EDMA_601_Assignment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EDMA_601_Assignment - Assignment Example Managers are ultimately accountable for the performance of their subordinates, and this can be measured through sales, production costs, etc. In addition to this, managers are also responsible for making sure that goals and objectives are communicated between upper management and the working staff. Managers are required to make sure that employees are staying on track and are moving toward the goals of the firm. Planning involves first determining an end goal or point by which success can be measured. Second, planning requires coming up with a process that will help the organization to get where it ultimately wants to. Finally, there needs to be the flexibility to readjust goals part way through the process if the situation changes. The three types of planning are operational, strategic, and contingency. Operational planning has to do with specific goals that are used to achieve job responsibilities. Strategic planning is more about the goals of the entire organization and then matching those up with each department. Finally, contingency planning is putting in emergency measures in case there is a change in the plan. Staffing has to do with assigning employees to roles and training them appropriately. The three major parts of staffing are planning, execution, and maintenance. Planning involves preparing for future changes, execution is how to enact those changes, and maintenance has to do with making sure nothing goes wrong with the changes proposed. The management function of controlling has to do with making a comparison between organizational performance and desired outcomes and then making adjustments to meet those outcomes. Management is all about making sure that the process is continuous and there is a clear chain of command. There are three main types of control: feedforward, concurrent, and feedback. The difference between each of them is that the first attempts to prevent problems from occurring in

Lenins Power Essay Essay Example for Free

Lenins Power Essay Essay Lenin was able to consolidate his power because of the weakness of his opponents. Find evidence to support or refute this statement. Chloe Tomlinson There were many different equally important reasons why Lenin and the Bolsheviks were able to hold on to their power. For Lenin, and the Bolsheviks, winning political power was relatively easy, compared with retaining it. They had many different objects to overcome, such as; Russia was in chaos, politically and economically, and normal government had broken down in large areas, yet despite all these problems Lenin was able to consolidate his power – and create the world’s first communist state. There are four main topics in which Lenin was able hold on to his power; Trotsky’s organisation of the Red Army, the disunity of white oppression, war communism and the leadership qualities of Lenin. The first topic to discuss is Trotsky’s organisation of the Red Army. The Red Army refers to the traditional colour of the communist movement. The conception was that it should be â€Å"formed from the class-conscious and best elements of the working classes.† All citizens of the Russian republic over the age of 18 were eligible. It introduced new methods and orders, one of the foremost order he issued was, â€Å"I give warning†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Trotsky was a superb leader and built it for nothing. Trotsky also had previous experience in relation to armies, he was very courageous, exactly the type of leader that was needed. This formation of the Red Army was very supportive towards Lenin as they were a formidable fighting force, and by 1921 had seen of many threats. For example, the White army, Green armies and various interventionist armies. A second reason in support of this statement is the disunity of white oppression. In June 1918 the Russian civil war broke out. The supporters of the government were called the Reds and their opponents the Whi tes. Japan, Britain, France and the US intervened on the side of the Whites. However the aid was half-hearted and morale among many of the foreign troops were low. The white oppression was seen as a weakness of Lenin’s opponents as the â€Å"whites†, as they were referred to, lacked good leaders, commanders were often cruel, an white generals did not trust each other. Bolshevik forces defeated the different White generals who never fought together and were separated from each other. The main White armies under the Generals Kolchak Denikin, Yudenich, and Wrangel were each in turn crushed. Some of the factors contributing to the Reds victory was due to; the Control of industry,  Bolshevik unity, White disunity. Bolsheviks outnumbered the reds by about three to one and also the fact that most of the industry and railways remained under Bolshevik control A third reason why Lenin was able to consolidate his power was due to War communism. This topic of discussion falls into the category of one of the longer-term effects in Lenin’s chief policies enacted by his aims and ideology. War Communism was an emergency programme establi shed by Lenin during the civil war. It was also a method he used to try and consolidate his power and maintain control of the country. War Communism- helped Lenin achieve his aims of controlling Russia and move towards a more socialist state. The industry was nationalised, grain requisitioning from the peasants to be able to fight the civil war, banning of private trade, labour discipline and the Red Terror. All helped Lenin and the Bolsheviks win the Civil War and so securing their power as well as carry out Bolshevik ideology. As War Communism made Lenin able to win the civil war and secure his power, it was therefore very possible to argue that Lenins rise to power was not complete until after the civil war when he had full control over the country. War Communism was in favour of Lenin being able to consolidate power as the Bolsheviks used terror effectively. There was a six week period known as the Red Terror that saw any remaining aristocracy (most begun to flee the country after February revolution). Monarchists and riches middle class, were arrested, executed, exiled or stripped of their power, estates and pr ivilege. Additionally, in March, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed with the Germans, was the Bolsheviks ending the war. Russia lost the Ukraine, its Polish and Baltic territories, and Finland. The treaty was hugely unpopular in Russia but necessary if the Bolsheviks were to establish control of Russia. Lenin believed that the revolution would soon spread to Germany and this would reduce the effect of the Treaty. A final point that supports the statement of Lenin consolidating his power due to the weakness of his opponents was due to the fact that Lenin had good leadership qualities. An example of this would be that the Bolsheviks were highly disciplined party that was fiercely loyal to Lenin and was also a politically astute man. Lenin was able to adapt Marxism to fit the changing situation, keeping Bolshevik support and popularising the parties polices. Furthermore, another advantage was that radical parties were very popular in Russia before the October Revolution and Lenin was  skilfully able to take some of the policies of his rivals and make them appear to both Marxism and distinctly Lennist. T here is also a refute side to this statement as there is within every discussion. There are two main topics that refute such as my first viewpoint is that the Bolshevik party had no experience of running a country before and they did also not have the support from most of the Russian population. Therefore they were in a weak position and need more support. Lenin could not afford the popular tide of aspirations that had led to the failure of the Tsar as well as the Provisional Government, so he gave the people what they wanted in order to secure support for his reign. For example Lenin gave the Russian people Land reform. This was an aim that gave that gave the peasants the right to take over the estates of the gentry, without compensation to the landlords, and for themselves decide the best way to divide it up. This however, went against Bolshevik ideology and was the start of the kulak problem that Stalin was later to be faced with. Another point in refute to this statement is that Maxim Gorky, a leading Bolshevik party, intellectual, was particularly unhappy with Lenin’s actions. He revealed his despondency of the time, writing â€Å"the best Russians had lived for almost a 100 years with the idea of a Constituent Assembly as a political organ. Extra information on refute to this statement also comes from yet again, War Communism. This included forced seizure of grain, nationalization of all trade and industry and strict control of labour. As a result of this program and of the ravages of the war, industrial and agricultural production declined sharply, and the population suffered severe hardship. It caused a famine that led to the death of an estimated 5 million people. This would have made Lenin and the Bolshevik party massively unpopular as an estimated of 5 million people were dead and holding Lenin responsible as he introduced this emergency programme which resulted severely for everyone.

The Ozone Layer and Climate Change Essay -- Global Warming Environment

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution early in the nineteenth century, our ability to change the world around us has become profound. At first, the impact on our planet was almost imperceptible, but as we have grown both in number and technological capability, that influence has grown with us. Lately, the effects of our increased activity have begun to manifest themselves in a multitude of subtle, and some not so subtle ways: we have thinned the ozone layer and may now be starting to change the very climate system upon which we and all other life on Earth depend. In effect, we are experimenting with the future, but unlike performing a laboratory experiment, which can be scrapped and begun anew if it fails, altering the climate is something that cannot be easily undone. Whatever happens, we shall all be forced to live with the consequences for a very long time. The author of Ozone and Climate Change - A Beginner's Guide, Stephen J. Reid, has managed to put one of the most c omplex environmental problems into the simplest words. But as he has already mentioned, undoing what we have done to the ozone layer is not that simple. The ozone layer or ozonosphere is the region of the stratosphere containing relatively high concentrations of ozone, a pale blue, highly poisonous gas with a strong odor. Ozone is formed by the action of solar ultraviolet light on oxygen. Ozone at ground level is a health hazard. High concentrations of ozone at ground level are dangerous to breathe and can damage the lungs. Ozone in the upper atmosphere, however, is vital to life. The ozone layer prevents most ultraviolet and other high-energy radiation from penetrating to the earth's surface but does allow through sufficient ultraviolet rays to ... ... on this planet possible. Works Cited Lunsford, Andrea A., Ruszkiewicz, John J. The Presence of Others - Third Edition. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000, 237-243. Reid, Stephen J. Ozone and Climate Change - A Beginner's Guide. Singapore: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 2000. Christie, Maureen. The Ozone Layer - A Philosophy of Science Perspective. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Grundmann, Reiner. Transnational Environmental Policy - Reconstructing Ozone. London/New York: Routledge, 2001. Encyclopedia.com. "The Montreal Protocol." December 1, 2002. . CNN.com - Antarctic Ozone Hole Splits in Two. Richard Stenger. September 30, 2002. December 1, 2002. . EPA-OAQPS Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby. December 2, 2002. . An Introduction to the Science of Ozone Depletion: Green Nature. December 2, 2002. .

