Monday, August 24, 2020

Adaptive Wing Design For A Morphing Mav Biology Essay

Versatile Wing Design For A Morphing Mav Biology Essay The wing structure of a Micro Air Vehicle is to be intended to help in the appraisal of tremor harm. The MAV is required distinctly to be fueled by an electrical engine, restricting flight time and perseverance/run, and should have the option to travel to the scene rapidly and proficiently. Along these lines, the examination of the wing structure is two-crease: 1) having a productive wing plan for journey (quicker) flight and 2) having a successful dillydally (more slow flight) wing structure. The primary philosophy in guaranteeing the ideal wing structure is plan two aerofoils with an actuator which will transform the wing dependant on the various necessities. The product bundle DESFOIL, on the University of Sheffield intranet, is viewed as a more amicable UI for the first XFOIL bundle made by MIT Professor Mark Drela to help in the comprehension of low speed aerofoil stream arrangement. Be that as it may, since XFOIL contains a not exactly agreeable interface, DESFOIL, a MATLAB based programming, makes a more amicable UI, empowering aerofoil examination to be all the more effortlessly comprehended. NACA Aerofoils Since NACA aerofoils will be the overwhelming decision in achieving the aerofoils for our MAV, this area will focus on giving a breakdown on the key parts of such aerofoils. The 4 digits related with the NACA aerofoil give data concerning the physical structure of the aerofoil. The four digits are separated all things considered The principal number offers data about the most extreme camber as a level of the harmony length. The subsequent digit gives data with regards to the situation of this most extreme camber as a component of the general harmony length (in many units) The last two digits give data on the greatest thickness of the aerofoil as a level of the general harmony length, as a rate. Hence, it can without much of a stretch be seen that the harmony length is vital in deciding the right NACA aerofoils. Focal point of Pressure and Aerodynamic Center Other significant aerofoil attributes are the focal point of weight and streamlined focus. In the event that we consider them separately, we can accomplish a more clear image of their significance. Beginning with the focal point of weight, it is realized that the situating of this point changes with lift, in particular it moves towards the main edge as lift increments. In any case, utilizing this equivalent hypothesis, it very well may be comprehended that this focal point of weight can move outside of the aerofoil geometry. All the more explicitly, at low degrees of lift age, the weight community can be behind the aerofoil. Such a boundary is critical to comprehend since it takes into consideration cutting of the likely airplane on which the aerofoil will be mounted. The focal point of weight can be determined utilizing analytics gave a weight circulation is comprehended. Since we are managing a circulation, the length of the harmony turns out to be progressively significant and it is entirely expected to discuss the weight as an element of harmony length, by and large beginning with the main edge. The streamlined focus contains a more straightforward connection with the steadiness of the airplane/aerofoil. The streamlined focus is the point on the aerofoil where the pitching snapshot of the aerofoil is independant of the edge of rate. Comprehension of this point is essential because of its huge commitment to the adjusting and consequently solidness of the aerofoil/airplane. Since most of aerofoils which will be considered inside this diary are cambered, it is intriguing to take note of that the streamlined focus is around arranged at a point  ¼ of the harmony length. Drag When thinking about drag, the primary idea is of a hindering power to movement a specific way. The relationship is straightforward; the more noteworthy the drag (hindering) power, the more prominent impedance on movement. From an aerofoil configuration perspective, we wish for such power to be as negligible as conceivable since a lower impeding power permits quicker speeds (longer perseverance as well as range) and increasingly effective flight. To see progressively about drag, we have to see increasingly about the various segments of the power. In the event that we can comprehend the powers primary constituent parts, this may assist us with bringing down the drag our aerofoil encounters. The drag power can be separated into a few distinct segments. A portion of these are Parasitic drag Lift initiated drag As we will later figure, the lift our aerofoil produces will change contingent on which flight mentality system we are in for example saunter or voyage, and in this way the drag every system encounters will differ. Since this is significant in seeing how the aerofoil will respond to system changes, the lift incited drag will be taken a gander at all the more intently inside this investigation. The idea of parasitic drag is broken into a wide range of parts. Such constituent parts incorporate skin grinding and weight drag. The idea of skin grinding comes to fruition because of the collaboration of liquid atoms reaching the outside of the aerofoil, bringing neighborhood divider shear worries into thought. It would thus be able to be seen that the quicker the movement of atoms past the aerofoil, the bigger divider shear pressure. The skin grating coefficient imparts a reverse explanatory relationship to the speed of the airplane The commitment from pressure drag will be considered regarding stream division focuses further into this report. Such drag will outweigh everything else in the investigation of drag inside this report since it gives an increasingly thorough delineation of the drag at various approaches and distinctive DESFOIL precision boundaries (board number). Since DESFOIL offers just this sort of drag, it will be expected that this weight drag is the general coefficient of drag, while talking about investigation of graphical information. This is a sensible supposition since the drag esteems and weight circulations praise one another. Moreover, since we will later think about the 3D impacts of the aerofoil, it is critical to take note of that there will be distinctive drag factors which will expand the measure of drag experienced by the aerofoil. A significant type of drag which the aerofoil will understanding while in flight is the vortex drag, all the more explicitly the drag because of the confound of weight along the upper and lower surfaces of the aerofoil. All the more explicitly, this drag emerges because of an overspill of high weight on the lower surface of the aerofoil to the upper surface, which is plenteous in low weight regions. Hence as the aerofoil travels through the liquid, for our situation air, this overspill will show itself into tip vortex, expanding the drag understanding by the aerofoil. Hence, albeit just drag will be named in this diary, there might be isolated basic variables included. 3D and 2D Calculations In spite of the fact that DESFOIL is just pertinent to 2D aerofoils, changes can be made to such an extent that the outcomes from DESFOIL can be utilized inside 3D circumstances. Since we are planning a genuine aerofoil, such contemplations should be considered, and are during the later pieces of this diary. The significance of utilizing such a program lays in its reproduction of the streamlined features the aerofoil encounters. Hence, utilizing such a program permits the likelihood to figure out what coefficient of lift (or, 2D and 3D examination individually) and coefficients of drag, subscriptd, or D appropriately, are required for ideal flight. As we will decide in this report, ideal coefficients will be determined and a wing structure planned appropriately. Configuration Brief The accompanying perusing is an investigation of the product bundle DESFOIL on the reasonableness of distinction NACA 4 digit aerofoils on a MAV of certain structure details. These incorporate Voyage Speed, = 15 Linger Speed, = 8 Wing Area, S = 0.13 We will accept a rectangular planform for our aerofoil. Besides, we will expect the aerofoil as the primary type of lift, for example dismissing fuselage, tail plane or rudder lift age Wing Characteristic/Structure Lift is characterized as the streamlined power that a surface creates within the sight of an opposite speed vector. Since lift is characterized as a power, , we can expect that lift is some capacity of the thickness of the medium it is created inside, , the size of the article delivering such a power, , and the before referenced speed, Therefore, (1) Where x, y and z are obscure boundaries characterizing the relationship sketched out in the condition. Through dimensional examination we can find the estimations of such questions. (2) (3) As far as lift powers, the consistent of proportionality is named the coefficient of lift, determining the lift condition (4) It is additionally conceivable to think about a progressively thorough investigation of the coefficient of lift considering balanced and cambered aerofoils, which yield and separately. Be that as it may, such conditions just apply to thin aerofoils and since the thicknesses of the aerofoils are obscure in this task, the conventional formulae will be utilized. So also, inference of the drag powers can yield a comparable drag form of condition (4). (5) To find our ideal lift coefficient, we will expect the lift produced will rise to the heaviness of the airplane, a sensible presumption while thinking about straight and level (journey) flight and the saunter system. Along these lines, the lift coefficients can be determined for the individual flight conditions (6) Condition (6) yields a journey coefficient of lift of 0.285, while comparative examination for linger conditions yields a lift coefficient, of 1. Since we are at first increasingly worried about the wing streamlined features concerning wing structure (perspective proportion), we will think about the incited drag, , whereby, (7) Where e is the Oswald effectiveness of the aerofoil, a remedial factor included since the wing shape contrasts from the curved wing utilized for the deduction, and An is the viewpoint proportion, determined by the length to width proportion. To choose the best angle proportion for our aerofoil, the incited drag variety with perspective proportion changes is appeared in Figure 1. It

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Reaction paper “Shutter Island” Essay Essays

