Oral Script About Titanic Essay

Good morning to my teacher and fellow friends. Today I want to talk about the sinking of Titanic. RMS Titanic was a passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The sinking of Titanic caused the deaths of 1,514 people in history. She was the largest ship afloat at the time of her maiden voyage. One of three liners operated by the White Star Line, she was built between 1909-11 by the Harland and Wolff Shipyard in Belfast. Her passengers included some of the wealthiest people in the world, as well as over a thousand emigrants from Britain,  Ireland,  Scandinavia  and elsewhere seeking a new life in North America. The ship was designed to be the last word in comfort and luxury, with an on-board gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants and opulent cabins. She also had a powerful wireless telegraph provided for the convenience of passengers as well as for operational use. Though she had advanced safety features such as watertight compartments and remotely activated watertight doors, she lacked enough lifeboats to accommodate all of those aboard. Due to outdated maritime safety regulations, she carried only enough lifeboats for 1,178  people – a third of her total passenger and crew capacity. After leaving Southampton, England on 10  April 1912,  Titanic  called at  France  and Ireland before heading westwards towards New York. On 14 April 1912, four days into the crossing and about 375 miles south of Newfoundland, she hit an iceberg at 11:40  pm. The glancing collision caused  Titanic’s hull plates to buckle inwards in a number of locations on her  starboard  side and opened five of her sixteen watertight compartments to the sea. Over the next two and a half hours, the ship gradually filled with water and sank. Passengers and some crew members were evacuated in lifeboats, many of which were launched only partly filled. Just before 2:20  am  Titanic  broke up and sank bow-first with over a thousand people still on board. Those in the water died within minutes from  hypothermia  caused by immersion in the freezing ocean. The 710 survivors were taken aboard from the lifeboats by the  RMS Carpathia  a few hours later. The disaster was greeted with worldwide shock and outrage at the huge loss of life and the regulatory and operational failures that had led to it. Many of the survivors lost all of their money and possessions and were left destitute; many families, particularly those of crew members from Southampton, lost their primary bread-winners. They were helped by an outpouring of public sympathy and charitable donations. Some of the male survivors, notably the White Star Line’s chairman,  J.Bruce Ismay, were accused of cowardice for leaving the ship while people were still on board, and they faced social ostracism. The  wreck of the  Titanic  remains on the seabed, gradually disintegrating at a depth of 12,415 feet (3,784  m). Since its rediscovery in 1985, thousands of artifacts have been recovered from the sea bed and put on display at museums around the world. Titanic  has become one of the most famous ships in history, her memory kept alive by numerous  books, films, exhibits and memorials. That’s all. Thank you.

Absorption Costing vs. Variable (Direct) Costing

Absorption Costing vs. Variable (Direct) Costing Absorption cost systems are widely used to prepare financial accounts. These systems are designed to absorb all production costs (variable or fixed) into costs of units produced. Absorption costs techniques allow manufacturing costs to be traced and allocated into product costs. There are different types of absorption costing systems: job order costing, process costing, and ABC costing. In job order costing, costs are assigned to products in batches or lots, and the costs of each specific batch are traced separately using job order cost’ sheets. In process costing, products are produced in a continuous process and costs are systematically assigned to the product. In ABC costing, costs are assigned from cost centers to products. Because a unit’s cost in the absorption cost systems are made of variable and fixed costs, they can be very misleading. Absorption cost systems can incentive overproduction when the overhead rate is calculated based on units produced, and units produced is higher than units sold. In order to calculate this overhead cost, one should divide the total fixed cost by units produced and multiply the result by units sold. This overhead rate will be lower when more units are produced and when variable and fixed costs remain constant. In this process, fixed costs are being spread over more units, thus lowering unit’s cost. This technique allows profit to increase when production increases, and quantity of units produced is higher than quantity of units sold. In this case some of the fixed costs are divided by units and part of the total production (including its costs) is inventoried. The costs inventoried are not transferred to the income statement, thus increasing profits for that period, and misleading managers to overproduce. In some cases, managers do not understand how this costing process works. In the majority of the cases, they are only worried about increasing production and lowering units’ cost. Other managers that have their compensation linked to the period’s profit also feel motivated to overproduce, once profit increases as quantity produced increases. There are many ways to decrease the incentive of overproduction. The first one charges inventory holding costs against profits. In this process, inventory values are increased by the costs of capital plus warehousing costs. Managers that are evaluated based on residual income, tend to dislike this system; first, because it increases data processing complexity, and second, because it decreases residual income when there is an overproduction and an increase in inventory. This system does not eliminate completely the incentive to overproduce, but it makes overproduction less profitable to managers. The second technique that aims to reduce the incentive of overproduction is based on a strict policy against building inventories. This can be done through contracts stating that bonuses tied to net income will not be paid if inventories exceed a certain amount. A third method would be to base managers’ compensation on stock prices instead of accounting earnings. This method will inhibit managers’ actions that could damage the company’s profit maximization plan. However, in cases where the company has more than one plant, overproduction has a small effect on the value of the firm. This factor decreases the efficiency of stock-based compensation to eliminate or reduce overproduction incentive. The forth method consists of the implementation of just-in-time production systems. Because this process does not begin until a part or a total order is made by customers, it reduces inventory levels. In this system, the decision rights are made by demand-driven market orders. Here the production levels are determined by demand, not by managers. Just-in-time systems reduce inventories, thus reducing the incentive to overproduce. Companies can control managers’ incentive to overproduce by adopting variable costing systems. These systems write off all fixed manufacturing costs as a period cost, which will not allow profit increases with overproduction. In variable costing, product costs are made up only of variable costs. Fixed manufacturing costs are considered period costs and are written off. Variable costing and absorption costing differ from each other in the way that they treat fixed costs. Under variable costing, fixed manufacturing costs are written off as a period expense. As for absorption costing, fixed manufacturing costs are included as part of product costs. The advantages of variable costing are that the product’s cost does not change depending on volume change, and it reduces the incentive for overproduction. It is important to notice that when production and sales are equal, absorption costing and variable costing will have the same profit amount. Variable costing systems’ benefits might not exceed its total costs, a fact that contributes to the systems unpopularity.

Construction safety Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Construction safety - Research Paper Example ons of the predominating safety approaches, this paper has looked into the major methodologies that have been actualized to enhance word related safety in the construction industry. Assessing the noteworthy methodologies regarding strategies and adequacy, it was discovered that all the methodologies, exchange the trouble of obligation on the foremen. While the part of foremen in guaranteeing the safety of laborers are evident, scientists are of the sentiment that perfect time to consider construction safety is a mid configuration stage. Considering the delayed association from the period of beginning, modelers and designers can assume vital part in recognizing and relieving potential risks to the construction specialists. The new approach of avoiding mischances and episodes through configuration has been proposed in this paper as the future course of safety change in the construction business. Construction work sites are mind boggling or rather complex because of successive work procedures, levels of technology utilized, association in the middle of specialists and supplies, and the changing degrees of safety mindfulness and preparing of the laborers. The erratic and complex nature of the construction assignments has made safety a worry wherever construction exercises occur. The quantity of word related fatalities and injuries in the construction business is exceedingly high. Separated from the societal expense of word related mishaps, the monetary impact can have a sizeable effect on business execution. In 2002, the aggregate expense of fatalities and non-deadly wounds, whether the expense were direct or indirect, was 13 billion dollars. These measurements highlights the essentials of wellbeing and safety in the construction business. Enhancing safety in construction remains a need in just about every nation around the globe, on the grounds that the construction business emerges among all different businesses as the primary giver to extreme and lethal mishaps.

HomeLand Security Strategies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HomeLand Security Strategies - Research Paper Example This reaffirms that America is committed to pursue its interests by the use of an international system where all countries have specific rights and responsibilities. The paper will discuss the homeland security strategies focused on the safety and security of the citizens of America. This is attributed to the fact that there have been enormous threats to American citizens than weapons of mass destruction, especially the danger posed by the pursuit of nuclear weapons by violent extremists and their proliferation to neighboring states. As noted by Reddick (2010) the National Security Strategy which was released in May, 27 2010 rolled out a strategic approach for the advancing American interests including the security of the American citizens, improving American economy, and supports their values, as well as an international order that tackles the challenges of the 21st century. The strategies include: Defeating terrorism globally After the September 9/11, terrorism attacks the United S tates has made significant steps in ensuring the safety of the nation. It formed the foundation of Department of Homeland Security (DHS), whose functions took a new organization and urgency. Their approaches now included: restricting hostile actors the capability to operate within the American borders; shared efforts to determine and interdict threats; maintaining effective control of our physical borders; ensuring national resilience in the face of the hazards and threats; safeguarding lawful trade and travel into and out of United States of America. The DHS and many of its partners locally, regionally, and internationally as well as the communities have strengthened the homeland security enterprise to mitigate and defend against dynamic threats. Their core strategic objectives include: comprehending the threat, deterring and disrupting operations, protecting against terrorist capabilities, stopping the spread of violent extremism, and increasing community participation in order to deter terrorists and alleviate radicalization towards violence. According to DHS (2012) it reported that its efforts to prevent terrorism are centered on a layered risk-based approach to the security in the cargo and passenger systems of transportation, borders, and ports of entry.   It consists of new technologies to: help detect explosives and other dangerous weapons; aid in the protection of critical infrastructure and cyber networks from attack; build partnerships in information sharing. According to Guiora (2011) found out that DHS works in corporation with many partners in countering violent extremists. These extremists cause a great threat to national security. The DHS has initiated the following programs to counter violent extremists: international partnerships with other countries like Canada, Spain, Belgium, and Germany; conducting joint workshops and conferences of law enforcement agents; and provision of grants to the support of law enforcement efforts. Terrorist acti vities that may occur due to explosives are cut out by DHS’s work through enhancing the counter-IED capabilities of the nation and reduce the threat of explosive attack. Moreover, terrorist activities are prevented through: building of the homeland security enterprise which has fusion centers, nationwide suspicion activity reporting initiative, presence of homeland security

