Event Industry

Tutor: Peter Haigh Event Industry Arsalan khan 21146310 Tutor: Peter Haigh Event Industry Arsalan khan 21146310 Critically discuss the negative and the positive impacts of the London Olympic Games from the perspective of all stakeholders, including the local community, the sponsors, the guests, the organisers, the volunteers and paid workers? Author: Arsalan Khan Module code: TH40009E Tutor: Peter HAIGH Module name: Event IndustryCritically discuss the negative and the positive impacts of the London Olympic Games from the perspective of all stakeholders, including the local community, the sponsors, the guests, the organisers, the volunteers and paid workers? Author: Arsalan Khan Module code: TH40009E Tutor: Peter HAIGH Module name: Event Industry This essay will look and discuss the negative and the positive impact of the London Olympics from the perspective of the stakeholders as well as keeping the local community, sponsors, guests, organisers and workers in mind.The main stakehold ers of the London Olympics are: * Customers * Athletes * Residences of Greater London * Sponsors * Tourists * Local business small/ medium sized * Large national businesses * International Business * Local councils of London * Mayor of London * Transport * Infrastructure * Emergency services * * Government & Olympic bodies * DCMS * BOA * LOCOG * IOC * NOC * The Legacy company * Other part-taking countries * Economy Financial institutes Olympic Games are going to have a huge impact on London and the surrounding cities there are going to be an extra 4 million visitors this year, this will not only effect all areas and business but will push the infrastructure of London to its limits. It will require unprecedented planning measures and the input of several different government and intelligence agencies to ensure a safe and successful Olympics takes place.Throughout London all employees will be stretched and may be preforming tasks which they may not originally been employed to do but a s the Olympics come closer there will be an increase in demand for manpower in businesses as everyone prepares for the mega event of the year. Already many firms have cancelled leave during the Olympic times. Already emergency services are under criticism as they fail to meet the required manpower number s and alternative measures are being put in place for example the fire service is no longer providing full ire brigades instead smaller response unites will be deployed around the Olympics sites. Local council will be ideated with demands form their residences and special permits for business and licences, this will stretch the councils workers across the board, many workers may be working overtime to meet the demand of the busy period. This will be a turning point for the councils as this will increase businesses in the area and employers will pay business rates, local councils in most areas of London will be finically better off.Most communities are involved as it comes to the run up to the Olympics and the legacy company is ensuring they stay involved after the games are over, when the host city was chosen and the work commenced communities and businesses at the east of London suffered months and months of carnage and when the games are finished they will be able to enjoy the faculties left behind. There are many negative points of the Olympics such as overcrowding, major risk due to political instability in other countries residents may feel they are at risk of attack from exterior sources.Mass funding will flood in to London from overseas business and the boom in the tourism industry this will encourage the well needed economic growth, employment will rise to its highest levels and drop back down after the Olympic games. The Olympic Games will encourage new and younger athletes to take part in the sports and carry on the games legacy. Bibliography Tassiopoulos, D (2010). Event Management. 3rd ed. Republic of South Africa: Print Communications. 186-248.

Hades/ Underworld : Greek Mythology Essay

Since the days when man lived in caves and struggled to survive, wondering about the world that surrounds him. What makes the sun rise and set? Why are there seasons? Where do things go when they die? To the ancient Greeks, there were simple explanations to all these questions – it was the gods! Things that seemed unexplainable could suddenly make sense when there were gods and goddesses involved. And these stories of the gods that the Greeks created to help make sense of the universe have survived the years to become a treasured and integral part of the history of the Western world. The Greek underworld, in mythology, was a place where souls went after death and was the Greek idea of afterlife. At the moment of death the soul was separated from the corpse, taking on the shape of the former person, and was transported to the entrance of Hades. Hades’ realm itself was described as being either at the outer bounds of the ocean or beneath the depths or ends of the earth. It was considered the dark counterpart to the brightness of Mount Olympus, and was the kingdom of the dead that corresponded to the kingdom of the gods. Hades was a realm invisible to the living and it was made solely for the dead. The Underworld, better known as Hades after the god who ruled it, was a dark and dreary place where the shades, or souls, of those who died lived. A persons whole life was planned and plotted by the Fates. The Fates were the three goddesses who controlled the destiny of everyone from the time they were born to the time they died. They were: Clotho, the spinner, who spun the thread of a person’s life, Lachesis, the apporitioner, who decided how much times was to be allowed each person, and Atropos, the inevitable, who cut the thread when you were supposed to die. When Atropos cut your thread you were dead and then you made your journey to Hades. Upon death, the shade is led by Hermes to the entrance of the Underworld and to the banks of the Acheron. There were five rivers that made up the Underworld. They were the Acheron (the river of woe), Cocytus (the river of lamentation), Phlegethon (river of fire), Lethe (river of forgetfulness), and the Styx (river of hate). This poem, written by an anonymous writer, was written about the rivers in the Underworld. â€Å"Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate, Sad Acheron of sorrow black and deep; Cocytus named of lamentation loud Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. Far off from these a slow and silent stream, Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks Forthwith his former state and being forgets, Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. â€Å" Hades (Aides, Aidoneus, or Haides), the son of Kronos and brother of Zeus and Poseidon, was the Greek god of the underworld. When the world was divided between the sons of Cronos, Zeus received the heavens, Poseidon the sea, and Hades the underworld; the earth itself was divded between the three. Therefore, while Hades’ responsibility was in the Underworld, he was allowed to have power on earth as well. However, Hades himself is rarely seen outside his domain, and to those on earth his intentions and personality are a mystery. In art and literature Hades is depicted as stern and dignified, but not a fierce torturer or devil-like. However, Hades was considered the enemy to all life and was hated by both the gods and men; sacrifices and prayers did not appease him so mortals rarely tried. He was also not a tormenter of the dead, and sometimes considered the â€Å"Zeus of the dead† because he was hospitable to them. Those who received punishment in Tartarus were assigned by the other gods seeking vengeance. In Greek society, many viewed Hades as the least liked god and many gods even had an aversion towards him, and when people would sacrifice to Hades, it would be if they wanted revenge on an enemy or something terrible to happen to them Hades was sometimes referred to as Pluto and was represented in a lighter way – here, he was considered the giver of wealth, since the crops and the blessing of the harvest come from below the earth. Persephone (also known as Kore) was the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, and Zeus. Persephone was abducted by Hades, whom desired a wife. When Persephone was gathering flowers, she was entranced by a narcissus flower planted by Gaia (to lure her to the Underworld as a favor to Hades), and when she picked it the earth suddenly opened up. Hades, appearing in a golden chariot, seduced and carried Persephone into the underworld. When Demeter found out that Zeus had given Hades permission to abduct Persephone and take her as a wife, Demeter became enraged at Zeus and stopped growing harvests for the earth. To soothe her, Zeus sent Hermes to the Underworld to take Persephone back to her mother. However, Hades made her eat a pomegranate seed so that she was forever tied to the underworld, since the pomegranate seed was sacred to the underworld. When one would die, the family would place one obol, or a coin, under the deceased’s tongue. This coin would pay as fare to Charon who would ferry the dead over the Acheron River. Charon is the ferryman who is often depicted as an old sulky man, or as a winged demon carrying a double hammer. Those who cannot afford to pay Charon were doomed to wonder the banks of the Acheron River for one hundred years. The Greeks had a definite belief that there was a journey to the afterlife or another world. They believed that death was not a complete end to life or human existence. The Greeks accepted the existence of the soul after death, but saw this afterlife as meaningless. In the underworld, the identity of a dead person still existed, but it had no strength or true influence. Rather, the continuation of the existence of the soul in the Underworld was considered a remembrance of the fact that the dead person had existed, and while the soul still existed, it was inactive. However, the price of death was considered a great one. Homer believed that the best possible existence for humans was to never be born at all, or die soon after birth, because the greatness of life could never balance the price of death. The Greek gods only rewarded heroes who were still living; heroes that died were ignored in the afterlife. However, it was considered very important to the Greeks to honor the dead and was seen as a type of piety. Those who did not respect the dead opened themselves to the punishment of the gods – for example, Odysseus ensured Ajax’s burial, or the gods would be angered. Guarding the Underworld was the three-headed dog Cerberus. He permitted new spirits to enter, but never one to leave. When you arrived at the Underworld, three judges determined your sentence. They were Rhadamanthus, Minos the first, and Aeacus. Rhadamanthus, the son of Zeus and Europa, was rewarded to be judge because of the justice he showed on Earth. Minos the First, the son of Zeus and Europa, was another judge who, before he died, was the ruler of Crete, and most know him from the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. The third judge is Aeacus, the son of Zeus and the nymph Aegina, assisted Poseidon and Apollo build the walls of the city Troy. After his death Zeus rewarded him the position of judge. You could go to three different places in the Underworld, depending on your life on Earth and what you had done. Most shades went to the Asphodel Fields, but before any entered, drinking from the Lethe River was a must, causing one to forget everything that had happened in a past life. Asphodel was an ugly , gray, ghostly weed that covered the Fields. This place was for the normal, everyday person, who did nothing special in his or her life. The second place they could go was the Elysian Fields or Elysium. Elysium was reserved for the heroes, or people the gods favored. Regular feasts, banquets, and hunts were held there. The third and final place you could go to was the lowest region of the world, called Tartarus. It was surrounded by a wall of bronze and beyond that three-fold layer of night. Tartarus, presided over by Kronos, was where the souls went who had defied the gods in some way. The Hundred-headed Giants guarded it. Around Tartarus is Phlegethon, with its flames and clashing rocks. One of the Furies, Tisiphone, sits upon the iron tower, with her bloody robe, and sleepless day and night, guards the entrance. Few people dwell in the Underworld, because of its gloominess and darkness. Hades, the King of the Dead, rules over the entire Underworld. The god was a dread figure to the living, who were quite careful how they swore oaths to his name. To many people, to utter his name was frightening, so they used another word in its place. Since all precious minerals came from under the earth, the people thought of Hades as very wealthy. He was was sometimes referred to as Ploutos, meaning wealth. This accounts for the name given him by the Romans, who called him Pluto. Hades sits on a throne of ebony and carries a scepter. He also has a helmet that makes him invisible, given to him by the Cyclopes( I would love to barrow that sometime). Persephone, Hades’s wife, also lives with him in his palace. Along with Charon, the ferryman, the Furies live down there also. The furies are the three daughters of Mother Earth, conceived from the blood of Uranus. They were powerful goddesses that personified conscience and punish people for their crimes. They were Megaera (jealousy), Tisiphone (blood avenger), and Alecto (unceasing in pursuit). They were usually depicted as winged women with serpent hair. When called upon they would hound their victims till they died in a rage of madness or suicide. Orpheus, a poet and musician that had almost supernatural abilities to move anyone to his music, descended to the Underworld as a living mortal to retrieve his dead wife after she was bitten by a poisonous rattlesnake on their wedding day Eurydice. With his lyre playing skills, he was able to put a spell on the guardians of the underworld and move them with his music. [54] With his beautiful voice he was able to convince Hades and Persephone to allow he and his wife to return to the living. The rulers of the Underworld agreed, but under one condition – Eurydice would have to follow behind Orpheus and he could not turn around to look at her. Once Orpheus reached the entrance, however, he turned around, longing to look at his beautiful wife, only to watch as his wife faded back into the Underworld. He was forbidden to return to the Underworld a second time and he spent his life playing his music to the birds and the mountains. â€Å"Greek civilization is alive; it moves in every breath of mind that we breathe; so much of it remains that none of us in one lifetime could absorb it all. † Ancient Greeks are known to be one of the greatest and most advanced people and have left behind a legacy that helped define the Western civilization. Cultural diffusion helped spread Greek culture all over the world, and its effects can still be felt today in almost every aspect. Greek culture has greatly affected different parts of my daily life including architecture, food, government, inventions, music, religion, and education. Modern day architecture in America is greatly influenced by ancient Greek architectural styles, which include columns and decorative elements such as sculptures. The Parthenon is an excellent example of the surviving Greek architecture, and it has inspired buildings such as The Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, and White House, all of which are located in Washington DC. Some of the food one wouldconsume daily has origins from the Greek cuisine. The Underworld is what the Greeks and Romans believed you went after you died. It was where everything horrible, evil, and sad lived. If you weren’t a hero or a favorite of the gods you were sent to that horrible place. What a dreadful thing to look forward to after your life was completed on Earth. I hope you enjoyed learning about the Underworld and the beliefs of the Greek and Roman peoples afterlife.

