Compare shopping online with traditional shopping Essay

Compare shopping online with traditional shopping - Essay Example s to wider range of customers, convenience and pace in the experience of shopping at the cost of lack of physical touch of the products being purchased, alongside the incremental rates of credit card frauds and identity thefts. Traditional shopping compelled the customers to make endless trips to the stores to choose their most preferred products; such trips usually involved wastage of time in terms of commuting, waiting in lines etc. On the contrary, online shopping does not involve any commuting since the customer has the facility of making the desired purchase from the vicinity of his choice. This results in lesser wastage of any time and enables the user to choose a product from a wide range of categories under one platform. E-commerce Marketing and Optimization (2006) stated that the selection of the products can be done by means of a methodical approach of browsing in different categories; however the lack of touch and physical viewing of the objects by the customer might become an unpleasant surprise at delivery time. The trip to the retail stores makes the customer see the texture, different features of the objects in a more detailed manner rather than merely reading such information at a website. Retail stores only provide service to a certain range of customers that might be limited to a specific region and location, whereas online stores provide products and services to customer on a global level; such global access enables developing countries to attain the same quality of products that might be utilized by developed countries. One of the major issues in the increasing acceptance of online shopping is the rising rate of the credit card frauds and identity thefts. Srivastava, Kundu, Sural and Majumdar (2008) quoted research findings regarding the increasing losses to customers and organizations due to the occurrence of credit card frauds; $2.7 billion were recorded for the year 2005 while $3.0 billion in the year 2006. Credit card frauds and identity

Cedar Fair Essay Example for Free

Cedar Fair Essay ? Problem Statement –While Cedar Fair is steadily growing revenue to the 2013 estimated value of $1. 1B, their operating profit percentage has ranged from 50% to -17% over the past 5 years and relies heavily on season pass sales and visitors over a limited operating period of 130 days, leaving them vulnerable to competitive moves by the market leaders in the Amusement Park Industry. Analysis Plan / Data Used / Key Assumptions – We will use the Porter 5 forces Model for the Cedar Fair and to compare with the other amusement parks. The 5 forces will help us to understand the strong forces which will help the cedar fair to be more profitable in future. Key data will include from each of the amusement park websites. Also the revenue income provided by IBIS for each amusement park. The financial analysis particularly profit margin provided by mergent online will allow us to access financial performance for each company. Cedar Fair owns and operates 11 amusement parks, four outdoor parks, one indoor water park and five hotels. Cedar park lacks brand identification due to their diverse portfolio. The brand name of Cedar Fair is rarely associated with park or hotels. Data Analysis and Tool Use – Using the Porter’s 5 Forces model the strongest rivalry is from the Walt Disney, universal studios, Sea world and Six Flags. Since the Disney is global and has resorts and attractions for all age groups and also it is open all year along and generates income. Disney also keeps updating its theme parks wit new attractions and new technology to attract new customers or repeat too. Large resorts try to entice the customers to come to the parks instead to going to beaches by giving them special passes on internet. The mid-size theme parks attract the local customers who are close by and can drive and go back without spending the night at the hotels. Conclusions – The competition among the parks is intense, as the market is saturated and small. To increase the customers in cedar fair should give free pass on birthdays and also introduce packages which can be bought with the installment plan. Recommendation to Management – My recommendation would be that since the economy is improving and people have little bit of money to spend on vacations, so they should advertise special offers for the summer time on the internet and TV. They should try to attract more customers from the local region as they cannot compete with the big resort theme parks such as Disney, Universal Studios, and sea world. They should have access to multi-skilled and flexible workforce those who have the ability to quickly adopt new technology. US Amusement Parks Market Share US Parks Total Revenue 2012. Total Income 2012 Percentage Market Share (%) Walt Disney Company $6. 2 billion 5,986M 44. 5% Universal Park and Resorts $2. 1 Billion 95M 15% Sea World Parks Entertainment $1. 4 Billion 55M 11% Cedar Fair $1. 1 Billion 118M 7. 7% Six Flags $1. 06 Billion 249M 7. 9% (IBIS World, 2013) Below is the 5 Forces Model. References: 1) Wood, L. (2013, February 11). Research and markets: 2013 report on the $16 billion us amusement parks arcades market featuring Walt Disney, six flags, cedar fair, SeaWorld, and universal parks resorts. Retrieved from http://www. businesswire.com/news/home/20130211005621/en/Research-Markets-2013-Report-16-Billion-Amusement 2) IBIS World. (2013). Us industry reports. 3) Theme Parks Are on a Roll by Christopher Palmeri in the June 3-9, 2013 issue of Bloomberg Busine ssweek http://www. businessweek. com/articles/2013-05-30/u-dot-s-dot-theme-park-revenue-is-on-its-best-ride-in-years 4) IAAPA. (2013). Amusement park and attractions industry statistics. Retrieved from http://www. iaapa. org/resources/by-park-type/amusement-parks-and-attractions/industry-statistics 5) Six Flags; https://www. google. com/finance? q=NYSE%3ASIXei=w_GHUuD9H4OTsgffMA.

understanding digital biology :: essays research papers

UNDERSTANDING DIGITAL BIOLOGY Explaining digital biology is impossible without explaining its principle. The purpose of this text is not to report experimental results. Rather, it tries to explain to laymen, in the simplest terms, this radically new approach to biology. We hope it will be useful to all, scientists or not, who find it hard to "make the leap". Indeed, is it possible to believe that the specific activity of biologically-active molecules (e.g. histamine, caffeine, nicotine, adrenalin), not to mention the immunological signature of a virus or bacterium can be recorded and digitized using a computer sound card, just like an ordinary sound? Imagine the perplexity of Archimedes confronted with a telephone, and being told that by using it he could be heard on the other side of the world, were we not to explain the nature of sound waves or their translation into electromagnetism. Life depends on signals exchanged among molecules. For example, when you get angry, adrenalin "tells" its receptor, and it alone (as a faithful molecule, it talks to no other) to make your heart beat faster, to contract superficial blood vessels, etc.. In biology, the words "molecular signal" are used very often. Yet, if you ask even the most eminent biologists what the physical nature of this signal is, they seem not even to understand the question, and stare at you wide-eyed. In fact, they've cooked up a rigorously Cartesian physics all their own, as far removed as possible from the realities of contemporary physics, according to which simple contact (Descarte's laws of impact, quickly disproved by Huygens) between two coalescent structures creates energy, thus constituting an exchange of information. For many years, I believed and recited this catechism without realizing its absurdity, just as mankind did not realize the absurdity of the belief that the sun cir cles the earth. The truth, based on facts, is very simple. It does not require any "collapse of the physical or chemical worlds." That molecules vibrate, we have known for decades. Every atom of every molecule and every intermolecular bond-the bridge that links the atoms-emits a group of specific frequencies. Specific frequencies of simple or complex molecules are detected at distances of billions of light-years, thanks to radio-telescopes. Biophysicists describe these frequencies as an essential physical characteristic of matter, but biologists do not consider that electromagnetic waves can play a role in molecular functions themselves. We cannot find the words "frequency"

This Is How I Am Prepaired for My Future

Most people have their future plans, dreams, things which they want to realize some day. Everyone dreams about interesting and satisfactory job with good salary, loving family, beautiful house and many friends. Future plans are often an escape from usual live for us. I often reflect on what kind of person I would like to be In the future and what my future life will look like. After 10th exam I want to study at the Delhi Polytechnic and rent a room in this city. I want to study computer science because it is very interesting subject for me and using a computer gives me great pleasure.When I finish studying In my opinion it is a very interesting and good job – nowadays many bosses search for workers well-educated in computer science and they pay them much money. I want to live In Delhi or Kanata the future. I think that living In a big city Is interesting and very comfortable because there are many meaner of transport, a lot of museums, theaters, cinemas where you can go In you r spare time. In Delhi, for example, there are also many cafes, restaurants, discos you can always find an interesting place.In big city there are many sorts of entertainment and you can meet a lot of people, Polish as well as foreigners. There are many good schools, when your children may be well-educated. In the future I want to spent much time with my family. I would like to have three children. I think that in the future I will adopt a child because in my opinion it is a disaster not to have parent's and family. When I collect enough money I will travel to other countries. I have always dreamt about going to Oneida or Bengal.

