of the non-alcoholic industry including tea and coffee (11. 8%) and bottled water (9. 3%). Sports drinks and energy drinks are also expected to increase in growth as competitors start adopting new product lines. 2 Profitability in the soft drink industry will remain rather solid, but market saturation especially in the U. S. has caused analysts to suspect a slight deceleration of growth in the industry (2005). Because of this, soft drink leaders are establishing themselves in alternative markets such as the snack, confections, bottled water, and sports drinks industries (Barbara Murray, 2006c). In order for soft drink companies to continue to grow and increase profits they will need to diversify their product offerings. The geographic scope of the competitive rivalry explains some of the economic features found in the soft drink industry. According to Barbara Murray (2006c), â€Å"The sector is dominated by three major players†¦Coca-Cola is king of the soft drink-empire and boasts a global market share of around 50%, followed by PepsiCo at about 21%, and Cadbury Schweppes at 7%. † Aside from these major players, smaller companies such as Cott Corporation and National Beverage Company make up the remaining market share. All five of these companies make a portion of their profits outside of the United States. Table 3 shows that the US does not hold the highest percentage of the global market share, therefore companies need to be able to compete globally in order to be successful. Table 4 indicates that Coca-Cola has a similar distribution of sales in Europe, North America, and Asia. On the other hand, the majority of PepsiCo’s profits come from the United States (see Table 5). Compared to PepsiCo, Cadbury Schweppes has a stronger global presence with their global mix (see Table 7). Smaller companies are also trying to establish a global presence. Cott Corporation is a good example as indicated in Table 8. The saturation of the US markets has increased the global expansion by soft drink leaders to increase their profits. The ease of entry and exit does not cause competitive pressure on the major soft drink companies. It would be very difficult for a new company to enter this industry because they 3 would not be able to compete with the established brand names, distribution channels, and high capital investment. Likewise, leaving this industry would be difficult with the significant loss of money from the fixed costs, binding contracts with distribution channels, and advertisements used to create the strong brand images. This industry is well established already, and it would be difficult for any company to enter or exit successfully. Three leading companies have prominent presence in the soft drink industry. The leaders include the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Cadbury Schweppes. According to the Coca- Cola annual report (2004), it has the most soft drink sales with $22 billion. The Coca-Cola product line has several popular soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Barq’s, and Sprite, selling over 400 drink brands in about 200 nations (Murray 2006a). PepsiCo is the next top competitor with soft drink sales grossing $18 billion for the two beverage subsidiaries, PepsiCo Beverages North America and PepsiCo International (PepsiCo Inc. , 2004). PepsiCo’s soft drink product line includes Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Slice which make up more than one- quarter of its sales. Cadbury Schweppes had soft drink sales of $6 billion with a product line consisting of soft drinks such as A&W Root Beer, Canada Dry, and Dr. Pepper (Cadbury Schweppes, 2004). Financial Analysis The carbonated beverage industry is a highly competitive global industry as illustrated in the financial statements. According to John Sicher of Beverage Digest (2005), Coca-Cola was the number one brand with around 4. 5 billion cases sold in 2004. Pepsi followed with 3. 2 billion cases, and Cadbury had 1. 5 billion cases sold. However, the market share shows a different picture. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo control the market share with Coca-Cola holding 43. 1% and Pepsi with 31. 7% (see Graph 1); however these market shares for both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo 4 have slightly decreased from 2003 to 2004. Coca-Cola’s volume has also decreased 1. 0% since 2003, whereas PepsiCo’s volume has increased 0. 4% (see Graph 1). Diet Coke posted a 5% growth, but Coca-Cola’s other top 10 brands declined (Sicher, 2005). Overall, Coca-Cola’s market position has declined in 2004. The strategic group map (see Graph 1) also shows the growth of Cott Corp. of 18% which is significantly higher than that of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. The American Beverage Association (2006) states that in 2004, the retail sales for the entire soft-drink industry were $65. 9 billion. Barbara Murray (2006e) analyzed the industry averages for 2004 and average net profit margin was 11. 29%. The current ratio average was 1. 11 and the quick ratio average was 0. 8. These figures help analyze the financial statements of the major corporations in the industry. As shown in Table 13, Coca-Cola has seen their net profit margin increase from 20. 7% to 22. 1% from 2003 to 2004. According to Coca-Cola’s annual report (2004), 80% of their sales are from soft drinks; therefore the total sales amount was used for their financial analysis. These figures show that their profits are increasing, but at a slow rate. This is in line with what is happening in the soft drink industry. The market is highly competitive and growth has remained at a stable level. The slight increase in Coca-Cola’s profit margin is most likely from their new energy drink product line. This industry is currently expanding rapidly, and is allowing the major beverage companies to increase their profits. Table 13 also shows Coca-Cola’s working capital was around $1. 1 billion in 2004. This is a large increase from 2003 at only $500 million. This shows that they have sufficient funds to pursue new opportunities. However, their current ratio and quick ratio are a cause for concern. A current ratio of 2 or better is considered good and Coca-Cola’s was 1. 102. This number shows that they may not have enough funds to cover short term claims. The quick ratio for 2004 was at 5 0. 906 and is considered good when it is greater than 1. This illustrates that Coca-Cola may not have the ability to pay short term debt without selling inventory. These two numbers are a concern because they are not able to satisfy their short term obligations. The current and quick ratios are in line with the industry averages, however (Murray, 2006e), Coca-Cola needs to improve these ratios in order focus on long-term plans (Coca-Cola Company, 2004). PepsiCo’s financial statements cannot be analyzed for only the soft drinks industry because they do not distinguish between businesses. Over half their profits are from snacks or other beverage items; however there are sales and profit figures for their two beverage subsidiaries. These sales figures grew from almost $16. 5 billion in 2003 to $18 billion in 2004 (Pepsi Co. Inc. , 2004). Their operating profit margin also increased 1% from 2003 to 2004 as illustrated in Table 13. This shows that beverage profits are increasing for them, but also at a slow rate. The increase could be due to the increase in market share that the Pepsi products gained in 2004 (Sicher 2004). The PepsiCo. Annual Report (2004) stated that beverage volume increased 3% in 2004, but was driven by the high growth of the non-carbonated beverage industry. Cadbury’s current and quick ratios are very similar to those of Coca-Cola. The current ratio and quick ratio for Cadbury Schweppes for 2004 were both 0. 917 (see Table 13). Again, the current ratio should be 2 or more, and the quick ratio should be over 1. This illustrates that Cadbury also has difficulty paying short term debt and claims. Cadbury’s net profit margin has increased by 0. 7% from 2003 to 2004. This can be attributed to their market share growth in 2004 of 0. 2% (Sicher, 2005). One ratio that is concerning is their debt to equity ratio for 2004 in Table 13. They have almost two times as much debt as they do to equity, which means that their funds are mainly provided by creditors as opposed to owners. This is concerning because they 6 owe a lot of money, and must make a decent profit to be able to pay it off. The industry average for debt to equity is 81%, and Cadbury is far from that number (2006e). Also, Cadbury has a negative working capital for both 2003 and 2004, meaning they have more liabilities than assets. This shows that they do not have any funds to pursue new opportunities, as their current assets are being used to pay off liabilities (Cadbury, 2004). Overall, the financial statements of the three top competitors in the soft drink industry show that the industry is highly competitive and has little growth. Net profit margins increased for all three corporations, however only at a small rate. It also seems that all three companies lack sufficient current and quick ratios, but are all within a reasonable range of the industry average (2006e). This may be due to expanding their product lines to include energy drinks and non-carbonated beverages in order to increase profits and diversify their business. The soft drinks market is now in the matured stage of the life cycle. Growth in the industry has remained stagnant, and the financial statements of the major corporations in the industry illustrate that their sales and income are following this trend. The companies are in good financial positions; gross profits and net profit margins are continuing to increase each year. The leverage and activity ratios are all within reasonable range. However, one area all three corporations need to improve on is the liquidity ratios. Their quick and current ratios are low and need to be increased so they are able to meet short-term obligations. Five Competitive Forces for Coca-Cola Company The soft drink industry is very competitive for all corporations involved, with the greatest competition being that from rival sellers within the industry. All soft drink companies have to 7 think about the pressures; that from rival sellers within the industry, new entrants to the industry, substitute products, suppliers, and buyers. The competitive pressure from rival sellers is the greatest competition that Coca-Cola faces in the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola, Pepsi Co. , and Cadbury Schweppes are the largest competitors in this industry, and they are all globally established which creates a great amount of competition. Though Coca-Cola owns four of the top five soft drink brands (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite), it had lower sales in 2005 than did PepsiCo (Murray, 2006c). However, Coca-Cola has higher sales in the global market than PepsiCo. In 2004, PepsiCo dominated North America with sales of $22 billion, whereas Coca-Cola only had about $6. 