Response paper â€Å"Shutter Island† Essay Essays Response paper â€Å"Shutter Island† Essay Paper Response paper â€Å"Shutter Island† Essay Paper â€Å"Shutter Island† is a film that is non only devoted to introducing perfect landscape and a plot line about a psychological foundation bolted off with a profound. dim mystery off from civilisation. be that as it may, on the other hand. the main part of the film is actually a character review with Teddy Daniels as the central subject. Teddy Daniels has a pained days of old that is reflected in streak dorsums and dream successions. Teddy Daniels is currently a U. S Marshall. in any case, foremost to that. he was a veteran of war. where he saw the absolute most violently ghastly and mind-scarring scenes possible. the kind of things that could harm a man’s head and leave him frequented by them forever. Teddy is other than a â€Å"retired alcoholic† as one of the doctor’s at Ashecliffe Hospital uncovers saying that it is clearly evident that he used to assimilate. The subject of liquor habit is along these lines explained on in a flashback scene where his l ate hitched lady asks him for what good reason he drinks. Apparently Teddy is non only frequented by the works of war or his liquor habit. in any case, other than by the way that a grown-up male who put a match to his place murdered his wedded lady and children. In short. Teddy’s life has been fuelled by intellectually checking occasions. that someway lead him to Ashecliffe Hospital. in what he accepts to be â€Å"fate† when he discovers that the grown-up male who executed his family unit is actually a patient at the clinic ; Andrew Laediss. After a short time. Teddy instantly learns of the corruptness on the island. Inquisitive investigations are being done. These are therefore uncovered to be leukotomies. which are utilized so as to settle the reprehensively crazy for good. At the point when Teddy reveals the â€Å"truth† . he attempts to go forward the island to no assistance. This is the point at which the go begins to go evident. Teddy Daniels is non a U. S marshal by any stretch of the imagination. he is actually a patient at Ashecliffe Hospital. furthermore, he has been for a few mature ages. Intellectually scarred by the issues throughout his life. which are uncovered non simply to be the works of war. in any case, other than the way that his wedded lady other than went crazy and suffocated their children. it was Daniels. truly uncovered to be called Andrew Laediss. who murdered his wedded lady out of reprisal. All through the film. Teddy endures concerns. These worries are truly from his backdowns from his medication which he endures when he makes his substitute character and gives everybody â€Å"roles to play. † s omething that is other than referenced before on in the film. Teddy Daniels is reprehensively crazy and he is for acceptable frequented by his days of old. He makes characters for everybody at the hospital and he approaches his life falsification he is individual else as a technique for â€Å"escapism† from world. His account is unimaginable and the fact of the matter is truly alluded to all through the film which will go forward survey crowds simply requiring to watch the film a second clasp on the grounds that the hints are difficult to dismiss one time the turn is uncovered. Unwarranted to state. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the character to faultlessness and Teddy Daniels. still to this twenty-four hours. is verifiably one of the most top to bottom. itemized and most created film characters of the 2010 decennary along these lines far. Leonardo DiCaprio as Edward â€Å"Teddy† DanielsMark Ruffalo as Chuck AuleBen Kingsley as Dr. John CawleyMax von Sydow as Dr. Jeremiah NaehringMichelle Williams as Dolores ChanalEmily Mortimer as Rachel SolandoPatricia Clarkson as Dr. Rachel SolandoJackie Earle Haley as George NoyceTed Levine as WardenJohn Carroll Lynch as Deputy Warden McPhersonElias Koteas as Andrew LaeddisJill Larson as Old Manacled WomanKen Cheeseman as Doctor 1Ruby Jerins as meager GirlRobin Bartlett as Bridget KearnsChristopher Denham as Peter BreeneMatthew Cowles as Ferry Boat Captain The stoping of screen Island appears to be obscure yet to me it was sensibly unmistakable. Teddy awakens to the world that he is truly Andrew Laedis. in spite of the fact that he is cautioned by Dr. Cawley and Dr. Sheehan that he has relapses into his dream universe previously. In any case. Andrew is brilliant. When Dr. Sheehan sits with him on the stairss that following forenoon. Andrew realizes that the doctors and Warden are recognizing his conduct. The thing is. his blame and harming are still so substantial that he realizes he can non populate with them. As opposed to unrecorded with the cognizance of his stinging. he decides to pretend that he is still Teddy Daniels and permit them lobotomize him. with the goal that he can in the end be liberated from his heap. That’s what the line to Dr. Sheehan roughly â€Å"living as a beast. or on the other hand expiring as a decent grown-up male. ’ implies †Andrew would rather be mind-cleaned as â€Å"Teddy Danielsâ₠¬  than unrecorded with the wickednesss of Andrew Laeddis. Albeit little data is accessible to break down Teddy dependent on his youth he can be analyzed on numerous different components of Sigmund Freud’s speculations about the oblivious. While he is populating in his dream life as an examination laborer on the island. his oblivious thoughts as often as possible show up in his fantasies. He sees his wedded lady come to him beseeching him to abandon his interest for Andrew since he will non wish what he discovers and she doesn’t need him to obtain injury. He other than dreams of Rachel Solando coming to him with her children’s bleeding natural structures. asking him to help her in discarding them. As he holds the children’s bodies they wake up inquisitive why he didn’t rescue them. This completely represents the psychoanalytic hypothesis that fantasies have two degrees of substance. The show content is that Teddy thinks the fantasies originate from the way that he is losing his wedded lady and just can’t acknowledge her expire and permit her movement and that the ghastly sentiment of the island is securing to him doing him to hold incubuss of the crazy grown-up female he is look intoing. It is hence certain that the inactive substance of the fantasies uncover the covered importance of his ain encounters. At the end of the day. there was no Rachel Solando. Teddy made her as a consideration of himself in light of the fact that Dolores was an excited burdensome who suffocated their children in a lake one twenty-four hours when he wasn’t place. At the point when he returned and understood the sad events there was nil he could make. subsequently the incubuss of the children asking for what valid reason he couldn’t rescue them. In his fantasies she much of the time strolls to him splashing dampness to which he asks her â€Å"Why are all of you we t. darling? † . This expression appears to follow him in light of the fact that those are the main words he said to her when he came place that twenty-four hours she went brainsick. Teddy feels actually liable for their perish in light of the fact that at the clasp he was a drunkard and keeping in mind that he cherished his wedded lady. he would not perceive the truth about her and wound up slaughtering her in the wake of recognizing the children. In the fantasies she advises him to surrender since he can't get by with cognizing reality. This leads on to how Teddy contorts his reality to secure himself against his grievous harming and blame through the use of guard systems. The entirety of the recollections of what really happened to Dolores and the children become repressed and supplanted with bogus similarities that his wedded lady was unjustly killed and he re-made himself as a saint so as to get by. In similarity with this instrument he experiences station horrendous accentuation from which the upsetting recollections by implication start to reveal themselves in his fantasies. Dr. Sheehan who in his mind was his mate uncovers that for they had chosen to look for a rich pretending test in which they obliged all of Teddy ( Andrew ) ’s crazy convictions with an end goal to pass on his head back to the existent universe and in this way rescue him from an encephalon leukotomy ( a signifier of psychosurgery ) which had to be their final hotel. At the point when the fact of the matter is premier uncovered Teddy’s beginning response is to fall back to the protection system of refusal. He won't acknowledge that what they guarantee is the thing that really occurred and is redundant upon the way that they have been dosing him with drugs so as to indoctrinate him and keep up him from recognizing reality with regards to the unpleasant human analyses that have been taking topographic point at the clinic. Projection is other than utilized when he blames the Doctor’s for doing up this story about what befell him so as to secure themselves. These are the two endeavors to free his leader of the nervousness exciting incitements that he can't acknowledge has any relationship with what occurred in his life. Indeed, even before the fact of the matter is uncovered while Teddy despite everything accepts that he is a legend we see this uneasiness reflecting through during his test at Shutter Island. When the hospital’s boss clinician says something about Teddy abstaining from intoxicant and Teddy reacts with a clever assault the doctor takes note of his â€Å"excellent use of barrier mechanisms† . This may partner to his inexplicit memory in light of the fact that in spite of the fact that Teddy at first does non hold any instincts about the realism of his ain independence he appears to accept that every other person is out to procure him which fills in as oblivious recollections act uponing witting conduct doing him to perpetually be on safeguard about the reasons and activities of the individuals around him. At the point when Teddy inevitably comes out of his period of refusal and acknowledges reality. the doctors dread that he will deteriorate and

Friday, July 24, 2020

How to Know If You Are an Abusive Spouse

How to Know If You Are an Abusive Spouse Relationships Violence and Abuse Print How to Know If You Are an Abusive Spouse By Sheri Stritof Sheri Stritof has written about marriage and relationships for 20 years. Shes the co-author of The Everything Great Marriage Book. Learn about our editorial policy Sheri Stritof Updated on January 15, 2020 LWA/Creative RM/Getty Images More in Relationships Violence and Abuse Spouses & Partners LGBTQ You may think that the way you treat or talk to your spouse is normal when in reality it is abusive. Sometimes it is hard to tell if you are, as you may not have the level of insight necessary to figure this out. Or, you may think your behavior is normal because you grew up in a household of abusiveness, dysfunction or negativity. Abuse can occur verbally, mentally, and psychologically.?? It is not just the physical version, also known as domestic violence. Physical abuse may be more obvious, but the other forms of abuse are still very destructive to your marriage. It will undermine the trust, connection, and bond that must exist in your relationship for your marriage to succeed and be healthy.   Questions to Determine If You Are Abusive Towards Your Spouse Did your partner already tell you that you are abusive?Is your spouse afraid of you?Have you ever threatened to kill your spouse?Do you believe that your way is the only way?Have you ever hit, slapped, pushed, pulled hair, or choked your spouse?Do you often feel jealous?Do you believe you have the right to know what your spouse is doing and where your spouse is all the time?Do you call or text your spouse incessantly when he or she is out without you?Do you think of yourself as in charge?Do you enjoy seeing your spouse in pain, crying or hurt?Do you believe your spouse deserves to be hit or yelled at or punished?Do you believe your spouse asked for it?Do you break or destroy your spouses belongings on purpose?Have you ever been arrested for violent behavior?Do others tell you that you have an anger problem?Do others tell you that you seem paranoid?Are you afraid of asking for help because you might lose everything that is important to you?Has your spouse ever tried to leave you?Do yo u think about getting even with your spouse?  Do you twist things around, lie or exaggerate to make your partner doubt him/her self and sense of reality? Has Your Spouse Complained About Any of These Things? Interfering in social relationshipsNot allowing any privacyYou dont open up and/or often shut downWalking on eggshellsToo controllingToo uptightEverything is more peaceful when youre not aroundNot able to spend any money/go out/make plans, etc. without  permissionAlways in a bad moodCritical or complaining about everything What to Do If You Answered Yes If you answered yes to several of these questions, please see a licensed professional counselor or clinical social worker  for counseling. Be honest with the counselor or you will not get the help you need. Your spouse can join you in couples therapy, but only if you have your own counseling individually for a while before and concurrent with the marriage therapy.  Look for an anger management group and read self-help books along with other treatments you are receiving.If you abuse or use drugs or alcohol, you must stop or get help to stop. Drugs and alcohol are undoubtedly making your behavior worse. A 12-step program or similar is a must.  Saying Im sorry isnt enough. It is important that you take complete responsibility for your abusive behavior.   You Must Have Honest self-appraisalA willingness to seek helpThe ability to let go of controlling your spouseA full understanding of why you are abusiveHealing your own past hurts so you do not continue to take it out on othersAppropriate guilt for your behavior and remorse toward your victims for your actions  Full effort and motivation for learning appropriate communication skills, boundaries, and a healthy view of loveSelf-compassion and compassion for your partner

