Thursday, December 26, 2019

Essay on Americas Heavy Load Equality - 864 Words

EQUALITY. A term used from previous ancestors that came to America for freedom. A term used from Americans that fought for their equal rights today. A term avoided in the state of being taxed. Two out of three tax systems are set to be genuinely unfair to Americans of the lower and upper class: a progressive system and a regressive system. Today, Americans are paying in a progressive tax system which is when the tax rate will increase if the taxable income increases (â€Å"Preface to†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Americans pay an average of 18.2% on federal income, 10.6% on state, 7.65% on social security and Medicaid, 10.3% on sales tax and so forth (â€Å"How Much Tax†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). The one system that will work for our nation’s economy and benefit the people is known as the†¦show more content†¦In 2000, federal spending was at 18.2%; in 2007, federal spending was at 19.6%; but in three years since 2089, federal spending reached to 24.4% (Morong). With the economy, the governm ent feels obligated to spend money to prove to America that the government is doing everything they can to help the people and the economy. However with all the spending, the money is being invested towards unnecessary things that are not really needed. So much of the federal taxes are heading towards social security retirement benefits and Medicare insurance which is ruling out the education and other programs for every citizen (Sullivan). Increasing taxes will only leave extra money for the government to spend on unnecessary programs and benefits. With a flat tax rate, people with a higher income will not have to pay as much as in a progressive system. People can actually make a substantial living without the worry of taxes pulling them back. Families would be able to spend more money to benefit the economy (satisfying our Republicans). The progressive tax system allows a family of four to hold and protect $18,000 of income after taxes, but a flat tax rate will help the family of four obtain twice the amount after taxes (Tate). In other words, setting a flat tax rate will decreased the poverty rate and create more jobs, because there is more money in peoples’ pockets,Show MoreRelatedAn Intimate View Of Imagery Of Langston Hughes Dream Deferred927 Words   |  4 PagesAn Intimate View of the Imagery in Langston Hughes’ â€Å"Dream Deferred† America is built on a dream, the idea that anyone has the opportunity for prosperity, success, and an upward social mobility when they work hard. This dream is a siren call to America’s shores for millions of people from across the world looking to forge a better life. Unfortunately, this dream seems to elude Blacks in America. The elusiveness of this dream is not because Blacks do not want to succeed or have the hunger to achieveRead MoreThe Life and Poetry of Langston Hughes Essay776 Words   |  4 Pagesshow others the struggles they have gone through. Langston Hughes’s poem â€Å"Harlem† is just one of the thousand outcomes of the Harlem Renaissance. They all, through their poems, art and music had a strong sense of racial pride. They wanted to gain equality, attack racism, and most of all celebrate African American culture (Bloom 113-127). In Line 1 of â€Å"Harlem†, we are introduced to what happens to a persons dreams get put on hold for some time. Hughes then asks, â€Å"Does it dry up like a raisin inRead MoreSchool Should Be More Patriotic1482 Words   |  6 Pagesproblem in America’s history is slavery. The early American colonies heavily depended on slaves and servants to get things done. Frederick Douglass was a former slave who played a major role in civil rights during the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era. His experience as a former slave enabled him to gain support for attaining rights for African Americans. Douglass speeches had a great effect on abolitionists and developed an inspiration in them to fight for the freedom and equality of blacksRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Harlem 1303 Words   |  6 Pagesand â€Å"famously wrote about the period that ‘the negro was in vogue.’† (Langston). Throughout his body of work, Hughes spoke eloquently to the full spectrum of dreams - both their inspirational power and their heavy burden, if not fully realized. His famed poem, â€Å"Harlem (Dream Deferred)† uses heavy symbolism, falling into three definitive categories: 1. Dreams; 2. Food and Domestic Life and 3. Violence and Oppression(Shmoop). This trio of topics coalesces itself masterfully into further analytical studyRead MoreImpact Of Industrialization On The United States1843 Words   |  8 Pagesprotect the American dollar.† During the process of industrialization, these regulations were necessary to ensure growth and sustainability. However, now that the U.S. has a sustainable economy and has finished the process of industrialization, heavy government regulation will hinder progress rather than promote it. Historical examples from other countries prove regulation is needed during the early stages of development, but after the process of industrialization slows down the government mustRead MoreIn Defense of Liberty and Education for All1626 Words   |  7 Pagescollege more prestigious. Upon inspection though, Henrys views and beliefs are rendered false because his evidence is exaggerated, distorted and inappropriately compared and contrasted to support his claims. In reality, Henrys beliefs clash with Ame ricas true intentions for a democratic society, which are depicted in Benjamin R. Barbers essay, America Skips School. The journalist and critic, William A. Henry III, criticizes the egalitarian American view regarding education, which he believesRead MoreSegregation and Discrimination in the United States Military During World War Two10166 Words   |  41 Pagesjob done as fast as possible. Black sailors were being used to load ships with everything that could be imagined. The labor was backbreaking, hot dirty, and at times slow and tedious. Special care was to be given when loading munitions. High explosives will kill with total disregard to age, gender or any other factor. A problem arose when the white officers in charge began to make bets on how fast the crews under their commands could load a given tonnage of these very dangerous materials. The safetyRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 Pageswounds of humanity. Sandburg became young Langstons guiding star. Whitmans free verse, flowing rhythms, and simplicity of language supported themes of freedom. Hughes was influenced by the Preface to Leaves of Grass, in which Whitman says Americas common people, individuals with a variety of lifestyles, are worthy subjects for poems. Whitman advised poets to rely on their intuition and personal experience to express truths about life. During his senior year at Central High, Langston metRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesincreased worldwide from 8,000 kilometers in the 1840s to more than a million by 1914) and steamers (whose tonnage increased twenty times over the same period). These transportation advances then made possible the movement of even more people and of the heavy or bulky commodities with low price per weight or mass that came to make up much of global trade. The trading, extraction, and processing of these commodities then required even more migrants. Both flows, of goods and people, have thus moved inRead MoreResearch Paper Marketing Plan12383 Words   |  50 Pagesselect the CNL concentration and enroll in a MSN program. Xavier University MSN CNL Program For the 2010-2011 school year, the tuition for a Xavier University MSN CNL students is $566 per credit hour, totaling $3500 per semester for a full-time load. Students have the option of paying tuition in full, enrolling in a five-payment plan, or signing up for the employer reimbursement plan. With the five-payment plan, a student can pay the semester’s tuition in five monthly installments. Under the

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Canadian Tire Case Essay - 654 Words

Michael Eubanks of Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) is in charge of the implementation of a business intelligence (BI) system for the company. This implementation began in 2003 and was to be completed in 2005. In 2006, the project is only in the 2nd of 3 phases. He is now faced with a problem. The implementation is going much slower than he anticipated. His goal is to implement BI as soon as possible, so what does he need to do so that he can reach this goal? In order to reach his goal, there are many issues that need to be addressed. The first issue is that in order to ensure that the data in the data warehouse is correct, there needs to be strong data governance by all users. The 2nd concern is that users of the current systems will not†¦show more content†¦He would anticipate any issues that could arise in along the process. He will then assign business partners and specific resolutions to each potential issue so that if one of these problems occurs, there is already a plan in place to resolve it. This is a more proactive approach to the BI implementation. The only drawback here would be that there would need to be business partners available to tackle these problems. They would need to be taken away from their day-to-day responsibilities without any notice. This could result in business interruption, if a backup is not assigned. Another option is to decide which type of Master Data Management (MDM) initiative to use. They can use the Analytical MDM, Operational MDM or Enterprise MDM. The Analytical option addresses BI only. The Operational option addresses the business operations. Enterprise addresses both. The Analytical option is the least intrusive and most straight forward to implement, whereas the Enterprise option is very complex and time consuming. I would recommend that CTC use the third option which is to decide on a type of MDM initiative to use. Specifically, I would recommend the Analytical MDM approach. It seems to me that the main focus of the implementation is Business Intelligence; as such the Analytical approach is the most appropriate. It is the most commonly adopted approach and the most simple of the three. Since their goal is to implement BI as soon as possible, they should use theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Business Intelligence at Canadian Tire2134 Words   |  9 PagesBusiness Intelligence at Canadian Tire The overall purpose of Business Intelligence systems and software is to manage and analyze data in a manner that would support effective decision making. The BI initiative could help Canadian Tire to manage and analyze its data in a way that would allow the company to consolidate and integrate some of its information systems. The information provided in the case indicates that CTC is operating and supporting many different operation systems, mainframes, hardwareRead MoreBond / Stock Valuation And Cost Of Capital1599 Words   |  7 Pagesto maturity (YTM) for your company’s bond, and explain why it differs from the YTM for the competitor company’s bond. Calculations: Calculator values/ Company Canadian Tire Sears Future Value $1000 $1000 Present Value $1073.6 $920 Payment $28.25 $920 Time to maturity (N) 1.166666 2.916 Yield to maturity (YTM) 3.26%*2= 6.52% 9.52% Canadian Tire’s bonds are mature on 26/01/2016 while Sears’s bonds are mature on 15/10/2018. Retaining the same year was our preference, but we were unable to ascertainRead MoreThe Human Rights And Csr980 Words   |  4 Pageslegal arguments as we will explain in question c. Indigenous b. How would you develop a human rights policy for the company? The best approach to that would be developing a CSR guidelines and standards, adopting Doing Business the Canadian Way as found in the Canadian Government, Canada’s Enhanced CSR Strategy to Strengthen Canada’s Extractive Sector Abroad. The company’s CSR policy should provide deliberations to improve the company’s economic, environmental and social performance, including humanRead MoreInitial Response Debate On Globalization948 Words   |  4 Pagesand locations. In today’s world, majority of the countries, buy TVs made in China Mexico or Korea, Apple phones in China, Microsoft products made in Ireland, and China. 2. Are the overall benefits of globalization positive? In essence as the video case suggest in any human interactions there will be winners and losers. Therefore, globalization is in the eye of the beholder. In other words, some people in certain nations will think globalization is evil, while others will add necessary next to theRead MoreCanadian Tire Company ( Ctc )1204 Words   |  5 PagesCanadian Tire Company (CTC) is a large scale retail and automotive service organization with multiple business units. The company had established itself as a nationally known retailer through its Canadian Tire Retail (CTR) division. CTC had also gone on to create its own financial service unit – Canadian Tire Financial Services (CTFS) to manage and support its card holder program along with its online and telephone sales operations. Canadian Tire Petroleum (CTP), PartsSource, and Mark’s Work WarehouseRead MoreCritical Thinking And Case Studies1151 Words   |  5 PagesCritical Thinking and Case Studies, Individual Assignment 3 In this assignment I am discussing some case study questions from chapter 7 and critical thinking discussion questions for chapters 8 and 9 of the Global Business Today text. These questions are for the individual week 3 assignment of our MBA 539 International Business class. These discussion questions are composed to increase the reader’s understanding of â€Å"the political economy of international trade†, â€Å"foreign direct investment† andRead MoreUsing Tort Principles Will Be Clements V. Clements1525 Words   |  7 PagesThe case that I will be analyzing using tort principles will be Clements v. Clements, 2012 SCC 32, [2012] 2 S.C.R. 181. This case is deals with negligence, more specifically causation regarding a motor vehicle accident. The passenger is alleging of the driver’s negligence in the operation of motorcycle which caused injury. More specifically, in this case, it was Mr. Clements that did not know about having a nail in this tire, and when it feel out, it caused a deflation. Mr. Clements wasn’t able toRead MoreCanadian Tires Current Data Warehouse1381 Words   |  6 PagesOverview of Canadian Tire’s Current Data Warehouse Gathering requirements from end users was an important step in resolving the issues that currently exist at Canadian Tire. â€Å"Gathering requirements for a data warehouse is not the same as defining the requirements for an operational system† (Ponniah, pg. 121). When you research and then develop any system, it is critical that the system produces exactly what the users need to perform their specific tasks. CTC did not have this production for theirRead MoreEssay about canadian tire audit report4366 Words   |  18 Pagesï » ¿ Client risk profile Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (CTC) is primarily a canadian retailer, focusing on automotive and general merchandise. Founded in 1922, the company has been around for almost a century, building strong brand recognition in Canada. Initially starting as a car parts retailer they have expanded rapidly into other areas, mainly general merchandise retail. They have other secondary divisions being; Partsource Automotive stores (strictly automotive parts), Financial ServicesRead MorePorsche Canada Essays782 Words   |  4 Pagesattract more potential buyer. Therefore, the total advertisement fee is $379,940; and I think this marketing plan and strategy is acceptable and reasonable. There are four types of Porsche winter equipment for sale that includes winter wheels and tires sets for $3,000, mats set for $300, roof racks set for $400 and winter apparel and gift items for $150; thus, the whole set of Porsche winter equipment is $3,850. Rawlinson hopes Porsche dealers and Porsche Canada can earn 15% margin from the winter