6 billion, with more of their sales coming from overseas, as shown in Table 4 and Table 5. PepsiCo is the main competitor for Coca-Cola and these two brands have been in a power struggle for years (Murray, 2006c). Brand name loyalty is another competitive pressure. The Brand Keys’ Customer Loyalty Leaders Survey (2004) shows the brands with the greatest customer loyalty in all industries. Diet Pepsi ranked 17th and Diet Coke ranked 36th as having the most loyal customers to their brands. Refer to List 15 for the brand loyalty rankings of the various competitors. The new competition between rival sellers is to create new varieties of soft drinks, such as vanilla and cherry, in order to keep increasing sales and enticing new customers (Murray, 2006c). New entrants are not a strong competitive pressure for the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola and Pepsi Co dominate the industry with their strong brand name and great distribution channels. In addition, the soft-drink industry is fully saturated and growth is small. This makes it very difficult for new, unknown entrants to start competing against the existing firms. Another barrier to entry is the high fixed costs for warehouses, trucks, and labor, and economies of scale. New 8 entrants cannot compete in price without economies of scale. These high capital requirements and market saturation make it extremely difficult for companies to enter the soft drink industry; therefore new entrants are not a strong competitive force (Murray, 2006c). Substitute products are those competitors that are not in the soft drink industry. Such substitutes for Coca-Cola products are bottled water, sports drinks, coffee, and tea. Bottled water and sports drinks are increasingly popular with the trend to be a more health conscious consumer. There are progressively more varieties in the water and sports drinks that appeal to different consumers’ tastes, but also appear healthier than soft drinks. In addition, coffee and tea are competitive substitutes because they provide caffeine. The consumers who purchase a lot of soft drinks may substitute coffee if they want to keep the caffeine and lose the sugar and carbonation. Specialty blend coffees are also becoming more popular with the increasing number of Starbucks stores that offer many different flavors to appeal to all consumer markets. It is also very cheap for consumers to switch to these substitutes making the threat of substitute products very strong (Datamonitor, 2005). Suppliers for the soft drink industry do not hold much competitive pressure. Suppliers to Coca-Cola are bottling equipment manufacturers and secondary packaging suppliers. Although Coca-Cola does not do any bottling, the company owns about 36% of Coca-Cola Enterprises which is the largest Coke bottler in the world (Murray, 2006a). Since Coca-Cola owns the majority of the bottler, that particular supplier does not hold much bargaining power. In terms of equipment manufacturers, the suppliers are generally providing the same products. The number of equipment suppliers is not in short supply, so it is fairly easy for a company to switch suppliers. This takes away much of suppliers’ bargaining power. 9. The buyers of the Coca-Cola and other soft drinks are mainly large grocers, discount stores, and restaurants. The soft drink companies distribute the beverages to these stores, for resale to the consumer. The bargaining power of the buyers is very evident and strong. Large grocers and discount stores buy large volumes of the soft drinks, allowing them to buy at lower prices. Restaurants have less bargaining power because they do not order a large volume. However, with the number of people are drinking less soft drinks, the bargaining power of buyers could start increasing due to decreasing buyer demand (Murray, 2006a). Porter’s Five Forces Model identifies the five forces of competition for any company. The recognition of the strength of these forces helps to see where Coca-Cola stands in the industry. Of the five forces, rivalry within the soft drink industry, especially from PepsiCo, is the greatest source of competition for Coca-Cola. Industry Changes The soft drink industry is affected by macroenvironmental factors of the industry that will lead to change. First, the entry/exit of major firms is a trend in the industry that will likely lead to change. More specifically, merger and consolidation has been prevalent in the soft drinks market, causing some firms to exit the industry and then re-enter themselves. Several leading companies have been looking to drive revenue growth and improve market share through the increased economies of scale found through mergers and acquisitions. One specific example is how PepsiCo acquired Quaker Oats, who bought Gatorade which will help expand PepsiCo’s energy drink sector (Datamonitor, 2005). This trend has increased competition as firms’ diversification of products is increasing. A second trend in the macroenvironment is globalization. With the growing use of the internet and other electronic technologies, global communication is rapidly increasing. This is 10 allowing firms to collaborate within the country market and expand into world markets. It has driven competition greatly as companies strive to be first-movers. Specifically, the global soft drink market’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to expand to 3. 6% from 2004 to 2009 (Datamonitor, 2005). Third, changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles are important trends. In the United States and Europe, people are becoming more concerned with a healthy lifestyle. â€Å"Consumer awareness of health problems arising from obesity and inactive lifestyles represent a serious risk to the carbonated drinks sector† (Datamonitor, 2005, p. 15). The trend is causing the industry’s business environment to change, as firms are differentiating their products in order to increase sales in a stagnant market. Thus, the long-term industry growth rate, the fourth trend, shows low growth in recent years. Since 2000, the CAGR is 1. 5 per cent (Datamonitor, 2005). The low growth rates are of concern for soft drink companies, and several are creating new strategies to combat the low rates. This leads to the fifth trend of growing buyer preferences for differentiated products. Because soft drinks have been around since as early as 1798 (American Beverage Association, 2006), buyers want innovation with the products they buy. In today’s globalizing society, being plain is not good enough. According to Barbara Murray (2006c), â€Å"The key for all of these beverage companies is differentiation. The giants have new formulations and appearances. Whatever the strategy, be it a new color, flavor, or formula, companies will strive to create the greatest brand awareness in the minds of the consumer in the hopes of crowding out its competitors. † Thus, the last trend, product innovation, is necessary to combat buyers need for a variety of tastes. Firms are already differentiating by taste, with the Coca-Cola company as an example. The firm’s product line includes regular Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Diet cherry Coke, 11 cherry Coke, Vanilla Coke, Coca-Cola with Lime, Coca-Cola with lemon and many more (Murray, 2006a). Key Success Factors. Key factors for competitive success within the soft drink industry branch from the trends of the macroenvironment. Primarily, constant product innovation is imperative. A company must be able to recognize consumer wants and needs, while maintaining the ability to adjust with the changing market. They must keep up with the changing trends (Murray, 2006c). Another key factor is the size of the organization, especially in terms of market share. Large distributors have the ability to negotiate with stadiums, universities and school systems, making them the exclusive supplier for a specified period of time. Additionally, they have the ability to commit to mass purchases that significantly lower their costs. They must implement effective distribution channels to remain competitive. Taste of the product is also a key factor for success. Furthermore, established brand loyalty is a large aspect of the soft drink industry. Many consumers of carbonated beverages are extremely dedicated to a particular product, and rarely purchase other varieties. This stresses the importance of developing and maintaining a superior brand image. Price, however, is also a key factor because consumers without a strong brand preference will select the product with the most competitive price. Finally, global expansion is a vital factor in the success of a company within the soft drink industry. The United States has reached relative market saturation, requiring movement into the global industry to maintain growth (Datamonitor, 2005). Recommendations 12 Looking towards the future, the most important recommendation to Coca-Cola is continuing product innovation and expansion of their product line. The soft-drinks industry is fully saturated with competitors. Also, the industry is no longer expanding, and market share is actually decreasing as more consumers are looking to healthier options. By continually introducing new products, Coca-Cola will be able to increase their profits and allow the company to continue to grow. Also, having a diverse product line will make the corporation very stable, which is appealing to investors and creditors. A second recommendation would be to sustain or increase the global market share. Coca-Cola is very well-established globally, and is the global soft-drinks leader. This is very important to sustain because it is the source of the majority of their profits. If they lose global market share, their profits will decline dramatically. A final recommendation for Coca-Cola is to maintain and try to increase their brand loyalty. Diet Coke has the second highest brand loyalty of all the soft-drink competitors’ brands, and solid advertising campaigns will help maintain the brand loyalty. They can also strive to obtain higher brand loyalty in all other brands, not solely Diet Coke. The brand loyalty is important because it will allow Coca-Cola to sustain profits and maintain their market share. 