Steganography Is The Most Effective And Fastest Media For...

In this modern era, the computer and internet have becomes the most effective and fastest media for communication that connect different parts of the global world. As a result, people can easily exchange information and share information with the others via the internet. However, the information security requires the confidential data that needs to be protected from the unauthorized users. Steganography is one of the methods used for the secure transmission of confidential information. It can provide a high level of security to secure the important data during combined with encryption. Steganography is a Greek origin word that means stegos meaning cover and grafia to which classified as cover writing. Steganography is hiding a secret message into other information such as sound, image and video. It is also known as invisible communication. In addition, steganography is related to two technologies which are watermarking and fingerprinting. Both these technologies provide the same goals which are mainly used for intellectual property protection.Thus, both are different in algorithm requirements. Watermarking provides a hidden copyright protection by owner whereas the fingerprinting used a copy of the carrier object and make it as unique to the different customer. Besides, image steganography is a collection of numbers that hide information or message inside the image. In this image hidden method, the pixels of the image are changed to hide the secret data and invisible toShow MoreRelatedVb Sof 54012008 Words   |  49 PagesAlthough fax, e-mail, and overnight carriers have been the main communications tools for business for many years, extranets can replace many of them at a lower cost. ____ 13. Although an extranet is a VPN, not every VPN is an extranet. ____ 14. Academic publishing has always been a relatively easy business in which to make a profit. ____ 15. Most successful advertising on the Web is targeted to very specific groups. ____ 16. Most newspaper publishers have found that the cost of operating their

John Locke And The Declaration Of The Rights Of Man

To enlighten is to give intellectual or spiritual light to someone. The Enlightenment period in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries was an intellectual movement that inspired thought, question, and reason in people across the continent. It was the age of new ideals that forever altered the course of our world today and will always be a time where tradition was no longer the primary way in which people led their lives. Several Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Hobbes have influenced multiple government systems to reform their ways by inspiring revolution. Natural Rights creates a democratic republic government where supreme power rests with the people and allows them to elect representatives to operate their country, therefore upsetting citizens since absolute monarchies rule. Natural Rights spawns uprisings and revolution in countries because people believe it to be their right to have shared power which is evident through multiple documents such as The English Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution, and The Declaration of the Rights of Man. John Locke’s idea of Natural Rights created a whole new aspect of how the government should be constructed. Natural Rights is the freedoms people are born with and should be protected by the government, if not then the citizens have the right to overthrow the government since their rights are not being preserved. This Enlightenment ideal is an important aspect in both today’s world and during revolutionary periodsShow MoreRelatedThe Enlightenment Theory Of John Locke1627 Words   |  7 PagesEnlightenment theory philosophies of John Locke offered a future that could drastically change government, economic and social ideals. Thomas Jefferson borrowed liberally from the enlightenment theory from John Locke, specifically focusing on Locks theories of the equality of men, natural rights, and that people should have a say on how the government treated people. Jefferson created a draft document created a bold experiment, America. The enlightenment philosophy of John Locke th eorized that that men wereRead MoreClassical Liberalism And The Enlightenment1244 Words   |  5 PagesPaper #1: Classical Liberalism Classical liberalism is the transition from focusing on government to focusing on the rights of individuals. This transition came about during the time of the Enlightenment in the eighteenth century. The Enlightenment period was when man started to have more faith in his own reasoning. People began to look for evidence on their beliefs themselves and to find proof on these beliefs, so that they could come up with their own opinions on things. One way that they didRead MoreEssay John Lockes Theories in The Declaration of Independence779 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Lockes Theories in The Declaration of Independence When looking at the Declaration of Independence and the justifications which Jefferson used in order to encourage the dissolve of the ties between the United Colonies and Great Britain, it becomes apparent how much of the theories of John Locke that Jefferson used as the basis for his argument. Focusing particularly on the second paragraph of the Declaration, the arguments for the equality of each man and the formation and destructionRead MoreThe Influence of Locke’s Social Contract on the Declaration of Independence869 Words   |  4 PagesInfluence of Locke’s Social Contract on The Declaration of Independence During the 1700s the American settlers suffered the abuses from their Mother England, and constantly fought through the rebellious spirit that lived within them. As their last hopes for independence dissolved by the greediness of the king, a man raised his voice, encouraging his subalterns to defend their freedoms. Richard Henry Lee proclaimed, â€Å"that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent StatesRead MoreClassical Liberalism: Two Treatises on Government by John Locke1152 Words   |  5 Pagesmajority not the rich elite. John Locke, and his book Two Treatises on Government, impacted the Enlightenment by spreading the ideals around the world, which influenced revolutions. Locke wrote that â€Å"the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions† (Locke. sect 6). This ideal was theRead MoreEssay On John Locke And Thomas Hobbes1076 Words   |  5 Pages John Locke and Thomas Hobbes John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, two English Enlightenment philosophers, were both very influential politically and philosophically despite having almost opposite beliefs. While each individually influenced later documents and events such as the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution, they had an equally big impact in history. Today, everyone recognizes natural rights and the modern system of government uses social contracts every day. Thomas HobbesRead MoreJohn Locke And The American Revolution1720 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Locke: A Key to the American Revolution It is widely accepted that the American Revolution was quite different for its time. Some may argue the English revolution was similar in a sense of greatly reducing the power of monarchy, however at this time there had not been many quite like it in the sense of a revolution completely doing away with monarchy. In this revolution we saw a rising movement from the people to oppose monarchy and demand a rule by the people. In this revolution we sawRead MoreEssay on John Locke: Illuminating Path to Life, Liberty, and Property642 Words   |  3 Pagestruths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness† (â€Å"Declaration†). These words, spoken by a wise and prominent man by the name of Thomas Jefferson, were greatly influenced by the Enlightenment’s most profound philosopher, John Locke. Since the beginning of Enlightenm ent to the 21st century, Locke’s ideas have been behind countless innovators, philosophersRead MoreJohn Lockes Influence on the Founding Fathers Essay1470 Words   |  6 Pageson many of the principles taught by John Locke. Many of the principles of Locke’s Second Treatise of Government may easily be discovered in the Declaration of Independence with some minor differences in wording and order. Many of the ideas of the proper role of government, as found in the Constitution of the United States, may be discovered in the study of Locke. In order to understand the foundation of the United States, it is vital that one studies Locke. A few ideas from Hume may be foundRead MoreJean Jacques Rousseau And The Declaration Of Independence Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesLike The Social Contract, the Declaration of Independence is a document that sets out to explain the relationship between a government and its people based on an an understanding of that relationship. The D eclaration of Independence was composed by Thomas Jefferson in 1766, and shares many of the same ideals as The Social Contract. The Social Contract and the Declaration of Independence are more similar than different because Jean-Jacques Rousseau influenced John Locke, whose Social Contract Theories

Learning Team Skills Assessment Paper and Matrix Free Essays

Learning Team Skills Assessment Paper and Matrix Team A is made up of skilled individuals. The team is researching business ideas for a consulting firm. The team’s plan is to review the members’ strengths and weaknesses and evaluate what type of consulting firm would best suited for the qualities of the team members. We will write a custom essay sample on Learning Team Skills Assessment Paper and Matrix or any similar topic only for you Order Now In addition, Team A will review the opportunities and qualifications the team believes are required to strengthen the management team and company. Team A believes the general management skills and the strengths of the partners will provide the team with advantage and opportunities to convince potential customers that the team has the necessary skills to be successful. Team Skills Summary/Analysis The pool of individuals who will develop this organization is comprised of dynamic talent and energy. Every corporate officer has obtained a college degree in business administration demonstrating discipline and motivation. Within experiential categories, which are characterized by skills and strengths, the team brings together qualities that complement and build on those of other members. The skills are comprised of management level proficiency within accounting, employee development, human resources, business law, computers and information processing, marketing, and E-business. Strengths are centered on personal relations within human resources and organizational competence. These skills and strengths will combine well to develop a consulting firm that will uphold our team commitment to our client providing the best-qualified candidates to meet and exceed their requirements and expectations. Consulting Firm Options for Team A Medical Staff / Personnel Consulting Two of Team A’s members have work experience in the medical field which would benefit a Team decision to pursue a firm to provide consultation for medical staff or personnel. Kellie Wolinski currently works for the United Health Group as a Territory Developer. Kellie’s job function involves educating providers, facilities, and senior groups about Medicare Plan Options that will provide the consulting background for our medical staffing and personnel-consulting firm. Mary Ann Senatore is currently employed at JFK Medical Center as Resource Coordinator of Cardiovascular Services, allowing er to assume the administrative role for payroll, purchasing, and human resource functions. Performing the function of medical staff or personnel consultation would require identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Team A could use knowledge of industry needs to help fill essential positions in the medical field. The consulting company would develop a database of professional s able to fill clients’ needs. Team A would provide background checks, accreditation checks, and confirm any specialized training or certification prior placing professionals in the database. Professionals in the system would be encouraged to pursue advanced training in specialized fields to meet the demand of the firm’s clients. Team A would provide the professionals with resume services, coaching through the interview process, salary negotiations, and provide relocation assistance services. Internet Advertising/Marketing Consulting Tracy Schneider has experience working with Internet marketing through work experience with her own business. Team A could use Tracy’s experience and educational background of the team’s members to start an Internet marketing consultation firm. The goals of the firm would be to help clients attract, retain, and convert Internet traffic into viable business leads. The firm would provide Internet public relations, brand management, and product reputation management. Jessica Mazakas marketing skills will be an asset in obtaining and retaining clients. The firm would work with clients to identify individual target markets and establish business goals by combining off line and online business activities. Proper branding and brand recognition services retain consumers through brand loyalty initiatives. Broadcasting Technology Consulting Team A is also considering consultation services in the field of broadcast technology and online training programs for broadcasting professionals. Team A’s members could apply experience from the online training environment at the University of Phoenix to the online training needs of this sector. Ryan Bierbaum’s experience in gaming networks may be beneficial to the inner workings required for broadcasting technology. The firm could also provide consultation and project management for system integrations and technology system upgrades by collaborating with product suppliers. One other area of interest is the design of content specific software design technologies. Plans to Develop Skills As indicated, Team A has a diverse mixture of skills. Each team member has identified his or her own strengths, skills, and weaknesses. Through our combined strengths, we will be able to provide our clients with the services they require. Our weaknesses will allow those team members to benefit, learn, and grow through other member’s strengths. This complement of skills allows us able to move forward with our consulting firm. How to cite Learning Team Skills Assessment Paper and Matrix, Essays

