September 6, 2017 Essays - Education, Assumption,

September 6, 2017 Quiz "Three Gates of Gold Analyze elements of memoir (Apply to Hughes) " Gover " your grammer mini test with Bar Chart For Friday Read "My Alter" memoir on Blackboard- Course content quiz. Look for an email, probably in A3011 Three Gates of Gold Is it true? Is it needful ? Is it kind? Title- Salvation 2 nd sentence fragment Make decision about time You have to have background Use symbols ( Simile , Metaphors, Personification) One line paragraph can be very effective Must have dialogue and people in your story Have a significant point 700-800 words max Memoir comes from the word memory Where and Setting Who? Dialogue What led up? Background and age For when? Climax ( Climax is when conflict has been resolved) Why? Why are we telling story, what is the significance of this story Do not give away point until very end What emotion do we want in reader, they need to feel our emotion Adverb modifies everything

Author Citation in Botany and Zoology (aka Species Citation)

Author Citation in Botany and Zoology (aka Species Citation) Author Citation in Botany and Zoology (aka Species Citation) Referencing is tricky at the best of times. But it can be especially confusing in subjects such as botany and zoology, where you may have to cite plant and animal species’ names. This is known as author citation, or sometimes â€Å"species citation,† and it works like this†¦ What Is Author Citation? Author citation is used when discussing the taxonomy of different plants and animals. So if you name a species in your writing, you may need to cite its scientific name (i.e. Latin name) and the person who named it. This ensures clarity when two species or subspecies have a similar name. However, the format to use will depend on whether you’re citing a plant or an animal. Author Citation in Botany The full rules for author citations in botany are set out in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. The basic format, however, includes the scientific name of the species and an abbreviated name of the person who named it. If a subspecies has a separate discoverer, moreover, the original discoverer should be identified in brackets. For example, we could cite bulb-bearing water hemlock as follows: Cicuta bulbifera (L.) Spreng. is known for its toxicity. Here, we have three distinct elements for the citation: The scientific name of the species (Cicuta bulbifera) The original discoverer (â€Å"L.,† which stands for â€Å"Linnaeus†) And the discoverer of the subspecies (â€Å"Spreng.†) The â€Å"Spreng.† here is short for â€Å"Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel,† who named the subspecies. Many plants will simply require you to cite â€Å"L.,† but you can find abbreviations of other names via the International Plant Index. Author Citation in Zoology The full rules for citing animal species are contained in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The basic citation format uses the scientific name of the species, the surname of its discoverer, and the year it was discovered. For instance: Few would describe Psychrolutes marcidus (McCulloch, 1926) as beautiful. I consider myself an exception. Here, we’ve cited the undeniably gorgeous blobfish using the following: Its scientific name (Psychrolutes marcidus) The surname of its discoverer (i.e., Allan Riverstone McCulloch) The year that the scientific name was first published This allows us to clarify the species in question and credit its discoverer. Youd look this annoyed if someone had caught you in a fishing net, too. Summary: Author Citation in Botany and Zoology Author citation allows scientists and taxonomists to cite the scientific names and discoverers of different plant and animal species. The exact rules depend on the subject area: In botany, cite the scientific name of the species and an abbreviated name of the person who named it (e.g., â€Å"Cicuta bulbifera (L.) Spreng.†). In zoology, cite the scientific name of the species, the surname of its discoverer, and the year it was discovered (e.g., â€Å"Psychrolutes marcidus, McCulloch, 1926†). And if you’d like help checking the references in your work, just let us know.

