Research design exercise on Domestic burglary Literature review

Research design exercise on Domestic burglary - Literature review Example In handling burglary situations, these facts need to be examined in relation to the facts of the context at hand (Tilley, 1993). When applied to the case at hand, we can identify the increase in assets in the buildings motivates offenders. The increase in student occupancy increases the vulnerable target group drastically. And also, the ease of burglars slipping through the back of the houses makes the student households vulnerable targets. In attempt to deal with these burgaries, Mayhew et al (1976) recommend that there is the need to reduce access and increase risk detection. This therefore forms the framework for the prevention of these student burglaries. In operationalising the research, there is the need to formulate hypotheses. A hypothesis is a tentative statement that is tested for its truthfulness or falsity (Kothari, 2005). So for the ease of doing this research, the objectives will be translated to the following hypotheses: The research will therefore seek to accept or refute these hypotheses. This will form the basis for a choice of either the fixing of gates in the alleyways to impede the escape of burglars and their detection or run a campaign to enable the residents to identify signs of theft and take necessary actions through better security systems like alarms and more secure windows. This will be complemented by data on the total number of residents. This will aid in comparison. Also, the frequency of burglaries must be known. This should show the general picture and also the frequency amongst student households. This data on the numbers of people living in each housing unit can be collected from the housing authorities in the area. Data on burglaries and their frequencies can be attained from the police archives. The next set of data to be collected should be the number of assets each household possesses. This will be complemented

The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets Essay Example for Free

The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets Essay Fooled by Randomness The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets is a kaleidoscopic assessment of the human mind which is observed in the environment of Wall street and other trading markets across the world. What is observed by the reader’s point of view, changes with time, if it is viewed by turning the lens. However, outlook of the reader will also decide a number of issues that are raised in this book. Looking from one direction, the book takes notice of the various unlimited borders that have been created by mass media and its noise. Mr. Nassim Taleb tries to stress upon the fact that the common man lacks sufficient knowledge about the simple issues of probability and statistics. For example, take a steam engine. If one sees a steam engine for the first time, he may not know what is the functioning of the engine, but after a while of careful examination, one can surely get a rough idea of its working and can also predict the behavior pattern. That is one can predict the â€Å"future behavior pattern† after closely analyzing a shorter period of behavior. The example given here is compared to the life in general. There is a lot of un-expectancy in the lives of people and similarly in the stock markets. These trading markets possess a huge factor of randomness that are based upon the complex stochastic issues, and not to forget regular bouncy and spiteful surprises. The behavioral pattern of the stock markets during short time spans is not so significant and is appropriately termed as â€Å"noise† by the author. The method of extrapolating values here in this regard seems to be impossible. Yet people more often do that. They try to sketch patterns where they â€Å"do no â€Å" exist and misinterpret the function of unpredictability, search for rationalization for the occasion of probability and strongly believe that they best know about the future. And this is what is stressed in this book. The author of the book, Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a stock market player and is a expert doubter. He proclaims that mathematics is still adolescent and cannot completely explain the science of probability in the stock market. The author however is clever to understand to give adequate weight-age to the possibility of random occurrences, and their irrelevance at some occasions. He evidently observes that his consideration towards the importance of randomness has more value than the mathematical calculations. Mathematics is principally a tool to meditate, rather than to compute. He has been a witness to countless agents and traders who have been hit hardly, â€Å"blown up† in the charming phenomenon of the trade. Very often he has observed great flourishing careers brought to an end with some unanticipated market crumbling. On such occasions, people say, I had never forecasted that, miserably shaking their heads as they leave the market place. Yes, this is what the author wants to convey with his book these people have been â€Å"fooled by randomness† of the market behavior. There are many ways of getting fooled by the behavior of randomness. The most common and detrimental is to fail to predict the probability of rare occurrences. The author expresses his thought that nothing else is more certain than the occurrence of the unexpected event that is bound to occur sooner or later in future. People often sleep calmly between safe periods, and forget that the unexpected is about to come any time. Another is to see significance in some random pattern. Taleb explains with crystal clarity why the more often you look at some fluctuating quantity (the value of your share portfolio, for example), the less meaning your observations have. Yet he sees traders who watch prices move up and down in real time on screen the changes are so small as to be completely random and think they are learning something. Another issue which is more subtle yet more dangerous, is the survivorship bias: in a haphazard population, some matters will be more observable than others. Suppose for example, a trader who works on strategies that do no better than random behavior of the market, he will face fifty fifty chances of success and failure every year. Of course, it has never come to his mind, that his success is also random, however his innocent mind believes that his success was due to his superior strategies and not market randomness! The author’s view on randomness and his examples are not limited only to trade market. In reality, randomness and behavioral fluctuations occur in every field. The effect of these â€Å"random nesses† can also be overblown by a optimistic response loop, which he calls as bipolarity. For example, a job seeker does accidently well in an interview (although he is not capable, yet it is randomness) and as a result gets better results and more popularity than others who are much more skilled. Actually, human mind is structured to view patterns, to reason the cause of occurrences, and to firmly believe in those reasons and rationales. The main aspect of Talebs book is that the author is very well aware of this behavioral science of the human mind. He knows nothing he says can dismiss the false impression fashioned by unpredictability or randomness and that he is as vulnerable to the unpredictability or randomness as any other common man. Further he stresses that his only benefit is that he is at least conscious of the weak spot, and often tries to play in order to prevent himself from these situations. For example, he very often tries to ignore any form of â€Å"hot news† or any scrap information. The books short but excellent final section deals with this Zen-like problem of trying to break oneself out of a mould of thinking that cannot be broken, even though one recognizes its shortcomings. The main characteristic of the book Fooled by Randomness is that the author is very close observing a true picture of the markets with the eye of a successful trader as well as being a insider guide to non belief. True traders, I believe, dress sloppily, are often ugly and exhibit the intellectual curiosity of someone who would be more interested in the information-revealing contents of the garbage can than the Cezanne painting on the wall. (Taleb). The author does not avoid any situation of the market in his book. His examples are crunchy and repeatedly atrocious. His aggression on an assortment of features of the monetary firmament, are hurtful and luminously argued. Many people who read his book can find him exasperating and annoying. The book is a small review on the how to trade in complex situations and to closely understand the random behavior of trade markets. However, there are instances where the book is leaving some unanswered queries in the mind of the reader. The author demonstrates a contemptuous and scornful disapproval for investment managers who want to make a fortune for themselves by selling their track records. Well, later in the book, Taleb mentions that he also wants to be hedge fund manager! Can he do that without showing off his own track record with the customers? Will he take privilege of the random events that occurred to him and gave him a successful track record? Since Mr. Taleb’s elementary statement on the subject of the character of the Market theory is mistaken on some occasions, his evaluation of the neighboring reflections leads to a wrongful evaluation of human behavior and market features. At times, the reader might feel that the author is oscillating between an illogical estimation of the practical world of money market and his own emotional responses to the every day events of life. At the same time, Taleb also believes his unfinished examination and erroneously pays no attention to the quantifiable collision of various factors within the existing financial economics. This is why by the end of his book Mr. Taleb ends up not just tricked by the phenomenon randomness but to a certain extent maltreated by it. REFERENCE 1. Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

How does Macbeth Change throughout the Play?

