Characteristics that a student displays that make him deserving of a Essay

Characteristics that a student displays that make him deserving of a scholarship from the University - Essay Example Hardworking may be a cliche but it still stands true to this day that a student should indeed be diligent, persevering to attain his objectives in life despite the many hindrances there may be. Despite this, the deserving student is also expected to display a positive attitude that will not only be a positive influence to her self but also to those around him. Such individual should be a team player, able to communicate himself clearly to avoid misunderstandings and able to tackle difficult situations in a group. He should be able to manifest organizational skills, able to put his schedules in check and making his time and energy productive. In addition, one should be loyal as this will affect greatly how he acts in places and circumstances that there are no people looking at him. He should then be trust worthy. Respect is another characteristic a good student should possess because this is one of the inner beauties needed by many people and makes the holder of such value loved and r espected in return. This and all of the aforementioned attitudes are all equally important for a student to own and in addition must display good grooming as outer appearance follows inner values.

Voices of Freedom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Voices of Freedom - Essay Example As the discussion highlights strong believed that the minor races did not have any option but to conform to the views of the superior race. Document 112 presents Emilio Aguinaldo on American imperialism in the Philippines. Aguinaldo was of the opinion that Americans needed to give the Philippines the right to self-governance and independence. In his view, it was ironical that America represented particular ideals of freedom, yet they denied the Philippines their right to independence.This essay discusses that the events in Memphis changed Ida Wells’ attitude towards lynching after her first hand witnessed the events that unfolded. Many of the lynchings had been based on lies and false accusations of black people. In the Memphis lynching, three black men were shot dead. Before the men were killed, it had been declared that their grocery store would be destroyed. To prevent the attack, the three partners hired men to protect their grocery store. Some white men who stole goods fr om the store were shot by the black men and wounded. Such events led to many colored men imprisoned. The following day, the three black men were killed. After witnessing such events and reading the newspapers published the following day, Wells realized that the lynchings were staged to eliminate black people. In her view, it was an evident demonstration of racial segregation. The Memphis lynching led to the destruction of her newspaper, an aspect that motivated her to begin an anti-lynching movement.

Intelligent Lighting Control Using Android Application

Intelligent Lighting Control Using Android Application Divya Srinivasan, N.R.Raajan, Jayakumar V.K, Manonmani P Abstract: In this era where smartness is the key, automatic systems are preferred over manual ones. An important application of smart technology is efficient energy utilization, which is the need of the hour. Energy consumption can be minimized by turning off lights when they are not required, optimizing lighting levels to suit workers and by embracing green technology. One simple way to reduce carbon footprint is the usage of a lighting control system which delivers light as per the requirements and avoid unnecessary wastage. In this paper, a lighting control system using an android application has been proposed. Android is one of the widely used open source mobile platform and the user base is growing faster day by day. As more people are using smart phones, controlling light using an android application is cheaper, easier and cost effective. Keywords: Light control, Arduino board, GSM/GPRS module, Relay board, Android application I. INTRODUCTION Reducing energy consumption and increasing user comfort have always been main objectives of any intelligent building in today’s scenario. Meeting these two demands is a complex task. This paper presents an effective way to reduce energy utilization and increase user comfort. In this paper, Arduino, a microcontroller is used. It is an open-source embedded platform where one can write programs and run it using hardware. Arduinos have the ability to sense the environment by getting input from different sensors and it can control its surroundings by controlling light, motors etc. The communication between a smart phone and microcontroller is established through a GSM/GPRS module. A GSM/GPRS module is same as that of the normal mobile phone and it needs a SIM card to communicate. It does the job of a normal mobile phone. This type of communication is called Machine to Machine (M2M) communication. What it means is that both wired and wireless systems are allowed to interact with oth er devices. It enables the flow of data between machines and finally between humans and machines. Irrespective of the nature of the data or machine, information flows in the same way, which is starts from a machine .Then it passes over a network and then through a checkpoint or gate to a system where it can be evaluated and acted upon. The aim of the M2M hardware is to provide an interface between the machine and the network. This paper deals with this M2M communication. Work to be done by the end user is very simple. Wireless communication makes human life easier and simpler. And especially with mobile, everything is instant and reachable. The block diagram of the proposed system is shown in fig 1. Fig 1.General Block Diagram II. GSM MODEMS GSM modems are much like GSM devices which helps in providing GSM functionality according to our needs. A complete phone can be built using a GSM modem but that would be a waste of important resources like time, which is of the essence, and money, because a phone would work out to be more cost effective. DTMF can help us control remotely, but DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency signaling) in the aspects of monitoring has its own limitations.In these cases GSM modems can really be helpful. GSM modems can play a key role in projects which requires Remote Monitoring and Control. In this way Machine to Machine communication can be established. Pre-defined commands can be used to control GSM modems by sending them serially. These pre-defined commands are known as AT commands. In this paper the focus is on messaging only. AT commands also known as theHayes commands, is a specific command languageactually developed for theHayesSmartmodem. The command set comprises of a series of short text stri ngs that combine together to give complete commands for operations like dialing of numbers, call termination and the required parameter changes of the connection network. The Hayes command set is one of the most commonly used and is available in numerous variations. III. HAYES COMMANDS Some basic commands which are required to perform basic telephony operations are mentioned below Messaging Set Message Type as Text AT+CMGF=1 Set Message Destination Number Type Message AT+CMGS=+91XXXXXXXXXX When this command is entered, there is a prompt of the GSM modem terminal wherein the message to be sent is typed. After the message in entered, Ctrl+Z is pressed to exit terminal prompt. Once all the above steps are followed, the message will be sent to the user by the GSM modem. In addition to the above commands, a set of sequential messages will be sent by the GSM modem when an SMS or Call is received. Some of the messages are mentioned below. Incoming SMS Incoming SMS returns a message +CMTI: SM, 23 Read SMS To read the incoming SMS, the command used isAT+CMGR=Xwhere the number is X which is returned at the end of the+CMTI output above. For example it is 23 The SMS is received in the following way +CMGR: REC UNREAD,+91XXXXXXXXXX,phonebook entry†, â€Å"Date, Time Message Text The above set of information is enough for to work with the GSM modem. Using Arduino IDE, code is written to receive message from GSM modem and the message is processed in the controller. Light is switched on or off only when the incoming message matches with the string written in the program. The Arduino Uno is a controller board based on theATmega328. It has 14 I/O pins (6 of which can provide PWM o/p)-Digital, a 16MHzceramic resonator, a USB connection, analog I/P-6, a power cord, an In Circuit Serial Programming(ICSP) header and a reset button. The specifications of Arduino Uno rev3 are shown in table 1. Table 1: Arduino Uno Specifications In addition to the above, dedicated functions are available for some of the pins: Serial: 1 (TX-Transmission) and 0 (RX-Reception). It is used to receive and transmit TTL (Transistor -Transistor Logic) serial data. The pins are linked to the equivalent pins of theATmega8U2USB-to-TTL Serial chip. External Interrupts: 2 and 3.These two pins can be designed to initiate an interrupt when any of the mentioned cases happens –a low value occurs, a falling or rising edge, a value change. PWM: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11.Provide 8-bit PWM output with theanalogwrite() function. SPI: 10 (SS), 11 (MOSI), 12 (MISO), 13 (SCK).These pins support SPI communication using theSPI library. LED: 13.There is an LED, which is in-built, is linked to the pin (digital) 13. If the pin has a HIGH value then it’s in ON state, if it has a LOW value it’s in OFF state The Arduino UNO has the capability to communicate with a computer, another Arduino, or other controllers. Themicrocontroller used in this paper provides UART TT Logic (5Volts) serial communication, which is obtainable in pins (digital) 1 (TX) and 0 (RX).In anATmega16U2on the board serial communication is done over USB and appears as a virtual communication port. In the case when ATmega16U2 is used, external drivers are not required and the USB COM drivers (standard) are used.The Arduino software also includes controls which allow text based data to be sent and received. The Rx (Receive) and Tx (Transmit)LEDspresent will blink when data is being sent from USB to serial chip or to any other terminal. Aserial libraryin the form of a software present in Arduino permits serial communication on any of the pins (digital) of Uno. The Arduino software IDE is used to configure the Arduino Uno. TheATmega328on the Arduino Uno comes preburned with abootloaderwhich allows codes to be uploaded to t he board without the use of a programmer who has expertise in hardware programming. Communication is possible through the use of STK500protocol. The bootloader can be bypassed and the controller is programmed using the ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) IV. HARDWARE CONNECTIONS The SIM Card is inserted into the GSM modem. The Tx (Transmit) pin of the GSM modem is connected to pin (digital) 3 of the Arduino. The Rx (Receive) pin of the GSM modem is connected to pin (digital) 4 of the Arduino. The Gnd(Ground) pin of the GSM modem is connected to the Gnd(Ground) pin of theArduino. The GSM modem uses an external 12Volts DC Adaptor as power source (The+5Volts from internal source of Arduino is not sufficient). It is made sure that the network LED flashes with a 2s delay and not 1s delay. 2s delay means it is connected to network, 1s delay means not unable to connect to network. Once the connections are given and the code is uploaded to the Arduino board, the string which is given in the code is sent as a message, GSM will receive the message and it will send it to Arduino which in turn will process the message and the corresponding action will take place. If number of lights is counted, then for each light some string has to be given in the coding. Instead of sending each message, development of an android application user friendly. Through an android app, message can be given. Since the GSM SIM900A is a GSM/GPRS module, control lights through android app are also possible. Authorization can also be given. It will provide restricted access people to control lights. The front end of the Android app looks like as shown in fig 2 and fig 3. Fig 2.Android App Password Screen Fig 3.Android App User Interface Using the swipe icon in the front panel, the lights can be turned on/off using this android app. Also only the users who know the password can control the lights. Number of lights which can be controlled depends on the number of ports the controller has. The controller output is given to relay boards and the output of the relay board is given to switches. In this way an android application and light is a terminal device. Also an admin is created and he/she will get the message that who is controlling the light. In this way, security can be improved. V. CONCLUSION Unnecessary lighting is one of the prime reasons for energy wastage. The most effective and easy way to curtail this is to turn off lights when they aren’t required. Lighting control systems can use factors such as occupancy, available daylight and time of day, thus providing significant energy and cost savings, a greater level of flexibility and control for building owners and added comfort for occupants. With increasing user comfort, energy can be saved to a larger extent. Also security is tightened with proper admin rights. Wireless systems reduce the labor, costs and wiring requirements of lighting control when compared to traditional systems. In short, wireless networking can usher in a new generation of smarter lighting control systems which reduce energy utilization and ensure a greener world.