Friday, May 22, 2020

Medical Marijuana Should Not Be Banned - 1439 Words

How could a federally illegal drug be given to the citizens by physicians of the United States to potentially be grown in their homes? Medical marijuana is a common phenomenon that is acceptable in more than half of the 50 states. Individuals of all ages are affected by the new regulations of the once illegal substance and exposed more than one might think. Marijuana is introduced through schools by peers as a parent struggles to ensure their child will maintain an effective future. This particular drug is dangerous and can have intense effects to the body. To reduce the exposure of the harmful effects of marijuana, physicians should not be given the power to distribute the substance. Medical marijuana should not be given as a form of medicine in the United States because of the drugs negative effects to the body, the central nervous system, and one’s physical health. Also research has proven that the drug is known to be abused by individuals around the country who have been g iven access. Medical marijuana has many negative effects to different parts of the human body. Although the drug is shown to reduce pain, other side effects exist as the drug targets essential parts of the body. Addiction specialist and author of the New York Times Newspaper article Rebecca Drayer explains, â€Å"Recent research shows that marijuana has detrimental effects on the brain, lungs, heart and fertility†¦false impression that there is a medical need for marijuana confuses and misleads a poorlyShow MoreRelatedThe United State War On Drugs1005 Words   |  5 Pagesunder the order of President Richard Nixon, and it was one of the worst decisions he ever made. It has been nothing but a waste of government funding, time, and manpower that can only be described as a dismal failure and should be repealed or at the very least medical marijuana should be made legal. The essay â€Å"Let’s Be Blunt† was written to show the flaws and failure of the war on drugs. I nits intro the essay takes a very pro drug legalization stance Caden states†Ã¢â‚¬ . Early on the author comparesRead MoreLegalization of Marijuana1543 Words   |  7 PagesLegalization of Marijuana How many people annually do you think die from smoking marijuana? Many people do not believe that the number is zero. Lots of people think that marijuana is harmful and think that it causes people to commit crimes and make bad decisions. The legalization of marijuana would help the government make money by taxing this drug, help sick people with medical use, and lower crime rates. Harry Anslinger, who is the Commissioner of Narcotics in the Bureau of Narcotics, saw thatRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1322 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"Leading medical researchers are coming to the conclusion marijuana, pot, grass, or whatever you want to call it is probably the most dangerous drug in the United States†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (President Ronald Reagan, 1980 Campaign Rally Speech) We may be able to make some progress on the decriminalization side. At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalizing, then Congress may then reschedule marijuana. (President Barak Obama, 2015 Vice Magazine Interview) In less than forty years the most importantRead MoreDrug Addiction Essay1488 Words   |  6 Pagesdrunk out of his mind and we think, well it is just alcohol, it isnt too bad, at least he isnt taking drugs. At the same time, we can see another guy taking some cocaine and we instantly think this person is messed up, he is a drug addict, and we should keep some distance, right? Isnt the person that is drunk just as same as the guy that is taking cocaine? Not many people will agree with this but according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, A drug is a chemical substance that can change howRead MoreShould Cigarettes Be Banned in the U.S.?1400 Words   |  6 PagesShould Cigarettes Be Banned in the U.S.? Tobacco has been around in the world for over 2.5 million years. It was not until a few hundred years ago when the tobacco industry decided to put these crops into use and conjure up tobacco products for the community. A popular tobacco product in society is cigarettes, as they are cheap and simple to use. As long as one is over eighteen, acquiring cigarettes is a straightforward process for a reasonable price, albeit the sin tax. It was not until recentlyRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized For Medical Purposes?1735 Words   |  7 Pagessurveys, about 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year. More than 14 million do it regularly. (NORML: Working to Reform Marijuana Laws, 2015) Marijuana has been the topic of much discussion these past decades. The main factor of discussion is whether or not to legalize it and the outcome it would have on the states. Some states have already legalized but for medicinal purposes only. Much research has come out in this decade th at marijuana just isn’t for your average drug junkie butRead MoreThe War Over Marijuana1862 Words   |  7 Pagesrogue elephant in the game room everyone running for president pretends not to see. (Steigerwald) The present works aim is to analyze the concerns which revolve around the marijuana state and federal legalization debate, with special emphasis on its positive outcomes. The majority of clinical research studies concerning marijuana use and its effects unravel the uncertainty which surrounds the subject and present the common pattern of insisting that further clinical enquiry is necessary. MeasurableRead MoreShould Cigarettes Be Banned in the U.S.?1444 Words   |  6 Pageshealth implications to the user and the people around him or her. Aside from these health implications, cigarettes should not be banned in the U.S. because of the exaggeration of the results of secondhand smoking, the similarity of the Prohibition era, the devastation of the U.S. economy, and the freedom of one’s own actions. The two main reasons why people want cigarettes to be banned is because of the health implications it causes to oneself and others around him or her and the addictive chemicalsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal? Essay1697 Words   |  7 PagesMedical marijuana has been a touchy subject the last few years. From being legalized in multiple states to being enforced more heavily by the DEA. It has been under scrutiny because of the people that use and sell it. The uses of marijuana not only medically but economically are quite vast and could benefit us greatly. This essay will put forth the reasons why it can stimulate our economy and society while disproving the arguments of why it is bad. 77 years ago, marijuana became prohibited inRead MoreThe Addiction to Marijuana1533 Words   |  7 PagesIn the United States, marijuana is being categorized as a Class A Drug, but in reality marijuana has been known to help cure and fight many sicknesses and diseases. Marijuana is being criticized by people that never studied the drug or even know about the medicinal benefits from the drug. Over the years, marijuana has been called a gateway drug to harder narcotics, but this isn’t the case. Marijuana has many medicinal benefits that the media and government avoid releasing to the society but its

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Sophocles Antigonon The Tragic Hero Creon - 742 Words

The Tragic Hero: Creon Hero. Hero comes from the greek word heros meaning â€Å"A person who faces adversity, or demonstrates courage, in the face of danger.† Growing up we have always read stories about heroes coming to save the day; for instance, Captain America. Being that our whole lives we were mostly exposed to heroism, have you ever asked yourself what is the opposite of a hero? A villain is the opposite of a hero, but their is another opposite form of a hero; a tragic hero. A Tragic hero is â€Å"A literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction† (â€Å"Tragic hero as defined by Aristotle†). For instance, in the play written by Sophocles Antigone, the tragic hero is Creon. Creon who is Antigone’s†¦show more content†¦The second reason why Creon is a tragic hero, because of his inescapable fate. Creon has more than one inescapable fate, the curse from the gods and the killing of his dad to marry his mother. The curse of the god as we have previously reviewed, was brought up on him after Teiresias gives Creon word that his refusal to bury Polynices and punishment of Antigone, will result in the curses of the gods brought down on Thebes. This was one inescapable fate Creon did in fact bring upon himself. We see the prophecy come to pass confirmed by the Chorus leader stating â€Å"Tiresias, how your words have proven true† (Antigone line 1310). The chorus leader proceeded to say â€Å"Here comes the king in person carrying.. A clear reminder that this evil comes not from some stranger, but from his own mistakes† (Antigone line 1402). Lastly, Creon was a tragic hero because he realized his flaws too late in time. Referring back to the prophecy of Tiresias, after the prophecy of Thebes was declared and Creon denying it, it soon came to pass. The chorus leader cries â€Å"My lord, my lord, such dreadful prophecies- and how hes gone..Since my hair changed colour from black to white, I know here in the city hes never uttered a false prophecy† (Antigone line 1220). Creon then replies to him by acknowledging his wrong and the effect of his wrong in the situation. â€Å"Aaii- mistakes made by a foolish mind, cruel mistakes that bring on

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

C2 Paper Free Essays

Paper Reference(s) 6664 Edexcel GCE Core Mathematics C2 Advanced Subsidiary Tuesday 10 January 2006 ? Afternoon Time: 1 hour 30 minutes Materials required for examination Mathematical Formulae (Green) Items included with question papers Nil Candidates may use any calculator EXCEPT those with the facility for symbolic algebra, differentiation and/or integration. Thus candidates may NOT use calculators such as the Texas Instruments TI 89, TI 92, Casio CFX 9970G, Hewlett Packard HP 48G. Instructions to Candidates In the boxes on the answer book, write the name of the examining body (Edexcel), your centre number, candidate number, the unit title (Core Mathematics C2), the paper reference (6664), your surname, other name and signature. We will write a custom essay sample on C2 Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now When a calculator is used, the answer should be given to an appropriate degree of accuracy. Information for Candidates A booklet ‘Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables’ is provided. Full marks may be obtained for answers to ALL questions. The marks for individual questions and the parts of questions are shown in round brackets: e. g. (2). There are 9 questions on this paper. The total mark for this paper is 75. Advice to Candidates You must ensure that your answers to parts of questions are clearly labelled. You must show sufficient working to make your methods clear to the Examiner. Answers without working may gain no credit. N23552A This publication may only be reproduced in accordance with Edexcel Limited copyright policy.  ©2006 Edexcel Limited. 1. Given that f(1) = 0, (x) = 2Ãâ€"3 + x2 – 5x + c, where c is a constant. (a) find the value of c, (2) (b) factorise f(x) completely, (4) (c) find the remainder when f(x) is divided by (2x – 3). (2) 2. (a) Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of (1 + px)9, where p is a constant. (2) The first 3 terms are 1, 36x and qx2, where q is a constant. (b) Find the value of p and the value of q. (4) N23552A 2 3. y B Figure 1 C P O A x In Figure 1, A(4, 0) and B(3, 5) are the end points of a diameter of the circle C. Find (a) the exact length of AB, (2) (b) the coordinates of the midpoint P of AB, (2) (c) an equation for the circle C. (3) 4. The first term of a geometric series is 120. The sum to infinity of the series is 480. (a) Show that the common ration, r, is 3 . 4 (3) (b) Find, to 2 decimal places, the difference between the 5th and 6th terms. (2) (c) Calculate the sum of the first 7 terms. (2) The sum of the first n terms of the series is greater than 300. (d) Calculate the smallest possible value of n. (4) N23552A 3 5. Figure 2 A 6m 5m 5m B O In Figure 2 OAB is a sector of a circle, radius 5 m. The chord AB is 6 m long. 7 ? . (a) Show that cos AOB = 25 (2) ? (b) Hence find the angle AOB in radians, giving your answer to 3 decimal places. (1) (c) Calculate the area of the sector OAB. (2) (d) Hence calculate the shaded area. (3) 6. The speed, v m s–1, of a train at time t seconds is given by v = ? (1. 2t – 1), 0 ? t ? 30. The following table shows the speed of the train at 5 second intervals. t v 0 0 5 1. 22 10 2. 28 15 20 6. 11 25 30 (a) Complete the table, giving the values of v to 2 decimal places. 3) The distance, s metres, travelled by the train in 30 seconds is given by ? s = ? ? (1. 2 t ? 1) dt . ?0 (b) Use the trapezium rule, with all the values from your table, to estimate the value of s. (3) 30 N23552A 4 7. The curve C has equation y = 2Ãâ€"3 – 5Ãâ€"2 – 4x + 2. (a) Find dy . dx (2) (b) Using the result from part (a), find the coordinates of the turning points of C. (4) d2 y (c) Find . dx 2 (2) (d) Hence, or otherwise, determine the nature of the turning points of C. (2) 8. (a) Find all the values of ? to 1 decimal place, in the interval 0? ? ? 360? for which 5 sin (? + 30? ) = 3. (4) (b) Find all the values of ? , to 1 decimal place, in the interval 0? ? ? 360? for which tan2 ? = 4. (5) N23552A 5 9. y Figure 3 3 2 A R B O x Figure 3 shows the shaded region R which is bounded by the curve y = –2Ãâ€"2 + 4x and the 3 line y = . The points A and B are the points of intersection of the line and the curve. 2 Find (a) the x-coordinates of the points A and B, (4) (b) the exact area of R. (6) TOTAL FOR PAPER: 75 MARKS END N23552A 6 How to cite C2 Paper, Papers

