Financial Statement Review

Financial Statement Review University of Phoenix ACC/561 Financial Statement Review Introduction Financial statements play a significant role in each and every type of business. The financial statements provide a wealth of information to auditors, creditors, investors, suppliers and other important venues that need access to this type of information. This paper will discuss four different types of financial statements and how they are utilized by vendors, creditors and others. The four financial statements that will be reviewed are the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statements and statement of retained earnings.Income Statement Beginning with the income statement, the information provided includes the amount of revenue that the company earns over a certain period of time. The period of time is usually a year or some a portion of a year. An income statement reveals the net worth or loss of a company reporting on the costs and expenses associated with the revenue earnings. Balance Sheet The balance sheet is a snapshot which examines the business. This statement records assets, liabilities and the equity of a company at a particular point in time.The equation used for the balance sheet is assets = liabilities + shareholdersequity. Assets are those things that the company actually owns or controls. The liabilities are represented by the debt or financing that was taken out to acquire those assets. Equity is that money that has been provided by people or stockholders to keep the business afloat. Statement of Cash Flows The statement of cash flows statements reports over a period of time and covers cash inflows and outflows. Generally the statement of cash flows refers to the day to day operations or operating cash flows, cash from investing and cash from financing.It is difficult for a company to manipulate the cash flow and therefore is a very important financial statement. Statement of Retained Earnings The statement of retained earnings reports on cha nges in retained earnings for a specific period. The statement of retained earnings reconciles the beginning and ending retained earnings for that period and will include net income from other statements. It is an inclusion to either the balance sheet or the income statement and not a stand-alone financial statement. Importance of Financial Statements Financial statements have a significant impact on the successfulness of a company.Depending on whether you’re an investor, creditor or manager, the information that is most crucial will depend on who you are. An investor is concerned with the bottom line and the overall value and growth of a company. A company’s earnings and revenue can be compared to the stock price. As an investor the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows is important. Investors will review the information and determine if the company overcame any obstacles and if there is still room for growth. They will also review the net income / loss and the history over previous years to determine any growth or potential for growth.As a creditor, information that is important is the current amount of debt and the amount of cash that is available to pay back that debt. The statement that would be most beneficial would be the balance sheet. The balance sheet contains all of the assets to include cash and cash equivalents and current liabilities as well. It is important to know the current ratio for a creditor to determine the worthiness of the company and the ability to pay both short term and long term debts. A manager is going to be concerned with all statements.When questions are asked by investors and creditors it usually falls back on the manager. It is important for a manager to know the financial position of an organization as it relates to them. Conclusion It is clear that all financial statements play an important role within an organization. The information needed is dependent on who is reviewing the information . The information needs to be reported accurately and efficiently and will cover a specific point in time or a certain period. References Kimmel, Paul D. (2009) Accounting: Tools for Business Decision Making (3rd ed). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Public and Private Schools Essay

There are many advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools. As a parent, both options must be explored and the choice must be based on what is right for each particular child.   Public schools often have a larger variety of subjects available, especially when it comes to electives. However, what is learned is somewhat decided by the state because public schools need to do well on standardized testing. Private schools, on the other hand, whether parochial or private have much more freedom of choice in curriculum and can choose to make their own assessments. Because of the individualized instruction, private schools tend to do generally better on standardized testing, that is, if they choose to use it. Private schools, many times, have more demanding curricula and have a higher rate of students who go on to attend college. Public schools are larger and also have larger class sizes. Public schools also have larger student-teacher ratios. According to a web site called Public School Review, â€Å"Private schools average 13 students per teacher, compared with an average of 16 students per teacher in public schools† (publicschoolreview). However, public schools have certified teachers. Private schools typically have teachers who are not state-certified and who may not have expertise in their subject matter.   The biggest difference between public and private schools probably is that public schools are required to educate all students. They cannot deny any student admission. On the other hand, private schools have complete control about who they accept and can kick students out much more easily.   Public schools are funded by tax revenue whereas private schools are funded privately. That means private schools cost money to attend called tuition. Taxpayers pay for public schools so the payment is included in what people pay. However in private schools, the payment is upfront for students to attend. Overall, there is no one right answer for which kind of school a student attends—public or private. The decision must be made for each individual student as there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Works Cited Public School Review. Public Versus Private Schools. Retrieved Nov. 15, 2007 at Web

America Gets VERY Involved Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

America Gets VERY Involved - Essay Example The Buddhist crisis was a result of the repressive reforms of the President Diem in South Vietnam. The reforms were majorly against the likes of the Buddhists, who constituted the majority of the population. Until 1963, the Buddhists resisted themselves from any rebellious demonstrations as a reaction to the disliked Diem rule. However, in May 1963, this patience came to a revolutionary end, when the Diem forbade the celebration of the Buddha’s birthday by religious banners or flags. On May 8, in the city of Hue, Buddhist leaders went against this order and continued their celebrations. This led to a conflict between the Diem army and the Buddhist monks leading to an open fire demonstration that resulted in the killing of nine people and fourteen people became wounded (Brune & Burns 2003). This event was precipitated as a result of the oppressive reforms and rule of President Diem and the event was significant in showing to the world the disdain and dislike his own people had for him. The Buddhist revolt gave evidence of the immense lack of support that Diem had in his own country (Brune & Burns 2003). Another significant turning point in the Buddhist crisis was on June 11. On a busy intersection of Saigon, a monk, Thich Quang Duc poured himself with gasoline and set himself on fire only to express his contempt for Diem. The American media captured this incident immediately and the photographs of the self-immolation became the highlights in not just United States but all around the world. These horrendous pictures of a monk on fire led to a wave of criticism and immediate action. The American policies were criticized for supporting Diem who was oppressive in his handling of religious matters. The American government on the other hand, realized the deficiencies in Diem ’s presidency, and forced him to withhold his strict limitations (Moss 2009). The Buddhist revolts were a

Japan's 21 Demands of the Chinese government in 1914 Essay

Japan's 21 Demands of the Chinese government in 1914 - Essay Example Japanese ambitions in China were impeded by the presence of these European powers, but an internationally recognized foothold had been secured by 1905. The start of the First World War in 1914 provided Japan with an opportunity to extend its influence over more areas of mainland China. The â€Å"21 Demands† of Japan were a manifestation of its ambitions in mainland China and a reflection of its growing strength as an international power. Korea had for long had been a bone of contention between China and Japan. For Japan, Korea was both a threat and a challenge. Positioned as it was, Korea in the hands of China was a dagger poised at the heart of Japan and that was the strategic threat. Korea was also a challenge in that it paved the way to any ambitions on mainland China. In the Sino-Japanese War between 1894 and 1895, Japan emerged the victor. China was not only forced to concede the neutrality of Korea, but also give Taiwan and the Liaodong peninsula (Port Arthur) to the Japanese. The intervention of three European powers in the form of France, Germany and Russia forced Japan to return the Liaodong peninsula to China. In 1898 Russia leased the Liaodong peninsula from China and building a railroad began to expand its influence into Korea, and by the beginning of the twentieth century the growing Russian influence in the area was a matter of concern to Japan and eventuality war broke out between the two in 1904. Jap an emerged victorious and the Portsmouth Treaty of 1905 an American effort at bringing about peace in the area established the withdrawal of Russia from Korea and the internationally recognized presence of Japan in Korea. In addition the Liaodong peninsula returned to the Japanese sphere of control, giving Japan a foothold on mainland China (1). In 1898 Germany had managed to secure several concessions from China in the Shandong province including the port of Tsingtao and the railway rights in the province. To Britain these

Sexual Harassment Case Analyzes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sexual Harassment Case Analyzes - Essay Example An analysis of the internal and external environmental factors over time to isolate causal factors suggests that the Human Resource Department failed to rightly augment its position to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Winthrop's sexual harassment charges. If the letter from the company Vice President of Human Resources to EEOC had substantially provided the details of the specific termination and charges, including the specifics of the sexual harassment against Jim Hudson, company's policy on sexual harassment, the statement from Mary Harper Jones concerning the events, etc., the present problem would not have arisen. Another significant cause for the recent problem is that the company failed to effectively convince the EEOC on the Company's handling of Winthrop's termination. In another consideration of the problem, it is also clear that the Company's position on the issue could have more emphatically presented before the commission which would also alleviate the curre nt issue. As the company has concluded that some form of 'injury' has been suffered by the claimant, its position on the matter can well be justified. As the company has strong evidence for the sexual harassment complaint by Jim Hudson, its stand on the current sexual harassment charges by Bill Winthrop on Jones firmer before the commission. ... bility insurance covers the financial cost of a sexual harassment claim, it can't repair the damage to employee morale, or compensate for the public embarrassment and ridicule a company may suffer." (Understanding Sexual Harassment) Therefore, the company needed to be more vigilant and careful in handling the sexual harassment proceedings by Winthrop. Step 3: Alternative Solutions The prime alternative solution to the issue is to provide an apt reply to the request for additional information from EEOC to standard valve & gauge. This can be best done by providing the statement from Mary Harper Jones concerning the events, the company's policy on sexual harassment, the company's policy on discipline and discharge, the personnel files of the two parties concerned, and other specifics required in the the request for additional information by EEOC. The company also can make a further investigation on any complaints reports to the management by the Charging Party about being sexually harassed. Another possible alternative solution to the Department is to make more extensive and detailed investigations on the sexual harassment attack on Jones by Winthrop and submit the conclusions of the enquiry to the commission. Step 4: Select the Best Alternative. The best solution to the present problem is that the Human Resource Department of the company adopts an ever-stronger position on the sexual harassment charges by Jones on Winthrop, substantiating the position by affirming the company's policy on sexual harassment, the company's policy on discipline and discharge etc and by providing more convincing evidences of the sexual harassment by Winthrop. As the company is facing a fresh and counter charge of sexual harassment by Winthrop, which has never been reported before, the

