Thursday, December 26, 2019

Sexism in Language Essay - 1969 Words

Sexism in Language We all know that men and women are different. They look different, act different, walk, talk, and even smell different. In part, the simple fact that we are different explains why we sometimes have trouble communicating with and understanding the opposite sex. However, a close look at our language may show that there is more to the communication barrier between the sexes than meets the eye. I believe that the English language is very biased towards women. We live in a patriarchal society, an â€Å"order characterized by male dominance and the means of perpetuating that dominance†. Because of this, our language has been molded mostly by males, resulting in this â€Å"sexism in language† (Spender, 1980). This did not happen†¦show more content†¦From the theory of man, researchers have developed the â€Å"patriarchal code†. This is basically a list of over 10,000 English words, (and thousands more from other languages), which all show the sexism of langauge, and the roots from which it came. According to Goueffic, the first word of the patriarchal code is â€Å"manu†: In it’s historical form, manu names the male as creator and causer from Manu, the father of â€Å"mankind†. The code of Manu, circa 2400 B.C., states that â€Å"woman should never be free of subjugation†. This encoding into law of feme control passed through the cultural, symbolic, and legal systems of the Persians, Greeks, Jews and Arabs, etc., down to the Romans as manus, circa 300 B.C. The manus, diffused in society as ‘the hand’, is the law of â€Å"the authoritative control of the husband over his wife†. (p. 233) So the word manus provides the basis for the patriarchal code and the theory of man. The set of words contained in this code are used daily to rebuild and keep the control of â€Å"man†. Because we all use these words every day, they have a dangerous effect on our society. â€Å"The cumulative effect of the words containing man, like the wires of a cage that trap the bird, entrap the mind of both sexes equally but differently† (Goueffic). So why is the masculine nature of English important? There are many reasons, but the most basic is the fact that it perpetuates sexism in our society.Show MoreRelatedSexism, Language, And Language Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesSexism in Language Whether it’s in verbal or written expression, language is our everyday means of interaction. For years, there’s been an ongoing debate about the use of male-based generics and whether or not they promote sexism. Sexist language, as defined by yourdictionary.com, is language that excludes either men or women when discussing a topic that may be applicable to both sexes. Hence, sexist language describes the bias towards a certain sex in language. Importance lies in discussing issuesRead MoreEssay on Sexism in Language 2512 Words   |  11 PagesLanguage refers to the method that humans use to communicate either through speech or written. It consists of the use of the word in a structured and conventional way. Language has been referred to as ‘our means of classifying and ordering the world; our means of manipulating reality. In structure and in its use we bring out the world into realisation and if it is inherently inaccurate, then we are misled. (Dale Spender, 198 0).Language has power that allows us to make sense out of the reality weRead MoreThe Value Of Chinese Language1322 Words   |  6 PagesThe value of Chinese Language The knowledge of Chinese language opens many new perspectives for the people who have good command of this language. First of all, Chinese language opens the way to different important fields. These include: Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology. The knowledge of Chinese language can help to study the unique culture of the ancient civilization. At the heart of Chinese civilization is its rich heritage of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and other piecesRead MoreI Consider Myself A Feminist Essay764 Words   |  4 Pagesthe importance of language, a feminist is a person, regardless of gender, who believes in the equality and importance of all women in society. I am a feminist because I continue to educate myself to become more self-aware of the danger of sexism and inequality that threatens womenâ€⠄¢s rights. 2. Sexism is wrong because it discriminates against people because of their gender. Women are the main group who suffers against sexism. It is safe to say that all women have confronted sexism. According to theRead MoreMovies Control: Sex and Violence1436 Words   |  6 Pagespublic believes and accepts. Research shows that the amount and realism of violence and sex in movies has skyrocketed, influencing the views of our generation. However, little to no attention is placed on the effects of movies on our views of racism, sexism, classism, and heteronormativity. Before watching a movie, you can get a general idea of how much sex and violence it will contain, in order to decide if it is appropriate for you. However, how can one tell if a movie is too racist, sexist, classistRead MoreThemes of Sexism in Cleopatra and Plutarchs The Life of Antony967 Words   |  4 PagesSimilar to the 1963 film Cleopatra, in Plutarchs The Life of Antony, sexism is maintained in the passage and compati ble with its message. Through the authors portrayal of Cleopatra and Antony, he spreads the message that obsession with power is bad and the idea that manipulation and attempts at domination are signs of a bad ruler. Sexism is compatible with such messages because as indicated by Plutarch, Cleopatra utilizes sexist expectations of women in order to manipulate Antony through her aspirationsRead MoreFeminism is simply a sociological theory, which states that men and women are equal. Feminism is900 Words   |  4 Pagessuccessful people. Feminism opposes sexism in literature and aims to increase the awareness of sexual politics of language and style. Feminism also shoots to view female writers and their works in a feminine point of view. Thus people will interpret the symbolism in female’s writings and it will be no longer ignored by the manly point of view. Feminist Literature Feminist literature is basically any literal work that concentrates on the women’s daily struggle against sexism and discrimination. It emergedRead MoreSince the beginning of time, sexism has been a prominent barrier between the genders. Women may800 Words   |  4 PagesSince the beginning of time, sexism has been a prominent barrier between the genders. Women may have the same political rights, however they are still degraded and seen as inferior to men. So, women in politics are now trying to prove that they are just as capable as men are. However, their attempts are being suppressed due to the inappropriate comments against them. Sexist remarks in the media against female political candidates is the reason why there is a smaller amount of women in governmentRead MoreRacism And Racism732 Words   |  3 Pages Sexism, racism and heterosexism are happening in contemporary America till this day. The media reflects everyday struggles that Americans face based primarily on their gender, race and sexual preferences. Many innocent Americans are getting killed in protests and rallies while they defend their rights. Everyday millions of Americans are faced with backlash from their community, state and even their own country for who they are! Heterosexism is the prejudice against homosexuals.Read MoreComparison of One is Not Born a Woman by Wittig and The Second Sex Simone De Beauvoir867 Words   |  4 Pagesimpossible ontologically speaking; because the humans are not divided, thus gender is merely an imaginary realm. It only exist in the language exercises, and the way that cultural products are conceived in them. This essay is a preliminary attempt to offer an analysis of ‘One Is Not Born a Woman’ by Wittig and ‘The Second Sex’ by Simone De Beauvoir holds on the language usage contribution to the creation of genders and the imagined femininity. Through the society imaginations of genders, the society

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Social Media s Influence On Our Lives - 1747 Words

Social media has had a tremendous impact on our lives, influencing the way we communicate, interact, and even think. In the 21st century, social media has emerged as a tool utilized in all aspects of life, ranging from entertainment to politics. In the context of politics, the lack of gatekeepers in social media has provided an even playing field for candidates to communicate with the public, and due to the effects this medium had on communication, public discourse has been influenced to fit the defining characteristics of social media. A notable event to examine this media’s influence in the 21st century is the US presidential election. Despite the mainstream media’s opposition to Trump, I will argue that social media played an integral†¦show more content†¦15). According to survey conducted by the ING, 60% of â€Å"journalists feel less bound by journalistic rules on social media.† The survey also notes that only 20% of journalists check their facts be fore publishing, and almost half said they â€Å"published most of their stories as quickly as possible to correct later if necessary.† Thus, it becomes evident that the priority of news publishing on social media is driven by producing content that generate more clicks, likes and retweets (â€Å"2014 Impact of Social Media on News†). In order for Journalists and others to draw that attention on sites like Twitter, there is a focus on producing content that emphasizes â€Å"novelty and even outrageousness† (Gross and Johnson 749). On Twitter for example, people favour emotionally charged Tweets because they tend to get â€Å"retweeted more often and more quickly compared to neutral ones† (Ott 61). Thus, Twitter users value controversy, and â€Å"negative sentiment† where aggressiveness and negativity in messages have become the key to popularity (Ott 62). Secondly, the undermined importance of fact checking in social media has allowed Trump to gene rate viral statements by emphasizing controversy to gain publicity and appeal to voters. According to PolitiFact, 76 percent out of 77 statements made by Trump on Twitter are factually incorrectShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Media On Our Society Essay1007 Words   |  5 PagesInfluences of Media on our Society There is no doubt that the media influences us. To state some examples to prove this claim, try answering the questions that follow. Do you feel like attempting a stunt from a movie? Do you base your fashion on what you see the celebrities are wearing? Do you copy the hairstyle of your favorite famous personalities? Have you ever attempted to walk model-like in an attempt to imitate those ramp models in fashion shows? If you answered yes to any of these questionsRead MoreMead s Theory Of Self And Society1518 Words   |  7 PagesMead s Theory of Self and Society According to this theory, Mead suggested that people live in a world that is in a large part constructed in accordance with social and societal norms. He believed that objects, events, and behaviors come from the interpretation people give them, and interpretations vary from one group to another. In specific, the meaning of objects, events, and behaviors comes from the meaning people give these objects events, and behavior; thus, the interpretations may certainlyRead MoreImpact Of Technology On Our World909 Words   |  4 Pagestechnology has undoubtedly shaped the way we live in today’s world. This impact has made life much easier and convenient in every aspect of our everyday lives. However, when technology is broken down to different types and purposes, that is when we begin to recognize is certain technology actually moving the human race forward or backwards? One highly debated and arguably the most popular type of technology, is social media. Social media has negativel y impacted our world to the point where humans no longerRead MoreWhy Do Some People Pay Attention?1346 Words   |  6 Pages The Models Why do some people pay attention to certain models and not others? Why do people imitate the same behavior differently? These are the questions Bandura (1977) attempted to answer in identifying some of the variables that influence the modeling process. Characteristics of the model, for example, determine to some extent whether or not they will be imitated. Models who are more similar to the person observing the behavior are more likely to be imitated, thus girls tend to imitate othersRead MoreWhy is important to study the media, rather than simply consume it?1631 Words   |  7 PagesThe media is a dynamic entity inherent in society that is both powerful and important. It demonstrates this by playing a vital role in the development of a person s perspective on political, economic and socio-cultural issues. This consequently helps to shape individuals viewpoints of the world and define their lives through the interpretation of media texts. (Newman, 2004). Bazalgette supported Newman s point by stating Media studies open up your understanding of how things work, how peopleRead MoreVideo Games And Its Effects On Society924 Words   |  4 Pageswe have to face in life to many of our decisions. Metaphors, which form of knowledge that helps us to live in the paradoxical nature of life, are outside the transfer of continuous images you see on television and other media. Essential to produce universes of meaning, we cannot escape the need for us to continue it and relate to the world. It may be that the neurological system is enriched with certain aspects of electronic popular culture, but how works in our consciousness? Video games can be dangerousRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1287 Words   |  6 Pagesall started with social media, around since the 1960’s and started to thrive in the late 1990’s, that humans began to interact through cyberspace and changed human relationships forever. As the Internet grows to be further accessible to a number of households and public areas worldwide, the greater the immensity its aftereffects have on our lives as well. However, the more the Internet becomes habitual for humans, the more people become aware of the profound negative influences that come along withRead MoreThe Development Of Self Concept Essay818 Words   |  4 Pagesincorporate the attitudes of others toward our self. Our idea of who we are versus the rest of society develops through play, when, as children, we pretend to be parents and teachers and become conscious of the roles that discrete individuals play in our lives; later, in the game stage, we can understand the roles of several different people simultaneously in our lives, when we can participate in complex team games such as football or soccer. According to Mead s (1972) symbolic interaction approach,Read MoreObesity : The Disease Of The 21st Century947 Words   |  4 Pagesworld s population now considered to be overweight or obese. There are many factors in today’s society that contribute to this growing epidemic including media, technology and demographics. With the media having more influence over our daily habits now more than ever, it is extremely easy to slip into a lifestyle that will lead to weight related health issues. By examining the ways the media influences our daily lives, one can see that the media began as a bad influence for our unhealthyRead MoreMedia s Influence On Society1256 Words   |  6 PagesThe media are full of countless things, they have completely changed the world we live in and are now a part of our everyday lives (Bookman, 64). With television, radio, newspapers, books, etc†¦ working their way into our everyday lives it is almost impossible to live without the media. Along with it being persuasive, informative and a great source for entertainment, it also has a large binding influence on societies all over the world. Media aspects are radically reshaping the world (Marina 240)

