Monday, September 30, 2019

Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory

Conflict theory is based on the idea that the main causes of crime and deviance are the economic and social differences among members of a society, prompting the have-nots to act out, if not to rob the haves. According to this theory, criminal law and the entire criminal justice system tend to be favorable toward the wealthy and the powerful elites, while the governmental policies are aimed at controlling only the needy and poor members of society.Moreover, the theory assumes that the entire criminal justice structure is aimed at compelling all members of society to accept the standards of good behavior and morality that are created by the rich and the powerful. There is a focus on separation between the haves and the have-nots, so as to protect the haves from physical attacks by the have-nots, and also to protect them from being robbed. In the process, however, the rights of the poor and needy people could be ignored. The middle class, on the other hand, enjoys the legal rights of t he elites by siding with them.These people believe that they might be able to rise in rank by backing up the status quo (â€Å"Conflict,† 2005). The simplistic conflict theory has been explained further thus: †¦[S]treet crimes, even minor monetary ones are routinely punished quite severely, while large scale financial and business crimes are treated much more leniently. Theft of a television might receive a longer sentence than stealing millions through illegal business practices. William Chambliss, in a classic essay â€Å"The Saints and the Roughnecks,† compared the outcomes for two groups of adolescent misbehavers. The first, a lower class group ofboys, was hounded by the local police and labeled by teachers as delinquents and future criminals, while the upper-middle class boys were equally deviant, but their actions were Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 2 written off as youthful indiscretions and learning experiences (â€Å"Conflict†). A lthough there is truth to the conflict theory, it is only partial. Of a certainty, there are countless people counted among the rich and the powerful who have engaged in deviant behaviors. What is more, they have not found the law to be lax toward them. As an example, both of President George W.Bush’s daughters have been in trouble with the law (Montgomery, 2001). The daughter of the President’s brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, has also been arrested for deviant behavior (â€Å"Jeb,† 2002). The conflict theory does not apply in their cases. Nor does it apply in the case of Enron and Worldcom – rich businesses that should have been untouched by the laws of the land if the conflict theory were entirely true. Although there may be instances where the conflict theory correctly explains deviant behavior, it is obvious that this theory cannot be applied to all places in the world at all times.There are many nations in the world where corruption is the law of the land, and unfairness is the norm. In the developing regions of the world, in particular, the have-nots may rob the haves or simply act out because they are disturbed by the unfairness that is mete out to them. However, it is not correct to understand deviant behavior only in the light of the conflict theory. If we are to believe that it is conflict theory alone that explains deviant behavior in human beings, we would not have examples of the Bush daughters and Enron to consider. There are many theories to explain deviant behavior.The cultural transmission or the differential associations theory, for example, may compete with the conflict theory in explaining deviance. According to the cultural transmission theory, all kinds of behaviors, including deviant behavior, are learned. Furthermore, the young and therefore more impressionable Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 3 learners of deviance may have developed close relationships with their deviant teachers. With i ncreasing contacts with deviant teachers, the young learners of deviance engage in increasingly deviant behaviors (â€Å"Sociological Theories†).The cultural transmission theory does not rule out the possibility that the children of the rich and the powerful may engage in deviant behaviors because they may have had deviant teachers. The conflict theory rules out this possibility entirely with its assumption that the societal norms are established by the rich and the powerful, so therefore they cannot possibly go against their own rules. As explained previously, this assumption of the conflict theory is not true, seeing that the rich and the powerful are also known to go against the societal norms, which they should have established for themselves and by themselves.The conflict theory is also not true one hundred percent in places where laws are created on the basis of unfairness and corruption. Even in such places, it is known that there are always people that try to work har d and honestly, despite the unfairness that is dealt out to them. In short, all people in ‘deviant’ places may not engage in deviant behaviors, even if the rich and the powerful have corrupted the government with bribes, etc. Yet another theory that conflicts with the conflict theory is the social control theory that explains why people may not engage in deviant behaviors.According to this theory, individuals may follow the societal norms because of their connecting social bonds (â€Å"Sociological Theories†). In other words, they may refuse to engage in deviant behaviors for the following reasons: (1) attachment — a measure of the connectedness between individuals; Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 4 (2) commitment — a measure of the stake a person has in the community; (3) involvement — a measure of the time/energy a person is spending on activities that are helpful to the community;(4) belief — a measure of the person 's support for the morals and beliefs of the community (â€Å"Sociological Theories†). If all poor and needy folks in an unfair society were to follow the societal norms because of their social contacts, the conflict theory would once again be rendered meaningless. It may be that some underprivileged folks with weak social bonds would engage in deviant behaviors in a corrupt society. In that case, however, the conflict theory would only apply to that small group of people. In actuality, such a group may be existent.Theoretically, however, it is possible for that group never to exist. Thus, the conflict theory may actually apply only in the cases of disgruntled, underprivileged folks who truly believe in righting the wrongs with wrongs. It would not apply in a corrupt society where underprivileged folks would like to work hard and honestly. And, neither would it apply in societies where the rich and the powerful are not exempt from the law. Therefore, the conflict theory is a naive theory, which, like most theories, does not explain reality in its entirety. References Conflict. (2005, Nov. 22). Florida State University. Retrieved Sep. 20, 2007, from http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/conflict.htm. Jeb Bush’s Daughter Charged with Prescription Fraud. (2002, Jan. 29). CNN. Retrieved Sep. 20, 2007, from http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/01/29/jeb.bush.daughter.drugs/. Montgomery, A. (2001, Jun. 4). Jenna Bush may face jail on booze charge. Chicago Sun-Times. Sociological Theories to Explain Deviance. Retrieved Sep. 20, 2007, from http://www.valdosta.edu/~klowney/devtheories.htm.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Méliès’s Trip to the Moon Essay

The film opens with a gathering of academics in a lecture hall. They have robes, beards and pointed hats. They are standing at first in ranks in the room, five more men join them and are given telescopes by female servants. The leader enters and assumes a position at a blackboard on the left where he draws an image of the Earth and the Moon and a bullet-shaped craft landing on the Moon. They all being discussing or arguing about the project. The technique used for acting is based on what one might see acted out in the theater with no modern cinematography such as close-ups or zooms are used to focus the attention on a particular character. All the characters appear onstage and if there is any focus on a certain action is done through theatrical technique such as the females marching out and handing out telescopes and leaving. When the main character, seeming like a professor comes in the group sort of comes to attention and stand still at first while the professor speaks and draws on the board. One’s attention’s shifts to the group again as they discuss and argue with over-large gesticulations in this silent film without written inter-titles. It is a silent stage drama recorded on film, else it would be mime theatre. The film’s scene changes almost like a shift of scene in the theatre. There is a very fake-looking space capsule that is being worked on and some of the astronauts try out the interior. There is a moment when someone falls into a shallow barrel. Possibly, this was meant to be a comic touch which would be at home later in vaudeville. There is no camera movement. It is as if one had a good seat at the theatre and watching a series of tableaux vivantes. The film owes much more to the stage and picture books than to any already-developed film technique. The subsequent boarding of the space-bullet on the left with the cannon on the right looks especially fake and hand-drawn. There is little aim at a believable set and much over-acting: doffing their hats and so on to an imaginary group of spectators, actually us who are watching the living theater more than a film by today’s standards. After the firing of the cannon, there occurs the use of something like special effects where the Man in the Moon, framed by clouds comes closer to the viewer and has human like expressions which show the space vehicle hitting him in the eye. It is a real human looking like he has whipped cream on his face.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 23

Case study - Essay Example se study of VOS Enterprises-Revda, wherein VOS Enterprises is a network, the expanded name of which being All Russia Association of the Blind (VOS). Revda is a manufacturing company that employs blind people in huge numbers and utilizes the network of VOS in its marketing interventions. In the back drop of the marketing problems faced by this enterprise in the changed context of post-Peristroika Russia and also in view of the contribution that VOS played in winning back its market success, this study envisages finding out the role of VOS in the marketing success of Revda Enterprises. The prolonged period of centralized and autocratic rule in Russia came to an end when in April 1985 Gorbachev’s Perestroika opened up Russian society and let in the ethos of democracy. Perestroika resulted in the development of a democratic political system and the beginnings of a market economy which was to supplant the failing Marxist model. These changes also meant that the disabled were to get better and more employment opportunities, whether in open industry or under specialised supervision. The modern vision of getting the disabled, the chance to have full participation in life, slowly became established as part of the national policy. VOS became established an was structured around ‘enterprises’ that were training and manufacturing centres that employed visually impaired workers. The Revda enterprise, established in 1948, in the Central Urals was headed by Ivan Boormatov and it functioned in an area rich in natural resources with a history of industrial activity spanning back to the late 18th Century. In 1995 the enterprise had an employee strength of 1250 and among them, 430 were visually disabled. The company served an immediate regional market of 4.5 million people. The VOS enterprises faced a huge setback after the failure of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) which had hitherto been supporting it in marketing and raw material supply. After suffering

Friday, September 27, 2019

Administrative ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Administrative ethics - Essay Example Administrative Ethics The issues of protection of rights of patients pertinent to ensuring privacy and confidentiality have continued to pervade various health care institutions globally. In the United States, the â€Å"Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) addresses patient confidentiality and protects patients and their medical records, including current and past medical treatment and past medical records, in addition to billing records† (Finkelstein, 2007, 3). In this regard, after finding an issue pertinent to patient confidentiality, the essay aims to achieve the following objectives, to wit: (1) to describe the issue and its impact on the population it affects most, (2) to determine the arguments or facts used in the article to support the proposed solution, (3) to identify the ethical and legal issues reported for the administrative issue, (4) to explain the managerial responsibilities related to administrative ethical issues, and if none were stat ed, to state what should have been done, and finally, (5) to identify any proposed solutions. ... The nurse approached the patient in the perioperative waiting area before the surgery and asked what procedure she was undergoing† (1). As a consequence, the nurse’s action dealt with the utmost penalty of firing her from employment because of breach of confidentiality. The decision precludes other nurses and health care practitioners from repeating the same offense. The gravity of the issue was addressed by severing the employment from the health care institution to show other health care practitioners that there is no compromise to the issue. The issue’s impact on health care practitioners focused on giving primary importance and utmost care in adhering to the laws and regulations prescribed by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), specifically on the protection of patient privacy rights. Arguments Supporting the Solution As revealed by Mehnke (2010), there were standard operating procedures followed by the nurse’s superiors upon pr esentation of the issue for evaluation. As mentioned, â€Å"the nurse’s manager contacted human resources, the nursing administrator, and the legal department for advice and guidance on the best way to investigate the issue. The manager met with the nurse involved to discuss the confidentiality breach† (1). Legal and ethical issues were addressed with proper decorum and observance of protocols. Only after the proper channels were advised would a full investigation of the case be implemented. Preliminary actions institute corrective measures to the nurse for infractions committed. As averred by Mehnke (2010), â€Å"after careful consideration and in accordance with the corrective action policy, the nurse was

