The Effects Of The Great Depression - 4304 Words

Paper 2: The effects of the Great Depression By: Christa Dorvil Paper 2: The effects of the Great Depression By: Christa Dorvil Modern World History Instructed by Dr. Stephanie Laffer Miami International University of Art and Design Abstract Never had the flaws of capitalism been so evident or as devastating as during the decade that followed the outbreak of the Great Depression in 1929. All across the Euro-American heartland of capitalist world, this vaunted economy system seemed to unravel. For the rich it meant contracting stock prices that wiped out paper fortunes almost overnight. On that day that the American stock market initially crashed (October 24, 1929), eleven Wall Street finances committed suicide, some†¦show more content†¦Now in retrospect, the great depression was one of the deepest and prolonged economic downfalls in the 1930s. In the United States however, it soon began after the infamous stock market crash of October 1929, which in fact sent Wall Street into alarm and effected major investors as well business tycoons and other employees. This only deteriorated as businesses would suffer financially and unemployment was at an all the time high. Although President Franklin D. Roosevelt came up w ith tactics and strategies to lessen the effects of the damage done, the economy wouldn’t fully overcome until after 1939 as World War II shifted America. For a little over a decade, businesses would go through financial turmoil and people would have to find other ways to bring in revenue. During the late summer of the 1929, the American economy entered into a recession. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a recession is defined as a period of reduced economic activity. Investors had traded some 16 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange in a single day. That day in history was formally known as â€Å"Black Tuesday†. Those same shares had ended up being worthless with no monetary value. The investors who bought them with borrowed money, suffered an excessive lost. Consumer reliability was gone as spending was nonexistent which resulted in factories being closed down. The lack of consumerism also impacted

The Book The Banquet - 1450 Words

Introduction What was thought to be dead was seen alive, what seem to be gone was standing here right by your side, we can be lost in stories tricked into thinking that they are nothing more than twisted tales a fantasy but do we really know the truth that lies behind each one. I have told many stories of my own, stories that would haunt you in your sleep with creatures thirsty for your blood and hunger for your meat. Now let me take you on a journey of which I truly hope you will enjoy a journey far away deep into the past, so are you ready? Because the things that awaits you can forever leave you spellbound. Played by the mind Wet droplets are falling from the sky, as dark clouds are forming, â€Å"look like there’s going to be a storm†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦My hunger grew intensely as I did not pack any food for what I thought was a short journey regretting my action I continued on. Beatrice and I stopped by a creek for a short rest; we lay together under a tree and l looked up somehow mesmerized by the dark clouds, lost in my own thoughts I fell into a deep slumber. Unaware of the time I woke up dumbstruck as heavy rain shoots down from the sky and gustily wind pushing hard against my face with the sound of thunder crackling all around me. Beatrice and I struggling to get up we hurried to our carriage and quickly took refuge, with our clothes wet and damp we waited for the unforgiving rain to end. With much luck the horrific storm lasted for only a couple more minutes which was a huge relief but had made us fallen behind schedule. We step out of the carriage soaking wet as we hurried to change and quickly continued with no time to spare. Hungry we were Beatrice and I decided that we should stop by an inn hoping to find some food though we have been riding for so long that we don’t know for sure if we were travelling in the right direction relying on my experience we went on. Beatrice than asked me â€Å"sweetie are you sure this is the right way we been travelling for so long, the feast starts tomorrow evening and we need to be there by tonight† , I replied â€Å" I’m pretty sure this is the way don’t give your hopes up we’ll make it there in time†. I looked at Beatrice and seeing how

Dark Ages in Europe free essay sample

Dark Ages is the term that was formerly used to describe the decline of Roman culture and the turmoil in Europe in the 5th and 6th centuries after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Modern historians avoid the term with its implication that only Roman values were civilised values. Many Germanic peoples traveled through Italy, Germany, France, Spain and North Africa, settling wherever they could. Many groups formed their own kingdoms. The label employs traditional light-versus-darkness imagery to contrast the darkness of the period with earlier and later periods of light. Originally, the term characterized the bulk of the Middle Ages (ca. 5th 15th C. ) as a period of intellectual darkness between the extinguishing of the light of Rome and the Renaissance or rebirth from the 14th century onwards. This definition is still found in popular usage, but increased recognition of the accomplishments of the Middle Ages since the 19th century has led to the label being restricted in application. Since the 20th century, it is frequently applied only to the earlier part of the era, the Early Middle Ages (ca. 5th 9th C. ). However, many modern scholars who study the era tend to avoid the term altogether for its negative connotations, finding it misleading and inaccurate for any part of the Middle Ages. The concept of a Dark Age originated with the Italian scholar Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca) in the 1330s, and was originally intended as a sweeping criticism of the character of Late Latin literature. Petrarch regarded the post-Roman centuries as dark compared to the light of classical antiquity. Later historians expanded the term to refer to the transitional period between Roman times and the High Middle Ages (ca. 11th 13th C.), including not only the lack of Latin literature, but also a lack of contemporary written history, general demographic decline, limited building activity and material cultural achievements in general. Popular culture has further expanded on the term as a vehicle to depict the Middle Ages as a time of backwardness, extending its pejorative use and expanding its scope. The idea of a Dark Age originated with Petrarch in the 1330s. Writing of those who had come before him, he said: Amidst the errors there shone forth men of genius; no less keen were their eyes, although they were surrounded by darkness and dense gloom. Christian writers, including Petrarch himself, had long used traditional metaphors of light versus darkness to describe good versus evil. Petrarch was the first to co-opt the metaphor and give it secular meaning by reversing its application. Classical Antiquity, so long considered the dark age for its lack of Christianity, was now seen by Petrarch as the age of light because of its cultural achievements, while Petrarchs time, allegedly lacking such cultural achievements, was seen as the age of darkness. As an Italian, Petrarch saw the Roman Empire and the classical period as expressions of Italian greatness. He spent much of his time travelling through Europe rediscovering and republishing classic Latin and Greek texts. He wanted to restore the classical Latin language to its former purity. Humanists saw the preceding 900-year period as a time of stagnation. They saw history unfolding, not along the religious outline of Saint Augustines Six Ages of the World, but in cultural (or secular) terms through the progressive developments of classical ideals, literature, and art. During the Protestant Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries, Protestants wrote of the Middle Ages as a period of Catholic corruption. Just as Petrarchs writing was not an attack on Christianity per se -– along with his humanism, he was deeply occupied with the search for God –- neither was this an attack on Christianity: it was a drive to restore what Protestants saw as biblical Christianity. The Magdeburg Centuries was a celebrated work of ecclesiastical history compiled by Lutheran scholars and published between 1559 and 1574. Devoting a volume to each century, it covered the first thirteen centuries of Christianity up to 1298. The work was virulently anti-Catholic. Identifying the Pope as the Antichrist, it painted a dark picture of church history after the fifth century, characterizing it as increments of errors and their corrupting influences In response to the Protestants, Roman Catholics developed a counter-image, depicting the High Middle Ages in particular as a period of social and religious harmony, and not dark at all. The most important Catholic reply to the Magdeburg Centuries was the Annales Ecclesiastici by Cardinal Caesar Baronius. Baronius was a trained historian who kept theology in the background and produced a work that the Encyclop? dia Britannica in 1911 described as far surpassing anything before his day† and that Acton regarded as the greatest history of the Church ever writtenâ€Å". The Annales, covering the first twelve centuries of Christianity up to 1198, was published in twelve volumes between 1588 and 1607. It was in Volume X that Baronius coined the term dark age for the period between the end of the Carolingian Empire in 888 and the first inklings of the Gregorian Reform under Pope Clement II in 1046: The new age (saeculum) which was beginning, for its harshness and barrenness of good could well be called iron, for its baseness and abounding evil leaden, and moreover for its lack of writers (inopia scriptorum) dark (obscurum). Significantly, Baronius termed the age dark because of the paucity of written records capable of throwing light on it for the historian. While some historians, following Baroniuss lead, used dark age neutrally to refer to a dearth of written records, others, in the manner of the early humanists and Protestants (and later the Enlightenment writers and their successors right up to the present day) used it pejoratively, lapsing into that lack of neutrality and objectivity that has quite spoilt the term for many modern historians. The first British historian to use the term was most likely Gilbert Burnet, in the form darker ages, which appears several times in his work in the last quarter of the 17th century. His earliest use of it seems to have been in 1679 in the Epistle Dedicatory to Volume I of The History of the Reformation of the Church of England, where he writes: The design of the reformation was to restore Christianity to what it was at first, and to purge it of those corruptions, with which it was overrun in the later and darker ages. † He uses it again in 1682 in Volume II of the History, where he dismisses the story of St Georges fighting with the dragon as a legend formed in the darker ages to support the humour of chivalryâ€Å". Burnet was a Protestant bishop chronicling how England became Protestant and his use of the term is invariably pejorative During the 17th and 18th centuries, in the Age of Enlightenment, many critical thinkers saw religion as antithetical to reason. For them the Middle Ages, or Age of Faith, was therefore the polar opposite of the Age of Reason. Kant and Voltaire, among others, were vocal in attacking the religiously dominated Middle Ages as a period of social regress, while Gibbon in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire expressed contempt for the rubbish of the Dark Ages. The earliest entry for a capitalised Dark Ages in the Oxford English Dictionary is a reference in Henry Thomas Buckles History of Civilization in England in 1857. Starting and ending dates varied: the Dark Ages were considered by some to start in 410, by others in 476 when there was no longer an emperor in Rome, and to end about 800, at the time of the Carolingian Renaissance under Charlemagne, or to extend through the rest of the 1st millennium. ROMANTICISM In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Romantics reversed the negative assessment of Enlightenment critics and launched a vogue for medievalism. The word Gothic had been a term of opprobrium akin to Vandal until a few self-confident mid-18th-century English Goths like Horace Walpole initiated the Gothic Revival in the arts. This sparked off an interest in the Middle Ages, which for the following Romantic generation began to take on an idyllic image of the Age of Faith. This image, in reaction to a world dominated by Enlightenment rationalism in which reason trumped emotion, expressed a romantic view of a Golden Age of chivalry. Middle Ages were seen with romantic nostalgia as a period of social and environmental harmony and spiritual inspiration, in contrast to the excesses of the French Revolution and, most of all, to the environmental and social upheavals and sterile utilitarianism of the emerging industrial revolution. When the term Dark Ages is used by historians today, therefore, it is intended to be neutral, namely, to express the idea that the events of the period often seem dark to us because of the paucity of historical records compared with both earlier and later times. However, from the mid-20th century onwards, other historians became critical of even this nonjudgmental use of the term for two main reasons. First, it is questionable whether it is possible to use the term Dark Ages effectively in a neutral way; scholars may intend this, but it does not mean that ordinary readers will so understand it. Second, the explosion of new knowledge and insight into the history and culture of the Early Middle Ages, which 20th-century scholarship has achieved,[means that these centuries are no longer dark even in the sense of unknown to us. To avoid the value judgment implied by the expression, many historians avoid it altogether.

