Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Essay on Solar Energy - 1538 Words

Solar Energy Why do we build passive solar homes? Most people familiar with the subject of alternative and renewable energies would reply with a variation of many answers to this question. â€Å"To act locally in an ever expanding global market.† â€Å"The solar panels or photovoltaics will pay for themselves in a given amount of time depending on the system implemented.† â€Å"I would build a passive solar house to take myself entirely off the grid.† These answers seem to be common when it comes to the world of alternative energies. Although the majority may reply to this question with similar answers there has to be a flip side or different view on any topic including renewable energy. â€Å"Green building,† or building with natural supplies†¦show more content†¦No, we obviously cannot reverse the chain of events that has brought us to this point but we can individually do our part to stop the on going process. Technology has brought us to where we are today as humans. For better or worse this is where we are and we are stuck with it. We need to use technology to our advantage in our everyday lives. This is where passive solar technology comes into play. It is, in a sense, a gathering of the new and old for a better world. Our ancient ancestors may have caused war and been unjust but they did not place the future of the world on the brink of extinction. As present citizens of earth our living habits dictate the way we use earth’s resources. We need to curb our ways and live â€Å"closer† or more in-tune with our mother earth. Greeks and Romans used passive designs in their architecture for such purposes as community baths and meeting halls as well as orientating their living spaces also. This technology is nothing new, so we have the ability to do this type of building on a large scale. The design concept is a huge part of this process for present day building, such as it was when the Greeks and Romans designed their architecture. One must figure out the best way of designing a living space for the intended environment or climate. The passive heating and cooling of the living space entirely depends upon this. Major flaws have been madeShow MoreRelatedThe Energy Of Solar Energy1687 Words   |  7 Pagesanalyses of solar energy deployment contained in the Word Energy Outlook, Energy Technology Perspectives and several IEA Technology Roadmaps. It aims at offering an updated picture of current technology trends and markets, as well as new analyses on how solar energy technologies for electricity, heat and fuels can be used in the various energy consuming sectors, now and in the future. If effective support policies are put in place in a wide number of countries during this decade, solar energy in its variousRead MoreSolar Power And Solar Energy1255 Words   |  6 PagesSolar energy is capable of providing a cleaner energy than most forms of energy generation, and solar energy is able to be generated economical ly. Solar energy reduces the amount of harm to the environment from energy generation, by providing a cleaner alternative. Solar energy also provides jobs for construction and installation of solar powered technologies. The cost of installing solar panels can vary greatly, but its long term benefits outweigh the costs. Typically a solar panel system isRead MoreThe Solar Of Solar Energy1637 Words   |  7 Pagesin solar energy has been growing in recent years. Solar energy is abundant, clean and renewable. There are two main methods to tap solar energy, i.e. with PV cells and with solar collectors. The former converts sun light directly to electricity while the latter collects the solar thermal energy (heat) to be used for various applications. Solar collectors have been in existent for many decades. Their usages are experiencing resurgence in the recent years due to the interest in renewable energy sourcesRead MorePreserving Our World with Solar Energy900 Words   |  4 PagesSolar energy is a way to restore and preserve our world. How wonderful it would be to use the suns energy to heat and cool our homes, power out cars and run the electricity to light our houses. This concept is getting close r to reality all the time. Solar energy is expensive on a large scale, but running lights and small appliances are now inexpensive. Small calculators and lights that are solar powered are accessable to everyone. God commissioned his children to take care of the earth in GenesisRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Solyndra Solar Energy Panels1174 Words   |  5 PagesFounded by Dr. Chris Granet in 2005 Solyndra Solar, based in California was a corporation that produced solar energy panels. They manufactured cylindrical shaped solar panels, and they were unequaled in the business, the corporation as well offers an assortment of additional solar merchandises, most solar engineering corporations use flat plates and was labeled as old-fashioned compared to the Solyndra’s PV Solar structure. Consumers preferred the solar merchandises of the Solyndra since they integratedRead MoreSolar Of Solar Thermal Energy1901 Words   |  8 Pages Solar Thermal Energy â€Å"Even if we didn t have greenhouse gases, were going to have to move away from fossil fuels, as we re going to run out. They re finite, where as solar and wind are infinite.† - Ted Turner. Solar panels use the energy that comes from sunlight to give power. Low-temperature panels are flat plates generally used to heat things such as pools. Medium-temperature panels can also be flat plates but they are used for heating water and / or air for residential and commercial useRead MoreRenewable Energy And Solar Energy921 Words   |  4 Pagesrenewable energy . Most of these renewable energies depend in one way or another on sunlight. Wind and hydroelectric power are the direct result of differential heating of the Earth s surface which leads to air moving about (wind) and precipitation forming as the air is lifted. Solar energy is the direct conversion of sunlight using panels or collectors. Biomass energy is stored sunlight contained in plants. Other renewable energies that do not depend on sunlight are geothermal energy, which isRead More solar energy Essay586 Words   |  3 Pages Solar Energy All life on Earth depends on energy from the sun. Solar energy is the source of energy for photosynthesis. It provides the warmth necessary for plants and animals to survive. Scientists have found a way to use God’s natural light towards the advantage of our daily lives. The affects of this idea revolutionary, results of solar power could lead to a more modernized society and efficient economy. Solar energy is a term that usually means the direct use of sunlight to produceRead MoreThe Solar Of Solar Energy1316 Words   |  6 Pagesterawatts of energy. Solar cells offer a means to harness this energy by converting solar energy into electrical energy. While some may argue that solar energy is an inconsistent energy source, research is being poured into creating more efficient solar cells so that when light is incident on the solar cell, the solar cells operate at their highest possible efficiency levels. Currently, the most efficient solar cells convert 34.5% of sunlight to energy. With innovations like floating solar farms, suchRead MoreThe Solar Of Solar Energy1321 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Photovoltaic Solar Energy Throughout history, mankind had always wonder the mysterious secrets of nature with an attempt to make a replica of its magnificent work. Solar photovoltaic energy is the process to convert sunlight into electrical power as energy; imitating the process of photosynthesis that plants create to survive. Photovoltaic energy is not something recently discovered, it actually goes over 160 years The basic science was first discovered in 1839 but the pace of advancement

Monday, December 16, 2019

The Representation Of Democratic Democracy - 993 Words

Elections in America The role of elections in America is to serve the representative democracy. In a representative democracy one person represents the voting patterns, and acknowledgements of other people. American citizens, who cast votes to improve delegation problems, solve coordination problems, and pick an agent over another serve representative democracy in American elections. American elections serve this goal by creating campaigns, advertising on television, and by free information being delivered to its citizens. Campaigns are not so cheap, as millions of dollars are spent in just campaigning for a candidate during Presidential elections. â€Å"Each campaign emphasizes selected facts and cues aimed at getting at least a plurality of voters to the polls† (499, 6th edition). The goal of campaigns is to communicate the meaning of the election to the American citizens. The various facts and cues delivered to American citizens in different campaigns helps the citizens choose which presidential candidate would be their best pick. â€Å"Candidates and campaigns are also encouraged by elections to help solve the immense amount of coordination problem, which are confronted by millions of American citizen voters doing their best to act mutually to control or change their agents† (521, 6th edition). All candidates and campaigns do their best to communicate to the people that they are the best by explaining their motives and showing that they are the right and best candidates runningShow Mo reRelatedRepresentation Of The Democratic Democracy1838 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction For the democracy, it has some definition, most of them are based on the tenet of people making decision on their own government. (Heywood, A. 2015) Freedom, equality and democracy are the people s pursuit of common values. Most modern countries want to be the democracy countries. At the same time, the democracy was separated two aspects one of the direct democracy and in direct democracy it also called representative democracy. (Heywood, A. 2015) Recently the issue of whether or notRead MoreCompetitive Authoritarianism And Political Authoritarianism869 Words   |  4 Pages1. competitive authoritarianism competitive authoritarianism Levitsky and Way describe, a competitive authoritarianism is, in essence, a democracy but it lacks proportional representation and most of the elections and government institutions are predisposed to only the elites. Juan Linz describes this as a diminished form of authoritarianism. In competitive authoritarianism regimes, elections are normally rigged, power figures regularly misuse state resources while oppressed are denied simple libertiesRead MoreHow Far the Weimar Constitution Can Be Described as Creating an Effective Democracy980 Words   |  4 PagesHow Far the Weimar Constitution Can Be Described as Creating an Effective Democracy For the first time in the history of Germany, the state was a democratic republic. The constitution was something of a fragile experiment, a guinea pig. Theoretically speaking, the Weimar Constitution could be described as the most democratic constitution the world has ever laid eyes upon, in practice, things were not as clear. Germany was to be a â€Å"Federal State,† with each â€Å"LanderRead MoreThe European Council And The Council Of Ministers1345 Words   |  6 PagesCouncil of Ministers are the best way to ensure democracy in the EU.’ Do you agree? Illustrate your answer with examples. A democratic legislature requires law-makers to be elected by its citizens and present as their representatives. The significance of democratic values in the EU governance. The democratic foundations of the EU have been defined in the Treaty of Lisbon – democratic equality, representative democracy and participatory democracy. Throughout the last few decades, series of constitutionalRead MoreDemocracy1022 Words   |  5 PagesNormative democratic theory deals with the moral foundations of democracy and democratic institutions. It is distinct from descriptive and explanatory democratic theory. It does not offer in the first instance a scientific study of those societies that are called democratic. It aims to provide an account of when and why democracy is morally desirable as well as moral principles for guiding the design of democratic institutions. Of course, normative democratic theory is inherently interdisciplinaryRead MoreDemocratic And Democratic Political Systems Ess ay1740 Words   |  7 PagesDemocratic Political Systems Democracy is typically known as a type of government that is ruled by the people. Active public participation in political matters, free and fair elections, equality, and protection of basic human rights are at the core of democratic political systems. Individual citizens, organized groups and institutions, elected officials and governmental bureaucracies all contribute to the democratic nature of these political systems, but the main power resides with the people.Read MoreThe Democracy Of A Democratic Government849 Words   |  4 PagesA democratic government is one in which the â€Å"supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation† (Merriam-Webster). In theory, a true democracy is one that is governed by the people in the form of â€Å"the rule of the majority†. This is a process that seems to have been naturally embedded in the human mind. In many circumstance, whether it is world leaders decid ing on new international policy, or kids choosing what to watch for â€Å"movieRead MoreDemocracy And The Ideal Of Democracy877 Words   |  4 Pages Urbinati’s essay entitled Representative Democracy introduction compared what we call modern democracy to the ideal of democracy that was created by the Athenian people. The Athenian people had their ideal proscpective of how pure and direct democracy should be in a government. The people in Athens changed the government because they saw problems in the way that the government was being controlled. Originally the government was ruled and controlled by citizens who were noble or who came from nobleRead MoreShould Democracy Be Exported?1628 Words   |  7 Pagestend to take for granted democracy and the institutions that were established by the constitution to ensure its viability and perpetuate its underlying principles. However, this is not the case for many countries around the world. In other places, authoritarian and other non-democratic regimes have existed and sustained rule without pushing for democracy. This raises the question: can democracy be exported to these countries? In present day, due to the fact that non-democratic regimes are heavily rootedRead MoreIndia s Survival Of Democracy871 Words   |  4 Pagesliteracy and scarcity of resource, the survival of democracy becomes difficult and eventually fails. India is a country with all these problems, however, it still manages to be democratic, making the survival of democracy in India a unique outcome and an area of study. The endurance of democracy in India may be explained through reasons like how it has a constitution that is inclusive, its middle class that takes deep pride in India being democratic and the electronic media that not only informs, but

