Investment Portfolio Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Investment Portfolio - Assignment Example Both children also have 529 plans established, gifted to them by their grandparents ten years ago. Therefore, college tuition is not considered a financial objective, as higher education will be essentially paid for through these particular savings plans. Finally, the investor has ten years left on a 30-year mortgage note, thereby paying off the loan ten years before he enters retirement. The monthly mortgage payment is approximately $1125. Since the couple looks at their residence as their dream home, they have no intentions of ever selling their property nor do they intend to purchase a second home. They do not foresee any other significant expenses on the horizon; however, they do have an emergency fund valued at $10,500 to cover any problems that may creep into their financial picture. It can be assumed, then, that their objective will not include constructing an emergency reserve. They can, and will, focus solely on retirement savings. I. Investment Policy: A study conducted by Klein and Iammartino in 2010 states that Modern Portfolio Theory supports the notion that there are three main factors that must be considered when selecting the various investment vehicles that will comprise a sound portfolio: diversification, risk tolerance, and time horizon. In this particular situation, the investor’s age and risk tolerance reflects a need for a moderately conservative approach to building the portfolio. While the investor still has some time on his side for wealth accumulation, stocks traditionally perform rather inconsistently, making it virtually impossible to predict what direction the securities will take on any given day. Of course, most portfolio profits are made by investing in securities, as their sheer nature is to grow money. But like anything in life, there is give and take. While highly lucrative, stocks are also highly volatile, which increases the risk that an investor could lose all money put into a particular security if the company is ch anging management, losing its competitive edge in the industry, or even worse, headed for insolvency. As times goes on and retirement inches closer, an investor will have less reaction time to deal with any of the above circumstances that are adversely affecting the portfolio’s performance. Consequentially, it makes good financial sense to build in shock absorbers to help alleviate any additional burdens the investor takes by putting money into equities. These absorbers are referred to as fixed income, which is a more secure asset class because these investments pay out through fixed interest rates for a pre-determined time frame and, in some cases, are insured, should the debtor become insolvent. Fixed income is mainly comprised of bonds and CDs. They are not as profitable as equities and can bring their own element of danger simply because more conservative investments typically cannot outpace inflation (think of your investments flying down a freeway with inflation as the highway trooper clocking the speed at which the money is growing). Still yet, they do provide guarantee, which gives the investor peace of mind that the money will never be lost. It can be said then that the aforementioned investor will need to allocate a certain percentage of his money to stocks, bonds, and finally, cash to provide necessitated liquidity in his portfolio, should there be another global downturn in

Dipole Moment of 5- Fluorouracil Molecule

Dipole Moment of 5- Fluorouracil Molecule Computational Term Paper: Theoretical studies on 5- fluorouracil to calculate its dipole moment, and how the values compare with other pyrimidine analog (namely uracil and thymine) and that of literature. Name: Farzana Nushin Rezvi Abstract: In this experiment, the dipole moment of 5- Fluorouracil molecule was determined using the Gaussian software, and compared with literature values. The dipole moments of other pyrimidine analogs, namely Thymine and Uracil, were also calculated and compared with literature values. The experiment gave insight to typical dipole moment values of uracil derivatives, and how the dipole moment of aromatic molecules can be influenced in the presence of –F, or -CH3 substituent. Introduction: The purpose of this experiment is to calculate the dipole moment of the anticancer drug, 5- Fluorouracil, and compare the numerical value with that of two other pyrimidines, Thymine and Uracil. Fig 1: Molecular structure of 5- Fluoro uracil (drawn by ChemBioDraw). 5- Fluorouracil is apyrimidine analog (nucleoside analogs that mimic the molecular structure of pyrimidines) of uracil molecule that functions as an anti-cancer drug; it is used in the treatment of several types of cancer, including that of rectum, colon, head and neck cancer.10 5- Fluorouracil belongs to the family of drugs called theantimetabolites. Antimetabolite drugs function by impeding vital biosynthetic processes or by being assimilated into macromolecules, and inhibiting their normal functioning. The fluoro pyrimidine drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) does both.9Cancer cells often use more uracil than normal cells, which indicates that uracil metabolism is a potential target for antimetabolite chemotherapy.9 â€Å"The mechanism of cytotoxicity of 5-FU has been ascribed to the misincorporation of fluoronucleotides into RNA and DNA and to the inhibition of the nucleotide synthetic enzyme thymidylate synthase.†9 Thymidylate synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion o f deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) to deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP). dTMP is one of the three nucleotides (dTMP, dTTP, and dTDP) that eventually produce a thymine molecule. With inhibition of Thymidylate synthase, an imbalance of nucleotides results and increased levels of dUTP arise. Both of these factors cause DNA damage, therefore ultimately inhibiting cell replication. 5 FU is also seldom found in skin creams used for other conditions. However, it should be used in moderate/regulated amounts since the side effects of unregulated exposure can be severe.10 5-Fluorouracil is a derivative of Uracil. Another structural analog of Uracil is Thymine. As can be seen from the figure below, the molecules only differ in what substituent each has on C-5. Fig 2: Molecular structures of Uracil, 5-Fluorouracil, and Thymine. Thymine is one of the four nucleobases of DNA. Uracil is the RNA analogue of Thymine. Unlike Fluorouracil, these bases are regularly used by a healthy cell to construct new nucleotides (for multiplication, repair, etc.) The dipole moment is considered to be an elementary physiochemical property of a molecule. Interpretation of dipole moments by electronic charge distribution contributes to the understanding the molecular electronic structure and helps us gain deeper insight. The numerical values of the dipole moments also help us in evaluating the quantum mechanical calculations of electronic charge distribution, particularly in a series of homologous compounds, as in our experiment. Our experiment helps us understand the effects of substituents at C5 dipole moment of uracil. The dipole moment is a of these three molecules is an interesting study because in each case, the dipole moment is primarily influenced by the presence of electronegative atoms. The dipole moment of a molecule influences many of its properties and features (such as its colligtaive properties, how it interacts with other molecules, its behavior in compounds, etc.) In the molecules under consideration, the dipole moment(s) work as in the following figure (the dipole moment of uracil directed inbetween N3 and C4, with the substituent ‘X’ either strengthening, or weakening the dipole in the illustrated vectors)6: Fig 3: Vector scheme of dipole moments in uracil and in its derivatives6 (reproduced using ChemBioDraw) Experimental: For this Lab, the Gaussian software was used in calculating the dipole moment. At first, the molecule of concern was drawn using the software. Then ‘Edit’ option is selected to ‘Symmetrize’ our subject molecule. After that is done, we perform Gaussian Calculation Setup, by selecting Job Type as ‘Energy’, and under Methods changing the Basis set. The numerical value of the dipole moment is obtained from the ‘Results’ of the .chk file. The Gaussian calculation is repeated by selecting other Basis sets. The whole process is repeated for the molecules Thymine and Uracil. The molecule is drawn using Gaussian, and the Gaussian calculations repeated by selecting different ‘job types’ and ‘basis sets’. Results: The results obtained are represented in tabular form. The screenshots of the molecules as drawn in the Gaussian software are also given. Tables: Table 1: The theoretical and Literature values of 5-Fluorouracil dipole moment Table 2: The theoretical and Literature values of Uracil dipole moment Table 3: The theoretical and Literature values of Thymine dipole moment. Images obtained from Gaussian: 5-Fluorouracil Fig 4: Image of 5-Fluorouracil molecule as drawn using Gaussian software Uracil: Fig 5: Image of uracil molecule as drawn using Gaussian software Thymine: Fig 6: Image of thymine molecule as drawn using Gaussian software Discussion: The purpose of this experiment was to calculate the numerical values of dipole moments of the anticancer drug, 5- fluorouracil, and two other pyrimidines, thymine and uracil, and compare the obtained values with that of literature values. The dipole moment of a bond is defined as the mathematical product of the magnitude of the charges and distance between atoms under consideration11. The numerical value of the dipole moment can be calculated for each bond, as well as for the entire molecule. In this experiment, we use the Gaussian software for the calculation of dipole moments. The calculation of dipole moment is based on the allocation of atomic charges to the atoms in the molecule in a reasonable way.4 In the hands on experiment, this consists of assigning electronegativity values to the atoms and experimental structural information of the bonds. Topological methods, however, do not take in information about the molecular geometry or the conformational status of the molecule. The topological method currently in use is the Gasteiger-Hà ¼ckelmethod, which has the disadvantage of omitting the validation procedure. This renders the study impractical.11 The method of computation of partial charges employed in this experiment is based on the quantum mechanical calculation of wavefunction.11 For this report, wavefunctions were obtained using the ab initio method. Ab initio means based on first principles, these methods are based on quantum mechanics and attempt to solve the Schrà ¶dinger equation. â€Å"Ab initio methods use no experimental parameters in their calculations, although they use some mathematical approximations. The major disadvantage of Ab Initio quantum chemistry is the heavy demands on computer power.†12 The choice of basis set is one of the most important aspects of this computation, as our results depend vastly on the basis set employed. Basis sets are quantum chemical units of energy; basis set contains mathematical functions that can be used to determine the dipole moment, energy, and other quantum mechanical properties of an atom/molecule of study. Basis sets are considered to represent the wavefunctions of the electrons in the species.12 On the basis of atomic point charges, a molecular dipole moment can be calculated in a quite simple and fast way, and compared with literature values. To get reliable results using this method, one must select small and rigid structures.11 As the dipole moment is a property defined by quantum mechanics, wavefunctions can be used to directly calculate its values. Results derived with large basis sets (such as those reported in this paper) are in good agreement with experimental values. As we can see, our calculated values of the dipole moment align quite closely with the experimental values. One fact, however, stands out: the values of dipole moment get closer to the ‘literature values’ as the basis set is increased. However, quantum mechanical methods are not very useful when obtaining information about larger molecules.11 The dipole moments of uracil, as well as of its respective derivatives are listed in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3. First of all, it can be noticed that all these molecules have pretty high values for dipole moments, compared to other aromatic molecules.4 This increase seems to be mainly due to the large electronegativity of the O atoms (resulting in large numerical values of the dipole moments of carbonyl groups) which amount to 4 Debye units in thiouracils, according to Schneider and Halverstadt 13 This value can be contributed to the relatively high polarity of the secondary amide carbonyl group in these compounds, as compared with the generally observed value of 2.23 Debye units.4 A pronounced change in the dipole moment is observed only upon the introduction of a substituent of a different polarity, such as Fluorine and Methyl group. In order to examine the effects of substituent on C5 on the electronic charge distribution in greater detail, many factors have to be taken into consideration. The first is that of electronegativity. Halogens are famously electronegative, with F atom being the most. The electronegativity of Fluorine atom pulls away electrons towards itself (and away from the ring) (Refer to Fig 3). As the dipole moment direction of –F atom is directed towards itself, it somewhat cancels the dipole moment of N3. This explains why 5-Fluorouracil has a lower overall dipole moment compared to uracil. Thymine differs from uracil in having a methyl group (-CH3) on C5. The main chemistry to understand here is that of the inductive and mesomeric effect. â€Å"Methylation at C5 and C6 mainly causes changes in the polarity of the C5C6 bond by way of increasing the ~-electronic charge on the atom at which substitution takes place.†6 Due to the positive inductive effect of the –CH3 group, electrons are pushed towards the aromatic ring. This adds to the ‘electron pull’ of N3 and contributes to the overall polarity of the molecule. It can be noted that substitution at C5 does not alter the dipole moment of uracil as much as a substituent on C6 would. (Since the substituents at C5 and C6 are differently oriented). For uracil, the dipole moment is directed in the N atom inbetween the carbonyl groups (as shown in Fig 3). However, the dipole moment is a more complicated calculation than can be inferred from a diagram as simple, lots of other data (such as bond angles) also have to be taken into account. Conclusion: The purpose of this experiment is to calculate the dipole moment of the anticancer drug, 5- fluorouracil, and compare its value with that of literature, and two other pyrimidines, thymine and uracil. Based on the data obtained with 5 FU, the experiment can be deemed to be successful, as it contains about 1-2 % error with respect to literature. In summary, we have demonstrated that these Gaussian calculations is an easy and convenient way to determine many physical and spectroscopic properties of these molecules in solution and can give an additional insight into their in vivo properties.1 Citations: Theoretical DFT and experimental NMR studies on uracil and 5- fluorouracil , B. Blicharska, T. Kupka / Journal of Molecular Structure 613 (2002) 153–166 Frisch, M. J.et al. Gaussian Development Version, Revision D.02. In Gaussian Development Version, Revision D.02; Gaussian, Inc.: Wallingford CT, 2005 5-Fluorouracil and thymine form a crystalline solid solution, Sarah A. Barnett, Ashley T. Hulme* and Derek A. Tocher, Acta Crystallographica Section CVolume 62, Issue 7, Article first published online: 10 JUL 2006 L.A. Curtiss, M.S. Gordon Computational Material Chemistry: Methods and Applications, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004 Structures of the Molecular Components in DNA and RNA with Bond Lengths Interpreted as Sums of Atomic Covalent Radii Institute of Biophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Krà ¡lovopolskà ¡ 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic. Dipole moments of 2,4-diketopyrimidines: Part II: Uracil, thymine and their derivatives I. Kulakowskaa, M. Gellerb, B. Lesyngb, K.L. Wierzchowskia, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis Volume 361, Issue 2, 29 August 1974, Pages 119–130 Chapter chemotherapy cancer http://www.oncoprof.net/Generale2000/g09_Chimiotherapie/Complements/g09_comp11.php (accessed Nov 19, 2014) Cole Parmer http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/5_Fluorouracil_99_5g/EW-88244-97 (accessed Nov 19, 2014) 5-Fluorouracil: mechanisms of action and clinical strategies, Daniel B. Longley1, D. Paul Harkin1 Patrick G. Johnston, Nature Reviews Cancer 3, 330-338 (May 2003) Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorouracil (accessed 3rd December 2014) Hans-Dieter Hà ¶ltje, Gerd Folker, Molecular Modeling: Basic Principles and Applications, VCH Publishers, 1997 Vol. 5 Samakhvalov A, Lab Manual for Physical Chemistry I, Rutgers University Camden 2014 Schneider, W.C. and Halverstadt, I.F. (1948) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 70, 262626 1