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Presentation of Financial Statements Cash Flow

Question: Discuss about the Presentation of Financial Statements for Cash Flow. Answer: 1.The various requisite ratios are calculated for the year 2016 (Damodaran, 2008). Rate of return on total assets = (EBIT/Average Total Assets)*100 Average Total Assets = (29935000 + 28045000)/2 = $ 28,990,000 Ratio for 2016 = (6270000+1560000)/28990000)*100 = 27% Rate of return on ordinary equity = (Net profit after taxes/Shareholders equity)*100 Ratio for 2016 = (4362000/14215000)*100 = 30.69% Profit margin = (Net income/Revenue)*100 Ratio for 2016 = (4362000/55000000)*100 = 7.93% Earnings per share = (Net income Dividends on preference dividends)/Total outstanding shares Ratio for 2016 = (4362000-50000)/7200000) = 60 cents Price-earnings ratio = Price per share/Earnings per share Ratio for 2016 = 12/0.6 = 20 Dividend yield = (Dividend per share/Price per share)*100 Dividend paid per share = (2702000/7200000) = $ 0.375 Ratio for 2016 = (0.375/12)*100 = 3.125 Dividend payout = (Dividends per share/Earnings per share)*100 Ratio for 2016 = (0.375/0.6)*100 = 62.5% Current Ratio = Current Assets/Current Liabilities Ratio for 2016 = (12745000/5780000) = 2.21:1 Quick Ratio = (Current Assets inventory)/ Current Liabilities Ratio for 2016 = (12745000-7000000)/5780000) = 1:1 Receivables Turnover = Credit Sales/Average receivables Average Receivables = (4100000 + 3675000)/2 = $ 3,887,500 Assuming all sales were credit sales, credit sales = $ 55,000,000 Ratio for 2016 = (55000000/3887500) = 14.15 days Inventory Turnover = Cost of goods sold/Average inventory Average Inventory = (7000000+6930000)/2 = $ 6,965,000 Cost of goods sold = $ 35,100,000 Ratio for 2016 = (35100000/6965000) = 5.04 days Debt Ratio = (Total Liabilities/Total Assets)*100 Ratio for 2016 = (15720000/29935000)*100 = 52.5% Times interest earned = EBIT/Interest Charges Ratio for 2016 = (6270000+1560000)/1560000 = 5.02 Assets Turnover = Sales/Total Assets Ratio for 2016 = (55000000/29935000) = 1.84 Profitability With regards to profitability, the company is superior to the industry average which is apparent from the companys higher ROE (Return on equity) and profit margin. However, the return on total assets is lower than the corresponding industry average which is attributed to lower asset turnover of the company. Additionally, superior profitability indirectly is also reflected in the various market ratios whereby the company has a superior EPS as compared to the industry average while contribute to relatively higher P/E (Parrino Kidwell, 2011, p.90). Liquidity With regards to liquidity, the company is inferior to the industry average as the current asset and acid ratio for the company are lesser than the industry average. However, these ratios are slightly lower than the industry average and therefore there are no concerns with regards to short term liquidity as of yet but going forward the company should be considerate towards this aspect. This is also confirmed from the higher times interest earned ratio for the company as compared to the industry average (Petty et. al., 2015, p. 103-104). Financial Gearing It is apparent that the debt ratio for the company is inferior as compared to the industry average. This is indicative of the fact that the company should be considerate with regards to raising more debt in the future as the business risk may increase and also the debt cost may increase. However, at the present the debt levels are not a matter of concern (Brigham Ehrhardt ,2013, p. 72). 2. In order to ascertain, whether the chef can be ascertained as an asset or not, it is imperative to analyse the definition of asset. An asset may be defined as any resource from which it is likely that future economic benefits would arise and it could be controlled by the relevant entity. In the given case, the chef would lead to future economic benefits for the restaurant in the form of attracting customers. However, the chef cannot be controlled as the chef may resign from the job at any juncture and the restaurant cannot force him to continue. Additionally, the restaurant on its own will cannot transfer the chef to some other restaurant or sell the chef to another restaurant. Hence, while the chef would bring future economic benefits but still it would not be termed as an asset. The chefs value also cannot be ascertained since it is not evident as to how long the chefs stay would be at the restaurant (AASB, 2011). Examples with regards to need of financial information are shown below. Manager of human resources He/She would need to take decisions with regards to future labour requirement and their exact skillset, the kind of training that must be granted to individuals based on their productivity at the job, hiring individuals based on the exact production and demand pattern along with ensuring that appropriate pay packages and incentives are designed keeping in mind the state of the company and its performance (Damodaran, 2008). Factory manager: He/She would need to take decisions with regards to total production and the production mix which would be based on accounting information such as past sales and future forecast. Additionally, key decisions would be required with regards to keeping the costs within the stipulated limits and make attempts to reduce the same so as to maximize the profitability margins. Besides, other overheads costs such as those incurred for ensuring occupational health along with employee safety also need to be considered (Petty et. al., 2015, p.5-6). Management of a AFL club: The management needs to take critical decision with regards to the player selection and underlying cost along with the cost of the coaching staff. Additionally, decision making would need to be done with regards to the coaching staff cost along with the overhead cost associated with training venue and equipment (Parrino Kidwell, 2011, p.4-5). The manager of a second hand clothes charity: The manager would need to make decision with regards to the amount of second hand clothes and therefore the amount of collection centers and their respective location. Further, these would need to be processed further so that they could be given to the needful and arrangements can be made so that this second hand cloth can be accessed and suitably processed in a timely manner (Brealey, Myers Allen, 2008, p. 35). C) The impact of the various transactions on the financial statements is discussed below (Brealey, Myers Allen, 2008, p. 732-734). There would be an increase of a non-current asset i.e. equipment while a decrease of a current asset i.e. cash in the balance sheet. Further, there would a decrease in the overall cash flow due to an outflow on account of investing activities in the cash flow statement. There would an increase in the current asset namely account receivable. Additionally, the income would also increase which would lead to increase in shareholders equity in the form of higher retained earnings. There would a decrease in the current asset i.e. cash which would be balanced by the same decrease in the liability since it has been paid. Further, in the cash flow statement there would be a decrease in the cash which is most likely to arise from operating activities. With regards to the balance sheet, there would be an increase in the current asset i.e. cash while there would also be an increase in the equity i.e. share capital. Besides, there would be an increase in the cash inflow from financing activities in the cash flow statement. Also, the equity would increase in statement capturing equity change. With regards to the balance sheet, there would be an increase in cash at hand which would be balanced by a decrease in the amount of accounts receivable. Also, the cash would increase from operating activities in the cash flow statement. With regards to the balance sheet, there is a decrease in the current asset i.e. cash and also the equity would decrease on account of lower retained earnings. The expenses would increase and hence would lead to decrease in the income. As a result, there would be a decrease in the cash inflow arising from operating activities of the cash flow statement. With regards to the balance sheet, there would an increase in the current liability on account of accounts payable which would be balanced by a decrease in the shareholders equity. The expense would increase in the income statement and in equity change statement, the equity would decrease due to decline in the income. With regards to the balance sheet, there would an increase in the current asset i.e. cash while the non-current asset would decrease due to sale of equipment. Also, if the sale of equipment involves some profit, the equity would also increase. Further, in case of profit on sale, the income would increase in the income statement. On account of cash inflow from investing activities, there would an increase in cash in the cash flow statement. Also, in case of profit, equity needs to be increased in equity change statement. With regards to the balance sheet, there would be a decrease in the current asset i.e. cash and also proportionate decrease in the share capital or equity. Also, there would be increased cash outflow on account of financing activities which would decrease the cash in the cash flow statement. Further, the equity would be decreased in the equity change statement. With regards to the balance sheet, there would be an increase in the current assets i.e. cash while the non-current liability would increase in the form of borrowings. Also, there would be increased cash inflow on account of financing activities which would lead to increase in cash in the cash flow statement. References AASB 2011, Presentation of Financial Statements, AASB Website, Available online from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB101_09-07_COMPmay11_07-11.pdf (Accessed on August 20, 2016) Brealey, R, Myers, S Allen, F 2008, Principles of Corporate Finance (Global edition), 10th edn, McGraw Hill Publications, New York,Brigham, EF Ehrhardt, MC 2013. Financial Management: Theory Practice, 14th edn., South-Western College Publications, New YorkDamodaran, A 2008, Corporate Finance, 2nd edn, Wiley Publications, London Parrino, R Kidwell, D 2011, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 3rd edn, Wiley Publications, London Petty, JW, Titman, S, Keown, AJ, Martin, P, Martin JD Burrow, M 2015, Financial Management: Principles and Applications,6th edn, Pearson Australia, Sydney

