Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Question Finance - 950 Words

EXERCISE 5 (RISK AND RETURN) 1. Perry purchased 100 shares of Ferro, Inc. common stock for $25 per share one year ago. During the year, Ferro, Inc. paid cash dividends of $2 per share. The stock is currently selling for $30 per share. If Perry sells all of his shares of Ferro, Inc. today, what rate of return would he realize? Answer: Realized return = = 28% 2. Tim purchased a bounce house one year ago for $6,500. During the year it generated $4,000 in cash flow. If Time sells the bounce house today, he could receive $6,100 for it. What would be his rate of return under these conditions? Answer: Realized return = = 55% 3. Asset A was purchased six months ago for $25,000 and has generated $1,500 cash flow during that†¦show more content†¦10. Assuming a risk-free rate of 8 percent and a market return of 12 percent, would a wise investor acquire a security with a Beta of 1.5 and a rate of return of 14 percent given the facts above? Answer: K = RF + b(Km - RF) = 0.08 + 1.5(0.12 - 0.08) = 0.14 = 14% Yes, a security with a beta of 1.5 should yield 14 percent rate of return. 11. Dr. Dan is considering investment in a project with beta coefficient of 1.75. What would you recommend him to do if this investment has an 11.5 percent rate of return, risk-free rate is 5.5 percent, and the rate of return on the market portfolio of assets is 8.5 percent? Answer: K = RF + b(Km - RF) = 0.055 + 1.75(0.085 - 0.055) = 0.108 = 10.8% Dr. Dan should invest in the project because the project s actual rate of return (11.5 percent) is greater than the project s required rate of return (10.8Show MoreRelatedFinance Questions723 Words   |  3 Pages Provide detailed descriptions and show all calculations used to arrive at solutions for the following questions: 1. Community Hospital has annual net patient revenues of $150 million. At the present time, payments received by the hospital are not deposited for six days on average. The hospital is exploring a lockbox arrangement that promises to cut the six days to one day. If these funds released by the lockbox arrangement can be invested at 8 percent, what will the annual savings be? Assume theRead MoreQuestions on Finance2789 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿FIN 301 HW Chapter 1 (Odds 1-17) 1. Define shareholder wealth. Explain how it is measured Shareholder wealth is represented by the market price of a firm’s common stock. It is measured by the market value of the shareholders’ common stock holdings 2. Which type of corporation is more likely to be a shareholder wealth maximizer -one with wide ownership and no owners directly involved in the firms management or one that is closely held. A closely held corporation 3. It has been argued that shareholderRead MoreAccounting Finance Questions1228 Words   |  5 PagesQuestion 1 Listing on a stock exchange might be highly desirable for a company, but there are a number of requirements, conditions and costs associated with becoming a publicly listed corporation. a) Discuss the ASX profit test and asset test requirements. b) Analyse the advantages and costs that are incurred when a company becomes a publicly listed corporation. a) To meet the profit test requirements of admission, an entity must satisfy each of the following conditions: * The entityRead MoreFinance and Question Essay1396 Words   |  6 PagesQuestion 1 (5 points) In a world with no frictions (i.e., taxes, etc.), having debt is always better because it increases the value of the firm/project. Your Answer Score Explanation True. False. Correct 5.00 Correct. You understand the irrelevance of financing. Total 5.00 / 5.00 Question Explanation Fundamental question about value creation. Question 2 (5 points) The return of equity is equal to the return on debt of a project/firm Your Answer Score Explanation SometimesRead MoreQuestions On Sources Of Finance1696 Words   |  7 PagesIn this assignment, four different sources of finance preferably two short term and two long term sources of funding will be discussed and identified. Secondly, it will also talk about and select to non-financial companies listed on the London Stock Exchange and will find their most current financial statements based on the last 5 years. I have selected Tesco and Sainsbury’s as my two non financial companies. Thirdly, I will then define and converse the pros and cons of each source of funding andRead MoreBusiness Finance: Questions1612 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Question 1 Reliable Gearing currently is all-equity financed. It has 10,000 shares of equity outstanding, selling at $100 a share. The firm is considering a capital restructuring. The low-debt plan calls for a debt issue of $200,000 with the proceeds used to buy back stock. The high debt plan would exchange $400,000 of debt for equity. The debt will pay an interest rate of 10%. The firm pays no taxes. a. What will be the debt-to-equity ratio after each possible restructuring? b. If earningsRead MoreCorporate Finance - Concept Questions12247 Words   |  49 PagesCONCEPT QUESTIONS - CHAPTER 1 1.1 ( What are the three basic questions of corporate finance? a. Investment decision (capital budgeting): What long-term investment strategy should a firm adopt? b. Financing decision (capital structure): How much cash must be raised for the required investments? c. Short-term finance decision (working capital): How much short-term cash flow does company need to pay its bills. ( Describe capital structure. Capital structureRead MoreQuestions On Finance Lease And Operating Lease Essay894 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion a It can be found from the IAS 17; the lease is defined that â€Å"A lease is an arrangement whereby the lessor coveys to the lessee in return for a payment or series of payments the right to use an asset for an agreed period of time†. (IAS 17, 2003). There are two types of lease: finance lease and operating lease. The following parts will identify them separately and accounting treatments will be discussed in lessees’ and lessors’ aspect. Firstly, it is the finance lease and it is a lease thatRead MoreFinal Question Paper: Corporate Finance24063 Words   |  97 Pages80 | 1.53 | $44.06 | Wal-Mart | $47.90 | 4.17 | $199.74 | Intel | $19.60 | 5.77 | $113.09 | Boeing | $75.00 | 0.79 | $59.25 | | | Total | $416.15 | | ------------------------------------------------- Use the table for the question(s) below. Consider the following three individuals portfolios consisting of investments in four stocks: Stock | Beta | Peter s Investment | Paul s Investment | Mary s Investment | Eenie | 1.3 | 2500 | 5000 | 10000 | Meenie | 1.0 | 2500Read MoreIssues in Applied Finance Financial Planning Assignment: Questions Answers1104 Words   |  5 PagesAFIN310 Issues in Applied Finance Financial Planning Assignment: Questions Answers General Questions 1. Is an introduction / executive summary and conclusion required? No. You are to answer each question and keep to a total maximum of 15 pages, excluding cover page. No marks will be provided for anything written on page 16 or beyond. Students are recommended to refer to the mark allocation when answering each question. 2. Is specific formatting required? Eg The font you can use is Calibri, size

Monday, December 16, 2019

Possibility of a terrorist attack is real in any nation in the world Free Essays

Possibility of a terrorist attack is real in any nation in the world more so in the United States and all other nation that seem to support our policies. Though this country has been a victim in the past we may not be in a position to guarantee that we can not be stricken again, it can happen anytime as the terrorist have been known to strike at the least expected time and in the least expected places. I will be quick to point out that in the recent future there has been a trend as far as terrorist attacks are concerned. We will write a custom essay sample on Possibility of a terrorist attack is real in any nation in the world or any similar topic only for you Order Now They have been targeting specific places with the most prone areas being the crowded areas. Their aim is to cause as much panic as possible. In the previous terror attacks lives has been lost and massive destruction of property witnessed in all these instances. There have been growing fears that terrorist might strike key economic infrastructures in this country. This has caused great fear as such an attack could bring cascading and social impacts. In this paper I will describe a hypothetical nuclear terrorist attack giving a clear analysis on its effect on various aspects of American systems. Nuclear attack has never been a comfortable subject in America, it is feared that such a thing would inflict damage that has never been witnessed in the American history. The fact remains that such an attack is possible in the American soil and the perpetrators of such an attack would be aiming to strike in an areas where they would cause the greatest damage ever having the kind of effects never seen before. The infrastructure in the picture would be one which carries a big number of people at one particular time; in this case I will assume an airport would be the key target. At one given time there are beehive activities in the key airports in the country. Many people are traveling from one point to the other not forgetting that there are others who are permanently located in such a facility either as workers of a particular airline or even there to provide security for the passengers. The point is that the human traffic is always high. (Allison, G 2005) If such an attack occurred ,it would be at the least expected time, though our country security systems have the mechanisms to detect terrorist intention and prevent them before they occur they are not always hundred percent accurate, therefore at times they might miss some of the details. The attack given its nature would have catastrophic effects a whole airport might be destroyed as a result of the blast and fires; this would not spare the adjacent infrastrucres also. Deaths would be as a result of either as a result of the fire or due to the radiation poisoning that would occur given the nature of the attack. The effects of such an attack would be devastating both in the short term and long time. The deaths that would occur from such a catastrophic incidence would be many given the target and the type of weapon that have been used. Nuclear weapons are very dangerous as they have very lethal effects not only on a short term period but also in the future due to the radioactive materials involved. It would pose a danger for those who were directly involved in the accident and also those who would come in to help in the evacuation process. It is a kind of a situation that many would not want to imagine can happen in our country but given that nuclear technology is available in the so called the rogue states such an attack can occur in our soil. Evacuation would not just be a simple process since the chemicals involved are very dangerous, it would require some specialized equipment to avoid contamination of those involved. Such equipment does not come cheaply therefore the cost involved in the process would be high meaning this would have some serious economic implications in the future. The massive destruction of property would occur meaning the important infrastructure would be destroyed paralyzing the entire operations of the airport and its adjacent premises. This would eventually affect the economic activities in the area and beyond since transport and other activities would be affected. Terror attacks bring some very unpleasant effects on those affected. The terrorist intention is to make the targets psychologically tormented if not physically injured, nuclear terrorist attack would have even more effects given it nature, the effects would be long term as the chemicals involved are very dangerous, it would affect those who were present at the time of the incidence and also those who were not there and may come into contact with the radioactive rays emitted during the attack. (Leventhal, P and Yonah, A 1986) The security systems of this country would be largely be affected knowing that such an attack would be hard to tackle as it might be impossible to send army to fight nuclear terrorists given that most of them are well organized groups which are sponsored by the rogue states. It would bring new challenges as far as war on terror is concerned. This might not be unexpected but it poses a serious threat on our security system. They need to be up to the challenge, since they have concentrated too much energy fighting other type of terrorism such that much resource has not been used to address such an issue. The system would have to prepare itself enough to meet the challenges posed b y this type of the welfare. They have to come up with the strategy to detect and prevent such a catastrophic attack in future. A terrorist if this magnitude occurring in our country would definitely mean that our security system has been lapse as they were not able to detect it early. Given it nature which would require a lot of preparation before hand making it easy for the security personnel to smell a rat and take the necessary action. The fact that it has occurred may most likely indicate that much was not done or some of them were involved. This would call for a serious mitigation measures to be taken so as to prevent such an attack in the future and if possible or as it should be, thorough security checks as provided by the law carried out to avoid such a disaster. How to cite Possibility of a terrorist attack is real in any nation in the world, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Effective Business Communication Processes and Performance