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Learning English as a Second language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Learning English as a Second language - Essay Example As a second language, English can be learnt in two basic methods. Firstly, the language can be learnt through acquisition. This method of learning English takes place through interaction with native speakers. The method also involves practicing and imitations whereby the learner tries to copy the native speakers (Blackshire 123). Studying through a classroom setting is the second method through which a person can learn English as a second language. Unfortunately, I had to go through this procedure in order to become an English speaker and I always wish I had taken the first method. This perception concerning learning English through a class room setting always appeared as an inappropriate idea until recently when I held a conversation with one of my former teachers. During the encounter, the teacher informed me that had I opted for the first method, I would be in a far worse condition than I am right now. From the conversation, I realized that studying how to speak a language is equ ally important to learning how to write in the same language. I also realized that through the classroom setting there were measures that I could use to measure my progress unlike in the acquisition method where it is difficult to measure progress. These measures also acted as a source of motivation and challenges through my entire studentship. After discussing the issue of learning English as a second language with my teacher, I realized a change in my perception towards the standard of spoken English (Rokeach 34).

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Sales Promotion Techniques Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sales Promotion Techniques - Research Paper Example â€Å"Sales promotion refers to those marketing activities other than personal selling, advertisement and publicity, which stimulate consumer purchasing and dealer effectiveness, such as displays, shows and expositions, demonstrations and various non-recurrent selling efforts not in the ordinary routine. Its purpose is to increase the desire of salesman, distributors and dealers to sell a certain brand and to make consumers more eager to buy that brand† (Sales Promotion Methods & Ideas, 2009) Even good quality products may fail in the market in the absence of good sales promotion activities. On the other hand even cheaper quality products may excel in the market with the help of quality sales promotion activities. The present market is filled with thousands of products manufactured by different business groups from different countries. It is difficult for the customers to decide which product is better or which one is worth for the money they spent. Only through effective prom otion activities an entrepreneur can convey the characteristics and worth of his product to the consumers. Various techniques must be developed and used in the market through sales promotion activities in order to convince the consumers. Sales promotion is important for introducing a new product into the market and also to sustain the movement of the existing products in the market. The major sales promotion techniques are Discounts and deals, Increasing Industry Visibility, Price-based consumer sales promotion, Attention-getting consumer sales promotion etc Discount deals are one of the prominent sales promotion strategies which are adopted by most of the manufacturers and service providers. It is not possible for a manufacturer to sustain the sales of a product in a constant manner because of the increased competition from the market. Thus same product may experience fluctuations in its sales during different seasons of an year. In order to sustain the

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Marriage Interview Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marriage Interview - Term Paper Example This paper will highlight the questions discussed in the interview and an analysis of the answers that the interviewee provided. From the interview, it became clear that the foundation of the couple’s relationship has largely determined the stability level of their marriage. Agnes related how she met the man whom she agreed to marry three years later. According to her, she liked the composure, honesty, and maturity that were evident in her husband when they met. However, she delved further into describing the attributes that led her into the conviction that she had found a worthwhile partner. The three years of dating helped her establish whether the two of them were compatible and it revealed the patience and resilience that they had in making their relationship work (Chitambira, & Chitambira, 2011). During this period, they discussed their goals and dreams in order to understand each other’s personal interests. Agnes mentioned the most important aspects that a couple should discuss during dating. In her opinion, setting out how a couple will manage their finances when they are married is a central issue. In addition, a couple should understand the extended family and set boundaries for their intrusion into their marriage. Agnes revealed that she only moved into her husband’s apartment after their marriage. Unlike many couples, Agnes mentioned that not much has surprised her in their marriage because she was well aware that marriage often brings the unexpected. With this prior knowledge, the two of them were ready to live up to their commitment. Although challenges were to come their way, they had built the three most important pillars of their relationship. She mentions these as honest and effective communication, understanding, and trust. Agnes mentioned that these pillars have existed from the period of dating and the presence of these gives her faith that they can triumph over anything that comes their way (Parrott, & Parrott, 2006). A gnes admitted that they have been numerous challenges in their marriage. Only three years into her marriage, her husband lost his job. At the time, the couple’s son was only two months old. As a wife and mother, she had to make sacrifices for the family to survive one of the critical economic times. Her resilience and commitment were under test during this time. The couple gave each other immense support during this time and considered other avenues of making a living instead of relying on employment. After careful consideration, the couple invested their savings into her business. The hardest time of their marriage life produced the best outcome as Agnes describes. Currently, the couple has streams of businesses and has a level of security in the future. According to her, the financial constraint that resulted would have compromised their marriage, but they decided to make something positive out of it (McDonald, and McDonald, 2008). The couple has had other minor challenges, but they have managed to stick to each other. The story of their success seems impossible in a world where divorces are becoming a common procedure. Agnes mentioned that a couple should enter into marriage open-minded. According to her, a couple should be ready for challenges because they are inevitable. In addition, she highlighted the fact that each partner should have readiness of making sacrifices

Monday, September 23, 2019

Semiotic analysis of how reality television affects our society Research Paper

Semiotic analysis of how reality television affects our society - Research Paper Example Like any other form of media exposure, the reality television also has certain effects on the society. However, the positive effects of these shows is limited to entertainment for viewers, benefits for the producers, higher returns for the sponsors and fame for the starring characters. Hence, this paper aims to analyze the impact of reality shows on the society and focuses more on the negative effects it has on people. Television exposure has a great impact on people’s perceptions and views. The impact of, reality television, is crucial as the reality shows portray the real life experiences of certain people. O’ Guinn and Shrum (1997) shed the light on this issue by asserting that people believe in what is being exposed on the television and perceive it to be true. Regardless of the over-representations and extreme exposure of changing attitudes, emotions and behaviours added to grab the attention of the viewers. This over-represented picture of reality, hence, is adopted by a large viewership. A number of studies have been conducted to affirm this claim that the whole society is affected by television exposure. An American individual spends approximately 4 hours in a day watching television (O’Guinn, Shrum & Wyer, 1998). The effects of reality Television are more severe and long lasting than other shows. The reason to this fact is the finding of research studies that people w ho watch TV are affected by the exposure in one way or the other. They often try to fit their own life and existing circumstances to the ones they watched on the TV. Reality shows, which repeatedly emphasize that the characters and the incidents are all real, affect people even more. There is, however, a camera effect on the behaviours of the characters starring in the reality television which is, most of the times, ignored by the viewer. To understand the possible effects of reality television on the society, let us consider an

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Nursing Theory Website Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Nursing Theory Website - Research Paper Example eferenced have provided links to nursing journals and nursing books that contain up to date information on nursing theories and which are valid resources that can be used in a research paper. There are an endless number of books and journals with nursing information about all the nursing theories which have been published. It is not possible to know the number of books and journals but they are many from different companies and researchers. Some of these journals and books require to be purchased in order to access the whole journal or book other than just abstracts and excerpts but there are others that are free. The currency of the journals and books also ranges from the most recent once published in even year 2012 to those published long time like in the 80s and 90s. The biggest hindrance is that the best and most recent journals are not available and accessible to everyone as they are for sale and not for hire limiting the number of readers. The theories provided in these websites have limited detailed information and only highlight the main points and arguments of the particular nursing theories. With such limited information, the theories are only good for nursing education and not any other form of nursing practice. In the nursing education, they are applicable to only provide mere guidance and awareness of the theory but further research in other websites, journals and books is needed if the information is for research paper. New students to nursing education can however benefit a lot from the knowledge of the specific nursing theories available and in which particular areas of nursing each theory is applicable to. In all these three nursing websites, the most discussed theory in a bit more detail and has many other resources such as journal websites and books attached to it is the Florence Nightingale nursing theory. The reason for paying more attention to this particular nursing theory may be because of the major influence Nightingale had on nursing

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Transmission of Sound Waves in Ocean Water Essay Example for Free

Transmission of Sound Waves in Ocean Water Essay Ocean acoustics is the study of the behavior of sound in the sea water. When underwater species and objects move and vibrate, they create sound-pressure waves which compress and decompress water molecules. These sound waves travel through the sea and radiates in all directions away from their source and thus forming ripples on the water surface. The three basic components of sound waves which explain the behavior of sounds are wavelength, frequency and amplitude. Frequency is the number of pressure waves that pass by a reference point per unit time (NOAA Ocean Explorer). Higher frequency means a higher pitched sound and vice versa. Wavelength is the distances between the two peaks of sound waves. It is a rule that longer wavelength means lower frequency. Lastly, amplitude is the height of the sound-pressure wave or it is the loudness of a sound (measured in decibels). If there are only small variations in amplitude (short pressure waves), the sound is said to be weak or quiet, and vice versa. Temperature, pressure and the degree of salinity also affect the speed of sound. The spread of sound waves in sea water can be directly affected by suspensions of particle matter that can scatter, absorb and reflect waves. This means that the more obstructions there are beneath the water, the more random sound waves can be. It has been proven that wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional (i. e. the longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency). When long wavelength sounds encountered few particles as they pass through the medium, they are not as subject to absorption, reflection or scattering. Therefore, low frequency sounds are able to travel farther without any significant loss of signal strength. The speed of sound in the deeper regions is influenced more by high pressure than any other factors. On the other hand, temperature is the factor that governs the speed of sound in shallower surfaces. In short, the greater the temperature of water the faster sound can travel and the greater the pressure, the slower the sound can travel. Works Cited Nieukirk, Sharon. â€Å"Understanding Ocean Acoustics. † 12 July 2005. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Explorer. 8 March 2009 http://oceanexplorer. noaa. gov/. Lerner, Lee. â€Å"Sound Transmission in the Ocean. † C. 2007. Water Encyclopedia. 8 March 2009 http://www. waterencyclopedia. com/.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Gastric Acid Resistant Capsules Are Enteric Biology Essay