HALO:The Flood :: essays research papers fc

HALO:The Flood   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today I am going to tell you about a great book I read lately. It is called HALO:The Flood. The Flood is based on the award-winning Xbox game, Halo. This book was interesting because it tells the story through several different perspectives. Some of the perspectives include: the super-soldier, Master Chief, an alien, another alien, a sergeant, and a few soldiers. Although some new character perspectives are introduced in some chapters, the characters die later in the chapter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story opens with the marines aboard their battle cruiser, The Pillar of Autumn. Suddenly, an alarm sounds because an alien race, known as the Covenant, has invaded the ship. Then the marines open up a cryo-tube. [a tube one can sleep frozen in] Inside the tube is the genetically enhanced super-soldier, known as the Master Chief. The Chief then defeats the aliens aboard the ship. After the invasion, the marines discover the ancient ring-world, called Halo. They then decide to search for weapons and other supplies on Halo. Unfortunately, the Covenant is also searching for something: Halo’s control room, which can activate a weapon capable of wiping the universe clean of all life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the marines crash land on Halo, they discover a deadly parasite called Flood living under the surface of the ring. But instead of being carried by bacteria, it is carried by bulbous, blob-like things. When a living organism [including the Covenant] gets infected by it, they quickly start to mutate into rotting, deadlier versions of their former selves. The entire human exploration squad, including their captain, Captain Keyes, gets infected, and mutate into Flood combat forms. All except for, that is, Captain Keyes, who mutates into a huge, stationary Flood form, and later dies. When the rest of the marines lose contact of Captain Keyes and his crew, they suspect something is wrong and send the Chief off to investigate. Like the exploration squad, he soon encounters the Flood. After dispatching the first wave, he then fights his way through Halo to get to its control room so he can disable Halo. After doing that, he finds and fights his way through the wreck of The Pillar of Autumn so he can detonate its engines and destroy Halo for good.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the Chief gets to the engine room, he cracks open the opening to the ship’s fusion core. After he drops a grenade down the opening and disrupts the fusion core, he has 15 short minutes to get off Halo before it explodes.

Real Estate Reservation System Essay

And helps to easily check the availability status of various properties. The assence of system is really important to be realized by each and every business. Giving importance to it makes a big difference of somehow uplifting of improving the process of the company. Floyd and Allen (2008), In recent years, many economists have recognized that the lack of effective real estate laws can be a significant barrier to investigate in many developing countries. In most societies, rich and poor, a significant fraction of the total wealth is in the form of land and buildings. Real Estate is a piece of land, including the air above, the ground below, and any buildings of structures on it. Real Estate can include business and or residential properties and are generally sold either by a relator or directly by individual who owns property. In the Philippines, one of the growing businesses is Real Estate development. Aside from the development and rising of tall buildings and establishment in the metropolitan area, nearby provinces are now on the stage of land development with its continuous expansion in the provinces such as, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga and Batangas. Some people may benefits from knowing about Real Estate when faced with personal and business decisions relating to housing, investment and other business activities. The researchers chose this topic because it will help the Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦City to know the effectiveness of Online Reservation System. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework Roosevelt (2008), Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth. The researchers chose the paradigm thru Floyd and Allen (2008) words that coordinated with the problems of this study. In order to understand the flow of the study, the researchers prepared a research paradigm. Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. City Hall Yr. 2012-2013 Effectiveness Accessibility Availability Uses Investment Housing Business Activities Fig 1. Research Paradigm The purpose of this is to illustrate the effectiveness of Online Reservation System in the Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. City Hall. Statement of the Problem This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Online Reservation System to the Real Estate Company, especially this study is sought to answer the following questions. 1. What are the uses of Real Estate Online Reservation System in terms of: 1. 1 Investment; 1. 2 Housing; 1. 3 Business activities? 2. Does the effectiveness of the study corresponds with the following: 2. 1 Accessibility; 2. 2 Availability? 3. Is there an effectiveness in using Online Reservation system the Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. City Hall? Hypothesis

