Decision-Making Process of Consumers

Question: Examine about the Decision-Making Process of Consumers? Answer: Presentation:- Before buying something dynamic procedure by the shoppers is a most noteworthy procedure from which the genuine image of customer conduct towards a specific item can be drawn. There are distinctive like social, social, individual and mental elements which impact legitimately or in a roundabout way the dynamic procedure of a buyer. For various merchandise the buyer will carry on diversely as per his need, inclination and buying power. Before buying an item the buyer ought to experience various phases of dynamic procedure. For this situation the critical intensity of shopper among various kinds of items and furthermore among various sorts of elective brands is fundamental. Five phases of dynamic procedure of purchaser while buying a shopper electronic item:- In todays world the electronic merchandise are the for the most part required items to the shoppers. In the event of electronic merchandise the buyer will consistently pass judgment on its toughness (Lerrthaitr and Panjakajor, 2014). Presently, PC is a purchaser electronic item and if a buyer needs to purchase another PC for his/her own utilization, at that point he/she should follow the accompanying five phases of their dynamic procedure:- Issue revamping or need rearrangement by the purchaser:- Before buying something the purchaser ought to perceive his/her own requirements for a specific product.Without requirement for any item the buyer won't go for buying that item. The need of the buyer ought to be bolstered by its buying capacity. At exactly that point the purchaser can go before for the further phases of his/her dynamic decision (Lerrthaitrakul and Panjakajornsak, 2014). For instance: - For this situation the purchaser is confronting a standard issue with his/her old PC which hampers his/her every day office work and others exercises like speak with the companions and family members through internet based life, checking the new mail or sending a significant mail and so on. Henceforth, he/she earnestly need another PC. Consequently, for this situation the customer has the three kinds of requirements for this PC. They are:- Useful need: - This sort of need is identified with the particular elements of the PC. That is the PC with redesigned innovation is increasingly helpful for office work and distinctive figuring. Besides, if the new form of the PC of a specific organization has a more remarkable hard-plates and video card than the bygone one then the shopper will choose to purchase the upgraded one as opposed to keeping devouring the former one, as the enhanced one will give him/her more offices of memory stockpiling and most recent computer games. Social need:- At present, each informed and working individual has his/her very own PC or PC to play out their every day office work and different investigations. Also, for getting contact with the companions and family members, this purchaser utilizes the online life through the PC. He/she additionally earnestly need it for sending significant sends. Thus, there is a social need behind the buying choice of an electronic item like PC. Requirement for changes:- The past PC of the buyer was old one and the customer wants to purchase another model. Thus, the buyer will choose to buy another PC so as to supplanting the former one. Enlightening pursuit: - Before buying the new PC he will quick assemble data about the various kinds of accessible PCs in the market with various highlights having various costs. The client may assemble this data either from his companions, relatives or colleagues who are specialists in this field or from different business sources like T.V. includes news paper promotion and so forth. He can likewise take the buying choice from his own involvement with this specific field. There are two sorts of data sources. One is the inside source and the other is the outside source (O'Shaughnessy, 2012). The inner wellsprings of data:- The primary inside wellspring of data is the buyers own understanding and recollections of buying the old workstations. Based on this memory the buyer won't rehash a similar error as he/she did while buying the bygone one. In addition, the specialists or the workplace staffs may likewise give counsel to buy a best quality item (Perreau, 2013). The outer wellsprings of data:- The companions, relatives and different purchasers are go about as outside sources to give the data to the client about the highlights and cost of various brands of workstations. Also, the online life assume a significant job in giving this data. That is the customer can likewise accumulate data from the ads in papers or from T.V. or then again from the magazine or business handout of that specific item (Rathnam, 2005). Elective assessment:- In the wake of social event the choice, he will start to assess or look at among the changed brands of workstations accessible in the market. For this situation he will concentrate on the brand which offers bunches of effectively hand capable highlights at a less expensive rate than different brands. There are various brands of PC sold on the planet showcase like Sony, HP, Dell, Samsung and so forth. There are some comparative and some various highlights of these various brands of PC. Some of them are very easy to understand however have very little overhauled highlights. Once more, some of them may contain different redesigned includes yet not very easy to use. In addition, the structure and the style of various models of the workstations are unique. It is absolutely up to the customer that which brand or which model he/she will pick as indicated by his/her need. The dynamic decision ought to guarantee the need of the shopper (Schiffman and Wisenblit, 2015). Buying Decision:- In the wake of assessing the elective brands of the workstations he will take a ultimate conclusion of buying and buy the item as indicated by his need, taste and reasonableness. Indeed, even while buying the PC the shopper can pick whether he/she will buy another PC or a recycled PC. On the off chance that the buyer has insufficient capital in his/her hand to purchase another PC and on the off chance that the need is pressing, at that point he/she can buy a recycled PC gave the PC is working great (Schiffman, Kanuk and Hansen, 2012). Post-buy conduct:- Subsequent to buying the PC the shopper will judge that whether the item is extremely reasonable for his need or whether he can without much of a stretch handle this item. On the off chance that there emerge any issue with the PC, the buyer will promptly grumble at its administration place and will request either to tackle the issues or to give him another PC in return of the bought one. In any case, if the bought PC is utilized by the shopper for a long-term then the organization can possibly offer a few types of assistance in return of administration charge if their emerge any issue with respect to the utilization of that PC. The purchasers can likewise share their positive or negative perspectives with respect to the items by overhearing people's conversations to their loved ones or additionally through the online networking (Streetdirectory.com, 2015). End:- In spite of the fact that all the shoppers follow the essential attributes in regards to their dynamic, the genuine standards of conduct of various buyers are distinctive as per their diverse test and inclination on various nature of items. Consequently, it isn't so natural to investigate the purchaser conduct through these five phases of dynamic decision as it were. Moreover, there is an incredible need of changes in dispersion framework particularly for the buyer electronic merchandise as various shoppers are specific about the suitable arrangement of conveyance of discrete electronic items. Since, the purchasing limit of the buyer of a comparative item may not be same, there additionally may emerge a distinctions with respect to the amount bought of a similar item. Notwithstanding, in present world, because of an extension of web based promoting, there is an expanding quantities of business shops or sites and the online buyer, however the practices of both the on the web and the d isconnected buyer are pretty much same. References:- Lerrthaitr, W. what's more, Panjakajor, V. (2014). Channels of Electronic Word-of-mouth Affecting Consumers' Buying Decision-production Process in the Low Cost Carriers (LCCs).Research Journal of Business Management, 8(4), pp.367-378. Lerrthaitrakul, W. what's more, Panjakajornsak, V. (2014). The Impact of Electronic Word-of-Mouth Factors on Consumers Buying Decision-Making Processes in the Low Cost Carriers: A Conceptual Framework.International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, 5(2), pp.142-146. O'Shaughnessy, J. (2012).Consumer conduct. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Parumasur, S. what's more, Roberts-Lombard, M. (2012).Consumer conduct. Claremont, South Africa: Juta. Perreau, F. (2013).The 5 phases of Consumer Buying Decision Process. [online] Theconsumerfactor.com. Accessible at: https://theconsumerfactor.com/en/5-phases customer purchasing choice procedure/[Accessed 14 Aug. 2015]. Rathnam, G. (2005). Communication Effects of Consumers' Product Class Knowledge and Agent Search Strategy on Consumer Decision Making in Electronic Commerce.IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Part A: Systems and Humans, 35(4), pp.556-573. Rose, V. (2012).Consumer conduct. Delhi: University Publications. Schiffman, L. also, Wisenblit, J. (2015).Consumer conduct. Boston [u.a.]: Pearson. Schiffman, L., Kanuk, L. also, Hansen, H. (2012).Consumer conduct. Harlow, England: Pearson Financial Times/Prentice Hall. Streetdirectory.com, (2015).Consumer Decision Making Process. [online] Available at: https://www.streetdirectory.com/etoday/purchaser dynamic procedure fepoe.html [Accessed 14 Aug. 2015].

