Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The Effect of Ingestion of Beverages or Meal That Contains Research Paper

The Effect of Ingestion of Beverages or Meal That Contains Electrolytes Prior to Exercise - Research Paper Example Commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and chicken noodle soup were used in the study. The purpose of the article is well defined and the study population includes both men and women as the participant’s hence eliminating gender bias and the response of both men and women towards intake of electrolytes prior to exercise would be determined. The introduction explains the importance of pre-exercise hydration status and states that this aspect is mostly neglected in the guidelines set by the American College of Sports Medicine. The authors believe that body fluid balance will greatly aid in the performance and endurance levels. It further states that research carried out using consumption of water alone has not yielded any beneficial result and it only increased urine output during exercise. The authors of the present study have ascertained, after conducting laboratory investigation, that intake of high sodium containing beverage or meal before exercise speeds up the recovery of plasma volume and also increase water retention within the body by decreasing urinary output. The article also cites previous research studies in which consumption of electrolyte containing beverages, especially those rich in sodium, both before and after exercising have improved body fluid balance and also aided in preventing excessive water loss through urine. However previous studies had not related water intake with the consumption of sodium-rich beverages. The present study proposed to determine that fluid balance could be maintained by increasing the ad libitum water intake and reducing water loss through urine upon consumption of sodium-rich beverages and meals before exercise. It hypothesized that consumption of chicken noodle soup 45 minutes before exercise would improve fluid balance by increasing water intake and reducing urine output while no considerable improvement was expected after consumption of water alone and carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages. The authors also expected the responses in both men and women to be similar. The population sampling and methods to be used have not been elaborated in the introduction.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Business Ethics Essay Example for Free

Business Ethics Essay What is ethics? What are some common ethical types? Why do business people need it? Can ethics be taught to people? Ethics is a study of morality, stems from the ancient Greek â€Å"ethos† meaning custom or habit. It is a study of theories concerning what is good and evil in human conduct. There is no particular set of laws defining what is ethical and what is not, because there is no right or wrong answer. The second sense of ethics speak of â€Å"codes of ethics†, which are a set of rules serve as guidance to people, often in fields of professions such as business or medical. Ethical contrasts with unethical, which goes against the codes of ethics. There are several ethical theories in Western philosophy. Many of them look at the fruits of one’s action – categorized under Consequentialism, while other theories uphold one’s right and duty, which is Deontology. Consequentialism pertains to cost and benefits. It deals with the results and consequences of performing or not performing an action. For example: If war brings more good (money, oil, labor) than bad (casualties) then it is ethical. Some consequentialist theories are utilitarianism and ethical egoism. Utilitarianism, according to Bentham and Mill, the right action is which creates the greatest good for the greatest number. People should ask what action would promote the greatest amount of happiness for people who are affected. For example: a utilitarian would say euthanasia is ethical if that would bring satisfaction to the suffering patient and financial relief to the family. Ethical egoism, according to Ayn Rand, says we should do what is purely in our best interest, as opposed to altruism. It promotes one’s well-being above others. Meanwhile deontology pertains to rights, duties or obligations. It concerns the morality of the action that is being performed (or not performed) rather than the results deriving from said action. In Kantian deontology, he promotes the Golden rules (don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t commit suicide) which are absolute rules that one must follow no matter what. Therefore it would be unethical to steal food even if it is for a dying person. In Lockean deontology, John Lock believes each individual is entitled to natural rights, such as right to live, right to freedom, right o pursue happiness, ect. Another theory is virtual ethics, which is similar to Confucianism, in that a person’s virtues are habits and characteristics that one exhibits. Business people need ethics because it helps prevent malpractices and corruptions. Business practitioners should refer to business codes of conduct as a guide to maintain good business practices that help safeguarding customer confidence, rights and satisfactions; protecting employees and shareholders’ interests and legal rights; and upholding healthy competitions among businesses. According to Socrates, ethics are what people ought to do and it can be taught. Psychologists also argue that a person’s ability to deal with moral issues is not formed since birth but develop gradually. I personally think a person’s moral can be shaped and that ethics should be taught, because without it we are left with a generation full of confused individuals whom are unable to comprehend and decide what right and what is wrong. That said, ethics should not be forced on people but should only serve as a guide and advisor. Because there is no uniform set of rules for ethics, it is subjective to the psycho-demographic and geographic of the teachers. A new learner should be given space to assess and confirm what he believes is right and wrong for himself. 2/ What is an argument? What makes it valid/invalid, sound/unsound, good/ bad, â€Å"true†? An argument is a collection of statements or propositions, including premises and conclusions, in an attempt to persuade another that the conclusion is true. The premises are intended to provide support and evidence in favor to the speaker’s stance, and in some cases they don’t success. There can be an indefinite number of premises, while there needs to be at least one conclusion. Conclusions are statements about the point the argument is trying to make. An argument needs to base on logic, in order to avoid logical fallacies (such as slippery slope argument) which make an argument bad, invalid or unsound. An argument is valid, or colloquially speaking, is good if the premises give logical and true reasons to prove that the conclusion is true. It is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false, or if the conclusion follows from the premises in a logical way.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Resplendent Rivendel :: Free Essay Writer

Resplendent Rivendel Imagine a world of such serenity where you have no enmity and worries, but how to enjoy your life to the endless boundary. A land of such astounding, imperial beauty that makes you wants to pinch yourself, yet you dare not to for the fear of losing a splendid moment. Unimaginable beauty of peacefulness, yet stunning of its solemnity, we are in Rivendel, the Elvin city, where everyone’s fantasies lie. Every step, beautiful colored leaves cushion your feet and create a delicate sound of a person gently biting in to golden brown, delicious potato chips. All around you, under the pleasant sunlight, the warmth surrounds your body, gently ameliorating your troubles and pain, and slowly pacifying your turbulent mind. The wind swiftly sprints toward you, splits upon the very tip of your nose and flutters your hair that ferociously fought for its independence. The chill of the autumn air swirling around your ear slowly promises your brain of the traitorous, humid summer day’s closure. No matter what atrocities exist in the world, the trees, neutralized in quiescence, continue on with their life. Slowly shedding their old, worn out coat, they watch as leaves glide down to the ground, slicing through the air. Sometimes they did flips or spins until they finally bowed for applause on the ground like a masterful ballet dancer. On the other side, as to ambitiously compete with its idealistic beauty, the forceful water, rushing through the river like a bright, white stallion drops as the rainbow colors reflect upon every droplet. The bubbles launch up to the surface of the well, exploding in rhythmic harmony. The soothing mist fills the atmosphere. Smoothly colliding on to your skin, they moisturize your body delicately, like a feast after a famine. Its marvelous clarity refreshes your mind, like a rain in a fiery summer day. Do you wander what it’s like to live here, as an elf? Elves are handsome, admirable creatures. Their silvery hair flawlessly comes down to their shoulders, lustrous as a gleaming, full moon, as to show the conscientiousness in resemblance. Yet, their eyes, pair of polished emeralds and sapphires show only a taste of their mysterious, impenetrable ingenuity. Anyone who stares into them falls into the immense depth of clarity, until they finally swim out from the exquisite, dream-like ocean. Behind the radiance of their aura, two pointy years, in full appearance shows their necessary belligerence, in their nature of survival.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Are Fast Food Restaurants to Blame for Obesity?

â€Å"If ever there were a newspaper headline custom-made for Jay Leno’s monologue, this was it. Kids’ taking on McDonald’s this week, suing the company for making them fat. Isn’t that like middle-aged men suing Porsche for making them get speeding tickets? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? † David makes an excellent point as he opens his article, but then contradicts himself by telling us that he believes McDonalds is to blame for obesity in America. It is my belief that his entire article can be invalidated in just two words: personal responsibility.Each individual is responsible for the decisions that they make regarding their health or any aspect of their life for that matter. If we blame fast food restaurants for making us obese, where does the blame stop? It is even more critical for parents to recognize the need for personal responsibility, because they are not only responsible for their health, but they are responsible for teachi ng their children how to eat right and take care of themselves as they grow up. Some might argue that if fast food chains changed their portion size or labeled their products with nutritional information, that consumers would make better choices.If society is allowed to blame obesity on a fast food restaurant, then it will start a downward spiral with no end in sight. Are casinos to blame for gambling addictions? Are tobacco companies to blame for cancer? With this mindset, one can do anything they want and never accept responsibility for any of it. Personal responsibility must be reinforced if we are going to accomplish anything. The only one to blame for the decision to eat a cheeseburger, gamble away your income, or light up a cigarette is the person that makes the decision.We are seeing more and more frivolous lawsuits making their way through the courts and judges are awarding plaintiffs on even the most ridiculous suits. Yes, fast food restaurants are bad for our health, but s o are cigarettes and alcohol. Gambling is bad for our finances. Infidelity is bad for our marriages. Do we blame the tobacco companies? Do we blame the alcohol companies? How about the casinos that lure us in and take our hard earned money, or the television and movie producers that glorify cheating?Not only does this attitude have an incredibly negative affect on our health and well-being, but it takes a horrible toll on our children’s. They are learning that there is no accountability for their actions. We can already see this in the way some children behave in public. Parents are also responsible for ensuring their kids are getting a healthy diet and some form of daily exercise regimen. It is all too easy to simply say â€Å"I do not have time to cook my kids a healthy meal because I work too many hours to pay the bills. Maybe we should be asking ourselves, â€Å"Could I save enough money by cooking healthy meals instead of eating out at fast food restaurants, which woul d allow me to work fewer hours? † I was very overweight as a child and yet my parents never allowed me to have fast food. They weren’t strict enough at the dinner table and they allowed me to have too many snacks. Because I was always required to clean my plate, I often ate past being full. This lack of judgment on my parent’s part had nothing to do with any fast food restaurant. It had to do with my parent’s methods for raising and disciplining me.In all honesty, my parents were to blame for my childhood obesity. David seems to think that by forcing fast food restaurants to cut their portion sizes and label their meals with nutrition information, people will stop eating fast food. However, most grocery store junk food products are labeled and it does not stop people from purchasing them. Furthermore, reducing portion sizes would only cause consumers to spend more to satisfy their appetites. This does not solve the problem of obesity, and also adds to the continuing downfall of our economy and financial instability.If I want a large fry and they only have small, I am more apt to buy two or three smalls to get the same amount of fries. While David’s article was only about the role fast food restaurants are playing in the obesity crisis, it is indicative of a much bigger problem. Americans are blaming everyone but themselves for their actions and it needs to stop. If we do not learn to take personal responsibility over our everyday decisions, and we do not begin to educate our children to do the same, then many other problems besides obesity lie in our future.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Langston Hughes Essay