The Euro Plight

A single currency for the countries in the Eurozone was an idea that was brought up with the hope that this would steer economic development and eliminate trading barriers within this block. This has however turned to be a hindrance to economic growth within the region instead.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Euro Plight specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the Eurozone economic crisis and deflation that has been witnessed in the countries within the Eurozone, the Euro currency has lost its value against other world currencies. It has for instance been exchanging at around $1.32 against the US Dollar in the resent past as evident in the graph bellow. Various measures have been put in place so as to save the Euro from the loss of value. One of these measures has been the purchasing of assets by the Central Banks of various countries. Performance of the Euro against the US Dollar The bank of Japan for in stance launched a stimulus program where it was supposed to purchase assets with the intention of strengthening the Yen against major world currencies with the Euro included. This came in the wake of the European Central Bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve taking the same measures to strengthen their currencies. The purchasing of government as well as corporate bonds was aimed at strengthening the yen against major world currencies but it did not yield much as expected. Strengthening the yen only helped in reducing oversees corporate earnings. The exporters do not get maximum profits when the currency is so strong against other world currencies and this to some extend slowed down the economic recovery. The same measures that did not work quite effectively for the bank of Japan have been undertaken by the European Central Bank which is a clear indication that the Eurozone Economic Crisis is still far from being resolved. A stronger currency without the creation of jobs and building a p latform for economic development would do little to avert the Eurozone crisis. With all efforts being made to rescue the Euro against depreciating, the currency has remained consolidated for a long time against the major world currencies hence the need to come up with other formulas so as to save this currency. The currency has lost by 0.12% against the sterling pound hence exchanging at 0.8022. It also depreciated against other major currencies like the Swiss franc were it depreciated by 0.19% hence exchanging at 1.2088 Franc per Euro.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Performance of the Euro against the Sterling Pound The Bank of Japan had opted for quantitative easing which involves the printing of more currency. This money is then used in the purchasing of bonds as well as other bank assets from banks. This then implies that these banks have more money at their dispo sal to issue as loans, improving their infrastructure and creation of employment by the opening of more branches, increasing their assets which then trickle down to economic growth. This also helps in lowering the interest rates and this is quite critical in economic stimulation. It encourages spending and investment hence economic growth. The aim is basically to counter deflation by reducing interest and creating enough quantity reserve hence raising the price of these assets. The extremely lower interest rates might however make it hard for the banks to sail through inflation. This measure also causes distortion on the government dept particularly given that some government borrowings are usually with extremely low rates and buying such securities and bonds are likely to slow down economic stimulation and any changes on these can have an enormous impact on the economy. Sovereigns are also likely to mismanage their finances as they might not obey market pressures hence putting pres sure on the economy. The European Central Bank had taken up these measures in an effort to alleviate the European Economic Crisis. In spite of all these measures the Euro has not strengthened much against the world major currencies for instance the Japanese Yen where the Euro depreciated by 0.02 to exchange at 102.79 Yen per Euro. Performance of the Euro against the Japanese Yen The Capital Markets have particularly been closed to some countries as well as banks in the zone due to the crisis but the European Central Bank has promised to take some short-term actions in an effort to revive the bonds market. All the measures taken are meant to rescue the Eurozone from the Economic crisis but this is not supposed to act as a quick fix and it will take time before the recovery is fully realized.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Euro Plight specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By the end of next year, it is expec ted that the crisis will be over. Investors are however very cautious on the economic situation in the region with countries such as Spain which still need to be bailed out of their debts. This has slowed down the economic development in the region hence slowing down the recovery. The tax laws need to be changed so as to reduce the dept which is having a great effect on the GDP of the countries within the Eurozone. A compromise has to be reached concerning the tax laws as well as the appropriate measures to be taken so us to save the Euro. The issue of creation of employment as well as reducing job loses is quite crucial in averting the crisis even though all the parties concerned have not found a common solution to this particular issue. The road to recovery has been quite sluggish with so many obstacles to be overcome. The Euro currency has particularly consolidated with no major variations in terms of appreciation or depreciation of the Euro. Works Cited Lapavitsas, Costas. Crisi s in the Eurozone. London: Verso Books, 2012. This assessment on The Euro Plight was written and submitted by user Brock Flores to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Emancipation Proclamation Was Also Foreign Policy

The Emancipation Proclamation Was Also Foreign Policy Everyone knows that when Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 he was freeing American slaves. But did you know the abolition of slavery was also a key element of Lincolns foreign policy? When Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862, England had been threatening to intervene in the American Civil War for over a year. Lincolns intent to issue the final document on January 1, 1863, effectively prevented England, which had abolished slavery in its own territories, from stepping into the U.S. conflict. Background The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when the breakaway Southern Confederate States of America fired on the holdout U.S. Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Southern states had begun seceding in December 1860 after Abraham Lincoln won the presidency a month earlier. Lincoln, a Republican, was against slavery, but he had not called for its abolition. He campaigned on a policy of prohibiting the spread of slavery to western territories, but Southern slaveholders interpreted that as the beginning of the end for slavery. At his inauguration on March 4, 1861, Lincoln reiterated his stance. He had no intention to address slavery where it presently existed, but he did intend to preserve the Union. If the southern states wanted war, he would give it to them. First Year of War The first year of the war did not go well for the United States. The Confederacy won the opening battles of Bull Run in July 1861 and Wilsons Creek the next month. In the spring of 1862, Union troops captured western Tennessee but suffered appalling casualties at the Battle of Shiloh. In the east, a 100,000-man army failed to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, even though it maneuvered to its very gates. In the summer of 1862, General Robert E. Lee took command of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. He beat Union troops in the Battle of the Seven Days in June, then at the Second Battle of Bull Run in August. He then plotted an invasion of the North which he hoped would earn the South European recognition. England and the U.S. Civil War England traded with both North and South before the war, and both sides expected British support. The South expected dwindling cotton supplies due to the Norths blockade of Southern ports would leverage England into recognizing the South and forcing the North to a treaty table. Cotton proved not so strong, however, England had built-up supplies and other markets for cotton. England nevertheless supplied the South with most of its Enfield muskets and allowed Southern agents to build and outfit Confederate commerce raiders in England and sail them from English ports. Still, that did not constitute English recognition of the South as an independent nation. Since the War of 1812 ended in 1814, the U.S. and England had experienced what is known as the Era of Good Feelings. During that time, the two countries had arrived at a series of treaties beneficial to both, and the British Royal Navy tacitly enforced the U.S. Monroe Doctrine. Diplomatically, though, Great Britain could benefit from a fractured American government. The continental-sized United States posed a potential threat to British global, imperial hegemony. But a North America split into two―or perhaps more― squabbling governments should be no threat to Britains status. Socially, many in England felt a kinship to the more aristocratic American southerners. English politicians periodically debated intervening in the American war, but they took no action. For its part, France wanted to recognize the South, but it would do nothing without British agreement. Lee was playing to those possibilities of European intervention when he proposed invading the North. Lincoln, however, had another plan. Emancipation Proclamation In August 1862, Lincoln told his cabinet that he wanted to issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The Declaration of Independence was Lincolns guiding political document, and he believed literally in its statement that all men are created equal. He had for some time wanted to expand war aims to include abolishing slavery, and he saw an opportunity to use abolition as a war measure. Lincoln explained that the document would become effective on January 1, 1863. Any state that had given up the rebellion by that time could keep their slaves. He recognized that Southern animosity ran so deep that the Confederate states were unlikely to return to the Union. In effect, he was turning the war for union into a crusade. He also realized that Great Britain was progressive as far as slavery was concerned. Thanks to the political campaigns of William Wilberforce decades earlier, England had outlawed slavery at home and in its colonies. When the Civil War became about slavery―not just union―Great Britain could not morally recognize the South or intervene in the war. To do so would be diplomatically hypocritical. As such, the Emancipation was one part social document, one part war measure, and one part insightful foreign policy maneuver. Lincoln waited until U.S. troops won a quasi-victory at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, before he issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. As he expected, no southern states gave up the rebellion prior to January 1. Of course, the North had to win the war for emancipation to become effective, but until the wars end in April 1865, the U.S. no longer had to worry about English or European intervention.