Gastric Acid Resistant Capsules Are Enteric Biology Essay Generally, the active pharmaceutical ingredients are delivered using two-piece capsules, which are filled with the drug, capsulated and taken orally. These capsules are made with materials like gelatin, hypromellose etc. The capsules release the encapsulated drug in the stomach by dissolving in gastronomical juices. However, some of the drugs affects the metabolism of gastric juices and are irritants. In these kinds of drugs, post gastric delivery is expected being intact in the stomach. In order to achieve these several investigation lead to development of acid resistant capsules called enteric capsules. Enteric Capsules: The capsules which are designed for intestinal delivery by being intact in the stomach are called as enteric capsules and this property is called enteric property. To achieve the intestinal delivery the capsule must be strong enough to resist the acidic environment in the stomach. Apart from the reason that the capsules may effect the gastronomical metabolism, some drugs require past gastronomical delivery to treat some local diseases like ulcerative collitas, irritable bowel syndrome (Crotty and Jewel, 1992) and to absorb polypeptides in the intestine (Davis, 1990). The endogenous enzymes are less in the colon and the transit time is long which will favor the absorption of polypeptides (Davis, 1992). The capsule dissolution time cannot be determined exactly in the capsules which are released in the stomach as the residence time is highly irregular and depends on the several factors like the size of the fabricated capsule, fed or fasted state of the stomach etc (Wildey et al., 1992b). If the colon is the desirable and perfect place for absorption of therapeutic polypeptides, which are orally consumed then there is a compulsory for enteric capsules which can target the colon release and can withstand the acidic gastronomical juices and state of gastronomical duct (Hardy et al., 1987, Van Den Mooter et al., 1992, Rubin stein et al., 1992, Lloyd et al., 1994). For several decades these enteric properties are delivered to the capsules mainly by coating the hard gelatin capsules using acid resistant chemicals such as anionic polumethacryalates (copolymerasite of methacrylic acid and tither methul methacrylate or ethyly acrylate (Eudragit), cellulose based polymers such as cellulose acetate phthalate (Aquateric) or polyvinyl derivatives such as polyvinyl acetate phthalate (Coateric) ( Ewart T. Cole et al., 2001), hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose phthalate, sodium alginate stearic acid etc. These acidic polymers have very low permeability in their unionized state in low pH environments and when they reach high pH environments they ionize and resulting in increase of the permeability. As a result, the capsule erodes and releases the underlying drug. These kind pH variations can be seen in the stomach and intestine respectively. These enteric coatings showed a great advantage that it is independent of the encapsulated material. This advantage re sulted in the decrease in the extent of research to develop a formulation, which is enteric by nature itself irrespective of any enteric coating applied. Gelatin is the major polymer base for manufacturing capsules for many years. These enteric coatings are applied on the surface of these gelatin capsules. However, due to several considerations alternative materials like hypromellose are opted in some specific cases. Hypromellose has several advantages when compared to gelatin capsules regarding their response towards organic coatings, aqueous coatings, storage, structure etc. Hypromellose capsules over gelatin capsules: Gelatin and Hypromellose are used to fabricate capsules, which can dissolve in the gastric juices of the stomach and release the encapsulated material. Inorder to incorporate the enteric properties to these gelatin and hypromellose capsules different coating technologies are invented and acid resistant polymers are coated. From several years enteric coated hypromellose capsules are of very high importance in dietary supplement industry. Hypromellose is a vegetarian supplement to the gelatin capsules (Ogura et al., 1998). Hypromellose proved their efficiency when compared to that gelatin capsules when regulatory, manufacturing, religious and dietary issues are considered. Previous studies proved that the hypromellose is more capable in case of polymer adhesion. Gelatin capsules when coated with organic polymers they are very sensitive and embrittlement of the shell material is resulted (Murthy et al., 1986). The gelatin surface is very soft and adhesion of the coating material require some friction on the surface of the of the capsule body which is which is less in case of soft gelatin capsules. So enteric properties of these gelatin capsules are not up to the mark (Thoma and Bechtold, 1992). Secondary techniques like application of pre coat are required to coat these soft gelatin capsules. The interactions between the organic polymer and gelatin surface are controlled by applying a pre coat on the surface of the capsule. However, application of precoat is highly time consuming and costly process. Considering the ecological impact of organic coatings, aqueous coatings are preferred (Cunningham and FEgely, 2001; Wheatly et al., 1997).. These aqueous coatings make the gelatin capsules more sensitive because of aqueous solubility of gelatin. Hence the processing time is very long for aqueous coating of the gelatin capsules resulting in high fabrication costs. Hypromellose are advantageous in case of aqueous coatings when compared to gelatin capsules. For hypromello se capsule sealing of body and cap is required prior to coating to restrict the leakage of the encapsulated material through the merging part of the body and cap of the capsule. This sealing can be done manually using gelatin solution (Felton et al., 2002). Liquid encapsulation micro spraying technique can also be used for sealing the capsule. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of gelatin and hypromellose capsules, hypromellose can be effective to deliver enteric properties to the capsules. Development of formulations using hypromellose as the base polymer and enhancing with other acid resistant materials can yield better results. Enteric hypromellose capsules: The technology of enteric coating has undergone through several fundamental improvement in recent years due to their potential advantages and ease. Several promising technologies like sugar coating technique, film coating process using organic and aqueous solvents are designed. The process of application of enteric coating has several steps which involve lot of labor and time ultimately effecting the economics of fabrication. Apart from the coating process proper attention should be taken such that the coating materials is capable enough to adhere and coalesce on the substrate. The coating material must be able to loose moisture immediately so that the core penetration and dissolved coating material can be minimized (Els Mehuys et al.,2004). Aqueous coating cannot be applied to ingredients which are active towards moisture (Mehta, 1996). The coating techniques are effected by several factors such as spraying rate, spraying temperature, pressure, volume and dimensions of the coating equipment (Els Mehuys et al., 2004). Lack of proper attention towards these control variables results in non-uniform coating layer and upscaling. Many other techniques are developed to overcome these disadvantages of the coating process and reduce the process time. Obara et al., 1999 developed a dry coating process. This process involves spraying of dry enteric powder on the capsule followed by curing and drying. Pearnchob and Bodmeir (2003) developed another dry coating process in which they used ethylcellulose as the enteric coating material. Holroyd (2004) developed another process called Phoqus Process in which an electric field is created to induce partial positive and negative charges to the capsule and enteric material, thus resulting in adhesion due to electrostatic attraction between the compounds. Though several innovations are m ade in the field of enteric coating all the process require supply of energy in the form heat or electricity is required. Even though several promising innovations are made to overcome the defects of the coating process, still these coating process proved to be disadvantageous in large scale production. The main impacts of coating process during large-scale production involve brittle capsules, environmental pollution, safety, cost of the process, process time etc. This will induce extra cost in fabrication of capsules when manufactured in a bulk scale. A formulation designed which has enteric properties inherent can solve the extra cost and time due to enteric coating of the gelatin or hypromellose capsules. The previous studies showed that hypromellose shows some inherent enteric properties. Thus by enhancing these properties by using acid insoluble compounds like sodium alginate in the formulation itself can exhibit enteric properties. So additional coating can be prevented by optimsing these kind of formulations. Enteric formulations using hypromellose as base polymer: Certain formulations using hypromellose as base polymer are designed in which the HPMC acts as bulk film forming material. A gelling agent is added to the formulation like gellan gum such that it performs gelation action and help hypromellose to develop a solid structure and hold its structure firmly during moulding of the capsules. An acid insoluble tertiary polysaccharide (sodium alginate) is added to the formulation to induce and enhance the enteric characteristics to the formulation. Some pharmaceutical excipients such as lubricating agents (polyethylene glycol) , chelating agent (EDTA) and tonicity agent (Sodium Chloride) are added to the formulation. By considering all the above stated materials following formulations are designed: FORMULATION HPMC % W/W GELLAN GUM % W/W SODIUM ALGINATE % W/W NACL % W/W EDTA % W/W PEG % W/W 1 19 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 5 2 18 0.2 1 0.2 0.1 5 3 17 0.2 2 0.2 0.1 5 4 15 0.2 5 0.2 0.1 5 5 15 0.2 7.5 0.2 0.1 5 Impact of formulation and process variables on the drug release: Formulation variables: Polymer Base: Hypromellose is used as the polymer base material. There are several grades of HPMC that are commercially available. Generally different kinds of hypromellose is due to variation in the content of hydroxypropyl and methyl groups present in HPMC. In the present case rapidly hydrating grade hypromellose is used. The viscosity of the hypromellose depends upon the composition of hdroxypropyl group and methyl group. Improperly hydrated results in dose dumping as the gastric fluids can easily penetrate into the capsule (Dow pharmaceutical ecipients, 1986). The viscosity of the polymer effects the mouldability of the formulated polymer base into capsule. Hypromellose also decides the mechanical characteristics of the capsules. Hypromellose layers with high viscosity have a greater capability to withstand the diffusion of gastric fluids into the encapsulated material thus help in extended release of the drug (Nellore et al., 1998). Higher viscosity hypromellose will reduce the swelling prope rties of the capsule thus resolve the capsule separation problem. Hypromellose (C32H60O19) Gelling agent: Gelling agent like gellan gum is used in this formulation. Gellan gum is of very high importance in pharmaceutical industry in producing oral dosage forms like gels and capsules (Kubo W, Miyazaki S et al., 2003). Gellan gum shows effect on the release of the drug so it is used for controlled or sustained release (Alhaique F et al., 1995). Hypromellose in the presence of a secondary polysaccharide like gellan gum have the capability to forma strong structure and retain the structure during mouliding of capsule. The compounds containing aldehyde groups can combine with gelling agent like gellan gum to form cross links making the capsule insoluble (Digenis GA et al., 1994). Gellan gum is categorized based on the proportions of polysaccharide, the percent of o-acetyl substitution of polysaccharide and protein content. Gellan gum with high acyl condition has to selected for this formulation because gellan gum with high acyl content is capable of formation of soft, elastic and non brittle gels. On the other hand gellan gums with low acyl forms brittle and non elastic gels (Kelco Biopolymers, Gellan Gum for Pharmaceutical Applications rev. 10/99, 2004.). Gellan gum induces temperature dependent gelation. This gelation is caused due to series of activities in the order of formation of double helical junction zones and then gellan gum aggregation of these segments resulting in formation of three-dimensional structures by complexation and hydrogen bonding. The structure of deacetylated Gellan Gum The variation of amount of gellan gum in the formulation effects the gelating nature of the polymer base. The hypromellose and gellan gum has a biphasic nature. The percentage of gellan gum will result in phase change. Stabilizing agent: Sodium alginate is used as the stabilizing agent in these formulations. Sodium alginate acts as the tertiary polysaccharide. Sodium alginate imparts its acid insoluble properties to the hypromellose formulation thus making it enteric. Sodium alginate also acts as gelling agent. The amount of sodium alginate effects the gelation and acid solubility properties of the capsule. Sodium alginate Addition of plasticizer: Addition of plasticizer to the formulation decreased the water absorbing nature of the capsule. The major obstacle is the capsule separation due to the swelling of the capsule by absorbing water. Poly ethylene glycol (PEG) is used as the plasticizer to decrease the water absorbing nature of the capsule. Excess of PEG resulted in formation of brittle capsules and also effects the dissolution properties of the capsule. Addition of lubricating agent: Lubricating agent is added inorder to facilitate the dipping process. Addition of lubricating agent like PEG helped in easy removal of the capsule from the dipping pin. In absence of lubricating agent the capsules deformed while inverting from the dipping pin resulting in irregular shaped capsules. Addition of swelling agent: Addition of swelling agent is done inorder to achieve differential swelling between cap and body of the capsule to prevent capsule separation. Swelling agents are added in such a manner that swelling of body of the capsule is more when compared to that of cap. This will result in tightening of the capsule and can restrict the capsule separation. Process variables: Capsule size: Capsule size has a major effect on the release rate. For different capsule sizes with same aspect ratio and constant volume, the release rate decreases with increase in size of the capsule. This is due to the change in the surface area. The diffusion pathways are longer in longer capsules when compared with that of smaller ones. So the drug release with respect to time is much larger in smaller capsules when compared to longer ones (Siepman et al., 1999b) Capsule shape: The surface area of a capsule depends on the shape of the capsule. The capsule which have high surface area for a constant volume has potential exposure to the acidic environment in the stomach and the drug release rate is high. Capsules with near spherical shape have less surface area compared to other shape (Rekhi et al., 1999) These kinds of capsules are recommended for controlled release characteristics. Variation in the aspect ratio of the capsules can effect the drug release. By varying the aspect ratio of the hypromellose capsule the drug relase can be modified (Siepman et al., 1999b). Moulding temperature: Viscosity of the polymer base changes with temperature. At higher temperatures, the viscosity of the polymer base is less, so when the dipping pin is dipped in the polymer base at higher temperatures the thickness of the polymer attached to the pin is less due to the lower viscosity. So by altering the moulding temperature the thickness of the capsule can be controlled. Capsule Thickness: The generally assumption is that the encapsulated material release is through the capsule wall. So a thicker wall can control the release and slow the drug release. Thicker wall can also withstand drastic acidic condition in the stomach. Apart from the dissolution rate, the capsule thickness also effects the structure of the capsule. Dissolution of the capsule highly depends on the thickness of the capsule. Capsule thickness effects the swelling properties and mechanical properties of the capsules like strength, puncture force etc. The capsule thickness is controlled during the moulding of the capsules by proper attention to viscosity and temperature of the hypromellose polymer base. The dipping can be dipped twice or thrice according to the target thickness if required. Mechanism of drug release in hypromellose and gelatin capsules: The solubility of gelatin and hypromellose capsules in aqueous media is different due to difference in their permeability characteristics. This has a great effect on disintegration and drug release mechanism in both the materials (Nagata, 2002). The drug delivery is due to absorbance of water and hydration of the capsules by which the capsules dissolve and release the encapsulated contents. Gelatin dissolves in the fluids at body temperature. Further decrease of temperature ( Comparative studies of dissolution of hypromellose and gelatin capsules revealed that the dissolution of HPMC is independent of temperature but gelatin dissolution is highly dependent on temperature of solution. The release characteristics of HPMC showed that the drug release takes three times the time required for the drug release from gelatin capsules (Chiwele et al., 2000). Hypromellose capsules results in extended release of the drugs. Dissolution is only effected by first breakage of the capsule and start of release of the drug. Once the drug starts to release, the release does not depend on the capsule material. The dissolution studies proved that the HPMC capsules have longer lag time (Honkanen et al., 2001). The first rupture in case of HPMC takes long time but once the rupture takes place, the capsule disperses uniformly through exposing the drug completely to dissolution media. Gelatin capsules splits near the ends and dissolution takes place through the ends of the capsule s for a long time (Podczeck and Jones, 2002). The dissolution characteristics of gelatin capsules are almost same for all the capsules as the sources for gelatin is almost same from all the providers. In case of HPMC, each provider has its own formulations patented and specific characteristics are delivered for their gelling systems. The diffusion of gases through HPMC capsules is more when compared to gelatin capsules. The gas diffusion occurs through the gap between body and cap of the capsule, the sealing between cap and body of the capsule is weak in HPMC capsules when compared to that of gelatin capsules.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Ahab and Unas Incestuous Relationship in Naslunds Novel, Ahabs Wife :: Naslund Ahabs Wife Essays

