Interpreting Financial Results Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Interpreting Financial Results - Essay Example This means that Apple has maintained enough liquid assets to meet its short-term obligation. However, although Apple did well by maintaining a higher current ratio in 2013 compared to 2012, its current ratio declined in 2014 to 1.08 from 1.68 in 2013, which is a sign of poor performance in 2014 compared to 2013 as far as liquidity position is concerned. However, the Apples current ratio is still within the industrial average, which is a show of good performance compared to its competitors in the industry. Apples also had a favorable quick ratio of more than one in all the last three years. However, it is notable that the after the companys quick ratio had improved from 1.30 in 2012 to 1.64 in 2013, the ratio declined to 1.05, which is an indication of poor performance in 2014 compared to the previous two years. However, the fact that Apples quick ratio is within the industrial average is an indication of good performance in overall. Leverage ratio is another ratio used to gauge the financial health of a company. Leverage ratios are used to determine the amount of debts that the company maintains in its statement of financial position. Accordingly, the more debt a company has, the riskier the company is in case the business became bankrupt and forced into liquidation. Debt-to-equity ratio is one of the leverage ratios used to measure the degree to which a company is financed by debt holders in comparison with its owners. The lower the debt-to-equity ratio, the less riskier the company to invest. From the calculations, it emerged that Apple fiancà ©s much of its operations from shareholders investments compared to debts. The companys debt-to-equity ratios for the three years are below one, which is favorable (2014 = 0.13; 2013 = 0.08; 2012 = ∞). Nevertheless, it also became clear that Apple has been increasingly financing its operations by debt since 2013, which is not a good sign (United

Human Sexuality Essay Example for Free

Human Sexuality Essay William and Jessie both 23 years old have been dating for 3 years. They plan to get married in 2 years when they finish with graduate school. About three months ago William had an unplanned and alcohol induced intercourse with a colleague from work. The couple are in counseling and working on issues of trust and communication. Recently, they have started having sexual intercourse. Jessie says she is unable to climax like in the past. William says he is doing everything the same and thinks she still blames him. Looking at William and Jessie’s case, I believe that the possible societal and gender influences related to William’s and Jessie’s concerns are the male and female sexual scripts. According to Strong, DeVault, Sayad and Yarber (2008), â€Å"Sexual Scripts refers to the acts, rules, and expectations associated with a particular role† (p. 143). All humans are sexual beings; however we all are diverse in terms of our sexual definitions and script expectations. Sexual scripts are not innate, yet they are learned through culture and socialization (Strong et al. 2008). There are as many distinctive sexual scripts as there are people, nonetheless some of these scripts have common themes and can be recognized as a shared blueprint or trend in the larger society. Some male scripts that are relatable to Williams’s concerns are: Performance is a thing that counts. A man always wants sex and is ready for it and, sexual intercourse leads to orgasm. Society has this idea that is embedded in many people that sex to men is something to be accomplished (Strong et al. 2008). It is important for us to notice that in Williams situation, he is feeling like â€Å"less of a man†, in other words, his ego is bruised, because he cannot make Jessie climax. Additionally, there are sexual scripts allotted to women as well. Some female scripts relatable to Jessie’s concerns are: â€Å"The traditional male sexual scripts focuses on sex over feelings, the traditional female sexual script focuses on feelings over sex, on love over passion† (p. 41). Jessie apparently has issues during sex because she can’t get over the thought of Williams having sexual contact with another woman, especially when William is supposed become Jessie’s future husband. The sexual script that relates to this issue is that the woman does not want to have sex, sex is uncomfortable for her or not pleasurable for her. However due to female sexual scripts, women should not talk about sex (Strong et al. , 2008). Sexual scripts are similar to traditional gender roles; society holds men and women accountable for the roles and expectations that have been set for them and if we fail to live up to them, then we are failures at our gender. Moreover, there are indeed biological and psychological components of William and Jessie’s case. Starting with William, he can’t achieve to make Jessie Climax. Psychological causes include trust and communication related stress and anxiety, because he too busy trying to gain Jesse’s trust. Because of this William is most likely concerned about his sexual performance, trust issues and the guilt of having sexual intoxicate intercourse with his work colleague. For women in particular, emotional closeness is a main component in sexual desire (Strong et al. , 2008) and because William cheated with a colleague, she perhaps could have grown psychologically distant. As stated by Strong et al. (2008), â€Å"Desire is the psychological component of sexual arousal† (p. 92). According to the Masters and Johnson’s four-phrase model of sexual response, Kaplan’s tri-phasic model of sexual response and Loulan’s sexual response model, they all include desire and excitement as key elements to sexual response and pleasure and without these two elements, a person cannot truly experience the true satisfaction of sexual intercourse and an orgasm (Strong et al. , 2008). In relation to this case the developmental concerns related to the early adulthood stage according to Strong et al. 2008) are the following: Integrating love and sex, forging intimacy and making commitments. Integrating love and sex was not integrated when it comes to Williams’s infidelity. William was more so thinking with his penis rather than thinking about the love of his life Jessie. As the female, Jessie thinks more with her heart and values the love for William. The thought of betrayal from William, may possibly be disheartening and could hinder Jessie from climaxi ng during intimacy. In Jessie’s mind, loving William and having that solid connection with him was important to her. Furthermore this developmental concern strongly compares to the male sexual script with thoughts of sex over feelings, while the woman’s thoughts consist of feelings over sex. The key to integrating love and sex was missing because of Williams’s infidelity. Therefore uniting the two will take a longer process to connect. Forging intimacy and making commitments plays an integral part in the developmental concerns in this case as well. According to Strong et al. (2008) as a relationship become more meaningful, the degree of intimacy and interdependence increases. As adults become more intimate, most desire to develop their ability to make commitments. In relation to William and Jesse they are in a meaningful relationship, they were planning to get married and spend the rest of their lives with one another, before the infidelity occurred. It is my assumption the intimacy was on a higher level but after the infidelity occurred the intimacy decreased and the trust and communication issues began to form. During the early adulthood stage young adults begin to attend college and students began to meet lots of people in their age bracket. There will be opportunities during college where students attend plenty of social gatherings (frat/sororities houses and parties) and majority of the time alcohol and drugs are involved as well as risky sexual activities. Strong et al (2008) strongly believes that among college students, the use of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of unwanted intercourse, sexual violence and STDS. Since Jesse and William are in the early adulthood stage, it is a strong possibility William wants to venture out in a since before he gets married. Maybe he feels pressured and tied down to Jessie. Lastly, infidelity is common amongst the early adulthood population. Research by McAnaulty and Brineman (2007), states that 41% of the students identified having sexual intercourse with a person other than ones primary partner as constituting being unfaithful. More students (57%) identified dating/spending time with another as unfaithfulness. Infidelity can greatly affect committed relationships, because it could cause a lack of communication and trust worthiness. When relationships are broken, a lot of emotions occur such as lack of sleep, a decrease in appetite, anxiety and constant crying in some cases.

Oedipus And Blindness Imagery Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the story of Oedipus the king, Sophocles beautifully demonstrates the imagery of sight versus blindness through the use of tragedy and ignorance. Oedipus is ignorant to his own incest, therefore causing the first instance of his blindness. The second instance of Oedipus’ blindness is the ignorance of his true parent’s identity. The third instance of Oedipus’ blindness is a literal one, in which he physically blinds himself after finding the body of his mother, or wife. Sophocles utilizes his skill of creating a tragic character by showing Oedipus as blind on multiple levels, all the while being unaware of his blindness until the end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Oedipus’ first encounter with blindness is in the incestuous relationship he has with his mother. Although Oedipus does not realize the nature of his relationship he nor his mother take into account the prophecies they have both heard. The gods may not choose to show pity on Oedipus because he deliberately tries to usurp their power by leaving who he believes to be his mother and father. Oedipus is blind to the fact that his mother, his wife, the mother of his children is the fulfillment of the prophecy he hears long ago.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second instance of Oedipus’ blindness is his misinterpretation of who his true parents are. His hubris bars him from acknowledging the fact that he could not avoid the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. Oedip...

