Department of Justice Essay

There seems to be major issue in the case of United States v. Viktor Kozenzy. The specific legal question is whether Viktor Kozenzy, Frederic Bourke, Jr, and David Pinkerton had conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Travel Act. There are many facts that support this claim. Viktor Kozenzy, Federic Bourke Jr. and David Pinkerton paid and also caused to be paid bribes to Azeri Officials. They all became shareholders of Oily Rock. Oily Rock invested in Azeri privatization vouchers. They also became part of Minaret as well. Mineret was a party to the co-investment agreement between Oily Rock and the co-investors. There seems to be lots of more facts in this case. The defendants made many corrupt payments, promises, and offers to Senior officials of the Government of Azerbaijan. They all seemed to have conspiracy to bribe and there are evidence of wire transfers and direct cash payments. They also promised two-thirds of the profits of Oily-Rock and receive two-thirds of Oily Rock vouchers. There are was also much jewelry exchanged in excess of $600,000 to Azeri officials. The source of my facts came from Justice.gov, it is the official United States Department of Justice’s website. It is very credible and accurate. There seems to be relevant laws and regulations such as Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Travel Act. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act made it unlawful to bribe officials. It was passed in 1977. I believe that the court reached the decision by the substantial evidence. There were documented evidence that shows the money laundering, stock options, and wire transfer to foreign officials. I think that the court was correct that the defendant did indeed conspire to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Travel Act. This situation could be easily avoided if the government officials had personal watching over them or checking the bank accounts. Many of the officials should be watched closely after and monitored. Works Cited The United States Deparment of Justice. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/cases/kozenyv.html

American Muslims Essay

What is a subculture? In studies of cultural subjects , a subculture is defined as a recognizable or definable group of like-minded individuals within the larger more diverse American culture. American culture itself is famous for its immense diversity and constant expansion. But within this culture many people are of different races and backgrounds forming the various subcultures. Subcultures are most commonly formed on the basis of ethnicity, religion, race, or even class. America has a huge migrant community that includes people from Latin America, South America, Africa and Asia, among many others. People from similar ethnic backgrounds thus tend to form groups for social interaction, based on their common background, and thus on common cultural practices, traditions, and more generally, just a similar lifestyle. People from the same religion form subcultures based on their common beliefs, and thus common religious practices and religious events. Individuals from the same race too often form subcultures based on their similar ancestry. And social class and status tends to form other subcultures, dividing society into the rich and the struggling. Subcultures are often quite different from the dominant culture. Such a subculture is then termed a counterculture. Many scholars also agree that subcultures give a feeling of identity and belonging to the people forming it. Most though believe that subcultures are an expression of going against the dominant culture. They are considered negative because of they do not accept the common diverse culture. Subcultures thus bring like-minded people together. But most importantly, the people forming subcultures feel separated from society, or find it unable to relate to it. Whatever the cause may be, subcultures are considered harmful to society as a whole, creating groups following there own laws, regardless of the dominant or accepted social standards. Subcultures can be identified in the form of characteristic clothing, language, music, style, aesthetics, political views and way of life. American Muslims form a large part of the general American culture, and are up to almost 7 million in number. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the country. American Muslims in fact are a subculture based on religion. The individuals themselves are form different countries like India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Bangladesh, the Middle East, Africa and many others. This particular subculture is quite distinguishable mainly because of the common religious practices. The Mosque or the ‘Masjid’ is the place of worshippers, and the centre were religious prayers, and occasions are held. The Mosque is also often a place of shelter for the poor. But the primary function of the mosque is for prayer. The followers are called to pray five times a day by the ‘Azan. ’ The Muslims also have a month of fasting called ‘Ramadan,’ at the end of which is celebration called ‘Eid. ’ This event is probably the most merry, and active event of the year, when Muslims of all ages greet each other, and wish each other a happy ‘eid. ’ Muslims follow the lunar calendar, where the month begins with sighting the moon. Another tradition is that of an annual sacrifice. On this occasion, a goat, cow or even a camel is sacrificed in the name of god. The sacrifice is carried out after the pilgrimage. The Holy ‘Kaaba’ in the city of Mecca is believed to be the House of God, and this pilgrimage is carried out in the last month of the Islamic calendar. But apart from these basic rituals, most Muslims follow many other subtle religious rules. One of these is related to food. Food is classified as either eatable, and clean, or unclean. Clean food is that which the religion allows, while unclean the one religion does not allow. Pork in particular is considered unclean. In fact, more and more American restaurants are beginning to offer a category of ‘halal’ food; that is, clean food for their Muslim customers. Most importantly, the holy book of the Muslims is the ‘Quran,’ which is a book that has almost all aspects of life. It explains the Islamic laws and rules to be followed. And finally, Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad to be the last prophet of God. The religion in fact is centered on the holy book and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

Earth Science Class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Earth Science Class - Essay Example In other words, they are low-lying clouds (Allred, 2009). Formation of a fog depends on the variation between temperature and dew point which should be less than 2.5 Â °C or 4 F (Ahrens, 1991). The formation of fog is very similar to those with a cloud. The evaporated water fuses in the atmosphere in the form of water vapors which are obtained from the local ground water sources like lakes, oceans, water streams or marshy areas. This transformation of water into water vapors from the sources results in the mixing and rise of these vapors in the air or atmosphere. Gradually and slowly, these vapors start bonding up with the small dust particles present already in the air forming the dew droplets. Further, this condensation of dew droplets causes the fog to form slightly above the ground (Miles, 2007). TYPES OF FOG: There are basically two main types of fog out of various other types that are categorized on the basis of the process of their formation. Radiation fog and Advection fog a re the main types to emphasize on. 1- Radiation Fog: Clear weather and calm winds at night are the main sources behind the formation of this type of fog. Radiation fog is formed at night when heat is discharged from the Earth’s surface with a unique swiftness. This heat has been entrapped during the day by the surface.

Islamic Rites of Passage Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Islamic Rites of Passage Study - Essay Example The hope is that the person will die with the Shahada on their lips; Washing and Shrouding of the body in a clean white cloth (kafn), is a tradition passed down from Abraham and symbolizes not only purity, cleanliness and simplicity, but adherence to the Quran. As Muhammud said, "When one of you shrouds his dead brother, he should shroud him in the best of manners." All Islamic rituals demand purification before performance. The absence of color, the cleansing of the body, also signify a transition from worldly contamination, and preparation for a better, holier place. A variant on this practice is that those who die as martyrs may be buried in their own clothes, and some sects will use three sheets, while others only one. Performing such rituals on the body not only reaffirms faith, but allows comfort for the bereaved, who are caring for and helping the lost loved one. Funeral Prayers (Salat-l-Janazah) are said outdoors, with the Imam standing in front of the body. These are similar to the five daily prayers, with the first said aloud, the others silently, and known as Takbirs. The time, place, language, objects and actions provide a continuity, yet a transition from life to death, and allows individuals to add their own silent intentions for the person. Burial, which takes place quickly after death, to avoid worldly contamination, is always facing Mecca, and in a simple grave.

Individual project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Individual project 2 - Essay Example On the other hand, NASDAQ is highly automated in operations. Trading at NASDAQ happens in the invisible trading system. The second major difference is based on the types of stocks that are traded at each exchange. NASDAQ focuses on high growth IT and Telecommunications industry. Most of the Silicon Valley biggies are actively traded on NASDAQ. Even, IT companies from other countries are listing themselves at NASDAQ through the allowable investment routes. At the same time NYSE focuses on the traditional market consisting of auto, electronic and semiconductors, etc. The charges for listing in NYSE are as high as $250,000 while that for NASDAQ is $150,000. NASDAQ is seemed to be a highly volatile market while NYSE is less volatile. This is also known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act may be defined as â€Å"An act passed by U.S. Congress in 2002 to protect investors from the possibility of fraudulent accounting activities by corporations.† (Investopedia, 2012) The SOX was a result of various well known scams in the early 2000 such as Enron, Tyco and WorldCom. The act lays down various rules and guidelines that have to be followed mandatorily by an organization. The act applies to all publicly listed companies and its two main objectives are investor protection and prohibition of misrepresentation of financial data. The administrative authority of the act is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As per the Act, a business firm should maintain their financial records at least for a period of five years failing which the concerned authority will be subjected to fines and/or imprisonment. This Act also applies to those companies from other countries that are listed in the US stock markets. The act has brought about changes even to the composition of the board of an organization. Post the act, it is mandatory for all public companies to form an audit committee as part of the board of directors. Companies are also not supposed to