The Challenges of Lesbian and Gay Youth Essay -- Lesbian Gay Teens Ado

The Challenges of Lesbian and Gay Youth This research paper is missing the works cited â€Å"The unprecedented growth of the gay community in recent history has transformed our culture and consciousness, creating radically new possibilities for people to ‘come out’ and live more openly as homosexuals†(Herdt 2). Before the 1969 Stonewall riot in New York, homosexuality was a taboo subject. Research concerning homosexuality emphasized the etiology, treatment, and psychological adjustment of homosexuals. Times have changed since 1969. Homosexuals have gained great attention in arts, entertainment, media, and politics. Yesterday’s research on homosexuality has expanded to include trying to understand the different experiences and situations of homosexuals (Ben-Ari 89-90). Despite the transition, little consideration has been given to understanding the growing population of gay adolescents. 25% of American families are likely to have a gay child (Hidalgo 24); In the United States, three million adolescents are estimated to be homosexual. Yet, American society still ignores gay adolescents. Majority of children are raised in heterosexual families, taught in heterosexual establishments, and put in heterosexual peer groups. Gay adolescents often feel forced by parents to pass as â€Å"heterosexually normal† (Herdt 2). As a result, homosexual teens hide their sexual orientation and feelings, especially from their parents. Limited research conducted on gay young adults on disclosure to parents generally suggests that disclosure is a time of familial crisis and emotional distress. Very few researchers argue that disclosure to parents results in happiness, bringing parents and children closer (Ben-Ari 90).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The debate over homosexuality as nature or nurture dominates most topics about homosexuality. People often confuse the nature/nurture issue with the development of gay identity. In fact, the nature/nurture argument plays a small, insignificant role concerning gay youths (Walling 11). Homosexual identity is the view of the self as homosexual in association with romantic and sexual situations (Troiden 46) Many researchers have either discussed or created several models or theories concerning the development of homosexual identity. However, the most prominent is Troiden’s sociological four-stage model of homosexual identity formation. Dr. Richard R. Troiden desc... ...Being kicked out from the home is another consequence of rejection by parents (Mallon, Wagon 83). Urban and rural Associate researchers discovered that many young male prostitutes are homosexual, and they are products of their families’ inability to accept their son’s homosexuality (Coleman 136).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It would be wrong to say that only negative outcomes occur when a child tells his parents he is gay. Many children feel that in order to establish an honest relationship with their parents then they must â€Å"come clean† to them. Ben-Ari’s research points out those adolescents who want to be open and honest with their parents receive that after disclosure. Parents are usually accepting after time their child’s sexual preference (107) Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This paper has effort to generally show youths growing up gay. A number of issues have been presented involving gay identity formation, parental interaction, and disclosure. Homosexuality is a very controversial subject. By no mean does this paper try to say that it is â€Å"totally correct.† However, the paper does examine logical theoretical ideas of what gay adolescents endure, using and combining research and reports of other gay studies.

Fusion Centers

FUSION CENTERS Cecilia Pina 05/16/12 compSc 100: Mon & Wed 4pm-5:50pm â€Å"A fusion center is an effective and efficient mechanism to exchange information and intelligence, maximize resources, streamline operations, and improve the ability to fight crime and terrorism by merging data from variety of sources. †(1) Let us break this down, fusion is the act of fusing or combining and center is a point or place in which interest focuses. In other words a fusion center is a single place where the U.S. government collects all kinds of information on just about everyone. That single place they use is a high end database not a warehouse full of file cabinets stuff with paper document. A database is a where the collection of information that can be easily accessed and manipulated on a computer or computers. The two play a role off of each other, fusion centers and databases. Of course you can have one without the other but it makes it so much simpler to combine the two.Using the fusio n center to make it easier as far as knowing where to look up the info and the databases in order to obtain the information you desire to seek, change, add to or delete a quicker process. You may be asking â€Å"What is the purpose of the U. S. government having a fusion center for? † It may not seem like something we need to go to such extremes to keep data on ourselves because we are just a citizen. The U. S. government finds it as a precaution for our safety and allows a better fight against crime and terrorism.The U. S. government claim to use fusion centers for other reasons; Agriculture, Food, Water, and the Environment, Banking and Finance, Chemical Industry and Hazardous Materials, Criminal Justice, Education, Emergency Services (non-law enforcement), Energy, Government, Health and Public Health Services, Hospitality and Lodging, Information and Telecommunications, Military Facilities and Defense Industrial Base, Postal and Shipping, Private Security, Public Works, Re al Estate, Retail, Social Services, Transportation.In 2004 and 2005, most states started making fusion centers with different local, state, and federal funds. At that point in time, there were no standards or guidelines existing to assist with the issues of operating together and communication with other fusion centers at the state, regional, and federal levels. As a result, fusion centers that were created to share information were actually just storing the information, and were incapable of exchanging the information. In response, the U. S.Department of Justice (DOJ) created is known as the Law Enforcement Intelligence Fusion Center Focus Group (FCFG). At the same time, the Homeland Security Advisory Council , U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s, Intelligence and Information Sharing Working Group were focusing on the preventing information sharing by creating guidelines for local and state agencies in relation to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of terrorism- related intelligence (i. e. , the fusion process). The recommendations resulting from the U. S.Department of Justice initiative and Homeland Security Advisory Council’s efforts laid the foundation for the expansion of the Fusion Center Guidelines to combine the public safety and private sector entities. Consequential to publishing the first Version of the Fusion Center Guidelines and the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s Intelligence and Information Sharing Initiative the Homeland Security Intelligence and Information Fusion report, the U. S Department of Justice and Homeland Security Advisory Council established two additional focus groups.The two groups added were the Public Safety FCFG (fusion center focus group) and the Private Sector FCFG, in an attempt to develop a complete set of guidelines for fusion centers. Participants in the three focus groups included experts and practitioners from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; public safety agenci es; and the private sector as well as government from current operating fusion centers. As well as, representatives from national law enforcement, public safety, and private sector organizations participated in the focus groups.These guidelines are to be used to make sure that the fusion centers are established and operated consistently, resulting in improved coordination efforts, strengthened partnerships, and improved crime-fighting and antiterrorism capabilities. The guidelines and related materials will provide assistance to centers as they prioritize and address threats posed in their specific jurisdictions for all crime types, including terrorism. In addition, the guidelines will help administrators develop policies, manage resources, and evaluate services associated with the jurisdiction’s fusion center.The guidelines are to be used for homeland security, as well as all other crimes and hazards. The full report contains a very in-depth explanation of the guidelines and the key elements needed. Also in the report are extra resources, model policies, and tools for guideline requirements’. â€Å"Fusion centers are incorporating private corporations into the intelligence process, further threatening privacy. There is no probable cause for any information relating to any citizen to be included in the data base. There is no due process connected with any information utilized.There in no accountability for mishandling of information or misinformation distributed about any Oregon Citizen. Types of Data that are being collected: Living arrangements, drivers license records, insurance  records, health records. Types of Data that may be collected: Phone  Records, shopping records obtained through the private sector and used for profiling groups and individuals. Such information can be misused for â€Å"E-Verify† to screen for  jobs, or insurance and health policies. E-Verify:  E-Verify  are an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the  Social Security  Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available in all 50 states Mechanics of Centralized Data Bases: Government agency or makes Request. Agency (or Fusion Center) pulls information from all sources. Report generated – distributed to requesting agency or – and then trashed. You hear about it or are informed etc. , then request copy (Freedom of Information Act). It does not exist (it has been trashed). †(5) The U.S Government claims all this is for our safety but as showed it is to keep track of us, or as I believe. Next they could use RFID chips to make it easier for them to hold our every move. Bibliography 1:† Fusion Centers and Intelligence Sharing. †Ã‚  IT. OJP. GOV Home. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 May 2012. . 2:†EPIC – Information Fusion Centers and Privacy. †Ã‚  EPIC – Electronic Privacy Information Cent er. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 May 2012. . 3:German, Mike , and jay stanley. â€Å"FUSION CENTER UPDATE. †Ã‚  FUSION CENTER UPDATE. N. p. , n. d. Web. 1 May 2012.