Ahab and Una's Incestuous Relationship in Naslund's Novel, Ahab's Wife The incestuous nature of story telling which is featured in Ahab's wife is reminiscent of the Anne Sexton's poem, Briar Rose. Una is in a constant search for sustenance. Her mind as cannot exist without the hope of learning and engulfing knowledge. As a child, it was the occupation of her father to appease her insatiable appetite. This was done with stories and the boundless possibilities she was allowed to find within the recesses of her mind. As time progresses and Una grew, her father started to question the conclusions and presumptions that these internal scavenger hunts were building within her. Una could never understand why Ulysses, her father, did not take out his aggression on her mother, who was also a nonbeliever. "She remained unconverted. Why did his wrath not fall upon her? "(Naslund 21). But as his daughter Ulysses was looking for something which he could never truly hope to find in his wife. Just as the king in the Briar Rose Ulysses would have "force every male in the court/to scour his tongue with Bab-o/ lest they poison the air she dwelt in/ thus she dwelt in his odor./" ( Sexton he wanted to have her mind in his hands for his molding. He was looking for reflective surface from which he could evaluate his story, or at lest the story which he has come to tell himself. This story consisted of many parts all of which would then be combined to create his identity and the life he had built for himself. By not being able to 'convert' Una, there by making her believe his story as true, Ulysses has to admit to failure. Not only does she prove his story incorrect, but s he also reflects the entire make-up and construction of it as being flawed. This flaw becomes magnified by Una's intellect. By having the power to continually question what her father hold as infallible she destroys the constructed image of the man he though he was. Children are to be impressionable and easily persuaded. As a father Ulysses want to share a special bond with his daughter as she mirrors his believes through her everyday life and thinking. As someone who is indifferent to his teachings and ideology he feels that he has failed as a father. Even if Una had disagreed with his teachings, it would be preferable to enticing no emotion.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

how to do things right :: essays research papers

I plan to compare Lars Eighner’s essay â€Å"On Dumpster Diving† and Daniel Orozco’s short story â€Å"Orientation†. Eighners writes his essay after being homeless and experiencing poverty due to a loss job. He gives instructions on how to be an ingenious Dumpster scavenger, during the everyday life as a homeless person. On the other hand, Orozco writes a short story about going through a very detailed orientation on the first day at a new office setting job. Although both of the stories are completely different, one about a homeless man and his dog and his means of surviving , and the other describing a cooperate job, both works compare by: providing specific instruction on how to carry out their responsibilities proficiently, they are both the go-to people in the writing , and they both exhibit the same type of attitude toward work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One way Eighner’s essay and Orozco’s short story compare is the use of precise instructions that pertain to successfully complete a specific task. Eighner gives great detail for the way one would scavenge through a Dumpster in a proficient manner. As one could imagine, there are obviously things that should not be used or eaten that could be found in a garbage can. He shows incredible knowledge about what types of food appear and what type of condition they are in, whose Dumpsters to ransack through, what is safe to eat and what type of things one could keep from scavenging during a regular day. He also displays knowledge on how to react when people are around and the type of behavior a homeless person should display in public. In comparison to Eighner, Orozco gives direct instructions to the implied reader as to what one should do during their days work within an â€Å"office environment†. He presents the information in such a meticulous way, he doesn’t leave one room to have any questions. Not only does he tell them what to do, he tells them how to manage their time wisely, and how to keep oneself out of trouble. He gives a considerable amount of information about the lives of those who work in the cubicles and who one should become comfortable with and who to stay away from. Seeing as though they are both giving instructions on how to skillfully complete a task, they are both seen as highly respected by others around them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another way the two works compare is they are both experts at what they are doing.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Style: Strunk & White vs. Williams :: Comapre Contrast Comparison Essays