13 Appendix Table 1: Datamonitor (2005, May). Global Soft Drinks: Industry Profile.New York. Reference Code: 0199-0802. Table 2: Datamonitor (2005, May). Global Soft Drinks: Industry Profile. New York. Reference Code: 0199-0802. 14 Table 3: Datamonitor (2005, May). Global Soft Drinks: Industry Profile. New York. Reference Code: 0199-0802. Table: 4 Murray, Barbara. (2006a). The Coca-Cola Company. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/factsheet. x html? ID=10359 Coca-Cola 2004 Sales $ mil. % of total Europe/Eurasia/Middle East 7,195 33 North America 6,643 30 Asia 4,691 21 Latin America 2,123 10 Africa 1,067 5 Corporate 243 1 Total 21,962 100 Table 5: Murray, Barbara. (2006b). Pepsi Co. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, From http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/profile. xhtml? ID=11166 Pepsi Co. 2004 Sales $ mil. % of total US 18,329 63 Mexico 2,724 9 UK 1,692 6 Canada 1,309 4 Other countries 5,207 18 Total 29,261 100 15 Table 6: Murray, Barbara. (2006b). Pepsi Co. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, From http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/profile. xhtml? ID=11166 Pepsi Co. 2004 Sales $ mil. % of total PepsiCo International 9,862 34 Frito-Lay North America 9,560 33 PepsiCo Beverages North America 8,313 28 Quaker Foods North America 1,526 5. Total 29,261 100 Table 7: Murray, Barbara. (2006d). Cadbury Schweepes Inc. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/profile. x html? ID=41767 Cadbury Schweppes 2004 Sales % of total Americas Beverages 33 Europe, Middle East, Africa 25 Americas Confectionery 16 Asia/Pacific 16 Europe Beverages 10 Total 100 Table 8: Walker, Tim (2006). Cott Corporation. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/profile. xhtml? ID=42846 Cott Corporation 2004 Sales $ mil. % of total US 1,221. 8 74 Canada 189. 5 12 UK & Europe 186. 9 11. International 48. 1 3 Total 1,646. 3 100 Table 9: Select Financial Data from 2004 Income Statements. 2004 Annual Reports. (in millions) *only 50% of total sales included, the part attributed to beverage sales 16 Table 10: Select Financial Data from 2003 Income Statements. 2004 Annual Reports. (in millions) *only 50% of total sales included, the part attributed to beverage sales Table 11: Select Financial Data from 2004 Balance Sheets. 2004 Annual Reports. (in millions) *only 50% of total sales included, the part attributed to beverage sales 17 Table 12: Select Financial Data from 2003 Balance Sheets. 2004 Annual Reports. (in millions) *only 50% of total sales included, the part attributed to beverage sales 18 Table 13: Financial Analysis. Annual Reports. 19 Strategic Group Map goes here! 20 List 1: Brand Keys’ Customer Loyalty Leaders survey (2004) Brandweek. com Brand Loyalty Rankings This year/Brand/Last Year 1. Google. com (2) 2. Avis (1) 3. Verizon Long Distance (4) 4. KeySpan Energy (9) 5. Samsung Mobile Phone (7) 6. Hyatt Hotels (19) 7. Sprint Long Distance (3) 8. Canon Office Copier (8) 9. Yahoo. com (14) 10. Miller Genuine Draft (5) 11. Ritz-Carlton Hotels (17) 12. PSE&G (15) 13. Amazon. com (12) 14. Marriott Hotels (13) 15. Swissotel (NR) 16. Discover Card (27) 17. Diet Pepsi (31) 18. Budweiser (16) 19. Motorola Mobile Phone (10) 20. Coors (NR) 21. Netscape. com (59) 22. Sony Ericsson Mobile Phone (93) 23. Capital One Credit Card (29) 24. L. L. Bean Catalogue (20) 25. Wal-Mart (33) 26. Skechers (NR) 27. New Balance Athletic Shoe (22) 28. Miller Lite (87) 29. Starbucks (6) 30. Radisson (48) 31. BP Gasoline (79) 32. Inter-Continental Hotels (NR) 33. Sears Catalogue (30) 34. Verizon Wireless (37) 35. Schwab. com (26) 36. Diet Coke (47) 37. Mobil Gasoline (25) 38. T-Mobile Wireless (76) 39. Bell South Long Distance (28) 40. Adidas Athletic Shoe (23) 41. ETrade. com (42) 42. J. Crew Catalogue (54) 43. FedEx (50) 44. Westin Hotels (73) 45. Excite. com (35) 46. Hilton Hotels (36) 47. HotBot. com (34) 48. Sanyo Mobile Phone (NR) 49. MSN. com (38) 50. AltaVista. com (51) 21 51. AT&T Long Distance (24) 52. Spring PCS Wireless (60) 53. Pepsi (61) 54. Target (62) 55. Jet Blue Airways (67) 56. Bud Light (32) 57. Sears Store (40) 58. Sheraton Hotels (46) 59. Land’s End Catalogue (55) 60. Hampton Inn Hotels (NR) 61. Nokia Mobile Phone (11) 62. MCI Long Distance (83) 63. Holiday Inn Hotels (NR) 64. Ameritrade. com (104) 65. Best Western Hotels (NR) 66. Lycos. com (39) 67. Wyndham Hotels (68) 68. Xerox Office Copier (82) 69. Today (NBC) (56) 70. NFL (70) 71. MLB (58) 72. AOL. com (88) 73. Fox & Friends (Fox News Channel) (NR) 74. Southwest Airlines (64) 75. Exxon Gasoline (43) 76. DHL/Airborne Express (45) 77. BarnesandNoble. com (152) 78. AskJeeves. com (113) 79. Embassy Suites (86) 80. Nextel Mobile Phone (148) 81. SBC Long Distance (21) 82. TDWaterhouse. com (49) 83. Apple Computers (66) 84. Budget Rent A Car (71) 85. Subway (91) 86. Coors Light (81) 87. Texaco Gasoline (18) 88. Poland Spring (NR) 89. Chevron Gasoline (44) 90. J. C. Penney (75) 91. Expedia. com (85) 92. Fidelity. com (65) 93. Qwest Long Distance (41) 94. Visa Card (100) 95. UPS (127) 96. Aquafina (NR) 97. Gateway Computers (53) 98. Hertz (84) 99. Amstel Light (97) 100. Amoco Gasoline (101) 101. Nike (94) 102. Ramada Hotels (NR) 103. T. Rowe Price Mutual Fund (74) 104. Cingular Wireless (107) 105. Con Edison (57) 106. Enterprise Rent-A-Car (90) 22 107. Nextel Wireless (134) 108. Delta Air Lines (72) 109. American Morning (CNN) (63) 110. Arrowhead (NR) 111. Dell Computers (69) 112. Fleet Bank (157) 113. NBA (98) 114. New York Life Insurance (139). 115. Pizza Hut (105) 116. National Discount Brokers (102) 117. MerrillLynch. com (95) 118. NEC (NR) 119. Panasonic Mobile Phone (124) 120. Fidelity (96) 121. Dasani (NR) 122. Papa John’s (118) 123. CDNow. com (153) 124. Datek. com (77) 125. Siemens Mobile Phone (52) 126. IBM Computers (110) 127. Best Buy (154) 128. Reebok Fitness Shoes (103) 129. Sunoco Gasoline (121) 130. Wendy’s (115) 131. Wachovia Bank (89) 132. Good Morning America (ABC) (120) 133. Buy. com (142) 134. Corona (132) 135. CheapTickets. com (NR) 136. HP Computers (92) 137. PNC Bank (NR) 138. Shell Gasoline (119) 139. Dunkin’ Donuts (109). 140. Coca-Cola (129) 141. Citibank (112) 142. Early Show (CBS) (151) 143. AT&T Wireless (99) 144. Travelocity. com (138) 145. Bank of New York (158) 146. Bank of America (NR) 147. Continental Airlines (114) 148. CSFB. com (125) 149. Toshiba Computers (NR) 150. JP Morgan Chase Bank (106) 151. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (117) 152. American Express Credit Card (135) 153. Deer Park (NR) 154. Sony Vaio (111) 155. Fodors. com (128) 156. Domino’s Pizza (122) 157. Compaq Computers (80) 158. KFC (116) 159. Little Caesars (140) 160. Putnam (126) 161. Burger King (136) 162. Vanguard Mutual Fund (78) 23 163. United Air Lines (137) 164. Evian (NR) 165. Heineken (155) 166. Minolta Office Copier (159) 167. Travelers Insurance (144) 168. McDonald’s (141) 169. National Car Rental (145) 170. Sharp Office Copier (169) 171. Hotels. com (147) 172. Janus Mutual Fund (123) 173. Ricoh Office Copier (164) 174. Godfather’s (130) 175. Roundtable Pizza (131) 176. MetLife Insurance (162) 177. First USA (NR) 178. Fila (172) 179. Arby’s (161) 180. American Airlines (143) 181. USPS Parcel Delivery (156) 182. Prudential Insurance (163) 183. Dollar Rent A Car (167) 184. Bank One (NR) 185. Hardee’s (165) 186. Mountain Dew (168) 187. PriceLine. com (160) 188. Chuck E. Cheese Pizza (146) 189. MasterCard (150) 190. US Airways (166) 191. Aetna Insurance (174) 192. 7 Up (170) 193. Dr Pepper (176) 194. Alamo Rent-a-Car (178) 195. Jack in the Box Restaurant (171) 196. Taco Bell (173) 197. The Hartford Insurance (175) 198. Beck’s (179) 199. White Castle (177) 200. NHL (180) 201. Diet 7 Up (108) 202. Kmart (182) 203. Diet Dr Pepper (133) 24 Works Cited American Beverage Association (2005). Soft Drink Facts. Retrieved February 21, 2006 from http://www. ameribev. org/variety/facts. asp Cadbury Schweppes. (2004). 2004 Annual Report. Retrieved February 17, 2006 from http://www. cadburyschweppes. com Datamonitor. (2005, May). Global Soft Drinks: Industry Profile. New York. Reference Code: 0199-0802. Hein, Kenneth. (2004). Brand Loyalty 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2006 from http://www. brandkeys. com/news/press/102504Brandweek. Loyalty. pdf Murray, Barbara. (2006a). The Coca-Cola Company. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/factsheet. xhtml? ID=10359 Murray, Barbara. (2006b). Pepsi Co. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/profile. xhtml? ID=11166 Murray, Barbara. (2006c). Carbonated Beverages. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/ind/overview. xhtml? HICID=1049 Murray, Barbara. (2006d). Cadbury Schweppes Inc. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/profile. x html? ID=41767 Murray, Barbara. (2006e). Comparison Data. Hoovers. Retrieved February 13, 2006, from http://premium. hoovers. com/subscribe/co/fin/comparison. xhtml? ID=10359 PepsiCo Inc. (2004). 2004 Annual Report. Retrieved February 17, 2006 from http://www. pepsico. com Sicher, J. D. (2005). Beverage.