Dutchman – Thematic Analysis Paper

Williams, Jae`da June 19, 2012 ENC 1102 Dutchman Thematic Analysis The phrase â€Å"racial tension† is a small description of the main theme in Dutchman by Amiri Baraka. While race is a vital part of the underlying messages in the play, it stems to a much broader term. In Dutchman Amiri Baraka attempts to grasp the attention of the African American society. Baraka uses Clay’s character to show readers that complete assimilation into another culture is wrong. He wants to awaken the African American men and women in a predominately Caucasian American culture to subconsciously kill the person that is portrayed by Clay in the play.Not only does Baraka want readers and audience members to kill their inner Clay, but refuse to conform to what is known as the â€Å"Average African American man /woman†. The post-thought process that takes place after reading or seeing the play is what triggers the desire to re-evaluate oneself in who they are and how they are portrayed in society. In the article Dutchman Reconsidered by Thaddeus Martin, it is said that Lula’s whimsical and formless personality is Baraka’s way of saying that the freedom of whites is boundless, and Clays â€Å"Puritanical and Victorian† ways shows how blacks are condemned to suffer the furies of that freedom. Martin 62) For example Clay and Lula’s dialogue in scene one: â€Å"Clay: Wow. All these people, so suddenly. They must all come from the same place. Lula:Right. That they do. Clay: Oh? You know about them too? Lula: Oh yeah. About them more than I know about you. Do they frighten you? Clay: Frighten me? Why should they frighten me? Lula: ‘Cause you’re an escaped nigger. Clay: Yeah? Lula: ‘Cause you crawled through the wire and made tracks to my side? Clay: Wire? Lula: Don’t they have wire around plantations? Clay: You must be Jewish. All you can think about is wire.Plantations didn’t have any wire. Plantations were bi g open whitewashed places like heaven, and everybody on ‘em was grooved to be there. Just strummin’ and hummin’ all day. Lula: Yes, yes. † (Baraka 2754) Lula refers to Clay as an escaped nigger because he crawled through the wire and made tracks to her side. Lula’s reason for saying such a statement shows the common assumption that all black people admire white style. With Clay giving such an apathetic response to Lula’s comment, it is an example of the suggested submissiveness to white authority from an African American.This kind of behavior from Clay is used as a reminder to African Americans to idolize the thoughts and ideas of Caucasians. (Martin 62) There is a power struggle between black and white in Dutchman. When Clay was the more dominant character as an African American man he had a sense of confidence and assurance about himself, but once he is killed, his character is seen as the person you don’t want to be. Baraka’s idea is that if you take on the ways of Clay eventually you will end up someone you’re not, losing your true self.On the contrary when Lula was the more dominant person she had a sense of esteem that overpowered Clays. Her overpowering attitude is to symbolize the dominating cultural presence white people have over blacks. Even with all of the sarcastic comments Clay made as comebacks to Lula, her ingenious way of insulting him still left her with the upper hand. Clays laid back attitude toward Lula is admirable, almost as if he looks up to her wanting to be her. Clay’s admiration for Lula did not begin when she stepped on the train but originated in his upbringing.His yearning to fit into the white culture that seemed to be much better off than he was is what established his appreciation for the white society. (Kumar 277-278) At first he tolerates her comments and attempts to take them lightheartedly, because he has hopes at being intimate with Lula. Willing to listen to a white woman strip him of his pride and manhood just for a night of pleasure, Clay is submitting to the dominant character of Lula. In scene two Lula’s insulting comments progress: â€Å"Lula: Uhh! Uhh! Clay! Clay! You middle-class black bastard.Forget your social-working mother for a few seconds and let’s knock stomachs. Clay, you liver-lipped white man. You would-be Christian. You ain’t no nigger, you’re just a dirty white man. Get up. Clay. Dance, with me, Clay. Clay: Lula! Sit down, now. Be cool. † Even through Lula insulted him and spoke badly about his mother clay still responded in an apprehensive way. Lula’s aggressiveness in her speech angers Clay to the point where he curses at her, that is after she calls him an Uncle Tom Wooly Head. (Martin 62)(Kumar 276) At the end of scene one Lula says â€Å"You’re a murderer, Clay, and you know it. (Baraka 2751)This quote could be thought of as a subliminal way of saying that Cla y killed the black man inside of him. All throughout the first scene Lula has the more aggressive and dominant role, but in scene two Clay takes on the more authoritative role, while Lula ends up being the actual murderer at the end of the play. Lula’s plot to kill Clay is in some way foreshadowed when the other passengers board the train and she says â€Å"we’ll pretend that people cannot see you†. (Baraka 2751) Clay tries to defend himself all throughout the play but doesn’t succeed because he can’t defend something that he is not.While Lula is insulting the stereotypes and behavior of black men, Clay cannot fully defend them because he himself isn’t truly â€Å"black†. (Klinkowitz 123-124) Baraka used a sense of satire because instead of directly inputting his opinion about Clay he played off of Lula’s character, which provoked Clay to portray through his actions the person readers don’t want to be. This kind of appro ach causes readers to think about whom they are and their role in society. Dutchman raises the attention of readers black or white and makes each think of who they really are.Even through the personalities of each character, any reader can apply themselves to the situation. With America becoming so diverse in the last decades assimilating ourselves into different cultures has become almost second nature, so adapting to other cultures has not caused us to loose who we really are but to accustom ourselves to change. Baraka didn’t want readers to internally kill the person they were inside, but to do away with the person that they weren’t. Complete and total assimilation into another culture is what Clay did to himself and is what Baraka wants Blacks to not do.Instead, he wants Blacks to never forget who they are, but to not be so narrow minded that they are blind to the world around them. Jae`da WilliamsAnnotated Bibilography Galens, David M. Dutchman-Amiri,Baraka. Drama For Students. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1998. 141-59. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Cengage Learning. Web. 31 May 2012. Electronic Book. Drama for Students gives readers different outlooks on a variety of texts. The approach taken to analyze the piece Dutchman is unique, because instead of offering one theme there are multiple.This allows readers to take it upon themselves to decide what they think about the play. By providing plot summaries it allows readers to take what they thought about the text and apply it to a more condensed version. Drama for Students would work best in a classroom, considering it’s written for students. Since it is written in a form for students to learn and comprehend, it would be no challenge to grasp the concepts presented. This non-complex approach to the play will help the clearness of my research. The direct approach should help anyone who uses this resource.Understanding the background of the play is not difficult, because of the short author biography provided. This makes the Dutchman than just a piece of literature, but rather a piece of the author. Piggford, George. â€Å"Looking into Black Skulls : American Gothic, the Revolutionary Theatre, and Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman. †Ã‚  American Gothic: New Interventions in a National Narrative. Iowa: University of Iowa, 1998. 143-59. EBSCO Host. Web. 30 June 2012. Electronic Book. Piggfords approach in comparing Dutchman to African-American Gothic literature is different from the other resources that I have come across.The social and political events that were taking place while the play was written have a lot to do with Piggfords ideas on the underlying issues Baraka implemented into the play. It is aid that Dutchman marked the end of a certain type of theater, the kind that uses social structures as the gateway to examining the black psyche. This book is very helpful because it not only addresses the things that are usually looked for in a piece of work such as theme, characters motivation, outside influences and the authors influence.The title and the way the text makes others feel is a part of the meaning of the play in its entirety. Martin, Thaddeus. â€Å"Dutchman Reconsidered. †Ã‚  Black American Literature Forum  2nd ser. 11 (1977). Web. 23 May 2012. Online Article. In this review Martin gives an analysis of the characters in Dutchman, mainly Clay and Lula. By using quotes from the text, his ideas about the play seem to have a great amount of relevance and validity. Although the article is short it brings much insight to my research because of its strong argument.It presents an idea, and then runs with it. Martin doesn't waver in what he believes is the message that is in Dutchman. Even though his ideas are similar to other journal reviews, Martin includes more of his opinion rather than relying on past events and political issues that were that were prominent in that time. It's almost as if Martin is taking into considerati on the feelings of the characters of this play. He relates the feelings of average Americans to the characters of the play; this gives a more personal feel to the research. Kumar, Nita. The Logic of Retribution: Amiri Baraka's â€Å"Dutchman†Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  African American Review  37. 2/3 (2003): 271-79. JSTOR. Web. 23 May 2012. Online Article. Nita Kumar's response to the Dutchman is very useful in my research because its examples are from other reviews of the work. This type of literary construction gives Kumar’s work more versatility. It is able to suit different opinions without insulting anyone’s views. In Dutchman, the use of language plays an important role, and Kumar recognizes that. Examining the language used and how it helps the characters feed off of one another is important.This will help anyone who reads the review grasp an understanding on why some things were said and exactly what they mean. Putting her ideas into categories, Kumar’s' review is very well organized which makes it beneficial to my research. The organization of the article makes it a lot easier for readers to follow along and allow time for things to process, which is why it is so ideal for research. Klinkowitz, Jerome. â€Å"LeRoi Jones: Dutchman as Drama. †Ã‚  Negro American Literature Forum  7. 4 (1973): 123-26. JSTOR. Web. 23 May 2012. Online Article.This text offers a great layout of information. Klinkowitz takes pages of text in the play and evaluates it, instead of the entire play as a whole. This approach literally breaks down the quotes and thoughts of the characters. This piece even analyzes the position that LeRoi Jones was in when he wrote the Dutchman. Not only does he break down the pages of the script, but still does not fail to incorporate other writers ideas and opinions in his work, Instead of taking away from the point that Klinkowitz is trying to make, the examples make his writing more relatable and personal.The continual flo w of criticism allows for the author to be very static in his opinions. Just as a teacher would teach their students a lesson, allowing room for opinions and ideas, Klinkowitz allows readers to input their own thoughts and ideas on the play. Works Cited Galens, David M. Dutchman-Amiri,Baraka. Drama For Students. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1998. 141-59. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Cengage Learning. Web. 31 May 2012. Electronic Book. Piggford, George. â€Å"Looking into Black Skulls : American Gothic, the Revolutionary Theatre, and Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman.   American Gothic: New Interventions in a National Narrative. Iowa: University of Iowa, 1998. 143-59. EBSCO Host. Web. 30 June 2012. Electronic Book. Martin, Thaddeus. â€Å"Dutchman Reconsidered. †Ã‚  Black American Literature Forum  2nd ser. 11 (1977). Web. 23 May 2012. Online Article. Kumar, Nita. â€Å"The Logic of Retribution: Amiri Baraka's â€Å"Dutchman†Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  African American Review  37. 2/3 (2003): 271-79. JSTOR. Web. 23 May 2012. Online Article. Klinkowitz, Jerome. â€Å"LeRoi Jones: Dutchman as Drama. †Ã‚  Negro American Literature Forum  7. 4 (1973): 123-26. JSTOR. Web. 23 May 2012. Online Article.