Issue of job recognition in the case study - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about theIssue of job recognition in the case study. Answer: Case analysis and Introduction Job recognition is considered as the most important tool that rewards the most vital results that people build for the business. The recognition should offer the employer as well as employee with exact information about what behaviors are being recognized and rewarded (Kanfer, Frese and Johnson, 2017). It has been analyzed that the clear criteria will be helpful for the employee to perform adequately. The case study of Flora fast food is being taken for analyzing the issue of job recognition. Flora Rangi established the fast food restaurant in Auckland. After three years of struggle and hard work, she established the thriving business by employing the universities and college student for a part time job and involves the disabled people in the staff for filling side-order packs and cleaning. The new policies introduced by Flora to improve the productivity of the employee and the customer services. As a consultant team, it has been analyzed that due to this polices many members who are disabled and served their so many years for Flora Fast Food restaurant had to go. Due to her policy the negative feedback started on the page of the company that this was discrimination and this had drawn support from a number of others who posted comments. There are number of theories that are able to analyze the case study and will explain the outcomes witnessed. Herzberg (Two Factor theories) Herzbergs motivation theory is also known as Motivation-Hygiene theory. It concludes that there are various factors in the workplace that can be the reason of job satisfaction and a different set of factors that may cause the dissatisfaction. The major two factors are comprised in this theory that is Hygiene factors and motivating factors (Onoyase, 2017). Hygiene factors involve the working conditions, salary and benefits, supervision, status and the policies of the company. The job satisfaction was not given by Flora to the employees who bring the adverse situation in the Floras Fast Food restaurant. The changed policy without considering the job recognition is being the reason of job dissatisfaction. The factor of motivation involves the recognition, achievement, responsibility, job challenge, advancement and growth. However, appraisal is given by CEO which is not based on the performance and it increases the inequality at work place. It is essential for the organization to focus o n the intrinsic or motivational factors to motivate the employees (Ghazi, Shahzada Khan, 2013). Job recognition keeps great importance in the company because it ensures employees that they will get growth as per their performance. As it has been analyzed that rewards given by Flora was not effective which demotivate staff members (Dartey-Baah Amoako, 2011). Vrooms Expectancy theory (VET) Vrooms expectancy theory is another theory of the motivational assumes that behaviour results from aware options among substitutes whose aim it is to increase the happiness and decrease the pain. It has been realized by Vroom that the performance of the employee is based on the factors of an individual such as personality, knowledge, skill and experience. Expectancy, instrumentality and Valence are three elements of the Vrooms expectancy theory. The first element of the VET is expectancy theory that increases the efforts will lead to right path. People get more confident when they realize that they can accomplish the task with good skills and it may lead them to get possible outcomes as per his expectations. Instrumentally is the second element of the VIT that can be considered in the form of thought that if an individual performs well, and then an effective result will bring to that individual. It has been analyzed through case study that due to lack of job recognition, many staff m embers are disappointed and it impacted bad influence on the organizations behave. Valence is the final component of vrooms expectancy theory and it is expected satisfaction which an individual attains from a particular reward. The value of them is based in individual differences (Hsu, Shinnar and Powell, 2014). Adams Equity theory Adams equity theory is the motivational theory which can be applied on the functions of the organization to improve the productivity of the employee. It has comprised two factors such as input and output. Input includes the loyalty, skill, ability, adaptability, flexibility, determination, enthusiasm, support of colleagues and trust in superiors. It is vital for the organization to increase the input factor of the employees for earning competitive advantages. Output involves the financial rewards such as salary, benefits and perks and intangibles include responsibility, sense of achievement, stimulus, praise, job security and recognition (Bell Martin, 2012). It has been analyzed through case study that various policies and new equipments have been introduced by Flora without analyzing the skills and flexibility of the employee. The communication between employees and employer did not make which bring the issue of job recognition. It is vital for the company to delegate the work as p er the performance and the skills of the employee so that they can content themselves and do not get demoralized (Bolino Turnley, 2008). Literature Review A companys success is dependent on the motivating employees. One of the biggest concerns of manager should be made meaningful contributions even in smaller task. Motivation is necessary for increasing the productivity of the employees and the strength of the motivation techniques is job satisfaction, increase productivity, improve learning capacity, and improve efficiency and more engaged with works and employee as well. Job satisfaction is integral for the employees to stay in a company for the long time (Danish Usman, 2010). Factors which influence the motivation levels There are various factors which may influence the levels of motivation of the employee. There are some common and managerial practices that may influence the motivation level. It is necessary for the employees to get any rewards and recognition for their work and when they do not get what they deserve, they start to feel that no one cares. There are some reasons that reduce the productivity of the employees and motivation of the employee as well such as unnecessary policies, fostering the competitive work environment, poor feedback and unfair treatment. The consequences of unmotivated employees Due to lack of motivational factors, employees of the company get unmotivated and start to think to leave the organization. Unmotivated employees spread the negativity at the workplace which impacts the performance of others as well. Poor performance, dissatisfaction, poor customer services and decreased revenue are the consequences of the unmotivated employees. Unmotivated employees do perform at a lower level in comparison of others worker. Unmotivated employees are unable to provide the efficient services to the customer (Millette Gagn, 2008). For instance, if organizations are unable to handle the accounting, returns of handling complaints and order fulfillment, they will be unable to provide the adequate image in the view of the outsiders. Unmotivated employees may being the reason of the decreased revenues because when they do not motivate, they will not prefer to accomplish the take which may lead the company into adverse situation. Way of improving the situation There are various ways which improve the situation of the company by motivating the employees of the organization. Initially, organizations need to understand the demands and desires of the employees. Job recognition is essential component and it has been analyzed that consistency, clarity and fairness are necessary for the job recognition. As per Aziri, (2011), job recognition is considered as the situational because each individual are different preference and for enhancing the motivation with the help of job recognition, an organization should conduct the rewards and recognition program. Recommendations In the limelight of above discussion, it has been concluded that job recognition is crucial for motivating the employees in an adequate manner because without motivation employees cannot perform in an adequate manner. The case study has been analyzed and it can be concluded that Flora should understand the skills, knowledge, flexibility and experience of the employees before implementing the policies. She should consider the experience first and retain the customer by providing the challenging task so that boring cannot occur by doing same work for a long time. But for it she should also provide the training for increasing the confidence of them. Promotion should be done on the basis of experience; it will increase the boost of them to connect with the company for long time (Danish Usman, 2010). There are various motivation theories that should be implemented by Flora to encourage them and make them sure that they are valuable assets for the company. Along with that it has been reco mmended that clarify of vision and mission should be necessary to motivate employees. Incentivize program is crucial for improving the efficiency of the employees because it is the factor of motivation which is able to fulfill the psychological need of an employee in a different way (AbuAlRub AL?Zaru, 2008). References AbuAlRub, R. F., AL?ZARU, I. M. (2008). Job stress, recognition, job performance and intention to stay at work among Jordanian hospital nurses.Journal of nursing management,16(3), 227-236. Aziri, B. (2011). Job satisfaction: a literature review.Management Research Practice,3(4). Bell, R. L., Martin, J. S. (2012). The relevance of scientific management and equity theory in everyday managerial communication situations. Bolino, M. C., Turnley, W. H. (2008). Old faces, new places: equity theory in cross?cultural contexts.Journal of Organizational Behavior,29(1), 29-50. Danish, R. Q., Usman, A. (2010). Impact of reward and recognition on job satisfaction and motivation: An empirical study from Pakistan.International journal of business and management,5(2), 159. Danish, R. Q., Usman, A. (2010). Impact of reward and recognition on job satisfaction and motivation: An empirical study from Pakistan.International journal of business and management,5(2), 159. Dartey-Baah, K., Amoako, G. K. (2011). Application of Frederick Herzberg's Two-Factor theory in assessing and understanding employee motivation at work: a Ghanaian Perspective.European Journal of Business and Management,3(9), 1-8. Ghazi, S. R., Shahzada, G., Khan, M. S. (2013). Resurrecting Herzbergs two factor theory: An implication to the university teachers.Journal of educational and social research,3(2), 445. Hsu, D.K., Shinnar, R.S. and Powell, B.C., (2014). Expectancy theory and entrepreneurial motivation: A longitudinal examination of the role of entrepreneurship education.Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship,26(1), p.121. Kanfer, R., Frese, M. and Johnson, R.E., (2017). Motivation related to work: A century of progress.Journal of Applied Psychology,102(3), p.338. Millette, V., Gagn, M. (2008). Designing volunteers tasks to maximize motivation, satisfaction and performance: The impact of job characteristics on volunteer engagement.Motivation and Emotion,32(1), 11-22. Onoyase, A., (2017). Motivation and Job Performance of Lecturers of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria: Implication for Counseling. World Journal of Educational Research,4(2), p.280.

Research Proposal on Language and Culture Essay Example

Research Proposal on Language and Culture Essay Language and culture are the two interrelated components which can not exist without one another, because the language is directed by culture and the type of culture is revealed in the richness of the lingual vocabulary. The idea about the relation of language and culture appear in the beginning of the 20th century when the psychologists and linguists started thinking about the factors which influence the quality and quantity of the vocabulary. The unique peculiarities of the language, the unique words and word-combinations were in the center of their research. Linguists have discovered that different cultures possess different understanding of the world and the result of this difference is observed in the human language. Evidently, the culture and natural environment and conditions of life play the major role in the creation of the human language and especially its vocabulary. If the country is situated on the territories surrounded by sea, it will surely possess rich vocabulary related with the seaside, the sea animals and plants. In comparison with the cultures that live in the dry areas, the cultures living on the seaside will have dozens of words about the color of the sea and the weather which would never exist in other cultures existing in other geographical circumstances. Then, the culture also influences the type of language, the style of conversation, etc. For example, in some cultures the process of conversation is accompanied with gestures and mimics, while in other cultures the conversation is rather restrained. We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Language and Culture specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Language and Culture specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Language and Culture specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Language and culture are the important issues which can not be observed separately, because every language determines the culture and it is easy to understand the history of the language just paying attention to the culture and the environment of the language native-speakers. The student is able to dwell on the explanation of the connection between language and culture and prepare a persuasive proposal which can prove to the professor the relevance and quality of the selected topic. One should analyze the topic seriously and brainstorm an interesting theory or concept which can be related with language and culture. The proposal is supposed to be conducted in the appropriate persuasive manner and contain trustworthy methods of the research. The most complicated moment associated with the organization of a research proposal is the right composition of the text and formatting of the paper, so one is able to solve these troubles with the assistance of the Internet and a free example research proposal on language and culture. The student can broaden his outlook following the guidelines of a free sample research proposal on language and culture written by the experienced and top-qualified expert in his field.

