The Big Dipper Ursa Majors Most Star Configuration

The Big Dipper is one of the most well-known configuration of stars in the northern celestial sky   and the first one many people learn to identify. It is not actually a constellation, but rather an asterism consisting of seven of the brightest stars of the constellation, Ursa Major (Great Bear). Three stars define the handle of the dipper, and four stars define the bowl. They represent the tail and hindquarters of Ursa Major. The Big Dipper is well-known in many different cultures, although by different names: in England it is known as the Plough; in Europe, the Great Wagon; in the Netherlands, the Saucepan; in India it is known as the Saptarishi after the seven ancient holy sages.   The Big Dipper is located near the north celestial pole (almost the exact location of the North Star) and is circumpolar in most of the northern hemisphere beginning at 41degrees N. latitude (the latitude of New York City), and all latitudes farther north, meaning it does not sink below the horizon at night. Its counterpart in the southern hemisphere is the Southern Cross. Although the Big Dipper is visible all year in northern latitudes its position in the sky changes - think â€Å"spring up and fall down.† In the spring the Big Dipper rises higher in the northeast part of the sky, but in the autumn it falls lower in the northwestern sky and may even be hard to spot from the southern part of the United States before it sinks below the horizon. To see the Big Dipper completely you need to be north of 25 degrees S. latitude. The Big Dipper’s orientation also changes as it rotates counterclockwise around the north celestial pole from season to season. In the spring it appears high in the sky upside down, in summer it appears to be hanging by the handle, in autumn it appears close to the horizon right side up, in winter it appears to be hanging by the bowl. BIG DIPPER AS A GUIDE Because of its prominence The Big Dipper has played a key role in navigational history, enabling people throughout the centuries to easily locate Polaris, the North Star, and thereby plot their course. To find Polaris, you need only extend an imaginary line from the star at the bottom of the front of the bowl (furthest from the handle), Merak, to the star at the top of the front of the bowl, Dubhe, and beyond until you reach a moderately bright star about five times that distance away. That star is Polaris, the North Star, which is, itself, the end of the handle of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) and its brightest star. Merak and Dubhe are known as the Pointers, because they always point to Polaris. Using the Big Dipper as a starting point can also help you locate multiple other stars and constellations in the night sky. According to folklore the Big Dipper was instrumental in helping fugitive slaves of the pre-Civil War era from Mobile, Alabama in the southern United States find their way north to the Ohio River and freedom, as portrayed in the American folksong, â€Å"Follow the Drinking Gourd.†   The song was originally published in 1928, and then another arrangement by Lee Hays was published in 1947, with the signature line, â€Å"For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom.† The â€Å"drinking gourd,† a water dipper commonly used by slaves and other rural Americans, was code name for the Big Dipper. Although the song has been taken at face value by many, when looked at for historical accuracy there are many weaknesses. STARS OF THE BIG DIPPER The seven major stars in the Big Dipper are the brightest stars in Ursa Major: Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Megrez, Phecda, Dubhe,and Merak. Alkaid, Mizar, and Alioth form the handle; Megrez, Phecda, Dubhe, and Merak form the bowl. The brightest star in the Big Dipper is Alioth, at the top of the handle near the bowl. It is also the brightest star in Ursa Major and the thirty-first brightest star in the sky. Five of the seven stars in the Big Dipper are believed to have originated together at the same time from a single cloud of gas and dust and they move together in space as part of a family of stars. These five stars are Mizar, Merak, Alioth, Megrez, and Phecda. They are known as the Ursa Major Moving Group, or Collinder 285. The other two stars, Dubhe and Alkaid, move independently of the group of five and of each other. The Big Dipper contains one of the most famous double stars in the sky. The double star, Mizar and its fainter companion, Alcor, are known together as â€Å"the horse and rider,† and are each themselves actually double stars, as revealed through a telescope. Mizar was the first double star to be discovered through a telescope, in 1650. Each has been spectroscopically shown to be a binary star, held together to its companion by gravity, and Alcor and Mizar are binary stars themselves. This all means that in the two stars that we can see in the Big Dipper side by side with our naked eye, assuming it is dark enough that we can see Alcor, there are in reality six stars present. DISTANCES TO THE STARS Although from Earth we see the Big Dipper as though it is on a flat plane, each of the stars is actually a different distance from earth and the asterism lies in three dimensions. The five stars in the Ursa Major Moving Group - Mizar, Merak, Alioth, Megrez, and Phecda - are all about 80 light years away, varying by â€Å"only† a few light years, with the greatest difference between Mizar at 78 light-years away and Phecda at 84 light-years away. The other two stars, however are further away: Alkaid is 101 light-years away, and Dubhe is 124 light-years away from Earth. Because Alkaid (at the end of the handle) and Dubhe (at the outer rim of the bowl)   are each moving in their own direction, the Big Dipper will look noticeably different in 90,000 years than it does now. While that may seem like a very long time, and it is, it is because planets are very far away and revolve very slowly around the center of the galaxy, seeming not to move at all during an average human lifespan. However, the celestial skies do change, and the Big Dipper of our ancient ancestors 90,000 years ago was vastly different from the Big Dipper we see today and the one that our descendants, if they exist, will see 90,000 years from now. RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING Admin, Big Dipper, Constellation Guide, http://www.constellation-guide.com/big-dipper/Beatty, Kelly, The Big Dipper Adds a Star, Sky and Telescope, Dec. 11, 2009 http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/the-big-dipper-adds-a-star/Bresler, Joel, Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Cultural History, http://www.followthedrinkinggourd.org/index.htmByrd, Deborah, Can you find the Big Dipper?, Tonight, EarthSky, October 1, 2017,  http://earthsky.org/?p2806Fort Worth Astronomical Society, The Big Dipper - Roadmap of the Northern Sky, http://www.fortworthastro.com/beginner2.html, 04/03/2014King, Bob, The Big Dipper in the Year 92,000, Universe Today, phys.org,   Sept. 13, 2016,  https://phys.org/news/2016-09-big-dipper-year.htmlMcClure, Bruce, Mizar and Alcor, famous double star, Brightest Stars, EarthSky.org, April 12, 2017,   http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/mizar-and-alcor-the-horse-and-riderRao, Joe, See the Big Dipper in the Summer Night Sky, SPACE.com, June 22, 2012,  https: //www.space.com/16270-big-dipper-night-sky-stargazing-tips.htmlRao, Joe, Skywatching Battle Royale: The Big Dipper Vs the Southern Cross, SPACE.com, April 22, 2016,  https://www.space.com/32674-big-dipper-southern-cross-skywatching.html

Dehumanization and Alienation in Night and The Metamorphosis

Bailey St. Germain St. Germain Tonya Morris 4/5th block 7 November, 2014 Dehumanization and Alienation For generations society has been separating and categorizing mankind into stereotypes. Everyone and anyone on earth has been placed within a prospective category. If not by race, then appearance, income, or by social standing. Although sometimes mankind takes these separations to an extreme, like trying to dispose of a thousands of people, just because of their religion and beliefs. These separations and categorizations can wreak havoc on the human mind. Some even hallucinating in order to cope with the stress of†¦show more content†¦Upon waking the next morning Elie was alarmed to find another inmate sleeping on his father’s bed. He soon discovered that his father had died the night before and was taken to the crematorium. By this time, he had already endured so much that he says â€Å"I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep, but I was out of tears. And deep inside me, if I could have searched the recesses of my feeble conscience, I might have found s omething like; free at last†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wiesel, 112). Elie had already experienced so much turmoil within the confines of the camp, that he was unaffected by the death of his own father. He was relieved that he no longer had the responsibility of keeping his father and himself alive. Elie had once been appalled at the men who abandoned their loved ones in order to ensure their own survival. He had watched in horror as a man killed his elderly father for a crumb of bread, and vowed he would never become one of those appalling men. Yet when he thinks of his father’s undeserved death, he feels relief. In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, a successful business man named Gregor awakens one morning and finds himself transformed into a giant roach bug. He responds to his change in appearance relatively calm, for his biggest concern is being late for his door to door salesmen job. 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Inflation was dramaticallyRead MoreMetamorphoses Within Frankenstein14861 Words   |  60 Pagesor, The Vamp ire’s Victim (1849) Like Coleridge’ s Ancient Mariner , who erupts into Mary Sh elley’s text as o ccasionally and inev itably as th e Monster into Victor Frankenstein’s lif e, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometh eus passes, like night, from land to land and w ith stang ely ad aptable powers of speech addresses itself to a critical aud ien ce that is larger and mor e diverse than that of almo st any oth er work of liter atur e in Eng lish : Mary Shelley’s Franken stein is famously