Question: Discuss about theEffective Business Communicationfor Processes and Performance. Answer: Literature Review Communication includes an act of transferring a message from one person to another(Louhiala-Salminen, 2011). Communication can be either verbal or non-verbal in nature depending on the process and manner in which it is conveyed. Communication is an important part for any professional as well as personal life. Communication is required at each and every life step. There are various types of communication as assertive, passive, aggressive and so on. In order that the message gets properly transferred to its intended sources it needs to be verbal and assertive in nature. I want to be an open and activists in order to enhance by verbal communication skills. I am a conservative and introvert person, hence this literature review will provide necessary concepts and skills that are required to attend to these areas. Verbal Communication is the most preferred type of communication as in this case the indicated message is clearly expressed by the individual in either written or oral form(DeVito, 2007). Verbal communication is thus the use of languages and symbols along with gestures that entail communication to an individual. In order to develop skills of an open and as an activists in verbal communication there needs to several behavioral and conceptual learning that should take place. Thus, in order to evaluate skills for open and as an activist in verbal communication, the skills that needs to be developed pertains to having clear representation of ideas and concepts. R. DiSanza (2016) article, Business and professional communication: Plans, processes, and performance. published in Pearson provides various information reagrding communciation skills(DiSanza, 2016). Verbal communciation is an important aspect of communciation as it includes writing as well as speaking in words with clear instrcutions. For being open and activists in verbal communciation an individual needs to possess high grannatical skills, knowledge reagrding positive communciation and ways to provide assertive communciation to the other end. L. Smart (2007) article, Learning by doing: Engaging students through learner-centered activities. in the journal Business Communication Quarterly, pages 451 to 457 reflects the several apsects that an individual needs to learn while having a verbal communciation(Smart, 2007). This journal highlights sharing of information for an individual working in the field of business or in personal aspect by means of words. Generally, verbal communciation enunciates tone of voice and stress in order to express appropriateness in a consition. Verbal communcaition are used at large to commucniate to a large audiene, writing a personal letter to someone, talking to a person over the telephone and in other aspctets as well. Language is another aspect of verbal communication, which provides a fixed frame of reference for a particular message(Conrad, 2012). Other functions of language in order for open and activists verbal communication includes descriptive functions, social functions and expressive functions. Receptive and productive language skills are the crucial aspect for a role of a successful communicator. Thus, along with the art of mastering basic language skill, receptive and productive skills needs to be made effective such that it becomes readily acceptable. There needs to be unbiased language for the purpose of intending such communications. While communicating there might be a scope for any distortions entering the message such that it is misunderstood or misinterpreted(Tuleja, 2008). Such types of discrepancies in message transmissions needs to be totally avoided. Thus, it can be understood for above that language plays an important role in verbal communication. In order that I emerge as an effective person in skills and areas mentioned, I need to encompass language developmental and grammar developmental skills as the form the central tool. There are different formats of verbal communication available as well as spoken communication, which can be either in private or in public. Written communication which can be private correspondence or on one-to-one basis. Along with interpersonal skills in communication development that includes development of language skills there needs to be developed behavioral aspects as well(Fann Thomas, 2007). Behavioral aspects of open and activists verbal communication includes being assertive in style and statement. Having a positive attitude towards development of such communication skill is necessary factor that promotes the good and high quality verbal communication. Certain aspects of non-verbal communication need to be integrated in verbal communications as well. Body language positivity along with positivity of language helps transfer an immensely positive message to the other end(Keyton, 2013). Further any potential barriers that might disrupt the message from entering the intended sources in the intended manner have to be overcome to allow for better transfer of information. The primary challenge in recognizing quality verbal communication and to be proficient in it, is to diagnose the key challenges facing the message. A communicator needs to select his or her medium of instruction as well that allows for proper transfer of information(Davids, 2008). Professionals in organizations attain high levels of proficiency in verbal communications easily as against learning through courses. Practice is the best way that an individual can gain in especially communication field. Thus, regular practice to write or talk using verbal skills and allowing monitoring of such will help diagnose suitability of analysis. Skills and transfer of knowledge needs to be periodically reviewed and tested especially in communication such that they are suitable for practical applications(Conn, 2008). Thus, I need to improvise all relevant skills that has been discussed in this part of the work in order to become a desired professional with intended skill set. Open and activists verbal communication is the most preferred type of communication skills that are used across organizations. Interviewers as well as organizations select candidates who have develop such at skill such that those can be applied in case for organizational communication. It is extremely important for me that I become the desired person with skills and knowledge levels thus, for such to happen I need to work on language, grammar, body language and similar skills in the area which can be done by undertaking the following action plans. Action Plan An Action Plan for becoming an individual capable in open and as activists in verbal communication includes several steps. It entails changing current communication styles and skill set thus there will be a need for rigorous activities that has to be undertaken in the next 6 months. There is a need to take up serious learning in the area of verbal communication such that its skills can be easily inculcated. Awareness regarding communication and several skills of verbal communication is already present and to further develop concepts and knowledge, a short coarse in communication course will need be taken up. Also a mentor will be able to guide through the process of taking up such course or referring to any relevant books or journals for the purpose. Verbal communication is an essential skill in establishing organizational communication and for success in personal as well as professional communication. In CQU there is a short coarse available that can help develop this skill and knowledge in the area. The course is a 6 months short course post completion of which there will be a certification and a qualifying examination for the same. Hence, it will be an added advantage in the Curriculum Vitae with such communication course from such reputed University. This course has been referred to by many industrial personnel hence is of immense practical relevance. Active reading sessions will also help develop skills and concepts related to Open and to become an Activists in Verbal Communication. CQUs library is equipped with various books, journals, company magazines and case studies that pertain to the area of Communication; hence reading through relevant articles in the topic will provide good inputs. Along with traditional books, the library has internet connection that can provide access to various journals and articles from internet sources. A special feature of the library at CQU is self-help books that will increase knowledge and demonstrate applicability of communication tools. An ideal mentor for providing guidance through to develop skills will be a University Professor. He or She can provide strategies in order to overcome any difficulties in communication and develop skills for open and as activists in verbal communication. He will also be able to highlight any areas of lag that needs to be attended to such that there are no problems that occurs in the future. Other programs and courses can also be suggested by him. All the above strategies success needs to be tested in relative to practical experience in friends or colleague groups. A person well versed in this procedure will help rate the competence of such processes as well. A well planned self-diagnostic plan or tool needs to be also implemented such that periodic reviews and diagnosis of relevant facts can be achieved. This will also help track growth thus a personal journal will be extremely effective and allow to follow the desired path. Hence self-reflection is the key to attaining the desired goal in open and activists verbal communication in order to emerge as a successful professional. Reference Lists Conn, C. E. (2008). Integrating writing skills and ethics training in business communication pedagogy: A resume case study exemplar. Business Communication Quarterly, 138-151. Conrad, D. . (2012). Identification and instruction of important business communication skills for graduate business education. Journal of Education for Business, 112-120. Davids, K. W. (2008). Dynamics of skill acquisition: A constraints-led approach. . Human Kinetics. DeVito, J. A. (2007). Interpersonal Communication Book. The, 13/E. New York, NY: Pearson International. DiSanza, J. R. (2016). Business and professional communication: Plans, processes, and performance. Pearson. Fann Thomas, G. (2007). How can we make our research more relevant? Bridging the gap between workplace changes and business communication research. . The Journal of Business Communication, 283-296. Keyton, J. C. (2013). Investigating verbal workplace communication behaviors. . The Journal of Business Communication , 152-169. Louhiala-Salminen, L. . (2011). Professional communication in a global business context: The notion of global communicative competence. IEEE Transactions on professional communication, 244-262. Smart, K. L. (2007). Learning by doing: Engaging students through learner-centered activities. Business Communication Quarterly, 451-457. Tuleja, E. A. (2008). Communicating across the curriculum in an undergraduate business program: Management 100Leadership and communication in groups. Business Communication Quarterly, 27-43.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work free essay sample