A Collection of Classic Love Poetry for Your Sweetheart

A Collection of Classic Love Poetry for Your Sweetheart The sentiments of sentimental love are really all inclusive regardless of whether it appears as though no one would ever have felt the manner in which you do; that is all inclusive, as well. Furthermore, that is the reason melodies and sonnets regularly state exactly what youre feeling just better than you can communicate it. On the off chance that you need to tell your darling exactly how you feel about the person in question, regardless of whether its Valentines Day or any old day, however you cant very locate the simply the rightâ words, perhaps these exemplary sonnets from the absolute most prominent artists in the English language may possess all the necessary qualities or give you a few thoughts. Heres a line that is so well known and communicates such comprehensiveness that it has become some portion of the language. Its from Christopher Marlowes Hero and Leander, and he composed this in 1598: Whoever adored, that cherished not from the outset sight? Immortal. Work 18 by William Shakespeare Shakespeares Sonnet 18, written in 1609, is one of the most renowned and cited love sonnets ever. Its conspicuous utilization of similitude in the correlation of the subject of the sonnet to a summers day is difficult to miss the subject being a lot of better than that most excellent of seasons. The sonnets most popular lines are toward the start, with the representation in full view: Will I contrast thee with a summer’s day?Thou workmanship all the more flawless and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the dear buds of May,And summer’s rent hath very short a date ... A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns Scottish writer Robert Burns composed this to his adoration in 1794, and it is one of the most cited and popular love sonnets ever in the English language. All through the sonnet, Burns utilizes analogy as a compelling scholarly gadget to depict his emotions. The main refrain is the most notable: O my Luve’s like a red, red rose,That’s recently sprung in June:O my Luve’s like the melodie,That’s sweetlyâ play’dâ in tune. Adores Philosophyâ by Percy Bysshe Shelley Indeed, an illustration is the artistic gadget of decision in an affection sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley from 1819, an unmistakable English Romantic writer. He utilizes analogy over and over, to incredible impact, to come to his meaningful conclusion which is completely clear. Heres the main refrain: The wellsprings blend with the riverAnd the streams with the Ocean,The winds of Heaven blend for everWith a sweet emotion;Nothing on the planet is single;All things by a law divineIn one soul meet and mingle.Why not I with thine?- Poem 43â by Elizabeth Barrett Browning This poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning,â published in the assortment Sonnets From the Portuguese in 1850, is one of 44 love works. This one is in actuality the most popular and most cited of her works and furthermore in the entirety of the sonnets in the English language. She was hitched to the Victorian writer Robert Browning, and he is the subject of these sonnets. This poem is a representation upon similitude and incredibly close to home, which is likely why it resounds. The principal lines are so notable that about everybody remembers them: How would I love thee? Let me tally the ways.I love thee to the profundity and expansiveness and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the parts of the bargains perfect Grace. In Excelsisâ â by Amy Lowell In this considerably more present day take on the graceful structure, written in 1922, Amy Lowell utilizes likeness, similitude, and imagery to communicate this most remarkable sentiment of sentimental love. The symbolism is more powerful and essential than that of prior artists, and the composing looks like the continuous flow style. The initial scarcely any lines give a trace of whats to come: You-you-Your shadow is daylight on a plate of silver;Your strides, theâ seeding-placeâ of lilies;Your hands moving, a toll of chimes over a windless air.

New legislation would cap interest rates on California installment loans

New legislation would cap interest rates on California installment loans New legislation would cap interest rates on California installment loans New legislation would cap interest rates on California installment loansInside Subprime: June 4, 2018By Lindsay FrankelThe latest attempt to curb predatory lending practices in California comes as legislation that, if passed, would cap interest rates on installment loans ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Assembly Bill 2500, was introduced by Assemblyman Ash Kalra and coauthored by Senator Holly Mitchell, and may serve to protect California borrowers from predatory triple-digit interest rates.No interest rate cap.Since the Legislature removed rate caps decades ago, predatory lending has flourished. In 2016, Californians borrowed a total of $1.1 billion in larger loans with triple digit annual interest rates. AB 2500 would cap interest rates at 36 percent.While predatory lenders in California are likely to argue that interest rate caps curtail access to credit for some borrowers, similar caps have worked in other states. Residents in Arizona, Arkansas, New York, and South Dakota are stil l able to borrow money without becoming vulnerable to triple digit interest rates.Assemblyman Kalra said the proposed cap strikes the right balance that “allows for profit and allows for access to credit.” And while some studies suggest that the rate cap may reduce the number of loans being issued, the largest lender of this category of installment loans, Oportun, supports the legislation.The Center for Responsible Lending is also sponsoring the bill. Graciela Aponte-Diaz, the Center’s head of California policy, noted that These are marketed as quick fixes, quick cash, but the truth is once people take these out, its far worse. She added, They lead to overdraft fees from banks, wage garnishment and bankruptcy.What about payday loans?While AB 2500 is an important first step in protecting California residents from predatory lending practices, it won’t protect borrowers from high interest rates on payday loans in California. That’s because California’s usury law, which proh ibits annual interest rates greater than 10 percent on these short-term loans, doesn’t apply to most lenders. The way the law is written, licensed payday lenders in California are exempt from the usury law.The California Department of Business Oversight, which regulates payday lenders, allows for payday loans of up to $300 to be issued with fees of up to 15 percent. This adds up to an annual interest rate of up to 460 percent on payday loans in California.Although these loan products have caused financial harm to many families, political action has moved towards deregulation of payday lenders. Mick Mulvaney, head of the CFPB, placed a hold on the 2017 payday lending rules, which would have required lenders to verify a borrower’s ability to repay a loan, among other protections.Meanwhile, the bill, introduced by Congressman Jeb Hensarling in 2017, would prohibit “any rule-making, enforcement or other authority with respect to payday loans, vehicle title loans or other similar l oans.In the absence of consumer protections, it is important that borrowers are aware of the potential financial harm when using payday loans. While AB 2500 may protect borrowers from the high interest rates that have gained popularity among installment lenders, licensed payday lenders in California will still be allowed to charge triple-digit annual interest rates. Borrowers should seek alternatives to payday loans to avoid ending up in ongoing debt.To learn more about payday loans in California, check out these related pages and articles from OppLoans:Payday Loans AnaheimPayday Loans Los AngelesPayday Loans FresnoPayday Loans OaklandPayday Loans SacramentoPayday Loans San DiegoPayday Loans San JosePayday Loans StocktonVisit OppLoans on  YouTube  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIn

Demographic Profile Of France, 1985 And 2012 - 1093 Words

Ben Cooke March 17, 2015 SOCY 410 Dr. Deanna Gore Demographic Profile for France, 1985 and 2012 Fertility Section Introduction France’s low fertility is in line with its status as a developed country. Its citizens are well aware of the value of family planning and contraceptives. France’s fertility rates have remained relatively stable between 1985 and 2012 and have also stayed close to replacement levels. The most noticeable changes have been the extending of the peak fertility years from the 25-29 age range to the 25-35 age range. The main factors that affect fertility in France are the high availability of contraceptives and the social norms governing family planning. Fertility Structure In 1985 there are relatively few births to women below the age of 15, with only 66 live births recorded. The age specific fertility rate for women below the age of 15 is .03 live births per 1000 women. For ages 15-19 the age specific fertility rate is much higher at 11.55 live births per 1000 women. The age specific fertility rate continues to rise in the 20-24 age range, with 97.18 live births per 1000 women. As shown in Figure 1, fertility peaks in the 25-29 age range with 142.51 live births per 1000 women. In the 30-34 age range we begin to see a rapid decline in fertility, with only 78.67 live births per 1000 women. It drops further with 29.75 live births per 1000 women aged 35-39 and 6.15 live births per 1000 women aged 40-44. For the age ranges 45-49 and 50-54 the combined ageShow MoreRelatedDemographic Profile Of France, 1985 And 20121414 Words   |  6 Pages410 Dr. Deanna Gore Demographic Profile for France, 1985 and 2012 Population Structure and Implications Introduction The population structure of France has remained stable over the past 27 years. Fertility has remained around replacement level. 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Part C Toyota s Financial Analysis - 768 Words

Part C: Toyota’s financial analysis Toyota’s business divisions encompass automotive operations along with financial and other customer services operations. Among these activities, automotive operations, which accounting for 89% of the company’s revenue in 2012 (toyota-global.com), are major segment of the business. In 2012, Toyota’s predominant markets for vehicle sales include: Japan-28%, North America-25%, Europe-11% and Asia-18% (toyota-global.com). Overall, the automobile industry is intensely competitive and highly volatile. Customers’ demand for personal vehicles is affected by many factors, including: social, political, technological and economic conditions (toyota-global.com). These factors can fluctuate the supply and demand of†¦show more content†¦Toyota’s unit sales have dropped approximately 11% since 2010 in North America. However, there was also significant increase of sales in Asia and other regions. The following table compares between the company’s ov erall operational results in 2011 and 2012: According to the table above, Toyota’s net revenue of 2012 has decreased from 18,993.7 billion to 18,583.6 billion or approximately 2.2% compared to previous fiscal year. This is partially the negative results of currency fluctuations within different regions in which the company operated combined with the numbers of increase/decrease in automobile sales and other factors within these regions. Notably is the serious decreasing in revenue of the company at 12.5% in North America. The declining revenue and net income of Toyota in 2012 has also led to reduction in the company’s earnings per share. Specifically, Toyota’s EPS has dropped from  ¥260.32 to  ¥180.4 (financial.morningstar.com). An increase in the company’s dividends from  ¥39.71 to  ¥94.29 combined with the above earnings per share has caused the company’s payout ratio to increase from 15.3% to 52.3%, which in this case is unfavourable. Toyota’s financial conditions in 2012 has also become the major reasons for the declining of the company’s return on assets (1.36% to 0.94%) and return on equity ratios (3.95% to 2.72%). The company total liabilities increased from 65.35% in 2011 to 65.58% in