Langston Hughes is considered to be one of the most influential writer and poets of his time. His works and masterpieces greatly contributed to the advancement of the Black literature. His journey from a small-time boy into a knowledgeable man is very inspiring. He wrote poems and stories that apparently depict the culture and status of his race. Langston Hughes is a native of Missouri and had a humble beginning. From the start, his writing skills were already very visible but his father wanted him to become an engineer. He soon dropped out and decided to continue his love affair with poetry. Instead, his travels abroad served a great deal of inspiration for his work. When he came back, he moved to New York and became one of the movers in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s. His travels opened his eyes for different culture in the world and at the same time, encompassing his roots. Harlem made a very deep impact on his writing style. Most of his poems are inspired by the blues and jazz era in Harlem that is why many of which is written in rhythmical language and is almost set into music. Furthermore, he also wrote plays and dramas that were staged in New York. His plays touched some taboo topics. But then again, he also founded the first ever Black theater groups in New York. Aside from being a playwright, he was also a contributor for Baltimore Afro-American. In 1929, he received his bachelor’s degree and continued to be a great writer and poet all throughout his generation (â€Å"Langston Hughes (1902-1967)†). Hughes is very influential not just in the African-American literature realm but also to the whole world. During the Harlem Renaissance, he was considered as one of its leading voices. Most of his works revolve around the great deal of discrimination and oppression that many African-American endured during the 1920’s. His poems and short stories mostly reflect the actual state of the society in their time. Through his poems, he was able to express his zealous viewpoints and sociopolitical protests. Most of the characters in his stories are based from a real person that he met while passing time in the many bars in Harlem. Through these characters, he was able to portray people who experiences racism and sexual conflicts. His environment was also a very gigantic influence on his stories, novels and poems. In his stories and essays, one will notice that he tell stories of violence in the south, the street life in Harlem, poverty, injustice, hopelessness and famine. Because of his poems, many politicians regarded him as a Communist but in 1953, he attested to the Senate that he was and never is a Communist. But, as the conscientious artist that he is, he kept his ordinary position and worked very hard to chronicle the experiences of an American black which normally is contrasting the splendor of the soul with the repressive conditions(â€Å"Langston Hughes (1902-1967)†). Hughes was not contented with just being regarded as a good writer. Besides that, what he really wanted was to capture the spirit of the ordinary man. With so much love and regard for his fellowmen and their culture, his specialty revolved around the daily way of life and situations of African Americans. All throughout his life, he exhausted every imaginable form of media just to convey his observations and interpretations into a fine piece of literature. In his lifetime, Langston Hughes was able to achieve no other Black literary figure of his time was able to do. He not only wrote stories and poems but for every literary piece that he finishes, it embodies the dreams, bliss, laughter, rage, sadness and pride that any human feels (Sylvester). One of his earliest essays was entitled â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain†. In this essay, he tells about Black artists and poets â€Å"who would surrender racial pride in the name of a false integration. †(Jackson) He reiterated that Black poets and writers preferred to be called poets rather than putting a color adjective before the word. For almost forty years, Langston Hughes became a very prolific writer with over a hundred essays, poems, plays and books under his belt. Even after his last days, Hughes did not give up writing. Instead, he became a professor and lecturer. When he died of cancer in 1967, many people mourned. Even after his death, countless praises were bestowed upon his works and until now, it is considered to be one of the greatest forms of African-American literature in history. Even in another lifetime, Langston Hughes’ life and works is worth looking back. His life inspired countless people to fight for their rights and assert their places in the society. His essays, poems and stories became a medium in which many African-American were able to relate to because they were actually the subject. They saw themselves sin the characters that Hughes created. But more important than the technical contributions that he gave, he is praise-worthy for his courage to step up against the oppressor of their times. His works, particularly his poems depicts the struggles and emotions of the ordinary African-American in1920’s. Furthermore, he is instrumental in the Harlem Renaissance in New York. He became one of the leading purveyors of Harlem art in New York. And through the different forms of media, he was able to convey the message of his fellow African-Americans to the world. Because of his poems, the world became aware of the resistance of the Blacks in America. Additionally, his poems are very straight to the point and simple; but no matter how simple his poems may seem, it does not fall short on its messages. Truly, Langston Hughes deserves to be a part of the African-American culture not just in New York but all over the world not only for his great literary contributions but also as one of the voices in uplifting the image of African-Americans to the world. Reference http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Phonology - Definition and Observations

Phonology - Definition and Observations Phonology is the branch of linguistics concerned with the study of speech sounds with reference to their distribution and patterning. Adjective: phonological. A linguist who specializes in phonology is known as a phonologist. In Fundamental Concepts in Phonology (2009), Ken Lodge observes that phonology is about differences of meaning signaled by sound. As discussed below, the boundaries between the fields of phonology and phonetics are not always sharply defined. Etymology: From the Greek, sound, voice Observations on Phonology One way to understand the subject matter of phonology is to contrast it with other fields within linguistics. A very brief explanation is that phonology is the study of sound structures in language, which is different from the study of sentence structures (syntax), word structures (morphology), or how languages change over time (historical linguistics). But this is insufficient. An important feature of the structure of a sentence is how it is pronouncedits sound structure. The pronunciation of a given word is also a fundamental part of the structure of a word. And certainly the principles of pronunciation in a language are subject to change over time. So phonology has a relation to numerous domains of linguistics.(David Odden, Introducing Phonology, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2013)The Aim of PhonologyThe aim of phonology is to discover the principles that govern the way sounds are organized in languages and to explain the variations that occur. We begin by analyzing an indiv idual language to determine which sound units are used and which patterns they formthe languages sound system. We then compare the properties of different sound systems, and work out hypotheses about the rules underlying the use of sounds in particular groups of languages. Ultimately, phonologists want to make statements that apply to all languages. . . .Whereas phonetics is the study of all possible speech sounds, phonology studies the way in which a languages speakers systematically use a selection of these sounds in order to express meaning. There is a further way of drawing the distinction. No two speakers have anatomically identical vocal tracts, and thus no one produces sounds in exactly the same way as anyone else. . . . Yet when using our language we are able to discount much of this variation, and focus on only those sounds, or properties of sound, that are important for the communication of meaning. We think of our fellow speakers as using the same sounds, even though acoustically they are not. Phonology is the study of how we find order within the apparent chaos of speech sounds.(David Crystal, How Language Works. Overlook Press, 2005)- When we talk about the sound system of English, we are referring to the number of phonemes which are used in a language and to how they are organized.(David Crystal, The Cambridge Encylopedia of the English Language, 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, 2003)Phoneme Systems[P]honology is not only about phonemes and allophones. Phonology also concerns itself with the principles governing the phoneme systemsthat is, with what sounds languages like to have, which sets of sounds are most common (and why) and which are rare (and also why). It turns out that there are prototype-based explanations for why the phoneme system of the languages of the world have the sounds that they do, with physiological/acoustic/perceptual explanations for the preference for some sounds over others.(Geoffrey S. Nathan, Phonology: A Cognitive Grammar Introduction. John Benjamins, 2008) The Phonetics-Phonology InterfacePhonetics interfaces with phonology in three ways. First, phonetics defines distinctive features. Second, phonetics explains many phonological patterns. These two interfaces constitute what has come to be called the substantive grounding of phonology (Archangeli Pulleyblank, 1994). Finally, phonetics implements phonological representations.The number and depth of these interfaces is so great that one is naturally moved to ask how autonomous phonetics and phonology are from one another and whether one can be largely reduced to the other. The answers to these questions in the current literature could not differ more. At one extreme, Ohala (1990b) argues that there is in fact no interface between phonetics and phonology because the latter can largely if not completely be reduced to the former. At the opposite extreme, Hale Reiss (2000b) argue for excluding phonetics entirely from phonology because the latter is about computation, while the former is ab out something else. Between these extremes is a large variety of other answers to these questions . . ..(John Kingston, The Phonetics-Phonology Interface. The Cambridge Handbook of Phonology, ed. by Paul de Lacy. Cambridge University Press, 2007) Phonemics and PhonologyPhonemics is the study of phonemes in their various aspects, i.e. their establishment, description, occurrence, arrangement, etc. Phonemes fall under two categories, segmental or linear phonemes and suprasegmental or non-linear phonemes  . . .. The term phonemics, with the above-mentioned sense attached to it,  was widely used in the heyday of post-Bloomfieldian linguistics in America, in particular from the 1930s to the 1950s, and continues to be used by present-day post-Bloomfieldians. Note in this connection that Leonard Bloomsfield (1887-1949) used the term phonology, not phonemics, and talked about primary phonemes and secondary phonemes while using the adjectival form phonemic elsewhere. The term phonology, not phonemics, is generally used by contemporary linguists of other schools.(Tsutomu Akamatsu, Phonology. The  Linguistics Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., edited by  Kirsten Malmkjaer. Routledge, 2004)​ Pronunciation: fah-NOL-ah-gee