Warehousing and Inventory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Warehousing and Inventory Management - Essay Example A computerized management system is the best option. Any WMS must ensure an effective and efficient management of inventory. A WMS aims at controlling and storing of inventory in the warehouse. This process is closely linked to transactions such as putting away and picking, receiving and shipping. WMS also help in directing and optimizing inventory put-away based on real-time information concerning status of bin utilization. WMS usually make use of data capture facilities such as wireless LANs, RFID, mobile computers, and barcode readers. Data collection is followed by either batch synchronization or wireless transmission to a central database. This can then give useful reports about the status of inventory in the warehouse. WMSs aim at providing automated procedures of handling receipt and returns of inventory, modelling and managing logical representation of the warehouse, managing inventory within the store and enabling a seamless link to order processing. WMSs help in controlling the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse. They data-track inventory during production and interpret between existing ERP and WMS systems Warehouse management should be incorporated with the rest of the business to help in streamlining operations, reducing costs and speeding up order fulfilment. Setting up of a criterion to help in guiding the most efficient put away locations, bin quantities, and pick patterns is very vital in warehouse management. Any warehouse management practice should help in reducing bottlenecks and multiple handling. Materials handling information should be input directly from the warehouse to assist in reducing inefficiency and data handling redundancy (Frazelle, 2001). Pick and pack process in a warehouse should be automatically updated. This ensures accurate and timely fulfilling of orders and quickly responding to status inquiry. The warehouse management should decide on the sophistication level of their management system confidently. It should adapt to new volumes, technologies, products and processes with ease. It should also be at par with the growth of the business (Warman, 1971). Integration of other business operations such as manufacturing and order processing with warehouse helps in optimizing the layout, handling multiple orders, managing replenishment, and proper utilizing of space. The warehouse manager should incorporate various pick prioritization methods that include FIFO, FEFO and LILO into directed movement, pick and put away decisions (Frazelle, 2001). All credit or debit inventory records should be kept separate from sales, source documents and purchase receipts. This will help in maintaining accurate inventory records one when one needs to access records for display and testing among other operational needs. The warehouse manager should keep a visible inventory to help in increasing the efficiency and accuracy of management (Jenkins, 1968). To help in item tracking serial numbers should be used to help in determining where the products were bought, processed and sold. This will help in reducing waste and limiting carriage of expired stock via FEFO handling. Warehouse management

Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Research Proposal - Essay Example All the countries round the world are concerned about the carbon footprints and its effects. The developed countries have already taken various measures and adopted policies under the Kyoto Protocol. The other developing countries are taking steps towards reduction of greenhouse effect but none of them have accepted the international legal bindings to do so (Ackerstein, and Katherine, 2007; Ginsburg, and Bloom, 2004). This study would be focusing on green marketing, which would not only include the corporate strategies of the multinationals towards manufacturing and selling their products in an eco-friendly manner, but also analyze the other functions of the companies, which also depict their eco-friendly initiatives such as adoption of green accounting, and eco-friendly promotional strategies. Few well-known multinational companies would be chosen to discuss their green strategic framework within which environment friendly production, operation, promotion, supply chain, and even fin ancial practices would be comprehensively discussed. 1.2 Research Objectives The aim of this research study is to scrutinize the eco-friendly marketing strategies that are adopted by the multinational companies. The major objectives would be to recognize the green or eco-friendly strategic framework of few multinational companies, and evaluate the benefits that these companies enjoy for such an initiative. 1.3 Research Questions The research questions have been formulated in line with the aims and objectives of this research study. They are stated below: Q1: How does the multinational companies segment their target market on the basis of customers; preference for green marketing or products? Q2: What prerequisites are considered for selecting green marketing strategies in these companies? Q3: How does the marketing mix change when the company chooses to shift towards green marketing? Q4: What benefits or advantages companies enjoys after adopting eco-friendly strategies? Q5: How doe s green accounting benefit multinational companies? Chapter II: LITERATURE REVIEW Literature review assist in evaluation of scientific theories and literature that has been identified through research. These are information available through existing database on green marketing and related strategies adopted by the companies in the past and also during the present business environment. These information or data in turn also assist in laying foundation for further research studies. Ginsberg and Bloom (2004), stated in order to proceed with conducting a research on the stated research question, firstly, a rich understanding on green marketing and the preferences of the customers for it, has to be gained. Various research studies show that in order to identify the target market in this case, there is requirement for customers’ tendency towards green marketing (Fuller, 1999; Coddington, 1993). There is no fixed green marketing strategy on the basis of which all the companies desi gn their strategic framework. It depends on the aims, objectives, mission, and vision of the company (Polonsky and Charter, 1999). The consumption of energy and change in climate are closely related. Multinationals

Globalization As a Source and an Antidote for Conflict Research Paper

Globalization As a Source and an Antidote for Conflict - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that no other phenomenon in the contemporary world has influenced the life of modern man as comprehensively as globalization, which has already left its imprint on the economic, cultural, and political spheres of human life. Significantly, the most distinguishing feature of globalization has been that it helped integrate the regional economies, societies, and cultures of the world into a global network of political ideas. In order to comprehend the real meaning of globalization, it is fundamental to realize the intricacies of international trade relations, economic institutions, the socio-cultural realms of international relations, the political ideologies and strategies affecting the economic relationship between the different nations, etc. The political activists and scholars dealing with the term ‘globalization’ explain it as an amalgam of the economic, political, cultural, ideological, and environmental practices in the dif ferent parts of the world. Manfred Steger describes globalization as a multifaceted system encompassing global, regional, and local aspects of social life. â€Å"The term globalization applies to a set of social processes that appear to transform our present social condition of weakening nationality into one of globality. At its core, then, globalization is about shifting forms of human contact†¦ Indeed †¦ the term globalization suggests a sort of dynamism bet captured by the notion of ‘development’†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . ...In other words, globalization is one of the most contested topics in the current social sciences, and there have been different types of theories of globalization, explaining the outcomes and advantages of this global phenomenon differently. In one of the noteworthy articles related to the topic, Mauro F Guillen examines the five key debates concerning globalization. According to him, â€Å"Observers and theorists of globalization have variously argued that the rapid increase in cross-border economic, social, technological and cultural exchange is civilizing, destructive, and feeble†¦ As in the civilizing view, the destructive interpretation regards globalization as leading to convergence, albeit predicting harmful rather than beneficial consequences.† (Guillen, 2010, p. 4). Therefore, it becomes obvious that the basic debate concerning globalization is whether it is civilizing, destructive, or feeble. There are also disagreements over the definition of globalization, when and where it started, etc. However, the key five debates concerning globalization, as Guillen points out, are whether: a) globalization is really happening, b) globalization produces convergence, c) globalization undermines the authority of the nation-state, d) globality is different from modernity, and e) global culture is in the making. (Guillen, 2010, p. 4). Whereas everyone agrees upon these types of debates happening across the globe on the topic of globalization, it should be remembered that these debates do not promise any easy answers to the heated topic. One of the most relevant studies on the debates concerning globalization has been the article â€Å"How to Judge Globalism† by Nobel prize-winner Amartya Sen, in which he argues that viewing

Abraham & Isaac Essay Example for Free

Abraham Isaac Essay In this classical piece of art, there is a connection with the biblical story of Abraham abiding to God’s command. Abraham is commanded to sacrifice his one and only son. â€Å"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.† (Genesis 22:1-2) And so the picture depicts the last moments of Abraham and his son, where Abraham is about to make the greatest sacrifice; therefore, God sends down an Angel to stop him and bless him afterwards for showing great faith. â€Å"Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore†¦ said the Lord† (Genesis 22:15) See more: Recruitment and selection process essay By analyzing the painting, we can distinguish the characters and determine the setting, harmonizing with the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. First, there are three important characters in the painting that are drawn in great detail. The first character we can identify is Abraham who is in the center of the picture, where all the action is happening. We can tell that Abraham is the one who is holding the knife in his dominant hand ready to make sacrifice, with Isaac on the table. The main character Abraham, is wearing bright colors of red and purple, known to be royal colors and revered. Abraham is also clothed fully from top to bottom showing little skin. The Angel in the background is wearing a bright white garment clothed from top to bottom. We can tell that the Angel is advising Abraham because Abraham’s attention is towards this Angel. We know this is an angel who came down from heaven because of the white wings on its back and how it is levitating from the ground. And know that Isaac is on the table because of how young he looks and little he is clothed. I also identified how innocent they are by observing the skin tone in each character. Abraham is the darkest because of his life experience and coming of old age, the Angel has a mild tone after Abraham, and then there is Isaac who is palest of them all. I also interpreted their level of maturity by the color of their hair. Abraham being the oldest having white hair, the Angel having mild brown hair, and Isaac being the youngest with healthy dark, black hair. Looking at the position of the characters we can also depict the hierarchy levels in each character. Angel remains on the highest ground, then Abraham, and then Isaac. I find it particularly interesting to find the lamb being on higher grounds than Isaac, this could be to show the importance of this animal that is chosen to be sacrificed for God. Before Abraham is to make his sacrifice, he kneels before the wooden altar staying close to his son. We can pick up senses that the father has a loving relationship for his son. There are also emotions in these characters. Abraham exhibits sadness and worry in his facial expression. Isaac has a helpless, sad expression, where he knows his end will come by his own father’s hands. What I find amusing the most is that in this painting, Isaac may have knew he was going to be the sacrificial lamb. I believe Isaac knew from the point when he asked his father where the lamb for burnt-offering was. I conclude that he knew of this because the way he is tied up. Isaac is not tied up by the feet, nor is his hands tied to the table. If Isaac really wanted to run away he could’ve easily done so. Instead Isaac accepted the fact that he was going to be sacrificed and so he did not struggle. Next, the scenery helps us identify the setting of the biblical account on Abraham sacrificing Isaac. The picture background clearly identifies that the sacrificing takes place in a mountain. In the background there is large land below their elevation noting how high this is taking place. With the details in the picture we can tell that the setting took place in a dark shady area. This picture also exhibits the time of season, around the time of fall because there are missing leaves on the branches. On the right bottom corner there is moss growing on rocks, and moss only grows in moist and shady areas. With the details of the moss and dark colors we can get a sense of dark atmosphere of something is not right in the picture. The location of the sun and the angle of the shadow on the land below do not correspond with each other. The area where it’s brightest above the Angel’s finger can actually represent God or the Heavens above. The sun should be more towards our left in front of the characters where the light shines on the tree and the characters. Also the branches and the angle of this painting show that it is pointing to the West. I can only conclude that the reason to pointing to the West has to do something with the sun rising in the West and setting in the East. Even the Angel and the lamb are looking to the West while Abraham and Isaac is the only one in the picture looking to the East. In conclusion, I can speculate from the details in the painting that it interprets the biblical text of the Lord testing Abraham to sacrifice his own son. This painting exhibits a theme of fear. Abraham fears the Lord and so he chooses to pursue God’s command by free will. Isaac displays fear in his facial expression but does not struggle for his life.