Lakes Free Essays

Lakes are basically water bodies that are enclosed by land, majority of which consist of fresh water. They can be classified based on the nature of their formation process. Lakes can be formed by landslides, glacial blockages, depressions created by tectonic uplift of mountains and several other natural phenomena. We will write a custom essay sample on Lakes or any similar topic only for you Order Now The size and shape of lakes also vary to a great extent depending upon their type (Lake Access). Also, the diverse variety of aquatic life inhabiting these lakes is determined by their type and geographic location. A subglacial lake is one which is found under the surface of ice caps and glaciers. The water in such lakes remains in liquid state, as the layer of ice above retains the heat resulting from geothermal heating and friction. A subglacial lake is usually round-shaped and does not facilitate animal life due to the extremely low temperatures. Lake Vostok located in Antarctica is a classic example of a subglacial lake; its coordinates on the earth are 77 degrees South-105 degrees East. The amount of water found in such lakes is approximately around 5400 cubic kilometers. A reservoir is an artificial lake brought into being by human intervention. These man-made lakes are usually bigger compared to their natural counterparts. A reservoir is made by filling up an open pit mine or unused patches of land behind a dam with massive quantities of water. These lakes are commonly shaped like a bean or moon. They accommodate aquatic life such as Catfish, Guadalupe bass and many other varieties of fish. Lake Nasser, an artificial lake on River Nile is a well-known reservoir; it is geographical location extends between 22-25 degrees North and 31-45 degrees East. An endorheic lake is a closed lake which does not experience any substantial outflow of water. The surface of such lakes is flat and dry since they are mainly located in desert regions, where inflow of water is low; they are also characterized by steep holes and their depth varies a lot. Although the outflow of water in most lakes is through underground diffusion or rivers, endorheic lakes are quite an exception since the outflow is only by water evaporation in the endorheic basin. Hence, these lakes are also known as terminal lakes. Endorheic lakes mostly consist of reptilian life forms such as snakes and lizards. Lake Eyre is a commonly known endorheic lake located in central Australia between 28-22 degrees South and 137-22 degrees East. Lake Turkana and Lake Torrens are some other examples of an endorheic lake. A meromictic lake consists of several layers of water that do not mix with each other. The deepest layers in such lakes have a scarcity of oxygen and the sediments there remain intact. They are circular in shape; the basin of such lakes is quite steep, while the surface area of the lake is relatively less deep. Meromictic lakes are inhabited by cormorants, turtles, herons, geese, ducks and raccoons. Green Lake located between Washington D.C and Seattle is an excellent example of a meromictic lake; it is nearly 2.1 meters in depth. Lake Nyos and Lake McGinnis are some of the other popular meromictic lakes. An Oxbow is a lake which is formed when a stream channel bend is abandoned from a river. When a river meanders slowly in a low-lying plains and river valleys, a horseshoe-shaped bend is cutoff from the main channel as a result of continuous silt deposition, giving rise to oxbows. They distinctively look like curve-shaped cracks or loops. An Oxbow does not support much of animal life and its size is about 22miles long and three-fourths of a mile wide. Lake Reelfoot in Tennessee and Lake Chicot in Arkansas are examples of an Oxbow. Reference: Lake Access. (n.d.). Formation of Lakes. Retrieved 2 July, 2007 from, http://lakeaccess.org/ecology/lakeecologyprim1.html How to cite Lakes, Essay examples

1997 From His Assessable Income For Year †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The 1997 From His Assessable Income For The Year? Answer: Introducation The three items listed above are termed as Collectables under Section 118-10(1) of ITAA, 1997. If these are valued for less than $500, they are considered as exempt items for Capital Gain / Loss purposes. In case of a Gain / Loss for a collectable item valued above the threshold limit of $500, the Capital Loss can only be set-off against a Capital Gain of another collectable, (Barkoczy, 2013). However, in this case of Eric, there is a Capital Gain on Antique Vase and as the item is valued at $2,000, the Capital Gain of $1,000 will be taxable at the hands of Eric. However, the Losses from the Antique Chair and the Painting can be off-set by Eric from any future gains from collectibles. Name of Item Purchase Cost Selling Price Capital Gain Capital Loss Home Sound System $12,000 $11,000 $1,000 This will be termed as a Personal Use Asset under Section 118-10(3) of ITAA, 1997. Accounting to this statute, if the value of the Personal Use Asset is less than $10,000, all Capital Gains / Losses shall be exempt from Capital Gains Tax. However, in this case, the Home Sound System is valued at $12,000 and Eric incurs a Capital Loss on its sale, (Barkoczy, 2012). Hence, Eric cannot offset this loss as this will be treated his personal withdrawal under Section 108-20(1), which states that a loss from a personal use asset shall be disregarded. Name of Item Purchase Cost Selling Price Capital Gain Capital Loss Shares in a Listed Company $5,000 $20,000 $15,000 This is a CGT Asset as described in Section 108-5(1) of ITAA, 1997. Eric can claim a Capital Loss on a CGT Asset as a deductible expenses from his Assessable Income. Similarly, a Capital Gain will be added to the Assessable Income of Eric and he shall pay tax on it. As the shares were acquired within 12 months from their disposal date, Eric is not eligible for any discount on the Capital Gain and will be liable to pay tax on Capital Gain of $15,000, (Barkoczy, 2011). A loan fringe benefit tax on the part of the employer arises when the employer provide a loan to an employee at a subsidised rate of interest during a FBT year. A low rate of interest is applicable when it is less than the applicable statutory rate of interest, which is also known as benchmark interest rate. As on 1 April 2016, this benchmark interest rate was 5.65%, (Alexander Fogarty, 2009). For taxation purposes, the taxable value of a loan fringe benefit is calculated as the difference between: the interest which would have accrued during the FBT year in case the benchmark interest rate had been applied to the outstanding monthly balance of the loan, and the amount of interest that actually accrued at the subsidised rate of interest. Now, if the employee uses a part or whole of the loan to make investments in interest-bearing instruments, then the interest payable on the loan would be wholly deductible at the hands of the employee for income tax purposes. So, under such a deductible rule, the taxable value of such a loan fringe benefit will be nil, regardless of whether the employer charges a low, or even a nil, rate of interest on the loan. This happens because the employee becomes entitled to income tax deduction on the interest charged from him on that portion of the loan which he is using for earning an assessable income. Whereas, this is not applicable on that interest which is charged from the employee on that portion of the loan which he solely uses for his domestic purposes, (Alexander Fogarty, 2009). It is clear from the agreement entered between Jack and Jill that ONLY profit will be distributed as 10% to Jack and 90% to Jill, whereas the loss will be 100% liability of Jack. Hence, Jack will claim the amount of $10,000 as a deductible amount under section 8-1 of the ITAA, 1997 from his Assessable Income for the year. Under the provisions of Joint Tenants, the law is clear that both the partners shall be eligible to claim all Capital Gains / Losses in EQUAL proportions, (Cch, 2012). The principle established by the case of IRC v Duke of Westminster (1936) stated that tax evasion happens when taxpayers deliberately start misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the taxation authorities in order to reduce their tax payments, whereastax avoidance is considered as acceptable and legal. Unsurprisingly, this principle is still relevant in Australia and most other developed as well as developing economies, (Cch, 2012).The Australian authorities state that more than a sixth of tax loss is due to tax evasion and a further one sixth is caused by tax avoidance, whereas the balance is just uncollected taxes. Taxation authorities in Australia still do not like taxpayers trying tax avoidance although such actions are viewed as actions taken by taxpayer for taking advantage of a tax relief in a legal manner, (Barkoczy, 2013). Income can be classified either as Ordinary Income Ordinary Income includes incomes earned by personal exertion, carrying on a business or income from properties, as is defined under sections 6-5(1) to (4) of ITAA, 1997. Statutory Income All incomes not covered under ordinary income are termed as Statutory Incomes, as is defined under sections 6-10(1) to (5) of ITAA, 1997. Windfall Income Winnings from lotteries and inheritances are examples of Windfall Incomes and these are also covered under sections 6-10(1) to (5) of ITAA, 1997. Capital Gains All profits derived from sale of assets are termed as Capital Gains, as is defined under sections 104-10(4) of ITAA, 1997, (Barkoczy, 2013). In case Bill wants to avail the first option, it will be assumed for taxation purposes that he is carrying on a business and the income which he derives from the sale of the timber will be considered his Ordinary Income and added to his Assessable Income under section 6-1(1) of ITAA, 1997. However, in case Bill goes for the second option, then the timber would be considered as a Capital Asset as it is part of the land owned by Bill. Thus, the lump sum payment of $50,000 which Bill receives shall be considered as Capital Gain, (Barkoczy, 2012). Although this will also be added to his Assessable Income under section 6-1(1), Bill can avail the 50% Discount under the Discount Method on the Gross Capital Gain which he makes. References Alexander, Dr. R. and Fogarty, H. J. (2009) Australian Master Family Law Guide, Management, NSW: CCH Australia Limited. Barkoczy, S. (2011) Core Tax Legislation and Study Guide (16th ed.) North Ryde, NSW: CCH Australia Limited. Barkoczy, S. (2012) Australian Tax Case book (10th ed.) North Ryde, NSW: CCH Australia Limited. Barkoczy, S. (2013) Foundations of Taxation Law (5th ed.) North Ryde, NSW: CCH Australia Limited. Cch, (2012) Australian Master Tax Guide. Sydney, NSW: CCH Australia Limited.

Tik Tok by Ke$ha free essay sample

This hit beat song is rocking my school! Its a tune that everyone can dance to. It does have some content that may not be appropriate for some about drinking but its got a bit of humor in it.

Natural Resources Essay Example

Natural Resources Essay Example Natural Resources Essay Natural Resources Essay Soil, wood, oil. minerals, petroleum, water are considered natural resources because they occur in their natural form and are not made by human beings. Humans can only modify natural resources. The energy that makes natural resources comes from geochemical, geophysical and solar energy. The exploitation of nature and natural resources can be dated back to the advent of humankind and the very start of civilization. Earlier people used to cut trees for fuel, for building materials for boats and for shelter. There are two kinds of natural esources- renewable and nonrenewable. Wood which is one of the main natural resources has the advantage of being renewable. Fish, animals and forests can renew themselves if they are not over- harvested. Forests can be replanted and, in time, the wood that was used can be replaced. However in recent times, we have been witnessing the cutting down of trees at alarming rates. In cities it is becoming, increasing difficult to see a green patch. If we do not replace these trees at the same speed as we are using them then very soon his resource will be expended. The cutting of trees also results in loss of ecosystems and soil erosion, and less rainfall. When fossil fuels were discovered they momentarily took the pressure off wood. First there was coal, then oil as in crude oil or petroleum and then later petrol and more recently natural gas. However unlike trees that are a renewable resource all these are non renewable. The reserves are finite and at some point in the future they will be depleted. We need to first conserve what we have left and to do that the call of the day is to use hese natural resources sparingly and responsibly. We must resort to the use of alternative forms of energy which will lessen the burden on our natural resources. There are various forms of alternative energy available. Light from the Sun also called as Solar Energy can be converted into electricity. This solar energy could be used to cook food. Wind power could also be used to generate electricity. Bio gas which is generated by the action of bacteria on packed kitchen waste without xygen could be used as an alternative to liquid petroleum gas. The need of the hour is to make alternative forms of energy easily available and viable to the consumer. nature, preservation of endangered species, keeping of biodiversity, and so on. Recently there have been increasing reports about research of ecosystem preservation using remote sensing or GIS (Geographic Information Systems) spatial analysis. Sustainable forestry could be achieved by correctly managing forest resources hrough replanting, conversation, and protection from fire, disease and pollution. We must all Join hands in our efforts to preserve our natural resources. Preservation cannot happen without conservation; hence we must all do our part in conserving. Instead of using individual cars to work we could use car pools, we could make an effort not to use our domestic appliances during peak hours, we could use public transport wherever possible and we could switch to alternative power use. We, each of us, can make preservation happen.

