Monday, December 23, 2019

The Birth Control Pill And The Sexual Revolution - 884 Words

Imagine a country with no sexual freedom, a limiting amount of rights, and no power for American women. This was the image that the United States portrayed around 60 years ago, not giving the same freedom that Americans can have today and express carelessly. During the 1960’s the United States experienced changes in its society that would affect the perspectives of future generations by turning our weaknesses into strengths. During this time, the United States encountered many movements and opportunities due to the birth control pill and the Sexual Revolution. It was a great shift in the society because it opened doors for minorities and created an equal treatment men and women. The birth control pill and the subsequent Sexual Revolution†¦show more content†¦The availability of the pill gave a different view towards women and their capacity to become successful individuals due to the power they had over their bodies. For once, women had an opportunity to think of a fu ture career instead of staying at home with their children. It helped American women enjoy sex rather than worry about further responsibilities such as pregnancy. During 1965, a study proved that women who used oral contraceptives had sex up to 39% more than women who used other methods (Williams). This demonstrates how women took advantage of the pill by planning for futures they wouldn t have been able to think about before. They could now be independent women. Women started challenging their exclusion from politics and the workplace and even questioned their sexual roles (â€Å"The Sexual Revolution: History, Origins Impact†). Therefore, they also began to doubt the authority of men to make decisions for their bodies. As for men, not only did they start expecting women to have more casual affairs, but they created a stronger communication with women due to sexually transmitted diseases. The consent of women over their own bodies and their futures was made possible by the birth control pill. The Sexual Revolution caused a more tolerant and liberal behavior towards sexuality and changed social norms. It was an attack towards the â€Å"American family† for social conservatives due to the fact that bothShow MoreRelatedThe Sexual Revolution During The 1960 S1512 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A sexual revolution begins with the emancipation of women, who are the chief victims of patriarchy, and also with the ending of homosexual oppression.† Kate Millett could not have described the Sexual Revolution any better, a sexual liberation to argue that women are in fact, equal to men in more ways than society allows. In the 1960’s, women began to catch on that women are treated inferior to men, in ways that women are a disgrace if they were to have intercourse with many men, whilst it is acceptableRead MoreThe Sexual Revolution And The Contraceptive Pill1239 Words   |  5 PagesThe Sexual Revolution has been one of the most defining movements in recent world hi story. It is the only event other than a world war that has irrevocably shaped our global public consciousness. When we here the term, The Sexual Revolution, we unconsciously begin to associate it with several late 20th century cultural movements and philosophies. The most famous of these are its influences through music, and the contraceptive pill. On May 9th, 1960, the United States Food and Drug Admiration approvedRead MoreEssay about Women ´s Right: The Pill and Plan B663 Words   |  3 Pagesbeliefs. â€Å"The pill† and plan b which are oral contraception pills or also known as birth control, contributed immensely on the dramatic change of the social and sexual landscape in the United Stated and other counties in the world. It forever changed the fate women where always protrude to carry out thought their lives and certainly empowered woman but as well in a lot of cases seemed to have lowered the high classy standards women followed. The first birth control pill aka The Pill† went out intoRead MoreEvolution of Gender Roles1706 Words   |  7 Pagesstarted reforming their reputation as women with the Feminist Movement, also known as the Women’s Movement or Liberation. This movement was a collection of campaigns and reforms dealing with the issues of maternity leave, equal pay, women’s suffrage, sexual violence and harassment, and reproductive rights all of which are classified as feminism. One of the most significant feminist reformations was the strife for equal voting rights beginning in 1848 with the first women’s right convention in SenecaRead MoreThe Arrival Of The Pill979 Words   |  4 PagesThe arrival of the pill in the spring of 1960 heralded a new era in the long history of birth control, and it signalled an important, modern step towards bodily autonomy for women. For the first time there existed a method of contraception that separated birth control from the act of sexual intercourse, while having a nearly one hundred percent success rate. When the pill hit the market, at the peak of the baby boom, it was overwhelming mothers who rushed to get it. While some commentators fearedRead MoreInstitution Of Marriage1086 Words   |  5 Pagesperception of marriage. With the Sexual Revolution that occurred in the 1960’s and 1970’s, women became independent by gaining control of their sexuality and sought higher education, higher paying jobs and generally much happier marriages. The Sexual Revolution was a social movement from the 1960s to the 1980s that challenged the traditional codes of sexuality and interpersonal relationships. The revolution arose with the belief in the detrimental impacts of sexual repression and the notion thatRead MoreMale Birth Control Essay861 Words   |  4 Pagesboth sexes responsibility to practice â€Å"safe sex†. Introducing the birth control pill for women in the 1960s created a huge controversy between sexual conservatives and the women who would benefit from the pill, but the responsibility still remained in the hands of women. However, as medicine has advanced and the possibility of a male birth control pill has amounted, many wonder if the same issues would arise if a male birth control pill did in fact become available. In order to understand the effectsRead MoreEssay about 1960 Time Capsule1584 Words   |  7 PagesFifth item found in the 1960 time capsule was the first birth control pill and it was http://w ww.examiner.com/article/the-birth-control-pill-turns-50-on-may-9-2010 In the 1960s the feminist movement challenged their exclusion from politics, the workplace and began to questioning traditional sexual roles. (PBS, 1999-2001) Feminists felt that women should have the same sexual freedoms as men. Social conservatives felt that the sexual revolution was an attack on the foundation of American society.Read MoreThe Birth Of The Pill962 Words   |  4 PagesThe arrival of the pill in the spring of 1960 represented both an important step towards bodily autonomy for women, and a ‘new era in the long history of birth control’. For the very first time, there would exist a method of contraception that separated brith control from the act of sexual intercourse, and allowed women total control over their fertility. This caused many commentators to fear that the pill would ‘wreck moral havoc’ on the sexual behaviour of the nation, with some even going as farRead MoreThe Treatment Of Birth Control816 Words   |  4 Pages According to the United States census, the world population is over 7 billion and a birth occurs every 8 seconds. China leads with well over 1.3 billion people. There a re rural areas, in Africa that women have never heard of any form of birth control. In those areas, women have 6 or more children. According to the United nations report (2013), The world s population is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050. There is already a lack of natural global resources. The environment is showing signs

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Paraoxonase Status In Keratoconus Patients Health And Social Care Essay Free Essays