materialism in The Great Gatsby essays

materialism in The Great Gatsby essays The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald chronicles the vapid, materialistic lives of the upper class of Long Island during the booming times of the Jazz Age. The characters in the novel do not work, and live solely for the purpose of amassing their wealth, recklessly indulging themselves, and displaying their affluence. The excess of their lifestyle is shown through their enormous houses, their extravagant parties, and their indulgence in alcohol. Nothing in their daily lives is spared from this outrageous standard of living, and the automobiles that they drive are no exception. Throughout The Great Gatsby, the issue of class, wealth, and the American Dream is illustrated literally and metaphorically through the use of the automobile. For most Americans, the automobile was simply a means of transportation, but for the upper crust of society that wasn't concerned about commuting to a factory, the car was a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby both own extravagant cars in order to project their high class and wealthy image. It's pretty isn't it old sport? Haven't you ever seen it before? I?d seen it. Everybody had seen it. It was a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hatboxes and supper-boxes and toolboxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen sons. (Page: 68) Gatsby's car is described as very luxurious, and very expensive. For the wealthy residents of Long Island, the automobile was used as a way to display how wealthy someone was. Gatsby's car was the nicest car that money could buy. The car is a frivolous possession for these people, and is seen much in the same way as a toddler sees a new toy. When Tom Buchanan pulls up to Wilson's garage in a brand new luxury car, he nonchalantly mentions to Wilson that he just bought the car last week. For Wilson, the purchase of a new car, especially a luxury car would be...

East Religion (Daoism, Bushido, Confucianism, Shintoism) Essay

East Religion (Daoism, Bushido, Confucianism, Shintoism) - Essay Example I also do not think that this principle of Daoism is consistent with the teachings of other religions. Accordingly, it can not fit in other religions. For example, Islam tells its believers to slaughter Halal animals. That is essentially controlling those animals. Bushido is a term that describes a Japanese code of conduct that the samurai have been complying with since the feudal medieval era. The term was first introduced in the last years of the 19th century. Bushido places emphasis on such measures of nobility as obedience, loyalty, self-sacrifice and honor. Bushido is essentially Japanese samurai’s traditional code (Ellis-Christensen) that stresses upon self discipline and promotes simple living. Japanese were taught to follow the teachings of Bushido. Japanese were required to show full respect and dedication to their family and the ruler. Yes, Bushido fundamentally promotes the principles of ethics. Simplicity in every matter of life is indeed, the ultimate solution of the worries of the present age. So, it makes sense. However, on some aspects, Bushido favors extremism and loses sense. For example, if someone does something wrong, he should commit suicide according to Bushido to save the name of the family he belongs to. This is wrong!

Who Are the Main Players in the Industry of Media and Communication Essay

Who Are the Main Players in the Industry of Media and Communication - Essay Example The government will need to be paid taxes and ensure the content of the films is acceptable according to the number of years of the content observers know as audiences. The acceptance of the government is more of a blessing for the process than a bother as it will mean smoothening of the barriers to the industry (Mathur and Mathur, 2009). For a long time, the Bollywood films were only available through videos and this limited the number of people able to obtain a copy and even that copy was easily destroyed. These days, however, the film industry has moved towards digitalization obtaining their own channels which have ensured that people across the world are able to watch as many films as possible. The films once released are placed on different internet sites where people can watch them online which are very convenient for most people (Wadley, 2013). All those ways are in addition to them being shown on cinemas on wide screens. With these strategies being placed, they have ensured that their distribution and consumption has expanded and continues to do so. In as far as production is concerned, actors and actresses have been joining the industry day and night which would explain the high number of Indian movies which are even more than the American ones. The primary consumers of the Indian films are the tourists and the people of other nations. People in India are still dwelling on watching the movies in cinema and undermining as well as underappreciating their own talent. This leaves the primary consumers to be the international media and people. It is an open secret that the fame of the Indian films has spread far and wide and the western nations are seeking the directors to offer them locations to shoot their films at a discount. Research indicates that nations such as France, Australia, Canada, Ireland and the even USA. The growing interest in Bollywood films and their popularity is what makes people increase their consumerism level (Mathur and Mathur, 2009). The films are loved because of their comics and humour as well as the incorporation of dance.  Ã‚  

Logistic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Logistic management - Essay Example However, the main questions are whether enterprise resource planning is an advantage or a hindrance to organizations and whether organizations are making implementations that accommodate the software. The enterprise resource planning software may be of significant help to organizations who are intending or already using it. First, communication within and outside the organizations significantly increases (Bowersox, Closs & Cooper, 2007). This means that logistics information from one department to another move swiftly. In addition, information moving in or out the company is moving at a faster pace. For instance, a technology company manufacturing technological products will have an increase in the movement of information. In this case, the manufacturing department can communicate with sales department at the shortest time possible regarding customers orders. On the other hand, the organizations can communicate with their supplies in time to deliver raw materials in time for production. As a result, due to speedy movement of information in the organization, the second benefit of enterprise resource planning is that it reduces wastages in inventory leading to high profitability levels in the company (Bowersox, Closs & Cooper, 2007). An excellent example is that of the technology company. In the past, technology companies were making products based on future predictions on sales. This was for the purposes of ensuring just in time deliveries to their customers. However, technology is changing at a quick rate meaning that production for future use will lead to obsolete products in the market resulting to wastage. Therefore, because of enterprise resource planning, logistic management is becoming easier with companies only producing in accordance with customer orders. In this case, there is zero tolerance on wastages and reduction of warehousing costs