Shoes and Bags Company

Shoes and Bags Company Introduction Fashion industry is one of the most developed industries around the world. Many firms have come up in this industry because it is very lucrative. In the United Kingdom, this industry is one of the most attractive, employing a large number of the country’s populace, especially in the private sector. Some of the commodities that have received a lot of attention are bags and shoes (Eggert Ulaga 2002, p. 78).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Shoes and Bags Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These items have become the most commonly purchased items from among the male and female customers. For men, shoes would always be the determinant of one’s class. For this reason, they would shop around; looking for a pair that would reflect a class he would want to identify with. The retailers of this product must therefore know the quality that this section of the market would be looking for. This market segment does not value bags so much. However, they also buy this product, especially the laptop bags or briefcases that would help them during the short journeys. On the other hand, women are the major market segment for bags. They value this product because, just like men, this would always be the symbol of their status (Barnes, Blake Pinder 2009, p. 93). They would want a product that meets their specifications. They would also need shoes to match such bags they purchase. The attractiveness of this industry and the open market structure in this country that allows free entry of firms into this industry has seen an influx of firms into this industry. These firms have mastered the art of trade. Furthermore, they are very competitive. Shoe and Bag Company operates in this field. Although considered one of the leading firms in this industry, this firm finds itself in a very competitive market, with new firms emerging into this industry. There has been a need to ensure that th e firm remains competitive in this industry. Shoes and Bags Company Shoes and Bags Company is a medium sized retail firm that has specialized on the fashion products, especially shoes and bags. This firm operates 50 stores in the entire country. The firm has 3000 part-time employees, and 2000 full-time employees based in various stores. This firm is very dominant in London, where it has 20 stores.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In Manchester, Wales and Edinburg, it has 10 stores each. At each store, there are 100 employees, 40 of which are full time, while 60 are part time employees, and a senior manager heads each store. The firm has its head office at Paddington, where there is 100 temporary and 200 permanent staff, of which, twenty are considered senior managers. At the top management, there are four directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the firm. The directors head Finance, Human Resource, Customer Service and Retail Outlet Departments. This firm has always been very competitive in this market. The four units have been coordinating very closely to ensure that the firm is prosperous in this increasingly competitive market. One of the greatest strength has been its experience in this industry. This firm has been in existence for a long period and as such, it is able to predict market forces easily and how this would affect the industry, hence the firm. It knows measures to take in case such occurrences take place. However, the emergence of new technologies has caused a complete disruption. Emerging technologies have brought in new forces that are completely new in this industry. As Milroy (1983, p. 90) notes, currently, there are no such things as permanent competitive advantage. What a firm may consider as a competitive advantage today would be its main undoing in tomorrow’s market. As such, there is needed to be flexible in this market in order to manage market dynamics. This proposal is intended to help this company improve its effectiveness across all the departments in its quest to transform its entire outlook in order to be more competitive in this industry.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Shoes and Bags Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Proposed Activity This proposal is meant to help this firm transform its operations, in a bid to ensure that it is in a position to manage the increasing market competition. In specific, this proposal intends to explain how this firm can integrate emerging technologies into all its operations. As Ulaga and Chacour (2001, p. 75) assert, no firm can manage market competition if it fails to adopt emerging technologies. Emerging technologies hold the answer to the majority of current problems that many firms face in their operations. It is important to note that not all the emerging techn ologies are good and applicable to such a firm as this. Some of the emerging technologies are very destructive, and can cause complete disruption to a firm if employed (Gilbert 2001, p. 63). Another factor to consider about emerging technologies is time taken to implement it. Being too early (technology enthusiasts) may be dangerous because a firm may not have time to determine how effective a given new technology is. Similarly, late adoption is dangerous because the technology may be irrelevant by the time it would be implemented by the firm. Customer service would be the first to adopt new technologies. Customers are very important to this firm. They are the defining force concerning the firm’s success. For this reason, they should be taken care of well if the firm expects to retain the current customers, or retain existing ones. As Bailey (1996, p. 36) says, technology has redefined the marketing approach. Internet marketing has gained more relevance. Through websites, com panies are able to reach out for the customers and even conduct a complete transaction. Shoes and Bags Company needs to develop an interactive website for this department. Interactive in that customer can make inquiries and receive feedback within a reasonably good time. This would attract the internet addicts who happen to visit these sites. The website should also sustain a complete transaction by allowing customers to place their order directly through the internet, pay for the product online, and then get this product delivered.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This would demand that the websites be complete shops. Complete shops in the essence that it should have variety of products in each line, each product having its own unique code that a customer would choose. Once the product is picked by one customer, it is replaced immediately in the ‘shelve’ with the code that would be uniquely its (Lindgreen Finn 2005, p. 63). The websites should also allow customers put in complain or complements that would to the firm. This would help the research and development section and the quality assurance unit know how the firm’s products are viewed in the market. This website should also be in a position to inform customers of possible promotional campaigns or direct benefits that a firm could have put in place for them. The next unit that would implement emerging technologies is the Retail Outlets. These outlets need modern technologies that would help them manage their stock. The outlets should adopt new stock taking programs th at would help it determine which products are available for and which needs to be replenished (Payne Holt 2001, p. 40). This programs is designed in such a way that each product that is taken into the store as a new product is fed into the system. The system would then track its movement within the store. This will not only eliminate possible pilferage, but also help the firm know the rate of stock turnover. Through this, it would be in a position to determine which category of products makes the bulk of sales. The Finance Department would also need to develop new technologies that would help it manage its duties as per the expectation. The finance unit would require close monitoring of the sales that takes place both in the online market and in the stores. This department is very sensitive. All the departments look onto it to allocate appropriate funds that would enable them run their duties (Piercy 2009, p. 52). This department depends mostly on the finance generated from the sal es process. This firm should be in a position to track down all sales that have taken place and reconcile the accounts to determine any fraud that could have occurred at any of the processes of the firm. This unit may need to outsource professional auditors at this stage. Human Resource would also need to employ new strategies in order to ensure that it performs its tasks to the expectation of the firm. As Cunningham (2000, p. 29) says, human resource and technology are two extremes that may not function as a collaborative unit. One unit would always displace the other. In most of the cases, technology has been seen as a replacement of human resource. However, as Fifield (2007, p. 38) observes these two units should function hand in hand. They should complement each other. As such, the human resource would be required to develop an understanding of the new technologies and how they are applied in market in the normal running of the firm’s activities. Relevant institutional Re sources and Sustainability Relevant institutions would do the above activities, and they would require a given amount of money to implement them and ensure sustainability. The Chief Executive Officer would be at the center of all the activities of this firm. This is because he, as the focal point of the firm, would need to approve these projects after the research and development unit has evaluated them and made recommendations to this regard. The various heads of departments would be concerned with the activities of their departments, save for the finance department, which would be involved in the operations of all other departments by virtues of its role in the firm. In the development of a website for the firm, the customer service department would need to be financed and it would require involvement of all the departments. Other departments would need to be involved in the development of the website because this website would form the company image to the outside community. This task should not be left to one department (Ward 1999, p. 85). Moreover, this department should involve other departments in the development of the website (especially the Retail Outlets Department), because the website is expected to be in a position to support online sales. It would be necessary to harmonize the sales that take place online and those that take place at the stores. The website should also direct its customers to the nearest outlet in case they need to see the items physically. The Finance Department would need to allocate finance for this project in the initial face. This project would be self sustaining after a given period of time. Through advertisements that other institutions would be making through this website, and the sales generated from online sales, this firm would be in a position to generate a lot of revenue through this. The project of the Retail Outlets is specifically for them. Other departments are may not find direct relevance to it as it majorly c oncerns the management of stocks within the stores. The other concerned party in this case would be the Finance Department which would need to fund the project. This project may be a little more expensive than other proposed projects above. However, it would be very helpful in the long run because by eliminating pilferage, it eliminates profit reduction caused by unscrupulous employees. It would also facilitate ease of recording sales rate for each line of products (Weiss 1994, p. 87). Through this, it would be easy to plan on which line of production to increase investment on. This project would need regular funding at intervals as maintenance fee. The proposed activity of the Finance department specifically affects the unit singly and as such, may not need to involve other departments. The main expense for this department would be the cost of paying the outsourced firms to carry out the auditing task. In the proposed activity of the Human Resource Department, there would be a need to incorporate all the departments. According to Ahmed and Rafiq (2002, p. 26), the Personnel Department affects all other departments of the firm. All the departments have employees who are under the Human Resource Department. When ensuring that employees adopt new technologies, it would be done in line with their respective departments. Hence, employee appraisal would be done in their respective units. Evaluation According to Atkinson (1990, p. 39), projects would be evaluated to determine their effectiveness in achieving the objectives they were intended to meet. The aim of the above proposed projects was to ensure that the firm is transformed to reflect the current market structure in order to be in a position to compete effectively with other firms. The projects must therefore be evaluated to determine if they meet the above objective. Different units would do evaluation of the proposed project. The quality assurance team would evaluate the first proposed project. This team wo uld ensure that the websites functions to its intended purpose. This team would assess the performance of this website from various fronts. All the departments of the business would need the website for various functions. The demands of these departments should be met by this website. it is only through this that the website would be said to be performing as per the expectation of the firm. The other departments would also take part in the evaluation of this website. They will be expected to report on the impact of the website to their various duties. In the proposed project of the sock management at the retail stores, the quality assurance unit in conjunction with the retail outlet management will do the evaluation. The focus in this evaluation would be how well this program is able to track stock of the firm once they get into the retail outlets (Woodruff 1997, p. 49). The program must be a security on its own, and it should not be a program that can easily be manipulate by the em ployees. Another aspect that would be of interest during the evaluation process is the employees’ attitude towards this new system. The notion that should arise is that this program is meant to study movement of stock within the stores in order to help in ascertaining the rate of stock turnover and other management records concerning the stock. The employees should not feel that the new program is meant to ensure that they do not carry any item from the shop. This may discourage them for they would feel that the management does not have trust on them. In the finance department, there would be the need to evaluate how well the firm is able to track down sales in order to ensure that they get the right amount they should receive from other departments. The auditing team may help in this. In the human resource department, of interest during the evaluation process would be how well the employees are adapting to the new technologies that the firm is employing at its various units. There would be the need to ensure that employees are well updated on issues relating to the technology. Justification of the Above Approach The above approach would be very important to this firm. As noted in the introductory part, this market is very competitive. New firms are coming into existence with new methods of production, or just new and better products. This industry is very sensitive to emerging technologies. As Bryman (2001, p. 61) states, fashion wears like shoe and bag have very short life span. Once in the market, it may take a short while before another firm comes out with new designs of the products. As is always the case, the market would always move to the new products, which to them, they will consider to offer more value than the existing products. As such, there would be need to ensure that the firm keeps pace with others in advancing their products. Best (2009, p. 72) says that currently, firms may not survive if they fail to manage market forces. Managing ma rket forces in this case implies that the firm is able to produce new products as often as would be necessary in order to remain competitive. This can best be achieved through managing the emerging technologies. By adopting the emerging technologies as stated above, the firm would find it easy to manage emerging technologies. This would help it remain competitive. Timeline The timeline for the adoption of the above-proposed projects per department can best be represented in the Gantt chart below. List of References Ahmed, K Rafiq, M 2002, Internal Marketing tools and concepts for customer-focused management, Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier, Oxford. Atkinson, P 1990, The Ethnographic Imagination: Textual Constructions of Reality Routledge, London. Bailey, A 1996, A Guide to Field Research, California, Forge Press, Pine. Barnes, C, Blake, H Pinder, D 2009, Creating Delivering your Value Proposition, Kogan Page, London. Best, RJ 2009, Market-Based Management Strategies for Growing C ustomer value and Profitability, New Jersey, Pearson. Bryman, A 2001,Social Research Methods, OUP, Oxford. Cunningham, B 2000, The stress management sourcebook, Free Press, Los Angeles. Eggert, A Ulaga, W 2002, â€Å"Customer-perceived value: a substitute for satisfaction in business markets?† Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, Vol. 17, no. 2, pp 107-125. Fifield, P 2007, Marketing Strategy: The Difference between Marketing and Markets, Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford. Gilbert, N 2001, Researching Social Life, Sage, London. Lindgreen, A Finn, W 2005, â€Å"Value in business markets: What do we know? Where are we going? Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 34, no. 2, pp 732- 748. Milroy, L 1983, Observing and Analyzing Natural Language, Blackwell, Oxford. Payne, A Holt, S 2001, â€Å"Diagnosing Customer Value: Integrating the Value Process and Relationship Marketing†, British Journal of Management, Vol. 12, no. 2, pp 159 182. Piercy, NF 2009, Market -Led Strategic Change, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford. Ulaga, W Chacour, S 2001, â€Å"Measuring customer-perceived value in business markets: a prerequisite for marketing strategy development and implementation†, Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 30, no. 6, pp 525 540. Ward, K 1999, Cyber-ethnography, and the emergence of the virtually new community, Journal of Information Technology 14: 95-105. Weiss, R 1994, Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies, The Free Press, New York. Woodruff, RB 1997, â€Å"Customer Value: The Next Source for Competitive Advantage†, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Sciences, Vol. 25, no. 2, pp 139-154.