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Marketing Strategy and Plan Health Conscious People

Question: Discuss about theMarketing Strategy and Planfor Health Conscious People. Answer: Marketing Analysis: Dear Friends, Refer to the SWOT analysis made by Marketing Strategy Team about the exploration of new market in Australia emphasis is to be given on the suburb areas with affluent, health conscious people. To keep in mind competitive factor, the expansion proposal is as follows:- Identification of New markets: Ringwood- Eastern Suburb of Melbourne Fitzroy- Inner city suburb of Melbourne Petersham- inner west suburb of Sydney St Lucia- Inner city suburb of Brisbane Expected contribution of these new markets for business growth: All these new locations chosen for business growth have the potential to provide good business opportunity related to the service extended by Tri Fitness. The expected business growth from these sites can be generated as follows:- Ringwood- can generate business of $ 40,000 per month with the partnership of health clubs and swimming pools. Fitzroy- can generate business of $ 20,000 per month by making strategic alliance with leisure clubs Petersham- can generate business of $ 30,000 per month by making partnership with the existing swimming pool Lucia- can generate the business of $ 25,000 per month by providing the service to the people through community health organizations Steps to identify potential market opportunities of these markets: To enter- Entering in these markets will be easier as the inhabitants of those places need this service in economic way to pamper their health awareness. To shape- initial arrangements are to be made with the strategic partners like swimming pools, leisure clubs and health clubs and the community health organizations of the local authorities(Berry, 2005). To influence- A good advertisement with the brand name and logo of Tri Fitness in the local newspaper will do the needful to influence the target audience which can be derived through a brisk market research(Palin, 2015). Please revert with your feedback, Regards, Task B: Marketing Opportunities: Dear Friends, Refer to my Email and subsequent reply from your end regarding the marketing ideas innovated at your end, given below further elaborate presentation for your perusal. Refer to my earlier mail I have given the prospect of business growth in the new markets which had been reviewed by you and the reply had encouraged me to give more specific idea related to business growth of the new places, as specified by me. The expected business from Ringwood can have the potential of generating business worth $ 50,000 per month considering the target audience and their awareness related to health consciousness. The competition will not be so hard as I have expected as the supply and demand line of health fitness business is not catered there with abundance. Fitzroy has the lesser potential as I have predicted but the feedback from your team can not allow me to be so optimistic, hence the projected business from this area can be considered as $ 10,000. Petersham Is with the population who has the regular habit of going to the health clubs or passing time in the swimming pools. The report from your team makes me optimistic of getting the business of $ 40,000 per month with additional awareness program to be made in the community. St Lucia will feature with the expected business range of $ 20,000 initially as the population there with health consciousness is already with the practice of going to the healt h clubs and the stiff competition will yield with the turnover of $ 20,000, as anticipated(Entrepreneur, 2003). To endorse the innovative ideas to exploit the marketing opportunities, I can highlight on the issues of: Identification of target audience followed by direct interaction Provide the list of facilities to be extended to them for membership they enter Direct FM advertisement in the morning from 7 to 8 Am to catch the target audience Hope the same will be good for exploration of new market in the specified areas. Feel free to revert for any other suggestions. Wish all the best. Regards, References: Berry, T. (2005, June 13). Conducting a Market Analysis for Your Business Plan. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from Entrepreneur: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/78002 Entrepreneur. (2003, November 03). 7 Steps for Generating New Business Opportunities. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from Entrepreneur: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/65210 Palin, M. (2015, October 13). What does your choice of suburb say about you? Retrieved November 26, 2016, from News: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/outdoors/what-does-your-choice-of-suburb-say-about-you/news-story/a2058db9fec49eb4b76be13109443706

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Financial Analysis of Google Research Paper Example

Financial Analysis of Google Paper An Analysis of Google It is rather difficult to think about web browsing without thinking about Google. Many people rely on Google to search and find any information they may be looking for. It is quite frequent you hear people say Just Google it to help find solutions. Many people rely on Google for many different aspects of learning and information. Google is a convenient and has many attributes that they offer to their users. One Googles many attributes that is helpful for college students like us, is their scholarly browser. This browser has come in handy in the many papers we have prepared for lasses over the years. With more and more professors asking for scholarly sources, Google makes it a hassle free to provide those sources. Some of Googles other attributes that it offers its users are maps, image searches, web searches, email, shopping, and much more. Another reason we like Google is that they are a growing company. In a world full of information and data that vastly growing, we are in need of a speedy and up to date search engine to keep people informed and content. Google, who recently did a 2-for-l split in 2014, has stock symbols of AGOG and GOOGOL, which are classified as A shares. They two stocks are currently trading for $525. 5 (Google A Shares) and $534. 14 (Google Inc. ) on May 5, 2014. In the last four years Googles business conditions have continued to become better, showing consistent increase in stock prices each year. On May 6, 2010 the stock price was $249. 09 compared to one year later on May 6, 2011 the stock was $267. 38. Over the next year the stock price increased $30. 81 to $298. 19 on May 6, 2012. From the year 2012 to May 6, 2013 the stock price Jumped a shocking amount of $132. 15 to $430. 34. The stock price has recently increased by $103. 80 from the year 013 to May 6, 2014 to a current price of $534. 5 (Google Inc. NASDAQ). Google takes into much consideration its users satisfaction of its services and products. Google does this by having an easy to run customer service page. This page offers its users direct help with their Google accounts, Gamma, Docs or any other Google product. Also listed on this helpful support page is all of Googles policies and principles, privacy and security tips, Google Headquarters, and telephone numbers to customer service help lines. Google frequently uses this information and feedback to analyze their products and services (Contact). We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Analysis of Google specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Analysis of Google specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Analysis of Google specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Googles Business Operation and Corporate Development teams work on global, cross-functional projects that help the companies global business strategy. The teams at Google deliver insights to leaders that drive decision-making, execution and investments for some of Googles most critical initiatives (Business). Google is currently available in 144 countries and holds 60% of the market share in worlds search engines. Google reaches a global business strategy by having twenty American based offices, thirteen Asia Pacific Region based offices, and five Middle East based offices, and many complex global partnerships (International). Google has recently Just made a $2. 25 billion investment on data center and infrastructure spending, which is a huge area of costs for the company. Google is the most aggressive in advancing a clean energy agenda, and has mage fifteen wind and solar investments totaling more than $1 billion. Google and many other large companies like Apple, Backbone, and Microsoft are all gigantic consumers of energy, and is the reason that top companies such as Silicon Valley are in a race to be the leader of clean and renewable energies (Google makes). One of the most important strengths of Google is its brand equity. Google is one of he most well-known and well-respected search engines. Another key strength for Google would be their customer responsiveness. Their customer responsiveness is a key element that will help increase their user base. One of Googles biggest weaknesses is that you need a device and Internet to access Googles features. Google wants to be mobile and easy to use, but still cannot be accessible to everyone, everywhere. They could solve this by making some features downloaded, but it is hard to make a search engine accessible without Internet. A huge opportunity for Google is its overseas markets and advertising. Google can increase their capital by advertising in overseas markets to increase their user base. Google is also in a market that is constantly technologically growing. A great threat Google may face is other search engines. With a variety of search engines to choose from on the Internet, Google has to stay ahead of their competitors and offer as much as they can to their users. Another threat for Google recently has been social media. With Backbone and Twitter surpassing Google with Internet usage it has become an aspect that threatens Googles future. Backbone and Twitter are one of the main leaders in Internet advertisement (The Makes). Financial Analysis In this section, we will be taking a look at Googles financial performance in recent years. All figures will be given in billions of dollars, with the exception of figures given on a per share basis. Given the recent uncertainty within the business community due to the economy, Google has done exceptionally well over they past four years. Their business continues to grow each year, and there is not much information that indicates a change in this trend anytime soon. You do not need to look any farther than Googles balance sheet to see what direction the company is moving in. In 2010, Google had total assets of $41. 6. By 2013, this figure had risen by $31. 33, to $72. 89. It may be surprising to know that Googles long-term debt has not substantially grown over the past four years compared to most other large companies. Google had no long-tern debt in 2009, maintained debt at $2. 99 till 2013 when it had decreased by $. 75 to a current $2. 24 in long-term debt (Google Inc. CLC). By looking at Googles income statement, their financial performance becomes even more impressive. Moving forward, Google appears to have solid financial positioning. The above figures are very helpful in getting an idea of where the company sits, but in order to get an even better picture, it may also be worth taking a look at a few of the common financial ratios. One ratio that is especially telling about Googles operations is its net profit margin. In 2010 Google had a net profit margin of 29% and decreased 8. 6% to a final net profit margin of 20. 4% Another important ratio used to determine a companys ability to generate income is return on equity. Google has recently seen roughly a one percent decrease in this regard. During the 2010 to 2014 period, their returns on equity were 18. 4%, 16. 7%, 15%, and 14% respectively. Another relevant measure to consider in the financial analysis of Google is the firms price to earnings ratio. Their price to earnings ratio has relatively remained the name during the four year time period. Googles price to earnings ratios was 20. 3% starting in 2010 and 24. 6% ending in 2010 (Google Value Line). Googles price to book ratio went from 72. 03 in 2010 to 130. 12 in 2013. This is a 58. 09 increase in their price to book ratio (10 Year). Once again, Google does not issue dividends, so there are no dividend payout ratios or dividend yields for us to report on. Our figures are summarized below. Net Profit Margin 29% 25. 7% 21. 5% 20. 4% Return On Equity 18. 4% 16. 7% Price to Earning Ratio 20. 3 19. 1 19. 8 24. 6 Price to Book Ratio* 72. 03 89. 57 108. 7 130. 12 Figures given by Googles Value Line Report Figures with * given by: http://www. Gracious. Com/financial/AGOG These figures show a positive trend for Google. With a relatively stable net profit margin, it is a promising indicator for Googles future performance. A higher profit margin indicates that a greater percentage of their sales are being turned into income. This information, along with other data listed, suggests that Google is seeing consistent improvements in operating efficiency. With the information above, it is certainly possible to evaluate the financial position of a company. However, if we take the figures and ratios from Google and compare to their competition, we will more than likely find ourselves with an even greater idea of the companies performance. In order to reach this goal, we decided to compare Googles performance to one of their key competitors: Yahoo! Although Yahoo! May seem to have the advantage over Google in some areas, the recent trends tend to suggest that Google is making great progress in closing the gap. Although Yahoos net profit margin ends slightly higher than Googles, it is safe to say that Googles has been higher and more consistent over the four-year span from 2010-2014. While Googles net profit margin went from 29% to 20. 4% in 2010 to 2014, Yahoos increased from 19. 5% in 2010 to a current margin of 27% in 2013 (Google Value Line). We also noticed that Googles return on investment decreased from 18. 4% in 2010 to 14% by the year 2013. On the other hand, Yahoos return on investment increased from 9. 8% in 2010 to 10% in 2013. Although Googles return on investment decreased over the four-year span, their ending percentage was still four percent higher than Yahoo! (Google Value Line). Google saw a huge increase in their earning per share starting at $26. 31 in 2010 and ending at $36. 5 in 2013. On the other hand Yahoos earnings per share increased by $. 36 starting at $. 90 in 2010 and ending at $1. 26 in 2013. The last two financial ratios that will help to compare the two companies are price to earnings ratio and the price to book ratio. The price to earnings ratio for Google had a 4. 3 increase from 2010 to 2014, while Yahoo had a . 8 decrease over the same four-year time span. Google shows a remarkable increase in their price to book ratio from 2010 to 2013 with a 58. 09 increase starting at 72. 03 and ending at 130. 12(Google Price). Yahoo did not show such a huge Jump, unlike Google, with only a . 88 increase over four years starting at 1. 839 in 2010 and ending at 1. 927 in 2013. A summary of our comparison, along with two graphs depicting the net profit margins and earnings per share of Google and Yahoo, are below Wahoo! Price). Based on Googles figures, we determined their internal growth rate by calculating their retained earnings, which are $61. 26, divided by their total assets of $72. 89 for an internal growth rate of 84. 04% as of 2013 (Google Inc. CLC). Yahoos internal growth rate was calculated the same with retained earning of $4. 27 divided by their total assets of $16. 8 for a rate of 24. 2% (Google Inc. NASDAQ:GOOGOL). In calculating both Google and Yahoos sustainable growth rate, both companies do not offer dividends leaving them with no dividend payout ratio. With this information the companys sustainable growth rate is equal to their return on equity. Googles return on equity is 14% compared to Yahoos return on equity of 10% (Google Value Line). Based on the internal growth rate and the sustainable growth rate, Googles rates are both higher than Yahoos, which leads us to conclude that Google is on a good trend for the future compared to their major competitors. Investment Analysis Over the past four years, Google stock has seen a considerable increase in value. Just recently in 2014 Google had issued a 2 for 1 stock. One main investment risks for Google is the secular shift to mobile from desktop. With more and more people choosing to invest their money in cell phones and tablets instead of desktop computers, more ads are being displayed on mobile devices. With this being said, Google does not earn as much money with advertising on mobile devices compared to desktop computers. This is because of the ad size being significantly smaller. Although Google is still the leader of the web search engines, it is a risk that investors should consider. Another one of the investments risks for Google is the Motorola Division. This division is a threat to Google because it is a motivational $12. 5 billion Motorola acquisition for the intellectual property and the build-out of a better mobile computing platform on Android. This is an investment risk because Motorola offers features that Google does that could potentially take over their place (Google Investment). Using the market multiple approach, we can see that now is a great time to buy into Google stock. Given Googles current PEPS of $18. 35, along with a PIE ratio of 28. 48, the projected stock price for Googles turns out to be $522. 61. Since Googles current price per hare is $522. 7, it looks to be that Google stock is currently undervalued by 4 cents. If this strategy was to be implemented, and Googles stock was to reach $522. 57, the expected rate of return would be a minimum of . 01%. A great time to invest in Google stock would be if the stock price per share were under $522. 57. An advisable time to sell stock would be if it above $522. 57 per share. Risk is always going to be a huge part of the stock market. With Google, however, our analysis has shown us to conclude that they are a strong and growing company that has the ability to provide retreat returns on investment. They are innovative, in a great financial position, and are one of the worlds most known web search engines. We foresee Google being a dominant force within their industry for many years to come. Works Cited 10 Year Financial Data of Google Inc (AGOG) Gracious. Com. 10 Year Financial Data of Google Inc (AGOG) Gracious. Com. N. P. , n. D. Web. 6 May 2014.. Business Strategy Google Careers. Business Strategy Google Careers. N. P. , n. D. Web. 6 May 2014. Google (A Shares) Stock Quote. . NASDAQ, n. D. Web. 5 May 2014.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Pedagogy of the Oppressed Chapter 2 Reflection Essay Example