Bad Habits: Attitudes of Filipinos That Need to Change Essay

1. Thoughtless When someone celebrates birthday, graduation or winning the lotto in the neighborhood, the party lasts through deep in the night, keeping neighbors awake by the noise of an out of tune videoke singer. 2. Inconsiderate Even after agreeing to meet at a certain time, some Filipinos manage to fail this initial agreement, using alibis as traffic, got caught up with something or lost in the way, disregarding the feeling of someone who just complied with agreed time. If these folks can’t fulfill simple tasks, can we trust them when it comes to, say lending them our prized books or CDs, loaning them money or anything they promise? 3. Racist Many Filipinos complain of being racially profiled (Filipinas in Middle East are easy to get or gullible) but some of us look down on other people such as Indians as fellows with strange body odor who live off through usury. Or on Chinese neighbors who own bigger stores in the market as penny-pinchers. But we can’t look at ourselves and fix our flaws. Worse, see #6. 4. Too self-conscious Wants to know who are his or her stalkers at social media. Installs ‘who are my top viewers’ application which turns out as a link to a malicious website. Wants to get everybody’s attention to the point that they post celebrity, semi-naked or suggestive profile photos 5. Religious fanaticism While admittedly deeply religious people, many of us Filipinos are also living a life of hypocricy/inconsistency. Outside of the Quiapo church are shops that sell abortion formula and the island of Siquijor becomes a haven of faith healers who practice black magic. 6. Onion skinned We easily go ballistic whenever the word Filipino is used as dark humor in a script of an American sitcom or acelebrity mocking our â€Å"presumed† perfect accent. We are quick to call for apology even if they’re all meant as a joke. That may be a reason we become a topic of humor. 7. Short-sighted Some Filipinos prefer to receive a few hundred pesos in exchange of favors to a politician running for office rather than resist temptation and bond together for a better society and governance. Poor tricycle drivers are allowed to ply on dangerous streets — risking the lives and limbs of passengers — just to earn a living. 8. Laziness When going to the market, some Filipinos prefer to take the motorized bike and pay a premium instead of a 20-minute walk — to ensure a favorite TV show will not be missed. At the end of the day they lament how a hundred peso bill could no longer be stretched. Or they spend the whole day staring at the television, sending SMS on shows that offer prizes to ‘home text partners’. 9. Gossipmonger Many Filipinos live off talking about affairs of other people. Maybe that’s because it’s a major function of the Filipino culture. Who impregnated a neighbor’s teenage daughter? A barrio councilor has bad breathe. The baby of a close friend has a striking resemblance of the family driver. No wonder many families are broken, trust lost and friendships gone awry because of people trying to get in the way. 10. Undisciplined Pass laws that are easily broken: no smoking on jeepneys, no jaywalking on streets, picking flowers in the park or peeing on fences, trees or truck tires. Even wearing prescribed attire (‘please wear semi-formal wear’) when attending wedding ceremonies becomes a task difficult to. When we’re overseas we find it necessary to follow rules, but we seem to take our country and its simple laws for granted. 11. Crab Mentality Once a fledgling banana cue business becomes the talk of the barrio, everyone is riding the bandwagon and put up the same business. Eventually, every single banana cue business in the neighborhood fails and shuts down operation. If someone gets promoted at work, some Filipinos are good at making up stories; did he date the supervisor? Did she sleep with the manager? It also exists in the form of protectionism. Insecurity or lack of creativity drives this attitude. 12. Nepotism A bright yet not well-connected job applicant never gets the job position because it was reserved for a family member of an incumbent official or a reward for supporters of a candidate who just won in the elections. A well-connected passenger gets the airport’s special lane while hard-working OFWs sweat it out on a long line. 13. Freebie hunters Some Filipinos have got the nerve to crash into wedding parties uninvited or show up at a birthday party because they were brought along by a friend of an invited friend. They enjoy free electricity supply through illegal connections or enjoying a bonanza of free water from busted pipes instead of reporting the apparent waste or scarce resources. Often visits the house of a balikbayan/OFW who just arrived and ask — they don’t wait — for presents. 14. Allegiance by convenience Filipino politicians often change parties not because they found a better principled group, but to gain something — power, money or fame. When momentum shifts, be prepared to jump ship and switch loyalty. Read their biographies and be not surprised they’ve been into various alliances with no real accomplishment to show. 15. Rarely punctual Appointments are never meant to be on time as many Filipinos make it a habit of not making it on time. Meetings, parties, and so on. Teachers didn’t lack the motivation to make us punctual as tardy ones were meted with appropriate punishment. Shall we blame others for this? Traffic congestion, slow jeepney driver, hard to find location, ‘I was robbed’, and others in an endless list of alibis and excuses. 16. Propensity for ‘good time’ Gathering of friends isn’t bad. But if it always meant 20 bottles of hard liquor meant to be consumed overnight, that’s something. Just got the job? Let’s celebrate and have a drink. Just got the paycheck, let’s have a drink. When someone starts reminding them to be frugal and slow down on alcohol spending, they reason out, â€Å"it’s my money, you have no business interfering†, â€Å"this is just once in a while† or â€Å"I need to drink to forget my problems†. Yeah, right. 17. Treat OFWs as ATMs Some Filipinos are overly dependent on relatives working overseas that they don’t look for jobs or don’t attend classes because they are in â€Å"abundant supply of financial aid†. Worse, money remittance from OFWs are often spent only on luxuries like mobile phones and jewelry they can brag to friends. In many cases, nothing was allocated for savings or investment. When OFWs come home, families find it hard to explain where money was spent.

Nitendo Case Essay Example

Nitendo Case Essay Example Nitendo Case Essay Nitendo Case Essay ORAL TEAM PRESENTATION 1 Case No. 2 (text page C-17): Competition in energy drinks, sports drinks, and vitaminenhanced beverages. Suggested Questions: 1) What are the strategically relevant components of the global and U. S. beverage industry macro-environment? How do the economic characteristics of the alternative beverage segment of the industry differ from that of other beverage categories? Explain. 2) What is competition like in the alternative beverage industry? Which of the five competitive forces is strongest? Which is weakest? What competitive forces seem o have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness and the potential profitability of new entrants? 3) How is the market for energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin-enhanced beverages changing? What are the underlying drivers of change and how might those forces individually or collectively make the industry more or less attractive? What key factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers? 4) What does your strategic group map of the energy drink, sports drink, and vitaminenhanced beverage industry look like? Which strategic groups do you think are in the best positions? The worst positions? 5) What key factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers? 6) What recommendations would you make to Coca-Cola to improve its competitiveness in the global alternative beverage industry? to PepsiCo? to Red Bull GmbH? ORAL TEAM PRESENTATION 2 Case No. 6 (text page C-95): Nintendos strategy in 2009 The ongoing battle with Microsoft and Sony. Suggested Questions: 1) What is competition like in the video game console industry? Do a five-force analysis to support your answer. Which of the five competitive forces is strongest? Which is weakest? Would you characterize the overall strength of competition in ideo game consoles as fierce, strong, moderate to normal or weak? Why? 2) What forces are driving changes in the video game console industry? Are these driving forces acting to make the industry more or less competitively intense? Are the driving forces acting to make the industry more or less profitable in future years? 3) What 3-5 key factors determine the success of video game console developers like Nintendo? 4) What is Nintendos strategy? Which of the five generic strategies discussed in Chapter 5 is Nintendo using? What are some of the recent offensive and/or defensive strategies that Nintendo has employed? Have these tactics been successful? 5) Is it fair to characterize Nintendos introduction of the Wii as a blue ocean strategy? Why or why not? 6) How well is Nintendos strategy working in terms of the financial performance it is delivering? Should shareholders be pleased? Why or why not? What 2-3 weaknesses? 7) What does a SWOT analysis reveal about the attractiveness of Nintendos overall situation? Is the companys competitive position as solid as top management seems to believe? Does the company have a competitive advantage? If so, what is the basis for this competitive advantage and is the advantage sustainable? 8) What does a competitive strength assessment (as per the methodology in Table 4. 2 of Chapter 4) reveal about whether Nintendo has a competitive advantage? 9) What recommendations would you make to Nintendo to improve its competitiveness in the video game console industry and to maintain its favorable positioning vis-? ¤-vis Microsoft and Sony? ORAL TEAM PRESENTATION 3 Case No. 10 (text page C-1 56): Research in Motion Managing explosive growth. 1) What are the dominant economic characteristics of the wireless communications industry? What are the distinguishing features of the market for smart phones? 2) What is competition like in the wireless phone industry? Which of the five competitive forces is strongest? Which is weakest? What competitive forces seem to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness? 3) How is the wireless phone industry changing? What are the underlying drivers of change and how might those driving forces change the industry? 4) What strategic approach has Research in Motion chosen to employ in international markets? Would you characterize its strategy as a global strategy or a localized multicountry strategy? How has it utilized location to build competitive advantage? 5) How important is it for Research in Motion to increase the size of its pool of software developers? What are the different options for substantially increasing its R staff? 6) Which option for increasing the number of software developers should Research in Motion pursue? Explain how your recommended course of action is consistent with Research in Motions resources, organizational capabilities, and management preferences. ORAL TEAM PRESENTATION 4 CASE 17 (PAGE C-270): Adidas in 2009 Has corporate restructuring increased shareholder value? 1 . What is adidas corporate strategy? Was there a common strategic approach utilized in managing the companys lineup of sporting goods businesses prior to its 2005-2006 restructuring? Has the corporate strategy changed with restructuring? 2. What is your evaluation of adidas line-up of businesses in 2009? What does a 9-cell industry attractiveness/business strength matrix displaying adidas business units look like? 3. Does adidas business line-up exhibit good strategic fit? What value-chain match- evident? Prior to its divestiture, what kind of strategic fl ts existed between adidas core business and its Salomon business unit? 4. Has adidas business line-up exhibited good resource fit between 1998 and 2008? What have been the financial characteristics of its major business segments during that time period? Which businesses might have been considered cash hogs and cash cows? 5. Based on your analysis of adidas businesses, did the restructuring undertaken in 2005 and 2006 make sense? Does it appear the acquisition of Reebok International will produce higher returns for shareholders? What strategic actions should adidas top management initiate to improve the companys financial and market performance now that restructuring is complete?