string(39) " a fictile bag for each participants \." Keratoconus ( KC ) is a noninflammatory corneal ectasis which normally affects both eyes and with an incidence of about 1 per 2,000 in the general population ( Rabinowitz, 1998 ) , KC is going a important clinical job worldwide ( Zadnik et al, 1996 ) . The authoritative histopathological characteristics of KC include stromal cutting, Fe deposition in the epithelial cellar membrane and interruptions in the Bowman ‘s bed ( Rabinowitz, 1998 ) . KC is a heterogeneous disease, with several indicants of familial factors lending to the pathogenesis of stray KC such as duplicate surveies, bilateralism of the disease, familial collection and formal familial analyses ( Rabinowitz, 2003 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Paraoxonase Status In Keratoconus Patients Health And Social Care Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, the function of environmental factors such as oculus friction and difficult contact lens wear may besides lend to the patterned advance of the disease in genetically susceptible persons ( Rabinowitz, 1998 ) . Although really small is known about the mechanisms taking to ectasia in KC, the current hypothesis is that the cutting of the cornea is due to abnormalcy in the collagen cross-linking and subsequent stromal thinning which leads to bulge of the cornea ( Li et al, 2007 ) . Other research lab surveies have besides indicated the degree alterations of transforming growing factor-I?2 and antioxidant enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases, cathepsin V/L2 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases ( TIMPs ) in the eyes of KC patients ( Maier et al, 2007 ; Kenney et Al, 2005 ) . Another strong hypothesis of the development of KC was put frontward ( Wilson et al, 1996 ) who pointed out the function of the interleukin-1 system and other programmed cell death modulating systems which contributes to loss of keratocytes and finally stromal cutting. However, all of these suggested hypotheses need to be more clearly defined ( Rabinowitz, 1998 ) . Paraoxonase 1 ( PON1 ) is an enzyme made up of 354 aminic acids with a entire molecular weight of 43 kDa ( Primo-Parma et Al, 1996 ; Mackness et Al, 1996 ) . PON1, which is associated with high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) , catalyses the dislocation of phospholipid and cholesteryl-ester lipid peroxides in both low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) and HDL, therefore doing it an of import hazard factor of artherosclerosis ( Mackness et al, 2004 ) . However, it was the ability of PON1 to protect the nervous system against organophosphate neurotoxicity that was foremost discovered ( Durrington et al, 2001 ) . The human PON1 cryptography sequence, located on the long arm of the human chromosome 7 ( q21.22 ) has two common polymorphism sites ; a Met ( M ) / Leu ( L ) permutation site at place 55 and a Gln ( Q ) / Arg ( R ) site at place 192, with the latter being more of import with respects to PON1 activity and affinity to certain substrates ( Primo-Parma et Al, 1996 ; Aviram, 2004 ) . Hence, the finding of the PON1 position of an person must non merely take into history the polymorphism nowadays but besides the degree of PON1 activity in that person in order to find the plasma PON1192 alloform responsible for the activity nowadays. This can be done utilizing a two-substrate enzymic check affecting two PON1 substrates ( normally paraoxon and diazoxon ) . Abnormalities between PON1 functional position and genotyping at place 192 can therefore bespeak mutant at other points in the PON1 cistron ( Richter et al, 2004 ) . As there are many factors which modulates the PON1 activity such as physiological factors ( eg. exercising ) , pathological factors ( eg. viral/bacterial infection, redness, diabetes ) , diet, alcohol ingestion and certain drugs ( eg. lipid-lowering lipid-lowering medicines ) , therefore is it of import to see these factors when finding of PON1 activity ( Aviram, 2004 ) . PON1 has been shown to hold antioxidant belongingss against oxidative emphasis ( Senti et al, 2003 ) , while oxidative emphasis has been associated with KC ( Kenney et al, 2005 ) . Therefore, PON1 may demo a protective function in the development of KC. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY Although there have been studies of KC developing in babies and besides in persons every bit tardily as the age of 51 old ages, bulk of KC patients develop this status between the ages of 12 to 20 old ages ( Hall KCG, 1963 ) , which is around the oncoming of pubescence. It could be truly lay waste toing for one to develop such a status at that point in life, when 1 is still immature and motivated. In Malaysia, the prevalence of KC may look to be of less important with studies of approximately 4 in 1169 ( 0.3 % ) in a population of oculus patients in an urban country and besides 0.3 % among school-aged kids ( Reddy SC et Al, 2008 ; Goh PP et Al, 2005 ) . However, due to the hard nature of naming KC in its developmental phases, many instances frequently go undetected until after multiple ailments from the patient and thorough analysis of the patient ‘s vision sharp-sightedness trial consequences ( Benjamin WJ, 2006 ) . Therefore, the prevalence of KC in the general Malaysian popu lation could be much higher than reported. As KC is reported as among the top five treatable causes of sightlessness and terrible ocular damage in kids in Malaysia ( Reddy SC, 2001 ) , therefore more attempt should be carried out to plan an effectual and accurate sensing assay utilizing the promotions of molecular medical specialty to supply early intervention to these persons before the status worsens. Therefore, this brings to the aims of this survey, which are as follow: To find PON1 activity in KC patients and to compare with non-KC controls. To find the position of PON1 in plasma samples of KC and non-KC patients. To place forecasters of KC from the accumulated informations by utilizing univariate and logistic arrested development analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparations prior to informations and sample aggregation In order to obtain blood samples and informations from participants, a two-day information and sample aggregation event was organised. The event was held on the 22 – 23th May 2010 at Ophir Eye Clinic and Surgery. Prior to the event, readyings were made such as boxing a 21G acerate leaf, a disposable syringe, intoxicant swab, Elastoplast, a 6mL EDTA ( purple-top ) tubing, a 6mL Li Lipo-Hepin ( green-top ) tubing and some sweet into a fictile bag for each participants . Data and sample aggregation Each participant was foremost given a brief account of the survey which they were traveling to take portion in and were asked to make full in an informed consent signifier before finishing the â€Å" Keratoconus in the Malayan Population: Pathophysiological and Familial Surveies † questionnaire signifier prepared by Shalini Arjunan, Prof Mary Anne, Dr Rozaida and Dr Jenny. Next, the participants ‘ spectacle powers were examined utilizing an auto-refractometer. Blood samples ( 5mL ) were so collected in the Li Lipo-Hepin ( green-top ) tubings from the participants of the survey and stored at 4A °C if can non be processed instantly. Blood samples were processed within the twenty-four hours. After that, each participant was examined utilizing a keratometer and a Pentacam to obtain their K-readings and corneal topography severally. Then, each participant was required to undergo a ocular sharp-sightedness trial and a biomicroscopy trial utilizing Snellen ‘s chart and Haag-Streit Slit Lamp severally. Finally, each participant ‘s trial readings were reviewed by Dr. Jenny P. Deva, adviser Ophthalmologist and Refractive Surgeon at Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital and the diagnosing of each participant was confirmed. Preparation of plasma samples After aggregation, the blood samples were centrifuged at 500 xg for 5 proceedingss at room temperature ( 25A °C ) to divide the plasma. Plasma ( top bed ) was so be carefully aliquoted in 500A µL batches into a few microcentrifuge tubings ( 1.5mL ) utilizing Pasteur pipettes depending on the sum of plasma available. All micro-centrifuge tubings were labelled and stored at -70A °C until activity measuring was carried out. Two-substrate enzyme analysis This survey was carried out by finding the position of Paraoxonase 1 in the plasma samples of the participants based on the two-substrate enzyme analysis as described by Richter RJ et Al, 2004, with little alterations. The rate of hydrolysis of the two substrates, which were Paraoxon and Diazoxon were measured utilizing Lamda 25 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer running KINLAB version 2.85.00. After blending with the several substrates for a few seconds, the rate of paraoxon and diazoxon hydrolysis were monitored continuously for two proceedingss. The initial rates of each sample were so multiplied by the deliberate transition factor, which was 5611 and 67000 to acquire paraoxonase and diazoxonase activity severally in U/L unit. Activity analysis utilizing SPSS The paraoxonase and diazoxonase activities of each sample together with other informations from the questionnaire done by Shalini Arjunan and genotype informations done by Yvonne Yong were so pooled together into SPSS version 17.0 for farther analysis. Trials which were carried out include age and sex demographic distribution, independent t-test, Pearson ‘s Correlation, spread secret plan, Kruskal-Wallis trial, one-way ANOVA, etc. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION For this survey, a population of 66 participants were successfully identified, consisting of 9 keratoconus patients ( 13.6 % ) , 2 forme fruste keratoconus patients ( 3.0 % ) , 9 high myopic patients ( 13.6 % ) , 11 moderate myopic patients ( 16.7 % ) and 35 normal controls ( 53.0 % ) . This population, dwelling of 27 Malays ( 40.9 % ) , 9 Chinese ( 13.6 % ) and 30 Indians ( 45.5 % ) had an age scope of 7 to 68 old ages old. There were somewhat more males than females in this population, that is 35 ( 53 % ) to 31 ( 47 % ) participants. There were undistinguished difference of ages among both genders and besides the cultural groups. Exploratory informations analysis on this sample population revealed that the distribution of the paraoxonase activity and age of the participants were non distributed usually, giving a p-value of 0.019 and 0.025 severally when utilizing the Shapiro-Wilk trial. Merely diazoxonase activity gave a undistinguished p-value ( 0.446 ) , therefore bespeaking a normal distribution. It was of import to transport out such trials foremost to find whether a parametric or nonparametric trial should be used for analysis. The activity of Paraoxonase 1 was successfully determined by mensurating the rate of hydrolysis of paraoxon and diazoxon substrate, harmonizing to the method used in Richter RJ et Al ( 2004 ) , with some minor accommodations. With these informations, the phenotype of each participant was successfully identified by plotting a spread graph of diazoxonase activity against paraoxonase activity, to distinguish the persons with functionally homozygous for PON1192Q, heterozygotes for PON1Q/R192Q/R and homozygous for PON1192R. These phenotype information was subsequently confirmed with informations from my co-worker, Yvonne who carried out Paraoxonase 1 genotyping for polymorphism 192QR by limitation enzyme digestion. Both informations from Paraoxonase 1 activity finding and Paraoxonase 1 genotyping were found to be coincident and accurate. When these participants were divided harmonizing to familial relation to the KC patients, 18 were first degree relations to the KC patients, 3 were 2nd degree relations and 20 had no blood dealingss to the patients, while 16 were omitted as they did non suit the standards for normal healthy controls. Based on such classs, it was found that KC patients and relations may hold a important difference in paraoxonase activity when groups together against the normal controls with a p-value of 0.057. However, this value is non important plenty to reason a possible correlativity and may necessitate more KC to make a important degree. This was non the instance for diazoxonase activity when compared in similar mode, where the activity in KC patients and comparative were non significantly different from that of normal controls. The most important consequences of this survey nevertheless, were obtained when KC patients, including forme fruste KC patients were compared against the other participants, labelled non-KC. When categorised as such, the paraoxonase activity of KC patients were significantly difference than that of the non-KC participants ( p-value = 0.022 ) . This indicates that paraoxonase activity may hold a function in the development of KC patients. However, different cultural groups besides showed important difference in paraoxonase activity when tested, viz. between Malays and Indians and this may lend as an implicit in factor since many of the KC patients where Indians. Hence, comparing surveies between KC/non-KC position and cultural groups must be carried out to find any relation between the two variables. Decision The paraoxonase and diazoxonase activity of each participant were successfully and accurately measured. Based on genotype informations from my co-worker Yvonne, the phenotype informations obtained from the diazoxonase – paraoxonase spread secret plan was rather dependable. There were important happening which relates paraoxonase activities with KC/non-KC position, but it may be due to an underlying factor such as cultural group. Further statistical analysis and re-definition will be required to obtain more important informations. How to cite Paraoxonase Status In Keratoconus Patients Health And Social Care Essay, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