Black Hawk Down: Narrative Theory Analysis

Black Hawk Down: Narrative Theory Analysis In 1993, over one hundred US soldiers were dropped into the urban heart of Mogadishu, Somalia. The purpose was to perform an operation to capture a violent warlord by the name of Mohamed Farrah Aidid and his closest members. The purpose of the operation was to quell the ongoing civil war. The war was taking a devastating toll on the civilian population as supply and food shipments from Red Cross agencies were hoarded. Starvation was the warlords main weapon. It was decided by the US that intervention was the only way to prevent the continuation of the atrocities. Unfortunately, the US soldiers were not prepared to face the tactical nightmare Mogadishu would become when two of their helicopters were shot down during the operation. All the stories of the soldiers involved were later recorded and written in a book by Mark Bowden, entitled Black Hawk Down. It was this book that a screenplay and eventually a feature film would be based on in the 2001 adaptation Black Hawk Down, directed b y Ridley Scott. If anyone had previously seen a Ridley Scott film, they would know that he is meticulous in creating detail and realism. Black Hawk Down does nothing less than emanate this style of directing. He has helped push a new wave in directing style, where realism in situations and characters account for as much of the movie as the plot. These both apply to narrative and genre theories. The new elements that have been inserted into the creation of the war movie genre and narrative have added new depth and meaning to what we see and understand about the people who fight our wars. The image of the US soldier has been elevated to almost mythic proportions, partly due to ad campaigns, but also to the portrayal of war and the realism that moves us closer to the fighting than we can ever imagine. The beauty is that the answers are explained by philosophical geniuses who have all contributed theories to understanding why we think in certain ways and experience certain pleasures. Ev erything we interpret is relative to our own experiences. The purpose of this essay is to analyze Black Hawk Down using the various narrative theories of these intellectuals. Some provide thoughts on the narration of the story such as Propp, Todorov, Barthes and Levi Strauss, while others look at the genres and their various approaches to creation and production; finally, semiotic analysis allows us to know how we interpret the images we see (both syntagmatically and paradigmatically). Narrative theory applies to the structure of the production, whether it is in film, television, literature or radio. Analysts of narrative theory usually grasp the basic structure of the particular genre before viewing the production based on formulaic series of events associated with that genre. These series of events that have an appearance of repetition, according to Valdimir Propp, are called narratemes. According to Propp, depending on the medium/genre, the events can be predetermined by using his 32 narrative functions and 8 spheres of action. The medium does not have to include all 32 of his functions, but the ones they do contain will always happen in a specific order. Another theorist by the name of Todorov came along and simplified what Propp had been writing about. He generalized narratives to follow the path of equilibrium-disequilibrium-equilibrium. This is where Black Hawk Down takes a turn to the unique side. Because of the nature of the conflict, equilibrium never tru ly existed from the beginning. There may have been equilibrium in the US troops position, but the overall conflict presides over any minuscule balance. The movie begins panning over malnourished Somalis affected by the starvation campaign of Farrah Aidid while text scrolls across the screen explaining the situation. The first glimpse of US troops occurs here when the viewer watches them fly overhead in an SH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The troops begin to watch a Red Cross shipment of food and supplies getting hoarded by the warlord Aidids men. The disequilibrium we had set in the beginning of the movie gets thrown to another level when civilians are shot attempting to take some food. This is where the movie continues to present its uniqueness. As the movie progresses, nothing goes as planned during the operation to capture the warlord. In the process of putting troops on the ground, two helicopters are shot out of the sky by Somali guerillas, further pushing the stability of the movi e. This is why Todorov generalized about the narrative theory: not everything follows a standard, and the ones that dont stand out, good or bad. In this case, the movie created a cinematic experience like most great war movies: immersive, intense and filled with feminine and masculine narratives (discussed later on). The movie eventually reached as much equilibrium as allotted due to the situation. In the end, 17 soldiers had been killed for an operation that was meant to be more than a grab-and-go. But one key aspect to Todorovs theory is that the ending is ideologically significant. How it achieves this closure reveals how narratives function to maintain/challenge established power relations in society. Quite close to how the movie began, it ended, but this time with closure and equilibrium. The music and setting were serene with a feeling of despair, fitting the mood of both dying and/or dead civilians/soldiers because of the conflict in Mogadishu. To the soldiers at the end of t he movie, it no longer became a fight for their own lives, but that for their fellow soldiers. A bond throughout the movie was created between them, and although some were lost to the fighting, the bond never disappeared. This is visible at the end of the movie when Josh Harnetts character Eversmann spoke to a fallen soldier about returning home and talking to his parents about who he was, what he did, and why they should be proud of him. It was an underhanded way of making us look at relationships the soldiers built instead of letting us take a step back and ask why they were there in the first place. What makes this so ideologically significant? It is in the beginning of the movie when disequilibrium was first established: there were soldiers that were aware of this situation and asked what the purpose of the occupation was. This is why the ending of the movie is ideologically significant to established power relations, those between soldiers and their commanders, and how it came to a sincere closure to make everything seem justified. The idea that there are characters within a scripted movie that are given these lines reflects the observational talent the screenplay writers and directors have. It makes a bold statement to society that we are aware. Along with Propp and Todorov, another man by the name of Roland Barthes came and attempted, successfully, to answer the question of the narrative theory. In Roland Barthes theory, he used five codes in order to form a network of meaning. This network, in turn, provides a framework for analyzing texts or in our case, a war movie. The codes are as following: action, enigma, semic, symbolic and cultural. Lets begin with the idea of a cultural code. The cultural code is constituted by the points at which the text refers to common bodies of knowledge through a social construct. This makes the viewer have to have prior knowledge in order to understand the reference. These references are easily-identified traditions that could be scholarly, historical, mythological or stereotypical. In this case, the reference, and respectively the entire movie, was based on a time period in 1993 when the US attempted to quell a civil war. So between the traditions of history, scholar, myth, and stereotyping, history plays a large role. Black Hawk Down was created almost 10 years after the event. This gave the public enough time to move past the events, but also after only 10 years, it could still be on the minds of people who were old enough to comprehend and understand the conflict. To continue with Barthes codes, symbolic would be the next easiest to interpret. It exists to explicate the complexities of an element in the text. One of the most important entrance points into the symbolic is the antithetical because concepts suggest their opposites, which is argued by Levi-Strauss in the binary opposites theory. But the symbolic code does not merely break the code into binaries; instead it eradicates the boundary between opposites creating a disturbance in classification. (Coward) There are many elements to this movie that can be seen as symbolic. As stated earlier, the image of a US soldier means so much more that what can be seen on the surface. This movie attempts, and in reality, accomplishes, the symbolic image of a soldier. The image gets elevated to another level, the level of being mythic. To quote Eric Bana who plays Hoot, Whe n I get home peoplell ask me, Hey Hoot, why do ya do it man? Why? Just some war junkie? Ya know what Ill say? I wont say a goddamn word. Why? They wont understand. They wont understand why we do it. They wont understand that its about the men next to you, and thats it. This is what embodies the American soldier today. It is about defending the country, yes, but more so about keeping the man next to you alive so he can go back home someday. Another symbolic image, which is the basis for the movie, is the downing of not one, but two of our helicopters. We have two massive machines facilitating the most advanced technology available that get shot down by a bunch of ill-trained guerillas from a country torn by war. More so than just that, after the second helicopter was overrun by guerillas and civilians, the military machine became nothing more than a toy with young kids jumping on the rotors. The image of this alone creates more than a feeling of defeat because it was scaled down from being a symbol of Americas productive might to nothing. Two more codes written by Barthes include the semic and action (also known as proairetic). These codes are easily interlaced with other theories. Semic is closely related to semiotic analysis which focuses upon pieces of data in order to suggest abstract concepts. Semiotic analysis is on the conscious of the person viewing the object or product. We see or hear something and chose to recognize it as we have been taught. If we do not recognize it, we try to group it into a category in which we do understand. Semiotics will always be an interesting concept to study because of its conscious and subconscious nature. We recognize that the movie is based on real events, with that being the sign, but the individual stories paint the signified. On the other end, to look at syntagmatic codes, all you have to do is look at the narrative because it refers to how the product uses/used a series of images to create meaning in the viewers mind. The proairetic code is closely related to the texts nar rative structure. The basis of the proairetic is the dependency of syntagmatic codes along with the narrative theory (already discussed) as to understand the meaning of the images. The final code in Barthes theory is enigma, or hermeneutic. Elements of the text that contribute to these codes are the devices used to define and then reveal or solve a mystery. What keeps us intrigued is the process in which they solve the mystery presented in the beginning of the episode, hence the hermeneutic code. Ricoeur distinguishes between two forms of hermeneutics: a hermeneutics of faith which aims to restore meaning to a text and a hermeneutics of suspicion which attempts to decode meanings that are disguised. (Josselson) Finally, another contributor to the criticism and theory of the narration in stories was Levi-Strauss. He believed in the theory of binary oppositions, underscoring the concept of differences. From birth, we learn differences rather than relations. Males distinguish themselves by images and understanding that they are not like their mothers, rather than the fact they are like their fathers. Barthes has a sound theory in the case of narratives, but it can also be tied into Todorovs. Although through Barthes we look at the minuscule vs. the big picture, little equilibriums can be found through binary oppositions. The idea is that binary opposition is an inherent, structurally based concept on the Western tendency to group into hierarchy. This is a conception derived from Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist whose ideas laid the foundation for many of the significant developments in linguistics in the 20th century. His work in structuralism is a tangible point of departure that moves us into the post-structural criticism that is deconstruction. Throughout the movie there are little battles between these binary oppositions that create balance to the characters and plot, and therefore, the narrative. It is in this way that characters create conflict and story. Because of the nature of military action, you will always have a mix of young and old, those who are eager to get into a fight and those wish to make it back. There is a sense of wisdom in the older characters where little things make a difference. One great example would be after the convoy, coming back from Mogadishu, refuels and rearms to get back to the fight. The leader Struecker says very little to a young man who has lost the will to continue because he has seen death around him. Its what you do now that makes a difference. That is the kind of wisdom expected from leaders. They push a person to think hard about how they want to be remembered. In this case, the young man Thomas, heroically grabs his g ear and jumps into one of the last Humvees to return to the fight. It is here where the little battles are won. Another great example of the binary opposite would be the difference between America and Somalia. In the movie, you have a highly trained force of soldiers who become quickly outnumbered by ill-trained guerillas. Looking beyond that, the conflict can be portrayed as a Third World country versus an international superpower. Along with the theories, there is 1 more key point that needs to be made on narrative theories. Narrative structures are experienced differently from person to person, but there are two groups where the content allows us to make generalizations (while there still may be some anomalies): male and female genders. Producers of the content that is viewed, read, or listened to by these two distinct audiences must appreciate the differences between the genders. The feminine narrative appeals to women because it involves relationships and complex issues with characters while masculine narratives appeal to men based on action and multiple climax points. Black Hawk Down cannot be labeled as a chick flick, but it is feminine narrative. This can be determined by the relationships and complex emotions displayed between the soldiers to each other. The movie has many climactic moments, but it also reaches out to the audience to be understanding of the position the men have been put in to. It is ho w they interact that will determine their fate giving an aura of brotherhood. But, in recent years complications have arisen as how to define shows or movies. Movies can no longer be just feminine or masculine or else the audience will not be pulled in. This can be attributed to the change in social behavior and norms. We are becoming progressively equal in the male/female world. Falling back to the 1950s at the height of streamlined sexism, creating a movie appealing to one sex or the other would have been appropriate. But today as audiences tend to be more socially adept, directors and writers must look to create not just a movie, but a complex experience. This is why narratives are beginning to have very complex, multi-episodic stories that are not only using both gender narratives, but also the blending of genres. Black Hawk Down was a blending of fact and fiction into an action/war drama. The US/UN mission in Somalia had originally been to assist in the distribution of food and supplies to thousands of starving Somalis. Farrah Aidid was the warlord who used this aid to consolidate his power base. It was this reason that led the US to create the operation. But instead of a one-hour operation, the US soldiers walked into the middle of a Somali civil war. This movie had not only the cooperation of the US military, but also the use of weapon systems and soldiers, some of whom were involved in Somalia. The movie is unique, and historical. It demonstrates the heroism that continues to this day, of those Americans who volunteer to serve their country, and to be willing to sacrifice their lives for people in countries not their ownà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The movie highlights the officers and NCOs who fought their way out of hell, some who returned a second time to ensure that no one was left behind. This cost them dearly. Their families and brothers in arms today keep their memories alive by honoring them with decorations ranging from the Medal of Honor to the Purple Heart. I was privileged to know and serve beside some of them. While this movie was being filmed, cast members and crew were asked to do their best in portraying the real heroes, keeping cliches at a minimum, and honor the memory of those lost. While there are composites of participants, there are also real people who carry on the traditions of the services today, from Col. McKnight to W/O Durant and others. Though a Blackhawk went down, the Rangers today still Lead The Way. -Jim Banzai McClain. If it were not for philosophers who have contributed theories to understanding why we think in certain ways and experience certain pleasures, nothing could be logically explained. Everything we interpret is relative to our own experiences. Propp, Todorov, Barthes and Levi Strauss, all made narrative theory the driving factor in crit ical analysis of modern media. Bruner, Jerome. Acts of meaning; 1990, Cambridge, Massachussets : Harvard University Press. Freeman, M. Why narrative? Hermeneutics, historical understanding, and the significance of stories; Journal of Narrative and Life History; 1997 Vol. 7, p169-176, 8p. Grà ¼nbaum, Thor. Action between Plot and Discourse. Semiotica 165.1-4 (2007): 295-314. Hà ¤nninen, Vilma. A Model of Narrative Circulation. Narrative Inquiry 14.1 (2004): 69-85. Human Communication as Narration: Toward a Philosophy of Reason, Value, and Action; Fisher, Walter R.; 1987, Columbia : U of South Carolina. Josselson, Ruthellen. The Hermeneutics of Faith and the Hermeneutics of Suspicion. Narrative Inquiry 14.1 (2004): 1-28. Redick, Kip, and Lori Underwood. Rationality and Narrative: A Relationship of Priority. Philosophy Rhetoric 40.4 (2007): 394-405. S/Z By: Coward, Rosalind; pp. 176-81 IN: Newton, K. M. (ed.); Twentieth-Century Literary Theory: A Reader. New York, NY: St. Martins; 1997. xix, 306 pp. The Way We Think: Conceptual Blending and the Minds Hidden Complexities; Fauconnier, Gilles; Turner, Mark; 2002, New York. Wyatt, Neal. Exploring Nonfiction. Library Journal 132.3 (2007): 32.