Dissertation proposal Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Dissertation - Research Proposal Example This is to facilitate communication and formulation of superior performance policies that focus on the participation of everyone. Employee engagement remains a hot issue with most professionals posting diverse opinion on its suitability in measuring performance in institutions. One school of thought reports that employee engagement indices criteria form a fundamental element that provides relevant incentives for measuring performance. It acts as a scorecard guideline that measures the satisfactory level of employees and consumers in service delivery. However, another school of thought faults its use since it fails to provide clear benchmarks that can be applied to facilitate credible measurement of performance. Ideally, employees hold the requisite capacity of influencing performance in institutions (Macey, Schneider & Barbera, 2009, p. 224). To ensure superior innovation and creativity in product development, proper employee engagement is essential. It ensures adequate sharing of id eas and formulation of policies with innovative ideals. It is crucial to note that, employee performance can be achieved when their morale is enhanced through adequate engagement in diverse aspects. Over the past two decades, the term employee engagement has gained increased popularity. ... Most of the previous studies on this subject have addressed a number of aspects that are related to it; others have been very general, while others have addressed the particular aspects relating to the subject (Attridge, 2009). Over the years, management practitioners and management scholars have reiterated the need of coming up with the actual measures and indicators of specific management practices in order to evaluate their relevance (Markos and Sridevi, 2010). It is in the light of this view that it is important to evaluate the relevance of employee engagement indices as a performance measure and indicator in institutions. This evaluation will be fundamental in establishing how relevant these indices are, and whether there is need of changing them in order to make them more relevant. This paper evaluates the imperativeness of employee engagement as a performance measure and advancement of cordial relations in business institutions. Background The fact that modern business demands more efficiency and higher productivity than in the past cannot be disputed. This situation has come about as a result of various factors that affect the business environment (Ologbo and Saudah, 2011). These factors include technological advancements, increased competition, and heightened customers and shareholders’ expectations among others. Organizations are making a lot of efforts to improve their performances in order to remain competitive, make more profits and survive in the turbulent business environment. Several studies have shown that one of the critical ingredients of organizational success is employees (Harter et al, 2002). More satisfied

Credit-Default Swaps and the Fate of AIG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Credit-Default Swaps and the Fate of AIG - Essay Example The buyers of the credit mechanisms in most a cases are investors and the process of purchasing bond from the seller are comparable to the purchasing an indemnity contract (Rottleb, 2009). The payment done by the investor is characterized of it plagiaristic form that is always used as tradable security to the organization in question. The â€Å"Naked† credit default swaps are when an individual with no experience in dealing with CDS purchase the CDS protecting if from declining because of the upheavals in the economic conditions of the country. Naked credits purchasers are individuals taking a bet of non-payment to be sold to be sold to an individual who is a need of protection against a mechanism default (Pe?rez, 2011). The importance of CDS can not be underrated. It gives investors a break though to predict the changes within a default mechanisms or market catalogues to take suitable decisions regarding purchasing or selling CDS. An example is that an investor may profit to accrue proceeds from the excess of credit default swap from ‘basis trade’, since it combines various default mechanism with the cash bonds of an organization. The mechanism also opens up other avenues for speculations. A saver is at liberty in laying promises to take charge of a bond by promising the seller that he or she is fully liable incase of eventuality of a drop of CDS. An example is when a company A has certainty that company B is going to decline. It purchases bonds of unknown worth from the company to shield it against company C that was waiting to take over the assets of C on its fall. The CDS has the terms of its contract stipulated in the, in the ‘The International Swap and Derivates operation‘. The terms entail the deadline for protection of an organization from declining. Secondly, the terms also spell out the computation mechanisms to apply in determining the effectiveness off administrative function used on the transactions. Lastly, the term s also spell out the structure of the credit event that will lead to the payments of the cash used to insure an organization (Boberski, 2009). There are 2 forms of settlement for CDS associated with the settlement of the mechanisms are Physical or cash settlement. Physical Settlement and Cash Settlement Physical payment is the payment made by an investor to buys bonds to protect them from declining. The buyer investor pays the seller par value of the sold CDS. Cash settlement is the settlement the retailer pays the purchaser the variation par value of the CDS bought by a buyer or an investor. Synthetic Credit Default This is a debt that is taken with provision of security to acts as collateral for the debt taken. The debt taken is invested in other channels like CDS. Synthetic swap are based on the risk individuals take. The cons of synthetic CDS far outweigh its pros; thus it is not efficient. Disadvantages of Synthetic Credit Default Swap The use of synthetic CDS is not effective, since it is not given similar of financial support like the other available money souks because a risk taken by an individual will not be paid completely, rather the payments will be made in portions. Secondly, it requires different views from the stakeholders to

Social Psychology - Delinquency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Psychology - Delinquency - Essay Example The decision to shoplift is driven from within by the thought processes of the individual, placing it squarely in the realm of psychology as part of the social exchange theory (Brehm, Kassin, & Fein, 2005). Along a similar line it is possible that the individual engaged in shoplifting in order to gain items that would create the perception of financial success so prized in our society. The pressure to act came from outside the individual and is an example of the structural-functional theory of sociology (Zappen, 1998). What if an equal emphasis comes from outside the individual Perhaps the shoplifter has many friends, peers, and role models that shoplift. The saying birds of a feather would point to the sad fact that the individual would eventually be labeled as a shoplifter by association. So if people expect the individual to shoplift he will be more likely to do so. Or so the labeling theory would have us believe (Sociological theory, 2008). It could also be argued that shoplifters learn the behavior from their peers as explained by the social learning theory of psychology. When an individual repeatedly sees a behavior being done it becomes the norm for him and engaging in it is not seen by the individual as deviant, delinquent or criminal. A similar method can be used to dis

Summary of chapter 10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary of chapter 10 - Essay Example This is unlike the case in dividends on stock; thus, stockholders are less likely to acquire financial returns as compared to bondholders (Kelly & McGowen 135). Trading securities markets are of two types; primary and secondary markets. Primary securities market refers to when corporations gain more financial capital by selling new securities (Kelly & McGowen 137). On the other hand, secondary securities market trades the previous securities to gain financial capital. Issuing of securities in the primary market occurs in two methods, that is, through a public offering or private placements. Private placements are faster, easier and cheaper as compared to a public offering (Kelly & McGowen 138). In the secondary market, the firms that issue bonds and stock do not receive additional finance when they trade their securities. However, an advantage to the firm is that, at secondary market price, of their stock reflects the investor opinion about the firm’s management (Kelly & McGowen 138). Investors need to keep track on the performance of securities in the market. A major way is to track stock indices. These include; Dow Jones Industrial average, Standard and Poor’s 500 and the NASDAQ Composite Index. These indices help to update the investor and guide him or her in the way of investing (Kelly & McGowen

Estimating Cranial Capacity Essay Example for Free

Estimating Cranial Capacity Essay Human beings share approximately 94% of their DNA with their closest living relative, the chimpanzee. Yet, when one compares the proliferation and accomplishments of these two closely related species, one finds huge differences: human beings have spread across every continent but Antarctica; erected towers and pyramids hundreds of meters tall; crafted millions of beautiful works of art, literature, and music; travelled far beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, and deep into the crevices of its oceans; and engineered enough weapons to wipe the whole world of life. In contrast, chimpanzees have remained largely confined to their jungle habitats, and amongst their greatest accomplishments is the discovery that twigs can poke insects out of holes. So, if humans and chimpanzees are so closely related, what can account for such a huge difference in their abilities? One needs not think very hard to realize that the answer is brain-size. The chimpanzee brain is about half the size of the human brain, and this difference, of about 600 cubic centimeters, is the difference between sticks and space shuttles. Thus, because larger brains confer such an overwhelming evolutionary benefit in hominids, it is safe to say that a study of hominine brain size is no less than a study of hominine evolutionary advancement, as illustrated in the graph below, which is indicative of the results obtained from such studies. Fig 1: Scatter graph typical of results obtained when comparing cranial capacities of various species of fossil hominid. Since brain tissue deteriorates over time, the only way paleontologists can approximate the brain-size of extinct species is by studying the capacity of their fossilized craniums. This is known as craniometry. Given that it is such an important area of investigation, study into craniometry has been widespread and diverse, encompassing research from such eminent and eclectic figures as the evolutionary biologist T. H. Huxley and the physician and anthropologist Paul Broca. Although such studies vary greatly in their scopes and applications, almost all utilize one of two standard craniometrical methods: the glass-bead technique (and variations like the lead-shot technique) and the caliper measurement technique. Because craniometrical researchers rely so much on these two methods, it is important that the accuracy of the methods is thoroughly investigated. Aim: The purpose of this practical is to use the glass-bead and caliper techniques to measure the cranial capacity of hominid skulls, and compare the two sets of results obtained in an attempt to determine their concord, and therefore their accuracy. Materials and Methods: The Glass Bead Technique: †¢ Measuring Cylinder †¢ Glass Beads (or items of similar size such as mustard seed or lead shot) †¢ Funnel †¢ Cotton Wool †¢ The following skull specimens: P. troglodytes (male and female specimens), G. gorilla (male and female specimens), P. pygmaeus (male and female specimens), H. sapiens (male specimen) To begin with, all of the foramina (holes) in the skulls, except for the foramina magnum, were plugged with cotton wool. Next, each skull was placed upside down. A funnel was then inserted into the foramen magnum of each skull and glass beads were poured into the cranial vault. Note that glass beads were used because they are small enough to approximate the viscosity of water, and large enough to prevent them falling through minor cracks in the skulls. When the cranial vault was completely packed with glass beads, they were transferred to a measuring cylinder, and their volume was recorded.