Assesment 6 Practical Team Sport

BTEC SubsidiaryExtended Diploma In Sport QCF Level 3 Unit 8: Practical Sport (PT) Unit 22: Rules, Regulations and Officiating in Sport (R&R) Assessment 6 of 8 P1 Skills and techniques- Passing: the skill off passing is used when a player on the same team is giving the ball to another member, this is called passing and this is used to spread the play across the line of attack as the ball in tag rugby cannot be passed forward so generally the ball will be thrown sideways or backwards using the following technique.When the player feels that it is right they will look for a pass by doing this there head position will be looking to where they plan on the ball reaching and this is typically to the midriff of a player on their team so to perform this skill they will have their feet shoulder width apart so that they have balance but also they will have the ball in both hands so that they do not drop it when using the passing action which is having both hands either side of the ball bringing the ball back to create momentum and power and then bring it towards their target and releasing giving the force that is required for it to reach their team mate.Catching: This skill is when you are receiving a pass as you will have to catch the ball and to do this to make your teams play fluent and quick you must have a good technique on how to catch the ball.To have a good technique on catching the ball you must make sure your hands are clear and visible for your teammate to see that you are ready for the ball but then when the ball is heading in your direction you must make sure that your feet are shoulders width apart and that you have a solid base and you are balanced then make sure your hands are close to your chest so that if you happen to miss the ball it will rebound off your chest and will be easier to catch , before catching the ball your head and eyes must be looking at the irection of the ball so that you are ready then when successfully catching the ball look for optio n on whether to pass it on or make a run forwards. Intercepting: The skill of intercepting is used when you prevent the opposition’s team from making a pass and you catch it which then converts possession into your teams favour.The technique of this skill is identifying where the ball is going to go and getting your body position correct to quickly react and catch it before a player on their team does for example if you are about to go in for an interception you will need to keep eyes on the ball and make sure all your body is in line with the ball including your hands so that you can grasp it in mid-flight. After you have caught the ball there will usually be a gap in their defence so as soon as you catch it there will be the opportunity to run for the score zone.Blocking: This is a skill used again for preventing the opposition from retaining the ball and the technique for this is to get any body part in the way of the balls intended destination. The technique to doing this is to make your body as big as possible with the biggest surface area as possible. To do this you will need to stretch out every limb possible and direct them in the way that the ball is heading so that you can block it. Tactics: on1 defending: This is when your team is the defending team and every person on your team has a person to mark on their team and it is your job to mark them so within tag rugby you would be lined up in your defensive line opposite the person you will be marking, a good point to this is that everyone on their team will be marked however if the person you are marking gets passed you then there is very little cover to prevent them from scoring a try. on 1: This is a tactic used when there is a specifically good player on the oppositions team and it is used by 2 players marking the 1 player that is dangerous to their team and it is there job to mark and defend against this one player, an advantage of this is that it may prevent that one player from scoring how ever because two people are marking 1 player it will leave a player on the other team without someone marking them so it could expose their defence.Zonal defending: this is where the defending team do not mark a person instead they mark zones so for example within tag rugby there would be teammates marking the middle sections and wide sections off the pitch and it is their responsibility to make sure that no one gets past them in that area however this can be quite a hard tactic to implement as everyone in the team needs to be disciplined else gaps would open up in the defence leading to opportunities for the attacking team to score.Half court: This tactic is again one that you would use for defending and this is where your team will only defend half the pitch so when the other team has it in there half they will not pressure them and let them have the ball but then as soon as the ball comes into the defensive half there will be high pressure on the ball carriers and players around them to try and gain possession back and limit the amount of chances the team will get, However leaving the team with this amount of space gives them time to build up pace which could mean that the defending team may not be able to catch the attacking team. M1 Passing:

Topic by yourself Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Topic by yourself - Dissertation Example Basic small fashion business theory and principles were examined and issued within the scope of the study of as well. In-depth research into areas of luxury brand loyalty and image, as reflected by the fashion consumer, were discussed in order to better understand the various influences that marketing has on the small fashion business. In addition, data relevant to the overall luxury fashion business was analyzed and discussed in an effort to compare that information with the gathered qualitative data. Static data collected from gathered case studies are also presented to illustrate the attitudes of luxury brand fashion items that are inherent in the industry today. By presenting a combination of theoretical and practical analysis, final conclusions and recommendations are issued at the end of the study. 1. Introduction Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry, and the luxury brand makes up a considerable portion of that prowess. Luxury fashion consumers, to a large degree, are the face and voice of the entire industry and, as such, it is important to understand the distinctions that make up various brands and give small fashion businesses a relative and comparative advantage. ... 1). These are important distinctions to be made from the outset, primarily because luxury brand items carry substantially more market appeal than other types of fashion accessories. They cannot be easily replicated and the consumer develops a strong loyalty toward a brand, but not necessarily toward a product. A successful brand is vital to the success of a fashion company, as it most often results in a competitive advantage over others in the same niche market (Aaker, 2004). Not only does a particular brand greatly contribute to the overall profit generated by a fashion company, but it also serves as the fact of the company by implementing a particular name or symbol that consumers can identify with. These ideas and concepts distinguish them from their competitors and generate interest within the market itself. Logos, trademarks, and package design all contribute to the image of the luxury brand, necessitating that fashion companies focus on the development of they major brands in o rder to identify and differentiate one company from another (Aaker, 2004, p. 5). With the continuing development and expansion of the global luxury fashion industry, there has come a renewed emphasis on understanding the consumer that desires to purchase such items and to apply a proper growth strategy that will form the future of fashion building. 2. The Nature of Fashion Building Fashion building takes time. The nature of developing a brand image that appeals across sectors of society takes ingenuity, design, and a bit of luck. It requires the foresight to understand the affluent consumer, the willingness to adapt to changing markets and circumstances, and the desire to maintain that competitive edge that separates it from the rest. 2.1 Branding and Communication

Merits of Devaluation of The Currency. Mechanism of correcting Assignment

Merits of Devaluation of The Currency. Mechanism of correcting deficits - Assignment Example UK suffered a huge current account deficit in 2008, as high as 3% of its GDP. Later the deficit was corrected with proper implication of currency devaluation (Pettinger 2009). 2. Mechanism of sustainable investment. Devaluation requires a higher amount of domestic currency for any foreign transaction. This makes it difficult for existing investors of country to switch or transfer their investment from the country that has devalued its currency. Because switching investment to foreign country may worth considerably lesser as compared to the current worth of investment. This will make the existing investors less likely to switch their investment. Hence devaluation ensures sustenance of existing investment in the country. 3. Mechanism of economic growth As mentioned earlier, devaluation of country’s currency results in the soaring of exports and aggregate demand of country’s goods and services. This is likely to result in economic growth of the country at higher rates. 4. Increase in flow of capital A devaluing country facilitates foreign investors in terms of its now relative cheap labor and a country that will stimulate demand, due to its strong export potential, due to devaluation. Hence devaluation provides motivation of higher profitability o the foreign investors and this is likely to result in the increase of capital flow in the devaluing country. China has long been having a devalued currency. China has become home to many manufacturing firms due its export facilitations and inexpensive production. It is mainly due to Chinese devalue exchange rate (News n economics 2010) Demerits of Devaluation of Currency 1. Increase in... It is evident from the study that devaluation is largely believed to correct the trade deficit and balance of payment deficit. Decrease in exchange rate of a country’s currency will render its products and services relatively cheaper for foreign buyers. This is likely to increase demand for country’s goods in foreign market and hence its exports will increase. Moreover devaluation will make foreign goods relatively dearer for domestic buyers and their demand is likely to decrease. This will reduce the imports in that country. Increased exports and reduced imports are likely to correct the trade deficit. This will also improve the current account deficit in Balance of payment accounts and will consequently correct the balance of payment deficit of the devaluing country. UK suffered a huge current account deficit in 2008, as high as 3% of its GDP. Later the deficit was corrected with proper implication of currency devaluation. Devaluation of currency renders imports deare r to the buyers of devaluing country. Since a country cannot produce everything, imports cannot be avoided. However if a country is supposed to import raw material for production of its certain goods it will make the cost of production higher. As a result those goods may not compete efficiently in foreign market as well as their domestic demand will decrease. Devaluation increases country’s exports. This means that it affects badly on the exports of other countries by making its goods cheaper in foreign market.

Sales training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sales training - Essay Example Three different power points will be created for the morning session, after break session and after lunch lecture. The first power point will cover the definition of sales, its goals, roles, direction and the focus of selling. This will be accomplished with a minimum of 25 slides with comprehensive speaker notes at the bottom. A minimum of 5 images must be used to show marketing dialogue, the role of sales and any related topic idea. The second power point will outline and map the sales process and images depicting models of selling will be included. For the last session, the power point presentation will cover, in a minimum of 15 slides a reflection of the video that will be used to induce hands-on experience in selling (Amy 79). All power points will be colorful and animated and questions must be used at each stage to evoke critical thinking from trainees. A laptop, projector and white board will be availed for the purpose of this training session. Video A sales marketing video wil l be obtained from youtube.com and will be availed in the last session. The video will cover field marketing and will present different scenarios that are likely to be experienced during training. Person to person sales and making sales in a conference will be two scenarios that will be captured in the video. The CD will be provided and played through the laptop. Evaluating the Learners After the three lecture sessions, a questionnaire will be handed to the trainees and they will be required to respond to the questions. Questionnaire method is superior in obtaining quick responses from the trainees as all of them respond at the same time. The questionnaire will test on the sales skills that the learner acquired and the possible methods of tackling specific problems in the marketing field. The test will continue a marketing scenario to test the learner abilities to employ effective marketing approaches in different marketing situations. Guidance Session Timing Trainer Guidance Traine e Guidance Lesson 1 1 hour 30 minutes Must emphasize definition, and mechanics of selling. questionss in power points must be asked to student. Remain interesting, use speaker note to explain Take notes, participate, ask questions Lesson 2 1hr 30 minutes Outlining and mapping of sales covered Refer to Ppt speaker notes Use questions at each point Engage learners Trainees get back to their seating positions. Note taking of crucial points Lesson 3 1hr 30 minutes The teacher will play the video twice, and then use the power point to reflect on the video. Interactive questions. Every trainee presents their opinion on the scenarios depicted in the movie Note the various key skills in marketing The timeline of the lesson will be reviewed after the first lesson. It may be wise to reduce the time for the second session and increase that of the last session as the interactive session is expected to take more time. Formative Revisions Formative revisions help to obtain information to help str eamline the instructional methods (Tuttle 122). During the instruction process, a critical observation of the training session will be engaged. The time taken to deliver the whole content designed for each lesson will be assessed. Also, the participation of the trainees will be engaged and