Monday, October 21, 2019

jacksonsonians vs jeffersonians essays

jacksonsonians vs jeffersonians essays The Washington administration was the first to bring together in the cabinet of the United States, the Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and the Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson and Hamilton began to take different views when the government began to address the issue of the old war debts and the worthless paper money left over from the days of the Confederation. Hamilton suggested that the government should create the Bank of the United States, which would be a public-private partnership with both government and private investors. The Bank of the United States was to handle the governments banking needs. Jefferson protested because this was not allowed by the Constitution. Hamilton opposed the view of Jefferson and stated that the Constitutions writers could not have predicted the need of a bank for the United States. Hamilton said that the right to create the Bank of the United States was stated in the elastic or the necessary and proper clause in which the Constitution gave the government the power to pass laws that were necessary for the welfare of the nation. This began the argument between the strict constructionists (Jefferson) who believed in the strict interpretation of the Constitution by not going an inch beyond its clearly expressed provisions, and the loose constructionists (Hamilton) who wished to reason out all sorts of implications from what it said. Hamilton and Jefferson began to disagree more and more. Hamilton wrote nasty anonymous articles in John Fennos Gazette of the United States and Jefferson responded to him in Philip Freneaus National Gazette. Jeffersons Notes of the State of Virginia in 1787 stated that rural life was beneficial to the government because cities and other areas of large population created poverty, dise...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Birth of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses

Birth of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses How did the world start according to your worldview? Was there a sudden cosmic spark emerging from nowhere? Did life then emerge from some sort of almost living form? Did a supreme being create the world in seven days and form the first woman from the rib of the first (male) human? Was there a great swirling chaos from which emerged a frost giant and a salt-licking cow? A cosmic egg? Greek mythology contains creation stories that are very different from either the familiar story of Adam and Eve or the Big Bang. In Greek myths about the early world, themes of parental treachery alternate with tales of filial betrayal. Youll also find love and loyalty. There are all the essentials of good plot lines. Birth and cosmic creation are linked. Mountains and other physical parts of the world are born through procreation. Granted, it is procreation between things that we dont think of as procreating, but this is an ancient version and part of the ancient mythological worldview.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1. Parental Treachery: In Generation 1, the sky (Uranus), who is seemingly without any love at all for his offspring (or maybe he just wants his wife all to himself), hides his children inside his wife, Mother Earth (Gaia).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. Filial Betrayal: In Generation 2, the Titan father (Cronus) swallows his children, the newborn Olympians. In Generation 3, the Olympic gods and goddesses have learned from the examples of their ancestors, so there is more parental treachery:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zeus swallows one mate and sews the soon-to-be born offspring of another inside himself after he kills the mother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hera, the wife of Zeus, creates a god without a mate, but even he isnt safe from his parents, for Hera (or Zeus) hurls her son from Mt. Olympus. 1st Generation Generation implies a coming into being, so that which was there from the beginning is not and cannot be generated. What has always been there, whether it be a god or a primeval force (here, Chaos), is not the first generation. If for convenience, it requires a number, it can be referred to as Generation Zero. Even the first generation here gets a bit tricky if examined too closely since it could be said to cover 3 generations, but thats not terribly relevant for this look at parents (particularly, fathers) and their treacherous relations with their children. According to some versions of Greek mythology, at the beginning of the universe, there was Chaos. Chaos was all alone [Hesiod Theog. l.116], but soon Gaia (Earth) appeared. Without the benefit of a sexual partner, Gaia gave birth to Uranus (Sky) to provide covering and father half-siblings. With Uranus serving as the father, mother Gaia gave birth to the 50-headed Hecatonchiresthe Cyclopes (Cyclops)the 12 Titans 2nd Generation Eventually, the 12 Titans paired off, male and female: Cronus and RheaIapetus and ThemisOceanus and TethysHyperion and TheiaCrius and MnemosyneCoeus and Phoebe They produced rivers and springs, second generation Titans, Atlas and Prometheus, moon (Selene), sun (Helios), and many others. Much earlier, before the Titans had paired off, their father, Uranus, who was hateful and rightly fearful that one of his sons might overthrow him, shut all his children inside his wife, their Mother Earth (Gaia). And he used to hide them all away in a secret place of Earth so soon as each was born, and would not suffer them to come up into the light: and Heaven rejoiced in his evil doing. But vast Earth groaned within, being straitened, and she made the element of grey flint and shaped a great sickle, and told her plan to her dear sons. - Hesiod Theogony, which is all about the generation of gods. Another version comes from 1.1.4 Apollodorus*, who says Gaia was angry because Uranus had thrown his first children, the Cyclopes, into Tartarus. [See, I told you there was love; here, maternal.] At any rate, Gaia was angry with her husband for imprisoning their children either within her or in Tartarus, and she wanted her children released. Cronus, the dutiful son, agreed to do the dirty work: he used that flint sickle to castrate his father, rendering him impotent (without power). 3rd Generation Then the Titan Cronus, with his sister Rhea as a wife, sired six children. These were the Olympic gods and goddesses: HestiaHeraDemeterPoseidonHadesZeus Cursed by his father (Uranus), the Titan Cronus was afraid of his own children. After all, he knew how violent he had been towards his father. He knew better than to repeat the mistakes his father had made in leaving himself vulnerable, so instead of imprisoning his children in his wifes body (or Tartarus), Cronus swallowed them. Like her mother Earth (Gaia) before her, Rhea wanted her children to be free. With the help of her parents (Uranus and Gaia), she figured out how to defeat her husband. When it was time to give birth to Zeus, Rhea did it in secret. Cronus knew she was due and asked for the new baby to swallow. Instead of feeding him Zeus, Rhea substituted a stone. (No one said the Titans were intellectual giants.) Zeus matured safely until he was old enough to force his father to regurgitate his five siblings (Hades, Poseidon, Demeter, Hera, and Hestia). As G.S. Kirk points out in The Nature of Greek Myths, with the oral rebirth of his brothers and sisters, Zeus, once the youngest, became the oldest. At any rate, even if the regurgitation-reversal doesnt persuade you that Zeus could claim to be the oldest, he became the leader of the gods on snow-capped Mt. Olympus. 4th Generation Zeus, a first generation Olympian (although in the third generation since the creation), was father to the following second generation Olympians, put together from various accounts: AthenaAphroditeAresApolloArtemisDionysusHermesHephaestusPersephone The list of Olympians contains 12 gods and goddesses, but their identities vary. Hestia and Demeter, entitled to spots on Olympus, sometimes surrender their seats. Parents of Aphrodite and Hephaestus Although they may have been Zeus children, the lineage of 2 second-generation Olympians is in question: Some claim Aphrodite (goddess of love and beauty) sprang from the foam and severed genitals of Uranus. Homer refers to Aphrodite as the daughter of Dione and Zeus.Some (including Hesiod in the introductory quote) claim Hera as the sole parent of Hephaestus, the lame blacksmith god. But Zeus himself gave birth from his own head to bright-eyed Tritogeneia (29), the awful, the strife-stirring, the host-leader, the unwearying, the queen, who delights in tumults and wars and battles. But Hera without union with Zeus for she was very angry and quarreled with her mate bare famous Hephaestus, who is skilled in crafts more than all the sons of Heaven.-Hesiod Theogony 924ff It is interesting, but to my knowledge insignificant, that these two Olympians who had uncertain parentage married. Zeus as Parent Many of Zeus liaisons were unusual; for instance, he disguised himself as a cuckoo bird to seduce Hera. Two of his children were born in a manner he might have learned from his father or grandfather; that is, like his father Cronus, Zeus swallowed not only the child but the mother Metis while she was pregnant. When the fetus had fully formed, Zeus gave birth to their daughter Athena. Lacking the proper feminine apparatus, he gave birth through his head. After Zeus had frightened or burned his mistress Semele to death, but before she was completely incinerated, Zeus removed the fetus of Dionysus from her womb and sewed it into his thigh where the wine god-to-be developed until ready for rebirth. *Apollodorus, a 2nd Century B.C. Greek scholar, wrote a Chronicles and On the Gods, but the reference here is to the Bibliotheca or Library, which is falsely attributed to him.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Role of Rapid Economic Growth in Resolution of Social and Political Essay

Role of Rapid Economic Growth in Resolution of Social and Political Tensions Between China and India - Essay Example The existing social and political tensions have been addressed in cases where both China and India have shared the same level of interest in their economic relations (Mitter, 2008, p. 56). In cases where the two countries have differed in their social and political objectives which could be funded by their economic growths, the tension in the political and social sphere between China and India has aggravated. The two countries India and China have close cultural, social and political linkages for long time in the history. The review of the political and the social tensions between China and India have come at a time when these two countries have started to undergo a period of socio-economic transformation and have been eager to modify their political linkages in the best interest of their economic progress. Arguments and facts In this piece of work, I would argue rationally that the rapid economic growth rates of China and India have offered a new source of political and social tensi on and have also been able to address the existing tensions in the social and political relationship domain between the two countries. In order to understand the underlying reasons of the impacts of relative economic growth of China and India on the social and political tensions between the two countries, a review of the political and socio-economic structural differences between these two countries need to be explained as follows. India is the largest multi-party democracy which has pulled the demands of democracy and has been able to achieve modest growth in its economy. China on the other hand is the largest single party ruled economy. Due to the existence of a single party... This paper outlines the importance of strengthening economic cooperation between China and India in respect to resolution of their historical political and social tensions. Historically, the countries have enough linkages in the social and cultural domain and hence, the rapid economic growth of the two countries largely impacted the social and political tensions between the two countries. The rapid growth of economy of China has seen the country to dominate the Asian economy and take on the US to challenge its economic dominance. This has resulted in the growth of China and attained a commanding position in the Sino-Indian relationships. India made rapid progress to develop as a regional superpower in Asia and was looking to expand its strategic relationship with the East in order to be able to influence the social and political tensions with China. The social and political relations between China and India and the underlying social and political tensions is explained with the help of framework of international relations. Functionalism theory of international relations explain the fact as a result of the rise of the countries, China and India have been fighting for dominance while maintaining relations between them and this also took form of militarization. After the rapid growth of economy of the two countries, the society of both China and India have developed an increasing nationalist sentiment due to which the expectations from the government and the social demands from the economic policies are even higher.

