Company Report of Barratt Developments PLC Essay

Company Report of Barratt Developments PLC - Essay Example In the comparison of the company’s recent performance to that of its closest competitor, Taylor Wimpey Plc it is noted that thou it generates more revenue than this competitor it posted lower profits due to huge expenditure arising from a huge debt repayment. Under the third section of the report, the strategies of market penetration and development are presented as the reasoned strategies for the future economic success of the company. 1.0 Introduction The historical background of the modern housing sector in the United Kingdom indicate that initially the sector was dominated by the government and private companies, which constructed houses for their workers but there was very little participation of private specialized construction companies. However, this changed with the increased pressure to adopt the neo-liberalization economic practices that encouraged privatization of most public corporations and led to the emergence of specialized construction companies, which revolut ionized the housing sector and resulted in the development of unique, well-designed, and constructed houses and business premises (Lowe, 2011). This report focuses on the Barratt Development PLC, which is among the largest residential property development companies in the United Kingdom. It has been in operation since 1958 and is largely acclaimed with the development of the UK residential property sector (Lowe, 2011). This study will commence by looking into the economic environment in which the Barratt Development PLC operates. Secondly, it will critically appraise the company’s financial performance in the recent years whilst comparing it to its closest competitor. Lastly, the study will incorporate an economic model and provide related information as appropriate in order to devise reasoned strategies for the future economic success Barratt Development Plc. 2.0 Economic environment in which Barratt Developments PLC operates Among the crucial economic factors that can indic ate the health of the UK economic environment in which Barratt Developments PLC operates in include interest rates and the prevailing income levels (Myers, 2013). This discussion will also incorporate an analysis of the impact of government policies on the housing sector and their impact on the operations of Barratt Developments Plc. 2.1 Interest rates In the studies conducted by Myers (2013), he stated that the interest rate levels within a country largely determine the accessibility of credit and in this case the accessibility of mortgage. The rate of interest at which borrowers are going to repay back their mortgage largely determines the booms and busts on the UK’s house prices. If the rate of interest charged on mortgage finance is considerably high, first time homebuyers will be discouraged and this will lead to a bust in the housing prices due to the low demand. If the level of interest rate is perceived to be at an affordable rate then first time homebu

Linguistics for Elementary Teachers Essay Example for Free

Linguistics for Elementary Teachers Essay After reading the first and second chapters, in How Linguistics are Learned, I am interested by what Lightbown and Spada (2006) argued. The authors claimed that â€Å"The development of bilingual or second language learning is of enormous importance† (p. 25). They argued also that acquisition of more than one language in our new global world is rewarding for bilingual individuals socially and economically. The authors stated that most children nowadays are exposed to more than one language during their early childhood and schooling time. Some may learn two languages at the same time ‘simultaneous bilinguals’ while others may learn the other language later ‘sequential bilinguals’. There are situations where children are cut off their family language while they are very young. They may stop speaking their family language. This might represent a reason for concern. Researchers have recently devoted a considerable amount of their time and energy to investigate children’s abilities to learn more than one language at early age. The goal is to help students to learn a second language at early age and facilitate that for teachers and educators. This subject matter is interesting and challenging to me personally because it is connected to my experiences as a teacher and principal of multicultural schools environment with language learning /acquisition and education. My first language is Arabic; English is my second language. I started learning English while I was at Middle school; I was 12 years old. I have been all my life in education. I worked a teacher and principal. I worked in Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Canada and the US. I have worked with students from different countries speaking different languages in multicultural schools environment. My current school is Annoor Islamic School (AIS) in Wichita, KS. It is a private school, Pre-K through 8th grade. Students enrolled are 157 from 20 countries and 90 % of them are bilingual or trilingual. Students speak more than five different languages at their homes in addition to English. Due to the fact that our school is an Islamic school all our students are Muslims. AIS provides higher quality of education for students. They learn, in addition to public schools’ curriculum: Al-Quran al-Kareem, Islamic Studies and Arabic Language. Teaching Arabic for the non-native Arabic speaking makes them trilingual. It may look difficult for students, but in reality they want to be able to read Al-Quran. Al-Ksareem. They are highly motivated to learn more about their religion and read Al-Quran Al-Kareem in the Arabic Language. Based on my experience and observations all these years as a teacher and principal, I found that my bilingual students have higher academic results compared to their non-bilingual counterparts. The same conclusion was confirmed by developmental psychologists’ research as Lightbown and Spada (2006) stated. I also found that bilingual students’ skills are transferrable. The skills and knowledge that bilingual students know through their first language are transferrable. They can present these skills knowledge in their new second language easily. At my current school AIS, students startlearning anther language at age 3-4 years old. I found it is important to start young students learning a language other than their own from at an early age. That’s when they pick up a language the fastest. It is important because we need to know more about other nations’ cultures and history to improve world relations.

how to make a bar :: essays research papers

Good stuff...be sure to note #1 below All: I have created a simple tool that I have given to our UPNY TeleSales reps to help them best identify which rate plan a customer should be on. It should be simple to use. In qualifying the customer, the rep enters the customers expected # of calls he/she will make on a daily basis (weekdays ONLY), and the program will calculate which America's Choice rate plan would be the least expensive, and which rate plan would give the customer the most value (given their usage). The purpose of the sheet is to help UP-SELL to higher rate plans, focusing more on the VALUE of the plans vs. the COST. The spreadsheet is LOCKED, prohibiting a rep from making any changes. It allows him/her to enter the # of phone calls the customer is expected to use daily (weekdays). This "should be" the only cell the rep needs to enter in, although one other cell is left UNLOCKED ... the average minutes/call. There are, in 2002, 21.75 weekdays/month, which is hard-coded in. KEEP IN MIND, PLZ ... this is a simple tool to help guide the rep to which rate plan to suggest. It is not a full blown detailed report of what the customer will be billed. It should NOT be shown to customers. It takes simple assumptions into consideration (ie: should the customer still have >10% of his plan minutes left over at the end of the month or should the delta between two rate plans exceed $25 or more per month, the program will not recommend the next rate plan up). Keep in mind also that this is newly created and has not been tested yet by the reps. Should any reps find any errors or suggestions to improve it, please let me know and I will fix &/or enhance it. It should be self-explanatory, but I will be happy to go over it with anyone that asks. As I hear feedback from reps, I will make changes and send you out a new & improved version. I am sending this to you in hopes that you might find it useful in your channels as well. If you wish to not receive future versions, just let me know. INSTRUCTIONS: 1.) The simplicity is to have the reps probe to find out how many calls/weekday the customer is expecting to make. This program DOES NOT calculate "off-peak" airtime.

Essay on the Devil in Paradise Lost, Holy Bible, Faust, and Devil and T

The Devil’s Role in Paradise Lost,   The Bible,   Faust, and  The Devil and Tom Walker  Ã‚   The devil's role as the inspiration for rock-and-roll is already well documented and commonly understood. Perhaps less well documented is the role of the Devil as inspiration for literature. The Devil has played an active role in literature for quite a while with his name appearing in stories for centuries. The historical devil has not always been personified. Initially, in religious settings, he was represented as a feeling or power, in attendance as the force of evil, an antagonist to goodness and divinity, and temptation for humans. Although not always represented as human, he has always been represented. In fact, demonstrating that he has always been an uneraseable threatening force, early religious accounts show that his existence actually "precedes the worship of a benign and morally good Deity."1 Much later, certainly by the time of the blues of the 1920s and 1930s, songwriters were repeating the tradition of representing the devil as a person. Perhaps the most famous example is Robert Johnson's "Cross Road Blues," in which the singer describes a dangerous meeting with the devil while hitchhiking. In southern literature, Flannery O'Connor drew from Poe and Hawthorne to illustrate this, as well.2 A few centuries of literary evolution have not only reconfigured the devil, they have shifted the site of his battles from the heavens to the earth. Essentially, his battles changed arenas three times.3 First, the devil battled God in their once-shared home -- the arena of Heaven. After this falling out, the devil and God competed for the hearts of men in parables, as in the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The third, mo... ... Rudwin, p. xi: "[W]hen Satan was asked to explain the cause of God's enmity...he replied: 'I wanted to be an author.'" 16 Carus, p. 407. 17 Russell, p. 12. 18 Revard, Stella Purce, The War in Heaven (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1980), p. 234. 19 Levine, p. 403. 20 Saxon, Lyle and Robert Tallant, Gumbo Ya-Ya (Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing, 1987), p. 80. 21 Irving, in Rudwin, p. 31. 22 Werblowski, p. 96. 23 Caballero, in Rudwin, p. 154. 24 Caballero, in Rudwin, p. 161. 25 Werblowski, p. 219. 26 Baudelaire, Charles Pierre, in Rudwin, p. 222. 27 Thackeray, William Makepeace, in Rudwin, p. 79. 28 Poe, p. 482 29 Caballero, in Rudwin, p. 157. 30 Carus, pp. 407. 31 Carus, p. 7. Also, "...there seems to be no exception to the rule that fear is always the first incentive to religious worship." Carus, p. 6. 32 Russell, p. 12. 33 Rudwin, p. xi.