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Spirituality of Emily Dickinson for Poetry - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theSpirituality of Emily Dickinsonfor American Poetry. Answer: Based on the study guide, Emily Dickinson seemed to have defined the American poetry because she focuses on the exploration and enlightenment period. The poet made tremendous contributions in defining her innermost emotions and desires, her spiritual beliefs, and disappointment in love(Scheurich 191). In the Recluse of Amherst, Dickinson's poems gained popularity upon her demise. Her poetry demonstrates that she never embraced an outright skeptic or traditional religious thoughts(Educational Technology Production Team). This reveals the complex and genuine systems regarding her belief defined by her age, intense curiosity, and the atmosphere (Dickinson 1057). Given the complexity of beliefs, she harbored, it becomes critical to examine the ways her poems demonstrate her spirituality. Emily Dickinson struggles to reconcile the emerging scientific concepts with traditional Christian beliefs (Crumbley 1). Dickinson's work reflects the diverse religious movements and new scientific theories. Although she attended the First Congressional Church of Amherst, the young girl had difficulties to understand the concepts in the Bible (Educational Technology Production Team). Throughout her life, Dickinson faced difficulties in demonstrating her dissenting views relating to the traditional Christian beliefs. Her struggles to reconcile the new scientific theories and traditional Christian practices defined her life. Emily Dickinson received the Bible at the tender age from her father. This suggests that her family observed religious practices daily. In fact, Dickinson was familiar with scriptures as demonstrated in her letters and poems (Prior 1). She recalls the moments when people were compelled to declare their faith publicly to allow them to join the church. Unfortunately, the speaker failed to make such official declaration because she was unwilling to sacrifice for Christ (Dickinson 1056). Dickinson's religious beliefs were defined the Puritanism systems including conformism and non-conformism (Kirby 35). Unlike Dickinson, her parents held the Bible as supreme thus making it possible for them to declare their faith publicly. Emily Dickinson could not withstand the strict adherence to the scriptures. Despite her crave for the Puritanism spiritual nourishment; Dickinson rejected the dogmatic and restrictive laws ((Educational Technology Production Team). In the "The Bible is an antique Volume," Dickinson expresses her disregard to the traditional religious practices (Kirby 38). She has demonstrated that the Bible is an old book thus challenges its relevance in the contemporary society. Dickinson expresses her skepticism and opinions relating to the authority of the Bible (Scheurich 194). She implies the book is not holy and specific but a library of books. She has considered the writers of the Bible to be faded men (Educational Technology Production Team). These men were people who were never enlightened. Dickinson has provided detailed information regarding various characters in the Bible including King David, Judas, and Satan (Dickinson 1057). For example, she describes Judas Iscariot to be a defaulter thus suggesting that such characters are never superhero but casts. These individuals demonstrated the facets of human experience like sin. Dickinson has painted the picture of life after death. For instance, she says, "I felt a fun eral in my brain" to imply that when an individual dies, she can hear sounds (Dickinson 1057). Indeed, Dickinson could hear the people walking into her funeral. She further hears her casket lowered down (18-20). She drops in the final line that upon burying, she loses her senses and consciousness. In her poem of "I heard a Fly buzz when I died (591)", Dickinson demonstrates the periods after her demise(Educational Technology Production Team). She describes the atmosphere after dying. For instance, she could see the light, yet she was lying on her deathbed. The family members and friends surround her upon dying. However, she loses the light in her sight because of flies wondering into her vision line (Faleh 102). In this line of thought, it is a demonstration of how the consciousness survives upon a person's death. The temporary survival of the soul after death is important. This view contradicts the widely accepted belief relating to the immortality of the soul (Lee 46). Similarly, it is evident that spirits no longer ascend into Heaven immediately after death. It also emerges that even flies can disrupt the departed soul from ascending into Heaven. The afterlife's image suggests that the speaker's views are different from the assumed Christianity beliefs. Mark Spencer has provided another interpretation regarding Emily Dickinson's poetry. It is evident that her poetical interpretations are beyond the theological assertions. Her revelation of John is evident upon the anticipated coming of Christ (Crumbley 1). Dickinson holds that when an individual dies, the spirit never ascends into heaven immediately, but has a temporary state (Educational Technology Production Team). The ascension into Heaven will be possible upon the second coming of Jesus Christ when the souls will face the Last Judgment. Therefore, her poem demonstrates the aspects of human reconciliation with God (Spencer 1). It has demonstrated that Dickinson never valued the traditional religious practices. For her, the emerging scientific concepts provide relevant information regarding human spirituality. Dickinson has represented the idea about death successfully. For instance, when she says that she has "felt a funeral in my brain," she demonstrates an unexpected end to her consciousness (Ladin 339). The speaker indicates the period when she awaits ascension into Heaven by saying, "I heard a fly buzz when I died" (Prior 1). Her spirit never disappeared but proceeds with the anticipated journey towards Heaven. Emily Dickinson personifies death to suit her poem; "Because I could not stop for death" (Faleh 99) thus justifies her understanding about death and afterlife. In Dickinson's poem, "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," she demonstrates instances when death stopped for her (Educational Technology Production Team). The two entities she refers in this poem are immorality and death. Spencer finds these two entities appropriate because they justify the transition from human life to death or physical to spiritual eternity (Spencer 1). In this two-step process, upon death, an individual ascends into Heaven thus forming a mere expectation of Dickinson. In fact, the use of the horses describes the eternity, where they head. Interestingly, the carriage ride goes beyond eternity. Spencer adds that Dickinson appears to understand the whereabouts relating to the new state (Spencer 1). In fact, the speaker affirms in the poem that she has entered in a temporary state. However, she has avoided speculating about her destination yet is patiently having "a spirit of peaceful repose" (Scheurich 190). It has become impossible for anybody to determine one's spirituality. However, many scholarly findings are evidently chronicling an individual's events in life including birth. The content of one's heart remains a secret affair that another person can never understand. Based on the interpretation, Dickinson's poem on the afterlife can be an expression of her belief in her soul relating to the process of ascending into Heaven, especially after death. This can also be interpreted as her exploration of an immorality experience that remains temporary. Nonetheless, there is an outstanding opinion expressed in her poem that disregards traditional religious beliefs. Indeed, if in her poetry, she expresses her innermost emotions and thoughts, many scholars can describe her beliefs to be exceptionally complex. Emily Dickinson's hopes, speculations, and doubts regarding death, life, and spirituality define her poetry. Works Cited Crumbley, Paul. Emily Dickinsons Life: Modern American Poetry. n.d. University of Illinois. 3 September 2017. Dickinson, Emily. Emily Dickinson 1083 Poems. 2012. Classic Poetry Series. Poem Hunter. 3 September 2017. . I felt a Funeral, in my Brain. Ed. Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton, 2007. Educational Technology Production Team. ELT372: Topics in American Literature: Study Guide (5CU). Singapore: Singapore University of Social Sciences, 2017. Faleh, Inaam Ali. The Portrayal of Suffering in Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson. Al-Usrath 2.207 (2013): 99-108. Kirby, Alan. "The Death of Postmodernism and Beyond." Philosophy Now 58 (2006): 34-37. Ladin, Jay. Meeting her Maker: Cross Currents. Academic Search Elite: EBSCO 56.3 (2006): 338-346. Lee, Maurice S. Dickinson's Superb Surprise. Raritan 28.1 (2008): 45-67. Prior, Karen Swallow. Christian Faith and Emily Dickensons Doubt. 21 June 2017. The Gospel Coalition. 2 September 2017 https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/christianity-faith-emily-dickinsons-doubt . Scheurich, Neil. Suffering and Spirituality in the Poetry of Emily Dickinson. Pastoral Psychology 56 (2007): 189-197. Spencer, Mark. Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death' Explicator. 2007. Heldref Publications. 3 September 2017.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Yemen Oil Market Analysis Essay Example