Paragraph Number I What it says I What it does I #1 | Students based on their class of society are treated and taught differently in class rooms. I This first paragraph explains the problem that the author is writing about. | #2 | Before the author starts to explain the problem, shes going to define the social classes. I This is a paragraph describing whats going to be explained next. | #3 | There are 3 factors to decide who goes into which social class. I This explains that relations define which social class you are in. #4 | A person who has elation to ownership of capital is considered to be more upper class. I This explains the first relationship to determine your social class. | #5 | Tobe in an upper class, one must own stocks or capital. I It shows some important data that the wealthy has possession of the majority of stock. | #6 | The worker class usually doesnt own physical capital and usually labors in order to gain profits for others. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I It gives an explanation to the working class. | #7 | The middle class is a mixture of the working class and upper class. I This gives an explanation of the middle class. I #8 | The upper class has a position of power over the middle and working class when it comes to employment. I This explains the relationship between classes. | #9 | The working class majority of the time has labor that requires routine and mechanical with no layout. Middle class has Jobs that require some labor and some planning out. I This explains the labor of the separate social classes. | #10 | The social class can change for a person at anytime so it isnt set in stone. I The onclusion for explaining the separation of social classes. | #11 I The author has decided to study 5 different schools each with different social classes. I It was an introduction previewing readers what theyre going to read on later. | #12 | The first and second school are working-class schools where majority of the parents of students here have blue-collar Jobs. I It shows the situation of the elementary schools to provide readers with the information on how much the working classs salaries are. #13 | The third school is a middle class school where its still split p into 3 different groups: low-middle class, middle class, and upper-middle class. I This paragraph explains some careers of the elementary students parents. I #14 | The fourth school is an upper class. Majority of the students here are white. I This explains the upper class parent Jobs. | #15 | The last school is an Executive Elite School because the majority of fathers of students are top executives. No minority s tudents attend this school. I It talks about the upper of the upper class and describes how less than 1% of families. #16 | The author talks about how each school work will be different. I This is the conclusion to how the schools are separated between classes. | #17 | Different classes have different ways for students to learn and how every teacher teaches different. I This is the introduction paragraph to describe the teaching styles of each different class. #18 | The students will have different relations to the authorities throughout the schools. I It explains the relationship between students and staff members of the

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Monroe Hospital

Monroe Hospital Montgomery Hospital Statement of Major Issues: Management at Montgomery Hospital has recently recognized the need to redesign operations to survive in a rapidly changing health care environment. A critical issue facing Montgomery is its inability to expand existing facilities to meet ambulatory needs. The hospital is also faced with the uncertainties of it?s patient?s health care insurance coverage. A recent study suggested that alternative delivery systems such as HMO and PPO plans could increase to 50% by 1995.To strengthen the Hospital?s strategic position in the region, the new CEO, James Gainer, believes that the Hospital should concentrate on building alliances with physicians, other health care institutions and appropriate institutions outside of the health care industry. Only through partnerships and associations can the hospital control resources that are used to treat patients and achieve it?s new mission to serve the community through decentralized family care centers.To f acilitate the goal of collaborating with external stakeholders, the hospital needs an information processing system that can combine information across functions and institutions.Montgomery, AlabamaData capture includes service usage, satisfaction and demographics. The current system is not capable of these functions nor can it link case mix and patient flow to cost accounting. In fact, useful marketing information such as patient satisfaction and needs is unavailable or is not fully understood.Alliances with other health care entities and shared patient information are key to reshaping Montgomery?s health care delivery system. Given the new direction of the hospital, the major issues of this case are how to manage external alliances and develop an Information System to support strategic goals within the next two years.History/Background of the Organization: Montgomery is a community hospital that provides basic health care services at it?s 488 bed facility. Under the leadership of CEO, Ed Thompson, the hospital experienced...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Should I Go to a Rural, Urban, or Suburban College

Should I Go to a Rural, Urban, or Suburban College SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The location of a school can have a big impact on your experience as a student. It’s important to be aware of your preferences and make sure you choose a college that lines up with what will make you happiest. In this article, I’ll give you some details on the characteristics of rural, urban, and suburban college environments so that you can decide which one sounds like the best fit for you. What Is a Rural College Environment Like? Rural colleges are colleges that are located in the country, often with access to wilderness areas and farms. Generally, a college is considered rural if its campus is in a town with a population of less than 25,000 people.These schools can provide great outdoor learning opportunities in fields like environmental science and agriculture. I attendedDartmouth College, which I would consider a rural schoolgivenits remote location in the small town of Hanover, NH. While there, I took a class called â€Å"Food and Power.† We got to go on a field trip to the organic farm that’s associated with the college and eat some delicious fresh asparagus. (Seriously, I didn’t know it was possible for asparagus to taste that good.)Students also had the opportunity to work on the farm and learn more about how food was grown, an experience that wouldn't be accessible in a city environment. Usually at rural colleges there will still be a small town of some kind nearby so you can buy basic necessities that aren’t available on campus.Rural colleges tend to be far from any major city centers, although some do provide busing for students to cities that are within a reasonable distance (e.g. a couple of hours away).Rural college campuses are often very self-contained, meaning that not many students will live off campus because there aren’t enough options! Most events will happen on campus since there are very few opportunities to go out to clubs or shows off-campus.For this reason, rural colleges will often bring free concerts and performances to their students.These can be pretty cool, and this state of affairsalso means that you’ll spend a lot less money on going out with your friends.The scenery and activities available can vary immensely depending on where a rural college is located. Some are near mountains with great skiing and hiking and some might be near lakes or nice biking trails. Examples of rural colleges include: Middlebury College Bucknell University Carleton College Bucknell University in either the spring or fall. I can't tell which it is. All I know is that those trees are showing a LOT of branch. Is a Rural College the Right Choice for You? Rural colleges are great for students who love the outdoors and want to be a part of a tight-knit community.If you prefer to go for a hike or hang out with your friends in a quieter setting rather than spend a night out on the town, a rural college may be right up your alley.Rural colleges are ideal for those who prefer a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where they will mainly be interacting with other college students.If the idea of living on campus for most or all of your time in college and sticking to the same few reliable options for entertainment and food doesn’t bother you, then you’ll probably like the atmosphere at a rural college. One drawback of this type of environment is that there might not be as many job or internship opportunities available in the immediate vicinity.However, this can also leave you more open to the possibility of traveling somewhere new and exciting for a summer internship or job rather than sticking around in the same area. Rural colleges will do their best to provide on-campus job opportunities for students who are interested. Another thing to keep in mind is the transportation situation at rural colleges. If you don't have a car, it's going to be difficult for you to get off campus. This can feel a little bit claustrophobic at times. Many schools do provide busing or access to local transportation systems, but it's much less convenient to get around without a car at a rural college. If you don't have a car, you will probably end up knowing someone with a car, though; it's typically not a huge issue unless you're set on driving home every weekend. What Is an Urban College Environment Like? Urban colleges are located in large cities (typically with populations of 200,000 or more).The layouts of urban college campuses can vary immensely; some are more self-contained in their own little bubbles, and some are spread throughout the city.If a campus is more spread out, the college often offers specialized public transportation shuttles for students or will provide students with passes to use on the city’s public transportationsystems.Urban college campuses are extremely variable depending on the city and neighborhood where they are located, so you'll need to visit the school and do some research before making too many assumptions about what the environment is actually like. In many cases, urban campuses will offer off-campus learning opportunities in the form of internships and classes that allow students to interact with the surrounding community.Since urban campuses have such a close proximity to so many company headquarters and job opportunities, they can be great places to start your internship search and get your foot in the door career-wise. Urban colleges will provide you with access to many off-campus entertainment options including museums, bars, clubs, concerts, movies, plays, and more.They also tend to attract a more diverse student body. Examples of urban colleges include: New York University Northeastern University UCLA The Northeastern University campus. Dat landscaping. Is an Urban College the Right Choice for You? If you’re all about being in an exciting setting with lots of events and diverse people, an urban college might be the place for you. Since students from a variety of different backgrounds tend to be drawn to schools in big cities, urban colleges usually have a less homogeneous student body than rural colleges.Urban colleges are good environments for outgoing students who like to explore and interact with all different types of people and cultures.There will always be something going on in the surrounding city, and you’ll be able to access pretty much any activity that interests you because of the breadth of experiences available.It’s likely that there will also be other college campuses nearby, so you might have more opportunities to meet and interact with students from other colleges. Overall, it's much easier to get around at urban colleges because you'll usually have access to a robust public transportation system. People will be able to visit you even if they don't have cars because of your central location. If you do have a car, you may run into some issues at an urban college because cars often become largely unnecessary, and it can be expensive to park. If you’re hoping to live off campus and get more of a taste of adult life in college, an urban college might be a good choice.You’ll have tons of choices for where you want to live as an upperclassman. Keep in mind, however, that you couldstill run into cost issues, especially in larger cities (looking at you, New York). High housing pricescan limit your choices and make dorm life a more realistic option.At an urban college, you also won’t be stuck with the school’s dining options or the limited number of restaurants that might be available at a college in a small town. If there’s a certain city that is a hot spot for a career field that interests you, you might consider attending an urban college in the area to do some networking. It's easier to make connections when you can meet up with potential employers face to face. What Is a Suburban College Environment Like? A suburban college is a college that’s located somewhere between the rural and urban college environment.These colleges may be in small cities, large towns, or residential areas near large cities with populations that number between 25,000 and 200,000.Suburban colleges will offer some of the qualities of both urban and rural schools depending on their proximity to cities and the layout of their campuses. Suburban college campuses tend to be self-contained like rural colleges, fostering a sense of community amongst students.However, students at suburban colleges will have more options for activities off campus in the surrounding area.Suburban campuses often provide students with access to both outdoor activities similar to those found at rural colleges and urban entertainment options such as the museums, concerts, and clubs mentioned above. In many cases, suburban colleges have strong ties to the towns in which they are located, meaning student discounts at local venues as well as more job and internship opportunities. Local transportation is often provided to students for easy access to activities in the area, but it may be less directly accessible than at urban schools. It can be useful to have a car at a suburban college, but it's usually not necessary for getting off campus. Examples of suburban colleges include: Pomona College University of Virginia Tufts University Pomona College, where you can't be sad unless you don't ever look outside. Is a Suburban College the Right Choice for You? If different aspects of both rural and urban colleges appeal to you, then the suburban college life might be a good fit.You may like being in the city to a certain degree, but you want to be able to get away that atmosphere sometimes and enjoy nature.Suburban colleges will give you many choices for how you want to spend your time outside of class. If you want to get off campus you can, but you can also choose to stay within the college bubble if that’s what makes you feel more comfortable.Depending on location, suburban colleges may offer more access to off-campus housing options for students.If you’re interested in living off-campus without being in the middle of a big, intimidating city, a suburban college could be a great choice. Conclusion Location and environment are very important factors to consider when choosing a college.Depending on your personality, you might be happier at a rural, urban, or suburban school.Rural campuses are great for students who want to experience the outdoors far from the hustle and bustle of city life and be a part of a very independent college community.Urban campuses might be a better fit for students who love to go out on the town, experience a wide variety of cultural events, and meet lots of new people outside of those who attend their same school.Suburban campuses present a mixture of both environments; if aspects of both rural and suburban colleges appeal to you, a suburban college might be the way to go. Remember that this is just one factor that you should think about in your college search!Read my guide on how to choose a college to help you start brainstorming your preferences and researching schools. What's Next? You've probably heard of safety schools and reach schools, but how should you go about choosing them for yourself? Read more about how to decide on the bestsafety schools and reach schools in these articles. Another important way that colleges are categorized is by their status as public or private institutions. Find out what each type of school offers and whether one might be a better fit for you. Going to a college that's far away from your hometown can be a tough transition, but it's a great experience for many students. Learn about the pros and cons of going to school out of state. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Emergency Preparedness and Response Research Paper - 1