The future of natural medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The future of natural medicine - Essay Example The future of helth cre nd medicine cn not be predicted, but it will certinly be developing into n Informtion ge, evolving in itself. Prticulrly, the medicl services will be delivered through the Internet nd other innovtive mens of communiction providing qulity nd cre whenever nd wherever needed. E-medicine refers to the use of telecommuniction tht provides medicl informtion nd services. It my be s simple s two helth professionls discussing cse over the telephone, or s sophisticted s using stellite technology to brodcst consulttion between providers t two distnt loctions, using videoconferencing equipment." (Gustke et l., 20000) The simplest definition of E-Medicine is tht it uses multimedi technology (voice, video nd dt) to deliver medicl services. The lower cost of bnd- width nd improvement in video nd dt compression stndrds hve incresed the number nd types of medicl services tht cn be delivered from distnce to include virtully every specilty. E-Medicine is n ppliction nd not technology. It uses hybrid technology incorporting elements of television, telecommuniction, computers, engineering nd medicine. Services cn be delivered on combintion of technologies with vriety of equipment. The objective of E-medicine "is not n evolutionry concept but revolutionry concept nd t the hert of every revolution, there is the need for sudden mssive chnge, t the core of which is the humn mind." (Merrell, 2004). E-medicine in the future will bring mny benefits to helth cre system, will fcilitte the work of helth cre employees nd improve the response time for ptients. Prticulrly, the benefits of e-medicine include: higher qulity helthcre vilble to trditionlly under privileged popultion. For lrge rurl bsed popultion seprted by lrge distnces the ccess to regulr qulity medicl cre is needed nd cn be provided by e-medicine. E-medicine cn enhnce citizen's equlity in the vilbility of vrious medicl services nd clinicl helth cre, despite these economic nd geogrphic brriers. E-medicine will sve the time wsted by both providers nd ptients in trveling from one geogrphic loction to nother to vil services on time. The ptient who requires immedite specilist consultncy, nd there is no specilist vilble to cter to him, could be utilized for effective helthcre delivery. E-medicine will reduce costs of medicl cre since the rising cost of helthcre is becoming prime concern. The costs relted to ptient cre, i.e. the cost ssocited with fctors other thn the ctul medil cre such s trvel, ccommodtion for reltives, food etc lso contribute substntilly to the overll cost of tretment. In country where helth insurnce is yet to ctch up, ll these re borne by ptients, in mny cses by selling property nd livestock. If hospitls cn reduce these costs ssocited with tretment, it would go long wy in reducing the burden of cre on the ptient. E-medicine seems to be the nswer. dvntges of E-medicine Providing helthcre services vi Internet nd other telecommuniction services gives mny dvntges. It cn mke specilty cre more ccessible to underserved rurl nd urbn popultions. Video consulttions from rurl clinic to specilist cn llevite prohibitive trvel nd ssocited costs for

ZipCar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ZipCar - Essay Example Based on the case and financial projections, it is clear that main value drivers of ZipCar include its resources (cars), targeting the right customer segments and operating costs. The following analysis has helped in arriving at some key findings, which can be of great help to not only improve the business but also can add weight to the concept to attract investment. The revised financial projections for ZipCar has incorporated changes with respect to subscription fees according to customers’ needs and has increased the per mile charge in comparison with competitors. Considering the business potential and huge investment that is required for ZipCar to function as expected and to expand, it is also important that it minimizes costs wherever possible. One key area that incurs huge costs is obtaining cars on lease. As per the present projections, ZipCar would require $4,400/year to lease one car and would require an average of 50 cars per year and is expecting to increase the num ber of serviceable cars on a yearly basis. This would mean increase in leasing costs. Moreover, there is also an apprehension that car companies might not find this business promising if they have to lease too many cars to one company. The projections reveal between 10% to 25% growth on a yearly basis. The NPV is calculated using three discount rate assumptions (10%, 15%, 20%) based on the projections (see Exhibit i). The growth of the business as shown in revised financial plan does not indicate any uniformity; however the minimum growth rate is at 14%; hence, calculation of NPV with discount rates assumptions below, above and at that point seemed logical in this case. With similar notion, the terminal value of business has been calculated (Exhibit i). These figures indicate that for an investment of $1.3 million to fetch a growth of at least 15% returns, it becomes necessary that the business maintains a steady growth rate at 10% over next 5 years. In order to achieve this, it is also necessary that profitability is increased for which the below described recommendation might of some help. Besides business expansion, profitability can also be increased by minimizing costs. One possible and implementable solution is to minimize costs incurred by leasing out cars, which attracts much of the investment. This can be done by leasing cars from individuals only a monthly basis (rent) rather than yearly basis. Considering risk factor, it would be better that ZipCar takes 30% of its cars from individuals that do not use their cars too often in exchange of money on a monthly basis. While ZipCar can own the responsibility of these cars in case of damage, it can avoid maintenance of 30% of its cars as it already pays rent to the individuals. The fuel expenses will be borne by the customers. By doing so, ZipCar can save costs incurred towards leasing, maintenance, and insurance of 30% of the cars. Changes in financial projection if such model is adopted has been shown in Exhibits ii and iii; the NPV and TV of the firm after incorporating this recommendation is included in Exhibit i. Exhibit i NPV= Net present value DR = Discount Rate TV= Terminal value of investment Exhibit ii. Recommended model: Exhibit iii: Comparison between original, revised and recommended

