Foundation and Empire 4. The Emperor

CLEON II commonly called â€Å"The Great.† The last strong Emperor of the First Empire, he is important for the political and artistic renaissance that took place during his long reign. He is best known to romance, however, for his connection with Bel Riose, and to the common man, he is simply â€Å"Riose's Emperor.† It is important not to allow events of the last year of his reign to overshadow forty years of†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica Cleon II was Lord of the Universe. Cleon II also suffered from a painful and undiagnosed ailment. By the queer twists of human affairs, the two statements are not mutually exclusive, nor even particularly incongruous. There have been a wearisomely large number of precedents in history. But Cleon II cared nothing for such precedents. To meditate upon a long list of similar cases would not ameliorate personal suffering an electron's worth. It soothed him as little to think that where his great-grandfather had been the pirate ruler of a dust-speck planet, he himself slept in the pleasure palace of Ammenetik the Great, as heir of a line of Galactic rulers stretching backward into a tenuous past. It was at present no source of comfort to him that the efforts of his father had cleansed the realm of its leprous patches of rebellion and restored it to the peace and unity it had enjoyed under Stanel VI; that, as a consequence, in the twenty-five years of his reign, not one cloud of revolt had misted his burnished glory. The Emperor of the Galaxy and the Lord of All whimpered as he lolled his head backward into the invigorating plane of force about his pillows. It yielded in a softness that did not touch, and at the pleasant tingle, Cleon relaxed a bit. He sat up with difficulty and stared morosely at the distant walls of the grand chamber. It was a bad room to be alone in. It was too big. All the rooms were too big. But better to be alone during these crippling bouts than to endure the prinking of the courtiers, their lavish sympathy, their soft, condescending dullness. Better to be alone than to watch those insipid masks behind which spun the tortuous speculations on the chances of death and the fortunes of the succession. His thoughts hurried him. There were his three sons; three straight-backed youths full of promise and virtue. Where did they disappear on these bad days? Waiting, no doubt. Each watching the other; and all watching him. He stirred uneasily. And now Brodrig craved audience. The low-born, faithful Brodrig; faithful because he was hated with a unanimous and cordial hatred that was the only point of agreement between the dozen cliques that divided his court. Brodrig – the faithful favorite, who had to be faithful, since unless he owned the fastest speed-ship in the Galaxy and took to it the day of the Emperor's death, it would be the radiation-chamber the day after. Cleon II touched the smooth knob on the arm of his great divan, and the huge door at the end of the room dissolved to transparency. Brodrig advanced along the crimson carpet, and knelt to kiss the Emperor's limp hand. â€Å"Your health, sire?† asked the Privy Secretary in a low tone of becoming anxiety. â€Å"I live,† snapped the Emperor with exasperation, â€Å"if you can call it life where every scoundrel who can read a book of medicine uses me as a blank and receptive field for his feeble experiments. If there is a conceivable remedy, chemical, physical, or nuclear, which has not yet been tried, why then, some learned babbler from the far comers of the realm will arrive tomorrow to try it. And still another newly-discovered book, or forgery morelike, will be used as authority. â€Å"By my father's memory,† he rumbled savagely, â€Å"it seems there is not a biped extant who can study a disease before his eyes with those same eyes. There is not one who can count a pulse-beat without a book of the ancients before him. I'm sick and they call it ‘unknown.' The fools! If in the course of millennia, human bodies learn new methods of falling askew, it remains uncovered by the studies of the ancients and uncurable forevermore. The ancients should be alive now, or I then.† The Emperor ran down to a low-breathed curse while Brodrig waited dutifully. Cleon II said peevishly, â€Å"How many are waiting outside?† He jerked his head in the direction of the door. Brodrig said patiently, â€Å"The Great Hall holds the usual number.† â€Å"Well, let them wait. State matters occupy me. Have the Captain of the Guard announce it. Or wait, forget the state matters. Just have it announced I hold no audience, and let the Captain of the Guard look doleful. The jackals among them may betray themselves.† The Emperor sneered nastily. â€Å"There is a rumor, sire,† said Brodrig, smoothly, â€Å"that it is your heart that troubles you.† The Emperor's smile was little removed from the previous sneer. â€Å"It will hurt others more than myself if any act prematurely on that rumor. But what is it you want. Let's have this over.† Brodrig rose from his kneeling posture at a gesture of permission and said, â€Å"It concerns General Bel Riose, the Military Governor of Siwenna.† â€Å"Riose?† Cleon II frowned heavily. â€Å"I don't place him. Wait, is he the one who sent that quixotic message some months back? Yes, I remember. He panted for permission to enter a career of conquest for the glory of the Empire and Emperor.† â€Å"Exactly, sire.† The Emperor laughed shortly. â€Å"Did you think I had such generals left me, Brodrig? He seems to be a curious atavism. What was the answer? I believe you took care of it.† â€Å"I did, sire. He was instructed to forward additional information and to take no steps involving naval action without further orders from the Imperium.† â€Å"Hmp. Safe enough. Who is this Riose? Was he ever at court?† Brodrig nodded and his mouth twisted ever so little. â€Å"He began his career as a cadet in the Guards ten years back. He had part in that affair off the Lemul Cluster.† â€Å"The Lemul Cluster? You know, my memory isn't quite – Was that the time a young soldier saved two ships of the line from a head-on collision by†¦ uh†¦ something or other?† He waved a hand impatiently. â€Å"I don't remember the details. It was something heroic.† â€Å"Riose was that soldier. He received a promotion for it,† Brodrig said dryly, â€Å"and an appointment to field duty as captain of a ship.† â€Å"And now Military Governor of a border system and still young. Capable man, Brodrig!† â€Å"Unsafe, sire. He lives in the past. He is a dreamer of ancient times, or rather, of the myths of what ancient times used to be. Such men are harmless in themselves, but their queer lack of realism makes them fools for others.† He added, â€Å"His men, I understand, are completely under his control. He is one of your popular generals.† â€Å"Is he?† the Emperor mused. â€Å"Well, come, Brodrig, I would not wish to be served entirely by incompetents. They certainly set no enviable standard for faithfulness themselves.† â€Å"An incompetent traitor is no danger. It is rather the capable men who must be watched.† â€Å"You among them, Brodrig?† Cleon II laughed and then grimaced with pain. â€Å"Well, then, you may forget the lecture for the while. What new development is there in the matter of this young conqueror? I hope you haven't come merely to reminisce.† â€Å"Another message, sire, has been received from General Riose.† â€Å"Oh? And to what effect?† â€Å"He has spied out the land of these barbarians and advocates an expedition in force. His arguments are long and fairly tedious. It is not worth annoying Your Imperial Majesty with it at present, during your indisposition. Particularly since it will be discussed at length during the session of the Council of Lords.† He glanced sidewise at the Emperor. Cleon II frowned. â€Å"The Lords? Is it a question for them, Brodrig? It will mean further demands for a broader interpretation of the Charter. It always comes to that.† â€Å"It can't be avoided, sire. It might have been better if your august father could have beaten down the last rebellion without granting the Charter. But since it is here, we must endure it for the while.† â€Å"You're right, I suppose. Then the Lords it must be. But why all this solemnity, man? It is, after all, a minor point. Success on a remote border with limited troops is scarcely a state affair.† Brodrig smiled narrowly. He said coolly, â€Å"It is an affair of a romantic idiot; but even a romantic idiot can be a deadly weapon when an unromantic rebel uses him as a tool. Sire, the man was popular here and is popular there. He is young. If he annexes a vagrant barbarian planet or two, he will become a conqueror. Now a young conqueror who has proven his ability to rouse the enthusiasm of pilots, miners, tradesmen and suchlike rabble is dangerous at any time. Even if he lacked the desire to do to you as your august father did to the usurper, Ricker, then one of our loyal Lords of the Domain may decide to use him as his weapon.† Cleon II moved an arm hastily and stiffened with pain. Slowly he relaxed, but his smile was weak, and his voice a whisper. â€Å"You are a valuable subject, Brodrig. You always suspect far more than is necessary, and I have but to take half your suggested precautions to be utterly safe. We'll put it up to the Lords. We shall see what they say and take our measure accordingly. The young man, I suppose, has made no hostile moves yet.† â€Å"He report none. But already he asks for reinforcements.† â€Å"Reinforcements!† The Emperor's eyes narrowed with wonder. â€Å"What force has he?† â€Å"Ten ships of the line, sire, with a full complement of auxiliary vessels. Two of the ships are equipped with motors salvaged from the old Grand Fleet, and one has a battery of power artillery from the same source. The other ships are new ones of the last fifty years, but are serviceable, nevertheless.† â€Å"Ten ships would seem adequate for any reasonable undertaking. Why, with less than ten ships my father won his first victories against the usurper. Who are these barbarians he's fighting?† The Privy Secretary raised a pair of supercilious eyebrows. â€Å"He refers to them as ‘the Foundation.'† â€Å"The Foundation? What is it?† â€Å"There is no record of it, sire. I have searched the archives carefully. The area of the Galaxy indicated falls within the ancient province of Anacreon, which two centuries since gave itself up to brigandage, barbarism, and anarchy. There is no planet known as Foundation in the province, however. There was a vague reference to a group of scientists sent to that province just before its separation from our protection. They were to prepare an Encyclopedia.† He smiled thinly. â€Å"I believe they called it the Encyclopedia Foundation.† â€Å"Well,† the Emperor considered it somberly, â€Å"that seems a tenuous connection to advance.† â€Å"I'm not advancing it, sire. No word was ever received from that expedition after the growth of anarchy in that region. If their descendants still live and retain their name, then they have reverted to barbarism most certainly.† â€Å"And so he wants reinforcements.† The Emperor bent a fierce glance at his secretary. â€Å"This is most peculiar; to propose to fight savages with ten ships and to ask for more before a blow is struck. And yet I begin to remember this Riose; he was a handsome boy of loyal family. Brodrig, there are complications in this that I don't penetrate. There may be more importance in it than would seem.† His fingers played idly with the gleaming sheet that covered his stiffened legs. He said, â€Å"I need a man out there; one with eyes, brains and loyalty. Brodrig-â€Å" The secretary bent a submissive head. â€Å"And the ships, sire?† â€Å"Not yet!† The Emperor moaned softly as he shifted his position in gentle stages. He pointed a feeble finger, â€Å"Not till we know more. Convene the Council of Lords for this day week. It will be a good opportunity for the new appropriation as well. I'll put that through or lives will end.† He leaned his aching head into the soothing tingle of the force-field pillow, â€Å"Go now, Brodrig, and send in the doctor. He's the worst bumbler of the lot.†