Pedagogy of the Oppressed Chapter 2 Reflection Essay Example Pedagogy of the Oppressed Chapter 2 Reflection Paper Pedagogy of the Oppressed Chapter 2 Reflection Paper Pedagogy of the Oppressed, falls into the political philosophy genre. After I read Chapter 2 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed, my first thought was about the reservation boarding school system. Indian schooling started with missionaries and teachers in missionary schools were at least as interested in salvation as in education. According to many observers, the discipline of the schools usually included getting Indians to dress, speak, and act like white people. Native Americans serve as perfect â€Å"containers† and â€Å"receptacles† for teachers of that time. (Freire 4) Many teachers that teach in Tribal communities often use the concept of â€Å"the teacher know everything and the students know nothing†. (Freire 8) This semester I had a teacher that said, â€Å"I’m going to teach you as though you know nothing†. This goes to show that teachers, even in current times are obsessed with their authority over students. The â€Å"banking system† only works to the extent of students being able to regurgitate what the teacher tells the student. The students do not learn when they are told to memorize items, just so the student can get a good test grade. I have experienced this during my academic career. I personally retain more information when teachers communicate and tell me why I need to learn what I need to learn. â€Å"’Four times four is sixteen; the capital of Para is Belem. The students records, memorizes, and repeats these phrases without perceiving what four times four really means, or realizing the true significance of â€Å"capital† in the affirmation ‘the capital of Para is Belem,’ that is, what Belem means for Para and what Para means for Brazil. † This type of teaching is taught everywhere. I feel as though it is worse for Tribal communities, and I’m only saying that because the high school drop out rate is higher among Native Americans th an other ethnicities. Not to mention, in the university level, the graduation rate is lower. I believe, is because of the quality of education we, Native, people receive in Tribal Communities. This reading was fairly difficult. I am not used to reading such complex writings. In order to understand the reading more efficiently, I think it would be better to start with something slightly simpler. This is the first time I have ever read something of this magnitude, I enjoyed it. I felt as though it challenged me to break out of my comfort zone. Bibliography Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2000.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Honoring Architect I.M. Pei and the Glass Pyramid

Honoring Architect I.M. Pei and the Glass Pyramid Architect Ieoh Ming Pei (born April 26, 1917 in Canton, China) is known for using large, abstract forms and sharp, geometric designs. His glass-clad structures seem to spring from the high-tech modernist movement. In the U.S. Pei is popularly known for designing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio. Winner of the 1983 Pritzker Architecture Prize, Pei is more concerned with function than theory - his writings are few. His works often incorporate traditional Chinese symbols and building traditions. In Chinese, Ieoh Ming means to inscribe brightly. The name Peis parents gave him proved prophetic. Over a decades long career, Ieoh Ming Pei has designed more than fifty buildings around the world, ranging from industrial skyscrapers and important museums to low income housing. Fast Facts: I.M. Pei Occupation: ArchitectAlso Known As: Ieoh Ming PeiBorn: April 26, 1917 in Canton, now Guangzhou, ChinaParents: Lien Kwun and Tsuyee Pei, banker and financier at the Bank of ChinaEducation: B.Arch. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1940), M.Arch.  Harvard Graduate School of Design (1946)Key Accomplishments: 1983 Pritzker Architecture Prize, Designer of Modern Architecture such as the Louvre Pyramid (1989) in Paris and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1995) in OhioSpouse: Eileen LooChildren: Three sons, T’ing Chung (T’ing), Chien Chung (Didi), and Li Chung (Sandi), and one daughter, LianeFun Fact: Pei overstayed his student visa after graduating from MIT but became an American citizen in 1954 Early Years Marriage Pei grew up in privilege - his father was a prominent banker - and graduated from prestigious Anglican schools in Shanghai. With a student visa in hand, the young Pei arrived at Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco, California on August 28, 1935. His plan was to study at the University of Pennsylvania, but he found a better fit at the schools near Boston, Massachusetts. In 1940 he earned a B.Arch. in architecture and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In the middle of his studies at MIT, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred in China. Unrest in the Pacific and with China at war with Japan, the young graduate was unable to return to his homeland. From 1940 to 1942 Pei took advantage of a MIT Traveling Fellowship. At a nearby womens college Pei met his future wife, the Chinese-born Eileen Loo (1920–2014), who graduated from Wellesley College in 1942. They married and both attended Harvard Graduate School of Design, he earning a M.Arch. degree in 1946 and she studying landscape architecture. At Harvard, I.M.Pei studied under Bauhaus modernist architect Walter Gropius. During the World War II years, Pei worked at the National Defense Research Committee in Princeton, New Jersey from 1942 to 1944. Back at Cambridge, Massachusetts, from 1945 to 1948 Pei was an Assistant Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design. The couple traveled again in 1951 on Harvards Wheelwright Traveling Fellowship. Between 1944 and 1960, the couple had three sons and one daughter. In 1954 Pei became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Professional Years In 1948 Pei was recruited by New York City developer William Zeckendorf to work for his company, becoming Director of Architecture at Webb Knapp, Inc. for over a decade. Peis urban renewal buildings during this time established his personal business beginning in 1955, from I. M. Pei Associates to I. M. Pei Partners and the better known Pei Cobb Freed Partners. Eason Leonard and Henry N. Cobb had worked with Pei since 1955, but became founding partners of Pei Cobb Freed Partners. James Ingo Freed was partner until his death in 2005. Since 1992, Pei Partnership Architects has been a business with his sons, Chien Chung Pei and Li Chung Pei. In 1976 I.M. Pei Partners had a business nightmare when a new skyscraper in Boston, Massachusetts started losing its reflective glass facade panels. Pei hadnt designed the mirrored John Hancock Tower near Trinity Church, but his name was on the architecture firm. Henry Cobb was the design architect of the Hancock Tower, but the Pei organization took the hit in publicity. Pei spent a good part of the rest of his career designing glass structures to show the world he knew how to build with framed glass. In 1983 Pei was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize. With the prize money, Pei established a scholarship for Chinese students to study architecture in the United States provided they return to China to practice architecture. Important Buildings Considered one of the first skyscrapers in Denver, Colorado, the 23-story Mile High Center was one of Peis early glass clad high-rises. Built in 1956, the Center is now the Tower as it was completely renovated by someone else who knows a thing or two about glass - Philip Johnsons architectural firm of Johnson/Burgee Architects. Peis 1970 Terminal 6 at JFK International Airport in New York City was not so lucky to be renovated - it was demolished in 2011. Visit the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado to experience Peis modernity without an emphasis on glass. This 1967 design is more similar to the 1968 Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York and the 1973 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. - designed as asymmetrical sculptures. More mature museum projects include the 2006 Musà ©e dArt Moderne in Kirchberg, Luxembourg and the 2008 Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. The glass pyramids used as skylights complemented Peis sculpture-like design of the National Gallery of Art, East Building in Washington, D.C. Its 1978 opening brought Pei national and international renown. National Gallery East Wing, Washington, D.C. Charles Rotkin/VCG via Getty Images (cropped) Major American cities often called on Peis expertise to bring exciting but restrained modernism to their urban areas. In Boston, Massachusetts Pei was asked to design the 1979 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library and its extension in 1991, and the 1981 Museum of Fine Arts West Wing and Renovation. In Dallas, Texas Pei took on Dallas City Hall (1977) and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center (1989). Pei has designed a number of buildings in Asia, including the 1976 Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Centre and the 1986 Raffles City complex in Singapore; the 1997 Miho Museum in Shiga, Japan; the 2006 Suzhou Museum in Suzhou, China; the 1982 Fragrant Hill Hotel in Beijing, China; and perhaps most importantly, the 1989 Bank of China Tower, his fathers bank in Hong Kong. I.M. Peis international reputation was cemented, however, with the controversial and highly successful new entryway into the very old Louvre Museum in Paris. The 1989 Louvre Pyramid created a skylit underground entrance that managed the crowds of visitors away from and into the aged museum. Louvres Pyramid Entrance, 1989, Architect I.M. Pei. Bernard Bisson/Sygma via Getty Images (cropped) The same year I.M. Pei was finishing the 1993 Four Seasons Hotel in New York City, he was also finishing another phase of the Louvre project - La Pyramide Inversà ©e or The Inverted Pyramid, an upside-down glass pyramid skylight built into an underground shopping mall near the Louvre. he Inverted Pyramid of the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images (cropped) Quote I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity. - I.M. Pei, Acceptance of the 1983 Pritzker Architecture Award. Legacy Repurposing Designs It turns out that the venerable Chinese-born Pei was not only a Pritzker-winning architect, but also an astute businessman. Its been said that Peis controversial Pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, France evolved from an early design for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts, eventually completed in 1979 with an extension in 1991. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy chose Pei to honor her late husband, and Pei accepted the commission in December 1964. Peis initial design for the Library included a truncated glass pyramid symbolizing President Kennedys abruptly cut-off life, declares the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a design that re-emerged 25 years later in I.M. Peis design for the expansion of the Louvre Museum in Paris. And in 1995 he did it again in Cleveland, Ohio with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - a glass pyramid. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio. George Rose/Getty Images The inventive Mr. Pei is an elder statesman of modernism and a living connection to the age of le Corbusier, Gropius, and Mies van der Rohe. We should have figured that he was also a master at repurposing. The ingenuity of architect Ieoh Ming Pei is typical of successful architects - if at first one design is rejected, use it somewhere else. Sources I.M. Pei, Architect. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.https://www.jfklibrary.org/about-us/about-the-jfk-library/history/im-pei-architectNahm, Rosemarie. I.M. Pei’s Angel Island Beginnings. Immigrant Voices. Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. https://www.immigrant-voices.aiisf.org/stories-by-author/i-m-peis-angel-island-beginnings-2/