Style: Strunk & White vs. Williams Writing correctly is something that many people find hard to do! I know this, because I use to feel the same way. I have had many English classes in my time, where teachers would sit next to me, and correct my errors sentence by sentence as I went along. All the while asking me if I understood what why what I did was wrong. I remember saying that I understood, but I really didn't. That was something that I didn't like at the time, but I am now very appreciative of the fact that someone was there. With today's kids, most teachers don't take that needed time and help them to get on track with their writing. Because of this, I find that both Strunk and White, The Elements of Style, and Williams, Style: Toward Clarity and Grace to be very helpful. After reading them, I know that they can both be used as "handy" reference tools for today's writers. The one thing that stuck out in my mind about both of these books is that they both agree that there are rules. The difference between them is that Williams explains in his version of the rules in a much more through manner; he provides detailed examples. Whereas Strunk and White, their book is much shorter. The examples that they use are pretty straight forward, and the book in general is easy to follow. After I was done reading both of these books, I was immediately ready to argue that the better of the two was The Elements of Style by Strunk and white. My feeling now is that Williams is the better of the two. A factor that I took into consideration was the tone and layout of both books. Strunk and white has a better layout, but the tone is directed to a certain type of reader. The profile of the reader that would fit The Elements of Style is an upper class, educated, Caucasian man. In Williams, the layout is something that can be tweaked, but the tone is for everyone. At first, I was not looking forward to reading either of these books; in the end I am glad that I did. I know that I have problems, when it comes to my own writing and I liked that both of these books wrote about things that I was able to relate to.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line based in the Doral suburb of Miami, Florida (Carnival Cruise Lines, n. d. ). The company offers vacations that appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Carnival was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison. The cruise line company became known as the world’s most popular cruise line and in 1987 it made an initial public offering of 20 percent of its common stock. The public offering provided the company with an influx of capital that allowed the company to begin expanding through acquisitions.The company formed Carnival Corporation & plc in 1994 and Carnival Cruise Lines became its flagship brand (Mission & History, 2010). Carnival Corporation has acquired representation in virtually every market segment of the cruise industry. In April 2003, agreements were finalized to combine Carnival Corporation with P&O Princess Cruises plc, creating the world’s first global cruise operator. Carni val Corporation & plc encompass 12 highly recognizable brands and the company became one of the largest and most profitable leisure travel companies in the world.The company is now one of the 11 individual worldwide cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc. The corporation operates 97 ships and Carnival Cruise Lines is its largest and leading brand in North America, based on passengers carried under the Carnival Corporation. Carnival is also the corporation’s most profitable cruise line in the world. The cruise line has 22 ships in operation and two future ships in development. Carnival has 3,800 shore side and 33,500 shipboard employees. *Carnival pioneered the concept of shorter, less expensive cruises.Howard Frank, the chief operating officer of Carnival Cruise Lines, says their ships are called the fun ships because unlike its competitors, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival offers a wide range of activities on boar d instead of just delicious cuisine (Beesley, 2010). Frank said their innovative new ships feature popular amenities that meet the increasingly sophisticated desires of all guests yet provide a fun and exciting environment for all ages. Carnival hit record-breaking business so far this year.The bookings for the company were the highest they have ever been because of its new booking system. The earlier in advance a passenger’s cruise is booked the more economical the price. A cruise can cost as low as $175-$200 per person in advance. The cruise line also offers last minute bookings at discount prices. Carnival can be cheaper than airfare without the fear of terrorist attacks, excessive baggage fees, delays and extreme boarding procedures or hassles. In 2009, the corporation revenued $13. 2 billion with a net income of $1. billion, and are projected to make their highest profit ever this year. The company carries a record of 3. 9 million passengers and the up-to-date record is the most in the cruise industry. *Executive control of Carnival Cruise Lines is provided by the North American division of Carnival Corporation in Doral, Florida. Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, the cruise line, function as a single economic entity. They also function through contractual agreements between separate legal entities (Investor Relations, 2010). Carnival Corporation common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.Carnival plc is traded on the London Stock Exchange and has an ADS on the New York Stock Exchange. Carnival is the only company in the world to be included in both the STP 500 index in the US and the FTSE 100 index in the UK. Carnival Cruise Lines has a hybrid structure divided under Carnival North America, Carnival Australia and Carnival UK. The hybrid structure is under Carnival Cruise Lines which is only one of the brands under Carnival Corporation & plc. The corporation doesn’t have a long hierarchy of authority instead it has a few layer s of corporate officers and board of directors (Officers, 2010).There are six corporate officers that consist of executive, operating and financial officers, as well as vice presidents of shared services for the multiple brands, general counsel and controller for the corporation. The cruise line only has one executive officer. Gerald R. Cahill is Carnival Cruise Lines’ only president and chief executive officer except for the executives over the Australia and UK divisions. Majority of the company’s employees are shipboard. There is a one-to-three ratio of staff to passenger on every carnival ship, ensuring excellent customer service.Carnival has a horizontal communication amongst the six corporate officers and board of directors. Corporate governance extends from the ship, through the operating lines and senior corporate management to the board of directors. *Carnival is a profitable company and is now the leader in the contemporary cruise sector. The line has launched a $250 million enhancement program on its eight fantasy-class ships. The enhancement will include installation of a water park on board, an adult-only retreat, tropical-themed mid-ship pool area, and other innovative features.Carnival’s former image was a party ship reputation for younger travelers. The cruise line is now known as large, modern and extremely elegant, yet still a profitable and fun line. Historically, Carnival Corporation’s growth has been driven by the expansion of their portfolio of core brands through an aggressive ship building program. Now the brand, Carnival Cruise Lines, competes globally because they invest time, money and effort into product development and wide varieties of amenities on board. The company enhances the excursions offered in port destinations, as well as programs, activities and attractions on the ship.Carnival children programs provide the same level of variety, fun and attraction for their age, as the amenities available to a dults. No matter the age, lifestyle or budget the goal is consistent. The cruise line’s goal is to provide everyone with a safe and healthy place to live, work and have fun. Carnival strives to provide an innovative and exceptional vacation experience on land and or at sea (Phillips, 2009). *Last week I sailed on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship to Nassau, Bahamas for a four days and three nights weekend cruise.The Cruise was inexpensive to book for a typical vacation. We were a party of four people and we each only paid around $200 a person in advance. If we would have booked the vacation at the last minute it could have cost each person $300-$400, which is still inexpensive for an all-inclusive cruise. At first you don’t understand how the cruise line makes a profit because almost everything is free except alcohol, soda and excursions. Unlimited food all day and night, shows, the gym, and activities are free. It didn’t take long to realize the company’s str ategy on making money.Once Carnival booked the customer at a low price, they up sell the customer with backend products and services that passengers feel are definitely worth spending money on during a vacation. There were additional products and services like an onboard casino, excursions, internet services, and photographers everywhere ready to take memorable pictures to sell. As well as, massages facials, hair treatment, wholesale liquor prices and onboard shops and stores. Carnival provided relaxing services and duty or tax free products.The cruise made lots of money and the marketing cost went down because their exceptional services built loyal customers. The company probably spends more money capturing a customer, maybe even lost money initially on the booking transaction because of the specials and low rates but created lifetime customers in the end. The more products and services a company can offer or sell to a customer, the more valuable they become and the more you can sp end on acquiring a customer. Wants you acquire a customer and satisfy their needs, you can gain more from a buying impulse that is pleased and devoted to the company and its brands.

Ashley Bracero september Essay

America a land of hope and prosperity, one might even go as far as saying ,†The land of Dreams†. People from all over the world migrate to our great country for the luxurious rights we offer to all our people. Some of those rights including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, and The right to privacy. But what if we told everyone one who entered the united states that there was a catch ? That at any moment if the goverment felt threatened enough, they could twist those rights to there benefit ? Do you think people would still view America as a getaway or more like a false advertisement ? Now we will try and dicuss one topic that has been raising a huge controversy in America today, security vs privacy. Ever since it has been revealed that the goverment has been hacking into american citizens private information for ,†Security Meaures,† America has been going into a spiral of doubt. Both parties are making compelling arguments regarding their reasoning and perspective on the matter of security vs privacy. The huge question being raised,†Is security actually more Important than privacy ? The goverment may tell you yes; that the precautions they are taking are only minor set backs necesary for the continuation of a strong society. In my opinion this is just yet another fib told to keep the goverment in control of what has been spiraling in the other direction since 9/11. Fear of Terrorism has fueled many changes in The United States , some proving better than others. For example, The TSA has been given massive amounts of power to protect America and has been rediculed for being unconstitutional, too expensive, and ineffective, yet it remains. Little by little it seems that the goverments fear of terrorism is beginning to drive them to any measures. Threatening the privacy of their own citizens to protect national security. The worst part is some of these under cover plans are so top secret it often takes leaks to get the truth on how much of our privacy is actually being threatened. Realistically you can not have a hunderd percent of privacy along with a hunderd percent of security, so, as an American citizen i chose privacy. I believe security should come as a choice, not to say it does not withold a huge place in society, because realistically without security the world would rapidally fall into choas. Privacy is a natural right more of an obligation that should always be presented to us no matter what the circumstance. America’s power has always laid in our rights and freedoms. It is America’s individualism and personal freedom that our enemies often hate the most. So, I believe if we change our great society to make us less free we are rolling around in their hands as pawns . I do not believe that we should neglect our liberties for one victory, for the chance that it might deminish the reputation that makes our society great. Forcing important networks like facebook, yahoo, and many more to relinquish private information is a huge disrespect to all citizens. Every citizen has the right to privacy, even the idea of privacy originated from the fourth amendment. Ironically, though the goverment seems to dismiss that fact for reasonings they seem only intitled to debate on. For a country that has comforted citizens on the idea that we are a democracy, the goverment begins to show the public holes in their stories and true intentions. Slowly the public is being to sway a different direction since it was revealed the goverment was hacking into americans private information. In 2010 a Pew research survey was held and showed that 32 percent of people believed that the goverments anti-terrorism policies have gone to far in restricting the average persons civil liberities. That means 66 percent of people found it vaild and implaced for a reasonable cause. In 2011 the same survey was conducted by the same organization and found that 53 percent now found that it has gone too far, thats more than half the people surveyed in 2010 . So, with that piece of information we see that people arent just doubting the goverment, they are begining to re-evaulate their own way of thinking. I believe if the goverment continues to deny us our full privleged right to privacy, we will crumble as a nation and they will being to lose not only our trust but our respect. No matter how much our society improves and develops there will always be a threat. So, if they begin to strip away our rights now , how long will it take before we lose more ? Don’t just take my word for it , here are some people who co-exist with my idea that privacy holds more substance and reasoning than security. Jessica from Debate.org says, † Now the reason for why i feel privacy is more important, is as simple as, If i owned a home of 5 acres and bought that land. A home because i wanted to feel secluded. This allows for me to walk around my home naked if i would like without a curtain down, or go swimming in my pool naked. If i knew i was being watched 24/7 like many famous people it would make me go insane, and i would not be able to deal with it.† Also, fliex jimenez, 17 says,† Security is always going to be there no matter how much we have of it, but, once you take away someones privacy you cant get it back. Its kind of like respect when you cross that line you just cant re-write that wrong.† In conclusion, privacy is a valuable thing to many citizens. lately the right we use to have is being to stripped away from us layer by layer. Many people are debating wether security holds more value than privacy but when it comes to statistcs it seems that is not the case. Like Benjamin Franklin said,† They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserves neither liberty or safety.† So as a country we continue to try and fight this idea of selling moral rights for temporary safety promised by the goverment. So, like Benjamin Franklin said we must remember to hold on to important things such as our privacy and not sell it for something that has unpredicatable outcomes and strive for a greater stronger country were all people are respected.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Public Pension Replacement Rates