Emergency Preparedness and Response - Research Paper Example It requires development of effective management strategies to en sure that harmful agents are not released into food items. This paper evaluates US disaster preparedness and response capacity with food security being the focal point. Food security and safety is a critical element that advances nations productivity and performance capacities. It is imperative for various establishments to adopt proper strategies with an aim of advancing food security and safety. It is the prerogative duty of governments to develop food reserve units including food safety maintenance to ensure that meals that are consumed are not harmful to human development (Fong & Alibek, 2009). Federal government including various authorities should protect citizens from consumption of contaminated food through initiation of standardization assurance system. The program ensures that quality assurance and certification of food is undertaken to ascertain food safety before release for consumption as a preventive measure. This is to avert possible disaster occurrences that may claim many lives since food items are consumed vastly. In US, vital policies have been crafted to enhance food safety and availability. The policies seek to provide requisite measures to avert possible deficiencies and traumatic events that may occur due to food contamination (Fong & Alibek, 2009). The government ensures through its quality assurance department ensures that, food items for example maize is free from toxin content that is poisonous. According to Novick & Marr (2003), bioterrorism events occur due to deliberate contamination of food items by toxic elements that cause death or traumatic complications. During such events, victims require initial medical services to restore conciseness. Nations should ensure adequate preparations to mitigate the effects of food contamination by instituting health centers at a measurable radius to facilitate quicker access to medical

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Islam and Its Manifestations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Islam and Its Manifestations - Essay Example From the essay "Islam and Its Manifestations", it is clear that Muslim people believe in the absolute truth of their faith that is perceived by Qutb as the refusal of science’s acceptance. The rhetorical question arises – whether they become happier at the realizing that Islam is not so universal. In the capacity of spectacular example, the barbarian times of Arabs’ seizing of Persian and Greek knowledge are cited. It is the period when they show their brilliant capacity for sciences that can serve as a bright manifestation of nowadays senseless of Islamic rejection of scientific development of Muslim people. Opposite to al-Afghani's idea, Qutb feels sorrow for the present position of Islam world that â€Å"†¦ fell again into ignorance and became the center of religious fanaticism†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Qutb 26). The author wonders why Muslims must live in unknowing after such a great contribution to the world science. The all mentioned aspects suggest that Islam i n its various manifestations is the somewhat contradictory issue. The common belief is that it is one of the firm religions as it has adopted the doctrinal beliefs which are perceived by Muslims without question. Still, such a nature of absolute faith has not only its benefits but the implications as well. The bright example of the latter is the impossibility of scientific progress in the conditions of Islamic closed nature. Islam still does not recognize even the possibility of awareness of Muslims with all the advances of science.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

John Locke outlinect Essay Example for Free

John Locke outlinect Essay â€Å"Rationalism is the thought that appeals to reason or intellect a primary or fundamental source of knowledge or justification. † â€Å"It is typically contrasted with empiricism, which appeals to sensory experience as a primary or fundamental source of knowledge or justification. † John Locke argues that, â€Å"We come to this world knowing nothing whatsoever. † (Warburton 74). He believes that experience teaches us everything we know. This view is usually known as empiricism, in contrast to innatism, (the theory that some of our knowledge is in born), and to  rationalism (the strife that we can achieve knowledge of the world by the power of reason alone). ?Locke’s essay â€Å"Human Understanding† published in 1689, soon became a philosophical bestseller. He produced four editions of it in his lifetime, and it had already reached its eleventh by 1735. This book is complex and wide ranging work; its main focus is the origin and limits of human knowledge. He tries to answer these questions. * what can we know? * What is the relation between thought and reality? These are real the perennial questions of the branch of philosophy called epistemology, or the theory of knowledge. ?Locke described his role as that of an underlabourer , clearing away conceptual confusions so that the scientists, or natural philosophers, as they were then known, could carry on their important work of adding to human knowledge. (Warburton 75). ? No innate principle 1. Locke does not believe that it makes sense to say that someone could be having a thought without their knowing what that thought was about. He rejects any idea of unconscious thoughts as nonsensical. A) One argument he uses to support his claim that there are no innate principles is that it is obvious that there is not total agreement about what the supposedly innate  principles might be. If we were all born knowing that, for example, we should keep our promises, then everyone would recognize this as fundamental principle. But, as Locke points out, there is no such general agreement. (Warburton 76). Nor do children immediately recognize the principle as one binding on them. Locke continues to argue that there is no innate principle aside from the principle that is taught and learnt. ?Locke supports his idea by saying, if there were innate principles then children must strongly abide by them since adults have already influenced by the culture and people. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ These and other arguments lead Locke to reject the view that there are any innate principles. This led him with the task of explaining how it is that the human mind comes to be furnished with thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge of the world. His answer is that all our ideas come from experience. Ideas Locke uses the word idea to mean whatever it is that anyone thinks about. When you look out of your window, what you see – a tree perhaps, or a sparrow – is not the tree or sparrow itself, but rather representation of it, an idea, something like a picture in your head. (Warburton 76). Locke believes that not all our ideas are received from immediate sensation of the world. Some of them are ideas of reflection, such as when we reason, or remember or will do something. Locke believes that all our ideas ultimately come from experience, so that the contents of our thoughts, even when we are reflecting rather than perceiving, all come from sensation. Example: A child locked away would have no more idea of scarlet and green than he would of the taste of  oyster or pineapple if he had never tried them. Ideas can be combined in several ways, so that once we have the idea of scarlet and the idea of a coat, we can imagine a scarlet coat, even if we’ve never actually seen one. But the simpler ideas from which the complex ones are built all originate in perception by one or more of the five senses. ( Warburton 77). Primary and Secondary Qualities When we say that a snowball is greyish-white and cold and round, what we mean is that it can produce in us ides of these properties. Locke distinguishes primary and secondary qualities , giving a very different account of each. -Primary qualities are inseparable from objects. The primary qualities of a snowball would include its shape and solidity, but not its color or its coldness. Solidity and shapes are more likely to remain constant at place over time. Secondary qualities would be color and coldness because its coldness can be changed at a different room temperature while different light settings can give shade to whatever object of your concentration that in a way gives you an illusion view of what you’re actually watching. Personal Identity.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Executive Summary :: essays research papers