Yemen Oil Market Analysis Essay Yemen’s economy, much like all the economies in the Middle East, relies heavily on oil exports.   Determining the politics of the region requires first a study in the production figures of Yemeni oil and the crude oil exports and petroleum imports.   In order to fully understand the politics of the region, it is beneficial to include other surrounding countries in the comparison. Yemen is a country situated in the Middle East and is attempting to become a worldwide leader in an economic setting.   The current economy of Yemen relies heavily on oil production, and it can be calculated that if oil production was non-existent in the country, the wealth of the country would fall further and possibly make the country one of the poorest countries in the world (World Fact Book).   The GDP of Yemen demonstrates how even though oil production is a major source of wealth in the country; it still is considered a fairly poor country.   The current figures of Yemen’s GDP are $22.74 billion (in dollars after the exchange rate), which makes Yemen number 85 in the world as far as GDP numbers (World Fact Book). We will write a custom essay sample on Yemen Oil Market Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Yemen Oil Market Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Yemen Oil Market Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Comparing Yemen to the entire world is not an accurate depiction.   To garner a greater perception of Yemen’s situation, it is essential to discuss Yemen in terms of their position alongside other countries in the Middle East region.   The table below displays Yemen’s oil production in relation to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.   This table represents how Yemen is in a fairly impressive position when compared to other major oil producers in the area.   Other countries have been producing oil for many years before Yemen, which means Yemen has made some progress in their production capabilities in recent years. Table: â€Å"Production of Oil in Middle East Countries as of 2005 (in thousands)† Yemen Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE Kuwait Oman Bahrain Production (bbls/day) 402 95 2,000 2,540 333 740 184 Source: IEA Understanding Yemen’s profits from oil and Yemen’s use of oil-based products is important when attempting to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Yemen’s economy.   The following table below displays Yemen’s oil exports and oil imports in barrels per day. Table: â€Å"Yemen Oil Exports and Oil Imports as of 2004 (in bbl per day)† Petroleum Exports Petroleum Imports Barrels Per Day 320,600 58,100 Source: World Fact Book One important finding from the table above is that Yemen has greater exports than imports.   Actually the amounts are nearly six times more exports than imports, which denotes the fact that Yemen is maintaining a great export market and not risking that market to meet domestic petroleum needs. 3.1.1 Political Factors Yemen’s current oil production is in a transition.   Currently, Yemen has an aging refinery and a more recent refinery that is supplying crude production capabilities.   Yemen’s dependence on foreign companies for oil services also contributes to the idea of attempting to find new sources.   A look into Yemen’s governmental control over oil demonstrates how the government is attempting to have at least minimal contacts within every facet of oil production and exportation. Yemen currently has two main refineries in which to conduct their oil marketing.   The Aden and Marib refineries compose the entire refined production capabilities for the country.   The Aden refinery is the oldest refinery in Yemen and was constructed by British Petroleum in 1952 and later acquired by the Yemeni government in 1977 (Yemeni Times Staff).   The Marib refinery is the most recent production facility online for Yemen (Yemeni Times Staff).   A real comparison of the two refineries is needed in order to denote production capabilities and compare the old style to the new style of oil refining.   The Aden refinery produces 120,000 barrels per day as of 2005 (Yemeni Times Staff).   The Marib refinery currently produces 10,000 barrels per day (EIA).   These two figures represent the advancement in technology that Yemen has experienced from the meager beginnings to the current production capabilities seen in the Aden refinery. Reliance of foreign companies is rampant in Yemen.   In particular, Yemen relies heavily on Hunt Oil and Nexen to procure exploration, production, and exportation.   Both of these companies have conducted exploration for years in Yemen, production facilities such as refineries, and exportation in the form of pipeline construction across the country (EIA).   Yemen’s reliance on foreign companies is in direct contrast to their governmental control over resources in the country.   Yemen does employ many private companies to produce and export their oil, but they still maintain control over these companies by either granting or denying land to drill in the form of concessions and by constructing production-sharing agreements (Oil and Gas Author).   The production-sharing agreements ensure the Yemeni government will get a share of the oil resources found in the country by mandating a large percentage of the royalties from the exportation of crude oil from the country to f oreign markets (Oil and Gas Author).   The current situation in Yemen is a strange dichotomy where much reliance on foreign entities is needed, but Yemen still maintains control to a great extent. 3.1.2 Domestic Production of Crude Oil Yemen’s current status in the world as a Middle East oil producer is comparable to other countries in the region.   Investigating Yemen’s current production and known reserves assists economists in determining Yemen’s leverage in oil production. Yemen is a non-OPEC oil producer and as such is ranked number 34 in the world for total production of oil (EIA).   As stated in the table from section 3.1, Yemen is in a fairly average position in terms of oil production in terms of 402,000 barrels per day as compared to neighboring countries (IEA).   Yemen’s current position in comparison to its neighbors appears to possibly be at a peak due to Yemen’s shrinking oil reserves.   The table below displays key dates where Yemen’s oil reserves have slowly declined starting with 100% reserves in the 1950s after the introduction of the first refinery, to a key pivot point in 2003, and finally to a point in 2012. Table: â€Å"Reserve Depletion in Yemen† Source: Thirumalai nbsp; The table demonstrates that in 2003, depletion of reserves became 2/3 of the total reserves originally present in the 1950s.   The table also displays how in 2012 the total reserves will be depleted and Yemen will not have any proved reserves left. 3.1.3 Domestic Consumption of Petroleum Products Domestic markets within Middle East countries do exist.   An unusual figure is the amount of domestic use of petroleum products in Yemen.   The main uses of these products involve energy markets.   Yemen’s two main refineries attempt to fulfill a majority of the domestic demand for petroleum products. The demand for petroleum products in Yemen is not much different from other countries around the world that currently do not supply a major amount of the world’s energy.   Yemen is in a beneficial position where the country produces a certain amount of petroleum products and the country as a whole uses less than what is produced by their production facilities.   The table below demonstrates the production of gasoline/diesel as well as residual fuel oil, and further displays the domestic consumption of these products. TABLE: â€Å"Production and Consumption of Gasoline/Diesel and Residual Fuel Oil (in tons)† Gasoline/Diesel Residual Fuel Oil Production 959,000 399,000 Imports 1,555,000 1,143,000 Domestic Supply 2,449,000 1,082,000 Net Available for Export 65,000 460,000 Source: IEA As the table above suggests, Yemen has 65,000 tons of gasoline/diesel available for export after the country fulfills its domestic needs.   Yemen utilizes importing to fulfill some of its domestic consumption needs because the two refineries they currently have presumably do not have the capacity to quench the domestic consumption.   The table above shows that domestic production is much lower than the imports of the noted petroleum products.   Compared to domestic supply, Yemen still contains some amount available for exporting due to differing production schedules (IEA).   This allows Yemen to derive some benefit from their resources through lowered imports for domestic consumption.   Currently, the Marib and Aden refineries supply all of the gasoline/diesel and residual fuel oil for domestic consumption and export. 3.1.4 Price Controls and Petroleum Product Subsidies Yemen maintains tight control over petroleum product prices.   Global pressures have caused Yemen to rethink their pricing policies.   The effects of price controls and subsidies have different impacts on the overall budget of the country. nbsp; nbsp; 3.2.3 Oil Field Licensing Blocks and Operating Companies Currently the Yemeni government is offering concessions for oil production to meet efficient production standards.   The major players in concession management are well established already within the company’s domestic production market.   However, Yemen realizes the economics of the situation and identifies the need for new concessions in order to establish a greater quantity of bids from a greater variety of companies willing to explore and produce in the country. The types of concessions developed by Yemen displays how oil reserves are found all around the country.   In order to fully understand the intricate development of the oil producing regions, it is essential to first identify the major players already established within the country.   Currently the major producers of oil that have enlisted many of the concessions blocks in the country are Canadian Nexen, Safer EP Operation Company, Total EP Yemen, Jannah Hunt, Dove Energy, DNO, Occidental, Calvally, VICOM, and OMV (EIA).   The Energy Information Administration identifies the fact that Yemen employs numerous and varied companies from different regions and locales.   Since the main companies participating in the concessions have been established, it is helpful to understand exactly what types of concessions these companies have rights to as well as what regions the concessions can be found.   The table below will display the companies already identified above as well as the co ncession blocks they control and what regions those concession blocks are found.   Also included in the table are the area size, year starting the concession, the accumulated oil production thus far, the average daily production of the particular concession, and the number of fields found within the concession. Table: â€Å"Concession size, region, name, production, and company rights† Block Name Region Company Area (km) Start Year Accum. Oil Prod. (mm bll) Avg. Daily Prod. (bpd) Number of Fields Marib (18) Marib Safer EP Operation Co. 8,479 1986 984.15 66,645 14 Masila (14) Hadhrmout Canadian Nexen 1,257 1993 936.81 134,161 16 East Shabwah (10) Hadhrmout TOTAL EP Yemen 964 1997 84.56 42,000 3 Jannah (5) Shabwah Jannah HUNT 280 1996 156.56 43,677 5 East SAAR (53) Hadhrmout DOVE Energy 474 2001 31.76 10,032 1 Hwarim (32) Hadhrmout DNO 592 2000 28.94 14,258 1 Damis (S1) Shabwah Occidental 1,156 2004 7.97 9,548 2 East Al – Hajr (51) Hadhrmout Canadian Nexen 2,004 2004 17.64 19,129 2 South Hwarim (43) Hadhrmout DNO 2,026 2005 4.16 7,484 1 Malik (9) Hadhrmout Calvally 3,530 2006 1.38 4,226 3 W. Ayad (4) Shabwah VICOM 1,998 1987 9.35 129 3 Al – Uqlah (S2) Shabwah OMV 2,100 2006 3,000 3 Source: EIA The concession of Al-Uqlah is currently not experiencing accumulated production, but is included because it is in the same region as the Jannah, Damis, and W. Ayad blocks.   Also, the Al-Uqlah block is already experiencing values for daily production in the 3,000 barrels per day range.   It can be presumed that this area will experience accumulated production soon due to the readily producing blocks found in that region and after the block has some time to further produce.   The table above also demonstrates that the length of time the concession began and the acreage covered by the concession will contribute some to the overall production of the concession, but smaller concessions with less time also have produced high numbers in terms of production capacities.   It is important to note that the major blocks in play are situated around three distinct regions, which further emphasizes that Yemen is concentrating production within a smaller sample of their country’s are a, but also emphasizes the idea that Yemen has some room to grow. Yemen has created many different concession areas, but currently the concessions that are having activity lie in only certain specific areas.   A concession map that is current as of February 2008 displays how Yemen is concentrating on production within only certain areas.   Below Source: PEPA: â€Å"Concession Map† nbsp; The concession map listed previously displays the producing areas or the areas that currently have active exploration.   The white areas are concessions that do not have production or active exploration.   The fact that many white areas exist on the map demonstrates that the government currently has many concessions up for bid, but it is also useful to discuss the concessions created and up for bid since 2003 to better understand Yemen’s concentration on further development.   As of right now there are a total of 87 concession blocks, 12 total producing blocks used by 11 companies, 26 blocks in the exploratory phase currently being explored by 16 companies, 7 blocks awaiting approval, and a total of 34 open blocks (PEPA: â€Å"Concession Map†).   These figures represent the stationary aspect of the concession leases and production, but also represent the prospects of growth that Yemen is attempting to exploit.   Problems with companies have existed throughout the years, and a majority of activity revolved around the recent 2000 decade.   In 2005 the Yemeni government terminated the Hunt Oil concession on Block 18 and instead gave the block to Safer Exploration and Production Operations Company despite the promise to Hunt to renew the lease on Block 18 (EIA).   This is an example of one of the many disputes and competitive actions that companies conduct for the Yemen concessions.   Other concession member companies have expressed interest in covering Hunt’s production, which is in reaction to Hunt’s dissatisfaction with the Yemeni government.   For instance, in 2005 the government was considering replacing Hunt with Premier Oil and the Yemen Oil Company specifically to combat the allegations surrounding Block 18 (Oil and Gas Author).   This conflict shows how the Yemen government does not want to use up time consulting existing oil companies if they do not wish to create a more harmonious relationship.   This als o signifies how Yemen is in a constant state of expansion whereby new partnerships and alliances will replace non-working partnerships in order to speed up production.   One of the more recent concessions involved the Iyad (Block 4) where Yemen awarded this concession to Korea’s KNOC (Oil and Gas Author).   Block 4 has yet to create any sizeable production as seen from the previous table concerning the concession productions, but the grant signifies Yemen’s acceptance of more diversity within the domestic oil production market.   The year 2005 experienced a dramatic increase in concession awards to a variety of companies, and these concessions are either producing or experiencing planning time before production may commence.   The following results from the 2005 bidding are as follows: â€Å"Oil Search (Blocks 7 and 74), Al Thani (Blocks 34, 37 and 55), and Occidental (Block 75)† (Oil and Gas Author).   A huge block was discovered to contain a large am ount of oil resources in 2003, which induced the Yemeni government to create a grouping of companies that will assist in the production of the oil rich block.   In 2003 a Canadian company called Calvalley made the oil discovery and the Yemeni government granted Calvalley, Reliance Industries and Hoodoil a license to develop Block 9 through 2025 (Oil and Gas Author).   The exploration was maintained throughout the years of 2003 and onward, which presented Yemen with more opportunities for granting bids on more concessions.   In 2004, Yemen granted a consortium of DNO and Transglobal Energy the rights to exploration of Block 72 (Oil and Gas Author).   Older bids that established this growth in concession building occurred in 2001.   OMV, Cepsa, and PanCanadian were granted production contracts for Block 60 (Oil and Gas Author).   As of today no sizeable production has occurred in this block according to the concession table and map, but these grants opened the door for fut ure production expansion for the country.   More current concessions are currently up for bid which attempt to expand the reach of production to include offshore areas as well as other land-based areas in the country.   The oil ministry recently Announced the Fourth International Bid Round for Offshore Exploration and Production. This round is targeting eleven offshore blocks, namely: Kamaran (22), Hodaidah (23), South Balhaf (46), Midi (55), South Mosina’ah (61), Atab (62), South Nashtun (63), Ra’s Mume (93), Abd Al Kuri (94), Samhah (95), and South Ra’s Mume (96) (EIA). nbsp; These areas represent the newest concessions that entrenched companies as well as any new companies wishing to conduct production in Yemen can bid on.   These bids will be granted to the highest bidder and are an attempt to create a more progressive society for Yemen.   The new blocks are of interest to many oil companies throughout the world.   For example, a conference for the new blocks commenced where â€Å"40 big oil firms [attended] including Shell, British Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Oxy, Nexen, Oil Search and CCC† (Yemen Observer).   The attractiveness of Yemen has been enhanced by the earlier production sharing agreements and concession bids. The two major producers within Yemen are Nexen and Hunt, and these two companies currently hold major concessions in the country.   Nexen is a Canadian company that has been producing oil in Yemen for many years.   Nexen first created a presence in Yemen in 1993 when they were granted a concession in Masila   (Block 14) and began production that same year (Ford, 44).   Nexen had created a presence in Yemen early, which has assisted in further exploration projects and concession bids.   Yemen has had a long relationship with Nexen, which has created a trustful relationship whereby both the country and the company have benefited.   Nexen’s most recent Masila and East Al Hajr production in 2007 has had remarkable results and has become a major portion of the company’s total production.   In 2007, Nexen had produced a total 71,600 barrels of oil per day in the two Yemen concessions, which represents over 28% of Nexen’s overall production as a company (F ord, 44).   Nexen is experiencing substantial production growth due to their relationship with Yemen.   Nexen is also fortunate to have Yemen as a partner in production because the oil that remains in their concession blocks has bolstered their proved reserves.   Proved reserves are oil reserves that have already been explored and confirmed as being present within a given area, but have not yet been produced and procured from the ground (Mackenzie, 48).   Nexen has increased their total proved reserves by 4% by utilizing the concessions they control in Yemen (Ford, 44).   Nexen’s exposure in Yemen is considered one of the greatest single exposures of a company in a Middle East country.   Nexen has established their presence so much in Yemen that they are the largest project holder in the country (Ford, 44).   Nexen’s development in Yemen has flourished due to the relationship between the two entities that was established in 1993 and continues to this day.    Hunt Oil is another company with a very large control over certain concessions in Yemen.   Hunt Oil uses a subsidiary called Jennah Hunt Oil to control the oil concession they currently hold.   Hunt maintains Block 5 with a 15% interest and averages over 45,500 barrels per day from the production (Ford, 45).   The cumulative oil produced in 2006 from Block 5 production was in excess of 158 million barrels (Ford, 45).   In 2007 Hunt was mainly concerned with calculations for production as well as estimates of whether or not drilling of more wells would produce enough oil to garner the task.   2007 saw Hunt drill production wells at the Dhahab field and an additional two wells in the Halewah field have been granted for drilling (Ford, 45).   Hunt has experienced significant growth in technology associated with deciding the viability of certain areas of increased exploration.   The company has conducted reservoir simulation studies intended to determine drilling and capacity requirements that may be needed in the future concerning their Block 5 concession (Ford, 45).   Hunt Oil has had some complications with their relationship with Yemen, but has continued to exploit their concession to the fullest position possible.   The introduction of research on greater capacity and drilling denotes a step toward expanding their production in Block 5.   Hunt Oil and Nexen are two very different companies in their Yemeni participation as well as origin, but have created a majority of production in the country. Nexen and Hunt Oil command two of the largest pipelines for transporting crude oil in Yemen.   Hunt Oil was the first company to begin exploration in Yemen, and because of this fact was the first company to assist the Yemeni government in construction of the first major oil pipeline.   First, Hunt Oil constructed the Mareb refinery, which was later handed over to the Yemeni Oil Refinery Company, but introduced the pipeline to the world (Haifi).   Hunt created all of this construction within a relatively short time period.   During the years of 1986-1987, Hunt Oil and the Yemeni government conducted a construction of a pipeline that would run from the Mareb basin and down to the Red Sea (Haifi).   The construction project was a complicated procedure for an oil company, but was considered unbelievable in the industry.   The pipeline consisted of 437 km of piping that traveled over mountains and to a final port, which is considered one of the most difficult and largest const ruction projects ever in the world (Haifi).   The flow of the oil relays to the refinery and ultimately ends at a transport terminal in the Red Sea.   Hunt Oil and the Yemeni government proposed and created a floating terminal that is connected to the pipeline in the Red Sea where all of the oil from the Mareb basin is fed (Haifi).   Hunt Oil helps in the maintaining of the pipeline and operates much of the pipeline infrastructure and has continued this operation as long as the Mareb basin produces resources.   Nexen’s pipeline was constructed in response to a lack of transportation of crude across the country.   Nexen began their exploration and production in the early 1990s, which means the company, was the second company to begin production after Hunt.   Nexen created the Masila pipeline called the Ash Shihr pipeline that is 138 km long and has a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day (PEPA: â€Å"Pipelines Terminals†).   Nexen utilizes the pipeline in o rder to efficiently transport the products mined from the Masila concession area.   In both examples the pipelines were built by Hunt and Nexen and were pivotal to the development of Yemen’s oil production.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

