The system of alliances essays

The system of alliances essays The system of Alliances and Ententes was most responsible for Britain entering the First World War in 1914. It is the view of some Historians that Britain entered the first world war in 1914 due to the alliances and ententes, however others believe it a combination of other factor s that made Britain decide to join the war. During the time the war started Britain had strong links with France due to the entente Cordiale, Japan due to the alliance of 1902 and Russia in 1907.The Entente cordiale restored relations between the two nations and also the countries had military conversations making Britain feel obliged to enter a war because of these commitments There were also some people in the Foreign office who wished to make the Entente into a full alliance, this shows that there was support for the French within the cabinet of the time. The alliance with Japan was to maintain the status quo of the far east and was defensive only. There were also another alliance in Europe at the time besides the triple entente; The Triple Alliance involved Germany, Italy and Austro Hungary, if there was a war between the two and Britain was not involved, Britain may have become the dominant power in Europe however they may have suffered from reduction in trade from the European powers. However if Germany had won Britain may have been in danger of losing a period of Anglo German antagonism or even Germany would attack Britain. If Russia became the most dominant country in Europe, there would be problems in the Far East and Asia as well. It seems that Britain may have entered the war to try to gain the best outcome. However, Britain had made no formal military agreements with any members of the triple entente and was not obliged to join a war if France did. Britain had also agreed to maintain the neutrality of Belgium in the treaty of London in 1839, and Germany demanded to be allowed to go through Belgium causing them to ask for...

Why You Didnt Get the Job

Why You Didnt Get the Job If you’re on the job hunt, you want  to ensure you  don’t make mistakes that keep you  from finding work, especially after spending a lot of time on job search sites. Although most people know it is a bad idea to cancel an interview at the last moment or wear a running suit to an interview, smaller mistakes can also keep a job seeker from being considered. 1. Not Proofreading a ResumeResumes tell a recruiter a lot about a job applicant after just one glance. A resume that is messy and contains poor  grammar or typos will not  be taken seriously by a recruiter. You can fix problems with your resume by using an online grammar checker and rereading it carefully to look for mistakes. If you have a friend who is good with grammar and punctuation, ask him or her  to look it over for you. Whatever it takes, make your resume as perfect as you can.2. Not Focusing Your ResumeAre you are one of those job seekers  who wrote a resume a year ago and are recycling it to apply for jobs? The days of using a general resume are over. Because hiring managers are busy people, they want to interview the best candidates for the job and not waste time on applicants whose qualifications aren’t a good fit. Rewriting your resume to include your qualifications that fit in with the job description can get you that interview.3. Not Writing a Cover LetterHiring managers go to the cover letter first before looking at an applicant’s resume. Even when applying for a position by sending your resume via email, you really need to include a cover letter. Many hiring managers won’t consider an application without one. Remember to include the reason you want the job in your cover letter, and don’t make it a mini copy of your resume.4. Going Into an Interview ColdLet’s say you’ve been invited for a job interview, so you’re feeling pretty confident at this point. Overconfidence and lack of preparation when being interviewed ha s cost more than one individual a job offer. Job interviews normally consist of knowing about the company where you are applying, asking questions that are relevant, telling the recruiter why you are qualified and how you can be an asset in the job, and following up afterward.5. Casting Too Wide a NetOne mistake some job seekers make is not focusing on the job type and instead zeroing in on a specific company.  Think about opportunities, not one particular job, and you can find yourself employed faster. Maybe you have your heart set on a job with the Widget Company, but you would have to start at the bottom and work your way up because there are no openings for someone with your qualifications. Focus clearly on the position you want to fill, and expend your efforts in that direction.6. Not Minding the TimeTime matters when it comes to hiring managers. Showing up late for an interview reflects badly, as does showing up too early because it can make you appear anxious and make the i nterviewer feel pressured. Do leave early to get to your interview about 10 minutes before it is scheduled, but find a spot to relax if you arrive before that.7. Getting Too PersonalMaking a personal connection with a hiring manager can be a good idea, such as sharing an interest in a sports  team or favorite restaurants in your  city. However, going overboard and supplying too many details about your personal life takes up the hiring manager’s time and may not reflect well on you. Rambling on, whether in a resume or during an interview, can leave a bad impression. If you do relate personal information, keep it in context with the job.After spending time searching classified job ads and sending in a resume, common mistakes can often cost you  a job. Just as knowing how to be a successful job applicant and sail through an interview is valuable information, so is knowing how to conduct a practical job search. Instead of looking at countless job ads in different locations, TheJobSearch does the work for you by sending you email alerts when jobs fitting your qualifications become available. Fill out your job interests and qualifications and  sign up with TheJobNetwork- that’s all it takes!