Bacterial Growth Requirements

Microorganisms can survive where most cannot due to their size, nutritional needs, energy requirements, and are very good at adapting to different environments (Black 2008). Microorganisms require two things to live a long healthy life, and these are physical and nutritional factors. Physical factors include pH, temperature, oxygen concentration, moisture, hydrostatic pressure, osmotic pressure, and radiation (Black 2008). Nutritional factors include carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, trace elements, and sometimes vitamins (Black 2008). For the purpose of this exercise I will focus on E. coli. Pathogenic Escherichia coli will be discussed since it is a common, but dangerous bacterium. E. coli in humans is found in the intestines. This bacterium is very durable, meaning that it is well-adapted to its habitat. For example, it can grow with glucose being the only food source. This bacterium can also grow with or without O2. If located in anaerobic habitat it can it will use the fermentation process producing mixed acids and gases (Todar 2012). This bacterium has shown that it can also use anaerobic respiration when NO3 or NO2 is available. Chemicals, pH, temperature, are a few signals that determines how E. coli will respond (Todar 2012). When it senses a change in the environment it can swim toward or away from anything useful or harmful. Temperature can also affect E. coli. A change in temperature allows E. coli to change pore diameter of its outer membrane to accommodate certain nutrients, or to exclude something harmful. E. coli also rations its nutrient supply by taking in account how much is available in its environment. This means that it will not take in nutrients unless it has enough to feed more bacteria that will be produced (Todar 2012). As you can see, this amazing microbe has the ability to adapt to its environment and in some case overcome. Imagine the microbes that are out there that has not be identified yet. Reference Black, J. (2008). Microbiology principals and explorations. (7th Edition ed. ). Jefferson City: GGS Book Services. Todar, K. (2012). Todars online textbook of bacteriology. Retrieved from http://www. textbookofbacteriology. net/e. coli. html Bacterial Growth Requirements Microorganisms can survive where most cannot due to their size, nutritional needs, energy requirements, and are very good at adapting to different environments (Black 2008). Microorganisms require two things to live a long healthy life, and these are physical and nutritional factors. Physical factors include pH, temperature, oxygen concentration, moisture, hydrostatic pressure, osmotic pressure, and radiation (Black 2008). Nutritional factors include carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, trace elements, and sometimes vitamins (Black 2008). For the purpose of this exercise I will focus on E. coli. Pathogenic Escherichia coli will be discussed since it is a common, but dangerous bacterium. E. coli in humans is found in the intestines. This bacterium is very durable, meaning that it is well-adapted to its habitat. For example, it can grow with glucose being the only food source. This bacterium can also grow with or without O2. If located in anaerobic habitat it can it will use the fermentation process producing mixed acids and gases (Todar 2012). This bacterium has shown that it can also use anaerobic respiration when NO3 or NO2 is available. Chemicals, pH, temperature, are a few signals that determines how E. coli will respond (Todar 2012). When it senses a change in the environment it can swim toward or away from anything useful or harmful. Temperature can also affect E. coli. A change in temperature allows E. coli to change pore diameter of its outer membrane to accommodate certain nutrients, or to exclude something harmful. E. coli also rations its nutrient supply by taking in account how much is available in its environment. This means that it will not take in nutrients unless it has enough to feed more bacteria that will be produced (Todar 2012). As you can see, this amazing microbe has the ability to adapt to its environment and in some case overcome. Imagine the microbes that are out there that has not be identified yet. Reference Black, J. (2008). Microbiology principals and explorations. (7th Edition ed. ). Jefferson City: GGS Book Services. Todar, K. (2012). Todars online textbook of bacteriology. Retrieved from http://www. textbookofbacteriology. net/e. coli. html Bacterial Growth Requirements The nutritional requirements of a bacterium such as E Coli are revealed by the cell’s elemental composition. These elements are found in the form of water, inorganic ions, small molecules and macromolecules which serve either a structural or functional role in the cells. Bacteria thrive by four things oxygen, food (nutrients), warmth and time but two others can be moisture and acidity. Nutrients are needed for energy, nitrogen (for DNA and proteins), phosphorus (for energy), and others. Warmth is needed so the bacteria can stay warm. Oxygen is needed so the bacteria can make energy and time is needed for the bacteria to complete binary fission over and over again. Acidity is needed so the bacteria can survive in its environment. Highly base or acidic environments may harm the bacteria and hinder its lifespan. In order to survive and grow, microorganisms require a source of energy and nourishment. Bacteria are the most primitive forms of microorganisms but are composed of a great variety of simple and complex molecules and are able to carry out a wide range of chemical transformations. Depending on their requirements and the source of energy used they are classified into different nutritional groups. Most microorganisms grow well at the normal temperatures favored by man, higher plants and animals. Certain bacteria grow at temperatures (extreme heat or cold) at which few higher organisms can survive. Most bacteria grow best in an environment with a narrow pH range near neutrality between pH 6. 5 and 7. 5. Microbes contain approximately 80-90% water and I f placed in a solution with a higher solute concentration will lose water which causes shrinkage of the cell. Some bacteria have adapted so well to high salt concentrations that they actually require them for growth. Nitrogen and phosphorus are particularly critical because they often control the rates of photosynthesis. Carbon is significantly more abundant than either of them and oxygen and sulfur are more abundant that phosphorous. Nitrogen and phosphorous are less available to plants relative to their growth requirements than are other elements. Phosphorus is often in short supply and limits plant and algae growth. Nitrogen is a major constituent of all proteins and of all living organisms. A lack of nitrogen can limit growth of plants, since nearly three quarters of its atmosphere consists of natural gas, N2. REFERENCES A New Way to Look at Microorganisms. (n. d). American Scientist, 93(6), 514. Bacterial Growth Requirements The nutritional requirements of a bacterium such as E Coli are revealed by the cell’s elemental composition. These elements are found in the form of water, inorganic ions, small molecules and macromolecules which serve either a structural or functional role in the cells. Bacteria thrive by four things oxygen, food (nutrients), warmth and time but two others can be moisture and acidity. Nutrients are needed for energy, nitrogen (for DNA and proteins), phosphorus (for energy), and others. Warmth is needed so the bacteria can stay warm. Oxygen is needed so the bacteria can make energy and time is needed for the bacteria to complete binary fission over and over again. Acidity is needed so the bacteria can survive in its environment. Highly base or acidic environments may harm the bacteria and hinder its lifespan. In order to survive and grow, microorganisms require a source of energy and nourishment. Bacteria are the most primitive forms of microorganisms but are composed of a great variety of simple and complex molecules and are able to carry out a wide range of chemical transformations. Depending on their requirements and the source of energy used they are classified into different nutritional groups. Most microorganisms grow well at the normal temperatures favored by man, higher plants and animals. Certain bacteria grow at temperatures (extreme heat or cold) at which few higher organisms can survive. Most bacteria grow best in an environment with a narrow pH range near neutrality between pH 6. 5 and 7. 5. Microbes contain approximately 80-90% water and I f placed in a solution with a higher solute concentration will lose water which causes shrinkage of the cell. Some bacteria have adapted so well to high salt concentrations that they actually require them for growth. Nitrogen and phosphorus are particularly critical because they often control the rates of photosynthesis. Carbon is significantly more abundant than either of them and oxygen and sulfur are more abundant that phosphorous. Nitrogen and phosphorous are less available to plants relative to their growth requirements than are other elements. Phosphorus is often in short supply and limits plant and algae growth. Nitrogen is a major constituent of all proteins and of all living organisms. A lack of nitrogen can limit growth of plants, since nearly three quarters of its atmosphere consists of natural gas, N2. REFERENCES A New Way to Look at Microorganisms. (n. d). American Scientist, 93(6), 514.

Multiculturalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multiculturalism - Essay Example Different races in the world are facing the problem of discrimination and multiculturalism is an aspect which allows different states to accept the ethnic culture of different people. Because of different cultures existing in the world, people belonging to one specific ethnicity prefer people of their own ethnicity over the other ethnic groups. This cartoon however shows that the gap between the ethnicity, class and races is about to finish which is not true. The races and genders still face discrimination when it comes to individuals of some other gender or race. An example here can be cited of the blacks who are presently living in the United States. These blacks are still widely symbolized as gangsters and burglars by the whites and because of such a stereotype these blacks are not able to progress in the United States as they would have otherwise. Similarly another example of the Natives can also be seen here as these people are also discriminated by the whites in America. Class which is another important factor of discrimination is also discussed in this cartoon. Different classes of people exist in this world and these classes can either be related to money, societal power or societal limitations by these classes. The classes which exist in the world today differentiate people on the basis of their class and because of this individuals of one class cannot settle with the other. An example can be cited here of the people belonging to upper class of the society. These people tend to ignore or thrash the individuals who are of a lower class or lower income group. The sense of superiority tends to prevail in this type of people and this is the root cause of discrimination amongst these individuals. The gap of multiculturalism can be bridged only if certain factors are kept in mind. These factors include the fact that the races and gender forget that they are superior to each

Video games conquering new markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Video games conquering new markets - Essay Example The first primitive computer and video games were developed in the 1950s and 60's and ran on platforms such as oscilloscopes, university mainframes and EDSAC computers. The earliest computer game was created in 1947 by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_and_video_games) Other than conventional media sector, the digital technologies have given new spurt to a most exciting entertainment industry- video gaming industry. There is lot of reasons which helped the video gaming industry. The fast growth of technology, globalization and liberalization of market, increasing level of stress in life and working conditions, self imposed house arrest life style, weakening social relations, increasing individuality and privacy consciousness are all helped the emergence of gaming industry in the world. People, especially children have been looking of new means spend their leisure time. Technology has offered them lot of comfort in their homes. At the same time, gaming provides more possibilities to enjoy the pace of the moving world. They have been longing for a long time a channel to link their imaginations, dreams, passions and story tales with reality. The emergence of video gaming offered them an opportunity to realise this dream with technological support. Als o emergence of other digital enterprises such as broadband, telecommunication, internet and cables has also worked as a catalyst for the gaming industry. With markets grown beyond nationalities, gaming has also got a global look. The gaming industry is now looking forward lot of market potential in emerging economies such as India, China and Brazil. The emergence of internet and networking into a global platform offers considerable prospect for gaming industry....There has been demands for censorship in video games. Video and computer games are periodically criticized in the media by some parents' groups, psychologists, religious organizations, and politicians for the level of violence, cruelty, and crime that some games allow players to act out, and often glorify. Examples are common, including Mortal Kombat and its sequels, a series of fighting games by Midway. Since 1992 the series has rewarded players for beating up an opponent with martial arts moves, and then for executing a graphic "Fatality" move. Considering the fears of these groups video game industry have started voluntary rating systems, such as the ESRB rating system in the United States and the PEGI rating system in Europe, that are aimed at educating parents about the types of games their children are playing, or wish to play. Some games such as the Grand Theft Auto series are rated as "Mature" or "Adults Only" in the US, or given a "Certificate 18" rating in the UK. There would be notes in the packaging that these games should not be sold to children. If a parent or legal guardian buys a mature game for a child and the parent/legal guardian gives permission to a child to play said mature game, it is by the parents' choice and is not considered an offence.

Commercial aircrafts (such as Boeing 787 Dream liner) for Airline Research Proposal

Commercial aircrafts (such as Boeing 787 Dream liner) for Airline Industry (such as Qatar Airways) - Research Proposal Example In this paper, the purpose is to present a sales proposal to one of the leading airline companies, Qatar airways on behalf of the Boeing Commercials. Boeing 787 Dream liner is one of the aircrafts that Boeing Commercials is fond of producing and one that has caused great excitement in the airline industry. Its development started in 2003, but it was not until 2009 that the first flight took off in an amazing way. The Boeing 787 Dream liner offers a host of comfort not just to the airline companies, but also to the clients. First, this plane is the first of its kind especially concerning fuel-efficiency. The previous version Boeing 767 consumed more fuel than this make, and this simply means that Qatar Airways will save money in terms of fuel efficiency. Earlier, it was asserted that no business is started without profitability being the target; profitability is only realized when the selling prices exceed the buying one. Thus, this plane will ensure Qatar Airways’ fuel expenses fall significantly, by 20% to be precise (Barratt & Dowd, 2014); this will translate to a higher profit margin. Composites materials have been used in the making of this plane in a bid to ensure that fuel efficiency becomes a reality besides providing the need noise reduction. Additionally, the plane is two-engine, and this means its speed is somewhat higher than both its competitors and predecessors. There is a 3-class setting in the plane, a windshield that is four-paneled among other features, which make the plane outstanding (Barratt & Dowd, 2014). In addition to all these, the plane is already operating in a number of other companies, and has full approval Federation Aviation Authorities (FAA). Businesses thrive mainly because of the networking capability its owner has, and this calls for the right partnerships (Khalid, 2006). This would require that the other

The Sampling Frame in Study Sampling Plan Research Paper

The Sampling Frame in Study Sampling Plan - Research Paper Example Take, for example, the experience sampling method (ESM) and daily diary (DD) research wherein the off late experiences of the ditto sample of people take place for many days or weeks (Fisher & To, 2012). Issues in the designing and performing an ESM/DD research can surface, which can be related to data collection selections and timetables, steps taken, technology, training and interest of participants, and discussion related to multi-dimensional data. For example, a decision has to be made over the plan for sampling moments of experience, which may include how, how often, and for how long. Technology choice can be decided at any time but there are a number of generic alternative for sampling experiences, such as interval-contingent reporting, signal-contingent reporting, event-contingent reporting, and combining of these methodologies, which pinpoints the criticality of a sampling frame (Fisher & To, 2012). Poorly specified sampling frame can prove to be a hurdle in the research process. In the case of online surveys for sampling purpose, as on the Facebook, releasing of the survey in single waves can cause the problem of increased traffic, offering no possibility of amending the forthcoming issues if the survey link is sent to about one/third of all the network members, letting the rest of the members receive it after a gap of three days. As soon as the link is sent in the first attempt, a problem with any of the questions can arise even if the question is checked in advance in the given online survey. Even if the error is instantly rectified by the sender, it takes time for the change to reflect in the sample survey; it is because of the presence of many visitors on the website at that time. If the error is critical to the primary analysis, and the sampling model is making use of a variable, then it becomes urgent to exclude such cases from the online survey sampling.

Is Poland a consolidated democracy Research Paper

Is Poland a consolidated democracy - Research Paper Example The civil society, which gave voice to social groups, was a striking metaphysical idea that appeared to capture the wide gap between the ruled and rulers in the communist world (Biskupski 23). Only a few countries of the Soviet bloc - Poland and Hungary – exhibited sovereign structures of civil societies before the 90’s. These structures advocated, for this conceptual tool, to be applied in the whole region. Poland, in particular, pulled out from this Soviet bloc when the union broke. The country considers itself as a democracy, but questions have been raised to question this notion. Therefore, this paper will discuss whether or not Poland is a consolidated democracy giving facts in line with the instructions stated. The two-turnover test means that a nation has undergone the process of democratizing itself from an emergent democracy to a stable democracy (Davies 3). An emergent democracy must go through two democratic, as well as a peaceful turnover governing parties in order to become a stable democracy. Poland has undergone these changes, and it can be sternly ranked as a consolidated democracy (Davies 4). Poland, in 1989-1991, endorsed a democratic transition that put an end to the Polish Peoples Republic and created a democratic regime, which was referred to as the Polish Third Republic. After a decade of democratic consolidation, this country joined NATO, in 1999, along with the European Union (EU) in 2004. From the 70s to the 80s, tension increased between the citizens of Poland along with its Communist government. During this period, the rest of the Eastern bloc’s influence on the Soviet Union weakened. With the introduction of "perestroika" under Mikhail Gorbachev, in the Soviet Union, a chance was introduced finally to modify the system of ruling, after the harsh era of martial law (1981-83) brought by General Jaruzelski. After this period, Poland became a consolidated democracy (Davies 6). Poland

Biological Theories of Aging Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biological Theories of Aging - Research Paper Example This paper briefly explains some of the biological theories of aging mentioned above. Simple Deterioration Theory argues that Aging is the accumulative result of universal deteriorative processes such as oxidation, molecular damage, wear and tear, or accumulation of adverse byproducts (Goldsmith, p.3). Even though man and machine are two entirely different things, both of them have certain similarities in their functioning. No machine is able to function more than particular period of time because of the wear and tear due to continuous work. Same way bodies of the living things are also undergoing continuous work which causes damages to the parts of the body. Even though we refill the fuels in the form of food, nutrients and water, there are certain limitations for the body of the living things to survive for a longer period. In chemistry, most of the chemical reactions yield products and by-products. These by-products are not necessarily the intended one. Same way our body chemistry also yields different by-products which are harmful to our health and may reduce our life span. At the same time we cannot avoid the production of such by-products Non-programmed theory of aging believes that aging is a passive result of an organism’s inability to better resist fundamental deteriorative processes. Moreover aging serves no purpose, is not an adaptation, and is not programmed (Goldsmith, p.8). Our body is undergoing lot of changes and processes virtually in very seconds. Most of the activities inside our body are beyond our control. For example, the pumping of blood by the heart is not done with our permission. We cannot stop any of the internal functions. Everything inside our body is tuned to do certain things and any malfunctions occur inside our body may result in diseases. We are passive observers of our body functions. â€Å"Organisms are purposely designed and genetically programmed to age or

