Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Taxation - Essay Example Countries have long been striving to introduce a better tax regime in order to get out from economic depression. Accordingly, they are designing the reform agenda aimed at implementing a better tax mechanism in the country. Global experiences regarding the tax administration suggest that the core reason behind the failure of the tax mechanism in not addressing the issues of tax regime effectively is the imbalances of fiscal policies of the country. In preparing the paper, intensive efforts have been made to closely scrutinize the taxation system in America with particular emphasis on sales tax. While conducting its study, the paper has found the following two articles being much relevant to the paper as they discuss about the taxation of a particular good. rate prevailed in different states of America. The writer has opined that the sales tax in America is not same; rather it is of different rate in different states. In some states, sales tax is applied in case of buying the goods over Internet. The writer has also given the message that there is also an option of purchasing some goods that are free from paying tax. This article examines the imposition of tax on VMT (Vehicle Mileage Tax) basis in particular context to Oregon states. Under this, the motorists would be subject to pay tax on the range of driving per miles. Critics point out that it is an instrument of infringing personal liberty and a record in our democratic history for interfering the personal liberty. Every goods or products purchased are subject to sales tax. Of course, there are some exceptions in this regard as it has been quoted: â€Å"Sales of taxable tangible personal property to nonprofit hospitals, nonprofit educational institutions, churches, orphanages, other nonprofit charitable or religious institutions and organizations, and homes for the aged, sick, or infirm whose property is excluded

Collective empowerment Essay Example for Free

Collective empowerment Essay â€Å"To find out about my life. The truth. In the end. That’s all. † Nadine Gordimer’s 11th novel heroine, Vera Stark, takes over the hearts of literary critiques as she goes through the course of transition taking place in post-apartheid South Africa and in herself. â€Å"None to accompany me† is yet another Nadine Gordimer literary masterpiece that explores the dramatic effect of a country to an individual’s change on a personal level. The novel opens with Vera’s infidelity to her first husband; and as the story advances and she ages, she assesses her life and gains a new perspective on her relationship with her second husband, Bennett. Meanwhile, she tries to understand her daughter’s case on being a lesbian and why her husband pretends not to notice. Here, we see her struggle with her private feelings while engaged in civic issues where she had difficulty dealing with â€Å"relationships for which there was no preexisting formula of hostility or friendship, suspicion or trust. Note that the novel takes place in post-apartheid South Africa there’s been a radical change in social boundaries therefore, making it difficult to contend black interests. As Gordimer says, â€Å"When a railway line is abandoned, the tracks arent taken up. ; the railway referring to prejudiced white South Africans. Put in simpler terms, changing the law is one thing but changing the people’s attitude is another. Being a wife and a mother, a political activist and a lover, Stark’s sensible and sensual character reflects the author’s to some degree. Even her course of life takes resemblance to Gordimer’s: Vera Stark, a graduate of legal studies, becomes head of a Legal Institution established as a â€Å"reaction against the blackness of the black community, fights back the system with its own tricks. She will become the living example of how the collapse of an old regime allows us perhaps to abandon our old self. Maybe abandon an old personal life, too. Indeed, she will gradually see everything around her changing radically, and as consequences provoke other consequences, she will almost lose her life, after a murder attempt against her which will bring her face to face with the face of death, she will experience the fall of the frenzied racism monster as well as the transition towards a new regime with new supporters, ready like the others before them to be corrupted, the unjustified violence and the extreme poverty, she will revaluate her own existence, as a mother, as a companion and as a woman, she will watch her friends changing, she will be fascinated by the leader of the Black People and she will endure all these hardships with the stoicism of wisdom† (Nadine Gordimer on Vera Stark, â€Å"None to accompany me†); Likewise, Gordimer holds record for being a political activist throughout her lifetime and joined, as well as led, several organizations both legal and illegal that expressed her concerns on moral and r acial issues, especially the apartheid in South Africa. Meanwhile, the novel’s secondary characters put an intriguing twist to the story, somehow blending in whilst telling a story of their own: Veras second husband Bennet, a supposed sculptor downgraded to selling prestige luggage to provide for her; their son Ivan, a London banker, and their lesbian daughter, Annie, a South African doctor; Didymus and his wife Sibongile (Sally) Maqoma, Vera’s black friends who returned from exile after the apartheid; their lovely daughter Mpho, half-Zulu, half-Xhosa, whose been raised in London; Veras co-worker Oupa, former prisoner on Robber Island, who has big hopes and plans for South Africa; and Zeph Rapulana, one of the new black men with the skills and personal power to help makes such dreams come true. Gordimer’s portrayal of each minor character’s image was brief but delightfully vivid. Also, despite being the lead character in the novel, two lives are actually examined throughout besides Stark’s, thereâ€℠¢s Sally Maqona. After returning to South Africa from exile, she and her husband were received as heroes, for being part of the principal revolutionaries during the apartheid. However, an unexpected exchange in roles between the couple happened: Didymus, the male, was set aside the big picture for being a traditionalist whereas Sibongile, his wife, was selected to join high-profile politicians as she was regarded as one of the intellects and the most suitable to represent the new South Africa. Gordimer smoothly showed how these separate lives worked out how both women and their husbands are involved in taking down the apartheid system, and at the same time, how they handled more personal issues: a teen daughter’s pregnancy, the death of a co-worker, a son’s divorce, their own marital commitment, new employment and shifting friendships. All these are set in a growing complex political entity wherein each individual must somehow fit or adjust their identity. â€Å"Is there ever a really fair division of labour, as you call it, between couples? Vera’s daughter, Annie, asks her. Perhaps the answer to this question lies in the novel itself but then again, it’s uncertain will it be a yes or a no? Traditionally, so to speak, men take over positions dominating women. In this case however, one might find it amusing that it is the females holding the so-called ‘superior’ position instead of her husband, Sally is voted to preside over the board and even Vera has taken a seat amongst high-ranking officials. Moreover, I find it noteworthy to mention Vera’s alacritous acceptance of her daughter’s homosexuality at one part, she defends the merits of the male genitalia to her newly announced lesbian daughter. With such circumstances at hand, one wonders whether this novel was written to be intentionally inclined to feministic views or it’s just how it was meant to go. Nonetheless, this has nothing to do with Gordimer; in point of fact, she’s against sexism, racism, and the like as evident from her reactions in real life encounters. As to the novel’s setting, Gordimer’s ardent description of the South African post-apartheid is written in such a way as if meant to bring the reader inside the story itself. She highlights South Africa’s torment from racial discrimination and social division a glimpse of its ‘heterotopia’. Through Gordimer, one can not only see the narrative illustration presented but feel it, too, through the characters. It’s even more intense than reading a newspaper headliner, so to say. There’s no wonder Gordimer was able to come up with an excellent novel: she has ever since been a political activist in South Africa, expressing her thoughts through outstanding literary pieces concerning relevant issues facing the locals, and even being active in the anti-apartheid movement she joined the African National Congress during the days when it was still illegal. Her works dealt greatly with political issues, especially those of her own country, and love entwined with the lives of ordinary people. She’s won various awards through the decades including the 1991 Nobel Prize for Literature because her contribution is, in the words of Alfred Nobel, â€Å"of very great benefit to humanity†. All of her works are based from her own personal record, being one articulate witness of the contemporary world her country’s in, with a hinge of imagination reality and fiction combined. With â€Å"None to accompany me†, Nadine Gordimer certainly outdid herself this time a recollection of her previous notable works combined with a near-perfect replica of her own private life and personal beliefs on the inadequate development of her country: analphabetism and semi-alphabetism, poverty, racism, and the transition from the racist regime to the democratic state among others. Further additional concepts she used cover spatial control as a mark of repression and as an emphasis of political resistance, and a vague reference on South African urbanization. This particular flair of hers is quite remarkable, Gordimer is one of the few capable of delivering a composition where realpolitik meets the inner self it’s complex, intense, intriguing, and definitely fascinating. Regardless of recent reviews saying that her style of unfolding the narrative is more urgent compared to her earlier pieces, they commend her for keeping the ‘magic’ still. Her narrative form is unique to her she does it with sophistication and boldness; she writes what is there and she writes it with utmost comprehension and solemnity. Down to the last word, this read will leave you in awe. â€Å"It is not enough for someone to say that he is a writer. He must do what he can! †, so she says. The new South Africa that is evolving right now is coming to terms with the various repressions and discriminations it did in the past. South Africa is now freeing itself from the vestiges of apartheid and at the same time unmasking apartheid as it takes in different forms not only in society but in the hearts of its citizens. While apartheid is now officially denounced, there are still traces of it in many of its structures and apartheid still exists in the internal structures of culture and individual consciousness. One must be able to weed out apartheid inside one’s own heart even if the mind says you have already rid of it conceptually. There are practices and bad habits that are hard to break. Apartheid still exists in subliminal forms. The true affirmation and sense of self worth still needs to be developed. Collective empowerment still needs to be done on the structural level. This means poverty eradication, women empowerment, literacy programs, and economic programs that would provide labor and a genuine sense of self worth. In the area of economics, there should be access to opportunity and privilege not only for the white and the rich but also for the majority poor and the black. In the political level, the voice of the majority still needs to be heard and well represented. In the area of culture, there still needs to be a radical break from the past and a birth of a totally new culture that would define South Africa on a new level of its accomplishments and not its sins from the past.