Original intent of Second amendment Essay Example for Free

Original intent of Second amendment Essay The second Amendment text is very clear to most of us, â€Å"A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed† (Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution). Is such a text so complex to comprehend? It appears that yes, it is complex. Even a number of those who back it are not fond of the wording of the text, since it supposedly raises misunderstanding. However, the Second Amendment is in fact a well-formulated statement. By this it means that, the wordings of Second Amendment only allow one logical interpretation of the intended meaning, â€Å"the right of individuals to own firearms need to be upheld and respected† (Van Alstyne, 1242). This essay aims at discussing the original intent of the second amendment, to discuss this issue; the paper will start by explaining the founding father’s viewpoint of their intent in writing the second amendment. Then, the paper will explore the meaning of the word â€Å"militia† as it was used in its historical perspective for a clear theoretical understanding. The essay will also review the Miller vs.  US (1939), court case which is related to the subject under discussion, and lastly a brief conclusion will be provided to sum up the essay. The founding fathers’ view of second amendment The founding fathers of America who founded the American nation were well educated, and a lot of them studied Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages which allowed them to study the classic literature from their original scripts. The founding fathers were as well influenced by different great philosophers who lived before them like Aristotle, Plato, Richard hooker, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Adam Smith, Sir William Blackstone and many others (Skousen, 67). Sir, Blackstone an English law scholar and lecturer at the Oxford University was the most influential since he lived at same era with the founding fathers. In his well-known commentaries about England laws, he for instance incorporated the right to firearms as one of the five â€Å"absolute right of Englishmen† (Gottlieb, 72) When the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, he recognized ‘unalienable rights’, which included life as well as liberty. These two rights are as well called natural rights, and are believed to have been given to man by nature or God and these rights can not be lawfully denied (Gottlieb, 72). During this period, John Adam in his writing wrote that there exists a law though not written down at anyplace, but which is inherent, a law that comes to human beings without any training or tradition or learning but which is derived and absorbed and adopted from nature. He added that this law had came to man by practice and not theory, and through natural intuition and not by instruction. He concluded that he was referring to the law which stipulates that, if an individual life is endangered by armed robbers or violence or by an enemy, then an individual had a moral obligation to use any method possible to protect himself. Thus, John Adams had a conviction that every person was born as a free individual and with his independence, and such a person had some natural, basic and undeniable rights, and one of the rights was the right to defend one’s life and liberties (Cooper, 25). During the month in which the Declaration of Independence was written, Thomas Jefferson had written a model constitution for the state of Virginia which stipulated that â€Å"no free man shall be denied the use of firearms† (Gollieb, 68). The American founding fathers had personal experienced the pain of being occupied by the British troops and they understood how it felt to be occupied by foreign forces. In addition, they understood the essence of having prepared citizens to challenge the power of a suppressing government or an attacking army. Without the armed citizen, victory and success of Americans in the revolutionary war fought to liberate the country would possibly have not been achievable. In addition, Richard Gardener who was a Director of the National Rifle Association (NRA) explains that during the period of American Revolution, the English law had established a custom of keeping and carrying firearms which went back for nearly 100 years. Thus, it was in this custom of an individual’s right to own and use firearm for personal defense, and also to for defending the country that sparked off the American Revolution when the British army that was occupying America tried to takeover powder stores and disarm the people of Boston, seeking to deny them the ability of protecting their natural rights. After the revolution war and victory to the Americans, the founding fathers were faced with a new challenge; this challenge was establishing a constructive government for the new independent nation. Naturally, the founding fathers utilized their vast knowledge of philosophy and history together with spiritual beliefs, to formulate a government for the people of America which above all would preserve and maintain individual liberties and govern the people through their consent. Among the freedoms which were not to be interfered by the government were speech, religion and press. But, the founding fathers of the nation were also firm in their conviction that firearms were legitimate, valuable and essential component of a free nation. Richard Henry Lee wrote that, to protect and maintain liberty, it was necessary that the entire mass of people always should possess arms and more so, they should be taught particularly when they are young on how to use these arms (Gottlieb, 74). Accordingly, it can be seen that the fathers who founded America were not ashamed in any way about their liking of fire arms. For instance, Thomas Jefferson got a handgun when he was only ten years. Jefferson had a conviction that each boy ought to be given a chance to carry a gun. Below is an extract form one of the letters he sent to his nephew. †¢ A body that is strong makes the mind to be strong. For exercising your body and mind, I recommend a gun, whereas this provides a modest exercise to ones body, it as well offers boldness, activity and autonomous to the mind. Ball games and some other games are extremely violent to the body and they do not provide any character to the mind. Therefore, let your firearm be the usual escort as you work (Gottlieb, 70) During the ratification of the constitution, Van Alstyne (1237) explains that, both sides on the political divide supported the right of citizens to own firearms. John Adams and his cousin Sam Adams on opposing sides of the debate to make the ratification both agreed that, citizens had a right to own and carry firearms. At the Massachusetts conference, Sam opposed any ratification unless if accompanied by a stipulation â€Å"that the said Constitution be never construed o prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms. † (Gottlieb, 73) On the other hand John Adams, who later became president of America, wrote that firearms being owned by citizens might be used according to a person’s judgment, to defend his country, overthrow an oppressive regime, or defend himself (Gottlieb, 73). Indeed, those opposing the federalist government, like George Mason opposed the ratification of the constitution because it did not contain the Bill of Rights. Mason, who earlier had taken part in the constitution writing left, Philadelphia earlier and refused to endorse the document, since it did not incorporate a particular bill of rights, He reminded the delegates at Virginia that the revolutionary war fought earlier had been started by the attempt of the British to impound the firearms of the patriots of Concord. Thus, Mason liken the British approach of trying o disarm people, as a way to try and enslave them. Gottlieb, 59) However, Alexander Hamilton argued that it was not necessary to include the bill of rights since the individuals were already having those rights and they could not be denied or taken away from them. He added that, if the government which represented the people betrayed its people, then the citizens will not have any option apart from exercising their initial right of defending themselves, he further argued that, this right is important, and should be given to the people by all positive governments. But, supposing the government creates an army to force its will; then such an army will never be strong enough to defeat people ready and willing to defend their won rights. Madison as well was against the bill of rights (Van Alstyne, 1234). However, he gave in because of pressure from the Anti-Federalist (who wanted a fresh constitutional convention) so that he could preserve what had been already achieved regarding the constitution. But, Madison made a promise to propose some amendments to include the Bill of Rights supposing the constitution was ever ratified. As we are aware, the constitution was later ratified and true to his words, Madison fulfilled his earlier promise. Here is an original wording amendment that Madison initially proposed in the House of Representatives in August of 1789 â€Å"A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, being the best security of free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; but no person religiously scrupulous shall be compelled to bear arms†. (Halbrook, 77) But, Halbrook (78) explains that there was a debate afterwards and thus some alterations on the wording of the text were done, for example the mention of religious people was removed. To add on that, Halbrook also explains that since there was a general understanding on the meaning of the word ‘militia’, the expression â€Å"composed of the body of the people,† was removed from the text to make it short and clear (Halbrook, 78). At the time the first congress adopted the Bill of Rights, there was an understanding that the federal government had limited powers over the citizens. Presently a number of people dispute the understanding that the Second Amendment provided each and every citizen the right to own and carry firearms. They argue that the right stated in the Amendment implies a ‘collective right of the nation’ however such a viewpoint ignore the phrase â€Å"the right of the people† a phrase used in the first, then the second and also in the fourth amendments. Moreover, supposing that the collective concept is used on some other amendments which acknowledges natural rights of an individual or on individual rights like speech and religion, then it will mean that the state would as well have power over these rights also! A notion that would shock and outrage the country. In addition, the positioning of the Second Amendment within the Bill of Rights, which is amidst the rights of speech, right to assembly and the right of individuals from unnecessary searches and confiscations clearly indicates that the concept of collective right by the state is incorrect. In deed, Alan Gottlieb, president of The Second Amendment Foundation, asserts that each of founding fathers who debated arms categorically endorsed possession of firearms as a basic individual right (Gottlieb, 76). To explore this observation we shall outline the thoughts of George Washington.