Principles and Practice of Social Work - Theoretical Assignment Essay

Principles and Practice of Social Work - Theoretical Assignment - Essay Example On one hand, an individual’s activities have an effect on other people that interact with him or her, and in turn, the actions of others affect him; the total effect of their actions is evident in the society. On the other hand, society affects the individuals in it, expecting them to do according to its demands. By so doing, society ensures its survival by making its various components live together in harmony, and individuals build their society by interacting with each other constructively (Berberoglu 2005; Baert and Silva 2010). The role of a social worker is to use social work values, principles, and methods for counselling, helping a society or a community help itself or individuals in it; acting as the agent that maintains balance in society. For instance, a social worker would be involved in the provision and improvement of social, health, and legislative services. The principles of social work include, acceptance, affirming individuality, purposeful expression of feelings, non-judgementalism, objectivity, controlled emotional involvement, self-determination, and confidentiality. According to Ritzer and Goodman (2004), social work is the art and science of identifying conflicts in society analysing them, and using the various available theories on society to come up with possible solutions. However, the work of a social worker does not end at identifying and recommending solutions, it extends using the recommendations to solve the conflict at hand practically. Therefore, a social worker is an essential component of a society that acts as a bridge between the needs of an individual and those of the society, by ensuring that individual do not suffer in silence due to the pressure of society expectations. The aim of this essay is to identify two social work theories, relate them to social work principles and relate them to domestic violence, in addition to discussing power imbalances, between the social worker and his or

Islam †Annotated Essay Essay Example for Free

Islam – Annotated Essay Essay The article explains the way Islam views life after death. It clearly describes the various tenets that this religion follows when it comes to life on earth and life after death. Islam believes that life on earth has no purpose except to prepare oneself for life after death. The life after death typically consists of three phases: Death, the intermediate and the phase of resurrection. Death is considered to be the first gateway to reach the Garden or Fire. Importance of the custom of singing various verses at the time of death and till the body is buried and the custom of proper ablutions before burial is given due space. The second phase is the most controversial phase for which lot of explanations exist. This is the period when the soul is separated from the body but is not yet resurrected. What the soul does in this in-between phase has many theories, most common being, the souls embarks on a journey similar to the journey made by Prophet Muhammad where He was taken through the seven layers of heaven and made to look down at the tortures of hell. Another commonly accepted theory is the visit of angels Munkar and Nakil, who question the souls about the Quranic verses and their faith. The third phase, that is, the day of Resurrection is believed to be quite spectacular with the destruction of the whole world and the souls entering either the garden or the fire according to their virtues. It is also believed that after resurrection and the destruction of the whole mankind, a new age will begin and justice and righteousness will return to the earth again with a new leader. The idea of punishments or rewards after death, like the author mentioned, do seem having lot of physical attributes. All that has been mentioned seems a bit too dramatic like the tree in hell, Zaqqam which has demons as flowers! It seems, to capture a proper picture of the horror of hell, physical attributes like fire, demons, swords, etc. have been used. This would probably make humans understand better the tortures that they are to undergo if they do not live a life of righteousness. The editor’s note also briefs about the various contributions Islam as a religion has made to the world like ban on liquor, gambling and other vices. It also mentions the equality that Muslim women are credited with in the religion. However, in this present world, they seem to be the most bounded ones. The images of burqa-clad women with no freedom tell quite a different story. The religion, which has beautiful and just tenets to its credit like equal property rights to women, no race and color discrimination, seems to be misunderstood and misinterpreted by the religious heads and the followers for short term benefits. Because of such acts, Islam today is demonized and its contributions to the society are being passed unnoticed. Finally, the article was a comprehensive note of the beliefs in Islam regarding death and after and gave a very brief yet informative idea about the various customs and views on important aspects like fate of non-believers and reincarnation. It did make me a lot wiser about this religion!