Business Plan – Kari & the Keys

Executive Summary Welcome to the future of music entertainment for your next event. Kari and the Keys, brings to the community of Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas, a breath of fresh air in music entertainment. By combining two gifted musicians, going the extra mile, and offering a wide variety of music styles to suit your needs, Kari and the Keys will lead the event entertainment market, providing a praise worthy performance every time.Kari and the Keys is a small business aimed at the big time. In order to reach our giant goals, we must focus on the mission behind the vision. We offer a one-two punch by providing a singer and accompanist, provide a superior sound system, and ensure a worry and hassle-free event – all with one phone call. Keeping In tune with the needs of the market, consistently updating our music portfolio, all while ensuring the customer receives the individual attention they deserve, is the vision and daily mission of Kari and the Keys. 2.Objective It is our objective to: Achieve name recognition labeled as the â€Å"best entertainment for your event† Provide the convenience of a one stop shop for music entertainment offering better talent ND prices than our competitors; delivering top notch customer satisfaction. Obtain 30% of the market share for event entertainers within 2 years 3. Mission Inspired by our passion for music, Kari and the Keys want to engage your audience In an Incredible music experience, through a praise-worthy performance, for your event. 4. Keys to success Our keys to success include: a.Offering Talented Musicians: Professionally trained musicians who share a passion for music and performing; Eric Sternest – Organist/Plants, formally studied music and Plano at Amanita State university, 25 years of experience. Karl Burch – Singer (Soprano/Alto), formally studied music and vocal performance at university of Iowa, 20 years of experience b. Customer Satisfaction: We strive for exemplary focus on the customers satisfaction and his/her experience both with us and the outcome received by hiring for an event. 5.Company Summary Kari and the Keys is comprised of a singer (Kari Burch) and an accompanist (Eric Sternest) – piano/organ, fully equipped to perform at your personal or corporate event. We are both formally trained musicians and offer a wide variety of music to choose from for your special event including: Recent pop songs, Music from the ass's and ass's, Traditional/non-traditional wedding and/or secular music, Popular/traditional Christmas music. Additionally, we own a professional sound system inclusive of two (2) main speakers, monitor, mixer, microphone and keyboard.Our primary focus of business will be weddings and corporate events; however, we have the capability to provide music entertainment for most occasions. The geographic area we are focusing on for marketing and services is primarily locations within the Cedar Rapids Metro Area (inclusive of Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha). It is important that all business conducted will include an Event Contract, which is a legally binding agreement between Kari and the Keys and the Event Requester. A down payment of $150 is required to hold the date for each event.This is a non- refundable payment and required at the time the event date is booked and Event Contract executed. Kari and the Keys is organized as a partnership encompassing two general partners who are Kari J. Burch and Eric Sternest; each owns 50% of the company. Kari conducts the accounting, marketing strategies and legal duties; Eric handles executing on social media, the company's website design, and booking requests. Each partner shares daily business duties evenly. 6. Company History Eric and I have known of each other for 20 years. Even then we both recognized and appreciated each other for our respective musical talents.About 2 years ago, I reached out to Eric to determine whether or not he would be interested in play ing for me with the intention to record a few traditional and non-traditional wedding songs. I was looking for an outlet to be able to get back into the singing world. Time went by and schedules precluded things from formulating. In January 2014, we reconnected and decided that we no longer wanted to squander our musical talent. With the passion for music and the uncanny ability to perform seamlessly as a duo, we decided to form Kari and the Keys. The initial intention was Daniel Urethra's, Parlor City, Java Creek, etc.However, after investigating the local event entertainment market, we believed our team could offer an avenue of refinement and amazing live entertainment for both weddings and corporate events. Kari and the Keys are able to offer a one stop shop when a person or organization is looking to book music for an event. The customer isn't burdened with finding and coordinating a singer and a piano player; we offer both. We are a talented team who has the ability to listen, understand and respond – uniquely and creatively – to the growing needs and constantly fluid expectations of our customers.Additionally, based on our research, Kari and the Keys is the only singer/piano duos in the Cedar Rapids Metro Area. 7. Products and Service Kari and the Keys are â€Å"event entertainers†. We are comprised of a female singer and male piano player by trade and offer a variety of music genres to provide either focal r background entertainment at your special event. Additionally, we are not pretentious performers who demand or expect things from our customers. We believe our strength lies in working for and satisfying every customer.In order to achieve the expectations of the customer, we believe in key service quality ideals, which will help us attain a high level of customer satisfaction. Such ideals include: I. Timeliness and convenience it. Personal attention to desirable needs and wants iii. Reliable and dependable ‘v. Responsivenes s to requests v. Assurances and availability We also share a common drive for success. We don't simply want to be a run of the mill performance act; we want to be the recognized leader if you are looking for music to be performed at your event.Kari and the Keys have established the following fee structure, based on a specific event: Booking Fee to hold the date- $1 50 (non-refundable) Wedding Package – $500 which includes: Wedding rehearsal at location (30 min) Organ/Piano – Processional and Recessional, Pre and Post Wedding music (as background) – 15 min each Vocalist/Accompaniment – two (2) song chosen from selected list Songs are chosen from selected list Open bar and food shall be provided Set up/tear down 2 hours of music, 2 – ten minute breaks w/in 2 hours Approximately 10 songs per hour Songs are chosen from selected list Music outside of selected list – $75 per song 8.Market Analysis Summary a. Size of Market: (State & County Kickbac ks), (Marion, Iowa), (Hiawatha, Iowa), (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) I. Population Demographics: Estimated population of Cedar Rapids Metro Area (inclusive of Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha) is approve. KICK (Cedar Rapids – KICK, Marion ASK, Hiawatha K) Median income of males – $41 K/year Median income of females – $ASK/year 27% of the population is 25 to 44 t. Name Recognized Employers: Rockwell Collins (8,700) Transcends/AEGEAN (3,900) SST.Lukewarmly point (3,200) Cedar Rapids Community School District (3,000) WHY-eve (2,600) Mercy Medical Center (2,300) Whirlpool (2,500) Kirkwood Community College (1 ,900) City of Cedar Rapids (1,400) Quaker toecaps (1 Other companies include: Archer Daniel Midland (DAM), Cargill, General Mills, Toyota Financial and Nordstrom b. Competitors: I. To research our competition we utilized both internet websites which advertise â€Å"for hire† for musicians (search Wedding, Corporate Events and music groups) and also utilized the SABA tool called â€Å"Size It Up† (searched Entertainment: Weddings, Party, and Corporate Events). T. In targeting the Cedar Rapids Metro Area (inclusive of Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha) our direct competition would include people from the following categories which represented a total of 31 â€Å"event entertainers†: 1. Vocalists 2. Accompanists (Piano/Organ/Guitar) 3. Comedy Acts 4. DC ill. We understand that this represents only a small segment of the true number of musicians located in the Metro Area. However, â€Å"word of mouth† would be the best â€Å"Word of mouth† is very important in this category of business and it is crucial to the success of any music ensemble.However, we believe going after the market with a guerrilla marketing campaign, becoming visible in the music community and establishing a â€Å"following†; will help us to capture the â€Å"event entertainment† market. C. Market Growth/Trends There is a constant flu x of new musicians within the Cedar Rapids Metro Area. People consistently believe that they will be the next American Idol pop sensation and will be discovered in this market. The reality of the situation is the saturation with UN-trained, low skill musicians, trying to make a buck. Because of this, Kari and the Keys are able to capitalize on our talent, skill and upscale performance.We are organized, marketable and ready to succeed. 9. Target Market We define our initial target market as such: Females and males predominately between the ages of 25 – 45, non-married with a combined income of $ASK or more per year. Name recognized businesses Cedar Rapids Metro Area – (inclusive of Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha) 10. How do we attract our Target Market? A. Establish an on-line presence b. Establish a word of mouth campaign based on our stellar performances at local ensues such as open mice nights, restaurant/bars, and coffee houses c.As performances are booked, peopl e view Online Calendar Lists – â€Å"This week at Ramset's† d. Direct mailing to local organizations: Churches Wedding Dress Boutiques Wedding Planners Country Clubs Restaurant/bars Coffee Shops West Music 11. Industry Analysis a. The threat of new entrants is in an amplified state of flux. Because of the Reality Televisions shows such as American Idol and the Voice, the increasing number of people thinking they are musicians has intensified the popularity of â€Å"open mice night† ensues to display their talents.However, the thought and desire to be a star, does not mean they are talented enough to make it as an entertainer. The market at an alarming rate. However, this is not a substitute for musicians who have the talent, drive and the means to wage a successful campaign to gain the market share in a given location. C. The bargaining power of customers is extremely critical in a musician's world. Since the market is saturated, everyone is fighting for a piece of the pie; to be recognized in a public venue as someone who is horrible.Because of this saturation, musician's ability to be paid for performance is directly correlated with the amount of â€Å"potential† business a musician can draw. If the musician is relatively unknown in the market, the establishment can hire you for cheap. This is why it is crucial to participate in any public venue to begin to establish a core group of followers – or people willing to spend money while watching you perform. Once people begin a â€Å"word of mouth† campaign on your behalf, only then will you have leverage to negotiate with customers. D. The bargaining power of suppliers is relatively low.Anyone with a guitar, acrophobic and an amp can be a musician. Whether or not they are successful is not dependent on a supplier. E. Again, the competition for musician – event entertainment – is high. It is imperative to be able to set yourself a part of the competition. A musician must pay their dues by performing, be more talented than the next guy, offer something that no one else does, build a following, utilize guerrilla marketing techniques to keep your name at the front and be proactive in gaining market share. 12. Online Plan Summary a. Obtain a Website Domain – grandfathering. Com b. Design a professional website

STARTING OFF . . . AS A FICTION WRITER

STARTING OFF . . . AS A FICTION WRITER After last weeks editorial about becoming known as a writer first Interesting article, but with so few magazines publishing fiction, what are we to do, write for the â€Å"little magazines† for no pay? My bad. I was not clear. What I meant to say is that you need to become known as a writer first . . . in any way possible. . . even in magazines. Even if you write fiction, you can write nonfiction for magazines, which gets you used to deadlines, writing tight, and adhering to editorial guidelines. Once people realize you write, they follow you to your fiction. The average person doesnt recognize that you are a fiction writer or nonfiction writer. They just know you write. Call me a blasphemer for making you write outside your genre. Im being practical, pragmatic, and common sensical. Im a left brain person. Nonfiction pays. Fiction doesnt until you bust all the odds over a long period of time. So . . . if you want to write FOR A LIVING . . . you write nonfiction for a while to become established. Also, fiction has an advantage that nonfiction doesnt have. Contests. There are ten or twenty times the number of contests for fiction than nonfiction. Especially if you write short stories, from flash to 15,000 words. So, while youre writing all that nonfiction that might go against the grain, you can keep preening and honing your fiction for contests. Win one or two contests, and opportunities open up more. What other options do you have as a fiction writer? Write for literary magazines, for little to nothing. Write for genre magazines, for little to nothing. Yes, the clips count. Yes, agents and publishers will admire you for getting published. Just be realistic and accept the fact it is hard to earn a living writing short fiction for magazines and lit journals. But seriously, what nonfiction can you write about as a fiction author? Ideas you can use -how to write or be a writer pieces (The Writer, Writers Digest) -become a specialist about your genre (Amanda Hocking blogged about fantasy) -become a specialist about your setting (rural, inner city, beach, government, a state, a country) -become a specialist about your time period -write for trades in your profession represented in your stories(cake decorator, doctor, police, computer techie, dog trainer) -write for mags that use your voice(humor, noir, cozy, sexy) -beliefs or causes (Mary Alice Monroe and environmental conservation) -subject matter research or methods(PI Magazine on forensics or police procedure if youre a mystery author) -geography(Pat Conroy and Dorothea Benton Frank on South Carolina) Hopefully your mind is spinning with ideas now!