Thursday, November 21, 2019

What Are the Fundamental Purposes of Business and the Responsibilities Assignment

What Are the Fundamental Purposes of Business and the Responsibilities of Strategic Leaders - Assignment Example the consuming public, reference will not only be made to those who patronise the products and services of particular businesses but all other people who in a way may be affected by what a business entity does. It is not surprising that in the 1970s, Milton Friedman saw the sole purpose of business as making profits but with time, this changed to a much holistic responsibility of creating and keeping customers by Peter Drucker. Based on the dynamic needs of society by the years, it will strongly be accepted that today, the primary purpose of business is to solve peoples problems. This is certainly an all-in-all purpose that comes with a lot of implications for doing business. First, it implies that people are the real focus for doing business. With people being the real focus of doing business also, it is not just about creating business around people and taking opportunity of them but then engaging in a shared-responsibility that ensures that the people also benefit from the business (Porter & Kramer, 2006). There are a number of theories and concepts that have been used in literature to explain the form of shared-responsibility between businesses and the people. One of these is the concept of sustainability. Under the sustainability framework, businesses are expected to be functional from three major perspectives which are economic, social, and environmental (Porter & Kramer, 2006). As far as economic su stainability is concerned, the old school of thought on the purpose of making profit can be said to be applicable. In the remaining two which are social and environmental however, businesses are deemed to operate in a way that makes them useful to the larger society and the environment surrounding them (Wolfe, 2011). Because of the change with the purpose of businesses, the responsibility of the people behind the wheels of any typical business has also changed very significantly. Today, it can be said that the primary responsibility of senior leaders is to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Bull market or bear market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bull market or bear market - Essay Example Additionally, as the national income increases, so is the demand for stock is the stock market. Over the next two years, earnings by companies will increase substantially as the demand for goods and services within US increases. The rate of interest in US is low, which results in an increase in the value of stock. In other words, the rate of interest and the prices of stock have a direct relationship (Murphy 18). When the rates of interest are low, the earnings from bonds decreases, and the stock bec0mes more attractive compared to bonds. Another reason why there is a bull stock market is that many companies have fully recovered from the 2008 global financial crisis and are buying back their stock. The increase in the demand for stock grows the prices for the stock. As the number of companies that have fully recovered increases, so is the demand for the stock, thus the increase in their

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Privacy issues Essay Example for Free

Privacy issues Essay What it is? Privacy is the right of individuals to conceal things, related to them, from others and prevent non-relevant persons/authorities from gaining access to it. Â  An individual wishes to hide his/her personal information since the latter is an invaluable asset. Anyone gaining access to it can cause harm to the individual. For example, an individual has the right to keep his/her credit card number private. Anyone gaining access to it can cause financial damage to the individual. (Alba, Stay , Lorenzen and Scoble , 2008) A breach of privacy occurs when an unauthorized person gains access to the information. This breach can only occur at a place where there is a large volume of information about the individuals. In this report we shall look at privacy issues related to the government, retail stores, hospitals, banks, organizations, or social networks like ‘face book’. Privacy Issues Faced By the Government: Governments collect a lot of information of people. Information regarding citizens of the country is required to avoid any act of illegal activities, terrorist attacks, etc. Information of people helps track people involved in criminal activities. More over information is also required to estimate or to calculate the taxes that the residents in the country will be giving in the proceeding year. Information of people is also required to plan for future developments in the country by looking at the people’s age, sex, etc. For example, in order to provide better healthcare to its people, the government collects information on people’s age, sex, illness records etc. (Freeman and Peace, 2004) Many important benefits occur from people gaining access to this information. Public records can help bring people close together. They can be used to link people who share common activities or hobbies. They can be used to track down missing family members such as finding parents for kids. Access to these records by businesses helps them to serve consumers better. This improves the quality of goods and services in the country and increases expenditure by consumers. Through this the overall economy prospers. (Chander , Gelman , and Radin , 2008) Access to these records by law-enforcing agencies improves safety of people. Records of criminal arrests and convictions ensure that such people are not hired at jobs. However, these benefits do not fully justify the breach of individual’s privacy. There are many ways that governments destabilize and threaten the privacy of citizens. Governments have numerous incentives to collect, store, and use information about their citizens. And they bear very little when they abuse information about citizens. Public records are one way that threatens the privacy of individuals. Information such as on property and loans of an individual , driving license information , criminal record and tax record are some of the example that can be mishandled by the government and other authorized persons and may become a serious issue . Individuals may even commit frauds and violent crimes using the private data available to the government. For example, public records contain information on people’s bank account. Any one gaining access to it can commit a fraud using this information and then the person bearing the account will be held responsible. Governments take a lot of steps to prevent unauthorized access by people to this information. All these steps are implemented at the points where the information is extracted and recorded. For example, all vehicles traveling on highways are required to have black boxes fitted into them. These record invaluable information on what individuals do inside the vehicle. So the authorities need to ensure that these black boxes are not easy to break into. Â  Similarly, all cell phones broad cast information on locations that the cell phone user visits. This is also an invaluable asset. The government needs to ensure that cell phone companies do not disclose this information to other companies or individuals. Similarly, governments collect a lot of information on financial standings of people. This is done in the name of performing tax calculations. These records, if mishandled, can clearly reveal extremely confidential information like income, savings, investments etc. Thus it is utmost important that governments ensure that financial information is only accessed by concerned authorities. Privacy Issues Faced By Retail Stores: Retail outlets – Real and Online, in pursuit of serving their customers better than their competitors, allow credit services to their regular customers. To effectively run this scheme, they need to record a lot of personal information such as credit card numbers and social security numbers. Misuse of these can cause a lot of damage to the individual. For example misuse of credit cards can even make an individual bankrupt. (Solove , Rotenberg , and Schwartz , 2006) Not only it is important information like credit card number that is to be kept concealed, even information like address and phone numbers are important. This if leaked out can be used by spammers and junk mailers. Already people are facing this issue. A lot of regulations are imposed by law-enforcing agencies upon retailers to ensure that they handle the personal information appropriately. For example the Retail Council of Canada has established a comprehensive privacy policy on what information is collected at retail stores, how it is collected, how it is used and what should be done to protect it . (Holtzman, 2006) This is not just the duty of retail stores , etc to protect and individual personal information but the individuals are also at the same time responsible for protecting their own person information that can have the potential to be used in illegal activities . Individuals should give only limited and relevant information to the retail stores in order to protect their privacy . Moreover a go through on the copy of retailers privacy policy can also be helpful to find out what information can be leaked out from the retail store or to find out which information they should not give out to the stores . Privacy Issues Faced by Social Networking Websites like ‘Face book’: Social networking sites are new dimension of internet these days. Their aim is to connect an individual with all his friends and colleagues with just a click. Also they help an individual meet new people and make new acquaintances. With the busy and fast running life of today these sites have become enormous hits. However, these sites are huge repositories of information relating individuals all across the globe. And when there is information there is the risk of privacy being breached. Thus the need for a privacy policy arises in this case too. Most websites ensure that the information is maintained on computers that are safe from unauthorized access. Moreover they also need to ensure that there are no leakages of information while it is being transmitted from the server to the user or vice-versa. (Atwan , Lushing, and Andrews, 2008) The ‘Face book’ has two core privacy principles. First, it gives choice to its users to put in whatever information they want. And individuals can control who can see how much information. Second, it aims to make sharing of information easier and less time consuming. Â  However, the website does reveal that the user information will be revealed to the third parties. by stating that the information in the profiles can be used by the third party without indentifying the name of that individual. Privacy Issues Faced by Organizations: Organizations, both public and private collect and maintain a lot of information on their customers. Customer Information can have several uses that can be very valuable especially for organizations. Some of the benefits of having customer information is that it can help learn the needs and wants of their customers – potential and current. It can be used to more efficiently offer their products to customers and also , the customer information can be used to predict the future demand of the company’s product and future cash flow . Like at all the other sources, this information is equally likely to be misused and individual’s privacy will be breached. The best way to regulate organization’s privacy is at government level. People expect government to formulate laws that will ensure that organizations do not breach away with consumer’s privacy. (Solove , Rotenberg , and Schwartz , 2005) Another way is to regulate through the market regulation. In this the business that is successful in retaining the customer information private and confidential becomes successful whereas business that do not offer satisfactory privacy guarantees to the customer are ignored and put out of the business. Privacy Issues faced by Hospitals The question is why privacy is important in hospitals. Privacy in hospitals is needed to ensure that personal health information can be shared for core health activities, with safeguards to limit the inappropriate use and sharing of patient data. Â  Any deviation from this law will hurt the hospitals reputation as patients will stop trusting hospital to safeguard their sensitive personal records. Therefore hospitals are required to take critical steps towards building security and privacy of healthcare providers, patients and all others involved in health care. (Gaston , 2003) Some steps taken towards safeguarding patient’s privacy include: 1. Patient’s written and explicit authorization is required to disclose personal health information to employers. The authorization must include what information is to be shared, person allowed to use data and for what purpose information is to be retrieved. 2. However, hospital administration is permitted to utilize patient’s personal health information for treatment. 3. If the patient is present, the hospital may disclose medical information to such people if the patient does not object. If the patient objects to disclosure the hospital may determine whether the disclosure is in the best interests of the patient. The professional judgment of the health care provider should inform any decision regarding disclosure of protected health information to a family member or friend who is involved in the patients care, as these disclosures are permitted, but not mandatory. 4. Disclosure of protected health information has always been permitted for purposes such as national security, public health monitoring, and law enforcement, as well as many others. 5. The health information custodians policies must be readily available to patients and should include information about practices and procedures. The right of privacy and consent are essential to the trust and integrity of the patient-physician relationship. Privacy Issues in Banks – Real and Online . Customer’s personal privacy is extremely important to banks. Bank should be committed to protecting customer information. Banks should not share nonpublic information about customers with third parties without their consent. Â  Information banks should collect from customers should help serve only the financial needs of customers, provide customer service, offer new products or services, and fulfill legal and regulatory requirements. These types of non-public, personal information may include: 1. Information we received loan or insurance applications or other forms. 2. Information about transactions with affiliates of banks. 3. Information from outside companies. Banks should collect only the information necessary to deliver quality products and services to customers. All of internet sensitive information of customers should be protected by data encryption technology. (Luna , 2004) References: 1. Alba, Jason , Stay , Jesse , Lorenzen , Lee Scoble , Robert (2008). Im on FacebookNow What: How to Get Personal, Business, and Professional Value from Faceboo. Happy About. 2. Alderman, Ellen , Kennedy , Caroline (1997). The Right to Privacy.Vintage . 3. Atwan , Greg , Lushing, Evan , Andrews, Aurora (2008). The Facebook Book . Abrams Image. 4. Chander , Anupam , Gelman , Lauren , Radin , Margaret Jane (2008). Securing Privacy in the Internet Age . Stanford Law Books. 5. Freeman, Lee, Peace, A. Graham (2004). Information Ethics: Privacy and Intellectual Propert.Information Science Publishing . 6. Gaston , S. J. (2003). Protecting Your Money, Privacy and Identity from Theft, Loss and Misuse. Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants . 7. Holtzman, David H. (2006). Privacy Lost: How Technology Is Endangering Your Privacy. Jossey-Bass. 8. Levine, John R. , Church , Ray Everett-, Stebben , Gregg (2002). Internet Privacy for Dummies . For Dummies . 9. Luna , J.J. (2004). How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy, Your Assets, and Your Life. Thomas Dunne Books. 10. Solove , Daniel J. , Rotenberg , Marc , Schwartz , Paul M. (2006). Privacy, Information And Technology. Aspen Publishers. 11. Solove , Daniel J. , Rotenberg , Marc , Schwartz , Paul M. (2005). Information Privacy Law. Aspen Publishers.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Wicca Vs. Paganism Essays -- essays research papers