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages Essay Example

The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages Essay Everybody’s dietary needs depend on a lot of different factors. One of the main stages that is dependant is life stages (New born, Adolescent, Adult and Pensioners). A balanced diet is a diet that has a varied amount of foods or nutrients (Carbohydrates, Minerals and Fruit and Vegetables etc). This is so that the individual eats healthy amounts according to their needs but each person has different needs. Life Stages: Infancy 0-3 Years – New born babies are very good when eating foods as their needs are simple. They need milk and water and this meets all of their needed nutrients. Babies can be given milk through a bottle or the mother can breast feed. There are my benefits of breast feeding and they are: It contains all nutrients in correct amounts. It contains antibodies that protect new born against diseases in the first few months of life. It is clean whereas the bottle may contain bacteria etc. It is already produced by the mother and it can be given in the correct portions. Breast milk does not cause allergies so the baby will be safe. We will write a custom essay sample on The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Dietary Needs Of Individuals At Different Life Stages specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When the baby is being carried in the womb and at birth, the mother of the child is encouraged to breastfeed for at least a few weeks after the baby’s birth. On the other hand some women chose that they don’t want to breast feed or sometimes they can’t as a result they use formula milk (modified cow’s milk). The infant’s kidneys and digestive system is not fully matured when they are born so it is vital that the mothers follow instructions on how to prepare the bottle to reduce the risk of infection. This is why breastfeeding is an easier option. 6 Months Old – This is the age where most babies are introduced into solid foods such as rusks (baby biscuits) and this process is called weaning. Weaning is started around the sixth month of the newborns life. Moreover, this will avoid damage to the young kidneys and obesity and allergies. 8 Months Old – At this stage in the toddlers’ life more solid foods are introduced into the baby’s diet such as cereals and pureed fruit and vegetables. As time goes on the baby gets older and it grows bigger so lumpier foods are put into the diet however this can be different to other babies as they all grow and mature at different ages. Sometimes it takes babies longer than others to chew and swallow lumps. 12-18 Months Old – At this age the baby can now be given cow milk which is full fat and now they should be eating a varied amount of foods that help them to have a balanced diet. Using the milk as food will not be necessary because as they grow older they begin to eat solid foods with the family. Skimmed milk should only be given to children after the age of five. It is important that up to the age of three they have a lot of iron-rich foods. When the children begin weaning they begin to move around a lot and use up more energy so their diet must contain more carbohydrates which provide a good source of energy for crawling and walking youngsters. Childhood: Ages 4-10 – At this stage in the child’s life they are beginning to explore the world and this is the start of their education so their diet should reflect their growing needs. They still need a lot of energy but this will differ due to every child having a different sized body and they will have a different stomach to adults). This is vital for the children’s nutrition. Parents are advised to give their children healthy snacks and meals so as they grow up this will be part of their routine and they will have a healthy body. Mainly other foods like sweets, fizzy drinks and fatty foods are certainly meant to be avoided because it can cause health problems such as obesity however they can be given as treats. A good time to eat these foods is after meal times as it avoids tooth decay. It is also good to have the children show manners and social skills by eating with a knife and fork and drinking from a cup when at the table. It is also vital that the child learns how to brush their teeth so they stay healthy and this will eventually become a habit. Adolescence: 11-18 Years Old – Adolescences’ grow very quickly as this is where there is a big change in a person for example they grow taller and put on weight. There are physical changes both externally and internally. All of these changes require energy so an adolescences’’ appetite can be large as they crave foods which are fatty which causes the weight increase however they should still eat balanced foods. A diet that is high in fats, sugars and salt may result in health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease which will develop as they grow older. It is important that adolescences take part in exercise which will help them to stay fit and lose weight but also its main benefit will be to avoid these health problems. At this age they should be told about the risks of severe dieting that some teenagers are susceptible to. Adults: 19-65 Years – Adults need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Their ages will decide how much food they should eat and how much carbohydrates and fats to avoid. This will prevent heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Adults’ nutritional requirements reduce as they grow older because they become less able to do physical exercise. They are advised to do some exercise so their body stays healthy and this could result in people living longer. Also as people become adults they are allowed to drink alcohol so there are safe intake measurements with both men and women. Men should consume 21 units and Women should consume 14 units. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding – During teenage pregnancy girls are more likely to suffer with nutrient deficiencies as their bodies are still growing and changing as a result it is vital that they eat more foods as they now have the job of feeding the foetus and because their pregnant they provide breast milk. When an adult is pregnant their nutritional needs increase slightly to help the foetus develop and also the placenta which guards the baby. The figure of speech,’eating for two’ is known and used by many people but this is not completely true. It is more important that they eat a well balanced diet instead of eating lots of foods. If the pregnancy is planned it is advised that woman have more folic acid in their diet maybe in the form of a tablet. Folic acid has been proven to lower the risk of spina bifida in the foetus. If the family of the baby have a good diet then this can be passed down to the baby for example if a person like brussell sprouts this is down to the genes. Older People: 65 Years and Older – As we grow older our bodies become less able to do things like exercise and so our need for energy decreases slightly. Even though they don’t need a lot of food older people still need energy from foods. The sources needed are proteins, vitamins and minerals. Some older people may not eat enough food and so they can’t have a balanced diet with a good amount of nutrition. One of the reasons why they don’t eat enough could be due to depression or being alone. Sometimes if they lose their partners then they may not feel like cooking and they lose their appetite. In order to maintain their appetite they are advised to cook tasty and easy nutritious meals. This will help them to avoid illness. If they do exercise here and there then they will be healthy physically and mentally and this will increase their social wellbeing. Concept of a Balanced Diet Intake and Needs – Apart from breast milk there is no other single food that provides nutrients for a healthy and balanced diet as a result we have to eat a varied amount of foods to keep us healthy. Usually there are no unhealthy foods as such as it is just unbalanced amounts of foods that can cause consequences as health problems. Energy Balance – The term energy balance means how much energy is taken into their bodies and given out but they are both equal. Energy intake is mainly from carbohydrates and fats in diet and the output is the energy that is used during everyday processes like breathing, moving and metabolism. If the energy input is more than the output then the extra bit is stored as fat as it cannot be given off. Over a long period of time this fat will cause chronic conditions like obesity. Children will need a higher intake of energy as they are now at the stage where they’re growing rapidly. Since the mid-twentieth century people living in developed countries have become less active due to the changes in work, transport and technology and this can have a bad impact on their health as this causes obesity. Dietary Reference Values: Dietary reference values were developed by the department of health 1991 to replace recommended daily amounts (RDA’S). DRV are a suggested amount of energy and nutrient intakes and they should not be taken in as exact amounts. They are just guidelines for people of the same age group and they show an estimate of how much energy and nutrients should be taken in and sometimes if can be decided by the gender. These recommendations show what people need for good health. Even though DRV are given as daily intakes, people don’t eat the same foods every day and so their appetite can change. Consequently the intakes of energy and nutrients are averaged over several days moreover DRV only apply to healthy people.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Prime Minister Joe Clark Biography

Prime Minister Joe Clark Biography At the age of 39, Joe Clark became the youngest Prime Minister of Canada in 1979. A fiscal conservative, Joe Clark, and his minority government were defeated after just nine months in power on a non-confidence motion on a budget of tax increases and program cuts. After losing the 1980 election, Joe Clark stayed on as Leader of the Opposition. When Brian Mulroney took over as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1983 and then Prime Minister in 1984, Joe Clark continued as an effective Minister of External Relations and Minister for Constitutional Affairs. Joe Clark left politics in 1993 to work as an international business consultant, but returned as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1998 to 2003. Prime Minister of Canada:Â  1979-80Birth:Â  June 5, 1939, in High River, AlbertaEducation:Â  BA - Political Science - University of Alberta, MA - Political Science - University of AlbertaProfessions:Â  Professor and international business consultantPolitical Affiliation:Â  Progressive ConservativeRidings (Electoral Districts):Â  Rocky Mountain 1972-79, Yellowhead 1979-93, Kings-Hants 2000, Calgary Centre 2000-04 Political Career of Joe Clark Joe Clark began his political career as Director of Organization for the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party from 1966 to 1967. He was Special Assistant to a Conservative member of parliament Davie Fulton in 1967. He served as Executive Assistant to a Conservative member of parliament Robert Stanfield from 1967 to 1970. Joe Clark was first elected to the House of Commons in 1972. He was elected as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1976 and was Leader of the Opposition until 1979. Joe Clark was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada after the 1979 general election. The Conservative government was defeated in 1980. Joe Clark was again Leader of the Opposition from 1890 to 1983. Joe Clark called a Progressive Conservative Party leadership convention and lost the party leadership to Brian Mulroney in 1983. In the Mulroney government, Joe Clark served as Minister of External Affairs from 1984 to 1991. He was President of the Privy Council and Minister Responsible for Constitutional Affairs from 1991 to 1993. Joe Clark did not run in the 1993 general election. Joe Clark returned as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1998. He was re-elected to the House of Commons in 2000. In 2002, Joe Clark said he had carried the Progressive Conservative Party as far as he could. Joe Clarks resignation as Progressive Conservative Party leader was effective at the leadership convention in May 2003. Unhappy with the subsequent merger of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Alliance Party into the new Conservative Party of Canada, Joe Clark decided not to run in the 2004 general election.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