Monday, April 27, 2020

Start up business in Saudi Arabia challenges of finding finance

Background overview Entrepreneurs share similar problems in terms of access to sufficient capital to start their business, ability to attract customers, developing a sufficient cash flow to sustain their venture and a variety of other issues that are involved in the process of developing a business (Zahra Wright 2011, pp. 67-83).Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Start up business in Saudi Arabia: challenges of finding finance. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this section the various methods of capital access available to entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia, and the difficulties that are associated with the process of obtaining sufficient funds to start a profitable business venture will be analyzed. Considering the fact that it is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and part of the G20 group of states, the low rate of growth for its entrepreneurial sector engenders a number of questions that nece ssitates further research and analysis. It is expected that this section will act as the basis behind an assessment that would create effective suggestions as to how entrepreneurs within the country can best respond to various financial opportunities and challenges. Saudi Arabian Economy and SME SMEs in Saudi Arabia A majority of the start up businesses in Saudi Arabia are in form of SMEs. Within the study Leading the way (2005, pp. 78-79), it was explained that in most market economies, small to medium scale enterprises (SMEs) make up the bulk of a country’s enterprises. This constitutes 80 to 90 percent of local businesses (Leading the way 2005, pp. 78-79). Such an orientation can also be seen in the case of Saudi Arabia, wherein SMEs make up 92 percent of local businesses within the country, and employ up to 80 percent of the workforce (Leading the way 2005, pp. 78-79). H.M. King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud himself has been quoted as stating that â€Å"entrepreneurs a re the backbone of the Saudi Arabian economy and are instrumental towards its continued growth and prosperity† (Kayed Hassan 2010, pp. 379-413). (Kayed Hassan 2010, pp. 379-413)Advertising Looking for dissertation on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It must be noted that despite the fact that SMEs constitute 92 percent of local businesses, they are still overshadowed by the country’s oil and natural gas industry which accounts for 90 percent of export earnings, 45 percent of the GDP and 80 percent of the government’s budget revenues (Kayed Hassan 2010, pp. 379-413). This is in sharp contrast to the situation found in countries such as the U.S., U.K., China and other industrialized countries where local SMEs makeup more than 70 percent of GDP, 60 to 70 percent of local government revenue and 75 percent of export earnings (Kayed Hassan 2010, pp. 379-413). While Saudi Arabia’s s tatus as an oil exporter does entail a decidedly different economic structure, it must be noted that given the non-renewable state of its oil reserves, it is absolutely necessary to implement some measure of encouraging the development of start up businesses in order to have a strong local economy in place that is not dependent on resource that will inevitably dry up (Lindsey 2011, pp. 1). Entrepreneurial Growth Rate (Saudi Arabia 2012, pp. 1-18) (Outlook for 2011-15: Economic policy outlook 2010, pp. 7-9) Unfortunately, an examination of the development of local industries within the country reveals that entrepreneurial growth has remained low at 3.3 to 3.5 percent annually, with the much lauded Saudi Fast Growth 100 group (a listing of the top 100 locally owned corporations that were started by entrepreneurs) gaining a combined annual revenue of $2.4 billion equivalent to $9 billion Saudi Riyals) with 90 percent of their revenue originating from within Saudi Arabia itself (Outloo k for 2011-15: Economic policy outlook 2010, pp. 7-9). While $2.4 billion may seem like a significant sum for the accumulated revenue of the top 100 companies within Saudi Arabia, this pales in comparison to the hundreds of billions accumulated by the top 100 companies started by entrepreneurs in countries such as the U.S., U.K, and China. Even a developing country such as the Philippines has a local SME industry where the top 100 companies started by entrepreneurs reach revenues of $10 billion or more.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Start up business in Saudi Arabia: challenges of finding finance. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fact that the revenue of these companies mostly originate from within the Saudi Arabian economy itself rather than through international exports shows how relatively â€Å"young† the companies started by local entrepreneurs are within country considering the fact tha t focusing on local instead of external markets is one of the first stages of entrepreneurial activity. Such factors can be considered indicative of a major problem existing within the Saudi Arabian entrepreneurial landscape which can be connected to the lack of sufficient access to funding for local entrepreneurs in order to sufficiently grow their businesses to a level that can be considered internationally competitive. Saudi Arabia’s economy According to Economic Structure and Context (2012, pp. 16-17), Saudi Arabia’s economy is heavily dependent on its oil reserves. This is because oil is the major export commodity in this economy. Additionally, the oil industry provides employment to a majority of the citizens. This implies that this economy is susceptible to the volatile oil prices in the world market, and any changes in the production of oil by the oil industry. To address this vulnerability, the government has acquired a number of foreign assets which help in c ushioning the economy against changes in the oil prices, which affect the economy adversely. For this reason, the economy is able to withstand shocks in the oil world market provided that it is not for an extended period (‘Chapter 2: Economic Outlook’ 2011, pp. 15-23). It must be pointed that the government continues to be the major player in the economy. This implies that the economy is not fully liberalised. However, the government is at the forefront in encouraging entrepreneurship with a view to increasing employment opportunities for the youth, who form the bulk of the kingdom’s population. This increased employment level, as a result of increase in private investment, will have the effect of enhancing the standard of living in the kingdom (Economic Structure and Context 2012, pp. 16-17). Government’s involvement in the economy has helped in improving the standards of living for the Saudi nationals (Jacknis 2011, pp. 107-116). However, this involvemen t has repercussions that include: distortion of the market, subdued productivity, and discourage competition.Advertising Looking for dissertation on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It can be said that the government’s dominance in the economy has lowered the efficiency of the economy. Nonetheless, the government has been working towards liberalization of the economy and complying with international treaties, with a view to improving the economy. The Saudi government has also embarked on the privatisation of the some sectors of the economy including: telecommunication, water and aviation. The major objective of this privatization has been to attract foreign investment in the economy. This will serve as the much needed boost to propel the economy to a higher growth trajectory. Moreover, the government has also increased public expenditure as a stimulus for economic growth. This increased public expenditure has been instrumental in facilitating the growth of Saudi economic cities that has acted as an incentive for the entrepreneurs (Economic Structure and Context 2012, pp. 16-17). Literature Review This section explores various aspects related to the finan cing of entrepreneurial ventures within Saudi Arabia, the way in which financial institutions and loan processes operate, as well as the current state of key funding sources in relation to their counterparts in other countries. It is expected that through an examination of such aspects of the Saudi Arabian entrepreneurial and financing sectors of the economy, a greater degree of understanding regarding the current state of venture financing and the processes involved in it will be developed. The Financing of Business Ventures within Saudi Arabia One of the oddest discrepancies that has come up during the research process is that despite the fact that Saudi Arabia is widely recognized as a leader in promoting and supporting entrepreneurial activities, it actually has a financial sector that is not as conducive towards small to medium business loans as one might expect (Ahmad 2011, pp. 610-614). It is usually the case that if a country is known for supporting entrepreneurial activity, this would in turn result in a commensurate effect on its local banking sector wherein loans for small to medium scale enterprises and ventures would be more readily given. However, this is not the case and in fact it is actually more difficult to obtain these types of loans within Saudi Arabia as compared to other countries within the same region (i.e. the U.A.E, Egypt, Jordan, Israel etc.) as well as in countries such as China, the U.K. and the U.S (Ahmad 2011, pp. 610-614). In order to address this rather odd disparity, an examination was conducted as to how small and medium scale enterprises were normally funded and how did this type of funding differ from what can be seen in other countries. It was seen that in the case of Saudi Arabia, the family played a crucial role in the funding and development of start up business ventures wherein more than 75% of local businesses started by entrepreneurs were a result of family members contributing towards the initial starting capital o f the entrepreneur and actively gave advice regarding the proper management of the business (Constraints on Development: Small Businesses in Saudi Arabia 1992, pp. 333-351). In fact, it was noted by researchers in the report Constraints on Development: Small Businesses in Saudi Arabia (1992, pp. 333-341) that it is the strong interfamily ties within the country’s culture that limits the export market of Saudi Arabia due to the development of a business culture, wherein it has become preferable to deal with family members or friends of the family when it comes to joint business ventures and business opportunities, which in effect severely curtails the ability of a business to expand beyond its current market due to the inherent hesitance in dealing with the unfamiliar (Constraints on Development: Small Businesses in Saudi Arabia 1992, pp. 333-351). Going back to the issue of family and its connection to the financing of small to medium scale enterprises, what must be understoo d is that the proliferation of family as one of the primary methods of financing entrepreneurial business ventures has actually resulted in the local banking sector developing in such a way that they cater more towards large scale enterprises or higher tier medium scale businesses as compared to small or lower tier medium scale companies (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). The problem with this is that this in effect isolates a large percentage of the local population who do not have access to considerable family funds to start their business. Such a situation is in stark contrast to the way in which the banking sector in other countries such as China, the U.S., the U.K. and even in certain sectors in the Middle East work, since it is often seen that investing in entrepreneurs creates numerous beneficial actions (i.e. better local economy, greater amount of deposits, helping out what could potentially develop into a larger enterprise etc.) which banks generally think of as â€Å"safe bets† when it comes to loans, especially when it comes to the attitude of entrepreneurs to pay back what they owe on even if a particular business did not turn out as successful as expected (S.T. 2000, pp. 42) (Mahdi1998, pp. 1970-1971). It is often the case that such individuals within Saudi Arabia have to rely on their own personal savings as their primary method of creating start-up capital, which is an incredibly laborious and time consuming process, which would of course slow down the process of entrepreneurial activity within any country that utilizes such a system (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). Evidence of this can be seen in Saudi Arabia’s 3.3 to 3.5 percent annual entrepreneurial growths, which shows the negative impact that the current loan system has on creating better entrepreneurial activities within the country (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). The inherent weakness of the â€Å"family fund systemâ₠¬  currently utilized by a vast majority of entrepreneurs is that when it comes to expanding the business beyond its current form and structure, this is when family members at times balk and refuse to or are unable to provide the necessary funds for the development of the business beyond its current form (Siddiqi 2008, pp. 44). The reason behind this is a plethora of issues ranging from the belief that after a business has been established, an individual should be responsible for its own expansion or that expansion itself is potentially risky without sufficient added benefits (Siddiqi 2008, pp. 44). As a result, this curtails the potential for various entrepreneurial ventures to expand to foreign locations and this is evidenced by the fact that nearly 90% of all local entrepreneurial revenue is derived from within the Saudi economy alone instead of through outside ventures (Siddiqi 2008, pp. 44). It must also be noted that another problem with the â€Å"family based† method of funding is that it actively promotes insufficient market examinations and a more lax behaviour when it comes to developing processes that are more efficient and less costly (Robson, 2005pp. 40-42). Based on the study by Constraints on Development: Small Businesses in Saudi Arabia (1992, pp. 340), it was noted that family based methods of funding were considered a relatively â€Å"safe† and â€Å"easy† method of funding for a business, which did not have the same stringent procedures and viability checks that are necessary when it comes to a bank loan (Footwear Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia 2012, pp. 1-29). As such, entrepreneurs under this particular system are less likely to favor processes that maximized the usage of capital and utilized more efficient methods of operations due to the rather â€Å"easy† way in which funds could be obtained to run a business (Constraints on Development: Small Businesses in Saudi Arabia 1992, pp. 333-351). This, Baqadir, Pat rick, Burns (2011, pp. 551-559) remark, is one of the main reasons why plenty of businesses fail within the first year of operation in Saudi Arabia, since it is usually the stringent process of loan evaluation seen in most banks that encourages entrepreneurs to think ‘outside the box’, resulting in financial success and ingenuity (Baqadir, Patrick, Burns 2011, pp. 551-561). Though not particularly as relevant, it must be noted that there is also another socially based reason as to why certain entrepreneurs are experiencing a higher degree of difficulty when it comes to finding sufficient capital: declining rates of marriage (Pope 2002, pp. 2). With the development of new internal policies within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comes an era where women have started to become more empowered. This is evidenced by the fact that nearly 54% of all university graduates within Saudi Arabia are women and that a growing percentage of them have started to focus on their own careers and the development of the family business rather than enter into a prospective marriage (Pope 2002, pp. 2). As a result, with declining marriage rates comes a distinct decline in access to sufficient capital by bachelors since it is the intermarriage between families that often times enhances the ability of an entrepreneur to access sufficient capital to establish his own business. Public Aid Programs Aside from the aforementioned â€Å"traditional† methods of funding that exist within the context of the Saudi Arabian culture, there also exist other methods of funding that are more in line with what is normally seen in other countries. The first of these methods of funding is the KAFALAH fund which is a $200 million fund that acts as a protection net against loan defaults meant to encourage local banks to lend to entrepreneurs (Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia 2011, pp. 1-68). The reason why KAFALA fund was created in the first place was due to the fact that between 200 1 to 2009 local banks experienced increasing levels of loan defaulters (Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia 2011, pp. 1-68). One of the main reasons behind this was simply the fact that entrepreneurs at the time lacked the necessary skills and capabilities to properly market their products, develop their businesses and enhance operations which inevitably resulted in the collapse of their ventures (Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia 2011, pp. 1-68). This was an endemic problem during that time until it was addressed by H.M. King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud in the form of the king Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the King Saud University (KSU) and various other educational institutions that focused on the creation, support and development of entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia. It was through such programs that, in the words of H.M. King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, â€Å"a new type of entrepreneur† entered into the Saudi Arabian market economy Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia 2011, pp. 1-68). Such individuals were better informed, better prepared and more likely to create fewer mistakes as compared to their predecessors. Unfortunately, various Islamic banks were still reeling from the amount of loan defaults hence the necessity of creating stimulus funds in order to encourage lending (Apparel Retail Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia 2012, pp.1-25). Despite this, it was noted by various Saudi entrepreneurs that such activities were still insufficient, many of whom were of the opinion that it should be the government itself that should facilitate access to funds for entrepreneurs rather than having to go through the laborious and often times unfruitful process of filing for a bank loan (Dairy Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia 2012, pp. 1-32). One manifestation of such a necessity came in the form of the government sponsored AlAhli Small Business Program which is a type of loan/training program enabling entrepreneurs to gain access to a variety of funding sources that are in cooperation with the National Commercial Bank while at the same time provides training courses and various types of support systems so as to enable these potential entrepreneurs to develop the necessary skills, mindsets and abilities to effectively run their fledgling businesses (Country Update 2012, pp. 1-5). Other sources of funds also exist, which are there to address the problem of developing a funding program for young Saudi men and women that are underprivileged yet still would like to be entrepreneurs. For this particular scenario, the centennial fund exists which provides 50,000 – 200,000 SAR in funds for particular business ventures which is payable within 5 years. Similar to the AlAhli Small Business Program, the Centennial fund also provides training and development services but it also provides a mentoring program wherein experienced entrepreneurs help in guiding people who make use of the fund, through a 3 year m entoring program designed to increase the success of their business. Other more gender specific funds come in the form of the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz fund for nurturing women entrepreneurs (Country Update 2012, pp. 1-5). As its name implies, this fund focuses specifically on providing women entrepreneurs with the necessary funds and training to undertake a variety of entrepreneurial ventures. Banking There are several banking institutions within Saudi Arabia that do in fact provide small business loans to start up business such as Al Rajhi Banking Investment Corp., the Riyadh Bank, the National Commercial Bank etc (Economic Growth: Outlook 2012, pp. 4-6). It must be noted though that due to the high degree of loan default experienced by these banks from 2001 to 2009 the loan process often involves considerable amounts of paperwork and at times recommendations from well established businessmen in order to gain approval for particular loans (Economic Growth: Outlook 2012, pp. 4-6 ). This in effect shuts out various entrepreneurs who do not have the same amount of clout or the connections