Spanish Verbs for Trying

Spanish Verbs for Trying To try is one of those English verbs that will steer you down the wrong path if you try to translate it with just one Spanish verb. This lesson looks at the most common ways of expressing the idea of trying and related phrases such as to try to or to try out. Fast Facts Tratar de and intentar are are the most common ways of translating try when it means to attempt something.Esforzarse and phrases using esfuerzo can also be used to emphasize the effort given.When try refers to a testing or testing out, the preferred translation is usually probar. Trying as Attempting When try means attempt, it can usually be translated as tratar de or intentar followed by an infinitive. The two are roughly synonymous, although tratar de is more common. Note that intentar is a false friend to the English verb to intend - intentar involves an actual attempt, not a mere intent as the English verb does. Tratamos de hacer lo mejor para conseguir el objetivo. (We are trying to do what is best in order to reach the objective.)Trataron de resucitar al cantante durante ms de una hora en el hospital. (They tried to resuscitate the singer for more than an hour in the hospital.)Trataremos de resolver sus problemas. (We will try to resolve your problems.)Vamos a tratar de ganar el campeonato. (We are going to try to win the championship.)Intentamos resolver las dudas que puedan surgir. (We are trying to resolve the doubts that may arise.)Intentar es major que esperar. (Trying is better than waiting.)Me intentaron hacer un fraude. (They tried to commit a fraud against me.)Intento comprender la verdad. (I am trying to understand the truth.) Trying as Testing When to try means to test, as the phrase to try out often does, you can often use the verb probar: Probamos algo nuevo. (Were trying something new.)Los estudiantes probaron comidas de los diferentes paà ­ses. (The students tried meals of different countries.)Los terroristas probaban gases venenosos experimentando con perros. (The terrorists tried out poisonous gases by experimenting with dogs.)Me probà © la camisa y vi que estaba hecha exactamente a mi medida. (I tried on the shirt and saw that it was made exactly to my size.)Desde que probà © su consejo, mi vida cambià ³ para siempre. (Ever since I tried her advice, my life has been forever changed.)Pues, pruà ©balo y vers. (Here, try it out and youll see.)Voy a probar un nuevo truco de magia. (Im going to try a new magic trick.)Probà © suerte de nuevo y abrà ­ mi propio negocio. (I tried my luck again and opened my own business.) Trying as an Effort To try in the sense of put forth an effort can often be translated as esforzarse or a phrase such as hacer un esfuerzo por. Although intentar and tratar de can also indicate an effort, they put less emphasis on it than do esforzarse and phrases using esfuerzo. Sà © que puedes esforzarte ms. (I know you can try harder.)Me esfuerzo con toda intensidad por ser sincero. (Im trying as hard as I can to be honest.)Pero yo me esfuerzo todo lo que puedo. (Im trying to do everything I can.)Hago un esfuerzo por  apartar de mi mente lo ocurrido y concentrarme en mi trabajo. (Im trying to get my mind off of what happened and concentrate on my work.)Volvià ³ al sillà ³n e  hizo un esfuerzo por  relajarse.  (She returned to the rocking chair and tried to relax.)Es necesario hacer un esfuerzo. (It is necessary to try.) Legal Use of 'Try' To try in the sense of to put on trial can be expressed by procesar or juzgar: El juez procesà ³ ayer a ocho personas por el robo de armas de guerra. The judge yesterday tried eight people for the theft of military weapons.Juzgaron a los activistas de Greenpeace en Espaà ±a. The Greenpeace activists were tried in Spain. 'Try' as a Noun Try as a noun can often be translated well using intento: Haz de nuevo el intento. Give it another try. ¡Al menos hicieron  su mejor intento! At least they gave it their best try!Al menos resulta un intento divertido. (At least it was a fun try.)

Attitudes Against Homosexual Women in Rural Areas

Attitudes Against Homosexual Women in Rural Areas Issues in Sexuality Coming out and living as lesbians and gay men in regional and rural areas (Peer-Reviewed) Hypothesis The attitudes and perspectives about homosexuality in Western society have undergone through periods of both tolerance/acceptance as well as periods in which gay men and lesbians were looked down upon or even prosecuted. This paper tests the hypothesis that the negative attitudes against women are exacerbated in rural areas (Gottschalk., 2008). Data collection The study was mainly conducted through questionnaires and interviews. Profile of Group Researched The respondents in the study were recruited at random from lesbian and gay social groups. However, since a concise demographic profile of the gay men and lesbian population did not exist in some regions in Victoria, this research cannot claim to be representative to all homosexual persons in this region (Gottschalk., 2008). Table 1 Age of Respondents at time of study Women Men Age n = 55 % n = 40 % Less than 20 2 3.6 5 12.9 20 to 24 7 12.6 7 17.9 25 to 34 14 25.4 9 23.1 35 to 44 22 40.2 16 41.0 45 to 54 8 14.6 0 0 55 or older 2 3.6 2 5.1 Missing value 1 Results Table 2 The age of first realization of same-sex attraction Age Women % Men % Less than 10 16.4 23.1 10 to 14 29.1 35.9 15 to 19 29.1 33.3 20 to 24 3.6 0 25 to 34 12.7 5.1 35 to 44 5.5 2.6 45 to 54 3.6 0 55 or older 0 0 According to the table 2 above, it was found that while more women than men formed their sexual identity during the adult stages, more men than women identified themselves as homosexuals at a younger age. Table 3 Marital Status Women Men Marital status n = 55 % n = 40 % Never married 28 50.9 32 82.1 Currently married 4 7.3 4 10.2 previously married 23 41.8 3 7.7 Missing value 1 It was found that 41.8% of lesbians had been married previously compared to 7.7% of men. Table 4: Current Relationship status Women Men    n % N=39 % Not in a relationship at present 20 36.4 23 59.0 In a relationship with a woman 34 61.8 0 0 In a relationship with a man 1 1.8 16 41.0 The study found that 61.8% of women were currently in a relationship as compared to only 41% of men. It was also found that findi ng partners in rural areas was more difficult compared to urban areas (Gottschalk., 2008). Interpretation and conclusion The study shows that both young people as well as those who form their homosexual identities during adulthood do so in a stigmatized social environment. It confirms that gay men and lesbians in rural regions face more challenges as compared to those living in urban areas. The respondents in the study agree that what is deemed as absence of services and support in rural areas has made embracing a gay or lesbian lifestyle more difficult. This is due to the higher rate of hostility, discrimination, and social stigma combined with negative stereotypes (Gottschalk., 2008). Homophobic? Maybe You are Gay (Popular Media) Hypothesis In an article published by the New York Times in April 2012, the question is raised as to why public figures so often in the frontline of anti-gay rights campaigns are found in same-sex partner scandals. The article generally proposes that when homosexual urges are repressed due to fear or shame, these urges can manifest themselves as homophobia. This process is known as ‘reaction formation.’ This refers to the fight with one’s external environment against feelings that have been inwardly repressed. The articles hypothesis is quite compelling, even offering an example Ted Haggard, a well-known evangelist who advocated against homosexuality and termed it a sin. During his apology speech for his involvement in homosexuality he admitted that he advocated so strongly against homosexuality so fiercely partially due to his struggle with it (Ryan & Ryan, 2012).