The Art Of Euclid free essay sample

# 8217 ; s Writing Essay, Research Paper In Elementss book one, Euclid incorporates stylistic devices in the procedure of turn outing a series of mathematical theories. One stylistic facet of Euclid? s authorship is his usage of common impressions, such as the whole being greater than the portion, and posits, such as pulling a line from any point to any point. His early usage of common impressions and posits do non simply assist to turn out the peculiar proposition, but is used in ulterior propositions to carry the reader of his cogent evidence every bit good as to transfuse assurance in himself and the reader of the decisions he arrives at in the propositions. Even before the existent propositions begin, Euclid lists the common impressions and posits of which he and the reader agree with. By making this, Euclid and the reader have assurance in the cogent evidence. In another manner, the words? common impressions? and? posits? can be substituted by? common sense? because it is 10 points which everyone believes to be true. For illustration, the bulk of the decisions in proposition 13 were arrived at utilizing common impressions. The last three stairss in eventually turn outing proposition 13 were based on common impressions. Since everyone agrees with the common impressions, Euclid is confident that he is doing a logical patterned advance in turn outing that if a consecutive line set up on a consecutive line make angles, it will do either two right angles or angles equal to two right angles. Because of the general understanding of the posits and the common impressions, and by naming them in progress, Euclid is confident that he is right when he makes premises based on them. In the same sense, the reader besides holds the decisions that Euclid arrives at to be true. Another possibility to Euclid? s usage of posits and common impressions is that he frequently uses posits to put up a job in footings in which he knows to be right and so concludes the proposition with a common impression. Euclid is confide nt that if he can get at a common impression for the last measure, he is able to turn out the proposition utilizing that peculiar common impression. An illustration of this is proposition two in which his first measure in turn outing the proposition uses postulate one and by a logical patterned advance arrives at common impression one in the terminal to turn out the proposition. Another ground for Euclid? s usage of common impressions and posits is the desire to carry the audience that he is right when he uses common impressions to turn out posits. For illustration, in proposition four, which states that if two trigons have the two sides equal to two sides severally, and have the angles contained by the equal heterosexual lines equal, they will besides hold the base equal to the base, the trigon will be equal to the trigon, and the staying angles will be equal to the staying angles severally, viz. those which the equal sides subtend, Euclid? s last measure refers to common impression four, which finally proves the proposition. Because Euclid knows the reader agrees with the common impressions, he can easy carry them when he stakes a claim in order to turn out a proposition. Another illustration is proposition two, that places at a given point ( as an appendage ) a consecutive line equal to a given consecutive line, which is entirely proved utilizing posits and common impressions. In this instance, Euclid can easy carry the reader because every measure of the proposition involved either a posit or a common impression. Since the reader accepts all the posits and common impressions to be true, Euclid can easy carry the reader when all a proposition contains is common impressions and posits. In another case, Euclid uses both a posit and a common impression to turn out one of the stairss of proposition 15 which states that if two straight lines cut one another, they make the perpendicular angles equal to one another. By carry throughing the conditions of a posit and a common impression, the proposition gives the reader no uncertainty that the cogent evidence will work. Euclid besides uses a proposition proven by a common impression to turn out a ulterior proposition. For illustration, propositions four and 10s are correlated in this mode. Proposition four, which deals with congruent sides and their included angle, is used to turn out proposition 10, which is used to bisect a given finite consecutive line. Euclid besides proves propositions in sequence, turn outing one utilizing the propositions that straight precedes it. An illustration of this is propositions 18, 19, and 20, which deal with greater angles delimiting greater sides. He does this because he is confident that by utilizing a proposition proven by a common impression, which has to be true, the ulterior proposition that is based upon the earlier besides has to be true. Not merely is Euclid confident when he uses this logical thinking, but so is the reader who is persuaded by mention to an earlier common impression. Euclid? s authorship has many stylistic facets that help turn out his theories of trigons and parallel countries. In utilizing the assorted stylistic devices in his Elementss, particularly the usage of common impressions and posits, Euclid consistently explains each measure of his propositions with a mention each clip to either a common impression or a posit, or some other signifier. Since about all of the propositions contain either a posit or a common impression, Euclid persuades the reader that he is right because of the credence of posits and common impressions as true.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Issues in Industrial Psychology Essay Example

Issues in Industrial Psychology Essay Industrial psychology, often referred to as industrial-organizational psychology, is the scientific study of the workplace. Industrial psychologists conduct research exploring issues that are critically important in the business world. They often work as independent researchers or business consultants who apply existing knowledge to current problems in the workplace. Industrial-organizational psychology covers dozens of issues relevant to the modern workplace. EMPLOYEE SELECTION AND EVALUATION A main issue of interest to industrial-organizational psychologists is how employers make hiring decisions.Researchers examine the factors that improve an applicants chance of receiving an interview or job offer. They also seek to understand how employers screen applicants and what characteristics or behaviors are viewed negatively during the hiring process. Industrial-organizational psychologists also interested in evaluating employee performance. They may create evaluations of job performance and design incentive programs to improve productivity. Measuring and improving employee efficiency is a major issue in industrial-organizational psychology. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTIndustrial-organizational psychologists also implement training programs. How to design a high-quality training program and determining what factors increase information retention are of interest to industrial-organizational psychologists. They also identify areas in which employees could develop skills to improve efficiency and become a stronger asset for the company. SATISFACTION IN THE WORKPLACE A large field of interest to many businesses is increasing job satisfaction. Industrial-organizational psychologists research the characteristics of a workplace that lead to greater happiness and employee morale.Workers with high job satisfaction are more efficient and likely to stay with a company. Many businesses are keenly interested in maintaining worker satisfaction to prevent the considerable costs of re hiring and training new workers. Industrial-organizational psychologists identify ways in which employees achieve work-life balance and design programs to improve job satisfaction and address employees concerns. HURDLES IN INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY A) Conflicts Between Psychology B) Communication Hurdles C) Resistance To Change amp; Modifications

Monday, November 25, 2019

How To Lead A Remote Team With Sandra Lewis From Worldwide101

How To Lead A Remote Team With Sandra Lewis From Worldwide101 Do you work remotely? A recent Gallup study shows that more than 40% of the American workforce works remotely, at least some of the time. Today, we’re talking to Sandra Lewis, founder and CEO of Worldwide101. It’s a premium subscription staffing company with virtual assists, expert marketers, and others across the world. Sandra shares six keys you need when working with a remote team to amplify their abilities and make them successful. Key 1 Hire for passion: You want them to be interested, passionate, and obsessive in your service and product Key 2 Analyze skill sets and strengths: Worldwide101 has two pillars that categorize someones strength structured or creative Key 3 Amplify those strengths: Amplifying a strength is having someone do what they do best; also look at what can complement a core strength (soft skills) Key 4 Provide ongoing learning opportunities: Keep people engaged and provide a path and cross training for them to grow their strengths Key 5 Provide great tools: Try new tools and build a tool stack that helps workers be more efficient and productive Key 6 Over communicate: Have face-to-face meetings, acknowledge every email, set check-in times to build trust and get to know someone remotely To lead a successful remote team, keep it personal; do little things that make working remotely less isolated; love the people you work with and celebrate them Links: Worldwide101 Upwork Slack Constant Contact Write and send a review to receive a care package If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Sandra Lewis: â€Å"My company allows for successful business owners and executives to subscribe to staff without having to employ them themselves.† â€Å"Over-communicate. That is super important when youre remote, when you cant see each other.† â€Å"The first thing to do to amplify strength is to make sure you give that person what theyre good at.† â€Å"Everyone wants to keep learning, its part of staying motivated in what you do.†

Friday, November 22, 2019

Sustainable Business Development Automobiles Essay

Sustainable Business Development Automobiles - Essay Example The automobile industry plays a critical role in making sure that their products are created more responsibly, as well as ensuring that more sustainable facilities are used for production. Moreover, the industry also plays a role in ensuring that their product is created for more eco-friendly, efficient, and innovatively imagined options of personal transport that take the burgeoning world population into account. The growing awareness of environmental issues is bound to significantly impact on the automobile industry and, therefore, it is important for the industry to create more sustainable products that satisfy the public (Conley & McLaren, 2012: p52). According to gov.uk (2014: p1), there were close to 35 million licensed vehicles for road use in the UK in 2013, which represented an increase of 1.5% compared to 2012 and the biggest year-on-year increase since the global financial crisis. This represents a trend, in which the number of vehicles in the UK has increased annually since the end of WWII except 1991. Moreover, there are close to 2 million vehicles that reach the end of useful life in the UK and are withdrawn from service (gov.uk, 2014: p1). These facts are the main justification for the selection of the automobile industry in this essay, specifically because of the environmental implications of so many vehicles on the roads, as well as in the waste streams. Whereas the bulk of attention regarding the environmental impacts resulting from automobiles has mainly focused on fuel economy, climate change, and emissions, this essay will approach the automobile as a product across its lifecycle. This paper seeks to investigate the environmental impacts of automobiles across their life cycle, as well as discuss how these impacts can be mitigated. The term sustainable development first came into use in the International Union for the Conservation of

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Theories and Research in Global Politics, International Politics Essay

Theories and Research in Global Politics, International Politics - Essay Example In addition to the direct economic costs associated with terrorism and the threat of further terrorism, 9/11 also had important political ramifications. Importantly, political scientists have been wracking their brains trying to make sense the horrific violence undertaken the morning of 9/11 and further violence inspired by global jihadists bent on taking over the world. Psychologists sought to explore the psychological factors leading people to kill in the name of Allah, domestic-level theorists explored the domestic antecedents to terror including extreme poverty, a lack of education and political repression. System-level theorists however were at a loss to explain the attacks of September 11th and the ensuing War on Terror (Bram and Rapaport 55). The War on Terror represents a total American foreign policy shift which advocates the concept of unilateralism and unilateral military action in the face of a global terrorist threat. This is American hegemony par excellence. Seeking to address this dramatic change in US foreign policy, this essay asks the following questions: How has the international order changed in the face of US hegemony and what are the global ramifications of this new foreign policy of unilateralism? Can international relations theory explain the War on Terror and global American hegemony? If so, which explanatory theory best explains American unilateralism and the New World Order? This essay will argue that realism, as an explanatory theory of international relations, is the theory most applicable to the present international order in which a hegemonic United States remains at the helm of the international system. Accordingly, realism provides perhaps the most concise and strongest definition of what consti tutes state interest, behavior and the establishment of the international order with the United States as a hegemonic actor. Realists argue that