The Individual Markings of the Black Swallowtail

The Individual Markings of the Black Swallowtail The black swallowtail, one of North America’s most familiar butterflies, frequently visits backyard gardens. They are a very common sight and youve likely seen the butterfly and caterpillar quite often, especially near your vegetables.   How to Identify Black Swallowtails This large butterfly has black wings with yellow markings and a wingspan of 8 to 11 centimeters. The male displays a row of bold yellow spots, while the female’s spots are faded shades of yellow and blue. The black swallowtail’s colors mimic those of similar species, such as the giant or pipevine swallowtails. To identify the black swallowtail, look for a pair of black dots centered in larger orange circles on the inner edge of the hind wings. The black swallowtail caterpillar changes appearance each time it molts. In the last few stages of growth, it is white and green with black bands and yellow or orange spots. The black swallowtail is also known as the Eastern black swallowtail, the parsley worm, and the parsnip swallowtail. The last two names refer to the insects proclivity to feed on plants in the carrot family. Black swallowtails fall into the Papilionidae family, which includes other swallowtails: Kingdom – AnimalPhylum – ArthropodaClass – InsectaOrder – LepidopteraFamily – PapilionidaeGenus – PapilioSpecies – polyxenes What Do Black Swallowtails Eat? The butterflies feed on nectar from flowers. Caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family, which includes dill, fennel, parsley, and carrots. Life Cycle Like all butterflies, the black swallowtail undergoes a complete metamorphosis. The life cycle has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Egg - It takes 3-5 days for eggs to hatch.Larva - The caterpillar has five instars  (the stage  between molts).Pupa - The chrysalis stage lasts 9-11 days, or over the winter.Adult - Northern areas have one or two generations; southern areas may have three. Special Adaptations and Defenses The caterpillar has a special gland called an osmeterium that emits a foul odor when it is threatened. The orange osmeterium looks like a forked snake tongue. Caterpillars also ingest oils from the host plants  of the carrot family; the foul taste of the chemical in their bodies repels birds and other predators. The chrysalides of the black swallowtail can be green or brown, depending on the color of the surface to which they are attached. This form of camouflage keeps them hidden from predators. The adult butterfly is thought to mimic the pipevine swallowtail, which is distasteful to predators. Habitat and Range of Black Swallowtails You will find black swallowtails in open fields and meadows, suburban yards, and roadsides. They are most common in  North America east of the Rocky Mountains. Their range extends south all the way to the northern tip of South America and they are also present in Australia.

W1 Disc Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation Essay

W1 Disc Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation - Essay Example In an article entitled â€Å"Managing Technological Innovation – Opportunity Recognition and Conflict Management† written by Agarwal (2010), the other provided two guidelines for strategic management of technology and innovation through market analysis and creative thinking. This is consistent with the guidelines discussed by White & Bruton (2011) who emphasized the need to be â€Å"proactive rather than reactive† (p. 26). The assumption of a proactive stance is analogous to the proposed conducting of a market analysis to â€Å"create the need for innovation† (Agarwal, 2010, p. 4). Likewise, as revealed, â€Å"there was some creating thinking that led to the emergence of IT† (Agarwal, 2010, p. 4). The encouragement of creative thinking is one of the crucial motivational tools that managers could instill as part of assessing the strengths of weaknesses of the organization’s work force, which is a necessary element in strategic management. The advice of Agarwal (2010) corroborates the managerial guidelines expounded by White & Bruton (2011) to manage technology and innovation

Carl Von Clausewitz on War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Carl Von Clausewitz on War - Essay Example As an initial matter, if one wishes to understand how leaders and military strategists approach the issues associated with war, it is necessary to understand the types of logic that they espouse. One school of thought, attributed to Karl Von Clausewitz, approaches war as a series of rational calculations. He rejects the notion that war is initiated, prosecuted, or terminated as a result of emotional whims; quite the contrary he sets forth a detailed framework by which relevant actors either do or ought to consider at each stage. In effect, he establishes a type of cost-benefit analysis attached to a political object. This cost-benefit analysis he has stated thusly: war is not an act of senseless passion but is controlled by its political object, the value of this object must determine the sacrifices to be made for it in magnitude and duration. Once the expenditure of efforts exceeds the value of the political object, the object must be renounced and peace must follow (Von Clausewitz, 1873). This short statement contains a number of relevant factors relevant to the conduct and termination of a war. First, the political object must be clearly defined or it may become very challenging to engage in any type of cost-benefit analysis. Nations that do not have a clearly defined political objective, or which find themselves confronted with changing political objectives, may find themselves unable to calculate meaningfully. America’s war in Iraq is a case in point; to illustrate, the political object was publicly stated to be the need to eliminate a dictator’s possession of weapons of mass destruction. This was a clearly defined political object and a cost-benefit analysis would have been rather straightforward. The American leadership could have determined the sacrifices, financially and in terms of lives lost, by determining the magnitude and duration of the military operation required to eliminate such weapons of mass destruction. A problem,

Sophies World Outline Essay Example for Free

Sophies World Outline Essay The idea that nothing can come from nothing is introduced. Sophie questions whether all things come from a basic element. She learned that things in nature are in a constant state of transformation. Is there a beginning of everything? What do you believe it to be?introduction: The idea that nothing can come from nothing is introduced. Sophie questions whether all things come from a basic element. She learned that things in nature are in a constant state of transformation. Is there a beginning of everything? What do you believe it to be? Yanotan Zelink I. event one A. Sophie receives a letter containing three new questions. Which she contemplates an entire day before getting another packet with a letter explaining to her that the philosophy course will be going from ancient Greek philosophy up to present day philosophy. B. She learns that the ancient Greeks believed the world was eternal. â€Å"The earliest Greek Philosophers are sometimes called natural philosophers because they were mainly concerned with the natural world and its processes† (30). So, they never asked about where it came from. Instead they were interested in the question of change. C. The Tao of Physics. II.event two A. The debate â€Å"what are we made of?† is raised. Early philosophers shared a belief that there had to be a certain basic substance at the root of all change. B. While some natural philosophers believed that everything was made of water, others believed they were made of air. â€Å"Earth, air, and fire were all necessary the creation of life† (33). C. Human-Aesthetic Perfection Song Lyrics. III.event three A. All Things Flow- â€Å"Everything is in constant flux and movement, nothing is abiding. Therefore we ‘cannot step twice into the river.’†(34)- Heraclitus B. Heraclitus states the world is made of opposites- we would not appreciate one thing if we did not experience the other. C. A Healthy Transformation by Dr. Jeffery McCombs. IV.conclusion A. As Sophie thinks about all of this, she concludes that one cannot learn philosophy. They can only learn how to think like a philosopher. V.journal questions A. If you were to come up with your own philosophy about life and what we’re made of, what would it be? Explain your philosophy. B. Other than physical aspects of a human, such as bones or basic elements, what would you say humans are made of emotionally or philosophically? Why? C. If there was only good in the world and no bad, how would it be and how would the outcome affect the world?

Comparison of the Chartres towers :: essays papers

Comparison of the Chartres towers The cathedral of Notre-Dame at Chartres must be one of the most beautiful and famous architectural specimens in the world today. The cathedral owns an exquisite silhouette against the sky of La Beauce. Two towers rise uncontested, to take watch over miles and miles of French countryside. Up close, the two towers, along with their spires, seem mismatched or unrelated. Yet, the two together provide for one of the most interesting juxtapositions in architecture. â‚ ¬Chartres cathedral has had a tumultuous history with both tragedies and triumphs. Charpentier notes that the site of the cathedral has also served various other purposes. The Romans had used the higher ground for a military camp, part of which still exists on the eastern side of the cathedral by the transition of apse to choir. In addition to the camp site, there was also the existance of a Gallo-Roman temple on the same site as Chartres cathedral. This temple is believed to have the same orientation as the cathedral and the cathedral's round apse uses the foundation of a Gallo-Roman defensive tower. This use of the Gallo-Roman defensive tower is also present at Bourges cathedral. The lower parts of the defensive tower formed a crypt which was incorporated into the ninth century Church of Gislebert, also known as Saint Lubin's chapel. On the night of September seventh 1020, the Church was completely razed by fire. â‚ ¬After the destruction of the church in Chartres, the bishop of Chartres, Saint Fulbert, spearheaded the campaign to build a church in Chartres. Only the crypt remained from the earlier Caroligian church and Fulbert built his Romanesque church around the enduring crypt. Fulbert's church lasted 200 years, but in 1134 the front faÅ“ade was damaged by another fire. It was at this time that a effort to update and restore the church was put into motion. The religious powers, along with the Crusaders longed for a greater monument. Thus, Chartres decided to beg in a separate tower.â‚ ¬This adding on to Romanesque churches was not unusual for the day. The abbey-church at Cluny, outside Italy, was given a new magnificent five-bay narthex and two bell-towers. A similar renovation was attempted at La CharitÅ’, but funds ran short and the upgrades could not be completed. â‚ ¬Hence, in 1134 the tower forming the north-west corner of the present-day cathedral, (the left tower of the west faÅ“ade elevation), underwent construction.