Cap and Trade Policy Paper Essay Example for Free

Cap and Trade Policy Paper Essay Introduction: The issue of carbon emissions is an important one not only from an environmental perspective but also an economic one. While reducing carbon emissions is an important one for the health of human beings as well as that of the environment, the larger question is what type of policy strategy is best for both reducing such emissions which might have an impact on efforts to mitigate the effects of pollution on climate change. While ther are options to consider which does not rely on economics technological or output standards achieved by command and control regulationsthey are often fraught with political resistance by industry because they do not allow industry to make any choices or play a role in solving the problem of excessive emissions and the burden that these emissions place on others. Instead of such draconian measures based on fiat, the preferred options rely on economic tools instead to provide incentives to industry to police itself by either incenting investment in emission-reducing and/or energy saving technologies or to reduce production in line with the total/social-costs rather than just the private/ producer-costs of production. Two such economic policies to consider in this regard are emission taxes and cap-and-trade policies. Overview of Policy Problem: Carbon emissions reduction Consider a company that faces an increasing marginal pollution abatement cost curve as in the Figure 1. Left unregulated it will choose not to reduce its carbon emissions (a.k.a abate carbon emissions) and avert facing the costs of abatement represented by the area underneath the marginal abatement cost curve represented by area (B + C + D) in the diagram below. Figure 1: Marginal Costs and Marginal Benefits of Reducing Carbon Emissions [pic] Source: Econ 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap-and-Trade, 2012, n.pag. Suppose that policy analysts have determined that the economically efficient level of pollution abatement occurs at the point where marginal benefits of abatement equal the marginal cost costs of abatement as is suggested in economic theory. The resulting level of carbon emissions is e* (reduction in emissions is measured from the far right in the diagram above to the pointe*). The question is what policy to follow to achieve e*: either some type of fiat policy involving either some type of output restriction or requiring use of a particular pollution-control technology or some type of policy that involves financial incentives to reduce emissions. This paper hypothesizes that policy options involving economic incentives are preferable to those options that involve regulatory fiat. Specification of Economic Policy Models: 1) A Carbon Emissions Tax: One policy instrument that can be used to achieve this level of abatement is to set a tax where marginal benefit equals marginal cost represented by the horizontal tax line in the Figure 2 below. Under such a scheme, the polluter will find that it is cheaper to reduce carbon emissions so long as the marginal cost is lower than the tax. Since the tax bill (A + B) is great than the marginal abatement cost bill (B) to the left of the point e*, the firm will choose to reduce emissions up to the level of C with the remaining emissions level indicated in figure 2 measured from the right in the diagram. To the right of e*, the marginal abatement costs, represented by areas C + D, are greater than the tax bill (area D) so the firm will choose to pay the tax and continue to emit pollutants beyond e*. Figure 2: The Carbon Emissions Tax [pic] Source: Econ 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap-and-Trade, 2012, n.pag. So long as the marginal costs and benefits of abatement can be known with certainty, an emissions tax can be set at the point of intersection of these two measures resulting in an efficient level of pollution emissions at e* with total abatement costs (including taxes paid) to the polluter of area B+D and providing the government with revenues represented by D (Econ. 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade, n. pag.). It is when these marginal costs and marginal benefits are either not measurable in their entirety or when there is uncertainty about the figures obtained that leads to added questions as to whether this would be the best policy to follow. 2) A Cap Policy: An alternative policy to an emissions tax to achieve reductions in emissions through the tools of economics is to set a cap at the point where marginal social benefit equals marginal social cost of reducing emissions/abatement represented by the vertical cap line in Figure 3 below. The polluting firm must reduce its carbon emissions to e* where the marginal social cost of reducing emissions equals the marginal social benefit of the products produced by the polluter. Such a policyif the social costs and social benefits can be measured accurately—results in an efficient level of emissions produced/reduced at e* with an abatement cost borne by Figure 3: Cap Policy for Each Firm [pic] Source: Econ 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap-and-Trade, 2012, n.pag. the polluter equivalent to area B (Econ. 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade, n. pag.). The issue is whether total social costs can be measured and measured accurately in order to set such a policy at the correct or efficient level of emissions for each firm. Normally such policies do not result in efficiency even though an efficient level of overall emissions can be attained since it does not account for different costs of abatement in different firms. That is, a level of emissions can be attained that is equivalent to that achieved under an economically efficient policy but the level is not achieved at the lowest overall cost. One way of obtaining individual caps is for the government to auction off emission permits that total the pre-set amount of emissions that it feels is optimal. Firms with higher costs of reducing emissions will bid higher than firms with lower cost structures. Again, the only problem is determining what the total amount of emissions should be reflecting all social costs and benefits of reducing carbon emissions. 3) A Cap-and-Trade Policy An added twist on the cap policy allows firms to trade emission allotments between themselves based on the buyer of allotment bargaining with the seller over the proper price to pay for the extra allotment. A two-panel diagram is needed to better understand the logic of trading emission allotments. Figure 4 illustrates the marginal cost of reducing emissions of two firms. One firm is run on older technology with high abatement costs that goes from right to left with zero costs represented at the lower right-hand corner of the diagram. The other firm has newer technology in its plant with lower abatement costs that goes left to right with zero costs represented at the lower left-hand corner of the diagram. The width of the horizontal axis is the reduction in emissions that must be achieved overall to an efficient level. The intersection of the two marginal cost curves is where economic efficiency is achieved. That is, the value achieved Figure 4. Cap-and-Trade Between Firms Policy Source: Econ 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap-and-Trade, 2012, n.pag. from the last dollar expended on abatement must be the same across all firms in the market. This is known as the equimarginal principle (Boyes and Melvin, 2011,122). The total cost of attaining the efficient abatement/emissions level is equal to the area C + G + K. At the efficient level of emissions, e*, the low cost (of reducing emissions) firm should reduce more emissions than the high cost (or reducing emissions) firm. Such a policy can be implemented by issuing carbon permits to different firms and allowing them to buy and sell their permits in the open market. Normally, equal amounts of permits are issued to each firm since it is difficult to assess the true abatement cost a priori. In the end, the marketplace will help determine the differences in cost structure depending on how high a firm is willing to bid for an extra permit or two (Econ. 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade, n. pag.). As with the individual firm cap policy, the cap-and-trade policy is predicated on the government being able to determine the optimal level of total emissions desired reflecting social costs and benefits of reducing carbon emissions. Combining the different economic policy options together, it is obvious that it is possible to achieve the same level of reduction in emissions by setting a tax at the same level as where the marginal costs of reducing emissions is the same between firms which is at the level represented by the horizontal line in Figure 4 above. As above, the polluting firms will notice that it is cheaper to abate carbon emissions as long as the marginal abatement cost is lower than the tax. The firms with the higher cost structure will reduce emissions to e* when measured from right to left and incur abatement costs equivalent to area K and pay taxes equivalent to area B+C+F+G. The firms with the lower cost structure will reduce emissions to e* when measured from left to right and incur abatement costs of C+G and pay taxes equivalent to areas J + K in Figure 4. Setting a cap on each individual firm will produce the same level of reduction in emissions, but given that it is difficult, if not impossible, to individualized caps based on different cost structures of abatement, an efficient outcome is difficult to achieve under such a policy even though emissions are reduced to the same overall level. Regarding the market failure due to the negative carbon externality, both a carbon tax and carbon cap-and-trade will achieve the same level of increased efficiencyassuming that measurements of costs and benefits can be measured accurately by reducing emissions to the optimal level at minimum cost. The real difference in these policies is due to differences in the distribution of costs. In the carbon tax policy, the government receives added revenues while in the cap and cap-and-trade policies when permits are simply handed out to firms, the firm has no additional outlays other than the cost of abatement to stay within the cap or to purchase additional allotment from other firms. If the permits are initially auctioned off by the government, the additional revenues to the government should be nearly the same as with a tax scheme if marginal social costs and benefits have been measured accurately. However, the economics-based policies are preferable to policies based on fiat where specific technologies (e.g., smoke-stack scrubbers) or a uniform cap on emission outputs across all firms since these other policies fail to take into account social costs and benefits. With regard to the economics-based policies, the following added impacts may also occur. First, in addition to static efficiencyefficiency occurring within a single period of timethere may also be dynamic efficiency within these policy schemes whereby firms have an incentive to adopt new technology over time to reduce their marginal costs of reducing carbon emissions (Econ. 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade, n. pag.). Secondly, carbon emission taxes and/or auctioning permits will generate additional government revenue that might be used to offset various distortionary taxes on labour and/or capital (Econ. 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade, n. pag.). Evidence and Analysis: There are various problems associated with the design of emissions tax regimes warranting discussion. First, if such a tax were placed on individuals rather than firms without any offsetting changes in other taxes or government transfers, a carbon tax might be regressive suggesting that the highest tax burden would be placed on the poor (Poterba, 1991, 11). This is mostly applicable to gasoline taxes where a flat emissions tax would make up a higher percentage of the income of poorer over wealthier taxpayers; thus, an issue of equity arises here. Likewise, firms with higher profit margins would shoulder less burden from the tax than firms with lower profit margins given a similar costs of pollution abatement. Poterba (1991) suggests that this regressiveness could be offset by changes in either the direct tax system or in government transfers. Second, as the population grows and production totals continue to increase to meet the demands of this growing population, emission taxes will need to rise to keep emissions at a particular level; this may lead to a set of distortions in terms of domestic vs. foreign production whereby firms can transfer production to other jurisdictions that do not have such taxes in place. Thus, international trade leads to an opportunity to get around the tax scheme and the higher the taxes instituted, the higher the incentive to engage in such behaviour. Thus, if emission taxes differ significantly between two neighbouring jurisdictionfor example, the State of New York and Connecticut or even New York and one of its neighbouring Canadian provincesthere is an inherent incentive to move production outside of the jurisdiction with the highest taxes and import products from elsewhere. Third, a central issue regarding the design of carbon emissions taxes to harmonize such polities with other fiscal instruments designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. For instance, it is important to ensure that taxes on chlorofluorocarbons and emissions from fossil fuels are comparable to avoid distortions in consumption that may lead to a worse outcome for the environment than in the absence of such policies (Poterba, 1991, 27). Bosquet (2000) conducted a review of the evidence regarding the impact of carbon emissions taxes on the environment and the economy. She claims that environmental taxes involve the shifting of tax burden from employment, income, and investment to resource depletion and waste. She asks the general question of whether such tax reform can produce a double benefit by helping the environment and the economy simultaneously. Based on her reviews of the literature and available evidence, she concludes that when emissions taxes are instituted, they are generally associated with reductions in payroll taxes, andif wage-price inï ¬â€šation is preventedthey often result in signiï ¬ cant reductions in pollution and small gains in employment (Bosquet, 2000, 19). Also associated with the implementation of such environmental taxes are also marginal changesgains or losses in production in the short to medium term, while investments decease marginally and prices increase. However, she cautions that the results of such environmental taxes in the long-term are less certain (Bosquet, 2000, 29). With regard to cap and cap-and-trade policies, the evidence is also available regarding the effectiveness and consequences of such policies. Stavins (2008) describes a graduated cap-and-trade scheme that involves initially just Carbon gasses with 50% of permits issued to polluters in the market free of charge and other half auctioned off. Over 25 years, the percentage auctioned off annually will gradually increase to 100% and other greenhouse gas emissions will be included over this time span. The idea is to implement a gradual iterative policy with a slow trajectory of emission reductions. As time goes on, other emissions are included in this scheme and the system provides for harmonizing this scheme over time with effective cap-and-trade systems and other emission credit reduction programs in other jurisdictions. This harmonization effectively addresses the issue raised with emission tax policies that are unilaterally established in one jurisdiction without consideration for the po licies in neighbouring jurisdictions. If there is an effective way to dovetail policies in different jurisdiction, then this would level the playing field between domestic and imported products. Regarding actual cap-and-trade policies already in place, Colby (2000) analyzes a cap-and-trade policy for limiting Sulfur Dioxide emissions. The changes stemmed from the Clean Air Act of 1990 which allowed for a nationwide cap-and-trade policy for industrial firms emitting sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Marginal costs of reducing emissions fell substantially duringn the 1990s due to reduced costs of installing scrubbers, reduced costs of flue gas desulfurization, and falling costs for low sulfur coal all due, to a large extent, to an active program of trading/buying allowances between firms that emerged after a few years of experience after the program was initiated. As Colby (2000) states, â€Å"The allowance trading market enhanced competition among the different methods that firms use to control emissions, adding impetus to cost reductions† (Colby, 2000, 642). Low allowance prices and falling marginal costs associated with reducing emissions produced earlier-than-predicted cutbacks in sulfur dioxide emissions. Allowance prices rose from lows of $80-90/unit in 1996 to about $215/unit in mid-1999 spurring further conservation efforts. Colby (2002) does mention that design and implementation of cap-and-trade schemes involves some important policy tradeoffs: equity among the players, balancing use levels with resource conditions, facilitating transactions between firms wishing to trade allowances, accurate accounting for externality costs, assuring adequate monitoring of emissions levels, and documenting welfare gains due to the policy. She says that efficient trading mechanisms can be more easily implemented when there is a strong political or legal mandate to cap resource use and trading allowances are sensed by all parties involved to be a way to ease adjustment to limits on emissions (Colby, 2000, 638). In choosing between the various policies, it is inevitably important to sense the level of uncertainty over measuring the items of interest. With regard to emissions taxes, it is important to have fairly accurate estimates of marginal social costs and benefits and with regard to cap-and-trade schemes, there needs to also be a fairly accurate means of estimating the optimal level of emissions given all the costs and benefits involved in reducing emissions. If it becomes difficult to measure these items accurately, then the expected deadweight loss and associate probabilities of various miscalculations needs to be assessed and compared across the different strategies to determine the policy that produces the smallest expected deadweight loss which is key from an economic perspective. Since policies based on fiat, such as technology mandates and non-economically based output standards, are not set with regard to these types of measures, it is likely that the deadweight economic loss associated with these policies will be greater than for either emissions taxes or better yet, cap-and-trade policies. Conclusion: The evidence suggests that economics-based emissions policies are preferred over policies based on fiat. Moreover, the strongest evidence for promoting investment in pollution control equipment and reducing emissions that mitigate the effects of climate change appear to involve cap-and-trade policies. Partially, this might be due to the flexible design of such policies which—through the auctioning and/or trading of allowances—account for changing market conditions. This policy, even more so than emission taxes, forces the industry to face current market conditions through the use of auctions and trading for emission allowances. As a result, the parties are forced to make choices based on strong economic criteria to obtain efficiencies over time. Works cited: Bosquet B. 2000. Environmental Tax Reform: Does It Work? A Survey of The Empirical Evidence. Ecological Economics. 34, 19-32, Colby G. 2000. Cap-and-Trade Policy Challenges: A Tale of Three Markets. Land Economics, 76, 638-658. Econ. 101: Carbon Tax vs. Cap-and-Trade. 2012. Website. Retrieved on June 5th, 2012 from http://www.env-econ.net/carbon_tax_vs_capandtrade.html Melvin W. Boyes M. 2011. Microeconomics. 9th ed. Marion, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning, Poterba JM. 1991. Tax Policy to Combat Global Warming: On Designing a Carbon Tax. NBER Working Paper. MIT-CEPR 91-003WP. Retrieved on June 7th, 2012 from http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/50159/28596145.pdf?sequ Stavins RN. 2008. Addressing Climate Change with a Comprehensive U.S. Cap-and-Trade System. Nota Di Lavoro 67.2008 Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. Retrieved on June 7th, 2012 from http://www.feem.it/userfiles/attach/Publication/NDL2008/NDL2008-067.pdf