Communities of Practice and Social Learning Systems Essay

Communities of Practice and Social Learning Systems - Essay Example The paper tells that communities of practice define competence by fusing three elements. First, members of a community pursue their collectively developed understanding and share a sense of joint enterprise. Members of a community build their enterprise (community) through mutual engagement as they interact with each other in establishing norms and relationships of mutuality that reflect the social engagements.   Thirdly, the communities of practice yield a shared repertoire of communal resources encompassing aspects such as language, artifacts, and tools. The constitutive elements of the systems include communities of practice, boundary processes, and identities shaped by participation in the systems. The author outlines two aspects of a conceptual framework for comprehending social learning systems; a social definition of learning detailing social competence and personal experience comprising of engagement, imagination, and alignment. The distinction between the modes of belongin g is critical since each mode contributes to a distinct facet of the development of social learning systems and individual identities. Engagement, imagination, and alignment mainly coexist, and each social learning system involves each to some extent and in some combination, although each component requires distinct combinations. The author achieved his purpose in writing the article and demystifying social learning by individuals and organizations. The author’s assertions are highly supported by facts. The notion of the community of practice has significantly influenced theory and practice in a broad range of fields such as availing a platform for peer-to-peer learning within organizations, professional development, and development of learning partnerships that are not captive to professional silos. As demonstrated, communities of practice are central to enhancing performance.