Introduction. Alcohol The Debate Of The Ages, Between The

Introduction Alcohol the debate of the ages, between the young and the old, researchers, people, alcohol companies, and parents. Within this topic, always comes the concern of when is it appropriate for people to legally drink alcohol. Currently, in the United States the minimum legal drinking age (MDLA) is the age 21. There are many reasons and sciences behind why the U.S. choose the age of 21. On July 17, 1984 the president signed an act called National Minimum Drinking Age Act (NMDAA). This mandated all the states, to federally instate this law within time all came around and the national age in the United States became 21 that they. Although 21 means one can drink it does not make them mature. Maturity is not based on if the body is†¦show more content†¦Within the bible one never states or acknowledges the age that an individual begins consuming alcohol, rather it continuously states for one not fall into drunkenness. In Ephesians 5:18, the Lord said, â€Å"Do not get d runk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.† This is an example of how alcohol or in this case wine can interfere with simple tasks. Debauchery is defined as indulging, which God forbids and would rather them be filled with the spirit. Still in the 21st century debauchery takes place, but in sometimes in unsafe measures and that is why the government imposed that people can legally drink at an age of 21. Decision making amongst the late adolescent age group effected tremendously. Late adolescent individuals take part in high-risk activities, which in adulthood would normally not take place (Kim-Spoon, 2016). According to this study substance use is common with late adolescent, i.e. high school student, which later in life has many consequence (Kim-Spoon et al., 2016). On average, in the United States about 42% of high school students reported the use of alcohol (Kim-Spoon, 2016). 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From Rags To Riches The autobiograpy of Benjamin Franklin free essay sample

Instead we see a full picture of Ben Franklin as a scholar. He was very fascinated with learning and was interested in making a difference in the lives of all mankind. He believed that the way to please God was to help others and this manifested itself in his public services and contribution to science. The beginning of the autobiography addresses two themes; bettering yourself and religion. The tone In the beginning Is very humble. Franklin claims that his only reason for writing this was so that his son can look at it as an example on how one should live their life and how he can get through the hardships of life. His motive for writing in general was to be a role model for the betterment of others. He doesnt show a religious side too often however, he makes sure to thank God for helping him lead a good life. Franklin explains later on that he Is a deist, which leads us to believe that there was false humility In the beginning or that he Just eventually grew In his faith. He had a strong determination to better his writing and we see him at a young age practically teaching his self how to write. He checks himself to make sure hes improving and seeks help from no one.This is an original rags to riches story. Here we see a boy rise up from humble beginnings to a man of great wealth and pretty good social standing. Benjamin Franklin essentially created the legend of The American Dream. Ben Franklin talked about how he enjoyed his life but would change a few things If given the opportunity. It gives off an arrogant tone yet praises the Importance of humility. Franklin demonstrates the possibilities of life in the new world through his son and starts from the lower middle classes or youth to one of the most admired men in the world as an adult.He achieved success through a solid work ethic; this usage remains a classic for historic reasons. Franklin established the autobiography as a work that Is meant to not only tell about a persons life but also educate the reader In ways to better life also. He tells us what life was Like In the 18th century and reflected on 18th century idealism; often called the age of reason. Intellectualism flourished along with scientific inventions and advancers in political thought.Many people held to the optimistic belief that men could be perfected through scientific and political progress. Franklin ascribes to these beliefs partially he tries to live them out. Franklins plan to attain perfection would shock anyone In this generation, for not only that man is capable of being perfect, but also that the perfecting can be done quickly if you work hard at it. Franklin assumed that man can control himself, and that he can resolve, at any given moment, to unlearn bad habits and substitute good ones.Franklins view of man lacks the complexity of how things are today. But if he appears too optimistic about human nature, he will ultimately and unknowingly acknowledge his failure to attain perfection. Realizing that perfection would never be is, he decided that, that would make him a hypocrite and sound ridiculous; that a person can still be perfect while still being hated; and that a man filled with such kindness and good will should allow Just a few faults in himself, to keep his friends.Franklin always believed that virtue was worth pursuing. His approach to different virtues was practical. For example in learning silence, he allowed himself to speak what would benefit him, and in learning how to be economical, to come into expenses that would do him good. It is not surprising that the original group of twelve virtues includes both temperance and moderation and Franklin obviously believed that even his own virtues should be improved, within moderate bounds of course in order to be happy. It is in that way he found success.Although Benjamin Franklin does mention that there are things in his life he would change if given the opportunity, it is no doubt that he stayed true to him . Franklin is no longer consulted as a philosopher, he is considered as a stylist and an inventor. Not necessarily in material things, he invented new ideas, new views on life; in the hopes in having the privilege f changing someone elses life for the better. Franklin felt that everyone and anyone had the ability change his own economic and social status through the way they chose to live their life.He preached that the possibilities were limitless for those that practiced frugality, honesty, and like virtues. His own life was proof of this. He had left Boston at seventeen, with not much education and not much knowledge of a trade, had arrived almost broke in Philadelphia, and had been able through hard work to become quite wealthy and was able to retire at the age of 42. Franklin lived that such a career was possible for any American. Franklins Autobiography is significant because it shaped American character and American expectations. In this biography we learn that the lowliest citizen was still as humanly worthy as the wealthiest because of his potential for earning wealth. People remained in poverty simply because they failed to do something about it. Also, it teaches us formal education was unnecessary, since an intelligent one could learn by themselves. According to Benjamin Franklin, America was the land of endless opportunity for everyone.

10 Fun Facts About Carnegie Mellon University

It’s no secret that Carnegie Mellon University is known for it’s top notch science and engineering programs, but here are the fun facts people don’t talk about. Let’s get weird!1. Like Northwestern’s rock and Tufts’ cannon, Carnegie Mellon also boasts a commonly painted object in the middle of campus: the Fence. Except cooler. Why? Because the original wooden fence, before it’s collapse in 1993, was considered the â€Å"world’s most painted object† by the Guinness Book of World Records. Don’t worry, the fence was rebuilt with concrete and reinforced steel. It’ll be there for a while. 2. Buggy is an annual race where student organizations build an aerodynamic, cylindrical three or four-wheeled cart (the â€Å"buggy†) and push it through a one-mile course through campus. To win, teams need to pull together the smartest mechanical engineers, designers, and athletes to partake in this competitive sport. The craziest part? There is a ÃŒ ¶lÃŒ ¶uÃŒ ¶nÃŒ ¶aÃŒ ¶tÃŒ ¶iÃŒ ¶cÃŒ ¶ driver inside the buggy which can reach peak speeds of 40mph. 3. There is a large network of underground steam tunnels that connect to all the buildings on campus. This would come in incredibly handy during the ungodly snow storms, but only a few student groups know where the discreet entrances are - and fewer know how to navigate the tunnels. Sorry no pictures for this one. Not a surprise though, since nobody wants evidence of ever being down there:4. The famous prison break scene in the Dark Knight Rises was filmed outside The Mellon Institute, a key research building of the Chemistry department. Many students who took summer programs would casually see the batmobile stroll down Forbes Avenue, a main street on campus. 5. Earlier this year, Carnegie Mellon University mistakenly sent acceptance letters to 800 rejected students for their renowned Computer Science program. Isn’t that ironic? 6. Booth is another annual tradition where student organizations build 10† by 10† booths to raise money for a local charity. From designing the interiors and exteriors, to actually constructing the wooden foundation, creating structures and painting the models, students on average will pour hundreds of hours a week into building the best looking booth! 7. Mathematical genius John Forbes Nash, the man in which A Beautiful Mind is based on, was a 1948 graduate of Carnegie Mellon (then called the Carnegie Institute of Technology) and initially majored in Chemical Engineering! 8. Not familiar with the maths field? Then you must know Andy Warhol - who coincidentally attended Carnegie Mellon the same time as Nash. Warhol honed in on his artistic inquisitiveness as a commercial art major at Carnegie, before moving to New York to pursue his art career. 9. Not a fan of Pop Art? Then you must know about Carnegie Mellon alum Aron Ralston, who is famous for hiking through the Blue John Canyon in Utah, when a boulder became dislodged and crushed his right hand against a canyon wall. He was stuck there for almost a week and finally survived after a self-performed amputation of his forearm. Yes, this is the James Franco film. 10. If you’re not impressed by the previous three alumni, then surely you know Gabriel Macht - or more commonly known as Harvey Specter from Suits. He graduated with a degree in Fine Arts in 1994, and is rumored to be quite the frat star amongst his Delta Upsilon brothers. Whether you’re just starting your search or you’re looking for help applying, it’s never too early to make the college application process easier.Searchto find students like you orcontact a mentorfor help with the admissions process so you can narrow down your choices and get a head start.