Community Wind Power And Institutional Arrangements Environmental Sciences Essay

The outgrowth of the job of scarceness of resources and the necessity to increase the sustainability of energy production has led to the development of different technological solutions and energy production systems. Wind energy can be considered an of import driver to forestall planetary heating by cut downing C emanations from electrical power coevals ( Sahin, 2004 ) . Furthermore wind turbine development is extremely distributed geographically and its potency still has to be exploited ( Archer et al. 2009 ) . Besides, we assist at a important addition of the demand for ‘micro-generation ‘ in urban and rural countries, in order to supply energy to isolated houses and as an option to the fuel monetary value addition ( Ibid, 2009 ) . Wind energy is safe, abundant and will probably represent an of import part to future clean, sustainable and diversified electricity supplies. Unlike other beginnings of energy, air current does non foul the ambiance and does non make any rel evant outwardness ( Sahin, 2004 ) . Consequently it is possible to anticipate that air current energy will lend significantly and on a planetary graduated table in work outing jobs such as clime alteration, the depletion of dodo fuel resources, every bit good as pollution ( Hoogwijk et al. , 2004 ; IEA, 2008 ) . Denmark stood out as one of the taking state in the field of air current energy production: the major portion of Danish air current turbines were purchased by the members of the local communities. Commercial investors or independent power manufacturers detains a comparatively little portion compared to other states. It is relevant to advert that community air current power has besides played a important function in Germany, Sweden, the Nederland and the UK. In this paper there is an effort to sum up the set of conditions and institutional variables that allowed the laterality of community wind power development instead than the commercial 1. Furthermore a treatment will follow about the characteristics of community air current power, the property-right governments and the characteristics of wind-rich countries as a populace or private good. For the intents of this paper community air current is defined as: locally owned substructure ( turbines ) to bring forth energy from air current, that is connected to the power grid and where one or more member of the local community have a important and direct interest in the undertaking ( Bolinger, 2004 ) . Continuing with the undermentioned subdivisions the reader will happen a brief historical overview of the air current energy sector in Europe and in peculiar in Denmark. The paper will go on supplying more inside informations about the features of the development public credence towards new tur bines undertakings in the Danish instance with a nexus to the alterations in the ownership forms. In the conclusive portion the characteristics of community air current will be discussed: are there relevant direction issues? Are at that place rivalry and excludability in the usage of the resource? Are wind turbines a common-pool resource? Through the comparing with the findings of the article written by Bolinger in 2004 some critical facets in the definition of wind-rich countries will be underlined.Some considerations on Wind EnergyWind energy is the fastest turning beginning of power coevals in Europe, consisting 40 % of all new electrical power capacity installed in the EU in 2008 ( EWEA, 2009 ) . Faced with energy crises in 1973 western states began to seek for clean and renewable energy beginnings like air current, solar or biomass. Besides, the pollution created by thermoelectric power workss and crude oil stuffs is dramatically polluting the atmospheric environment. Harmonizi ng to some bookmans, wind energy resources of Europe, are sufficient to fulfill all European ‘s electricity demand. Nowadays this will non be possible due to proficient restrictions to to the full use wind possible. Nevertheless elaborate surveies suggest that most states could cover between 10 % and 20 % of their entire demand of electricity utilizing air current turbines without any proficient alteration to the bing system ( Sahin 2004 ; Archer et al. , 2009 ) . As showed in Figure 1, during the last 20 old ages, air current energy has been object of an exponential growing. In add-on, its usage has been extended to industrial intents in some European states including Germany, Denmark and Spain ( Moller, 2008 ) .Figure: Global cumulative air current power capacity, 1990-2007 ( in MW ) . Source EWEA, 2008.Harmonizing to the informations provided by ewea in early 2004, about 70 % of the planetary air current power capacity resided in Europe. As indicated in Figure 1, in the suc ceeding old ages the comparative portion of European air current energy capacity is diminishing due to the installment of new turbines in the remainder of the universe, particularly in the United States. Traveling in inside informations in the European scenario, diffusion degrees in the electrical energy sector have reached 21 % in Denmark and approximately 7 % and 12 % in Germany and Spain severally ( ewea, 2004 ) . The infrastructural demands of air current power coevals are instead modest, while the possible direct benefits in employment are significantly high. About 90 % of the universe ‘s air current turbine makers are situated in Europe, with an aggregative one-year turnover of more than one billion Euros ( Sahin, 2004 ) . Figure: Technical development of air current turbines ( Garrad Hassan, 2001 ) The technological advancement of turbines design is a nucleus facet for the hereafter of air current energy production. Figure 2 outlines the betterments made from the 1980s, when turbines reached merely 15 metres, to the hereafter outlooks with estimate highs of more than 300 metres from the land. Sing that winds by and large increase with altitude above the land, the tallness of turbine ‘s wing profile will strongly act upon the generated power result. The following tabular array studies the variableness of air current velocity and specific power at different height.Table: Wind Speed and Specific Power at different Altitudes ( informations beginning: Archer et al. , 2009 )Height from Ground [ m ]Wind Speed [ m/s ]Specific Power [ W/mA? ]8007,2 205804,6 58103,3 22 Because of their copiousness, strength, and comparative doggedness, high height jet watercourse air currents are of peculiar involvement in air current power development. Despite periodic fluctuation, jet watercourses are instead relentless characteristics of the mid-latitudes in both hemispheres. Archer et Al. ( 2009 ) estimation that the entire air current energy that could be extracted from the jet watercourse is about 100 times the planetary energy demand. Several engineerings have been projected to work air current power at high heights. Most of them are still at an early phase of development: at the present clip some patents have been acquired by research groups but concern ventures or commercial-scale paradigms do non be. Besides high-level air current power engineering researches have non created any paradigm that has been tested long plenty to supply a changeless electricity coevals with associated cost effectivity ( Archer et al. , 2009 ) . Looking to the history of the instance of Denmark, a innovator state in air current energy development, three chief periods can be identified: slow growing of turbines ‘ figure until 1995, accelerated growing until 2001 and stagnancy and diminution since 2001 ( DEA, 2008 ) . This diminution after the millenary is ascribable to the increased impact on landscapes, the failure of the planning government and worse economic conditions due to the remotion of the fixed provender in duty ( Moller, 2008 ) . In add-on it is of import to advert that the presence of a strong domestic air current turbine fabrication industry has been an of import driver in Denmark. Sing the Danish instance, Moller summarize that â€Å" during the 25 old ages of air current energy enlargement the full circle has been made from alien, popular and welcome little graduated table option to everyday, progressively unpopular, and industrial graduated table development † . Actually the hereafter of air curre nt energy is seen off shore or related to the development of new engineerings ( Moller, 2008 ; Archer et al. , 2009 ) . In the undermentioned chapter of this paper the historical background of air current energy development in Denmark will be briefly summarized.Historical background of Wind energy in DenmarkThe history of air current energy development in Denmark is closely linked to several positive conditions: the beginnings of air current turbine fabrication were characterized by many little manufacturers, who were able to set up a competitory bunch of industries. In add-on good air current conditions, among the best in Europe, can be found on the West seashore and in the North West of the instead dumbly populated state ( Moller, 2010 ) . Get downing from the 1970s the development of air current energy in Denmark has gone through an incommensurable development, during which the engineering was pushed toward the more comfortable sector of the market and a series of be aftering systems were established ( Moller, 2010 ) . Until 1973 practically all of the electricity in Denmark was generated in big, centralized thermic power Stationss ( Hadjilambrinos, 2000 ) . Modern air current energy in Denmark has its turning point after the impact of the oil crises on the Danish energy system, farther stimulated by the anti-nuclear protests of that clip and by turning consciousness of the necessity of dependable supplies and renewable energy. Furthermore, the increasing political focal point on environmental protection and sustainable development provided the general model for the enlargement of the wind-energy sector ( Moller, 2010 ; Saidur et al. , 2010 ) . Denmark has been a leader state in the progress of modern air current powe r during the first portion of its commercial history. Then, after the transition from small-scale undertakings to a large-scale industry, it arrived to bring forth resistance from the society against new installings ( Hvelplund, 2006 ) . The Danish Energy Agency ( DEA ) study that, in the period 1970-1985, there was a little addition in Numberss of turbines, while workss tripled their generating capacity. Until the twelvemonth 2001 wind energy increased making adulthood in footings of measure and size. Besides, during the period subsequent the twelvemonth 2000, older installings have been removed after ended utile life-time and due to re-powering policies. Currently it has been noticed no farther enlargement in figure of turbines except for the hard-on of two big offshore undertakings. Another more recent tendency is that air current energy delivered to the power web is diminishing ( Moller, 2010 ; DEA, 2008 ) . A major driver to the decrease of the figure of new turbines was of economic character: the former fixed feed-in duty was abolished after the twelvemonth 2000, doing air current energy investings progressively dependent on unpredictable market monetary values ( Agnolucci, 2007 ) . Besides, after 2003, merely really few locations obtained be aftering permissions and sufficient economic feasibleness. Nowadays the poorer economic system of air current energy undertakings and the deficiency of planning grants for undertakings lead to an about complete deadlock of land based wind energy development in the Danish district. Merely few municipalities are now positive towards the building new land based undertakings and the location of new turbines is a sensitive issue in the public argument ( Moller, 2010 ) . It is of import to underscore that turbines development has come at a cost: ocular impact on valuable landscapes, socially inconvenient investings and erroneous ownership forms are amid the chief errors that have been made during the extremum of air current energy enlargement.Development of public credence in DenmarkWind energy in Denmark, as noted in the old subdivision, by and large relied in a high public credence ( Krohn and Damborg, 1999 ; Ladenburg, 2008 ) . One of the chief drivers to obtain public credence with a fast air current turbine development was ownership forms: Moller noticed that â€Å" public ordinance granted a proportion of the air current capacity to be erected by publically owned public-service corporations and, more significantly, statute law stimulated the formation of local air current energy co-ops with limited ownership of portions in air current turbine undertakings within occupants ‘ municipalities † . Thus, get downing from the twelvemonth 1994, local municipalities obliged to apportion zone for air current power development, for this ground most of Danish air current turbines are owned by one or more local occupants. This allow the distribution of income watercourses from air current energy sector to local communities. It is relevant to advert that the first association of air current turbine proprietors