Holden Caufield as Untrustworthy Narrator in The Catcher in the Rye :: Catcher Rye Essays

Holden Caufield as Untrustworthy Narrator in The Catcher in the Rye The problem with most first person narratives is that there is only one point of view. In The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caufield shares his past experiences as a distressed teenager. The entire story is told through his own troubled mind, which often distorts the experiences. Salinger portrays the reason behind Holden's immaturity by demonstrating his untrustworthy qualities. Most of Holden's views contradict themselves because of Holden's own confusion. This confusion blinds him from being able to realize that most of his criticism is against himself. Salinger clearly presents this after Stradlader hits Holden. "All that blood and all sort of made me look tough. I'd only been in about two fights in my life, and I lost both of them. I'm not too tough. I'm a pacifist, if you want to know the truth"(46). Even though Holden enjoys to see himself beaten up, he contradicts himself by proclaiming he is a peaceful person. Salinger utilizes these contradictions to reveal how unreliable Holden's observations are. Salinger also depicts Holden's immaturity through the judgment of his peers and elders. Holden's disillusionment of good people alters the true personality of each person he meets. Holden even criticizes his new classmates, whom he has not even meet yet. "It's full of phonies/.../and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses, and all you do is talk about girls and liquor and sex all day"(131). Just because Holden is uncomfortable in his school, he feels the need to disapprove of everyone. Salinger exploits this immaturity to illustrate the reason for Holden's loneliness and confusion. Throughout the story Salinger introduces characters that actually appeal to Holden, which give him guidance and make him feel better about himself. Mr. Antolini is one of these people. Holden seems hopeless in his quest for happiness, but Mr. Antolini guides him in the right direction. Even after all the help, he still finds a way to scrutinize Mr. Antolini. "What he was doing was, he was sitting on the floor right next to the couch, in the dark and all, and he was sort of petting me or patting me on the goddam head"(192).

Comparison of Two Short Stories by Tobias Wolff Essay

From the weekend fishing trips to complete hatred and denial, father-son relationships can be characterized by many good and bad experiences. After reading the two short stories â€Å"Powder† by Tobias Wolff and â€Å"If the River was Whiskey† by T. C. Boyle, which both feature father-son relationships that are placed under a large amount of stress. There are many similarities and differences between these two relationships that are not apparent upon just a cursory glance. A father can be completely inconsiderate of his sons needs or try his best to meet them and still create turmoil within the relationship. After reading Wolff’s short story â€Å"Powder,† one can conclude that the father tries quite hard to make his son happy. In this story the father takes the son to places the mother would not approve of in order to try and win his affection. Wolff states, â€Å"He’d had to fight for the privilege of my company, because my mother was still angry with him for sneaking me into a nightclub during his last visit, to see Thelonious Monk† (33). Taking his son to these places is his way of forming a father-son connection. Not only does he take his son skiing, he fights his wife for the privilege, and when she disagrees he does it without her knowledge. While this strengthens the father-son relation, the husband-wife relation is weakened. In this case the father is trying more to be the best friend instead of a role model, and in doing so creates conflicts with his wife. This directly affects the son’s well being because what child would be happy to see his parents fighting. In Wolff’s story the father is displayed as being a risk-taker and borderline reckless. This is where the father and son seem to clash in their relationship. Wolff writes, â€Å"I always thought ahead. I was a boy who kept his clothes on numbered hangers to insure proper rotation. I bothered my teachers for homework assignments far ahead of their due dates so I could draw up schedules† (36). Obviously, his father did not plan or think ahead, or he would have planned on leaving the ski lodge early in case they ran into trouble. When they got down the road, the trooper tells them that the road is blocked and the son became annoyed and frustrated with his father’s carelessness. He says to his father â€Å"we should have left before† (35) This comment made his father feel inadequate, and he did not respond to it. His father’s recklessness directly affects their relationship. The boy is more like a man, and the father is more like a boy, showing the â€Å"adult† in a relationship is not always who it seems, but that people can learn about themselves by their relationships with others. The son was very uneasy and nervous when his father started driving down the snow covered road once the trooper left his post. Wolff shows this when he writes â€Å"to keep my hands from shaking I clamped them between my knees† (35). The connection was restored between them when the child decided to stop moping and began to enjoy himself. The child says, â€Å"My father in his forty-eighth year, rumpled, kind, bankrupt of honor, flushed with certainty. He was a great driver. All persuasion, no coercion, such subtlety at the wheel, such tactful pedalwork. I actually trusted him† (37). This was a big turning point in their relationship because the child now sees greatness in his father that he had never seen before. In Boyle’s short story, â€Å"If the River was Whiskey† the same rocky father-son relationship that slowly takes a turn for the better is displayed. The father in Boyle’s story is much worse than the one in Wolff’s story in that he is an alcoholic that did not spend much time with his son. While in Wolff’s story spending time with his son made the father feel good, all the father in Boyle’s story needed was alcohol to feel good, giving no attention to his son. The wife attacks the father by saying, â€Å"We’ve been here two weeks and you haven’t done one damn thing with him, nothing, zero. You haven’t even been down to the lake. What kind of father are you? † (231). Seeing his parents in such an argument affects the son by making him disconnected and hateful toward his father. When the son came home from school he would find his father â€Å"sitting in the dark, hair in his face, bent low over the guitar. There was an open bottle of liquor on the coffee table and a clutter of beer bottles† (231). Coming back to this dreary home life after school and seeing one’s father in this condition would be very traumatic. It shows him that his father doesn’t care about his job and would rather be at home drinking while reminiscing about his past. The relationship between them finally took a turn for the better when his father put down the bottle and decides to go fishing with Tiller and spend some quality time with him. Boyle explains Tiller’s excitement by saying â€Å"It was too much for him all at once–the sun, the breeze that was so sweet, the novelty of his father rowing, pale arms and a cigarette clenched between his teeth, the boat rocking, and the birds whispering–he closed his eyes a minute, just to keep from going dizzy with the joy of it† (233). At this point, one can see that Tiller’s feelings of hate toward his father are diminishing. His father’s attitude also seems to have changed because he is making a conscious effort to not drink and have a good time on the water. When his father finally hooked a fish on his line, it was perhaps the climax of their relationship. Boyle writes, â€Å"Tiller saw something in his eyes he hardly recognized anymore, a connection, a charge, as if the fish were sending a current up the line, through the pole, and into his hands and body and brain† (234). That passage shows that Tiller actually felt him and his father finally connect. He describes it as hardly recognized because they had never really connected in this way before now. After his father pulled the fish up into the boat and Tiller realized it wasn’t a pike, â€Å"already the thing in his eyes was gone, already it was over† (234). This is where Tiller gets the feeling that his father had let him down as he always had before. The connection was once again lost. In both T. C. Boyle’s and Tobias Wolff’s stories the father’s actions create a direct reflection on their son. In T. C. Boyle’s story the father does things that damage his other relationships to try and improve the one with his son, and this is shown to have an equally bad result for the son as the one in Tobias Wolff’s story. In both stories there is a critical element that seems to connect the father and son. In both Wolff and Boyle’s story the sight of ones father performing a certain action creates an exhilarating short lived connection. A father can be completely inconsiderate of his sons needs or try his best to meet them and still create turmoil within the relationship that is occasionally interrupted by a one of kind father-son connection.

Mosquito Control With Birds and Other Natural Predators

Mosquito Control With Birds and Other Natural Predators When the topic of  mosquito control is discussed, thrown into the mix is usually a fervent argument for installing purple martin houses and bat houses. Stores that cater to bird enthusiasts often tout the purple martin houses as the best solution for keeping your yard mosquito free. Bats, which may not be the most beloved of mammals, are defended with the claim that they consume hundreds of mosquitoes per hour. The truth of the matter is that neither purple martins nor bats provide any significant measure of mosquito control. While both eat mosquitoes, the insect makes up a very tiny portion of their diets. Other animals might have an upper hand on mosquito control, particularly in the fish, other insect, and amphibian classes. Mosquito Munchies For bats and birds, mosquitoes are more like a passing snack. Multiple studies of wild bats have consistently shown that mosquitoes consist of less than 1 percent of their diet. In purple martins, the percentage of mosquitoes in their diet is slightly higher- about 3 percent, at most. The reason is simple. The payoff is small. A bird or a bat that feeds on insects must invest considerable energy in flying around and must catch the bugs in mid-air. Birds and bats are usually seeking the biggest caloric bang for their buck. Given the choice between a mosquito morsel, a hardy beetle, or a mouthful of moth, the mosquito hardly makes the top-10 list. An Efficient Mosquito Natural Predator Gambusia affinis, also known as the mosquitofish, is an American fish that is utilized by some mosquito control districts across the country as a very effective predator of mosquito larvae. As far as natural predators go, the mosquitofish is by far the most efficient natural predator of mosquitoes. The mosquitofish is a voracious predator. In certain studies, mosquitofish have been shown to consume up to 167 percent of their body weight in invertebrate prey, including mosquito larvae, per day. Mosquitofish, as well as small predatory fish such as guppies, can be quite useful in the reduction of mosquito larvae given the right conditions. Other Mosquito Consumers The closely related  dragonflies and damselflies  are natural predators of mosquitoes but do not consume enough mosquitoes to cause a significant impact on the wild mosquito population. Dragonflies are often referred to as mosquito hawks for an unsubstantiated claim of being able to kill thousands of mosquitoes. One thing that does make the dragonfly a better predator than most is that, in the aquatic larval stage, one of their food sources is mosquito larvae. Dragonfly larvae can sometimes live up to six years in this stage. During this phase of life, dragonflies do the most damage to mosquito populations. Frogs, toads, and their young tadpoles are often touted as excellent for mosquito control. In reality, while they do consume their fair share, it is not enough to seriously put a dent in vast mosquito populations. When frogs and toads do consume mosquitoes, it is usually after they have transformed from tadpole to adult.