In our business world we have to provide quality atmosphere service to our customers. The purpose for this introduction is to explain how we treat our internal and external customers in order to provide satisfaction. The base of this executive summary will be on where we work at with our current employer or former.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The information collected for this executive summary will be on my last employer. My former employer was Eppies Restaurant. Mainly this small business was in Madera California. Now that we addressed the company, we now can adopt quality principles in theory for my former employer Eppies Restaurant. As I stated in the past, Eppies Restaurant has been open for several years until they closed recently. Since Eppies Restaurant is a food service industry, I can tell you from experience, that it can be very stressful for employees.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We as managers must understand that not just people from the community is our customers, but also our employees are too, and business partners, suppliers etc. For example, we have owners (managers), waitress, busboys, dishwashers, cooks; these were the employees who worked at Eppies Restaurant. Employers have always have choices about how they want their business run, but today managers must be more user friendly. Since business runs a cycle one company relieves on other companies services, this would be an external customer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eppies Restaurant had many external customers. For example, we had M& D services they deliver meat and other products. Then we had Rainbow and they deliver bread. We also had a Towel Service they would wash our towels that we use to clean the restaurant. And finally the soda industry and dishwasher industry that supplies their product to any fast food companies. They all provide a service. Eppies Restaurant would buy an extra order for their product and in return they would get a discount. Finally we have our customers who buy our foods. The fast food industry can be very busy especially mothers day. We get anger customers because foods are brought late. The service is bad and seating customers has a big affect on our service to the community. The lesson learned steps in. This also applies for internal employees who work to provide the quality service.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Heroism in the Crucible

Mads Szklany English 11 Mr. Doty March 29, 2010 Heroism in The Crucible Often people have to endure tests of character in order to prove who they are. It is when people have to face great opposition that their character is truly shown; we see whether people are heroes or cowards. Those who are heroic always stand up for their morals and never back down and do selfless acts for the good of others. When people encounter moments where they have to face opposition they can do either of two things; they can stand up for what they believe in and do what they think is the right thing to do, or they can sit back and let someone else do it and simply try to ignore the problem. The ones who always stand up for what they believe are the people who are true heroes. People who have a heroic character will constantly rise up and speak out loud when they see that something wrong is going on. The people who are heroes are incredibly important to society, because they are the people who work for a better tomorrow; they are the people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for something better. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, there are multiple characters that show the quality of a hero when faced with opposition. I believe that the four characters that showed the most â€Å"hero† quality were john Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse and Giles Corey. Rebecca Nurse is a good and simple example of someone who is a hero. She is a hero from the beginning to the end of the story. From the start she is willing to sacrifice her own life for her morals, which shown how strong a character she is. Even when she is repeatedly being pleaded by Reverend Hale to confess to witchcraft in order to save her own life, she refuses, because she knows it is a lie and lying is against her good morals. The heroes, Giles and Proctor, are more complex and grow to become heroes in the book. In the beginning of the book Giles Corey does not appear to be a hero. However, throughout the book he begins to play more and more the role of a hero. In the beginning of the book Giles is seen as more of an annoying person who will do bad things to benefit himself, but he changes throughout the book. When the witch hunts start he does not really believe in witchcraft, however, he is still curious about it and wants to ask the expert, Reverend Hale, some questions. Giles accidently makes his wife look like a witch when he starts asking Hale questions. Giles asks Hale about his wife, â€Å"I have waked at night many a time and found her in a corner, readin’ of a book. Now what do I make of that? † (37). It was uncommon for Women to read at this time so it made her look like a witch. Then after this Giles goes on to say, â€Å"It discomfits me! Last night-mark this-I tired and tired and could not say my prayers. And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly-mark this-I could pray again! † (38). Giles, however, forgets to mention to Reverend Hale that he has only recently started going to church and that he is not very good at saying prayer; he never mentions that this could have something to do with him not knowing how to say a proper prayer. After Giles wife is taking to prison he does not do very much and just keeps on with his life. For the way he spoke of his wife and simply allowed her to go to jail he is definitely no hero. Later, though, Giles starts to notice that even the slightest offhand remark can result in suspicion of one working with the devil. Giles finally wakes up when Putnam’s daughter accuses George Jacobs of witchery. When this happens then Giles notices a motive and claims that Putnam only wants Jacobs’ land. This is when Giles realizes that he needs to take a stand because if he doesn’t then no one will. Giles then rushes to the court shouting that â€Å"Thomas Putnam is only reaching out for land! † (79) Giles claims to have proof and a witness who heard Putnam speak of it. When the court asks him to tell them who the witness is he refuses, because he does not wish to condemn another person, just like he condemned his own wife. Because he will not say who it was, they take him outside and start putting stones on top of him, trying to make him confess. Elizabeth speaks about when Giles was again asked to say who it was. Elizabeth said, â€Å"Great stones they lay upon his chest until he plead aye or nay. They say he give them but two words. â€Å"More weight,† he says. And died† (125). In the end of the book Giles has learned and grown. He dies a hero because he refuses to do the wrong thing; instead he stands up and faces the consequence of doing what is right. From the beginning of the book Proctor knows that the witch trials are only something made up by a group of girls lead by Abigail. He knows because Abigail told him first hand that Betty, who is supposed to be bewitched, is only pretending. Abigail says, â€Å"We were dancin’ in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all† (20). Abigail, however, has told the whole town that Betty has been bewitched. When Proctor finds out this information he still does not go to the court because part of him is still in love with his old mistress, Abigail. Later when Abigail begins to accuse Elizabeth, Proctor’s wife, of witchcraft, Proctor has then had enough. He goes to the court and yells to the court that, â€Å"A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her what she is. . . . She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But all it is a whore’s vengeanceâ€Å" (102). Here Abigail starts to look guilty. Proctor confesses to lechery and if it is true that Proctor did commit lechery with Abigail, then very likely the court will figure out that all this was simply a well-planned plot by Abigail. The court wants Elizabeth to come from the jail and speak to the court in private. When Elizabeth goes to the court she does not know that her husband confessed to lechery. Therefore when Elizabeth is asked about the relationship that Proctor and Abigail had, she merely denies there ever being a relationship between them. She knows that if she lies then she will go to hell, but if she speaks the truth then she will condemn her husband, which she does not wish to do, because of such a selfless act she also becomes a hero. Proctor is the greatest hero in the book. He is also the person in the book who learns the most and grows. He is a very human character because when faced with oppositions he wants to do the right thing, but still has so doubt about what to do; he is a hero, though, because in the end he makes he right decision. He decides to confess, even though his confession is a lie. Then when he is confessing they tell him that he needs to sign his name on a confession. When they ask him to sign his name he begins to cry and refuses to sing, saying, â€Å"Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign mysel f to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! † (133). Proctor realizes that by him confessing he will be condoning the hanging of all the innocent people. He then decides that he rather stand up for what is right and been hanged, than confessing to a lie. Proctor accepts his fate, Reverend Hale begins plead with him saying â€Å"Man, you will hang! You cannot! † (133). Proctor simply replies with his eyes full of tears, â€Å"I can. And there’s your first marvel that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs. Elizabeth, in a burst of terror, rushes to him and weeps against his hand. Give them no tear! Tears pleasure them! Show honor nor, show a stony heart and sink them with it! † (133). Then morning comes and Rebecca and Proctor are taking outside to be hanged. When Proctor stands up preparing to be hanged Elizabeth says, â€Å"He have his goodness now† (134). Elizabeth feels that now Proctor has become the great man that he was meant to be. Proctor could have saved his own life but instead he chooses to die because that is the heroic thing to do; he dies for a right cause. The book shows a variety of heroic characters. However, the most important aspect of the book is also that is shows that heroes are not born heroes but they are made into heroes when faced with great opposition. Heroism is one of the most important things in life. Most people lack the qualities of a true hero. Most people are weak and fall when faced with the slightest bit of opposition. That is why heroism should be praised when it is shown. Everyday heroes are those who are willing to do selfless acts for the good of others. Works cited: Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin books, 1951.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Software Process