Although continued industrial development is important and Essay

Although continued industrial development is important and inevitable,companies must take care of the environment in the process - Essay Example Environment protection is the method of preserving the natural environment regarding the interests of the stakeholders, including customers, employees, government and the other influencing bodies with utmost priority. It has often been argued in this regard that the pressure of over-population (allegedly encouraged by business sector growth within a given region) and continuous industrial development acts as the main determinants of environmental degradation (Tamazian and Rao 4-6). Subsequently, such external pressures in terms of the social responsibilities of the corporate bodies have recently been motivating them to go greener by lessening their rate of environmental degradation and at the same time, ensuring continuous growth to meet the customer demand to achieve economic development. Hence, a two way prolonged approach has to be followed in parallel by companies in the modern era. By following steps like switching from non-renewable sources of energy to renewable sources, targe ting cleaner and hygienic production procedures, reusing wastes and implementing strategies that focus on environment friendly product designing, an organization can easily maintain the sustainable growth (Koh, Ghazoul, Butler, Laurance, Sodhi, Mateo-Vega and Bradshaw 67-71). THESIS STATEMENT As can be observed from the above discussion, companies are certainly witnessing pressure to consider environmental sustainability with almost equal and even at times with more importance than their profitability concerns, in the advent of continuous industrial development. This thesis will correspondingly, aim at assessing the need for taking environmental care measures by companies and the associated challenges, by synthesizing on the argument that â€Å"Although continued industrial development is important and inevitable, companies must take care of the environment in the process†. NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CARE FOR COMPANIES IN CONTINUED INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT The series of debates emp hasizing industrial development implications on the natural environment in the forms of deforestation, climate change as well as air and water pollution has apparently contributed to the need for environmental care within the modern organizations (Esty & Winston 7-12). From a generalized point of view, it has been argued in the recent era that as a consequence of industrial development at a rapid and a continuous rate, need for resources among companies have also increased manifolds. In order to suffice this growing need for resources, especially energy resources and natural ingredients, companies have been sourcing large amounts of these assets from the environment. Such extractions have further resulted in various environmental challenges, majorly attributed in the form of climate change, unsustainable minimization of natural resources and imbalances in the biological cycle on earth (Esty & Winston 35-40). For instance, Geist and Lambin argues that the major proximate causes of en vironmental degradation through deforestation as a consequence of industrial development are unplanned agricultural expansion, irresponsible wood extraction and infrastructural expansion through building roadways and city areas in support of urbanization as observable in Africa, Asia and Latin America (5-15). Subsequently, these risk factors have been inhibiting the stability of the

Property law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Property law - Case Study Example The main disadvantages include sharing of profits among partners, has unlimited liabilities, long process of decision making due to disagreements ,and may have limited life and may end upon death or withdrawal of one of the partners(Miller,Ragazzo,& Hamilton,2011). Corporations If Betty opts for corporation as her form of business organization, the advantages she is likely to get are limited liability to debts and other obligations, it is easier to collect funds for capital and expenses, have continuous life, and easy transfer of corporate ownership. The main disadvantages include many legal and formalities procedures that may be costly and take long to complete, requires relatively large amount of capital to start, and long decision making process because it involves many people resulting in possibilities of disagreements (Dore?,2003). Franchise Setting a business as a franchise offers the benefit of operating it under the banner of an established entity hence enhanced security and support systems, working with a known branch hence less cost involved in brand creation, and establishing good business relationships especially with suppliers and creditors. The disadvantages of franchise include limited control of the business and how it is run because the owners of the brand set out the processes and rules regarding the operations of the franchise, tied to suppliers as one will be required to use the franchise supplier network, increased risk of damaging the reputation of the business if other franchise mess with the brand and reduced profits as one will be required to pay the owners of the franchise for using their brand(Miller,Ragazzo,& Hamilton,2011). Limited liability Company The advantages include limited liabilities to obligations and debts, flexible distribution of profit, and flexibility in management and decision making process. The disadvantages include limited life and hectic processes of legal and formality procedures (Dore?, 2003). Joint venture The advantage of Betty forming a joint venture include sharing of cost, access to relevant expertise, gain from innovative managerial skills and practices, spreading of risks and a large pool of capital. The disadvantages include extensive efforts and time to create the right relationship for partnership, imbalance in the levels of investment, expertise and assets invested by partners, and differences in business objectives that may hinder cooperation and integration (Miller,Ragazzo,& Hamilton,2011). In my opinion, sole- proprietorship is the best option that Betty should consider when establishing her business. Since she has a potential customer base of Christians in her area and a source of capital from her husband, she should set up a sole proprietorship business because it is easy to start, she will be the sole manager of her business and so she can apply her Christian values when running the business without interference from anyone, and since she is a mature Christian, she can eas ily attract her fellow Christians to be her loyal customers and enjoy all the profits alone (Jessup &Chipps, 1991). In case Betty opts for

The Business Plan - Moon Internet Caf Case Study

The Business Plan - Moon Internet Caf - Case Study Example Moon Internet Cafe will provide an area that appeals to people from many different age groups and backgrounds. It provides a good environment for people to familiarize themselves with computers, to interact socially as well as for business needs. People are becoming more mobile, and as they move their technology moves with them. There are many different types of electronic devices that are popular, such as laptops, iPads and cellular phones. Business is also becoming more mobile, with many people interviewing potential staff members, or meeting with clients in public areas such as coffee shops. For many of these meetings, laptops are heavily used, and consequently facilities that facilitate this type of meeting are in high demand. There are a large number of coffee shops and cafes throughout the market, both individual stores and large franchises such as Starbucks. Suppliers for this venture take two forms, as the business looks to combine two different areas.