Develop Alternative energy supply system Research Paper

Develop Alternative energy supply system - Research Paper Example Under the proposition, solar panels and wind turbines have been proposed. These energy supply projects have arisen after the evaluation of the area that the Bambui community is located. Considering that, the proposed energy project incorporate the use of alternative energy sources obtained from natural sources, it is important to determine the advantages of these energy sources. One is that they are infinite, unlike the hydroelectric power source whereby water can dry out [2]. For example wind, can wind die out? It cannot. The sources of alternative energy sources are free. However, they are society and location particulate, which is the case in Bambui. Weather conditions have to be considered, the source, and geographical location. In addition, there is minimal risk of exposure to hazards and little harm to the environment [3]. The objective of this paper is to develop and suggest an alternative energy supply system for the Bambui community considering all pros and cons of the

New Testament Books summaries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

New Testament Books summaries - Essay Example Events accentuated are the life Jesus Christ; humanity and perfection as a human, appointment of the disciples of Jesus, death, resurrection, ascension and continuation of the work of Jesus Christ. Personalities highlighted are Jesus, His disciples, John the Baptist, Teachers of the law, Pharisees, Sadducees, Levis, Levites and Jews. The genre of this book is historical. The book clearly defines Christ as the universal saviour. It presents Him preaching the ministry through the witnesses he had appointed and sent. The premises discussed in this book are the Holy Spirit’s descent, Evangelism, Apostolic authority, opposition to Christianity and defense of the Holy gospel. Events highlighted are, Jesus’ ascension into heaven, Paul’s conversion and escape from Damascus, Peter’s escape from prison, role of the Holy Spirit, the miracles disciples performed and the missionary journey of Paul. The apostles (Peter and Paul) and the Holy Spirit are the focal personalities portrayed in the book. It falls under the genre of Pauline epistles. The main themes are Christian living, doctrine of Mosaic laws, Faith in Jesus and leadership of the church. Events in the book major upon the advices that Apostle Paul gave to the church and society of the Corinthians on matters concerning promiscuity, hypocrisy and committing to God’s work. The Corinthians had divided themselves and engaged in immorality of indiscipline, sexual impurity and in personal disputes. Personalities in this genre comprise of Apostle Paul and the Corinthians. The state of marriage is also approved by Paul; it’s better for a Christian to remain unmarried. It is a pastoral epistle. Apostle Paul addresses the theme of exercising Christian faith to the Hebrews. Judaism and paganism are also themes discussed in this book. Events of God speaking to the Hebrews through the apostles by

Measure and Light Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Measure and Light - Essay Example This can be enjoyed at the simplest level by anyone, even birds are mentioned, but there are also those who understand the science of music – how it works , how it constructs links , how it can be composed. He quotes St Augustine of Hippo from the fourth century C.E. in ‘De musica’1 as saying that this is the science of music, a mathematical science. Music is described as an expression of relationships, a mathematical relationship. Augustine’s claim was that number was needed to prevent chaos within the universe. Because these are mathematical concepts the same principles can be applied in the field of the visual arts. In the mediaeval period it was believed that contemplation of geometry would lead on to thoughts of the divine, pointing to what lies outside our normal fields of vision. Augustine realised that both music and architecture have this aesthetic value. Augustine was aware that architecture uses this science of number, but was aware that not ever y architect was necessarily aware of the rules, even though he could apply them. He considered though that there could be no building of beauty unless the rules were both applied and could be seen to have done so. The whole creative process has to be placed within a framework of mathematical rules, of harmony and proportion. The contemplation of such things were believed to lead to a revelation of God. Mention is made of wave after wave of iconoclasm which aimed to limit this aim of medieval art, but which was never able to fully suppress it. Instead as time passed new styles emerged , ever more fitted to produce the religious experience aimed for . The Wisdom of Solomon is quoted , saying of God ‘Thou hast ordered all things in measure in number and weight ,’ ( Wisdom 11 v 21),2 with the complete creation being seen a heavenly composition, but also an artistic or architectural one. As part of this the buildings were seen as being right in the will of God as they produc e feelings of both awe and reverence of the divine. This, according to Curtius, was the world view of the time. They take the place in western Christianity, of the icon among Orthodox Christians, where ideas about the ultimate take the form of visual beauty. Two important strands of thought are described – the unusual version of Platonism based in Chartres, and from Clairvaux a more spiritual aspect. There was an emphasis upon mathematics and the consequences of such thinking. The word architect is discussed with its two early meanings: that of the simple mason and also the cleric in charge of a building. Then later came the idea of the architect not as a craftsman but as a scientist, a ‘theoreticus’ of his art, who quite deliberately uses scientific principles to achieve what is required. The author points how we must not impose modern ideas of what an architect is upon these medieval builders. We know value great craftsmanship, but such workers were little valu ed in that period, as compared with the theoreticus. Note that link with the word ‘theory ‘. These men were clerics. They did not actually create physical things, climb ladders or use building tools. That was the task of skilled craftspeople. Boethius is mentioned, with his idea that mere carrying out rules to create a work of art if akin to slavery , whereas knowledge of the science from which a work is created is like being a

MediaSpark Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MediaSpark - Case Study Example The estimated target market left the company with no choice, but to choose America and Canada due to the large number of elementary schools. The major problem on the marketing strategy to be used in selling and distributing the product was the main concern. Georghiou felt that it was going to be difficult to convince the educators about the product without trial; they needed to see and try the product before making decisions. The market price of the product was; however, going to vary depending on the country and the user. Further to this, they identified various distribution channels that would handle the distribution and advertising duties (Lionais et al. 24). Although the product sell was successful, the solutions came with various advantages and disadvantages. The use of educational catalogue enabled selling several products to the educational institutions through online catalogues and publications; however, they would not sell Go Venture Entrepreneur in North America through any other channel because he had reached the teachers he had wished to reach. The use of software distribution as an indirect distribution channel was going to give the product a high profile than the text books and catalogues; however, the software distribution channel was highly fragmented with no companies operating in both the U.S. and Canada market. The choice of MarkED was disadvantaged because it lacked a sales force that would complement the catalogue. Furthermore, Georghiou was not sure if it was going to reach the teachers. On the other hand, IBM was technology-based and was already making distributions to schools (Lionais et al. 26). They then made an ag reement on a distribution that would last two years. He also had the choice of using an in-house distribution channel. He was going to hire sales representatives in the two countries to conduct sales, email campaigns, CD demos, public speaking, direct mails, seminars, and catalogue sales. Here, he would make a much