Corinthian College Annual Report for 2005 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Corinthian College Annual Report for 2005 - Essay Example The annual report is formatted to include an informational portion that need not follow any set format. The actual information required in the report to the SEC is found in the 'consolidated statements' portion of the annual report and contains information to satisfy 10K reporting requirements. The actual report is done by an independent accounting firm hired by the corporation. This firm performs the analysis and reporting functions required by the SEC. Often, the corporation submits an agreement, or disagreements, addendum to the report to explain anything out of the ordinary to the SEC. As stated earlier, the 'notes' section explains the 'consolidated' reports section of the annual report. It is the longest portion of the report and, in some ways, is the most important part of the report. Investors examine the annual report to determine whether or not the corporation is worth investing in. If this is a publicly listed corporation then investors interested in the corporation can purchase stocks and receive dividends from the corporation. The most important factor the investor would be interested in would be the profit/loss section of the report and the 'notes' section that explains that portion. In the annual report for Corinthian College, Inc. the profit/loss section of the report (the balance sheets) is located on page 57 of the 10K report. Its corresponding notes section is located on page 61. Investors would be looking intently at the notes section that explains the assets and liabilities of the corporation. These are explained in the notes section and are labeled 'taxes', 'comprehensive income', 'stock based compensation' and, 'income per share' section of the report. To determine whether or not the corporation is a good investment investors would be looking for how the stocks are valuated, whether the corporation is profitable, and the growth rate of the corporation. The 'balance sheet' of the corporation (the numbers) follows with a more detailed report than is found in the 10K report. The balance sheet for the previous year is provided for comparison. Investors will read this section of the report to help them decide whether or not to invest. Also, investment analys ts and financial advisors examine this section to decide whether or not to track and recommend the corporation for investment. A vital portion to the 'notes' section is the acquisitions page. This report lists Wyo-Tech Acquisition Corp. ("Wyo-Tech"), Learning Tree University, Inc. ("LTU", Career Choices, Inc. ("Career Choices"), East Coast Aero Tech, LLC ("ECAT")., and CDI Education Corporation ("CDI"), A.M.I., Inc. as acquisitions. All these acquisitions may be a liability for the corporation initially but may increase profits in the future. The investor would be interested to know what the future plans are for these acquisitions. Fair market value for the above acquisitions is listed on page 75 and provides a snapshot of how much the acquisitions added to the corporation. The corporation also assumed leases that the acquisitions had in place. One of the most important sections that corporation outsiders would be interested in is Note 7-Preferred Stock and Common Stockholders' Equity section. It explains such details as how much preferred

Computer Shop Limited (CSL) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Computer Shop Limited (CSL) - Assignment Example Cloud Computing Service Models The organization’s data center provides hardware and software services. These services are provisioned by the Cloud Computing applications on the web. Similarly, the Internet services that are provided via cloud computing are called as ‘Software as a Service’ SaaS. The vendors use the term Infrastructure as a service ‘IaaS’ and Platform as a service ‘PaaS’ in order to display their products and services. Due to huge variations, the terms that are explained here are not accepted worldwide. The department of commerce NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) defined some useful explanations that are based on three concepts Simple computing resources regarding Cloud infrastructure as a service ‘IaaS’ are provided. Software applications are accessed by Cloud Software as a service ‘SaaS’ that can operate cloud infrastructure. For implementing and developing applications along with programming language and tools, the Cloud Platform as a service ‘PaaS’ provides to the customers. The data center hardware and software contains the major components of a cloud. The resources are available for general public also referred as public clouds and the cloud service providers are known as utility computing. Furthermore, the clouds that are not accessible for public are called as private clouds. The combination of the two, ‘SaaS’ and utility computing forms Cloud computing. (ARMBRUST, FOX et al. 2010). There are three service models for cloud computing i.e. infrastructure as a service, platform as a service and software as a service (Wilshusen 2011). Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is comprised of three components i.e. software, platform and infrastructure. Organizations only provide software and platform and infrastructure is provided by a third party cloud computing vendor. The second service models i.e. platform as a service (PaaS) als o comprises of three components i.e. software, platform and infrastructure. Organizations only provide a software or application that will be executed on the third party or the vendor’s platform and infrastructure. The third service model also includes the similar three components as mentioned before and called as software as a service (SaaS). Organizations only utilize the services provided by the vendors in terms of applications that can be accessed by the Internet. All the three components i.e. software, platform and infrastructure are the property of the vendor (Wilshusen 2011). In figure 1.1, cloud deployment models are demonstrated Figure 1.1 (Retreived from :Wilshusen, G. C. (2011). INFORMATION SECURITY: Additional guidance needed to address cloud computing concerns. GAO Reports, , 1.) Cloud computing four service models are shown in Fig 1.2 Figure 1.2 (Retreived from :Wilshusen, G. C. (2011). INFORMATION SECURITY: Additional guidance needed to address cloud computing concerns. GAO Reports, , 1.) ‘Business Cloud’ must choose the relevant client model, as it will be proportional to the business or customer requirements and may differ from organization to organization and business types. The first service model is called as the ‘Private Cloud’. A private cloud is solely a property of the organization i.e. software, platform and infrastructure is the property of the organization (Wilshusen 2011). The second service model is called as the community cloud that is accessible to several organizations that may be similar to business types and will focus