I need an OUTLINE done The outline needs to be about A Taste Of Honey Essay

I need an OUTLINE done The outline needs to be about A Taste Of Honey by Shelagh Delaney - Essay Example I intend to challenge the notion that we as a British Society have changed, even in the wake of liberal ,legal and social reforms. The play was written in 1958 when Divorces were a taboo, there was lesser minority representation amongst the society and single parenting was looked down upon as a religious and social offence. Gay marriages or open homosexual cohabitations were unheard of because such people were at a risk of bodily harm if their sexual orientation was made public. My thesis will focus around the life of the women (Helen and Jo)and their problems in the setting of the 1950's.From the opening of the play the focus is on the women (Helen/Jo), their problems and their attempts to cope with life. There will also be a focus on their increased hostility and dialogue structure. Jo's frustration with Helen's relationship with Peter and her loneliness is also analyzed.My aim will be to highlight Jo's interracial relationship with her black boyfriend Jimmi who she has a sexual relationship with after she feels depressed by Helens departure to a happy matrimonial life.She subsequently gets pregnant and he leaves her.She is forced to share the flat with the good natured Geoff who is also Gay.The way he gets treated when he attempts a friendly reconciliation between Jo and Helen is a reminiscent of the attitude of the society towards bisexuals in those days. There are further raci

Dallas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dallas - Essay Example The city was under both the Spanish and French colonial governments before boundaries placed it under Spain. This adds to its great historical background and makes it unique and a tourist favorite. The planning of the city is done extremely well, with the buildings well arranged and the roads and streets offer easy navigation through the city. Although it lacks a navigable link to the sea, the scenery in Dallascity is just irresistible; the Trinity River winds itself through the city and serves as an ideal position to view the sunset either on the ferry or on the shores before it disappears into Houston (Hanson 68). Dubbed the romantic spot, couples always gather on the shores of this river and just sink into each other’s eyes while enjoying the beautiful environment around them. White Rock Lake is another beautiful area to visit in Dallas. It is a water reservoir where families go to spend their weekends and free time. Activities such as boating, rowing, jogging, and biking all serve as a means of entertainment to the people. There is also an Arboretum and Botanical garden located to the east shore of the lake that provide good relaxing places and serve as a tourist at traction sites (Hanson 21). Dallas has a humid subtropical climate, which favors most of the best outdoor activities. For instance, during the summer, the city records very high temperatures that range between 38 and 42 degree Celsius, which are favorable for swimming, and other water activities (Hanson 22). Winters in Dallas are mild warm with lots of snow rising up to 1.5 inches off the ground. Spring and autumn bring the most pleasant weather with the showing of wild flower that beautifully colors the environment (Hanson 22). A staple in Dallas is the Chilean Sea Bass on Lobster Risotto. This dish has gained recognition around the world due to its effect on the taste buds, and you simply cannot visit Dallas without paying a visit to one of the steakhouses

Work experience and Impact statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Work experience and Impact statement - Essay Example Together with the support groups, we designed simple engineering structures like incinerators for public institutions’ use. On education, the activities acted as an encouragement to young people who are still at school because I conducted presentations, workshops and/or conferences meant to create awareness. In this case the society has embraced engineering to address their social and economical issues. I plan to pursue a career in transportation and cabinet whereby my main aim is to obtain a position that will enable me maximize my strong civil engineering skills in the field of transportation. I would also like to be challenged in an environment that demands engineering innovation, interpersonal, self-directed and team oriented tasks. This mainly entails ensuring smooth operations and design of highways, airports, railways and public transit (Juan et al 87). It will ultimately ensure safe and efficient movement of people and

Brave Software Companys Main Rivals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Brave Software Companys Main Rivals - Assignment Example Also, most of these firms were founded long before Brave Software Company came into being. Therefore, their brands are better positioned in the market than Brave Software Company’s brands. Also, most of the Brave Software Company’s competitors have a bigger workforce than that of the Brave Software Company. Nevertheless, Brave Software Company’s competitors have weaknesses too. Most of these firms have been perceived as being less ‘technologically conscious’. Also, these competitors charge a relatively higher price on the software-based products and rely more on the traditional methods of advertising to reach out to their customers in the market. This is a plan aimed at reaching out to a particular segment of the market by developing a unique product that is more appealing to the customers (Simons, 2000). Different firms may, therefore, produce a similar item but they cannot sell exactly the same product in the market. Each of these firms has to package, price and even quantify the product in such a way that it looks different from the similar products on the market. In this case, Brave Software Company has embarked on a low-price strategy. Following the fact that most of the other companies in the industry charge a relatively high price on the software-based products, Brave Software Company has embarked on producing similar products at relatively lower prices. Further, these products have been developed in a way that they target a specific market and not the entire market. The company has also capitalized on specific advertising mechanisms to reach out to the specific group of customers in the market. Further, the company ha s a strong brand positioning statement. Having been established in the year 2010, Brave Software Company has worked towards providing the best software solutions to its respective customers. The company also aspires to grow beyond the geographical borders of the international market.

Confucian perspective and critique Qin rule Essay

Confucian perspective and critique Qin rule - Essay Example This paper seeks to adopt a Confucian perspective and criticize Qin rule. The paper will analyze the rapid decline of Qin’s rule, identify what Confucians objected about Qin’s rule, and explain why Confucianism was seemingly a better ruling ideology. According to legalism in the Qin Dynasty, the law was referenced and available to the public where all before the Emperor were equal under the law. Legalism sought to reward law-abiding citizens and punish lawbreakers severely. Actually, the Qin implemented corporal punishments and sentenced legal offenders to hard labor for the state. As such, legalism ran the state and not the emperor. Nevertheless, the Confucian scholars who were victims of legalism had detailed information on Chinese history including the Qin Dynasty and had great impact on other cultures like the Korean culture. Confucianism is an aspect of philosophy emanating from the teachings of Confucius (551 - 479 BC). As such, Confucianism was a formidable force in Chinese political and social history. Indeed, Confucianism main aim was to train its followers on traditional rituals, respect for authority, loyalty, flexibility of leaders, respect for the aged, and benevolence. Therefore, Confucianism promoted a tradition of â€Å"humane authority.† However, Confucianism faced support and equally opposition from various scholars. In fact, while some scholars like Lu Xun accused it of limiting modernization, others like Kang Yuwei used it to for Chinese nationalism. In the 19th century, the influence of Confucianism declined as Qing Dynasty ended in 1911. In the later dynasties, legalism fell and consistently merged with Confucianism to play central roles in the Chinese government. Most assuredly, Qin Shi Huang incurred opposition from Confucian historians and consequently becoming one of the shortest-lived dynasties in Chinese history.  According to Morton and Lewis, â€Å"Qin Shi Huang Di, the First Emperor, incurred the disapprova l of Confucian historians and in actuality was in many ways a ruthless tyrant† (Morton and Lewis 46). The Rapid Decline of Qin’s Rule The Qin Dynasty existed between 256-202 B.C.E. The Qin Dynasty settled in the North where it initiated reforms and created a powerful army using horse archers to form a powerful state. The first emperor of Qui Dynasty was Qin Shi Huang and ruled via legalism. Most assuredly is the fact that Shih Huang Ti was a very efficient and unifying leader in ancient China. Nevertheless, his rule lasted for the shortest time because of his harsh leadership style. Uniquely, Qin chose to break the China's old provinces and loyalties and created others under the leadership of non-hereditary governors. This was a blatant mistake, as the governors had no capacity to accumulate power in one place through different generations as sought in Chinese culture. It is equally true that although Qin initiated many effective projects in ancient China, these project s required a lot of taxes and human labor from the Chinese people that was against their will and ability. Indeed, he forced the ordinary people to work on his projects with harsh and cruel punishments muted on the people. As such, though the projects were viable, they made his rule very unpopular among the poor citizens. Moreover, Qin initiated and completed the Great Wall of China (Morton and Lewis 45-46). However, this wall had huge costs on human lives from hunger,