LARGE SCALE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT 1. What are the fundamental activities that are common to all software processes? a. Specification – defining what the system should do; b. Design and implementation – defining the organization of the system and implementing the system; c. Validation – checking that it does what the customer wants; d. Evolution – changing the system in response to changing customer needs. 2. List the 3 generic process models that are used in software engineering? ? Plan-driven model. Separate and distinct phases of specification and development. Specification, development and validation are interleaved. May be plan-driven or agile. ? The system is assembled from existing components. May be plan-driven or agile. 3. Why are iterations usually limited when the waterfall model is used? accommodating change after the process is underway. In principle, a phase has to be complete before moving onto the next phase. 4. What are the three benefits of incremental development, compared to the waterfall model? ? The amount of analysis and documentation that has to be redone is much less than is required with the waterfall model. Customers can comment on demonstrations of the software and see how much has been implemented. ? Customers are able to use and gain value from the software earlier than is possible with a waterfall process. 5. What are the development stages in reuse-based development? ? Component analysis; ? Requirements modification; ? System design with reuse; ? Development and integration. 6. What are the principal requirements engineering activities? ? Feasibility study †¢ Is it technically and financially feasible to build the system? Requirements elicitation and analysis †¢ What do the system stakeholders require or expect from the system? ? Requirements specification †¢ Defining the requirements in detail ? Requirements validation †¢ Checking the validity of the requirements 7. Why is it increas ingly irrelevant to distinguish between software development and evolution? – Although there has been a demarcation between development and evolution (maintenance) this is increasingly irrelevant as fewer and fewer systems are completely new. . What are the advantages of using incremental development and delivery? 9. What are the 4 sectors in each loop in Boehm’s spiral model? Objective setting ? Specific objectives for the phase are identified. ? Risks are assessed and activities put in place to reduce the key risks. ? A development model for the system is chosen which can be any of the generic models. ? The project is reviewed and the next phase of the spiral is planned. 10. What are the six fundamental best practices in the RUP? Plan increments based on customer priorities and deliver highest priority increments first. ? Explicitly document customer requirements and keep track of changes to these requirements. ? Organize the system architecture as a set of reusable components. ? Use graphical UML models to present static and dynamic views of the software. ? Ensure that the software meet’s organizational quality standards. Manage software changes using a change management system and configuration management tools.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Bettys Summer Vacation Details and Summary

Bettys Summer Vacation Details and Summary Christopher Durangs plays are well-known for addressing taboo content in a biting and humorous manner.  Betty’s Summer Vacation, with its  talk of incest, murder, mutilation, rape, â€Å"three ways,† exposing/flashing, and more, is no exception. Durang notes that his sometimes irreverent manner in dealing with these sensitive topics is meant to reveal to an audience just how far news and entertainment have gone in desensitizing people towards topics that should produce feelings of horror and revulsion, but which are now are glossed over alongside stories of the latest Hollywood scandals. He likens modern audiences to those in Ancient Rome who found entertainment in gladiator battles and sending Christians to fight lions. He writes: â€Å"But I’ve not written a documentary, I’ve written a play; and it’s a farcical play as well, in which we are not meant to EMPATHIZE with the characters the way one is meant to empathize with Blanche DuBois or Willy Loman; it’s more like following the stories of Candide and Cunnegonde in Candide, or the characters in a Joe Orton farce, or even the characters in a 1930s screwball comedy (though admittedly a dark one).† It may be jarring to read or experience a Durang play if you are unprepared for his style. But, Durang aims for â€Å"healing laughter† that comes from serious events that are now distant enough from an audience that when described in a particular manner can be found humorous. Plot Synopsis Betty is on summer vacation in a shared rental property with her friend Trudy, Trudy’s mother Mrs. Siezmagraff, Keith, and Buck. Trudy is a talkative young woman who grates on Betty’s nerves. Buck is an over-sexed lout and Keith just might be a serial killer with a head in a hatbox. Mrs. Siezmagraff is a codependent, Auntie Mame-ish wild woman.  She invites a homeless man, Mr. Vanislaw, to come over for the night as her date. Mr.Vanislaw is wearing a trench coat and sneakers and he flashes everyone in the house and alludes to his penis every chance he gets. Trudy and Betty beg Mrs. Siezmagraff to keep Mr. Vanislaw under control, but she refuses to acknowledge his lewd behavior just as she refused to acknowledge that her late husband molested Trudy. After a night of charades, Mrs. Siezmagraff and Mr. Vanislaw go out drinking. Mrs. Siezmagraff passes out on the floor and Mr. Vanislaw, mad that his date is no longer able to perform, goes in search of Trudy and rapes her. Afterwards Trudy is furious with her mother for allowing the man into their house and demands that she do something, but Mrs. Siezmagraff turns a blind eye and says, â€Å"Every time I get a husband or a boyfriend, Trudy’s always after them.† Trudy is enraged and grabs a kitchen knife and cuts off Mr. Vanislaw’s penis. Keith then cuts off his head. During these events there is canned laughter, similar to that of a laugh track, coming from the ceiling. At first it is sporadic and confusing to the characters, but eventually they become accustomed to the laughter and question why some line or action might get a laugh while others do not. Then the Voices in the ceiling start talking back to the characters and making requests. Those requests soon turn into demands. When Mrs. Siezmagraff calls 911 and the dispatcher tells her to bring Keith and Trudy to the police station, and Betty goes for a walk, and Buck leaves to find the towns’ easy widow, and there is no one left for the Voices to watch, they get frustrated and angry and crash through the ceiling and into the setting of the play. They are a three-headed monster of sorts. They have three different personalities, but share a connected body bound with wires and tubing. The Voices demand that Betty and the rest of the residents at the summer share put on a courtroom drama to entertain them. After an Oscar worthy performance by Mrs. Siezmagraff in which she plays defense attorney, abusive mother, and long lost Irish maid, The Voices pronounce Keith and Trudy innocent of all charges. However, The Voices won’t stop there. They want violence and more violence. They want Keith to cut off more heads and Trudy to cut off more penises. When Buck comes home, this is just what Keith and Trudy do, all the while bonding nicely over the gruesome experience. The Voices want more. They want Keith to blow up the house. Betty begs to escape and manages to run as Keith turns on the gas stove and pulls out a match. Production Details Setting: A nice seaside summer community - maybe somewhere on the New Jersey shore. Not a trendy, chic location. Time: Summer Cast Size: This play can accommodate 9 actors. Male Characters: 5 Female Characters: 4 Characters that could be played by either males or females: 0 Roles Betty is a reasonable young woman. She is the most normal of the group of characters assembled at the summer share. She feels pressured by her job and her mother and is looking for a relaxing vacation at the beach. Trudy uses words as medication. She speaks long and incessantly about anything and everything. She is not used to being listened to and is surprised when Betty or The Voices acknowledge her. She is desperate for attention. Keith is a quiet young man who is looking to be left alone. He had a troubled childhood similar to Trudy’s and learned to cope by cutting off people’s heads. Buck is a â€Å"lout-hunk.† He is sexist in a naà ¯ve way. He believes that all women want to be with him just as he wants to be with them. He prefers to get off about 20 times a day and feels in pain if he falls short of this number. Mrs. Siezmagraff is a grand old woman. She lives life in a large way with self-inflicted blinders. She refuses to see herself or her daughter as a victim, instead choosing to view Trudy as competition for the love/lust of despicable men. Mr. Vanislaw is a derelict who gets his jollies by exposing himself to women as often as possible. He is uncomplicated and unapologetic in his wants and desires. The Group of Voices are comprised of two men and one woman. They are a cross section of demographics that TV stations poll to see what America finds entertaining. Production/Character Notes In the script provided by Dramatists Play Service, Inc, Christopher Durang has notes for potential directors, actors, and producers. He writes about tone, character choices, the use of blood and much more. Any theatre or company looking to produce Betty’s Summer Vacation would find it useful to read and study these notes. Content Issues: Language, murder, violence, rape, incest, sex