War in Iraq Essay Example for Free

War in Iraq Essay War is one of man’s horrific undertakings that tarnished the beauty of what life has to offer. According to John F. Kennedy, this is why mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind. One grave example of a country that has been affected by perpetuated wars is Iraq. Is it justifiable that the United States to intervene in the war in Iraq? The U. S. intervention in Iraq was triggered by Gulf War in the early 1990s. As a result, the Iraqi economy was shattered. The war was sparked about by Iraq’s revival of old territorial claims against oil rich Kuwait. Saddam Hussein called for the annexation of the Bubiyan and Warbah islands at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, and thus giving Iraq a clear passage to the Gulf. He also accused Kuwait of illegally siphoning off oil from the Ar-Rumaylah field, one of the world’s largest oil pools, which the two countries shared. Hussein threatened to use force against all Arab oil producers, (including Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates) who exceeded their oil quotas, and accused them of collaborating with the United States to strangle the Iraqi economy by flooding the market with low-priced oil. This has prompted the Operation Desert Storm in 1991, which evolved into a full coalition offensive against Iraq by the coalition forces. Sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, the offensive was then called the Gulf War (Rajaee, 1993, p. 93). After that, Iraq’s problems grew into larger proportions. More recently, Iraq has been the most active battleground in a U. S. -led war on terrorism, a campaign declared by the current Bush administration in the aftermath of a terrorist attack against the U. S. on Sept. 11, 2001. In March 2003, the U. S. led a coalition of 35 nations in â€Å"Operation Iraqi Freedom†, an invasion whose goals included curbing the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and toppling Hussein’s government. The world had been witnesses to images of U. S. soldiers helping a crowd of Iraqis topple a statue of their leader, Saddam Hussein, in a square in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The scene marked the approaching close of a three-week-old U. S. -led war in Iraq, aimed at ousting the long-time U. S. adversary. The statue’s fall also served as a symbol of the end of Hussein’s repressive 23-year regime, which had brought war and ruin to the Middle East nation of some 25 million people (Wishnick, 2004). Viewing the statistics, the Iraq Body Count Project (2006) estimated that there had been 47,083 to 52,222 civilian deaths. More than 1,500 U. S. military forces had lost their lives just to satisfy the mission of waging war against Iraq. In terms of economics, the United States had already spent $505 billion of taxpayers’ funds on the War in Iraq. The alarming death toll and the economic burden that the Iraq War has caused prompted some staunch critics to indemnify the necessity of waging this war. However, supporters of this Iraqi campaign had countered that the overthrow of Hussein’s government has made the global community a safer place. U. S. troops, working in conjunction with Iraqi security forces, are successfully marginalizing guerrilla insurgents. Once Iraq’s democratic government can support itself and Iraqi security forces are ready to police the country on their own, the U. S. will reduce the number of troops stationed in Iraq. Both sides have valid arguments about the Iraqi War, but which is more sound and justifiable? Will the U. S. policy on Iraq be for the greater good of the whole world and not just a proud exposition of the military might of the United States? Will this be the viable solution to the ongoing campaign against global terrorism? In my opinion, no war could ever be justified by means of preventing further damage and the U. S. intervening and containing the war. Although the intention was good, we have seen the ravaged city of Baghdad on our TV screens and we would see the pain in the people’s faces. Lives will continually be lost if the United States continue the policy of intervention, such as what happened in Iraq. Thus, Americans should continue to condemn war because, as peace-loving citizens, we have seen throughout history that no war has brought upon any positive effect for any nation. Works Cited Rajaee, F (ed). The Iran-Iraq War: The Politics of Aggression. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 1993. Wishnick, E. Strategic Consequences of the Iraq War: U. S. Security Interests in Central Asia Reassessed. Carlisle Barracks, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2004. Iraqi Body Count. Retrieved online 29 February 2006 at http://www. iraqbodycount. org/

Marketing Plan for Internet Cafes In India Essay -- Business Managemen

Marketing Plan for Internet Cafes In India Executive Summary The goal of this marketing plan is to outline the strategies, tactics, and programs that will make the sales goals outlined in this Internet Cafe business plan a reality in the year 2003 in few states in India. This plan is for Indian Markets only. Internet Cafe, unlike a typical cafe, provides a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet. Internet Cafe is the answer to an increasing demand. The public wants: (1) access to the methods of communication and volumes of information now available on the Internet, and (2) a place to socialize and share these experiences with friends and colleagues. Marketing will play a vital role in the success of Internet Cafe. Internet Cafe must build a brand around the services it offers by heavily promoting itself through local television, radio, and print advertising. Marketing efforts are just beginning by the time a potential customer enters Internet Cafe for the first time. A strong emphasis will be put on keeping customers and building brand loyalty through programs focused on staffing, experience, and customer satisfaction. Target markets include: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Students from nearby housing centers. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Business people from the downtown business centers and professional buildings. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Seniors from nearby retirement facilities. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Family members – People who have relatives abroad. This group is very large in few states in India especially states like Kerala where minimum one member from each family living abroad. Situation Analysis Internet Cafe opened its doors for business a little over a year ago. Business is good, and customers have been impressed with our offerings, but we need to focus our efforts on implementing the strategies, programs, and tactics outlined in the original business plan. Differentiating ourselves from other more traditional cafes has given us the ability to effectively compete on the beverage and pastry side of the business with the already entrenched competition. Sales are brisk and in-line with projections. The Internet services side of the business is rapidly being accepted by the local community. Memberships are meeting the projections outlined in the business plan, and sales of Internet services are meeting the goals forecast. Students love to gather for late... ...ove the allocated 20%. We'll be able to hire the marketing manager earlier, and we'll be able to provide more equipment and possibly add an additional location. Revenues miss projections - We have to be prepared for this possibility. If we miss our projections, we simply have to re-double our marketing efforts. The danger in this scenario is that the first reaction to missed projections is to decrease spending, particularly marketing expenses. We can't do that! We have to get our message out to the target market, and we can't do that if we stop spending on marketing. Additional capital infusions may become necessary and that possibility is detailed in the business plan. Internet side of business plays a lesser role - Our customers might not be willing to pay for Internet access or Internet Cafe memberships as Internet access costs and hardware costs continue to fall. If this scenario materializes, we will need to move our focus to beverages and pastry items, perhaps even providing deli-style lunches. Internet services in the scenario would still play an important role in attracting customers; we'd just have to charge less and move our numbers around to accommodate this trend.