Work experience and Impact statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Work experience and Impact statement - Essay Example Together with the support groups, we designed simple engineering structures like incinerators for public institutions’ use. On education, the activities acted as an encouragement to young people who are still at school because I conducted presentations, workshops and/or conferences meant to create awareness. In this case the society has embraced engineering to address their social and economical issues. I plan to pursue a career in transportation and cabinet whereby my main aim is to obtain a position that will enable me maximize my strong civil engineering skills in the field of transportation. I would also like to be challenged in an environment that demands engineering innovation, interpersonal, self-directed and team oriented tasks. This mainly entails ensuring smooth operations and design of highways, airports, railways and public transit (Juan et al 87). It will ultimately ensure safe and efficient movement of people and

Confucian perspective and critique Qin rule Essay

Confucian perspective and critique Qin rule - Essay Example This paper seeks to adopt a Confucian perspective and criticize Qin rule. The paper will analyze the rapid decline of Qin’s rule, identify what Confucians objected about Qin’s rule, and explain why Confucianism was seemingly a better ruling ideology. According to legalism in the Qin Dynasty, the law was referenced and available to the public where all before the Emperor were equal under the law. Legalism sought to reward law-abiding citizens and punish lawbreakers severely. Actually, the Qin implemented corporal punishments and sentenced legal offenders to hard labor for the state. As such, legalism ran the state and not the emperor. Nevertheless, the Confucian scholars who were victims of legalism had detailed information on Chinese history including the Qin Dynasty and had great impact on other cultures like the Korean culture. Confucianism is an aspect of philosophy emanating from the teachings of Confucius (551 - 479 BC). As such, Confucianism was a formidable force in Chinese political and social history. Indeed, Confucianism main aim was to train its followers on traditional rituals, respect for authority, loyalty, flexibility of leaders, respect for the aged, and benevolence. Therefore, Confucianism promoted a tradition of â€Å"humane authority.† However, Confucianism faced support and equally opposition from various scholars. In fact, while some scholars like Lu Xun accused it of limiting modernization, others like Kang Yuwei used it to for Chinese nationalism. In the 19th century, the influence of Confucianism declined as Qing Dynasty ended in 1911. In the later dynasties, legalism fell and consistently merged with Confucianism to play central roles in the Chinese government. Most assuredly, Qin Shi Huang incurred opposition from Confucian historians and consequently becoming one of the shortest-lived dynasties in Chinese history.  According to Morton and Lewis, â€Å"Qin Shi Huang Di, the First Emperor, incurred the disapprova l of Confucian historians and in actuality was in many ways a ruthless tyrant† (Morton and Lewis 46). The Rapid Decline of Qin’s Rule The Qin Dynasty existed between 256-202 B.C.E. The Qin Dynasty settled in the North where it initiated reforms and created a powerful army using horse archers to form a powerful state. The first emperor of Qui Dynasty was Qin Shi Huang and ruled via legalism. Most assuredly is the fact that Shih Huang Ti was a very efficient and unifying leader in ancient China. Nevertheless, his rule lasted for the shortest time because of his harsh leadership style. Uniquely, Qin chose to break the China's old provinces and loyalties and created others under the leadership of non-hereditary governors. This was a blatant mistake, as the governors had no capacity to accumulate power in one place through different generations as sought in Chinese culture. It is equally true that although Qin initiated many effective projects in ancient China, these project s required a lot of taxes and human labor from the Chinese people that was against their will and ability. Indeed, he forced the ordinary people to work on his projects with harsh and cruel punishments muted on the people. As such, though the projects were viable, they made his rule very unpopular among the poor citizens. Moreover, Qin initiated and completed the Great Wall of China (Morton and Lewis 45-46). However, this wall had huge costs on human lives from hunger,

Bullying Essay Example for Free

Bullying Essay According to cyberbullying. org, cyber bullying can be defined as the harassment, humiliation, torment, embarrassment a child, preteen, or teen faces from another child, preteen, or teen. The perpetrator uses the Internet, interchangeable technologies, or even their cellular phones to carry out the illegal act. Those who are faced with such an issue should reach out and make their voices heard. Bullying by any means, is undoubtedly wrong and painful for those who are victimized by it the effects cyber bullying can have on a child or teen can be utterly dangerous or in some extreme cases, deadly. Quite recently, in the news, was a story about Rutgers University student, Tyler Clementi, committing suicide allegedly due to two students streaming a video of him and another male being intimate. The two students who live streamed and recorded Clementi were charged with two counts each of invasion of privacy. It is reported that 9 out of 10 gay children are harassed or bullied and are four times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual children. In my high school, a dear friend of mine felled prey to cyber bullying. A group of classmates discovered a video online of a girl, who looked somewhat similar to my friend, in a sexual act. These classmates then went around the entire school, showed everyone the video, and attempted to convince students that the girl recorded was in fact my friend. However, the girl in the video and my friend had significant differences about them that made it clear to me that these bullies were simply targeting her based on their personal vendetta against her. As a result, unfortunately, my friend started missing many school days and later I discovered she was cutting not only her arms but her legs as well. Any type of bullying can lead to emotional distress, lack of self confidence, and thoughts of suicide; these effects could last a lifetime. According to bullyingstatistics. org and statistics from the I-safe  foundation, over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying. Countless amount of teens are unaware of the fact that the many things they post online, whether it be good or bad, can eventually come back and haunt them in the future, especially when applying for a job or college. What can truly be done about cyber bullying? Sadly, most incidents of cyber bullying go unreported; possibly because a great number of people don’t find the issue that big of a deal. In my opinion, cyber bullying can be averted by educating students on the matter, not only in schools but at home as well. Schools should set up programs and seminars educating students about bullying and its effects. The College of Mount Saint Vincent has taken the initiative of creating the counseling center where students can walk in and discuss any issues that their having with counselors who are more than willing to listen and offer their support. Parents should monitor their children and their actions. They should be conscious of who their children are talking to and who their friends are. For many like my friend and Tyler Clementi, cyber bullying has already taken a dramatic toll on their lives, but if more students come forth and speak on their experiences on the issue it is without a question that this horrific trend can  end.