Do You Believe Blaines Current Capital Structure Finance Essay

Do You Believe Blaines Current Capital Structure Finance Essay Do you believe Blaines current capital structure and payout policies are appropriate? Why or why not? Blaines capital structure and dividend policy are not entirely appropriate from the point of view of a shareholder of the firm. The reasons for that can be summed up as follows: No leverage: The optimum mix of debt and equity in the capital structure will maximize shareholders return. Company should take on debt to acquire new firms and expand its operations. Low ROE : Attributed to Low leverage 2006 ROE data clearly shows up that ROE of all the comparable firms are much higher than that of Blaine. Increasing Dividend payout ratio As calculated in Question no.3, the cost of equity of the firm is close to 9% whereas ROE is 11%. This is a good proposition for shareholders. This can be enhanced by acquiring other companies using cash balance that the company has. Decreasing EPS Even when EPS is constantly decreasing over the last three years, the policy of giving more or less same amount in dividend may cost company in future. Way of financing of new acquisitions Blaine Inc. should rather raise capital in debt rather than issuing new stocks to raise capital. This will ensure EPS constant and will be good for shareholders. Should Dubinski recommend a large share repurchase to Blaines board? What are the primary advantages and disadvantages of such a move? No, Dubinski should not recommend a large share repurchase to the board. The reason for that is although the firm is public listed, still a large percentage of share is owned by family itself. Therefore, buying back the shares is as good as unlisting the company. Secondly, there are growth avenues wherein the company may require cash. The company should, like last two years, go for acquisition. This will bring value to shareholders. Else, during the times of new acquisitions, company would have to raise capital from the market and due to flotation cost; the cost of equity will be much higher. Consider the following share repurchase proposal: Blaine will use $209 million of cash from its balance sheet and $50 million in new debt-bearing interest at the rate of 6.75% to repurchase 14.0 million shares at a price of $18.50 per share. How would such a buyback affect Blaine? Consider the impact on, among other things, BKIs earnings per share and ROE, its interest coverage and debt ratios, the familys ownership interest, and the companys cost of capital. Effect of Share Buyback Particulars Value Remarks Equity Capital_Pre Buyback ($) 488,363,000 2006, Exhibit 2 Equity Capital_Post ($) 279,363,000 No. of Shares outstanding before buyback 59,052,000 No. of shares bought back 14,000,000 Total outstanding Shares 45,052,000 EPS_Old($) 0.91 EPS_New ($) 1.19 Percent change in EPS 31.08% P/E ratio 17.86 Market Price (S) 21.30 Percent change in Share price 19.28% Debt_equity Book Value 17.90% Debt_equity Market Value 5.21% Debt interest rate 6.75% Interest to be paid ($) 3375000 Interest coverage ratio 0.05 ROE 0.11 ROE_new 0.19 Change in ROE 74.52% Cost of Equity 9.01% Cost of Debt 6.25% Effective Tax rate 40.00% Expected future tax rate D/V 4.95% WACC 8.75% WACC_Old 9.01% Change in WACC -2.89% Equity beta Calculation for the Firm Market Cap Equity beta (Net)D/E Net Debt Cash Securities Total Debt D/E (1) (2) (3) (4)=(1)x(3) (5) (6)=(4)+(5) (7)=(6)/(1) Home and Hearth Design 776,427 1.03 45.18% 350,790 21,495 372,285 47.95% AutoTech Appliances 13,978,375 1.24 31.74% 4,436,736 536,099 4,972,835 35.58% XQL Corp. 5,290,145 0.96 17.97% 950,639 21,425 972,064 18.37% Bunkerhill Inc. 3,962,780 0.92 6.01% 238,163 153,680 391,843 9.89% Easyliving Systems 418,749 0.67 -15.47% -64,780 242,102 177,322 42.35% Blaine Kitchenware 959,596 0.56 -24.06% -230,879 230,866 -13 0.00% Average 25,386,072 0.90 10.23% 25.69% Unlevered Beta 0.78 Beta_Blaine 0.80 Ownership Scenario: For last 3 years and post share buyback 2004 2005 2006 2007 Outstanding Shares 41,309,000 48,790,000 59,052,000 45,052,000 Ownership of Founders descendants 62% 52% 43% 57% Assumptions Used Effective Tax rate has been taken equal to 40%, same as for Blaine. As a member of Blaines controlling family, would you be in favor of this proposal? Would you be in favor of it as a non-family shareholder? As a family member of Blaine, the news of buyback has to be evaluated in both the ways. The Pros are: Consolidating Control- This will increase the shareholding close to 57%. Return of Cash Surplus to Shareholders-As of now in April, 2007, there are no any plans of buybacks. Therefore, keeping cash intact leads to opportunity cost of shareholders. This will add value for shareholders. An effective defense against takeover- as the market is consolidating, it will be a wise decision to protect the company from hostile takeovers. The cons are: Effect on expansionary plans- As cash will be used to buy back shares and the company wont be able to raise money from markets in the near future, opportunities of acquisitions will be marred. Even if, company will raise capital from equity market, flotation cost will be high and so cost of equity will be comparatively high. Use of Leverage- the Company has been against the policy of taking debt. Taking debt of $50 million for share buyback will not go in line with the companys policy.

the simpsons :: essays research papers fc

When Matt Groening and James L. Brooks created The Simpsons, a cartoon, family, they had no idea that it would become as big as it has now. There are many reasons the show has become very popular with the American public. Dumb and simple humor makes in enjoyable for people on all levels, and for the more sophisticated audience, there is some political satire in the show. It all started 1987, when Groening and Brooks created short cartoons for the Tracey Ullman show. If you were to compare these shorts to today’s show, there is a major difference in the quality of the show and the plots. This is due to better technology, more money, and a change in the things that can be said on television. (Groening) The show features five main characters. As stated by the show’s title, they are the Simpson family. The father, Homer, has had a very eventful life. Even though he is not very smart, he has led a life that is envied by many in Springfield. His job is the Nuclear Safety Inspector at the Springfield Power Plant. He has met presidents Gerry Ford, George Bush, and Bill Clinton, been an astronaut, and met bands such as the Who, the Smashing Pumpkins, U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and REM, been a professional baseball mascot and numerous other jobs. His wife Marge has not led as an exciting life as Homer. She spends most of her time taking care of their three children, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, and playing second fiddle in many of Homer’s adventures. Bart has become a 1990’s version of Dennis the Menace. He carries a slingshot in his back pocket and likes to cause havoc for his teachers and his father. Lisa is the brightest of the children. She has straight A’s i n the second grade, plays first chair saxophone, but is more like her mother, not getting involved in many adventures. Maggie is the baby and is mostly there to complete the family. (Holtz) The first full length episode was on December 17, 1989. This was the Christmas special entitled â€Å"Simpsons’ Roasting on an Open Fire.† The plot of this episode is that Bart gets a tattoo and Marge has to spend the family’s Christmas money getting it removed. She planned on having Homer’s Christmas bonus to buy presents with but he finds out that bonuses won’t be given out that year.