Colgate Competitor Analysis

Colgate Competitor Analysis It all began in 1806, when soap was commonly made at home; William Colgate had the genius idea to start selling individual portions of starch, soap and candles. This business was born on Dutch Street, in New York City, from where he delivered his merchandise to all customers, an innovative approach at the time. By 1817, the first Colgate advertisement appeared in a New York newspaper, and several years later, they expanded and established a factory in New Jersey, an indication of their growing success. This company was passed down from son to son, each and every one of them striving for integrity and quality in every aspect of the business. Concepts such as Colgate people were a way of managing, not just a team, but a family. This concept was first introduced by the founder and is still used today. Throughout the years, Colgate was an innovator, always developing new products. They were able to forecast market trends before the competition and develop strong brand equity through merg ers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. The first merger was with Palmolive Company, a soap company as well. Together, they created the first scented soaps, perfumes, and essences. In 1872, Colgate introduced toothpaste in malleable tube similar to the one we know today. Superior merits gave this convenient and simple brand the prestige to successfully tap into several different markets. In 1900, they won an honorable award for their premium soaps and perfumes at the Worlds Fair, which was conducted in Paris. In 1906, the 100th anniversary pronounced the success of over 800 brands, multiplying considerably in the years to follow. The years to come involve Colgate starting to think globally, by doing so through a subsidiary in Canada, quickly followed by operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The development of new brands begins going rapidly, and what seems to be like one influential brand after the other is constantly bombarding the market. Many cleaning products are established such as Ajax and Soupline, which was first popular in France and is now sold in 54 countries around the world. The Palmolive dishwashing liquid was introduced in 1966 and can now be found on rack of your local grocery store. Irish Spring, Caprice hair care, and Protex, are brands that you are also probably aware of, proving to still be successful to this day, and can be found in over 70 countries. In 1976, they even acquired a leader in dog food named Hills, which shows to what extent they were confidently conquering the world horizontally with this wide variety of products. In 1983, one of todays extremely popular pr oducts, the Colgate Plus toothbrush, is launched. So many are sold annually that if you lined them up end to end, they would circle the globe 16 times. (Colgate Website) Soon after,a joint venture is made with leading oral care companies in Hong Kong. Acquisitions are made buying Murphy Oil Soap, Mennen,  Kolynos Oral Care, popular in Latin America, Gaba, prevalent in Europe, and they most recently bought Toms of Maine, a US based natural toothpaste. By 1989 the annual sales were surpassing 5 billion dollars, and by 1997, Colgate Total toothpaste is recognized as the market leader. With sales today surpassing the 15$ billion benchmark, Colgate continues to be a strong player in todays oral care market. Moreover, the company also conducts triple bottom line practices, reaching for success while targeting benefits for people, profits, and the environment. They have a You Can Make A Difference Program, which distinguishes the Colgate people for their grand efforts. Furthermore, they established Colgates HIV/AIDS initiatives in South Africa. As for performance and profit, they have been ranked in Business Week and GovernanceMetrics International Inc. as having the top Oral Care products. Concerning sustainable practices and respect for the environment, they contributed in a 40% decrease in water use, a 22% reduction in C02 emissions, and was the first of its industry to use recycled material in Europe. Market Industry and Market Analysis With over 24% category share in 2009, Colgate-Palmolive maintained its position as a world leader in oral care followed by Procter Gamble Co with 19.9% of company shares, and GlaxoSmithKline Pc with 9.9% (GMID company shares) (appendix with company shares graph). A significant reason why Colgate benefits from the highest market share in the oral care category is due to it high level of product development. They constantly launch new and innovative products, which gives them a competitive advantage in the market, and this is a big part of the companys strategy driving profitable growth. For example, in 2009 the company introduced the Colgate Wisp which was the first disposable mini-toothbrush with a breath freshening bead that allows the user to have a clean, fresh mouth with no water or rinsing. Due to their strong product development capability and focus on innovation, Colgate-Palmolive is in a position to continuously upgrade its product line regularly, thereby increasing custome r loyalty and revenues.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Another reason why Colgate has been able to acquire such a high market share is because of its high focus on marketing, leading to strong brand equity. Their marketing strategies involve offering products based on consumers needs and communicating the benefits though methods like free sampling as well as the Internet. Using this approach worldwide has been successful in increasing sales but also in acquiring a larger size of the overall category of the market. A further reason why the market share is high is because the brand enjoys a strong level of consumer recognition. Therefore, they have the possibility of gaining leverage in new markets and maintaining loyalty of existing customers.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   In addition to being a global leader in terms of company shares, Colgate Palmolive Co also has the highest brand share in oral care, with Colgate possessing 19.8% in 2009. The Colgate brand is followed by the Braun Oral-B brand having 9% of the market and then by Crest obtaining 6.4% of brand shares in that same year (GMID- product development) (appendix with brand shares graph). Other smaller but still significant competitors that Colgate-Palmolive faces in the oral care category include Johnson Johnson Inc, with their Listerine brand accounting for 6.4% of brand shares, followed by the Unilever group with Signal that has 4.1%, and finally GlaxoSmithKline Pc who owns the Aquafresh brand with 3.3% of brand shares.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   It is important to note that although the Colgate brand is experiencing growth year after year, the oral care is a mature category with limited room for innovation. Even though there are some growth opportunities, because oral care accounts for around 63% of Colgate-Palmolives beauty and personal care revenue, it is highly exposed to a slump in this category. In addition to being a mature category, the oral care products are facing a higher level of competition from private labels, which again hinders the profitability of the category. The increasing purchase of private labels is largely due to the decreasing spending power, which is caused by the high level of unemployment in many sectors since the economic downturn occurred. With a minimal cost per purchase, maintaining a high level of brand equity allows Colgate to remain competitive versus lower cost rivals. It also prevents recently established firms from gaining ma rket share. With the threat of private label, Colgate increased their effort towards innovation and branding by promoting the fact that they are the most recommended brand by dentists. This has helped Colgate fight the competitive pressures they are facing in the market. Not only does Colgate face increased competition from low-market brands but also from their major competitors such as Procter Gamble oral care products, who are also looking to expand globally in more perspective markets. Therefore, it is primordial for Colgate to continue investing in product development catering to customer needs, in order to face their increasing competition.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   There is also the issue of counterfeiting oral care products which is posing a significant threat to the company in terms of revenue loss. In 2009 thousands of tubes of fake Colgate toothpaste were recalled. This had a negative effect on customer satisfaction since purchasers of the authentic Colgate could stop buying this brand in the future believing that it is inferior to other brands and therefore decreasing customer retention (Datamonitor).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Despite the significant threats that Colgate faced in the oral care category, the company intends to remain in a market leading position and continues to have globally recognized brands by seeking opportunities allowing them to do so. For instance, Colgate had begun taking advantage of the economic and population growth with developing and emerging economies such as Brazil, India and China. Each of these economies show very high growth prospects in terms of demand in the upcoming years for consumer goods like oral care products. For instance, it is expected that between 2009 and 2014, Brazil will be the fastest growing market in oral care by accounting for 20% of the global growth, followed by China with 18%, and India with 9%. Although Colgate-Palmolive dominates oral care in Brazil, China and India with 44%, 26% and 38% of market share respectively, it is essential for the company to maintain and increase its presence in these economies in order to reap the benefits of this growth rate (GMID-product development) (appendix with market presence graph). However, they have already begun facing strong competition from their rivals PG and Johnson and Johnson in these countries. Local players in India and China have also begun gaining importance in their individual markets. Domestic companies such as Yunnan Baiyao in China, and Dabur in Japan, have begun offering herbal/natural oral care products and there is a growing demand for them. Since Colgate is one of the most valued and recognized brands globally, they are in a good position to take advantage of this market and further increase their market share. Competitive Analysis of Oral Care in the Canadian Market In the Canadian market, as of 2009, Colgate-Palmolive was the second leading company, with 18% of the market share in the oral care sector, after PG who possessed 34%, and just before Johnson and Johnson, who owned 17% of shares (Euromonitor) (Appendix oral company shares 2005-2009). In terms of company shares by brand in Canada, in 2009, Crest led the oral care category with 18.6% of shares, followed by Colgate Total with 7.8%, Listerine with 7.1%, and Braun Oral-B with 6.4%. Refer to appendix xx for oral care brand shares.Nevertheless, during that same year, Colgate was a leader in the sales of toothpaste with 42% of the value share (with Colgate Total accounting for a total of 21.5%) followed by Crest with 30.2% (Appendix toothpaste brand shares). The third company was SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare Inc (SBCH), whose 13% market share was largely due to the introduction of Sensodyne in 2007, which was very popular in the Canadian market. In reaction to this, Colgate launche d a similar toothpaste in 2009 for sensitive teeth called Colgate Pro Relief, which was clinically proven to deliver instant and lasting relief from sensitivity. Another significant rival in the oral care category in Canada is Johnson and Johnson whom, aside from having a big presence in toothbrushes and denture care, was the leader in mouthwash/dental rinses with its Listerine brand, holding 52% of the value share in 2009. Not far behind was Scope (PG) with 26%, and Peroxyl (Colgate) in fifth place with less than 1% share (mouthwash/dental rinses shares appendix).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   When looking at PG, Colgates main competitor, their portfolio of brands in oral care category is highly diversified with Crest toothpastes and toothbrushes, whitening strips; Oral-B toothbrushes, and Scope mouthwashes/dental rinses. Also, like Colgate-Palmolive, PG continuously invest in strong marketing and advertising in order to maintain excellent brand image and brand awareness in the Canada. Therefore, in order to remain competitive and gain greater market share in the Canadian market, not only will Colgate need to continue to invest heavily in marketing, but a large amount will also have to be allocated towards innovation and product development. Knowing this, the company has recently introduced a multitude of new products including Colgate 360 ° ActiFlex, Colgate Max White, the re-launch of Colgate Total toothpaste and many more. Even though Colgate faces fierce competition in the Canadian market, there are many opportunities for them to exploit in order to gain market share. For instance, it is expected that tooth whitener products will be increasingly profitable, with a CAGR of 4% from 2009-2014 (Euromonitor). In addition, a CAGR of 3% is expected during that same period for manual toothbrushes, mouthwash/dental rinses and dental floss (Oral Care- Canada). Due to the increasing number of elderly people in Canada, it is expected that the denture care products will grow at a CAGR of 3% from 2009-2014.   It is essential for Colgate that they take advantage of these relatively high growth rates in Canada for the different oral care products, in order to acquire new customers and retain those who have been loyal to this day. Canadian Consumer Profile Being part of such a competitive market, Colgate aims to deliver maximized customer value to the market, offering a multi-product segment strategy. Colgate has identified all ages with any economic backgrounds as their target market, with the most focus on the baby boomer generation. There is an increasing growth of older demographics with low rate of childbirth, and this has had a direct impact on Colgate products. This shift resulted in a larger demand for oral care products that helps tooth discolouration, tooth sensitivity, and gum problems. The baby boomers usually have the highest disposable income, and they demand additional health benefits. This allows Colgate to position this segments products at a premium price. With this strategy, Colgate had 19.1% of sales from sensitive toothpastes in 2009, illustrating a profitable customer focus. As well, the recession in 2008 allowed Colgate to further focus their sales towards baby boomers. Due to the recession, the number of profess ional tooth whitening surgeries fell, which caused an increase in the demand for whitening toothpastes. Colgate, offering a wide variety of whitening toothpastes, was able to increase their sales in this sector, with sales of $78.2 million, which consists of 38.9% of their sales. It is also forecasted that the demand for tooth whiteners are to increase by 4% from 2009 to 2014. Not only is Colgate targeting baby boomers, but it is also targeting children to capture a long-term relationship with this age group as 6.8% of sales are from childrens toothpastes. For low to middle class consumers that are price-sensitive, Colgate offers traditional toothpaste. They comprise about 6.9% of their total sales. For quality-conscious consumers, Colgate offers wide variety of complete care toothpastes 18.2% of the sales. Colgate continues to increase brand recognition in this mature market to increase retention and loyalty by consistently offering a variety of products that best suit any customers needs. Strategy Product With over 20 different toothpastes, 11 different toothbrushes, 5 different childrens products, 10 different tooth whitening, and 10 different oral care specialties available in Canada, Colgate has successfully gained customer loyalty (see Appendix 1.1). This variety of products illustrates that Colgate has used a needs based segment strategy to attract every customer with different tastes. To