German Culture essays

German Culture essays During spring break of my senior year in high school two of my closest friends and I went to Austria and Germany, for a ski trip. It was probably the most cathartic time of my life. My high school experience was the most stressful time of my life, but my two friends and I left all of that in the states. I had been taking German for four years, but it was on this trip that I realized that this was where I wanted to live. The German culture and I are completely harmonious. Just thinking about the Germans mixture of calm collective efficiency and socializing brings me out of the worst day. When I first stepped off the plane in the Munich airport the entire place was silent. The Germans people are quiet, even when in public. When I went there and did not get a single headache, I realized how loud Americans are. I am a very quiet person, and Americans in general are loud and questioning. One of the reasons Americans are disliked by most Europeans is because they are always asking questions and want to know what is going on. Europeans are very quiet and collective. They only talk to people they know. Most of the time in larger cities, they wont even say hello when you pass them on the street. If a European has an acquaintance, they generally will only say hello. Americans will ask them about their day, and their extended familys. Europeans think this is rude, and so do I. Germans are the most efficient people on the planet. When the Germans built the Autobahns in the 1930s they made them perfect so that their citizens could travel with complete efficiency. They made it wind slowly so that people would not fall asleep at the wheel. They made rules so that it would be completely safe. They are to drive on the right side of the road unless passing. They cannot eat, drink, talk on the phone, or even rest one of their hands. They must have both hands on the wheel at all times unless shifting or working other necessary c...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Why Does Referencing Affect Your Grades