French Impersonal Expressions

French Impersonal Expressions Impersonal expressions are those which do not have a specific subject. In grammatical terms, impersonal does not mean cold, but rather invariable by grammatical person. There are a few things you need to know about French impersonal expressions: The French impersonal subject is either il or ce, whereas the English impersonal subject is it.All of the French impersonal expressions can begin with il est or cest with no difference in meaning; however, cest is less formal than il est. Therefore, cest is more common in spoken French, while il est is more common in written French. (Note: this applies to il  est and cest only in impersonal expressions; in other constructions, there is a difference: cest vs il est) There are essentially two different types of constructions with impersonal expressions - either they are followed by que and a subordinate clause, or they are followed by a preposition and infinitive. With Que When using il est or cest adjective followed by que, the verb in the subordinate clause may need to be in the indicative or subjunctive, depending on the meaning of the impersonal expression:Il est probable que David le fait / Cest probable que David le fait.Its probable that David is doing it.Il est possible que David le fasse / Cest possible que David le fasse.Its possible that David is doing it. Without Que In expressions with il est or cest adjective followed by a preposition and infinitive, the choice of preposition depends on the type of subject:a) When the impersonal subject is a dummy subject, you need the preposition de, and there are two possible constructions:impersonal expression de intransitive infinitiveIl est difficile de parler / Cest difficile de parler.Its hard to speak. (Speaking is hard)orimpersonal expression de transitive infinitive direct objectIl est important de dire la và ©rità © / Cest important de dire la và ©rità ©.Its important to tell the truth.b) When the impersonal subject is a real subject and the infinitive is used intransitively as a passive infinitive, you must use the preposition :Il est bon savoir / Cest bon savoir.Thats good to know.Il est difficile faire / Cest difficile faire.Thats hard to do. Learn the Most Common French Impersonal Expressions Many impersonal expressions require the subjunctive. To find out which ones, check  The Subjunctivator!Il est bizarre / Cest bizarreIts oddIl est  bon  / Cest  bonIts goodIl est certain / Cest certainIts certainIl est clair / Cest clairIts clear/obviousIl est convenable / Cest convenableIts proper/fittingIl est difficile / Cest difficileIts difficultIl est  dommage  / Cest  dommageIts too badIl est douteux / Cest douteuxIts doubtfulIl est essentiel / Cest essentielIts essentialIl est à ©tonnant / Cest à ©tonnantIts amazingIl est à ©trange / Cest à ©trangeIts strangeIl est à ©vident  / Cest à ©videntIts obviousIl est facile / Cest facileIts easyIl est faux / Cest fauxIts falseIl est heureux / Cest heureuxIts fortunateIl est honteux / Cest honteuxIts shamefulIl est important / Cest importantIts importantIl est impossible / Cest impossibleIts impossibleIl est improbable / Cest improbableIts improbableIl est indispensable  / Cest indispensableIts essentialIl est i njuste / Cest injusteIts unfairIl est inutile / Cest inutileIts uselessIl est  juste  / Cest  justeIts right/fairIl est naturel / Cest naturelIts naturalIl est nà ©cessaire / Cest nà ©cessaireIts necessaryIl est normal / Cest normalIts normalIl est obligatoire / Cest obligatoireIts necessaryIl est  peu  probable / Cest  peu  probableIts not likelyIl est possible / Cest possibleIts possibleIl est probable / Cest probableIts probableIl est rare / Cest rareIts rareIl est regrettable / Cest regrettableIts regrettableIl est sà »r / Cest sà »rIts sure/certainIl est surprenant / Cest surprenantIts surprisingIl est temps / Cest tempsIts timeIl est triste / Cest tristeIts sadIl est urgent / Cest urgentIts urgentIl est utile / Cest utileIts usefulIl est  vrai  / Cest  vraiIts true

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Does music work on the mind or the body Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Does music work on the mind or the body - Essay Example The most obvious property of music is its sound and this, in turn, is caused by actual occurrences in the physical world. Rodeway sums it up neatly when he writes: â€Å"The auditory sense is primarily physical rather than chemical. The sound is concerned with motion or activity, that is with vibration and resonance of substances (air, water, solids). (Rodoway: 1994, p. 90) The human ear is the main receiver of sound and is able to detect the movement of air and distinguish variations in the sounds that are produced. There are, however, other parts of the body that are involved in listening to music, because the ear is part of a perceptual system, involving the whole human organism and elements of the environment which the listener and the music share. Anyone who has attended a rock concert is very aware of the physical sensation of vibration which occurs when base sounds are emitted from huge speakers with great intensity: the whole upper body feels the vibrations. Some high pitche d sounds are painful, causing the eyes to tighten up and the body to cringe. Observation of humans and animals as they react to music and other sounds reveals that movement of the head and shoulders towards the source of a sound often occurs so that both ears can be used to help locate the distance and direction accurately. Some animals like foxes and dogs have ears that face forward and can be swiveled left and right to focus more closely. The physical properties of the space in which music occurs are also important in determining how sound is received.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

What is post-colonialism, and , with a focus on reflexivity, what is Essay

What is post-colonialism, and , with a focus on reflexivity, what is its significance for understanding international relations - Essay Example post-colonial period can be defined as the period where formerly colonised countries came to discover their national identities and this was done in such a manner that there was an emphasis on the freedoms and greatness of local peoples and cultures over those of the colonisers. Therefore, post-colonialism follows an epistemological approach that attempts to address the politics of knowledge in such a manner that ensures a study of the decolonised people and its impact on their identity in the contemporary world. Post-colonialism is essential for the understanding of international relations because it not only compares relations between states before, during, and after colonialism, but it also provides an understanding have come to handle their colonial legacy in the context of interactions with other states. Reflexivity is normally considered to be a constant assessment of knowledge and how it is related to the ways of doing knowledge (Bryant, 2002; Flanagan, 1981). In this context, an individual attempts to assess post-colonialism from a personalised point of view so that he or she comes up with ideas that suggest how the period of post-colonialism has come to affect the relationships of states at an international level. A close study of literature concerning post-colonialism will be analysed and the information gathered applied to how it has come to affect international relations in the modern age. Post-colonialist writers such as Frantz Fanon state that colonialism was essentially destructive to the people who were colonised and this was mainly because of their being dehumanised by their colonisers (Fanon 1963, p.205). Fanon notes that colonialism worked towards the debasement of the human characteristics of the colonised, and this was done in such a manner that it was almost impossible for them to retain their self-esteem under the new circumstances in which they found themselves. The use of both physical and mental violence brought about a situation where

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Described by Dickens Essay Example for Free

Described by Dickens Essay The extended metaphor at the end of the first chapter depicts the children as vessels or jars, to be filled to the top with facts until they are full. The metaphor portrays the children as inanimate objects, which shows the reader the arrogance of Gradgrind:  Vessels then and there arranged in order ready to have imperial gallons of facts poured into them until they were full to the brim.  Dickens describes them as if they are empty and know nothing. Therefore they have to learn facts whether they like it or not. The short sentences and repetition in the sentences of the opening of the second chapter aids the description of Gradgrind as it shows the reader there is no manipulating this man and what you see is what you get. He will never change his mind.  The extended metaphor, a kind of cannonaway shows the reader Gradgrinds idea of how children should be properly educated. He believes that imaginations are to be stormed away and children should mature through facts. He is described like a cannon loaded to the muzzle with facts this shows the harshness of his character and the machine-like qualities he holds. Sissy Jupe is described by Dickens as dark-eyed and dark-haired her skin is tanned as Sissy has grown up with the circus she has an interesting background and a creative imagination; she is not just filled with facts. The colour of her eyes and hair reflects her traveller background. Whereas, Bitzer is described by Dickens as light-eyed and light-haired. His skin seems to be white, in contrast to Sissys tanned complexion. This description shows the harshness of the Victorian education system, on his appearance. The audience has no sympathy for the coldness of his character even though he is seen as a model pupil from a model school by Gradgrind, who has forced out any imagination Bitzer had and filled him with facts. His description of a horse compared to Sissys attempt shows the reader the machine-like almost robotic manner in which he is able to reel off facts: Quadruped. Graminivorous.  His character is the opposite of Sissy. Gradgrind refers to her as a number, yet to Bitzer by name, as Sissy has only been at the school for a short time, but is referred to as Girl number twenty as she is new to the school her education is not as Gradgrind would like it to be, this in turn alienates her.  During the fifth chapter, we meet the characters Sissy and Bitzer again as their chase come to a halt when they bump into Gradgrind. After explaining why she was running, Gradgrind comments, as he cannot understand why Sissy should be run after: Run after? repeated Mr Gradgrind. Who would run after you?'  Gradgrind does not know Sissy, and sees her as an outcast. He does not see why she should be run after, and cannot understand why someone would want her. His question is answered when Bitzer enters in the next paragraph. He is described as the colourless boy. This creates lack of empathy in the reader towards Bitzer and how he has been manipulated by Gradgrind and the school. As Bitzer is running after Sissy, although described as without fancy (colourless), he still is a child as he was pulling faces to scare Sissy. Once escorted by Sissy to her home, we see Sissys fears of Gradgrind through the way she talks to him. She also seems embarrassed by the state of her home:  This is it, sir, and if you wouldnt mind, sir this is the house.  Sissys politeness to Gradgrind, as well as showing a well-mannered child also show how nervous she is around him, and the fear she has of him. Sissy is frightened of Gradgrind as she sees that as she is from a poor lifestyle, because of the shabbiness of her home, she will not be allowed to continue her studies, as those with a proper education will do better in the future. The audience empathises with Sissy because of this. In conclusion, Gradgrind has a stern manner and is very controlling of his pupils and his children because he is a very hard character he is a man of realities. Bitzer is a machine-like character; his white face reflects the coldness of his life with only facts in it. This contrasts to Sissys character, which is imaginative, because she lacks the proper formal education Bitzer has received. Hard Times is based on, and shows, Dickenss view of rejection, to the callous determination of Victorian greed. The audience empathises with Sissy the most as her character seems to be lost and the most fragile. The audience do not empathise with Gradgrind because of his stern and cold nature, which, as Bitzer becomes a model student, causes the audience to empathise with neither of the two characters.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Essay --