Whether music is allowed according to the islamic shari'a Essay

Whether music is allowed according to the islamic shari'a - Essay Example It is imperative to be aware of what our religion teaches us about music, acceptance and tolerance of music, and to what extent we are permitted to listen to music. For this we need to refer to the Quran, Hadith and sayings of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Prophet’s companions. According to these sources, music has been termed as ‘haraam’ in our religion. Interpreters of the Holy Quran have identified the term â€Å"lahwal hadith’ as listening and singing songs, buying music and buying instruments for amusement. Sayyidana Abdullah Ibne Mas`ood, a close companion of the Holy Prophet was inquired the meaning of the phrase â€Å"lahwal hadith’ and he answered, â€Å"I swear by Him besides whom there is no other God, that it refers to ghinaa (singing), (Inter-Islam, 2001).† It is believed that he repeated this statement thrice and his views have been seconded by the Four Caliphs, the prominent Sahaba and other reliable personalities in Islam. Music is forbidden and also regarded as a major sin in the Muslim religion. Playing of musical instruments is also a major sin hence it is haraam to play the guitar, piano, drums etc. Imam Ali ibne Musa Reza says, â€Å"And to be engrossed in musical instruments is also one of the great sins,1 (Bhimji, Saleem).† A verse from Surah Luqman in the Holy Quran is often offered as a proof of prohibition of music, ‘And there are among men those who purchase idle talk in order to mislead others from Allahs path without knowledge, and who throw ridicule upon it. For such there will be a humiliating punishment.† The word â€Å"idle talk’ here refers to the word ‘lahwal hadith’ which has been discussed earlier. This word has been interpreted in two more ways but they refer to shirk (polytheism) and diverting people from Allah’s worship which takes us to the same idea of engaging in prohibited activities (Bilaal, 1986,

Friday, October 18, 2019

A short-term e-Marketing Plan for a specified company Essay

A short-term e-Marketing Plan for a specified company - Essay Example still has a crucial role to play within the marketing mix, the discussion herein focuses upon three main strategies, as highlighted as being three of the most successful online marketing activities, in terms of return on investment. The three strategies focussed upon here include primarily Paid Online Advertising, via products such as Google AdWords, Search Engine Optimisation and Email Marketing. Each of these initiatives offer specific and definite measurement mechanisms, which allow the company to steer their marketing efforts in accordance with what is working and away from what may not be working, specifically for the paid advertising and email marketing aspects. The search engine optimization remains an ongoing initiative that requires up to date knowledge and implementation on a regular basis, as these aspects predominantly hinge upon the specific algorithms of the search engines at any given time. The specific initiatives and activities are provided briefly and then each is d iscussed in depth in order to display the necessary steps and requirements within the overall online marketing strategy. The internet has revolutionised business in a multitude of ways, from products becoming directly available, to offering the consumer the option of view reviews and opinions of products and services, not to mention the viral capabilities of the various social media platforms, such as Twitter, My Space, FaceBook, to name but a few. Many organizations, both large and small have taken advantage of the internet in both a marketing, as well as communications medium to remain in contact with the clientele, and more importantly from a branding perspective as well as seeking to secure new customers. However success within this ever evolving medium is not guaranteed and a number of key factors must be taken into account when seeking to establish a so called offer and service on the internet. These factors should furthermore be incorporated with specific, and proven strategies

Revised website design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Revised website design - Essay Example It is originally presented as that of a simple webpage within dozens of all the other pages in the College’s website. With this, the project aims to give The Mishkin Art Gallery its own identity by providing it an independent say of introducing itself to the World Wide Web. In its redesigned state, The Sidney Mishkin Art Gallery Website makes it easier for the target visitors to find important details. It focuses its usability to the people who will be interested in mainly about the gallery. By removing the pages that does not have much to do with the gallery site proper, the usability of the website is simplified to the main details intended for a person who would like to visit the gallery site. The main particulars that these target audience would be looking upon are usually the dates of exhibitions, brief information about a current exhibit, a past exhibition and the gallery’s collections. All these have been included in the redesigned version of The Sidney Mishkin Art Gallery. Another thing that would be easily recognized is that the redesigned site is aesthetically presented to look poised and elegant. This is offered in the ambience of the design. A black background that would highlight black and white and even colored photographs would enhance the impression left to the interested visitors of the gallery. The blackness classically frames a featured visual at the main page of the site which would increase its elegance since it promotes art as a main subject to contemplate upon. The navigational usability and functions has also been considered in creating the redesigned version of The Sidney Miskin Art Gallery website. The navigational buttons have been arranged in a way that it will easily be accessed by potential gallery viewers. As mentioned earlier, the main subpages that have been included ranked the Present Exhibitions page, the Past Exhibitions page, and the Exhibition Catalogs. This buttons are placed below snapshots of exhibitions to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

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

Computer Architecture - Research Paper Example It is important to ensure that all the learners comprehend the extent of the using an operating system before studying in details about the internal implementation algorithms and data configurations. This means that there is a relationship between both the use of operating systems (externals) and the designing and implementation (internals) of an operating system (Ramachandran and Leahy 136). Learning about the internal design has significance in different areas such as algorithm design and implementation, dependable programming, modern device development, caching material across the web, building virtual environments, network management, building secure and safe systems and others The main purpose of this application is to convey a comprehensive understanding of the algorithms and equivalent skill that is used within operating systems, it also involves the merging of the knowledge acquired in the course that would help the learners value the trade-os involved in the process that all ow the designing and implementing an operating system. The OSes are the main software systems that show various s/w engineering issues. Most of the OSes cause problems mainly in concurrency. For this reason, a number of people tend to end up writing OSes and provide modifications to the existing systems for example, Linux. Linux is embedded software for the normal hardware in the operating systems. Various subsystems that complete the functions & structures in the CPU Scheduling as well l as scheduling for the multiprocessors. CPU has different components such as registers (Ramachandran and Leahy 106). These are the transitory storage sites that could store the references to memory locations where the next instruction was carried out. It also allows the CPU to keep its eminence information. It also has the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). Its purpose is to carry out the real implementation of complex arithmetical functions and logical operations on data. The ALU execute the four functio ns: add, increment, nand, and subtract. The CPU should also have the control unit that controls and coordinate the system’s different applications, codes and the Operating System’s instructions that are being implemented. It also allows the fetching of the code, and in the interpretation of the codes, that supervises the completion of the different instructions set. The control unit establishes the application instruction that is being processed and what to prioritize. It controls when instructions are implemented, and this implementation allows the applications to process data (Ramachandran and Leahy 225). The Instructions that are set are enhanced with interrupt support. The LC-2200-32 is the 32-bit computer that has 16 broad registers and a program counter (PC) register separately. All addresses are normally word addresses. The Register 0 is usually wired to zero. Likewise, it always translates to be zero and written as ignored. The LC-2200-32 processor enhanced wit h interrupt support instructions, and the FSM for its implementation. These guidebooks presume that one has familiarity with the LC-2200 data path. Software is currently all around and the need for individuals to design, develop, test, and retain excellent applications that extend to develop annually. Additionally, Software Design and Development involves the learning of methodologies, concepts, processes, and technologies that contribute to

Contract law assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Contract law assignment - Essay Example On most occasions, this clause tends to be unfair, partial and one-sided as the weaker party in the agreement could not lay claim to damages or extra-contractual compensations when the Contract is somehow broken. There are some legal cases that tend to demonstrate how the weaker parties, in recent years, have at least tried to see that such exclusion clauses are incorporated into the contracts: this report would investigate how such a clause may be included in a typical Irish legal case that involved disagreement over the commercial contract. A legal case study is used to better explain how this phenomenon works out: Analog Devices BV & ors v Zurich Insurance Company & anor. This case study is necessary in order to highlight the seriousness of exclusion clauses in contractual agreements. Which of the parties would feel cheated or be left to bear the huge losses? What is the nature and scope of the clause being excluded? Does it contain an element of insurance coverage or health benefits scheme or pension system? The legal case of Analog Devices BV & ors v Zurich Insurance Company & anor2, decided upon at the Irish Supreme Court, is a typical case to prove how exclusion clause could result in a monumental loss for one of the parties involved. This is factual background to this case as presented by Baillii3: Analog Devices BV & ors had had engaged in the commercial activities of manufacturing, researching and designing of high performance linear mix signal and digital integrated circuits that are used for several signal processing applications. These activities were carried out at Raheen Industrial Estate in County Limerick. It is a known fact that twice a year the usual manufacturing operation is shut down in order to allow the maintenance team to work on the manufacturing plants. These annual maintenance arrangements often occur in the summer

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

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

Computer Architecture - Research Paper Example It is important to ensure that all the learners comprehend the extent of the using an operating system before studying in details about the internal implementation algorithms and data configurations. This means that there is a relationship between both the use of operating systems (externals) and the designing and implementation (internals) of an operating system (Ramachandran and Leahy 136). Learning about the internal design has significance in different areas such as algorithm design and implementation, dependable programming, modern device development, caching material across the web, building virtual environments, network management, building secure and safe systems and others The main purpose of this application is to convey a comprehensive understanding of the algorithms and equivalent skill that is used within operating systems, it also involves the merging of the knowledge acquired in the course that would help the learners value the trade-os involved in the process that all ow the designing and implementing an operating system. The OSes are the main software systems that show various s/w engineering issues. Most of the OSes cause problems mainly in concurrency. For this reason, a number of people tend to end up writing OSes and provide modifications to the existing systems for example, Linux. Linux is embedded software for the normal hardware in the operating systems. Various subsystems that complete the functions & structures in the CPU Scheduling as well l as scheduling for the multiprocessors. CPU has different components such as registers (Ramachandran and Leahy 106). These are the transitory storage sites that could store the references to memory locations where the next instruction was carried out. It also allows the CPU to keep its eminence information. It also has the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). Its purpose is to carry out the real implementation of complex arithmetical functions and logical operations on data. The ALU execute the four functio ns: add, increment, nand, and subtract. The CPU should also have the control unit that controls and coordinate the system’s different applications, codes and the Operating System’s instructions that are being implemented. It also allows the fetching of the code, and in the interpretation of the codes, that supervises the completion of the different instructions set. The control unit establishes the application instruction that is being processed and what to prioritize. It controls when instructions are implemented, and this implementation allows the applications to process data (Ramachandran and Leahy 225). The Instructions that are set are enhanced with interrupt support. The LC-2200-32 is the 32-bit computer that has 16 broad registers and a program counter (PC) register separately. All addresses are normally word addresses. The Register 0 is usually wired to zero. Likewise, it always translates to be zero and written as ignored. The LC-2200-32 processor enhanced wit h interrupt support instructions, and the FSM for its implementation. These guidebooks presume that one has familiarity with the LC-2200 data path. Software is currently all around and the need for individuals to design, develop, test, and retain excellent applications that extend to develop annually. Additionally, Software Design and Development involves the learning of methodologies, concepts, processes, and technologies that contribute to