Survey on the WIFI Positioning Technology

Survey on the WIFI Positioning Technology A quick survey on the WIFI positioning technology Abstract Wireless location estimation technology is applied largely into many fields such as in the military communication, Internet of things and social networks. Meanwhile, with the growing need of WIFI technology, access points of WIFI networks have been deployed in large-scale department stores, cafes, schools and general hospitals. WIFI location positioning can not only offset the drawbacks of GPS especially in built-up area or indoors environment but also enlarge the location estimation services in the relevant industrials. Specifically, more accurate result is the main contribution of the WIFI positioning. Based on WIFI location estimation technology, this survey will present different kinds of approaches applied in WIFI positioning, give a comparison among them and discuss certain algorithms in fingerprint technology. Key words: WIFI technology, WIFI localization, location positioning algorithms 1 Introduction With the high development of Wireless Communication and the urgent need of Personal Communication Service, different kinds of wireless networks has emerged such as GSM, WCDMA, TDSCDMA based on Cellular Technology, Wi-Fi based on AP coverage, etc. Diverse wireless network has different features and can also bring about a wide variety of data services which can satisfy the user for their own communication need. Largely, it can offer us high quality of communication experience and alter our way of life. In the same time, the rapid growth of the wireless communication make the social networks popular among the young generations. Location estimation technology will also make a great contribution to it. In advertising services, as long as the detailed location coordinate of the mobile users is once determined, it will bring about enormous economic benefits to the surrounding business. Business owners could send advertisements to consumers nearby to make more profit. The positioning technology could make public security services more completed. For example, it can aid us to find lost articles, stolen bicycles and missing children or pets. Furthermore, for large manufactures, Location estimation technology could offer the detailed position information of each product components. As for tourists, it can provide travelling information, too. Even in museums, campus and large amusement parks, users could also take the advantage of this location services. With the WIFI technology being applied into many fields, access points of WIFI networks are covered in large commercial buildings, cafes, schools, grand hospitals, bus stops and metro. WIFI positioning technology could make up the limits in indoors environment of GPS. It can not only improve the accuracy of location estimation but also cut down the cost of coverage, which is significant to the society, 2. Different approaches applied in WIFI positioning In terms of positioning technology, the most popular one is GPS. However, the environment should be flat and open. As for indoors regions, GPS technology has a relative poor accuracy in location estimation due to the fact that influenced by the building walls and other subjects, the intensity of signal is attenuated largely. Therefore, WIFI position technology could be an optimized choice for indoors environment. 2.1 The definition of the WIFI positioning Localization is the process of estimating absolute or relative position of mobile objects, referring to the data of predefined spots’ position in restricted area. [1] In indoors environment, WLAN is the ideal option to localize the terminals. The access point just like the bases in wireless communication play a significant role in WIFI positioning. Therefore, WIFI could provide the larger coverage as well as make the localization more convenient. 2.2 The classification of the approaches in WIFI Localization Currently, the majority of WLAN is using the Radio Frequency to communicate with each other due to the fact that most Radio Waves could penetrate walls or obstacles in indoors environment. To be more specific, RSSI is the common localization technology to be applied in wireless environment. [2]The following gives a simple description of RSSI. RSSI (received signal strength indication): Research and experimental measurements show that wireless signal in propagation presents some rules as followed: Once the transmission power of AP is fixed, there is an inverse relationship between the receiver’s received signal strength and distance between sender and receiver.[3] Specifically, if the distance between them is closer, the stronger received signal strength we will get. By using the known radio propagation model, RSSI method could measure different RSSI of APs from mobile terminals. In most cases, we could get the positioning result through three different APs. Therefore, positioning approaches based on RSSI could be classified into two fields: one is trilateration positioning and the other is fingerprinting positioning. 2.2.1 Trilateration positioning technology Trilateration positioning technology means setting the 3 APs to be the center and the distance between AP and to be localized subject to be radius. Therefore, we get the 3 different circles and the focus among them. By using the above data, we could attain the equations to work out the distance of the solution. In WIFI networks, the distance between AP and user could be attained by two approaches. 1. TOA (time of arrival): TOA is measuring the one-way propagation time between the AP and mobile terminals or the round-trip propagation time. [4]The former needs to record the precise signal transmission time of the AP or mobile terminals.Fig.3-1 shows the basic idea of TOA positioning approach. Moreover, the receiver is highly depend on the clock, too; the latter don’t worry about the synchronization. However, there are still high demands on the clock. Fig.2-1 The schematic diagram of TOA approach Yet, TOA is highly depend on accurate time clock. During the localization, 1ms of the measuring error could result in the 300m positioning mistake. Therefore, for the AP and mobile terminal there are high demand on precise clock, which increased the localization hard ware costs. 2. TDOA (time difference of arrival): Different from TOA, TDOA is to detect the arrival time difference between the two APs other than the absolute arrival time for the target terminal localization[5]. Fig.3-2 describe the basic schematic diagram of TDOA approach. Obviously, via this approach, we can minimize the high demand of the synchronization between the sender and receiver. By using the three different AP, it is easy to measure two TDOA values. The mobile terminal is located on two hyperbolic intersection determined by the two TDOA. Fig.2-2 The schematic diagram of TDOA approach 2.2.2 Fingerprinting positioning technology Similar to the traditional fingerprint technology, fingerprint technology relies on characterizing the feature of the database to identify the target.Fig.3-3 gives a detailed description of the working principle in finger printing technology. [6]There are two stages in the localization: training stage and positioning stage. Training Stage: The target in this stage is to build a fingerprint database. First, we should adopt a reasonable reference point distribution for ensuring to provide enough information in the positioning stage. Then, It is important to measure the value of RSS in different reference points. [11]The location information of reference points and the corresponding MAC address are recorded in the database. Due to the environment factor, wireless signal strength is not stable. In order to overcome this disadvantage, generally, we take the average of multiple measurements at each reference point. Table2-1 below indicates the establishment of the fingerprint database. Table2-1 An example of the fingerprint database Positioning Stage: Once the database is settle down, according to the certain matching algorithms, the RSS value of the target point is compared with known information in the database. The common matching algorithm is Nearest Neighbor algorithm (NN) , k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm and so on. These approaches will be discussed thoroughly in the next part. At last, we could attain estimated user location. Fig.2-3 The schematic location positioning technology in fingerprint The above is some basic approaches in WLAN based indoor location estimation technology. The table 2-2 blow presents a brief comparison among them. Table 2-2 the comparison among the different approaches in WLAN based indoor environment 3. Location Algorithms in fingerprint technology In this section, we will introduce two classical positioning algorithms based on fingerprint technology: Nearest Neighbor (NN) algorithm and Naà ¯ve Bayesian algorithm. 3.1 The Nearest Neighbor algorithm (NN) NN could be regarded as a special case of KNN algorithm namely k=1. KNN approach is first introduced in early 1950s. Within the large amount of training set, it is computationally intensive. From then on, it is applied rapidly in the field of pattern recognition.[8] NN is based on analogical learning. To be more specific, we could attain the result by comparing the given test examples and resembled training samples. In the field of wireless location estimation, the test samples are fingerprint and the class label is the physical location corresponding to the fingerprint. [9]Supposed that if the number of fingerprint is l (denoted as ) in the localization area, there is a mapping relationship between each fingerprint and the corresponding physical location information}.In the real-time positioning stage, one RSS fingerprint example is denoted as S. It contains average RSS value from N different APs, namely .In the fingerprint database, each fingerprint is expressed as. is the fingerprint of No.i, which contains the average value of RSS in No.n AP. Therefore, the similarity between the fingerprint S of the real-time signal and the training samples in the database could be measured by the distance between them, for instance, the Euclidean distance. Just like the formula 3-1 below: Finally, for the fingerprint S of the real-time signal, the estimated result is the physical location corresponding to the fingerprint which is the nearest one from it. Shown as formula (3-2). 3.2The Naive Bayesian Algorithm The naà ¯ve Bayesian algorithm is based on the probability method deriving from classification in statistics.[10] Bayesian classification could predict the likelihood of the class members, for instance the given sample belongs to a particular class. The main idea of Bayesian classification is that in many applications, the relationship between the samples and class labels is not determined. In other words, though the test samples are very similar to some training samples, we couldn’t predict the class label clearly. The noise leads to this situation or other confounders which affected the classification didn’t be contained in analysis. Different from KNN, Bayesian classification gives the probability of test samples belonging to the certain class other than the exact class label of test samples. Based on Bayes Theorem, Bayesian classification is a statistic principle which combines the prior knowledge and new evidence gathered from the new data set. Naive Bayes is the impletion of the Bayesian classification. The localization based on naive Bayesian is as followed: First, supposed that there are l fingerprints in the localization area, denoted as , there is a mapping relationship between the each fingerprint and the corresponding group of location information. In the real-time positing stage, a RSS fingerprint sample is denoted as S and it contains average RSSI value from n different APs,Then, naà ¯ve Bayesian algorithm is to attain the posteriori probability of real-time RSS fingerprint samples S in the positioning area, it could be described as below: In the formula (3-1),with the known location,is the conditional probability of real-time RSS fingerprint sample S.is the prior probability of Li in the localization area. Generally, users could appear on any position of the location area. So we consider is subject to the uniform distribution. The key assumption of Naive Bayesian is that the impact of each attribute value for a given class is independent of the other property values. In other words, in certain location, the RSSI value from different APs is independent and unrelated. Therefore, the calculation of is simplified as We could use Gaussian probability distribution to approximate the RSSI in certain location, the formula is as below. Eventually, by using the MAP, we estimate the use’s location, described as formula(3-3). 4. Conclusion and Future prospects Based on WIFI positioning technology, this survey analyze the needs of wireless localization, classify and compare the different approaches implemented in indoor environment and present two classical algorithms in fingerprint technology. With the high development of WLAN, the technology based on RSSI, especially fingerprint attracts more and more attention. On the basis of the more accurate estimated result, the future research goal is to improve the ease of use in the positioning system and make the location-based services more convenient and more practical. Here are some tips towards the future research fields: The fingerprint technology algorithm its self has the drawbacks of enormous complicated preparation works. By using the propagation model, we could reduce the large amount of working preparations. Most people study or work in indoors environment. So, how to use other people’s information to improve the user’s own localization accuracy is an interesting issue and many researcher has put emphasis on it. Recently, most algorithms are just in theoretical research or basic test scene lacking of practical application consideration. Therefore, how to implement these algorithms into public paces is another urgent issue, too. References N0HA S, LEE W J, YOUNG J. Comparison of the mechanisms of the Zigbees indoor localization algorithm[C], Ninth ACIS International Conference on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Networking, and Parallel Distributed Computing. Phuket, [S.l.]: [s.n.], 2008: 13-18. ZHUMinghui,ZHANG Huiqing. Research on model of indoor distance measurement based on receiving signal strength[C].2010 International Conference on Computer Design and Appliations. Qinhuangdao, [s.l.]:[s.n.], 2010: 54-58. K.C.Ho,Y.T.Chan.Geolocation of a known altitude object from TDOA and FDOA measurements[J]. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 2007’ 33(3): 770-783. Binghao Li, Yufei Wang, Hyung Keun Lee,ect.A New Method of Yielding a Database of Location Fingerprints in WLAN,IEEE Proceedings Communications. 2005. pp.580-586. Bahl P, Padmanabhan VN. Enhancements of the RADAR User Location and Tracking System. Technical Report MSR-TR-2000-12, 2000. Yongliang Sun;,Yubin Xu, Lin Ma, Zhian Deng, KNN-FCM hybrid algorithm for indoor location in WLAN , Power Electronics and Intelligent Transportation System (PEITS), 2009.pp.251-254dd. Roos T, Myllymaki P, Tirri H, et al. A Probabilistic Approach to WLAN User Location Estimation. International Journal of Wireless Information Networks, 2002, 9, 155-16.