Milton Friedman

Milton Friedman, recipient of the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize for economic science, was born on July 31, 1912 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the forth and last child of Sarah Ethel and Jeno Saul Friedman. Friedman was known as an American economist and as a public intellectual who made major contributions throughout his lifetime to the fields that were related to macroeconomics, microeconomics, economic history as well as its statistics.Friedman’s family was a typical working class family of Jewish immigrants from Austria-Hungary. They lived in the United States and his family’s income was small and highly uncertain since it drastically varied from time to time. There was always a financial crisis at stake and change was a constant companion for them. However, there was always enough love, warmth, and food to feed the whole family.Along with his sister, he attended a public elementary and secondary school where he graduated from Rahway High School in 1928 before his 16th b irthday. Unfortunately his mother and two older sisters were in charge of supporting the family when Friedman’s father passed away during his senior year in high school. Friedman knew very well that his future was up to himself and he had to put double the effort to be able to finance everything himself.When he attended the Rutgers University, he was awarded with a competitive scholarship which helped him along the way allowing him to grate in 1932. Friedman personally states that he was, â€Å"†¦financing the rest of his college expenses by the usual mixture of waiting on tables, clerking in a retail store, occasional entrepreneurial ventures, and summer earnings.†[1] At first when the attended the university, he was specializing in mathematics with the sole purpose of becoming an actuary, but after failing several examinations, he started becoming more interested and intrigued in economics and eventually, he ended up majoring in both fields.It was later on in 19 46 when the Columbia University awarded him a Ph.D, allowing him to serve as a Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago one year later. He contributed in building a helpful intellectual community that produced a number of Nobel Prize winners that were later known as the Chicago School of Economics. Friedman also developed the Theory of the Consumption Function and along with the assistance of Simon Kuznets, they joined together to public Incomes from Independent Professional Practice. This book served as his doctoral dissertation at Colombia University, but they were not allowed to publish it 1940 and they had to wait after the war because the book created controversy since it introduced the concepts of permanent and transitory incomes.Like mentioned before, Friedman won the Nobel Prize in Economics for, â€Å"his achievements in the fields of consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and for his demonstration of the complexity analysis, monetary history and theo ry and for his demonstration of the complexity of stabilization policy.†[2] He was married to Rose Director in 1938 and she was the co-author of many of his books. They also had two children named Janet and David. David is now a philosopher and an economist just like his father. Milton Friedman died on November 16, 2006, at the age of 94 in San Francisco, California because of a severe heart failure.Nowadays, he is known as one of two most influential economists of the 20th century. In 1962, he published another book titled Capitalism and Freedom, where he demonstrated his support for minimizing the role of government in a free market promoting political as well as social freedom. Friedman has explained how the free market works revealing and explaining to others that this system, as opposed to any other, has been able to solve both social and political problems that have been adequately addressed. His book was published worldwide reaching to the hands of people that lived in a communist country.Friedman’s strong passion for freedom and liberty has influenced a lot of people, more than what he could have even imagined. His writings along with his ideas and speeches have reached the ears and minds of many US presidents, leaders around the world, entrepreneurs, students, and citizens of many countries.He was a member of the Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board and with his theory of monetarism; he showed everyone his moral vision of life. He clarified to everyone that nation should be composed of free men and women, with freedom of choice, where the government is not necessarily authorized to override citizens decisions. Despite the fact that Friedman knew that his theories was attacked by many traditional economists, he still showed that he strongly favored a policy of steady and moderate growth in the money supply of the economy. He also opposed wage and price controls and criticized the FED for trying so hard to tune the economy.Through out Milton Friedman’s lifetime, he was written many famous books and among some of them were: Price Theory (1962), Capitalism and Freedom (1962), An Economist’s Protest (1972), There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch (1975), and Free to Choose (1979). He also won many aware such as the John Bate Clark Medal in 1951, the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976, the National Medal of Science in 1988, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom the same year. It can be seen that Friedman was an outspoken economist that influenced the lives of many others by defending and promoting his true beliefs in what and how a successful economy should really look like.Work CitedMilton Friedman: Autobiography. The Nobel Foundation 1976 2006.Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize-Winning Economist, Dies at 94. The New York Times. November 16, 2006.[1] Milton Friedman: Autobiography. The Nobel Foundation 1976. 2006