Forensic Psychology Essay

1.How often is the insanity defense used and how successful is it? I would like to answer this question, with the presentation of my opinion and the performed research. It is within my opinion, that the insanity defense is used over excessively and is taking part in almost every defense to any crime. Offenders seem to have the knowledge to the use of this defense and will often provide a plea to guilty by insanity or temporary insanity, within the faith, to receive a reduced sentence. While insanity has to be a proven fact and a psychologist has to conduct a variety of tests to confirm the offender is suffering from a mental incompetence or insanity, most offenders have the ability to mislead or deceive psychologists to receive the evaluation they seek. Such action, if discovered, would actually prove the sanity of such offenders, but in most cases, it cannot be ascertained. The success of such defense is, within my view, very effective. The performed research is revealing a different answer. According to the St. Joseph News Press (2007), it has stated the opposite to my opinion. This article within a study of the national mental health institute claim’s; â€Å"the insanity defense plea is used in less than one (1) percent of criminal cases in the United States and less than a quarter of those pleas are successful†. Retrieved from; St. Joseph News Press (2007). With these opinions and views in combination, one would have to conduct further studies on this subject, to establish the correct answer. Everyone has different sentiments, within the use of the insanity defense and the successfulness of such validation. 2. Identify and discuss the major criticisms of the insanity defense. It is my belive,the major criticism of the insanity defense could be the establishment of prove to the claim of insanity. More often, offenders will try to make use of this defense for the hope of receiving a reduced sentence or the sentence to receive institutional care. According to my research, there are three (3) major criticisms within the insanity defense. The Insanity defense is mentioned as confusing to the psychiatric and legal concept. Furthermore, it is explained that the word â€Å"insane† is more of a legal word, then a medical term, and therefor to prove a person or a criminal insane, one must find the mental condition, of a criminal, severely impaired to the point of losing one’s free will. A psychiatrist may be or may not able to determine such illness, and a jury’s decision solely based on a psychiatrists’ opinion may be grounded on unreliable evidence. Retrieved from; West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2 (2008). 2. This criticism is on the moral basis and the consequences. This section suggests that the crime is of more importance, then the moral imperatives. It also addresses the way a criminal, who does plea insanity, should be trialed and punished for the crime. It is suggested, that the criminal should be convicted and the mental illness should be taken in consideration at the time of sentencing. If this method would be used by the court, it would allow the judge to determine the length of imprisonment, within a hospital prison, and the defendant would have to provide prove of improvement to the once dangerous behavior. Retrieved from; West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2 (2008). 3. This last criticism, is turned to the rich and wealthy criminals, who make use of the insanity plea. It is argued; â€Å"only wealthy defendant have the ability to retain a high-priced psychiatrist, who may be able to declare the defendant insane with the performed examination†. It also is believed, people who have less monetary funds and depend on the defense of a public defender, will not receive the same quality of defense, and they are also unable to receive the same value within the insanity exam. Such critic is based on the suggestion, that the insanity defense should be eliminated. Retrieved from; West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2 (2008). 3. When a mentally ill person is convicted and incarcerated, what are some of the difficulties in providing appropriate psychological treatment for these offenders? The difficulties in providing appropriate care, to a incarcerated mentally ill person, would stand to the inappropriate care and knowledge of the staff or facility personnel, to the condition of the mentally ill. A prison or jail is not equipped nor can such establishment provide the correct treatment to the mentally ill. To take in consideration the staff and the special medical treatment such person would require, every day, while in such confinement. But the alternative to this problem is stated in: Wrightsman’s Psychology and the Legal System, 6e,(2011) in which it is proposed; â€Å"When defendants are found incompetent to stand trial, they can be committed for a period of treatment designed to restore their competence†. And also; â€Å"for dealing with the unrestorably incompetent criminal defendant include her or his waiving the right to be found incompetent to proceed to trial and using a special form of commitment for incompetent defendants who are judged at a provisional trial to be guilty of the crimes with which they are chargedâ€Å". Retrieved from; Wrightsman’s Psychology and the Legal System, 6e, pg; 249 (2011). It is my believe, the above suggested method, would be the better approach to the incarceration of incompetent or the mentally ill offenders.

U08d1 Leadership & u08d2 Personal Mastery Essay

U08d1 Leadership & u08d2 Personal Mastery - Essay Example I acknowledge that writing is a skill which can be honed through regular practice over a period of time. It also requires a lot of reading, research, and the use of appropriate information which I should screen and evaluate on their hierarchy of importance. Likewise, what makes writing of interest to me is the vast amount of new information which can be learned from diverse media. We are fortunate that this generation has benefitted from the technology accorded by the Internet, which became an expansive source of information that is easily accessible. Vast amounts of data can be viewed from diverse sources making continuous learning virtually possible and viable from all locations at all times. Learning the skill of writing can actually be done from searching various academic materials on the subject; in addition to regular practice accorded by complying with the writing requirements from various course modules. Writing is enhanced by using innovative approaches and new techniques. By first mastering grammar and punctuations, from structure and spelling, to format and citations, to critical analyses and referencing, one is given diverse opportunities to create, innovate and develop. As indicated in one of the course reading, â€Å"one of the reasons we have schools and thousands of books of instruction is that not all persons are at the same skill level. All perhaps can improve and some excel eventually, but none of the humanities come to us as inborn traits. We have to work at it, or better, to play until expertise slowly arises† (Art as Skill and Standards in the Humanities). This concept is likewise applicable in writing. A novice writer is not expected to produce a literary work that could already be considered commendable or worthy of merits. Feedback from other masters or expert writers assists in developing the skill. Through the regular and constructive feedback received from peers and from the instructors,

Strategic Business Information Systems - Cirque du Soleil's Essay

Strategic Business Information Systems - Cirque du Soleil's Information Technology Initiatives - Essay Example Both the strategies can be approached narrowly or broadly and in either case there is the third viable competitive strategy that is ‘focus’. (12manage.com) Ward and Peppard (2002) have identified that IS/IT strategy formulation and planning will help an organization to gain competitive advantage in the existing market by enabling the organization to develop a flexible and cost effective technology infrastructure which in turn will lead to the deployment of resources and competencies that are needed to accomplish the organizational goals effectively and efficiently. By using latest technology Cirque du Soleil could develop a new intellectual and dramatic entertainment project that made the company stand out unique. The use of technology has helped the company to reduce its cost structure and the organization could increase the ticket prices beyond the amount charged by the traditional circuses. This also made the organization compete with the Broadway theatre prices. (Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, 2005) The success of Cirque du Soleil lies in their ability to create a new and compelling product rather than creating a new market. It cannot be said the business of Cirque is an alternative to traditional circus business (Blue Ocean Strategy) but through a product differentiation as advocated by Porter (1980) Cirque competes in the existing market with a brand new product having different characteristics. This makes the product of Cirque unique. The strengths and weaknesses of Cirque du Soleil can be analyzed using a SWOT analysis. Cirque du Soleil is able to have distinct competitive advantageous position due to three fundamental reasons. They are: (i) Product differentiation advantage – by employing innovative production techniques the organization is able to make shows that evoke awe, wonder, inspiration and reflection among the customers, (ii) Niche competitive advantage – the production of Cirque

As a Medical Administrative Assistant Assignment

As a Medical Administrative Assistant - Assignment Example Secondly, I would ensure that there are solutions for the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing an opportunity for patients to air their thoughts on all the areas of patient care. Further, I would conduct a survey on patient’s attendance to ensure they are provided with quality services. Lastly, proper documentation of the researched information would avoid confusion before the meeting because my thoughts would be well organized (Shelton 37). In the course of the meeting, I would present my findings in the most simplest way and engage my audience. I would make sure that the meeting is an open discussion while maintaining order. In addition, I would ensure that there is a divergence of information and the key meeting points summarized and accurate minutes published (Shelton 45). Finally, I would foresee that questions are asked and answered accordingly. After the meeting, it is my duty to ensure that I follow up and make sure that the meeting minutes were published. Furthermore, I would publish the meeting discussions on the hospital’s/clinic’s website so that they could be easily accessed by everyone. Lastly, I would benchmark the healthcare with other clinics in terms of customer service to ensure that the meeting objectives were achieved and

The economies of two neighbouring states Assignment

The economies of two neighbouring states - Assignment Example While the southern part of this island formed a separate republic called the Republic of Ireland, the Great Britain took hold of the Northern part and 18 provinces are under it. While Northern Ireland forms a part of the United Kingdom, the Southern part enjoys independent and separate governance. Both Ireland and Northern Ireland form an island and this is covered with green surroundings. Ireland is called the Emerald Island because of its greenery and so tourism is one of the major inputs for their economy. The economy of Ireland has transformed in the recent years from agrarian to technology based service industries. Moreover, the trade and investments in the country have made it one of the wealthiest countries in the European Union. Similarly, the economic growth of this country of the period from1995 to 2000 has brought them the name ‘Celtic Tigers’. On the other hand, the economy of Northern Ireland is the smallest in the subordinate states of U K. However, just like the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland also attracts many by its green surroundings and so tourism contributes heavily to the economy of the nation. Northern Ireland is a very deep rooted industrialized country and one can notice that industrialization flourished here even before it took its root at the Republic of Ireland. The nation had such industries like ship building, textiles and rope manufacturing. However, recently many heavy industries were replaced by services as in the case of The Republic of Ireland. But it is amazing that Northern Ireland has greater GDP than that of the neighbouring states like East England and Wales. Tourism plays a vital role in bringing up the economy of the Northern Ireland. Around 70% of economic output and covering 78% of employees fall in the service industry. It is also worthwhile to consider how the recent economic recession has adversely affected the economy of both the states. While there was a considerable