H.M. Scott Smiths, the Historical Houses of Prince Edward Island :: essays papers

H.M. Scott Smith's, the Historical Houses of Prince Edward Island H.M. Scott Smith's, the Historical Houses of Prince Edward Island, is a candid look into the more architecturally and historically significant buildings located on Prince Edward Island. Focusing particularly on those constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Historical Houses of Prince Edward Island, features structures from the early days of the Micmac wigwams to the elegance of the Victorian presence. His purpose is to trace the evolution of the Islands housing in their form, decor, and construction over the course of time. In addition, Smith writes of the different principal international impacts, which have shaped the architectural stature of Prince Edward Island. Hoping to set a starting point in Prince Edward Islands' architectural studies, Smith states 1"I also wish to stress that I conceived this project and these books as a beginning, in the hope that architectural historians, geographers, academics or any interested individuals might be inspired to further research and document the various aspects touched on only briefly in this book." Smith, an active conservationist, clearly shows that he believes in the importance of building history and preservation, not only in Prince Edward island, but all over the world in hoping that others will pick up where he has left off opening another door in architectural studies. Smith provides the reader with an easy to follow guide, which is set in Smith, H.W. Scott. Historical Houses of Prince Edward Island. Erin: Boston Mills Press, 1990. P.10 chronological order and provides, photographs and/or sketches with each brief, yet descriptive, explanation of the chosen dwellings. Expressive yet not overpowering, we are taken through the evolution of the selected structures by means of the change in style and heritage from that of the architectural monuments origin. In the journey of seeking architectural history, the author touches on, but hesitates to go in-depth with the true mode of building based on regional forms and materials. The lack of information covering the social and community history, building placement, along with the unique building styles (with stone and brick) formed by the adapting peoples of the Island leaves a lot out of this book. Instead, Smith focuses intensely on the inhabitants of the homes throughout time, and the strong foreign influence from Scotland, England, Ireland, and New England. The glossary, which Smith provides, was very effective as it made his work easy to understand while increasing the readers knowledge of architectural terms.

Intellectual Property :: Star Trek Trekkie Websites Essays

Intellectual Property As I begin this narrative, readers will have to understand that I have been and always will be a Trekkie. The very first movie I was ever taken to see was Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. I was six months old and I did nothing but scream the entire time, but the fascination has nonetheless been there my entire life, and there is no twelve-step program to help me recover. That having been said, you might have some degree of understanding when I say that Viacom’s attempts in 1997 to eliminate all use of copyrighted material on fan sites, ranging from still pictures to movie and sound clips to the logos themselves, was war for me. For Viacom, the issue was that these copyrighted images were used at all. This spawned a whole host of further crackdowns and lawsuits in similar kingdoms of fanatics across the web. The situation I just described to you, while probably not the best example of the internet’s general abuse of intellectual property, is one of the earliest examples. Proper accreditation and documentation is a widespread problem on the internet, particularly now that the internet has grown in use and popularity. The internet hosts websites that directly violate the concept of intellectual property in ways that no other tool ever can. If copyrighted graphics or sound appear on any website trying to convey a message, particularly if these are recognizable to an average member of the site’s target audience, the validity of that argument is subconsciously undermined by the unaccredited presence of someone else’s ideas. For web writers, one solution to this dilemma seems to be to avoid copyrighted material as much as possible and create original content. â€Å"This content does not need to be entirely dissimilar from a copyrighted work you would have liked to use. Copyright law protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves† (Farkas & Farkas 349). But this solution creates problems with recreational forms of websites. Those built by fans of a popular TV show, for instance, have no personal photos of their favorite actors and actresses and inevitably rely on scanned publicity photos and content from official sites to populate their galleries and create their custom graphics. This example might then fall under the fair use defense, which â€Å"has to make the case that [use] of the copyrighted work of another should be legally permitted, notwithstanding the copyright owner's exclusive rights in her work† (George Washington).

Advertisement: Greek Statue and Perfume Essay -- Ads Advertise Statues

Advertisement: Greek Statue and Perfume While flipping through the pages of a fashion magazine, my fingers stop abruptly as my eyes catch an image of a nude man holding a clothed woman. The man has a muscular body and is effortlessly supporting the woman who's body is arched backwards, her arms hang in a swan-like manner. On the ground by her left foot lays a paint palette and her right hand is grasping a paint brush. The room that they are in appears to be a studio with press board floors, brick walls, and old unfinished wooden workbenches draped in cloth. The woman is painting a canvas with the image of the nude man. The foreground consists of the artist and the model, the painting and the easel, a stool, and a table with art supplies spread out on top. In the background, to the right of the canvas, stands a life-size statue of a woman facing the wall. The statue is a generic image of Greek statues from around 400 - 200 BC. In the right bottom corner of the page, a bottle of golden perfume called Tabu is superimposed on the page. The caption written in cursive reads, "Blame it on Tabu". There are many instances in which older art works are used in contemporary situations. There is everything from cartoon characters performing in the Colosseum to government buildings modeled after the Greek Parthenon. Images from centuries ago such as those from European cave art, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome, and from medieval Europe can be seen in magazines and newspapers, television and films, architecture of buildings, etc. These images use the concepts people already have of past artworks to create a specific tone, convey messages, or sell products. The magazine ad for Tabu uses a Greek styled statue to enhance the tone of ... ...indow streaming natural light seems to be the only source of light in the room. It falls directly on the action, the man holding the woman. Their shadows then form flawlessly across the canvas and their profiles are in perfect shape. The statue, which is behind the canvas, is in complete shadows, again signifying the conservative part of the image that hides in the shadows. Why is this picture used to sell perfume? The action in the picture is meant to be something that we all desire. To get the perfume would mean that our wildest fantasies could come true. However, the Greek statue is needed to remind us that this in not always good. The beauty, passion, and classicism are all features of the overall image that are brought on by the clothes and lack of clothes, the idealness of the model's body, and the classic aura of the statue, all aspects of ancient Greece.

Racism and the Criminal Justice System

Tor aaaresslng tne economic crlsls wnlcn Tlrst appeared In tne m10 ana late slxtl In other to restore sagging business profits, and then the welfare of working people had to be sacrificed. Another criminal Justice crackdown has become, intentionally or otherwise, a way to manage rising inequality and surplus populations. And the poor people where the one that suffered the situation throughout this process of economic restructuring, particularly poor people of color.Thus it is poor people of color who make up the bulk of American prison. Also, equality was one of the roblems that blacks suffered during Jim Crow laws and it was what white American fears most. Not until February 17, 1919, when thousands of African American soldiers fresh from victory in the Ardennes offensive marched triumphantly up Fifth Avenue, through Manhattan's cheering crows toa Harlem homecoming. This was because they had lived up to their end of the bargain with America.So they expected the full rights of Citize nship, nothing less, only a year earlier, while they fought in France. Jim Crow and other hated laws that stigmatized African Americans had been reaffirmed. But this civil rights moment was not to be. Instead the euphoria of victory evaporated to be replaced by the worst spate of anti-Black violence; labeled the Red Summer, the riots and lynchings would last from April to November 1919, claiming hundreds of lives, and leave thousands homeless.Mostly Blacks where the victims, at least twenty seven major riots and mob actions immobilized the nation's capital and cities large and small, including Chicago, Omaha, Knoxville, Charleston, and the delta town of Elaine, Arkansas, but something happened that whites had not expected. Emboldened by the war, whether from experience in the trenches or not the factory loor, or in the cotton fields of the rural south, blacks fought back; picking up any weapon that was at hand, their retaliation against armed mobs was swift.It was the first stirring s of the civil rights movement that would change America forever. Bibliography Mcwhirter Cameron. â€Å"Red summer†. New York: Herny Holet, 2011. Parenti Christian. â€Å"Lockdown America†. New York: Verso, 2008. Heard Alex. â€Å"The Eyes of Willie Mcgee†. Mississippi: Jim Leeson, 2010. Loury C. Glenn. â€Å"Race Incarceration and American Values†. Boston: Pamela S. Karlan, Tommie Shelby, and Loic Wacquant, 2008.