The Legacy of the Qin Dynasty

The Legacy of the Qin Dynasty The Qin Dynasty, pronounced like chin, emerged in 221 BCE. Qin Shihuang, the king of the Qin state at the time, conquered the many feudal territories vying for influence during the bloody Warring States period. He then united them all under one rule, thus putting an end to the notoriously violent chapter in Chinese history that lasted for 200 years. Qin Shihuang was only 38 years old when he came into power. He created the title Emperor (  Ã§Å¡â€¡Ã¥ ¸ ,  Ã‚  hungdà ¬) for himself, and thus is known as  the first emperor of China. While his dynasty only lasted 15 years, the shortest dynastic rule in Chinese history, the impact of the Qin Emperor on China cannot be understated. Although highly controversial, Qin Dynasty policies were very influential in uniting China and maintaining power. The Qin Emperor was famously obsessed with immortality and even spent years trying to find an elixir to eternal life. Though he ultimately died, it would seem that Qin’s quest to live forever was ultimately granted – his practices and policies were carried into the subsequent Han Dynasty and continue to flourish in present-day China.   Here are just a few remnants of Qin’s legacy.   Central Rule The dynasty adhered to Legalist principles, which is a Chinese philosophy that followed strict compliance with  the rule of law. This belief allowed Qin to rule the population from a centralized power structure and proved to be a very effective way to govern. Such a policy, however, did not allow for dissent. Anyone who protested Qins power was quickly and brutally silenced or killed off.   Written Script   Qin instituted a uniform written language. Before then, different regions in China had different languages, dialects, and writing systems. Imposing a universal written language allowed for better communication and implementation of policies. For example, a singular script allowed scholars to share information with a greater number of people. It also led to the sharing of culture that was previously only experienced by a few. Additionally, a single language allowed later dynasties to communicate with nomadic tribes and pass along information on how to negotiate or fight with them. Roads The construction of roads allowed for greater connections between provinces and major cities. The dynasty also standardized the length of axles in carts so that they could all ride on the newly-built roads. Weights and Measures The dynasty standardized all weights and measures, which led to more efficient commerce. This conversion also allowed subsequent dynasties to develop a taxation system. Coinage In another effort to unify the empire, the Qin Dynasty standardized the Chinese currency. Doing so led to greater commerce across more regions.   The Great Wall The Qin Dynasty was responsible for the construction of the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall marked national boundaries and acted as a defensive infrastructure to protect against invading nomadic tribes from the north. However, later dynasties were more expansionist and built beyond Qin’s original wall. Today, the Great Wall of China is easily one of Chinas most iconic pieces of architecture. Terracotta Warriors   Another architectural feat that draws tourists to China is the enormous tomb in present-day Xian filled with terracotta warriors. This is also a part of Qin Shihuangs legacy. When Qin Shihuang died, he was buried in a tomb accompanied by an army of hundreds of thousands of terracotta soldiers that were supposed to protect him in his afterlife. The tomb was uncovered by farmers  digging for a well in 1974.   Strong Personality One other lasting impact of the Qin Dynasty is the influence of a leader’s personality in China. Qin Shihuang’s relied on his top-down method of ruling, and, on the whole, people conformed to his rule because of the power of his personality. Many subjects followed Qin because he showed them something larger than their local kingdomsa visionary idea of a cohesive nation-state. While this is a very effective way to rule, once the leader dies, so can his dynasty. After Qin Shihuang’s death in 210 BCE, his son, and later his grandson, took power, but both were short-lived. The Qin Dynasty came to a close in 206 BCE, just four years after Qin Shihuang’s death. Almost immediately following his death, the same warring states that he unified sprang up again and China was again under numerous leaders until it was unified under the  Han Dynasty. The Han would last over 400 years, but much of its practices were started in the Qin Dynasty. Similarities in charismatic cult personalities can be seen in subsequent leaders in Chinese history, such as Chairman Mao Zedong. In fact, Mao actually likened himself to Emperor Qin.   Representation in Pop Culture Qin was  popularized in Eastern and Western media in Chinese Director Zhang Yimou’s 2002 film Hero. While some criticized the movie for advocating totalitarianism, movie-goers went to see it in droves. A hit in China and Hong Kong, when it opened to North American audiences in 2004, it was the number one movie and grossed $18 million in its opening weekend – a rarity for a foreign film.