Implementation, Strategic Controls, and Contingency Plans Essay

DRAKEN needs new growth methods, product development and new revenue sources. The implementation plan below will identify the course of action best suited for the company along with the objectives, functional tactics, action items, milestones, task ownership, and resource allocation. Also, the plan includes financial information including financial projections and a break-even analysis chart that will be used as the basis for moving the business forward. Strategy and Implementation The key strategy for DRAKEN is to build their operations and marketing around buildings and retail stores that are large enough to have permanent, on-site security needs, but not so large that they can save significant money by developing security staff in-house. To achieve this strategy, DRAKEN will: Train guards well for permanent check-in, patrol, and surveillance positions Use advertising and targeted lists to locate and market to these customer markets Focus specifically on guard services and high-level consulting audits, while outsourcing or referring to vendors for security equipment and system needs (ADT) Objectives According to Pearce, R., (2013), â€Å"Objectives or short-term objectives are measureable outcomes achievable or intended to be achieved in one year or less.† DRAKEN will base its success on meeting the following objectives: 1. Employ additional 25 full-time equivalent security guards by the end of the year 2015. 2. Supply security guards to 15 more buildings on a full-time basis by the end the year 2015. 3. Earn $2 million in revenue with net profit over $300,000 by the end of 2015. Functional Tactics According to Pearce, R., (2013), functional tactics are â€Å"detailed statements of the means or activities that will be used by a company to achieve short-term objectives and establish competitive advantage.† DRAKEN will built a competitive edge through high levels of customer service and assurance. The company will strive to not be a broker between clients and contracted security guards, as some security guard providers become, but instead be a partner in the security and protection of client’s assets, with security guards as a major tool in that protection. This strategy will require DRAKEN to carefully audit a client’s security situation and to work with them on plans to upgrade and maintain that security. DRAKEN supervisors will continually check in with clients and with the guards sent to client sites to learn about the challenges they are facing. Action items To reach its target markets of building management companies and large retail businesses, DRAKEN will use the following tactics: Improvement of a the basic â€Å"brochure† website, adding additional services, including corporate training, event planners, careers at DRAKEN, testimonials, and an open blog site. Advertising in trade publications read by managers in these two industries Advertising online with Google AdWords around keywords for security services and security guards, especially associated with these two types of customers New, more professional looking business cards and brochures for management and agents to distribute on appointments and while networking with Los Angeles business networking groups Direct selling work based on purchasing or developing target lists Direct mail of brochures and letters to these target lists of potential clients in the greater Los Angeles area. Milestones and a deadline The budgets for all marketing and personal relations (PR), and creating the brochure/stationery and website come out of the operating budget as they occur. The Chief Operating Officer will manage all marketing and sales activities while the CEO will set up accounting and operating systems and interview potential guards. These bullet points keep DRAKEN on track in its important milestones and deadlines. This helps DRAKEN management and everyone within the company to have a sense of urgency about what needs to be done. Tasks and task ownership The CEO and the COO are the primary salespersons for DRAKEN. They meet with clients at their location to perform an initial consultation and will create proposals for security services based on the client’s needs. DRAKEN management is tracking sales prospects and clients with ACT, a client management database system. The owner’s sales strategy is to listen carefully to the needs of the client and to provide assurance through stories of their experience and an expert understanding of their needs and concerns. While DRAKEN proposals may not be the lowest cost bids a potential client receives, DRAKEN management will follow up with care and the same personal attention that clients will receive if they move forward with using DRAKEN’s services. Resource allocation Resources will be allocated to all functional units in the business according to their needs. Functional units will be required to prepare annual budget for the finances they need to make units operational throughout the financial year. More resources will be committed to activities that generate more income to the business. Some of the profit generated from DRAKEN operations will be used in corporate social responsibility activities of the business. Key success factors DRAKEN believes the keys to success in its industry include: 1. Listening carefully to client concerns and objectives to create customized security guard packages 2. Knowing what the client does not know (bringing deep security expertise as well as knowledge of legal regulations and liability to the table) 3. Training security guards carefully and maintaining their training and certifications (e.g. to carry firearms) 4. Monitoring the  quality of security guard service to offer quality assurance Budget, and forecasted financials, including a break-even chart DRAKEN expects to produce excess cash after a lean year of operation in 2015, which can finance its expansion to an office space along with a 5 year home equity loan to support significant growth of its employee base in 2016 and 2017 to 25 FTE security guards (which can be estimated as 10 full-time guards and 30 part-time guards). Future growth will be financed by the business and will include launching operations in other citi es out of state and launching a line of security products. Budget The balance of start-up funding for 2015 will be provided from DRAKENS’s working capital of $56’000. Sales Forecast Security guard sales will be recurring. Assuming a client retention rate of 90% annually, based on DRAKEN CEO’s track record in the business, total sales will escalate quickly. Sales will be a combination of clients requiring 24/7 coverage and those with only daytime coverage. 40% of sales in dollars are expected from 24/7 clients. Sales are expected to meet the objective of $1.75 million in the third year. Direct costs of sales consist of supplies specific to each job, such as uniforms which must be purchased. Uniform may be a branded DRAKEN uniform, or contain the customer’s branding to provide the visible presence of security at the job site. Additional sets of uniforms must be purchased by the guards from the designated uniform provider. Suits for executive protection assignments, laundry, and cleaning of uniforms is the responsibility of the guards as well. Job supplies will include materials related to security audits and specific equipment purchases for a job as well. Break-even Analysis Monthly Revenue Break-even $24,475 Average Percent Variable Cost 4% Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost $23,407 The monthly break-even is low due to the cost savings by operating the office out of the CEO’s home in 2015. This allows for the business to become profitable quickly. Projected Profit and Loss Security guard labor is estimated at 55% of sales in 2015, dropping slightly to 53% by the 2017 as prices increase and cheaper labor becomes available due to the range of employees. Marketing includes ongoing Web hosting and maintenance fees, continued revisions and reprinting of the brochure and stationery, additional direct mail campaigns, ongoing advertising in trade publications, and online advertising for the website. Rent, utilities, and depreciation will be expenses beginning in 2016 when an office space is required. Training requires the use of larger meeting rooms for groups of guards which will have to be rented separately. Training cost will be reduced once an office is rented, as the business will choose a space with a conference room or table to hold employee training at the office. Training will be an ongoing expense both due to turnover and due to continued training and check-ins with employees. Licenses and permits will include licenses for new guards to carry firearms and to operate, and continued renewals of licensing and permits for the business each year. Net profit will swing to a net loss in 2016 due to the opening of an office space. Net profit will occur in 2017 again as the business scales up to cover these additional costs.

A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand

â€Å"A house divided against itself cannot stand† The phrase, â€Å"A house divided against itself cannot stand† became famous as a quotation from Lincoln’s â€Å"A house divided† speech delivered at 17 June 1858, in what was then the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, upon accepting the Illinois Republican Party's nomination as that state's senator of the United States . The speech became the launching point for his unsuccessful campaign.Abraham Lincoln was not the first one who used the â€Å"A house divided against itself cannot stand† phrase: Sam Huston used it during the Senate debate on the Compromise of 1850,during the War of 1812; a similar line appeared in a letter from Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren. Thomas Paine in 1776 and Thomas Hobbes, in 1651 used something very similar. We, as humans, are social beings†¦so we cannot live alone. We need friends and people with whom we can share our thoughts, our feelings, our life, our e xperiences and so on. For this reason we form all kinds of groups (friends group, school group, workplace group).If the members of a group are not united, they will be much more easier to defeat by a â€Å"common enemy† or by nature itself. If a group (house) is divided against himself, members will be more easier to beat one by one, then if they are united and their power cumulated. Even if, hypothetically, there is only one group and there will be no external danger, if the member of that group is disunited, the group could not stand and, sooner or later, if the conflicts are not solved, the group will divide in at least two other smaller groups( each one more powerless than the original group will be if its members are united).The â€Å"A house divided against itself cannot stand† phrase applies very well to smaller (but more bounding) groups. For example, a family where the partners are always arguing against each other, it will be very hard (if not impossible) to get over the life challenges and succeed together in life. It is even worse if that family involves at least a child, because it is very probably that he will follow his parents` example and be more rigid with his partner when he will grow up.Another good example are the groups formed in a world full of sharks all running for the biggest prey and winning: the businessman world. If two (or more) business associates are not united they will surely lose because bigger or more cunning sharks will profit from their division against each other. In conclusion a house divided against itself cannot stand (SEE What I did there? ) because it is much more difficult conquer it if its members are united than applying the famous quotation : divide et impera! .

The Connection Between Time and Temper

The Connection Between Time and Temper The Connection Between Time and Temper The Connection Between Time and Temper By Mark Nichol The Latin noun tempus, meaning â€Å"season† or â€Å"time,† is the source of time and other words pertaining to chronological measurement, but it is also the origin of terms associated with literal and figurative measurement in general as well as some that have related meanings, as detailed in this post. Tempus is borrowed directly into English only in the phrase â€Å"tempus fugit,† an abridgement of a quotation from the Roman philosopher Virgil; it translates to â€Å"Time flies,† commenting on ephemerality or expressing impatience. Tempo comes directly from Italian and refers in English to the speed at which music is performed or to the rate of any rhythmic activity. Temporary means â€Å"lasting only for a time† and has developed into a noun referring to someone hired temporarily; this usage is often abbreviated to temp. Contemporary, meaning â€Å"characteristic of the present† or â€Å"modern,† literally means â€Å"with time.† Extempore (literally, â€Å"out of time† and pronounced â€Å"extempory†), formally means â€Å"without preparation or time to prepare† but has the additional connotation of â€Å"spontaneously.† It serves primarily as an adverb but can also be used as an adjective or a noun, although extemporaneous is the preferable adjectival form. To temporize, meanwhile, is literally to conform to the time by adopting to an established opinion, or to draw out discussion or negotiation to gain time, while temporal refers to that which pertains to time, not space, to measurable time as opposed to eternity, or to secular rather than sacred matters, or pertains to a specific time or to the sequence of time. A contretemps- the word is borrowed from the French term contre-temps (literally, â€Å"against time†)- originally described an error in fencing, from the notion of poor timing, and now refers to an argument or an embarrassment. Tense, referring to the form of a verb showing time, comes from the Old French word tens, which derives from tempus. (The sense of tense that means â€Å"strained† or â€Å"rigid† is unrelated; it is akin to thin.) The noun temper, meaning â€Å"composure,† â€Å"disposition,† or â€Å"passion,† as well as â€Å"courage† or â€Å"tone† (as in â€Å"the temper of the times†), or pertaining to the state of a substance, such as the feel of leather or the resilience of steel- and the verb temper, meaning â€Å"moderate,† or â€Å"attune† or â€Å"toughen†- is derived from the Latin verb temperare, meaning â€Å"moderate,† which is likely related to the original sense of tempus, which may be â€Å"stretch.† The Latin verb is also the source of temperature, which pertains both literally to relative heat or cold or figuratively to mood or emotional heat. (To say that someone is â€Å"running a temperature† means that the person’s body heat is abnormally warm.) The sense of temple that pertains to the area to either side of the forehead derives from the â€Å"stretch† sense of tempus, but the meaning â€Å"sacred building† is unrelated. Tempest, meaning â€Å"storm,† is from the â€Å"season† sense of the Latin term, as is the adjective tempestuous, which describes not only a literal storm but also turbulent behavior or a stormy relationship. The idiom â€Å"tempest in a teapot† refers to an event treated out of proportion to its (in)significance. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your StoryAwoken or Awakened?The 7 Types of Possessive Case

The Linux Operating System essays

The Linux Operating System essays The Linux Operating System Linux is a multi-user, multi-tasking, 32-bit operating system based off of the UNIX operating system developed in the 1960s. One of the main characteristics that sets it apart from other operating systems such as Windows is that it is open source, meaning that the source code comes with it and the user is able to modify, sell or redistribute it freely.But a company or an organization did not write Linux, it was written by a college student named Linus Travolds. With the help of many programmers, often called hackers, Linux has surprised many people by being a stable, high quality system that has little central control. The kernel is the heart of an operating system, and when most people refer to Linux, they are talking about the kernel and not the whole system. On a Linux system, the user is more in touch with the kernel, mainly because he/she can do whatever they want to it legally. Also, people around the world are always updating the kernel, but Travolds has the final word into what goes into each release.Linux is one of the few operating systems that has a particular kernel version number scheme. For example, a stable kernels version can be 2.4.25. Even numbered kernels, such as 2.2.7, are stable, while odd numbered, such as 2.5.14, are pre-releases. The 2 is for the major release, the 4 is for the minor release leading up to the major, and the 25 is for the even smaller change leading up to the minor release. After that, there are prepatches (acknowledged with an rc after the version number) that are alpha releases. If any new development is good enough, the kernel can skip numbers, so a ker nel can go from 2.2.3 to 5.0 in a few months, but it has not happened yet. As of this writing, the latest stable kernel is 2.6.3 and the latest prepatch is 2.6.4-rc2 , and contains over twenty million lines of code. The kernel controls hardware support, process managem...