Monday, November 18, 2019

The capitalistic nature of Ben Franklin Research Paper

The capitalistic nature of Ben Franklin - Research Paper Example Earlier, he was the 1st United States Postmaster General. Apart from his politician role, he was also a scientist, an inventor, a statesman, a civic activist, a satirist and last but not the least, a diplomat. Ben Franklin was proud of his working class roots and hence became a renowned newspaper editor and a printer. He partnered with William Goddard and Joseph Galloway where all of these three individuals published the Pennsylvania Chronicle; a newspaper known for its out of the league emotions and criticisms of the British monarchy within the reins of the American colonies. His wealth is accredited due to the publishing of Poor Richard’s Almanack as well as The Pennsylvania Gazette. Ben Franklin’s life was considered very colorful because he knew a lot of traits and under his aegis; undertook professions which had far-reaching conclusions. This paper discusses the capitalistic nature of Ben Franklin. As an author, Ben Franklin started to publish the renowned Poor Ric hard Almanack. This happened in 1733. He did so for both the original and borrowed content. He used the pseudonym Richard Saunders for the same. His popularity is based on this rendition. This provided him the platform to pen down further publications with several pseudonyms. The character of Richard Saunders was in denial of the role of Ben Franklin within the publication of Poor Richard Almanack, however it was well-known amongst the relevant people as the secret had come out in the open very vividly and there was no hiding. Poor Richard’s proverbs came out of this almanac where one of the most famous ones is â€Å"a penny saved is two pence dear†, or more clearly suggested as â€Å"a penny saved is a penny earned†. Another one is the â€Å"fish and visitors stink in three days†. These are common proverbs in this day and age and remain very popular within the Western folklore. These are adapted within different occasions within the society’s hold and have the ability to be termed alongside the very popular ones that are being made use of in the society (McCrary, 2009). It was in those times that the people considered it wisdom to have an adage for every occasion and Ben Franklin’s readers were always prepared for such adages. By estimates, he sold about 10,000 copies annually, which by current times are equivalent to three million or more. It was in the year 1758 that Ben Franklin stopped writing for the Poor Richard Almanack. This was the time when he printed Father Abraham’s Sermon which was widely recognized as The Way to Wealth. Similarly, Ben Franklin’s autobiography kicked off in 1771 but got published after he died in 1790. This autobiography was hailed as one of the best known classics of the related genre. Ben Franklin was also a noted inventor. His work spoke for his own self. He invented a number of items, most important of which remained the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, flexible urinar y catheter, the bifocal glasses and glass armonica. The glass armonica is a glass instrument and is very different from the metal harmonica. The most unfortunate part of his inventions was that he never patented them. In his autobiography, he confessed that he enjoyed utilizing others’ inventions but then was the time to allow others to make use of his inventions, and allow the people around the world to delve into the scope of how these inventions worked. He mentioned that he needed to do

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Strategies to Maximise Profits in the First Year

Strategies to Maximise Profits in the First Year How will the company maximize its profits (or minimize losses) its first year, while it is a monopoly firm? Give concrete examples by referring to the cottages, restaurant and ferry. What advantages does it have in its first year and how can it maximize profits? What are the risks associated with this strategy? In the first year the firm would be a monopoly firm as there is no existing firm in the market dealing with the vacation destination on Partridge Island. It provides rent services for cottages, restaurants and ferry. Being a monopoly firm it has two choices available first one is to decide how much quantity is to be sold and the other one is the decision about the price to be charged. An important thing is that a monopolist can either decide quantity to be sold or the price to be charged, but not both the price and quantity simultaneously. If this firm take a decision about price then the quantity sold will be decided by the market. If given firm decides about the quantity to be sold then the price will be decided the market forces. In order to maximize profits or minimize losses the firm will produce at a level at which its marginal costs are equal to its marginal revenues. Level of output is determined by the intersection of these two curves. To take decision about the prices and q uantities monopolist will have to use the data on market demand and prices, and will supplement this data with the costs faced by monopolist. This firm will charge a price which is far higher than the marginal economic costs as there is no danger of losing customers. The firm is price maker in this case and has a complete control over prices as being a single provider of cottages, restaurants and ferry on Partridge Island. There is no perfect substitute available in the market therefore the firm will try a charge a maximum possible price. In order to maximize the total profits the firm will have to carefully analyse the demand structure for cottages, restaurants and ferry, separately. Maximum rent will be charged for a service that has most in elastic demand. In elastic demand ensures that consumer will go to avail the services of this firm even at high prices. On the other hand comparatively low rent will be charged for a service having more elastic demand. In this way among the three departments of cottages, restaurants and ferry, the rent will be determined by the firm keeping in view the motive of profit maximization. As far as the determination of rent is considered costs play very important role. It is possible to decrease the rent in the department which is having favorable cost structure as compared to the other departments of the firm. It is often observed that a monopoly firm usually earns ab normal profits both in the long run and short run but is also possible for a monopolist firm to experience losses. In case of losses firm will try to minimize the costs being faced by doing so the difference between revenue and costs will be decreased and thus the losses. The following year, a new business enters the market and provides cottages, restaurant and ferry. What strategies will you recommend so your client continues to maximize its profits now that it is in a oligopoly? What are the risks associated with these strategies In the following year when a new business enter the market, it will lead to completely change the market structure from monopoly to oligopoly, as there are two firms now competing with each other. In such circumstances there are two possibilities for these competing firms. First one is that these two firms will keep competing with each other by indulging themselves into price and non-price competitions. The other possibility is that they will come at an agreement and will form a cartel. The cartel will serve to increase the profits for both the firms. This is due to the fact that if they keep competing then they will have to lower down the prices which will in turn reduce profits of both and they will come at a level at which profit is quite lower than the monopoly profits. On the other hand if they form a cartel then they will be able to enjoy the monopoly powers. These two firms will have complete control over the price and quantity and will be able to charge a higher price as now there is no substitute available for the services provided by this cartel. Cartel is referred to a formal and explicit agreement between two or more competing firms which is aimed to generate the monopoly powers for the firms in order to raise the levels of profit. In this case the two firms dealing with the business of restaurants, cottages and ferry will agree to fix the rents marketing or production. Formation of cartel depends upon the nature of market and here the nature of market i.e. oligopoly is perfect to enjoy the benefits associated with cartels. The members of cartel reach an agreement and then act together as being a single seller, with mutual consensus, in order to have an influence on the prices of goods and services. They control these prices by acquiring a control over production and marketing. The two members will have to agree upon certain factors like share in industry’s provision of services, market shares and fixation of prices. They come at an agreement after having completed detailed negotiations on terms and conditions of the important matters. In this case it is also an important consideration to decide about allocation of territories, customer’s allocation, formation of common sales agencies bid rigging and division of profits among these two firms. Their joint aim will be increase of profitability by reducing the competition in the market. If these two firms remain successful in acquiring government shield regarding the formation of cartel then this cartel will be known as public cartel and the enforcement of cartel agreement will be ensured by the state. On the other hand if they just try to focus on the benefits of the two firms who constitute it then it will be recognized as private cartel. As compared to private cartel it will be more beneficial for the society as a whole that these two firms form a public cartel, due to the fact that in case of public cartel the benefits are passed to the respective society as a whole. It is observed that competition laws are always found to oppose the formation of cartel the refore these two firms will have to keep in mind the rules and regulation associated with the formation of cartels in the country so that they may ensure their long run existence in the market. However, it is always very difficult for law implementation agencies to prove the existence of cartel in any market. To avoid the disclosure of involving in cartel making and resulting negative consequences often firms do not paper the hidden agreements existing among them. These firms will try to regulate supply with an aim to regulate the prices being charged for the services provided by two. Three years later there are 20 companies providing cottage rental, restaurant and ferry services to Partridge Island. What strategies would you recommend to your client to maximize profits now that it operates under monopolistic competition? Now there are twenty companies in the market meaning that now the nature of competition is similar to that of monopolistic competition where there is a reasonable number of firms in the market competing with each other. In order to maintain the position of the individual firm in a market and to ensure the survival firms compete on the basis of product differentiation. No firm can survive in the industry if it ignores the strategy of product differentiation. Product differentiation means that firms try to generate differences in their products or services to make their products attractive as compared to those of rivals. The purpose is to acquire the attraction of buyer in order to increase the demand for the products offered and resultantly to increase the profits. The profit maximization will occur at the same point as it is in monopoly i.e. a point at which Marginal Revenue is equal to marginal costs. Firm will produce output and charge the price corresponding to the intersection of marginal revenue and marginal cost. As far as the strategies to maximize profits are concerned the main strategy which must be followed by the firm is to create differentiation in the services offered by this firm. They will have to discover different ways to make their services alike, it will ensure the rise in the competitive advantage associated with the services offered. These differences in the services may be of real nature or that of an imaginary one. Real differences involve an actual services. These differences which should be created by the firm in order to maximize the profits may also be of imaginary nature for example simply changing the style of services provided. In this case there will be no real difference in the services but by changing the prese ntation style, customers will get attracted to the services of this particular firm and will prefer this firm among other twenty firms operating in the same industry. It is considered to be very important in the field of business dealing with cottages, restaurants and ferry to maintain a unique position in the market especially when there are many firms competing. In this industry the importance of services provided is like that of lifeblood in the human body. Therefore, it can be suggested that this firm will have to improve the standards of services, including that of staff and related to the comfort of customers. Customers comfort should be of primary importance for the firm and to do so they can do many different things. For restaurants and cottages they should improve the living conditions including furniture and food provided to the customers. As far as the case of Ferry is concerned user friendly services will have to be provided and to do so they should relax the terms and c ondition elated to the transport of goods and they may also maintain their position in the market by offering relatively low prices as compared to those offered by competitors. The strategy to reduce prices will have a positive impact to increase the preference for this firm among customers. Ten years later we find hundreds of companies providing the same services. What strategies would you recommend to your client to maximize its profits in a perfectly competitive market? If your client was losing money, when would you recommend it shut down its activities and when should it leave the industry altogether. Ten years later when there are hundreds of new companies in the market the monopoly power faced by the firm will totally abolish. The firm will have no control over the price charged from the customers. The main reason behind this is that now there is large number of firms offering almost the same services, so of this firm tries to charge a higher price it will lose its customer a they has a large choice available in the form of service providers of cottages, restaurants and ferry. The firm will become a price taker one and will have a choice to take only one decision that is of quantity to be sold. The market structure now resembles that of perfect competition, with large number of buyers and sellers, free entry and exit and having almost perfect substitutes available. In this case the firm cannot charge high prices for any of cottages, restaurants and ferry as there are large number of firms offering almost similar services so the rise in price will contribute to shift the customer s to any other service provider, hence contributing to decrease the venues of client firm. In a perfectly competitive market it becomes difficult to generate abnormal profits in a long run. However there is a possibility that firm enjoys abnormal profits in short run which will encourage the entrance of new firms in the industry and this mechanism will lead to decrease the abnormal profits enjoyed by the firms. In order to maintain a profit maximizing level the strategy followed by the firm should be based on the production of output or provision of services, at the minimum level of average cost curve. In other words firm should produce at a level which is optimal for it and at which the costs faced by the firm are minimized. The strategy to produce at optimal level will lead to generate at least normal profits for the firm in long run and it may earn heavy profits in short run. In a perfectly competitive market firm should never try to compete on the basis of prices as it would prove to be a useless strategy. As far as the general rules of profit maximization are concerne d the profits are maximized at a point where the Marginal cost curve intersects the marginal revenue curve. In addition to this the slope of MC is more than the slope of MR. Here is perfectly competitive market the Marginal Revenue (MR), Average Revenue (AR) and price (P) curves are the same. These curves are represented by the straight line which is horizontal to the X-axis showing that the firm has no control over the price of its product or service. The optimal output is not just determined by the cost information instead the knowledge of cost and demand conditions enables the firm to determine the optimal level of output which maximizes its profitability. The demand curve can be obtained by plotting sales revenue at different levels of output. The optimal output of the firm is sensitive to the price and costs associated with it, resultantly whenever the cost conditions or the prices of services in the restaurants, cottages and ferry market change, then the optimal output of this particular firm will also be changed. As here exist intense rivalry among the business of restaurants, cottages and ferry, so the firm should try to introduce new products, improve the quality of existing products and make more advertising expenditures. It is also extremely important to timely respond the strategies of competitors in the market. How can changes to the labour market be linked to changes in income distribution? What could be driving income disparities between high-income earners and low-income earners (in Canada or elsewhere)? What could be the negative impacts of these disparities? Are these short term differentials or equilibrium differentials? What policies could government put in place to improve income opportunities for low-income earners? Due to the wage restraints all over the world, people on higher end enjoy most of the benefits of economic gains leaving majority of the people deprived of the advantages associated with production processes. The status and position of migrants, women and minorities is miserable in the income distributions of most of the countries. The major contributor to promote income disparities and inequalities all over the world is decreased powers of labor unions. These unions remain unable to secure a reasonable rate of wages due to weak bargaining power associated with them. A gradual and long term decline in labor union memberships has also been observed in the past and the trend still continues. There is also negative impact of Right to Work Laws on the equal distribution of resources in an economy. These laws on the one hand benefits in achieving social welfare and on the other have adverse impacts on the income distribution, while promoting the situation of inequality in the country. Mor eover, in case of Canada the premiums set by labor unions are also quite low to ensure the well being of low income and middle income classes. The gap between rich and poor as represented by the income inequality is widening these days in Canada and the income inequality is far higher than the level at which it was thirty years ago. The inequality in favor of rich is posing serious threats to the economy as it is contributing to increase the level of aggregate demand, hence promoting highly rising inflation in the country. Poor is suffering a lot and resources available to this class for the purpose of education or for investment in business are very few. This is the major reason that poor remain trapped into the vicious circle of poverty and rich get richer day by day. Moreover, another impact of income inequality is that it leads to generate increased probability of financial distress for the economy which may serve to hinder the progress in long run. Due to distress in the society caused by income inequality, the crime rates also increase e.g. it is often observed that poor section of society indulge itself into criminal activities like murders, in order to create money for themselves and their children, so that they may the basic needs of daily life. As far as the general welfare of society is concerned income equality makes it impossible to provide similar facilities to different sections of society. Among these the most important consequence of in equality is reduced availability of health facilities which results in lower life expectancy especially for the case of poor, who has limited resources to obtain proper food and health facilities. These differentials existing between different sections of society may prove to be if long run nature if not controlled with proper policies of private and public sector. In case of Canada the differences are persistent in nature, therefore, it can be concluded that these differences between rich and poor are of long term nature in Canada. In order to deal with the income inequalities government can adopt fiscal policy changes like that of tax policy change. The measures to adopt progressive taxation can prove to be very helpful. Another way regarding tax policy is to tax the non-parents in Canada as no –parents have larger median incomes as compared to the parents. Moreover, the responsibilities of parents are larger than the non-parents and it is very beneficial to provide them an ease in the form of tax break. Tax rate should be higher on the incomes of producers as the producers comprise that section of society which is comparatively wealthier. Government can also provide ease to the poor section to get them out of the poverty trap, in the form of subsidies on the products used by poor. In addition different allowances and benefits should be designed by the government of Canada to facilitate poor so that the disparities can be removed and income distribution may get equal for all the sections of society.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Beyond Suffrage: A Book Review Essay examples -- essays research pape