Summary of William Shakespeares Play As You Like It

Summary of William Shakespeares Play As You Like It This As You Like It summary is designed to help you unpick this complex play from William Shakespeare.  We bring the story together in a fun and accessible way for readers new to As You Like It. As You Like It – Summary of the Plot Before the play has begun, Duke Senior has been banished (joined by some loyal attendants and Lords) to live in the forest by his usurping brother Duke Frederick. Duke Senior’s daughter Rosalind has remained in Court on her Cousin Celia’s request and is being brought up as if she is her sister. Orlando is the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and is hated by his eldest brother Oliver. Orlando has challenged the court wrestler Charles to a fight and Oliver encourages it as he knows that Charles is strong and Oliver wants his brother harmed. The Big Fight The fight is announced and Rosalind and Celia decide to watch the match but are asked to try and discourage Orlando from fighting Charles. When Rosalind speaks with Orlando she finds him to be very courageous and quickly falls in love with him. Orlando fights Charles and wins (it is unclear whether he is brave and strong or if Charles let him win out of loyalty to the family). Rosalind speaks to Orlando after the fight commending his bravery. She discovers that he is the son of Sir Rowland who was loved by her father. Orlando has fallen in love with Rosalind. Orlando is encouraged to leave as Sir Rowland was an enemy to Duke Frederick. Off to the Forest Le Beau, a courtier, warns that Duke Frederick has taken a dislike to Rosalind believing that she is more beautiful than his own daughter and that she reminds people of what he did to her father. Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind and Celia vows to go with her into exile. The girls plan to leave for the forest to find Duke Senior. They take the clown Touchstone with them for safety. The girls decide to disguise themselves in order to avoid being found out and for extra security. Rosalind decides to dress as a man – Ganymede, Celia poses as his poor sister Aliena. Life in the forest with Duke Senior is presented as contented though not without danger or hardship. Duke Frederick believes that Rosalind and his daughter have run away to find Orlando and employs Orlando’s brother; Oliver, to find them and bring them back. He does not care if Orlando is dead or alive. Oliver, still hating his brother, happily agrees. Adam warns Orlando that he cannot go home because Oliver plans to burn it down and cause harm to Orlando. They decide to escape to the Forest of Ardenne. In the forest, Rosalind dressed as Ganymede and Celia as Aliena with Touchstone meet Corin and Silvius. Silvius is in love with Phoebe but his love is unrequited. Corin is fed up with serving Silvius and agrees to serve Ganymede and Aliena. Meanwhile Jaques and Amiens are in the forest happily passing the time with singing. Orlando and Adam are exhausted and starving and Orlando goes off to find food. He comes across Duke Senior and his men who are about to eat a great feast. He aggressively approaches them to get some food but they peacefully invite him and Adam to eat with them. Love Sickness Orlando is preoccupied with his love for Rosalind and hangs poems about her on trees. He carves poems into the bark. Rosalind finds the poems and is flattered, despite Touchstone’s mocking. It is revealed that Orlando is in the forest and is responsible for the poems. Rosalind, as Ganymede, meets with Orlando and offers to cure him of his love sickness. She encourages him to meet with her every day and woo her as if she were Rosalind. He agrees. Touchstone has fallen in love with a shepherdess called Audrey. Audrey is bawdy and the couple are a foil to Orlando and Rosalind in that their love is unromantic, lusty and honest. Touchstone almost marries Audrey in the forest but is persuaded to wait by Jaques. Rosalind is cross because Orlando is late. Phoebe is followed on stage by the doting Silvius who is desperate for her love. Phoebe scorns him and Rosalind/Ganymede criticises her for being so cruel. Phoebe instantly falls in love with Ganymede, who tried to put her off by scorning her further. Phoebe employs Silvius to run errands for her, asking him to send a letter to Ganymede chastising him for being so rude to her. Silvius agrees as he would do anything for her. Marriage Orlando arrives apologising for his lateness; Rosalind gives him a hard time but eventually forgives him. They have a mock marriage ceremony and he promises to return in a couple of hours after joining the Duke for a meal. Orlando is late again and while Rosalind is waiting for him, she is given Phoebe’s letter. She tells Silvius to pass Phoebe a message that if she loves Ganymede then s/he orders her to love Silvius. Oliver then arrives with a bloody handkerchief explaining that Orlando is late because he wrestled a lioness in order to protect his brother. Oliver apologises for his wrong-doing and recognises his brother’s bravery and has a change of heart. He then notices Celia as Aliena and promptly falls in love with her. A marriage ceremony is arranged between Oliver and Celia/Aliena and Touchstone and Audrey. Rosalind as Ganymede gathers together Orlando and Silvius and Phoebe in order to resolve the love triangle. Rosalind/Ganymede asks Orlando; if she can get Rosalind to attend the marriage ceremony will he marry her? Orlando agrees. Rosalind/Ganymede then tells Phoebe to attend the marriage ceremony ready to marry Ganymede but if she refuses she must agree to marry Silvius. Silvius agrees to marry Phoebe if she rejects Ganymede. The next day, Duke Senior and his men gather to witness the wedding between Audrey and Touchstone, Oliver and Aliena, Rosalind and Orlando and Ganymede or Silvius and Phoebe. Rosalind and Celia appear as themselves at the ceremony with Hymen the marriage god. Happy Endings Phoebe immediately rejects Ganymede realising that he was a woman and agrees to marry Silvius. Oliver happily marries Celia and Orlando marries Rosalind. Jaques De Bois brings news that Duke Frederick left the court to fight his brother in the forest but instead found a religious man who encouraged him to give up the court and live a life of religious contemplation. He hands the court back over to Duke Senior. Jaques goes to join him to learn more about religion and the group celebrates the news and the marriages by dancing and singing.

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Book Review and Summary

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Book Review and Summary Mildred Taylor’s Newbery award-winning book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry chronicles the inspiring story of the Logan family in Depression-era Mississippi. Based on her own family’s history with slavery, Taylor’s story about one black family’s struggle to keep their land, their independence, and their pride amid racial discrimination create a compelling and emotionally rich experience for middle-grade readers. Summary of the Story Set amid the Great Depression and the racially charged South, the story of the Logan family is told through the eyes of 9-year-old Cassie. Proud of her heritage, Cassie is familiar with the oft-told tale of how her Grandpa Logan worked to acquire his own land. An anomaly among the tenant farming black families they know, the Logan family must work doubly hard to make their tax and mortgage payments. When Mr. Granger, a wealthy white businessman and a powerful voice in the community, makes it known he wants the Logans land, he sets into motion a series of events forcing the Logans to rally other Black families in the area to boycott the local mercantile shop. In an attempt to assuage their neighbors’ fear of retaliation, the Logans use their own credit and agree to purchase the goods needed. Problems for the Logans begin when Mama loses her teaching job and the bank suddenly calls due the remaining mortgage payment. Matters get worse when Papa and Mr. Morrison, the farm hand, are involved in a skirmish that results in a broken leg for Papa rendering him unable to work. In a climactic moment born of racial tension and fear for their lives, the Logan family learns that TJ, their young neighbor, is involved in a robbery with two local white boys. In a race to protect TJ and stop a tragedy, the Logans will have to be willing to sacrifice the possessions their family has worked generations to acquire. About the Author, Mildred D. Taylor Mildred D. Taylor loved listening to her grandfather’s stories of growing up in Mississippi. Proud of her family heritage Taylor began to write stories that reflected the troubled times of growing up black in the south during the Great Depression. Wanting to tell the black history she felt was missing in school textbooks, Taylor created the Logan family a hardworking, independent, loving family who owned land. Taylor, born in Jackson, Mississippi but raised in Toledo, Ohio grew up revering her grandfather’s stories of the South. Taylor graduated from the University of Toledo and then spent time in the Peace Corps teaching English and history in Ethiopia. Later she attended the School of Journalism at the University of Colorado. Believing that American history books didn’t portray the accomplishments of black people, Taylor strove to incorporate the values and principles her own family raised her with. Taylor said that when she was a student, what was in the textbooks and what she knew from her own upbringing represented a terrible contradiction. She sought in her books about the Logan family to counteract that. Awards and Accolades 1977 John Newbery MedalAmerican Book Award Honor BookALA Notable BookNCSS-CBC Notable Childrens Trade Book in the Field of Social StudiesBoston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book The Logan Family Series Mildred D. Taylor’s writings about the Logan family are presented  in the order that the Logan family stories unfold. Note that despite the story order listed below, the books were not written in sequence. The Land, Book One (2001)The Well, Book Two (1995)Mississippi Bridge, Book Three (1990)Song of the Trees, Book Four, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (1975)The Friendship, Book Five (1987)Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Book Six (1976)Let the Circle Be Unbroken, Book Seven (1981)The Road to Memphis, Book Eight (1990) Review and Recommendation The best historical stories are born from unique family histories, and Mildred D. Taylor has plenty. Taking the stories passed down to her from her grandfather, Taylor has given young readers an authentic story of a southern Black family not typically represented in historical fiction. The Logans are a hardworking, intelligent, loving, and independent family. As Taylor expresses in an author interview, it was important to her that Black children understand that they have people in their history who cherished these values. These values are passed down to Cassie and her brothers who see their parents exercise restraint and wise judgment in very difficult situations. The struggle, survival, and determination to do what’s right in the face of injustice make this story inspiring. In addition, Cassie as narrator brings an element of righteous indignation to her character that will make readers applaud her and yet worry for her at the same time. While Cassie is angry and resents the subservient apologies she is forced to admit to a white girl, she’s spunky enough to find more subtle means of getting her revenge. Cassie’s comic moments upset her older brother who knows that such childish antics could lead to physical harm to their family. The Logan children quickly learn that life isn’t all about school and games as they realize they are targets of racial hatred. Although this is Taylor’s second book about the Logan family, she has gone back over the years to write more books, creating an eight volume series. If readers enjoy reading richly detailed, emotionally moving stories about the human spirit, then they’ll enjoy this award-winning, unique story about the Logan family. Because of the historical value of this story and the opportunity it provides for middle-grade readers to learn more about the consequences of racial discrimination, this book is recommended for ages 10 and up. (Penguin, 2001. ISBN: 9780803726475) More African-American History Books for Children If you are looking for excellent childrens books, both fiction and nonfiction, about African American history, some excellent titles include: by Kadir Nelson, I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams. Source: Penguin Author Page, Award Annals, Logan Family Series