Geography Study Chart Places and Regions Essay

Studying the World Regions and Places units in your course Many students find the course content on world regions, countries, and places to be some of the most challenging material to learn. The combination of student unfamiliarity with the world regions and the large volume of information to be learned can be overwhelming. To help you organize your studies, keep in mind WGU’s intention behind this course, which is for competent students to have a strong grasp of the major human and physical geographic conditions that interact to shape our world. When you are studying world region, we want you to emphasize the 1) â€Å"big picture† of the geographic conditions in each world region, 2) the major countries of that region, and 3) how that region relates to the rest of the world. Creating a consistent framework for studying each world region may help you retain the knowledge you need to be successful in this course aspect. We recommend trying to identify the 2-3 most significant / most important physical, cultural, economic, and political characteristics that exist within each world region. We do not guarantee that you are only tested on those features, but the process of identifying the most significant characteristics from the broader range of information about each world region is an excellent study strategy that also will ensure you leave our course with a strong, general knowledge of the major geographic conditions around the world. You are welcome to use the grid, below, to help organize your study material.

FIGHTING DISCRIMINATION essays

FIGHTING DISCRIMINATION essays Discrimination is common in all of society. Weather it is intentional or not, people discriminates against each other. It is just a natural thing that humans do because that is the way we are. Discrimination begins in the mind and it is only when we intentionally base our decisions on these prejudices that are wrong. The fight against discrimination has been an ongoing process and in order for us to continue the battle against discrimination, we must understand the different types of discrimination that exists, what causes discrimination, and what can we do to stop it. Types of discrimination exist from your gender to ethnicity, from your status in a society to your preferences in dating. What all these types of discriminations have in common is that it segregates one group from another. You discriminate when you think of someone differently just because they are poorer than you, smarter than you, overweight, too short, looks gay, have different political beliefs. All these are forms of discrimination but the most widely publicized forms of discrimination are racial, ethnic, and gender. Racial discrimination has happened since that late 1800s with slavery. Issues of racial tension between blacks and whites are well known. Ethnic discrimination, for example, against Chinese and Native Americans, occurred there after when minorities immigrated to European lands. Mainly, the fight has always been against the dominant group which was whites. Gender discrimination also occurred when women wanted to be treated equal to men. In this case, the dominant g roup was mainly white men. Women wanted equal rights such that of being able to vote. Discrimination is associated with prejudice. Prejudices are caused when one group thinks they are better than another because they lack the qualities that are similar to a certain group. To feel prejudice and then to discriminate, that is wrong we would think that by now, in the 20th century, that...

All 104 Need-Blind Colleges in the US A Complete Guide

All 104 Need-Blind Colleges in the US A Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When universities go through admissions applications, they take many factors into consideration, like your grades, your extracurriculars, and even your personality! But many college applicants don’trealizethat some universities also consider youand your family’sability to pay tuition as well. The hard truth is that some universities use an applicant’s ability to pay tuition without financial aid as a factor in the admissions process. This became the subject of a 2015 article from Time Magazine, which explains that many universities consider how students can contribute to their institution financially when they make admissions decisions. This sounds like scary news. But don’t worry! Many schools are addressing the issue by transitioning to need-blind admissions policies, which remove economic status as an admissions criteria. In this guide, we’ll give you a complete list of need-blind colleges in the United States and answer all of your burning questions, including: What is need-blind admission? How do need-blind policies affect tuition costs? What should you look for in a need-blind school? So let’s get started! What Are Need-Blind Colleges and Universities? Simply put, need-blind colleges are schools where a student’s ability to pay tuition costs is not factored into the admissions decision. Yes, it’s really that simple! These universities only consider the non-financial parts of your applicationlike your essays, transcript, and letters of recommendationwhen deciding whether to offer you admission. But just because a university uses need-blind admissions processes doesn’t mean the school won’t ask you about your family’s finances. You will still have to submit your financial information through documents like the FAFSA, the College Board’s CSS profile, or university-specific forms. At a need-blind college, this information will only be used to calculate your aid package after you’ve been admitted. (More on that later.) Through need-blind admission, colleges are trying to level the playing field. The idea is that the admittance system becomes more merit-based: each student stands on their own achievement in high school, not on the wealth (or lack thereof) of their parents. For example, let’s say that Emma graduates in the top 5% of her class, serves as the student body treasurer, and scores a 34 on her ACT. But Emma also comes from a single-parent household where finances are tight. A need-blind university would only consider Emma’s stellar academicsnot her family’s incomewhen deciding whether to accept her. In other words, need-blind policies help admissions counselors evaluate each applicant on the basis of merit rather than economic class. As a result, need-blind policies tend make the admissions process a little more competitive. But Aren’t All Colleges Need-Blind? While it’s true that all universities are looking for excellent candidates that are good academic, intellectual, and cultural fits for their institutions, many universities weigh whether a student can pay for tuition during the application process. As Andrew Belasco, CEO of College Transitions explains, not all institutions have access to the same amount of financial aid funding. He says: â€Å"Reduced appropriations, rising costs and budget crunches have forced many institutions to increasingly rely on tuition revenue to meet expenses†¦ [and] in the case of two students with similar credentials, many colleges are likely to give preference to the student who is able to pay more out-of-pocket.† That is not to say that most universities only consider your financial ability to pay, or that it is even a top-tier consideration! But when it comes to making decisions on students who are on the borderline, familial finances can made the difference between an acceptance and a rejection letter. Tim Gouw/Unsplash How Do Need-Blind Policies Affect Tuition Costs? There is a common misconception that colleges that are need blind also offer students who cannot pay a full ride. That is not true: just because a university is need-blind does not mean that tuition is free! Just because you get into a need-blind college does not mean you are guaranteed a free ride. For example, take a look at Brown University need-blind admissions policy. It starts like this: Need-blind admission simply means that an applicant's ability to pay for their education will not be a factor in the admission decision. In other words, a candidate's financial need will not be taken into consideration when deciding to admit, wait list, or deny an applicant. Sounds pretty good, right? Just like any need blind school, Brown does not consider a student’s ability to pay when deciding whether to admit them or not. But the statement doesn’t end there. It also clarifies how this affects Brown’s financial obligations to admitted students, and vice versa. The rest of the policy says: Need-blind admission does not require that an applicant with demonstrated financial need be awarded financial aid, nor does it require that 100% of the applicant's demonstrated need be met. Okay, let’s break this second statement down. What Brown is saying is that although they don’t look at finances to decide whether to grant a student admission, the school doesn’t guarantee that anyoneincluding lower-income studentswill be awarded financial aid. That means you will still be on the hook to cover your tuition costs through grants, scholarships, and loans. The truth is that most need-blind schools are also top-tier institutions that will offer a financial aid package to students who demonstrate need. But that isn’t guaranteed funding, and it certainly isn’t a full ride! So be aware that you might have to pay some of your tuition out of pocket even if you are accepted into a need-blind university. Ryoji Iwata/Unsplash The 3 Types of Need-Blind Financial Aid Policies So what kind of financial aid can you expect from a need-blind university? As with most things, it changes from case to case. While every need-blind university has its own policies on financial aidcheck with each individual school to get the details!we have found that in general, need-blind universities fall into one of three categories when it comes to financial aid. Category 1: Full Need, No Loans Schools So what exactly does it mean for a school to be â€Å"full need, no loans†? Full need schools are universities that promise to make sure that a student’s demonstrated financial need will be covered through financial aid opportunities without requiring student loans. Put another way, a full need, no loans school will offer a 100% financial aid package that does not include loans! This is awesome, especially since the average college student graduates with $37,172 in student debt. Need-blind schools with no loans policies are committed to helping provide students with excellent educations without burdening them with loan repayments after graduation. This is really important for moderate- to low-income students whose loan burdens might be disproportionately large compared to their more affluent counterparts. The one caveat to full need, no loans schools is that they only guarantee to cover a student’s â€Å"demonstrated financial need,† which refers to the difference between the cost of tuition and what your family can pay. So let’s look at Emma once again. She has been admitted to a full need, no loans school that costs $48,000 a year in tuition. After looking Emma’s FAFSA form, the school calculates that Emma’s family should be able to contribute $5,000 a year to her education. That means that Emma’s demonstrated financial need is the difference between those two numbers, or $42,000 a year. Because Emma’s school is full need, they provide a financial aid package that covers every penny of that $42,000 through a combination of scholarships, grants, and work study opportunities with no federal or private loans! As you can imagine, full need, no loans schools are pretty rare. In fact, as of 2017 there are only 18 universities in the U.S. that meet full financial need for each student with a no-loans policy. We’ve bolded their names in our master list of need-blind universities below, so be sure to check whether your dream school offers this opportunity. Category 2: Full Need With Loans Schools A need-blind university that is full need with loans is very similar to their â€Å"no loans† counterparts. These schools also guarantee to cover 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need through a financial aid packagethe only difference is that this package might include loans alongside grant, scholarship, and work opportunities. Let’s see how this might affect Emma, who has also been accepted into a â€Å"full need with loans† school with an annual tuition rate of $43,000. Since this university also uses the FAFSA to determine a student’s demonstrated financial need, they also calculate that Emma’s family can contribute $5,000 a year to her education. That means Emma’s demonstrated financial need comes to $38,000 a year. The school offers Emma a financial aid package that covers the full $38,000...only unlike the first school, this financial aid package contains a Stafford Loan, too. That means when Emma graduates from a full need with loans university, she will have a small amount of student debt to repay unlike at a no loans school. Category 3: No Guaranteed Financial Aid Schools The third category of need-blind universities are schools that use need-blind policies for admissions but offer no guarantee for financial aid. As we mentioned before, most students can expect to receive some amount of financial aid from a need-blind university. But in this case, the financial aid is not guaranteed to cover a student’s demonstrated financial need, and it will often leave a gap that a student will have to fill beyond their already-determined family contribution. We know this sounds complicated, so let’s try to simplify it a bit. Take Cody for example. He has been accepted to a need-blind school that is not full need. The yearly tuition is $40,000 a year, and the school calculates that Cody’s family can contribute $15,000 a year to his education. That makes Cody’s demonstrated financial need $25,000. The school also offers Cody a financial aid package upon admission made up of scholarships and loans that covers $20,000, or 80%, of his demonstrated financial need. That leaves $5,000 uncovered, so Cody will have to find another way to make up that cost, such as private loans or outside employment. Like we mentioned earlier, your need-blind school might have a financial aid policy that differs slightly from the three we’ve talked about above. That’s why it’s important to check with your school’s admissions and financial aid offices to understand what options are available to you! What Should You Look for in a Need-Blind College? Now that you understand what a need-blind university is and how that translates to your pocketbook, here are three things you should look for when considering a need-blind college. #1: Make Sure the School Is the Right Fit for You Need-blind colleges are great institutions that often offer generous financial packages to qualified students. But it is most important that you choose a school that’s a good fit for you. A need-blind college might sound great on paper, but if it doesn’t offer the major or opportunity you have your heart set on, it’s probably worth applying to other institutions as well. #2: Check the School’s Financial Need Calculator Every school has its own tuition calculator to help you understand what the actual cost of tuition will be. Here are the tuition calculators for two need-blind schools: Yale University and Tulane University. While these will not predict the exact makeup of your potential financial aid package, a tuition calculator will clarify what you will have to pay out of pocket to attend. It is critical that you use the tuition calculator for each university when trying to determine your financial need. Your FAFSA will give you a general idea of your financial contribution, but many schoolsespecially elite institutionsuse their own proprietary formula to calculate your demonstrated financial need. The only way to get an accurate idea is to type your numbers into each calculator and see what comes out. #3: Don’t Let the Potential Aid Package Keep You From Applying to Your Dream School Remember: your FAFSA and a tuition calculator do not a financial aid package make! Don’t get discouraged if the number the forms spit out is higher than you can pay. Universities look at student need on a case-by-case basis, so your financial aid package might be more generous than you would think! Also keep in mind that the calculators don’t account for outside scholarship money, so additional awards can help bring down costs. Joey Csunyo/Unsplash A Complete List of Need-Blind Colleges in the United States Here is a complete list of need-blind universities in the United States in 2018. We’ve also bolded the names of full-need, no-loans schools to help you in your decision-making process. The colleges are: Adrian College Harvard University SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Amherst College Harvey Mudd College Swarthmore College Babson College Haverford College Syracuse University Barnard College Hiram College The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) Baylor University Jewish Theological Seminary Thomas Aquinas College Biola University Johns Hopkins University Trinity University Boston College Julliard Tufts University Boston University Kenyon College Tulane University Bowdoin College Lawrence University University of Chicago Brandeis University Lehigh University University of Illinois at Chicago Brown University Lewis Clark College University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Marist College University of Miami California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Marlboro College University of New Hampshire Carnegie Mellon University Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapman University Middlebury College University of Notre Dame Claremont McKenna College Mills College University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Mount St. Mary’s College University of Richmond Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York University (NYU) University of Rochester Cornell College North Carolina State University (NCSU) University of Southern California (USC) Cornell University North Central College University of Vermont Dartmouth College Northeastern University University of Virginia Davidson College Northwestern University University of Washington Denison University Penn State Ursuline College DePaul University Pomona College Vanderbilt University Duke University Princeton University Vassar College Elon University Providence College Wabash College Emory University Randolph College Wake Forest University School of Medicine Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Rice University Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) Florida State University Salem College Wellesley College Fordham University San Jose State University (SJSU) Wesleyan University Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering Soka University of America Williams College Georgetown University St. John’s College Yale University Grinnell College St. Olaf College Yeshiva University Hamilton College Stanford University What’s Next? The idea behind need-blind admissions is that it focuses on merit rather than financial status. This is a great thing, but it also makes getting admitted a little more competitive. Get the inside scoop on the people who will be reading your essay, and learn what admissions officers are looking for in top applications. Regardless of whether your top university is on the need-blind admissions list, most students need to know how much financial aid they qualify for before they commit to a school. Here’s our comprehensive list of every college that offers 100% financial aid. Many financial aid packages offer students work study opportunities. Learn more about work study and how it can help you pay for your education. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