The book, Beyond Suffrage; Women in the New Deal, presents the role of women in the 1930’s in a much different light than many people think of it. The goal of this book is to enlighten the reader as to what role women played in politics during the New Deal. Because of it’s broad view I have taken several specific examples from the book and elaborated on them in order to give you a better understanding.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author, Susan Ware, begins by laying the groundwork for the women’s network. During the 1930’s, many different organizations began to evolve to include women in their decision-making. The backbone to this movement seems to lie deep within the White House. The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, held a great deal of influence in decisions regarding women and their role. Ware writes of Mrs. Roosevelt as the â€Å"foremost member of the women’s network in the 1930’s,† and throughout the book Roosevelt’s influence seems to be everywhere.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moving on, the twenty-eight women discussed in this book are all linked through a complex network, which made them very strong in a time where women had no real strength. Almost all of them held top federal jobs in Washington DC. They were all educated women, born in the same generation. A sisterhood, supporting each other and encouraging each other after every victory, no matter how small, linked them very closely. These women gave each other the moral support and mentorship that seems abse...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Analysis of the Twelfth Planet

The Myth of a 12th Planet: A Brief Analysis of Cylinder Seal VA 243 Michael S. Heiser Ph. D. candidate, Hebrew Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages University of Wisconsin-Madison Introduction Readers of Zecharia Sitchin’s books, particularly The 12th Planet, will recognize the above seal, VA 243 (so named because it is number 243 in the collection of the Vorderasiatische Museum in Berlin). This seal is the centerpiece of Sitchin’s theory that the Sumerians had advanced astronomical knowledge of the planetary bodies in our solar system.This knowledge was allegedly given to the Sumerians by extraterrestrials, whom Sitchin identifies as the Anunnaki gods of Sumero-Mesopotamian mythology. In the upper left-hand corner of the seal, Sitchin argues, one sees the sun surrounded by eleven globes. Since ancient peoples (including the Sumerians according to Sitchin) held the sun and moon to be â€Å"planets,† these eleven globes plus the sun add up to twelve planets. Of cou rse, since we now know of nine planets plus our sun and moon, part of Sitchin’s argument is that the Sumerians knew of an extra planet beyond Pluto.This extra planet is considered by Sitchin to be Nibiru, an astronomical body mentioned in Mesopotamian texts. Sitchin’s works detail his contention that Nibiru passes through our solar system every 3600 years, and so some believers in Sitchin’s theory contend that Nibiru will return soon. Some followers of Sitchin’s ideas also refer to Nibiru as â€Å"Planet X†. Is Sitchin correct – in whole or in part? Is Nibiru a 12th planet that will soon return? Does VA243 prove his thesis? Unfortunately for Sitchin and his followers, the answer to each of these questions is no. This paper will focus on the heart of his theory, VA243.Nibiru is the subject of another paper on my website. Method and Approach The study of cylinder seals is actually a very specialized sub-discipline within Sumerology and Assyrio logy. a It is possible to determine, through the efforts of cylinder seal specialists of the recent past and current experts, to decisively say that Sitchin’s interpretation of this seal is deeply flawed and lacks scholarly merit. In short, his theory is false and is unsupported by the seal itself. In the discussion that follows, I will demonstrate that VA243 in no way supports Sitchin’s ideas.My reasons / lines of argument for this are: 1) The inscription on the seal (left hand and right hand sides – which are not discussed by Sitchin) says nothing about planets or any element of astronomy. Rather than offering an independent translation, I will defer to authorities on Sumerian seal inscriptions in this regard to avoid any charge of bias. 2) The alleged â€Å"sun† symbol on the seal is not the sun. We know this because it does not conform to the consistent depiction of the sun in hundreds of other cylinder seals and examples of Sumero-Mesopotamian artwor k.I will describe the typical depiction (determined with certainty because it appears with texts about the sun god [Shamash Akkadian, known as Utu in Sumerian]) and provide image examples. Sources are provided for readers to check for themselves. The â€Å"sun† symbol is actually a star (which in Mesopotamian art could have six or, more commonly, eight points). Lest the modern reader retort that â€Å"well, the sun is a star,† I offer several images where the star symbol and the sun symbol (which again, is not that in VA243) are side-by-side and distinct from one another.The Sumerians and Mesopotamians distinguished the sun from stars by using different symbols – and associating each symbol with the sun god and other gods, respectively. There is simply no ancient Sumero-Akkadian evidence to support Sitchin’s identification. 3) If the â€Å"sun† is not the sun, then what are the dots? The dots are also stars, as is best illustrated by the Sumerian-M esopotamian depiction of the Pleaides (seven dots together with reasonable astronomical accuracy since they are visible to the naked eye). b The Pleaides are actually one of the most frequently depicted astronomical features in SumeroMesopotamian art.As Sitchin points out (and this is corroborated by actual scholars in the field – it’s common knowledge), stars were associated with or considered to be heavenly beings – gods. In Sumero-Mesopotamian artwork, a star represents either a god or an astronomical body. The same can be said of the sun – it can either reference the literal sun or the sun god. There are three possibilities as to what VA243 is depicting: (A) It is singling out a deity or special star and associating it with other stars in some sort of zodiacal representation. I don’t consider this likely because there are other far clearer representations of zodiacal constellations.Unless there are clear zodiacal connotations, a star was symbol ic of a deity, which brings us to the second option. (B) More probable is the idea that the central star stands for a deity that has some association with fertility (as in crops) since the inscription describes an offering made by a worshipper (who is named) to a seated god who is associated in the seal with fertile harvest. Since there are two other figures in the seal in addition to the seated god, and one is the offerer, the remaining figure is likely a deity also associated with the offering. In favor of this possibility are the â€Å"implements† aAn excellent general introduction is Dominique Collon, Cylinder Seals. I am not saying the star is depicted amid the Pleiades, only that the artistic depiction of the Pleiades provides an excellent example of â€Å"dots† = stars. The Pleiadean depiction is always seven dots/stars. b shown on the seal with respect to these two figures facing the seated god and the figure’s headdress. Also in its favor is the fact th at there are literally hundreds of such â€Å"offering seals,† and many have a star in upper proximity to the figures’ heads, signifying the figure is a deity (see the example). C) Since the star is surrounded by eleven other stars (dots), the artistic depiction could stand for the lead god of the Mesopotamian divine council and its other eleven (upper tier) members. Recall that (as Sitchin again points out) the Mesopotamian council had 12 members. I have noted before that the 12 member council isn’t always consistent in Mesopotamian religion (at times eight gods are considered the council), but 12 is the more prevalent number. This thesis is attractive, but I can’t say there is much to commend it over option B.The reader might be thinking at this point, â€Å"Well, isn’t the sun god the leader of the pantheon – so if this symbology points to the divine council the center symbol could still be the sun? † This would be an erroneous lin e of thought since in SumeroMesopotamian religion the sun god is NOT the high god; the high god is Anu (later, Marduk), not Shamash. These options are admittedly subjective, but one thing is certain – the â€Å"sun† symbol does not conform to the abundantly frequent symbol for the sun in SumeroMesopotamian art. We are not dealing with a depiction of the solar system.Astronomer Tom van Flandern pointed this out years ago anyway, since the sizes of the â€Å"planets† around the alleged sun do not conform to the correct sizes of the planets and there distances from the pseudo-sun are not depicted in such a way as to depict elliptical (or at least varying) orbits. The link to van Flandern’s critique is on my website. 4) There is not a single text in the entire corpus of Sumerian or Mesopotamian tablets in the world that tells us the Sumerians (or later inhabitants of Mesopotamia) knew there were more than five planets.This is quite a claim, but is demonstrabl e through the work of scholars who specialize in cuneiform astronomy. Below I list all the major works on cuneiform astronomy (catalogues of texts, dissertations / books) and invite readers to check them out of a library and look for themselves. Literally every cuneiform text that has any astronomical comment (even with respect to astrology and omens) has been translated, catalogued, indexed, and discussed in the available academic literature.The tablets are often quite detailed, even discussing mathematical calculations of the appearance of planetary bodies in the sky, on the horizon, and in relation to other stars. The field is by no means new, and is considerably developed. All of the above facets of the discussion are now offered in more detail with bibliography. I. The Inscriptions on VA 243 VA243 has three lines of text (â€Å"line 1† is actually repeated on both sides of the seal):The seal is transliterated (the Sumero-Akkadian signs in English letters) and translated in the principal publication of the Berlin Vorderasiatische Museum’s publication of its seal collection, Vorderasiatische Rollsiegel (â€Å"West Asian Cylinder Seals†; 1940) by Mesopotamian scholar Anton Moortgat on page 101. This book is in German, so I offer the German and an English translation: Line 1 = dub-si-ga â€Å"Dubsiga† [a personal name of an apparently powerful personc] Line 2 = ili-il-la-at â€Å"Ili-illat† [another personal name, this time of the seal’s owner] â€Å"dein Knecht† [German for â€Å"your servant†d] Line 3 = ir3-suSo the full (rather boring) inscription of VA243 reads: â€Å"Dubsiga, Ili-illat, your/his servant. † Nothing in the inscription suggests anything remotely to do with astronomy or planets. In an email correspondence with Dr. Rudi Mayr, whose dissertation was on cylinder seals, Dr. Mayr commented on the inscriptions and the seal [and I interject a few comments in blue]: â€Å"The seated fig ure is a god; the ‘flounced’ garment is normal for deities (though kings start wearing them a little later); deities also have the distinctive headdress. Most scholars call it a ‘horned’ headdress, but I’ve always thought it looked more like flames than horns.Ancient texts often refer to deities having a bright, shining, brilliant aspect [this is true across the ancient near east – witness the â€Å"shining one† terminology I discuss in The Facade and in several papers on my website]; they don’t mention horns . . . The introducing figure also has the ‘horns’ of divinity† [this is a strong contextual argument that the symbol – again, it’s not the â€Å"sun† – to the upper left of the introducing figure is a star. Precisely because they SHINE, stars were associated with deities. Shamash, the sun god, had his own symbol of the sun.See below for what it looked like]. c Personal email com munication on Dubsiga with Dr. Rudi Mayr, whose dissertation was on cylinder seals. Dr. Mayr is also the source of the comment on the second line, which conforms to typical cylinder seal patterns. d Dr. Mayr noted to me in an email that the third line might also read â€Å"his servant†, which was his preference. II. The â€Å"Sun† Symbol This is perhaps the biggest problem with Sitchin’s interpretation of VA243 signifying the solar system. Simply put, if the central symbol in his solar system isn’t the