Introduction In past history crime already existed. Many factors led to crime like school riots, and police corruption. Focusing on the 1980s drug crimes was a big deal as Cuban immigrant migrated to Unites States, specifically Miami, Florida. The people started making by starting an operation on trading and selling drugs and cocaine illegally from Cuba to Florida. A movie that perfectly fit into this category of crime during this time is, â€Å"Scarface†. The main plot of the movie is a Cuban immigrant took over a drug cartel business while giving into greed. This paper will use criminological theories to explain crime in the movie, â€Å"Scarface†. The following will reveal how classical theory, different association theory and institutional anomie theory are applied to the movie. Summary of "Scarface" It start with a Cuban immigrant named Tony Montana, when he got to Florida he was questioned by police authority as a result Tony was put in a camp with other Cubans as the authority was suspicious of him when he told them he has nobody that his family dead and he just wanted to experience the American Dream. Both Tony and his best friend Manny was offered to be release from the camp and given green card by Frank Lopez if they kill a former aide to Fidel Castro, Emilio Rebenga during a riot. After Tony and Manny got there green card they found a job as dishwasher in a fast food shop. Weeks later Frank's people came to Tony and Manny offering them another job to do for money. They accept the offer to trade in with Hector for drugs after consulting about how much they will get paid. As Tony and Manny go to their first drug dealing job it cause them a friend life and killing Hector. Frank immediately hired Tony and Manny seeing they got ... ...corruption. Another policy that might fix drug problems is law enforcement should be more focus on stopping or confiscating drugs from entering United States. We could have more checkpoints to stop drug from going through to America. A good policy should be teenagers are requiring participating in a program where we give them more knowledge of drug so we give them something to think about their future if they want to be success or ruin them with drugs. Conclusion Today all drugs are still part of the problem in committing crimes. Society and the police should really think about more effective policies or plans to stop this before it get worse. Of course there are more factors why criminal are criminal today but these three theories stood out in the movie â€Å"Scarface†, how it’s about the learning, the benefits, and monetary which motivated people to become criminal.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Glasgow 5th March

This is a critical essay for Glasgow, 5th March, 1971†², by Edwin Morgan, which is a modern instimatic poem about a shocking crime committed upon a ‘young man and his girl' by ‘two youths' and witnessed by two annonymous expressionless drivers who pass by without even aknowledging the crime. Morgan manages to make us feel as if we are watching this incident happen and effectively conveys the incident in the form it takes, unemotional, detached and ‘formal'. This feeling is fistly shown in the title, which is simply a place and date, the title implies it isn't a poem but some kind of record or headline.In this critical essay I am going to show how the poet Edwin Morgan uses violent and anonymous themes to create a lasting impression with the help of techniques like setting, imagery and word choice. In the first stanza Morgan makes excellent use of imagery and word choice, catching our attention with the words ‘With a ragged diamond, of shattered plate glas s’ This phrase immediately makes the reader think of something sharp, sparkling and dangerously beautiful. When the words diamond and shop window are put together like this we imagine them as small sparkling diamonds.This impression is carried on later in the poem when the writer describes the setting as ‘a sharp clear night' Even though the writer has said nothing of what sort of shop it is we subconsciously imagine a jeweller's shop. This is technique effectively puts the reader at the scene of the crime. In the second verse the poet uses another technique, a metaphor that emphasises the brutality of the attack â€Å"bristling with fragments of glass† This metaphor the could be comparing bristles of hair to the bristles of glass lying on the mans face. It is an effective comparison because it helps the reader imagine all the tiny particles of glass.It shows that poet wants us to recreate the incident as we read, with as much detail as possible. Edwin Morgan als o uses clinical language to describe the injurys to the couple. A key example of that is the phrase, ‘spurts arterial blood' His word choice makes the the scene more violent but also continues to detach the reader from the young victims This successfully describes the scene without showing any emotion from the writer or the victims while still going along with the violent theme. Edwin Morgan uses onomatopoeia when he says the phrases ‘shattered plate glass', ‘bristling with fragments of glass' ‘spurts'.The continuation of the ‘sh' and ‘s' sounds throughout the poem help paint a clearer picture of the crime in the readers head. This technique is successfull as phrases add sound effects to the silent image in the readers head. The writer does not add any emotions, but he does add facial expressions of the characters. About the young man and his girl he says that, â€Å"Their faces show surprise, shock, And the beginnings of pain† This quote i s effectivly emphasises the speed of events this is evident from the writer describing the how the characters are only just beginning to feel the pain when we are reading the third stanza.The couple are also kept anonymous creating one of the main themes of the poem. This use of word choice again doesn't show any emotion while still successfuly describing to the reader what is happening to the victims. Morgan also tells us about the two youths faces with the phrase ‘Their faces show no expression. ‘ This is the main quote that tells us that the two youths have no remorse for what they have done it also leaves the two youths anonymous like the young couple they have just pushed This helps to carry on the anonymous theme through the poem.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Checkpoint the Information Systems Department Essay

The Information Systems Department’s goal is to manage a company’s information through safe, secure and resourceful methods that can be accessed easily from anywhere inside the company. The Information Systems Department manages a wide variety of company information; everything from software, computers, storage, e-commerce, online websites, system integration, company networks, IT help, networking, consultation, billing, telecommunications, partnerships, implementation and training. The greatest resource provided by the Information Systems Department is transparency through technology; helping employees use accessible resources to seed the evolution of new technology and future innovation. Two important departments that utilize Information Systems in a major way would be the Human Resources Department and Supply Management. The information systems department works with HR to develop strategies that help them become more efficient at tracking important employee information. Such as Payroll processes, distribution of funding, scheduling, pay, employee info, company ethics, salary information and skill inventories are all tracked through this system. The ISD department develops software and assists with the technical side of this process; helping the Human resources department develops efficient employee management strategies. On the supply management side of things the ISD departments main job is to control inventory and the supply management of the distribution side of the company. The ISD department would assist with such things as supply chain networks, production management, delivery management and quality control tracking. The department would implement strategies aimed towards tracking all of these resources and implementing effective changes to the system that may strategically enhance business production. Privacy and security of customer information would also be stored within databases managed by the ISD through the secure network established for this process. The ISD would also be responsible for transportation operations, scheduling, purchasing and all information management related to supply. The information systems department really deals with nearly all aspects of a company anymore. The processes used and developed through the ISD help a company become more effective by collecting, creating and distributing data through intelligent software. The resources managed differ from department to department, but all use the same core fundamentals. The goal is to deal with challenges in a cost effective manor; which ultimately helps drive the production of a company.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on Nature Of International Law

INTERNATIONAL LAW QUESTION: Is international law â€Å"law†? Definition of Law Law is defined differently by different schools of thoughts. Some attribute more importance to one element of law than the other elements. For example positivists define law as a command of state that is backed by the state's enforcement power. They are in the opinion that without the power of enforcement, no system of rules can be regarded as a system of law. Although different definitions law exist, it in general terms, can be described as the body of rules, whether proceeding from formal enactment or from custom, which a particular state or community recognizes as binding on its members or subjects. Internatioanal law is defined as a set of rules and principles created between states ans instutional subjects of internatioanal law such as the UN, either for their own purposes or as a means of facilitating the functions of organisations of which they are memberes. There are clear differences between international and national law. National law has a supreme authority, and based on principles of command, obedience and enforcement. There are law making, law determining and law enforcement agencies. However, International law lacks a supreme authority. States are legally equals. It is based on consent and reciprocity. There is not any enforcement institution. The nature of international law The creation of public international law relies on negotiation and ratification of formal treaties and conventions, and on the formation of custom. Customary international law arises through the â€Å"general practice† of states’ legally relevant actions resulting in stable expectations, and ultimately in rules widely believed by states to be legal requirements. This is to be contrasted with international law arising from treaties or other formal legal arrangements, which are negotiated by states, and must be signed and ratified in order to be ... Free Essays on Nature Of International Law Free Essays on Nature Of International Law INTERNATIONAL LAW QUESTION: Is international law â€Å"law†? Definition of Law Law is defined differently by different schools of thoughts. Some attribute more importance to one element of law than the other elements. For example positivists define law as a command of state that is backed by the state's enforcement power. They are in the opinion that without the power of enforcement, no system of rules can be regarded as a system of law. Although different definitions law exist, it in general terms, can be described as the body of rules, whether proceeding from formal enactment or from custom, which a particular state or community recognizes as binding on its members or subjects. Internatioanal law is defined as a set of rules and principles created between states ans instutional subjects of internatioanal law such as the UN, either for their own purposes or as a means of facilitating the functions of organisations of which they are memberes. There are clear differences between international and national law. National law has a supreme authority, and based on principles of command, obedience and enforcement. There are law making, law determining and law enforcement agencies. However, International law lacks a supreme authority. States are legally equals. It is based on consent and reciprocity. There is not any enforcement institution. The nature of international law The creation of public international law relies on negotiation and ratification of formal treaties and conventions, and on the formation of custom. Customary international law arises through the â€Å"general practice† of states’ legally relevant actions resulting in stable expectations, and ultimately in rules widely believed by states to be legal requirements. This is to be contrasted with international law arising from treaties or other formal legal arrangements, which are negotiated by states, and must be signed and ratified in order to be ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