Rodney the skateboarding robot :: Robotics

Rodney the skateboarding robot My project is Rodney, the robot skateboard, targeted at kids who want a cool skateboard accessory, and parents who would most likely buy one for their kids. Similar designs are a handle-like device with wheels that pulls a skateboard or roller skates, and the Segway. I have studied these designs, and a brief history of skateboards to better my understanding of how to make my robot work. The first design has a forward/reverse options for the motors and is turned by turning the board or roller skates. It is practically just a way to use the skateboard without using much energy. Segway ® Human Transporter (HT) can self-balance because of a technology called dynamic stabilization. Dynamic Stabilization works by using solid-state gyroscopes, tilt sensors, high-speed microprocessors, and powerful electric motors performing to keep it balanced. The skateboard originally in the 50s was conceived as a way to surf on land, whenever there was bad surfing weather. It started out as roller skates nailed to a wooden base. Then a bicycle company in the early 70s built better boards with flexible mounts for the wheel axis, and thus was born the modern skateboard, with grip tape for more maneuverability and painted designs and logos on the bottom of the board. Rodney is a two-part robot, one is the controller for Rodney and the other is Rodney himself, the maneuverable part. The controller consists of flat platforms with four walls of beam pieces. It has a RCX 2.0, and three touch sensors. The Rodney also RodneyBeta the skateboarding robot has an RCX 2.0 and four motors in a car-like design. He has beams and panel pieces connecting the motors together for additional stability. Rodney was successful at pushing my skateboard forward, reverse, and even turning. He could move the skateboard by itself at around 5mph and slightly less with added weight. The maximum weight that it can hold is about 2lbs. The remote controller has a range of around 10fts, and when it is out of range Rodney continues doing the same function that it was doing previously. I found that sometimes wheels may fall of Rodney, and occasionally he slides out from under my skateboard. I see that the alpha form of Rodney can that at least three forms, one being the

Best Man Wedding Speech -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Best Man Wedding Speech This is the first time Kevin's ever brought me dinner and I?m too nervous to eat it. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Kevin's younger brother and my full name is Bobby What are you drinking, so if you see me at the bar later don't hesitate to call me by my full name. Unfortunately every silver lining does have A cloud, and that is that you've all got to listen to me for the next 5 minutes. I'd just like to thank Kevin on behalf of the bridesmaids for his kind words I think you will all agree that they have done a fantastic job today and look absolutely beautiful. I'd also like to thank everyone for coming today to celebrate the marriage of Kevin and Lisa. Personally I wish you'd all stayed at home so I didn't have to do this!! First of all, I want to say a little bit about being the best man. I feel the title "best man" says a bit too much. The way I see it, if I am the best man, what the hell is Lisa doing with Kevin? So, I think I will be happy just saying that I'm a pretty good man, And Kevin can be the best man tonight. Actually, being the best man is an awesome responsibility and one that I don't take lightly. In life you can count your true friends on one hand, these being people who will be there in your hour of need. I remember when my hair starting falling out, Kevin was there kindly rubbing Immac into my head, when I lost my job, Kevin was there and ... ... it gives me immense pleasure (not to mention relief) to invite you all to stand and raise your glasses in a toast for Kevin and Lisa, Mr. and Mrs. xxxx no less, We wish them well for the future, and hope they enjoy a long, happy, and fruitful marriage. Kevin and Lisa. And while you're all standing I've just got a few last things to say... Kevin, you have been a great friend and a great brother and it has been an honor to be here today. You've made me an Uncle, You've made you're best man and if you can make me half the man you are today I wont go far wrong. I can honestly say for the second time in m y life I am truly jealous of you and I wish yourself Lisa and charlotte the very best for the future.

Narrative Essay

When joining the armed forces, you never quite know what will happen or what to expect next. It can be an amazing or a gruesome journey, but it depends on how you want it to be. At the beginning the journey might seems scary and intimidating, but as time goes on, you soon get use to the lifestyle and learn a great deal from the experience. Before I joined in November 2008, I was going through a marital problem, I was weak, intimidating, and I have no one or where to turn to. I applied for job in so many places with no luck, due to me moving to the States three years before applying for the jobs, giving birth, and also I was a staying home mom going to school. But as time went by I couldn’t take it any longer, so I decided looking in to joining the military. When I joined, I wanted to be independent, strong, care for my daughter, and to learn something new without being intimidated by anyone in anyway. I actually entered the Basic Combat training on the 15th of November 2008, when the plane dropped us at the South Carolina air port and, the bus took us from there to Fort Jackson. The bus finally pulled up outside the in-processing building in Fort Jackson South Carolina by 12:30am. All I could think about was my little girl, how she was sleeping, what was she thinking about when I left, did she cried herself to sleep, can I stay without my daughter for a day, and what in God’s name I just got myself into. We were all tired and sleepy, some of us looked like we have been deprived of sleep for a week, but we all came there for a reason. As the bus driver open the door a male drill sergeant stepped into the buss, and started screaming and yelling at us to get off the bus. I never saw people who have been sleeping and look so tired to move that fast, but everyone was scrambling all over each other looking for an exit, because no one want to be the first to get chewed up. As we stepped out of the bus, we formed two lines, one with the girls and one with the boys. As we stood there, I was scared, nervous; my heart was pounding so fast, because I have never been in that position before in my life. I felt like my neck tense up, which made my head feels like it was about to fall of my body, but I was telling myself that I can do this, and reminding myself of the reason why I was here. We were out there for thirty minutes before they put us in a room, and sat us down according to our numbers, and were we came from. We were given a book called the smart book, which mean it has to be with us all day, and learn what the book says. It was intense: we had to learn so many things throughout our stay in Basic Training. We got our pt uniform (Physical Training gear) that early morning, and we went to sleep by 2:15am. It was a scary and crazy experience. I slept but we had to wake up about 6am, because we have to go through so many in-processing. I was so tired, my eyes were puffy, and hurt, my ankles hurt, but I have to toughen it up. We had to get tested for diseases, eye testing, and a number of other things. All those time, I thought about my little girl a lot, I cried every day, because I have never been separated from child since I gave birth to her, and that was the first time I have ever been away from her. I wondered what she was doing, how she feared, if she was eating the way she was supposed to, how much she missed me, even though I was only gone for 6 days, I felt so alone without my daughter. We had to wake up very early in the morning by 0040, stood in parade rest, in the cold for 4 hours with just pt pant, long shirt, and jacket. That did not help with the cold, because it was so cold, that my fingers were frozen, I could not felt it moving. We have no phone privilege during the reception, because we were being baby sit by the drill sergeant most of the time, and when I said being baby sit, I mean being smoked, pushed up, sit up, floor rocate, you name it, but you can’t let them see crying, because when they, you will be sorry for shedding a tears. All this time we were at a place called reception which was for 4 days, but we spent 6days, where all the loose ends with our paper work were done. The actual physical training was done at a different place in Fort Jackson. The sergeants were still very tough on us. About a month into the training I found myself used to the routine, even though the journey was tough, I endured everything. I hated pt, because we ran a lot, and my ankle hurt, but I kept pushing myself. My pt sucks at the beginning, but my sergeant won’t let me fail, because she was always on me, making sure that, I do not fail. I failed my first pt, second pt, third pt, but I passed at the end, with a good percentage. Before we knew we were making friends, looking out for each other, laughing together, and getting ready to graduate to go to AIT. Which is Advance Individual Training? But there were some ladies who cannot stand each other; there were time of argument, gossiping, jealousness, but we all live under the same roof and trained together. I endure the most horrifying road match, training, being smoked by my drill sergeant, and the long pt. Most times, I broke down and cried, because I thought that was a punishment, but looking back today, it was a training that was mean to save my life and others too. I become a very strong and independent woman, whom no one can intimidate no matter. I can stand up for myself in any situation, and I don’t let anyone take advantage of me.

Mrs. Dalloway Essays - Literature, Bloomsbury Group, Free Essays

Mrs. Dalloway Essays - Literature, Bloomsbury Group, Free Essays Mrs. Dalloway A LIFE VIRGINIA WOOLF SHARED In her writings, Virginia Woolf wanted to capture the realness of life, as one would live it. In turn, Woolfs shared the significant elements of her life in her poetic prose novels, Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, as a relative self-portrayal. In these books Woolf captured the life as she had lived it, performing this task in three different layers of depth. For a general sense, by allowing the characters to live in a similar society as her own, Woolf depicted her society in her writing. In a deeper sense, many of Woolfs family members, relationships, and characteristics were symbolically illustrated through the minor literary characters on a more personal level. Moreover, Woolf displayed her views, beliefs, and personal events through the conscience of the main characters. Commonly, people believe that Woolf had an ideal family. Born into an aristocratic family, her father, Sir Leslie Stephen, was an eminent editor, journalist, and a biographer; her husband, Leonard Woolf, also was an aristocrat writer, who had a membership in an intellectual circle, Bloomsbury Group, along with Virginia Woolf. Similarly, Woolf planned both Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse to be the stories of two aristocratic families. Virginia Woolf lived from the late Victorian Era until the beginning of King George VIs reign, through both the climax of Britains prosperity and political supremacy and the decline of such political power which was due to the First World War. Yet, in these transitions of Britains political status, new ideologies, such as feminism, were developing. From the late Victorian Era to the end of First World War marked a period in which the people attempted to accomplish the new beliefs and ideologies, usually resulting in effective movements. Most of these ideas were an antithesis of prewar traditions that were led by Modernist, the questioners of tradition, in literary movements. Feminism was one of the popular new ideologies, which generally began through writers, artists, and women of the aristocracy, for they were the ones who were politically aware of what was going on in Britain and on Continent. Furthermore, people, especially the middle and the upper classes, enjoyed enormous prosp erity that was brought in by imperialism and the Industrial Revolution. Prosperity drew people to capitalism and investments in foreign countries, for people loved money and were very avaricious. In her writing, Woolf addressed these Victorian political characteristics through the meeting of Richard Dalloway, Hugh Whitbread, and Lady Bruton in Mrs. Dalloway, where Lady Bruton proposes a project for emigrating young people of both sexes born of respectable parents and setting them up with a fair prospect of doing well in Canada. Lady Brutons strong independence as a leader shows the movement towards tolerance of women being in power. This scene also portrays peoples cupidity, since this project was designed to bring in a substantial amount of profit. In addition, the Victorian Era was an age of doubt, question, and skepticism towards God, mostly due to Darwinism. Friction was created between morality and newly developing ideologies and beliefs. Although a majority of people still attended church, many writers and artists, especially Modernists, tended to be more agnostic. Likewise Woolf showed the opposing sides, believers and idealists, through the repulsion of Mrs. Dalloway against Miss Kilman, as Mrs. Dalloway has noted, Had she [Miss Kilman] even tried to convert any one herself? Did she not wish everybody merely to be themselves? Let her if she wanted to; let her stop; then let herThere was something solemn in itbut love and religion would destroy that, whatever it was, the privacy of the soul. The odious Kilman would destroy it. Britain faced a phase of decline due to the First World War which brought many changes to peoples lives, although the aristocrats were not as affected by the war. Some post war effects were loneliness, mental and emotional disorders, and disintegration usually suffered by middle and lower classes. In Mrs. Dalloway, the Dalloway family is planning a party while Septimus Smith, a middle class veteran, is suffering from mental and emotional disorders. Mrs. Dalloway is suffering from loneliness. However, in To the Lighthouse, the Ramsay family, also aristocrats, are suffering from the war due

TO WHAT EXTENT DID THE NAZIS S essays

TO WHAT EXTENT DID THE NAZIS S essays QUESTION @ TO WHAT EXTENT DID THE NAZIS SUCCEED IN BRINGING ABOUT A SOCIAL REVOLUTION BETWEEN 1933 AND 1939? On the 30th January 1933 President Hindenburg offered Adolf Hitler, the leader of the National Socialist Party, the position, Chancellor of Germany. From this day forward, the future of Germany was to radically change. The question, whether the Nazis succeeded in bringing about a social revolution poses many different questions. Such as the impact of the Third Reich on the youth, attitudes to women, and also how the Nazis economic policies affected different classes. However, to assess whether a revolution came about, you need to see what came before the years 1933 to 1939. A comparison with the Weimar republic needs to be made to measure the extent of the change. The years of the Weimar Republic saw the setting up of a democratic government with all Germans given equal rights including the right to vote. During the later years of Weimar, the Dawes plan did much to restore confidence in the German economy and investment came in from the USA especially. This meant that new houses, roads and public facilities could be built. Wages rose in real terms every year from 1924-30 and working hours were shortened. Women were given more equality and some were elected to the Reichstag. Germans saw the Weimar Republic bringing about many radical changes but in the case of Nazi ideologies, a return to past traditional values was demanded. Hitler disliked the industrial society and loved the idea of a return to a more rural way of life. However he realised that without industry and mass production, rearmament would not be possible, as this was one of his main aims he had accept it. One historian, Ralf Dahrendorf claimed that the revolution that took place between the years of 1933 and 1939 was one of modernity and that National Socialism had completed the social revolution which had been held up by Weimar Germany. Centra...