list a few examples, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Reliefs feature of plugging and sealing open dentin tubules intends to gain interest from adults and elders whose sensitivity levels are much higher than other consumers. Moreover, Colgate Max Fresh mainly targets young adults with their different flavors and protection from bad breath. On the other hand, the idea of Colgate SpongeBob SquarePants Battery-Powered Toothbrushes was innovated to attract children, but it also was created with gentle bristles to protect their gums. From these following examples, it is obvious to note that Colgate is recognizi ng and understanding clients needs by providing the right products for each age group, which is a key factor when trying to increase loyalty and retain customers. Colgate continues to increase their value by positioning their products in all sectors of the market; from toothpastes that has no animal ingredients to attract vegetarians, or toothpastes that reduce the speed of the development of tartar above the gum line, to toothbrushes that are price-conscious or designed to remove odour-causing bacteria. By providing such a variety of products, they are preventing competition and substitution. Another factor that helped Colgate gain high awareness was through innovative packaging. For example, when Colgate was trying to penetrate the already existing whitening toothpaste market, they decided to come up with new premium packages matching their idea of creating sparkling and dazzling smiles. The toothpaste had a holographic package to catch attention. In order to make sure of this package, they used lead users strategy, where they gained a positive reaction, and therefore decided to launch the new product with this innovative packaging. Another example involves the launch of Colgate Max Fresh toothpaste in a unique clear tube. This new packaging was created for user convenience, so that the users know how much is left in the tube, notifying them when to replace it. With the slogan, find the right products that are best for you, Colgate strives to provide satisfaction to their consumers by supplying them with a range of products that meets their needs. In 2011, the company pl ans to continue innovation to meet consumer needs by introducing new products such as the Colgate Total Gum Defense, Colgate MaxClean SmartFoam toothpaste, Colgate 360 ° Surround, and Colgate Triple Action manual toothbrushes (http://investor.colgate.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=545863ReleaseType=Earnings)/ Promotion In order for Colgate to maintain its value in this competitive market, Colgate spent a total of $1,534 million in 2009. This expenditure was largely involved with the promotion of new, growing, and maturing products. When launching a new product, such as Colgate 360 toothbrush, their advertising objective was to be informative and persuasive. They used advertising, sales promotion, as well as the publicity approach, including advertising through cable T.V., consumer magazines, providing product samples, and utilizing point of purchase. Furthermore, they used lead user strategy, which helped create great word-of-mouth. (dentist recommended brand) Even though promoting new products is important, Colgate believes that it is also crucial to continue advertising the existing products in the maturity stage. Rather than promoting in order to be informative, objective for products in this stage involve successfully reminding the consumers in order to create greater retention. Reminding the consumers is essential since this helps consumers acknowledge Colgate products existence and availability, while preventing them from switching to their competitors. Through using the pull strategy, Colgate has invested a great deal of their revenue to sales promotion, personal selling, and direct marketing. By using extensive mass marketing, consumer promotion at point of purchase, and organizing special events where they aim to build one-on-one relationship and increase net marketing contribution. Pricing Colgate-Palmolives oral care subdivision offers a variety of toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouth rinses and dental floss. These products are characterized as being low priced, requiring minimal buyer effort, and are subject to mass distribution and promotion by the producer. Typically with these sorts of low-involvement products, price plays the most significant role in the decision-making process. However, recent consumer trends suggest an added perceived value of certain oral hygiene product attributes, in particular the newly launched whitening, sensitive, and total care products, which now account for over 76% of the value share of toothpastes in 2009. With price being the most flexible of the four marketing mix elements and changes in consumer trends, Colgate has developed dozens of different brand extensions at different prices ranging from $1.685 (per 100ml) to $5.871 (per 100ml) to reflect these changing demands (see appendix for further detail). Colgate therefore is primarily e mploying value-based pricing for these products as production costs do not significantly vary. Colgate has been particularly successful in doing so as people tend to be reassured when they buy a more expensive hygiene product, for they make the assumption that it is the best possible thing they can do for their teeth. However, with families and consumers tightening budgets and reducing consumption as a result of the continuing harsh economic climate, it will become harder for manufacturers such as Colgate to continue to raise prices for most oral hygiene products, even advanced formulations, as consumers will readily switch to similar competitors or private label brands. Toothbrushes, on the other hand, face different consumer behaviors. Despite the economic climate, Colgate has employed a similar value-based pricing strategy in its toothbrushes by introducing improved manual toothbrushes that are claimed to be superior to its basic predecessors, and therefore carry a higher price t ag. Colgate manual toothbrushes sold at a variety of retailers range from $1.99 to $5.99. This strategy has been particularly successful as Canadian consumers have developed loyalty to their brand of toothbrush for they sense a more significant difference between the regular and improved toothbrushes, thus dissuading many from switching or trading down, thus increasing consumer lifetime value and profitability. Colgate is also catering to more health conscious but price-sensitive consumers by increasingly introducing affordable electric toothbrushes. Distribution Being low priced, and requiring low consumer effort, Colgate products must be mass distributed and accessible to most if not all Canadians. Colgate employs an intensive distribution strategy aimed at a maximum market coverage which supports the application of product replenishment based on pull strategies, as these come closest to reflecting true consumer demand. Research suggests supermarkets are the largest distribution points for toothpaste as well as other oral care products, followed by mass merchandisers and drug stores. With that in mind, it would simply not be efficient for Colgate to sell directly to small distributors, therefore Colgate products often go through at least one wholesaler before reaching the shelves of our supermarkets. Colgate does however, directly sell to some of the larger retailer chains such as Wal-Mart, who purchase in such large volumes that it is more efficient to do so. Colgate therefore operates in what is called a parallel distribution network in w hich some retailers are forced to buy through a mass distributor while others are not. However, Colgate is working closely with small shop owners and local wholesalers through Joint Business Plans to ensure greater availability of Colgate products, as well as to provide the right assortment of products with the best visibility on the store shelves. Prior to distribution, while Colgate products are produced around the world, use of contract manufacturers is very limited as more than 90% of products were made in Colgate facilities. Colgate does concede however that the use of contractors often allows to optimize their supply chain capabilities, deliver innovative technologies, increase speed of delivery, and especially increases flexibility which is key in a rapidly changing marketplace. Three-year globalization contracts with their main suppliers enabled a reduction of the supplier base from 11 to 4 suppliers. For a key toothpaste ingredient, the supplier base was reduced from 7 to 3 to help achieve record savings and cost reductions. With optimized supply chain logistics and control over the manufacturing process, Colgate products are quick to move from their respective factories to stores all throughout Canada. In five years, Colgate managed to cut its time from product concept to retail shelves by 50%. Results Colgate-Palmolives CEO, Ian Cook, claims that his firm will continue to perform well given the current competitive and economic challenges and are committed to investing and growing our business and expanding our strong market positions (A-R 2009). Interestingly enough, Colgate-Palmolives company shareholders equity has bounced back from a ten year low, in millions, of 350 in 2002 to 3,116 as of 2009. Colgate-Palmolive (C-P) has clearly proven itself as a successful and innovative company year after year with solid financial results and consistent growth. In fact, the company claims to have obtained significantly superior results versus the SP index and the average of selected competition over the last 25 years. C-P obtained 3328% versus 2833% growth among competitors. Against the SP index the results are even greater compared with a 969% return to shareholders (Colgate TSRG). In Canada, Colgate-Palmolives launch of Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief has been quite successful. It is now th e number one selling SKU and the firms number one competitor has reacted with deep discounting, though Colgate maintains that they have taken market share away once the subsidies cease. They plan to invest and grow while still seeking to further already strong market positions. Operating revenue has increased for Colgate Palmolive steadily over the last 5 years. Although revenues from fiscal year 2009 were virtually unchanged from 2008, operating cash flow was up over 43% in 2009. The firm has consistently maintained its gross profit as a percentage of sales above the 50% threshold, reaching close to 60% in both 2009 and 2010. In addition, diluted earnings per share have seen 65.5% growth from 2004 to 2009. EXPLAIN WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN As of C-Ps last quarter, North America formed approximately 19% of sales and unit volume grew 3.5% and 4.0%. Operating profit increased 22%. Although the 2010 annual report and official audited results have yet to be released as to date, fiscal year 2010 worldwide sales were $15,564 million, up 1.5% versus full year 2009. Operating cash flow in 2010 was lower by 2% to $3,211 million, a considerable drop compared to the aforementioned 43% increase in 2009. However, North America remains sluggish, where operating profit decreased 8%. Reported sales gains were 2%, with a 3.5% increase in volume while accepting 2.5% increase in coupons and promotions. C-Ps free cash flow, before dividends, does however remain very strong; consistent with 2009 it exceeded 100% of net income. Net income and diluted EPS for fiscal year 2010 were $2,203 million and $4.31, versus $2,291 million and $4.37 in 2009. From the Statement of Cash flows, in is clear C-P has been increasingly using debt to increased capital. Proceeds from issuance of debt having increased approximately 3.5 billion and 231.4 % from 2007-10 with net cash used in financing activities also increased 45.5%. Capital expenditures have remained consistent since 2007. Despite increases in net income, depreciation and amortization have remained steady over the last 5 years, with no unusual increase or decrease. Total assets are also virtually unchanged from 2009 to 2010. In their 2008 annual report, Colgate stated that they spent over $1.6 billion marketing its products around the world. In other words, Colgate is spending an amount nearly equal to the book value of its equity capital, which accounts for about 11% of total sales, every year on marketing its products. This is evidently a significant amount of capital that will be creating value for the firm in future business. For a competitor to replicate this company, C-P clai ms that they would have to spend multiples of this amount to establish and develop the relationships that they have acquired over many years. They claim that the same is true for certain general, administrative, and research and development expenses; all of which are being expensed as incurred. In evaluating the firms results, it is thus imperative to include the intrinsic value of marketing efforts. Recommendations According to oral care forecasts in Canada, Colgate should definitely continue to maintain its position as a domestic leader in toothpaste since it represents the highest level of sales in the Canadian market. This can be done successfully by developing new products and affectively marketing each one respectively. Colgate should then focus on manual toothbrushes because they have the second highest level of sales, followed by dental rinses, tooth whiteners and then denture care, which do in fact show growth but at more modest levels of sales. Secondly, while basic products provide the necessary means of oral care, more expensive value-added products provide convenience and comfort to the consumers ready to pay higher prices, such as babyboomers. People usually tend to be reassured when they buy a more expensive product, because they feel assured that its the best possible thing they can do for their teeth. In addition to new product development, companies will focus on marketing and advertising support of their existing brands. Colgate should continue to remain on the high end scale of the oral care industry and maintain position in the high end category. Moreover, with respect to the Canadian market, they should invest more heavily in the mouthwashes considering that they have no market share while sales are the third highest in the oral care category after toothpaste and toothbrushes. As previously mentioned, the toothpaste market is generally not price sensitive and brand loyalty plays an important role in majority of the customers. Currently nearly 97% of the population in developed countries uses at least one variety of toothpaste. This gives marketers virtually no space to expand the market with new users. Consequently, adding or increasing value to the product is the preferred alternative. Technological progress made in recent years altered the toothpaste segment and made innovation a driving force. New advancements have led to the launch of a variety of high-priced, value-added multifunctional products in several oral care categories such as toothpastes and toothbrushes. Whitening toothpastes and products offering multiple functions are driving growth in the dentifrices segment. Currently, for major toothpastes, averting tooth decay is not sufficient, therefore guaranteeing benefits such as fresher breath, healthier gums and whiter teeth. More comprehensive products such as Colgate Total have strengthened Colgate-Palmolives market position substantially. Technological advancements in recent years have altered the toothpaste segment to one that offers additional benefits besides just fighting cavities. This made manufacturers roll out products with a lot of additional features that were not available previously. Over three-fourths of net sales come from outside United States, so in future years strengthening market position worldwide will be integral to triumph over the competition. In addition, the considerable revenues from international operations are key to sustaining the firms value proposition, as product innovation has revitalized the oral care market in recent years. To ensure future success Colgate must continue to invest in product in