Free topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Free topic - Research Paper Example Consequently, this prompted him to decline Devayani’s marriage proposal because she belonged to a high caste (priestly) than his. Yayati’s reaction reveals Hindu’s cultural values regarding the issue of marriage whereby traditions dictate one to marry from his or her caste regardless of true affection that an individual feels towards the other (Chowdhury). However, this due to the superiority of the Devayani’s caste, the father gives in to his daughter’s demands, though with certain conditions; Yayati should not marry any other woman. This mythical account also reveals humanity’s unquenchable desire for pleasure, which is evident from Yayati’s actions (Apurva 4). Yayati regardless of marrying a woman from high caste in the Indian society, his lustful desires prompt him to have sexual relations with the Devayani’s maid. This ends with secretly marrying her without Devayani’s knowing, whereby she unveils the marriage throug h her maid’s male children claiming Yayati is their father. Humanity’s unquenchable desires in this account are also evident from the way Yayati begs for youth (from own son) to continue with his luxury life after Devayani’s father cursed him to a premature old age (Apurva 3). Eventually, Yayati regains sanity when he realizes his life comprised of living in denial. Since, he was aware about humanity’s desires whereby, one can only quench them through self-control. Yayati’s myth also expounds spiritual prowess held by the top caste in the Indian society. The Brahmins have the authority to curse besides declaring an individual as an â€Å"untouchable†. Yayati after violating the agreement they established with Devayani’s father, he earned himself a curse that transformed his stature instantly (Apurva 4). Since, he allowed lust to overtake him, which is against to what Khatriyas ought to conduct themselves in the public. Yayati’s cursing depicts the Indians’ spirituality exercised by few people who belong to the highest caste, whereas the rest have to exhibit total adherence. This is evident from Yayati’s conduct after cursing where he does not yield to conflict or argument with Devayani’s father, but adheres and decides to seek an alternative way meant to sustain his luxurious life. Indian society’ organization comprises of diverse castes. These normally dictate diverse societal people’s roles besides how they ought to conduct themselves to fit effectively in the already set rankings. The main Indian castes include Brahmin, Khatriya, Vaishyas, shudras and chandalas (Singh 20). The latter comprises the lowest class in the society mostly referred as â€Å"untouchables†. Historically, these people never allowed attending temple services or daring to be near because the society referred them as being impure. Hence, their work entailed cleaning the toilets, garbage coll ection and other menial jobs, which the society thought to be dirty (Jayaram). Brahmins were the societal top spiritual icons whose role entailed offering rituals besides being the most learnt people compared to other castes (Singh 20). Probably, this is due to the position they occupied where all other castes paid tribute to them through donations. Khatriya comprised the security officials whose role entailed protecting the entire society and ensuring justice (Singh 20 & 26). They also acted, as kings whereby the traditions demanded them that, they abstain from sensual pleasures, which granted them

Discussion Question 12 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Question 12 - Assignment Example The most important non-verbal communication is active listening, which can only be achieved when nurses set aside their personal feelings and thoughts. This helps nurses to listen for any cues and develop successful writing skills. In order to demonstrate that the nurses are listening, they reflect, summarize, acknowledge, empathize, paraphrase information, and check for any cues. This is an important communication style since it offers patients a chance to air their concerns and help nurses to make informed decisions when they write down some of the information that they acquire. This also helps in checking the documented notes and reporting on the patients’ conditions in a manner that other medical professionals can get a clear picture of the situation (Bramhall, 2014). I am definitely ready to listen to my patients and to do this, I have to learn some listening skills and ensure that I do not interrupt the patients. I will also strengthen my listening skills by making a conscious move or effort to not only hear the words that are being spoken by the patient, but also to try and understand and empathize with them. I will get rid of all the distracters; hence, avoid misunderstanding and create a healthy environment in which the patients can freely talk (Bramhall,

U.S. Supreme Court Case Tennessee vs. Garner Study

U.S. Supreme Court Tennessee vs. Garner - Case Study Example The various arms and appendages of law while towing the practical manifestations of their powers do sometimes give way to special situations that alter and remold the conscience of a society and bring them under direct and enhanced observation and scrutiny of the masses and the intelligentsia. Infact such instances happen to be the important turning points in the legal and judicial history of any nation and do many a times lead to the evolution of the existing statutory provisions in the light of the current and emerging changes in the society. US Supreme Court case Tennessee vs. Garner is one such thought provoking event in the legal history of the US that strikingly challenged the existing statutory provisions pertaining to the use of force by the law enforcement agencies and called for reinterpretation and reshaping of this earlier taken for granted aspect of the policing in the US. October 3, 1974 was one other usual day in the life of the Memphis Police Officers Leslie Wright and Eton Hymon, when they were ordered to respond to a "prowler inside call". Both the officers promptly arrived on the scene of crime and after receiving relevant feedback from the neighbors, proceeded to scan the house being targeted. Hymon noticed a person running across the backyard and with the aid of his flashlight, was reasonably able to discern that the suspect, Edward Garner was an unarmed teenager of slight built (Findlaw, 2008). When Garner tried to climb over a fence, Hymon shot him in the back of his head to prevent him from escaping from the scene of crime (Findlaw, 2008). Later on a paltry ten dollars and a ring stolen from the house being scanned was found on the body of the suspect. Hymon acted in direct exercise of the authority given by a Tennessee statute to its police officers, sanctioning a deadly use of force so as to apprehend a fleeing suspect (Findlaw, 2008). The father of the deceased teenager filed a suit in the Federal District Court, to seek damages for the death and violation of his son's constitutional rights (Findlaw, 2008). The District Court upheld the constitutional credentials of the given statute and declared the officer's actions to be legal and valid (Findlaw, 2008). However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, while responding to an appeal by the appellee-respondent, reversed, stating that the use of force against a fleeing suspect in pursuance of the requirements of the Fourth Amendment is subject to be qualified in the light of the criteria of reasonableness (Findlaw, 2008). The basic issue that this case brings to fore is the ascertaining of the constitutionality of the deadly use of force by the law enforcement agencies against an unarmed, fleeing suspect (Findlaw, 2008). It questions the gross generalization of the provisions pertaining to the use of force by the law enforcement agencies against the relatively innocuous suspects who try to flee. Should the nature or proportion of force used by a police team against an escaping terrorist be same as that used against a harmless teenager, who attempts to escape from the scene of some petty crime This case highlights the human rights of the fleeing suspects and pragmatically checks the unrestrained use of force by t

Newborn Stages of Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Newborn Stages of Development - Essay Example This essay focuses mostly on the experience of raising a newborn baby and it being one of the most harrowing yet rewarding experiences of human life. This essay aims to look at and discuss the initial stages of development for a newborn child. The researcher provides important information on the topic, shedding light on baby's physiology and psychological condition and inform parents and caregivers about the importance of bonding with the baby in a positive way. In conclusion, the researcher states that it is important to realize that the age old adage about a newborn being like clay that can be molded into any sculpture is perhaps very true. A parents and caretakers have the utmost responsibility to encourage development of every facet of the newborn’s personality. Parents that are always absent from the baby’s life due to career-responsibilities perhaps inadvertently are hindering their infant’s personality development. Caretakers who also inhibit their infantà ¢â‚¬â„¢s movements due to safety concerns need to realize that such a move restricts the baby’s physical development; a baby needs to be allowed freedom of movement as long as there is no real danger involved. The researcher also suggests that perhaps the greatest thing to realize is that every baby is different. Fretting over a baby who takes a longer time to learn a task than its counterparts is usually detrimental to both the parents and caretakers and the baby and every infant should be allowed to grow up at its own pace.

Individual Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual Project - Assignment Example Many states in the US adopt different minimum wage laws and as such some may be lower or higher than that prescribed by the Federal minimum wages. The law states that â€Å"when an employee is under both the state and federal minimum wage law, the employee is entitled to receive the higher of the two minimum wages. In this case, Maxim is following the correct guideline of paying the minimum wage of $8.50 per hour. 2. The term exempt employees are categorized under the Fair Labor Standards Act as those receiving salary of not less than $455 per week. Exempt employees according to job titles, are the executives, administrative, professional, computer and outside sales employees who receive compensation of $455 a week or $100,000 a year(Chamberlain, Kaufman & Jones, n.d.) Under the guidelines of the FLSA, the sales associates of Maxim are classified under the non-exempt category because they are inside sales employees, and they still receive $340 a week only ($8.50 x 40 hrs.). Maximâ⠂¬â„¢s Department Supervisors can be classified as exempt employees because they perform supervision over the sales staff and their wage rate amounts to $14.25 per hour, equivalent to$570 a week. The FLSA said that a Supervisor is someone who is doing high level work. It is assumed here, that the Department Supervisors of Maxim may perform either one of the following duties prescribed in the FLSA: interviewing, selecting, and training employees; setting rates of pay and hours of work; maintaining production or sales records (beyond the merely clerical); appraising productivity; handling employee grievances or complaints, or disciplining employees; determining work techniques; planning the work; apportioning work among employees; determining the types of equipment to be used in performing work, or materials needed; planning budgets for work; monitoring work for legal or regulatory compliance; providing for safety and security of the workplace. 3. According to the SSS online, the late st cost of living salary adjustment that becomes effective on December 2011 is 3.6 percent for Social Security benefits and SSI payments. Investopedia defines Costs of Living Adjustment (COLA)† as an adjustment made to social security and supplemental income in order to adjust benefits to counteract inflation†. COLA is usually based on the consumer price index for urban wager earners and wage earners. The average consumer price index as of December 2011 is 3.6 percent (SSS On line) The WEST CPI is 3.4 percent as of October 2011(Bureau of Labor Statistics) Based on this information, computation of the CPI is shown as follows Average consumer price index 3.6 percent West CPI 3.4 percent Difference 0.2 percent Adjustments in COLA took effect in 1975 and do not remain the same for each year. For 2012, SSS online, calculates the maximum monthly Federal amounts for an eligible individual $698, for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse $ 1,048 and for an essential pers on $3350 In this context, the Average Consumer price index as computed by the SSI should be followed. 4. The index of job classes in Portland does not provide an exact job title for Sales Associate and Department Supervisor. (Listing of job classes, 2011) However, similar level of jobs exist in in