What Is the Distributive Property

What Is the Distributive Property SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What is the distributive property? Did you go over the distributive property definition in school but still aren’t sure what it is or why it’s important? The distributive property is a key mathematical property you’ll need to know to solve many algebra problems. In this guide, we explain exactly what the distributive property is, why it’s important, when you should use it, what other math rules you need to know for it, and we also work through several examples so you can see the distributive property in action. What Is the Distributive Property? The distributive property, sometimes known as the distributive property of multiplication, tells us how to solve certain algebraic expressions that include both multiplication and addition. The literal definition of the distributive property is that multiplying a number by a sum is the same as doing each multiplication separately. In equation form, the distributive property looks like this: $a(b+c) = ab + ac$ (Remember, in math, when two numbers/factors are right next to each other, that means to multiply them.) Like many math definitions, the distributive property is easier to understand when you look at a few examples. Here’s a simple one: $$5 (2 +7)$$ Normally, if you had a problem like this, you’d add 2 and 7 together to get 9, then you’d multiply 5times 9 to get 45. This is the simplest way to solve the equation, and it also follows the order of operations, which tells you to simplify whatever is in the parentheses first before moving onto other operations like multiplication. Solving that equation using the distributive property would look like this: $$5 (2+7)$$ The distributive property means doing multiplication before the addition within the parentheses, so we’d distribute the 5 to both values within the parentheses: $$5(2) + 5(7)$$ Work out the multiplication: $$10 + 35$$ Then add the two numbers together: $$10+35=45$$ We get the same answer as we did solving the problem with the first method, which shows that the distributive property works. Now, why would you want to use the distributive property when it took longer than the first method? The distributive property comes in handy when you have terms within the parentheses that can’t be added together, such as this equation: ${3/4}(a + 2b)$. Because there are variables involved, there’s no easy way to simplify $a + 2b$. In these more complicated equations, the distributive property can help us get the equation into a form that makes it easier to simplify or solve. We’ll see examples of how to do this later on in this guide. 3 Key Rules Related to the Distributive Property When you’re using the distributive property, you’ll often have to use or be aware of other mathematical rules and properties in order to solve or simplify the equations. Here are three of the most important ones to know. Commutative Laws The commutative laws state that you can swap numbers when adding or multiplying and still get the same answer. So $x + y = y + x$ and $x(y) = y(x)$ These are likely intuitive for you by now, but they’re an important part of the distributive property, which wouldn’t work without them. You can use them when you need help simplifying certain equations in order to get them into a more workable form. Order of Operations When you have a complicated equation that looks like it can be simplified in multiple ways, the order of operations gives you the correct way to work through those operations. The acronym PEMDAS makes it easy to remember which operations to work on first. From first to last, here’s the order you should work out operations: Parentheses Exponents Multiplication and Division (do these at the same time, working left to right) Addition and Subtraction (do these at the same time, working left to right) The order of operations is important to know because you’ll often have to remember it when simplifying equations that include a lot of different operations. It can also help you determine whether to use the distributive property or not. Order of operations states the first step you should take when simplifying an equation is to work out whatever is in a parentheses set, but if what’s in the parentheses can’t be simplified, that’s a sign to use the distributive property. Quadratic Formula The quadratic formula states that, for $ax^2+ bx + c = 0$, the values of $x$ which are the solutions to the equation are given by: $$x={-b ±Ã¢Ë†Å¡{b^2-4ac}}/{2a}$$ When using the distributive property, you may be able to simplify some equations into the $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ form so that you can use the quadratic equation to solve for $\bi x$. Distributive Property of Multiplication Example Problems In this section we go over three examples of simplifying problems using the distributive property. You’ll notice each of them contain variables in the parentheses, which is a key sign that the distributive property is needed. Example 1 $$\bo4\bi x(\bo5\bi x + \bo6) = -\bo7$$ First, we’re going to distribute $4x$ to both $5x$ and 6. $$4x(5x) + 4x(6) = -7$$ Now, multiply those out: $$20x^2+ 24x = 7$$ Add 7 to both sides: $$20x^2+ 24x +7 = 0$$ This equation is now in the proper formula to solve for $x$ using the quadratic formula (x would equal $-0.7$ and $-0.5$), or you might be able to keep the equation in that form if you were just being asked to simplify it. Example 2 $$\bo3\bi x(\bi x-\bo4) + \bo5(\bo4\bi x + \bo6)$$ For this equation, there are two sets of parentheses, so we need to use the distributive property twice. Distribute the 3x to its set of parentheses and the 5x to its set of parentheses: $$3x(x) + 3x(-4) + 5(4x) + 5(6)$$ Multiply it out: $$3x^2- 12x + 20x^2+ 30$$ Add the two $x^2$ terms together to simplify $$23x^2- 12x + 30$$ Example 3 $$-\bo7(\bi x + \bo4) + \bo8(\bo2 - \bo4\bi x)$$ This example is a bit trickier because the 7 has a negative sign in front of it. When the value just outside the parentheses is negative, the negative sign must be distributed to each term within the parentheses. Distribute the -7 to its set of parentheses and the 8 to its set of parentheses: $$(-7)(x) + (-7)(4) + (8)(2) + (8)(-4x)$$ Multiply those out: $$-7x -28 + 16 - 32x$$ Now simplify: $$-39x - 12$$ Summary: What Is the Distributive Property Definition? What is distributive property? The distributive property of multiplication states that $a(b+c) = ab + ac$. It’s often used for equations when the terms within the parentheses can’t be simplified because they contain one or more variables.Using the distributive property, you can simplify or solve equations that would otherwise be difficult to work with. When using the distributive property, remember to distribute negative signs if they’re in front of the parentheses, and keep in mind other important math rules, such as the quadratic formula, order of operations, and commutative properties. What's Next? Are you learning about logarithms and natural logs in math class? We have a guide on all the natural log rules you need to know. What is dynamic equilibrium and what does it have to do with rusty cars? Find out by reading ourcomplete guide to dynamic equilibrium. Rational numbers are another important math concept you should understand.Read our guide on rational numbers for everything you need to know about them!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Montaigne in his Apology for Raymond Sebond Essay - 1

Montaigne in his Apology for Raymond Sebond - Essay Example He continued to indicate that philosophers were teaching various ludicrous doctrines about the human soul and the gods, which they did not clearly understand. He posited that the philosophers spoke in earnest on such matters, and in the process, they concealed their ignorance so as to accommodate public image. His essay was created with an aim of supporting and defending Christianity. He quoted Plato’s statements on immorality of the soul. In his arguments, Plato stated that, â€Å"I desire to be dissolved†, and Montaigne added, â€Å"and to be with Jesus†. Montaigne sought to indicate how philosophers can be pervasive in their teachings. He demonstrated that some of Plato’s arguments made some of his disciples to desire premature grave, because they hoped to enjoy the things that he had promised them soon enough. He compared the work of ancient philosophers and Christianity with the aim of teaching that human beings cannot attain certainty. In the introduction of skeptic arguments, Montaigne quoted the work of Plato. In the ancient world, the skeptics, just like Plato, aimed at striking a difference between appearance and reality. Additionally, both Plato and skeptics held that through appearance, people could develop opinions, and if they had a chance to encounter reality, the result would be knowledge. Plato and the skeptics had developed assumptions that could be used to differentiate between grasping reality and appearance. A good example that was used by Montaigne was Plato’s depiction character of reality in his idea of beauty. The main difference between Plato and the skeptics was that Plato believed that it was possible to rasp reality via exercise of reason and philosophy; while on the other hand, the skeptics denied the possibility. Concerning the concept of reality and appearance, Montaigne concentrated on implications. He carefully analyzed both sides of the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Peer response Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Peer response - Article Example In terms of concerns regarding sampling, the plan to obtain a representative sample through securing a list of students in remedial classes is deemed to be an appropriate mode. Soliciting these students’ approval to participate in the study is another issue that needs a good technique. Your suggestion to send email message to these students is an alternative. However, one suggests that you could directly endorse request letters to these students while in their traditional class settings. Of course, you have to request approval from the instructors, as well as from the academic authorities prior to solicitation of approval for participation. Thus, through a quick survey-questionnaire, these same students could respond immediately in the same traditional classroom setting to collect their responses. I believe this suggestion would also eliminate sampling biases since the survey would be conducted to all students taking remedial classes in their traditional classroom

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Reflection on global & dversity learning project Essay

Reflection on global & dversity learning project - Essay Example Although the power plant is necessary and useful to the locals, it has a number of adverse effects that are detrimental to the population. The plant has some health effects to both humans and aquatic life around Hudson River. Power plants and other energy generation projects are often prone to numerous deadly accidents that range from the explosion of transformers to electrocution of humans and animals. IPEC is no exception since it has also had an incident of a transformer explosion. This type of accident is highly detrimental to both human and aquatic life around the source of power generation. Transformer explosion at this plant resulted in a number of environmental damages. This explosion resulted in spillage of several gallons of oil into the nearby Hudson River. Spillage of oil is dangerous to the aquatic life as it results in blockage of air spaces limiting the amount of oxygen consumed by plants and animals in the water. Consequently, most of them die or wither due to limited oxygen that is essential for life. In addition, this is also dangerous to humans that consume water from this river. Over the course of the semester, I have learnt several theories and concepts regarding diversity, sustainability, equity, and health, which have shaped my understanding of social issues in the society. For instance, I have learnt about tolerance and its applicability in interacting with people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. If not for tolerance, there would be no globalization where individuals from different nations and cultures interact and exchange ideologies among other things. Tolerance is also applicable online to appeal to different audiences as demonstrated by the reading How to Be Liked By Everyone. Another essential concept that I have learnt is multiculturalism, which applies in an environment of diversity. Multiculturalism provides for the development of cultural to necessitate unity in an environment of many