Management report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Management report - Essay Example Macdonald’s corporation is recognised as one of the most popular fast food organization, operating successfully in more than 111countires and 24000 restaurants in the entire globe. It offers varied types of dishes with ingredients such as chicken, fish, eggs, sausage, French fries, salads and many others1. Due to which, it is highly preferred by the individual of all castes, culture, race and creed thereby making it leading brand in the segment of fast foods. As a result it comprises of almost 50 percent of the market share in this segment among other competitors. Keeping this fact in mind, numerous individual owners are trying to open the franchise of McDonald’s that proved effective for the organization in enhancing its number of outlets and stores. Due to which, its ranking and revenue has increased to $ 350, 000. In order to retain the sustainable competitive position of the organization or brand within the minds of the customers, the employees or owners of Macdonald’s desired to offer high-quality of food products at a lowest possible time. This is because; the aim of the brand of Macdonald’s is to offer fast, friendly and perfect services to its target customers in the entire globe. This might help the organization in enhancement of the brand image and reliability of the brand thereby amplifying the rate of satisfaction of the customers as well. Not only this, such a strategy is used by the organization in order to increase its range of customers and reduce its business threats to a significant extent2. However, in order to fulfil such a dream, all the franchise owners in the entire globe desired to offer more concentration over three basic factors namely speed, affordability and standardization. Among them, speed is recognised as the vital factor of the operational strategy of Macdonald’s in order to offer the ordered dish to the customer in lowest possible time. However, in order to do so, the management desires to offer

Boston Beer Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Boston Beer Company - Essay Example The trend all these ratios have over time is analyzed to check if they are deteriorating or improving (Steffy, Zearley & Strunk, 1974). Comparative valuations of different companies belonging to the same sector are also carried out in order to see how they stack up, and also to get an idea of their comparative performance (Sen, 2008). Ratio analysis is a very important factor of fundamental analysis (Johri, 2010). Although there is abundance of financial ratios, investors are mostly familiar with a few key ratios, especially the ones that are comparatively easy to calculate. A few of these ratios are the current ratio, the debt-equity ratio, return on equity, the price/earnings ratio and the dividend payout ratio. (Muhammad Arif Ghani, 2007) Most companies have some values, for a specific ratio, that have a certain range. A company may be assumed to be grossly overvalued or undervalued depending on the ratio figured out provided the ratio does not fall in that range. Keeping in view the fact that a ratio which is acceptable for one industry may be considered as much more high in another, therefore the ratios are generally compared for those companies which are in operations in the same sector. A good example may be; companies in utilities sectors typically have high debt-equity ratios, but the same ratio may be considered as unsustainably high for a technology company (Palepu, Bernard & Healy, 1996). Ratio analysis can be very useful in providing an early warning of a potential deterioration or improvement in the financial performance or situation of a company. To find for any such hints, the experts and analysts does engage in extensive ratio calculations of the financial data in quarterly financial reports of a company (Cadle, Paul & Yeates, 2010). Generally, successful companies show solid ratios in all the areas, and a small hint of weakness in a single area may

Health Sciences, Medicine and Infection Control Essay

Health Sciences, Medicine and Infection Control - Essay Example Some of the diseases are highly contagious and can be spread by means of airborne transmission through very small droplets of infectious agents found in the air, food, or water. Infections that are contacted in hospitals or other healthcare facilities are known as nosocomial infections, and they lead to approximately 5 % of the patients in the hospitals (Mehrotra and Sumbali, 2009). These nosocomial infections are very common in some hospitals which do not have a strong immune system. This makes most of the patients in these facilities to be very susceptible to more infections. As a result, patients who visit hospitals end up spending more time in bed and may in some cases end up dying due to the infections they acquire while in the hospitals. The other reason why infectious diseases spread very fast in hospitals is the fact that some of the medical procedures performed to patients may predispose them to these infections (Barry et al, 2006). Some of the equipment used in these medical procedures as well as some of the drugs used may introduce infectious agents into the body of the patient. The infectious diseases can also be transmitted from one patient to another by the hospital workers and doctors or any other hospital visitors (Barry et al, 2006). By handling one patient who may be infected, the hospital workers can act as agents and transmit the same diseases to other patients in the hospital when they do not take necessary precautions. Therefore, there is the need to put in place infection control policies so as to help prevent the spread of nosocomial diseases (Hogg, 2013). This will also go a long way in making hospitals a better and safer place for patients as well as visitors. There is the need to have in place proper guidelines for infection control procedures in hospitals. Apart from hospitals infection control should also be practiced in clinics, nursing homes, restaurants and child care centers, as  well as in people’s homes.

The Role and Powers of the Presidency Term Paper

The Role and Powers of the Presidency - Term Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that  the American Revolution war had a major implication on the economics of the USA. As time had gone by, the settlers in the various colonies were looking to be granted freedom, especially economy freedom from the Britain and started demanding that they be given the right to elect their own government which would tax them and run their affairs. Needless to mention, the British government was not comfortable with this suggestions and refused to grant them the freedoms. The settlers retaliated with an all-out war against the British government. In retaliation, the government tried to close up all the harbors around the United States, especially the ones used for trade.According to the research findings  President Andrew Jackson was trying to curb speculation on land and thus issued a circular regarding specie (gold and silver) circulation. His main intension was to reduce the value of bank notes so that to prevent the increased circulation of the bank notes in the economy. His plan was not entirely effective as it failed to entirely affect the value of the dollar and only affected the value of the same only in relation to the value of gold and silver. The effect was increased deflation of the currency. Eventually, these affected many businesses which under deflated currency could not operate normally. President Andrew Jackson learnt his lesson but it was too late for the economy, it had already slipped into a depression.

Reflection Paper Assignment ( The Wise Leader )

Reflection Paper ( The Wise Leader ) - Assignment Example With integrity taking the centre stage of the leader’s operations, a sense of accomplishment will be felt by the entire organization, as the leader is able to boost team work among the employees, despite the challenging times in the organization (Fairholm, 2003). Through integrity, leaders create shared contexts in which dialogue and learning takes place in the organization. In such an environment, the leaders are not biased and give all employees an upper hand in learning and accessing promotions. In the long run, the members of the organization build relationships and rapport among themselves. Close interaction between the concerned members of the organization enables them appreciate the values of all persons and their opinions regarding specific issues in the organization. Additionally, proper leadership must go hand in hand with freedom (Fairholm, 2003). Freedom in this case allows the employees feel free and confident to make any form of consultations, both from their seniors to their juniors (Fairholm, 2003). With a sense of independence and autonomy inculcated in the organization, it is obvious that the employees will have a sense of belonging to the organization; they will also act as their true selves and be innovative enough to boost the performance of the organization at hand (Fairholm, 2003). Freedom goes hand in hand with effectual communication, as communication is the pillar of any organization. In an event where information is passed to the subjects in a pleasant manner, chances are that leaders will manage to touch the hearts and minds of the subjects in the organization. Additionally, freedom as a critical insight to leadership creates a situation whereby the varying viewpoints of the organization are represented and values set by the leaders. Leaders who are able to allow freedom and autonomy rein in the organization may be referred to as social entrepreneurs who are able to work, as persons with a

The Role and Powers of the Presidency Term Paper

The Role and Powers of the Presidency - Term Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that  the American Revolution war had a major implication on the economics of the USA. As time had gone by, the settlers in the various colonies were looking to be granted freedom, especially economy freedom from the Britain and started demanding that they be given the right to elect their own government which would tax them and run their affairs. Needless to mention, the British government was not comfortable with this suggestions and refused to grant them the freedoms. The settlers retaliated with an all-out war against the British government. In retaliation, the government tried to close up all the harbors around the United States, especially the ones used for trade.According to the research findings  President Andrew Jackson was trying to curb speculation on land and thus issued a circular regarding specie (gold and silver) circulation. His main intension was to reduce the value of bank notes so that to prevent the increased circulation of the bank notes in the economy. His plan was not entirely effective as it failed to entirely affect the value of the dollar and only affected the value of the same only in relation to the value of gold and silver. The effect was increased deflation of the currency. Eventually, these affected many businesses which under deflated currency could not operate normally. President Andrew Jackson learnt his lesson but it was too late for the economy, it had already slipped into a depression.

Summative assignment on Next PLC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Summative assignment on Next PLC - Essay Example J D Wetherspoon plc incorporated in the London Stock Exchange is a firm with the operations in the development and management of public houses. Incorporated in the year 1979, the company owns and operates 927 pubs offering food and drinks throughout the United Kingdom (Yahoo. Finance, 2014a).   The overall performance of the Wehttherspoon remained improving for the past five years of assessment. The liquidity position of the company is notably low which further declines under the pressure of inventory; while the profitability of the company is the declining as a result of increasing level of costs such as labour cost, marketing expenses and other repair and refurbishment etc (Reuters, 2013). The star year the in the recent most history of the company remained the year 2012 where Wetherspoon notable grew its revenue and profits in the year 2012. The underlying reason for such growth has been Euro 2012 football  tournament and the Diamond Jubilee in which the company opened net of 37 pubs in UK (BBC, 2012a). However, the impact of this event was clearly expected not to be sustained over a period of long term (BBC, 2012b). Despite this fact, the company is expanding its business to sustain the growth. For the purpose, expansion of the retail space of pubs is increasing, and the company has also expanded with a new pub in the Ireland (Yahoo. Finance, 2013). Expansion is widely being financed by debt in addition to the retained earnings (J D Wetherspoon Plc.,2014); hence, affecting the interest coverage ratio. Also, the gap between the EBITDA and EBIT is also increasing as the depreciation and the amortization expenses are increasing. Consistent expansion and rising cost h ave affected the margins within turn is reflected in the ROE OF the company in the year 2013 and onwards (BFN News,2013). For a similar reason, the EPS of the company has also declined. In the view of the capital expenditure that company has been incurring and planning to continue