sun, the interpretation collapses completely.There’s actually a good deal of evidence to demonstrate decisively that Sitchin is wrong here. Toward offering that evidence, we’ll first introduce a few general comments on Sumero-Akkadian symbols and move to the specifics. A. General Comments Like all ancient religions, Sumero-Mesopotamian religion had a great concern with heavenly bodies that could be observed with the naked eye. In particular, t he sun, moon, and Venus were important focus points because of their ease of visibility, and each was artistically symbolized and stood for a deity.In Sumer-Mesopotamian religion, the sun god symbology was very clear: Sun god = Shamash (Utu in the Sumerian languagee) The symbol of the sun god in Sumero-Mesopotamian religion was a central circle with four extended â€Å"arms† with wavy lines in between each â€Å"arm† (most common), or a circle with only wavy lines. The entire symbol was itself nearly always [I don’t know any exceptions, but there may be one – just being cautious here] inside a circle, as below:f The reader should note immediately that this is NOT the symbol on VA243.VA 243’s â€Å"pseudo-sun† lacks the wavy lines and is not set inside a circle. This sun symbol is ubiquitous in Sumero-Mesopotamian religious artwork. The other common symbol for the sun god was the god in flight upon a set of wings (a depiction akin to the wing ed disc in Egyptian religion). e See Jeremy Black, Gods, Demons, and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary (University of Texas Press, in conjunction with the British Museum, 1992): 168. This is an excellent reference source. Dr. Black is a well known Sumerian scholar.He was formerly the Director of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq and is now university lecturer in Akkadian and Sumerian at Wolfson College, Oxford. f See above source, p. 168. The above classic solar disk iconography in Sumero-Mesopotamian religion is contrasted with the star symbol, used to symbolize either stars in constellations, any deity (the star is either over the deity’s head or above it to the left of right), or Ishtar (Sumerian Inana), who stood for Venus, the most visible object in the sky aside from the sun and moon:g Note that this example has eight points.This is the most frequently attested style in Sumero-Mesopotamian religious art. The star also is found with six (l ike VA 243) or seven points, and the points even vary within the same seal or stela carving. It wasn’t consistent in points, but what the symbol stood for was consistent – either a star, planet, or deity – but NOT the sun. The star symbol is either set within a circle or, far more often, not within a circle. It is clearly distinct from the sun symbol. How do I know that the symbol of VA 243 is a star and not the sun disk?Other than the obvious noted above – that VA 243 does not have the wavy lines between the â€Å"arms† of the symbol and is not set within a circle – Sumero-Mesopotamian religion often grouped the symbols for the sun god with that of the moon god (Akkadian = Sin; Sumerian = Nanna) and Ishtar (Sumerian = Inana). This isn’t surprising since they were so readily viewed. In short, they didn’t confuse the symbols and neither should we. This grouped threesome is very prevalent in Sumero-Mesopotamian art, and compels t he observation that the sun symbol and star symbol were distinguished from each other:Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, Tafel 11, Zweite Gruppe, stela â€Å"a† = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, Plate 11, 2nd Group, stela â€Å"a†. Note the wavy lines and encircled sun symbol on the right. Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, Tafel 19, Vierte Gruppe, stela â€Å"b† = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, Plate 19, 4th Group, relief â€Å"b†. Note the wavy lines and encircled sun symbol on the lower right. g See Black, 143. The symbols for sun and star/planet are also distinguished clearly in zodiacal artwork from Mesopotamia:The sun symbol (Left) and star symbol (Right) are next to each other under the snake (Draco). Note the wavy lines of the sun symbol Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, p. 47 = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, p. 47 Here is a close-up of the sun (L) and star (R) symbol above. Note that th e star in this case has eight points: A second zodiac example: The sun symbol (center) and star symbol (R of center) are next to each other under the snake’s tail. Note the wavy lines of the sun symbol Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, p. 0 = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, p. 60 In the above example, note that: (1) the star has seven points, and (b) the stars below it have six points. Note also that these smaller stars also LACK points – they are just dots. This seven dot/circle arrangement is one of the most common motifs in Mesopotamian art, and denote the Pleiades. The point here is that dots = stars in Mesopotamian art when in an astronomical context (or a context where a deity is identified with a star). This is important for our consideration of VA 243. Again, here is a close-up: A third zodiac example:Note that the star symbol here has six points as does the VA 243 star. Source: Ursula Seidl, Die Babylonischen Kudurru Reliefs, p. 23 = The Babylonian Kudurru Reliefs, p. 23 Some commentary on this last example is in order. The previous two examples clearly are in zodiac context, as is this one. Those previous two examples clearly have the sun symbol drawn in a manner consistent with expected Sumero-Mesopotamian features (wavy lines, encircled) that unmistakably distinguishes the sun from the star symbol. The star symbol signifies the same astronomical body in each case, yet the number of points varies.This means that the number of points is unimportant for identifying the star symbol as a STAR or planet, NOT the sun. Hence one cannot say, â€Å"well the star symbol usually has eight points, and the Sitchin seal has six, therefore it’s not a star but the sun. † This is erroneous because these examples demonstrate clearly that a star symbol can have 6, 7, or 8 pts. , and LACKS wavy lines. The symbol on Sitchin’s VA 243 is NOT the sun. It is a star, and thus denotes a star, a god, or a single planet. This isn’t my opinion, it’s the Sumero-Mesopotamian art convention.Let’s move on to some cylinder seal examples of star symbols. As noted above, the star was designed to signify a deity or literal star or planet. Here’s an example of a cylinder seal with Ishtar signaled as the deity by a star: Source: Henri Frankfort, Cylinder Seals: A Documentary Essay on the Art and Religion of the Ancient Near East (London: MacMillan and Co. , 1939): Plate XXVI-seal L In this example, the obvious star symbol has eight points, and is very similar in design to the star symbol of VA 243. We know it’s a star and not the sun because the goddess depicted is Ishtar. Another star symbol of very similar design to VA 243 is shown below:i The upper left-hand side of this seal contains the winged sun disk above the head of what scholars refer to as a â€Å"scorpion man† (note his tail). Just to the right of the winged disk is our star symbol. This time the star has seven points, and is quite similar to VA 243. Note as well h See the discussion in Frankfort (pp. 177-178, 236, 254) and Black, p. 168. See also the magisterial survey: E. Douglas van Buren, Symbols of the Gods in Mesopotamian Art, Analecta Orientalia 23 (Pontificum Institutum Biblicum, 1945): 8485. Frankfort, Plate XXXIII – seal b. the far upper right corner – the seven stars grouped together are the Pleiades (to which we will return in our discussion). Below are several examples of seals with six pointed stars: (Frankfort, Plate XXXIII – seal d): Comments: Note the six-pointed stars in the upper left and upper right corners. In both cases, note the presence of accompanying â€Å"dots† in groups of seven – again, the Pleiades (the â€Å"extra dot† over the head of the smaller standing figure denotes a deity as it is a star).The seven dots = the seven stars of the Pleiades (the dots were interchangeable with pointed stars to denote stars). A s E. Douglas van Buren, an expert on Sumerian and Mesopotamian art comments: â€Å"In the earliest representations of the 7 dots as yet known it can be seen that . . . they formed a ring or rosette around a central dot . . . [From] the early Babylonian period onwards it is increasingly common to find the 7 dots arranged like stars in the constellation of the Pleiades, and in the last quarter of the second millennium the dots are shaped for the first time as stars. j This observation is important because it demonstrates that the â€Å"pointed star + Pleiades† pattern does not require a certain number of points on the stars. Recall that the same situation was true with the zodiac – it does not matter how many points a star symbol has – it’s a star, not the sun. Another example: j E. Douglas van Buren, â€Å"The Seven Dots in Mesopotamian Art and Their Meaning,† Archiv fur Orientforschung XIII (1941): 277; see also E. Douglas van Buren, Symbols of th e Gods in Mesopotamian Art, 74ff. and E.Douglas van Buren, â€Å"The Rosette in Mesopotamian Art,† Zeitschrift fur Assyriologie and vorderasiatische Archaeologie, new series, vol. 11 (1939, vol. 45 from old series): 104ff. (Frankfort, Plate XXXV – seal h): In this seal the star has six points surrounding a central dot. Note again the Pleiades symbol (see below under the next point on the â€Å"dots† in VA 243). Before leaving the discussion of the star symbol, take note of the close similarity in style between the star on VA 243 that Sitchin says is the sun and the star symbols we have noted above: Frankfort XXXIII-b VA 243Ishtar star Now compare these with the actual sun symbol: III. The Surrounding â€Å"Dots† As I asked in the introduction to this paper, if Sitchin’s â€Å"sun† is not a sun, then what are the dots? The most apparent answer, based on the examples above, is that they too are stars. We have already seen that dots were used t o depict the stars of the Pleiades, and showed that the seven dots = the seven star symbols elsewhere used for the same constellation. We also saw above in the seal of Frankfort Plate XXXIII-d that a single pointed star can be associated with dots which are also stars.It is almost that the â€Å"star + seven dots† symbology is saying, â€Å"constellation = Pleiades. † There is therefore abundant precedent for asserting that these dots in VA243 are stars. It could be that this seal is â€Å"saying†: â€Å"Constellation = the one with 11 stars†. Since I don’t know astronomy well, I’ll let the reader ponder that one. The introduction also noted that the symbology of the seal could just point to a deity and perhaps the divine council. Enough said on that. IV. On Sumerian or Mesopotamian Astronomical KnowledgeIn this regard I offer the reader an opportunity to challenge my assertion above (and I am just quoting specialists in cuneiform astronomic al tablets) that there is not a single text in the entire corpus of Sumerian or Mesopotamian tablets in the world that says the Sumerians or Mesopotamians knew of more than five planets. Below are bibliographical references that anyone can access (the scholarly, dissertation level materials that one needs some knowledge of semitic languages and/or cuneiform, as well as a background in mathematics or astronomy, to really use are noted in their own category).In my paper on Nibiru (available on my website), I’ll briefly go into what the Sumerians and Mesopotamians knew about the planets. For now, though, giving the reader these sources will suffice. General Sources: Francesca Rochberg, â€Å"Astronomy and Calendars in Ancient Mesopotamia,† Civilizations of the Ancient Near East, vol. III, pp. 1925-1940 (ed. , Jack Sasson, 2000) Bartel L. van der Waerden, Science Awakening, vol. 2: The Birth of Astronomy (1974) Technical but Still Readable Wayne Horowitz, Mesopotamian Cosm ic Geography (1998) N. M.Swerdlow, Ancient Astronomy and Celestial Divination (2000) Scholarly (Technical) Resources: Otto Neugebauer, The Exact Sciences in Antiquity (1953) Otto Neugebauer, Astronomical Cuneiform Texts (1955) Erica Reiner and David Pingree, Enuma Elish Enlil Tablet 63, The Venus Tablet of Ammisaduqa (1975) Hermann Hunger and David Pingree, MUL. APIN: An Astronomical Compendium in Cuneiform (1989) Hermann Hunger and David Pingree, Astral Sciences in Mesopotamia (1999) N. Swerdlow, The Babylonian Theory of the Planets (1998) David Brown, Mesopotamian Planetary Astronomy-Astrology (2000)