Customer vs. Client

Customer vs. Client Customer vs. Client Customer vs. Client By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between a customer and a client? Substantially, not much but as we all know on some level, the exchange of currency for goods and services is more about the style than the substance. Savvy merchants have blurred the distinction in the interests of encouraging business by conferring prestige on potential purchasers. First, word origins: Customer’s root word, custom, ultimately derives from the Latin verb consuescere, â€Å"to accustom,† and the sense of a person who buys something from another perhaps stems from the idea of purchasing as being a habit. Client (the plural can be clients or clientele) also comes from Latin, in the form of clientem, â€Å"follower,† which may be related to the root word of incline. This sense persists in the phrase â€Å"client state,† referring to a nation dependent on another for security or other support. The two terms have traditionally differed widely in usage: A customer is simply a recipient of products or services in exchange for money. Even though the relationship to the provider might be long lasting, the sense is of discrete exchanges. By contrast, a client is engaged in a more qualitative relationship in which the provider generally applies professional skills to offer often intangible commodities such as legal services, insurance policies, and the like. (Another distinction is that a customer is more likely to visit a retail establishment, whereas a client may more easily receive services without being physically present at the place of business. The escalation of mail-order business spurred by online retailing, however, has blurred this distinction.) Because of the greater perceived value associated with provision of professional services, businesses not normally classified as providers of such have taken to referring to their customers as clients. Technically, there’s nothing wrong with that; why shouldn’t an auto mechanic refer to people with car trouble as clients rather than customers? As I mentioned above, it’s all about the prestige: A streetwalker services customers, but an escort sees clients. Synonyms for customer and client are available, but they have their limits: A buyer is someone who pays for something, but the word also refers to someone employed by or otherwise associated with a company who purchases things wholesale to later be sold as is or as part of a retail product by that company. Patron is more limited in connotation than customer or client; it generally refers to someone purchasing an aesthetic experience such as a performance or a meal rather than carting items from a shelf to a checkout stand. It also applies, however, to a supporter (as in â€Å"a patron of the arts†) or a guardian (as in â€Å"a patron saint†). Guest is an elegant way to describe someone acquiring lodging or otherwise remaining on the business premises for an extended time but seems pretentious for other usages. Meanwhile, consumer seems too impersonal and is best reserved for referring, in singular or plural form, to connote a typical person who buys products or services or the general public in that role. Other synonyms such as user (or â€Å"end user†) are highly specific to technological products and services, and yet others are clunky (purchaser, vendee) or describe someone on the way to becoming a customer or client but not yet there (prospect, shopper). Your best bet is to weigh customer and client and, with candor, determine which is more appropriate for the context. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating ConjunctionsList of Greek Words in the English LanguageIs "Number" Singular or Plural?

Deltic Timber Corporation Credit Analysis Research Paper

Deltic Timber Corporation Credit Analysis - Research Paper Example In line with this, it is recommended for the company to take up proactive strategic management options that will push its fortunes higher, especially when it comes to dealings with competitors. Currently, the company finds itself in a business environment where talks of monopoly are far from the argument. Due to this, the greatest hindrance faced by the company has been found to be that of the creation of a competitive advantage. Using a strategic management option that will make the company the focus of customers is thus the saving path for the company in years to come. Indicative with the ratios of the company given in the paper, it would be realised that the company continue to have high debt financing, which creates a decline for profit utilisation. This means that even though revenues are high, these are hardly translated into profits because of higher debts and other expenses. 1.0 Organizational Overview Listed on the New York Stock Excahnge, Deltic Timber Corporation engages i n forestry industry where its major activities include the ownership and management of timberland. The specialisation that the company gives to this venture has resulted in the useful management of 445,800 acres of timberland over the past years. As a means of gaining diversification in its core business operation, which is the ownership and management of timberland, the company also owns two sawmills and is actively involved in real estate1. This said diversification has been the main source of financial capitalisation for the company because it has always been offered the opportunity of internally funding the running of its parent operations using revenues from diversified business. Currently, the company is headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas. The market segment of the company has largely been focused on Arkansas and north Louisiana with very limited external and international markets. This situation comes with its own advantages and disadvantages for the company but the company has largely tried to live within its means of operations. This report is thus focused on critiquing the current credit situation of the company and offer recommendations. 2.0 Corporate Segment Deltic Timber Corporation’s corporate segment is reflected in its total asset as represented in the graph below. Generally, there are four segments that the company emphasises on. These are manufacturing segment, which takes 9% of total asset, corporate business, which is responsible for 7% of total asset, real estate, which accounts for 17% of the total asset, and woodlands, which take the highest portion of 68% of total revenue2. It is important to establish that the percentage gain of total assets as given above is not a direct reflection of the percentage of focus or corporate segment that the company gives to the various segment. Rather, the figures given above are a result of the contributions of gains that the various segments make to the company’s total asset. For instan ce in the 2012 Annual Report of the company, it was established that even though manufacturing is responsible for 9% of total assets, the company actually gives higher corporate segmentation focus to that segment than it gives to real estate, which earns the company 17% of its total assets. 3.0 SWOT Analysis 3.1 Strengths The company has an effective internally generated funding policy that is motivated by the fact that there are diversifying businesses that are managed under the franchise of Deltic Timber Corporation. The company has kept a very steady rise in revenues and operating incomes, making it have a very strong competitive engagement with its key competitions. 3.2 Weaknesses The company lacks

Psychological support for breast cancer women and mastectomy Essay

Psychological support for breast cancer women and mastectomy - Essay Example Addie Gilbert, 51, saw the final straw while trying on her favorite red dress whose front was adorned with stylish criss-cross straps, thinking she might never have to wear it again. Following her mastectomy, the heavy prosthesis underneath was clearly visible. She said, â€Å"I was so depressed that I sat on the floor of my bedroom and cut the dress up into little pieces with scissors† (Boughton, 2000). After her mastectomy, she was not only worried about her inability to wear her favorite clothes in the future, but was also troubled by the trauma brought about by the diagnosis of breast cancer every time she saw her reflection and the scar over her chest in the mirror. Gilbert thus decided to have her breast reconstructed. Her breast was molded by taking skin and tissue from her abdomen. Addition of an areola and nipple three months later with an office procedure made her whole again. Different women respond to the surgery of breast cancer in different ways depending upon th eir psychology, self-perception, age, and whether or not the surgery is accompanied by such adjuvant therapeutic procedures as chemotherapy and radiation. Mastectomy can be hard to come to terms with for women like Gilbert, though it is an acceptable alternative for many other patient of breast cancer. Women undergoing surgery for breast cancer commonly experience major regrets because of severe emotional trauma, complications of surgery, lack of postoperative psychological support, complications of reconstruction, phantom pain, and dissatisfaction with the procedure’s cosmetic outcome. Frost et al. (2000) performed a detailed research to investigate the overall social and psychological well-being and long-term satisfaction in women that have undergone prophylactic mastectomy. The researchers found a 74 per cent reduction in the emotional concern regarding the

Income statement and balance sheet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Income statement and balance sheet - Essay Example The business community has more accumulated wealth that the governments of the over 200 countries in the world combined.There are thousands of publicly traded companies been traded on Wall Street and international markets such as the London Stock Exchange every day. Due to the importance of these capital markets there is a need for professionals dedicated to financial reporting. Publicly traded companies have to prepare financial statements every accounting period. The normal accounting period is one year, but most companies also release quarterly financial statements. The four major financial statements are the income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flow, and statement of stockholders equity. These four financial statements are included in the Annual Report of corporations. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and describe the income statement and the balance sheet. The income statement and the balance sheet are two interrelated statements. The outcome of the income s tatement affects the equity account of the balance sheet. The income statement is a financial report that provides information regarding the profitability of the company during an accounting period. The top figure in the income statement is sales. Sales are very important because they provide the economic asset needed to operate a business. The sales of the company are subtracted by the cost of goods sold. The subtraction of those variables is the gross profit. At the bottom of the income statement the operating expenses and taxes are subtracted from gross profit to arrive at net income. The income statement is a very valuable report because it indicates how well a business operation is doing in terms of financial success. The income statement reports the revenues and expenses of an enterprise during a natural or fiscal year. The top and bottom figures of the income statement are the two numbers investors look for which are sales and net income. The higher the figure of net income t he better off a company is financially. Net incomes help companies accumulate capital. The net income figure is transferred from the balance sheet to the stockholder’s equity section. The second major financial statement is the balance sheet. The balance sheet is considered a statement of position. This means that the figures illustrated in the balance are the account balances at a specific point in time. The three major components or categories within the balance sheet are assets, liabilities and stockholder’s equity. The internal structure of the balance sheet follows the logic of the basic accounting equation. The basic accounting equation states that assets are equal to liabilities plus stockholder’s equity. An asset can be defined as an item of economic value owned by an individual or corporation (Answers, 2011). The assets in the balance sheet are listed in order to liquidity. The most liquid asset is cash. Equipment and machinery are two examples of asset s. Machinery is a fixed asset that can be used to generate revenues. Assets can also be converted to cash by selling them. The liabilities of a company are short and long term obligations to financial institutions such as banks. It is preferable for a company to have a low level of debt. Debt instruments can be used to finance expansion projects. The debt section of the balance sheet is divided into short and long term liabilities. The last segment of the balance sheet is the equity section. The balance sheet and the income statement are prepared once the accounting department completes the accounting cycle. These two financial statements are extremely valuable pieces of information for the user of financial information. It is mandatory for public companies to release the financial statements at least once a year. The regulatory agency that foresees the financial actions of public corporations is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The data in the balance sheet and income statement can be used by financial analyst or anyone with financial knowledge to perform ratio, trend,