necessary to show that they can be trusted to pay back the loan. Additionally, the entrepreneurs have to go through other hurdles in form of government sponsored programs, which act as intermediaries between the bank and the entrepreneur and acts as a safety net in case of loan default. While this section has shown that there exists, quite literally, a plethora of funding and training opportunities for local entrepreneurs to start their own business ventures, what it does not show is that most of the funding and training opportunities are oriented towards the development of localized business opportunities and neglect to encompass a wider range of potential ventures through international markets. The study of Mortland (2009, p 19) which examined the funding and training opportunities that are currently in place within Saudi Arabia reveals that most of the revenue derived fro m entrepreneurial activity within the country is primarily as a result of derived income from local markets (Mortland 2009, p. 19). There are relatively few cases of entrepreneurs which focus on international trade with one of the reasons being that despite the presence of funding programs with associated training schemes, these programs actually encourage and focus on developing entrepreneurs to focus on developing local market (Mortland 2009, p. 19). They propagate the notion that international business ventures are somewhat risky. This engenders a business culture that is more internally focused rather than externally adaptive. In cases where an entrepreneur is actively seeking funds to expand their business venture with a view to engaging in international trade, their loan requests are often turned down. Banks tend to agree to loans of this nature when requested by large firms or conglomerations. This in effect shuts out small entrepreneurs from international trade which is an i mportant aspect of developing a local business. Venture Capitalists within Saudi Arabia Another of the problems faced by entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia is the distinct lack of venture capitalists within the country. An examination of data obtained from 2010 reveals that Saudi Arabia has the lowest ranking of any G20 country in terms of venture capital funding with only $5 million being invested by venture capitalists in local businesses at the time. Studies such as those in the Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia (2011, pp. 1 – 68 ) reveal that venture capital funding is an important facilitator of entrepreneurial activity since it acts as a method of funding â€Å"outside† of the regular methods facilitated through bank loans (Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia 2011, pp. 1-68). With entrepreneurs and the venture capitalists sharing the risks that come with developing a particular business venture this actually results in the sharing of ideas, better internal m anagement of operations and funds and the creation of new lines of business which helps to considerably expand the venture beyond what the entrepreneur would have been capable of doing alone. As seen in the case of the U.S. and U.K., venture capital investments have helped to create a solid foundation for the development of numerous businesses which has actually encouraged entrepreneurial activity due to the potential that venture capitalists may choose to invest with a particular venture thus enabling it to expand based on the plans of the entrepreneur. The lack of venture capital funding in the case of Saudi Arabia helps to explain the relatively low growth seen in the development of new entrepreneurial ventures; since an external source of capital without the accompanying financial indebtedness associated with a bank loans would have definitely encouraged the development of a sufficiently strong entrepreneurial sector within the country (Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia 2011 , pp. 1-68). One way of explaining the lack of venture capital funding can be seen in Chapter 4: Business Environment (2012, pp. 27-33) of Saudi Arabia’s business forecast report which explored various aspects of financing within Saudi Arabia. Chapter 4: Business Environment (2012, pp. 27-33) shows that the concept of venture capital funding is relatively new within Saudi Arabia since it is a development that has only occurred within the past few decades within various other countries (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). Since Saudi Arabia has developed in an entirely different way as compared to other countries such as the U.S. due its emphasis on Shariah law in its banking and finance sector this would of course result in the creation of distinctly different financial instruments for funding business ventures within the country (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). This is especially true when taking into consideration the fact that â€Å"family funds† are still one of the primary methods of funding a business within the country and external methods of funding not associated with either the state or a bank are still viewed with a certain degree of distrust by the local business culture. Aside from that, most entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia have no idea what a venture capital fund is or how it even operates, thus its level of acceptability and implementation within the context of the local economy is also rather low (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). Furthermore, since the venture capital sector of the Saudi Arabian economy is still within its relative infancy this means that the road shows, presentations, exhibits and forums normally associated with venture capital firms as seen in the context of the U.S. and the U.K. are relatively absent (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). This means that venture capitalists can neither show what methods of financing they can offer to entrepreneurs a nd neither can prospective entrepreneurs show their business ventures to venture capitalists (Chapter 4: Business Environment 2012, pp. 27-33). In the end, this creates a situation that is not at all conducive towards the development of any form of venture capital financing operation within the Saudi Arabia and explains why the amount of venture capital funding is so low within the country despite the size of its economy. Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia and the local Stock Market Aside from venture capital investments, another alternative to financing the expansion of a business venture has been through the use of the stock market. In regions such as the U.S., U.K., and several parts of Asia, posting their company on the local stock market has been an effective method by which entrepreneurs of mid-sized corporations have been able to garner sufficient funds in a rather efficient manner. Unfortunately, in the case of Saudi Arabia, it has been noted that despite the fact that the local stock market has actually improved by 50% as a source of funding for businesses, most of this has been primarily isolated to large scale enterprises and has barely been used to finance start up businesses (Bradley 2005, pp. 1- 22). One of the reasons behind this is the apparent lack of a specific market that can cater for the needs of the start up businesses. Consequently, this prevents various Saudi entrepreneurs from accessing needed funds for expansion as compared to their counterparts within the G20 countries. From a certain perspective, it can be assumed that due to the current predilection of Saudi entrepreneurs to view the stock market as a novelty exclusively for the rich rather than alternative method of funding, resulting to a situation in which the ability of the stock market to raise capital for the entrepreneurs is greatly hampered. Studies such as those seen in the report â€Å"Saudi Arabia business forecast report Q3 2012† (2012, pp. 1-51) have indicated that d espite the 90% rise in the usage of Saudi Arabian stock market, start up businesses continue to have a relatively low profile in it due to an insufficient amount of information regarding the process of registration, compliance and how the stock market works in general (Saudi Arabia business forecast report Q3 2012 2012, pp. 1-51) It is based on this that the report recommends a greater degree of government assistance in the form of information campaigns so as to educate local entrepreneurs regarding the various advantages of posting their company on the stock market (Saudi Arabia business forecast report Q3 2012 2012, pp. 1-51). Common problems that prevent Saudi entrepreneurs from obtaining finance. Hussain and Yaqub (2010, pp. 22-28) note that as it is common when an entrepreneur wants to access loan from a financial institutions, the financial institutions subject the entrepreneur through a series of checks. This entails giving a business plan that shows the ability of the busine ss to repay loans. In situations in which the business plan does not depict the ability of the business to generate the revenue that can support the repayment of the loan, the request is turned down. The challenge sometimes is not in developing business plan, but rather the ability to write a good business plan that highlights the major strengths of the business. From this section it can be seen that entrepreneurs have limited sources of capital (Hussain and Yaqub 2010, pp. 22-28). The few sources of capital that exists are meant for large-scale businesses, and not necessarily for the upcoming entrepreneurs. As it has been highlighted, most entrepreneurs obtain the much needed capital from their ‘families’. This implies that those entrepreneurs who come from families that are not well-off find it more difficult to procure the much needed capital. Additionally, it can be inferred that the financial institutions are not very friendly to the upcoming entrepreneurs and, unl ess the government institutes measures to facilitate easier access to loan for the entrepreneurs, the level of growth of the private investments will continue to be low. SOURCES OF FINANCE CHALLENGES Families Most ladies are getting educated and becoming very independent and they don’t want to get married. Some families are not very well-off such that they can facilitate financing for the entrepreneurs. Banks They prefer dealing with large scale businesses as opposed to financing small scale businesses. The banks ask for a lot of requirement from the entrepreneurs seeking loans for capital. Public Aid Programs Apparently the fund does not provide enough resources that can provide the much needed capital to the entrepreneurs. Venture capitalist Lack of venture capitalists in Saudi Arabia that can provide the much needed capital to the entrepreneurs Local stock market It is biased in favour of large scale enterprises as opposed to the upcoming business vent ures Methodology Aims Wahyuni (2012, pp. 69-80) contends that a research should have objectives. In this regard this research is supposed to consider the following objectives. Firstly, the research is supposed to investigate the sources of finance for start-up businesses in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the research will also look into the bottlenecks that the entrepreneurs face when it comes to accessing sources of finance. The other objective will be to explore the various opportunities and challenges, which the entrepreneurs have to face when it comes to accessing finance from the financial institutions. In order to achieve those objectives the research will seek to address the following questions: Where do the successful business starters in Saudi Arabia get their capital from? What challenges do business start-ups encounter when financing their ventures? What can business start-ups do to avoid failure when sourcing out capital for their ventures? Study Design Given the nature of this research, the most appropriate research design that will be adopted for this paper is the qualitative research (Bansal Corley 2012, pp. 509-513). This will enable the researcher to have open ended questions that will help in generating of information regarding the challenges which the entrepreneurs face in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the use of qualitative research method enables the researcher to have fewer participants which enable a more thorough approach to be adopted. Additionally, the information will be derived from both the primary and secondary sources. The sample participants for this study will be drawn from those individuals who have been involve in business venture in Saudi Arabia, and those who have been involved in the bank’s lending system. This will aid in getting the necessary information regarding the challenges that Saudi entrepreneurs face in an attempt to obtain finance for their fledgling businesses. The number of participants will be limited to t hirty individuals from the cities of Jeddah and Mecca. This is because qualitative research uses a limited number of participants (Bansal Corley 2012, pp. 509-513). Furthermore, the participants must have attempted to get financing from the financial institutions and failed. The participant must exclusively own or owned a business venture. Another condition for the participant is that they must have complied with the regulations regarding application for financing, including submitting a business plan. It must also be acknowledged that if any information leaks to the financial institutions it might result to victimization of those participants. For this reason, the information should be kept securely so that it cannot be accessed by people who might victimize the participants. Data Collection Process As indicated earlier, the participants for this study will be drawn from both the entrepreneurial side and the banks’ lending system. Some of the questions which could be posed to the individuals in the banking sector will be on the number of loan requests by the entrepreneurs that were rejected and those that were accepted. The researcher will also probe those participants so that he can have a glimpse at the reasons that led to either the cancellation or the acceptance of those loan requests. It must also be noted that the participants will be interviewed individually to enhance the confidentiality of the research. The participants will be instrumental in helping to unravel the challenges that the entrepreneurs face when it comes to accessing finance. Additionally, the questions that will be presented to the participants will be open-ended to enhance the ability of the research to generate a lot of information. Reliability of the interview data will be tested by comparing the variables under study with similar variables from previous studies while the validity will be tested by determining the extent to which the information concurs with global financing approaches. The interviews will be conducted on weekends to ensure that most of the participants will not be held up in their jobs, which could preclude them from attending the sessions. Another important thing which will be highlighted to the participants pertains to the confidentiality of their responses. This will encourage the participants to be more genuine with their responses. The preferred study technique for this research will be cross-sectional. This will be informed by the fact that this study is meant to unravel information which can be used in future when carrying out research on the same issue (Wahyuni 2012, pp. 69-80). Additionally, the time as well as the resources allocated for this research are vey limited and does not allow for the use of longitudinal technique. The data collected from this research will be analysed using data reduction techniques. This entails sifting through the data to determine those that are relevant to the issue being considered. Reference List Ahmad, S 2011, ‘Businesswomen in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Characteristic, growth patterns and progression in a regional context’, Equality, Diversity Inclusion, 30, 7, pp. 610-614, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Apparel Retail Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia’ 2012, Apparel Retail Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia, pp. 1-25, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. Bansal, P, Corley, K 2012, ‘Publishing in AMJ -Part 7: What’s Different about Qualitative Research?’, Academy of Management Journal, pp. 509-513, June, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Baqadir, A, Patrick, F, Burns, G 2011, ‘Addressing the skills gap in Saudi Arabia: Does vocational education address the needs of private sector employers?’, Journal Of Vocational Education Training, 63, 4, pp. 551-561, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Bradley, J R 2005, Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside A Kingdom In Crisis, Palgrave Macmillan, eBook Collection (EBSCOhost ), EBSCOhost. ‘Chapter 2: Economic Outlook’ 2011, Saudi Arabia Business Forecast Report, 3, pp. 15-23, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. ‘Chapter 4: Business Environment’ 2012, Saudi Arabia Business Forecast Report, 2, pp. 27-33, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Constraints on Development: Small Businesses in Saudi Arabia’ 1992, Middle Eastern Studies, 28, 2, pp. 333-351, International Security Counter Terrorism Reference Center, EBSCOhost. ‘Country analysis report: Saudi Arabia, 2011, Saudi Arabia Country Profile, pp. 1-68, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Country Update’ 2012, Political Risk Yearbook: Saudi Arabia Country Report, pp. U-1-U-5, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Dairy Industry Profile:. Saudi Arabia’ 2012, Dairy Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia, pp. 1-32, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Economic Growth: Outlook’ 2012, Saudi Arabia Country Monitor, pp. 4-6, Business S ource Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Economic Structure and Context: Development and Strategy’ 2012, Saudi Arabia Country Monitor, pp. 16-17, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. ‘Footwear Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia’ 2012, Footwear Industry Profile: Saudi Arabia, pp. 1-29, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. Hussain, D, Yaqub, M 2010, ‘Micro-entrepreneurs: Motivations Challenges and Success Factors’, 56, pp. 22-28, EconLit with Full Text, EBSCOhost. Jacknis, N 2011, ‘Government’s Role In Facilitating An Innovative Economy’, International Journal Of Innovation Science, 3, 3, pp. 107-116, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost. Kayed, R, Hassan, M 2010, ‘Islamic entrepreneurship: A case study of Saudi Arabia’, Journal Of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 15, 4, pp. 379-413, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Leading the way’ 2005, Banker, 155, 957, pp. 78-79, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. Lindsey, U 20 11, ‘Saudi Arabia’s $10-Billion Experiment Is Ready for Results. (cover story)’, Chronicle Of Higher Education, 57, 40, p. A1, MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost. Mahdi, K 1998, ‘Economic development’, Economic Journal, 108, 451, pp. 1970-1971, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. Mortland, S 2009, ‘A partnership fit for a King’, Crain’s Cleveland Business, 30, 5, p. 19, MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Outlook for 2011-15pp. Economic policy outlook’ 2010, Country Report. Saudi Arabia, pp. 7-9, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. Pope, H 2002, ‘For Saudi Women, Running a Business Is a Veiled Initiative. (cover story)’, Wall Street Journal – Eastern Edition, 2 January, MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost. Robson, V 2005, ‘Business behind the veil’, MEED: Middle East Economic Digest, 49, 25, pp. 40-42, International Security Counter Terrorism Reference Center, EBSCOhost. ‘Saudi Arabia’ 2012, Political Risk Yearbook: Saudi Arabia Country Report, pp. 1-18, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. ‘Saudi Arabia business forecast report Q3 2012’ 2012, Saudi Arabia Business Forecast Report, 3, pp. 1-51, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. Siddiqi, M 2008, ‘Saudi Arabia: Bucking the global trend?’, Middle East, 392, p. 44, MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost. S.T. 2000, ‘Striking out on their own’, MEED: Middle East Economic Digest, 44, 37, p. 42, International Security Counter Terrorism Reference Center, EBSCOhost. Wahyuni, D 2012, ‘The Research Design Maze: Understanding Paradigms, Cases, Methods and Methodologies’, Journal Of Applied Management Accounting Research, 10, 1, pp. 69-80, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Zahra, S, Wright, M 2011, ‘Entrepreneurship’s Next Act’, Academy Of Management Perspectives, 25, 4, pp. 67-83, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost. This dissertation on Start up business in Saudi Arabia: challenges of finding finance. was written and submitted by user W1ldPack to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Freedom Mean To Me Essay Example