Nagel, Chisholm, and Locke - Metaphysics of the Mind Essay Example for Free

Nagel, Chisholm, and Locke Metaphysics of the Mind Essay It is very difficult to attribute characteristics to a mind when we know it does not actually exist in the physical realm. Though, personal identity has been connected to the mind. However, it is tricky to determine what exactly comprises one’s personal identity. Although it is a difficult concept to grasp, philosophers such as Nagel and Chisholm attempt to construct their own position on the characteristics of the mind. By comparing Nagel and Chisholm’s positions on personal identity, it is evident that identity is a development of both body and mind. Nagel shows that we cannot properly identify a mind, and if this is the case then it is impossible to attribute personal identity to a mind. In turn, he attacks the idea that personal identity can be defined in terms of physical attributes. Chisholm shows that although things are constantly changing, they still remain the same. He argues that it is the mind that holds our identity, regardless of physical alteration. In my view, the physicalist perspective of identity is the most logical when contrasted to the mentalist argument simply due to the fact that we do have a self-identity, and Nagel does not attempt to define what it is. Locke’s argument finds a middle ground between Nagel and Chisholm as he argues for a conscious and bodily continuity of the mind. In order to identify the mind-body problem and argue that identity is a development of the mind, Nagel’s position must be analyzed. Firstly, when addressing the mind-body problem, Nagel states that one cannot explain the mind body relationship through logic, functions, or intentions. He argues that these states can be ascribed to robots that may indeed behave like people, however robots do not experience anything, and it is experience that influences the mind (436). Nagel’s bat analogy helps solidify his position on experience which is that no one can experience the same thing as another. He claims that; â€Å"even to form a conception of what it is Kristen Biduk 6949215 like to be a bat†¦one must take up the bat’s point of view† (442). Meaning, one must have the same thinking patterns as the other which Nagel argues is impossible. He argues that it is our consciousness which provides the mind-body problem. Although one can relate to what it is like to be a bat, it is impossible to fully comprehend it because in order to become a bat, conscious-ness must be forgotten. For that reason, one cannot know that others have a mind, but one can perceive that they do. Chisholm opens his argument with providing an analysis of the Ship of Theseus and explains that identity is transitive, meaning that it is always changing. Similarly, he uses the example of the river and how although it is the same exact river, it is given different identities based on geographical location. The identity of the river is changing. Based on his view of alteration, Chisholm suggests three possibilities for alteration and identity. Firstly, we can deny the transitivity of identity, but he proves this to be a problem. His second suggestion is that nothing alters, but this too proves to be problematic. For example, if one was to cross the border of the United States of America and the border patrol officer asked if he was the same as the person in the photo, he would say no. Because, when that photo was taken he had certain characteristics, and now, x amount of years later he has different characteristics, and is therefore a different person. Clearly this is an issue. Thirdly, he analyzes Butler’s position on the misuse of the word ‘is’ in that, for example; there exists something at a certain place (P) at a certain time (t) that is identical with same thing at a different place (Q) at a different time (t1). By saying identical, he means they exist in together, however it is mathematically impossible. He concludes that such things are entia per alio (made of). Entia per alio is something that exists because a Kristen Biduk 6949215 mind makes it up. For example, a pencil is entia per alio because without a mind, it is simply an object. The mind makes the pencil an object for writing. Without a mind giving meaning to something, that something has no identity. In regards to self-identity, I find it difficult to agree with the mentalist perspective. Nagel’s writing, â€Å"What is it like to be a Bat? † does not provide sufficient insight to the development of self and self-identity. He bases his writing solely based on defining the mind. It is true to say that we cannot properly identify a mind. How can we as a whole, understand something we do not actually know exists? We can assume it exists but it provides no understanding. Based on this belief, Nagel concludes that because we cannot properly identify a mind, we cannot connect personal identity to a mind. But where can we find our personal identity? He claims that our identity does not lie within our physical attributes which leaves identity suspending in the air. The mentalist perspective is limiting in the sense that it does not take in to account outside variables that can impact one’s identity. We are not born with an identity and I feel as though Nagel’s position is implying that we are. Additionally, our identity is developed from our consciousness, and we do not become conscious of ourselves at infancy. We develop our self-identity through time and it is consistently changing. Chisholm is much more realistic when it comes to defining personal identity. We cannot assume that our identity is purely based on our minds, for our minds are influenced by our physicality. In turn, our physicality is influenced by society. We identify with ourselves based on what others think of us. For example, if someone weighs three hundred pounds, they may identify themselves as unhealthy because that is what society has told them. Similarly, if that three hundred pound person lost weight and now weighed one hundred and thirty pounds, that Kristen Biduk 6949215 person may identify themselves as healthy. If they used diet and exercise as a method to lose the weight, they may identify as athletic. This proves that personal identity is indeed transitive. It will always be in a constant state of change depending on the influences around them. We have identity because others around us have provided us with our identity. One could argue then that if one was to lose only ten pounds then identity will not change because the change is only slight. If we analyze the Ship of Theseus once more, Chisholm argues that slight changes still have an impact on our identity because our identity is always changing. By using the problem of Theseus’s ship however, it gives us ideas of identity for inanimate objects. One could argue that it is not relatable to beings with consciousness however I would have to disagree. Our consciousness, or our memories are what hold our self-identity. If we lose an arm or leg, we are still the same person because our minds still hold our memory. While the mentalist perspective does not take into account physical impressions, and the physicalist perspective lacks some insight on our own consciousness, Locke provides an explanation that touches on both sides. Locke argues for a conscious continuity and not a bodily one. He begins with clarifying that all minds have a common structure wherein there are two qualities within our identity: primary and secondary. The primary quality consists of consciousness. I can identify with myself because I am conscious of my own existence. The secondary qualities consist of qualities that are changing, such as hair length or weight. He insists that our primary qualities are what provide us with identity however he agrees that secondary qualities must be analyzed. Our secondary qualities are always changing while our primary qualities are static. Without the secondary qualities, our identity would not change, Kristen Biduk 6949215 which Chisholm proved. In comparison to both Nagel and Chisholm, Locke’s argument holds the truest because he takes into account both perspectives and develops the most logical understanding of identity. Additionally, Locke states that there is a first and third person perspective on identity. The first person identity is what one makes of himself. The third person helps confirm one’s identity. Both of these together help form one’s true personal identity. For one without outside influences has nothing to base their identity on. For example, if one was to look at cases of people raised in isolation, it will be seen that they have no sense of reality or identity. They were left to their own thoughts with no outside stimulation. When they leave their isolated prisons, they rediscover their identity by identifying with their outside influences. In conclusion, it is almost impossible to justify the mind/body problem. Both Nagel and Chisholm’s perspectives on identity are fairly vague and both lack a deeper understanding of the mind. I truly believe that it is the mind that holds our identity. However an identity is highly structured by its outside influences. Without a body or without society, one would have no identity. Some can argue that there can be a mind without a body, but it just doesn’t make rational sense. If hypothetically, one was to have their mind switched into a different body, he would still identify as himself. For it is our mind that holds our identity, however our mind is within a body.

Polynomial Matrix Decompositions

Polynomial Matrix Decompositions The interest and dramatic increase in demand for high-speed data transmission has exploded since the introduction of triple play multimedia services. One of the pioneering contributions is the increasingly higher data rates achievable through the use of multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) channels. A further increase in data rates is possible through a well-coordinated multiple channels. Precoding and equalization transmission blocks represent a typical coordinated strategy that enhance the channel capacity of a deterministic narrowband MIMO channel. This strategy can be derived by performing a singular value decomposition (SVD) of a channel matrix. These blocks allow a MIMO channel matrix to solve a host of special multicarrier problems using the orthogonal property of the system. It can also be exploited to approximate low-rank channel matrix by reducing the dimensionality of high-dimensional data sets. The technique referred to here as an orthogonal spatial multiplexing (OSM) method. OSM allows multiple users to use a given bandwidth simultaneously by dividing the available channel into multiple narrow orthogonal bands that are spectrally spaced. Each band is then divided into numerous subcarriers, which are structures so as not to interfere with one another. The transmit signal is then modulated onto these subcarriers. The technique exploits physical separation methods that permit the sharing of channel resources simultaneously.   Every users becomes spatially spaced far enough from each other to counteract interference.   In addition to spacing, dual polarizations are introduced to further avoid interference. When signalling over MIMO channels using an orthogonal spatial multiplexing, an SVD can be used to derive every sub-carrier/tone. In the traditional method, an increase in the number of tones also increase the complex computational load.   It is therefore the focus of this study to investigate an alternative means for obtaining an efficient decomposition. A MIMO channel can be modelled as a weighted sum of the past and present samples of transmit data. The channel considers a finite impulse response (FIR) filters that can be represented by a covariance matrix whose elements are polynomials. This study focuses on investigating algorithms that decompose the covariance matrix directly. Approximation factors can then be introduced to obtain the Precoding and equalization transmission blocks. Existing polynomial singular value decomposition algorithm is used and studied in the context of channel quality and computational complexity settings. The decomposition algorithms were shown to give decompositions of good channel quality, but if the goal is to obtain Precoding and equalization transmission blocks, the computational load is restricted with higher multidimensional channels. An algorithm for approximating direct decomposition of covariance matrices is investigated. Although we discuss simple cases resulted in excellent decompositions but analyse with numerical stability of a spectral factorization steps for large-case decompositions. For high frequency selective MIMO channels, the performance achieved by utilizing the polynomial SVD algorithm were compared to the channel capacity. It was shown that if the transmit sequences are approximated individually at the receiver, as done in the traditional approach, the performance more likely to be sensitive to errors in the decomposition. An equalizer with a spatially joint detector seems promising to achieve a better performance close to the single-user transmission. With such an equalizer, the low complexity property of the traditional approach is compromised with performance. Summarizing, this study has shown that a MIMO channel can be diagonalized in space and frequency using spatial multiplexing method in conjunction with a polynomial SVD algorithm. In order to reach better performance close to the achivable of a single-user, the computational load becomes restraining compared to the traditional approach, for channels with higher multidirectional channels.