Louis Vuitton in Japan Essay Example for Free

Louis Vuitton in Japan Essay * What has made LV’s business model successful in the Japanese Luxury Market? What has made Louis Vuitton’s business model successful in the Japanese Luxury is foremost due to an aggressive marketing strategy they adopted in the country. Indeed with their heritage, the â€Å"savoir-faire à   la franà §aise†, the constant innovation, the quality of their products as well as an offered lifetime repair guarantees, Louis Vuitton has managed to make its Japanese customers loyal to the brand and succeeded to build its empire in Japan. * What are the opportunities and challenges for LV in Japan? Opportunities: Characteristics of the evolution of ageing Japanese population could be an opportunity for LV, such as wealthier families and older women with increased purchasing power. Moreover, establishing an Internet business, application for smartphones as well as expending a new range of products for men and children could be the next step for further growth in Japanese Luxury market. Challenges: The changes in Japanese society and mindset are the biggest challenge for LV. The new generation doesn’t have the same vision as the previous one, and with the gloomy economic context they are less inclined to tolerate high prices that had formerly created desirability. Moreover, the entry of fast fashion brand as ZARA, HM, UNIQLO in the Japanese market, offering quality at competitive price shook up the market share of existing luxury companies in Japan. The saturated market in Japan for fashion luxury, the continuous limited editions products and the possible departure of Marc Jacobs could also be pointed out as challenges for Louis Vuitton. * What are the specifics of the Japanese fashion luxury market? Consumer behavior is one of the biggest specific of the Japanese fashion luxury market. The Japanese way of consumption is different from the Western one, as they are known to be a group-oriented culture in which there was a real pressure to possess luxury brands, their way of consuming them seems more like a compulsory form of social expression. And with adapted marketing strategies successful luxury brand had made the Japanese luxury market the mass market. Otherwise, Japanese consumer are really sensitive to quality, price, creativity, and high fashion these are key factors for successful brands in the Japanese market. * How did LV enter into the Japanese market originally? What are the other entry strategies adopted later to strengthen its presence? The enter of Louis Vuitton into the Japanese market began in the mid 1970’s thanks to the Vuitton-Racamier family who had focused mainly on building a Japanese clientele. Louis Vuitton opted for a new strategy by opening its own shop-in-shops in Japan without the help of a Japanese distributor. LV turned out to be a pioneer in establishing its own subsidiary and exporting products directly from France to Japan. Otherwise hiring a local CEO and managers to lead LV in Japan allowed the brand to conduct the business more efficiently believing they are more able to make market-driven decision, as they are able to better understand the local people. Moreover, by offering architectural stores with an interior design comparable to that found in its flagship stores in Paris, LV has been able to revolutionize the whole purchasing experience in store matching the emotion brought out by the products. In order to strengthen its presence in Japan LV opted for several others strategies, such as hiring Marc Jacob who had created a new energy for each ready-to-wear collection, mixing tradition and innovation but also by collaborating with Japanese artists (Takashi Murakami, Rei Kawakubo, Jun Aoki) and launching limited editions products (exclusivity perceive by the costumer) that enable LV to increase its profit right away. * Will LV have any new challenges arise due to the global financial crisis? How does it overcome the new challenges? As said previously there is a shift in Japanese consumer preferences and it is even more highlighted due to the global financial crisis. Indeed, the days of charging a high price for products with a proprietary logo seemed to be gone in Japan. In this time of recession even Japanese consumers are becoming more aware of the value of money. Moreover, counterfeiting appeared even in the Japanese market where quality is one of the key factors in the act of purchasing luxury goods and it became a huge challenge for LV. Now that the fake bags are hard to distinguished from the genuine ones, Japanese consumer will buy fake LV bags that they will use for everyday life, even though they own authentic that they will save for special occasions. Though there was sustained slowdown in the demand for luxury goods in 2008-2009 due to the global recession, the Japanese luxury market would remain a healthy and growing industry and strategic decisions can overcome these challenges. On one hand LV decided to lower its prices, in fact they had made a seven per cent price reduction on its range of products. On the other hand LV designated Kiyotaka Fujii a new chief executive officer (CEO), which is the first change in the Japanese management team. This change in management enable the brand to have a new vision and new ideas such as expanding the range of products for children, sales of smaller products (wallets, sunglasses†¦), spreading business on the web, expanding its strategies and opening new stores in mid-size cities where the brand is not well-know.

Price Check on Aisle Essay Example for Free

Price Check on Aisle Essay Price ceilings are usually government policies and limits that intend to save consumers from being charged too high a price. This generally means to limit and control how high a price for a product can go. If price ceilings are not present, the suppliers will set prices extremely high for necessities which then become too expensive to be affordable. Suppliers know that no matter what, the items that are necessary will be bought by customers no matter what; this gives them a chance to charge high prices and get revenue, but price ceilings by governments are what protect the customers in such situations. However, they should not go unchecked, as changes and shifts are very important based on then currently market realities. An effective price ceiling is usually below the equilibrium point; otherwise it is pointless as customers would pay the price at equilibrium which is higher than the price ceiling. Price Floors: Price floors are the opposite of price ceilings – this is the control that is brought about by either government, or cartels and groups that are formed to sell the product as a coalition with quotas. This checks how low a price can go; prices when reduce, should not reduce below this line for a certain product. In order for price floors to play the role that they are intended to play; that is, the price should not be extremely low or else the demand increases but nobody is interested in the production; the price floor should be above the equilibrium price. This means that there is a surplus of production and the demand is lesser than that at equilibrium because customers do not want to pay a higher price than that of the equilibrium; but at the same time, more producers are willing to manufacture this particular product. As a Renter: Usually, the landlords have a habit of overcharging tenants; reason being the difficulty and shortage of houses available in the same range at one point in time. In such cases, the government sets a price ceiling; which means that the tenant can be charged a price that does not go above that particular ceiling. This benefits somebody as a renter to be saved from very high rent expenses. This is normally the case with students, bachelors and people leading single lives and providing for them. In cases of students, there is a charge for living in dorms but that charge is as low as possible (minimum). As a Student: A student normally does not have a lot of money to spend on rent, tuition fee, daily expenses and transportation etc. This is usually a lot of a student to bear, especially when there is a lack of financial support from family. As a student, it is almost critical to be able ton get books and stationery and photocopies and general every day expenses. As a student, it becomes very difficult to pay for such basic things all the time; these basic things are actually necessities. Therefore, price ceilings are present in cases of necessities to make sure that not a very high price is charged for this. These ceilings are usually below the equilibrium point or else they become ineffective; because otherwise, if the price ceiling would be above the equilibrium price then this would show that despite the fact that the government has set a maximum price, the market is working at a price below that. Naturally, in this case, the demand is higher than the supply. As an Employee: Labors works in a way where employees are suppliers of labor and the organizations/producers are consumers of it for manufacturing. Equilibrium prices in this case are always a problem because the employees want a higher pay and the organizations want to pay as low as possible. There are times, mostly, when the producers exploit the employees by not hiring them unless they agree to a lower price – stricken by unemployment, most of these laborers agree to these low prices and work. However, this is unfair on the laborers; because if there is just one employer in a specific region, then they are not left with much choice and have to give in to low prices. Therefore, the government sets a minimum wage which is above the equilibrium price so that the laborer can have some advantage. Here, again, the supply is greater than the demand, but it is fair to the employees. But then again, the prices and costs depend on the worker’s competencies, skills and the general market conditions at that point in time. Consequences of Price Ceilings: Price ceilings might seem to be favorable for many parties, but it has its own consequences. Firstly, there is a reduction in quality of the good being provided – even if the product is now being sold at a lower price, but now the producers sell goods of lower quality to cover up for the lost profit margin. Also, this brings in a new phenomenon of black markets; this is where sellers sell at prices lower than the price ceilings illegally. This is illegal, but people who cannot afford higher prices resort to this to fulfill their needs. Black markets ruin the image of a country and disrupts the working of a market and making the statistics of an economy incorrect.