How Does Drug Influence Teenagers? Essay

Many teenagers get high from abusing substances which range from diverted prescription drugs to street drugs to inhalants to alcohol. Some of these teens will go on to a life of addiction, abusing increasingly dangerous substances. Some teens will have more short-lived experience, as abusing a drug or other substance even one time can be fatal. Parents and interested adults should examine the factors that lead teenagers to abuse substances in an effort to prevent this risky behavior. Peer Pressure The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that peers have a large influence on drug-abusing behavior. Many teens use drugs for the first time to avoid being stigmatized by their friends or to impress others. The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign advises that the best way for teens to avoid succumbing to peer pressure is to be prepared in advance with ideas of what they want to say. Parents can empower teens by role playing situations. The parent assumes the role of the drug-using peer and the child practices reacting to being pressured into participating in drug use. Sponsored Links Teach English with KBT Lesson plans, worksheet, and activities for ESL students www.KBTeachers.com Genetics According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, scientists recognize that genetic predispositions to drug abuse exist, but they have yet to pinpoint the specific genes involved. This may have to do with a brain â€Å"feel good† chemical called dopamine, and a person’s gene-controlled relationship with it. While one teen may try a hallucinogen one time, a teen genetically predisposed to have addiction problems may desire to use it again and again as they naturally derive more pleasure from dopamine or have a deficit of it to begin with. While scientists figure all this out, parents should strongly caution teens who have might have a genetic relationship with a drug addict or alcoholic about avoiding substance abuse. Family Growing up in a family that emphasizes getting â€Å"high† from legal or illegal substances can cause an adolescent to think drug use is acceptable. Mayo Clinic explains that this unhealthy family influence may be a factor in a teen’s initial drug experimentation. Exposure to family members who reach for a substance to cure every pain or ailment can cause a teen to do the same. Teens get many of their values from parents and other adult influences, and often mimic what they see. Its never too late to establish healthier family traditions and set a good example for teens. Thrill-seeking Tendencies Teenagers who have a tendency to seek thrills and adrenaline rushes may be at higher risk of abusing drugs due to the â€Å"high† feeling that is achieved from early substance use. While everyone enjoys a rush of feel-good chemicals from appropriate sources, some teens get a feeling from drugs that causes them to continue their use despite negative consequences. If a parent sees a pattern of thrill-seeking behavior in his child, he can discuss safe outlets for it versus unsafe drug use. Stress Some teens, like some adults, reach for substances as an attempt to relieve stress. This can be the root of substance abuse in adolescents with underlying mental conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder. Child abuse—past or current—can create the level of stress that triggers some teens to abuse drugs. If your child seems to be under undue stress, insist on a mental health evaluation and counseling if needed. Low Self-worth A teenager with low self-worth is more likely to engage in self-abusive behaviors such as drug use. This likelihood is heightened if some of the other mentioned influencing factors are also present in a teen’s life. Parents can help a child find skills in which she excels to help avoid or counteract low self-worth. Desire for Performance Enhancement According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, some teenagers begin using drugs as a misguided attempt to improve sports or academic performance. These teens often have a sense of immortality and do not feel that the drug’s negative effects can harm them. All teen athletes should be educated on the dangers of performance enhancing drugs and all students should understand that doing the best they can in their schoolwork is all that is required for their parents to be proud of them.

Ethical challenges face by Martin Luther King Junior Essay

Martin Luther King’s legacy is that of a crusader for justice, equality and peace. He possessed the ability to cloak his causes in the highest of ethical standards. It is said that he could speak of ‘freedom’ and ‘justice’ and the ‘promised land’ and arouse the idealistic emotions of black and white, rich and poor. Even when he talked tough, he sought a higher level with phrases like ‘direct action’ and ‘conformation’ and ‘militant non-violence’. The main aim or the term paper is to find out the ethical challenges faced by King, and what he did to overcome them. The rise of Martin Luther At the time King started his role as an emancipator, the African Americans lived difficult lives. Despite the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation during the American Civil War, many African Americans and other minorities continued to endure inequality for the next century, especially in the south. Local statutes known as Jim Crow laws were passed that effectively barred people such as African Americans from fully executing their constitutional rights, such as voting. Segregation was common in the South, and African Americans were not always guaranteed their rights in other parts of the country either. Many felt the congress needed to pass new laws to guarantee these privileges. Eventually, Africans Americans decided that they could not rely on whites to act on their behalf and choose a leader of their own movement to bring about this change, Martin Luther King Jr. Challenges faced by Martin Luther Martin Luther was a moral leader, who brought the country out of the dark time in American history. He always had a commitment to serve others, and this led him beyond the fight for racial and political equality, and in to the realm of economic equality. He was the most effective person in bringing hope to the black community, which had suffered in the hands of the whites. King faced many ethical challenges, but since he was a pastor, he was able to judge right and overcome them. At that time, groups like the Ku Klux Klan, terrorized and persecuted African Americans, carrying out lynching and other acts of violence. Being a pastor, he had to look for other ways to fight for the rights of the African Americans, which were non-violent. A lot of violent acts, including the bombing of his house and several assassination attempts, were some of the hardships he had to endure. However, the fact that he never replayed back in violent ways, and was instead able to pave way for his future advocacy of nonviolent means of conflict resolution prove that he was clearly a man of straight ethics. When he was stabbed in 1958, he traveled to India to meet with the followers of the Late Mahatma Gadhi, who was also an advocate of peaceful, nonviolent protests. This emphasizes the fact that he never advocated for violence. King was also arrested many times, but these arrests never stopped him from advocating for the rights of the African Americans. One of such incidents occurred in 1962, when he led demonstrations against segregation in Albany, Georgia. For his efforts, he was arrested and jailed, but the arrest did not yield any results. However, he learned form his experiences, and the following year, 1963, proved to be a watershed year for the civil rights movement largely due to his work. King’s belief in equality and justice Being the leader of a movement, for the black people, King believed in reconciliation, among the whites and the blacks. Reconciliation was a result of such unethical acts as discrimination of the black by the whites. He could have chosen not to fight for the freedom of the blacks, but he went to the extent of endangering his life for them, just because he wanted the blacks to be treated in the right ethical manner. As a leader and through his determination, he could see that it was not right that Americans be separated by the fact that they had different skin colors. He did a lot, to ensure that the blacks earned their right place in the society. Based on these efforts, it can be said that King demonstrated his characteristics as a good leader, who could make good ethical decisions. He argued that the role of the state was to provide the physical and material conditions required for full reconciliation to become a reality within society. From 1955-1963, King focused his efforts on the need for the state to act as an agent by sanctioning desegregation in the various forms of public accommodations. King focused his work on calling the state to effect reconciliation between its citizen and the economic and political systems that alienated them.

Chicago the musical review essays

Chicago the musical review essays On both the 12th Chicago. I watched it with the drama class on the 12th and Courtney on the 23rd. The main cast members were Catherine Zita-Jones starring as Velma Kelley, Renee Zellweger starring as Roxie Hart and Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. When the musical/ movie started I saw an old modernized pub with lots of bar girls smoking and lots of men in the background drinking. Everyone was dressed in 1930s style clothes and jazz music was playing and Velma had just started singing little things like Velma washing her hands made me feel intrigued to know more, at the very start I thought this is pretty average Im not going to like it because I dont usually watch musicals but overall I my first impressions were reasonably good. Chicagos basic plot was Murders Velma Kelly (who killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together)and Roxie Hart (Who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn't going to make her a star) find themselves facing death together and fight to keep themselves or make themselves stars. During this fight Roxies husband gets treated unfairly and an innocent women is hung! To save herself from being hung Roxie Hart lies about everything and fools the media into believing she is a good girl. Chicago is a musical, this means that all the emotions people are trying to express are done through songs or asides. Two of the lead characters were Roxie Hart, and Billy Flynn (Renee Zellweger ...

Birthday Customs and Traditions in Germany

Birthday Customs and Traditions in Germany Many people, both young and old, love celebrating their birthday. In Germany, like in most countries around the world, cake, presents, family, and friends bring in the fun for such a special day. In general, birthday customs in Germany are similar to American birthday celebrations, with a few peculiar exceptions sprinkled here and there throughout German-speaking countries. German Birthday Customs and Traditions(Deutsche Geburtstagsbruche und Traditionen) Never wish a German a happy birthday before their birthday. It is considered bad luck to do so. There are no well-wishes, cards or presents given before a German’s birthday. Period. On the other hand, if you live in certain parts of Austria, it is customary to celebrate your birthday on the eve of. If somebody in Germany invites you out for their birthday, the tab is on them. And don’t try insisting on paying for yourself - it won’t work. If you live in northern Germany and happen to be single going on thirty, a few chores may be expected from you. If you’re female, your friends will want you to clean a few doorknobs for them with a toothbrush! If you’re male, then you’ll most likely be sweeping the stairs of town hall or some other busy public place.There is a way to be freed from such menial tasks, however - by a kiss from someone of the opposite sex. Of course, if you dont want to be so mean to your friend, there are alternatives. For instance, the doorknob chore is sometimes executed by having the birthday girl clean a series of doorknobs attached to a wooden board instead, right at her party and not in public. But you cant let them off so easy; it is also tradition to comically dress the birthday girl and boy as they perform their tasks. Other birthday customs include: 16th Birthday: This birthday child should run for cover as his or her friends will undoubtedly pour flour on top of his or her head. Common in northern Germany.18th Birthday: Cracking eggs over the head of someone turning 18.25th Birthday: Once again, if you are an unmarried man, the whole town will know! A Sockenkranz, a type of garland of socks is strung outside the home and around the birthday boy’s property leading to his party. As he follows the garland of socks, he’ll down an alcoholic drink every few meters. Why socks? In German, you have the expression alte Socke (an old sock), more of a derogatory way of saying confirmed bachelor.† A similar experience awaits unmarried women turning this age. They follow a garland of cigarette cartons instead (or other similar-sized cartons if they are non-smokers). These single women are nicknamed eine alte Schachtel (an old box), similar in meaning to old maid. Geburtstagskranz These are beautifully decorated wooden rings that usually contain ten to twelve holes, one for each year of life as a child. Some families opt to light candles in such Geburtstagskrnze instead of on the cake, though blowing out candles on a birthday cake is frequently observed in Germany as well. A bigger Lebenskerze (life candle) is put in the center of these rings. In religious families, these Lebenskerzen are given at the time of the child’s christening.