Stroop methodology: attentional bias in alcohol drinkers

Stroop methodology: attentional bias in alcohol drinkers This study is on attentional bias in alcohol drinkers. In this experiment undertaken the main objective is to find out whether alcohol drinkers are likely to allocate their attention to alcohol-related words, because if our attention is owed to the alcohol-related content, or if our memory processes becomes occupied, the researcher should identify a delay in reaction when the participants are naming the colour of an alcohol-related word when presented. The study therefore hypotheses that moderate alcohol drinkers are likely to allocate their attention to alcohol-related words. For this study, there were 170 participants in total, all aged 18years plus. The Stroop task method was used on the computer (PC). The gathered results were entered into the computer (PC) to calculate descriptive and inferential statics, so the results could be seen visually and statistically. The results show there is significance to the prediction that attentional bias will influence our memory processes in r elation to alcohol drinkers. Introduction Attentional Bias refers to the term not allowing one to examine all possible outcomes when judging about an association. Previous research stems from the famous Stroop effect that was discovered in 1930 by J.Ridley Stroop. This was an experimental effect in which he discovered that the individuals cognitive processing ability was very powerful. In other words The Stroop effect (Stroop, 1935) is a prime example of the human failure to attend selectively to a particular aspect of a complex stimulus (Algom, D., Chajut, E., Lev, S. (2004). Since most researchers are interested in finding out things, the logical next step would be to develop further on and ask whether this actual delay in reaction time is due to moderate drinkers compared to light drinkers. In order to test the effectiveness of this Stroop effect, one uses the colour words example. By this, we mean words that are written using same coloured ink i.e. red written in red ink, and words written in different coloured ink i.e. red written in blue. The participants are asked to read the words and not the colour. This sounds easier to do than it actually is. In this study the methodology and the affects of the Stroop test will be critically evaluated. To achieve this, previous research and literature will be drawn upon. A study of Duka and Townshend (2001) demonstrated attentional bias associated with alcohol cues: differences between heavy and occasional social drinkers, they used a dot probe (alcohol-related pictures and words) and questionnaires, and the aim was to examine whether non-dependent heavy drinkers would differ in their selective attention towards alcohol-related stimuli compared to social drinkers, the results showed attentional bias amongst the heavy drinkers in relation to alcohol-related stimuli, scores in factors such as sociability and sexuality shown to also be high, but low on personality and persistence. A further study of Duka and Townshend (2004) demonstrated the priming effect of alcohol pre-load on attentional bias to alcohol-related stimuli; they used a dot probe and questionnaires, and the aim of this study was to examine whether attentional bias towards alcohol-related stimuli wound increase after priming with either one or two doses of alcohol/placebo, the results on m ood ratings showed dose dependent increased in positive mood radar after alcohol pre-load, and in the dot probe task, all participants showed attentional bias towards the alcohol-related stimuli, and the neutral bias was only positive at low alcohol dosage. A study of Sharma, Albery, and Cook (2001) demonstrated selective attentional bias to alcohol-related stimuli in problem drinkers and non-problem drinkers; they used a modified Stroop task (computerized), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in order to measure Anxiety, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to allow scoring (high or low), the participants were divided into three groups: local community alcohol service (CAS), student volunteers who were divided into two control groups, the aim of this study was to examine whether patient of problem drinkers selectively attend to alcohol-related stimuli compare to the two control groups of non-problem drinkers, the results indicate significance amongst the CAS group in longer reaction times in responding to colour of alcohol-related words compared to neutral words, with reduced interference for the high AUDIT group, therefore significant; in the low AUDIT group no significance was found. Additionally, no evidence is provid ed in the interference habituated amongst the three groups. A study of Stetter, Ackermann, Scherer, Schmid, Straube, and Mann (1994) demonstrated whether alcoholics develop an information processing bias towards disease-related stimuli, the results indicated an increase of error amongst alcoholics when presented with the disease-related stimuli compared to the neutral conditions, and controls. A further study Stetter, Ackemann, Bizer, Straube, and Mann (1995) by testing their hypothesis that alcoholics develop a disease-related attentional bias, with 40 male alcohol-dependent, and 40 male healthy, and used the Stroop colour-naming task, the results showed alcoholic inpatients performed significantly poorer than the control group under the critical experimental condition (colour-naming of disease-related words), as compared with the non-critical condition (colour-naming of neutral words; p = 0.03), no effects were found on the reaction times. A study of Johnsen, Laberg, Cox, Vaksdal, and Hugdahl, (1994) conducted in Norway demonstrated attentional bias in the processing of alcohol-related words on alcoholic subjects, using the Stroop colour and word test, the results indicate the alcoholics respond slowly on all categories, more so on alcohol-related words compared to the control group, and both groups responded slowly to colour interfering words than neutral words, the findings suggests that the alcoholic subjects allocated their attention to alcohol-related words, therefore allowing their cognitive processes take over making it impossible to ignore the alcohol-related words. Method Participants The participants were recruited the students at London South Bank University. There will be 170 participants in total, 34 males (17-moderate and 14-light drinkers) and 139 females (68 moderate and 71-light drinkers), and all the participants were adults aged 18years plus. Apparatus All participants were asked to complete the tasks on a computer (PC), and the same apparatus was used to store data, and later analyse the data collected. Design The Stroop task method is used and the two-way ANOVA test will be used to analyse data (2 X 2 Mixed subject design). There are two independent variables i) Group (light vs. moderate alcohol drinkers) ii) Word Type (neutral vs. alcohol-related words), and the dependent variable is the reaction time to identifying the colour the word is presented in. In order to verify differences that may occur, the between group and within group will be looked at in more depth. Procedure In this study, the following was explained. Each participant was asked to follow the instructions provided on the screen. Labels were placed on the buttons on the keyboard for each subject to make their responses. There are two set type of words (alcohol-related words and neutral words). The participants were required to complete a serious of trials in responding to the colour of the ink that the word is written in (BLUE, RED, YELLOW, and GREEN) and (VODKIA, J.DANIELS, GIN, and BEER) rather than word. Part of the instruction was that they must complete each trail as quickly and accurately as possible, as their reaction time would be recorded Results The results of the 2 x 2 ANOVA was used to analyse the data. The effects of word type (alcohol-related words and neutral words) f = (1,168) 140.16, p = . Neutral Word Alcohol Word Main Effect of Drinking Type Light 840.00 mean score (34.28) sd 870.52 mean score (28.51) sd 855.26 mean score (31.66) sd Moderate 849.91 mean score (28.86) sd 892.67 mean score (21.26) sd 871.29 mean score (24.73) sd Main Effect of Word Type 845.01 mean score (31.95) sd 881.73 mean score (27.39) sd Fig 1: The table below shows the mean scores, and standard deviation of the word type (alcohol-related words and neutral words), and drinking (moderate drinkers and light drinkers) Fig 2: shows the interaction graph Discussion For this study the hypotheses do support, in other words significance was found. The literature of the prior studies using the Stroop paradigm with alcohol-related stimuli has a number of fundamental methodological problems. According to Sharma, Albery, and Cook (2001) the first problem identified is that the multitude of different variables that could potentially be manipulated giving a totally different set of results. It therefore becomes apparent that one needs to be very clear on exactly what the variables are and what exactly the researcher wants to achieve. Another problem identified is that of the actual format administered. Again, many issues may arise regarding the way in which the test is formatted. If the format is changed, will the result change along with it? As more development is completed in this area of study on alcohol addiction, the researcher no doubt will see that, the variables and the modes of administration discussed above will have a huge effect on the study. For example, one set of results could construct stronger effects than others, and that the other probable central variables make no difference at all to the outcome. The researcher should also take into account that however, a task is administered to the participants is bound to have both advantages and disadvantages, and can be improved upon. This does not mean that one way is better than the other. It just means that the researcher needs to be aware of this and choose a methodology that best works for them. Choosing the correct methodology in any study therefore can be just as important as the actual study itself. What becomes apparent is that there is no particular way of carrying out a study. Either way studies will carry certain advantages and disadvantages. One particular study related to our discussion was the single-word presentation of the Stroop stimuli. In this case, the stimuli were given in card format. One card had all the needed stimuli for alcohol -related words while the other had neutral words. The time taken by each subject to colour name the words on the first card compared to the second was recorded. In other words, recorded reaction time. This format, although used on many studies, comes with its limitations. Evidence obtained concludes that it is difficult to accurately measure the response time by the individuals and that the process evolved is very time consuming and involves a lot of calculations. In other words this type of format may be seen as being time consuming and tedious for the researcher to carry out. Its not all bad however, the card format can have an advantage in that it produces stronger interference effects (e.g. McNally, Amir and Lipke, 1996; Williams et al., 1996), presumably because it provides a se mantic network of words in a given category (Sharma, et al 2001). In addition, the individuals words recorded in terms of its reaction time are not used with any presentation mode, as each participants reaction times to each category of stimuli are averaged prior to statistical analysis. Other objections to the use of card presented stimuli were that the total time measured included both correct and incorrect responses. Previous research shows that the amount of trials where errors occurred is in fact rare and equivalent for different categories of stimuli. Furthermore, studies by Stetter et al also seem to agree. His study shows that card format stimuli does not allow for the measurement of time-cause of alcohol attentional bias. For instance, with these card presentations one would not know if the strongest bias occurred for alcohol words presented earlier and then the bias attenuated. An attempt to rectify this issue was to assess participants habituation to the stimuli across time. This was achieved by observing how reaction times to the alcohol and neutral stimuli changed during the course of the experiment. In relation to Johnsen et al studies, it was criticized in many aspects such as, the word types not being matched on the frequency. Additionally being assured in using two words alcohol-related words, for example liquor store; red wine. (Sharma, et al 2001).However, Johnsen et al stated clearly that since the studies were carried out in Norway, the words were obviously translated in Norwegian vinmonopol = liquor store, and rodvin = red wine, and as you can see, when translated its single words. Further criticisms were put forward to why the participants were asked to press the key response button; and call out the name of the colour. Sharma et al study contained a number of problems. Firstly, the neutral words were long to a given category (environmental features), which affects the reaction times. Secondly, the number of neutral words being associated closely to the four ink colours (e.g. blue, red, brown, green), also how these colours were closely linked to the words (e.g. blue s ky, green grass). Also concerns were put forward on the manner of design (e.g. low, middle, and high) drinking groups. Lastly, problems occurred with the problem drinkers, who may have resolved their alcohol problems being placed amongst the heavier drinkers. To conclude, there are two opposing thoughts with the methodology used; one that the Stroop paradigm is highly objective, valid and reliable, and the other that some are not worthy of inclusion. Many researchers are continuing to offer theoretical explanations to account for the Stroop paradigm, and still trying to make sense on how it could be adapted to be more advanced in being improved.

Importance of Mountains in Kerouacs Dharma Bums and Barthelmes The Gl

Importance of Mountains in Kerouac's Dharma Bums and Barthelme's The Glass Mountain   Ã‚  Ã‚   Mountains are significant in the writing of Jack Kerouac and Donald Barthelme as symbolic representations of achievement and the isolation of an individual from the masses of the working class in industrialized capitalist American society. The mountains, depicted by Kerouac and Barthelme, rise above the American landscape as majestic entities whose peaks are touched by few enduring and brave souls. The mountains of Kerouac's The Dharma Bums symbolize personal freedom and accomplishment through achieving a connection with nature distant from the constraints of materialism and a polluted industrialized American society. Barthelme's "Glass Mountain," however, envisions a mountain removed from nature as a modern skyscraper office building, an edifice that embodies the degradation of an emerging American society in the 1960s that is in search of "the American Dream" through material or monetary gains. "The Glass Mountain" remarks on the movement of Americans away from nature, religion, and humanity as they look to false golden idols (the golden castle at the top of the mountain) for inspiration to be successful, while Kerouac's The Dharma Bums emphasizes a return to nature and devout religiousness to inspire virtues of charity, kindness, humility, zeal, tranquility, wisdom, and ecstasy (p. 5). The top of the mountain, for both authors, represents a fearful ascent from the masses of the working class huddled in polluted cities in order to achieve a heightened state of knowledge and success, but both explorers fall short of true fulfillment because they are never far removed from human flaws of greed, excess, and materia... ...est of the world from the top is better than actually doing it. The mountains also represent the struggle of the lower classes in American society to achieve wealth for the sake of happiness and fulfillment. What Americans seeking wealth do not realize is that the top is a lonely place, devoid of the longing for material possession that keeps them going in life. The thrill of climbing the mountain, or the corporate ladder, is always more rewarding than looking down from the top to see the ugliness of the city below and regretting that they must return to this ugliness of competition and greed in order to sustain their own pitiful human existence.    Bibliography Barthelme, Donald. "The Glass Mountain." The New American Poetry., Allen, Donald, ed. Berkeley, Ca.: U. Calif. Press, 1999. Kerouac, Jack. The Dharma Bums. New York: Penguin., 1976.