Ocean biology 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ocean biology 1 - Essay Example The aim of his theory was to discuss the concept openly. Therefore, Wegener did not present the theory as a proven fact. There are some objects, which can float in saltwater but not in fresh water. Whether an object will sink or float, entirely depends on the relative density of the fluid itself. In universe, everything is made of molecules. Density can be described through the concept of molecules. There are some objects that are packed densely and some other objects are packed loosely. This concept is called density. Now the objects that are made of tightly packed molecules will sink in low density liquid. The opposite will happen for the objects, which are made up of loosely packed molecules. I have done an experiment in my home with an egg. I have observed that egg placed in the fresh water sink immediately but it floated in saltwater. I have done another experiment with metallic spoon. In this experiment, also spoon floated in the salt water but sank in tap water. The next experiment was on metallic pen. The result of this experiment also gave the same result. Metallic pen floated in salt water but sink in the fresh water. Throughout the world, water and wind, usually erode about 20 billion tones of rock debris and dirt from the continents and deposit into the seafloor. In average, there is 1300 feet of sediment in beneath the sea. Many processes accelerate this continuous adding of salt and other chemicals into the seas and oceans. Most common chemicals are sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) which are dissolved in the water easily. These chemicals are the basic constituents of salt that is sodium chloride. According to research, ocean restrains around 1370 million cubic kilometers of water and around 14700 trillion tons of sodium. Every year around 457 million tones of sodium dump into the ocean through river transportation, land surface erosion etc. Sometimes in some specific area Volcanic dust also dumps some amount of sodium into the water. Erosion of

Business and Globalisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business and Globalisation - Essay Example A third reason is the arrival of the information age, with computers and the internet which means that people and businesses can receive instant news about developments all across the world. New links, for example between raw material suppliers, manufacturers and markets for finished products can be spotted, created and managed very easily. Some people think that it is a very positive phenomenon, for example Dehasa (2006) who believes that this increased circulation of goods across the world will be a win-win situation, and that everyone will make money from it. Others see that there are also disadvantages, for example Steglitz (2002) who points out that when a small business, or a community which depends on one or two main products comes into a much bigger market, then it has very little control over what happens in that market. In countries like Colombia, for example, with its dependence on coffee production through the first half of the twentieth century, exporting their goods was a great benefit for a while, so long as the price of coffee was high and people in other countries wanted to buy it. There are problems, however, when for example competition grows and the price drops, or when major buyers get involved in war, for example, and the demand is suddenly no longer there. This kind of event can be absorbed in a bigger and more diverse business field, but it can be devastating to smaller or tightly focused business areas. There is also a significant inequality between developed countries, who often set the quality standards and the prices, and less developed countries, who have very little choice in the deals that are set up. A further dimension of globalisation is the effect that it has on the world’s resources, and this includes both materials for production, and the environment in which these materials are produced. Some resources, like the hardwood forests of the Amazon, are limited in size and the destruction of rainforests may bring short ter m gains for businesses, both in South America and in the countries where their trading partners are, but there will be longer term effects which are potentially serious for the whole world. When business is international, crossing national boundaries and involving transnational organisations and multi-national companies, then it is often hard to see who should be responsible for the effect on the planet. Many companies have good ethical policies which prevent extreme damage from occurring, but there are also many others which exploit scarce resources with no thought for the consequences on the earth, or on local people. One of the ways that these issues can be addressed is to combine globalisation with sustainable development. This can work with renewable resources like wood, but it is not a solution for finite resources like oil and some rare minerals and metals. If a business wants to take advantage of globalisation, then it must make very careful preparations before launching int o a big venture. People use terms like â€Å"the global village† to refer to the way that the world is increasingly connected, but very often there are huge cultural differences that make true communication very difficult (Brysk, 2000). A good example of this is the

Ocean biology 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ocean biology 1 - Essay Example The aim of his theory was to discuss the concept openly. Therefore, Wegener did not present the theory as a proven fact. There are some objects, which can float in saltwater but not in fresh water. Whether an object will sink or float, entirely depends on the relative density of the fluid itself. In universe, everything is made of molecules. Density can be described through the concept of molecules. There are some objects that are packed densely and some other objects are packed loosely. This concept is called density. Now the objects that are made of tightly packed molecules will sink in low density liquid. The opposite will happen for the objects, which are made up of loosely packed molecules. I have done an experiment in my home with an egg. I have observed that egg placed in the fresh water sink immediately but it floated in saltwater. I have done another experiment with metallic spoon. In this experiment, also spoon floated in the salt water but sank in tap water. The next experiment was on metallic pen. The result of this experiment also gave the same result. Metallic pen floated in salt water but sink in the fresh water. Throughout the world, water and wind, usually erode about 20 billion tones of rock debris and dirt from the continents and deposit into the seafloor. In average, there is 1300 feet of sediment in beneath the sea. Many processes accelerate this continuous adding of salt and other chemicals into the seas and oceans. Most common chemicals are sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) which are dissolved in the water easily. These chemicals are the basic constituents of salt that is sodium chloride. According to research, ocean restrains around 1370 million cubic kilometers of water and around 14700 trillion tons of sodium. Every year around 457 million tones of sodium dump into the ocean through river transportation, land surface erosion etc. Sometimes in some specific area Volcanic dust also dumps some amount of sodium into the water. Erosion of

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or Essay - 1

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences - Essay Example One of the important information that I gained in the business is ensuring safety in the workplace. Oil is highly flammable and it is an important matter to secure all the areas to avoid accidents which could damage the company or worse, kill people. One of the vital things one has to check daily in the oil business is leaks, to keep the working environment safe. The business has a lot of delicate and meticulous jobs and the information I gained in my few months stay with the oil company has been very limited. Nevertheless, I believe it is a good start for me as I continue to consider the processes I have to go through to gain all the knowledge and skills I need in managing my own oil company. One thing is for sure, that the experience I gained from the work was illuminating and it has strengthened my will power all the more to continue in pursuing my

Of Mice and Men Question Lennies big fingers fell to stroking her hair Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Question Lennies big fingers fell to stroking her hair Essay The pathetic figure of Lennie seems to symbolise mankind in its search for love. Do you agree? How does Steinbeck treat this theme in Of Mice and Men? In the book, Of Mice and Men, Lennie an opposite extreme to George; George is quite smart but not very tall or exceptionally strong, Lennie on the other hand is extremely stupid and very tall with exceptional strength. The way Steinbeck writes about Lennie, the audience feels great pity for him; the dialogue is very basic and he has trouble remembering simple tasks like keeping silent. The way he speaks can be related to the same way a three year old speaks; Lennie has the same sort of mind as a three year and is pleased by the same things. He has an affinity to touch everything and that is how he came to be stroking the ladys hair. The way Lennie acts, speaks and looks creates a strong sympathy for him in the readers mind and Steinbeck plays on this to give the overall plot of the story. The idea that Lennie symbolises mankind in its search for love is what I believe is not a very good theory. The main basis for this is because Lennie does not understand what love is and the idea that mans job in life is to look for love does not appeal to me. I do not think that a man goes around looking for love but love finds him, George did not ask to be loved by Lennie or to even take him on, he was offered and he made a promise. The only way which I believe that a man looks for love is through what he enjoys doing. If you love playing football then you are in search of your chance to be a footballer, you are in search of your love. This is the only in which I think this theme works in Of Mice and Men. Lennie loves George in a way which he does not understand, but George has grown to love him through their escapades together. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses love in a lot of ways; one way is Georges love of his dream. George fantasizes about owning his own little cottage with land he can farm on, he loves his dream and wishes it to come true. Lennie loves all creatures be it mice or puppies, he adores them and just loves to pet them and stroke them like a toddler loves to touch anything it can lay its hands on. Candy loved his dog and spent all his time with it, Curley loves boxing and spends most of his time practicing with his fists, Curleys wife loves acting and deeply regrets missing her chance. Love plays a great part in Of Mice and Men, but nothing is as strong as the love between Lenny and George, George only realises how much he loves Lennie when Lennie is under the death sentence. George risks his own life to save Lennie and he realises that he will thoroughly miss Lennie. The theme that man is in search of love is also incorporated into Of Mice and Men by Steinbecks pen. George is in search of his dream cottage and every possible way to get it, the cottage is his love and he would go to no extreme to reach it. Lennies love is of keeping a heard of rabbits, he is constantly referring to them in the book and would love to have them. However he is letting George pursue the search to get them for him because he is completely incapable of getting them himself. Crooks is in search of finding friends to sit and talk with or being accepted by the other men on the ranch. His love is gain friends and become one of the gang and be allowed to play cards with them in the bunkhouse. Curley is in search of becoming a boxer, he loves using his fists and he is searching for his chance to become a boxer again. Curleys Wife is constantly searching for her chance to escape from Curley and become and actress, she loves acting so she is in search for a career in acting. The idea of searching for love is incorporated a lot into Of Mice and Men; every main character is in search of his or her love whether it be human, animal or even a career.