Porsche: Guarding the Old While Bringing in the New

SynopsisThis case presents a very interesting story about a luxury carmaker, Porsche. Like many marketers of luxury goods, Porsche has had to wrestle with the challenge of serving its core of loyal customers while also making products that appeal to a less traditional, but growing, segment of customers. The case describes the Porsche faithful who like their Porsches only one-way: 2 doors, six cylinders in the rear, and lots of pure sports car performance. The problem that Porsche has faced at various times throughout its existence is that being confined to one kind of customer with one kind of car inevitably results in maturation and stagnation. Sales flatten out, then decline, and so do profits.This case describes recent efforts by Porsche to broaden its product line and appeal to multiple segments of customers. Most notably, Porsche now makes an SUV (the Cayenne) and a four-door sedan (the Panamera). Both of these efforts are designed to appeal to a different kind of customer than the ones who typically buy 911s. But these vehicles are not soft around the edges. They perform like, well, the Porsche of SUVs (and sedans). Porsche has identified two types of customers that are sustaining these vehicles and keeping the company on a growth trend. These are Porsche customers who grew up and have practical needs of hauling people and stuff, and the emergence of wealthy people in China, India, and other parts of the world who have more interest in a daily driver.As the economy recovers, Porsche is poised to serve various customer types with a portfolio of outstanding vehicles.

Battle at the Pumps: Is there a solution for increasing prices?