Lovely People do Stupid things essays

Lovely People do Stupid things essays How is love to influence our lives? Love-struck people do crazy things to express how they care for that particular person yet it is a long and windy road to these actions. It is down this path that experience spawns and trouble and happiness are felt. Janie Crawford of Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God, shows the road through the steps of her three relationships. These relationships, though not fulfilling ones, conclude in bettering Janies search and understanding of life. Johnny Taylor, Janies first kiss and gatekeeper to her future, When Janie was sixteen, she embarked on a sexual awakening. Johnny Taylor was a poor young man who lived in the Florida area. Janie allowed him to kiss her over the fence. Unfortunately, Nanny saw everything. With Nannys horrendous background of sinful deeds done to her, she wanted the best for Janie. As she saw the kiss, the doors of life opened for Janie and Nanny wasnt going to have her make the same mistakes that she had. Yet, Nanny had been impregnated under the circumstances of being a slave and this was not the case for Janie. Nanny stated that black women were the mules of the world, but she didn't want Janie to be a mule. She wanted to see Janie in a secure situation before she died, and Logan Killicks could provide that. Janie did not want to marry Logan, but she did so because Nanny told her that she would eventually come to love him. Ironically, Logan wanted to force Janie into the servitude that Nanny feared. Also, he was disappointed that Janie never returned his affection and attraction. If he could not possess her through love, he would possess her by demanding her submission. At heart, his actions arose from the fear that Janie would leave him. Two months after her marriage to Logan, Janie visited Nanny to ask when she would start loving him. Nanny berated Janie for not appreciat ...

Quotes to Mark International Womens Day

Quotes to Mark International Womens Day The United Nations instituted International Womens Day, celebrated every year on March 8, to commemorate the contribution of women in the socio-political sphere as well as in global peace and security.​ International Womens Day can be traced back to the womens suffrage movement  starting in the 19th century. Over many decades, women achieved tremendous progress in many areas of life. Womens emancipation from​ traditional roles took on new meaning when they traveled into space and fought alongside men in combat. Insightful Quotes About Womenhood Mahatma Gandhi Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity. Farrah Fawcett God gave women intuition and femininity. Used properly, the combination easily jumbles the brain of any man Ive ever met. Harriet Beecher Stowe Women are the real architects of society. Charles Malik The fastest way to change society is to mobilize the women of the world. Barbara Bush Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the Presidents spouse. I wish him well! Virginia Woolf Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of a man at twice its natural size. Timothy Leary Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition. Ville Valo Women are always beautiful.. Loretta Young A charming woman doesn’t follow the crowd. She is herself. Philip Moeller Women are seldom silent. Their beauty is forever speaking for them. Nancy Pelosi Women are leaders everywhere you look from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes. Melinda Gates A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. Eleanor Roosevelt Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission. Robert Elliott Gonzales, Poems and Paragraphs All the worlds a stage, and its a dead easy guess which sex has all the speaking parts. Louise Otto The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves. Margaret Sanger A free race cannot be born of slave mothers. Ellen DeGeneres I really dont think I need buns of steel. Id be happy with buns of cinnamon. Joseph Conrad Being a woman is a terribly difficult task  since it consists principally in dealing with men. Margaret Thatcher If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. Christabel Pankhurst Remember the dignity of your womanhood. Do not appeal, do not beg, do not grovel. Take courage, join hands, stand beside us, fight with us. Roseanne Barr The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it. Erma Bombeck It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else. David Bower ï » ¿Dream the dreams that have never been dreamt.

Critical Appraisal of Compassion in Care by Van der Cingel Research Paper

Critical Appraisal of Compassion in Care by Van der Cingel - Research Paper Example The writer has employed a qualitative investigation of in detail interviews to achieve this knowledge. The investigation finds that sympathy has seven scopes- attentiveness, listening, tackling, participation, helping, charisma, and consideration. The investigation concludes that compassion is of worth to nurse and patient relationship as it inspires both in establishing an affiliation to realize the best result of care. Research Design Qualitative research is the apparent approach of collecting in-depth comprehension of emotions, opinion, and conduct. The writer further expounds that the employ of grounded hypothesis and in exacting the emergent fit method in other terms gathering hypothesis from statistics and then illustrating that theory. Stable comparative investigation, analytical initiation and oretical sensitivity are therefore employed in order to understand the empirical data. Nevertheless, there are risks in using the budding fit mode. Artinian and Giske (2009) depict that even though this technique allows the writer to build upon the exertion of preceding research, in the event that the research’s variables were found from the review of literature then they might be faulty. Recruitment Strategy The writer expounds the reasons why these meticulous individuals were selected for the investigation but does not show how. The research centres on older people residing with a chronic disease and therefore only above 65 years (with a continual illness) were selected. In some instances, nurses projected clients to the writer. Opinionative, this might leave the outcomes open to query, thus bias could inadvertently occur. Data Collection The data collection setting was threefold. To begin with, the centre for rehabilitation for chronic diseases followed by a home care administration and lastly an outpatient’s health centre. This is warranted by the author’s declaration that compassion is not universal in proficient settings. Nonetheless, th is is based on results available in print six years ago. Moreover, this information has been criticised because of van Heijst’s detest of rationalisation and nationalisation in care and wellbeing. It is made clear that data was composed in semi-structured interrogations carried out by the author, helped by students, and centred on a questionnaire that is included in the article. The interrogations were tape recorded and afterwards written out until data infiltration was attained. Nevertheless, there is no sign of the way these interviews were carried out. Data Analysis The writer does, however, gives an in-depth explanation of the procedure of data analysis. Data was put down and then investigated with Atlas-Ti that is a computer software programme. This software is employed broadly in qualitative investigations and data investigation. This aided the author to establish a list of perceptions general in compassion- attentiveness, listening, tackling, participation, helping, ch arisma, and consideration.

Analyse three types of economic systems illustrating the problems and Essay

Analyse three types of economic systems illustrating the problems and advantages associated with them - Essay Example The main types of economic systems that have been in use all over the globe are traditional, command and market economic systems. Another type of economic system is the mixed economy that is a blend of pure command and pure market economies. This paper will discuss the traditional, command and market economic systems. The paper will evaluate the problems and advantages that are associated with each of the economic systems discussed. This form of economy is shaped by traditions of the people or societies who practice it. The good and services produced follow certain long-established patterns (McCorkle, & National Council on Economic Education, 2011). Moreover, the manner in which the goods and services are exchanged also follows certain traditions. These forms of economic are rarely dynamic and hence are very predictable. The interests of the community precede personal interests. In most cases, people are expected to come together and work as a community. Personal ownership of property is rare, and if present it is controlled by certain obligations that favor the community over the individual (McCorkle, & National Council on Economic Education, 2011). In the modern world, most countries have stopped using this form of economy. However, it is still evident in communities such as the Australian aborigines who live in the Amazon. This system of economy is mainly based on agricultural activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering. In most cases, barter trade is used. Such economies have a characteristic of being able to meet the daily needs, but they show little economic progression. An Economic decision must follow the tradition of the community practicing this form of economic system. In this form of economy, distribution of resources is open since it follows customs and traditions that are known by all the people. Production of goods and services is easy since each and everyone understands the role they have to play in

Marketing and Strategy Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing and Strategy Assignment - Essay Example Companies are spending billions towards research and development in order to create innovations in their product lines. Firms like Apple are generating their core competence in the market based on innovations and research and development (Ireland, Hitt, & Hoskisson, 2011, p.82). The increased competition in the market has also led to marketers spending huge amounts towards improving their positioning and brand image in an attempt to create a distinction between the products and services offered by the competitors in the market (Davis, 2009, p.148). The present study would analyse the marketing strategies adopted by various organizations in an attempt to create segregation and generate competitive advantage in the market. The study would specifically focus upon marketing strategies with real life examples in the industry so as to help generate competitive advantage for business organizations. Analysis The role of marketers in the present business is essentially to analyse the needs an d wants of the customers and design product mix in a manner that tends to satisfy the unfulfilled needs of consumers. Marketers are spending billions on conducting marketing research in order to analyse the demands of the consumers and design an optimum product mix that can be used to generate competitive advantage in the market. Marketing research can help marketers and strategists in determining the gaps in the present level of product or service offering and the demands of the consumers. These gaps can be consequently help in generating a product mix that would help enhance the positioning of the organization. Market research can also help companies find the perceptions of their brands among the members of the target market audience. Strategists can then take up policies that can help in improving their image through the feedbacks gathered from the research (Duboff & Spaeth, 2000, p.106-108). One such example can be found in the case of South Central Bell Company that was continu ously losing its market share. Using market intelligence tools and conducting market research, the company was able to able to identify the reason behind the debacle and take up corrective measures that helped it to again regain its lost position in the market (Hair, Bush & Ortinau, 2007, p.116). Pricing is another critical strategic aspect that can be used to generate market advantage in business. Companies are trying to generate organizational excellence by using technological innovations like Total Quality Management, Kaizen and Six Sigma to ensure minimal operational costs. Examples of this form can be traced in the business strategies of companies like Toyota that has generated competitive advantage based on Just in Time approach (Imai, 1997, pp.4-6). Predatory pricing is one strategy that is very commonly used by marketers to gain market share and eliminate competitors. This strategy involves selling products at lowest rates that helps them capture a large share of the market (Greene, American Bar Association & Section of Antitrust Law, 1996, p.55-56). However critiques have also slammed the benefits of using this strategy as they believe that predatory pricing strategy leads to unfair competitive