The Sengoku Period in Japanese History

The Sengoku Period in Japanese History The Sengoku was a century-long period of political upheaval and warlordism in Japan, lasting from the Onin War of 1467–77 through the reunification of the country around 1598. It was a lawless era of civil war, in which the feudal lords of Japan fought one another in endless plays for land and power. Although the political entities that were fighting were actually just domains, the Sengoku is sometimes referred to as Japans Warring States Period. Pronunciation:  sen-GOH-kooAlso known  as:  sengoku-jidai, Warring States Period The Onin War The Onin War that initiated the Sengoku was fought over a disputed succession in the Ashikaga Shogunate; in the end, nobody won. For the next century and a half, local daimyo or warlords vied for control over the different regions of Japan. Unification Japans Three Unifiers brought the Sengoku Era to an end. First, Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582) conquered many other warlords, beginning the process of unification through military brilliance and sheer ruthlessness. His general Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536–598) continued the pacification after Nobunaga was killed, using a somewhat more diplomatic but equally pitiless set of tactics. Finally, yet another Oda general named Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542–1616) defeated all opposition in 1601 and established the stable Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Although the Sengoku Period ended with the rise of the Tokugawa, it continues to color the imaginations and the popular culture of Japan to this day. Characters and themes from the Sengoku are evident in manga and anime, keeping this era alive in the memories of modern-day Japanese people.

The Reactions of Hoover and Roosevelt to the Great Depression Assignment

The Reactions of Hoover and Roosevelt to the Great Depression - Assignment Example The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (1930) however has been seen by historians and economists today though as something that actually made the problems associated with the Great Depression worse, not better. Those economists that believe that the economy can only benefit from lowering prices point to tariffs as a way of increasing prices rather than dropping them. Roosevelt, on the other hand, campaigned on a balanced budget and a promise not to intervene with the economy. However, once he was elected he went ahead and expanded some of Hoover’s programs and created some of his own. The minimum wage act and the Davis-Beacon Act (1931) meant a reduction is price flexibility which slowed the economy even further. The New Deal which was a program implemented under Roosevelt’s reign was actually two different deals. The first one which ran from 1933 – 1935 was aimed at inputting money at the top of the economy so that the people at the bottom benefitted from the trickle-down effect. The Agricultural Adjustment Act (1933) for example paid farmers to reduce their production. No one was actually able to explain why that would help children in the poverty end of the scale who were going without food or the countless numbers of tenants and sharecroppers who were evicted and left without a job but it did make the larger (wealthier) farmers happy. As far as helping alleviate the impact of the Depression however, it was a non-starter – consumer demand fell because of course there were fewer people with money to spend. The National Industry Recovery Act (1933) was instrumental in setting up a centralized planning scheme that would encourage businesses to set prices that would drive weaker and smaller businesses out of the marketplace completely. Again this might have benefitted larger businesses but the smaller ones were still forced to close and unemployment figures still continued to rise, meaning there was less money being spent in the economy.  

Corporate Code of Conduct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Corporate Code of Conduct - Essay Example The Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), commonly known as HP, is one of the world's largest information technology corporations and is worldwide known for its printers and personal computers. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States, it has a global presence in the fields of computing, printing, and digital imaging, and also provides software and services. Hewlett Packard has reached the US$91.7 billion mark in annual revenue just this 2006. Hewlett Packard is now facing off and accelerating its business weapons to topple the higher ranked competitor called with IBM in order to be acknowledged as one of the best in the realm of world's largest technology vendor in terms of sales. Hewlett Packard has finally, after many years of painstaking hard work, has been recognized as the No. 1 ranked in terms of worldwide personal computer shipments from its arch rival Dell. Environment. Hewlett Packard has been implementing the best practices in its environment. The company is doing this environmental Code of Conduct by addressing its environmental footprint through by its increased introduction of computer recycling programs and partnerships. The company has good disclosure reporting standard and it produces an environmental report in compliance with the Global Reporting Initiative, a global framework for reporting. Hewlett Packard has a robust Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) management system which is patterned on recognized international models like the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. The company has strong performance, as evidenced by the continuously increasing energy efficiency of HP laptops. HP voluntarily participates in beyond-compliance programs including the Energy Star and the PFC Emissions Reduction Partnership. Hewlett Packard has been named as a potentially responsible partner in 15 Superfund remediation sites. Workplace. Hewlett Packard implements the best practices in its company workplace area. The company is energetically imposing many relevant policies and programs in diversity, labor relations and safety, It has put into actuality its workplace safety program that which also includes ergonomics and job-specific training. Like it competing computer companies, Hewlett Packard is working to reduce and even eliminate work conditions throughout the company's supply chain. Hewlett Packard is expecting its suppliers to have a spotless record in terms labor practices and occupational health and safety. Hewlett Packard has launched the Supply Chain Social and Environmental Responsibility Program to address in order to comply with this issue. Hewlett Packard's diversity programs includes many affinity groups, outreach efforts and domestic partner benefits. Aside from offering a comprehensive workplace safety program, Hewlett Packard's risk-reduction activities includes personal communication an d follow-up with employees. Hewlett Packard's human rights and labor policy includes supporting international human rights and recognition of the rights of employees to organize into labor unions if they choose to do so. As of the present and it is expected to continue, there is no incidence of labor unrest, safety violations, or discrimination of employees and other affected persons. Hewlett Packard has currently incorporated computer programs so that its products are designed to allow full access by more persons