Creating Graphics for Learning and Performance Essay

Creating Graphics for Learning and Performance - Essay Example Serif typefaces have little extensions at the end of the character. Sans serifs, on the other hand, do not have those little extensions at the end. At large, sans is considered more readable especially in electronic-based presentations such as PowerPoint presentations. This is normally because, in high resolution, serifs are not well shown thus making serif typefaces to lose their readability. Therefore, sans serifs are always preferred to serifs when it comes to the writing of computer-based instructional material. However, most people seem to hold the belief that reading body text written in serif typeface is easier especially for extended text (William &Tollet, 1998). According to William, readability is concerned with the ease of reading the extended text, a lot of text, pages of text, and pages. Can I, therefore, claim that serifs are better than sans for reading? I would say Yes and No. No, sans are rather better than serifs when used in preparing instructional material, when l egibility is the goal.   Thus, this question of whether sans or a serif is better for readability is debatable. Chapter 9 Web activity Q. Attempt one of the web activities below. If activity one is chosen, remember that they are two in number and thus you should do all. The second activity should be carried out in the mentioned forum if at all the writer decides to attempt. Activity 1 Using a black and white typography, the meaning of the following words needs to be expressed in an art form. A typography representing the word Collaboration A typography representing the word Synergy A typography representing the word Bossiness A typography representing the word Alienation Use typography (black and white only) to express the words: A typography representing the word Anger A typography representing the word Discord A typography representing the word Harmony A typography representing the word joy Chapter 9 Challenge Activity Activity: Designing words that express their meaning A design expressing the meaning of the word Exit A design expressing the meaning of the word Typhoon A design depicting the meaning of the word walk Chapter 10 Focus questions Q. 1: Are meanings attached to shapes? Yes, meanings are attached to shapes. According to Hansen (1999), designers get more than classic experience when it comes to simple shapes. Shapes such as circles, squares, ovals, lines, and rectangles all have some instructional attribute or meaning. For instance, when ovals and circles are used, they often portray, or show harmony, unity, focus attention, slow process, and portray elements of subsystems or systems.

Economic Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Economic Critique - Essay Example In principle, they would push the excess or extra tax to the customers and buyers of their products and services. Conventionally, the increase in princes due to increased taxation implies that the level of goods demanded would reduce since the people would not be in any position to buy. The law of equilibrium demands that for the markets or economy to clear, then demand ought to be equal to supply of goods or services. If the demand would reduce then the supply would also reduce in equal proportion. In the recent past, the Obama administration and the government at large has been pushing for a change in the fiscal policy relating to reduction in general taxes levied to the people especially those of the poor classes. This move or fiscal move is expansionary in nature. This is the situation where the government seeks to reduce the level of taxes that is levied to people especially the poor people in move aimed at cushioning them against the hard economic times of the current day and age. John Keynes as a pioneer economist and thinker advocated for the expansionary policy where the government reduces the taxes levied on the citizens to cushion them during inflation or times of economic anomie. In the field of economics, this expansionary move is taken and aimed at reducing the budget surplus and get the economy back to recovery path. On the contrary, the classical view is slightly different relative to the above position and stance. The classical economists are of the opinion that the expansionary moves and policies are completely unnecessary and would create an unnecessary disturbance on the economy. This is so because the classical economists believe that there are necessary and appropriate mechanisms in the market or economy which would correct and clear the market and economy on their own. This is to say that the market has

History of Drug Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History of Drug Testing - Essay Example To start with, the war against use of illicit drugs began in the ancient times of civilization and passed on from one generation to another. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, the first anti-opium laws formulated in the 1870s showing that even in the early days, governments were concerned on the welfare of citizens (1). The regulatory authorities took the responsibility of ensuring that the prevalence and use of illicit drugs was minimized among the citizens. However, it is during the reign of President Nixon that war against illicit drugs in the U.S. heightened. President Nixon increased the war against drugs by increasing and expanding the federal drug control agencies (The Drug Policy Alliance [DPA] 1). Subsequent American presidents also advocated for the war against drugs. For example, President George W. Bush allocated more money than ever to the war against drugs and further introduced drug testing to students (DPA 1). Because of government efforts in the fight against illicit drugs, drug testing became popular and various testing techniques introduced to facilitate the work of anti-drug agencies. One of the significant drug test technique introduced is the Marquis test. Marquis test is a simple and cost effective technique used to test for the presence of psychoactive drugs and further determine the chemical content (Erowid 1). The technique is effective because it distinguishes between â€Å"amphetamine and its ring substituted analogues† (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 18). The Marquis test is used by the law enforcement agencies to detect the presence of drugs on suspected criminals easily because it offers immediate results through color changes. Considering the mechanism of operation, Marquis Test utilizes the Marquis Reagent which is a chemical mixture made up of sulfuric acid and formaldehyde (Erowid 1). The Marquis Reagent, used to make ecstasy-testing kits, produces the results through