Lehman brothers, credit crunch and the recession

Lehman brothers, credit crunch and the recession Introduction This report will focus on the credit crunch and recession and how they have affected the business environment that firms that operate within it and how their resources were affected. A case study on Lehman Brothers Inc is also included and will analyse the strategies of the firm and how it coped. It is important to understand that the credit crunch and recession are to separate situations but can occur at the same time. A credit crunch happens when banks and other credit companies are less willing to lend money and charge high interest rates to compensate the increased risk of lending; where as the term for a recession is used when an economy experiences two consecutive quarters of negative growth. For example the total number of goods and services produced by a country (Gross Domestic Product) would have to decline on a quarter by quarter basis for six months to be deemed a recession. The Credit Crunch The term ‘credit crunch was once a term only understood and used by economists but over the past two years it has been widely used in the media and in day to day life to describe the money troubles people are experiencing. The credit crunch can be simplified as banks and other credit lending firms being more aware of the risk customers and each other pose when lending therefore placing higher interest rates on loans to cover risk or simply declining to offer loans to higher risk customers. This cautious behaviour leads to dearer credit cards and mortgages becoming very expensive, pensions and Isa rates will decline. Investors will also be less willing to part with their money as stock markets fluctuate rapidly and in some cases bankruptcy and repossession will occur. Current Credit Crunch The credit crunch we are currently experiencing started in 2007 but was caused by companies strategies that worked in the economic boom but as the boom ended and the economic climate changed companies failed to react. Before 2007 the world economies were experiencing a boom and with money flowing freely financial companies became reckless, lending money with cheap interest rates to high risk customers who invested into property. The US Recklessness In the US companies were even more reckless giving billions of dollars worth of mortgages to customers who were high risk; for example no job, income or assets to secure against. The companies justified these risky mortgages by insisting if the customers ran into trouble rising house prices would allow them to remortgage their properties. At the time this strategy worked as the central bank interest rates were low but as they rose companies still carried on with the same strategy not suited to accommodate the rise and as house prices began to fall borrowers started to default on payments sending everyone into panic. These factors alone were not the sole reason for the global credit crunch; it was the way in which the debt was sold on to investors that spread the problem global. US banks were packaging sub-prime loans (people with weak credit ratings) into mortgage backed securities (collateralised debt obligations) these were sold on to hedge funds and investment banks who decided they were a great way to generate high returns, resulting in higher bonuses and profit margins. When interest rates rose and house prices fell customers started to default on their loans, the value of these investments plummeted resulting in huge losses for banks globally. How it affected the UK UK banks and financial companies were watching how easy the US companies were making money so invested heavily to gain a piece of the high returns the US companies were reporting, the investment of choice was the sub-prime backed investments and as the US housing market crumpled and interest rates rose the returns decreased and resulted in companies writing off billions of pounds worth of debt. As the risk of these investments increased finding new investors became impossible and many UK banks were using a securitisation strategy by using the investment market to fund their mortgage business and as the investments could not be sold the banks were left with the debt, causing them to decrease lending to safe guard their finances or in some cases fall into administration or become nationalised as Northern Rock did. The result of the credit crunch meant borrowing rates increased rapidly meaning the good value mortgages people were enjoying were no longer available, financial businesses became paranoid as to whom to lend money, increasing interest rates and asking for higher deposits to secure against default on payments. Businesses in trouble The stock markets were in turmoil and dropped sharply as confidence plunged and as powerful financial companies fell to the credit crunch paranoia set in and companies tried to secure themselves against facing the same fate. This resulted in businesses being unable to run their day to day operations. In most product based companies there is a time gap between production and sales, and some credit is needed to pay for production before receiving cash from sales. Many companies relied on credit for these cash flow issues and in the economic boom overdraft facilities etc were easily accessed, but as the credit crunch set in financial companies cut down on lending leaving many companies with higher costs than income leading to cuts in production and workforce to balance their finances. As the credit crunch caused banks to be nationalised and financial firms to go bust, the rate in which banks lend to each other (libor rate) rose to its highest since 1998 way above the Bank of Englands base rate this indicated that they were concerned as to who may go bust or simply didnt have any money to lend. This tense environment increased peoples worries and loss of confidence in each other indicated how hard the credit crunch had it the financial sectors once vast resources hard. Recession The term recession is used when an economy experiences two consecutive quarters of negative growth. For example the total number of goods and services produced by a country (Gross Domestic Product) would have to decline on a quarter by quarter basis for six months to be deemed a recession. The latest recession has been blamed on the fall of the financial markets but many causes have attributed to the severe downturn of the global markets. As the credit crunch hit the world economies slowed down, and the price of raw materials increased. Within a year the price of oil soared 40%, other materials such as steel and wheat etc saw similar rises. This resulted in higher production costs for companies that use these materials and transportation, energy and the service sector also saw costs increase due to the increased cost of gas and oil. When a business develops increased costs they tend to try and overcome them by raising the cost of their product or service so their consumers incur the cost which is called cost push inflation, this is where income becomes squeezed thus reducing disposable income. They can also cover these costs by cutting down on other costs such as workforce, some companies margins could not stretch to meet the higher material costs and subsequently went out of business. For example Silverjet, all these factors affect the economic downturn and contribute to the recession. The collapse of the housing market also contributed to the decline in the world economies. In boom years confidence was high and borrowing and saving was encouraged, this meant consumer spending was at a high and became a major factor behind economic growth. Consumers were able to remortgage their home easily as their homes grew in value, which enabled more spending and construction was easily affordable and profitable as people had money to buy or build new homes. As the boom came to an abrupt end the factors are reversed, borrowing is now harder and less attractive as higher interest rates are attached thus meaning less money to spend meaning less demand, leading to economic growth to contract. With borrowing limited and spending low, house prices continue to decrease reducing the effectiveness of the policies being used to combat the economic downturn such as the monetary and expansionary fiscal policy. The loss of confidence in the financial sector as the credit crunch hit has created a sense of paranoia amongst people who have lost their confidence in the wider economy. This has stopped people investing even if they have money to do so they are keen to keep hold of it as security as they are unsure what to expect. Spending has also decreased for the same reasons consumers are cutting back on shopping etc, this causes companies to enter into price wars or to cut down on production, costs are cut to enable the company to offer the lowest price or to simply survive. Cost cutting measures usually mean job losses, this increases unemployment which limits the amount people can spend therefore meaning companies need to make me cuts; it turns into a vicious cycle that government stimulus packages try to combat. Lehman Brothers Inc. Lehman Brothers Inc operated at a wholesale level, dealing with governments, companies and other financial institutions. Its core business included buying and selling shares and fixed income assets, trading and research, investment banking, investment management and private equity. In September 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company became insolvent with finances totalling $639 billion in assets and debt worth $619 billion; it became the largest bankruptcy in history. The company employed 25,000 employees worldwide including 5,000 and was the fourth largest US financial bank at the time of the bankruptcy. It also became the biggest victim of the subprime mortgage disaster that had put the global financial sector into meltdown. History In 1844 23 year old Henry Lehman the son of a cattle merchant immigrated to the United States from Rimpar, Bavaria. He set up home in Montgomery, Alabama where he opened a dry-goods shop. In 1847, following the arrival of his brother Emanuel Lehman, the firm became H. Lehman and Bro. With the arrival of their youngest brother, Mayer Lehman, in 1850, the firm changed its name again and Lehman Brothers was founded. The brothers expanded their dry goods store into a cotton business after noticing the potential the highly valued cotton had, even accepting cotton as a payment for products within their shop. Cotton trading became a key part of their business and they eventually relocated to New York, there Lehman became a member of the Coffee Exchange and then on to the New York Stock Exchange in 1887. In 1899, it underwrote its first public offering, the preferred and common stock of the International Steam Pump Company. The company then went from strength to strength underwriting many companies and becoming a powerhouse in the financial industry, prospering through world wars, civil wars and the great depression but the US house market crash proved to be its undoing as greed and the need for higher profits led them to take the decision to invest heavily into the subprime mortgage market which led to its demise. Subprime Mortgages Subprime Mortgages are loans offered to customers who would not usually be accepted for credit due to a poor credit score. The loans often have higher interest rates due to the higher risk a company takes by lending to a subprime borrower. There are many types of subprime mortgage plans on offer, the most common is the adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) which at first charges a fixed interest rate and then switches to a floating rate plus a margin. ARMs can be misleading to subprime borrowers who jump at the chance to take out a mortgage they were previously denied. By charging lower rates at first the mortgages reined in borrowers but as their rates were reset to variable rate which were considerably higher than the rates the borrowers were previously paying and many could not offered the new payment requirements resulting in loan defaults. During the boom Lehman were trading tremendously well and decided to invest in mortgage lending by acquiring five mortgage lenders, which included subprime mortgage lenders BNC Mortgage and Aurora Loan services which specialised in Alt-A Loans. Alt-A Loans are categorised between prime and subprime loans, Alt-A borrowers have clean credit histories but have limited documentation therefore occurring a higher risk, these borrowers proved very attractive to lenders as they could charge them higher interest rates than normal prime loans but were less risky than subprime borrowers. Lehman Brothers Success Lehman Brothers acquisitions proved a success at first; record revenues from Lehmans real estate businesses enabled revenues in the capital markets unit to surge 56% from 2004 to 2006, a faster rate of growth than other businesses in investment banking or asset management. The firm securitised $146 billion of mortgages in 2006, a 10% increase from 2005. Lehman reported record profits every year from 2005 to 2007. In 2007, the firm reported net income of a record $4.2 billion on revenue of $19.3 billion. Lehman Brothers were still continuing to grow and in February 2007 stock reached a record $86.18, meaning Lehman had a market capitalisation of close to $60 billion. This masked the real problem as by the first quarter of 2007 defaults on subprime mortgages rose to a seven-year high. Investors started to have concerns that rising defaults would affect Lehmans profitability, but the firm reported record revenues and profit for its fiscal first quarter. These concerns led to Lehmans chief financial officer (CFO) insisting that the risks posed by rising home delinquencies were well contained and would have little impact on the firms earnings. He also said that he did not foresee problems in the subprime market spreading to the rest of the housing market or hurting the U.S. economy. This statement showed the company had become reckless and the prospect of higher profits and keeping investors happy became their main concern and as long as profits were good the strategy stayed the same Credit Crunch hits Five months after Lehmans Brothers chief financial officers assurances that the company would be unaffected and safe from the housing problems the companys risks seemed to be catching up with it. Lehmans stocks fell sharply as two of Bear Stearns hedge funds failed, it caused them to shut down the BNC unit and cut 2500 jobs and also shut down some of its Aurora offices but as this may have been a sign of them cutting down their mortgage portfolio they continued to pursue the mortgage market becoming the major player gaining a portfolio of mortgage backed securities four times that of shareholder equity. The risk seemed to have paid off as their stocks increased and calm returned to the market, this was the opportunity to trim down their massive portfolio and release funds to secure against any losses the mortgage market may encounter by investing in other areas, however they seemed to choose to keep hold of the bulging portfolio. Lehman Brothers leverage was a high 31 in 2007 which in tandem with its massive mortgage portfolio made it increasingly vulnerable to any change in the market. In March 2008 Bear Stearns struggles continued and confidence in Lehman was fading resulting in a drop in shares of over 40% and although they managed to increase confidence by raising $4billion dollars people were becoming increasingly worried about the size of the companys high risk portfolio. In June Lehman recorded a second quarter loss of $3billion but managed to keep confidence high by raising $6billion through investors and noticing the ticking time bomb they were sitting on boosted its liquidity pool to an estimated $45 billion, decreased gross assets by $147 billion, reduced its exposure to residential and commercial mortgages by 20%, and cut down leverage from a factor of 32 to about 25. However, these measures were perceived as being too little, too late. On August 22, 2008, shares in Lehman closed up 5% (16% for the week) on reports that the state-controlled Korea Development Bank was considering buying the bank. Most of those gains were quickly eroded as news came in that Korea Development Bank was facing difficulties pleasing regulators and attracting partners for the deal. On September 9 Lehmans shares plunged 45% to $7.79, after it was reported that the state-run South Korean firm had put talks on hold. This caused the companys hedge fund clients to pull out, while its short-term creditors cut credit lines. On September 10, Lehman announced shocking fiscal third-quarter results early that highlighted the feebleness of its financial position. The firm reported a loss of $3.9 billion, including a write-down of $5.6 billion as well as these shocking results Moodys Investor Service dealt the company another blow as it announced that it was reviewing Lehmans credit ratings, and also said that Lehman would have to sell a majority stake to a strategic partner in order to avoid a rating downgrade. These developments led to a 42% plunge in the stock on September 11. With $1 billion left in liquidised assets, Lehman was quickly running out of time. Last-ditch efforts over the weekend of September 13 between Lehman, Barclays PLC and Bank of America, aimed at working out a takeover of Lehman, were unsuccessful. On Monday September 15, Lehman declared bankruptcy, resulting in the stock plunging 93% from its previous close on September 12