Starbucks updates on annual meeting of shareholders Essay

Comparing capital expenditure Introduction                   Certain companies are considered as the front runners in their respective industries judging from their spending and the annual profits they get in their operations. For example, in the search engines industry, Google is well thought –out to be the trailblazer having billions of users. However, there are small companies which try to thrive in the same industries. The small companies possess some unique features which help them to survive in those industries. They distinguish themselves by differentiating their products brand and surroundings to meet their target market needs. Capital expenditure has been used to determine a company’s worth. It focusses on the properties, buildings and the equipment that a company considers as assets. The funds needed to buy, maintain and refurbish these assets are the ones referred to as capital expenditure.                   Centred on the profit margins of a company, the capital expenditure is conjectured as a percentage of the gross profit during equivalent distribution. This paper will contrast the capital expenditure of Starbuck Corporation and Dunkin Brands in the coffee industry of the United States. Starbuck being the frontrunner in the industry and Dunkin as its leading competitor. The paper will focus on the capital expenditure of the two companies for the past three years.                   Dunkin’ Brands Corporation has for years thrived as a competing franchise in the coffee industry. It is the sole owner of two restaurants in the United States, that is, Baskin- Robbins and Dunkin’ donuts. Since it acts as the franchise for these two restaurants, the capital requirements has been lower making it easy to open up the restaurants. Dunkin’ Donuts derives its income from the franchises through royalties and fees. A fraction of the total capital expenditure is incurred by Dunkin’ Brands from these franchisees. It owns a global market share of roughly 23 percent while Starbucks owns around 32.6 percent, leading in the list as far as coffee market is concerned.                   In 2011, the capital expenditure for Dunkin’ Brands mounted to $19 million due to the addition of other outlets in the states. In the same year, the company had incurred huge expenses due to some few factors. These factors include, costs from giving out new stock for public sale from a firm which has already made its preliminary public offering. , loss on debt when the creditor accepts a higher security, and written off goodwill charges from a corporation with South Korea. In the year 2012, the company had incurred capital expenditures of $23.4 million which is considered as restrained bearing in mind the number of site launches.                   In 2013, the capital expenditure for Dunkin’ Brands elevated to $31.1 million. This shows that the value of the expenditure was consistent throughout the three years. The company’s price- earnings ratio had been so low but due to the establishment of new stores the P/E ratio is expected to rise over the next fiscal year. The initial public offering that the company issued, raised funds to settle the long term debt creating a progressive cash flow. In the calculation of capital expenditure of Dunkin’ Brands, the net amount of fixed assets recorded in the financial statements for the previous year is subtracted from the net amount of fixed assets recorded for the year just ended. The amount of depreciation is also done the same and the result is added to the net change of the fixed assets. The final answer is the amount of capital expenditure of the company.                   Starbuck Corporation as the juggernaut in the coffee industry has continued to show growth especially towards the Asian countries ( Byrd,2013). Sales have increased steadily due to their market strategy enabling an equal increase in capital expenditure. The expansion to these Asian countries which include, Chinese/Asian/Pacific division, has been considered as one of the factors that has contributed to the faster growth of the corporation.                   Starbuck Corporation continues to be successful due to the low interest rate that persuade the management to enlarge its capital expenditure. However this may upsurge the total quantity of liabilities on the balance sheet of the corporation. China/ Asian/ Pacific Division has an extraordinary economic growth with interest rates at its lowest making it an enormous and worthwhile investment opportunity caused by the increase in the company’s liabilities.                   The need to increase these liabilities of the company is to capitalize on the returns in that new market environment. Starbuck has incurred some debt which has been getting lower considerably throughout the years. Its financial debt to total debt ratio in 2010 was 11% to 31% in 2013. Initially the decision for Starbuck Corporation to increase its capital expenditure, did not lower the profit margin which was the expectation of many. However, since 2010 to 2013, the profit margins heightened significantly. The company is expected to improve the income GDP per capita worldwide from 2010 which was at $7329 ( Byrd, 2013). This will in turn increase the visits the consumer makes to the stores resulting in growth with foreign revenue by additional 45% in the next 10 years.                   In the company’s annual financial statements, the capital expenditures in the investing activities column shows that in the year 2011 was at $531.9 million. In the year 2012 the amount rose to $856.2 million and $1.15 billion in 2013. The capital expenditure has been consistent over the three years like the Dunkin’ Corporation. This was due to the opening of new stores across the country. Depreciation has grown in the years as a result of increased capital spending and procurements. 2012 has been Starbucks development phase since it increased the new stores to up to 1300. Most of the stores were located in China. The capital expenditure value has been derived from getting the net fixed assets of the preceding year and subtracted it from the net fixed assets of the year just ended. The value is then added to the depreciation amount gotten from the difference between the depreciation value from the year just ended and the preceding year.                   The focus on the company’s capital expenditure has been used to acquire the desired information to determine and predict its future earnings according to financial and accounting models. Managers counter information from the private operation about the future costs and demands over and done with their investment judgements.                   In the quick food service industry, Starbuck Corporation and Dunkin’ Brands are the key participants. They try to counter the rising consumer demands for fast food products. However they are somewhat different since Starbuck Corporation principal concentration is on the expensive coffee, but has trailed on other product lines such as teas and juices. Conversely, Dunkin’ Brands has focussed primarily on marketing their products to everyone by combining coffee and donuts. The rate of growth for Dunkin’ has been considered to be moderately strong by financial analysts, but Starbucks has been a stronger growth with very minimum amount of debt.                   Capital expenditure is the most commonly used determiner for how well a company operates since the funds are used to upgrade an existing business asset or purchasing a new asset for example a new building. The cost or the value of the business assets is always adjusted for tax purposes. Capital expenditure is measured to be deductible for tax determinations, because it signifies an improvement to the industry. The following table represents the capital expenditure comparisons between Starbuck Corporation and Dunkin’ Brands a franchise to the Dunkin’ donuts and Baskin Robbins.(2013). SBUX DNKN Qtrly Rev Growth (yoy): 0.11 0.06 Gross Margin (ttm): 0.57 0.79 Operating Margin (ttm): 0.14 0.39 Net Income (ttm): 1.51B 106.11M P/E (ttm): 33.59 44.29 P/S (ttm): 3.47 6.61 Employees: 160,000 1,104 Revenue (ttm): 14.02B 667.67M EBITDA (ttm): 2.59B 313.12M EPS (ttm): 1.97 0.94 PEG (5 yr expected): 1.61 1.72 Market Cap: 49.50B 4.42B References Starbucks updates on annual meeting of shareholders. (2013). Entertainment Close – Up, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/940899804?accountid=32521 Mergent database in the Ashford University Library. Mergent Online Quick Tips [accessed Nov 14th, 2014] Byrd, J., Hickman, K., & McPherson, M. (2013). Managerial Finance. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education Inc. Source document

Civil Disobedience Essay: King and Thoreau Essay

Civil disobedience is a force needed to purify the condemnation of injustices within a society. Civil disobedience can be defined as the refusal to comply with certain laws as a peaceful form of political protest. Such protests are needed when the rights of citizens are being violated and their voices are being unheard. Thoreau’s ideas were becoming heavily common as they were being used by Civil Rights Activists. These ideas which these activists used greatly affected the way our government now functions today. What if such actions did not take place and only the voices of inequality were heard? Would we not still remain in a society of injustice? ((Rhetorical question)) Civil disobedience – this form of political protest – must be distinguished from cases of crime and acts of civil rebellion. The purpose of civil disobedience is not create fear or establish injustice above the law, but to create justice and equality that may reside under the law. The Civil Rights Movement is a perfect illustration of how the government can be moved and changed to produce a positive outcome toward the community and its citizens. Martin Luther King Jr. followed in Thoreau’s footsteps, his one inspiration, by partaking in acts of civil disobedience. His civil acts promoted a form of influence upon government that did not evoke harm or fear. Thoreau stated in his writing that â€Å"It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong, but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support.† This means that when a government displays inequality, illustrates injustice, or portrays discrimination ((parallelism)), it is up to people to take action. Gandhi, a highly credited figure in civil disobedience protests, who also supports citizen action, states that â€Å"non-cooperation is a measure of discipline and sacrifice, and it demands respect of the opposite views† – the government. Thoreau’s way of showing his disagreement with injustice displayed by the government is by one, his rejection to pay tax’s which in turn landed him in jail and in more defiance towards the government he secondly helps fugitive slaves, disobeying the Fugitive Slave Act. His rebellion allowed for the  voices of people who agreed with him to stand with him and fight for injustice. To be clear, one should not view or only pursue to be involved with the acts of civil disobedience because of any dislike toward a country, but because he or she believes that the country can be something great, that these unjust laws are only limiting the potential of a beautiful society. Fighting for yourself is courageous; fighting for your co untry, heroic. The court case Plessy vs. Ferguson further displays the affected force any individual has on the government. Plessy, although biologically a white male, was still subjected to the injustices of racial segregation under the †Separate but Equal Act†. Plessy understood how this law still abided under segregation and decided to partake in protests and civil disobedience to change this law and promote equality within the society. His determination to create justice for the people allowed the government to decide that ‘separate was inherently unequal.’ In retrospect, the government can indeed be changed by and influenced by the people. The government perceives itself to be the voice of the people, is that not exactly why the voices of the people should be heard. Is the government not a body of voted people for the people, by the people? Will a government that cannot bend itself to commend its people not break instead? It is civil disobedience that allows the government to bend itself to the extent that it can serve its people. Therefore, it is in turn not unruly to state that civil disobedience is necessary in a community. Civil disobedience is, and will always be necessary in any society.