Remember when Grandpa used to tell stories of how gasoline cost $0. 10 a gallon when he first started driving? We laughed at the thought of anything costing less than a dollar, but with today’s national average for gas sitting at $3. 00 a gallon, the 300% price increase is no laughing matter (Benton, 2007).If the price for gas continues to increase at the rate it is now, our children will be the one’s finding humor in our silly rants of paying $90. 00 to fill our SUV tanks. Gas hikes and price gouging are issues that most Americans would rather not be associated with.Nevertheless, we all still have jobs to go to and errands to run. So, while some argue that the price increases are just a part of inflation, there are more arguing that gas pricing is a game of politics. Either way, we all will continue to pay what we have to go get from point A to point B. Targeting when gas hikes became such a hot issue dates back to the infamous â€Å"Katrina† disaster in August of 2005. In addition to the catastrophic storm, many claim that politics also play a part in price determination.Whatever the reason, a solution must be sought. Thankfully, there are a few solution-seekers out there who are actively searching for ways to make living in the days of $3. 00 plus per gallon a bit more tolerable, albeit still an, ah-hem, unpleasant issue. Collaborations between companies, innovations in vehicles, and vehicle purchasing incentives are all ways businesses are working together to keep the bitterness at bay. Nevertheless, many of us won’t be happy until we are completely dependent on our own resources for the precious commodity.So, while we will never see the same prices Grandpa paid for gasoline in our lifetime, reviewing the causes and finding solutions are the only ways we will avoid taking out a second mortgage just to put gas in the cars. Immediately after Hurricane Katrina, Americans panicked, and fearful gas retailers began a practice that was, for the most part, unheard of. Lines of gasoline-starved automobiles Battle at the Pumps 3 parked themselves at gas pumps, struggling to get every last drop of gas available before it was â€Å"all gone†.Rumors of depleted gas barrel supply sent small town gasoline retailers, as well as few big city retailers into gouging mode. Within hours, prices went from $2. 00 to just over $3. 00 a gallon in states such as Texas and Louisiana, the states closest to the disaster (AP, 2005). Another spark contributing to the gas fire blazing at the pumps is the claim that election years tend to send gas prices into a rollercoaster pattern: down before elections, and up after elections. In fact, Joe Benton of ConsumerAffairs. com writes that pre-election gas prices averaged $2.50 a gallon, and that gas prices â€Å"are sure to rise again†¦right after the midterm elections† (2006). Mr. Benton was correct. Just after the elections the national average for gas prices increased 12. 5 cents in December, and has steadily continued to rise. Though the decrease is unexplainable, rest assured that the elections have nothing to do with it. If they were the reason for the decreased gas prices, however, most Americans would vie for monthly elections! Unfortunately, for the disgruntled, the days paying less than $2. 00 a gallon for gasoline are long gone.In fact, we drivers, bus riders, airline passengers and taxi goers must continue the suffrage, as melees to locate the best gas source is continued. Until one is found, companies, manufacturers and even the government are giving a go at attempts to soften the blows of outrageously priced â€Å"petro†. The battle of fair gas prices has produced an effort among many to seek ways around getting hosed at the pump. For example, John Wakefield of Murphy Oil Corporation, states that Murphy USA’s goal is to â€Å"be a low cost provider to the communities [they] serve† (2006).To comply with this statement, Murphy USA has collaborated with discount retailer, Wal-Mart, in order to offer a minimum of a three-cent discount for those who purchase fuel with a Wal-Mart gift card. This allows Murphy USA to maintain its position in offering a below average price for Battle at the Pumps 4 gasoline throughout the nation (Wakefield, 2006). Additionally, manufacturers, such as Ford and Chevy, have joined in the labors of providing an alternative for gas guzzling vehicles. Their answer to the gas price dilemma has been to increase promotion of hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles.Hybrid vehicles, although in existence for many years, have become a popular choice for saving dollars at the pump, as have flex-fuel vehicles. Hybrid vehicles combine both the gasoline-powered and electric powered sources under the hood in order to increase the distance between fill-ups, which, in turn, saves one from filling up as often as with a strictly gas-powered vehicle (Layton, 2007) Similarly, flex-fuel vehicles (FFV), which have been around for a number of years as well, are also designed to combine power sources in order save on gasoline usage.In the FFV case, a combination of gasoline and E85 fuel work together to increase the number of miles driven between fill-ups, resulting in dollars saved (USDoE, 2007). The down side to both types of vehicles, however, is that they both cost a pretty penny, which brings us back to where we started: angry about spending mega-bucks just to drive. On the contrary, there is an up-side to the hybrid vehicle: The government offers a tax credit to those who purchase a hybrid (USDoE, 2007).That’s great†¦if you can afford the high price tag attached to the hybrid. But if you can’t, what else is the government doing to ensure that we don’t go bankrupt at the pumps? Though they sometimes seem like the bad guys, the government is making attempts to keep Americans from going into boxing matches with gas station attendants. Along with offering incentives to those who choose to finance or straight-out purchase hybrid vehicles, they are also looking out for the little people†¦those who can’t afford to pay the $4.00 per gallon price tag that has become a frequenter of many gas stations across America post Katrina. Price gouging, or pricing above the market when demand increases, was a practice few were aware of before Battle at the Pump 5 August of 2005. However, when disaster struck, gas retailers took action, regardless of who it would affect. Soon, consumers were left with no where to turn and had no choice but to pay for overpriced fuel. Thankfully â€Å"Super Government† with its flowing red, white and blue cape came to our rescue, regulating pricing among gas retailers.Although there is no law against price gouging, suspicious pricing will entail an