Monday, November 4, 2019

Best Dining Experience Essay Example for Free

Best Dining Experience Essay My favorite food is Mexican. Being from Arizona, Mexican restaurants are not as good here in Iowa. Although my favorite Mexican food to eat here is from my grandmother’s kitchen; there are a few restaurants my friends and I enjoy eating at. A few of my girlfriends and I have made Margarita Wednesdays a tradition in the summer time at La Casa. My brother, sister and I go to Los Cabos at least once a month in West Des Moines, which is an amazing delicious Mexican restaurant. I also like Monterrey in Altoona because it’s so close to my house, but no restaurant can compare to Tiki Tok in Mexico. My best friend and I were feeling spontaneous so we took a week off work and went on a cruise. We both found it difficult to eat on the ship because we were continually getting sea sick. I’ll never forget the fishy, chewy, and crunchy taste of the little shrimp and cocktail sauce going down my throat, or the unpleasant feeling I had when it was coming up. The only bad memory of my trip was praying that my legs would stop shaking and that my journey would hopefully reach an end so I could stand on solid ground. Other than being sea sick for the first day; I had a blast on the cruise! I got the opportunity to see many things and visit quite a few places. One of the ports of call was Cozumel, Mexico, and my friend Alexandra and I decided we wanted to try some real Mexican food. Of course, we were a little concerned about getting sick, but I’m glad to say that didn’t happen. We asked on the ship where the best place for Mexican food was, but they said that anywhere along the main shopping strip would be good. We then found a place called the Tiki Tok. The place was on the second level of a building. We sat out on the little balcony that they had. They had covered it with sand. The view from the restaurant was amazing. I was hypnotized by the vibrant colors and the employees’ of the restaurants equally vibrant lifestyles. I remember feeling jealous of the workers because they would get to go back to Tiki Tok tomorrow and the day after that, but I wouldn’t. The walls were an explosion of colorful textiles and every color of paint one could think of that was as bold as can be. Vases were on every table with burnt orange and deep yellow dried peppers inside. The chairs at the dining tables were made of a Mexican Serape material. The colors, the fringe, and the feel of it gave the restaurant even a stronger Mexican energy. My favorite part of the restaurants decor was the little cactus lights that strung amongst all the walls connecting each bulb to the wrought iron chandelier in the middle of the room. When one first enters the restaurant the Mariachi band is one of the most noticeable features. Three men were dressed in black with button up shirts and decorative sombreros all standing in the corner of the room. Two men had violins and the third was handling a guitar. As we took our seats the band started playing lively music and a few older couples got up and danced fearlessly. Everything in the restaurant was bold excluding my bashful personality; otherwise I would have danced too. I was in a trance watching the people dance with one another until the Mariachi band shouted in sync, â€Å"AY! † causing me to be brought back to the present. It was then that I had realized how hungry I was. The menu prices were in pesos, so it looked like everything was really expensive, but it wasn’t. We ordered the hot and spicy red enchiladas which were about 60 pesos, and they also brought us chips and salsa. The chips were a little bit thicker than you would get here in the US, and there were three different types of salsas. There was a regular pico de gallo, then there was one made with tomatillos, and the last was a pineapple cilantro salsa that was actually really tasteful. Lexi and I have never had pineapple cilantro salsa before, so we weren’t sure whether it was going to be appetizing or not. After stuffing myself with chips our food finally arrived. It was just about the yummiest thing I’ve ever had. The red sauce for the enchiladas was a little bit different than what I’ve had here, but I can’t tell you how. It was more delicious over there though. There was chicken inside the enchiladas and a touch of sour cream on top. We took the extra salsa we hadn’t demolished with the chips and smothered our enchiladas with it. I ate every last bite of it and was so full afterwards! The amazing food I had in Mexico was the best Mexican food I have ever had. I remember the smell of the ocean and sweet salsa at the same time. The bright colored sombreros and the ocean front view was an amazing sight to see while enjoying the food as well. Anytime I think about Mexico I think about the short beach chairs, sand between my toes, all the smells of the restaurant, laughing with my best friend and delicious enchiladas. This will be a memory that would be difficult to forget because we took so many pictures of the restaurant and it was the best eating experience I’ve had yet. I’m really glad that my friend and I were able to have this dining experience together. Alexandra and I enjoyed it very much! Best Dining Experience. (2017, Mar 30).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Jazz documentaries, racism and segregation Essay

Jazz documentaries, racism and segregation - Essay Example One of most popular documentaries on Swing Jazz was released during 2000. The name of this documentary was Jazz and directed by Ken Burns. This documentary was broadcasted in a series of 10 episodes and offered information regarding the chronological history of jazz and its prominent musicians. The documentary studies various aspects of  jazz,  including drugs and  racial segregation (Burns, 2000). Racial segregation was one of the most serious issues during the peak popularity of Swing Jazz. Although, the Black community had contributed greatly in World War I and II, the society continued to discriminate against them. Even in jazz, the musicians as well as the audience during a jazz performance  was  seated separately.   â€Å"Due to the racism found in many states, clubs throughout the country were often segregated. Just a few bands were racially mixed, of which Benny Goodman’s was possibly the first† (Swing and Racism, 2015). Part 7 of documentary and chapter 18, â€Å"These Things cant happen† offers bleak information about the Black soldiers, who fought to defend the ideals of their country, liberty and equality. Swing and Racism observes: â€Å"Hollywood films handled the race issue by including the African-American swing jazz band performances in films such a way that these sections could be easily removed from the movie reels that were to be distributed to Southern States without disturbing the storyline† (Swing and Racism,

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Appearance and Reality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Appearance and Reality - Essay Example To start with, he considers light falling on the table and its distribution. He suggests that different people looking at the same table will actually see a different thing altogether depending on the angle of look and position with which they stand. He explains further that the two people will have different account of what they see, and the initial table will have a different â€Å"meaning† altogether. He continues by outlining other characteristics of the same and claims that the texture, when observed with the unaided eye, will be much different than when observed with microscopes of different powers. He alleges that more details will be revealed whenever the latter will be used, making him wonder of what more is yet to be found on this rather cool and smooth table. He elaborates that, if what can be perceived with the naked eye is questionable, then how true is that which can be observed with aids? Russell claims that a real shape will maintain its shape regardless of the angle with which it is looked at. He alleges that a circular shape will appear oval like when viewed from a distance and thus deviating from the initial theory of â€Å"real shapes,† hence concludes that there is no such thing as a real shape. Briefly, Russell Bertrand, an acclaimed theorist, suggests that there is no such thing as â€Å"Reality.† From the examples given, he brings out the possibility of reasoning and challenging even the most of basic things in life that we consider common sense. Physics teaches that light travels from the object to the eye, so whatever we perceive depends upon the light on the same object to our eyes. Therefore, whatever our eyes see depends on the property of light. Thereby we can justify that whatever our eyes see is the real object. Considering his example on texture, where he was torn in between on what exactly he was to take as the real feel for the same. He actually overlooks a lot in his reason for even considering the micros copic view as part of the â€Å"real† view. One thing he forgets to understand is that the microscopic view, whether in low or high power is actually giving the hidden structural arrangement and combination of grains, which are the building blocks for the table, which will otherwise not have been seen with the naked eye. This example is the equivalent of considering a house where the basic are bricks. When the bricks are analyzed on their own, they exhibit a different property, which the otherwise finished house will not have. Thus, the house cannot be described using such property. The human eyesight is limited to a number of things. His claim that shapes look different from a given point of view can also be challenged critically. Perspective angle causes shapes to appear different, but that does not mean that they really are. In my view, people will see whatever they want to see and interpret them in whatever manner they deem fit, making each person to have a different opin ion and account concerning what they perceive depending on their current physical and psychological condition. However, if the different people were given the same â€Å"viewing† ground and if they all had perfect eyesight, all of them would give the same answer and description of what they saw. Russell’s claim that two people will give different accounts when viewing the same from different places is actually true. Were the same people given

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Critique article Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critique article - Research Paper Example In addition, it should not have generalized respiratory therapists and nurses because the study is confined to a limited population and the sampling method cannot be considered representative of the universal population. Nonetheless to focus on prevention of ventilator-associated Pneumonia is clear. The introductory section is clear, concise and informative. It successfully established the subject of the study and explained its objectives and significance. Of, particular importance are the empirical evidences that built the case for the research hypothesis and the research framework. The section reviewing previous literature on the research subject is practically non-existent. Prior studies were cited but in a very sweeping manner and only served to support points made in the Introduction section. Some previous studies were cited such as the survey among French and Canadian ICU directors on VAP adherence and the work of van Nieuwenhoven et al. (2006), which addressed clinical applicability of prevention measures. But the details are not sufficient to establish a gap that the article could fill and develop a research framework accordingly. The methods section did not specify an overarching methodology that could have outlined a clear research framework or effectively defined research concepts. If there is, it should have been clearly identified. Instead, the paper - in the methodology section - merely talked about the process without even citing how such processes came to be. This aspect highlights the most critical flaw of the study. Like the manner by which the methodology was written, the data gathering process was similarly unsystematic. The researchers merely created a survey and distributed the questionnaires without attempting to design a scientific sampling procedure. The same can be said about the content of the questionnaire and consequently the type of data gathered. Based on these parameters, the researchers were able