The novel Hard Times Essay Example

The novel Hard Times Essay Example The novel Hard Times Paper The novel Hard Times Paper Essay Topic: Hard Times Woman On the Edge Of Time In the novel Hard Times, Mrs Sparsit is the housekeeper for the very outspoken Mr Bounderby, who is always talking about how self made he is although throughout the book he story alters a bit to fit the mood of the particular chapter. Mrs Sparsit is not portrayed, as you would expect a housekeeper to be portrayed. The connotations of her job have no similarities to her personality. Mrs Sparsit herself has had trouble in the past, although she had the status of an upper class female she lost her status in society due to debts her husband left her with. Mrs Sparsit married Mr Sparsit but when he got addicted to gambling he got into so much debt that he ended up passing away with them over his head. In Book 1 we are introduced to Mrs Sparsit as Bounderbys housekeeper but then she starts to make many hints that she has a particular spot for Bounderby that she cannot talk about. She is introduced as this elderly lady that presided over his establishment. Mrs Sparsit speaks of her hardship to Bounderby in the hope that he will understand because he speaks about being so hard done by in the past by his mother. Mrs Sparsit can relate to Bounderby and thats why she is so drawn to him in the novel, also because they are the same age she feels even closer to him. Mrs Sparsit is quite insignificant in the first Book but she placed there because she objects so much to Bounderbys marriage proposal to Louisa. We get many clues that Mrs Sparsit that Mrs Sparsit is fond of Mr Bounderby in more ways than one and we pick up on this because of her reaction to the marriage. In book 1 Mrs Sparsit is the fuel that keeps Bounderbys already huge ego going. Due to all the debts that she was left with Mrs Sparsit is financially dependent on Bounderby, and in her opinion she is his number one woman because she does all the womanly duties around the house. Also Bounderby depends on her for her womanly perspective on female issues. In Book 2, Mrs Sparsit becomes more significant and she is more constant through out the second book. She plays a more active role because she is sent to live in the bank because of the marriage and Mrs Sparsit is quite publicly annoyed so she decides that she is going to call Louisa by her first name and not her marriage name. She has so many objections against this marriage because she can see Louisa being a threat to her number one place in Bounderbys household, also she knows that she could be a better wife than Louisa therefore disagrees with this marriage but she will never get to show Bounderby what a wife she could be because of Louisa. Mrs Sparsit is so desperate to separate Bounderby and Louisa that she drives a wedge between them by commenting on every little detail about Louisa. In Book 2 Mrs Sparsit is sent to live in the bank Dickens relights the whole fact vs. fancy battle that takes place everywhere in the novel, because he says Mrs Sparsit considered herself, in some sort, the Bank fairy then goes on to say Townspeople who in their passing and repassing saw her there, regarded her as the Bank dragon. Dickens has used these examples to imply Mrs Sparsit personality of a spy who watches over Bounderbys household like a dragon would a layer. In this particular part of the novel Mrs Sparsit displays her weakness for spying as she goes and spies on Louisa and Harthouse, she tries to pick up as much information as she can to go back and tell Bounderby of Louisas cheating ways. Harthouse and Mrs Sparsit meet in the bank where she now lives, Harthouse makes spiteful comments to Mrs Sparsit in the hope that she will be more annoyed at Louisa coming in to Bounderbys household and snatching her place away, so it ends up that Louisa and Bounderby get divorced for Harthouse to marry Louisa. Therefore he says to her I presume, that Mr Bounderby the banker does not reside in the edifice which I have the honour of offering this explanation? It seems that Mrs Sparsit was placed in this particular part of the novel because she persistently follows Louisa and Harthouse that she finally ends up pushing Louisa to tell her father how unhappy she is with the marriage. Mrs Sparsit has been given the job of spying on people in the novel because she thinks that nobody would suspect an old housekeeper to be the towns gossiper, so she uses that to her advantage. Dickens has portrayed Mrs Sparsit in this particular way because he wanted Mrs Sparsit to see everybody miserable, as they had done when she was left with her husbands debt. So by her spying and interfering in Louisas marriage and her relationship with Harthouse it is her opportunity to get Bounderby and be happy for once in her life but it does not work out like that for her.

Eugenics and the Horrors of Genocide in Nazi Germany Essay - 1

Eugenics and the Horrors of Genocide in Nazi Germany - Essay Example In the 1870s industrialization began to create a thriving economy in Germany, but a wide gap between wealth created a society in which was exacerbated by a lack of infrastructure. The population was growing at a rate that was not in step with the provisions that were available at a social level. Mortality rates began to skyrocket and the development of a definable issue meant that solutions would soon also emerge. Medical ‘advances’ began to define the meaning of human existence, often through the delusions of prejudiced theories that supported an idea that there were a human race and a series of sub-human races. During the time between the 1870s and the 1930s, a relationship had developed between American eugenics experts and German scientists with the same goals. In the 1930s, however, the relationship became strained. The racism that developed in Nazi Germany involving those of an ethnic Jewish background became an issue of contention and the American scientists were not interested in the idea that being Jewish meant being inferior. One of the clear signs that the racism was infecting the society of Germany is that of the Nuremberg laws which stated that those with Jewish heritage in their background would not be allowed to have citizenship. Decrees began to emerge that were further and further limiting the rights of those with ethnic Jewish ancestry, creating a prejudicial climate that began to define the nature of the beliefs as being centered on the heritage that broke the code of acceptable genetics which was growing in the nation.

SPIRITUAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SPIRITUAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT - Essay Example In the future, I would focus more on spirituality to make my approach universal rather than being specific because not all people welcome religion. The tool however helped for the interviewee to open up that sometimes he has a need for someone bigger than him when he feels lonely. The tool is non-judgmental and compassionate in approach and this helped me get through the defenses of the interviewee. The spiritual experience I had with my interviewee was fulfilling. At first he was resistant and does not want to admit that he too, just like all of us, needs some divine guidance. Eventually however, he softened and he in fact calls out for God during his moments of despair. The non-judgmental approach of the tool help him opened up which he used to find very difficult for fear of reprisal. On my end, the tool helped me connect and get through the seemingly tough exterior of the interviewee. It also helped me understand that the stress and negative experiences that the interviewee undergone made him hard and defensive. For example, when I asked about his down moments, the interviewee initially played tough that he can handle anything. The tool help me get through him and address his spiritual need. The experience affirmed by belief that all of us need â€Å"Somebody† bigger than us especially during our tough times. As the saying goes, â€Å"there is no atheist in a foxhole† because human strength will always fail us. We could appear tough just like my friend but it is really just a defense mechanism to make him look strong with his peers. Deep inside however, he also have spiritual needs which when explored, is actually bigger than most of us because it has long been repressed due to his negative experiences and fear that society may judge him as weak. When I made him open up, it was like a floodgate of pent up emotions and suppressed pains that has long been buried beneath him. I promised that whatever he tells

Ground Response and Seismic Slope Stability Coursework

Ground Response and Seismic Slope Stability - Coursework Example In this report, two parts are considered. In the first part, a ground response analysis for two sites is run while the second part proposes possible design accelerations on basis of the analysis in designing of an embankment structure that will support the proposed roadway. Both of the proposed sites are located in Jamaica. With regard to ground response analysis, edushake analysis program is made use and the results obtained are as displayed in the various tables displayed throughout this report. The input data used are as provided in the coursework materials while the thickness is obtained through calculation of the difference between the depths. A table from the web forms the basis of assumptions made with regard to respective soil’s unit weight. Each soil type has its respective stress (), pore pressure (u) as well as effective stress (’) associated with it (Bhandari and Sharma, 2001). Two equations, one for sand and the second one for clay are used in in calculatio n of maximum shear stress based on the literature from the book of Steven Kramer’s. ... Width of crest: 15m Height of embankment: 11m Traffic loading surcharge: 15kPa Design PHA (horizontal acceleration): 0.3500g from the ground response analysis 0.3500g from the ground response analysis 0 The embankment is designed using a 1.56 safety factor to facilitate long term and short term stability. With the help of STB2010, the embankment’s parameters were generated using the ordinary method of slices also referred to as Fellenius method for static and seismic stability analysis. The necessary soil characteristics are provided in the table below: Drained strength with strength parameters: c’=0kPa and Ã'„=25? Unit weight of water: ?w = 9.81kN/m2 Undrained strength: c’=85kPa Unit weight of placed material: ? = 20kN/m2 It should be noted that the water table is located at the toe of the embankment. All the assumptions and calculations for the design of the embankment are shown from the Figure 3.1 to the next page. The data as provided in the spreadsheet is as shown below: Basing the divisions on four slices, the ordinary method of slices for design of embankments for drained as well as undrained soil is used. The initial embankment was generated based on the six slices. Consequently, an angle (?) was established in the middle of each slice at the horizontal’s base after which sin (?) and cos (?) were obtained. The equation given below was used in evaluation of the length of each individual slice: The height was measured from the middle of each slice. Additionally, the height (hw) was measured from the middle base of each slice to the point of the water table after which the pore pressure at the base of the slice base was calculated based

Recess at school Essay Example for Free

Recess at school Essay Psychology helps marketers understand why and how consumers behave as they do. Psychological concepts such as motivation and personality; perception; learning; values, beliefs, and attitudes, and life styles are useful for interpreting buying process and directing marketing efforts. Motivation- is energizing force that stimulates behavior to satisfy a need. Personality- Refers to a person’s consistent behaviors or responses to recurring situations Perception- The process by which an individual selects, organizes and interprets information to create a meaningful picture of the world. Learning- refers to the behavior that results from (1) repeated experience, (2) reasoning. The way we perceive ourselves in relation to the rest of the world plays an important role in our choices behaviors and beliefs. Understanding social psychology can be useful for many reasons. First we can better understand how groups impact our choices and actions. Additionally, it also allows us to gain a greater appreciation for how our social perception affects our interactions with other people. Claustrophobia is an abnormal dread of being in closed or narrow spaces (Jeffrey, M. K., 2002). This paper will examine if the claustrophobia could have occurred through classical or operant condition or cognitive social learning. Most people who suffer from claustrophobia do not like being in tight, narrow places such as elevators or small rooms without any means of escape (Jeffrey, M. K., 2002). Studies show that most claustrophobic patients have had an experience when they were younger that have left an impression on them causing them to become claustrophobic when they became older. For example, an individual could have been trapped in an elevator for a period of time with no means of escape as a child. Individuals also have fears of being in small rooms with no means of escape and therefore do not like to close the doors to these rooms such as bathrooms (Jeffrey, M. K., 2002).