The Life and History of Aristotle Essay Example for Free

The Life and History of Aristotle Essay Aristotle was born in 384 b. c. in the small town of Stagira on the northeast coast of Thrace. His father was the physician to the king of Macedonia. It could be that Aristotles great interest in biology and sci ence in general was nurtured in his early childhood as it was the custom, according to Galen, for families in the guild of the Asclepiadae to train their sons in the art of dissection. When he was seventeen years old, Aristotle went to Athens to enroll in Platos Academy, where he spent the next twenty years as a pupil and a member. At the Academy, Aristotle had the reputation of being the reader and the mind of the school. He was profoundly influenced by Platos thought and personality even though eventually he was to break away from Platos philosophy in order to formulate his own version of certain philosophical problems. Still, while at the Academy, he wrote many dialogues in a Platonic style, which his contemporaries praised for the golden stream of their eloquence. He even reaffirmed, in his Eudemus, the very doctrine so central to Platos thought, the doctrine of the Forms, or Ideas, which he later criticized so severely. There is no way now to reconstruct with exactness just when Aristotles thought diverged from Platos. Platos own thought, it must be remembered, was in process of change while Aristotle was at the Academy. Indeed, it is usually said that Aristotle studied with Plato during Platos later period, a time when Platos interests had shifted toward mathematics, method, and natural science. During this time, also, specialists in various sciences, such as medicine, anthropology, and archeology, came to the Academy. This meant that Aristotle was exposed to a vast array of empirical facts, which, because of his temperament, he found useful for research and for his mode of formulating scientific concepts. It may be, therefore, that the intellectual atmosphere of the Academy marked by some of Platos latest dominant concerns and the availability of collected data in special fields provided Aristotle with a direction in philosophy that was congenial to his scientific disposition. The direction Aristotle took did eventually cause him to depart from some of Platos doctrines, though the degree of difference between Plato and Aristotle is still a matter of careful interpretation. But even when they were together at the Academy, certain temperamental differences must have been apparent. Aristotle, for example, was less interested in mathematics than Plato and more interested in empirical data. Moreover, as time went on, Aristotles gaze seemed to be more firmly fixed upon the concrete processes of nature, so that he considered his abstract scientific notions to have their real habitat in this living nature. By contrast, Plato separated the world of thought from the world of flux and things, ascribing true reality to the Ideas and Forms, which, he thought, had an existence separate from the things in nature. It could be said, therefore, that Aristotle oriented his thought to the dynamic realm of becoming, whereas Platos thought was fixed more upon the static realm of timeless Being. Whatever differences there were between these two great minds, the fact is that Aristotle did not break with Plato personally, as he remained at the Academy until Platos death. Moreover, throughout Aristotles later major treatises, unmistakable influences of Platos thought are to be found in spite of Aristotles unique interpretations and style. But his distinctly Platonist period came to an end upon Platos death, when the direction of the Academy passed into the hands of Platos nephew Speusippos, whose excessive emphasis upon mathematics was uncongenial to Aristotle, for which reason, among others, Aristotle withdrew from the Academy and left Athens. It was in 348/47 b. c. that Aristotle left the Academy and accepted the invitation of Hermeias to come to Assos, near Troy. Hermeias had formerly been a student at the Academy and was now the ruler of Assos. Being somewhat of a philosopher-king, he had gathered a small group of thinkers into his court, and here Aristotle was able for the next three years to write, teach, and carry on research. While at Hermeias court, he married this rulers niece and adopted daughter, Pythias, who bore him a daughter. Later, when they had returned to Athens, his wife died and Aristotle then entered into a relationship with Herpyllis, which was never legalized but which was a happy, permanent, and affectionate union from which there came a son, Nicomachus, after whom the Nicomachean Ethics was named. After his three years in Assos, Aristotle moved to the neighboring island of Lesbos, settling there for the time being in Mitylene, where he taught and continued his investigations in biology, studying especially the many forms of marine life. Here he also became known as an advocate of a united Greece, urging that such a union would be more successful than independent city-states in resisting the might of Persia. Then, in 343/42 b. c. , Philip of Macedon invited Aristotle to become the tutor of his son Alexander, who was then thirteen years old. As a tutor to a future ruler, Aristotles interests included politics, and it is possible that it was here that he conceived the idea of collecting and comparing various constitutions, a project he later carried out by collecting digests of the constitutions of 158 Greek city-states. When Alexander ascended the throne after his father Philips death, Aristotles duties as tutor had come to an end, and after a brief stay in his hometown of Stagira, he returned to Athens. Upon his return to Athens in 335/34 b. c. , Aristotle embarked upon the most productive period of his life. Under the protection of the Macedonian statesman Antipater, Aristotle founded his own school. His school was known as the Lyceum, named after the groves where Socrates was known to have gone to think and which were the sacred precincts of Apollo Lyceus. Here Aristotle and his pupils walked in the Peripatos, a tree-covered walk, and discussed philosophy, for which reason his school was called peripatetic. Besides these peripatetic discussions, there were also lectures, some technical for small audiences and others of a more popular nature for larger audiences. Aristotle is also said to have formed the first great library by collecting hundreds of manuscripts, maps, and specimens, which he used as illustrations during his lectures. Moreover, his school developed certain formal procedures whereby its leadership would alternate among members. Aristotle formulated the rules for these procedures as he also did for the special common meal and symposium once a month when a member was selected to defend a philosophical position against the critical objections of the other members. For twelve or thirteen years Aristotle remained as the head of the Lyceum, not only teaching and lecturing, but above all formulating his main ideas about the classification of the sciences, fashioning a bold new science of logic, and writing his advanced ideas in every major area of philosophy and science, exhibiting an extraordinary command of universal knowledge. When Alexander died in 323 b. c. , a wave of anti-Macedonian feeling arose, making Aristotles position in Athens very precarious because of his close connections with Macedonia. As Socrates before him, Aristotle was charged with impiety, but, as he is reported to have said, lest the Athenians should sin twice against philosophy, he left the Lyceum and fled to Chalcis, where he died in 322 b. c. of a digestive disease of long standing. In his will he expressed sensitive human qualities by providing amply for his relatives, preventing his slaves from being sold and providing that some of his slaves should be emancipated. As with Socrates and Plato, Aristotles thought was of such decisive power that it was to influence philosophy for centuries to come. From the vast range of his philosophy, we shall consider some aspects of his logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and aesthetics. ETHICS Aristotles theory of morality centers around his belief that people, as everything else in nature, have a distinctive end to achieve or a function to fulfill. For this reason, his theory is rightly called teleological. He begins his Nicomachean Ethics by saying that Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good If this is so, the question for ethics is, What is the good at which human behavior aims? Plato had answered this question by saying that people aim at a knowledge of the Idea of the Good. For him this supreme principle of Good was separated from the world of experience and from individuals and was to be arrived at by the minds ascent from the visible world to the intelligible world. For Aristotle, on the other hand, the principle of good and right was imbedded within each person; moreover, this principle could be discovered by studying the essential nature of man and could be attained through his actual behavior in daily life. Aristotle warns his reader, however, not to expect more precision in a discussion of ethics than the subject-matter will admit. Still, just because this subject is susceptible of variation and error does not mean, said Aristotle, that ideas of right and wrong exist conventionally only, and not in the nature of things. With this in mind, Aristotle set out to discover the basis of morality in the structure of human nature. Types of Ends Aristotle sets the framework for his ethical theory with a preliminary illustration. Having said that all action aims toward an end, he now wants to distinguish between two major kinds of ends, which can be called instrumental ends (acts that are done as means for other ends) and intrinsic ends (acts that are done for their own sake). These two types of ends are illustrated, for example, in every action connected with war. When we consider step by step what is involved in the total activity of a war, we find, says Aristotle, that there is a series of special kinds of acts, which have their own ends but which, when they are completed, are only means by which still other ends are to be achieved. There is, for one thing, the art of the bridle maker. When the bridle is completed, its maker has achieved his end as a bridle maker. But the bridle is a means for the horseman to guide his horse in battle. Also, a carpenter builds a barrack, and when it is completed, he has fulfilled his function as a carpenter. The barracks also fulfill their function when they provide safe shelter for the soldiers. But the ends here achieved by the carpenter and the building are not ends in themselves but are instrumental in housing soldiers until they move on to their next stage of action. Similarly, the builder of ships fulfills his function when the ship is successfully launched, but again this end is in turn a means for transporting the soldiers to the field of battle. The doctor fulfills his function to the extent that he keeps the soldiers in good health. But the end of health in this case becomes a means for effective fighting. The officer aims at victory in battle, but victory is the means to peace. Peace itself, though sometimes taken mistakenly as the final end of war, is the means for creating the conditions under which men, as men, can fulfill their function as men. When we discover what men aim at, not as carpenters, doctors, or generals, but as men, we will then arrive at action for its own sake, and for which all other activity is only a means, and this, says Aristotle, must be the Good of Man. How shall the word good be understood? As Plato before him, Aristotle tied the word good to the special function of a thing. A hammer is good if it does what hammers are expected to do. A carpenter is good if he fulfills his function as a builder. This would be true for all the crafts and professions. But here Aristotle distinguishes between ones craft or profession and ones activity as a person. To be a good doctor, for example, did not for Aristotle mean the same thing as being a good person. One could be a good doctor without being a good person, and vice versa. There are two different functions here, the function of doctoring and the function of acting as a person. To discover the good at which a person should aim, Aristotle said we must discover the distinctive function of human nature. The good person, according to Aristotle, is the person who is fulfilling his or her function as a person. The Function of Man Aristotle asks, Are we then to suppose that while carpenter and cobbler have certain works and courses of action, Man as Man has none, but is left by Nature without a work? Or, if the eye, hand, foot and in general each of the parts evidently has a function, may one lay it down that man similarly has a function apart from all these? Surely, man too has a distinctive mode of activity, but what is it? Here Aristotle analyzes mans nature in order to discover his unique activity, saying, first of all, that mans end is not mere life, because that plainly is shared with him even by vegetables, and, says Aristotle, we want what is peculiar to him. Next there is the life of sensation, but this again manifestly is common to horses, oxen and every animal. There remains then an active life of the element that has a rational principle. .. if the function of man is an activity of soul which follows or implies a rational principle then the human good turns out to be activity of soul in accordance with virtue. Since mans function as a man means the proper functioning of his soul, Aristotle sought to describe the nature of the soul. The soul is the form of the body. As such, the soul refers to the total person. Accordingly, Aristotle said that the soul has two parts, the irrational and the rational. The irrational part in turn is composed of two subparts, the vegetative and the desiring or appetitive parts. For the most part, these are something contrary to the rational principle, resisting and opposing it. The conflict between the rational and irrational elements in man is what raises the problems and subject matter of morality. Morality involves action, for nothing is called good unless it is functioning. Thus Aristotle says that as at the Olympic games it is not the finest and strongest men who are crowned, but they who enter the lists, for out of these the prize-men are selected; so too in life, of the honourable and good, it is they who act who rightly win the prizes. The particular kind of action implied here, if one has in mind Aristotles analysis of the soul, is the rational control and guidance of the irrational parts of the soul. Moreover, the good man is not the one who does a good deed here or there, now and then, but the one whose whole life is good, for as it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy. Happiness as the End Human action should aim at its proper end. Everywhere people aim at pleasure, wealth, and honor. But none of these ends, though they have value, can occupy the place of the chief good for which people should aim. To be an ultimate end an act must be self-sufficient and final, that which is always desirable in itself and never for the sake of something else, and it must be attainable by people. Aristotle seems certain that all people will agree that happiness is the end that alone meets all the requirements for the ultimate end of human action. Indeed, we choose pleasure, wealth, and honor only because we think that through their instrumentality we shall be happy. Happiness, it turns out, is another word or name for good, for like good, happiness is the fulfillment of our distinctive function; or, as Aristotle says, Happiness is a working of the soul in the way of excellence or virtue. How does the soul work to attain happiness? The general rule of morality is to act in accordance with Right Reason. What this means is that the