Catch A Yawn :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Catch A Yawn A trick in every girl's handbook: If you want to know if someone is checking you out, yawn and check to see who, if anyone, yawns back. While we may be using the contagious phenomenon of yawning to our advantage, the age-old question still lingers on - why, in fact, is yawning contagious? Plausible explanations range from historic origins to muscular requirements. However, one answer that encompasses all other questions about the cause and traits of yawning has yet to be found. First, let's tackle the question of why we yawn. An evolutional/psychological theory has claimed that yawning was once used as a non-verbal form of communication to synchronize group behavior among animals (9). For example, the leader of a pack of wolves would yawn to set a certain mood or signal a change of activity. Humans also being group-oriented animals may have assimilated to this form of agreement. In the same way that one pumped up team member can influence the level of aggression and team-spirit of an entire team, one yawning client can also affect the mood of sales-pitch meeting. Another good example of synchronization among humans is if a group is sitting around a campfire and the leader yawns, it most likely will act as a signal to the others that it may be time to call it a night. Yawning is commonly perceived to be a sign of boredom or tiredness. Dr. Robert Provine, known as the yawn-expert from the University of Maryland, performed a study on 17-19 year old students to test this perception. In comparison to a group of students who watched music videos for 30 minutes, a group who watched an uninteresting color test bar pattern for 30 minutes yawned more (10). Dr. Provine also suggested that yawning is like stretching (5). Much like stretching, blood pressure and heart rate can be increased just by yawning. Perhaps animals yawn instinctively when bored or tired to get their blood pumping so that they may be physically stimulated to move or seek a new activity. But then why is it that we yawn after waking up? If we yawn after waking as a physical prompt to become active that's one thing. But yawning as a sign of tiredness can be ruled out if we yawn after waking from a restful sleep. Maybe a study could be done in which a comparison could be made between the ho urs of sleep and the occurrence of yawning when waking.

Canterbury Tales Essay: Immorality and the Friar -- Canterbury Tales E

Immorality and the Friar in The Canterbury Tales  Ã‚   It is a sad commentary on the clergy that, in the Middle Ages, this class that was responsible for morality was often the class most marked by corruption. Few works of the times satirically highlight this phenomenon as well as The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer’s "General Prologue" introduces us to a cast of clergy, or "Second Estate" folk, who range in nature from pious to corrupt. The Friar seems to be an excellent example of the corrupt nature of many low-level clergymen of the times- while his activities were not heretical or heinous, his behavior is certainly not in accord with the selfless moral teachings he is supposed to espouse. According to the Narrator’s account, he is a snob, corrupted by greed, and acts in very un-Christian ways. It is clear that he is a man of low moral standards. When we are first introduced to the Friar, we are told that he possesses a level of social grace far above his station in life. We are told that in the four begging orders, there is no one as knowledgeable in fair language and sociability as he (lines 210-211, Norton), and that he is a very ceremonious fellow (line 209). This seems out of step with a man who is supposed to make a living by begging, a man who is supposed to go through life without a roof over his head. This level of breeding and affinity for ceremony has likely come from an aristocratic birth- often, the younger sons and daughters of nobles who could not be provided for simply entered the clergy. This contributed to a large body of clergy members who came to the church not because they felt a divine calling, but simply because that is what was expected of them (his fellow pilgrim, the Prioress, als... ...th money from those who can barely afford bread. This Friar’s morals are much closer to vice than virtue; any doubts that he is a man of low morals are now completely swept away. Chaucer’s "General Prologue" is remarkable in that it allows us to see not only what characters may claim to represent, but also how they really are inside. Chaucer’s depiction of the Friar, who should be a man of upstanding piety and virtue, makes it readily apparent that he is quite the opposite. The Friar’s elitist background and behavior, his begging-supported greed, and the vices that oppose true Christianity prove that he is a man of low moral standards. Certainly, Chaucer paints a masterful contrast of image vs. reality. Bibliography The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Sixth Edition, Volume 1. M.H. Abrams, et al, Editor. W.W. Norton and Company. New York: 1993.