Free Essays on Fibonnaci Sequence

Fibonacci Sequence In the 13th century A.D. Leonard Fibonacci introduced Liber abaci, which means â€Å"The Book of calculations.† Fibonacci was best known for a series of numbers which were introduced in Liber abaci, and later named the Fibonacci sequence in his honor. The sequence begins with 0 and 1. After that, use the simple rule: Add the last two numbers together to get the next. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377†¦ In Fibonacci's day, mathematical competitions and challenges were ordinary. In 1225 Fibonacci took part in a tournament at Pisa ordered by the emperor at the time, Frederick II. During this competition the following problem arose: Beginning with a single pair of rabbits, if every month each productive pair bears a new pair, which becomes productive when they are 1 month old, how many rabbits will there be after n months? This rabbit breeding problem that caused Fibonacci to write about the sequence in Liber abaci may be unrealistic but the Fibonacci sequence really does appear today. For example, some plants stem in such a way that they always have a Fibonacci number of growing points. Flowers often have a Fibonacci number of petals; daisies can have 34, 55 or even 89 petals. Next time you look at a sunflower look at the arrangements of the seeds. They appear to spiral outward, both left and right. There is a Fibonacci sequence in the number of spirals. This arrangement keeps the seeds evenly packed regardless of how large the seed head. The Fibonacci sequence appears every day in a normal person’s life, they just never knew.... Free Essays on Fibonnaci Sequence Free Essays on Fibonnaci Sequence Fibonacci Sequence In the 13th century A.D. Leonard Fibonacci introduced Liber abaci, which means â€Å"The Book of calculations.† Fibonacci was best known for a series of numbers which were introduced in Liber abaci, and later named the Fibonacci sequence in his honor. The sequence begins with 0 and 1. After that, use the simple rule: Add the last two numbers together to get the next. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377†¦ In Fibonacci's day, mathematical competitions and challenges were ordinary. In 1225 Fibonacci took part in a tournament at Pisa ordered by the emperor at the time, Frederick II. During this competition the following problem arose: Beginning with a single pair of rabbits, if every month each productive pair bears a new pair, which becomes productive when they are 1 month old, how many rabbits will there be after n months? This rabbit breeding problem that caused Fibonacci to write about the sequence in Liber abaci may be unrealistic but the Fibonacci sequence really does appear today. For example, some plants stem in such a way that they always have a Fibonacci number of growing points. Flowers often have a Fibonacci number of petals; daisies can have 34, 55 or even 89 petals. Next time you look at a sunflower look at the arrangements of the seeds. They appear to spiral outward, both left and right. There is a Fibonacci sequence in the number of spirals. This arrangement keeps the seeds evenly packed regardless of how large the seed head. The Fibonacci sequence appears every day in a normal person’s life, they just never knew....

Risk Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Risk Assessment - Assignment Example Some of the many risks that are associated with information technology include, budgetary risk, program management risk, inventory risk, supply chain risk, investment risk, safety risk, legal liability risk, and security risk just to name a few. This paper will do a risk assessment of on a business scenario on citizen wellness proposed to a health care company. The paper will identify three threats and vulnerabilities that affect a citizen wellness program. Further, it will detail these threats and vulnerability extensively and how they apply to the business. Finally, the paper will specify countermeasures that the business can use to negate these threats and vulnerability. Specifically the paper will review the above through the following guidelines: NIST 800-30: Risk Management Guide for Information Technology Systems, NIST 800-53: Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations, NIST 800-39: Managing Risk from Information Systems: An Organizational Perspective and NIST 800-64: Security Considerations in the System Development Life Cycle. The background of the business scenario is as follows. A health care company would like to do a review on ACMEs security program, including its procedures, and security policies. The main aim for this review is to make sure that ACME Co. can provide an individualized citizen wellness programs to the health care company’s subscribers and that these customers can be authenticate whenever they desire to access the program. ACME Co. specializes in Web sites hosting both for public and private entities. An Information Technology manager of ACME Co. is assigned to work with the health care companys ISSO the idea being to create a detailed list of business needs for security for the health care company. The Chief Information Officer at ACME Co. also directs the IT manager to evaluate the existing ACME Co. enterprise architecture documents with the aim of identifying any additional

Discussion unit 3 Social Problems Research Paper

Discussion unit 3 Social Problems - Research Paper Example Matt, drug addict, faced some serious problems during the survival period until the addiction took his life (personal communication, 2012). Drugs have negative impact on attitude and personality of addict. What makes it worse is the overdose of medicine used which results in other disease. Family members play a very important either to help the addict or to bring him down. Parents, siblings, partner and children all are equally destroyed as a family unit. Society is least considered and yet bears most of the consequences (Byrne,2005). Education or job, financial issues or economical issues, over dosage of medication or illegal drugs usage, each and everything plays a role in effecting the society as a whole. The criminal rate goes up and down with the addiction rate. With crimes comes the Law and Order. Is it enough to put a law on the using of drugs or alcohol? If it was enough then the sufferings would not be increasing on such large scale. Measures should be taken by the law beyond the drugs and welfare of addicts. There should be law that should involve the effected family members and other social destructions caused due to addiction. Human service professionals should be entrusted with greater responsibilities so that they can directly have positive impacts in bringing back the addicts to their normal lives. Byrne,A.(2005).Addict in the Family: How to Cope With the Long Haul. Retrieved from

Undecided Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Undecided - Research Paper Example The most vulnerable States were the third world countries;this is because they survived on loans, to bridge the deficits in their budget allocations. They also applied for these loans for purposes of initiating development activities within their states. On this note, the two Bretton woods institutions attached these conditions to ensure that the money lent, will carry out intended purposes2. The conditions were imposed for purposes of reducing the borrowing trends of the third world countries, and they were aimed at opening up their markets for purposes of trade, and thus a nation could generate sufficient resources to take care of its budget. On this note, the main aim of the policies was to force a state to open up their economies, and concentrate on trade. They advocated for the removal of trade barriers, and the privatization of the various government parastatals3. On this note, this paper examines the notion that the structural adjustments policies helped in the growth of the t hird world countries. ... tself and determine its own affairs.4 Other scholars argue that the structural adjustments policies were aimed at opening up the economies of third world countries, in order to allow well established companies, a presence in their economies. This in turn will lead to unfavorable balance of trade between the third world country, and the country in which the multinational company comes from. These scholars argue that at the time, third world countries did not have companies that had the capability of competing with these huge companies from Europe and United States of America. These companies controlled numerous resources, including financial and technological resources. On this note, companies operating in Africa, and Asia could not match them in terms of skills, and the resources. These Multinational companies enjoyed economic advantage, and therefore they would make huge profits in these economies, and plough them back into their mother countries, instead of investing a portion of t heir profits in the host country. On this note, this paper examines whether the structural adjustments policies contributed to the decline of the economies of third world countries. Synthesis: There are many arguments for and against liberalization of an economies state. One of the arguments supporting the opening up of a countries’ economy is that it would lead to the growth of the nation’s GDP. Take for instance Brazil, China and India, these three are the world’s fastest growing economies, and this is because they took measures to liberalize their economies, allowing competition, and little government regulation in their sectors. It also needs to an exchange of the much needed foreign exchange, which is beneficial to a nation’s GDP, and for International trade5. Take India for

What Are The Implications For Social Workers In Combating Re-Offending Dissertation

What Are The Implications For Social Workers In Combating Re-Offending Among Children And Young People - Dissertation Example The view is holistic in approach which excavates the theories and situations and how social workers are working on curtailing re-offending among that section of the society. It is understood that the report is meant to analyze these details and intends to continue the work of social workers in the field of re-offending among delinquents and young people. The report mainly relies on the handbook of Social Exclusion in U.K brought out by the Government of U.K. And the journal article of the National Association of social Workers. Many books have been referred to which deals with abnormal psychology and portrays criminal behavior as a clinical problem. The report intends to problem-atize every bit of the topic and proposes to find a solid solution to it. Introduction: To begin with re-offending among children and the youth, one must thoroughly study crime in the first place. Every man born into the society is always penetrated with societal norms through rigorous socialization. Norms are the set of ideas and rules which members of the society must abide by. The next concept is of sanctions. Social norms are mostly accompanied by sanctions to foster conformity and more than that, protect against non-conformity to facilitate social binding.norms are mostly accompanied by sanctions to foster conformity and more than that, protect against non-conformity to facilitate social binding. Positive and negative sanctions have different forms. Punishment is a big form of negative sanction. Sociology has time and again come up with newer theories to explain crime and deviance and mostly juvenile delinquency. As mentioned earlier, socialization helps to make every human being settle in the society with ease and comfort, by abiding the social rules and norms. But many despite being socialized to follow these rules and norms decide to not follow them or rather deviate from them. These elements are usually known as sociopaths – impulsive, judgmental and usually lack insight unlike criminals whose deeds have a planned character. Most children on their path to socialization often take up deviant methods. Anything that is unusual, queer or abnormal is termed as deviant. And the character to deviance differs from each other (Quinn, 2004). Offending is a social term more than legal. But our topic clearly deals with re-offending or repetition of crime may be of the same or different character. Crime and delinquency is the subject we are dealing with. Now both these terms have a strong legal tinge to it. The concept of delinquency differs with the Penal code of different states and countries. Criminal tendency or the inclination to commit a crime is seen not only in adults but also in children. There is entire genre in literatu re dealing with sibling rivalry, dealing with infinite instances of juvenile delinquency. Young offenders are therefore criminal minors. These young people deviate from the cultural norms and commit grievous offences extending from murders to thefts, drinking to brutal sexual activities and so on. The foremost social reason for offending among children and the youth is due to a lack of proper socialization. Socialization happens both from home and peer group. Children often commit crimes under the influence of peer groups; impulsively just to try out something for fun. Or mostly as many social workers have pointed out, it happens due to