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Downloading Music For Free From Internet Lab Report

Downloading Music For Free From Internet - Lab Report Example Numerous questions continue to be asked as to whether it is right or wrong to download free music from the internet (Gilbertson and Lehman, 2008). This continues to be a hot debate that continues to define and characterize how the larger society and individuals manifest their ability to make ethical decisions. In the center of this debate is that, some people are convinced that downloading free music from the internet is right and they cite numerous reasons to justify their position. However, another group has come out to contradict this position, claiming that the whole process of downloading free music from the internet is both unethical and illegal, while at the same time, it largely demoralizes the creator and songwriters, thereby negatively impacting the music industry (Gilbertson and Lehman, 2008). Nevertheless, the whole process can be viewed within the perspectives of ethical school of thoughts such as Kantianism, Utilitarism, and Social Contract. In general, the whole proces s of downloading free music from the internet should be perceived as wrong due to its negative consequences to the music industry where it has potential to result into the writer stopping to write music or even the musicians being unable to make more music. Kantian ethics Kantian ethics are heavily associated with Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) who, apart from establishing deontological ethics, is also associated with immense work in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and even aesthetics (McCormick 2005). Quinn (2006, p. 429) looks at Kant’s theory of ethics and concludes that it intends to allow people to view and treat other people as the â€Å"ends in themselves, rather than simply as a means to an end.† Kant’s ethical theory has become influential in explaining the moral and ethical world. Numerous works by Kant are established in the ‘The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals’ where Kant work dwelt on â€Å"search for and establishment of the su preme principle of morality† (McCormick 2005, p.1). Another wok in the book titled ‘In the Critique of Practical Reason’ also explores the issue of moral and ethics in society (McCormick 2005). The first aspect in Kant’s ethics is the good will, which according to Kant, constitutes acting according to a conception law. Kant observes that, â€Å"when we act, whether or not we achieve what we intend with our actions is often beyond our control, so the morality of our actions does not depend upon their outcome and what we can only control is the will behind the action, that is, we can act according to one law rather than another† (McCormick 2005, p.1). The observation and expression of Kant is that an action can be regarded to be moral or not when assessed within the precepts of motivation behind it (McCormick 2005). According to Kant’s understanding, there only exists one thing that is good and has no qualification, and that is goodwill or motiv e. To Kant, motive constitutes the most important element in determining what is ethical and an action can only pass to be moral when carried out as a result of ‘sense of duty’ (Vlach, 2004). Moral action in this sense is one that is neither based on feelings or pity nor based on the possibility of reward but largely one that is based and is motivated by â€Å"this is what I ought to do† (Vlach 2004, p.1). The assumption Kant make postulates that an act can results into negative consequences even when it is acted on moral grounds. Kant’s ethical moral expression can be viewed to promote idea that people need to do what is right guided by conviction that doing it is actually the right thing. On the other hand, people need to avoid doing the wrong things since it is wrong continuing to act on such things. Kant’

Monday, October 14, 2019

Biological Effects of Methamphetamines Essay Example for Free

Biological Effects of Methamphetamines Essay Methamphetamines affect the human body in a physical and neurological and psychological way. The use of meth can lead to devastating effects to the nervous system for example leaving the user with nervous ticks and body jerks similar to a person suffering from Parkinson’s disease. On a physical level, the user may show skin sores and tooth decay. Last but the not least, the user may develop psychosis including hallucinations and paranoia. Not limited to the self destruction a user will suffer, the family and/or loved ones will also suffer the effects of methamphetamines. Family will suffer, but mostly the children are the ones who will be left alone to deal with this drug that has swept the nation. I will talk about the devastating effects to the family. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that affects the abuser physically, psychologically, and neurologically. The history of methamphetamines dates back to 1887 when it was first developed by the Germans. The abuse of amphetamines can be logged back to when the Germans and Japanese would give their factory workers and their soldiers the drug to keep them alert during WWII. The method they used to produce the drug became known as the Nazi or Birth method†. (Meth Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota [MAPP-SD], 2000, para. 1) For many years, it was considered a drug in search of a disease because it was not developed for any one particular cure. It wasn’t until 1920 when it was being researched more seriously and then started being used as medication from antidepressants to anti-congestants. Later in the 1930’s it was being sold as Benzedrine, as a nasal spray for congestion. By 1937 amphetamine began to be sold as medication in a tablet form. It is believed that during the â€Å"Great Depression†, because of all the hardship people were going thru, and the availability and easily prescribed drug helped facilitate and/or encouraged the abuse of amphetamines. By 1919, Japan started producing methamphetamine which was cheaper and more potent than amphetamine. It was produced in a crystalline powder form and was able it to be dissolved in water, making it easier for it to be injected. This form of amphetamine is still legally produced in the US and is being sold under the name of Desoxyn. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, 2010, para. 1-3) The abuse of methamphetamines in the United States seems to have started during the â€Å"Great Depression† and increased during WWI, WWII, and Viet Nam. Many times, amphetamines were prescribed by the government and the military to keep fighting soldiers going. After returning from their tour of duty, many soldiers returned home addicted to the drug. Also during the 5 0’s and 60’s, amphetamines were being used as a weight loss medication. But eventually began to be abused by the users. Today, methamphetamines are abused throughout the US. It has spread like wildfire, starting on the West Coast. Today, meth does not discriminate and will affect every race, culture, age, and socio economic level. Meth users range from the most prestigious political figures, all star athletes, famous celebrities, re-known musicians, honest business men/women, respectable housewives/husbands, honor students, to your street drug dealers and junkies. Many truck drivers and bikers are notorious for abusing meth. They used an old slang term and called them co-pilots because it would keep them up on long road trips. Methamphetamine is taken by snorting it, ingesting it orally, smoking it, or injecting it intravenously. Meth is most commonly found in a crystal form. It’s most common street names are: crystal, speed, ice, and crank. Once taken, meth will give the user a rush or euphoria with the following symptoms; â€Å"†¦increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and hyperthermia†. National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], n. d. , para. 6). The effects of methamphetamine has on the central nervous system or CNS, will include irritability, insomnia, confusion, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Since it is known that it is difficult for nerve cells to be regenerated after having been damaged, it is a clear indication that use of this drug—in small or large qua ntities—cause irreversible damages in the CNS. In clinical researches, it is found that individuals who have a long history of methamphetamine abuse have reduced levels in dopamine transporters, which are associated with slowed motor skills and weakened memories in the individuals. Abusers who remained abstinent for at least nine months were found to have recovered from damage to their dopamine transporters, but their motor skills and memories were not found to have significantly recovered. Over time abusers of meth appear to cause reduced levels of dopamine, which can result in symptoms like those of Parkinsons disease. They will have uncontrollable jerking and twitching. Asides the harmful damage to the CNS and brain, the abuser may also develop psychotic-like behavior or also known as type-two schizophrenia, which include bizarre behavior and hallucinations, both audible and visual. Anxiety, emotional swings, and paranoia are the most common psychological effects due to chronic use of meth. Symptoms increase with long-term use, and can involve paranoid delusions and hallucinations. Violence and self-destructive behavior are common. Pellowski, 2000) One of the most striking effects of meth is the change in the physical appearance of meth users. The physical effects of meth include skin sores, tooth decay, aging of the skin, and lack of hygiene. Because the use of meth causes the blood vessels to constrict, it cuts off the steady flow of blood to all parts of the body. Heavy usage can weaken and destroy these vessels, causing tissues to become prone to damage and inhibiting the bodys ability to repa ir itself. Acne appears, sores take longer to heal, and the skin loses its luster and elasticity. Some users are covered in small sores, the result of obsessive skin-picking brought on by the hallucination of having bugs crawling beneath the skin, a disorder known as formication. These sores develop as the body is only able to dispose of 10% of the chemicals in meth. The rest of the chemicals are then forced out of your body by its natural defenses and is emitted through the skin. This chemicals form and leave behind small red bumps on the skin and the user will then start picking and scratching these bumps thinking they are small parasites under their skin. This picking will cause open sores, infections, and scarring of the skin. (Sheff, 2008) A common sign of meth abuse is extreme tooth decay, a condition that has become known as meth mouth. . Meth users with â€Å"meth mouth† have blackened, stained, or rotting teeth, which often cant be saved, even among young or short-term users. The exact causes of meth mouth are not fully understood, but it is believed that the chemicals used to produce meth may attribute to the tooth decay. Another possibility is the lack of hygiene. Many meth users will not worry about brushing their teeth or flossing when all their worries are on their next fix. In Arizona alone, meth is the second most abused drug of choice following alcohol. It is rapidly becoming the most devastating drug that is affecting everyone, not only the abusers. Family members suffer financially and emotionally as they see their loved ones being ravaged by the drug. They have to deal with the lies and deceit, and many times the abuse by the users. They are robbed of their securities and their possessions. Many children suffer neglect and abuse due to the parents using meth.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Stock Portfolio :: essays papers