Global Operations and Policies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Global Operations and Policies - Research Paper Example Table of Contents Introduction 4 Sony: A brief overview 5 Global Operations of Sony 6 Political activity 7 Strategies of Sony 8 References 10 Introduction With the sluggish growth of economy, international expansion of business and investment in foreign soil has become the most essential strategy for the survival and growth of a company. There are many companies that have witnessed faster growth in the international market. However for most of the companies international presence acts as the value accelerator for the company. The brand name and brand value of a company gets hugely augmented. Some of the other benefits of international presence are overall rapid growth, diversification of the income stream, higher return on investment and also the reinvestment rate gets increased. The companies with international presence can be segmented into 4 groups. They are International companies, Multinational companies, Global companies, transnational companies. However in the context of the p roject only the company which belongs to transnational segment will be chosen. Among the mentioned category Sony has been chosen as the organization. Sony has all the characteristics of a transnational corporation and also has a global presence. Now in order to begin the project a brief introduction of Sony is presented below. Sony: A brief overview The origin of Sony dates back to 1946 when Masaru Ibuka started the first electronics outlet in a damaged departmental store in Tokyo. Sony Corporation or what is commonly known as Sony is a Japanese electronics company which was renamed in the year 1958 (Yahoo Finance, n.d.). The company is presently headquartered at Konan Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded by Masaru Ibuka Akio Morita in the year 1946. Sony Corporation is indulged in the electronics segment and also the parent company of the Sony group. The group has four main operating groups namely Sony music, Sony pictures, Sony electronics, online business and other finan cial services (Bloomberg, n.d.). However each of the individual group focuses on different products and services. For example the electronic segment mainly focuses on the products which are related to audio-video outputs, and also products related to information technology. However the most important products of the company include video games (play station), semiconductors, consumer electronics (sound box, television, and music system), computer hardware (DVD writer), telecom equipment and media and entertainment (Company Database, n.d.). Apart from this some of the visible brands of the company are Sony VAIO, Sony Cyber shot, Sony BRAVIA, Sony Play Station and various other brands. From the time of its incorporation the company has successfully achieved new heights in the business market. The company is presently ranked at 73rd position in the global fortune 500 edition of 2011. Currently the company has an overall turnover of $ 6.39 trillion. The global slogan of the company is à ¢â‚¬ËœLike no other’. And ‘Make Believe’. The company mainly faces competition from the established players of the market. Hence the major competitors of the company are LG, Samsung, Sharp, Philips, Mutsushita and some other local established player. However the competitors can also be classified according to the business category. The next half of the project will highlight on the global operation of the

Approaches to Clinical Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Approaches to Clinical Psychology - Essay Example Most individuals are familiar with Freud’s characterization of the personality as differentiated into three categories of ego, super-ego, and id. When considering the relevancy for this personality theory for psychodynamic counseling it’s important to note that Freud believed that the conscious elements represented by the ego in certain situations experienced cognitive overload resulting in repression as a protective mechanism. Psychodynamic counseling treatment functions by determining the patient’s underlining malaise as rooted in the complex interaction of conscious and unconscious forces governing the individual’s actions. Once the forces governing the patient’s behavior have been identified, the therapy then functions to develop a functional response to the issue. As one might infer, while the process can be implemented through quick and direct methods, psychodynamic therapy usually occurs through the long-term and methodical investigation of t he patient. A number of objections have surfaced in response to psychodynamic therapy that has largely marginalized it as a therapeutic approach. One of the most prominent is the general rejection of many of Freud’s theories as largely unscientific, as their assumptions are predicated on untestable hypotheses (Corey 1991).

FINANCE (RATIO ANALYSIS) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

FINANCE (RATIO ANALYSIS) - Essay Example The threats of terrorism have significantly boost defense systems spending especially for countries like United States. After the September 11 tragedy which shocked the global business environment becomes a grim reminder for nations to improve their defense systems. BAE Systems Plc (BAE) traces its origin to the  £7.7 billion merger of Marconi Electronic Systems which is the defense electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company Plc and British Aerospace which specializes in the manufacture of aircraft, ammunition, and naval systems. Out of these prestigious business organizations, its establishment in 1999 equipped with a unique competitive advantage which enables it to position itself as the third largest global defence company and sixth largest US defense company employing 97, 500 highly skilled people. Financial ratio analysis is a very essential tool in assessing the financial health of a business entity. It enables a financial analyst to spot trends in a business and to compare it with the performance of similar business enterprises within the same industry. This tool is currently utilized by business managers, investors, creditors, suppliers, and other decision makers in order to determine the financial performance and well being of a business organisation. Financial ratios are grouped into four broad categories, each showing a different aspect of a company’s financial performance. These are profitability ratios, financial leverage ratios, liquidity/solvency ratios, and efficiency ratios. In order to get a deeper insight of BAE’s financial performance, its computed financial ratios will be benchmarked with its competitor’s Cobham Plc. The rationale of choosing these two business organizations is simple. It should be noted that both of them are regarded as important players in the global pharmaceutical industry. Being in the same line of business

Approaches to Clinical Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Approaches to Clinical Psychology - Essay Example Most individuals are familiar with Freud’s characterization of the personality as differentiated into three categories of ego, super-ego, and id. When considering the relevancy for this personality theory for psychodynamic counseling it’s important to note that Freud believed that the conscious elements represented by the ego in certain situations experienced cognitive overload resulting in repression as a protective mechanism. Psychodynamic counseling treatment functions by determining the patient’s underlining malaise as rooted in the complex interaction of conscious and unconscious forces governing the individual’s actions. Once the forces governing the patient’s behavior have been identified, the therapy then functions to develop a functional response to the issue. As one might infer, while the process can be implemented through quick and direct methods, psychodynamic therapy usually occurs through the long-term and methodical investigation of t he patient. A number of objections have surfaced in response to psychodynamic therapy that has largely marginalized it as a therapeutic approach. One of the most prominent is the general rejection of many of Freud’s theories as largely unscientific, as their assumptions are predicated on untestable hypotheses (Corey 1991).

Health Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Health Research Methods - Essay Example In youth, physical inactivity has been identified as an important predictor of excess weight gain. Concurrent with increases in overweight and obesity, physical activity has decreased among children and adolescents. During middle and high school years, marked declines in physical activity have been observed, particularly among girls, regardless of race. One reason for the decline in physical activity in the childhood may be the reduction of physical education in schools. In the developed world, increasing use of computers and television also markedly decrease children's activity level. As a result of this, while many children get little to no physical activity, even those who meet current recommended activity guidelines may still not be exercising sufficiently (Ebbelling, Pawlak, and Ludwig, 2002, 473-482). The degree of obesity in children cannot be assessed by any classification as it is done in case of adults. In case of children, it is expressed traditionally by percentile measures. Children who have a body mass index (BMI) between 85th and 95th percentile are considered at risk for overweight, and those who are at greater than 95th percentile are considered overweight. ... as been elucidated that worldwide, there has been a trend towards increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in children, and this could lead to a increased predisposition to metabolic syndrome and related complications. Overweight children more often become overweight adults, and as increases, this poses serious risk for health (Freedman et al., 2004, 10-16). Obesity has been known to be associated with and sometimes causative of serious medical complications in the adult life, which can be sequelae of the childhood obesity. Moreover, serious medical complications of obesity may lead to enhanced mortality in children (Lobstein and Frelut, 2003, 195-200). Therefore monitoring the prevalence and preventing them childhood becomes an important question. Since prevention has been recognised to be the best form of intervention in obesity in childhood, it is important to find out the risk factors that may be associated with childhood obesity. Current evidence from existing research suggests that primary or idiopathic obesity in children has been linked with nutritional factors right from the formula feeding to caloric intake, nutritional balance, food groups, physical activity, and many other factors (Cuttler, Whittaker, and Kodish, 2003, 722-724). Therefore interventions in these areas to curb the risk factors would be able to improve the obesity status of the children in the community. Research Question: Based on this hypothesis, an appropriate study can be designed that can investigate the effects on risk factor interventions in obese children in order to answer the question can risk factor modification interventions be effective in reducing obesity in a study population comprising of children Aims: To investigate the short-term and long-term effects of risk factor