E-books, Libraries, and Hard Cover Books Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

E-books, Libraries, and Hard Cover Books - Essay Example The main fears of publishers will be discussed, for example, a feeling that they will lose out on revenues if librarians have unfettered rights to purchase and distribute books. This chapter will progress by by discussing the reasons and possible reasons why publishers want the buying and lending model changed being that the content if now in electronic e-Book form and not the usual paperback books. The paragraph will then be concluded by summarizing the main points.The third paragraph will discuss the reasons why there is a conflict between publishers and librarians, from the point of view of the librarians. This will be the main point for this paragraph and will expound the main in details. The details will discuss the librarians’ revenue model for selling the paperback books and the model they use for the e-Books. The point at which this creates disagreements and conflicts with publishers will also be discussed. For instance, the fact that e-Books have no wear and tear or p ossible loss, and creates convenience for library patrons in that they don’t have to go to the library physically to review or even borrow a book. The benefits that librarians confer publishers will be discussed. The sources of information to be used will e verifiable scholarly sources such as journals and books that have done preliminary research. The paragraph will be concluded by reviewing the main pointsThe concept of e-Books being software will also be discussed before the paragraph is concluded.

What Are The Implications For Social Workers In Combating Re-Offending Dissertation

What Are The Implications For Social Workers In Combating Re-Offending Among Children And Young People - Dissertation Example The view is holistic in approach which excavates the theories and situations and how social workers are working on curtailing re-offending among that section of the society. It is understood that the report is meant to analyze these details and intends to continue the work of social workers in the field of re-offending among delinquents and young people. The report mainly relies on the handbook of Social Exclusion in U.K brought out by the Government of U.K. And the journal article of the National Association of social Workers. Many books have been referred to which deals with abnormal psychology and portrays criminal behavior as a clinical problem. The report intends to problem-atize every bit of the topic and proposes to find a solid solution to it. Introduction: To begin with re-offending among children and the youth, one must thoroughly study crime in the first place. Every man born into the society is always penetrated with societal norms through rigorous socialization. Norms are the set of ideas and rules which members of the society must abide by. The next concept is of sanctions. Social norms are mostly accompanied by sanctions to foster conformity and more than that, protect against non-conformity to facilitate social binding.norms are mostly accompanied by sanctions to foster conformity and more than that, protect against non-conformity to facilitate social binding. Positive and negative sanctions have different forms. Punishment is a big form of negative sanction. Sociology has time and again come up with newer theories to explain crime and deviance and mostly juvenile delinquency. As mentioned earlier, socialization helps to make every human being settle in the society with ease and comfort, by abiding the social rules and norms. But many despite being socialized to follow these rules and norms decide to not follow them or rather deviate from them. These elements are usually known as sociopaths – impulsive, judgmental and usually lack insight unlike criminals whose deeds have a planned character. Most children on their path to socialization often take up deviant methods. Anything that is unusual, queer or abnormal is termed as deviant. And the character to deviance differs from each other (Quinn, 2004). Offending is a social term more than legal. But our topic clearly deals with re-offending or repetition of crime may be of the same or different character. Crime and delinquency is the subject we are dealing with. Now both these terms have a strong legal tinge to it. The concept of delinquency differs with the Penal code of different states and countries. Criminal tendency or the inclination to commit a crime is seen not only in adults but also in children. There is entire genre in literatu re dealing with sibling rivalry, dealing with infinite instances of juvenile delinquency. Young offenders are therefore criminal minors. These young people deviate from the cultural norms and commit grievous offences extending from murders to thefts, drinking to brutal sexual activities and so on. The foremost social reason for offending among children and the youth is due to a lack of proper socialization. Socialization happens both from home and peer group. Children often commit crimes under the influence of peer groups; impulsively just to try out something for fun. Or mostly as many social workers have pointed out, it happens due to

Taxation Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Taxation Project - Essay Example Are legal entities whereby the income flows to owners or investors; implication that income is treated as either income of the owners or revenue for the investors (Siegel & Shim, 2010). Basing on the local tax regulations, the structure can avoid dividend tax and even the double taxation since only investors and owners are always taxed on the income. They are usually considered as non-entities for tax purposes since they are not taxed but taxation flow through to other tax returns. Types of flow through entities include limited partnership, general partnership, scheme corporations, limited liability companies and master limited partnerships. This is a partnership where some of the partners are general whereby they are entitled to manage and control business while other partners are limited to the contribution of capital only. A legal document that stipulates specific requirements are usually drawn up for limited partnership. It a partnership whereby almost all partners has gone limited responsibilities depending on the jurisdiction. In this partnership, no single partner is held responsible for another partner’s misconduct or rather negligence. It should be noted that pass through entities pass profit/loss to owners/investors/shareholders and therefore do not pay tax on its income. The owners of the pass-through entities move items on their income tax return. Partners in their individual capacity are subject to tax as per their distributed shares through the net income of the entity. When it comes to corporations, taxes are charged differently for other kinds of business structures. A corporation is the only business type that must pay its income tax on the profits generated during a particular fiscal period. It should be noted that corporate is a separate entity from its owners; the tax is charged on all profits than

Superfudge Review Essay Example for Free

Superfudge Review Essay â€Å"Superfudge† tells about the life of eleven-year-old boy – Peter Hatcher and his family. Peter considered his life complicated and unfair – his elder brother Fudge constantly irritated him, and, what was more awful, his parents announced mother was waiting for a baby. Peter found himself in uncertain situation as he was left with a babysitter. Peter’s elder brother was always a problem for him and when his parents asked whether he was happy of new brother, he said no as he had Fudge. Fudge was also interesting in where babies were coming from and when he received that knowledge he decided to embarrass Peter. Obviously, Fudge was angry as he was no longer the baby in the family and he decided to get rid of a Tamara Roxanne. Fudge behaved amoral offering her to unknown people on the streets and guests. Fudge decided even to play hide-and-seek and hide in the front hall closet. Of course, Peter was irritated, especially when Fudge got a pet myna bird and named her Uncle Feather.   It was difficult for Peter to adjust to new babysitter. He became more annoyed when he was told that Fudge was to start kindergarten earlier and to attend the same school as Peter. Then, why should Peter want another brother or sister? So, the story provides insight into child’s world of anxieties and hopes. The story is very touching because every child experienced the same feelings. I think that author raises the eternal themes of parents-children interactions. Moreover, the author shows complex inner world of a child.

Pepsi And Coca Cola Advertising And Branding Media Essay

Pepsi And Coca Cola Advertising And Branding Media Essay For my Media Discourses topic I have selected the one on Advertising and Branding. The two brands/advertisements I have chosen are none other than those of the well-recognized Pepsi Co. and Coca Cola Ltd. But to make it a bit more interesting the products I chose and will be discussing are Pepsi Max and Coke Light, the new healthy additions to both companies. Secondly, it is worth noting that to expand the semiotic aspect of the advertisements I have chosen a printed advertisement for Pepsi Max and a video advertisement for Coke Light. I believe this will cover a wider variety of factors which can be discussed and analyzed; and that if it were kept to the print media only we wouldnt have been able to cover the semiotics like music, gestures etc. Over the course of this assignment we shall study the various semiotics: colors used, the slogans, music, clothing, gestures expressions, camera angles etc used in the respective advertisements. It is amazing how everything from the simple b ottle-design, the text used in the advertisement to the whole implementation of a video advertisement is perceived differently and holds different, yet invaluable meanings. We shall further investigate the meanings of these signs plus tools used and how they can influence and affect the audiences and consumers. I shall touch the point of sex used for selling in the advertisements of such brands and name a few others who use such tactics. After the photographs and advertisements are discussed to full extent we shall examine these brands with a more holistic viewpoint, where they stand and the image they are trying to portray. To make the argument more authentic I shall incorporate examples, pictures, references from the sources I have researched from etc. even though these two brands are clichà ©d I believe they serve as a prime example in todays world of the leading brand wars and shall be insightful in the topic at hand. At the end I shall give you a bibliography of all the materi al and books I consulted as a resource for this essay. I believe the following exhaustive account of semiotics hand-in-hand with media highlights its importance in todays marketing world. Discussion: While surfing the web I came across an advertisement of Coca Cola ltd on their product Coke Light. I believe it was formed by the branding team of Coke Light and no one individual can be accredited to having made the whole advertisement. I will now try to analyze the visual communication that connected the image of the product and the consumer; for these resulting ideas benefit the sales volume and profitability of the product. As a whole, if you watch the advertisement, it portrays and targets the young, healthy and sexy people being the ones who consume Coke Light. Conforming to the cultural norms we have specific mental schemas and opinions which belong to the society we live in mostly. Based on these we perceive what we see differently. For someone like me, an advertisement of coke selling the point of sex might be more acceptable than someone with a more conservative mind-set, living in a different society. So it is important to realize that the following ad makes sense to me and appeals to me because it follows the conventions of my social life and in the same way in some aspects appeals to a much wider consumer base. For instance the iconic colors used as semiotics in this ad are popular throughout the world. Almost everyone can relate red and black to Coca Cola and this advertisement makes full use of it. Using rather beautiful models (a guy and a girl) in the ad, taking place on a beach, they play along with the wholesome, powerful theme. Red is a dominating color which grabs the attention of the viewers/consumers and leads them to act o n what appeals to their senses. This is exploited in what the woman wears, i.e. a red gown with a feminine exuberance and in the Coke (written in red) Light (written in black). This can signify the womans power and/or control and the confidence in the quality of the product. Black is what the man adorns completing the colors of the brand. Secondly, to my knowledge he wears black to keep the attention off of him in the ad at first and converge it onto the more prominent woman. The background helps and most settings are leading the focus on the tow models. The overall dressing is deemed as sexy in todays world and even though such shows are considered provocative, here they have a meaning of comfortableness and a daring nature. She furthers this persona by constantly sending subtle signals to the guy while he swims in the sea. The guy takes full notice while making no approach. Upon reaching his bench he starts buttoning up his black shirt facing the other way from the girl. What he h ears next is her opening the can of Coke Light which brings a smile on his face. Upon dressing up he turns to her as she continues trying to tempt him. They then close up on the guy to show that he has a priests collar and this puts the woman in an awkward position. But the tension is eased as the guy walks over to the girl and blesses her for having Coke Light in her hands leaving her all flattered. This gives a holy aspect to the whole advertisements and finishes off with the slogan Have a great break. Humor has been incorporated to full extent and helps immensely in the formulation of a successful and memorable commercial. Millions of hits on this ad authenticate this belief. The second advertisement that I have chosen is from a local magazine and it is of Pepsi Max. We are well aware that Pepsi and Coca Cola are direct competitors and therefore when one comes up with an idea the other follows with his own innovations. The ad is a one page picture showing a bottle as well as a can of Pepsi Max, with an effect of the can breaking through the page which is depicted as a hard, solid wall. The fact that there are flowery and bold colors come off strikingly well in the advertisement. The design of the bottle is simple with the colors red white and black used, black replacing the well known blue in the Pepsi sign. The design is minimalist with no excessive clutter or visual distractions. The formal layout of the whole ad gives a Web 2.0 vibe. It is safe to say that the picture was crafted by the local graphic designers working in the Pepsi team. This we can see from the usage of lower case letters in the new Pepsi logo which is reminiscent of the web 2.0 format. This new look shows that drinking Pepsi Max is a modern, networked and social way of living. It again focuses on the whole, on the young generation, possessing the same mythic meanings as its Coke counterpart. The logo creates familiarity with a whole new essence to the consumers based on its unique presentation. Pepsi Max has concentrated on the shape of the bottle making it newer, black in color, portraying a powerful image which is not common to other cold beverages. Upon consulting other video advertis ements of this same brand I have come to realize not much is different in the mythical meanings of both of them. They pretty much target the same young, healthy generation as a target audience, carry pretty much the same slogan and have the same marketing mix. What differs is the brand pull it brings with it and the sponsors they get. Everyone is familiar with the cola wars. The major problem faced by both of them is that of constant growth as claimed by Philip Kotler (2008). Through these advertisements both these brands are trying to achieve but one goal, i.e. to increase profitability. The various semiotics and methods used have got to relate to the brand in the end in some way or the other and in turn it is this great backing of a brand name which ensures their safe progress in the competing world. Semiotics can be handled differently as discussed by P. Kotler and G. Armstrong (2008): à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ stated by the global brand manager of Coca Cola, in Spanish speaking Coke Light ads position the soft drink as an object of desire, rather than as a way to feel good about yourself as diet Coke is positioned in the United States. This desire positioning plays off research showing that Coca-Cola Light is seen in other parts of the world as a vibrant brand that exudes sexy confidence.