Freedom Mean To Me Essay Example Freedom Mean To Me Essay Freedom Mean To Me Essay Freedom!!! Freedom!!! Freedom!!! What a great word to describe life, to describe the air that blows threw the great valley, to describe birds. All these are symbols of freedom. Why you may ask? Why life well because in life they give you the freedom to choose who and what you are going to become as a person. To choose is a form of freedom, because in the past you were not able to choose what you wanted unless you were of the white race. Also the air that blows threw the great valley because no matter how much you try to stop the wind from blowing its still going to blow. : This symbolizes freedom because although people are trying to stop you from doing what makes you happy or have the right to do, you have the right to pursue happiness. Another great example is birds. Have you ever seen a bird in the open? A flight off bird in my opinion symbolizes Freedom. Why you may ask? For many reasons they symbolize freedom because they are able to fly as high as they want to for as long as they want to through were ever they want to and the list goes on these are examples that came up to my mind as I was thinking of freedom from a general stand point. In the story, it was said indirectly that Mrs. Millard was not happy with her marriage. One can infer that through death Mrs. Millard was able to attain the freedom she desired because she no longer had to follow the rules of the nineteenth century society. It can be inferred that Mrs. Millard was an average housewife of the nineteenth century. She was a woman that wanted to have the independence that unfortunately women were not able to have in the sass. Women of the time were not allowed to go to school, not allowed to get a Job, and were expected to do coursework such as cooking and cleaning. In those times men had complete control over the money rending a woman from having the option of running away. It would have been senseless to run away since food and shelter were provided by the husband. The only way a woman would have been able to get out of a marriage was if their husband died or if they themselves pasted away. Death was the only way Mrs. Millard was able to acquire true freedom she craved. Death allowed her to be free from unfortunate life style women were forced to have at the time. She no longer had o wait on her husbands hands and feet like a nineteenth century woman was expected to do. She did not have to put up with by the rules of the nineteenth century society. Mrs. Millard became the woman she wanted to be, a true independent woman. In conclusion, freedom is a natural right that humans are born with. Nothing should threaten our freedom or deprive us from our right. In addition, our right of freedom must never harm any other human being directly or indirectly. We must respect freedom of everyone in todays society. This way we can enjoy our freedom through our life. Freedom Mean To Me By bedrooms