AirAsia Business Case Study: Strategy and Environment

AirAsia Business Case Study: Strategy and Environment AirAsia is one of the leading airlines corporation of Malaysia that performed exceedingly well in terms of its past investments and the profits that it made out of it after its relaunch. It was acquitted by a private entrepreneur Tony Fernandes when it was highly under debt. The sudden changes in the profit graph came to the surface soon when it announced its first profit right in seven months of its re-launch. The innovations in strategy and investments brought immense amount of profit to the company in the following years. It invested amounts on new and effective services and cut shorted various not essentially required expenditure to reduce the overall cost. With the implementation of its successful LCC model, the whole business model of AirAsia was changed and it became first Airline Corporation to have no-cost, no-frill concept to lower the prices by 40-60% than its rivals. The results were quite beneficial as it announced its first profit as US$6 million in December, 2002. The corporation kept on expanding its business with the opening of three other hubs within Malaysia to have more share of market size on domestic air flights in Malaysia. It also invested in to have regional flights to its neighboring countries like Thailand and Indonesia with its collaboration with Thailand Shin Corporation and Awair. This made AirAsia to have cheaper airlines to the neighboring countries. AirAsia soon emerged as the largest domestic airlines in Malaysia with the expectancies of over 18 million passengers in the year 2007. With its partnerships with various LCCs, the corporation performed well enough for its long-haul regional services. Its joint ventures with the LCCs like Australias virgin blue, the corporation got a big share in the expanding market of Australia. Its market kept on expanding over the years with the commencement of its flights to even the far cities like London and also for close countries like India and China with the net income reaching over US$ 44 millions in the year 2008. B] STRATEGIC POSTURE The mission of the corporation is to provide high-quality but low cost flying services to all type of passengers. The corporation being a part of airline industry, it missions to become the leader of the market by implementing its smart strategies and sharp business skills. As quoted by its owner Fernandes, he overtook the corporation during its declining stage as he advocated the correctness of time to enter the market because of charter aircraft price and abundance of skilled aircraft staff. The company has been consistent in following its goals and objectives throughout in its performance in the past decade. The corporate objectives were innovative and highly efficient with its symbolic acquisition of its own by Tony Fernandes, joint venture with Thailand Shin Corporation, Awair, Singapores Tiger Airways, etc to provide a broad destination options for its customers at the right times when it was needed. The business model was reconstructed with no-frills, low cost carriers (LCC) w hich brought immense amount of profits to them. The business objectives were to get not only the quality customers but the quantity customers with its seats available in different schemes and at different prices for all type of class of customers. They were constantly consistent with each other to provide exactly what the customers wants and what actually can be managed. The functionality objectives were always to cut down the economic fair of air travel by either performing to get reduced charge from the passengers or providing effective routes for them reducing their net expenditure on travel. It also added various value-added services like online booking, SMS booking, and bookings through call centers, etc. AirAsia soon became the integrated service provider from being a classic LCC product in its functionality to provide maximum attraction to its customers. The objectives were also consistent with the environment of the corporation. Even during the hikes in the prices of oil in mid-2008, the corporation didnt let the fairs go that high which was quite helpful for the corporation in beating off its competitors. The AirAsia opted for various cost-effective, customer-oriented and highly innovative strategies to shape its business model to reach its ultimate missions and objectives. With its innovative low-fare, no-frills concept it highly reduced the cost of air ticket such as by having just a single standard cabin, paid meals instead of pre-paid free meals, etc. The corporation found efficient ways of reducing the expenditure on travel by the customers while expanding its domestic and international business. Like for example, the short-haul flights took less than four hours for travel which provided it opportunity of having the return of the flights on the same day conserving many of the expenses of the corporation. The company also launched its long-hauled air services at the time when many of the LCCs were reluctant for that. All the strategies or mix of strategies were consistently aiming at gradually achieving the goals and the objectives of the corporation and dynamic with the changing internal and external environment. The corporation adopted bold and dynamic policies to achieve its objectives. The corporation first concentrated only on the domestic market and modified its business model to LCC. Then, gradually and steadily corporation expanded itself to first neighboring countries and then internationally across the continents. The missions, objectives, policies and the strategies clearly reflect the companys goals to achieve success not only at domestic level but also the international level (KO, 2009). EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT: A] NATURAL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: SUSTAINABLE ISSUES Opportunities: The physical environment around the corporations site of business is climatically categorized as equatorial, being hot and humid throughout the year. The climate is favorably well enough to support the flight take-off, landing and flying. The physical location of Malaysia also favors the growth of the organization as it is well connected to the seas and oceans and so for its long-haul regional services, the corporation does not require to manage the permissions to cross the airbase of other countries. In this way the surrounding physical environment of Malaysia provides fair opportunities for AirAsia. Threats: Coming to the threats involved with the natural environment, the well connection of the country to other continents through seas and oceans provides enough opportunities for the journey through ships and Cruzes too which somewhere indirectly can effects the market of AirAsia. The Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia is also a prone area for tsunamis and earthquakes that could affect any industry. The hot and humid climate also affects the working capabilities of the crew. These types of physical environments are also present in few other parts of the world and the same opportunities and threats exist there too. B] SOCIETAL ENVIRONMENT: Economy: The economy of Malaysia is a newly industrialized and state-oriented economy that plays a significant role in the success of AirAsia. The speedily growing economy of the country allows more and more customers to be able afford the airlines travel cost that makes a lot in the growth of a privately owned airlines especially it was relaunched soon after the nation came out of the financial crisis of Asia in 1997. Technological: The technological advancements in the fields of Information technology and Communication have led the value-added services of the corporation to work effectively. Political-legal: The political condition of Malaysia had also been in favor of the corporation as its acquisition was highly welcomed by the Malaysian government and there had been no conflict between the corporation and the governance of the nation till now. Socio-cultural: The hospitality of the people with their own diversity in food, cloth, etc and scenic beauty has always made Malaysia as a tourist spot for the tourists all over the world that has again proved a benefiting factor for the corporation. C] TASK ENVIRONMENT The forces like natural environment, external investments, location of hubs, rivalry with competitors, financial crisis, government policies, etc are the major forces that drive the industrial competitions. These forces vary from country to country as the economy; political, cultural conditions are not the same for every country. The following forces are listed with their ratings: Threats for new entrants- Medium Bargaining power of buyers- Low Threats of substitute products or services- High Bargaining power of supplier- Low Rivalry among the competing firms- High Relative power of unions, governments and special interest groups, etc.- High The key factors in the immediate environment affect a lot to the corporation. The government policies decide the taxes, establishment of hubs, permissions of number flights, etc. The loyalty of the labor unions ensures the smooth functioning of any corporation. The suppliers, providers, creditors always affect the quality of the services provided to the customers. INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT A] CORPORATE STRUCTURE Following is the way as the corporate structure of Air Asia at present (Organizational Structure, 2009): The structure is as we can see in a horizontal manner which means hierarchy is horizontal in the company. This is obviously something good for the company as interaction with lower level employees becomes easier for the above level of the employee or vice versa. Structure is comparable with most of airline firms as they also have the same horizontal hierarchy. B] CORPORATE CULTURE Corporate culture of the company is mainly base upon maximizing the value of shareholders. It also mainly believes in giving safety to the customers. It believes in giving maximum satisfaction to the customers with leaders in the cost structure It believes in transparency and development of human capital. Company is very much compatible with the employees and their diversities as it is providing employee satisfaction to all of its employees The company is similar in the cultural values like similar organizations as most of the organizations in the aviation sector have the similar cultural values (Strategy, 2006). C] CORPORATE RESOURCES- 1. MARKETING: The current marketing objectives of the corporation are to get maximum number of customers of all types by making such schemes in which everyone can be accommodated. Its tagline Now Everyone can fly says the basic fundamental concept behind its marketing objectives. The corporation effectively found the ways of getting the most effective routes to suit both its cost and customers satisfaction. The corporation has kept on adding and modifying its features and value added services to provide maximum offerings to increase its sales. The company has also strongly stuck itself to LCC principles. The corporation has also recently announced the commencements of its flights to even far-off places like London. The corporation has not only offered cheap tickets but also the services like travel insurance, etc. The free tickets on the basis of its point to the customer are another such offering. All these have also been dynamic and corresponding with its performance and availability of budgets. The company has very well performed on the basis of its current market position and the position from which it had started during its relaunch. The company has enough promotion and publicity in media through its publicity strategies. The fares of ticket have always been kept as low as possible despite of all sorts of problems coming up like price hikes of oil, etc. The company is even the sponsor of the famous Manchester United Football Club and ATT Williams Formula one team to have its world-wide promotion. The market size of the company is expanding with the launch of its several multinational collaboration and establishment of the joint ventures in Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, etc. Besides, its primary product of airline tickets its several other products include internet check-in services, Xpress boarding services, mileage programs, Citibank-Air Asia Credit Card, etc. The company is able to earn for the same product easily from the developed region in comparison to that in dev eloping region. This shows a trend that the basically the marketing strategy of a company should cover every section of the society in order to have maximum profit. This trend had been a fair impact on the success rate of a company and surely will be in the future too. The marketing of its products gives the company massive advantage over its competitors. The marketing strategies of the corporation have beaten all its major competitors both in terms of profits and customers satisfaction. The marketing managers have accepted these tools and techniques to evaluate the performance of a product. Marketing is highly dependent upon the political and socio-economic conditions prevailing in a country and hence same marketing strategy cannot be applied for adjustments in all the countries. The marketing takes an overall account in every dimension and hence the environmental sustainability has to be a guiding factor in marketing policies. 2. FINANCE: Corporations current financial objectives, strategies, policies and programs have been with high hopes of return. The corporation had to invest much on the purchase of flights, managing the crew of a debt-ridden firm and maximize its scale in a very less time. The finance has been clearly mentioned but under the limitations of its past performance. They have been exactly consistent with the objectives, policies and strategies of the corporation. The corporations finance in the activities of setting up of hubs within and outside Malaysia with the collaboration of other corporations helped them to gain several direct or indirect benefits. Its financial services like holiday products and all, charge for meal as customer desires, online and SMS bookings, medical care, etc did enough cash flow but in return it got enormous level of attachment with the customer who would always like to stick to AirAsia for its services. The smart finance policies of finance showed a trend of financing the long-term goals and objectives without compromising with the immediate ones can be an effective way to earn maximum economic profits. The past effects are already shown by the AirAsia and in future it is expected no less. This analysis strongly supports corporations past and pending strategic decisions. The financial success in terms of returns provides company with a competitive advantage. The financial performance of the corporation can be very well compared to others with the fact that out of many corporations based on LCC, it became number one in 2008. The profits were always high and when the MAS tried to have a price war it had to suffer huge losses. The finance is quite adjustable to the condition operating in various countries. The coping up of finance with global finance issue was also very well proved by the corporation during the period of global recession. Also, the finance managers play a very important role in strategic management as they are the ones who evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of the strategies made and implemented. 3. OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS The current service objectives, strategies, policies and programs of the corporation are not much different from those meant for the organization as a whole. They are meant for sale but with ensuring of its reputation and sustainability in the market. The services provided by the AirAsia are accurately meant for achieving its mission and objectives. They are clearly stated and structured with the requirement in the market. Also, they have always been revolutionary and innovative in their respective approaches. The cost effective and high quality services have the capabilities of not only bringing the ultimate customer satisfaction but also the favorably high returns of profits. Although the company has now started to focus internationally but still it has not been deviated from its initial aim of becoming the market leader of the domestic market. The purchasing is being handled on the very basis of its requirement. The other points to be highlighted are vulnerable to unexpected natural disasters, local or international strikes, hikes in prices of the materials and the other issues. 4. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT The corporation has also effectively managed its human resource to benefit all. Even during its relaunch it didnt cut short the employees. It even saw the opportunities in hiring the skilled professionals, workers and other employees. Their objectives and strategies were again consistent with the corporations missions and objectives achieving the satisfaction for all even its own employees. There was not even a single considerable instance on clashes between employees and the top managing employers. The policies straight away indicate that they are simple, well stated, less dependent on the performance of the corporation and satisfactory for all of its employees. There have been less grievances, strikes and lay-offs which have been a great cause of success that has been achieved by the corporation till now. The commitment and loyalty of the employees as outcomes of proper HRM can be proved by the instance when Fernandes appreciated the staffs positive work ethic to overcome the finan cial issue of mid-2008. 5. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The role of Information Technology was another important factor involved with the successful AirAsia. The current objectives and strategies of the corporation regarding IT is to advertise its features and services, add the services and products to the catalog and solve various issues regarding the customer care with direct interaction with them. They are clearly defined with no dependence on budget or performance. They have been implemented for the better accomplishment of corporations goals and objectives. Many of the value added services are handled by IT by providing the travelers with the interface for online booking, internet check-in service, cancellations, etc. The Real 5 star rating was another example of this kind. The IT played a very important role in assisting the managers in taking the decisions and decides the immediate strategy. The database of the customer could be easily maintained, the complaints of the customer is speedily managed with the help of Information Technology. This analysis emerges a trend that in this era of boom in IT sector, the appropriate use of IT is a must for any kind of business. This had a positive impact on the business model of AirAsia and surely with the expansion of IT sector the positive impact obviously would be there. STRATEGIC FACTORS Four Important Internal Factors: The marketing innovations and its implementation. The smart finance policies with the fixed priorities which should also be at the correct time. The proper use of available manpower, avoiding confrontation among them for maximizing the proper functioning capability of the corporation. The efficient use of the resources like Information Technology, etc. Four Important external Factors: The government policies and the relationships with the government. The natural environment and the calamities that can unexpectedly occur. The economic, social and cultural factors of a country. Rivalry with other corporations. The current mission and objectives can be justified in the light of available resources, problems and the environment and they are achieved and will be achieved at an appreciating rate in the future looking at the present prospectus. STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES: The corporation can further go ahead with more effective use of IT. The dual seat system can be implemented in domestic level too. The corporation has enough expanded and it can now open its chain to other South-east Asian countries, where such strategies would be highly invited. BUSINESS LEVEL STRATEGY ADOPTED BY AIRASIA The business model of AirAsia is well established and fairly ideal for other industries as well. With the perfectly set goals, mission and listed strategy ensures the well functioning of the corporation. Foundation of the corporation is based upon low cost, efficiency, stimulation of new markets and strong cash flow. Strategies highlight the concepts of simplicity, quality services at low cost, etc. And the vision is to continue to be lowest cost in the market. The corporation started its business with just three aircraft in 2002 which grew to the number 72 in 2008. The corporation has enough popularity in print and electronic media. With its low cost and high quality services and the customers satisfaction with the products of the corporation, the corporation has emerged out as a market leader in the industry. According to the porters five forces model, absolute cost advantage, government policies, fulfillment of capital requirements, its proprietary products, value added services, and the importance given to the supplier clearly indicates that the strategies opted by the corporation are suitable for it. The buyers inclination to the substitute, switching costs, and corporate stakes are the obvious risks for the corporation. (Porters Five Forces: A MODEL FOR INDUSTRY ANALYSIS)