Paralysis in Dubliners

Paralysis in Dubliners Joyce in his letter to Grant Richards said, I chose Dublin for the scene because that city seemed to me the centre of paralysis. The first thing that one has to engage with is, why Joyce felt that Dublin was the centre of paralysis. What were his reasons for thinking and feeling that Dublin was suffering from this paralytic state? It is important not to overlook some of the main issues that Dublin was facing at the time Joyce wrote Dubliners. Joyce wrote this book during the Irish Literary renaissance. One of the main reasons for this renaissance was for the Irish to show that they could be independent from Britain. Joyce wrote Dubliners at a time when Ireland was under the British rule, the Irish were governed and had no independence. The novel, Dubliners was a way to show the people of Dublin what they seemed to be missing, they were not aware of this paralytic state they had fallen into. Throughout the book most of the main characters in the stories has an epiphany; this was Joyce s way of helping the people of Dublin become aware of this state they had fallen into and help them snap out of this paralysis. This was one of the main reasons Joyce wrote about Dublin and the paralytic state. The people of Dublin according to Joyce were not able to move forward, they were being hindered from making progress. Joyce was trying to show them that if they did not make a change and move on then they will forever remain in this paralytic state with no future. This idea is reinforced by Joyce himself, when he was writing the letters to Richards; he mentions that his intention is not only to write a satire about Ireland but to liberate his country. Joyce also emphasised the point that the people of Ireland need to have a good look at themselves in order to see that they are stuck in this paralytic state. Joyce believed that Dubliners would be that foundation which will make the Irish public see their inadequacies. (Paul Delany, Joyces Political Development and the Aestheti c of Dubliners.) The essay will engage with this theme of paralysis in Joyces Dubliners. It will not only engage with the theme of paralysis but also some of the other underlying themes as well; the themes of religion and family. The theme of paralysis is clear throughout Dubliners, this feeling of paralysis is felt by all the characters in each of the stories. This idea and theme of paralysis in Dublin and Ireland can be seen as Joyces personal view of the city when he lived there, or it can be Joyces view of the other people living in Dublin from the outside. This essay will look at two stories from Dubliners, The Sisters and Eveline. It will engage with the stories and look at how each of the two stories tie in with the theme of paralysis. This essay will discuss how the main protagonists paralysis links back to the main issue at the heart of Dublin. All of Joyces characters have the instinct to bring a change in their lives, to move above and beyond this paralytic state they hav e been stuck in. Each of the stories hints at paralysis, the theme of paralysis is evident from the very start in The Sisters. Each story has aspects of paralysis some subtle and some are in plain black and white. For instance in The Sisters, the reader is made aware of the paralysis from the very first page in the story; Every night as I gazed up at the window I said softly the word paralysis. (Joyce, J. Dubliners, p1). One can clearly see that Joyce wastes little time in introducing the theme of paralysis; by doing this it leaves no doubt in the readers mind that this is Joyces intention. The very first line of the story is written in capital letters, this shows that Joyce is getting straight to the point. THERE WAS NO HOPE for him this time:, (Joyce, J. Dubliners, p1). This very first line sets the scene for the rest of the story, Joyce begins with this line to show that there may have previously been hope for Father Flynn; but now it is too late now there is no hope for him. In baseball a third s trike means that the batter is out; he has no more chances. This same principle can also be related to Father Flynn and the Catholic Church. It can also be seen as Joyces way of telling the readers that the Church has no hope there is nothing that can be done, it is too late and that the people of Dublin need to wake up and see that they are living in a vicious circle. This circle that they are living in cant be undone unless they strike out and make a change for themselves. In this first story The Sisters, a boy who lives with his aunt and uncle starts to assess his relationship with a priest, Father Flynn. After having his third stroke Father Flynn is left paralysed. The boy walks past the priests house to see if two candles have been lit, which would signify that the priest had died. One night when the boy comes down for supper he hears of the news that Father Flynn has passed away through Old Cotter who is a family friend. Whilst the boy who remains nameless throughout the story is eating his supper he observes the conversation his uncle and Old Cotter are having. Old Cotter speaks of the reservations which he had about the priest, there was something queer, something uncanny about him (Joyce, J. Dubliners p.1). Old Cotter questions the relationship between the boy and the priest, I wouldnt like children of mine, to have too much to say to a man like that. (Joyce, J. Dubliners p.2). The same night the boy has a dream in which he sees the old priest confessing. The boy later has a moment in which he has an epiphany, he feels that the priests death has freed him, I felt even annoyed at discovering in myself a sensation of freedom as if I had been freed from something by his death. (Joyce, J. Dubliners p.3). In this story it is easy to see the theme of religion along the theme of paralysis. It can also be said that the boy in the story represents Ireland and Father Flynn is a representation of the Catholic Church. The boy can be seen as being paralysed becaus e of the control and influence Father Flynn had over him. He was subservient to the priest, the boy mentions how we would run small errands for the priest, I who emptied the packet into his black snuff-box.(Joyce, J. Dubliners p.3). The main reason Joyce seemed to be attacking the church was mainly because Joyce felt that the church had too much control over the people of Dublin and Ireland in general. This point is backed by the fact that the boy feels free once the priest passes away. He no longer feels trapped and paralysed. So, why did Joyce feel that the church was one of the reasons for the paralysis of the Irish people? Religion was a really important part of Ireland at the time Joyce wrote Dubliners; this was also the time that Ireland was trying to break away from the British rule. Joyce felt that the affiliation between Ireland and the Church hindered the possibility of Ireland becoming free from Britain. Joyce is quoted as saying that, The soul of the country is weakened by centuries of useless struggle and broken treaties, and individual initiative is paralysed by the influence and admonitions of the church. (Paul Delany, Joyces Political Development and the Aesthetic of Dubliners.p257). Here it is c lear to see that Joyce feels that the people of Ireland are being held back by the church, not only Ireland as a whole but each individual person living in Ireland. These people are being shackled by the Church, these individuals are being hindered by the Church to achieve great things and reach their true potential. This point is supported by the boys paralysis in the story, the boy feels a sense of freedom once Father Flynn dies. The boy has an epiphany he sees that he is no longer paralysed by the priest. Joyces motive for this story was so that all the readers would also have an epiphany and would see, that much like the boy in the story they are also shackled and paralysed by the state and predominantly the Church. Joyce uses the boy in the story to symbolise the future generations of Ireland; the boys and girls who could lead Ireland to great things. It is clear to see that the boy is paralysed by the priest. How is the priest paralysing the boy? The boy is paralysed through the teachings of Father Flynn. The readers are made aware that the boy and Father Flynn spent considerable amount of time together, The old chap taught him a great deal. Joyce is showing the readers that the boy is paralysed by the teachings of the priest; albeit he is learning much but this is paralysing him from living his childhood. By spending a great deal of time together the boy is being moulded in a way that the Church wants him to live and behave; the boy is losing his own free-will. What does Father Flynns death in the story signify? As mentioned before, Father Flynn can be seen as a personification of the entire Catholic Church; his death enables the boy to feel free, to become free. This is Joyces way of telling the people of Dublin that they can also become free, but they have to sever their relationship with the Church. The second story this essay will engage with is, Eveline. This story can be seen as the one which is the most direct when it comes to engaging with the theme of paralysis. In this story the main protagonist, Eveline can be said to be one of the very few characters in the novel who actually comes the closest to breaking free from her paralysis. The story is about a girl called Eveline, living at home with her father. Eveline has a lover named Frank, she had the chance to start afresh with him by leaving the city. Throughout the story Eveline is fighting with the idea of whether to leave or to stay. Like most of the other characters Eveline also has an epiphany, she finally decides to go with Frank, this brings a great deal of joy to her; knowing she can start a new life with someone she loves to leave the hard punishing life behind. This all changes once she has to act on her decision, when the moment comes to board the ship with Frank she freezes. Evelines paralytic state is best des cribed by the final few sentences in the story. The sentence, She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. (Joyce, J. Dubliners p.26). This line epitomises the state of paralysis perfectly, Eveline becomes so paralysed that she loses the ability to even show emotions. To some extent she can be seen to go into a robotic state were she is unaware of anything going on around her. If Eveline decided to go with Frank this would have been the biggest decision she has made in her whole life; why does she decide to go what is keeping her from going, what is paralysing Eveline? Is it simply the prospect of change is scaring her? Scared of what may happen if she chooses to make a change in her life? By deciding not to go, Eveline remains paralysed by her old life, she has the chance to break the shackles of the city and to begin a new life. Is she simply just scared to leave, scared of change? It is possible to simply think that she is scared of change but there is also the other underlying theme in this story, which is family. Evelines refusal to make a change can be seen as the result of her feeling the need, feeling the responsibility of taking care of her father. She made a promise to her dying mother to take care of her siblings and her father, to keep the family together. Her duty to her father supersedes her longing for a new life. Eveline is paralysed by her family, city, environment; she is also paralysed by the potential guilt she would feel is she did decide to leave her family. She is paralysed by her surroundings, even when she believes in herself to bring about change she still remains paralysed. This is exactly what Joyce was trying to show the readers, the people of Ireland. Joyce was trying to show them that they will forever remain stuck with their paralysis until they actually make a change. Simply wanting to make a change is not enough, Joyce feels that they need to act upon their dreams and aspirations for a better life. At the en d of the story Eveline is depicted to the readers as a, helpless animal. This shows the reader that Eveline has been stripped of her human emotions, the paralysis has sapped her of all human capabilities. Joyce further highlights Evelines miserable existence and paralysis by giving her a means of escape in the story but then taking that away from her. She is given a chance of escaping but Joyce in his style of scrupulous meanness decides to show the readers that she is not able to leave even when she is given the chance to do so. (Delany, P. Joyces Political Development and the Aesthetic of Dubliners). To conclude, the main aim of this essay was to engage and discuss the theme of paralysis including the themes of religion and family; to see how Joyce engages with these themes in the two stories and what was his reasons and aims for doing this were. Joyce achieves his aim of showing the Dubliners that they are paralysed; he does this by showing the paralysis of Dublin through fictional characters but with a great deal of realism; he chooses to do this in order to show the severity of the paralysis.

Analysis of the Electronic Cigarettes Market Essay -- E-cigarette Marke

Introduction This report explores E-cigarettes. First, it introduces E-cigarettes, their market information, and their special characteristics. Second, the report will state their market structure, market competitions and government regulations. Then, the report will explain why E-cigarettes should be normal goods and how the suppliers could increase demand. Next, the report will analyse the development of this market, its opportunities for new entry and whether it is sensible to open a new business. Finally, it will make the conclusion about them. The report will introduce what is E-cigarette first. Introduction of E-cigarettes In 2003, E-cigarettes were developed in Beijing, China by a 52 years old pharmacist, inventor and smoker named Hon Lik. (The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association, n. d.). According to Knight (2013), ‘E-cigarettes look like real cigarettes and usually consist of a battery, a cartridge containing nicotine (the addictive ingredient in tobacco), a solution of propylene glycol or glycerine mixed with water, and an atomiser (a device that turns the nicotine solution into a fine mist or vapour)’. Then, the report will state the market of E-cigarettes in details. Market details of electronic cigarettes In this part, it will talk about geographical location first and describe some special characteristics of E-cigarettes. The report will state them through key facts about E-cigarettes. About the geographical location, the report concentrates on China because it is the origin of E-cigarette, and there are many Chinese smokers which will be mentioned below. According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), smoking is harmful for almost each organ and causes many dis... ...lth Guide, (n. d.). Electronic Cigarette and Its Advantages. (Accessed 14/11/2013) http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/11595/1/Electronic-Cigarette-and-Its-Advantages.html R. Lipsey & A. Chrystal, (2011). Economics Twelfth Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. S. Simon, (2013). Study Compares E-Cigarettes to Quit-Smoking Aids. (Accessed 14/11/2013) http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/studycomparese-cigarettestoquit-smokingaids. The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association, (n. d.). E-cigarette History. (Accessed 14/11/2013) http://casaa.org/E-cigarette_History.html. Vapestick, (n. d.). E-cigarettes The Perfect Tobacco Cigarette Replacement. (Accessed 17/11/2013) http://www.vapestick.co.uk/cigarette-replacement.html. Wise Geek, (n. d.). What Is Market Share? . (Accessed 19/11/2013) http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-market-share.htm.