Stock Portfolio When setting up a stock portfolio there are things one should look into. First off, one should know what is currently happening, not only in the stock market, but in the economy as well. Researching stock indexes such as â€Å"The Dow† and the â€Å"S&P 500† will give you general stock performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average only tracks 30 large industrial firms in hopes of getting a sense of where the market is heading. The S&P 500, on the other hand, tracks 500 stocks which may give the investor a better overall picture of where the market is going. Which ever the investor may choose to use, the idea is to find out whether stock prices are going up or down. Also important to know is state of the economy. Certain stocks tend to perform better or worse depending on the state of the economy. Knowing which stocks tend to perform well at a given state will help the investor choose which type of stock is best for the given conditions. With that, it is time for the investor set a goal. Is the goal that of short or long term success? Is there a specific rate of return you wish to achieve? Or do you simply wish to come out ahead? Once the goals are put into place it is time for investment strategies. The investors goals will be key in helping plan the strategies for the investor. Now that there are goals in place, it is now time to look at the many investment strategies that will help accomplish the set goals. One of these strategies is known as the buy-and hold-strategy. This strategy involves the investor to purchase a stock and hold on to this stock for many years in hopes that over time the stock price will increase. This method doesn’t require much timing of the market therefore is much less stressful making it a very desirable method. The opposite strategy is known as short term trading. This requires much attention to be paid to the â€Å"Price† and â€Å"Volume† of the stock, also knowing whether the stock is on an upward or downward trend. Another common strategy is known as short selling. This involves borrowing a stock from a broker at a given price and selling it, in hopes that the stock price will drop from the original price.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Pierre Elliot Trudeau :: essays research papers

Pierre Elliot Trudeau   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Published in 1968, Federalism and the French Canadians is an ideological anthology featuring a series of essays written by Pierre Elliot Trudeau during his time spent with the Federal Liberal party of Canada. The emphasis of the book deals with the problems and conflicts facing the country during the Duplessis regime in Quebec. While Trudeau stresses his adamant convictions on Anglophone/Francophone relations and struggles for equality in a confederated land, he also elaborates on his own ideological views pertaining to Federalism and Nationalism. The reader is introduced to several essays that discuss Provincial legislature and conflict (Quebec and the Constitutional Problem, A Constitutional Declaration of Rights) while other compositions deal with impending and contemporary Federal predicaments (Federal Grants to Universities, The Practice and Theory of Federalism, Separatist Counter-Revolutionaries). Throughout all these documented personal accounts and critiques, the reader learns that Trudeau is a sharp critic of contemporary Quebec nationalism and that his prime political conviction (or thesis) is sporadically reflected in each essay: Federalism is the only possible system of government that breeds and sustains equality in a multicultural country such as Canada.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trudeau is fervent and stalwart in his opinions towards Federalism and its ramifications on Canadian citizenry. Born and raised in Quebec, he attended several prestigious institutions that educated him about the political spectrum of the country. After his time spent at the London School of Economics, Trudeau returned to Quebec at a time when the province was experiencing vast differences with its Federal overseer. The Union Nationale, a religious nationalist movement rooted deep in the heart of Quebec culture, had forced the Federal government to reconcile and mediate with them in order to avoid civil disorder or unrest. The Premier of Quebec at the time, Maurice Duplessis, found it almost impossible to appease the needs of each diverse interest group and faction rising within the province and ultimately buckled underneath the increasing pressure. Many Francophones believed that they were being discriminated and treated unfairly due to the British North American Act which failed to recognize the unique nature of the province in its list of provisions. Trudeau, with the aid of several colleagues, fought the imminent wave of social chaos in Quebec with anti-clerical and communist visions he obtained while in his adolescent years. However, as the nationalist movement gained momentum against the Provincial government, Trudeau came to the startling realization that Provincial autonomy would not solidify Quebec's future in the country (he believed that separatism would soon follow) and unless Duplessis could successfully negotiate (on the issue of a constitution) with the rest of Canada, the prospect of self-sovereignty for Quebec would transpire.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His first essay (Quebec and the Constitutional Problem) explores

Friday, October 11, 2019

Henry James started life in a wealthy family Essay

His grandfather was one of the first American millionaires. James’ father was a theologian and his brother was a psychologist. In fact, his brother, William James, was the pioneer of psychoanalysis. Around the time that James wrote ‘The Turn of The Screw’ (1897), people began to think a lot more about the inner workings of the mind. James seems especially interested in what it is that attracts humans to one another and as to when sexuality begins to shape itself in a child. An example of this is shown in one of his early novels, ‘Watch and Ward’, in which a bachelor adopts a young girl with an intention to marry her. This is also shown in ‘The Turn of The Screw’, when Miles kisses the governess. The adversary of the governess, Peter Quint, has sexually abused Miles, continuing this psychological theme. Much of James’ work is centred on the innocence of the West and the corruption and wisdom of the East. When Henry James wrote ‘The Turn of The Screw’, I believe his intention was to create a gripping, thought-provoking piece of fiction to involve the reader. He wrote entirely through the governess’ eyes so that the book would involve the reader. There is also a prologue in which the reader is included in a circle of friends telling ghost stories to one another. One man proclaims that he knows of this story and then the narrative begins in earnest. This immediately tells the reader what to expect from the story and how to approach it. However, the practice of people sitting round an open fire and entertaining each other with ghost stories is, sadly, not common and, if it occurs at all, people tend to relate anecdotes rather than ghost stories. James has created a tense novel; he builds huge suspense by not immediately saying what is happening. He presents the story as a journal: the perceptions of the governess. This is slightly similar to ‘The Catcher In The Rye’ by J. D. Salinger. In this the main character (Holden Caulfield) pours out all his thoughts onto paper. The governess writes in a similar way, but it is subtler and more edited; James is trying to make the reader ‘live the book’. For instance, when the governess first realises that Miss Jessel is standing on the opposite side of the lake from her, James does not merely present this fact, but instead goes through all the ideas thoughts and observations of the governess in minute detail and keeps the reader in continued suspense until the revelation. Some people may have found this novel frightening in 1898 (its contemporary setting) but its setting is actually one of its downfalls in appealing to a modern audience. It is too near to real life to appeal or frighten. The modern horror audience’s taste has become increasingly extreme so that horror films and books are more fantastical. Even though they are increasingly unrealistic, this makes them more frightening and somehow involves the audience more. The basis of the Turn of The Screw is horror invading everyday life. There is a lot more exposure to horror in the present day, so this dampens the effect that this novel has on people now. People become cynical when they are over-exposed to something, such as advertising. Henry James wrote verbosely, using lots of imagery, which in most cases is profound. He uses many subordinate clauses, which can make it difficult to understand i. e. : This is written in the ‘voice’ of the governess (as a journal entry) and the choice of vocabulary shows us that she is well educated (as does the fact that she can write) but perhaps a bit nervous. It is as if she is getting hysterical just writing about the experience. This is perhaps because she is unfamiliar with the job and has never worked with children before. The old definition of hysteria was: â€Å"A nervous affection, occurring exclusively in women, in which the emotional and reflex excitability is exaggerated, and the will power correspondingly diminished, so that the patient loses control over the emotions, becomes the victim of imaginary sensations, and often falls into paroxysm or fits. † – Webster’s Dictionary This is a reminder of how women were seen and their (expected) role in society at the time the book was written. In relation to ‘The Turn of the Screw’ being a successful ghost story for a modern audience, it may be slightly outdated and perhaps ill-received in our post-feminist society. Women are no longer seen as people who should only look after domestic matters. However, it can break the ‘spell’ of the writing if you have to read a sentence twice to get the precise meaning of the writer’s idea. This can prevent people from getting involved in the story and if you are not involved, you are not enjoying the story. The imagery is open to interpretation but I believe that if you look at some of James’ imagery and can explain it with the first thought that enters your mind, you do not have James’ meaning. For instance, when Flora runs off to the lake to be with Miss Jessel and the governess and Mrs. Grose go to fetch her: The lake is a metaphor for Jessel’s evil influence and power. The governess is saying that she believes Flora can be saved because Jessel does not have complete control over her yet. The lake is also described as a â€Å"sheet of water† and a sheet can be used to hide things. Another use for a sheet which was more common in James’ time (the Victorian period) would be to cover unused furniture in one’s second home. The practice of covering all furniture is uncommon in our time. This is another factor to consider when questioning whether The Turn of the Screw is an effective ghost story for a modern audience. There are also many references to the title of the book in some imagery such as, in the same chapter, when Flora is sticking a mast in her toy boat. This again uses the governess’ non-description of the important part of the scene to build tension. Some of the imagery used still has relevance today. We are instilled with an inherent metaphoric belief that high is good and low is bad, as shown in the book with the varying positions of the governess and the spirits on the staircase. Also the metaphor ‘turning the screw’ is still an accepted term for increasing tension today. The language used may be difficult to understand for a modern audience and not many people can identify with the character, since there is not much to need for home tutors and guardians now. Parents generally have much more sociable working hours and prefer to spend the money on something more necessary. In addition, children are now required to go to school (unless they are one of the rare cases of those tutored at home. ) Many people will not personally know a governess, let alone be able to empathise with one. However, some people such as single parents (especially single mothers) may identify with feeling that sort of responsibility towards their children. The Turn of The Screw was effective in its contemporary setting. People were more superstitious at that time, because for many people life was hard, and they needed something to focus upon. More people believed in God, and for God to exist there has to be some evil in the world. There was also no entertainment except that which people made for themselves. Parlour games, telling stories or reading books were common leisure activities, since people could not just sit down in front of the television. Many of these stories were passed down from generation to generation and the most popular were ghost stories. We are fascinated with the supernatural and the unknown. It is one of the basic primal fears – the fear of the unknown – that appeals to us. The industrial revolution brought about more education for lower to middle class people and this meant there was a growing audience for books and especially fiction. People felt the need to escape from the real world. In modern times we are discouraged from this way of thinking because science has come a long way since the nineteenth century and there is no scientific evidence to suggest that these things can happen. However, fantasy books and films are popular, showing there is still an escapist desire in the human psyche, even though more people are educated and we are taught that ghosts do not exist. It seems that television has destroyed this silence and continuity. The story needs to be retold. The haunting effect of a ghost story can now be disrupted more easily because we have electricity, with which comes bright electric lights that can penetrate any unknown shadow. However, if you have a sufficiently romantic mind then the language could help involve you in the atmosphere. Also I think that people could identify with this because there are similar (perceived) dangers today. Peter Quint is a paedophile and what happens in the novel is also the stuff of nightmares for parents in modern times. However, despite these factors, I do not believe that ‘The Turn of the Screw’ is ultimately a successful ghost story for the modern audience. The situation, language and characters are too alien, yet everyday, to really involve an audience. Technology, science and education deal the final blow, destroying the audience’s connection with the heart of the story. Ed Byford In your opinion, is The Turn Of The Screw a 25/04/2007 successful ghost story for a modern audience?