Climate Change And Renewable Energy Options

Climate Change And Renewable Energy Options Climate change is the consequence of any kind of adjustments in the climate system. Change in climate is caused by fluctuations in the factors that influence climatic patterns. This phenomenon has become one of the greatest environmental threats and risks that the world is facing. Persistent human activities such as driving cars, farming, deforestation, and industrialization result into production of greenhouse gases. These gases gather in the atmospheric space, and trap the heat from the sun. This is what causes climate change manifested through global warming and other processes. The effects of disruptive changes have led to catastrophic events like storms, droughts, rise in the sea levels, and floods (Kammen Casillas 2010, p. 1181). Climate change is majorly caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the intervention efforts meant to mitigate the impacts of climate change thus target human activities that contribute to additional emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (Letcher ScienceDirect 2009, p. 67). Therefore, renewable energy has been considered as one of the leading solutions to climate change. Provision of carbon-neutral sources of power, heat, transport fuels and renewable energy options has been considered by environmental scientists as a great move in the right direction. The objective is to enact a transition from high to low carbon economy. Although the renewable energy sector is quickly changing, climate change crises dictate that the energy system be drastically transformed. This will help in combating the dangers that are associated with global warming that threatens to slump the global economy in the face of globalization and industrialization. Roggema (2009, p. 211) cited air pollution caused by transport and power sectors of the economy have been a great threat not only to the human health but have also shifted the climate systems. Prospective Interventions to Address Climate Change Crisis Climate change as an environmental problem is essentially a problem caused by the extreme utilization of fossil energy. Agriculture, changes in land use, cement production and use of chemicals all contribute to the emission of the greenhouse gases (Roggema 2009, p. 234). However, 70% of the global warming/climate change problems is caused by unsustainable use of fossil fuels. Therefore, in order to deal with the problems related to climate change, there has to be a shift from use of fossil fuels at home, in the industries, transport and generally the entire sectors of the economy (Roggema 2009, p. 203). In order to avert the challenges associated with climate change, saving of energy is essential. Electricity, automobiles and carbon emissions are the main causes of problems related to climate change. The regular incandescent light bulbs should thus be changed and replaced with the energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs which are more efficient and energy saving. The emissions that result from automobiles like motor vehicles, motorcycles should also be reduced (Letcher ScienceDirect 2009, p. 154). Climate change has been caused by human activities such as deforestation in search of more space for agricultural activities. Therefore carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere continues to rise. Being a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide has contributed to the rise of global temperatures. Roggema (2009, p. 183) cited that human activities that encroach to the environment should thus be limited to prevent further crises associated with global warming. Traditional methods of conservation of forest ecosystems should be embraced to preserve the ecosystem and mitigate the effects of climate change (Tracy 2010, p.353). Therefore reforestation should be encouraged so that the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are reduced from the atmosphere. Farming activities that promote environmental hazards such as soil erosion should thus be limited and replaced with farming approaches that are environmentally custodial. Industrialization is the major contributor to climate change. This is because of the emission of the greenhouse gases like Nitrous Oxide and Carbon dioxide (Tracy 2010, p. 354). In order to avert climate change challenges there should be focus on change in the energy used in the industries from the dirty to clean energy. Climate change scientists have advocated for the use of renewable energy as the solution to the climate change problems that are caused by the use of environmentally hazardous fuels like coal and nuclear energy in the industries in the global economy (Tracy 2010, p. 355). Climate Change and the options for Renewable Energy Human activities and natural environmental processes are all responsible for climate change. Natural causes include volcanic eruptions, ocean currents, changes in the earths orbit and solar variations. An eruption of volcanoes throws out great volumes of sulphur dioxide, water vapor, dust, and ash into the atmosphere (Wengenmayr 2008, p. 141). The large volumes of gases and ash have the ability to influence climatic patterns by increasing the planetary reflectivity leading to atmospheric cooling. The aerosols are produced by volcanoes also affects the purity of air in the atmosphere. These contribute greatly to climate change. The oceans currents are considered a great threat to the climate stability. The currents release great amounts of heat across the planet. Besides, the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere can produce El Nino. The oceans determine the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. This implies that changes in the ocean circulation greatly affects climate and significantly contributes to the climate (Wengenmayr 2008, p. 231). Climate change has been caused by human activities. MacZulak (2010, p. 9) cited that this is majorly through the burning of fossil fuels, changes in the land use, and industrialization. With industrial revolution of the 19th century, fossil fuels have been used to support industrial processes. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas have been great energy supplies for the industrialized economies. However, these sources of energy have contributed to great emissions of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These are responsible for climate change (MacZulak 2010, p. 8). Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased because of human activities such as deforestation and agriculture. Methane is released through oil drilling, mining of coal, leaking gas pipelines, landfills and waste dumps (MacZulak 2010, p. 9). These greenhouse gases cause great increase in the climate change and are significantly responsible for global warming. The greatest cause of climate change and global warming however is the burning of the fossil fuels. These fuels cause emission of greenhouse gases into the earths atmosphere leading to depletion of the ozone layer and global warming (Twidell Weir 2006, p. 143). Options for Renewable Energy The term renewable energy is used in reference to the energy resources that occur naturally in the environment and can always be re-used after the initial function. Examples of this energy are the solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy. Rivers, biomass and garbage are also considered as renewable energies (Abid, Crawford Davoudi 2009, p.167). Renewable energy is the future of the earths energy needs. However, in order to effectively combat climate change-related challenges, the global mean temperatures have to be kept below two degrees Celsius. This calls for prior planning and transformation of the industrial sectors use of energy. Renewable energy has the potential decreasing the use of fossil fuels that are to blame for most of the problems associated with climate change (Abid et al 2009, p. 169). Renewable energy sources such as wind energy, solar energy, and the bio-fuels are increasingly being used as energy alternatives. With the climate change and its crises, such form of energy has the advantage of energy security since the fossil fuels will be depleted as a result of climate change. Climate change is largely a consequence of anthropogenic activities such as burning of the fossil fuels, industrial processes, deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is estimated that the power sector by itself contributes about 40% of the total carbon emissions (Abid et al 2009, p. 297). This can only be altered by shifting to the use of renewable energy. Climatic impacts such as tsunamis, droughts, wildfires, floods, storms, heat waves and tornados are consequences of climate change (MacZulak 2010, p. 8). However, according to the climate change specialists, clean air policy that includes use of renewable energy can substantially mitigate the negative impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuels. Renewable energy technologies are considered to be the most potential mitigation for greenhouse gases. In the steadily growing awareness on the importance of environmental protection priorities, renewable energy is considered appropriate in the mitigation of climate change effects (Chiras 2007, p. 67). Renewable energy is the alternative to the climate change crises since it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions and pollute the air as is the case with the fossil fuels. Chiras (2007, p. 17) indicated that biomass energy for example, has been used as an alternative for fossil fuels so as to conserve the environment. It is considered a greenhouse gas neutral since its combustion releases no more carbon dioxide than was absorbed during growth period of the organic material. Biomass fuel also contain little sulphur and low combustion temperatures. This limits the formation of nitrogen oxide which is a greenhouse gas dangerous to the environment (Abid et al 2009, p. 269). Responding to Climate Change The transport industry is driven mostly by petrol. This causes emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide combines with other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and cause global warming. In order to deal with this menace, there is need for countries to invest in energy efficient technologies like plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and new technologies such as hydrogen cars (Abid et al 2009, p. 297). This has the potential of reducing petroleum emissions of greenhouse gases into the air. Further, there is need to shift from air and truck transports to electric rail transport that reduces emissions significantly. Industries should shift from the fossil fuels to use of bio-fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel fuels should be used in the gasoline engines in the industrial economies. Abid et al (2009, p. 169) cited that electric vehicles can contribute into reduction of dangerous gases into the atmosphere especially if the energy is produced through the renewable energy sources. In order to deal with climate change and environmental crises associated with it, elimination of waste methane is required. Methane is considered to be one of the strongest greenhouse gases that are responsible for the climate change problems. Waste methane should thus be dealt with responsibly. This is through careful handling of oil wells, landfills, coal mines and the waste treatment plants (Chiras 2007, p. 17). This will provide a net greenhouse gas emission benefits. Biomass as a source of bio-energy can be used to capture carbon. Biomass traps carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through photosynthesis. When biomass is decomposed through combustion, carbon is released as carbon dioxide. This is the process involved in the carbon cycle. Biomass fuelled power plants result into a net-negative carbon dioxide emission. This implies that there will be less carbon in the atmosphere will be trapped through the technology and reduce greenhouse gases that are a threat to the environment (Abid et al 2009, p. 169). The adoption of renewable energy technologies is strategic in addressing the problems associated with climate change and global warming (Ehrfeld 2009, p. 113). From 1970s and 80s, development agencies have promoted small-scale renewable energy technologies. This includes the use of biogas, cooking stoves, the wind turbines and solar heaters in the industrializing countries. In the large scale developing countries have responded to climate change through the use of ethanol in the transport sector. This is especially the case in Brazil. In India, biogas is being used in households for lighting and cooking. Grid connected power in India and hydropower are being used in India and Nepal respectively as renewable sources of energy and safe energy for environmental conservation (Ehrfeld 2009, p. 119). Naturally Sustainable Renewable Energy As oil reservoirs and oil wells in the world run dry due to extensive exploitation and use in the energy sector, there is also an outcry in the environment that is caused by their consequences. Renewable energy sources include geothermal energy, solar, hydroelectric, biomass and wind energy (Chiras 2007, p. 233). These forms of energy have been considered to be the most environmental friendly because they dont produce high levels of greenhouse gases and other substances that are not environmentally friendly. The challenge that these forms of renewable energy have is sustainable use. Hydroelectric power uses the movement of falling water to run the turbines. Unlike other sources of energy, hydroelectricity does not depend on the fuels like natural gas or petrol to run the engines. This makes it more environmentally friendly. Besides, it is more sustainable with the sustainability of the environment so that water capacity of the dams is not interfered with. It uses the natural progression nature to generate electricity (Chiras 2007, p. 117). Hydroelectric power does not produce direct waste that pollutes the environment. It is thus considered to be environmentally sustainable (Ehrfeld 2009, p. 114). The carbon dioxide levels produced by hydroelectric power plants are considerably very low. This is however only produced during the construction stage of the plants and not in the operational phase of the plants making it environmentally friendly. As a renewable source of energy, hydroelectric power does not need the use of fuels to run the turbines. The use of petrol in the production of hydroelectric energy is not existent. This implies that when the price of the fossil fuels rises, the hydroelectric plants are often not affected. This makes it a sustainable and reliable source of energy when compared to other sources of energy (Ehrfeld 2009, p. 116). It also means that the consumer price of this form of renewable energy is fairly constant. In terms of sustainability, hydroelectric power stations last longer than the energy plant stations that are powered by fossil fuels. They are generally easy to maintain and pose no much threat to human life and property. Hydroelectric energy plants contribute to conservation of the environment. In the countries where great investments have been done in the hydropower such as Bhutan, environmental stewardship and custodianship is encouraged. Ehrfeld (2009, p. 119) cited that since it depends on water, a lot of forest conservation and reforestation is encouraged. This helps in the reduction of the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. The human activities that contribute environmental degradation are also reduced through investment in the hydroelectric power plants. Climate change is caused by human activities that tamper with the environment. However, when a country invests in the hydroelectric plants, environmental conservations efforts are boosted. With the conservation of the water catchment areas and the forests, hydroelectricity becomes a very sustainable and reliable source of renewable energy. As it produces clean energy through environmentally friendly approaches, it also helps in the protection of Mother Nature (Ehrfeld 2009, p.121). International Agreements and Government Interventions in Climate Change Various intervention efforts have been made at the community and individual levels to combat climate change and to reduce the negative effects of human activities on the environment. However, much is still needed to be done especially at the inter-state and governmental level. One of the efforts that the governments from the industrialized countries are making in the mitigating climate change is through the Kyoto Protocol. The focus of the protocol is in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions especially from the industrialized countries by 2012. The developed countries have the responsibility to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases from their large industries. These gases contribute to global warming and climate change. The Kyoto Protocol intervention targets reduction of carbon in the atmosphere (Karlsson, Lund, Mathiesen 2010, p. 488). This is through emission trading, clean development mechanism and the joint implementation. These strategies target reductions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The countries that are signatories are thus investing in renewable energy technology options in the industries. The UK government considers climate change as a priority. Its approaches include targeting households to help in energy saving and strengthen renewable energy adoption. Civil society, community and private organizations are also strengthened through grants to help in generation of renewable heat from the renewable sources (Ehrfeld 2009, p. 115). The industrialized countries are re-focusing investments towards generation of renewable energies that are environmentally friendly and are sustainable. There is thus need to encourage less use of fossil fuels and more investment in the bio-fuels. Improvement of energy efficiency is a good government strategy for dealing with the climate change problems. Reduced use of energy implies reduced production of carbon dioxide. Karlsson et al (2010 p. 501) cited that this calls for more efficient vehicles, motors, appliances and industrial processes. Besides, development of renewable energy sources such as solar, geothermal, hydroelectricity, and biomass should be encouraged to reduce the consequences of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The transport sector should reduce gasoline consumption. The trucks, cars and buses use almost half of the oil in the United States. There is therefore urgent need for investment in electric and fuel-celled vehicles so as to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. Transport policies should also encourage less driving of single-passenger vehicles in order to reduce greenhouse emissions (Ehrfeld 2009, p. 115). Human activities that involve land use are largely to blame for destruction of the environment. Governments should focus on developing agricultural policies that discourage environmentally hazardous practices and activities such deforestation and other human activities that are dangerous to the environment. Climate change has negatively impacted on food security. In order to therefore fight poverty, climate change must be addressed through agricultural activities and policies that are environmentally friendly (Kammen Casillas 2010, p. 1181-1182). Conclusion Climate change is greatly caused by human activities more than the natural processes. Industrialization and agricultural activities are largely responsible for the production of greenhouse gases that promote global warming and other consequences. These threaten wildlife and human existence and as such should be addressed. Renewable energy is the potential rescue of the environment from the negative effects of human activities. Governments and countries thus need to use less of fossil fuels and invest more in renewable energy technology options. These include hydropower, geothermal, wind energy and other reliable sources of environmentally friendly renewable energy sources.