Organizational Impact Paper Essay Example for Free

Organizational Impact Paper Essay Organizations today use creativity and innovation to change the products and services they provide to accommodate market demands. Companies may have difficulty with changes if there is no consideration for a competitive advantage or plans to transform and adjust their company to accommodate the demands for innovation of products and services for consumers. Organizations will conform to changes or transformation to achieve an economical advantage in business for innovation or it will fall behind its competitors. It will then be known as an organization of past success and current market absence. This paper will evaluate the impact of innovation, strategy, process, product, and services on three different organizations American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC), Microsoft, and Nike. American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC) The impact of innovation can be evaluated by looking at how organizations react or interact with the changes that are necessary. Commonly known as Aflac, the organization was founded November 17, 1955 by three brothers from Columbus, Georgia, (AFLAC, 2008). Aflac has been operating for more than 50 years, and is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States, and provides insurance protection worldwide for more than 40 million people (AFLAC, 2008). Internationally, Aflac targeted Japan, entering the insurance market almost 30 years ago and writes business for two-thirds of Japan, ensuring one in every four Japanese households (Best Review, 2003). A definite marketing strategy that contributed to Aflac rising market was their well-known pekin duck. An individual could not travel far without  meeting a stranger who could easily identify the duck icon and mimicking its tagline, â€Å"Aflac!† The market tagline was created in 2000 by the Kaplan Thaler Advertising Agency Group and recognized by nearly 90% of Americans; the pekin duck is an international icon and has done wonders for the organization (Best Review, 2003). For Example, after airing Aflac’s first duck commercial in January 2000, the organization rose practically overnight and became one of the most recognized brands of insurance in the market (AFLAC, 2008). The company advertised for six days and received more hits on their website for all 1999 and sales increased by more than 29% that is more sales increase during the first two weeks of the year than two previous years combined (Best Review, 2003). Aflac would never have experienced such success without the demands granted by innovation. Able to differentiate their competitor’s products, Aflac enforced an important marketing strategy in 1986, when the company expanded from rural to the metropolitan areas (AFLAC, 2008). The company used more independent insurance brokers rather than exclusive producers to sell their insurance and they recognize that brokers had already directed major medical coverage, other financial services, and could represent the organization with an excellent distribution channel (McCoy, 1996). Aflac offers a number of different services and products, including life, dental, vision, and supplemental health insurance such as cancer, hospital, accident, and disability. Microsoft Microsoft was found in 1975 and has become the world leader in software services, applications, and solutions (Microsoft, 2011). The organization leads the way in creativity, innovation software, hard ware products for individuals and companies, and offers products such as financial management tools, networking, web browser, and desktop (Microsoft, 2011). Almost every organization within an industry uses Microsoft products and often use customize applications to accommodate better that particular organization (Microsoft, 2011). One strategy that has enable Microsoft to stay ahead of the innovative curve is the development of the a new software computing called Microsoft surface that responds to hand movements, is capable of identifying genuine objects,  and can use barcode tags (Microsoft, 2011). The surface computer with a 230-inch display in a table-like form provides effortless interaction with digital content through hand touch movement and physical objects (Microsoft, 2011). This product is revolutionary because of future possibilities and innovations that will come from it, and will show the next generation a profitable outlook that will allow every user to remove and improve communication barriers, encourage social interaction, gain customer loyalty, and provide a unique shopping experience (Microsoft, 2011). Microsoft envisions that with the innovation of technology, surface computing will be available and used at all levels of government, organizations, and industries. Nike Nike, athletic shoes was found in 1962 by Phil Knight, who saw a gap and a need in the market of athletic shoes (Nike, 2000). Nike had a profound change on its marketing strategy and product when it introduced the Air Nikes, featuring Michael Jordan with the â€Å"Just Do It† slogan and â€Å"Bo Knows† commercial, (Nike, 2000). These innovative styles made the Nike shoes more recognizable and popular to consumers worldwide (Nike, 2000). Nike could modify its products and services through its innovative marketing strategy taken from evaluations on customer benefits and needs, whereas the product succeeded innovation technology with fashions that cater to customer satisfaction on a global level (Nike, 2000). Nike currently seeks out innovative ways to create advance athletic products and methods to speak creatively to the market because the success of Nike is based on marketing strategy that weighs current factors and trends (Nike, 2000). If Nike continues the innovation of new marketing ideas for their services and products, the organization will maintain their current role of innovative leadership with products, developments, and revenues in the athletic sports-wear industry (Nike, 2000). Conclusion Based on the information given from the three above organizations it has been determined that innovation can either make or break an organization.  Innovation is inevitable in organizations today because businesses have to make preparations for an innovative market by focusing their efforts on current market strategy, process, product improvement, and services. The three organizations discussed above used innovation and creativity to change the products and services they provide to accommodate the market demands. As the organizations indicated above, innovation is an important advantage for business growth and profitability and an important contributor to the business strategy to gain a competitive advantage. . References A Brief history of Microsoft. Retrieved January 18, 2011, from http://www.microsoft.com/misc/features_flshbk.htm. AFLAC. (2008). About AFLAC. Retrieved January 18, 2011, from http://aflac.com/us/en/aboutaflac/history.aspx. ENEWS Best’s Review (2003, May). The mighty duck. Retrieved January 18, 2011, from http:goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi-0199-2846151/The-mighty-duck-Aflac-is.htm. McCoy, T.A. (1996). Independent agents benefit from AFLAC’s marketing strategy. Retrieved January 18, 2011, from http://findarticles.com/p/arrticles/mi_qa3615/is-199612/ai-n8754524microsoft(n.d.). Nike History and Heritage. 2000. Retrieve January 18, 2011, from http://www.nikebiz.com/company-overview/history/1950.

Healthcare Policy Making Stages

Healthcare Policy Making Stages Rebecah M. Deguit TASK 1: It is important to understand the policy development process so that as an advocate you can plan the type of input you need in order to have an impact on the final policy. There are five key stages in the health policy-making process. For each of the stages listed, explain what is included in the step and discuss the processes that are undertaken in the stage. THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS INTRODUCTION: A policy is a set of rules governing a community to achieve a desired outcome. It directs actions and decisions towards certain goals to have the best results. A policy is important in order for individuals to live in harmony within the community. As nurses, it is our duty to be advocates not only for our patients, but also to the public in general. We must know and be familiarized that there are existing regulations or policies that may act as an obstruction or opposing our views. To be successful advocates, we should understand these factors so that we may be able to apply or use them properly. BODY: Being advocates, it is essential to have a clear understanding of how the policies are being developed. This is done in order for us to participate in the process. A policy undergoes different processes before it is carried out by the government. Each phase is equally significant as the next. These key stages include: Problem identification and agenda setting. This is the first step in making a policy. It involves recognizing existing problems, carefully examining those problems and its causes, and doing extensive research and brainstorming of different ideas to find the possible interventions or solutions. Once it has being identified, a list of prioritized plans will be done. This generally happens when a group of people require government action to an issue(s), or when the public do not agree on the processes in addressing certain problems. Policy formation. There are several potential ways to solve a certain problem so brainstorming is required in formulating a policy. In this process, policy makers come up with new methods of solving the identified problems. People from the legislature and bureaucracy are involved in the process. Among these processes are: Organize the policy process. In this process, policy makers decide how to manage the development process that will classify the policy’s structure, its major goals, and its priority components. In here, planning of people or groups involved in the process is also recognized. Identify the main problems. This step in policy-making requires skilled people from different departments to take part in the analysis and give suggestions on what actions to make in order for the problems to be addressed appropriately. After they have come up with a proposal, discussion is then made for them to have a unanimous recommendation to the government. Make a detailed situation analysis. In this process, there is a need to look at the identified problems more closely and its causes to pinpoint possible interventions, planning what are the things that need to be done first, selection of most appropriate strategies to the desired result is made, and sets a baseline for monitoring and evaluation. Set goals and objectives for a national health policy. After the existing problems have been identified, setting of attainable as well as realistic goals and objectives are done and planning of suitable approaches towards addressing the main problems is made. An example of this may be the need for accessible essential drugs for everyone in the community. Based on the given example, one possible objective would be to make the drugs affordable and increase the supply of medicines especially in remote areas. Draft the text of the policy. Once systematic analyses of the main objectives, goals and methods have been made, a draft of the text is arranged. It must contain the overall aim of the policy. Mostly, necessary drugs are guaranteed accessible, safe, and of high quality to the residents. The specific goals should also be discussed. With regards to healthcare, a draft outline of the plan of the national drug policy must be arranged. It must establish the broader purpose of the policy. In general, this is to make sure of the availability, dependability, efficiency, and of high quality of vital drugs for the individuals in the community. Circulate and revise the draft policy. After the text of the policies have been drafted, they must be disseminated to all the people concerned, primarily within the ministry of health, then in other departments, and lastly to significant organizations and institutions outside of the government in order for them to give their insights or critics. After an extensive discussion of the draft policies is done, they are then edited and finalized based on the suggestions or critics of the different organizations. Adoption. Following a variety of presented plans, one policy is acknowledged by the decision-makers. The adoption of a policy takes place when the Congress passes legislation. Policy adoption requires a lot of time in that a series of processes are made in order to come up with a complex policy. Policy implementation. In this stage, the policy is translated into action. It entails circulation of the facts about the adopted policy and implementing it. Checking of financial resources is important to correspond with the plans and interventions that will be implemented. This step also requires proper communication and cooperation to be successful in applying the policy. Policy monitoring and evaluation. This is the last step of policy-making wherein the policy is being examined and analyzed if it is really addressing the problem being identified and if the goals and objectives were met. In here, people scrutinize the process and the outcomes of the policy. This stage is an ongoing process and may be a basis for modification in the agenda, policy formation, or its implementation. CONCLUSION: Policy-making is then a cyclical and continuous process, with many people being involved in the course of action. The process of creating and adopting laws takes lots of time, and of course, budget. Everyone is influenced by policies in the health care system everyday thus it is important to review them daily so that public’s safety and well-being is assured. As nurses work hand in hand with the clients and their families, primarily they are the ones to assess if the health care system is effective or not in dealing with the needs of the clients. REFERENCES: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (2014). The policymaking process. Retrieved from: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/more-subjects/american-government/public-policy/the-policymaking-process Medscape Multispecialty. (2007). Influencing health care in the legislative arena. Retrieved from: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553404_4 UShistory.org. (2008-2014). Policy making: political interactions. Retrieved from: http://www.ushistory.org/gov/11.asp World Health Organization. (n.d.). Health service planning and policy-making: a toolkit for nurses and midwives. Retrieved from: http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/docs/hsp_mod4_1E08.pdf?ua=1 The Texas Politics Project. (n.d.). Policy making and policy implementation. Retrieved from: http://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/bur/features/0303_01/policy.html Human Info NGO. (2014). The WHO essential medicines and health products information portal. Retrieved from: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js2283e/4.2.2.html The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. (2007). Influencing health care in the legislative arena. Retrieved from: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Volume122007/No1Jan07/tpc32_216091.html