A social construction Essay

As a social construction, ethnicity is defined as a group individual having a common identifying heritage (Yinger, 1994). The common heritage may comprise of a unifying language, cultural values, norms, and beliefs, and a common ancestry. This has the implication that people belonging to a given ethnic group identify from others with eminent distinctive characteristics, an element which ensure their recognition in the larger human community. Owing to the common heritage that defines an ethnic group, ethnicity encompasses other communal aspects such as political, social, and economic interests, territorial ownership, and similar behavioral patterns. The global community has witnessed numerous incidences of ethnic hostilities over the past few decades. Among this is the 2007 post-election violence which saw hundreds of Kenyans killed and thousands of others fleeing their homes to refuge camps within and outside the country (BBC, 2007). According to available information, the conflict was mainly a fight for land possession in the rift valley region between the Kalenjin and Kikuyu ethnic groups (BBC, 2007). In the American nation, ethnic hostilities are quite common. This can be evident from statistical evident from a 2000 research which indicated that most citizens of Asian origin are mainly engaged in small business established. Such have been closely attributed to the high levels of labor market discrimination practices against these members of the community. In addition, since after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, racial profiling and discrimination against individuals of Islamic origin have been on the hike. This has been due to the perceptions associating Muslim with terrorism activities. Lastly, ethnic hostility can be evident in the school population trends in the US. Records indicate that as at 2003 estimated 87% of enrollments in public-schools in Chicago where from the black community compared to less than 10% from the white population.

Geography – Problem Solving: Flooding

Problem-solving: Flooding I think that the best solution from the Environment Agency is the Upstream Flood Storage. I think this would be the best option because it will stop the town from getting flooded but also, it would be better downstream. The water will be temporarily stored on fields upstream of the town, on farm land. There may be animals on the fields but they can easily be moved out of the way. This could also lead to new wildlife in the area, although also disrupt the wildlife already there. The flood storage reservoir upstream of the town can hold back floodwater's, and so reduce the maximum flood flow through the town.A flood storage reservoir remains effective so long as it does not become full of water. Although, if a larger flood occurs, the reservoir fills up and the extra water will flow over the top. One other point is that this will be costly, but could save many businesses and homes from being flooded. I think that the Floodplain Reinstatement (move the town off the flood plain so if the river floods, it won’t matter) is a bad idea because it would be extremely costly and very difficult to persuade the people living in the town to move away. It would be bad for the economy and people would also lose their jobs and businesses in the town.Although, by moving the town out the way of floods, this would mean that the town will no longer get flooded. By doing this, it will also disrupt the wildlife where the town could be moved. The Bypass channels (building an extra channel to take some of the flood water) also would not be such a good idea because they would just make the flood worse downstream. The water would move very quickly through the town, causing the channel to meet the river where the flood will be at the same time. As a result, this saves the town from being flooded but the flood downstream will be worse.Also, the channel may not have a lot of water in it all year round so could affect the wildlife in the area. The additional channel capacity (making the channel deeper and wider so it will hold more water) is a good idea as it could stop small floods from taking place. But, if there was to be a big flood then the water could rise over the top leading the town to flood. The secondary defenses (build flood walls to hold the extra water) could also work well for preventing the small floods, but not for a big flood. As a result, the water could still rise over the top of the walls.

Cell phones Positive Effect on Society Essay

The cellphone is one of the defining technologies of the early 21st century, with a December 2012 Pew Internet study showing that more than 87 percent of American adults own at least one. While the negative societal consequences of cellphones have been well documented, it’s also true that they can bring many benefits. Mobile technology allows users to interact with family, friends and colleagues in ways that weren’t possible for previous generations. New Telecom Prepaid Offer 60 mins talk & 5,000 txts Only $19. Plus 500MB Data – Go Big Now! www.telecom.co.nz​/​Prepaid-ValuePack Mobile Commerce Cellphones have become vital tools for consumers, allowing users to obtain information, search for discounts and purchase products directly from their devices. M-commerce is growing rapidly, with an eMarketer study putting U.S. retail sales through mobile devices at $24.66 billion in 2012. In addition, mobile marketing through cellphones allows businesses to engage with their audiences in new ways. This can be especially effective for small businesses, giving them a cost-effective way to reach potential customers. Helps Speech Difficulties The text and instant messaging functions of cell phones can be used to help those who suffer from vocal communication problems. Some conditions, such as certain forms of autism or diseases of the vocal cords, leave individuals able to understand words but unable to vocalize them. Cellphones offer a portable and unobtrusive way to type what they want to say instead of having to say it aloud, with some phones also offering text-to-speech capabilities. Keeping in Touch Cellphones make it easier than ever before to contact family and friends, especially for users who do a lot of traveling. No less than 65 percent of American adults believe that their cellphone makes it a lot easier to stay in touch with the people they care about, according to Pew Internet’s 2012 survey. Cellphone-based services like SMS and instant messaging encourage communication between individuals through their convenience alone, allowing users to stay in more or less constant contact. Emergency Use Keeping a cellphone on you allows you to make 911 calls immediately, with no need to waste time finding a phone to call from. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that 70 percent of 911 calls are made from mobile devices, and recognizes them as an important public safety tool. It has also developed a text-to-911 function, allowing users to request emergency assistance through text in certain circumstances. Even in non-emergencies, for example a car breakdown, cellphones can make requesting help much easier and safer.

Persuasion and Jane Austen Book Club Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Persuasion and Jane Austen Book Club - Essay Example In persuasion by Jane Austen, Lady Russell manages to convince Ann that Wentworth is not the best suitor for her leading to Ann turning down Wentworths proposal of marriage. Lady Russell takes advantage of her position in the Elliot family where she has played the role of a mother since the death of Ann’s mother to persuade not to marry Wentworth. Lady Russell together with the rest of Ann’s family believed in the â€Å"value for rank and consequence† (Austen 11) which was the basis of their opposition to the union between their family and Wentworth. Wentworth is not a wealthy individual and therefore represented a lower class compared to that of Ann who is from a lineage baronet. Lady Russell is in this case concerned with Ann’s future since Wentworth cannot promise to sustain her. Lady Russell uses the power of persuasion to control what becomes of Ann’s future. The ability Lady Russell that possess is well highlighted in Austin’s descripti on of the woman who is depicted as being â€Å"a woman of sound rather than quick abilities...she was a benevolent, charitable, good woman...most correct in her notions of decorum...she had a cultivated mind, and was, generally speaking, rational and consistent--but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry" (Austen 42). Although some might consider the influence Lady Russell has over Ann as a selfish disposition that does not take into consideration feelings of her goddaughter, she was motivated by her protective love of Ann. Lady Russell had concerns over the future of her â€Å"most dear and highly valued god-daughter, favorite, and friend† (6). She is therefore worried that just like Anne’s mother was blindly consumed by romance to marry Sir Walter Elliot who is seen as being irresponsible due to careless spending that leaves the family in debts. To avoid what a future in which Lady Russell sees Ann turning suffering for the wrong choice she makes at the monument, she warns Ann â€Å"you’re making the same mistake

Case study for Coca Cola Marketing Analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

For Coca Cola Marketing Analysis - Case Study Example Coca Cola is an example of such an establishment that has remained a proficient player in the beverage trade amidst the increasing competition in the industry. It was established in the nineteenth century and it is the market leader in producing, distributing and selling soft drinks in the international market. The company operates in nearly 200 nations and has invented over 400 brands since it was founded (The Coca Cola Company). Its leading brands include Coke, Sprite, and Stony among others. Their success has its major rivals at bay including Pepsi and Nestle. This case study gives an in depth analysis of the company’s marketing strategy and the potential issues facing the company. COMPANY’S OVERVIEW As far as the global manufacturing, distribution and sale of soft drinks are concerned, the Coca Cola company in the lead. The company was founded in 1886 in Atlanta Georgia by John Pemberton who was a pharmacist by profession (The Coca Cola Company). His formula was lat er purchased by Asa Chandler in 1891 and this marked the advent of the company’s business achievement. It sells approximately 400 brands making it the top company in terms of market capitalization. Additionally, the entity enjoys impressive customer loyalty and has licensed distributors in over 200 countries. This fact ensures that the entity is in a position to segment its customers hence the high profitably levels. In spite of the harsh economic conditions, the company has remained financially stable over the years. This is due to the company’s ability to adapt to cotemporary marketing strategies such as the use of online marketing through social media such as Twitter, MySpace and Face book (The Coca Cola Company). The company has a history of having a strong corporate culture that propelled the company’s success to date (The Coca Cola Company). For example, the company sponsored the FIFA 2010 World Cup and has constructed wildlife reserves. Potential Issues F acing the Company. Although the company has a huge part of the market share, it is clear that it faces stiff harsh competition from other key players in the industry. However, the company has been experiencing a constant increase in the stocks since 2008 as compared to its major rival Pepsi Co, Inc. Furthermore, the non – alcoholic industry is increasingly competitive with numerous companies. There are competitive products in the market including carbonated drinks, energy drinks, packaged juices and fresh juices. Other significant competitors of the company include, Cadbury Schweppes plc, Nestle and Groupe Danone (Lopez 25). The competitive factors are with regard to pricing, product innovation, sales promotion, dispensing equipment, packaging, and production techniques. Moreover, the company competes in terms of brand name and trade mark protection. The company faces other issues in their operations that may have an impact on its future. In the recent past there have been fl uctuations in the value of the dollar against the common currencies. The larger percentage of the entity’s income is generated outside the United States and owing to the strong performance of the dollar the firm’s revenues from other parts of the world its profits may fall considerably (Lopez 38). The other issue facing Coca Cola is scarcity of water. The