This will be an evidence based appraisal of an aspect of your practice Essay

This will be an evidence based appraisal of an aspect of your practice and include making recommendations for nursing practice a - Essay Example 1472). Fall-related injuries are seen in about 15% to 50% of patients – these injuries include fractures or lacerations. Moreover, falls often cause fears of falling and it subsequently causes activity restriction and prolonged hospital stay (Schwendiman, p. 1472). Different factors have been considered as possible contributory causes for falls, including, an aging population, rising patient acuity, nurse shortages, an inefficient staff, and similar factors (Hendrich). Measures to prevent falls have been implemented by various hospitals in their clinical setting; however, for the most part, these methods have not been able to significantly reduce the rates of falls. This paper shall explore different ways by which nurses can prevent inpatient falls. It shall answer the question: according to evidence-based practice, what are the efficient nursing interventions which can be applied to prevent inpatient falls. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted for this paper. First, a manual library search of the school library was carried out – searching medical and nursing journals for published studies in relation to falls and the prevention of falls. This search covered the past five years: January 2006 to December 2010. Relevant studies were set aside for further evaluation. Next, an internet search was carried out through the following databases: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and other nursing journals. The Medline database was used because it presented a reliable database of medical and nursing related peer-reviewed researches from a variety of nursing and medical journals. The Cochrane database was chosen because it has the widest and most extensive database for peer-reviewed medical and nursing-related researches. This database yielded studies which were used for this assessment. Finally, Google scholar was also used because it is one of the fastest databases to search. It stores all academic journals and studies from a wide-range o f topics. Moreover, it has search properties which were chosen in order to specify the search process and ensure reliable search results. A Google scholar search was carried out in order to facilitate the search process. The following search words and combinations were entered into the search engines: falls prevention; inpatient falls prevention; elderly falls prevention, and similar combinations. Studies falling within the 5 year period were set aside for further evaluation. Each study were then critically analysed based on the following elements: reliability of authors, peer-review process, publication in a reliable peer-reviewed journal, validity of research methods, reliability of results, and validity of general research process. Results: Based on the search results, there were 10 studies which fulfilled the criteria for this research topic. Various studies presented methods for the prevention of falls. Some of these methods were evaluated depending on effectiveness and impact on clients. In a paper by Schwendiman, et.al., (p. 1472), the authors carried out a serial survey study in order to evaluate in-patient fall rates and injuries before and after the implementation of an interdisciplinary falls prevention program (IFP) in a 300-bed urban public hospital. In the process of research, the authors were able to establish that falls often lead to negative consequences like injuries,

Relationships and Expectations of Older Hispanic Adults Essay

Relationships and Expectations of Older Hispanic Adults - Essay Example The health expectations of older Hispanic adults tend to diminish with aging, but this is not always realistic. There are also cultural issues that result from the aging process, which affects the healthcare expectations of older Hispanics. Some older Hispanics might even unknowingly assume the stereotypical expectations of old age, and may not even take medications or treatment for serious health conditions. This is because they tend to dismiss the symptoms, which are most treatable and attributing them to being an inevitable part of the aging process. The results of recent studies suggest that mortality rate among older Hispanics are significantly lower than that of non-Hispanic whites, both for men and for women. Cultural factors, expectations, and relationships are critical for the provision of information about healthcare services to older Hispanic adults. Older Hispanics adults might also beliefs deeply rooted in seeking God’s help for their minor health problems, thereb y leading to a situation where they only go to healthcare providers when there is a serious medical problem. Some older Hispanics may also not have a good understanding of the technical terms.The issue of personal touch is very important in the relationship between older Hispanics adults and their health care providers. It is imperative that older Hispanics endeavor to share their feelings with their doctors, in order to ensure that these older Hispanics get a feeling of actually being listened to and cared for.

Literature Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Literature Review - Essay Example . Consumers are attracted through advertising and promotions. The first impression that a consumer attains through advertising influences his purchasing decisions. To create a positive impression, companies try to create a distinctive brand image for their products. The strategy is to utilize celebrities as endorsers in marketing campaign and it is growing increasingly popular. Companies usually use talent – movie actors, models, athletes or famous people for endorsement (Bergestrà ¶m & Skà ¤rfstad, 2004). Not just the large firms, even smaller companies with limited budget use sports and athletes to promote their products. Companies all over the world spend millions ever year to acquire celebrities to endorse their product. It hence become important to determine why companies choose celebrities to endorse their products, on what basis they select the celebrities and whether they get the expected returns from such endorsement. This proposal will briefly discuss the background with definition of ‘celebrities’ and after research justification and outlining the questions, based on the literature available, it will form a framework for research. A celebrity is defined as "an individual who is known to the public (i.e., actor, sports figure, entertainer, etc.) for his or her achievements in areas other than that of the product class endorsed" (cf., Friedman and Friedman 1979 cited by Kamins, Brand, Hoeke & Moe, 1989). The use of celebrities for product endorsement was on the rise in the late 1970s. While it was estimated that 15 percent of prime time television commercials featured celebrities in 1975, by 1978 it was reported to be over 20 percent (Kamins, Brand, Hoeke & Moe, 1989). Kamins et al (1989) conducted a study to determine the impact on advertising effectiveness and credibility based one two-sided versus one-sided celebrity endorsements.

Relationships and Expectations of Older Hispanic Adults Essay

Relationships and Expectations of Older Hispanic Adults - Essay Example The health expectations of older Hispanic adults tend to diminish with aging, but this is not always realistic. There are also cultural issues that result from the aging process, which affects the healthcare expectations of older Hispanics. Some older Hispanics might even unknowingly assume the stereotypical expectations of old age, and may not even take medications or treatment for serious health conditions. This is because they tend to dismiss the symptoms, which are most treatable and attributing them to being an inevitable part of the aging process. The results of recent studies suggest that mortality rate among older Hispanics are significantly lower than that of non-Hispanic whites, both for men and for women. Cultural factors, expectations, and relationships are critical for the provision of information about healthcare services to older Hispanic adults. Older Hispanics adults might also beliefs deeply rooted in seeking God’s help for their minor health problems, thereb y leading to a situation where they only go to healthcare providers when there is a serious medical problem. Some older Hispanics may also not have a good understanding of the technical terms.The issue of personal touch is very important in the relationship between older Hispanics adults and their health care providers. It is imperative that older Hispanics endeavor to share their feelings with their doctors, in order to ensure that these older Hispanics get a feeling of actually being listened to and cared for.

PsyInfo (tools to success) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PsyInfo (tools to success) - Essay Example I can remember all the times I was sad as a kid, birthdays, holidays, Christmas time. I didn't know that growing up without money may have tied my parents down some and that they may have even felt like giving up in their lives. It was as if we were all embarrassed at living. Today I can look back and understand and appreciate some of these pressures of poverty, that they can really affect communication among family members and in a sense stunt the emotional growth and health that is needed. Feeling apart from others, isolated and unique in that way, I could no longer avoid states of depression. Today I see these states as important. In a child, one who is rebelling, they could lead into all kinds of mental illnesses if they are not properly attended to. Finally I met an individual who would change my life by the example of his own life. I had managed to get a job working in a store. I was about 17 at the time and was no longer going to school. The manager was one of the most busy pe rsons I had every met in my life. The store was a franchise type and was open 24 hours. When I got in in the early morning he was their taking inventory. When I left he was in the back stacking up inventory. He wasn't an old man, he was like middle age. I found out he spent his afternoons at business school. This man never took me personally.