Psychology in American Beauty Essay -- Film Movies Papers

Psychology in American Beauty Have you ever seen a movie that just simply amazed you and almost disgusted you in a way. Well over this weekend my family and I decided to rent the movie American Beauty. This movie recently has won many awards for performances in acting and best role play. But that is not the reason we choose to watch American Beauty. We choose to rent this movie pending on the fact for me to write my final psychology paper on it. American Beauty struck me in very different ways some including feelings of disgust, truth and reality, but mainly it was filled with many social psychology terms. If you asked to pick a different movie to show and demonstrate the examples of certain psychology terms I don’t think I would have selected a better one. Some of the examples that I have decided to inform you about are ones such as love, discrimination, and social perception. But you will here plenty more about all the psychology factors and how this movie relates, also I provided other references such as the Internet and the dictionary. Well to begin she was very high in neuroticism, is a personal trait meaning an emotionally unstable person that people either learns from watching and observing from other people and is portrayed in the movie American Beauty. Lester’s wife is neurotic for a few reasons and the movie really shows a good example. She is so devoted to becoming successful that she dose not realize what is going on around her and starts to become distant. And when she dose not succeed she start to cry and beat herself up over it. Making her emotionally unstable. Her Attitude(a negative or hostile state of mind b : a cocky or arrogant manner ) towards Lester is also very negative. There are a few se... ... someone else’s house every day and we do not realize it. Also my parents were amazed at how the father may not have shown how much he really cared for his children and the same goes for the children’s aspect of the father but deep down inside there was plenty of love for each other just a lack of communication. I think this too happens in many American house holds , mine quite possibly being one of those families. To sum it all up this movie actually gave me a whole new outlook on life and family situations and I hope I was able to explain to you how the terms related from the movie and other references that I have chosen. I do plan to take another course in psychology next semester and hope that such projects as this one are assigned to me so I can further open my mind to things that I might have never even thought of watching or reading before it was assigned. Psychology in American Beauty Essay -- Film Movies Papers Psychology in American Beauty Have you ever seen a movie that just simply amazed you and almost disgusted you in a way. Well over this weekend my family and I decided to rent the movie American Beauty. This movie recently has won many awards for performances in acting and best role play. But that is not the reason we choose to watch American Beauty. We choose to rent this movie pending on the fact for me to write my final psychology paper on it. American Beauty struck me in very different ways some including feelings of disgust, truth and reality, but mainly it was filled with many social psychology terms. If you asked to pick a different movie to show and demonstrate the examples of certain psychology terms I don’t think I would have selected a better one. Some of the examples that I have decided to inform you about are ones such as love, discrimination, and social perception. But you will here plenty more about all the psychology factors and how this movie relates, also I provided other references such as the Internet and the dictionary. Well to begin she was very high in neuroticism, is a personal trait meaning an emotionally unstable person that people either learns from watching and observing from other people and is portrayed in the movie American Beauty. Lester’s wife is neurotic for a few reasons and the movie really shows a good example. She is so devoted to becoming successful that she dose not realize what is going on around her and starts to become distant. And when she dose not succeed she start to cry and beat herself up over it. Making her emotionally unstable. Her Attitude(a negative or hostile state of mind b : a cocky or arrogant manner ) towards Lester is also very negative. There are a few se... ... someone else’s house every day and we do not realize it. Also my parents were amazed at how the father may not have shown how much he really cared for his children and the same goes for the children’s aspect of the father but deep down inside there was plenty of love for each other just a lack of communication. I think this too happens in many American house holds , mine quite possibly being one of those families. To sum it all up this movie actually gave me a whole new outlook on life and family situations and I hope I was able to explain to you how the terms related from the movie and other references that I have chosen. I do plan to take another course in psychology next semester and hope that such projects as this one are assigned to me so I can further open my mind to things that I might have never even thought of watching or reading before it was assigned.