Comparison of Odyssey, Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost Essay examples

A Comparison of Odyssey, Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost      Ã‚   Epics by definition are long narrative poems, that are grand in both theme and style (Webster 417).   They usually involve actions of great glory and are typically centered around historical or legendary events of universal significance.   Most epics deal with the deeds of a single individual, however, it is not uncommon to have more than one main character.   Epics embody several main features including: supernatural forces, sometimes the deity of the time, that shape the action; battles or other forms of physical combat; and a formal statement of the theme of the epic.   Everyday details of life are commonplace and intricately woven into the background of each story in the same palatial style as the rest of the poem.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Epic poems are not merely entertaining stories of legendary or historical heroes; they summarize and express the nature or ideals of an entire nation at a significant or crucial point in its history.   I have chosen for comparison the Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Odyssey, attributed to Homer is about Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who sailed with his army to take part in war against Troy.   After ten years of war, victory is declared and the armies of Odysseus have sailed for home.   As the Odyssey begins, an additional 10 years have passed since the fall of Troy and Odysseus still has not returned to his home.   The noblemen have converged on his palace seeking the hand of his lovely wife, Penelope.   However, Penelope refuses their advances choosing to remain faithful to Odysseus.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   During the ten years ... ... of people in our history.   These epic works take us on an imaginary voyage; one through the amazing journeys of a single man, one through an imaginary trip through hell in which the political and philosophical thought of the time can be experienced, and one through an account of a religious thought for that day.   All of these epics serve to remind us that no matter how far mankind has come, we still have a long way to go in our journey be it spiritual or earthly.    Works Cited    "Epic."   Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.   1983 ed.    Homer.   "The Odyssey."   Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces.   Ed. Maynard Mack.   6th ed. 2 vols. New York:   Norton, 1992.    Milton, John.   "Paradise Lost." Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces.   Ed. Maynard Mack.   6th ed. 2 vols. New York:   Norton, 1992.

Zappos, an Electronic Commerce Information System

Abstract As times evolve, so do the tools businesses use to keep up with the competition. One tool widely used is an information system. Such a system allows businesses to input process and store information. Zappos. com is one of the many businesses that use an information system. The system that Zappos. com uses is an electronic commerce information system. This system allows Zappos. com to provide great customer service, which is the company's mission. Many employees are needed to run the different components of the electronic commerce information system, some employees are new and others are seasoned workers. There are managers that train and oversee the production and service provided by employees. The electronic commerce information system has many components. Some workers are in charge of inputting and creating the graphics that appear on the Zappos. com webpage. Other customers are in charge of processing payments and shipping information. A customer must have access to the internet and one of the Zappos. com approved methods of payment to make a purchase. The use of an electronic commerce information system has enabled Zappos. com to be efficient and save money. Unfortunately, should such an information system crash, the website would be unable to run. Although the webpage is very user friendly, there are some improvements that would make it better, such as pictures, advanced search options, and experienced customer service. Zappos. com, an Electronic Commerce Information System With the development of new technology, people have changed the way they do things. From ordering movies and food, to shopping for merchandise, more and more customers are resorting to the internet to satisfy their needs. In order to succeed, companies must keep up with growing trends. Online shopping is one of the fastest growing trends nationwide. In order to provide this feature, companies must have the necessary system in place to provide accurate information such as prices, quantities, and shipping information. One tool many companies use is an information system. Rainer (2009) defines an information system as â€Å"the planning, development, management and use of information technology tools to help people perform all tasks related to information processing and management† (glossary). Zappos. com is an online store that is used my thousands of customer nationwide. Zappos. com offers anything from clothing to shoes for the entire family. There are many features that make Zappos. com an excellent place to shop. One of these features is that customers are given 365 days to return items, as opposed to 30 or 90 days allotted by other online stores. The second feature is that shipping is free both ways. There are many components that make up the electronic commerce information system employed by Zappos. com. Some components allow customers to view the merchandise in stock, while other components store transaction histories. All of these components work together to provide customers with a hassle-free easy internet shopping experience. In addition, components from the online platform also communicate with different operational components. Zappos. com uses this system for many of its operational tasks such as processing payments and keeping up with growing customer trends. Overview and Structure of the Organization Mission: The mission of Zappos. com is to provide the best customer service possible to its customers. There are many internet stores available online. In order to fulfill its mission and stand out above the rest, Zappos. om must provide popular merchandise as well as process transactions fast, accurately, and efficiently. Foundation: The first step in running a successful online organization is to properly train employees. Zappos. com starts by training employee's the core values and organizational culture established by the company. Once the basics have been established, employees are trained to perform different duties. Managers help train and guide new and seasoned Behind the Scenes: To make Zappos. com a successful online business, a special department is in charge of finding merchandise that is in high demand. Once the merchandise has been selected, another department is in charge of taking pictures and preparing information that the customers can see and read when they access the Zappos. com website. After a customer picks out merchandise, a department oversees the processing of the payment and the shipping of the merchandise to the customer. Should there be any issues or concerns, a customer service department is available to assist customers. Inputs, Outputs, and Organizational Usage Webpage Zappos. com is divided up into different sections. Employees enter information such as sizing charts, or lists of brands. Other sections include house wares, beauty, and handbags. Employees are in charge of developing and maintaining these different sections. Merchandise An information system calculates and predicts growing trends. Reports are analyzed to determine the merchandise that will be purchased. Once merchandise is purchased, pictures and descriptions of items are entered into a system to be displayed online. The quantity of merchandise is also imputed to provide accurate information of available merchandise. Transactions Customers view different merchandise online. Once they decide to purchase an item, they must input various information. The first step is usually to indicate the quantity and size of the merchandise. Second, customers enter or create their login information. Third, customers input their address and contact information. Finally, payment information is entered so that customers can get a confirmation that their transaction is being processed and when their merchandise will be shipped. Impact of the Information System on the Organization Efficiency An electronic commerce information system allows Zappos. com to be more efficient. Information that is inputted into the system such as prices or details on merchandize can be viewed by employees in different states. In regards to training, material can be inputed into the information system so that employees can study and review it during their down time or on time allotted for training. Cost Effective An electronic commerce information system allows Zappos. com to be an online store. This saves the company money that would have been spent covering overhead charges as an actual physical store. Rather than having merchandise in one location, Zappos. com is able to offer a variety of merchandize to customers nationwide with the use of an information system. Downfall One negative aspect is that Zappos. com is an online store. Should the electronic commerce information system crash, the website would be shut down. This in return would upset customers that are loyal shoppers. In addition, money would be lost because there is not a physical location where people could go to in order to complete their transactions. Contingency Zappos. om has two locations, one in Las Vegas, and another location in Kentucky. This has allowed Zappos. com to function operations from one location to the other should one system be down. This ensures that while little issues may occur with the site, major issues have never prevented the site from working. Hardware and Software Back Operation Zappos. com must have all the necessary hardware to successfully run an online business. Examples of such hardwa re include cameras to take pictures of merchandise and computers to upload the information to the webpage. Many customers do not feel safe entering their bank information online. As a result, telephones are important so that representatives can assist customers that choose to call. Webpage The webpage designers at Zappos. com would need different hardware as well. Many designers use notepads to organize the content. Graphics programs are also necessary to add slides and transitions to the webpage. Photoshop software also enables designers to tweak pictures so that they appear as professional as possible. Customers To begin with, customers must have access to the internet in order to shop t Zappos. com. Some customers like to use their laptops, desktops, or cell phones to access the site. Many people use internet explorer, while others use Mozilla Firefox. To prevent viruses or other cyber attacks, many customers have some type of internet security software. Recommended Improvements Shoes The Zappos. com website features many shoes and customers can look at multiple views. Unfortunately, t here are not any pictures that show how the shoe would look on an actual person. One improvement the system could use would be to show a picture of a model wearing the shoe. For this improvement, a picture would be taken of a model wearing a shoe. The picture would then be uploaded into the information system so that it is available to be viewed by customers nationwide. Customer Service Zappos. com has a wonderful option to chat live with representatives online. Unfortunately, the service can sometimes be slow because agents have to take time to research the problem. There are so many products offered that sometimes the wait can be long. To fix this issue, agents can be trained to be experts of different areas. This would allow the agents to know their products better so that customer wait time is minimal. For this improvement, agents would have to be better trained in specific departments. In addition, the online chat would have to be set up to allow customers to click on the department that can best assist him or her. Advanced Search Zappos. com offers many products. When trying to narrow down search results, customers have to check different specification. It would be time efficient, to have an advanced search where a customer can enter all the specification of the produce he or should would like to see. To do this, Zappos. com would have to have an advanced search field that would allow customers to choose between different specifications. Conclusion Gone are the days when data had to be inputted, processed, and stored manually. Information systems have revolutionized the way businesses function. Zappos. com is an online store that uses and electronic commerce system to function successfully. Recap major points throughout essay. References Rainer, R. K. , Jr. , & Turban, E. (2009). Introduction to information systems: Supporting and transforming business (3rd ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alessandro Volta Biography

Alessandro Volta Biography Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Volta was an Italian scientist that is known for inventing the first battery. Volta was born into a noble family in Como, Italy on February 18, 1785. When Volta was twenty-nine years old he became a physics professor at the ‘Royal School’ in Como, Italy. He studied chemistry gases in the years of 1776 through 1778. By 1778, Volta managed to make an electrical spark using methane, which he discovered in 1776 by collecting the gas from marshes†¦Volta was the first person to discover and isolate the compound methane. The first battery that Alessandro Volta made was called the ‘Voltaic Pile’. The â€Å"Pile† consisted of discs of copper and zinc, stacked alternatively. In 1800, after going through extensive experimentation, Volta developed the voltaic pile. The original voltaic pile consisted of a pile of zinc and silver discs. The discs were separated by pieces of paper or cardboard and they wer e in between the alternating discs.The dividers were soaked in salt water. A copper wire connected the bottom zinc disc to the top silver disc could create frequent sparks. The top and the bottom layers had to be different metals and they were attached by a copper wire. When the circuit was closed electricity flowed through the Voltaic Pile. In 1779, Volta became a professor one again at the â€Å"University of Pavia†, for about 25 years. In 1794, he married a woman named Teresa Peregrini, who was also from Como, Italy.They both raised three sons: Giovanni, Flamino and Zanino Volta. Volta was acquired as a â€Å"count† by the French emperor, Napoleon, for his impeccable invention. He traveled to Paris, where a special gold medal was given him. Volta retired in 1819 in his hometown of Como, Italy. Alessandro Volta died on March 5, 1827, at the age of 82. He was buried in his late house, which is now called ‘Camnago Volta’.