Techniques For Providing Water To Arid Regions An Environmental Sciences Essay

Techniques For Providing Water To Arid Regions An Environmental Sciences Essay Introduction About 30% of entire worldwide land area includes populated arid and semi-arid areas. The major obstacle to socio economic development in these areas is Water shortages. The essential ideology for the allocation of water resources are effectiveness, equity, and sustainability, with the endeavor of give the utmost advantage for society, environment and economy, at the same time as to maintain reasonable allocation amid various areas and people. Sustainable economic development in arid and semi-arid areas relies a lot on sustainable water resource management. The lucid allocation of water resources needs a multifaceted balance between demand and supply, in various economic sectors particularly athwart sub-areas in arid and semi-arid climate areas. Regional development planning needs to incorporate economic objectives with issue including historical, technological, and natural resource constraints. Jointly, these factors effect populace distribution, economic structure and prototype of ecology and therefore, the extent of water distributed for these purposes in arid and semi-arid areas. Regional community, economic and ecological dissimilarity necessitate special sustainable development strategies in province of water scarcity. This study assesses the feasibility of different techniques for providing fresh water to arid regions of the world. Background Brisk industrialization, urbanization, and population growth in arid countries are wielding rising pressure on local water authorities and water planners to gratify the emergent urban water demand. Since accessibility of conventional sources of fresh water lacks for drinking use, seawater water desalination, in accumulation to partial groundwater resources, are the chief water supply sources for urban utilization. In last two decades, urban water stress has increased considerably, owing to fast urbanization and industrialization, population growth and development in living standards. Facts and Figures With a soaring average growth rate of over 3.4% the population amplified from around 17.688 million in 1970 to 38.52 million in 1995. It is predicted to get to 81.25 million in 2025. The urban population is anticipated to ascend from 60% in 1995 to over 80% in 2025. Curriculum has been made for improved leakage control in networks of domestic water. They have been also incorporated for wastewater treatment and use again for industrial and irrigation use. Water management-related regulations and laws have been designed, counting those to decrease water demands and losses. Uncontrolled leakages add considerably to shallow water-table formation and contagion of shallow and deep aquifers. The extreme pumping from local aquifers to suit the growing urban water demand consequences in substantial turn down in water levels. This is worsening in groundwater quality. At adequately hefty pumping rates the demand is tried to be fulfilled, leads to stream flow depletion. With a constant increase in urban demand for water and sanitation, confront to suit these demands are rising. To construction more, costly desalination plants would be difficult. The dispute can be resolve with the preliminary part of new and modern legislation and institutional actions. This can also be done by taking on advanced techniques in water-demand reduction, wastewater reuse enhancement and reduction of water production, treatment and distribution costs. Ground Water Pumping through Water privatization   Water privatization  was taken on in 1989 by Margaret Thatchers  government. It privatized ten formerly public regional water and sewerage companies in   Wales  and England   in the course of disinvestment. in chorus the economic regulatory agency  OFWAT  was shaped. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) was positioned in 1990 to check water safety and quality. Water privatization since then is a controversial issue in England and Wales. A study by the  Public Services International  Research Unit (which is affiliated with trade unions), that opposes privatization in 2001 declared that tariff amplified by 46% in actual terms in the first nine years and investments were reduced Operating profits have doubled (i.e.+142%) in eight years and public health was endangered by cut-offs for non-payment. Privatization helped sign off the industrys  £4.95 billion debt. Privatization columnist disputed in 1997 that infrastructure-mainly sewers-were not adequate. Also, OFWAT was blamed of not evaluating company performance with targets. The critics said that OFWAT has chosen profit over providing a assured level of services. Conversely, a World Bank article disagree that the reforms six years after and before privatization investments were $17b and  £9.3bn respectively which has surely risen after privatization brought about conformity with rigorous drinking water standards Also headed to a higher quality of river water. There are also 16 mostly smaller water only companies in England and Wales that have been privately owned since the 19th century. In  Scotland  and  Northern Ireland  water and sewerage services have remained in public ownership Desalination To turn seawater into drinking water  , the first large-scale desalination plant for domestic and industry use in the UK opened on Wednesday 2 June 2010. Facts and Figures The desalination plants capacities vary from 1000 to 789 864 m3/day. In 1990 and 1997, the world desalinated water production was about 33% for the total domestic and 38% for industrial requirement. By 2025, desalination production is predictable to be around 54% of the total domestic and industrial claim. The RO plants need mechanical energy formed by pumps those work on electricity. About 3.5-9 kWh is necessary to manufacture 1 m3 of desalinated seawater. The energy requirement depends on the salinity level of the water input. Also depends on efficiency of pump and the process design. A single-stage plant of high efficiency level, needs around 4 kWh/m3 and 0.5-2.5 kWh/m3 to produce 1 m3 of reasonable quality water from seawater and salty groundwater. The use of a low-pressure membrane reduces the energy consumption by 25-40%, especially when using low-salinity water. DAMS Dams are made to contain water, stop flooding and produce hydroelectric power. Dams make available a water supply for irrigation, domestic needs and industrial application. Lakes and reservoirs are made since 19thcentury in UK. The most significant resource for building a dam is funding. In the UK, the figure of huge dams grew speedily during the 19th century from around 10 to 175. By 1950, the rate of growth nearly doubled. After 1950, edifice positioned itself at a rate of   5.4 dams per year. the UK today has a sum of 486 dams. In Europe, the totality of dams is rising slowly. The basic reason being that  appropriate sites are becoming less  and environmental concerns  become  growing. Large dams The six biggest reservoirs are positioned in the Volga river system in Russia.   The two largest are Kuybyshevskoye (6450 km2)  and Rybinskoye  (4450 km). Spain (approx. 1200), Turkey (approx. 610), Norway (approx. 364) and the UK (approx. 570) have largest number of reservoirs. Environmental Issues a number of environmental issues are raised by Reservoir construction in both building and completion stages. On closing the dam, the water level in the reservoir rises, resulting in key changes in the area  inundated with the water. Like loss of farmland, flooded settlements and the groundwater table raised. Once the reservoirs are made, two kinds of environmental problems take place: Make the reservoir inappropriate for its purpose. Algae and toxic substances in them make drinking water inappropriate. Evoke ecological weakening of the river system, particularly downstream of these reservoirs. Big dams break off the natural permanence of a river.   Reservoirs  change the  hydrological cycle, thus raising many other ecological consequences like leaving fewer spawning sites for migratory fish. Additionally, reservoirs grasp  suspended matter  mostly sand flowing into them. This decreases the suspended matter weight to  reach downstream and in the end to the sea. Lack of sand at the sea pilots coastal erosion. Conclusion Building dams is very costly and also gives rise to a number of environmental issues as discussed above. Ground water pumping and water privatizing also has risen many questions pertaining to water level and environment concerns vis-à  -vis profit making. The best option which should be taken ahead by government is water Desalination. Though the one time investments are high but the problem of water allocation can be limited with its supplies. Provisions to produce biofuels for the Thames desalination plant have been done, still till they are place energy consumption will remain an issue. Recommendation All the above discussions focus on fulfilling the demand by one method or the other. Still other way is to bring down the domestic and industrial demand. Legislation ought do more work to discontinue leaking pipes and decrease the average water use of customers by fixing more water meters and better promotions activities.

Essay --

Tyler Brown Mrs. Hunt English 11 11 March 2014 Biomedical Engineering A career and tech. high school is a type of schooling that when a student graduates gives that pupil a trade degree in that scholars certain area of study along with that learners high school diploma. This is different from a normal high school because a student graduates with a degree that enables a scholar to go straight into that pupil’s field of study. For example if a learner is studying biotech the student will learn how to use the tools used in everyday labs like micro and serological pipets. One fields of study that the biotech program trains the students to do is biomedical engineering. In order to become a biomedical engineer undergraduate’s need years of schooling, and understanding of the growth in industry, once the technician has the job that engineer must adapt to the job or the job will sweep the operator under the rug. Looking at the history of this industry it has only grown sense it was first introduced. This is because societies are always sick and everyone wants to get better, which is where Biomedical Engineering comes in. The scientists work constantly to construct new medical devices; some of these devices include critical time instruments like a defibrillators or a disorder that is permanent like a pace maker. In both cases without them many people would not make it out of a hospital. There is one issues with the biomedical industry, as time goes on engineers are constantly pressured to come up with the next great device but they are limited by what has already been made. What this means is Engineers can only be as good as the equipment that is presented to them. A pro to this is that in return the engineers are paid fairly well and get ... ...uire engineers to have a higher degree of education, like if they want to work as the head technician the requirement goes from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree. Every year that the engineers work they are required to do certain tests to make sure that they are proficient with the equipment that they use in there labs. Work Cited â€Å"Biomedical engineer.† Career information center. Ed. Mary bonk. 9th ed. Vol. 6, Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. Student Resources in Context. Web. 3 Feb. 2014. Bureau of labor statistic, U. S. department of labor, â€Å"occupational outlook handbook†, 2014 -2015 Ed, Biomedical Engineers. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. "Biomedical engineering." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Student Resources in Context. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

World Depression :: essays research papers

World Great Depression Macro Economics   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The depression that plagued the United States in the 1930’s was distinctive in its enormity and its consequences. Europe and other countries suffered in the depression due to three main areas of discussion. The effects of trade contributed to depression throughout Europe and America. United States and other countries unemployment soared. With the ravages of world war one many countries where in debt in post war world one or became in debt due to reparations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It has been said that the Great Depression began in 1929 after a cataclysmic collapse of the New York Stock Exchange. It began in the United States but quickly spread across the world causing an economic slump. â€Å"During the collapse of the world the German case is perfect example of what happen virtually everywhere in the 1930s. The international economy broke up into trading blocks determined by political allegiances and currencies.† Britain’s economy suffered with the loss of the over seas market and the country’s choice to not to devalue the pound. When face with falling exports earnings governments began overreacting and began severely reducing trade. Nearly all countries needed to protect their domestic production and began imposing tariffs. By doing this it greatly reduced the amount of international trade and furthered them into debt. The high tariffs hindered the payments of war debts, which were only paid off by loans from the Uni ted States and Britain for war reparations. The destabilization of the European economy came through the international debt structure that appeared after World War one. (http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/about.htm), (http://www.kwaves.com/kond_analysis.htm) (http://mars.acnet.wnec.edu/~gremel/Courses/wc2/lectur   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many countries that where allies with the United States during the war owed large amounts of money to American banks. The amount of money was so immense that it is one reason that the Allies insisted at Treaty of Versailles that repartitions be paid which they thought would be able to pay off their debts. After America fell into the depression they recalled their loans making many German banks to close their doors and the whole system to collapse. Not being able to pay off their reparations to the Allies due to Germany and Austria being in the debt themselves. Along with Germany the United States started to remove money from Europe, leading to the selling for European monies and collapse of European banks. (http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/about.htm), (http://www.kwaves.com/kond_analysis.htm)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the countries loss money and began to fall into debt the unemployment began to rise.