Wicca versus Paganism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wicca and Pagan are two religions, which have many similarities as well as many differences within each area. Wicca is a sect of Pagan in which each has their own variations on the religion. A good way to put it; all Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. Witch is a term used for any practitioner of Wicca. The Webster's II Dictionary defines witch as 1. A woman who practices sorcery or is believed to have dealings with the devil, 2. An ugly, vicious old woman; hag. Wicca is described by the American Heritage Dictionary as the cult of witchcraft. Pagan is the religion under which many different religions are practiced. Webster's II Dictionary defines pagan as one who does not acknowledge the god of Christianity, Islam, or Judaism; heathen. Most parts of these definitions are wrong. Wicca is a sect of Paganism, in which different practices are learned, worshipped, and taught. One form of Wicca is Solitary Practitioners the other is Coven Practitioners. The forms of Wicca that are practiced vary in most uses. Solitary Practitioners usually 'pray';, read, meditate, and cast magik and spells alone. Whereas Covenants practice these familiar things amongst a group of anywhere from two people up to thirteen people. In Pagan practices, these things are practiced normally within a group setting of anywhere from two people to hundreds of people. Both practices use a magik circle which is either drawn imaginary or with the use of a broom or sea salt. This is to keep out any negative energy from entering the circle while any type of practice is being done. This keeps the practitioner(s) from any harm or wrongdoing. Both of these religions are nature-based and usually have one of three belief systems in common: polytheism, pantheism, and animism. Both of these religions use many objects in their practices or studies. Both Wiccans and Pagans will use what is called Magikal tools. These are known to include, incense, candles, athames; usually known as a black handled knife, the broom; used to 'sweep'; away negative energies, the cup or chalice; used to hold such things as blessed water, wine and other fluids, the cauldron; used as an instrument in which to cook and for brew making, also used for scrying, and most importantly, the pentacle. The pentacle is usually a flat piece of brass, gold, silver, wood, wax... ...ifferent. Many Pagans prefer to worship within a coven or group. Each person would take on a different aspect within the group. Each person plays a different part within the circle. There is a group of teachers, called the High Priestess and High Priest. The High Priestess and Priest would control any and all worship sessions, much like the Christian churches. Each person thereafter might control a corner, or element, and the less powerful of them all would worship and watch the ceremonies take place. Pagans do not have a Book of Shadows, in which to worship. This religion is an oral based religion, passed down from mouth to mouth. Pagans may rely upon any natural force, such as a body of water, or a natural rock formation. They use these to help them focus energy upon their gods or goddesses. Both, Pagans and Wiccans, have varying religious practices; however, many of them are also similar. Pagans focus more on the group aspect of tradition and the 'old times';, whereas, Wicca is based primarily upon the needs and wants of the witch. This could even include practicing Christianity on the side. Both religions do; however, have in common many uses of tools, spells, and 'prayers';.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Swot Red Bull

STRENGTH – Leadership position The company â€Å"Red Bull† is considered like the â€Å"leader† of the energy drinks market in the world with 70% of market share in 2012. – Marketing strategy * A lot of sports events, promotions and campaigns (like street marketing) * Sponsorship (F1 Red Bull Team, Felix Baumgartner, Shaun White†¦) * Original communication strategy and efficient (http://www. redbull. fr/cs/Satellite/fr_FR/Video/Le-nouveau-clip-du-Monde-de-Red-Bull-au-cinema-021243076490242) -Innovation * Innovating recipe of energy drink containing â€Å"Taurine† – Loyal customers * The creation of an universe encouraged customer loyalty Strong Brand identity and trendy brand – Strong financial position * Turnover of 3,27 Billion of Euros. – Single product Weaknesses – Average price – Lack of product innovation Nowadays, there are a lot of competitors in the market owned by famous brands like Coca-Cola (Burn) or Pepsi (Dark Dog) – Lack of patent on Red Bull’s recipe means anyone can copy it – High logistics costs – Profits linked to exchange rates – High sunk cost (marketing, Advertising) Opportunities – Red bull has opportunities to expanding the target markets as well as product lines extension * Extension of product line can help to retain market share Increase market share with increased opportunities in emerging markets through being trendy * Sunk cost can provide future growth in emerging markets due to a trendy image – Consumer recognition through sponsorship of sports events so can expand product with a loyal customer base * Overcome higher prices than competitors with product expansion and diversification – New ventures like partnership with Facebook – Product and services expansion – International manufacturing opportunities * Manufacturing Internationally can decrease exchange rate risks Keep substantial mar ket share with international operations * High logistics costs can be decreased with decentralized production in emerging markets Threats – Competition * Major competitors such as Coca Cola (burn) and Pepsi (dark dog) are continually seeking to regain market share of Red Bull – Negative publicity * Various media reported that Red Bull is harmful for one’s health * The caffeine levels in Red Bull can be dangerous if consumed by children/teenagers * Red Bull has gone to the extremes of seeking scientific proof that its product is safe for consumption (cost of scientific research) Inability to move forward with the product * The product could be in danger of becoming stale by shunning conventional advertising methods * Large investment in extreme sport events the question is what will be their next step to keep on being innovating and attracting – Ability to gain new customers and retain current customer loyalty * Red Bull’s target market currently ai med at youngsters: so this generation will continue to drink ‘energy drink? * the next upcoming generation accept this product ?

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Team Importance Week 3 Hcs 325