Water Pollution Must Be Stopped :: Environmental Pollution Essays

Water pollution must be stopped. Pollution of lakes rivers, streams, and oceans has been killing land and water animals for years. Polluting water is a horrible act and will be stopped. Water pollution kills all kinds of animals every year. Just the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill near anchorage Alaska caused over 3,000 otters to die 36,000 different kinds of seabirds were killed and over 100 eagles. Oil spills are one of--if not the worst types of pollution. They happen most often in the ocean and then get spread around by tides and currents where they enter streams and rivers and cover everything. They kill life and pollute more in a short amount of time than pesticides and human waste combined in about 1 year. (See graph on page 2 for more inf.) Radioactive Waste is a very serious problem polluting the lakes and oceans. Submarines release some radioactivity into the water. If a submarine ever crashed enough radioactivity would be released to destroy a region of about 300 sq. miles (this happens because of the nuclear engines) Human waste is when people dump their.... deification in the water and have sewer lines leading to water which also pollutes a lot (little streams lead to big lakes). Human waste is also when we dump garbage in the ocean because we cannot find places on land to dump it. Some more types of pollution are.. Infectious Gases, Plant nutrients that can simulate growth of aquatic plants which then interfere with water uses and, when decaying, deplete the dissolved oxygen and produce nasty odors. Exotic organic chemicals including: pesticides, various industrial products, detergents. petroleum, inorganic materials, nuclear power plants, industrial sites, medical and scientific use of radioactive materials. Water pollution was originally caused by need of space (to dump trash). I can say that the major sources (in general) that cause water pollution are: Municipal, Agricultural, and Industrial. The dumping of garbage was caused by the lack of space in landfills. Instead of recycling some people started dumping the trash in the water, that slowed in 1956 when the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was created. It slowed almost to a halt in 1977 when the Clean Water Act was created. But, it still happens. Company's still dump waste in the ocean, streams, and rivers even though it is against the law. Eventually water pollution will cause there to be no life in the ocean, lakes, and rivers.

Slave Stuff Essays -- essays research papers

The slave trade in Uncle Tom’s Cabin Few books can truly be said to have altered the course of history, and even fewer can be said to have started an entire war. Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was one novel to do both. Abraham Lincoln said to Harriet Beecher Stowe upon meeting her, "So this is the little lady who made this big war.†. Uncle Tom’s Cabin had a tremendous effect on early 19th century thoughts of slavery; stirring abolitionist support in the north. The novel is a realistic, although fictional view of slavery with the images of brutal beatings and unfair slave practices. After reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin thousand of northerners became impassioned for the anti-slavery cause. Uncle Tom's Cabin helped eventually to turn the tide of public opinion against slavery in the 19th century( Taylor 1). This controversial novel was initially written to question slavery, convince people of its immorality and to promote the abolitionist cause. The novel’s rendering of the slave holding south is not entirely an accurate interpretation of what it was like though. Beecher over exaggerated and overlooked several facts in novel, especially pertaining to the practice of slave trading. To have her readers empathize more with the slaves, Beecher put the worst stories in and the cruelest practices of the slave trade depicted by run away slaves. Although most of Uncle Tom’s Cabin is very close to the reality of slavery, many aspects of the slave trade were portrayed inaccurately. One of the first miscalculated aspects of the slave trade is the reason for southern states involvement in the interstate slave trade. Stowe depicted Kentucky’s involvement in the slave trade due to the poor soil of the region and economic ties with the practice. She implied in the beginning half of the Novel that many Kentuckians resorted to being bondmen in the slave trade due to the infertile land of the Bluegrass Region. In Stowe’s Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, (a book designed to muffle the critics of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) she stated that â€Å"Slavery’s subsequent lack of economic viability†¦ [and] prevailing agricultural impoverishment are to blame for Kentucky’s involvement in the notorious traffic†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Stowe 254). On the contrary, Kentucky where the bulk of the slave trade was supposedly concentrated has long been blessed with great fertility. The high phosphorus content a... ...m promoted. Work Cited Harrison, Lowel H. â€Å"The Antislavery Movement in the deep south† UNC at Chapel Hill Libraries Online. 1978. University of North Carolina 5 Jan 2001 <http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/neh.html> Levy, Steven. Slavery in Kentucky. Lancaster Pennsylvania: New Printing Company, Negro universities Press 4-6 McDougle, Ivan E. â€Å"Sketches of America†. Black Studies at Howard University. 1994. 4 Jan 2001. <http://info.greenwood.com/cgi-bin/getidx.pl?SUBJECT=subjINBS> Smith, William Andrew. â€Å"Lectures on Philosophy and Practice of Slavery, as Exhibited in the Institution of Domestic Slavery in the United States: with the Duties of Masters to Slaves: Electronic Edition†. UNC at Chapel Hill Libraries Online. 1802-1870. University of North Carolina 5 Jan 2001 <http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/smith/smith.html>. Stowe, Harriet Beecher. The Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Boston, 1853; reprint, New York: Arno Press, 1969: 279 Taylor, Jeremiah. â€Å" Sold Down the River† Genealogy Magazine Online. 13 Nov 1998. Genealogy Magazine. Dec. 2000 <http://www.geneaologymag.com/acad/original/jeremiahtaylor98.htm>.