An Introduction to the financial tools in measuring Liquidity and Profitability

An Introduction to the financial tools in measuring Liquidity and Profitability Tools that are important in monitoring business are liquidity and profitability. Liquidity refers to solvency meaning how quickly assets can be converted to cash while the income statement measures the financial performance of an entity through measuring profitability. The main financial documents of a company measures profitability and liquidity, the statement of comprehensive income measures profitability whilst liquidity is measured by the statement of financial position. Liquidity is measured by comparing the current assets and current liabilities of an entity. Current assets are resources of a business maturing within a year whilst current liabilities are the short term obligations of a business maturing within a year. Therefore, when measuring liquidity we measure the ability of an entity to cover its short term obligations with its current resources which includes inventory, Debtors, cash in the bank and petty cash amongst other resources. If a firm can cover its current obligations with its current resources twice it is considered liquid meaning it can cover its current obligations with few difficulties and any ratio less than that is considered illiquid meaning the entity will face difficulties in settling its current obligations which is not a good sign for any entity. Profitability is measured by matching revenue for a period with expenses for that period. Revenue is the proceeds an entity receives from selling its products from its core business activities. Whilst expenses are those costs incurred during a period in the process of generating sales revenue. Examples of expenses include electricity, rent, depreciation, salaries and wages e.t.c. The excess of revenues over expenses means the business is profitable whilst the vice versa means its making a loss. Profitability is measured in the income statement, and in addition to cash items it also considers non cash items such as depreciation. As a result profitability is not a true reflection of the cash generated by the business given the fact that it is drawn on an accrual basis. Yearling Ltd The company is faced with disagreements between two departments which are the accounting and finance staff. The accounting staff believes that if the company is profitable it should be able to pay for its obligations whilst the finance staff disagrees. The elaboration in the above paragraphs has explained profitability and liquidity and differences can be identified from the explanations. That is profitability means the ability of the firm to cover its operational expenses with its operational revenue and this includes cash and non cash items and hence can not measure the ability of a firm to pay its obligations. On the other hand liquidity measures the ability of a firm to cover its obligations with its resources and hence a perfect measure of the ability of the firm in covering its financial obligations. Hence, a profitable firm can be illiquid i.e. can face liquidity challenges in meeting its obligations. Conclusion The financial managers staff is right in advocating for party budget cut in order to reduce their financial obligations given the challenge they are faced with. On the other hand the accounting staff are wrong in thinking that a profitable firm implies liquidity as these are two different things as was discussed in the previous paragraphs. Question 2 Question 3 3.1.1. Debt Ratio A  debt ratio compares a companys total  debt to its total assets. Debt consists of the amounts borrowed or owing to creditors. The ratio is used to gain a general idea as to the amount of leverage or debt being used by a company. A low percentage means that the company is less dependent on debt or leverage i.e. money borrowed from and/or owed to others. The lower the proportion, the less leverage a company is using and the stronger its equity position. This is so because the lower the chances that the company will be liquidated to meet the debt obligations. In general, the higher the ratio, the more risk that company is considered to have taken on. Debt ratio is calculated by the following formula: For the companies under discussion their debt ratios are as follows: Pelican Paper Ltd Timberland Forest Ltd 1000000/10000000 5000000/10000000 10% 50% Timberland Forest Ltd has got a high ratio of 50% compared to the ratio of Pelican Paper Ltd of 10%. This means that Timberland has a high financial risk as it is financed by debt more than Pelican. The more debt compared to equity a company has, which is signalled by a high debt ratio, the more leveraged it is and the riskier it is considered to be. 3.1.2. Times Interest earned Ratio A metric used to measure a companys ability to meet its debt obligations. It is calculated by taking a companys earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and dividing it by the total interest payable on bonds and other contractual debt. It is usually quoted as a ratio and indicates how many times a company can cover its interest charges on a pre-tax basis. Failing to meet these obligations could force a company into bankruptcy. The ratio is calculated as follows: Times Interest Earned=Earnings before interest and taxes/interest For the two companies their respective ratios are as follows: Pelican Paper Ltd Timberland Forest Ltd 6250000/100000 6250000/500000 62.5 times 12.5times Pelican Paper Ltd has a high times interest earned ratio of 62.5times compared to Timberlands of 12.5times. This means Pelican has a high ability to cover its debts compared to Timberland as reflected by the number of times they can cover their interest obligations with available earnings. Conclusion Timberland has a high financial risk reflected by a high debt ratio and a lower time interest earned ratio. 3.2 3.2.1. Operating Profit margin Operating profit margin is the proportion of operating profit to Sales revenue for that period. Operating profit margin indicates how effective a company is at controlling the costs and expenses associated with their normal business operations. A high ratio means a high profitability whilst a lower means less profitable. The ratio is calculated as follows: Operating profit margin = operating profit/sales The respective ratios for the two companies are as follows: Pelican Paper Ltd Timberland Forest Ltd 6250000/25000000 6250000/25000000 25% 25% The companies has the same ratios and this implies that they are equally good in managing their costs and expenses hence profitability based on this ratio. 3.2.2. Net Profit Margin The ratio measures the percentage of profit available to ordinary shareholders to Sales. This number is an indication of how effective a company is at cost control. The higher the net profit margin is, the more effective the company is at converting revenue into actual profit. The net profit margins are a good way to compare companies in order to gauge which ONES are relatively more profitable. The ratio is calculated by the following formula: Net profit margin = Earnings available for ordinary share holders/sales The respective ratios of the two companies are as follows: Pelican Paper Ltd Timberland Forest Ltd 3690000/25000000 3450000/25000000 14.76% 13.80% Pelican has a high ratio compared to Timberland which means a high profitability based on this ratio. Therefore Pelican is profitable than Timberland. 3.2.3. Return on Total Assets Measures profit in proportion to total assets, in other words the effectiveness of management utilising the available assets in generating profits. A high ratio means greatest effectiveness and profitability. The ratio is calculated as follows: Return on total assets = Earnings available for ordinary shareholders/Total assets For the two companies the respective ratios are as follows: Pelican Paper Ltd Timberland Forest Ltd 3690000/10000000 3450000/10000000 36.90% 34.50% Pelican has a high ratio compared to Timberlands hence high profitability. 3.2.4. Return on common equity Measures the return earned on the ordinary shareholders investment in the firm. The amount of net income  returned  as a percentage  of shareholders equity.  Return on equity  measures a corporations profitability  by revealing how much  profit a company generates  with the money shareholders have invested.  Ã‚   ROE is expressed as a percentage and calculated as: Return on Equity = Net Income/Shareholders Equity Net income is for the full fiscal year (before dividends paid to common stock holders but after dividends to preferred stock.) Shareholders equity does not include preferred shares. The two companies ratios are as follows: Pelican Paper Ltd Timberland Forest Ltd 3690000/9000000 3450000/5000000 41% 69% Pelican has a lower return on equity compared to Timberland and based on this ratio Timberland is more profitable compared to Pelican. 3.3. Timberland has become more profitable because of the larger debt. Debt has a fixed interest payment and its tax allowed meaning it is tax deductable and as a result a high debt means a high interest payment and lower tax hence increased profits. 3.4. The risks undertaken by Timberland investors are basically financial risks which include the liquidity risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. Question 4 Item Change(Rands) inflow(I)/outflow(o)/neither(N) Cash +100 I Trade and other payables -1000 O Short term borrowing +500 I Long-term borrowing -2000 O Inventory +200 O Non-current assets +400 O Trade receivables -700 I Net profit +600 Depreciation +100 N Repurchase of shares +600 O Cash dividends +800 I Sale of shares +1000 I Question 5 5.1. Year Cashflow PVIF(5%) PV 1 800 0.95 761.90 2 900 0.91 816.33 3 1000 0.86 863.84 4 1500 0.82 1234.05 5 2000 0.78 1567.05 Present Value of mixed cash flows 5243.17 5.2. The amount that can be paid at most is 5  243.17 5.3. Present Value of the mixed cash flows at 7% is as follows: Year Cashflow PVIF(5%) PV 1 800 0.93 747.66 2 900 0.87 786.09 3 1000 0.82 816.30 4 1500 0.76 1144.34 5 2000 0.71 1425.97 Present Value of mixed cash flows 4920.37 An opportunity cost of 7% implies that the investor will be prepared to pay less now and earn the same return as the one who pays more at 5% return. Question 6 6.1. Risk Averse Describes of an investor who, when faced with two investments with same or a similar expected return and different risks, will prefer the one with the lower risk. Given the trade off between risk and return its means risk averse investors will always lose on a potential of earning higher returns as investments with lower risks tend to have lower returns. 6.2. Risk indifferent This describes investors who overlook purposely risk when deciding between investments. They are also called risk neutral investors and they are mainly concerned with an investment expected return. 6.3. Risk seeking Describes investors who are willing to take additional risks for investments that have relatively low expected return. This contrasts with a typical investor mentality risk aversion. They tend to take higher risks in an effort to earn higher returns. They are also termed risk lovers. 6.4. Financial managers are best described as risk averse as they always seek to minimise risk when they make financial decisions. Question 7 7.1. Standard deviation measures the deviation of the returns from the expected return whilst range measures the differences between the highest possible return and the lowest return of a project. The higher the standard deviation the higher the risk whilst the same can be said about range, therefore project A is less risky as it has the lowest standard deviation and range compared to other projects. 7.2. Project A has a lower standard deviation 7.3 Standard deviation measures extend at which the returns are dispersed from the expected return of an asset. But it does not measure proportionately, so given different returns standard deviation will not be proper to use it as a measure of risk for purpose of comparison. 7.4 Coefficient of variation = Standard deviation/Expected Return Project Coefficient of variation A 2.9%/12% 0.24 B 3.2%/12.5% 0.26 C 3.5%/13% 0.27 D 3%/12.8% 0.23 7.5 Coefficient of variation is a best measure of risk for purposes of comparison as it measures proportional deviation from the mean. Given that Grassland owners are risk averse they will choose a project with the lowest coefficient of variation which is project D based on the table above. Question 8 8.1 Comparison of Ordinary shareholders and other providers of long term capital Ordinary Shareholders Other Suppliers of long term capital Dividends to be paid are at the discretion of the companies board of directors Receives a fixed interest whether the company made profit or not. Dividend payments are taxed Interest payments are tax deductible Permanent form of financing They mature Have secondary claims to assets and income of the company. Have primary claims to income and assets of a company. Owners of the firm Creditors of the firm Have voting rights Dont have voting rights. 8.2 Rights offering are when ordinary shareholders are offered new shares at a discounted price first before they become available to the public. Therefore, this offering protects a firms shareholders from dilution of their holding in such a way that they are given preference to maintain their holding first by being offered proportional new shares to their holding. In that manner protected from a possible dilution if they were to be taken by new shareholders. 8.3. Authorised Shares Authorised shares quantify the maximum total shares a company can be allowed to issue. In other words it is the number of shares a company is authorised to issue highlighted in its articles and memorandum of association. It is from this that the company can decide on the number of shares that it can issue and can only issue at most to this amount of authorised shares otherwise it can issue less. Issued shares Its the number of shares that has been issued and paid for and it represents part of the amount equity reflected in the statement of financial position. These also represents the amount of he authorised shares held by the public. Issued shares represents the sum of issued and treasury shares. Treasury shares A company can decide to purchase part of the issued shares back for some reasons. If it does the shares will be held by the company and they do not participate in any thing i.e. they do not participate in voting nor receive dividends. These types of shares are the ones termed treasury shares 8.4. Preference shareholders tend to have more favourable basic rights in terms of the distribution of earnings and assets compared to ordinary shareholders. They often have features of debt instruments which makes them superior in terms of claims compared to ordinary shareholders. The claims that preference shares will be discussed in the paragraphs that follow; Preference shares have a fixed claim on the firms income that takes precedence over the claim of ordinary shareholders. This makes them less risk compared to ordinary shareholders as they have guaranteed income. Given that they are participative preference shares they will also have preference over ordinary shareholders in the distribution of earnings. Furthermore, if they do not receives the dividend earnings it implies the ordinary shareholders they have not as well. This then makes and shows that the ordinary shareholders are the true risk takers. In the event of liquidation, preference shares do have a preference over ordinary shareholders in claims over assets of the firm. In other words they are paid their initial capital first before ordinary shareholders could be paid. 8.5. The cumulative future of preference shares refers to the guaranteed payment of dividends to the shares irregardless of the performance of the company. In the event of a company having less financial resources to pay for the dividend, it will be deferred and paid as and when the company realizes the resources to pay. In other words the dividends are accumulated and paid when the company can. For example, if a company is liable to pay a 10  000 dividend annually for preference shares and it happens that one financial period the lack financial resources to pay the dividend they defer it to the following financial period. As a result, in the following financial period they will have to pay a dividend of 20  000 which covers the 10  000 for the last period and the 10  000 for the current period. Question 9 Valuation of shares with no dividend growth, the formula is as follows. 9.1 Share price = Dividend per share/cost of capital 2.4/0.12 R 20.00 9.2 2.4/0.2 R 12.00 9.3 The higher the risk the higher the value, a lower interest rate results in a higher value. This is so because the lower the interest rate the higher the risk of default and that risk should be compensated by an increased capital value. The reverse is also true for a higher interest rate as it has resulted in a lower capital value.