A social security is a program funded through the taxation of individuals pay. The taxes are deposited into various trust funds depending on the contract. Social security can not sustain all the promised benefits in future if it entirely relies on the current tax rates. This therefore implies that reforms are indispensible. This is due to the calamities that may follow the raising of taxes or a cut on benefits. Replacement income for prior earningsIncome replacement is a pledge by the employer to continue paying an employee’s salary for a given period of time incase he becomes disabled or till the employee becomes eligible to coverage from the social security. The employee in this case is faced with the peril of the employer not honoring the pledge whereas in the agreement the employer is saved the expenses that cold be incurred through the purchase of insurance policies (FirstEnergy Corp, 2010). The salary coverage goes on for a few months but the limit is six months.Causes o f Variance-Between Us and Greece Replacement Income Greece operates various schemes that have a rate of 105% on its gross replacement and 115%on its net replacement. The schemes in operations constitute of main and auxiliary social security programs. The different professions operate varying schemes and the biggest is the Insurance Institute (IKA). Most of the schemes in operation in Greece are absent in the USA. Greece adapted the euro as a national currency in 2001 as its national currency.Due to this, Greece was at liberty to borrow money at a lower interest rate. This money was also made available to its citizens and corporations, whom they borrowed at very low interest rates. The money obtained by the Greek government was use to repay debts and finance its budget. This expenditure made it possible to have a high supply of money in the economy. The US and Greece differ in terms on how their political institution are run. This is in terms of electoral levels and the government.In the US there is the issue of the majority rules while in Greece there is proportional representation. This therefore means that the people involved in making decisions do vary both in number and power. This has an impact on how the income replacement is structured and the guidelines in operations. The structure, size and redistribution of US and Greece differ greatly. Role of Greece’s Public Pension Replacement Rates on Its Debt Burden Currently Greece is being faced with a debt crisis (IMF, 2002).It is understood that very high amounts of debts were accumulated by the Greek government before the crisis struck of liquidity in the capital market. In the recent past these capital markets have become more illiquid thus making Greece to be faced with the possibility of defaulting (FirstEnergy Corp, 2010)). In responding to this problem, the Greece prime minister has emphasized repeatedly on the importance of long term reforms on the structure of Greece economy. Among these refor ms is the reform on the pension scheme.The pension scheme in operation in Greece is one of the most generous schemes in known in Europe. Evasion of contribution to the social security program is a rampant thing and the government has promised to take tremendous actions against the evaders. This will ensure that the contribution rises thus providing the government with money at its disposal to pay some of the debts it owes. The government is also contemplating on the issue of increasing the retirement age of persons from the age of 61years to 63 years.Opposing some of the mode used to calculate the pension scheme in application of five years of worked by some civil service schemes, the calculations will entirely rely on a lifetime. This will in return provide some cash to be used in offsetting debts owed by the government. A crack down on the social security programs and carrying out reforms will prevent misappropriation of funds by corrupt officials (IMF, 2002). References FirstEner gy Corp (2010). Declares Unchanged Common Stock Dividend. Mergers & Acquisitions Business pg. 271. IMF. (2002). Greece, selected issues. International Monetary Fund. 58

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Gambling addiction’s effect on family Essay

Gambling is a distraction for most people, something to look forward to on a vacation or the occasional trip to the racetrack. However, there are others who can’t control their interest in gambling. Instead of doing it on an occasional basis, it becomes an everyday activity and a cruel addiction. Individuals who become addicted to gambling often get overwhelmed by the activity and allow it to become the dominant thing in their lives at the expense of themselves and their family. Addiction Addicted gamblers get into trouble when they start chasing their losses. A gambler may go to the casino or go online to gamble with a fixed amount of money. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the increased access to gambling throughout the United States the problem of pathlological gambling is likely to increase in the future. Sponsored Links Pedialyte ® For Children When it Comes to Rehydration, Other Household Beverages Can’t Compare. www. Pedialyte. com Function The gambler doesn’t want to lose, but when those losses occur, he doesn’t want others to know about it. He wants to hide his losses because he doesn’t want to disappoint others and he doesn’t want to face the consequences of what is happening. So when an addicted gambler is losing, he is hurting his family by losing money that cannot afford to be lost and he is hurting is family even more by lying to them. According to a report by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, there are 2. 5 million pathological gamblers in the United States and another 3 million problem gamblers. Impact In many cases, the addicted gambler’s family doesn’t find out about the problem until many months or years have gone by. The gambler may manipulate the family’s money for a while to make it look like all the funds are in tact. However, after a given period, that won’t be possible because the money will be gone. The gambler’s spouse or significant other may discover the shortfall in a routine examination of the accounts or the gambler may admit the problem when the guilt becomes overwhelming. Either way, trust has been destroyed in the relationship. Treatment Preventing a gambler from gambling is difficult, but if family members know about the problem and really want to help, they can practice tough love in order to prevent the gambler from doing more damage to himself and to the family. A support group like Gamblers Anonymous can also help. GA, modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, uses 12 steps to increase self-awareness and identify character defects that can help the individual arrest his gambling problem. However, the compulsive gambler cannot be â€Å"cured. † Identification The American Academy of Family Physicians has identified some of the behaviors associated with pathological gambling, which can help family members identify if a family member has a gambling problem. These behaviors include preoccupation with gambling; repeated failed efforts to control gambling; gambles to escape problems; lies to family members, therapists and others to conceal gambling losses and relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Finance Project Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Finance Project - Case Study Example The PPP on the other hand stipulates that identical products should sell at a common price when the conversion is done in the same currency. Changes in the prices in local currency due to inflation should be counteracted with an adjustment in the exchange rate to level the relative prices (Sercu, 2009). In the above case, Mr. Bozarth should use the Interest Rate Parity Theorem as follows: b) The board can decide to either invoice in home currency only, that is, undertaking only those transactions denominated in the home currency, or engaging in transactions denominated in stable foreign currencies such as the Dollar and Sterling Pound. They may also use of leads or lags. Use of advance payments or delayed payments. The company will benefit from expected exchange rate fluctuations by properly timing of its payments and receipts (Madura). The use of natural hedge by considering opening a foreign currency account to eliminate the risk of exchange movements and provide a suitable option if a client insists on billing in their currency. Forward Exchange Contract; The company can enter into an agreement with a bank to buy or sell a given amount of foreign currency at a specified date and rate. Money market Hedge can also be used where the company establishing a foreign currency obligation or asset by investing or borrowing in that foreign currency to match an existing liability or asset respectively in that currency (Madura,2011). Use of futures. the currency futures are bought or sold and losses arising due to foreign currency fluctuations on the actual transaction is matched by gain or loss in the future transaction. Under futures contracts, the parties come to an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a given fixed rate called the delivery price at a given date. The exchange rate might fluctuate either positively or adversely during this period to the date of payment but the pre-agreed rate will be used in

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Creation of a paper on how you would research a business sector and Assignment

Creation of a paper on how you would research a business sector and how you would structure a project report - Assignment Example ournemouth, Solar Simple Ltd in Worcester, Rain Wind Sun in Swindon, Green and Co Renewables in Rushden, Solar Power UK Ltd in Braintree, Impact Renewables in Leeds and numerous others scattered all over the United Kingdom’s geography. (UK Renewable Energy Companies, 2012). These companies provide energy solutions to replace conventional energy forms, solar , nuclear and wind energy being a popular choices due to convenience. The Government has also taken an active interest in this sector due to gravity of the environmental threats currently facing the planet and thus the Government has committed itself to help businesses in this sector develop successfully. Their goal for 2020 is to achieve 15% of their total energy from renewable resources. Another reason why the Government is especially interested in the development of this sector is because it has generated great interest from foreign investors. In additional to the investment that this will bring into the UK, it will create a multitude of job opportunities. The UK however needs to improve its infrastructure to be able to deal with and reap the benefits of this investment. (The UK Renewable Energy Sectors, 2012). Research has shown that the UK will be able to reduce almost $17 billion of its per annum energy costs if it sticks to its renewable energy plan. Soon the Government will introduce a bill that will detail the fine print of this energy saving plan. (Hussain, 2012). It becomes quite clear that due to the immense foreign investment and jobs this sector is generating, it has a large scope in the business world. The size of the sector is also expected to grow into the foreseeable future as demand for alternative energy forms increase in the face of depleting resources of conventional energy forms and a growing awareness of the damage they have caused to the earth and its environment and how usage of clean, renewable energy is better for the planet and its people. Carbon emissions are expected to

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Comment Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comment Paper - Essay Example guns can be acquired by the people may even require a constitutional amendment that perhaps takes away the right or modifies it in a manner which makes it essentially impossible for the layperson to own a gun. However, constitutional amendments have been used quite infrequently by the government since changing the constitution is not something any government would undertake as a light task. As discussed by Gavrilovic (2008), even the greatest supporters of gun control i.e. the Democratic Party have often balked at the idea of changing the constitutional right to bear arms. This constitutional right granted by the second amendment was upheld by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008. What can be changed are the laws concerning guns which can help put limits on the number of guns a person can have and the requirements they must meet before they can buy a gun. While we already have in place requirements created by The Gun Control Act of 1968 and others such as background checks, felony and conviction checks we might even add psychological profiling to the process by which guns would not be sold to anyone who is likely to be a homicidal maniac. Of course, gun control itself is an issue which can be debated since individuals who want guns may acquire them illegally if they have to, particularly when it comes to the criminal element in a given society. To bring about changes to the law itself, pressure groups, think tanks and social organizations such as the Brady Campaign, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and the Joyce Foundation which focus on the issues of violence, crime, gun control and related issues need to be recruited (Marks, 2007). These can provide the assistance needed by a local community or a group that seeks to have gun control in society. The assistance can come in the form of raising awareness, setting an agenda for debate or even supporting candidates who plan to establish gun control once they are in power. The best way to support

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Global Financial Management & Summary slp Assignment