was formed on 4 May 1978, and the first air current turbine co-op was established in 1980. Public engagement and the economic engagement on equal footings increase significantly local credence ( Toke et Al. , 2008 ) . Wind energy planning regulations are another important factor when recognizing a undertaking, in Denmark planning regulations have evolved over clip. In the early old ages and during the class of the 1980s a planning mandate was given by local governments on simple distance regulations, which has led to turn up turbines in extremely seeable countries, nearby parts of natural attraction and scenic value. During the early 1990s force per unit area on landscapes grew and there was call for a nationally coordinated planning scheme. Restrictions came in topographic point delegating specific and sole countries where the air current turbines could be built. Municipal and regional governments began to develop repowering strategy to replace the old substructure and concentrate the new turbines in the selected locations. The new market ordinance for air current energy in the old ages after 2000 determined a perceptibly lower income and greater insecurity sing the net incomes of new air current energy undertakings. As already mentioned the chief driver was the terminal of the fixed feed-in duty in favour of market monetary values determined on the Nordic power market Nordpool plus a compensation for the decrease of CO2 ( Moller, 2010 ) . In the same period larger scale developments were progressively the portion of private investings instead than co-ops. As a effect the public argument was increasing its resistance and opposition against those big scale undertakings due to reduced engagement of the local community and to take down expected returns.Small Scale Wind Farms: Ownership FormsMany researches in the literature on the subject agree in the positive correlativity between public credence and community ownership ( Moller, 2010 ; Toke et Al. , 2008 and Walker, 2008 ) . In this chapter the reader ca n happen a brief overview of the different signifier of community ownership. There are many undertakings that involve community ownership, through fiscal investing or managerial control, and have achieved community engagement in different sums and in different ways ( Stamford, 2004 ) . Undertakings can be to the full community owned, or may be under co-owner-ship agreements with the private sector, for illustration when local community possesses one turbine in a larger air current farm. The generated energy can be introduced into the national grid instead than being used locally or can be both produced and consumed locally. There are different legal and fiscal theoretical accounts of ownership ; these include ( Walker, 2008 ) : Cooperatives. Persons or households in the local community become members of the co-op and purchase portions to finance the undertaking. Community charities. Normally are formed in one association with charitable standing that provides or manage installations for the local community, such as local associations which use renewable energy to heat or power their constructions. Development trusts. Represent communities ‘ involvements in income coevals houses, and in some instances include discrepancies of community belongings. Shares owned by a local community organisation. Local community organisation obtains portions in a concern undertaking ; in the instance of air current farms the gifting of one of more turbines to the local community. In some instances the community may hold a partial ownership therefore possesses merely limited rights to command or to influences in to determination devising. These different theoretical accounts raise of import inquiries as to who the ‘community ‘ is that may have or part-own an energy undertaking. Complications will originate when persons have no advantage from air current energy and protest against its development. Besides touristry is a viing usage for land, even though researches from Denmark have revealed that air current energy development may heighten the green image of a state ( Krohn and Damborg, 1999 ) . In general it is possible to reason that an inauspicious attitude towards wind energy development is frequently conveyed by persons without benefit from air current sector ( Moller, 2010 ) .Institutional agreements for the success of community wind power in Denmark.As pointed out in the old subdivisions Denmark stood out as one of the taking state in the fiel d of air current energy production: the major portion of Danish air current turbines were bought by members of the local communities. Commercial or independent power manufacturers own a comparatively little portion compared to other instances. It is relevant to advert that community air current power has besides played a important function in Germany, Sweden, the Nederland and the UK. In this chapter will be outlined the set of conditions and institutional variables that allowed the laterality of community wind power development instead than the commercial 1. As first measure some definitions will be provided to the reader in order to clear up the nomenclature that will be used throughout the following paragraphs. Hall and Taylor ( 1996 ) define establishments as formal or informal processs, modus operandis, norms and conventions embedded in the organisational construction of the civil order or political economic system. They can change from the regulations of a legal order or the standard operating processs of an disposal to the understandings that govern trade brotherhood actions or bank-enterprise dealingss. Toke et Al. ( 2008 ) use this definition to weave energy development as â€Å" decision-making constructions, signifiers of organisation of air current power, be aftering systems and norms and understandings, which underpin wind power policy and patterns † . Besides, for the intents of this paper, community air current is defined as: locally owned substructure ( turbines ) to bring forth energy from air current, that is conn ected to the power grid and where one or more member of the local community have a important and direct interest in the undertaking ( Bolinger, 2004 ) . The following tabular array outlines the institutional variables that permitted the development of the community wind energy sector in Denmark. It comprises several elements: Financial procurance system report the chief economic tool promoted by the authorities that assisted the energy manufacturers to guarantee a fiscal profitableness to the undertaking ; in the instance of Denmark a fixed monetary value was set by authorities for the electricity produced by air current turbines. Fiscal stableness indicates if the fiscal support was changeless over clip ; in the Danish instance the feed-in duty system terminated in the twelvemonth 2001. Economic Involvement highlight the chief ownership forms ; in Denmark local community and persons are the chief histrions involved in turbines undertakings.Table: Institutional Variables in Denmark ( Toke et al. , 2008 )VariableDanmarkFinancial procurance system ( chief type ) Feed in duty fixed monetary value for a given sum of electricity Fiscal stableness Stable ( until 2001 ) Economic Engagement Local private ownership Grassroots enterprises ( historical roots ) Local community anti-nuclear Grassroots ( related to dom. political relations ) Supported Grassroots initiatives points out the historical grounds and cases of society that fostered the development of air current energy sector ; the environmental and anti-nuclear motions in Denmark strongly supported air current turbines growing. Grassroots related to political issues underline if the national politicians supported wind energy ; the Danish authorities created a proper policy model and gave conspicuous fiscal support. The old treatment shows that community ownership contributed to heighten the development of air current energy in Europe. Precisely, community ownership has increased public credence of air current power, allowed to bring forth benefits for different histrions, improved the fabrication industry, and provided a big and comparatively low-priced beginning of capital to finance air current energy undertakings. For case, feed-in Torahs that give air current power electricity an extra premium monetary values have created available, solid, and profitable markets for community air current undertakings in Denmark ( Cohen, 2001 ) . Feed-in duties provided long-standing gross certainty with comparatively low dealing costs. Presents, Denmark is the universe ‘s largest air current power manufacturer and besides leads the rankings with the highest portion of electricity provided from air current turbines in the universe ( Stamford, 2004 ) . Stamford references besides that Denmark â€Å" has the largest installed offshore capacity in the universe and is characterized by a history of strong research and development ( R & A ; D ) support, capital subsidies and strong community inducements † .Discussion and DecisionThroughout this paper the historical conditions that allowed the success of community air current development have been outlined. In peculiar community ownership has increased public credence of air current power, allowed to bring forth benefits for different histrions, improved the fabrication industry, and provided a big and comparatively low-priced beginning of capital to finance air current energy undertakings. In this reasoning portion there is a treatment about the characteristics of community wind power related to property-right governments and the characteristics of wind-rich countries as a populace or private good. Bolinger ( 2004 ) argues that â€Å" weave energy can be considered a public good, or a parks, even in the classical sense † . A figure of conditions have to be satisfied: Communities obtain net income from air current farms normally pull offing and using wind-rich countries, which are used for intents that are suited to weave turbine development, such as agribusiness or fringy land. Another characteristic of a parks is the scarceness of a resource, in the instance of air current energy there are a limited figure of wind-rich locations. Besides, air current energy shows turning costs of development with increasing sums of resources used. A proper direction is needed in order to avoid land debasement or struggle when there is a common usage of fringy lands. Land is a limited resource and direction becomes a necessity to keep productiveness. Therefore it is clear that land with a good air current government is a limited resource, which can bring forth grosss to a local community if decently planned and managed. In the instance of Denmark local community is the chief stakeholder that use wind resources to make local income, maintain landscape values and contribute to sustainable energy supply of future coevalss. Analyzing the belongings rights government of community wind it is apparent that, for wind-rich countries, excludability ( or control of entree ) exists ; in other words wind-rich countries have boundaries. Besides, the resource is held by an identifiable community of independent users ( E.g. Danish municipality ) . These users exclude foreigners while modulating usage by members of the community. Subtractability ( or competition ) is the beginning of the possible divergency between single and corporate reason that means, if each user is capable of deducting from the public assistance of other users ( Feeny, 1990 ) . Sing a air current farm we notice that the velocity of air current lessening when it base on balls by a turbine ‘s spiral. In pattern this means that a limited sum of turbines can be installed in order to avoid competition between users. Bolinger ( 2004 ) in his article defines air current as a public good and examines the possibility of over-utilization from a local community of its wind-rich countries and argues that â€Å" there will non be a direct debasement of land that threatens future air current power coevals. The sick consequence of over-utilization will be that landscapes themselves acquire degraded visually † . This is contrast with the old decisions: the characteristics of wind-rich countries ( excludability and competition ) suggest sorting air current energy as a private good or nine good in some instance where competition is limited ( E.g. offshore wind farms ) ; furthermore the over-utilization may take to a direct lessening of the air current energy coevals potency and to conflict between users. The whole scope of factors that have been outlined point out the importance of the proper direction of air current energy with the engagement of the community. Wind sector has a immense development potency for the hereafter is safe, abundant and will probably represent an of import part to clean, sustainable and diversified electricity supplies. As already mentioned it is to anticipate that air current energy will lend significantly and on a planetary graduated table in work outing jobs such as clime alteration, the depletion of dodo fuel resources, every bit good as pollution ( Hoogwijk et al. , 2004 ; IEA, 2008 ) .