The Cherry Orchard and the Rise of Bolshevism Essay example -- Anton C

The Cherry Orchard and the Rise of Bolshevism  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Anton Chekhov uses The Cherry Orchard, to openly present the decline of an aristocratic Russian family as a microcosm of the rapid decline of the old Russia at the end of the nineteenth century--but also provides an ominous foreshadowing of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in the disparate ideals of his characters, Trofimov and Lopakhin, however unintentionally. The Gayev family and their plight is intended as a symbolic microcosm of the fall of the aristocracy in society at large. Though the merchant Lopakhin is presented as the character who holds values of the new, post-aristocratic age, the student Trofimov espouses the political sentiments that will ultimately replace both the aristocratic class and the new commercial class. Chekhov's presenting Lopakhin as a pioneer of the new social order is undermined by the lines and role he gives to Trofimov, and the author discounts the importance of the then-emerging revolutionaries. Yet the play reveals a major reason why Commu nism ultimately received very little support from the gradual-minded middle class, which lead to a bloody revolution and totalitarian regimes for a good part of a century. It is this insight which provides contemporary critiques of socialist movements with a lesson about human nature -- a lesson that serves to show that Communism and other forms of ideological socialism have never been workers' movements, even if the movements temporally address workers' political demands.    Chekhov relies on several devices to proclaim to his audience that the changes taking place are not merely personal for the profligate Gayev family, but are part of an inevitable social evolution. Through these devices, Chekh... ... young revolutionaries who eventually seized Russia. Though the playwright dismisses the importance of these ideas, he offers a contrast of them with those of the bourgeoisie that explains why Russian Communism arrived through a bloody revolution and without middle-class support, and why for over seventy years of this century the world had to live with the results of the revolution.    Works Cited Chekhov, Anton. The Cherry Orchard. 1903. Jacobus 792-815. ----. Letter to K.S. Stanislavsky. Jacobus 816. Jacobus, Lee, ed. The Bedford Introduction To Drama. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford Books, 1997. Levite, Allan. Guilt, Blame, and Politics. San Francisco: Stanyan Press, 1998. Pritchett, V.S. Chekhov: A Spirit Set Free. New York: Random House, 1988. Simmons, Ernest J. Chekhov: A Biography. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962.   

Specialists Create Market Efficiency :: essays papers

Specialists Create Market Efficiency The NYSE should not abolish specialists. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ, however, need to realize that their relative trading volumes will continue to deteriorate as ECN's become more and more popular. The need for secondary and third markets will be diminished, however they still offer liquidity, so in some shape or form they will always be fashionable to certain types of investors. The current system established within NYSE is very old and outdated. For any single trade, a number of players must be involved. First, an investor places a buy or sell order to a broker. The brokerage firm then contacts its commission broker, who is actually on the floor, to consummate the order. In this rigid and time consuming system, the specialist plays a major part in any trade. Any buying or selling in a particular stock takes place at the specialists post. A computer monitor shows all bid and ask prices for a stock in addition to the number of shares they are willing to buy or sell at the given bid ask price. Basically, Specialists execute the trades of other brokers, but they can also buy or sell shares for their own portfolios. When no other broker can be found to take the other end of a trade, the specialist must take the end of the trade where no one else can be found to do so. This is done to create liquidity, and is one of the biggest benefits to this system. Also, t his type of trading creates an auction market, where buyers and sellers are together in one location, and the best buy or sell orders win trades. They also act as a dealer when they have to execute a trade when there isn't a buyer or seller available using their own inventory. Again, this is meant to facilitate liquidity. NYSE stocks, until recently, couldn't trade certain NYSE stocks outside of a formal stock exchange, however the NYSE has since abolished this rule. This has created a small trading volume of NYSE stocks over ECN's. The current system on NASDAQ and most other OTC's incorporates dealers, who offer bid and ask prices to brokers who execute trades based on a listing of the current quotes from dealers. Although this is a very liquid market, dealers typically take a spread from the bid/ask price in exchange for the risk that they incur for holding the security.