Criminal Harassment Definition, Conditions, Examples

Criminal Harassment Definition, Conditions, Examples The crime of harassment is any kind of behavior that is unwanted and is intended to annoy, disturb, alarm, torment, upset or terrorize an individual or group. States have specific laws governing different types of harassment including, but not limited to, stalking, hate crimes, cyberstalking and cyberbullying. In most jurisdictions, for criminal harassment to occur the behavior must present a credible threat to the victims safety or their familys safety. Each state has statutes covering specific harassment offenses that are often charged as misdemeanors and can result in fines, jail time, probation, and community service. Internet Harassment There are three categories of internet harassment: Cyberstalking, Cyberharassment, and Cyberbullying. Cyberstalking Cyberstalking is the use of electronic technology such as computers, cell phones and tablets that can access the internet and send emails to repeatedly stalk or threaten physical harm to a person or group. This can include posting threats on social web pages, chat rooms, website bulletin boards, through instant messaging and through emails. Example of Cyberstalking In January 2009, Shawn D. Memarian, 29, of Kansas City, Missouri pleaded guilty to cyberstalking by using the Internet - including e-mails and website postings - to cause substantial emotional distress and fear of death or serious bodily injury. His victim was a woman he met online and dated for about four weeks. Memarian also posed as the victim and posted fake personal ads on social media sites and in the profile described her as sex freak looking for sexual encounters. The posts included her phone number and home address. As a  result, she received numerous phone calls from men answering the ad and around 30 men showed up at her home, often late at night.He was sentenced to 24 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,550 in restitution. Cyberharassment Cyberharassment is similar to cyberstalking, but it does not involve any physical threat  but uses the same methods to harass, humiliate, slander, control or torment a person. Example of Cyberharassment In 2004, 38-year-old James Robert Murphy of South Carolina was sentenced to $12,000 in restitution, 5 years probation and 500 hours of community service in the first federal prosecution of cyberharassment. Murphy was guilty of harassing an ex-girlfriend by sending multiple threatening emails and fax messages to her and to her co-workers. He then began sending pornography to her co-workers and made it appear as if she was sending it. Cyberbullying Cyberbullying is when the internet or interactive electronic technology such as mobile phones is used to harass, insult, embarrass, humiliate, torment or threaten another person. This can include posting embarrassing pictures and videos, sending insulting and threatening text messages, making derogatory public remarks on social media sites, name-calling, and other offensive behavior. Cyberbullying usually refers to minors bullying other minors. Example of Cyberbullying In June 2015 Colorado passed the Kiana Arellano Law that addresses cyberbullying. Under the law cyberbullying is considered harassment which is a misdemeanor and punishable by fines up to $750 and six months in jail. The law was named after 14-year-old Kiana Arellano who was Douglas County high school cheerleader and who was being bullied online with anonymous hateful text messages stating that no one at her school liked her, that she needed to die and offering to help, and other vulgar demeaning messages. Kiana, like many young teenagers, dealt with depression. One day the depression mixed with the non-stop cyberbullying was too much for her to cope with an attempted suicide by hanging herself in the garage of her home. Her father found her, applied CPR until the medical team arrived, but due to the lack of oxygen to Kianas brain, she suffered severe brain damage. Today she is paraplegic and unable to talk. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 49 states have enacted legislation aimed at protecting students from cyberbullying. Example of State Harassment Statues In Alaska, a person can be charged with harassment if they: Insult, taunt, or challenge another person in a manner likely to provoke an immediate violent response;​Telephone another and fail to terminate the connection with intent to impair the ability of that person to place or receive telephone calls;​Make repeated telephone calls at extremely inconvenient hours;​Make an anonymous or obscene telephone call, an obscene electronic communication, or a telephone call or electronic communication that threatens physical injury or sexual contact;​Subject another person to offensive physical contact;​Publish or distribute electronic or printed photographs, pictures, or films that show the genitals, anus, or female breast of the other person or show that the person engaged in a sexual act; orRepeatedly send or publish an electronic communication that insults, taunts, challenges, or intimidates a person under 18 years of age in a manner that places the person in reasonable fear of physical injury. In some states, it is not only the person making the offensive phone calls or emails that can be charged with harassment  but also the person who owns the equipment. When Harassment Is a Felony Factors that can change a harassment charge from a misdemeanor to a serious felony include: If the person is a repeat offenderIf the person is under a restraining orderIf the harassment is a hate crime

Real estate study Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Real estate study - Coursework Example The tenant has defaulted on this quarters rent (due on 25 March 2015) as well as defaulting on its service charge and insurance contributions which were also reserved as rent. Tenant default is defined as the breach of agreement of the tenancy contract (The Law Commission, 2006). Spotted Dice Limited has breached the agreement with Lansbury Towers when the former defaulted with the rent payment, service charge, and insurance contributions. It is very important that the Landlord will carefully consider the action needed. In order for this to happen, the landlord should assess whether the default made by the tenant is just temporary or the tenant wants to terminate the lease (Green 2012). Without commencing any court proceedings, there are different remedies available to the management of Lansbury Towers where the tenant Spotted Dice Limited is in default such as forfeiture, levying distress, recovery as a debt, recovery from third parties, negotiations, surrender and reduction of rent (Cass 2013). Most of the lease contract contains a clause that will entitle the landlord to forfeit the lease in case of default. This remedy is considered one of the fastest, simplest and cheapest which will only require locks and notice to the premise (Cass 2013). â€Å"The right of landlord to forfeit arises: However, under Section 146 of the Law of Property Act of 1925, the landlord’s right to forfeit in respect to tenant’s default and breach of contract will not be enforceable unless a notice containing the following is served on the tenant: The Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) provides the new process for landlords of commercial premises such as Lansbury Towers to recover tenant’s default by taking control of tenant’s goods. There should be no residential element and CRAR requires lease of commercial premises and recovery for principal rent for it to apply. This remedy is very handy as it only requires transparency of process through a notice given

The religious factors that led to the clash between Native Americans Essay

The religious factors that led to the clash between Native Americans and early Euro-American settlers - Essay Example However, not everything in the Native American/White relations was entirely gruesome. Oppression and conflicts with white people turned Native Americans into a nation with remarkable adaptation potential. The development and change touched all the areas including culture and religion. As a result, while European colonialism was pushing Native American populations westwards, the latter were developing the degree of flexibility, adaptability and cohesion that had been unknown to native populations before 1607. The difference between the frontier line of America and the frontier line of other countries is the following: the other countries knew their boundaries and they knew which countries were beyond these boundaries. The North America frontier underlined the unknown land beyond it. In accordance with Calloway: â€Å"†¦fertile valleys, meeting friendly people bedecked in turquoise, and hearing wondrous accounts of the towns to be found in the north† (p. 133). As far as we can see, the diversity of the North frontier is evident. The nature of the diversity can be found in the first settlers’ necessity to deal with natural challenges and remain self-sufficient. Indian cultures are really unique and peculiar in America. Some Indian tribes have survived, although other tribes have been vanished and completely destroyed. Many of them continued their traditional cultures, while others fully lost their cultures and communities. The history of American Indians in their relationship with Americans is full of brutality and intent destruction and discrimination. (Erchack 1992) Some scientists mention that the history of American Indians is something similar to labyrinth of different opinions and ideas. Indians resides from the cold regions of the Intuit in northern Alaska to the Yahgan. Many Americans consider Indian Americans as noble savages. It became an

Single Party States Notes Essay Example for Free

Single Party States Notes Essay Single Party States notes From: Topic 3- Themes and Exams Tips Chapter: â€Å"Origins and development of authoritarian and single party states† â€Å"What constitutes an authoritarian or single-party state? † Country or state to be classed as an authoritarian or single party state: * Only one legal political party A leader chosen by or from the military following a revolution * Group or leader that controls the state even though there are existing parties * Jean Kirkpatrick (US ambassador-United Nations) once expressed that authoritarian state was â€Å"better than† a totalitarian state- a chance that it would move towards democracy (p. o. v expressed during the Cold War) Characteristics in common- authoritarian or single-party: * Little-no freedom of speech * No freedom of: * Assembly (government must approve meetings) * To travel abroad No idependent judicial system * All sources of information censored * Any idea against the regime will be harshly punished (opposition to them) * â€Å"A leader whose popularity is reinforced by personality cult† Not all states the share charactersistcs some are less oppressive but they all share the strict control over the freedom of the people and use different methods to hold on to power. The age of Kings and Emperors ended with WWI 20th century one of the bloodiest century in history- includes 2 major world wars Left and right wing: Left- wing: Describes the single party, leaders and states that are communist or socialist. Example: Nasser, Stalin, Mao, Castro and Neyerere Right wing: Most fascist leaders of the 20th century began their political careers as members of socialist parties. Fascist leaders and states – right wing Examples: Hitler, Mussoluni and Franco Policies supportive of capitalism as an economic system, ultra nationalist, some cases they promoted religion as a way to unite the people. Right wing ideologies| Left wing ideologies| Facism (in Italy and Nazism-Germany) * Socialist (intended to appeal lower classes) * Strongly nationalistic and considered communism to be a threat| * Widespread ideology (20th C) was communism * â€Å"All people are equal† * â€Å"No private property to protect† * Will to bring the ideal state| Socialism: Characteristics: redistribution of wealth through taxation, the state owns the major industries like coal and steel, the state owns the â€Å"mon opolies† such as the water, transportation and communications, free education and health care for all. This criterion became known as ‘welfare state’. (Gov. hould control ensure the basic standard living for al citizens) Stages of communism: 1) Primitive communisms: â€Å"No monopoly over the means of production† 2) Feudalism: â€Å"Agricultural-based communities developed into kingdoms and powerful rulers took ownership of the land and the people who farmed it† 3) Capitalism: â€Å"commercial activities- trading in manufactured goods† 4) Communism: no private properties, people contribute with their skills, taking only what they needed. No laws to protect wealth and property From States, Governments and Ideologies: The State: * Sovereign state: is independent of all others Way in which is governed- Constitution: basic laws- lay down the power and duties of many institutions and officials of government * Rule of law * Arbitrary government * Sovereignty * States -3 kinds: Unitary states, federal and confederations * Held state – embodies the nation and represents it * Monarchy, republic * Legitimacy, device right of kings (constitutional monarchs) president (republic state) Government: * â€Å"Those persons and institution of state which exercise the power in accordance with the constitution† * Head of the state head of the government (prime ministers) * Executive, cabinet Legislative—making laws (unicameral, bicameral) * Separation of powers, presidential system of government, parliamentary system of government Changes of Government By legal means: (elections) majority system and proportional system—coalition By force: rebellion, revolution, provisional government, co nstituent assembly, new constitution, and peaceful revolution Political Ideologies:( framework theories) Implicit ideologies (propaganda designed etc) * Conservatism * Liberalism Reformist Ideologies: critique of existing society, describe the ideal society would be like, prescriptions from the living situation to the ideal * Socialism: reaction to injustices of the capitalist economic system (social democrats, syndicalist, revolutionary socialists) Marxism: â€Å"an industrialized society, the working class would revolt and take over the ruling class, and would in effect, create a classes society * Anarchism: fight against the order, don’t want any authority Incomplete Ideologies: * Racism * Nationalism * Social Darwinism From: Authoritarianism, Fascism and Totalitarianism Authoritarianism,| Fascism| Totalitarianism| * Ruled by threat or fear * â€Å"Black or white† posture (in or out) * Outlawed the opposition * Enforce their control by torture, execution, etc. * Motivated by patriotism * Resorting law and order * Defending country against the threat of Bolshevism * Leading a regeneration of the nation * Employed and censored the media| * Lower middle class radicalism * Deliberate diversion of the workers * Radical populist solution to the problem of restoring the â€Å"hegemony† of the dominant class| * Subordinate all aspects od the individual’s life to the authority of the gov. Official ideology * Single mass party * Terroristic police control of the population * Monopoly control of the media * Monopoly control of the arms * Central control of the economyâ€Å"worthless- creation of Cold War propaganda- designed to tie the Soviet system together with that of the Nazis† – some historians|