Global Financial Management & Summary slp - Assignment Example Again monetary policy of a central bank try to control the fluctuation of currency value and future prediction of central bank affects this factor. Balance of payment in this country also fluctuate the domestic currency and affects the demand and supply of foreign currencies as well as the exchange rate. Foreign investors who want to invest U.S. (which has a strong dollar market) have to pay more than their own domestic currency and hence investors are not encouraged to invest their money in US economy (Anbarasu, 2010). In United States banking activities are regulated by both the state government and the federal government. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase these are the five major largest banks which hold 56 % position in the US economy. The banking system and economic condition in US are now in a complex situation. Fluctuation in currency is another important reason to discourage the investors for investing money in this economy. So this can be said that investing in banks of US is not a safe procedure at least in the present days. Federal government does not take any kind of responsibilities to save and protect the interests of investors and lenders at the time of financial crisis and their financial decisions also may affect the interest of related parties. US has faced financial crisis in the financial year 2007-08. It was the worst financial crisis after the great depression of 1930. The prices of stock was declined in the US stock market and US economy has faced a large amount of bad loans and lost more than $ 1 trillion toxic assets. This is observed that business owners are facing difficulties for getting loan from the financial institutions in US. A business can seek foreign investment if the interest rate and value of dollar will be higher. In such case investor can get higher amount

Monday, September 9, 2019

Tiananmen Square Massacre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tiananmen Square Massacre - Essay Example On April 15 of 1989, Hu Yaobang, former Communist party chief and a leading reformist, died of a heart attack. He was a popular figure among anti-communist citizens and his death was a catalyst for the protests leading up to and culminating in the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Mourners begin to gather in Tiananmen Square to express their sadness and protest the slow pace of reform in China. (History.com, 2009) In the following days, numbers of protester in Beijing grow into thousands, and demonstrations begin appearing in cities and universities nationwide. Students and workers protest for greater freedom and democracy and an end to what they called dictatorship. Protesters complain about inflation, salaries, and housing issues. Tens of thousands of students gather outside the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square on April 22nd as Hu Yaobang’s memorial service is held in spite of the city government's previous warning that they would risk severe punishment.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

MKT DB1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MKT DB1 - Essay Example One of the functions of the marketers drawn from these departments is to help customers and potential customers know about the product. This paper will discuss the role of a marketer in light of helping customers and potential customers know about the product. Helping customers is one of the major roles of a marketer in today’s business. In this regard, a marketer ensures that the existing and potential customers of the organization understand the product they are buying by demonstrating to them why they need to buy the product. It starts by identifying the needs of these customers and developing a marketing strategy that is most suitable in meeting the needs and wants of these customers. To be able to meet the needs of these customers, a marketer must come up with an appropriate marketing mix. This entails developing products to satisfy their needs, charge the right price, makes goods available at the right place and use promotion as a means of making known the existence of the products. For instance, the marketer must ensure that the company’s products meet the needs of the customers. This implies that the marketer must ensure that the product offered to the customers is of the right quality, quantity and branding as this will make customers identify with the product and the business easily (Pride and Ferrell, 2006). Promotion is another element of the marketing mix that marketers may use to create an awareness of the company’s products to its customers. For customers who can be reached directly through face to face communication, it will be very advisable that the marketer does this as this gives an opportunity to explain to the customers every aspect of the company’s product, location of the company and the reasons why they should purchase the products(Pride and Ferrell, 2006). Branding is also a marketing tool use in marketing products. This is because branding creates a distinctive image and

Saturday, September 7, 2019

U.S. energy policy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

U.S. energy policy - Research Paper Example According to Bazerman, climatic changes and diminishing energy resources became a concern and various government offices were supposed to give a detailed explanation which was later termed as â€Å"a predictable surprise, or a failure to act in time.† This explanation is what formed the need for government to have control on future occurrences. In addition, other needs for energy and climatic control developed over the years. To begin with, climate change characterized by long warm periods necessitated implementation of Energy Policy in order to contain the situation. Bazerman notes that scientists and politicians had to come up with solutions to address the climatic changes and â€Å"other energy issues including oil, transportation, and electricity policies† (1). These were the initial concerns when the technological advancements were few and human population was little. Another reason for formulation of U.S Energy Policy was need for energy independence. Grossman (1) acknowledges the U.S government effort under the tenure of President Carter, whereby there was increased government funding to stimulate new technologies for alternative energy. In addition, the country also wanted to reduce the over dependence on fossil fuels such as cove reasons coal and oil whose amounts diminish with time. In addition to the above, other reasons include formation of sustainable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, creation of jobs, reduction of air pollution and energy cost (ACEE E 1). Many benefits are accrued from efficient energy sources and can be spread in various sectors of the economy and even at personal level. For example, efficient energy systems promote investments, which in turn provide employment opportunities to the citizens. For actualization of the above objectives, the government had to setup various institutions to oversee the implementation of various legislations passed through Acts of parliament. To

Descartes on God Essay Example for Free

Descartes on God Essay Rene Descartes is a famous French philosopher and is considered as the â€Å"Father of Rationalism. † The aim of his philosophy was to arrive in a solid foundation for knowledge. In order to arrive in this, he used a method called the Methodic Doubt wherein he doubted the senses, mathematics, and even the existence of god. It was only until he arrived with a solid entity called â€Å"the cogito† was Descartes able to discover the center of his existence. Upon finding this center, he was able to use this entity as a means into explaining the existence of the things he previously doubted. In regards to proving the existence of god, we need to tackle first why Descartes needed to doubt the existence of god. This was a very important step in his philosophy because the theories in his philosophy would have a sounder foundation if he was going to use them to explain the existence of God. As what was stated above, Descartes used the Methodic Doubt in order to arrive with the cogito and say his phrase â€Å"cogito ergo sum† or I think therefore I am. This cogito exists in a metaphysical plane because Descartes believed that everything that existed in the physical world were not real. The reasons why he had to doubt the physical world include the fact that the senses deceive us. Examples of these are a pencil which gives the illusion of bending after placing it in a glass of water. Others include dreams which a person would consider to be so real until they wake up in bed. And finally, everything in this world is subject to change which he presented after burning a piece of wax and then asking if the residue of the wax is still considered as wax. After doubting the senses, he soon went to doubt the validity of the physical world. In order to do this, he asserted that there is a malevolent demon that would deceive us into believing that what we perceive is real. Now that he was able to discard god as the foundation of true knowledge, we now shifts his focus to the cogito. However, being left with the cogito could lead to solipsism, a view wherein a person believes that only the individual exists, since everything existed except the cogito. So Descartes needed to prove the existence of God in order to validate the existence of the physical world and free his philosophy from the perils of solipsism. Descartes gave some arguments that led to his proofs of the existence of god. His first proof dealt with the nature of ideas. He classified different kinds of ideas such as those that are innate in a person and those that were received through experience. Being rationalists, he considered ideas cause by the experience doubtful since they do arise from the senses, which he discarded as the means for a clear and distinct idea. So, he shifted his focus to innate ideas, or ideas that have been with a person since birth, and placed the idea of god under this classification. Now, Descartes asked from where these innate ideas came. It cannot be from nothingness since something cannot spring out of nothing. In addition, a perfect idea like that of god cannot come from a less perfect being and so he concluded that there was a first cause that placed the idea of a supreme being in my mind. This argument of Descartes can be compared with that of Saint Augustine’s first cause. However, the difference here is that the arguments of Saint Augustine dealt with motion and change within the physical world. Descartes arguments on the other had, tackle solely with ides and from where they came from. In addition to the argument of a first mover, Descartes was able to prove the existence of god through his own mortality. He asked himself how a person could think of an infinite being, such as god, if there is nothing to compare this form of existence with anything. It is from his own finite existence that he is able to create a distinction between the two modes of existence and prove the existence of an infinite and perfect being that is outside him. His next argument was derived from Saint Anselm’s ontological argument. Here, Descartes tries to justify his argument through describing a triangle. Whenever we would think of a triangle, the first thing that would enter our minds are its attributes, i. e. that it has three sides, all its angles have a total of 180 degrees, etc. Just like whenever we would think of the idea of god, we would usually first think of his attributes which are being omniscient, all-knowing, etc. The difference here is hat although we are able to think of a triangle, thinking about one does not necessarily entail it’s existence. On the other hand, to think of god as a perfect and infinite being must entail that he does exists for to say that a perfect being does not exists would mean that we are depriving god of one attribute and thus making him less perfect. So given this argument, Descartes asserts that existence is needed for perfection for there would be a major contradiction within the assertion of a perfect being that is lacking of any attribute. Finally, Descartes finally says that this god cannot be a deceiving god which he assumed in the beginning. This god cannot be a deceiver for this attribute cannot be found in a perfect being such as god because the act of deceiving someone arises from a certain defect. Upon proving the existence of god, Descartes was able to expand this philosophy by proving the existence of a separate world. He was able to do this by stating that the physical world exists since man was given a certain inclination in order to perceive the world. This inclination was given to us by god and we must believe that the world is true for god would not deceive us with this special inclination that he has given. After reading the proofs of Descartes, I would have to say that his arguments are very solid and logical that it would be hard to think otherwise. However, my only problem with Descartes philosophy is that he used the cogito as a scapegoat to all the problems that he encountered. What Descartes would do is that from the cogito he would begin to explain certain things such as god and the physical world. He would then explore these ideas but when he begins to run of way to explain his arguments he would go back to the cogito. AN example here would be when he tried to explain the existence of the physical world. He simply had to rely on the existence of god and that the inclination he gave man to believe that this world is true. This explanation, to me, seems more as a matter of faith in god as a non-deceiving being rather than a rational explanation.