Why Does Referencing Affect Your Grades Why Does Referencing Affect Your Grades? Here at Proofed, we get a lot of requests for help with referencing. But why exactly is referencing important? And why does citing sources clearly and consistently earn you better grades on your papers? Joining the Conversation An academic discipline is like an conversation between thousands of thinkers and researchers, past and present. When you write about a specific subject, you contribute to that conversation. Citing your sources demonstrates the depth of your knowledge, while also making your arguments more authoritative by drawing upon those who have discussed similar ideas before you. Academic Honesty The main purpose of referencing is to give credit where it’s due. By citing your sources, you clearly indicate the influence that other people have had on your work, thereby ensuring your work is academically honest. Failure to cite sources, on the other hand, can lead to accusations of plagiarism, especially if you quote a source without using â€Å"quotation marks† as well as leaving a citation. If you are found to have plagiarized in your work, this will negatively impact your grade. Distinguishing Your Ideas from Other People’s In academic writing, you may need to engage critically with opposing ideas (either contrary to your own position or when discussing two conflicting theories). When doing this, it is important to differentiate between your own ideas and those of the thinkers you are discussing. A well-placed citation should remove any ambiguity about this, thus ensuring you can express your ideas clearly. It Saves Detective Work for Your Reader While researching a paper, you’ll probably need to check the reference list on a website or in a book to find other relevant sources. This is, in fact, an essential skill for any researcher. It’s also another good reason to cite your sources, as without clear citations (including full bibliographic detail in the reference list) your reader will find it difficult to find the texts you’ve used. Demonstrating Academic Skills As the above factors hopefully indicate, referencing is a key skill in the academic world. Consequently, by citing your sources clearly and consistently, you prove to your reader that you are a diligent academic. And this alone can make the difference between a passing and failing grade.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Market segmentation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market segmentation - Research Paper Example The market could be segmented into three major groups – young adults (age 22 to 35), middle – aged (age 36 to 50) and senior citizens (51 years and above). Nevertheless, the business scope (in terms of sales volume) of Chevy Volt is relatively high for first two segments because these consumers are tilted towards new hybrid vehicles and eco-friendly products (Welch, 2010). It is justified to argue that GM has currently a small market because there are fewer customers in the market that could easily acquire a $40,000 car in bleak economic scenario (inflation, high gas / fuel prices and unemployment). Indeed, GM sold only 647 vehicles in first 2 months of launch that confirms aforementioned argument (Jin, 2011). It should be emphasized that GM competes with Japanese makers like Toyota, Honda and Nissan that could easily produce and market a hybrid in range of $17,000 – 33,000. Therefore, GM has been planning to increase its production and sell 25,000 units a year. This would definitely enable GM to reduce Volt’s total market price by $8,000 – 12,000, thereby increasing its competitiveness and attracting a large pool of middle – middle customers.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Effective Approaches in Leadership and Management (Benchmark Essay

Effective Approaches in Leadership and Management (Benchmark Assessment) - Essay Example As O’Donnell and Bensky (2011) portray, the core focus is towards addressing the prevailing structural issues that have often hindered optimal outcomes. Optimal outcomes as I perceive, necessarily pertain to aspects such as better health care and lower medical cost/ expenditure. In line with this is the need of the nursing fraternity to aptly adapt to the expected dynamism within the healthcare system. Conformity subsequently necessitates various changes, in line with tackling influential structural issues like utility of contract medical employees, unit restructuring and foreclosure, nursing shortage and turnover rates, staffing ratios, magnet designation, patient satisfaction, and continuous improvement of quality healthcare provision (O’Donnell & Bensky, 2011). A critical issue amongst the aforementioned would be patient satisfaction in terms of overall treatment and positive result outcomes. Towards tactfully addressing this issue, is the need of overall conformity that necessitates a variety of changes. Definitively, the optimal course of direction is towards evolving healthcare into a more patient-centered profession. In such contexts, optimal healthcare ought to be responsive to and respective of personal preferences, needs and values of the individual patient. Through this, leadership and management can strategically strive towards ensuring that individual patient values do guide all forms of clinical decisions. Influential in this regard as Bohm (2012) alludes, is the fact that there has long lacked the incorporation of patient-centered care especially in terms of care quality assessments, as well as subsequent health outcomes. Rather, quality measurement has continuously focused on addressing preventive care and disease-specific processes instead. Similarly, outcome measurement continuously has focused on condition-specific indicators in terms of overall,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Logically Social Essay Example for Free

Logically Social Essay The article is titled â€Å"Logically Social† on which it tackles the role played by Logic in mans social being. As I study mans social being, I have learned that it will involve language, the fundamental tool for communication. A good example is a relationship between speakers and listeners whereas the speakers must establish the truth of what they say and express and uses reasoning as a way of relating to listeners and the listeners play their part by understanding the message we receive and like the speakers they use reasoning as the means of analyzing the intended meaning of the speaker. Reasoning is one of the objects of study in Logic, which is a fundamental learning to me. I also learned that Logic constitutes two basic types of reasoning, the inductive and the deductive which are both necessary for the correct understanding of a matter. I’m enlightened that under the province of logic there is a hodgepodge of studies under the realm of reasoning: the criteria for our arguments to be valid, the conditions for the statements become true, the fallacies we commit, the norms in properly defining terms, and the way to eliminate ambiguity and vagueness in our expressions. I can also tell that Language is Logic because it prompts us the proper usage of language and it is an objective standard that work in authentically effective communication. I’ve been made aware that logic facilitates the option of choosing among ambiguous, vague, or definite terms that are useful for every call of usage. Like poetry, we must use vague or ambiguous terms for aesthetics. Also when clarity is of prime concern, it must use well defined or exact terms. As I read through I’ve observed that logic plays a big role in the grammatical construction of sentences; good usage of logic means a choice between misleading or precise sentences. I’ve learned that misleading sentences falls in two categories: vague and ambiguous. Ambiguous sentences are those that have two or more meaning and it’s vague when its meaning is not determined with precision. Now I learned that an argument is basically a group of statements, one of which is the conclusion and the rest are the premises. Upon learning I also procured the two kinds of argument based on the two kinds of reasoning that: deductive and inductive. A reasoning or argument is deductive if the premises claim to give conclusive grounds for the truth of the conclusion, or if the premises claim to support the conclusion with necessity. Deductive argument is therefore either valid or invalid. I have learned that to make a deductive argument valid, the premises that should be assumed are true. It will be inconsistent and self-contradictory to accept these premises but deny its conclusion, because the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. I have also acquired the meaning of invalid deductive argument, where the conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premise/s. I have also learned that when you reason inductively on the other hand, you infer a general conclusion from a collection of particular facts. Whereas deductive argument is either valid or invalid, inductive argument is either reliable or unreliable. I have known for the fact that inductive reasoning to be reliable; the conclusion must be based on ample amount of individual representative instances. I must be aware not to confuse inductive argument with invalid deductive argument because its difference between deduction and induction is not the difference between good and bad reasoning, but between two ways to support the truth of conclusions. I’ve learned that when creating argumentative paragraph in writing or speaking, logic prescribes that we can use both valid deductive and reliable inductive argument. To sum all this up, what logic warns us from, when it comes to using arguments is the use of invalid deductive and unreliable inductive argument.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Political Speech -- Media

Discursive consciousness encourages politicians to partake in sharing one’s history. It is the speech that is a conversation or discourse between the potential and the intended audience. It is a personal campaign, relating platform to the laity in an effort to gain a true backing. That creates a profile. Through existential coherence, the insinuations of relatedness succor the public and the politician to find common ground, supplying elements of familiarity evoking a relatable and approachable persona. This public image is a configuration of the individual’s history, ideas, beliefs, and purpose, an oratorical resume of sorts. A Narrative of belonging would be displayed in the existential coherence of the campaign. Implications of specific regional qualifications render the potential apropos to the masses. In example [1] candidate Steve Evans, relegates his background, relishing his youth. Action of Narrative belonging entices the voters to identify the candidate as â€Å"one of us†. It is reinforcing the notion that he is not an outsider. Example [2] invites the audience to look into ...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Humanities nature vs nurture Essay

Some people believe nature is more influential. Got example in the case of the Jim twins. They were separated at birth and around 30 years later they discovered each. It showed that throughout the years they had not known each they had made a lot of similar decisions. Their kids had the same name, the same car and wives were the same. This proves that your genetics play a vital part into the choices you make as you go older. On the other hand some people nurture plays more of a part in the way we act as we grow older. For example Kamala and Amala. These were children who were brought up my wolves. Whether our inborn characteristics are more responsible in our resultant personality or any experiences we will make, has been the topic of discussion among scientists under the title of â€Å"Nature vs Nurture† for years. Biologists believe that the only factor behind individual’s personality is his genome. In contrast, socio-biologists argue that the environment and experiences that one gains during his life, build his personality. I am inclined to believe that the traits we are born with are more responsible genetically in building human’s personality. Some cases of children who were left in the wilderness and raised with wild animals indicate the significance of mothering–nurturing. When those isolated children were found, they were unable to speak language, even a word, and their behaviors were not unlike animals’. If they were born with a special ‘innate’ ability which enables, nativists believe, children to magically acquire everything from language to social manner at ease, why not these wild children failed to acquire the custom of human society? One tragic experiment conducted by a German king proves that one’s language, one type of the intelligence, is not naturally acquired, but learned after years of exposure. The King hoped to find out what language a child would speak if not being told any language after birth. The result was disastrous: All infants who were the subject of this experiment died before the first year, not acquiring any language at all. If human being’s intelligence were really genetically determined, all cases mentioned above would never happen. With the innate property which they are given from birth, they should’ve been able to have proper behavior and speak language without any external help. Unfortunately, that is not true. After a few years of a good mothering, human beings become independent and mature, so their intelligence does. Therefore, ‘nurture’ is a more significant factor in human’s intelligence.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Questions On David Crystal Essay