Meta-Investigation on The Michael Brown Case Essay

Block A. A. Terms problem- The teams are not communicating primarily caused by the J. Edgar Hoover Model, page 37, Detective Terms. [This model does not require identifying the investigative building blocks or rules of investigations and assumes that everyone on the team will know them. It can be argued that this is the main cause of most problems in building cases. Further evidence for this lack of communication was the failure to manage the body(Physical Evidence#5) in a timely manner(Block A-Rules of Investigations) No one in the investigation has really known who has jurisdiction over this case. It went from city to county and then state and no one actually preceded to be the 1st in line of action to step up and say, â€Å"Hey, we have it.† One of the influencers in this case was Al Sharpton, basically bringing in the Feds and making it a civil case of racism. The population of Ferguson is 67% black, which has served as a big influence on this case. Case Label Block 1 There are no actual charges yet for this case, because they are still investigating this case in Ferguson, Missouri. The officer had reasonable doubt to ask Michael Brown to get off the road and to get onto the sidewalk. He had the law on his side if he would have frisked the two young guys and possibly arrest one or both of them. The media and Al Sharpton and other Elites are trying to make this out to be a civil case. It almost seems as if Michael basically committed Copicide. The rule of discretion was followed, it seems. The officer followed through at his own discretion instead of calling for backup. Verbal Evidence Block 2 Michael Brown had no most-serious felony convictions or pending cases. Dorian Johnson, witness to Michael Brown getting shot, has been accused of lying in the past upon several occasions. This makes him to be a bad witness for this case, good for the officer’s case though.

A Comparative Tragedy Study of Fatalism and Determinism: Oedipus Rex and Thunderstorm Essay

The Thunderstorm and Oedipus Rex, the representatives of Chinese and Greek play, both tell tragic stories about incest and unexpected destiny. The two masterpieces reveal much about the literature patterns and philosophical implications of the different cultures. The exploration of the two plays could help further understand the oneness of world literature and the tragedy of unlike culture. This paper will compare two famous tragic dramas—Oedipus Rex and The Thunderstorm to analyze the similarities and differences in terms of the tragic themes—fatalism and determinism. The process of textual analysis will be associated with the basic literature theory of tragedy and philosophy. Over the centuries, Oedipus Rex, which is a famous Greek drama written by one of three ancient Greek tragedians Sophocles, has come to be regarded as the Greek tragedy par excellence. It chronicles the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes the king of Thebes and was destined from birth to murder his father Laius and marry his mother Jocasta. The play is an example of a classic tragedy, noticeably containing an emphasis on the power of oracle on human destiny and how Oedipus’s own flaws contribute to the tragic hero’s downfall. The Thunderstorm is written by renowned Chinese playwright Cao Yu, often regarded as China’s most important play of the 20th century. The subject matter of The Thunderstorm is the complex relationships between the members of two households, centering on the Zhou family’s psychological and physical destruction as a result of incest, as perpetrated at the hands of its morally depraved and corrupt patriarch. It is considered to be one of the most mature and popular plays in contemporary China. In this paper, the theory being used and the previous study of the two plays will be first presented in the literature review. In the main part of my analysis, I will compare the two plays from the perspective of the contraction between fatalism and determinism. From the analysis of two dramas, we could examine some similarities and differences in the tragic topics. Both Oedipus Rex and The Thunderstorm concern the fatalism and determinism in the tragedy themes; however, they lay different stress on the two topics. 2. BACKGROUND STUDY AND LITERATURE REVIEW One of the most important studies of tragedy is Aristotle’s Poetics. Aristotle states that â€Å"A tragedy, then, is an artistic imitation of an action that is serious, complete in itself, and of an adequate magnitude.† (2) The magnificence of tragedy can be revealed in different aspects, and the tragic theme that considers fatalism and determinism of protagonists is one of the most important elements. The dispute between fatalism and determinism has been long lasting in the development of tragedy study. Fatalism is one of the most eternal themes of tragedy in general. It is the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable in person’s life. Determinism is the belief that all actions and events result from other actions, events, or situations, so people cannot in fact choose what to do, which is a creation of Hellenistic thought (Dodds 42). Homeric heroes have their predetermined â€Å"portion of life† and they must die for some predetermined reason, but it never occurs to the poet or his audience that this prevents them from being free agents. As Bernard Knox put it, â€Å"the gods know the future, but they do not order it. (122)† Concerning fatalism and determinism, previous scholars have done many researches on the two plays. Martin Kallich (1966), in his article â€Å"Oedipus: From Man to Archetype,† interprets the philosophical theme of Sophocles’ play as a mild agnosticism or neutral fatalism. Oedipus, he declares, behaves normally, commits an error in ignorance, and brings suffering upon himself. However, he fails to include the religious belief in his essay to give a full view of the tragic spirit of Oedipus Rex. From another perspective, E. Lefà ¨vre and A. Schmitt (2007), in the article â€Å"Interpretation of Oedipus Rex† argues that the old and popular formula that Oedipus is â€Å"guiltlessly guilty† is untenable, and they propose instead that his fall results from his behavior—his wrong behavior—brought about by passion. However, they mainly discuss from their own understanding and fail to employ strong tragedy theory to support their viewpoints. Foreign scholars do not conduct many researches on The Thunderstorm. Nevertheless, Chinese scholars have looked deeply into this drama. Both Xin Xianxi (1981) and Wang Linlin (2009) argue that Cao Yu is strongly influenced by the traditional Greek tragedy and Christianity religious belief so that the play has mystical idea of fate, which adds to the impressiveness of the play. However, they fail to take the social background into account when analyzing the tragic spirit of The Thunderstorm. Wan Ping (2010) classifies the tragic spirit of The Thunderstorm into three different categories: the tragedy of love, fate and personality and all the tree aspects of the play make it an intense plot and dramatic artistic effect. Also, he doesn’t consider the social background, which is important part of the play. From the above, we could see that the two plays are well studied by western and eastern scholars. Yet, not so many researchers discuss the similarities and differences between this specific two plays or even the Greek and Chinese drama in general. 3. ANALYSIS OF TRAGIC THEMES: FATALISM AND DETERMINISM The conflicts between fatalism and determinism are fully presented in the two plays, which can also be called the god-made tragedy and human-made tragedy. However, the two holds different proportion of two elements—Oedipus Rex putting more emphasis on fate, while The Thunderstorm underlining the importance of human factors. 3.1 Analysis on Oedipus Rex 3.1.1 The Voice of Fate Oedipus Rex has been almost universally regarded as the classic example of the â€Å"tragedy of fate.† Sir Maurice Bowra’s idea that the gods force on Oedipus the knowledge of what he has done strongly supports the idea of fatalism (390).Through his priests at Delphi, Apollo told Laius that he would be killed by his own son, and later told Oedipus that he would kill his father and marry his mother. At the beginning of the play Apollo tells Creon that Thebes will be saved from the plague only when the murderer of Laius is found and expelled. Although everyone in this play try to do something to avoid the realization of the oracle, in the end, everything comes true. Its power was based on a widespread, indeed in early time’s universal belief in the efficacy of divine prophecy. Sophocles himself also believes in this point: Unless these prophecies all come true for all mankind to point toward in wonder†¦ They are dying, the old oracles sent to Laius, Now our masters strike them off the rolls. Nowhere Apollo’s golden glory now— The gods, the gods go down. (Sophocles 989-97) When chose as the subject of his story about a man who tried to avoid the fulfillment of a prophecy of Apollo, Oedipus believes he had succeeded and casts scorn on all the oracles, only to find out that he had fulfilled that prophecy long ago. The voice of destiny in the play is the oracle of Apollo and Oedipus, to some extent, is the innocent victim of a doom which he cannot avoid. 3.1.2 Hamartia and Loyalty To the rationalist critics of the eighteenth century and still more to the firm believers in human progress of the nineteenth, this aspect of the play was a historical curiosity, to be discounted; in Oedipus Rex, although the fate is God-made to a great degree, it must be clarified that he has his own free will and he is not mere a puppet in the hands of the gods who pull the strings that make him dance. This is a crucial idea of further development of determinism, on which we could give two varied explanations—hamartia and loyalty. The single Greek word, hamartia, lays the emphasis upon the want of insight within a man. The human frailty which is said to bring sufferings beyond the ordinary lot of men is represented in translation by â€Å"blindness of heart†. The conception in the Poetics of an ideal tragic person with his imperfect insight, proper for tragedy, can be constructed in the personality of Oedipus (39). He turns upon a certain blindness of impulse, which at length is recognized the man himself—whereupon he puts out his own eyes. On the other hand, Oedipus’ loyalty to truth and to Thebes leads him to seek the truth tirelessly. Even though Creon, Jocasta, and the prophet try to stop him all the way, Oedipus, who is struggling in the pursuit of truth, insists on reading the last riddle, the riddle of his own life. The immediate cause of Oedipus’ ruin is not just â€Å"Fate†Ã¢â‚¬â€no oracle said that he must discover the truth—and still less does it lie in his own weakness; sometimes it is suggested that Oedipus would not have avoided his misery by having been a better man, but he could have remained prosperous and happy if he had been a less good man. What cause his ruin are his own strength and courage, his loyalty to Thebes, and his loyalty to truth. 3. 2. Analysis on The Thunderstorm 3.2.1 Destiny or Coincidences Similarly, in traditional Chinese literature, destiny, which often translated into Tian [Ã¥ ¤ ©], also has a deep implication in the formation of tragedy. Famous critic Li Jiangwu said, â€Å"This play has the most potent but invisible power—destiny, which we feel all the time. (48)† And Cao Yu writes in the preface of The Thunderstorm, â€Å"I am a spiritually poor man, but I invited my audiences to be god of my play to look sympathetically on ‘those moving creatures’ on the stage, to look how they argue with each other blindly, how they helplessly struggle in the battle of love. (2)† Two families’ destinies fall into tragedy because of some unexpected coincidences. If Sifeng does not go to the Zhou’s family to work as a servant or if Lu Dahai does not come to visit Zhou Puyuan, or if any detail in the play changes, the whole story may not happen. The fate plays an important part in the development of the plot and contributes much to t he tragic effect. 3.2.2 Social Tragedy Although there is the fate that works in the play, what the characters have done is the main pusher of the plot. Cao Yu also states that this play is not about retribution or karma (3). While, in The Thunderstorm, the determinism presents in a different direction. Zhou Pin cannot endure the suppression of his father, but he does not show it and bear it inside. He feels repent and wants to get out of the secret relationship with his stepmother, but he only chooses to escape the reality, so that he falls in love with Sifeng, which is also a person that he cannot love. Similar as Oedipus, what he tries to avoid finally leads him to destruction. From what the play presents, Zhou Pin is more like a coward escaping the tragic results of his life. His evasion contributes to the tragic ending. Zhou Fanyi, who is also a tragic character in the play, marries Zhou Puyuan, but she is not able to feel love until she loses her heart to Zhou Pin. What is more tragic is that Zhou Pin cannot love her wholeheartedly either. She mistakenly put the happiness of her whole life to a person that cannot company and care for her aboveboard. Her tragedy is the social tragedy, at which time women’s social status is low and they do not have the ability to pursue their felicities on their own. Fanyi’s personal flaws and the social environment lead to the tragedy of herself. While writing this play, Cao Yu underlines the social background, in order to further reveal the social problems, which offer people no freedom of choice. That’s why everyone’s wrong choice results in the destruction of the whole family. 5. Conclusion Different from the previous study, as we could examine from the analysis, this paper regards the tragedy as a combination of fatalism and determinism. What is similar between Oedipus Rex and The Thunderstorm is that they both stress the necessity the factor of destiny in the plot of a tragedy. Destiny is a universal theme of all tragedies in the history and all around the world. What is different about the two plays is that the determinism is presented in distinct way. Oedipus Rex embeds the tragic elements into the â€Å"tragic flaws† of Oedipus. Through building the downfall of Oedipus as a hero but somewhat ignorant person, readers may feel more regret and grieved. While in The Thunderstorm, the social background, in which the story was carried on and which people who are unable to avoid and revolt, contributes more to the happening of tragedy. This difference shows the different concerns in Chinese and western culture: Chinese literature works tend to focus on the social problems through revealing the personal life, while the western literature puts the emphasis on the image of the whole person. (Word Counting: 2190 words) Works Cited Aristotle. Poetics. Trans. Lane Cooper. New York: Cornell University Press, 1947. Print. Bowra, Maurice. â€Å"Dance, Drama, and the Spoken Word† The Royal Society: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 251.772, (1966): 390. ProQuest. Web. 15 May 2013. Cao Yu. The Thunderstorm. Beijing: People’s Literature Publishing House, 1994. Print. Dodds, E.R. â€Å"On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex.† Cambridge University Press: Greece & Rome, Second Series13.1 (1966): 42. Jstor. Web. 26 April 2012. E. Lefà ¨vre and A. Schmitt. Interpretation of â€Å"Oedipus Rex†[Die Suche nach der Schuld. Sophokles’ â€Å"Oedipus Rex†, Aristoteles’ â€Å"Poetik† und das Tragà ¶dienverstà ¤ndnis der Neuzeit] The Classical Review 57.1(2007):18-20. Jstor. Web. 1 May 2013. Kallich, Martin. â€Å"Oedipus: From Man to Archetype.† Comparative Literature Studies 3.1 (1966): 33-35. Rpt. in Drama for Students. Ed. David M. Galens and Lynn M. Spampinato. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Literature Resource Center. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. Knox, Bernard. â€Å"Introduction to Oedipus the King.† Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House. 2007. 71-90. Print. Li Jianwu. â€Å"The characteristics of drama† [Xiju De Tezheng] Beijing: Literary Criticism: 3(1963): 42-52. CNKI. Web. 2 May 2013. Ma Xiaozhao. The Entanglement between History and Human Relation: the comparison between the aesthetics meaning of western and Chinese tragedy. [Lishi Yu Renlun De Tongku Jiuchan: Bijiao Yanjiu Zhongxi Beiju De Shengmei Yiyun] Beijing: China Social Sciences Publishing House, 2008. Print. Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Trans. Stephen Berg and Diskin Clay. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978. Print. Wang Linlin. â€Å"The Unavoidable destiny tragedy—the textual analysis on The Thunderstorm.† [Nanyi Duobi De Mingyun Beiju—Leiyu Wenben Fenxi] Taiyuan: Masterpieces Review: 14 (2009): 85-88. CNKI. Web. 1 May 2013. Wan Ping. â€Å"A tentative study on the tragic essence of The Thunderstorm† [Shilun Leiyu De Beiju Yiyun] Beijing: Literary Criticism: 3 (2010): 134. CNKI. Web. 1 May 2013. Xin Xianxi. â€Å"A Discussion on several questions of The Thunderstorm.† [Guanyu Leiyu Ruogan Wenti De Tantao] Beijing: Studies on Modern Chinese Literature: 1(1981). CNKI. Web. 1 May 2013. View as multi-pages