How does Macbeth Change throughout the Play? Throughout the course of the play, Macbeths character changes from good to evil. As the audience we are given ample opportunities to look at the way in which he changes and the influences that help bring about the shift in character. Shakespeare also uses dramatic devices to highlight Macbeths change. In this essay the influences that Macbeth was exposed to and the effect that Shakespeares use of dramatic devices has on the audiences understanding will be explored. A soliloquy is a classical literary technique it is the act of speaking while alone, especially when used as a theatrical device that allows a characters thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience. In a play, soliloquies are important because these are the thoughts of the character and he/she will always be telling the truth. The soliloquies let the audience keep up with how the main characters are thinking so that the writer can create the image that there are many sides to every character. Shakespeare uses soliloquies to give us an insight as to what Macbeth is thinking, they are un-edited thoughts and opinion that he is not saying to anyone else. As Shakespeare does not use a narrator who can explain what Macbeth really thinks, it is important for Macbeth that he uses soliloquies; as he is a complex character, his entire personality changes throughout the course of the play. Soliloquies are a window directly into his thoughts and emotions. Without them, we would only know, as much as the other characters and by knowing more there is sometimes some dramatic irony which therefore gives the audience power. Macbeth has a few fatal flaws which allow him to receive the title of a traditional tragic hero. The first is his à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦vaulting ambition, and arrogance. This is a result of his hubris, tragic greed and pride. It is these excessive qualities which usually lead to the downfall and ultimately the death of a tragic hero in classical tragedy. After temptation from his wife and witches to perform murder Macbeth, makes this fall from a brave and noble general. This hubris is seen in many of Shakespeares other tragic plays where there is always a tragic hero who realises the error of their ways when it too late. This is seen in plays such as Anthony and Cleopatra, Othello and Hamlet. In William Shakespeares tragic play Macbeth, the state of mind of Macbeth deteriorates throughout the play as we see the transformation of Macbeth, from hero to villain. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo are told to have been fighting in the battle. Macbeth is then hailed as brave Macbeth, as a hero because he has killed the rebel McDonald and is continuing to face the Norwegian troops successfully. Then we are told that Macbeth has triumphed again capturing the traitor Cawdor, obtaining ransom and a favourable peace treaty from the King of Norway. For brave Macbeth well he deserves that name - is used by a Sergeant to describe his actions in battle. O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman are used by the King. This shows that Macbeth really was a hero; as such, a compliment from the King was considered a great honour. The King, Duncan sentences Cawdor to death and rewards Macbeth with his title. He becomes a tyrant due to his ruthless ambition to be King, spurred on by some interfering witches putting ideas into his head by predicting that he will be King and Lady Macbeth, his bossy wife. Macbeth feels less and less guilty about the murders he has committed but Lady Macbeths mind deteriorates throughout the play, and slowly the locked up guilt drives her mad. In Act 1 Scene 3 the three witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, Glamis and finally King. The belief in the existence and power of witches was widely believed in Shakespeares day, as confirmed by the witch hunt craze. The practice of witchcraft was seen to undermine and threaten the established order of religion and society, and so was not tolerated. The belief of the majority during the seventeenth century suggests that the witches are powerful figures who can exercise great power over Macbeth. Also King James the First took a great interest in witches, having many killed, however most importantly he believed in witchcraft and its power. The three witch characters in Macbeth are seen as evil. It could be concluded that they were responsible for creating Macbeths evil desire for the throne, therefore the audience may be influenced by Shakespeares portrayal of the witches and believe his representation of them. Macbeths character begins to develop in the way he reacts to the witches prophecies. The witches planted seeds of ambition in his mind and he lets them fester until he begins to believe them. Later in the scene Macbeth is actually announced Thane of Cawdor. In a soliloquy Macbeth ponders upon what the witches have predicted This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill cannot be good. If ill why hath it given me earnest of success commencing in a truth? At this point Macbeth is trying to convince himself that there is nothing wrong with what has happened and that if it were evil then something good would not have come from it. The fact that repetition is used emphasises the main theme of the play, the balance between good and evil. When evil prevails everything takes a turn for the worst reminding us to choose good over evil. He then goes on to say: My Thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical. This quotation shows that Macbeths idea to murder Duncan is still only a fantasy and is not reality, indicating he is unsure and may need persuasion either way. At this point in the play he is in doubt or sitting on the fence. Banquo then interrupts Macbeth during his speech saying Look how our partners rapt. This could symbolise how there is a direct contrast as now Banquo is the symbol of good and Macbeths integrity is in question. Macbeth then says: If chance will have me king then chance will crown me without my stir. From this quote w e can see that Macbeth is willing to let fate take its course, and accepts that what will be, will be. The witches prophecies make him believe he will be crowned without having the act noble. However this is not what happens, Macbeth feels the need to direct his destiny to ensure his place on the throne. The next soliloquy is short and it deals with Macbeths views on who was the currant heir to the throne the Prince of Cumberland. -The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step on which I must fall down, or else oerleap, for in my Way it lies. At this point Macbeth is filled with anger and jealousy. Macbeth is stating that the Prince of Cumberland is in the way of him and the throne. Macbeth knows he must deal with the prince somehow, or else he will be beaten by him. At the end of the speech his tone is more calm and controlled as he maintains his decency and morality by masking what lies beneath. Let not light see my black and deep desires. It is apparent that he is surer than in the previous speech as no questions are asked, showing his state of mind is less doubtful. Although he is angry, especially at the beginning of the speech, Macbeth seems clearer in his mind about his plans concerning gaining the throne. However he is still aware that it is wrong to think such black thoughts. The main change in Macbeths character from the previous speech is that he is more certain in his mind and in his actions. He is more decisive and in addition he is becoming increasingly deceptive. In the next soliloquy, in Act I Scene 7, Macbeth finds himself struggling with his conscience, over the possibility of regicide. He is troubled that the consequences he would face were enormous, and that there are many reasons why he should not murder Duncan. At the beginning of the soliloquy he has made no decision as to whether the deed will be carried out and at the end of the soliloquy he is still undecided. Macbeth is speaking as his servants are preparing for Duncans arrival at Macbeths castle. This is also a time when Macbeth realises that what the witches predicted is coming true. The soliloquy opens with a euphemism of the word murder If it were done. Macbeth uses this, and other, euphemisms because murderous thoughts are alien to him. Macbeth is depicted by the language to be a very moral and conscientious man. The euphemisms show that the horrid deed disgusts him, because he knows that regicide is a serious sin punishable by eternal damnation. There is also an example of alliteration in this speech: If th Assassination Could trammel up the Consequence, and catch, With his Surcease, Success The sibilance used in this quotation draws attention to surcease and success. The use of these words is ironic because, it is very rare that death and success are related to each over. Macbeth is willing to sacrifice the afterlife for greatness, now, in this life. At this point Macbeth is clearly giving the idea considerable serious thought. He goes on to list all the decisions why he shouldnt kill Duncan. This shows he is still logical in his decisions and he is aware of how traitorous it is for a host and kinsman to kill the king. He should be the one person who should risk his own life to stop such a thing happening to the king whilst he is in his house Not bear the knife myself .In this soliloquy Macbeth reveals to the audience his lose morals, because the theme of this speech is that he regards murder as worthwhile and thinks there is nothing wrong with it if you benefit. However Macbeth recognises that it is his ambition to become King that will lead to his downfall. But in these cases We still have Judgement here, that we but teach Bloody Instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th Inventor. Macbeth is now aware that his bad deeds will come back and plague him; this is a factor which occurs in most of Shakespeares tragedies where the main character contributes to his own downfall. At this point in the play the audience may start to really dislike his character. He is showing no signs of doubt. It shows he can not differentiate between good and evil because he is so ambitious he is focused only on becoming King and it does not matter to him how he achieves his goal. During the next soliloquy the murder is immanent; Macbeth is waiting for the bell which is the signal for him to go a kill Duncan. This is a very edgy and tense time for Macbeth his mind is tormented and so he begins to hallucinate, and he sees a dagger. Is this a Dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my Hand? Having this speech just before the murder creates an air of apprehension. There is a sense that there is no going back. The bell which Lady Macbeth rings is a sign for the act of murder to begin; this adds to the intensity of the speech and creates suspense. Macbeth is now more recognisable as evil. The bell signals the beginning of the end for Macbeth, his character can never return after this night, and his deeds become more and more gruesome and evil as the play progresses. It now seems that he is eager to murder Duncan; Come let me clutch thee. This shows that Macbeth is anticipating how the murder will be carried out. Instead of contemplating whether he will murder Duncan, he is now deciding how to murder Duncan. Macbeth is no longer using the reasoning, which separated him from animals, and has reduced himself to the level of an animal. The animal, which is mentioned, is the wolf, which in Macbeths age, was a symbol of witchcraft and evil, again showing that Macbeth is now predominantly evil. His lack of reason is shown by the less frequent use of euphemisms. Even though Macbeth still uses some euphemisms, his conscience is scorched, and during this soliloquy he uses the word murder for the first time. Macbeth himself seems to have an exceptionally low view of himself at this point; he compares himself to a rapist, a ghost and a wolf. The Wolf, Whose Howls his Watch, thus with his stealthy Pace, With Tarquins ravishing Sides, towards his design moves like a ghost. Macbeth despises himself for what he is about to do, it shows weakness in his character because he is willing to sacrifice any sort of morals which he had before to satisfy his greed. At the end of the speech a rhyming couplet is used to emphasise the murderous deed as Macbeth hopes the bell does not wake Duncan for with it comes his death. - Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a Knell, That summons thee to Heaven or to Hell The next soliloquy in Act 3 Scene 1 is a reflective one as Macbeth is now king, you would have thought that at this point he would be content having achieved his goal. This soliloquy contains thoughts of Banquo as Macbeth feels threatened by him, as the witches told him that Banquo will get kings not be one meaning his sons will become kings, this scares Macbeth. In this speech a lot of Banquos qualities are listed like how wise, brave and noble he is. There are definitely some similarities between Banquo and Macbeth at the beginning of the play. Macbeth still has a very high view of himself, even though he is now a murdering tyrant. My Genius is rebukd, as it is said Mark Antonys was by Ceasar. This shows how Macbeth sees himself as a genius and also compares himself to previous great emperors such as Mark Antony. Nevertheless, deep into the story Macbeth still refers back to what the witches said, it is obvious they were a big influence on the play and on Macbeths actions. They haild him Father to a Line of Kings. Upon my Head they placd a fruitless Crown, And put a barren Sceptre in my Gripe Here it is said by Macbeth that the witches had told him that Banquo would have sons who would become Kings, and he would not have children who would become heir to the throne. Macbeth feels bitter and jealous because he has fought and given up so much to become king and now he feels it was all pointless, perhaps he is beginning to regret all his evil deeds. For them the gracious Duncan have I murderd. The fact that Macbeth has referred to King Duncan as gracious shows that he still has respect for him and may be starting to regret his deeds. This speech is essentially saying Macbeth knows that he has sacrificed a great deal but is still not a lot better off, and still it is Banquo who is prophesied to be the happy one with his children being part of a long line of Kings. Macbeth is beginning to see his own demise and feels; regret and fear and traces of guilt for the murder of Duncan. However outwardly he is still confident, happy and able to carry out murders if he feels it can sa ve him. In the soliloquies found in Act 5, Scene 3 the speech provokes sympathy for a now wrecked and broken man. As the first words are I am sick at heart this is quite a ground breaking statement as it is Macbeth declaring he is depressed and he is emotionally troubled. Perhaps his heart is ill due to it being polluted with regret and with all the evil he has committed, and for what? There is no material gain for Macbeth and definitely no emotional gain. There a slight hint of suicide about this speech as Macbeth says I have livd long enough. He uses colours again to symbolise how he is feeling at the time and also autumnal metaphors, mentioning the Yellow Leaf which implies that he has passed his time and is a wilting leaf whom is dying and will drop to the ground and be forgotten. This is on the whole a sad soliloquy as it is shows the audience Macbeths absolute regret and his acceptance that what he has done did have consequences, in that he has lost all his honour, he is not loved, he is incapable to be obedient and is lonely without a friend in the world. As Honour, Love, Obedience, Troops of Friends, I must look not to have There is a significant alteration in Macbeths character now as he now no longer possesses the desire to do anything with his life, he has lost all ambition and any drive towards anything, his attitude is extremely pessimistic. The final soliloquy just reiterates what was said in the previous soliloquy. It talks about the death of Lady Macbeth, life and the fragility of it. An excellent example of just how demoralised Macbeth is at this stage of the play is his reaction to the news that his wife has died. His reaction is not mournful and there are not even any signs of sadness, he merely says that now is not a good time for her to die and there would have been an appropriate time for he to pass away. She should have did hereafter; There would have been a Time for such a Word The final lines of the soliloquy probably reflect his view on life: it is a Tale Told by an Idiot, full of Sound and Fury Signifying nothing. Throughout the play we see a complete and extreme change of Macbeths character, with a few aspects remaining constant. In the beginning, he is a faithful and loyal servant of the King but this soon changes. Both the witches and Lady Macbeth help his ambition develop and fester in his mind. In the beginning Macbeth is determined to prove to his wife that he loves her and his worth as a man. However, from this point onwards Macbeths ambition motivates him and overcomes his conscience, making him increasingly determined that nobody is going to stand in his way. He no longer needs Lady Macbeths persuasion and involves her less and less in his business. Nothing else appears to matter to him except his kingship and he is prepared to do anything to keep it, despite the fact he knows it is wrong. He reached the height of his wickedness when he mercilessly slaughtered Macduffs family, women and children. By the end of the play he has turned into a evil, slightly mad, tyrant and his determinat ion to keep hold of his crown eventually costs him his life.