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Jahrod

Textbooks vs. Tablets Jahrod Meyers Central Carolina Technical College Topic:Should tablets replace textbooks in K-12 schools? Specific Purpose:Explaining the advantages and the disadvantages Thesis Statement:Publishing for the K-12 school market is an $8 billion industry, with three companies – McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – capturing about 85% of this market. Tablets are a $35 billion industry with roughly one in three adults owning a tablet. As tablets have become more prevalent, a new debate has formed over whether K-12 school districts should switch from print textbooks to digital textbooks on tablets.Introduction A 4GB tablet filled with 3,500 e-books weighs a billionth of a billionth of a gram more than if it were empty of data – a difference that is approximately the same weight as a molecule of DNA. The same number of physical books would weigh about two tons. In San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, robberies related to intern et-enabled handheld devices (including tablets) have accounted for 50, 40, and 25 percent respectively of all robberies in 2012. Manufacturing one tablet requires the extraction of 33 pounds of minerals, 79 gallons of water, and 100 kilowatt hours of fossil fuels resulting in 66 pounds of carbon dioxide.Students who used an interactive, digital version of an Algebra 1 textbook for Apple's iPad in California's Riverside Unified School District in 2012 scored 20 percent higher on standardized tests vs. students who learned with print textbooks. During the 2011-12 school year more than 13,700 US children, aged 5 to 18, were treated in hospitals and doctors' offices for backpack-related injuries such as contusions, sprains, fractures, and strains to the back and shoulders. Transition:getting into the pros and cons. Body I. PRO Tablet a. Tablets help students learn more material faster. b.Tablets can hold hundreds of textbooks on one device, plus homework, quizzes, and other files, elimi nating the need for physical storage of books and classroom materials. c. E-textbooks on tablets cost on average 50-60% less than print textbooks. d. Tablets help students better prepare for a world immersed in technology. II. CON Tablet a. Tablets have too many distractions for classroom use. b. Many students do not have sufficient home internet bandwidth to use tablets. c. The average battery life of a tablet is 7. 26 hours, shorter than the length of a school day. d. Tablets shift the focus of learning from the teacher to the technology. * Transition:In closing, â€Å"Computers are getting smarter all the time. Scientists tell us that soon they will be able to talk to us. (And by ‘they’, I mean ‘computers’. I doubt scientists will ever be able to talk to us. )† Dave Barry. Conclusion I. Opponents of tablets say that they are expensive, too distracting for students, easy to break, and costly/time-consuming to fix. They say that tablets contribute t o eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision, increase the excuses available for students not doing their homework, require costly Wi-Fi networks, and become quickly outdated as new technologies are released.II. Proponents of tablets say that they are supported by most teachers and students, are much lighter than print textbooks, and improve standardized test scores. They say that tablets can hold hundreds of textbooks, save the environment by lowering the amount of printing, increase student interactivity and creativity, and that digital textbooks are cheaper than print textbooks. III. 43% of Americans read online books, magazines, or newspapers. Amazon announced in July 2010 that e-books were outselling paper books, and a July 2012 report by the Association of American Publishers showed that e-book revenue IV. xceeded that of hardcover books for the first time ever. 80% of publishers now produce e-books. While e-books sales rose 117% from 2010 to 2011, the print book business declin ed 2. 5% in 2011 to $27. 2 billion from $27. 9 billion in 2010. However, over 90% of educational textbooks are still read on paper, and only 30% of textbook titles are available electronically. V. I feel that transfer to tablets isn't a bad idea. Considering you will only have to keep up with the tablet and not 5-6 different books for one class. It will also help the children in K-12 to learn and soon master technology