Comparing British Welfare Systems with 2 Other Countries

A 2000 word comparative review of the ways different countries approach welfare, as discussed on the unit. The aim of this essay is to discuss and compare the British Welfare system with Germany and Sweden’s welfare systems. A welfare system is the structure of welfare provisions and services that provide a specific social need, but it is not only provided or organised solely by the government (Blakemore, 2001). It is a view that is rooted in individual exchanges between five organisations (State/Government, Market/Private Sector, Family/Kin networks, Local Communities and Civil Society).It reflects the history and cultures of different countries around the world (Haralambos, 2012). It is these providers that assume principal responsibilities of how welfare systems are organised and how they are worked for the welfare of its people in matters of health care, education, employment, and social security (Haralambos & Holborn, 2012b). The essay will focus on Adult Disability benef its and describe which of the main provider delivers disability benefits for the short-term and long term unemployed.The essay will also describe how they work and what patterns of provision is provided for the disabled. Then comparisons will be made on how the British welfare approaches on disability payments are provided and how they work, and I will examine the differences and similarities to each countries welfare system. The structure of the essay is based on a comparative method systematically designed for equivalences, similarities and shared common features. According to (Landman, 2004) the selection process involves two main types of research designs.Comparing different results across similar countries is known as ‘most similar systems’ and comparing similar outcomes across different countries known as ‘most different systems’. Either way using similarities and differences of different countries is meant to uncover what is common to each country (L andman, 2004, p28). The methodology approach is to select a ‘small –N’ (a few countries) and use the ‘trine’ method of involving three countries (Lewis, 2012). The method identified common features of the British welfare state with that of Germany and Sweden.Classification is a way of grouping common features which are mutual with other countries (Lewis, 2012). All 3 countries have a welfare system for those who have full or permanent disabilities. In order for things to be comparable they have to share certain features like welfare systems and have common features, called equivalences. Most countries have common features such as institutions, policies and services without these common features a comparison cannot be made. The essay will draw on an implicit approach rather than explicit because it is the British welfare system that comparisons are being made.All countries provide certain benefits for those who have full and permanent disabilities but they differ in the types of benefits they provide. Studies reviewed showed that some countries have changed part or the entire financial burden of short-term benefits from governments onto employers and private organisations. Disability benefits are provided by the state or local governments by all three countries however, in the UK only short term benefits are provided but in Germany and Sweden both short term and time limited benefits are provided for the disabled (Mitra, 2009). In the United Kingdom, the disability employment rate has been at 40%† (Huang et al, 2009, p. 46). The Liberal state of the United Kingdom faced major crisis of social and economic modernisation at the end of the Second World War. It was David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill who led the drive for what became the National Insurance Act of 1911, which brought in disability insurance. In fact, the reconstruction of welfare in the UK involved a set of relationship between the state, the market and th e family (Clarke & Logan, 1993).The Disability and Carers Service, which is part of the Department of Work & Pension (DWP) has the responsibility of providing benefits for people on benefits such as DLA. DLA is a tax-free benefit to help with extra costs you may have because your’re disabled, this is given to all claimants whether they are working or not (Directgov). Some people who make a claim for DLA may be asked to have a medical examination. Working tax credits was introduced in 2003 along with disability element to help people stay in work or to return to work (Mitra, 2009).Then the 2005 Disability Discrimination Act came into force (Haralambos & Holborn, 2009). (Burchardt, 2000) cited that according to the European Commission (1998), people with disabilities have low levels of participation in society and the employment rate for people with disabilities is 20-30% lower than people without disabilities (Huang, 2009). From 2013 Disability Living Allowance for disabled pe ople aged 16 to 64 will be replaced by a new Personal Independence Payment programme (Directgov).This is a non-means tested, tax free benefit. The DWP is to run a pilot scheme to help assist and reintroduce claimants back into the job market (Mitra, 2009), this will lead to employers paying short term benefits rather than the state. In Sweden it is the Local government responsibility for welfare services. It was from the 13th century that the first local legislation was seen as the responsibility of the local parish to take care of the poor (Bergmark & Minas, 2006, p. 15).The Swedish health system for people with disabilities are that national policy is plainly maintained by legislation and political agreement (Lilja et al, 2003). Swedish disability systems are organised in 3 hierarchical levels; the state, the county councils and the local authorities. However, this responsibility has expired over time and the national government decided to place a great deal of the responsibility for public services on the local authorities (Lilja et al, 2003). In Sweden policies relating to people with disabilities is provided through integration, full contribution and equality.Ministry of Health and social affairs (2000) reported the Swedish parliament had adopted a national policy for individuals with disabilities; they should have the same rights and obligations as everyone and be offered equal resources no matter where they lived (Lilja et al, 2003). While central government is to blame of legislation, general designing and distribution similarly as social insurance, authorities (municipalities) are answerable for social services, and regional government (county councils) for health care.Municipal social services additionally the} health and medical services of county councils are ruled by framework legislation that specifies the framework and objectives of activities however that also affords municipalities and county councils ample chance to interpret the law and form their activities in line with their own pointers People with disabilities will apply for municipal grants to change their homes.Actions like housing with special services for adults, or daily activities for those that are inactive and not enrolled in education are regulated by the Act regarding Support and repair for Persons with sure purposeful Impairments. County councils and municipalities are answerable for that health care help and is provided within the type of rehabilitation and habilitation. however there has been ongoing discussion regarding shifting a number of the price from state as a full to the individual user within the type of increasing the little fees some county councils and native authorities need and presumably reducing subsidies.While central government is in charge of legislation, general planning and distribution as well as social insurance, local authorities (municipalities) are responsible for social services, and regional government (county councils) for health care. Municipal social services and the health and medical services of county councils are governed by framework legislation which specifies the framework and objectives of activities but which also affords municipalities and county councils ample opportunity to interpret the law and shape their activities according to their own guidelines (Olney & Lyle, 2011).More than 70 organisations represent specific disability groups with 2,000 local associations. These organisations receive financial backing from the state, county councils and local authorities (Bahle, 2003). High spending on disability and unemployment helps to prevent poverty and social exclusion in these groups. The local authorities and county councils together have the basic responsibility for ensuring that people with disabilities are guaranteed good health and economic and social stability, and also for enabling the individual to lead an independent life.People with disabilities can apply for municipal grants to modify their homes. Actions such as housing with special services for adults, or daily activities for those who are inactive and not enrolled in education are regulated by the Act Concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments. County councils and municipalities are responsible for that health care assistance and is provided in the form of rehabilitation and habilitation.But there has been ongoing discussion about shifting some of the cost from state as a whole to the individual user in the form of increasing the small fees some county councils and local authorities require and possibly reducing subsidies. Country by Country The form of the welfare state that emerged was The ‘social state' of Germany began in the late 19th century when Bismarck was concerned the political left would oppose his place in power, he decided to introduce welfare provision into Germany to gain support from the left (Esping-Anderson, 1998).Bismarck's basic idea was th at people who were in work would pay into a scheme and this money would be distributed back to the poor (Ginsburg, 1993), he introduced the world's first State Social Insurance Scheme in 1883 (Bryson, 1992). The welfare system was about the basic needs of the state, with individuals helping themselves, the state would only intervene if it was absolutely necessary (Ginsburg, 1993). It was upon this base that Germany placed the future of welfare provision. Between 1950 and 1970 Germany's welfare system started to take shape.Interested in individual well being, the Christian, Catholic and Trade Unionists sections of the Government were introducing policies to increase job security (George, 1996). The neo- liberal ideas of strong market economy, individualism and democratic culture paired with the egalitarian approach to policy saw very distinctive priorities forming, of liberalism, conservative. Another example of how a corporatist system works in practice can be seen in the way a new insurance scheme for long term care was introduced in Germany in the mid-1990s.Time limited benefits was introduced in disability systems by the government via social insurance or social assistance programs (Mitra, 2009). The German welfare system is comprehensive and generous Social insurance lies at the heart of German social welfare. The disabled are also served by a broad range of medical and vocational programs designed to provide them with humane living conditions. Statutory social insurance programs are responsible for meeting the various needs of their members who become disabled.In addition, government agencies at the federal, Land, and local levels seek to provide employment and help with special housing and transportation provisions. Employment of the disabled is furthered by federal legislation that requires firms employing more than fifteen persons to reserve 6 percent of positions for the disabled or to make annual compensatory payments My hypothesis is, Germany and Sw eden disability programmes have a strong history with non-profit organisations that help support provisions for the disabled stronger than Britain’s profit based organizations.But on the other hand a result of social policies that are too strongly oriented towards the past on the one hand and sustainable conservative family patterns on the other, very little importance is attached to disability social policy contexts. CONCLUSION There is no longer a distinction between Germany’s contribution-based and Britain’s tax-based funding of welfare state programs, but in practice these two models have come together, as most social-insurance schemes are funded by a mixture of employer/employee contributions and grants from general state incomes.Contribution-based schemes, which are funded and administered independent of the government budget and in which members have vested benefits, have in history tended to be more generous and less prone to cutbacks than tax-funded sch emes, which the state can cut back when tax revenues are limited or an anti welfare state political party comes to power. It is, however, important to stress that there are considerable differences between the lives of disabled people and the type of welfare benefits across the European welfare system.The two decisive but interconnected differences consist of the amount to which the public sector takes the individual or the family as its point of departure and the degree to which disabilities is seen as a stage of life in its own right or how each individual is assessed. Welfare pluralism suggests that all welfare provisions will be provided by all the five providers in all countries in the future and less state/public responsibility. ?REFERENCES Bahle, T. (2003) ‘The changing institutionalization of social services in England and Wales, France and Germany: is the welfare state on the retreat? , Journal of European Social Policy, 13(5), pp. 5-20 Bergmark, A. and Minas, R. â₠¬ËœRescaling Social Welfare Policies in Sweden’ Institute for Future Studies [Online]. Available at: http://www. euro. centre. org/rescalingDocuments/files/Sweden. pdf (Accessed: 15 March 2012) Bode, I. 2006) ‘Disorganised welfare mixes: voluntary agencies and new governance regimes in Western Europe’, Journal of European Social Policy, 16(4), pp. 346-359 Clarke, J. , & Cochrane, A. (1993) Comparing Welfare States: Britain in International Context, London, Sage Etherington, D. & Ingold, J. (2012) ‘Welfare to work and the inclusive labour market: a comparative study of activation policies for disability and long-tern sickness benefit claimants in the UK and Denmark’, Journal of European Social Policy, 22(1) pp. 0-44 Haralambos & Holborn (2009) (7th edn) Sociology Themes and Perspectives, London, HarperCollinsPublishers Limited Huang, J. , Guo, B. , & Bricout, J. (2009) ‘From Concentration to Dispersion: The Shift in Policy Approach to Disability Employment’, Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 20(1) pp. 46-54 Landman, T. (2004) Isssues and Methods in Comparative Politics: an introduction. 3rd edn. Dawsonera [Online] Available at: http://www. dawsonera. com/depp/reader/protected/external/AbstractView/S9780203929780/S0. 78/0Lilja, M, Mansson, I, Jahlenius, L. , & Sacco-Peterson, M. (2003) ‘Disability Policy in Sweden: Policies Concerning Assistive Technology and Home Modification Services’, Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 14(3)pp. 130-135 Mitra, S. (2009) ‘Temporary and Partial Disability Programs in Nine Countries’, Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 20 (1) pp. 14-27 Olney, M. F. & Lyle, C. (2011) ‘The Benefits Trap: Barriers to Employment Experienced by SSA Beneficiaries’, Rehabilitation Counceling Bulletin, 54(4), pp. 197-209