Ibus Essay

The multiple choice questions will be conceptual, not factual. In other words, I will not be asking country specific questions and details; but will ask you to identify concepts, pick the correct characteristics/dimensions of concepts from alternatives and apply concepts to real life situations. All chapters are almost equally represented in this section. 3 descriptive/conceptual essay questions (8 to 12 points, 30 points total): This section is again conceptual. I might ask you to describe a theory or concept, identify and classify certain dimensions of cultures, or fill a table (that I provided) with missing information. If you cannot remember the terminology, you can define things in your own words (and get partial credit to the least). All chapters are fair game for this section. 1 integrative/comprehensive essay question (15 points): For this question, I will ask you to take a position on a course related issue. Obviously, there is no single right answer. You will be evaluated based on the quality and depth of your argument rather than the position you take. While you are not required to know country/marketplace specific information, don’t hesitate to use examples to support your position. To answer this question, you might need to information from more than one chapter. The exam is closed book, but you can bring a paper dictionary (non electronic). I will not be using an IBM sheet for the multiple-choice section; this means that you can use either a pen or pencil to answer the questions. You won’t be graded for grammar, spelling or your essay skills, so don’t panic about it. There is no optional question at this exam.

Dawdaw

5- 10 songs When I’m inlove.. STEPHEN SPEAKS â€Å"Out Of My League† it's her hair and her eyes today that just simply take me away and the feeling that i'm falling further in love makes me shiver but in a good way all the times i have sat and stared as she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair and she purses her lips, bats her eyes as she plays, with me sitting there slack-jawed and nothing to say coz i love her with all that i am and my voice shakes along with my hands coz she’s all that I see and she’s all that I need and i'm out of my league once again it's a masterful melody when she calls out my name to me s the world spins around her she laughs, rolls her eyes and i feel like i'm falling but it's no surprise coz i love her with all that i am and my voice shakes along with my hands cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea but i'd rather be here than on land yes she's all that i see and she's all that i need and i'm out of my league on ce again it's her hair and her eyes today that just simply take me away and the feeling that i'm falling further in love makes me shiver but in a good way all the times i have sat and stared as she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair nd she purses her lips, bats her eyes as she plays, with me sitting there slack-jawed and nothing to say coz i love her with all that i am and my voice shakes along with my hands cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea but i'd rather be here than on land yes she's all that i see and she's all that i need and i'm out of my league once again Bryan adams – HEAVEN Oh, thinkin' about all our younger years There was only you and me We were young and wild and free Now nothin' can take you away from me We've been down that road before But that's over now You keep me comin' back for more Chorus] Baby you're all that I want When you're lyin' here in my arms I'm findin' it hard to believe We're in heaven And love is all that I need And I found it there in your heart It isn't too hard to see We're in heaven Oh, once in your life you find someone Who will turn your world around Bring you up when you're feelin' down Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me Oh, there's lots that I could say But just hold me now ‘Cause our love will light the way [Chorus] I've been waitin' for so long For somethin' to arrive For love to come along Now our dreams are comin' trueThrough the good times and the bad Yeah, I'll be standin' there by you [Chorus] When I’m sad.. Coldplay â€Å"Fix You† When you try your best, but you don't succeed When you get what you want, but not what you need When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep Stuck in reverse And the tears come streaming down your face When you lose something you can't replace When you love someone, but it goes to waste Could it be worse? Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you And high up above or down below When you're t oo in love to let it go But if you never try you'll never knowJust what you're worth Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you Tears stream down on your face When you lose something you cannot replace Tears stream down on your face And I†¦ Tears stream down on your face I promise you I will learn from my mistakes Tears stream down on your face And I†¦ Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you The fray How To Save A Life† Step one you say we need to talk He walks you say sit down it's just a talk He smiles politely back at you You stare politely right on throughSome sort of window to your right As he goes left and you stay right Between the lines of fear and blame And you begin to wonder why you came Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Let him know that you know best Cause after all you do kn ow best Try to slip past his defense Without granting innocence Lay down a list of what is wrong The things you've told him all along And pray to God, he hears you And pray to God, he hears you Where did I go wrong, I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life As he begins to raise his voice You lower yours and grant him one last choice Drive until you lose the road Or break with the ones you've followed He will do one of two things He will admit to everything Or he'll say he's just not the same And you begin to wonder why you came Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Where did I go wrong, I lost a friendSomewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life When I’m hyper or energetic.. â€Å"Where Them Girls At† (feat. Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj) [Chorus:] So many girls in here, where do I begin? I seen this one, I'm about to go in Then she said, I'm here with my friends She got me thinking and that's when I said Where them girls at, girls at? Where them girls at, girls at? Where them girls at, girls at? So go get them, we can all be friends [Verse 1: Flo Rida] Hey, bring it on baby, all your friends You're the shit and I love that bodyYou wanna ball, let's mix it, I swear you're good, I won't tell nobody You got a BFF, I wanna see that girl, it's all women invited Hair do's and nails, that Louis, Chanel all up in the body President's in my wallet, no rules I'm about it Blow the whistle for the hotties I got it, shawty, it's never too much, can't be doing too much 10 to one of me, I can handle that love Outta of my reach, we can all get buzz Holla cause I'm free, to whatever it's no rush [Chorus:] So many boys in here where do I begin? I see this one, I'm about to go in Than he said I'm here with my fr iends He got to thinking, then that's when he saidWhere them girls at, girls at? Where them girls at, girls at? Where them girls at, girls at? So go get them, we can all be friends [Verse 2: Nicki Minaj] Peebe, peebe, who's Peabo Bryson? Two years ago I renewed my license Anyway, why'd I start my verse like that? You can suck on a dick, or you can suck on a ballsack No no, I don't endorse that Pause that, abort that Just the other day mi go London, saw that Kissing down the street, paparazzi, all that Hey hey what can I say? Day day day da-day day Coming through the club, all the girls in the back of me This ain't football, why the fuck they tryna tackle me? Really?I pick dude at the bar like really? Looking like he wanna good time like really? Said he had a friend for my home girl Lilly Lilly, Lilly, Lilly [Chorus:] LMFAO Sexy And I Know It† Yeah, yeah When I walk on by, girls be looking like damn he fly I pimp to the beat, walking on the street in my new lafreak, yeah This i s how I roll, animal print, pants outta control, It's Redfoo with the big afro And like Bruce Leroy I got the glow [a reference to the 80's martial arts classic â€Å"The Last Dragon†, where martial artists, having attained master status, start to glow when practicing their moves, and also get some special powers. Ah†¦ Girl look at that body  [x3] Ah†¦ I work out Ah†¦ Girl look at that body  [x3] Ah†¦ I work out When I walk in the spot (yeah), this is what I see (ok) Everybody stops and they staring at me I got passion in my pants and I ain't afraid to show it, show it, show it, show it I'm sexy and I know it  [x2] Yeah When I'm at the mall, security just can't fight them off And when I'm at the beach, I'm in a Speedo trying to tan my cheeks (what) This is how I roll, come on ladies it's time to go We headed to the bar, baby don't be nervousNo shoes, no shirt, and I still get serviced (watch) Ah†¦ Girl look at that body  [x3] Ah†¦ I work out Ah†¦ Girl look at that body  [x3] I work out When I walk in the spot (yeah), this is what I see (ok) Everybody stops and they staring at me I got passion in my pants and I ain't afraid to show it, show it, show it, show it I'm sexy and I know it  [x2] I'm sexy and I know it†¦ Check it out  [x2] Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah  [x3] Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah, yeah Do the wiggle man I do the wiggle man Yeah I'm sexy and I know it