investigation. In August 2005, the Energy Department created a hotline for people who fell victim to price gouging (Pope, 2005). Though efforts have been made, without a law to formally enforce a â€Å"no price gouging allowed† law, the problem, though not as wide spread as it had been initially, still exists. Gradually, as demand has continues to outweigh the supply of gasoline available, price gouging has sneakily made itself an accepted practice.Investigations pending for suspected price gougers, the government is also seeking ways for America to become less dependent on international sources to keep America on the roads and in the air. As we wearily trudge to the pumps prepared to sacrifice our limbs just for a few gallons of gas, alternatives are being sought in order to use domestic sources for fuel. Biodiesel, a renewable fuel derived from sources such as vegetable oils and recycled restaurant greases, is just one of the alternative fuels being researched for common use among Americans.In May of 2005, President Bush announced that efforts in making Biodiesel a main source for fuel were in the works, and estimated that by 2010, our country will become solely dependent on itself to fuel our vehicles, planes and trains (Bush, 2005). Upon receiving the news, farmers across America gained new hope in assisting in the effort to solve the ongoing problem of finding fuel alternatives. But one can’t help but wonder: What about those folks who can’t afford to transition into a vehicle that runs on the fuel alternatives soon to be available?This is, indeed, has the Battle at the Pumps 6 potential to cripple hopes of becoming domestically dependent. Look around the next time you are on the road and you will see cars dating back to the early 60’s and beyond. For some people, driving these ‘vintage’ vehicles is a choice, but for others, it is unavoidable. It makes sense to assume that if we all had the money to drive a modern day vehicle, we would. But for those people who are stuck in that 1976 beat-up Nova, gas prices are still an issue that fuel alternatives won’t so lve.Needless to say, if President Bush is determined for America to depend on ourselves for fuel, tapping into the oil sources available on our own soil is required. This, however, presents another problem: Once the soil is broken, where do those who live on the land go? The vast lands of Alaska are notorious for housing thousands of acres of untapped oil reserves. However, on those acres, life exists. Caribou, bison, bears, elk and even people inhabit these lands. For years, these habitors have been the reason that the oil reserves Alaska has to offer have gone undisturbed.Nature activists have long protested the spoiling of the majestic lands across the Artic coastline. For this, we have continued to rely on countries such as the Middle Eastern lands, for oil. Years of jokes, ridicule and mockery have been directed at presidents, past and present, as well as the government in general, for not making stronger efforts in aggressively utilizing this land, regardless of who is affecte d. With pretty much no choice, President Bush proposed a plan to break ground along the Artic coastline in order to make use of the untapped oil lying beneath the thick blankets of frozen land and fluffed snow (Rosen, 2003).There continues, as expected, to be protests against the efforts, to include the protests of the Inupiat Eskimos, who strongly feel that none of the villages in this region of Alaska will support the proposed project. Ultimately, someone is going to be unhappy. Battle at the Pump 7 To those who have decided to put on party hats in celebration of the anticipated Alaskan oil tapping project: don’t mess up your ‘do’s just yet. The future in gas pricing will continue a long time pattern that Grandpa, Grandma, Dad and Mom have all had the unpleasant chore of experiencing.The crystal ball of gas prices forecasts continued increases. While the rise may not be in fuel pricing, many will feel the impact of whatever solution is utilized to control this currently uncontrollable nuisance. While scientists are doing their best to resolve all issues with fuel alternatives, some alternatives, such as hydrogen, will pose an earlier predicted problem: older vehicles would have to undergo a complete replacement of their fueling systems. Alas, the efforts to seek out solutions must continue.Though many efforts have been made to resolve the long time issue of inflated gas prices, as weeks go by, Americans resume the struggle with unfair gouging and seemingly unnecessary price hikes. It seems almost impossible to consider the alternatives of spending money on gas†¦heaven forbid we actually walk anywhere. Unfortunately, this horrible predicament we’ve found ourselves in appears to be without light. The only way to pleasantly endure the task of spending money is to†¦well†¦spend money.To ensure that we survive this rain cloud, we can either cross our fingers for monthly elections (for the benefit of price drops), or we can purchase hybrid vehicles, stop in at the local Wal-Mart to purchase a gift cards, and gas up at Murphy USA. So, although solutions are being attempted, before you visit the gas pumps, be prepared to give up your first born child. References: 1. $3. 00 Gas Spreads to 7 States, D. C. (April 27, 2007) ConsumerAffairs. com: Benton, J. April 27, 2007. http://www. consumeraffairs. com/news04/2007/04/gas_prices141. html 2. Bush plans on drilling in untapped Alaskan oil reserve.(Dec. 13, 2003) Reuters: Rosen, Y. April 27, 2007. http://www. commondreams. org/headlines03/1213-03. htm 3. Congress moves to outlaw gas gouging. (Sept. 19, 2005) SeattlePI. com: Pope, C. April 27, 2007. http://seattlepi. nwsource. com/national/241244_gouging19. html 4. Election loom; gas prices drop. (Sept. 13, 2006) ConsumerAffairs. com: Benton, J. April 27, 2007. http://www. consumeraffairs. com/news04/2006/09/big_oil. html 5. Flex-Fuel Vehicles. (2007) FuelEconomy. Gov: US Dept. of Energy (USDoE) April 27, 2007 . http://www. fueleconomy. gov/feg/flextech. shtml 6.Gov urges gas-price investigation. (Sept. 21, 2005) CBS News: Associated Press (AP). April 27, 2007 http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2005/09/21/katrina/main870784. shtml 7. How hybrid cars work. (2007) HowStuffWorks, Inc. : Layton, J & Nice, K. April 27, 2007. http://auto. howstuffworks. com/hybrid-car. htm 8. Murphy USA Refining and Marketing. (2006) Murphy Oil Corporation: Wakefield, J. April 27, 2007. http://murphyusa. com/rm/retail/ 9. President discusses biodiesel. (2005) The White House: Bush, G. W. April 28, 2007. http://www. whitehouse. gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050516. html