Heritage as an Idea of Oneself in Bless Me Ultima and The Lone Ranger a

Heritage as an Idea of Oneself in Bless Me Ultima and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Traveling through humanity is a never-ending story.   Traveling through ethnicity is an ever changing journey.   Is race or culture a matter of color?   Is it a way of life;   or a decision an individual makes?   Is it an idea one has of themselves?   In the novels, Bless Me Ultima (Anaya 1972) and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (Alexie 1993), two different minority characters, Tony and Victor, give voice to their journey of growing up and finding their place in the world in regards to their heritage. The characters, in Anaya's and Alexie's novels, relate to a dominant culture, pursue balance in their life by searching traditions of the past, and attempt to blend their heritage into the present allowing them passage to the future.   Their journeys differ in respect to heritage and family situation.   Their journeys parallel considering that they are both male, belong to a minority, seek individual identity, and search for their place on the planet.   Each seeks peace within and without.   Although, their journeys are different, they are the same. The characters in the two novels, belong to two different cultures.   In Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me Ultima, the young, Mexican-American Anthony Juan Marez y Luna (Tony) struggles between two ways of being a Spanish-Mexican-American while also dealing with the dominant white culture.  Ã‚   Tony's mother and father, although both born in New Mexico, come from two different cultures.   His father, a Marez, comes from a long line of Spanish "conquistadores, men as restless as the seas they sailed and as free as the land they conquered" (Anaya 6).   Tony's mother, a Luna, comes fr... ... America, 1982.   80-167. Meacham, Jon. "Redefining Race in America."   Newsweek September 2000:   38-41. Mitchell, Carol. "Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima:   Folk Culture in Literature." Critique:   Studies in Modern Fiction. 17.1 1980, 55-64. Smoke Signals.   Dir. Chris Eyre.   With Adam Beach and Evan Adams. Miramax/Shadowcatcher.   Prod. Larry Estes and Scott Rosenfelt. 1997. Tonn, Horst.   "Bless Me, Ultima:   A Fictional Response to Times of Transition." Aztlan, 18.1 1987, 59-68. White, Craig.   "American Minority Literature."   Handout.   University of Houston-Clear Lake.   Houston. 24 August 2000. - - - - - "American Minority Literature."   Notes.   27 September 2000. Yancey, William L.   Ericksen, Eugene P.; and Juliani, Richard N.   "Emergent Ethnicity:   A Review and Reformulation." American Sociological Review 41.3 1976: 391-403.      

Critique on Mm Theory Essay

It does not matter what the firm’s dividend policy is (Modigliani and Miller 958). The basic assumptions of MM theory are: 1 . The company only has the long-term bonds and common stocks, both bonds and stock trade in the complete capital market with no transaction cost; 2. The individual investors and corporate investors could gain the same interest rate with no liability risk; 3. The companies with similar operating conditions have the same business risks; 4. Investors hold the same expectations on the average business profit in future; 5. All cash flows are perpetual annuities, including EBIT (Earnings before interest and tax) etc, that is, the growth ate of the enterprise is zero (Modigliani and Miller 1958). The development of MM theory mostly experienced three stages: 1 . No-tax model. The first MM model takes no account of corporate taxations; 2. Corporate tax model. Modigliani and Miller (1963) published Corporate Income Taxes and the Cost of Capital: A Correction, which loosened its initial assumptions, introduced corporate tax into MM theory(Modigliani and Miller 1963); 3. Miller model. Merton H. Miller (1976) proposed to consider corporate tax and individual tax in estimating how the debt leverage impacts the value of firm (Miller 1977). During the past 50-year, MM theory has made tremendous academic achievements for western companies in exploring the optimal capital structure and reducing capital costs etc. Firstly, it provides a research frame of reference and theoretical basis. Since that, most of the capital theories are base on MM theory, such as Pecking-order Theory, Trade-off Theory, and Agency Theory etc. Secondly, MM theory makes the capital structure theories systematic and builds a framework for the development of capital structure theories. Secondly, MM theory makes the capital tructure theory systematically, as there was not a system of traditional capital structure theory. Last, but not least, it is only a general description of the traditional capital structure theory. While MM theory uses modern analytical methods, such as partial equilibrium, mathematical analysis etc, therefore, it makes MM theory become reliable. Despite tremendous achievements, there are still limitations in MM theory. First, the assumptions are too harsh, and most of them cannot be achieved in reality. To illustrate, MM theory assumes that individuals and corporations could borrow at the ore than what corporations do, as well as bear a higher risk. Furthermore, MM theory also assumes there is no transaction cost, which extremely differs from the real transaction process. Second, the assumptions are beyond the reality, although the logic derivation is correct, the conclusions still differs. Both corporate tax model and Miller model suppose that corporation should raise the liability as much as possible in order to maximise the value of the firm, in extremity, up to 100% liability. However, none of enterprises adopt this point. Third, MM theory stands at a static erspective, and does not consider the external economic environment and the impact on capital structure by changing enterprise’s production and operating conditions. In fact, many factors, which affect the capital structures, are variable. For example, companies should cut down their liabilities appropriately in order to reduce business risks, when the socio-economic experiences a recession. According to MM theory, the value of tax saving is associated with the corporate income tax rate. That is, the higher corporate income tax rate, the more tax deductible the corporation could achieve from financing by liability. In other words, corporations are inclined to finance by liabilities rather than equity financing in relative higher corporate income tax rate countries, and vice versa. Under the actual situation in China, the corporate income tax is much higher than other countries in the world; corporations should prefer financing from debt theoretically (Huang and Zhang 2007). However, actually, the capital structure of Chinese enterprises runs counter to the MM theory and other capital structure theories. The proportion of liability financing in China is far less than the proportion of equity financing (Huang and Song 2006). First of all, there is merely no mechanism in applying MM theory. In accordance with the MM theory, both individual and institutional investors can process arbitrage actions freely in the capital markets. In western well-developed capital markets, there is a wide range of fund-raising channels and other financing options, the arbitrage mechanisms usually affect the markets. However, at present, the market mechanism is not fully developed in China, as well as capital market is under-developed. Thus, these limit the financing options and forms; make it difficult to carry out arbitrage activities. Generally, MM theory cannot be applied.

Stories of Lab Accidents Lab Safety Gone Wrong

Do you have any tales to tell of lab experiments gone very wrong or lab accidents you have witnessed? What is the most dangerous thing you have ever seen someone do in a lab? Without proper lab safety, there is a serious risk of injury in a laboratory. Ill get the ball rolling with some of the lab safety lapses I have observed: One of my students thought you turned off a Bunsen burner by yanking the hose off of the gas. To make a long story short, he left the gas on in a lab overnight. That could have ended badly.Back when I was a grad student at ORNL one of my associates left his watch on when we were working on a vacuum evaporator. The power was on and it was surprisingly easy to accidentally locate the live connection. He could fly! I guess that is better than being rooted to the spot, right?Really, he could fly. He proved it a second time when we were doing something with the power source for a class IV laser. Electrons make people fly.One student pushed a glass pipette through his hand when trying to force it through a hole in a stopper. Hes actually the only person I have seen do that, though I have been told its a common accident.This isnt an accident or safety violation, but it relates to one. A student splashed a chemical in her eye and went to use the eyewash station. The water in the eyewash stat ion didnt have a drain since it was for emergencies, so it was only turned on when it was tested. The water from the eyewash station ran white for a couple of minutes. We later tested it for lead (very old building). Lets just say the girl would have been better off running to the bathroom and sticking her face in the toilet than using the eyewash.