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

The Main Classifications of Criminal Offenses

The Main Classifications of Criminal Offenses In the United States, there are three primary classifications of criminal offenses - felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Each classification is distinguished from each other by the seriousness of the offense and the amount of punishment for which someone convicted of the crime can receive. What Is a Criminal Offense? Criminal offenses are further classified as property crimes or personal crimes. Elected officials on the federal, state, and local levels pass laws that establish which behavior constitutes a crime and what the punishment will be for someone who is found guilty of those crimes. What Is a Felony? Felonies are the most serious classification of crimes, punishable by incarceration of more than a year in prison and in some cases, life in prison without parole or capital punishment. Both property crimes and person crimes can be felonies. Murder, rape, and kidnapping are felony crimes. Armed robbery and grand theft can also be felonies. Not only can the person who committed the crime be charged with a felony, so can anyone who aided or abetted the felon before or during the crime and anyone who became accessories to the crime after it was committed, such as those who help the felon avoid capture. Most states have different classifications of felonies, with increasing penalties for the most serious crimes. Each class of felony crimes has minimum and maximum sentencing guidelines. Crimes that are classified as felonies include: Aggravated AssaultAnimal CrueltyArsonDrug DistributionElder AbuseFelony AssaultGrand TheftKidnappingManslaughterManufacturing of drugsMurderRapeTax EvasionTreason Most states also classify felonies by capital felony, followed by first through fourth degree, depending on the severity. Although each state varies when determining the degree of a felony, most states with capital felony define it as a crime, such as murder, that qualifies for the death penalty or life without parole. Common first-degree felonies include arson, rape, murder, treason, and kidnapping; Second-degree felonies can include arson, manslaughter, drug manufacturing or distribution, child pornography, and child molestation. Third and fourth-degree felonies can include pornography, involuntary manslaughter, burglary, larceny, driving under the influence, and assault and battery. Prison Sentences for Felonies Each state determines the prison sentence handed down for felony crimes based on guidelines determined by the degree of the crime. Class A is usually used to classify the most serious felonies, such as first-degree murder, rape, involuntary servitude of a minor, kidnapping in the first degree, or other crimes that are considered to be heinous. Some Class A felonies carry the toughest penalties, such as the death penalty. Each state has its own set of classifications of criminal laws. A Class B felony is a classification of crimes that are severe, yet not the most serious of crimes. Because a Class B felony is a felony, it carries tough penalties, such as a lengthy prison sentence and extreme fines. Here is an example of Texas and then Floridas felony sentencing guidelines. Texas Sentencing: Capital Felony:  Death or life without parole.First-Degree Felony: Five to 99 years  incarceration  and up to a $10,000 fine.Second-Degree Felony:  Two to 20 years incarceration and up to a $10,000 fine.Third-Degree Felony:  Two to 10 years  incarceration  and up to a $10,000 fine. Florida Maximum Sentencing: Life Felony: Up to life in prison  incarceration  and up to a $15,000 fine.First-Degree Felony: Up to 30 years  incarceration  and up to a $10,000 fine.Second-Degree Felony: Up to 15 years  incarceration  and up to a $10,000 fine.Third-Degree Felony: Up to five years  incarceration  and up to a $5,000 fine. What Is a Misdemeanor? Misdemeanors are crimes that do not rise to the severity of a felony. They are lesser crimes for which the maximum sentence is 12 months or less in jail. The distinction between misdemeanors and felonies lies within the seriousness of the crime. Aggravated assault (beating someone with a baseball bat, for example) is a felony, while simple battery (slapping someone in the face) is a misdemeanor. But some crimes that are usually treated as misdemeanors in the courts can rise to the level of a felony under certain circumstances. For example, in some states, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor, but possession of more than an ounce is considered possession with intent to distribute and is treated as a felony. Likewise, an arrest for driving under the influence is usually a misdemeanor, but if anyone was hurt or killed or if it is not the drivers first DUI offense, the charge can become a felony. What Is an Infraction? Infractions are crimes for which jail time is usually not a possible sentence. Sometimes known as petty crimes, infractions are often punishable by fines, which can be paid without even going to court. Most infractions are local laws or ordinances passed as a deterrence to dangerous or nuisance behavior, such as setting speed limits in school zones, no parking zones, traffic laws, or anti-noise ordinances. Infractions can also include operating a business without the proper license or improperly disposing of trash. Under some circumstances, an infraction can rise to the level of a more serious crime. Running a stop sign might be a minor infraction, but not stopping for the sign and causing damage or injury is a more serious offense. Capital Crimes Capital crimes are those which are punishable by death. They are, of course, felonies. The difference between other classes of felonies and capital felonies is the fact that those accused of capital crimes can pay the ultimate penalty, the loss of their life.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Co-operation insurance company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Co-operation insurance company - Assignment Example It has been seen that insurance agents are most productive when they fall in the age group of 24-45 and tend to be fast movers in between insurance companies. Women employees are also hard to retain. In terms of overall performance, factors like age, level of education and gender have maximum correlation in contributing to success of a company (Beck & Webb, 2003, p.86). Since many providers in the insurance industry, like this company, have agents online, it will be difficult for them to realize sales goals and survive in the industry where active face to face interactions and agent dynamism are the main propellers of business. Although we do see a shift in practices over the past two years, where insurance services are being provided online, the industry still relies largely on face to face interactions. The insurance industry has specific laws and regulations to adhere to in every country that it operates. The main onus is on whether there is a need to purchase certification for the company such that it competes easily with corporate insurance providers. In this context, since the overall turnover of co-operation insurance companies is negligibly different from those of commercial insurance companies, the need for the certification is not dire. The fact that experienced insurance agents are behind the company makes sure that the company is able to face up to legal challenges in the future (Beck & Webb, 2003, p.72). Also, since the government recognizes co-operation companies with special allowances and rebates, the company can hope to enjoy initial profits. This indicates a bright future for the insurance industry. The insurance industry is on a reverse gear internationally as the Recession has taken away hope from customers and buyers. This change in the global insurance scenario is a direct indicator of how well currency and businesses are thriving in respective countries. Since there has been a downrush in forex and