Questions on David Crystal’s article â€Å"2b or Not 2b?† 1. David Crystal begins his article with some strong â€Å"they say† arguments, quoting writers who argue that text messaging is destroying the English language. At what point in the article do you begin to see that his own perspective is very different from that of such critics? – Crystal’s perspective on texting is displayed many times throughout different paragraphs in the article. In paragraph six Crystal states â€Å"texting has added a new dimension to language use. Although there are some who see texting as a modern tool that is ruining â€Å"proper English†, Crystal sees it as a way for society to enhance thee language skills. 2. Summarize Crystal’s arguments in favor of text messaging. In what ways have the dangers of this phenomenon been vastly overstated, in his opinion? How does he organize his argument? What are his main points, and what kinds of support does he offer? – Most arguments state that text abbreviations have replaced proper English. On the other hand, Crystal states that these abbreviations go back to centuries. For example †IOU goes back to 1618† A book written by Eric Partritch in 1942 called â€Å" Dictionary of Abbreviations† contained sms examples and was published 50 years before texting. 3. Crystal wrote this article for a British newspaper read primarily by adults. What might he have done differently if the piece had been for, say, an audience of middle or high school students? – If Crystal’s audience were middle school students he might have written this article from there point of view . Crystal would most likely include more examples that could relate to them. Also, Crystal could include how texting can help with school and be an asset rather than a distraction. 4. Reread the two text message poems in the article. Which one do you prefer? In what ways do these poems support his argument? – The second poem supports Crystal’s argument, because the author abbreviated words and replaced letters with numbers just as most people who text do. Although the author has written the poem differently the reader is still  able to interpret the poem and the words makes sense.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on The Lost While

The Lost While Noelle Oxenhandler’s essay, â€Å"The Lost While† is an astonishingly realistic depiction of what our society has become. It portrays the unconscious monster-like attitudes we express in our everyday life. Today’s society with its extreme technology has altered our thoughts to what enjoying the moment means! In contemporary life, we are so caught up with the worries of the everyday world and its responsibilities, we never take the time to sit down and enjoy the moments that could be so special. However each person individually cannot be blamed for this. Society has changed our views and thoughts through a booming industrial period and so called conveniences. Families and professionals of all sorts have developed this same type of fast-pasted mindset of the world. This is creating a circle that is never-ending, that gets more complex with time. Oxenhandler quotes that, â€Å"We have come to believe that convenience is necessity† (310). Oxenhandler expresses that we get angered and frustrated when what we want is not immediately available to us. These feelings are the product of a booming society that has deeply enrooted a desire for a perfect world; a perfect world where to want is to have. The author goes into details about how living in the moment has evolved into the pressure-filled life we live in today. This is sad to admit, yet, it is all but the truth. Reminiscing Oxenhandler tells of how one of her favorite activities is to send letters to people. She says now the satisfaction of the process of mail delivery is corrupted; due to the technology that brought us e-mail and fax machines. Oxenhandler says that because of this, an intrinsic part of the letter writing process; the delay of a letter-in-transit is being taken away. The anticipation you get of your recipient getting his or her mail is no long er there. Because of the high-tech machines used today, your mail is almost instantly at... Free Essays on The Lost While Free Essays on The Lost While The Lost While Noelle Oxenhandler’s essay, â€Å"The Lost While† is an astonishingly realistic depiction of what our society has become. It portrays the unconscious monster-like attitudes we express in our everyday life. Today’s society with its extreme technology has altered our thoughts to what enjoying the moment means! In contemporary life, we are so caught up with the worries of the everyday world and its responsibilities, we never take the time to sit down and enjoy the moments that could be so special. However each person individually cannot be blamed for this. Society has changed our views and thoughts through a booming industrial period and so called conveniences. Families and professionals of all sorts have developed this same type of fast-pasted mindset of the world. This is creating a circle that is never-ending, that gets more complex with time. Oxenhandler quotes that, â€Å"We have come to believe that convenience is necessity† (310). Oxenhandler expresses that we get angered and frustrated when what we want is not immediately available to us. These feelings are the product of a booming society that has deeply enrooted a desire for a perfect world; a perfect world where to want is to have. The author goes into details about how living in the moment has evolved into the pressure-filled life we live in today. This is sad to admit, yet, it is all but the truth. Reminiscing Oxenhandler tells of how one of her favorite activities is to send letters to people. She says now the satisfaction of the process of mail delivery is corrupted; due to the technology that brought us e-mail and fax machines. Oxenhandler says that because of this, an intrinsic part of the letter writing process; the delay of a letter-in-transit is being taken away. The anticipation you get of your recipient getting his or her mail is no long er there. Because of the high-tech machines used today, your mail is almost instantly at...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Many Ways to Use Spanish Bajo in a Sentence

The Many Ways to Use Spanish Bajo in a Sentence Bajo is a common Spanish preposition, adjective, and adverb that means being low in some way, either figuratively or literally or under something. Also,  bajo  is used in common idioms  usually as a preposition. Bajo Used as an Adjective As an adjective, common translations include low or short, and bajo can also be used to indicate contemptibility or lack of intensity. Spanish Sentence English Translation Mi prima es baja para su edad. My cousin is short for her age. No es necesario tratar esta enfermedad de bajo riesgo con quimioterapia. It is not necessary to treat this low-risk illness with chemotherapy. El valle bajo es rico en historia. The low valley is rich in history. Tenemos problemas de baja calidad de la seà ±al inalmbrica. We have problems with poor quality of the wireless signal. Alberto cayà ³ en los ms bajos pecados durante los dos aà ±os. Alberto fell into the basest sins during the two years. La clase baja sufre las consecuencias de su reforma polà ­tica. The lower class is suffering the consequences of his political reform. Son capaces de los ms bajos actos de violencia. They are capable of the vilest acts of violence. La presià ³n sanguà ­nea baja puede ser un signo de enfermedad. Low blood pressure can be a sign of sickness. Bajo as an Adverb Although more commonly used as an adjective, bajo can be used as an adverb that means quietly or softly. For example, Si  habla  bajo, es  necesario  elevar  volumen  del  micrà ³fono, which means, If you speak softly, you need to turn up the microphone volume. Another way bajo can be used as an adverb is when describing something falling or flying low as in low to the ground. For example, El pjaro  volaba  muy  bajo, which means, The bird was flying very low. Bajo as a Preposition Bajo can serve as a preposition and can almost always be translated as under. Spanish Sentence English Sentence El gato est bajo la cama. The cat is under the bed. La vida bajo el mar es muy difà ­cil. Life undersea is very difficult. Un barco mercante encallà ³ bajo un puente. The merchant ship ran aground under a bridge. Los compresores principales estn bajo el coche. The main compressors are under the car. Correr bajo la lluvia es ms gratificante que hacerlo en seco. Running in the rain is more rewarding than doing it when it's dry. Bajo Used in Idioms or Borrowed Phrases Bajo can also be a preposition with an indefinite meaning when it is used as an idiom or expression. Many of these figurative expressions correspond to similar ones in English, some of which are likely calques. A  calque or  loan translation  is a  word  or  phrase  borrowed from another  language  by  literal, word-for-word translation. Spanish Expression English Translation bajo arresto under arrest bajo circunstancias normales under normal circumstances bajo condicià ³n de que under condition that bajo construccià ³n under construction bajo control under control bajo cubierto undercover bajo fianza on bail bajo la influencia under the influence bajo investigacià ³n under investigation bajo juramento under oath bajo la mesa under the table bajo ningà ºn concepto in no conceivable way bajo palabra on parole bajo peso underweight bajo presià ³n under pressure bajo protesta under protest Words Related to Bajo Bajar, is a related verb to bajo, which often means to lower or to get down. Related adverbs are abajo and debajo, which often mean underneath, or down there.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Agency costs and ownership structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Agency costs and ownership structure - Essay Example A firm is a team effort involving several players - the owners, managers, shareholders, and lenders - that should work together to maximise the value of the firm in terms of profitability, sustainability, and performance. Recent experience, however, in the wake of business bankruptcies and scandals show that this team effort is not achieved in several cases. This paper reviews the available literature on the effects of family ownership, public ownership, and the dispersal of ownership on firm performance and value and provides a summary of the status of our knowledge of these relationships. Agency theory explores the effects of ownership structure on the performance of the firm. The theory states that the value of a firm will depend on the extent to which the interests of principals (owners) and agents (managers) are aligned. However, the interests of the principals are not the same as the interests of the agents, so aligning the two sets of interests will incur so-called agency costs. In this paper, we review the available literature on the application of agency theory in two types of ownership structures. First, we looked at firms that are majority owned, managed, or controlled by a single family and explored whether the aligned interests resulted in lower agency costs and better firm performance. In general, research findings supported the predictions of agency theory: firms where the founder-CEO, or a CEO-heir after the second generation, plays an active management role performed better than firms that are not dominated by a single family. ... cy cost that researchers term as "expropriation" have a negative effect on firm value as the dominant owners "expropriate" perquisites and other benefits to the detriment of minority owners. Second, we compared the performance of public and private firms. Research studies that included firms from a wide range of industries supported the agency theory, but the probability that results were influenced by factors that are endogenous to specific industries affect their external validity, or general applicability, to other industries. By looking at the results of a focused study using sample firms from one industry, we were able to establish the validity of agency theory in explaining firm performance. We also looked at the literature on the effects of a diversified ownership base on firm performance as reflected by stock price, with mixed results due to the effects of increased liquidity, rather than minimisation of agency costs, on improved firm performance. Introduction One of the most discussed topics in finance and economics is the ideal ownership structure that will maximise the value of the firm. This issue touches the core of why firms exist in the first place -to maximise profit for its owners - and explains partially how and why previously successful firms fail. Economists used to assume that everyone - owners, managers, employees, and lenders - act together for the good of the firm. After all, each one is bound by formal and informal contracts to ensure that firm value is maximised (Brealey and Myers, 1996, p. 991). This however seldom happens as there are conflicts of interest that affect firm performance, a phenomenon that academics have attempted to investigate over the last seventy years under the conceptual lens of ownership structure. How and why do

Friday, November 1, 2019

FACTORY LIVES PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

FACTORY LIVES PAPER - Essay Example The working conditions in the factories had become worse as the industrial revolution took place. Workers had long working hours, poor working conditions, and instability of their jobs. There were no effective government regulations to prevent unsafe and dangerous conditions for workers. A great number of accidents used to take place in factories. One such accident is narrated by William Dodd who was a factory cripple. William worked for 18 hours in an English textile factory and was given a job as a piecer which led to great pressure on his right knee, leaving him crippled. He attended his evening classes and was later given the job of a clerk in the factory which made him badly crippled1. Another story is the Factory Girl written by Ellen Johnston telling about her experiences as a child worker in a factory. She writes how she was physically abused and so was her mother. She was a writer but she worked in factories all her life which also lead to her bad health and eventually she had to shift to Scotland as the doctor suggested change of air2. Women and children were made to work for long hours in dangerous conditions that cost people their lives. William Dodd led a bachelor’s life because no woman wanted to marry a cripple. The Cry of the Children by Elizabeth Barrett demonstrates the tough working conditions for children as they had to work in mines and manufactories. The factory workers’ lives weren’t just torturous while at work, they struggled with a working life outside factories too. Ellen explains in her autobiography how she suffered physical abuse at the hands of her mother when she tried to run away from the factory work. She also received a bad reputation in the society just because she wanted to run away from the tough factory working life her mother was living. These workers lived a tough life as they had to spend long hours at work, their wages were low, and they had low