Benjamin Franklin Essay example -- essays research papers fc

Benjamin Franklin-Scientist and Inventor Benjamin Franklin has influenced American technology, and indirectly, lifestyles by using his proficiencies and intelligence to conduct numerous experiments, arrive at theories, and produce several inventions. Franklin's scientific and analytical mind enabled him to generate many long lasting achievements which contributed to the development and refinement of modern technology. Few national heroes, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, played a more significant role in shaping the American way of life than Franklin. According to Fowler, "He personified the ideal of the self-made man, and his rise from obscurity to eminence exemplified the American dream" (32). Looby adds, "The study of Franklin's image for the past two centuries shows that his legacy had a distinctive place in American culture" (85). It has been felt by many people over the years that there was no United States inventor as great as Franklin until the time of Thomas A. Edison (Blow 24). Franklin's words to a friend in Pennsylvania, Joseph Huey, best explain his attitude not only toward what he considered his civic duties, but also his investigations as a scientist or philosopher. He made some of the most famous and certainly the most practical discoveries of his time. "For my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favours, but as paying debts. In my travels, and since my settlement, I have received much kindness from men, to whom I shall never have any opportunity of making the least direct return . . . I can therefore only return on their fellow men; and I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other children and my Brethren" (Dineen 6). Wright quotes Franklin as saying, "As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others," and, "we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours" (19). Franklin summarizes his attitude toward his inventions by asking the question, "What signifies Philosophy that does not apply to some use?" (Fleming 21). Another time Franklin is quoted as saying, "Utility is in my opinion the test of value in matters of invention, and that a discovery which can be applie... ...ngame, Roger. Benjamin Franklin: Envoy Extraordinary. New York: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1967. Clark, Ronald W. A Biography: Benjamin Franklin. New York: Random House, 1983. Cohen, I. Bernard. Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Statesman. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975. Dineen, Michael P. The Most Amazing American: Benjamin Franklin. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Country Beautiful, 1973. Donovan, Frank R. The Many Worlds of Benjamin Franklin. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., 1963. Fleming, Thomas. The Man Who Dared The Lightning: A New Look At Benjamin Franklin. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1971. Fowler, Mary J. Great Americans. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Fideler Company, 1960 Looby, Christopher. Benjamin Franklin. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1990. Meltzer, Milton. Benjamin Franklin: The New American. New York: Franklin Watts, 1988. Potter, Robert R. Benjamin Franklin. New Jersey: Silver Burdett Publishers, 1991. Seeger, Raymond J. Benjamin Franklin: New World Physicist. New York: Pergamon Press, 1973. Wright, Esmond. Franklin of Philadelphia. Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1986. Benjamin Franklin Essay example -- essays research papers fc Benjamin Franklin-Scientist and Inventor Benjamin Franklin has influenced American technology, and indirectly, lifestyles by using his proficiencies and intelligence to conduct numerous experiments, arrive at theories, and produce several inventions. Franklin's scientific and analytical mind enabled him to generate many long lasting achievements which contributed to the development and refinement of modern technology. Few national heroes, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, played a more significant role in shaping the American way of life than Franklin. According to Fowler, "He personified the ideal of the self-made man, and his rise from obscurity to eminence exemplified the American dream" (32). Looby adds, "The study of Franklin's image for the past two centuries shows that his legacy had a distinctive place in American culture" (85). It has been felt by many people over the years that there was no United States inventor as great as Franklin until the time of Thomas A. Edison (Blow 24). Franklin's words to a friend in Pennsylvania, Joseph Huey, best explain his attitude not only toward what he considered his civic duties, but also his investigations as a scientist or philosopher. He made some of the most famous and certainly the most practical discoveries of his time. "For my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favours, but as paying debts. In my travels, and since my settlement, I have received much kindness from men, to whom I shall never have any opportunity of making the least direct return . . . I can therefore only return on their fellow men; and I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other children and my Brethren" (Dineen 6). Wright quotes Franklin as saying, "As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others," and, "we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours" (19). Franklin summarizes his attitude toward his inventions by asking the question, "What signifies Philosophy that does not apply to some use?" (Fleming 21). Another time Franklin is quoted as saying, "Utility is in my opinion the test of value in matters of invention, and that a discovery which can be applie... ...ngame, Roger. Benjamin Franklin: Envoy Extraordinary. New York: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1967. Clark, Ronald W. A Biography: Benjamin Franklin. New York: Random House, 1983. Cohen, I. Bernard. Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Statesman. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975. Dineen, Michael P. The Most Amazing American: Benjamin Franklin. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Country Beautiful, 1973. Donovan, Frank R. The Many Worlds of Benjamin Franklin. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., 1963. Fleming, Thomas. The Man Who Dared The Lightning: A New Look At Benjamin Franklin. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1971. Fowler, Mary J. Great Americans. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Fideler Company, 1960 Looby, Christopher. Benjamin Franklin. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1990. Meltzer, Milton. Benjamin Franklin: The New American. New York: Franklin Watts, 1988. Potter, Robert R. Benjamin Franklin. New Jersey: Silver Burdett Publishers, 1991. Seeger, Raymond J. Benjamin Franklin: New World Physicist. New York: Pergamon Press, 1973. Wright, Esmond. Franklin of Philadelphia. Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1986.

Claudio – ‘A man of honour betrayed’?