Business Goals

Background of study The quick development in rivalry among firms of different kinds has represented a few difficulties for them with respect to keeping up their customers and accomplishing business goals. Because of that, firms have moved from customary ways of marketing towards social trading methods with customers that could return more prominent business benefits on the long haul. Consequently, concentrating on retention of customers has turned out to be vital for enhancing the competitiveness and performance of the organizations. Keeping in mind the end goal to accomplish the retention of customers, it must be noticed that customers have a tendency to assess their purchasing experiences regarding the perceived value that is followed by the measure of cash spent to receive an item or benefit and the advantages got in return. Along these lines, a positive experience of a customer significantly affects the purchasing behavior and retention of the customer. (Bapat and Thanigan, 2016). To manage customer relations and guarantee firm efficacy, it has happened to be very necessary to comprehend what leads to retention of the customers. (Afzali and Ahmed, 2016). Customer retention is defined as â€Å"the process of building customer loyalty towards a particular brand, thus resulting in repurchasing its products or services over time† (Cannie, 1994; Danish, Ahmad, Ateeq, Ali, and Humayon, 2015). Customer retention is the primary objective for the organizations that aides in keeping up their business (Coviello, 2002). There are an extensive number of firms that are associated with the retention of their customers. In order to achieve the maximum profitability, firms tend to focus on the retention of the customers (Kotler, 2003). Retention of the customers underlines on backing which is for the most part connected with repurchase conduct and brand devotion of the customers (Buttle, 2004). At the end of the day, retention of the customers involves a durable responsibility of a customer towards a brand and keeping up such relationship because of positive observations and past encounters (Boohene, 2013; Mohamed and Borhan, 2014). Customers who cheerfully make the majority of their buys from a specific brand for the most part have higher extent of fulfillment towards it than the individuals who indicate less loyalty. Anderson and Sullivan (1990) likewise represented that client maintenance gives monetary ramifications to firms on the grounds that increasing new customers is more exorbitant than keeping up existing ones because of the costs that they spend on publicizing and advancement to impact their purchase intention. Retention of the customers happens when the customers are completely happy with the benefits given by the inns (Grà ¸nhaug and Gilly,2001). On the other hand, the customers are particularly faithful towards their brands (inn) and it brings about the retention of the customers of that brand (Buttle, 2004). In order to achieve the maximum benefits and advantages, the firms tend to focus on retention of their customers. (Dawkins and Reichheld, 2009). There are few examinations that clarify the impact of the diverse variables that impact the client maintenance in inns. This is especially simple for the clients to get disappointed with the offers administrations to them (Colgate and Lang, 2001; Colgate and Norris, 2001) 1.2 Purpose of The Study The main and premier reason for this research is to discover the impact of the distinctive factors on the retention of the customers.Research ObjectivesThe fundamental goals for this article are as per the following:To find the impacts of the distinctive factors such as service quality, ambience, customer satisfaction and loyalty on retention of the customers.Significance of the studyThe significance of the study is that retention of the customers is the essential activity for any business for the most extreme yield. This investigation is done to clarify the connection between ambience, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, service quality and retention of the customers.Scope of the study This examination will assist the entrepreneurs with working on these elements in light of the fact that these variables are the fundamental need of each customer. What's more, with the assistance of this analysis, the entrepreneurs can thrive their business. This exploration is additionally valuable for similar firms who are confronting the issues in keeping up the customers.Research QuestionThe research question of this study is to find out what is the impact of ambience, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and service quality on the retention of the customers.

Trace the development of Willie Mossop Essays

Trace the development of Willie Mossop Essays Trace the development of Willie Mossop Essay Trace the development of Willie Mossop Essay Trace the development of Willie Mossop throughout the course of the play. Include the relevant points from each act and try to back up your points with quotations from the text. Hobsons Choice is set in a Bootmakers shop in Victorian England. At this time women were not thought as equals to men and women were not thought to be business-like, but this play defies these facts, as Hobsons daughter, Maggie, a middle class businesswoman runs, the shop and is full of ambition. She certainly knows what she wants in life but this is not what you would expect for a stereotypical Victorian woman. Willie Mossop, Hobsons boothand is quite the opposite from Maggie, as at the beginning of the play Willie is a weak character, very unambitious, very content man. Willie is uneducated, he cannot read or write as he is only a working class citizen, but all this soon changes. Throughout the play we see Willies character develop into an educated business-like man full of ambition, and this is down to Maggie, as she notices his potential and marries him. At the end of the play we see Willie as a definitely changed man, in every respect possible. At the very beginning of Act 1 the audience notices Willies potential when Mrs Hepworth enters the shop. Mrs Hepworth is one of Hobsons upper class customers. Mrs Heoworth humiliates Hobson who assumes she has come to complain about the boots that Willie made, when she asks to see the person who made them. But Hobson is a far cry from right as she actually comes to praise Willie, Mossop, Ive tried every shop in Manchester and these are the best pair of boots I have ever had. From now on, you will make my boots in future Not only does this show Willies potential it also shows how uneducated he is, as when Mrs Hepworth later gives him a card to contact her if he ever leaves Hobsons, he cannot read it.

A Profile in Composition

A Profile in Composition A profile is a  biographical essay, usually developed through a combination of anecdote, interview, incident, and description. James McGuinness, a staff member at  The New Yorker  magazine in the 1920s, suggested the term profile (from the Latin, to draw a line) to the magazines editor, Harold Ross. By the time the magazine got around to copyrighting the term, says David Remnick, it had entered the language of American journalism (Life Stories, 2000). Observations on Profiles A Profile is a short exercise in biographya tight form in which interview, anecdote, observation, description, and analysis are brought to bear on the public and private self. The literary pedigree of the profile can be traced from Plutarch to Dr. Johnson to Strachey; its popular modern reinvention is owed to The New Yorker, which set up shop in 1925 and which encouraged its reporters to get beyond ballyhoo to something more probing and ironic. Since then, with the wacky proliferation of media, the genre has been debased; even the word itself has been hijacked for all kinds of shallow and intrusive journalistic endeavors.(John Lahr, Show and Tell: New Yorker Profiles. University of California Press, 2002)In 1925, when [Harold] Ross launched the magazine he liked to call his comic weekly [The New Yorker], he wanted something differentsomething sidelong and ironical, a form that prized intimacy and wit over biographical completeness or, God forbid, unabashed hero worship.  Ross told his writers and editors that, above all, he wanted to get away from what he was reading in other magazinesall the Horatio Alger stuff. . . .The New Yorker Profile has expanded in many ways since Rosss time. What had been conceived of as a form to describe Manhattan personalities now travels widely in the world and all along the emotional and occupational registers. . . . One quality that runs through nearly all the best Profiles . . . is a sense of obsession. So many of these pieces are about people who reveal an obsession with one corner of human experience or another.  Richard Prestons Chudnovsky brothers  are obsessed with the number pi and finding the pattern in randomness; Calvin Trillins Edna Buchanan is an obsessive crime reporter in Miami who visits the scenes of disaster four, five times a day; . . . Mark Singers Ricky Jay is obsessed with magic and the history of magic. In every great Profile, too, the writer is equally obsessed. Its often the case that a writer will t ake months, even years, to get to know a subject and bring him or her to life in prose.(David Remnick, Life Stories: Profiles From The New Yorker. Random House, 2000) The Parts of a Profile One major reason writers create profiles is to let others know more about the people who are important to them or who shape the world in which we live. . . . [T]he introduction  to a profile needs to show readers that the subject is someone they need to know more aboutright now. . . . Writers also use the introduction of a profile to highlight some key feature of the subjects personality, character, or values . . ..The body of a profile . . . includes descriptive details that help readers visualize the subjects actions and hear the subjects words. . . .Writers also use the body of a profile to provide logical appeals in the form of numerous examples that show that the subject is indeed making a difference in the community. . . .Finally, the conclusion of a profile often contains one final quote or anecdote that nicely captures the essence of the individual.(Cheryl Glenn,  The Harbrace Guide to Writing, concise 2nd ed. Wadsworth, Cengage, 201) Expanding the Metaphor In the classic Profile under [St. Clair] McKelway, the edges were smoothed out, and all effectsthe comic, the startling, the interesting, and occasionally, the poignantwere achieved by the choreography, in characteristically longer and longer (but never rambling) paragraphs filled with declarative sentences, of the extraordinary number of facts the writer had collected. The Profile metaphor, with its implicit acknowledgment of limited perspective, was no longer appropriate. Instead, it was as if the writer were continually circling around the subject, taking snapshots all the way, until finally emerging with a three-dimensional hologram.(Ben Yagoda, The New Yorker and the World It Made. Scribner, 2000)

Fun Science Facts You Need to Know

Fun Science Facts You Need to Know Amaze yourself and your friends with these science facts! This is a collection of fun and interesting science facts. When you crack a whip, it makes a sharp sound because the tip of the whip is traveling faster than the speed of sound. It is a sort of mini sonic boom!You could theoretically lose weight eating celery since it takes more calories to digest celery than are contained in the vegetable. Shark teeth are as hard as steel.The only letter not used in the periodic table is J.Lobsters have blue blood.Sound travels about four times faster in water than in air.2 and 5 are the only prime numbers that end in 2 or 5.Women blink nearly twice as often as men.The billionth digit of pi is 9. (Source: Ben Peoples)On average, it takes a person 7 minutes to fall asleep.The peanut is a member of the bean or legume family and not a nut.The prefix numbus in a cloud name means the cloud produces precipitation.Anemometers measure wind speed.The only two planets in our solar system that do not have moons are Mercury and Venus.Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.Oxygen is the most common element in the Earths c rust.