Summarize Perform Comparison Between Imax Corporation And Reald Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1940 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Compare and contrast essay Did you like this example? The purpose of this report is to summarize and perform a comparison between the financial information of IMAX Corporation and its expanding competitor RealD Incorporated by examining the most recent financial statements. Please note that more emphasis was given to the 9 month period income statements as the 3 month periods may not portray a true picture of the company operations. Financial performance Return on Equity (ROE) IMAXs ROE for the 9 month period ended September 30, 2010 is approximately 64.1% which looks solid compared to RealDs ROE of approximately -24.7%. RealD suffered a loss for the 9 month period ended December 24, 2010 which is why the ROE is negative. The total revenue for the 9 month period between 2009 and 2010 increased by 98.6%, during this time the cost of revenue also increased by 76.8%. The increase in revenue can be attributed to new licensing arrangements with its customers. The total operating expenses during these two 9 month periods increased by 80.8%, out of which the general and administrative expense increased by 155.3%. On July 21, 2010, RealD completed its initial public offering (IPO) which generated $81.9 million in net proceeds. Out of this amount, it repaid $25.1 million under its previous revolving credit facility. If the cash generated from the IPO is excluded from the calculation of ROE, the value would have been an even larger negative percentage. IMAX is profitable and effective in using the capital provided by the shareholders to generate net income. One possibility that the ROE for RealD is not as good as IMAX is because the company recently went public. If the company recently issued common shares that would make the equity part of the ratio larger, and since they just received financing, they have not had a chance to put the money to work yet to start earning revenue. Return on Assets (ROA) The ROA for the period 2010 for IMAX is 18.1% while that of RealD is -4.9%. The negative v alue for RealD is again because of the $11.1 million loss for the period. RealD is currently in a growth phase compared to IMAX as it just went public. Since the company purchased $63.9 million worth of new assets in 2010, the potential revenues that will be earned by these assets might be in the works. The revenue for IMAX increased by 53.4% between 2009 and 2010. The increase in revenue from rental and services (joint revenue sharing arrangements) was 135.9% and 68.8% respectively. Since the joint revenue sharing arrangements are non-cancellable for 7 to 10 years with provisions for renewals, IMAX will continue to enjoy similar revenues for the next few years. It should also be noted that the cost of revenues only increased by 23.5% during this time. Based on the above, it is evident that IMAX is efficiently able to use its assets to generate profits Earnings Per Share (EPS) IMAXs EPS showed a significant increase between the period 2009 and 2010. The EPS for 2009 was $0.02 while that for 2010 was $0.73 cents. RealDs EPS also rose from -$1.24 to -$0.43. The reason for RealDs increase can be attributed to the fact that during 2010, the number of outstanding shares increased by 58.2% due to the IPO. It should be noted that a negative EPS might be detrimental to a company like IMAX that is a more mature company, however for a new company like RealD it might be more acceptable as it is just went public. Profit Margin Percentage The profit margin percentage for IMAX for the two 9 month periods ending 2009 and 2010 are 0.8% and 26.0%, while that of RealD are -23.1% and -5.9%. IMAXs significant increase in net income caused the profit margin to increase during 2010. Similarly, RealD increase in net income also increased the profit margin. IMAXs profit margin percentage was 23.9% and 31.9% higher than RealD in 9 month period ending 2009 and 2010 respectively. Gross Margin Percentage The gross margin percentage for IMAX for the two 9 month periods e nding 2009 and 2010 are 45.9% and 56.4%, while that of RealD are 10.3% and 20.2%. In both cases, the increase in gross margin percentage owes to the smaller increase in the cost of revenues compared to the large increase in revenues earned period over period. This may suggest improved management of costs. IMAXs gross margin percentage was 35.6% and 36.3% higher than RealD for the 9 month period of 2009 and 2010 respectively. Financial position Current Quick Ratios IMAXs current ratio increased from 0.64 to 0.89 from 2009 to 2010 while that of RealD also increased from 0.7 to 1.28 during the same period. IMAXs increase in the current ratio can be attributed mainly to the 126.6% increase in cash and cash equivalents, 76.2% increase in inventories and a 56.3% reduction in bank debt year over year. RealDs increase in the current ratio is also due to the increase in total current assets such as a 170.1% increase in cash and cash equivalents and a 558.7% increase in inventory ye ar after year. The increase in inventory for RealD, which is mainly 3D glasses, is due to the cancellation of the Harry Potter movie. Overall, the current ratio of RealD was superior compared to IMAX for the period ended 2010. The main reason for this is the extra cash flow from the IPO mentioned previously. If this extra cash from the IPO is ignored and the current ratio is calculated, it can be seen that the current ratio for 2010 is approximately the same as that of 2009. This means that RealDs ability to meet its current obligations would have been the same for both periods without the IPO. Since IMAXs cash is mostly generated from operating activities, it is most likely that it will perform better than RealD and improve its current ratio in the future periods. It can be inferred that RealD has adequate resources to meet its current obligations for the period ending 2010 since for every $1.00 of current liabilities it has $1.28 worth of current assets. For the same period, IMAX has $0.89 current assets for every $1.00 of current liability. If the inventories are ignored and the quick ratio is computed, it can be seen that IMAXs quick ratio increased from 0.59 to 0.79 from 2009 to 2010 while that of RealD also increased from 0.57 to 0.81 during the same period. The quick ratios for 2010 are comparable for IMAX and RealD. Average Collection Period of Accounts Receivables On average, IMAX was able to collect receivables in 154 days while it took RealD 81 days. On surface it appears that it took 73 more days for IMAX to collect its receivables compared to RealD. However, IMAX and RealD have different types of inventories. While RealDs inventory mainly consists of 3D glasses, IMAXs inventory is large theatre equipment that is either sold or leased to customers, therefore a comparison between the average collection period of account receivables account payable and the cash lag may not be appropriate. On a side note, IMAXs cash lag (period of time it must self-finance its inventory and accounts receivable) is also significantly longer, because of the complex nature of its inventory. Average Collection Period of Accounts Payable Considering the nature of products that IMAX purchases from its suppliers, it would be expected that the accounts payable period to be significantly long than RealD. However, the average collection period of accounts payable for IMAX and RealD are comparable and are 67 and 70 days respectively. Average Number Of Days Inventory On Hand IMAX and Real had similar values of 49 and 46 days respectively. This suggests that the both companies are comparable with respect to being able to sell their inventories. Debt to Equity Ratio IMAX has significantly improved it debt to equity ratio from 4.50 to 1.84 between 2009 and 2010. This is mostly due to the $28.1 Million debt settlement. In addition, IMAX was able to decrease some other liabilities such as the $14.7 million lump sum payment to Mr. Wechsle r, the CEO of the company in August, 2010. RealDs debt to equity ratio increased from an equity deficit (-4.87) in 2009 to 1.07 in 2010. This increase is again attributed to the IPO. RealD may have more flexibility to take over more debt for financing future growth opportunities. Long Term Debt to Equity Ratio IMAX has reduced its long term debt to equity from 1.29 to 0.72 between 2009 and 2010. The equity for IMAX has increased by 123.2% between 2009 and 2010. RealDs also reduced its long term debt to equity from -0.05 (equity deficit) to 0.004 between 2009 and 2010, by reducing its long term debt and also eliminating its equity deficit because of the proceeds from the IPO. Interest Coverage Ratio (Cash Accrual Basis) The interest coverage ratios for IMAX significantly increased from 1.16 to 32.14 (accrual basis) and 2.15 to 35.40 (cash basis) between 2009 and 2010. This increase can be attributed to the 86.5% decrease in the interest expense period over period. IMAX n ow has a better ability to meet its fixed financing charges- interest payments. Furthermore, IMAX can even obtain more debt financing as it will not have trouble paying interest charges. On the other hand, since RealD had net losses for 2009 and 2010, its interest coverage ratio (accrual basis) has improved but is still negative. The accrual basis interest coverage ratios for RealD are far better, but overall IMAX outperforms RealD in the ability to meet its interest payments. Cash Flows In the case of RealD the net cash provided by operating activities increased by 412.5% during the 9 month periods 2009 and 2010. RealD went generating a negative cash flow in 2009 to generating a positive cash flow from by operations in 2010. As discussed previously, RealDs increase of 274.8% in cash flows from financing activities are attributed to the $81.9 Million IPO. RealD might be able use the cash flow from the IPO to increase its cash from operations in the future. There was an increas e of 251.2% in cash out flow in investing activities for the purchase of cinema systems and related components for RealD, which indicates that it is expanding. During the same periods, IMAX experienced a 304.4% increase in the net cash from operations. Most of IMAXs net cash increase of $40.4 million is attributed to the large increase in the net income (4647.4%) between the 9 month periods ending 2009 and 2010 due to the Joint Revenue Sharing and the IMAX DMR arrangements. Since, IMAX paid back $28.1 Million as a one-time debt settlement during the period ended 2010; this reduced its cash by 52.5% but at the same time helped it reduce its debt by 56.3%. It should be noted that this type of cash outflow is not expected to happen in the future. Looking at the balance sheet for both companies, it can be observed that the cash and cash equivalents have increased year over year for the period ended. For IMAX the increase is 126.6% while that for RealD is 170.1%. IMAX can significantly i ncrease its cash flows if it tries to clear its large and growing sales back log. Weaknesses RealD offers stock options to its employees, exhibitors and consultants. If the stock options are exercised it would mean that there are more common shares outstanding in the market. If RealD wants to issue common shares as a means of financing, the increased common shares that resulted from the stock options combined with the new common shares could significantly dilute the EPS and drive down the share price. IMAX can potentially purchase a significant amount of these outstanding common shares and take over RealD. In Canada, if a profitable company purchases a company that experiences a net loss, it can use the losses to offset the profits and reduce taxable income and therefore taxes paid. Assuming that the tax loss rules in the US are similar to those in Canada, IMAX can exploit this opportunity and reduce the taxes it pays until RealD ceases to incur losses. Additionally, since Rea lD has significant investments in research and development activities, IMAX can capitalize on this to improve its own products. Another area of weakness is the large backlog of RealDs inventory that has yet to be sold. If IMAX can out-compete RealD with new sales, RealD will have to hold its large inventory for a longer time, thereby causing it to depreciate. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Summarize Perform Comparison Between Imax Corporation And Reald Finance Essay" essay for you Create order