The virginian Essays

The virginian Essays The virginian Essay The virginian Essay The Virginian by Owen Wister is a series of connected vignettes that chronicle events in Wyoming centered on a young man from Virginia, the protagonist. The Virginian proved that he was brave when he pulled the trigger of his rifle so closely by another man. Throughout his work and life, the Virginian demonstrated that his is a diligent man. Through his good deeds to others, he properly displays the characteristic of a dependable person. The Virginian has grown throughout the story to be a brave, diligent in his work, and dependable young man. The Virginian was a strong man; he exhibited the character traits of a brave man. The Virginian clearly showed that he was brave while at a gambling table. One of the gamblers was angry and insulted the Virginian; He quickly drew out his gun and demanded a smile of the man that had insulted him. The Virginian is then told that only cowards are dangerous when they draw their weapons by the dealer. He replies back by saying, I wouldnt worry for a brave man, your life is safe. Cowards always shoot before its necessary. While he was cleaning his rifle, the Virginian speaks to The Easterner than without warning fires a shot close enough to upset the Easterner for the Virginians egligence concerning his rifle handling. Later he points out that if hadnt fired his rifle the snake now lying dead by The Easterner would have caused its own set of problems. The Virginian does not choose to leave town when his reputation is at stake, moreover, He would rather face Trampas and defend his honor than leave town and be viewed as a coward. By these examples of bravery, The Virginian establishes his courage to everyone. Through out his work, the Virginian displayed that he was a diligent man. Several times throughout the book, he is offered the chance to run down his enemy, Trampas, ehind his back, but each time he refuses the temptation. It is made clear that he will not use his official position as foreman to crush any of the lower workers. Even when he had to hang his best friend, he still did so out of Justice for the crimes Steve had committed in his cattle rustling. Even though molly was against him harming Trampas, the Virginian had to perform his duty to the law. The Virginian proved to be a diligent man throughout his examples of his work. By performing good deeds, the Virginian proved that he is a dependable person. As the narrator starts out as a greenhorn under the protection of the Virginian, but n his frequent visits to the region over the course of the years the novel encompasses, he becomes accomplished in his own right in hunting and fishing anyway. The Virginian was one to Judges most trustworthy man that he had on the ranch. The Judge praised his dealings with the potential mutineers on the Virginians job in retrieving cattle. These examples of his good works prove that the Virginian was a dependable person because it shows that he can complete his task. As the story progresses, the Virginian has become braver, dependable, and diligent in both his work and in character. When he is given the chose to either run away or face his doom against Trampas, The Virginian chooses to face him because he does not want to be known as a coward. All through the story, he chose to not attack Trampas from taking care of the narrator from the beginning to the end of the story, he demonstrates that The Virginian is a dependable young man. The Virginian symbolizes the Wests initial resistance to the taming forces of the East and its inevitable surrender. Wister, Owen. The Virginian A horseman of the Plains. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc. , 2006.