rational part of the soul should control the irrational part. That the irrational part of the soul requires guidance is obvious when we consider what it consists of and what its mechanism is. Referring now only to the appetites, or the appetitive part of the soul, we discover first that it is affected or influenced by things outside of the self, such as objects and persons. Also, there are two basic ways in which the appetitive part of the soul reacts to these external factors, these ways being love and hate, or through the concupiscent and irascible passions. The concupiscent passion leads one to desire things and persons, whereas the irascible passion leads one to avoid or destroy them. It becomes quickly apparent that these passions or capacities for love and hate, attraction or repulsion, creation or destruction, taken by themselves could easily go wild. In themselves they do not contain any principle of measure or selection. What should a person desire? How much? Under what circumstances? How should he relate himself to things, wealth, honor, and other persons? We do not automatically act the right way in these matters; as Aristotle says, none of the moral virtues arises in us by nature; for nothing that exists by nature can form a habit contrary to its nature. Morality has to do with developing habits, the habits of right thinking, right choice, and right behavior. Virtue as the Golden Mean Since the passions are capable of a wide range of action, all the way from too little to too much, a person must discover the proper meaning of excess and defect and thereby discover the appropriate mean. Virtue is concerned with our various feelings and actions, for it is in them that there can be excess and defect. For example, it is possible, says Aristotle, to feel the emotions of fear, confidence, lust, anger, compassion, pleasure, and pain, too much or too little, and in either case wrongly. To feel them when we ought to, on which occasions, toward whom, and as we should is the mean; that is the best state for people to be in, and this is virtue. Vice, again, is either extreme, excess or defect, and virtue is the mean. It is through the rational power of the soul that the passions are controlled and action is guided. The virtue of courage, for example, is the mean between two vices: namely, cowardice (defect) and foolhardiness (excess). Virtue, then, is a state of being, a state apt to exercise deliberate choice, being in the relative mean, determined by reason, and as the man of practical wisdom would determine. Therefore, virtue is a habit of choosing in accordance with a mean. The mean is not the same for every person, nor is there a mean for every act. Each mean is relative to each person inasmuch as the circumstances will vary. In the case of eating, the mean will obviously be different for an adult athlete and a little girl. But for each person, there is nevertheless a proportionate or relative mean, temperance, clearly indicating what extremes—namely, gluttony (excess) and starvation (defect)—would constitute vice for that person. Similarly, when one gives money, liberality, as the mean between prodigality and stinginess, is not an absolute figure but is relative to ones assets. Moreover, for some acts there is no mean at all; their very nature already implies badness, such as spite, envy, adultery, theft, and murder. These are bad in themselves and not in their excesses or deficiencies. One is always wrong in doing them. Deliberation and Choice There are in the rational soul two kinds of reasoning. The first is theoretical, giving us knowledge of fixed principles or philosophical wisdom. The other is practical, giving us a rational guide to our action under the particular circumstances in which we find ourselves, and this is practical wisdom. What is important about the role of reason is that without this rational element, we would not have any moral capacity. Again, Aristotle stressed that although we have a natural capacity for right behavior, we do not act rightly by nature. Our life consists of an indeterminate number of possibilities. Goodness is in us potentially; but unlike the acorn out of which the oak will grow with almost mechanical certitude, we must move from what is potential in us to its actuality by knowing what we must do, deliberating about it, and then choosing in fact to do it. Unlike Plato and Socrates, who thought that to know the good was sufficient to do the good, Aristotle saw that there must be deliberate choice in addition to knowledge. Thus, Aristotle said that the origin of moral action—its efficient, not its final cause—is choice, and (the origin) of choice is desire and reasoning with a view to an end. There cannot be choice without reason. And again, intellect itself moves nothing, but only the intellect which aims at an end and is practical. Morality and moral choice imply human responsibility. If some ways of behaving are right and others wrong, it is necessary to discover why a person acts in a wrong instead of a right way. If we are to praise or blame, praise virtue and blame vice, a person must be truly capable of making a choice. Aristotle assumed that an act for which a person could be held responsible must be a voluntary act. A genuine choice is a voluntary action. But not all our actions are voluntary. Thus, Aristotle said that praise and blame arise upon such as are voluntary, while for the involuntary allowance is made, and sometimes compassion is excited. The distinction, as he saw it, between voluntary and involuntary acts was in general this: Involuntary acts are those for which a person is not responsible because they are (1) done out of ignorance of particular circumstances, (2) done as a result of external compulsion, or (3) done to avoid a greater evil. Voluntary acts are those for which a person is responsible because none of these three extenuating circumstances obtain. The Virtues In a general way we have already defined virtue as the fulfillment of mans distinctive function and as the mean between extremes. Another way to describe Aristotles concept of virtue is to consider each virtue as the product of the rational control of the passions. In this way we can combine all aspects of human behavior. Human nature consists for Aristotle not simply in rationality but in the full range covered by the vegetative, sensitive or appetitive, and the rational souls. Virtue does not imply the negation or rejection of any of these natural capacities. The moral man employs all his capacities, physical and mental. Corresponding to these two broad divisions in man there are two functions of reason, the intellectual and the moral, and each has its own virtues. There are accordingly intellectual virtues and moral virtues. The intellectual virtues are philosophical wisdom and understanding and owe their birth and growth to teaching and learning. Moral virtue comes about as a result of habit, whence comes the name ethics (ethike), formed by a slight variation from the word ethos (habit). All the moral virtues have to be learned and practiced, and they become virtues only through action, for we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts. The cardinal moral virtues are courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. In addition to these, Aristotle considered also the virtues of magnificence, liberality, friendship, and self-respect. And although he acknowledged the central role of reason as a guide to practical and moral action, he nevertheless concluded that philosophic wisdom is superior to practical wisdom, that contemplation is most likely to lead to happiness. Contemplation Aristotle concludes that if happiness is the product of our acting according to our distinctive nature, it is reasonable to assume that it is acting according to our highest nature, and that this activity is contemplative we have already said. This activity is the best, says Aristotle, since not only is reason the best thing in us, but the objects of reason are the best of know-able objects. Moreover, contemplation is most continuous, since we can contemplate truth more continuously than we can do anything. Finally, we think happiness has pleasure mingled with it, but the activity of philosophic wisdom is admittedly the pleasantest of virtuous activities. POLITICS In his Politics, as in his Ethics, Aristotle stresses the element of purpose. The state, as man, is endowed by nature with a distinctive function. Combining these two ideas, Aristotle says that it is evident that the State is a creature of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal. So closely does he relate man and the state as to conclude that he who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god. Not only is man by nature destined to live in a state, but the state, as every other community, is established with a view to some good, exists for some end. The family exists primarily to preserve life. The state comes into existence in the first instance to preserve life for families and villages, which in the long run are not self-sufficing. But beyond this economic end, the function of the state is to ensure the supreme good of man, namely, his moral and intellectual life. Unlike Plato, Aristotle did not create a blueprint for an ideal state. Even though Aristotle viewed the state as the agency for enabling people to achieve their ultimate goals as human beings, he nevertheless realized that any practical theory of the state must take note of what kind of government is adapted to particular states [that] the best is often unattainable and that the legislator must be acquainted with which is best relatively to circumstances how a state may be constituted under any given conditions [and] how it may be longest preserved, concluding that political writers, although they have excellent ideas, are often unpractical. For these reasons, Aristotle had little patience with Platos most radical ideas. Ridiculing Platos arrangement for the abolition of the family for the guardian class and providing a public nursery for their children, Aristotle said that there is no reason why the so-called father should care about the son, or the son about the father, or brothers about one another. The communal ownership of property would likewise destroy certain basic human pleasures as well as engender inefficiency and endless disputes. Types of States Aristotle was willing to recognize that under appropriate circumstances, a community could organize itself into at least three different kinds of government. The basic difference among them is primarily the number of rulers each has. A government can have as its rulers one, a few, or many. But each of these forms of government can have a true or a perverted form. When a government is functioning rightly, it governs for the common good of all the people. A government is perverted when its rulers govern for their own private gain or interests. The true forms of each type of government, according to Aristotle, are monarchy (one), aristocracy (few), and polity (many). The perverted forms are tyranny (one), oligarchy (few), and democracy (many). His own preference was aristocracy, chiefly because even though ideally an individual of exceptional excellence would be desirable, such persons do not exist with sufficient frequency. In an aristocracy, there is the rule of a group of men whose degree of excellence, achievement, and ownership of property makes them responsible, able, and capable of command. Differences and Inequalities Because he relied so heavily upon his observation of things, it was inevitable that Aristotle would make some mistakes. Nowhere is this more true than in his estimate of slavery. Observing that slaves invariably were strong and large, he concluded that slavery was a product of nature. It is clear, said Aristotle, that some men are by nature free, and others slaves, and that for these slavery is both expedient and right. To be sure, Aristotle took great care to distinguish between those who become slaves by nature, a mode he accepted, and those who become slaves by military conquest, a mode he rejected. He rejected slavery by conquest on the highly defensible grounds that to overpower someone does not mean that one is superior to him in nature. Moreover, the use of force may or may not be justified, in which case enslavement could very well be the product and extension of an unjust act. At the same time, speaking of the proper treatment of slaves, he proposed that it is expedient that liberty should be always held out to them as the reward of their services. The fact is that in his own last will and testament, Aristotle provided for the emancipation of some of his slaves. Aristotle also believed in the inequality of citizenship. He held that the basic qualification for citizenship was a persons ability to take his share in ruling and being ruled in turn. A citizen had the right and the obligation to participate in the administration of justice. Since a citizen would therefore have to sit in the assembly and in the law courts, he would have to have both ample time as well as an appropriate temperament and character. For this reason, Aristotle did not believe that laborers should be citizens, as they had neither the time nor the appropriate mental development, nor could they benefit from the experience of sharing in the political process. Good Government and Revolution Over and over again Aristotle made the point that the state exists for the sake of mans moral and intellectual fulfillment. A state, he said, exists for the sake of a good life, and not for the sake of life only; also, the state is the union of families and villages in a perfect and self-sufficing life, by which we mean a happy and honourable life. Finally, he said, our conclusion is that political society exists for the sake of noble actions, and not mere companionship. Still, whether a state produces the good life depends upon how its rulers behave. We have already said that the perverted forms of government are distinguished from the true forms by this, that the good rulers seek to achieve the good of all, whereas the perverted rulers seek their own private gain. Whatever form a government has, it will rest upon some conception of justice and proportionate equality. But these conceptions of justice can bring disagreement and ultimately revolution. Democracy, as Aristotle knew it, arises out of the assumption that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal. On the other hand, Aristotle said oligarchy is based upon the notion that those who are unequal in one respect are in all respects unequal. Hence, being unequal in property, they suppose themselves to be unequal absolutely. For these reasons, whenever the democrats or oligarchs are in the minority and the philosophy of the incumbent government does not accord with their preconceived ideas, [they] stir up revolution Here then are opened up the very springs and fountains of revolution. Aristotle concludes that the universal and chief cause of this revolutionary feeling [is] the desire of equality, when men think they are equal to others who have more than themselves. He did not overlook other causes such as insolence and avarice as well as fear and contempt. Knowing these causes of revolution, Aristotle said that each form of government could take appropriate precautions against it; for example, a king must avoid despotic acts, an aristocracy should avoid the rule by a few rich men for the benefit of the wealthy class, and a polity should provide more time for its abler members to share in the government. Another precaution is to guard against the beginning of change. Most important of all, Aristotle urged that there is nothing which should be more jealously maintained than the spirit of obedience to law. In the end, men will always criticize the state unless their conditions of living within it are such that they can achieve happiness in the form of what they consider the good life.