Monopolies in Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Monopolies in Industry - Essay Example Rockefeller (American industrialist)-Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia, n.d). Originally, this Trust was made to bring cash in through the conversion from whale oil to kerosene. However, with the emergence of the automobile use, gasoline was the by-product that brought immense wealth to this industrial group. By 1890, the Standard Oil already controlled almost 90 percent of America’s oil industry with little competition remaining. Rockefeller took this opportunity to set prices arbitrarily, leaving consumers with no choice but to pay for the set price (The Standard Oil monopoly, by the Linux Information Project." The Linux Information Project (LINFO) Home Page, n.d). Aside from the dreary effects that consumers had to live with, this went on too far as it did not only had many people’s businesses or jobs taken away from them because of the elimination of competition and the ruthless predatory tactics of the trusts but at the same time it was a business that used extensive fraud, political corruption, and physical violence to maintain its monopoly (A History Of U.S. Monopolies." Investopedia – The Web’s Largest Investing Resource, n.d). Thus, the U.S Department of Justice took on several efforts to break the monopoly. Some of which would be the enactment of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act that sought to limit monopolies and cartels. This act gave the government the power to shatter big companies into smaller pieces that would benefit not only one company or a group of people but the general public. However, this act only gave birth to the formation of domestic monopolies and was then used to differentiate between good and bad monopolies as seen by the government. In response to this, the Clayton Act was introduced that served as guidelines to whether mergers and acquisitions that were unavoidable should be allowed if they substantially lessened the competition in the market monopoly (A History

News Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

News Summary - Assignment Example Now, several companies with presence in Bangladesh including Esprit Holdings, Fast Retailing and Zara parent  Inditex  SA have signed five-year contracts implementing third-party safety inspections of buildings to ensure their compliance with the safety standards. Likewise, companies like H&M are also looking into increasing the wages of the workers, saying that workers should be able to live on their wages. This means that manufacturing cost will be higher, which is favorable to the workers but not to manufacturers and consumers. Nevertheless, the move has started yet there are no reports whether prices of products will increase with the ongoing changes. Despite the move of several Western companies, the report says that only up to 25 percent of the factories have complied with the said action. This means that 75 percent has not yet done its part and those factories could be expected to add up to the number of fire incidents in Bangladesh. Therefore, Geoffrey Crothall, spokesman for China Labour Bulletin suggests that the government should take the matter seriously and take the responsibility of inspecting buildings and looking into the welfare of their own people. Chiu, K. (2014). Western brands rethink low-cost focus. Retrieved January 27, 2014, from

Analysis Of Cultural Landscape Essay Example for Free

Analysis Of Cultural Landscape Essay Cultural landscapes fall into three main categories. The most easily identifiable is the clearly defined landscape designed and created intentionally by man. The second category is the organically evolved landscape. The final category is the associative cultural landscape. Here the analysis is on Metropolis at Metrotown, which comes under the former category. Metropolis at Metrotown is a giant mall located in Burnaby, the third largest city in British Columbia by population, geographically sits in-between Vancouver and Port Coquitlam. The city is located just outside of downtown Vancouver and has evolved from a bedroom community to an urban centre and has lots to offer, from unique shopping areas, theatre productions, sports events and many more. The city has a mix of different religions and cultures. The ethnic identity is clearly visible in the city, northern parts of Hastings Street being well catered to Italian population, and south, Metrotown area with the mix of origins from China, South Korea and Yugoslavia. The time when SkyTrain, an automated train with advanced rapid transit technology, was constructed in the middle of 1980s, the dramatic development has started across the lengths and breadths of Burnaby, especially along Kingsway. This lead to the establishment of Metrotown Center in 1986, and consequently the residential areas around the commercial complex stood up in no time. Formerly the Shopping Mall was called as Metrotown Eaton Centre. But when Eaton was shutdown removing its stake, the Metropolis combined with Metrotown to form a single entity. Today this mega mall is the second largest in Canada. Today the expansion of the mega mall plays a major factor in the generation of economy and revenue from foreign exchange. The mall boasts the standard of living of the population in the city by giving employment. Job opportunities in the retail sector are expected to increase with about 97,000 new positions becoming available by 2011. Opportunities for retail sales associates, supervisors, and managers are expected to grow over the next eight years. The policy of recruitment is compliant with Human Rights Code, and prohibits discrimination in employment due to race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, age, sex, marital status, disability, language or record of offences. This mall plays a major role as one of the attractions of tourism. The mall offers attractive tourism programs like out-of-Town visitors, Group Travel Program, Meeting Planners and Sports Organizers, Hotel Shopping Packages. With the evolution of cross culture from different walks of the people, the globalization gave the speed to the spread of multi-national products in the city that never seen before. And these lead many more markets to see the light of the sun. This giant hall has around 220 shops, three department stores, multiplex theatres, restaurants, business offices, library, dental clinic, banks, cafes, spas and many more. The raise of public transportation in the form of Buses and SkyTrain emerged for the giant mall’s accessibility. And these add to the income generation from the parking and gas consumption. With the success of retail market, Government is benefiting in the form of Tax on the services and products. This giant mall is now touching the people from various walks of life. From the sales representatives to the market analysts , software engineers to librarians , cosmeticians to dentists, fashion designers to art suppliers, customer care executives , and the list goes on. If some people come to spend time in leisure, others come for partying. Round the clock this mall entertains the public with attractive events. Some of the annual events which include Clearance sales, Job fairs make the place the hot spot in the city. And the calendar always offers some new events to celebrate for the public like Fashion Shows, Music Awards, Contests and the list goes on. The mall is equipped with all necessary services to provide the public with the best shopping experience. The range of services include strollers, baby care in the food court, a nursing room, family washroom equipped with a baby change station and a Jellybean Park Play care. For giving the accessibility to all age groups, the mall provides wheelchairs on loan with free of cost. And sophisticated facilities are provided to the public to make their shopping enjoyable. Automated doors are located at most of the major entrances which includes Kingsway entrance, Real Canadian Superstore, Central Boulevard to name a few. It is also equipped with Passenger elevators. And modern, comfortable, and clean washrooms are available and they are also wheelchair accessible. Metrotown Food court caters tasteful food to public from various cultures and geographies. It is a very grand food court than the food courts of other malls in Burnaby. One can find Thai food, or a Korean cuisine ,or a restaurant making Caesar salad from Opa , along with the well known Burger King or AW. The giant mall provides community rooms for the charities and non-profit organizations to make use of the infrastructure for the welfare of the community. Not only that, each year Metropolis at Metrotown donates nearly $1 million to charities and non-profit organizations, without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or creed, to enhance the lives of the people in the community. Today the giant mall is one of the integral parts of the society and plays a significant role in the citys economy and touches the lives of the people around the world, round the clock. References Anonymous (n. d) BCIT Retail Marketing Management Program . Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://metropolis. shopping. ca/cambridge/jsp3/wh_ga. jsp? mallid=met Anonymous (June, 2007) Metrotown Food Court . Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://vancouvereatsout. com/metrotown-food-court/ Anonymous (n. d) Tourism Programs . Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://metropolis. shopping. ca/cambridge/jsp3/fp_01. jsp? mallid=metsectid=wh Anonymous (n. d) Cultural Landscapes Categories and Subcategories . Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://whc. unesco. org/en/culturallandscape/

Theories of the Formation of Romantic Relationships Essay Example for Free

Theories of the Formation of Romantic Relationships Essay The sociobiological explanation is an evolutionary theory perceiving relationship formation as a form of ‘survival efficiency’, with a difference between genders. Davis (1990) performed a content analysis of personal advertisements, finding that men look for health and attractiveness, while offering wealth and resources. Females look for resources and status, while offering beauty and youth, supporting the idea of evolutionary-based gender differences in relationship formation. However, although relevant to the EEA (Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiveness), the model doesn’t suit modern environment. Many women now have resources of their own and do not need to rely on the resources of men. This casts doubts on the suitability of this explanation in modern days as its applicability, has over the years gradually decreased. The sociobiological explanation is reductionist, seeing relationship as a means of reproduction, therefore disregarding other reasons for being in romantic relationships, like companionship. It can be argued that theories of relationship formation are deterministic, as relationships are seen as having a lack of free will – that is, determined by factors beyond personal control. For example, the rewards and needs satisfaction theory sees relationship formation an unconscious process based on learned associations. The reinforcement and needs satisfaction explanation is a behaviourist explanation, perceiving conditioning as an explanation for relationship formation. People may directly reward us (operant conditioning) by meeting our psychological needs for friendship, love and sex. Their provision of such needs is reinforcing, and therefore we like them more and want to be around them. As a result we are more likely to form a relationship. Also, people may be indirectly rewarded (classical conditioning), where they become associated with the pleasant circumstances and so again the likeliness for forming a relationship increases. Argyle (1994) outlined several motivational systems underpinning social behaviour, and explained how forming relationships satisfies social needs on several levels. * Biological needs, like collective eating. * Dependency, being comforted * Affiliation, a sense of belonging * Dominance, making decisions for others * Sex, flirting * Aggression, letting off steam * Self-esteem, being respected by others Many non-western cultures feature relationships without regard for receiving rewards or prioritising selfish needs. Therefore the rewards –needs satisfaction theory cannot account for cultural differences and thus can be seen as culturally biased. The rewards –needs satisfaction theory of relationship formation cannot account for gender differences. Women often focus more on the needs of others, and males and females tend to find different things rewarding, suggesting that the explanation is gender biased.

Indian Retail market

Indian Retail market The Indian Retail market is growing with a rapid pace. India is the most eye-catching retail market today with abundance of opportunities. We can notice that global market have acquisitively eyed Indias retail market over a long period, so it arrive as no shocking news, when Marks Spencer took another deal in April 2008 with Indias multinational company i.e. Reliance Industries Limited. The United Kingdom food and clothing chain Giant Marks Spencer teamed up with Indias multinational company Reliance Industries in broadcasting the news to open 50 stores over the next five years durations. The motivation behind this was clear that India has the second largest inhabitants in the world, where as more than half of it inhabitants is beneath 25 years old, while its economy has expanded at over 8.5% annually since 2003 meaning there is a rapidly escalating middle class with money to spend(Anon, 2008). Initially Marks Spencer had tied up with the Planet Retail but unsatisfied with the pace of expansion with Planet Retail. Stores were too sma ll and price of the product were expensive, but Planet Retail will remain franchisee of Marks Spencer (Anon, 2008). At present Marks and Spencer, has 14 franchised stores running in India, which apply to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the government agency that approves investments in the country from abroad, to own a 51% stake in the joint venture, Marks and Spencer Reliance Pvt. Ltd (Roy, 2008). Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath recently observed that luxury is not a product but an emotion and it has both aspirers and admirers. India will engage the world. In the last three months alone, over $400 million investment has been made in India. This shows that the world is bullish about India and its consumers, he said. Currently, 100 per cent foreign direct investment is allowed in wholesale trade, but only 51 per cent in single brand outlets (Menon, 2008). Since Marks Spencer owns 51% and rest of the share i.e.49% are owned by Reliance Industries Limited. Both the conglomerate companies will invest  £29million in the joint venture. According to Sir Stuart Rose Marks Spencers chief executive, Strategy is to achieve 15%-20% of Marks Spences sales from its international business within the next five years. Knocking the door of one of the fastest growing consumer market in the world. The nation is expecting that middle class generation will increase by 350 million by 2015(Hall, 2008). The new stores will be called as seamless malls gigantic shops within shops and separate boutiques mainly selling home ware and clothes in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and other major metropolitan hubs (Anon, 2008). Through strength of technology, logistics and property reliance has become the leading player in retail market. Joint venture not only enhances both the parties but also the consumers. The goods and services will be available in economical rates, due to this purchasing power of individual will increases. Size of stores will be spread around in 20,000 sq ft, as size is big employees requirement will be more in order to provide quality services to consumers. Customer can collect their favourite brand by shopping less than one roof. Branded household and garments will be available for consumer at cheaper rate. Thus joint venture between two the multinational companies will not only enhances profit margin of their venture but also economy and satisfying the people through providing good quality services as well as creating employment opportunities.