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Of China Sinopec Commerce Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Of China Sinopec Commerce Essay During last several decades, more and more pressure is received by international firms to persuade them to dedicate more and more resources in social responsibility. These pressures are always come from customers, governments, employees, suppliers, community groups. Also, there is increasing interest among managers of business especially those CEOs at multi-national or multi-divisional companies in the antecedents and consequences of CSR. These business leaders are realized the fact that nowadays the social standards for the business are not only restricted in the aspect of earning profits, the demand for CSR can vary substantially across the whole world on many issues. Nowadays, the demand for the social responsibility of large business is growing when the some important issues such as the global warming, poverty, scarce of resources which faces by those business firms. The definitions of Corporate Social Responsibility The definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not clear as a result of so many conflicting goals and objectives. Mcwilliams and Siegel(2011) argue that the CSR are measures taken by those business corporations for the benefits of the whole community, beyond the interests of the firm and that which is required by law and some social pressures. Meanwhile, Corporate Social Responsibility involves achieving commercial success in ways that honor ethical values and respect people, communities, and the natural environment (Clark, 2006; Porter Kramer, 2006). And Ademosu(2008) claims that CSR is what an organization does to contribute to the development of the community in areas such as economy, the education and so on. The history of CSR is as long as the company. After Industrial Revolution some large business organizations are emerged and the owners of these business organizations have become the most powerful and richest man in this world and these rich businessman began to implant a kind of ideas called Social Darwinism which means the corporations should focus more on the development of their own business instead of caring more about the consequences caused by the big business organizations on the employees, the community, even the whole society. But at the beginning of the twentyish century the power against these ideas of those big corporations began to rise. In 1970s Milton Friedman argued that the only social responsibility of an enterprise is to increase profits within the scope of the business rules, profit maximization is only the second goal of corporations and the first goal is to ensure the survival of them. In order to achieve this point, they must bear some social responsibilities and the cost caused by them, they must protect the social welfare through the advertisements of them about no pollutions, no discriminations or something else. They must blend themselves into the community and fund more for the charity organizations in order to play a more active role in the society. From 1980s the movement of CSR began to rise in the western developed countries, it includes the contents of environment protecting, labor and human rights which leads to the concerns of customers changed from about only care about the quality of products to quality, environment, occupation health and so on. Meanwhile some governments, green peaces organizations and NGOs also continually called the business corporations to connect the trade to their social responsibilities. Under the increasing pressure and their own development needs. Many multinational companies in Europe and America are formulating to make commitments of social responsibility. Why business corporations should engage in CSR According to Ralph Hamann(2010) the evolving CSR agenda is driven by a global shift in the way the role of business is perceived. Under the circumstance of globalization and the challenges of sustainable development, the business firms are increasingly seen as an important element in the process of social transformation, for the benefit of society in general, as well as business itself. Customers and society have more exceptions for the corporations where the products they buy from. This sense has increased as results of recent corporate scandals, which reduced public trust of business corporations. And under the trend of globalization, the increasing influences of media can explode all the mistakes such as pollution, decimations of female workers, or something made by the corporations to the entire world. These force the business organizations to build a harmony relationship with the outside world Corporate social responsibility comes from its social power. Enterprises should be a two-way open system that is open to accept the information of society, and help public understanding its operation. Each activity, product and service of enterprises, must consider the social costs and benefits at the same time of considering cost-effectiveness because all the social costs linked to each activity, product and service should transfer to consumers ultimately. So the enterprises as legal persons should be the same as other individuals involved in resolving some of social problems beyond their normal range. The benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility To the business corporations, business ethics and social responsibility have became important factors to improve the competitiveness of enterprises, when the business leaders try to develop the company, they should not only focus on economic indicators such as revenues, turnover, profits but also the attentions to humanities index resources index and environmental indicators. Clark (2006) reports showed these companies which pay more attention to CSR have done better financially performance than all of the other companies. The CSR policy can enhance the reputation of a business corporation and improve the relationship between the community and them. The CSR programs can not only help a companys to earn a good reputation in the society, and improve revenues of their business actions (Afiya, 2005), CSR programs can actually improve the companys ability to achieve the goal of sustainable development. For example, if a company can use modern technology to achieve the goal of waste recycl ing, the operating cost may be reduced hugely(Clark, 2006). To the whole society, firstly, the business corporations fulfill their society responsibilities is good for solving the employment problems. Except through increasing investment to create more jobs, more importantly is to advocate the enterprises arrange labor force scientifically in order to avoid increasing the pressure of employment. The ISO8000 is an international authentication standard system which aims to ensure workers working conditions and environment, protecting their human rights. Many enterprises try get fulfill their social responsibilities to get to the standard of ISO8000 which help them to attract more labor resources. Secondly, to fulfill social responsibility help to protect natural resources and environment to achieve sustainable development. The enterprises as members of the society and the big consumers of the natural resources have unenviable responsibility for the sustainable development of the environment. By using technical innovations the enterprises can reduce the pollution caused by their production and decrease the consumption of the resources then save the resources. (Mele ´, D. 2008) Last by not the least, the CSR is a good method to ease the gap between the rich and poor. On the one hand, large and medium-sized enterprise could use their capital advantages, management advantages and human resource advantage of resources to invest in the poor area. The corporations can get new growth point of their business and help the poor area to solve the problems of poverty. On the other hand, the enterprises also can through charity to help the people of backward area in education, the development of social security and health care system The CSR practice of Sinopec group of China The Sinopec group of China is one of the largest state owned companies of China, functioning as a state-authorized investment organization in which the state holds the controlling share. Sinopecs business includes Sinopecs business includes oil and gas exploration, refining, and marketing; production and sales of petrochemicals, chemical fibers, chemical fertilizers, and other chemical products; storage and pipeline transportation of crude oil and natural gas; import, export and import/export agency business of crude oil, natural gas, refined oil products, petrochemicals, and other chemicals. Sinopec Group ranked the 7th in Fortune Global 500 in 2010.The Sinopec is considered as one of pillar enterprises of the Chinese national economy and a giant in the energy industry, so in the last several years, there are continuously pressure put on this company about how it is to carry out its social responsibilities as an state-owned and the most profitable company in China. In fact, the Sino pec group does implement some CSR initiatives to enhance its global image and reputation. Low-carbon development strategy The climate change is an urgent issue which is for all mankind today, how to protect the environment from human activities and pollution is especially important for those energy and petrochemical company. About the global issues of global warming Sinopec claims that they carry out low-carbon development by finding and using more low-carbon energy resources and promoting energy saving and consumption reduction. The Sinopec is both a large energy production firm and a large consumption firm. This company is active in developing low-carbon energy and improving the structure of the energy consumption. They have built up a comprehensive low-carbon business chain which covering RD, production and marketing. Meanwhile this company has taken planting trees to increase the carbon sink as a major way to fulfill its responsibility to protect the ecological environment and improving the conditions for the ordinary residents. Saving energy resourcrs is another immediate and effective way to reduce CO2 emission today. Because of great importance to energy saving, they try to develop into a resource-saving enterprise. During the last 5 years, while the production capacities kept growing, Sinopec got a good achievement in energy saving and consumption cut with more effective management, many modern and new technologies and equipments are used and more emphasis are put on energy saving in production process. According to reports in 2010, overall energy consumption of Sinopec went down by 3.8% and 0.8% respectively and saved 14.11 million tons of coals equivalent, equaling reducing 34.66 million tons of carbon dioxide emission. They also try efforts to spread information about the damages of climate change among workers, consumers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, calling for changes in mode of production, way of life and habit of consumption, and for stronger sense of social responsibility and keener awareness to protect the environment. When it comes to the issue of pollution, the energy producers like Sinopec are always accused for their pollution for the environment. They claim they have paid great efforts to making clean products and reducing the pollutant emission in consumption. Upgrading of gasoline and diesel quality is typically one of their efforts in this direction. From 2009 to 2010, Sinopec refining subsidiaries sped up development of gasoline upgrading plans and revamping of production facilities. By 1 May 2010, all automobile gasoline produced has met GB III standards or even higher. Given Sinopecs gasoline output in 2010, SO2 emission in consumption can be cut by 25,000 metric tons. But the waste in the energy industry is inevitable, they still need to pay more attention to the treatment of waste gas, waste water and industrial residue (three wastes), try their best to meet discharge standards of the government and mitigate their impact upon the environment to the minimum. By the end of 2010, they hav e completed desulfurization revamping of all 19 in-house power stations and 107 coal boilers. And we reduced SO2 emission by 204,000 metric tons, down by 35.7%. The circular is another important aspect, increasing resource efficiency and recycling, and promoting comprehensive utilization of byproducts, with the goal of low energy consumption, low emission and high efficiency. For example, flare gas recovering technology was applied. All flares were extinguished and more than 800,000 metric tons of gas can be recovered every year. Aid Those in Need, Help Those in Difficulty As one of the biggest company in China, the Sinopec still carry put some plans to help some poor areas in China. In 2010, they continue to follow the guidance of the central government about the development the rural poverty area, supporting the infrastructure construction, education development and industrial development in these areas, for example, Sinopec has invested RMB 100 million for poverty alleviation and disaster relief work in the four designated counties. During last several years, Sinopec has been paid great attention and engaged in constructing the Hope Schools which is a famous charity plan in China. It is aimed to help those poverty children have the chance to receive education in impoverished areas. Sinopec have have built 15 Hope Primary Schools in Anqing area which is in Anhui Province in the past four years. The total investment was about RMB 7.5 million. Care for employees The employees are the most important parts of a business organizations and care for the workers is an essential part of the CSR. By the end of 2010, Sinopec has 1.06 million employees in total, including 9,185 fresh university graduates joining Sinopec in 2010. They have a considerable number of employees who have worked for Sinopec for more than decades. Closely following the state labor policies, Sinopec signs labor contract with each employee, welcomes collective bargaining and offers stable and competitive salaries. Sinopec honors its legal obligations to maintain endowment insurance, health insurance, occupational injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance and housing provident funds for all employees. In 2010, the Company launched corporate annuity plan, a valuable addition to the mandatory pension scheme. Through the CSR activities above, the Sinopec earn a good reputation in China and the whole world. Through the activities of saving energy, help poverty people, this company improve their global image and do become the top business giant in the world. The Chinese government even awards the Sinopec with the title of China Corporate Social Responsibility Research Base and the Sinopec also become the most popular employer among job seekers in China. The Sinopec benefits the whole society and itself by fulfill its social responsibility. But there are still many critics about the Social Responsibilities of Sinopec. For example, as a state-owned enterprise, there are many scandals about the corruption cases of the managers. Conclusion It has to admit that, although the practice of CSR is still debated among the world. Proponents argue that there is a strong business case for CSR, in that corporations benefit in multiple ways by operating with a perspective broader and longer than their own immediate, short-term profits. Critics argue that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others yet argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations. However everything has two sides. Though some people do not love the CSR policy, increasingly, corporations are motivated to become more socially responsible because their most important stakeholders expect them to understand and address the social and community issues that are relevant to them. I believe that the CSR policy will develop to everyones benefit.