You Pick Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

You Pick - Research Paper Example 33). The outcome has been increased injuries in the workplace. Health problems among the employees have also increased. When it comes to workplace safety, the subjects in the topic are the employees. They have the duty of preventing any work-related injuries. The employees also need to check after one another in their line of duty. According to the law, there are certain rights concerning workplace health and safety that all the employees in organizations across the United States are expected to enjoy (Bianchini et al. 25). For instance, we have the right to know, right to refuse, and right to participate. A lot of research shows that employees are not much considerate of these rights. This is because they are not well informed on the benefits that a safe workplace will bring to themselves, their bosses, their organizations, and the society as a whole when they are working in a safe environment (Levine, Michael and Matthew 34; Stark 33). Some scholars have been concerned with a cost-benefit analysis of investing in workplace safety (Campbell et al. 45; Bradley et al. 42; Hogan & Jeff 37). Although many of the studies that have been carried out have showed that the benefits are more than the cost of investment, only a few studies have been carried out to find out the specific benefits of a safe workplace (Bianchini et al. 56). The employers are also not aware of the benefits because some of them tend to believe that when they invest much in the employees they will reduce their profitability. Therefore, the issue has being handled with many misunderstandings. In modern organizations, employees are being recognized as the most crucial resource in the organization. The concept of human resource management has gained much significance in organizations across America (Levine, Michael and Matthew 47). However, some of the human resource managers have been concerned with the role employees can play in

Improving Maternal health Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Improving Maternal health - Research Paper Example Despite maternal health concern being in the millennium development goals, the condition is still wanting. Maternal has for been a leading cause of death for many women and children. Efforts have been made to handle the situation with political aid. According to world health organization report of 2012, it has led to the global reduction of maternal health by 47% since 1990 to 2012. However, approximately 800 women die daily from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In most underserved and marginalized communities are unable to access the information, resources, and services leading to prevailing of poor maternal health. Filippi demonstrated the health condition in developing countries to be poor compared to the developed countries (361). The factors that drive communities to high mortality rates despite the measure put to control are variety. Poverty, lack of knowledge, cultural ties, few skilled attendants and distance to hospitals are contributing factors to mor tality deaths. There is a need to look into the issue deaths related pregnancies to safeguard the lives the mother and the child. WHO report of 2013 suggested an estimation of 289,000 women died during delivery. According to Bergsma, the situation in developing countries is 97 times worse than in developing countries. Antenatal care would reduce maternal mortality (35-54). The majority of deaths are reported to occur during and immediately following birth. WHO â€Å"Maternal Mortality† report shows that excessive bleeding causes 25%, 15% due to infections, 12% for the seizure disorder and 8% are due to obstructed labor. Other causes of death during pregnancy include unsafe abortions that account for 13% of the total deaths. The situation is so alarming in the society and needs further actions to reduce the deaths globally. The issue of death is extended to the postpartum period.  

RAK properties company financial analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

RAK properties company financial analysis - Essay Example RAK Properties will also maximize shareholders’ value through its development projects in the coastal and inland areas of Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Properties has a sound capital of AED 2 billion. The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of RAK Properties in early 2005 was over-subscribed by almost 57 times. RAK Properties is a company which was listed in the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange from 2005 onwards. Just like many of the property companies, the company also has faced a difficult time due to the past recession. However, the markets are turning around with UAE growth resuming and it is very much likely that the company also is in the process of bouncing back with the recovery of the markets. The company was almost bankrupt during the recession period and now is gradually emerging out of the recession and working towards developing properties aggressively. Comparing with the high ranked competitors in the region, the company is more of a smaller player in the market. However, the company h as the opportunity to build a totally new portfolio and compete effectively with the other very large holder of the property and continue to offer high value products in the market. RAK, unlike many other high end large scale companies is thriving to strike a balance between offering high end product portfolios and maintaining medium end offerings as well. Thus, the company actually has a better mix of products on offer. Abu Dhabi real estate markets are growing very fast. Currently, there are 193,000 residential units in place and this is likely to increase to 246,000 units by 2013 according to estimates by Estatesdubai (2011). This indicates that the residential properties are expected to grow fast. Most of the residential properties were purchased by Indians at a cost of AED 3.3billion for 2010. This indicates that the confidence in the property markets is increasing and as a result of the total exercise, it is very much likely that the property companies will face increased dema nd over 2012 - 2015 periods. On the Abu Dhabi growth front, office space has grown by 55,000 square meters just in Q3-2011 reaching a total office space of 2.4 million square meters and this indicates the fact that the business growth is also faster in the region. This is likely to result in sustainable growth in the property market in the future. Thus, the company is one placed in a growth oriented industry and it is likely that they need to place themselves appropriately in the market for growth. While the company holds smaller properties compared with the competitors, the company will be able to expand portfolio with the current investments and will be able to aggressively grow in the markets. 2.0 Financial Analysis When analyzing the financial statements, there are few key observations that are noteworthy. Just like many of the companies who went through troubled times during the economic recession, the company also had faced difficult times and thus, they do not have revenue nu mbers for 2009 financial year due to the temporary halt in the operations. This is common with the industry as the whole industry was impacted negatively and most of the smaller players had to face this scenario. Another important aspect to note is that the company has changed the year end date from June to December. These aspects have to be noted prior to analyzing of