Shakespeare, Loncraine, Donaldson, Richard, and Me Essay -- Shakespear

Shakespeare, Loncraine, Donaldson, Richard, and Me Act 2.4 of Loncraine’s Richard III is where I started furiously scribbling notes in the margins of notes. After Rivers is shockingly murdered, Loncraine films a still shot of the countryside. A farmer leads an ox in the foreground, while a train noisily passes in the background. There is a quick cut to the train, smoke billowing from its engines, entering a dark tunnel and then another cut to a toy train in the palace. The young Yorks are playing with the toy train and also a gray airplane. Queen Elizabeth and her mother-in-law, the Duchess of York, chat nearby. Their discussion is light. The Duchess expresses her desire to see the Prince, as she has heard he has grown. Margaret plays the piano in the background and the whistle of the toy train continues. Lord Stanley and Richmond enter, harboring grave news. Suddenly there are a series of short cuts between the faces of the Duchess, the Queen, Stanley and Richard as the news is revealed. Rivers has been murdered. At this mome nt, there is silence. Then the toy train begins to make noise again. Elizabeth says "I see the ruin of my family" and then another cut to the boys playing with their toy train and airplane. In the shadow of the hallway, Richard’s accomplice, Tyrrell, derails the toy train with his foot, smirking at young York. The toy train noise smoothly becomes a real train whistle. And lastly, the scene is framed with the image of the real train, on which the Prince is a passenger. After watching this is the scene of Loncraine’s film, I hit the pause button triumphantly. I positioned my text of Richard III and Donaldson’s essay "Cinema and the Kingdom of Death: Loncraine’s Richard III adjacent to each other and ea... ...ces an extensive dialogue within the text with an image of the train, arousing a modern anxiety of doom: the destructive capabilities of rapidly growing technology are seizing an innocent and aweless existence. Before reading Peter S. Donaldson’s article, "Cinema and the Kingdom of Death: Loncraine’s Richard III," I slept eight hours, ate a well-balanced breakfast, and ran a mile to warm up. I knew from reading "In Fair Verona," that Donaldson writes for fit athletes of an intense analytical and intellectual field. Focus, pacing, and especially composure are essential to navigating his intricate and challenging course of connections, allusions, Shakespeare, media, history, past, present, future and beyond. I was prepared, though, and began slowly, but confidently, on another one of Donaldson’s awesome paths. And this time, I just may have created some of my own.

Gladiator - The Movie Essay example -- essays research papers

The main character of the movie ‘Gladiator’ is a poor teenager Tommy Railey. Tommy, a newcomer to a tough Chicago inner city high school, becomes a boxer to pay off his fathers gambling debts. At first he works in a dinner to earn money. Later he decides to fight for money so that he can pay off his father quickly. Although boxing is a dangerous sport, fighting helps keep him off the streets and out of violent gangs. It is also a way for Tommy to earn money, sublimate anger towards his absent father and numb the emotional pain of a broken home. Unluckily, Mr. Horn, a nefarious businessman exploiting hungry boxers like prize pigs for his illegal matches, controls Tommy. Consequently, enraged Tommy earns enough money and defeats Mr. Horn’ s standards by wining his freedom, and beating him in a fight. Tommy, a very gifted young man, adamantly takes the anger he has inside and uses it to achieve his goals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On his first day at school, a gang of thugs confronts Tommy. Tommy later finds that the gang members are his classmates who push him around in class. Tommy’ s father was a gambler and hung around with people that were up to no good. Therefore Tommy focuses on school and aspires to attend college some day. On his first day at school he shows knowledge of meaning behind Mark Twain’s literature, leaving his classmate thugs shocked. The same day Tommy befriends a classmate. She appreciates his wisdom and hires him to wash dishes in her parent’s dinner. The dinner is located in the neighborhood, and is frequented by the thugs who rule the streets of the area. They fight the other students around the area on regular basis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In another scene gang members surround Tommy on his way to work. Tommy fights back and punches two of them later to be stopped by an older man. The man tells off the thugs and follows Tommy inside the dinner. The man is a Mr. Horn’s recruiter and the gang member’s work for Mr. Horn. Mr. Horn is a former boxer turned businessman who organizes illegal boxing matches. At the dinner the man sits by Tommy and makes him an offer he cannot refuse. He explains that since the thugs he just beat up seem weaker then him, he could fight against them and earn quick cash. Aware of his father’s debt, Tommy hopes to pay it off as soon as possible so he takes on the job and commits to one fight that even... ... nothing else but boxing. Consequently, Tommy decides to tell Mr. Horn that he will not fight anymore. In spite of his decision Mr. Horn reminds Tommy that he owns him. Furthermore, Mr. Horn schedules a fight between Tommy and Lincoln that evening. At first Tommy refuses to fight his best friend, but accepts to do so only because Lincoln has to earn money to support his wife and child.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the fight Tommy cannot hit his friend therefore the judges had stop the fight. Mr. Horn is very disappointed as he marched the platform and knocks out Lincoln to the ground. Tommy offers a fair fight with Mr. Horn in exchange for his freedom. Mr. Horn is an experienced Gladiator, a fighter without boxing gloves. If Tommy loses the fight Mr. Horn will still own him. That day Tommy beats up Mr. Horn without boxing gloves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tommy had built up anger over the years, because of his family situation. His attempt to settle his father’s debts was successful. He used his anger to defeat all the odds against him. He came to a Chicago ghetto a good boy and became a better and stronger man. This is a classic plot of a good man overcoming evil.

Living Abroad Essay

Living abroad provides many opportunities and challenges. When I study abroad, I look forward to making friends. By getting to know people, I will be able to improve my English language proficiency. There are idioms and words that are best learned within the context of real conversations with native speakers. I also look forward to being a participant in a new culture. At the end of my stay, I hope that I will understand the culture in a different and deeper way than is possible when information is derived from only movies and books. In addition, I am excited about studying on a foreign campus. I expect the college courses to be challenging, and I am eager to learn about the latest technological advances in my field of study. I am realistic about the disadvantages of foreign study, however. I know that I will miss my family very much. It will be too expensive to return to my country to spend holidays with them, and I will be very lonely during the times when I know that they are gathered for special celebrations. Another aspect of the experience that I do not look forward to is the reliance on fast food that is so typical of college students. Pizza, hamburgers, and other junk foods are easier to find and prepare than the meals that I enjoy in my country, but they aren’t as good, and they probably aren’t as healthy. Finally, I imagine that my life will be very stressful because I will be competing with students who know the language of the classroom and are accustomed to the expectations that the professors have for their students. I am a competitive person by nature, and I am apprehensive about my ability to compete with my classmates. Once I am living abroad, I will no doubt find many other opportunities to take advantage of and many challenges that I must confront. Nevertheless, I expect my experience to be overwhelmingly positive, and I intend to see the lessons in both adventures and adversity.

Personal Response to Family of Little Feet Essay

The beginning of the story starts out sounding like a fairytale about a family with little feet and then transforms into a story that is being told about a little girl and two of her friends that are given three pairs of high heeled shoes to play with, â€Å"†¦. magic high heels†. The girls each try on and swap between them the three pairs of shoes and then begin walking about the neighborhood with the shoes on and the speaker notes the different reactions that they receive from the different people they pass while wearing the shoes. The speaker states â€Å"Down to the corner where the men can’t take their eyes off us. We must be Christmas†. They pass a shop keeper that asks them if their mother knows they have shoes like that, and he tells them they are too young to be wearing them. Then the girls pass the laundromat where six female cousins just ignore them as they walk by in the high heels, and one of the girls named Lucy states that the cousins are always jealous. Lastly they pass a tavern where one of the girls, Rachel yells out to the bum that is standing out front, â€Å"Do you like these shoes?† The bum answers â€Å"yes† to Rachel and he asks her name in which she replies â€Å"Rachel†. The bum tells Rachel how pretty she is and that her shoes are beautiful. He proceeds to tell Rachel â€Å"Rachel, you are prettier than a yellow taxi cab. You know that†? The other little girl Lucy, seemingly knowing better, doesn’t like this encounter with the bum and tells her friend that â€Å"we got to go†. The bum then offers Rachel a dollar for a kiss which she seems to be considering until her friend Lucy grabs her by the hand and begins to run from the bum, all the while he is still yelling something that the girls aren’t close enough to hear any longer. This obviously scared, at the very least Lucy because the next paragraph begins â€Å"We are tired of being beautiful†. Lucy hid the shoes and then one day her mother was cleaning and threw them away but â€Å"no one complains†. By the way no one complains when the shoes are thrown away shows that the girls have had their first real encounter with the mature world awaiting them, and they are not yet ready to enter it at their young ages.