The Battle of Cajamarca: an End to an Empire in South America

The Battle of Cajamarca: an end to an Empire in South America New World: Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro (c. 1475 – June 26, 1541) seized Incan emperor Atahualpa (pictured; c. 1502 – August 29, 1533) after victory at Cajamarca, Peru. Pizarro had just 168 men and Atahualpa had 80,000 battle-hardened soldiers who had recently defeated an indigenous enemy. However, the Spaniards had iron swords, guns, horses and armour, which the Incas did not. The result: one of history's most incredible battles, and it was all over in one afternoon. Atahualpa (or Atahuallpa; Atabalipa) (ah'-ta-oo-al'-pa), was the13th and final emperor of the Incan Empire. He was a younger son of the Incan ruler Huayna Capac and an Ecuadorian princess of the Quito; although not the legitimate heir, he seems to have been the favourite. When Huayna Capac died (c. 1527), the kingdom was divided between Atahualpa, who ruled the northern part of the empire from Quito, and his half-brother Huascar, the legitimate heir, who ruled from Cuzco, the traditional Inca capital. Contemporary chroniclers depicted Atahualpa as courageous, ambitious, and very popular with the army. In 1532 he was celebrating his victory in a devastating war of accession with his elder half-brother. He had been embroiled in war with Huascar for control of the whole Incan Empire. The war ravaged Inca cities, wreaked havoc on the economy, and decimated the population. Early in 1532, near Cuzco, while Pizarro was making his way to Atahualpa's heartland, the army of the Incan lord had defeated Huascar's army in what was probably the greatest of any Incan military engagement to date. Atahualpa treacherously captured his half-brother and his family and later had them executed, while Atahualpa was himself a prisoner – of Pizarro. (As Huascar had been something of an ally to the Spanish, his half-brother's actions were later cited as a cause of the treatment Pizarro meted out to Atahualpa. ) In November, while the newly victorious Atahualpa and his battle-hardened army of 80,000 were relaxing with the hot springs in the town of Cajamarca, before their planned triumphal entry into Cuzco, Francisco Pizarro entered the city with a force of 168. Atahualpa got wind of the incursion. History was about to change in a most dramatic way. On November 15, as the Spanish band moved close to Cajamarca, they tortured a few natives and discovered that Atahualpa was waiting for them at Cajamarca. Bravely, ‘Governor' Pizarro’s ‘army' moved towards the Incan town, and saw a beautiful place filled with so many tents that the soldiers were filled with fear. Hernando Pizarro, the leader’s brother, estimated the number of Incan soldiers at 40,000, but an eyewitness wrote that he gave this estimate in order to calm his comrades: there were in fact more than 80,000. Meanwhile, most of Pizarro’s men were hidden around the main courtyard of Cajamarca. Atahualpa ambushed Invited by the Spaniard to attend a feast in his honour, the Inca chief accepted. The next day, he arrived at the appointed meeting place with several thousand unarmed retainers; Pizarro, prompted by the example of Hernan Cortes and Moctezuma in Mexico, had prepared an ambush. The next day at around noon, Atahualpa appeared in the town centre, carried on a litter, or palanquin, borne by 80 Incan noblemen in rich blue livery, and with a retinue of 2,000 Indians sweeping the road before him. An eyewitness wrote â€Å"Then came a number of men with armour, large metal plates, and crowns of gold and silver which they bore, that it was a marvel to observe how the sun glinted on it. † Atahualpa was also surrounded by his warriors, many thousands of them. One of the Spaniards who was present wrote: â€Å"Atahualpa himself was very richly dressed, with his crown on his head and a collar of large emeralds around his neck. He sat on a small stool with a rich saddle cushion resting on his litter. The litter was lined with parrot feathers of many colours and decorated with plates of gold and silver †¦ Governor Pizarro now sent Friar Vicente de Valverde to go to speak to Atahualpa, and to require Atahualpa in the name of God and of the King of Spain that Atahualpa subject himself to the law of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the service of His Majesty the King of Spain. [The priest advanced] with a cross in one hand and the Bible in the other hand, and going among the Ind ian troops up to the place where Atahualpa was †¦ â€Å"Atahualpa asked for the Book, that he might look at it, and the Friar gave it to him closed. Atahualpa did not know how to open the Book, and the Friar was extending his arm to do so, when Atahualpa, in great anger, gave him a blow on the arm, not wishing that the Book should be opened. Then he opened it himself, and, without any astonishment at the letters and paper he threw it away from him five or six paces, his face a deep crimson. â€Å"The Friar returned to Pizarro, shouting, ‘Come out! Come out, Christians! Come at these enemy dogs who reject the things of God †¦. Why remain polite and servile towards this over-proud dog when the plains are full of Indians? March out against him, for I absolve you! ’† It has been reported that Atahualpa asked Friar Vicente on what authority he acted, and the friar told him it derived from the book he was holding. The Incan emperor then commanded: â€Å"Give me the book so that it can speak to me. † Atahualpa, holding the book next to his ear, tried to listen to its pages. Finally he asked: â€Å"Why doesn't the book say anything to me? † and defiantly and disdainfully threw it to the ground. On the friar's command (rather than Pizarro's), the Spanish soldiers emerged from the porticoes around the square and fired into the crowds of unarmed warriors and citizens. Seven thousand slain Just several hours of bloody battle ensued, with the conquistadors having the technological advantage. By evening, Pizarro and his men had killed 7,000 Indians yet lost not one of their own merry men. Later, Pizarro said to Atahualpa through an interpreter: â€Å"When you have seen the errors in which you live, you will understand the good that we have done you by coming to your land †¦ Our Lord permitted that your pride should be brought low and that no Indian should be able to offend a Christian. † During the melee, Pizarro had personally grabbed Atahualpa from his litter, calling out the Spanish war cry (â€Å"Santiago! , or â€Å"St James! †) as he did so, and took Atahualpa prisoner. Soon, Atahualpa recognised that a huge ransom was his only chance of freedom, so he promised a huge hoard of gold to the Spaniards, which the Incan king’s subjects duly paid. The ransom, the largest ever made, was staggering – when melted down, it consisted of suffi cient gold to fill a room 22 feet long by 17 feet wide to a height of more than 8 feet! What artistic treasures were lost, we shall never know. We note here that the Incas made even the soldiers rich, not just Pizarro and the King of Spain (who took 20 per cent of the booty). The conquistadors each received a share appropriate to his rank: horseman received 40 kilograms of gold and 81 kg of silver, while foot-soldiers received half that amount. After the full amount had been delivered, Pizarro reneged on his promise and on August 29, 1533, the conquistador ordered Atahualpa burned to death. However, when Atahualpa was brought to the stake, Father de Valverde offered him the choice of being burned alive or being killed by the more merciful garrot if he would convert to Christianity. Although throughout his captivity Atahualpa had resisted conversion, he agreed to it and so died that day by strangulation. Cajamarca was not the only occasion in 1532 on which Western technology was able to trounce Incan technology – for technology such as guns and steel swords, rather than fighting skills and valour were what won the day. Jared Diamond, from whose excellent, Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Guns, Germs and Steel, (Vintage, 1998), the above quotations come, writes: â€Å"During Pizarro’s march from Cajamarca to the Inca capital of Cuzco after Atahualpa’s death, there were four such battles: at Jauja, Vilcashuaman, Vilcaconga, and Cuzco. Those four battles involved a mere 80, 30, 110, and 40 Spanish horsemen, respectively, in each case ranged against thousands or tens of thousands of Indians. † Footnote On January 18, 1535, as Pizarro thought the Inca capital of Cuzco was too far up in the mountains and far from the sea to serve as the Spanish capital of Peru, he founded the city of Lima, still the capital of that nation.

Paradise Lost Essay

Paradise Lost is divided into twelve books. In Book I Milton explains the theme of his work, man’s disobedience to God, his expulsion from Heaven and the story of the rebel angels sent to Hell. In Book II the angels meet in council to decide what they will do. In Book III God makes a speech on man’s freedom to choose between good and evil. In Book IV Satan observes the happiness of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In Book V God sends Raphael to warn Adam. In Book VI the war in Heaven in described. Book VII and VIII tell the story of the creation of the Earth and the universe. In Book IX Satan persuades Adam and Eve to taste the forbidden fruit. In Book X God’s Son pronounces the sentence of expulsion. In the last two books Adam and Eve abandon paradise. Paradise Lost is an epic poem. Milton chose the epic genre because of the greatness of the subject. He follows the typical epic conventions in his masterpiece, such as the opening with the statement of the theme. This epic takes place in the universe, in Heaven, Hell and Eden. The main characters, God, Satan, Christ, Man and the fallen angels remind the warriors and heroes of the classical epic, even though they are more philosophical heroes. Milton knew the Copernican cosmology but he based the universe of Paradise Lost on the traditional Ptolemaic system because he thought that this conception was fixed in the minds of the people and it had limits within which it was easier for him to work. In Milton’s Heaven God created the Earth, fixed in the centre of the Universe, and he put his life and thoughts in the natural world so that the external reality reflects the divine soul. In Paradise Lost evil and good are opposed. However, Satan has many characteristics of the epic hero, courage, leadership, initiative. Milton has sympathy for his Satan because he himself was a rebel against the political and religious authority. Both Milton and Dante said that their works had divine inspiration but they had contrasting ideas about Satan’s physical appearance and meaning. Dante’s Satan becomes a means of punishment and it resembles a mythic monster, with wings and three heads. Milton’s Satan is a symbol of God’s justice and it takes several forms, first it is a fallen angel, then it has an inhuman form and finally he becomes a snake. The style of the poem is elevated, the poet used a new kind of magnificent blank-verse.