Poking the Parts :: Women Sexuality Society Masturbation Essays

Poking the Parts While sex and sexuality are considered to be two of the most intensely private parts of a person’s existence, a woman's personal sexuality and experience of the sexual in the context of the greater society is not always her own. "[Women] are being imprinted with a sexuality that is mass-produced, deliberately dehumanizing and inhuman"(Wolf, 162). Our sexuality is being created for us before we even have the knowledge that we have something to fight for. Very often, we do not get to decide what our sexuality means, the world has already decided for us. And one aspect of female sexuality that has had been most intensely labeled is masturbation. So my questions are, what cues are women really picking up about their sexuality? How do women create their own sense of sexuality independent of these cultural norms and dictations? My goals in exploring female masturbation as a symbol of female sexuality and its relationship to women and to society are multi-layered. In this pap er, I plan to outline the theoretical history of the taboo on female masturbation as it relates to female sexuality as a whole. I also plan to discuss the way that several women are experiencing and negotiating their sexuality now. In addressing each of these issues, I hope to present a better understanding of how the sexuality of women is affected and the way that women then manage the internalization of these cultural expectations and how they experience and conceive of their sexuality as a result. Those who fear and disapprove of female sexuality and masturbation have taken several standpoints throughout history. It is clear, however, after looking over the propaganda issued on the horrors of female masturbation, that much of it was the work of the self-serving and insecure male. One of the first standpoints taken is the notion that women are inherently insatiable when it comes to sex and that masturbation is simply encouraging sinful and inappropriate behaviors. Another is that due to the nature of female sexual arousal and response, men have the potential to become effectively obsolete as sources of sexual satisfaction, and if it is accurate that women are both unsatisfied by heterosexual encounters and sexually insatiable, they will clearly then resort to masturbation even more. And finally, the general belief that any form

Body Piercings

Body piercing has increased over long terms of period of time and it becomes one of the trendiest and culture in today’s our life. This has attracted the most people who are interested about body piercing, and then they get attention especially from media when famous celebrities come up in advertisement with their body piercings and tattoos. However, there are various places that people do the body piercing such as tongues, noses, navels and even their genital, but this occurs lots of arguments that piercing makes in dangers or just showing as one of individuality. Many piercers are re-representing the piercing as an option of styling or strong expressions about themselves, and having one of body piercing or tattoos are a means of personal empowerment for some Ger Xers who are typically searching for individualism and control of their lives. These arguments give strong opinions to person by person and it could spread out popular in very short time in publicity. However, following the articles by Lori Wilkerson he said that â€Å"it has existed in many cultures for hundreds of years in many historical countries and many historical reasons are generally about advertise wealthy and the power of men. Another argument in favor of piercing is there is man Griffhorn, 26, owner of Black Hole Professional Body Piercing shop in Reno, mentioned â€Å"Trend is the biggest reason and it ways to reclaim people after physical or sexual abuse†. On the other hand, opponents including many doctors point out that it refers to regarding the possible dangers such as oral piercings cause swollen tongues, excessive bleeding, and typical infections also swallowing of small parts of jewellery. Moreover, according to articles by Quint Miller(2000), there are common piercing problems appeared from people when they ripped their skin from the jewellery either catching on clothing or even being pulled off. It leads to get infections easily especially to get Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an infection which is extremely dangerous than other problems because it can causes cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. For this reasons, some medical practitioners said that â€Å"many piercers are providing their services in unsafe environments such as no gloves or masks to remove their jewellery, no sterilization equipment and unsanitary surroundings†. Thus, with all arguments from advatanges and disadantages the first thing we must remember about to care and treats out skins when it gets infections even it is a way of expressions of individuality or favourite things to do. It is also good to know from behind old history why people did body piercings and tattoos, and how it continued to be exist until now. The reason because there are so many different characters of people gathering around and their passionative ideology makes small communities to one big society.

Free Essays on Music And Teens

From the Beatles to N’ Sync teenyboppers have had an iron grip on the music industry that as far as any can one tell won’t be released for many years. There are three main reasons that come directly to mind; age, money, and psychological aspects. These three motives will be embellished on later in the essay. Before we start I would like to propose a question that will clarify this essay a little better. Why does such a small portion of the America society indirectly control such a major part of our culture? The first and most influential part of the explanation to this horrible problem is age. Boys and girls just beginning their teen-age years (12-14) don’t drive, probably don’t have jobs and have nothing to really do but go to school and watch MTV. This is age group are the people who’s parents buy the products that are advertised on MTV. There fore MTV is going to run music videos that teenyboppers want to see so that they can sell advertisement space to the companies targeting this age group. Music has turned from an artful expression of emotions to a multi million-dollar business. Money is the second reason that such horrid music like Brittany Spears and Backstreet Boys get such global acknowledgment. Teenyboppers have nothing to spend their allowance. They don’t pay bills, they don’t have cars to put gas in, and they don’t have any real place to hang out accept the mall. This gives another advantage to the teeny-bops industry. Companies can sell CDs, posters, and corny picture books to money totting teenagers. The final and most profound reason for teenyboppers control of the music industry is the psychological aspect of young teenagers. When young people are just entering their teens they tend to follow the crowd so to speak. They don’t take chances and make decisions that stray from the main group. It is an insecurity problem that everyone goes through. That is why so many young people listen to the same m... Free Essays on Music And Teens Free Essays on Music And Teens From the Beatles to N’ Sync teenyboppers have had an iron grip on the music industry that as far as any can one tell won’t be released for many years. There are three main reasons that come directly to mind; age, money, and psychological aspects. These three motives will be embellished on later in the essay. Before we start I would like to propose a question that will clarify this essay a little better. Why does such a small portion of the America society indirectly control such a major part of our culture? The first and most influential part of the explanation to this horrible problem is age. Boys and girls just beginning their teen-age years (12-14) don’t drive, probably don’t have jobs and have nothing to really do but go to school and watch MTV. This is age group are the people who’s parents buy the products that are advertised on MTV. There fore MTV is going to run music videos that teenyboppers want to see so that they can sell advertisement space to the companies targeting this age group. Music has turned from an artful expression of emotions to a multi million-dollar business. Money is the second reason that such horrid music like Brittany Spears and Backstreet Boys get such global acknowledgment. Teenyboppers have nothing to spend their allowance. They don’t pay bills, they don’t have cars to put gas in, and they don’t have any real place to hang out accept the mall. This gives another advantage to the teeny-bops industry. Companies can sell CDs, posters, and corny picture books to money totting teenagers. The final and most profound reason for teenyboppers control of the music industry is the psychological aspect of young teenagers. When young people are just entering their teens they tend to follow the crowd so to speak. They don’t take chances and make decisions that stray from the main group. It is an insecurity problem that everyone goes through. That is why so many young people listen to the same m...