Research Proposal Essay

Introduction Adolescent substance abuse in Virginia is below the national average according to a study for the Department of Adolescent Health with the Department of Health & Human Services (2011) teens in grades 9-12 disclosed usage of alcohol at a rate of 18 percent compared to 20 percent of the national average for having drank more than a few sips before they were 13 years old. For Marijuana the rate was 32 percent of high school aged adolescents have used marijuana in their lifetime and that is also below the national average of 40 percent. Inhalant usage was 10 percent with a national average of 11 percent, cocaine was listed at 3 percent directly coinciding with the national rate and lastly nonmedical use of pain relievers was 7 percent higher than the national percentage of 6 percent (Department of Health & Human Services Office of Adolescent Health, 2011). Literature Review It is no secret that an individual’s development begins within the environment he or she develops. However, questions begin to arise when one wonders how particular settings or environmental factors affect an individual’s development and to which degree these factors impact one’s life. Further investigation may be necessary when the stage of development of the individual being studied is considered. Adolescence is a unique and critical stage in the development of every human being and organizations such as the Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base (ASK) suggest that substance use and abuse is at least an issue, if not a major problem facing many adolescents. According to ASK the most commonly used substances for adolescents age 12 to 17 are tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. The ASK  website supports that claim with the following statistics: the national average age of first alcohol use is 15 years old, nationally 17.3% of youths have used tobacco in the past month, and the national average annual incidence rate for marijuana use among youths is 6.3% (http://www.adolescent-substance-abuse.com/state-stats.html). A commonly held belief is that parents or family factors can often predict the development of substance use and abuse by adolescents, one website even goes so far as to label parents the â€Å"Anti-Drug† (http://www.theantidrug.com). So what leads adolescents to develop a habit of using substances such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and others? Do parent and family factors play a role in behavior of their adolescent sons and daughters? The purpose of this research proposal is to review the existing literature on parental and family factors and the impact these factors have on predicting the development of teen substance use and abuse. Most research has been done in the area of parental communication and involvement in an adolescent’s life seeking to determine how parenting can influence an adolescent’s substance use or abuse in a positive or negative manner. For example, Farrell and Kung (2000) utilized a number of models to represent the relations between parent ing practices, family structure, peer pressure, and drug use in a sample of 443 seventh grade students. It is important to note that this study was conducted in an urban area, in which many of the subjects were classified as being from low-income families, also a high percentage of those researched were of African American descent. Over half of the adolescents surveyed lived within an intact family or a family with a single parent and extended family members living in the same household. An interesting finding of this study was that peer pressure was more strongly related to drug use than was parenting. That being said, parenting practices were also found to temper the relationship between peer pressure and substance use. This means that parenting can serve as a defensive factor in that children who receive sufficient parenting are better prepared to resist pressures from their peers to use substances than those who do not receive adequate parenting. Ennett, Bauman, Foshee, Pemberton, and Hicks (2001) explored communication between parents and adolescents regarding alcohol and tobacco use through a national study of 537 adolescent and parent pairs. The researchers investigated what was discussed between parent and child and how  that communication impacted the adolescent’s behavior. This data was gathe red via phone contact on two separate occasions, with the second contact taking place one year after the initial contact. There were a number of interesting findings from this study, one of which was that parents who smoked tended to converse more regularly about antismoking rules than did parents who didn’t smoke; in comparison, parents who drank spoke less regularly about rules regarding alcohol use than those that didn’t drink. The study actually produced evidence that parental conversations with adolescents about rules and consequences for alcohol and tobacco use may have caused adolescents who had already tried smoking or drinking to increase their use. Finally, the study also showed that while communication had little in the way of positive effects on adolescent tobacco and alcohol use parental modeling was a much better predictor of an adolescent’s behavior. For example, parental smoking often led to adolescent tobacco and alcohol use, and parental drinking forecasted the rise of alcohol use in many instances (Ennett, Bauman, Foshee, Pemberton, & Hicks, 2001). Another study on the parent-adolescent relationship, this by Wood, Read, Mitchell, and Brand (2004), used mail surveys to contact 578 late-adolescent subjects in the summer before entering college to research parental and peer influences on their alcohol use. The study revealed that men drank nearly twice as much as women, and to negotiate for this known gender discrepancy the authors of the study considered gender in the equations used to calculate their final results. As was the case with similar previous studies, this study revealed that peer influences such as offerings of alcohol and perceived norms were associated with unconstructive consequences as related to alcohol use. The study further supported prior research by confirming that parental behaviors, attitudes, and values correlate directly with late-adolescent alcohol use and problems, and that perceived parental disapproval was associated with lower levels of alcohol use. As the previously discussed research suggests, parental involvement in an adolescent’s life can significantly impact an adolescent’s attitudes and behaviors towards substance use and abuse. However, not all adolescents are fortunate enough to be brought up in environments where parental influences occupy a normal presence within their lives. It is important to consider the impacts of insufficient parenting or nontraditional parenting arrangements  on adolescent substance use. Research Question Will the rate of teen substance abuse decrease if there is more family involvement within teen adolescence? Hypothesis I hypothesize that the rate of teen substance abuse will decrease once there is parental involvement in an adolescent’s years of development Research Design Department of Adolescent Health with the Department of Health & Human Services studied 361 individuals ages 14 to 17, all subjects came from two-parent and single parent families and were enlisted from within the Hampton Roads area in which the study was to be conducted or from clinical treatment programs in the area. The purpose of this study was to create parental involvement measurements applicable to a child’s adolescent lifetime, to differentiate adolescents who were for all practical purposes neglected by their parents from others, and to examine the effects of parental involvement on adolescent behaviors involving drugs and alcohol. Through the use of cross-sectional studies, researchers analysis data from questionnaires. Sampling Strategies The sampling method best used for this research would be non-probability sampling because it opens the opportunity to specify the participants to be researched. This sampling method allows the researcher to create a handpicked research group of participants. Data Collection Method Questionnaire A random sample of 361, 14-17 year olds, stratified by sex and postcode sector, was drawn from the school registration database of Hampton Roads. Ethics committee approval was granted but required that names and addresses be passed to the researchers only after potential respondents had consented. Via their parents, all were sent an information sheet, questionnaire (to establish smoking status), consent form to be countersigned by a guardian, and a freepost return envelope. Results Through the use and analysis of a questionnaire the researchers were able to determine that 75 of the adolescents studied were in situations with low-parent involvement, which the researchers designated as the Neglect group. Those subjects not in the Neglect group were labeled the â€Å"Reference† group. The most substantial observed difference between the Neglect and Reference groups indicated that individuals in the Neglect group, those with less parental involvement in their lives, possessed a weaker ability to resist social pressure to substance abuse. Discussion These numbers show a rising usage of even younger teens beginning to indulge in substances. According to ask the average age of substance experimentation is 14. This study examined the effects of parents talking to children about substances versus those parents who do not. There were a number of interesting findings from this study, one of which was that parents who smoked tended to converse more regularly about antismoking rules than did parents who didn’t smoke; in comparison, parents who drank spoke less regularly about rules regarding alcohol use than those that didn’t drink. The study actually produced evidence that parental conversations with adolescents about rules and consequences for alcohol and tobacco use may have caused adolescents who had already tried smoking or drinking to increase their use. Finally, the study also showed that while communication had little in the way of positive effects on adolescent tobacco and alcohol use parental modeling was a much better predictor of an adolescent’s behavior. For example, parental smoking often led to adolescent tobacco and parental drinking forecasted the rise of alcohol use in many instances. The purpose of this study was to create parental involvement measurements applicable to a child’s adolescent lifetime, to differentiate adolescents who were for all practical purposes neglected by their parents from others, and to examine the effects of parental involvement on adolescent behaviors involving drugs and alcohol Limitation The limitation that would effect this proposal would be the percent of honesty and integrity of the participants. Some participants may feel reluctant to tell the truth either due to fear of parents finding out substance use, or the fear of being labeled. This lack of honesty has a major effect on the data collected from the study. Also using  non-probability sampling will result in limited generalizability of the findings. Implications Practice Implications: When I comes to training social workers on how to treat teens suffering from substance abuse, they have a greater sense of which direction to demonstrate practice. Also allows social workers to understand the history as well at the trigger to initial substance use. Social workers are able to address adolescent clients from different system levels once they are aware of factors that lead teens to abuse substances. Profession: As professionals, these findings help to guide practice in ways to better provide services to teens who suffer from substance abuse and to create preventative methods to keep teens from abusing even in the absence of parental guidance. Target Population: These findings give teens an understanding of how peer and parental influences play a major factor in their curiosity in substances Professional Development: As a professional, this research has given me a sense of direction when it comes to treating and dealing with teens who may suffer fr om substance abuse. Also gives me a better understanding of the history of teen substance abuse and how if occurs. Recommendations for Future Research In future research, study recommend to offer aid, support, and services for those teens who are founded to be abusing or using substances. If challenges are met early, there is a greater chance of transforming these habits. The goal is to strengthen the community through service delivery. References Clark, D., Thatcher, D., & Maisto, S. (2004). Adolescent neglect and alcohol use disorders in two-parent families. Child Maltreatment, 9(4), 357-370. Ennett, S., Bauman, K., Foshee, V., Pemberton, M., & Hicks, K. (2001). Parent-child communication about adolescent tobacco and alcohol use: what do parents say and does it affect youth behavior? Journal of Marriage and Family, 63(1), 48-62. Farrell, A., & Kung, E. (2000). The role of parents and peers in early adolescent substance use: an examination of mediating and moderating effects. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 9(4), 509-528. Highlights of Study by State on Youth Drug Use. (2007). Retrieved January 13, 2011, from http://www.adolescent-substance-abuse.com/state-stats.html Wood, M., Read, J., Mitchell, R., & Brand, N. (2004). Do parents still matter? Parent and peer influences on alcohol involvement among recent high school graduates. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18(1), 19-30.

Whether the Burgess land use model is still relevant in the modern day

Urban land use models are designed to help us understand how towns develop. Although towns and cities have no exact match, the models are designed to show that every urban area has its similarities. Since models rarely take into account things like hills and rivers, there are no guarantees that the model will be completely accurate. I am using the Burgess model because it was one of the most successful land use models- it may well be similarly successful in the modern town. A man called E.W Burgess designed an Urban Land use model, naming it after himself. It was designed in his home country of America, in the city of Chicago. This is what he designed: Burgess' theory was that people competed for limited amounts of space. Only people who that the zones were arranged concentrically, different in age and character. Burgess believed that the housing became newer, and the residents became wealthier, the further they got from the CBD. The people who could afford the best land got it, people like businessmen. The poorest groups were left with the worst locations. Burgess believed that different zones of the city had different functions. These are the sections of the city that he identified: * Central business district – contains the major shops and offices, and is the centre for commerce, entertainment and transport. * Wholesale light industry- This is where the oldest housing in the city is. Such housing is usually deteriorating into slum property. Some areas are also being taken over by light industry. The locals tend to be immigrants or poorer social groups. * Low class residential- Inhabited by people who have managed to escape from the previous zone. They work in nearby factories, and have no choice but to live there so they can get to work quickly and cheaply. * Medium class residential- The housing is of a better quality, and is mostly semi detached and council estates. * High class residential- Occupied by people who can afford the most expensive properties and the high cost of properties, and the high cost of commuting. This zone also includes the commuter villages beyond the edge of the city, although there were few in Burgess' time. The Burgess model is also linked to the bid-rent model. The amount of money different land users are willing to pay for the land depends on their location- the CBD has the most expensive rents. It is the most accessible area as most transport services are focused on the city centre, and main roads meet here. The more accessible a location, then the easier it is to get there. Therefore, people prefer to have work locations that people can access easily, and are also prepared to pay more for them. The Burgess Model also ignores the fact that nearly all towns are affected by physical features such as rivers, lakes and hills. It also ignores heavy industries, and housing redevelopment. Also, in 1924, there was not so much dependence on transport as there is today. Other weaknesses in the model include the criticism that in reality, zones do not just end, and the next one begins. Zones overflow, and the model is designed for highly developed cities such as Chicago, and not 3rd world cities that you might find in Ethiopia and Sudan. Therefore, the model is not universally correct. Hypothesis 1. Land use changes with increasing distance from the centre of Blaydon. This statement fits in with the Burgess model, as Burgess claimed that the land near the CBD will be densely populated and tightly fitted, whilst the land further out of town will have more room for things like gardens. Houses will be terraced near the town centre, and semi detatched on the outskirts. This statement fits in with Burgess' Bid Rent Model, as he claimed that land in the centre of the town was more useful and therefore expensive, so less people would be able to afford big gardens. This hypothesis should be true, because in reality most towns grow from the centre, and will therefore have many buildings squashed into a small section of land near the middle, but towards the countryside there is more free space Hypothesis 2. Housing age will become younger with increasing distance from the centre of Blaydon. This theory fits into the burgess model because the further you are from the city centre the younger the houses will be because the growth of cities are from the CBD so the houses on the outskirts will be the youngest. The CBD was built first in the beginning of the development of Blaydon. This means that houses will be built after the early developments. This process will continue until there is no land to build on. This theory means that houses will be younger as you progress further form the CBD. The hypothesis should be true because the Burgess model claims city growth occurred in the CBD first then grew outwards form there. Hypothesis 3 The quality of life will improve with increasing distance from the CBD of Blaydon. This theory also fits into the burgess model because as you get further away from the CBD the environment qualities should increase and also better housing materials will be available. Hypothesis 2 links with this hypothesis because as the houses become younger, they will become more modern and better building methods will be being used. Quality of life will increase due to the steady increase of size in houses as you progress further from the CBD. Bigger houses mean more money and better quality of life. For example, big gardens and garages accompanied with driveways. In my view this is a better quality of life compared to terraced houses with no gardens. This hypothesis should be true because the house age will decrease and quality of life will increase as you move further form the CBD. Also the environment won't be as bad because the roads and air will be less congested.