Monday, October 28, 2019

Strategically Evaluate The Accor Expansion Plan Tourism Essay

Strategically Evaluate The Accor Expansion Plan Tourism Essay The author has to strategically evaluate Accors expansion plan of adding 10,000 rooms per annum in total during two years (2007-2008) in both established market chosen as United States of America and emerging market chosen as China. The author will also review the marketing, financial strategies that Accor has adopted in these markets till now and then suggest future strategies to expand in these markets. The author will also be suggesting about the brand that Accor should look forward to expand. Accor  is a large  French  multinational corporation operating in nearly 90 countries and Accor Hospitality, the Accor hotels branch, has more than 4,000 hotels worldwide. It starts from the most luxurious hotels to the most economic lodging solution. Under its belt there are brands like sofitel, novotel, mercure, ibis, red roof inns, etap, motel 6, studio 6 and formule 1. The group is looking to expand its hotel business in an established (USA) and establishing (China) market by adding 20,000 rooms over the period of two years. The author has to strategically evaluate and make suggestions to the group. With a corporate representation throughout the world, Accor Hotels have become one of the largest players in the industry. It is an intricate organisation with multiple brands and qualifications of hotels, as well as supplementary products and services. Accor finds it important to incorporate the small and medium-sized hotels in managing customers needs and requests as they are the direct link to the customers. Accor  is a large  French  multinational corporation operating in nearly 90 countries. Accor is the European leader in hotels (Accor Hospitality) and a global leader in corporate services (Accor Services). Accor Hospitality, the Accor hotels branch, has more than 4,000 hotels worldwide. It starts from the most luxurious hotels to the most economic lodging solution. (Reference: http://www.fundinguniverse.com) Aims Objectives: This report aims to develop international expansion plans for Accor in established and emerging market in the given span of time during the year 2007-2008. The objective is to provide rationale for the selection of markets, and propose branding, finance, and marketing strategy to the Board of ACCOR to add an additional 10,000 rooms per annum across both established markets (Europe, including France and North America) and other areas of the world (Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia/Pacific). Research Methodology: This report is based on the case study for the ACCOR group of hotels which is from the module study guide and is a piece of research by the The Centre for Hospitality Research at Cornell University. The various secondary sources accessed have been as following: internet, journals, professional reports, government reports and others to produce data for the targeted markets. In 1967 Gà ©rard Pelisson and Paul Dubrule opened their first Novotel hotel on a roadside near Lille in northern France. Travel was booming in France in the 1960s and the hotel industry had not yet expanded to meet the demand. French hotels, in general, were either rural inns or luxury hotels in city centers. Dubrule decided to build American-style highway hotels in the medium price range and collaborated with Pelisson, a former head of market research at IBM-Europe. Through Pelissons connections the partners were able to secure a bank loan, and the Novotel firm was launched. The companys ensuing success was in large part due to its being first to break into the unexploited European market for highway lodging. Each Novotel provided standardized rooms, ample parking facilities, and restaurants featuring local cuisine. Soon Novotels also were established at airports and popular vacation sites, such as the seaside and mountain areas. The acquisition of the Mercure hotel chain in 1975 pushed the company into metropolitan areas and the business traveler market, and these hotels varied according to regional demands in style, character, and restaurant offerings. By the end of the 1970s Novotel had become the premier hotel chain in Europe with 240 establishments in Europe, Africa, South America, and the Far East. Accors brand worldwide Formule1 Lowest rates on the market. Functional room for one, Two or three people. All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Round-the-clock check-in. Etap Pleasant convenient room for one, two or three people. Budget price. All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Round-the-clock check-in. Motel 6 The lowest price of any national chain. Red Roof Inn Renovated product. Low rates. Comfortable beds. RediCard Preferred Member loyalty program. Ibis Simple, reliable pricing policy. Always very well situated, in city centres, close to airports or near major tourist or business areas. Service quality (ISO 9001 certification and 15-minute satisfaction guarantee). Environmentally friendly waste, water and energy management systems. Teams on duty around the clock. Breakfast served from 4:00 a.m. to noon. Hot snacks available at any time. Mercure Shared values, such as a strong regional focus, a unique personality and an exceptional wine list. For business and leisure stays, in city centres, at the seaside or in the mountains. Novotel Open spaces featuring contemporary design, for rest and relaxation. Bright, spacious, pleasant rooms where guests can work or unwind in a comfortable setting. Customers can eat whatever, whenever and wherever they want. Offers adapted to the needs of all travellers. Suite Hotel Innovative, modern concept. 30-square-meter modular suites. With Boutique Gourmand, food can be purchased around the clock in the hotel lobby. Free relaxing massage every Thursday evening. The longer the stay, the lower the price. Smart cars made available free-of-charge to medium-stay customers. Sofitel Prime locations in leading business centres and resorts. Each hotel is unique in its design, architecture and culture. Sofitels exclusive MyBed concept, the guarantee of a good nights sleep. Restaurants offering innovative, contemporary cuisine that surprises diners, awakening their senses and stirring their emotions. Hotel Distribution Worldwide Accor has its 4,000 hotels in 90 countries. It has its presence all seven continents and in all mojor cities. (Reference: www.accorhotels.com) Europe Africa Asia Australia North America Andorra Algeria Cambodia Australia Canada Austria Benin China Fiji Islands Mexico Belgium Burkina Faso India French Polynesia USA Bulgaria Burundi Indonesia New Zealand Cyprus Cameroun Japan Norfolk Island Czech Republic Chad Laos France Egypt Malaysia Germany Equatorial Guinea Philippines Greece Gabon Singapore Hungary Ghana South Korea Ireland Guinea Thailand Italy Ivory Coast Vietnam Lithuania Mauritania Luxembourg Mauritius Monaco Morocco Netherlands Nigeria Poland Reunion Portugal Rwanda Romania Senegal Russia South Africa Spain Tunisia Development strategy Accors hotel business has continued its sustained pace of development. Most importantly, they devised a new, more efficient business model based on two foundations: Stronger brands those are now more visible, more attractive and more strategically aligned. An asset right real estate strategy, which consists of adapting operating structures to the profile of each country and market segment. Pelisson and Dubrule developed their expanding company with a decentralized management and a unique dual chairmanship. Although to comply with French law the partners took turns holding the official position of chairman, they made all decisions jointly and shared responsibilities, immersing themselves in all aspects of the business. The companys specialty became variety, providing hotel chains to fit every need. In 1973 Sphere S.A. was created as a holding company for a new chain of two-star, no-frills hotels, called Ibis; the first Ibis was opened the following year. During this time, the company also acquired Courte Paille, a chain of roadside steakhouses founded in 1961, which reflected many of the same priorities as Novotel: practicality, easy parking, consistent quality, and quick service. (Reference: http://www.fundinguniverse.com) Accor expanded at a far swifter rate than its international rivals, becoming the largest operator in Europe. It led the market in France and West Germany, and expanded in the medium and economy range in Spain, Italy, and Britain with its $75 million investment budget. The companys European base provided three-quarters of its revenue, with more than half coming from hotels and the rest from its foodservices. (Reference: http://www.fundinguniverse.com) In 1997, Dubrule and Pelisson decided to retire from active management and were succeeded by Jean-Marc Espalioux. Espaliouxs new management team focussed on relocating Accors cash. In an effort, to deleverage themselves and free resources to provide for expansion, Accor disposed of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3 billion of real estate assets as part of a sale and leaseback programme. (Reference: http://www.fundinguniverse.com) Business Mix Accor S.A. operates in hotels and services sector worldwide. It provides luxury and upscale, midscale, and economy hotel services. It also designs, develops, and manages prepaid solutions, including food vouchers, welfare and assistance programs, family assistance solutions, gift vouchers and cards, loyalty programs and incentive campaigns, and expense management services to corporate clients and public institutions. In addition, the company operates restaurants and casinos, as well as provides onboard train services to the railway sector. Accor was incorporated in 1960 and is headquartered in Evry, France. Financial Performance Profit before tax rose to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬727 million in 2005, an all-time record, and the Groups balance sheet was more solid than ever. Based on these results, shareholders will be asked to approve an ordinary dividend of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.45 per share, a 26.1% increase, plus an exceptional dividend of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.50 per share, representing a total payout of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬320 million. This dividend policy is accompanied by a share buyback program that has had a positive effect on earnings per share. (Reference: www.accorhotels.com) Accors 2006 results were excellent, as can be seen in three key figures: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Revenue rose by 6.6%, the biggest increase since 1998. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Profit before tax rose by 28% to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬727 million, a record. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ EBITDAR margin, at 27.4%, was our highest ever. These figures prove that Accor is developing fast and enjoying very good financial health, as illustrated by their low level of debt. Another reason for satisfaction is that these improved results concern both the Services and the Hotels businesses. For the year, revenue was up 15.5% in Services and 6.1% in Hotels. And, if 2006 was a very good year, the outlook for 2007 is also very encouraging. With the two businesses growth potential, the economic turnaround (especially in Europe with the upturn in the hotel cycle) and the emerging markets of China and India, they have every reason to be optimistic. For 2007, Accor is on track to step up the pace of growth, with the goal of adding 200,000 rooms by 2008. (Reference: www.accorhotels.com) Strategy Very quickly too, it became apparent that there was a need for a clearer strategy that would enable the Group to more accurately identify its development priorities and, more importantly, focus its managerial and financial resources. In addition to this two-pronged strategic shift, senior management, under the leadership of Gilles Pà ©lisson, outlined a sustained expansion strategy combining acquisitions, notably in the Services business, and stepped up organic growth in the Hotels business with the opening of 200,000 new rooms between 2006 and 2010, especially in China, India and other fast-growing regions. Redefining the market positioning of the brands also made it necessary to reposition the Sofitel brand and create a new non-standardized banner in the economy segment, All Seasons. The brand strategy has led to a shift away from the Accor corporate banner toward the operating brands. Accor focuses repeatedly on a specific vision for growth and believes in sustainable, profitable growth through three pillars: A geographically and structurally balanced portfolio A disciplined, and results-oriented management of resources and assets A set of powerful, aligned brands (Ref: case study) The Right Approach became Accors strategic vision of its Hotels division focussed on making Accors Hotels business more profitable, less cyclical and well appreciated by its clients: To achieve these goals, five levers drive the Right Approach: Align the brand portfolio with customer expectations (The Right Brands) Redefine the networks around this brand portfolio (The Right Network) Improve hotel operating performance in the reconfigured business base (The Right Operating Performance) Adapt hotel operating structures to improve return on capital employed and reduce cash-flow volatility (The Right Asset Management) Shift the corporate culture to deliver the best value-added services to hotel owners (The Right Service Provider). Ownership Structure For the lower and mid segment hotels Accor can consider giving franchises or entering in joint ventures. However, for the high end segment hotels like sofitel and novotel, Accor should maintain ownership approach as these properties have higher profit sensitivity. In 2003, Accor opened 10 new properties under these brands, and they owned or leased these new properties. Accor should have less capital-intensive operating structures, which is a key to their success, especially in economically sensitive countries. While Accor owns and leases some properties, they also look to management contracts and franchising. (Reference: case study) Developed Market For the developed market the author has chosen three developed markets from which one will be shortlisted after the analyses. The author has chosen UK, France and USA as its markets for analysis. Accor has great