Air quality in guangzhou

Air quality in guangzhou 1. Introduction Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province , is going to hold the 16th Asian Games in November 2010. Athletes and couches coming from 45 countries and regions will participate in the Asian Games which last for more than two weeks. Strongly competent as a host city (Table 1), Guangzhou is famous for its natural scenario of Baiyun Mountain and Pearl River, for its food and beverages, and for an enjoyable lifestyle. Thanks to the event, Guangzhou is now under the spotlight and attracts even more attention from both home and abroad. Table 1 Quick facts of Guangzhou (Guangzhou International 2009) Name Guangzhou / Location Southern China Climate type Subtropical monsoon climate Area 7263 km2 Population (registered residents, 2008) 7.8 million GDP per capita (2008) 11,696 USD However, there is still suspicion about the air quality of Guangzhou. Whether it can sufficiently manage the problem air pollution remains a concern. In 1970s-1980s, manufacturing industry served as an important driver for the development of Guangzhou. Nowadays, exhaust gas of automobiles has become the major source of urban air pollution (He 2009). As a result, atmospheric pollution is not a new problem for the city. To tackle this problem, the municipal government has adopted a series of approaches. It announced to invest 600 million RMB (88 million USD) to lever a total of 2.4 billion RMB within two years to tackle air pollution, and 123 factories were moved or shut down in 2009 because of their heavy pollution to the air. (Yuan 2009) Most importantly, the government issued a three-year plan (2008-2010) with detailed, quantified criteria and clearly defined responsibility is to coordinate collective action to reduce air pollution (Guangzhou Municipality 2008). In such context, this report attempts to review and analyze the recent state of air pollution in Guangzhou, as well as to evaluate its health impact on human. In the end, the report seeks to assess Guangzhous capability hold the Asian Games with satisfactory air quality. 2. Air Pollution in Guangzhou The following figure (Fig. 2) summarizes the state of air in Guangzhou for the last ten years. From 2000, severity of air pollution began to increase, and reached its peak around 2004. Since then, air condition in Guangzhou started to improve and became much better recently. According to a recent analysis (PRDAIR 2009), most part of Guangzhou has reached Grade II in terms of Regional Air Quality Index, or RAQI (Fig. 3), which means concentration of all pollutants are generally within Grade 2 of National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Note: several data points for 2000 and 2009 are missing here due to inaccessibility. Considering the representativeness and accessibility of data, this report choose SO2, NO2 and respirable suspended particulates (PM10 or RSP) as main indicators for air pollution in Guangzhou. Thanks to the citys environmental protection website which reports atmospheric information and data since 2000 (GZEP 2010), enough though not abundant data can be achieved and traced back to specific monitoring stations in the city. It should be noticed that unlike the PRDAIR research result above, the air quality data here are recorded in terms of Air Pollution Index (API), which is based on absolute concentration (e.g. mg/m3). Among these 10 monitoring stations, locations of five of them can be identified in public online mapping system (Google Maps). Considering that the Asian Games is going to be held in November, the report selected monthly average air quality data for November from 2000 to 2009, and present them with station mapping information SO2. Strong policies have greatly reduced SO2 emission, especially restricting policies on heavy industry factories. One most visible example is that 147 polluting firms in the old city centre had been either moved or shut down from 1998 to 2005. In addition, public and private investments in desulphurizing facilities for factories, heating and cooking have also decreased SO2 pollution. (Zhou 2008) By the year of 2009, SO2 concentration monitored at all the five stations are below 50, which reaches Grade II regarding the national air quality grading system. NO2. Reduction in NO2 emission is less significant than that of SO2. In Guangzhou, exhaust of automobile is the main source of NO2 emission (Zhou 2008). Despite the policy which completely bans motorbike from entering central urban area since 2007 (Guangzhou Municipality 2004), NO2 concentration increased again in 2009 after a short-term drop in 2008. Restricting motorbikes has not contributed much to overall NO2 reduction, because people enjoying an increasing income may shift from motorbikes to cars. Moreover, emission from local industry is not controlled as strictly as that of SO2 emission, which also offset the effect of motorbike ban. (Zhou 2008) PM10. Pollution of suspended particulates is relative severe. Even the lowest average level monitored (at Station 4) is above 50. PM10 is a secondary pollutant, and its generation can be traced back to automobile exhausts and industrial activities in the city (He 2009). In 2009, count of days with haze for the first half of year was 96, while for the second half was 14. It is believed that this abrupt decrease is related to aftermath of global financial crisis—reduced manufacturing activity and logistics activity. Though level of PM10 pollution in Guangzhou is lower than many Asian cities (GZEP 2010; ADB 2006), it is as high as three times of the guideline standard of World Health Organization (WHO 2006). In fact, PM10 is closely related to respiratory diseases, which is among main concerns of public health in Guangzhou. Its impact on human health will be examined in the next section. 3. Health Impact of Air Pollution On average, one person takes in 15 m3 of air per day (He 2009). Clean air is thus essential to human health. By 2008, annual average concentrations of NO2 and PM10 have both exceeded the WHO air quality guideline level, and PM10 concentration is slightly above WHOs interim target (GZEP 2010; WHO 2006). According to data from GZEP (2010), PM10 is the major pollutant of air pollution. Moreover, it has the primary health impact on human respiratory organs. A study shows that the harm done by pollution of particulates on body is comparable to that by cigarette smoking (ALA 2009). This might contribute to the fact that rate of lung cancer has not significantly decreased although rate of cigarette smoking in Guangzhou is largely reduced (He 2009). In the short-term, pollution of particulates can be severe, or even death. Besides coughing and wheezing, asthma and dysfunction of lung may also be caused by exposure to particulate pollution. Previous researches have strengthened the relation between short-term to many public health problems. Hong et al. (2002) observe a positive link between increased PM concentration and stroke mortality in Seoul, Korea. Another research in Gaoxiong, Taiwan also implies the relation of particulate pollution with occurrence of strokes (Tsai et al. 2003). Long-term, or chronic exposure to particulate pollutants has significant health impact. According to Pope (2000), long-term particulate pollution can result in one to three years of human life shortening. Health impact of chronic air pollution can be seen in many ways in everyday life of Cantonese people, particularly in elder Cantonese people. Lung cancer has become a common disease in Guangzhou. In 2008, Dr. Nanshan Zhong, director of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, discovered through operations that lungs of Cantonese above 50 years old were usually â€Å"black†, even if they did not have lung diseases (He 2009). But one needs to notice that this phenomenon is related to previous rather than present status of air quality in Guangzhou, because it is common only in the above-50 age group. 4. Conclusion: Ready for the Asian Lungs? Venues and infrastructure are being built. Personnel and volunteers are being trained or have already start working. Guangzhou is definitely making an effort to welcome the quests for Asian Games. But whether the air in Guangzhou is ready for the Games remains unclear. On one hand, the problem of air pollution in Guangzhou have caused severe public health problem, and does not have a simple solution. Past research also shows that air quality is worse in winter and spring than in summer and autumn (PRDAIR 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). These have all given rise to health concern and may potentially undermine the 16th Asian Games. However, on the other hand, environmental monitoring data indicate that air quality in Guangzhou is improving, and Guangzhou Municipality has implemented a strict air quality management plan with clearly defined responsibility for specific departments. It is also considering some of the successful strategies taken in Beijing Olympic Games 2008. (Guangzhou Municipality 2008) Judging from previous successful experience of SO2 emission reduction and Olympic Games, the new implementation plan seems promising. Therefore, it is still difficult to determine whether Guangzhou will be able to manage its air quality to a satisfactory level and provide the Asian Games with clean air. But regarding the governments strong will to tackle air pollution, it is possible that air pollution could be managed for the Asian Games, but it is highly likely that most of the pollution reduction would be temporary rather than sustainable, and air pollution would slightly rebound after the Asian Games. References American Lung Association (ALA). 2009. State of the Air 2009. New York: Hard Copy Printing. Asian Development Bank (ADB). 2006. Urban Air Quality Management: Summary of Country/City Synthesis Reports across Asia. Philippines: Asian Development Bank. Google Maps. URL: http://maps.google.com. [consulted 3 Feb 2010]. Guangzhou Development District Planning Bureau (GDDPB). 2007. ‘Map of Guangzhou after Adjustment. URL: http://ghj.luogang.gov.cn/old/zcfg/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=60. [consulted 5 Feb 2010]. Guangzhou Environmental Protection (GZEP). 2010. Online environmental information reporting and searching services. URL: http://www.gzepb.gov.cn/was40/api/. [consulted 3 Feb 2010]. Guangzhou International. ‘Facts, official website of Guangzhou Municipality. URL: http://www.gz.gov.cn/vfs/web/gzeng_new/Facts.html. [consulted 3 Feb 2010]. Guangzhou Municipality. 2004. Announcement on restricting motorbikes in parts of urban area. Suifu [2004] No. 11. 2008. 2008-2010 air pollution in the implementation of comprehensive improvement plan. Guangzhou. He, L. D. 2009. Cheng shi kong qi wu ran diao cha: Guang zhou zen me le [Survey on urban air pollution: what has happened to Guangzhou?]. Xinmin Weekly, 16 Apr 2009. Hong, Y., Lee, J., Kim, H., Ha, E., Schwartz, J. and Christiani, D.C. 2002. Effects of Air Pollutants on Acute Stroke Mortality. Environmental Health Perspectives 110(2): 187-191. Pope, C. A. 2000. Epidemiology of fine particulate air pollution and human health: biological mechanisms and whos at risk? Environ Health Perspect 2000(108): 713-723. Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network (PRDAIR). 2005. A report of Monitoring Results in 2005. Report Number: PRDAIR-2005-1. 2006. A report of Monitoring Results in 2006. Report Number: PRDAIR-2006-2. 2007. A report of Monitoring Results in 2007. Report Number: PRDAIR-2007-2. 2008. A report of Monitoring Results in 2008. Report Number: PRDAIR-2008-2. 2009. A report of Monitoring Results for the Period between January and June 2009. Report Number: PRDAIR-2009- Tsai, S.S., Goggins, W.B., Chiu, H.F., and Yang, C.Y. 2003. Evidence for an association between air pollution and daily stroke admissions in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Stroke 2003(34): 2612-2616. World Health Organization (WHO). 2006. WHO Air Quality Guidelines for Particulate Matter, Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide (Global Update 2005). Switzerland: WHO. Yuan, D. 2009. Guang zhou tou 6 yi zhi kong qi wu ran [Guangzhou invests 600 million against air pollution]. Nanfang Daily, 6 Jul 2009. The RAQI, used by governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong to jointly report regional air quality, is a composite indicator for measuring the aggregate level of SO2, NO2, ozone and respirable suspended particulates (PM10). The higher the index value, the higher the regional air pollution levels. The index value is in positive relation to the higher the regional air pollution levels. (PRDAIR 2008)