Sunday, October 27, 2019

An Analysis Of Huntingtons Theories Of Democratisation Politics Essay

An Analysis Of Huntingtons Theories Of Democratisation Politics Essay The course of modern democratization is actually far more difficult than Huntington suggests in his theory, the Third Wave of Democratization. In fact, this theory fails to elucidate very different explanations for democratization. First of all, it is required to make a separation as to the causes of democratization. Secondly, the wave approach takes for granted that there is now a global movement to establish democracy. This argument might be true to an extent, considering what is happening in certain countries all over the world, and especially in the Arab world. But, according to a more precise consideration, the number of stable and liberal democracies is actually growing very slowly.  [1]  Huntington presumed that more democracies were emerging because more elections were being held. However, holding elections, as mentioned in previous sections, does not necessarily indicate the implementation of democracy and democratization. In other words, if elections were taken as the o nly, or the main sign of democracy and democratization, then a country like Lebanon would be one of the most democratic countries in the world. Quite simply, social conflict theory has been pointed to in conventional studies as sparking the democratization process.  [2]  This theory, based on capitalism, is regarded as the classic method of analysing political reform. It states that the class structure was overturned by capitalism, which led to the formation of a middle class and thus an insistence on social and economic reform so that the new system could be maintained. Indeed, Seymour Lipset asserts that capitalism bread bourgeois and middle class professionals, who are essential for political reform and hence democracy.  [3]   Some researchers believe that democratization has its roots in the 1776 American Revolution. Dahl, for example, dates the process to the success known by the question of representation which brought about the Revolution and ultimately saw the birth of the United States. Other scholars, such as Huntington, equate democracy with individualism and consequently hold the view that its first wave began in the 1600s. The rapid spread of capitalism in the West and the fierce social conflicts that ensued should equally be considered. The non-elite or lower classes were increasingly empowered by growth in the economy, creating a situation where they came to recognize those rights that had so far been denied them. The process of democratization, therefore, resulted from social conflicts. Meanwhile, capitalism and its ensuing social conflicts resulted in the development of a modern and fairly independent state able to play a pivotal role in further social reform. In Europe, this new state enabled the advancement of socio-economic reforms which helped pave the way towards democratization.  [4]  In other words, socio-economic pressure played a key role in leading to democratization, taking into consideration the combination of this pressure with the development of a liberal state that was to some degree autonomous. We can see various different types of self-declared democracies in modern experiments with democratization. Certain countries have seen the emergence of a liberal democracy, while others have seen a degree of electoral change. But the overall picture is completed by the problems democracy faces in most Third World countries. It is thus imperative that we make a distinction between democracies with problems or part-democracies, and those that are secure and strong. In short, contemporary processes of democratization encompass failures and successes. The question raised here is: why do some democratization experiments succeed where others fail? The following is Grugels short answer to this question: Democracies are political systems comprising institutions that translate citizens preferences into policy, have effective states that act to protect and deepen democratic rights, and count on a strong participatory and critical civil society. A consolidated democracy is one in which this political order is routinised and accepted. Consolidation, then, implies both the deepening and stabilizing of democracy. In addition, the chances for consolidation are greatest in cases where favourable international circumstances are allied with state capacity and a growing, vocal and effective civil society.  [5]  133 Initially, the process of democratization started most powerfully in countries which were economically strong and well developed. In other words, stable democracy seemed to be a luxury only rich nations  could afford. But this form of democracy or this concept was not to succeed all the time as it was challenged in some capitalist and economically developed countries such as the former German Democratic Republic in the 1930s, which, although it distributed wealth relatively equitably and was officially dedicated to social justice, could hardly be considered democratic.  [6]  Also, in some authoritarian regimes democracy was replaced by fragile or semi-democracies. This implies that although capitalism is essential, it still does not ensure the emergence of democracy (e.g. semi-democracy in Malaysia). Meanwhile, democratic types of government continued to exist in some countries for considerable periods, even though economic development was slow and elitism was still in force. T his happened, for example, in the island nations of the English-speaking Caribbean, Venezuela and India. In summary, we should see the wave theory as a useful way of placing democratization in its global setting. However, it must be noted that it is not capable of including the various factors implicit in the process. It stresses the need to note that democracy has more chance of developing following social conflict at certain times in world history. But, as we have seen above, on a wider scale the application of wave theory is rather limited. Furthermore, it falls short of clarifying how democracy develops on a national level. With this in mind, we must examine theories of social and economic change and political action in order to gain an understanding of the matter. 2.2.2.2.2 The Process of Democratization It is not a matter of surprise if we find that the number of succeeded and thriving  democratizations is overbalanced by either had undergone failure or stalled experiments. Given that, in some countries around the world, problems like socio-economic imbalance and gender inequality means that democratization will keep on being slow and will remain a painful, and sometimes impossible, task. Since the Portuguese dictatorship was overthrown in 1974, the number of democratically ruled countries has dramatically increased. Prior to this, there were an estimated forty democracies word-wide; these were joined steadily during the late 1970s and early 1980s as a number of states made the transition from authoritarianism to seemingly democratic government. The late 1980s and the decline, and ultimate collapse, of the Soviet Union saw a significant boost to the pace of world-wide democratization. Consequently by the end of 1995 there were, as Larry Diamond has noted, between 76 and 117 democracies, depending on the method used to measure them.  [7]  This post-1974 period is what Samuel Huntington has termed the third wave of global democratic expansion; he demonstrated how important the effects of regional and international democratization were.  [8]   Undoubtedly, holding elections or toppling an authoritarian regime and replacing it with another, even if this receives the support of the people, does not permit a country to wear the badge of democracy. Huntington describes supplanting military regimes as the extremely important beginning to third wave democratization. However, he unwillingly skims over the underlying principal behind taking such action. He states that countries came to begin the process of democratization because of a huge growth in democratic discourse. But it was in fact a result of social and economic change at both the national and supra-national levels. Quite simply the old political system became unable to function in the context of accelerated change to socio-economic structures and had to be exposed and taken apart. It is possible to view democracy today as the culmination of a steady but important development in political thinking. Since the 1800s it has gradually taken root and grown across throughout the world, demonstrating its ability to spread modern values and beliefs. This development, however, was not straight forward and has faced challenges, but the reasons behind and the incentives involved in democracy have been different in space and time. In the nineteenth century, for example, change was spurred on by social class, whereas in the last two decades of the twentieth century it was carried forward by a complicated mixture of social conflict, state building, free global trade and external influences. There has been considerable effort made to provide an explanation for the expansion of democracy; the most convincing of these has been Huntingtons wave theory. With its wide ranging ability to include different issues, it argues that the causes of democratization in those countries to wh ich the wave is common are comparable. Huntingtons theory also makes note that reverse waves of authoritarianism have followed those of democratization. This viewpoint is backed up by his mention of those societies that have either been unable to secure lasting democracy or have seen its collapse. Huntington explains a wave of democratization as follows: A wave of democratisation is a group of transitions from nondemocratic to democratic regimes that occur within a specified period of time and that significantly outnumber transitions in the opposite direction during that period of time. A wave also involves liberalisation or partial democratisation in political systems that do not become fully democratic. Each of the first two waves of democratisation was followed by a reverse wave in which some but not all of countries that had previously made the transition to democracy reverted to non-democratic rule.  [9]   For Huntington, it was from the beginning of the nineteenth century until 1930 when the first wave took place. This was, as he argues, associated with the growth and development of liberal democracy in theory and practice. He continues by saying that the defeat of the Axis powers in 1945 was indicative of the Second wave. At that time, the coalition led by the Americans lead the process of democratizing the occupied territories of Germany, Japan and Austria. In his book, Huntington finally comes to the third wave of democratization which, he argues, started in Portugal in 1974, then spread to Greece and Spain, and after that, in the 1980s, reached some Latin American countries. This wave, according to Huntington, ended up in Eastern and Central Europe and the Soviet Union. One can argue that the profound need for economic growth and popular awareness about political developments contributed greatly to the smooth and painless integration of these countries into the democratic union. To sum up, adding to what Huntington demonstrated in his book, one can extend these three waves some other encouraging developments that have occurred in certain other developing countries which have showed a great desire for democratization. However, one should bear in mind that in many of these countries these objectives have been counterbalanced and outweighed by conditions that have rendered electoral democracy increasingly shallow, illiberal, unaccountable, and afflicted.  [10]  In other words, establishing some democratic institutions which are believed to be taken or filled by elected members from the public cannot, in itself, be seen as a proof of successful democratization. 2.2.2.2.3 Democratization and the State Democracy describes the system; democratization describes the process. This rule shows us the boundary between democracy and democratization. When discussing democratization it might be helpful to demonstrate its purpose. The purpose of democratization is the building of a democratic state. But the question is: How does this happen? The general consensus is that democracy entails more than simply holding elections. However, academics have so far been unable to agree on what exactly is necessary. We are aware that the state is, in the final analysis, a means of dominating society. In a democracy, then, hierarchies which act combining legitimate power, persuasion and bureaucracy tend to hold power. A further characteristic of a democracy is the existence of several bodies that hold authority and make decisions. In an undemocratic state, meanwhile, democratization makes the state apparatus its main target. Therefore, it is rather illogical to believe that an undemocratic state will itse lf try to carry out democratization. Overall, a democratic governments legitimacy is reliant on its ability to convincingly demonstrate it is truly representative of the people, acts in their interest, and can be held accountable by them. Therefore, a democratic government should adhere to these principles. Although democratic and capitalist states naturally work to a business- and profit-oriented agenda, it is more likely that they will answer demands for social and economic justice given that they rely on a healthy balance between this and economic prosperity in order to survive. With regard to force, it is widely agreed that the state can coerce and use violence. However, it is argued that in a democracy there is no need to resort to this unless it is to protect against outside threats or against criminals or those causing social disorder. Grugel has assessed some fundamental characteristics of a democratic state: I. Territorial integrity, either as a result of the belief that the state represents a nation or through negotiations and legitimate and binding agreements that make a multinational state possible. II. The rule of law, that is, minimal rights and duties of citizens are legally encoded and the parameters of state activity legally defined. III. A minimal use of legally sanctioned violence against its own citizens. IV. A popularly elected and representative government that is formally controlled by constitutional channels of accountability. V. A complex bureaucracy that can make claims to impartiality. VI. The existence of multiple centres of power. VII. The formal existence of channels of access to decision making, even for subordinated social groups, which are operational to some degree. VIII. Some commitment to social and economic justice.  [11]   In short and to end this section, the only way that leads to fully democratizing any state involves applying, to a degree, the following three conditions: Institutional change. Representative change. Functional transformation. These three steps create the path towards full democratization, regardless the fact of that in contemporary democratizations, most attention focuses on having and implementing institutional change.