The Commercialism Of Television Essays - Television Advertisement

The Commercialism Of Television Essays - Television Advertisement The Commercialism Of Television The Commercialism of Television To look into the mind of a television addict, we must look at the big picture First we recognize the voluntary slavery that makes up the majority of modern life. A I see it, people get up early, put on work clothes, and work like machines for the rest of the day getting no satisfaction from their repetitive day-jobs. Then come home around seven oclock to their families who have already had dinner, and the kids already getting in bed. By that time there is almost no room left for quality family time or anything else to pursue thats worthwhile. Thus the person turns to the television for that instant dose of friendship and gratification that could not be found anywhere else during his or her day. Once the person gets comfy on the lazy-boy, he becomes quickly stimulated and amazed by the intense sound and picture of thirty frames per second, and suddenly forgets thinking about the real world. Notice how some people become extremely annoyed when you talk to them or distract them when they are watching a program, or even a commercial. And might even yell at you for walking in front of the TV. As the hours of straight zombie-like watching go by, the person slips further into the fantasy world of television, and with you breaking that link between them and the tube comes as a shock to them. Someone can be so engulfed that it becomes a regular part of his/her daily routine. As a result of a lot of watching TV, studies have shown that the heart rate, and blink rate have slowed down dramatically and muscular function decreased down to the snap of a finger on the remote or the lift of a drink. The stimulation of the picture and sound shift so rapidly that they must become completely relaxed to soak it all up. Television is like an addiction, and like any addictive substance a moral message lies behind it The advertising and the programs are only theyre to keep the viewer coming back for more. But there are even deeper morals to the story. The televisions main purpose is to distract from what you really want to be doing. Than around the second line of commercials you realize that you could be doing far better things than this, but before that thought gets to you, another flashy commercial pops up that literally says damnit stay in your seat, weve got more products to sell you. And giving the viewer the sense that he/she cannot live without it. And this is w here depression can kick in. In these messages there is the potential power to brainwash the viewer into thinking that television is the one and only answer to all the worlds problems, and soon the person will not want to accept the harsh reality of the real world. This becomes a mindset for many people who watch TV. Some will do their best to fight it, like turn the volume down or mute, but hell, never would they turn it off. Even the manufacturers cleverly hide the mute button on your remote. To the broadcasters and corporations, its all a damn game to them, to see whom can get more zombies to stick with their channel. After becoming over-fatigued from stimulation, theyll switch it off. And when they are face to face with real life, they dont understand it, and shrivel back into their corner to the TV, to the world that is so easily accepted. There is a huge difference between the world that we live in, and the fake propped world of television. On a person note; my father roommates with Andre, a forty-five year old minority who is extremely depressed, and has attempted suicide. Visiting my dad every week or so I notice that Andre always had the TV on, and continued sitting in his chair staring at every comedy channel for six hours, but I noticed he never laughed. I believe Andre has fallen deep into the TV world, and uses it as a tool to ignore and/or forget his problems in the real world. Odds have it that television only creates a mirage