Globalization Good or Bad - 1133 Words

Globalization: Good or Bad Plamen Peev peev.pl@gmail.com Augustine Worth ENG 290 – Advanced Writing Argumentative Essay November 30, 2010 â€Å"I, Pencil, simple though I appear to be, merit your wonder and awe, a claim I shall attempt to prove. In fact, if you can understand me—no, thats too much to ask of anyone—if you can become aware of the miraculousness which I symbolize, you can help save the freedom mankind is so unhappily losing. I have a profound lesson to teach. And I can teach this lesson better than can an automobile or an airplane or a mechanical dishwasher because—well, because I am seemingly so simple. Simple? Yet, not a single person on the face of this earth knows how to make me.†(Read, 1958) In his classic essay â€Å"I,†¦show more content†¦Second, local small and mid-sized businesses are being taken over by big multinational corporations. There is now a McDonnalds in most big cities in the world, and people are eating junk food instead of small restaurant food. Last, but not least, globalization has a negative effect on the environment. More world trade means t hat the goods sold must be transported, and transport pollutes the air. Also, some environmentally irresponsible companies are opening factories in less regulated countries, so they can pollute the air without sanctions. If the choice was up to the consumers, many will deny to buy products from such companies, but the bad news is that these are mainly steel or metal producing companies or chemical producing companies, which sell to governments and other big corporations, and are hidden from the ordinary consumer. Thanks to globalization geographically and culturally separated, historically distinct markets are now interconnected in a big, all-world global marketplace. The benefits to businesses are huge. There is one thing essential to all businesses – you have to have clients! No clients – no business, more clients – more business, and where could you possibly find more clients, than in the whole world. Besides clients, most businesses need suppliers. Again, one best place to look for the best suppliers – the whole world. Businesses also benefit from the globalization of production – an iPod is designed in California, butShow MoreRelatedGlobalization Is It Good Or Bad?1719 Words   |  7 Pages Abstract Globalization is the word of the XXI century, which become more and more recognized and has been present in our life for a many decades. Most people have heard that term, but far fewer people are aware of what it really means. How does it affect the public?, is it good or bad?. These types of questions everyone should ask in order to investigate the positive and negative effects of globalization. What exactly is globalization? 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Finally I’ll come to the conclusion that globalization is an inevitable and developing phenomenon which requires citizens ofRead MoreBenefits Of Globalization On Jobs891 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the main benefits of globalization is that it helps to develop trading amongst nations. Some may think that trade causes loss of jobs and believe that we should be more self reliant on our own production of goods. But, what they may not understand is trade comes with added benefits. To date the United States is the largest trading nation in the world. â€Å"Most imports have a lower cost and higher quality, and that improves our standard o f living† (Marotta, 2003). 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Globalization is not a new process, In past years people used to imports and exports of things at a long distance from their hometown to another place but nowadays globalization is very powerful and have a new face and it has been spread all over the world. Globalization is a good way to connect countries, people and do trade on a large scale and