The Early 1800’s, The Dawn of a New Era Had Begun

By the early 1800†³s, the dawn of a new era had begun. Family and home life was changing as well as the communities around them. There was a fast growing need to produce products like clothing, quickly and efficiently. This new era brought about the mechanical industry that created factories, which could meet this need. But who would work in these factories if the men were moving west? By the 1840†³s the necessity to find workers for these factories had produced major social changes-changes which carry on until today. Before this time, most all clothing was spun and woven in the home by women. But by the 1840†³s, most was produced in factories set up in what were referred to as mill towns. Lowell Massachusetts was one such town. This change created a whole new idea of what women†s duties were, domestic or money earning laborers? Women had previously only been seen as domestic and having one goal, that of being a housewife. Their move into town to provide a workforce for the clothing factories sparked controversy in many eyes. Some people branded them â€Å"mill girls† who were doomed and unmarriable. Others thought of them as adventurers, with the fancy of bringing new fashions, books and ideas home with them. But the statistics show the average working life at a Lowell factory was only three years. Many of the women who returned home were sick and never married, because they were characterized by â€Å"she has worked in a factory†. In the factories, women were looked down upon–seen only as people who flowed in to the factory day in and day out earning their keep, spinning and weaving for the rest of their lives. They were not worthy of earning an education, and were considered socially and intellectually inept. As time went by, the bigotry began to wear away. The factories flourished with women who had wisdom and potential. One man who visited one of the mills was noted to have bowed to all the women in the mill, This sign of respect was usually reserved for ladies whom society regarded as upper class. As time wore on, â€Å"mill girls† were eventually heeded as ladies, women worth of respect. Eventually, people started noticing that the â€Å"mill girls† were spending their free time bettering themselves. Many had circles of natural selection that allowed them to cultivate and stimulate their minds. They filled the churches, libraries and lecture halls. Many of the women were highly respected by clergyman and lecturers. They testified that the women†s spirits were high along with their intellect. Inevitably, women were encouraged to finish school and reach for goals. This shows a change in how women were perceived. They were no longer lone mill workers without anything to offer society; each was an individual with purpose and worth. Though this was happening, the conditions of the factories were not changing. The Lowell factories provided boarding houses for the women, each housing up to sixty girls. To onlookers, the houses were so charming that many came to visit just to see how the women lived. The perceptions of outsiders were that the women worked and lived in great conditions. They enjoyed their jobs and were hearty and content, but this was not the case. The women often worked twelve or more hours a day and were only allowed up to an hour and forty-five minutes for meals, depending on the time of year. The factories were not properly ventilated and poorly lit. Eliza R. Hemmingway recalls that at any given time six or more women were out due to illnesses. . Miss Sarah G. Bagley submitted the first petition to the Lowell Corporation that was signed by Mr. John Quincey Adams Thayer, and eight hundred and fifty others. This petition called for improvements in the overall working conditions within the factories. These demands for better conditions lit a spark that was the beginning of what is a modern day OSHA, a systematic law for all employers and employees. The corporation acknowledged that their demands were reasonable and considerable, but believed they were not the source for solving the problems the mill workers faced. They felt that the workers in a capitalistic system had their own bargaining power and were equal to management. As a result, the Massachusetts Legislature did not pass into law the provisions outlined in the petition. Around this same time poor immigrants started pouring into the United States by the thousands. They became willing workers, not complaining about conditions as the native workers did. Could this be why the corporation did not meet the women†s needs? The immigrants would be happy to take over the jobs for less money and in the same conditions. What does this say for the corporation? Were they steering away from caring the women working in their factories, or was it just easier to use immigrants? Or maybe, they feared the switching of women†s class and roles in society? They were not ready for women of independence and means. Regardless, society now had to deal with a more independent, self-assured working class woman. No longer needed to fill the entry level, low-paying jobs in the mills, and no longer interested in going back home to be homemakers, women entered society as productive members of the workforce. This transition is still taking place today.

Power, poliics and knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Power, poliics and knowledge - Essay Example Power is very important to the managers or leaders of any organization since it is essential in the directing of its staff. However, the process of acquiring power and using it usually ruins the ethics and values held in the organization (Kelly, 1988 p.3). Discussion Power defines leadership in any company and by definition; leadership refers to the ability of directing a group of employees towards achieving the goals of an organization. Therefore, leadership has formed the basis of classifying managers into five groups or profiles, namely: leader, destructive achiever, builder, mechanic, and innovator (Kelly, 1988 p. 4). The leader refers to the ethical manager who effectively uses his charisma to lead other employees towards achieving organization goals. The builder on the other hand refers to the manager who might be ethical but lacks charisma. Therefore, they are referred to as leaders with limited leadership potential. The destructive achiever is an unethical manager who, even t hough might have high potential, he or she will not contribute towards the achievement of the long term goals of the organization. The innovator is a very creative manager in his or her field but is not termed as a leader and is sometimes termed untrustworthy. Lastly, the mechanics refers to the persons that are competent in their profession but lack the personal impact towards settling of group issues. Therefore, they are not considered leaders or builders of the organization. From the managers listed above, it is evident that for any organization to be prosperous, it requires leaders who are ethical and have charisma which are essential in the realization of the long-term goals of the organization. Ethics is demanded by the society in any given part of the world. Therefore, it has led to the classification of ethics into two groups: ethics of integrity and ethics of social responsibility. The demand for integrity in the business came into existence following the arrival of new mil lennium, which led to the increased number of accounting scandals that occurred in different parts of the world. The results were negative for example; many organizations lost their trust in the corporate world. The demand for social responsibility maintains safety to the society as well as the environment it operates (Jeurissen 2007, p. 3). According to ethics, the exercise of power must conform to the cultural standards as well as the legal standards of ethics. For instance, it has been termed unethical for any organization to use power for its own gain by engaging in illegal activities. For example, an HR assistant has the power of representing the services of the company to client companies as a process of obtaining customers. However, if he or she lies to the clients as a way of gaining more clients is an unethical behavior (Society for Human Resource Management, 2006 p.180). Many workers or employees of an organization have been in dilemma following the use of power by the sen iors. Many employees have experienced tough challenges in choosing between what is good for the organization in terms of profitability and what is right according to the set ethical standards in the community. The findings of the research conducted among the graduates at Harvard revealed that young managers were being forced to make decisions, some of which were unethical by their seniors. Even though the actions were unethical, the young managers still complied because of fear of losing their jobs.

Comerical law. sale of goods Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comerical law. sale of goods - Case Study Example Under this UCC, John can claim that ABC’s president promised him that they roofing sheets were of high quality through the phone call and that is why he opted to buy them (Cornell University Law School 1). John can claim that the roofing sheets did not meet the fitness purposes for which goods of the kind of roofing sheets he wanted to buy meet. Such roofing sheets should be able to withstand poor weather. The roofing sheets lacked freedom from minor defects; they endanger the lives of the workers in the company safe and its durability was short term. John can file a claim against all these factors since ABC’s president promised him that all these issues will be addressed yet they were not (Hooley 19). If someone has been sold a faulty product, then they are lawfully entitled to claim from the seller any direct expenses that they have incurred (Adams 53). John can, therefore, file a claim on the expense of restoring back his company. This includes the $125,000 spent on the new roofing and the roughly $200,000 lost on damages by the previously damaged

Globalization and Training Document Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Globalization and Training Document - Essay Example The onset of globalization has made managing supply chains complicated and critical than it was in the past years. No business area is affected more by the style to worldwide business situation within the supply chain. The need for companies like Riordan Manufacturing to use best strategies in international management of supply chain has increased because of globalization. Riordan Manufacturing is a worldwide company as it supplies its products globally. Recently, Riordan ventured into China where it discovered it had a bigger market base. As Riordan’s customers expand around the world, they expect the company to go with them. Therefore, it is important to improve their products and sell them at a cheaper price. For example, Riordan Manufacturing has a large customer base in the German plastic market, which has opening facilities in China. We have the option of continuing to supply our products to China from Germany, or find a way to interact with our customer base in China. Decisions made will ensure our customers receive quality products. To maintain the loyalty of our consumers in China, Riordan has to transfer its production expertise to China and offer those functions at a confined level (Riordan, 2014). Supply chain complexity continues to increase with globalization. The manufacturing process has become extremely complicated and is no longer a simple assembly line. Manufacturers are now forced to manage several product lines, each one assembled from parts taken from different suppliers. The same manufacturers are also needed to manage logistics, to know where and when products need to be to satisfy demand across the globe. The huge numbers of global markets where products are now being sold continues to expand drastically (Fawcett, Ellram & Ojden, 2007). With this increase in growth, there has been a rise in the number of