Swisher Mower and Machine Company

Swisher Mower and Machine Company Executive Summary There are two or more alternatives that managers normally confront in various organizations. It is better to pursue an alternative that maximizes value and profit of the organization. This paper is set to discuss a problem that CEO and President of Swisher Mower and Machine Company face.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Swisher Mower and Machine Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company is being approached by a major national retail merchandise chain with a proposal that mentions various terms and conditions for a business deal that targets the purchase of 8,200 units of private-label riding mowers on an annual basis. This paper will show why the acceptance of the new proposal may lead to a loss in the organization. Through extensive analysis, the researcher found out that SMC should be able to meet a break-even point of 12,822 units if the new proposal is accepted. Given that the sales of the company as regards to private-labeled riding mowers amount to 40%, it would be risky to accept the proposal since SMC is likely to lose sales via other channels such as wholesale distribution and direct-to-dealer sales. However, if the chains were to accept negotiation over the previous terms in order to reach the break-even point, it would be worth considering the proposal. Nevertheless, it is quite difficult for the chain to accept negotiation given that there are other competitive manufacturers in the industry. Given the current terms, which interfere with the SMC advertisement and promotion, the management of SMC will not consider the proposal. Therefore, SMC should continue advertising and promoting in order to recruit new dealers. This would expand its market share. Problem Statement Swisher Mower and Machine Company began its operations in 1950s. The company deals with a number of products that are concerned with agricultural production and environmental cleaning. Manufa cturing of the best mowers in the lawn and garden equipments industry helped the company gain popularity in the US and in other foreign countries. Max Swisher had been the company’s President Chief Executive Officer for over thirty years. However, after growing old, Mr. Max stepped down to allow his son Mr. Wayne Swisher to manage the company as the CEO and the President. With three years experience in the sales and marketing department, Mr. Wayne was expected to utilize the MBA skills to manage the company in the most effective way.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In early 1996, Mr. Wayne received a proposal from a major national retail merchandise chain inquiring about a private-brand distribution arrangement for SMC’s riding mowers. This is the first proposal Mr. Wayne encountered as the president and the CEO of Swisher Mower and Machine Company. T he administrator thought about the proposal as an opportunity that required keen consideration. This is because the sales of SMC riding mower had stagnated for several years. Nevertheless, Mr. Wayne and his associates had to scrutinize details concerning the proposal since it meant that SMC would change its current distribution practices. This was a challenge for Wayne and the management. Although the company expected high sales from this new deal, Mr. Wayne wondered whether the current distribution channels would be negatively affected. Presently, the firm issues its lawn mowers through farmhouse stores, lawn and garden supplies, home centers, and hardware stores situated in reserve areas. From the company’s financial information, it is evident that three quarters of the SMC sales are made in nonmetropolitan areas. SMC sales its Ride King Mower either directly to dealers or through wholesale distributors who later distribute the equipment to various independent dealers. On t he other hand, the new proposal has come with new terms and conditions that Mr. Wayne considers to be worthy of his consideration. Apart from asking for a sample of 700 standard riding mowers at the beginning of the year 1997, the national retail merchandise chain expects to make an annual order of about 8,200 units. However, the deal appears quite different from the normal business deals the company had with other private-label institutions. The retail merchandise chain needs to purchase a standard mower at 95% of the market price quoted by SMC. Unlike other business deals, this retail merchandise chain did not need any seasonal or promotional discounts but guaranteed low price. In addition, the chain promised to pay for all freight charges. The chain did not want the title to be transferred to it until the goods were transferred from its regional warehouse to a particular company facility. After the chain had acquired the title, payment was provided in 45 following days. The compa ny agreed that for goods staying in the warehouse for more than two months, it would acquire the ownership title and payment would be made in 45 days.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Swisher Mower and Machine Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apart from the title and payment, some changes would also be needed with regards to the appearance of the mower. This effort was focused on differentiating the mowers on the new deal from the Ride King. The changes included a unique seat and a specific color. All parts had also to be American-made or display an American name as the equipment producer. The chain suggested that it would supply all labels using its own brand name. However, the national retail merchandise chain did not propose any mechanical specifications for the mowers that were to be supplied. Other terms in this proposal include the need for the SMC warranty that was required for all parts of the mower. As a result, the chain needed reimbursement of $22 per hour, a cost that was associated with the warranty work. If this business deal was successful, a contract of two years was expected to be initiated after which it could be extended on an annual basis. Termination of any contract would only be validated following a six-month notice. A new price would be negotiated after two years were over. The proposal also clearly indicated that SMC could not mention any relationship existing between the chain and SMC in its advertising or promotion. SMC would be liable for personal injury resulting from the mower maintenance or usage. Situational Analysis Swisher Mower and Machine Company Currently Swisher Mower and Machine Company is utilizing outside suppliers for machine tool work, as well as subassembly. It produces 10,000 units of riding mowers every year on a working rate of 40 hours per week. However, the company currently rents both space and office from another firm. Since its incepti on early in 1950s, the company has continued to focus on customer needs. This has made the company remain customer-oriented meaning that it recognizes and offers goods as per the needs and the tastes of both dealers and end users. The former president and CEO of the company insisted that the company should always maintain a ‘small company image’. This has resulted over the years into great relationships between customers and company. As a result, loyalty has resulted into strong sales. Distribution and promotion The management of the company has always stated that 75% of all sales are made in nonmetropolitan areas. Wholesalers who represent the SMC are located across the country but they only supply products to farm dealers located in the southeastern and south central parts of the United States. While wholesalers account for 30% of sales, direct-to-dealer sales account for only 25% of the total sales. Private-label riding mower sales account for 40% of the total sales. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company produces Big Mow mowers for Mid-states that are located in Minneapolis and Wheat Belt, which are situated in Kansas City. In addition, the company has distribution arrangements with some companies in Europe and South Pacific that account for 5% of the company’s total sales. Company’s competitors and Industry This market comprised of 10 major competitors in 1995. The manufactures included American Yard Products, Ariens, Honda, John Deere, Kubota, MTD and Murray of Ohio. Others included Snapper, Toro and Garden Way. These manufactures normally sell their products in various lawn and garden stores and other special retailers. However, other manufactures such as MTD, Murray and American Yard Products sell their products to national merchandise chains. The 10 companies engage in production of riding mowers under national brand names. They also engage in private-label production. Companies in this industry produce both nationally branded riding mowers and private labels for mass merchandisers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, and K-mart, as well as home centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. They also sell the combination of hardware chains such as True Value Hardware. It has been confirmed that private-label riding mowers has led to high volume sales in the market. and it constitutes about 65% to 75% of sales in the industry. The major competitors in the industry produce mowers at different prices. The prices also vary according to the different retail outlets in the country. The national retail merchandise chain accounts for 24% of the total industry sales. Outdoor power equipment or farm equipment supply stores account for 22% of the industry total sales while Lawn/Garden stores account for 19% of the total sales. On the other hand, Discount department stores account for 13%, Home centers account for 10%, while the Hardware stores account for 2% of the total industry sales. Other distributors account for 10% of the total industry sales. F rom the industry statistics, it is clear that the riding mower unit in terms of volume of sales is cyclical. In 1974, the volume of sales was 1,020,000 units. In the following year that is, 1975, the units sold in the industry dropped to 640,000 units. This was due to the decline in the US economy. In 1979, the units rose to the highest of 858 units while it fell to 620 units in 1981 due to poor economic conditions. The lawn mower industry is seasonal since one third of the riding mowers sales occur in March, April and May while half of the sales occur between January and April. Analysis proposal opportunity and other Alternatives The decision regarding the proposal will mainly depend on the situation of the company and the industry where the company will be competing. The proposal will be analyzed in accordance with the internal and external environment. According to Wayne, it is true that the proposal needs a rigorous and extensive scrutiny to determine whether the proposal is wor th being embraced by the company. The proposal will give SMC an opportunity to expand its level of production. The company stands a chance to benefit from the expanded distribution in the metropolitan areas. The company had extensive distribution in the nonmetropolitan regions. There is a high chance for the company to get the opportunity to sell trail mower. However, the plan for production is underway. However, there are also other negative factors associated with the acceptance of the new proposal. According to the company, SMC had never experienced liability claims associated with the maintenance and use of its mowers. Since the chain had suggested that SMC would be liable for injury resulting from the maintenance and use of the mowers, there is a high likelihood that SMC would be exposed to more liability claims. There is also a possibility that the price will increase by 4% if workers were paid overtime. The overtime will be required because of the increased level of productio n. Increased level of production would call for an additional 1% of the current manufacturing cost. The company is likely to lose 1% of the company’s profits. Other expenses that are expected to increase the costs by 1.5% include additional inventory insurance, additional wear