In Shakespeare's ‘Much Ado About Nothing' honour is very important to all the gentil characters. To know Claudio's character and his cruel treatment of Hero, it is important to understand the honour code. Specific to aristocracy, honour meant reputation, status and respect. A man's honour was earned through conduct in battle and the virtue of a wife and daughter. Contemporary audiences would not approve of Claudio's manner towards Hero, whereas Renaissance audiences would understand Claudio's behaviour towards Hero. This is because honour was regarded very highly n their social class, which would suggest why audiences would see Claudio as ‘a man of honour betrayed'. Throughout the play, even when the truth of Hero's chastity comes out, Claudio is a respected character who is not disliked by other characters, such as Benedick and Don Pedro. Audiences in the renaissance periods believed honour was everything. Claudio's ‘dishonouring' would not only act as a threat to his reputation, but also undermine the social structure, as honour was an important tool of social cohesion. The Renaissance era believed that honour was synonymous with order. It is important to emphasize this concept to understand that Claudio is ‘a man of honour betrayed'. Nevertheless Shakespeare recognizes the importance of honour throughout the play. However,he also sees that the code as flawed, meaning men can defend their honour using weapons in the battlefield and in duel, yet a man can shame a woman, as Claudio does Hero, and she cannot defend herself. If Claudio had allowed Hero to dishonour him he would have lost his well-earned reputation, so he ‘shames' her. Claudio talks of Hero as if she were an object, and insults her at every opportunity. For instance, whilst he is alking to Leonato he says: â€Å"There, Leonato, take her back again. Give not this rotten orange to your friend, She's but the sign and semblance of her honour. † There are many contradictions within the honour code, men are meant to cherish and ‘honour' women, but are only too ready to dishonour them, accusing them of being â€Å"spoiled goods†, as in the case of Claudio and Hero. At the beginning of the play when the messenger enters he describes Claudio as having : â€Å"the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion†¦ † Claudio is considered a man of honour, he is praised in battle and is portrayed as a great soldier; he is said to be noble Claudio†. The lamb/lion metaphor is very appropriate for Claudio as he could be seen as naive and easily influenced by Don John, this is because of his extreme youth. Even without evidence Claudio was ready to believe Don John over Hero. When Don John delivers the news of Hero's disloyalty, Claudio and Don Pedro are quick to believe a fellow male soldier, without thinking that Don John could be lying. This could be seen as a contradiction as it was believed that â€Å"bastards† were not to be trusted. Don John referred to himself as a bad character saying; â€Å"I am a plain-dealing illain†, audiences may think that Claudio is not ‘a man of honour betrayed', as he is the one who is betraying Hero by believing the words of Don John. There are also many characters in the play that sympathize with him and believe that he is right to shame H ero. The honour code meant that if a friend got disrespected and dishonoured then it could affect other friends, in the same way that Don Pedro felt dishonoured. â€Å"I stand dishonoured, that have gone about to link my dear friend to a common stale. † Don Pedro supports his friend and believes that he is dishonoured, as it was him who wooed Hero for him. Due to the allegations about Hero, other characters in the play believe that they too are dishonoured. One of whom is Leonato, Hero's father. Leonato believes that Hero has destroyed the family's reputation and throws terrible insults at her as well as refusing to believe that she could be his daughter by saying; â€Å"No part of it is mine; This shame derives itself from unknown loins? â€Å". Before knowing the facts Leonato instantly believes that his daughter has ruined the family. It could be argued that Claudio invites sympathy as Don John tricks him into believing that Hero has dishonoured him. There are many different nterpretations to whether Claudio actually believes that he was betrayed. For example if Claudio genuinely believes himself betrayed then perhaps his actions can be justified, like in Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing production, he makes Claudio's rage and hurt believable by making the witnessed infidelity convincing. To understand the presentation of Claudio's character it is necessary to consider him as a man of honour betrayed', which means the scene where Hero, allegedly, is dishonouring Claudio should be believable. In Shakespeare's time, a woman's honour was based upon her virginity and chaste ehaviour. For a woman to lose her honour by having sexual relations before marriage meant that she would lose all respect, a catastrophe from which she could never recover. Furthermore, this loss of honour would destroy the woman's whole family. Hence, when Leonato believes Claudio's shaming of Hero at the wedding ceremony, he tries to obliterate her entirely: â€Å"Hence from her, let her die†. Moreover, he speaks of her loss of honour as an unforgettable stain from which he cannot distance himself, no matter how hard he tries: â€Å"O she is fallen / Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea / Hath rops too few to wash her clean again†. Leonato is prepared to align himself with Claudio rather then his own daughter. The illusory betrayal of Claudio's ‘honour' becomes Leonato's dishonouring as she has ‘smeared the family name'. Honour was a frequent theme in some of Shakespeare's plays and was also common in that period, for example in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Brutus says â€Å"Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour that you may believe†. Mowbray states in Richard 11 â€Å"Mine honour is my life; both grow in one/Take honour from me, and my life is done†. This shows the importance of honour in that period. Claudio speaks of Hero as an ‘object' by referring to her as a â€Å"jewel†. Claudio's tendencies to see Hero as an object was because he had no intimacy with her and perceived her as a commodity. His language portrays the differences between his and Benedick's love. The way Claudio speaks of his love shows the audiences that Claudio is not very romantic, which could affect how audiences would think of him. Audiences might dislike Claudio because he is not the conventional romantic character like ‘Romeo'. Whilst talking about Hero, Claudio sometimes uses blank verse. His speech seems more constructed and artificial then others, which has the effect of making him sound less genuine. He doesn't talk about Hero with passion, whereas Benedick uses poetry and sonnets to show and represent his love towards Beatrice. There is irony in the play when it comes to the denunciation of Hero, where Claudio speaks with passion to Hero for the first time, out of hatred. This shows audiences that Claudio did not love Hero truly otherwise he would not have been so quick to judge her. In act 4 scene 1 he likens her to an animal; â€Å".. or those pampered animals that rage in savage sensuality†. However, it could be said that after Claudio finds out the truth he knows that he has wronged Hero. He tries to renew Hero's reputation by marrying Leonato's niece even if she is an â€Å"Ethiope†, which means that he was truly apologetic. Some critics argue that Claudio has a business like approach, it can be argued that he only wants the estate, before Claudio married Hero he was fully informed about the property: â€Å"Hath Leonato any son, my lord? † In aristocratic society, people were dependant upon marriages of conveniences based on status and property, which could mean that Claudio is not a man of honour betrayed, as he only married for onvenience. Before Claudio went to war all he thought about was fighting but as soon as he has finished it is time for marriage. When he had finally come from war, audiences can tell that he is ready for marriage as one of the first sentences he says are â€Å"I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife. † Critics can also argue that ‘war' can be seen as a central metaphor, the men return from war and instantly convey the values engaged on the battlefield into the domestic arena. ‘Love' is presented by Shakespeare as a form of warfare with the sexes battling it out. However, it is not a fair fight because women, unlike men, can not physically defend their honour. Hero's honour is betrayed, but there is little she can do about it. Claudio uses the metaphor â€Å"beauty is a witch†, even before his relationship with Hero, Claudio started showing that he was already suspicious of her -seeing her as an Eve, a betrayer of men. This emphasizes what he felt about women and reflected a popular renaissance view – that women were untrustworthy. It may be argued that Claudio lived in a society that was very misogynistic; during that period much of the fiction included misogynistic views. In the renaissance period people used to live by the bible, this is where the idea of male superiority came from. The story of Adam and Eve blames Eve for tempting Adam to eat the fruit. Thus, it was the woman who was morally weak. In Genesis, Chapter Two vs. 21-25 it says; â€Å"and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman.. † Women were ‘made from men' reinforcing the illusion of inferiority. In renaissance times it was believed that women were deceivers and were there to tempt, just like Eve. It could be argued that Claudio was not to blame for his reaction to Hero, as he was erely reacting as men would at that time as it represented Elizabethan values. Benedick has similar values, believing that if he gets married he would be cuckolded; â€Å"I will live a bachelor†. There are endless Elizabethan jokes about cuckoldry, which reveal a general fear of infidelity that was perceived as dishonour. It was believed that the honour code was important and that soldiers such as Claudio were supposed to behave with chivalry. Audiences might have found it hard to sympathize with Claudio even in the Renaissance period because he was not behaving n a truly chivalrous manner. His behaviour could be seen as unacceptable and immoral as he treats Hero in a shameful way. However, Claudio's behaviour can be seen as acceptable once audiences understand the honour. Claudio's honour was so important to him, but when Hero allegedly cheated on him, he believed that it was only right to shame her. Claudio could have been seen as a victim of gossip within the play as he was lied to and manipulated by Don John to fulfill his plan. However despite this, Claudio changed his mind about Hero and instantly believed that she had done wrong. In conclusion, it could be argued that Claudio was not at fault. He was just mirroring the values of renaissance society. It is important to understand how social status and honour worked in the renaissance period to understand Claudio's cruelty. He was a ‘man of honour betrayed' and to understand what he did to Hero, audiences would have to consider that he thought that he had been betrayed. Nevertheless, it would be hard for any audience to sympathize with Claudio, as he did not behave with chivalry. However, Claudio realized his mistake and was willing to marry Hero's cousin.