War on Drugs is War on Democracy Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Top

The voters of California succeeded in passing a proposition to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana as prescribed by doctors. The passing of Proposition 215 seemed to symbolize a promising trend toward knowledge of the substance. However, after reading an article by Eric Schlosser in the April issue of Atlantic Monthly, I have been shocked with the reality of what is occurring elsewhere. Many of us are aware of the idiocy of our legal system treating marijuana offenders worse than violent criminals. I doubt, however, that many Americans are truly conscious of how some peoples' lives have been shattered because of current practices in the so-called "drug war." Now, about 15 years since its beginning, the "war on drugs" has become a war on personal freedom and toes the line of authoritarianism. On the brink of the 21st century, this is not a good sign for preserving our future, nor that of democracy. In 1989, a small business owner and Vietnam veteran, Douglas Lamar Gray, who had only petty crimes on his record was sentenced to life in prison without parole after buying one pound of weed for himself and friends. He made the purchase from a convicted felon working as an informant for a local Alabama task force. Gray's wife, left with a 2-year-old son and no source of income, unsuccessfully attempted suicide. The informant was paid $100. Life sentences for non-violent marijuana offenses exist in 15 states . In Montana, the sentence can be imposed for growing a single plant or selling a single joint. But such martial law is not nearly as horrific as that on the federal level. Stiff federal policies against drugs arose in 1982 under President Reagan. The largest leap forward came in 1986 with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act w... ...king away privileges, which laws like the Anti-Drug Abuse Act do not. (FREEDOM is not a privilege; It is an inalienable right!) I see no choice but for further solutions to embrace the decriminalization of marijuana. I shall not debate the ethics of casual use of the drug. I will merely state that it has never been linked as the sole cause of a single death and no long-term detrimental effects beyond depression have ever been proved. Furthermore, no proof has been found that law enforcement discourages use. (For evidence of the contrary one need only take the examples of the Netherlands and Sweden.) The facilitating of phenomenal business profits among dealers and state and federal organizations, pooled with deprivation of citizens' constitutional rights, is the evil which must be targeted and struck down. This is only made possible when marijuana is legalized.

Essay --

diamalkan pada hari ini, masyarakat Islam sebenarnya masih tidak dapat lari daripada menjadi mangsa urusniaga berteraskan riba. Ini adalah kerana dasar ekonomi global adalah dimonopoli oleh kaum bukan Islam. Inilah cabaran yang telah mewujudkan jurang yang ketara dari segi ekonomi di antara komuniti di dalam Tamadun Islam berbanding komuniti lain. Selain itu, faktor sejarah juga telah meletakkan bidang ekonomi sebagai suatu cabaran dialog antara pelbagai tamadun yang terdapat di Malaysia pada hari ini. Kesan daripada penjajahan British di Tanah Melayu telah mewujudkan perbezaan sektor ekonomi antara kaum. Penjajah British melalui Sistem Kangany telah membawa masuk buruh dari India Selatan bermula pada tahun 1890 sehingga 1938. Mereka telah ditempatkan untuk bekerja di ladang-ladang getah. Sementara itu, menjelang tahun 1820-an, buruh-buruh Cina pula telah di bawa masuk ke tanah Melayu. Mereka ditempatkan di lombong-lombong bijih timah. Oleh kerana sikap gigih dan sanggup bersusah payah untuk maju, kaum Cina telah berjaya membeli dan menguasai sebahagian besar lombong-lombong biji...

Information Technology and the University of Phoenix Essay

It was only recently that computers began to contribute to an emerging revolution in technology-assisted education. These machines provide an optimal means for storing, searching, and retrieving educational materials. Besides, computers are great for composing and editing written work. These machines permit self-directed and individualized instruction plus feedback in almost all areas of interest. So, e-learning and cyberlearning opportunities had to become a fad among the curious young individuals who had to find them irresistible (MacCormack and Jones, 1997). Adopting emerging technologies in educational settings has made instruction more effective and engaging (Barak and Fisher, 2001). And, the University of Phoenix happens to be a pioneer at it. Using Information Technology, the university has decided that it would continue to evolve and adapt to new challenges in the IT world. In other words, students at the University of Phoenix can be certain that their university would always use the latest in Information Technology to make the education experience even more fantastic. As it is, the IT world has made the University of Phoenix a learning organization, i. e. one that continually adapts and learns so as to respond to changes in the environment, and to grow (Learning Organization, 2007). Who would have thought thirty years back that an excellent education experience catering to people from all locations would be set up without having to relocate the people? By using IT to benefit a huge number of students, the University of Phoenix has, indeed, proved that it is possible to provide quality education at the computer terminal, especially for those students who INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX are either too busy to attend a full-time educational institutions or just do not have the resources to attend one. The University of Phoenix is most certainly a high performance organization, and IT has contributed to its high performance growth thus. According to the theory of high performance organizations, the University of Phoenix is already a high performance organization, seeing that its focus is on people and their needs. A professional, for instance, who cannot attend a full-time educational institution would find that the University of Phoenix is a blessing. Moreover, a high performance organization must keep on concentrating on innovation (High Performance, 1997). Innovation is, in fact, a promise of the University of Phoenix, since the university will not settle for inferior quality Information Technology programs to conduct itself. Rather, as mentioned before, the university is expected to adopt any new technology that enhances the educational experience. Furthermore, the University of Phoenix accentuates its strengths through the use of Information Technology – another feature of a high performance organization. To put it another way, the university does not stress the need for the standard classroom experience when everything that is truly required for the educational experience is available at the computer terminal. Lastly, the use of IT at the University of Phoenix is based on leadership-trust, which is yet another characteristic of high performance organizations (High Performance). According to this concept, the university provides a virtual environment that the student can trust. The student knows, for instance, that his personal INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIXÂ   information with the University of Phoenix would remain personal, despite the openness of the virtual world. Hence, the University of Phoenix is a high performance organization through and through. What is more, this great university is expected to continue as a learning, high performance organization for a long time to come. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX References 1. Barak, Azy, and Fisher, William A. (2001). Toward an Internet-Driven, Theoretically-Based Innovative Approach to Sex Education. The Journal of Sex Research, Vol. 38, Issue 4, pp. 324+.

The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du

The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du The Tale of Kieu is one of the first Vietnamese books that made me understand the relationship between Vietnamese and Chinese culture. There are several characters in the poem, from whom we can get the main ideas of the author, and set off the image of young Kieu. Through images of the minor characters, the author reveals the essence of the philosophical notion â€Å"virtue† and its peculiarity in Eastern culture, the role it played in the destiny of the poet himself.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Tale of Kieu is a moral verse. I say this because Kieu and other characters go through what they go through by fate; a situation they have no control over. There are instances through which immorality is illustrated, but beyond this curtain, there are great moral lessons . We are told of Kieu, â€Å"Alive she played the wife to all the world† (Du, 7) .As such the mere presentation of Kieu in a brothel can send the signal that the verse is immoral. But this should not be the motivation for such a harsh conclusion. Virtue The kind of restoration that we eventually encounter points to the fact that this tale is seriously mirrored towards advancing the nature of virtue. This is seen from the inner thoughts of the minor characters. Though Thuc got Kieu through a brothel, he had a yearning of once getting a partner with whom they could marry and finally start a serious family. â€Å"†¦this harlot, after all, knows right from wrong†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Du, 75).Theirs was a relationship which quickly moved from a casual one to a morally acceptable one. Scholar Ma played a tragic role in the destiny of young girl. In the eastern culture the beauty of tragedy if considered deeper, purer, and truer than the beauty of happiness. From the book we may know if Scholar Ma was not the main cause for Kieu to become a prostitute. Kieuâ₠¬â„¢s renunciation would not be so prominent. Scholar Ma destroyed her personal happiness, but by doing this, her character became more immoral. The very same situation became classic from the point of view of Chinese and Vietnamese literature. Virtue of Kieu was impossible without Scholar Ma. Scholar Ma is an original element of fate and at the same time, an ordinary representative of his social group. Strength and Weakness Thuc’s image includes several issues such as the question of strength and weakness. In fact, paternity plays a great role in the story; Thuc just could not not follow his father because it was impossible from the point of view of Eastern philosophy. Father’s image personifies the idea of social, moral and virtuous responsibilities. For Kieu and Thuc, this fact was the universal truth; still the girl was stronger than her lover and she took responsibility and decided to face the judge. Thuc could not fulfill his obligation to his wife and to Kieu. W hen the judge took pity and ordered their marriage, Thuc was afraid of his first wife and did not reveal his relationships with the girl. Kieu saved faces even in shameful situations, while Thuc fell sacrifice to his passions and weaknesses. Kieu is strong, even in the hours of hardships. Thuc is influenced by her strength when he helps her escape the temple and the threat which his wife corresponds. We are told â€Å"†¦known as Miss Hoan, she wore a great name†¦.† (Du, 79)Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More True virtue serves as an example for others and strengthens them. Virtue plays out in the tale from what Miss Hoan goes through. Though Thuc leaves her and marries Kien, we can easily see how she practically stands her ground as first wife. Through Thuc we see the reflection of squander and plunder as compared to what actually befell Vietnam his torically (Du, 164). Thuc being a thrift spender, â€Å"squandered money with both hands†. Vietnam as a country got squandered by invaders who affected almost every aspect of the country. Though The Tale of Kieu portrays characters as seen, going deeper one sees an embodiment of what ails the society. There are several competing forces and these determine the way things work out. The character, in essence, presents to us how destiny is equally determined by fate.Kim Trong’s ordeal was separation with Kieu, and even reunion of lovers was not so happy. It happened because they were engaged, but their relationships were not full. Of love and friendship they fulfilled both claims – They shared no bed but joys of lute and verse . Their wishes all came true since fate so willed, And of two lovers marriage made two friends. (Du, 165)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Their mutual life is ordeal for Kieu. At the end of life, a human’s soul seeks for truth. Kieu becomes a nun and does not want to defile Kim Throng’s ordeal. She proves that true virtue is renunciation. Conclusion Through the images of the minor characters, the author reveals the essence of virtue and its role in the destiny of people. From what befalls the characters, we can finally see the kind of moral conscience that drives humanity being advanced in the tale. There are several issues which we see getting resolved through reconciliation and reunions. By all these one can only conclude that the characters, through the turmoil that they go through, serve as a medium through which the trouble that humanity goes through in search of virtue is reflected. Kim for instance seeks Kieu’s love for a long time, but Kieu’s refusal to give in quickly initially is motivated by the fear if soiling Kim’s stature. Her sticking to the p reservation of chastity only goes further to reflect the inner yearning for virtue. In essence The Tale of Kieu is a moral verse. Du, Nguyen.  The Tale of Kieu. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.