and maintenance costs, pilferage and breakage, and county property tax. Other one-time costs would be associated with the increased production. This includes costs that are incurred while arranging for specific sources and materials that differ from those that were used in the previous production. Rearrangement of facilities that allow the new level of production will also reflect the new increased one-time costs. The one-time costs would range from $10,000 to $12,000. Since the new proposal reflects an additional 2,100 units, there is a high chance that the financing cost will increase. The financing costs are associated with the financing of mower inventories and account receivables. The prime rate of offering short-term funds is 7%. SMC obtains the short-term funds from the local banks at the rate of 9.5%, given that it obtains funds at 2.5% above the prime rate. Given that the chain would need 8,200 units on an annual basis, there is a chance that the already established lines of sales would be cannibalized by the new proposal. From the evaluation, it is likely that SMC will lose about 300 units of Ride King every year. The established SMC dealers would not welcome the new competition arising from the national retail chain dominance in the market. As a result, there is a likelihood that most dealers that associate with SMC will drop the SMC line. According to the proposal, there are aspects that can be negotiated while others cannot be negotiated. Aspects that are likely to be negotiated include the title transfer and the period of payment. However, other aspects are more likely to be fixed. These include the unit price indicated in the proposal. Moreover, the company would be approaching new companies in the market for the same deal. SMC has the advantage since it manufactures highly differentiated and established riding mowers. Other manufactures in the industry offer indistinguishable mowers. Although this is one of the attractive opportunities to consider, SMC should strike a balance between this opportunity and other existing and available alternatives at the market. The new proposal is more appealing because the private-brand distribution is to be made with a major national retail merchandise chain. This chain would offer various benefits to SMC. The negative impact arising from the acceptance of the new proposal includes a decrease in aggressive advertising that is intended to recruit new dealers, as well as helping existing ones. There is also a risk associated with the introduction of the new Tri-Max product under the Swisher’s name. The manufacture’s list price for a standard Ride King is $650. From the company’s financial statements, it has been confirmed that the company earns a gross profit of 15%. For the cost of goods sold, the cost for labor is about $100 while that for parts is $453. The company mowers are of high quality in the market considering that they are designed in a way to allow easy usage, as well as easy maintenance. It also stays for long without the need for replacement. The warranty lasts for one year. As in 1995, the Riding mowers accounted for 63.6% of the Swisher Merchandise Chain sales. However, the Riding mowers only accounted for 57.8% of the total gross profit incurred by the company. Unlike other companies in this industry, SMC is lucky since its current parts are interchangeable with parts that date back to 1956. The company is also lucky because its patent for zero-turning drive unit has expired. Due to this, the company has faced no competition in the market regarding the patent. This is because no company has acquired such patent in the market. Another brand that was p roduced by SMC is T-44. This trail mower has a cutting width of 44 inches. Nevertheless, when the unit is hitched to a riding lawn mower, the unit increases the cutting width by 44 inches. This unit is pulled behind by all-terrain vehicle. According to the financial statements released in1995, the T-44 units contributed to 8.2% of total sales and 13.2% of total gross profit. The self-propelled push mowers contributed 8.2% of the total sales experienced by SMC in the year 1995. These units did not contribute any amount to the gross profit of the company. The replacement parts contributed 20% of the company’s total sales. This is because there is little standardization among the mower parts that are produced in the industry. The replacement parts contributed 29% of the total gross profit of the company. Since 1996, the firm concentrated on widening its production by setting up a high-wheel string trimmer product, such as Trim-Max, a high-wheel walk behind product. The break-eve n point Breakeven point analysis for lawn mower considering its flagship product, Ride King Profit = (Sales Variable Expenses) Fixed Costs Sales = Variable Expenses + Fixed Costs + Profits To attain break-even point, profits must be equal to zero. Therefore, for one to get break-even point, the formula changes. Sales = Variable Expenses + Fixed Costs Fixed Costs Sales and administrative expenses = $264,700 Depreciation = $2,300 Total fixed costs per year = $267,000 Variable Costs per Unit Cost of goods sold (standardized mower price) = (85%*653) $555 Sales Price per Unit = $650 Volume in units for break-even point $650Q = $553Q + $264,000 $98Q = $267,000 Q =2725 If the company chooses to sale its flagship product that is, Ride King, it should sell 2,725 units to meet the break-even point. Given the company makes total annual sales of 4250 units, it will mean that annual sales associated with Private-label riding mower will be 40% of 4250 units. This is because the company’s financial reports point out that sales resulting from private-label riding mowers are only 40%. On average, the SMC sells 1700 units. This means that the company will not be able to meet the break-even point of 2725 units if it only ventures in selling private-labeled riding mowers. With the additional sales such as those associated with wholesalers and direct-to-dealers, SMC is able to reach the break-even point. This ensures that the company does not operate under a loss. Acceptance of the Proposal from the National Retail Merchandise Chain With the acceptance of the proposal, there will be changes in the variable and fixed costs. Changes The payment for overtime will be an additional cost that will reflect 4% in the price of the mower. Additional direct material costs could represent another 1% of the current manufacturer’s price. Additional overhead costs were estimated to be one percent. Other expenses that would be expected to increase the price by 1.5% include additio nal inventory insurance, additional wear and maintenance costs, pilferage and breakage, and county property tax. The chain expected SMC to reimburse it for labor costs resulting from warranty work at $22.00 per hour. The one-time costs would range from $ 10,000 to $12,000. Additional costs Variable costs Raw materials = 4% of manufacture’s price Overhead expenses =1% Other expenses= 1.5% Total increase in variable costs = (4%+1%+1.5%)*$650=42.25 Fixed costs Onetime costs= [(10,000+12,000)/2] =$11,000 Warranty work costs per week=$22*40hrs=880 Yearly warranty work= 880*52= $45,760 Total increase in fixed costs =$45,760+$11,000= $56,760 Total variable costs= 42.25+ 550 = $592.25 Total Fixed costs= $56,760 + $267,000= $323,760 The chain suggested that it would purchase at a discount of 5% of the market quoted price Sale price per unit = 95% of 650 = $617.50 Volume in units for break-even point $617.5Q = $592.25Q + $323,760 $25.25Q = $323,760 Q =12,822 From the calculation presen ted above, it is expected that SMC should be able to sell 12,822 units every year to avoid losses resulting from low level of production as well as low sales. The 12,822 units represent the number of private-label riding mowers that should be sold every year in order to meet the break-even point. Currently, the SMC private-label sales represent 40% of the total sales. Given the chain plans to order 8,200 units from SMC every year, it is apparent that the proposal is not worth accepting. However, freight charges and advertisement costs, which represent reduction in costs of operation, have not been incorporated in the calculation due to lack of accurate costs related to transportation and advertisement. Rational decision From the calculation made earlier in this paper, it is clear that after the acceptance of the proposal, SMC should reach a breakeven of 12,822 units. Considering that national retail merchandise will be making an annual order of 8,200 units, it would be prudent to un dertake a further analysis. The company does not clearly indicate its costs of advertising and promotion associated with 8,200 units. As it has been pointed out, it is apparent that the chain does not need any promotion or advertisement associated with products that would be shipped to its warehouses and stores. This means that there would be a reduction in costs associated with promotion and advertising if SMC accepts the proposal. Since the advertisement and promotional costs are not known, they were not incorporated in the calculation of reduced costs resulting from promotion and advertisements. Therefore, if these costs are known, there is a possibility that a breakeven would be below 8,200 units, which means it would be worth considering the proposal. Another aspect that still leaves some concerns of whether to accept the proposal includes the freight charges. The chain proposed that it would be able to pay all freight charges that were associated with shipping the products fro m SMC premises to the chain warehouses and stores. This shows a possibility of reducing the transportation costs. However, the information given does not indicate the exact amount that is associated with the transportation costs. Therefore, the transportation was not incorporated while calculating changes that might occur after accepting the proposal. This implies that there could be a reduction in variable costs if transportation costs were incorporated into the calculation after the acceptance of the proposal. As a result, the breakeven point would decline below the annual order of 8,200 units. At such point, it would be prudent to accept the proposal given that the chain will be ordering 8,200 units of mowers every year. Otherwise, with the current situation, the proposal should not be accepted. The proposal might thwart SMC’s efforts to expand its share in the market through advertisement and promotion. Implementation and evaluation The private-label represents the highes t sales of the Swisher Mower and Machine Company. However, an interest to pursue the opportunity presented by a national retail merchandise chain would lead to losses. The company should continue with the current channels of distribution. The company should incur costs with an aim of expanding its market share. The company should also find new partnerships at the global level in order to increase its international sales from 5% to over 20% in the next two years. Selling of its products through known chains at the global level would enable it to gain an international presence that would further lead to more sales in the near future. In addition, it should increase the number of retail outlets it has throughout the country to increase the sales resulting from the direct-to-dealer sales. Direct-to-dealer sales should increase in accordance with sales through wholesalers. Direct-to-dealer sales would allow the firm to enhance the design of the mower in accordance with the taste and pref erence of the final user. Wholesalers will help the firm expand its operations. Given that wholesalers are purchasing the Ride King at the market price of $650, and the cost of goods amount to $552, the company is assured that fewer sales would lead to break-even point. If increase in the cost of advertisements leads to increased market share by 20% in the next two years, the company should specialize in such private-label riding mowers. This will be in anticipation of increased volume of production that would be able to meet the break-even point.