Honda Civic vs. Ford Focus

Ever thought about buying a new, gas saving, family car? If somebody needs some great information about two types of cars, which are the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid and the 2010 Ford Focus Sedan, then here it is. The quality of the car needs to be comfortable when riding in it. Also, the car needs to get good gas mileage, have a decent price, and have an exceptional warranty. The main thing is to make sure the car has excellent performance specifications and is safe. In these next paragraphs a person should be able to make a decision about which car will suit your families needs best.Most people want to be comfortable when riding in a car. Comfort in a vehicle can save somebody from getting a sore bottom or anything like that. The Ford Focus and the Honda Civic both have a five-seating capacity. The front has two seats and the back has three seats. The Ford Focus has a little more cargo space than the Honda Civic. The Honda Civic has a little more head and leg room in the front seat of t he car, whereas the Ford Focus has more head and leg room in the backseat for your passengers. (2010 Honda Civic) There is an article that was used for my information says that the Ford Focus has uncomfortable rear seating. 2010 Ford Focus) In another article it says that the front seats are comfortable, but it is a matter of personal opinion. (2010 Ford Focus: Overview) The Ford Focus has a compass, external temp, trip computer, stability and traction control, and Bluetooth that the Honda Civic does not have. The Honda Civic just has what is in both cars. There is air conditioning, power windows, tilt steering, cruise control, AM/FM radio, CD player and an alarm in both of the cars. (2010 Honda Civic) While looking up articles, there were not any that said the Honda Civic had uncomfortable seating.However, any article that says the seats are uncomfortable could be wrong. It does not matter how the seats feel to anybody else, it is how the seats feel to each individual that matters. Gas prices are outrageous; so why not get a gas saving car? Living in a hilly/mountain area the gas mileage of a car will not be as good as what it could be. The gas mileage of a car will be better in an area that has a lot of flat land where a person has to drive a little ways to get where they are going. Gas mileage is that way with any vehicle, but when driving around and topping and starting every five minutes, it will use more gas than just driving around for about thirty minutes. The Honda Civic’s gas mileage for the city and highway is approximately twenty-five and thirty-six, while the Ford Focus’s city and highway gas mileage is approximately twenty-four and thirty-five. (2010 Honda Civic) There is barely any difference in the two cars gas mileage, so which ever car a person picks they will get good gas mileage. Most everybody likes a deal when buying anything. Well when buying a car everybody wants to try to find the best deal possible.Whether it is a family car or a one person car, it needs to suits your needs. In choosing a car, evaluating the price of the cars is probably a smart thing to do. Look to make sure the cars that are being looked at stay within your budget and make sure the car has a good warranty for the value of your money. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Honda Civic is $15,455 – $25,340. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Ford Focus is $16,290 – $18,780. (2010 Honda Civic vs) The Honda Civic does cost more than the Ford Focus, but they are about the same price even though the Ford Focus is a little cheaper.The warranty of the new car is very important. Everybody should make sure that they have a good warranty so if anything messes up on your new car; it can be fixed for cheaper than what it would be without warranty. The Honda Civic and the Ford Focus warranties are for three years or 36,000 miles. Both have a power train warranty of five years or 60,000 mile s. Also, both cars have a rust-through warranty of five years or unlimited miles and they both have a roadside aid warranty of three years or 36,000 miles. Remember all the warranties say the year or mile, but mean whichever one comes first. Compare Cars) Some cars do not come with very good warranty, but the car needs to come with as much warranty as necessary to suit your needs. If it does not, then that car is simply not the right car to buy. When buying a car, make sure to evaluate the performance specifications that are on the car. How the car performs is important to just about everybody because nobody wants their new car to mess up on them right after they buy it. The Ford Focus is almost the same size as the Honda Civic, but the Ford Focus is just a bit larger than the Honda Civic. 2010 Honda Civic vs) The Honda Civic and the Ford Focus both are front wheel drive and four wheel drive power brakes. The Honda Civic has electric rack and pinion steering, whereas the Ford Focus has power rack and pinion steering. (2010 Ford Focus-4dr) The Honda Civic’s engine is 110 at 6,000 RPM and the Ford Focus’s engine is 140 at 6,000 RPM. The spare tires for both cars are compact. Also, the front and rear wheels on the both cars are made of aluminum. The Honda Civic has fifteen inch tires on the front and rear tires (2010 Honda Civic Hybrid – 4dr), while the Ford Focus has tires that are seventeen inches on the front and rear tires. 2010 Ford Focus-4dr) Here, the only reason that the Ford Focus is better than the Honda Civic is because of the power rack and electric rack. My family has never owned a car that has not had power rack and pinion steering, so that is why we would prefer the Ford Focus over the Honda Civic. Safety in a vehicle means a person’s life. Before buying a car, check out the safety features that vehicle has on it. The safety features in a vehicle is very important to everybody. So here is a little bit about these two car s safety.The Honda Civic and the Ford Focus both have front side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock brake system, and antiskid system. The Honda Civic has traction control that the Ford Focus does not have. (2010 Ford Focus: Overview) The Ford Focus has dual front airbags and tire-pressure monitor that the Honda Civic does not have. (2010 Honda Civic: Overview) A tire-pressure monitor does help from having a blow out and the dual front airbags would probably make the passenger feel safer. Comparing, what the Honda Civic has over the Ford Focus makes the Ford Focus better.Buying a new car can be very overwhelming. Researching a few kinds of cars helps to narrow it down to the two cars you are leaning more towards purchasing and can make it a lot easier. The Ford Focus Sedan is better because of all the points made in this paper. Although the Honda Civic Hybrid is a good car too, the Ford Focus Sedan is what is needed to suit my family’s needs. This paper hopefully helped somebody make a decision on buying one of these types of cars or helped somebody out on what to look for when buying a new vehicle.

Women’s Rights Movement

The Women’s Rights Movement Women’s Suffrage is a subject that could easily be considered a black mark on the history of the United States. The entire history of the right for women to vote takes many twists and turns but eventually turned out alright. This paper will take a look at some of these twists and turns along with some of the major figures involved in the  suffrage  movement. The first recorded instance in American history where a woman demanded the right to vote was in 1647.Margaret Brent, a property owner in Maryland wanted two votes in the newly formed colonial assembly to represent her vote and the vote of Lord Baltimore whom she held power-of-attorney. (Pleck, 2007) The governor eventually turned down her demands. The 1790 constitution of New Jersey allowed women property owners the right to vote through a loophole that stated that â€Å"all inhabitants† that met property and residence requirements could vote.This loophole was closed in 1807 by a state legislator that had almost lost an election due to a women’s voting bloc. Other than these isolated incidents the first organized women’s  suffrage movement  can be traced back to the mid 1800’s with the  Seneca Falls  Convention. The organized movement started at Seneca Falls, NY with a meeting called by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. (National Women's History Museum, 2007) Both women received their start in the women’s suffrage movement by being active in the abolitionist movement.Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an important element of the Women’s Rights Movement, but not many people know of her significance or contributions because she has been overshadowed by her longtime associate and friend, Susan B. Anthony. However, I feel that she was a woman of great importance who was the driving force behind the 1848 Convention, played a leadership role in the women’s rights movement for the next fifty years, and in the wor ds of Henry Thomas, â€Å"She was the architect and author of the movement’s most important strategies ad documents. † Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born in 1815 into an affluent family in Johnstown, New York.Now, while Stanton was growing up, she tried to imitate her brother’s academic achievements due to the fact that her parents, Daniel and Mary Livingston Cady, preferred their sons to their daughters. In trying to copy her male siblings, she got an extraordinary education: she went to Johnstown Academy and studied Greek and mathematics; she learned how to ride and manage a horse; she became a skilled debater; and she attended the Troy Female Seminary in New York (one of the first women ‘s academies to offer an advanced education equal to that of male academies) where she studies logic, physiology, and natural rights philosophy.However, it wasn’t her education, but watching her father, who was a judge and lawyer, handle his cases, that cause her to become involved in various women rights movements. Stanton and Mott attended the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840 and were refused seating for being women. After this incident the two women started seeing a connection between the plight of slaves and the treatment of women in the United States. The women’s movement took a back seat to the slavery movement during the American Civil War as the women turned their attention to working through the war.However, after the war was over the women’s movement thought they were in a good position to win some key battles due to their war work and the attention being paid to equal rights at the time. This was not to be so as the Republicans in power believed that women’s suffrage would hurt their chances to push forth rights for freed slaves because of the widespread unpopularity of women’s rights. (National Women's History Museum, 2007)   After the war the women’s movement split into r ival factions with Stanton and Susan B.Anthony forming the National Woman’s Suffrage Association and Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe forming the American Woman’s Suffrage Association. The NWSA did not support the passing of the 15th amendment because the amendment did not address the giving of equal rights to women as well as blacks and fought against the passing of the amendment as a result. The AWSA supported the 15th amendment and wanted to fight for women’s rights in the states separately. Pleck, 2007) The two movements eventually reunited in 1890 to become the National American Woman Suffrage Association led by Susan B. Anthony until 1900 when Carrie Chapman Catt took over. Catt was integral in the strategy to work for women’s suffrage on both the federal and state level upon her re-election to president of the NAWSA in 1915 which led to another faction split between the NAWSA and a group led by Alice Paul who believed that the major push of the fight needed to be focused at the federal level. About. com, 2007)   Finally all the hard work of the women’s movement paid off in the summer of 1920 with the ratification of the 19th amendment. This was not an easily won victory however. Congress first took up the issue in 1915 but the bill lost in the voting and was shelved for almost three years. (â€Å"Women's Suffrage,† 2007) On the eve of the vote President Wilson made a widely publicized appeal for the passage of the bill and this time the bill barely passed with the need two-thirds majority.However, the bill failed to gain the necessary votes to pass the Senate even with another of President Wilson’s appeals for the passage of the bill. The bill would be voted down twice over the following year before finally gaining enough votes to pass due to Congress’ interest in having the issue solved prior to the presidential elections slated for 1920 and on June 4, 1919 the Senate voted to pass the bill to add the amendment to the constitution securing women’s rights. The effects of the 19th amendment on the United States can be seen everywhere.More women now hold public office and the United States even has a woman running for the Democratic nomination for president. The women’s voting block is one politicians cannot forget about and still have hopes of being successful. The ability of women to vote, even though sparsely used until the 1980s, changed how companies did business and what legislation was passed for respect of the potential voting power of women. More women friendly policies exist, both in the workplace and in general life, which can be attributed to the hard work of the pioneers in the women’s movement.Knowing that men controlled the ability of women to vote and that a way of life would be drastically changed makes the gains of women to vote even more amazing. I can stand back now and admire the bravery of the women who fought for what was and is right fully theirs and for the bravery of the men to do the right thing by allowing women equal rights. You can just reflect about today’s life and affairs to see that the shift from legal rights to suffrage was successful.Our public offices consist of many great female leaders, and the future for America is brighter with collaboration of men and women alike. The efforts of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns were indeed not in vain as they rallied up people to protest in unison and the results are evidenced by the American political structure today. References About. Com. (2007). Women's History: about Carrie Chapman Catt. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from About. com Web Site: http://womenshistory. about. com/library/bio/blbio_catt_carrie_chapman. htmNational Women's History Museum. (2007). Women's Suffrage exhibition. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from National Women's History Museum Web Site: http://www. nwhm. org/exhibits/tour_02-02d. html Pleck, E. (2007). Women's Suffrage. Retrieved Nov ember 24, 2007, from Scholastic Web Site: http://teacher. scholastic. com/activities/suffrage/history. htm Women's Suffrage. (2007, November 26). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved November 26, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/History_of_women's_suffrage_in_the_United_States

Strategic Marketing Project ( Marketing plan for Emarates Airline) Essay

Strategic Marketing Project ( Marketing plan for Emarates Airline) - Essay Example nce in those countries which are not being served by other airlines as they have minimal connection to the global transportation network via airlines, Emirates provide services to those countries as well that lack local flag carrier. Although the aviation industry worldwide is shrinking because of strategic alliances among different airlines but Emirates continue to integrate into any kind of alliance as it still believes in serving as an independent carrier. The airline has boldly faced the allegations imposed by the alliance airlines and it is the key area of concern for the airline. It has seeked assistance from the political parties and concerned aviation policymakers to safeguard the independent carriers by making such policies that they are not deprived of serving the destinations which are dominated by the alliance airlines. Despite these allegations, Emirates has to address the issues of rising fuel prices and threat from new entrants i.e. Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. Hence, Emirates Airline is still providing excellent service to its customers by not changing its pricing policy and still maintaining the low-cost competitive profile. Since the management of Emirates Airline is following everything strategically, the airline has more bright chances of future expansion which will enhance the quality level of the airline’s service. Emirates Airlines is one of the top-ranked and most successful airlines in the world. The largest airline started its operations from Middle East and since then it has played an inevitable role in enhancing the image of United Arab Emirates (UAE). UAE was always considered as the state which has rich supply of oil but now because of Emirates Airlines it has become the best hub for tourists. Minisri reported on Emirates Airlines that it is growing at an accelerating rate within the airline industry and is giving a tough competition to its competitors. According to Minisri, the competitors are concerned about the success of