Gay marraige Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gay marraige - Essay Example The first reason which will be presented with regards to the issue of gay marriage and the need of it to be legalized throughout the United States is with respect to the fact that key humanitarian and democratic ideals demand that such a course of action should be pursued with all available haste. The fact of the matter is that the Declaration of Independence states that â€Å"All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.† Within such an understanding, it is unconscionable that anyone within this society should be denied any or all reasonable means of achieving such a level of parity that so many other members of society have so long enjoyed. In such a manner, the fight for homosexual rights and the right for homosexual marriage falls right alongside the means by which the nation sought to provide civil rights to its previously disenfranchised population of Af rican American individuals. Constricting the rights and privileges of a certain group merely because they do not represent the majority is wholly and entirely un-American and cannot be understood to be beneficial to the state of democracy and civil liberties. However, the legal aspects alone of this particular issue only represent a very small fraction of the concerns and issues that can be raised with regards to homosexual marriage and the means by which it is represented within the United States currently. From an ethical standpoint, regardless of what the Constitution, Delcaration of Independence, or key laws concerning civil rights and civil liberties claim, it is wholly and entirely unethical to deny a given subset of individuals the same rights that so many others within society enjoy. Furthermore, a society that prides itself on being a liberal democracy must take strides to ensure that the rights of all members are upheld; regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, or cree d. Yet, regardless of such an understanding and reality, there remains a vocal group of opponents to homosexual marriage that continue to derail any hope that such a reality will soon come to be included in the marriage system within the United States. Yet, rather than realizing that there remains such a vocal group of opposition to homosexual rights and homosexual marriage, it is necessary for the stakeholders within society, and even the listeners of this speech, to seek to continually promote the individual rights and liberties of each and every member of society; whether or not such a view conforms to one’s own worldview. Such a stance and/or interpretation may be seen as abonding principles; however, the championing of personal and individual rights is far greater than any personal qualms or misgivings with regards to gay marriage due to the fact that as long as one seeks to promote the rights of humanity and the ciivl rights and liberties of fellow citizens, these are f undamental concepts of law and society that will positively impact upon each and every individual – regardless of race, age, gender, creed, or sexual orientation. Finally, returning the facts concerning homosexual marriage, it must be understood that legalizing homosexual marriage provides an overall positive benefit to society due to the fact t

History research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

History - Research Paper Example ilm Gandhi, which belongs to the genre of epic biography, portrays the life history of Gandhi on one side and analyses the Indian independence movement and the related complex confluence of imperialism, nationalism, and decolonization on another side, because different methods adopted by Gandhi, like non-violent struggle, civil disobedience movement, the Salt March etc, eventually helped India to be free from the British rule. This research study is broadly divided as: Film as an epic biography: Gandhi’s life history, Analysis: Gandhi’s influence on Indian independence movement, Gandhi’s methods and Indian independence movement, and personal opinion. One can see that epic biography as a movie genre deals with life histories of historically significant individuals. Within this scenario, the film Gandhi primarily deals with the life history of Gandhi in general. To be specific, the opening scene (say, Gandhi’s death) proves that the director’s aim is to make use of flashback technique to narrate Gandhi’s life history. Martha NUSSBAUM stated that, â€Å"Mohandas K. Gandhi has been the subject of such vast discussion and such widespread veneration that even readers with little knowledge of Indian history are likely to have a reasonably accurate picture of him-especially if they have seen Richard Attenborough’s excellent 1982 film, in which Ben Kingsley successfully conveyed many aspects of Gandhi’s complex personality† (94). But the director does not try to unearth Gandhi’s earlier life because it is less significant within this context. Besides, the director portrays Gandhi’s political activism in South Africa. When Gandhi reached South Africa as a lawyer, the nation was under British imperialism. To be specific, some Indian merchants residing in South Africa asked Gandhi to help them to save them from discriminatory laws implemented by the government. When he reached South Africa, he realized that the Indian merchants are facing marginalization

Reinforced Concrete Beam Behavior in Bending Research Paper

Reinforced Concrete Beam Behavior in Bending - Research Paper Example ProcedureThe setup of the apparatus involved a beam that was in the machine with the gauge across the beam’s depth. It was loaded in flexure. The load in the concrete beam was increased uniformly from 0KN up to a load of 41.95KN. From the gauge reading taken, there was very little deflection at the beginning. The increase of the load was gradual. The beam first had a crack at the bottom when the load applied in the middle of the beam reached 10KN. There was a record of all gauge readings and deflections with each increment. Further increments of 2KN followed but with only the deflection readings recorded.   At the point where the beam deflection started increasing rapidly, the deflection gauge was removed. The beam was then loaded up to failure. The beam failed at 41.95 KN.The table below shows the results of the observations and readings from the gauge and applied load in the experiment.  DiscussionI. The development of cracksThe beam experience different loading conditio ns where the deflection on of the beam indicated the effect of the load on the beam. More increases to the load took the concrete beam to its elastic limit. Beyond the elastic limit, the beam experience permanent deformation. At a load of 10KN, the beam started developing cracks as it had reached its elastic limit. The cracked section demonstrates the behaviour of the material. It was elastic with light loads but with high loads, it became plastic and cracks started to appear.

Fire service administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Fire service administration - Essay Example They quickly alerted the teacher who was around who lined all students to vacate the building. As the teacher to make her way out of the class to access the avenue that led to the exit, the smoked was more intense and hence, she was forced to sit back in the class with the students to wait for help. The fire ignited fiercely and more time passed before the school alarm rang (McBride, 1979) At this time, a window was shattered at the staircase’s foot from the intense ignition providing the fire with oxygen. The heat also lit a roll of building paper that along with the oil based waxes triggered the oily, thick dark smoke that led to deaths from the smoke inhalation. The staircase made of wood also got ignited. Just around the same time the janitor noticed the fire and alerted the housekeepers to alert the department of fire. For 330 children and 6 teachers, the remaining outlet was jumping from the second floors or wait for the rescue team to arrive. Noticing the fix they were in, they teachers encouraged the students to sit at their lockers and pray. The intense flames, heat and smoke pushed them towards the windows. One of the teachers suggested that the students should stuff furniture at the door front that slowed the smoke till the rescue team arrived. Out of all the students, 8 got injured, and 2 died. One died out of roof collapse. The other died in the ho spital out of injuries (John K, 2008) What triggered the fire could not be established. A student of 5th grade during the time of ignition confessed to have set the place ablaze and then withdrew the confession. He feared telling this to the parents than to the authorities. He also said that he had been setting a series of fire in apartment buildings in the neighborhood. On that day, the boy had been excused to go the washrooms at 2pm. At this time is when the ignition started in the bin. Succeeding the incident, investigation established

How does my school compare with other schools in the U.S Essay

How does my school compare with other schools in the U.S - Essay Example In some respects there are some schools like the universities who have access to technology but there are many websites that they block. According to Hermida the ones that are blocked have to do with sexually explicit content, womens history, religious sites, drugs and pop culture (Hermida, 2003). These sites are basically blocked because the government does not want Saudi people getting ideas that may mean they go against their religion. This is very different from U.S. education because in the U.S. there are some things that are blocked by education like pornography sites but for the most part students have access to many things that will enhance their learning. According to the Saudi government the reason why these sites are blocked is because they want to preserve their customs and their religion. When they block a site it makes sure that their people will remain loyal to their religion. This is very important on Saudi Arabia (Hermida). There is a question about the technology situation. It is one thing to have technology but if it is censored it seems that this defeats the purpose. In the U.S. students can find out about people and situations that are different from their own. In Saudi Arabia they cannot. This may mean that the Saudi children do not receive the same type of education as those in the U.S. because they lack the flexibility of the Internet. When someone takes an engineering course or something to do with business they are able to use the full technology in that area. This means that it will be offered to men more than it will be offered to women. It seems that the Saudis know that men will need to have a better understanding of the Internet because they will be doing business on a global basis. It is important to keep in mind that the goal of education in Saudi Arabia is very different than the goal of the U.S. In the U.S. people go for education because they want to advance their career or

Fire service administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Fire service administration - Essay Example They quickly alerted the teacher who was around who lined all students to vacate the building. As the teacher to make her way out of the class to access the avenue that led to the exit, the smoked was more intense and hence, she was forced to sit back in the class with the students to wait for help. The fire ignited fiercely and more time passed before the school alarm rang (McBride, 1979) At this time, a window was shattered at the staircase’s foot from the intense ignition providing the fire with oxygen. The heat also lit a roll of building paper that along with the oil based waxes triggered the oily, thick dark smoke that led to deaths from the smoke inhalation. The staircase made of wood also got ignited. Just around the same time the janitor noticed the fire and alerted the housekeepers to alert the department of fire. For 330 children and 6 teachers, the remaining outlet was jumping from the second floors or wait for the rescue team to arrive. Noticing the fix they were in, they teachers encouraged the students to sit at their lockers and pray. The intense flames, heat and smoke pushed them towards the windows. One of the teachers suggested that the students should stuff furniture at the door front that slowed the smoke till the rescue team arrived. Out of all the students, 8 got injured, and 2 died. One died out of roof collapse. The other died in the ho spital out of injuries (John K, 2008) What triggered the fire could not be established. A student of 5th grade during the time of ignition confessed to have set the place ablaze and then withdrew the confession. He feared telling this to the parents than to the authorities. He also said that he had been setting a series of fire in apartment buildings in the neighborhood. On that day, the boy had been excused to go the washrooms at 2pm. At this time is when the ignition started in the bin. Succeeding the incident, investigation established

Representation of women in the media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Representation of women in the media - Essay Example Such long winded but common public discussions pertinent to Senator Clinton’s cleavage or demeanor only provided irrevocable evidence that in fct, sexism in the media was very much alive and well. â€Å"The highlight reel included lengthy discussions about the senators cleavage and comments about how men hear "take out the garbage" when she speaks. The video was a reminder that, at least where Hillary Clinton was concerned, sexism remained very present in the media†(Seligson, 2008). Senator Clinton’s confidence mistaken for masculinity was only the beginning of the sexist fueled media frenzy which all but defined the 2008 presidential campaigns. When Senator John McCain appointed Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate on the republican party ballot; sexism was seemingly reborn not only in the media but in the very individuals who would wish for the public to see them as anything but sexist. John McCain made a grossly offensive mistake by quickly selecting Palin when it would appear that Senator Clinton was no longer a contender for the office of the presidency. Most of the media and the general public for that matter, quickly saw his all too timely choice as one which seemed to desperately attempt to draw as many votes from would be Clinton voters; presumably because Clinton voters were only interested in a female candidate. This was an enormously poor oversight on the part of the McCain campaign which did not go unnoticed by many voters. This was not the extent however, of the highly sexualized, recent election. Palin was criticized for everything from her wardrobe to her pregnant teen daughter to her home state of Alaska. Even well known conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh made lewd references to Governor Palin’s legs while other well known media commentators referred to her in a number of highly inappropriate ways, â€Å"CNBC host Donny Deutsch commented numerous times on her "sex appeal." Liberal