Public Health Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public Health Issues - Essay Example The CDC has recently announced that scheduled flu vaccines for the 2012 to 2013 season already include protection for three influenza virus strains: influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus (CDC, 2012). Significance to Public Health The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified that influenza could actually afflict all people from various age groups. However, those segments of the population who were identified to be at risk of complications are as follows: â€Å"children younger than age two, adults age 65 or older, and people of any age with certain medical conditions, such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver, blood or metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), or weakened immune systems† (WHO, 2009, par. 5). Also, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has emphasized the need for health care personnel (HCP) to be vaccinated on a compulsory level. As noted, â€Å"health care personnel can spread the highly contagious influenza virus to patients in their care. In fact, unvaccinated workers can be a key cause of outbreaks in health care settings† (NFID, 2008, p. 2). In an article written by Sawyer, et al. (2012), it was disclosed that the public health advisory on the need for increased influenza immunization has been succesful in enjoining employers to promote the need for vaccination. However, the results of the study revealed that â€Å"population-based surveys of HCPs did not show significant increases in influenza vaccination. Overall, this study suggests that public health leadership, intensive employer promotion activities, and state-required declinations alone were not sufficient to significantly increase HCP influenza vaccination. Policymakers and employers should consider mandates to achieve optimal influenza vaccination among HCPs† (Sawyer, Peddecord, Wang, Deguire, Miskewitch-Dzulynsky, & Vuong: Abstract, 2012, par. 4). The relevance, therefore, of the issue to public hea lth is paramount in terms of manifesting conformity to the call to action of these high risk populations to be immunized against influenza and therefore contribute to the prevention and spread of this illness. Past, Current, Future Statistics The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in conjunction with other national health agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the CDC, and the National Immunization Survey (NIS) have monitored and surveyed the influenza vaccination coverage levels of various population groups. Among which, Table 3 of the report written by Fiore, et al. entitled â€Å"Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines† provides past and current statistics (Fiore & al., 2010). As emphasized, â€Å"in the 2009--2010 vaccination season, 33% of seasonal influenza vaccinations occurred in health departments, pharmacies or drug stores, workplaces, schools, or other nonmedical locations (CDC, unpublished data, 2009). The proportion o f 2009 H1N1 vaccine administered in these settings was 45% (CDC, unpublished data, 2010)† (Fiore, et al.: Other Settings, 2010, par. 1). Future directions indicate that â€Å"most severe morbidity and mortality during typical influenza seasons occurs among persons aged ?65 years of those who have chronic medical conditions. More immunogenic influenza vaccines are needed for persons at

Comparison of Barack Obama's and John Mccain's Policies on Poverty and Essay

Comparison of Barack Obama's and John Mccain's Policies on Poverty and Welfare in the US - Essay Example Though there are a number of policies on which both the sides have differing views, an effort has been made in this paper to compare the policies of both candidates on 'poverty and welfare in the US'. McCain's stand: John McCain has expressed his support for direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based or other non-profit organizations. He says1, "Welfare and anti-poverty assistance is a shared responsibility among federal, state and local government; the private sector; community and faith-based organizations. Welfare policy must provide a strong safety net, while promoting work, responsibility, self sufficiency and dignity." In addition McCain has come out maintained the following principled position on some of the issues concerning poverty and welfare2: Even when a parent works full-time earning minimum wage and EITC and food stamps are factored into their income, families are still $1,550 below the federal poverty line because of the flat-lined minimum wage. Obama and Biden also realize that ex-offenders are a very critical community, which needs to be taken care of well, in order not to let them feel isolated. For this category they plan to work to ensure that ex-offenders have access to job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and employment opportunities. It is worthwhile here to ment... The team of Barak Obama has come out with a detailed plan of action to take care of the poverty and welfare issues. Salient features of their plan include; Helping Americans in Grabbing and Holding on in order to Climb the Job Ladder Creating a Green Jobs Corps in order to strengthen the energy efficiency programs and strengthen the communities. Bring out improvement in Transportation Access to Jobs Obama and Biden also realize that ex-offenders are a very critical community, which needs to be taken care of well, in order not to let them feel isolated. For this category they plan to work to ensure that ex-offenders have access to job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and employment opportunities. Raising the Minimum Wage to $9.50 an Hour by 2011 Providing all low and middle-income workers a tax relief of about $500 to offset the payroll tax being paid by those low paid workers. Expanding the Nurse-Family Partnership to all 570,000 low-income, first-time mothers each year. Increasing the number of sick days for low-paid workers Increasing the Supply of Affordable Housing for the poor sections of the society. Increase the levels of investments in rural areas Creating secure borders and strengthening the immigration policies. 2. For each policy, evaluate how it might impact the state of poverty in the U.S. It is worthwhile here to mention that on the one hand John McCain is supposed to tread a cautious line while spelling out the agenda points for bringing out a 'change', because he has to maintain that the legacy is not disturbed too much. On the other hand, Barak Obama is not bound any such legacy. So, on the one hand he criticizes the existing policies of Bush