Philips and Matsushita: A New Century, a New Round Essay

Prior to the beginning of the World War II, the Philips organization was in the infancy stages of initiating a movement of technological prowess within the industry’s culture. They assumed the position as number one in the industry, consistently developing new manufacturing plants to keep in stride with innovations in the development of light bulbs because the company only made light bulbs and was not interested in diversification like other industry competitors. Philips also was in the process of converting longstanding plants in order to keep step with production technology. Philips developed its product line in the 1930’s, going from producing light bulbs exclusively, to also producing vacuum tubes, radios and X-ray tubes. But Phillips wanted more; the company did not want to limit itself to Holland. Philips was looking for international expansion. During this time, Holland was a little market because of its lower population as compared to other competitor countries. Because of this, the company figured that exporting a considerable amount of its products in order to generate enough income to maintain the facility making method Philips is using. Philips was then converted into a â€Å"centralized company with decentralized sales and autonomous marketing in 17 countries†. So this now shows that even though Philips is a company domestic to Holland, the majority of its sales come from the exportation of its products to other countries. The marketing, advertising and promotions used for these products now depended on the country the product was being sold in. So their marketing campaign could not be universal. However, Phillips was due to encounter variables that altered the position of the company, said variables proving to be uncontrollable for the company. Political affairs were an integral part in transitioning the Philips into a â€Å"mutli-national† organization. During the Great Depression, many nations implemented trade barriers and tariffs in order to help the domestic  producers and economy. Phillips was able to work around these hindrances by developing and maintaining facility/facilities in the each of the nations/markets they sold their products. The Nazi invasion of 1939 and the ensuing exacting of World War II, assisted Philips in its conclusion to relocate its assets in Ally nations’ economies, specifically the US and England. R&D was moved to England, management to the USA. This caused Philips to rely on the independence and maintenance of the company to national organizations (NOs) since there was such growth in company resources in those area. This proved to be a positive development for Philips, allowing the company to respond to nation-specific situations faster than the competition. . Once the war ended, Philips reaped the benefits of NO operation. Philips could now identify potential threats in a specific country in regards to industry/market and respond via production. Philips was also utilizing there competitive advantage in regards to the NOs in their research departments and their heavy existence in the local markets until the conclusion of the 1960’s. After the 1960’s, Philips competitive advantage became a disadvantage. The NOs became a detriment in that Philips was having difficulty acting in one accord as a company. This lack of organizational harmony made it very hard for Philips to innovate new products, created a lack of economies of sales in regards to production, and hindering the growth of the organization. The NOs started to do things in the best interest of the NO and not in the interest of Philips as a whole organization. Executives were no longer able to govern over the company as a whole, which created a sort of organizational anarchy and order could not be keep for the international company. For instance, Philips was unable to standardize the V2000 videocassette due to organizational disaccord. One part of Philips wanted to utilize larger manufacturing facilities to produce the VHS feeling it to be the most efficient process. NOs, however, were did not want to do this because it would require local plant consolidation. Philips then implemented the Product Division (PDs) in order to rectify the problems the company was having with the NOs, but this was unsuccessful. The company then began to decline because of their inefficiency in providing the consumers with innovative products and the fact that their once competitive  advantage, the NOs, was now a disadvantage because of the lack of control Philips had over them. How did Matsushita succeed in displacing Philips as No. 1? What were its distinctive competencies and incompetencies? Prior to WWII, while Philips was in the process of developing its NOs, Matsushita was in the process of entering the scene. Philips focused solely on light bulbs; in contrast, Matsushita had a wide array of product offerings. With a parallel merger, Matsushita sold upwards to 5000 different products amongst 25000 retailers. These retail outlets furnished Matsushita the opportunity to connect the marketing scheme with the customer response to market trends. Even though Matsushita had a centralized R&D department, the bulk of products were made in PDs. Matsushita’s innovation was minimal, but where they lacked in innovation they made up for it in the expedience in which they got products out into the market. If a market became saturated at the local level, Matsushita strove to expand globally by using international maneuvers. That move proved successful when faced with an unstable and uncertain market. One of the better ideas the company had was to off-shore vital aspects of manufacturing and production to nations with poorer economies, but the higher end products remained domestically produced. To get past controversy from American and European government lobbyist, Matsushita put plants in those nations as well, but the company made sure they had a strong grasp of those plants which varied differently from the approach of competitor Philips. By doing this, the internationally unification of Matsushita remained constant. Subsidiaries were also under the scrutinizing eye of Matsushita. This was accomplished by having subsidiaries assimilate into the Matsushita corporate culture, doing so through training subsidiaries in their management style and networking. Communication was perpetual through the use of phone conversations and faxes; and GM outside of Japan would have to travel to HQ for training in order to ensure the assimilation method used was successful. By doing this, Matsushita was capable to garner cheaper prices for consumers in regards to their products. This helped give them a greater market share  than Philips in the industry. In regards to the color television, â€Å"trade liberalization and lower shipping (Bartlett p.9)†, this helped in the company being able to export abundantly. Another factor that helped Matsushita propel past Philips in the industry was the company’s getting headway in the color television market and its domination of the VCR market. Although Matsushita did not have a strong brand name being relatively new to the industry, it was able to maintain itself through by selling its products through discounters and mass merchandisers. In regards to the VCR market, Matsushita was able to gain full control. Initially the company had its own version of VHS, but in 1975/76 the company decided to give up their own version in order to compete with Sony’s â€Å"Betamax† and JVS’s competing VHS. This garnered in great results, the company manufacturing capacity being 6.8 million units at its peak, because Matsushita’s ability to produce at a greater and faster level than competitors caused them to be the industry leader, causing the competition to seek their VHS format. The downside of this situation was the fact that global control of this extent gives the impression that creativity was halted regarding Matsushita’s products. Operations offshore were not consistent concerning R&D, which showed it to be an addition to the domestic R&D not able to act of its own accord. This was due to the fact that Matsushita had too firm of a grasp over its global operations. American engineers were able to deal with the constraints of this Matsushita, feeling it stifling to their work and hindering their professional development. In an effort to circumvent this issue, Matsushita decided to outsources the company’s innovation, but this did not work. An environmental factor occurred, the collapse of the Japanese economy, which caused this strategy to be abandoned.â€Æ' What do you think of the change each company has made to date – the objectives, the implementation, and the impact? Why is the change so hard for both of them? Even though both companies, Matsushita and Philips, differed greatly in their tactics regarding organizational culture, they both were very conventional. And for a time, both methods were successfully. Initially Philips was industry leader, only to be later topped by Matsushita. Matsushita established a centralized organization domestically and controlled overseas operations and subsidiaries. Conversely, Philips decentralized its company globally and took a hands off approach to managing the NOs until organizational unification proved very hard to accomplish. Then Philips and Matsushita tried to flip management styles, taking notes from one another. Both companies wanted to take the best methods from each other and discard unsuccessful measures that were taken. Electronics covers a vast array of items within that industry, so the best way to handle that market would be a tough centralized organization that encourages innovation of new entrant products and is malleability allows the company to respond to the fluctuation of the demands of markets overseas. Philips went through many different CEO’s and in the 70’s tried to incorporate the top performing plants into the International Production Centers (IPCs), which was designed to supply the vast amount of NOs. This was an unsuccessful endeavor; because the company greatly miscalculated the strength of the NOs. With no clear course for the organization as an international structure, the NOs were still in charge. Going into the 80s, lowering performing plants were shut down by Philips, causing a division of two groups within the company, i.e. core and non-core. In order to rectify the situation, Philips tried to purchase North American Philips Corp, a subsidiary. In the beginning, this was a success. However, profligacy of company resources caused the R&D budget to be reduced by 50% which devastated the company. Products coming out of R&D were no longer good. The 90s saw even more budget reduction, which trickled down to R&D creating a lack of innovation and loss of revenue. If Philips had cut spending in other areas outside of R&D, the company could have been more competitive. This R&D reduction is due large and in part to the fact that the company was decentralized making it very hard to have corporate collaboration, even if by chance an innovative product was developed. Additionally, the changes that the various chairman in the Philips Company made were structural in nature and did not address the organizational process and culture which is at the root to an organizations success. Matsushita was on the opposite side of the spectrum. The organization now bequeathing more power to its overseas subsidiaries, but it didn’t work. The 80s brought about Matsushita’s â€Å"Operation Localization†, giving management in the local market the autonomy to elect which products they felt would do best in their area. Many of the headquarters changed location during this era as well. The 90s saw economic decline in the electronics industry in Japan, creating a vast amount of overhead. Since Matsushita did not have the choice of restricting, plants in Japan began to decline. To rectify this situation and increase sales, Matsushita alter their management style with one that has a little more of a laissez-faire overtone regarding foreign markets. That would help with their issues in innovation in those areas. What overall strategic recommendations would you make to Gerald Kleisterlee? To Eumio Ohtsubo? Gerald Kleisterlee should decentralize Philips as much as possible. The Headquarters in Holland should be relocated and to whichever market is the biggest. By doing this, Philips would be able to more efficiently service the consumer and do so faster. The company also needs to pull more resources to the R&D department. This would help Philips the opportunity to essentially have more innovative product line and to progress past the competition. Eumio Ohtsubo needs to revert back to tried and true methods. A centralized operation with strict control over overseas operation is best suited for Matsushita. Outsourcing R&D was a very good idea for the company and should continue to be explored. And having the ability to get products to the market quickly would enhance the progress of this company. Philips had a multi-domestic strategy. The flaw of this strategy was limited control over NOs and lack of organizational unity. Matsushita had a global strategy. The flaw of this strategy was that the control the company had on foreign operations stifled innovation. Both companies should move towards a transactional strategy. Doing so would overcome both the flaws of lack of  control over NOs and stifled innovation. Bibliography 1.Bartlett, Christopher A. â€Å"Philips versus Matsushita: The Competitive Battle Continues.† Harvard Business School Case 910-410, December 2009. 2.†Life, World, MBA and Universe!: Philips vs Matsushita.† Life, World, MBA and Universe!: Philips vs Matsushita. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013. 3.Tensa, Greg. â€Å"Phillips Vs Matsushita.† N.p., n.d. Web.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