English Communicative Grammar Essay Example for Free

English Communicative Grammar Essay 1. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct question number. Remember to underline the word you have supplied. Incorrect Correct Often these days we hear and speak of the conquered (eg.) conquered conquest in nature, ‘the taming of a river’, ‘the war against insects’ (a) _________ _________ and so on. Often these phrases being used without consciously (b) _________ _________ attaching any value to them, but they have an underlying attitude of hostile towards Nature and Nature’s (c) _________ _________ creatures, a viewpoint which seeming to assume (d) _________ _________ Nature as an enemy that needs to being vanquished. (e) _________ _________ Alternatively, Nature is seen merely as the ‘resource’ to be(f) _________ _________ ‘exploited’. 2. Read the following conversation and complete the paragraph. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. One morning while reading the paper, Raj told his wife (a). His wife, Rita, said that she thought (b).. . Raj replied that (c).. as the cashier had run away with Rs 5 million. 3. Complete the headlines by choosing the correct answers from the options given below: a) Drive against Liquor Mafia launched The police ______________________ engaged in smuggling of liquor to the state. b) China develops medical robot A polytechnic university in China ______________________ that can conduct surgeries. 4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct options. All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice Cry ‘Havoc’, and let slip the dogs of war; 1.Who is speaking these lines and when? a) Brutus at Caesar’s funeral b) Cassius at Caesar’s funeral c) Antony before Caesar’s body d) Antony to the Roman mob 2.How shall Caesar appear and what for? a) as a ghost to take revenge b) as a ghost with Ate to take revenge c) as a ghost to announce doomsday d) as a ghost to destroy humanity 3.Ate’ in Greek mythology is the a) goddess of revenge b) goddess of death c) goddess of destruction d) goddess of deception. 5. Answer the following questions briefly: ( 20-25 words)(1 Â ½ x 3 = 4 Â ½ Marks) i. Antony was indeed an excellent orator who ignited the spirit of revenge in the minds of the Roman people. Describe how he moulded the minds of the Roman people and turned them against the conspirators. ii. How is Brutus successful in taking Caesar to the Senate inspite of Calpurnia’s efforts to the contrary? iii. Write a note on the famous words ‘Et tu Brute!’ spoken by Caesar. 6. Though both Brutus and Antony address the public of Rome before Caesar’s funeral, there is a basic difference between the two. Bring out this contrast. Your answer should not exceed 75 words. (6 Marks)

Decolonisation Of Africa

Decolonisation Of Africa In this essay, I will be focusing on Africa as case study to explore debate about decolonisation. Decolonisation; the term generally refers to the achievement of independence by the various Western colonies and protectors in Asia and Africa following World War II. This conforms with an intellectual movement known as post-coloniaslism. In other words, decolonisation can be achieved by attaring independence, integrating with administering power and in addition, it is a political process sometimes involving violence in extreme circumstances and may be involves peaceful negotiation and/or violent revolt and arm struggle by the native population. Colonised peoples organized anti-colonial movements that asserted their rights to self-government. In this sense, nationalism gained great momentum during the 20th century world wars, thus changing the face of contemporary international politics. During the 20th century, decolonisation of Africa was one of the turning points in the history of post-war world. Decolonisation brought many negative images of Africa; hunger, arbitrary government, foreign exploitation and ecological pressures and neglects. But it also brought positive images; particularly it started to erase the view that blackness meant inferiority. All the consequences show us decolonisation debates made an impression as a theorically. There were two different theories; metropolitan and peripheral theory. In metropolitan theory, decolonisation was the impetus of western colonial powers because of factors in postwar Europe. In the second theory which was the peripheral theory, decolonisation was the result of which unfolded in colonies because of independence movements in colonies. According to David Birmingham, there were three important factors; decolonisation was the result of nationalist campaigning for independence,or the result of an imperial retreat,or the consequence of superpower pressure to gain access to continent guarded by Europeans (Birmingham,1995,p.91). In contrast, the author Raymond F. Betts argued that,decolonisation was the firsy the subject of political historians and political scientists who viewed the activity as either a national or an international problem, one of party formation, mass protest, nation building, big state rivalry. Perhaps, this extended occurance and the debate over it, both subsumed under the word decolonisation can best be summarized in a spontaneous but symbolic gesture. It occured,most appropriately, as a European political rule in Africa was quikly terminating (Betts,1998,pp.3-4). The decolonisation of Africa was one of the historic moment in the history of the post-war world. It captured the imagination of a new generation of idealists who declared ther belief in racial equality and individual liberty. The decolonisation of Africa caused by lots of movement as a political struggle such as the people of Africa helped to open the way for the civil rights movement in America. Before the 20th century, in the 1960s no less than 17 former African colonies become independent members of the United Nations; Somalia, Nigeria, Zaire and so forth. However, the course of decolonization was not always smooth. Primarily the burst of decolonisation was the central and most dramatic episode in a long process of political change that affected the whole of Africa. Decolonisation was the mirror image of the colonisation that had slowly brought European domination to Africa in 20th century(Birmingham,1995,p.2). In fact, this progress covered ground violent rebellion such as Alger ia and Kenya or sometimes reasonably peaceful such as Gold Coast-Ghana. Ghana which was called the Gold Coast was the first African state to become independent from British rule. The West African colony of the Gold Coast became the independent and sovereign state of Ghana in March 1957 with the previously imprisoned nationalist leader Kwame Nkrumah as its first Prime Minister(Judd,1996,354). In the case of Ghana, British governments could claim with some conviction that power had passed from colonial administrations to apparently stable and mature local government. In addition, Ghana was one of the Commonwealth states in West Africa which was in problematic political developments . The other decolonizaiton in Africa was Algeria;french colony, that it become independent in 1962. In the north settlers of Algeria aspired to unite their territory with France. Colonial Africa in 1946 had much the same shape as independent Africa in 1995. Algeria protested and supported a movement seeking recognition for on independent republic of Western Sahara. But in 1945 Algerians who celebrated the end of the European War in May 1945, imagined that independence would now be theirs, but their demands turned into o riotous threat to colonial order; settlers were killed and many demonstrators were shot by white vigilantes. So decolonization in northwestern Africa was delayed by ten years.(Birmingham,1995,p.16). This episode probably was an evidence for violent rebellion in Algeria. Even the decolonisation of Algeria caused a prolonged and destructive confrontation between European and Africa and the Macmillans biographer Alastair Horne called that savage war of peace (Birmingham,19 95,p.16). Moreover, the conflict increased in intensity such as townsmen boycotted French goods, countrymen took up arms in irregular forces and politicians demanded immediate independence. The other big debate was happened in Kenya which was one of the British colony. Kenya became an independent in 1963 under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta. The Mau Mau rebellion that culminated in the decolonization of the Kenya began in 1952. When, in the mid-1960s, the government of independent Kenya put pressure on its South Asian community to leave the country, the administration quickly imposed an annual quota of 1500 on Kenyan Asians wishing to enter Britain. This measure was promptly denounced as a betrayal of the agreement by which Kenya had achieved independence in 1963. To conclude, the debates; Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya, problematic political developments in Ghana and issues of Algeria show us why the decolonization occured by colonial power and anti-colonial struggles in 20th century. In contradistinction for the other places, these three settlements in Africa covered more important movements considering the others in the way of settlers, resources. For example, Ghana had most fundamental debates on account of it was the starting point of decolonization in Africa. The French colony Algeria had some economic components solemnly. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Betts, F. Raymond (1998) Decolonisation. London: Routledge Birmingham, David (1995) The Decolonisation of Africa. London: UCL Press Ferguson, Niall (2004) Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World. England: Penguin Books Hopkins, A.G. and Cain, P.J. (1993) British Imperialism: Crisis and Deconstruction. USA: Longman Howe, Stephen (2002) Empire: A Very Short Introduction. UK: Oxford University Press Judd, Denis (1997) Empire: The Trial of Jomo Kenyatta. London: Fontana Press

Baldwins Perspective in Notes of a Native Son Essay -- James Baldwin

James Baldwin Born in Harlem in 1924, James Baldwin grew to be a complex man with many aspects. As an avid reader as a child, Baldwin soon developed the skills to become one of the most talented and strong writers of his time. His first novel was written in 1953 and was called â€Å"Go Tell it On the Mountain† and received critical acclaim. More great work from this novelist, essayist, and playwright were to come, one of which was â€Å"Notes of a Native Son,† which was first published in Harper’s Magazine in 1955 and was also first known as â€Å"Me and My House.† In â€Å"Notes of a Native Son,† Baldwin exercises his many talents as an essayist in how he manages to weave narratives and arguments throughout the essay. He is also able to use many of his experiences to prove his points. Baldwin effectively interlaces his narratives, arguments, and experiences so as to reach his central idea and to advocate the overall moral that he has learned to his a udience. This is what makes Baldwin so unique in his work: his ability to successfully moralize all people he comes in contact with. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son† is faceted with many ideas and arguments. The essay begins with Baldwin recounting July 29, 1943. The day his father died and his mother bore her last child (63). Baldwin shares his fathers’ past and of the hate and bitterness that filled him and how Baldwin realizes that it may soon fill him also. Baldwin spends the rest of the essay mostly analyzing his experiences and the behavior and mentality of his father, of whom he seemed to dislike. He comes to the conclusion that one must hold true two ideas: â€Å". . . acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is and men as they are: in light of this idea... injustice is... ...w had been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (84). Now that his father is gone, he wonders how strong he will remain. How will he maintain his strength? His father gave him what he needed to break free from hatred and to be strong, but now Baldwin desires that his father was still there with him to keep giving him what he needs. To keep giving him all the answers, so as not to lose all of the strength that keeps the rage in his blood from overflowing. To keep him away from the disease that ultimately brought down his father, and if he loses that strength, he will ultimately bring down himself into his own destruction. Works Cited Baldwin, James. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son.† 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84.