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Reflection Essays

Reflection Essays Reflection Essay Reflection Essay This paper is going to identify an occurrence of invidious comparison and vicarious traumatization that I’ve experienced. Invidious comparison happens each and every day to practically everyone in the world. It is human nature to compare themselves to others, Reflection When I think about invidious comparison and if I’ve ever done it, there is only one answer, yes. Unfortunately I feel that I compare myself to many different people at different times.It could be the guy at the grocery store, or the guy on TV, it could even be one of my friends. The truth is I compare myself to other people in order to make myself feel better. Understandably this is an immoral thing to do, I feel as if I put people down in my mind just to feel better. I do believe though that I am not the only one who does this. I feel that every person in the world compares themselves to another individual, whether they choose to or not, it might happen unconsciously. I vividly remember this one time wh ere I compared myself not to a man but a woman, yes a woman.This happened about ten years ago. This woman was in her twenty-nine, she was happily married, had a great job and family, but most of all she looked happy, genuinely happy. True happiness, I felt was hard to come by. People always had something negative to say about their life such as, â€Å"ugh my wife is so annoying,† â€Å"ugh I hate my job,† â€Å"ugh my kids are driving me crazy. † This woman though, she was different. I never heard one negative thing come out of her mouth, and I’ve known her for many, many years. I always thought to myself that I wanted to be just like her, well the make version of course.I always compared my life to hers, she had a great job, and I had a mediocre job. She was happily married, I was in an on and off again relationship. She had a very happy family, I had a family that seemed to be struggling to stay afloat. Even though I always felt sad when I compared my l ife to hers. I used it as motivation, motivation to turn my life around and be in the same place she is in her life when I became the same age as her. Now when I look at my life I feel that I’ve succeeded. Knowing now-a-days, how people compare themselves to others. I feel that it is time that we stop.Although it is much harder than it seems. Comparing one another is something we do, there will always be someone stronger, smarter, more attractive, and wealthier. The key is not to let it affect us. An individual will always have something that no one else will. It will differ from each individual. We need to just look at our own life and see what we can do to make it better. If becoming a helper will fill a hole in your life, as it does mine, then do it. If becoming a parent does then do it. We need to stop looking at other people’s lives and focus on our own. We are on this earth for one reason, to live.So we need to stop dwelling on what we don’t have, and go o ut there and get it, and live, go out and live life. Life is too short to keep complaining about what other people have. Everyone just needs to live life to its fullest. Now there is the topic of vicarious traumatization, this is something that hits ne pretty hard. I am a very emotional and empathetic person. Personally I try to let other people deal with certain traumas in their life alone, without butting my nose into their business. There are those times where they need an outside hand to help them out and I’m there.In order for me not to be traumatized, just as my friend are, I need to be the rock the hard place. I need to be strong for them and help them out. If I become traumatized just as the other person what help would I be? If I’m to help people then I must muster up the strength and be strong. I need not let my emotion get the best of me. There is a time and place for me to be emotional, and when I’m helping someone is definitely not the time. In the workplace being strong is very important, this is the place where people are coming for help. You need to be the person that they could lean on, rely on, to be there for them.Yes it is ok to feel sad for them but don’t let sadness overwhelm you. Be there for them and comfort them, show them that you care by standing strong. There are many ways to help yourself not be vicarious traumatized. You can understand that you are in this field to help people, and there is undoubtedly the chance that you will meet a much traumatized individual. You will be there to help this person. Leave your sob stories at the door, understand that you will need not to share any of your stories with the clients as it might make them more traumatized and defeat the purpose of why they are there.We are here to help people with their traumatizations, not to burden with our own traumatizations. So, comparing ourselves to each other is going to happen, it is our nature. We can, although, take what we find in our comparisons and use it for motivation. When we compare ourselves to other we need not share our comparisons as it might lead to putting down someone. We should just view each other’s as equals, just as God does. When it comes to vicarious traumatization’s we need to stay strong for those who are currently weak. We need to be the one to help them hold their heads high.We need to leave our sob stories at home and not bring them to work. We just need to stand by our client’s side and help relieve their burdens, no matter what. Just because we hear someone traumatizing story, doesn’t mean we need to fold and begin to cry just as they are. We need to keep the dry eye, and help our clients, this is what will keep them coming to you for help, because when you stay strong for them, they can really see that you care and want to help them. References Martin, M. E. (2007). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings. Boston, MA: All yn and Bacon.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Financial Investment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Financial Investment - Research Paper Example Ratio analysis and share price analyses are 2 most important and commonly used tools to analyze the financial position of a particular stock. A proper fundamental and technical analysis generally provides a basic idea regarding these aspects and helps investors make informed investment decisions. Generally the intrinsic value of the stock is determined from the financial facts given the annual report of the company using free-cash flows and it is compared to the current market price of the stock. When the stock is found to be undervalued then it provides an opportunity for the investor to buy the stocks at lower current price and then sell it in future when stock prices approaches target price. This strategy will help the investor make profits by buying stocks at lower price and then selling it when stock prices appreciates and ceteris paribus. Options for Investment Decision While there are many options available to an investor for investment, it is important to note that not all in vestment destinations are equally safe for investment when risk of investment is considered. The safest investment destination is government securities because there are very limited chances that the government will default. Another most commonly preferred investment avenue is common stocks of publicly traded companies. Companies whose stocks are listed in stock exchanges (like NASDAQ, NYSE, etc.) may be traded in secondary markets. But whenever the investor considers investment in equity oriented securities and stocks the risk of investment significantly increases. This is because when the investor buys equity shares of any company the investor actually subscribes to paid-up equity capital of the owners of the company. This automatically makes the investor the new stocks holder and assumes that the investor will bear the risk associated with business. Purchasing equity shares provides the investor the opportunity to earn dividends and residual profits proportionate to respective su bscription or investment. Equity stocks are risky because the shareholders are entitled to earn from investment only after all liabilities of the business entity has been paid-off. This means that in case the business has no profits left for distribution to shareholders after honoring business liability then no dividends will be paid to shareholders. Thus, investment in company stocks is both risky and rewarding in the sense that higher the risk the higher would be the expected return. It is advised that before making any investment decisions for investment in particular stocks the financial managers must gather all necessary information related to business regarding financial position, outstanding financial liabilities and the ability of the business to honor such liabilities. Company Overview The company chosen for financial analysis is Apple Inc. (Ticker Symbol AAPL) which is a Fortune 500 company whose shares are publicly traded. Apple Inc. is a leading hardware and software com pany which has headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S. The company has over 400 global retail stores spread in over 14 countries and it is listed in NASDAQ as a publicly traded company. Apple also forms a component of S&P 500 composite index and NASDAQ-100 component. The financials of the company is very strong and for the year ending 2012, the company reported a net profit of over UD$ 41

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Fashion Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Fashion Media - Essay Example The targeted audience for the magazines consists of people having interest in fashion. The main aim of fashion magazines is to sell clothes and display clothing in an artistic way for public interest. Individuals having deep love and high interest for fashion write fashion blogs. The aim of the writers is to share a unique fashion sense with the rest of the population. Blogs appear on the internet and their number is rapidly increasing. Posts on fashion blogs include pictures and daily updates of the latest fashion finds (Miller, M. 2012, 315). The intended audience of blogs includes people who love and enjoy exploring new trends. The writings on the blogs give ordinary individuals a chance to express their opinions and place their mark on the world of fashion. Although the discipline of fashion writing does not have set rules, there are many traits and commonalities found in it. In writing fashion articles, a specific format has to be followed. For instance, the articles are written in first person narration since it is an opinion piece. Writers in fashion industry are supposed to use sophisticated and an informed voice of authority, while considering the expectations of the audience. They should also use short and clear sentences that are easy to read. The writers have a necessity of producing an appealing mental image by use of descriptive language. For instance, instead of describing something as simply â€Å"yellow†, the writer should use a word like â€Å"lemon† or â€Å"sunny† for creating a vivid image. Fashion writing makes use of distinguished lexicon from other writing forms, for instance, the unconventional use of the syntax is typified as modern and... This essay approves that today, fashion writings are found when flipping through art and fashion magazines. However, the art press locates fashion writings within the wider social and cultural dialogues, reflecting upon the cultural, social, economical and psychological implications of dress. The theory of fields, developed by Bourdieu’s, offers an insightful starting point that helps in the understanding of media field paradigm. The theory argues that the society is divided into semiautonomous fields that are structured around the opposition between the economic and political capital and cultural capital. Fields are distinguished both in regards to their degree of autonomy from dominant political forces and specific capital that is valued therein. However, it is complex to locate journalism within the field theory. Fashion writings have a unique power of investigating other fields, including music and politics. The power impacts on the profession’s autonomy through the criticality of the writings it produces. This report makes a conclusion that fashion writing is a wonderful form of expression and can lead to many prospective careers. This type of writing allows individuals in the industry to convey their uniqueness in an artistic manner. Although the purpose of fashion writing is promoting and selling designer clothing and trends, writers have an advantage of working in an advantageous and valuable career. Fashion writers have an opportunity of achieving an excellent lifestyle and becoming a major influence in the industry while pursuing the career. Fashion is undergoing a deep technological and social change. The changes include from fashion magazines to fashion blogs and fashion plates to fashion films.