buy custom Exploration of the Concept of the Enduring Self essay

buy custom Exploration of the Concept of the Enduring Self essay Introduction The concept of the Enduring Self has been discussed variously with intellectual efforts seeking to explore the real existence of this idea or concept. Various scholars have therefore explored the idea of the Enduring Self from different perspectives. Most of these approaches have tended to take the approach of the philosophical and religious perspectives. This paper seeks to discuss the concept of The Enduring Self drawing from the contentions of various scholars such John Locke, Aristotle, Hume and Descartes. The paper will attempt to draw a comparison between the basic ideas that are advanced by every scholar in relation to the concept of the enduring self. John Locke and the Concept of the Enduring Self According to John Locke, the enduring self is that aspect of the self that remains stable across time and space. The enduring self thus makes one person uniquely distinct from another. John Locke identified the self that is stable with a conscious thinking thing. Locke makes it clear that the kind of substance that the self, spiritual or material, simple or compound, does not matter. To Locke, the consciousness that people have of themselves as the enduring self is paramount in understanding the concept of the enduring self (Velasquez, 2011). The enduring self to Locke is therefore the consciousness that is dependent on the memories that one has now relative to the past. Locke builds an understanding of the enduring self based on the memory criterion. The enduring self does not coincide with the circumstances and experiences for the physical or bodily identity. Rather it is that aspect of human life that is guided by memories and conciseness that is not in any way based on the external factors, whether physiological or biological. Instead, the enduring self is the inward awareness that a person has a conscious being with inherent and innate ability to endure across time. In the words of Locke, the enduring self is that aspect of the self that is concerned for itself as far as that consciousness extends (Cottingham, 2002). The enduring nature of the self in the contentions of Locke is founded in the internal connectedness of consciousness. It is kept stable across time through memory processes, that is, the memory of the experiences that we have across time and space (Velasquez, 2011). The continuity of consciousness is thus the factor to be considered in the analysis of the enduring nature of the self across time and space. The enduring self is thus the inherent nature of an individual to display the same personality traits because of the stable consciousness of the memory of our experiences. Aristotle and the Concept of the Enduring Self Aristotles conceptualization of the idea of the enduring self overlaps with that of Locke albeit, to a small extent. In his postulations, the enduring self is that aspect of our personality that tends to be stable especially as guided by moral reasoning and rational ability of an individual. Aristotle argues that our personalities may be enduring becase of the need to maintain the principle of rationality at all times. This rationality is caused by reasoning that results from exposure of an individual to the rational society. Thus, Aristotles philosophy on the enduring self tends to concur with Locke who emphasized underlying consciousness and memories. This consciousness could encompass the internal awareness of the norms and values that people rationally relate to. This second part is the perspective that Aristotle advances. Aristotles philosophy of the self was biased towards the understanding of the self in terms of the soul. In understanding the enduring self, Aristotle posits that the stable part of the self that makes one distinct from another is hidden in the soul. To some extent this is similar to the postulations of Descartes (Velasquez, 2011). The rationality of human beings is contained in the soul and it is this part of us that remains stable. Although the soul has four sections comprising the calculative, scientific, and desiderative and the rational component, Aristotle explained that the enduring self remains stable because of the stability of the human soul that is responsible for rational behavior across time and space. The level of rationality may increase but the self remains generally unchanged across time and space. Hume and the Concept of the Enduring Self David Humes exploration of the concept of the enduring self was significantly aloof. Hume starts his debate from the theoretical standing point that the concept of the enduring self is an ambiguous concept existing only in conceptualization but not in essence. Velasquez (2011) observed that enduring self therefore is non-existent according to David Hume. He contends that the existence of the self implies there exists something stable and enduring. However, Hume disagrees with Locke, Aristotle and Descartes that people have the enduring part of the self (Spada, 2002). He indicates that nothing is stable and constant, not even the memories, the soul or thoughts. To Hume, the concept of the self in the first instance is non-existent. In fact, Hume categorically states that the idea of the self is nothing but simply a philosophical fiction (Velasquez, 2011). Hume contends that we are self-conscious beings that are only aware of the dynamic nature of our thoughts, perceptions and innate feelings. This implies, according to Hume, that the concept of the enduring self does not exist because we lack the impression of the self or thinking substance within us. Kant tended to concur with Humes philosophy when he added that identity is not located in a persons self-consciousness (Velasquez, 2011). The enduring self according to these philosophers is thus not an object of personal experience across time and space as Locke and his allies postulated. Rather our perceptions and feelings are more transcendental. The philosophical contention of David Hume with respect to the nature of the self is founded on deep belief that self is in a constant state of flux (Cottingham, 2002). This constant flux gives no room for the development of an enduring self. Hume thus insists that no human impression can be long enduring. The human self thereefore keeps on changing from one moment to the next. The experiences that a person has across life and in a variety of environments weaken the enduring personalities, perceptions and attitudes. Velasquez (2011) cited that the self is vulnerable to invasion by feelings, perceptions and experiences in the course of life. Hume refutes Lockes ideas on the concept of enduring self which was based on the consciousness and memories. Spada (2002) observes that Hume differs with this view and posits that much of what people experience is forgotten and human memory, which is claimed to be stable and leads to enduring self according Locke and his supporters, is not always accurate. Descartes and the Concept of the Enduring Self The ideas of Rene Descartes on the enduring self are more reflective of the contentions of Aristotle, although Aristotles philosophy followed the works of Descartes. Like Aristotle, Descartes perceived the soul as the enduring self. The real self is that part of the individual that is inherently internal. This part does not change with perceptions and feelings as Hume contended. Descartes argues that the self is uniquely individual and remains stable. The inner qualities of a person are independent of other people or the environment. It is thus not subject to change whether with others or when one is independent. According to Descartes, the self is a thinking thing and if one ceases to think then the self ceases to be (Green Walker, 2010). Descartes claimed that the thinking mind or soul is the part of the self that is enduring across time and space. Therefore as long as the soul remains, the enduring part of the self persists and not subject to change. Descartes thus opposes the arguments advanced by Hume that the self is non-existent. If the self is non-existent then the ability to think, which is hidden in the mind/soul, is also a fiction. Human beings have the ability to think and make decisions that are independent and based on individual reasoning and thinking that is not held hostage by any external forces. The self is thus enduring and is the guiding force that influences perceptions, feelings, behaviors and attitudes. The environment and change in time may function only to sharpen the thinking self but does not render it extinct. This explains why the thinking of an adult is different from that of an infant. But the underlying consideration is the postulation of Descartes that the self is stable in terms of th inking based on the processes of the mind/soul. Conclusion Most philosophers have conceded that the enduring self is existent and explains why people are different from one another and why people rarely change. There may be differences in the approach like Locke emphasizes the experiences and consciousness; Aristotle emphasizes rationality while Descartes explained enduring self in terms of the mind/soul. The contention of Hume that there is nothing constant is sensible. However, the fact that the self is subject to change does not imply that the enduring self is totally non-existent. Every individual has inherent unique aspect of the self that does not change and not influenced by external factors. Buy custom Exploration of the Concept of the Enduring Self essay