Introduction No management position is easy these days. There are many rules and regulations to follow, as well as many responsibilities that grow more over time. One of the responsibilities as a manager is to improve efficiency of the company and extend customer satisfaction. Not only does this take money, but time, skill, and teamwork. As the manager of a busy call center, the call volume has increased so much that there is an extra $20,000 to spend on improving customer satisfaction and efficiency. How can this be spent wisely to reach these goals? Teamwork is top on the list of importance because without a team, there is no business.Teams provide many things to a health care facility, as well as any other successful business. Teams are used in many different ways in other industries, such as the military, for example. This sets examples for the health care industry as to how teams might be used similarly there compared to somewhere like the government jobs. However, nothing is ea sy like saying the alphabet. In any industry, conflict does arise, and having the knowledge of problem solving is very good to have in order to make an educated decision for the health care organization. GoalsIn the call center, there is an extensive amount of money to be used for improving the quality of care, and customer’s satisfaction. Goals need to be set in order for the $20,000 to be used wisely. Teamwork is the answer to this. To improve quality of the product, and to increase customer satisfaction, everyone has to be able to work together very well to reach the goals of the company. So far because of this teamwork, the call volume has increased immensely. Managers in the call center have a process they follow, called the Five Step Planning process, which enables them to improve teamwork, which solely improves quality and satisfaction.Five Step Planning Process â€Å"At its most basic, planning is decision making†. (Donald J. Lombardi, John R. Schermerhorn, Bri an Kramer; 2007, John Wiley & Sons Inc. ). The five step planning process is used in order to make the best decisions possible when making decisions within an organization, as well as help out with any conflicts that may arise during the process. It is a support system for problem solving and breaks down how to do it with as little conflict as possible. Step one of the process is to identify and define the problem.This is where information is gathered, evaluated, and is deliberated. Doing so defines any problems correctly and can be taken care of efficiently without complications along the way. Step two of the process is to generate and evaluate possible courses of action. In this step, managers â€Å"can begin formulating one or several potential solutions†. (Donald J. Lombardi, John R. Schermerhorn, Brian Kramer; 2007, John Wiley & Sons Inc. ). More information may need to be gathered and analyzed before going to the third step of the process, which is choosing a preferred plan of action.In the third step, a decision is made with selecting a specific course of action. In the fourth step, implement the planned course of action, actions are established and implemented to meet the final goal. Nothing new is able to happen unless action is taken. Managers should have the ability to be able to have the determination and be creative in order to implement the planned course of action. Finally, the fifth and final step of the process is evaluating the results. What happens is the accomplishments with the original objectives are compared to what has been come up with.Both the positive and negative sides should be kept in an open mind, before a final decision is made to stick. Look Outside the box Looking at how other businesses are ran and how the make teamwork better is a way to improve customer satisfaction. Teamwork is used in different ways in other industries, such as the military, for example. They use teamwork to the full extent because in their world, it may mean life or death. Jane Dyer, a veteran, states â€Å"Teamwork is a fundamental lesson in the military. At basic training, you learn about being the member of a unit†.She also states that after you leave that basic training, you are still responsible for your unit and whether or not you like a team member, you will still honor and protect each other. The military is so tightly compact, they are like a family. This sets examples for teamwork in the health care organizations because whether or not you like a team member, that does not mean you cannot help the company you work for succeed along with yourselves. The military’s company is the United States. Should they not work together well, they could die and others lives would then be at stake.It is the same concept with businesses. Should the team not work together well and improve, then one, the company ends up dying, then everyone working loses their jobs. Just because one industry is different than the other, they could very well learn important lessons about team work from each other. Conclusion Industries around the world are very different but also alike in so many ways. The military is a great industry to look at for things like team work, because the health care industries can learn how to improve their quality of care and customer (patient) satisfaction.Having that extra money can benefit the companies when they focus on improving team work alone. Lessons are learned all around. References: Donald J. Lombardi, John R. Schermerhorn, Brian Kramer; 2007, John Wiley & Sons Inc, â€Å"Managerial and Supervisory Planning: Preparing for the Road Ahead†; retrieved from https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/eReader. aspx Jane Dyer, 2010, â€Å"The military shows the importance of teamwork†; retrieved from http://www. mydd. com/users/jane-dyer/posts/the-military-shows-us-the-importance-of-teamwork

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Cause and Effect Essay Example Great Depression

Cause and Effect Essay Example Great Depression Cause and effect essays  are popular ways of helping students understand the relationship between various events. They’re extremely popular in history classes, although students are certainly going to encounter them in English and writing classes as well. English and writing classes are often geared towards helping students be better at critical thinking in general, and cause and effect essays can serve as excellent critical thinking exercises in general. Cause and effect essay outline is a five-paragraph essay with an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. 50 WINNING CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY TOPICS If you are looking for cause and effect essay examples here is a great one below Cause and Effect Essay Example: GREAT DEPRESSION The World Great Depression hit the global economy from the late 1920s through the period in 1930s. The depression had enormous market implications: social, economic and political. In order to understand the implications of the global depression crisis, it is imperative to review the crisis causes. This essay reviews on the economic and political causes of  the crisis and their subsequent implications. Economically, the crisis onset was in 1929 characterized by the Wall Street collapse. At this time, the economy purchasing power was failing as money supply decreased. Initially, there was speculation on the eminent Wall Street collapse. At this time, the USA government resulted to financial measures aimed at reducing this influence. In this case, the federal government sought to reduce money supply in the economy through increased interest rates. This aimed at establishing avenues to reduce the increased money supply in the market. However, this process failed in the long run as the money supply continuously fell (Rosen, 2005). The Federal Reserve Bank, the central bank in America failed to institute mechanisms to reduce this crisis. Consequently, this led to the  reduced  money supply in the economy resulting in  the great depression. Reduced money supply in the market reduced the economy’s ability to purchase products. Politically, Rosen (2005) stated that the protectionism approach and regulations played a significant role in the emergence and escalation of the global recession crisis. In this regard, global economies such as European  markets developed strategies to regulate against increased importation into the markets. This sought to remedy the European market overproduction rates. Similarly, in order to protect the American multinational companies; the government in 1930 instituted the Smoot-Hawley Tariff. The tariff instituted high taxation rates for imports in the Unites States. In this regard, the strategy sought to limit importation into the economy. This was a strategy to mitigate against the increased overproduction in the economy. As such, the government sought to establish the structure  through which to reduce on the implications of increased overproduction in the economy. However, although this reduced instances of over production in the economy, it led to reduced international trade. Consequently, this reduced foreign exchange in the global markets. This trend was not only in the USA  but also in countries across the global economy. Increased tariffs and importation restrictions resulted to reduced international trade. As a result, economies were subjected to decreased foreign exchange. This implicated on the overall currency purchasing powers in the economy as currencies lost their value in the global market. International trade plays a significant role in enhancing increased currency purchasing through the development of balanced and favorable terms of trade. Through the establishment of favorable terms of trade, economies currencies increase their purchasing power enhancing increased spending and consumption levels in an economy. Reduction on the trade resulted in  reduced spending further reducing money supply in the market, thus propagating the global Great Depression crisis. The reduction in the  importation  and international trade rates resulted in  increased unemployment rates. The international trade distribution channels proved increased employment opportunities. Therefore, its collapse led to increased unemployment. Further, the trade allowed for increased government revenues through levied taxes and tariffs. To this effect, its reduction resulted to decreased government revenues. A combination of these factors reduced earnings and government spending in the economy. Consequently, the reduced international trade perpetuated reduced money supply in the global market. The global depression crisis emergence was because of reduced money supply in the market. An additional cause for the escalation of the global recession crisis was the existence of small and numerous banks. In this regard, the banks lacked enough capital and funds to support their systems. To this effect, the collapse of Wall Street resulted in an  increased lack of confidence in  the banking industry. As a result, there emerged the cash rush. This was a process through which banking customers sought to withdraw their funds and have them in liquid cash. Due to the advance and defaulted loans, the banking industry was unable to avail all the required funds. This led to the eventual collapse of the banking industry. The banking industry is an imperative component in the global market success and functioning. Therefore, the collapse of the banking industry led to the eventual collapse of the entire global economy as the banking services that enhanced transaction success no longer functions (Rosen, 2005). Consequently, the global market failed to result in the great recession. Moreover, the global depression crisis emergence can be hedged on the political systems and obligations imposed on nations after World War I. After the war, the USA emerged as a major power due to its late entry into the war. As a result, it advanced loans and funds towards the reconstruction of global nations such as Germany. On the other hand, Germany was burdened with increased loans repayment as damages for the war. This culminated in the banking industry overspending and due to inflation, the banks considerably raised their lending rates leading to global market supply deficiency. HOW TO WRITE A CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY If you need assistance with cause and effect essay writing, feel free to contact our friendly support team or place an order and we will gladly help you.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Bird Watching Tips for Beginners

Bird Watching Tips for Beginners Identifying a bird can be challenging. Birds are active, energetic animals and you need a quick eye to spot as many details as possible in a short span of time. The obstacles are many- the light may be dim, you could have the sun in your eyes, or the bird may dive into a bush. So to stand the best chance of landing a name for a bird, youll want to know what to look for- what matters most and how to spend your precious viewing time. Keep Your Eye on the Bird Photo  © Marc Romanelli / Getty Images. When you spot a bird, dont immediately try to flip through the pages of a field guide to identify it. Every moment of viewing time is precious. Keep your eye fixed on the bird and study it- absorb details of its markings, movements, song, feeding habits, and size. You may want to jot down notes or quickly sketch things that catch your eye. But dont focus too much on your jottings, try to maximize the time you have the bird in view, as this is your time to study it and you dont know how long it will be before the bird dashes off, out of sight. Listen for Calls and Song Listening out for a birds vocalizations is simple but its also easy to forget to do. The odds are, if you dont make a conscious effort to listen, you wont remember the birds song and youll miss out on one of the best bird identification tools there is. The good news is that you can listen to a bird while you look at it- its easy to do both at the same time. Look for bill movements along with the calls you hear, just to ensure youre associating the correct song with the bird youre trying to identify. Estimate General Size and Shape A general picture of the bird, that is its approximate size and shape, will often give you many clues when placing it into the correct family of birds. Therefore, begin with an assessment of the birds overall appearance. What is the approximate size of the bird? Its easiest to estimate size in relation to well know birds. For instance, is the bird youre observing about the size of a sparrow? A robin? A pigeon? A crow? A turkey? Think in terms of silhouettes and try to get an inkling for its general body shape. Does it stand upright and walk with ease, or is it unsteady and awkward on land? Make Note of Facial Markings and Bill Characteristics After determining its general size and shape, then youre ready to start noticing details. Start at the head first. Look for distinctive strips and patches of color including crown stripes, eye lines, nape color, eye arcs or rings. Does it have a black hood on its head? Do its feathers form a crest atop its head? Also note the color and shape of the birds bill. How long is the bill in relation to the birds head? Is it straight or curved, conical or flattened? Look for Wing Bars and Tail Shape Next look for details on the birds body, wings, and tail. Keep an eye out for wing bars, color patches, and markings on the birds body, when it is stationary or in flight. What color is its back and its belly? How long is its tail in relation to the birds body length? How does it hold its tail? Does it have a forked tail or is it square or rounded? Observe Leg Color and Length Now study the birds legs. Does the bird have long legs or short legs? What color are its legs? If you can catch a glimpse of its feet, try and determine if its feet are webbed, or if it has talons. Some birds even have toes that arranged differently than others and if youre fortunate enough to have a close-up view, see how many of its toes point forwards or backwards. Study Movement and Flight Patterns Observe the way the bird walks, how it holds its tail, or how it jumps from branch to branch. If it flies off, watch for a pattern in its flight, does it swoop up and down in gentle arcs with each wingbeat or does it glide gently and steadily? Determine Feeding Habits If you can, try and determine what the bird is eating or how it feeds. Does it cling to a tree t trunk and dig at the bark looking for insects? Or does it forage across your lawn, tilting its head to watch for insects scurrying amongst blades of grass. Does it sway its bill through the water at the edge of a pond? Describe Habitat, Region, and Climate Make note of the habitat in which you have observed the bird. You can do this even after the bird has flown off, so its best to leave this step until last. Did you spot the bird in a wetland or woodland? Are you in an urban setting or a farm field? Each species of bird has a typical region that they inhabit and making note of the region youre in when you observe a bird can narrow the possibilities when you try to identify that bird. Also, birds migrate and species composition in a region changes throughout the seasons, so make note of the time of year (or specific date you observe the bird). Record Your Observations After viewing the bird, jot down your observations for later reference. From markings to behavior, write down anything you noticed, it can all help when you later sit down with a field guide to confirm the birds species. Also, note the location, date, time of day of the siting.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Explain Descartes theory in relation to doubt and evaluate his Essay