Horse Colic

The term colic refers to pain in the abdomen of horses. It is not a single disease, but is the manifestation of a considerable number of diseases: all of which produce pain, and some of which are potentially deadly. Making a specific diagnosis to determine the actual cause of the colic can be extremely difficult for veterinarians at times. Because of the multitude of possible causes, it is of value to examine several excellent recent research reviews which looked closely at the classification of colics, and at the causative factors, incidence and mortality associated with these diseases. The majority of cases of colic occur due to unknown causes, but are primarily presumed to be associated with intestinal muscle spasm or the accumulation of abnormal amounts of gas in a portion of the intestine. In general, colic results due to the distension of the bowel by ingesta, fluid, gas, or due to a functional impairment of the normal intestinal motility. In more severe cases, abdominal pain may be the result of damage to the intestinal wall by reduced blood supply (ischaemia), inflammation, death of tissue (infarction) or oedema (swelling and increased fluid). The causes of colic can be classified by well recognised pathological categories, including obstruction, strangulation, enteritis/colitis, peritonitis, as well as by the site involved – stomach, small intestine, caecum, large colon, small colon, peritoneum, and other organs including liver, spleen and kidney Rather than simply listing the types of colic which can occur, it is now of value to look at what we do actually know about causes, prevalence and risk factors, as well as strategies to prevent colics. Nathaniel White, DVM, of the Marion Dupont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia, reviewed the risk factors in the USA in 2002, in his publication â€Å"Prevalence, demographics and Risk Factors for Colic, www. ivis. org, with the following comments and observations; Out of 100 horses in the general population, 4-10 cases of colic are expected in one year. About 10-15% of the colics are repeat cases, with some horses having 2-4 colic episodes yearly. Horses that have had a previous colic are three times as likely to have a second colic compared to a horse that has never had colic. Most colic signs were simple colic or ileus (no contractions of the gut) with no specific diagnosis entered in 80-85% of cases. In one study, 30% of horses with colic were identified by owners but never seen by vets because the colic was short lived or resolved by the owner. Studies of colic cases seen by vets reported a predominance of simple obstruction or spasmodic colic. Impaction colics made up about 10% of cases, and obstruction or strangulating diseases requiring surgery made up from 2-4% of cases. Universities report that simple colic and impaction colics are the most commonly reported. When a specific gut location can be identified by veterinarians, the large colon is the most commonly affected, followed by small intestine, caecum and small colon respectively. Diseases which cause strangulation (twisted bowel) have the highest fatality rate- with the large colon torsions being more common than small intestine torsions. Colic is responsible for more deaths in horses than any other disease except old age. In normal farm horse populations, horse mortality from all types of colic was 0. 7 deaths per 100 horse-years, with a colic case fatality rate of 6. 7%. Risk Factors For Colic In some colic cases the cause may be evident, such as in grain overload, but even in these cases, the exact mechanism which initiates the problem is often unknown. By looking at known risk factors we can begin to reduce the incidence by eliminating possible risk factors. There are internal and external risk factors for colic: Breed While no breed is immune to colic, several studies suggest that Arabian horses have more colic episodes, while some other studies suggest that Thoroughbreds have more. Standardbreds and Warmbloods tend to have more inguinal hernias due to the increased size of their inguinal ring. Age Young and older horses appear to be less at risk of simple colic, so middle aged horses are most at risk. Weanlings and yearlings are most likely to suffer ileocaecal intussusceptions. Diet Diet has long been blamed for colic. Course roughage with low digestibility or particularly coarse fibre is observed to cause impaction colic. Grain overload significantly increases the risk of colic and laminitis. Feeds such as lush clover and lush pasture have been implicated in causing bloat. Information on feeding here When investigated by controlled studies, increased amounts of grain, and changes in the type of hay and grain fed during the year both increased the odds of colic compared to horses without grain or changes in feed. One study also reported that daily feeding of concentrate from 2. to 5kg/day and >5kg/day to adult horses increased the risk of colic by 4. 8 and 6. 3 times respectively, compared to horses fed no concentrate. Interestingly, controlled studies confirm that pellet feeds and sweet feeds were associated with an increased risk of colic compared to no grain fed or single grain diets. Grain diets are also known to decrease the water content in the colon contents due to a decrease in fibre which binds to water in the colon. Grain diets are also known to travel through the stomach much more rapidly than fibrous diets. Grain in the diet increases gas production, and is much more likely to produce an environment needed for bloat and intestinal displacements. The horse stomach is relatively small, and is designed to take in small quantities of food often. Horses are herbivores, and naturally spend a large part of the day grazing, continually taking in small quantities of food. When more intensive management, including work and training programs, stabling, and feeding 2-3 times daily, occurs, the normal feeding habits of horses are disrupted to varying degrees. Intensive stabling and work often require higher energy levels in feedstuffs to allow the horse to cope with increased work requirements. The higher energy levels are provided by high grain and concentrate components in the ration, often at the risk of reducing roughage and fibre levels to inadequate volumes. The horse digestive system is designed to utilise roughage and fibre, and any deficiency of fibre will result in digestive disturbances, including colics. It is highly important to continue regular feeding habits of horses, maintaining regular feed volumes and feeding intervals. Do not work horses hard after a full feed. Never give large quantities of food to a horse not accustomed to it. Make feeding changes gradually. Do not allow an overheated horse to drink cold water until it has cooled off sufficiently, or the cold water will almost certainly predispose the horse to colic. Water horses before feeding. Allow access to water again immediately after feeding. Horses prefer clean, fresh water available at all times. A horse will drink anywhere from 22 to 68 litres of water daily, depending on weather conditions, diet and workload. Do not feed horses directly off the ground, especially in sandy or fine gravel regions, as the uptake of sand will predispose horses to sand colics and impactions. Avoid sudden feed changes. These will rapidly induce colic in most horses. Mouldy feeds, such as hay, are potentially deadly to horses, and regularly cause colic. Check hay thoroughly, especially any lush, moist hay which may have been baled while too wet. Never feed mouldy hay to horses. Environment & Management Housing and confinement on farms in the Virginia study were not risk factors for colic. It does however seem logical that changes in diet or feeding routine are associated with risk of colic. Certainly large horse properties report that the routine of feeding grain after being brought in from pasture to stables increases the colic risk – specifically for bloat and displacements. Altering this routine by keeping horses turned out after feeding grain decreases the rate of colic. Similarly, when hay is available to horses on lush pasture, the hay will be consumed as part of the diet and colic rate is decreased. Sand colic and impactions are seen where horses graze on pastures grown on sandy soils, or where horses are forced to eat off the ground with predominantly sand or fine gravel. Previous colic Horses with a history of colic are at higher risk for more colic episodes Parasites Internal parasites are related to increased colic risks in many studies. Gut obstructions due to ascarids in foals, tapeworm related colic and strongyle infections have all been reported as causing colics. Many reports confirm a decrease in colic after controlling small strongyle infections on properties with previously high colic incidences. Tapeworm infestations have been related to increased colic, specifically with colic associated with diseases of the ileum and caecum including increasing the rate of serious intussusception at the ileocaecal region. The general use of ivermectin over the last 20 years has seen a reduction in reports of colic associated with thrombosis of the cranial mesenteric artery due to Strongylus vulgaris larvae. Pregnancy Mares are reported to have a higher risk of colic by colon displacement during late pregnancy and lactation, particularly from 60 to 150 days after foaling. The actual reasons for this are not known, but calcium levels and alterations in diet including increases in energy due to the higher levels of concentrates in the diet to support lactation may be related to the increased risk. Exercise Racehorses, event horses and endurance horses all have an increased risk of gastric ulceration which can be linked to some colic episodes. These horses are often on high grain/low roughage diets which tend to produce gut acidosis and predispose to colics. Transport and Traveling Transport increases the risk of colic in several studies. Many vets commonly administer a laxative to horses prior to transport to prevent colic from impactions. These colics may be due to variations in feeding routine, fluid intake, dehydration, etc. Weather Many veterinarians frequently associate weather changes with increased frequency of colic, but many studies can find no confirmation of this. Prognosis and Strategies to Prevent Colic In a second paper, â€Å"Prognosis and Strategies to Prevent Colic†, Nathaniel White discussed the survival issues with colic cases, stating that predicting survival in horses with colic is often challenging. Any horse which does not respond to initial therapy may be regarded as having a much more serious prognosis. In an effort to assist veterinary practitioners and owners, White attempted to apply previous knowledge of outcomes for specific diseases. Case fatality for specific colic diseases varies from a few deaths in cases of simple colic to as much as 75% in some forms of strangulated intestine. Simple obstructions of the large colon such as displacements and impactions have low fatality rates (

Outcomes of the Crusades

The â€Å"Crusades† was a military campaign of Christians in Western Europe whose purpose is to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims. The Roman Catholic Church stimulated most of the support for the war, showing its intolerance to both Islam and Orthodox Christianity. Although religious in nature, the Crusades had become a bloody frenzy. Six military campaigns comprised the period, starting from the First Crusade in 1096, inspired by Pope Urban II, and ending in the Sixth Crusade in 1254, led by the king of France, King Louis IX.To this day, the Crusades is still a controversial because of the military excesses during the battles. However, many outcomes came out of the movement: First, the European horizon expanded; second, the encounters with the different cultures promoted learning as well as commerce between different civilizations; third, as a result of the eastern influence, there was growth in western scholasticism and philosophy; and fourth, it sparked a dangerous con cept adapted in monarchy and politics. Among the noted significance of the first crusades was the increased contacts between the Europeans and the Byzantines and Muslims.During this time, the Byzantine was already beginning to decline and Islam was not as powerful as it once was, although still a formidable force. As regards the original intention of the Crusades, the Christians' success of having Jerusalem under their control never reached permanence. However, the first crusades effected the expansion of Europe, meaning it gained more strength than other competing civilizations did. Moreover, there became a balance of power between the Muslims and the Christians.During the First Crusade, supporters of the movement, such as those from Pisa and Genoa, sailed the Mediterranean Sea to bring help to Jerusalem. As a result, the sea was again reopened to western shipping, and, in turn, communication was reestablished between the east and west. Although at several points the Christians rul ed over the Holy Land, Muslims were able to conquer it again in the 12th century. However, the Christians continued to hold power over the sea. Thus, the ports in the countries such as Levant in the border of the sea were under their control.The number of commercial establishments grew rapidly in the ports of Syria and Egypt, and the Christians held autonomy over operations in the areas of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, which were originally controlled by the Saracens (Riley-Smith 85). The sea routes were open for trade, allowing products of Asia to come in. In short, the Crusades opened the lines of communication and exchange of knowledge between the eastern and western civilizations through the trade. This made a significant contribution to the development of Europe in terms of both knowledge and economy.Some of the practices of Muslim science, literature and philosophy, as well as medicine had found its way to Christian tradition (Riley-Smith 87). In time, the crusading movements were divided into two groups: the external Crusades and the internal Crusades. The former was directed mainly against Muslims, whereas the latter was a war against the perceived enemies of the Christian world. Unfortunately, the development of the internal Crusades enforced a violent thinking—that is, violence is sanctified in ideological pursuits.The Crusades was originally a war to retrieve the Holy Land, but the concept of sanctified violence extended to the monarchy and the political sphere. What used to be the holy cause of defending the Church became a moral duty of defending the state (Riley-Smith 90). Indeed, the Crusades was a crucial moment in history, and one that people can learn from. That is, the good things that came out of it should be emulated, and its detrimental effects should serve as a warning to modern society. Works Cited Riley-Smith, Jonathan. â€Å"The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading†. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1991. 85 -96.