English, the third most common language spoken after Mandarin and Spanish, is spoken by around 370 to 390 million people in around 50 different countries. Many renowned universities, require their students, in the undergraduate, graduate and post graduate programs to first prove their proficiency in the English language, as an entrance criteria. This created a need for a standard test, accepted and recognized by these universities, to be created. Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL as it is commonly referred to as, is such a test. This test is developed and conducted by the Educational Testing Service. TOEFL can be administered via the internet(TOEFL iBT) or can be written as a paper based test(TOEFL PBT). Written Tests are only administered in places where Internet Based Testing Centers for TOEFL are unavailable. This test score along with the applicant's other academical information becomes the foundation for their admission process. The test score scale ranges from 0 to 120, for TOEFL iBT, and from 310 to 677 for TOEFL PBT. The minimum test score acceptable, varies from university to university, depending on factors like courses undertaken or whether the applicant is an undergrad, grad or post grad.TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBT tests the four basic skills needed for effective communication namely- Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing. They test the takers toread, listen, and then speak in response to a questionlisten and then speak in response to a questionread, listen, and then write in response to a questionThe test is 4 hours long and it is essential that all the four sections of the test be taken on the same day itself.Test FormatSECTION FORMAT TIMEREADING 3-5 passages(700words), 12-14 question each 60-100 minutesLISTENING 2–3 conversations, 5 questions each4–6 lectures, 6 questi ons each 60-90 minutes10 MINUTES BREAKSPEAKING 6 tasks which include 2 independent and 4 integrated 20 minutesWRITING 2 tasks which include 1 integrated task and1 independent task 50minutes(20 for integrated and 30 for independent)The time displayed above is not an actual representation, and may vary on the number of questions.Reading SectionThe reading sections tests the applicant's ability to, comprehend, learn and to find information from university level academic passages and texts. The questions asked in the reading section are of the following formatMultiple choice questions- asking the applicant to select a single answer from a given set of optionsMultiple choice questions asking the applicant to select an option to â€Å"insert a sentence† where it fits best in a passageQuestions with more than four choices and more than one possible correct answer.Listening SectionThis section tests the applicants ability to understand Spoken English, by testing his/her ability to un derstand lectures and conversations. The applicant is allowed to take notes while listening to the material provided. These notes will be collected at the end of the test and destroyed. Questions asked in the Listening section, are usually asked in the following formatsMultiple choice questions with a single correct answerMultiple choice questions with more than one correct answerQuestions that require the user to order eventsQuestions that require the applicant to match objects or text to categories in a chartSome questions replay a portion of the audio material provided, so that the applicant need not memorize the material before answering the question.Speaking SectionHere the applicant is tested for his ability to communicate, participate in casual conversations, respond to questions etc. This section includes six tasks that that the applicant must undertake before proceeding further. The first two task are independent speaking tasks, where the user is asked to express their opinion or idea on topics provided, or on topics that the applicant is comfortable with. The next four tasks are integrated tasks where the applicant must use more than one of their skills before responding. These skills may include reading, listening and speaking. The user is only allowed to spend 20 minutes in this section.Writing SectionThis section tests the applicants ability to present their ideas in a clear and well organized manner. Here students are required to undertake two tasks, one integrated and one independent. Independent tasks include writing essays, articles, expressing opinions etc. The student's range of grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuations and layout are tested under Independent tasks. Under Integrated tasks students are required to summarize, paraphrase, and cite accurate information from the source material. The total time sanctioned for both these tasks is 50 minutes. TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years. These scores are visible,10 days after the exam on the TOEFL registration website. Printed Scores are mailed after 13 days. More than 10,000 universities in around 130 countries accept TOEFL scores for their admission process. So when you plan on an education abroad, Think TOEFL.

Bottled Water and Tap Water Essay

The quality of water that we drink is a significant determinant of our health. Guarantee of the safety of water is a base for the prevention of diseases. Several people prefer to drink bottled or commercial mineral water in the presumption that they are safer and have quality as compared to tap water. I believe that tap water is the best choice for a few different reasons. Bottled water is very popular and easily available at most stores. Consumers spend a large amount on purchasing bottled water. People prefer bottled water over tap water because they are saved in plastic containers, which are less weighty. After consume these bottles, people discard the bottle instantly, thus removing the need to carry it around (Conis, 2008) Bottled water can acquire from springs, artesian wells or the source of municipal supply. Bottled water has different types such as natural mineral water, purified water, and spring water (Conis, 2008). Bottled water is a package item, therefore, the Food and Drug Administration regulates it. The quality standards of FDA do not need to expect that to expect that is authorized by the EPA and tap water. The processing plants of bottled water products are inspected by the FDA (www.nrdc.org/water). An important point about the bottled water is that bacteria grow best in moist and damp environments. It indicated that the environment developed by an unrefrigerated water bottle, one time the seal has been opened, is the ideal place for microorganisms to cultivate. This generates undesired risks for human health. On the other hand, tap water comes from sources of lakes or streams. People can acquire water for drink easily from taps. The availability of this water has key health benefits, since it significantly reduces the risk factor of water-borne infections. Like sulphur and iron, this water has hard minerals that give a strong taste. Fluoride is also used in it because fluoride reduces the possibility of tooth decay, which is essential for kids during the period of healthy teeth’s development. According to cruising chemistry, those areas that containing towering degrees of Calcium and Magnesium have very low death rate. Deficiencies in magnesium can create heart disturbances (www.fitsugar.com/Reasons). To make sure the quality and safety of tap water, the suppliers provides yearly report named as â€Å"Consumer Confidence Report†. Furthermore, if an impurity surpasses the EPA standards, the providers are obligated to update the people about impurity, the water supply level, and its effects on health and what initiatives can be made to avoid diseases. Municipal water is governed by the EPA â€Å"Environmental Protection Agency† (www.nrdc.org/water), requiring towns to clean and sterilize it in accordance to the actual standards, Finally, the industry of tap water normally uses chlorine to protect against re-production of harmful bacteria that may leave tap water not taste as good as it would otherwise. In conclusion, though the market of bottled water of many different companies continues to increase, but according to some research and analytical studies, the quality of bottled water is less healthy as compared to the tap water. Researchers show that the tap water appears to be examined regularly and is focused to more strict regulations, Yes, the taste of bottled water is better to some extent but this is so expensive and creates pollution in terms of plastic waste.

My Learning Experience Essay

How is it precisely, that people learn things? As you know, when being taught something it is presented through our five senses. Studies indicate that when it comes to the succession of entirely grasping the concept of something, how that information is presented is a governing factor. Furthermore, when you apply this concept to everyday life it is apparent that college educators should present information in a way that is best suitable to the content rather than the student. On my spare time, I like to disassemble and reassemble whatever computer devices I may have in my possession. About a week ago, I discovered that it is possible to get a custom colored added to your Apple iphone. Yesterday, I decided that I was going to learn how to disassemble my iphone. So naturally, when my custom purple parts came in the mail, I decided it was time to go to work. I approached the tasks by using what is known as the â€Å"Scientific Method. † This method is a form of learning style and includes the preliminary steps such as: visual research, recording data, formulating a plan and finally, executing your hypothesis on a test subject. Learning how to do this task is not easy, because I did not have a physical teacher and I was inexperienced with the mechanical design of the Apple iphone. I followed a visual tutorial that I found on Youtube on the disassembly of my specific phone. I watched the video once before determining that if I followed the guide in complete synchronization, that I would be able to apply the proper parts and make the phone look better than before. Which was a custom purple front and back-plate that I ordered online. Next, I put the video on widescreen and tried my best to mimic the guide as he move through the tutorial. I managed to completely disassemble my phone to the smallest of its components due to the effects of the visual interpretation I stored in my head from watching the video. Surprisingly, looking at the phone in pieces made way more sense than looking at it as a whole because you could see how every little piece adds up to its functional design. In my hands on experience, I learned how many things worked on the device without having read a manual. Furthermore, when I began to reassemble my iphone, I felt so confident in my ability that I closed out the tutorial that I reassembled without any help. Furthermore, when I was taking the iphone apart it took me about an hour to fully disassemble it but when I put it back together it took half of the time. This was made possible because of the video of the virtual instructor that I found on Youtube using the â€Å"Scientific Method†. I memorized every piece of the iphone because I had a vivid picture of the tutorial in my mind. This just goes to show how the use of a learning style is a governing factor of whether something is fully learned or not. The articles â€Å" Ask The Cognitive Scientist† and â€Å" The Myth of Learning Styles†, by Daniel T.  Willingham are informational collaborations on the study of cognitive science and its relation to how the human mind learns. On the other hand, the article â€Å"Learning Styles Fact and Fiction† by Derek Bruff slightly differs from the arguments posed by Willingham’s articles. The article â€Å" Ask the Cognitive Scientist†, analyzes whether visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners actually need to be learned though visual, auditory, and kinesthetic instruction. Indicated studies suggest that to learn new material effectively depends on the modality of the content. In other words, it is how new knowledge is introduced to a person that affects whether that material will be able to effectively be learned. In fact, some topics may call for more than one modality to be used. Furthermore, the article â€Å"The Myths on Learning Styles† questions the accuracy of learning styles by illustrating four different theories on learning styles. In summation, the article illustrates that a certain number of factors that vary from person to person and are known to affect learning styles. These factors include ability, background knowledge, interest, and intelligence. The authors argue that the belief in learning styles continue to persevere because learning styles have become common knowledge or a widespread acceptance. In addition, most of the general theories on learning styles are true. However, people need to take into account the differences in learner ability. Overall, the author focuses on the belief that students have different many factors involved when it comes to learning but there are no difference their learning styles. On the other hand, the article â€Å"Learning Styles Fact and Fiction† by Derek Bruff argues that the analysis of the learning styles illustrated by the other two articles may be true, but they area not precise. Furthermore, pinpointing a student’s learning style through test does not have an affect on how well they will learn through various other activities. According to the article, there are precisely three main important factors about modalities drawn from cognitive science. These three factors include are that visual thinking tools help everyone, using the best modality or modalities for the content, and that people learn new material best when they encounter numerous times in numerous different ways. Overall, the incorporated studies illustrate the concept that how information is presented to a person effects how effectively a person learns that information. My experience further displays how the use of an effective learning style as a means of approach when dealing with a task I’m not experienced in is a tremendous contribution to whether information presented to a person is fully understood or not.