Pros and Cons of using open source software to secure your network Essay

Pros and Cons of using open source software to secure your network - Essay Example This is so to guarantee unlimited access to derived works by original contributors. Examples of open source software in the contemporary world include the operating system Linux, Firefox, GIMP, Sugar CRM, Vtiger, Zurmo, and Suite CRM. People generally develop open source software to gain recognition and plaudits, enhance the product and to increase its longevity (Feller, 2005). With the huge number of organizations, governments and businesses using open source software such as the ones listed above, it has become evident that the free/ fair/ lower prices of the software is not the only advantage the use of these software bring. Along with reduced cost of spending and management of such software, there are a plethora of other benefits concerning the use of open source software. The first of these benefits is the superior security that is associated with open source software. An instance that proves this higher security status is a recent happening where coverity of numerous defects of the Android kernel was discovered. The only reason this discovery was possible is because the kernel code is open to the view of the general public. Basically therefore, the implications of open source software is that the more people who can see and test a set of codes, the higher the chances that flaws will be discovered and quickly corrected. This is what is termed the Linu x law which asserts that, given sufficient eye balls, all bugs are shallow. Open source software kinds are continuously evolving and upgrading the system. The markets appreciate product robustness and open source software facilitates a larger market of early adopters (compared to those of closed source software/ proprietary kind) who actively aid in debugging the software. In essence, therefore, open source software grows much faster in the early stages of development/ introduction into the market (Feller, 2005). Closed

Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Proposal - Assignment Example These factors raised issues for the company with regard to Supply Chain Management (SCM) which further caused substantial decrease in stakeholders’ confidence. In this regard, the company will be provided with the opportunity of devising as well as implementing better policies and standards with the objective of improving business operations of its suppliers on a global context (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., â€Å"Ethical Sourcing†). Solution In order to mitigate the above described SCM related issue, Walmart decided to undergo a massive restructuring process. In this context, the suppliers of the company were required to be ISO 9000 certified in order to provide goods to the company adhering to the specified quality standards which would not only assure an effective holistic approach in its SCM practices, but shall also prove beneficial in revitalizing stakeholders’ confidence. Moreover, with the ISO certification of suppliers, the company also expected to vitalize its ability to assure that the goods procured are in accordance with the specified quality standards. ... All these initiatives have apparently aided the company and its suppliers to perform their business operations applying increased ethical concerns in terms of quality and transparency (Plambeck and Denend, â€Å"The Greening of Walmart’s Supply Chain†). Why did you pick this topic? SCM is determined to be an important element for retailing and other related companies to perform their business operations in an effective manner. Moreover, with the growing demand for superior quality of goods and/or services are observed among consumers in worldwide market segments. The case of Walmart in relation to the SCM issues has been adopted for identifying the importance of ISO 9000 certification among companies which presents a relatively challenging and unique doctrine to be studied. What is it about this topic that interests you? The topic is based on the notion which signifies that SCM practices, within the organizational context are determined to be an important element which is essential to procure quality goods or services in an efficient manner. It is worth mentioning in this context that with the development of technology and globalization effects, the market competition has intensified. In this respect, consumers are also recognized to be demanding for superior goods at competitive prices. This particular understanding can be apparently observed with reference to the SCM practiced within Walmart wherein the suppliers are required to be ISO certified in order to assure that the goods procured are in accordance with the specified quality standards. Moreover, this topic also seemed to be emphasizing on the importance of principles and standards for conducting SCM operations in an ethical manner within the global periphery. What

'How has the Y Generation changed HRM practice' Thesis

'How has the Y Generation changed HRM practice' - Thesis Example A fundamental concern in employee retention is how the so-called Generation Y affects HR practices. This issue emerged out of the principle that generations of employees differ in their characteristics, and, hence, have different needs, desires, behaviour, expectations and requirements needed to be satisfied. With the aim to investigate the impact of Generation Y on HR practices, four objectives were laid down. A case study approach was adopted for the study which is qualitative in nature. Data was collected through both primary and secondary methods. Primary data was collected through interviews of employers and survey of employees. More or less the same questions were posed to both and the responses evaluated. All the four objectives have been achieved. The study concludes that as yet organizations have not changed their policies to a large extent. They have made some changes in areas such as salaries and work schedules but training, mentoring and incentive programs still need to b e looked into. Moreover, some of the changes which they feel is in the interest of the Yers, is not what the Yers expect. The Yers expect challenging assignment s and personal development while the organization believes that they would expect higher salaries.This suggests that the HR managers have not understood the values and beliefs of the Gen Y. The Yers seek rewards and recognition programs which is a better motivator than higher salaries. The HR professionals yet do not seem to know what drives the Gen Y. The study concluded after making recommendations for further research on the subject. Limitations to the study were highlighted. Table of Contents Chapter I Introduction 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Rationale for research 2 1.3 Research aims and objectives 3 1.4 Organization of the study 4 Chapter II Literature Review 2.1 Introduction 5 2.2 Generation Y 2.2.1 Definition 5 2.2.2 Characteristics of Gen Yers 6 2.2.3 Generational differences 7 2.3 Career expectations and aspirations 7 2.4 Difference in work attitude 9 2.5 Challenge for the HR practitioners 10 2.6 Summary of literature review 11 Chapter III Methodology 3. Methodology 13 3.1 Research philosophy 13 3.2 Research phenomenon 13 3.3 Epistemology 14 3.4 Research approach 14 3.5 Research Methodology 15 3.6 Case study method 15 3.7 Time Horizon 16 3.8 Data collection 16 3.9 Data Analysis 17 3.10 Ethical concerns 18 Chapter IV Findings and Discussions 4.1 Introduction 19 4.2 Findings 19 4.3 Discussion 21 Chapter V Conclusion and Recommendations 5.1 Conclusion 25 5.2 Recommendations 27 5.3 Limitations of the study 27 5.4 Reliability and validity 28 References 29 Appendix 31 Chapter I Introduction 1.1 Background Retaining talent is a major concern for all organization in every sector. This has become intense due to labor mobility prompted by the forces of globalization. Recruitment too becomes a challenge as older members start to retire while the younger members just enter the workforce. Thus, the organizations too need to be as dynamic as the changing business environment (Reisenwitz and Iyer, 2009). They must be aware of the characteristics of the entry level recruits and understand their needs and aspirations. It may appear that there is not much difference in attitudes and aspirations between the current youngest generation, namely Gen Y and the previous generation, Gen X. Many scholars and researchers have conducted studies and they have found significant difference between these two generations. To maintain competitive advantage while also focusing on profitability HR experts experience ‘a war of talents’ as they scramble to deal with talent shortage and its consequences. To manage talent successfully an organization cannot afford to focus on the top performers alone. The

ABC Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

ABC Company - Assignment Example As a result, a proper management of the organizational activities leads to higher competitive advantage. This paper focuses on the management of ABC Company, which is currently in a state of turmoil and poor financial condition. Moreover, the activities have eventually deviated from the organizational vision and the managers have adopted a myopic approach to achieve the short term financial goals. The paper covers all the activities needed to recover ABC Company from its poor and ill managed conditions. The organizational structure of ABC Company is vertical in nature, where information flows across the hierarchy via intermediates. The organization has been so structured that one level of hierarchy can directly communicate with only its immediately next level in the hierarchical ladder. This system allows each level to focus only in their allocated tasks and is only answerable to their immediate supervisors. Thus, it helps to increase the efficiency of the each department. The figure shown above portrays the organizational structure of ABC Company. The structure consists of four prominent levels of hierarchy and each level is allocated with a particular task which encompasses overseeing the personnel who are immediately below that level. The hierarchy begins with the CEO, who oversees the board of directors and participates in the board meetings. The major decisions proposed by the board of directors are first approved by the CEO before its implementation in the organization. The board of directors constitutes of the individuals with major stock holdings. This allows the boards to be heterogeneous and helps to avoid any biasness in decision making. The board of directors oversees a series of managers allocated to different departments. The managers are answerable to the board of directors for the departmental performances. Each manager is allocated with different teams, like HR Team, Finance Team, Marketing Team

Eagle Scout App Essay Example for Free

Eagle Scout App Essay Attach to this application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations during which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received during this service. All of my days on this planet, I have dreamed of being a professional musician. I’ve been taking piano lessons for about ten years now and I see it as the only route to satisfaction in my life. Teachers, fellow musicians, and professionals constantly stimulate this dire need to create for the rest of my life. I play drums, piano, guitar, xylophone, and I also strum the vocal chords. I plan to audition for Berkeley among many other music schools next year, but even if I don’t succeed in making the auditions, I still plan to continue writing and spreading music for the rest of my life. Scouting has helped me in this regard in many ways. Technically scouting doesn’t have a very significant connection to the arts, but it has shown me many other concepts that I’ve utilized in maintaining a self motivating and ever-evolving life. Scouting has first showed me that to gain an experience in the world, you must try new things, that might be out of your comfort zone. I’ve learned how to truly help other people along with gaining self confidence in the things I was doing. To explore, camp, and spend an extensive amount of time with a group of boys for over 10 years has also exposed to me to the comforts and discomforts of confinement. I’ve learned to cope a variety of situations, and it’s only rounded my understanding of human nature and my place in it.