Shangri La Hotel Essays

Shangri La Hotel Essays Shangri La Hotel Essay Shangri La Hotel Essay Shangri-Las Net Profit Rises 54% Kate OKeeffe. Wall Street Journal (Online). New York, N. Y. : Mar 17, 2010. Abstract (Summary) HONG KONGLuxury hotel operator Shangri-La Asia Ltd. said Wednesday its 2009 net profit rose 54%, lifted by higher property prices, though its core hotels business suffered from a sharp drop in demand due to the global financial crisis.  »   Jump to indexing (document details) Full Text  (515   words)| (c) 2010 Dow Jones Company, Inc. Reproduced with permission of copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission. HONG KONGLuxury hotel operator Shangri-La Asia Ltd. said Wednesday its 2009 net profit rose 54%, lifted by higher property prices, though its core hotels business suffered from a sharp drop in demand due to the global financial crisis. The economic crisis hit the hospitality sector as businesses restricted employee travel and tourist numbers declined. The industry has lagged other sectors in its recovery outlook, even as demand has been making a comeback since the end of 2008. The Hong Kong-listed company, which is controlled by Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok Hock-nien, said though it expects improvements in its business this year and next, it doesnt expect to return to pre-crisis levels until 2012. Weve been fairly encouraged by the last 10 to 12 weeks, said Shangri-La Chief Financial Officer Madhu Rao at a news conference, adding there has been a return in business travellers. He also said he expects the second half of this year to be better than the first. Shangri-La, which owned stakes in 49 hotels at the end of last year, said its net profit for 2009 totaled US$255. million, up from US$165. 9 million a year earlier. Revenue fell 9% to US$1. 23 billion from US$1. 35 billion. The strength in Shangri-Las earnings was mainly due to a US$327. 1 million non-cash property revaluation gain, up from US$13 million in 2008, reflecting higher property rates. The company has stakes in a number of investment properties such as shopping malls and offices, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. Stripping out the accounting gain, Shangri-Las operating profit for the year fell 69% to US$51. 3 million from US$163. 2 million, dragged by the poor performance of its core hotel operations. Total revenue for room rentals fell 15% for the year to US$570. 2 million from US$674. 2 million, with average revenue per available rooma key metric of the hoteliers performancefalling 24% for the year. RevPAR for its hotels in mainland China, Shangri-Las biggest single market, fell 27% to US$66 from US$91, while RevPAR for its hotels in Hong Kong fell 24% to US$157 from US$206. Shangri-La said it saw more opportunities in China as the nations economy continues to expand and that outside of projects it has already committed to do in Beijing and Shanghai, most of the companys development focus will be in provincial cities. Credit Suisse said last week Shangri-La Asias well-established footprint in tier-two and tier-three cities in China should help it generate superior returns over the next three to five years, noting hotel room oversupply concerns persist in tier-one cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. The brokerage firm said Shangri-La Asia would likely have stronger earnings growth momentum compared with regional peers Hong Kong Shanghai Hotels Ltd. and Mandarin Oriental International Ltd. due to expectations its hotel portfolio will increase 26% over the next three years in terms of rooms. Shangri-Las disappointing core earnings performance comes after rival Hong Kong ; Shanghai Hotels last week reported a 61% drop in underlying profit to HK$315 million from HK$807 million in 2008 as hotel revenue was hit hard by the financial crisis from January to August. Credit: By Kate OKeeffe | Translate document from:   | Other available formats: Abstract Find more documents like this: Subjects: Hotels motels Bond issues Stock offerings Capital formation More options v | | Shangri-La raises $375m in rare market foray for Kuok; Euroweek. London: Feb 13, 2004. pg. 1 Abstract (Summary) Shangri-La Asia, the Asia Pacific hotels group controlled by Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok, on Monday raised $375m in a dual $200m convertible bond and HK$1. 354bn issue of new shares. The dual deal, led by JP Morgan, was the first such joint exercise from Hong Kong, emulating the larger deals from Singapore earlier this year. In Hong Kong, only Star Cruises has achieved similarly attractive 5 year funding in recent memory. The last time Shangri-La Asia issued a convertible was in the racy markets of 1993.   Jump to indexing (document details) Full Text  (626   words)| Copyright Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC Feb 13, 2004 Shangri-La Asia, the Asia Pacific hotels group controlled by Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok, on Monday raised $375m in a dual $200m convertible bond and HK$1. 354bn issue of new shares. The dual deal, led by JP Morgan, was the first such joint exercise from Hong Kong, emulating the larger deals from S ingapore earlier this year. The challenge was to raise $375m for a company whose stock is illiquid, with less than $1. m trading a day on average. The total fundraising represented 325 days average trading volume. Moreover, there is little or no stock borrow available, making it almost impossible for buyers to set up the usual delta hedge strategies. Shangri-La also wanted to defer dilution because in hotel development, returns lag investment by several years. The company was also wary of stretching its balance sheet, which has previously been geared at 35% or less. The compelling terms available in the CB market made a convertible an obvious choice. However, the stocks illiquidity and the lack of stock borrow meant a maximum size of about $200m. These conditions also meant it appealed more to outright buyers than arbitrage funds. With the CB, Shangri-La secured five year funding at a zero coupon. Issued at par with redemption at 114. 633 and no put, the deal yields 2. 75%. In Hong Kong, only Star Cruises has achieved similarly attractive five year funding in recent memory. The tightly priced jumbo convertible from Henderson Land recently had a one year put structure. The conversion premium of 25% was at the low end of the range, but JP Morgan extracted implied volatility of just over 32%, compared with about 35% historical volatility, which is an excellent result for a non-technology stock. There is still huge interest in any stock that offers a play on the Chinese market. Kuok, with his high level connections in China, is considered more likely than others to succeed. There was price sensitivity in the book, as the buyers were mainly the European CB funds and other more equity focused players in the US and Asia, said a CB specialist in Hong Kong. Solid buyers who tend not to flip issues in the immediate after-market are always more cautious on pricing. The bond floor is also notable, pricing at just under 90%. For an issuer of this type to secure five year funds at modest cost, the investor base demands a floor of about 90% as a minimum, said the same specialist. The last time Shangri-La Asia issued a convertible was in the racy markets of 1993 , when the Kuala Lumpur stock market was often trading more shares daily than the NYSE. Although originally Malaysian, Kuok has lived in Hong Kong for many years, from where he has steadily built his plantations-to-shipping-to-hotels group of listed companies. Recently Kuok has focused much of his attention on mainland China. Shangri-La Asia, for example, owns Beijings largest hotel, the Kerry Centre Hotel. The new funds are slated for further expansion in China. The 183m shares were sold at HK$7. 40, a 7. 5% discount to the stocks HK$8 close on Monday. That was the wide end of the 5%-7. 5% discount range. Shangri-La has not traditionally enjoyed a strong following among funds outside Asia, largely because of its modest trading volumes and also because Kuok has for decades tended to steer clear of the capital markets. For this reason most of the shares were sold in Asia. With trading volumes at a little over HK$24m daily, the new share issue represented 56 days trading and will dilute shareholders (other than Kuoks Kerry Group) by roughly 8. 5%. Kerry owns slightly over 50% of the company and in keeping with Kuoks practice of retaining control of group companies, it took up $85m, or 48. 5%, of the shares on offer. ction: International News BEIJINGTheres much more than hotels in Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts expansion plans for the Peoples Republic of China. To staff both its present seven and at least 10 new properties set to open by 1998, Shangri-La is opening two new training facilities. A management-training center will open in Beijing in February, and an Institute of Management wil l open in Shenzhen at the end of 1996. Current Chinese employees total 7,000, a number which will increase to approximately 17,000 with the proposed expansion, said Phil Stephenson, group director of human resources. Our management projections indicate that we will need to train and develop 5,000 managers and supervisors during the next five years to meet the needs of the expansion and replacements. Experienced managers and supervisors are simply not readily available in China, Stephenson said. We are therefore taking a pro-active stance by developing our own hotel educational institutes. The Beijing project is expected to have start-up costs of $280,000, with operating costs of $645,000 annually. The facility is expected to graduate more than 1,000 students each year. The Institute of Management will be a much bigger project, involving construction of a campus-style school including classrooms and dormitories, Stephenson said. It will graduate 450 students a year in a 48-week prog ram. To launch the Beijing project, Shangri-La and the Beijing Second Foreign Languages Institute have formed a partnership to operate the non-profit hotel-management training center. It will be located within the,institutes existing campus setting and will include classrooms, dormitories and recreational facilities. Open only to hotel employees selected for their potential for company advancementand whose salaries will continue to be paid by their properties during their eight-week training sessionsinstructional areas will cover supervisory and management positions such as housekeeping, food and beverage, communications and marketing. Targeted training In Beijing, we are not grooming an elite executive corps, a Shangri-La spokesperson said. We are training to meet our area of greatest need, which is at the middle-management and supervisory levels. There are no accredited hotel management schools either in China or in the region, and there is a real need to teach basic concepts of management and delegation of responsibility, something that is not part of current Chinese society. Des Pugson, group director of training and development, said the schools also will help meet the rising demand for more local people to be employed. Training must also produce sufficient numbers not just for present needs, but to replace employees other foreign joint-venture companies lure away. Our people are bright, personable and speak English well, Pugson said. Those are skills that are in very high demand these days in China. No wonder Shangri-La is a company other people are happy to poach from. According to company guidelines, the Beijing school is designed for potential supervisors and junior managers who will receive standardized training and educational programs. Graduates are expected to perform above average upon return to their work unit, and will command respect from subordinates, peers and managers, the guidelines said. They also are expected to be less likely to leave the company. Building leadership The Shenzhen management course will target future Peoples Republic of China managers and educate potential leaders for specific career moves. The program will develop multidisciplined hotel managers with practical understanding of the divisions of the hotel, and their relationship with the wider business market, the program guidelines said. Therefore, this will allow them to be allocated to different departments, divisions and hotel locations. Pugson stressed the program will have standards comparable to overseas hotel education institutes such as Cornell. Shangri-La now operates 27 hotels, all in Asia except for a property in Vancouver, British Columbia. Pacific Rim locales include China, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Most of its hotels are in Chinain Beijing, Hang-zhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xianand in Malaysia, where it has six properties. Secondary-city strategy Expansion in China will focus on the countrys secondary citiesthose with populations between 3 million and 5 million, Pugson said. Properties with announced openings include Beihai next spring, Shenyang and Changchun in 1996, and Dalian in 1997. Pugson expects that in this new group of hotels, perhaps 60 percent to 70 percent of the patrons will be Peoples Republic of China citizens. There are more and more local people who can afford quality accommodations, a trend we have noticed in Malaysia where, as the market matured during the past three to four years, the percentage of clients who are nationals has steadily grown, Pugson said. PHOTO: The Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen will benefit from the training facilities. ~~~~~~~~ By Robert Selwitz HMM New York Bureau