Dune-lots Of Errors :: essays research papers

Dune by Frank Herbert is one of the greatest Science Fiction novels of all time. The story is about Paul Atreids as he tries to take back his planet (Arrakis, a.k.a Dune a pure desert world. It is also the only place where spice can be found. Spice is a drug that gives people the ability to see the future, health and long life, (hence the saying, Health and long life are the gifts of the spice, Dune the Sci –Fi mini-series)) from the Harrkonnens the Atreids mortal enemy. The book is based in the year 10,946 B.J (Bielgium Jihad) in the Imperium of man under the rule of Shaddam the IV. The main characters are The Baron and Paul Atreids. Paul Atreids is the son of Duke Leto Atreids and the lady Jessica. He is Muad’Dib the Fremen messiah (The Fremen are the natives of Dune and the greatest fighters in the known universe.). The Baron is the ruler of Giedi prime. He is sadistic and he hates the Atreids because an Atreids had the ruler of House Harrkonnen banished for cowardi ce.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book starts off with House Atreids moving to Arrakis. Paul father, Leto sends off men to recruit the Fremen to his cause because he believes the Harrkonnens will attack Arrakis (for now on I will call it by it’s Fremen name Dune). The Harrkonnens make an attempt on Paul’s life and a traitor shuts down the Atreids palace’s shield.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Soon Harrkonnen troops and Sardaukar (The emperor’s shock troops) attack dune. Without the Fremen’s aid the Harrkonnens capture dune and kill Leto and send Paul and his mother out into the deep desert to die. After the assault the Sadaukar leave. The Harrkonnens believing Paul dead begin to solidify their hold on Dune.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After killing their captors Paul and Jessica escape. As they run, a worm (A giant worm, Usually about a kilometer long and about thirty feet wide with sharp teeth) tries to eat the pair but they escape into a cave. Later Duncan Idaho, a loyal Lieutenant, picks them up and brings them to a hidden Fremen base. There Sardaukar attacks them again and Duncan dies buying time for Paul and Jessica to get away.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Later they are found by a group of Fremen who think Paul is the Muad’Dib (their messiah). After Paul kills a non-believer the Fremen begin to worship Paul.

Building a Strategic Balanced Scorecard

The balanced scorecard has been said to be among the most important tools in business management (Kaplan, R. S (2003), PR Newswire (2003). The usage of balanced scorecard by several companies has led to increase in profitability, productivity and efficiency. The strategic balanced scorecard has been used by organizations to balance all aspects of organizational practice by providing a framework for effecting change and translating strategy into action.It has for sometime gained acceptance as a way of turning around businesses which were at one time in the brink of collapse (Kerr, D.  L. 2003). The scorecard has facilitated the translation of strategy into action (Kaplan, R. S. , and D. P. Norton 1992). In corporate organizations, is the case with Saatchi and Saatchi, the scorecard has helped many companies out of crisis. In the nineties this organization called Saatchi and Saatchi was experiencing many problems associated with poor growth.This was due to a recession that followed t he rapid growth through acquisitions in the 1970’s and 80’s. Particularly in 1995 this organization was almost collapsing due to bankruptcy.To avert the collapse the agency started with strategy reformulation and making some structural changes that began with bringing onboard new personnel at the top to the organization. Bob Seelert who formerly worked at General Foods was appointed as the new chairman and Kevin Roberts as the new chief Executive, while both the Saatchi brothers left the company. With the new leadership in place several financial goals were developed. These goals were: i. Growing the company’s revenue base better than the market. ii.Converting 30 percent of that incremental revenue to operating profit. iii. Doubling the company’s earnings per share. These goals were given as a promise of performance to the shareholders and thus had to be achieved. To achieve them, the leadership of the organization identified ways in which the goals could be achieved and in doing this it was found that all units or locations had different visions. For smooth accomplishment of the goals, all units had to have a common vision. A management tool had to be devised to help communicate and operationalize the new vision.Having a common vision was perceived to aid in achieving of one of the main objectives which was to position the agency at the top rank of the advertising industry. ANALYSIS The importance of measuring strategy and operational plans cannot be overemphasized (Green et al. 2002). After setting up financial/growth goals the company’s senior team focused and had to re-prioritize their investment plans for the different units. First the units had to be categorized according to their size in terms of the number of employees and also revenue contribution. Using the above criteria three categories were created.These were the ‘lead’, ‘drive’ and ‘prosper’. For each category different str ategies were formulated. The ‘prosper’ agency is the one with less than 50 employees and is less likely to become a huge agency. Most agencies fall into the ‘prosper’ category. The new strategic focus for this category was that units in it were expected to achieve high margins despite their failure to grow significantly. The other category is the ‘drive’ agency which is estimated to have between 50 and 150 employees. The strategy adopted for it was that it had to maintain or slightly grow its revenue base, not leaving out growth in margins.The ‘lead’ agency is the one in which majority units are located and is the largest with examples being the UK, New York and China. This agency was expected to post rapid growth and also is the one where the biggest share of investment would be allocated. Apart from strategies directed to the different agency categories, Saatchi and Saatchi adopted other strategies relating to a customer perspect ive. One was paying close attention to the agency’s core client base. This strategy calls for treating the customers well in order for them to love the company i. e.to infatuate them. For this Saatchi and Saatchi came up with what they called are having ‘permanently infatuated clients’ or PIC for short. The other strategy which was encouraging employees to come up with big ideas which were referred to as ‘big fabulous ideas’ or BFIs. The BFIs were supposed to be quality ideas that could change businesses, brands and reputations to Saatchi and Saatchi’s clients. CONCLUSION The strategy for the ‘prosper’ agency of achieving high margins was possible through treating the few customers excellently i. e. making them infatuated.Also the employees in this agency were given opportunity to give quality ideas which were supported by financing from the top management. The ‘drive’ agency charged with responsibility of maintaining or slightly growing their revenue base and growing their margins also achieved their goals through being supported financially by the top management. The agency given the ‘lead’ status which comprised the largest revenue base, such as the UK, New York and China received the lion’s share of investment. As a result this category grew rapidly with the scorecard as the way through which strategy was translated into action within Saatchi and Saatchi.Key success was achieved through the absolute commitment of the most senior management that gave the required resources. EVALUATION For the case of Saatchi and Saatchi Company a set of two strategies were meshed together. These were the financial and customer perspective strategies which worked together reinforcing one another. The reasons which support this position are that in the goal of generating more revenue, more attention was paid to the clients who gave large earnings. On the other hand the goal pf converting 30 percent of the incremental revenue to operating profit was meant to finance changes in the organization.This was through encouraging employees to come up with quality ideas, by giving them incentives and rewards for quality ideas. Finally, the financial goal of doubling earnings per share was achieved through implementation of PICS’ (permanently infatuated clients) hence increasing growth and achieving high margins from clients who love and stick to the company. Also the financial goal of encouraging development of big ideas which could transform business, brands reputation of the company’s clients, was related to the customer perspective strategy. Reference:Business Intelligence: Building a Strategic Scorecard. Saatchi and Saatchi Complimentary Case Study. Available at http://www. business-intelligence. co. uk/PDFdownloads/strat_bsc/Saatchisr. pdf. Accessed on 20. 05. 07. Green, M. , J. Garrity, A. Gumbus, and B. Lyons (2002). â€Å"Pitney Bowes Calls For New Metrics : The Company Used a Balanced Scorecard to Manage Performance and Increase the Bottom Line,† Strategic finance. Kaplan, R. S. , and D. P. Norton (1992). â€Å"The Balanced Scorecard: Measures That Drive Performance,† Harvard Business Review 70(1), 71-79.Kaplan, R. S. , D. P. Norton, and M. Witzel (2003). â€Å"Great Believers in Balance: Guru Guide Robert Kaplan and David Norton,† The Financial Times, August, 11. Kerr, D. L. (2003). â€Å"Accountability By Numbers: How the Lone Star State's Auditor Introduced a Balanced Scorecard Management System,† Journal of Accountancy 195(6), 61-70. PR Newswire. (2003). â€Å"Got Leverage? September-October Issue of Harvard's Balanced Scorecard Report Explores Strategic Lock-In, Strategic IT Agility and the Balanced Scorecard,† PR Newswire, September 16, 1.