Human Evolution Essay

There is a theory that humans descended from an earlier, lower form of life. There is an assortment of evidence that shows that all living creatures on Earth descended from a common ancestry. Evolution doesnt discriminate against humans. It is believed that we too are a product of an earlier predecessor. The similarities in all life are evident if you consider that every form of life builds from the same building blocks–20 essential amino acids, four nitrogen bases, and simple sugars. Each of Earths past and present forms of life are, or were composed of a combination of those building blocks called RNA or DNA. In the very beginning of life on Earth, the genetic structure was very simple, but as time has gone by, the best combinations in the genetic sequence were individuals that reproduced. Over the approximated 3.5 billion years that life has been in existence on Earth, there have been many mutations in the genetic codes of different forms of life. Only very few of the genetic mutations are indeed beneficial to the function of the species. Negative mutations give the life form a disadvantage for survival, thus reducing its chances for reproduction, but a positive mutation gives the species an advantage to survive and produce offspring. The offspring have a copy of the positive mutation now in their genetics to eventually pass down to their young and so on. Now you can see how the positive mutations have a way of piling up into different piles, which is why our result is a widely diverse life, which exists on Earth today. This theory of how evolution came to be is known as natural selection. It states that a weaker individual has a lesser chance for survival and reproduction than that of a stronger. Its natures way of weeding out the bad and seeding the good. In the study of evolution, evolutionary scientists try to find the ancestry and genetic relations between organisms. They try to map out the path of the ancestry between organisms over the existence of the Earths history. Another essential part of the study of evolution is actually making educated predictions of the history of a species. The history of a species includes the geographical distributions and the species population over time. All of the information that follows is valid in that it has genetic and fossilized evidence to prove its merit. Some of the most important aspects  that make a human different from its ancestors are the development of communication, brain function, and the ability to walk upright, which frees up the hands to embark on other tasks. Language is considered by many to be the most unique of all the human attributes. As strange as it may sound, genetically we are the most similar to that of primates as any other known living creature on Earth. The primate family includes chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas and even humans. Other than genetic similarities, we can show other likenesses in the tissue physiology and also by comparing brains circuits in a brain analysis. Humans are a prime example of natural selection. The domination of the world by the superior present day human is what ended all similar species. The species that we dominated were our greatest competition for food, intelligence, and essentially our very existence on this planet. When we beat our predecessor, we did it in a fight for our lives, not so much as an act of violence. In many cases, Humans may have killed our ancestors in a misunderstanding, not knowing why a similar being was so much more savage and violent. We may have protected our families by attacking these beastlike creatures. The first things that we need to know are, Who were our first ancestors? Why did they evolve? What did they look like? And how did they live? Without this information, we will not know what we have arisen from. The most likely place to look for our fossilized lineage is in the environment of our closest living relatives–Africa. This is the reason that most of our archeological digs have been occurring on this continent. Of the fossils found, the skulls have been the most important because by knowing the structure of the skull, we can see how distant their relations are to us. Since one of the most significant changes is brain size and function, the brain and brain cavities provide a lot of evidence for evolutionary change. We know about brain function from fossils because sometimes, even the brain is preserved inside the fossilized skulls. Our most distant known lineage into the human path is very much similar to that of a chimpanzee. This creature was known as Australopithecus afarensis and can be dated back to 3.2 million years ago. A. afarensis was still very similar to a chimp. The brain size was no larger than ours. The finger bones were still curved, showing that it was still quite comfortable in the trees. Even though it was slightly similar, it was still very different. A. afarensis had smaller canines than a chimpanzees. The face structure was more vertical with less snout. The spinal column was more upright than that of a chimp. The hip bones also showed something unusual–this animal walked upright. This was the first step in our direction from that of our most distant living relative. The famous Lucy fossil was the remains of an A. afarensis. This fossil showed that the A. afarensis, although different than chimps, still had a small rib cage and a large gut that was fit for digesting the large amount of vegetation that made up their diet. From the large gut, we can speculate that the diet of A. afarensis consisted of still mainly vegetation, and not yet much protein. While the Australopithecus afarensis existed, there was a great climate change in Africa. The once tropical African continent warmed and the main portion of the continent closest to the equator turned to dry grassland. The food that A. afarensis was accustomed to eating, had disappeared. Many of the chimps, like other animals, migrated south to the bottom tip of Africa. There in the forest, this upright primate had a disadvantage to the chimps, so it quickly died off in the forests. The Australopithecus that stayed had to adapt to survive. There was very limited food that these creatures could digest; they could not process the fibrous grasses that covered the plains. The Australopithecus split into two different forms of the species–a robust more animal-like version and a graceful more human-like model. The robust version adapted to eat the roots of plants. The tough root and difficult dig to obtain the meal resulted in a large-jawed, thick-skulled, digging creature. The smaller, more graceful was the one humans are in closest relation to. We find it evident in the size and shape of the brain found in fossils. These are the first of our ancestors that used stone tools. These  stone tools were the adaptation that fueled their kind. The stone tools at the time and great intelligence were what allowed them to obtain food. When scavenging for food, they would take a completely cleaned animal carcass and using their simple stone sledges, smash open bones and eat the protein rich marrow from within. They would also use their hammers to crack open the skull to obtain the brain, which was also rich in protein. The advantage here is that they had no competition for their newly found food because no other creature could access these meat reserves. The protein they were ingesting was food that was high in energy and much easier to digest than plant material. After generations went by, the large digestive track was slowly shortened because it was no longer needed. As the size of the animal lessened, the ratio between weight and energy rose. This gave room for the brain of these graced Australopithecus to adapt to the environment, and since intelligence is what kept this branch alive, their intellect developed more. The individuals who where the most intelligent made the best tools, and thus had a better chance for survival and reproduction. Tools, meat, and larger brains were the reasons that this species strived, but if you take out any of these vital parts, the others couldnt develop. Homo erectus is the next known ancestor down the branch to humanity. He dates back to 1.8 million years. H. erectus looked much like human, but still had a mind no more complex than a chimps. The brain of H. erectus was still 30% smaller than our own. Homo heidelbergensis shows much more human-like characteristics than its predecessor, Homo erectus. The first evidence of H. heidelbergensis in Europe dates back to .5 million years ago. There have been 5 tons of remains found in circle patterns in a small area. The circle patterns are evidence that they were living in round, maybe hut-like enclosures. When you consider the small area in which they were found, you can see that possibly they lived in a small community. Now living in Europe, having shelter was essential because Europe was a great deal cooler than their arid grasslands in Africa. Shelter is probably what allowed them to venture out of Africa for the first time, because without that support, they would surely freeze in the cold season. In a cave in Italy, scientists have found the skeletal  remains of one of these male creatures and the skeleton was preserved quite well. Deep in this cave, it has been partially covered by crystals that the cave has formed. By measuring the size of these bones, we know the size of this creatures male gender. This Creature used stone tools, but they used better stone like flint. Their tools were much sharper and lighter. They have found that they chipped hand axes out of flint that are much more complex than that of the previous. They also showed that they had many of the flint remains in one area, signifying that they used mass production to obtain their tools. They used theses sharp tools to butcher animals, meaning they had made the kill and no longer were only scavenging meat. At this time in history, animals, such as rhinoceros, elephants, lions and the largely extinct cave bear existed in Europe. H. heidelbergensis had a brain size very close to the size of a present day human. They used different tools when disassembling these large animals. They used large rocks for smashing bones, which enabled them to retrieve marrow from their thick bones. They harvested some of the bones from these creatures for tools in various activities. Their sharp flint tools were used to remove the meat from the bone. They also used antlers to dig and punch an initial hole in the carcass before butchering it. There is evidence that .5 million years ago when we know they had inhabited Europe, they not only were living there, but were also flourishing. This shows that they may have been there for many years prior. It isnt fully understood about why they migrated out of Africa and into Europe. In the new cooler climate, their edible vegetation was scarce; therefore there were less food options. The only two options were to scavenge or adapt. Our ancestors, like before, rose to the occasion and adapted to become hunters. They became hunters to eliminate scavenging against the ravage carnivores of their day. In Europe H. heidelbergensis was more advanced than the H. heidelbergensis of other areas. The advancements in the H. heidelbergensis of this area are evident in their tools. It is believed that the Europeans used language. This is proven by their methods of passing down knowledge. This much larger axe head was too large  for actual function. It was probably used as a model to show the detail of the axe head. Their scale model was proof that they must be teaching the art of tool making and in the process, using complex communication. This language was likely to be very simple to the language we know today, but it allowed them reflect on the past and to teach more efficiently. Even though their tools couldnt take down some of the larger prey, their intelligence proved itself again. They used swamps as traps, and would drive a large animal into a corner, where it would then have to retreat into the swamps. Once they entered, they couldnt escape the quicksand-like substrate. There is also evidence of the use wooden tools. Archeologists have found perfectly preserved wooden spears in the prehistoric swamps. When they examined the spears, they found that the tip was on the toughest part of the wood–the base. These spears were also found to be perfectly balanced, so they could be used as javelins. This was another step into humanity. They now had more food for themselves, their mate and their offspring. Neanderthals had a very robust build; they were short and very strong unlike anyone today. It is known from fossil records that Neanderthals disappeared at almost the exact time that that humans arrived. It has been widely believed for years that Neanderthals were our predecessors, but today we can tell that Neanderthals were a completely different, but almost parallel evolutionary relative. This is known by genetics. The last known Neanderthal fossil dates back to 28 thousand years ago. Before the humans invaded the land, the territory belonged to the Neanderthals. Their brains had completely different evolutionary paths than us; they may have appeared very similar to us, but were, in actuality, quite different. The brain of the Neanderthal evolved differently and not as drastically as that of the human brain. The evolution of the Neanderthals mind hit a plateau, and it is seen in the fossil records that the tools of the Neanderthals remained unchanged for a quarter million years before their extinction. Other than human competition, the main reason for the disappearance of the Neanderthals was a change in climate and landscape. They couldnt survive in an area with a disappearing habitat. They were so dependent on what they were accustomed to, that the transition couldnt be made and the result was an eventual  extinction of their species. In the rapidly cooling European areas, humans used their intelligence to adapt, but Neanderthals were isolated to pockets of still wooded areas. One by one, the Neanderthals died off. Homo sapiens date back to over 100,000 years ago, as the skull fossils found in Africa show. These humans were still quite primitive, but the bone structure was that of a present day human. Now that Neanderthals had disappeared, this meant less competition for our human ancestors. This is a perfect example of Charles Darwins theory of survival of the fittest. They couldnt adapt and died, and could no longer pass on their genes. We survived and we continue to procreate. Using decorative beads is one of the first examples of art in our species. One of the beads found was made of shell. The strange thing about this shell bead was that it was found hundreds of miles away from where it first lied. This is evidence that humans may have been trading with neighboring tribes. Another possibility is that they traveled the distance to retrieve the shell, but this proves that they were traveling into a much cooler climate. If they were able to survive in this cooler area, then they must have also been wearing warm clothing and building sturdy shelters. We have found decorative beads with the remains of Neanderthal bones. Not many of the recorded Neanderthals, in fact, used beads. Some consider that to show they used art also, but others believe it was simply them mimicking what they had seen their human counter parts doing. The Neanderthals beads were much more primitive, but that may be partially due to them being unable to grasp the function of the decoration as a form of self expression. This is a prime example of the similarities and differences in the minds of the two creatures. There is a theory that the last few Neanderthals had to interact with humans. In this theory, there is a possibility that some Neanderthals breed in hybridization between the two. If this were the case, then most of us would have traces of Neanderthal genes hidden in our genetic sequences. Humans used beads as barter and it aided in the process of large alliances and community. In their trades, they thought it was necessary for them to be civilized, which would also help shape, what we have become today. After they had migrated out of Africa, it was first believed that humans quickly inhabited Europe. Now, contrary to that belief, there is evidence that we slowly moved into Europe and had inhabited the new continent for quite some time. Humans were the most dominate of the two, taking over the food and habitat of the last living Neanderthals. Humans are the present day victors. We have shown our capabilities and superiority and only time will tell where we evolve from here. Anthony M AikinWork CitedDoolittle, Russell. â€Å"Evolution.† McGraw-Hill (2000): 4. Futuyma, Douglas. â€Å"Organic evolution.† McGraw-Hill (2004): 11. Rightmire, G. Philip. â€Å"Human evolution in Eurasia.† McGraw-Hill (2004): 4. Wilson, Edward. From So Simple A Beginning. New York City: W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 2006. Dawn of man Vol. 1. Dir. John Lynch. Videocassette. British Broadcasting Corporation, 2000. Dawn of man Vol. 2. Dir. John Lynch. Videocassette. British Broadcasting Corporation, 2000. Dawn of man Vol. 3. Dir. John Lynch. Videocassette. British Broadcasting Corporation, 2000.