Shadowing :: essays research papers

shadowing experience at Doherty, Duggan and Rousse Insurers was on Wednesday March 20, 2005. At the beginning of the experience there was eight o’clock devotion about the different kinds of â€Å"wants†, we as human beings in a society of wants not needs. I met an array of assistants, accountants and different sales representatives. I met Charlotte Easterling the â€Å"central hub†, the administrative assistant of the entire firm. Regina King, the accounting manager she works on the payroll, which she outsources, pays bills and payables. Laura Coutu, the accounting and system administrator she books for computers the firm uses and she is the day to day computer tech and support. I met Melinda Duggan a sales associate with commercial selling. She oversees the account of Southern Ad trucking company, At nine fifteen there was a sales meeting, sales associates meet to discuss sales calls and sales revenue. Associates talk about different venues to sell to, states commission and also talk about different companies and corporation they sell to or try to sell to. Each sales associate spends about three to four minutes each discussing sales about previous week, commissions ranging from $40.00 to $8000.00. At twelve fifteen the firm have their quarterly meeting called WE Incorporated, the meeting starts out with birthdays and work anniversaries. The accounting manager states TARGETS for each individual department. The different departments state commissions and other new accounts. The different departments vary as such: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Claims, Accountant, Administrative, Procedures, Rewards and Recognition and Events. They have a Profile section which sales executives talk about biggest sales of a particular departments and the firms accolades, this week was Fred Taylor Trucking Company, Southern AD carriers who have been with the firm since they had 5 trucks and 17 trailers, they now have 327 trucks and 239 trailers, lastly the firm mentioned Water, Gas and Light Commission which is their largest account.

Great Gatsby Novel vs Film Essay

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an iconic novel of American literature. It is seen as a definitive novel that highlights aspects of life and thinking in 1920’s America. Due to its cultural significance and popularity, numerous attempts have been made to translate The Great Gatsby from novel to film. The most notable presence of the film portrayed on screen, was the 1974 film, The Great Gatsby. The film starred big name celebrities such as Robert Redford as Gatsby, Mia Farrow as Daisy, and Sam Waterston as Nick. The movie also featured a script written by Francis Ford Coppola. While overall being considered a good film which stayed true to the novel, many thought it lacked heart and emotion. While Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby is the fifth time, the novel has been filmed, it is only the second time a film adaptation of the novel will see a widespread general release. The Great Gatsby (2013) comes from Australian director Baz Luhrmann, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. The film like the book, is told through the narration of Nick Carraway. Carraway lives next to the mysterious Gatsby who has numerous large and extravagant parties. Gatsby is rarely seen by the public, and it is unknown to people how Gatsby became wealthy. The film follows Nick’s interactions with Gatsby and most notably the relationships between Gatsby, and the girl he loves Daisy Buchanan, as well as Daisy’s husband Tom. Much of the tension in the film stems from the class differences between New Money, and Old Money. People who belong to the class of Old Money are generally old aristocratic families, specifically highlighted by Tom and Daisy Buchanan. People who belong to the class of New Money are people who have recently acquired there fortune through various entrepreneurial ventures and jobs such as stock brokers. The main characters in the film who are part of New Money are Gatsby and Nick. The film is set against the backdrop of the wealthy society during the roaring twenties in and around New York and Long Island. Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby tries to express the same themes as are found in the book. One of the main themes is the differences in the various classes in the United States. Gatsby has a very different outlook on life compared to that of Tom Buchanan. Gatsby is considered new money meaning his fortune is recent and self-made, while Tom is from old money, where legacy and familiarity with the wealthy lifestyle are more apparent. Tom tends to believe in class and education and finds Gatsby essentially a crude bootlegger. Gatsby while not having the sophistication or education of Tom believes he can win over Daisy’s heart with extravagant parties and money. The film also demonstrates the apparent dismissal of the new money as equals. Tom is seen as a bully and someone with less morals than that of Gatsby, highlighted through Tom’s affair with another woman. The film also highlights the recklessness of the 1920’s. The 1920’s are shown as a period where money was plentiful and people were not afraid to spend it. People were frequently spending money they did not have on things they did not need. Gatsby is shown to be a very flashy person with a pink suit and expensive cars. Historically speaking it is now known compared to when the book was written the consequences of the recklessness. (i. e. the great depression) It is clear that the main relationship that Luhrmann wanted to emphasize was the relationship between Gatsby and Nick. Throughout the course of the film there are various differences from the novel that highlight the emotional relationship that Gatsby and Nick share with one another. For example the film has Nick telling the story to a doctor at a centre for rehabilitation, while the novel does not specify who Nick is narrating the story too. Nick is apparently here for Alcoholism which demonstrates that his experiences with Gatsby and ultimately Gatsby’s death took a more traumatic toll on Nick’s life. Also in the film Nick’s relationship with other women, specifically Jordan in the novel, is virtually non-existent. In the film there is no evidence to show that Nick maintains or has a romantic relationship with anyone. This once again highlights the strength of his relationship with Gatsby. Perhaps the most interesting difference is the lack of anyone who shows up for Gatsby’s funeral in the film. Nick is the only one who attends the funeral and he is seen as heartbroken. In the novel however, people do attend Gatsby’s funeral specifically Gatsby’s father. The special relationship that Luhrmann creates for Gatsby and Nick may be suggesting that Nick is in fact in love with Gatsby. Being directed by Baz Luhrmann, anyone familiar with his previous work will know what to expect from The Great Gatsby. People who enjoyed the general story of the book will enjoy this particular film version, but as for getting a point across or inciting emotion the film tends to be very shallow. While Luhrmann likes to create a visual spectacle, one can only be distracted by pretty colours and lights for so long. The actors in the film, while all good, are clearly not the directors primary focus. Luhrmann is able to bring the spectacular parties and beautiful landscapes to life, he is not able to really create distinct relationships between the characters and actors of the film. The two most standout performances are that of Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio, the relationship between Gatsby and Carraway is by far the most interesting part of the film. Carraway’s obsession and defence of Gatsby may lead one to believe that he wants to be more than just friends with Gatsby.

First World War Essay

I have focussed my monologue on the character of Sheila Birling. Her role in the play was significant as it is coming from the point of view of a young, upper class woman. Her naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve views represent her role as an authoritative figure in society who has the ability to help Eva Smith, but her selfishness and her egotistic manner contradicts the main theme running through out the play of An Inspector Calls that one person’s actions impact another’s and we all have a duty in helping people lower in the system. JB Priestley wrote the play in 1942 about a retrospective time just before the First World War. Sheila’s main role in the play was that she was able and had the power to get Eva sacked because of her position in society, whereas Eva, who was of a lower class than Sheila, was not able to stand up for herself because she did not have enough power. Sheila abuses her superior position in society for petty reasons of that Eva is prettier than her.  I chose to write about her, as she is a very expendable character who has no firm reason or purpose in firing Eva Smith. When the inspector questions Sheila about the photo Sheila says ‘You Knew it was me all the time, didn’t you?’ By saying this Sheila opens herself up (explain) and seems to accept responsibility for her actions and is showing this to the inspector, rather than trying to cover the truth up with lies, or try to pass on the blame to others as some characters in the play do. Her character I think is important in the play, as I believe that Priestly was trying to demonstrate later on in the play that the youth could change. The setting of my monologue of Sheila alone and isolated symbolises her distance from what she was once in the play. The year now being 1916, four years down the line, she has turned her back on the aristocratic life and is trying to dissolve into an unprivileged life.  Her clothes are the colour of green and brown that shake off her previous character of wealth and affluence as to her new attempted classless status. Sheila has disconnected herself from the Birlings and perhaps is trying to punish herself by living the life that the Eva Smith once led. Sheila’s job now includes working at homeless shelters and working for charities. Her language has become less energetic and fluent than it once was. I have however tried to include some of the phrases from the play ‘it was a mean thing to do’ I tried to make use of punctuation and grammar to create her feelings and emotions. In the monologue I have use ellipsis to show pauses, when she might be thinking or reflecting on painful memories. Exclamation marks are used to get her point across that she is getting agitated and snappy To the audience, I was trying to convey the ideas of Sheila being a changed woman. That she has come to realise that status and power isn’t everything. She can look past this now and look forward to a happy future with her new baby and Gerald, her husband.  I think the Play writer’s view on Sheila and all the characters from the play was that the younger generation can learn from their mistakes, and he directs strong criticism towards businessmen who are only interesting in making money and will never lean from their mistakes. Sheila’s the second person to be questioned by the Inspector and her response to Eva’s death is the most caring and heartfelt. She is genuinely upset by the death of Eva. The play is set in 1912. The periods between 1910 and 1945 were a great period of social change. In 1912 was the year that the titanic set sail, the year that the Suffragette movement started campaigning for women’s rights in society. The war being a main factor, affecting society greatly and it began the process of merging class boundaries. The upper class young men were sent to the front line as officers and where many of the great landed families of Edwardian Great Britain began to disappear. My overall intention with this monologue was to understand the significant character of the young, impressionable Sheila Birling and how she is central to the key themes in the play and how the Inspector plays the social conscience on all the characters minds.  By the close of the play, Sheila has come to realise that herself and her family have lied to each other, and also to the Inspector. She begins to see her whole life was a lie, the relationship she had with Gerald and lying to herself. She begins to see that she needs to start her life again with truth, starting with correcting her mistakes.