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Effect of Advertising and Mass Communication to the Society Research Paper

Effect of Advertising and Mass Communication to the Society - Research Paper Example This view, though still pandemic, was largely reproached by the research conducted in the 1940s and 1950s. These studies found that the voters with strongest political interests were the most likely to pay contemplation to the campaign and therefore were least likely to be affected by the campaign. Recently, research has aggrandized to move beyond looking only at the effects that media and contents of media have on individuals and society to observing on how living in a world with all-inescapable media change the nature of our interactions and culture. This essay will mainly focus on the effects of media on the interaction and culture of the society as a whole. (Ryan, J., & Wentworth, W. M. 1999) Mass Communication (media) is a strong force in the modern culture, particularly in the United States. Sociologists refer to this as a mediated culture where the media illustrates and creates the culture. Communities and individuals are assailed constantly with messages from a several source s including TV, billboards, and magazines etc. These messages endorse not only the products, but moods, attitudes and behaviors of the people of the society. Mass communication makes the possible visualization of celebrity: without the ability of films, magazines, and news to reach across thousands of miles, people could not become distinguished. As a matter of fact, only political figures and businessmen as well as some few notorious fugitives were famous in the past. (In Schramm, W., & In Roberts, D. F. 1971) The present level of media saturation has never existed before. As recently as the 1960s and 1970s, the television, for instance, consisted of mainly three networks, public broadcasting and a few local independent stations. These channels targeted their contents and programs primarily at the small, middle-class families. Even at that time, some middle-class families did not own a television. But today, one can find a television in the most poor of the homes and more than one TVs in the middle-class homes. Not only the availability has increased but the programming is increasingly assorted with shows aimed to satisfy the viewers of all ages, incomes, backgrounds and attitudes. The vast availability makes the television the cardinal focus of major mass-media discussions. And recently, the Internet has alleviated its role exponentially as more businessmen and ordinary working and non-working people â€Å"sign in.† While TV and Internet has dictated the mass communication (media), movies and magazines, specifically those lining the egress at grocery checkout points – also play an important role in culture as other forms of media do. (Ekstrom, R. R. 1992). The culturist theory, which was developed in the 1980s and 1990s, combines the previous two theories and illustrates that people interact with media to establish their own meanings out of the pictures and messages they receive. This theory observes the viewers as playing an active rather than a passive role in relation to mass communication. One research focuses on the audiences and how they interact with media while the other research focuses on those who create the media, especially the news. (Yssing, H. L., Handelshojskolen 2000) The researchers emphasize that the viewers choose what to watch among a wide range of channels and also how much to watch, and may choose the mute option or the VCR remote over the channel

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Summative Statement Essay -- Personal Experience

Summative Statement I did not set out to be a teacher nor did I set out to be a leader but today I am both a teacher and a leader in educational technology. Through my studies in the Educational Technology program at the University of Alaska Southeast I have created a solid foundation for that leadership role. My portfolio shows what I have learned in educational technology and my growth as a technology leader. Each artifact was chosen to emphasize what I believe is most important in education for me. They show my commitment to professional growth, my dedication in supporting student learning, and my belief in the strength of collaboration. Early on in my career as a teacher I learned the value of professional growth for myself. This took the form of professional development that I gained from conferences I attended and grants I was awarded. I also knew that I could share what I learned with others within my school and presenting at conferences. As an educational technology leader I use the knowledge and skills gained from my university classes in providing professional develop...

Friday, January 17, 2020

Discuss Computers/ Telecom Convergence and Revolution

In a global study conducted by IBM and the Economics Intelligence Unit (IEU), around 80 percent of respondents (telecom executives) affirm the importance of convergence in raking in profits (IBM, 2005). Voice and data convergence is seen as the one that would have the biggest effect, with fixed/ mobile access technology, telecom and media convergence, and IP/IT network convergence lagging behind (2005). ‘Convergence’ has been a buzz word way back in the sixties, something that affects technology, economics, legal/regulatory, and human aspects of a society. In this Information Age, convergence allows us to do more things conveniently.But what but exactly is ‘convergence’? ‘Convergence’ is defined as â€Å"coming together or towards the same point† (Thompson, 1996). The term fits in the telecommunications world for it signifies movement using a single medium. It occurs in four categories- transport, switching, application, and telecommunica tions/information technology (Fowler, 2002, p. 12). See table below. Figure 1. The Four Levels of Convergence (Fowler, 2002, p. 13) The idea behind convergence is that it should not just improve productivity, but also provide a better Return on Investment (Fowler, 2002, p. 15).Convergence, by any means, is aimed to provide make life easier both for the manufacturer (lower cost, easier management, less maintenance) and at the consumer-end (easy to use, new or improved services) In the 1960s, convergence in the transport level began, with the conversion of the telephone system to digitalization, bringing us the first T-carrier services (p. 12). Since it was barely new at that time, the Bell System was able to monopolize these services (p. 12). On the other hand, convergence at the switching level initially went by the term integration (Fowler, 2002, p. 3). Every seven years, an integrated solution is presented. A rundown of these is presented below: 1975: Satellite Business Systemsâ⠂¬â„¢ The One- a digital controller with satellite access for integrated voice, data, and video 1982: Integrated Voice/ data private branch exchange or PBX 1988: Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) 1995: Broadband ISDN or BISDN (p. 13)Some of these so-called ‘integrations’ were huge hits but on the whole, they fizzled out. Sprint, for instance, lost around $ billion when its Integrated-On-Demand (ION) services panned out (Fowler, 2002, p. 4). ION was targeted as a solution to those numerous voice and data networks by allowing the users to do voice, data, video, Intranet/Internet and fax applications utilizing a single connection (p. 14). However, the company was able to sign up around 4000 customers only (p. 14). Even its VP of Design has admitted having problems brought on by ION (p. 14). Convergence at the application level pertains to information delivery from various sources, whether data, audio, video or graphics (Fowler, 2002, p. 24). The Internet and the i ntranet are examples of this.In this Information Age, the Internet has become the greatest source of information of practically anything. Users have infiltrated it so much that one click on the Internet could come up with millions of user-generated content. Time Magazine has seen this phenomenon, naming the people or â€Å"you† as its Person of the Year 2006 in its year-ender issue. Even video uploading has crept into the World Wide Web, with over 65,000 new videos uploaded every day (Cloud, 2006, p. 46). Convergence at the telecommunications/IT deals with accessing a single resource to do multiple chores (Fowler, 2003, p. 5).In a way, it is an integration of transport, switching and telecommunication and a wider scale. For example ASP or Application Service Providers are IT-based processing units that divest certain tasks from web sites. ASP is currently losing its own battle with companies taking of ASP-units. The IBM study indicates that the drive towards convergence is br ought on by four things- competition, demand for broadband access, technological innovation, and IP- networks- enabled income growth (IBM, 2005). These set the motion for telecom convergence.In a research conducted by the Deloitte Touche group, it found out that convergence may cause also problems for the industry. The group interviewed telecom executives to assess telecoms predictions. Among its findings is the continuous need to innovate and reinvent. The Internet, for instance, has reached its peak with its explosive growth (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, 2007, p. 4). Demand is high which may lead to a growth in traffic. More so now with the demand of online videos, this may affect the transfer on the Internet’s backbone (p. 4).This very same influx may likewise clog the system, thereby slowing down its service. It is important to note that any Internet viewer wants high-speed access. Any service slowdown, even just in seconds, may case customer satisfaction. This should serve as a precaution to telecom businesses. It may also open a window to new technologies to address these problems. Broadband application is very much in demand now. Companies should take advantage of this. Either they are able to supply the demand or bold enough create other broadband appliances other than the Internet.Broadband appliances could usher in a new era in telecom convergence. Moving on. The mobile sector in the telecom industry has seen applications such as SMS, 3G and mobile television. The public is also starting to experience mobile Internet, with most units now equipped with Wireless LAN network technologies. SMS and mobile downloads make up a major chunk of mobile operators. It is therefore important to capitalize on this without sacrificing content and delivery. The government should work alongside operators to ensure that laws are implemented not just in the mobile sector but in the entire telecom industry.Connectivity plays a vital role in economic progress thus it is important to have policies that are appropriate. The telephone, facsimile, Intranet, and Intranet are involved in communication. It plays a big part in transmitting pertinent information, in spreading decision. Thus, is it is important to have sufficient quality support. To do this, it is imperative to involve all players- the users (buyers), operators and businesses (sellers) and the government (regulatory). The government should not just involve the telecomm operators in drafting laws but also the consumers in order to come up with appropriate and pertinent laws.It is a challenge for all concerned parties to come up with polices that benefit all. Speaking of the government, it should embrace convergence to improve its services. Government agencies web sites are sprouting already but the government needs to come up with additional services. For example, doing a government-related query via videoconferencing may save time and effort both for the citizen and the government employe e. One does not need to line up in an agency to ask something if he can do so in the comfort of his own home. Convergence impacts everybody.With the global market increasingly becoming competitive, it is important to know how to leverage convergence. Innovation and reinvention do not necessarily equate to satisfaction. There should be a strong commitment in the part of the government, telecomm industry and users to share technological benefits worldwide, to discern all realistic implications and come up with practical solutions, to create technological solutions that would be embraced as a way of life. If all can do that, it would be one step in making this world a better place to live in.