Big Time Toy Maker Essay Example for Free

Big Time Toy Maker Essay Chou and BTT had a contract at the point they agreed to all the terms. By including the obligations of the parties and the terms of the agreement, the manager showed objective intent. A written contract was not necessary since this was a contract primarily dealing with services to distribute the game, not a production contract or a sales contract. Had it involved a goods contract to buy or sell, which under the Statutes of Frauds would not be a contract until all the terms were laid out in writing; that occurred when the manager from BTT emailed the terms which would have included his electronic signature and thus would have sealed the contract between the two. Also, if the contract is under common law, then the mailbox rule would say it went into effect when it was sent, not received. What facts may weigh in favor of or against Chou in terms of the parties’ objective intent? There are a few facts that weigh in favor of Chou. First, three days prior to the end of the 90 day exclusive negotiation rights agreement, they reached an oral agreement and then shortly thereafter, a business email from a BTT management representative was sent to Chou with the specifics of the agreement. The email stated â€Å"that all of the terms had been agreed upon. † BTT also subsequently requested Chou to send them a draft distribution contract spelling out the specifics of the agreement that the email from the BBT manager sent to Chou. Finally, distribution of Strat would have exceeded the 500. 00 limit (Amended UCC  § 2-201(1)) of the Statute of Frauds. The fact that may weigh against Chou is that the contract never had an actual signature on it. Does the fact that the parties were communicating by e-mail have any impact on your analysis in questions 1 and 2? Yes, communication via email in today’s business world is considered a normal mode of business communication. The UETA, the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act states that electronic correspondence is a valid form of communications while conducting business, and that electronic signatures and documentation satisfy the need for written records or signatures. When the terms and specifics of the agreement were laid out via email and both parties agreed upon the agreement through email, it then became a written agreement, and therefore enforceable. What role does the statute of frauds play in this contract? None, since it is a services contract for distribution rights. The Statute of Frauds only comes into play if it is a goods contract. If it is deemed by the court to be a goods contract then the written requirement, the all terms included requirement and the signed by the sender all have been met by the email with its electronic signature of the manager representing BTT. Could BTT avoid this contract under the doctrine of mistake? Explain. Would either party have any other defense that would allow the contract to be avoided? No, since a mistake is required to involve a â€Å"basic† assumption involving the terms on which the contract was made. BTT would not try to argue that they were mistaken on the price, time frame and obligations of both parties since their manager had sent an email stating that both parties where in agreement in all those areas. Generally, in the absence of disagreement on one or several of the essential terms, the courts will not allow a unilateral Mistake to be considered and expects mutual mistake. Chou might try to avoid the contract if he had a better offer he could just let the matter be dropped since BTT wanted out of the contract Assuming, arguendo, that this e-mail does constitute an agreement, what consideration supports this agreement? Chou would benefit by having his product distributed for sale throughout the network of retail and wholesale outlets that BTT as a board game company had at their disposal. BTT would benefit by charging their cut for distributing the game to these outlets. At the end of the scenario, BTT states that it is not interested in distributing Chou’s new strategy game, Strat. Assuming BTT and Chou have a contract, and BTT has breached the contract by not distributing the game, discuss what remedies might or might not apply. Compensatory damages – Chou could recover actual out of pocket which may include the original $25,000 due to BBT not acting in good faith but would also include loss of estimated potential profits. b. Specific Performance – Since this is a services contract the court may order BTT because of their total breach to fulfill their obligation to distribute the game OR substitute performance under the doctrine of accord and satisfaction where they might agree to product the game instead of distribute it OR they could agree to a discharge through novation where BTT finds an acceptable 3rd party who agrees to distribute the game. . Delegation – BTT could substitute another company to distribute the game but as delegator BTT would still be liable if their delegate failed to perform. d. Injunctive Relief – The court could issue and injunction forbidding BTT from distributing a similar game, producing a similar game or financially benefiting from a similar game to pr otect Chou from suffering due to their intimate knowledge and trade secrets relating to the disclosures during initial negotiations. Big Time Toy Maker. (2018, Oct 23).

Current Best Practices That Are Followed When Undertaking Surveys Essay

Current Best Practices That Are Followed When Undertaking Surveys - Essay Example Market surveys identify what appeals to the customers, when customers make purchases, the preferred distribution and promotional outlets of the products. Secondary data is usually available in either electronic or publicized form and includes company reports, newspaper articles and government agencies data. Primary data is collected purposely for solving the marketing problem and involves use of surveys, focus groups, interviews and experiments. Aims The main aim of the research paper is to identify different types of marketing surveys, their advantages and disadvantages in collecting primary data that is useful in market research. The paper also aims at outlining several survey strategies and examples of multiple choice and open-ended questions in surveys. The paper includes the use of rating scales, bar charts, pie charts in data analysis. Methodology The paper has utilized previous literature in order to identify different types of marketing surveys. Surveys are the most common method used by organizations in primary data collection and include mail surveys, telephone surveys, internet surveys, and face-to-face surveys or interviews. The less formal methods of surveys include informal interviews and observation. The selection of survey method will depend on factors such as the budget, the purpose of the study, the characteristics of target population and time availability. Mail surveys reach a large population and surveyor mails the written questions to the sampled population. The mailing list can be prepared from local phone book, yellow pages or past customer contacts. The main disadvantage of mail surveys is that many respondents may not return the completed survey. Telephone surveys entail calling the individuals and responses can be analyzed immediately as the caller will encourage the respondent to provide more details. However, telephone interviews are expensive for small companies. face-to-face surveys entail in-person interviews, but may require a lot of personnel thus are expensive. Internet surveys reach large random population and some web surveys offers tools for data analysis. Observation entails taking note of consumers shopping behavior in order to determine their preferred products. Survey strategies involves having a focus group or pilot surveys that identify if the questions are worded correctly. Conclusion The purpose of the above paper is to offer insight of survey methods and primary data analysis for marketing research. Critique paper Title: conducting market research using primary data Authors: Kyunda R. Curtis, Ph.D. (Department of Resource economics, University of Nevada) Published: The above research paper fails in outlining the best practices that are involved in conducting marketing research. I believe the first step entails defining the problem and objectives of the survey. The researcher must specify the sources of data and information that will be used in the research. The researcher should assess the time and cost involved in carrying out the research through a cost-benefit analysis before committing huge resources towards the study. The knowledge of objectives makes it easier to generate the survey questions and choice the target population (Ferrell & Pride, 2012). The researcher should also select a sample among the target population. The researcher should consider the expected margin of error and costs in selecting the size of the sample (Smith & Albaum, 2005). The researcher s

Coco Channel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Coco Channel - Essay Example Chanel's tweezed jacket and skirt, two-toned graceful expression level, dark dress, ensemble adornments and knitted sack with chain strap remain staples in the design pantheon, and contemporary marks present emphases of them season after season. She started Chanel No. 5, denoting the first run through a style creator had forayed into scent. Professional Growth From her first millinery shop which opened its doors from 1912 - 1920, she rose to turn into one of the chief form planners in Paris, France. Swapping the girdle with solace and cool polish, her design topics incorporated straightforward suits and dresses, ladies' trousers, ensemble gems, scent and materials. She received the name Coco throughout a concise vocation as a boutique and show artist 1905-1908 (Chaney 3). First and foremost a fancy woman of an affluent military officer then of an English industrialist, Coco Chanel drew on the assets of these supporters in setting up a millinery shop in Paris in 1910, developing to De auville and Biarritz. The two men additionally helped her find clients around ladies of social order, and her basic caps came to be mainstream. Before long Coco was stretching to couture, working in pullover, a first in the French manner planet. By the 1920s, her design house had stretched extensively, and her chemise set a style incline with its "son" look. Her loose designs, short skirts, and easy look were in sharp differentiation to the undergarment molds prevalent in the past decades. Chanel herself wearing manly garments, and adjusts these more agreeable designs which other ladies likewise considered freeing (Simmons 21). In 1922 Chanel presented a scent, Chanel No. 5, which came to be and remained mainstream, and remains a gainful result of Chanel's organization. Pierre Wertheimer turned into her accomplice in the fragrance business in 1924. Wertheimer claimed 70% of the organization; Chanel appropriated 10% and her companion Bader 20%. The Wertheimer's proceed to control the fragrance organization today. Chanel presented her signature cardigan coat in 1925 and mark dark dress design during 1926. A lot of her designs incorporated a backbone, and didn't change much from year to year or even era to generation. Chanel's own particular lifestyle powered her thoughts of how advanced ladies all around may as well look, act, and dress. Her own particular thin boyish figure and edited hair turned into a perfect, as did her tanned skin, animated lifestyle, and monetary autonomy. All around her profession, Chanel succeeded in bundling and advertising her own particular individual demeanor and style, making he r a key judge of ladies' taste all around the twentieth century. Chanel proceeded to make fruitful searches for ladies through the 1920s and '30s. In 1926, American Vogue compared Chanel's dark dress to that of the Ford dress, suggesting its practical widespread popularity as a design essential. Actually, the notion of the dress suitable for day and night did come to be both a staple for Chanel all around consequent seasons and an exemplary bit of twentieth-century ladies' wear. The fashioner likewise utilized vivid female printed chiffons within her daywear plans (Feifei 16). Night groups accompanied the long thin line for which the planner was known, additionally fused tulle, trim, and beautifying components that mellow and romanticize the by and large