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF CANAD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF CANAD - Essay Example The first class consists of sedimentary  rocks which form the Earths surface. Some consist of fragments that vary in range and are eroded from older  rocks and deposited as gravel, sand or mud and are then consolidated by burial yielding  conglomerate, sandstone or shale respectively. Others comprise of chemical deposits, for example gypsum or rock salt, which resulted from evaporation of seawater. Still others result from biological activities, for instance cemented shell fragments or coral reefs form limestone. Sedimentary  rocks  make  up  the easternmost ranges of the Canadian Cordillera known as the Mackenzie, Rocky and Franklin mountains, but are common in the western Cordillera as well. Many sedimentary rocks  have petrified remains of animals and plants (fossils), and older  rocks  contain diverse kinds of fossils compared to younger  rocks. Igneous  rocks  originated deep within the Earth as molten rock or magma. Magma that solidified deep within the earth formed platonic rock such as granite, which is a common rock particularly in the coast mountains of the western Cordillera and are widely distributed elsewhere. Magma that emerged as lava and cooled at the Earths surface formed a variety of volcanic rock, which is widespread in the interior plateau region and elsewhere in the western Canadian Cordillera. Metamorphic  rocks  formed when igneous  or sedimentary rocks  were buried deep within the Earth during mountain formation. New minerals grew while old features of the rock were destroyed in response to the high temperatures and pressures encountered in the Earth’s core. Consequently, limestone changed to marble, shale to schist, and platonic rock to gneiss. Metamorphic  rocks  are common in the Shuswap Highland, the Coast Mountains and the Columbia, Omineca and Cariboo ranges of the eastern Cordillera. The presence of metamorphic  rocks  at the surface is the evidence of those parts of the

How to feel Happiness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

How to feel Happiness - Essay Example Some say that they believe they could be happy if only they had more money, some say that they would be happier if they found love, still others say they would be happy in a different place or a different time. The end result is that each of these points of view is delaying happiness into the future until such a time as a given goal or milestone is able t be reached. Unfortunately, once this goal is reached, oftentimes the individual has a new goal or milestone – or has even forgotten about the old one- so that they are never able to achieve that happiness which they so desire. In this way, shaping one’s environment in order to create peace and contentment is a powerful way in which happiness can be achieved. Many world religions speak of this. Most notably the Bible counsels, â€Å"I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content† (The Holy Bible Philippians 4:11). Though many of the world’s major religions teach this, it seems to be a precept that has been lost on humanity. As such, it is perhaps this very reason that has meant that spiritual teachers have for so long attempted to change people’s minds with respect to their surroundings a nd particular situation in life; as compared to the way that people oftentimes see this. Therefore, thinking of happiness as a journey and not a destination is the most powerful tool in changing the environment we find ourselves in. Naturally it is human nature to be dissatisfied, discontent, and generally unhappy with the state of affairs. In truth, this discontent nature is one of the factures that drives us out of our comfort zone and encourages us to make changes in the world. Oftentimes these changes lead to good things; sometimes to bad. Regardless, a healthy dose of contentment in one’s given situation can greatly assist the individual in achieving a

LAW ASSESSED WORK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

LAW ASSESSED WORK - Essay Example If we apply this by analogy to the current scenario, David was entering into contractual negotiations with Golden Antiques on behalf of White Hall Limited. Therefore, in order for there to be a valid contract, David will have to have capacity and authority to bind the company in such contracts (McIntyre, 2008). Sections 39-40 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA) regulate authority to negotiate on behalf of companies. Section 39(1) of the CA provides that â€Å"the validity of any act done by a company shall not be called into question on the ground of lack of capacity by reason of anything in the company’s constitution.† In addition, section 40(1) of the CA stipulates that â€Å"In favour of a person dealing with a company in good faith, the power of the board of directors to bind the company, or authorise others to do so, shall be deemed to be free of any limitation under the company’s constitution†. Moreover, section 40(2) of the CA implements a provision that as regards third parties negotiating with a company, there will be a presumption of good faith. As such, the CA provisions do not require third parties to enquire as to whether there are any restrictions on the authority of the board to enter into a contract. Accordingly, if we apply this to the current scenario, unless Golden Antiques were put on notice that David did not have appropriate authority, there will be a presumption that David had capacity to negotiate and conclude the contract with Golden Antiques on behalf of White Halls Limited. Therefore, the fundamental issue will be whether the legal requirements for an enforceable contract have been complied with. The law of contract provides a tripartite test for determining a legally binding contract, which is offer, valid acceptance and consideration. For example, in New Zealand Shipping Co Limited v A M Satterthwaite, The Eurymedon ([1975]) AC 154

Our Societys Indifference to Violence Essay Example for Free

Our Societys Indifference to Violence Essay Last year, while sitting in my car with a friend at the beach, I witnessed a terrible situation in which almost no one helped the woman in trouble. Although I was scared, it never occurred to me to not offer my assistance. Looking back at the situation now, I cant help but wonder if I wasnt there how differently the night may have turned out for an innocent girl. This one night, changed my life and probably saved hers. On this night, we sat in the car talking about the days events and enjoyed the calmness of the ocean and the peacefulness of the night. Although it was already dark, many other cars lined the boardwalk and several people were sitting out watching the waves crash on the nearby beach. For a late evening, the beach was unusually busy. We sat and talked for few minutes before noticing a commotion off in the distance. At first, it appeared to be a prank, or a fight. Initially I didnt think it was serious and went back to enjoying the sound of the waves and the company of my friend. Soon, the distraction appeared to take on a more desperate tone, so I focused ahead on what was happening. In the distance I could see a young woman frantically running from vehicle to vehicle. I had no idea what was going on, and although I wanted to ignore it, something told me not to. I strained my eyes to see what she was doing, and to my surprise no one else seemed to notice how frantic she was. As she ran around, shouting and what looked like crying, people walked away, rolled up their windows and ignored her. She was making her way down the line of parked cars in a hurried fashion, but I still had no idea how severe the situation was. In no time, she was standing at the drivers side window screaming. Her words were difficult to make out and my first thought was that she was drunk or on drugs. I quickly dismissed this idea when I noticed her shirt. It was covered, in what appeared to be blood. She was crying, and talking so fast I couldnt make out what she was saying. What was clear was that she was asking, in fact, begging for help. We quickly told her to get into the backseat, away from the danger that had caused her this horrible reaction. She was trembling, and bleeding and crying. We did our best to comfort her and quickly called 911 from our cell phone. Luckily the police were nearby and responded very quickly. As we sat, and waited for the police to question us, we couldnt help but wonder why no one had helped her. She had asked at least ten people for help, and all of them had ignored her. The situation was obviously dire and had we not called the police immediately whos to say what would have happened to her. We waited for what seemed like an eternity until finally the police explained the situation. It seemed the girl was making her way back to the road from the beach when a man jumped out from behind the bushes and attacked her. She had been stabbed, but managed to get away before he was able to do more harm to her. Unfortunately, the unidentified man was also able to get away. After being attacked, and stabbed, she ran for help. She was obviously hurt and bleeding but no one, except us, helped her. She was quickly whisked away in an ambulance and the police assured us that her wound was minor and she would be okay. We sat for at least another hour as the helicopters, police and search dogs looked for the assailant. We learned later, on the news that the man was never found. It was so disturbing to see someone in obvious need asking for help and everyone turning their back to her. It was as if they couldnt be bothered, or they thought she was joking. So many people were so quick to dismiss it as not serious just to justify their time of peace that it nearly cost someone their life. I would like to think that if the people who did not help, knew that the girl was injured they would have offered to help, but I am not sure. They were all so quick to make a judgment about the situation and assume that it was serious that this girl, who had just been stabbed, couldnt convince them that she was hurt. Our culture is becoming one of not only increasing violence, but one of desensitization to that violence. Had we not been there to help, I cant help but wonder if anyone would have thought to call the police, or an ambulance, or offer even basic comfort to someone in obvious need. The people that did not help that night were completely indifferent to her and were more considered with their own enjoyment that they failed to help a young girl in need. In so doing, their lack of assistance may have provided the attacker the time needed to get away. In this case, indifference led to injustice for not only this one girl, but to everyone else this man may have attacked in months and years to come. Well never know just how many people this lack of compassion affected. Our society has become numb to violence and that numbness has not only caused an increase of violent acts it has caused a greater degree of indifference for the victims of horrible crimes like the one I witnessed. The people on the beach that night justified their lack of action by saying they thought she was acting, or drunk. Sadly, it should never have mattered why she was screaming, bleeding and asking for help. Help should have been offered without question and without prejudice. If we dont change this behavior, as a society, violence and indifference will only continue to grow as it has for the past several decades.