Financial Management Essay Example for Free

Financial Management Essay Introduction In this assignment I will be researching and discussing how to manage my own personal finances. For this I will have to research sources of income and write about different types of employment and unemployment. The affect these have on salaries and wages will also be investigated. I have also been asked to research and summarise allowances and benefits. As part of the management of my personal finances I must produce a personal budget over a specific period of time, on completion of this I will pair with a partner and discuss my findings. Task 3 Why is it important for me to manage my personal finance? * To help not to run out of money * Help me with budgeting * Scarce resource * Savings * Paying bills * Living alone * Managing money is skill Task 4 Jobseekers allowance Jobseekers allowance would be paid to me if I am eligible for it and looking for (seeking) work. I also would have to be age 16 or over to be able to receive jobseekers allowance. This source of income is relevant for me because I am over the age of 16, living on my own and I am currently looking for work. Income support Income support provides financial help for people ages 16 and over, who have low income or no money coming in at all. This money is for people who are not currently seeking work. This money is to help people with day to day living. Income support is relevant to me because this is the situation I am currently living in and I also receive income support myself. Child benefit Child benefit is parents that have children under the age of 16 or children under 19 in full time education. Child benefit is no longer relevant to me because I do not live will my mother any more. Housing benefit Housing benefit helps towards paying my rent which would be my local authority, but they dont cover all my housing costs. Housing benefit is eligible to people who are renting a room or living in a hostel of sum sort. I can apply for this by just going down to my local authority office and filling in a housing benefit form. Working families Tax Credit Working Tax Credit is for people who are employed or self-employed, over the aged of 16 and are working at least 16 hours a week. They also have to have at least one child. In couples, one person has to choose who receives the tax credits. The amount of tax credits they receive will depend on their annual income. Tax credits are not relevant for me because I am not responsible for any children and I am not currently working. Task 5 When preparing for employment the documents I would need: * CV * Covering letter * Application form * National insurance number * Bank details * Qualification certificates * P45 (maybe not for me yet) CV I would need a CV so that the employers get a brief summary of my qualifications and experience to-date. It would include the school and college I have attended. It will also include my past work experience. My CV will now include that I have recently worked at Superdrug. My CV will also have my references. References are very important as the employers may want to contact the referees to confirm I have the qualifications for the job, and if I am reliable and trustworthy enough for the job. Covering letter A covering letter is needed because it is a part of the formal requirement. It will show the employer where I heard about the advert and why I feel I would be right for the job. Application form Application forms are used to help the employer to separate the good candidates from the not so good candidates. They are also used to find out about information and candidates background. National Insurance No. Every one that has the right to work in the UK has the right to a national insurance number once they reach the age of 16. The national insurance number will show what national insurance contributions the worker pays over the course of his/her working life and also the contribution employers have made. Bank details Bank details are required in order for the employer to give you your wages. Wages are now paid by direct transfer from the employer to the bank account of the employee. Qualification certificates Proof of GCSEs and past qualifications are important because the employer will expect me to have certain right qualification in order to have the job. Superdrug have specific qualifications that are required, these are called essential qualifications. Task 6 Types of employment Self employment Being self employed is when you do not work for anyone else you have your own business. For example owning your own sweets shop is self employment. The income of the sweets shop will come from the customers who purchase the sweets. The income may also come from the bank if you borrow money. Freelance Freelancers are a different type of self employment. Instead of owning their own business they sell their services by working for different businesses. For example a freelance hair dresser would not have their own hairdressing business they would get to all kinds of other businesses and do hairdressing. Employee Employees are people who work for someone who controls what work they do. The employer is in charge of the employees income and deducts national insurance from the employees wages or salary. As long as they is someone handling your wages before you get them you are an employee. Task 8 Key points of each job Job title Retail manager Tasks to be carried out Retail managers are responsible for day to day running of department stores, chain stores, supermarkets and independent shops. They look after staff management, including taking on and training new staff, maintaining a good standard of customer care and increasing sales and profitability. Their duties usually include: * Making sure premises and displays are well maintained * Organising stock checking and re-ordering as necessary, through computerised or manual systems * Making sure targets are reached and all opportunities are taken to increase sales and profitability * Organising sales promotions * Recruiting, interviewing and training staff * Dealing with queries or complaints from customers Skills required A retail manager should: * Know the companys products and procedures well * Be committed to providing a high standard of customer service * Be able to lead and motivate a team * Have good knowledge of legal an d security issues * Have relevant commercial skills for business Qualifications required There are no set academic requirements to work in retail, although employers may prefer employees to have at list five GCSEs grades A-C and have some working experience in retail. Useful qualifications would include: * BTEC national reward in retail * OCR certificate in retail * BTEC Higher National Diploma in retail management * Degree in retail management Individual qualities required * Be confident, energetic and quick thinking * Have excellent spoken English and written communication skills * Be able to take responsibility and make decisions * Have a smart appearance * Be organised * Be able to deal effectively with problems and complaints Wage/salary Starting salaries are usually from around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½12,000 Experienced managers may earn from around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½15,000 to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½26,000 Managers of large stores may earn up to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½65,000 or more. Job title Retail assistant Tasks to be carried out A retail assistant is responsible for making customers feel at ease when shopping and browsing around the store, directing them towards products and accepting payments. This job generally includes: * Restocking shelves and making sure merchandise is presented neatly * Greeting customers and answering enquiries about products * Operating computerised tills and barcode readers to scan items * Accepting payments for goods and wrapping them * Checking for stock items and ordering goods Skills required * To be accurate and thorough, even under pressure * To be trustworthy- they may be dealing with expensive products and large amounts of cash * To understand and follow companys policies for health and safety and hygiene * Stamina, in order to serve on the shop floor for long periods Qualification required Employers set their own qualification requirements. But usually look for good communication skills, a pleasant personality and look for at least to two to four GCSE grades. Individual qualities required * Have an approachable, polite manner * Have good communication skills * Have a smart personal appearance * Enjoy providing a good level of customer service Wage/salary Starting salaries for a retail assistant is around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½9,000 a year An experienced retail assistant may earn around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½11,500 a year. Task 9 Why I think I am suitable for each job Retail assistant I think that I am suitable to work as a retail assistant because I have relevant experience within the retail industry. I have recently completed a 2 week work placement at Superdrug which is in the retail sector. During this period I was privileged to be responsible for replenishing stock, providing customer advice and keeping the shop floor tidy. This placement enabled me to develop vital skills such as team working, numeracy and customer service skills which are all needed in order to become a successful retail assistant. This work placement was a part of my BTEC introductory business coarse this qualification will also enable me to qualify to work as retail assistant. Retail manager I am qualified to work in the retail sector as a retail assistant but in order to qualify as a retail manager I would have to finish my BTEC introductory coarse and then go on to study for three more years to receive a BTEC national certificate in business. After this I would then need to go and study a degree in retail management in order to qualify for this job. I have good interpersonal and communication skills and while on my work experience I enjoyed providing good customer service these skills would help me with working toward becoming a retail manager. Retail managers are responsible for day to day running of department stores, chain stores, supermarkets and independent shops this may include Organising sales promotions and recruiting, interviewing and training staff. Task 10 Wage/salary deductions Gross pay Gross pay the amount of money an employee earns before any deductions are made such as tax or national insurance. Net pay Net pay is the money employees actually get for them to spend. National insurance contributions National insurance contributions is an amount of money that the employee has to pay towards there employers this is deducted by the employer from the employees wages. If you are self employed you also have to pay national insurance contribution, this is a small monthly payment and then a lump sum at the end of the year. National insurance code National insurance codes indicate an employees marital status and how long an employee has been working. Income tax There is a certain amount of money that every body is allowed to earn before they have to pay income tax, this is called personal tax allowances currently for people under the age of 65 this is à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5,225 a year. If you earn any more than this you will have to pay income tax, how much you pay will depend on how much money you earn. Pensions/superannuation Pensions are long time investments that are designed to provide you with money in your old age when you are not able to work any more. The earlier you start your pension the more you get when you retire. Employees are usually offered a pension scheme when the start there job. The employer pays a contribution to your pension fund and so does the employee this is deducted out of the employees wages before it get to them. Union subscriptions A union is a large group of workers in a particular industry or profession. Unions provide benefits such as legal advice and can also provide support in cases of unfair treatment or dismissal. To subscribe employees would have to pay fees this is sometimes deducted from the employees wages before it is received or the employee can pay the fees themselves but it is not compulsory. Task 11 Allowances and Benefits Housing benefit Housing benefit helps towards paying my rent which would be my local authority, but they dont cover all my housing costs. Housing benefit is eligible to people who are renting a room or living in a hostel of sum sort. I can apply for this by just going down to my local authority office and filling in a housing benefit form. This benefits me because its helps me to save money gives me more money to spend on more important things. Council tax Council tax is an amount of money you pay if you are renting out a council property or of you have you own property with a certain amount of people living in there. Council tax paid to pay the council for giving you their service of letting you live in their property and council tax also pay for things like people cleaning the streets. Interest from savings Interest from savings is when you put money into the bank or a financial institution and earn extra money on top. This is called interest. When you get interest you have to pay income tax on that interest, the bank usually deducts the tax before pay the interest. This benefits me because I regularly put savings into my bank account. Inherited money Most people decide to leave money to their relatives when they die, this is called inheritance. Inheritance could be a small or large amount of money and it may be necessary to pay inheritance tax on it. Borrowed money Borrowed money is anything from a loan to a bank overdraft. Money can also be borrowed from a relative or close friend in this case the money you have borrowed is the money you pay back. If you take out a loan or overdraft which is quit a large amount of money this usually involves paying back the money monthly and each month interest is added on top of the money that you are paying. This result in you paying more that you actually took in the first place, it is much wiser that you save your money for whatever you want to get therefore you will earn interest on your money rather that earning it. Working Families Tax Credit Working families tax credits is for people who have at least one child under the age of 16 or 19 in full time education and earn an income which is below a certain level. The person has to be working at least 16 hours a week and must have savings below à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½8000. this does not apply to me as I am not eligible for this because I have no children. Task 14 Explanation of how I planned my personal finances Spend or save As soon as I receive my money I spend it on things that I need such as food shopping and rent. Any money left over would get spent on the gym and my mobile phone then the rest would get put aside as my savings. Gambling Gambling is when you pay money hoping for a chance of winning more money. Doing this is dangerous because you are not guaranteed your money. Gambling is very addictive and if done regularly this could put you into debt that why I choose not to go down this road. Spending habits When I receive my money on a weekly basis I try and spend as little as possible on food shopping so that I have money left over for myself to spend on small luxuries for example a meal out with my friends. I sometimes tend to spend too much on luxuries and this sometimes gets me into problems but I always have someone at hand to help me. Money and lifestyle At the moment the amount of money I receive doesnt allow me to have the best of lifestyles but it is enough to put clothes on my back and to buy me shopping every week. To achieve the lifestyle I want I would need to find at least a part time job so I can earn more money than Im getting now. My expectations of work and money As long as I have enough money to buy me some food and to pay the rent I am ok for the moment. But I would like a bit more than that for example going on holidays and buying the latest clothing. To do this I would need to find a job and also make sure that I handle my personal finances correctly and do some budgeting for these luxuries. Short term accounts Every week I receive my income support into my bank account. I am currently using a current account all my bills are paid out of this account and all my Ema payment come into this account. I also have a short term savings account which I put money into every week. I use this account when I run out of money or need to pay for something important e.g. phone bill. Long term accounts A long term savings account is an account that allows you to build up interest on money that you are saving over a number of years. An example could be an ISA, this is an individual savings account because it is tax free provided the amount saved each year doesnt exceed à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½3,000. The interest is cumulative which means the amount of interest plus capital will increase year on year. Another example of a long term account is a bank loan. A bank loan is usually drawn over a long period. This is a lump sum of money that I borrowed from the bank and paid off over a long period of time. For example a mortgage is paid over a period of 25 years. Cheque book A cheque is a promise to pay someone in place of cash. When you are writing a cheque you write down exactly how much you are going to pay the person. The person then takes the cheque to the bank and waits for it to clear this takes between 3-5 days. It is important to make sure that you have the right amount of money in your bank so you dont go into debt. It is also important to keep a record of any cheques that have been written, this can be done by using stubs which are left in the cheque book after you tear it out to pay someone. The stubs are there so that you can note down the details of the cheque and will help keep track of your money. Credit cards A credit card is a card that you can use to pay for items of clothing or products. This card however gives you money on it but you have to pay it back you are also given a credit limit. To avoid spending more money than you actually have you should usually pay back the money within a month if the money is paid after this you will be charged interest. If you go over the limit that the company has given you interest will also be added. Also you can check how much money you are spending by checking a mini statement that you can get from a cash point. Debit cards Debit cards are cards that have your own money that you put on to the card. You can use this card to purchase virtually anything but instead of having a credit limit of borrowed money you are actually using your own money to purchase goods. A debit card allows you to take cash out of ATMs if you have enough money in your account. To see how much funds you have in your account through an ATM you are given a pin number by your bank to memorise this then allows you to draw cash from the machines and purchase items in shops. To check that no-one is stealing from you or to make sure you are not spending more money than your supposed to it is good to check your bank statement each month these are sent to you by your bank. The bank statement show how much money you had in your account originally, then show all payments that were taken out of that money. You can then check if there are any payments that you are unsure of or if any mistakes were made in you transactions. Paying bills Bills can be paid using direct debit or standing orders. This is when you money is taken out of you account and paid to a business for example, BT telephone company at the same time every month. This can help with budgeting, as you will know how much money is going out every month. To check that you are not paying out more than youre supposed to you can check the phone bill you receive every month. Remaining in credit It is important to manage your account carefully to ensure you stay in credit. You must make sure that when you making payments such as cheques and debit cards you have enough money to make those payments. If not you account will go in to debt and you will be charged fines for doing this, it will also build up a bad credit rating which will make it hard for you to get a mortgage or a credit card in the future. Task 16 Summary of holiday budget activity Why do you think it is important to manage your personal finances? I think it is important for me to manage my finances because it helps me to pay all my bills on time without getting into to debt. It also allows me to put money aside for unexpected emergencies. Managing my personal finances is a very important skill. This skill is extremely important if I would like to start my own business or borrow money from a bank. Managing my money correctly will enable me to live quiet a prosperous life in the long run. Did you find it easy or difficult to manage the finances given in exercises? give reasons I found managing finances quiet hard because you have to keep track of the money coming out of my income every week and there were a lot of different bills to pay and they were all different amounts. I also had to keep track of my spending at the same time to make sure that I didnt get into debt this was really difficult because you can get carried away when your sending your money on luxuries. After all that I have to calculate the total regular expenditure and then work out if I had any money left over to put aside as savings, overall this task was very challenging but it taught me a lot about how to manage my own finances. What did you learn from the exercise on budgeting over a period of time? From doing the budgeting exercise I learnt that saving the little scraps of money here and there builds up into to something big. Also cutting down on luxuries also helps in the long run because the money you have saved enables you to get those luxuries if you just give time. This budgeting exercise also taught me how to calculate my net cash flow which I previously did not know how to do. I also learnt that budgeting is important for everyone because it stop many people from getting into to debt and also helps them to save considerable amount of money. Bibliography BTEC introduction business-published by Heinemann in 2005 Heinemann Educational Publishers Halley Court, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8EJ ISBN 978 0 435401 21 4 John Ruskin college intranet site Unit 6 Financial Management