Internet its effects in our lives and the future Essay Example For Students

Internet its effects in our lives and the future Essay of the InternetInternet, its effects in our lives and the future of the Internet:The Internet is, quite literally, a network of networks. It is comprised of ten thousands of interconnected networks spanning the globe. The computers that form the Internet range from huge mainframes in research establishments to modest PCs in peoples homes and offices. Despite the recent hype, the Internet is not a new phenomenon. Its roots lie in a collection of computers that were linked together in the 1970s to form the US Department of Defenses communications systems. Fearing the consequences of nuclear attack, there was no central computer holding vast amounts of data, rather the information was dispersed across thousands of machines. A set of rules, of protocols, known as TCP/IP was developed to allow disparate devices to work together. The original network has long since been upgraded and expanded and TCP/IP is now a de facto standard. Millions of people worldwide are using the Internet to share information, make new associations and communicate. Individuals and businesses, from students and journalists, to consultants, programmers and corporate giants are all harnessing the power of the Internet. For many businesses the Internet is becoming integral to their operations. Imagine the ability to send and receive data: messages, notes, letters, documents, pictures, video, sound- just about any form of communication, as effortlessly as making a phone call. It is easy to understand why the Internet is rapidly becoming the corporate communications medium. Using the mouse on your computer, the familiar point-and-click functionality gives you access to electronic mail for sending and receiving data, and file transfer for copying files from one computer to another. Telnet services allow you to establish connections with systems on the other side of the world as if they were just next door. This flood of information is a beautiful thing and it can only open the minds of society. Wit h the explosion of the World Wide Web, anyone could publish his or her ideas to the world. Before, in order to be heard one would have to go through publishers who were willing to invest in his ideas to get something put into print. With the advent of the Internet, anyone who has something to say can be heard by the world. By letting everyone speak their mind, this opens up all new ways of thinking to anyone who is willing to listen. Moreover, the Internet is an information resource for you to search, gathering new data on key search aspects of your market. Perhaps most importantly, the Internet offers a new way of doing business. A virtual market-place where customers can, at the push of a button, select goods, place an order and pay using a secure electronic transaction. Businesses are discovering the Internet as the most powerful and cost effective tool in history. The Net provides a faster, more efficient way to work colleagues, customers, vendors and business partners- irrespec tive of location or operating system harnessing this powerful resource gives companies strategic advantages by leveraging information into essential business asset. The technology of the future here today. This is a fact. Businesses making the transition will, and are prospering; however those that do not will most certainly suffer the consequences. One of the most commonly asked questions is, Will the Net help me sell more product? The answer is yes, but in ways you might not expect. The Internet is a communication tool first, not and advertisement medium. Unlike print or broadcasting media, the Internet is interactive; and unlike the telephone, it is both visual and content rich. A Web site is an excellent way to reduce costs, improve customer service, disseminate information and even sell to your market. Perhaps, the most important facts about the internet are that it contains a wealth of information, that can be send across the world almost instantly, and that it can unite people in wildly different locations as if they were next to each other. The soundest claims for the importance of the Internet in todays society are based upon these very facts. People of like minds and interests can share information with one another through electronic mail and chat rooms. E-mail is enabling radically new forms of worldwide human collaboration. Approximately 225 millions of people can send and receive it and they all represent a network of potentially cooperating individuals dwarfing anything that even the mightiest corporation or government can muster. Mailing-list discussion groups and online conferencing allow us to gather together to work on a multitude of projects that are interesting or helpful to us. Chat rooms and mailing lists can connect groups of users to discuss a topic and share ide as. Materials from users can be added to a Web site to share with others and can be updated quickly and easily anytime. However, the most exciting part of the Internet is its multimedia and hypertext capabilities. The Web provides information in many different formats. Of course, text is still a popular way to transmit information, but the Web also presents information in sound bites, such as music, voice, or special effects. Graphics may be still photographs, drawings, cartoons, diagrams, tables, or other artwork, but they also may be moving, such as animation video. Hypertext links allows users to move from one piece of information to another. A link might be an underlined word or phrase, an icon or a symbol, or a picture, for example. When a link is selected, usually by clicking the mouse on the link, the user sees another piece of information, which may be electronically stored on another computer thousands of miles away. Of major importance is the fact that the Internet support s online education. Online education introduces unprecedented options for teaching, learning, and knowledge building. Today access to a microcomputer, modem, telephone line, and communication program offers learners and teachers the possibility of interactions that transcended the boundaries of time and space. Even from an economic standpoint, the costs of establishing a brand new educational program for a few thousand students are far less than the cost of a building to house the same number of students. New social and intellectual connectivity is proliferating as educational institutions adopt computer-mediated communication for educational interactions. There are many school based networks that link learners to discuss, share and examine specific subjects such as environmental concerns, science, local and global issues, or to enhance written communication skills in first- or second- language proficiency activities. Online education is a unique expression of both existing and new attributes. It shares certain attributes with the distance mode and with the face-to-face mode; however, in combination, these attributes form a new environment for learning. Online education, on the other hand, is distinguished by the social nature of the learning environment that it offers. Like face-to-face education, it supports interactive group communication. Historically, the social, affective, and cognitive benefits of peer interaction, and collaboration have been available only in face-to-face learning. The introduction of online education opens unprecedented opportunities for educational interactivity. The mediation of the computer further distinguishes the nature of the activity online, introducing entirely new elements to the learning process. The potential of online education can be explored through five attributes that, taken together, both delineate its differences from existing modes of education and also characterize online education as a unique mode. They may learn independently, at their own pace, in a convenient location, at a convenient time about a greater variety of subjects, from a greater variety of institutions or educators/trainers. But no matter how great and significant the effects of the Internet in our lives might be, there are some quite considerable consequences and drawbacks. A very important disadvantage is that the Internet is addictive. One of the first people to take the phenomenon seriously was Kimberly S. Young, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She takes it so seriously, in fact, that she founded the Center for Online Addiction, an organization that provides consultation for educational institutions, mental health clinics and corporations dealing with Internet misuse problems. Psychologists now recognize Internet Addiction Syndrome (IAS) as a new illness that could ruin hundreds of lives. Internet addicts are people who are reported staying online for six, eight, ten or more hours a day, ev ery day. They use the Internet as a way of escaping problems or relieving distressed moods. Their usage can cause problems in their family, work and social lives. They feel anxious and irritable when offline and craved getting back online. Despite the consequences, they continue using regardless of admonishments from friends and family. Special help groups have been set up to give out advice and offer links with other addicts. Internets Anonymous and Webaholics are two of the sites offering help, but only through logging onto the Internet. The study of 100 students by Margaret Martin of Glasgow University found:h One in six (16%) felt irritable, tense, depressed or restless if they were barred from using the Internet. h More than one in four (27%) felt guilty about the time they spent online. h One in ten (10%) admitted neglecting a partner, child or work because of overuse. h One in twenty five (4%) said it had affected their mental or physical health for the worse. Another Ph.D. psychologist Maressa Hecht Orzack posits that people use the Internet compulsively because it so easily facilitates the reward response common to addictive behavior. If they are lonely and need compassion, camaraderie or romance, it can be found immediately. If they are looking for sex or pornography, they need only to click a button. They can experience the thrill of gambling, playing interactive games from the comfort of their chairs. They can entertain fantasies by pretending to be other people, or engaging interactive, role-playing games. The reward received from these activities can manifest itself physically, so that the person begins to crave more of it. The effects lead to headaches, lack of concentration and tiredness. Addicts must not cut off access altogether but they should set time limits and limit Internet usage to a set number of hours each day. Robert Kraut Doctoral Psychologist says referring on the subject: We have evidence that people who are online f or long periods of time show negative changes in how much they talk to people in their family and how many friends and acquaintances they say they keep in contact with. They also report small but increased amounts of loneliness, stress and depression. What we do not know is exactly why. Being online takes up time, and it may be taking time away from sleep, social contact or even eating. Our negative results are understandable if peoples interactions on the net are not as socially valuable as their other activities. Another considerable drawback of the Internet is that it is susceptible to hackers. Hackers are persons that have tremendous knowledge on the subject and use it to steal, cheat or misuse confidential or classified information for the sake of fun or profit. As the world increases its reliance on computer systems, we become more vulnerable to extremists who use computer technology as a weapon. It is called cyber-terrorism and research groups within the CIA and FBI say cyber-warfare has become one of the main threats to global security. But how serious is hacking? In 1989, the Computer Emergency Response Team, a nonprofit organization that monitors security issues throughout America from its base at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh reported 132 computer intrusions. Last year they recorded 2341! And in recent months, a few celebrated cases have shed a new light on the hackers netherworldly activities. One notorious hacker is American Kevin Mitnick, a 31-year-old computer junk ie arrested by the FBI in February for allegedly pilfering more than $1 million worth of data and 20.000 credit-card numbers through the Internet. Still, the new wave of network hacking is presenting fresh problems for companies, universities and law-enforcement officials in every industrial country. In July, John Deutch, head of the CIA, told Congress that he ranked information warfare as the second most serious threat to the national security, just below weapons of mass destruction in terrorist hands. The Internet suffers around a million successful penetrations every year while the Pentagon headquarters of the US military has 250.000 attempts to hack into computers. A piece of my heart (book) EssayMany individuals and organizations are now relying more heavily on digital networks as they routinely communicate by e-mail, post messages to electronic bulletin boards on the Internet and visit Web sites. But in the process they become more exposed and vulnerable to those seeking to collect and sell their personal data. When users visit Web sites they often fill out detailed personal profiles that become grist for marketing lists sold to third parties. Digital networks have also made consumer information even more widely and easily available the use of these networks greatly expands the capability of checking up on someones personal background or receiving an electronic list of prospective customers quickly and inexpensively. Indeed we are moving perilously close to the reality of immediate online personal data. More disturbing than the loss of our privacy as consumers is the loss of privacy about our financial affairs. Once again government data ba nks have usually provided the building blocks for these records. Certain financial information that was always in the public domain, such as real estate and bankruptcy records, is now treated as a basic commodity. Data brokers such as Information America, Inc. allow their subscribers quick online access to the county and court records for many states. Their vast databases contain business records, bankruptcy records, lawsuit information and property records, including liens and judgement. By computerizing these real estate records, liens, incorporations, licenses and so on, they become more than public documents. They are now on-line commodities, more easily accessed and distributed than their physical counterparts. In addition, this data can be recombined with other personal and financial background. The most recent assault on privacy has developed in the health care industry, in which patient records have also become commodities for sale. These records, containing highly sensitive and revealing information, are being collected and stored in databases maintained by hospitals. Thus, medical privacy seems destined to be another victim of our evolving information technologies. By putting so much medical data online without proper safeguards the Government, the Health Care Industry and the Information Industry are clearly undermining the foundation to the confidential doctor-patient relationship. It seems quite evident that our right to informational privacy- the right to control the disclosure of and access to ones personal information- has been sacrificed for the sake of economic efficiency and other social objectives. As our personal information becomes tangled in the Web of information technology, our control over how that data will be utilized and distributed is notably diminished. Our personal background and purchases are tracked by many companies that consider us prospects for their products or services; our financial profile and credit history is availabl e to a plethora of legitimate users, and our medical records are more widely accessible than ever before. The Net effect is that each of us can become an open book to anyone who wants to take the time to investigate our background. Another adverse consequence of all these is that we can be more easily targeted and singled out either as individuals or as members of certain groups. Data based technology makes it easy to find and exploit certain groups based on age, income level, place of residence, or purchasing habits. At the same time online data banks now make it especially simple to pinpoint individuals electronically. If public polity makers do become convinced that privacy is worth preserving, what should be done? Are there any viable solutions? Further complicating the issue, of course, are legitimate economic considerations. Privacy can not be accomplished without incurring some costs. And we can not ignore the economic benefit of acquiring and distributing information and usi ng data as a commercial tool to target the right customers. If the information flow about consumers is overly constrained, a substantial negative economic impact can not be discounted. In addition, there must be stricter controls for an especially sensitive information such as medical data. If a centralized national database becomes a reality, it will be necessary to achieve a broad public consensus on the definition of the health care trustees who should have access to that data. In summary, then, if informed consent is made mandatory for the reuse of consumer data and there are stricter safeguards for more critical information such as medical data, we can begin to make some progress in protecting privacy rights. But unless we should come to terms with this problem the boundaries between what is public and private could become much more tenuous. A world where privacy is in such short supply will undermine our freedom and dignity and pose a great threat to our security and well bein g. But what is the future of the Internet? The Internet is moving from a relatively passive publishing medium to a truly interactive application deployment platform. It will clearly continue to grow at a fast pace as more and more businesses and individuals discover its power. According to Dataquest, the market analysts, a new Internet account is added every two minutes. Whilst there is no guarantee that the businesses connecting to the Net will make it big, it is obvious that those which dont will be left behind. But one thing is certain: The Internet is dynamic, will sustain high growth rates and will serve as the platform for international commerce well into the foreseeable future. Today the Internet is a highly effective tool for communicating, for gathering information and for cooperation between dispersed locations. There is continuous development and improvement. The growing list of applications serves as testament to this: advertising, communication, shopping, banking, to name just a few. Many businesses are discovering new ways to reach their customers, new ways to improve efficiency, new products and services to sell. The future is limited only by your imagination. The Internet needs content. Its a medium in desperate need of something to say. In the next 10 years, somebody will figure out how to charge for information on the Net, so you wont get things necessarily for free. That will have several good effects, including a way to pay authors for their work. And because of the economic incentive, it will become easier to filter out the good from the bad. The Web is like a library that many people access for the sake of ease. They do this rather than go to the library. Therefore, whoever needs to get this information does not have to leave the house. It starts with information, then goes to groceries, furniture, even real estate. Will it ever end? Will it get to the point where people will never have to leave their computers? And why not? If everything you ever needed was at your fingertips, why not just pull a chair up to the computer that lays back into a bed and park it right in front of the bathroom? No one will ever have to leave his or her house. People will become socially inept. Is this the perfect future we are all heading towards? Questions similar to these have come up every time new sources of information have come around. However, at this point, people still get out and about to find information. We are not recluses yet. Do we have to be? In my opinion, we certainly seem to be heading in that direction and no one is to be blamed but technology itself. Technology can be a good thing, but when traditional ways are given up completely, technology can be a completely bad thing. Many people predict that it will make the world a better and more globally oriented place, but this is hard to say because we can not exactly define what constitutes of a better world. Arguments can be made for the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet, but most people will agree that the Internet is a boon for technology, the likes of which have not been seen since the advent of the Personal Computer. It is not a question of whether or not the advantages of the Internet outweigh the disadvantages. Rather it is an understanding of the risks and implications of pursuing the use of this type of technology when working to achieve corporate strategic goals. Once the security problems are handled, the costs are streamlined, and the searching algorithms are perfected, the possibilities are endless. We know that this technological wonder, every bit as revolutionary as the light bulb or the telephone, is going to shape all our lives in the century ahead. The Internet is as persistent as it is potent, an indelible and uncontainable presence in the culture. Despite of all the doomtalking the future is hopeful. However, governmental action cant really make any difference, because the Internet is too diffuse, too international, too much the cat that long ago escaped the bag