What arguments can be given for and against the desirability of the Essay

What arguments can be given for and against the desirability of the existence of interest groups or (as Madison called them) factions in a democracy Which position do you think is correct - Essay Example The desirability of the existence of interest groups is quite high in the United States of America, because due to their existence, the civilians or the public are able to communicate their issues and concerns to those who are in various positions in the government. There are various interest groups in the US, and the civilians can find one according to their concerns at any point in time. One of the main purposes of any interest group is to influence policy-makers and the way American public system is shaped; interest groups have enough say in the policy-making process. Interest groups have been really effective mainly due to the power imbalance of the parties that are in the government; this imbalance has been created due to difference in power structure of the two branches of the US government. The desirability of interest groups has increased because of several reasons. The same government decisions may be hurtful for one group or community and fruitful for others; thus, those hurt by government policies use interest groups to lobby to make these policies more favourable for them. Sometimes, when a political party representing one side of population is elected, it may be prone to work for the interest of that particular side, so other sides feel neglected; therefore, such people create interest groups to make sure that their interests are not harmed. As an individual, one might not have the power, resources and voice to influence public policies; therefore, interest groups are seen as a means to achieve power and resources for certain individuals who want to safeguard their interests. Several interest groups are in existence in the US, and they are there for different purposes. Another important function of interest groups is to ensure that the members of the government do not devise policies for their own interests and attach equal importance to different individuals within the US; this ability of interest groups is regarded as oversight power. For

(How has the oil wealth affected the prospects of democratization in Essay

(How has the oil wealth affected the prospects of democratization in the Arab Gulf) and ( Evaluate the role of civil society in - Essay Example Political science and economics studies have found that there is limitation of advances in democracy where countries in the Middle East have vast oil reserves. Oil wealth has a long-term effect on Middle Eastern democracy efforts. While extraction activities normally take place over an extended period, major oil discoveries take place during these countries’ peak production years (Ehteshami 37). Oil discoveries made in democratic countries such as Norway have no effect on their democratic trajectories. However, where oil is discovered in non-democratic countries, it is less likely that these countries will transition to democracy. Oil discovery has little effect on democratic countries politically. While Iran has been under theocratic rule for over 20 years, oil was discovered when they were a democracy, which can be seen to date as the country holds regular elections compared to its other Middle Eastern oil producers. The country only became less democratic after the Western- led coup of 1953 before transitioning back to elective democracy. This is in contrast to Qatar that discovered oil as a monarchy and has not made any strides towards democracy (Ehteshami 37). Prior to the early 50s, Egypt had one of the most vibrant democracies in the region with limited supplies of oil peaking in the mid 60s after which oil production declined from the 90s onwards. A similar history is shared by Tunisia, which was also a democratic country when they discovered oil. The relatively peaceful transitions in these countries are not a coincidence (Ehteshami 38). This is in stark contrast to Syria, whose major oil discoveries were made during authoritarian military rule. The transition from Bashar Al-Assad’s government to another has seen a bloody civil war erupt, as is the case with Iraq where oil discoveries were made during authoritarian rule. Oil rich non-democratic countries spend more on their military in order to stay in power, which enhances their political power and prevents the democratization of their countries. Lucrative reserves of oil also provide dictators with the incentive to want to stay in power longer since they fear they will loose everything if another leader comes in (Ehteshami 38). While civil society has played a critical role in the democratization of countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe, this has not been reflected in the Middle East. In this region, NGOs have been tamed and weakened since they can be co-opted using oil money (Ehteshami 98). Meanwhile, the EU and the US have continued to emphasize how important it is to develop civil society. Funding by the west for Arab NGOs has seen a significant increase since the September 11 attacks. The amount of money channeled to Middle Eastern countries by the US has tripled in the 12 years since. However, empowerment of these NGOs remains flawed and aimless because the countries’ leaders also have money that can co-opt them. Most of the NGOs in Arab countri es are government organized with staffing and funding provided by the government. Their main idea in funding the NGOs has to do with managing and controlling change, rather than inspiring or instigating change (Ehteshami 98). Even where it is relatively easy to establish organizations that fight for democracy, these are still under strict

Proposal to build a nuclear power plant Research Paper

Proposal to build a nuclear power plant - Research Paper Example Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2014). Nuclear power confers several benefits over electricity that is generated from fossil fuels. In spite of these benefits, no new nuclear power plants have been built in the U.S. since 1996. This paper proposes the development of a nuclear power plant by the Eaton Corporation. While there are a number of environmental and safety concerns over nuclear power plants, their benefits far outweigh the costs. Nuclear power has several clear advantages over fossil fuel that currently accounts for the bulk of the nation’s energy. Nuclear energy produces an insignificant amount of carbon dioxide and no sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (Comby, 2001). These gases are produced in large quantities when fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity or other forms of energy. Carbon dioxide plays a part in global warming while nitrogen oxides form acid rain that is responsible for corroding man-made structures such as buildings. Besides the gases, compared to fossil fuels, nuclear reactors produce very small quantities of waste. For instance, about a ton of coal is required to generate the same amount of energy as a gram of uranium. Correspondingly, nuclear waste is a millionth of the waste generated from fossil fuel. In addition, if the nuclear reactor is well-designed, the nuclear waste is confined throughout the power generation process. Nuclear power has been produced commercially for half a century now. It has proven to be safe (Comby, 2001). To date, there have occurred only three major nuclear plant accidents: Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, USA in 1979, Chernobyl in 1986 in present-day Ukraine and Fukushima Daiichi in Japan in 2011. Of the three, the TMI was the worst: the entire core of the reactor melted completely. Fortunately, almost all the radioactivity that was released was confined within the reinforced concrete structure that contained the reactor. The amount that escaped into the surrounding was

Is the French ban on headscarves (al-hijab) in schools a good idea Research Paper

Is the French ban on headscarves (al-hijab) in schools a good idea - Research Paper Example During the period of 2004, the government of France passed a legislation that disallowed individuals from wearing and using any religious symbol in public schools (Hrw.org 1)1. This move made by the French government has been opposed as well as supported by Muslim and non-Muslim populations France. Around 80% of the people living in France have the ban on hijab (Coleman 1)2. Banning of Hijab is a good idea because The ban on headscarf levied by the government of France is correct because such legislation is consistent with the laws and regulations of human rights. The article 18 of human rights law states that individuals should only be allowed to freely practice their religion if their practice does not coerce or leads to public’s feeling of insecurity (Minorityrights.org 1)3. Recently, Muslims have been majorly held responsible for conducting acts of terrorism and due to this the public has started feeling insecure due to the presence of Muslims around them. Individuals even experience fear and mental torture when they see a Muslim female wearing a headscarf in the public. This fear of hijab is recognized as Islamophobia and islamophobia is infringing upon the rights of the student population of France to freely move around without the fear of being attacked (Crg.berkeley.edu 1)4. Since headscarf infringes upon other’s right of living a life without fear, headscarf’s ar e against the rules and regulations of human rights and should be continued to be banned in French schools. Another reason due to which France was correct in banning hijab in public schools was to protect the female Muslim student population from being coerced and discriminated against. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 Muslims have been heavily discriminated against throughout the world. They are discriminated in organizations, schools as well as in public. They have been beaten up and pushed around in different settings.

Goup Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Goup Communication - Essay Example e individual communication as well as group communication include greeting, having one’s stance on the subject of discussion, respecting others’ views and expressing one’s own without offending others, avoiding unnecessary argumentation and dysfunctional conflicts, and maintaining a balance between listening and speaking. Disagreement over a matter during discussion may lead to conflict. The main way to resolve such conflicts is to conduct a dialogue without using indecent or offensive language. The dialogue may not necessarily lead to a conclusion. In case there is a judge, the matter should be referred to him/her for decision. If there is no third party acting as a judge, it is better to change the topic of discussion. The aforesaid strategies of group communication can best be used with practicing more. For a manager to use these strategies while addressing a group, his/her communication style should be tailored towards the group’s needs (Mitchell, 2012). Effective communication in a group requires use of emotional intelligence. One also has to be a bit articulate to conduct group

Computerized Data Acquisition of a Second Order Reaction Essay Example for Free

Computerized Data Acquisition of a Second Order Reaction Essay The rates at which reactions occur depend on the composition and the temperature of the reaction mixture. Usually the rate of reaction is found to be proportional to the concentrations of the reactants raised to a power.1 There are many reactions that have a rate law in the form of: (1) v = k[A]a[B]b According to reference1 the power to which the concentration of a species (product or reactant) is raised in a rate law of this nature is the order of the reaction with respect to that species. In equation (1) first order with respect to [A] and first order with respect to [B]; however, the overall reaction is the sum of the individual orders. Thus we have a second order reaction. In this experiment a hexacyanoferrate(III) ion ([Fe(CN)6]3-) oxidizes ascorbic acid (C6H8O6) by the following reaction: (2) 2[Fe(CN)6]3- + C6H8O6 = 2[Fe(CN)6]4- + C6H6O6 + 2H+ The reaction above is of a first order reaction at room temperature with respect to individual reactants; therefore the reaction stoichiometry and rate law at time t are: (3) aA + bBproducts and (4) -d[A] = k[A] [B] where [A] represents the concentration of ascorbic acid and [B] represents the concentrations of [Fe(CN)6]3- at time t. For this experiment we will use an integrated rate law in the form of: (5) ln [A] = b [A]0 a [B]0 kt + ln [A]0 where [A]0 and [B]0 are the initial concentrations of C6H8O6 and [Fe(CN)6]3- and a=1 and b=2. From equation (5), it is possible to calculate the second-order rate constant k by plotting ln [A]/[B] against time (find slope of line where b=2 and a=1). EDTA in this experiment is used as a masking agent to hide metal ions that would normally interfere with the analysis in this reaction. Thus the absorbance of [Fe(CN)6]3- at time t is given by: (6) Absorbance = 1012 [Fe(CN)6]3- The oxidation of C6H8O6 by [Fe(CN)6]3- involves a mechanism that consists of 3 steps.2 In the first step, the ascorbate ion (AH-) is rapidly formed by ionization of the ascorbic acid. (7) AH2 AH + H+ Following the ionization is the slow rate-determining step, the oxidation of the ascorbate ion to an ascorbate free radical (AH∙): (8) [Fe(CN)6]3- + AH-[Fe(CN)6]4- + AH∙ During the final step, an electron is rapidly transferred from the ascorbate free radical to the hexacyanoferrate(III) anion, producing dehydroascorbic acid (A): (9) [Fe(CN)6]3- + AH- [Fe(CN)6]4- + A + H+ The slow rate-determining step is an ionic reaction between [Fe(CN)6]3- and AH-. According to reference3, the specific rate constant of an ionic reaction in aqueous solution depends on two factors: the ionic strength I of the solution and on the charges ZA and ZB of the ionic species reacting to for the activated complex. (10) log k = log k0 + 1.02ZAZB I1/2 Experimental All reagents in this experiment were of reagent grade. Mass measurements were taken on a Shimadzu Libror AEG-120 analytical scale with an uncertainty of  ±0.0001. Manual data acquisition was taken with a Barnstead/Turner SP-830 spectrophotometer and a stopwatch. The computerized data acquisition was completed by a Cary 50 Bio. The experiment began by preparing four solutions of 1 x 10-3 M of K3Fe(CN)6 with varied concentrations of NaNO3: 0.025 M, 0.05 M, 0.1 M and 0.2 M. This was completed by dissolving 0.0329245 ( ±0.001) g of K3Fe(CN)6 with the specified concentrations of NaNO3 and deionized water in a 100 mL volumetric flask. A 25 mL aliquot of each solution was transferred into a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask and the temperature of the aliquot was recorded. Next, a 500 mL 2.5 x 10-4 M solution of ascorbic acid was prepared by using a standardized 0.01 M HNO3 solution dissolved in 0.005 g of EDTA and deionized water. A 25 mL aliquot was transferred into each of the four 100 mL beakers by using a 25 mL pipet. The spectrophotometer was set to 418 nm and the absorbance reading was zeroed by using deionized water as a standard. The ascorbic acid in the beaker was poured into the K3Fe(CN)6 solution and the timer was immediately started. The Erlenmeyer flask was swirled for 2-3 seconds before pouring the reacting mixture into a 1-cm cuvette. The cuvette was conditioned with the reacting solution 4 times before being placed into the sample holder of the spectrophotometer. An absorbance reading was taken at 30 seconds and every 30 seconds thereafter for a total of 6 minutes. The same process was implemented with the Cary 50 Bio except that each sample was analyzed by the computer for 7 minutes and 53 seconds. Data/Results