Computers and Homeland Security Unite Essay -- Technology Department o

Computers and Homeland Security Unite Homeland security was created by the Bush administration in 2001 as a result of the September 11th events. It is an independent agency in the United States whose mission is to protect the nation from potential terrorist attacks. Together the agency is made up of twenty two agencies and 180,000 employees. Their main focus is â€Å"intelligence and warning; boarder and transportation security; domestic counterterrorism; protecting critical infrastructure; defending against catastrophic threats; and emergency preparedness and response† (Whitehouse 1). The agency could not carry out these important tasks if it were not for the latest in computer technology. â€Å"The Department of Homeland Security is connected to all fifty states† (Whitehouse 1), networking, and the shared information across the US makes it easier to keep everyone informed of the current events which allows them to work together more efficiently. It is their job to inform the American people if they are at risk for terrorism. The agency issues a current and up to date warning level sign for terrorism alerts. In 2003 the United States Homeland Security signed a contract with Microsoft making them the agencies â€Å"supplier of desktop computers and computer software† (gov exec 1). America will spend 90 million dollars to purchase the rights to 140,000 computers for the next five years to ensure that they keep America secure. As a result of the new system from Microsoft the agency was allowed to simplify their network because it is now all intergraded into one system that they did not have in the past. The agency uses computers to organize all the data they have collected by entering it into a computer database. They call the database... ...rrent information in their databases. Today America is continuously up dating and entering information into their databases because they hope to prevent further US destruction. With this new system of security implemented the nation is less likely to suffer another attack like September 11th 2001 because we will have enough time to prepare for potential terrorist attacks in the future with this new system implemented. Works Cited TeleType GPS Homeland Security US Coast Guard Press Release. February 19,2003. TeleType GPS, Http://www.teletype.com/pages/pgs/press/coast_guard_homeland_secuirty.html GovExec. July 15, 2003. National Journal Group INC. http://www.goveexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleeid Homeland Security Home page. July 20, 2005. The White House President George Bush. http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/homeland/

A Disappointing Golf Game :: Reflection Memoir Essays

A Disappointing Golf Game A smooth swing backed by power propelled my Titleist 230 yards down the fairway. An explosion of emotions ran through me as I started off the most important round of golf to date. The first hole of regionals proved to be as challenging as the rest of the course would be that day. With temperatures in the lower forties, I teed off at approximately 10:40 a.m. I had a thirty-foot putt to save par. I drained it, right in the center of the cup. I thought to myself, "Now let's build off of that." The next tee shot was down the right side of the fairway and in perfect position to the pin. I was striking the ball very well, even though my swing felt like an unfolding lawn chair. I would have to keep this up for seventeen more holes. In the back of my mind, I knew that a 77 would get me to state for sure. At this same course, just two weeks prior, I shot 77 with a bogey and then a double bogey to finish my last two holes. I knew that if I could just replicate that round, I would be going to state. That 77 wasn't even a very good round for me. I made a lot of errors, mental and physical, that would have saved me a lot of strokes. A 73 won that tournament, so without those errors, I would have been right there. All I had to do was to play well. After carding a 39 on the front nine with five three-putts, I was on track to a 75. Things were looking up. Standing on the number ten tee was a very different experience than it was on the front nine. The cold, dark clouds moved overhead with a light wind blowing right to left. The wind soon raised goose bumps on all of our skin. It had become quite cold, and everyone knew that this was going to turn ugly. A decent tee shot started off the second half of my round. As I was walking to my ball in the fairway, the wind picked up dramatically and sleet was stinging the back of my neck. My hands were soaked, along with the rest of my body. My clothes were drenched, making the temperature seem much lower than it already was. I knew I would have to play through these elements well enough to post a good round.

William Isaac Thomas

The Thomas Theorem William Isaac Thomas (13 August 1863 – 5 December 1947) was an American sociologist. I decided to write about the W. I Thomas after reading about the other theorist I decided that W. I Thomas theory was much more intriguing and very controversial. W. I Thomas is well known for his quote: â€Å"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. † In 1928, the sociologist W. I. Thomas formulated this statement which later became known as the Thomas Theorem. In other words, the interpretation of a situation causes the action. This interpretation is not objective. Actions are affected by subjective perceptions of situations. Whether there even is an objectively correct interpretation is not important for the purposes of helping guide individuals' behavior (http://en. wikipedia. org, 2011). The Thomas Theorem in my interpretation means that whatever you think or believe in it will become true. I agree with this theory to a certain extent that this only applies to some things in life and not all. For example if I think that I am going to be a millionaire it will not just come true I would have to do something in order to make my thoughts come true. How we view the world creates real and tangible outcomes in how we feel and what we do. W. I. Thomas (1863–1947) (1966) stated that whatever we believe to be real will become real in its consequences. So if we believe one religious or political group is right, we will act in a way that supports that view, and we may disagree with those who view things differently. We may try to convince them that our view is right (Vessling,2010). Although many people do not agree with the Thomas theory there are many who do. Law enforcement agencies use it to train officers in the handling of the mentally ill, and it’s been used effectively to explain everything from beauty contest outcomes to panic runs on bank deposits(soulshelter. com, Tim, 2008). The Secret, written by Ronda Byrne and As a Man Thinketh, written by James Allen are both self help books and based on this theory. Some say the formulation of the Thomas Theorem is ambiguous. It could mean, â€Å"The consequences of a situation follow from how it is perceived, not the way it really is,† or â€Å"The power to define a situation includes power over its consequences. † It also could simply mean, â€Å"Beliefs have consequences, regardless of whether they are true. † Whether Thomas was referring to self-fulfilling prophecies, or expressing skepticism about the existence of an objective world; depends on how the statement is interpreted (www. ehow. com, 2011). Frank Van Dun criticized the theorem, he goes on to say: â€Å"The consequences of a situation being believed to be true are the same as if it is actually true,† it is false, because one can't create or negate a reality by wishing for or denying it. If it means, â€Å"The consequences of a situation are real no matter how well it is defined,† it is trivial because that reduces to the aphorism, â€Å"Get real. † Besides the negative feedback from many, W I Thomas was also a pioneer of a psychological approach to social phenomena, and thus can be regarded, together with William Graham Sumner and Wilhelm Wundt, as a forerunner of cultural psychology. His The Polish Peasant was an important landmark in American sociological research. He used biographic data personal letters, autobiographies, diaries, and other personal documents developing the life-history method for which he became famous along with the ideas of George Herbert Mead, Thomas' concept of the â€Å"definition of the situation† later proved to be an important starting point for the revolution of symbolic interactionism against structural functionalism(http://www. ewworldencyclopedia. org, 2011) In conclusion I am a Christian so I believe in God, I also believe that if I ask God to do something that it will be done. The bible reads in Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (King James Bible). W. I Thomas theory maybe a little farfetched to some but this is truth to many. Based on my research I can relate more to the Thomas Theorem. References Alden, WH. 2007) William Isaac Thomas Retrieved from http://www. newworldencyclopedia. org/entry/W. _I. _Thomas Phillips, Colby. (2011). What is the Thomas Theorem of Sociology Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/info_10068714_thomas-theorem-sociology. html Tim (2010) Understanding the life Through the Thomas Theorem Retrieved fromhttp://www. soulshelter. com/fortune/understanding-the-world-through-the-thomas-theorem-2/ Vissing, Yvonne (2011) An Introduction to Sociology