Free Trade and Poor Countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Free Trade and Poor Countries - Essay Example This is an ideal situation where each country would be able to export those goods at cheap rates which are difficult to be manufactured there. However, when taxes are levied, a country A might import goods from country B and make them available in the local markets at cheap rates; but country A cannot export any goods to country B as B might have levied high tariffs for export. When high taxes are in practice, the development of one country might prosper who have the ability to produce more and export it around but do not need any imports. On the other hand, trade of developing countries looking for trade outside gets hampered. It has been observed that the average income of developing countries has been more for countries with lower trade barriers. Even though free trade gives trading opportunities to developing countries, it is not alone sufficient for development. The Department for International Development (DIFD) in UK believes that the least developed countries (LDCs) should even reform their internal trade institutions and develop stable economic situation. Also, if free trade is allowed then the local manufactures of developing countries suffer loss as their goods do not find a marker due to imported good being available at same prices. Therefore, LDCs need to create market incentives so as to gain the local market space in their home markets. Let us refer to a case study related to free trade. In January 1994, Mexico and US entered North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico did not benefit at all from this agreement as its markets went into the hands of US without any gains falling in Mexico's hands. This happened because US did not open their markets as it would lead to more competition and less profit for US. They preferred to buy into nations in the form of investment. Similarly, Canada also signed FTA with US in 1988. Since then more than 10,000 companies have been taken over by US corporations. "Over 85 per cent of Canada's exports now go to the US, and about 70 per cent of Canada's international trade is handled by US corporations," was said by David Orchard of Canada. As a result, Canada is the most foreign-owned developed nation. Thus we can say that free trade is alone not sufficient for development of any nation. At present what the poor countries want is not foreign goods in their market only. More than that, they need opportunities to export their products in the outside market. Since most poor countries have abundance of labor-intensive products and agricultural products, they need markets where they can export these without facing too much competition and high tariffs. The developing or least developed countries find it difficult to expand their world trade mainly because of the tariffs applicable in most parts of the world. Average tariffs on LDCs have been reduced marginally. However, still the average tariff on agricultural products is as high as 40%. With such tariffs applicable in most countries, LDCs are finding it difficult to expand their trade in these countries. Apart from tariffs, there are also non-tariff barriers which affect LDCs more. There might be quotas which can restrict a country to trade in a developed country. Health and safety hazards also play a role. Since LDCs have labor oriented products, the products

Legal Diligence Checklist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal Diligence Checklist - Essay Example Has Joe’s company made adequate provision for removal of debris and other objects from lawns before starting work? The answer to that is yes. This is important because it will demonstrate from a legal point of view that Joe’s company has exercised due diligence in ensuring that the workers are acquainted with safety procedures and know to operate in a safe manner. Therefore, it will negate any charges of reckless endangerment caused by the employer and allegations of disregard for employee safety or non compliance with Government regulations on worker safety and training. In addition to training, Joe’s Company also has provision for appropriate protective gear for the workers in order to ensure their safety at the workplace. 4. Does the employer have an accident investigating and reporting system in place? This ensures that a written record is maintained of all the potentially dangerous accidents that have endangered workers[www.ccohs.ca, n.d.] The answer to that question is a no. This could prove to be a legal liability in the event of a lawsuit for reckless endangerment. 5. Have any arrangements been made by the employer to monitor the workplace? This is important, so that legal allegations made later can be redressed through hard evidence from film. The answer to that is yes, since he has installed motion lights and cameras to monitor workplace activity. 6. Does Joe’s Company have any written documentation of action that was taken against employees violating safety procedures and rules? This is important from a legal standpoint, because it helps to protect against legal liability for worker injury. If a worker has erred and been corrected but repeats the risky action, the employer will not be liable. But the answer to this question is

Material Things Become Important After The Day Essay Example for Free

Material Things Become Important After The Day Essay During a nuclear war between Russia and the United States, the town of Fort Repose, Florida, is in the danger zone of radiation poisoning and contaminated items. Randy and the townspeople of Fort Repose must remain calm and ration their supplies. However, when the material things run low, everything becomes important. People must be creative and composed during this time of chaos. Therefore, the importance of material things after The Day leads to death, theft, and murder, but when people add to the chaos by trading the expensive for the inexpensive, people will do anything for the necessities, and that just adds to chaos causing the society of Fort Repose, Florida to be completely disrupted. In the town of Fort Repose, the people of the town are very confused and terrified about what is going to occur in the following months. In addition to this turmoil, people need to increase their supply of food, water, and anything else that they think could help them in this time of bedlam. The use and need of salt becomes very important in Alas, Babylon. In fact, salt is the main preservative of most foods, especially steak and meat. In detail, the salt preserves the meat by drawing out the moisture and creates an environment inhospitable to bacteria. If they were to put the meat in salt in cold weather, the salted meat could last for years. Not only does salt last long, but its trade in value is amongst the highest. Salt could be traded for really anything their mind could think of. Anyone would do anything to get his or her hands on salt if that meant food for a longer period of time. Equally important, is gasoline, the main element for the transportation of cars after The Day. Gasoline could only be obtained if one has had the money, has something worth the exchange, or they were a friend of the retailer. Gasoline becomes very valuable and expensive after The Day that Randy had to have special connections to get the gasoline from the vendors. Specifically, one had to know one for a long time and have a family connection to get enough gasoline to actually be useful. In fact, the gasoline was so important that the whole town decided to convene one day to combine all of the gasoline that the townspeople had just so they could make long distance visits and make sure their family members were alright after The Day. More importantly, the main value after The Day s batteries. Batteries in particular are the main source of wealth after The Day. Batteries are the life of the main source of all information that goes into Fort Repose, and when these batteries become low or die, the only source of information would be from HAM radios, which is used by Admiral Hazzard, which use batteries in a more energy efficient way. HAM radios are the source of where most of the information was broadcasted to the townspeople. In other words, everything that is usually in the common household is now needed to survive this terrible time. In this time of terror, people of Fort Repose are so desperate to get food or anything else that could be a great help to them; they would do anything to get these items, even a couple would kill innocent townspeople. When the highwaymen killed the citizens of Fort Repose, these rebels go to stores and kill the owner of the store, just to get his food. As a punishment, they one is killed in front of the town. Equally as bad, they would go into peoples homes and do the same thing. However, some people who were nicer or more religious and wouldnt dare to kill an innocent citizen would be nice and not kill the house owners. However, most families that are prepared would always have a gun in their hands that they could fire if anything bad is to happen, just like the firearm that Randy and Helen always have on their wall, just in case of emergency. Equally important, they stole the food instead of killing to get the food. Most of the time, they would just steal food from peoples self-owned stores. Money isnt important to the owners because you couldnt buy anything with money. The owners didnt even attempt to stop the criminals because they say that money wasnt worth anything after The Day. In fact, money couldnt be used to get anything. Money is worthless. In addition, people would steal the food because they were scared. They are afraid of what is going to happen in this terrible time after the bombing. Not only did they steal, but they also find people in the town and loot off of them. The rebels use the townspeople just to get items such as medicine, ammo, etc. like when the store is robbed and the owner didnt chase after the thieves. In addition, many of the people die because they do not have the essential materials to survive in this time of crisis. To be specific, penicillin is one main necessity for a few of the townspeople of Fort Repose, Florida. Actually, one of the townspeople, Livinia McGovern, dies from diabetes due to the lack of penicillin. In fact, in the town, they ran low on food, ammo, penicillin, etc. really quickly because they are isolated from every other town, state, etc. Last but not least, the trading of the expensive items for the inexpensive items leaves a lasting mark on The Day. In detail, the real full potential values of most items go substantially down after The Day like anything that can be run on electricity, due to the lack of electricity. Specifically the value of coffee and whiskey are changed after The Day. Coffee becomes more expensive than whiskey. However, whiskey could be used to treat wounds because of its alcohol contents. Coffee is one of the things that Randy and his family really love. Randy even thinks that whiskey is less important than coffee and that coffee is more essential than anything else. In addition, salt is another necessity that everyone in the town wants to have. The main value at that time is to have salt. Salt becomes very expensive costing almost $200 for two packs. Salt can be used in numerous ways and anyone would trade practically anything to get his or her hands on this magnificent item. However, not everything goes up in value. Many of the guns and ammunition that people had are just for emergencies, clothing is something that they would never run out of, and people have no use for anything electronic, so electronics lose value greatly. Besides, with the war going on, people are too concerned about what they are going to eat and how they are going to survive than electronics. After The Day the people of Fort Repose fight to find all necessities that they need to survive the war. The people of Fort Repose, including Randy Bragg, are all scared but are ready to withstand this terrible tragedy. However, the necessities deplete very quickly, putting many people in jeopardy of losing their lives. The lives of these people are forever changed by the loss of electricity, communication, and the necessities of life. When the necessities are completely gone, the citizens of Fort Repose all get together to solve their problems and what they are going to do to cope with the loss of things. Nevertheless, they all stay strong, are able to make a lasting impression on the town of Fort Repose during the nuclear war, and yet, they are willing to help stay and rebuild the town in Alas, Babylon.