The Structure Conduct Performance Framework In Industrial Organizations Economics Essay

The Structure Conduct Performance Framework In Industrial Organizations Economics Essay The SCP paradigm assumes that the market structure determines the conduct of the organization. This conduct, in turn, is the determinant of market performance. Examples of market performance include efficiency, profitability and growth. The framework seeks to establish that certain structures of the industry can lead to certain kinds of conduct or behaviour which then leads to various types of economic performance. The SCP paradigm was developed through evaluation of empirical studies involving American industries. Theoretical models were not used to support the paradigm. The conclusion that was drawn from empirical studies was that market structure determined performance. This is caused by the belief that the laws of competition should not be based on behavioural models but rather on structural remedies. According to J.S. Bain who developed the paradigm in the 1950s, most industries became concentrated than necessary (Ferguson Ferguson, 1994). In concentrated industries, there are high barriers to entry. New firms cannot enter these markets that easily. The SCP approach has been subjected to criticism in the recent years. Some critics say that the relationships between structure, conduct and performance are more complicated than originally thought (Ferguson Ferguson, 1994). Attempts are being made to link the framework back to the neoclassical theory. However, industrial organizations still use the SCP approach for analysis and as a tool in policy formulation. The SCP paradigm remains to be a basic tool used by industrial organizations in competition analysis. Structure is defined as the components and characteristics of the various markets and industries in an economy. Structure also involves the different sectors of the economy. In the SCP approach, structure is described as the characteristics and relevance of individual markets operating within the economy (Papatheodorou, 2006). It provides a description of the environment in which organizations operate within a specific market. The said structure can be identified by considering the size and number of buyers and sellers in the market. The structure can also be identified based on product differentiation, market barriers and the extent of integration or diversification of firms. Conduct in the SCP approach involves all actions and behaviour of organizations regarding the decisions being taken and the reasons behind them. Conduct focuses on how organizations set prices. Organizations will have to determine whether these prices are in collusion with other firms in the market (Perloff et. al., 2007). Industrial economists are concerned with the performance of organizations. Firms should be able to identify whether their activities and operations will improve economic welfare. Firms should also satisfy and meet customer demands within a specific period. The SCP approach helps organizations analyse whether their processes and products are produced efficiently. Organizations should determine whether the allocation of resources is efficient and effective. The right approach is not to waste resources and produce the right products in just the right quantities. Firms should also look at the other aspects of performance like the relationship between price and cost of product as well as the profits earned (De Jong Shepherd, 2007). In the current market, consumer tastes do not change that much. Producers and consumers are said to be perfectly informed. Because of the market conditions, the economic welfare can be maximized using the Pareto analysis in which marginal conditions are expected to be fulfilled. Under marginal conditions, firms are expected to set prices so that they will be equivalent to marginal cost. Using the neoclassical perfect competition model, firms can maximize their profits by ensuring that price will equal marginal cost. This will result in an effective combination of price and output (Ferguson Ferguson, 1994). The SCP approach states that performance should be determined by the conduct of organizations. This conduct is then determined by the characteristics of market structures. The relationships between structure, conduct and performance will then match the models of monopoly, perfect competition, oligopoly and monopolistic competition. The traditional SCP approach is attractive since it is straightforward in its line of reasoning and is comfortable with the identification of structural characteristics (Jones Sufrin, 2010). This kind of approach provides clear guidelines to firms regarding policymaking decisions. The performance of the firm can be further improved by taking actions that are designed to influence the current structures of a specific market. In most cases, performance can be predicted by considering structural conditions of the market. Such conditions can provide sufficient information and predict how organizations should behave. Ignoring conduct in all market conditions c an lead to misleading predictions in markets operating under oligopoly. However, modern economists no longer believe that structures determine the performance of firms (Papatheodorou, 2006). Still, they accept the idea that market structures are important for firms to not behave competitively. The traditional SCP paradigm has two main aspects. The first involves firms obtaining measurements of performance. This can be done by getting a direct measurement rather than just an estimate. The second aspect involves economists using observations gathered from across industries. This is done to create a regression of performance measures on various structures to be used in explaining market performance differences between industries (Papatheodorou, 2006). The measures of market performance can determine whether market power operates in an industry. Measurements of direct or indirect profit are indicators of the performance of an industry against competitive benchmarks. Some of these measurements are rate of return and price-cost margin. To determine how performance is different from structure, industrial economists will need to know the measures of market structure. One common measure of market structure is firm size distribution. This is concerned with the most important issue involving market structure. The relative size and number of firms are indicators of market structure. Organizations will exert more market power when there are few firms in the market. In most SCP research, industry concentration is a term used to measure the market shares of firms in the market (De Jong Shepherd, 2007). SCP studies have ignored the issue regarding exogenous measures relating to market structure. Common concentration measures are not considered as exogenous measures. Another serious issue in relation to this type of measure for market structure is bias. Most concentration measures are said to be biased due to improper descriptions in the market. Since international trade is more significant in other countries than just in US markets, another bias can come from ignoring exports and imports (De Jong Shepherd, 2007). Domestic concentration measures may not be significant measures of market power in such international industries. The Chicago School Critique. The Chicago School is a school of free-market economics. Unlike the Harvard University which was where the SCP paradigm originated, the foundations for competition analysis were based on the theoretical model of neoclassical theory rather than on empirical studies (Cseres, 2005). The Chicago School believed in the establishment of anti-trust laws. Economic efficiency should be the exclusive goal. Economic efficiency has two parts namely productive efficiency and allocated efficiency. In some instances, practices that can improve the organizationà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s productive efficiency can lower the allocated efficiency of the market (Perloff et al., 2007). The Chicago School also believe that most markets are competitive in nature. Even if some markets have a few sellers, the market remains competitive. Product differentiation is less likely to undermine competition. Product differentiation and high market concentration do not contribute to anti-competitive issues (Perloff et al., 2007). The critique of the Chicago School was based on two grounds. One is that government intervention depends on the loosely demonstrated failures of market. The abuse of market power is an example of market failure. The remedies proposed by the SCP paradigm do not need to improve in addressing the problem. The Chicago school also believes that the SCP paradigm is entirely based on anonymous market transactions and price theory (Clegg, 2006). Since the paradigm is based from these sources, it does not recognize the complex relationships that exist within and outside organizations. For example, an organization can choose to limit the number of suppliers in order to reduce the level of competition among them. The action may result in a complex pricing formula rather than getting a fixed unit price to filter customers. The price theory that drives the SCP paradigm is said to be lacking in explanatory power according to the Chicago school (Clegg, 2006). There are limitations because it explores how actors interact within a market. The Chicago paradigm takes a more dynamic approach to economic events. The inefficiency brought by market power is temporary in nature. This efficiency will soon be eliminated by the entry of more innovative organizations. The SCP paradigm has produced different variations of empirical work. Market structure is affected by different basic conditions. These basic conditions include technology, business culture, consumer preferences and product durability among other variables (Audretsch, 2006). Government intervention affects every component of the paradigm. Government intervention may come in the form of regulations, taxes and subsidies, international trade policies and price controls. The SCP paradigm is used as a type of checklist for policymakers (Audretsch, 2006). They should also understand the function of transaction cost economics. This is a concept that attempts to identify the most efficient institutional and organizational activities that will help reduce transaction costs. Transaction costs economics is also based on the concept of bounded rationality. Economic factors are believed to be purposely rational but limited. Transaction cost economics also recognizes that the internal management o f the organization and markets can be alternative forms of allocating resources (Cseres, 2005). These also rely on the facts with corresponding effects if an organization has achieved efficiency. The most efficient firm will be able to either enter the market and engage in specific transactions or take the transactions out of the market and into the organization. These transactions for example, can be the production of goods and services within a vertically integrated firm. To determine whether or not the transaction should be brought into the firm and taken out of the market, organizations should determine the frequency of the transaction. If the transactions are to be conducted frequently, it is best to bring that type of transaction into the organization (Cseres, 2005). The specific transaction might need skilled labour to complete. If for example the transaction seldom occurs like the construction of a new plant, the most efficient resource allocation will be to enter the market and contract services for the transaction to be performed (Jones Sufrin, 2010). The same concept applies when firms decide on the degree of uncertainty. If the risk is great, vertical integration into an organization will bring the most efficiency. If the product can be easily duplicated, the transaction should be conducted in the market. Modern Theory of Industrial Organization. The modern theory of industrial organization is a combination of the SCP and Chicago paradigms into a more comprehensive and successful approach (Jones Sufrin, 2010). This is known as the contract-based approach to industrial organization. The SCP paradigm still provides the guidelines but the analysis of conduct is extended from pricing theory to more contract behaviours. In conclusion, the traditional SCP paradigm is still useful for firms as a tool for analysis but other tools or measurements are needed to support the SCP approach. Static economic theories state that profits in the long-run may vary with market structures. These economic theories do not mention anything about the relationship between the market structure and profits during the short-run. Using the SCP paradigm alone may not result in accurate analysis.