Explain Descartes theory in relation to doubt and evaluate his rationalism - Essay Example f Descartes effort to overcome skepticism through showing whether if one proceeds to consider matters systematically and the truths that one cannot doubt. Descartes uses a method of doubt and method analysis to ascertain the hypothesis. The doubt method involves the act of creating and posing strong and skeptical hypotheses that ultimately call into the doubt classes of the claims of knowledge. Cartesian doubt method normally gives more details regarding the method. Under normal circumstances, determination of the classes take place through three facilities that Descartes hold and that might come to understand things, senses, imagination and ultimately understanding or reason(Clemenson 2007,p.78). Having eliminated all the truths that emanating from senses and imagination, many of such things that come in the mind will finally emanate from reasoning. Therefore, Descartes concludes that it is not possible to fall under deception of thinking that he does not exist when in real sense he exists (Clemenson, 2007, p.56). Therefore, unless something existed, there would be nothing that one can deceive. Therefore, this a truth found with absolute certainty. The Descartes method has appealed many philosophers through finding certain foundation where one can base all the claims. The ability to sustain test of time and crucible foundation has made it endure well throughout the twentieth century. However, there are some philosopher who has challenged the theory affirming that it has critical problems of incoherence and skeptical hypotheses. On the other hand, rationalism is a view that takes reason as the main test and source of knowledge. It also backs any view that supports reason as a source of justification. In terms of formal and acceptable definition, rationalism is the methodology of truth where the truth does not depend on the sensory system; rather it depends on the intellectual and deductive reasoning. The rationalists believe in reality and have intrinsically

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Skoda Automobile Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Skoda Automobile Company - Essay Example Skoda automobile company started its operations in 1925 after a lengthened period of producing customized bicycles for the founders, Laurin and Klement who were cyclists. The company based in the Czech Republic advanced gradually in producing bicycles and cars for the Czech market. The profits accumulated during the initial stages of stages served as propellants since the management adapted them for capital in its advent to globalization. Skoda automobile engaged in the production of cars for the European market despite the presence of competitive rivalry between the German and British manufacturer. After the initial staging of globalization, the company’s management evaluated the importance of diversification of the business portfolio by the inclusion of other product categories. Therefore, the company started to manufacture farm machinery and airplanes as additional products to the main product. Chronological accounts ascertain that the company’s production and sales competence enabled the company to survive through the difficult environmental forces prevailing in the mid 20th century. Scholars derive that Skoda car manufacturing company faced the threat of the great depression, a situation that halted most industrial signs of progress in Europe (Kreitner, & Cassidy, 2011). This period coincided with the Second World War whereby bombers from rival sides targeted industries. Further, Skoda managed to survive the eventual period of economic restructuring during the postwar period despite the presence of the German and British car models in the target markets (Roberts, 2013). Eventually, Skoda observed that by sourcing for stable car investors, the business would propel immediately as the investors would provide capital equity for the company thus they chose Volkswagen AG due to its wide brand network. The SWOT analysis Strengths of Skoda Automobile car industry Skoda produces its machinery in view of presenting the best machinery to the global mar kets. Mainly, the company boasts over dominance of a profitable market share in the European market despite the presence of stronger competitors. The company’s diversification of investment plan engages the acquisition of mergers and taming other market leaders to invest in the plans. The company’s research and development team engage in an evaluation of alternatives in order to reach the desired market segments. Therefore, the management stipulates its long-range plans in the market and order for a survey of 20,000 clients in the global market. Arguably, many companies lag behind Skoda in undertaking customer surveys in order to bear the ability to produce the automobile in reflection to the present needs in the consumer markets. Skoda’s strengths further emanate from the extent of independence in undertaking direct and unbiased surveys. In this case, the management ensures that potential customers reveal the needs and wants and stipulate their perceptions conc erning Skoda car models in order to undertake the fast improvement of the products with the inclusion of customer’s stipulated variables. The company rests assured that achieving the desired competence through its research body, the JD surveys to be partial since customers would not hold back their feelings about the company given that the researcher is independent.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Eschatology Religion and Theology Research Paper

Eschatology Religion and Theology - Research Paper Example It is also good to look at the Hebrew’s approach to afterlife, and finally a conclusion can be drawn. According to the traditional definition, eschatology means the doctrinal teachings of the "last things". Eschatology relations involve the relations of individuals (including resurrection, death, judgment, as well as the afterlife). It also explores man’s relationship with the world. In the latter respect, the doctrine of eschatology tends to be restricted, at times, to the absolute destruction of the world. The biblical usage is not warranted by the restrictions of eschatology. The "last days" may imply the end of the current order, or "hereafter." Eschatology, according to the Greeks point of understanding, as drawn from the Theological Terminology Dictionary, entails studying about the end times. It further integrates the second appearance of Jesus Christ, the rapture, the millennial kingdom of Christ Jesus, the battle of Armageddon, the ultimate judgment of Satan to gether with his false prophets and angles, and the new earth and the new heaven. National Eschatology The hope of national resurrection is expressed earlier compared to the individual resurrection. In the vision of the dry bone, God showed Ezekiel that the divine breath has the potential of breathing new life into the dead, thus featuring a national resurrection: "These bones are the whole house of Israel" (Ezek. 37:11). â€Å"Isaiah 26: 19 promises a national resurrection.† "Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise". Resurrection for the individual first is explicit as put in (Dan. 12:2). Martyrs persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes offered a powerful assurance upon the resurrection hope. Therefore, belief in the resurrection of the righteous, at least, was adopted as part of Orthodox Judaism, in exception to the Sadducees. The Sadducees claimed to be the champions of religion of the old-time contrary to Pharisaic innovations. Having attained there is a sharper distinct ion existing between the wicked people and the afterlife fortunes of the righteous, in Gehenna or heaven (Paradise) respectively. According to the significant teaching of the "day of the Lord", (Amos 5:18 - 20), the Israelites have been rebuked because of their anxiousness for it. The day would neither bring light nor joy though that was their hope. It would rather bring mourning and darkness. Because Yahweh is absolutely righteous, the intervention for vindicating His action must include the righteous judgment wherever it appears, particularly amongst His chosen people, who obtained exceptional opportunities and got to know His will. Individual Eschatology in the Old Testament Afterlife existence is much contemplated in the Old Testament. Jesus indeed revealed that immortality was implicit in humans’ in relationship to God: the LORD God is God of living and not of the dead (Luke 20:38). However, the featured implication was unappreciated in Old Testament. Perhaps in response to the cultic practices of Canaanites regarding the dead, the Old Testament puts little emphasis concerning the afterlife. Sheol could be regarded the underworld as the place where the dead would dwell as shades; their past (former) status as well as character are less accounted for there. The praises made to Yahweh, which used to engage so much of pious activities of Israelite on earth, would remain unsung in Sheol, which would popularly be thought to apply outside the jurisdiction of Yahweh (Isa. 38:18; Ps. 88:10 - 12). In the book of Psalms, (Psalms 73 and 139) there is an assurance that the presence of God will not be deprived unto those who chose to walk with God, in their death. Job

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Induced Electromotive Force in Potatoes | Experiment