Mechanical Engineering Essay

Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of engineering, physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools.[1] It is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. The engineering field requires an understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity. Mechanical engineers use these core principles along with tools like computer-aided engineering, and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, weapons, and others. Mechanical engineering emerged as a field during the industrial revolution in Europe in the 18th century; however, its development can be traced back several thousand years around the world. Mechanical engineering science emerged in the 19th century as a result of developments in the field of physics. The field has continually evolved to incorporate advancements in technology, and mechanical engineers today are pursuing developments in such fields as composites, mechatronics, and nanotechnology. Mechanical engineering overlaps with aerospace engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, petroleum engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, and other engineering disciplines to varying amounts. Mechanical engineers may also work in the field of Biomedical engineering, specifically with biomechanics, transport phenomena, biomechatronics, bionanotechnology and modeling of biological systems, like soft tissue mechanics. Mechanical engineering finds its application in the archives of various ancient and medieval societies throughout mankind. In ancient Greece, the works of Archimedes (287 BC–212 BC) deeply influenced mechanics in the Western tradition and Heron of Alexandria (c. 10–70 AD) created the first steam engine.[2] In China, Zhang Heng (78–139 AD) improved a water clock and invented a seismometer, and Ma Jun (200–265 AD) invented a chariot with differential gears. The medieval  Chinese horologist and engineer Su Song (1020–1101 AD) incorporated an escapement mechanism into his astronomical clock tower two centuries before any escapement can be found in clocks of medieval Europe, as well as the world’s first known endless power-transmitting chain drive. During the years from 7th to 15th century, the era called the Islamic Golden Age, there were remarkable contributions from Muslim inventors in the field of mechanical technology. Al-Jazari, who was one of them, wrote his famous Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices in 1206, and presented many mechanical designs. He is also considered to be the inventor of such mechanical devices which now form the very basic of mechanisms, such as the crankshaft and camshaft. Important breakthroughs in the foundations of mechanical engineering occurred in England during the 17th century when Sir Isaac Newton both formulated the three Newton’s Laws of Motion and developed Calculus, the mathematical basis of physics. Newton was reluctant to publish his methods and laws for years, but he was finally persuaded to do so by his colleagues, such as Sir Edmund Halley, much to the benefit of all mankind. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is also credited with creating Calculus during the same time frame. During the early 19th century in England, Germany and Scotland, the development of machine tools led mechanical engineering to develop as a separate field within engineering, providing manufacturing machines and the engines to power them.[5] The first British professional society of mechanical engineers was formed in 1847 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, thirty years after the civil engineers formed the first such professional society Institution of Civil Engineers.[6] On the European continent, Johann von Zimmermann (1820–1901) founded the first factory for grinding machines in Chemnitz, Germany in 1848. In the United States, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed in 1880, becoming the third such professional engineering society, after the American Society of Civil Engineers (1852) and the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1871).[7] The first schools in the United  States to offer an engineering education were the United States Military Academy in 1817, an institution now known as Norwich University in 1819, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1825. Education in mechanical engineering has historically been based on a strong foundation in mathematics and science. Education Degrees in mechanical engineering are offered at universities worldwide. In Brazil, Ireland, Philippines, Pakistan, China, Greece, Turkey, North America, South Asia, India, Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom, mechanical engineering programs typically take four to five years of study and result in a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), Bachelor of Science Engineering (B.ScEng), Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), or Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc) degree, in or with emphasis in mechanical engineering. In Spain, Portugal and most of South America, where neither BSc nor BTech programs have been adopted, the formal name for the degree is â€Å"Mechanical Engineer†, and the course work is based on five or six years of training. In Italy the course work is based on five years of training, but in order to qualify as an Engineer you have to pass a state exam at the end of the course. In Greece, the coursework is based on a five year curriculum and the requirement of a ‘Diploma’ Thesis, which upon completion a ‘Diploma’ is awarded rather than a B.Sc. In Australia, mechanical engineering degrees are awarded as Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or similar nomenclature[9] although there are an increasing number of specialisations. The degree takes four years of full-time study to achieve. To ensure quality in engineering degrees, Engineers Australia accredits engineering degrees awarded by Australian universities in accordance with the global Washington Accord. Before the degree can be awarded, the student must complete at least 3 months of on the job work experience in an engineering firm. Similar systems are also present in South Africa and are overseen by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). In the United States, most undergraduate mechanical engineering programs are  accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to ensure similar course requirements and standards among universities. The ABET web site lists 302 accredited mechanical engineering programs as of 11 March 2014.[10] Mechanical engineering programs in Canada are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB),[11] and most other countries offering engineering degrees have similar accreditation societies. Some mechanical engineers go on to pursue a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Master of Science, Master of Engineering Management (MEng.Mgt or MEM), a Doctor of Philosophy in engineering (EngD, PhD) or an engineer’s degree. The master’s and engineer’s degrees may or may not include research. The Doctor of Philosophy includes a significant research component and is often viewed as the entry point to academia.[12] The Engineer’s degree exists at a few institutions at an intermediate level between the master’s degree and the doctorate.

The Copernican Plan: Scheduling of Classes

These days public school districts seem to be under attack for their quantity not quality education standards. These school districts face big problems in attempting to deliver quality education to their customers, the students. How can a school district enhance the quality of time that students spend in the classroom, provide more time for collaboration and coordination among it's professional staff members, promote continuous professional development, and do so with as few dollars as possible? A current solution is The Copernican Plan devised by Joseph M. Carroll. This is a unique scheduling plan that reduces the number of classes that a student takes at any one time. There are many variations of the Copernican Plan. In one variation the student takes 2 macro-classes in the morning. Each class is approximately 100 minutes long and is taken for only one 60-day trimester. During the afternoon the student would take 2 exploratory classes. Schools using the Copernican Plan have routinely increased standardized scores, attendance, and teacher collaboration time. According to current research, the Copernican Plan can help almost every U.S. high school decrease its average class size, increase its course offerings, substantially reduce teaching load, provide students with regularly scheduled seminars, establish a productive learning environment, and substantially increase learning mastery within present funding levels. Overall, the Copernican Plan changes school scheduling by lengthening instructional periods for fewer and smaller classes. The system should improve teacher-student relationships, lighten workloads, and introduce innovative evaluation and learning systems. As a future teacher, I might favor using the Copernican Plan to create an adequate learning environment for my students. Along with using this program, I would have the opportunity to collaborate with my teacher peers. Working together brainstorming and providing feedback for others will enhance the learning environment we provide for our students.

Antique Wooden High Chair CareÂÂ

Antique Wooden High Chair Care   There is a certain kind of glow in your living room if it has an antique piece of furniture in it. Not only does it give off a sense of history, it also gives off a sense of wealth. Antique furniture is very expensive, and only those who truly love fine art are able to appreciate it. Thus, if you own an antique piece of furniture in your home, you should take all measures to make sure it is preserved. Do not use coarse items to clean it. This means feather dusters are out of the picture. The broken feathers could nick your antique arm chair and cause unwanted marks. While these marks can make your furniture look more antique than ever, it could open up pockets in the woodwork that can cause decay. Spray products are a definite no-no. Simply wiping it with a soft dry cloth will do the trick. It could take a while to get that shine you want, as opposed to simply spraying it with Pledge, but you’re sure to better preserve your antique arm chair’s quality this way. Also, if your arm chair was not really meant to by shiny, don’t force it, or you’ll just ruin its intrinsic beauty. Clean using only wax made for antique furniture. Antique furniture is expensive, so you should only complement it with top quality products, otherwise, you’ll be defeating the purpose. There are high quality beeswax that may be imported from England. However, if you don’t have enough money to import good wax, just wipe the arm chair with a cotton cloth. There is no such thing as â€Å"winging it† with antiques. It isn’t likely that a replacement part for your antique high chair still exists to this day. If an inlay gets loose, keep it in a safe place until somebody, an expert on fixing antique furniture, comes. Do not attempt to do the reworking yourself if you have no idea how. Handle them extra carefully. Antique furnitures have to be placed in certain temperatures only to preserve their value. If your house is dry during the winter, you should get a humidifier. Conversely, if its too humid in the summer, you should get an air conditioner. Antiques require meticulous care. Thus, if you are not prepared with the tedious job of maintaining them, then you shouldn’t get one. Wooden high chairs are one of the most common pieces of furniture, but finding an antique could be a challenge. Once you have one, care for it deeply like you do your favorite pet. You never know how much it can fetch you once you have it appraised.