Friday, September 6, 2019

New competition everywhere Essay Example for Free

New competition everywhere Essay 1) Discuss globalization. Identify define any four major risks that you may perceive during globalization. Identify the challenges that MNC managers face in the 21st century. (1+2+2) 2) Draw the Open System Model for int’l management briefly discuss the variables for the same. (5) 3) Discuss political risk. Define 7 typical political risk events around the world. Discuss how to asses manage political risks. (1+2+2) 4) Distinguish between e-business e-commerce. Discuss technological environment. Discuss the factors affecting the management in the int’l arena. (1+1+3) 1) Discuss CSV. Define human rights MNC responsibilities. Identify discuss some code of conducts for CSR. List define some benefits of CSR in int’l arena. (1+1+1+2) 2) Draw the Moral Philosophy of Cross-cultural Societal Ethics flowchart. Discuss the Relation between ethics technology. Discuss the characteristics of different types of questionable payments. (1+2+2) 3) Discuss how to manage Subsidiary-Host country interdependence. (5) Ch 03_Role of Culture 1) Define culture. Draw briefly discuss the diagram for environmental variables that are affecting management functions.(1+4) 2) Discuss societal organizational cultures. Identify discuss the Affects of culture on management. (1+4) 3) Identify discuss the variables that form the subsystems in a society. (5) Ch 04_Communicating across Cultures 1) Draw the communication process diagram discuss the noise for the same. Define why trust-based relationship is necessary for the success of marketing communication. (2+3) 2) Identify discuss some cultural variables that influence the perceptions of other nations.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Googles Entry in Publishing | Dissertation Proposal

Googles Entry in Publishing | Dissertation Proposal DISSERTATION PROPOSAL GOOGLE: AT THE FORE OF A PUBLISHING REVOLUTION Abstract Google Inc. is poised to ignite a technological revolution in publishing, a revolution that will establish the company as a leader in the publishing industry. This thesis will be supported by applying existing theories on industry and organisational life cycles, technology, and business strategy to the current state of the publishing industry vis-à  -vis internal factors at Google. Hypothesis Google Inc. is strategically poised to ignite a technological revolution in the publishing industry, a move that will permit Google, already proclaimed as â€Å"the top search engine in the world† (Piper 2004), to become the dominant player in the electronic publishing, or e-publishing, industry and a major force in the broader publishing industry. Importance of the Topic Today, the world is witnessing the beginnings of a technological challenge to traditional ‘paper and ink’ publishing. This challenge, which is not unlike that posed by Internet enterprises to traditional ‘brick and mortar’ retail establishments, banks, and service organisations, is being led by Google Inc. Based on a theoretical foundation, this research will explore the convergence of new technologies and organisational factors that Google is strategically leveraging to revolutionise publishing and to achieve leadership status in the publishing industry. Theoretical Base for the Research Research will be based on industry and organisational life cycle theories as well as classic technology theory and its relevance to the life cycle theories and business strategy. Industry life cycle theory suggests that industries pass through a series of stages which affect factors such as competition, consumer demand, and strategy. Organisational life cycle theory suggests that all organisations evolve through a typically predictable set of sequential stages in which their thinking and behaviour change. The concept of technology in this context refers to the methods and mechanisms that organisations use to transform inputs into outputs. The application of technology, through the implementation of organisational strategies, can affect industry and organisational life cycles. The theory of competitive position suggests that organisations adopt strategies that reflect their positions in the market. Prior Research on the Topic Google’s Web site (n.d.) states that its mission is â€Å"to organize the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful†. Deutschman (2005) reports that Google, founded in 1998, has experienced phenomenal sales growth of more than 400,000% in the past five years, making it the fastest growing company in history. He states that the market value of the company is US$80 billion. Wikipedia (n.d.) traces Google’s history from its inception as a research project in 1996 through today and furnishes insight into management and salaries, the corporate culture, acquisitions, and legal and social issues. Google has been described as â€Å"more than a search engine, less than a god† (Piper 2004) and as â€Å"the 800-pound octopus that is filling potential rivals with dread and envy†, implicitly threatening competitors with acquisition or elimination. (Elgin and Hesseldahl 2005). Glover (2004) summarises Google’s business model as one w hich offers its services to the public at no cost, earning its revenue from advertisers who post links to their own Web sites then pay fees to Google based on the number of people who make the link from Google to the advertisers’ sites. Elgin and Hesseldahl (2005) provide significant insight into Google’s ambitious business expansion plans and its challenges to major industry players. Notess (2005) reports on Google’s first entry into the e-publishing arena with Google Answers. Pike (2005) describes Google Scholar and the Google Library Project as continuing forays into the e-publishing industry; M2 Presswire (2004) explains Google Library in more depth. Notess (2005) compares Google Scholar with Scirus, a competitive product. Peek (2004) reports on Google’s relationship with DSpace, a company devoted to capturing, storing, indexing, preserving, and redistributing university research results, and the Electronic Education Report (2003) describes Google’s relationship with DK Publishing in a joint effort to install an encyclopaedia for young people on the Web. Jesdanun (2005) reports on the impact Google Library is having on the publishing industry. Ferguson (2005) and Dodson (2005) provide in-depth analyses of Google’s cross-industry plans for the future as well as plans specifically relating to the publishing industry. Finally, Carvajal (2005), Degtyareva (2005), Liedtke (May and August 2005), and PR Newswire (2005) pose global issues that Google as well as publishers and authors are facing with regard to Google’s e-publishing plans. In addition to the sources surveyed for information about Google, research was conducted into the history of publishing, industry life cycle, technology theory, organisational life cycle, and business strategy formulation. Feather (1990) and Millgate (1987) write extensively about the history of publishing. The Columbia Encyclopedia (2004) defines publishing in a broad sense as â€Å"making something publicly known† then continues by describing its history, the emergence of publishing firms, new technologies, and mergers and acquisitions. Proctor (2000), in advising that industry life cycle is a key factor in business strategy planning, identifies and describes in detail the three stages that comprise an industry’s life cycle – growth, maturity, and decline – as well as the characteristics of industries at each stage. Pitt (2000) explores the philosophical meaning of and various definitions for technology. Daft (1998, citing Rosseau 1979 and Perrow 1967) d efines technology as â€Å"the tools, techniques, and actions used to transform inputs into outputs†. Daft (1998) likens the life cycle of an organisation to that of a person (i.e. birth, growth, and death), citing the following as stages through which an organisation passes during its development: entrepreneurial stage, collectivity stage, formalisation stage, and elaboration stage. Smith and colleagues (1991) provide a conceptual framework and a comprehensive methodology for developing and implementing business strategies. Research Approach The selected approach involves using secondary research to support the stated thesis. The interrelationships among industry and organisational life cycle, technology, and business strategy theories will be explored then related to the history of the publishing industry to explain the reasons that the industry is at a stage where it is susceptible to fundamental change. Finally, based on the established theoretical foundation and the publishing industry’s susceptibility to change, data collected about Google Inc.’s history, mission, business model, financial status, competitors, challenges, technologies, and plans for the future will be used to show that the company is in a unique position to take advantage of the publishing industry’s susceptibility to change by fundamentally changing publishing technology thereby allowing Google to become the dominant player in the electronic publishing, or e-publishing, industry and a major force in the broader publishing indus try. Limitations and Key Assumptions This project will not involve the use of primary research as sufficient secondary data exists. The research will allude to the many business opportunities that Google is currently exploring to highlight the extent of the company’s expansion plans, but will concentrate on the company’s e-publishing initiatives. Only the theories identified in this proposal will be used to prove the thesis. No assumptions are being made. Contribution to Knowledge The contribution to knowledge resulting from this research will be to use industry and organisational life cycle, technology, and business strategy theories and their interrelationships to demonstrate how Google can leverage its position and new technologies to fundamentally change a major existing industry and to establish a leadership position in that industry. Proposed Chapters It is envisioned that the dissertation will consist of six chapters: (1) introduction, (2) survey of prior research, (3) research methodology, (4) research results, (5) analysis of results, and (6) summary and conclusions. References Carvajal, Doreen (2005) ‘German publishers, Google challenge’, International Herald Tribune, June 6, 2005. (The) Columbia Encyclopedia (2004) Book publishing. Daft, Richard L. (1998) Organization Theory and Design, Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College Publishing. Degtyareva, Victoria (2005) ‘New Google digital library hits copyright roadblocks’, University Wire, September 21, 2005. Deutschman, Alan (2005) ‘Can Google stay Google’, Fast Company, August 1, 2005. Dodson, Angela P. (2005) ‘A whole new meaning for the verb to Google Between the lines: The inside scoop on whats happening in the publishing industry’. Black Issues Book Review, March 1, 2005. Electronic Education Report (2003) ‘DK Publishing teams with Google to launch new e-encyclopedia’, August 29, 2003. Elgin, Ben and Hesseldahl, Arik (2005) ‘Google’s grand ambitions’, Business Week, September 5, 2005. Feather, John (1990) ‘The printed book’ and ‘Publishing before 1800’, Coyle, Martin et al., eds., Encyclopaedia of Literature and Criticism, London: Routledge. Ferguson, Charles H. (2005) What’s Next for Google, January 2005. Web Site: http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/01/issue/ferguson0105.0.asp, [Accessed: October 18, 2005]. Glover, Tony (2004) ‘Google IPO locks out foreign investors – or does it?’, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, May 9, 2004. Google (n.d.), Corporate Information: Company Overview, Web site: http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/index.html, [Accessed: October 19, 2005]. Jesdanun, Anick (2005) ‘Google project shakes up book publishing’, Wisconsin State Journal, September 22, 2005. Liedtke, Michael (2005) ‘Google halts scanning of copyrighted books’, Associated Press, August 13, 2005. Liedtke, Michael (2005) ‘Publishers protest Google Library project’, Associated Press, May 24, 2005. M2 Presswire (2004) ‘Google checks out library books; The Libraries of Harvard, Stanford, the University of Michigan, the University of Oxford, and The New York Public Library join with Google to digitally scan library books and make them searchable online’, December 14, 2004. Millgate, Jane (1987) Scott’s Last Edition: A Study in Publishing History, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Notess, Greg (2005) ‘Scholarly Web searching: Google Scholar and Scirus’. Online, July 1, 2005. Peek, Robin (2004) ‘Googling DSpace’, Information Today, June 1, 2004. Perrow, Charles (1967) ‘A framework for the comparative analysis of organizations’, American Sociological Review 32. Cited in Daft (1998). Pike, George H. (2005) ‘All Google, all the time’, Information Today, February 1, 2005. Piper, Paul S. (2004) ‘Google spawn: The culture surrounding Google’, Searcher, June 1, 2004. Pitt, Joseph C. (2000) Thinking about Technology: Foundations of the Philosophy of Technology, New York: Seven Bridges Press. PR Newswire (2005) ‘Google Library project raises serious questions for publishers and authors, August 12, 2005. Proctor, Tony (2000) Strategic Marketing: An Introduction, London: Routledge. Rousseau, Denise M. (1979) ‘Assessment of technology in organizations: Closed versus open systems approaches’, Academy of Management Review 4. Cited in Daft (1998). Smith, Garry D. et al. (1991) Business Strategy and Policy, Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company. Wikipedia (n.d.) Google, Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google, [Accessed: October 18, 2005].