presence in all the three markets. Accor has 125 hotels in UK mainly in the mid-segment. The demand for mid-segment hotels in the UK is strong and most of the Accor hotels are doing well. However, UK is not a big market compared to the US for Accor. Accor already has a good presence in the European market and hence there is limited scope of expansion. Similarly, in France Accor have a staggering number of hotels and resorts in all segments. It also has a lot of services in France. It has its strongest presence in France considering the size of France to the UK and the US. Accor already has a very good presence in France in all the segments. Hence it has little scope for growth. In the USA, Accor has motel 6 and studio 6. It is also present in the upscale market. However, it still has a large scope for expansion in all the segments as the US market is so vast and diverse. Therefore, in the developed markets, the author has shortlisted the US market for the addition of 10,000 rooms in the year 2007-08. Developing Market Like the developed market the author will choose three developing markets and shortlist one of them for the analysis. The developing markets are India, China and South Korea. South Korea is relatively a small country and the economic growth is not impressive enough for Accor to add 10,000 rooms in this market. Accor entered the Indian market in the early 80s and failed miserably. Accor has few operational hotels in India mainly business hotels. However, the political system in India is somewhat chaotic as compared to China. The third market chosen is China. China is a huge country in terms of land and is the fastest growing economy in the world. It has a stable government and its foreign policies towards the hospitality industry are very friendly. Therefore, the author has shortlisted China as its developing market. ESTABLISHED MARKET (USA) _______________________________________________________ Rationale The United States of America (commonly referred to as the United States, the U.S., the USA, or America) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km ²) and with about 305 million people, the United States is the third largest country by total area and third largest by land area and by population. The United States is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the largest national economy in the world, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of US$14.3 trillion (23% of the world total based on nominal GDP and almost 21% at purchasing power parity). (Reference: http://www.wikipedia.com) Geographical Location North America  is the northern  continent  of the  Americas,  situated in the  Earths  northern hemisphere  and almost totally in the  western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the  Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North  Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the  Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by the North  Pacific Ocean;  South America  lies to the southeast. North America covers an  area  of about 24,709,000  square kilometres  (9,540,000  square miles), about 4.8% of the planets surface or about 16.5% of its land area. As of July 2008, its  population  was estimated at nearly 529 million people. It is the  third-largest  continent in area, following  Asia  and  Africa, and the fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and  Europe. (Reference: http://www.wikipedia.com) PESTLE Analysis Political A seldom-stated fact of life is that without political stability it is impossible to have economic progress. Until a nation has a stable political system in place, it is impossible for people to plan their lives, conduct business successfully and go about their daily routines with any hope for the future. The United States has enjoyed 135 years of political stability since the end of the Civil War. The United States is the oldest democratic republic. This is an incredible accomplishment. It is amazing that no other country has been able to copy the American system of government successfully. It is as if that system is uniquely suited to that single country. (Reference: http://www.wikipedia.com) With mass manufacturing long gone from America, hospiatality industry is one of the key generators of revenue. Hence the American government has given some concessions for the development and growth of the industry: Grant of Infrastructure Status for hotels Concession for Convention Centres Continuation of Concessions   Depreciation rate for hotel buildings Concession in Income Tax Act for the Hotel Industry (Reference: http://www.capitalmarket.com) Economical Fortunately for U.S. hotel owners and operators, actual RevPAR improvement through the first six months of 2004 has already reached 9.5 percent. Most encouraging was the 3.2 percent increase in ADR. Record-breaking growth rates for revenues and profits are certainly welcome news for U.S. hotel owners and operators. The industry leaders have forecasted growth in the coming years for hospitality industry in the USA. Also with backing of the US government the hospitality industry is believe to show good results in coming years. (Reference: http://www.wikipedia.com) Social The American population is comparatively young compared to other developed nations like Japan and Germany and a lot of young immigrant work force is also available in the country. Therefore, it is doubly beneficial for the hospitality industry, which is always on the lookout for young work force and customers. The American government safeguards the interests of its people through following agendas: the social inclusion process Coordination of social security schemes Anti-discrimination and relations with civil society Equality between women and men Social Agenda 2005-10 (Reference: http://www.childstats.gov) Technological The effective use of hospitality technology is one of the key factors in providing stellar customer service, since the proper implementation of this technology helps to ensure that key aspects of service are not accidentally forgotten or avoided. The hospitality sector in the US spent a total of $917 million in 2006 on RD activities, compared to $784 million in 2005. As the President outlined in his State of the Union Address, the ACI commits $5.9 billion in FY 2007 and more than $136 billion over 10 years to increase investments in research and development (RD), strengthen education, and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. (Reference: http://www.capitalmarket.com) Legal The lobour laws in America are very stringent. Therefore, the hotel has to abide by the rules to avoid fines and getting into legal disputes. Some of the laws for the hospitality industry are as follows: Common Law System Right To Privacy American with Disabilities Act Safety and Security Food and Beverage Consumption Employment Workplace Contracts Travel and Tourism The international arrivals market for the United States has changed significantly since 2000. This goal of this analysis is to provide insights into changes affecting the top inbound markets to the U.S. The U.S. welcomed 56 million international visitors from 213 countries during 2006, up 10 percent from 2005. Total arrivals were also up 9 percent from 2000, the former record year for total non-resident visitation to the country. Arrival records were set by 72 countries, nine of which were among the top 20 inbound markets. Therefore, in 2007, the growth in arrivals was driven more from the emerging markets than the top arrival markets. Overseas arrivals (excluding Canada and Mexico) totalled 23.9 million during 2006, up 10 percent from 2005. Travel from overseas markets accounted for 43 percent of total arrivals to the U.S. and contributed significantly to the overall growth in international arrivals in 2007. Although overseas travel is rebounding from its low in 2003 it was down eight percent from its peak in 2000 (graph below). Fourteen of the top 20 overseas markets exceeded 2006 arrivals levels by double-digits: Germany, France, Australia, Brazil, Italy, India, PRC/HK, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Venezuela, Colombia, Sweden and Israel. (Reference: http://www.travelstatistics.com) Economic Growth In real terms, Americas economy grew by 3.7 percent in 2006, faster than most other developed economies around the globe and faster than the historical U.S. growth rate, since 1970, of 3.2 percent. The overall level of GDP was $9.89 trillion (in 2000) when Bush was elected and $9.87 trillion in the third quarter of 2006. Exactly three years later, GDP is $10.88 trillion, a 10 percent real increase. To put that in perspective, just the growth of the U.S. economy over the past three years is larger than half of the entire French economy. (Reference: http://www.economicreform.com) Brand Selection Headquartered in Dallas (Carrollton), Texas, Accor North America operates more than 900 upscale and economy properties including nationwide economy leaders Studio 6 and Motel 6 and the upscale Sofitel and mid-scale Novotel and Ibis hotel locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Its flagship chain, Motel 6, caters primarily to vacationing families in the US and Canada with a limited menu of amenities. Accors plan for the U.S. should focus on Motel 6, Studio 6, Sofitel and Novotel brands. The company should plan to grow Motel 6 and Studio 6 aggressively. Were working on new prototypes for both brands, Le Mener said. We intend to be very aggressive with a goal to develop 70 to 75 properties a year, Mener added. Novotel should follow the growth plan of Sofitel, which is to have properties only in the top 20 to 25 markets in the U.S. We see Novotel as an international network, he said. Business travellers and families on a vacation are looking for budget hotels as they want the cheapest mode of accommodation. Accor has a great presence in the low budget segment and therefore, it should continue to grow its hold in this segment. However, it should also look at growing in other segments of the market. This will help Accor in creating brand awareness and also increase its market share in the US. Accor in USA Brand Hotels Rooms Managed/Franchised Motel 6 815 85,421 127 Red Roof Inns 360 39,622 101 Studio 6 37 4,714 2 Sofitel 8 2,633 1 Novotel 6 1,835 3 Total 1,226 134,225 234 (Reference: http://www.accor.com) Financial Strategy Accor USA was struggling with manual account reconciliation that postponed month-end accounting for its growing number of properties. Department inefficiencies and error-prone manual processes caused delays with the identification of exceptions like missing and late deposits. High turnover at properties and reporting delays exposed the company to expensive losses with annual write-offs averaging $1.5 million. Accor USA had no process for escheatment and a 2004 audit resulted in $3 million dollars in penalties for unclaimed property that had not been filed with the appropriate states. (Reference: http://www.accor.com) Accor USA faces a lot of financial problems that cannot be sorted out in a matter of time. It has very less cash left to fund its operation in the USA. Although, the funds from operations increased 7% to $906 million in 2005, it still struggles to keep up. Capital expenditure for renovation and maintenance rose by nearly 15% to   $326 million during the year, and represented 4.5% of revenues, versus 4.2% in 2005. Free cash flow amounted to $580 million. (Reference: http://www.accor.com) As seen above, Accor USAs debt is decreasing and cash flows are increasing, therefore it should concentrate on the expansion programme as the cash flows increase. However, it should focus on economy hotels like Motel 6 and Studio 6 as they require less money. To fund these projects Accor can raise cash money from equity market and some from its operations. With its more substantial financial resources, Accor should step up the pace of growth and enjoy greater financial flexibility. The initial three-year (2005-2007) expansion budget has been increased by 39%, to EUR 1.7 billion from EUR 1.2 billion, to fund the development of various hotel projects in the U.S. (Reference: http://www.accor.com) To improve its financial flexibility, Accor should undertake an innovative real estate management strategy designed to meet two main objectives: Reduce capital intensity in upscale hotels. Variable holding costs in the midscale segment. In the upscale segment (Sofitel), Accor wants to sell the hotel properties while retaining the management contract, sometimes with a minority stake, in order to reduce earnings volatility in a segment that is more sensitive to business cycles. The objective is for 75% of all Sofitel units to be under management contract in 2006, versus 62% in 2004 and 52% in 2000. (Reference: http://www.accor.com) In midscale hotels, fixed leases are going to be transformed into variable leases based on a percentage of revenues with no minimum guaranteed.   One of the objectives is to variable a proportion of the hotels fixed costs. Marketing Strategy Accors big-spender approach has made it the arch-collector of brands, and some observers wonder whether the group can continue being all things to all people without diluting its focus. Nevertheless, its an approach that has established the French company as the worlds third-largest hotel operator, and its coverage of multiple market sectors allows it to spread the risks of a downturn in any one part of its business. Accor group should be focussing on marketing its hotels through advertisements in magazines, television and Accors other services operational in the U.S. It has joined hands with various magazines and is actively participating in television adverts, which will help in marketing its product. Many customers locate and book their Accor hotel accommodation through www.accorhotels.com and associated brand-specific web sites, where they are offered the opportunity to opt-in to an online communications programme. Accors online relationship marketing strategy should aim to convert prospects into customers and build customer value through increasing the depth of relationship and growing revenues from repeat bookings, cross-sales, up-sales and referrals. Customer relationship and marketing director of Accor Hotels, Mathieu Staat, said, Online relationship marketing is an important, but complex activity for us. Accor have several hotel brands and offer online communications in up to five languages to subscribers across 15 target zones. They also run six different loyalty and subscription cards.