Reaction paper: “3 idiots” Film Essay

I. Title: 3 Idiots II. Director: Rajkumar Hirani III. Characters: Aamir Khan as Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad/ Chhote/ Phunsukh wangdu Kareena Kapoor Khan as Pia Sahastrabuddhe R. Madhavan as Farhan Qureshi Sharman Joshi as Raju Rastogi Boman Irani as Dr. Viru Sahastrabuddhe Omi Vaidya as Chatur Ramalingam IV. Opening Story: Both Farhan and Raju wants to meet again their fellow collegian, Rancho after faking a stroke abroad an Air India plane, and excusing himself from his wife respectively. On the way to destination, they encounter another student, Chatur, now a successful businessman, who reminds them of a bet that they had undertaken 10 years ago. As they are recollecting hilarious funny act, including their argument with the Dean of Delhi’s Imperial College of Engineering, Viru Sahastrabudhe, race to locate Rancho, at his last known address. Little they did not know about the secret that was kept from them all this time. V. Passing action: Farhan, Raju, and Rancho are three engineering students who share a room in the residence of Imperial College of Engineering (ICE). Farhan is studying engineering to pursue his father’s wishes over his own wish that is to become a wildlife photographer. Raju is studying to raise his family’s fortunes and get them out of pover ty. On the other hand, Rancho studies for his simple passion in machines and devices. Rancho believes that success in studying is not achieved by solely memorizing definitions given by textbooks or professors, but by understanding and applying the concepts. He believes that one should follow excellence, not success, as success will come itself if excellence is followed. VI. Rising Action: Things further escalate when the three friends drunkenly break into Virus’s house one night to allow Rancho to confess his love to Pia, and urinate on the front door before fleeing. The next day, Virus threatens to rusticate Raju unless he squeals on Rancho. Not wanting to betray his friend or let down his family, Raju attempts suicide and ends up paralyzed. Following his recovery, Raju discards his fear of the future. Encouraged by Rancho, both Raju and Farhan gain courage to do what they were afraid to do before. Raju takes a frank approach in an  interview for a corporate job, while Farhan convinces his parents to allow him to pursue his love of wildlife photography, both successful in their endeavors. VII. Climax: Their story is framed as intermittent flashbacks from the present day, ten years after Chatur bet that he’d become more successful than Rancho. Having lost contact with Rancho, who disappeared during the graduation party and went into seclusion, after five years, Raju and Farhan begin a journey to find him. They are joined by Chatur, now a wealthy and successful professional in the USA, who is looking to seal a deal with a famous scientist and prospective business associate named Phunsukh Wangdu. When they find Rancho’s house in Shimla, they find a completely different man: the real Rancho. From him, they come to know that their friend was a destitute servant boy â€Å"Chhote† who loved learning, while he, the real Rancho, disliked study. After seeing the boy’s intelligence, the family agreed to let the servant boy study in Rancho’s place instead of laboring. In return, the real Rancho would pocket his qualifications and after graduating, the servant boy will cease all contact. The real Rancho reveals that Chhote is now a schoolteacher in Ladakh. At the same time, they find out that, without Rancho, Pia decided to marry the same price-obsessed banker that Rancho initially talked her into dumping, and they go to rescue her from the wedding. VIII. Falling action ending: Raju and Farhan find Pia and arrive at Rancho’s school. Pia and the fake Rancho rekindle their love, while Chatur mocks Rancho for becoming a lowly schoolteacher. He asks Rancho to sign a â€Å"Declaration of Defeat† document. When Rancho’s friends ask what his real name is, he reveals that he is actually Phunsukh Wangdu himself. Chatur finds out about this and is horrified; he accepts his defeat and pleads his case with Phunsukh to establish the business relationship he was after.

In Arthur Miller’s play the crucibl Essay

In Arthur Miller’s play the Crucible, Reverend Hale changes as the plot unfolds. When Reverend first arrives in Salem he is certain he will use scientific methods to find witches. As the court hearing begins to unfold, Reverend Hale opposes the actions being taken, thus begins using his own judgments. Hale attempts to save the guiltless when he realizes they were convicting innocent people. The plot takes place in 1619, in a small town named Salem. The town was young; being only 40 years old was very religiously strict. A group of teen girls were caught dancing naked in the woods. They started making accusations of witchcraft across the town. Reverend Hale, who was a witch expert, was called from a near by town to put a stop to the matter. One reason Reverend hale changed as the plot unfolds is because he at first believes that he will be using scientific methods to find witches. Hale firmly follows the law to sustain order. By keeping to his books he prepares himself to pay no heed to conclusions. He trusts his books to keep control over the problems arising in Salem. â€Å"†¦ all the invisible world, caught defined, and calculated. In these no fear now-we shall find him out if he has come among us, and mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his face. † (Miller, 39) One reason Reverend Hale changed as the plot unfolds is because he at first believes that he will be using scientific methods to find witches. Subsequently Reverend starts to evolve his thinking during the trail and starts going by his own judgment. He pleads with the judge to let Proctor return, only to be rejected by him. Hale fought against the judge’s verdict realizing it was unjust. Hale then decided to leave the court. â€Å"I denounce these preceding. I quit the court. † (Miller, 115) Subsequently Reverend starts to evolve his thinking during the court hearing and starts going by his own judgment. Then at the end, Reverend changes even more when he realizes they were accusing every one of witchcraft and tries to save the innocent. Reverend declares he will not take a life of an innocent person â€Å"†¦ I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscious may doubt it. † (Miller, 99) He realizes that it is not the convicted people, but that of a hunt to find a cause for there problems. He encourages Mr. proctor to confess to witchery. Also pleading with Procter’s wife, he protests the foolishness of admitting to something you did not do. Finally Reverend Changes for the better realizing that not everyone is a witch and attempts to save the innocent Hale changes from being in favor of the witch trails to opposing it due to the amount of unnecessary convictions with sentences of death. He finds that, when you stop accusing people every for every incident and mishaps, many of the folks are innocent. It is hard to believe that many innocent people were killed during the Salem witch trials. Certainly nothing like that will ever happen today. Reverend Hale changes as the scheme unfolds in Arthur miller’s play, the crucible. Work Cited Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York Penguin, 1952 Jonathan Schneider Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Create-A-Greeting-Card College Scholarship Contest

With college costs on the rise, more and more families are looking for ways to bridge the gap between what they can afford to pay and the price of tuition and fees. Fortunately, a number of independent scholarships exist to help students attend their dream colleges. While securing these scholarships isn’t as simple as filling out the FAFSA form, students who are willing to put in the time and effort can often secure significant amounts of money toward financing their college education. Different scholarship opportunities exist to recognize students with various talents, skills, and interests. For high school students who are artistically minded, it might be worth considering the Gallery Collection’s Create-A-Greeting-Card College Scholarship Contest. The winner of this award receives a $10,000 college scholarship, with an additional $1,000 award going to the student’s high school. The Create-A-Greeting-Card contest invites applicants to use their innate talent and creativity to design a holiday, get well, or birthday greeting card. To apply, simply submit a work of art, computer graphic, or photo intended for the front side of a greeting card. Each image must be submitted in JPEG format and be two megabytes or fewer in size. Entries will be judged based on the following factors: Candidates can view current designs online at www.gallerycollection.com . To apply for this scholarship, you must be a high school, college, or university student who is currently enrolled in school. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. If you have additional questions or concerns about the requirements, feel free to contact the Gallery Collection online at scholarshipadmin@gallerycollection.com . Estimating your chance of getting into a college is not easy in today’s competitive environment. Thankfully, with our state-of-the-art software and data, we can analyze your academic and extracurricular profile and estimate your chances. Our profile analysis tool can also help you identify the improvement you need to make to enter your dream school. It’s not enough simply to hope you get a scholarship for college. Savvy students seek out a variety of contests and programs offering scholarships to reduce the cost of their degrees. Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find lucrative opportunities. Not only do a number of high schools boast scholarship programs targeted toward college-bound students, but many community organizations offer contests as well. You can discover scholarship programs through your town or city, church, Lions club, or even businesses in your community. When deciding which scholarships to target, students often ignore contests with smaller awards. While you might be hesitant to invest time and energy into applying for a $500 scholarship, the truth is that these awards can add up quickly. After all, winning five $500 scholarships is the same as securing one worth $2500. Moreover, the number of applicants might be lower because of the smaller potential payout. So your odds of winning might be higher with these contests. Similarly, scholarship contests that require a lot of work tend to draw a smaller applicant pool. After all, busy high school seniors are often hesitant to invest their time in writing lengthy essays or shooting video submissions. According to one Money.com article , scholarships requiring 1000-word essays tend to receive fewer than 500 submissions. So don’t be afraid to put in a little extra effort to score some additional funding. Unlike student loans, scholarships represent financial awards that don’t have to be paid back. So it’s only logical to apply to a wide range of contests and opportunities. At , we created our Applications Program to help students gain admission to their dream schools and find the financing they need to make their dreams a reality. From creating a custom roadmap for the applications process to filling out FAFSA and scholarship forms, we help students best the competition. To learn more about our services, call today or contact our team online.

Psychology Short Answer Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Psychology Short Answer Questions - Essay Example Binocular disparity is the term given to the difference the fractional difference between an image that exists as a result of the eyes being marginally separated in their place on the face. The image that is received from each eye is just slightly different as a result of this place and must be appropriately processed by the brain into an integrated single image. The correspondence problem is the problem associated with the process of how the visual perception system goes about finding a way to match pairs of images to arrive at vergence and then go about coding the relative depth of each into a unified image. The difficulty in solving the correspondence problem lies in the fact that a perfect correlation between the pairs of images can only be arrived at under very specific and unusual conditions. Binocular disparity is related to motion parallax in that each is a method of measuring the perception of depth through the discrepancy that exists as a result of the disparity of image reception onto the retina due to the placement of the eyes. This difference in the position of the eyes is manipulated by the visual system through a process of triangulation that measures distance from the retina to an object and in order to integrate the slight disparity into a unified whole. The differential between the placement of the eyes thus creates a divergence in vantage point that creates the effect of three-dimensionality. Both binocular disparity and binocular parallax are the basis for creating depth when one views an image measuring depth using stereopsis. 2. The picture on the left below shows the so-called caf wall illusion in which the grout lines (grey lines between the black and white 'tiles') are parallel but appear to be tilted with respect to each other. (a) Find and briefly describe in your own words an explanation of the caf wall illusion that you find convincing (make sure that you do not write more than 300 words). One reasonable explanation for how the caf wall illusion works was found on the web site BrainConnection.Com (http://www.brainconnection.com/teasers/main=illusion/cafe-wall). The explanation discovered here suggests that the illusion is the product of the inherent limitations that exist in the way excitatory and inhibitory neurons work together to achieve a balance that facilitates the detection of contrasts. The illusion illustrates how when these neurons attempt to instantaneously detect very fine contrasts, they instead create a distortion by making bright areas appear darker and dark areas appear brighter than they are really are. (b) Why do you find the explanation you describe