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The Battle for Stirling Bridge Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Battle for Stirling Bridge - Case Study Example Employees are the superior stakeholders of the company. Employees work towards the objective of the company. The skilled metal workers of the Stirling Bridge Company manufacture power tools including the Braveheart tools and other light and heavy industrial machinery and thus they exert their sphere of influence in maximizing the profit. Employees are the superior stakeholders of the company. Employees work towards the objective of the company. The skilled metal workers of the Stirling Bridge Company manufacture power tools including the Braveheart tools and other light and heavy industrial machinery and thus they exert their sphere of influence in maximizing the profit. Customers: Customers play a major role in the development of the organization as they are the consumers of the product produced by the company. The customers influence the company by giving feedback about the quality of the product. Suppliers: Raw materials are the main resources of an organization. Suppliers provide the necessary raw materials and influence the continuous production of the tools. Government: The organization should get the approval of the government before commencing its productions. The concern should abide by the rules and the standard acts imposed by the Government. The Government has full authority to take legal action against the company if any of its activities harm society.   Thus each of the stakeholders exercises their own influence in different areas of interest in the company thereby promulgating the production to a profitable extent.2. How might the actions of Stirling Bridge, with respect to its Braveheart line of tools, be regarded more as a stakeholder approach as opposed to a strict shareholder approach and which of Lantos’ types of Corporate Social Responsibility might be demonstrated by each of the actions taken?

Monday, October 28, 2019

Euthanasia Essay Example for Free

Euthanasia Essay In his accounts, Gay-Williams raised important arguments with regard to euthanasia. Being a serious point of debate for many decades now, there are people who approve of it claiming it provides humane death for someone otherwise not capable of living a normal life anymore. On the other hand, there are others who stay conservative and disapprove of euthanasia believing that in no way can people decide should another person is already bound for death or not. One point of contention is the differentiation between active and passive euthanasia, which further segments the population. Gay-Williams assert that active euthanasia is illegal yet passive euthanasia can be morally favored. Some do not believe on the differentiation and say that whether it is active or passive, euthanasia should be regarded as illegal. Gay-Williams also argued that euthanasia takes out the hope in a patient. This further proves the negative notion on euthanasia. This along with the argument that euthanasia is a practical choice for medical practitioners is raised by the author and was explained in detail. This paper aims to discuss these arguments and evaluate their strength, which may prove or otherwise disprove the motions of Gay-Williams. In developing the paper, it hopes to evaluate euthanasia in light of its moral viability; the distinction cited between active and passive euthanasia and their moral statures, and two arguments that embody mercy killing: the argument that states how euthanasia affects the will to live and survive as well as how it may be used for practical applications—rather surprising conclusions that were taken by Gay-Williams which are worth a lengthy point of discussion, evaluation, and comparison. Passive and active euthanasia Gay-Williams stated that there is a big difference between passive and active euthanasia. In phrases, passive euthanasia is letting die while active euthanasia is killing. It should be noted that passive euthanasia happens when a person was not given relief from a certainly fatal situation which is otherwise medically alterable. For instance, a person with extreme difficulty in breathing who can still be resuscitated but was not given an apparatus or aid for the purpose may die under the circumstance of passive euthanasia. This is often done when there is an order by the patient or the family that the patient should not be resuscitated. Alternatively, the situation can be the other way around. The patient may be in a dying situation, but still technically alive. For some circumstance such as the thought that the patient is constantly in pain, hopeless, or if the patient himself can no longer bear the pain, there may become a request or a suggestion for the pain to be stopped—rather permanently. At this point poison may be intravenously given to end the suffering of the patient. According to Gay-Williams, this big difference between the two is obvious in light of their moral statures. The first one which let the patient die without medical intervention is acceptable as there was no effort in ending the life of the patient. Divinely, the patient may still be saved. On the other hand, the latter-described procedure deliberately put an effort in ending the suffering and the life of the patient. The author stated that this is killing even if the purpose of the act is to save someone from a lengthy and costly suffering. The thought of euthanasia Every one of us is gifted with survival instincts. When the going gets tough, they say the tough gets going. And so when an illness hits someone and he is tough enough, he finds hope rather than despair. He focuses on the positive rather than the negative and strives to find a way to battle the sickness and eventually win it. Thus, when the mind says that it wants to live, the body and the person will most likely follow. (How to live a longer and healthier life, 2007) This is the same argument raised by Gay-Williams as an issue of euthanasia. He states: knowing that we can take out our life at anytime (or ask another to take it) might well incline us to give up too easily. The will to live is strong in all of us, but it can be weakened by pain and suffering and feelings of hopelessness. This will to live is essential as many doctors have proven. Gay-Williams himself stated that there are many miraculous survivals that occur which even medicine cannot fully explain. Many shows, testimonials, and books have discussed how people in the brink of death were able to miraculously survive. Some were from serious illnesses or were declared in comatose. Some claimed to be back from dying. This relationship between the will to live and getting well has been the premise of many studies. Doctors started incorporating psychological therapies to their patients’ treatment plans hoping to get better results. Often, the results even exceed their expectations. This led many doctors to adapt the concept, to the relief and advantage of thousands and maybe even millions of patients around the world. As Gay-Williams says: The very presence of the possibility of euthanasia may keep us from surviving when we might. Euthanasia and practical effects Gay-Williams state that doctors and nurses’ main thrust and aim in their professions is to save lives, and that when a patient dies in their care it becomes a personal failure which may not be too easy to accept. Thus it is not surprising if the author argued that euthanasia is a practical way for practitioners to avoid this quicksand. If they endorse or support euthanasia, any impending deaths in their care can be pre-empted—no one will ever die in their responsibility again. Euthanasia is a product of free will. It takes the patient and/or his family into a higher level of decision-making whereby they choose whether to prolong the patient’s illness and let live or end the suffering and let the patient die in peace. Its proponents agree that approving euthanasia as a social policy lets the people exercise the freedom of will that was given to them by the divine and the constitution. This is true in that even if euthanasia becomes a social policy, it still boils down to the decision of the person if euthanasia should be chosen or not as a way of getting out of one’s suffering. If a patient or his family does not want to exercise it, it is also for them to decline. However, Gay-Williams claim that euthanasia will bring an all new low in the quality of healthcare where euthanasia is acceptable. The quality will be sacrificed because if practitioners know an easier way out of an untreatable disease rather than letting the patient die naturally in their hands, the process may be taken in non-serious cases as well. In connection, Gay-Williams stress that as a social policy euthanasia will bring worse concerns. For one, it can permit authorities to eliminate those who are hopelessly ill, the way those who are mentally ill are sent in mental hospitals—a comparison Gay-Williams was clever in making. Conclusion So did Gay-Williams’ argument win or lose? The argument revolved around the innate willingness to live by people, especially the sick. It played up the fact that the will to live is a fragile characteristic inherent to everyone. It further stated that euthanasia blotted onto this inherent character; that the provision of a choice to end life gave people the reason to end life; that giving patients, their families, and the doctors an easy route out of the situation gave them the authority to take this easy route out as well. With these arguments, Gay-Williams reiterated that whether as a social policy or an open option for patients, families, and medical practitioners, euthanasia is a slippery slope where no one wins. Gay-Williams, theoretically speaking, was able to deliver his points well. It is true that euthanasia is an exercise of free will, but the fact that free will is given and thus the idea of euthanasia is suggested to a patient is already initially detrimental to the patient. It entails responsible choices to be made by the patient, the family, and the doctors. It requires a full understanding of life, and the willingness to allow life to take its course. The doctors can suggest this graceful exit option to the patient or the family but if the patient or the family’s will to live or let live is stronger than the will to end everything, euthanasia becomes out of the options and medication can continue. But if the patient or the doctors already have the way out it will be too tempting to resist. (A plea for beneficent euthanasia, n. d. ) Even if euthanasia is unwise for conservatives, it is a matter of choice and conscience. For the unbelievers, they can go through life without considering it. For modernists, it is an available choice. In the end, one should never and can never decide for another. Gay-Williams failed to include this in his distinctions. It is true that it can be used by doctors as a practical way out of a medical case, or disillusion patients, but it should still be a choice given for all.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Trepanation, Spirituality and Loneliness :: Biology Essays Research Papers

The search for a "higher level of consciousness" is one that seems to be as old as consciousness itself. Practices such as the ritualistic or religious consumption of peyote, ayahuasca, psilocybe mushrooms or other such naturally-occuring hallucinogenic drugs, self-deprivation and transcendental meditation are just a few of the countless ways in which mankind has sought to expand the limits of human experience; these practices are still a mainstay in many modern countercultures. They are also very well-known and documented practices. There exists, however, a radical surgical procedure, as old as the aforementioned practices but far less notorious in the general public, which purports to result in the same sort of enlightenment: trepanation, also known as trephination. (Be prepared: likely, the primary reason that trepanation has not received so much attention from popular culture is that it is far more extreme than the other methods mentioned above.) What is trepanation? Strictly speaking, it is the practice of drilling, scraping or in any other way creating a small hole in the skull down to, but not through, the dura mater, or the thick, tough membrane that contains the brain. Archeological evidence tells us that it was performed by ancient cultures on every continent; the oldest trepanned skulls that have currently been found date as far back as 3000 B.C (approximately). In almost all cases, the evidence points to the trepanation having been performed with skill and a great deal of precision - it was clearly a procedure that had ritualistic import. (1) What purpose could this operation possibly serve? In early documented incarnations, trepanation existed as a cure for mental illness - it was believed that mental illnesses were the result of demons living within the skull, and thus a hole was made in the skull through which these demons could escape. The more modern perspective on trepanation as a means of expanding consciousness was started in by Bart Hughes when his text "The Mechanism of Brainbloodvolume ('BBV')" was published in 1962. (1) Bart Hughes' theory can be summed up as follows: "...as we mature and age our skulls harden, restricting blood flow to the capillaries of the brain....children, especially babies with their "soft spot", had a clearer outlook on the world because their brains were free to receive more cerebral blood volume than...our adult brains with hermetically-sealed skulls." (1) There are many ways to increase brainbloodvolume (the self-explanatory term coined by Hughes, hereafter referred to as BBV) tempor arily, such as standing on one's head, quickly moving from a hot to a cold bath, or the consumption of psychedelic drugs; however, according to Hughes trepanation is the only way to increase BBV permanently.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Will Smith