Inverted Pyramid Method of Organization in Newswriting

Inverted Pyramid Method of Organization in Newswriting The inverted pyramid became a standard form in American newspapers early in the 20th century, and variations on the form remain common today in news stories, press releases, short research reports, articles, and other forms of expository writing. It is a method of organization in which facts are presented in descending order of importance. Examples of Inverted Pyramid Composition The concept behind the inverted pyramid format is relatively simple. The writer prioritizes the factual information to be conveyed in the news story by importance. The most essential pieces of information are offered in the first line, which is called the lead (or summary lead). This usually addresses the so-called five Ws (who, what, when, why, and where). Thus, the reader is able to ascertain the key elements of the story immediately. The writer then provides the rest of the information and supporting contextual details in descending order of importance, leaving the least essential material for the very end. This gives the completed story the form of an inverted pyramid, with the most important elements, or the base of the story, on top. Opening With the Climax If the essence of the story is its climax, then a proper inverted pyramid places the storys climax in the lead or opening sentence. The most important elements of a well-written news article thus appear in the lead, the very first sentence of the story. Cutting From the Bottom The inverted pyramid style in newspaper writing was developed because editors, adjusting for space, would cut the article from the bottom. We can write the same way in a magazine article. . . .We add details as we enlarge the article. So the weight is like an inverted pyramid, with the details of lesser importance at the end of the article.For example, if I write, Two children were injured when fire swept through the First Community Church, Detroit, Michigan, on May 10. The fire is believed to have started from unattended candles. Thats complete, but a lot of details can be added in succeeding paragraphs. If space is tight, an editor can cut from the bottom and still save the essential elements. Using the Inverted Pyramid in Online Writing The inverted pyramid structure, typically used in newspaper writing, is also appropriate for long narrative text in online technical documents. Use this structure to organize paragraphs and sentences within a section of narrative text. To create an inverted pyramid structure, follow these guidelines: Use clear, meaningful headings or lists at the beginning of a topic.Create separate paragraphs or topics to emphasize important points.Do not bury your main point in the middle of a paragraph or topic. Sources Robert A. Rabe, Inverted Pyramid. Encyclopedia of American Journalism, ed. by Stephen L. Vaughn. Routledge, 2008Bob Kohn,  Journalistic Fraud. Thomas Nelson, 2003Roger C. Palms, Effective Magazine Writing: Let Your Words Reach the World. Shaw Books, 2000Sun Technical Publications, Read Me First!: A Style Guide for the Computer Industry, 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, 2003

How can we explain the international expansion of Chinese business Essay - 1

How can we explain the international expansion of Chinese business Discuss using a big business group example(s) to illustrate your argument - Essay Example Both push and pull factors have contributed to the international expansion of Chinese business. China opened up its economy in the 1970s and gained accession to World Trading Organization (WTO) in 1990. Because of the locational advantages that China offered, it received huge inward FDI (foreign direct investment) flows since the mid-1990s which has been one of the reasons for outward FDI (OFDI). Inward FDI resulted in massive foreign currency reserves (Andersson and Wang 2011) while the MNCs in China also provided the much-needed technical know-how, competence and confidence to the domestic companies to venture overseas (Bhuiyan 2011). China no longer remained a magnet for inward FDI but now has become a major source of OFDI (Liu and Buck 2009). Most OFDI was directed towards developing nations with geographical or institutional proximity requiring limited resources. The newly industrialized economies (NICs) of East Asia and Japan engaged in OFDI due to push factors (labour shortages, high operating costs) while China initially engaged in OFDI due to pull factors (natural resource endowments and market potential) (Biggeri and Sanfilippo 2009). The motives to internationalize included enhancing the corporate brand values of Chinese enterprises (OECD 2009). However, as the Chinese government tried to integrate China into the world economy (1979-1985) only the state-owned enterprises (SEOs) were granted approval for internationalization. In the next stage the non-SOEs were allowed to expand abroad through a foreign affiliate. OFDI from China remained highly regulated during the first two decades of the economic reform (Liou 2009). As part of the Go Global Policy outlined in China’s 10th five-year plan in 2001, certain industries like textiles, machinery and electrical equipment, were provided with foreign exchange support and export tax rebates to boost internationalization.

Is Free Trade is good for the economy (of both trading nations) Essay

Is Free Trade is good for the economy (of both trading nations) - Essay Example If it is cotton, then Country A can concentrate of producing it and allow Country B to produce corn. This is not to say that the countries will not produce the other commodity, corn for Country A and cotton for Country B, but this applies to trading. The two countries can thus effectively trade with each other and reap maximum benefits. The beauty of comparative advantage is that everyone has a comparative advantage at producing something. Comparative advantage is useful in explaining why a country, on comparison with its trading partners, might produce and export something its citizens don’t seem very skilled at producing.2 Comparative advantage explains this scenario by advancing that citizens of the country importing must be better at producing another commodity thus enabling them to pay the exporting country for the work they have done.3 Modern international trade involves goods and services that could be produced anywhere in the world, and so buyers have the option of buying products that are either domestically produced or imported.4 In Adam Smith’s theory of absolute advantage, however, nations will export goods they are capable of producing at lower costs than the country which is importing them. It has been of concern that an economy with comparative advantage in making various commodities is likely to cause unemployment in other countries. China has grown tremendously in the recent past to become a force to reckon with in the manufacturing sector. The Chinese manufacturers have the benefit of affordable labor so most of the products they manufacture are cheaper than those manufactured in other parts of the world.5 Countries such as America have found themselves worried about doing business with China due to their competitive prices. However, there is no need for worry since every economy can identify a sector where they are best at. In so doing, an economy

To study the morphology and behavior of primates in a zoo setting Essay - 1

To study the morphology and behavior of primates in a zoo setting - Essay Example They are also very generous because they share their prey with members of other groups. They are cunning and diligent after they kill their prey because they eat it on trees to avoid other predators. The primates also remove tree leaves and use it to create a tool that they use capture insects that they eat as food. Interestingly, chimpanzees steal honey from beehives that they eat and later use small shrubs as toothpick. Leaves are folded to create a ridge that is used to fetch drinking water. Conversely, chimpanzees use rocks to hunt for their prey. Unfortunately, they experience difficulty when they use such weapons because their lack proper hand coordination (Palomar, paras.1-2). The zoo is a home for the red Ape, which is becoming extinct. They have a well-built body structure and are unsociable. The organization has made measures ensure that they protect the endangered species, and construction of the equipment is underway. The zoo supports initiatives to protect the orangutan from becoming extinct have been put forth. According to the organization, a breeding project is ongoing in the United States to enhance the lives of the primates (Toronto zoo, paras. 1-3). Monkeys are also part of the primate family. During the tour, we observed monkeys were vegetarians. They affectionately relate with their young ones and are united in groups. The young ones also monitored how their elders were hunting for food and at times tried to imitate them. The animals also Quadra pedaled in groups and in some instances chased away other animals that tried to attack them. They hunted without having any interference because other animals were scared of them. Unlike chimpanzees that send signals to other members of the group when they find food, monkeys are selfish when they find food. Monkeys are very greedy and only share the food among group members if it is only available in abundance (Palomar, paras 4-5). Chimpanzees are the unique primates according to

Three things you can do with a pack of chewing gum Essay

Three things you can do with a pack of chewing gum - Essay Example Firstly, chewed gum can be used as an assistant tool for drawing contour lines. In most cases, contour lines are irregular, and they cannot be drawn by common tools. Designers usually leave the traces of mistakes visible to use as references for drawing the correct lines. However, being slightly confused by these reference marks is a common phenomenon during the process of professional drawing. Instead of using tentative care, chewed gum can be competently used as references in this context. The main ingredient of chewing gum is gum base. When the chewing gum is in people’s mouths, it gains elasticity with the help of saliva and bodily temperature (Saverson). This feature of elasticity means that the chewed gum can stretch to a long and narrow line. One interesting example of using the stretched chewed gum, is drawing contour lines on topographical maps. To do this, the individual must arrange the stretched chewed gum on the paper to show valleys hills, and the steepness of sl opes. After the process of adjustment, they must then trace along the stretched chewed gum with pen. Finally, if they remove the line of chewed gum a neat curved line will remain. The flexibility of the chewed gum makes the adjustment much easier while the stickiness of it helps to adhere to the paper. Another interesting and potentially useful characteristic of chewed gum is its stickiness. Some people use this characteristic for a special hobby – collecting insects. During the process of making insect specimens, an insect needle is a vital piece of equipment. However, sometimes the insects are physically too small to pitch the needle through. To keep the integrity of insect bodies, the stickiness of chewed gum can help to reach this goal. When making the specimen, the collector must first place the chewed gum into the prepared container. They must then use a lighter to burn the chewed gum for two to three seconds until the gum starts to melt.

Field Trip Report Lab Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Field Trip - Lab Report Example More than fifty percent of the wetlands found in the world are known to have disappeared as from 1900. As such a variety of conservation efforts have been put in place so as to preserve this crucial environmental asset. A wetland is any area that is known to hold water either permanently or temporarily. Some wetlands only hold water for a short period of one or two months during spring while others hold water all year-round. Some of the types of wetlands include fens, marshes, mangroves, swamps, and bogs. The main objective of this trip was to give the students a chance to take note of the wetland ecosystems and urban forests birds in the surrounding area. The trip would thus help the students develop an understanding and appreciation of biodiversity and natural habitats. The field trip was carried out on April 11 (Saturday), 2015 between 9:30 AM – 12:00 AM. There were three different wetlands studied during the field trip. The weather was sunny with no cloud that was very favorable for the excursion. The first wetland was H shape and was identified at 9:30 AM. Located at 31.1941 N and 120.4430 E, it measured 128.8 M in length and 86M in width. The green alga, phragmites, and other insects existed in this wetland. The air temperature at this wetland was 18 C and the water temperature at 16.4 C, and the PH was 8.94. Other measurements taken at this wetland were 0.33 mg ammonia, 1.39mg nitrogen, 271.3 water conductivity and 9.54 dissolved oxygen. The second wetland was seen at 10:30 AM and located at 31.1942 N and120.4440 E. The length of this wetland was 240 M and width of 190M. The temperature recorded was 18.5 C for air and 14C for water. Green alga and dragonflies lived at this wetland whose dissolved oxygen level was 6.41 and conductivity a t 246.5. The PH was recorded at 10.47 and ammonia and nitrogen levels at 0.47 mg and 2.23 mg respectively. The last wetland was identified at 11:19 AM. Located at 31.1939 N and