Definition and Examples of Preterit(e) Verbs

Definition and Examples of Preterit(e) Verbs In traditional grammar, the preterit(e)  is the simple past tense of the verb, such as walked or said.  In English, the preterit(e) is typically formed by adding the suffix -ed or -t to the base form of a verb. This form is sometimes referred to as the dental preterit(e). The term is usually spelled preterit in American English, preterite in British English. Examples ofPreterit(e) Verbs They  jumped and laughed and  pointed at the solemn guards.(Terry Goodkind, Temple of the Winds, 1997)I removed the crucible from the wire stand and  poured the  silver. Some of the metal ran into the mold, some of it spilled over the outside, and some of it adhered to the crucible.(John Adair,  The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths, 1944)We  climbed  the mountain sides, and  clambered  among sagebrush, rocks and snow.(Mark Twain,  Roughing It, 1872)Ben snatched the squash from her, sprinted across the living room, tripped over a toy hed left there and  spilt the  entire contents of the glass over the sofa.(Sarah Morgan,  The Christmas Marriage Rescue, 2015)I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.  Ã‚  (Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)  During many of the group sessions, the women and I painted, glued, cut, pasted, talked, listened, ate, drank, laughed, cried, and engaged in collaborative processes of ref lection and action.​(Alice McIntyre, Women in Belfast: How Violence Shapes Identity. Praeger Publishers, 2004) Backshifting Tense [Another] use of the preterite shows up in indirect reported speech. Notice the contrast between has and had in this pair. [37i] Kim has blue eyes. [original utterance: present tense][37ii] I told Stacy that Kim had blue eyes. [indirect report: preterite] If I say [i] to Stacy, I can use [ii] as an indirect report to tell you what I said to Stacy. Im repeating the content of what I said to Stacy, but not the exact wording. My utterance to Stacy contained the present tense form has, but my report of it contains preterite had. Nonetheless, my report is entirely accurate. This kind of change in tense is referred to as backshift. The most obvious cases of backshift are with verbs of reporting that are in the preterite, like told or said. (Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum, A Students Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge University Press, 2006) The Preterite and the Present-Perfect - [W]ith most verbs the difference between the form of the present perfect and the form of the preterite is slight in present-day English, especially in informal speech, which explains why in a long-term perspective the distinction may eventually be lost. . . . Reference to distinct past time without any obvious kind of anchoring has emerged as an area where usage is far from settled in present-day English. The selection of the preterite in such cases appears to be on the increase . . ..(Johan Elsness, The Perfect and the Preterite in Contemporary and Earlier English. Mouton de Gruyter, 1997)- [T]he systematic marking of perfect aspect in LModE [Late Modern English] has partially relieved the simple Preterite of its burden of indicating past time. Since perfectivity implies the completion of an event prior to the actual time of utterance, a Present Perfect form carries an automatic implication of pastness. The actual point of completion in past time may be very close, as in (18), or vaguely more distant, as in (19). (18) Ive just eaten my dinner.(19) John Keegan has written a history of war. . . . [T]he growing acceptability of the vague degree of pastness in sentences such as (19) indicates that LModE may be starting on the road that led the Perfect to replace the Simple Past in a number of Romance languages. (Jacek Fisiak, Language History and Linguistic Modelling. Mouton de Gruyter, 1997) EtymologyFrom the Latin, to go by Pronunciation: PRET-er-it Also Known As: simple-past tense Alternate Spellings: preterite

SMEs in Chinas Textile and Clothing Industry Essay

SMEs in Chinas Textile and Clothing Industry - Essay Example Such situation is result from three reasons. Firstly, after China's entry of WTO, the firms in this industry are facing fierce competition from entry of foreign textile and clothing giant firms in domestic market. Secondly, the restriction from Europe and U.S. which are the main destination where Chinese clothing firms export has been published on June, 2005 (www.china.com. 2005). Finally, the recent appreciation of Chinese currency led to the decrease of export benefit; in other words, it increased the price of products in foreign market so as to reduce the product competitiveness of textile and clothing products exported. Therefore, regarding the serious situation they never met, it is essential to investigate and find out the most effective and successful way of exporting, especially for small- and medium- firms in China's textile and clothing industry. The main aim of this study is to investigate the export methods and their influence on performance of small- and medium- firms (SMEs) in China's textile and clothing industry. ... Such situation is result from three reasons. Firstly, after China's entry of WTO, the firms in this industry are facing fierce competition from entry of foreign textile and clothing giant firms in domestic market. Secondly, the restriction from Europe and U.S. which are the main destination where Chinese clothing firms export has been published on June, 2005 (www.china.com. 2005). Finally, the recent appreciation of Chinese currency led to the decrease of export benefit; in other words, it increased the price of products in foreign market so as to reduce the product competitiveness of textile and clothing products exported. Therefore, regarding the serious situation they never met, it is essential to investigate and find out the most effective and successful way of exporting, especially for small- and medium- firms in China's textile and clothing industry. 1.2 Objective of the Study The main aim of this study is to investigate the export methods and their influence on performance of small- and medium- firms (SMEs) in China's textile and clothing industry. With this purpose, the study is going to identify the export method that is most frequently used and preferred to employ by SMEs when they engage in international export activities; furthermore, will also try to explore the method that is the most effective and successful for SMEs to penetrate into foreign markets as judged by export performance, so as to provide some information which could be useful in companies decision-making about the future exporting and the factors deciding it. Specifically, the objective of this study can be concluded as follows, Investigating the difference of employed export method of SMEs in terms of different

The power of media on consumerist behaviour Essay

The power of media on consumerist behaviour - Essay Example In our daily lives, individuals are continually bombarded with advertisements encouraging them to buy things. These advertisements promote specific products and give an impression of a good life and what it means to be happy in the modern times (Crocker and Lehmann 45). Most people find shopping to be an exhilarating leisure activity. There are those that go deeply into debt trying to buy products that are beyond their means. Manufacturers mainly concentrate on profits and this means that they concentrate on capital gain over environmental sustainability. This means that most companies in the contemporary world are more concerned about capital gain as it is more profitable to them. On the other hand, environmental sustainability is seen as an expense to the company (Johan and Anthony 11). Some companies do not even have an environmental sustainability policy in place and instead devote all their time and resources towards capital gain which unlike environmental sustainability has immense gains for the company. Entities that fail to take issues of environmental sustainability into consideration are likely to have a reduction in the number of consumers. There has been an increase in the corporate outsourcing of the manufacture of products to developing countries. These lack appropriate safeguards against worker exploitation which is referred to as sweatshop labor. This helps companies to minimize on their labor expenses and maximize on profits (Johan and Anthony 11). However, it results to a rise in employee exploitation in developing economies since they are forced to do a lot of manual labor with minimal pay and under poor working conditions. Companies that are associated with sweatshop labor are likely to experience a decline in popularity among consumers. The media is a powerful tool that has contributed to the shape of consumerist behavior in society and this can