Will Smith is one of the greatest actors, singers and rappers of our time. Even from his youth to his adulthood, he has become one of the most influential people of America. He has become a gifted and talented actor, demanding millions of dollars for his parts in number one hits movies at the box office. With his charm, his talent, and his generosity he will be a household name remembered for years to come. Williard C. Smith, Jr. known as Will grew up in a middle class area in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, called Winnfied located in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia.Will Smith is the youngest of four children born to Caroline and Willard Smith, Sr. Will Smith’s heritage is both African American and Native America. He attended a Baptist church near his home with his family. As a young boy, Will loved to sing and rap. He was a talented little boy who loved to be in the spotlight. As a young boy, he was given the name Prince, because he always talked his way out of tr ouble and because of his charming looks. He was a very smart child growing up. Will was one of those kids everyone wanted to be like and be around.He was close to parents; unfortunately they divorced when Will was young. Will was then raised by his mother, Caroline and three other siblings. He attended the prestigious Julia Reynolds Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia. He was later transferred to Overbrook High School, where he graduated. His good SAT scores didn’t satisfy him to get into a college he wanted to enroll. His plans were to study computer engineering. Therefore, he pursued music. He then met Jeffrey A. Townes at a party that he attended and they soon began performing together.They were known as â€Å"DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince. † He was the first hip-hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award. He won a Grammy Award for the song â€Å"Summertime† during his rap career and received the first ever Grammy Award for Bes t Performance for the song â€Å"Parents Just Don’t Understand† in 1989. In 1990, Will Smith was almost near bankruptcy, and that was when Benny medina and NBC had an idea for a sitcom based on his life in Beverley Hills. NBC television network signed Will to a contract on the hit sitcom, â€Å"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air†.It was this sitcom that prepared him for his acting career. The sitcom lasted six years; during that time, he ventured into movies. Starring in his first movie,†Six Degrees of Separation† in 1993. After that movie, he was offered major roles in Independence Day, in which he played a fearless and confident fighter pilot. He was also starred in Men in Black, where he played the confident agent J. From then on he has gained lead in many successes including Men In Black II, Bad Boys II, I Robot, and Hitch.Will met his first wife, Sheree Smith at a taping of â€Å"A Different World† in 1992. They had one son together, Willard Smith, III (Trey), he was born on November 11, 1992. Will and Sheree divorced in 1995. Will Smith then met his second wife, Jada Pinkett in 1995 when she tried out for the role of his girlfriend on â€Å"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. † They have two kids together, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, he was born July 8, 1998, and a daughter, Willow Camille Reign Smith born October 30, 2000.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Joint Venture of the France Based Company Alcatel

A joint venture, according to Adler and Graham (1989),along with mergers and acquisitions, licensing and distribution agreements, and sales of products and services – critical aspects of all such interorganizational relationships, are face-to-face negotiations. This would mean the interaction between people. In today’s society, as the world becomes much more globalized than we could ever think of, with the fast growth of the internet industry, we are connected with people from another country at an instant. However, business to business deals and negotiations are still at a stage where face-to-face communication is still required. As interpersonal communication is brought onto the table, with the clash of different cultures as companies today all have the tendency to become globalizes and multi-nationalized, the understanding of another’s culture and cultural values plays an important role in the negotiation, and the interactions thereafter. As the proportion of foreign to domestic trade increases, so does the frequency of business negotiation between people from different countries and cultures. To successfully manage these negotiations, businesspeople need to know how to influence and communicate with members of cultures other than their own (Adler and Grahamd (1989)). Through the analysis of the case study on the joint venture of the France based company Alcatel and the U. S. based company Lucent Technologies, issues of cross-cultural management, the weakness and strength of an international joint venture, including the rights and wrongs of the particular case study will be discussed. As Shenkar (2001)said in an article, establishing a measure gauging the â€Å"distance† between cultures has understandably presented an even greater challenge. At the end, recommendations will be provided for future companies seeking joint ventures. Body The major differences between the initial negotiation in 2001 and the final successful negotiation in 2006 was the division of power. In 2001, in the original negotiation, the base company was Lucent, which was based in the US. Because it was a joint venture, the amount of power on Alcatel cannot be decided. Due to this inequality, the joint venture was called off in 2001. In 2006, as this inequality no longer stands between the two companies, it established the final negotiation of the joint venture, and at least in the beginning, both companies were satisfied with the negotiation. According to Barkema and Vermeulen (1997), differences in uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation cause problems. Differences in how IJV partners perceive and adapt to opportunities and threats in their environment are more difficult to resolve. Cultural differences regarding power distance, individualism and masculinity are more easily resolved because they are mainly reflected in different attitudes towards the management of personnel, something firms can make explicit agreements about before entering the partnership. As Berkema and Vermeulen (1997) already said, issues on power distance, individualism and masculinity are considered to be more easily resolved cultural issues, and realizing the fact that if the joint venture between Alcatel and Lucent Technologies could not even solve the more easy problems, it is pointless to say the success of the negotiation. Since the merger in 2006, it is now the fifth year for the joint venture to be in business. With the resignation of Russo, the company is now led by The company is under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Ben Verwaayen and the non-executive Chairman of the Board is Philippe Camus. Verwaayen and Camus joined the company in the third quarter of 2008 after Alcatel-Lucent's first CEO Patricia Russo and first Chairman Serge Tchuruk resigned. For 2008, the company posted revenues of â‚ ¬16. 984 billion and a net loss of â‚ ¬5. 215 billion (Alcatel-Lucent (2009)). As Powell and Dent-Micallef (1997) found in their article, ITs alone have not produced sustainable performance advantages in the retail industry, but that some firms have gained advantages by using ITs to leverage intangible, complementary human and business resources such as flexible culture, strategic planning–IT integration, and supplier relationships. The results support the resource-based approach, and help to explain why some firms outperform others using the same ITs, and why successful IT users often fail to sustain IT-based competitive advantages. Alcatel-Lucent has done what it was suppose to do a long time ago, which was to appoint leaders based on expertise, and not nationality. As the entire industry was going downhill during 2006, for the past few years, with the correct leadership of Verwaayen and Camus, the joint venture is in much better shape than it was before. As Tchuruk commented initially that the merger is â€Å"a giant transatlantic experiment in multicultural diversity,† the company has run into some major cross-cultural problems since its merger in 2006. One major issue is the fact that the appointed CEO of the joint venture could not effectively run the business, resulting in six quarterly losses, which led to the restructuring of the company, and a cut of 16,500 jobs in total. As the case study states, it was a poor decision to appoint leaders based on their nationality rather than skills. For the time that Russo was CEO, she struggled greatly to bring together a company that consisted of two entirely different cultures, especially when she has no background knowledge of any French language at all. In addition, because there was a lack of understanding between the cultures, the two companies, although formed as a joint venture, were literally pushed into each other out of desperation because of the down sliding industry. However, more importantly, it was the cultural clash that brought the JV into a poor state initially. As Adler, Doktor, and Redding (1986) wrote in their article, with the growing shift of business from the Atlantic to the Pacific Basin, East-West cultural differences are becoming increasingly significant. Research in developmental psychology, sociology, and anthropology shows that there are major differences among the cognitive processes of people from different cultures. In the era of the global corporation, cultural diversity has to be recognized, understood, and appropriately used in organizations. It is suggested that cross-cultural management would greatly benefit from comparative studies considering the impact of the cognitive aspects of culture on managerial practice. Moving forward as a combined company, the JV faces great competition from low-cost Chinese rivals, and as the internet technology is increasingly changing the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is faced with much deeper challenges as demand in the entire industry is decreasing tremendously. Yet one challenge would also be the challenge to integrate the French culture with that of the American Culture. As Shenkar (2001) pointed out, establishing a measure gauging the â€Å"distance† between cultures has understandably presented an even greater challenge. With the globalization of the firm into the Eastern side of the world, and with the JV servicing clients all over the globe, it is not hard to imagine the importance of cross-cultural management as the firm takes its role onto the global stage. In Ralston et al. (1993)’s research on onvergence/divergence of managerial values, the four Western-developed measures (Machiavellianism, locus of control, intolerance of ambiguity and dogmatism) and the four dimensions of the Eastern-developed Chinese Value Survey (Confucian dynamism, human-heartedness, integration, and moral discipline) were used to find that often times both culture and the business environment interact to create a unique set of managerial values in a country. It is the values of the management, the values of a company, that makes up the success of an industry. Conclusion Soderberg and Holden (2002) defines cross cultural management as a discipline of international management focusing on cultural encounters between what are perceived as well-defined and homogeneous entities: the organization and the nation-state, and offering tools to handle cultural differences seen as sources of conflict or miscommunication. However, in the business world today, with its transnational companies that face the challenges of the management of global knowledge networks and multicultural project teams, interacting and collaborating across boundaries using global communication technologies. There is the need for an alternative approach which acknowledges the growing complexity of inter- and intra-organizational connections and identities, and offers theoretical concepts to think about organizations and multiple cultures in a globalizing business context. Today’s world has become a big clash of all different types of culture. Not only it is seen in the business world, but this clash of cultures has become part of today’s society, and the whole world. This phenonmenon not only suggests more research topics for scholars, as Thomas and Mueller (2001) said in their study, that the relationship between culture and four personality characteristics commonly associated with entrepreneurial motivation. By demonstrating systematic variation in entrepreneurial characteristics across cultures, we raise important questions about the boundaries of international entrepreneurship research and the challenges of transcending them, in the real world, cross-cultural management is also becoming more important and is discussed and faced by many entrepreneurs in the business world. With the case study of Alcatel from France and Lucent Technologies from United States as an example, it has proven the fact that the importance of understanding the different cultures that one’s engaging in, and the importance of acknowledging cross-cultural management has become a requirement for any company leading to a JV or entering into a foreign country. Everyone country has its own unique culture, and every country has its own set of rules. In order to gain profit, in order to become globalized, one must take the time to learn about the culture, and go by their rules, because ultimately, in the business world, you are never alone.