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Biocon †Case Assignment Questions Essay

1. Assuming Biocon receives approval for BIOMAb, should it launch the drug immediately or conduct phase 3 trials before launch? Elaborate the various elements of your action plan. If Biocon receives approval for BIOMAb, the management team will need to carefully consider what the best course of action is moving forward. If the company elects to launch the drug immediately, they will be able to have the first mover advantage, reaching the market before their closest competitor, Erbitux. BIOMAb will also be able to put themselves on the map as they would be the first ever, proprietary drug developed and marked by an Indian firm for Indian patients. The Indian regulatory authorities may also cause a lengthy Phase 3 trial due to their lack of experience with bringing a proprietary drug to market, as evidenced during BIOMAb’s Phase 2 trials. However, even with all of the above listed considerations in mind, Biocon should conduct the phase 3 trials before launching the BIOMAb. BIOMA b is a superior product to Erbitux, as shown in the 100% response rate when combined with chemo and radiotherapy. There are also fewer side affects, a more patient friendly treatment plan, and BIOMAb will be able to offer the drug at a discounted price. Even if BIOMAb is not able to be the first drug to the market, they will be able to make up for those potential loses in the long run. BIOMAb will be entering this marketplace for the first time, and the company will want to enter the market with as strong of a message as possible. BIOMAb is entering this market for the long run, and overcoming any perceptions of shortcuts, lack of quality, or anything less than cutting edge will last well beyond the life of the BIOMAb product. There are only 300 oncologists in this market Biocon cannot afford to miss. While awaiting Phase 3 approval, Biocon can roll out its direct sales force, offering its suite of generic oncology drugs. This waiting period will give the sales force an opportunity to develop roots in the marketplace and to raise awareness of BIOMAb before it is even on the market. The Phase 3 approval process will serve as an advantageous ramp up time so that Biocon is fully prepared to enter the marketplace on better footing with BIOMAb. This time will also enable Biocon to better develop the infrastructure they will need to  optimize its direct distribution channel. Biocon is a new player in bringing a new drug to the market and they will want to ensure that the quality of their product is maintained from the manufacturing floor into the doctor’s office. Assuming that BIOMAb indeed loses its first mover advantage, its value proposition will be its results, which are dependent on properly controlled product. Biocon wants to become a permanent fixture in this market and the company needs to do everything in its power to deliver its value proposition of innovation, quality, and affordability. 1. How big is the current and future market opportunity in BIOMAb? The current market opportunity that Biocon is currently targeting with BIOMAb is composed of the Head and Neck cancer patients within India. More specifically, Biocon is focused, in the short term, on those Head and Neck cancer patients that can afford to pay, estimated at 1,900 patients. These patients will be the ones officially marketed to, but given the Indian’s markets preponderance for using drugs â€Å"off the label†, the unofficial market can be target at all cancer patients in India that currently able to afford treatment, 7,114 patients. Given India’s continued economic growth rate (9% annually) and ever expanding population base (1.4%), all of the preceding numbers are certain to grow in the relatively short term. The compounded impact of these different rates will cause these India based estimates to grow exponentially year over year. In the long run, BIOMAb in India is just the tip of the iceberg. CIMAB and Biocon’s current joint venture is to develop and market the molecule on the Indian subcontinent. If Biocon is able to thoroughly manage and develop all aspects of the supply chain (manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing, etc), Biocon would have good reason to go back to the negotiating table with CIMAB. The success of CIMAB’s other partner, YM Bioscience, is not guaranteed and there is no reason that Biocon cannot unseat them in the long run. If Biocon is able to achieve this, along with the Phase 3 trials, the worldwide Head and Cancer would be open to the company, to say nothing for the â€Å"off label† prescriptions. Given the worldwide population growth, economic expansion, and aging populations, the long-term market for BIOMAb is practically limitless. 3. Who is the buyer for BIOMAb? What is the decision making unit in this case? What are the benefits that each member of the decision making unit seeks from BIOMAb? The buyer for BIOMAb is (are) the income provider(s) of the family, whose member (s) has (have) been affected by head and neck cancer or another indication, since off-label usage is very common in India. The structure of India’s health care system is such that it is estimated that 95% of BIOMAb’s patients (end users) are going to be self-paying. Therefore, the cost of treatment will be transferred to the earning member of the family. Adult patients have the right to make treatment decisions for themselves, so patients and their families are the decision makers for BIOMAb in this case. As the case states, the oncology doctors are the main influencers, as they diagnose and make ultimate recommendations to their patients as to how extensive the treatment should be. The benefits that each member of the decision making unit (i.e. patients and their families) seeks include BIOMAb’s effectiveness in the treatment of head and neck cancer in conjunction with radio and che motherapy, minimal side-effects (immediate side effects, as well as those that might be associated with long-term use), and drug’s affordability. Should phase-2 trials be conducted by Biocon for other indications, the patients will also want to seek same benefits from the drug for other types of cancer. Based on the information provided in the case, BIOMAb’s effectiveness and minimized side effects are a given. After all, phase-2 trials proved that the tumor was killed 100% of the time when the drug was used in combination with radio and chemotherapy. Moreover, unlike competition, BIOMAb did not produce skin rashes because due to the drug’s unique formula. An important factor will be affordability. Wealth distribution is very uneven in India, and 1/4 of the nation’s population earns less than the government-specified poverty threshold of $0.40/day (Wikipedia). The patients, as well as their doctors, will want to make sure that they can afford to complete treatment to ensure best possible outcome. BIOMAb has a tremendous advantage in this category compared to Erbitux, as it calls for a definite (i.e. six-dose) treatment cycle; total treatment cost can thus be effectively quantified. Another benefit that  patients will be seeking is the ability of BIOMAb’s sales reps to educate them and their families. Although this is not one of the drug’s literal benefits, it will be a crucial factor since patients’ face time with doctors and specialists is very limited in India. Pre-educating end users and their families on the benefits, side effects, and other specifics of the drug will ensure that oncologists’ time with each patient is maximized. 4. Develop a detailed launch plan for BIOMAb. Provide your rationale for the product portfolio, pricing, channel, and communication decisions. Biocon’s launch of BIOMAb is complicated by several factors. The first of these is the lack of phase 3 clinical trials, which would theoretically provide more evidence of the drug’s efficacy and safety on a larger patient pool. This is complicated by the fact that BIOMAb’s competitor comes in the form of a drug called Erbitux, which does have phase 3 trials completed and global acclaim. Biocon’s fear is that if they do not launch before Erbitux, they will lose the first to market advantage they feel necessary to succeed. In this case Biocon should take the time to complete phase 3 clinical trials on the basis of what patients and their families expect from a cancer drug. It was already stated that Erbitux had worldwide acceptance due to having extensive trials not limited to head and neck cancer that proved it was b oth safe and effective. In the eyes of the consumer the single most important concern here is that the drugs are going to work and that death can be avoided. Being first to market has the risk of offering only a temporary advantage until Erbitux actually becomes available. At this point if phase 3 trials are finally completed and the results are not favorable there would be severe consumer backlash and possibly action from the government. Finally, Biocon mentioned being able to appeal to doctor’s via existing relationships in order to get their product sold. Realistically, doctors care more about clinical trials as a means of deciding what drugs to offer. By moving forward with phase 3 trials Biocon would have real data to give these doctor’s the â€Å"hard sell.† The strategy is not just to maximize profit, but build a sustainable brand built on trust and results in the pharmaceutical industry. Building upon that is the question of whether or not to sell generics in addition to BIOMAb and when to sell them. The argument given was that selling generics would give the sales force good experience and at the  same time build a solid revenue base. Biocon should indeed take this route for these very reasons. This will allow them to still bring in revenue while the phase 3 trials of BIOMAb take place. Once the trials are complete, selling them alongside BIOMAb will allow them to capture more of the market when in front of doctors who want to have offerings for price conscious patients. On top of the first two concerns is the issue of price and what impact it would have on both market size due to affordability and perceived quality in comparison to Erbitux. Biocon, after confirmation of the extraordinarily high effectiveness of BIOMAb should charge $6000-7000 per dose or rather whatever would be equivalent to a few steps more than Erbitux. Biocon’s CEO desires to build a brand not based on low price but rather the value provided by the products. The hindrance to this route of course is the Indian cultural perception of what the price should be and the fact that many people cannot afford such cost. However, Biocon is alread y well aware that their effective target market is small so for those people the price is potentially less important. However, Biocon can market the fact that it is a six dose treatment path rather than indefinite dosages like Erbitux so in the long term people save money. Additionally they can get creative here and offer something like Walmart’s layaway program. Patients can agree to pay in equal installments up until their dosing day. On that final day when payment is received they are administered the dose. Payments for the next dose begin and the cycle repeats until the dosage time. Additionally, Biocon is concerned about the sales methodology with regards to going through the usual channels of CFAs, wholesalers, and pharmacies or selling it directly to doctors. By going through the typical channels they have the advantage of reaching more doctors who have existing relationships with certain sellers. In this case though, it would fit more with their overarching strategy to sell direct. The higher cost of the drug would be less apparent when not being sold side by side with competitor drugs through a pharmacy or wholesaler. This would also allow Biocon to sell the generic drugs and BIOMAb side by side as a complete market solution for price conscious people. The savings from not having a middleman can be passed on to the doctors via multi-patient discounts or similar. Finally, the quality of the product could be ensured since BIOMAb requires such delicate handling. This is important for the Biocon brand image moving forward as  there can be no slip ups when it comes to delivering a product critical to treatment of cancer. The direct sales also tie in with overall marketing communication planning since Biocon would not only control distribution of the product, but also the sales communication. Biocon should take this time during sales to educate doctors on the results of the phase 3 trials and provide materials for patients that explain the availability of Biocon reps during their treatment cycles. Biocon reps, as mentioned in the case, should educate the patient on their product and provide other helpful cancer information and family services in the form of support group references, etc. 5. How has Biocon’s strategy and positioning evolved over the years? What role does BIOMAb play in Biocon’s overall strategy? Biocon’s strategy and positioning have greatly evolved over the years. The company started as an enzyme manufacturing company that exported its products from India to the United States and European food processing industry. During this time the company developed an expertise in various fermentation processes. The company soon realized that the global enzyme market was limited to about $1 billion and decided to change its strategy and position itself to compete in the biopharmaceutical market, which was a $10 billion dollar market that was rapidly approaching $80 billion. Biocon was positioned nicely to move into the space and compete in the generic drug sector. They were particularly positioned well to manufacture statins. Statins were a great fit for them because they were small molecules that were easy to manufacture and Biocon already p ossessed the technical capability to do so drawing on its strength in the fermentation process and enzyme manufacturing. This short-term strategy to enter the market focused on developing globally competitive processes that relied on their existing expertise to manufacture drugs whose patents were expiring. After successfully entering into the pharmaceutical market through statins, the company was ready to continue on a growth path and move on to their medium/long term phase by entering into larger molecules in the form of insulin. Again, Biocon identified a large and rapidly growing market where they saw their expertise in fermentation giving them an edge and ability to compete. The results were consistent with their  first direction change and they were again very successful gaining over 10% of the Indian insulin market share. During this phase of their strategy they partnered with Clinigene to conduct clinical trials comparing it to the market leaders. The current phase of Biocom’s strategy is to shift the company’s focus to the development of proprietary drugs. Management again saw that the market they were competing in would soon shrink due to the maturing of the Indian drug market and they would experience enormous price pressure as a result. Their vision for the company was to develop drugs that no other companies had yet succeeded in bringing to market, and in doing so reaping the benefits of the huge payoff. BIOMAb is the essence of the final and long-term stages of Biocon’s overall strategy. They are using their collaborative strategy to partner with CIMAB thus giving Biocon the opportunity to develop and market the molecule. This is a huge step towards the long-term goal of moving the company to a discovery and development focused biotech firm. BIOMAb is very important to this next phase of the company’s growth. In the past they have relied on their expertise and experience carrying over from the enzyme development background. However in this next phase they are entering into uncharted territory and as a result will need to prove they have the capability to adapt their expertise and continue to be successful in areas that are outside of their experience scope. The success of the BIOMAb phase of Biocon’s overall strategy will be key to the future of the company and could indicate that the strategy they have in place will continue to provide the growth and profitability they seek as a biotech firm.