Andrew Landers Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Andrew Landers Project - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that music is the air we breathe and the water in our rivers. Listening to music that is different then what we would normally listen to is important to expand our knowledge and to learn appreciation. The researcher states that Andrew Landers is a musician who writes his own music and practices a mixture of folk and blues with a percussive approach that leads one into the music and works hard to keep them from leaving. On his website, he writes that he loves hot wings and his â€Å"hot† wife. He goes on to describe his family of 5 boys and one Cinderella and then partially describes his playing style and what he uses to play. In this case, he works specifically with acoustic guitars and depending on the venue or his mood he will use one of three that he has. (Landers) Influences for his music range from Johnny Cash to Jack Johnson and his music does have a very Jack Johnson vibe to it. This essay discusses that this group the Andrew Landers Project also includes a talented pianist Matt Podschweit. A little more background would be nice, however, given what he sings about and how he approaches the audience says as much or more than a bio ever could. The concert had more than just these two involved though this is their normal retinue. Unfortunately, I do not recall the other names involved at the concert as the musical experience made it easy to forget the introductions. Music Type Folksy blues music is not always easily understood. Folk music can be defined as music from the mouth, singing music. And is a popular approach to music around the world. With some musical accompaniment the individuals sing stories and tales. Blues is a music form that originated with the African Americans in the United States, it is a form of music used to convey the hardships and passion experienced by them and is commonly seen as an evolution of the West African musical approach. (The blues 1) The mixture of folk and blues brings an earthy sense to the drifting, haunting musical qualities that make blues popular. The Andrew Landers project does a very good job of bringing the music together with the message and ensures a pleasurable experience and with a true blues approach. With every new song it becomes apparent that his musical styling’s are very much influenced by the popular Jack Johnson who is also a master at using music to tell a story we can all relate to. Location and time of concert The concert itself was February the 4th 2011 at the Redstone Room in Davenport Iowa. This venue is located on the second floor of the not-for-profit River Music Experience building and allows seating of 250 persons. (Redstone Room 1) The Redstone Room allows a very intimate approach to music and is a perfect venue for a folk/blues musician such as the Andrew Landers experience. The concert itself was a great mix of intimacy and tonal qualities that made it difficult to leave when it was over. In looking back it seems that if he was in a larger venue it may be easy to lose the genuine feeling his music and approach allows in this much smaller yet still classy environment. If you are a music lover and have a chance to stop in Davenport Iowa make sure you check out one of the acts at the Redstone Room, it is an experience that cannot be duplicated regardless of your experience. With a great coffee shop in the ground floor and some refreshments available it made it an all-around beautiful experience. Personal observations and opinions The song â€Å"A son of a preacher man which I resemble† was played and it immediately garnered my attention. As he sings through the tonal lyrics the accompanying guitar work makes it difficult to turn away. The lyrics themselves were light enough to easily enjoy and still put a deep message across,

Three things you can do with a pack of chewing gum Essay

Three things you can do with a pack of chewing gum - Essay Example Firstly, chewed gum can be used as an assistant tool for drawing contour lines. In most cases, contour lines are irregular, and they cannot be drawn by common tools. Designers usually leave the traces of mistakes visible to use as references for drawing the correct lines. However, being slightly confused by these reference marks is a common phenomenon during the process of professional drawing. Instead of using tentative care, chewed gum can be competently used as references in this context. The main ingredient of chewing gum is gum base. When the chewing gum is in people’s mouths, it gains elasticity with the help of saliva and bodily temperature (Saverson). This feature of elasticity means that the chewed gum can stretch to a long and narrow line. One interesting example of using the stretched chewed gum, is drawing contour lines on topographical maps. To do this, the individual must arrange the stretched chewed gum on the paper to show valleys hills, and the steepness of sl opes. After the process of adjustment, they must then trace along the stretched chewed gum with pen. Finally, if they remove the line of chewed gum a neat curved line will remain. The flexibility of the chewed gum makes the adjustment much easier while the stickiness of it helps to adhere to the paper. Another interesting and potentially useful characteristic of chewed gum is its stickiness. Some people use this characteristic for a special hobby – collecting insects. During the process of making insect specimens, an insect needle is a vital piece of equipment. However, sometimes the insects are physically too small to pitch the needle through. To keep the integrity of insect bodies, the stickiness of chewed gum can help to reach this goal. When making the specimen, the collector must first place the chewed gum into the prepared container. They must then use a lighter to burn the chewed gum for two to three seconds until the gum starts to melt.

Andrew Landers Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Andrew Landers Project - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that music is the air we breathe and the water in our rivers. Listening to music that is different then what we would normally listen to is important to expand our knowledge and to learn appreciation. The researcher states that Andrew Landers is a musician who writes his own music and practices a mixture of folk and blues with a percussive approach that leads one into the music and works hard to keep them from leaving. On his website, he writes that he loves hot wings and his â€Å"hot† wife. He goes on to describe his family of 5 boys and one Cinderella and then partially describes his playing style and what he uses to play. In this case, he works specifically with acoustic guitars and depending on the venue or his mood he will use one of three that he has. (Landers) Influences for his music range from Johnny Cash to Jack Johnson and his music does have a very Jack Johnson vibe to it. This essay discusses that this group the Andrew Landers Project also includes a talented pianist Matt Podschweit. A little more background would be nice, however, given what he sings about and how he approaches the audience says as much or more than a bio ever could. The concert had more than just these two involved though this is their normal retinue. Unfortunately, I do not recall the other names involved at the concert as the musical experience made it easy to forget the introductions. Music Type Folksy blues music is not always easily understood. Folk music can be defined as music from the mouth, singing music. And is a popular approach to music around the world. With some musical accompaniment the individuals sing stories and tales. Blues is a music form that originated with the African Americans in the United States, it is a form of music used to convey the hardships and passion experienced by them and is commonly seen as an evolution of the West African musical approach. (The blues 1) The mixture of folk and blues brings an earthy sense to the drifting, haunting musical qualities that make blues popular. The Andrew Landers project does a very good job of bringing the music together with the message and ensures a pleasurable experience and with a true blues approach. With every new song it becomes apparent that his musical styling’s are very much influenced by the popular Jack Johnson who is also a master at using music to tell a story we can all relate to. Location and time of concert The concert itself was February the 4th 2011 at the Redstone Room in Davenport Iowa. This venue is located on the second floor of the not-for-profit River Music Experience building and allows seating of 250 persons. (Redstone Room 1) The Redstone Room allows a very intimate approach to music and is a perfect venue for a folk/blues musician such as the Andrew Landers experience. The concert itself was a great mix of intimacy and tonal qualities that made it difficult to leave when it was over. In looking back it seems that if he was in a larger venue it may be easy to lose the genuine feeling his music and approach allows in this much smaller yet still classy environment. If you are a music lover and have a chance to stop in Davenport Iowa make sure you check out one of the acts at the Redstone Room, it is an experience that cannot be duplicated regardless of your experience. With a great coffee shop in the ground floor and some refreshments available it made it an all-around beautiful experience. Personal observations and opinions The song â€Å"A son of a preacher man which I resemble† was played and it immediately garnered my attention. As he sings through the tonal lyrics the accompanying guitar work makes it difficult to turn away. The lyrics themselves were light enough to easily enjoy and still put a deep message across,

What does it to be a good leader Essay Example for Free

What does it to be a good leader Essay What does it to be a good leader? A leader is that person who uses social, organizational, intellectual or such authority to command a group, organization, or country (Cragg Spurgeon, 2007). Generally, a leader’s primary responsibility is to enlist the contribution of his/her subjects to accomplish a common task. Therefore, a leader should possess qualities that help him/her organize, command and realize the objective of the group or organization (Cragg Spurgeon, 2007). A good leader needs to be both proactive and reactive (Gachte, Nosenzo, Renner Sefton, 2008). This means that the leader should think several steps ahead of their subjects, so that they can see problems before they arise and hence develop counter mechanisms for them. This also means that a good leader should be flexible and adaptable, so as to fit into whatever new unexpected or uncomfortable situations. The leader also needs to be initiative- he/she should be the source of ideas and plans that benefit the group (Gachte et al, 2008). Communication is one of the most important pillars in teamwork. Therefore, an exceptional leader is that who knows how to communicate effectively. This entails having good listening skills, asking the right questions as regularly as possible, understanding the subjects’ needs and remitting directions and ideas in the best way possible (Cragg Spurgeon, 2007). A leader who not only values feedback, but also acts according to it is most likely to produce good results (Cragg Spurgeon, 2007). A good leader also needs to display confidence and enthusiasm for his/her job, thus causing the people under to follow in the same spirit. That is an important form of non-verbal communication for a good leader. Although the leader is the most powerful member in a group, the effective leader acknowledges the inputs and efforts of each and every member (Gachte et al, 2008). A good leader will respect all his subjects and treat them without discrimination or favoritism. In the same line, a good leader has an open mind so that they can weigh and consider all possible fruitful options even from junior members. In case a member of the team does well in achieving the groups’ mission, an exceptional leader will recognize and reward them, while motivating others to work even harder (Gachte et al, 2008). A common saying goes, â€Å"a good leader leads by example†. A good leader is not a boss, but a servant with the others. For this reason, a good leader should be resourceful and instrumental in the actual implementation of the organization or team’s tasks (Wills, 1994). Therefore, the leader requires proper skills, training and education to match the duties and responsibilities of the respective leadership position. Moreover, an effective leader should be well-organized, punctual and always ready for his/her duties (Wills, 1994). Authority and leadership are two qualities that are hardly separable. Although a good leader is a servant too, it is impossible to lead without authority over other members of the organization. A good leader understands their power such as to delegate duties, to allow or deny certain actions by the members, to reward or penalize a member, etc. (Wills, 1994). However, a leader should not use the authority vested upon them for their own good, but rather for the good of the whole organization. There are numerous other qualities that characterize a good leader, but the above are some of the basic good leadership traits. As discussed, good leadership revolves around personal endowment effective teamwork- only that the leader should understand place at the top of an organization, group or team. References Cragg, R., Spurgeon, R. (2007). Competencies of a good leader. How To Succeed As A Leader. Ed. By Chambers R Etc. Redclif Publishing, Oxford-Newyork, US, 3340. Gachter, S., Nosenzo, D., Renner, E., Sefton, M. (2008). Who makes a good leader? Social preferences and leading-by-example. Wills, G. (1994). What Makes a Good Leader?. The Atlantic Monthly, 273(4), 6380. Source document