Supersaurus - Facts and Figures

Supersaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Supersaurus (Greek for super lizard); pronounced SOUP-er-SORE-us Habitat: Woodlands of North America Historical Period: Late Jurassic (155-145 million years ago) Size and Weight: Over 100 feet long and up to 40 tons Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Extremely long neck and tail; small head; quadrupedal posture About Supersaurus In most ways, Supersaurus was a typical sauropod of the late Jurassic period, with its exceedingly long neck and tail, bulky body, and comparatively small head (and brain). What set this dinosaur apart from enormous cousins like Diplodocus and Argentinosaurus was its unusual length: Supersaurus may have measured a whopping 110 feet from head to tail, or over one-third the length of a football field, which would make it one of the longest terrestrial animals in the history of life on earth! (Its important to keep in mind that his extreme length didnt translate into extreme bulk: Supersaurus probably only weighed about 40 tons, max, compared to up to 100 tons for still-obscure plant-eating dinosaurs like Bruhathkayosaurus and Futalognkosaurus). Despite its size and its comic-book-friendly name, Supersaurus still lingers on the fringes of true respectability in the paleontology community. The closest relative of this dinosaur was once thought to be Barosaurus, but a more recent fossil discovery (in Wyoming in 1996) makes Apatosaurus (the dinosaur once known as Brontosaurus) the more likely candidate; the exact phylogenetic relationships are still being worked out, and may never be fully understood in the absence of additional fossil evidence. And the standing of Supersaurus has been further undermined by the controversy surrounding the oddly spelled Ultrasauros (previously Ultrasaurus), which was described around the same time, by the same paleontologist, and has since been classified as a synonym of the already-dubious Supersaurus.

Pro Forma Sessions in Congress

Pro Forma Sessions in Congress In the daily agendas of the House of Representatives and Senate, you will often see that House or Senate leaders have scheduled a â€Å"pro forma† session for the day. What is a pro forma session, what is its purpose, and why do they sometimes stir up political firestorms? Key Takeaways: Pro Forma Sessions Pro forma sessions are meetings of the U.S. Congress held â€Å"in form only.† Either house of Congress can hold pro forma sessions.During pro forma sessions, no votes are taken and no other legislative business is conducted.Pro forma sessions are held for the purpose of meeting the â€Å"three-day rule† in Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution. The three day rule prohibits either chamber of Congress from not meeting for more than three consecutive calendar days during a congressional session without the approval of the other chamber. The term pro forma is a Latin term meaning â€Å"as a matter of form† or â€Å"for the sake of form.† While either chamber of Congress can hold them, pro forma sessions are most often held in the Senate. Typically, no legislative business, such as the introduction or debate on bills or resolutions, is conducted during a pro forma session. As a result, pro forma sessions rarely last more than a few minutes from gavel-to-gavel. There are no constitutional restrictions on how long pro forma sessions must last or what business may be conducted in them. While any Senator or Representative present can open and preside over a pro forma session, the attendance of other members is not required. Indeed, most pro forma sessions are conducted before nearly empty chambers of Congress.   A Senator or Representative from one of the nearby states of Virginia, Maryland or Delaware is usually chosen to preside over pro forma sessions since members from other states have usually left Washington, D.C. for vacations or meeting with constituents in their home districts or states. The Official Purpose of Pro Forma Sessions The officially stated purpose for pro forma sessions is to comply with Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, which prohibits either chamber of Congress from adjourning for more than three consecutive calendar days without the consent of the other chamber. Scheduled long-term breaks provided for in the annual legislative calendars for  sessions of Congress, such as the summer breaks and district work periods are typically provided for by the passage in both chambers of a joint resolution declaring the adjournment. However, the numerous unofficial reason for holding pro forma sessions of Congress often results in controversy and politically hurt feelings. The More Controversial Purpose of Pro Forma Sessions While doing so never fails to raise controversy, the minority party in the Senate often holds pro forma sessions specifically to prevent the President of the United States from making â€Å"recess appointments† of persons to fill vacancies in federal offices that require the approval of the Senate. The president is allowed under Article II, Section 2  of the Constitution to make recess appointments during recesses or adjournments of Congress. Persons appointed by recess appointments assume their position without the approval of the Senate but must be confirmed by the Senate before the end of the next session of Congress, or when the position again becomes vacant. As long as the Senate meets in pro forma sessions, Congress never officially adjourns, thus blocking the president from making recess appointments. However, in 2012, President Barak Obama made four recess appointments during Congress’ winter break, despite a run of daily pro forma sessions called by Senate Republicans. Obama argued at the time that pro forma sessions do not block the president’s â€Å"constitutional authority† to make appointments. Despite being challenged by Republicans, Obama’s recess appointees were eventually confirmed by the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Understand Chemistry Unit Conversions

Understand Chemistry Unit Conversions Unit conversions are important in all sciences, although they may seem more critical in chemistry because many calculations use different units. Every measurement you take should reporting with the proper units. While it may take practice to master unit conversions, you only need to know how to multiply, divide, add, and subtract to do them. The math is easy as long as you know which units can be converted from one to another and how to set up conversion factors in an equation. Know the Base Units There are several common base quantities, such as mass, temperature, and volume. You can convert between different units of a base quantity, but may not be able to convert from one type of quantity to another. For example, you can convert grams to moles or kilograms, but you cant convert grams to Kelvin. Grams, moles, and kilograms are all units that describe the amount of matter, while Kelvin describes temperature. There are seven fundamental base units in the SI or metric system, plus there are other units that are considered base units in other systems. A base unit is a single unit. Here are some common ones: Mass kilogram (kg), gram (g), pound (lb) Distance or Length meter (m), centimeter (cm), inch (in), kilometer (km), mile (mi) Time second (s), minute (min), hour (hr), day, year Temperature Kelvin (K), Celsius (C), Fahrenheit (F) Quantity mole (mol) Electric Current ampere (amp) Luminous Intensity candela Understand Derived Units Derived units (sometimes called special units) combine the base units. An example of a derived unit is a unit for area, square meters (m2) or the unit of force, the newton (kg ·m/s2). Also included are volume units. For example, there are liters (l), milliliters (ml), cubic centimeter (cm3). Unit Prefixes In order to convert between units, youll want to know common unit prefixes. These are used primarily in the metric system as a sort of shorthand notation to make numbers easier to express. Here are some useful prefixes to know: Name Symbol Factor giga- G 109 mega- M 106 kilo- k 103 hecto- h 102 deca- da 101 base unit 100 deci- d 10-1 centi- c 10-2 milli- m 10-3 micro- 10-6 nano- n 10-9 pico- p 10-12 femto- f 10-15 As example of how to use the prefixes: 1000 meters 1 kilometer 1 km For very large or very small numbers, its easier to use scientific notation: 1000 103 0.00005 5 x 10-4 Performing Unit Conversions With all of this in mind, youre ready to perform unit conversions. A unit conversion can be thought of as a sort of equation. In math, you may recall if you multiply any number times 1, it is unchanged. Unit conversions work the same way, except 1 is expressed in the form of a conversion factor or ratio. Consider the unit conversion: 1 g 1000 mg This could be written as: 1g / 1000 mg 1 or 1000 mg / 1 g 1 If you multiply a value times either of these fractions, its value will be unchanged. Youll use this to cancel out units to convert them. Heres an example (notice how the grams cancel out in the numerator and denominator): 4.2x10-31g x 1000mg/1g 4.2x10-31 x 1000 mg 4.2x10-28 mg Using Your Calculator You can enter in these values in scientific notation on your calculator using the EE button: 4.2 EE -31 x 1 EE3 which will give you: 4.2 E -18 Heres another example. Convert 48.3 inches into feet. Either you know the conversion factor between inches and feet or you can look it up: 12 inches 1 foot or 12 in 1 ft Now, you set up the conversion so that the inches will cancel out, leaving you with feet in your final answer: 48.3 inches x 1 foot/12 inches 4.03 ft There is inches in both the top (numerator) and bottom (denominator) of the expression, so it cancels out. If you had tried to write: 48.3 inches x 12 inches/1 foot you would have had square inches / foot, which wouldnt have given you the desired units. Always check your conversion factor to make sure the correct term cancels out! You may need to switch the fraction around. Key Points Unit conversions only work if the units are the same type. For example, you cant convert mass into temperature or volume into energy.In chemistry, it would be nice if you only had to convert between metric units, but there are many common units in other systems. For example, you may need to convert a Fahrenheit temperature into Celsius or a pound mass into kilograms.The only math skills you need to do unit conversions are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.