Stages Of Purchase Decision Making Process Marketing Essay

Stages Of Purchase Decision Making Process Marketing Essay Introduction Market research helps the organization to bring the data which make sense of the organizational performance. Moreover, the successful marketer has focused on the market research to bring the information which is applied in the marketing activities. Therefore, the organization become becomes stable when the marketing activities are successful (Kumar, 2010).. However, the competitive advantage is increased due to the successful inauguration of the marketing plan. For an example, the Proctor Gamble is operating huge market research to strengthen the marketing activities which brought the larger market share. Through this paper the key concepts of marketing research will be merged with the different marketing activities. 1. Requirement One 1.1 Stages of Purchase Decision Making Process Here the purchase decision making process is directly concerned with the final consumer purchase decision making process and the consumer purchase decision is differs in the particular products to products. For example, the buying behavior of toothpaste is different from i-pod. However, the purchase decision process has five stages which are reflected in the following figure one. http://www.seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Consumer-Research-Process1.png Figure One: Purchase Decision Stage, Source: Jeannet and Hennessey, (2011) This figure is suggesting that, consumers go through all of the stages when they need to purchase (Jeannet and Hennessey, 2011). For an example, when a customer need to purchase a Mobile phone, he/she needs to have need awareness, then move to the information search in the mobile market, then make evaluation between alternatives, then make purchase, finally he/she express the post purchase behavior which reflect the positive or negative feedback. 1.2 Theories of Buyer Behavior in Terms of Individual and Market The buying behavior of the consumers differs in the different market and for that reason exper developed different theories of consumer buying behavior. According to Czinkota and Ronkainen, (2012), there are four theories of the buying behavior which is listed in the following. Complex Buying Behavior: In this situation, consumers have higher involvement in the expensive, risky, purchased infrequently, and highly self-expressive product. Dissonance Reducing Buying Behavior: Highly involvement but seeks little difference between brands. Habitual Buying Behavior: Low involvement of consumers but little brand differences. Variety-Seeking Buying Behavior: Have low consumer involvement but brand difference is significance. 1.3 Factors Affecting Buyer Behavior In the modern market, consumers need to make different buying decision in different condition which is affected by the different factors. However, consumer purchase decision is affected by the culture, society, personality, and psychology. This is listed in the following figure. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dx4MOHdEf_w/THTWsxMxCjI/AAAAAAAAABk/akYObs46fF8/s1600/chart+1.jpg Figure Two: Factors affecting consumer buying behavior. Source: Craig and Douglas, (2009) Cultural: Human behavior is controlled by the culture that is followed by the people and this culture affects purchasing decision. Social: The social structure influences the purchasing behavior of the consumers. Personal: The personal characteristics influence the purchasing decision of the consumers. Psychological: The psychological factors influence the purchasing behavior of consumer like motivation toward purchasing. 1.4 Relationship among Brand Loyalty, Corporate Image, and Repeat Purchasing The brand loyalty, corporate image, and repeat purchasing have strong impact on the competitive advantage of a firm in the highly competitive market. The brand loyalty creates customer loyalty which is resulted the repeat purchasing of the customer Douglas and Craig, (2009). However, the brand loyalty, corporate image, service, price and service quality leads to increase the loyal customer and those loyal customer is the asset of a firm who enhance the brand loyalty and corporate image. The brand loyalty will authentic when the customers have true attitude to make the repeat purchasing. For example, the Pepsi is considered as the true brand loyalties which have the corporate image in the competitive market. 2. Requirement Two 2.1 Types of Market Research Techniques Generally, the market research or the marketing research is designed to collect information to implement in the marketing activities of the firm. Normally, the market research has the two techniques which are listed in the following. Primary Research: The primary research has two ways which is Qualitative and Quantitative research. In qualitative research the research can be designed through the open-ended question and focus groups. However this research technique is used to gather the descriptive information (Dodd, 2008). On the other hand, the quantitative research gathers numerical information to analyze the marketing techniques. The quantitative techniques are done through the surveys. Secondary Research: The secondary research gathers information on the topic which is already published. The secondary research information is gathered from the different institution like trade associations, chamber of commerce, universities, media like newspaper, magazines etc (Dodd, 2008).. 2.2 Source of Secondary Data The secondary data is collected from the different sources which are already published. The secondary research information is already exists. For that reason, the primary data collection is not needed and the secondary information can be gathered from the libraries, public information centre, books, business publication, magazines, newspapers, trade associations, NGOs, banks, real states, insurance companies, wholesalers, manufacturer, regional organsiation, media representatives and many others (Dodd, 2008).. 2.3 Validity and Reliability of Market Research Findings Every research does not require the high level elaboration of study. But, the marketing research needs to conduct the minimum level of study which makes the actual result of the study. The small and informal research background may bring the irrelevant or wrong result (Craig and Douglas, 2009). However, the research validity comes from the data gathering techniques, ethical consideration, and the claims that are done through during the preparation of the research. The research validity may influence greater techniques which mentioned the similarities of other research and opinions. Most of the cases the samples are too small which leads to the poor reliability of the research findings. 2.4 Preparing Marketing Research Plan The marketing research plan is designed to bring the information to implement the current marketing activities. For an example, the market research plan for the Proctor Gamble (PG) has developed to bring out the information of 4.2 billions of customer perception. However, PG has developed the marketing research to justify the brand equity in the market to provide the competitive advantage (Ahmed et al., 2010). For that reason, the company started to cater the consumer to find out the appropriate result and the company has spent tremendous amount of money, effort to bring the innovation. PG knows that, the consumers know about the products which are delivered for the development of the marketing research techniques. PG has successfully handled the market research which brought the appropriate result to determine the marketing result. Now, PG believes that was the only reason why the company is placed in the worlds top one of the brands. 3. Requirement Three 3.1 Market Size Trends within the Market The market size is calculated by the total volume or value of sales in the market and the total volume is calculated through the number of units sold and the amount spent by the customer to have the costs of goods sold. To illustrate this an example of UK book market can be considered, the UK book market is healthy and dynamic market which saw that the market size is upward. In this market, the consumers are the main driver and the publishers need to promote the new writers books rather the old writers (Ahmed et al., 2010). Because, the old writer already captured the market and new writers can expand the market which increase the market size. However, the book market size is also expanding due to non-fiction growth of the products and services which helps to expand the market size. 3.2 Competitor Analysis of Tesco Tesco is the biggest supermarket chain in the UK. The most significant issue is that, the UK supermarket and food retail market is considered as heavily consolidated. In the supermarket chain, the top five supermarket chain has the major market share which is minimum more than five and these companies are Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Wm. Morrison, and Somerfield. These five companies have more than 80 percent of the total market share in the UK. However, the competition between these companies is intense and dynamic (Henry, 2011). However, the competition is begins with plan which is set to position in the market, Tesco considers Asda and Wm Morrison low price group who has the strong market influence in the market and Asda is the second largest UKs supermarket chain. Whereas, the Sainsburys and Somerfield are considered as the smaller competitors, which have focus on the higher price. Tesco is the largest supermarket chain and consider all the competitors to set the marketing activities in the market to increase the sales of the product. In the UK supermarket chain, Tesco is holding the 30 percent market share and Asda and Sainsburys has the second and third position which belongs 16 and 17 percent market share respectably (Bagozzi Foxall, 2009). However, the Morrison holding the fourth position which has the 11 percent market shares with the acquisition of the Safeway. The competitor Somerfield has the 6 percent market share for the fifth position. 3.3 Opportunities and Threats for Asda Asda is a second largest supermarket of UKs supermarket chain, which have currently booming position in the supermarket chain. However, the company was taken over by the USAs biggest brand Wal-Mart. Though, it has been taken over by the Wal-Mart, the brand name didnt change and the old brand name successfully promoted by the Wal-Mart which is completely efficient strategic decision (Bagozzi Foxall, 2009). This strategy has brought some opportunities for Asda, as well as threats. This is relevant in all business practice that, the threats is existed in line with the opportunities. So the opportunities and threats need to identify to attempt for the best alternative action in the market. In the following the opportunities and threats is identified (Lewis and Slack, 2003). Opportunities Threats Sufficient Shareholder More brands but lower selling of high brand products. Currently second largest supermarket chain in UK Asda cannot be compared with TESCO(first biggest supermarket chain) Provides best value rather money to the retailer Focus on selling of Asdas product rather the big brand like Nestle, Cadbury, Proctor and Gamble, Unilever. Having high profit margin Less stores compared to the competitors Efficient procurement system Focus on great profit Table: Opportunities and Threats of Asda. 4. Requirement Four 4.1 Techniques to Assess Customer Response The assessment of the customer response is fully depends on the activities of the firms performance in the firms activity sector. Moreover, the techniques of the customer response are highly developed on the assessment and measurement of the financial planning in which the customer survey is considered as the best way to assess the customer response Doyle, P. (2008). Besides, the customer survey, an organization can assess the different yardsticks which are described in the following part of the paper. Productive Performance Indicator: The productivity of the organization will be increased when the customer response is developed. Because, the sales of the product is increased and the demand for the product also increased in line with the sales. Then, a company try to increase the productivity is increased. Then the organization can easily trace the customer responses. Financial Performance: when the customer response is positive the financial performance is upward. Because, the increased sales contribute to increase the profit margin which make the company profitable. The positive performance brings the customer response. Quality Performance: if the organization offers the better products in the market the customer try to take the full responsibility which increases the product sales. The quality performance is able when the continuous selling is running. Response Cycle Time: The customer who intends to response with the product quality then the repeat purchase increase. The sales volume represent whether the customer making the repeat purchase. This indicates the customer response of the organization. 4.2 Customer Satisfaction Survey To assess the customer satisfaction the direct survey is continued which has logical collaboration of the abandon item. But, most of the cases the survey questions do not matched with the customer satisfaction level and the perceived customer value are highly merged with customer experience (Catherine, 2011). Here, the questionnaire for customer survey is as follows. What is your gender? Which range indicates your age? How long the products are used? Which product and services is preferred by the organization to serve you. How frequent the purchasing of the products needs. The rating of the overall satisfaction level to customer level. Will you recommend to your friend and family to buy from this product. The brand attributes need to be argued or not? Rating the companys product. Which logo customer beliefs to make brand relation? How satisfied you overall with the products attributes? Is the firm is able to support your problems? If the product dont be able how the staff are offer to serve recent problems? How efficient the customer service system of the organization. This question is designed with the options which have the logical structure of the satisfied, strongly satisfied, not satisfied, and neutral. This survey result will help to find out the actual result of the survey. 4.3 Review of the Survey The survey questionnaire brings the data of specific problems and weaknesses of the organization. The term customer satisfaction will be measured when the result of the survey report will be submitted. Moreover, the actual results will carry the recent information which is carried by the research objectives (Catherine, 2011). Customer satisfaction will be brought when the result of the survey will be positive. However, the results may positive or negative both is expected. When the result will be positive the company will try to maximize the service components and features. On the other hand, if the result is negative the organization may take action to make the product development with the special feature comparing the competitors. The customer service provides the special features of the recommendation which develop the marketing activities. Training Plan The training session for the 10 mid level manage will be focused on the key procedures of the market research techniques. The market research techniques is designed to develop the authentic collaboration with the different techniques of research, how to bring the actual result, how to response with the negative result. This system will be enhanced when the research is designed to develop the specific actions of the research techniques. The ten midlevel manager will able to carry out the research of the organization. Conclusion In brief, the high level of value adds the high level of the organizations performance. The customer service is designed to provide the actual results which are demonstrated the individual customers (Bagozzi Foxall, 2009). However, the firms need to focus on the after sale service to bring the customer response which bring the brand equity in line with the corporate image. So, the research and development is the necessary part to know whether the customer is satisfied or not. Finally, the satisfied customer bring the huge benefit for the organization in long run with profitability and growth.