Political Issues Raised by Information Systems

Political Issues Raised by Information Systems What ethical, social, and political issues are raised by information systems? Ethics refers to the principles of right and wrong that individuals, acting as free moral agents use to make choices to guide their behavior. Information technology and information systems raise new ethical questions for both individuals and societies because they create opportunities for intense social change. Like other technologies, such as steam engines, electricity, telephone and radio, information technology can be used to achieve social progress, but it can also be used to commit crimes and threaten cherished social values. The development of information technology will produce benefits for many and costs for others. Ethical, social and political issues are closely linked. The ethical dilemma you may face as a manager of an information system typically is reflected in social and political debate. Privacy is the claim of individuals to be left alone, free from surveillance or interference from other individuals or organizations. Claims to privacy are also involved at the workplace; millions of employees are subject to electronic and other forms of high tech surveillance. Information technology and systems threaten individual claims to privacy by making the invasion of privacy cheap, profitable and effective. In Europe, privacy protection is much more stringent than in the US. European countries do not allow businesses to use personally identifiable information without consumers prior consent. The directive requires companies to inform people when they collect information about them and to disclose how it will be stored and used. Customers must provide their informed consent before any company can legally use data about them, and they have the right to access that information, correct it, and request that no further data be collected. Informed consent can be defined as consent given with the knowledge of all the facts needed to make a rational decision. EU member nations must translate these principles into their own laws and cannot transfer personal data to countries such as the US that dont have similar privacy protection regulations. The Internet introduces technology that poses new challenges to the protection of individual privacy that the original FIP principles have been inadequate in addressing. Information sent over this vast network of networks may pass through many different computer systems before it reaches its final destination. Each of these systems is capable of monitoring, capturing and storing communications that pass through it. Contemporary information systems have severely challenged existing law and social practices that protect private intellectual property. Intellectual property is considered to be intangible property created by individuals or corporations. Information technology has made it difficult to protect intellectual property because computerized information can be so easily copied or distributed on networks. Intellectual property is subject to a variety of protections under 3 different legal traditions: trade secrets, copyright and patent law. Contemporary information technologies especially software, pose a sever challenge to existing intellectual property regimes and therefore, create significant ethical, social and political issues. Digital media differ from books, periodicals, and other media in terms of ease of replication, ease of transmission, ease of alteration, difficulty in classifying a software work as a program, book or even music, making theft easy, and difficulties in establishing uniqueness. The proliferation of electronic networks, including the Internet, has made it even more difficult to protect intellectual property. Before widespread use of networks copies of software, books, magazine articles or films had to be stored on physical media such as paper, computer disks or videotapes creating some hurdles to distribution. Using networks, information can be more widely reproduced and distributed. With the www in particular, one can easily copy and distribute virtually anything to thousands and even millions of people around the world, even if they are using different types of computer systems. Information can be illicitly copied from one place and distributed through other systems and networks even though these parties do not willingly participate in the infringement. Mechanisms are being developed to sell and distribute books, articles and other intellectual property on the Internet, and some copyright protection is being provided by the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) of 1998. The DMCA implements a world intellectual property organization treaty that makes it illegal to circumvent technology-based protections of copyrighted materials. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are required to take down sites of copyright infringers that they are hosting once they are notified of the problem. Most experts agree that the current intellectual property laws are breaking down in the information age. The ease with which software and digital content can be copied contributes to making us a society of lawbreakers. These routine thefts threaten significantly to reduce the speed with which new information technologies can and will be introduced, therefore threatening further advances in productivity and social well-being. The main property-related political issue concerns the creation of new property protection measures to protect investments made by creators of new software, digital books and digital information. SIIA (Software and Information Industry Association) lobbies for new laws and enforcement of existing laws to protect intellectual property around the world. It runs an antipiracy hotline for individuals to report piracy activities and educational programs to help organizations combat software piracy. Many new technologies in the industrial era have created new opportunities for committing crime. Technologies, including computers, create new valuable items to steal, new ways to steal them and new ways to harm others. Computer crime is the commission of illegal acts through the use of a computer or against a computer system. In general, it is employees who have inflicted the most injurious computer crimes because they have the knowledge, access, and frequently a job related motive to commit such crimes. All nations in Europe and the US have an act making it illegal to access a computer system without authorization. Other existing legislation covering wiretapping, fraud and conspiracy by any means, regardless of technology employed is adequate to cover computer crimes committed thus far. The internets ease of use and accessibility has created new opportunities for computer crime and abuse. One widespread form of abuse is spamming in which organizations or individuals send out thousands and even hundreds of thousands of unsolicited email and electronic messages. This practice has been growing because it only costs a few cents to send thousands of messages advertising ones wares to Internet users. Finally, I think that the new worldwide sites and software give you more freedom to access what you are looking for. It can be use in a proper way and also in a wrong way. For global business is necessary to be in touch with people from other countries and cultures, and the only way to protect your business or even your personal information is to restrict the access of this important information to only a few group of people, and to be sure that they are managing this with a lot of responsibility. Thats what most of the companies do in their organization.

The Pelican Brief Essays -- essays research papers

The movie I had to review for criminal law and procedure is the 'Pelican Brief.'; At first I was unhappy to get this movie because I have never heard of it before. After watching it I was glad to get a movie that was interesting to me. The plot of the movie is as follows: In the opening scene of the movie they show Denzel Washington who is a reporter named Gray Grantham interviewing a Supreme Court Justice named Rosenberg. Then a scene later they show Darby Shaw, who is Louisiana, in a law class. The next thing that happens is a person who's name was not given goes to a hotel and was given an envelope with a picture of all the Supreme Court Justices in it and just two of them circled. About Two minutes later both of them were murdered. One of them in his house and the other one in a adult cinema. Then they show Darby in the house of her law professor whose name was Thomas Calahan. Who happened to be a clerk for Justice Rosenberg. Shaw then tells her professor who she is having an affair with that she is going to try and find out who murdered them. They show the President talking with his advisor and they are saying if the FBI can not solve who killed the Justices then maybe they should get someone else. After a while they go back to Gray who is on the telephone, with an unknown person at the time, and is talking about the murders and the person on the telephone is saying that he knows who killed the Justices. He traces the phone call to a pay phone and then goes there and...

My University Education Essay -- Education School Learning Essays

My University Education Finding a metaphor that accurately describes my university education was a challenging experience for me because it required me to thoroughly reexamine my attitude towards the whole of my educational experiences--both prior to and in college. In the end, what I discovered was the metaphor I feel describes my education at Bemidji State University is one that is universal to my entire education. My education has been a journey that started the minute I was born and will continue throughout my life. Initially, my journey began on one road which stretched before me--along this road were intersections, road signs, accidents, bumps, and mile markers. What I have learned as a student in college, has added many more "miles" to my learning odometer. Mile One O.K., so let's get back to the beginning. As I mentioned before, my education began the minute I was born and peered curiously into the world around me. Each of the elements of the environment in which I lived contributed to my growth and interest in new things. The most important part of this environment was my parents who encouraged me, through example, to value my experiences and to constantly learn from them. As a result of their support, I learned to become an independent and critical thinker. First and foremost, I learned that I could be responsible for my own learning. In essence, it was my choice to learn as much or as little as I wanted from my experiences. Mile Two How did this impact my education? In the realm of elementary and secondary education where learning often meant regurgitating the ideas our teachers "imparted" to us, it meant that I was not merely there to "absorb" what was going on around me. I was an active member of class w... ... Similarly, I have learned the importance of proceeding with caution and obeying the speed limit along the way. I now realize that sometimes I need to slow down to think things through before reacting or overreacting. The people that I have met and learned from on my journey have become the bumps and road signs on my educational highway. The bumps have sometimes hindered my progress, whereas the road signs have sent me moving onward and in the right direction. Mile Four What does all of this mean to me? It means I am adaptable. I am able to go ten miles an hour or eighty miles an hour should the situation arise. I can hit the bumps, adjust the steering, and travel onward with little loss of time. I can choose the uncharted course and find a new road to where I want to go. It means that I am ready for the adventure that lies ahead. The odometer's running...