Induced Electromotive Force in Potatoes | Experiment I was first introduced to vegetative electric energy during my freshman year in high school, when our chemistry teacher showed a lemon battery at work as we were studying Electrochemistry. I got very intrigued with the idea of generating electricity with lemons, and I later learnt that many organic substances exist which can also produce electricity. The next year of my high school, I heard about the global consumption of power, and how the earths natural resources were getting depleted, and got an idea that if natural organic batteries were developed, the resources of the earth would remain stable. Thus I took up this study to help me explore the possibility of organic fuel cells and its capability of generating electromotive force. For this study I will take potatoes into consideration because of their high acid content and the relative accessibility of it. The acid responsible for the generation of EMF within the potato is Phosphoric acid, but my experiment will deal with what causes the change in the EMF when the potatoes are boiled. Initially I thought the cause lied in the varying concentration of the electrolyte, but upon further study and research found the reason to lie within the cell membranes of the potatoes that get ruptured during the boiling process of the potatoes, thereby varying the EMF generated. After maize, wheat, and rice, potato is the worlds fourth most important food crop with an annual production of more than 323 x 106 tons with more than one-third coming from developing countries. Thus if potatoes do prove to be beneficial asset, it can able easily adopted by those who are lacking electrical infrastructure as part of the daily routine since it is cheap and requires no special skills for assembly. RESEARCH QUESTION: How does the induced electromotive force generated from the potatoes depend on the state of the potato (i.e. Fresh potato vs. Boiled Potato)? INTRODUCTION: The first batteries were researched and invented by Volta when he made a device capable of producing electricity by the mere contact of conducting substances of different species. The invention of Voltaic battery had marked the birth of a new era in the development of modern physics and made a significant change in our lifestyle. Battery technology has without a doubt seen progress, starting from it being dependent on organic/biological matters to it becoming more efficient using inorganic-reaction-based technology. However from the end of the 20th century, biological batteries were just a mere science experiment performed in highs school, however with the growing concern of depleting the earths resources, there has been a new found interest in the development of organic fuel cells. In order to highlight this growing interest, I have performed a study regarding the basic school experiment of a potato battery. For the first part of my study, I will perform the normal experiment by making a potato cell, using Zinc and Copper electrodes and recording the electromotive force (EMF) generated. Now, for the second part, I will boil the potatoes and record the readings of the EMF generated. I will compare the two results, and comment about my observations, and make possible conclusions about why there is a change in EMF generated or why there is no change in EMF generated. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ELECTROCHEMISTRY Electrochemistry deals with the inter-conversion of electrical energy and chemical energy. This study will deal with the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy (Electrochemical Cells). An electrochemical cell mainly consists of two major components: left hand electrode (LHE) and the right hand electrode (RHE). In LHE, oxidation (loss of electron) takes place and is called the anode. In RHE, reduction (gain of electron) takes place and is called cathode. Anode is generally of that metal (or substance) which readily loses electrons (i.e. Oxidized easily). Cathode is a metal which readily accepts electrons (i.e. Reduced easily). There are two specific ways in order to create an electrochemical, voltaic or galvanic cell. Method 1: Put the LHE (anode) into the solution of the electrolyte of the Cathode (containing the ions of the cathode). This allows the anode to loose electrons per atom and the ions present in the electrolyte accept the electrons. Thus, the cathode ions from the solution in this manner get deposited in order to form the metals of the respective cathode and the metal anode goes into the solution as ions. The reaction can be understood with two half-cell reactions: Oxidation M Anode (S) Mn+(aq) Anode+ ne- Reduction: Mn+(aq) Cathode + ne- M Cathode(S) _ ___________________________________________________ Overall Reaction: M Anode(S) + Mn+(aq) Cathode M Cathode (S) + Mn+(aq)Anode Where, M Anode(S) is the element that gets oxidized at the anode, M Cathode(S) is the element that gets reduced at the cathode, ne- is the number of electrons lost/gained during the reaction A rod of that metal is prepared and placed into one of its own solution in LHE to get anode. In RHE, a rod of metal that loses electrons less easily as compared to the metal of LHE is prepared and put into one of the solution to get the cathode. LHE and RHE are also known as two-half cells. Now the electrons move from anode (LHE) to cathode (RHE) and hence a current flow is maintained in the external circuit. This current flow is due to the fact that a potential difference is created this and this is called the E.M.F, electromotive force of a cell. The two separate containers are connected by a inverted tube U shaped tube called as salt bridge. The salt bridge contains solution of strong ionic salts like NaCl, NaNO3 and KCl etc. (salts of most reactive alkali metals) soaked in colloidal solution of agar-gel which only allows movements of ions, not water. The role of the slat bridge is very important as it allows the continuous discharge of the cell. The salt bridge keeps the two solutions electrically neutral to one another. In the Fe-CuSO4 cell, in the left cell as Fe loses electrons, excess of positive charge in the form of Fe2+ is collected near the LHE and as Cu2+ ions gets discharged accepting electrons form Fe in the right hand cell, excess of negative charge in the form of SO42- is accumulated near the RHE. Now the salt bridge provides positive charge to RHE (in form of K+ ions) and negative charge to the LHE (in the form Cl-) and thus bringing about the neutrality of two solutions. If this does not take place, a reverse potential difference is created in the two compartments and thus breaking the continuous supple of voltage (current), which is the purpose of the cell. The efficiency of a cell is determined by the tendency of LHE to loose electrons and the tendency of RHE to accept electrons. A measure of cell efficiency is called as electromotive force (EMF) or the voltage or the difference in potentials of two electrodes. EMF is defined as the difference in the potential across LHE and RHE to which electrons from anode travel to cathode. My experiment consists of the above explanation with regard to a Secondary Battery or also called Galvanic Cell, which uses the main principles of the method mentioned above, but lacks a salt bridge but the cell membranes within the potato act as a salt bridge. The electrolyte in the potatoes is the phosphoric acid which does not actively participate in the reaction, since its main purpose is to make Zn loose electrons by oxidizing it, the potato provides the protons and the Cu plate remains unaffected by the acid bath. My storage battery is the potato, with the anode plate is made up of Zinc (Zn), while the cathode plate is Copper (Cu). The electrolyte which initiates the reaction or makes the reaction possible in potatoes is phosphoric acid (H3PO4). My experiment will involve the use of iron nails (Zn+2/Zn) acting as anode, and copper plates (Cu+2/Cu) as cathode. These are placed in an electrically conductive solution that allows  ions  to travel freely between the two metals in this case potato. The acid steadily eats away at the Zinc, a chemical reaction that releases spare zinc  electrons. These electrons then join with spare  hydrogen ions  in the acid to create hydrogen gas. Meanwhile, the copper remains unaffected even when submerged in acid but as soon as a conducting wire is connected between it and iron electrons flow from copper to Iron. The spare iron electrons are still intent on forming hydrogen gas, but they have an easier time doing it with the hydrogen surrounding the iron anode. So the electrons from the copper cathode travel through the wire to get to the iron. Batteries exploit this flow of electrons, therefore producing induced EMF. In most of the batteries, there is internal resistance which makes it impossible for the battery to produce 100% of its maximum potential difference. The same is applicable for the potato battery in the form of GAII (Galvanic apparent internal impedance, a trait related to both the salt bridge function of a given tissue delineated between electrodes and to the battery internal resistance properties). This electrical impedance can be a classified into further categories which is out of scope of this study. But the concept of GAII is useful as it can explain the relation between the EMF generated from a boiled potato as compared to a fresh potato. Thus the EMF generated from one potato is because of the potential difference created by the electrodes as in the above mentioned cases. But since the number of potatoes remains constant, the reacting species also is constant, i.e. when two potatoes are used, each potato will have an zinc and copper plate, and thus when the zinc gets oxidized by the potatoes, same electrons will enter the iron electrode from the copper, thus EMF generated should be same. But this is where my experiment differs. MY ORIGINALITY: Experiments have already been conducted on fresh potatoes and the induced EMF but, I planned to boil my potatoes and observe the readings of the EMF generated and compare the results obtained from performing the experiment with raw potatoes. The potatoes by default will be similar and will be microwaved in KCl solution for scientific vigor, and then after certain attainment of room temperature, the EMF generated will be recorded. The readings and the graph will make clear weather the boiling of potatoes changes the EMF and what makes the EMF generated to change. MY HYPOTHESIS The induced EMF generated from the experiment being performed with boiled potatoes compared to raw potatoes will decrease since the concentration of phosphoric acid will decrease, since the potatoes are boiled in aqueous solution, thus diluting the already present phosphoric acid, and thus since the concentration of the electrolyte decreases so will the rate of oxidization and reduction, eventually leading to the decrease in the EMF generated. The GAII may also play a part since when the potatoes are boiled the inner temperature of the potato increases causing denaturation and this might affect the flow of electrons thereby affecting the EMF generated. METHOD Battery Design Commercially available potatoes were used throughout, due to ease of accessibility and for economic factors. The mineral composition of the potatoes has been given in Table 1 of the appendix. I compared the EMF generated from cells made of potatoes treats as follows Raw/Fresh/untreated Boiled/treated For the preparation of the Galvanic cell, the potatoes in both cases were cut into 5x2x2cm and were sandwiched between the Iron and Copper plates. Potato Denaturation by Boiling I compared the electrical energy generated from untreated potatoes compared to that of treated potatoes. For scientific vigour, I immersed the sliced potatoes in 1 mol dm-3 KCl solution and microwaved at 800W for 5 minutes. Measurement of EMF The amount of EMF (V) generated was evaluated using a Vernier Lab Quest connected to the cell. The measurement was also taken for Current (I) and Power (P). These measurements were taken over a period of 2 hours over a constant load of equal resistance. In order to prevent the potato coming in contact with air it was covered with Parafilm in order to reduce drying and oxidation. VARIABLES INDEPENDANT VARIABLES: The independent variable in this experiment is the potatoes, or the state of the potatoes i.e. boiled or fresh. Thus the experiment will be carried out with fresh potatoes, and then further into boiled potatoes., For similar concentration, and volume of acid in potatoes, similar sized potatoes were taken so that the result will not deviate. The potatoes act as independent batteries, providing induced EMF as they are connected in series. The reason they act as a battery is because the copper and zinc electrode undergo redox reactions in the presence of the acid which acts as an electrolyte, which creates a potential difference and this is calculated to be EMF DEPENDANT VARIABLES: The dependant variable is the EMF generated by the potatoes when arranged in series. It will be measured with a Vernier Lab Quest which is connected to the computer The potential difference will be calculated, between the two extremes of the electrodes (anode and cathode => Zinc and copper plate). This given criteria is same for both the set up. The unit of measure is the Volt. The readings will be taken for two hours for each. CONTROLLED VARIABLES: The apparatus used was same throughout the experiment, since this will reduce mean deviation and the calculations will be done with respect to the other readings therefore, error is less The temperature in the room was controlled and was kept at 300K and this is with respect to the room temperature and not the temperature of the potato. The arrangement of the potatoes and the beakers was done in series since that would accurately judge between the EMF discrepancies between boiled and unoiled potatoes. Similar sized potatoes were taken in the hopes that the concentration of phosphoric acid would be similar; therefore the readings will not have much discrepancy relative to each other. When the potatoes were boiled, all were boiled to the same temperature, for the same amount of time, and were removed from the water bath at approximately the same time The apparatus was cleaned thoroughly before performing each experiment so as to reduce discrepancies in the readings, with respect to other readings. The amount of insertion of the Iron and copper into the potato was same throughout all the experiments at 3 ±0.1cm. The potatoes were all sliced up into the following dimension 5 x 2 x 2 cm and were sandwiched between the electrodes. The part of the potato exposed to the air was covered with Parafilm in order to prevent the potato from drying and reduction. CONSTANT VARIABLE: The copper plate and the iron nails used were the same throughout the experiment, so was the location where the experiment took place so as to keep all errors due to pressure and temperature constant. The same water bath was used to boil the potatoes, in order to keep the potatoes at constant temperature with regard to each other. The time taken for recording the EMF generated from the potatoes in both cases was taken as 2 hours. DATA AND GRAPHS ACTUAL REACTIONS TAKING PLACE Oxidation: Zn: Zn Zn++ + 2e- , E0 = 0.76V, Reduction: Cu: 2H+ + 2e- H2 , E0 = 0.00V Overall: Zn + 2H+ Zn++ + H2, à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬   E0 = 0.76V REASON FOR THE REACTIONS AND ANALYSIS OF DATA My results conclude that Zn electrode and the reduction of hydrogen at the Cu electrode are the dominating reactions which give rise to EMF, Current Density and the potential difference. Maximum power delivered by boiled potato cells with ruptured membranes may reach values an order of magnitude higher than that generated by untreated potato. When the data was compared, a direct relationship between the ability of the potato battery to deliver power and GAII (Galvanic apparent internal impedance, a trait related to both the salt bridge function of a given tissue delineated between electrodes and to the battery internal resistance properties) becomes evident. The significant increase in electric energy generation with membrane destruction shows that the ionic diffusivity through the tissue bridge between electrodes is the reason behind this phenomenon, as effective diffusivity of protons increases with membrane rupture. In contrast, the rate of proton flux is reduced when cell membranes are intact probably due to the tortuosity of the extracellular space as well as the equivalent reduction in the concentration of the electrolytes per unit volume when the intracellular fluids do not actively participate in the ionic transport. CONCLUSION: From the data and the graphs it is clearly visible that my hypothesis was inaccurate, since the EMF generated did not decrease with the boiling of potatoes, but increased and also lasted longer under the same external load compared to the fresh potato. The potato serves only as a medium for the movements of electrons from the zinc electrode. The potato supplies the protons thus generating electricity. Fresh potatoes do it, but the strong internal resistance makes it very inefficient. Boiling the potato destroys membranes and possibly some part of the cell walls, thus reducing significantly the internal resistance and increase 10 folds the generation of power. The bio electrolytic low power electrical energy source introduced in this study brings an dimension to the utilization of the globally fourth most abundant crop accessible essentially all over the world, made of solid components and requires low financial investment compared with solar or conventional batteries. EVALUATION: The experiment was conducted in a non-ideal conditions which could lead to errors:~ Systematic Error: The Parafilm had foreign bodies or had an unwanted flaw which could have not given me an accurate reading The reading of the electronic balance may also have a manufacturing defect, thereby leading to a difference in the times taken. The lab quest may be defective or may have been inaccurate which may have given inaccurate results. The microwave may not have operated throughout the five minutes at 800W, thus leading to a variation in the temperature achieved by the potato in order to break the cell membrane. Random Errors: There might have been a gap or hole in the Parafilm leading to increased drying of the potato thereby affecting the EMF generated. Human parallax error when adjusting the volume of the solutions by taking only the lower meniscus. The apparatus used may contain remnants of other chemicals leading to an impure solution. The temperature of the room was taken to be constant, but there might have been fluctuation in the actual temperature thus leading to heat loss, and null results. The electronic balance might not have been zeroed out to take the new reading or might have had impurities which could have given inaccurate readings The microwave may not have run for exactly 5 minutes, thus leading to different boiling degrees EMF of the potato was taken every 3 seconds from the start of the reaction and thus the increase/decrease would not be exactly accurate, leading to a discrepancy in data.