Path Planning Strategy For Line Follower Computer Science Essay

Path Planning Strategy For Line Follower Computer Science Essay This paper presents the development of a line follower wheeled mobile robot. In this project, ARM cortex-3 based microcontroller is chosen as the main controller to react towards the data received from infrared line sensors to give fast, smooth, accurate and safe movement in partially structured environment. A dynamic PID control algorithm has been proposed to improve the navigation reliability of the wheeled mobile robot which uses differential drive locomotion system. The experimental results show that the dynamic PID algorithm can be performed under the system real-time requirements. Keywords embedded system, wheeled mobile robot, PID control algorithm. Introduction Embedded system includes many areas of knowledge, microcontroller hardware and software, interfacing technologies, automatic control theory, and sensor technologies etc. To speed up the learning process and motivate students to learn actively, the project-based learning approach may be applied in the embedded system design laboratory [1-4]. The low-cost wheeled mobile robot building, which is proposed in this paper, serves as a good example on which students can learn embedded system design skills. It covers not only common embedded system peripherals, but also energy control and real-time control firmware implementation. The process of the construction of wheeled mobile robot can give students the idea that hardware circuits and software algorithms are both mandatory for a successful embedded system design. The competition between student groups in the racing contest can also encourage them to explore in depth the skills acquired in this laboratory as well as give them lots of fun [ 5-7]. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: The line follower robot structure and architecture issues and challenges along with their technical issues and problems are discussed in section 2. Programming details will be explained in section 3. Section 4 describes the integration of the complete system. LÄ ±ne follower wheeled MobÄ ±le Robot structure Generally, the line follower robot is one of the self-acting wheeled mobile mechanisms that follow a line drawn on the floor. The route can be a visible black line on a white surface or vice versa. The simple operations of the wheeled mobile line follower robot are shown below. Taking the line position data with optical sensors attached at the front end of the mobile robot. Most are using more than a few numbers of IR photo-reflectors. Therefore, the line sensing procedure needs high resolution and high robustness. Steering the wheeled mobile robot to track the line with any direction-finding mechanism. This is just a servo maneuver; actually, any phase recompense will be required to become stable following motion by applying digital PID filter or any similar servo algorithm. Monitoring the speed according to the path complaint. The speed is restricted during passing a turn due to the friction of the tire with the floor. From actually building the robot platform, to setting up, programming, and hardware or software fine tuning, everything needs to be taken into account when building a differential wheeled mobile robot. A mobile robot can be considered fundamentally as a combination of five main portions and subsystems. Chassis and body. Sensors and signal processing circuits. Microcontroller and interface circuits. Motor drivers Actuators (Motors and wheels) The Chassis and Body The Chassis would be the first part of a robots body. It is designed to handle all of the other components, transmission mechanisms, electronics and battery. It needs to be sufficiently large and provide adequate fixtures to furnish all necessary parts, as well as sturdy enough to cope with the weight of the parts along with additional loads which can appear in dynamic conditions such as vibrations, shocks or chassis torsion and actuators torque. There are some good materials for designing robots such as plastic, aluminum and carbon-composites. We must pay attention to the resistance, weight and mechanical ability for choosing one of them. In the designed robot, printed circuit board (PCB) has been used for chassis because of its lightweight and being strong enough for robot project. All components can be installed on the PCB to minimize the weight. It is noted that the performance is much more valuable than other issues. Sensors and Signal Processing Circuit Line follower robot uses Infrared Ray (IR) sensors to find the path and direction. IR sensors include an infrared transmitter and infrared receiver pair. IR sensors are often used to identify white and black surfaces. White surfaces effectively reflect well, but black surfaces reflect poorly. Hence, the distance between sensors and ground surface is important, and it is more valuable that how we put sensors near to each other. The distance between sensors and ground surface must be 2 to 10 mm, and the distance between each sensor is dependent on the line width. In the designed robot, we have used eight sensors, and they have a suitable distance between each other. If the line width is narrow, the distance between sensors must be reduced; otherwise, while curving the line, the robot will not be turned on time. Generally, the received signals from the sensors are analog and must be converted to the digital form. Therefore, the designed signal processing circuit can send the sensors signals to the microcontroller directly. Microcontroller We have used the TI Stellaris microcontroller LM3S811 in robot project. The LM3S811 microcontroller has a Reduced Instruction Set Coding (RISC) core. Internal oscillators, timers, UART, USB, SPI, pull-up resistors, pulse width modulation, ADC, analog comparator and watch-dog timers are some of the features [8]. With on-chip in-system programmable Flash and SRAM, the LM3S811 is a perfect choice in order to optimize cost. Motor Drivers A well-known and suitable motor driver is IC L298 which can be used to control two motors. It is a high voltage, high-current dual full-bridge driver designed to accept standard TTL logic levels and drive inductive loads such as DC and stepping motors [9]. Two enable inputs are provided to enable or disable the device independently of the input signals. L298 has 2 amperes per channel current capacity and it can support up to 45 volts for outputting. Moreover, L298 works well up to 16 volts without any heat sink. The Actuators (Motors and Wheels) There are many kinds of motors and wheels. Our choice depends on the robot function, power, speed, and precision. Actually, it is better to use gearbox motors instead of common DC motors because it has gears and an axle and its speed does not change towards the top of a hill or downhill. Motors are rated to operate at 1700 rpm at 7 volt nominal voltage. It is better to use wheels for line follower robots, instead of a tank system. We can use three wheels. Two of them are joined to the motors and installed at the rear of the robot and the other wheel is free and installed in front of the robot as a passive caster. To get better maneuver, robot uses two motors and two wheels on the rear and a free wheel on the front. The power supply is 7.6 V with a regulator. The designed robot has eight infrared sensors on the front bottom for detecting the line. Arm based microcontroller Stellaris and driver L298 were used to control direction and speed of motors. General view of the line follower robot that we built is shown in Fig. 1. The robot is controlled by the microcontroller. It performs the change in the motor direction by sending an appropriate signal to the driver IC according to the received signals from the sensors. Real Time Task Scheduling We built a light-weighted and high-speed robot because points are awarded based upon the distance covered and the speed of the overall robot. Therefore, we used two high speed motors and a highly sensitive signal conditioning circuit. The body weight and wheels radius have effects on the speed, too. The weight of the designed robot is around 300 gr. and it could be lighter. The photograph of the top and bottom views of the designed robot is shown in Fig. 1. The microcontroller sends instructions to the driver after processing the data received from sensors. The driver powers the motors according to the inputs. Actually the driver supplies positive voltage to one of the motor pins and negative voltage to the other. There are five states of movement: To move forward; both of the motors are turned on and rotate forward simultaneously. To move left; the right motor is turned on and the left motor is turned off. To move right; the left motor is turned on and the right motor is turned off. To move left fast; the right motor rotates forward and the left motor rotates backward. To move right fast; the left motor rotates forward and the right motor rotates backward. Most embedded system applications need to react to the inputs or environment changes in real time, which means that the accuracy of computations is as important as their timelines. Furthermore, digital control algorithms need a fixed sampling time interval for measuring inputs and delivering output commands. Therefore, the idea of applying interrupts for task scheduling is introduced in this work. IMAG0388 (a) IMAG0392 (b) Figure 1 Images show (a) top, (b) bottom views of the built line follower robot. The Quadratic Line-Detection Algorithm A better way of detecting the line position, compared to the other simple line-following robots, by using a quadratic interpolation technique is introduced. Eight reflective optical sensors were used, and the coordinate of the leftmost sensor was 0. To find out the correct position of the black line, we had to locate three consecutive sensors with higher output readings than the other five sensors as shown in Fig. 2. Assume that the coordinates of these 3 sensors are x1, x1+1, and x1+2, and the true shape of the sensor output values are in the range of [x1, x1+2] which can be approximated by a quadratic curve. One can then find the following relationships between the coordinates of the sensors and the output values: (1) (2) (3) The coordinate value, at which the output value of the quadratic curve is the maximum, is considered as the true position of the line. By using the basic calculus, one would know that the coordinate value is: (4) (5) (6) It is assumed that the coordinate for the center position of the line-following robot is 0. Therefore, the error e between the line position and the center position of the robot is e â‚ ¬Ã‚ ½Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  0â‚ ¬Ã‚ ­Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  x â‚ ¬Ã‚ ½Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ­x (7) Figure 2 The line detection algorithm via quadratic interpolation. PID Tracking Control Algorithm The popular proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller was introduced in this project to make the robot follow the racing track. The error between the center of the sensors and the track to be followed was then processed by the PID controller to generate velocity commands for the right and left wheels. First, the controller calculates the current position and then calculates the error established on the current situation. It will then send commands the motors to give a rigid turn, if the error is extraordinary or a minor turn, if the error is small. Basically, the amount of the turn given will be proportional to the error. Of course this is a consequence of the proportional control. Even after this, if the error does not decline approximately to zero, the controller will then growth the degree of the turn further and further over time till the robot centers over the line. This is the result of the integral control. In the process of centering over the line, the robot may overshoot the target position and move to the other side of the line where the above process is followed again. Thus, the robot may keep oscillating about the line in order to center over the line. To reduce the oscillating effect over time, the derivative control is used. The proportional term is only a gain ampli fier, and the derivative term is applied in order to improve the response to disturbance, and also to compensate for phase lag at the controlled object. Pseudo Code for the PID Controller; Kp = 10 Ki = 1 Kd = 100 offset = 45 ! Initialize the variables Tp = 50 integral = 0 ! the place where integral value will be stored lastError = 0 ! place where last error value will be stored derivative = 0 ! place where derivative value will be stored Loop forever LightValue = read sensors ! read sensors. error = -x ! calculate the error using equation (7). integral = integral + error ! calculate the integral derivative = error lastError ! calculate the derivative Turn = Kp*error + Ki*integral + Kd*derivative powerA = Tp + Turn ! power level for motor A powerB = Tp Turn ! power level for motor B MOTOR A direction=forward power=PowerA MOTOR B direction=forward power=PowerB lastError = error ! save the current error end loop forever ! do it again. PID controller requires the Kp, Ki and Kd factors to be set to match wheeled line follower robots characteristics and these values depends on robot structures, actuators, sensors and other electronic components characteristics. There is no equation given in the literature to calculate Kp, Ki and Kd factors. It requires experimental trial and error technique until you get the favorite behavior. We defined these factors according to following guidelines; Start with low speed and setting values of Kp, Ki and Kd to 0. Then, try setting Kp to a value of 1 and observe the robot. The goal is to get the robot to follow the line even if it is extremely wobbly. If the robot overshoots and misses the line, decrease the value of Kp. If the robot cannot navigate a turn or seems listless, increment the Kp value with small steps. Once the mobile robot is able to follow the path, set Kd value to 1 and then try growing this value until you see less shake. Once the robot is fairly stable at following the line, assign a value of .5 to 1.0 to Ki. If the Ki value is extraordinary, the robot will shake left and right rapidly. If it is too low, you wont see any perceivable alteration. Since integral is increasing, the Ki value has a substantial impact. You may continue to retuning process with adjusting Ki by .01 increments. Once the mobile robot is tracking the line with reasonable accuracy, you can increase the speed and see if it is still able to track the line. Speed disturbs the PID controller and will require rearranging as the speed fluctuations. Results And Discusion A line following robot is programed with simple (on/off) control as a comparison purpose in evaluating the performance of the dynamic algorithm controlled robot. The results of the experiment are summarized in Table-1. From the data in the table, it can be observed that dynamic PID algorithm controlled robot has better performance in every criteria listed in the table compared to simple (on/off) control robot. The dynamic algorithm controlled robot has higher velocity, consumes less time to complete one whole circuit, tracks the line smoother and has lower tendency to astray from line compared to uncontrolled robot. Therefore this system can be used in training undergraduate students on dynamic PID algorithm control system, its application and implementation in the real world and the advantages that it offers. Fig. 3 shows the designed robot during race pits test. Figure 3 The designed robot on the race pits. Table 1- Experimental result for Line Following Robot. Criteria Dynamic PID algorithm Simple (on/off) Time to complete one whole circuit 47.6s 71.4s Line tracking Smooth Not so smooth Velocity 0.2m/s 0.14m/s Tendency to astray from line Low High Conclusion The designed wheeled line follower mobile robot has eight infrared sensors on the bottom for detecting the line. The controller board includes Stellaris LM3S811 micro-controller and the motor driver L298 which were used to control the direction and the speed of motors. The proposed dynamic PID algorithm derives the line follower locomotion by adequately combining the information from sensor module. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can successfully achieve target following in various scenarios, including straight line and circular motion, sharp-turn motion and S-shape line tracking. We are working currently to develop a more sophisticated algorithm which can perform faster line tracking with less energy consumption.