Eco 365 week syllabus Essay

Details Due Points Objectives 1.1 Differentiate between macroeconomics and microeconomics. 1.2 Analyze the effect of changes in supply and demand on the equilibrium price and quantity. 1.3 Determine how elasticities affect pricing and purchasing decisions. Reading Read Ch. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 of Economics. Reading Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Participation Participate in class discussion. Continual 3 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. By Friday Sept 13 2 Nongraded Activities and Preparation Article Analysis Research the University Library and Internet, and select a recent news article concerning trends in consumption patterns of a specific product, such as gasoline, oil, grain, or coffee. The following article which is located in the Electronic Reserve Readings on the student website is an example of trends in consumption patterns: Note. Do not use this article for your assignment. Hauser, C. (2011, August 24). Sales of new homes fell again in July. The New York Times. p. 6. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Write a 700 – 1,050-word paper in which you do the following: Analyze the basis for the trends in consumption patterns, as discussed in the article you selected. Consider the utility derived from a product or service mentioned in the article. Describe what has occurred to change the demand for the product or service and its market and equilibrium prices. Assume that supply remains the same. Describe what has occurred to change the supply of the product or service and its market and equilibrium prices. Assume that demand remains the same. In your opinion, is demand for this product or service price elastic or inelastic? What does this imply about how consumers respond to changes in the price of this product or service? Support your determination of the price elasticity of demand with a reference. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. This is not mandatory and is not turned in or graded. Week Two: Production and Cost Analysis Details Due Points Objectives 1 2 2.1 Describe the relationship between the number of inputs and the law of diminishing marginal productivity. 2.2 Analyze the relationship between productivity and the cost of production. 2.3 Analyze the effect of changes in the supply of and demand for factors of production on the price of inputs. 2.4 Analyze the effect of changes in marginal revenues and costs on a firm’s profit-making potential. Reading Read Ch. 12, 13, 19, 19w and 20 of Economics. Participation Participate in class discussion. Continual 3 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. By Friday Sept 20 2 Individual Supply and Demand Simulation Complete the Supply and Demand Simulation located on the student website. Write 750 – 1,050-word paper of no more than summarizing the content. Address the following: Identify two microeconomics and two macroeconomics principles or concepts from the simulation. Explain why you have categorized these principles or concepts as macroeconomic or microeconomic. Identify at least one shift of the supply curve and one shift of the demand curve in the simulation. What causes the shifts? For each shift, analyze how it would affect the equilibrium price, quantity, and decision making. How may you apply what you learned about supply and demand from the simulation to your workplace or your understanding of a real-world product with which you are familiar? How do the concepts of microeconomics help you understand the factors that affect shifts in supply and demand on the equilibrium price and quantity? How do the concepts of macroeconomics help you understand the factors that affect shifts in supply and demand on the equilibrium price and quantity? Relating to the simulation, explain how the price elasticity of demand affects a consumer’s purchasing and the firm’s pricing strategy. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday Sept 23 15 Learning Team Reflection Production and Cost Analysis Discuss this week’s objectives with your team. Include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the topics relate to your field. Prepare a 350- to 1,050- word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. Monday Sept 23 2 Week Three: Market Structure Details Due Points Objectives 2 3 3 3.1 Compare various market structures and their characteristics. 3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of competitive strategies within market structures. 3.3 Determine profit-maximizing strategies based on market structure analysis. Reading Read Ch. 3, 14, 15 and 16 of Economics. Participation Participate in class discussion. Continual 3 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. By Friday Sept 27 2 Learning Team Current Market Conditions Competitive Analysis Imagine you are part of a strategic planning group at a large corporation that is considering developing a new proposed product. The marketing director has asked your team to do a competitive market analysis to determine the product’s potential success. The analysis will focus on your primary competitor in the product’s market. Select a potential competitive organization and a product in that organization. Write a 1,400 – 1,750-word paper of no more than analyzing the current market conditions. Address the following topics: A short history of the organization and a description of their product Factors that affect demand, supply, and equilibrium prices in the market in which the competitor organization operates: Define the market for your chosen product, including an analysis of its competitors, potential customers, or potential buyers. Any issues or opportunities your organization or industry faces that affect its competitiveness and long-term profitability with regards to your product: This may include, but is not limited, to the following elements. Price elasticity of demand Technological innovation The relationship between the amount of labor & capital employed and the law of diminishing marginal productivity Cost structure Factors affecting variable costs, including productivity and others that change the supply of and demand for labor Factors affecting fixed costs Make recommendations on how your organization can maximize their profit-making potential, and successfully compete in the new market. Consider the effect your recommendations may have on marginal revenues and costs. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday Sept 30 12 Learning Team Reflection Market Structure Discuss this week’s objectives with your team. Include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the topics relate to your field. Prepare a 350- to 1,050- word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. Monday Sept 30 2 Week Four: Public Policy in Economics Details Due Points Objectives 4 4 4.1 Analyze the effect of externalities on market outcomes. 4.2 Differentiate among horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate mergers. 4.3 Analyze the effect of government interventions, taxation, and regulations on economic behavior. Reading Read Ch. 8, 18, 21 and 21w of Economics. Participation Participate in class discussion. Continual 3 Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. By Friday October 4 2 Individual Differentiating Between Market Structures For this assignment, you will choose from the following options: Differentiating Between Market Structures in an Organization of Your Choice Read the instructions in the University of Phoenix Material: Differentiating Between Market Structures located on the student website. You also need to complete the Market structures table for each of the different markets. Monday October 7 15 Learning Team Reflection Public Policy in Economics Discuss this week’s objectives with your team. Include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the topics relate to your field. Prepare a 350- to 1,050- word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. Monday October 7 2 Week Five: Global Competition Details Due Points Objectives 5 5 5.1 Determine the effect of global competition on an organization’s strategies for maximizing profits. 5.2 Analyze the effect of global competition on the relationship between management and labor. Reading Read Ch. 2 of Economics. Reading Read Ch. 9, 17, 22 and 23 of Economics. Participation Participate in class discussion. Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions. Individual Final Examination Resource: Economics Click the link to the Final Examination on the student website available from the end of Week Four through the end of Week Five. Complete the Final Examination. You have one attempt to complete the exam, which is timed and must be completed in 3 hours. Results are auto-graded and sent to your instructor. Monday Oct 14 15 Learning Team Competitive Strategies and Government Policies Management has recognized the effect of changes in the real-world competitive environment and government policies on other industries and anticipates similar events occurring in their industry, so they ask you for a report considering the following points. Write 1,400 – 1,750-word paper in which you describe how each of the following are or potentially will affect your industry or one with which you are familiar: New companies entering the market, mergers, and globalization, on pricing and the sustainability of profits: Identify the type of merger activity in your industry or one with which you are familiar–horizontal, vertical, or conglomerate–and explain why you made that choice. Current and expected government policies and regulations, including taxes and regulations in place to address issues related to externalities Global competition on the decisions made by management with regards to change in labor demand, supply, relations, unions, and rules and regulations in your chosen industry Recommend how the industry you chose may respond to each of the previous points. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday Oct 14 15 Learning Team Reflection Global Competition Discuss this week’s objectives with your team. Include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the topics relate to your field. Prepare a 350- to 1,050- word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. Monday Oct 14 2 Copyright University of Phoenix ® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft ®, Windows ®, and Windows NT ® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix ® editorial standards and practices.