Brutus and Antony

What can you do to be seen as an exceptional adequate speaker? Brutus and Antony are both noble people that are both fair speakers in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Cesar. Both people spoke at Cesar’s funeral trying to persuade their audience about his death. Brutus, who killed Cesar, tries to explain to the audience why he did such a thing, and Antony explains why what Brutus did was wrong. Although Brutus was a good orator and uses rhetoric well, Antony had the more persuasive speech overall. Antony had better use of emotional appeals, loaded words, and tone. Emotional appeals are arguments that attempt to persuade by feelings.Since Antony can’t say that Brutus is a bad person, he starts off with an ethical appeal. â€Å"The noble Brutus† (5). However, he says that line sarcastically, and soon proves to his audience that Brutus is wrong about Cesar by using an emotional appeal. â€Å"Hath told you Cesar was ambitious If it were so, it was grievous f ault, And grievously hath Cesar answered it† (6-8). He’s great at getting the audience thinking about if Brutus is actually noble and is one reason why Antony is a better speaker than Brutus. Second, loaded words are words that have strong emotional tones beyond its meaning.Antony uses loaded words to sway the people into his thinking that Caesar was good. â€Å"For Brutus is an honorable man, So are they all, all honorable men†(11-12). â€Å"Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And yet Brutus is an honorable man†(25-26). He repeats these lines often throughout his speech. Antony uses words like honorable and ambitious. This can be seen as a momentum that pushes his argument further. By the use of loaded words, Antony catches the attention of the of his audience and persuades them in a great manor. Lastly, tone, which is the speaker’s attitude toward the audience.Mark Antony uses a subtle and eloquent tone in his speech. This is in contrast to the rati onal tone of Brutus's speech. â€Å"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;† (1). Whereas Brutus’ speech starts off more weak and and calmer which wouldn’t grab the audience’s attention as much as Antony’s beginning speech. Overall, Antony had a more persuasive speech and it probably made the audience feel more included. He used a lot of appeals that let his audience to be more persuaded by his speech. He had a more stronger connection towards the audience and used skilled rhetoric, iambic meter, and manipulation in his speech.

Notes on Sales and Marketing

Create a Marketing Plan A good marketing plan can shape the way you connect to your existing customers and attract new ones. It can also help you determine the types of customers you should target, how to reach them and how to track the results so you learn what works to increase business. If you don't have a marketing plan, creating one is not difficult. A successful marketing plan doesn't have to be complex or lengthy, but should contain enough information to help you establish, direct and coordinate your marketing efforts.To help you through the process, we've identified five steps to follow. These encompass information gathering before you write your marketing plan, the drafting of the plan itself, and updating the plan after you've created it. Along the way we use Margie's Travel, a new 25-person travel service company, as an example. Step 1: Position your product or services To start your plan, keep in mind the four â€Å"Ps† of marketing: product, price, promotion and p lace. Your goal is to put the right product or service in front of the right customers, at the right price and at the right time and place.A good way to get started is to answer some basic questions about your business. The following scenario for Step 1 is based on the marketing plan used by Margie's Travel. †¢| Who are you selling to? Margie's Travel provides personal travel services to busy working professionals. Based on collected data, the typical clients are homeowners between the ages of 35 and 55, with yearly incomes of more than US$100,000. | †¢| What do those customers need? The target market for Margie's Travel is affluent working couples with children who want travel plans customised for a family.The company's goal is to provide convenient, unique and relaxing travel experiences appropriate to each family. | †¢| What distinguishes your product or service from the competition? Margie's Travel has a competitive advantage in its ability to accommodate families with children of all ages, from putting together fun and entertaining travel packages to making special accommodation travel plans with short or extended notice, flying domestically or internationally. Margie's Travel also has the advantage of being a home-based business that equires lower overhead and start-up costs than a traditional travel service business. | †¢| Are there marketing tactics that work best for your business? Research indicates that the most effective advertising tool for a service like Margie's Travel is small display ads in local papers, such as a weekly community newspaper with a paid subscription base of 5,000 to 40,000 readers. Margie's Travel also places ads in the local boating community newsletter, and sends brochures to larger businesses. By answering these key questions about your business, you can develop a solid foundation on which to build your marketing plan. Step 2: Ask for input from trusted advisors To ensure that you have a clear sense of yo ur own business, it is a valuable practise to gather information from those around you. Set up meetings with trusted friends, staff, advisors and peers, and ask for their input on the following: †¢| Who is your business selling to? | †¢| What do your customers need? | †¢| What distinguishes your products or services from the competition? | †¢| When and how often should you employ marketing efforts? †¢| Where should your company be one year from now? | Getting feedback on these aspects of your business can help you prepare your marketing strategy as well as create targeted materials. Step 3: Ask for input from customers and prospective customers To successfully market to customers, you need to learn how they react to your product, pricing, brand or service — anything related to your business. Ask several of your current and prospective customers what they think about your business, products and services, potential to sell to them, and competitors.You c an ask them by e-mail, telephone or marketing postcards. Incentives, such as discounts or samples, can encourage feedback. Step 4: Draft your plan Now that you have feedback and an outline, you can draft your marketing plan. Start by summarising your market position and goals, and define what you expect to accomplish in a specific time period. A typical marketing plan might be organised in the following way: †¢| Market Summary| †¢| Competitive Landscape| †¢| Product Comparison and Positioning| †¢| Communication Strategies| †¢| Launch Strategies| | Packaging and Fulfillment| †¢| Success Metrics| †¢| Marketing Schedule| With a marketing plan in place, you have a structure you can use to help keep your business on track. Step 5: Track your results, update your plan Reviewing your plan every six months helps you determine whether it is producing the results you need. You can easily track your progress with a spreadsheet, where you can also calculate yo ur marketing costs and compare them with sales and other metrics. You should also update your plan regularly to respond to changing market