Human Resource Management suggestions for Losalot Ltd Essay

Human Resource Management suggestions for Losalot Ltd - Essay Example HRM is all about this. Employees are taught to be positive, deliver quality work, have a sense of humor, and work as a team. Employees should be interested in performing as a team and take joy in team results, rather than aim at individual accomplishments. HRM identifies people with qualities associated with conformity, positive attitude, and partnership. Building a team with members with such exemplary qualities mitigates the work of an organization and together, they can build a work force that performs exemplarily in all the organization desires (Corporate Culture, Auxillium West -The HR Manager). Strong HRM practices are characterized by an equally strong internal labor market, consultative decision making and enterprise unionism. Strong employee-management relationship, leading to employee identification with the firm and a high commitment to innovative production practices that enhance the firm's performance is of prime importance in the context of company progress and development. This could change with employees creating trouble through non-cooperation or their laidback attitude towards their work and superior supervisors. In such situations, it is the company that suffers from low production and strikes. Unless the company HR personnel are well versed with legislations, the company will ultimately have to pay heavy compensation to these employees. A good HR is aware of his/her rights and legislations that offer solace to companies against such employee demonstrations. 1.0 Introduction Losalot Ltd is such a company that doesn't employ an HR specialist. All its recruitment and selection are carried out by the company line managers, who without any proper training in HR law, find themselves making mistakes and forced to pay out large sums of money as compensation to job applicants and current employees. Losalot Ltd is left with no choice but to adhere to the demands of the problem-making employees. In order to avoid further annoyance, the company seeks a remedy to bail them out of this perennial problem. HR should be well versed with legislations relating to recruitment, selection, equalizing, employment opportunities and the formation of employments contracts. 2.0 Legislations The Human Rights Act 1998 came into being in October 2000. 18 Articles consisting of rights and freedom came under this statutory. Of these Articles 6/8/9/10/11/and 14 have far reaching implications for HR. One Article addresses the religious sentiments of minority groups at workplace: The reputation of the industry for giving low priority to personnel matters is reflected in an almost universal disregard of the code of racial equality. Discrimination in recruitment, training, motivation, and promotion can have a bearing on life chances. This can also be referred to in 'Religion and Belief, Dec 2003. Can employers monitor their employee's e-mails This can be termed as a violation into the privacy of an individual and can be referred to discrimination of human rights. Are personal relationships at work grounds for dismissal This depends upon the nature of relationship and the context in which, if it does, affects performance. Personal relationships are fine as long as they don't come between duty and quality. However, it is advisable to have personal relationships outside working hours and work premises. Can an employer insist on a dress code or uniform

Personal statement apply master Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Apply master - Personal Statement Example I am applying Information management in your esteemed institution since I am extremely interested in the various topics which I have covered in my undergraduate course. My interest in this discipline was aroused in my undergraduate studies in BA Economics since it has a lot of information that needs to be analyzed and evaluated for future reference. On the other hand, information management covers imperative areas which will also broaden my understanding as well as knowledge of the discipline as a whole. Currently, I am a level 3 student which is a high score. This means that given a chance to study for my postgraduate program in your institution, I will be able to further achieve better grades. I am also good leader especially to my fellow students. This is why; I was selected team leader of my study group. This is because; I am not only cooperative, but also a team player who encourages cohesion of all group members. I believe that for any group to be productive there is need to use the right kind of leadership style and that is why I utilize a democratic leadership style in my group. I believe that given a chance to I will be able to add value to the institution’s leadership aspects and enhance personal performance as well as that of the institution. I am passionate about information management and that is why; I am currently reading books that will further enhance the understanding of the discipline. I also understand the essence of taking part in active sports. That is why I take part in basketball, Ping-pong and shooting. If admitted to the university, I will participate in these sports to further its recognition in sports. Taking Information Management is important to me because when I complete my studies, I will go back to China for business. I have work experience from my internship program in International Settlement Department of the Huancheng. The internship gave me firsthand experience in handling date. I think that Information

Developments In The European Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Developments In The European Union - Essay Example This effort was established by the Treaty of Maastricht in the year 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community. With almost 500Â  million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 30% share of the worlds nominal gross domestic product, (US$16.8 trillion in 2007) which also reflects global concern as structural and humanitarian developments (International Monetary Fund). Thus, the EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws which apply in all member states, guaranteeing the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital minimising the formalities of the Minister of External Affairs of the different member states and the other states accessing for the EU status (European Commission). It also maintains a common trade policy, agricultural and fisheries policies, and a regional development policy to convert the geographical differences into one landmass and also providing a broader channel of development in turns of trade and commerce, for the in and out the flow of the business is multiple, of course, huge (Farah 2006). With a far-sighted view of cash flow that can feed a fifteen member states, which have adopted a common currency, the euro, thus, expanding the operation of the transactions into many other nations. It has developed a role in foreign policy, representing its members in the World Trade Organisation, at G8 summits, and at the United Nations. Twenty-one EU countries are members of NATO. It has developed a role in justice and home affairs, including the dealings with immigration to the states by the abolition of passport control between many member states under the Schengen Agreement (Europa 2005).

MGMT402 U4 DB Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT402 U4 DB - Assignment Example However, this will be varying based on the nature of offense and when it is done. For a first offender, there will be a monetary fine of $250-$2,000 per each illegal immigrant employed. For a second offense, the fine increased to between $2,000 and $5,000 per. However, stiffer penalties might be imposed on the third and subsequent offenders who might be eventually sentenced to up to six moths in jail. I support this penalty because it is justified (Massey, 2007). In this regard, it is my considered opinion that Patricia should be keen to ensure that she does not face the same penalty. In her restaurant, she should ensure that she is privy with her workers’ immigration status to ascertain if there are illegal or legitimate. Only legitimate ones should be hired in her restaurant. As an employer, she should make efforts to know if her employees are legally permitted to work in the country. This can be done by checking their social security numbers. Otherwise, she would have to face the wrath of this

Raising Individual Financial Awareness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Raising Individual Financial Awareness - Essay Example One type of personal pension is a defined contribution pension, also known as money purchase scheme, which is bought by contributions made by the employer and the employee. Defined benefit pension, also known as final salary schemes, is another type of pension scheme wherein the benefits are paid based on the scheme rules such as time and changing salary levels and mortality rates, etc. The best way to differentiate between the above mentioned 2 schemes is by identifying the riskholder. Employer is the risk holder as he underwrites the vast majority of costs attached with defined benefit schemes. Employee or the scheme member is the risk holder as contributions are paid back at fixed levels, therefore if the contribution rates are not increased when the returns are poor, the retirement benefits will also be lower than they had planned for (TSSA). Bill Murray, in case of , defined contribution scheme, can increase his contribution if he feels it is necessary to increase his pension. T herefore in case he wants to have ?18,000 as his annual retirement he needs to increase his pension pot to ?284,000, assuming ?100,000 pension pot fetches on average ?6341 to a healthy 65 year old male (Annuity). In case of, defined benefit pension he will know roughly how much he will get, as the amount will depend on the length of time he has worked and his final salary. Therefore, if the scheme is based on 60ths i.e. Bill will get 1/60th of his final salary for his pension each year, and assuming he has been working for 42 years, his final salary should be ?25,714. This should be easily achievable because the average salary in 2010 for marketing was ?37500 (ITJobsWatch). Bill Murray should choose the defined benefit scheme because it gives him certain amount irrespective of the state of the economy. The scheme will also pay him more if his salary is anywhere close to the average salary if not more. Government has proposed to s include an option for a flat rate State Pension of ar ound ?140 a week for a single person and change in the limit of state pension age (DirectGov, State pension Reforms). The reason behind is the need to meet the needs of future pensioners, who are saving lesser, and with people living longer, the burden of pension also increases on the Government. Part B Houses bought to be rented out should have a buy to let mortgage, which is often interest only. The full amount that was borrowed is repaid at the end of the mortgage. Buy to let mortgages often require the rental for the property to be a set percentage above the mortgage repayment (Mortgages). HSBC’s tracker rate mortgage is suitable for Annie. It has a repayment rate of 3.99% plus base rate and costs ?1499 to set up (HSBC). Table 1 below estimates if buying a flat and renting out is a worthwhile investment. The below estimates are based on an assumption the flat is occupied by tenants for all 12 months. Table 1: Estimates of renting the flat (all figures in ?) Rental Income (?1500*12) 18000 Commission (15% of ?18000) (2700) Insurance (assumed) (1000) Interest (based on HSBC rate) (5850) Maintenance (assumed) (1500) Other costs (assumed) (500) Profit/(Loss) 10550 As per the estimates above, Annie would make about ?10,550 annually. Interest payments are low merely because the deposit of ?70,000 which Annie has provided. When Annie intends to sell